AI Agents Fail at 95%—Here’s How Salesforce Fixes Trust | Ariel Kelman

Subscribe to the newsletter — https://newsletter.theaireport.ai/subscribeBook Enterprise Training — https://www.upscaile.com/Salesforce CMO Ariel Kelman reveals how customer-centric marketing, AI agents, and trust shape the future of enterprise technology. Learn leadership lessons from Amazon, MicroStrategy, and building marketing teams that embrace AI innovation at scale.In this exclusive interview recorded at Dreamforce, Ariel Kelman—President and Chief Marketing Officer at Salesforce—shares his journey from data warehouse consultant to leading marketing at one of the world's most influential enterprise software companies. Discover how the "have you talked to customers" philosophy from Amazon's Andy Jassy transformed his approach to B2B marketing, and why trust has become the cornerstone of successful AI agent deployment.Ariel breaks down the evolution of AgentForce, Salesforce's AI agent platform, and explains why enterprise AI requires more than impressive demos—it demands accuracy, security, and customer success at scale. You'll learn practical insights about hiring for intellectual curiosity over technical skills, building transparent resource allocation systems, and why failure is "the inseparable twin sister of innovation."⏱️ TIMESTAMPS:0:00 - Introduction1:03 - From Data Warehouse Consultant to CMO: Career Journey2:50 - Andy Jassy's Customer-First Philosophy at Amazon4:08 - The Foundation of Customer Success in Marketing5:46 - Trust, CRM, AI, and Data: The Four Pillars7:20 - Building Trust as a Marketing Leader8:56 - Introducing AI Agents to Enterprise Customers10:31 - What Trust Really Means in AI12:02 - President + CMO: The Dual Role Explained13:11 - Training Teams Through Inspiration, Not Just Education14:52 - Hiring for Intellectual Curiosity and Humility17:04 - Creating a Culture Where Failure Leads to Innovation18:45 - How Leaders Use AI Daily at Salesforce20:09 - The Joy of Product Marketing20:50 - Why Do You Do What You Do?💡 KEY TAKEAWAYS:Why customer obsession beats technology-first marketing every timeHow to build trust in AI agents for enterprise deploymentThe hiring questions that reveal intellectual curiosity and low egoWhy 95% accuracy isn't good enough for customer-facing AIHow Salesforce uses 17 customer success stories to market AgentForceThe difference between consumer AI and enterprise AI grounded in dataWhy transparency in resource allocation builds team trust🎤 ABOUT ARIEL KELMAN:Ariel Kelman is the President and Chief Marketing Officer at Salesforce, where he leads global marketing strategy for CRM, AI, and enterprise technology solutions. Previously, he held leadership roles at Amazon Web Services, Oracle, and MicroStrategy, bringing over 20 years of experience in B2B technology marketing and sales engineering.📢 RELATED VIDEOS:Mia Jordan, GTM AI Executive at Salesforce (https://youtu.be/pFOAlZNL_U0?si=2BMuatBIpC0biXZ0)Saket Srivastava, Asana CIO (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0TryfgNj3D4&t=1s)🏢 ABOUT THIS SERIES:This interview is part of our Dreamforce leadership series, featuring conversations with C-suite executives shaping the future of enterprise technology, AI innovation, and customer experience.#Salesforce #CMO #AIAgents #AgentForce #MarketingLeadership #EnterpriseAI #B2BMarketing #CustomerSuccess #TrustInAI #Dreamforce #TechLeadership #ProductMarketing #CRM #AIInnovation #MarketingStrategy

⚡️ Enterprise Training — upscaile.com🤝 Join the Newsletter — newsletter.theaireport.ai/subscribeIn this episode, we delve into AI in government transformation, digital innovation in the public sector, and the future of work in an AI-driven world. Our guest, Mia Jordan — a former Chief Information Officer (CIO) turned AI GTM Executive at Salesforce — reveals how artificial intelligence, automation, and data-driven decision-making are powering the next wave of digital transformation in government. She shares insights on how public-sector innovation, customer experience (CX), and platform thinking are redefining how agencies operate. You’ll learn how AI strategy, leadership, organizational culture, and AI skills training enable smarter, more connected systems — shaping the next generation of digital government, enterprise AI adoption, and citizen-centric service delivery.We dive into:1. How government can use AI to deliver citizen-first services and customer-like experiences2. Why CIOs are central to blending IT, business, and AI strategy across large organizations3. The “platform mindset” — building once and scaling across multiple departments4. How AI can shorten onboarding time and make training radically more efficient5. Practical steps for employees and leaders to upskill with free AI training (Trailhead)6. Building a learning culture where AI adoption starts from the top down7. Career advice for recent grads entering the AI-driven workforceChapters00:00:00 Intro – The art of authentic conversation00:01:00 How to design government systems that treat citizens like customers00:03:00 CIO insights: blending business, IT, and AI00:05:00 The future of work and how AI is changing employee roles00:06:30 How to learn AI fast – Trailhead and free upskilling00:07:40 The value of grunt work in the age of automation00:09:30 AI onboarding: training employees faster and smarter00:10:40 Culture and leadership in successful AI adoption00:12:10 AI learning cohorts: building confidence and curiosity00:14:30 Measuring AI success: education, engagement, and feedback loops00:15:30 Lessons from government and innovation inside Salesforce00:17:40 What new grads should learn from sales and relationship building00:19:10 Why she does what she does – being a catalyst for change📬 Get in TouchLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/not-the-f1-driver-liam-lawson/Mia Jordan — https://www.linkedin.com/in/mia-jordan-07192852/

Connect with Saket Srivastava: https://www.linkedin.com/in/saket-srivastava-84069711/👉 Asana CIO Saket Srivastava joins Liam Lawson to unpack why the future is about **collaboration over autonomy** in AI. He shares how Asana’s Work Graph underpins AI features like Smart Chat, AI Studio, and the new **AI Teammates** (with human-in-the-loop checkpoints and enterprise controls), and explains the evolving role of the CIO from back-office technologist to strategy co-creator. Saket gets specific on IT–HR partnership for AI transformation, surveying employee readiness, building an internal AI council, balancing experimentation with measurable impact, and coaching teams through change. They also tackle job displacement realistically, discuss building an AI-first culture, and end with Saket’s personal motivations, strengths, and where he’d improve.📚 Chapters00:00 Welcome & setup01:31 What Asana is & the CIO role04:39 How the CIO role changed from 2024 → 202506:11 What makes a great CIO (three-level framework)09:15 What are Asana AI Teammates?12:42 Why autonomy isn’t the goal; context, checkpoints, control14:48 Asana’s AI suite (Smart Chat, AI Studio, Teammates)15:04 The Work Graph model & “pyramid of clarity”18:31 Human-in-the-loop in practice (IT ticketing, campaign strategist)20:50 Natural-language collaboration & explainability22:01 Where AI Teammates underperform & the data hurdle25:30 Change management & the IT–HR partnership29:08 Baseline survey: excited-but-stuck employees32:14 Bottom-up innovation + top-down direction33:39 AI council, show-and-tells, and grassroots adoption36:12 Balancing innovation with impact (don’t kill experiments with ROI)37:24 Addressing fear vs. optimism; why leaning in matters40:08 Generational readiness & learning paths43:03 The future of work: augmentation over dystopia44:31 Saket beyond tech; problem-solving DNA46:45 Strengths & what he’d improve as a leader48:59 Why Saket does what he does📰 Join the Newsletter: [https://newsletter.theaireport.ai/subscribe]⭐️ Get Enterprise Training: [https://www.upscaile.com/corporate-training]

Connect with Josh Furstoss: https://www.linkedin.com/in/josh-furstoss/Follow Josh on X: https://x.com/josh_furstoss👉 In this episode, Liam Lawson sits down with Josh Furstoss — founder of Spinout Studios and former CEO of Incued — to unpack his journey from cleaning blood off walls in a grocery store meat department to building and exiting a data intelligence startup. Josh shares his wild early job stories, how curiosity and enthusiasm launched his tech career, and the lessons learned working with government agencies on large-scale security projects. They dive deep into the creation and mission behind Incued, the moral drive for financial transparency, and Josh’s new focus with Spinout Studios — helping corporations turn dormant IP and data into profitable spinouts. The conversation also explores wealth, purpose, robotics, the future of work, and what truly brings peace and meaning after an exit.📚 Chapters 00:00 Early Jobs and Wild Grocery Store Stories 04:40 Learning Sales at Best Buy and Samsung 08:10 Breaking Into Tech Through Cold Outreach 12:00 Corporate Life, Security Projects, and the FBI 17:10 Learning Value and Realizing Undervaluation 21:00 First Startup Failures and Founding Incued 25:20 Building Truth and Transparency Into Fintech 27:40 Anger, Pain, and Finding Purpose Post-Exit 33:30 Wealth, Status, and the Myth of Success 38:05 Building Spinout Studios — Founders vs Consultants43:00 The Art of Spinouts and Niche Innovation 47:30 Midwest Private Equity Culture vs SF Startups 51:45 The Future of Robotics and Specialized Automation 53:40 Loneliness, AI Companionship, and Human Connection56:27 The Future of Work and Economic Displacement 01:02:20 Why Josh Does What He Does 📰 Join the Newsletter: https://newsletter.theaireport.ai/subscribe ⭐️ Get Enterprise Training: https://www.upscaile.com/corporate-training

Connect with Cory:bluemoso.comlinked-agency.com👉 In this conversation, Cory B shares his journey from early entrepreneurial ventures to founding BluMOSA, a LinkedIn agency dedicated to inspiring everyday individuals to find their voice and start their businesses. He reflects on the lessons learned from his early ventures, the importance of building strong team culture, and his approach to risk management. Cory also dives into the role of personal branding, the impact of outsourcing and AI on the future of work, and why being self-focused—not selfish—leads to more meaningful leadership and success.📚 Chapters00:00 Inspiring Everyday Entrepreneurs 01:53 Lessons from Early Business Ventures 07:01 Navigating Risk and Confidence in Entrepreneurship 13:27 The Accidental Birth of BluMOSA 17:07 Finding Your Voice and Brand Identity 21:28 The Comprehensive Offerings of BluMOSA 24:47 Team Culture and Motivation at BluMOSA 26:09 Leading by Example: The Importance of Hard Work 26:59 Hiring for Trust and Coachability 28:24 The Future of Work: Outsourcing and AI 30:45 Building a Supportive Team Culture 33:23 Vision for Growth: Supporting Families and Communities 35:41 Self-Focused Leadership: Balancing Personal and Team Needs 37:33 Finding Joy in Work: The Role of Passion 40:56 Optimism in the Face of Change: The Future of Work 43:08 Purpose-Driven Work: Why I Do What I Do 📰 Join the Newsletter: https://newsletter.theaireport.ai/subscribe ⭐️ Get Enterprise Training: https://www.upscaile.com/corporate-training

Connect with Sophie: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sophie-theodorou-89261b186/Connect with Jett: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jett-miller-b31041314/👉 In this roundtable-style conversation, Liam Lawson sits down with Sophie (@teach2ai) and Jett Miller to explore the intersection of AI, content creation, and education. Sophie shares her journey from teaching math and science during the pandemic to becoming a full-time AI consultant, trainer, and content creator with over 100K followers. She explains how authenticity, consistency, and simplicity have fueled her growth on TikTok while working with brands like ClickUp, Bolt, and String. Jett, from DTC House, adds insights into scaling organic short-form content for startups and enterprise clients, revealing how AI-focused marketing campaigns go viral and drive real user growth. Together, they discuss industry pain points, the rise of AI influencers, the future of content authenticity, and why businesses of all sizes should rethink how they communicate value in the age of AI.📚 Chapters00:00 Welcome Sophie and Jett00:40 Sophie’s transition from teacher to AI creator01:57 The viral TikToks that started it all03:05 Why authenticity beats high production04:41 Overcoming hesitancy in content creation06:25 How Sophie and Jett started working together08:24 Inside DTC House’s shadow accounts10:01 Using AI tools for real client work6:21 Why Sophie’s account stood out to Jett27:42 Internet “money bros” and fake AI claims50:23 From workshops to AI consulting55:34 Pain points businesses face with AI\58:58 The challenge of scaling consulting work01:00:39 Teaching adults vs. teaching students01:03:19 What people really need to learn about LLMs01:07:43 Why Perplexity stands out01:09:01 Why people like working with Sophie01:10:58 Why Sophie does what she does01:14:01 Final advice for AI founders📰 Join the Newsletter: [https://newsletter.theaireport.ai/subscribe]⭐️ Get Enterprise Training: [https://www.upscaile.com/corporate-training]

Connect with Othmane Khadri: https://www.linkedin.com/in/othmane-khadri-b48162236/👉 Othmane Khadri shares his journey from working in startups to launching his own agency, emphasizing the importance of betting on oneself and the evolving landscape of AI and entrepreneurship. He discusses the challenges of marketing in a commoditized product environment, the significance of data in AI implementations, and his agency's unique approach to support early-stage startups. Othmane also reflects on the qualities of successful entrepreneurs, the cultural perceptions of entrepreneurship, and the importance of personal values and health in achieving success.📚 Chapters00:00 From Employee to Entrepreneur: A Pivotal Shift 05:42 The Future of AI and Entrepreneurship 11:27 Building a Unique Agency: Insights and Strategies 16:52 Navigating Early Stage Startups vs. Established Companies 22:30 The Role of Data in AI Implementation 28:17 Leveraging AI for Business Growth 34:26 The Human-AI Collaboration in Business 38:28 Incentivizing Talent in the Age of AI 40:50 Finding and Attracting High Ownership Talent 43:09 Hiring for Brains vs. Hands 44:54 The Importance of Incentives and Profit Sharing 48:35 The Evolution of Earleads and Branding 52:07 Common Traits of Successful Entrepreneurs 55:11 Learning from Failure and System Thinking 57:30 Cultural Perspectives on Entrepreneurship 01:05:43 Processing Failure and Personal Habits 01:07:42 Motivations Behind Entrepreneurship 📰 Join the Newsletter: https://newsletter.theaireport.ai/subscribe ⭐️ Get Enterprise Training: https://www.upscaile.com/corporate-training

Try breaker here: joinbreaker.ai/tair1👉 In this conversation, Liam Lawson and Ben Billups dive into a wide range of topics—from the benefits of standing desks and coworking spaces to the impact of AI on technology and marketing. They discuss the transition from agency work to SaaS, the importance of email marketing and newsletters, and how AI is reshaping the future of communication. Ben also shares insights from building his unique email platform, Breaker, highlighting ethical marketing, solving real customer problems, and navigating compliance challenges. The episode wraps with forward-looking predictions on tech trends, audience ownership, and the evolving role of AI in business.📚 Chapters00:00 Introduction and Standing Desks 02:52 Coworking Spaces and Venture Capital 05:42 The Future of Tech and AI 08:43 Vibe Coding and GPT-5 11:23 Product Market Fit and Email Marketing 14:37 The Rise of Newsletters 17:12 Creating Unique Content 20:17 Transitioning from Agency to SaaS 22:45 Mindset Shift in SaaS Development 34:23 Navigating SaaS Development Challenges 35:59 Differentiating Breaker in the Email Market 37:50 Innovative Lead Generation Strategies 41:58 Target Audience and Market Fit 43:44 Understanding Email Compliance and Deliverability 47:22 The Impact of AI on Business and Compliance 48:18 Building a Defensible Business Model 50:48 The Future of Audience Ownership 56:45 Rented vs. Owned Audiences 57:42 The Role of Platforms in Business Growth 59:41 Customer Support in a Scaled Environment 01:01:16 AI Integration in Business Processes 01:03:29 Predictions for the Future of Tech and AI 📰 Join the Newsletter: https://newsletter.theaireport.ai/subscribe ⭐️ Get Enterprise Training: https://www.upscaile.com/corporate-training

Connect with Manthan Patel: https://www.linkedin.com/in/leadgenmanthan/👉 In this conversation, Manthan Patel shares his journey into AI and content creation, highlighting the role of altruism, self-improvement, and openness in building a meaningful career. He discusses his early experiences with AI, his work with Vector Shift AI, and the lessons learned from his mentor, Albert. Manthan also dives into course development, the importance of understanding audience psychology, and the evolution of lead generation strategies. Along the way, he emphasizes the value of personal branding, effective time management, and human connection in high-ticket sales. The discussion closes with advice for those entering the AI industry—reminding us that technical expertise is no longer a barrier to starting.📚 Chapters00:00 Core Principles of Altruism and Self-Improvement 02:09 First Encounters with AI Technology 04:12 Working with Vector Shift AI 07:45 Lessons from Albert: Entrepreneurship Insights 09:20 Course Development Journey 13:39 Evaluating Course Success and Growth 16:34 Understanding the Audience 18:53 The Evolution of Lead Generation 23:00 Cold Outreach Strategies and Effectiveness 25:00 The Human Element in High-Ticket Sales 28:38 Understanding Client Demographics and Success Stories 30:28 Diverse Clientele: From Vending Machines to SaaS 32:52 Building a Social Media Presence: Strategies for Growth 35:23 The Psychology of Content: Hooks and Engagement 37:17 Daily Routines: Balancing Work and Learning 44:21 The Importance of Personal Branding 52:06 Demystifying AI: Accessibility for All 📰 Join the Newsletter: https://newsletter.theaireport.ai/subscribe ⭐️ Get Enterprise Training: https://www.upscaile.com/corporate-training

Connect with Sabahudin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sabahudin-murtic/👉 In this conversation, Liam Lawson and Sabahudin Murtic discuss the impact of AI on critical thinking, the journey of entrepreneurship, and the importance of building a personal brand on LinkedIn. Sabahudin shares his experiences with AI tools, learning through experimentation, and the significance of community and networking in achieving success. They also delve into client relationships, crafting offers, and provide advice for aspiring entrepreneurs looking to navigate the AI landscape.📚 Chapters00:00 The Impact of AI on Critical Thinking04:42 Personal Journey into AI and Entrepreneurship09:16 Building a Brand on LinkedIn13:57 Learning and Experimentation in AI18:45 The Importance of Community and Networking23:14 Navigating Client Relationships and Sales27:50 Technical Infrastructure and Tools for Success32:24 Crafting Offers and Understanding Client Needs37:07 Advice for Aspiring Entrepreneurs in AI📰 Join the Newsletter: https://newsletter.theaireport.ai/subscribe⭐️ Get Enterprise Training: https://www.upscaile.com/corporate-training