This year, we’re exploring the ways AI is reshaping work and the way people live. In our first AI@Endicott installment, four alumni take us inside the changing world of marketing and communications. If you have a unique story about AI, reach out to Madison Schulman at mschulma@endicott.edu.
AI has quickly worked its way into nearly every corner of the marketing and communications profession, changing the tools professionals use and how they spend their time.
Tasks that once took hours can now take minutes. First drafts come faster. Research gets a head start. And ideas are never in short supply.
But as AI takes on more of the work, what does that mean for the people behind it?
We recently chatted with four Endicott alumni working in the marketing and communications field to learn what utilizing AI looks like in their day-to-day work, and what advice they have for students preparing to enter an AI-shaped workforce.
Responses have been edited for clarity and length.
How has AI changed the day-to-day reality of entry-level roles in your field—and what does that mean for students entering the workforce today?
Melody Curran ’16, Senior Marketing Strategy Manager, Matter Communications: The first draft is basically free now! When I started, it was common to spend hours doing research, pulling together a competitive landscape, or getting a chicken-scratch first draft. With AI, you can get 60 percent of the way there in minutes, which means you can spend more time thinking strategically and less time gathering the resources and information to inform what you’re thinking strategically about.
Alyssa Zompa ’25, Marketing Specialist, United Way of Rhode Island: AI has taken away some of the menial and time-consuming tasks, like finding the perfect word for a social post, creating spreadsheets and data sets, or asking your co-worker how to use the copy machine. For the small things it has taken away, it has doubly added the ability to quickly expand your toolkit in multiple ways.
Catching up on AI abilities gives students a leg up on “seasoned” employees currently in the workforce. I think the capabilities help students to become better, earlier, than generations past. Learn quicker, adapt faster, and become mid-level before you’ve even finished your first official year in the workforce.
When you’re hiring, what human skills do you look for that AI can’t replicate?
Emma (Blauvelt) Millman ’16, Senior Digital Marketing Manager, HireClix: One of our core values at HireClix is “Be a Good Human.” Our team interviews and hires with this in mind. We are looking for people who treat colleagues, clients, and partners with respect, kindness, and integrity, as well as prioritize people and relationships in everything they do. The “human” element is vital in establishing rapport and building trust with each client and vendor we connect with. People will always remember how you treated them and made them feel—this is something that AI will never replace.
Shannon Veilleux ’21, Design Director, Boston Public Market Association: Communication and ownership. Are you able to show off your critical thinking skills and explain your decisions clearly? Do you actively take ownership of what you create? If you don’t, I’m going to assume you don’t feel as connected to the project as you should, because you didn’t play a direct enough role.
What’s one thing students should be doing right now to future-proof their careers alongside AI, not against it?
Zompa: Learn as much as you can as it pertains to your field and even beyond that. Use that knowledge to improve your workflow, challenge ideas, and inform research.
Curran: Keep learning new tools and platforms—not just AI ones. For example, many marketers will need to use HubSpot at some point; the platform has a ton of free courses and certifications to take advantage of that’ll bolster your resume.
For students and alumni feeling anxious about AI replacing jobs in their fields, what would you want them to know?
Millman: Jobs have always evolved as technology advances. Some roles and opportunities may look different than they did before, but there will also be new positions created because of AI. Students can use their knowledge and expertise with AI to level up what they can offer to the workforce. They have a unique perspective to foster more efficiency in our day-to-day, drive productivity, and allow us to innovate and advance faster than ever before.
Veilleux: It’s replacing tasks, not taste, relationships, or accountability! The work isn’t disappearing; it’s just changing shape. Brands still need us to be creative, refine and align, understand nuance, make judgment calls, manage the mission, and navigate stakeholders and partners.
Zompa: It’s ok to be anxious, but no great idea was ever created or executed by doing what’s comfortable and without risk. Take a deep breath and dive in: I promise you will swim and end up somewhere you didn’t know was possible.