Leslie Carruthers is the founder and president of The Search Guru, a digital marketing agency helping B2B enterprises drive measurable growth. With over 25 years of experience, she is a recognized expert in AI-driven marketing, SEO, and conversion optimization. A graduate of Ohio University’s E.W. Scripps School of Journalism, Leslie has trained, consulted for, and executed strategies for startups to Fortune 500 companies.

A sought-after speaker, she has presented at Content Marketing World, MAICON, SMX, eTail, and the Direct Marketing Association, delivering actionable insights on AI in marketing, search evolution, and data-driven decision-making. Named a Top 50 Content Marketing Influencer (2018) and one of the Top Women in SEO (2012), Leslie blends technical expertise with strategic vision. Her agency specializes in navigating complex sales cycles, leveraging AI to drive leads and revenue while maximizing ROI in an evolving digital landscape.

The AI-First Marketing Team Blueprint

Marketing leaders are drowning in tasks, struggling with bandwidth, and trying to prove ROI—all while AI is reshaping the game. But AI isn’t just a tool; it can be an extension of your team. This session reveals a blueprint for building an AI-first marketing team that automates high-impact tasks—content, SEO, research, and campaign optimization—so your team can focus on strategy and results. Learn how to structure AI roles, integrate the right tools, and free up 10+ hours per week while improving performance. Stop experimenting—start scaling with AI.

In this session attendees will learn how to:

• Design an AI-powered marketing team—leveraging multiple AI personas or research, content, SEO, and campaign optimization
  
• Integrate agentic search for real-time competitor insights and trend detection
  
• Balance AI execution with human oversight—freeing up time while maintaining strategic control