Is AI killing marketing jobs or creating new opportunities? Marketing leader Brandon Lopez shares his 20+ year journey from Oracle to LinkedIn to building his own agency—and how AI is reshaping everything.

What You'll Learn:

✅ How to get your foot in the door in tech marketing (even without perfect credentials)

✅ Why emotional intelligence (EQ) is your competitive advantage

✅ The "Marketing in a Box" concept revolutionizing small business

✅ AI agent building as your entry ticket to marketing careers

✅ How to stand out when AI can do your entry-level work

✅ Remote work strategies for entrepreneurs

✅ The 5-year career gut check philosophy

Timestamps:

00:00 - Introduction to Brandon Lopez

02:04 - Growing Up in Silicon Valley During the Dotcom Era

04:24 - The Power of Networking: How One Connection Changed Everything

07:55 - 8 Years as an Entrepreneur: Leaving Tech for Agency Life

12:26 - The Stanford Study: AI's Impact on Entry-Level Jobs

17:08 - Foot in the Door Strategy #1: Build AI Agents

21:12 - Why EQ Matters More Than Ever

26:01 - Marketing in a Box: AI-Powered Marketing for Startups

34:13 - From New Mexico to San Diego: Family Background

39:22 - The Psychology of First Impressions

43:19 - How to Connect with Brandon

About Our Guest:

Brandon Lopez is a dynamic marketing leader with experience at Oracle, LinkedIn, and Salesforce. He's the founder of Persimmon Marketing and VP of Marketing at MySidecar AI, where he's pioneering AI-powered marketing solutions for small businesses and startups.

Key Insights for Young Professionals:

🎯 Build AI agents and showcase them to potential employers

🧠 Develop your EQ—it's harder for AI to replicate than technical skills

🤝 Network authentically—67% of jobs still come from connections

🎨 If everyone uses AI, stand out by avoiding "AI slop"

💡 Act like you already work there during the interview process

⚡ Present your agent to a founder who needs it—they might just buy it

For Marketing Professionals:

🔧 Learn multiple AI tools—each has different strengths

📊 Balance strategic thinking with tactical execution

🚫 Avoid AI over-complication—simpler is often better

🎯 Focus on mission-driven work that aligns with your values

📈 The five-year gut check: Are you still growing?

Connect with Brandon Lopez:

LinkedIn: Brandon Lopez

Persimmon Marketing: persimmonmarketing.com

MySidecar AI: mysidecarai.com

Dreamforce 2025: Meet Brandon in San Francisco (Oct 14-15)

Related Topics: #AIMarketing #MarketingCareers #TechJobs #LinkedInMarketing #StartupMarketing #MarketingStrategy #ArtificialIntelligence #CareerAdvice #EmotionalIntelligence #MySidecarAI

🔔 SUBSCRIBE for leadership insights and career strategies!

👍 LIKE if this helped you think differently about AI!

💬 COMMENT What's your biggest AI concern or opportunity?

📤 SHARE with someone navigating their marketing career!

About Magic in the Cloud:

Magic in the Cloud explores the personal journeys behind remarkable success. Hosts Joseph Griffith and Ryan Golan Barsky interview exceptional visionaries about pivotal moments, bold decisions, and leadership philosophies—with cloud solutions as the quiet enabler.

#MagicInTheCloud #Leadership #AI #Marketing #CareerDevelopment