MAICON brings together top visionaries and experts in the field of AI during a three-day conference packed with actionable sessions and networking events—all to position you as the change agent your organization (and career) needs. In this ongoing speaker series, we’re featuring these extraordinary leaders, with forward-looking predictions, actionable tips you can use today, and a preview of their MAICON 2025 sessions.
Brian Piper is an author, international keynote speaker, and seasoned consultant with over 25 years of experience in content strategy and digital marketing. He’s the host of the AI for U podcast, a member of the University of Rochester AI Council, and the founder of both the Marcom AI Committee and the AI Community of Practice at the University of Rochester.
A passionate advocate for the intersection of technology and creativity, Brian was quick to embrace artificial intelligence. “I started playing with AI in early 2022,” he says. “When ChatGPT came out, I knew this was a pivotal tool, and I dove right in.”
At the time, Brian was the Director of Content Strategy and Assessment at the University of Rochester, where he launched a Marcom AI Committee in 2024 to explore the ethical and effective use of AI in marketing and communications. Simultaneously, he was presenting at major conferences, publishing a newsletter, and leading webinars to marketing executives on how AI and data can elevate content marketing.
As interest in AI surged, so did demand for Brian’s insights. Today, he consults with universities and organizations across industries, helping them integrate AI into their content and operational workflows responsibly, ethically, and with a clear focus on change management and long-term success. His work blends AI innovation with content strategy, data-driven insights, and a deep understanding of organizational change—helping teams move from experimentation to transformation.
Session Preview: Unlock the Power of Performance Data & AI
We generate a wealth of data through our content efforts, but are we truly using it to make smarter marketing decisions?
In this MAICON session, Brian Piper will show you how to harness the power of AI to unlock insights from your existing data. You’ll learn how to identify your top-performing content and use it to repurpose, retarget, and redistribute—ultimately driving greater ROI from the assets you already have.
“Combining content performance data with AI opens up powerful opportunities to market more effectively and efficiently,” says Brian.
Lesson Learned: AI Adoption Requires Change Management
Too often, leadership treats AI integration as just another technology project. In reality, it’s much more complex. Successful AI adoption requires a clear vision, strong stakeholder support, comprehensive training to build confidence, and a thoughtful assessment of potential operational disruptions. Resistance is natural; anticipating it and addressing concerns proactively is key to long-term success.
As Brian puts it:
“AI integration is not a technology adoption project, it is a change management initiative.”
Looking Ahead: Invest Now to Lead Later
AI is evolving at an unprecedented pace, but instead of feeling overwhelmed, focus on the long-term payoff. The time and effort you invest now will lay the foundation for future success.
“The work you do with AI now will inform and accelerate your migration to what is coming next with agents,” says Brian.
Adopting AI today isn’t just about keeping up; it’s about preparing for the next wave of transformation that's already on the horizon.
Links We Like
Work Smarter Together: How AI Can Be Higher Ed’s Strongest Teammate
In this episode of the AI for U Podcast, Erin Callihan, Assistant Vice President of Strategic Marketing & Campaign Communications at NYU, joins Brian to tackle one of higher education’s most pressing questions: Is AI cheating, or is it time to embrace it as a collaborator?
Tune in for actionable ways to work smarter in collaboration with AI.
Ep. 132: How to ACTUALLY Implement AI in Higher Ed Marketing with Brian Piper
In this episode of the Higher Ed Demand Gen Podcast, Brian dives into the fundamentals of integrating AI into higher education institutions. He addresses change management, starting small, AI committees, and much more.
When Competence Meets Uncertainty
In this LinkedIn article, Brian discusses the AI experimentation paradox—emphasizing the importance of failure. He offers both a weekly challenge and a weekly prompt to get you started with your own experimentation.
Brian’s Session at MAICON
Transform Your Content with AI & Data
Discover how to leverage AI tools to analyze content data, uncover actionable insights, and streamline persona development. This session will show you how to identify gaps in your content strategy and transform high-value content into evergreen assets using innovative AI and data-driven techniques.
You’ll learn how to repurpose, retarget, and redistribute your best-performing content to maximize reach and ROI—ensuring your efforts deliver measurable, lasting results across channels.
Keep Up with Brian (and AI)
Explore more of Brian’s work, ideas, and practical AI guidance:
Check out his latest book, Epic Content Marketing for Higher Education, and his AI and Content Marketing workshops.
Join Us at MAICON 2025
Marketing Artificial Intelligence Conference (MAICON) was created for marketing leaders and practitioners seeking to drive the next frontier of digital marketing transformation within their organizations.
We’re excited to host our 5th annual MAICON—Marketing AI Conference—at this pivotal point for our industry. Join us from October 14 to 16, 2025, in Cleveland, Ohio, and use the special code SPEAKERSERIES100 at checkout to receive $100 off your registration!
