Podcasts about chief community officer

In this episode of the Whole Whale podcast, host George Weiner speaks with Sal Alpietro, Chief Community Officer at Fundraise Up, about a critical issue affecting nonprofits: the ownership and transfer of payment tokens for monthly donors. Sal shares alarming stories of nonprofits facing exorbitant fees and resistance when trying to move donor data between platforms. They discuss the importance of asking the right questions before signing contracts with donation platforms and the potential financial and operational risks of not doing so. Sal also shares advice on best practices and offers insights into recent developments at Fundraise Up. -- If your nonprofit does not own the payments portal account (IE Stripe, Braintree, Paypal) and it has monthly donors, then it may not actually “own” those donors. While standard donation platform contracts allow for donor contact information to be exported, they may not allow the Donor Payment Tokens that allow for ongoing monthly donations to be exported. This means your nonprofit would lose the ability to continue to charge monthly donations from donors that had opted-in to donate if you moved platforms. Donation platforms range from small to huge fees to export this data, while some block this ability all together. Here is a great LinkedIn explanation of this Here is information going back to 2018 from the Agitator calling out this monthly donor lockup issue.   “I have seen nonprofits literally in tears when they were told they needed to payup $30k to get permission to migrate their monthly donorbase built over years.”  Salvatore Salpietro, Chief Community Officer, Fundraise Up     Full article on the Monthly Donor lockup problem.

Donors don't act like traditional donors anymore—they act like digital shoppers. And in this episode, Salvatore Salpietro, Chief Community Officer at Fundraise Up, joins me to break down exactly what that means for your nonprofit.This isn't about throwing shade. It's about meeting donors where they are—on their phones, on the go, and expecting the same seamless experience they get from Amazon, Uber, or Netflix. Topics:Why nonprofits are 10–20 years behind on digital fundraisingHow donor expectations mirror consumer habitsWhat nonprofits can ethically borrow from e-commerce brandsHow better donor experiences drive recurring givingWhy “tech hopping” alone won't fix your fundraisingThe overlooked power of automation and personalizationHow nonprofits can stop losing donors with outdated systemsWhy improving the donor experience isn't a luxury—it's a survival moveFor a full list of links and resources mentioned in this episode, click here.Bloomerang is the complete donor, volunteer, and fundraising management solution that helps thousands of nonprofits deliver a better giving experience and create sustainable, thriving organizations. Combining robust, easy-to-use technology with people-powered support and training, Bloomerang empowers nonprofits to work efficiently, improve supporter relationships, and grow their donor and volunteer bases. Learn more here. What's Actually Working in 2025 - Free Registration HereResources: Purpose & Profit Club® Coaching Program [Get on the waitlist for bonuses] The SPRINT Method™: Your shortcut to 10K fundraisers [details here] Instagram, LinkedIn, website , weekly newsletter [FREE] The Brave Fundraiser's Guide: Stop getting ignored. Start raising more. May contain affiliate links

Mitch Bach is joined by ToursByLocals CEO Lisa Chen and Sherif Abiza, Chief Community Officer of Withlocals. Together they discuss a recent incident of guide poaching amongst tour platforms, and talk about what trust and fairness looks like in our industry.Guide platforms operate differently than other OTAs like GetYourGuide, Viator or Klook, since they deal primarily in solo entrepreneurs who themselves are the face of the tour.In this episode of Tourpreneur the group discusses:what does the platform's commission get spent on?how a guide platform acquires a customerwhat goes into a great guide profilethe rise of video, and social commercewhat it takes to build trust between travelers, guides and a platformhow guides need to adopt a 'marketing mindset', beyond delivering a great tourwhat they think of Airbnb Experiences' new rebootDon't forget:Join Tourpreneur's 20,000 strong Facebook Group of tour professionals!Join us for TourWeek 2025, our annual conference for tour operators & guides!

What is “the Internet”? And why is it not just our access to a search engine or our favourite social media platform? In this episode, Hisham Ibrahim, RIPE NCC's Chief Community Officer, breaks down the layers of the Internet ecosystem, explains what a stable and resilient Internet means, and clarifies the difference between digital governance and Internet governance. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of the podcast, we welcome back Louise Jones, the Chief Community Officer at ThingLink. We discuss her journey in education technology, the significance of multi-modal learning, and the shift from measuring attendance to engagement in educational settings. Louise talks passionately about the importance of accessibility and compassion in communication, sharing a case study of Mitsubishi Electric's innovative training solutions that utilises immersive experiences to train future engineers. We also cover the role of technology in enhancing learning experiences, and the need for scenario-based and failure-based learning approaches, and how these methods can inspire the next generation of learners and prepare them for the workforce and beyond through creating engaging and supportive learning environments.Chapters00:00 Introductions01:59 Louise's Journey and Current Role06:13 The Importance of Multi-Modal Learning11:56 Engagement Over Attendance in Education18:00 Accessibility and Compassion in Communication21:50 Case Study: Mitsubishi Electric's Innovative Training Solutions24:21 Inspiring the Next Generation of Engineers25:38 The Role of Technology in Education27:49 Accessibility and Inclusivity in Engineering28:32 Digital Learning and Employability32:03 Scenario-Based Learning in Barista Training41:59 Embracing Failure-Based LearningCheck out more resources that Louise has shared: Multi-modal Learning: https://www.thinglink.com/blog/multi-modal-learning-in-action/The Mitsubishi Electric UK Webinar: https://www.thinglink.com/blog/new-webinar-engineering-the-future/Interactive Barista Course Overview: https://www.thinglink.com/scene/1981396205845877604Podcast from Notebook LM with Subtitles: https://www.thinglink.com/scene/1982055975649018533Thanks so much for joining us again for another episode - we appreciate you.Ben & Steve xChampioning those who are making the future of education a reality.Follow us on X: https://www.twitter.com/edufuturistsFollow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/edufuturists/Check out all about Edufuturists at https://www.edufuturists.comWant to sponsor future episodes or get involved with the Edufuturists work?Get in touch: info@edufuturists.com

In this enlightening episode of Thriving in Intersectionality, host Lola Adeyemo welcomes Dr. Cristina Padilla, a distinguished Latina leadership scholar, consultant, and coach. Dr. Padilla shares her journey as a first-generation Mexican American navigating professional spaces, her approach to culturally relevant leadership development, and valuable insights for Latinas and other professionals of color seeking to advance in their careers. What You'll Learn in This Episode: How cultural frameworks like "trenzas" (braids of identity) offer alternative perspectives to understand intersectionality The impact of being first-generation Mexican American and a child of immigrants on professional identity development Navigating career transitions without clear guidance or representation The power of creating spaces where Latinx professionals can connect and find community Practical strategies for overcoming cultural humility barriers that might hold back career advancement The importance of seeking validation, coaching, and multiple mentors throughout your career journey Key Insights for Professional Development: Embrace Your Cultural Identity Dr. Padilla shares her personal evolution from hiding her Mexican American identity as a child to finding strength in it as an adult. She discusses the concept of finding a "third space" where bicultural professionals can comfortably navigate multiple identities without feeling pressured to fit neatly into any single category. Create Your Own Table "If you can't find the ladder, if you can't find the table, then create your own." Dr. Padilla emphasizes the importance of creating spaces and opportunities when traditional pathways aren't accessible, sharing how this philosophy led to her co-founding Fluence and developing leadership programs specifically for Latina professionals. Challenge Cultural Humility When Necessary While humility is a beautiful cultural trait, Dr. Padilla advises professionals from cultures that emphasize modesty to recognize when this value might hinder career advancement. She encourages Latinas and other women of color to brand themselves, take ownership of their accomplishments, and pursue higher positions even when they don't feel completely ready. Seek Validation and Support Dr. Padilla's research and coaching experience reveal the importance of validation for Latina professionals who often don't recognize their own readiness for advancement. She recommends pursuing coaching opportunities when available and building relationships with multiple mentors who can provide different perspectives throughout various career stages. About Our Guest Dr. Cristina Padilla is the Chief Community Officer and Co-Founder of Fluence, a leadership development training and coaching organization. With a Ph.D. in Leadership Studies from the University of San Diego, she brings academic rigor to her work developing culturally relevant leadership programs for Latinx populations. Her research focuses on Latina leader identity development, with several peer-reviewed publications to her credit. Dr. Padilla is particularly passionate about her work with the Latina Success Leadership Program for MANA de San Diego, where she serves on the steering committee. Connect with Dr. Cristina Padilla: Fluence: www.fluencepro.com LinkedIn: Cristina Padilla, Ph.D. Chat with Host Lola Adeyemo: LinkedIn: Lola Adeyemo Personal Website: www.lolaspeaker.com Want to Get Involved? Apply to be on the podcast: Application Link Join Immigrants in Corporate Non-Profit Community: Membership | Facebook | Instagram Are you an HR, Culture, or DEI Leader? Email Lola@EQImindset.com to Get Your Workplace Community Employee Resource Groups (ERGs / BRGs) Launched, Leveraged, and Thriving!

“We've got a new name, but it's the same mission—serving the channel with even more focus and energy than before.” — MJ Shoer, Chief Community Officer, Global Technology Industry Association (GTIA) In January, a major shift quietly reshaped one of the most familiar names in the IT channel. The CompTIA Community officially became the Global Technology Industry Association (GTIA)—marking the start of a new era for the 42-year-old organization. In a recent Technology Reseller News podcast, MJ Shoer, Chief Community Officer of GTIA, sat down with us to explain the rebrand, what it means for members, and why now is a pivotal moment for global IT channel professionals. A New Name—and New Clarity The change stems from the sale of the CompTIA name and its training/certification business, which now operates as a separate for-profit entity under CompTIA Inc. What remains is the long-standing nonprofit trade association—now rebranded as GTIA—still dedicated to serving MSPs, solution providers, vendors, and distributors. “We had to change the name because we sold the brand. But what that allowed us to do was focus entirely on our membership. No distractions—just service to the channel,” said Shoer. GTIA is backed by a perpetual endowment created from the sale, ensuring stable funding for operations and long-term growth. According to Shoer, this structure enables GTIA to expand its global reach and deepen its core programming. What Members Can Expect GTIA members can expect everything they've come to rely on—plus more. That includes: Flagship benefits like industry research, member education, advisory councils, and cybersecurity programs Expanded charitable giving to help underserved and remote communities access tech careers and services Greater global engagement, with regional events, localized content, and new programming across GTIA's six global regions: North America, UK & Ireland, Benelux, DACH (Germany, Austria, Switzerland), ASEAN, and Australia/New Zealand GTIA has already held record-attendance events since the rebrand and plans to extend its global offerings even further in 2025. “We've hosted global town halls, opened a suggestion box, and invited feedback. We're listening—and we're building what the channel needs,” said Shoer. ChannelCon and Global Events GTIA's premier event, ChannelCon, will return July 29–31, 2025, in Nashville, with a fresh format and dual keynotes—one on AI, the other on radical candor and culture. Shoer notes the program will deliver “actionable insights members can use the moment they return to their business.” Other major events include: ChannelCon EMEA in London this October DACH Community Meeting in Munich (May) UK & Ireland Community Forum + Spotlight Awards (June, black tie!) ANZ Forum + Spotlight Awards in Sydney (September) “We've created a global calendar of engagement—from in-person events to online meetups. There are opportunities every month to connect and contribute.” Cybersecurity and Trust GTIA also continues to lead in cybersecurity with initiatives like: GTIA ISAO (Information Sharing and Analysis Organization) for real-time threat intelligence Cybersecurity Trustmark to help MSPs validate and enhance their security readiness Both programs aim to help members stay ahead of regulations and threats in a rapidly evolving landscape. Open to All GTIA isn't just for paying members. Anyone can sign up as a subscriber to access public resources, join events, and explore what the organization offers. If your company is already a member, you'll automatically gain access. If not, you'll still get a front-row seat to everything GTIA is doing. “You don't have to commit on day one. Dip your toe in. Come to an event. Check out the content. We're confident you'll see the value.” Learn More To explore membership, resources, and the full calendar of global events, visit gtia.org. For ChannelCon details,

In this latest episode, Geoff Scott, of ASUG, rejoins Mustansir Saifuddin to discuss the rapidly evolving landscape of AI within the SAP ecosystem, specifically focusing on the impact of partnerships like SAP and Microsoft's collaboration on Copilot and Joule. Listen in as we explore how these advancements will shape enterprise operations in 2025 and beyond, and why you can't afford to ignore this technological shift.to discuss what is required for businesses to be successful with Gen AI as they prepare for the future.  Geoff Scott, is CEO and Chief Community Officer of ASUG, believes that the connections ASUG makes for our members have the potential to become career-defining relationships that inspire innovation and success for their organizations. His forward-thinking leadership prioritizes helping our members make the most of their investment in SAP technologies. To that end, Geoff works closely with customers, members, the SAP Executive Board, and the extensive partner ecosystem to amplify the voice of the SAP customer.   Past positions include CIO for TOMS Shoes, where he led the implementation of SAP: CIO at JBS; and senior leadership positions at Ford Motor Company. Before becoming CEO, Geoff was an ASUG member and served on the board. Geoff has served on several philanthropic boards and is the founding member of the Denver CIO Executive Council.  Connect with Us: LinkedIn Mustansir Saifuddin Innovative Solution Partners  X:  @gscott16 @MmsaifuddinYouTube or learn more about our sponsor Innovative Solution Partners to schedule a free consultation.    Episode Transcript: [00:00:00] Mustansir Saifuddin: Welcome to Tech Driven Business, brought to you by Innovative Solution Partners. I'm honored to have Jeff Scott, CEO of as a, rejoin me to discuss the rapidly evolving landscape of AI within the SAP ecosystem, specifically focusing on the impact of partnerships like SAP and Microsoft's collaboration on copilot and Joule. [00:00:26] Mustansir Saifuddin: Listen in as we explore how these advancements will shape enterprise operations in 2025 and beyond, and why you can't afford to ignore this technological shift. [00:00:39] Mustansir Saifuddin: Thanks for coming back on our podcast. Geoff, it was really nice to have you back. You remember, you know you came on last year and we dove into this whole [00:00:48] Geoff Scott: Oh. [00:00:49] Mustansir Saifuddin: gen AI topic. Everybody remembers that, you know, it was a very hot topic last year and, you know, everybody was going in that direction. Now, fast forwarding everything to this year and say, Hey, what is going on? And this year, SAP has had some major announcements, as we all know about the partnerships that we leverage the power of AI within the SAP ecosystem. And what I see with the majority of SAP clients using Microsoft in the enterprises. There is a lot of opportunity in SAP and Microsoft , you know, the whole partnership, especially around copilot and SAP Joule. I believe it'll make a big impact. [00:01:30] Geoff Scott: I'm surprised you have me back. I was very nervous. It's a year later. I was like, okay, this is never gonna happen again. I, I disinvited myself from future podcasts. [00:01:39] Mustansir Saifuddin: Well, I have you back [00:01:42] Mustansir Saifuddin: on. [00:01:43] Mustansir Saifuddin: and I am telling you that it is more exciting than what we were talking about last year, and I think this is what I want to get some thoughts on, Hey, what's going on? What's your take on how these partnerships are coming together and what are we going to see in 2025? [00:02:01] Geoff Scott: Well, the good news is that what we see in 2025 is no apparent slowdown in any of this technology. You know, but what's interesting is we, in the SAP space, [00:02:13] Geoff Scott: are not necessarily meeting that challenge head on, and we probably are not moving as quickly as we should to capture the amount of opportunity that's out there. I, I think AI is real. It's gonna continue to evolve at a furious pace, and that necessitates that we as technology practitioners determine how we best leverage that technology. [00:02:36] Geoff Scott: You, you talked about Microsoft Copilot, Joule, right? I mean AWS. Bedrock , Google Gemini, you know, now we've got, other LLMs popping out all over the place. Right. , deep seek . Which just popped up very quickly. So there's just, a tremendous amount of movement here and it's really hard [00:02:57] Geoff Scott: to stay abreast of it. And I think the opportunity to jump in and start leveraging this is mission critical and what I think it really necessitates, and you talked about some announcements from SAP that I think double or triple down on this notion that AI is here, so if you really want to take your SAP data and make it AI enabled using Joule or using any other series of tools, [00:03:24] Geoff Scott: it's gonna necessitate that we as technology practitioners start to do some fairly radical things with our data. Number one is we start to de-customize everywhere we can and move the responsibility for code back to SAP so that they are responsible for figuring out how to make the AI work, not us. [00:03:42] Geoff Scott: So [00:03:42] Geoff Scott: , [00:03:42] Geoff Scott: how [00:03:42] Geoff Scott: do we over time de-customize and how do we over time think about the necessity of adopting SaaS based solutions such as SAP's Public Cloud? Many of our of our community members are implementing private cloud right [00:04:00] now through Rise which is great, but ultimately if we recreate all those customizations downstream, then we have to figure out how to make them AI enabled, and I think that's where we're gonna find ourselves under continuing amounts of stress as the business innovates faster and faster. [00:04:17] Geoff Scott: We typically in the SAP ecosystem, think about our innovations on a stair step model. And what I mean by that is we do an upgrade, we sit on that upgrade for a couple of years, as long as we possibly can. You know, and then we do an upgrade again. And the challenge I think that's gonna present is that there's so much innovation happening and, all these things are moving at such a speed that if we're not continuously innovating, [00:04:39] Geoff Scott: we are gonna find ourselves further and further behind. I, I'd like to see our SAP data be the sole source of truth inside our enterprises and an innovation gold mine. [00:04:49] Geoff Scott: And to do that, I think we have to de-customize. I think we have to be able to, innovate faster. I think we have to be able to look at this data, do a lot more work around archiving and getting the old stuff, swept up and moved out. Master data is gonna become a major, major opportunity for all of us. [00:05:05] Geoff Scott: And if we do all those things really, really well. We will have a fighting chance at making our enterprises very savvy. And on top of the latest trends versus trying to perpetually catch up. [00:05:16] Mustansir Saifuddin: It's a race, the way I look at it, and I think , you summed it up very well, and I think that leads me to my question into this whole topic of collaboration. Let's take that right now. What would you tell your SAP users about the power of Microsoft and SAP's collaboration? [00:05:33] Mustansir Saifuddin: How will it positively impact their day-to-day operations? Let's start with that. [00:05:38] Geoff Scott: Well, I, I think you set this up really well. We, we know from an ASUG research perspective that most SAP customers are also Microsoft customers. And that partnership has gone back almost as long as SAP and Microsoft have been in business. You know, there's some pictures I've seen of Bill Gates and Hasso Plattner, the two founders of both organizations working together early on. [00:06:04] Geoff Scott: So this is a partnership that goes back a long, long time and it's a tremendously powerful partnership. And it indicates to me that these are organizations that work very well together, very closely together and collaborate. I mean, almost everyone I know who works in SAP also uses Excel spreadsheets, also uses PowerPoint slides, [00:06:23] Geoff Scott: also creates Word documents. I do these almost every single day. It makes perfect sense to me that a tool such as Microsoft Copilot and SAP's Joule would be working in harmony together. And I think we're seeing some interesting innovation from both organizations where they're able to demonstrate that. [00:06:39] Geoff Scott: I saw some really cool, rag based technologies, a few weeks ago where a copilot can reach out and grab some data from SAP and bring it back. Likewise Joule is being able to show some similar capabilities. For most customers, as much as we'd like to have one AI tool, I just don't think that that's going to be the way this works. [00:06:58] Geoff Scott: I think we're gonna have multiple, which, which makes the enterprise architect's role that much more challenging because they're gonna have to figure out how to integrate these tools, when these tools are best used, how they're used, and how do we as as organizations, get value from them. [00:07:15] Mustansir Saifuddin: Absolutely. And if you take this a step further, right? The hype around Agentic AI, everybody's talking about agents. What are you seeing in the marketplace? What, what is your take? [00:07:25] Mustansir Saifuddin: How are SAP users benefitting from Agentic AI within their organizations? [00:07:31] Geoff Scott: As it relates specifically to the SAP ecosystem, my. My perception, maybe right or wrong, probably more wrong than right, is that many of them are investigating and researching. I haven't necessarily seen any specific in production, customer running, agentic AI using SAP dot dot yet. Is it coming? [00:08:00] I think it's coming. [00:08:01] Geoff Scott: Has everyone figured this out yet? No certainly SAP's talking about it. I saw some presentations from the AI team at SAP led by Philip Herzig where they're demonstrating a lot of this. And I think it's gonna be very interesting to watch how agentic, you know, agent-based AI starts to manage tasks. [00:08:19] Geoff Scott: And I'm very keen to see how this works. [00:08:24] Mustansir Saifuddin: It's still very early on in, in this space where a lot of SAP customers are thinking about using it. But [00:08:32] Mustansir Saifuddin: how [00:08:32] Mustansir Saifuddin: do we really find a use case that is really beneficial to the organization at least from a investment standpoint, the time standpoint , and the value add you get as a, as a result of this application basically. [00:08:47] Geoff Scott: And I think the, the potential challenge with agentic AI is it also has to be reasonable from a, you know, a what is this agent, what is this agent's tasks? One of the things that we all know about the SAP ecosystem is we exist here because our businesses are complicated. Someone used to say to me, if, if you didn't need to run SAP, you wouldn't. [00:09:11] Geoff Scott: Right. So you know, most of the organizations that run SAP are of a, a sufficient size and scale and complexity, whether that be that they're multiple businesses running, they have international components, the business makes a complicated product that has a lot of configuration to it, right? There's reasons why these organizations are running SAP. [00:09:32] Geoff Scott: So that kind of then begets the next point, which is, an agent based AI. It's going to have to be fairly complicated in order to handle all of those different, particulars of a business. So I, I think it's gonna be interesting to watch how organizations slice that down to make it so that they can demonstrate some success early days without making the agents so complicated that they basically can't function. [00:09:58] Geoff Scott: You know, even some of this agent AI we talk about that seems like really simple. Like, Hey, I want to go out to eat at a restaurant tonight. Have agentic AI make a reservation. When you break that down. How does it do that? what type of food do you want? [00:10:13] Geoff Scott: I don't know. Maybe Italian, maybe French, maybe American. What about what time do you want to eat? How far away do you want to go? And so much of that is, is left to our brains to just on a whim, we make these decisions. How do you have that conversation with AG Agentic AI, right? Where it says, Hey, you know, here's a reservation at Italian restaurant at six 30. [00:10:32] Geoff Scott: Nah, well, 6 45, nah. Well, what do you want? Not Italian. Well, what do you want instead? I don't know French. No. You want a burger? Nah, I don't feel like a burger tonight. I mean, oh my God. I mean, it's exhausting. [00:10:47] Mustansir Saifuddin: Let's take a step up, right? Let's, let's talk about from SAP customers, you know. Everybody's getting on this [00:10:55] Mustansir Saifuddin: What word of advice would you have for SAP customers when they get further into the journey with AI? Like, what are the things that they should be looking at? [00:11:03] Geoff Scott: First and foremost, take the time to experiment, right? I mean, if you're not using these AI tools every day start. And this has taken me a little bit of time to warm up to, I'm finding now that, I have enough, road underneath my tires that it's hard for me to do new things, [00:11:22] Geoff Scott: 'cause I'm fairly, you know, set in my ways. But if I don't, use these tools to do things, I'm just not, I'm not learning. And so I. As an example, I'm recording a podcast tomorrow with a couple of fellow ASUG board members, and last night I needed to get them some prep materials. [00:11:40] Geoff Scott: I uploaded three or four documents into Claude and I said, please look at these three documents and I need to brief the podcast participants on what they say. And it looked at all three documents and it coughed up a pretty darn good summary. [00:11:55] Geoff Scott: Perfect? No. Pretty good. Yes. Was it [00:12:00] easier that I didn't, I didn't have to go and look at each document and figure out what to say. I could take a look at its summarization and determine if that was something that I wanted, that I thought was accurate and something that I thought we could share. And the answer was it was pretty good. [00:12:15] Geoff Scott: That was a great experiment. And then I said, okay, now create the podcast questions. And it did it. Now, are we using all of them? No. Did it give me at least a starting point? A hundred percent. And by the way, for the people out there was like, oh my God. He put that into, he put that into Claude. Oh my God. What about the security things? We own a subscription to Claude. So it was in a subscription. It was, it was in our protected space. It was public information. So, you know, but you gotta think about those things, right? [00:12:42] Mustansir Saifuddin: . [00:12:42] Mustansir Saifuddin: Absolutely. And I think the one thing that you hit upon is time to value, right? When you look at these tools, these technology aspects of how it can make things faster, better . But it brings up another point, like when, when you look at these, these use cases, everything is about data. What you feeding into the model. [00:13:07] Mustansir Saifuddin: So, you know, from a data perspective, I know a lot of customers doesn't matter, SAP or other technologies, and especially in SAP you know, either struggle with clean governed data and kind of makes it very difficult. So what, what's your take on that in that space? You know, especially when they are ready to go to the AI [00:13:32] Mustansir Saifuddin: journey, but they have some work to do. [00:13:34] Geoff Scott: I think there's a tremendous amount of work to do on this, and this kind of comes back to a part of our earlier dialogue that I think that data has to be right. Right. If, if we're gonna succeed in this future AI enabled world, the data that is being accessed, from your SAP systems, whether through some sort of rag or wherever you're doing, it has to be accurate. [00:13:57] Geoff Scott: So the archiving perspective of this has to be right. And you know also what has to be right is your ability to get master data correct. So if you have the same customer in your SAP system, this is an easy example, five times. Well, you now have increased by factors, the likelihood that the answer that pops back is wrong. [00:14:18] Geoff Scott: So, you know, we've been talking about this for a long time, that your SAP data has to be accurate, has to be right, and SAP data is very accurate at the time that it was entered. I think this is one of the brilliant things about SAP. And where we as SAP, you know, professionals spend so much time is getting the data into the system correctly from the get go. [00:14:41] Geoff Scott: The problem is it doesn't age so well, right? It's not like a fine wine. It can sometimes get a little stale and old and if we're not also getting it broomed out. The challenge we run into is it could be part of a , hallucination that we're not aware of. And if all of a sudden people are looking at this data and making broader based decisions on it, and the decision processes was flawed and the data's flawed, we could be making a lot of really bad decisions. [00:15:12] Mustansir Saifuddin: Yeah, absolutely. Data and analytics is very near and dear to me. So I, I know that whole conversation about getting The data clean, having that value around data, right. Which drives a lot of those those results out of the tools that we [00:15:28] Mustansir Saifuddin: want to apply. Especially. [00:15:30] Geoff Scott: It's all gonna come down to data at the end of the day, right? The data wins and the accuracy of the data wins. And the more that we're gonna use these tools to summarize and roll up, the higher the risk that that summary is inaccurate because the data underneath it isn't right. [00:15:49] Geoff Scott: We had this conversation in an ASUG executive exchange forum last week. And I think most people are starting to recognize that , if you have been [00:16:00] deferring your archiving routines, now might be a good time to get some of that back under control. [00:16:07] Mustansir Saifuddin: Yeah, [00:16:08] Geoff Scott: Most of the models right now, the L lms right, are based on data that doesn't, that the, you know books, fueling [00:16:15] Geoff Scott: research reports, fueling these LLMs that that data has been around for a long time and is, and has stood the test of time. Most of our SAP data, you know, has to be thought of through a very specific lens. But I, I think it's critical, a hundred percent critical. [00:16:33] Mustansir Saifuddin: Yeah. So let, so let's take it down a, a notch, right? From an ASUG perspective, how have you seen ASUG members approaching realtime data analytics moving to the cloud? I know ASUG does a lot of research on this. What have you seen? What, what do you see in this year? [00:16:49] Geoff Scott: So I think, you know, almost everyone is having cloud conversations, which is the beginning of this, because I don't think you can innovate at scale if you're not thinking about moving into the cloud. You know, the other thing is, is that most of these solutions, if you think about the innovation curve, mostly solutions are gonna appear first in the latest additions of your software. [00:17:08] Geoff Scott: So if you can't start innovating at a faster and faster cycle, move out of the stair step you and I discussed earlier, moving to a constant innovation framework, you're gonna find yourself further and further behind because if you want to take advantage of innovation at scale at the time it's released or near to the time it's released you need to be on the latest versions of software. [00:17:27] Geoff Scott: The hard reality of most of our ecosystem is we are not. And if we are not, that's where this stuff is gonna appear first. Will it make it down to other versions of the software? Yes. Is it gonna be on SAP's first order priority to do that? No. They're gonna want to make sure where they get it out [00:17:44] Geoff Scott: to market fast and they're gonna look at their latest versions of the software to do that, where they're the most comfortable. You know, there's this question, why can't I run AI in my on-prem data center? Well, you could, but you're gonna have to do all of that lift by yourself. And that becomes a very costly exercise that unless you're the bigs of the bigs, is probably outside of your budget to do that. [00:18:08] Geoff Scott: So if you want to do this with some degree of economy, you have to be in the cloud, you have to de-customize. You have to think about your SAP implementation as a SaaS service, push accountability and responsibility for code and business process back to SAP, right? I mean, I, I think that, you know, what has AI told me, loud and clear at a volume level of 11? [00:18:30] Geoff Scott: We as SAP customers now more than ever, need to stop customizing and moving responsibility for code back to SAP, 'cause if we don't, we are never gonna be able to keep up. .In, in addition to that, that many of us over these years have outsourced our application maintenance services. We rely on consultants to do most of the work we need done, right, so we're not even in control of the productive resources necessary to make this stuff a reality. [00:19:05] Geoff Scott: We are project managers. We are business analysts, right? We don't necessarily know how to write code to do this, and if we're gonna have to rely on outside resources every time we make one of these moves, that's gonna be super costly and super slow. [00:19:22] Mustansir Saifuddin: Yeah. I hear you. [00:19:23] Mustansir Saifuddin: and I know the ASUG community hears that [00:19:26] Geoff Scott: But we have a lot in our ASUG community, right, who have been around for a long time that says, well, you know, my job is an ABAP programmer. What do you want me to do next? Or I'm a basis person and I don't like this. And I'm like, you are some of the people that are in , the best position to retool and relearn. [00:19:42] Geoff Scott: We're all gonna have to relearn. And, you know, is your business's, joy in life to have you produce more ABAP code or figure out how to get that ABAP code out, move it to SAP and say, congratulations, SAP, you're now responsible for this. Here's what I need this business process to do. Right. [00:20:00] And using your, using ASUG to help you influence that business process, instead of you saying, well, I'm gonna just take it and twist it to my own needs. [00:20:08] Geoff Scott: Even with me saying that, I still think that there's a lot of distance that SAP has to travel, by the way, I don't think they have this figured out. I don't think that they'll look at this and they go, yep, we got this. You just, you know, trust us. No, I think in certain areas they have this well done. [00:20:23] Geoff Scott: In other areas they do not. So what's the best thing we can do? Help them get there faster, influence them, participate in your ASUG chapter meetings, have a voice, talk about where you're hitting challenges. How do we need SAP to make better business processes? How are we gonna use the, you know, the tools that they have, like Lean IX and Signavio to help drive some of this? [00:20:48] Geoff Scott: That's to me where this is gonna need to happen. I would much prefer to have SAP struggle to keep up with business process than have. 10,000, 15,000, 20,000 customers do it on their own. It doesn't scale. [00:21:03] Mustansir Saifuddin: No, it doesn't. And I think, and that's a fair point, right? And this is where the value of ASUG comes in. And, and I mean the journey is long, but the, the path is there for us to follow. [00:21:14] Geoff Scott: I, I, yeah. [00:21:14] Mustansir Saifuddin: Right. And that's the, [00:21:15] Geoff Scott: I think the journey is long and the journey is more important than ever. It's time to get off the couch and go out and start walking, and then when you can walk, you can run, then, you know, then you can sprint. And I think , that's kind of the, the message that we're giving as ASUG is this isn't gonna slow down for you, you're gonna have to catch up to it. [00:21:32] Mustansir Saifuddin: No, I think, and that's the message. A lot of people are hearing loud and clear now, especially 2025 has brought in that that whole concept of either you go along with it or you're gonna be left behind. [00:21:44] Geoff Scott: Or, or, or at some point you're going to have to catch up, and the question is, is how much lifting are you gonna have to do to get there? I, again, I don't think this is easy. I, I don't think that there's , a magic pill we can swallow, you know, that that cleans us all up and we're all perfect. [00:22:01] Mustansir Saifuddin: No. No, for sure. And I think I, I know we talked about a lot of things today and we can keep on talking and the journey keeps on you know, is it's a [00:22:11] Geoff Scott: It's journey. [00:22:11] Mustansir Saifuddin: it's, [00:22:12] Geoff Scott: Yeah. [00:22:12] Mustansir Saifuddin: ending, but what, what is the one key takeaway that you want to leave with the listeners [00:22:18] Geoff Scott: One key takeaway [00:22:18] Mustansir Saifuddin: as we wrap up? [00:22:19] Geoff Scott: it. [00:22:20] Mustansir Saifuddin: Yep. [00:22:21] Geoff Scott: Spend time experimenting and learning this stuff. Get comfortable being uncomfortable with these tools. Use them. Think about how your business can benefit from them. Spend some time, you know, in BTP learning how to access these LLMs through your BTP interface. If you're having a challenge getting a business case written to move from your ECC environment to S 4. [00:22:46] Geoff Scott: Talk to us at ASUG, we will help you with that. Go to a chapter meeting and ask others how they made that investment work. Spend some time, you know, if you don't have a, a license for copilot where you and I started this afternoon, ask your IT counterparts to have access to copilot, use it. [00:23:04] Ask it questions, engage in iterative rep iterative prompts. These are things I think the, the faster we get comfortable with these technologies, the better off we as technologists will have light bulbs go off and say, oh, I, now I get how I can really put agent AI to work. Right. And I'm not gonna listen to just, you know, Microsoft, you know, talk about it or SAP talk about it. [00:23:24] Geoff Scott: I actually have some ideas. And these are good ideas and I'm excited, I'm excited to share 'em. Get out of the stands and on the field. [00:23:32] Mustansir Saifuddin: And who better do it? I mean, I think I, I love , your closing, right? Especially when you are looking at your own business, your own technology, and your way of doing things. Who better can come up with , a solution , or see the applications of these co-pilot Gemini, no matter what I mean, type of tools you can use. [00:23:51] Mustansir Saifuddin: But these are , the ways you can innovate, right by looking at the processes. [00:23:56] Geoff Scott: Yes. Someone told me that they set up two agentic AI bots [00:24:00] and the two of them constructed a podcast and it was pretty good. So withstand zero. I'm worried that next time you and I meet, it's not gonna be you or I, it's gonna be our agentic AI counterparts, some version of us. [00:24:14] Mustansir Saifuddin: and yeah, I'm looking forward to it. I think it is here. It's going to be here at some point, so might as well embrace it. [00:24:22] Geoff Scott: Yeah. Absolutely. [00:24:23] Mustansir Saifuddin: Thanks for listening to Tech-Driven Business brought to you by Innovative Solution Partners. Embracing innovation is no longer an option, but really a necessity for enterprise success. Geoff's key takeaway? Proactive experimentation with AI is crucial for SAP users to discover its business benefits. Engage with tools like copilot and Joule, participate in ASUG, and push for cloud migration to stay ahead of the rapid technological changes. We would love to hear from you. Continue the conversation by connecting with me on LinkedIn or x. Learn more about Innovative Solution Partners and schedule a free consultation by visiting isolutionpartners.com. Never miss a podcast by subscribing to our YouTube channel. Information is in the show notes. I.

Patch, Matt and the Chief Community Officer of the Robins Foundation Chris Stenner talk through a 2-0 win away at Millwall.

In this episode, Richard Tubb is joined by MJ Shoer. MJ is the Chief Community Officer of the newly-formed GTIA, previously part of the non-profit CompTIA. A former IT director and MSP owner, MJ did a spell of consulting before joining certification and community organisation CompTIA.In this interview, MJ shares how the acquisition of CompTIA, the split between the two sides of the organisation and the formation of the Global Technology Industry Association (GTIA), as well as the relationship between the two new companies.Richard asks MJ what the response has been to GTIA and the feedback they've had from MSPs. MJ explains the town hall meetings they're holding and their plans to expand GTIA, plus he shares the story behind the name and the new branding.MJ shares his thoughts on why MSPs should join GTIA and the value they'll get from attending events like ChannelCon. He reveals his hopes for the future of the organisation, and flags some big industry changes that MSPs should pay attention to.Mentioned in This EpisodeGTIACompTIAPodcast: Why CompTIA are the MSP Industry's Best-Kept SecretPodcast: Best-Kept Secret to Global Leader: The Remarkable Evolution of CompTIAThe GTIA online suggestion boxGTIA Events

Guest: Chris Stakich, Chief Community Officer at CEO Coaching International. Chris oversees our business forums, in-person events, and communication hubs. Prior to joining the team, Chris was the Chief Experience Officer at YPO where he oversaw 500+ global events, 6,500+ forums, all strategic partnerships, and the member learning strategy. Quick Background: Learning and leadership growth should always be at the top of a CEO's list of New Year's goals. One of the most impactful ways to accelerate that learning is by connecting with other leaders. Business forums can  provide a structured and supportive environment to share your experiences, reflect on your challenges, and learn from your peers so that you can elevate your business skills and accelerate your success. On today's show, Chris Stakich discusses how CEO Coaching International's new business forums complement the coaching experience and will help CEOS Make BIG Happen in 2025.

In this live episode, we dive into the intriguing world of dark social with our special guest, Krissy Buck. Krissy is a passionate advocate for inclusive online and in-person communities, and shares her expertise on tracking and leveraging dark social for effective digital marketing. Learn About... - What is Dark Social: Understand the concept of dark social and how it impacts digital marketing strategies. - Tracking Challenges: Discover the biggest hurdles brands face in tracking dark social activity. - Gen-Z & Dark Social: Explore how Gen-Z interacts with brands through private messaging apps and the implications for marketers. - Effective Tools and Techniques: Learn about the tools and techniques that can help marketers track dark social traffic beyond traditional analytics. - The Future of Dark Social: Insights into where dark social is heading, particularly in terms of tracking, attribution, and engagement with younger audiences. Our Guest... Krissy Buck is the Program Director of Shock Starter, a student-led digital marketing agency, and an educator at WSU Tech. With experience as Chief Community Officer at QuiCC, Krissy expanded their user base to 77 countries in just ten months. She also serves as Vice Chair of Digital Wichita, a non-profit dedicated to educating the local marketing and business community on the latest digital marketing trends. We recorded this one LIVE - go HERE to see us on video. ~._.*._.~ Making a Marketer is brought to you by Powers of Marketing - providing exceptional podcast experiences & online and in-person events. Check out episode 157, and if our show moves you, share it and let us know your thoughts! Take our LISTENER Community Survey!!! HERE ** Our editor Avri makes amazing music! Check out his music on Spotify! **

Revolutionize the donation process, making it smarter, more efficient, and deeply personalized, all while ensuring transparency and trust within the nonprofit sector!  This episode features Salvatore Salpietro, the Chief Community Officer at FundraiseUp, a tech company that enhances charitable giving by optimizing donation processes. Their platform helps nonprofits boost engagement and revenue through improved conversion rates, modern payment options, and personalized donor experiences. Moreover, Fundraise Up partners with global organizations like UNICEF USA and The Salvation Army UK.  Sal begins today's conversation by sharing his role in fostering community engagement and recounts his transition from the tech industry to the nonprofit sector. Sal narrates the origin story of Fundraise Up, rooted in the founders' frustration with complex donation processes, which led them to create a more user-friendly and AI-powered platform that optimizes donor experiences at scale.  The discussion moves to the challenges and benefits of AI in fundraising, where Sal and the hosts, Nathan and Scott, emphasize the importance of making donations seamless to prevent donor abandonment. They explore how AI enhances efficiency and personalization in fundraising while addressing ethical concerns surrounding AI use in the nonprofit sector. Sal explains Fundraise Up's commitment to transparency, privacy, and ethical practices, ensuring their AI models are built on anonymous data to avoid bias.  Looking ahead, Sal predicts that AI will revolutionize nonprofit operations by creating efficiencies and improving outcomes rather than transforming the sector entirely. He also mentions the upcoming Fundraising AI Global Summit, where he will present unexpected AI outcomes that drive impact.   EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS [03:13] Fundraise Up's Origin Story and Mission  [05:09] Sal's Journey to Fundraise Up  [07:56] Use of AI in Fundraising  [23:21] Ethics, Privacy, and Transparency in AI Use  [26:32] Future of AI in the Nonprofit Sector  [34:37] Upcoming Fundraising AI Global Summit   Connect with Salvatore: LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/salvatoresalpietro/ Website: fundraiseup.com Connect with Nathan and Scott: LinkedIn (Nathan): linkedin.com/in/nathanchappell LinkedIn (Scott): linkedin.com/in/scott-rosenkrans Website: fundraising.ai

ZOOMER SQUAD: CANADA'S AGING POPULATION: FINANCIAL STRAINS, HOUSING CHALLENGES, AND HEALTH CARE UPDATES Guest Host Tasha Kheiriddin is joined by Bob Richardson, Public Affairs Consultant, Bill VanGorder, Chief Advocacy and Education Officer at CARP, and Anthony Quinn, Chief Community Officer at CARP. The panel explored why many seniors prefer to remain in their homes rather than relocate to often-overcrowded nursing facilities. Callers cited concerns about the financial cost and inconvenience of moving, as well as a strong emotional attachment to their long-time residences. LABOUR DISPUTES AND NATIONAL STRIKES IN CANADA  Tasha is joined by Dr. Larry Savage, Professor of Labour Relations at Brock University, and Dr. Ian Lee, Associate Professor at the Sprott School of Business at Carleton University. The youth unemployment rate remains high, with significant struggles among young Canadians. Initially, temporary foreign workers were brought in to address labor shortages in agriculture and manual industries—sectors where Canadians have traditionally shown limited interest. This approach aimed to fill crucial gaps, but the ongoing economic challenges and rising unemployment rates among youth highlight the persistent struggles in the job market. HIGHWAY TRAFFIC THIS LONG WEEKEND & ROAD SAFETY AS KIDS GO BACK TO SCHOOL Tasha is now joined by Ontario Provincial Police's acting Sgt. Nicola Morris and Sgt. Ronald Gardner of Toronto Police Traffic Services. The guests offer essential tips and advice on road safety, which is particularly important with the school season approaching. They highlight crucial do's and don'ts to ensure children stay safe as they return to school, helping parents and drivers navigate increased traffic and potential hazards effectively.

This Week:  Community & Engagement  Michelle Boggs shares her thinking on creating community and expanding engagement across your donors and volunteers. How might a Chief Community Officer help? Also, what your nonprofit can do to improve fundraiser retention, which helps … Continue reading →

THE ZOOMER SQUAD:  AGEISM AT WORK & WHAT DOCS ARE SAYING ABOUT OZEMPIC FOR ADULTS 65 + Tasha Kheiriddin is joined by Anthony Quinn, Chief Community Officer of CARP,  Bill VanGorder, Chief Advocacy and Education Officer of CARP, and John Wright, Executive Vice President of Maru Public Opinion. This week: we kick things off with a discussion about ageism in the workplace and when you should claim your government pension. AIR CANADA PILOTS COULD GO ON STRIKE NEXT MONTH Tasha Kheiriddin is joined by Dr. Gabor Lukacs, Founder and President of Air Passenger Rights and Dr. Karl Moore, Associate Professor, Strategy & Organization at the Desautels Faculty of Management at McGill University. Air Canada pilots could go on strike as early as September 17th after 98 percent of them voted in favour of a strike mandate should negotiations fail. So, how will this impact travelers and what can Ottawa do about this? HOW AN INCREASE IN FOR-PROFIT CATARACT SURGERIES IS IMPACTING LOWER INCOME SENIORS Tasha Kheiriddin is now joined by Maureen Munro, a senior who has received cataract surgery at a private clinic in London, Ontario and John Mastronardi, a spokesperson for the Ontario Association of Optometrists. A new study published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal shows the extent to which lower income Seniors are facing barriers when it comes to accessing cataract surgery at for-profit clinics in Ontario.

In this episode, Richard speaks to MJ Shoer, the Chief Community Officer at CompTIA. After studying for a degree in computer science, he worked in sales for startup software and hardware companies. He taught himself everything he needed to know about technology and became an IT director. He went on to found his own successful MSP, which he sold to a competitor. After doing some consulting, he got his first role at CompTIA.He joins Richard Tubb to explain who CompTIA are and how they help MSPs. MJ shares the story of his own journey in the tech world and what it was like to experience the start of connectivity. Richard asks MJ about the ChannelCon events and what it means for members that CompTIA is a company information sharing and analysis organisation. They also look at being a local member and the CompTIA Spark Initiative.MJ also shares his thoughts on the changing relationship between MSPs and vendors, how to encourage younger people into careers in IT, and how CompTIA are playing a part in advancing women in the industry.Mentioned in This EpisodeCompTIA course: A+ certificationCompTIA Network+ certificationCompTIA Information Sharing and Analysis Organisation (ISAO)PSA-RMM platform SuperOps and the SuperSummit eventsCompTIA CEO Todd ThibodeauxNancy HammervikCybersecurity and Infrastructure Security AgencyNational Cyber Security CentreTracy Pound of MaximityCompTIA course: Managing the Technology ChannelTubbTalk episode 62 with Tracy Pound on Advancing Women in ITWomen in Tech ebook

This week on the 50th Better Buildings for Humans, host Joe Menchefski sits down with Eric Corey Freed, a pioneer in regenerative and restorative design! Eric shares his insights on sustainability in architecture, introducing innovative concepts like regenerative design, carbon smart design, and circular economies. Together, they explore how these ideas can reshape the built environment and our relationship with it. Eric also delves into his revolutionary idea of "prostruction"—growing building materials through synthetic biology—while emphasizing the impact of natural light on occupant well-being. From rethinking how we construct to leveraging the power of materials, this episode will inspire anyone passionate about transforming the future of buildings. More About Eric:  https://www.cannondesign.com/people/eric-corey-freedhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/organicarchitect/ Eric Corey Freed is an award-winning architect, author, and global speaker. As Principal and Director of Sustainability for CannonDesign, he leads the healthcare, education, and commercial teams toward low-carbon, healthy, regenerative buildings for over 30 million square feet a year. For two decades, he was Founding Principal of organicARCHITECT, a visionary design leader in biophilic and regenerative design. His past roles include Vice President of the International Living Future Institute and Chief Community Officer of EcoDistricts, both nonprofits pushing innovative new paradigms for deep green buildings and communities. He serves on the board of Design Museum Everywhere, whose mission is to “bring the transformative power of design to all.” Eric is the author of 12 books, including "Green Building & Remodeling for Dummies” and "Circular Economy for Dummies." In 2012, he was named one of the 25 "Best Green Architecture Firms" in the US, and one of the "Top 10 Most Influential Green Architects." In 2017, he was named one of Build's American Architecture Top 25. He holds a prestigious LEED Fellow award from the US Green Building Council. Where To Find Us: https://bbfhpod.advancedglazings.com/ www.advancedglazings.com https://www.linkedin.com/company/better-buildings-for-humans-podcast www.linkedin.com/in/advanced-glazings-ltd-848b4625 https://twitter.com/bbfhpod https://twitter.com/Solera_Daylight https://www.instagram.com/bbfhpod/ https://www.instagram.com/advancedglazingsltd https://www.facebook.com/AdvancedGlazingsltd

THE ZOOMER SQUAD: THE GTA GRAPPLES WITH MORE SEVERE RAINFALL, FLOODING Libby Znaimer is joined by Rudy Buttignol, President of CARP, John Wright, Executive Vice President of  Maru Public Opinion and Anthony Quinn, Chief Community Officer of CARP. This past weekend, the GTA grappled with more heavy rainfall and flooding after the major rainstorm. And, today marks the 82nd anniversary of the Dieppe Raid during World War II.  TORONTONIANS IN THEIR 20s ARE STRUGGLING MORE WITH THEIR MENTAL HEALTH AND FINANCES COMPARED TO OLDER DEMOS: TORONTO FOUNDATION Libby Znaimer is now joined by Mohamed Huque, Director of Community Impact for Toronto Foundation.  What a new study from Toronto Foundation tells us about how Torontonians in their 20s are doing when it comes to mental health and their finances and how that compares to the older demographics.  DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL CONVENTION BEGINS TODAY Libby Znaimer is now joined by Dr. Chris Cooper, Political Science Professor at Western Carolina University, and Matt Wylie, a Republican political strategist and founder of Wylie Strategy Group. The Democratic National Convention begins today in Chicago. What can we expect from it? 

THE ZOOMER SQUAD: GET THAT SHINGLES SHOT! Libby Znaimer is joined by Rudy Buttignol, President of CARP; Anthony Quinn, Chief Community Officer of CARP; and John Wright, Executive Vice President of Maru Public Opinion for a conversation about the importance of getting a shingles vaccination; overcrowding in Ontario's ERs, and more. ONTARIO PREMIER DOUG FORD'S AUTO INSURANCE PLANS Premier Doug Ford is following through on his promise to make more auto insurance benefits optional in Ontario, but some experts say the results could mean higher rates for drivers. Libby Znaimer is joined by Tom Rakocevic, Ontario NDP Auto Insurance critic and the MPP for Humber River-Black Creek; Ellen Roseman, consumer advocate and journalist; and Mary Kelly; Chair in Insurance at Wilfrid Laurier University's School of Business and Economics to discuss the issue. WRAPPING UP THE OLYMPIC GAMES Libby Znaimer is joined by Wally Rigobon, co-host of the Naz and Wally Sports Hour on Zoomer Radio AM740, for a wrap-up conversation about the Paris 2024 Olympics. Listen live, weekdays from noon to 1, on Zoomer Radio!

August 2, 2024 ~ Ryan Maibach President and CEO Barton Malow and Ben Maibach III Chief Community Officer Barton Malow join Paul W Smith.

THE ZOOMER SQUAD: STEVEN MACKINNON IS CANADA'S NEW MINISTER OF LABOUR AND SENIORS FOLLOWING SEAMUS O'REAGAN'S DEPARTURE Libby Znaimer is joined by Bill VanGorder, Chief Advocacy and Education Officer of CARP, Anthony Quinn, Chief Community Officer of CARP, and John Wright, Executive Vice President, Maru Public Opinion. In the aftermath of President Biden's decision not to seek re-election, the nation witnessed a saga of public drama culminating in widespread accolades. The unfolding events have sparked conversations about potential ageism implications, prompting reflections on a shifting political landscape and the emergence of new leadership in senior roles. Libby and panelists discuss. JOE BIDEN HAS HANDED OVER THE REINS TO KAMALA HARRIS AFTER OFFICIALLY STEPPING DOWN FROM THE RUNNING TO BE THE NEXT U.S. PRESIDENT  Libby Znaimer is joined by Brad Polumbo, a conservative commentator and editor-in-chief & co-founder of BASEDPolitics and Matthew Wilson, Associate Professor of Political Science at Southern Methodist University. President Joe Biden's announcement yesterday, though a bombshell, was not entirely unexpected. With Vice President Kamala Harris seemingly poised to secure the nomination, the stage is set for a showdown between a former prosecutor and a convicted felon. The looming question now is whether the American public is prepared for a Black woman president, or if the robust support observed for Trump post-assassination attempt during last week's RNC will endure. MICROCHIPS, IMPORT FORMS AND MORE REQUIREMENTS FOR DOGS ENTERING THE U.S. BORDER STARTING AUGUST Libby Znaimer is joined by Dr. Timothy Arthur, President of the Canadian Veterinary Medical Association. Planning to bring your dog on a road trip to the US? You might need to reconsider. Starting August 1, 2024, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) will enforce new regulations for dogs entering the United States. Failure to meet these requirements could result in dogs being sent back at the owner's cost. Canadian authorities are advocating for an exemption for Canada from these stringent measures.

THE ZOOMER SQUAD: NACI RECOMMENDS RSV PROGRAM FOR OLDER ZOOMERS + REMEMBERING DR. RUTH Libby Znaimer is joined by Rudy Buttignol, President of CARP, Anthony Quinn, Chief Community Officer of CARP, and Darrell Bricker, CEO of Ipsos Public Affairs. NACI is recommending an RSV program for older Zoomers. And, the legendary sex therapist Dr. Ruth Westheimer has passed away at 96 years old.   THE NUMBER OF ONTARIANS WITHOUT A FAMILY PHYSICIAN Libby Znaimer is now joined by Dr. Mekalai Kumanan, a family doctor in Cambridge and President of The Ontario College of Family Physicians.  We carry on the conversation in this segment about the ongoing shortage of family doctors here in Ontario, the contributing factors to the problem, and how this reality can impact the quality of life and health of patients.  THE ASSASSINATION ATTEMPT ON DONALD TRUMP: WHAT WE KNOW SO FAR Libby Znaimer is now joined by Javed Ali, an Associate Professor of Practice at the Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy at the University of Michigan, and Dr. Erik Nisbet, a professor and director of the Center for Communication & Public Policy in the School of Communication at Northwestern University who researches political violence. Political violence in America took a turn for the worse over the weekend when former U.S. President Donald Trump survived an assassination attempt at his Pennsylvania Rally. Our panelists react to the latest.

THE U.S. PRESIDENTIAL DEBATE RESPARKS CONFUSION TOWARDS BIDEN'S FRAILTY. IS HE TOO WEAK? OR IS IT JUST AGEISM? Libby Znaimer is joined by Anthony Quinn, Chief Community Officer, CARP, Rudy Buttignol, President, CARP, and John Wright, Executive Vice President at Maru Public Opinion. The squad talks about U.S. President Biden's performance at last week's debate as he admitted to "making mistakes" and "screwing up" during the debate against Donald Trump.  People online say that he is too old to re-run for presidency. Is it true or is it just ageism? Environment Canada issued a heat warning yesterday for Toronto, which begs the question: should it be mandatory for all rental units and houses to provide air conditioning? POLITICAL CHAOS ENSUES IN FRANCE AS THE COUNTRY FACES HUNG PARLIAMENT AFTER ELECTION RESULTS Libby was joined by Randall Hansen, political science professor at UofT and Stephanie Carvin, political analyst and assistant professor at the Norman Paterson School of International Affairs at Carleton University. The last round of France's legislative elections has ended and the results show that the country would have to deal with a hung parliament. New Popular Front (NPF) was the unexpected winner in the final round of voting in the country's parliamentary elections on Sunday, finishing with the most seats but falling short of an overall majority. Libby and guests discuss what's to come for France in the future. FAMILY MEMBERS OF HAMAS HOSTAGES ARE IN TORONTO TO RAISE AWARENESS Libby was joined by Sasha Arayev, sister of 19-year-old Karina Ayarev. Sasha shared Karina's story and how she was abducted on October 7th from Nahal Oz. "This is not a political thing. This is my family. I need to see the world's efforts to bring my sister back to safety," she said.

Tune into this week's episode featuring Emily McCarthy, Co-Founder and Chief Community Officer of GORUCK, which is an apparel company that supports rucking - a form of physical activity inspired by military training. We discuss: Emily's unconventional career path in the CIA. Key lessons Emily learned while in the CIA on navigating high-pressure environments, cultivating positive self-belief and confidence. Why building strong interpersonal relationships and having a support system is crucial for well-being. The health benefits of rucking, and why the community aspect of GORUCK has played a significant role in its success as a brand. How Emily defines happiness and what brings her endorphins! --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/stella-stephanopoulos/support

THE ZOOMER SQUAD: THE EXTENT TO WHICH CANADIANS FEEL UNPREPARED FOR RETIREMENT Jane Brown is filling in for Libby Znaimer today. She is joined by Anthony Quinn, Chief Community Officer of CARP, Bill VanGorder, Chief Advocacy and Education Officer of CARP, and John Wright, Executive Vice President of Maru Public Opinion. Today: a discussion about Ottawa Seniors who have had to leave their apartments in their retirement residences after facing an unexpected hike in their monthly rent, and we look at a poll by Abacus Data detailing the extent to which Canadians feel unprepared for retirement. THE FUTURE OF ONTARIO'S SCIENCE CENTRE Jane Brown is now joined by Mike Schreiner, Leader of the Green Party of Ontario, and Liberal MPP Adil Shamji for Don Valley East. The Ford government has closed down the Ontario Science Centre...this after an engineering report said that the roof could collapse soon. What are your thoughts on this unilateral decision-making by the Ford PCs? Do we fix the science centre or move it to Ontario Place? EDMONTON OILERS HAVE A SHOT AT BEING FIRST CANADIAN TEAM TO WIN THE STANLEY CUP SINCE 1993  Jane Brown is now joined by Wally Rigobon, Co-host of the Naz and Wally Sports Hour on Zoomer Radio. It's been 31 years since a Canadian team has won the Stanley Cup. Do the Edmonton Oilers have it in them to break the curse in game 7 against the Florida Panthers? Our own resident sports expert weighs in.

THE ZOOMER SQUAD: HOW MANY ONTARIANS MOVED TO LTC HOMES NOT OF THEIR CHOOSING? Jane Brown is filling in for Libby Znaimer today. She is joined by Rudy Buttignol, President of CARP,  Anthony Quinn, Chief Community Officer of CARP, and John Wright, Executive Vice President, Maru Public Opinion. This week: a discussion about how heat waves can impact older Canadians, and the extent to which some alternate level of care patients at Ontario hospitals are ending up in a long-term care home not of their choosing.   HEAT WARNING IN EFFECT IN ONTARIO: WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW Jane Brown is now joined by Dave Phillips, Senior Climatologist at Environment Canada. Here is what you need to know about the heat wave affecting Ontario and which segments of the population are especially vulnerable. UOFT PROFESSOR EXPLAINS THAT ANTI-ISRAEL ENCAMPMENT DEMANDS TO DIVEST FROM ISRAELI COMPANIES IS "IMPOSSIBLE" A major demand by the anti-Israel encampment at UofT is for the university to divest from Israeli companies, but according to Rotman School of Management professor Rami Elitzur, who is also a serving member on the University of Toronto Governing Council, such a move would mean losing a lot of the technology we rely on in our daily lives and it would be impossible to do so. This segment originally aired on Fight Back on June 3rd 2024.

THE ZOOMER SQUAD:  ARE YOU AN ACTIVE GRANDPARENT? TURNS OUT YOUR ROLE OFFERS IMPORTANT HEALTH BENEFITS Tasha Kheiriddin is filling in for Libby Znaimer today. She is joined by Anthony Quinn, Chief Community Officer of CARP, Bill VanGorder, Chief Advocacy and Education Officer of CARP, and Darrell Bricker, CEO of Ipsos Public Affairs. The panel reacts to what a new study out of Finland tells us about the important role grandparents have, and then they discuss Ottawa's Disability Benefit program.  PREMIER DOUG FORD'S CABINET SHUFFLE & MISSISSAUGA'S MAYORAL ELECTION Tasha Kheiriddin is now joined by Bob Richardson, Senior Council, National Public Relations, and Jason Lietaer, Conservative Strategist and President at Enterprise. There's plenty of developments in the world of politics across Ontario and the GTA. On Friday, Premier Doug Ford made a major cabinet shuffle which included moving Stephen Lecce out of the role of Minister of Education and replacing him with Todd Smith (Lecce now takes on the role of Minister of Energy and Electrification). Meanwhile, all eyes are on Mississauga today as residents of that city head to the polls to vote for their new mayor.

THE ZOOMER SQUAD: CARP CALLS ON BC GOVERNMENT FOR FREE RSV, SHINGLES VACCINES FOR ZOOMERS Libby Znaimer is joined by Anthony Quinn, Chief Community Officer of CARP, Rudy Buttignol, President of CARP and John Wright, Executive Vice President of Maru Public Opinion. It's Monday - time for our Zoomer Squad and CARP is getting some traction on its campaign demanding government coverage for vaccines crucial to the health of older Canadians - like the RSV vaccine. The need to pay for those and for so much else is driving Zoomers back to work out of necessity rather than desire. And former Bank of Canada Governor Stephen Poloz is looking into how the CPP and other pension funds can invest more here in Canada. Is that a good or bad idea? NEW GUIDELINES FOR BREAST CANCER SCREENING Libby Znaimer is now joined by Dr. Martin Yaffe, Senior Scientist at Sunnybrook Research Institute and Co-Director, Imaging Research Program at the Ontario Institute for Cancer Research as well as Siobhan Grennan, who was part of the Working Group for these updated guidelines for Breast Cancer Screening from the Canadian Task Force on Preventive Health. What is the right age to start screening women of average risk for breast cancer? That question has become the subject of controversy. In the US, the age was lowered from 50 to 40 and the CCS and quite a number of specialists recommended that we do the same here. However, the Canadian Task Force on Preventative Health Care, a group created by the federal government, has not lowered the recommended guideline. It cites the possible harms from both false positives and false negatives, among other reasons. And the current guideline to stop screening is 74. Given that women are living longer, is that just ageist? UOFT PROFESSOR SAYS DEMANDS FOR A UNIVERSITY DIVESTMENT OF ISRAELI COMPANIES IS IMPOSSIBLE AND IMMORAL Libby Znaimer is now joined by Rami Elitzur , a professor at the Rotman School of Management who is also a serving member on the University of Toronto Governing Council. One of the key demands by the anti-Israel encampment on the UofT campus is for the university to divest from Israeli companies. But as Professor Elitzur explains, so many of the important technologies we rely on in our daily lives, including in high-tech and healthcare, have ties to Israeli companies.

THE ZOOMER SQUAD: HOW SUPPORTIVE ARE ZOOMERS OF THE FEDERAL LIBERALS? Libby Znaimer is joined by Anthony Quinn, Chief Community Officer of CARP,  Bill VanGorder, Chief Advocacy and Education Officer of CARP, and Darrell Bricker, CEO of Ipsos Public Affairs. It's Monday - time for our Zoomer Squad - and both politics and health are in the spotlight. New polling shows that Zoomers may be the last bastion of support for the Liberal government. And there's a new Seniors advocate in BC. One of his first acts was to go to NYC to advocate for a binding international convention on seniors' rights. Is that a useful thing to pursue? ONTARIO PREMIER DOUG FORD'S BIG BEER PLANS Libby Znaimer is joined by Bob Richardson, Senior Council, National Public Relations, and Karl Moore,  Associate Professor, Strategy & Organization AT McGill University. What's all this about the moving up of the date for selling wine and beer in corner stores? Why does the PC government want to spend $225M on this? And is it a sign that a snap election may be in the works? THE LATEST ON THE ANTI-ISRAEL ENCAMPMENT AT UOFT Libby Znaimer is joined by Rabbi Yaacov Vidal, Principal of Bais Chaya Mushka in North York and Jaime Kirzner-Roberts, Director of Advocacy and Policy at Friends of Simon Wiesenthal Centre. Today: we discuss the aftermath of a shooting that targeted Bais Chaya Mushka--a Jewish elementary school. And we get the latest reaction to what's going on at the anti-Israel encampment on the grounds of UofT in downtown Toronto.

In this latest episode, Geoff Scott, of ASUG, joins Mustansir Saifuddin to discuss what is required for businesses to be successful with Gen AI as they prepare for the future. With more than 20 years of leadership and technology experience, including seven years of extensive SAP implementation and operations experience, Geoff understands the impact of Gen AI in digital transformation. Listen in as he also highlights how ASUG is supporting the SAP ecosystem on the Gen AI journey. Geoff Scott, is CEO and Chief Community Officer of ASUG, believes that the connections ASUG makes for our members have the potential to become career-defining relationships that inspire innovation and success for their organizations. His forward-thinking leadership prioritizes helping our members make the most of their investment in SAP technologies. To that end, Geoff works closely with customers, members, the SAP Executive Board, and the extensive partner ecosystem to amplify the voice of the SAP customer.   Past positions include CIO for TOMS Shoes, where he led the implementation of SAP: CIO at JBS; and senior leadership positions at Ford Motor Company. Before becoming CEO, Geoff was an ASUG member and served on the board. Geoff has served on several philanthropic boards and is the founding member of the Denver CIO Executive Council.  Connect with Us: LinkedIn Mustansir Saifuddin Innovative Solution Partners  Twitter:  @gscott16 @Mmsaifuddin YouTube or learn more about our sponsor Innovative Solution Partners to schedule a free consultation.    Episode Transcript   Welcome to Tech-Driven Business brought to you by Innovative Solution Partners. I'm honored to have Geoff Scott, CEO of ASUG, joins me to discuss what is required for businesses to be successful with Gen AI as they prepare for the future. He'll also share valuable insights on how ASUG is supporting the SAP ecosystem on the GEN AI journey. [00:00:02.560] - Mustansir Welcome to TechDriven business, Geoff. How are you?   [00:00:11.190] - Geoff I'm wonderful. How are you today?   [00:00:13.480] - Mustansir I'm doing great. Thank you. Thank you for joining our show.   [00:00:17.570] - Geoff Pleasure to be here. Thank you for having me. Or I should say, you can make that decision after we're done today.   [00:00:23.130] - Mustansir All right. Sounds like a plan. Hey, it's always good to have you, Jeff, especially meeting in person every year, either in the volunteer meeting or at Sapphire or other events. It's always fun to have that conversation with you. Glad to have you on our show.   [00:00:38.390] - Geoff What a pleasure to be here. I want to thank you for your connection and commitment to ASUG, your commitment to the Michigan chapter, one of our most wonderful places to be in all of the United States. I have close ties to Michigan, so it's always wonderful to hear Go Green, for those who are Michiganders, my alma mater. I think that being part of ASUG and being part of this The SAP community is really a tremendous thing. I've been doing the CEO job at ASUG for 10 years. Every year, as you mentioned, we get all 300 volunteers together to plan the year and celebrate our successes and talk about our challenges. It's a tremendous things. So I encourage everyone to be part of ASUG. If you are an SAP professional and you want to be at the top of your game of SAP, there's no better place to be than being an active part of ASUG, which you are. I want to thank you for that.   [00:01:28.530] - Mustansir I second that. Thank you. Thank you. So today, we will be talking about how digital transformation in AI is changing the business landscape. How does that sound to you?   [00:01:39.350] - Geoff I think that sounds like a tremendous conversation.   [00:01:42.040] - Mustansir It absolutely is, and it's going to be fun. So let's start with the basics. Jeff, you have been around for a long time, not counting your-Original dinosaur. Hey, it's all good. But your extensive background with SAP. Can you share with our listeners a brief overview of your career journey?   [00:02:03.150] - Geoff Well, I would love to. As we just spoke about, 10 years as the CEO of Asug, and I don't love the CEO title. I like to think of myself as the Chief Community Champion. My job is to rally us as a community around this SAP software and make sure all of us are getting the most value from it. The organizations that are purchasing the software, we as all professionals in investing our careers into this amazing ecosystem, it's very important that we feel like we make forward progress. We feel that this is a place where we can learn, connect, and grow, which are three of our very important ASUG pillars. That's been a tremendous journey for me for the last 10 years. I didn't come into this intentionally. Prior to that, I was a CIO. I was at Tom's Shoes in Los Angeles. Prior to that, at a beef company, small beef company, only the third largest in the world, in Greenley, Colorado, where we were also an SAP shop. That was where I cut my teeth on being a full-time SAP advocate. Then prior to that, in your neck of the woods, in your backyard, in Deerborn, Michigan, doesn't take a lot to figure out what's in Deerborn these days.   [00:03:08.510] - Geoff So I was there for almost 10 years doing lots of different IT work. And then obviously prior to that, consulting in college and being a teenager and things like that.   [00:03:20.120] - Mustansir That's a wonderful background, Jeff. It's okay. I think the best part about this is being in your role, the role that you're playing at ASOG, your background or your history really brings that tremendous amount of knowledge and technology know-how, which really is what a lot of ASA customers or in general, SAP folks who are dealing with technology on a daily basis can utilize your know-how and your in-depth knowledge of what's going on in the industry versus someone with a background in business. You don't really have that depth in terms of what you bring to the table.   [00:04:00.920] - Geoff You're very kind. You're very kind. In my career, I started off when I was going to college, just a little bit west from where you are. Again, go green. Then that's the last I'm going to say that today, maybe. My degree's in accounting, and I chose that field because I really wanted to understand how business worked. I figured the best way to figure out how business would work is to understand how the money moves around. Accounting was actually a fallback for me. I started I started off in finance, and then this will date me tremendously. Then the stock market collapsed back in the late '80s, and I went, Oh, wait a minute. I don't know I want to be on Wall Street anymore. I grew up in the suburbs of New York City, so I had this delusion I would go back into New York and be on Wall Street. I said, I don't think that's going to work so well. I went to accounting, and I found I liked it better. A little bit more pragmatic. Finance can be fairly esoteric. I came into consulting in IT because I always thought about IT as a way in which businesses can be more efficient.   [00:05:01.780] - Geoff I was always intrigued by how we could use technology to drive business outcomes. That has served me throughout my career. I really think about business outcomes first and technology second.   [00:05:13.390] - Mustansir Absolutely. I think that's what really counts, how business drives technology. That takes me to my next discussion point. Ai. Ai took the business world by storm last year. We all know that. How are ASOG and ASAP supporting their clients with navigating AI and Gen AI in particular. Everybody is about Gen AI, so I'd like to hear your thoughts on that.   [00:05:38.820] - Geoff Yeah, I think that generative AI and all the things related to AI, nothing new to that, Mustache. We've been around in the SAP ecosystem. Ai has been around for a long time. What was new in November of 2022 when ChatGPT first came onto the market was this thing of generative AI. Well, that was different. But most SAP practitioners, the people you and I are talking to today, would say, Hey, we've been filling around AI for a long time. Understanding PDF documents, understanding pictures, converting pictures to text, scanning documents, scanning invoices, making sure we can convert all that. None of that is terribly new. I think generative AI made it mainstream. What was back office technology that was used to achieve business the outcomes all of a sudden became available to the masses. And it became available to the masses in a very simple way. I can sit down, I can write a sentence into a computer, and it will produce paragraphs of very eloquent text. We can have a whole conversation about how accurate it is, but I could finally get this star tracky type of thing, or I could type a sentence in and I would get this back.   [00:06:55.320] - Geoff And I could do cute things. Tell me how to bake a cake in Shakespeare in English, and it would do it. I think it became a piece of technology that everybody could connect to, and that everybody includes the board of directors, the CEO, the rest of your business peers who can now say, I get it. I understand how this works, and I want that for my business. We can make this work for all of us.   [00:07:25.460] - Mustansir I think it's a very interesting point you mentioned, Jeff. We always talk about C-suite, right? And you know that in this-I'm one of them. Yeah, exactly, right? So we talk about, I still get involved with a lot of implementations and boots on ground. And I know that a lot of these technology implementations, you have this gap between the C-suite and folks who are actually involved in the technology day to day, right? Do you think Gen AI is going to close that gap? What is your take on that perspective? Bringing these two worlds together.   [00:08:03.730] - Geoff I think generative AI is going to be an incredibly interesting diversion or departure for all of us in the sense that we've talked about for a long for a long time, the importance of some things in the SAP ecosystem that are near and dear to our heart. Master data, accuracy of data, archiving, things that warm our hearts that make the business run for cover. You want to watch paint dry? Have a conversation about archiving. The challenge with all of that is if we really want to get the most value from a generative AI solution, whether it be SAP's Joule or ChatGuard, GPT or everything in between, our enterprise data has to be lined up correctly. I think this is where we're going to see a tremendous amount of energy and effort to understand how this enterprise data will form these models and make them work. There was an article in the New York Times, I think two weeks ago, and this is topical because last week I was in Las Vegas for a few days at Google Next. And I always go to Google Next, and I also like to try to make it to AWS and Microsoft's events as well, because it refreshes me and it makes me think about how to tackle these problems from different perspectives.   [00:09:29.500] - Geoff And that, coupled with the New York Times article was very interesting to me in that it appears we're running out of trainable data for these models, that our models now are demanding so much data that we can't fill them. And And so there was an interesting topic in Las Vegas about synthetic data, which I'm still wrapping my head around and what that means. I'm trying to understand how we get to the levels of data. We do know one thing that these generative AI models require a lot of data in order to give very effective answers. And even when they have a lot of data, they can still hallucinate. I mean, there's no greater data source than the English language over the last 300 years. And the cool thinking about it is it hasn't really changed all that much. I can take all that stuff and I can pour it in. And yeah, there's different dialects, but the English language or pick a language, French, whatever, it hasn't moved all that much. So the data is fairly stable. Sure. Is that true when we think about our enterprise data? And the problem that I see coming is if we have lots of historical data, what does it really mean?   [00:10:37.900] - Geoff How accurate is it? And then the second big question is, how relevant is it? And if both of those are not at the top of their game, you run a huge risk that your model is being trained on data that isn't accurate, isn't relevant, and then you expect it to give you amazing results. The thing that makes me chuckle is the notion of saying to a model running on top of your SAP data, Hey, what's the best product I should sell? And it spits back a product that you made 15 years ago because it might have been at the time the most profitable based in parts that you don't even have access to anymore. And the model doesn't know that. I think there's another really important part of this whole equation, and that is something that I call gray data. And gray data is the data that's in our heads, in our minds, which is what we use to make decisions that the AI models have zero knowledge of. And the only way long term an AI model will be able to replicate what you do, what I do, what anyone listening today does, is it has exactly what's up in your head.   [00:11:42.850] - Geoff And it's not going to. We still know today in you're involved in SAP implementations all the time, that it takes someone interpreting that data, oftentimes, to understand what it's saying and what cues it's giving. Ai doesn't understand that because it's missing all the stuff that's in your gray space. And if that's the case, and how much of the data that you use to run your enterprise is gray data versus bits and bytes. If the answer is greater than 50 %, 60 %, 70 %, wow, we got a lot of missing data, and the model is not going to be that effective.   [00:12:17.980] - Mustansir For sure. I think it's an interesting point you mentioned about historical data and the quality of data. And that leads me into this next conversation about, I'm an analytics person in data focus. And it's all about good information will produce good results, right? So from that perspective, I'm curious, what are you seeing with ASUG members as it applies to their approach, especially to real-time data and analytics, and also the move to the cloud? Because a lot of things are happening in the cloud. So what is your take in this whole space?   [00:12:53.370] - Geoff Well, certainly, I believe that if you are going to want to participate, play in in a generative AI, AI space, and you say, and probably before you make that conclusion, you have to ask a question, which is, where do you and your organization want to be on the innovation curve? Do you want to be on the very front of it? Do you want to be in the middle of it? Where do you want to be? Now, if you want to be on the very, very back end of the innovation curve, continue doing what you're doing today. If you want to be to the middle of the innovation curve or the front end, and I think about it as a bell curve. If you want to be to the middle to the front end of that curve, and most people don't want to be at the front, you need a lot of courage and a lot of strength to be. That's the scary place. But there are organizations that are there. Let's say you want to be safely in the middle. I don't want to lead the pack. I don't want to trail the pack. I want to be right in the middle.   [00:13:47.870] - Geoff It necessitates three things, I firmly believe. Number one, you have to be in the cloud. Number two, you have to really think about your software investments as software as a service. You're moving the requirement for changes and updates to the software vendor in this world SAP. Number three, as little customization as possible. If you can If you can do those three things and you can do them well, you have the greatest likelihood that you will be able to take all this innovation, absorb it and go. Which to your question is, when you talk about analytics, when you talk about predictive analytics, that's what you're going to For many, many SAP customers, that is a tectonic shift in perspective. And certainly, the longer you have been an SAP customer, and the more customizations you have made for whatever reason. Your business process doesn't line up with SAP's. Sap didn't have a solution for you at the time. We talk about this thing of technical debt, and where I quibble with some of the leading thought people is We tend to say and infer the technical debt is bad. Well, I don't think any of us as SAP practitioners wake up in the morning and say, Today is the day I'm going to build a lot of technical debt.   [00:15:11.820] - Geoff There are some good reasons for it. There might be some bad reasons for it, too. I don't know how to do something, so I'm just going to code it. I get it, but I don't necessarily believe that the technical debt is something that we all strive for. Motherhood and apple pie, as few customizations as possible. The problem now is the stakes are way up because we've learned that you have to be in cloud, you have to be in SaaS, and you have to be almost no customization in order to adopt fast. And that means that we have to be super careful about customization. That creates another problem inside most organizations, and that is how do you handle change control and how do you handle organizational change management? So the IT folks say, Hey, this is good for me. No customization. I'm good to go. And the business says, Well, wait a minute here. I have to retrain thousands of people across 16 time zones in 32 different geographies, and that's hard. And it is. And it is. So how do we find that necessary balance? And I think if you've been on SAP a long time, that transition is not going to happen overnight.   [00:16:14.000] - Geoff It's going to be multiple years, maybe even a decade, dare I say. And if you haven't started your S/4 migration yet, you are fastly running out of time. And so there's no time like the present to start working on that, because absent that, you are going to be perpetually behind. And I don't want to be Cavalier here, Mustanzer, because what I just described is an epic undertaking. But if you get there, predictive analytics is super interesting, right? We have got to figure out a way to take our technology professionals and find ways for them to have more time. Because if we really want to do predictive analytics, it requires us to jump into data sets. It requires us to look at data, plant floor data, log data, all these other things where we haven't traditionally looked for things. In order to find those patterns and those indications and those clues that help us sell more, get more efficient, do other things. And that requires time. And in order to get that time, we have to be more efficient. So if we're going to spend all of our time working on customizations of SAP, we are not going to be doing predictive analytics.   [00:17:18.870] - Mustansir For sure. And I think that's one of the key points you mentioned about that, right? Stop spending time on doing things that are not adding any value, especially in this fast pace, changing constantly on a daily basis. And you put AI in the middle of all this, all of a sudden, your stakes are different, your challenges are different. And at the same time, the time to make those decisions is shrinking for you. So for organizations to be nimble and be able to act quickly, I mean, all the things you just mentioned, I think they go hand in hand, especially a lot of times folks think about analytics as a byproduct, right? It's after the fact. And then What we're thinking or what are you talking here at this point is put analytics in front because that will drive that whole behavior of change of exactly what is important to me. Predictive is one part of it. There's so many different aspects of information which you can put your right brains and your geeks. I mean, everyone has got geeks in the organization. I mean, you want to put those folks to good use. And the best way you can do it is having that Get ahead of the curve, right?   [00:18:31.520] - Mustansir Don't wait, basically.   [00:18:32.910] - Geoff That's what I'm hearing. A hundred %. And I'm excited about the potential of AI to help us migrate systems faster. I'd like to see us use AI to help understand quality in data, to help us understand how we lift and shift business processes out of legacy systems into new systems. I'd like to understand how we use AI to drive business test cases, quality assurance. I believe that we are at a massive inflection point where the upgrading of these systems, you asked a question earlier about digital transformation. We have to move to the next generation of SAP software. I believe that unlocks the gateway to everything we're talking about today. That cannot be a five-year project. We have got to figure out as technology professionals how to automate it, how to make it faster, how to do it and how to make sure we can get an unlock value faster. It's my biggest ask of SAP, and in conversations that I have with their CEO and their leadership team, please stop making new SKUs for new software licenses. I implore you to make your software easier to migrate and uplift and move to the next generation.   [00:19:53.220] - Geoff And can we use some of these AI ML tools to achieve that? It's essential.   [00:19:58.860] - Mustansir For sure. No, for sure. And I think talking about all this technology and SAP, let's come back to our conversation ASAG. Asag is a great start in 2024, right? I mean, personally, I know we had over 150 people at our Michigan Chapter meeting back in February. That is absolutely amazing. So what can ASEC members expect this year from their membership? Can you delve into that?   [00:20:26.820] - Geoff 100 %. First and foremost, I think you said the most important thing where we're seeing the most interest, the most excitement is in our 39 chapters. So if you are an SAP professional and you want to be at the top of your game and you want to learn, connect, and grow, you don't have to jump on an airplane. And of course, we're welcoming you to do that. You don't have to spend hotel room nights. Go to your local ASUG chapter and become involved. You will meet people like you who want to get ahead and understand how to solve problems using SAP. And you're You're in the middle of the Michigan SAP scene. It's amazing. So go spend time there, which is a huge pitch for what you do and why you volunteer is because you want to be part of what's happening on the ground, real-time in geography. And that is what the chapter organization is here to do. And I would really like to see that over the next three to five years grow to epic proportions. I have a challenge. I want to see your Michigan meeting not be just 150 people. I want it to be 350 people.   [00:21:33.460] - Geoff That, to me, is exciting, which is a very different change of perspective from us. But I think in a post-pandemic world, what a great opportunity to get out from behind your laptop. And whether you're back in the office or still working remotely, go spend time with your friends in an ASUG chapter event in Michigan or in California or in Florida. Pick a place and just go and have fun and meet your peers. It'll be so wonderful for you. If that's not good enough, then And enjoy some of the other events that we do. Get online and do some research and education there. We have ASUG annual conference and SAP Sapphire coming up in June. In the fall, we have SAP for utilities. We have ASUG best practices, which is a whole source of industry-based events. And then we cap off the year. This is my most exciting event. We cap off the year in West Palm Beach, Florida, November 12th through 14th with ASUG Tech Connect. It used to be called TechEd, but we've reconfigured TechEd with SAP. So TechEd is a virtual program. But in North America, it's ASUG Tech Connect. So if you want to wrap up 2023, sorry, 2024, getting my years all confused, and get ready for an amazing 2025, ASUG Tech Connect is the place to be.   [00:22:46.120] - Geoff And I think those are fine. What else can you do? First Five newsletter comes out every Monday morning. It's an amazing place to just get a recap of the top five articles that happened in the SAP ecosystem over the last week. Podcast, you and I are in a podcast Today. Everyone's doing podcast. Aseg does podcast. Be there. Let's get together at Campus Connect. Citadel University, University of Texas at Dallas, Fayetteville State University, and then my favorite at Michigan State University. There's my last plug for Go Green, are all very much in the Campus Connect program. What a great way to have this next generation of talent, get excited about the careers that we've been so fortunate to have in the SAP ecosystem.   [00:23:29.360] - Mustansir For I think there is a lot to learn. And the best thing about it, like you said, there's so many mediums. You pick what makes sense to you, what really florts your boat, especially after the pandemic. A lot of folks are open to coming out and meeting others and getting to know what's coming exciting. No, put it this way. Excitement is one thing. You get to meet people and either it's online, either it's in person or you're traveling somewhere else. Or like you mentioned, June. June, big event. A lot of new things are being shared and you understand and know exactly where SAP is going, where ASAG wants to take you in your journey. And as an organization, you want to learn from your peers, right? And That's the best opportunity. And one thing I like about your plug for the November event, you cannot go wrong with it. Exactly. You end your year on something that you really want to take into next year, and that and search your basis for exactly what you want to do. A lot of opportunities. I really love the whole platform that you explained so well.   [00:24:37.180] - Geoff Thank you. There is a lot going on inside the SAP ecosystem. It is a wonderful place for professionals like you, me, and everyone else, 130,000 of us in North America, to make our home, to learn, connect, grow, to thrive. And all you got to do is just raise your hand and go to a chapter meeting, meet with people outside of your your standard core team that you might be working on SAP for, and the whole world will be unlocked for you. And it'll make you feel like what you're doing has value, that the things you're learning can have a place in this broader ecosystem. We are going to need a lot more talent who stands there in the next 10 years than we have today. It frightens me about how much change is happening, and I believe we all find very rewarding careers inside of SAP.   [00:25:27.700] - Mustansir Now, I think the future is really bright And I know we can talk for hours, Jeff. I mean, your knowledge, your passion for technology and SAP. But I do have to finish our session, our talk for today. I'd like to leave with this one question for you. As far as topics and discussions you covered, what is the one key takeaway that you want our listeners to leave with?   [00:25:55.440] - Geoff I believe the key takeaway today is generative AI is real. The faster you get in and start contemplating what it can and can't do. We are trying inside of Asug lots of different technologies, and we're fiddling, and we have this experimental culture. Let's go try some stuff. It's good. And I think we We're doing a lot with video to text, recaps, things like that. I think there's a ton of upside to all of this. Go get yourself immense in AI.   [00:26:25.780] - Mustansir Yeah, for sure. I think that's a great advice. And It seems like a lot of folks who are still on the edges, it's time for them to move on and get on this bandwagon because this train has started rolling and there's no stopping. At least I don't see it in the near future.   [00:26:43.870] - Geoff Today is the worst day AI ever will be. It will get better from here, and it's going to be on an exponential scale. So don't wait another three, four weeks or months or years. Get in now.   [00:26:54.490] - Mustansir Great advice. Thank you. Now, this is an awesome conversation. Really enjoyed the talk, and I would love to get you back in the future. Whenever you need. Feedback on how things have settled down once we traverse through the 2024.   [00:27:10.980] - Geoff We are here for you, and I appreciate greatly everything you do for the community, for the SAP community, for ASUG, and everything you do in Michigan. Thank you.   Thanks for listening to Tech-Driven Business brought to you by Innovative Solution Partners. Geoff delved deep into the transformative power of Gen AI shared valuable insights on how organizations can transform business with Generative AI. His main takeaway? Generative AI is real. Go get yourself immersed in AI as today is the worst day AI will ever be. We'd love to hear from you. Continue the conversation by connecting with me on LinkedIn or Twitter. Learn more about Innovative Solution Partners and schedule a free consultation by visiting isolutionpartners.com. Never miss a podcast by subscribing to our You Tube channel. Information is in the Show Notes

Kathy Love talks about how we can have beautiful moments within the mess of our lives. We share about Kathy's role as “Chief Community Officer” for  “The Outlier Project”, founded by Scott Macgregor, and what an inspirational and crucial community it has become for both of us. We hear about Kathy's work and practice, particularly her own discovery of the importance of healing…both her own healing and the healing within her family. We explore what it takes to switch off from the chaos (particularly when we have become addicted to the chaos)  and how to practise tuning into the peace…even when at the start of this  process, we have no way of knowing where to begin. We speak about the ‘beautiful mess' of being a parent and how that is directly connected to the creation of Kathy's Ted Talk. Also, how important it is to share this struggle with other parents in our communities. We finish with a deeper dive into getting curious about the beautiful mess of life. Power Takeaways: Find the beauty within the mess The key importance of community The challenge of finding your own version of peace within the chaos Beauty happens during some of the darkest moments How parenting can create such a ‘beautiful mess' The power of self care  Resource Mentioned: My Self Care Sh*t: The Workbook https://a.co/d/cAnezhZ Listen to Kath Love's Ted Talk HERE

If you're a busy GC and you think you don't have the time to think about legal operations, then you're probably the very person who needs it the most. It's a force multiplier that many GCs don't know existed. On today's episode of The Legal Department Mary O'Carroll, former director of legal operations for Google, offers the "why" for GCs considering whether to invest in legal operations. Mary shares the six key metrics all GCs should track to demonstrate the value of the legal department and how to use legal operations to level-up The Legal Department and deliver more value to your organization. Mary was also a co-founder of the Corporate Legal Operations Consortium, the largest organization of legal operations professionals. CLOC provides in-depth resources for legal operations, including the CLOC Core 12 framework to help you explain "what is legal operations?" to your CFO. Tune in and learn a ton from her insights!

On this episode, Jenn sits down with her friend and industry pioneer, Mary O'Carroll, Chief Community Officer at Ironclad and quite possibly, the Legal Ops GOAT. (For those still catching up, that's short for the greatest of all time.) In this conversation, they get real on some of their favorite topics; like how to balance passion with practicality in professional roles, the growth of automated solutions in the legal operations sector, and the importance of continued education as legal ops leaders. Finally, they share their strategies for time management as they chase down work-life balance and debate if that is even a real thing. Enjoy!!

Amri Kibbler knows all about the challenges working mothers face, and the community they need to engage, support and empower them. In 2014, Amri, the Chief Community Officer of HeyMama, and her cofounder Katya Libin, set out to create what was missing in their own lives as new moms, a social network where women could celebrate both motherhood and their careers. And, it turns out, that was just the beginning of Amri's learnings on what community meant to her as a working mom. In the years since, she's faced a cancer diagnosis, hard decisions with her kids, and more. In this conversation with Tiffany, Amri shares her philosophy for making tough decisions for your family (including a frank conversation on when each of them feel OK disappointing their kids) to managing stress in unexpected times of trial without becoming a victim to it. Check out the HeyMama community For more from Tiffany, sign up for her newsletter. Show theme by Brice Johnson Jump Into the Conversation: [00:00] Balancing motherhood and professional pursuits. [05:35] Growing self-awareness empowers generational personal growth. [09:43] Community can be rich, overplayed, and misconceived. [13:36] Women empower and support each other graciously. [16:56] Learning to say no was a challenge. [19:26] Mother chooses tough love for daughter's growth. [23:14] Prioritizing health and well-being through intentional self-care. [25:03] Obsessed with keeping kitchen clean for peace. [30:43] Connect with experts, set meetings, access events. [31:41] Monthly Mama Matchmaking, inspiring workshops, summits.

Kelly Oriard is the co-founder and Chief Therapeutic Officer at Slumberkins, a children's education and emotional health brand. She holds a dual master's degree in Marriage and Family Therapy and School Counseling. As a therapist, school counselor, and mother, Oriard is passionate about changing how we support mental and emotional wellbeing for children and families. As the author behind the character storylines at Slumberkins, Kelly is changing the way children and families can access the content and strategies, usually found in a family therapy session, in a fun, easy-to-use way that creates healing and brings meaningful moments of connection that make a lifelong impact on the emotional health of children. Callie Christensen is the co-founder and Chief Community Officer at Slumberkins, a children's education and emotional wellness brand. Callie holds a master's in teaching elementary education and special education. As a mother and educator turned entrepreneur, she's on a mission to use her educational background to create an accessible, meaningful, and purposeful brand that is useful in every home and school to help support families and communities on their journeys of emotional health. Slumberkins is at the forefront of brand building online as they expand into children's entertainment by bringing the characters to life in a preschool television series produced by The Jim Henson Company. They just launched the first-ever music album for kids & families: Together We Shine, Vol. 1. Debuted as #1 kids album on iTunes https://orcd.co/slumberkinstws They also just launched a New Affirmation App on iTunes that's free for kids and families https://apps.apple.com/us/app/slumberkins/id1627118113 Slumberkins children's show streaming now on Apple TV+ https://tv.apple.com/us/show/slumberkins/umc.cmc.4r9fjly8gp831gqkfe8ft1xrb They are making as many tools and resources available to families so they can easily integrate moments of connection and social emotional learning into every day.In This Conversation We Discuss:[00:45] Intro[01:53] A business idea for children's mental health[03:00] From side hustle to full-time success[04:02] Continuing the momentum online[04:53] Doing your best in research and storytelling[05:30] Experiencing organic growth from social media[06:15] Achieving BHAG with the right manufacturer[07:21] Building good relationships with business partners[09:21] Establishing Slumberkins' online presence[11:00] The Shark Tank push to be full-time entrepreneurs[12:46] Low salaries for long-term business hains[15:04] A transformative experience with Shark Tank[16:40] Connecting authentically with your community[18:22] Episode sponsors[23:36] Bringing Slumberkins to the screen[25:37] Authentic relationships do the magic[26:16] The sales surge post-Slumberkins TV debut[27:22] Community feedback is marketing itself[28:20] How landing a TV series elevates a business[29:08] Seizing omni-channel opportunities[29:46] Extending parent-child connection with an app[31:12] Navigating the continuous evolution of Ecomm[33:19] Embracing the endless rollercoaster rideResources:Subscribe to Honest Ecommerce on YoutubeEducational and emotional learning products for children slumberkins.com/Follow Callie Christensen linkedin.com/in/callie-christensen-146b48148/Follow Kelly Oriard linkedin.com/in/kelly-oriard-149b48148/Schedule an intro call with one of our experts electriceye.io/connectBook a demo today at intelligems.io/Revolutionize your inventory and fulfillment process portless.com/If you're enjoying the show, we'd love it if you left Honest Ecommerce a review on Apple Podcasts. It makes a huge impact on the success of the podcast, and we love reading every one of your reviews!

Today we are joined by Mary O'Carroll, a true pioneer and pathfinder in the legal industry. Mary is Chief Community Officer at Ironclad, a leading contract lifecycle management program for innovative companies. She started her career in business development and consulting before joining Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP in a finance role. Her work soon transitioned into a legal operations role—a function that was practically nonexistent in law firms at the time. Mary was later hired by Google, where she built and managed the operations of the legal department as the Director of Operations, Technology, and Strategy. While at the company, she co-founded the Corporate Legal Operations Consortium (CLOC), a global community dedicated to transforming the business and practice of law. Mary continues her mission to drive change in the legal industry. She is a frequent public speaker and media contributor, and she hosts the Ironclad podcast Pearls On, Gloves Off. In our wide-ranging discussion, Mary tells us about her unexpected entry into the legal field, the origin story of CLOC, how generative AI may change legal ops, and what excites her about joining Ironclad.

In this episode of the RETHINK Retail Podcast, RETHINK Retail's Chief Community Officer, Kirat Anand sits down with President & CEO of Robert Graham, Andrew Berg. Andrew's 26-year career in the retail and fashion industry, marked by pivotal roles at Gap Inc., Ralph Lauren's Rugby, and Theory, brings a wealth of insights into strategic growth opportunities. This episode explores the origins and creative process behind Robert Graham's expressive and unique clothing and brings valuable perspectives on how the brand's customer journey enhances the retail experience. Andrew shares his strategic leadership, successfully launching categories like women's wear and a clubhouse golf performance line, alongside significant tech stack enhancements, positioning him as a respected authority in the industry. Andrew's expertise in merchandising, storytelling, and brand building is evident in his leadership role, where he has played a pivotal part in propelling the growth and success of Robert Graham. Resources: Nominate the next Global Retail Leader: www.globalretailleaders.com/membership Connect with us on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/rethink-industries/ For more retail insights visit www.rethink.industries If you enjoyed this episode, please let us know by subscribing to our channel and giving us a 5 star rating on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and Goodpods! – – – – – – Hosted by Kirat Anand Produced by Gabriella Bock Research by Maggie Schwenn

What an engaging and insightful discussion! In this dynamic episode, our hosts, Rick and Kaleem, dive into the fascinating world of remote work, personal branding, and LinkedIn strategies guided by Mandy Fransz, Co-creator and Chief Community Officer at Remote Workers Worldwide. From lighthearted banter unraveling the nuances of Dutch culture, language, and accents to Mandy's captivating journey from the Netherlands to a thriving career in remote work, this episode is a gem!Mandy offers a delightful glimpse into Dutch culture, playfully sharing unique phrases and intriguing locations in the Netherlands, before sharing her compelling path, ignited by a burning desire to explore the world. From backpacking adventures in South America with her twin sister to her tenure at LinkedIn in Ireland, her journey has been nothing short of extraordinary. While the LinkedIn role enriched her experiences, Mandy missed the freedom of remote work, prompting her to transition into freelance consultancy.Her transition into consultancy was not impromptu; leveraging her LinkedIn experience to assist individuals and companies in maximizing the platform for business growth, she took the first steps. The insights shared on the most common mistakes made on LinkedIn, highlighting the significance of relationship-building and personal branding for remote job seekers, are valuable nuggets in this discussion. As an authority on remote work, she recognizes the pivotal role of personal branding in securing remote positions, leading us to her latest venture: Remote Workers Worldwide! This thriving community, with over 100,000 members, facilitated her shift from corporate collaborations to offering unwavering support to individuals within the remote work community.In the fiercely competitive remote job market, job seekers face challenges like never before. With this in mind, Mandy has introduced a comprehensive four-step strategy, emphasizing the importance of defining a brand message aligned with individual aspirations, especially leveraging LinkedIn to showcase this message effectively. The long-term effort needed to craft a compelling personal brand is vividly apparent!Memorable remote work experiences, like Mandy's amusing tale of being stuck in a camper van for 18 hours in Portugal yet continuing to work seamlessly with perfect Wi-Fi, showcase once more the resilience and adaptability crucial in the remote work landscape. Mandy's transformation from a globetrotting enthusiast to an expert in remote work and consultancy is the essence of this insightful and enlightening discussion.Do yourself a favor and tune in! Discover the power of adaptability and problem-solving, essential qualities in the dynamic realm of remote work. Thank you for sharing your expertise with us, Mandy!Learn more about Mandy:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mandyfransz/Personal Webpage: https://www.maketheleapdigital.com/Remote Workers Worldwide: https://www.remoteworkersworldwide.co/

To kick off breast cancer awareness month, Shauna and Rosalina sit with cancer survivor Trish Michelle. They ladies discuss Trish's impact as an advocate in the breast cancer community, her rise to Chief Community Officer with the Breasties, and her continued fight against pinkwashing through her initiative “Reclaim October.” which had raised thousands of dollars in funding for research and non-profit organizations. Together they touch on life after diagnosis, balancing being an advocate in the breast cancer space, and the importance of community throughout it all.You can find Trish on Instagram @trish_newyorkcity Resources:Pink Is Not The Problem CampaignReclaim October IG Click here to leave us a voicemail about what it is like to be a Stage 4 Thriver?If you enjoy this episode, please share it with your friends. Help us reach more women by subscribing and rating us on Apple Podcast, Spotify, and YouTube.You can follow us on Instagram @TYFTSpodcast and email us at tyftspodcast@gmail.comPlease consider donating to our “Buy Me A Coffee” page. Your generous support will greatly assist us in continuing to produce quality content for our listeners. Every donation will get a shoutout on our podcast, as well as a free TYFTS sticker..www.buymeacoffee.com/tyftspodcast If you want to submit a quote about your breast cancer journey, submit one here: Submit A Quote

Amri Kibbler the Co-founder & Chief Community Officer of HeyMama is here to inspire and motivate us in this Dangerous Woman Interview Series. HeyMama is THE Community for Moms in Business. This community provides support, connection, and collaboration for working mothers, advisors, executives, founders, builders, and makers.  Being an entrepreneur has always been very important to Amri. She had a very business and success-driven mindset until she began having health issues. At the beginning of 2020, she began having symptoms and feeling unwell. Amri and her family had recently moved, and finding any doctor to see her was almost impossible.  She had always been healthy, but struggled with the healthcare system as she struggled for answers. After a lot of effort and trial and error, she received a diagnosis a year later, and this is where the healthcare struggle really began. Amri shares how a diagnosis and battle with colon cancer changed her priorities and the way she thinks about what truly matters.  Episode Highlights:  [01:51] Amri was diagnosed with colon cancer in 2020. [02:01] Prior to her diagnosis, she was completely in an entrepreneurial mindset. She also had a lot of anxiety and fear. [03:46] She spent 10 months during the pandemic being misdiagnosed and being told nothing was wrong. [04:21] At the beginning of the pandemic, Amri started having a lot of symptoms and not feeling well. It didn't really compute that something could be wrong with her.  [05:08] Amri shares her struggles with getting medical care at the beginning of the Pandemic. She was concerned about her productivity and didn't realize she might have a real issue.  [07:43] Once she got in to see her old doctor, he couldn't find anything wrong with her. She found another doctor and the same thing happened, but he did suggest a colonoscopy. [08:17] Amri shares her struggles of navigating the US healthcare system when she's not feeling 100%. [09:36] Amri shares how she felt when she finally received her diagnosis of colon cancer a year later. [10:15] The news was a total shock. Colon cancer wasn't for her. She was completely frozen. She was overwhelmed with all of the decisions that she had to make. [12:42] Amri had to reframe what she was doing depending on how she was feeling. She then had to break the news of her diagnosis with her kids. She had chemo and radiation in 2021. She just had surgery at the beginning of the year.  [15:06] We learn about the impact on her family and team.  [18:41] Amri shares some of the things that weren't helpful from her friends and family during treatment.  [19:36] We learn how she was able to maintain balance and work. Meditation helped her a lot while she was healing. Active healing was her number one goal.  [21:56] Amri had to pull herself up and manage her emotions to thrive.  [23:15] Prioritizing herself helped Amri also prioritize her family and the important relationships in life.  [24:15] We learn why Amri decided to share her story. She wants to raise awareness and share her story and resources.  [25:45] She used to define herself as an accomplished entrepreneur. Now she is defined by her own purpose. [26:21] Focusing on the small things will bring us joy and happiness. Having small special moments with your children will create a deeper relationship with them. Paying attention to the small things make sure a more thoughtful and supportive partner. [28:07] Amri is excited about starting a podcast about moms with cancer. She wants to share women's stories and help other moms who are going through this. Links and Resources: The Dangerous Woman Mastermind Dr. Krystal Conner Dr. Krystal Conner Instagram How to Be a Dangerous Woman Facebook Group Dangerous Woman Manifesto HeyMama Community Membership Amri Kibbler Amri Kibbler Instagram

In this episode of the Ad Project Podcast, host Joe Shelerud from Ad Advance welcomes guest Tim Jordan, Chief Community Officer at Carbon 6.Tim shares his journey from being a firefighter to becoming a successful Amazon seller and e-commerce expert. He discusses his experience in the industry, including building and selling multiple brands, consulting for service providers, and gaining a unique perspective on the e-commerce landscape.The episode's main focus is on driving external traffic to Amazon and the importance of leveraging it to boost organic rankings. Tim and Joe dive into Amazon's brand referral bonus and Amazon Attribution, and how they have revolutionized external traffic strategies. They highlight the effectiveness of external traffic through Google Ads and influencer marketing, emphasizing the significance of targeting a relevant audience for better conversion rates.Tim also introduces Carbon 6's reimbursement services for buyer returns and the powerful external traffic tool, PixelMe, which has shown remarkable results in achieving high return on ad spend (ROAS).The episode concludes with insights into the ever-evolving e-commerce industry, emphasizing the importance of Amazon as a reliable platform for generating sales and growing e-commerce brands.

Welcome to Season Three of The Women of Austin Podcast! Our mission is to celebrate the profound impact of connection, community, and collaboration while highlighting the inspiring stories of remarkable women within our local community. Get ready to be inspired as we bring you narratives from dynamic women spanning diverse backgrounds, all converging to amplify the voices of women.In this episode, we're switching things up a bit! Our usual host, Mindy Hofman, finds herself in a different role as she opens up about her own journey, shedding light on the birth of Women of Austin. Taking the reins as guest host is Shannan Hale, the Chief Community Officer of Women of Austin, guiding this insightful conversation.Mindy courageously shares her journey of personal transformation, recounting the moments when life took a downward spiral, pushing her to the brink before she sought help. Her story serves as a beacon of hope, an inspiration for others to speak up when they're in need, and a testament that life's challenges don't define us.Mindy reflects on her pivotal moment when she decided to put an end to her self-destructive behaviors, especially after becoming a mother. She shares a harrowing incident when she hit rock bottom, spending a night in jail as a 38-year-old mother – a night she describes as "the worst of her life."The conversation delves into Mindy's journey through rehabilitation and her experiences with Alcoholics Anonymous (AA). Overcoming her initial fears, Mindy discovered the transformative power of AA, which led her to a calling: to share her newfound wisdom with others, even those who don't struggle with alcohol.Shannan and Mindy also explore the topics of shame and guilt, examining how these emotions can hinder seeking help and offering valuable insights on how to overcome them. They emphasize the liberating nature of honesty and its life-altering effects.The episode concludes with Mindy imparting a valuable nugget of wisdom about breaking free from the constraints of others' opinions and the transformative impact of surrounding oneself with positive influences. Your life truly changes when you embrace a supportive community!Connect with Mindy:Mindy IG: ➡️ https://www.instagram.com/mindy.hofman/Mindy LinkedIn: ➡️ https://www.linkedin.com/in/mindyhofman/Episode Sponsors: (Thank you!) Amplify Credit Union: ➡️ https://www.goamplify.com/Women of Austin Community: ➡️ https://womenofaustincommunity.comCommunity Sponsors: (Thank you!)Joel Richardson - Prime Lending: ➡️ http://myfinanceteam.com/Dave's Ultimate Automotive: ➡️ https://davesultimateautomotive.com/Elite Marquee and Events: ➡️ https://www.elitemarqueeandevents.com/Location: Noa Levy, The Agency ➡️ https://balconesluxury.com/Noa Levy: ➡️https://noalevyatx.com/Mindys Outfit: Hearth and Soul: ➡️ https://hearthandsoul.com/Connect with Women of Austin:JOIN THE COMMUNITY: ➡️ https://womenofaustincommunity.comINSTAGRAM: ➡️ https://www.instagram.com/women_of_austinFACEBOOK: ➡️ https://www.facebook.com/WomenOfAustin Thinking of moving to Austin? Keep watching and get to know some of the incredible women in Austin and what they are up to! #Authenticity #Empowerment #Empowerment #WomenEmpowerment #AustinCommunity #AustinPodcast #WomenSupportingWomen #GivingBack #Podcast #Community #AustinWoman #AustinWomen #Austin #AustinTexas #Recovery #QuittingDrinking #Rehab #StartingOver #Community

From the 2023 NFB Convention in Houston Texas, Blind Abilities podcast host Simon Bonenfant welcomes back Garrett Carder, CEO & Chief Engineer, and Caroline Karbowski, Chief Community Officer of A Cubed Design, a technology company with the goal of making braille displays more accessible and affordable for all!   Garret and Caroline give details about their developing product called the Enigma Reader. From the A Cubed Design website: “The Enigma Braille Reader is our signature device, which aims to be affordable and provide an expandable ecosystem for people who are blind to be able to plug and play new functionality into their braille device. We value accessibility first and foremost. We aim to provide a product, which will be easily usable and well documented. Our braille display is slated to become the most easily obtainable product on the market. We aim to accelerate the way blind individuals interface with their environment by adding plug and play features to our device”. Read More

I have an incredible episode to share with you; our guest is Grace Blacksea. She is the founder of Quench Collective, a community of modern leaders and business owners of which I am a part of. Grace is a mother and the Founder & Chief Community Officer of Quench Collective, a community for like-minded leaders who believe in doing business differently. Grace supports women from cubicles and coffeeshops, cut through the 'noise', stand out in the crowd, and build something they really believe in. Blending strategy and support, she is on a mission to help modern leaders thrive in their careers and businesses.We met back in 2020, and I instantly became a fan of everything Grace stood for. Her support and knowledge in growing a business made the biggest impact on my brand and my sanity!Today, Grace shares her story of transitioning from the corporate world and battling her addiction to "busyness". We discuss life as a new mother and the joys and challenges she encountered, including dealing with postpartum anxiety, depression, and OCD. Grace generously shares many amazing nuggets of wisdom on seeking help and allowing ourselves to be supported. We also tackle the shame and stigma surrounding asking for help when dealing with mental health concerns, which often holds people back from getting the assistance they need. Additionally, we touch upon nightly rituals, self-care, and what she calls "giving your soul a hug."There is so much more to this episode that I haven't mentioned here. Grace is lovely, wise, and eloquent, and I knew even before I hit the record button how much I would love our conversation, and I'm sure you will too.You can follow Grace's personal journey on IG at Graceblacksea, and her wonderful community of business leaders at Quench.collective, and her website is: https://www.quench-collective.com/aboutEnjoy this amazing conversation! Find Jess below!Website: Simply Jess Skincare SIMPLY JESS SKINCARE:Each and every product is naturally derived, highly concentrated and most importantly, super performing! Every product was born out of a need to have a truly pure product that met my high standards for efficacy. You can take 20% off Your Order of our all natural skincare line with code PODCAST Shop Now! Email Us! jess@learningtoglow.comFollow us! Instagram Tik Tok

Welcome to The Women of Austin Podcast, a dedicated platform illuminating the power of connection, community, and collaboration by sharing the profound narratives of extraordinary women in our local sphere. With unwavering commitment, we endeavor to inspire you with stories that transcend boundaries and ignite a collective passion for amplifying women's voices. In today's special episode, we're introducing a refreshing twist! Our usual host, Mindy Hofman, steps into the guest spotlight alongside the remarkable Ashley Copeland, President of the Women of Austin Foundation. Guiding this enlightening conversation is Shannan Hale, Chief Community Officer of Women of Austin, bringing her unique perspective to the forefront. Ashley, our featured guest, unveils a deeply touching chapter from her personal journey – a chapter that poignantly exemplifies the transformative power of even the simplest act of kindness. As a single mother, she found herself on the receiving end of a stranger's compassion, an experience that left an indelible mark on her heart. This fleeting yet impactful encounter later blossomed into the seeds of Ashley's Angels, eventually growing into the thriving and influential Women of Austin Foundation we know today. Prepare to be immersed in the heartwarming camaraderie between Ashley and Mindy, two dynamic individuals whose shared vision breathed life into the Women of Austin Foundation. Through their narratives, intertwined by the complexities of single motherhood, you'll witness the unbreakable bond that fuels their determination to uplift and empower those facing similar challenges. The conversation delves into the intricate dynamics of seeking help, particularly for women who often navigate unique barriers. The guests explore the profound strength that comes from dismantling these barriers, paving the way for transformation. Ashley provides keen insight into the strategic partnerships that have become the backbone of the foundation, underscoring the monumental impact of collective collaboration. Be ready to be profoundly moved as we share anecdotes of how the Women of Austin community has come together to fortify the foundation's mission. And here's the exciting part – you, yes you, have the power to be a catalyst for change within this movement! As our episode concludes, an array of opportunities for involvement unfurls, each reinforcing the notion that every contribution, no matter how seemingly small, has the potential to sow the seeds of significant change. As we wrap up, we invite you to step into the lives of the remarkable women steering the course of the Women of Austin Foundation. Our fervent hope is that you'll not only become acquainted with their inspiring stories but also be galvanized to lend your own unique contribution. Together, hand in hand, we stand poised to amplify women's voices not only within Austin but far beyond its borders. Through the simple yet profound acts of connection and collaboration, we truly have the power to transform lives. About the Women of Austin Foundation: The Women of Austin Foundation is dedicated to fostering personal growth, promoting self-sufficiency, and enhancing the well-being of women who face unique challenges as they navigate their journey. We believe that life's journey should not be traveled alone. Together, we are the Village. The Women of Austin Foundation: ➡️ https://womenofaustinfoundation.com/ Follow The Women of Austin Foundation on IG: ➡️ https://www.instagram.com/thewomenofaustinfoundation/ Connect with Ashley and Mindy: Ashley IG: ➡️ https://www.instagram.com/ashleyreneecopeland/ Ashley Linkedin: ➡️ https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashley-copeland-96222ba5/ Mindy IG: ➡️ https://www.instagram.com/mindy.hofman/ Mindy LinkedIn: ➡️ https://www.linkedin.com/in/mindyhofman/ Episode Sponsors: (Thank you!) Amplify Credit Union: ➡️ https://www.goamplify.com/ Women of Austin Community: ➡️ https://womenofaustincommunity.com Community Sponsors: (Thank you!) Joel Richardson - Prime Lending: ➡️ http://myfinanceteam.com/ Dave's Ultimate Automotive: ➡️ https://davesultimateautomotive.com/ Elite Marquee and Events: ➡️ https://www.elitemarqueeandevents.com/ Location: ➡️ http://www.208senderabonita.com/ Mike Mogavero: ➡️ https://mmogavero.com/ Mindy and Shannan's Outfits: Hearth and Soul: ➡️ https://hearthandsoul.com/ Connect with Women of Austin: JOIN THE COMMUNITY: ➡️ https://womenofaustincommunity.comINSTAGRAM: ➡️ https://www.instagram.com/women_of_austin FACEBOOK: ➡️ https://www.facebook.com/WomenOfAustin Thinking of moving to Austin? Keep watching and get to know some of the incredible women in Austin and what they are up to! #NonProfit #Authenticity #Empowerment #Empowerment #WomenEmpowerment #AustinCommunity #AustinPodcast #WomenSupportingWomen #SingleMom #GivingBack #Podcast #Community #AustinWoman #AustinWomen #Austin #AustinTexas

Mary O'Carroll, Chief Community Officer at Ironclad, and CLOC Talk host Jenn McCarron catch up with a real talk session in Vegas at CGI 2023. With these two, what happens in Vegas, does not stay in Vegas. In this episode, we talk to Mary about her standing-room-only sessions at this year's CLOC Global Institute, and why she's pumped about how generative AI will disrupt legal for the better. You don't want to miss this catch-up between two legal ops icons.Thank you to our sponsor for this episode LegalBillReview.com. Listeners across the pond, have you bought your tickets to EMEA yet? Early bird pricing is in effect!! Register Here!!

With the fast pace that Generative AI models like Chat GPT have been expanding and improving, it has become quite clear that major disruptions are on the way for every single industry. And the legal industry is likely to be the first to face major disruptions due to these technological advances. Today, Mary O'Carroll,Chief Community Officer at Ironclad, lnc., and Craig Katerber, Chief Legal and Corporate Affairs Officer at Budweiser Brewing Company APAC, discuss generative AI and the impacts they expect it to have on the legal services industry. They also spend time talking about LegalOps, scaling teams, modernizing legal departments, and the benefits of LinkedIn. The landscape of Generative AI already looks very different from how it looked six months ago, and even six weeks ago. It is a rapidly growing technology and is making its way into every industry. This is a very exciting opportunity, especially for creative people who are just beginning to play with the tools and seeing what could be possible. The legal industry is a relatively slow moving one with very outdated processes and an unchanging law school curriculum. Generative AI could bring much needed updates to these areas and propel legal professionals toward a better, more streamlined and efficient way of doing business. Although some people may be fearful of this new technology or worry that it will replace them, there are immeasurable benefits to keeping an open mind and embracing this new way of approaching business. With Generative AI, the old way of doing things is no longer going to be acceptable. The legal services industry in particular is slow to change and many people are still working out of offices with old fashioned filing cabinets and outdated processes. This advanced technology is a great opportunity for people to re-evaluate their current systems and make much needed improvements.  Quotes “One of the biggest catalysts for hiring a legal operations person now is digital transformation.” (18:23-18:28 | Mary) “This is a much bigger moment than a lot of people realize. Generative AI and large language models are going to have a huge effect on every part of our economy in every part of our world.” (26:16-26:26 | Mary) “It's so much about empathy or trying to put yourself in the person's shoes about what they actually want or care about, and there's a huge amount of value there. And we'll see as AI goes, but that's a very human skill.” (33:15-33:29 | Craig) “AI and efficiency has always been at odds with the billable hour, but you can't avoid this now, you can't do business as usual.” (35:34-35:42 | Mary) “If there was ever a distinction of black and white between legal advice and non legal advice, it's going to be a lot more gray in the future.” (36:47-36:54 | Craig)    Links Connect with Mary O'Carroll: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/maryshenocarroll/   Connect with Craig Katerberg: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/craig-katerberg-70a6373/   Connect with Chris Batz: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrisbatz/  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theliongroupkc  Instagram: @theliongroupllc Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm  

In today's episode, I am beyond honored to talk to Amri Kibbler, Co-Founder and Chief Community Officer at @heymamaco. Amri shares her cancer journey with us, including the highs and lows of her mental health during her fight, how she navigated this diagnosis as a mom of two,  and how her relationship with her business has changed since her diagnosis. This episodes dives into:  Amri's best advice for mothers who are currntly battling cancer.  The various ways Amri copes emotionally with her cancer diagnosis.  The power of community and connecting with others who are struggling with similar challenges.  Guest Info: Connect with Amri on Instagram @amrikibbler or @heymamaco or her website here.  Resources Mentioned:  Hey Mama The Path to Peace Bekome 20% off with code Justine20 My Private Practice Anxiety Coaching Podcast Disclaimer  

In this episode, PJ Hagerty, Senior Developer Advocate at Spotify, joins us to talk about why Spotify is such an interesting place to work, the parallels between coding and music and why the education system needs to change the way it teaches math and coding.