POPULARITY
Miguel Ramirez is a seasoned food manufacturing executive with more than three decades of operational leadership experience in the food industry. He currently serves as Vice President of Operations at Fresca Foods Inc. in Louisville, Colorado, where he has held progressive leadership roles over the past 13 years including Plant Manager, Director of Operations, and his current VP role. Prior to Fresca Foods, Miguel spent over 24 years with Butterball LLC, where he managed more than 12 production lines across a two-shift operation with a workforce of 350 employees. Known for championing food safety culture at the operational level, Miguel brings a rare perspective to food safety conversations—that of a senior operations leader who understands that food safety and operational excellence are not competing priorities, but instead, are deeply interconnected. Madisen Hodgson, M.S. is a food safety and quality assurance professional with nearly a decade of progressive experience spanning food manufacturing, retail bakery, beverage, and airline catering environments. She currently serves as a Quality Assurance Manager for a protein and nutritional bar manufacturer in Denver, Colorado, where she oversees the full food safety management system and leads a multi-shift quality assurance team across multiple production lines. Madisen holds an M.S. degree in Food Safety from the University of Arkansas and carries certifications including PCQI, SQF Practitioner, HACCP Coordinator, and CP-FS. She is passionate about building strong food safety cultures, developing food safety professionals, and bridging the gap between regulatory compliance and practical, operational food safety. In this episode of Food Safety Matters, we speak with Miguel and Madisen [30:31] about: The evolution and current understanding of food safety culture in the food manufacturing industry Operationalizing food safety culture across teams and balancing production demands with food safety priorities Specific practices and behaviors that indicate a robust food safety culture How leadership visibility and engagement influences employees' food safety behaviors and accountability Challenges companies face when trying to move from a compliance-based mindset to a true culture of food safety, and how they can be overcome Measuring the effectiveness of food safety culture initiatives by paying attention to certain indicators and utilizing feedback mechanisms What sets a great food safety culture apart from an average or ineffective food safety culture The future of food safety culture in light of increasing regulatory scrutiny and industry emphasis on accountability and transparency. News and Resources News New Research Reveals Addictive Design, Health Harms of Ultra-Processed Foods; Calls for Systemic Change [2:48]Study Suggests Food Processing, Not Just Nutrient Content, May Affect Health Impacts of UPFs Global Foodborne Disease Burden Comparable to Malaria, Per Updated WHO Estimates [14:34] After Infant Botulism Outbreak, FDA Shares Root Cause Analysis Findings from ByHeart Formula Plants [23:00] Eight Sick, One Dead in Three-Year Listeria Outbreak Linked to Soft Cheese [25:23] Sponsored by: Registrar Corp We Want to Hear from You! Please send us your questions and suggestions to podcast@food-safety.com
Kary Oberbrunner, Founder of Instant IP and Wall Street Journal bestselling author, joins Brendon Dennewill to challenge everything founders think they know about intellectual property. As AI accelerates IP theft across every industry, from musicians to franchise brands to solo entrepreneurs, Kary makes the case that protecting your ideas isn't a legal formality, it's a revenue strategy. If you've ever said "I don't mind if people steal my ideas," this episode will change how you run your business.What You'll Learn:Why thinking "I'm not an IP company" makes you a commodityThe shift from 17% to 90% intangible asset value in the S&P 500The offensive vs. defensive sides of IP strategyWhy using "TM" may actually invite theftHow AI is creating a new category of IP riskThe "publish, protect, promote" flywheel12 steps to becoming an IP companyResources Mentioned:Instant IP IP Toolbox"You Are an IP Company" by Kary Oberbrunner and Katie RobinoUSPTO (United States Patent and Trademark Office) Story Brand by Donald Miller Working Genius by Patrick Lencioni Strategic Coach by Dan Sullivan Suno Plaud AIMeta Glasses Is your business ready to scale? Take the Growth Readiness Score to find out. In 5 minutes, you'll see: Benchmark data showing how you stack up to other organizationsA clear view of your operational maturity Whether your business is ready to scale (and what to do next if it's not)Let's ConnectSubscribe to the RevOps Champions NewsletterLinkedInYouTubeExplore the show at revopschampions.com. Ready to unite your teams with RevOps strategies that eliminate costly silos and drive growth? Let's talk!
Strategic planning creates the space nonprofit organizations need to move from reactive decision-making toward shared clarity, intentional action, and stronger alignment. In this re-released episode of Nonprofit Mission: Impact, nonprofit strategy consultant Carol Hamilton outlines a comprehensive five-step strategic planning process designed to help organizations engage stakeholders meaningfully, navigate complexity, and create plans that stay alive beyond the final document. Rather than treating strategic planning as a one-time retreat or static document, Carol emphasizes: Why strategic planning is about alignment and shared understanding—not predicting the future How inclusive engagement builds buy-in and surfaces important perspectives The importance of balancing structure with flexibility in uncertain times Why equity and relationship-centered processes strengthen strategy The role of exploration and imagination before narrowing into priorities How organizations can avoid creating overwhelming "wish list" plans Why regular review processes are essential to keeping plans relevant How strategic planning can create an anchor in complex environments Episode Highlights [00:00] Why Strategic Planning Still Matters in Uncertain Times [02:00] What Strategic Planning Is—and What It Is Not [06:00] Why a Retreat Alone Is Not Enough [07:30] Step One: Kickoff and Orientation [10:00] Step Two: Equity and Stakeholder Engagement in the Discovery Phase [12:00] The Value of a Listening Tour [13:30] Step Three: Exploration and Imagining Possible Futures [15:30] Step Four: Moving from Big Ideas to Strategic Decisions [17:00] Why Mission and Vision Work Comes Later [18:00] Step Five: Planning, Action, and Operationalizing the Plan [20:00] Keeping the Plan Alive About your podcast host: Carol Hamilton, principal of Grace Social Sector Consulting, helps nonprofits become more strategic and effective through inclusive strategic planning, evaluation design, and organizational assessment. With over 30 years of experience, she brings a practical, human-centered approach that helps organizations align around clear priorities and take meaningful action toward their mission. When she is not working with nonprofits to improve their strategy and alignment, you can find her reading a good book, making diary comics, having a dance party in the kitchen, swimming, biking or kayaking on the Anacostia River. Be in Touch: ✉️ Subscribe to Carol's newsletter at Grace Social Sector Consulting and receive the Common Mistakes Nonprofits Make In Strategic Planning And How To Avoid Them
Building on the concepts introduced in the previous episode Rethinking the Design and Conduct of Kidney Trials, this episode explores how innovative ideas in nephrology research can be translated into practical trial strategies. Experts discuss novel approaches to trial design, evolving endpoint selection, and the importance of engaging patients, clinicians, regulators, and other stakeholders throughout the research process. Drawing on insights from the ISN Consensus Meeting on Changing Paradigms of Studies in CKD (Vancouver, Nov 22-23, 2024), the discussion highlights how more pragmatic and implementation-focused trials can help generate evidence that is meaningful for clinical practice and patient care worldwide. Speakers Adeera Levin Professor of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Canada, and Past-President of the International Society of Nephrology (ISN). Dr. Levin is a global leader in kidney health research, with extensive experience in chronic kidney disease (CKD) management, clinical trials, and international health system strengthening. David Wheeler Professor of Kidney Medicine at University College London, UK and Honorary Consultant Nephrologist at the Royal Free Hospital. His research focuses on the management of chronic kidney disease and the evaluation of therapies through large-scale clinical trials. He was co-principal investigator of the landmark DAPA-CKD trial and served as Co-Chair of KDIGO from 2012–2019. Kevin Weinfurt Professor and Vice Chair of Faculty, Department of Population Health Sciences, Duke University School of Medicine, USA. Dr. Weinfurt is a behavioural scientist specializing in patient-reported outcomes (PROMs), ethical aspects of research participation, and improving the relevance of clinical trials to patients lived experiences. Hiddo J. Lambers Heerspink Professor of Clinical Trials and Personalized Medicine, University Medical Center Groningen, The Netherlands. Dr. Heerspink's work bridges pharmacology, nephrology, and precision medicine, focusing on optimizing kidney and cardiovascular outcomes through innovative clinical trial design and biomarker discovery. To read more, explore the related paper Changing Paradigms of Studies in Kidney Diseases published in Kidney International.
This week, Jack Sharry talks with Alois Pirker, Founder & CEO of Pirker Partners. For 25 years, Alois has worked with many leading wealth management firms and providers globally. Today, he advises firms, vendors, and investors on where the industry is headed, grounded in real conversation, real data, and real-world execution. Alois talks with Jack about how firms navigate the convergence of AI, operations, and business model transformation. They discuss the gap between AI hype and practical implementation, why data management is the key to successful AI implementation, and how firms are moving from siloed, product-focused models toward holistic advice. In this episode: (00:00) - Intro (03:35) - What makes AI different this time (06:00) - The challenge of organizing data across firms (10:26) - Why AI can't fix broken infrastructures (13:17) - The truth about organic growth (18:04) - How the vendor landscape has evolved over time (21:41) - Alois' interests outside of work Quotes "Using AI is very expensive. So, marrying traditional methods with AI methods, that's where the secret sauce is." ~ Alois Pirker "Organic growth starts with trust. It starts with the trust the advisor or the firm has earned with the client or prospect. And that cannot be manufactured through technology." ~ Alois Pirker "Smart vendors know their position in the value chain. They know where they are strong." ~ Alois Pirker Links Alois Pirker on LinkedIn Pirker Partners Range.com FINNY Morgan Stanley Jed Finn Connect with our hosts LifeYield Jack Sharry on LinkedIn Jack Sharry on Twitter Subscribe and stay in touch Apple Podcasts Spotify LinkedIn Twitter Facebook
Bio: Lieutenant Colonel Bobby Fowler is the Provost Marshal at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, and an operational planner with extensive experience in the Pacific Theater.
In today's relentless work environment, leaders are pressured to continuously perform, make rapid decisions, and drive organizational success. But sooner or later, life intervenes—illness, vacation, or unexpected absences disrupt routines and challenge leadership norms. The real test arises not from how leaders perform when present, but from how their teams and organizations operate in their absence. This episode dives into the uncomfortable reality of becoming a bottleneck: the hidden dangers when a team's momentum, decisions, and outcomes hinge on constant leadership involvement. By exploring why dependency often masquerades as trust and how high-performing leaders unintentionally stunt team growth, this conversation sheds light on practical ways leaders can empower teams, build resilience, and sustain productivity regardless of their physical presence. Architecting a team that thrives, learns, and executes without the leader at the center isn't just operationally wise—it's a hallmark of great leadership. This episode delivers actionable strategies to reframe absence as opportunity, foster true autonomy, and move from being indispensable to being impactful. Timestamped Overview 00:19: Why sickness and absence challenge leadership—and why the response matters03:42: The myth of being indispensable: Why dependency is not trust04:49: Recognizing when your organization runs (or stalls) without you07:03: Self-reflection: What actually happens when you're not there?07:46: Dependency vs. trust: The core distinction every leader must understand09:16: How high performers unintentionally become bottlenecks10:49: The hidden costs: Initiative crushed by permission-seeking12:05: Reflection on when you've become the bottleneck in decision-making15:23: Strategies for leaders to unplug and truly delegate16:52: Four warning signs your team is dependent—not empowered19:15: Are you really creating psychological safety for challenge and pushback?20:26: Operationalizing trust: How to set clear intent, thresholds, and boundaries23:02: Defining what your team "owns" and when escalation is needed24:15: After Action Reviews: Learning from mistakes instead of defaulting to the leader25:50: Trust first—moving beyond the “prove yourself” mentality26:38: Building capability: Why leadership in senior roles means letting go27:41: The growth that comes from team struggle and doing things differently28:24: Measuring leadership by what works when you're gone For the complete show notes be sure to check out our website: https://leaddontboss.com/367
Speaking Of Show - Making Healthcare Work for You & Founder's Mission Series
In this episode we speak with Mikelle Moore, co-founder of Multiplier Advisors, about loving leadership, transparency, trust, governance, and organizational culture in healthcare. Before founding Multiplier Advisors, Mikelle spent 25 years at Intermountain Health, and she shares personal leadership lessons about building trust within healthcare systems — with patients and team members alike — leading through uncertainty, creating positive workplace cultures, and what it really feels like to sit in the leadership seat. Check out the full conversation to hear more about: • Why leadership can feel lonely • The difference between leadership and governance • How boards can foster emotionally intelligent leadership • Transparency during organizational restructuring • Creating “loving organizations” in healthcare • Real-life, challenging leadership decisions from Mikelle's career Topical time codes: 1:21 – Being a loving leader; leadership vs. governance 6:23 – Loneliness in leadership 10:06 – The role of leaders and boards in creating systems that move organizations toward more loving cultures 13:38 – Why organizations invested in genuine change often see better results 16:30 – An inspirational story of organizational transformation 23:57 – The bravery to share a bold idea with a team 28:09 – Operationalizing the lessons learned 30:49 – The community aspect and the founding of Multiplier Advisors Learn more about Multiplier Advisors: https://www.multiplieradvisors.com Connect with Mikelle: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikelledmoore/ #HealthcareLeadership #Leadership #EmotionalIntelligence #HospitalLeadership #HealthcareInnovation #OrganizationalCulture #PopulationHealth #Healthcare #LeadershipDevelopment #MultiplierAdvisors #IntermountainHealth #LovingOrganizations #ALO
A video of this podcast is available on YouTube, Spotify, or PwC's website at viewpoint.pwc.com.Reporting in accordance with the IFRS® Sustainability Disclosure Standards issued by the International Sustainability Standards Board (ISSB) continues to evolve as financial institutions navigate implementation challenges related to materiality, anticipated financial impacts, and data quality. In this episode, we share findings from our recent survey with the Institute of International Finance (IIF) of 24 global financial institutions on how firms are adopting the ISSB disclosure standards and discuss practical implementation insights with sustainability leaders from J.P. Morgan Chase and Citi. For more information on the ISSB standards, see our publications: ISSB takes hold: Six key insights from the PwC-IIF financial institutions surveyISSB continues enhancing SASB Standards with proposed amendments to three additional standards and IFRS S2 industry-based guidance Looking for the latest developments in sustainability reporting? Follow this podcast on your favorite podcast app and subscribe to our weekly newsletter to stay in the loop for the latest thought leadership on sustainability standards. About our guests Linda French is Global Head of Sustainability Policy & Regulation for J.P. Morgan Chase, based in Washington, DC. Linda leads the firm's engagement globally on sustainability-related financial policy and regulation. Prior to joining J.P. Morgan Chase, Linda led the Investment Company Institute's (ICI) global engagement on policy issues related to sustainable finance and ESG investing. Linda has also worked in private law practice, at the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), and in the asset management industry. Tim Adamson is a Sustainability, Risk, and Finance executive with over 20 years of experience shaping strategy and disclosure at leading financial institutions. In his current role as Chief of Staff to the Chief Sustainability Officer at Citi, Tim is at the forefront of developing and implementing sustainability reporting frameworks. He has extensive experience leading the creation of sustainability-related regulatory disclosures, partnering across Finance, Legal, Risk, and Technology to build scalable processes for governance, data collection, and assurance. About our guest host David Challen is a partner in PwC's sustainability practice. He has over 17 years of experience in public accounting, performing audit-related services to public companies, broker-dealers, swap dealers, and not-for-profit entities. David has led large and mid-sized audit teams for banking and capital market clients for audits of financial statements, internal controls over financial reporting, and examination and review procedures for broker dealers. Transcripts available upon request for individuals who may need a disability-related accommodation. Please send requests to us_podcast@pwc.com.Did you enjoy this episode? Text us your thoughts and be sure to include the episode name.
[Intervju] Avsnitt 158 med Simon Milton, vd och grundare av Digitalenta, om hur marknadsteamet ser ut 2026 och hur AI påverkar allt från roller till arbetsflöden. Vi pratar bland annat om den växande AI-mognadsklyftan mellan marknadsteam och vad det innebär i praktiken. Samt hur roller blir allt bredare, juniora roller försvinner och vad det betyder för kompetensförsörjningen. Plus hur byrå-samarbeten ritas om i grunden. Du får dessutom höra om: Bredare roller som eliminerar handoffs ökar CRM och performance marketing-roller efterfrågas Seniora AI-vassa marknadsförare blir allt hetare Styrelsers orealistiska förväntningar på AI-hastighet Varför teamet måste äga sin AI-transformation Marknadsteamen drunknar i innehållsproduktion Marknadsförares eget ansvar att lära sig AI Om gästen Simon Milton är vd och grundare av Digitalenta, en kompetenspartner som jobbar med marknadsföring, martech och kommunikation. Digitalenta utsågs till Årets Rekryteringsföretag 2025 och hjälper marknadschefer att bygga framtidens marknadsteam. Simon har bakgrund som konsult inom webbanalys och datadriven marknadsföring och som vd på en digital marknadsföringsbyrå. Idag arbetar han nära marknadschefer och ledare som vill bygga starka team och ta nästa steg i hur AI förändrar marknadsfunktionen. Tidsstämplar [00:01:21] Största förändringarna för marknadsteam 2026. Den växande AI-mognadsklyftan mellan team och hur specialiserade roller breddas till 360-graders profiler som äger hela kedjan. [00:07:01] AI-kompetensen som efterfrågas vid rekrytering. Det räcker inte med grundläggande AI-kunskap. Företag söker de som kan arbeta och bygga med AI på riktigt. [00:09:34] Så förändras byråsamarbetena under 2026. Varför betalningsviljan för traditionella timmar minskar och hur byråer istället anlitas för att bygga åt inhouse-teamen. [00:14:23] Ledningens skeva förväntningar på AI. När styrelsen skjuter till budget och förväntar sig omedelbar transformation, utan förståelse för tiden det tar att rita om processer. [00:18:00] Färre juniora roller i marknadsteamen. Ett av branschens största problem just nu. När AI tar över juniora uppgifter hotas hela kompetensförsörjningen för framtidens seniorer. [00:25:44] Dilemman marknadschefer brottas med just nu. Tre konkreta dilemman: säkra tid till utveckling, vänta på centrala lösningar eller bygga själv, och köpa standardsystem eller utveckla skräddarsytt. [00:30:09] Marknadsteamet måste äga AI i sina processer. Risken med att lämna över initiativet till IT eller Legal. Marknadsteamet är bäst rustat att äga AI-arbetet i sina egna processer. [00:37:37] Konkreta råd till marknadschefer 2026. Vänta inte på att IT levererar perfekta lösningar. Börja bygga AI-readiness i ditt eget team redan idag. [00:41:17] Framtidsspaning för marknadsteamet 2027. Marknadsförare går från producenter till tastemakers, och varför funktionen kanske rör sig närmare försäljning och kundservice. Länkar Simon Milton på LinkedInDigitalenta (webbsida)AI i marknadsteamet (AI-genomlysning) (webbsida) Peer learning för marknadschefer (webbsida) Canaries in the Coal Mine? Six Facts about the Recent Employment Effects of Artificial Intelligence – Stanford Digital Economy Lab (rapport) 'How else are people going to learn to do the job?' MIT AI expert warns against automating Gen Z entry-level jobs – TechRadar (artikel) Operationalizing generative AI for marketing impact – MarTech (artikel) Transforming Marketing with AI – BCG (rapport) The State of AI – McKinsey (rapport) Anthropic Academy – Anthropic (kurser) AI courses and tools, Grow with Google – Google (kurser)
We're living in the loneliest moment in modern history. And at the same time, people have never been hungrier for hope, for joy, for meaningful connection. Your volunteers are at the center of that tension. And if you're not treating people power as a strategy, you're leaving your mission's most powerful asset on the table.Recorded live at the We Are For Good Summit, this conversation brings together four extraordinary leaders: Susan McPherson, founder and CEO of McPherson Strategies and author of The Lost Art of Connecting; Nicole Stewart, Executive Director of Boston CASA; Nicole R. Smith, Executive Director of ALIVE, the National Professional Association for Leaders in Volunteer Engagement; and Sara Lomelin, CEO of Philanthropy Together.In this episode, you'll hear:What ALIVE's data shows about organizations that treat volunteers as strategy vs. afterthought: 80% more volunteers, 60% higher engagement, and donors who are twice as likely to giveBoston CASA's three non-negotiables for scaling a volunteer program without burning people out: exceptional training, strong supervision, and a mission-anchored cultureHow to operationalize people power right now: from launching a giving circle to giving volunteers a role, not a receiptWhy skills-based volunteering is surging even as companies go quiet on CSR, and what that means for nonprofitsPeople are looking for hope. They're looking for joy. They're looking for meaningful connections. You are the one they've been waiting for.
What does it mean to build an identity system that is ethical? Jim McDonald and Jeff Steadman are joined by Elizabeth Garber, Executive Director of IDPro and marketing lead for the OpenID Foundation, for a conversation spanning ethics in digital identity, the tension between privacy and safety, biometric exclusion risks, and how practitioners can use structured frameworks to navigate these discussions productively. Elizabeth shares her three-part career journey, the latest from the IDPro community, and previews her upcoming keynotes at EIC Berlin and Identiverse Las Vegas.Connect with Elizabeth: https://www.linkedin.com/in/elizabethgarberIDPro Discount - New members get $25 off their first year of membership: https://idpro.org/idac/Ethics and Digital Identity by Henk Marsman: https://bok.idpro.org/article/id/104/Ethics for Digital Identity and Identity-Driven Algorithms by Mike Kiser: https://bok.idpro.org/article/id/105/Human Centric Digital Identity white paper: https://openid.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Human-Centric_Digital_Identity_Final-v1.1.pdfConnect with us on LinkedIn:Jim McDonald: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jimmcdonaldpmp/Jeff Steadman: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeffsteadman/Visit the show on the web at http://idacpodcast.comTimestamps:00:00 Intro and Jim's allergy research03:42 Conference announcements: EIC and Identiverse06:00 Welcome Elizabeth Garber07:04 Elizabeth's three-part origin story11:55 IDPro mission and the identity community18:13 Membership, CIDPRO certification, and the Body of Knowledge21:17 IDPro Slack community23:40 IdentiBeer and local meetups26:26 IDPro listener discount at idpro.org/idac29:00 Operationalizing ideas in IAM32:19 Ethics in the IDPro Body of Knowledge33:30 Defining ethics in technology34:19 The trolley problem and moral consistency37:10 Big tech, privacy, and law enforcement39:28 Where practitioners start with ethics43:30 Biometric exclusion and the Uganda story49:00 Privacy vs. safety: a false choice?53:48 The case for consistent ethical frameworks57:53 Elizabeth's EIC and Identiverse talks59:49 Improv comedy and expensive hobbies1:07:25 Wrap-upKeywords: ethical IAM, digital identity ethics, IDPro, identity and access management, privacy, safety, biometrics, exclusion, Elizabeth Garber, GAIN Digital Trust, OpenID Foundation, Body of Knowledge, Ethical Canvas, zero knowledge proofs, passkeys, IDAC, Identity at the Center, Jeff Steadman, Jim McDonald, EIC Berlin, Identiverse
One IT department expected 50 agents in their tenant. They found over 500. Welcome to agent sprawl — the SharePoint site sprawl story, just faster, more autonomous, and with a billing model nobody fully understands yet.In this episode, Christian Buckley and Ragnar Heil sit down with Timothy Boettcher, SVP Go-to-Market & Global Product Marketing at AvePoint and fellow Microsoft MVP, to talk about what governance actually looks like when agents start creating other agents.
Voice-based fraud has moved from a fringe security concern to a primary operational risk for financial institutions and enterprise contact centers, and the authentication methods most organizations rely on are no longer adequate. In this episode, Ken Morino, Director of Market and Behavioral Research at Modulate, examines how enterprise leaders can deploy real-time voice intelligence to detect fraud patterns, protect customer trust, and build clear accountability structures across fraud, CX, and compliance teams. The discussion covers where to prioritize investment first, how to integrate voice AI without disrupting existing infrastructure, and why smaller specialized models outperform large general-purpose systems in regulated environments. This episode is sponsored by Modulate. Learn how brands work with Emerj and other Emerj Media options at go.emerj.com/partner
In this episode, Kate Remick, MD, FAAP, discusses pediatric readiness in the emergency department. David Hill, MD, FAAP, and Joanna Parga-Belinkie, MD, FAAP, also speak with Joseph Wright, MD, MPH, FAAP, and Elyse Portillo, MD, MPH, FAAP, about operationalizing equity in clinical guidance. For resources go to aap.org/podcast.
Enterprise customers demand 99.9% availability, regardless of how the underlying software is built. In this episode, Murali Swaminathan (CTO @ Freshworks) discusses how enterprises actually win with AI! We explore the “Architecture of Predictability” – proactive architectural safeguards to scale “responsible AI by design” across a global organization serving 75,000 customers. Murali shares his leadership playbook for implementing the technical safeguards and product trust controls that empower hundreds of engineers to build safely. We also dive into the shift from deterministic flowcharts to “workflows with a brain” and why backend systems engineers are the secret bedrock of agentic products. Plus, Murali deconstructs the dual evolution required of modern leaders: mastering strategic thinking at the business level while cultivating systems thinking at the engineering level. ABOUT MURALI SWAMINATHAN Murali Swaminathan joined Freshworks as Chief Technology Officer in September 2024. Murali is responsible for Freshworks' technology roadmap and strategy, leading the company's global engineering and architecture teams. With over 30 years of experience in software engineering, he has held leadership roles at ServiceNow, Recommind (now OpenText), and CA Technologies (now Broadcom), where he delivered scalable, secure solutions that enabled digital transformation and business agility. Murali holds a master's degree in Software Engineering Management from Carnegie Mellon University and a bachelor's degree in electronics and instrumentation from Annamalai University in India. SHOW NOTES: Freshworks' operating context: Engineering for 75,000 global customers (2:09) Navigating the tension between rapid AI adoption and enterprise-grade reliability (4:58) Breaking the "Positive Scenario" Trap: Using AI to automate negative test cases and corner-case detection (6:40) Why Responsible AI is a competitive advantage: Building "kill switches" and trust gates (8:31) Responsible AI by Design: Moving from reactive compliance to proactive architectural safeguards (10:48) Technical safeguards: Leveraging hyperscaler frameworks for model compliance and data anonymization (13:39) Product Trust Controls: Demonstrating reliability through role-based access and thresholds (16:25) Why engineering leaders should experiment in small teams before global rollout (20:35) Simulating Chaos: Using Business Continuity Planning (BCP) to test AI system resilience (22:13) Workflows with a brain: Transitioning from deterministic flows to agentic runtime decisions (24:16) The AI Team Profile: Why backend system engineers, not just data scientists, are the bedrock of agentic products (29:25) Cultivating a mindset shift toward agentic system orchestration (32:10) The shift to systems thinking: How engineering roles evolve from "building pieces" to managing end-to-end system flows (33:38) How to approach strategic business thinking as an engineering leader (36:43) Rapid Fire Questions: Guy Kawasaki's "Think Remarkable" and the best way to predict the future (38:23) LINKS AND RESOURCES Think Remarkable: 9 Paths to Transform Your Life and Make a Difference - Tech titan and creator of the Remarkable People podcast Guy Kawasaki delivers a practical, tactical, and sometimes radical discussion of how to make a difference in the world and live a fulfilling life. This episode wouldn't have been possible without the help of our incredible production team: Patrick Gallagher - Producer & Co-Host Jerry Li - Co-Host Noah Olberding - Associate Producer, Audio & Video Editor https://www.linkedin.com/in/noah-olberding/ Dan Overheim - Audio Engineer, Dan's also an avid 3D printer - https://www.bnd3d.com/ Ellie Coggins Angus - Copywriter, Check out her other work at https://elliecoggins.com/about/ Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
In this episode of Between Product and Partnerships, Cristina Flaschen sits down with Jenn Steele, CEO of SoundGTM, to pull back the curtain on why most SaaS partnerships collapse.Jenn draws on her experience as a former CMO to explain the internal perspective of leaders asked to support partnership launches without proper lead time. The conversation dives into the common pitfalls of "pre-launching" integrations that aren't ready. It also covers the dangers of concentration risk with large platform partners as traditional outbound sales models struggle.Throughout the episode, Jenn emphasizes a consistent theme: Partnerships are built on human relationships, but they survive on operational clarity and consistent enablement.Key topicsThe Resource Gap: Why Marketing and Partners ClashPartnership teams often operate in a silo and call on marketing for last-minute press releases without providing dedicated budget. Jenn explains why this misalignment leads to internal frustration.The Disconnect Between Revenue Goals and BudgetMany companies expect a significant percentage of their pipeline to come from partnerships without allocating a corresponding percentage of their go-to-market budget. Jenn warns against expecting outsized gains from minimal resource investment.The 80/20 Rule of Partner PortfoliosMost partner programs are top-heavy. Jenn discusses how to audit a portfolio to find the 20% of partners producing value while moving on from the rest.Operationalizing the "Shiny Object"Partnership leaders are often "people people" who are great at starting relationships but may struggle with the administrative details of ops. Jenn highlights the need for systems that keep partners engaged long after the initial announcement.Concentration Risk and "Big Guy" PartnershipsHitching a small startup's wagon to a giant like Salesforce or HubSpot is a high-stakes game. Jenn explains why being at the mercy of a larger partner's API can leave a small company vulnerable to sudden changes.Episode highlights00:40 — Jenn's journey from "Early HubSpot" to CEO2:19 — The friction between marketing leaders and partner teams04:02 — Where should partnerships live? (Sales vs. Marketing)06:35 — The reality of technical dependencies and API downtime08:40 — The cautionary tale of the two-year "pre-launched" integration12:15 — Primary failure modes including goals and internal resources16:23 — Why everyone is focused on partnerships right now18:36 — Managing expectations for partner-sourced revenue22:31 — How to keep partners excited through consistent enablement28:40 — The danger of concentration risk for small companies--For more insights on partnerships, ecosystems, and integrations, visit www.pandium.com
Marketing is no longer downstream from product. It is the operating system. In this episode of Frontier CMO, Josh Spanier sits down with Emma Grede, founding partner and Chief Product Officer at SKIMS, Co Founder & CEO of Good American, and Co Founder of Off Season, to unpack what it really takes to build durable brands in a culture obsessed with moments. Emma shares why product discipline matters more than hype, how to operationalize cultural relevance, and why speed is the ultimate competitive advantage. The conversation explores AI adoption inside fast-scaling companies, where automation should power the business, and where it should never touch creative. Emma also reflects on talent partnerships, decision velocity, resilience, and why the best leaders aren't the ones who make perfect decisions, but the ones who make more of them. For founders and CMOs navigating growth where culture, commerce, and AI collide, this is a blueprint for building brands that last.
Is generative AI on track to become the biggest productivity unlock for marketers since the internet, or will it forever be stuck in endless pilot projects and one-off experiments?Agility requires moving beyond isolated experiments and embracing the systemic redesign of core creative and marketing workflows. It's about building the operational muscle to not just adopt new technology, but to integrate it into the very fabric of how your brand creates value.Today, we're going to talk about what happens after the initial hype cycle of generative AI. We're moving past the novelty of prompting for images and into the far more complex challenge of operationalizing AI at enterprise scale. This isn't just about adding a new tool; it's about re-architecting the entire creative supply chain and redefining the role of human judgment in a world of content abundance.To help me discuss this topic, I'd like to welcome Hannah Elsakr, VP of New GenAI Business Ventures at Adobe. About Hannah Elsakr Hannah Elsakr serves as Vice President of GenAI New Business Ventures at Adobe, where she leads efforts at the intersection of technology, creativity, and marketing. She launched Adobe Firefly Enterprise businesses, starting with Firefly Services for creative automation and Firefly Foundry, Adobe's GenAI deep-tuning managed service, enabling brands to adopt commercially safe generative AI. Previously, she led Corporate Development and served as Chief of Staff to Adobe's CEO and Chair, Shantanu Narayen. Hannah is also Board President for the Adobe Foundation, which creates positive change through support for creative and digital literacy, social equity and opportunity, and active engagement in the communities where we live and work.Hannah has experience leading global businesses in ecommerce & marketplaces, consumer products, SaaS, and advisory services. Prior to joining Adobe, she was the Vice President at eBay with P&L responsibility for eBay's Canada, Latin America, and U.S. Exports businesses as well as business operations. Hannah previously held leadership roles at eBay, Del Monte Foods, Avon Products, McKinsey & Co., and J.P. Morgan.Hannah holds a Bachelor of Science degree in applied mathematics with computer science from MIT and an MBA from Harvard Business School. Hannah Elsakr on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hannahelsakr/ Resources Adobe: https://www.adobe.com The Agile Brand podcast is brought to you by TEKsystems. Learn more here: https://aglbrnd.co/r/2868abd8085a9703 Drive your customers to new horizons at the premier retail event of the year for Retail and Brand marketers. Learn more at CRMC 2026, June 1-3. https://aglbrnd.co/r/d15ec37a537c0d74 Enjoyed the show? Tell us more at and give us a rating so others can find the show at: https://aglbrnd.co/r/faaed112fc9887f3 Connect with Greg on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gregkihlstromDon't miss a thing: get the latest episodes, sign up for our newsletter and more: https://aglbrnd.co/r/35ded3ccfb6716ba Check out The Agile Brand Guide website with articles, insights, and Martechipedia, the wiki for marketing technology: https://www.agilebrandguide.com The Agile Brand is produced by Missing Link—a Latina-owned strategy-driven, creatively fueled production co-op. From ideation to creation, they craft human connections through intelligent, engaging and informative content. https://www.missinglink.company Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Is generative AI on track to become the biggest productivity unlock for marketers since the internet, or will it forever be stuck in endless pilot projects and one-off experiments? Agility requires moving beyond isolated experiments and embracing the systemic redesign of core creative and marketing workflows. It's about building the operational muscle to not just adopt new technology, but to integrate it into the very fabric of how your brand creates value. Today, we're going to talk about what happens after the initial hype cycle of generative AI. We're moving past the novelty of prompting for images and into the far more complex challenge of operationalizing AI at enterprise scale. This isn't just about adding a new tool; it's about re-architecting the entire creative supply chain and redefining the role of human judgment in a world of content abundance. To help me discuss this topic, I'd like to welcome Hannah Elsakr, VP of New GenAI Business Ventures at Adobe. About Hannah Elsakr Hannah Elsakr serves as Vice President of GenAI New Business Ventures at Adobe, where she leads efforts at the intersection of technology, creativity, and marketing. She launched Adobe Firefly Enterprise businesses, starting with Firefly Services for creative automation and Firefly Foundry, Adobe's GenAI deep-tuning managed service, enabling brands to adopt commercially safe generative AI. Previously, she led Corporate Development and served as Chief of Staff to Adobe's CEO and Chair, Shantanu Narayen. Hannah is also Board President for the Adobe Foundation, which creates positive change through support for creative and digital literacy, social equity and opportunity, and active engagement in the communities where we live and work. Hannah has experience leading global businesses in ecommerce & marketplaces, consumer products, SaaS, and advisory services. Prior to joining Adobe, she was the Vice President at eBay with P&L responsibility for eBay's Canada, Latin America, and U.S. Exports businesses as well as business operations. Hannah previously held leadership roles at eBay, Del Monte Foods, Avon Products, McKinsey & Co., and J.P. Morgan.Hannah holds a Bachelor of Science degree in applied mathematics with computer science from MIT and an MBA from Harvard Business School. Hannah Elsakr on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hannahelsakr/ Resources Adobe: https://www.adobe.com The Agile Brand podcast is brought to you by TEKsystems. Learn more here: https://aglbrnd.co/r/2868abd8085a9703 Drive your customers to new horizons at the premier retail event of the year for Retail and Brand marketers. Learn more at CRMC 2026, June 1-3. https://aglbrnd.co/r/d15ec37a537c0d74 Enjoyed the show? Tell us more at and give us a rating so others can find the show at: https://aglbrnd.co/r/faaed112fc9887f3 Connect with Greg on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gregkihlstromDon't miss a thing: get the latest episodes, sign up for our newsletter and more: https://aglbrnd.co/r/35ded3ccfb6716ba Check out The Agile Brand Guide website with articles, insights, and Martechipedia, the wiki for marketing technology: https://www.agilebrandguide.com The Agile Brand is produced by Missing Link—a Latina-owned strategy-driven, creatively fueled production co-op. From ideation to creation, they craft human connections through intelligent, engaging and informative content. https://www.missinglink.company
We have all seen the power of AI; the question is, can it be implemented in a secure federal environment? This week on Feds At the Edge, we sit down with three experts who are proving that powerful AI can be deployed securely in federal environments, without compromising compliance or mission outcomes. Leaders from the Library of Congress, Idaho National Lab, and Keysight share how responsible implementation, curated data, and private AI models are unlocking transformative results. You'll hear how agencies are navigating sensitive data repositories, building secure AI ecosystems, and fostering collaboration to accelerate innovation, while keeping privacy and security front and center. Tune in on your favorite podcast platform for a practical look at how federal leaders are securely scaling AI from experimentation to real-world impact.
Preparing a global team for a world that changes by the minute can feel like a race against time, especially when 80% of jobs face major shifts by 2030. In this episode, we tackle the challenge of turning that fear into a high-performance culture that stays ahead of the technology curve. Tracy Platt, CHRO of Newell Brands, joins us to explore top strategies for AI adoption, focusing on the move toward "agentic commerce" and the urgent need for AI literacy across the whole company. We also unpack simple ways to put AI into daily work, like cutting performance management review times from two hours down to 30 minutes. Our discussion highlights the shift from tracking vanity metrics to measuring real business results and why human judgment is the ultimate guardrail for AI-driven work. Tracy shares how managing ambiguity has become the most valuable currency for modern leaders in this brave new world. For CHROs, this episode is your clear roadmap for leading your talent strategy and workforce planning through the rapid evolution of the future of work. Watch the full video on YouTube ---------- Start your day with the world's top leaders by joining thousands of others at Great Leadership on Substack. Just enter your email: https://greatleadership.substack.com/ Quick heads-up: my new book, The 8 Laws of Employee Experience, is a practical playbook for building an environment where people do their best work—order a copy here: 8EXlaws.com
“We had no cash, no supply chain, high product market fit, and low CAC. There was this giant button flashing: hyper growth.” What does it take to build a profitable pet brand from a studio apartment to a nine-figure business with its own factory? Russell Breuer (Co-Founder and CEO, Spot & Tango) joins hosts Sean Frank (CEO, Ridge) and Mike Beckham (CEO, Simple Modern) to trace the full arc of building one of DTC's most quietly dominant pet brands. Russell shares how Spot & Tango launched Unkibble days into COVID with nearly no cash, sold out in three days, and then had to resist pressing the hyper-growth button without inventory to back it up. The conversation gets deep into the math of subscription growth — payback windows, LTV by channel, contribution margin, and why Russell's kids know what a CAC is. They cover the contrarian decision to build a dedicated factory, how vertical integration added 30-plus margin points and created a competitive moat, the trade-offs of going omnichannel when you're profitable DTC, and why discipline is what separates brands that last. Powered ByFulfilhttps://bit.ly/3pAp2vuAftersellhttps://9ops.co/4i3bb5Richpanelhttps://9ops.co/richpanelNorthbeamhttps://www.northbeam.io/Saras Analyticshttps://bit.ly/9OP-YtdescPostscripthttps://9ops.co/postscriptOperators Newsletterhttps://9operators.com/
Renato Renner (ETH Zurich) proves quantum mechanics contains logical contradictions that undermine its foundations.Quantum theory may be the most successful theory in history — and Renato Renner has proved it can't consistently describe itself. This is not a philosophical objection. It's a theorem. From there it spirals into black holes, reference frames, and why some of his students refused to continue working on the subject. This one is a quiet storm, blending the foundations of physics with something uncomfortably personal: the question of what you are. TIMESTAMPS: - 00:00:00 - Quantum Theory's Internal Contradiction - 00:05:51 - Recursive Consistency Checks - 00:11:00 - Wigner's Friend Paradox - 00:18:11 - Global vs. Local Inconsistency - 00:25:04 - The Inhabitant's Perspective - 00:31:12 - Modeling Multi-Agent Reasoning - 00:44:25 - Three Fundamental Assumptions - 00:56:36 - Quantum Reference Frames - 01:06:14 - Black Hole Information Paradox - 01:15:06 - Operationalizing Hawking Radiation - 01:24:48 - Realizability of Thought Experiments - 01:41:16 - Emotional Physics: Many Worlds - 01:50:03 - The Limits of Probability - 02:01:06 - Operationalizing the Measurement Problem - 02:15:41 - Generalized Probabilistic Theories - 02:29:16 - Quantum-Gravity Correspondence - 02:40:10 - The Source of Disagreement - 02:56:54 - Physics as Communication LINKS MENTIONED: - Renato's Papers: https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=OEBtlWgAAAAJ - Renato's Lecture at Helgoland [Lecture]: https://youtu.be/NxIyldEZzZI - Against Probability [Paper]: https://arxiv.org/abs/2601.18872 - Testing Quantum Theory with Thought Experiments [Paper]: https://arxiv.org/abs/2106.05314 - Quantum Advantage in Cryptography [Paper]: https://arxiv.org/abs/2206.04078 - Quantum Theory Cannot Consistently Describe the Use of Itself [Paper]: https://arxiv.org/abs/1604.07422 - Security of Quantum Key Distribution [Paper]: https://arxiv.org/abs/quant-ph/0512258 - Thought Experiments in a Quantum Computer [Paper]: https://arxiv.org/abs/2209.06236 - The Black Hole Information Puzzle [Paper]: https://arxiv.org/abs/2110.14653 - Quanundrum Software: https://github.com/jangnur/Quanundrum - Wigner's Friend: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wigner's_friend - Reimagining of Schrödinger's Cat [Article]: https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/reimagining-of-schroedingers-cat-breaks-quantum-mechanics-mdash-and-stumps-physicists1/ - Collapse Theory [Paper]: http://www.psiquadrat.de/downloads/grw86.pdf - Entropy of Hawking Radiation [Paper]: https://arxiv.org/abs/2006.06872 - QBism [Paper]: https://arxiv.org/abs/1003.5209 - Respecting One's Fellow [Paper]: https://arxiv.org/abs/2008.03572 - Why Do Humans Reason? [Paper]: https://www.dan.sperber.fr/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/MercierSperberWhydohumansreason.pdf - Quantum Mechanical Rules for Observed Observers [Paper]: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-024-47170-2 - Game Theory [Book]: https://amazon.com/dp/0262061414?tag=toe08-20 - Tim Maudlin [TOE]: https://youtu.be/fU1bs5o3nss - Jacob Barandes [TOE]: https://youtu.be/gEK4-XtMwro - Sean Carroll [TOE]: https://youtu.be/9AoRxtYZrZo - David Wallace [TOE]: https://youtu.be/4MjNuJK5RzM - David Bessis [TOE]: https://youtu.be/GHGi_XDqKNw More links at https://curtjaimungal.substack.com Guests do not pay to appear. #science Theories of Everything with Curt Jaimungal features long-form, technically detailed interviews with leading researchers in physics, mathematics, consciousness, and philosophy, exploring topics at the level of active research. For academics, graduate students, and anyone seeking depth beyond popular science. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Databricks Roundtable episode: Operationalizing AI Agents: From Experimentation to Production. Join the Community: https://go.mlops.community/YTJoinInGet the newsletter: https://go.mlops.community/YTNewsletterMLOps GPU Guide: https://go.mlops.community/gpuguideBig shout-out to Databricks for the collaboration!// AbstractThis panel discusses the real-world challenges of deploying AI agents at scale. The conversation explores technical and operational barriers that slow production adoption, including reliability, cost, governance, and security.The panelists also examine how LLMOps, AIOps, and AgentOps differ from traditional MLOps, and why new approaches are required for generative and agent-based systems. Finally, experts define success criteria for GenAI frameworks, with a focus on robust evaluation, observability, and continuous monitoring across development and staging environments.// BioSamraj MoorjaniSamraj is a software engineer working on the Agent Quality team. Previously, Samraj worked at Meta on ads/product classification research and AppLovin on MLOps. Samraj graduated with a BS+MS in Computer Science from UIUC, advised by Professor Hari Sundaram, where he worked on controllable natural language generation to produce appealing, interpretable science to combat the spread of misinformation. He also worked with Professor Wen-mei Hwu on accelerating LLM inference through extreme sparsification.Apurva MisraApurva is an AI Consultant at Sentick, focusing on assisting startups with their AI strategy and building solutions. She leverages her extensive experience in machine learning and a Master's degree from the University of Waterloo, where her research bridged driving and machine learning, to offer valuable insights. Apurva's keen interest in the startup world fuels her passion for helping emerging companies incorporate AI effectively. In her free time, she is learning Spanish, and she also enjoys exploring hidden gem eateries, always eager to hear about new favourite spots!Ben EpsteinBen was the machine learning lead for Splice Machine, leading the development of their MLOps platform and Feature Store. He is now the Co-founder and CTO at GrottoAI, focused on supercharging multifamily teams and reducing vacancy loss with AI-powered guidance for leasing and renewals. Ben also works as an adjunct professor at Washington University in St. Louis, teaching concepts in cloud computing and big data analytics.Hosted by Adam Becker// Related LinksWebsite: https://www.databricks.com/https://mlflow.org/~~~~~~~~ ✌️Connect With Us ✌️ ~~~~~~~Catch all episodes, blogs, newsletters, and more: https://go.mlops.community/TYExploreJoin our Slack community [https://go.mlops.community/slack]Follow us on X/Twitter [@mlopscommunity](https://x.com/mlopscommunity) or [LinkedIn](https://go.mlops.community/linkedin)] Sign up for the next meetup: [https://go.mlops.community/register]MLOps Swag/Merch: [https://shop.mlops.community/]Connect with Demetrios on LinkedIn: /dpbrinkmConnect with Samraj on LinkedIn: /samrajmoorjani/Connect with Apurva on LinkedIn: /apurva-misra/Connect with Ben on LinkedIn: /ben-epstein/Connect with Adam on LinkedIn: /adamissimo/Timestamps:[00:00] Introduction[02:30] AI Agents in Operations[04:36] AI Strategy Consulting[05:30] Agent Quality Focus[06:17] AI Agent Expectations[11:44] AI Use Cases Evolution[15:25] Agent Expectations Adjustment[17:41] Agent Quality Monitoring[23:22] Trust in GenAI Systems[33:33] Data Prep vs Product Thinking[40:27] Quality Systems Distinction[44:54] Q & A[1:00:57] Wrap up
Show Notes For ten years, Ed Skoudis has curated one of the most anticipated sessions at RSAC Conference: SANS' "Five Most Dangerous New Attack Techniques: Crucial Tips for Defenders." The session has always been a hit -- standing room only on the main stage -- but this year, Ed says something has changed. Not one or two topics with an AI component. All five. Ed is deliberate about how the session comes together. He starts with people, not topics. He builds the panel around SANS instructors who bring front-line insight, and he starts the process six months out. This year's panel features returning panelist Heather Mahalik, Rob Teeley back for his second year, Joshua Wright in his second year -- this time carrying two topics and eight minutes instead of six -- and, making his first appearance on this stage, Robert M. Lee of Dragos, one of the world's foremost voices on ICS and OT security. The addition of "Crucial Tips for Defenders" to the title this year was intentional. Ed pushed every panelist to move beyond naming threats and toward prescribing action -- practical, implementable steps that a CISO can hand down and a practitioner can execute the next morning. For topics where prevention is impossible, the mandate shifted to detection and response. SANS publishes session notes to their website within minutes of the talk ending. The backdrop this year is a warning Ed calls unlike anything in his 30 years of attending RSA and DEF CON. At a recent AI cybersecurity conference in San Francisco, presenters from Google and Anthropic outlined what Google termed the "vuln apocalypse" -- an imminent surge in AI-discovered zero-day vulnerabilities at a scale and pace that patching pipelines are not designed to handle. Ed's own team at Counter Hack has already experienced this firsthand: a frontier AI model identified a critical zero-day in a widely used open source project in a matter of hours. The Anthropic presenter's claim was blunt: within months, AI will surpass all human vulnerability researchers combined. All of this lands at the center of what the RSAC session is designed to address -- not as a theoretical exercise, but as a set of actions defenders can take right now. The session runs Tuesday, March 24th at 3:55 PM on the main stage, with an interactive follow-on session Wednesday morning where attendees can go deeper with individual panelists. For anyone who wants to understand where the threat landscape is actually heading and what to do about it, Ed says this is the year you cannot afford to miss it. Guest Ed Skoudis, President, SANS Technology Institute; Founder & CEO, Counter Hack | On LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/edskoudis Host Sean Martin, Co-Founder at ITSPmagazine, Studio C60, and Host of Redefining CyberSecurity Podcast & Music Evolves Podcast | Website: https://www.seanmartin.com/ Resources SANS Institute | https://www.sans.org RSA Conference 2026 is taking place April 28 - May 1, 2026 | Moscone Center, San Francisco -- Follow our coverage: https://www.itspmagazine.com/rsac-2026-conference-san-francisco-usa-cybersecurity-event-infosec-conference-coverage The Future of Cybersecurity Newsletter | https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/7108625890296614912/ More Redefining CyberSecurity Podcast episodes | https://www.seanmartin.com/redefining-cybersecurity-podcast Redefining CyberSecurity Podcast on YouTube | https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLnYu0psdcllS9aVGdiakVss9u7xgYDKYq Keywords ed skoudis, sean martin, sans institute, sans technology institute, counter hack, rsac 2026, rsa conference, five most dangerous attack techniques, ai in cybersecurity, vulnerability research, zero-day vulnerabilities, patch management, penetration testing, defender tips, ics security, ai-powered attacks, redefining cybersecurity, cybersecurity podcast, redefining cybersecurity podcast Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
Show Notes For ten years, Ed Skoudis has curated one of the most anticipated sessions at RSA Conference: SANS' "Five Most Dangerous New Attack Techniques: Crucial Tips for Defenders." The session has always been a hit -- standing room only on the main stage -- but this year, Ed says something has changed. Not one or two topics with an AI component. All five. Ed is deliberate about how the session comes together. He starts with people, not topics. He builds the panel around SANS instructors who bring front-line insight, and he starts the process six months out. This year's panel features returning panelist Heather Mahalik, Rob Teeley back for his second year, Joshua Wright in his second year -- this time carrying two topics and eight minutes instead of six -- and, making his first appearance on this stage, Robert M. Lee of Dragos, one of the world's foremost voices on ICS and OT security. The addition of "Crucial Tips for Defenders" to the title this year was intentional. Ed pushed every panelist to move beyond naming threats and toward prescribing action -- practical, implementable steps that a CISO can hand down and a practitioner can execute the next morning. For topics where prevention is impossible, the mandate shifted to detection and response. SANS publishes session notes to their website within minutes of the talk ending. The backdrop this year is a warning Ed calls unlike anything in his 30 years of attending RSA and DEF CON. At a recent AI cybersecurity conference in San Francisco, presenters from Google and Anthropic outlined what Google termed the "vuln apocalypse" -- an imminent surge in AI-discovered zero-day vulnerabilities at a scale and pace that patching pipelines are not designed to handle. Ed's own team at Counter Hack has already experienced this firsthand: a frontier AI model identified a critical zero-day in a widely used open source project in a matter of hours. The Anthropic presenter's claim was blunt: within months, AI will surpass all human vulnerability researchers combined. All of this lands at the center of what the RSAC session is designed to address -- not as a theoretical exercise, but as a set of actions defenders can take right now. The session runs Tuesday, March 24th at 3:55 PM on the main stage, with an interactive follow-on session Wednesday morning where attendees can go deeper with individual panelists. For anyone who wants to understand where the threat landscape is actually heading and what to do about it, Ed says this is the year you cannot afford to miss it. Guest Ed Skoudis, President, SANS Technology Institute; Founder & CEO, Counter Hack | On LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/edskoudis Host Sean Martin, Co-Founder at ITSPmagazine, Studio C60, and Host of Redefining CyberSecurity Podcast & Music Evolves Podcast | Website: https://www.seanmartin.com/ Resources SANS Institute | https://www.sans.org RSA Conference 2026 is taking place April 28 - May 1, 2026 | Moscone Center, San Francisco -- Follow our coverage: https://www.itspmagazine.com/rsac-2026-conference-san-francisco-usa-cybersecurity-event-infosec-conference-coverage The Future of Cybersecurity Newsletter | https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/7108625890296614912/ More Redefining CyberSecurity Podcast episodes | https://www.seanmartin.com/redefining-cybersecurity-podcast Redefining CyberSecurity Podcast on YouTube | https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLnYu0psdcllS9aVGdiakVss9u7xgYDKYq Keywords ed skoudis, sean martin, sans institute, sans technology institute, counter hack, rsac 2026, rsa conference, five most dangerous attack techniques, ai in cybersecurity, vulnerability research, zero-day vulnerabilities, patch management, penetration testing, defender tips, ics security, ai-powered attacks, redefining cybersecurity, cybersecurity podcast, redefining cybersecurity podcast Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
From HIMSS in Las Vegas, Michael chats with Michael Meucci, President and CEO of Arcadia. Together, they discuss Arcadia's role in the healthcare ecosystem, the biggest gaps between what vendors are promising and what organizations can operationalize, what accountable AI looks like in practice, the most common AI execution failures, what infrastructure must be in place to scale AI responsibly, and much more. Learn more about Arcadia at www.arcadia.io.
In this episode of the Microsoft Threat Intelligence Podcast, host Sherrod DeGrippo is joined by Greg Schlomer and Vlad H. to discuss new research on Jasper Sleet, a North Korean–aligned threat actor incorporating AI into active operations. The conversation examines how AI is being integrated across the attack lifecycle — from highly tailored phishing lures and fabricated job applicant personas to accelerating malware development and refining operational workflows. Rather than treating AI as a novelty, Jasper Sleet is using it to increase speed, scale, and adaptability while reducing many of the friction points that once slowed campaigns. They also explore what this shift means for defenders. As AI compresses iteration cycles and lowers barriers to entry, traditional attribution signals evolve, influence operations become more convincing, and defensive teams must tighten the loop between intelligence, detection, and response. This is less about experimentation and more about the operationalization of AI as part of modern tradecraft. In this episode you'll learn: How AI is changing the speed at which cyber operations evolve Why jailbreaking AI models is often trivial for motivated adversaries The strategic implications of AI leveling the playing field between threat actors Some questions we ask: Is there resistance among experienced malware authors to adopting AI? Are we seeing fully AI-written malware in the wild? What stands out about Jasper Sleet's use of AI? Resources: View Greg Schloemer on LinkedIn View Sherrod DeGrippo on LinkedIn Related Microsoft Podcasts: Afternoon Cyber Tea with Ann Johnson The BlueHat Podcast Uncovering Hidden Risks Discover and follow other Microsoft podcasts at microsoft.com/podcasts Get the latest threat intelligence insights and guidance at Microsoft Security Insider The Microsoft Threat Intelligence Podcast is produced by Microsoft, Hangar Studios and distributed as part of N2K media network. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
In this episode of the Microsoft Threat Intelligence Podcast, host Sherrod DeGrippo is joined by Greg Schlomer and Vlad Honyanyy to discuss new research on Jasper Sleet, a North Korean–aligned threat actor incorporating AI into active operations. The conversation examines how AI is being integrated across the attack lifecycle — from highly tailored phishing lures and fabricated job applicant personas to accelerating malware development and refining operational workflows. Rather than treating AI as a novelty, Jasper Sleet is using it to increase speed, scale, and adaptability while reducing many of the friction points that once slowed campaigns. They also explore what this shift means for defenders. As AI compresses iteration cycles and lowers barriers to entry, traditional attribution signals evolve, influence operations become more convincing, and defensive teams must tighten the loop between intelligence, detection, and response. This is less about experimentation and more about the operationalization of AI as part of modern tradecraft. In this episode you'll learn: How AI is changing the speed at which cyber operations evolve Why jailbreaking AI models is often trivial for motivated adversaries The strategic implications of AI leveling the playing field between threat actors Some questions we ask: Is there resistance among experienced malware authors to adopting AI? Are we seeing fully AI-written malware in the wild? What stands out about Jasper Sleet's use of AI? Resources: View Greg Schloemer on LinkedIn View Sherrod DeGrippo on LinkedIn Related Microsoft Podcasts: Afternoon Cyber Tea with Ann Johnson The BlueHat Podcast Uncovering Hidden Risks Discover and follow other Microsoft podcasts at microsoft.com/podcasts Get the latest threat intelligence insights and guidance at Microsoft Security Insider The Microsoft Threat Intelligence Podcast is produced by Microsoft, Hangar Studios and distributed as part of N2K media network. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Smart Agency Masterclass with Jason Swenk: Podcast for Digital Marketing Agencies
Would you like access to our advanced agency training for FREE? https://www.agencymastery360.com/training Are you winning exciting projects but still feeling exhausted at the end of every quarter? Does your agency look successful from the outside, yet feel fragile or chaotic behind the scenes? For most agency owners, the real struggle isn't creativity. It's sustainability. The real challenge begins after the win, when you have to deliver consistently, protect your margins, manage your team, and somehow still have the energy to lead. Michael Boychuk is the founder and creative director of DNA&Stone, a creative agency that deals in real emotion and embrace the hard truth, understanding that brands that connect emotionally see 50% higher revenue growth. He'll talk about scaling creatively led agencies, navigating mergers, embracing productive conflict, and integrating AI without sacrificing emotional storytelling. In this episode, we'll discuss: Why creative isn't enough The merger process Embracing tension & clear swim lanes in partnerships Set audacious goals or stay average Subscribe Apple | Spotify | iHeart Radio Sponsors and Resources E2M Solutions: Today's episode of the Smart Agency Masterclass is sponsored by E2M Solutions, a web design, and development agency that has provided white-label services for the past 10 years to agencies all over the world. Check out e2msolutions.com/smartagency and get 10% off for the first three months of service. Toggl: Most agencies are losing 15–30% of their profit every year: lack of time tracking, messy manual timesheets, scope creep, untracked revisions, and all those "quick" client requests that never get billed. Toggl has created a fast, interactive way to uncover exactly where your margins are leaking. Start your investigation now at toggl.com/smartagency and use the code SMARTAGENCY10 at checkout for a 10% off annual plans. Leaving Amazon to Start a Creative Agency Michael's career began in small, strategy-led creative shops before moving to Leo Burnett in Chicago. Eventually, he crossed to the client side as Global Executive Creative Director at Amazon, working closely on major brand initiatives. While many creatives were moving in-house at the time, Michael saw the gap in how external agencies worked with internal creative teams. Even the most respected agencies struggled to collaborate effectively with in-house counterparts. So he made the decision to leave Amazon to start his own agency. He co-founded Little Hands of Stone (later merging to become DNA&Stone), building a nimble, creatively driven agency with operational discipline at its core. The goal wasn't to be another agency in a crowded market. It was to build one that worked differently. The Project Roller Coaster: Why Great Creative Isn't Enough In the early years, Michael and his partner excelled at landing high-impact project work. The agency would scale up quickly, execute powerful campaigns, and then scale back down. The upside: Strong margins. The downside: Revenue volatility. Some months were record-breaking. Others were terrifying. This feast-or-famine model made it difficult to invest in long-term infrastructure, particularly account management and relationship-building functions that sustain retainer revenue. As Michael put it, scaling into projects and rapidly reducing afterward may be profitable, but it's not easily sustainable. That realization set the stage for a major shift. The Merger: Combining Creative Firepower with Account Stability After years of competing against DNA, Michael's firm began merger conversations. His six-year-old, creatively led shop was volatile but high-impact. DNA, a 26-year-old agency, had stable retainer revenue and strong account leadership. They were opposites and that made them perfect. The nine-month merger process was far more complex than expected. Michael describes it as "drawing up a marriage certificate." But strategically, it functioned like a time machine, instantly solving growth limitations both firms faced independently. However, merging on paper is easy. Operationalizing it while "building the plane during barrel rolls" is the real challenge. One year later, they're still refining the model and balancing creative ambition with financial discipline. Account Management vs. Creative Leadership One of the biggest lessons Michael learned post-merger is the value of strong account leadership. Creative leaders tend to chase the next exciting idea. Account leaders think in terms of long-term relationships, financial discipline, and sustainable growth. You need both. Rather than avoid tension, the four partners embrace it. Michael believes healthy conflict is essential. If there's no disagreement, you're probably not addressing the real issues. But the key is respectful conflict rooted in trust. They operate with: Clear swim lanes (each partner has decision authority in their domain) Open debate before decisions 100% alignment after decisions are made No back-channel dissent or lingering resentment. Only unified execution. Embrace the AI Wave But Protect the Emotion Michael doesn't sugarcoat his views on AI. If agencies aren't actively integrating AI into workflows and developing proprietary approaches, they risk irrelevance. But he also warns against overcorrection. Yes, AI improves efficiency and enhances pre-visualization and brainstorming. Yes, it can increase margins. But creative agencies aren't data-processing factories. They're emotional engines. In his view, the industry is currently drowning in data while starving for emotional resonance. AI can create competent output but it often carries a detectable "stink," a subtle lack of human nuance. He chooses to use AI to: enable better creative. improve efficiency. remove bottlenecks. However, it should not be used to replace emotional storytelling. Because humans still crave human connection and no algorithm can replicate lived experience. Set Audacious Goals or Stay Average The biggest lesson Michael took from his time at Amazon working directly with Jeff Bezos was to set ambitious goals. After campaigning to have an Amazon ad during the Super Bowl, he got Jeff's attention and set out to create a top-five Super Bowl ad. But during development, director Wayne McClammy challenged him: "Why aim for top five? Why not number one?" That shift in ambition changed everything. Every decision became filtered through one question: Is this the move that gets us to #1? The resulting product was the "Alexa Loses Her Voice" Super Bowl spot featuring Cardi B and Anthony Hopkins. And, yes, it was ranked the number one Super Bowl ad that year. The lesson for him was about standards. If your goals don't make you nervous, they're not big enough. Do You Want to Transform Your Agency from a Liability to an Asset? Looking to dig deeper into your agency's potential? Check out our Agency Blueprint. Designed for agency owners like you, our Agency Blueprint helps you uncover growth opportunities, tackle obstacles, and craft a customized blueprint for your agency's success.
In this episode of the Microsoft Threat Intelligence Podcast, host Sherrod DeGrippo is joined by Greg Schlomer and Vlad H. to discuss new research on Jasper Sleet, a North Korean–aligned threat actor incorporating AI into active operations. The conversation examines how AI is being integrated across the attack lifecycle — from highly tailored phishing lures and fabricated job applicant personas to accelerating malware development and refining operational workflows. Rather than treating AI as a novelty, Jasper Sleet is using it to increase speed, scale, and adaptability while reducing many of the friction points that once slowed campaigns. They also explore what this shift means for defenders. As AI compresses iteration cycles and lowers barriers to entry, traditional attribution signals evolve, influence operations become more convincing, and defensive teams must tighten the loop between intelligence, detection, and response. This is less about experimentation and more about the operationalization of AI as part of modern tradecraft. In this episode you'll learn: How AI is changing the speed at which cyber operations evolve Why jailbreaking AI models is often trivial for motivated adversaries The strategic implications of AI leveling the playing field between threat actors Some questions we ask: Is there resistance among experienced malware authors to adopting AI? Are we seeing fully AI-written malware in the wild? What stands out about Jasper Sleet's use of AI? Resources: View Greg Schloemer on LinkedIn View Sherrod DeGrippo on LinkedIn Related Microsoft Podcasts: Afternoon Cyber Tea with Ann Johnson The BlueHat Podcast Uncovering Hidden Risks Discover and follow other Microsoft podcasts at microsoft.com/podcasts Get the latest threat intelligence insights and guidance at Microsoft Security Insider The Microsoft Threat Intelligence Podcast is produced by Microsoft, Hangar Studios and distributed as part of N2K media network.
Customer service leaders face rising pressure to resolve more interactions faster, while maintaining high-quality experiences — and many legacy systems and processes can't keep up. In this episode, Craig Walker, CEO of Dialpad, joins Daniel Faggella, Emerj CEO and Head of Research, to break down how AI can augment human agents to handle routine requests like order status and password resets, freeing teams to focus on complex issues. He shares actionable strategies for enterprise leaders, from cleaning knowledge bases and analyzing ticket patterns to running controlled pilots and scaling AI agents across the organization. Craig also explains how AI can coach agents in real time and surface insights for managers, creating a continuously improving support system that drives measurable ROI. This episode is sponsored by Dialpad. Learn how brands work with Emerj and other Emerj Media options at emerj.com/ad1 Want to share your AI adoption story with executive peers? Click emerj.com/expert for more information and to be a potential future guest on the 'AI in Business' podcast!
In this episode, Russ Branzell, President and CEO of CHIME, speaks with PV SubbaRao, President of Healthcare Provider at NTT DATA, about what it truly takes to operationalize AI for lasting transformation. Together, they discuss the leadership decisions, governance structures, and workflow redesign required to scale AI responsibly while driving measurable improvements in financial sustainability, operational resilience, and care delivery.Key Takeaways:Why AI represents a structural shift in healthcare operations and the signals that indicate organizations have reached a true transformation inflection point.The governance, data architecture, and investment decisions required to successfully move AI initiatives from pilot programs to enterprise-scale deployment.How leading organizations are redesigning clinical and operational workflows, roles, and decision-making structures as AI becomes embedded into everyday work.What distinguishes true AI-enabled revenue cycle transformation from traditional automation efforts and how it can support long-term financial sustainability.The leadership, cultural shifts, and performance metrics required to align the C-suite and measure the real impact of AI-driven transformation across the enterprise.
AI is no longer a futuristic add-on for consulting firms, it's reshaping how firms operate, price, hire, and deliver outcomes.In this episode Brent sits down with Tom Rodenhauser of K2 Consulting Research (formerly Kennedy Intelligence) to unpack what's actually happening inside consulting firms as they operationalize AI. From boutique firms building knowledge engines that rival global players, to the governance structures required to protect client trust, to the accelerating shift away from time-based billing, this conversation separates hype from reality.Key Topics CoveredHow boutique firms are competing with global giantsThe changing role of consultants (especially junior talent)Governance isn't optional, it's the prerequisite for trust.Transparency as a competitive advantageOutcome-based pricing is the future, but only for firms that can clearly define and measure results.Measurable internal impact and the time savings creating space for higher-value conversations and business development Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Adam Lary is a distinguished graduate of the United States Military Academy class of 2010 with a B.S. in Engineering Psychology. His subsequent military career spanned 10 years in the U.S. Army as an Infantry officer and included Ranger school, Airborne school, and multiple combat deployments to Afghanistan and Iraq in various leadership roles. Adam transitioned out of the military in 2020 and went on to earn his M.S. in Human Factors from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. While completing his degree, he worked as a Human Factors Researcher conducting usability studies on electronic health record software before changing roles to lead a team of Human Factors Engineers at Garmin International, where he specializes in designing user interfaces for advanced aircraft avionics. His team spearheads human factors research initiatives focused on optimizing avionics usability and ensuring compliance with human factors regulations. Adam's blend of military leadership and human factors expertise brings a unique perspective to operationalizing human factors research and advancing aviation safety through human-centered design principles and practices.Learn more about Adam: Adam's LinkedInWhere to find the hosts:Brian MoonBrian's websiteBrian's LinkedInBrian's TwitterLaura MilitelloLaura's websiteLaura's LinkedInLaura's Twitter
In this episode, host Don Adeesha joins Laura Crowley, CEO of Laura Janet & Co, to tackle the "retail gap" in aesthetic practices. Laura explains why the best clinical providers often struggle with retail sales, feeling that it compromises their clinical integrity. She shares how to psychologically rewire a team to reframe product recommendations from a commercial upsell to a necessary part of patient advocacy and optimal medical results. Laura breaks down the operational failures that cause half of your patients to leave empty-handed, advocating for retail integration that starts with pre-appointment paperwork. She details how to fix the consultation and checkout process by presenting a comprehensive written treatment plan and then simply "stopping talking" to avoid over-explaining the price. Beyond tactics, she warns against just throwing commission at low sales, instead emphasizing financial transparency, regular one-on-ones, and targeted product education to foster an ownership culture among staff. Finally, Laura encourages owners to embrace employee personal branding as a powerful marketing tool rather than fearing patient theft. For owners trapped in the treatment room, she shares her blueprint for stepping back: delegating low-hanging tasks to an assistant, building Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), and dedicating non-negotiable "CEO hours" to strategically work on the business instead of in it.
Vaishali shares her experience leading global data teams, partnering with executive leadership, and building strategies that connect cutting-edge technology to real business value. We explore her insights on operationalizing AI, scaling analytics across enterprises, and overcoming challenges in data governance, stakeholder alignment, and innovation adoption.Key Highlights:Bridging Tech and Business: How Vaishali connects AI and analytics innovations to organizational strategy and measurable outcomes.Global Team Leadership: Lessons from managing cross-functional, geographically distributed teams and driving collaboration.Operational Optimization: Examples of initiatives that reduced operational complexity while improving efficiency.Scaling Analytics and AI: Best practices for governance, workflow, and embedding AI into enterprise decision-making.Emerging Trends: Vaishali's perspective on the next wave of AI, analytics, and enterprise data strategies.Tune in to Episode 61 to learn how Vaishali Lambe drives data-driven transformation, operational excellence, and AI innovation across global enterprises.Be sure to mark your calendars for the 10th annual ALD NYC on May 13, where we will focus on GENAI AND INTELLIGENT AGENTS IN THE FINANCE AND BANKING. Join us to hear from experts on how AI is shaping the future of the enterprise. https://www.datascience.salon/new-york/
In the latest episode of the Data Center Frontier Show Podcast, Editor in Chief Matt Vincent speaks with Sailesh Krishnamurthy, VP of Engineering for Databases at Google Cloud, about the real challenge facing enterprise AI: connecting powerful models to real-world operational data. While large language models continue to advance rapidly, many organizations still struggle to combine unstructured data (i.e. documents, images, and logs) with structured operational systems like customer databases and transaction platforms. Krishnamurthy explains how vector search and hybrid database approaches are helping bridge this gap, allowing enterprises to query structured and unstructured data together without creating new silos. The conversation highlights a growing shift in mindset: modern data teams must think more like search engineers, optimizing for relevance and usefulness rather than simply exact database results. At the same time, governance and trust are becoming foundational requirements, ensuring AI systems access accurate data while respecting strict security controls. Operating at Google scale also reinforces the need for reliability, low latency, and correctness, pushing infrastructure toward unified storage layers rather than fragmented systems that add complexity and delay. Looking toward 2026, Krishnamurthy argues the top priority for CIOs and data leaders is organizing and governing data effectively, because AI systems are only as strong as the data foundations supporting them. The takeaway: AI success depends not just on smarter models, but on smarter data infrastructure.
204. The Journey of Core Leadership TVF 204 – The Journey of Core Leadership (with Miki Feldman Simon In this episode of the Visibility Factor podcast, host Susan M Barber speaks with Miki Feldman Simon. She is a former corporate executive, speaker, and now the author of CORE Leadership. Some of the topics included her transitions into multiple roles and companies in leadership and her journey to becoming an author. The importance of self-leadership, navigating career transitions, and the CORE leadership framework that Miki has developed and included in her new book. The conversation emphasizes the significance of self-reflection, operationalizing values, and the power of pausing to make intentional decisions. Miki shares personal stories and insights from her coaching experiences, highlighting the impact of clarity and purpose in leadership. Takeaways Miki has a diverse background in leadership roles across various industries. Transitions in career can be navigated by recognizing transferable skills. Self-reflection is crucial for understanding personal values and priorities. The author's journey involved setting clear goals and seeking feedback. The Core Leadership framework emphasizes self-leadership and intentionality. Operationalizing values helps align actions with personal beliefs. Pausing can lead to better decision-making and creativity. Real-life applications of the framework can transform leadership styles. Visibility in leadership is about showing up authentically and intentionally. Changing one's mind is a sign of growth and adaptability. The book that Miki recommends is Think Again by Adam Grant To learn more about Miki's work and her new book: https://mikifeldmansimon.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikifeldmansimon/ Other resources mentioned in the podcast:
Alex Tsepaev, Chief Strategy Officer at B2Prime, shares how the firm is scaling global crypto and TradFi operations under a unified compliance model. Topics include licensing in six countries, embedding DORA controls, B2C onboarding, AI automation, and launching crypto spot and perpetual products in the Bahamas.
A single email can cost millions of dollars. Not because of what it says, but because it didn't reach the right people at the right time. Most companies treat content as marketing fluff until it fails spectacularly. Then suddenly everyone realizes it's the invisible infrastructure holding together every digital experience.Join hosts Chuck Moxley and Nick Paladino as they sit down with Rafael Carranza, who's spent his career proving that content isn't just words on a page. Starting at a wire service during the dot-com boom when thousands of websites suddenly needed live content, Rafael moved to Microsoft where he helped open their content platform to publishers. He then went to Amazon building decision-making systems for thousands of sellers navigating complex rules, and now to PitchBook where data trust drives financial decisions. We explore why trust is the foundation of all content operations, why Microsoft pivoted from being a media company to becoming a platform, and when content stops being marketing and becomes integral to the product itself. Rafael argues that frictionless isn't about improving processes or deploying better technology, it's about how deeply you understand the customer on the other side.Key Actionable Takeaways:Build content governance foundations before implementing AI - Clean your content libraries, audit outdated information, establish clear tagging systems, and align terminology across departments; LLMs can't generate accurate responses from messy, ungoverned dataTreat content as product infrastructure, not just marketing - Critical information about rules, procedures, and product usage directly impacts customer success and costs real money when missing or wrong at decision-making momentsPrioritize quality gates over speed when stakes are high - Create intentional friction through approval processes and pushback mechanisms to maintain quality standards; moving fast without accuracy can trigger legal issues, government involvement, and million-dollar failuresWant more tips and strategies about creating frictionless digital experiences? Subscribe to our newsletter! https://www.thefrictionlessexperience.com/frictionless/ Download the Black Friday/Cyber Monday eBook: http://bluetriangle.com/ebook Rafael Carranza's LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/rafaelcarranza Nick Paladino's LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/npaladino Chuck Moxley's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chuckmoxley/Chapters:(00:00) Introduction(02:43) Journalism origins(03:15) Wire service dot-com boom(04:30) Microsoft partnership(05:30) Learning user trust(07:15) Trust across organizations(08:35) Microsoft media pivot(09:45) Platform over content(10:30) Content as product(11:15) Amazon seller information(12:30) Operationalizing at scale(13:15) Governance structures(14:30) AI hallucination risks(15:15) Content accuracy guardrails(17:15) Windows to Linux journey(18:15) Business adoption limits(20:00) Human-AI collaboration(21:30) Innovation vs trust balance(22:00) B2B vs B2C content(23:30) Right content right time(24:30) When content fails(25:30) Million-dollar mistakes(26:45) Intentional friction benefits(27:30) Quality over speed(28:45) Biggest misconception(29:30) Conclusion
Change is emotional. Even when the strategy is solid, people still feel uncertain, skeptical, or overwhelmed, especially when the vision feels huge and the path feels unclear.In this revisited episode of The Visual Lounge (originally Episode 168), Matt sits down with Jake Gittleson, who leads McKinsey's Learning Research and Innovation Lab. Jake shares why storytelling is one of the most effective tools L&D teams have for supporting change inside organisations.Instead of trying to persuade people in one big moment, Jake explains why change stories should be shared over time, through small experiments, human insights, and incremental updates that meet people where they are. He also breaks down practical ways to gather stories through interviews, outline your narrative, and use video and audio to create connection, without needing expensive gear or a polished production setup.Learning points from the episode include:00:00 - 01:21 Introduction01:21 - 02:03 Jake's background02:03 - 04:14 How Jake started using audio and video04:14 - 07:01 What does a successful change look like07:01 - 08:45 Creativity as a tip for using video at work08.45 - 11:55 Jake's role and expertise in change and innovation11:55 - 15:11 Why human connection matters in change15:11 - 18:13 Operationalizing storytelling without big budgets18:13 - 21:13 Building the right stories21:13 - 27:10 Visual approaches to telling stories27:10 - 30:21 Capturing real voices30:21 - 39:51 Speed round39:51 - 40:46 Jake's final take40:46 OutroImportant links and mentions:Connect with Jake on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jake-gittleson/Check out The Learning Geeks podcast: https://www.learninggeekspod.com/Listen to Jake's first appearance on The Visual Lounge in episode 168: https://player.captivate.fm/episode/ee9c311f-7f51-4a6c-a749-c2d7090a1274
Moiz Kohari, VP of Enterprise AI and Data Intelligence at DDN, breaks down what it actually takes to get AI into production and keep it there. If your org is stuck in pilot mode, this conversation will help you spot the real blockers, from trust and hallucinations to data architecture and GPU bottlenecks.Key takeaways• GenAI success in the enterprise is less about the demo and more about trust, accuracy, and knowing when the system should say “I don't know.”• “Operationalizing” usually fails at the handoff, when humans stay permanently in the loop and the business never captures the full benefit.• Data architecture is the multiplier. If your data is siloed, slow, or hard to access safely, your AI roadmap stalls, no matter how good your models are.• GPU spend is only worth it if your pipelines can feed the GPUs fast enough. A lot of teams are IO bound, so utilization stays low and budgets get burned.• The real win is better decisions, faster. Moving from end of day batch thinking to intraday intelligence can change risk, margin, and response time in major ways.Timestamped highlights00:35 What DDN does, and why data velocity matters when GPUs are the pricey line item02:12 AI vs GenAI in the enterprise, and why “taking the human out” is where value shows up08:43 Hallucinations, trust, and why “always answering” creates real production risk12:00 What teams do with the speed gains, and why faster delivery shifts you toward harder problems12:58 From hours to minutes, how GPU acceleration changes intraday risk and decision making in finance20:16 Data architecture choices, POSIX vs object storage, and why your IO layer can make or break AI readinessA line worth stealing“Speed is great, but trust is the frontier. If your system can't admit what it doesn't know, production is where the project stops.”Pro tips you can apply this week• Pick one workflow where the output can be checked quickly, then design the path from pilot to production up front, including who approves what and how exceptions get handled.• Audit your bottleneck before you buy more compute. If your GPUs are waiting on data, fix storage, networking, and pipeline throughput first.• Build “confidence behavior” into the system. Decide when it should answer, when it should cite, and when it should escalate to a human.Call to actionIf you got value from this one, follow the show and turn on notifications so you do not miss the next episode.
Since the 1970s the scientific field has been steadily improving in its use of meaningful consent practices. But how are we doing when it comes to the related practice of gaining client assent? This week we discuss the similarities and differences between both and take a pulse check as to how behavior analysis is doing to ensure only the best of practices when it comes to benefiting our clients whether in the research lab or clinic setting. If you think of assent practices as just willingness to enter the classroom, you definitely need to listen to this episode. This episode is available for 1.0 LEARNING CEU. Articles discussed this episode: Mead Jasperse, S.C., Kelly, M.P., Ward, S.N., Fernand, J.K., Joslyn, P.R., & van Dijk, W. (2025). Consent and assent practices in behavior analytic research. Behavior Analysis in Practice, 18, 826-841. doi: 10.1007/s40617-023-00838-5 Flowers, J. & Dawes, J. (2023). Dignity and respect: Why therapeutic assent matters. Behavior Analysis in Practice, 16, 913-920. doi: 10.1007/s40617-023-00772-6 If you're interested in ordering CEs for listening to this episode, click here to go to the store page. You'll need to enter your name, BCBA #, and the two episode secret code words to complete the purchase. Email us at abainsidetrack@gmail.com for further assistance.
**The vCISO In The Green Glass Corner Office Podcast has been re-branded to The Blak Cyber Podcast presents The CISSP Dojo Series**
While, maybe, in murky legal waters, Attorney General Pam Bondi is building out the infrastructure for greater spying, policing and prosecution of social movements, and anyone else deemed an enemy of the state. It instructs agents, analysts, and grant makers what to do next and with whom, and those orders will hit real people and organizations almost immediately.In our latest, Scott talks with return guest Adam Federman (@adamfederman) to discuss NPMS-7 and the recently released "Bondi Memo" rewriting of past civil liberties guardrails. Bio//Adam Federman works at Type Investigations as a reporting fellow. He has written extensively on corporate and police spying on environmental activists, much of which has appeared in the Guardian. He's also been published in Politico Magazine, the Nation, The Washington Post, Wired, Columbia Journalism Review, Adirondack Life, and Gastronomica. ------------------------------
Welcome to another insightful episode of Build a Better Agency! This week, host Drew McLellan is joined by returning guest Nicole Mahoney, an accomplished agency owner and thought leader renowned for her innovative work in collaboration within the travel and tourism space. Drawing on her 15 years of industry expertise, Nicole shares how strategic partnerships have propelled her agency to new heights—even during challenging times like the pandemic. Together, Drew McLellan and Nicole Mahoney dig deep into the multifaceted nature of agency collaboration, both with competitors and complementary businesses. Nicole reveals insights from her research, podcast, and her newly released book, breaking down the different types of collaborators—the promoters, doubters, and protectors—and why understanding these archetypes is key to building mutually beneficial relationships. They also explore how agencies can be more intentional with partnerships to drive growth, resilience, and innovation. Expect actionable frameworks, real case studies of cross-agency teamwork, and candid stories about what works (and what doesn't) when it comes to navigating collaborations—from RFP responses to co-hosting major events. Nicole introduces her proven "3C framework" for successful partnerships and shares how agencies can assess and operationalize collaboration as part of their strategic planning, especially heading into 2026. If you're rethinking how to strengthen your agency's network, improve client offerings, or simply want to learn from real-world examples of effective coopetition, this episode is packed with takeaways. Don't miss this opportunity to hear fresh perspectives on how working together not only benefits your agency, but helps build a stronger, more connected industry. A big thank you to our podcast's presenting sponsor, White Label IQ. They're an amazing resource for agencies who want to outsource their design, dev, or PPC work at wholesale prices. Check out their special offer (10 free hours!) for podcast listeners here. What You Will Learn in This Episode: Building agency growth and resiliency through strategic collaboration Understanding the three types of collaborators: promoters, doubters, and protectors Operationalizing collaboration as an intentional business strategy Keys to effective partnerships: communication, commonality, and commitment Creating mutually beneficial relationships even with competitors (coopetition) Leveraging collaborations to diversify offerings and better serve clients Using partnerships to overcome resource gaps and win larger opportunities
Melanie Perkins is CEO and co-founder of Canva, currently valued at over $42 billion, generating over $3 billion in annual revenue, with more than 240 million monthly active users and, incredibly, eight consecutive years of profitability. But the journey was far from smooth. Melanie was rejected by over 100 investors during her first fundraising round, her team spent two years without being able to ship a new feature during a technical rewrite, and the company pivoted early from a yearbook publishing platform to become the design powerhouse it is today. Through it all, she maintained what she calls “column B” thinking: building toward a dream future rather than just using the bricks around you.We discuss:1. How “column B” thinking helped Melanie build Canva, by starting with an impossible vision rather than existing constraints2. The power of setting “crazy big goals”3. How Canva survived a painful two-year period without shipping any new features while rewriting their codebase4. How Melanie pushed through 100 investor rejections, and how she used each rejection to strengthen her pitch5. Canva's “two-step plan”: build one of the world's most valuable companies, then do the most good possible6. Melanie's vision for 2050 and why she believes imagination is the first step toward a better world—Brought to you by:Vanta—Automate compliance. Simplify security. https://vanta.com/lennyStripe—Helping companies of all sizes grow revenue: https://stripe.com/Justworks—The all-in-one HR solution for managing your small business with confidence: https://ad.doubleclick.net/ddm/trackclk/N9515.5688857LENNYSPODCAST/B33689522.424104489;dc_trk_aid=616485033;dc_trk_cid=237010502;dc_lat=;dc_rdid=;tag_for_child_directed_treatment=;tfua=;gdpr=$—Transcript: https://www.lennysnewsletter.com/p/the-making-of-canva—My biggest takeaways (for paid newsletter subscribers): https://www.lennysnewsletter.com/i/176082995/my-biggest-takeaways-from-this-conversation—Where to find Melanie Perkins:• X: https://x.com/melaniecanva• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/melanieperkins/—Where to find Lenny:• Newsletter: https://www.lennysnewsletter.com• X: https://twitter.com/lennysan• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lennyrachitsky/—In this episode, we cover:(00:00) Introduction to Melanie Perkins and Canva(04:44) Building a “column B” company(06:36) Operationalizing big visions(13:13) Crazy big goals and celebrations(22:00) Challenges and setbacks in Canva's journey(26:30) Fundraising and investor rejections(29:36) Leadership and growth lessons(34:38) Canva's goal-driven structure(35:46) Balancing work and personal life(38:02) Community-driven product development(40:37) The two-step plan for global impact(45:04) Canva's biggest launch yet(48:10) How Canva approaches product expansion(52:37) AI integration in Canva(53:56) AI corner(55:22) Melanie's vision for 2050 and beyond(01:00:07) Lightning round and final thoughts—Referenced:• Canva: https://www.canva.com/• Brian Chesky's new playbook: https://www.lennysnewsletter.com/p/brian-cheskys-contrarian-approach• Building high-performing teams | Melissa Tan (Webflow, Dropbox, Canva): https://www.lennysnewsletter.com/p/building-high-performing-teams-melissa• UserTesting: https://www.usertesting.com/• Figma: https://www.figma.com/• Adobe: https://www.adobe.com/• Calm: https://www.calm.com/• Gandhi's quote about happiness: https://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/mahatma_gandhi_105593• Help us improve Canva: https://www.canva.com/help/get-in-touch/general-feedback/—Recommended books:• Creativity, Inc.: Overcoming the Unseen Forces That Stand in the Way of True Inspiration: https://www.amazon.com/Creativity-Inc-Expanded-Overcoming-Inspiration/dp/0593594649/• The Lean Startup: How Today's Entrepreneurs Use Continuous Innovation to Create Radically Successful Businesses: https://www.amazon.com/Lean-Startup-Entrepreneurs-Continuous-Innovation/dp/0307887898/• The Power of Moments: Why Certain Experiences Have Extraordinary Impact: https://www.amazon.com/Power-Moments-Certain-Experiences-Extraordinary/dp/1501147765• Designing the Obvious: A Common Sense Approach to Web and Mobile Application Design: https://www.amazon.com/Designing-Obvious-Common-Approach-Application/dp/0321749855—Production and marketing by https://penname.co/. For inquiries about sponsoring the podcast, email podcast@lennyrachitsky.com.Lenny may be an investor in the companies discussed. To hear more, visit www.lennysnewsletter.com
Practical ways to lead a good life. Kieran Setiya is the Peter de Florez Professor of Philosophy at MIT, where he works on ethics and related questions about human agency and human knowledge. He is the author of Midlife: A Philosophical Guide and Life Is Hard: How Philosophy Can Help Us Find Our Way. He also maintains a Substack newsletter, Under the Net. In this episode we talk about: How Kieran became interested in practical philosophy (and philosophy more generally) A brief history of philosophy The connection between philosophy and self-help Whether Buddhism is a philosophy? The upside of missing out (as opposed to FOMO) Kieran's mild beef with the Stoics techniques for dealing with grief and loss Why living well is not the same as feeling happy The connection between Plato, Aristotle and contemporary influencers today How to deal with physical adversity Navigating failure Kieran's case for meditation Operationalizing the cliché of “enjoying the process” rather than the outcome How to deal with the injustices of the world Join Dan's online community here Follow Dan on social: Instagram, TikTok Subscribe to our YouTube Channel On Sunday, September 21st from 1-5pm ET, join Dan and Leslie Booker at the New York Insight Meditation Center in NYC as they lead a workshop titled, "Heavily Meditated – The Dharma of Depression + Anxiety." This event is both in-person and online. Sign up here! Get ready for another Meditation Party at Omega Institute! This in-person workshop brings together Dan with his friends and meditation teachers, Sebene Selassie, Jeff Warren, and for the first time, Ofosu Jones-Quartey. The event runs October 24th-26th. Sign up and learn more here! SPONSORS: Bumble: Thinking about dating again? Take this as your sign and start your love story on Bumble. AT&T: Staying connected matters. That's why AT&T has connectivity you can depend on, or they will proactively make it right. Visit att.com/guarantee for details. Function: Our first 1000 listeners get a $100 credit toward their membership. Visit www.functionhealth.com/Happier or use the gift code Happier100 at signup to own your health. To advertise on the show, contact sales@advertisecast.com or visit https://advertising.libsyn.com/10HappierwithDanHarris