“The highest-paying job in tech will soon be marketing.”
A recent, popular post on X claimed that 'the highest-paying job in tech will soon be marketing.'
I found this particularly interesting while writing this week's newsletter about the specific metrics and data needed for AI-driven growth marketing strategies.
Commercializing Distribution
I would fine-tune that to: “The highest-paying role in tech will soon be Growth/Commercial.”
We are moving beyond the traditional label of 'marketing.' Today, the focus has shifted toward Growth and Distribution.
Marketing is no longer a department that simply 'runs campaigns' or 'runs ads.' Don’t get me wrong—I love data-driven campaigns and have spent more than a decade executing them throughout my journey.
However, in 2026, the evolution of AI has added a powerful layer that accelerates commercial distribution.
It’s about leveraging AI to build systems that scale, while using your human "identity" to build trust.
Marketing is no longer about just running campaigns and ads; it has shifted toward influence and identity, particularly for products and brands seeking growth.
It belongs to those who excel at commercializing distribution and integrating acquisition, marketing/GTM leads, sales conversion, and product value into a single engine for revenue growth.
— Grace Man
Exponential Scale
The core objective is to effectively run the process of turning attention, traffic, and leads into a predictable, replicable growth engine, leveraging AI smartly for exponential scale.
So “marketing” here no longer means just running campaigns, content, or paid ads. It is about growth and distribution.
My Take on the Shift in Marketing
This is fascinating. As I work with my peers, clients, and partners, we are seeing this shift unfold in real time.
PS: We are leveraging this momentum to accelerate and transform both our internal operations and the results we deliver for our clients. If you have any questions in regards to growth and marketing, feel free to reach out to me.
How good you are at distribution
The game has shifted from focusing on how good your product is to how good you are at distribution across three pillars:
Reach: Whom are you able to reach sustainably?
Build a structural foundation through AI-first content, social media, partnerships, personal brand collaborations, and ecosystem building.Conversion: Why do your ideal clients choose to try your product?
Drive trust through CONTEXTUAL case studies, intentional feedback loops, strong social proof, and strategic pricing that evolves through iteration.
Retention and Loyalty: Why do they keep coming back?
This is powered by strong activation, habit loops, and recommendation systems that continuously deliver value.
Why users choose you over others
With AI, building a product is now accessible to anyone.
As similar products rush into the market, the competitive edge shifts to why users choose you over others.
What metrics and data to look at
Instead of focusing on fragmented metrics, here is a better way to look at data in marketing and growth:
1. From Exposure to GROWTH
Focus on: Register → Enroll/Sign up → Activation → Purchase → Retention → Payment.
You don’t need to obsess over vanity metrics like impressions, reach, and likes.
Our Case: This is why we have shifted our focus to building a structural system behind the scenes, rather than feeling anxious about the “likes” on a specific LinkedIn post, or other channels.
2. Accumulate Distributive Assets
Focus on structural content strategy, community building, email lists, and strategic partnerships.
Our Case: This is what we continue to optimize, test, and improve. Keep the “launch-iterate-test-iterate-improve” process.
3. Mastering the Buying Journey
Show up exactly when users are comparing solutions.
Our Case: We plan to level this up by leveraging AI and automation, freeing up our time for deeper nurturing and uplifting our audience.
4. Building Social Proof
We are focused on feedback loops and case studies.
Our Case: I am fortunate to be building our “Wall of Love” page to thank all the clients, partners, and peers supporting us at AI Strategy League.
5. Owning Specific Use Cases
It is better to be the go-to solution for specific scenarios than to be mentioned generically. Chase specific use-case dominance rather than general rankings.
Influence and Identity
Marketing has shifted from running campaigns and ads to adding influence and identity to the whole marketing ecosystems.
Influence vs Credibility
Authority does not automatically result in sales. In fact, credibility and influence—rooted in an authentic identity and backed by strong branding—are what drive people to pay a premium for your services over others.
— Grace Man
This is perhaps the number one takeaway of my entire growth and conversion rate optimization strategy throughout my 15-year+ marketing career.
Want to learn more?
I have started sharing deeply researched, AI-driven growth strategies.
My mission is to build AI-native systems that handle the heavy lifting, so I have more time for human conversations and deep relationships.
