On September 10, 2026, Bangladesh's marketing and branding community gathered on a Facebook Live event for the AI for Marketers Summit, organized by iDEAN Consulting. The Facebook Live event featured Professor Philip Kotler in a conversation moderated by Mark Anupom Mollick, Founder and Executive Consultant of iDEAN Consulting, alongside Professor Dr. Waldemar Pfoertsch, co-author of B2B Brand Management and Professor of International Business.
A panel discussion followed, bringing together leaders from IBA, Grameenphone, Prothom Alo, SKF Pharmaceuticals, The Daily Star, and Attech Global to debate what AI actually means for marketing in Bangladesh.
Future Startup covered the summit when it was announced last week.
Session Highlights
- Global masterclasses. Professor Philip Kotler delivered a presentation titled "AI in Marketing," followed by Professor Dr. Waldemar Pfoertsch's masterclass, "AI in the Age of Branding." Mark Anupom Mollick moderated the session.
- A Bangladesh edition of B2B Brand Management. Kotler and Pfoertsch announced a Bangladesh edition of their book B2B Brand Management, with Anupom joining as co-author. The book will feature real B2B case studies from Bangladeshi organizations and is set to launch in January.
- Panel discussion. Mahadi Faisal, Director of Marketing and Growth at SHWAPNO, moderated "AI in Marketing: Hype, Reality, and Bangladesh's Potential," featuring Dr. Rezwanul Haque Khan (IBA, University of Dhaka), Nafis Anwar Chowdhury (Grameenphone), Md. Azwaz Khan (Prothom Alo), Binoy Das (SKF Pharmaceuticals), Md. Tajdin Hasan (The Daily Star), and Shuvashish Bhowmik (Attech Global).
By the Numbers
The organizers said the event received an excellent response from Bangladesh’s marketing and brand community. Some highlights from the event per organizers:
- 50,000+ registered professionals and students
- 100,000+ online views during the Facebook Live session
- 8 industry experts and global academic leaders featured across the two segments
- 1 upcoming book collaboration announced for Bangladesh
Key Takeaways
- Human emotion remains irreplaceable. AI accelerates marketing efficiency, but Professor Kotler and Dr. Pfoertsch both said technology cannot replace human trust, customer psychology, and deep emotional connection. Leveraging technology to connect with customers on a deeper level and create meaningful value remains the core challenge for brands today.
- Data and distinctiveness drive advantage. The local panelists agreed that with AI tools now accessible to everyone, simply using the tools will no longer provide any long-term advantage. Instead, long-term competitive advantage will come from how effectively a brand uses AI along with its own local data and how well it protects a distinct identity in a crowded market.
- Strategic application matters most. Panelists pointed to how accurately AI gets applied in specialized areas like healthcare, corporate governance, and results-driven marketing as the real dividing line between brands that pull ahead and those that don't.
The organizers said the event has drawn widespread praise in corporate circles for connecting Bangladeshi marketers directly with global-standard thinking and the international marketing community
