“AI is the new UI. Generative AI will be the new UX for every product and customer interaction” is a quote from Episode 3 of The Generative Sales and Marketing Show™.

We all know this but are a bit scared to say it: In the dawning era of generative AI, organizations are faced with a profound paradigm shift that extends far beyond the realm of IT and largely into human resources.

(Note: At the end, I will suggest 10 steps you can take as a chief revenue officer or chief marketing officer.)

As this disruptive technology reshapes industries, a strategic approach to hiring and empowering talent becomes a critical competitive advantage.

This article serves as a comprehensive guide for visionary business leaders, providing a roadmap to navigate the human aspects of the generative AI landscape and unlock its true potential across sales, marketing, and product-led growth initiatives.

Redefining Roles: The Rise of Generative AI Specialists

As generative AI permeates every facet of business operations, organizations must proactively cultivate a new breed of specialists.

Individuals will not only possess a deep understanding of AI technologies but also a holistic grasp of their company’s strategic objectives and customer needs. Roles such as Prompt Engineers, Prompt Designers, and Generative AI Managers will become instrumental in bridging the gap between cutting-edge AI capabilities and real-world business applications.

Prompt Designers and Engineers, for instance, will be tasked with crafting precise and effective prompts that guide AI models to generate desired outputs, whether it’s personalized marketing content, sales enablement materials, or dynamic product experiences. As Adam Bloom states in Chapter 4 of “The Generative Sales and Marketing Organization™,” “Prompt design and engineering is the new copywriting, and it’s a game-changer for content creation at scale.”

Fostering a Generative AI Mindset Across the Organization

While specialized roles are crucial, fostering a generative AI mindset throughout the organization is equally essential. Business leaders must prioritize upskilling and reskilling initiatives to empower their workforce with the necessary knowledge and tools to leverage AI effectively.

This undertaking extends beyond technical proficiency; it involves cultivating a deep understanding of the strategic implications of generative AI and how it can drive business objectives. Cross-functional collaboration and knowledge-sharing will be pivotal, enabling teams to collectively ideate, experiment, and refine their AI-powered strategies.

As Bloom emphasizes in Episode 9 of his show, “Generative AI is not just a technology; it’s a cultural transformation that requires leadership, vision, and a relentless pursuit of innovation.”

Bridging the Gap: Aligning Technical and Business Acumen

To truly harness the power of generative AI, organizations must bridge the gap between technical expertise and business acumen. This fusion of skills will give rise to hybrid roles that seamlessly integrate AI capabilities with strategic business objectives.

Generative AI Business Strategists, for instance, will be instrumental in translating high-level business metrics into actionable AI-driven initiatives. They will collaborate closely with technical teams to ensure that AI solutions are aligned with overarching goals, such as optimizing customer acquisition costs, boosting conversion rates, or enhancing product experiences.

As Bloom emphasizes in Chapter 2 of his book, “The key to unlocking generative AI’s true potential lies in the ability to connect the dots between high-level business objectives and the practical applications of AI across sales, marketing, and product development.”

Embracing the Generative AI Revolution

The generative AI revolution is upon us, and organizations that fail to adapt risk being left behind. By strategically hiring and empowering talent beyond the confines of IT, companies can establish a competitive edge and unlock unprecedented levels of efficiency, personalization, and customer delight.

As business leaders, it is our responsibility to cultivate a culture of continuous learning, experimentation, and collaboration. Embracing generative AI is not merely a technological shift; it’s a transformative journey that demands a fundamental reimagining of how we operate, create value, and engage with our customers.

By following the strategic hiring concepts outlined in this article, you can position your organization at the forefront of the generative AI revolution, driving innovation, growth, and enduring success in an ever-evolving business landscape.

10 Steps to Prepare Your Team Now

Based on the blog article, here are 10 steps a Chief Revenue Officer or Chief Marketing Officer can take to start leveraging generative AI:

1. Identify key roles needed like Prompt Engineers, Design Engineers, and AI Product Managers to integrate generative AI into your commercial engine.
2. Develop a strategic hiring plan to bring on these generative AI specialists across sales, marketing, and product teams.
3. Invest in upskilling and reskilling initiatives to foster a generative AI mindset throughout your entire organization.
4. Encourage cross-functional collaboration and knowledge sharing to ideate and experiment with AI use cases.
5. Hire or cultivate Generative AI Business Strategists who can translate high-level metrics into actionable AI initiatives. 
6. Work closely with technical teams to ensure AI solutions align with strategic business objectives like optimizing CAC.
7. Explore how generative AI can automate content creation, personalize campaigns, and manufacture engaging experiences.
8. Identify opportunities for AI to streamline sales processes from lead gen to closing deals more efficiently.
9. Investigate ways generative AI can enhance product experiences through interactive guidance and real-time personalization.
10. Continuously learn, experiment and evolve your generative AI strategy through a test-and-learn approach.

Download the Book and Watch the Show

At the end of the day, your career will only advance (whether you are a C-level or first year on the job) if you have generative AI skills. If you currently work in sales, marketing, or product led growth (PLG), see my free book for more: The Generative Sales and Marketing Organization™. As well, you can watch 10 episodes of my show’s first season, The Generative Sales & Marketing Show™ on YouTube.