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In this episode, Annie Longsworth, Doug Park, and Ollie Forster join host Mark Lee to reflect on key insights from GreenBiz 2026 in Phoenix. Together, they explore what the conference signaled about the state of corporate sustainability, from treating sustainability as a commercial growth lever and the rise of AI agents and technology ecosystems, to the tightening definition of “high‑quality” carbon credits and the hidden risks buyers still overlook. Their conversation covers: What happened at GreenBiz 2026? Key insights from our GreenBiz panels Looking ahead to how sustainability strategies are evolvingRelated content: 1. Quantifying Sustainability: Turning ESG into Business Value | ERM2. What Makes a High-Quality Carbon Credit? | ERM3. Unlocking the Business Value of Sustainability | ERM4. GreenBiz 2026 | ERM
What can HR learn from private equity, where talent, culture, and leadership are part of the deal thesis from day one? In many organisations, the connection between people strategy and business outcomes is still taking shape. In private equity, however, that connection is immediate and unmistakable, with leadership quality, organisational design, workforce capability, and culture being central to the value-creation plan, with clear timelines, defined expectations, and measurable results. So, in this episode of the Digital HR Leaders podcast, host David Green speaks with Angela Geffre, Head of Human Capital at GrowthCurve Capital, to discuss what this looks like on the ground. Together, they explore what it really means to run HR in a private equity environment, and what the broader HR profession can learn from it. So tune in, and learn more about: The key people questions to ask when assessing a new portfolio companyHow HR contributes to value creation during a 3–5 year investment horizonWhat truly drives performance and retention across industries and organisation sizesHow HR must adapt when moving from large enterprises to fast-moving portfolio businessesHow AI is reshaping products, operating models, and early-career pathwaysWhy HR must lead the responsible and ethical adoption of AI, not just manage its impact This episode is sponsored by HiBob. HiBob brings HR, Payroll, and Finance together into a single platform that employees actually use. With AI throughout, you move faster, work smarter, and empower your people to power your business. Sapient Insights recognises HiBob's AI vision, citing the Bob AI Companion for making everyday work faster and easier. Fosway Group also names HiBob a 2025 9-Grid™ Core Leader, recognising the strongest AI vision among Core Leaders. HiBob. All-in-one HCM for HR, Payroll, and Finance. Learn all about HiBob's modern HR platform here Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
In dieser Episode spreche ich mit Marcus Presich, Head of Data, Analytic & AI, Raiffeisenlandesbank Niederösterreich-WienWir sprechen über folgende Themen:-Wie startet man eine erfolgreiche Data- & AI-Strategie im Unternehmen von Grund auf?-Warum sollten Unternehmen bei KI-Projekten vom Business-Value statt von der Technologie ausgehen?-Welche Datenprodukte bringen Banken und Unternehmen den größten wirtschaftlichen Mehrwert?-Wie priorisiert man KI-Use-Cases richtig nach Business Impact und technischer Komplexität?-Welche Rolle spielen Fachbereiche beim Aufbau von Machine-Learning- und AI-Modellen?-Warum scheitern viele KI-Initiativen ohne sauberes Datenfundament?-Wie verändert Generative AI und Large Language Models den Kundenservice und Vertrieb?-Welche organisatorische Struktur braucht ein Unternehmen für erfolgreiche AI-Implementierung?-Wie bereitet man Mitarbeiter konkret auf den Einsatz von KI im Unternehmen vor?-Welche KI-Use-Cases bringen kurzfristige Quick Wins und welche sind langfristige Investments?Erhalte jede Woche aktuelle Strategien in dein E-Mail Postfach: https://www.stateofprocessautomation.com/Podcast-Moderator: Christoph PacherLinkedInInterviewgast: Marcus Presich, Head of Data, Analytic & AI, Raiffeisenlandesbank Niederösterreich-WienLinkedIn
The perfect AI storm happened, and no one has noticed yet.
What does it really take to move enterprise AI from impressive demos to decisions that show up in quarterly results? One year into his role as Global Managing Partner at IBM Consulting, Neil Dhar sits at the intersection of strategy, capital allocation, and technology execution. Leading the firm's Americas business and a team of close to 100,000 consultants, he has a front-row view into how large organizations are reassessing their AI investments. From global healthcare leaders like Medtronic to luxury retail brands such as Neiman Marcus, the conversation has shifted. Early proofs of concept helped executives understand what was possible. Now the focus is firmly on proof of value and on whether AI can drive growth, competitiveness, and measurable return. In this episode, I speak with Neil Dhar about what has changed in the boardroom over the past year and why ROI has become the central question. Drawing on more than three decades in finance and private equity, including senior leadership roles at PwC, Neil explains why AI is increasingly being treated as a capital allocation decision rather than a technology experiment. Every dollar invested has to earn its place, whether through productivity gains, operational improvement, or new revenue opportunities. Vanity projects no longer survive scrutiny, especially when boards and investors expect results on a much shorter timeline. We also explore how IBM is applying these same principles internally. Neil shares how the company has identified hundreds of workflows across the business, prioritized those with the strongest economic impact, and used AI and automation to drive large-scale productivity gains. The result is a potential $4.5 billion in annual run rate savings by 2025, with those gains being reinvested into innovation, people, and future growth. It is a candid look at what happens when AI strategy, leadership accountability, and disciplined execution come together inside a global organization. If you are a business leader trying to separate real value from hype, or someone wrestling with how to justify AI spend beyond experimentation, this conversation offers a grounded perspective on what enterprise AI looks like when it is treated as a business decision rather than a technology trend. Are you ready to rethink how AI earns its place inside your organization, and what proof of value really means in 2026? Useful Links Connect With Neil Dhar IBM Institute for Business Value, "The Enterprise in 2030" study Learn More About IBM Consulting
In this episode of Performance Matters, Bob Mosher sits down with longtime colleague and industry practitioner Joe Dunlap for a powerful conversation about what it truly takes for L&D to thrive in a performance-first, AI-accelerated world. Joe shares his 25-year journey from instructional designer to head of continuous learning and performance improvement, and why embracing the 5 Moments of Need and building a real performance architecture has fundamentally reshaped the impact of learning inside his organization. Joe offers practical, hard-won insights on diagnosing performance, navigating organizational resistance, positioning L&D as a true business partner, and preparing teams for the new expectations shaping our profession. If you're an L&D leader looking to elevate your impact—and your relevance—this episode is a roadmap to what's next. Listen now! Have questions about this content or another resource on the site? Let us know! Use this form to let us know you're interested in scheduling a call with a member of the team. We're always happy to discuss your current, future, or aspirational initiatives in real-time. For more 5 Moments of Need resources, visit our website, join the conversation, attend our upcoming Summit, and subscribe to this podcast so as not to miss a single episode. Copyright © 2026 by APPLY Synergies, LLC | All Rights Reserved.
From Ski Bum to Stakeholder Whispering AuthorHow Journalism Shaped Bill's Data PerspectiveLearning to Delegate and Trust as a LeaderEmpathy and Storytelling in Complex Sales CyclesGuiding Stakeholders to Their Own SolutionsThe Unique Value of Human Connection in an AI WorldThe Dance of Questions for Lasting Customer RelationshipsConnecting Data Security to Business Value at Salesforce
In dieser Episode spreche ich mit Tim Zimmermann, Regional Vice President bei Roboyo, und Lucas Preuß, Expert Associate Partner bei McKinsey & Company.Wir sprechen über folgende Themen:-Was ist Agentic AI – und warum ist sie aktuell in fast jeder Automatisierungsdiskussion relevant?-Warum bleiben viele Unternehmen bei KI- und Automatisierungs-Piloten stecken und kommen nicht in die Skalierung?-Welche Branchen sind bei Agentic AI und Automatisierung führend – und welche hinken hinterher?-Welche Voraussetzungen (Datenstrategie, Cloud, Prozesse) brauchen Unternehmen, um Agentic AI erfolgreich einzusetzen?-Warum sind saubere Prozesse und Operating Models wichtiger als neue KI-Technologie?-Wie sieht das Operating Model der neuen Welt aus – und warum müssen Silos dafür aufgebrochen werden?-Warum ist AI-first bzw. Automation-first sinnvoll – und wo ist der Ansatz gefährlich?-Wie lassen sich Agentic-AI-Use-Cases systematisch identifizieren und priorisieren?-Warum ist Produktivität durch GenAI schwer messbar – und wo entsteht trotzdem realer Business Value?-Wie nutzen Unternehmen Agentic AI nicht nur zur Kostensenkung, sondern für Topline- und Revenue-Wachstum?Erhalte jede Woche aktuelle Strategien in dein E-Mail PostfachPodcast-Moderator:Christoph PacherLinkedInInterviewgäste:Tim Zimmermann, Regional Vice President, RoboyoLinkedInLucas Preuß, Expert Associate Partner, McKinsey & CompanyLinkedIn
AI is no longer a distant promise, it's actively reshaping how work gets done. But the biggest differentiator between companies that thrive and those that fall behind isn't the technology itself. It's how leaders guide people through the change.In this episode of TECHtonic, TSIA's Thomas Lah sits down with 2x best selling author and strategist Alison McCauley to explore what it really takes to move a workforce from fear of replacement to mastery of augmentation. They unpack why early AI gains compound so quickly, how invention, not just efficiency, drives long-term advantage, and why subject matter expertise is more critical than ever in an AI-powered world.The conversation dives into practical realities leaders face today: managing shadow AI, balancing centralized governance with decentralized experimentation, measuring progress beyond ROI, and creating habits that make AI a natural part of daily work. Alison also shares a powerful framework for helping teams break out of “paralysis by possibility” and reimagine what's newly possible for their business.If you're a leader wondering how to turn AI from a source of anxiety into a catalyst for growth, this episode offers both clarity and a roadmap.
Building a business is an incredible feat, but successfully exiting that business and turning it into a true family legacy is a completely different challenge. Many entrepreneurs find themselves "self-employed" rather than owning a sellable asset—if you can't take a three-week vacation without the wheels falling off, do you really own a business, or does the business own you?In this episode, Corwyn J. Melette sits down with Cameron Bishop, Managing Director and Partner at Rain Catcher, to discuss how to navigate the technical and emotional rollercoaster of selling a business. With over 35 years of experience and a half-billion dollars in transactions, Cameron reveals the common pitfalls that make companies unsellable and how you can start strategizing for your "personal promised land" today.Key Takeaways:7:56 - The Lifestyle Business Trap: Understanding the difference between a "lifestyle business" (where you are the business) and a sellable asset.10:12- The "Bus Test": A simple diagnostic to see if your business is ready for exit: If you were hit by a bus tomorrow, would the business survive?12:08- The Silver Tsunami: Why the baby boomer generation is facing a unique challenge with succession planning as fewer children choose to take over family firms.14:13- The "Dr. Phil" Side of M&A: Why selling a business takes 9–10 months and involves as much emotional navigation as it does financial negotiation.15:54- The 5 Critical Deal Killers:Poor accounting (Cash vs. Accrual/GAP).Owner dependency.Customer concentration (The 20% rule).Vendor dependency.Below-average gross profit margins.24:00- Creative Exit Structures: Why a "full cash payout" is rare and how seller notes, SBA loans, and earn-outs work.Legacy Moment Takeaway:“A well-planned exit isn't just a transaction—it's your opportunity to turn years of hard work into a lasting legacy for your family and future generations.”- Cameron BishopConnect with Cameron:Email: Cameron.Bishop@raincatcher.comWebsite: www.raincatcher.comLinkedIn: Cameron BishopConnect with Corwyn:Contact Number: 843-619-3005Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/exitstrategiesradioshow/FB Page: https://www.facebook.com/exitstrategiessc/Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCxoSuynJd5c4qQ_eDXLJaZAWebsite: https://www.exitstrategiesradioshow.comLinkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cmelette/Shoutout to our Sponsor: Country Boy HomesYou served your country with pride. Now it's time someone serves you. At Country Boy Homes, we believe every veteran deserves a safe, beautiful and affordable place to call home.We proudly offer VA loan friendly, manufactured and modular homes built with integrity, quality and your family and mine. Whether you're retiring to the peaceful low country or starting fresh with your family, we're here to build the future you've earned. Give us a call today, 843-574-8979.Country Boy Homes, Built to Honor, Built to Last.
In this episode of Entrepreneurs United Podcast, hosts John St.Pierre and Rich Hoffmann are joined by Ben Johnson, founder and CEO of Particle 41, to discuss the transformative power of AI and data in modern businesses. They explore the challenges of AI integration, the importance of understanding business metrics, and strategies for improving operational efficiency. Ben emphasizes the necessity of a structured AI transformation strategy and the need for clear problem identification. Tune in to learn how AI can take your business to the next level through actionable insights and practical applications.00:00 The Rise of Voice as the New Interface00:44 Introduction to Ben Johnson and Particle 4101:20 Maximizing Business Value with AI and Data02:17 AI Transformation Strategy: Training, Automation, and Ag Agentic05:43 Real-World Applications of AI in Business13:42 The Role of Automation and Custom Solutions18:09 Preparing Your Business for AI Integration21:39 Challenges and Future of AI in Business25:01 Final Thoughts and Key Takeaways26:23 Conclusion and Contact Information27:08 Hosts' Reflections and Insights
Herzlich willkommen zu einer neuen Folge, in der wir uns mit dem rasanten Wandel in der Technologielandschaft der Versicherungsbranche beschäftigen. Es ist kein Geheimnis, dass digitale Teilhabe und Überleben für Versicherer heute mehr denn je von der Geschwindigkeit der Adaption und der anschließenden Umsetzung abhängen. Standards für Protokolle wie MCP (Model Context Protocol) entstehen in Monaten statt in Jahren – eine Herausforderung, die CIO Jens Becker und Bereichsleiter Markus Kreuzer von der Zurich Deutschland mit einer innovativen "AI Fast Lane" meistern. In dieser spannenden Unterhaltung tauche ich mit Jens und Markus tief in die Welt der agilen KI-Implementierung ein. Wir sprechen darüber, wie die DA Direkt als "Speerspitze" des Konzerns radikal IT-Change beschleunigt und sich mutig für agentic AI öffnet, statt in bürokratischen Narrativen zu verharren. Jens, CIO der Zurich Gruppe Deutschland seit fünf Jahren, verantwortet die gesamte IT, während Markus, seit knapp drei Jahren bei der Zurich und in der Versicherungsbranche, für alle Applikationen der DA Direkt zuständig ist – von der Softwareentwicklung bis zur Business-Analyse. Hier sind 5 Highlights aus unserem Gespräch: MCP – Der USB-C der KI-Agenten: Markus erklärt, wie das Model Context Protocol (MCP) den Large Language Models (LLMs) ermöglicht, nicht nur zu "labern", sondern auch handlungsfähig zu werden. MCP ist ein Standard, der es LLMs erlaubt, auf Bestandsdaten und Backend-Systeme zuzugreifen, Daten zu lesen und Aktionen zu triggern – eine Revolution, die in Windeseile adaptiert wurde, ähnlich dem universellen USB-C-Anschluss. Geschwindigkeit als neue Währung: Jens betont, dass die technologische Entwicklung nie wieder so langsam sein wird wie heute. Das schnelle Auftauchen und die rasante Adaption von MCP zeigen, dass es keine Zeit mehr gibt, ein Jahr zu warten. Es ist nicht nur ein wahrgenommener Druck, sondern eine Notwendigkeit, um konkrete Business-Probleme zu lösen und Kundenzufriedenheit sowie Geschäftserfolg zu steigern. Die "AI Fast Lane" – Governance neu gedacht: Wir sprechen über das Herzstück ihrer Strategie. Die AI Fast Lane ist kein Abbau von Kontrollen, sondern eine Reorganisation. Durch Maßnahmen wie gemeinsame Kick-offs aller Stakeholder, die frühzeitig Fragen adressieren können, und das Konzept eines "Kümmerers", der Themen durch den Prozess begleitet, werden bürokratische Hürden drastisch reduziert. Mindset statt Verbote – Innovation fördern: Jens erklärt, dass es darum geht, ein innovationsfreundliches und offenes Umfeld zu schaffen. Statt neue Technologien sofort zu verbieten oder auf die Warteliste zu setzen, werden sie ausprobiert. Das Mindset ist entscheidend: Man zeigt, dass es geht, indem man es einfach macht, und schafft dann Nachahmer. Hierbei hilft eine Governance, die Risiken aufzeigt, aber dem Fachbereich die Entscheidung über die Akzeptanz der Risiken überlässt. Agente Teams und iteratives Vorgehen: Markus und Jens geben einen Einblick in die Zukunft der AI mit "Agentic AI". Anstatt eines großen, alleskönnenden LLMs setzen sie auf spezialisierte Agenten, die in Teams zusammenarbeiten, zum Beispiel bei der Bearbeitung von Schadensfällen. Der Fokus liegt dabei auf einem iterativen Ansatz – klein anfangen, schrittweise skalieren und den Business Value beweisen. Das Ziel ist nicht, 20 Agenten zu haben, sondern Kundenzufriedenheit und Effizienz zu steigern. Links in dieser Ausgabe Zur Homepage von Jonas Piela Zum LinkedIn-Profil von Jonas Piela Zum LinkedIn-Profil von Jens Becker Zum LinkedIn-Profil von Markus Kreuzer Whitepaper: KI verantwortungsvoll einsetzen Das Einzige, was riskanter ist als KI, ist sie zu ignorieren. Ladet euch jetzt das Whitepaper von Thoughtworks herunter und setzt KI verantwortungsvoll ein.
Send us a textIn this episode of Navigating the Customer Experience, we sit down with Mark Fithian and Jeff Rosenberg, cofounders of WideOpen, a strategic customer experience (CX) consulting firm, and authors of the book The CX Imperatives: Five Strategic Practices for Renewal of the Customer-Centered Enterprise. With more than 30 years of experience each, Mark and Jeff bring deep insight from working across industries including healthcare, technology, automotive, consumer goods, and professional services.Mark and Jeff share their professional journeys and the “red thread” that has guided their careers: a commitment to understanding customers as humans, not just data points. From early roles in marketing, operations, and consulting, both authors describe moments when they realized organizations often make decisions without considering how customers truly experience them. That realization ultimately led to the founding of WideOpen and the development of the frameworks outlined in their book.The conversation centers on The CX Imperatives and its purpose as a practitioner's guide for CX leaders and professionals who already care about customer experience and want to embed customer centricity across the enterprise. Rather than focusing on one-off “wow moments,” the book emphasizes creating consistent, meaningful experiences across the entire customer journey that align with business strategy and drive growth and innovation. Importantly, the authors stress that the principles are industry-agnostic, applicable to both B2B and B2C organizations of all sizes.Mark outlines the book's five strategic CX practices:Insights – deeply understanding customers as emotional, human beings, not just metrics;CX Strategy – aligning customer insights with business objectives to focus effort where it matters most;Blueprinting – translating strategy into operationally actionable designs;Operating Model – enabling cross-functional collaboration through roles, processes, and shared accountability; andCulture – ensuring employees understand, believe in, and are equipped to deliver the intended experience.Through real-world examples, including healthcare, Mark and Jeff demonstrate how engaging frontline employees and embedding CX into culture can generate both tangible outcomes (cost savings, growth initiatives) and intangible benefits (employee ownership, sustainability, and trust).The discussion also explores the connection between internal culture and external customer experience, with both guests agreeing that consistently poor CX is often a symptom of internal organizational challenges. They share practical advice for CX leaders navigating varying levels of leadership support, emphasizing the importance of meeting stakeholders where they are and addressing resistance with empathy and clarity.To bring CX to life, Mark and Jeff each share standout customer experiences—from thoughtful airline journey improvements to an unexpectedly empowering healthcare onboarding experience—illustrating how intentional design can transform how customers feel.The episode wraps with personal insights into the tools, books, and mindsets that inspire them today, reflections on why this is an exciting time for the CX discipline, and where listeners can connect with them and learn more about their work, workshops, and book.This episode is a must-listen for leaders and practitioners looking to move beyond surface-level CX and build customer-centered enterprises that deliver sustainable value for both customers and the business.
Join us for an insightful conversation with Manish Godha, CEO and Founder of Advaiya, a technology consulting and implementation services company. In this episode, Manish shares his two-decade entrepreneurial journey, from his early days in Udaipur and experience at ICICI Bank to founding Advaiya and its evolution.Manish introduces the concept of Peripheral Automation, explaining how businesses can integrate diverse applications and technologies without disrupting core systems, enabling faster innovation and maximizing existing tech investments. He provides real-world examples of successful Peripheral Automation implementations in sectors like AEC (Architecture, Engineering, and Construction).We also delve into the current landscape of AI and its business value, discussing the hype vs. reality of AI adoption, its impact on data and automation, and crucial security considerations like prompt injection attacks. Manish offers valuable advice for aspiring entrepreneurs on navigating technological waves, emphasizing the importance of bottom-line impact for sustained growth. Discover how AI is reshaping the future of work and empowering entrepreneurs.Key Discussion Points:- Manish Godha's entrepreneurial journey and the founding of Advaiya.- Understanding "Peripheral Automation" and its strategic advantages.- Real-world applications of Peripheral Automation in various industries, including AEC.- The true business value of AI and navigating its current hype.- Security challenges in AI implementations, particularly prompt injection attacks.- Future of work and entrepreneurship in a technologically advanced world.- Advice for entrepreneurs on technology adoption and creating impact.Chapters:[00:00] Introduction to Manish Godha & Advaiya[00:26] Manish Godha's Entrepreneurial Journey & Background[01:18] Early Career & Enterprise IT Exposure at ICICI Bank[02:14] Exploring Entrepreneurship & The Birth of Advaiya[03:41] Working with Microsoft Technologies & Advaiya's Evolution[05:55] Advaiya's Shift to Solutions & IT Initiatives[06:22] Understanding Peripheral Automation[08:02] Why Traditional Enterprise Architecture is No Longer Adequate[09:02] The Layered Approach of Peripheral Automation[11:35] Benefits of Peripheral Automation: Flexibility & Cost-Effectiveness[13:00] Differential Innovation & Maximizing Existing Investments[14:46] Learning from Past Mistakes & The Peripheral Automation Framework[16:52] Real-Life Examples of Peripheral Automation Success (AEC Sector)[17:56] Bid Management & Project Risk Management in Construction[20:35] Optimizing ERP Implementations in Real Estate with Peripheral Automation[22:52] Broader Applications: Purchase, Inspection, Quality Management[24:32] AI: Hype vs. Reality & Business Value[26:19] Early AI/ML Use Cases & The Generative AI Hype[28:02] The Role of AI Evangelists & Influencers[29:54] Disillusionment with AI & The Importance of Tangible Results[31:27] Treating AI as Another Technology: Cost, Benefit, Decision[32:00] AI Security Concerns: Data Exposure & Prompt Injection Attacks[33:37] The Unsolved Challenge of Prompt Injection Attacks[35:22] AI's Impact on Entrepreneurship: Leveraging Resources[36:26] Navigating Technology Waves: Lessons from Cloud & Blockchain[38:25] Identifying True Impact: Growth, Efficiency, and Effectiveness[39:19] Why Blockchain's Enterprise Adoption Stalled[39:44] AI's Transformative Effect on the Entrepreneurial Process[40:43] AI as an Assistant: Augmenting Entrepreneurial Capabilities[42:16] Scaling Faster & Experimenting Quicker with AI Assistance
Nach einer winzig kleinen Podcast-Pause von 3 Jahren bin ich wieder on air und spreche endlich wieder mit euch über Analytics! Die Idee für die “Analytics Sprechstunde” ist nie verschwunden. Sie hat sich in den letzten Jahren im Hintergrund weiterentwickelt. Und es waren wieder dieselben Fragen, die in Gesprächen mit unseren Kunden, Partnern, meinem Team und anderen Expert*innen aufgetaucht sind: - Warum ist so viel Tracking da - aber so wenig echter Business Value? - Wie schaffen es Marketing-Teams, dass Daten wirklich integriert werden? - Und wie finden Teams ihren eigenen Weg, statt dem nächsten Buzzword hinterherzulaufen? Genau darum geht es in der neuen Analytics Sprechstunde: Wie schaffen es Marketing-Teams, ihre Daten konsistent in messbaren Business Value zu transformieren? In dieser Episode 0 erzähle ich: → warum ich den Podcast neu starte → für wen ich den Podcast mache → und was euch in den kommenden Episoden erwartet Wenn du ein Marketing-Team führst oder im Marketing Entscheidungen triffst, dann -> hör gern rein -> abonnier den Podcast -> und schreib mir jederzeit Feedback oder Themenwünsche! Ich freu mich auf den Austausch mit euch! :) Folge mir auf Linkedin: [https://www.linkedin.com/in/mlmatysik/](https://www.linkedin.com/in/mlmatysik/) Unsere Website findest du hier: [https://analyticsfreaks.com/](https://analyticsfreaks.com/) Ich freue mich immer über Anmerkungen, Fragen oder einfach deine Gedanken zum Podcast!
Key TakeawaysWhat to expect in 2026: The industry has moved from its previous point in the "hype cycle" into a more realistic phase, where limitations of AI and agents are clearer, and new methodologies are needed to extract real business value. Robinson adds that this year's AI Agent & Copilot Summit serves as an important refresh to share what's been learned, preview what's coming, and features an exceptionally strong lineup of Microsoft AI leaders.Session selection process: Robinson, who serves on the event's Programming Committee Board, describes what he was looking for when selecting sessions: a balance of technical depth with business context, so attendees understand foundational concepts before advancing into more complex topics. The goal was to ensure attendees walk away with both the “cool” innovations and the practical know‑how needed to apply AI effectively without creating business issues.2026 sessions: Robinson details the five sessions he'll be leading, including:"From Future Proof to Future Agile," on March 18"Copilot Studio 101 & Implementation Guide," on March 18"Child Agents, Instructions, and Descriptions: A New Way of Building," on March 18"Update to Understanding Component Collections Vs Multi-Agent," on March 19"Multi-Agent AI Systems with Microsoft Foundry, Copilot Studio, Fabric, Microsoft Agent Framework," on March 19He adds that "I would love to get your insights [on] where you're having problems, challenges you're seeing... so that'll just be additional value-add on top of these great learnings in the masterclass."Final thoughts: Robinson encourages attendees to fully engage with the event's intimate, community‑focused format, noting that “these speakers are going to be available to you, so take the opportunity to interact with them.” He emphasizes following the full education track for maximum value and making time for social events to connect, learn, and share insights. Visit Cloud Wars for more.
Legacy systems work. So why do companies waste millions rewriting them? In this episode of Arguing Agile, Product Manager Nisha Patel joins Product Manager Brian Orlando and Enterprise Business Agility Consultant Om Patel for a debate on the dangerous obsession with rewriting legacy systems — from COBOL to green screens — that still power ATMs, government systems, and Fortune 500 billing engines. Watch or listen as we discuss the myth that "modern" equals "better" and reveal how most rewrites fail because they ignore customer value, edge cases, and real ROI as well as other topics, such as:How Chesterton's Fence applies to code (Brian still doesn't know)How Developers kill software with Resume-Driven Development (RDD)How Finance kills software with spreadsheet-driven development (SDD)Why chasing "parity" kills innovationRisk Mitigation, or, framing technical debt in business termsIf you've ever worked on or tried to replace legacy systems, this episode will either give you nightmares, or help how you approach legacy systems while helping you also stop burning budget on vanity projects.#LegacyCode #ProductManagement #AgileCoachingREFERENCESAA148 - An Introduction to Software Development FinancesLINKSYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@arguingagileSpotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/362QvYORmtZRKAeTAE57v3Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/agile-podcast/id1568557596INTRO MUSICToronto Is My BeatBy Whitewolf (Source: https://ccmixter.org/files/whitewolf225/60181)CC BY 4.0 DEED (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/deed.en)
Today's guest is Thomas Holmes, Chief Actuary, North America at Akur8. Holmes works at the intersection of actuarial pricing, AI governance, and operationalizing analytics inside regulated insurance environments. Thomas joins Emerj Editorial Director Matthew DeMello to discuss how insurers move from AI experimentation to enterprise deployment — particularly when models must satisfy regulators, executives, and the realities of day-to-day actuarial and IT workflows. Want to share your AI adoption story with executive peers? Click emerj.com/expert2 for more information and to be a potential future guest on the 'AI in Business' podcast! This episode is sponsored by Akur8. Learn how brands work with Emerj and other Emerj Media options at emerj.com/ad1.
How do companies turn data into real enterprise value - not just dashboards, pilots, and AI theater? In this episode of Behind The Numbers With Dave Bookbinder, Dave speaks with Ritavan, author of the award-winning book Data Impact and creator of the SLASOG framework, about why so many data and AI initiatives fail - and what leaders should do differently if they actually want results. Rather than chasing buzzwords or “digital transformation” for its own sake, Ritavan challenges leadership teams to treat data as a strategic asset for value creation. He explains how different economic paradigms - from hunter-gatherers to industrial firms to digital natives - shape how organizations extract value, and why legacy companies often underestimate their proprietary advantages. The conversation explores: Why most data and AI programs collapse under groupthink and misaligned incentives How companies like Walmart leveraged physical assets, customer demand, and scale to build defensible data advantages The dangers of chasing “quick wins” instead of compounding value Why KPIs must be context-specific to strategy, not borrowed from competitors Ritavan also breaks down his six-step SLASOG framework - Save, Leverage, Align, Simplify, Optimize, Grow - and shares practical guidance for leadership teams on aligning talent, culture, and first-principles thinking around long-term value creation. If your data strategy feels like “spray and pray,” this episode will help you identify where to start, how to uncover asymmetric advantages, and how to think about data the way investors and buyers do. About Our Guest: Ritavan is an entrepreneurial technology leader and over the past decade he has built and scaled data-driven solutions that have impacted billions of euros. He has authored peer-reviewed papers, given invited keynotes & workshops at global conferences, and holds an international patent. Ritavan is known for his first principles approach to data-driven value creation across industries. https://ritavan.com/ https://www.amazon.com/Data-Impact-businesses-LEVERAGE-SIMPLIFY/dp/178133921X/ About the Host: Dave Bookbinder is known as an expert in business valuation and he is the person that business owners and entrepreneurs reach out to when they need to know what their most important assets are worth. Known as a collaborative adviser, Dave has served thousands of client companies of all sizes and industries. Dave is the author of two #1 best-selling books about the impact of human capital (PEOPLE!) on the valuation of a business enterprise called The NEW ROI: Return On Individuals & The NEW ROI: Going Behind The Numbers. He's on a mission to change the conversation about how the accounting world recognizes the value of people's contributions to a business enterprise, and to quantify what every CEO on the planet claims: “Our people are this company's most valuable asset.” Dave's book, A Valuation Toolbox for Business Owners and Their Advisors: Things Every Business Owner Should Know, was recognized as a top new release in Business and Valuation and is designed to provide practical insights and tools to help understand what really drives business value, how to prepare for an exit, and just make better decisions. He's also the host of the highly rated Behind The Numbers With Dave Bookbinder business podcast which is enjoyed in more than 100 countries.
In the nonprofit world, “funding” is often treated like a finish line. But in this conversation, Gloria Dixon—Executive Director and Director of Philanthropy at the BECU Foundation—frames it as something more useful: a long-term business relationship built on trust, clarity, and shared accountability.Gloria begins with BECU's origin story, rooted in cooperative problem-solving: in 1935, Boeing employees pooled money in a tin box so colleagues could buy the tools they needed to work. That same “people helping people” ethos still shapes how BECU shows up today—through products and services, employee volunteerism, and philanthropic partnerships designed to strengthen community financial health.From there, the discussion moves into what many nonprofits are feeling right now: shifts in funding, rising uncertainty, and the need to adjust strategy without losing momentum. Gloria makes the business case for longer-term, larger-dollar commitments—because multi-year stability gives nonprofits room to plan, staff, and deliver outcomes instead of living in perpetual fundraising churn. She explains trust-based philanthropy as a power shift that respects expertise closest to the work: “We have to trust them to do the work…give them the funding they need… and then just get out their way so they can do the best work.”That mindset shows up in BECU Foundation's approach to grants. Instead of long, technical applications, Gloria's team prioritizes conversation and relationship—practical for a small staff overseeing partnerships with nearly 300 nonprofits annually, and aligned with how trust actually gets built. Reporting expectations, she explains, vary by the size and structure of the partnership—light-touch for small, one-time support, and more defined reporting for multi-year agreements.Perhaps the most refreshing business lesson is Gloria's view of “competition.” In her words: “There is no competition, never.” The goal isn't brand ownership—it's maximizing community outcomes. BECU also adds value beyond checks: their name can signal credibility to other funders, they share partner insights across philanthropic networks, and they even play matchmaker—connecting senior executives to nonprofit board opportunities when leadership talent is needed.Find us Live daily on YouTube!Find us Live daily on LinkedIn!Find us Live daily on X: @Nonprofit_ShowOur national co-hosts and amazing guests discuss management, money and missions of nonprofits! 12:30pm ET 11:30am CT 10:30am MT 9:30am PTSend us your ideas for Show Guests or Topics: HelpDesk@AmericanNonprofitAcademy.comVisit us on the web:The Nonprofit Show
Security, compliance, and resilience are the cornerstones of trust. In this episode, Lois Houston and Nikita Abraham continue their conversation with David Mills and Tijo Thomas, exploring how Oracle Cloud Infrastructure empowers organizations to protect data, stay compliant, and scale with confidence. Real-world examples from Zoom, KDDI, 8x8, and Uber highlight these capabilities. Cloud Business Jumpstart: https://mylearn.oracle.com/ou/course/cloud-business-jumpstart/152957 Oracle University Learning Community: https://education.oracle.com/ou-community LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/oracle-university/ X: https://x.com/Oracle_Edu Special thanks to Arijit Ghosh, David Wright, Kris-Ann Nansen, Radhika Banka, and the OU Studio Team for helping us create this episode. ------------------------------------------------------------- Episode Transcript: 00:00 Welcome to the Oracle University Podcast, the first stop on your cloud journey. During this series of informative podcasts, we'll bring you foundational training on the most popular Oracle technologies. Let's get started! 00:26 Lois: Hello and welcome to the Oracle University Podcast! I'm Lois Houston, Director of Communications and Adoption with Customer Success Services, and with me is Nikita Abraham, Team Lead: Editorial Services with Oracle University. Nikita: Hi everyone! In our last episode, we started the conversation around the real business value of Oracle Cloud Infrastructure and how it helps organizations create impact at scale. Lois: Today, we're taking a closer look at what keeps the value strong — things like security, compliance, and the technology that helps businesses stay resilient. To walk us through it, we have our experts from Oracle University, David Mills, Senior Principal PaaS Instructor, and Tijo Thomas, Principal OCI Instructor. 01:12 Nikita: Hi David and Tijo! It's great to have you both here! Tijo, let's start with you. How does Oracle Cloud Infrastructure help organizations stay secure? Tijo: OCI uses a security first approach to protect customer workloads. This is done with implementing a Zero Trust Model. A Zero Trust security model use frequent user authentication and authorization to protect assets while continuously monitoring for potential breaches. This would assume that no users, no devices, no applications are universally trusted. Continuous verification is always required. Access is granted only based on the context of request, the level of trust, and the sensitivity of that asset. There are three strategic pillars that Oracle security first approach is built on. The first one is being automated. With automation, the business doesn't have to rely on any manual work to stay secure. Threat detection, patching, and compliance checks, all these happen automatically. And that reduces human errors and also saving time. Security in OCI is always turned on. Encryption is automatic. Identity checks are continuous. Security is not an afterthought in OCI. It is incorporated into every single layer. Now, while we talk about Oracle's security first approach, remember security is a shared responsibility, and what that means while Oracle handles the data center, the hardware, the infrastructure, software, consumers are responsible for securing their apps, configurations and the data. 03:06 Lois: Tijo, let's discuss this with an example. Imagine an online store called MuShop. They're a fast-growing business selling cat products. Can you walk us through how a business like this can enhance its end-to-end security and compliance with OCI? Tijo: First of all, focusing on securing web servers. These servers host the web portal where customers would browse, they log in, and place their orders. So these web servers are a prime target for attackers. To protect these entry points, MuShop deployed a service called OCI Web Application Firewall. On top of that, the MuShop business have also used OCI security list and network security groups that will control their traffic flow. As when the businesses grow, new users such as developers, operations, finance, staff would all need to be onboarded. OCI identity services is used to assign roles, for example, giving developers access to only the dev instances, and finance would access just the billing dashboards. MuShop also require MFA multi-factor authentication, and that use both password and a time-based authentication code to verify their identities. Talking about some of the critical customer data like emails, addresses, and the payment info, this data is stored in databases and storage. Using OCI Vault, the data is encrypted with customer managed keys. Oracle Data Safe is another service, and that is used to audit who has got access to sensitive tables, and also mask real customer data in non-production environments. 04:59 Nikita: Once those systems are in place, how can MuShop use OCI tools to detect and respond to threats quickly? Tijo: For that, MuShop used a service called OCI Cloud Guard. Think of it like a security operation center, and which is built right into OCI. It monitors the entire OCI environment continuously, and it can track identity activities, storage settings, network configurations and much more. If it finds something risky, like a publicly exposed object storage bucket, or maybe a user having a broad access to that environment, it raises a security finding. And better yet, it can automatically respond. So if someone creates a resource outside of their policy, OCI Cloud Guard can disable it. 05:48 Lois: And what about preventing misconfigurations? How does OCI make that easier while keeping operations secure? Tijo: OCI Security Zone is another service and that is used to enforce security postures in OCI. The goody zones help you to avoid any accidental misconfigurations. For example, in a security zone, you can choose users not to create a storage bucket that is publicly accessible. To stay ahead of vulnerabilities, MuShop runs OCI vulnerability scanning. They have scheduled to scan weekly to capture any outdated libraries or misconfigurations. OCI Security Advisor is another service that is used to flag any unused open ports and with recommending stronger access rules. MuShop needed more than just security. They also had to be compliant. OCI's compliance certifications have helped them to meet data privacy and security regulations across different regions and industries. There are additional services like OCI audit logs for traceability that help them pass internal and external audits. 07:11 Oracle University is proud to announce three brand new courses that will help your teams unlock the power of Redwood—the next generation design system. Redwood enhances the user experience, boosts efficiency, and ensures consistency across Oracle Fusion Cloud Applications. Whether you're a functional lead, configuration consultant, administrator, developer, or IT support analyst, these courses will introduce you to the Redwood philosophy and its business impact. They'll also teach you how to use Visual Builder Studio to personalize and extend your Fusion environment. Get started today by visiting mylearn.oracle.com. 07:52 Nikita: Welcome back! We know that OCI treats security as a continuous design principle: automated, always on, and built right into the platform. David, do you have a real-world example of a company that needed to scale rapidly and was able to do so successfully with OCI? David: In late 2019, Zoom averaged 10 million meeting participants a day. By April 2020, well that number surged to over 300 million as video conferencing became essential for schools, businesses, and families around the world due to the global pandemic. To meet that explosive demand, Zoom chose OCI not just for performance, but for the ability to scale fast. In just nine hours, OCI engineers helped Zoom move from deployment to live production, handling hundreds of thousands of concurrent meetings immediately. Within weeks, they were supporting millions. And Zoom didn't just scale, they sustained it. With OCI's next-gen architecture, Zoom avoided the performance bottlenecks common in legacy clouds. They used OCI functions and cloud native services to scale workloads flexibly and securely. Today, Zoom transfers more than seven petabytes of data per day through Oracle Cloud. That's enough bandwidth to stream HD video continuously for 93 years. And they do it while maintaining high availability, low latency, and enterprise grade security. As articulated by their CEO Erik Yuan, Zoom didn't just meet the moment, they redefined it with OCI behind the scenes. 09:45 Nikita: That's an incredible story about scale and agility. Do you have more examples of companies that turned to OCI to solve complex data or integration challenges? David: Telecom giant KDDI with over 64 million subscribers, faced a growing data dilemma. Data was everywhere. Survey results, system logs, behavioral analytics, but it was scattered across thousands of sources. Different tools for different tasks created silos, delays, and rising costs. KDDI needed a single platform to connect it all, and they chose Oracle. They replaced their legacy data systems with a modern data platform built on OCI and Autonomous Database. Now they can analyze behavior, improve service planning, and make faster, smarter decisions without the data chaos. But KDDI didn't stop there. They built a 300 terabyte data lake and connected all their systems-- custom on-prem apps, SaaS providers like Salesforce, and even multi-cloud infrastructure. Thanks to Oracle Integration and pre-built adapters, everything works together in real-time, even across clouds. AWS, Azure, and OCI now operate in harmony. The results? Reduced operational costs, faster development cycles, governance and API access improved across the board. KDDI can now analyze customer behavior to improve services like where to expand their 5G network. Next up, 8 by 8 powers communication for over 55,000 companies and 160 countries with more than 3 million users, depending on its voice, video, and messaging tools every day. To maintain that scale, they needed a cloud that could deliver low latency global availability and high performance without blowing up costs. Well, they moved their video meeting services from Amazon to OCI and went live in just four days. The results? 25% increase in performance per node, 80% reduction in network egress costs, and a significantly lower overall infrastructure spend. But this wasn't just a lift and shift. 8 by 8 also replaced legacy tools with Oracle Logging Analytics, giving their teams a single view across apps, infrastructure, and regions. 8 by 8 scaled up fast. They migrated core voice services, deployed over 300 microservices using OCI Kubernetes, and now run over 1,700 nodes across 26 global OCI regions. In addition, OCI's Ampere-based virtual machines gave them a major boost, sustaining 80% CPU utilization and more than 30% increased performance per core and with no degradation. And with OCI's Observability and Management platform, they gained real-time visibility into application health across both on-prem and cloud. Bottom line, 8x8 represents yet another excellent example of a company leveraging OCI for maximum business results. 13:24 Lois: Uber handles more than a million trips per hour, and Oracle Cloud Infrastructure is an integral part of making that possible. Can you walk us through how OCI supports Uber's needs? David: Uber, the world's largest on-demand mobility platform, handles over 1 million trips every hour. And behind the scenes, OCI is helping to make that possible. In 2023, Uber began migrating thousands of microservices, data platforms, and AI models to OCI. Why? Because OCI provides the automation, flexibility, and infrastructure scale needed to support Uber's explosive growth. Today, Uber uses OCI Compute to handle massive trips serving traffic and OCI Object Storage to replace one of the largest Hadoop-based data environments in the industry. They needed global reach and multi-cloud compatibility, and OCI delivered. But it's not just scale, it's intelligence. Uber runs dozens of AI models on OCI to support real-time predictions up 14 million per second. From ride pricing to traffic patterns, this AI layer powers every trip behind the scenes. And by shifting stateless workloads to OCI Ampere ARM Compute servers, Uber reduced cost while increasing CPU efficiency. For AI inferencing, Uber uses OCI's AI infrastructure to strike the perfect balance between speed, throughput, and cost. So the next time you use your Uber app to schedule a ride, consider what happens behind the scenes with OCI. 15:18 Lois: That's so impressive! Thank you, David, for those wonderful stories, and Tijo for all of your insights. Whether you're in strategy, finance, or transformation, we hope you're walking away with a clearer view of the business value OCI can bring. Nikita: Yeah, and if you want to learn more about the topics we discussed today, visit mylearn.oracle.com and search for the Cloud Business Jumpstart course. Until next time, this is Nikita Abraham… Lois: And Lois Houston signing off! 15:48 That's all for this episode of the Oracle University Podcast. If you enjoyed listening, please click Subscribe to get all the latest episodes. We'd also love it if you would take a moment to rate and review us on your podcast app. See you again on the next episode of the Oracle University Podcast.
Send us a textIf you own a gym or martial arts school and want to scale without burning out, this episode is required listening.In this episode, we sit down with Dan Uyemura, co-founder of PushPress, the platform powering over 5,000 gyms worldwide, to have a real operator-to-operator conversation about what actually drives sustainable growth in the fitness industry.We break down why most gym owners stay trapped trading time for money, the difference between chasing short-term revenue versus building long-term business value, and the core systems gyms must have in place before growth actually works.You'll also learn why automation isn't about doing less work — it's about scaling without chaos, how PushPress thinks about long-term gym owner success beyond software, and why so many gyms hit a ceiling even when leads and sales are coming in.If you've ever felt like growth created more problems instead of freedom, marketing brought leads but no clarity, or systems were always something you planned to “fix later,” this episode will resonate.No hype. No fluff. Just practical insights from someone who actually cares about gym owners winning.
In this episode, we explore the best strategies for selling your e-commerce business and avoiding common mistakes that lower deal value.Frank Kosarek, Co-founder of BizPort, explains how to prepare for a successful exit by getting your finances and operations in order. He shares tips on finding the right time to sell, understanding what buyers look for, and using a simple formula to value your brand. Frank also talks about common deal structures and how his team uses AI to make selling faster and cheaper.Topics discussed in this episode: Why investor demand for e-commerce remains strong. What two factors signal the best time to sell. What profit margins make brands more investable. How documentation gaps destroy potential deal value. How seller financing and earn-outs impact deals. What revenue levels change valuation multiples. How to prove brand equity with search data. How AI streamlines the business listing process. Links & Resources Website: https://biz-port.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/frank-kosarek-496929b0/Get access to more free resources by visiting the show notes at https://tinyurl.com/5n8sjadu______________________________________________________ LOVE THE SHOW? HERE ARE THE NEXT STEPS! Follow the podcast to get every bonus episode. Tap follow now and don't miss out! Rate & Review: Help others discover the show by rating the show on Apple Podcasts at https://tinyurl.com/ecb-apple-podcasts Join our Free Newsletter: https://newsletter.ecommercecoffeebreak.com/ Support The Show On Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/EcommerceCoffeeBreak Partner with us: https://ecommercecoffeebreak.com/partner-with-us/
Understanding cloud costs can be challenging, but it's essential for maximizing value. In this episode, hosts Lois Houston and Nikita Abraham speak with Oracle Cloud experts David Mills and Tijo Thomas about how Oracle Cloud Infrastructure offers predictable pricing, robust security, and high performance. They also introduce FinOps, a practical approach to tracking and optimizing cloud spending. Cloud Business Jumpstart: https://mylearn.oracle.com/ou/course/cloud-business-jumpstart/152957 Oracle University Learning Community: https://education.oracle.com/ou-community LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/oracle-university/ X: https://x.com/Oracle_Edu Special thanks to Arijit Ghosh, David Wright, Kris-Ann Nansen, Radhika Banka, and the OU Studio Team for helping us create this episode. ------------------------------------------------------------- Episode Transcript: 00:00 Welcome to the Oracle University Podcast, the first stop on your cloud journey. During this series of informative podcasts, we'll bring you foundational training on the most popular Oracle technologies. Let's get started! 00:27 Nikita: Welcome back to another episode of the Oracle University Podcast! I'm Nikita Abraham, Team Lead of Editorial Services with Oracle University, and I'm joined by Lois Houston, Director of Communications and Adoption with Customer Success Services. Lois: Hi everyone! Last week, we talked about how Oracle Cloud Infrastructure brings together developer tools, automation, and AI on a single platform. In today's episode, we're highlighting the real-world impact OCI can have on business outcomes. 00:58 Nikita: And to tell us about this, we have our experts David Mills and Tijo Thomas back with us. David is a Senior Principal PaaS Instructor and Tijo is a Principal OCI Instructor, and they're both from Oracle University. David, let's start with you. What makes Oracle Cloud Infrastructure the trusted choice for organizations across industries like banking, healthcare, retail, and government? David: It all comes down to one thing. OCI was built for real businesses, not side projects, not hobby apps, not test servers, but mission-critical systems at scale. Most clouds brag about their speed, but OCI is consistently fast, even under pressure. And that's because Oracle built OCI on a non-blocking network and bare metal infrastructure, with dedicated resources and no noisy neighbors. So, whether you're running one application or 1,000, you get predictable, low latency, performance every time as OCI doesn't force you into any specific mold. You want full control? Spin up a virtual machine and configure everything. You need to move fast? Use a managed service like Autonomous Database or Kubernetes. Prefer to build your own containers, functions, APIs, or develop with low code or even no code tools? OCI supports all of it. And it plays nicely with your existing stack—on-prem or in another cloud. OCI adapts to how you already work instead of making you start over. 02:39 Lois: And when it comes to pricing, how does OCI help customers manage costs more effectively? David: OCI is priced for real business use, not just the flashy low entry number. You only pay for what you use. No overprovisioning, no lock in. Virtual machines can scale up and down automatically. Object storage automatically shifts to a lower cost tier based on frequency of access. Autonomous services don't need babysitting or patching. And unlike some providers, OCI doesn't charge you to get your own data back. It's enterprise grade cloud without enterprise grade sticker shock. 03:26 Lois: Security and flexibility are top priorities for many organizations. How does OCI address those challenges? David: OCI treats security as a starting point, not an upsell. From the moment you create an account, every tenant is isolated. All data is encrypted. Admin activity is logged and security tools like Cloud Guard are ready to go. And if you need to prove compliance for GDRP, FedRAMP, HIPAA, or more, you're covered. OCI is trusted by the world's most regulated industries. Most companies don't live in one cloud. They've got legacy systems, other cloud providers, and different teams doing different things. OCI is designed to work in hybrid and multi-cloud environments. Connect to your on-prem apps with VPN or FastConnect. Run Oracle workloads in your data center with Cloud@Customer. Interconnect with Azure and Google Cloud or integrate with Amazon. OCI isn't trying to lock you in. It's seeking to meet you where you are and help you modernize without breaking what works. 04:40 Nikita: Can you share an example of a business that's seen measurable results with OCI? David: A national health care provider was stuck on aging hardware with slow batch processing and manual upgrades. They migrated core patient systems to OCI and used Oracle Autonomous Database for faster, self-managed workloads. They leveraged Oracle Integration to connect legacy electronic health records, OCI FastConnect to keep real-time sync with data in their on-prem systems, and they went from 12-hour downtime Windows to zero, from three weeks to launch a feature to three days, and they cut infrastructure cost by 38%. And that's what choosing OCI looks like. 05:37 Are you looking to boost your expertise in enterprise AI? Check out the Oracle AI Agent Studio for Fusion Applications Developers course and professional certification—now available through Oracle University. This course helps you build, customize, and deploy AI Agents for Fusion HCM, SCM, and CX, with hands-on labs and real-world case studies. Ready to set yourself apart with in-demand skills and a professional credential? Learn more and get started today! Visit mylearn.oracle.com for more details. 06:12 Nikita: Welcome back! Tijo, controlling costs while driving innovation is a tough balancing act for many organizations. What are the biggest challenges organizations face when trying to manage and optimize their cloud spending? Tijo: The first one is unexpected cloud cost. Let's be honest. Cloud bills can be shocking. You think you've got things under control, that the invoice shows up and you realize it is way over the budget. Without real-time visibility, it is quite hard to catch these surprises before they happen. The next one is with waste of resources and inefficiencies. It is quite common to find resources that are just sitting idle, such as unused storage, underutilized CPU, or overprovisioned memory. It may not seem like there are much of resource wastage at first, but over time all that is really going to add up. Then there is no clear ownership of cloud spend. It is one of the big problem in cost management. If cost are not clearly tagged to a team or a project, nobody feels responsible, and that makes it really tough to manage or reduce the cloud spend. There is also misaligned priorities across teams, and looking at different teams like finance, they may want to cut the cost while engineering want to move faster, operations want everything to be up and running. While every team is doing their best, but without a common approach to cost, it becomes challenging to prioritize tasks. Slow and reactive decision making is another challenge. Most cost issues gets identified after the bill is invoiced, and by then the budget has been already spent. Without timely data, it becomes difficult to make real time changes. And then complex, multi-cloud and regional footprint. As businesses grow across regions and with multi-cloud deployment model, tracking where the budget is going gets really tricky. More services means there are more teams and more complexity. Now, all of these challenges have one thing in common. They need a better way to manage cloud cost together. And this is where FinOps comes in. 08:42 Lois: And what exactly is FinOps? How does it address these cloud cost challenges? Tijo: FinOps stands for financial operations. It is a framework that brings teams like engineering, operations, finance, and beyond to work together so that the cloud spending becomes smarter, more visible, and better aligned towards business goals. And so FinOps is not just a tool, it is a way of working. According to FinOps Foundation, FinOps lifecycle happens in three phases: inform, optimize, and operate. The inform phase is about visibility and allocation, which means you gather the cost, usage, and efficiency data in order to forecast and budget. The optimize phase is about rates and usage, and this is where you would take action to optimize or bring efficiencies. And then in operate, you turn those into continuous improvements through policies, trainings, and automation. 09:51 Nikita: Let's unpack FinOps a bit more. Why is understanding your cloud subscription model so fundamental in the Inform phase? Tijo: Because cost visibility is very important while managing your Oracle Cloud subscription. There are two ways to purchase OCI services. The first one, we refer to it as pay as you go model, which means you pay for what you use, and the second one is called universal credit annual commitment model, where you can purchase a prepaid amount of universal credits, and the prepaid amount will be drawn down based on actual usage. OCI provides a portal called FinOps Hub, where you can easily track how your usage has changed month by month over the past year. Through the Hub, you can monitor whether you have stayed within your credit allocation or not. You will also see how much of your committed credits have been used, how much is left, and when is your commitment set to expire. The next step is to gain visibility or to understand the cost. In Oracle Cloud Infrastructure, this starts with the service called cost analysis. OCI Cost Analysis is a service that would help you to filter, group, and visualize your cloud cost in a way that makes sense for your business. You can compare cost over time. You can drill down the cost by services, and track those spending by specific teams or projects. And then finally export detailed reports for finance or leadership reviews. OCI Cost Analysis gives you an interactive, near real-time view of your cloud spending. So you're not just seeing the numbers, you are understanding what is driving them. The next one is about setting up spending limits and this is done through OCI Budgets. For example, the organization can set up a monthly budget for the development team. If their usage, the cloud usage exceeds 80% of that limit, an alert will be triggered to notify the team. This means you can configure a threshold, send alerts, or even take actions automatically. 12:16 Lois: Tijo, what happens during the Optimize and Operate phases of the FinOps framework? Tijo: The inform stage was more about awareness. In the optimize phase, you take that data you've collected, and use it to optimize resources and improve efficiency. In OCI, we'll start with Cloud Advisor. OCI Cloud Advisor finds potential inefficiencies in your tenancy, and offers you guided solutions that explain how to address them. The recommendations help you to maximize cost savings. For example, it gives you personalized recommendations like deleting idle resources or resizing compute instances. Secondly, you can identify steps for performance improvements. And finally, enhance high availability and security with suggesting configurations for your cloud resources. In the third phase, operate, it is about making optimization as a routine or continuous improvements, and this is done through incorporating FinOps into your organization. OCI provides cost and usage reports that can automatically generate daily reports. These reports would show detailed usage data for every OCI service that you're using. You can export cost reports in FOCUS format. FOCUS is an industry standard and it stands for FinOps Open Cost and Usage Specification. 13:52 Nikita: And what makes the FOCUS format important for organizations? Tijo: The format enables the cost data to be consistent. It is well structured, and ready to use with other FinOps tools or dashboards. These reports can also ingest into Business Intelligence or analytics tools that will help you with better visualizations. Organizing your resources the right way is the key to get more accurate and simplified data. Without a clear structure, your cost data will be too complex. In OCI, this structure starts with your tenancy. Tenancy is your top level OCI account, and it represents the presence of cloud for your entire organization. Next, you have compartments. Compartments help you to break down your cloud environment into logical groups, for example, by department or business unit or projects. Then there are tags, and this is where cost visibility gets more meaningful. Tags allow you to assign custom labels to each resources. Things like environment type, cost center, or the owner name. 15:06 Lois: Some people think cost visibility is a concern mainly for finance teams. What's your perspective on this? Tijo: Cost visibility should be a shared responsibility, which means it shouldn't just be shared with the finance. Engineers, architects, and project owners all need to have access to the cost data that are relevant to them. Because when teams have visibility, they take ownership and that leads to better decisions which are faster, smarter, and more aligned to business goals. 15:42 Nikita: Thank you, David and Tijo, for joining us and sharing your insights. Lois: If you'd like to learn more, visit mylearn.oracle.com and look for the Cloud Business Jumpstart course. Next week, we'll explore security and compliance in OCI. Until next time, this is Lois Houston… Nikita: And Nikita Abraham signing off! 16:03 That's all for this episode of the Oracle University Podcast. If you enjoyed listening, please click Subscribe to get all the latest episodes. We'd also love it if you would take a moment to rate and review us on your podcast app. See you again on the next episode of the Oracle University Podcast.
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DISCLAIMER: The information in this presentation is provided as education only, with the understanding that neither the presenter nor ENNIS Legacy Partners is engaged to render legal, accounting, or other professional services. If you require legal advice or other expert assistance, you should seek the services of a competent professional. Neither the presenter nor ENNIS Legacy Partners shall have any legal liability or responsibility to any person or entity with respect to any loss or damage caused, or alleged to be caused, directly or indirectly, by the information contained in this presentation.============================================“We want you to help you build a business that is sellable and exit successfully on your own terms and conditions.” - Pat Ennis============================================
Stop letting questionable add-backs and messy books cost you hundreds of thousands on your business sale. Learn exactly what bank lenders, especially those focused on SBA 7(a) loans, will and will not accept when calculating your actual Seller's Discretionary Earnings (SDE). Discover the concrete steps you must take now to ensure your financials are clean, verifiable, and support the highest multiple for your exit. View the complete show notes for this episode. Want To Learn More? Adjusting Financial Statements: A Complete Guide Quality of Earnings in M&A – The Ultimate Guide Preparing Financial Statements When Selling a Business Additional Resources: Selling your business? Schedule a free consultation today. Sign up for an Assessment and Valuation of Your Business. Courses: The Art & Science of Selling a Business Download The Art of The Exit: The Complete Guide to Selling Your Business Download Acquired: The Art of Selling a Business With $10 Million to $100 Million in Revenue If you have any topic or guest suggestions, please email them to podcast@morganandwestfield.com.
Jamie Hodari, CBRE's CEO of Building Operations & Experience, spotlights where he sees the biggest opportunity across commercial real estate: workplace experience. He discusses how a company's space can attract tenants and enhance the employee experience, enriching people's lives and increasing business effectiveness. Everything is operational real estate: Real estate companies are evolving from asset focused businesses to operating platforms, requiring high-quality management relentlessly focused on workplace experience.AI and data utilization are no longer nice-to-haves: Using AI to manage and interpret data is crucial for optimizing building operations.Markets are adapting to accommodate hybrid work models with flexible office usage: Urban markets especially put significant emphasis on making downtown areas vibrant.Finance institutions are catching up: The finance industry must recognize and adapt to the operational nature of modern real estate.Flight-to-quality is expanding: The focus for landlords and occupiers will increasingly be on creating spaces that people find enriching and valuable, not just functional.
“What is the true value of our data and AI initiatives?” Too often, we drive all our energy into tools, processes, and outputs, but forget to ask ourselves how what we build actually makes a difference. For enterprises, this means looking beyond AI models and dashboards to see how our data drives real, measurable impact. Understanding the difference between output and outcome is what separates activity from transformation.In this episode of Don't Panic, it's Just Data, host Doug Laney and Nadiem von Heydebrand, CEO and Co-founder of Mindfuel, explore how organisations can turn data and AI efforts into actionable business outcomes. They discuss the concept of the “value layer”, a framework connecting data initiatives to business needs, emphasising the importance of understanding business problems before developing solutions.Nadiem stresses that prioritising initiatives and fostering strong collaboration between business and data teams are critical to unlocking maximum value from data and AI efforts.Why Data and AI Impact Management MattersMany organisations are investing heavily in data and AI, but turning these investments into real business value remains a challenge. This is because a critical gap exists between technical execution and business outcomes. Data and AI teams work on initiatives without first clarifying what business problems they're solving or how success will be measured.Data and AI Impact Management bridges this gap by establishing the “value layer" between business strategy and technical platforms. This approach starts with structured demand management for use cases, enables systematic prioritisation based on actual value potential, and tracks initiatives throughout their lifecycle to ensure they deliver impact against business goals. This shift, from building solutions in search of problems to solving qualified business problems with purpose-built solutions, transforms data and AI teams from technical support functions into strategic partners who deliver value, stronger strategic alignment, and lasting competitive advantage. Nadiem says, “Applying a product mindset within data initiatives is key, and it's the foundational effort to be able to drive value.” He also notes that not every use case delivers direct financial impact, and the value layer helps clarify demand, manage use cases effectively, and uncover each initiative's business valueFor more insights and solutions, visit MindfuelTakeawaysOrganisations struggle to connect data initiatives to business outcomes.The value layer is essential for linking data to business demands.Understanding the actual business problem is crucial for success.Value management encompasses the entire lifecycle of initiatives.A product mindset helps focus on outcomes rather than outputs.Not all data use cases have direct dollar values.Data and AI impact management creates transparency for data teams.Establishing a product mindset is key for data products.Connecting processes to the operating model enhances effectiveness.Collaboration between business and data teams is vital for unlocking value.Chapters00:31...
#BusinessValuation #BusinessExit #SmallBusiness #Entrepreneurship #BusinessBuying #SellMyBusiness #DavidCBarnett #BusinessOwner #ExitPlanning #BusinessWorth See our video on MPSP valuations and learn more about our services to help sell your business at https://www.HowToSellMyOwnBusiness.com Find the Defenders of Business Value here: https://www.defendersofbusinessvalue.com/ep-133-the-story-that-sells-your-business-with-charlie-stanton/ *** Today, I want to tackle one of the biggest questions every business owner faces: How do you put a price on a business? Whether you're thinking about selling in a few years or just want to plan for the future, understanding how valuations work — and which type you actually need — can make a huge difference. Learn more about business pricing, exit prep, and MPSP reports: HowToSellMyOwnBusiness.com Watch the full video here: https://youtu.be/6AFQjkl-Mvs #BusinessValuation #SmallBusiness #SellMyBusiness #Entrepreneurship #BusinessExit #BusinessValue #BusinessBuyerAdvantage #DavidCBarnett **** YouTube Chapters 00:00 – Intro 00:40 – Why Business Valuation Matters for Owners 02:00 – The Podcast That Sparked This Conversation 03:30 – Different Lenses = Different Prices 05:00 – Buyer Insight vs. Seller Expectations 07:30 – The “Most Probable Selling Price” (MPSP) Explained 09:00 – Why You Can't Just Average Comparable Sales 11:15 – Understanding Valuation Databases and Multiples 13:00 – Common Misconceptions About Valuation Formulas 15:00 – How Certified Appraisers, CPAs, and Brokers Differ 17:45 – Real Examples: $1.6M vs. $571K Valuations 21:00 – How Bad Assumptions Skew Business Value 23:00 – The Dangers of Discounted Cash Flow for Small Firms 25:30 – Why Buyers Don't Pay for Your “Future Potential” 27:45 – When and Why to Get an MPSP Report 30:00 – How a Small Margin Change Can Boost Business Value 32:00 – The Real Reward of Business Ownership 34:00 – Tax Tip: Deduct Your Valuation This Year 35:00 – Wrap-Up and Next Steps **** - Join David's email list so you never miss any new videos or important information or insights, RECEIVE 7 FREE GIFTS!!- https://www.DavidCBarnettList.com **** Do Business with David using these incredible internet links... - David's Blog where you can find hundreds of free videos and articles, https://www.DavidCBarnett.com - Book a call with David and let him help you with your project, https://www.CallDavidBarnett.com - Learn how to buy a successful and profitable business in a risk-controlled way https://www.BusinessBuyerAdvantage.com - Get help selling your business, https://www.HowToSellMyOwnBusiness.com - Get better organized in your business, https://www.EasySmallBizSystems.com - Learn to make better cash flow forecasts and write incredibly effective business plans from scratch!, https://www.BizPlanSchool.com - Learn to build an equity asset with insurance! visit https://www.NewBankingSolution.com -Did you sign up for an expensive Merchant Cash Advance for your business and now struggle to make the payments? Find out how you can negotiate your way out at https://www.EndMyMCA.com
"You can drop 30% of your project management labor right now."In today's episode of Bricks and Bytes, we had Darren Martin from AInvested and we got to learn about the harsh realities of digital transformation in AEC, how private equity firms value tech-enabled companies, and why most innovation initiatives fail to scale... and many more!Darren left his role as Chief Digital Officer at Atkins Realis to advise PE firms and help construction tech startups break through growth barriers. His perspective from both sides of the table reveals uncomfortable truths about how the industry approaches technology.Tune in to find out about:✅ Why most companies are "digitally dabbling" instead of transforming✅ How PE firms assess digital transformation value in billion-dollar acquisitions✅ The specific labor reductions possible with current AI tools (hint: it's 30% in project management)✅ Why small AEC firms can now compete with market leaders in ways that weren't possible beforeWatch now to hear how the game is changing for construction companies willing to move beyond pilot projects.Also, have a look at this article to know more: https://uk.finance.yahoo.com/news/aecom-jacobs-downgraded-uncertainty-over-180008836.htmlOur Sponsors:Aphex is the multiplayer planning platform where construction teams plan together, stay aligned, and deliver projects faster – check out aphex.coArchdesk - “The #1 Construction Management Software for Growing Companies - Manage your projects from Tender to Handover” check archdesk.comBuildVision - streamlining the construction supply chain with a unified platform - www.buildvision.ioChapters00:00 Intro03:30 Introduction and Background 08:13 Transitioning to Private Equity and Startups 13:35 The Role of Private Equity in AEC Companies 18:22 Digital Transformation and Value Creation 23:20 Market Trends and Company Sizes 28:20 Leveraging Technology for Business Value 33:07 Digital Accelerators and Human-Centric Approaches 35:22 Optimizing Construction Processes for Efficiency 37:51 Tying Technology to Corporate Success 41:42 Proving Value at the Project Level 43:55 The Balance of Show and Tell in Sales 49:09 Purposeful Change in the Construction Industry
In this episode, Mark Lee speaks to Prashanthi Sudhakar, Head of Product for Agentforce Net Zero at Salesforce and Meera Krishnan, Managing Consultant for Net Zero Cloud Solutions at ERM. Together, they explore how digital innovations, particularly Salesforce's Agentforce Net Zero platform, is transforming sustainability management, enabling organizations to drive meaningful change and unlock business value. The conversation highlights the growing role of AI and data driven solutions in helping companies meet both regulatory requirements and broader sustainability goals. Listen to learn more about: Value creation in action Turning data into business advantage AI and the future of sustainability decision making Related links: Sustainability Value Triangle: Creating impact through Finance, IT, and SustainabilityERM strengthens alliance with Salesforce as global Net Zero Cloud Advisory & Implementation Partner
Raviteja Yelamanchili shares how Scale AI transformed banking cycles from one year to real-time and why your most valuable enterprise data isn't being collected.Topics Include:Scale evolved from data annotations company to enterprise AI solutions providerHealthcare system transformed patient transcriptions into value using reinforcement learning researchBlank slate customer problems allow Scale to experiment with latest methodsMany customers propose solutions before explaining their actual underlying business problemsBiggest AI misconception: technology will replace jobs rather than augment productivityDon't wait for perfect AI—start learning through iteration and evolution nowBanking credit cycle transformed from one-year process to real-time strategic insightsScale deploys flexibly across EC2, EKS, or Bedrock based on customer requirementsEnterprises want business value generation more than academic research papers aloneNext 12-24 months focus: making data consumable and leveraging unused datasetsTribal knowledge from experienced SMEs represents most valuable yet uncollected dataAgent-based learning captures expertise through feedback loops on Scale's SGP platformParticipants:Raviteja Yelamanchili - Head of Solution Engineering, Scale AISee how Amazon Web Services gives you the freedom to migrate, innovate, and scale your software company at https://aws.amazon.com/isv/
Okay, we are pretty good storytellers... but are we telling the right story?As service design professionals, we nail it when it comes to what I call "Horizontal Storytelling". We can walk anyone through the customer journey, step-by-step, building empathy for the user's pain and frustration over time.But here is the somewhat inconvenient truth: As you might have experienced, your CEO or CFO often doesn't know what to do with that story. They are looking for something else. They need "Vertical Storytelling".They need to know how a specific pain point on the ground connects up to the strategic objectives of the business. They need to know the ROI. They need to know if the needle is actually moving.In episode 8 of the Journey Management Playbook series, Tingting Lin and I are closing the loop. We are moving from doing the work to measuring the impact.If you've ever struggled to justify prove that your journey management efforts are actually influencing the bottom line, this episode is for you.We dive into:How you can translate customer empathy into business language to get buy-in.Why you can't just rely on churn or NPS as your metrics, and how to find early warning signals that prove your work is having an effect now.How to connect your solutions back to the original business challenge to see if you actually solved the problem.And how to start measuring impact today without having to wait for perfect data integrations.This episode provides the missing link between "making mapping a journey" and "driving business outcomes."What is the one metric you struggle to track the most? Send me a reply or leave a comment on YouTube, we'd love to know where the biggest data hurdles are for you.Enjoy and keep making a positive impact!Be well, ~ Marc--- [ 1. LINKS
What would happen if you shifted your focus from "I need to make money" to "I need to create value"? In this episode, I'm sharing one of the most transformational lessons from my decade in business: The amount of money you make is the direct result of the value you create. This a principle that has guided every single action I take, every coaching session, and every move I make. Tune in to learn why the gift of value is always for you first, and how this mindset shift will transform not just your bank account, but your entire approach to business. If you want to start making serious money as a coach, you need to check out 2k for 2k. Click here to join: https://staceyboehman.com/2kfor2k!
The L&D industry has always talked about 'business value' as an elusive concept. Now, a new book from Laura Overton and Michelle Ockers, The L&D Leader: Principles and Practice for Delivering Business Value, articulates what that looks like in practice. This week on The Mindtools L&D Podcast, they join Ross D and Dr Anna to discuss: how L&D teams can transition through different stages of maturity the role of data in shaping business value the role of community and where to find it in the post-Twitter world. The book, The L&D Leader: Principles and Practice for Delivering Business Value, is available now from Kogan Page. For more from Mindtools and Kineo, visit mindtools.com. There, you'll also find details of our new face-to-face and virtual workshops, each aligned to our Manager Skills Assessment. Like the show? You'll LOVE our newsletter! Subscribe to The L&D Dispatch at lddispatch.com Connect with our speakers If you'd like to share your thoughts on this episode, connect with us on LinkedIn: Ross Dickie Dr Anna Barnett Laura Overton Michelle Ockers
Sustainability and finance can no longer operate in silos – real value emerges when they converge. This episode features Bill and Shiva Rajgopal examining why companies must link ESG efforts to financial performance and how integrating risk factors and sustainability data strengthens business insight. The discussion also highlights AI's growing role in scenario modeling and value assessment, underscoring the cultural and strategic shifts required to make sustainability a true performance driver.
In this episode of Healthy Mind, Healthy Life, host Pragya sits down with Rafael Pinho, CFA, co-founder and CFO of TD Pine Advisors, to unpack a brutal but necessary question for every founder. Is your company actually valuable, or just busy. Rafael breaks down the real drivers of business value in today's volatile market. Predictable cash flow, capital efficiency, conservative forecasting, and smart use of AI. He explains the concept of the value gap. The difference between what your business is worth today and what it could be worth if you stop over-indexing on vanity metrics and start running with financial clarity. If you are a founder, investor, or operator trying to navigate fundraising, exits, or sustainable growth, this conversation gives you a straight-talking framework to think less like a revenue chaser and more like a value creator. About the Guest : Rafael Pinho, CFA is the co-founder and CFO of TD Pine Advisors, where he helps owners of privately held businesses understand what their companies are truly worth and how to close the gap between current value and potential value. With deep experience in financial strategy, valuation, and capital allocation, he works with founders to build predictable cash flow, resilient business models, and credible paths to scale or exit in complex markets. Key Takeaways : The value gap is the space between what your business is worth today and what it could be worth if it were less dependent on the founder and built on predictable, repeatable cash flow instead of one-off wins. Revenue and valuation got heavily conflated during the 2021-2022 boom. Long term, cash flow, consistency, and resilience drive value more than raw top line growth. Investors are increasingly rewarding three things. Predictability of revenue and earnings, healthy profitability with solid margins, and credible long term growth tailwinds in the market the business serves. Founders who run their companies “by the bank balance” are flying blind. A rolling 13 week cash flow view plus a 12 month forecast and budget dramatically increases decision making clarity and investor confidence. Hidden value often sits in under-served markets and new channels that founders are too conservative or busy to explore. A structured, budgeted experiment can safely unlock those opportunities. AI should be treated as an efficiency and productivity lever, not a magic growth trick. Used well, it improves margins and scalability and that directly impacts long term business value. Avoid recency bias. Do not assume last month's spike or crash is the new normal. Anchor your planning in fundamentals and conservative assumptions rather than emotional reactions to recent numbers. How Listeners Can Connect With the Guest Website: https://tdpineadvisors.com/ LinkedIn: Search for “Rafael Pinho TD Pine Advisors” and connect with him directly. He is active and responsive to founders and investors who want to discuss valuation, value creation, and financial strategy. Want to be a guest on Healthy Mind, Healthy Life? DM on PM - Send me a message on PodMatch DM Me Here: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/avik Disclaimer: This video is for educational and informational purposes only. The views expressed are the personal opinions of the guest and do not reflect the views of the host or Healthy Mind By Avik™️. We do not intend to harm, defame, or discredit any person, organization, brand, product, country, or profession mentioned. All third-party media used remain the property of their respective owners and are used under fair use for informational purposes. By watching, you acknowledge and accept this disclaimer. Healthy Mind By Avik™️ is a global platform redefining mental health as a necessity, not a luxury. Born during the pandemic, it's become a sanctuary for healing, growth, and mindful living. Hosted by Avik Chakraborty, storyteller, survivor, wellness advocate, this channel shares powerful podcasts and soul-nurturing conversations on: • Mental Health & Emotional Well-being• Mindfulness & Spiritual Growth• Holistic Healing & Conscious Living• Trauma Recovery & Self-Empowerment With over 4,400+ episodes and 168.4K+ global listeners, join us as we unite voices, break stigma, and build a world where every story matters. Subscribe and be part of this healing journey. Contact Brand: Healthy Mind By Avik™Email: join@healthymindbyavik.com | podcast@healthymindbyavik.comWebsite: www.healthymindbyavik.comBased in: India & USA Open to collaborations, guest appearances, coaching, and strategic partnerships. Let's connect to create a ripple effect of positivity. 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After 20+ years as a software developer, AI coding assistants revealed a shocking truth: I never actually loved coding—I loved what code could accomplish. In this episode, I explore how transitioning from hand-crafting every line at Podscan to orchestrating AI-generated code exposed the fundamental difference between developers who cherish solving technical puzzles and entrepreneurs who prioritize shipping features that drive business value. This shift from programmer to orchestrator isn't just about tools; it's about letting go of a carefully constructed identity and embracing that for software entrepreneurs, pristine code was never the goal—rapid deployment, customer value, and business growth always were. If you're struggling with AI coding tools or clinging to perfectionist coding standards, this perspective might fundamentally change how you view your role as a technical founder.This episode of The Bootstraped Founder is sponsored by Paddle.comYou'll find the Black Friday Guide here: https://www.paddle.com/learn/grow-beyond-black-fridayThe blog post: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/i-never-really-loved-coding-and-only-ai-made-me-realize-it/ The podcast episode: https://tbf.fm/episodes/424-i-never-really-loved-coding-and-only-ai-made-me-realize-it Check out Podscan, the Podcast database that transcribes every podcast episode out there minutes after it gets released: https://podscan.fmSend me a voicemail on Podline: https://podline.fm/arvidYou'll find my weekly article on my blog: https://thebootstrappedfounder.comPodcast: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/podcastNewsletter: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/newsletterMy book Zero to Sold: https://zerotosold.com/My book The Embedded Entrepreneur: https://embeddedentrepreneur.com/My course Find Your Following: https://findyourfollowing.comHere are a few tools I use. Using my affiliate links will support my work at no additional cost to you.- Notion (which I use to organize, write, coordinate, and archive my podcast + newsletter): https://affiliate.notion.so/465mv1536drx- Riverside.fm (that's what I recorded this episode with): https://riverside.fm/?via=arvid- TweetHunter (for speedy scheduling and writing Tweets): http://tweethunter.io/?via=arvid- HypeFury (for massive Twitter analytics and scheduling): https://hypefury.com/?via=arvid60- AudioPen (for taking voice notes and getting amazing summaries): https://audiopen.ai/?aff=PXErZ- Descript (for word-based video editing, subtitles, and clips): https://www.descript.com/?lmref=3cf39Q- ConvertKit (for email lists, newsletters, even finding sponsors): https://convertkit.com?lmref=bN9CZw
Undiscovered Entrepreneur ..Start-up, online business, podcast
Did you like the episode? Send me a text and let me know!!Business Conversations With Pi – How to Add and Grow Business ValueTodays discussion covers how to define and measure value in business, strategies for growing a company, and the best ways to find top talent. The episode also features expert book recommendations to help listeners deepen their understanding of value creation and business growth00:00 – Introduction Meet host KU and AI co-host Pi. Discover how AI can help entrepreneurs and business owners succeed.00:29 – Who Should Listen Perfect for aspiring founders, small business owners, and anyone seeking business growth strategies.00:51 – What You'll Learn Get expert advice on business planning, marketing, and value creation.01:37 – Getting Started Jesse and Lawrence (Pi) set the stage for a value-packed episode.01:52 – What Is Value in Business? Jesse asks: What does “adding value” mean for entrepreneurs?02:07 – How to Measure Value Lawrence shares five key indicators:Positive feedback (02:07)Repeat business (02:18)Referrals (02:27)Sales growth (02:35)Market share (02:43)02:52 – Growing Your Company's Value Top strategies for business growth:Customer retention (02:57)Customer acquisition (03:12)Innovation (03:21)Efficiency (03:30)Branding (03:39)03:49 – How to Find Top Talent Best places to recruit:Referrals (03:57)Job boards (04:06)Recruitment agencies (04:14)Universities/colleges (04:23)Social media (04:34)04:42 – Book Recommendations for Entrepreneurs Boost your business knowledge with these top books:Blue Ocean Strategy by W. Chan Kim & Renée Mauborgne (04:50): Learn to create unique value and uncontested market space.The Lean Startup by Eric Ries (05:10): Build startups with continuous innovation and customer value.Good to Great by Jim Collins (05:23): Discover what makes companies excel and create lasting value.Competitive Strategy by Michael Porter (05:36): Master industry analysis and competitive advantage.Zero to One by Peter Thiel & Blake Masters (05:47): Find new ways to innovate and build valuable businesses.05:51 – Final Takeaways Lawrence encourages listeners to focus on vaStan.store/skoob for your black Friday coaching deal right now!! Thank you for being a Skoobeliever!! If you have questions about the show or you want to be a guest please contact me at one of these social mediasTwitter......... ..@djskoob2021 Facebook.........Facebook.com/skoobamiInstagram..... instagram.com/uepodcast2021tiktok....... @djskoob2021Email............... Uepodcast2021@gmail.com Skoob at Gettin' Basted Facebook PageAcross The Start Line Facebook Community Find out what one of the four hurdles of stop is affecting you the most!!Black Friday coaching Sale now!! 65% off original price! go to stan.store/skoob to book your appointment and take advantage of this limited time offer! On Twitter @doittodaycoachdoingittodaycoaching@gmailcom
Episode Overview In this episode, Scott Landis and Jeff Jacob dive deep into a powerful yet often misunderstood concept in business valuation—recasting EBITDA. Using a live client example, Jeff explains how a company's valuation jumped from under $1M to over $3M simply by cleaning up the books, recasting discretionary expenses, and improving operational efficiency. The conversation blends humor, practical insight, and step-by-step financial strategy that any founder can follow to increase the market value of their company—without working more hours. Key Takeaways Recasting EBITDA can dramatically change how your business is valued. Many business owners understate profitability on taxes, which hurts their valuation. Cleaning up your books and removing “owner perks” (cars, travel, etc.) paints a truer—and higher—financial picture. Each industry has its own valuation multiplier based on demand, operations, and risk. The Business Health Diagnostic (BHD) helps founders uncover value leaks and position for scalable, sellable growth. Resources Mentioned TriMetric Quiz: trimetricquiz.com BHD Lite Inquiry: Send your latest P&L and balance sheet to the BFA team. FAQ: Q: What does “EBITDA” stand for? Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation, and Amortization—a key measure of a company's operational profit. Q: What is “recasting EBITDA”? It's the process of adjusting your financials to remove personal or non-recurring expenses, showing a truer picture of the company's profitability for potential buyers. Q: Why does recasting matter? Because it can triple your business's value by revealing the profit a new owner would actually experience. Q: How can I get a Business Health Diagnostic (BHD)? Start by taking the TriMetric Quiz. From there, Jeff and the BFA team can provide a BHD Lite or full Business Health Diagnostic. Q: What documents do I need for a BHD Lite? Just last year's Profit & Loss Statement and Balance Sheet.
Send us feedback or episode suggestions.If you've ever struggled to balance perfection with business reality, this episode is for you. In this episode of the Design Systems Podcast, Chris Strahl talks with Noelle Lansford, founder of Shep, about why chasing the “perfect system” often breaks more than it fixes. Drawing on her experience across startups and Fortune 5 companies, Noelle argues that design systems succeed when they serve people and the business—not when they chase architectural purity. She and Chris dig into the realities of relational alignment between design, engineering, and product, the shift from component factories to consulting mindsets, and what AI means for the next generation of design leadership.Here's what stood out:Perfection shouldn't be your goalDesign systems teams should pursue an infrastructure + enablement structureSystems of systems thinking works—if the cultural conditions are rightAI makes iteration faster, which makes human oversight more essentialView the transcript of this episode.Check out our upcoming events.If you want to get in touch with the show, ask some questions, or tell us what you think, send us a message over on LinkedIn.GuestNoelle Lansford began her career as an engineer on design system teams before transitioning into design, where she discovered her passion for connecting the technical and human sides of digital product creation. Today, as the founder of Shep, a design systems consultancy that partners with organizations from early-stage startups to Fortune 5 companies, Noelle helps bridge the gap between design, engineering, and business strategy. Her work focuses on creating systems that balance structure with flexibility, prioritize people over process, and deliver lasting business value instead of chasing perfection.HostChris Strahl is co-founder and CEO of Knapsack, host of @TheDSPod, DnD DM, and occasional river guide. You can find Chris on LinkedIn.SponsorSponsored by Knapsack, the design system platform that brings teams together. Learn more at knapsack.cloud.
Eric Pilkington joins the show to cut through the noise around artificial intelligence and deliver some hard truths about what's actually working—and what's just expensive theater.AI isn't new; it's been around for 70+ years. The current generative AI boom is democratization, not innovation—and 95% of AI projects are still failing.Startups with no product, no customers, and no revenue raising $30-100 million. Companies are getting massive funding without a single dollar of revenue.The real AI leaders aren't the loudest voices on conference stages. They're the ones quietly embedding AI into workflows, building better products, and closing the gap between pilots and actual impact. Most companies chase cost savings instead of using AI to drive top-line growth. You can't cut your way to growth. Real business transformation comes from understanding the actual problems you're solving, not from chasing the newest shiny object. The superheroes of AI aren't prognosticating on stages—they're in garages and labs building things that'll matter five years from now.Mentioned:MIT Study on failure of AI pilots in business
From the archive: This episode was originally recorded and published in 2022. Our interviews on Entrepreneurs On Fire are meant to be evergreen, and we do our best to confirm that all offers and URL's in these archive episodes are still relevant. JiNan Glasgow George has built her career from engineering to patent law and investment by transforming ideas into assets and connecting innovators to the resources they need to make positive impact. She is the CEO and co-founder of Patent Forecast, a business intelligence SaaS company that provides insights for investors and executives, serial entrepreneurs and innovators, giving vision ahead of market data using patent data and AI. Top 3 Value Bombs 1. With imagination and ideas, you have an unlimited resource for solving problems and creating a positive impact in the world, however, most people do not use it. 2. Almost everybody has a trademark to register, copyright, or patent. 3. You can make the most valuable asset in your business from your ideas and transform that into intellectual property, but you have to know how to use it in your industry. NEO IP is an intellectual property law firm with a holistic approach for creating IP assets - NEO IP Sponsors HighLevel - The ultimate all-in-one platform for entrepreneurs, marketers, coaches, and agencies. Learn more at HighLevelFire.com. The Dealmaker's Will - If you're ready to sharpen your instincts, elevate your mindset, and learn what separates deal-takers from deal-makers. Go grab your copy of The Dealmaker's Will today on Amazon. Quicksilver Scientific - Make advanced liposomal supplements so you can actually feel the difference - energy, focus, calm, recovery. Get 10 percent off plus free shipping at TryQS.com/fire!
Today's guest is Jim Johnson, President at AnswerRocket. Founded in 2013, AnswerRocket builds enterprise AI agents delivering measurable outcomes for Fortune 2000 clients across consumer goods, financial services, construction, real estate, and beyond. Johnson joins Emerj Editorial Director Matthew DeMello to discuss how consumer packaged goods companies can overcome data complexity and accelerate decision-making with emerging agentic AI capabilities. The conversation also examines how CPG teams can shorten analysis cycles, reduce dependence on manual reporting, and uncover new revenue opportunities by pairing existing human expertise with continuously learning AI agents. This episode is sponsored by AnswerRocket. Interested in putting your AI product in front of household names in the Fortune 500? Connect directly with enterprise leaders at market-leading companies. Emerj can position your brand where enterprise decision-makers turn for insight, research, and guidance. Visit emerj.com/sponsor.
Maximizing Business Value: Lessons from 800+ Deals with Matt Uhler The Cash Discipline That Saves—or Sells—Your Business Most companies don't go under because they lack revenue. They go under because they run out of cash. And the worst part? It doesn't happen overnight. It happens slowly… then suddenly. One month, you're profitable. The next, you're panicking over payroll and wondering what went wrong. In this episode, I sit down with Matt Uhler—a business broker and owner who's evaluated over 2,500 companies, completed 800+ transactions, and personally owned more than 35 businesses. Matt has seen it all: the slow leaks, the bad habits, and the simple financial blind spots that quietly destroy good companies. He's also seen what fixes them—disciplined cash management, clear financial dashboards, and owners who treat their business like an asset, not an ATM. Key Lessons from the Conversation with Matt Uhler: Cash Is the Real Failure Point. Most businesses don't collapse because of competition or bad strategy — they fail when they run out of cash. Profit on paper doesn't equal money in the bank. Lesson: Cash flow is oxygen. Without reserves, one slow quarter can suffocate your business. Protect Your Operating Capital Floor. Matt's formula: Accounts Receivable (avg. days outstanding) + 1 Month of Fixed Expenses = Your Minimum Reserve. Lesson: Treat this number like sacred ground. No owner draws or distributions until you're above that floor. Watch the Percentages, Not Just the Dollars. Only about 10% of business owners track financials by percentages — yet that's where the truth hides. Lesson: A 2% increase in labor, 1% rise in COGS, and a few missed invoices can quietly erase your entire profit margin. "Creep" Will Kill Your Profit. Profit erosion happens quietly — small leaks across pricing, payroll, or waste. Lesson: Five small 2% inefficiencies equal a 10% hit to profit. Track it monthly and fix leaks early before they become habits. Run Sale-Ready, Even If You're Not Selling. Buyers pay a premium for companies with systems, diversified revenue, and consistent cash flow — but those same traits make your business easier and safer to run today. Lesson: Operate like you'll sell in three years. You'll earn more now and later. Key Takeaway: Cash discipline isn't boring—it's freedom. When your reserves are full, you sleep better, make smarter decisions, and stop chasing bad business just to survive. A profitable business is one that's calm, clear, and ready for whatever comes next. Bio: Matt Uhler is far from a typical business broker and acquisition strategist. Over the course of his 27-year career, he has evaluated more than 2,500 businesses, completed over 800 transactions, and successfully owned and operated more than 35 businesses across multiple industries. Matt's journey was not without its challenges. In fact, he attributes much of his expertise to the early setbacks he faced, where he learned firsthand the pitfalls that derail many entrepreneurs. What set him apart, however, was his ability to turn those experiences into powerful lessons. This mindset, combined with his focus on strategic partnerships and creative deal structures, has allowed him to help countless clients build wealth through small business acquisitions. Matt is founder of Amped Success, a company dedicated to educating and empowering entrepreneurs, business owners, and investors with the tools they need to confidently navigate acquisitions. He is also the creator of the Buyer's Acquisition Formula, a proven framework that is designed to reduce risk and maximize opportunities for long-term success. 27 Years Experience Over 35 Businesses Owned Over 800 Deals Closed Over 2,500 Deals Evaluated $250+ Million Transactions Funded Links: Website: http://www.ampedsuccess.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61557299191227&mibextid=wwXIfr&rdid=uV765w5z0S5PYnmb&share_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fshare%2F19x2KTYQCb%2F%3Fmibextid%3DwwXIfr# LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matt-uhler-a9896612?utm_source=share&utm_campaign=share_via&utm_content=profile&utm_medium=ios_app Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ampedsuccess?igsh=MWRrOTA1MWthOThlcA%3D%3D&utm_source=qr TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@ampedsuccess?_t=ZP-8tXABIpBHxu&_r=1 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@AmpedSuccess Conclusion: Most businesses don't fail from lack of opportunity — they fail from lack of cash discipline. It's not the big mistake that kills them, it's the small 1–2% leaks that add up over time. Matt reminded us that every owner needs a cash reserve floor — your operating capital formula of accounts receivable plus one month of fixed expenses. That's your safety net. Never draw below it. He also showed how tracking percentages instead of just totals helps you catch problems early — before the slow slide becomes a sudden crash. And finally, the mindset shift: run your business as if you'll sell it someday. Whether you do or not, that discipline makes your company stronger, more profitable, and less stressful to run. So take a moment after this episode — look at your numbers. Where has "creep" slipped in? How much runway would you have if revenue stopped for 60 days? And do you have the systems and reserves that let you sleep well at night? #ProfitFirst #CashFlow #OperatingCapital #BusinessFinance #OwnerPay #SmallBusinessProfit #Profitability Watch the full episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@profitanswerman Sign up to be notified when the next cohort of the Profit First Experience Course is available! Profit First Toolkit: https://lp.profitcomesfirst.com/landing-page-page Relay Bank (affiliate link): https://relayfi.com/?referralcode=profitcomesfirst Profit Answer Man Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/profitanswerman/ My podcast about living a richer more meaningful life: http://richersoul.com/ Music provided by Junan from Junan Podcast Any financial advice is for educational purposes only and you should consult with an expert for your specific needs.
AI is radically changing the future of the workplace — from redefining jobs to fueling the rise of so-called “work slop.” Live on stage at the Masters of Scale Summit in San Francisco, host Bob Safian is joined by Box CEO Aaron Levie, LinkedIn's Chief Economic Opportunity Officer Aneesh Raman, and Meta's Head of Business AI Clara Shih to share their insider perspectives on AI optimism, uncertainty, and navigating this unprecedented era. The panelists also take audience questions from an executive at IBM's Institute for Business Value and the Chancellor of Vanderbilt University, and reveal the habits and leadership traits that will matter most in this daunting yet exciting transition.Visit the Rapid Response website here: https://www.rapidresponseshow.com/See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
I know you're out there. The developer who watches their colleagues enthusiastically embrace Claude Code and Cursor, having AI write entire feature sets while you proudly type every semicolon by hand. The founder who sees AI-generated code as a ticking time bomb of bugs and security vulnerabilities. The software entrepreneur who believes that real code comes from human minds, not language models.This one's for you.This episode of The Bootstraped Founder is sponsored by Paddle.comYou'll find the Black Friday Guide here: https://www.paddle.com/learn/grow-beyond-black-fridayThe blog post: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/ai-for-the-code-writing-purist-how-to-use-ai-without-surrendering-your-keyboard/The podcast episode: https://tbf.fm/episodes/420-ai-for-the-code-writing-purist-how-to-use-ai-without-surrendering-your-keyboardCheck out Podscan, the Podcast database that transcribes every podcast episode out there minutes after it gets released: https://podscan.fmSend me a voicemail on Podline: https://podline.fm/arvidYou'll find my weekly article on my blog: https://thebootstrappedfounder.comPodcast: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/podcastNewsletter: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/newsletterMy book Zero to Sold: https://zerotosold.com/My book The Embedded Entrepreneur: https://embeddedentrepreneur.com/My course Find Your Following: https://findyourfollowing.comHere are a few tools I use. Using my affiliate links will support my work at no additional cost to you.- Notion (which I use to organize, write, coordinate, and archive my podcast + newsletter): https://affiliate.notion.so/465mv1536drx- Riverside.fm (that's what I recorded this episode with): https://riverside.fm/?via=arvid- TweetHunter (for speedy scheduling and writing Tweets): http://tweethunter.io/?via=arvid- HypeFury (for massive Twitter analytics and scheduling): https://hypefury.com/?via=arvid60- AudioPen (for taking voice notes and getting amazing summaries): https://audiopen.ai/?aff=PXErZ- Descript (for word-based video editing, subtitles, and clips): https://www.descript.com/?lmref=3cf39Q- ConvertKit (for email lists, newsletters, even finding sponsors): https://convertkit.com?lmref=bN9CZw
In this episode, Carlos Gonzalez de Villaumbrosia sits down with Meredith Brown, SVP and GM of Trailhead at Salesforce, the global CRM leader trusted by over 150,000 enterprises and powering customer success for the world's most influential brands. Meredith, a former Chief Product Officer turned product-led community builder, now leads Trailhead—the platform that has upskilled nearly 10 million learners worldwide—on a mission to shape the agentic enterprise era.A veteran product executive, Meredith shares how Salesforce is redefining workforce transformation through free, AI-driven learning and peer-to-peer community engagement. She explains how her team measures success not in revenue, but in customer adoption and ROI—bridging the gap between skilling, real-world application, and business value. From internal dashboards that track AI tool usage to gamified certifications like Agent Blazer Champion, Meredith reveals what it takes to drive enterprise-wide AI adoption at scale and sustain a true culture of continuous learning.What you'll learn:How Salesforce is preparing every employee—and customer—for the agentic enterprise.The metrics and dashboards that connect AI adoption to business impact.Why community-led learning drives faster enterprise transformation than traditional training.How to create scalable, human-centered AI upskilling programs in your own organization.Key TakeawaysAI Transformation at Scale: Salesforce's playbook for skilling millions through Trailhead.Adoption Meets ROI: How AI literacy translates into measurable customer success.The Future is Agentic: Why the next frontier of product leadership blends human creativity with AI collaboration.Social Links:- Follow our Podcast on Tik Tok here- Follow Product School on LinkedIn here- Join Product School's free events here- Find out more about Product School hereCredits:Host: Carlos Gonzalez de VillaumbrosiaGuest: Meredith Brown
Marketers' roles are changing, but their goals are still the same: reach and engage customers, meeting them where they are, and for better or worse, often needing to do more with less while delivering greater value. Agility requires both adapting to change quickly while also having the wisdom to know which changes truly matter. It demands a delicate balance between embracing new technologies and staying laser-focused on core business objectives. Today, we are here in New York City at Opticon25. We are going to talk about the growing role of AI for both marketers and consumers, how organizations can leverage an agentic platform to create better internal and external customer experiences, and how marketers can both do more with less while delivering exponentially greater value. To help me discuss this topic, I'd like to welcome Rupali Jain, Chief Product Officer and Kevin Li, SVP Product at Optimizely. About Rupali JainRupali Jain is the Chief Product Officer at Optimizely. Previously she has held product leadership roles at several SaaS software companies, including Microsoft's PowerBI and Qualtrics. Throughout her two-decade career, Rupali has shared Optimizely's vision of prioritizing the end user's daily needs. Rupali is committed to advancing practical, growth-driving applications of AI and machine learning to help marketers take control of their workflows, experiment at scale, and deliver digital experiences that meet and exceed customer expectations Rupali Jain on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rupali/ About Kevin LiAt Optimizely (previously Episerver before rebrand), I describe my job as a "tale of two mirrors" with one being a telescope and one being a microscope. On the telescope side of product strategy, I own long-term strategy covering build/buy/partner, M&A (thesis, due diligence, etc.), new product launches (SaaS CMS, Personalization, etc.), analyst relations (leader in 11 categories across Gartner, Forrester, and IDC), etc. On the microscope side of product operations, I own the product commercialization process, product operations, product analytics, documentation, and competitive intelligence. Kevin Li on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kevinsyli/ Resources Optimizely: https://www.optimizely.com The Agile Brand podcast is brought to you by TEKsystems. Learn more here: https://www.teksystems.com/versionnextnow Don't Miss MAICON 2025, October 14-16 in Cleveland - the event bringing together the brights minds and leading voices in AI. Use Code AGILE150 for $150 off registration. Go here to register: https://bit.ly/agile150 Connect with Greg on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gregkihlstromDon't miss a thing: get the latest episodes, sign up for our newsletter and more: https://www.theagilebrand.showCheck out The Agile Brand Guide website with articles, insights, and Martechipedia, the wiki for marketing technology: https://www.agilebrandguide.com The Agile Brand is produced by Missing Link—a Latina-owned strategy-driven, creatively fueled production co-op. From ideation to creation, they craft human connections through intelligent, engaging and informative content. https://www.missinglink.company