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Timothy “Tim” Hughes, CEO and Co-Founder of Azpertilo, joins Host Simon Hodgkins for a timely conversation about social selling, AI-powered content, authentic human connection, and how people buy today. In this episode, Tim explains why Azpertilo was built around how people actually buy rather than simply using AI to generate more outreach. The conversation explores authentic AI content, multilingual engagement, brand governance, LinkedIn, AI search visibility, and why human influence may become even more valuable as content creation becomes increasingly effortless. A recognized authority on social selling, content, and engagement, Tim has written multiple books on the subjects and spent years helping organizations understand how digital relationships influence modern revenue growth. This VistaTalks conversation highlights an important shift in the AI discussion, making sure that content sounds authentic, reflects the organization behind it, reaches the right people, supports genuine conversations, and ultimately contributes to trusted relationships. For Tim Hughes, AI and social selling do not need to sit on opposite sides of that equation. Used thoughtfully, AI can make it easier for more employees to participate in social conversations while maintaining their individual voices. As AI makes content production faster and easier, authentic human influence may become one of the most important differentiators businesses have. 00:00 - Welcome, Timothy Hughes 01:08 - Ten Years of Social Selling 01:42 - Why Tim and His Team Built Azpertilo 04:22 - Making AI Content Sound Authentic 07:22 - Scaling Social Selling Across Languages 11:11 - AI Governance, Brand Guidelines, and Model Drift 16:08 - From Traditional SEO to AI Visibility 20:00 - Scaling Human Influence in the Age of AI About VistaTalks: VistaTalks has an incredible lineup of guests from around the globe. We love to feature interesting discussions with interesting people from all around the world. Follow VistaTalks on Spotify for all the latest episodes, or subscribe to the show on Apple and Google podcasts. VistaTalks is available on many other podcast platforms. To learn more about VistaTalks, please visit https://www.vistatalks.com Social Media: X - https://x.com/vistatalks Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/VistaTalks Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/vistatalks LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/vistatalks

Using recent developments from Google and the wider technology landscape as a starting point, Simon examines what this shift means for global businesses operating across countries, languages, and cultures. From multilingual communication and localization to content creation, customer experience, governance, and human judgment, this episode looks beyond the AI hype to focus on where the technology can create meaningful business value. Simon Hodgkins, Host of VistaTalks, explores how artificial intelligence is moving beyond standalone tools and becoming embedded in the technologies, customer experiences, and business processes people use every day. 00:00 - AI Is Becoming Part of Everyday Business 03:06 - How AI Is Changing the Customer Journey 07:00 - Global Business Becomes More Multilingual 09:34 - Why Translation Is Not Enough 11:08 - Generative AI and Global Content Production 13:56 - Why More Content Is Not the Answer 14:55 - Moving Localization Earlier in the Process 17:06 - AI Governance, Human Judgment, and What Comes Next About VistaTalks: VistaTalks has an incredible lineup of guests from around the globe. We love to feature interesting discussions with interesting people from all around the world. Follow VistaTalks on Spotify for all the latest episodes, or subscribe to the show on Apple and Google podcasts. VistaTalks is available on many other podcast platforms. To learn more about VistaTalks, please visit https://www.vistatalks.com Social Media: X - https://x.com/vistatalks Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/VistaTalks Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/vistatalks LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/vistatalks

Gemma Newlove, Director of Sales at Vistatec, joins Host Simon Hodgkins for a timely conversation about the rapidly expanding world of AI data, multilingual model development, and the critical role localization expertise plays in building AI systems that work reliably across global markets. Drawing on a decade in localization and an increasing focus on AI data, Gemma explores data collection, annotation, multimodal AI, synthetic data, representation, quality, governance, and the enduring importance of human judgment. The Future of Global AI Is Human-Informed The central takeaway from Gemma Newlove's conversation on VistaTalks is that more data is not automatically better data. Effective AI requires datasets designed intentionally around the people, markets, environments, and situations in which a system will actually operate. Real-world data matters. Synthetic data has an important supporting role. Representation needs to be designed rather than assumed. Governance must begin at collection. Quality requires clear specifications and meaningful arbitration. And throughout all of it, human judgment remains indispensable. For organizations building AI products for international audiences, Vistatec’s decades of experience managing language, cultural complexity, quality, and global operations may prove more valuable than ever. 00:00 - Welcome, Gemma Newlove 01:08 - Why AI Data Is Becoming So Important 03:37 - Why Good Data Collection Comes First 06:34 - The Challenge of Multimodal Data Across Markets 10:00 - Representation, Diversity, and AI's “Edges” 12:48 - Where Synthetic Data Fits Into AI Development 16:46 - What High-Quality AI Data Really Means 20:17 - Privacy, Governance, and the Future of Localization and AI Data About VistaTalks: VistaTalks has an incredible lineup of guests from around the globe. We love to feature interesting discussions with interesting people from all around the world. Follow VistaTalks on Spotify for all the latest episodes, or subscribe to the show on Apple and Google podcasts. VistaTalks is available on many other podcast platforms. To learn more about VistaTalks, please visit https://www.vistatalks.com Social Media: X - https://x.com/vistatalks Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/VistaTalks Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/vistatalks LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/vistatalks

Artificial intelligence continues to dominate business conversations, and business leaders are facing an important question: Who should you trust as your AI partner? In this episode of VistaTalks, host Simon Hodgkins explores the foundations of responsible AI adoption, highlighting why accountability, governance, and control are essential for organizations. Key Takeaways When accountability, governance, and control work together, organizations place themselves in the strongest possible position to realize AI's full business value. As AI continues to evolve, responsible adoption will increasingly separate successful organizations from those simply chasing the latest trend. For business leaders, choosing the right AI partner may prove to be one of the most important technology decisions they make. 00:00 - Welcome to VistaTalks 00:44 - Why Choosing an AI Partner Matters 02:07 - Accountability and Business Responsibility 04:03 - Governance: Building AI with Confidence 06:15 - Control, Oversight & Human Expertise 06:51 - Every Business Needs a Different AI Strategy 08:08 - Security, Confidentiality & Data Protection 10:11 - Responsible AI and the Future of Enterprise Adoption About VistaTalks: VistaTalks has an incredible lineup of guests from around the globe. We love to feature interesting discussions with interesting people from all around the world. Follow VistaTalks on Spotify for all the latest episodes, or subscribe to the show on Apple and Google podcasts. VistaTalks is available on many other podcast platforms. To learn more about VistaTalks, please visit https://www.vistatalks.com Social Media: X - https://x.com/vistatalks Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/VistaTalks Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/vistatalks LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/vistatalks

Caroline O’Connell, Chief Revenue Officer at Vistatec, joins Host Simon Hodgkins for a timely conversation about the changing localization industry, responsible AI, enterprise content, and the growing importance of trust, transparency, and governance. Now over a year into her role at Vistatec, Caroline reflects on a period of significant change for both the company and the wider localization sector. From increasingly sophisticated enterprise buyers to the rapid evolution of AI, the conversation explores why localization is moving beyond a traditional service model and becoming a strategic capability directly connected to revenue, customer experience, compliance, and risk. Looking ahead, Caroline believes the localization industry needs to move beyond excitement about what AI can do and have deeper conversations about how to use it. AI governance and accountability will be central to those discussions. Who is ultimately responsible for AI-generated output? What does quality mean in an AI-driven environment? How should standards evolve? The definition of global content is also becoming more complex. It is no longer simply about language. Organizations must consider context, culture, channel, risk, and the sustainability of increasingly large content operations. For Caroline, the future of multilingual communication therefore isn’t only a technology question. It is about building systems that are transparent, reliable, scalable, and designed around the needs of both businesses and end users. Technology will continue to change rapidly. The principles of trust, quality, accountability, and responsible innovation are likely to become even more important as it does. 00:00 - Welcome to VistaTalks 01:06 - Why AI Evaluation Matters 03:18 - Every Business Has Different AI Needs 05:02 - Combining Human Expertise with AI 06:39 - Benchmarking AI for Enterprise Success 08:05 - VistatecVerifier Explained 09:19 - Trusted AI with Human Oversight 10:34 - The Future of Responsible Enterprise AI About VistaTalks: VistaTalks has an incredible lineup of guests from around the globe. We love to feature interesting discussions with interesting people from all around the world. Follow VistaTalks on Spotify for all the latest episodes, or subscribe to the show on Apple and Google podcasts. VistaTalks is available on many other podcast platforms. To learn more about VistaTalks, please visit https://www.vistatalks.com Social Media: X - https://x.com/vistatalks Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/VistaTalks Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/vistatalks LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/vistatalks

Simon Hodgkins, Chief Marketing Officer at Vistatec and Vistatec AI, explores one of the most important aspects of enterprise AI adoption: evaluation. Rather than focusing on choosing the newest or fastest large language model, Simon explains why organizations must build confidence through rigorous AI evaluation, benchmarking, governance, and human expertise. Discover how enterprise organizations can measure translation quality, reduce business risk, maintain brand consistency, and deploy AI responsibly across multilingual content at scale. Whether you're working in localization, AI, enterprise technology, or digital transformation, this episode provides valuable insights into building trusted AI solutions that deliver measurable business value. 00:00 - Welcome to VistaTalks 01:06 - Why AI Evaluation Matters 03:18 - Every Business Has Different AI Needs 05:02 - Combining Human Expertise with AI 06:39 - Benchmarking AI for Enterprise Success 08:05 - VistatecVerifier Explained 09:19 - Trusted AI with Human Oversight 10:34 - The Future of Responsible Enterprise AI About VistaTalks: VistaTalks has an incredible lineup of guests from around the globe. We love to feature interesting discussions with interesting people from all around the world. Follow VistaTalks on Spotify for all the latest episodes, or subscribe to the show on Apple and Google podcasts. VistaTalks is available on many other podcast platforms. To learn more about VistaTalks, please visit https://www.vistatalks.com Social Media: X - https://x.com/vistatalks Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/VistaTalks Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/vistatalks LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/vistatalks

Artificial intelligence has been part of the localization industry for decades through machine translation and neural translation models. However, according to Semih, today's AI revolution is fundamentally different. Rather than simply translating words from one language to another, modern AI systems are becoming capable of understanding intent, context, tone, and audience expectations. As Semih explains, the conversation is shifting from translation accuracy to what he describes as "intent proximity", how closely AI can deliver content that reflects the original purpose and resonates naturally with the target audience. This evolution has been driven by advances that simply did not exist a few years ago. AI models can now work with style guides, terminology databases, brand guidelines, quality evaluation models, and contextual information to produce significantly better multilingual content. The result is an entirely new language intelligence lifecycle where translation becomes just one component of a much broader communication strategy. 00:00 – Semih Altinay, VP AI Solutions, Phrase 01:20 – Why AI Has Moved Beyond Translation 03:36 – AI as an Enabler, Not a Replacement 07:19 – Agentic AI and the Future of Localization Workflows 12:59 – Why Translation Doesn't Create Business Value Alone 17:02 – Connecting Localization to Revenue Growth 22:56 – Managing Quality, Compliance, and AI at Scale 30:18 – The Future of AI, Language Models, and Global Content About VistaTalks: VistaTalks has an incredible lineup of guests from around the globe. We love to feature interesting discussions with interesting people from all around the world. Follow VistaTalks on Spotify for all the latest episodes, or subscribe to the show on Apple and Google podcasts. VistaTalks is available on many other podcast platforms. To learn more about VistaTalks, please visit https://www.vistatalks.com Social Media: X - https://x.com/vistatalks Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/VistaTalks Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/vistatalks LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/vistatalks

Simon Hodgkins, Host of VistaTalks and Chief Marketing Officer at Vistatec, explores one of the biggest questions facing global organizations today: How do you modernize your localization strategy without disrupting what's already working? As artificial intelligence reshapes the way businesses operate, localization teams are under increasing pressure to deliver faster, maintain quality, and scale efficiently. In this solo episode, Simon shares practical guidance on recognizing when your localization model needs to evolve and explains why successful transformation doesn't have to mean starting over. Rather than advocating sweeping change, Simon outlines a thoughtful, incremental approach that allows organizations to strengthen existing localization processes while reducing risk. The discussion offers valuable insights for executives, localization managers, marketing leaders, and anyone responsible for delivering multilingual content across global markets. 00:00 - Evolving Your Localization Strategy 00:35 - Why Organizations Resist Change 01:56 - Hidden Friction in Localization 03:30 - Incremental Improvements That Work 05:04 - Making the Business Case for Change 06:20 - Piloting New Localization Workflows 07:18 - When to Reassess Your Localization Model 08:55 - AI, Growth, and the Future of Localization About VistaTalks: VistaTalks has an incredible lineup of guests from around the globe. We love to feature interesting discussions with interesting people from all around the world. Follow VistaTalks on Spotify for all the latest episodes, or subscribe to the show on Apple and Google podcasts. VistaTalks is available on many other podcast platforms. To learn more about VistaTalks, please visit https://www.vistatalks.com Social Media: X - https://x.com/vistatalks Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/VistaTalks Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/vistatalks LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/vistatalks

Robin Ayoub, Founder of N49 Networks, Fractional CRO, Executive Mentor, and Host of the Localization Fireside Chat, joins Host Simon Hodgkins for a thought-provoking discussion on artificial intelligence, business growth, leadership, and the future of work. Drawing on his experience advising CEOs, scaling businesses, and engaging with AI leaders worldwide, Robin shares practical insights on how organizations can navigate one of the most significant technological shifts of our time.The AI Moonshot: Thinking Bigger One of Robin’s most memorable concepts was the “AI Moonshot.” Too many organizations, he argues, are experimenting with AI in small, low-impact ways. While these experiments can be useful, they rarely produce transformational results. Instead, Robin encourages leaders to think ten times bigger. If AI initiatives are not creating a level of discomfort or ambition that challenges existing assumptions, they may not be ambitious enough. Organizations that pursue 10x improvements in customer outcomes, operational performance, or market reach are more likely to create meaningful competitive advantages. His message was simple: the technology is here, customers are already using it, competitors are already adopting it, and waiting is no longer a viable strategy. 00:00 - Welcome, Robin Ayoub 01:16 - The Biggest Mistake Companies Make with AI 03:10 - AI, Job Disruption, and Industry Change 05:17 - Why Learning AI Is No Longer Optional 09:16 - Growth Mindset vs Cost-Cutting Mindset 14:28 - Solving the Top-of-Funnel Challenge with AI 18:28 - Human Expertise in the Age of AI 23:26 - Insights from the Localization Fireside Chat 27:19 - Preparing Organizations for the Future 31:50 - The AI Moonshot and Thinking 10X 34:34 - Final Advice for Business Leaders About VistaTalks:  VistaTalks has an incredible lineup of guests from around the globe. We love to feature interesting discussions with interesting people from all around the world. Follow VistaTalks on Spotify for all the latest episodes, or subscribe to the show on Apple and Google podcasts. VistaTalks is available on many other podcast platforms. To learn more about VistaTalks, please visit https://www.vistatalks.com Social Media:X - https://x.com/vistatalks  Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/VistaTalks  Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/vistatalks  LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/vistatalks

Iti Sahai, Head of Product, Internationalization (Global Infrastructure) at Klaviyo, joins Host María Roa for a fascinating conversation about global expansion, product-led internationalization, localization strategy, AI integration, and the enduring power of storytelling in business. Drawing on a career spanning Hollywood, Bollywood, enterprise technology, and global product leadership, Iti shares valuable insights on how organizations can transform localization from a perceived operational cost into a strategic growth engine. Throughout the discussion, she highlights the importance of customer-centric thinking, leadership through storytelling, and the preservation of human creativity in an increasingly AI-driven world. 00:00 - Welcome and Introduction to Iti Sahai 01:32 - From Storytelling to Product Leadership 02:46 - Why Localization Is More Than Translation 05:57 - Measuring Localization ROI Through Growth 07:20 - Using Storytelling to Influence Leadership 09:55 - AI Opportunities and Risks in Internationalization 14:15 - What Drives Global Product Adoption 20:55 - Community Leadership and Women in Localization 22:23 - Keeping Humanity Alive in an AI-Driven World About VistaTalks: VistaTalks has an incredible lineup of guests from around the globe. We love to feature interesting discussions with interesting people from all around the world. Follow VistaTalks on Spotify for all the latest episodes, or subscribe to the show on Apple and Google podcasts. VistaTalks is available on many other podcast platforms. To learn more about VistaTalks, please visit https://www.vistatalks.com Social Media: X - https://x.com/vistatalks Facebook - / vistatalks Instagram - / vistatalks LinkedIn - / vistatalks

Peter Rose, Owner and Founder of TEKenable, joins Host Simon Hodgkins to discuss AI transformation, responsible innovation, healthcare technology, and integrity in business leadership. Peter offers insights into what distinguishes meaningful AI adoption from experimentation. This episode of VistaTalks is a reminder: successful AI transformation isn’t about chasing headlines or deploying the latest tools. It’s about solving real problems, improving outcomes, and building systems rooted in integrity and measurable value. Peter Rose offers a practical view of AI, not one based on hype, but on years of helping organizations evolve through technology while keeping people central. 00:00 - Welcome, Peter Rose 01:10 - The Origins of TEKenable 03:45 - Integrity, Customer Trust, and Early Growth 05:15 - Why Many AI Projects Fail 08:28 - What It Means to Be an AI-First Company 12:27 - AI Agents Supporting Human Teams 17:02 - AI and Intelligent Patient Management Systems 24:20 - Responsible AI, Security, and Governance 27:05 - How Organizations Should Introduce AI Successfully 29:50 - The Future of AI Agents and Human Augmentation About VistaTalks: VistaTalks has an incredible lineup of guests from around the globe. We love to feature interesting discussions with interesting people from all around the world. Follow VistaTalks on Spotify for all the latest episodes, or subscribe to the show on Apple and Google podcasts. VistaTalks is available on many other podcast platforms. To learn more about VistaTalks, please visit https://www.vistatalks.com Social Media: X - https://x.com/vistatalks Facebook - / vistatalks Instagram - / vistatalks LinkedIn - / vistatalks

Teresa Toronjo, Senior Manager of Localization and Internationalization at Malt, joins Host María Roa for a thoughtful and highly practical conversation about localization strategy, AI adoption, stakeholder engagement, and the evolving role of human expertise in global organizations. With more than a decade of experience across Europe and Southeast Asia, Teresa has built localization workflows for global brands including Workday and Malt. In this episode, she shares firsthand insights into scaling localization programs, balancing automation with quality, and ensuring localization teams remain influential across organizations during a period of massive industry transformation. 00:00 - Welcome, Teresa Toronjo 01:16 - AI Efficiency Gains and Human Expertise 05:26 - The Metrics That Matter in Localization 10:39 - Building Visibility Across Organizations 16:08 - Mentorship and Professional Growth 17:28 - Responsible AI Adoption in Localization 28:40 - Scaling Localization Across Global Markets 33:14 - Community, Teaching, and the Future of Localization About VistaTalks: VistaTalks has an incredible lineup of guests from around the globe. We love to feature interesting discussions with interesting people from all around the world. Follow VistaTalks on Spotify for all the latest episodes, or subscribe to the show on Apple and Google podcasts. VistaTalks is available on many other podcast platforms. To learn more about VistaTalks, please visit https://www.vistatalks.com Social Media: X - https://x.com/vistatalks Facebook - / vistatalks Instagram - / vistatalks LinkedIn - / vistatalks

Ozzie Brito, AI Productivity Specialist at Vistatec, shares what it takes to scale AI in enterprise environments. This episode goes beyond buzzwords to focus on the operational reality of AI, covering workflows, governance, trust, and the emerging “corporate brain.” 00:00 - Ozzie Brito, AI Productivity Specialist 01:30 - What Does an AI Productivity Specialist Actually Do? 03:21 - Why Companies Struggle to Scale AI 06:32 - The Role of Humans in AI Workflows 10:23 - Upskilling for the AI-Driven Future 12:33 - The Importance of Clean and Contextual Data 16:39 - Prompting vs System Design in AI 20:25 - The Shift from Tools to Capability About VistaTalks: VistaTalks has an incredible lineup of guests from around the globe. We love to feature interesting discussions with interesting people from all around the world. Follow VistaTalks on Spotify for all the latest episodes, or subscribe to the show on Apple and Google podcasts. VistaTalks is available on many other podcast platforms. To learn more about VistaTalks, please visit https://www.vistatalks.com Social Media: X - https://x.com/vistatalks Facebook - / vistatalks Instagram - / vistatalks LinkedIn - / vistatalks

Host Simon Hodgkins speaks with Lorcan Malone, CEO of XTM, on this episode of VistaTalks to explore one of the most pivotal moments in the evolution of global content and localization. What emerged was not just a discussion about technology, but a state of the nation for an industry in transition, shaped by AI, driven by scale, and anchored in trust. Lorcan Malone's career spans decades of transformation across the software and technology landscape. Beginning as a computer science engineer in the 1990s, he built his foundation at EDS before moving into leadership roles across international markets, including a significant period in the Middle East. His journey has taken him through major organizations such as Sage, Swiftpage, and Sitecore, culminating in his current role as CEO of XTM. This breadth of experience, across engineering, operations, and global business, gives Malone a uniquely grounded perspective on today's challenges and opportunities. 00:00 - Lorcan Malone - VistaTalks Ep 193 00:53 - Lorcan Malone's career journey and global experience 03:09 - The current state of the localization industry 05:20 - The shift left: embedding localization into workflows 06:53 - AI in localization: real value vs hype 09:58 - Balancing AI speed with quality, trust, and governance 14:03 - The importance of interoperability and ecosystem thinking 20:09 - What XTM is getting right and innovating in AI 23:57 - The future: what will define winners in the AI era 28:23 - XTM and VistaTech partnership and industry impact About VistaTalks: VistaTalks has an incredible lineup of guests from around the globe. We love to feature interesting discussions with interesting people from all around the world. Follow VistaTalks on Spotify for all the latest episodes, or subscribe to the show on Apple and Google podcasts. VistaTalks is available on many other podcast platforms. To learn more about VistaTalks, please visit https://www.vistatalks.com Social Media: X - https://x.com/vistatalks Facebook - / vistatalks Instagram - / vistatalks LinkedIn - / vistatalks

Yuanyuan Zheng, Global Procurement Leader and strategic advisor, joins Host Simon Hodgkins on VistaTalks for a wide-ranging and deeply reflective conversation on resilience, sustainability, and the future of global procurement and supply chains. Drawing on more than two decades of international experience across procurement, logistics, and ESG leadership, Yuan shares practical insights shaped by real-world disruption, cross-cultural leadership, and forward-looking strategic thinking. This episode is essential listening for leaders navigating volatility, global trade pressures, and the growing demand for sustainable business practices. Yuan shares a powerful metaphor rooted in both Eastern and Western traditions: all roads lead to Rome. The roads may change, adapt, or diverge, but the destination, the purpose, must remain clear. For leaders and organizations navigating uncertainty, this clarity of purpose becomes a guiding light, enabling flexibility without losing direction. It is a fitting conclusion to a conversation defined by insight, humility, and long-term thinking. 00:00 - Yuanyuan Zheng - VistaTalks Ep 192 01:22 - A Global Career in Procurement and Supply Chain 02:32 - Building Resilience in Teams and Organizations 06:34 - Sustainability, Data, and Ocean Freight Emissions 11:26 - Strategic Foresight and Multiple Futures 16:22 - Cross-Cultural Leadership Lessons 21:30 - Cost Versus Sustainability: A False Tension 38:17 - Purpose, Adaptability, and “All Roads Lead to Rome” About VistaTalks: VistaTalks has an incredible lineup of guests from around the globe. We love to feature interesting discussions with interesting people from all around the world. Follow VistaTalks on Spotify for all the latest episodes, or subscribe to the show on Apple and Google podcasts. VistaTalks is available on many other podcast platforms. To learn more about VistaTalks, please visit https://www.vistatalks.com Social Media: X - https://x.com/vistatalks Facebook - / vistatalks Instagram - / vistatalks LinkedIn - / vistatalks