292. The AI Advantage, with Mike Todasco

On this episode of The Innovative Agency Podcast, Sharon Toerek explores the game-changing impact of AI in marketing agencies with guest Mike Todasco—former VP of Innovation at PayPal and now a professor at San Diego State University. 

This episode tackles the big questions: How can AI elevate agency-client relationships? Where do the biggest opportunities (and risks) lie? 

Mike shares how to cut through the hype to uncover practical, real-world strategies agencies can use to stay ahead, adapt, and harness AI for greater innovation and profitability.

What you will learn in this episode: 

• The difference between average and exceptional content in the age of AI

• Why prompt engineering is a game-changer for agencies

• Risks and rewards of adopting AI for content creation

• What clients are looking for in AI-savvy agencies

• Strategies for agencies to maintain their competitive edge by embracing innovation

• The untapped potential of AI for enhancing client relationships and agency profitability

Bio

Mike Todasco is a former Senior Director of Innovation at PayPal and a current Visiting Fellow at the James Silberrad Brown Center for Artificial Intelligence at SDSU. With over 100 patents to his name, Mike played a key role in fostering a culture of innovation across PayPal’s 20,000+ employees. 

A recognized expert in AI and innovation, he explores how AI can enhance creativity and revolutionize business processes and personal tasks. Passionate about democratizing advanced technology, Mike advocates for enabling innovation without requiring deep technical expertise. He frequently shares his insights on AI’s impact on innovation, decision-making, and cognition through articles on Medium and LinkedIn.

Resources:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/todasco/

• Medium: https://medium.com/@todasco

• Newsletter: https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/ai-conversations-6996917847037755392/

• SDSU: https://business.sdsu.edu/centers-institutes/ai