Experience Strategy Podcast

In this episode of the Experience Strategy Podcast, hosts Joe Pine, Aransas Savas, and Dave Norton discuss the Wall Street Journal article about Cracker Barrel's recent transformation efforts aimed at attracting younger customers while retaining their core base. They explore the challenges and opportunities of modernizing a legacy brand, emphasizing the importance of experience strategy over mere aesthetic changes. The conversation highlights the role of employees in successful transformations, the impact of economic factors on customer behavior, and innovative ideas for enhancing the dining experience. Cracker Barrel is attempting to modernize while retaining its nostalgic appeal. Transformations often fail when they ignore the core customer base. Experience should lead brand decisions, not the other way around. Employee involvement is crucial for successful transformations.  Economic changes can create opportunities for brands like Cracker Barrel. Experience strategy can be a powerful tool in attracting customers. Innovative dining experiences can differentiate a brand. Understanding customer needs is essential for effective transformation. Merchandising strategies can enhance the overall experience.   Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Experience Strategy Podcast 01:05 Cracker Barrel's Transformation Journey 04:05 Understanding Cracker Barrel's Nostalgia and Experience 08:10 The Role of Aesthetics in Experience 10:06 Employee Engagement in Transformations 14:07 Navigating Economic Challenges and Customer Needs 18:04 Innovative Ideas for Enhancing Customer Experience 20:16 Conclusion and Future Insights

In this episode of the Experience Strategy Podcast, hosts Aransas Savas, Dave Norton, and Joe Pine discuss the evolution of the podcast, introduce new co-hosts, and explore the concept of experiential retail through the lens of Scheels, a successful retail store. You might have seen in The Washington Post that Scheels is conquering middle America. During a downturn and with tariffs on the way, how will people shop at retailers like Scheels. They emphasize the importance of community, trust, and contextual design in creating meaningful experiences for customers. The episode wraps up with key takeaways for strategists looking to enhance their experience strategies. Takeaways The podcast has an additional co-host! Joe Pine The Washington Post did a great article about marketing experience retailer, Scheels. Scheels is a successful example of experiential retail. Experiential retail can drive sales for surrounding stores. Community involvement builds trust with customers. Charging for experiences can turn marketing into a profit center. Design experiences with the customer's context in mind. Companies that reinvest in communities earn sustainable trust. The importance of creating third places for community gathering. Experience strategies should focus on customer systems. Engaging in local experience excursions can provide valuable insights. This episode brought to you by The Experience Strategy Collaboratives. Enter to win a free one-person membership in the Collaboratives —a $35,000 value! Chapters 00:00 Welcome Back to Experience Strategy Podcast 03:22 Introducing the New Format and Co-Hosts 05:24 Exploring the Scheels Experience 11:01 The Importance of Context in Experience Design 18:06 Building Trust Through Community Engagement 21:11 Wrap-Up and Key Takeaways

In this episode, experience strategists Dave Norton and Aransas Savas speak with Blake Morgan, the “Queen of CX” and a leading futurist in customer experience, about her latest book and insights on the future of customer service. Blake explains why customer service levels are at historic lows despite post-COVID digital transformations and emphasizes the need for companies to remain customer-centric during economic uncertainty. She introduces her WAYS framework for building effective CX strategies and discusses the critical role of empathy and human connection in an AI-driven world. Additionally, Blake highlights the essential connection between employee experience and customer loyalty, showcasing how businesses like Trader Joe's thrive by investing in their people. This episode offers invaluable insights for CX leaders and anyone passionate about fostering customer-centric cultures that endure. To access transcripts to this episode, click here.

In this episode of The Experience Strategy Podcast, we're joined by George Barnett, strategy expert and author of The Strategy Toolkit, a newsletter that includes excerpts from his books on strategy, plus insights, analysis and strategy for the 21st century. We look at how business strategy has changed over the last 20 years and why customer experience is now so important for success. George shares stories from his work, showing how focusing on customer experience can help businesses grow and attract investors. Tune in to the episode as we discuss:  Why some common ways of measuring customer happiness might not work well How to use CX to attract investors  This episode is a must-listen for anyone interested in making customer experiences better and ways to have a bigger impact on their company's decision.  For access to the transcripts to this episode, click here.  

In this episode of the Experience Strategy Podcast, podcast hosts, Dave Norton and Aransas Savas explore the rapidly evolving landscape of enterprise community building with Rich Millington, founder of FeverBee and a leading expert in community strategy. With nearly two decades of experience helping organizations build thriving communities for members, customers, and employees, Richard brings a wealth of knowledge from working with industry giants like Google, Facebook, Oracle, and Wikipedia. His insights challenge traditional notions of community management, advocating for supporting existing ecosystems rather than controlled forums, and offering practical strategies for mapping community landscapes and measuring real outcomes. Tune in to this episode for a fresh perspective on creating meaningful, collaborative experiences that drive genuine value for businesses and their stakeholders. For access to the transcripts of this episode, click here. 

In this episode of the Experience Strategy Podcast, Sarah Dusek, an entrepreneur, venture capitalist and author, takes listeners on a journey through her remarkable career in experience-driven business. From founding the pioneering glamping company Under Canvas to her current venture in global regenerative travel, Sarah demonstrates how aligning personal passion with customer needs can create industry-shaping innovations. She shares valuable insights on the power of businesses to mold culture and drive positive change, emphasizing the importance of sustainability and community impact in experience design. Sarah's discussion of her upcoming book, "Thinking Bigger," offers a compelling perspective on women's empowerment in business and the significance of dreaming big when it comes to making an impact. Throughout the conversation, she provides experience strategists with practical advice on developing strong points of view, building conviction, and creating internal advocates for successful implementation. This episode is a masterclass in experience strategy, offering lessons on scaling innovative concepts, incorporating regenerative practices, and bridging the gap between visionary ideas and real-world execution.   To access the transcripts to this episode, click here.

In this episode, Experience Strategy Podcast hosts Aransas Savas and Dave Norton sit down with Brian Anderson, Director of National Outings at the legendary Sierra Club. With over 130 years of advocating for people, places, and the planet, Sierra Club has mastered the art of crafting transformational travel experiences that drive personal growth and global impact. Packed with insights on experience design, engagement strategy, and impact measurement, this episode is a must-listen for anyone looking to harness the power of transformational experiences. Tune in now and discover how Sierra Club is pioneering a new era of meaningful, impactful travel. Click here for access to the transcripts of this episode

In the latest episode of The Experience Strategy Podcast, we're dismantling traditional market segmentation and rebuilding it with the revolutionary concept of situational markets. Dave Norton, our experience futurist, gives us a sneak peak into his upcoming book that's set to redefine how we create value. Joined by industry veteran John Gusiff, we discuss the power of jobs-to-be-done research, the limitations of demographic-based personas, and the critical importance of understanding evolving customer needs. From leveraging qualitative data to scale situational strategies, to anticipating your customers' future selves, this episode is packed with game-changing ideas for forward-thinking experience strategists. For access to the transcripts for the episode, click here.

In this episode of The Experience Strategy Podcast, hosts Dave Norton and Aransas Savas sit down with AR/VR trailblazers Spencer Cook from Continuum, and Bryan Searing of Stone Mantel to explore the transformative power of Augmented Reality and Virtual Reality in crafting captivating customer experiences. Fresh off the Experience Strategy Collaboratives program, where cutting-edge AR/VP concepts were tested with real customers, Spender and Bryan share exclusive insights ad real-world case studies that demonstrate the immense potential of these technologies in driving business growth. Tune in and gain: Actionable strategies for leveraging AR/VR to create immersive, memorable customer experiences A deep understanding of how AR/VR are reshaping the future of experience design and marketing Practical takeaways and best practices for successfully integrating AR/VR into your organization's strategy. To access the transcripts to this episode, click here.  

In this episode of the Experience Strategy Podcast, we are joined by special guest Steve Usher, founder and host of The Experience Designers Podcast. We go deep into the core principles that drive success in experience strategy across both customer and employee offers. We challenge the status quo, pushing beyond played-out persona-based segmentation to explore the untapped potential of situational markets and context. Tune into this episode. It's time to zoom out, see the big picture, and take full responsibility for executing on the complete job to be done. For access to the transcripts to this episode, click here.

In this episode, we jam with Neely Adkins and Kailey Savona from the RecogNATION Podcast. As fellow experience nerds focused on the employee side, we discuss the importance of celebrating milestones and micro-moments in the employee journey, emphasizing how vital it is to make every employee feel valued, connected, and heard. The key takeaway? In a world of increasing AI and automation, empathy and human connection will be true differentiators, and as experience strategists, our role is to champion and scale those human-centric cultures.  To access transcripts to this episode, click here.

In this episode of the Experience Strategy Podcast, we're joined by Dr. David Willows and Suzette Parlevliet, co-founders of [YELLOW CAR], the world's leading experience strategy and consultancy firm for schools. David and Suzette share their insights on transforming education through the lens of experience strategy, discussing the unique challenges and opportunities in the international school landscape. They introduce the Felt Experience Indicator, a tool developed by [YELLOW CAR] to help schools measure and understand the experience of their community members, fostering a culture of listening, feedback, and continuous improvement. With their diverse backgrounds and dedication to making experience strategy accessible to schools worldwide, David and Suzette are committed to helping educational institutions align mission, experience, and impact, ultimately redefining success and creating meaningful value propositions that resonate with their target audiences.  For access to the transcripts of this episode, click here.

In this episode of the Experience Strategy Podcast, we're joined by Brian Edwards. VP of Membership at the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP), to explore the unique challenges and opportunities of applying customer experience strategy within associations and membership-based organizations. Brian shares his insights on establishing common ground around the mission to navigate the complex governance structures, developing a segmentation approach that honors members' needs at different stages, looking outside the association space for inspiration on retaining members and driving satisfaction, and using experience management frameworks to prioritize initiatives and focus on core competencies. With his extensive background in customer experience and operations leadership, primarily in the healthcare industry, Brian brings a wealth of knowledge and a passion for continuously improving the experiences of those around him. For access to this episode's transcripts, please click here.    

In this episode of The Experience Strategy Podcast, we are thrilled to chat with Victor Chapela, co-founder and CEO of Suggestic, who shared how they are leveraging AI and data to dramatically rethink the intersection of lifestyle journeys and wellness. Tune in to this episode for Victor's key insights:  Focusing on what people can do realistically do vs. what they should do to minimize friction Tapping into extrinsic motivation by allowing people to share progress. Using AI interfaces like LLMs as a universal UI to collect data, model behaviors, and provide personalized guidance.  The power of making something extremely difficult much easier to drive adoption and impact.  This conversation exemplifies the importance of centering journeys on an individual's unique goals and solutions, and provides a valuable model for using AI responsibly to enable personalized behavior change - leaving us energized about the implications for experience strategy across different industries. To access the transcripts to this episode, click here.

Today we are revisiting our talk with Amy Shore, Chief Customer Officer of Nationwide Insurance, about how to lead CX transformation and drive customer-centric leadership. In this episode we look at Amy's mission to transform Nationwide Insurance into a truly customer-centric organization. Tune in as Amy walks us through the 3 key stages of this transformation.  To access the transcripts to this episode, click here.

In today's episode, we had the privilege of speaking with Thales Teixeira, a leading expert on customer-focused innovation. Thales is the co-founder of Decoupling and the author of “Unlocking the Customer Value Chain: How Decoupling Drives Consumer Disruption”  Our discussion with Thales is a succinct masterclass in unlocking customer value by focusing on what matters most - money, time, and effort. We discussed how disruptive startups gain traction by decoupling and excelling at key value-creating activities while avoiding “value eroders” that waste customers' precious currencies. Thales brought this concept to life by breaking down companies like Netflix eliminating the hassle of going to the video store, and Alibaba layering on services like payments to make shopping smoother. Whether an innovative startup or an established organization, prioritizing your roadmap to remove friction and create more time well spent is crucial for delighting your customers and staying ahead of disruptors. To access the transcripts for this episode, click here.  

Dr. Natalie Petouhoff is the author of the award-winning WSJ best-selling book Empathy in Action. She guides brands to see empathy as a business construct that helps them reduce costs and increase value because they are delivering great customer and employee experiences.  In this episode of The Experience Strategy Podcast, we explore the transformative power of empathy and its crucial role in shaping exceptional experiences for employees and customers.  Check out Dr. Petouhoff's book here. To dive deeper into the world of creating memorable experiences that drive customer loyalty and growth, follow Joe Pine and read his groundbreaking book, The Experience Economy.  To access the transcripts for this episode, click here.  

In this episode, we are joined by resilience expert, Simon T. Bailey, who launched his career at The Disney Institute. Listen to the episode to learn:  The importance of transitioning from ego-driven to eco-conscious leadership Practical strategies for building trust and fostering innovation in today's organizations How to create environments where employees can thrive and customers feel valued.  Tune in now to enhance your leadership skills and transform your organization. For access to the transcripts to the episode, click here.  

In this episode of the Experience Strategy Podcast, we are joined by Lee Roquet, the CEO of Finch, e-commerce marketing company. We talk about What Lee has learned in the shift from Chief Customer Officer roles to CEO roles- and what he now wishes every experience strategist knew.  How to lead companies with an experience mindset How to lead teams with a people-first approach. Don't miss this powerful and inspiring conversation! For access to the transcripts to the episode, click here.   

Tune in to this episode of the Experience Strategy Podcast, featuring Craig Langlois, Equity of Learning District Data Coordinator for Berkshire Public Schools, to peek at the challenges and opportunities our public school systems face when creating experiences. Alongside guest host Mary Putman we look at how a well crafted experience strategy can make all the difference in bridging the gaps between creativity, innovation, and education. Click here, to access the transcripts to this episode. 

In this episode, Sherif Mityas, a trailblazing leader at the helm of a conglomerate encompassing 57 distinctive restaurant chains, delves into the pivotal role of distinct value propositions and shared services in shaping the future of dining experiences. Highlighting the shift from convenience to a deeper focus on creating unparalleled experiences, Sherif explains how guest-centered leadership, blended with emotion, vision, and lots of data becomes a powerful recipe for innovation, personalization at scale, and business growth. This conversation offers a fascinating glimpse into the evolving restaurant industry, where technology meets nostalgia. Learn more about industry trends in our 2024 Experience Strategy Trend Report. Click here, to access the transcripts to the conversation with Sherif.   

If you're a fan of the Experience Strategy Podcast then you're familiar with the idea of time well spent- in today's episode Alain Hunkins author of CRACKING THE LEADERSHIP CODE who has more than 20 years in leadership training, adult learning and organizational development, is joining us to explore what time well spent looks like specifically in the employee experience - and how leaders can ensure that the time employees spend at work is valuable.   For the full transcript of today's discussion with Alain, click here.

The cultural and economic forces influencing your customer in 2024 will have a lasting impact on your experience strategy. Join Dave Norton, Experience Strategy Futurist, and Aransas Savas, lead researcher for our Trend Report, for insights and guidance from our decade-long study into customer behavior and mindsets. This episode isn't just a glance at trends; it's a deep dive into the interconnected tapestry shaping the future of your strategy. In this episode, we dissect the value of time versus money, the paradoxical impact of technology on time scarcity, the evolution of smart homes, and the prevalent loneliness amidst reduced physical interactions. But here's the kicker – beyond just trends, we discuss the critical need for businesses to transcend superficial personalization. Discover how to authentically align experiences with customer desires and behaviors. Tune in for a roadmap to adapt, thrive, and craft winning experience strategies amid the rapidly evolving landscape.  

In this episode, we're joined by Will Kingston, Customer Strategy Consultant at Acquis Cortico-X and Podcast Host for The Spectator Australia. Together, we explore Will's CX Manifesto and global CX trends, and make predictions on what's coming in the upcoming 2024 CX landscape. Throughout our discussion, we emphasize how vital it is to set clear expectations, deliver on promises, and enhance customer performance – to build the foundation of a successful experience, trust. 

Today, we sat down with Joseph Michelli to explore the unprecedented challenges businesses face today, with customer satisfaction at a 17-year low despite the growing emphasis on customer experience. Listen in to learn actionable insights for experience strategists and business owners, including a clear roadmap to navigating these volatile, uncertain, complex, and ambiguous (VUCA) times. Discover how to build trust, exceed customer expectations, and create lasting loyalty by crafting exceptional customer journeys, adapting to multiple possible futures, and simplifying your channel strategy for maximum impact.

Amy Shore spent most of her career in Sales and Operations. Three years ago she became the Chief Customer Officer of Nationwide Insurance with a mission to transform it into a truly customer-centric organization. In this episode, Amy will walk us through the 3 key stages of this transformation.

In this enlightening episode, we dive into the world of data ethics and user trust with our special guests, Andy and Michael Madson. With extensive expertise in data experience design, healthcare, finance, and user experience, they shed light on the critical aspects of clear data communication and empathic listening to counter the darker implications of data usage. Together, we explore strategies for democratizing data literacy and simplifying complex data concepts to ensure transparency and trustworthiness. As we navigate the complexities of data ethics in an era dominated by artificial intelligence, you'll gain valuable insights into how to combat the dark side of data experience design and pave the way for a more trustworthy and responsible data-driven future.

Are you ready to elevate your business success by harnessing the power of collaboration? In this episode, we sat down with Rich Sheridan, CEO of Menlo Innovations to understand how he has driven Menlo Innovations to success through teamwork and innovation. Tune in to this episode to discover: Actionable strategies to transform your workplace into a hub of teamwork and innovation. Insight into Menlo Innovations' collaborative approach and how you can apply similar principles to boost efficiency, quality, and innovation within your workplace. Real-world examples of successful collaboration across various industries. Check out our blog for more ways to improve the impact of your experience strategy for your customer and company.  

Satyam Kantamneni is Managing Partner and Chief Experience Officer of UXReactor, former  Managing Director of Product Design at Citrix and PayPal. He is the author of “User Experience Design: A Practical Playbook to Fuel Business Growth.” In this conversation, we talk to Satyam about AI as a force multiplier for companies who understand their customers' needs. Key Takeaways: Just because you can use technology to solve a problem, doesn't mean you should. Instead use the technology or process that best addresses the problem. There are two types of companies: the ones that know their customer's needs and the ones who are adopting technology. The valuable AI tools will give people superpowers, not replace them Yesterday's delight is today's expectation.

Companies with large sales forces are now building CX in an increasingly digital world: B-B selling today is less about personal relationships and more about value creation. As buyers evolve towards more digital interchanges they still want knowledgeable customer support to create the most value at each stage of the buyers' journey. In this episode, we are joined by Kellie Glueck to hear how Kimberly-Clark Professional has adapted to customer and market changes to make CX a central aspect of its business-to-business model with customers.

Do you want to excel through the stories you tell, but find yourself struggling to clarify your message and impact? Our guest today is Park Howell, known as The World's Most Industrious Storyteller for his track record of growing purpose-driven brands by using the power of story. Listen to learn: Why stories are the most direct route to empathy How to make your customer the hero of your story How to use the ancient ABT (AND, BUT, and THEREFORE) Framework to cast a spell with your story. Learn more about Park and his work at https://businessofstory.com/ He also hosts the popular weekly Business of Story podcast, is the author of Brand Bewitchery, and co-author of The Narrative Gym for Business.  He joins us today to share one of his most well-knkown frameworks: The ABT framework. AKA AND, BUT and THEREFORE. Let's go back to the beginning. What prompted you to look for this framework?  

Want to deliver a more seamless patient experience but are challenged by organizational silos? In this episode you'll learn how to get the research, partnerships, and innovation processes you need, so you can compete more effectively. We are joined by Tiffany Mura, the Strategic Lead, Healthcare for Stone Mantel where she focuses on growing the practice and helping healthcare clients create transformational experiences for patients, caregivers, and healthcare professionals. With almost 20 years' experience across all key healthcare sectors - from life sciences to health insurance to digital/non-traditional -  Tiffany brings a cross-industry perspective and deep knowledge of the space to help clients tackle the most challenging problems facing healthcare today. She has worked on both the agency and the client side, giving her a first-hand understanding of the internal corporate challenges clients face when trying to drive innovation and effect transformative change. Tiffany shares emerging trends, resources, and game-changing frameworks for succeeding in the competitive Healthcare industry. Connect with Tiffany: Email: tiffanymura@stonemantel.co LinkedIn:llinkedin.com/in/tiffanymura

Wondering how to succeed in a subscription business? In this episode, you'll hear from the authority in subscription business models. You'll learn how to identify the long and short-term problems that your customer most needs your support with, the cost value of meeting those needs with your product or experience, and the impact that subscriptions can have on your customer's experience, so you can provide continuous value with a forever transaction.  Robbie Kellman Baxter is a consultant, instructor, author and speaker. She wrote two bestselling books The Membership Economy and The Forever Transaction, hosts the podcast Subscription Stories, and has developed ten courses for LinkedIn Learning. Robbie has more than 20 years' experience providing strategic business advice to major organizations, including Netflix, Microsoft and the Wall Street Journal. She has been focused on subscription and membership models for the past twenty years. She earned her MBA from the Stanford Graduate School of Business, and she graduated with honors from Harvard College. You can find more about Robbie on her website https://robbiekellmanbaxter.com/  Whether you are creating, managing, or simply using subscriptions, you don't want to miss this eye-opening episode!  

Do you want to have more impact as an experienced strategist? In this episode, you'll learn how to drive more revenue, value, and customer satisfaction, so that you can have a greater impact for your company. Each year we analyze millions of data points and conduct hundreds of customer and experience strategist interviews in order to understand the biggest challenges facing customers and companies. We then connect solution-oriented teams in a year-long research and innovation journey to research and launch innovative, paradigm-shifting solutions that drive greater impact for companies and their customers. We divide teams into tracks based on the most urgent and important problems each individual company has to solve in the year ahead. We are thrilled to announce our five 2023/2024 collaborative tracks: How to create a nimble experience in uncertain times How to drive impactful innovation for Healthcare How to become a digital experience company How to use behavior change to sustain impact for transformations How to create meaningful employee experiences In this episode, you'll hear Experience Strategy co-hosts, Dave Norton, and Aransas Savas unpack some of the biggest and most urgent problems experience strategists are facing right now, along with research and strategies for addressing them. You definitely don't want to miss this episode!  

Today we are joined by Dr. Paul Zak, professor of economics, psychology, and management His work has been ground breaking in the academic, public, business and healthcare settings. In his new book, Immersion: The Science of the Extraordinary and the Source of Happiness, Paul shares a scientific formula for consistently creating extraordinary experiences. Experience Strategists: You don't want to miss this episode! It will change the way you create and measure experiences- and help you have infinitely more impact for your customer and company.

Dutta Satadip is the Chief Customer Officer at ActiveCampaign, former Global Head of Customer Operations at Pinterest, and Director of Customer Success for the Americas region at Google. Today he joins us on The Experience Strategy Podcast to share his predictions for the future of digital experience strategies and the role AI should play in customer experience in our roadmaps. Tune in to learn the three phases of data design for CX Understand the customer context Automate based on context Use that to predict your customers' needs While we won't get it right for every customer every time, Hear how companies like Amazon, Netflix, and Google use AI-assisted data to be more right more of the time.

Experience strategists are navigating increasingly complex decisions. Customer journeys are increasingly complex, channels are proliferating, expectations continue to rise, and data is abundant. How do we help our companies make the best decisions about how and where to spend money?  Craig Lutz is uniquely well positioned to help us answer this question. Craig has been a data scientist and researcher at Qualtrics since 2007 where he has conducted thousands of conjoint analysis projects with Qualtrics. He is also the designer of Qualtrics' conjoint analysis DIY technology, the author of Exploring Conjoint Analysis and a prominent thought leader on innovative quantitative research methods. We are thrilled to announce that he also recently joined our team at Stone Mantel as Conjoint Advisor! In this episode, Dave and Aransas talk to Craig about how he helps teams like Google, Goldman Sachs, Uber and others make the decisions that really matter for customers, based on powerful analytics and what shifts when companies understand that time really is money. You'll hear: How Conjoint analysis can be used to get underneath what customers really care about and how it can be used to predict and change behavior How Uber used these tools to design a radical new rider loyalty program How Google: uses Max Diff to predict how customers will spend money How Goldman Sachs used it to inform their employees experience by optimizing their benefit packages - and tailoring them to each individual office in ways that saved money while increasing real and perceived value How conjoint could be a really groundbreaking understanding how and where customers spend their precious time  How Max Diff relates to Clayton Christensen's  Jobs to Be Done Theory  Check out the Experience Strategy Trend Report for more information on how to bring the power of context to your customer insight portfolio https://www.stonemantel.co/trendsreport  

SHOW NOTES: Today we are revisiting our talk with Roger Beasley about Customer Modes, the mindsets and behaviors that help people get jobs done. We look at what they are and how they work through the lens of the restaurant industry. Tune in to learn how modes thinking has the key to unlock experience strategy and journey work in powerful new ways.   IN THIS EPISODE: ●      [1:35] Introduction to Roger Beasley ●      [3:37] What are modes, jobs, ques, and how do they work together? ●      [8:39] How to connect the brand to the consumer. ●      [12:13] Roger talks about how technology shifted the mode people are in and how the restaurant chains need to shift their focus. ●      [17:50] We discuss the top modes found in restaurant customers and how they relate to the different channels. ●      [21:50] How the rise of virtual brands came about (DoorDash, UberEats, etc.) ●      [28:25] The need to customize your brand with the situation of why people will order. ●      [31:46] The different requirements for different channels/modes, moving away from loyalty programs.   KEY TAKEAWAYS: ●      People no longer order from restaurants because they like that specific restaurant's food; they are ordering based on the mode they are in - productivity, relaxing, etc. ●      With the creation and use of UberEats and DoorDash, the people ordering the food are not the restaurant's customers; they are the customers of third-party brands. So it's essential to create a new brand to draw customers back to your restaurant.

For many teams, virtual used to be the exception. Now, hybrid is the rule. So, how do leaders of large teams successfully foster accountability and engagement? To answer this question, we talked to Justin Jackson, SVP Product Management and Head of Enterprise Payments, Fiserv. Justin leads a large, dispersed cross-functional team with different goals and needs. To unify and engage them, here's what he focuses on: Interdependent goals with mutual accountability Measuring success based on the customer's why Doubling down on customer needs in the end-to-end journey across platforms Employing a win/learn mindset instead of a win/lose mindset  

If you're aspiring to satisfy your customers, then you're aspiring to mediocrity. That's the premise of From Impressed to Obsessed, and new book by Jon Picoult. Jon explains why building customer loyalty requires leaving indelible positive impressions on everyone you work with – not just shaping their experiences, but also shaping their memories. The book explores the cognitive science behind great customer experiences, pinpointing the breakthrough, psychology-based strategies that both industry leaders (like Apple, Disney, Ritz Carlton, Nordstrom, and Southwest Airlines) as well as fast-growing startups (like BILT and Framebridge) use to shape people's perceptions and sculpt unforgettable impressions – thereby turning more sales prospects into customers, and more customers into obsessed brand ambassadors. In this interview we explore case studies, engaging stories, and eye-opening research, to illustrate how they can be applied to almost any type of business. No matter what kind of constituency you serve – customers or colleagues, individuals or institutions, employees or employment candidates – this conversation will help you do it with distinction.  You'll hear how the Peak/End rule and our recency bias influence memory, and how creating more effortless, emotionally resonant, and relevant experiences can increase customer referral and retention.  

Today we're sitting down with the Director of Retail CX at Clayton Homes, Michael Stanton.  Clayton Homes is a Berkshire Hathaway Company that provides more homes to families than any other housing company in America. Michael's noticed, like many other experience strategists, that our inner circles are shifting. In addition to families, Clayton now sells more homes to friends, siblings, and others, who are redefining the buying experience. The questions Clayton Homes is asking are questions we should all be asking. Here are a few you might want to consider: Who is in my customer's inner circle? How is that inner circle going to participate in the buying process and the use of the product? How can we support our customers in making values-based and aspirational decisions?  How do we effectively digitize the decision-making process?      

John Doll, from the Enterprise Design team at Edward Jones, had a very rough day recently. His rental car was broken into. What ensued was one of the highest drama CX stories we've heard in a while. Grab a hot cup of tea and listen to this dishy story of processes failed, jobs not done, and opportunities missed. Yes, this is a story of customer disservice, but it's also one of employee disservice, and most importantly, it's one we can all learn from.

On this very special episode of The Experience Strategy Podcast, Dave Norton and Aransas Savas are getting meta as they are joined by the producer of this podcast and the Founder and CEO of Produce Your Podcast, Traci DeForge. Traci is a pioneer in the world of podcasting and has created a thriving business in helping companies translate their services into audio formats that grow their brands. The industry is changing, though, and her clients' needs are evolving, so in this conversation, we help her identify powerful new ways to serve her clients, boost the value of the time they- and their audiences - spend together, and even find a creative new way to use existing processes to deepen customer insight as her business and the category grows.  Three impactful questions every business owner, or experience strategist, can ask to learn how to better serve their customers: Did we succeed at the job the customer wanted to be done? Was the customer engaged in the experience? Did the customer feel like the experience was a good value for their time?   If you are ready to have more impact on your customer and your business, please listen to this episode!  

Experience strategists are navigating increasingly complex decisions. Customer journeys are increasingly complex, channels are proliferating, expectations continue to rise, and data is abundant. How do we help our companies make the best decisions about how and where to spend money?  Craig Lutz is uniquely well positioned to help us answer this question. Craig has been a data scientist and researcher at Qualtrics since 2007 where he has conducted thousands of conjoint analysis projects with Qualtrics. He is also the designer of Qualtrics' conjoint analysis DIY technology, the author of Exploring Conjoint Analysis and a prominent thought leader on innovative quantitative research methods. We are thrilled to announce that he also recently joined our team at Stone Mantel as Conjoint Advisor! In this episode, Dave and Aransas talk to Craig about how he helps teams like Google, Goldman Sachs, Uber and others make the decisions that really matter for customers, based on powerful analytics and what shifts when companies understand that time really is money. You'll hear: How Conjoint analysis can be used to get underneath what customers really care about and how it can be used to predict and change behavior How Uber used these tools to design a radical new rider loyalty program How Google: uses Max Diff to predict how customers will spend money How Goldman Sachs used it to inform their employees experience by optimizing their benefit packages - and tailoring them to each individual office in ways that saved money while increasing real and perceived value How conjoint could be a really groundbreaking understanding how and where customers spend their precious time  How Max Diff relates to Clayton Christensen's  Jobs to Be Done Theory  Check out the Experience Strategy Trend Report for more information on how to bring the power of context to your customer insight portfolio https://www.stonemantel.co/trendsreport   BIO: Craig Lutz has been a data scientist and researcher at Qualtrics since 2007.  He has been a frequent presenter at conferences on the subject of quantitative research methods and has conducted thousands of conjoint analysis projects Qualtrics/ customer over his time there.  He also designed and developed Qualtrics' conjoint analysis DIY technology. Craig graduated from BYU with a degree in Actuarial Science with a minor in Mathematics.  Craig and his wife Karrie have 5 kids and reside in Orem, Utah.

On today's episode of Experience Strategy Podcast, hosts Dave Norton and Aransas Savas will prove to you that your business needs a strong strategic POV on your customer experience in order to thrive. Listen in to hear how brands like @Apple, @W Hotels, and @Best Buy's Geek Squad used a compelling experience POV to innovate and drive business success. KEY TAKEAWAYS One of the key elements of an experience strategy is a point of view statement. The POV statement describes the near future needs of your customers and how your company is going to dedicate resources to meet those needs in a unique and compelling way. There are a variety of ways to create a POV statement including a declarative statement, an insight statement, a story, a theme, and a comparison. Once you have the statement you can begin to build frameworks that help your organization to make better decisions regarding experience  

Today we are joined by Jake Haupert and Jorge Perez, thought leaders and entrepreneurs in transformational travel. We explore why travel is the perfect launchpad for the transformation economy; how transformational experiences differ from our traditional ways of looking at categories like healthcare, finance, retail, technology and beyond; which customer types seek transformation and why they value it. Most importantly, we talk about how to effectively deliver on transformation. GUEST BIOS  Jake Haupert:  He's passionately advocating for new ways of believing, being, doing, and traveling that positively impact our lives, how we are with others, and how we relate to our planet. Travel today has become devoid of intention, integrity, meaning, and purpose, resulting in personal experiences lacking their full potential which, too often, reinforces boundaries, worldviews, and practices rather than stretching and evolving them. Despite our good intentions, unintended consequences have contributed to our current social and ecological crisis rather than catalytic to human development, healing, and collective prosperity. Jake believes the time is now to change that and invites you to join him. Jake is currently most excited to be participating in the "Transformation Economy Collaborative" led by Stone Mantel, an experience strategy company, and convening a roundtable of travel-specific brands.   Jorge Perez:  A passionate traveler and sustainable development promoter.  A pioneer on conservation through adventure travel and private land conservation, with more than 20 years of experience in these fields. Founder of  Tierra del Volcan, an Award-winning travel company that offers life-changing adventures that leads to legendary moments in Ecuador, South America. Adventure guide. Former president of The Ecuadorian Ecotourism Association. South America ambassador for the Transformational Travel Council and vice chair of the board of TTC. Ambassador for Adventure Travel Trade Association. Panelist and conference speaker at events like; ATWS, TNC private Land Conservation expo, TIES Ecuador, Ela Travel Show.  

Experience Strategy and Branding Strategy sometimes reference similar ideas and frameworks, but often don't complement one another in execution, for the good of the customer. Catherine is the Co-Founder of the branding agency, clarkmcdowall. Catherine has been a thought leader in brand strategy, architecture and innovation since the 90's. Her work is built on the fusion of art and science, left and right brain… or what she calls “intelligence and imagination”. Her work has helped shape some of the world's biggest and most innovative brands. Today, we look at the possibilities and pitfalls of these two approaches, and the magic that is possible when they find their rhythm and dance in harmony. KEY TAKEAWAYS  Successful brand strategy helps you define the character of your company. Successful experience strategy helps you define the needs of your customer. The two have the potential to work in partnership, or end up creating confusion for customers. Empowered employees enable the brand and experience dance to be harmonious. (Spoiler alert: it's not just about consistency, but about actually supporting employees with the technology to support customers. See @southwestairlines for more on this point.) GUEST BIO  Catherine is the Co-Founder of independent NYC-based branding agency, clarkmcdowall. A true pioneer in the business of branding and innovation, Catherine came to New York in the late 90s and quickly established her reputation as a thought leader in brand strategy, architecture and innovation. She joined forces with Paul McDowall in 2001, creating clarkmcdowall – an original agency built on the fusion of art and science, left and right brain… or what they call “intelligence and imagination”. Together, they have built a powerful team of talented individuals and helped shape some of the world's biggest and most innovative brands. Catherine leads the strategic direction for the agency's work and oversees the business. She is committed to supporting women in the pursuit of their ambitions, and is proud to have a long fostered women-majority leadership group.

Historically, customers expected categories like hospitality and healthcare to support their wellbeing. Today, categories as wide-ranging as finance and electronics are expected to design for wellbeing.  Don't think you're in the wellbeing industry? Think again. Cultural shifts and crises have changed the game. In this episode, we are joined by Sallie Fraenkel, the founder of Mind Body Spirit Network, and the former CMO & COO of SpaFinder and EVP for the Global Wellness Summit. Together we look at how changing customer expectations influence the perception of your experience and specific ways that you can meaningfully integrate wellbeing for your customers and company.    KEY TAKEAWAYS A decade ago, customers sought pampering from experiences. With time, that has become less differentiating. In fact, it's become a functional job to be done. Now, customers demand a more systemic understanding of their needs. They want companies to deliver products that support their total wellbeing. To meet the wellbeing needs of customers, look at the role you play in their life systems. Understanding those intersections will help you better serve them as you synch, coordinate and align with their lives. Use moments of intention and reflection to understand what your customers value, and where they most need you to support their systems.   GUEST BIO Sallie Fraenkel is the founder of Mind Body Spirit Network which was founded in 2014 to offer consulting services to wellness-oriented businesses and networking events for wellness-oriented individuals.  Sallie's passion for wellness travel and tourism has led her to destination spas and resorts around the world where she has created numerous trips, tours and experiences for wellness industry-insiders and travelers. Between 2004 to 2014, Fraenkel served as CMO & COO of SpaFinder and EVP for the Global Wellness Summit. Her first career was in the entertainment industry where she ran the home entertainment division for Showtime. As a leader in the industry, Fraenkel serves on several boards including the Transformational Travel Council, GSN Planet, NYSPA, One Well World, Well Defined and Vacayou. Fraenkel draws upon the expertise of many professionals with whom she has collaborated during her career. She values creativity, ingenuity, authenticity, integrity, and connection in her work and that of others.

Experience Strategy has expanded over the past decade to include a wide range of disciplines: CX, UX, Patient Experience, Employee Experience, Service Design, and so many more. With all these exes running around, experience strategy can sometimes sound like a country & western song. Today we are joined by Gary David, a Professor of Sociology, and Professor of Information Design and Corporate Communication at Bentley University, and the voice of ProfessorEXP on Twitch. We look at how we can learn from cultural ethnography to tame the wild west of exes by learning shared languages and measuring what really matters. KEY TAKEAWAYS Disintegrated systems cost everyone: customers, companies, and employees It's tempting to rely on standardized metrics like NPS, but they often oversimplify and mislead paths in their understanding of customer needs. To measure what really matters, continue asking “why” and “to what end” to find metrics that matter for both the customer and the company. “Do you want to have measurable impact or real impact?” ~Gary David It's up to experience strategists to become multi-linguists who understand the intention behind different disciplines. Higher education is a prime example of disintegrated systems. To integrate, as with companies, employee and customer metrics must reward integration. BIO Gary David, a Professor of Sociology, and Professor of Information Design and Corporate Communication at Bentley University. He is the founder of ethno-analytics, LLC, a consultancy that focuses on integrated design and experience alignment. He has worked with major companies and small community organizations to help create better experiences for all stakeholders. He is a keynote speaker and organizational educator at garyconnects.com. He also is an educational livestreamer on Twitch under the moniker ProfessorEXP. He co-hosts Experience by Design podcast, where they explore 'experience designs of all kinds.'

Chip Conley, legendary hotelier, was dubbed the Modern Elder at Airbnb because he was twice the age of the average Airbnb employee and as curious as he was wise. As the internal mentor to the young Airbnb CEO Brian Chesky, Chip got to see the value of intergenerational collaboration in a company that has now grown to be the most valuable hospitality company in the world. His bestselling book "Wisdom@Work: The Making of a Modern Elder" is a testament to rethinking the value of having 5 generations in the workplace and why more companies are doing their best to encourage their older workers to stay in the workplace longer. In this episode of The Experience Strategy Podcast we talk to Chip about his vision of the future, for experiences, our aging population, and our ways of working.    Listen in to hear more about The transition from a #ExperienceEconomy into a #TransformationEconomy Transformational Travel Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs for customers and the intersection with @ClaytonChristenson's Jobs to be Done KEEP LEARNING: Experience Strategy Trend Report The Modern Elder Academy  Wisdom @ Work by Chip Conley Peak by Chip Conley

Customer needs and expectations are constantly evolving. What can recent trends in customer expectations and context tell you about what's coming next? How can these inform your experience roadmap and prepare your business for what's next? Our goal is to provide data-driven trends for Experience Strategists that will help you with planning by identifying the major customer and cultural trends that should be informing your roadmaps and thinking for customer journeys, channels, and personas. Listen to our latest episode to hear the top trends influencing experience strategy and how they can move your company forward. Then, visit us at https://www.stonemantel.co/trendsreport to download our full report. What you'll learn: The top 6 meta trends influencing experience strategy in 2023 The research methodologies used to create the first-ever Experience Strategy Trends Report The cultural forces contributing to the experience strategy trends Examples of companies that are struggling or embracing trends Powerful ways to harness these trends for your business