Transform It Forward

For the series finale of Transform It Forward, Paul takes a moment to reflect on the past 12 months and look ahead to what we can expect to see in the new year. The past year has been full of progress, innovation and fascinating new developments in tech. To discuss some of the key highlights from 2022 and what we can look forward to in 2023, Paul sits down with his colleagues Vince Padua, the EVP and Chief Innovation and Technology Officer at Axway and Brian Otten, VP Digital Transformation Catalysts at Axway. Together, they review some of the high points of the past year, and even more importantly, look ahead to key trends, themes and predictions for 2023. Touching on a wide variety of topics including economic turbulence, the evolution of AI and ML, and the need to balance innovation with optimization, Paul, Vince and Brian share their thoughts and predictions on the future of the tech landscape. Interested in learning more about the show? Check out our website: https://www.transformitforward.com/

We all know the healthcare space has undergone dramatic changes in recent years, and this episode is all about exploring the industry's rapid evolution and technological advancements. In this episode, Paul sits down with Neetu Rajpal, the Chief Technology Officer at Oscar. As the first health insurance company built around a full-stack technology platform, Oscar maintains a relentless focus on serving its members. In her role, Neetu oversees Oscar's fully cloud native distributed software stack and the IT infrastructure. During the episode, she shares why she's passionate about improving the healthcare experience for members, providers and partners. Neetu also explains why she's always on the lookout for ways to move the needle in the health insurance industry, and how she uses the resources she has available to create positive change in the world. Interested in learning more about the show? Check out our website: https://www.transformitforward.com/

Most entrepreneurs will agree that the best ideas are born out of a genuine need to solve a problem. Necessity is the mother of invention, and if you're facing a challenge, there's a good chance there are others who have encountered the same issue. For John Clarke Mills, CEO and Co-Founder of Watch Duty, it was the need for more information about the wildfires that were raging around the ranch he had just bought in Sonoma County, California. It was this pain point that led him to launch the company, which is operated by experienced fire reporters and many other collaborators who diligently monitor radio scanners and other data sources 24 hours a day to keep people updated in real time. In this episode, Paul sits down with John to pick his brain on Watch Duty, how it works, and the company's plans for the future. During their conversation, they discuss everything from how to keep an edge against the competition to finding your purpose in life as an entrepreneur. Interested in learning more about the show? Check out our website: https://www.transformitforward.com/

In this special panel episode of Transform It Forward, Paul sits down with two of his colleagues at Axway to discuss their top predictions for the world of tech, AI and more in 2022. Along with Vince Padua, EVP, Chief Innovation and Technology Officer at Axway and Brian Pagano, Chief Catalyst, VP of Catalysts at Axway, Paul explores the possibilities for everything from cloud technology to APIs and more. The panelists discuss a wide variety of topics including “data fabric” as a popular buzzword for 2022, the metaverse and the need for a zero-trust approach to security. Listen in to catch a glimpse of what the future may hold for the tech world.Interested in learning more about the show? Check out our website: https://www.transformitforward.com/

With an ever-evolving tech landscape, stiff competition and an undeniably changing world, marketers seem to have more to contend with today than ever before. Looking at the landscape through a critical lens is essential for brands hoping to stay ahead of the competition and optimize their outcomes. In this episode, Paul sits down with someone who knows all about what it takes to stay on your toes as a marketer today: Lara Compton, the VP of Growth and Brand Marketing at Ruby. The company provides small businesses with the services, products and analytics they need to manage their customer interactions and deliver exceptional experiences. During the episode, Lara shares some great advice about targeting your ideal customer, making data-driven decisions, navigating the increasingly complex tech stack, and much more. Interested in learning more about the show? Check out our website: https://www.transformitforward.com/

In the third and final installment of this special Transform It Forward mini series, Paul reviews some of the highlights from interviews focusing on an area that affects all industries: the war for talent and refining workforce needs. To inform the discussion, he takes a look back at past episodes featuring Evan Sohn, Chairman and CEO of Recruiter.com, Jon Schlossberg, Co-Founder and Executive Chairman at financial services platform Even, and Amy MacGregor, Global HR Vice President, Employee Experience at Manulife Global. Using these interviews as a guide, Paul explores some common themes in attracting, hiring and retaining top talent today. Interested in learning more about the show? Check out our website: https://www.transformitforward.com/

In the second installment of this special Transform It Forward mini series, Paul reviews some of the highlights from interviews with Mike Starkey, Chief Information Officer at Christy Sports, Robert Gerwig, Senior Vice President of Distribution at Sweetwater, and Aviva Fink, the Vice President of Growth and Partnerships at Reonomy to take a status check of the retail industry. Using clips from these interviews as a guide, Paul explores the evolution of the retail world over the past few years, and where it could be headed in the future. Specifically, the episode covers the mass exodus from in-person retail shops to exclusively online shopping experiences that took place throughout the pandemic period, strategies for making use of the rich sources of data we have at our fingertips today, and the art of change management during these rapidly evolving times. Interested in learning more about the show? Check out our website: https://www.transformitforward.com/

Throughout the Transform It Forward podcast series, Paul has chatted with experts from a wide variety of industries including events, technology and real estate. Now, it's time to take a step back and connect the dots. For the next few episodes in the series, Paul will be taking a look back at some key clips from past interviews that share common elements or discuss similar industries. In this episode, he takes a look at the transportation industry and how it's evolved in recent years thanks to new and innovative technologies. Paul looks back at past interviews with Jason Gross, the Vice President of Mobile at Curb, Michael Nalepka, the General Manager of VideoProtects at J.J. Keller, and Toby Russell, the Co-Founder, Board-Director and Strategic Advisor at Shift, drawing key themes from each of these conversations. The episode explores how the transportation industry has changed in recent years, the factors that have driven its transformation and where it could be headed next. Interested in learning more about the show? Check out our website: https://www.transformitforward.com/

On Transform It Forward, Paul and his guests often discuss new and emerging technologies, exciting innovations and the digital revolution. However, no matter how advanced our technology becomes, there will always be a fundamental human need for powerful storytelling. In this episode of Transform It Forward, he sits down with Seema Lakhani, Chief Product Officer at Wattpad, to explore how technology is merging with the art of storytelling to create a completely new landscape for the publishing world. Wattpad is a user-generated, online platform where readers and writers come together to create and consume stories. The platform was recently acquired by Naver for $600 million, which has opened up even more possibilities for the company to continue innovating in the future. During their discussion, Paul and Seema cover a wide variety of topics related to publishing including the creator economy, the golden age of content, and much more. Interested in learning more about the show? Check out our website: https://www.transformitforward.com/

As industries across the board continue to transform, we're not only changing the work we do every day, but also, how we do said work. Without the right dynamic, culture, and leadership structure, a team can fall apart pretty quickly, so improving the way we work is often just as important as the work itself. This is a practice often referred to as organizational development, and it's playing an increasingly essential role in corporate structures everywhere. In this episode of Transform It Forward, Paul sits down with David Cummins, an expert in organizational development, as well as a transformation facilitator, leadership and collaboration mentor, speaker, writer and much more. He's also the owner and managing director of Ministry Group, an agency based in Hamburg, Germany. During their discussion, they chat about strategies for improving the way we work in team settings and as individuals so we can reach our fullest potential.Interested in learning more about the show? Check out our website: https://www.transformitforward.com/

Establishing a personal relationship with your customers is all about building a strong foundation of trust, understanding and mutual respect. In other words, people want to feel like the brands they support are also supporting them. One way to make customers feel truly valued is by rewarding them for their loyalty through perks, points, special deals or gifts, which is where the growing rewards and loyalty industry comes in clutch. In this episode, Paul sits down with the founder and CEO of Fetch Rewards, Wes Schroll, to discuss what's new in the rewards and loyalty space, why consumer loyalty has become more of a priority in recent years, and how brands can simplify the process to create a streamlined customer journey from beginning to end. Wes explains how Fetch Rewards is making it easier than ever for brands to maintain strong relationships with their customers, while empowering consumers to benefit from the purchases they make every day.Interested in learning more about the show? Check out our website: https://www.transformitforward.com/

The most effective industry disruptions are born from an unmet consumer need. Without a firm grasp on the needs, desires and problems of their customer, companies will fail to innovate in their industry. In this episode, Paul sits down with a guest who has an intimate awareness of this because he's witnessed it throughout his own career. Toby Russell is the Co-Founder, Board-Director and Strategic Advisor at Shift, a company that's on a mission to simplify the process of buying used cars. During the episode, he shares his take on the key ingredients of a successful industry disruption and why some innovations stick, while others don't. He also shares his top predictions for the auto industry in the coming years.Interested in learning more about the show? Check out our website: https://www.transformitforward.com/

Moving the needle when it comes to developing city infrastructure isn't always easy. It's a balancing act involving multiple stakeholders and competing interests, and innovation doesn't always win. However, this episode featuring Alon Marcovici will remind you that Rome wasn't built in a day. Alon is the Managing Director at CityAge, a global platform where leaders meet to build the future of our urban planet. During the episode, Paul and Alon discuss strategies for driving innovation forward in today's modern cities and how to adopt a new perspective on growth and development for the future. They also discuss success strategies for sparking connections that result in real change, and current challenges and opportunities within the landscape.Interested in learning more about the show? Check out our website: https://www.transformitforward.com/

As we continue to witness major transformations happening across industries, many smart investors are keeping an eye on previously untapped industries such as powersports. This ultimately opened up new opportunities for companies to step up and modernize a niche of their own, benefitting the entire ecosystem in the process. In the most recent episode of Transform It Forward, Paul sits down with the co-founder and CEO of Octane to hear his perspective on the changing of the guard in the powersports industry, and how he and his team have found success by taking a fresh approach. During our conversation, Jason explained how the fintech company is revolutionizing the buying experience for major recreational and equipment purchases, and why the process of securing a loan was in dire need of a refresh. Octane is a unique fintech company that's revolutionizing the buying experience for major recreational and equipment purchases, so Jason had plenty of insights to share about a variety of topics including the value of choosing a niche in business and the importance of embracing new technologies. Interested in learning more about the show? Check out our website: https://www.transformitforward.com/

It's no secret that the seniors care sector has been in need of a major transformation for decades, but the pandemic served to highlight many of the industry's long-standing problems and systemic issues. In this episode, Paul sits down with Sandy Jen, co-founder of Honor, the world's largest senior care network and technology platform. Paul and Sandy discuss some of the emerging innovations that are disrupting the seniors care industry, Honor's overall mission when it comes to seniors tech, and how technologies like AI are revolutionizing the way we care for our seniors. Sandy also offers her perspective on the stigma surrounding seniors and technology, and why outdated misconceptions could be holding us back from making progress in this area.Interested in learning more about the show? Check out our website: https://www.transformitforward.com/

Will and estate planning has been notoriously complex and burdensome, but new technologies are helping us bring the process into the modern age. In this episode, Paul sits down with Julia Staffen, the COO of Willful, a company that's dedicated to bringing will and estate planning into the digital age to reach its vision of...

Will and estate planning has been notoriously complex and burdensome, but new technologies are helping us bring the process into the modern age. In this episode, Paul sits down with Julia Staffen, the COO of Willful, a company that's dedicated to bringing will and estate planning into the digital age to reach its vision of ensuring every Canadian has a legal will. During the episode, Paul and Julia discuss how the world of will and estate planning is changing, and how we can help adults of all ages prepare for the future. Julia shares her insights about the tools and technologies that are transforming the industry, and how Willful's approach to will and estate planning is helping to minimize fear of the process for its customers.Interested in learning more about the show? Check out our website: https://www.transformitforward.com/

The global need for digital disruption in education goes far beyond an appetite for new technology to play with, encompassing large-scale systemic issues with existing pathways to the workforce and traditional models of learning and work. On today's episode, Paul chats with Kristina Francis, Head of JFFLabs at Jobs for The Future. In her role, Kristina oversees advisory, acceleration, data, and investing initiatives that connect traditional systems with systems disruptors to enable equitable economic mobility. Kristina and Paul discuss the modernization and digitization of education and pathways to the workforce and why the current model needs digital disruption. To learn more about JFF's initiatives visit them at https://www.jff.org/Interested in learning more about the show? Check out our website: https://www.transformitforward.com/

Innovation: it's a word that's commonly thrown around corporate settings today. But who are the key players that are actually driving change forward in industries like tech, finance and advertising? In this episode, Paul sits down with one of the creative leaders and entrepreneurs helping to drive transformation across industries today, Guga Stocco. As the co-founder of Futurum Capital, Guga has more than 20 years of experience in building up digital businesses and leading corporate transformations. In his career, he's touched several industries like digital banking, startup investments, e-commerce and more. During their discussion, Paul and Guga touch on a wide variety of topics like AI, open banking, and how technology is driving industry transformations overall.Interested in learning more about the show? Check out our website: https://www.transformitforward.com/

In this special panel episode of Transform It Forward, Paul sits down with two of his colleagues at Axway to discuss their top predictions for the world of tech, AI and more in 2022. Along with Vince Padua, EVP, Chief Innovation and Technology Officer at Axway and Brian Pagano, Chief Catalyst, VP of Catalysts at Axway, Paul explores the possibilities for everything from cloud technology to APIs and more. The panelists discuss a wide variety of topics including “data fabric” as a popular buzzword for 2022, the metaverse and the need for a zero-trust approach to security. Listen in to catch a glimpse of what the future may hold for the tech world.Interested in learning more about the show? Check out our website: https://www.transformitforward.com/

On the final episode of Transform It Forward season two, Paul is reflecting on some of the most interesting, insightful and thought-provoking interviews of the season. From content marketing to the events industry, Paul and his guests have covered a wide range of topics on season two of the podcast, all through the lens of the cutting-edge transformations we're seeing in society today. As we close the door on 2021 and look ahead to 2022, Paul is counting down some of the most memorable clips from season two of Transform It Forward. Listeners will hear clips from: Aviva Fink, Vice President of Growth and Partnerships at Reonomy, on the future of commercial real estateVince Padua, EVP and Chief Technology and Innovation Officer at Axway, on the nature of digital transformationMichael Brenner, CEO of Marketing Insider Group, on the rise of digital marketingDaphne Hoppenot, founder of The Vendry, on the future of the events industryJacqueline Teo, Global Chief Digital Officer at HGC Global Communications, on change managementInterested in learning more about the show? Check out our website: https://www.transformitforward.com/

On this episode of Transform It Forward, Paul sits down with Jason Gross, the Vice President of Mobile at Curb, a company that's reimagining urban mobility. With a driver-first approach to ride-hailing, Curb is bringing upfront pricing to the largest nationwide network of taxis and licensed for-hire vehicles. The company provides unparalleled transparency to riders and drivers alike, facilitating billions of dollars in payment transactions annually through its open mobility platform. During the episode, Paul and Jason discuss innovation in the taxi industry, the benefits of using taxis over services like Uber or Lyft, and how Curb is working to meet its profitability goals. They also discuss how Curb has carved out a unique niche for itself in the transportation industry, and how ridesharing companies have raised the stakes for all the players in the game.Learn more about Jason Gross: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jason-gross-6284a16/Interested in learning more about the show? Check out our website: https://www.transformitforward.com/

On this episode of Transform It Forward, Paul sits down with Daphne Hoppenot, founder of The Vendry. Launched in 2019, The Vendry is a digital marketplace and professional community for the events industry with over 18,000 members. During the episode, Paul and Daphne discuss how the events industry was one of the hardest hit by the COVID-19 pandemic. Daphne shares how she responded to the situation, pivoting to position The Vendry as a community platform for event professionals that would enable them to connect with others and showcase their work. Daphne also discusses The Vendry's newly launched tool, which connects buyers with event venues and vendors in the community, the growing role of tech in events, and how she believes the industry will continue to evolve moving forward.Learn more about Daphne Hoppenot: https://www.linkedin.com/in/daphneearp/Interested in learning more about the show? Check out our website: https://www.transformitforward.com/ 

On this episode of Transform It Forward, Paul sits down with Michael Nalepka, the General Manager of VideoProtects at J. J. Keller. Offering video-based solutions for drivers and fleets, VideoProtects is bringing the science of video-telematics to the transportation market. Having joined J. J. Keller this past January, Michael has had an extensive career in the transportation technology field. He's held roles at Procon Analytics and PeopleNet, helping to drive innovation and cutting-edge product development in the transportation industry throughout his career. During the episode, Michael and Paul discuss how video technology and AI are transforming to keep drivers, fleets and highways safe. They also discuss how the transportation industry changed as a result of the pandemic, and where it's headed from here. Learn more about Michael Nalepka: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-nalepka-5831682a/Interested in learning more about the show? Check out our website: https://www.transformitforward.com/

On this episode of Transform It Forward, Paul sits down with Mike Starkey, Chief Information Officer at Christy Sports. Mike has held several positions in e-commerce and retail over the years, including VP of IT Strategy at enVista, Senior VP of Information Systems at Performance Bicycle and Director of IT Retail Strategy at Sears. His experience has touched all aspects of the retail world including e-commerce, logistics and supply chain as well as strategy and business management. During the episode, Paul and Mike discuss the future of sports marketing, e-commerce and retail. They touch on what's on the horizon for e-commerce, specifically in the sports world, how to stay current and innovative in the space, and the importance of offering the customer a full-service experience rather than just a transactional relationship.Learn more about Mike Starkey: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mstarkey/Interested in learning more about the show? Check out our website: https://www.transformitforward.com/

As companies seek better ROI for their marketing efforts today, more and more brands are turning to quality content as their number one tactic. On this episode of Transform It Forward, Paul sits down with Michael Brenner, CEO at Marketing Insider Group. Michael is a globally-recognized keynote speaker on leadership, culture and marketing, and the author of the bestselling book The Content Formula. As an influencer and thought leader in the marketing space, Michael helps companies attract and win new customers through strategic content that cuts through the clutter in the online world today. During the episode, Paul and Michael discuss what goes into a great piece of content, how it can give your brand a boost, and what changes we're seeing in the content marketing landscape today. Learn more about Michael Brenner: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelbrenner/Interested in learning more about the show? Check out our website: https://www.transformitforward.com/

The insurance industry was dramatically impacted by the pandemic, but some providers have been quick to evolve in the face of the crisis. On this episode of Transform It Forward, Paul sits down with Mark Morissette, Founder and CEO of Foxquilt, a leading North American insurance technology company focused on empowering small businesses and B2B networks to save on small business insurance. The company's insurance-as-a-service platform is complemented by a unique data and machine learning underwriting infrastructure. Mark discusses why he believes that automated processes will help to revolutionize the insurance industry, and provide a better way to address the current needs of small businesses. He also shares his thoughts on how the pandemic has changed the insurance industry, and where it's headed in the future.Learn more about Mark Morissette: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-morissette-05183923/?originalSubdomain=caInterested in learning more about the show? Check out our website: https://www.transformitforward.com/

On this episode of Transform It Forward, Paul sits down with Axway's Chief Innovation and Technology Officer, Vince Padua. Vince is known for his outcome-driven approach to building visionary technology, and over his 20-year career, he's created several groundbreaking products for Fortune 500 companies. Through his work, he has successfully accelerated tech adoption rates and delivered large-scale initiatives to democratize technology outcomes. During the episode, Vince shares his perspective on how technology has changed over the past two decades, his predictions for the future of the industry, and the power of API-driven technologies. Learn more about Vince Padua: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vpadua/Interested in learning more about the show? Check out our website: https://www.transformitforward.com/

On this episode of Transform It Forward, we learn how a financial services platform called Even is changing the game for employee financial well-being. Paul sits down with Jon Schlossberg, Co-Founder and Executive Chairman at Even, to learn how the company is transforming the way employers look at assisting the financial needs of their employees by helping them achieve the lives they want. As the saying goes, the more you put in, the more you get out, and Even gives you the opportunity to show you care about employees, which promotes talent retention as a result. Jon and Paul chat through the changing relationship between employers and employees, how financial incentives offer a new frontier of benefits, and what Even is doing to transform the FinTech industry.Learn more about Jon Schlossberg: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonschlossberg/Interested in learning more about the show? Check out our website: https://www.transformitforward.com/

The pandemic has changed the way we work, shop and experience life. Although the commercial real estate industry is generally optimistic about the path forward, questions remain—especially in retail. In this episode, Paul sits down with Aviva Fink, Vice President of Growth and Partnerships at Reonomy, a property intelligence platform for commercial real estate professionals. They discuss how retail brands can thrive in a post-COVID world, change management and the multiple dimensions of data that professionals are leveraging to make informed investment decisions. Aviva shares her take on the modernization of the commercial real estate world, and the role technology will play in the industry's future.Learn more about Aviva Fink: https://www.linkedin.com/in/finkaviva/Interested in learning more about the show? Check out our website: https://www.transformitforward.com/

Connecting people in a digital environment has never been more important than in the past year. Effective digital communications give us the ability to create strong global connections, collaborate with one another, and find solutions to complex challenges. Enter: Jacqueline Teo, Global Chief Digital Officer at HGC Global Communications. In this episode, Jacqueline sits down with Paul to discuss change management strategies, the importance of access when spurring adoption for telecommunications, and how HGC transformed their physical processes through automation and customer empowerment. Learn more about Jacqueline Teo: https://www.linkedin.com/in/teojacqueline/Interested in learning more about the show? Check out our website: https://www.transformitforward.com/

Although women represent nearly half of the entire workforce today, they're still massively underrepresented in the technology industry. Transformation is needed not only for the women working in technology now, but also for the girls hoping to make their mark on the industry in the future. In this episode of the Transform It Forward podcast, we share a panel discussion from the recent Axway Summit 2021, which brought these issues to light and sparked a dialogue around the need for diverse leadership in tech. Moderated by Axway's VP of Customer Success and Experience, Anne Lloyd, the panel included speakers Chhavi Bhargava, Data Exchange Service Manager, Ford Motor Co., Fernanda Toscano, IT Senior Executive, HDI Insurance, and Susanne Schuetz, SVP Customer and Business Intelligence, DB Schenker.Learn more about the Axway Summit here: https://www.axway.com/en/events/axway-summit-americasInterested in learning more about the show? Check out our website: https://www.transformitforward.com/

Traditional qualitative market research is impersonal and hard to scale. To make matters more challenging, when the COVID-19 pandemic hit, in person interviews and focus groups were no longer accessible. Enter: video. In this episode of Transform It Forward, Paul sits down with Simon Glass, the CEO of Discuss.io, to chat about how video conferencing software is the future of qualitative research. They discuss how video creates a more comfortable setting for subjects to open up, how the research industry has adapted to the digital space over the past year, and the way that video is able to scale customer research techniques. Learn more about Simon here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/simon-glass-345b40/Interested in learning more about the show? Check out our website: https://www.transformitforward.com/

The insurance industry is traditionally thought of as slow-moving, but today, even the longest-standing industries are being forced to adapt. On this week's episode of Transform It Forward, Paul chats with Dan Watt, VP of Product Management at FINEOS, a firm dedicated to creating core systems for life, accident, and health insurers globally. The two discuss the challenges that the insurance industry is currently facing, the need to unify and leverage existing data sources, how (and how not) to launch a successful transformation campaign, and the key to both customer and employee experience.Learn more about Dan Watt here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dan-watt-ba45353/Interested in learning more? Check out our website: https://www.transformitforward.com/

An organization's most important asset is its people. To kick off the second season of Transform It Forward, Paul sits down with Evan Sohn, CEO of Recruiter.com to discuss the future of human resources, talent attraction, and retention. They discuss what's needed to transform HR departments in corporate settings, where to best invest your dollars into talent, and how the gig economy will play a key role in the next generation of recruitment.Learn more about Evan Sohn here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/evansohnInterested in learning more? Check out our website: https://www.transformitforward.com/

On this episode of Transform it Forward, Paul is joined by Vicki Knott, Co-founder and CEO of Crux OCM, a company utilizing AI and real-time optimization to enable semi-autonomous operation of oil pipelines, reducing risk and increasing efficiency. The future Vicki pictures for this technology goes beyond oil and gas and allows existing systems in energy and other industries to function more efficiently and profitably, bettering the human experience for workers and customers alike.   Together, they discuss:  1) The important but challenging nature of innovation in an industry as traditional as oil and gas;2) The sweet spot in terms of human-centric versus machine-learned jobs and how to balance the two for maximum efficiency and safety;3) How and why we need to focus on existing energy assets instead of focusing solely on renewable energy.

Supply chain disruption is arguably an inevitability. Factors such as political unrest, tariffs and even weather can cause global supply chain disruption. So how do you manage these disruptions? And as you address major supply chain issues, how do you ensure your people remain at the forefront of everything you do, while still holding your own with the supply chain giants of the world? On today's episode, Paul is joined by Robert Gerwig, Senior Vice President of Distribution at Sweetwater, the leading online retailer for music instruments and audio gear in the U.S. Robert has more than thirty years of experience in manufacturing, fulfillment and operations. As a private, rapidly growing online retailer, Sweetwater is one of the smaller supply chains Robert has worked with. But in terms of technology and expertise, Robert says it's right up there with the big players and has allowed him to strike a careful balance between speed and style, the quantifiable and the qualitative-- things that, according to Robert, don't need to be at odds.   Paul and Robert discuss:1) The value of solid contingency planning to find success in your supply chains;2) How to balance “hard” measurable things like speed of service with “soft” things like customer experience;3) The importance of valuing your people-- whether that means your customers, employees or vendors -- and how it can help you find success with your business objectives.

Most work environments look very different than they did mere months ago. The shift to remote work was violently accelerated by the COVID-19 pandemic, forcing workplaces everywhere to manage internal and external challenges they never could have anticipated. Even companies with strong business continuity plans found themselves executing on them more rapidly than they had ever expected. Remaining operational and productive throughout management of a crisis is at the heart of every business continuity plan, but how do you spring into action to manage global-scale  challenges that previously seemed unfathomable?  On this episode of Transform It Forward, Paul chats with VP of Employee Experience at Manulife, Amy MacGregor.  For 15+ years, Amy has been a champion of efficient employee experiences that focus on human centred design and collaboration. Her “getting it done together” attitude is driving her team at Manulife through the COVID pandemic.   The two discuss:  1) Practices Manulife had in place that allowed for a smooth transition to remote work;2) The importance of empowering your team to make key decisions through a crisis;3) Creative ways to keep employees engaged and motivated in a remote environment;4) The long term effects your response to this (or any) crisis can have on company culture.

What does the future of healthcare look like after the COVID-19 pandemic? Paul sits down with Dr. Daniel Pepe and Albert Tai to discuss the before and after pictures of the healthcare industry, to uncover how it adapted to the ‘new normal' we're experiencing today. Dr. Daniel Pepe is a distinguished clinician and educator, with several awards under his belt including the OMA Resident Achievement Award and the PARO Resident Trust Fund Teaching Award. Albert Tai is equally as impressive, being the CEO of Hypercare, a company tackling healthcare's archaic ways of communication, specifically coordination around patient care.  The three discuss:  1) How healthcare professionals pivoted their lines of care to digital processes;2) The technologies currently being used to support frontline healthcare workers;3) How digital workflows are connecting healthcare practices together;4) The importance of understanding your stakeholders.

For our third episode of Transform it Forward, Paul sits down with Danielle Brown, Chief Marketing Officer of Points, to uncover the future of D2C marketing. Points is a technology organization dedicated to helping brands enhance and monetize their loyalty currencies and currently serves 60 of the world's largest brands. Together, the two mention: Why brands need to consider customer reactions; How to get travel customers excited again, even when the future is shaky and uncertain; When to focus on equity vs. equality in partnerships;Why leaders need to trust their teams, especially in volatile markets; How employee happiness correlates to customer satisfaction.

This week on Transform It Forward, Paul is chatting with Victor Lee, the former SVP of Marketing at Hasbro. Victor is a veteran in the customer experience space, having watched the marketing world evolve from the dot com boom to today's focus on predictive, contextual targeting methods. During their conversation, Victor discusses four major themes:1) What brands can do to offer a faster, more seamless online experience;2) How operational excellence can be used as a unique differentiator for brands;3) Why brands need to do to continually adapt and evolve to customer needs;4) How to provide superior customer convenience.

In our inaugural episode of Transform It Forward, host Paul French sits down with Anna Foat, the Director of Global Digital Transformation at Sun Life Financial. Anna is an expert in change management and her approach to handling COVID-19 has been nothing short of exceptional. Throughout their conversation, Anna and Paul touch on four key themes:1) Why today's global pandemic is sparking major culture shifts;2) How to work together in harmony, when your organization is built in siloes;3) What value leaders need to provide to get their employees excited about new changes;4) The importance of just saying yes.