Podcasts about cpos

Heather Dunn, Chief People Officer at Brex, joined us on The Modern People Leader. We talked about Brex's rapid acquisition by Capital One and how Heather led through diligence, communication, and integration.----  Sponsor Links:

Automotive built the procurement playbook. Structure, process, category management, sourcing discipline. Compressed margins forced it, and every penny had to be defended. The problem is that the same discipline that made automotive procurement world-class is now the thing slowing it down.Phil Ideson, Founder and Managing Director of Art of Procurement, has seen both sides of that. He started his career in automotive purchasing at Vauxhall, moved through Ford's graduate scheme, went to Visteon, and then left for pharma, consumer products, technology, and financial services. Today, he runs Art of Procurement, home of the number one procurement podcast in the world, and he spends his days with procurement leaders across every industry you can name. Jan has known him for years, and she has never met anyone who cares more about elevating this function.In this episode, Phil names something the industry rarely says out loud. Many automotive processes exist to maintain control, not to drive an outcome. Purchasing teams waved the process in people's faces because that is where the power came from, and the whole function ended up measured on cost savings because that is the business case procurement built for itself. Then comes the part about AI. Phil argues it is an operating model question, not a technology purchase, and he lays out what happens when you free up capacity with AI and your team is not ready to use it.There is also a preview of Catalyst coming to Detroit on September 22nd, and Phil designed it as a small room for 30 to 50 senior leaders rather than another hall full of exhibitors.The mindset shift here is bigger than procurement. It is about whether legacy automotive can stop protecting what works long enough to build what is next.Themes Discussed in this EpisodeWhat automotive procurement does well and where it lagsProcess built for control instead of outcomesThe cost savings trap inside procurement's own business caseWhy the "seat at the table" mindset keeps the function smallPower dynamics and early supplier engagementAI as an operating model question, not a technology purchaseMaking sense of a market of 500-plus procurement tech providersDriving change with confidence

"The biggest risk today is not making the wrong AI decision. It is making no decision at all while everyone else is learning." Samir Khushalani, Senior Advisor, Art of Procurement Procurement leaders now face more technology choices than ever, with new AI-enabled solutions emerging constantly. In this environment, picking the right tools can be overwhelming, and procurement often struggles with knowing where to start, how to avoid analysis paralysis, and ensuring their tech choices drive real business outcomes.  In this episode, Philip Ideson speaks with Samir Khushalani, Art of Procurement Senior Advisor and a former McKinsey digital procurement leader. Samir has guided Fortune 500 companies and is helping to shape the ProcureTech100, the industry's top guide to procurement technology. He breaks down how to navigate a fragmented market, balance risk and urgency, and scale impact without getting stuck in "pilot purgatory."  In this episode, Samir covers how to:   -Take practical steps to avoid technology indecision   -Identify true AI-native solutions versus "AI-wrapped" legacy tools   -Partner with providers who aim for business impact, not just automation   -Build a flexible procurement tech stack for lasting competitiveness  Links: Samir Khushalani on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/samirkhushalani/  Art of Procurement Welcomes Samir Khushalani as Senior Advisor: https://artofprocurement.com/blog/blog-art-of-procurement-welcomes-samir-khushalani-as-senior-advisor  Download the 2025-26 ProcureTech100 Yearbook: https://artofprocurement.com/procuretech100-2026  Subscribe to the AOP Newsletter: https://resources.artofprocurement.com/art-of-procurement-podcast-subscribe  Subscribe to Art of Procurement on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ArtofProcurement   

This is the next episode in a series on what product management becomes when the AI hype meets real constraints. I sat down with three CPOs living about a year ahead of the rest of us: Sharmeen Chapp, Midjourney's first-ever product hire; Jiaona Zhang (JZ), CPO at Laurel; and Henrik Berggren, who runs product and design at Mutiny. Their teams are tiny on purpose, yet these are companies with years of history, paying customers, and enterprise contracts—not the frictionless blank slates that "AI-native" suggests. We get into who should actually be building, how customer signal should move through a company, and how each of them installed an AI-first operating system without tipping into theater.–Key topics:• What never changes in PM• Laurel's "captain" model: everyone is a builder• Zoning the codebase like a garden so everyone can build safely• Making the whole company understand the customer• The AI Operations team: pairing hackers with leaders• Treating the AI transformation as a product, with employees as the users• Moving at "Cheetah speed": sprint when the tools jump, then rest• Current PMs are managing a fleet, not an empire• Why the strongest leaders are going hands-on now–Timestamps:(00:00) Introduction(03:30) Meet the three CPOs: Midjourney, Laurel, Mutiny(08:45) Laurel's "captain" model: everyone is a builder(13:03) Zoning the codebase like a garden(17:19) Governing change when anyone can ship to production(18:23) Sharmeen at Midjourney: installing product judgment(21:53) Henrik on finding the line by stepping over it(24:57) A Slack channel that pings on every meaningful action(26:59) Running AI in public so skeptics convert(29:29) The AI Operations team: pairing hackers with leaders(32:15) Incentives, public systems, and evergreen context(36:46) Managing context overload with distributed PM(39:45) A user interview to shareable clips in 45 minutes(45:16) First-party vs. third-party: what to build, what to buy(47:34) The token-maximization "blip" and raising the floor(49:31) Managing a fleet, not an empire(53:40) "Cheetah speed": sprint when the tools jump, then rest(56:37) Why the strongest leaders are going hands-on now(57:29) Does the pendulum swing back to old-school PM?(59:48) What never changes: business, customer, orchestration–Brought to you by:• Firecrawl—Power AI agents with clean web data• Use code THESKIP for 10K free credits–Referenced:• Anthropic• Cursor• Devin• Dropbox• Dust• GitHub• Google Drive• Grain• Granola• Laurel• Meta• Midjourney• Mutiny• Notion• Procter & Gamble• Slack• Stripe• Twitch–Where to find Nikhyl:• Twitter/X• LinkedIn–Where to find Sharmeen:• Twitter/X• LinkedIn–Where to find JZ:• Twitter/X• LinkedIn–Where to find Henrik:• Twitter/X• LinkedIn–Join The Skip:• Skip Coach• Skip Community–Find The Skip:• Website• Substack• YouTube• Spotify• Apple Podcasts–Don't forget to subscribe to The Skip to hear me coach you through timely career lessons. Access exclusive sessions from 100+ top product leaders at skip.coach. If you're interested in joining me on a future call, send me a note on LinkedIn, Threads, or Twitter. You can also email me at nikhyl@skip.community This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit theskip.substack.com

What does it mean for a CPO to truly own outcomes? In this episode of the CPO Rising series hosted by Products That Count Resident CPO Renee Niemi, BetterHelp CPO Terre Layton will be speaking on how product leadership is evolving in the age of AI, drawing on a career that started with AI research long before LLMs existed. Terre shares why CPOs are now business operators with product as their primary lever, how she thinks about building teams for the agentic era, and why time to value and retention are the two metrics that tell her everything.

"Visibility is not the end goal. The end goal is how does that visibility enable me to make a quick decision." - Mohit Ahuja, Strategy & Transformation Leader, Caterpillar Business leaders can no longer afford to think about digital procurement as "plug and play." This is especially true in manufacturing, where the risks of disruption run deep. Legacy systems, change-weary teams, and rapid-fire market shifts all raise the stakes for today's CPOs. In this episode, Mohit Ahuja, a strategy and transformation leader at Caterpillar, shares what it takes to navigate these challenges. Drawing on over 16 years across engineering, supply chain, and operations, Mohit offers candid stories and actionable strategies for moving the needle on digital transformation without leaving people behind. Whether you're wrestling with technical debt, siloed teams, or cultural resistance, this episode delivers perspective for CPOs and procurement professionals trying to drive lasting impact. In this episode, Mohit covers how procurement can: -Move from reactive to proactive and enable real-time, predictive risk management -Build trust on the shop floor by practicing adaptive leadership -Focus on early, low-risk wins to build momentum for transformation -Shift from cost minimization to resilience as a core procurement goal   Links: Mohit Ahuja on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mohit--ahuja/  Subscribe to the AOP Newsletter: https://resources.artofprocurement.com/art-of-procurement-podcast-subscribe  Subscribe to Art of Procurement on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ArtofProcurement   

"It's amazing how you can rise to the top just by doing what you say you're going to do and being honest about what you can't do." - Anthony Clervi, Managing Partner, Una Procurement teams today are under intense pressure to deliver savings, manage risk, and do more with less… all while digital transformation reshapes the landscape. For many, group purchasing organizations (GPOs) sound good on paper, but open questions about control and fit.  What does it take to find a true partner in this space? In this Provider of the Week episode, Anthony Clervi, Managing Partner at Una, joins us to break down what's changed in indirect spend and what CPOs should look for in a partner. From the "dietician, not the butcher" mindset to embracing AI and ongoing alignment, Anthony shares why a consultative, agile approach beats one-size-fits-all solutions.  In this episode, Anthony covers: -How GPOs balance speed, savings, and transparency  -When to bring in partners like Una (and why earlier is better) -Ways to adapt GPO services to your team's resource and maturity levels -How ongoing supplier alignment drives long-term value -Why a human, empathy-first approach matters now more than ever   Links: Anthony Clervi on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anthonyclervi/  Provider Profile: Una: https://artofprocurement.com/provider-directory/una  Subscribe to the AOP Newsletter: https://resources.artofprocurement.com/art-of-procurement-podcast-subscribe  Subscribe to Art of Procurement on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ArtofProcurement   

In today's digital age, connecting with audiences in meaningful ways is essential, especially for organizations like the National Chief Petty Officer Association.When Paul Kingsbury decided to transition from a distinguished naval career to retirement, he recognized a gap in the conversations surrounding Navy leadership and the role of Chief Petty Officers (CPOs). The Cutlass Podcast was created to fill this void, offering a platform where experiences, insights, and leadership lessons could be shared openly. Kingsbury's extensive background as a Fleet Master Chief and his passion for writing fueled his desire to create content that resonates with both current and aspiring CPOs. But all things change...In this episode, we'll explore the journey behind the Cutlass Podcast, how it was born from a desire to enhance communication among naval leaders, how the Cutlass Podcast will evolve as the official podcast of the National CPOA, and the transfer of hosting responsibilities to Frank Jackson.

This week I am quoting from Antony Louis' marvellous book Horary Astrology Plain & Simple You can find it here https://amzn.to/4wn3e3s You can also find my How to Survive a Pisces audiobook here on these platforms:  https://libro.fm/audiobooks/9780466346225-how-to-survive-a-pisces https://www.kobo.com/us/en/audiobook/how-to-survive-a-pisces-2?sId=a14acfa1-6a08-40f1-aac6-2838765f373a&ssId=RpPoA9MY6_ZP3pFU0Hzqk&cPos=1 https://www.storytel.com/tv/books/how-to-survive-a-pisces-real-life-guidance-on-how-to-get-on-and-be-friends-with-the-last-sign-of-the-zodiac-14763855 https://books.apple.com/us/audiobook/how-to-survive-a-pisces-real-life-guidance-on-how/id6789341793?uo=4   Gordon Ramsey Moon in the 3rd, Venus in the 5th

In this episode of the People Agenda Podcast, hosts Debbie Mitchell and Gemma Ryall are joined by Stuart Price, chief people officer at Zenith. Stuart draws on a career spanning food retail, healthcare and automotive to explain what the CPO role really involves, the constant tension between driving performance and protecting culture, and how to earn credibility at board level through commercial framing. He also shares why he expects AI to erode the value of technical HR knowledge over the coming years, and what skills will matter more as a result. The conversation is aimed at HR leaders, CPOs and anyone interested in the future shape of the people function.

A man in a poly relationship is worried that his penis smells like his girlfriend's vagina despite his meticulous hygiene practices. This doesn't bother him. But when he eventually convinces someone else to go down on him, will they notice? Is there a "special soap" he could use? In Paris, in the year 1911, an employee of the Louvre made off with the Mona Lisa. Fast forward to the year 2024. A woman "acquired" an explicit erotic painting left behind in an office re-organization featuring two men who live above the space. After 2 years of it hanging on her wall, she really loves this painting. She thinks the couple commissioned the art. Does she have to return it to them, and what on earth should she say if she does? On the Magnum, in order to counter some of the skepticism around the practice of hypnokink, we welcome Daniel McGlothlen, kink educator, performer, and adult content creator who specializes in hypnosis. Is it real? Is it fun? Listen in. And, a man issues a chilling PSA/warning. If you're kinky, and end up getting divorced, you might wish you had durable evidence of consent. Have a question? Say it out loud! (Into your phone.) Send Qs to Q@Savage.Love. Or Call! 206-302-2064  This episode is brought to you by Helix Sleep. Right now, Helix is offering 20% off site wide, 25% off Luxe mattresses and 30% off Elite mattresses. Go to ⁠HelixSleep.com/Savage⁠. With Helix, better sleep starts now.  This episode is brought to you by VB Health, Doctor-formulated supplements that work . To learn more about Load Boost, Drive Boost and Soaking Wet and to get 10% off, visit ⁠VB.Health⁠ when you use the code Savage. This episode is brought to you by Arya- an intimacy membership with a personal intimacy concierge to help you and your partner bring true excitement back into your sex life. Right now, Arya is offering listeners $10 off your first month at ⁠GetArya.com/Savage⁠ Dan Savage is a sex-advice columnist, podcaster, author, and creator of the It Gets Better Project. GGG? DTMFA? CPOS? He came up with that. Dan Savage has been cultural force for sex positivity since 1991.

Sarnjit believes great organisations are built on cultures that genuinely care. At Cox Automotive, she shares how psychological safety, active listening and continuous feedback create environments where people can thrive. For Sarnjit, HR isn't simply responsible for culture – every interaction is an opportunity to shape it.  As AI changes the way work gets done, Sarnjit sees technology as a tool to enhance, not replace, human judgement. Drawing on examples from Cox Automotive, she explains why HR leaders must stay deeply connected to the business they support, understanding how work really happens so people strategy creates lasting commercial value.  Growing up with immigrant parents, inclusion has always been personal to Sarnjit. She reflects on how her Sikh heritage has shaped her leadership, and shares Cox Automotive's work to embed inclusion across the organisation, for example to increase female representation. Throughout the conversation, one idea comes through consistently: stay curious, keep learning, and never stop looking beyond your own role. How HR Leaders Change the World Live! 11th November 2026 – London Book your Early Bird ticket now! 150 of the best HR leaders in one room! Join the annual gathering of bold, forward-thinking HR leaders who believe people strategy shapes the future of business - and the world beyond. ·      Hear stories from pioneering CHROs, be part of hands-on workshops and work with a community of peers who get it; you'll leave with actions, as well as inspiration.  ·      Expectr real conversations on building cultures that perform under pressure, rethinking productivity in the age of AI, and designing organisations that are genuinely human. ·     This year's sessions include The Agility Lab: Reimagining High-Performance Culture through Experimentation, and speakers include CPOs from easyJet, Edelman, Havas, Ferring Pharmaceuticals, Lloyds of London and PepsiCo Europe. Plus, this year's grande finale keyonte is the extraordinary Livia Firth! Her session titled: Stop Eating at Your Desk, and Other Stories to Fall in Love with Change, will bring an inspiring and very human lens to transformation. And who's not talking about transformation right now?! Here's what attendees have said on previous years: ·     "Game changing ideas on how we shape the future of work" Dannii Portsmouth, CPO, PepsiCo Europe ·      "Brim full of ideas and inspiration" Emma Norton, People Policy & Risk, Bupa ·      "Absolutely inspired is how I feel!"  Natalia Wallenberg, CHRO, Ahold Delhaize And as always, every penny of profit empowers vulnerable children to be safe, loved and learning, so your ticket is creating positive change from the go! Places are limited, the early bird closes 17th July It's energising. It's practical. And it's a reminder that HR holds extraordinary influence. If you care about the future of work, and the role you play in shaping it, this is your room. You can book your Early Bird here: https://www.upliftingpeople.com/pages/how-hr-leaders-change-the-world-live-2026 See you there!    

"We need to evolve from procurement professionals into business leaders with procurement expertise." - Israel Santiesteban, Former Chief Procurement Officer and Head of Supply Chain The next evolution of procurement is about so much more than cost savings. With new digital tools and relentless business change, leaders are being asked to deliver value in new ways and, as a result, develop talent for roles that didn't exist a few years ago. In this episode, Philip Ideson speaks with Israel Santiesteban, a former CPO and supply chain leader with experience across Danone, Kraft Heinz, Schreiber Foods, and more, who's spent decades delivering end-to-end transformation in fast-moving sectors.  They discuss what it really takes to unlock the power of data and AI, and why the next generation of procurement jobs will look very different. Israel also opens up about the risks and opportunities of working with startups, the reality behind scenario planning, and why high-performing teams need to shift from transactional work to strategic value-creation.  In this episode, Israel also discusses: -How to cut through the hype and use AI for quick wins in neglected indirect spend -Discovering how CPOs can partner with startups for tailored solutions -Ways to move from reactive firefighting to true predictive scenario planning -The importance of building new procurement roles that blend digital fluency with business acumen -Rethinking procurement metrics that show value, not just savings   Links: Israel Santiesteban on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/israel-santiesteban-43627b1b/  Subscribe to the AOP Newsletter: https://resources.artofprocurement.com/art-of-procurement-podcast-subscribe  Subscribe to Art of Procurement on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ArtofProcurement   

"If your business is getting bigger, then supplier management is going to be ever more important to you." - Jesse Lee, Co-founder, CEO of Brooklyn Solutions Procurement's role in managing suppliers is transforming fast: scope is growing, expectations are higher, and the risks are real. Getting supplier management right is essential to business resilience, especially when the entire organization depends on partners and external providers. In this episode, Brooklyn Solutions CEO Jesse Lee joins ProcureTech Insider host Jyothi Hartley to zero in on today's big challenges and the practical answers that have worked in enterprise environments. Jesse brings experience across engineering, law, and SaaS product management, giving him a unique vantage point on how supplier management actually drives (or stalls) value. Hear their frank conversation about what "good" truly looks like in supplier management, how to connect data and teams, and which steps CPOs should prioritize right now. In this episode, Jesse discusses how procurement should: -Redefine supplier management to accelerate your business roadmap -Address expanding scope: onboarding, third-party risk, and relationship management -Make operational resilience a built-in feature, not an afterthought -Connect data and policies for seamless end-to-end supplier oversight -Build a holistic roadmap when evaluating new solutions   Links: Jesse Lee on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jesse-lee-64310a/  Visit the Brooklyn Solutions profile in the AOP Provider Directory: https://artofprocurement.com/provider-directory/brooklyn-solutions  Subscribe to the AOP Newsletter: https://resources.artofprocurement.com/art-of-procurement-podcast-subscribe  Subscribe to Art of Procurement on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ArtofProcurement   

What happens to the entire product development process when creating software becomes as easy as creating a Google Doc? In this episode of the CPO Rising Series hosted by Products That Count Resident CPO Jay Patel, Cartwheel CPO Sarah Turrin speaks on how the collapse of software costs is reshaping healthcare product leadership, why the era of CPOs as pure strategists is already over, and how she thinks about deploying AI in healthcare environments where a probabilistic model simply cannot be unleashed on patients without deterministic guardrails. Thirty days into her role at one of the nation's largest K-12 mental health platforms, Sarah brings a rare combination of clinical sensitivity, technical fluency, and genuine urgency about what product leaders need to do right now.

What happens when product leaders stop talking about AI theory and start sharing what's actually working?In this special Product Rebels episode, Vidya Dinamani and Heather Samarin unpack insights from four AI roundtables with CPOs, VPs, and product leaders. They explore AI slop, ROI challenges, role anxiety, rapid prototyping, and why judgment, customer insight, and product fundamentals matter more than ever in an AI-driven world. The future of product management may be changing, but its core purpose remains the same.

In this episode, Scott McInnes is joined once again by Inspiring Change's Sadhbh O'Flaherty to dig into their latest research, Bridging the Connection Gap. Building on last year's Mind the Gap study, where CPOs and CEOs identified disconnection as one of the top barriers to a strong, aligned culture, Scott and Sadhbh went deeper, speaking one-on-one with senior leaders to understand what's really getting in the way of human connection at work today.  Six clear themes emerged from those conversations: busyness, hybrid working, silos, leadership influence, digital overload, and generational differences. Throughout the episode, Scott and Sadhbh unpack each theme with real examples, personal experience, and practical suggestions for how organisations, leaders, and individuals can respond.   The common thread running through it all? Intentionality.   Connection at work doesn't happen by accident, it has to be actively and deliberately built.  Key Takeaways  Culture is infrastructure, not decoration. Connection underpins trust, performance, wellbeing, innovation, and resilience, and its absence is felt even if it can't always be measured.  Busyness has become a badge of honour. Many people feel they need to appear constantly busy to seem productive, which squeezes out time for genuine connection.  Hybrid isn't broken, it's just not intentional. The real issue isn't where people work, but whether teams are deliberate about how, when, and why they connect.  Team commitments matter more than blanket policies. A one-size-fits-all approach to hybrid rarely works; teams need the flexibility to define what connection looks like for them.  Silos aren't inherently bad, deep expertise is valuable, but they need active bridges (empathy, communication, shared touchpoints) to avoid isolation and misalignment.  Leaders have an outsized influence on connection. Connection across a team or organisation is often only as strong as its leadership, but leaders also need empathy, support, and realistic expectations, since they're stretched thin too.  Digital tools haven't delivered better connection, just more channels. Increased digital connectivity often comes at the cost of the human cues (tone, body language, energy) that build real understanding between people.  Generational differences mean different connection needs. With up to five generations now in the workplace, a single approach to connection won't resonate with everyone, open conversations about what people actually want are essential.  Small, consistent steps beat big overnight change. Building connection back into work doesn't require a complete overhaul, just intentional, incremental shifts in how teams already operate.  Timestamps  00:00 – Introduction and episode overview 00:47 – Backstory: the Mind the Gap research and why Inspiring Change revisited disconnection 03:45 – Why culture is "the infrastructure that holds an organization together" 05:17 – How the Bridging the Connection Gap research was conducted and the six themes uncovered 06:41 – Challenge 1: Busyness, the "busy badge of honour" and its impact on connection 12:02 – Challenge 2: Hybrid working, why hybrid isn't the problem, intentionality is 17:43 – The power of team commitments and team-level flexibility 19:20 – Challenge 3: Silos, the value of expertise vs. the need to bridge across teams 24:58 – Challenge 4: Leadership influence, why connection is only as strong as your leaders 28:02 – Clarifying "leaders" as people managers, not just the executive team 31:11 – Challenge 5: Digital, being more "connected" but less genuinely close 37:52 – Challenge 6: Generational differences, five generations, different connection needs 44:11 – Closing thoughts and where to find the full Bridging the Connections Gap report    Resources & Links:  Bridging the Connections Gap Report  Mind the Gap Report     Connect with us:  LinkedIn  |  YouTube  |  Instagram      Connect with Scott McInnes:  LinkedIn  Connect with Sadhbh O'Flaherty:  LinkedIn  

Warum Events Menschen nicht informieren, sondern verändern müssen What's Next – Events im Wandel | Folge 91 | Design for Change Gast: Pigalle Tavakkoli – Gründerin, School of Experience Design | WXO Council Member | Autorin The Experience Design Building Blocks Kernfrage: Was soll nach einem Event anders sein als vorher – und wie gestalten wir diesen Weg? Worum es geht Viele Organisationen planen Events, aber sie planen nicht für Impact. Sie fragen: Welche Botschaften müssen auf die Bühne? Pigalle Tavakkoli stellt eine andere Frage: Wer sollen diese Menschen sein, wenn sie den Raum verlassen? Echte Transformation beginnt nicht mit besserer Kommunikation. Sie beginnt mit einer Erfahrung, die etwas in Menschen auslöst – emotional, kognitiv, im Verhalten. Wer ist Pigalle Tavakkoli? Gründerin der School of Experience Design, 15 Jahre Erfahrung als Creative Producer, über 12 Jahre als preisgekrönte Dozentin und Trainerin für globale Kunden wie Apple, Unilever, L'Oréal und Philips. Ihre These: Wirkungsvolle Erlebnisse entstehen nicht aus Intuition, sondern durch gezielte Gestaltung – auf der Basis von Neurowissenschaft und Emotion Design. Die Kernaussage „Verändere nicht zuerst Verhalten. Beginne damit, zu verändern, wie Menschen fühlen." Kahneman und Damasio zeigen: 95–98% unserer Entscheidungen werden unbewusst und emotional getroffen. Emotion ist kein weicher Faktor. Emotion ist der Mechanismus, durch den Bedeutung entsteht. Das besprechen wir Feel–Think–Do statt Think–Feel–Do: Die meisten Transformationsprogramme sind falsch herum konstruiert. Pigalle Tavakkoli erklärt warum – und wie man es dreht. Das Publikum als Protagonist: Wenn Menschen Teil der Geschichte werden, entstehen Emotionen – und Emotionen schaffen langfristige Erinnerungen. Pigalle beschreibt den Moment, der ihr das klargemacht hat. Rückwärts designen: Zuerst den Wandel definieren, der entstehen soll – dann den Experience Journey entwerfen. Das Prinzip ihrer 8 Building Blocks. Was KI nicht replizieren kann: Warum der physische Moment in einer KI-Welt wertvoller wird, nicht überflüssiger. Drei Zitate, die bleiben „Die Elemente, die wir gestalten – Bühne, Technologie, Inhalte – sind nur Werkzeuge. Die eigentliche Erfahrung entsteht im Menschen." „Wenn Menschen Teil der Geschichte werden, entstehen Emotionen – und Emotionen schaffen langfristige Erinnerungen." „Der Unterschied zwischen einem Event und einer Transformation liegt nicht im Inhalt. Er liegt in der Intention dahinter." Für CHROs und CPOs: drei Fragen für das nächste Format Was fühlen Teilnehmende danach anders? Was sehen sie danach anders? Was tun sie danach anders? Wer diese Fragen nicht vor dem Konzept stellen kann, plant für den falschen Output. Pigalle Tavakkoli: schoolofexperiencedesign.net / https://www.schoolofexperiencedesign.net/book Chris Cuhls ist Strategischer Sparringpartner und Eventregisseur aus Köln. Er arbeitet mit Unternehmen, die ihre wichtigsten Live-Momente wirksam gestalten wollen. ChrisCuhls.de

The role of the CPO is evolving faster than ever. No longer focused solely on HR operations, today's CPO is increasingly responsible for driving organisational transformation, shaping strategy, influencing culture, and helping businesses navigate complex change. In this episode of the People Agenda podcast, Debbie Mitchell speaks to Sean Mileusnic from the RNIB as he shares his perspective on what it means to be a modern CPO and why the role has become critical to organisational success. If you want deeper insights into how today's CPOs are shaping organisations, leading transformation, and preparing for the future, listen to this episode of the People Agenda podcast.

Daniel moderated a live panel at Running Remote 2026 with Carmen Amara (Yelp), Brandon Sammut (Zapier), and Vinícius Coelho (Time Doctor) to discuss how AI is reshaping leadership, management, and career growth. ----  Sponsor Links:

"I measure success by the number of executives that come to us before they make decisions." - Gary Mizhir, Senior Director Head of Innovation & Excellence, FIS The pressure to move from tactical cost savings to strategic business impact is growing, especially as AI, data, and new business needs emerge faster than ever.  But what does it mean to drive innovation with AI and still keep procurement a credible and sought-after partner at the executive table? In this episode, Philip Ideson speaks with Gary Mizhir, Senior Director, Head of Innovation and Excellence at FIS. Gary brings a holistic perspective, shaped by experiences in the Navy, consulting, product management, and years leading Fortune 500 supply chain and procurement teams. His take on the future, from paradigm-shifting AI to building trust with stakeholders and translating procurement's value into corporate terms, offers practical guidance for CPOs and their teams. In this episode, Gary discusses: -Why we need to challenge traditional procurement roles  -How to use AI to redefine value and operating models -The importance of tying procurement's ROI directly to corporate outcomes  -How to build trusted partnerships with internal stakeholders  -Rethinking process design by experiencing it through your stakeholders' eyes   Links: Gary Mizhir on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gary-mizhir-b923344/  Subscribe to the AOP Newsletter: https://resources.artofprocurement.com/art-of-procurement-podcast-subscribe  Subscribe to Art of Procurement on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ArtofProcurement   

In this episode, we speak with Leroy Roberts about preventing supply chain failures through accountability, leadership under pressure, and the role of AI, clarity, and collaboration in resilient decision-making.Download the ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠episode transcript⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠===== This week, we talked with Leroy Roberts about leadership under pressure, supply chain disruption, and preventing failure through clear accountability. We discussed psychological safety, the balance between firm control and burnout, the value of AI in risk management, and why future supply chains depend on collaboration, partnership, and better decision-making.  ===== Guest 1: : Leroy Roberts, British Army veteran, Non-Executive Director, and Executive Adviser,  Team-Worth SolutionsLeroy Roberts is a British Army veteran, Non-Executive Director, and Executive Adviser specialising in culture and conduct risk in high-pressure, regulated environments. He works with executive risk owners, including CEOs, CROs, COOs, CPOs, and CHROs, to strengthen decision-making, accountability, and truth-telling under pressure. Leroy helps organisations reduce culture and conduct risk signals within 90 days through practical, diagnostic-led interventions that restore operational grip and produce measurable, auditable improvement. Drawing on leadership experience from the British Army and the Jamaica Constabulary Force, alongside board-level governance experience, he brings a grounded perspective on how leadership behaviour under pressure either amplifies or contains organisational risk. He is the author of The Risk Owner's Reset and a contributing author to the international best-selling series Stand on the Shoulders of Giants.Host 1: Richard Howells, SAP   ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Richard Howells⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ has been working in the Supply Chain Management and Manufacturing space for over 30 years. He is responsible for driving the thought leadership and awareness of SAP's ERP, Finance, and Supply Chain solutions and is an active writer, podcaster, and thought leader on the topics of supply chain, Industry 4.0, digitization, and sustainability.===== Show Links:Link to the book: amazon.com/dp/B0GMS2G361 The Culture and conduct scorecard: https://pro.speakerhub.com/speaker-feedback/?qr=e9a16245-4ab1-4c63-81e7-ce225d9e5372Supply Chain Management:  ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠SAP Supply Chain Management⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠SAP Insights: Supply Chain⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠       Follow Us on Social Media : Richard Howells: ⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠, SAP Digital Supply Chain: ⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠    Please give us a like, share, and subscribe to stay up-to-date on future episodes!  ===== Chapters:00:00:00: Intro00:01:00: Guest's Introductions00:01:59: Staying in control during disruption without micromanaging00:04:07: Accountability gaps and early warning signs00:07:40: Building a safe environment for constructive challenge00:11:08: Using AI for risk management with human judgment00:13:26: Accountability without burnout in volatile conditions00:19:20: Leadership under pressure during COVID logistics00:22:56: ''The Risk Owners Reset'' book00:25:55: What is the Future of Supply Chain?00:27:12: Outro

"You need to get visibility into the AI tokens, what workloads they are being used for, which users are using them, and what department they're coming out of. Most organizations don't have that visibility yet. They just get the bill." - Jon Winsett, CEO, NPI AI tokens have gone from a niche curiosity to a major line item practically overnight.  The cost models are new, spending is climbing at breakneck speed, and most enterprises can't actually see what's driving their biggest AI bills. For anyone tasked with managing technology spend, this is mission-critical territory for the rest of 2026 and beyond. In this episode, Philip Ideson speaks with Jon Winsett, CEO of NPI, to unpack everything procurement leaders need to know about AI tokens. Jon and his team advise some of the world's largest companies on navigating this new category and share what's working (and what's not). From budgeting pitfalls to guarding against runaway costs, Jon explains the challenges and opportunities associated with AI tokens. Jon tackles questions like: Where are organizations overspending? How do you negotiate when the rules keep changing? What practical steps can CPOs take right now?  Listen in for a pragmatic, insider's view on: -How and where rapidly rising AI token costs are hitting enterprise budgets   -Ways to build practical guardrails and learn from early missteps   -How to use open source models and contract negotiation as real levers   -Why current consumption-based pricing is likely to change again soon     Links: Jon Winsett | LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jon-winsett-0734b/  Enterprise AI Pulse Study: https://arcana-research.com/study/npi - For Fortune 1000 enterprises that want to participate Governing AI Token Spend - A Five-Layer Defense Framework: https://www.npifinancial.com/knowledge-center/white-paper-governing-ai-token-spend/ - Whitepaper Learn more about NPI: https://www.npifinancial.com/  Subscribe to the AOP Newsletter: https://resources.artofprocurement.com/art-of-procurement-podcast-subscribe  Subscribe to Art of Procurement on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ArtofProcurement   

Warum ist die stärkste Ladelösung oft nicht die beste? Derzeit reden alle über das Megawatt Charging. In dieser Episode spricht Stefan Richter, CEO von KEBA Energy Automation, im Vorfeld der Power2Drive Europe über die Realität elektrischer Flotten, die Herausforderungen bei der Planung zukunftssicherer Ladeinfrastruktur und die Veränderungen im Markt. Im Zentrum steht die Frage: Was brauchen Betreiber von Flotten wirklich? Während auf Messen und in Fachmedien (auch bei electrive) häufig immer neue Leistungsrekorde im Mittelpunkt stehen, sieht der Alltag vieler Unternehmen deutlich differenzierter aus. Entscheidend sind nicht nur Leistungsspitzen, sondern die Frage, wie Ladeinfrastruktur zum tatsächlichen Einsatzprofil einer Flotte passt. Das gilt für elektrische Autos, Transporter, Busse und Lkw gleichermaßen. Stefan Richter bringt es auf den Punkt: „Es ist nicht immer die volle Ladeleistung, es ist das Thema Verfügbarkeit und eigentlich wirklich zu analysieren, was brauche ich für meine Flotte.“ Im Gespräch geht es um die Herausforderungen von Pkw-, Transporter- und Lkw-Flotten. Aber auch um Skalierbarkeit, Standortplanung und die Frage, warum Unternehmen bereits bei der Planung weiterdenken müssen als bis zur ersten Ausbaustufe. Richter erläutert im Gespräch mit electrive-Chefredakteur Peter Schwierz, weshalb KEBA heute auf ein vollständiges AC- und DC-Portfolio setzt und warum Service, Interoperabilität und offene Systeme zunehmend zu entscheidenden Faktoren werden. Besonders spannend: Der Markt für Ladeinfrastruktur befindet sich aktuell mitten in einer Konsolidierungsphase. Betreiber verschwinden, Geschäftsmodelle verändern sich und viele Unternehmen fragen sich, wie sie Investitionen langfristig absichern können. Dazu sagt Richter: „Wir verfolgen hier ganz klar den Ansatz Interoperabilität. Die Hardware muss möglichst mit allen Backends, mit allen CPOs und mit allen MSP-Lösungen funktionieren.“ Darüber hinaus wirft die Folge einen Blick auf die Power2Drive Europe in München. KEBA stellt dort seine neue DC-Generation vor, zeigt aber auch neue Satelliten- und Compact-Charger-Konzepte und präsentiert KI-gestützte Funktionen zur Prävention von Kabeldiebstahl. Außerdem blickt Stefan Richter in die Glaskugel: Wird die Branche in fünf Jahren noch über Ladeabbrüche, Kartenprobleme oder fehlende Kompatibilität sprechen? Der KEBA-Chef ist optimistisch: „Ich glaube, wir werden über das Thema Zuverlässigkeit nicht mehr reden.“ Eine Episode über die Zukunft der Ladeinfrastruktur, die zunehmende Professionalisierung elektrischer Flotten und die Frage, warum die beste Lösung oft nicht die mit der höchsten Ladeleistung ist.

The Oireachtas Joint Committee on Agriculture and Food meet today to discuss the impacts of greenways, railways and roadways on agriculture. The Irish Farmer's Association has called the compulsory purchase of farmland for the development of this infrastructure as ‘fundamentally inappropriate.' Anton discusses this further with Paul O'Brien, Chair of the IFA Infrastructure Project Team.

In this episode, we sit down with Daniel Thulfaut, Head of Product at saas.group, one of Europe's most active SaaS acquirers. With 24 companies in the portfolio and more than €100M in ARR, Daniel has a unique perspective on how product organizations are evolving in the age of AI. We discuss why many product managers have spent the last decade acting as backlog managers rather than true product leaders, and why AI is now forcing a return to the fundamentals of product management: customer understanding, strategic thinking, prioritization, and decision-making. We also explore why "good enough" products are becoming easier than ever to build, why that raises the bar for SaaS companies, and what legacy SaaS businesses must do to stay competitive against a new generation of AI-native startups. Topics we cover include: • Why the traditional product manager role is changing rapidly • The difference between backlog management and real product leadership • Why AI makes customer discovery more important, not less • Why legacy SaaS companies struggle to realize the promised 10x AI productivity gains • The rise of the "product engineer" and what it means for teams • How feature flags, experimentation, and faster feedback loops change product development • Why shipping more features is not the same as creating more value • What CEOs and CPOs should do right now to prepare their product organizations for the future • Why understanding customer problems remains the most valuable skill in product management One of the most interesting takeaways from the conversation is that AI is not replacing product thinking. If anything, it's making it more valuable. When building becomes easier, deciding what to build becomes the real competitive advantage. If you're a founder, CEO, CPO, product leader, or anyone trying to navigate the future of SaaS, this episode is packed with practical insights and plenty of food for thought.

Today I want to talk about the relationship between a CRO and a Chief Product Officer, especially when they share OKRs.The first thing I'll say is that I love shared OKRs. They create accountability, trust, communication, and teamship. They force revenue and product leaders to work through challenges together instead of operating in silos.The challenge comes when the CRO is measured on bookings and revenue while the CPO is measured on adoption and product usage. Both leaders are trying to achieve business growth, but they're often looking at different data and hearing different signals from the market.So how do you solve that tension?For me, it starts with communication. The CRO needs to understand how the CPO prefers to receive feedback and market intelligence. Product teams don't just need complaints—they need patterns, context, and evidence that help them make informed roadmap decisions.This is especially important in HR tech because buyer expectations change quickly. The reasons HR leaders bought software a few years ago may be completely different from the reasons they're buying today.That's why companies need a structured way to gather market feedback and translate it into actionable insights for product teams. When that happens, product leaders gain more trust in revenue feedback, revenue leaders gain more appreciation for product constraints, and both teams become more aligned.At the end of the day, most CRO-CPO conflict isn't about each other. It's about reacting to pressure and trying to hit goals.The best leaders remember that neither side is the enemy. The market is simply providing information, and both teams need to respond to it together.When product and revenue align around what the market is actually telling them, shared OKRs become a true competitive advantage.

This was a milestone episode to wrap up the season - episode 300 of EV Musings.In this special roundtable, I'm joined by Dora Clarke (Osprey Charging), Kate Tyrrell (EVCI Global / ChargeSafe), and Teresa Swift (Stark Charge) for an honest discussion on the real-world driver experience, from signage and infrastructure to advertising, pricing, and making EVs more accessible.What You'll Discover- The State of EV Road Signage: Why current signage is lacking, what drivers actually need to see, and how better signs could boost confidence and utilisation.- Profit vs People in Public Charging: The real economics facing CPOs, the pressures on pricing, and whether operators are prioritising the driver experience.- Advertising on Chargers: Should drivers see ads while charging, and what (if anything) they should get in return - discounts, freebies, or better facilities?What really stood out is how much of the conversation came back to trust and practicality. Whether it's clearer signage so people can actually find chargers, maintaining sites properly, or making the whole experience feel welcoming (especially for women and new EV drivers), the panel agreed that getting the fundamentals right will matter far more than flashy gimmicks as the market matures.A brilliant, wide-ranging discussion to close out Season 15 and hit a huge milestone for EV Musings.The EV Musings Podcast is sponsored by Zapmap, the go-to app for EV drivers, helping you find and pay for public charging with confidence.Episode produced by Arran Sheppard at Urban Podcasts: https://www.urbanpodcasts.co.uk(C) 2019-2026 Gary ComerfordSupport me: Patreon Link: http://www.patreon.com/evmusingsKo-fi Link: http://www.ko-fi.com/evmusingsThe Books:'So, you've gone electric?' on Amazon : https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07Q5JVF1X'So, you've gone renewable?' on Amazon : https://amzn.to/3LXvIckSocial Media:EVMusings: Twitter https://twitter.com/MusingsEvInstagram: @EVmusingsOctopus Energy referral code (Click this link to get started) https://share.octopus.energy/neat-star-460Upgrade to smarter EV driving with a free week's trial of Zapmap Premium, find out more here https://evmusings.com/zapmap-premiumMentioned in this episode:ZapmapThe EV Musings Podcast is sponsored by Zapmap, the go-to app for EV drivers, helping you find and pay for public charging with confidence. Zapmap is free to download and use, with subscription plans for enhanced features such as using Zapmap in-car on CarPlay or Android Auto, and discounted charging across thousands of charge points. Download the app from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store or find out more at www.zapmap.com.Zapmap EV Guide

What if the role that has defined a generation of tech careers disappears within five years? In this inaugural episode of the fifth year of the CPO Rising Series, Products That Count Founder & Managing Partner SC Moatti and Resident CPO Renee Niemi make their boldest prediction yet: the product manager as we know it will be replaced by the product builder by 2030. Drawing on conversations with over 1,500 CPOs this year alone, Renee unpacks what is driving the shift, what separates good CPOs from great ones from the best, and why for companies that do not get ahead of this transition, the risk is not just competitive. It is existential.

"If you focus on stakeholders' needs and add value, the savings will always follow." - Brad DeHart, Senior Vice President, Customer Growth, Continuum Procurement leaders have always been expected to deliver value under pressure, but when resources are thin, the old playbook just doesn't cut it. What does it take to truly become a trusted partner to the business and move beyond savings-only conversations? Art of Procurement host Philip Ideson welcomes Brad DeHart, a seasoned leader who's helped shape marketing procurement functions across industries. Brad's experience spans both the buy and sell sides, giving him a front-row seat to what works, and what might set your team back. In this candid discussion, Brad challenges common assumptions about where procurement should focus their efforts, why some models falter, and how the right mindset (and soft skills) open real doors to influence. He shares memorable stories and actionable advice for CPOs and category leads navigating complexity and stakeholder fatigue. In this episode, Brad covers: - Redesigning relationships with marketing to move beyond 'just savings' - Recognizing why the 'strategic vs. tactical spend' debate misses the point - Structuring teams for trust, influence, and long-term results - Building soft skills that matter as much as procurement expertise   Links: Brad DeHart on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/braddehart/  Subscribe to the AOP Newsletter: https://resources.artofprocurement.com/art-of-procurement-podcast-subscribe  Subscribe to Art of Procurement on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ArtofProcurement   

"Procurement has to become an ecosystem builder for the enterprise, because no enterprise can do everything by itself in today's world." - Saurabh Gupta Procurement leaders are feeling the pressure to "be AI-first," yet most struggle to get past the hype and deliver real business value. With AI reshaping buying categories and challenging process norms, now is the time to rethink procurement's role. In this ProcureTech Insider episode, Saurabh Gupta, President of HFS, joins Jyothi Hartley to talk candidly about how AI is forcing procurement to confront old habits and rethink category strategy. Saurabh introduces practical frameworks for CPOs striving to become strategic partners, not just operational gatekeepers. He shares how blending services and software is creating a new buying challenge, and why procurement must finally forge closer ties to business outcomes and work across traditional silos. In this episode, Saurabh discusses how to: Pinpoint the "debts" holding procurement back from adopting AI Build a balanced 4P framework for tracking AI's value Prepare for the rise of "services as software" and what it means for category management Shift the procurement mindset from reactive support to enterprise ecosystem builder Links: Saurabh Gupta on LinkedIn The CPO mandate: Seize the AI moment and claim the strategy seat Subscribe to the AOP Newsletter Subscribe to Art of Procurement on YouTube  

"Digital masters aren't just deploying technology. They're changing the way procurement runs." - Chris Riley, Partner - Supply Chain and Procurement, Deloitte As AI-enabled tools shift the landscape from efficiency to true strategic impact, CPOs are tasked with making sense of new operating models, changing expectations, and how to redeploy talent toward higher-value work. In this episode, Deloitte's Chris Riley, Ryan Flynn, and Jocelyn Mayfield join Philip Ideson to break down the findings of Deloitte's latest CPO and AI surveys. They reveal what sets digital masters apart, how top teams link digital investments to business outcomes, and what it takes to move from process efficiency to business advisor. Whether you're rolling out AI for the first time or redesigning your operating model, this conversation dives deep into practical lessons and next steps for forward-thinking procurement teams. In this episode, Chris, Ryan, and Jocelyn will discuss: - What "digital masters" do differently  - Why operating model design now has existential importance for procurement - The real opportunity (and challenge) in reskilling for the AI era - How cultural change and reward systems drive sustainable transformation Links: Chris Riley on LinkedIn Ryan Flynn on LinkedIn Jocelyn Mayfield on LinkedIn Subscribe to the AOP Newsletter Subscribe to Art of Procurement on YouTube   As used in this document, "Deloitte" means Deloitte Consulting LLP, a subsidiary of Deloitte LLP. Please seewww.deloitte.com/us/aboutfor a detailed description of our legal structure. Certain services may not be available to attest clients under the rules and regulations of public accounting. This podcast contains general information only and Deloitte is not, by means of this podcast, rendering accounting, business, financial, investment, legal, tax, or other professional advice or services. This podcast is not a substitute for such professional advice or services, nor should it be used as a basis for any decision or action that may affect your business. Before making any decision or taking any action that may affect your business, you should consult a qualified professional advisor. Deloitte shall not be responsible for any loss sustained by any person who relies on this podcast.  

"Right now, procurement needs to define their future role in the business. Procurement needs to drive that for themselves, because if we don't, then someone is going to drive it for us, and that could drive us out." - Gordon Donovan, Vice President Research - Procurement & External Workforce, SAP Business models are being disrupted, and so is procurement. This year's Economist Impact report reveals a sharp drop in C-suite confidence, a dramatic return to basics on cost and compliance, and AI taking center stage as both opportunity and challenge.  Amid these changes, how can CPOs set a strategy that's fit for tomorrow, not just today? Gordon Donovan, VP of Research for Procurement and External Workforce at SAP, returns to the show with exclusive data and a candid view on industry shifts. Gordon breaks down what really matters in this year's survey: the operational realities behind AI, the new direction for category management, and why rethinking old processes is the only way forward. In this episode, Gordon discusses: Why procurement confidence shrank up to 18% globally   The importance of zeroing in on cost and compliance as resurgent priorities   Rethinking category management for a complex new landscape   How to pinpoint where AI delivers and the barriers still holding teams back   Why now is the time to reinvent, not just digitize Links: Gordon Donovan on LinkedIn Subscribe to the AOP Newsletter Subscribe to Art of Procurement on YouTube  

"Don't speak about category savings because that's procurement lingo. We need to speak about gross margin expansion at the end-product level." - Sammeli Sammalkorpi, Co-Founder and CEO, Sievo Spend analytics has moved well beyond spreadsheets, but most organizations are still guessing about what 'good' performance looks like.  When Sievo analyzed $1.4 trillion of procurement spend, the findings were both confirming and, in some places, eye-opening. With the business landscape changing rapidly, adaptation backed by data is more important than ever. In this Art of Procurement podcast episode, Philip Ideson and Kelly Barner are joined by Sammeli Sammalkorpi, Co-Founder and CEO of Sievo. Sammeli details Sievo's approach to benchmarking, the surprising patterns in the data, and where CPOs may be missing untapped value. He also shares practical ways to reframe procurement's business impact, anchoring spend to revenue, and challenging old assumptions about control. The conversation covers fresh ways to benchmark your team's performance, build actionable industry comparisons, and rethink what matters in spend analytics. In this episode, Sammeli discusses: Why even the most mature organizations still miss large opportunities How to identify the hidden business impact of spend spikes and payment terms The importance of comparing industry benchmarks to spot real, actionable gaps Rethinking "control" in procurement: Is a PO always required? How clean data unlocks speed and better decisions Links: Sammeli Sammalkorpi on LinkedIn State of Spend Report 2025 Subscribe to the AOP Newsletter Subscribe to Art of Procurement on YouTube  

In the latest episode of Executive Function, Brett is joined by Diya Jolly, Chief Product and Technology Officer at Xero. Before Xero, Diya was CPT at Okta and led YouTube's advertising monetization products at Google. In this conversation, she unpacks her three-bucket framework for delegating decisions, why the most important part of a CPO's role is to drive team-wide ambition, and why the best executives need to spend half their time thinking, not doing. In today's episode, we discuss: Why a CPO's number one job is raising their team's ambition, not shipping features How to demand the best from your team without creating a fear-based culture Why organizational politics is actually an incentives problem How Diya is “militant” with her calendar to carve out dedicated thinking time Why you should avoid chasing titles in your career - and what to chase instead References: Google: https://www.google.com Melio: https://meliopayments.com Okta: https://www.okta.com Sukhinder Singh Cassidy: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sukhinders/ Xero: https://www.xero.com Where to find Diya: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/diyajolly Where to find Brett: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brett-berson-9986094/ Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/brettberson Where to find First Round Capital: Website: https://firstround.com/ First Round Review: https://review.firstround.com/ Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/firstround YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@FirstRoundCapital This podcast on all platforms: https://review.firstround.com/podcast Timestamps: 00:12 How an excellent CPO makes an impact on the business 02:01 How the CPO role shifts under founders vs hired CEOs 03:38 Influencing a founder without going deferential 07:37 How adding value to customers is always a net positive 08:45 Why roadmaps need more risk in the AI era 12:30 How to shelter innovation teams from the existing system 15:12 What's different about being a great CPO in 2026 17:34 How AI has changed the concept of an app 18:28 It's essential for CPOs to fly at a low altitude 20:34 How misaligned incentives cause organizational politics 25:13 Being demanding without creating a fear-based culture 28:10 Why raising ambition is a CPO's number one job 31:39 The boss who taught Diya to keep raising the bar 32:43 The hardest part of being a CPO 35:28 The three buckets Diya uses to delegate 36:30 How Diya protects deep-work time on her calendar 42:45 Xero's game-changing early bet on AI insights 44:58 How far into the future should CPOs plan for? 47:14 What it takes to be an excellent C-suite member 48:53 Why ambitious PMs should chase impact, not titles 50:28 The four bottlenecks that stall career growth

In this live episode of The Modern People Leader recorded in Toronto, the crew reflects on the evolving role of HR leaders amid rising AI pressure, shifting expectations, and increasing emotional load. They unpack real-time challenges around strategy clarity, leadership trust, and how people teams must adapt to stay effective in a rapidly changing world. Our guests for this episode:- Kate Railton, Chief People Officer @ Mejuri- Katya Laviolette, Chief People Officer @ 1Password- Jenny Do Forno, Chief People Officer @ TouchBistro----  Sponsor Links:

In a world defined by volatility, procurement leaders need more than gut instinct to navigate supply chain risks. From regulatory pressure to sudden trade disruptions, organizations can't afford blind spots. This is why risk intelligence and AI-powered efficiency are climbing the CPO agenda. This week, Harald Nitschinger, co-founder and CEO of Prewave, joins the ProcureTech Insider podcast to discuss how their platform helps organizations move beyond basic supplier visibility to real-time, actionable risk insights. Built with both ESG compliance and resilience in mind, Prewave's approach helps procurement teams anticipate – not just react to – new threats and opportunities. Harald shares how deep supply chain mapping, scenario planning, and seamless integration with procurement tools have set Prewave apart with over 250 global brands. Listen to the full episode to hear Harald's insights on: Uncovering ways to map and monitor risk across all supplier tiers in real time How Prewave's approach balances compliance, sustainability, and operational resilience How leading procurement teams are automating risk identification and avoiding survey overload What's next for AI-driven supply chain intelligence and how CPOs can get ahead Links: Harald Nitschinger on LinkedIn Subscribe to the AOP Newsletter Subscribe to Art of Procurement on YouTube Learn More About Prewave in AOP's Provider Directory  

How are Chief Product Officers redesigning their org charts and ways of working to build truly AI-native product teams? In this podcast hosted by Hoda Mehr, Co-founder and CEO of Up My Mojo and a Board Member at Products That Count, Monumental Chief Product Officer Pawan Gaargi will be speaking on how product leaders are transforming their teams to operate in the AI era. As organizations move beyond using AI as a feature-level tool and begin rethinking how products are built, shipped, and managed, product leaders are being asked to reshape processes, decision-making, and collaboration across their teams. Drawing from his experience scaling teams and rebuilding workflows through acquisitions at Monumental and from his early product leadership roots at Zynga, Pawan shares how experimentation, hypothesis-driven thinking, and hands-on leadership are helping teams become AI-native while keeping core product fundamentals like retention, player motivation, and growth metrics firmly in focus.

"Change is the only constant today. Disruption is happening more frequently, and procurement has to be ready for the unknown." - Jon Jensen, Partner & Managing Director, AlixPartners Procurement leaders are facing more disruption, pressure, and technology change than ever before. Resilience, agility, and the smart use of AI are now table stakes, but only a handful of teams are turning these shifts into real business advantage.  How are the best-in-class CPOs getting ahead? In this episode, Amit Mahajan and Jon Jensen, Partners at AlixPartners, reveal insights from the 2026 CPO Executive Insights Report. They share how top teams are shifting from a cost focus to value creation, why indirect procurement is becoming a growth engine, and what's really holding back AI adoption in procurement. You'll also hear practical guidance on balancing quick AI wins with long-term ROI, and how leaders make disruption work for them instead of against them. In this episode, Amit and Jon cover: The core disruptions shaping CPO priorities in 2026 Approach AI adoption with practical use cases, not expectations for perfection Engage suppliers and stakeholders with new strategies Links: 2026 CPO Executive Insights Report Amit Mahajan on LinkedIn Jon Jensen on LinkedIn Subscribe to the AOP Newsletter Subscribe to Art of Procurement on YouTube  

AI transformation doesn't fail because of technology, it fails because of culture. In this episode of Technovation, Peter High speaks with Trevor Schulze, CIO, and Eva Majercsik, Chief People Officer, of Genesys, about how they are jointly leading a human-centric AI transformation across a 6,000-person global organization. Together, they unpack why AI must be treated as a cultural shift and how organizations can drive adoption at scale. Key insights include: Why AI literacy is the foundation of enterprise adoption How CIOs and CPOs must co-own transformation The shift from automation to augmentation in the agentic era How experimentation unlocks innovation across the workforce Why change management is now a core leadership capability

In this episode of NASCIO Voices, Amy is joined by NASCIO guest host Kalea Young-Gibson to break down NASCIO's latest report on the state Chief Privacy Officer (CPO) role. The report — based on responses from all 28 currently active state CPOs — reveals a role that's growing fast but still fighting for the resources it needs.Amy and Kalea dig into the rapid expansion of CPOs across state government (from just 5 states in 2015 to 31 in 2026), the push toward formal privacy programs and frameworks, and how AI is reshaping — and sometimes overshadowing — the privacy function. Despite CPOs stepping into enterprise leadership roles, most still lack dedicated budgets, enforcement authority, and sufficient staffing.The conversation also covers what CPOs say they need most: funding, CIO support, and a stronger seat at the table. Amy's key takeaway? CPOs know exactly what to do — they just need the authority and investment to do it.Key topics covered:Growth of the state CPO rolePrivacy program maturity and the NIST frameworkCPO involvement in AI policy and riskTop challenges: funding, authority, and awarenessWhat CPOs need to succeed in 2026 and beyondAnd what we're reading!

"You don't want to over-engineer orchestration. The goal is progress, not complexity." - Philip Ideson, Founder and Managing Director, Art of Procurement There has never been more tech available to procurement, but navigating the orchestration market is anything but simple.  In this episode, Philip Ideson and Kelly Barner unpack the findings from AOP's upcoming "State of Orchestration" report, which is based on conversations with CPOs, digital leaders, and orchestration providers. They share the big trends, the evolving definition of orchestration, and candid advice on what to ask and look for before you buy. Investment is surging, capabilities are converging, and the stakes for business impact keep rising. This episode is your fast-track to understanding where orchestration fits into your tech stack and operating model, and how to choose a solution that aligns with your priorities and risk appetite.  In this episode, Kelly and Philip cover: The five core categories for evaluating orchestration platforms The questions to ask about native workflow depth versus integrations How to avoid common pitfalls in change management and solution over-customization Real customer adoption trends and what they signal    Links: Philip Ideson on LinkedIn Kelly Barner on LinkedIn Subscribe to the AOP Newsletter Subscribe to Art of Procurement on YouTube  

Most of the conversation about rebuilding product management comes from two ends of the spectrum: AI-first startups with 30 people and no real installed base, or big tech with thousands of PMs and decades of process. This episode is about the third category: companies that went public in the last few years, have real customers and revenue to protect, and are now trying to move like startups again. The CPOs of Hims & Hers, Rubrik, and Figma joined me to discuss what that actually looks like. Several of their findings directly contradict the advice you'd get from either end of the spectrum.Key topics• Why going public doesn't mean replacing your PM team with "business people"• Why AI makes PM workload explode, not shrink• What happens when engineering is no longer the bottleneck• The skill Figma values most at scale (and why speed is the wrong thing to optimize for)• Whether the IPO date is a real line in the sand—and why Yuhki and Anneka land in different places• Why AI adoption at post-IPO companies requires the CPO to go first• How Anneka wrote her team's Claude Code onboarding guide, opened the GitHub repos, and built a triage agent between meetings• Why Dheerja joined Hims & Hers as the "AI Queen"• Dheerja's three-part AI framework she's executing on• Why Yuhki hired AI veterans first—then immediately hired people with no AI background at all• The case against take-homes (and Anneka's idea for what should replace them)• What a blank canvas reveals about a PM candidate that no case study or behavioral question can• Why every PM is about to become a manager of agents• How to talk to your team when the stock is down and you haven't announced anything new• Why Figma deprecated annual planning—and what Yuhki thinks will become core PM work within a yearWhere to find Nikhyl• Twitter/X• LinkedInWhere to find Anneka• LinkedInWhere to find Dheerja• LinkedInWhere to find Yuhki• LinkedInJoin The Skip• Skip Coach• Skip CommunityFind The Skip• Website• Substack• YouTube• Spotify• Apple PodcastsTimestamps(00:00) Anneka on leading from the top: visibly & vulnerably(00:45) Intro: three CPOs, one inflection point(05:53) How PM accountability shifts from startup to post-IPO(07:24) The GM model: when PMs own P&L, not just product metrics(10:54) Hiring systems thinkers over feature builders(15:08) Where AI is actually moving the needle in enterprise B2B(20:37) The three components of AI transformation(24:13) How going public changes perception management at Figma(27:00) Navigating stock drops and keeping teams focused(30:30) Creating space for AI learning when the team is already maxed(35:12) 3 steps to seeding AI teams(40:03) How everyone is becoming a manager of agents(44:34) Yuhki on resourcefulness and the blank canvas take-home(47:40) Dheerja: go an hour deep on one real decision in the interview(50:56) Why live pair Claude Code sessions is the future of PM interviews(53:13) Predictions for 2026 and beyond(55:34) Why it's the best time in history to be a PMDon't forget to subscribe to The Skip to hear me coach you through timely career lessons. Access exclusive sessions from 100+ top product leaders at skip.coach. If you're interested in joining me on a future call, send me a note on LinkedIn, Threads, or Twitter. You can also email me at nikhyl@skip.community This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit theskip.substack.com

"The winners will be the people who make it happen themselves. The losers will be the ones that just bury their heads in the sand." - Andrew Daley, Managing Director, Digital Procurement and Supply Chain at Edbury Daley The AI revolution is transforming procurement faster than ever before. Whether you're upskilling your team or rethinking your operating model, the choices you make now will set the pace for your entire function tomorrow. In this episode, Andrew Daley, Managing Director of Digital Procurement and Supply Chain at Edbury Daley, returns to share what he's seeing on the front lines of talent acquisition and digital transformation.  He explains why intellectual curiosity is the most sought-after trait in the AI era, how leading CPOs are shifting their strategies, and what separates thriving professionals from those at risk of being left behind. His advice: don't just keep up… get ahead. Andrew's practical perspective and new research data will spark ideas for every procurement leader ready to make their mark. In this episode, Andrew covers: How to identify the mindset that sets top procurement talent apart in an AI-driven world What leading organizations are (and aren't) doing to upskill their teams How AI-driven change will impact future operating models New survey data on AI adoption and readiness in procurement Actionable advice for building an AI-capable team Links: Andrew Daley on LinkedIn Building a 'Dream Scenario' of Procurement Excellence Subscribe to This Week in Procurement Subscribe to Art of Procurement on YouTube  

Growing a business isn't just about what you build, it's about who you build it with. In this episode, Nathaniel Chapman speaks with Abigail Wilmore about the power of fractional CPOs and why leadership matters earlier than most businesses expect.Follow Impel TalentLinkedIn: Impel TalentTwitter: @ImpelTalentFacebook: @Impel TalentInstagram: @ImpelTalentJoin us for illuminating discussions, practical insights, and a roadmap for thriving in an ever-shifting world. Subscribe now and join the conversation as we break new ground in leadership excellence!

How do product leaders think big enough to compete in an AI-native world? In this podcast hosted by Sid Shaik, Walmart U.S. former Chief Product Officer John Alferness joins us again and speaks on scaling AI at retail and enterprise scale. He breaks down how CPOs can separate core AI capabilities from applications, choose the right moonshots, and use AI to unlock personalization, efficiency, and growth in low-margin businesses.

What separates the CPOs who scale with confidence from those who get stuck? In this podcast hosted by Sid Shaik, Pendo Chief Product Officer Trisha Price breaks down how top product leaders think, operate, and make decisions that move entire organizations forward. She shares hard-earned lessons from scaling complex enterprise software, leading both vertical and horizontal product portfolios, and shaping product strategy in a fast-moving AI era.

"We want our customers to be able to put their own internal procurement rules into our Amazon Business marketplace, so they can feel secure and still get that great experience." - Todd Heimes, Vice President and General Manager, Amazon Business Worldwide  Right now, procurement leaders are balancing pressure to deliver savings, manage risk, and remove barriers for business users. As organizations get more complex, the need for connected digital procurement – and real-time, actionable insights – makes all the difference. In this episode, Philip Ideson speaks with Todd Heimes, Vice President and General Manager of Amazon Business Worldwide. With over two decades at Amazon, Todd shares how the team is tackling tail spend, embedding compliance, and rolling out new analytics and AI-driven tools designed for modern enterprise needs. They go beyond just digital catalogs: this is about building a procurement ecosystem that works for both CPOs and everyday users. This conversation is an inside look at how Amazon Business is helping procurement teams automate the busywork, drive transparency, and support smarter, decentralized decision-making.  In this episode, Todd discusses: How to build digital procurement that fits your tech stack, not works against it Reducing rogue spend while making buying easier for users Using guided buying to set rules and drive compliance invisibly Turning analytics and AI into real actions, not just reporting Links: Todd Heimes on LinkedIn Subscribe to This Week in Procurement Subscribe to Art of Procurement on YouTube

Shannon Hobbs, Chief People Officer at BNY, joined us to unpack how the bank is scaling its early-career pipeline, flattening org design, and running a culture-first transformation.We discussed BNY's in-house AI hub “Eliza” (99% employee certification, 15k+ agents, 100 digital employees), plus practical advice for CHROs on building AI capability safely and at scale.---- How BNY is betting big on early talent (PDF): https://modernpeopleleader.kit.com/episode267Sponsor Links:

Nesrine Changuel helped build Spotify, Google Chrome, and Google Meet. Her work has helped her discover the importance of emotional connection in building successful products. At Google, she served as a dedicated “delight PM,” a role specifically focused on making products more delightful. She recently published Product Delight, a book that provides a practical framework for creating products that serve both functional and emotional needs. Based in Paris, she now coaches founders and CPOs on implementing delight strategies in their organizations.What you'll learn:1. Why delight is a business strategy, not just “sprinkling confetti” on top of functionality2. How to identify emotional motivators that drive product retention3. The 50-40-10 rule for balancing delight in your roadmap4. The 4-step delight model5. The origin story of Spotify's Discover Weekly6. Why B2B products need delight just as much as B2C products7. How to get buy-in from skeptical leaders who think delight is a luxury—Brought to you by:DX—The developer intelligence platform designed by leading researchers: https://getdx.com/lennyJira Product Discovery—Confidence to build the right thing: https://atlassian.com/lennyLucidLink—Real-time cloud storage for teams: https://www.lucidlink.com/lenny—Transcript: https://www.lennysnewsletter.com/p/a-4-step-framework-for-building-delightful-products—My biggest takeaways (for paid newsletter subscribers): https://www.lennysnewsletter.com/i/174199489/my-biggest-takeaways-from-this-conversation—Where to find Nesrine Changuel:• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nesrinechanguel/• Newsletter: https://nesrinechanguel.substack.com/• Website: https://nesrine-changuel.com/—Where to find Lenny:• Newsletter: https://www.lennysnewsletter.com• X: https://twitter.com/lennysan• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lennyrachitsky/—In this episode, we cover:(00:00) Introduction to Nesrine and product delight(04:56) Why delight matters(09:17) What makes a feature “delightful”(12:29) The three pillars of delight(13:03) Pillar 1: Removing friction (Uber refund example)(15:07) Pillar 2: Anticipating needs (Revolut eSIM example)(17:21) Pillar 3: Exceeding expectations (Edge coupon example)(18:35) The “confetti effect” and when it actually works(22:02) B2B vs. B2C: Why all products need emotional connection(29:52) The Delight Model: A 4-step framework(30:57) Step 1: Identifying user motivators (functional and emotional)(33:55) Step 2: Converting motivators into product opportunities(34:46) Step 3: Identifying solutions with the delight grid(36:46) Step 4: Validating ideas with the delight checklist(40:22) The Delight Model summarized(42:18) The importance of familiarity (Spotify Discover Weekly story)(45:21) Real examples: Chrome's tab management solution(51:32) Google Meet's solution for “Zoom fatigue”(55:02) Getting buy-in from skeptical leaders(59:39) Prioritizing delight: The 50-40-10 rule(1:02:41) Creating a culture of delight in your organization(1:06:45) The habituation effect(1:08:15) When delight goes wrong: Apple reactions example(1:10:21) How delight motivates product teams(1:12:24) Lightning round and final thoughts—Referenced:• Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/• Linear: https://linear.app/• How Linear builds product: https://www.lennysnewsletter.com/p/how-linear-builds-product• Jira: https://www.atlassian.com/software/jira• Asana: https://asana.com/• Monday: https://monday.com/• The Product Delight Model: https://nesrinechanguel.substack.com/p/the-product-delight-model• Revolut: https://www.revolut.com/• How Revolut trains world-class product managers: The “local CEO” model, raw intellect over experience, and a cultural obsession with building wow products | Dmitry Zlokazov (Head of Product): https://www.lennysnewsletter.com/p/how-revolut-trains-world-class-product-managers• Microsoft Cashback: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/edge/features/shopping-cashback• Superhuman's secret to success: Ignoring most customer feedback, manually onboarding every new user, obsessing over every detail, and positioning around a single attribute: speed | Rahul Vohra (CEO): https://www.lennysnewsletter.com/p/superhumans-secret-to-success-rahul-vohra• Brian Chesky's secret mentor who died 9 times, started the Burning Man board, and built the world's first midlife wisdom school | Chip Conley (founder of MEA): https://www.lennysnewsletter.com/p/chip-conley• Workday: https://www.workday.com/• SAP: https://www.sap.com/• ServiceNow: https://www.servicenow.com/• Salesforce: https://www.salesforce.com/• GitHub: https://github.com/• Atlassian: https://www.atlassian.com/• Snowflake: https://www.snowflake.com/• Data Superheroes: https://www.snowflake.com/en/data-superheroes/• Google Meet: https://meet.google.com/• Andy Nesling on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andynesling/• Matic: https://maticrobots.com/• Diego Sanchez's (Senior Product Manager at Buffer) post on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7365014292091346945/• Miro: https://miro.com/• Arc browser: https://arc.net/• Competing with giants: An inside look at how The Browser Company builds product | Josh Miller (CEO): https://www.lennysnewsletter.com/p/competing-with-giants-an-inside-look• Migros Supermarket: https://www.migros.ch/• The rise of Cursor: The $300M ARR AI tool that engineers can't stop using | Michael Truell (co-founder and CEO): https://www.lennysnewsletter.com/p/the-rise-of-cursor-michael-truell• Building Lovable: $10M ARR in 60 days with 15 people | Anton Osika (CEO and co-founder): https://www.lennysnewsletter.com/p/building-lovable-anton-osika• Linear's secret to building beloved B2B products | Nan Yu (Head of Product): https://www.lennysnewsletter.com/p/linears-secret-to-building-beloved-b2b-products-nan-yu• Suno: https://suno.com• Snapchat: https://www.snapchat.com/• Use Reactions, Presenter Overlay, and other effects when videoconferencing on Mac: https://support.apple.com/en-us/105117• Dr. Lipp: https://drlipp.com/• How to be the best coach to product people | Petra Wille (Strong Product People): https://www.lennysnewsletter.com/p/how-to-be-the-best-coach-to-product• The Great American Baking Show: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt21822674/• Le Meilleur Pâtissier: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Le_Meilleur_P%C3%A2tissier• The Upside on Amazon Prime: https://www.amazon.com/gp/video/detail/amzn1.dv.gti.3cb8500f-31af-9f4f-5dec-701e086d58e8• The Intouchables: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1675434/• Yoyo stroller: https://www.stokke.com/USA/en-us/category/strollers/yoyo-strollers• UppaBaby strollers: https://uppababy.com/strollers/—Recommended books:• Product Delight: How to Make Your Product Stand Out with Emotional Connection: https://www.amazon.com/Product-Delight-Stand-Emotional-Connection-ebook/dp/B0FGZ93D9Y/• Factfulness: Ten Reasons We're Wrong About the World—and Why Things Are Better Than You Think: https://www.amazon.com/Factfulness-Reasons-World-Things-Better/dp/1250107814• STRONG Product Communities: The Essential Guide to Product Communities of Practice: https://www.amazon.com/STRONG-Product-Communities-Essential-Practice/dp/3982235189/r—Production and marketing by https://penname.co/. For inquiries about sponsoring the podcast, email podcast@lennyrachitsky.com.Lenny may be an investor in the companies discussed. To hear more, visit www.lennysnewsletter.com