Restaurant AI

Erin Levzow: Navigating the Future of Marketing with AI


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In this episode of the Restaurant AI Podcast, hosts Matt Wampler, Co-Founder and CEO of ClearCOGS, and Erin Levzow, an award-winning marketing innovator whose career spans brands like Wingstop, Del Taco, and the Museum of Ice Cream, dive deep into how AI and data are redefining restaurant marketing.


From her start in Las Vegas casinos to leading marketing for national restaurant brands, Erin shares how hospitality’s most competitive environments taught her to think like a technologist. She explains how restaurants can move beyond segmentation to true one-to-one marketing, where every guest interaction is informed by behavior, timing, and intent.


The discussion unpacks the rise of AI-powered multivariable testing, the importance of storytelling and emotional intelligence in modern marketing, and how women in leadership bring fresh perspective to brand strategy. Erin and Matt also explore the ethics of automation, the future of voice AI in drive-thrus, and why every modern CMO must be part data scientist, part storyteller.


Throughout, Erin emphasizes one key message: technology will keep changing but continuous learning, authenticity, and empathy will always drive the most meaningful connections between brands and guests.

Episode Links:

  • Listen to Bite-Sized & Bossy: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/bite-sized-bossy/id1780866645
  • Connect with Matt on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthewjwampler
  • Visit ClearCOGS: https://www.clearcogs.com
  • 00:00 Intro

    01:30 Welcome, Erin Levzow!

    02:00 Marketing - Then and now

    07:55 The future of marketing

    09:50 Marketing as a franchisee

    12:17 Maximizing the capabilities of restaurant marketing

    14:20 Personalization

    15:39 AI in restaurant marketing

    17:32 AI for multivariable testing

    20:26 Know the story you’re telling

    23:35 Women in marketing

    24:55 The new generation of marketers

    26:22 The Mecca of marketing

    29:38 “The jam study”

    32:00 The danger of turning AI loose

    37:40 AI's impact on the restaurant industry

    42:00 AI's Role in Marketing and Customer Interaction

    47:20 Tech consolidation

    50:55 Data-focused approach and future-thinking

    52:20 Byte-Sized & Bossy podcast

    1:01:00 Advice for aspiring female executives

    1:03:35 Authenticity in the workplace

    1:08:34 Why aren't there more women founders?

    1:10:30 Manifesting confidence

    1:12:50 Take the risk

    1:16:14 Outro



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    Restaurant AIBy Matt Wampler