Rediscovering Humanity in Marketing: Lessons from The Uprising 2025

Beyond Algorithms: Rediscovering Humanity at The Uprising 2025

When Marketing Minds Unite: My Experience at Mark Schaefer's The Uprising

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In a world increasingly dominated by AI-generated content and automation, what makes a marketing event truly transformative? Earlier this month, I discovered the answer when Mark Schaefer invited me to speak at The Uprising, his intimate marketing retreat nestled in the serene setting of RT Lodge in Tennessee.

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More Than Just a Conference

The Uprising isn't about collecting business cards or sitting through PowerPoint presentations you'll forget by next week. It's about deep thinking, meaningful connections, and conversations that challenge our assumptions about where marketing is headed.

When Mark invited me to present my latest generational authenticity research alongside marketing legends like Ann Handley and Andy Crestodina, I knew this would be invaluable for our work at Intelligentics. What I didn't anticipate was how profoundly this gathering of just 30 elite marketers and thought leaders would transform my thinking about the future of marketing and provide new insights for our research initiatives.

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Learning from the Best: New Research Directions

The caliber of thinking at The Uprising offered priceless insights that will directly inform Intelligentics' research roadmap for 2025-2026:

• Ann Handley's fireside chat with Mark uncovered insights on writing with purpose and fighting imposter syndrome.
• Andy Crestodina broke down practical approaches to AI-enhanced analytics and content systems.
• Dr. Matt Wilkinson presented a balanced view of AI as a tool that enhances creativity when guided by human insight.
• Brian Piper mapped the future of content infrastructure and scale.
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• Kami Watson Huyse reminded us what truly drives social media—real human connections.

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Collective Effervescence: Inspiring Intelligentics' Research Approach

What makes The Uprising special is what Mark calls "collective effervescence"—that magical energy that emerges when thoughtful people gather with purpose. I love this idea because it highlights that genuine human connection sparks creative outcomes no AI could ever replicate, which is exactly what happened at The Uprising.

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The Ripple Effect: From The Uprising to Intelligentics

The beauty of being invited to speak at The Uprising isn't just what happens during those few days—it's the ripple effect that continues long after the last hug goodbye. Ideas sparked during our conversations are already transforming Intelligentics' research agenda that will enhance our client research.

I returned to our team at Intelligentics with a notebook full of ideas, a heart full of gratitude, and a network of brilliant new colleagues. Our team is already implementing key insights from the event into our research methodology. In a marketing world often dominated by algorithms and automation, The Uprising reinforced a key part of Intelligentics' core mission: understanding and enhancing the irreplaceable human elements of customer connections.

For those curious about joining this remarkable experience next year, I cannot recommend it highly enough. And for brands seeking to understand how these insights apply to their specific challenges, Intelligentics' updated research offerings will help you navigate the balance between technological efficiency and human connection.

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Dr. Mara Singer is Senior Research Specialist at Intelligentics, specializing in authenticity and generational dynamics. She speaks and writes about the intersection of technology and human connection in marketing.