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Susan Westwater is the strategist that executive teams and Private Equity partners call when AI initiatives need to move from theoretical debate to measurable P&L impact.
As the co-author of the definitive books and research on conversational strategy, (featuring a foreword by the "Father of Modern Marketing," Philip Kotler) Susan bridges the critical gap between frontier technology and fundamental business rigor. A sought-after keynote speaker at venues like MAICON and the AMA, she helps mid-market leaders in Manufacturing, Life Sciences, and CPG cut through vendor noise, establish vital governance guardrails, and de-risk their path to EBITDA expansion.
Before her career in enterprise AI and digital strategy, Susan led digital and CX initiatives at global powerhouses like Leo Burnett and Ricoh USA. She has guided organizations through every major technology wave of the last two decades: from the early web to mobile, social, and now, the AI revolution.
Interestingly, Susan nearly began her career as a medievalist, studying how knowledge spread before mass media. That deep curiosity about human adoption shapes her strict, pragmatic approach today: she views AI not just as software, but as the new "common tongue" of the enterprise.
Done right, AI empowers teams from the boardroom to the front lines, accelerating workflows and capturing margin. Done poorly( without governance or user alignment) it alienates staff, creates shadow IT risks, and burns capital.
Susan doesn’t just build AI strategy; she architects the operating systems that make it stick. She is known for her ruthless focus on capital discipline and operational feasibility.
"AI that ignores the user or lacks governance is just expensive noise. And noise is the enemy of EBITDA."
Susan’s frameworks for conversational AI and digital transformation aren’t just used in the boardroom; they are taught in universities and vetted by academia.
Co-author of Voice Marketing: Harnessing the Power of Conversational AI (Bloomsbury, 2023). Featuring a Foreword by Philip Kotler. 2024 Finalist: AMA Foundation Leonard L. Berry Marketing Book Award.
Co-author of the foundational text Voice Strategy: Creating Useful & Usable Voice Experiences (2019).
Published author in the Journal of Brand Strategy (Henry Stuart Publications) and the Journal of Digital & Social Media Marketing.
Recognized as a 'Top 100 Woman in Conversational AI,' an Open Voice Network Ambassador, and a highly sought-after keynote speaker at executive summits including MAICON, VOICE & AI, and SEMrush Global Marketing Day.
Trusted facilitator for dozens of C-suites and PE Operating Partners, consistently turning months of internal AI debate into funded, 90-day pilot plans. “Are we funding a demo or a P&L lever?”
Deep expertise in deploying compliant, secure AI workflows across Life Sciences, Healthcare, and complex Manufacturing environments.
Directed the strategic implementation of an AI workflow that delivered a 15% revenue lift for a global MedTech firm in just 90 days.
Specializes in establishing the ethical guardrails, data privacy protocols, and validation steps required for safe enterprise AI adoption.
Stop testing tools and start driving results. Cut through the noise and get a clear, candid assessment of your highest-impact AI opportunities.If your leadership team isn’t aligned on your AI capital allocation yet, begin here.
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