The entertaining Genworth Financial team joins us from OPEX Week 2020 to tell us their enterprise’s transformation story—or journey, more accurately. Kathleen starts off by explaining her view of the company 15 years ago: “It was a very siloed organization. It was very much command and control; very hierarchical. We were focused very much on our processes, like manufacturing, because we came from GE.” Sometimes, as Martijn is quick to interject, they were focusing on the wrong processes. Their new goal was to focus on the customer and increase associate empathy. The leadership team achieved this with some creative physical props that mimic certain hardships their clients experience. However, leading by fear negatively impacts the service a customer receives as well, so Genworth devised a new workforce strategy. “If you really truly believe that the customer is the most important person--because he or she pays your salary--then the front line employees are the most important people, and therefore, your team leaders are the most important leaders. Most people leave their leader. They don't leave the organization.” The team details how they achieved this monumental task.

The entertaining Genworth Financial team joins us from OPEX Week 2020 to tell us their enterprise’s transformation story—or journey, more accurately. Kathleen starts off by explaining her view of the company 15 years ago: “It was a very siloed organization. It was very much command and control; very hierarchical. We were focused very much on our processes, like manufacturing, because we came from GE.” Sometimes, as Martijn is quick to interject, they were focusing on the wrong processes. Their new goal was to focus on the customer and increase associate empathy. The leadership team achieved this with some creative physical props that mimic certain hardships their clients experience. However, leading by fear negatively impacts the service a customer receives as well, so Genworth devised a new workforce strategy. “If you really truly believe that the customer is the most important person--because he or she pays your salary--then the front line employees are the most important people, and therefore, your team leaders are the most important leaders. Most people leave their leader. They don't leave the organization.” The team details how they achieved this monumental task.

Ep. 146: Genworth Financial Team

Deena John

McDonald’s senior director of innovation, Deena John, joins us to talk about digital transformation. While definitions vary, Deena describes digital transformation as “transforming through integration of technology” with the goal of generating maximum value for the customer. End-to-end disruption means looking into the future and creating a transformation road map that leads to a new operating model. Deena discusses the differences and similarities between agile and lean, and the iterative process that makes scaling sustainable. Deena frames her key points with specific examples. Next, she asks and answers the question, “In an innovation culture what’s the importance of failing fast?” Ultimately, this insightful conversation with Deena focuses on the future of the enterprise and what needs to happen now to ensure corporations can keep up with the ever-changing landscape that technology brings to business.

McDonald’s senior director of innovation, Deena John, joins us to talk about digital transformation. While definitions vary, Deena describes digital transformation as “transforming through integration of technology” with the goal of generating maximum value for the customer. End-to-end disruption means looking into the future and creating a transformation road map that leads to a new operating model. Deena discusses the differences and similarities between agile and lean, and the iterative process that makes scaling sustainable. Deena frames her key points with specific examples. Next, she asks and answers the question, “In an innovation culture what’s the importance of failing fast?” Ultimately, this insightful conversation with Deena focuses on the future of the enterprise and what needs to happen now to ensure corporations can keep up with the ever-changing landscape that technology brings to business.

Ep. 145: Deena John, McDonalds

This BFSI Panel features key industry experts who share their strategies around pushing their organization into the future. They note that the technology available is user-friendly and rarely the barrier to entry. It is the mapping, the process, and post-implementation that makes or breaks a digital transformation. Agile development and change management are both initiatives that work. Automation has the potential to save time, money, and improve the customer experience, but if it isn’t applied in a purposeful way, it is useless. The panelists share their personal journey through transformation, offering insights and advice along the way.

This BFSI Panel features key industry experts who share their strategies around pushing their organization into the future. They note that the technology available is user-friendly and rarely the barrier to entry. It is the mapping, the process, and post-implementation that makes or breaks a digital transformation. Agile development and change management are both initiatives that work. Automation has the potential to save time, money, and improve the customer experience, but if it isn’t applied in a purposeful way, it is useless. The panelists share their personal journey through transformation, offering insights and advice along the way.

Ep. 144: AI BFSI Panel

Julie Seitz

Max Just is accompanied by a special guest on this episode of Future of Work. Julie Seitz is an expert on all things workspace, which makes her the perfect partner for the topic of—you guessed it—the future of workspaces. While she notes that an enterprise can’t necessarily futureproof themselves in this regard, she encourages them to get out of their insular spaces for the sake of spotting trends in how people are working in universities, airports, etc. Flexibility and simplicity in a workspace make more practical investments than technological ones that will become outdated. Julie also reflects on the evolution of the public school classroom and how examining that process helps illustrate how different generations work differently. Max jumps in with the ah-hah moments he had while working with Julie, including the importance of providing collaborative workspaces for collaborative work. Ultimately, Max and Julie agree: workspaces matter.

Max Just is accompanied by a special guest on this episode of Future of Work. Julie Seitz is an expert on all things workspace, which makes her the perfect partner for the topic of—you guessed it—the future of workspaces. While she notes that an enterprise can’t necessarily futureproof themselves in this regard, she encourages them to get out of their insular spaces for the sake of spotting trends in how people are working in universities, airports, etc. Flexibility and simplicity in a workspace make more practical investments than technological ones that will become outdated. Julie also reflects on the evolution of the public school classroom and how examining that process helps illustrate how different generations work differently. Max jumps in with the ah-hah moments he had while working with Julie, including the importance of providing collaborative workspaces for collaborative work. Ultimately, Max and Julie agree: workspaces matter.

Ep. 143: Max Just/Julie Seitz (Future of Work)

Roland Haefs

Roland Haefs, with Henkel, discusses enterprise evolution and the shift from having purely transactional relationships to becoming a true business solutions provider. It takes strong leadership and an entrepreneurial spirit to pull off such a transformation, which Roland details. In order to demonstrate his point, Roland lays out Henkel’s approach to the shared services process of master data management. Next, the conversation turns to RPA and AI more specifically, including its role in shared services and how to make sure it is being deployed effectively. Further, Roland discusses Henkel’s four business priorities: fund growth, drive growth, excel at digitalization, and increase agility.

Roland Haefs, with Henkel, discusses enterprise evolution and the shift from having purely transactional relationships to becoming a true business solutions provider. It takes strong leadership and an entrepreneurial spirit to pull off such a transformation, which Roland details. In order to demonstrate his point, Roland lays out Henkel’s approach to the shared services process of master data management. Next, the conversation turns to RPA and AI more specifically, including its role in shared services and how to make sure it is being deployed effectively. Further, Roland discusses Henkel’s four business priorities: fund growth, drive growth, excel at digitalization, and increase agility.

Ep. 412: Roland Haefs, Henkel

Dimitri Popov

Dmitri Popov, global service management lead for Mann + Hummel Group, joins us today to discuss scaling RPA. Dmitri himself admits that such a process is painful, in part because of the few successful enterprise examples for which to model after. Dmitri points to IBM as a company who has done it well. Next, Dmitri discusses how to leverage shared services in the most efficient way, exemplifying R&amp;D and certain purchasing aspects. One of the most difficult components of implementing RPA across the workflow is acceptance and adherence. Dmitri doesn’t mince words when it comes to what it takes in a person—not just an enterprise—to accept change, no matter how positive that change may ultimately be.

Dmitri Popov, global service management lead for Mann + Hummel Group, joins us today to discuss scaling RPA. Dmitri himself admits that such a process is painful, in part because of the few successful enterprise examples for which to model after. Dmitri points to IBM as a company who has done it well. Next, Dmitri discusses how to leverage shared services in the most efficient way, exemplifying R&amp;D and certain purchasing aspects. One of the most difficult components of implementing RPA across the workflow is acceptance and adherence. Dmitri doesn’t mince words when it comes to what it takes in a person—not just an enterprise—to accept change, no matter how positive that change may ultimately be.

Ep. 141: Dimitri Popov, Mann + Hummel

Deepak Subbarao

Deepak Subbaru joins us again, this time, to discuss unstructured data.  The recent explosion in technology inputs has raised the bar for customer expectations. They want more, and they want it now. Requests are coming via phone calls, social media, emails, etc. The product of this feedback is unstructured data. Deepak goes in depth on three actionable steps to take in order to leverage the power of unstructured data: know your data, know the sources of your data, and prepare your data. Next, Deepak discusses the importance of defining outcomes for your data, as opposed to cramming data into an algorithm and receiving an output that has no use case. As Deepak reiterates throughout the conversation, context is key.

Deepak Subbaru joins us again, this time, to discuss unstructured data.  The recent explosion in technology inputs has raised the bar for customer expectations. They want more, and they want it now. Requests are coming via phone calls, social media, emails, etc. The product of this feedback is unstructured data. Deepak goes in depth on three actionable steps to take in order to leverage the power of unstructured data: know your data, know the sources of your data, and prepare your data. Next, Deepak discusses the importance of defining outcomes for your data, as opposed to cramming data into an algorithm and receiving an output that has no use case. As Deepak reiterates throughout the conversation, context is key.

Ep. 140: Deepak Subbarao (Unstructured Data)

Heather King

Heather King is the managing director for both the Shared Services &amp; Outsourcing Network and the Intelligent Automation Division for the Americas. She oversees a team that puts on the dynamic events of relevant content for the industries of the same name. Having been in her role for the past seven years, Heather gives a brief timeline of the creation and growth of the IA series that was born out of SSON. The term RPA first presented itself in 2014 during a panel session and kept cropping up until Heather’s team decided to give it its own plenary session. It was just a matter of time before it became clear that automation needed its own home outside of SSON, and IA was born. Next, Heather goes into detail about the other conferences her team puts on each year, including the largest shared services event in the world, Shared Services &amp; Outsourcing Week. Her passion for the importance of conferences—and the act of conferencing—is as clear as it is contagious.

Heather King is the managing director for both the Shared Services &amp; Outsourcing Network and the Intelligent Automation Division for the Americas. She oversees a team that puts on the dynamic events of relevant content for the industries of the same name. Having been in her role for the past seven years, Heather gives a brief timeline of the creation and growth of the IA series that was born out of SSON. The term RPA first presented itself in 2014 during a panel session and kept cropping up until Heather’s team decided to give it its own plenary session. It was just a matter of time before it became clear that automation needed its own home outside of SSON, and IA was born. Next, Heather goes into detail about the other conferences her team puts on each year, including the largest shared services event in the world, Shared Services &amp; Outsourcing Week. Her passion for the importance of conferences—and the act of conferencing—is as clear as it is contagious.

Ep. 139: Heather King, SSON

Ayanna Howard

Dr. Ayanna Howard is a chair of the School of Interactive computing at Georgia Tech, an academic, and a startup founder. While her talents are as vast as her pursuits, she sums up their relation as interactive computing. In her words, “Interactive computing is really this theme that the human is center to everything that we do when we think about computing and artificial intelligence.” Dr. Howard pursues interactive computing for the greater good, including robotics in healthcare and education. She also discusses ethics in computing, including privacy and security.

Dr. Ayanna Howard is a chair of the School of Interactive computing at Georgia Tech, an academic, and a startup founder. While her talents are as vast as her pursuits, she sums up their relation as interactive computing. In her words, “Interactive computing is really this theme that the human is center to everything that we do when we think about computing and artificial intelligence.” Dr. Howard pursues interactive computing for the greater good, including robotics in healthcare and education. She also discusses ethics in computing, including privacy and security.

Ep. 138: Dr. Ayanna Howard, Georgia Tech University

Paul Bao

BitCherry’s Paul Bao explains the blockchain process behind the platform’s commercial applications. Working similar to Amazon’s eCommerce model, BitCherry will offer a platform to buy, sell, and network goods using digital currency. Regulatory roadblocks make penetration in the U.S. difficult, but BitCherry has over 2 million members and 120,000 active daily users. Currently, these users simply buy and sell digital currency in anticipation for BitCherry’s retail applications. Bao expects the retail platform to go live in Q1 of 2020. Next, he details the brainstorming process behind BitCherry’s unique independent investor philosophy and marvels over the future implications of blockchain. While he may be a little ahead of his time, BitCherry’s users prove that there is a lot of faith in the future of eCommerce and digital currency.

BitCherry’s Paul Bao explains the blockchain process behind the platform’s commercial applications. Working similar to Amazon’s eCommerce model, BitCherry will offer a platform to buy, sell, and network goods using digital currency. Regulatory roadblocks make penetration in the U.S. difficult, but BitCherry has over 2 million members and 120,000 active daily users. Currently, these users simply buy and sell digital currency in anticipation for BitCherry’s retail applications. Bao expects the retail platform to go live in Q1 of 2020. Next, he details the brainstorming process behind BitCherry’s unique independent investor philosophy and marvels over the future implications of blockchain. While he may be a little ahead of his time, BitCherry’s users prove that there is a lot of faith in the future of eCommerce and digital currency.

Ep. 137: Paul Bao, BitCherry

Seth Adler presents personal conversations with industry leaders.

The AI Network Podcast

Chris Bevacqua

The GM of Commercial GE Operations, Chris Bevacqua joins us and shares that originally he was a sales guy who was asking a lot of questions about shared services. So many in fact, that he was put in charge. From there he dove in on intelligent automation. Realizing that a client was on-boarded over 400 times, he and the team chose on-boarding for a first project. They automated 80% of process saving FTE’s who have been up-skilled to high-end triage. Mark him down for not only cutting cost but adding value to the organization as well as the customer.

The GM of Commercial GE Operations, Chris Bevacqua joins us and shares that originally he was a sales guy who was asking a lot of questions about shared services. So many in fact, that he was put in charge. From there he dove in on intelligent automation. Realizing that a client was on-boarded over 400 times, he and the team chose on-boarding for a first project. They automated 80% of process saving FTE’s who have been up-skilled to high-end triage. Mark him down for not only cutting cost but adding value to the organization as well as the customer.

Ep.57: Chris Bevacqua, GE

Anshuman Das

The marketplace for third-party AI vendors is huge, but what is the right solution for your enterprise? Anshuman Das, the director of robotics and testing at Warner Bros., discusses the compay’s implementation of some of his favorite tools and the changes they’ve brought. From the OCR reader Textract to UiPath for RPA, Das lets us in on a little secret about intelligent automation. “RPA is the way to go, and the best part of RPA is it can very well go hand in hand with any digital transformation process. Whether you're going to cloud or you're going into IOT or you're going to any of the areas of digital transformation, it is that catalyst which can achieve your digital transformation journey much faster in a much better way.”

The marketplace for third-party AI vendors is huge, but what is the right solution for your enterprise? Anshuman Das, the director of robotics and testing at Warner Bros., discusses the compay’s implementation of some of his favorite tools and the changes they’ve brought. From the OCR reader Textract to UiPath for RPA, Das lets us in on a little secret about intelligent automation. “RPA is the way to go, and the best part of RPA is it can very well go hand in hand with any digital transformation process. Whether you're going to cloud or you're going into IOT or you're going to any of the areas of digital transformation, it is that catalyst which can achieve your digital transformation journey much faster in a much better way.”

Ep. 122: Anshuman Das, Warner Bros.

Xavier Rodriguez

Xavier Rodriguez joins us and shares the importance of good leadership: "sometimes, you're not the best one on the technical side, but if you are a good leader, you will manage your team."

Xavier Rodriguez joins us and shares the importance of good leadership: "sometimes, you're not the best one on the technical side, but if you are a good leader, you will manage your team."

Ep. 101: Xavier Rodriguez, Technicolor

Delphine Bernard

Delphine Bernard shares the importance of diversity on multiple levels: "The key is to build a different type of talent that you need, depending the function of what you're building. You're going to have a mix and I think being sure that you're diverse. Diverse from every aspect, but really coming from different background, different race, different gender. Different types of companies ... we need to have a different flavor and input, because I think we have a lot of brain when we bring more diversity and that's really crucial."

Delphine Bernard shares the importance of diversity on multiple levels: "The key is to build a different type of talent that you need, depending the function of what you're building. You're going to have a mix and I think being sure that you're diverse. Diverse from every aspect, but really coming from different background, different race, different gender. Different types of companies ... we need to have a different flavor and input, because I think we have a lot of brain when we bring more diversity and that's really crucial."

Ep. 79: Delphine Bernard, Uber

Henry Lyles

Recorded at Intelligent Automation Chicago which is his hometown. Henry Lyles joins us as the Director of Global Business Services in Continuous Improvement, Data Excellence &amp; Automation for McDonald’s. He was originally an accountant by trade but based on the monotony, Henry found a new love in programming. Recognizing his accounting mind and technical acumen, he’s been and still is a liaison between the business and IT. Which is of course a perfect background for intelligent automation. On RPA, a little while back his boss asked him to figure out how the technology could work for shared services. And he’s been working on it ever since with results and benefit to the enterprise. 

Recorded at Intelligent Automation Chicago which is his hometown. Henry Lyles joins us as the Director of Global Business Services in Continuous Improvement, Data Excellence &amp; Automation for McDonald’s. He was originally an accountant by trade but based on the monotony, Henry found a new love in programming. Recognizing his accounting mind and technical acumen, he’s been and still is a liaison between the business and IT. Which is of course a perfect background for intelligent automation. On RPA, a little while back his boss asked him to figure out how the technology could work for shared services. And he’s been working on it ever since with results and benefit to the enterprise.

Ep.13: Henry Lyles, McDonalds

Matt Gustitus

Eli Lilly

Matt Gustitus joins us and explains the benefits of shared business learnings:"What my team has been doing is really helping out some of these other teams that are looking at opportunities in their area. And I think that's what's exciting to me, is saying, "Hey, we can share all of our shared learnings with those areas and kinda bring them in and get them up to speed as quickly as possible."

Matt Gustitus joins us and explains the benefits of shared business learnings:"What my team has been doing is really helping out some of these other teams that are looking at opportunities in their area. And I think that's what's exciting to me, is saying, "Hey, we can share all of our shared learnings with those areas and kinda bring them in and get them up to speed as quickly as possible."

Ep. 89: Matt Gustitus, Eli Lilly

Chris Gunning

In this episode, Chris Gunning discusses his personal history with shared services as well as its evolution over the nearly 20 years he’s been in the industry. “We're now seen as a strategic asset for the business; an enabler to help drive value for the business; to be an incubator for technology, for reporting, for analytics, for business insights, so a lot of the things that we were talking about back in the day—centralization, standardization, definitely table stakes, process improvement that have to be there—and we're still talking about some of those things. It's nice to see that we as a shared services organization [have] moved up the value chain to add value for the business.

In this episode, Chris Gunning discusses his personal history with shared services as well as its evolution over the nearly 20 years he’s been in the industry. “We're now seen as a strategic asset for the business; an enabler to help drive value for the business; to be an incubator for technology, for reporting, for analytics, for business insights, so a lot of the things that we were talking about back in the day—centralization, standardization, definitely table stakes, process improvement that have to be there—and we're still talking about some of those things. It's nice to see that we as a shared services organization [have] moved up the value chain to add value for the business.

Ep. 111: Chris Gunning, Apollo Tyres

Rida Mustafa

Rida Moustafa is an experienced data scientist with a demonstrated history of working in the retail industry. Rida covers a lot of ground in this concise, informative conversation. He shares his story with us, beginning in 1995 with the big data mining movement. Walking us through the way data mining has evolved, Rida hits on neural networks, deep learning, and expert systems. Today, however, AI technology has evolved enough to render some of these old processes moot. Of course, new obstacles present themselves, such as AI’s black box and its influence over regulatory decisions and prediction models. The last half of the conversation is reserved for Rida’s involvement with Walmart and the work he is doing with AI to automate processes and generally improve Walmart’s workflow and profits.

Rida Moustafa is an experienced data scientist with a demonstrated history of working in the retail industry. Rida covers a lot of ground in this concise, informative conversation. He shares his story with us, beginning in 1995 with the big data mining movement. Walking us through the way data mining has evolved, Rida hits on neural networks, deep learning, and expert systems. Today, however, AI technology has evolved enough to render some of these old processes moot. Of course, new obstacles present themselves, such as AI’s black box and its influence over regulatory decisions and prediction models. The last half of the conversation is reserved for Rida’s involvement with Walmart and the work he is doing with AI to automate processes and generally improve Walmart’s workflow and profits.

Ep. 132: Rida Mustafa, Walmart

The CIO of Amsterdam’s Spectral, Stephen Donnelly, joins us to talk energy. Spectral is “on the bleeding edge of the energy transition” as a tech developer and systems integrator. Steven outlines the pros and cons of each renewable energy resource and also discusses smart cars and smart cities. He then offers solutions to these problems using AI. Before Spectral, Stephen was with the European Commission at the Agency for the Cooperation of Energy Regulators. He describes what that level of upper bureaucracy is like.

The CIO of Amsterdam’s Spectral, Stephen Donnelly, joins us to talk energy. Spectral is “on the bleeding edge of the energy transition” as a tech developer and systems integrator. Steven outlines the pros and cons of each renewable energy resource and also discusses smart cars and smart cities. He then offers solutions to these problems using AI. Before Spectral, Stephen was with the European Commission at the Agency for the Cooperation of Energy Regulators. He describes what that level of upper bureaucracy is like.

Ep. 127: Stephen Donnelly, Spectral Energy

Tobias Unger

Siemens, Tobias Unger on Confidence Bias: "Well, on a proof of concept basis, we have done a lot with, chatbots that can help you get information out of information at Siemens. So, basically, simple use cases, like, "Okay, where is my invoice?" The question, "Where is my invoice?", for a company like Siemens, implies that you know which documents you are talking about, because you could end up in any of our 53 URP systems, so there has to be some intelligence in the process on the side of this bot. You first have to find out, which document are you are talking about, and where do I have to go, in order to find it? This implies that you have a structured conversation. I' really going on a development level, that means that you have to think the conversation very well through, because you have to structure it in a way that bot always gets ... that the user somehow is also guided. It's not that you can expect any information from the person that is requesting the information, but you really have to try to guide this person to the point that you're actionable. And this requires a lot of nudging in the process, while you chat protocol, in order to really ensure that the bot doesn't come to a point where it just doesn't know what to do next."

Siemens, Tobias Unger on Confidence Bias: "Well, on a proof of concept basis, we have done a lot with, chatbots that can help you get information out of information at Siemens. So, basically, simple use cases, like, "Okay, where is my invoice?" The question, "Where is my invoice?", for a company like Siemens, implies that you know which documents you are talking about, because you could end up in any of our 53 URP systems, so there has to be some intelligence in the process on the side of this bot. You first have to find out, which document are you are talking about, and where do I have to go, in order to find it? This implies that you have a structured conversation. I' really going on a development level, that means that you have to think the conversation very well through, because you have to structure it in a way that bot always gets ... that the user somehow is also guided. It's not that you can expect any information from the person that is requesting the information, but you really have to try to guide this person to the point that you're actionable. And this requires a lot of nudging in the process, while you chat protocol, in order to really ensure that the bot doesn't come to a point where it just doesn't know what to do next."

Ep. 65: Tobias Unger, Siemens

Jerry Wagner

Jerry Wagner joins us and immediately shares distinctions of what to expect from 'robotics,' "if you're dealing with pen and paper, then there's no way you can actually get into automation unless you actually want to go build the robot and have it actually doing the stuff for you." Meaning you have to actually be a digital enterprise before you can have intelligent automation. At that point, you can dive into what you're trying to solve. "The type of platform that I work with is to come up with those use cases and see if we can actually build some bots to go and do that activity as well as actually educating others within the business so that they way they could potentially build these bots themselves and get into more of a self-service model." From there, Jerry explains how he and the organization are actually dashboarding value to the organization.

Jerry Wagner joins us and immediately shares distinctions of what to expect from 'robotics,' "if you're dealing with pen and paper, then there's no way you can actually get into automation unless you actually want to go build the robot and have it actually doing the stuff for you." Meaning you have to actually be a digital enterprise before you can have intelligent automation. At that point, you can dive into what you're trying to solve. "The type of platform that I work with is to come up with those use cases and see if we can actually build some bots to go and do that activity as well as actually educating others within the business so that they way they could potentially build these bots themselves and get into more of a self-service model." From there, Jerry explains how he and the organization are actually dashboarding value to the organization.

Ep.59: Jerry Wagner, CapitalOne

Ali Bouhouch

Sephora USA

Ali Bouhouch joins us and shares the importance the customer in technology: "They understand that technology is a key component of that equation and they understand that at the end of the day, we can only succeed when we keep the customer at the center of all the things we do, everything from the technologies we select to how we design and how we deliver those solutions.

Ali Bouhouch joins us and shares the importance the customer in technology: "They understand that technology is a key component of that equation and they understand that at the end of the day, we can only succeed when we keep the customer at the center of all the things we do, everything from the technologies we select to how we design and how we deliver those solutions.

Ep. 92: Ali Bouhouch, Sephora USA

Jon Therekauf

Lee Coulter

Jon Therekauf and Lee Coulter share AI's hand in convergence of availability to the consumer: "It is nimble. It has different capabilities than the things that we've seen before. You have low/no-code type technologies available that we've not had at our disposal which infers speed of deployment being measured in weeks, not years. And that changes everything."

Jon Therekauf and Lee Coulter share AI's hand in convergence of availability to the consumer: "It is nimble. It has different capabilities than the things that we've seen before. You have low/no-code type technologies available that we've not had at our disposal which infers speed of deployment being measured in weeks, not years. And that changes everything."

Ep. 80: Jon Therekauf & Lee Coulter

Clara Durodie

Clara Durodié, AI technology strategist, discusses major technological trends taking place within the corporate landscape. Durodié was able to spot the importance of AI when the technology was bleeding edge, way back in 2011, thanks in part to her background in economics and neuroscience. With the volume and velocity of data available today, AI is becoming necessary to operate a successful and profitable business, but how can this technology be utilized responsibly? Are humans really going to be replaced by machines? Durodié touches on these points and more, concluding, “My hope rests on one crucial assumption, which is there will be strong systems in place to ensure that ethical AI is deployed.”

Clara Durodié, AI technology strategist, discusses major technological trends taking place within the corporate landscape. Durodié was able to spot the importance of AI when the technology was bleeding edge, way back in 2011, thanks in part to her background in economics and neuroscience. With the volume and velocity of data available today, AI is becoming necessary to operate a successful and profitable business, but how can this technology be utilized responsibly? Are humans really going to be replaced by machines? Durodié touches on these points and more, concluding, “My hope rests on one crucial assumption, which is there will be strong systems in place to ensure that ethical AI is deployed.”

Ep. 112: Clara Durodie

Remigijus Šimašius

The Mayor of Vilnius, Lithuania joins us and shares insight into the city and country's open data policy: "We are the most radical open data policy in Europe. Nobody has challenged me so far because it's very difficult to measure. Because we have this no excuse, open data policy, and with this for example, we've got very nice new inventions for smart cities, for mobility, for education."

The Mayor of Vilnius, Lithuania joins us and shares insight into the city and country's open data policy: "We are the most radical open data policy in Europe. Nobody has challenged me so far because it's very difficult to measure. Because we have this no excuse, open data policy, and with this for example, we've got very nice new inventions for smart cities, for mobility, for education."

Ep. 88: Remigijus Šimašius, Mayor of Vilnius

Timothy Renick

Dr. Timothy Renick with Georgia State joins us to talk about his implementation of predictive analytics within the university, including an AI enhanced chatbot. Since the deployment of these technologies, Georgia State is graduating 3,000 more students a year than it did seven years ago. Dr. Renick explains the university’s approach to finding solutions for problems over innovation for innovation’s sake. With a change in demographics, including a larger low-income population, the university felt it necessary to increase access to support and identify issues before students found themselves in dire straits. Dr. Renick discusses the process of finding a vendor to help them identify and build the perfect solution. It’s working, as shown by the examples he discusses during the rest of the conversation.

Dr. Timothy Renick with Georgia State joins us to talk about his implementation of predictive analytics within the university, including an AI enhanced chatbot. Since the deployment of these technologies, Georgia State is graduating 3,000 more students a year than it did seven years ago. Dr. Renick explains the university’s approach to finding solutions for problems over innovation for innovation’s sake. With a change in demographics, including a larger low-income population, the university felt it necessary to increase access to support and identify issues before students found themselves in dire straits. Dr. Renick discusses the process of finding a vendor to help them identify and build the perfect solution. It’s working, as shown by the examples he discusses during the rest of the conversation.

Ep. 130: Dr. Timothy Renick, Georgia State Univ

Dan Jeavons

Dan Jeavons, general manager of Shell’s advanced analytics CoE, discusses the inevitability of digital transformation. To stay ahead of the curve, Shell created a team specifically for their digital strategy. First, they needed a plan. They listed their priorities, including their customer, using data as an asset, and making sure any changes are for the sake of the business—not for the sake of change. Dan discusses Shell’s digital transformation in depth and gives a real example involving predictive analytics. Wrapping up with Shell’s hand in renewable resources, Dan drives home how important leveraging AI technology is to succeed.

Dan Jeavons, general manager of Shell’s advanced analytics CoE, discusses the inevitability of digital transformation. To stay ahead of the curve, Shell created a team specifically for their digital strategy. First, they needed a plan. They listed their priorities, including their customer, using data as an asset, and making sure any changes are for the sake of the business—not for the sake of change. Dan discusses Shell’s digital transformation in depth and gives a real example involving predictive analytics. Wrapping up with Shell’s hand in renewable resources, Dan drives home how important leveraging AI technology is to succeed.

Ep. 126: Dan Jeavons, Shell

Fernando Nunes

Fernando Nunes, senior process automation architect at MAN Energy solutions, discusses his unique approach to IT and business. By leveraging RPA, AI, and BPA tools, Nunes works to empower the business line and decrease IT bottlenecks through process automation. He further explains the Center of Excellence concept using an apt airport metaphor. “Our philosophy was always about enabling our line of business to do large things themselves, and we, of course, would have to provide an architecture, a governance, an infrastructure, and we see it more like we provide the airport. Then the line of business will make the flights; the planes to fly.”

Fernando Nunes, senior process automation architect at MAN Energy solutions, discusses his unique approach to IT and business. By leveraging RPA, AI, and BPA tools, Nunes works to empower the business line and decrease IT bottlenecks through process automation. He further explains the Center of Excellence concept using an apt airport metaphor. “Our philosophy was always about enabling our line of business to do large things themselves, and we, of course, would have to provide an architecture, a governance, an infrastructure, and we see it more like we provide the airport. Then the line of business will make the flights; the planes to fly.”

Ep. 107: Fernando Nunes, MAN

Sinead Devine

Roxana Lungu

Lauren Radcliffe_P

Sinead Divine shares her insight in creative thinking: "It's that creativity of thinking of, "Well, if I had it in a dashboard or is the data correct, is what I'm sending them ... Yes, they see a report and they know I'm doing my job, but could I send them something different? Could I send them somewhere else? Could I develop it in a different way that actually makes their life better versus they receive it on a monthly basis and they file it?"

Sinead Divine shares her insight in creative thinking: "It's that creativity of thinking of, "Well, if I had it in a dashboard or is the data correct, is what I'm sending them ... Yes, they see a report and they know I'm doing my job, but could I send them something different? Could I send them somewhere else? Could I develop it in a different way that actually makes their life better versus they receive it on a monthly basis and they file it?"

Ep. 74: Sinead Devine, Roxana Lungu, Lauren Radcliffe_P&G

Andrew Moore

"Every big company on the planet nowadays has an imperative at the board level to really reinvent itself, partly because the market's shifting faster than it's ever done in the past. I think intellectually and philosophically, leadership teams around the world understand why they need to change because they don't want to end up like Kodak or Blockbuster or name your favorite example of a company that went under, but where you most get stuck is one what does that mean for them and how do you do it."

"Every big company on the planet nowadays has an imperative at the board level to really reinvent itself, partly because the market's shifting faster than it's ever done in the past. I think intellectually and philosophically, leadership teams around the world understand why they need to change because they don't want to end up like Kodak or Blockbuster or name your favorite example of a company that went under, but where you most get stuck is one what does that mean for them and how do you do it."

Ep. 102: Andrew Moore

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