Episode notes
In this episode of Prof to Prof, Ryan Russell, associate lecturer of marketing at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga and CEO of Lyft Media Group, shares actionable strategies to help educators train career-ready marketing graduates. Drawing from both agency leadership and classroom experience, Ryan explains why traditional textbooks and static “click skills” are no longer enough. He outlines how instructors can shift focus from search engine optimization (SEO) to answer engine optimization (AEO) and generative engine optimization (GEO) to keep pace with evolving search behaviors.
Designed for marketing and business faculty, this presentation breaks down how to instill strategic curiosity, analytical literacy, and real-world confidence through experiential tools like Simternships. Learn how allowing students to fail and iterate through ambiguity builds true career readiness, why context matters more than content, and how partnering with industry professionals can continuously modernize your syllabus.