Digital Strategy Unlocked

Step inside the world of supply chain innovation with Patricia Harris, CMO of Blue Yonder, as she sits down with host Deepak Sharma. Discover how Patricia is bringing AI to life in the supply chain, transforming theory into real-world impact. Learn how autonomous supply chains, agentic AI, and the SADA (See, Analyze, Decide, Act) loop are helping businesses stay agile amidst constant disruptions.Patricia shares how AI is not just accelerating decisions but also unlocking human value and enhancing collaboration across people, machines, and systems. Gain insights from her journey and practical strategies for building resilient, AI-powered supply chains. A must-listen for leaders shaping the future of logistics and digital transformation.

Join our host, Deepak Sharma, for a thought-provoking conversation with Guy Nirpaz, Founder and CEO of Perspective AI. Explore Guy's insights on AI's role in customer relationships, balancing efficiency with human connection, and the concept of customer clarity in a digital-first world. Learn how AI can help businesses scale engagement, enhance trust, and drive value, rather than simply automate interactions.Discover actionable strategies for customer success at scale, leveraging AI to bridge gaps, break silos, and optimize relationships. Gain inspiration from Guy's journey in customer success and his vision for AI-driven transformation in business. An essential listen for digital leaders and innovators looking to shape the future of AI-driven trust and customer relationships.

Join our host, Deepak Sharma, for an engaging discussion with Bharath Prabhakaran, Vice President and Chief Digital Officer at the University of Cincinnati. Explore Bharath's insights on digital transformation in higher education, including unique challenges such as balancing innovation with regulatory compliance, integrating diverse data systems, and leveraging AI responsibly. Discover actionable strategies through initiatives like the Bearcat Insights program and AI Enablement Community of Practice, aimed at modernizing infrastructure and fostering innovation.Gain inspiration from Bharath's journey from corporate to higher education, his passion for giving back, and his dedication to driving impactful change. A must-listen for digital leaders and innovators seeking to navigate the complexities of transformation in the academic space while maintaining ethical integrity and fostering inclusivity.

Join our host, Deepak Sharma, for an engaging discussion with Sylvain Hanssen, Director of Digital Commerce at Phoenix Group. Explore Sylvain's insights on accelerating healthcare with AI, balancing innovation with ethics, and navigating the complexities of healthcare transformation. Discover strategies for responsibly leveraging AI to improve patient outcomes, enhance healthcare professional workflows, and foster trust in a complex ecosystem. Gain actionable advice on transforming operations, creating impactful digital solutions, and driving change with a positive mindset and practical execution. A must-listen for digital leaders and innovators aiming to redefine healthcare experiences and lead ethical transformations in the digital era.

Join our host, Deepak Sharma, for an engaging discussion with Sunil Unni, VP of Digital Marketing, Strategy and Platforms at Avantor. Explore Sunil's insights on crafting seamless journeys for B2B customer experiences, where digital strategy meets procurement efficiency. Dive into strategies for simplifying complex B2B buying processes, leveraging data integration, and fostering innovation with cutting-edge technologies like agent-based AI. Discover actionable advice on building a strong digital foundation, navigating organizational challenges, and creating a future-ready business culture. A must-listen for digital leaders aiming to redefine customer experiences and drive digital transformation.

Join our host, Deepak Sharma, for a captivating conversation with Ashish Garg, Co-founder & CEO at Eltropy. Discover how Ashish successfully led the transformation of Eltropy, empowering community financial institutions to embrace digital transformation and generative AI. Learn how customer-centered values and a “team of owners” culture were pivotal in reshaping member interactions through anytime, anywhere access, and explore Eltropy's approach to AI-driven automation, empathy in complex conversations, and ethical leadership in the digital age. Tune in for actionable insights on driving digital transformation and building a future-ready organization—an essential listen for digital leaders.

Join our host, Deepak Sharma, for a captivating conversation with Anne Guichard, Global Head of Digital Platforms and Transformation at L'Oréal. Discover how Anne successfully led the transformation of Website Factory, overcoming challenges through strong management, creativity, and communication. Learn how non-digital skills were pivotal in turning a near-failure into a global success, and explore L'Oréal's approach to agile development, AI innovation, and ethical leadership.Tune in for actionable insights on driving digital transformation and building a future-ready organization—an essential listen for digital leaders.

Join our host, Deepak Sharma, for an insightful conversation with Neeraj Agarwal, CIO at Torani, as they explore the future of consumer goods through the lens of Smart CPG. Discover how AI, IoT, and data-driven insights are revolutionizing product personalization, supply chain optimization, and customer engagement. Neeraj shares his expertise on the evolving role of technology in driving innovation and maintaining the balance between automation and human touch.Tune in for actionable strategies on digital transformation and the future of AI in CPG - a must-listen for digital leaders.

Join our host, Deepak Sharma, for an engaging conversation with Tarun Luthra, Global VP of Customer Experience at SAP. Discover how AI is revolutionizing customer experiences and transforming support functions into revenue drivers. Learn why trust, human connection, and adaptability are more critical than ever in today's digital landscape. Tune in for actionable insights into experience economy, product success, and the future of digital interactions — a must-listen for digital leaders.

Join our host, Deepak Sharma, in an illuminating conversation with Markus Zirn, Chief Strategy Officer at Workato, as they discuss the democratization of AI and its pivotal role in driving enterprise success. Markus highlights the three key patterns fueling AI integration and the core tenets essential for AI-driven transformations. Tune in for actionable insights into GenAI's transformative power to reshape your business processes — a must-listen for digital leaders.

Join our host, Deepak Sharma, in a riveting conversation with Martin Mrugal, Former Chief Operating Officer at Ellucian, exploring the evolving dynamics of digital interactions and relationships. Martin highlights the critical role of AI and machine learning in enhancing predictive analytics and customer engagement.  Tune in for actionable insights on integrating technology with human touchpoints to drive customer success.

Join our host, Deepak Sharma, in a captivating conversation with Mary-Beth Donovan, Chief Customer Officer at EDB, as they delve into the art of designing impactful customer journeys. This episode unravels the importance of aligning with diverse customer outcomes and harnessing the power of data insights to drive success.  Tune in for insightful strategies to elevate your customer experiences, enhancing value and engagement. A must-listen for digital leaders to amplify customer-centric strategies.

Join us as our host, Deepak Sharma, sits down with Abhay Solapurkar, Chief Customer Officer at SkyHigh Security, exploring the power of hyper-personalization and fortifying digital security. Discover the five crucial pillars underpinning digital transformation and learn how to leverage cutting-edge digital tools for customer lifecycle management.Tune in to learn how to drive unparalleled customer satisfaction and essential traits for thriving as a leader in the digital age.

Join us as our host, Deepak Sharma, sits down with Maranda Dziekonski, Senior Vice President of Customer Success at Datasembly, as they navigate the intersection of leadership, innovation, and digital strategy. Maranda shares her remarkable journey, from overcoming early challenges to spearheading customer success in the ever-evolving world of startups.  Discover Maranda's unique approach to blending digital innovation with customer engagement. Don't miss this insightful conversation on harnessing digital transformation to drive business growth and customer satisfaction.

In this fresh episode of "Digital Strategy Unlocked," host Deepak Sharma dives headfirst into the intricate and enthralling universe of artificial intelligence. With AI's expansive reach, from its whimsical integrations in toys to its revolutionary implementations in the pharmaceutical realm, the episode promises a comprehensive exploration. We're privileged to have Drew Patel, North America's digital maestro from Bayer, to guide us on this enlightening journey. Prepare to demystify the multifaceted world of AI, shedding light on its playful beginnings and its transformative potential in healthcare. Gear up for a captivating discourse that bridges the gap between playful innovations and life-altering solutions. Don't miss out on this dynamic conversation that seeks to unlock the true essence of AI in our lives. Bio: Drew is a seasoned IT and digital professional with over two decades of experience, especially in CPG and retail. He currently serves as the North America Digital Lead at Bayer and has previously held key roles at Amazon and Babies R Us. 

Join us as our host Deepak Sharma sits down with a key figure from Pret A Manger, Sarah Venning, Global Chief Digital Officer, exploring their innovative leapfrogging strategy in the digital world. Discover how Pret leverages the power of digital transformation to create seamless customer experiences. Learn about the importance of how brands can adapt to a hybrid world where customers live both physical and digital lives.  Tune in to discover the mindset shift that has enabled leaders like Sarah to create ground-breaking digital propositions. Don't miss this insightful conversation on balancing physical and digital channels.  

Join us this week as our host Deepak Sharma joins Meenu Agarwal, Group Senior Vice President at Workday, to discuss the critical role of customer success. They delve into how leading companies utilize technology to empower customers while maintaining a human-centric approach throughout the customer journey. Tune in as they strike the perfect balance between digital touchpoints and human interaction in the AI Age.

This week on the podcast, our host Deepak Sharma and guest Dipesh Biswas, Chief Digital Officer at Livinguard, discuss the fascinating journey of digital from Mainframes to Metaverse. They delve into the technological advancements made over the years, from Web 1.0 to Internet-of-Things, and explore the mindset behind it all. Dipesh also shares great insights from his upcoming book called ‘Of Firefighters and Gardeners' about transforming the organizational culture, the inception of the role of a CIO, and how it has evolved over the years. He concludes the episode with actionable advice for millennials aspiring for a career in digital. Tune in for an informative and engaging discussion that highlights all aspects of digital progress over time– from technology, and job roles to organizational mindsets and beyond!

In this episode of 'Digital Strategy Unlocked,' our special guest Lubomira Rochet, Current partner at JAB and former Chief Digital Officer at L'Oreal, shares deep insights with our host, Deepak Sharma, about the evolution of Digital Transformation. Tune in as they discuss how digital success requires a digital culture and how companies can bring on their A-game for successful tech-enabled transformations. Lubomira concluded the episode with inspiring advice for women executives seeking a career in Digital Transformation.

In this episode of 'Digital Strategy Unlocked,' Barry Gilmore, Former CIO of L'Oréal America's has an insightful conversation with our host, Deepak Sharma. Tune in as they discuss the vital aspect of business success and the role a CIO must play in today's ever-changing digital world. Barry also deep-dives into Photon Colleague Success Management and shares his outside-in perspective on the framework. He explains how as a CIO, he used to play the role of a chief problem-solving officer. And how his colleagues often saw him as a partner who cared for the business and solved their problems.

Welcome to the first episode of 'Digital Strategy Unlocked,' where we provide valuable insights and influential trends that help CIOs advance their capabilities and leadership skills to shape, enable, and influence business strategies. This week Anthony Roberts, former SVP and Global CIO of Walgreens Boots Alliance, joins Deepak Sharma. They take a deep dive through the lens of Photon Colleague Success Management into how the focus of the CIOs has evolved from infrastructure and networks to delivering business outcomes.

Digital Strategy Unlocked is hosted by Deepak Sharma, SVP, Strategy & Customer Success at Photon. You can subscribe to the podcast in Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you find podcasts. In every episode, we look through the lens of Photon's Colleague Success Management and provide valuable insights to help leaders increase IT product adoption and accelerate business outcomes.