Finger on the Marketing AI Pulse with Aby Varma: Community, Curiosity, and the Human Touch

Welcome to another episode of the AICHE AI Curious Human Enthusiast Podcast! Today, host Erich Starrett sits down with Aby Varma, CEO of Spark Novus and founder of ConvergeX, to get his unique perspective on riding the AI wave in the heart of Atlanta’s marketing and technology scene. Known for his passion for bringing people together—both virtually and in person—Aby Varma shares the story behind Spark Novus and the cross-community powerhouse, ConvergeX, which is helping professionals learn, connect, and grow in the rapidly shifting landscape of AI.

In this episode, Aby Varma reveals how his curiosity for AI started pre-COVID, how he leverages automation to eliminate “administrivia,” and why he believes humans—and human connections—will always be at the center of truly impactful innovation. Together, Erich Starrett and Aby Varma break down practical use cases, the “Human-AI sandwich” approach, (don't leave it open-faced!) and what it really takes to stand out as unmistakably human in an AI-powered world.

If you’re ready for real talk on AI, actionable strategies, and a glimpse into the future of human–machine collaboration, tune in for this high-energy, insightful conversation. And if you’re near Atlanta, don’t miss out on the upcoming Marketing AI Pulse event—where innovation and community go hand in hand!

https://sparknovus.com

https://sparknovus.com/convergex

https://sparknovus.com/marketing-ai-pulse

https://www.meetup.com/marketing-ai/

Shoutout Sangram Vajre of GTM Partners - offereing a fractional CMO course the morning of the next Marketing AI Pulse on February 12th 2026.

About our Guest:

Aby Varma - SparkNovus

https://www.linkedin.com/in/abyvarma/

Aby Varma is a dynamic leader in the field of artificial intelligence-driven marketing. As the driving force behind Spark Novus, Aby has helped shape the company into a strategic powerhouse, specializing in AI enablement and implementation for marketing, sales, and service teams in mid-market and enterprise organizations. His journey also includes founding the Marketing AI Pulse community in Atlanta, a thriving network designed to bring together like-minded professionals passionate about the intersection of marketing and artificial intelligence. Throughout his career, Aby’s innovative spirit and collaborative approach have fueled remarkable success and fostered vibrant business communities.