Immerse yourself in the world of technology and attain unmatched insights with the ExtraMile by KnowledgeNile interview series. Here, we host industry leaders to discuss the newest innovations that have impacted diverse industries.
In today's discussion, we are delighted to introduce Jyothi Swaroop, the Chief Marketing Officer of DDN, a pioneer in data intelligence and management. With a client base of over 11,000 governmental and non-governmental organizations, enterprises, and small-scale firms, DDN has achieved a whopping revenue of $1 billion. The firm specializes in managing and accelerating AI and HPC workloads.
As the CMO of DDN, Swaroop looks after the entire marketing process of the company, alongside making remarkable contributions to the areas of go-to-market strategy, business development, revenue operations, and sales.
Discover Swaroop's two-decade-long marketing journey alongside attaining knowledge on DDN's marketing vision, the role of agentic AI in marketing, the importance of data, and the future of marketing.
Welcome, Swaroop; we're glad to have you with us today!
You are a seasoned marketer with more than 20 years of experience in the industry. What inspired you to lead a career in marketing, and how has your experience been so far?
Jyothi. a. From the very beginning of my career, I was drawn to the intersection of technology, storytelling, and customer impact. Marketing offered a unique opportunity to bridge innovative solutions with real-world needs — helping customers not only understand technology but also envision how it could transform their businesses. Over the past two decades, my journey has taken me across every phase of growth—from scaling startups to leading global marketing for industry pioneers.
b. The pace of change, especially today with AI and data intelligence redefining industries, keeps marketing both exciting and essential. What’s been most rewarding is helping organizations build meaningful brands, drive measurable growth, and stay ahead of market shifts. At DDN, I’m especially energized by the opportunity to shape the conversation around how data intelligence powers the future, and to work alongside some of the brightest minds in the industry. It’s been an incredible experience so far — and honestly, I feel like we're just getting started.
What are DDN's marketing goals and vision? How do you endeavor to achieve these goals with efficiency?
Jyothi. At DDN, our marketing mission is to position the company as the world’s premier AI data platform. We aim to demonstrate not only the power of DDN’s solutions, but also their seamless integration across industries and real-world environments. While marketing has always been rooted in storytelling, achieving maximum efficiency and effectiveness in today’s marketing landscape requires a surgically precise application of AI — from generating high-impact content to hyper-targeting campaigns that reach the right audiences with the right messages, driving stronger ROI and deeper engagement.
What role does agentic AI play in marketing endeavors? How do marketers employ agentic AI while optimizing the existing marketing workflow?
Jyothi. Agentic AI is rapidly evolving, and it’s becoming essential to marketing, but its effectiveness ultimately depends on the user’s ability to interact with it. You can build the smartest AI system imaginable, but if you don’t know how to prompt it or engage with it, you won’t achieve the results you’re aiming for. It’s an incremental process — helping people evolve alongside the tools. At DDN, we’re adapting to this shift by moving beyond traditional SEO and focusing on GEO: GPT Engine Optimization. As more users turn to AI platforms like ChatGPT and Grok for information, it’s critical that we leverage this development and absorb those insights for our marketing strategy. Because DDN powers so many of the world’s leading AI use cases, we’re uniquely positioned for this evolution and can see it unfolding in the future to work in tandem with more traditional marketing workflows.
The data intelligence industry is becoming highly competitive over time. What are the key considerations businesses should look at when choosing appropriate data intelligence services?
Jyothi. Look for a solution that delivers real performance at scale. Reliability, low latency, scalability—these are essential components of a top-tier solution. Your data intelligence partner should understand the nuances of your workload, and they should have a proven track record of building systems that actually work in production. That’s where DDN stands out. We’ve spent over two decades developing storage architectures that are purpose-built for high-end data environments across industries, from healthcare to autonomous driving to life sciences.
Is social media marketing important at present, even for AI-powered solutions? How do social channels help in boosting reach and engagement for SaaS products?
Jyothi. a. Absolutely — social media marketing is more critical than ever, even for highly technical and AI-powered solutions. Today’s buyers are more informed, independent, and digitally connected. Social channels are not just platforms for brand awareness; they are powerful tools for building trust, educating audiences, and sparking meaningful conversations at every stage of the customer journey.
b. For SaaS and AI solutions, social media offers a unique opportunity to humanize complex technologies, share thought leadership, and foster direct engagement with customers, prospects, and partners. It allows companies to showcase real-world impact, highlight innovation, and respond quickly to market needs. At DDN, we leverage social channels strategically—not just to boost reach, but to cultivate communities, demonstrate our expertise, and position our brand as a trusted leader in data intelligence. In today’s landscape, social media isn’t optional; it’s essential for driving sustained growth and competitive advantage.
Why is data essential for marketing? How do you gather, evaluate, integrate, and manage valuable data for marketing benefits?
Jyothi. Data is foundational to marketing success, but in today’s AI-driven world, it’s not enough to rely on static customer databases or legacy insights. In the era of AI, you must engage with real-time data, constantly updating and refining your understanding of your audience. At DDN, we don’t just view data as static records, instead, we treat it as dynamic metadata. It’s not only about capturing leads, but rather, it’s about understanding behavior: why a customer is engaging with certain content, how they are navigating our digital touchpoints, and what signals they send through their actions. We leverage tools like GEO, custom AI chatbots, and advanced social media analytics to fine-tune the data continuously. Hyperpersonalization is our goal, and ultimately, conversion and customer delight come from this level of specificity.
What is your opinion on strong and result-driven business partnerships? Share an instance here DDN partnered with a leading firm for lasting success.
Jyothi. Strong, strategic partnerships have been fundamental for DDN and key to bringing transformative technologies to the mainstream. Nvidia has been a standout partner for us. Since 2017, DDN has worked closely with Nvidia to align our innovations with their progress, both at the infrastructure level, through GPUs, and increasingly at the application layer. We’ve aligned our integrations, particularly DDN Infinia, with Nvidia’s technology, ensuring that our solutions continue to deliver maximum performance and relevance to AI workloads as the tech evolves. At DDN, our focus on partnerships like this is to make AI real and actionable for mainstream enterprises, from Fortune 500 companies to the Global 2000. We believe that real AI transformation starts by addressing foundational needs at the data and infrastructure layer, and that’s where DDN leads.
How do you see the future of marketing? In the coming years, which marketing trends are likely to dominate major industries, and with what advantages?
Jyothi. a. The future of marketing will be increasingly data-driven, hyper-personalized, and experience-focused. As AI, automation, and real-time analytics mature, marketers will be able to deliver more tailored and predictive experiences across every touchpoint. Buyers expect relevance, authenticity, and immediacy — and the brands that can meet those expectations will win.
b. A few key trends will define the next era of marketing:
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- AI-powered personalization: From content creation to customer journeys, AI will enable marketing teams to deliver highly customized experiences at scale, improving engagement and conversion rates.
- Community-led growth: Especially in B2B, building strong user and customer communities will become central to brand loyalty and advocacy.
- Data privacy and trust: As data regulations tighten, brands that prioritize transparency and customer control over their data will differentiate themselves.
- Content evolution: With the rise of GenAI and immersive technologies, content will move beyond static formats into more interactive, dynamic, and even AI-generated experiences.
- Sustainability and purpose: Customers increasingly want to support brands that align with their values. Purpose-driven marketing will become a major driver of customer loyalty.
c. Ultimately, marketing will be less about broadcasting messages and more about orchestrating value-driven, personalized experiences. Those who can adapt quickly and authentically will have a significant advantage.
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