To celebrate AAPI Heritage Month, Highwire hosted a special edition of its DIBs Media Perspectives series last week. The discussion brought together leaders from some of the world’s most influential tech companies to share insights on building successful communications strategies amid rapid AI and media transformation.
As a San Francisco-based agency, Highwire has a unique front-row seat to the latest innovations in technology — especially in AI — allowing us to move as deftly as the industries we serve. We feel so fortunate to be a part of this exciting time for our industry and for our clients.
Veteran business journalist and Macro Talk founder Hope King moderated the conversation, which featured Ivy Choi, Head of Policy and Product Communications at Pinterest; Nicole Kim, VP of Marketing at Arcee AI; and Sarah Mulligan, Global Head of Marketing and Communications at QuantumBlack, the AI arm of McKinsey & Company.
Please read on for our few key takeaways from this memorable event.
Standing Out in a Saturated Landscape
Keeping up with the relentless pace of news can feel impossible, noted Ivy, who prefers to go with the flow. “There will always be surprises … so stressing over it is counterproductive,” she said. “Stay flexible, assess the situation, and then figure out how best to execute.”
For smaller companies and startups, standing out is even more challenging. “Your writing, videos, and webinar topics need to be exceptionally compelling,” Nicole shared. “Your hooks must be sassier, funnier, and, in some cases, more controversial to effectively reach your ideal customer profile and end users.”
Future-Proofing Comms Jobs in an AI Era
Ivy stressed the necessity of becoming fluent in data analytics to future-proof her career, particularly as AI generates more metrics to evaluate success.
Despite advances in AI tech, the panelists agreed that certain skills remain irreplaceable. Sarah called out the continued importance of influencing — the ability to persuade, connect, and inspire remains a critical human skill that technology can't replicate.
“Day to day, I try to focus on things only I can do, versus things that tech can handle,” Sarah added. “If the tech can do it and I just haven't learned yet, then this is also how I prioritize my time and focus my day.”
Building AI Stories That Shine
As more AI moves from proof of concept to production, Sarah is focused on telling stories about what the technology enables people to do.
Nicole, meanwhile, underscored the importance of letting research drive communications strategies to keep professionals sharp, curious, and bold. The best way to make AI innovation credible and applicable is to demonstrate its impact on organizations, she advised.
Ivy added that AI can also help uncover platform-specific data that is rich with stories — a valuable resource for journalists looking for unique insights.
In-Person Events Win
Despite the rise of digital media, in-person events remain a crucial part of modern marketing strategies. All three panelists agreed that creative experiential marketing can help brands break through the noise and create lasting impressions.
Ivy discussed Pinterest’s activations at high-profile events like Coachella as an example of a strategy designed to engage Gen Z and capture the attention of digital-native audiences.
What’s Next
It can be daunting to keep up with the pace of change in an AI-driven world, but it’s also an exciting time for bold experimentation. And while predicting the future beyond the next month may be nearly impossible, one thing will remain constant: creativity.
Ivy captured this perfectly when she said, “Communications isn't a science; it’s an art. You possess a level of intuition and instinct that AI and technology cannot replicate.”
If you want to watch the full webinar of this roundtable with these powerful women, click here to watch the full recording.
