Agents of Change

In B2B, achieving stellar business performance is an incredibly complicated endeavor. At the vertical level, beyond just manufacturing, distribution and services, the intricacies grow even more challenging as unique macroeconomic factors and industry disrupters further stress legacy systems and methods. Gaining strategic control of pricing and sales performance at this level will be the differentiator between leaders and laggards. B2B Reimagined is a monthly podcast with a rotating host of experts. Each of whom brings decades of experience using data science to address industry-vertical specific challenges that give the critical strategic control over pricing and sales that today's B2B companies simply must-have.

What change do you want to make in the world? We often talk about what change looks like in a workplace context. Yet, being an agent of change doesn’t end when you stop working. The question is, what does being an agent of change look like outside of your professional role? In this episode, Kevin Galang visits with Christmas Hutchinson, a career confidence and growth mindset coach and author of the book The Resilient Mind. To call Christmas – or Chrissy – an Agent of Change is an understatement. While she’s always had a knack for overcoming adversity, when her back was against the wall, she had a realization that would change everything.  If you’d like to learn more, visit https://conga.com/podcast

As we approach the end of season 4 of Agents of Change, Kevin Galang pauses for a moment to reflect on a favorite question with experts this season.  “What are you leaving behind in 2020?”  You’ll hear from Noel Goggin, CEO and Culture Leader at Conga, Steve Aitken, Salesforce practice international lead for Publicis Sapient, and Esther Flammer, Vice President of Demand Generation at Conga. As you listen to their answers, think about your own. What have you left behind? If you’d like to learn more, visit https://conga.com/podcast

How can product innovation help your business navigate uncertainty? In 2020, the move to remote work led to a massive increase in innovations and the adoption of new technologies. The question is, how did these transformations help businesses navigate the challenges of 2020? In this episode, Kevin Galang digs into the product innovations of the past year with expert insights from Anna Eaglin, formerly Principal Product Manager at Innovatemap, now Co-Founder and Head of Product at Uncovered, Phil Simon, author of the new book, Reimagining Collaboration, and Grant Peterson, Chief Product Officer at Conga. If you’d like to learn more, visit https://conga.com/podcast In this Episode, You’ll Learn: The importance of continuous innovation Collaboration is the key to effective innovation How to avoid making mistakes by gathering feedback What to Listen For: [01:32] – What is product innovation? [07:16] – How to avoid complacency in your business [10:47] – Mistakes to avoid in innovation [13:36] – What happens when innovation fails [17:53] – How to make your product stand out [26:16] – What is the future of work culture? [31:24] – Pro tips for collaboration [32:27] – Agent in the News with Amy Bartner

Is a culture of instant gratification a symptom of digital transformation? Or is it the cause? When we talk about digital transformation, we’re often talking about ways to make things faster, more efficient, and effortless. The question is, did the constant push towards technology-fueled improvement lead to a culture of instant gratification, or is it a result of wanting everything quicker? In this episode, Kevin Galang examines this chicken-and-egg scenario with insights from guest experts Kelli Blystone, Blog and Social Media Manager at Conga, Dr. Julie Azevedo Hanks, Therapist and Coach, and Rachel Downey, President of Share Your Genius and the producer for the Agents of Change podcast. If you’d like to learn more, visit https://conga.com/podcast In this Episode, You’ll Learn How to: Protect your mental health in a digital-first world Be mindful when interfacing with technology Manage expectations regarding social media interactions What to Listen For: [01:31] – The problem with instant gratification [08:06] – Managing your attention like a finite resource [11:03] – How Kelli Blystone sets boundaries as a social media manager [16:07] – The importance of being authentic [22:02] – Agent in the News with Amy Bartner

What lessons can we learn from forced business transformations? Business transformation isn’t always voluntary, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t lessons to learn. When massive change is unavoidable, some businesses adopt a survival posture, while others see an opportunity to serve their customers better.  In this episode, Kevin Galang examines the mindset of different businesses in the midst of major change, along with insights from guest experts Mike Rethage, Senior Vice President and Head of Senior Living for Touchtown, Dan Hopkins, Senior Director of Applied AI and Public Sector at Eightfold.ai, and Jacob Hill, Managing Director at Offploy Community Interest Company. If you’d like to learn more, visit https://conga.com/podcast In this Episode, You’ll Learn How to: Take the time to build relationships on your team Ask “why” before you begin Transforming your business can mean short-term pain What to Listen For: [01:22] – How Mike Rethage maintained culture while going digital [06:28] – How Dan Hopkins uses technology for competitive advantage [14:49] – How Jacob Hill navigated the uncertainty of COVID by going digital [18:29] – How Jacob’s personal story empowered him to become an Agent of Change [24:03] – Advice for navigating a digital transformation [25:01] – Agent in the News with Amy Bartner

When the pandemic hit, life and work transformed seemingly overnight. From remote work to rapid digital transformations, the rate of innovation and adaptation was astonishing.  After a year filled with immense change, what can we take with us as we continue to move forward? More importantly, what should we be prepared to leave behind? In this episode, Kevin Galang tackles these questions with insights from guest experts Esther Flammer, Vice President of Demand Generation at Conga, Noel Goggin, CEO of Conga, Steve Aitken, Salesforce Practice International Lead at Publicis Sapient, and Mike Rethage, Senior Vice President and Head of Senior Living for Touchtown.

As it became clear that 2020 would be unlike anything any of us had experienced, expectations and predictions surfaced around how the year would turn out. But what happened when those predictions didn't come true?    Kevin Galang revisits predictions, while looking back at lessons learned with guest experts Noel Goggin, CEO of Conga, Tracy Cote, Chief People Officer at Zenefits, and Lori Ramas, Founder and Chief Communications Officer for Ask Relezant. If you’d like to learn more, visit https://conga.com/podcast

Most of us spent 2020 reacting to a world outside of our control. And as soon as we adjusted, everything seemed to change. This year, it’s time we shift the focus, breathe and start being proactive. How? By embracing the new normal. As the season unfolds, we’ll revisit past predictions, ways businesses innovated, and what the way forward looks like in this new normal. We’ll also be introducing a new segment called Agents in the News, highlighting the positive things happening in our communities often missed in a sea of doom scrolling.   And as always, we want to empower you to continue to be the agent of change you are, creating a lasting impact on your organization.

For established companies, change can mean overhauling years of processes and proven methods. But is change any easier in a younger or smaller company?  In this episode, we’re revisiting our conversation with Eboni Blake, Senior Business Systems Analyst at Ibotta, an app that helps you earn cashback every time you shop. When Eboni started her role, she was tasked with analyzing processes and implementing changes to help the business scale. Before making change recommendations, Eboni took the time to step back, listen, and observe. Listen in to find out why. Resources and links discussed: Connect with Eboni Learn more about Ibotta Connect with Jason Learn more about Conga

Who is behind the scenes solving problems and uncovering issues? That’s what Conga’s Agents of Change has set out to discover. In this first episode of season one, host Jason Gabbard, Head of AI Strategy at Conga, talked to Kristen Jensen, Senior Systems Strategist with the Utah Governor’s Office of Economic Development (GOED).  Kristen was on a quest to be an anthropologist but instead of uncovering scientific understandings around humans, she uncovered ways technology can increase government efficiencies. Resources and links discussed: Connect with Kristen Learn more about the Utah Governor’s Office of Economic Development Check out Kristen’s Conga Customer Story here Connect with Jason Learn more about Conga

On today’s re-wind episode of Agents of Change, Jason is joined by Mike Rethage, Senior VP at Touchtown, a community engagement platform that improves quality of life through innovation and connectivity. Mike has a unique perspective on the role of empowerment in the midst of change.  What gave him that perspective? Listen in to hear the full story. Resources and links discussed: Connect with Mike: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaeltrethage/ Learn more about Touchtown: https://www.touchtown.com/ Connect with Jason: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jason-gabbard-ba41191/ Learn more about Conga: https://conga.com

Back when we began Season 2 of Agents of Change, we noticed a common theme emerge. Often, the agents of change we speak with have taken unexpected paths to get to where they are. When it comes to making an impact in your company, there is not one specific blueprint to follow.  Carolyn Jungclas is the Senior Vice President and Director of Procurement and Vendor Management at First Citizens Bank. She has made some big changes in processes during her time at First Citizens Bank, even though she didn’t have previous history in banking.  In this episode, you’ll hear Carolyn’s journey, and how her first big project - setting up a vendor risk management program - involved the implementation of a contract management system. Carolyn sought to implement requirements that don’t simply check a box, but actually make the most sense for those that will be using them most. And sometimes, the answer to that question requires some digging. So, how did she do it? Carolyn is driven to solve problems, and most importantly, solve problems that make the lives of the people she works with much better. Listen in to hear her story.  Resources and links discussed: Connect with Carolyn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carolyn-jungclas-mba-cpsm-2551285  Learn more about First Citizens Bank: https://www.firstcitizens.com/ Connect with Jason: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jason-gabbard-ba41191/  Learn more about Conga: https://conga.com/

It’s finally here, the end of Season 3 of Agents of Change. Over the course of this season we’ve discussed some of the biggest factors businesses face as they prepare for whatever happens next. On today’s episode, we’re wrapping up this season by asking several of our guests what that “next” could look like. Sharing their insights are David Murphy, Chairman of Conga, Susie Hayman, Owner and Founder of In Your Business, Lori Ramas, a Systems and Social Media Specialist for Ask Relezant, Ash Finnegan, Digital Transformation Officer at Conga, Dr. Julie Hanks, Owner and Director of Wasatch Family Therapy, and Dan Hopkins, Senior Director of Applied AI at eightfold. If you’d like to learn more, visit https://conga.com/podcasts/agents-change. Takeaways From Season 3:   1. Focus On the People   Supporting Quotes: Kevin: People are the heart of your organization. When you’re in the middle of a massive change, it’s easy to focus on the processes or technology. But without the people – your team, your customers, and your partners – your organization wouldn’t be what it is today, or what it could be tomorrow.   2. Technology is a Tool   Supporting Quotes: Kevin: It’s simply a powerful tool, not a magic solution. And, like any tool, it’s impact is in how it’s used. So use it well.   3. Be Prepared   Supporting Quote: Kevin: We can’t predict the future, but we can prepare for it. Focus on the fundamentals, put the right people in place, and be willing to change, and you’ll be ready for every possible tomorrow.

What comes to mind when you hear AI? Thanks to Hollywood movies like Terminator and iRobot, there’s a wealth of menacing imagery associated with the term. While entertaining these aren’t an accurate picture of AI in the real world. As businesses embrace digital technology, AI is becoming more necessary for success. Yet, there are misconceptions abound, and leaders often don’t understand it well enough to implement it in their business. In this episode, we’re going to examine what AI is, what it’s capable of, and how it’s being applied in today’s business  landscape. Experts featured are Ajay Dawar, Product Executive at Conga, Jason Gabbard (gah-BARD), Head of AI Strategy at Conga, Dan Hopkins, Senior Director of Applied AI at eightfold, and Carl Harkness, Contracts Manager for Nimbus Therapeutics.  If you’d like to learn more, visit https://conga.com/podcasts/agents-change.

As digital transformation in business has progressed over the years, many leaders were hesitant to embrace the change. In a post-COVID world, the need for companies to rapidly adopt digital transformation has become even more urgent, still many leaders have been slow to accept this digital must environment.  In this episode of Agents of Change, we’re examining how to implement a successful digital transformation–no matter the industry– while uncovering the ways to get buy-in from both leadership and employees in the process. Joining us on this journey is Ash Finnegan, Digital Transformation Officer at Conga, Eric Carrasquilla, SVP of Product at Conga, and Vanessa Grant, Salesforce Analyst for Ciberspring. If you’d like to learn more, visit https://conga.com/podcasts/agents-change.

What was your perception of working from home pre-COVID? For businesses, the prospect of working from home was often seen as impossible, for old and new companies alike. Logistical concerns like efficiency, productivity, and security stood in the way.Being ready for a rapidly changing landscape means adapting to new situations previously thought impossible.In this episode, we’re debunking the misconceptions surrounding WFH while hearing new perspectives on why it was seemingly an insurmountable possibility.   Joining the conversation on what the reality of working from is actually like is Richard Robinson, Principal Sales Engineer at Conga, Dr. Julie Hanks, Owner and Director of Wasatch Family Therapy, Susie Hayman, Owner and Founder of In Your Business, Lori Ramas, a Systems and Social Media Specialist for Ask Relezant. We also feature previous guests Nickki Gibeaut, Senior Salesforce Administrator, and Anokhee Mehta, Manager of Product and Pricing Systems at Ross Video. If you’d like to learn more, visit https://conga.com/podcasts/agents-change.

The heart of any organization is the people who interact with it – employees, customers, partners. In part two of preparing for every possible tomorrow, we are talking about who makes up organizations while remaining customer-centric.  Being ready for a rapidly changing landscape means empowering agents of change by having the right people in place. To highlight the importance of keeping the culture intact and maintaining relationships within the organization, you’ll hear from experts across industries.  Joining the conversation is David Murphy, Chairman of Conga, Corey Iken, Director of Business Intelligence at EyePromise, Nickki Gibbeaut, Senior Salesforce Administrator, and Anokhee Mehta, Manager of Product and Pricing Systems at Ross Video. If you’d like to learn more, visit https://conga.com/podcasts/agents-change.

Every business has processes governing how it operates on a daily basis. They are the path created for your business to follow to move it forward. What happens when those well thought out plans suddenly become obsolete?  On today’s Agents of Change, we’re talking about how to approach your processes to prepare you for the future - any future. You’ll hear from expert guests, Frank Holland, CEO of Conga, Sunil Masand, VP and GM of Healthcare and Life Sciences at Conga, and Corey Iken, Director of Business Intelligence at EyePromise.  Join the episode as host Kevin Galang breaks down the systems, habits, and mindset to help you be ready for whatever happens next. If you’d like to learn more, visit https://conga.com/podcasts/agents-change.

In our third season of Agents of Change, we are focusing on one key theme: being ready for every possible tomorrow. This season we aren’t only interviewing one agent of change every episode, we are doing more. Why? Because you asked for it. Season 3 officially launches August 25th. Let’s embark on this journey and learn alongside each other. 

In the last episode of Season 2, we want to pause and reflect on the lessons learned from our Agents of Change. One pattern we find interesting is many of the leaders featured have diverse backgrounds in areas seemingly unrelated to their current roles. It had us wondering: Is an Agent of Change intrinsically motivated to be a multi-disciplinarian? Listen in as we tie it all together.  Resources and links discussed: Turning the Art of Impact into a Science | Carolyn Jungclas The Three R’s of Organizational Change | Josh Kail Systems Architecture: A Creative Pursuit | Karen Davis Compartmentalizing Your Change | Karyn Allen The Importance of Empowerment in the Midst of Change | Mike Rethage  Connect with Jason: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jason-gabbard-ba41191/ Learn more about Conga: https://conga.com

On today’s episode of Agents of Change, Jason is joined by Mike Rethage, Senior VP at Touchtown, a community engagement platform that improves quality of life through innovation and connectivity. Mike has a unique perspective on the role of empowerment in the midst of change.  What gave him that perspective? Listen in to hear the full story. Resources and links discussed: Connect with Mike: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaeltrethage/ Learn more about Touchtown: https://www.touchtown.com/ Connect with Jason: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jason-gabbard-ba41191/ Learn more about Conga: https://conga.com

On today’s episode of Agents of Change, Jason is joined by Karyn Allen, Director of Contracts and Pricing at Amgen, one of the world’s leading independent biotechnology companies.  Karyn is a fascinating agent of change because she was initially reluctant to adopt the change herself. Once she saw the value and opportunity, she embraced it and pushed to implement it in her organization. So what was the opportunity she saw? You’ll have to listen to find out–you may find it’s something your organization needs to embrace. Resources and links discussed: Connect with Karyn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/karyn-allen-724bb232/ Learn more about Amgen: https://www.amgen.com/ Connect with Jason: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jason-gabbard-ba41191/ Learn more about Conga: https://conga.com

On today’s episode of Agents of Change, Jason is joined by Karen Davis, VP of Business and Systems Architecture at Senior Dental Care, an on-site dental care provider for nursing homes and their residents.  Karen has a fascinating approach to her work as a systems architect, where she relies on her creativity to fill in the gaps left by the lack of time, budget, or personnel resources. So how does she find the space to creatively approach a problem? Listen in to hear the rest of the story.  Resources and links discussed: Connect with Karen: https://www.linkedin.com/in/opendoordreaming/ Learn more about Senior Dental Care: https://myseniordentalcare.com/ Connect with Jason: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jason-gabbard-ba41191/ Learn more about Conga: https://conga.com

On today’s episode of Agents of Change, Jason visits with Joshua Kail, solution manager and Salesforce technical producer for Molson Coors, as Josh explains his strategy for managing change in the world’s seventh-largest brewing company.  Josh is passionate about listening to the people he’s affecting when managing change. His reduce-reuse-recycle mindset is a fascinating approach to creating solutions to the problems of a worldwide company. Listen in to hear the full story.   Resources and links discussed: Connect with Josh: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshuahkail/ Connect with Jason: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jason-gabbard-ba41191/ Learn more about Conga: https://conga.com

As we begin Season 2 of Agents of Change, we have noticed a common theme that has emerged. Often, the agents of change we speak with have taken unexpected paths to get to where they are. When it comes to making an impact in your company, there is not one specific blueprint to follow.  Carolyn Jungclas is the Senior Vice President and Director of Procurement and Vendor Management at First Citizens Bank. She has made some big changes in processes during her time at First Citizens Bank, even though she didn’t have previous history in banking.  In this episode, you’ll hear Carolyn’s journey, and how her first big project - setting up a vendor risk management program - involved the implementation of a contract management system. Carolyn sought to implement requirements that don’t simply check a box, but actually make the most sense for those that will be using them most. And sometimes, the answer to that question requires some digging. So, how did she do it? Carolyn is driven to solve problems, and most importantly, solve problems that make the lives of the people she works with much better. Listen in to hear her story.  Resources and links discussed: Connect with Carolyn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carolyn-jungclas-mba-cpsm-2551285  Learn more about First Citizens Bank: https://www.firstcitizens.com/ Connect with Jason: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jason-gabbard-ba41191/  Learn more about Conga: https://conga.com/

Agents of Change is back for Season 2! In Season 1, we heard from those ‘in the trenches’ people who are making key decisions and putting in the work that often goes unseen.  As we head into Season 2, we are committed to bringing you compelling stories from change agents having an impact in multiple industries, from varied backgrounds and geo-locations all over the globe.  In addition, we will be capturing episodes at our live event, Conga Connect, where we’ll be sitting down with some special guests for face-to-face conversations. Subscribe on your favorite platform so you don’t miss an episode. Quick Links: Connect with Jason Learn More about Conga

Any discussion of change must include a discussion of every change project’s biggest resistor – people. So what can an agent of change do to smooth things over with the people that must execute the change they are trying to achieve?  Heidi Modrusan is the Contract Administration Program Manager at the WD-40 Company. Yes, the same WD-40 you use to silence the squeaky door to the pantry or grease the gears on your kid’s bike.  In this episode, you’ll hear how one seemingly-innocent question started Heidi’s journey to implement a system to manage the risk in the numerous contracts driving the WD-40 business. How did she approach this monumental task in the first place? Listen in to Agents of Change.  Resources and links discussed: Connect with Heidi: https://www.linkedin.com/in/heidi-modrusan-2497773/  Learn more about WD-40 Company: https://www.wd40company.com/  Connect with Jason: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jason-gabbard-ba41191/  Learn more about Conga: https://conga.com/

What does a studied Berklee College of Music musician have to tell us about the overhaul of contract management at a company that employs a computational approach to pharmaceuticals and biotechnology? Carl Harkness serves as a Contracts Administrator at Nimbus Therapeutics, a company that uses advanced technologies to design breakthrough medicines and transform drug development.  As you might imagine, a meticulous level of detail is required to manage Nimbus’ contracts, statements of work, and agreements, especially when you factor in the global scale of their organization and the number of contractors Nimbus employs as they continue to grow. In this episode of Agents of Change, you’ll hear the challenges Carl faced when implementing change within the company. Hint: It wasn’t internal pushback. People at Nimbus were ready for a better way of doing things.  So, how did Carl find a solution? Listen in.  Resources and links discussed: Connect with Carl: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carlharkness/  Learn more about Nimbus Therapeutics: https://www.nimbustx.com/  Connect with Jason: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jason-gabbard-ba41191/  Learn more about Conga: https://conga.com/ 

Hiring top talent is a challenge at most companies. The hiring process can be long and tedious, causing talented candidates to drop off or find work elsewhere.  In this episode of Agents of Change, you’ll hear how Steve Aitken, CEO of Sapient i7, a platinum Salesforce consulting partner, set out to streamline the company’s hiring process.  Transforming this process at Sapient i7 meant placing an emphasis on digital document transformation, getting offers into the hands of candidates quickly, and making the process of signing a contract as simple as one click.  Hear how Steve and his team were able to get the best candidates in the door quickly and empower them to begin making an impact.  Resources and links discussed: Connect with Steve Learn more about Sapient i7 Connect with Jason Learn more about Conga

Because change can be difficult and it often impacts more people than we realize, when this week’s guest says he experienced a lot of pushback, that’s probably putting it lightly.  Steve Stessman is the Vice President of National Retail Sales at Tuff Shed, a company that has been providing building solutions like sheds and garages since 1981.  In this episode of Agents of Change, you’ll hear about a change so large that it impacted the entire way the company does business, trickling all the way down to customer experience. Hear how Steve led a digital transformation at Tuff Shed that has not only directly led to more sales and higher revenue but has truly changed the business for the better while improving the experience of every Tuff Shed customer.  Spoiler alert: these were big changes for an organization that has been around for nearly four decades with a very specific way of doing business. You’ll want to tune in to Steve’s story.  Resources and links discussed: Connect with Steve: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stevestessman/ Learn more about Tuff Shed: https://www.tuffshed.com/  Connect with Jason: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jason-gabbard-ba41191/  Learn more about Conga: https://conga.com

If you’ve heard it once, you’ve heard it a thousand times: Change is scary. For established companies, change can mean overhauling years of processes and proven methods. But is change any easier in a younger or smaller company?  In this episode, we’re talking to Eboni Blake, Lead Systems Business Analyst/Salesforce Administrator at Ibotta, an app that helps you earn cash back every time you shop. She works with non-profits and small-medium businesses to scale operations by translating business flows into efficient and transparent processes through the implementation, training, and adoption of tools. When Eboni came into her role, she was tasked with analyzing processes and implementing changes to help the business scale. Hear why Eboni took the time to step back, listen, and observe before making recommendations for change within the company. Resources and links discussed: Connect with Eboni Learn more about Ibotta Connect with Jason Learn more about Conga

Who is behind the scenes solving problems and uncovering issues? That’s what Conga’s Agents of Change has set out to discover. In this first episode of the podcast, host Jason Gabbard, Head of AI Strategy at Conga, is talking to Kristen Jensen, Senior Systems Strategist with the Utah Governor’s Office of Economic Development (GOED).  You’ll hear why Kristen was on a quest to be an anthropologist and instead of uncovering scientific understandings around humans - she uncovered ways that technology can increase government efficiencies. Resources and links discussed: Connect with Kristen Learn more about the Utah Governor’s Office of Economic Development Check out Kristen’s Conga Customer Story here Connect with Jason Learn more about Conga

The people who are in the headlines are often not the people in the trenches. So who is behind the scenes, solving the problems and uncovering issues? Host Jason Gabbard, Head of AI Strategy at Conga, shares stories often untold featuring organizations’ unsung heroes. The professionals on the frontlines, driven by purpose and dedicated to delivering impact.