Higher Education Marketing in the Age of AI: Building Global Trust with Bridgette Lehrer, UC Berkeley

In this episode of B2B Marketing Excellence & AI, Donna Peterson sits down with Bridgette Lehrer, a Global Audience Engagement Leader for the Berkeley International Study Program (BISP UC Berkeley), to talk about what it really takes to build trust in higher education marketing today.They explore how to stay personal and purposeful as technology continues to evolve — and how a thoughtful balance between traditional and digital marketing can create a stronger sense of authentic community.Bridgette shares practical ways her team nurtures long-term relationships with visiting students, alumni and campus colleagues and partners across the world. From understanding cultural nuances in international outreach to creating personalized content powered by AI, she offers insights that every education marketer can apply right away.One of Donna’s favorite examples is a simple but powerful traditional marketing initiative they use on campus: students take photos, then choose a few favorites to turn into postcards. During special events, everyone is invited to select a postcard and send it home to parents or friends. It’s a small gesture that builds genuine connection — and gets the entire UC Berkeley community involved.Whether you manage executive education programs or global enrollment campaigns, this conversation will give you actionable ideas to:Blend digital tools with human touchpoints to strengthen relationships.Use AI for personalization without losing authenticity.Reimagine traditional tactics to bring people together in meaningful ways.The future of higher education marketing isn’t about more technology — it’s about using it wisely to stay human.Timestamps00:00 — Introduction: Staying Human in the Age of AI00:37 — Meet Bridgette Lehrer, UC Berkeley01:23 — Building Relationships in a Digital World02:58 — The Power of In-Person Connections04:52 — Adapting Marketing for Global Audiences08:40 — Using AI for Personalized Communication20:24 — The Importance of Video Content25:30 — Engaging Students and Alumni on Social Media28:39 — Closing Thoughts: Keeping Engagement AuthenticBridgette Lehrer Bio-LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bridgette-lehrer/Bridgette Lehrer is the Assistant Director for Marketing and Outreach with the Berkeley International Study Program, a study abroad option at the University of California, Berkeley for highly motivated exchange students. Since 2009, she has cultivated expertise in students’ engagement, strategic marketing and outreach management with particular emphasis on international student recruitment and alumni relations. Prior to Berkeley, Bridgette worked in diverse industries including nonprofit fundraising, corporate marketing, and technology customer service. Her educational background includes a B.A. in Art History (Arizona State University), an M.A. in Museum Studies (San Francisco State University) and a Certificate in Digital Marketing (eCornell University).Resources Recommended by Bridgette-Engaging with International Alumni as Strategic Partners - https://www.nafsa.org/bookstore/engaging-international-alumni-strategic-partners - By Sandra Rincón, Msc, and Gretchen Dobson, EdDThe Culture Map: Decoding how People Think, Lead, and Get Things Done Across Cultures- https://erinmeyer.com/books/the-culture-map/ - By Erin Meyer *** Reach out to [email protected] you’d like help building a marketing strategy that builds relationships and/or AI training for individuals or full teams. *** Visit www.worldinnovators.comfor more resources on building stronger marketing and leadership strategies. *** Subscribe to the B2B Marketing Excellence & AI Podcast for weekly insights into marketing, leadership, and the future of AI.

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