Ep. 98: Ian Colley, CMO at DeepIntent, on AI, Privacy, & Pharma’s Next Generation of Treatments

Ian Colley, Chief Marketing Officer at DeepIntent, joins host Karina Jimenez to share the career journey that took him from public relations agencies in the UK to more than a decade at IBM, followed by a transition into advertising technology at The Trade Desk and eventually pharmaceutical marketing. He reflects on what drew him to the healthcare industry and why its unique challenges create opportunities for data-driven advertising and AI. Ian also explains how pharmaceutical marketing differs from traditional consumer marketing, from reaching highly specific patient populations to navigating the complexities of healthcare access, and how AI is helping companies make drug development and commercialization more targeted and efficient. Ian and Karina also explore how AI is transforming pharmaceutical marketing, including DeepIntent’s agentic marketing platform, Cora, which brings together complex data to accelerate campaign planning and decision-making. They discuss the importance of responsible AI adoption in a highly regulated industry, protecting patient privacy, and adapting to changing consumer behaviors as more people turn to AI platforms for information. For the next generation of marketers, Ian encourages thinking strategically rather than focusing only on individual tasks, staying curious about emerging technologies, and seeking opportunities outside your comfort zone. Above all, he emphasizes the importance of storytelling as a skill that remains essential no matter how much technology changes.