Podcasts about Digital transformation

What does it mean to secure the world's largest hyperscale cloud, while AI rewrites the rules of identity, threat detection, and security culture? In this episode of AWS Executive Insights: Security Series, Clarke Rodgers sits down with Amy Herzog, Chief Information Security Officer at AWS, for a candid conversation on what it takes to lead security at scale in the age of AI.Amy draws on her experience leading consumer AI products to argue that security should accelerate innovation, not hinder it. She explores how AWS is deploying AI for defense, why agentic AI demands a rethink of identity, and how the Security Guardians program embeds security culture across the entire organization.

This very special episode is our first EVER live video recording with an audience of Woman Alive readers, writers, friends and friends of the podcast! Today's conversation on The Sisterhood, is inspired by International Women's Day. We live in a culture which seemingly takes any opportunity to pit women against each other. In the Bible, we have examples like Rachel and Leah competing for Jacob's affection – representing the complexity of the relationships we have with other women. Our host, Tola-Doll Fisher and her guests ask, how do we shift from high school mean girl culture, to women supporting women – at church, at work – even on the school run? And what happens when we respond to Jesus' prayer for unity (Luke 17) and intentionally curate safe spaces for women? Hannah Stephenson-Kelly is an ordinand in the Church of England. Her article for Woman Alive is the inspiration for the discussion we're having today. Read it here: https://www.womanalive.co.uk/opinion/sisterhood-is-not-just-a-label-that-ties-together-a-group-of-women-in-a-90s-sitcom/17330.article Alisa Latty-Alleyne is a leader in Christian media and has recently moved on from her role as National Director of The Christian Broadcasting Network (CBN) in UK and Ireland. Alisa has just started an Executive MBA at University of Warwick, specialising in Digital Transformation and Artificial Intelligence. You can connect with Alisa on LinkedIn by searching her full name. The Right Reverend Dr Jill Duff is the Anglican Bishop of Lancaster, a Premier trustee, and an author. Jill's new book is called Held in God's Gaze (SPCK) and aims to help readers discover the wisdom, prayer, and spiritual insight of saints and mystics across Christian history. The live audience Q&A questions in this episode were: 1. Has Jesus also redeemed the desire to be “liked” that Jill referred to after the fall? And if yes, how do we live in the redeemed state? 2. Meanness can be rooted in anxiety and comparison. Do you think this is more of a challenge in the digital, social media age that girls and women exist in today? 3. ⁠How does the Gospel help us understand sisterhood as part of God's design as opposed to just a social construct? 4. ⁠What would you say to women who have experienced heartbreak from sisterhood and are afraid to establish new sisterhoods? 5. ⁠⁠Do you think that sometimes we can have unrealistic expectations of each other as women and the capacity that we have to help uphold others? 6. ⁠Have any of you had to deal with betrayal by a sister, and if yes, how did you heal from it, or navigate the situation? The Woman Alive podcast is produced by award-winning podcast producer, Dami Okeke. Special offer! Podcast listeners get 50% off Woman Alive magazine: womanalive.co.uk/podcast

Nick Glimsdahl is a leading authority in Customer Experience (CX) and Digital Transformation, specializing in the critical connection between authentic service and business success.As the Director of Contact Center Solutions at VDS and host of the weekly podcast Press 1 For Nick, Nick combines deep expertise in sales, marketing, and contact-center strategy to help organizations create effortless and human-centered customer experiences. He advises companies on aligning business goals, customer expectations, and employee experience—often guiding organizations through complex initiatives such as digital transformation and AI adoption.Nick is also the author of The Heart of Service, where he champions service models that scale operationally without losing empathy, helping leaders and teams build customer experiences that drive long-term loyalty and growth.SHOW SUMMARYIn this episode of the Selling from the Heart Podcast, Larry Levine and Darrell Amy are joined by Nick Glimsdahl to explore the powerful idea that how you serve is how you sell. Nick explains that authentic selling begins with transparency, being honest about pricing, timelines, expectations, and outcomes so prospects can truly “see around the corner” and make informed decisions.The conversation highlights the often-overlooked period between contract signature and implementation, what Nick calls the “go-live gap.” When organizations fail to deliver a consistent experience during this phase, customers quickly lose trust, leading to buyer's remorse, lost renewals, and missed referrals.Nick also shares lessons from his book The Heart of Service, emphasizing the importance of listening deeply to customers and frontline employees, reviewing sales conversations to improve performance, and aligning internal teams to deliver a unified customer experience. This episode offers practical strategies for sales professionals to build trust, create seamless handoffs, and focus on long-term relationships rather than short-term wins.KEY TAKEAWAYSTransparency about pricing, timelines, expectations, and results builds stronger customer trust.The “go-live gap”—the period between signing and implementation—is critical to customer satisfaction and retention.Long-term customer lifetime value should take priority over quick transactional wins.Sales professionals shape the customer experience because they are often the first face of the organization.Strong internal alignment between sales, implementation, and customer success ensures a consistent experience.Listening more than talking helps sales professionals better understand customer needs.Genuine care and attention toward prospects differentiate sellers in a crowded marketplace.HIGHLIGHT QUOTES“Selling from the heart means being transparent—about price, timelines, expectations, and results.”“The more I spoke, the better I sounded… but that didn't mean people would buy.”“You don't have to be great. You just have to beat the DMV… but somewhere between Zappos and the DMV.”“Care more than everybody else.”“You don't close a sale. You open a relationship.”“Customers will easily go to your competitor—even if they have to pay more—for a better experience.”ADDITIONAL RESOURCESExplore the secrets of heart-centered leadership and thriving workplace cultures with Culture from the Heart Podcast! Nominate a visionary CEO at www.culturefromtheheart.com!Listen to Larry Levine's Bestselling Book — Selling in a Post-Trust World! Now available on Audible! Transform your sales approach with insights that matter.  SUBSCRIBE to our YOUTUBE CHANNEL! Stay updated with the latest episodes and leadership tips: Selling from the Heart YouTubeet Your Daily Dose of Inspiration:Click Here for Your Daily Dose

Summary Welcome to our 500th episode! To celebrate this milestone, Andy talks with Steve Brown, AI futurist, keynote speaker, and author of The AI Ultimatum: Preparing for a World of Intelligent Machines and Radical Transformation. Steve brings a rare perspective shaped by years at Intel and Google DeepMind, and today helps organizations navigate two vital questions: what future do you want to build with AI, and what future do you want to avoid? They explore why waiting isn't actually the safe option it feels like, how to think about the different "flavors" of AI beyond just generative tools, and what it really means to orchestrate humans, AI agents, and robots together in the workplace. Steve introduces three types of AI agents—offload, elevate, and extend—and explains the crucial difference between automating tasks and truly transforming how work gets done. You'll also hear his candid take on the fear of being replaced and why doubling down on your humanity is the smartest career move you can make right now. If you're looking for a practical, empowering guide to leading through the AI revolution—without the hype—this episode is for you! Sound Bites "The difference between an AI-enabled or AI-first company and an AI laggard is going to be so great that if you don't get on the train, you may get to the point where you can never catch up." "Your competitors who have embraced AI faster than you are going to be just kicking your butt all over town." "There's a serious cost to inaction in that you can become made irrelevant." "The danger with that is you may automate yourself. It may automate away all of the differentiation you have in your brand and your company." "AI is this sort of amplification technology, and the challenge is to balance cost-cutting and value creation." "Each flavor of AI is useful for solving a different type of business problem." "It feels like a digital employee, right? A digital worker that works for you." "It's taking the suck out of your job." "The real opportunity here, is to transform the way you do work rather than just try and automate away tasks or people." "The workplace of the future is going to be three groups. Humans will still be in the workforce. Great! Go us!" "You won't be replaced by an AI or a robot. You'll be replaced by someone who knows how to use AI better than you do." "Double down on your humanity." "Focus on building the skills that cannot be replaced, or at least won't be replaced by machines anytime soon." "At the end of all of this is going to be lives of abundance, where we have the things that we need." Chapters 00:00 Introduction 01:45 Start of Interview 01:54 Steve's Career Journey from Intel to DeepMind 05:00 Understanding the AI Ultimatum 08:23 Our First AI Moments 09:32 The Flavors of AI 13:54 Three Pathways to Creating Value with AI 15:11 Automation vs. Transformation 17:10 Orchestrating Humans, AI, and Robots 19:01 Real-World Examples of AI Agents 21:33 Physically Intelligent Robots in the Workplace 24:13 Addressing Fear and Resistance to AI 26:44 Preparing the Next Generation for the AI Age 29:56 Where to Learn More About Steve 31:01 End of Interview 31:38 Andy Comments After the Interview 36:23 Outtakes Learn More You can learn more about Steve and his work at SteveBrown.ai. For more learning on this topic, check out: Episode 479 with Matt Mong. It's a discussion about the AI skills you need to stay relevant. Episode 454 with Christie Smith. She talks about how AI is changing leadership, and what we can do about that now. Episode 437 with Nada Sanders. It's a discussion about future-prepping your career in an age of AI. You can also chat directly with PMeLa—the podcast's AI persona—to get episode recommendations and answers to your project management and leadership questions. Visit PeopleAndProjectsPodcast.com/PMeLa to chat with her. Level Up Your AI Skills Join other listeners from around the world who are taking our AI Made Simple course to prepare for an AI-infused future. Just go to ai.PeopleAndProjectsPodcast.com. Thanks! Pass the PMP Exam This Year If you or someone you know is thinking about getting PMP certified, we've put together a helpful guide called The 5 Best Resources to Help You Pass the PMP Exam on Your First Try. We've helped thousands of people earn their certification, and we'd love to help you too. It's totally free, and it's a great way to get a head start. Just go to 5BestResources.PeopleAndProjectsPodcast.com to grab your copy. I'd love to help you get your PMP this year! Join Us for LEAD52 I know you want to be a more confident leader–that's why you listen to this podcast. LEAD52 is a global community of people like you who are committed to transforming their ability to lead and deliver. It's 52 weeks of leadership learning, delivered right to your inbox, taking less than 5 minutes a week. And it's all for free. Learn more and sign up at GetLEAD52.com. Thanks! Thank you for joining me for this episode of The People and Projects Podcast! Talent Triangle: Business Acumen Topics: Artificial Intelligence, Leadership, Future of Work, AI Strategy, Digital Transformation, Agentic AI, Automation, Organizational Change, AI Ethics, Competitive Advantage, Human-AI Collaboration, Technology Adoption The following music was used for this episode: Music: Lullaby of Light featuring Cory Friesenhan by Sascha Ende License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license Music: Fashion Corporate by Frank Schroeter License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

So how do Kwaku's kids know that it's FAFO Friday? "They're like, 'oh, we know you're doing the podcast 'cause we just hear you cackling through the walls.'"So laugh along with Kwaku and me today as we work our way through a quick victory lap (stuff we said would happen last week happened!), why Sam is like that desperate guy at the bar who refuses to go home alone, quantum computing explained via children's literature, why the Jetsons are not reason enough for us to build humanoid robots, robot choreography (are we human or are we dancers?), wen self-driving cars in NY?, riding a wave of green lights up Manhattan's third avenue at 2 AM, artificial wombs and other moonshot off-shoots, and the real origin of Velcro (AI lied to me about it).Plus... goat ranches, breakfast tacos, and what we're most excited about heading into SXSW. It's a choose your own adventure kind of day.Chapters(01:24) - Victory Lap — We Called It (03:35) - OpenAI's Bar Guy Energy (06:38) - Waymo, Robot Choreography, and Green Light Waves (10:16) - Self-Driving Cars vs. New York Politicians (13:13) - What We're Most Excited About at SXSW (15:41) - Quantum Computing: Choose Your Own Adventure Edition (18:01) - Dire Wolves, Moonshots, and Tech Nobody Sees Coming (24:07) - Why Do Robots Need to Look Like Us? (29:22) - The SXSW Way-Back Machine (36:08) - Increased Regulation: Past, Present, or Future? Support Future Around & Find OutFollow Dan on LinkedInGet the free Future Around & Find Out newsletterBecome a paid subscriber and help future proof the podcast!Sponsor the show? Are you looking to reach an audience of senior technologists and decision-makers? Email me: dan@modernproductminds.com---Music by Jonathan Zalben

Guest post by Declan Goodman, Digital Mythology. Helping leaders make sense of digital transformation through story, myth and meaning After nearly 30 years working in digital transformation across different cultures, I have learned that digital transformation success is less about technology and more about people. While digital transformation is concerned with technology and how it can enable business outcomes, the most transformative element is not the tech, it's the people. How Mythology can help with Digital Transformation Many digital transformations struggle not because of the tech, but because the story behind it is unclear. Technology professionals often use frameworks, capability models and technical jargon to explain transformation – which makes sense to technologists – but rarely resonates with business stakeholders. Transformation only succeeds when the story behind it speaks to the hearts and minds of the people who must live through the change. People care far less about what is going to be built or replaced, and far more about what the change will mean for them. This is where mythology offers a practical lens. Myths are deeply human narratives that societies have used for centuries to understand transformation. They capture universal themes that help people make sense of uncertainty and imagine a different future. The use of mythology in storytelling is not new. The film Star Wars was built on mythic structures like the classic hero's journey and the redemption of the fallen father. Opera composers like Wagner used Norse mythology in The Ring Cycle to explore timeless themes of power, greed and downfall. Yet this approach has not quite found its way into the tech world. This is where the real opportunity lies. Tech leaders today can harness the power of myth to frame digital transformation as a human story rather than a technical endeavour. Here are some examples of how you can use myth to tell your story of digital transformation in a more human-led way. Example 1: How myth can help you ground your digital transformation program Mythology has a wonderful way of teaching us the importance of perspective. In Greek myth, Apollo observes humanity from high above, judging human behaviour without fully understanding the struggles they face. It's only when he comes down to live among humans that he grasps our reality. This is also true for tech leaders who architect and strategise transformation roadmaps that tick the logical boxes, but overlook the lived experience of change 'on the ground' for stakeholders. The lesson here is that leaders must avoid becoming trapped in the 'ivory tower' of strategy and instead experience transformation as their stakeholders do. Practical ways to implement this myth include leaders spending time 'shadowing' teams to understand their daily workflows and conducting 'day in the life of' workshops to see how transformation actually affects people. Just as Apollo learned that walking in the shoes of others brings perspective, tech leaders can do the same to make digital transformation grounded and real. Example 2: How myth can help people embrace the change digital transformation will bring Another lesson from mythology is how empathy can help us move fully into the new world by letting go of the old one. The Norse goddess Hel is the guardian between worlds, where souls pass from one world to the next, a deeply unsettling transition. She greets souls with empathy and explains that the old world is no longer right for them, they have outgrown it, and the new world is where they now belong. This applies strongly in digital transformation. The legacy processes and systems that your stakeholders have relied upon for years will significantly change or disappear and may require changes to their expertise – leading to a sense of loss or fear. This myth reminds digital leaders that resistance to change is not a barrier, rather it is a natural human response to losing what is familiar. Practical...

On this episode of The Association Podcast, we welcome Ravi Rooprai, Director of IT and PMO at the Million Dollar Round Table (MDRT). Ravi shares his unique journey from molecular microbiology and pharmaceutical consulting into association technology leadership, bringing a scientific mindset to digital transformation and innovation.The conversation explores how MDRT is modernizing association technology by decoupling legacy systems, building scalable data ecosystems, and experimenting with AI-driven personalization. Ravi explains how his team approaches technology through experimentation, feasibility studies, and agile thinking to improve member experiences and operational efficiency.We also dive into MDRT's cutting-edge meeting technology, including large-scale multilingual interpretation powered by AI and the infrastructure required to support thousands of attendees simultaneously streaming translated sessions. Ravi discusses how associations can better leverage data, personalization, and experimentation to drive engagement, retention, and measurable member value.From building a culture of innovation to applying e-commerce thinking to membership value, this episode offers practical insights for association leaders navigating digital transformation.00:01:00 Introduction to Ravi Rooprai and MDRT00:01:30 Rapid Fire Questions00:02:40 Ravi's Career Journey from Science to Association Technology00:04:30 Lessons from Industry Applied to Associations00:05:30 Using ROI and Value Metrics in Association Technology Decisions00:07:00 Measuring Member Lifetime Value00:08:30 The Value of MDRT Membership for Financial Professionals00:10:30 Reworking Legacy AMS Systems Through Decoupled Data Architecture00:12:00 Building a Modern Data Ecosystem Around Legacy Platforms00:13:30 Scaling Membership Systems to Handle Peak Demand00:14:45 Managing 60–70K Membership Applications During Renewal Season00:16:00 Leveraging AI and Technology at Large Global Conferences00:17:00 Simultaneous Translation and Multilingual Meeting Experiences00:18:30 Solving Conference Connectivity and Infrastructure Challenges00:20:00 Improving the Member Experience Through Technology00:21:00 Favorite Tools: AI, Copilot, and Power Apps00:23:30 Empowering Staff to Experiment with Technology00:24:30 Personalization and Data-Driven Engagement00:26:00 Using Engagement Data to Shape Event Programming00:28:00 The Future of Digital Transformation in Associations00:29:00 Applying a Scientific Mindset to Technology Innovation00:31:00 Building a Culture of Experimentation and Safe Failure00:33:00 Feasibility Studies and Agile Technology Testing00:35:00 Applying E-commerce Thinking to Membership Value00:37:00 The Future of AI and Meeting Technology at MDRT00:39:00 Rethinking the Conference Experience00:40:00 Closing Thoughts 

Realities Remixed, formerly know as Cloud Realities, launches a new season exploring the intersection of people, culture, industry and tech.Business messaging is transforming customer engagement by enabling brands to move conversations into familiar, always‑on messaging platforms. The result for customers is greater convenience, quicker resolutions, and more meaningful, personalized interactions. This week, Dave, Esmee, and Rob are joined by Kathleen Tandy, Global Director and Head of Business Messaging Marketing and WhatsApp for Business at Meta , to explore how companies are using messaging platforms to engage customers, what customers expect from these experiences, and the challenges of scaling messaging in tech.TLDR00:35 – Introduction01:00 –  Hang out: The new Remarkable05:25 – Dig in: Using messaging to enhance customer experiences20:49 – Conversation with Kathleen Tandy55:26 – The passion for college football and championship weekend!GuestKathleen Tandy: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kptandy/HostsDave Chapman: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chapmandr/Esmee van de Giessen: https://www.linkedin.com/in/esmeevandegiessen/Rob Kernahan: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rob-kernahan/ProductionMarcel van der Burg: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marcel-vd-burg/Dave Chapman: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chapmandr/ SoundBen Corbett: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ben-corbett-3b6a11135/Louis Corbett:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/louis-corbett-087250264/ 'Realities Remixed' is an original podcast from Capgemini

The Transformation Ground Control podcast covers a number of topics important to digital and business transformation. This episode covers the following topics and interviews:   Mastercard AI Payment Demo, Q&A (Darian Chwialkowski, Third Stage Consulting) Inside the Mission Control AI War Room Why Employees Are Quietly Resisting AI We also cover a number of other relevant topics related to digital and business transformation throughout the show.  

What distinguishes organizations that capture real value from AI from those still experimenting?In this episode of AWS Executive Insights, Roger Premo, Global Head of Strategy at IBM, breaks down the practical lessons behind IBM's own AI transformation. From embedding generative AI into everyday workflows to codifying an agentic development lifecycle, IBM has paired leadership commitment with disciplined execution to drive measurable results.Premo discusses how hybrid cloud architecture enables agents to access data across heterogeneous environments, why data product management is now a business imperative, and how governance must be built into AI systems from the start. This essential discussion offers leaders a framework for moving beyond isolated pilots and building scalable, secure, and value-driven AI capabilities. Thank you to IBM for their partnership and participation in this discussion.

Matt Babcock, who oversees digital lending product strategy for Wolters Kluwer, reviewed the Q4 Auto Finance Digital Transformation Index as well as discussed what could happen digitally this year.

Before Steven Jenkins officially steps into the role of CEO at Configura, Alexandra is taking time to introduce him to The Design POP community. She reconnects with Steven who she worked with years ago during her time as a Configura trainer. He was known for his steady, practical approach and his ability to truly hear what users needed. In this conversation, Steven shares how he first joined Configura as one of the company's early employees, what he learned after leaving to build leadership experience in larger global organizations, and what it's been like returning as a board member before stepping into the CEO role. While Alexandra plans to talk about the future in a later conversation, this episode is a chance to get to know the person behind the title. Configura's Experience 2026 will be in Cincinnati. Stay tuned for more details by following Configura. Connect with Steven on LinkedIn Learn more about Configura Connect with Alexandra on LinkedIn Follow The Design POP on LinkedIn Access on-demand training at The Design POP. Questions? Email info@thedesignpop.com The Design Pop is an Imagine a Place Production (presented by OFS) Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

So, there are dire wolves living on Earth again. They were “de-extincted” by Colossal Biosciences. And today on the show their Chief Science Officer joins me to share her view on why the de-extinction matters — not as a science project, but because it will help solve problems that threaten every species on earth, including us. Beth Shapiro is the Chief Science Officer at Colossal Biosciences, and she helped to bring back the dire wolf or, as others call it, a gray wolf with 20 genetic edits. There is a fierce debate about what de-extinction even means, and we discuss that, but whatever you call them, there are now three big wolves living in an undisclosed location and they wouldn't be there if not for the DNA that Beth and her team edited. Colossal is also working to bring back the wooly mammoth, the Tasmanian tiger, the dodo and other animals that have long been extinct. Why? Listen to find out… Chapters:(01:19) - The Most Oprah Question Beth's Ever Been Asked (03:04) - Moonshots Require You to Create a Giant List of Problems (04:19) - The Things We'll Solve Along the Way, a la the Original Moonshot… to the Moon (05:57) - Beth's Journey: From Broadcast Journalism to Ancient DNA (09:13) - How a Sediment Core Solved a Mammoth Mystery (11:36) - Why Charismatic Animals Matter (a.k.a. Why Riz Is Everything) (12:38) - What's Up With Romulus, Remus, and Khaleesi? (14:19) - But Are They Really “Dire Wolves”? The Controversy Over 20 Genetic Edits (21:45) - Should We Do This? Beth's Ethics Framework for Builders (23:51) - Advice for Moonshot Builders (25:10) - Why We Want Dodos, Mammoths, and Thylacines Back Links & Resources:Colossal BiosciencesBeth ShapiroPopTech -- a conference I love!  Support Future Around & Find OutFollow Dan on LinkedInGet the free Future Around & Find Out newsletterBecome a paid subscriber and help future proof the podcast!Sponsor the show? Are you looking to reach an audience of senior technologists and decision-makers? Email me: dan@modernproductminds.com---Music by Jonathan Zalben

In this #AWSExecutiveInsights conversation, Tom Soderstrom, AWS Executive in Residence, talks with Erin Kraemer, Sr. Principal Technical Product Manager for AWS Agentic AI, who draws on 25 years at Amazon to explore how organizations move from AI experimentation to production, built on observability, guardrails, and bringing your people along the journey.

What does the future of facility management look like in the Asia Pacific region? In this episode, Kenneth Foo sits down with Michael Ng, Don Tze, and Dora Yim to explore how FM is evolving across Singapore and Hong Kong, from government-led digital pushes to the integration of high-level sustainability.  They examine how multinational corporations are utilizing ESG reporting and "well certificates" to drive sustainability, as well as the critical role of change management in helping frontline workers embrace new technological tools. This episode is sponsored by TMA Systems! Discover more at https://www.tmasystems.com/ifmapodcast Time Stamps: 00:00 Introduction to Facility Management 01:00 Exploring FM in Asia Pacific 02:38 FM in Singapore: Technology and Transformation 04:11 FM in Hong Kong: Embracing Technology 06:11 The Role of ESG and Sustainability 09:10 Challenges and Opportunities in FM 17:22 Conclusion and Final Thoughts Connect with Us:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/ifmaFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/InternationalFacilityManagementAssociation/Twitter: https://twitter.com/IFMAInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/ifma_hq/YouTube: https://youtube.com/ifmaglobalVisit us at https://ifma.org

In this episode of Pathmonk Presents, we sit down with Taylor Jones, Founder and CEO of Wishbone Advisory, a boutique e-commerce marketing agency helping manufacturers unlock untapped digital potential. With deep roots in home furnishings and performance chemicals, Taylor shares how brands can navigate multi-channel orchestration, retail marketplace SEO, and digital transformation to drive meaningful growth. He breaks down why many manufacturers excel at product development but struggle with digital visibility, and how strategic channel build-out, LinkedIn marketing, and trade events fuel both B2B and e-commerce success. If you're aiming for X factor growth while staying transparent and accountable, this conversation delivers practical insights you can apply immediately.

Irish small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) overwhelmingly believe artificial intelligence (AI) can benefit their business, yet most are still struggling to translate that opportunity into action, according to new research released today. The study, commissioned by Google in partnership with Amárach Research and based on a survey of 400 Irish SMEs, shows that while 80% believe AI can positively impact their business and 65% expect it to drive growth in 2026, adoption remains limited. The findings indicate a significant confidence and capability gap. The main barriers preventing greater AI adoption include fear of making mistakes (30%), lack of skills (27%) and cost (24%), with many business leaders unsure of where to start (16%). More than half (57%) believe they are behind competitors in adopting AI, while 50% are concerned their business could be left behind without it. The research also highlights that micro-businesses, longer-established firms and non-exporters are most at risk of falling behind, underscoring the need for targeted, practical support that meets SMEs' varying needs. The research is being launched today at an event hosted by Google Ireland at The Foundry as part of Local Enterprise Week. In partnership with the Local Enterprise Office (LEO) network, Google also announced the launch of AI Works for Ireland, a series of complementary, face-to-face regional events aimed at equipping SMEs with practical AI skills for business. The series begins today in Dublin, followed by events in Galway (April 30th), Cork (14th May) and Monaghan (28th May). Each event will feature insights from Google AI experts on how SMEs can use AI to drive growth, creativity and efficiency, alongside dedicated AI workshops offering support for founders and business leaders. As part of the initiative, Google and the Local Enterprise Office network are providing up to 10,000 AI scholarships to workers across Ireland. Delivered through Coursera, the Google AI Professional Certificate offers practical training across more than 20 real-world AI business use cases, from data analysis and content creation to customer communications. This research and initiative follows the release of the government's National Digital and AI strategy, which includes key pillars to empower people, workers and businesses to develop cutting-edge skills and foster digital and AI literacy, alongside growing a digitally innovative and competitive enterprise sector within Ireland. Minister of State for Trade Promotion, Artificial Intelligence and Digital Transformation, Niamh Smyth, TD, said: "AI has the potential to boost productivity and enhance competitiveness across Ireland's SME Sector. As we advance the ambitions of the recently published National Digital and AI Strategy, a key priority of my department is to fast?track enterprise adoption digital and AI technologies. Initiatives like this one, delivered in partnership with Google and the Local Enterprise Offices, are vital in ensuring that businesses of all sizes, in every region, have the skills and confidence they need to adopt AI at pace." Vanessa Hartley, Head of Google Ireland, said: "Irish SMEs are clear about the opportunity AI presents, but this research shows many are being held back by uncertainty rather than ambition. AI Works for Ireland is about closing that gap – providing practical, trusted support that helps businesses move from awareness to action, and from experimentation to real impact. At Google, we are committed to helping people and businesses across Ireland build the skills they need to succeed in an AI-powered economy. Through initiatives like this, we want to ensure SMEs have access to high-quality training, tools and expertise that empower them to grow, innovate and compete with confidence." Kieran Comerford, Chair of the Local Enterprise Offices, said: "Local Enterprise Week is all about helping businesses and entrepreneurs improve and showing them the resources available to them....

Episode OverviewIn this episode of The Uncertainty Edge, host Sam Sivarajan sits down with Philip Sutter, founder of PolicyStream and Affinity Life, to explore how he transformed his insurance practice into a thriving six-figure digital business built entirely through content marketing. Philip shares his journey from creating terrible webcam videos to building a specialized practice serving rock climbers and extreme sports enthusiasts.Key Quote"Progress over perfection isn't motivational fluff—it's the framework that allows you to navigate every major pivot in your career." — Sam SivarajanKey TakeawaysProgress over perfection — Start badly and improve daily rather than waiting for the perfect moment.Niche down to scale up — Being a big fish in a small pond makes you referable beyond that pond.Intent drives authenticity — Shift from "I need leads" to "Who am I genuinely trying to help?"Sound Bites"You don't learn by researching—you learn by doing.""Your niche isn't a cage. It's a spotlight.""When you focus on serving rather than selling, people feel it.""The leaders who thrive aren't the ones with all the answers—they're the ones willing to start before they're ready."Topics Discussed00:00 — Building a Six-Figure Digital Business Through Content00:35 — Progress Over Perfection: Starting Badly and Improving Daily01:09 — Niche Down, Scale Up: The Power of Specialization01:50 — Intent Drives Authenticity in Content and Client Relationships02:26 — Thriving in Uncertainty with ConvictionResources MentionedPolicyStreamAffinity LifeStay Connected with The Uncertainty EDGESubscribe on your favorite podcast platform.Join the conversation on LinkedIn.Explore more insights on Sam's website.Free ResourcesThe Uncertainty E.D.G.E. newsletter — Strategies for navigating financial uncertainty.The Good Human Practice newsletter — Insights on leadership and meaningful client relationships.

Almost a third (30%) of adults in Ireland say they currently have an idea for a business or product they would like to pursue, according to new research commissioned by the Local Enterprise Offices (LEOs). The findings were released today as Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment, Peter Burke T.D., joined the Local Enterprise Offices to launch Local Enterprise Week 2026, which starts tomorrow, Monday 2nd March, with more than 330 events happening across the week to support aspiring and established entrepreneurs. Among those with a business idea, 40% say it came to them at home. Others found inspiration while talking to friends or family (15%), at work (15%), in bed (10%), during their commute (7%), while exercising (5%), or even in the shower (4%). Younger adults appear particularly entrepreneurial, with 52% of under-35s saying they currently have a business idea, compared to just 18% of those aged 55 and over. Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment, Peter Burke T.D., said: "Small businesses are the backbone of Ireland's economy, and this research confirms the level of ambition that exists right across the country. People have seen the incredible and innovative businesses that have started and grown internationally from Ireland, and that has clearly given them the ambition to start themselves. "Our goal is to ensure that the right supports are in place to help people turn their ambitions into reality. Local Enterprise Week demonstrates what that support looks like in action through expert advice, practical tools and tailored programmes which are available to every entrepreneur, in every region." Each of the 31 Local Enterprise Offices is hosting events throughout the week, covering topics such as funding opportunities, how to use AI in business, boosting productivity and trading internationally. Highlights across the week include: — AI training events with Google — A special innovation event with Microsoft as part of the Student Enterprise Programme — Live pitch competitions and business networking events — Local celebrations of International Women's Day, featuring some of Ireland's most inspiring businesswomen — Appearances from entrepreneurs and experts, including Eoin McGee, Eddie Wilson of Ryanair, Niall Horgan of Gym+Coffee, Bobby Kerr, Kellie Harrington, and Derval O'Rourke Alan Dillon T.D., Minister of State for Employment, Small Business and Retail, "Local Enterprise Week is a flagship event for the business community across the country. An opportunity to meet, share ideas, solve problems, and most of all look at ways to improve your business. There is no better chance during the year to meet with a local community that wants to help you grow your business and can show you where solutions and opportunities lie. "The week is an opportunity for businesses to reflect on where they are and where they want to go, and Local Enterprise Week provides a pathway to do that. With experts across every business field and talks from inspirational entrepreneurs and businesspeople who have walked the road, it's a brilliant week for business in Ireland." Niamh Smyth, T.D., Minister of State for Trade Promotion, Artificial Intelligence (AI), and Digital Transformation, said; "Local Enterprise Week is always a great barometer of the challenges and opportunities that exist for businesses across the country. Since Local Enterprise Week 2025, we have seen technology continue to evolve. AI can have a real positive impact on businesses, and we want to ensure small businesses are able to reap its rewards. This week is the perfect time for businesses to learn more about the support that is available to help them digitalise. I encourage small businesses across the country to use this week to explore the resources available to them. The LEOs have been to the fore in helping to digitise small businesses, and Local Enterprise Week is the best opportunity to take that first step." Kieran Comerford, Chair of the Local Enterprise ...

As artificial intelligence and immersive technologies dominate the headlines, the core of the industry remains unchanged: the human connection. In this episode of Rethink Retail, Monica San José (Retail Escool) and Richard Honiball (NEXCOM) explore why a successful retail digital transformation must be rooted in a company's mission and values rather than technology for technology's sake. From the shop floor to the executive suite, our guests share 25+ years of expertise on navigating the "AI wave" while staying authentic to the consumer. Key Takeaways: - Mission Over Machines: Why leading with values and service is the only way to differentiate in a crowded market. - The Gen Z & Alpha Factor: Understanding why younger generations crave community and authenticity over traditional status-driven marketing. - Strategic Innovation: A cautionary look at immersive commerce (AR/VR) and gaming platforms like Roblox, why your core strategy must be solid before you "jump in." - Cultural Evolution: Why true retail digital transformation requires overcoming the human fear of replacement and fostering a culture of innovation from the ground up.

Murderbots, mass layoffs, and media takeovers — all in one news cycle. Anthropic told the Pentagon "we will not accede." Block cut half its workforce overnight. And the Paramount-Warner Brothers deal raises real questions about who's running the media now.Also, thanks to Nicolás Maduro's fashion sense, Dan's 13-year-old is being called Lil Tator at school and honestly? The kids are all right. Happy FAFO Friday!Here's some of what Kwaku Aning and I get into:(00:00) - Three Stories Broke Last Night (03:16) - Anthropic Tells the Pentagon No (06:24) - Murder Bots, But Human in the Loop (07:00) - The Pentagon's Friday Deadline (09:28) - Why This Is a Huge Win for Anthropic (10:50) - The War for AI Talent (12:57) - Is the Administration Losing Steam? (15:05) - The Paramount-Warner Brothers Deal (17:36) - Who Controls the Media Now? (21:13) - CNN, Independent Media, and the Employee Perspective (23:55) - Block Lays Off 4,000 People (24:14) - The Citrini Research Fiction That Tanked Stocks (27:49) - AI Washing and the Real Reason for Layoffs (30:11) - Will Vibe Coding Replace Real Companies? (33:27) - Mid-Roll Break (34:41) - Past, Present, Future: State-Controlled AI (35:18) - Past, Present, Future: Independent Media (38:03) - — SLAPP Lawsuits and Creator Protections (40:23) - — Past, Present, Future: Knicks Championship (41:44) - — Come See Us at South by Southwest!

Hear from Block CEO Jack Dorsey as he explains why the company is cutting nearly half of its workforce; SBS Finance Editor Ricardo Gonçalves speaks with Omkar Joshi from Opal Capital Management about the future of AI and the impact on stocks. Plus Australia Post CEO Paul Graham details the group's digital transformation plan as it records a fall in profit.

Artem Moroz is a Ukrainian defense innovation and investment ecosystem specialist best known publicly for his leadership work inside BRAVE1, Ukraine's state-backed defence-tech cluster. He is BRAVE1's head of investor relations and a senior figure working on partnerships and international cooperation. Moroz has been a visible spokesperson for BRAVE1's international outreach — most notably Ukraine's “Test in Ukraine” initiative (a framework for foreign manufacturers to trial systems with Ukrainian forces and receive operational feedback). BRAVE1 is Ukraine's defence-tech coordination platform created under the umbrella of the country's wartime innovation push. It was launched under Ukraine's Ministry of Digital Transformation in April 2023, to coordinate officials, military users, industry, investors, and donors to accelerate the loop from prototype to approval and deployment. BRAVE1's objectives include: 1) Accelerate battlefield innovation cycles2) Direct funding to priority capabilities3) Align developers with real military demand4) Build an investable defence-tech ecosystem5) Increase domestic production independence (components and scale)6) International cooperation and “Test in Ukraine”----------LINKS:https://www.linkedin.com/in/artemmoroz/https://www.linkedin.com/company/brave1ukraine/posts/https://brave1.gov.ua/en/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brave1https://digitalstate.gov.ua/projects/tech/brave1https://x.com/BRAVE1ua?lang=en----------SUPPORT THE CHANNEL:https://www.buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtainhttps://www.patreon.com/siliconcurtainhttps://www.gofundme.com/f/scaling-up-campaign-to-fight-authoritarian-disinformation----------A REQUEST FOR HELP!I'm heading back to Kyiv this week, to film, do research and conduct interviews. The logistics and need for equipment and clothing are a little higher than for my previous trips. It will be cold, and may be dark also. If you can, please assist to ensure I can make this trip a success. My commitment to the audience of the channel, will be to bring back compelling interviews conducted in Ukraine, and to use the experience to improve the quality of the channel, it's insights and impact. Let Ukraine and democracy prevail! https://buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain/extrashttps://www.patreon.com/siliconcurtainhttps://www.gofundme.com/f/scaling-up-campaign-to-fight-authoritarian-disinformationNONE OF THIS CAN HAPPEN WITHOUT YOU!So what's next? We're going to Kyiv in January 2026 to film on the ground, and will record interviews with some huge guests. We'll be creating opportunities for new interviews, and to connect you with the reality of a European city under escalating winter attack, from an imperialist, genocidal power. PLEASE HELP ME ME TO GROW SILICON CURTAINWe are planning our events for 2026, and to do more and have a greater impact. After achieving more than 12 events in 2025, we will aim to double that! 24 events and interviews on the ground in Ukraine, to push back against weaponized information, toxic propaganda and corrosive disinformation. Please help us make it happen!----------TRUSTED CHARITIES ON THE GROUND:Save Ukrainehttps://www.saveukraineua.org/Superhumans - Hospital for war traumashttps://superhumans.com/en/UNBROKEN - Treatment. Prosthesis. Rehabilitation for Ukrainians in Ukrainehttps://unbroken.org.ua/Come Back Alivehttps://savelife.in.ua/en/Chefs For Ukraine - World Central Kitchenhttps://wck.org/relief/activation-chefs-for-ukraineUNITED24 - An initiative of President Zelenskyyhttps://u24.gov.ua/Serhiy Prytula Charity Foundationhttps://prytulafoundation.orgNGO “Herojam Slava”https://heroiamslava.org/kharpp - Reconstruction project supporting communities in Kharkiv and Przemyślhttps://kharpp.com/NOR DOG Animal Rescuehttps://www.nor-dog.org/home/----------

From covering the front desk as an intern to leading global business strategy, James Waters' career at Booking.com mirrors the company's own transformation. Now Chief Business Officer, Waters reflects on how experimentation, data-driven decision making, and a strong customer focus have powered Booking.com's growth. As generative AI reshapes the travel industry, he shares how the company is evolving its connected trip vision while reinforcing responsible AI principles and strong technical foundations. This episode offers leaders a thoughtful perspective on scaling innovation, sustaining culture through change, and using AI to amplify human ingenuity.

Realities Remixed, formerly know as Cloud Realities, launches a new season exploring the intersection of people, culture, industry, and tech. Energy transportation is a deeply local business, safely delivering gas and electricity, more and more from renewable sources, directly to the communities it serves. Technology and AI help make that possible by strengthening safety, bringing companies closer to customers, and enabling teams to build the future together. This week, Dave, Esmee, and Rob are joined by John Koerwer, CIO of UGI Corporation, to explore explore why “the business” and tech still struggle to speak the same language, nd what helps close the gap.TLDR00:35 – Introduction01:17 – Hang out: new toys and coffee07:55 – Dig in: the business - tech divide21:07 – Conversation with John Koerwer59:40 – The amazing AI technology in The Sphere's version of The Wizard of OzGuestJohn Koerwer: https://www.linkedin.com/in/john-koerwer-46102127/HostsDave Chapman: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chapmandr/Esmee van de Giessen: https://www.linkedin.com/in/esmeevandegiessen/Rob Kernahan: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rob-kernahan/ProductionMarcel van der Burg: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marcel-vd-burg/Dave Chapman: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chapmandr/ SoundBen Corbett: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ben-corbett-3b6a11135/Louis Corbett:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/louis-corbett-087250264/ 'Realities Remixed' is an original podcast from Capgemini

In this episode, Luis Taveras, PhD, Senior Vice President and Chief Information Officer at Jefferson Health, shares how he is leading large scale integration, advancing AI with a human centered approach, and transforming IT into a value engine that supports clinical excellence and strategic growth.

The Transformation Ground Control podcast covers a number of topics important to digital and business transformation. This episode covers the following topics and interviews:   Microsoft's Bundling Regulatory Issues, Q&A (Darian Chwialkowski, Third Stage Consulting) Who Are the Best System Integrators In the Market (Guest, Third Stage Consulting) SAP RISE We also cover a number of other relevant topics related to digital and business transformation throughout the show.  

In this episode, Hillery Smith Shay, Chief Marketing and Experience Officer and Senior Vice President of Communications at Children's Minnesota, shares how the organization is embedding a systemwide total experience strategy, launching Epic to power a seamless digital front door, and positioning experience as a true strategic differentiator amid financial and care delivery challenges.

Toyota practically wrote the book on continuous improvement. But can the plays that won championships before still win them today? This week, Kevin Austin, Group Vice President, Supply Chain at Toyota North America, tackles one of the hardest leadership challenges: transforming a company built on discipline and proven systems without losing what made it great. In conversation with Zero100 Chief Research Officer Kevin O'Marah (yes, two Kevins), he reveals why TPS is the foundation that makes transformation possible, and what happens when AI meets craftspeople who've spent 30 years building cars.The tension between pride, legacy, and a world that got way more complex (01:20)How to know when digital transformation isn't working (and you're the bottleneck) (03:37)Early missteps and why noble missions beat shiny tools (05:37)Fixing friction from forecasting all the way to customer delivery (08:20)When customers can track a $10 pizza but not a $50,000 vehicle (12:37)How TPS creates a stable backbone for experimentation (15:17)When AI meets craftsmanship: Amplifying 30 years of judgment with technology (17:07)What stays Toyota, what must change, and Kevin's north star (22:24)

In this episode, we talk with Allen Martinez — brand strategist, founder of Noble Digital, and creator of the Brand Experience AI Operating System, a framework for constitutional governance of corporate AI. Allen is widely known for engineering the largest exit in Shark Tank history, helping Plated grow from near insolvency to a $300M acquisition in just 18 months. He brings a rare blend of design thinking, filmmaking, brand strategy, and enterprise AI architecture to his work.During our time together, we discuss:Why so many companies feel “stuck” with AI tools, despite heavy investment.How misaligned systems create contradictions for customers and employees.Why AI doesn't just need better prompts — it needs a constitution.The three pillars of AI governance - Permissions, Prohibitions, and Obligations.How to avoid “intelligence debt,” the hidden cleanup cost that destroys ROI.The risks of AI fragmentation — and how to prevent it.How leaders can build a defensible, measurable AI business case.Where leaders should begin: choosing the first internal workflow to govern and measure.If you'd like to learn more from Allen, visit Noble Digital, take his 2-minute AI assessment for your organization, or explore his new book, The Brand Experience AI Operating System: How Leaders Turn Governance Into Competitive Advantage

Of all the industries AI will transform, Kira Radinsky believes chemistry and biology will change the most. Kira is the co-founder and CTO of Diagnostic Robotics, which uses AI to automate the administrative work that's crushing healthcare teams — so clinicians can actually focus on patients. She's also the co-founder of Mana.bio, where they're accelerating drug discovery by orders of magnitude.She'll tell you she's terrible in the lab. Not because she isn't brilliant, but because she can't pipette without killing the cells. So she's thrilled that thanks to her skills in data and AI she was able to realize her childhood dream of being a scientist: “I'm not trying to automate everything… Like when, when you say automate drug discovery, I'm not gonna discover everything. I just want to accelerate it, which comes back to my childhood dream: I just didn't want to do it myself. I just want AI to replace me as a scientist. That's it.”But this episode is about more than healthcare. It's about how to build systems that get smarter over time — feedback loops, causal inference, incentivizing algorithms to take risks, and knowing when to optimize for ROI instead of accuracy. Lessons that apply whether you're building in biotech or not.We cover:How growing up Jewish in Soviet Ukraine — and fleeing to Israel just before the Gulf War — shaped Kira's obsession with predicting the futureHow she built a system that successfully predicted real-world events, including Cuba's first cholera outbreak in Cuba in 130 yearsHow Mana.bio is using AI to build "rocketships" that deliver drugs to the right cells — and how they've done in three months what used to take 20 yearsWhy predictions are only valuable if there's something you can do about them — and why that makes healthcare an ideal field for AI How to incentivize algorithms to make bolder predictions (it's easy to predict there won't be an earthquake today; it's much harder to say there will be)Why causal inference is the most underrated tool in machine learning right nowHow healthcare AI can perpetuate racial bias — and what builders need to do differentlyNote: this interview originally aired in October 2024. Chapters:(01:44) - Why predictions are so important to Kira: lessons from fleeing Soviet-era Kyiv (05:10) - Building a prediction engine from 150 years of news (08:35) - How Kira predicted the Cuba cholera outbreak (09:50) - Returning to biology by way of data (12:50) - Predicting healthcare outcomes by finding your patient's twin (17:53) - The racial bias hiding in healthcare AI (19:15) - Building Mana.bio and accelerating drug discovery (24:33) - "In three months, what did what used to take 20 years" (31:44) - Builder tips: ROI, causal inference, and teaching algorithms to explore (35:07) - Planning: Where generative AI needs improve Links & Resources:Kira Radinsky on LinkedInDiagnostic RoboticsMana.bioSupport Future Around & Find OutGet the free newsletterAnd consider becoming a paid subscriber and help future proof this thing!Sponsor the show? Are you looking to reach an audience of senior technologists and decision-makers? Email me: dan@modernproductminds.com---Music by Jonathan Zalben

In this episode, Hillery Smith Shay, Chief Marketing and Experience Officer and Senior Vice President of Communications at Children's Minnesota, shares how the organization is embedding a systemwide total experience strategy, launching Epic to power a seamless digital front door, and positioning experience as a true strategic differentiator amid financial and care delivery challenges.

S6E2 The Retail Growth Strategy Retailers Need for 2026 with Today's Economic Realities, Tariffs, Fed Moves, and Consumer ShiftsIn this powerful episode of The Retail Razor Show, Dr. Rebecca Homkes, London Business School lecturer, Duke faculty member, high‑growth strategy advisor, and author of Survive, Reset, Thrive: Leading Breakthrough Growth Strategy in Volatile Times, joins Ricardo and Casey to break down what retailers must understand about the economic outlook in 2026, shifting consumer behavior, and the strategic moves that separate winners from laggards.Rebecca explains why uncertainty is not a threat but a catalyst for growth, and how her Survive, Reset, Thrive (SRT) framework helps leaders stabilize quickly, reset strategy intelligently, and execute a retail growth strategy that works even in volatile conditions. She also unpacks the realities behind sticky inflation, tariffs, the no‑hire/no‑fire labor market, and the rise of the K‑shaped consumer economy.If you want to build a retail growth strategy that thrives in the face of market shocks, this episode gives you the playbook.What We CoverWhy the economic outlook in 2026 is full of contradictions, and what that means for retailHow the SRT loop helps leaders stabilize, reset, and thriveReal‑world examples of companies using SRT to turn crises into growthWhy averages hide the truth about consumer sentimentThe rise of the K‑shaped economy and the death of the “everyman” consumerValue vs. price: why consumers will still pay more for what they truly valueHow retailers should think about store formats, assortment, and experimentationThe must‑win battles for 2026Where AI actually moves the needle in a retail growth strategyKey TakeawaysUncertainty is the best time to grow: because customers, partners, and employees are more honest about what they value.Value ≠ price. Consumers want their dollar to go further, not necessarily cheaper products.The middle of the market is the danger zone. Retailers must choose: differentiated premium or true value leadership.Retail growth strategy in 2026 requires testing, iteration, and abandoning legacy assumptions.Economic outlook in 2026 signals a decoupling between GDP strength and consumer reality: leaders must plan accordingly.Subscribe & FollowSubscribe to the Retail Razor Podcast Network: https://retailrazor.com/Subscribe to our Newsletter: https://retailrazor.substack.comSubscribe to our YouTube channel: https://go.retailrazor.com/utubeAbout our GuestRebecca Homkes, https://www.linkedin.com/in/rebecca-homkes/https://www.rebeccahomkes.comAuthor, Survive, Reset, Thrive: Leading Breakthrough Growth Strategy in Volatile Times. https://a.co/d/0aXECIB2Rebecca Homkes, is a high-growth strategy specialist, CEO and executive advisor. After more than a decade of advising her clients on developing, executing and innovating on strategy, Rebecca is sharing her proven and practical playbook in Survive, Reset, Thrive: Leading Breakthrough Growth Strategy in Volatile Times. She is a Lecturer at the London Business School, Faculty at Duke Corporate Executive Education, Advisor and Faculty at the Boston Consulting Group focused on AI and Climate and Sustainability, and a former fellow at the London School of Economics Centre for Economic Performance. A global keynote speaker and recognized thought leader, she is also the global Faculty Director of the Active Learning Program with the Young Presidents Organization (YPO), leads several fintech accelerators, and serves on the boards of many high-growth companies. She earned her doctorate at the London School of Economics as a Marshall Scholar and is now based in Miami, San Francisco, and London.Chapters00:00 Teaser01:10 Show Intro04:40 Welcome Dr Rebecca Homkes05:46 The Survive Reset Thrive Framework08:04 Real World SRT Success Stories12:55 Macro Economic Outlook for 202617:38 Understanding the K Shaped Economy19:39 Value vs Price Strategy24:06 Differentiation and Competitive Advantage26:41 Store Strategy and Expansion30:37 Consumer Experience and AI32:34 B2B Software Experience Gap34:04 Financing and Inventory Strategy36:28 Supply Chain Robustness38:10 No Regret Moves40:40 Defining Right to Win43:45 Hard Reset Strategy45:51 Strategic Center of Gravity48:24 Must Win Battles49:34 Closing and Contact Info51:36 Show CloseMeet your hostsHelping you cut through the clutter in retail & retail tech:Ricardo Belmar is an NRF Top Retail Voice for 2025 and a RETHINK Retail Top Retail Expert from 2021 – 2026. Thinkers 360 has named him a Top 10 Thought Leader in Retail, a Top 25 Thought Leader in AGI and Careers, a Top 50 Thought Leader in Agentic AI and Management, and a Top 100 Thought Leader in Digital Transformation and Transformation. Thinkers 360 also named him a Top Digital Voice for 2024 and 2025. He is an advisory council member at George Mason University's Center for Retail Transformationand the Retail Cloud Alliance. He was most recently the partner marketing leader for retail & consumer goods in the Americas at Microsoft.Casey Golden, is the North America Leader for Retail & Consumer Goods at CI&T, and CEO of Luxlock. She is a RETHINK Retail Top Retail Expert from 2023 - 2026, and Retail Cloud Alliance advisory council member. After a career on the fashion and supply chain technology side of the business, Casey is obsessed with the customer relationship between the brand and the consumer and is slaying franken-stacks and building retail tech! MusicIncludes music provided by imunobeats.com, featuring Overclocked, and E-Motive from the album Beat Hype, written by Heston Mimms, published by Imuno.

In this episode, Hillery Smith Shay, Chief Marketing and Experience Officer and Senior Vice President of Communications at Children's Minnesota, shares how the organization is embedding a systemwide total experience strategy, launching Epic to power a seamless digital front door, and positioning experience as a true strategic differentiator amid financial and care delivery challenges.

In this episode, Scott MacLean, Senior Vice President and Chief Information Officer at MedStar Health, discusses EHR modernization, application rationalization, and the role of AI and digital platforms in improving patient access, experience, and quality across the Baltimore and Washington, D.C. region.

The market has changed. Outbound is noisy. Distribution is fragile. AI is accelerating everything. So how do you know who's actually ready to buy? How do you position in a market that feels unstable? How do you pivot without panicking? This episode dives into the new reality of business in the AI era: the death of lazy volume, the rise of ownership, and the permanent advantage of human connection. Spray-and-pray outreach is fading. Hiring signals are bloated. Metrics are inflated. The old indicators don't mean what they used to mean. And executives are walking away from companies they built because the ground beneath them has shifted. But here's the truth: AI doesn't remove the human game. It amplifies it. You'll hear why: Ownership now beats pure distribution Media companies must become community companies Positioning matters more than ever in a noisy environment Pivoting early beats reacting late AI without humanity fails Intentional outreach outperforms mass automation Signal clarity is the new competitive advantage This isn't about fear. It's about awareness. You can drown in the wave. You can float. Or you can learn to surf. The ones who win won't be the loudest. They'll be the most intentional. Across this episode, you will learn: Why “signal vs noise” is the defining business problem right now How AI is shifting power from distribution to ownership Why outbound at scale is losing effectiveness How to pivot strategically instead of reacting emotionally Why human connection remains the ultimate differentiator How to think chess, not checkers, in a volatile market The importance of intentional positioning in chaotic times Beyond The Episode Gems: Buy My Book, Strategize Up: The Blueprint To Scale Your Business: StrategizeUpBook.com Discover All Podcasts On The HubSpot Podcast Network Get Free HubSpot Marketing Tools To Help You Grow Your Business Grow Your Business Faster Using HubSpot's CRM Platform Support The Podcast & Connect With Troy:  Rate & Review iDigress: iDigress.fm/Reviews Follow Troy's Socials @FindTroy: LinkedIn, Instagram, Threads, TikTok Subscribe to Troy's YouTube Channel For Strategy Videos & See Masterclass Episodes Need Growth Strategy, A Keynote Speaker, Or Want To Sponsor The Podcast? Go To FindTroy.com

You probably know by now that AI is the definition of mediocre. As in: it's the average of everything it's been trained on. So how do you get beyond average? How do you build a moat? It certainly doesn't seem to be via the models. While there are models of the month (hey, Opus 4.6, my new friend!), they seem to be pretty swappable. So, the model ain't it. But proprietary data (e.g. an AI that knows you really well), yes! Or doing something really hard in the real world (think: Waymo self-driving cars). Maybe via trust and safety (Anthropic is certainly making a play here). Or... how about via amazing design and good taste. Remember when ChatGPT first came out and everyone derided “AI wrappers”… well, maybe a wrapper isn't so bad, assuming you can differentiate on one or more of the above. Luke Des Cotes is the CEO of MetaLab, the agency famous for designing interfaces, including early versions of Slack and Coinbase, so don't be shocked when you hear him say that great design can be your moat. MetaLab is working with a host of AI companies (another shocker), including Windsurf (AI + code), Suno (AI + music), Pika (AI + video), and more…, which is why Luke's take on AI surprised me. He's not rah rah. He's pretty judicious actually. Luke has questions about AI's costs and appropriateness for lots of use cases like those involving kids, but mostly he objects to its mediocrity.On this episode we discuss what it takes to go beyond.We also get into:Why vibe-coded software isn't changing the world anytime soonWhy Shopify acquired a design agency right after telling employees to justify their existence against AIHow MetaLab designers are using AI to prototype in hours instead of weeksThe talent market for zero-to-one designers — and why they're harder to find than everLandlines, brick phones, and how parents are fighting back against always-on kidsChapters(01:10) - "It's a race to the mean" (03:10) - "How do you create emotional resonance?" (05:33) - AI companies are burning money (08:44) - Speed to good enough (13:51) - Is the chat here to stay or a temporary fad? (17:43) - It's hard to find great 0 to 1 design talent (22:28) - Seemingly conscious AI (25:05) - Kids, landlines, and fighting always-on culture (27:21) - Sounds like science fiction, but is here now… Links & ResourcesLuke Des Cotes on LinkedInMetaLabSupport Future Around & Find OutGet the free newsletterAnd consider becoming a paid subscriber and help future proof this thing!Sponsor the show? Are you looking to reach an audience of senior technologists and decision-makers? Email me: dan@modernproductminds.com

Dr. Ruba Borno, AWS Vice President of Global Specialists and Partners, shares her journey from refugee to technology leader and reveals what drives purpose-driven leadership. As a daughter of Palestinian refugees who came to the U.S. during the first Gulf War, she learned early that opportunity is a gift—and believes in "leaving the ladder there" for others to climb.In this conversation with host Richard Taylor, Dr. Borno discusses building high-performing teams, leading 18,000 engineers through COVID-19, and scaling customer support through AI innovation. She shares critical leadership lessons: ask the right questions rather than having all the answers, trust your instincts, and create environments where teams can safely innovate and fail.

In this episode, Jeff Mains sits down with Barbara Wittmann, a 25-year veteran of IT transformation who has pioneered the concept of "human infrastructure" - the invisible framework of trust, clarity, and collaboration that determines whether technology projects succeed or fail. Barbara shares her journey from mountain biking and logistics to SAP consulting, and how she discovered that most technology failures are actually people problems in disguise. She introduces her four-pillar model for preventing costly project detours, explains why people development should be a permanent IT budget line item (not a one-time HR initiative), and reveals how AI is raising the bar on what humans need to do best. The conversation explores psychological safety, shared mental models, limiting beliefs, and why wisdom drawn from indigenous cultures can help modern SaaS leaders build more resilient organizations.Key Takeaways[4:56] - Technology problems are almost always people problems - software can't fix misalignment, confusion, or teams that weren't brought along for the change[8:35] - Human infrastructure is the framework where departments work seamlessly together, end-to-end processes are understood, and people have artifacts to help them navigate complexity[10:14] - Shared mental models are critical - creating a high-level map of systems, data elements, and functions helps everyone align on what changes will impact[12:20] - People development should be an OPEX line item in IT budgets, not a one-time HR initiative - we upgrade servers continuously but treat people upgrades as "one and done"[16:15] - Empowering the middle layer of organizations can save about 20% on consulting spend because in-house people already have the knowledge[20:20] - The four-pillar model: Understand the problem → Condense it → Create a solution → Get people excited about it (most teams skip understanding the problem)[22:32] - The dual ecosystem approach: Train people in a cross-industry environment where they can practice without fear, then bring learnings back to their organization[25:53] - Once 25% of your middle layer adopts a new mindset, you see behavioral shifts ripple throughout the entire organization[29:00] - Indigenous wisdom teaches that everything is connected (ecosystems) and everything works in cycles - nature isn't "on" all the time[34:27] - Limiting beliefs often sound like "I can't do that, I've never done that before" - when your instant reaction is "no," pause and get curious about why[37:17] - AI should be seen as a coworker, not a competitor - the key is training our uniquely human aspects: emotional intelligence, sense-making, and asking better questions[39:38] - First step to building human infrastructure: Create psychological safety where people can voice concerns, and reconnect with your company's core mission and valuesTweetable Quotes"Most teams learn the hard way: Technology rarely fails because of the tools. It fails because the people aren't aligned to use them." - Barbara Wittmann"If your company is not really talking to each other as it is, a software is not gonna fix the issue." - Barbara Wittmann"We are upgrading servers all along, but with people upgrades, we look at it in a very old fashioned way. It's a one and done kind of thing." - Barbara Wittmann"AI models are evolving at the speed of light, and we are not upgrading our humans. What can go wrong?"- Barbara Wittmann"Your execution layer cannot delegate complexity anymore because they need to deal with it inevitably."...

The Transformation Ground Control podcast covers a number of topics important to digital and business transformation. This episode covers the following topics and interviews:   Oracle's Cloud Supply Chain Capabilities, Q&A (Darian Chwialkowski, Third Stage Consulting) Industry 4.0 Why Software Best Practices Do Not Exist   We also cover a number of other relevant topics related to digital and business transformation throughout the show.  

CyberArk founder and executive chairman Udi Mokady returns to Security Matters at a transformational moment—now as part of Palo Alto Networks, following the acquisition's close on February 11. In this far‑reaching conversation, Udi and host David Puner explore why identity has become the attack vector for modern enterprises, driven by an unprecedented surge in human, machine and AI‑powered identities that attackers increasingly exploit.Udi discusses what the combined companies' scale and capabilities mean for customers, why identity security must now operate as frontline defense rather than a management layer, and how AI agents are rapidly reshaping the threat landscape. He also reflects on CyberArk's long‑distance entrepreneurial journey, the cultural foundations that have made the company durable over 26 years, and how productive paranoia, innovation and trust continue to guide the mission forward inside Palo Alto Networks.Note: This episode was recorded in January, prior to the acquisition's close.

In this episode of the IoT For All Podcast, Matt Hatton, Founding Partner at Transforma Insights, joins Ryan Chacon to discuss IoT trends and predictions for 2026. The conversation covers the key findings of the Communication Service Provider IoT Benchmarking Report, the IoT Transition Topics, the role AI will play in IoT, and the evolving landscape of connectivity with NB-IoT, satellite, and 5G.IoT Transition Topics: https://transformainsights.com/news/iot-transition-topics-2026Communications Service Provider IoT Peer Benchmarking Report: https://transformainsights.com/news/new-transforma-insights-study-market-leaders-trends-iot-connectivityMatt Hatton is a Founding Partner at Transforma Insights. He is a well-respected commentator and technology industry expert with 25 years of experience at the cutting edge of technology research and consulting. Previously, he was Founder and CEO of Machina Research, which was acquired by Gartner in 2016. Prior to Machina Research, Matt was a technology industry analyst, working at firms such as Analysys Mason and Yankee Group. Matt holds an MSc in Telecoms from University College London.Transforma Insights is a leading research firm focused on the world of IoT, AI, and Digital Transformation. Led by seasoned technology industry analysts, they provide advice, recommendations, and decision support tools for organizations seeking to understand how new technologies will change the markets in which they operate.Discover more about IoT at https://www.iotforall.comFind IoT solutions: https://marketplace.iotforall.comMore about Transforma Insights: https://transformainsights.comConnect with Matt: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthatton/Subscribe on YouTube: https://bit.ly/2NlcEwmJoin Our Newsletter: https://newsletter.iotforall.comFollow Us on Social: https://linktr.ee/iot4all

In this episode of the Tyler Tech Podcast, Kirsten D'Amato and Deborah Pierrel, business systems analysts for the city of Palm Springs, California, share how the city transformed permitting and licensing into a more accessible, transparent, and efficient experience for both residents and staff — a modernization effort that earned Palm Springs a 2025 Tyler Excellence Award.Recorded live at Tyler Connect 2025 in San Antonio, the conversation explores how Palm Springs unified eight departments onto a single enterprise permitting and licensing platform, replacing fragmented, paper-based processes with a connected digital workflow. Kirsten and Deborah walk through the challenges of managing permits across siloed systems and how bringing everything into one centralized environment created real-time visibility, streamlined collaboration, and eliminated hidden data and manual workarounds.They also discuss the impact on the community, from enabling 24/7 online access and real-time status updates to significantly reducing in-person foot traffic while still maintaining inclusive support options. Along the way, they highlight the operational benefits of going paperless, including reduced storage needs, faster processing, improved scalability, and simpler onboarding and training for staff.Whether you work in community development, IT, or local government operations, this episode offers practical insight into breaking down departmental silos, modernizing high-impact services, and building a permitting and licensing experience that better supports staff, residents, and long-term growth.This episode also spotlights Tyler Connect 2026, where innovation and collaboration take center stage. Taking place April 7-10 at The Venetian Resort in Las Vegas. Connect brings together public sector professionals from across the country to explore new solutions, share ideas, and strengthen communities. It's a week dedicated to learning, connection, and imagining what's possible for the future of government technology. Explore registration details and early bird pricing in the show notes to start planning your Connect 2026 experience.Learn More and Register Now: Tyler Connect 2026 in Las VegasRead: Let's Empower, Collaborate, and Imagine at Connect 2026!And learn more about the topics discussed in this episode with these resources:Download: Modern Governments Live in the CloudWatch: How a California City Broke Down Silos and Increased EfficiencyRead: California City Eliminates Paper With Enterprise SoftwareRead: Excellence 2025: Connected Community, Equity & AccessRead: Excellence 2025: Digital Services & Cloud SolutionsRead: How Local Governments Thrive With Cloud-Based SolutionsRead: Enterprise ERP a Leader for Cloud ERP for Local GovernmentListen to other episodes of the podcast.Let us know what you think about the Tyler Tech Podcast in this survey!

In The New Geography of Innovation: The Global Contest for Breakthrough Technologies, Mehran Gul examines how innovation works in different countries around the globe—diving deep into the ecosystems that produce great technology companies.Gul is a writer and leading technology thinker, having served as the Lead for the Digital Transformation of Industries at the World Economic Forum. His book, which was nominated as a Financial Times best business book of 2025, he discusses why the United States remains at the world's technological frontier, with only China being a true challenger.In his conversation with Nikolaus Lang, Global Leader of the BCG Henderson Institute, he talks about how innovation ecosystems are converging, the role of statecraft in fostering innovation ecosystems, and the main forces that will shift the global innovation landscape in the coming decade.Key topics discussed: 01:22 | Attributes of successful innovation ecosystems06:57 | US vs. China talent pool10:26 | What China gets right about innovation13:20 | Why Europe lags behind on innovation18:54 | The role of intentional statecraft in fostering innovation23:31 | The convergence of innovation ecosystems around the globe26:34 | Implications for businesses28:56 | How the global innovation landscape will evolve in the next decade

The Deal You Never Knew Existed. Subscribe to our Newsletter: https://theultimatepartner.com/ebook-subscribe/ Check Out UPX: https://theultimatepartner.com/experience/ In this deep dive, Jay McBain reveals the harsh reality of the “28 Moments” in a modern B2B buying journey, using a multi-million dollar SAP deal at AstraZeneca as a wake-up call for vendors. He explains how traditional marketing leads are failing in the “decade of the ecosystem,” where trusted partners like NTT and SoftwareOne are winning deals in “light blue” partnership moments months before a customer ever downloads an ebook. If you aren’t visible in the seven-layer stack or collaborating with the partners who hold the customer’s trust, you aren’t just losing the deal—you're losing the entire market. https://youtu.be/NO-P6X2dTAo?si=8e_sVesqvwaC0M-E Key Takeaways Most vendors lose major deals without ever knowing a transaction was even taking place. The average considered purchase involves 28 distinct moments of research and influence before a sale. Trusted partners often close the deal in the “middle moments” months before the money is actually spent. Traditional marketing leads (MQLs) are often too “flimsy” compared to deep partner-led relationships. Winning in the ecosystem requires being part of a “seven-layer stack” of integrated technology and services. Data-sharing platforms like Crossbeam and Workspan are now essential to seeing the “invisible” pipeline. If you're ready to lead through change, elevate your business, and achieve extraordinary outcomes through the power of partnership—this is your community. At Ultimate Partner® we want leaders like you to join us in the Ultimate Partner Experience – where transformation begins. Key Tags: 28 Moments, Jay McBain, Ecosystem Strategy, AstraZeneca SAP Deal, Seven Layer Stack, B2B Buying Journey, Partner Ecosystem, NTT, SoftwareOne, Channel Strategy, Buyer Intent, Informa TechTarget, Collaborative Selling, Crossbeam, Partner Tap, Workspan, Marketplace Tracking, Co-selling, Tech Integration, Revenue Architecture, Pipeline Growth, Trusted Advisor, Digital Transformation, SAP Optimization, Microsoft AWS Competition. Transcript: [00:00:00] Jay McBain: So if you’re a vendor trying to get into that seven layer stack and you don’t have that relationship, or you don’t have the knowledge that NTT or software one is going in, this will have been a deal that would’ve never hit your pipeline and you’ll have no knowledge. So you will have lost this deal without knowing there was a deal. [00:00:19] Vince Menzione: We’ve been talking 28 moments, but you have a slide. I thought we’d spend some time here because, you know, every conversation with you is about 28 moments, but you finally took the time to analyze one of your deals or one of the deals that was going on with one of your clients and come up with the 28 moments. [00:00:36] Vince Menzione: I thought we’d spend a little time here because this journey slide is a wake up call. Uh, it’s, it’s, it’s all around. Why, why we need to think about all of those. Points we need to think about communities and analysts and marketplaces and proof of concepts and architecture and everything else. I thought maybe you’d take us through this a little bit. [00:00:53] Vince Menzione: ’cause this was for a client, AstraZeneca, by the way. This was, uh, if you don’t know this, ICI Americas was the precursor of mm-hmm. AstraZeneca. It was the first SAP customer in North America. [00:01:03] Jay McBain: Nice. I did [00:01:04] Vince Menzione: not know that. That’s why Microsoft and SAP both headquartered. In that area, near nearby, that client. [00:01:10] Vince Menzione: That’s, uh, news, new news. [00:01:11] Jay McBain: And by the way, this is an SAP deal we’re looking at. Yeah. Uh, so two things here. One is that, um, while I was declaring the decade of the ecosystem, you know, spending time with you and Boca, in between that time we got acquired. Canals, which was Latin for channel, got acquired by oia, part of Informa TechTarget, part of this bigger informa company, which is a Fortune 100 company outta the uk. [00:01:32] Jay McBain: Fantastic. You know, we’re part of this massive organization that is really around buyer intent. How, you know, a tech target and, uh, running hundreds of magazines like Information Week and Computer Week that customers and partners read running hundreds of events, the biggest events on the planet. [00:01:49] Vince Menzione: Crazy [00:01:49] Jay McBain: in B2B, like Black Hat and all these things are run by [00:01:52] Vince Menzione: Yeah, [00:01:53] Jay McBain: informa. [00:01:53] Jay McBain: So it’s got this massive mountain of data. About the 28 moments. So when you start to think if you’re a CMO and you start to think about the early moments, you, you think about somebody reading an ebook or, um, going to a, a webinar or going onto a LinkedIn live just like this one. Yeah, going to a major event and getting a pair of socks from you. [00:02:13] Jay McBain: Um, but anything early in the journey. These are the m qls. These are the things that I need enough of them to be credible before I hand them over to my sales team. ’cause I don’t wanna be laughed out of the room. Hey, they read an ebook. They must, AstraZeneca must be buying millions of dollars of stuff. [00:02:27] Vince Menzione: Traditional marketing lead. [00:02:29] Jay McBain: Traditional marketing lead. So they’re a bit nervous about sharing that. And then later on, the sales motions, the demos and all the progression of the sales. This was the two decades before us, the decade of sales, decade of marketing. But the 28 moments, just to take a step back, if you haven’t heard, it is just a considered purchase. [00:02:46] Jay McBain: It’s about psychology, human psychology. When you go and buy a car, second most expensive thing that you will purchase you on average will go through 28 moments getting ready for that purchase. Some people go through two moments and they just drive to the Cadillac dealership to see Larry, who’s been selling Cadillacs to the family for 80 years. [00:03:04] Jay McBain: Yep. Some people spend 58 moments. That’s probably me. [00:03:07] Vince Menzione: That’s you, a, [00:03:08] Jay McBain: you know, going through all the depreciation, watching every YouTube video, you know, going to the end of the earth. But the average is 28. So you start to think about this, this is the same buying a car considered purchase, that you would buy a million dollars in software. [00:03:21] Jay McBain: From Microsoft or SAP. So when you look at these moments, you start to think, you know, how is you before you buy that car, downloading the invoice price, downloading this month’s backend rebates. Should I buy it in January? Should I buy it in February? All these decisions you make before you get to that dealership, you’re smarter than the salesperson, smarter than the sales manager. [00:03:39] Jay McBain: You know what 5,000 people bought the car for within 50 miles of you? I mean, you’re just so smart. You actually don’t need the dealership anymore. Just Carvana to me, hand me the keys. Exactly. But now in buying technology, hardware, software services, customers are getting this smart. And here’s all the moments they take to get this smart. [00:03:57] Jay McBain: But the thing we always had in mind in this decade of the ecosystem was the 96% there are trusted people. Yeah. Spending decades building that trust that come in in critical moments. They’re not marketing moments, they’re not sales moments. They are fully partnership moments. Yeah. And they’re on this slide in light blue. [00:04:15] Jay McBain: So if you were to look at this deal and, and somebody in marketing is finding these eBooks and webinars and they think there might be something, AWS got a direct hit on their website. So there’s something brewing at AstraZeneca. It, it might be in, it’s a big pharmaceutical company, so you’re probably spending millions of dollars if something’s brewing. [00:04:31] Jay McBain: Yep. But guess what? At the same time, in December on this six month journey. Partners come in with five different paid projects, consulting, advisory design projects, and in this case it was NTT software one, Yash and uh, ISV was there. Yep. But NTT won three different. Deals right at that critical stage. It wasn’t Accenture, it wasn’t Deloitte, NTT at this particular department of AstraZeneca had spent the decades building those relationships. [00:04:58] Jay McBain: So they were the one, and they won critical part of this. And so that’s when the deal is won. And it’s not at April when the money’s being spent. Yeah, it’s, it’s not in March when a couple more ISVs joined the mix, that seven layer stack that solves this particular problem, it was right there. So if you’re a vendor trying to get into that seven layer stack and you don’t have that relationship, or you don’t have the knowledge that NTT or software one is going in, this will have been a deal that would’ve never hit your pipeline and you’ll have no knowledge. [00:05:30] Jay McBain: So you will have lost this deal without knowing there was a deal, which makes up again, the majority of your tam. [00:05:34] Vince Menzione: Yeah. [00:05:35] Jay McBain: But what if I did have this agentic ability to see this deal coming, and I’m a cybersecurity company, I’m just competing for layer five of the deal, but I know that it’s all happening in December. [00:05:46] Jay McBain: So the two things that jump out on this particular slide is one, they don’t just show up in December. [00:05:51] Vince Menzione: Yeah, [00:05:51] Jay McBain: this went closed one in their Salesforce CRM in August, September, well, before the customer ever read an ebook. So now you’re not dealing with a flimsy MQL. You’re dealing with a couple of great, you know, top partner 1000 sized firms. [00:06:09] Jay McBain: One of them is a partner, 30 firm. [00:06:11] Vince Menzione: Exactly. [00:06:12] Jay McBain: That is absolutely going into and earning hundreds of thousands of dollars in services to guide the customer to a millions of dollars in purchase. And, and you can imagine in that boardroom. With A CMO saying, Hey, I got this stuff here. And the head of channels or partnerships saying, no, no, this is real. [00:06:32] Jay McBain: Here’s the names, faces, and places. Yeah. And here’s how it’s happening. And this is exactly, this is the Gantt chart, this is the show up, this is the project, this is the outcome. This is exactly how it’s playing out. Now if I could go back and the board and the C-suite should be asking us, well, how many more deals like this can you see? [00:06:50] Vince Menzione: Yeah. [00:06:51] Jay McBain: If our TAM is, you know, how many billions of dollars? Could you double our pipeline by seeing more of these middle moments? And if we got a couple of months to spend with these partners before they get in front of the customer, could they build more of our portfolio into the deal so we’re not just layer five, maybe we’re layer three and layer five. [00:07:10] Vince Menzione: This slide screams at me. Integr Tech integration Cha. A partner channel integration of tech, uh, whether it’s Crossbeam, whether it’s Partner Tap, whether it’s work span, or any of these other technologies, tackle any of these technologies that are tracking marketplace, that are tracking partner to partner, co-selling. [00:07:30] Vince Menzione: Getting the integration points. The only way to really understand the situation here, because this is a multinational company. Yeah. It’s being touched at all PO points around the globe. And to understand who’s calling who, who’s influencing who, and getting a real view, you know, a uber view of what that looks like is super important. [00:07:47] Jay McBain: It is. And you know, if I’m trying to sell like a cross beam or partner tab or work span or something into my executive team, I’m just showing them this slide. [00:07:54] Vince Menzione: Exactly. [00:07:54] Jay McBain: Would you like to know about this deal? Like you see, October is the start of the timeline here. Would you like to know about this deal in August, September? [00:08:00] Vince Menzione: Yep. [00:08:01] Jay McBain: Would you like to know about it automatically? Again, we’re not waiting for somebody, a human in a cubicle to go fill out a form. We’re not waiting for them to call somebody at our in, in a cubicle at our company. Yeah. We’re literally age genically sharing platforms, and so when this triggers that AstraZeneca and now triggers in our CRM system as well, our team on AstraZeneca gets notified and it gets notified in September before the 28 moments even starts. [00:08:27] Jay McBain: This, the power of this, of doubling, tripling your pipeline and then winning a bigger yield, a bigger percentage of that pipeline. This is the holy grail of our industry, and no one’s gonna get to a hundred percent. You’re not gonna have a hundred percent of your tam covered by your pipeline. No one’s gonna win a hundred percent of that. [00:08:43] Jay McBain: But again, we only have to be 10 or 20% better than our competitors and we need to start moving on this now. [00:08:50] Vince Menzione: So your imperative for the partners here, well everyone watching here today, I mean, this screams to me build your ecosystem strategy in such a strong and succinct way. What else would you say to them? [00:09:00] Jay McBain: I mean, the second thing that jumps out, you see two AWS direct touches here. This is something that this would be inbound. This AWS would see this deal in their pipeline. [00:09:09] Vince Menzione: Yeah. [00:09:10] Jay McBain: Because the customer came to them. AWS lost this deal. Crazy. So Microsoft won this deal. I, I mentioned Microsoft outgrowing AWS Yeah. [00:09:19] Jay McBain: ’cause in this particular case, NTT and Software One and Yash came in with Microsoft. Yeah. To solve an SAP optimization, Microsoft, and, you know, seven layer deal. So whether you’re in AWS, whether you’re in Microsoft, whether you’re anywhere else in this industry, you’re thinking like, you’re not gonna probably overtake what happens in December. [00:09:39] Jay McBain: These are the most trusted, smartest people in the room. And whatever happens in those projects is the seven layer stack the customer’s gonna buy in March, April. So I, I start to think about this and go, I need to win. ’cause NTT has a wonderful relationship with AWS. [00:09:55] Vince Menzione: They do, [00:09:56] Jay McBain: I mean, partner of the year level. [00:09:57] Jay McBain: I mean, they’ve got 10,000 people certified. I mean, there’s just a, you know, there’s no one at AWS that, um, you know, would take a, a loss here because it’s a wonderful relationship. And Software One, they [00:10:09] Vince Menzione: go back to Microsoft actually 30, 40 years though they do. They were Dimension data before that. Yeah. [00:10:14] Vince Menzione: And they have the long hit Legacy And Software One. Software one as well. You, [00:10:19] Jay McBain: you know, well Software one is Microsoft’s biggest reseller, uh, in Europe. And now with Crayon, you know, one of the biggest in the world. So I would be nervous if I was looking at this and saw Software one coming in with NTT and watching these things take place if I were able to see this back in September, October and work with these companies. [00:10:38] Jay McBain: That’s where kind of Microsoft came into the picture. And this never hit Microsoft’s pipeline. No Microsoft salesperson ever worked on it, but millions of dollars came to Microsoft. Yeah. Uh, out of this deal. So there are examples of where Microsoft gets touched and AWS wins the deal. So this isn’t meant to say that it happens in every case, but it’s meant to say data rules the future, and agent ai, the ability to plumb in these boxes. [00:11:00] Jay McBain: Working with Informa tech, target people that can plumb in the boxes for you with third party data, helping you with the light blue boxes. We gotta be obsessed over these light blue boxes. [00:11:11] Vince Menzione: It’s incredible. The Ultimate Partner Winter Retreat is gonna be here in the Boca Studio. This is the third year that we’re gonna be here in Boca. [00:11:21] Vince Menzione: This is always a favorite of our community members, our executive members, our sponsors and speakers. We’ll all be here in the studio, which is a really intimate setting. We can see upwards of 40, 50 people. Uh, we’ll be hosting an incredible dinner at the Boca Resort overlooking the golf course. That’s an incredible property and, uh, we’d love to have you join us. [00:11:45] Vince Menzione: Thank you for being part of the ultimate Partner community, and I hope to see you this year at one of our events. Thank you.