B2B marketing professionals received an inside perspective on the growing role of artificial intelligence during a keynote presentation by Dane Vahey at B2B Marketing Exchange 2026.
Speaking at the event, Vahey highlighted how AI is changing what marketers can achieve and encouraged professionals to adopt a new mindset, one where they see themselves not just as operators but as builders who can create solutions using modern AI tools.
The session, titled “You Can Just Build Things,” focused on how motivated and curious individuals can now build capabilities that once required large teams, technical expertise, and significant budgets.
Vahey currently leads programs at OpenAI that help organizations adopt artificial intelligence technologies at scale. Before joining OpenAI, he built the B2B marketing function at Stripe, helping the company evolve from a developer-focused product into a global B2B platform.
Earlier in his career, Vahey also worked at Salesforce, where he was involved in launching some of the company’s first industry-specific product lines.
His keynote came at a time when many marketing teams are transitioning from discussing AI in theory to applying it in everyday business operations. According to Vahey, this shift requires marketers to rethink their roles.
Instead of focusing only on executing campaigns or managing marketing tools, he encouraged marketers to experiment with AI technologies and build practical solutions that improve how companies engage with customers.
During the presentation, Vahey demonstrated several real-world use cases that B2B marketing teams can adopt today. These examples showed how AI tools can help marketers analyze data, automate workflows, and create new types of marketing experiences.
One of his key messages was that marketers do not need a technical or programming background to benefit from AI. Instead, he emphasized that professionals should rely on their existing strengths, such as creativity, strategic thinking, and curiosity, when using AI tools.
Vahey also shared seven habits that marketers can incorporate into their daily work to improve their ability to use AI effectively. These habits encourage experimentation, continuous learning, and a willingness to explore new ways of solving business challenges.
Overall, the keynote highlighted how AI is opening new opportunities for marketers to innovate and create value, especially as organizations increasingly adopt advanced technologies to stay competitive.
According to Vahey, the future of marketing will belong to professionals who are willing to explore these possibilities and actively build solutions rather than simply operate existing systems.
