8: Agentic AI and the attention economy: Insights from Ryan Fleisch, head of product marketing for Adobe Real-Time CDP, and audience manager at Adobe

8: Agentic AI and the attention economy: Insights from Ryan Fleisch, head of product marketing for Adobe Real-Time CDP, and audience manager at Adobe

Author: Alan B. Hart April 30, 2025 Duration: 32:17

Ryan Fleisch is the head of product marketing for Adobe Real-Time Customer Data Platform (CDP), and audience manager at Adobe. He is also a recent first-time girl dad and Alan's go-to technology whisperer. Ryan has experience on both the agency and brand sides of digital marketing and has been with Adobe since 2014. His current role, coupled with his previous leadership roles in solution consulting, has allowed him to understand the technical nuances of marketing and advertising technology and the big-picture trends that are transforming the industry at large. 

In today's episode, Alan and Ryan reconnect for another interview at Adobe Summit 2025 to discuss Adobe's new marketer-first data collaboration tools and what marketing professionals need to know to help them stay ahead of the curve. When it comes to winning impressions in the crowded attention economy, using data wisely is the difference between standing out and blending in with the thousands of ads consumers see daily. Ryan also explains how agentic AI can help marketers move from data synthesis to action, allowing them to scale their impact as individuals and departments. 

Key quotes: 

"Agentic AI doesn't just understand my business data. It actually understands my business processes and my goals" - Ryan Fleisch, head of product marketing for Adobe Real-Time CDP, and audience manager at Adobe 

In this episode, you'll learn: 

How to understand the attention economy  

Why "clean sketches" may replace "clean rooms" 

What agentic AI could mean for your marketing strategy  

Key highlights: 

[02:05] "The sleep deprivation is real."

[03:30] Ryan's path to Adobe  

[06:00] Understanding the attention economy 

[08:25] The data tradeoff between scale and accuracy 

[10:30] Launching Real-Time CDP evaluations  

[11:30] Old "clean rooms" versus new "clean sketches"  

[14:45] AI empowering humans to do what they do best 

[16:40] Generative AI versus agentic AI 

[20:10] Sorry Spock, Emotions Drive Business 

[22:45] An experience that defines you: Don't fear the bunk bed 

[25:30] Advice to your younger self: Look at the big picture  

[27:05] A topic marketers need to learn more about: Agentic AI and physical art 

[28:50] Subcultures to follow: Appreciate artists 

[29:35] Largest opportunity or threat to marketers today: Pairing content with data 

Resources mentioned:   

Adobe 

Follow the podcast:   

Connect with Ryan Fleish and Adobe 


Hosted by Alan B. Hart, Marketing Beyond moves past the buzzwords and surface-level tactics to explore the real strategic decisions shaping modern business. Each episode features a candid, in-depth conversation with a chief marketing officer or a founder who has fundamentally changed how a brand connects with its audience. These aren't just success stories; Alan guides his guests into discussing the pivotal failures, the unexpected pivots, and the nuanced challenges that rarely make the keynote stage. You'll hear firsthand how leaders navigate the convergence of creativity, data, and technology in a rapidly shifting landscape. This podcast provides a rare, unfiltered look at the thinking behind major campaigns and business transformations, offering practical wisdom rather than just theory. For anyone curious about the human judgment and long-term vision required to build lasting brands, these discussions cut straight to the core. Listening feels like being a fly on the wall for a masterclass in strategic marketing, where the focus is always on what comes next.
Author: Language: en-us Episodes: 41

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