The Realization
I’d spent a decade building marketing systems—CRMs, data pipelines, automation workflows. The work was good, but the ceiling was visible.
Then I started experimenting with AI tools. Not just ChatGPT for writing emails, but actually building things. Automations. Integrations. Systems that did real work.
The pattern was familiar. This was systems building—just with different tools.
The Pivot
I didn’t abandon marketing operations. I reframed it.
Before: “I build marketing systems”
After: “I build AI-powered business systems—marketing was just where I started”
Same skills. Same systems thinking. Different application and trajectory.
What Transferred
- Data pipelines: Understanding how data flows between systems
- Automation logic: Knowing when to automate and when to keep humans in the loop
- Integration experience: APIs, webhooks, making different tools talk to each other
- Business context: Knowing what matters beyond the technical implementation
What I Had to Learn
- AI-specific patterns: Prompt engineering, context windows, model selection
- New technical skills: Python for ML, cloud functions, different deployment models
- The AI landscape: What’s hype, what’s real, where the opportunities are
The Ongoing Journey
This isn’t a destination—it’s a direction. AI capabilities are changing monthly. The goal isn’t to master a fixed skill set but to develop judgment that adapts.
The systems thinking I built over 10 years is the foundation. AI is the new layer.