Podcasts about human judgment

In this episode of the WLEI Podcast, we speak with Jim Morgan and Sebastian Fixson about organizational implications for product development and what building your team's product development capabilities looks like in the age of AI. Morgan is the author of Designing the Future and has spent over 30 years in industry as a product development leader including serving as a global engineering director at Ford Motor Company during the product-led revitalization under CEO Alan Mulally. Sebastian Fixson is Founding Faculty Director of the DBA Program and Professor of Innovation & Design at Babson College and author of The Innovation Navigator: Transforming Your Organization in the Era of AI. The conversation explores:  What people-first leadership means in practice Why particular structures, processes, and practices are needed in product development to help people do their best work The trade-offs inherent in functional and product organizations The organizational and product development implications of new technologies including generative AI How today's entrepreneurs are thinking about product development and how to invest in developing the next generation of developers

AI can crunch a portfolio, harvest losses, and explain an investment concept in seconds. But can it stop a nervous investor from selling at exactly the wrong moment—or understand the life behind the spreadsheet?Tom and Don test the robot-advisor promise, even asking ChatGPT to weigh in. The verdict is a useful division of labor: let technology handle repeatable mechanics, while human judgment, fiduciary responsibility, and behavior coaching remain hard to automate.Then the questions get wonderfully strange: whether a 0.70% advisory fee earns its keep, how a concentrated tech fund hides risk behind a huge return, whether a $100 million Bitcoin Roth story adds up, and how to invest an inherited account.00:00 Are AI advisors coming for financial planners?03:06 ChatGPT offers its own cautious verdict04:14 Where automation helps—and where humans matter09:36 What investors should ask their advisory firms12:10 Is a 0.70% advisor fee earning its keep?16:50 The concentrated tech fund with a dazzling record21:12 A purported $100 million Bitcoin Roth25:22 Building an inherited-account portfolioQuestions? Comments? Click!

In this episode of FP&A Unlocked, host Paul Barnhurst sits down with Albert Lee, FP&A leader, AI finance coach, and corporate trainer, to explore how artificial intelligence is transforming the finance profession. Albert shares practical insights from implementing AI in corporate finance, coaching CFOs, and training finance teams on responsible AI adoption.Albert Lee is an FP&A leader, AI finance coach, and corporate trainer with over 13 years of experience helping finance teams embrace AI and automation. He has led FP&A functions across multinational organizations, including Merlin Entertainments and The Cookware Company, driving forecasting, profitability modeling, and process improvements across APAC. Today, Albert coaches CFOs and finance leaders through the AI Finance Club while delivering AI training for global organizations and professional finance communities.Expect to Learn:Why AI should be your finance copilotHow to build trusted AI workflowsWhen to use AI vs. Power QueryBest practices for secure AI adoptionKey skills for the future of FP&AHere are a few relevant quotes from the episode:"A strong analyst using AI becomes much stronger. A weak analyst using AI simply makes mistakes faster." - Albert Lee"The best FP&A professionals don't just explain the numbers, they explain what they mean and what should happen next." – Albert LeeAlbert Lee shares practical insights on using AI to enhance FP&A without sacrificing governance, accuracy, or human judgment. He reminds finance professionals that while AI can dramatically improve productivity, true business value comes from combining the right technology with strong data practices, critical thinking, and trusted business partnerships.Follow Albert:Website - https://axiomfpa.com/LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/albert-lee-fcpa-869478118/Earn Your CPE Credit For CPE credit, please go to earmarkcpe.com, listen to the episode, download the app, answer a few questions, and earn your CPE certification. To earn education credits for the FPAC Certificate, take the quiz on earmark and contact Paul Barnhurst for further details.In Today's Episode[00:00] – Trailer[02:14] – Meet Albert Lee[03:34] – Why Copilot?[05:27] – AI Automation Journey[09:47] – AI Training & Coaching[19:51] – AI Challenges[23:50] – AI Workflows[28:18] – AI Governance[31:23] – AI's Strengths & Limits[39:40] – Career Advice & Wrap-up

Find out more about Bruce Tracey's General Managers Program: https://ecornell.short.gy/fKKWmj Howard's Gift book: https://ecornell.short.gy/1OLdog Artificial intelligence is no longer just a tool; it's starting to resemble an entirely new species. This raises a fundamental question: What remains distinctly human? In this Keynote, Bruce Tracey, Professor of Management at Cornell's Nolan School of Hotel Administration, and Eric Sinoway '96, CEO of Pravi, introduce Hospitality FluencyTM as a universal language of human interaction. When technology takes over more of the work, the differentiator becomes how we listen, respond, and connect. Professor Tracey and Mr. Sinoway bring this concept to life with vivid examples of when people, processes, and technology succeed or fail. The session challenges leaders to determine what can be delegated to AI and what must remain the province of human judgment. What You'll Learn How to leverage AI's scalable intelligence while ensuring judgment, strategic decisions, and accountability remain human responsibilities How to apply the Humans Still Matter® operating lens to decide what to delegate to AI, what to monitor, and what must stay under human control How the loss of critical skills like listening, empathy, and presence in an AI‑enabled world undermines competitive advantage How Hospitality FluencyTM works as a measurable, teachable “language” of human interaction and why many organizations underinvest in it How to spot Service Winners and WhiffsTM in real time and what they reveal about breakdowns among people, process, and technology Follow eCornell on YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, TikTok, and X.

In the milestone 50th episode of Take It or Leave It, host Josh Seidman celebrates the series' continued exploration of the evolving leave and accommodations landscape with a timely deep dive into artificial intelligence. Joined by FINEOS leaders Trish Zuniga and Lori Welty, the conversation builds on prior discussions and podcast episodes to examine how AI is reshaping absence management, from streamlining administrative tasks to introducing new compliance and governance challenges. Together, the group explores what responsible AI adoption looks like in practice, emphasizing the importance of human oversight, critical thinking, and empathy in high-stakes workplace decisions. With practical examples and forward-looking insights, this episode reframes the narrative from “man vs. machine” to “man with machine,” offering listeners clear guidance on how to harness AI's benefits in the leaves and accommodations space without compromising judgment or accountability. Read the full transcript here: https://www.seyfarth.com/dir_docs/podcast_transcripts/Take-It-Or-Leave-It-Episode-50.pdf

Most companies are rushing to layer AI onto customer operations without fixing what sits underneath. Deb Ashton of Certinia says that's the wrong order. When sales, delivery, finance, and customer success work from separate systems with different views of the same customer, AI doesn't close those gaps; it amplifies them. Clients feel the disconnect as friction: repeating themselves across departments, getting inconsistent answers, and slowly losing trust. What You Will Learn Why adding AI to customer support fails when your sales, finance, and delivery systems do not share customer data, and what customers experience when they do not The three layers of trust that determine whether clients renew, and which one AI cannot replace Where AI actually protects revenue in your business versus where it erodes customer relationships The difference between "human in the loop" and "human on the loop," and when to use each one with AI workflows Why metrics like NPS and renewal rates hide the real problem with your AI implementation until the customer has already left How to identify which administrative work should be automated and which customer-facing decisions need human judgment before execution What to do when your customer success manager cannot answer basic questions about a contract, and why that moment determines whether you keep or lose the customer This episode is brought to you in partnership with Certinia. Certinia is a professional services platform built natively on Salesforce that connects the full services lifecycle — sales, delivery, financials, forecasting, staffing, and project management — on a single data layer, so every team works from the same view of the customer, and AI can act with certainty. Learn more at Certinia.com. Subscribe to DoingCXRight.com newsletter for more actionable strategies to boost business results the right way.

Predictions about artificial intelligence often focus on job losses and shrinking demand for lawyers. Filevine CEO and co-founder Ryan Anderson and product manager John Rizner offer a sharply different forecast. Drawing on the Jevons paradox, they argue greater efficiency will make legal services accessible to more people, encourage deeper legal research, and create work once excluded by cost. AI might reduce the effort required for individual tasks while expanding the overall volume and ambition of legal representation.The shift holds major implications for the access-to-justice gap. Faster drafting, research, and document review would allow lawyers to serve more clients without sacrificing professional judgment. Anderson expects family law, immigration, bankruptcy, criminal defense, and employment litigation to experience some of the earliest growth. Motions, witnesses, and legal theories once abandoned over expense become economically viable, although courts face their own capacity crisis as more disputes and arguments enter the system.Rizner explains how Filevine's legal AI platform, Lois, applies machine learning to one of legal research's oldest problems: traditional citators often return different results. Lois combines citation graphs with semantic analysis to locate opinions discussing related legal doctrines even when no direct citation connects the cases. A panel of models then evaluates potential conflicts and produces a structured memo. The goal is richer legal analysis focused on the precise holding or proposition a lawyer needs, rather than a simple flag attached to an entire opinion.Accuracy still demands disciplined human review. Filevine organizes citation verification into three levels: confirming the cited case exists, determining whether the case supports the claimed proposition, and checking whether the authority is still good law. The conversation also examines Rizner's research into how different large language models approach efficient breach of contract. OpenAI, Google, and Anthropic models produced dramatically different recommendations, revealing embedded legal and economic preferences beneath seemingly neutral answers.The guests also explore how AI changes legal drafting, law firm economics, and the billable hour. Filevine's acquisition of Pincites, now Lois for Word, reflects Microsoft Word's continuing role as the shared language of legal documents, redlines, formatting, and negotiations. Efficiency does not automatically eliminate hourly billing. Lawyers might instead use saved time to produce more thoroughly researched arguments, stronger contracts, and work product approaching senior-level depth. Firms still need incentives rewarding efficiency rather than treating faster work as lost revenue.Looking ahead, Anderson and Rizner predict a proliferation of frontier and open-source models tailored to firms, individual lawyers, and specific client relationships. Legal teams will increasingly pair proprietary knowledge with selected models to produce highly specialized analysis. Yet model choice introduces jurisprudential bias, accuracy risks, and serious training concerns for junior lawyers. AI expands the range of available options, while experienced legal judgment decides which arguments deserve trust, which sources require verification, and which advice should reach the client.John Rizner Slides Filevine Primary Presentation - 2026Listen on mobile platforms:  ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Apple Podcasts⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ |  ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Spotify⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠Substack⁠[Special Thanks to ⁠⁠Legal Technology Hub⁠⁠ for their sponsoring this episode.]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Email: geekinreviewpodcast@gmail.comMusic: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Jerry David DeCicca⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Transcript:

What happens when the brightest minds in legal, technology, and innovation come together to shape the future of our profession? Welcome to the Legally Speaking Podcast Legal Tech Talk 2026 miniseries. As the UK's number one legal podcast and show ranked in the top 1% of podcasts globally, we're delighted to be returning as the official media partner for Legal Tech Talk for the third time. Having supported this event since the beginning. We've witnessed firsthand how it has become Europe's largest legal technology conference, bringing together the people, ideas, and innovations transforming the legal industry. Across this special series, we'll be speaking with some of the world's leading legal professionals, founders, technologists, change makers to explore what's next for law. Because our mission remains the same. Inspiring legal minds, transforming legal futures. Let's get into it. We get to meet James Smither in this minisode. James is the global head of risk management at Freshfields. In the conversation, he comes across as thoughtful and practical, with a strong focus on how legal careers are changing and how firms should adapt. He's especially interested in measuring value, dealing with the impact of AI on judgment and basic skills, and making sure people around the table are aligned. He also points people to LinkedIn for more updates. So why should you be listening in? You can hear Rob and James discussing:- AI Transformation Being Unavoidable- Insight From Data Being Valuable- Intellectual Independence Matters Most- Emotional Intelligence Drives Leadership- Resilience: Organisational, Not Individual.Connect with James Smither here - https://uk.linkedin.com/in/jamessmither

Episode 183: David Dean & his book, An Inbox Between Us: AI is not here to replace human judgment. It is here to make the absence of judgment visible.ABOUT DAVIDDavid Dean is an author, speaker, and business AI realist who explores how artificial intelligence reshapes work, judgment, and accountability in organizations. Rather than focusing on AI capabilities, he examines the human elements that remain essential: how people navigate uncertainty, where accountability lies when AI assists decisions, and what holds organizations together when technology accelerates faster than clarity. His philosophy is grounded in a simple truth: AI doesn't understand confidence, risk, or consequence—people do, and that's why they still matter. CONVERSATION HIGHLIGHTS• David shares his personal journey from tech curiosity sparked by his father to becoming an AI architect and behavioral thinker• The concept of the "behavioral record" within organizations and how AI uncovers these hidden dynamics• The role of self-awareness and organizational proximity in successful AI adoption• How AI acts as a mirror, revealing organizational culture and behaviors• The importance of authenticity and leadership grounded in integrity amidst AI-driven change• The influence of storytelling, organizational myths, and the unwritten contracts on workplace dynamicsThe MAIN QUESTION for you that comes out of my conversation with David is, Before worrying about AI's role in your work, how might you have forgotten and taken for granted all that goes into your work and organization? FIND DAVID• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidchristopherdean/• Website: https://www.davidchristopherdean.comLinkedIn - Full Podcast Article: CHAPTERS00:00 - The Book Leads Podcast - David Dean00:48- Introduction & Bio01:34 - Who are you today? Can you provide more information about your work?04:18 - How did your path into your career look like, and what did it look like up until now?:45:27 - What do you consider your superpower?48:26 - What does leadership mean to you?50:30 - Can you introduce us to the book we're discussing?58:25 - Can you provide a general overview of the book?01:05:32 - What's changed in you in the process of writing this book?01:09:00 - What's next for your writing?01:10:33 - What book has inspired you?01:14:01 - What are you up to these days? (A way for guests to share and market their projects and work.)This series has become my Masterclass In Humanity. I'd love for you to join me and see what you take away from these conversations.Learn more about The Book Leads and listen to past episodes:Watch on YouTubeListen on SpotifyListen on Apple PodcastsRead About The Book Leads – Blog PostFor more great content, check out the catalog for my newsletter Last Week's Leadership Lessons, if you haven't already!

"Command and control only works when someone's gonna die" Lee Caraher is known for helping leaders say what they actually mean- especially when the stakes are high -and for building teams that work hard, laugh a lot, and don't hide behind jargon. In this episode she shares her journeyfrom medieval history to successful entrepreneurship, exploring leadership, communication, and adapting to change in a rapidly evolving world. Chapters 00:00 Journey of Self-Discovery and Career Pathways07:20 Navigating Communication in a Diverse World14:01 Understanding Generational Differences in Communication20:27 Leadership and Effective Communication Strategies23:28 Navigating Challenges and Moving Forward25:14 The Importance of Communication in Leadership27:05 Understanding Employee Emotions and Productivity29:05 The Role of Empathy in Leadership31:53 The Evolution of Communication Roles33:41 The Impact of AI on Communication36:24 Human Judgment vs. AI in Decision Making38:19 The Need for Human Connection in Remote Work42:11 Final Thoughts on Connection and Communication Contact LeeWebsite: http://leecaraher.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/leecaraher/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leecaraher/?hl=en Help us get to 10,000subscribers https://youtube.com/@josephinerising?si=49upyEozaH0ZIQFB Connect with Josephinehere Dr Josephine Palermo | Instagram, Facebook |Linktree

What does it mean to govern a decision model instead of a roadmap? In this episode of the CPO Rising Series hosted by Products That Count Resident CPO Jay Patel, Rakuten Rewards CPO Nilesh Khandelwal will be speaking on how AI is shifting the product leader's job from execution management to decision architecture. He also shares his three-bucket prioritization framework, the concept of "glues" as a retention lever, and why saying no to guaranteed revenue is sometimes the most strategic move a CPO can make.

Artificial intelligence is everywhere. The question is no longer whether AI will change work. The question is whether humans will continue to think critically while using it. In this episode, Dr. Wayne Pernell sits down with Sameer Ranjan, CTO and Director of Data Science at Catenate, to discuss how AI can be used to enhance human potential rather than replace human judgment. Sameer shares how his company helps organizations identify talent, improve workforce mobility, reduce turnover, and create measurable learning outcomes. Together they explore behavioral economics, Ikigai, career transitions, critical thinking, creativity, and the growing importance of curiosity in an AI-driven world. They also discuss: Human-centered AI• Workforce intelligence• Career transitions and upskilling• Learning and development measurement• Emotional intelligence and data• Curiosity as a leadership advantage• Critical thinking in the age of AI• The future of work and talent development If you're a leader, educator, founder, HR executive, or simply curious about how humans and AI can work together more effectively, this conversation is for you. Sameer Ranjan's LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/sameerranjan009 Hosted by Dr. Wayne Pernell.

In this episode, MichaelAaron and Richard explore the intersection of artificial intelligence and behavioral science. They discuss why AI amplifies good and bad thinking alike, how overreliance can weaken judgment, why creativity risks becoming more uniform, and how understanding human behavior remains a critical advantage in the age of AI.

What does it really take to keep ethics at the forefront as AI changes the game in accounting? In this episode, Tala Khalifeh, Chief of Staff at STAXX and a leader for IMA Shared Interest Groups, joins Adam Larson for an honest, insightful chat about her journey from internal audit to championing ethics in finance. Listen as Tala shares real stories about walking away from unethical workplaces, why human judgment still matters in the age of advanced AI, and how accountants can build trust in financial outputs. Perfect for anyone in accounting or finance curious about where technology and integrity meet, this episode will leave you with practical ideas and a fresh perspective on the future of your work.

Nobel laureate, best-selling author, and groundbreaking psychologist Daniel Kahneman is also a friend and former business partner of Steve's. In discussing Danny's new book Noise: A Flaw in Human Judgment, the two spar over inconsistencies in criminal sentencing and Danny tells Steve that “Your attitude is unusual” — no surprise there. This episode originally aired on May 14th, 2021. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

See what the team at The Successful Bookkeeper has on right now → AI is moving fast, and the bookkeeping profession is squarely in its path — but not in the way most people fear. In this episode, Michael Palmer sits down with AI strategist and educator Benjamin Tasker to talk about what the shift actually looks like on the ground, which skills will separate bookkeepers who thrive from those who stall, and how to start building your own AI system without a data science degree. Chapters [00:00] Welcome and Ben's Background [03:15] From Data Science to AI Education [08:00] AI's Real Impact on Bookkeeping [12:00] Human Judgment as the Key Check [15:30] Skills That Separate Thriving Bookkeepers [21:00] Data, Systems, and AI Strategy [25:00] Opportunities to Move Up the Value Chain [29:00] First Steps for Integrating AI [32:00] Client Expectations and Transparency [35:00] Fear, Mindset, and Where to Find Ben AI Will Elevate Bookkeeping, Not Replace It Ben is direct about the headline fear: bookkeepers are not going away. "AI will help elevate what a bookkeeper does," he says. The repetitive work — transaction coding, receipt capture, anomaly detection, drafting reports — gets absorbed by AI, which frees up the bookkeeper to move from data entry to data judgment. Think less time in the books and more time coaching clients on their financial pain points. AICPA and Intuit both point in the same direction: the future of the role looks a lot more like analytics and advisory than data input. The Two Skill Lanes Every Bookkeeper Should Know Ben references the World Economic Forum's skills taxonomy, which divides skills into two tracks. AI skills — analytical thinking, systems thinking, coding — pay a premium today, but AI will eventually encroach on those. Human skills — communication, empathy, leadership — are undervalued right now but will command a premium as AI can only mimic, never genuinely replace, them. "AI can put on a facade of empathy and compassion, but it really can't have it because it's robotic." For bookkeepers, the practical focus areas are AI supervision (checking outputs rigorously), advisory thinking, digital and data fluency, and transparent client communication. The Human in the Loop Is Not Optional Ben's background in healthcare data — building algorithms to predict sepsis risk from bedside monitors — gives him a sharp view on why human validation matters. A small data error that goes unchecked can cascade into a much larger problem. "A mistake, especially for a small business owner, could cost tens of thousands of dollars." Bookkeepers already understand this: the work is either right or it isn't. That precision mindset is exactly what responsible AI use demands, and it is a genuine competitive advantage for practitioners who carry it into their AI workflows. Data Is the Oil — Build a System, Not Just a Stack of Tools One of Ben's clearest points: buying an AI tool is not an AI strategy. The framework he outlines is straightforward — start with your data (client records, call transcripts, templates, Google Sheets), run it through a system you build and control, apply AI to it, then validate and iterate. "Just because you buy an AI tool doesn't mean you have an AI strategy or even an AI business." He encourages bookkeepers to build their own processing systems rather than relying entirely on third-party integrations that can change without warning. Start small — something as simple as having AI draft follow-up emails from call transcripts is a low-risk, high-value first step. Practical First Steps and Client Communication For bookkeepers ready to start, Ben's advice is to pick a low-stakes problem, solve it, and let that build confidence. Use AI to profile prospective clients from call transcripts, automate follow-up reminders, or create a client-facing dashboard from existing data. On the client side, transparency is non-negotiable: communicate that you are using AI, explain how it benefits them, and teach them how to give better inputs so they get better outputs. "By providing inputs and encouraging your customers to use AI to show them the benefits of it, they're going to become less resistant over time." That kind of teaching deepens the client relationship well beyond what traditional bookkeeping alone can offer. Links Mentioned Ben Tasker AI: bentaskerai.com Ben Tasker on LinkedIn World Economic Forum Skills Taxonomy (AI skills and human skills tracks) The Successful Bookkeeper Pure Bookkeeping About the Guest Benjamin Tasker is an AI strategist, educator, and speaker with over 10 years of experience in data science and artificial intelligence. His background spans healthcare predictive analytics, higher education, and enterprise AI strategy. Today he helps entrepreneurs and large organizations build the skills and systems they need to navigate the AI revolution. You can find his prompting frameworks, podcast appearances, and upcoming events at bentaskerai.com. About the hostMichael PalmerMichael Palmer is the host of The Successful Bookkeeper podcast and co-founder of Pure Bookkeeping and The Successful Bookkeeper. He started this work because of his father — a brilliant electrical contractor who worked twice as hard as he should have had to, because nobody on the financial side was in his corner. That gap is what The Successful Bookkeeper exists to close. His view: bookkeepers are the most undervalued force in small business — and every bookkeeper who builds a real business changes two families: theirs, and their clients'.

AI can accelerate answers. But what happens when it weakens the development of judgment, critical thinking, and human connection? Jennifer May explores the growing pressure facing middle managers, the risks organizations face when relationship-building and professional development fall away, and why ethical culture depends on much more than policies and compliance training. Drawing on nearly 30 years in ethics and compliance leadership, Jennifer shares why she believes compliance is fundamentally a relationship business and how organizations can move from being the “office of no” to becoming strategic partners in building a healthy culture. Jennifer also shares a powerful story from her university compliance work that shaped her “yes and” philosophy, revealing how trust, collaboration, and creative problem-solving can help organizations navigate difficult tensions without losing sight of innovation or integrity. This conversation is a timely exploration of leadership, accountability, AI, and the human skills organizations cannot afford to lose. Jennifer founded May Solutions Group to help companies make ethics practical, human, and actionable. She helps organizations build systems that people actually trust by replacing complexity with clarity and making ethical decision-making easier in day-to-day work. You'll discover:Why AI may weaken judgment development The growing squeeze on middle managers Why compliance is a relationship business How ethical cultures are strengthened over time The “yes and” mindset that builds trustConnect with on Social MediaLinkedIn Website May Consulting GroupCheck out all the episodesLeave a review on Apple PodcastsConnect with Meredith on LinkedIn

Everyone is chasing AI software, but the biggest opportunity may actually be services. In this video, Eric explains why top investors are betting on services-as-software, how AI is reshaping agency and consulting business models, and why the future belongs to companies that sell outcomes instead of labor. He breaks down managed growth loops, AI-powered operating systems, and the new organizational structures that will separate winners from everyone else. If you're building an agency, consulting firm, service business, or AI startup, this video will change how you think about growth, valuation, and the next decade of opportunity. Chapters (00:00) Why Services Beat SaaS (01:13) The $1 Software vs $6 Services Opportunity (02:52) Why Managed Growth Loops Matter (04:49) Agents, Loops, and Human Judgment (06:43) How Single Brain Powers AI Service Businesses (07:22) The Services-as-Software Manifesto (08:41) The New AI-Native Org Chart (10:13) Building Outcome-Based Offers (11:13) Final Thoughts

Dr. Dirk Willer is a Managing Director and Global Head of Macro and Asset Allocation at Citi Research in New York. Prior to this role, Dirk headed global Emerging Market Strategy, where he and his teams were consistently ranked in the top three in the institutional investor surveys. Previously, Dirk worked at Omega Advisors and RHG Capital as a global macro strategist and portfolio manager, and at Swiss Bank as a fixed income strategist for Russia and Eastern Europe. Dirk holds a PhD and MSc in Economics from the London School of Economics. Dirk is also the author of an influential book on how to trade emerging market fixed income, published by Wiley in 2020, and of a book on global macro trading, released in 2026. In this podcast, we discuss: Unlearning the QE Reflex Trading "Close to the Fire" The Nearest Neighbour Regime Framework PMIs vs. "Noisy" Indicators Yield Curve Inversions and Fed Lags The "GMO" Bubble Methodology Credit as the Equity Canary The Four-Indicator Dollar Model Fading Geopolitical Shocks The Role of Human Judgment in AI 

In this episode of Treasury Leaders, Host Philip Costa Hibberd, Founder of Automation Boutique, talks with Mariam (Petrosyan) Halfhide, Principal Consultant, Data & AI Strategy at Xebia, to explore how AI strategy, data governance, and organisational readiness are reshaping the future of finance and treasury.Mariam shares practical insights on why many organisations struggle to move beyond AI experimentation, the importance of building strong data foundations, and how finance leaders can bridge the gap between technology and business decision-making. She also discusses the growing role of AI in forecasting, operational efficiency, and strategic planning, while highlighting why human judgment and communication remain essential.Whether you're a treasury professional, finance leader, or simply interested in AI transformation, this episode offers valuable lessons on how businesses can adopt AI more effectively and create long-term value.What You'll Learn in This Episode:AI Strategy & Business Alignment: Why successful AI adoption starts with understanding business problems, not just implementing technology.Data Foundations Matter: How poor data quality and fragmented systems limit the effectiveness of AI initiatives.The Human Side of AI: Why communication, collaboration, and organisational readiness are critical for successful transformation.AI in Finance & Treasury: How AI can support forecasting, analytics, automation, and decision-making across finance functions.From Experimentation to Execution: Why many companies remain stuck in pilot phases and what is needed to scale AI successfully.Episode Breakdown with Timestamps:[00:00] – Introduction[01:40] – Mariam's Background in Data & AI Strategy[04:15] – Why AI Adoption Often Fails in Organisations[08:22] – The Importance of Data Quality and Governance[12:35] – Aligning AI with Business Objectives[17:10] – AI Use Cases in Finance and Treasury[22:48] – Moving Beyond AI Experimentation[27:55] – Organisational Readiness and Change Management[32:20] – Human Judgment vs AI Decision-Making[36:45] – The Future of AI in Treasury and Finance[40:10] – Final Advice for Finance LeadersFollow Our Guest: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mpetrosyan/Xebia: https://www.linkedin.com/company/xebia/Follow Treasury Leaders:Website: https://corporate-treasury-101.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/treasury-leaders/Follow Our Hosts:Hussam Ali on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hussam-r-ali/Guillaume Jouvencel on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/guillaume-jouvencel/Jan-Willem Attevelt on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/attevelt/Philip Costa Hibberd on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/philip-costa-hibberd/GHA Marketing Website: https://ghapodcast.com/Automation Boutique Website: https://automationboutique.com/ -----------------------------------------------------------------------Get $100 off any AFP product, including their CTP Exam Prep Platform, using our discount code! Find this and More on our partner's pagehttps://corporate-treasury-101.com/partners-page/

This latest PRmoment podcast with Grayling's Tom Symondson explores AI integration in public relations.Tom simplifies the process into 3 themes:AI Integration and StrategyAgencies will implement AI by prioritizing internal efficiency and service innovation. Implementation success requires depth over breadth to maximize impact.Human Augmentation and RisksAI should serve as an augmentation tool to support experts rather than replacing critical thinking. Teams must guard against efficiency-focused work becoming low quality.Operationalizing AI ImplementationAgencies should decentralize AI expertise by embedding champions within teams instead of separate hubs. Prioritizing repetitive tasks allows firms to scale high-value client services.If you want to learn more about how the future of PR will be impacted by AI, don't miss PRmoment's PR Masterclass: AI in PR.DetailsIntroduction and Optimistic Outlook on AI in PR: Ben Smith welcomed Tom Symondson, who co-leads Accordience's AI team, to discuss the impact of AI on the PR agency model.Tom Symondson expressed extreme optimism about AI's impact, asserting that core PR skills like relationships, experience, creativity, bravery, and judgment are irreplaceable. They suggested that AI will automate tasks that are not highly valued by clients or consultants, such as general research and formatting of monitoring reports, allowing consultants to focus on high-value analysis and strategic input.Emerging Opportunities and UK Investment: Tom Symondson identified that AI will generate new mandates, clients, and revenue streams, particularly around technology-focused businesses, crises, and regulation issues stemming from AI. They expressed optimism about the UK industry's potential benefit from significant investments in large language models (LLMs) by companies like Anthropic and OpenAI in London and the UK. Three Approaches for AI Implementation in PR: Agencies are anticipated to approach AI integration in three primary ways: improving internal efficiency, changing how client work is currently delivered, and creating entirely new tools and service lines that become new revenue streams. The internal efficiency focus involves automating or augmenting repeatable, client-invisible backend functions such as transcribing meetings, building action lists, and reporting processes. Tom Symondson noted that businesses should focus on depth over breadth, selecting one area for the biggest impact before moving on to the next.Understanding AI Augmentation: AI augmentation, distinct from replacement, refers to the technology supporting human experts rather than substituting them, particularly because much of the PR industry's work requires nuance. Tom Symondson gave the example of using an enterprise LLM system for new business research, where the tool supports initial framing but does not replace the consultant's own deep research process. They emphasized that the challenge for agencies is mapping out where this augmentation will have the greatest impact and providing training to take advantage of the tools.Obstacles to Successfully Embedding AI: The three main obstacles to integrating AI into an organization are cost, data and readiness risk, and time. Cost arises because enterprise-level access to AI tools is often high, and data readiness requires extensive security and system sign-off. Tom Symondson identified time as the biggest obstacle, as consultants need more time to experiment with different prompts and processes to understand the full range of AI's impact on their work.The Risk of Efficiency Over Effectiveness: Ben Smith cautioned that the "race to efficiency" can be a "race to the bottom" if not carefully managed. Tom Symondson agreed, noting the risk that increased automation could lead to less expert consultants if technology performs more research than people. The opportunity lies in using the time saved by AI to allow consultants to specialize further, for example, spending more time networking, attending events, or researching clients.The Role of Human Judgment and Criticality: Ben Smith highlighted the necessity of retaining a critical mind because LLMs, while able to generate answers quickly, still produce errors.Tom Symondson added that LLMs are excellent with structured data; therefore, agencies must connect their LLMs to accurate data tools, in addition to training colleagues on drafting effective prompts and knowing when to use the technology. They cited the doubling of AI's ability to complete long tasks every seven months, projecting that in 14 months, AI could complete a 40-hour human task.Importance of Openness and Ownership in AI Use: Tom Symondson stressed the need for consultants and agencies to use AI appropriately, ensuring it augments and supports work, rather than replacing critical thinking. A crucial element is fostering a culture of transparency where people are open about how they used AI for research, including what worked well, what struggled, and what human work was needed to finalize the product. This transparency ensures that people maintain ownership of the work product, balancing efficiency with quality.Innovation and Use Case Clarity: Ben Smith noted increased innovation in PR firms over the last 18 months, which Tom Symondson attributed to the significantly reduced ease and cost of experimentation, allowing someone to build a Minimum Viable Product (MVP) in a weekend. However, Tom Symondson suggested that there might be less innovation this year as the industry moves toward a "substance phase," focusing on embedding existing AI use cases across the organization.Creative Quality and the Need for Uniquely Human Work: Tom Symondson identified the risk of "AI slop" or ideas that look and feel similar due to over-reliance on AI-generated content (e.g., AI writing, image, or PowerPoint generation). Great creative agencies will continue to succeed because their ideas are expected to feel "uniquely human" and grounded in culture, emotional intelligence (EQ), and personality.Operationalizing AI Implementation Across Agencies: Recognizing that time is a major barrier for busy teams, Tom Symondson emphasized the McKinsey principle that depth is more critical than breadth when implementing AI.Identifying and Managing Repetitive Tasks: In the internal productivity bucket, agencies focus on automating repeatable tasks, such as templating monitoring reports from spreadsheets into client emails, which Tom Symondson estimated could number in the thousands.Structure for AI Implementation and Expert Teams: The practical implementation of AI is highly decentralized, residing within the agencies themselves. Instead of a separate AI hub, teams have AI champions who are client-facing staff who integrate AI into their normal day jobs. Tom Symondson stressed the importance of having people work on AI who are connected to the day-to-day client work.The Opportunity for PR Compared to Other Marcom Sectors: Tom Symondson suggested that because PR is less structured and repeatable than sectors like production or media buying, the impact of AI is different, offering more opportunity for PR. AI will improve PR's ability to measure and articulate the value of its work by making it easier to structure and analyze diverse data sources. The discussion concluded that in the long term, AI will not replace talent, but rather reduce the fee earned from less-valued tasks, while increasing revenue from high-value services that require judgment, advice, and impactful results.

Welcome to another episode of Forcepoint's "To the Point Cybersecurity" podcast. This week, Rachael Lyon and Jonathan Knepher continue their deep-dive conversation with Monzy Merza, exploring the transformative impact of AI in security operations centers (SoCs) and the evolving landscape of cyber threats and defense. In this episode, Monzy Merza shares candid insights into building trust and confidence in AI tools, managing the surge in AI-generated data and requirements, and the crucial role of human judgment amid technological advancements. The discussion covers everything from the realities of AI-generated errors to the challenges and opportunities for defenders as attackers adopt agent-driven threats. For CISOs and SOC managers facing the daunting task of AI transformation, Monzy Merza offers practical strategies, hard-earned lessons from the front lines, and a glimpse into future-proofing your security teams. Tune in to hear what practitioners are really experiencing in the trenches and what key questions every leader should be asking in the race to integrate AI securely and effectively. For links and resources discussed in this episode, please visit our show notes at https://www.forcepoint.com/govpodcast/e380

What does it take to bring artificial intelligence into state child welfare systems? How do you modernize legacy systems…without losing the human judgment at the heart of child welfare? And what happens when you combine data, product thinking, and human-centered design to rethink how government delivers services? Join host Michael J. Keegan and his guest Steven Hintze, Chief Data and Product Officer at the Arizona Department of Child Safety. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Summary In this episode of Frontline Innovators, Nancy Green shares expert insights on AI governance, organizational change, and effective technology adoption strategies. Discover how trust, communication, and tailored engagement are key to successful AI implementation in large enterprises. Key topics - Difference between utilization and adoption of technology - Building trust during change initiatives - Effective communication strategies for large-scale change - Role of frontline leadership in AI implementation - Measuring trust and engagement at scale - Handling resistance and skepticism towards AI - Designing scalable training and enablement programs - The importance of governance and responsibility in AI projects Chapters 00:00 Introduction to AI Governance and Change Management 04:08 Utilization vs. Adoption of Technology 07:19 The Importance of Trust in Change Management 10:00 Building Trust Through Communication 11:53 Engaging Frontline Leadership 14:59 Identifying Change Champions 18:14 Understanding Resistance to Change 20:50 Addressing Anxiety Around Change 23:35 Honesty in Communication During Change 26:29 Incentives and Performance Metrics 28:23 Motivation and Technology Adoption 32:23 Personalization in Change Management 34:26 Supporting Technologically Reluctant Workers 36:20 Minimum Viable Proficiency in Training 37:56 Bite-Sized Learning and Agile Development 40:04 User Involvement in Development 45:06 Addressing AI Concerns and User Fears 48:48 Evolving Job Roles in the Age of AI 52:15 Human Judgment in AI Utilization 56:00 Governance and Responsibility in AI Projects Resources Gretchen Rubin's Four Tendencies - https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00K4X7Q4QAI Governance Frameworks - https://www.oecd.org/going-digital/ai/ai-governance/ Guest links LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/nancygreen Website - https://nancygreen.com  

In this episode of Future Finance, Paul Barnhurst and Glenn Hopper speak with Ali Hussain, CEO and co-founder of Tabs, an AI-powered platform revolutionizing the revenue process for finance teams. Ali discusses how the traditional ERP systems have left revenue management behind, and how Tabs is changing the game by automating the full contract-to-cash cycle. He shares his insights on the complexity of revenue management, AI's role in financial systems, and why understanding the data context is key to success in AI-powered finance tools.Ali Hussain is the CEO and co-founder of Tabs, where he leads the development of AI-native solutions designed to automate the billing, collections, and revenue recognition process. With a background spanning product leadership at Google, strategy consulting at BCG, and public policy, Ali is at the forefront of the next wave of finance technology.In this episode, you will discover:How AI is transforming revenue management in financeThe importance of data context in AI-powered toolsWhy traditional finance systems fail to address modern revenue modelsHow Tabs automates billing, collections, and revenue recognitionAli Hussain shared invaluable insights into the future of finance, highlighting how AI is revolutionizing revenue management and financial operations. While AI brings immense potential for automation, human judgment remains crucial in making strategic decisions. Follow Ali:Website: https://www.tabs.comLinkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ali-hussain786/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@tabsplatform Follow Glenn:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gbhopperiiiFollow Paul:LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/thefpandaguyFollow QFlow.AI:Website - https://bit.ly/4i1EkjgFuture Finance is sponsored by QFlow.ai, the strategic finance platform solving the toughest part of planning and analysis: B2B revenue. Align sales, marketing, and finance, speed up decision-making, and lock in accountability with QFlow.ai. Stay tuned for a deeper understanding of how AI is shaping the future of finance and what it means for businesses and individuals alike.In Today's Episode:[00:00] – Trailer[03:00] – Legacy Finance Systems[06:15] – Revenue Management Gaps[09:00] – How Tabs Transforms Finance[12:00] – AI in Billing & Rev Rec[15:30] – Clean Data Importance[19:00] – AI vs Human Judgment[22:30] – The Future of AI[25:00] – Complex Revenue Models[29:00] – AI Challenges in Finance[34:00] – Closing Thoughts on AI

Dan Wald, cofounder and chief AI officer at Sciemo, joins The Tech Trek for a sharp conversation about what AI can and cannot do inside real business workflows.The big question: can AI move beyond quick answers and actually support the messy, context heavy work that still lives in Excel, data teams, and functional expertise?Dan breaks down why consumer style AI has trained people to expect instant answers, why that creates risk inside companies, and why the next wave of AI products needs more than a chat box. It needs context, transparency, guardrails, and humans who understand the work well enough to challenge the output.The conversation also gets into AI agents, coding, entry level talent, narrow workflow specific AI, and why replacing judgment is a much harder problem than replacing repetitive tasks.Key takeaways• AI tools are only useful when they understand the context behind the question, not just the wording of the prompt.• Excel remains powerful because users can see the data, change assumptions, and understand the logic. AI products need to earn that same level of trust.• The best AI workflows are not black boxes. They let users inspect assumptions, challenge outputs, and adjust the answer.• Agents can speed up work, but they still need human judgment, especially when the task requires strategy, constraints, or domain expertise.• AI may change entry level work, but companies still need people who can think critically, solve new problems, and understand why the output is right or wrong.Timestamped highlights00:40 Dan explains how Sciemo helps consumer brands unify messy data and apply AI to inventory, pricing, assortment, and promotion decisions.02:30 Why the single prompt experience has changed what people expect from AI, and why that expectation can break down inside the workplace.04:19 How purpose built AI differs from general AI, especially when the workflow requires context, guardrails, and a clear goal.07:41 Why Excel is still hard to replace, and what AI systems need to learn from the control and transparency users already expect.12:57 Dan compares AI agents to unlimited interns, useful for many tasks, but still limited without expert direction.21:57 The slap chop analogy, and why faster tools do not automatically make someone better at the underlying craft.31:15 Why predictions about technology and work are so hard to get right, even when productivity clearly improves.A line that stuck“Used properly, they're great. Used poorly, it's a very new technology. There will be more mistakes than there are winners.”Practical points worth taking• Do not treat a confident AI answer as a complete answer.• Build AI around real workflows, not generic prompts.• Keep humans close to the assumptions, especially when the decision has business impact.• Use AI to move faster, but make sure someone still understands the logic behind the work.Listen nextFollow The Tech Trek for more conversations with founders, operators, and technical leaders building through the next wave of AI, data, and product change.

Susan Ghalili, SVP and chief underwriting officer at Pacific Life, explains how insights from the 2026 Underwriting Outlook Survey show insurers embracing AI as a powerful tool to enhance efficiency and decision-making while emphasizing that human expertise remains essential to maintaining trust, credibility, and sound risk assessment.

All of us are biased. We have individual biases, momentary biases, morning biases and evening biases. Our institutions are biased. Our constitutions are biased. So what to do about it? IDEAS producer Tom Howell explores the art of naming your most important biases — and deciding which to keep, as he continues his investigation into what the field of ‘bias studies' has to offer us. *This episode is part two of a three-part series exploring the meaning of 'bias.' It originally aired on Feb. 3, 2022.Guests in this episode:Olivier Sibony is the author of Noise: A Flaw in Human Judgment and You're About to Make a Terrible Mistake.Jessica Nordell is the author of The End of Bias: A Beginning.Jimmy Calanchini is assistant professor of psychology at University of California, Riverside.Jack Nagler was the ombudsman at the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation.

FP&A & AI Software Showcase: Explore Leading ToolsFP&A leaders are embracing AI, and we're here to help. On May 21st, I'll host the FP&A & AI Software Showcase, featuring FP&A planning and AI tools like Concourse, Sapien, Drivetrain, and Una- AI. Join us for live demos, insights, and no sales pressure.Register today: www.thefpandaguy.com/fpa-software-showcaseOnto this weeks episodeIn this episode of FP&A Unlocked, Paul Barnhurst speaks with Carolina Lago, founder of Tactic Financial, about the impact of AI on financial planning and analysis (FP&A). Carolina shares her extensive experience in the industry, discusses the power of AI in transforming finance workflows, and explains how AI is amplifying the work of finance professionals rather than replacing them. She delves into her use of AI agents, like Claude, as thinking partners in her work, and gives practical advice for finance teams on leveraging AI for strategic decision-making.Carolina Lago is the founder of Tactic Financial, where she helps FP&A professionals integrate AI into their workflows through hands-on training and practical tools. With over 20 years of experience in financial planning, analysis, and modeling across multiple industries and continents, she brings a unique perspective on how technology can amplify (not replace) the work of finance teams. Expect to Learn:The evolving role of FP&A as a bridge between strategy and operationsHow AI can reduce manual tasks and enhance strategic thinkingThe importance of understanding workflows and processes in FP&A Carolina's approach to using AI as a "thinking partner" to amplify human skillsHere are a few relevant quotes from the episode:"AI is not going to replace humans; it's going to improve how we work and give us more time for strategic decision-making." - Carolina Lago"The differentiator for companies will be how they use AI to complement human intelligence, not replace it." - Carolina LagoCarolina explains that AI is not here to replace humans but to enhance their capabilities and free up time for strategic decision-making. She also emphasizes that understanding workflows and the human factor will be key in effectively integrating AI into finance roles. Follow Carolina:This week's Guest Carolina has launched a hands-on program for FP&A professionals who want to move from manual processes to AI-powered workflows. Learn to use Claude for FP&A:Course:https://hub.tacticfinancial.com/accelerator?utm_source=fpaguy&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=acceleratorLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/s-carolinalago/Earn Your CPE Credit For CPE credit, please go to earmarkcpe.com, listen to the episode, download the app, answer a few questions, and earn your CPE certification. To earn education credits for the FPAC Certificate, take the quiz on earmark and contact Paul Barnhurst for further details.In Today's Episode[02:50] – FP&A : Strategy & Operations[06:43] – AI in Reducing Manual Tasks[10:52] – Transforming Finance with AI[14:26] – Learning AI & Human Judgment[19:37] – AI in Finance: Real Applications[25:57] – The Future of AI in FP&A [33:12] – Elevating FP&A with AI[39:45] – Adopting AI in FP&A [45:30] – AI for Better Decision-Making[50:15] – Getting Started with AI[54:05] – Final Thoughts on AI & Collaboration

Happy Administrative Professionals Week! On today's episode of REACH, we're joined by Monique Helstrom, former Executive Assistant, Producer, and “Chief of” to Simon Sinek, author of Start with Why. Often described as the “HOW Girl to the WHY Guy,” Monique spent nearly a decade helping build and scale one of the most influential leadership brands in the world, giving her a front-row seat to high-level leadership, communication, and partnership. Now a keynote speaker and coach, Monique shares practical guidance for Executive Assistants on leading up, communicating with clarity, and stepping into their roles with confidence. We also explore how EAs can embrace AI as a powerful tool to stay relevant and enhance their impact. This episode is packed with actionable insights on communication, connection, and evolving as a strategic partner in today's workplace. Resources & Offers: Podcast Listener Offer Get $100 off The AI-Powered Assistant course. Learn how to think with AI so you can produce stronger work, faster, and position yourself as a strategic partner. https://www.moniquehelstrom.com/ai-powered-assistant Use code: reachpodcast April Coaching Offer Special Administrative Professionals Month pricing on coaching sessions focused on confidence, communication, career direction, and strategic partnership skills. Book a Discovery Call: https://api.leadconnectorhq.com/widget/bookings/discoverycallwithmonique Double Course Bundle (April Only) Get The AI-Powered Assistant and Introduction to Effective Communication together to build both technical skills and communication clarity. Explore the bundle: https://moniquehelstrom.thinkific.com/bundles/administrative-professionals-month-2026 About Monique Monique Helstrom is a recruiter, coach, and speaker specializing in the executive–assistant partnership. A former Executive Assistant to Simon Sinek, she now helps executives hire and work effectively with high-level assistants and supports assistants in building strategic, future-proof careers. Website: www.MoniqueHelstrom.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/moniquejhelstrom/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/moniquehelstrom/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCrz2UEjZterB-2AdKZuAYxQ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MoniqueJHelstrom

On this episode of the Woodard Report podcast, Heather and Joe talk about the rapid evolution of AI, highlighting new developments like Xero's partnership with Anthropic and the growing role of AI agents in business operations. They explore how AI is shifting from simple assistance to performing complex tasks, while emphasizing the continued need for human oversight, judgment, and ethical responsibility. The conversation also balances excitement with caution, urging professionals to adopt AI strategically while staying informed about its risks and limitations. Current events — Xero and Anthropic Team Up on AI for Small Businesses Microsoft Released a Report titled "2025: The Year the Frontier Firm is Born" TV/Movie quote of the week — The Good Place The PITT Excellent things we learned — Use artifacts to visualize and create AI apps without ever writing a line of code A World Without Work by Dr. Daniel Susskind Member spotlight — Karem Ospino of Ospino Consulting The Woodard Report article of the week — What Accounting Websites Get Wrong + What Pros Recommend Thank you to our show sponsor, Woodard! The Woodard membership program will help you build your ideal practice with our coaching, education, community and resources. We'll get you there with strategic direction from experienced pros, access to skill building and resources and a community to continually inspire your practice's transformation. Learn more about the show and our sponsors at Woodard.com/podcast

We are delighted to welcome Ashleigh Cook, the Chief Marketing Officer of RainFocus, as today's guest. In this episode, Ashleigh focuses on strategy, data, AI, and the aspects of events that must change. Stay tuned to learn how, with the right strategy and data foundation, events can truly become impactful drivers of business growth. Ashleigh's Journey Ashleigh began her career in the research and advisory space at companies such as Gartner and Forrester, where she managed marketing programs and consistently tracked events that drove the strongest growth. She joined RainFocus in 2020, during the pandemic, inspired by its focus on data and personalization. There, she saw firsthand how virtual events expanded reach and accessibility, and how hybrid experiences strengthened engagement. Today, she collaborates with leading brands to develop event strategies that enhance business outcomes. Events Ashleigh believes that events are one of the most effective ways to bring teams together around the customer experience. They help attract new customers, deepen relationships, and build loyalty. She points out that conversion rates from events are consistently strong, making them a powerful channel when used intentionally. Formatting Events The format of an event should always reflect its goal—virtual works well for reaching wider audiences and delivering content at scale. In-person is more impactful for connection and relationship-building. Hybrid offers flexibility, while roadshows are becoming more common to meet audiences where they are. Clear Intent A key message from Ashleigh is to avoid running events just because they happen each year. She encourages organizations to be clear about what they are trying to achieve, and then design the event around that goal. Beyond Attendance Ashleigh explains that event registrations and attendance only tell part of the story. What really matters is how people engage at events, the sessions they attend, who they meet, and how actively they participate throughout the event. Data Ashleigh emphasizes the importance of event data after the event ends. Teams should focus on follow-up, understanding attendee interests, and tracking how those interactions turn into opportunities, accelerated deals, and long-term relationships. Data Strategy Data should be intentional. Instead of simply collecting information habitually, organizations should consider how they will use it across the entire customer journey, from registration to post-event engagement. Personalization With the right data, events can become far more personalized. Attendees can be guided toward sessions, content, and experiences that match their interests, making their time more valuable and increasing engagement. AI AI helps teams save time and work more efficiently. It supports recommendations, workflows, and analyzing feedback, allowing teams to focus less on logistics and more on creating better experiences. The Human Element While AI is powerful, Ashleigh is clear that it cannot replace human connection. The real value of events lies in relationship building, trust, and in-person interactions. An Ongoing Journey Ashleigh encourages people to think beyond one single event. Events should connect to a broader journey, where each interaction builds on the last and helps teams engage more meaningfully over time. Events Are Growing More organizations are investing in events because they offer a real connection in an increasingly digital world. Events cut through the noise and create lasting impact. Learning and Staying Relevant Keeping up with new tools and trends does not have to be overwhelming. Ashleigh recommends learning from peers, joining professional communities, and experimenting with new technologies to build confidence and improve results. Authenticity Matters Authenticity matters. As more content becomes automated, people are becoming more adept at spotting what feels real. Lasting connections and strong brands come from genuine, human interaction. BIO: Ashleigh Cook, Chief Marketing Officer at RainFocus Ashleigh is an accomplished marketing executive with deep expertise in sales, marketing, and product best practices and technology. She is driven by a passion for helping high-growth companies establish and scale marketing functions to deliver an exceptional customer experience that aligns with rapidly changing expectations and technology advancements. Before RainFocus, Ashleigh led marketing teams spanning GTM strategy, demand generation, ABM, client marketing, and operations at SiriusDecisions and Forrester. Ashleigh holds her BSBA in Marketing from the University of Richmond. Outside of work, she enjoys spending time with family, golfing with her husband, being active with her dog, and traveling. Connect with Eric Rozenberg LinkedIn Facebook Instagram Website Listen to The Business of Meetings podcast Subscribe to The Business of Meetings newsletter Connect with Ashleigh Cook On LinkedIn RainFocus  

Efficiency in recruiting isn't just about working faster; it's about working smarter by knowing where to let the machines take over and where to double down on human connection. In this episode, Mary Price, an enterprise talent leader with experience at LinkedIn and Apple, reveals how her teams are leveraging AI to reduce administrative burnout while driving a 32% decrease in attrition through better candidate-to-role matching.

Your construction back office admin hasn't taken a vacation in ten years. And it's your software's fault.In this episode of Bricks, Bucks & Bytes, Owen, Patric, Martin, and Dustin break down what four AI CEOs said at NVIDIA GTC and what it means for construction. Then Anna Berger joins fresh off raising $10M in three weeks to expose the chaos inside every specialty contractor's back office.AI token costs collapsed 99% — here's what that unlocksThe data center boom is creating a trades crisis — electricians are now the hottest hire in AmericaWhy AI will never run construction payrollHow Anna closed $10M with 40+ investor meetings in her first week"I just took my first vacation in ten years — thank you." That's the kind of message Anna Berger is getting from her customers.Watch the full episode now!Our Sponsors:Aphex is the multiplayer planning platform where construction teams plan together, stay aligned, and deliver projects faster – check out aphex.coArchdesk -  “The #1 Construction Management Software for Growing Companies - Manage your projects from Tender to Handover” check archdesk.comBuildVision -   streamlining the construction supply chain with a unified platform - www.buildvision.ioChapters00:00 Intro01:00 Introduction to NVIDIA GTC and AI CEOs 03:38 The Impact of AI on Cost and Accessibility 05:34 Specialization vs. Commoditization in AI Models 07:44 The Role of AI in Engineering and Construction 10:33 Deterministic Outcomes and Governance in AI 13:32 The Future of AI in Enterprises and Job Market Dynamics 23:59 The Role of Accuracy in Construction Projects 28:06 AI vs Human Judgment in Project Estimation 30:52 Evaluating AI Accuracy in Professional Contexts 33:45 The Future of Skilled Trades and Workforce Training 40:24 Economic Predictions and Market Interests 44:59 Quarterly Recap: Trends and Insights in Construction Tech 47:01 Real-Life Lessons from the Industry 51:43 Celebrating Success: Anna's Fundraising Journey 53:53 Understanding Trade: A Deep Dive into Construction Back Office Solutions 56:46 Future Plans: Scaling and Product Development 1:00:46 The Importance of Compliance in Payroll Management 1:03:28 Y Combinator's Role in Construction Tech

Paul Sill uses data and predictive analytics to help retailers, restaurants, and other brick-and-mortar businesses make site selection decisions. Paul explains the critical difference between correlation and causation in retail data, explaining that misreading data can lead to costly mistakes. He also discusses how new data sources like social media behavior and mobile foot traffic are shaping modern site selection, why AI still can't replace human judgment in real estate modeling, and the importance of validating instincts with data. Paul, who also teaches at DePaul University, emphasizes that good analytics are about mitigating risk, not providing easy answers. Paul Sill is Managing Director and Head of the Visionary Insights Group at JLL, James Cook is the Director of Retail Research in the Americas for JLL.  Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify  Listen: WhereWeBuy.show  Email: jamesd.cook@jll.com  YouTube: http://everythingweknow.show/ Read more retail research here:  http://www.us.jll.com/retail Theme music is Run in the Night by The Good Lawdz, under Creative Commons license.    

Host Anca Platon Trifan records a live Events Demystified panel with Niesa Silzer (Details Convention & Event Management), Epiphany Bourque (TK Events), and Dustin Westling (OneWest Event Design & Production) on human-first systems and leadership in event work.

This is message 24 in Gospel Record of John John 8:1-11 Religious pride is quick to condemn the sins of others while ignoring the sin within the heart. When confronted with truth, those who came to accuse were forced to face their own guilt and quietly walked away. Yet where human judgment sought to destroy, but He offered forgiveness and a call to a changed life. The same Savior who exposes the hypocrisy of the proud also extends grace to the repentant and gives them the opportunity to walk in newness of life. Don't forget to download our app for more from the Riverview Baptist Church. http://onelink.to/rbcapp Find more at https://riverviewbc.com/ Donate through Pushpay https://pushpay.com/pay/riverviewbc

Randy Gage has spoken to more than two million people in over 50 countries and is a member of the Speaker Hall of Fame. With 15 books translated into more than 25 languages, Randy Gage is a global voice for CEOs and entrepreneurs who want more than success. They want clarity, impact, and freedom. In this conversation, we unpack why AI will soon make “what you know” worthless, why critical thinking is the real currency of leadership, and what it now takes to stay indispensable in a rapidly automated world. With a mind hardwired for metaphysical principles, innovative marketing, and maverick reinvention, Randy created a Prosperity Operating System to help high-level achievers move toward the highest possible version of themselves. If your value is still tied to expertise, frameworks, or information delivery, this episode may change how you think about your future… and your role as a leader.   View the video version of episode 183 on our YouTube channel. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rRb6TGyqOHE Subscribe to the channel now to be the first to catch our next release. https://www.youtube.com/@manageselfleadotherspodcast?sub_confirmation=1   SOUNDBITES [3:17] Why AI is the most disruptivedevelopment of your lifetime, no matter your age or industry. [5:14] Building AI agents for repeatable work, and what it means to train tools on your own material and voice. [5:51] The workplace delegation rethink: what can be delegated, what can be automated, and what needs human judgment. [6:20] Designing AI workflows that scale, and why the pace of improvement is hard to fathom. [7:24] Who can “skate to retirement” … and why everyone else cannot afford to put AI off any longer. [8:00] The bold claim about the scale of job disruption, and why the ripple effect touches almost every role. [10:30] Why critical thinking is becoming rarer, and why leaders must rebuild it deliberately. [11:27] How shallow scrolling and “sideways reading” can erode deep thinking and the ability to hold complexity. [12:06] The one-hour-a-day reading practice that upgrades thinking, discipline, and depth. [12:50] How AI time savings can be reinvested into higher-level thinking, learning, and deep work. [14:39] The storytelling technique of starting in the middle, and why it hooks attention fast. [15:09] Working in the genius zone: delegating the rest, building capability in others, and retiring the “do it myself” mindset. [16:31] Why 'busyness' steals health, relationships, and strategic creativity… and why space is where ideas arrive. [17:03] Designing a year around the work only you can do, with AI freeing time for life and relationships. [18:51] Towards-focus versus away-from focus, gratitude as a reset, and designing “best year yet” energy. [20:12] A free resource to support abundance thinking: 'The 7 elements of an Abundant Life' PDF.   CONTACT RANDY GAGE https://randygage.com/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/randygage/   ABOUT PODCAST HOST, NINA SUNDAY Nina Sunday's latest book, ‘'Manage Self, Lead Others: Constructive Conversations, True Self-Leadership, and Culture You Can't Fake'' is now on Amazon - paperback or kindle. Amazon USA ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://a.co/d/3WaplI9⁠⁠⁠⁠ Amazon Australia ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://amzn.asia/d/0KwghaM⁠⁠⁠⁠ You can read any Kindle eBook on your PC, laptop or phone; you don't need a Kindle device.  === To learn more about face-to-face training programs with Nina Sunday or one of her experienced Facilitators from Brainpower Training Pty Ltd in Australia Pacific, visit: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.brainpowertraining.com.au...⁠ === To visit Nina Sunday's speaker site for global in-person speaking bookings visit: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.ninasunday.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ === Connect with Nina Sunday on LinkedIn ⁠ https://www.linkedin.com/in/ninasunday/ === To subscribe to Nina Sunday's blog go to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.brainpowertraining.com.au/⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and scroll to the bottom of the page to register. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome to episode #1025 of Thinking With Mitch Joel (formerly Six Pixels of Separation). At a moment when panic travels faster than proof, few marketers are as clear-eyed… and as human… as Ann Handley. A pioneering digital marketing strategist (MarketingProfs), bestselling author (Everybody Writes and Content Rules), longtime champion of writing that actually means something and dear friend (also, if you're not susbscribed to her newsletter, Total Annarchy, you really should be), Ann has built a career reminding businesses that the point of content isn't velocity… it's connection. In her recent essay, Something Messy Is Happening: On AI, Panic, and Asking Better Questions, she pushes back against the apocalyptic certainty surrounding AI job displacement and challenges the framing that faster always wins. Responding to venture capitalist Matt Shumer's argument, Something Big Is Happening, that AI will eliminate half of white-collar work within a few years, Ann dissects the seductive panic embedded in exponential curves and racing metaphors, arguing that technological capability does not equal economic inevitability. She reminds us that adoption is human-shaped, that judgment compounds when speed becomes cheap, and that friction is often where thinking actually happens. Rather than choosing between "adapt or die," Ann advocates for a steadier path: use the tools, reject the hysteria, protect the work that builds trust, expertise and meaning over time. Grounded in curiosity rather than fear, her perspective reframes the moment not as a race to outrun machines but as an invitation to ask better questions about what we're building… and why. Enjoy the conversation… Running time: 56:04. Hello from beautiful Montreal. Listen and subscribe over at Apple Podcasts. Listen and subscribe over at Spotify. Please visit and leave comments on the blog - Thinking With Mitch Joel. Feel free to connect to me directly on LinkedIn. Check out ThinkersOne. Here is my conversation with Ann Handley. Total Annarchy. MarketingProfs. Everybody Writes. Content Rules. Something Messy Is Happening: On AI, Panic, and Asking Better Questions. Something Big Is Happening by Matt Shume. Follow Ann on LinkedIn. Follow Ann on Threads. Follow Ann on Instagram. Chapters: (00:00) - Introduction and Context of AI's Viral Impact. (01:21) - How Ann Uses AI to Strengthen Thinking. (03:43) - The Limitations and Human Control of AI. (05:09) - Content Structure and AI's Role in Creativity. (07:11) - AI's Proximity to Human Work and Its Implications. (11:09) - Extrapolating AI's Impact on Jobs and Society. (13:58) - The Emotional and Societal Response to AI. (18:45) - The Surprising Capabilities of AI in Judgment. (21:35) - The Role of Human Judgment and Creativity. (27:20) - The Impact of SEO and Content Homogenization. (29:58) - AI's Ability to Mimic Human Taste and Judgment. (36:40) - Balancing AI Use with Human Integrity. (39:36) - The Race for Content and Creativity in AI Era. (42:58) - Speed Culture and Its Discontents.. (50:34) - Navigating AI's Role in Society and Creativity. (52:50) - The Future of Creativity and AI's Impact. (54:24) - Personal Reflections on AI's Transformative Power.

In this week's episode, Leslie Heaney sits down with Vasant Dhar—professor at NYU Stern School of Business and the Center for Data Science at New York University, founder of SCT Capital, and author of Thinking with Machines: The Brave New World of AI.Together, they explore how artificial intelligence evolved, why language prediction changed everything, and what it means now that machines can think alongside humans. The conversation examines the growing divide between those who use AI to sharpen judgment and those who rely on it to think for them, as well as the broader implications for work, education, power, and responsibility.This is a grounded, honest conversation about the power of AI—and how we choose to live with it.Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

Customer Relationship Management (CRM) platforms have long been at the heart of sales organizations, promising improved insights and streamlined processes. Yet, as businesses evolved, so did their CRMs, sometimes for better, sometimes not. In this episode of the Sales Reinvented podcast, I was joined by Tim Gale, European new business sales leader at Sugar CRM, to discuss what CRM 3.0 means in an age where information overload is the new normal.  You'll hear why having too much data can actually hurt sales teams, and learn Tim's top strategies for turning CRM insights into meaningful actions. The conversation gets into the power, and limitations, of AI and automation in CRM, emphasizing where human judgment still makes the difference. Tim also shares his top dos and don'ts for organizations moving toward CRM 3.0, and tells a compelling real-world story of how smart CRM clarity boosted sales performance and revenue. Outline of This Episode 00:00 CRM 3.0: From data to clarity. 03:05 Data overload and inefficiency. 06:10 Leveraging data for sales insights. 09:59 AI as enabler, not a replacement. 15:38 Insights through real-world practice. 18:28 Custom CRMs boost adoption. CRM: From Data Dump to Decision Engine CRM used to function like a digital Rolodex, a static data repository. Then they evolved to offer improved connectivity between sales, marketing, and service, but they still largely functioned as a record of "what happened." The real shift has come with CRM 3.0. It's not about gathering as much data as possible, but about capturing intelligence and clarity through the ABCs: Artificial, Business, and Contextual Intelligence. CRM 3.0 focuses on providing actionable insights, using AI and automation to help sellers know exactly where to spend their time for the most impact.  Signs Your CRM Is Creating Complexity (And How to Fix It) A common pitfall in sales organizations is data overload. Tim warns that when sales reps spend more time building reports or wading through endless, irrelevant fields, dashboards, and admin tasks, their CRM is failing them. The litmus test is if your teams can't answer simple, strategic questions such as "Which deals are most likely to close this week?" or "Which accounts need attention?" in seconds. If not, your CRM has become noise instead of guidance. If data doesn't drive action within 30 seconds, it's probably just noise. Practical Steps to Transform Data Into Action Empowering sales reps, not overwhelming them, is the mark of an effective CRM. Tim suggests three practical strategies: Focus on Next Best Actions: Use AI-driven prompts to guide reps toward hot opportunities, alert them when proposals are engaged with, and ensure they're not missing out on key prospects. Integrate ERP Insights: Link CRM with ERP systems to surface valuable trends, giving sellers visibility into buying patterns and upsell opportunities they might otherwise miss. Visualize Outcomes, Not Just Activities: Track KPIs and account health, but connect them directly to actionable insights such as pipeline movement and client retention risks. Action beats analytics, it's not about what happened, but what to do next. Choosing Clarity Over Complexity For sales leaders, the challenge isn't just managing data, but distilling it down to what matters. If data doesn't change a decision or behavior, it shouldn't be on the dashboard. Metrics should be meaningful, drive clear next steps, and support precision selling. Leaders must aim for executive sponsorship, clear business outcomes, and simplification at every turn. Many CRM initiatives fail due to noisy systems and poor change management, a reminder that technology alone isn't enough. AI is Human Judgment's Partner, Not Its Replacement Even as AI and automation transform CRM, the human element remains irreplaceable. AI can predict "what," but only humans can interpret "why", understanding emotion, tone, and true intent. CRM 3.0 should empower sales professionals, not replace their expertise. AI is an enabler, not just a technology. It's there to take away human admin and let us spend more time building relationships and serving clients. Tim shares a great case study of a manufacturing client whose previous CRM was so complex that sales teams reverted to Excel, losing critical insights. By designing a CRM tailored to user groups and focusing on clarity, engagement soared. Adoption hit 100%, pipeline increased 42%, and sales targets were exceeded by 44%. The lesson is that clarity drives action, and action drives performance. CRM 3.0 isn't just a technological upgrade, it's a philosophy shift. By prioritizing simplicity, actionable insights, and human intelligence, sales teams can transform data overload into real, measurable success. Resources & People Mentioned SugarCRM  Connect with Tim Gale Tim Gale on LinkedIn Tim Gale on X Connect With Paul Watts  LinkedIn Twitter  Subscribe to SALES REINVENTED Audio Production and Show Notes by PODCAST FAST TRACK https://www.podcastfasttrack.com

As AI accelerates, many leadership conversations focus on tools, efficiency, and productivity. This episode of Partnering Leadership takes a different approach. Host Mahan Tavakoli is joined by Andrea Iorio, a global AI thought leader, former senior executive at Tinder and L'Oréal, and the author of Between You and AI.Andrea brings a rare combination of global operating experience, deep technology fluency, and philosophical clarity to the conversation. Rather than asking how leaders can use AI better, he challenges a more uncomfortable question: what still belongs uniquely to human leadership when machines increasingly outperform us at speed, scale, and analysis.Throughout the discussion, Andrea and Mahan explore why AI is not “coming for jobs,” but for tasks, and how that distinction changes the leadership equation. They examine the risks leaders face when productivity gains mask a deeper erosion of judgment, accountability, and strategic clarity. The conversation surfaces how easy it is for leaders to outsource responsibility to systems that feel objective, confident, and precise.The episode also confronts the hidden consequences of hyper-optimization. While AI can dramatically increase control and efficiency, Andrea argues that leaders must decide where judgment, agency, and human responsibility still matter most. From decision-making and talent development to trust, empathy, and innovation, the discussion highlights the leadership work that cannot be automated without cost.This is a thoughtful, grounded conversation for leaders who sense that AI is reshaping not just work, but the very nature of leadership itself—and who want to stay accountable, relevant, and human in the process.Actionable TakeawaysYou'll learn why AI is changing leadership less by replacing people and more by redefining which tasks still require human judgment.Hear how relying on AI for productivity can quietly reduce differentiation when everyone has access to the same tools.Discover why leadership accountability cannot be delegated, even when decisions are automated.You'll hear how past success can become a liability when leaders stop questioning assumptions that once worked.Learn why AI literacy is not technical mastery, but understanding where data, questions, and outputs can mislead.Hear how hyper-optimization can narrow what organizations notice and weaken learning over time.Understand why the “human-in-the-loop” is about responsibility, not distrust of technology.Explore how leaders can use time saved through automation to strengthen judgment rather than accelerate busywork.Learn what thriving organizations do differently as they design hybrid teams of humans and intelligent systems.Connect with Andrea IorioAndrea Iorio WebsiteAndrea Iorio LinkedInBetween You and AI: Unlock the Power of Human Skills to Thrive in an AI-Driven WorldConnect with Mahan Tavakoli: Mahan Tavakoli Website Mahan Tavakoli on LinkedIn Partnering Leadership Website

This week on Screaming in the Cloud, Corey sits down with Chris Hill, CEO of Humble Pod, to talk about the messy, nuanced reality of AI in media. From secretly cloning Corey's voice for an ad using ElevenLabs (and almost getting away with it) to the growing tension between polished production and authentic content, they unpack what AI can actually do versus what it claims to do.They explore the shifting economics of podcasting, the rise of video-first formats, Netflix's entrance into the space, and why “good enough” production often beats expensive studio perfection. It's a candid conversation about trust, automation, creative integrity, and why sometimes the most dangerous AI use case is the one no one notices.Show Highlights:(00:00) The AI Voice Clone Ad Nobody Noticed(00:44) 700 Episodes In: Catching Up with Humble Pod's Chris Hill(01:16) New Studio, New Vibes: Building a Podcast Space in Tennessee(01:51) AI in Podcasting Workflows: Riverside, Editing Promises & Human Judgment(07:50) Authenticity vs Production Value + Duckbill Hiring & Product Shift(14:05) Renewals, churn, and why point solutions fail(14:15) The Doc Tools saga: building the wrong thing (and Disney lawyers)(15:15) Bahamas studio build: consulting where quality really matters(16:34) Gear talk & pro tips: teleprompters, cameras, and looking at the lens(18:50) Podcasting goes video-first: clips, discovery, TikTok, and the wrap-upAbout Chris Hill: Chris Hill is a Knoxville, TN native and founder of Humble Pod, where he helps brands, startups, and thought leaders develop, launch, and grow podcasts across the U.S. and beyond. He works with clients ranging from local Knoxville businesses to entrepreneurs in Silicon Valley and around the world.Chris is the co-host and producer of Our Humble Beer Podcast and lectures on podcasting and marketing at the University of Tennessee. He earned his undergraduate degree in Marketing & Entrepreneurship from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga and later received his MBA from King University.He currently serves as President of the American Marketing Association Knoxville chapter and enjoys supporting the local craft beer community, traveling internationally, and exploring the outdoors.Links: Humblepod: https://www.humblepod.com/Sponsored by: duckbillhq.com

Our guest in this episode is Victoria Mensch, founder of the Silicon Valley Executive Academy, based in Hayward, California. With 25+ years in the high-tech industry and a background bridging clinical psychology with strategic leadership, Victoria helps leaders move from burnout and cognitive freeze into sustainable, human-centred performance in the age of AI. We explore why automating the wrong things creates more burnout, not less; how organisations can use AI as a transformative enabler rather than a cost-cutting patch; and why curiosity is the single most important skill to develop right now.Key points discussed include:* Automating creative tasks while leaving humans with unfulfilling work accelerates burnout rather than reducing it.* AI strategy should start with value, not cost: ask what makes things better, not just faster or cheaper.* Curiosity, human judgment, and contextual thinking are the skills that machines cannot replicate.Listen to the podcast to find out more.Innovabiz Substack is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.Show Notes from this episode with Victoria Mensch, Silicon Valley Executive AcademyIt was a genuine pleasure to welcome Victoria Mensch to the Innova.Buzz podcast. Victoria brings a rare combination: deep clinical psychology training layered over decades of Silicon Valley strategy work. The result is a perspective on AI that is neither breathlessly optimistic nor paralysed by fear. It is grounded, practical, and, frankly, a little overdue in the broader conversation.Victoria opened with a framing that I found immediately compelling: the idea that we are not passive passengers watching AI carry us somewhere. We are, or should be, active decision-makers shaping the direction. She draws a clear distinction between using AI as a patch, faster, cheaper, more volume, and using it as a genuine transformative enabler. The first approach is tempting. The second is where the real opportunity lives.The Burnout Paradox: When Automation Makes Things WorseHere is the uncomfortable truth Victoria surfaces early in our conversation. Many organisations are automating the creative and cognitively engaging tasks, the ones people actually find meaningful, while leaving humans to handle the distribution, the admin, the repetitive bottlenecks. The result is not relief. It is deeper burnout. People feel like machines precisely because they are now doing the machine work.Victoria's point is sharp: before you automate anything, ask whether you are automating the right things. Are you removing the bottlenecks that drain people, or are you removing the work that gives them a reason to show up? The IKEA example she shares is instructive. When they analysed their customer service queries, they discovered a large proportion were really interior design questions. Rather than automating those away, they redeployed those staff into a premium design service. That is the difference between cost-cutting and value creation.The rest of these show notes continue for paid subscribers, where we go deeper into Victoria's three-layer AI strategy framework, the case for keeping human judgment firmly at the steering wheel, and why curiosity, not technical skill, is the most important thing to develop right now.If you are navigating AI in your business or your leadership role and you want a psychologically grounded, practically useful perspective, I would love you to join the inner circle. It is where we explore the ideas that go beyond the hype and into the real decisions that shape how we work and lead.Maybe they will sharpen your thinking too.The Three Layers of AI StrategyVictoria describes a layered approach to AI decision-making that I found genuinely useful. At the individual level, the question is: what do I want more of, and what do I want less of? Not just in work, but in life. AI should free up capacity for the things that matter, not simply compress the same workload into fewer hours.At the team and business unit level, the question shifts to value creation for the customer. What are the real bottlenecks? What processes are we running that perhaps should not exist at all? And at the organisational level, the strategic question is about transformation: can we reconstruct our offering entirely, serve customers differently, remove low-value products and add high-value services? These are not efficiency questions. They are identity questions.Human Judgment at the Steering WheelOne of the most resonant moments in our conversation was Victoria's insistence that, for the foreseeable future, humans must remain at the steering wheel. Not as a passive safety check, but as an active, courageous exercise of judgment. She makes the point that human judgment is not just about reviewing AI outputs for errors. It is about the willingness to go against the data, to trust intuition, to take a direction that the analysis does not fully support.This connects to something I have been thinking about a great deal: the risk that younger generations, coming up through an education system increasingly mediated by AI, may miss the formative experience of running into walls, making mistakes, and building the kind of intuition that only comes from lived experience. Victoria agrees. The disruption to education is not primarily about information transfer, which AI handles well. It is about whether we can teach emotional resilience, contextual judgment, and critical thinking. Those are the skills that remain distinctly human.Curiosity as the Core SkillWhen I asked Victoria for the one skill we should all be developing right now, her answer was immediate: curiosity. Not curiosity as a vague aspiration, but as a daily practice. Question the status quo. Ask what else is possible. Resist the pull of the low-hanging fruit and keep asking what would make this genuinely better. In a landscape saturated with AI hype and AI fear, curiosity is the orientation that keeps you learning rather than reacting.Victoria's broader message is one of agency. We are not watching a technological tide come in. We are making choices, every day, about how AI shapes our work, our organisations, and our lives. The question is whether we are making those choices consciously, with a clear sense of the value we want to create, or whether we are simply automating whatever is easiest to automate and hoping for the best.In Summary:Victoria Mensch offers a clear-eyed, psychologically informed framework for navigating AI without losing what makes us human. Her message is not anti-AI. It is pro-human. Use the tools. Experiment freely. But keep your hand on the wheel, stay curious, and never stop asking what would make this genuinely better.The Buzz - Our Innovation RoundHere are Victoria's answers to the questions of our innovation round. Listen to the conversation to get the full scoop.* Most innovative use of AI to strengthen human relationships: Freeing up time by automating routine tasks, then being intentional about how that reclaimed time is invested in genuine human connection.* Best thing to integrate AI and human connection: Challenging AI rather than accepting its outputs passively, and using that process to help organisations think beyond automation toward genuine transformation.* Key skill to develop in the age of AI: Curiosity, applied broadly: in how you use AI, how you set goals, and how you question the status quo rather than accepting it.ActionStart experimenting now. Do not wait for permission. Pick up the tools, explore what is available, and stay curious about what AI can do for your work and your life.Reach OutYou can reach out to Victoria and sign up for her weekly newsletter, Frontier Thinking, via her website at svexecutive.co.Links:* Website - Silicon Valley Executive Academy* LinkedInCool Things About Victoria* The “Doctor-Executive” Hybrid: Victoria holds both a PhD in Clinical Psychology and an MBA, combined with 25 years of hard-nosed Silicon Valley experience. She is effectively a “corporate therapist” who can diagnose a P&L statement and a panic attack with equal precision.* The “Midwife” to the Machine: In a world dominated by aggressive, masculine metaphors for AI (e.g., “AI is a weapon,” “AI is a co-pilot,” “AI is a forceful disruptor”), Victoria uses the ancient, nurturing metaphor of the “Midwife.” She describes our role not as conquering AI, but as birthing its creativity safely. This linguistic choice completely reframes the power dynamic from fear to stewardship.* The “Sleeper Agent” of Harmony: There is a cool irony in her physical location. She lives in Hayward and operates the Silicon Valley Executive Academy - right in the epicenter of the global “hustle culture” and burnout capital of the world. Yet, her core message is “From Burnout to Harmony.” She is like a “sleeper agent” for wellness inside the machine, teaching the world's most stressed executives how to slow down.Thanks for reading Innovabiz Substack! This post is public so feel free to share it. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit innovabiz.substack.com/subscribe

The AI in Finance certificate program starts April 13, 2026!AI is reshaping finance, but it's not about replacing people — it's about empowering them to work more effectively. As these tools become part of our everyday roles in financial services, knowing how to successfully partner with AI while leveraging human judgment has become key to success.Join Cornell Professor Victoria Averbukh and Andrew Chin, Chief AI Officer at AllianceBernstein, for a practical look at AI in finance. They'll explore how AI can enhance financial decision making and discuss why human expertise remains essential. Through real-world examples, they'll explain how professionals can confidently work with AI tools to achieve better outcomes as partners in the process.What You'll LearnHow to identify which financial tasks are best suited for AI assistanceTips for balancing AI capabilities with human insightStrategies for confidently integrating AI tools into your business processes  Follow eCornell on YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, TikTok, and X.

In this Ask Me Anything episode, Ryan Michler and Kipp Sorensen answer powerful questions from the Iron Council on leadership, fatherhood, faith, discipline, and personal responsibility. They explore how to eliminate noise and live an integrated life, coach teenage boys through cultural conflict, raise resilient children, and avoid bureaucratic leadership traps. The conversation also confronts modern church culture, challenges the pursuit of comfort over growth, and defines what it truly means to be present as a father - even when work demands time away. SHOW HIGHLIGHTS 00:00 - Episode Introduction 03:50 - Signal vs Noise and Life Integration 14:27 - Coaching Teens Through Cultural Conflict 22:52 - Leadership Systems vs Human Judgment 34:41 - Faith, Masculinity, and the Modern Church 47:29 - Helping Kids Find Their Passion 52:31 - Defining Presence as a Working Father 56:19 - Men's Forge Event Announcement Battle Planners: Pick yours up today! Order Ryan's new book, The Masculinity Manifesto. For more information on the Iron Council brotherhood. Want maximum health, wealth, relationships, and abundance in your life? Sign up for our free course, 30 Days to Battle Ready

Artificial intelligence is rapidly reshaping national security missions—but real AI readiness goes far beyond adopting new tools.On this episode of Security Clearance Insecurity, host Lindy Kyzer is joined by Jennifer Ewbank, former Deputy Director of the CIA for Digital Innovation, for a deep dive into what it truly means for the federal government to be AI-ready.Together, they explore why AI readiness must start with mission readiness, not technology procurement; why digital literacy is no longer optional for the federal workforce; and how human judgment, accountability, and ethical decision-making become even more critical in an AI-enabled environment. The conversation also examines the growing overlap between AI and cybersecurity, the cultural and bureaucratic barriers slowing adoption, and the risks government faces if it fails to adapt.This episode offers practical insight for clearance holders, hiring leaders, policymakers, and technologists navigating the realities of AI, governance, and workforce transformation in national security. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

General Blaine Holt warns that integrating Artificial Intelligence into military command increases the risks of deliberate, inadvertent, and accidental escalation. He argues that while AI accelerates decision-making, it lacks human judgment, potentially leading to catastrophic miscalculations if adversaries rely on algorithms during crises. 2933 BANK OF UNITED STSTES FAILURE