So I just listened to this super insightful conversation with Anne, the CMO at Sierra Ventures, and let me tell you — if you’re in marketing, freelancing, or running an agency right now, this is your moment. Seriously. It’s not doom-and-gloom like some people say AI is coming for all the jobs. Nope. Anne’s take? This is probably the best time ever to be running a small agency or be a consultant. Here’s why.

Anne’s journey is already wild — she started in Hollywood at Paramount Pictures, went up to the Bay Area, worked at Sony PlayStation, then jumped into the startup world, and eventually built her own agency before landing in venture capital. She’s now helping portfolio companies scale their go-to-market (GTM) strategies and digging into deal flow as part of Sierra’s investment team.

But the real heart of the convo was about what she’s seeing right now in the world of GTM and marketing, especially with AI taking over.

Let’s rewind for a second. Remember how we used to think agencies were on their way out because of AI? That’s what a lot of VCs were buzzing about. But Anne flipped the script.

Her LinkedIn post that kicked off this whole discussion made a big, bold point: agencies are not dying — they’re evolving, and fast.

Why? Because the tech is finally working for the agencies.

AI tools have leveled the playing field. A small shop can now spin up content, videos, and even podcasts at lightning speed, and often better than a bloated team. And here’s the kicker — many agencies are still charging the same prices they did pre-AI, while doing the work in a fraction of the time.

Anne said it best: “These tools only work as well as you know how to make them work.” That’s the sweet spot where agencies and freelancers are thriving — becoming true experts in tools like video editing, podcast production, AI writing assistants, and platforms like Clay (which is powerful but not exactly beginner-friendly).

One of the cooler metaphors that came up was the idea of the “full-stack agency.” Back in the day, a marketing agency might have had one SEO person, one video person, one designer, and so on. Today? You’ve got folks who are full-stack in their specialty. Like: “I do video, and I do it all — record, edit, optimize, publish.” Same with podcasts, same with content. Fewer handoffs. Less friction. More speed. And much higher margins.

The conversation also veered into why so many AI platforms are now offering “Do It For Me” or “Concierge” services, even though their tools are supposed to be self-serve. Isn’t that kind of ironic?

Anne explained this perfectly: Even if the tools are powerful, people — especially in startups and enterprises — don’t have the time to learn 10 new things while putting out a million fires. Startups are already running on overdrive quarter after quarter. So they need help. Not just software — implementation, guidance, and actual execution.

Enter the freelancers and micro-agencies. These folks are not just service providers anymore — they’re becoming educators and implementers. Some consultants are making a killing just teaching teams how to use tools like Clay effectively. That’s not going away anytime soon.

Another interesting thread: impact. The days of “I’ll make content and check the MQL box” are over. Brands want to see revenue. If your agency or tool isn’t tied to business outcomes — not just leads, but dollars — you’re going to get passed over. AI may automate execution, but strategy, impact, and real performance still need smart humans in the loop.

Anne even mentioned some cost-saving hacks on the CRM side — one of the podcast hosts built his own internal CRM using a $20 tool instead of paying $400 a month to HubSpot. That’s wild — and again, speaks to how agile and efficient marketing ops have become if you’re tech-savvy and AI-literate.

And honestly? This is just the beginning.

We’re still early. The models and tools we’re using now? They’re the worst we’ll ever use, Anne said — everything’s only going to get faster, smarter, and more intuitive. But right now, there’s this golden window of opportunity for agencies and freelancers to learn the tools, stack their skills, and lead the charge before everything becomes “click-and-done.”

So if you’re in the agency game, thinking of starting a consultancy, or even just freelancing on the side — this episode was your pep talk. You’re not being replaced by AI. You’re being amplified by it.

But only if you lean in.