Flock’s Bionic Ecosystem Event – Finding the sweet spot between creativity and technology.

On Thursday 12th September, we hosted a Flock morning panel discussion in Savage Garden, Tower Hill. The event focused on our Bionic Ecosystem concept – building a future-facing marketing ecosystem that harmonises the relationship between technology and human talent/creativity to meet the needs of the ever-evolving consumer. We were joined by a panel lineup of brilliant minds with different angles and perspectives, including:

Matthew Cooksey – Director of Innovation at QA. QA is a leading training platform focusing on future-facing skills such as data & technology.
Sarah Skinner – Global Managing Director at Grace Blue. Grace Blue is a global executive search firm focusing on finding transformational leadership talent for brands.
Matthew Mifsud – Principal Solutions Consultant at Adobe, with a special focus on Creative Cloud and GenAI. 
(Chair) Simon Francis – Co-CEO at Flock Associates.

Here’s what our key takeaways looked like:

Vision-led leadership: When it comes to AI adoption, holistic vision-led leadership is key. We should have leaders who are encouraging controlled experimentation and creating an environment for innovation (as well as practicing this themselves!). This is what leads to effective behavioural and cultural change which is essential to overcome resistance and foster a culture of adaptability.

Educate, educate, educate: The panel discussed the importance of ongoing education and skill development. Education is crucial for understanding and effectively utilising AI and technology. Through education, you gain knowledge, which leads to experience and innovative ideas. This enables you to make informed decisions that are not solely focused on short-term goals but also consider long-term vision. Given the rapidly evolving nature of technology, it’s essential to take a proactive approach and carefully consider your strategy before diving in.

Just another tool in the toolbox: It’s clear that AI is a tool that can be used to enhance human capabilities, not a replacement – this sentiment was shared across the panel. The true value comes down to the person guiding the technology and the ideas behind it, not just the execution.

Shift in roles: Where the exponential rise of technology has raised concerns about job displacement, our panel agreed that while some roles may change or phase out, it’s important to recognise that these advancements will also create new role opportunities – such has been the case historically across different industries.

The future: The panellists expressed optimism about the future of AI, envisioning a world where AI seamlessly integrates into various aspects of business. They emphasised the importance of open-source models and improved interoperability between different AI systems.

We thank all of our attendees across the industry and our amazing panel for taking part.  Our event was born from the idea of creating an optimised marketing ecosystem that allows you to ignite creativity and ultimately get better creative work. You can request a copy of that guide here.

If you’d like to get in touch to discuss your GenAI strategy, or how you can redesign your marketing ecosystem use the form below: