Disruptive to Essential

Generation Z are the most tech-savvy generational segment, and as such, have been the quickest to adapt to the challenges placed on them by lockdown. In this episode, Matt is joined by Youth Culture expert and brand marketer, Clint! Runge, where they discuss the importance of youth, the pressures placed on them by the pandemic, the brands that have succeeded with this group, the outlook for the future, and how technology has helped them (and in one instance, how it has completely failed them).

Matt is joined by US sports broadcaster, Nick ‘Fitzy’ Stevens. They discuss the impact that the suspension of sports has had on people’s lives and on society. Now that sports has returned it looks and feels slightly different. How is technology helping bridge the gap from the in-stadium experience to the one experienced via social distancing? Matt even tests Fitzy on his knowledge of unusual sporting terms.

In this episode, Matt’s guest is Dr. Victoria Ngo and they discuss the mental health pandemic that has accompanied the COVID-19 pandemic. Dr. Ngo shares some research she has conducted as part of her role at the City University of New York, how technology has enabled some of the main coping mechanisms as suggested by the WHO, and the long-term effects of this pandemic to public health. The mental health effects are something that have disproportionally impacted lower income groups and ethnic minorities, again shining a light on the fact that not everyone in society has access to the technological hardware and internet connections to keep the disruption to everyday life to a minimum.

Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world, but what happens when the world stops? In this episode, Matt interviews some young students on how technology has helped them remain educated and happy in a lockdown world. Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day; give a child a laptop and a high speed internet connection and you can educate them for a lifetime.

The pandemic has completely impacted and transformed the way companies communicate and market to their customers and prospective customers. Whilst people exists in an almost entirely digital environment, companies need to be creative and think entirely different to how they did at the beginning of 2020. In this episode, Matt is joined by LP/AD founder and CEO, Mr. Alex Shifrin, where they discuss the cataclysmic effects of the crisis on marketing events, digital campaigns, advertising and brand. What will be the immediate outcomes now and the long-term outcomes in the future?

Diversity and inclusion has never been more important in society and in the workplace, particularly in this time of crisis. It is proven that companies with a more diverse workforce are not only more profitable and innovative but are also more resilient. As we stare into the face of a recession, resilience is the key to survival. In this episode Matt Roberts is joined by the TM Forum's Director of Diversity & Inclusion, Ms. Vicky Sleight, to discuss what D&I precisely means, why it is so important, and how companies can benefit enormously from being more diverse now.

In episode 2 Matt is joined by Amdocs’ Group President of Media, Network and Technology, Anthony Goonetilleke. They discuss, amongst other things, a recent Amdocs Consumer Survey in the US. This survey which interviewed 1,000 consumers, delivered some fascinating results around actual behavioral change during the pandemic. Anthony also shares some personal insights regarding the future of media, how consumers have come to appreciate their network quality and how this seismic global crisis is actually democratizing digital adoption.

Matt is joined by renowned industry analyst and author Chetan Sharma and Amdocs’ Ron Porter to take a look at what is happening now, how this will propel things moving forward and how technology is helping us be productive and social as we stay indoors.