Honored to Represent MSU Denver at Hispanic Contractors of Colorado’s “Demystifying AI” Panel

Recently, I had the honor of representing MSU Denver’s Marketing Department as a featured student on Hispanic Contractors of Colorado’s panel, “Demystifying AI.” I was nominated for this opportunity by our Marketing Department Chair, Dr. Sally Baalbaki-Yassine, which made the experience even more meaningful. Being trusted to represent MSU Denver’s brand as a student leader is something I am truly grateful for.

Caption: Featured as MSU Denver’s Marketing student representative at HCC’s “Demystifying AI” panel.

Representing MSU Denver as a Student Leader

Sitting on this panel, I felt a deep sense of responsibility and pride. I wasn’t just there as an individual; I was representing my department, my professors, and my fellow students. MSU Denver has played a huge role in shaping how I think about marketing, leadership, and emerging technologies, and this event was a chance to bring those lessons into a real-world conversation.

I’m especially thankful to Dr. Sally Baalbaki-Yassine for nominating me and believing in my potential. Her support gave me the confidence to share my perspective and to represent MSU Denver’s brand as one of leadership, curiosity, and community impact.

Keeping a Human Touch in an AI-Driven World

One of the core themes of the panel was the importance of **keeping a human touch while using AI as a tool**. AI is becoming more powerful and more accessible, but at its best, it doesn’t replace people—it supports them.

In marketing and business, relationships, trust, and authenticity still come from human beings. AI can help us:

• Draft and organize ideas more quickly

• Personalize communication at scale

• Analyze data and identify patterns

• Streamline repetitive or time-consuming tasks

But it can’t replace our empathy, our lived experiences, or our understanding of context and culture. Those human elements are what give brands their voice and values. The conversation at the panel reinforced that AI should be guided by people who care about their communities and the impact of their work.

Using AI as a Practical Tool for Business Strategy

Another big takeaway for me was seeing how AI can be used in **very practical ways** to support business strategy, especially for busy professionals and small businesses.

We explored how AI can:

• Help develop marketing strategies by turning data into clear insights

• Support content planning and campaign ideas

• Improve efficiency so teams can focus more on strategic decisions and relationships

• Make advanced tools more accessible to organizations that might not have large marketing departments

For me as a marketing student, it was eye-opening to see how what I’m learning in class connects directly to real-world tools that are already being used in the field. It made AI feel less like a buzzword and more like a practical partner in getting meaningful work done.

Gratitude and Looking Ahead

I’m deeply grateful for the opportunity to represent **MSU Denver’s Marketing Department** and to be part of such an important conversation with Hispanic Contractors of Colorado. It was an honor to sit on a panel that focused not just on what AI can do, but on how we can use it **responsibly, thoughtfully, and humanely**.

This experience reminded me that the future of marketing and business isn’t about choosing between humans and AI. It’s about **humans using AI well**—as a tool to make our work more efficient, our strategies more informed, and our impact more intentional, while never losing the human touch that truly connects us.