"If you haven’t used AI this week, you don’t really know AI. Things are changing so fast—and the teams that upskill together are the ones unlocking real transformation." Pam Boiros AI isn’t coming, it’s already transforming how marketers work. In this episode of Revenue Boost: A Marketing Podcast, titled, The Future of AI in Marketing: How Smart Teams Are Upskilling Now, Kerry Curran sits down with Pam Boiros, Boston-based fractional CMO and founder of Bridge Marketing Advisors, to discuss how B2B marketing leaders can move from AI overwhelm to confident adoption. Pam shares why CMOs are caught in the middle between boardroom pressure to cut costs and team confusion on how to use AI tools. From her early adoption moment to launching a team-based upskilling program, Pam walks through the real-world barriers to adoption, how to combat the ""AI is cheating"" mindset, and how prompt engineering unlocks creativity instead of killing it. If you’re leading a marketing team and wondering how to turn scattered AI experiments into sustainable strategy, this episode is your roadmap.
“If you haven’t used AI this week, you don’t really know AI. Things are changing so fast—and the teams that upskill together are the ones unlocking real transformation.” That’s a quote from Pam Boiros and a sneak peek at today’s episode.
Welcome to Revenue Boost: A Marketing Podcast—the show where growth-minded business leaders learn how to turn marketing into a measurable revenue engine.
I’m your host, Kerry Curran: revenue growth–obsessed, go-to-market expert, and industry analyst. Each week, I sit down with the brightest minds in marketing, sales, and customer experience to unpack the real-world strategies that drive sustainable growth.
If you like what you hear, please be sure to follow, rate, and review the podcast on your favorite platform—it helps us reach more leaders like you.
Today’s episode is packed with practical advice on how to bring AI into your marketing organization without the overwhelm. Pam Borges shares her approach to team-based AI training, the real blockers CMOs face, and how to shift from chaos to confidence.
Whether you're just beginning to explore tools or are ready to scale adoption, this conversation is your strategic edge.
Be sure to stay tuned until the end, where Pam shares a powerful tip for turning AI skeptics into super users—especially your strongest writers.
Let’s go!
Kerry Curran (00:01.452)
Welcome, Pam. Please introduce yourself and share your background and expertise.
Pam Boiros (00:06.870)
Hi, Kerry—so happy to join you today. My name is Pam Boiros, and I’m a Boston-based fractional CMO, consultant, and advisor. My background is in B2B tech, particularly HR technology. I run my own firm, Bridge Marketing Advisors, and I’ve moved in and out of in-house CMO roles and fractional work.
My early career was in publishing (which we might get into later), and I’ve spent time at Skillsoft, meQuilibrium, and other companies in the space. I’ve tried to ride the wave of every tech innovation since 2000—from mobile and social to, certainly now, AI.
Kerry Curran (00:53.486)
Definitely—the rapid evolution of marketing technology keeps things exciting. You talk with a lot of CMOs and business leaders. What themes or challenges are you hearing?
Pam Boiros (01:24.034)
Many CMOs feel like deer in headlights when it comes to AI. They’re squeezed in the middle: CEOs, boards, and investors read AI headlines and ask, “Can’t you cut your budget—or your team—in half and do twice as much?” Meanwhile, their teams send mixed signals: AI enthusiasts experiment with every tool, while some colleagues keep their heads in the sand.
It’s hard to keep up with all the news and tools in a demanding CMO role. I recently had a CMO friend say, “At 4:45 last Friday, after putting out all my fires, I decided to learn AI.” You really do need dedicated time and mind-share to get familiar with these tools.
Kerry Curran (03:04.854)
I agree. How did you first lean into AI?
Pam Boiros (03:47.918)
Everyone has a ChatGPT moment. Mine was at a work event at the end of 2022. A colleague mentioned “this ChatGPT thing,” and on the T ride home I tried it. My mind was blown. It reminded me of 1995—the first time I saw a webpage.
Back then, I worked for a print-book publisher. One day we got a letter from a company called Amazon.com claiming it would be the world’s biggest bookstore. I thought, “That’s a dumb idea.” Of course, that letter should have put me on a plane to Seattle!
That memory stuck with me. Since then, I’ve vowed never to miss a tech revolution. I dove into AI newsletters, podcasts, and local Boston events. I took an MIT course and played with every tool I could find.
Kerry Curran (04:43.022)
And what challenges do CMOs face as they get started?
Pam Boiros (05:52.950)
I see lots of “random acts of AI.” Pilots are fine, but soon you need a strategy—and you need to close the gap between AI enthusiasts and AI-averse teammates. Everyone needs a baseline AI literacy.
In my upskilling program, we start with mindset. AI stirs unique emotions—Is it cheating? Will it replace me?—especially among writers. But writers often become the best prompt engineers; they understand nuance and see their writing improve with AI.
Kerry Curran (09:45.494)
Give us a few prompt-engineering tips for non-writers.
Pam Boiros (10:22.399)
Be specific—treat AI like a very smart five-year-old intern. Define its role, give context, and state clear instructions. After the first output, refine: “Simplify this,” or “Write at a sixth-grade level.” Avoid negative instructions (“don’t do X”); rephrase them positively. And never publish raw AI output—always edit in a doc first.
Kerry Curran (11:47.040)
What about data protection and brand voice?
Pam Boiros (11:52.950)
Marketers need three things from a gen-AI tool:
I use CustomGPT.ai—a retrieval-augmented generation (RAG) model. Your data stays in a secure “Lego block” on top of the foundation model. You can upload style guides (“We call customers ‘clients,’ employees ‘associates’”) and create separate agents for competitive analysis, content creation, product launches, etc. That boosts first-draft usability from ~40% to ~80%.
Kerry Curran (13:32.846)
How should marketers integrate AI across the tech stack?
Pam Boiros (14:45.835)
Start with your core platforms. Many (HubSpot, Marketo, Salesforce) now bundle AI features. Push your vendors: ask hard questions about real benefits. Next, explore their certified partner ecosystems. For new tools, go month-to-month until you see ROI—avoid getting locked into annual contracts too early.
Kerry Curran (17:36.098)
Great advice. Any final steps for teams ready to dive in?
Pam Boiros (17:58.871)
Kerry Curran (24:38.714)
Where can listeners find you?
Pam Boiros (28:52.395)
Connect with me on LinkedIn (I’m the only Pam Boiros) or visit BridgeMarketingAdvisors.com. If you’d like to see demos of CustomGPT.ai or discuss upskilling, reach out—I’d love to chat.
Kerry Curran (29:31.594)
Thank you, Pam—this was incredibly helpful.
Pam Boiros (29:39.489)
Thanks, Kerry!
Thanks for listening to Revenue Boost: A Marketing Podcast. If this conversation helped shift your perspective or sparked a new idea, do us a favor and share it with a colleague who’s navigating similar challenges.
Don’t forget to subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen—so you never miss an episode.
And if you're ready to align your marketing with real revenue impact, visit revenuebasedmarketing.com to learn how we help B2B teams grow smarter and faster.
Until next time, keep driving growth—one smart strategy at a time.
“If you haven’t used AI this week, you don’t really know AI. Things are changing so fast—and the teams that upskill together are the ones unlocking real transformation.” That’s a quote from Pam Boiros and a sneak peek at today’s episode.
Welcome to Revenue Boost: A Marketing Podcast—the show where growth-minded business leaders learn how to turn marketing into a measurable revenue engine.
I’m your host, Kerry Curran: revenue growth–obsessed, go-to-market expert, and industry analyst. Each week, I sit down with the brightest minds in marketing, sales, and customer experience to unpack the real-world strategies that drive sustainable growth.
If you like what you hear, please be sure to follow, rate, and review the podcast on your favorite platform—it helps us reach more leaders like you.
Today’s episode is packed with practical advice on how to bring AI into your marketing organization without the overwhelm. Pam Borges shares her approach to team-based AI training, the real blockers CMOs face, and how to shift from chaos to confidence.
Whether you're just beginning to explore tools or are ready to scale adoption, this conversation is your strategic edge.
Be sure to stay tuned until the end, where Pam shares a powerful tip for turning AI skeptics into super users—especially your strongest writers.
Let’s go!
Kerry Curran (00:01.452)
Welcome, Pam. Please introduce yourself and share your background and expertise.
Pam Boiros (00:06.870)
Hi, Kerry—so happy to join you today. My name is Pam Boiros, and I’m a Boston-based fractional CMO, consultant, and advisor. My background is in B2B tech, particularly HR technology. I run my own firm, Bridge Marketing Advisors, and I’ve moved in and out of in-house CMO roles and fractional work.
My early career was in publishing (which we might get into later), and I’ve spent time at Skillsoft, meQuilibrium, and other companies in the space. I’ve tried to ride the wave of every tech innovation since 2000—from mobile and social to, certainly now, AI.
Kerry Curran (00:53.486)
Definitely—the rapid evolution of marketing technology keeps things exciting. You talk with a lot of CMOs and business leaders. What themes or challenges are you hearing?
Pam Boiros (01:24.034)
Many CMOs feel like deer in headlights when it comes to AI. They’re squeezed in the middle: CEOs, boards, and investors read AI headlines and ask, “Can’t you cut your budget—or your team—in half and do twice as much?” Meanwhile, their teams send mixed signals: AI enthusiasts experiment with every tool, while some colleagues keep their heads in the sand.
It’s hard to keep up with all the news and tools in a demanding CMO role. I recently had a CMO friend say, “At 4:45 last Friday, after putting out all my fires, I decided to learn AI.” You really do need dedicated time and mind-share to get familiar with these tools.
Kerry Curran (03:04.854)
I agree. How did you first lean into AI?
Pam Boiros (03:47.918)
Everyone has a ChatGPT moment. Mine was at a work event at the end of 2022. A colleague mentioned “this ChatGPT thing,” and on the T ride home I tried it. My mind was blown. It reminded me of 1995—the first time I saw a webpage.
Back then, I worked for a print-book publisher. One day we got a letter from a company called Amazon.com claiming it would be the world’s biggest bookstore. I thought, “That’s a dumb idea.” Of course, that letter should have put me on a plane to Seattle!
That memory stuck with me. Since then, I’ve vowed never to miss a tech revolution. I dove into AI newsletters, podcasts, and local Boston events. I took an MIT course and played with every tool I could find.
Kerry Curran (04:43.022)
And what challenges do CMOs face as they get started?
Pam Boiros (05:52.950)
I see lots of “random acts of AI.” Pilots are fine, but soon you need a strategy—and you need to close the gap between AI enthusiasts and AI-averse teammates. Everyone needs a baseline AI literacy.
In my upskilling program, we start with mindset. AI stirs unique emotions—Is it cheating? Will it replace me?—especially among writers. But writers often become the best prompt engineers; they understand nuance and see their writing improve with AI.
Kerry Curran (09:45.494)
Give us a few prompt-engineering tips for non-writers.
Pam Boiros (10:22.399)
Be specific—treat AI like a very smart five-year-old intern. Define its role, give context, and state clear instructions. After the first output, refine: “Simplify this,” or “Write at a sixth-grade level.” Avoid negative instructions (“don’t do X”); rephrase them positively. And never publish raw AI output—always edit in a doc first.
Kerry Curran (11:47.040)
What about data protection and brand voice?
Pam Boiros (11:52.950)
Marketers need three things from a gen-AI tool:
I use CustomGPT.ai—a retrieval-augmented generation (RAG) model. Your data stays in a secure “Lego block” on top of the foundation model. You can upload style guides (“We call customers ‘clients,’ employees ‘associates’”) and create separate agents for competitive analysis, content creation, product launches, etc. That boosts first-draft usability from ~40% to ~80%.
Kerry Curran (13:32.846)
How should marketers integrate AI across the tech stack?
Pam Boiros (14:45.835)
Start with your core platforms. Many (HubSpot, Marketo, Salesforce) now bundle AI features. Push your vendors: ask hard questions about real benefits. Next, explore their certified partner ecosystems. For new tools, go month-to-month until you see ROI—avoid getting locked into annual contracts too early.
Kerry Curran (17:36.098)
Great advice. Any final steps for teams ready to dive in?
Pam Boiros (17:58.871)
Kerry Curran (24:38.714)
Where can listeners find you?
Pam Boiros (28:52.395)
Connect with me on LinkedIn (I’m the only Pam Boiros) or visit BridgeMarketingAdvisors.com. If you’d like to see demos of CustomGPT.ai or discuss upskilling, reach out—I’d love to chat.
Kerry Curran (29:31.594)
Thank you, Pam—this was incredibly helpful.
Pam Boiros (29:39.489)
Thanks, Kerry!
Thanks for listening to Revenue Boost: A Marketing Podcast. If this conversation helped shift your perspective or sparked a new idea, do us a favor and share it with a colleague who’s navigating similar challenges.
Don’t forget to subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen—so you never miss an episode.
And if you're ready to align your marketing with real revenue impact, visit revenuebasedmarketing.com to learn how we help B2B teams grow smarter and faster.
Until next time, keep driving growth—one smart strategy at a time.