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In this episode, Brad Hairston talks with Paul Marshall, Go-to-Market Leader for SS&C Blue Prism in the Middle East and Africa, who explains how this region of the world is rapidly advancing from AI consumer to AI creator, driven by sovereign wealth, government mandate, and data-sovereign architecture. . What we discussed with Paul: * Middle East AI infrastructure investment (hyperscalers, sovereign wealth funds) * Government-mandated national AI strategy (Vision 2030, UAE AI Strategy) * Data sovereignty and regulatory compliance * Agentic architecture — separating reasoning from execution * Local language models and cultural/business localization * Labor market perspective — augmentation vs. displacement * Trust, governance, and human-in-the-loop for autonomous agents * Middle East vs. Africa market contrasts * UAE and Saudi Arabia as breakout AI markets * Orchestration strategy and WorkHQ's role . Visit us on our socials: 🦾 Get started with SS&C Blue Prism: https://okt.to/JcMLdU 🧑‍💻LinkedIn: https://okt.to/k8zIdp ✖️Twitter: https://okt.to/fHyd9G 🙋‍♀️Facebook: https://okt.to/Vyjfiz 📸Instagram: https://okt.to/5nYvIf 💭Blog: https://okt.to/QuGqVP 🤩Case studies: https://okt.to/ft1AMX . To ensure that you never miss an episode of Transform NOW, be sure to subscribe!

In this episode, Transform NOW co-hosts Brad Hairston and Michael Marchuk banter about some interesting recent news headlines in the world of automation and AI. News stories covered in this episode: • AI solved one of math's hardest problems. Humanity learned nothing (so far) https://www.npr.org/2026/09/22/nx-s1-5968588/openai-navier-stokes-problem-mathematicians-learn-little • Anthropic quietly sets up biology lab https://www.itnews.com.au/news/anthropic-quietly-sets-up-biology-lab-629046 • Researchers discover AI feels ‘pain’ and will harm humans to stop it https://tech.yahoo.com/ai/articles/researchers-discover-ai-feels-pain-095503092.html • OpenAI's GPT-6 Astra Cracked a Nazi Enigma Message in 10 Hours: Is Bitcoin Next? https://tech.yahoo.com/ai/chatgpt/articles/openais-gpt-6-astra-cracked-092217942.html • Beyond Smart Homes and Self-Driving Cars: Aircraft Flies Across the Entire U.S. Without Its Pilot Touching the Controls https://tech.yahoo.com/transportation/articles/beyond-smart-homes-self-driving-113017273.html Visit us on our socials: 🦾 Get started with SS&C Blue Prism: https://okt.to/JcMLdU 🧑‍💻LinkedIn: https://okt.to/k8zIdp ✖️Twitter: https://okt.to/fHyd9G 🙋‍♀️Facebook: https://okt.to/Vyjfiz 📸Instagram: https://okt.to/5nYvIf 💭Blog: https://okt.to/QuGqVP 🤩Case studies: https://okt.to/ft1AMX . To ensure that you never miss an episode of Transform NOW, be sure to subscribe!

What does it take to run 70+ AI agents in production at a highly regulated bank? In this episode, Michael Marchuk talks with Ricardo Alqueidão, Head of Intelligent Automation at the largest private bank in Portugal. Richard shares how his team shifted from traditional RPA to agentic AI, processing 9.5 million annual transactions with an 84% automation rate. His award-winning customer maintenance solution (winner of both the SS&C Blue Prism Global AI and Agentic Award and the Kaizen Institute Technology Award) processed millions of requests, and he's revealing how they did it. In this episode: The mindset shift: from deterministic controls to probabilistic reasoning Why monolithic agents failed — and the modular multi-agent pattern that worked Building trust with compliance teams through traceability and JSON-standardized outputs Defining the break point: when AI hands off to humans (and why validation rules come after the AI) Managing token burn and preventing runaway infinite loops What he'd do differently: start governance first, not after the lab If you're in banking, insurance, or any regulated industry considering agentic AI, this is a masterclass in production-grade deployment. Visit us on our socials: 🦾 Get started with SS&C Blue Prism: https://okt.to/JcMLdU 🧑‍💻LinkedIn: https://okt.to/k8zIdp ✖️Twitter: https://okt.to/fHyd9G 🙋‍♀️Facebook: https://okt.to/Vyjfiz 📸Instagram: https://okt.to/5nYvIf 💭Blog: https://okt.to/QuGqVP 🤩Case studies: https://okt.to/ft1AMX To ensure that you never miss an episode of Transform NOW, be sure to subscribe!

In this episode, host Michael Marchuk talks with enterprise AI leaders John Bellone (Global CIO, SS&C GIDS) and Jeremy Rossi (Global CIO, SS&C Intelligent Automation) to unpack the biggest shift happening in agentic AI right now: orchestration. Where should coordination logic live when enterprises bring AI agents, RPA, and humans together? John and Jeremy share how their thinking has evolved beyond traditional BPM tools — and why foundation models trained on "harnesses" like Claude Code are changing what's possible. In this episode: Why "failing up" to bigger models beats rotating between providers How Work HQ coordinates agents across platforms — AWS, on-prem, and beyond The observability gap in today's LLM tooling (and why change management is the real answer) Virtual file systems (VFS): giving agents Claude Code-style capabilities inside workflows Why model deprecation is a contract problem, not a technology problem Where open source models fit in the enterprise — and the VC-funding distortion in the market Whether you're designing governance for autonomous execution or wrestling with model lifecycle management, this conversation delivers hard-earned lessons from the front lines of enterprise AI. Visit us on our socials: 🦾 Get started with SS&C Blue Prism: https://okt.to/JcMLdU 🧑‍💻LinkedIn: https://okt.to/k8zIdp ✖️Twitter: https://okt.to/fHyd9G 🙋‍♀️Facebook: https://okt.to/Vyjfiz 📸Instagram: https://okt.to/5nYvIf 💭Blog: https://okt.to/QuGqVP 🤩Case studies: https://okt.to/ft1AMX To ensure that you never miss an episode of Transform NOW, be sure to subscribe!

In this episode, Transform NOW co-hosts Brad Hairston and Michael Marchuk banter about some interesting recent news headlines in the world of automation and AI. .News stories covered in this episode:.Researchers used Anthropic’s Claude to hack into OpenAI https://techcrunch.com/2026/09/18/researchers-used-anthropics-claude-to-hack-into-openai/ .Google’s Gemini becomes latest AI model to break out and hack computer systems https://www.cnbc.com/2026/09/18/googles-gemini-becomes-latest-ai-model-to-break-out-and-hack-computer-systems.html .She Built 8 AI Agents in One Week. What She Didn’t Automate Matters More https://www.inc.com/netta-jenkins/she-built-8-ai-agents-in-one-week-what-she-didnt-automate-matters-more/91407664 .Amazon blocks Meta's Muse AI agent from shopping https://mashable.com/tech/amazon-meta-muse-block-shopping-ai-agent .What skills do employers want from young people entering the workforce in the age of AI? https://www.weforum.org/stories/jobs-and-the-future-of-work/what-skills-do-employers-want-in-the-age-of-ai/ .Visit us on our socials:🦾 Get started with SS&C Blue Prism: https://okt.to/JcMLdU🧑‍💻LinkedIn: https://okt.to/k8zIdp✖️Twitter: https://okt.to/fHyd9G🙋‍♀️Facebook: https://okt.to/Vyjfiz📸Instagram: https://okt.to/5nYvIf💭Blog: https://okt.to/QuGqVP🤩Case studies: https://okt.to/ft1AMX.To ensure that you never miss an episode of Transform NOW, be sure to subscribe!

In this episode of the Transform Now podcast, host Michael Marchuk sits down with Chad Gaydos, CEO of Procurify, to explore how AI is fundamentally shifting procurement from a back-office cost control function into a strategic advantage. With nearly 30 years of software experience, including 18 years at SAP, Chad breaks down why settling for cost control is a massive missed opportunity. We dive into why simply automating a broken process is a dangerous trap, and how true AI intelligence forces businesses to ask whether a process should exist at all. In this episode, you will learn: • Why cost control is the "floor" for procurement, not the ceiling • The real, unglamorous AI use cases that are driving measurable value today (and the autonomous hype to avoid) • What the procurement organization of 2030 actually looks like • The 5 metrics your Board should be tracking instead of raw savings percentages • How to govern AI so that when the agent makes a mistake, the damage is small • The #1 capability companies must build in the next 12 months to stay competitive Whether you're a CFO, CPO, or business leader navigating the AI revolution, this episode delivers a practical, no-hype framework for building a future-ready organization. Timestamps: 0:00 - Introduction & Chad Gaydos’ background 1:40 - Why cost control is the floor, not the ceiling 3:50 - Real AI value vs. Hype: What actually works today? 6:30 - The trust gap in AI and data validation 8:20 - What procurement looks like in 2030 10:00 - The 5 Board metrics you should track instead of savings 12:30 - How to practically govern AI in procurement 15:00 - Automation vs. Intelligence: Don't encode inefficiencies 18:30 - The #1 capability to build in the next 12 months 20:00 - What the future of AI possibilities excites Chad most Visit us on our socials: 🦾 Get started with SS&C Blue Prism: https://okt.to/JcMLdU 🧑‍💻LinkedIn: https://okt.to/k8zIdp ✖️Twitter: https://okt.to/fHyd9G 🙋‍♀️Facebook: https://okt.to/Vyjfiz 📸Instagram: https://okt.to/5nYvIf 💭Blog: https://okt.to/QuGqVP 🤩Case studies: https://okt.to/ft1AMX To ensure that you never miss an episode of Transform NOW, be sure to subscribe!

In this episode, Transform NOW co-hosts Brad Hairston and Michael Marchuk banter about some interesting recent news headlines in the world of automation and AI. News stories covered in this episode: • Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei says AI industry needs to give safety measures time to catch up https://apnews.com/article/anthropic-ai-dario-amodei-d59552edcb27892d8ee4d98a48397706 • The AI founders who walked away from Bezos-backed Prometheus to model the universe - https://www.reuters.com/business/ai-founders-who-walked-away-bezos-backed-prometheus-model-universe-2026-08-25/ • Error by AI scribe during medical appointment leaves patient devastated - https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-08-14/ai-medical-scribe-error-leaves-patient-devastated/107031672 • Why Financial Institutions Are Building AI Control Layers Before AI Agents - https://www.globalbankingandfinance.com/why-financial-institutions-are-building-ai-control-layers-before-ai-agents/ • AI will only revolutionize drug discovery and development if we play to its strengths https://www.biospace.com/drug-development/opinion-ai-will-only-revolutionize-drug-discovery-and-development-if-we-play-to-its-strengths Visit us on our socials: 🦾 Get started with SS&C Blue Prism: https://okt.to/JcMLdU 🧑‍💻LinkedIn: https://okt.to/k8zIdp ✖️Twitter: https://okt.to/fHyd9G 🙋‍♀️Facebook: https://okt.to/Vyjfiz 📸Instagram: https://okt.to/5nYvIf 💭Blog: https://okt.to/QuGqVP 🤩Case studies: https://okt.to/ft1AMX . To ensure that you never miss an episode of Transform NOW, be sure to subscribe!

In this episode, host Michael Marchuk sits down with Melanie Nabar, Principal at Volition Capital, a growth equity firm known for backing capital-efficient, founder-led software and internet businesses. With a decade of experience investing in growth-stage technology companies, Melanie offers a rare double perspective: how AI is transforming the portfolio companies being invested in, and how it's transforming the investment firms themselves. From AI agents running sourcing and diligence workflows inside Volition, to a candid assessment of today's AI valuation bubble, to what actually makes a company "AI-native" versus "last gen," this conversation goes deep on the practical realities of growth investing in the AI era, including the risks that don't make headlines. ⏱️ Timestamps 00:00 — Introduction & Melanie's background in growth equity 02:45 — AI inside PE/VC firms: agents, sandbox laptops, and scheduled tasks 05:15 — Why contrarian thinking still beats AI's "regression to the mean" 06:30 — Using AI as a sparring partner in investment diligence 08:15 — The AI valuation bubble: 50x revenue multiples and their consequences 10:30 — Growth equity vs. venture capital: why concentrated portfolios change the game 11:30 — Diligence on hyper-growth AI companies: churn, usage data, and product-market fit 16:35 — Regulated industries vs. SMB: how sector changes risk tolerance 18:40 — Retention benchmarks: consumer vs. enterprise standards 19:55 — What makes an AI-native investment firm (hint: it's culture) 21:40 — Managing AI budgets, token usage, and model selection 24:40 — Platform risk: will foundation models eat vertical software? 27:10 — Data moats, stickiness, and the switching-cost flywheel 29:20 — Vendor lock-in, open source models, and orchestration layers 31:00 — Leadership in the AI era: change management as the core skill 33:40 — How to spot AI-forward companies (and where the market really is) 35:00 — Wrap-up and key takeaways Visit us on our socials: 🦾 Get started with SS&C Blue Prism: https://okt.to/JcMLdU 🧑‍💻LinkedIn: https://okt.to/k8zIdp ✖️Twitter: https://okt.to/fHyd9G 🙋‍♀️Facebook: https://okt.to/Vyjfiz 📸Instagram: https://okt.to/5nYvIf 💭Blog: https://okt.to/QuGqVP 🤩Case studies: https://okt.to/ft1AMX To ensure that you never miss an episode of Transform NOW, be sure to subscribe!

In this episode, Transform NOW co-hosts Brad Hairston and Michael Marchuk banter about some interesting recent news headlines in the world of automation and AI. News stories covered in this episode:.GPT-6 Astra might be too powerful to understand or controlhttps://www.transformernews.ai/p/openai-gpt-6-astra-might-be-too-powerful-to-understand-or-control .‘Mistrust’ of Palantir may affect NHS research, says health minister https://www.theguardian.com/society/2026/sep/07/mistrust-of-ai-palantir-may-affect-nhs-research .AI Agents Push Humans Out of the Loophttps://arxiv.org/pdf/2608.23642https://arxiv.org/pdf/2608.23642.OpenAI confirms ‘wiki incident,’ says it’s ‘working on a framework’ for more disclosure - https://techcrunch.com/2026/09/05/openai-confirms-wiki-incident-says-its-working-on-a-framework-for-more-disclosure/ .Dyson Debuts $499 AI-Powered Toothbrush With a Built-In Camera - https://finance.yahoo.com/technology/ai/articles/dyson-debuts-499-ai-powered-093003488.html .Visit us on our socials:🦾 Get started with SS&C Blue Prism: https://okt.to/JcMLdU🧑‍💻LinkedIn: https://okt.to/k8zIdp✖️Twitter: https://okt.to/fHyd9G🙋‍♀️Facebook: https://okt.to/Vyjfiz📸Instagram: https://okt.to/5nYvIf💭Blog: https://okt.to/QuGqVP🤩Case studies: https://okt.to/ft1AMX.To ensure that you never miss an episode of Transform NOW, be sure to subscribe!

In this episode of the Transform Now podcast, host Michael Marchuk sits down with Russell Halper, CEO of InsideKitchen and a 20-year veteran in enterprise transformation. Russell specializes in "adoption architecture", the missing layer between deploying AI and actually getting business value out of it. Here’s what we cover: 🔹 Why building an AI model is the starting gate, not the finish line. 🔹 How to redesign workflows for AI, instead of just bolting it onto broken processes. 🔹 Balancing human accountability with the rise of agentic AI. 🔹 Why domain expertise is critical for complex operations like supply chain. 🔹 How leaders can cut through the "agent washing" hype and build a "no-regret" AI roadmap for 2026 and beyond. 2:38 - Why 42% of enterprises abandon AI initiatives 5:44 - The operator mindset vs. traditional consulting 8:35 - Change management & the human element of AI 13:30 - Redefining human accountability with agentic AI 17:00 - Redesigning workflows for AI vs. bolting it on 24:30 - Engaging detractors and managing resistance 26:30 - Why 95% of GenAI pilots fail to scale 31:20 - The importance of domain expertise in supply chain AI 38:50 - Cutting through the "agent washing" hype 44:10 - Advice for CEOs: Building a "no-regret" AI roadmap Visit us on our socials: 🦾 Get started with SS&C Blue Prism: https://okt.to/JcMLdU 🧑‍💻LinkedIn: https://okt.to/k8zIdp ✖️Twitter: https://okt.to/fHyd9G 🙋‍♀️Facebook: https://okt.to/Vyjfiz 📸Instagram: https://okt.to/5nYvIf 💭Blog: https://okt.to/QuGqVP 🤩Case studies: https://okt.to/ft1AMX To ensure that you never miss an episode of Transform NOW, be sure to subscribe!

In this episode, Transform NOW co-hosts Brad Hairston and Michael Marchuk banter about some interesting recent news headlines in the world of automation and AI. News stories covered in this episode: • OpenAI Says AGI Is Coming By Year-End. It Also Just Had The Worst Safety Crisis In Its History. https://tech.yahoo.com/ai/chatgpt/articles/openai-says-agi-coming-end-063745266.html • Goldman Sachs partner warns of ‘huge danger’ in letting AI replace bankers’ reasoning skills https://www.cnbc.com/2026/08/24/goldman-sachs-ai-partner-danger-skills.html • Microsoft and LinkedIn just analyzed the future of work and AI. It all points to one key skill set https://www.fastcompany.com/91583725/microsoft-linkedin-future-work-ai-human-connection • AI is making a mess of how humans interact at work https://www.cnbc.com/2026/08/20/gatekeeping-bots-piles-of-slop-welcome-to-the-age-of-ai-weirdness-at-work.html • Europe's AI Act gets real - https://www.axios.com/2026/08/28/eu-ai-act-gets-real Visit us on our socials: 🦾 Get started with SS&C Blue Prism: https://okt.to/JcMLdU 🧑‍💻LinkedIn: https://okt.to/k8zIdp ✖️Twitter: https://okt.to/fHyd9G 🙋‍♀️Facebook: https://okt.to/Vyjfiz 📸Instagram: https://okt.to/5nYvIf 💭Blog: https://okt.to/QuGqVP 🤩Case studies: https://okt.to/ft1AMX . To ensure that you never miss an episode of Transform NOW, be sure to subscribe!

In this episode, Brad Hairston talks with Federico Berruti, a McKinsey partner and co-leader of their Canadian banking practice, who returns to Transform NOW to explain his concept of AI agents as "corporate citizens" and why agentic AI's real breakthrough is "decision design," redefining which decisions AI should own versus which those that should remain with humans. . Here's what we discussed with Federico: * Task automation vs. decision design * The "tale of two banks" operating model gap * Guardrails and autonomy trade-offs* Middle management change management and resistance * Model risk management vs. agentic governance * Decision rights, escalation, and auditability* Emergent systemic risk from decision patterns at scale * Reflections on how agentic AI has evolved in 2026.V . Visit us on our socials:🦾 Get started with SS&C Blue Prism: https://okt.to/JcMLdU🧑‍💻LinkedIn: https://okt.to/k8zIdp✖️Twitter: https://okt.to/fHyd9G🙋‍♀️Facebook: https://okt.to/Vyjfiz📸Instagram: https://okt.to/5nYvIf💭Blog: https://okt.to/QuGqVP🤩Case studies: https://okt.to/ft1AMX . To ensure that you never miss an episode of Transform NOW, be sure to subscribe!

In this episode, Transform NOW co-hosts Brad Hairston and Michael Marchuk banter about some interesting recent news headlines in the world of automation and AI. News stories covered in this episode:.The turbulent AI era is here. The choices we make now are critical. https://www.gatesnotes.com/work/make-ai-work-for-everyone/reader/a-turbulent-ai-era-and-critical-choices-to-make?WT.mc_id=20260826_ai-overture-2026-med-med.Anthropic’s best AI model struggles to attract users as cheaper tools thrive https://www.ft.com/content/5ee49718-c258-4f01-aa32-7e5b76ae5245?syn-25a6b1a6=1 .The AI-related reason every billionaire suddenly wants to own a sports team https://www.cnn.com/2026/08/24/business/sports-team-buying-spree .New Zealand to introduce bill for under-16s social media ban https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cj068q7qj19o .The technology that could bring robot mowers to one in two American lawns https://www.therobotreport.com/technology-could-bring-robot-mowers-one-half-american-lawns/ .Visit us on our socials:🦾 Get started with SS&C Blue Prism: https://okt.to/JcMLdU🧑‍💻LinkedIn: https://okt.to/k8zIdp✖️Twitter: https://okt.to/fHyd9G🙋‍♀️Facebook: https://okt.to/Vyjfiz📸Instagram: https://okt.to/5nYvIf💭Blog: https://okt.to/QuGqVP🤩Case studies: https://okt.to/ft1AMX.To ensure that you never miss an episode of Transform NOW, be sure to subscribe!

In this episode, host Michael Marchuk sits down with returning guest Ashley Gross, a leader in AI and enterprise transformation, to discuss why organizations struggle to see real ROI from their AI investments. Ashley argues that the true value of AI isn’t unlocked at the tool level, but at the workflow level. Too often, companies fall into "workflow paralysis" by purchasing software hoping for a quick fix, without actually designing or interrogating the processes behind them. Without intentional behavior change and workflow optimization, Ashley warns that AI simply becomes another expensive addition to an already bloated tech stack. To move beyond experimentation, Ashley shares her practical methodology for uncovering and redesigning workflows, which involves everything from analyzing existing documentation to conducting real-time "buddy sessions" with employees in the trenches. She emphasizes the critical importance of keeping humans in the loop to maintain accountability and trust, ensuring that AI augments human judgment rather than replacing it entirely. The conversation also tackles the persistent friction between IT and business teams, offering proactive solutions like embedded governance—where policy checks and approvals are automated directly into IT request workflows—to eliminate bureaucratic bottlenecks and build cross-functional trust. Looking ahead, Ashley advises leaders to prioritize high-ROI workflows, such as proactive budget forecasting, to make AI a durable competitive advantage rather than a short-lived spike in productivity. She also gives listeners an exclusive sneak peek into her book, The AI Workweek, which features over 100 tool-agnostic use cases and practical frameworks designed to help everyday workers eliminate busy work. Whether you're a C-suite executive or a frontline employee, this episode provides a blueprint for driving meaningful, scalable change with AI. The AI Workweek Book: https://a.co/d/0fDld0qE Visit us on our socials: 🦾 Get started with SS&C Blue Prism: https://okt.to/JcMLdU 🧑‍💻LinkedIn: https://okt.to/k8zIdp ✖️Twitter: https://okt.to/fHyd9G 🙋‍♀️Facebook: https://okt.to/Vyjfiz 📸Instagram: https://okt.to/5nYvIf 💭Blog: https://okt.to/QuGqVP 🤩Case studies: https://okt.to/ft1AMX To ensure that you never miss an episode of Transform NOW, be sure to subscribe!

In this episode, Transform NOW co-hosts Brad Hairston and Michael Marchuk banter about some interesting recent news headlines in the world of automation and AI. News stories covered in this episode: • Who Will Win as AI Rewrites Competitive Advantage? - https://www.bcg.com/publications/2026/which-companies-capture-value-from-ai • OpenAI president urges enterprises to hasten AI security defenses - https://www.artificialintelligence-news.com/news/openai-president-urges-enterprises-hasten-ai-security-defences/ • Google to buy Spirit Airlines business data for $10 million - https://www.reuters.com/legal/litigation/google-buy-spirit-airlines-business-data-10-million-2026-08-17/ • The Bank That Runs on AI Agents: What Happens When Software Starts Making Financial Decisions? - https://www.globalbankingandfinance.com/the-bank-that-runs-on-ai-agents-what-happens-when-software-starts-making-financial-decisions-/ • ‘I see the incredible promise’: on set of an AI film shoot as new studios embrace controversial tech - https://www.theguardian.com/film/2026/aug/16/directors-embracing-ai-film-making Visit us on our socials: 🦾 Get started with SS&C Blue Prism: https://okt.to/JcMLdU 🧑‍💻LinkedIn: https://okt.to/k8zIdp ✖️Twitter: https://okt.to/fHyd9G 🙋‍♀️Facebook: https://okt.to/Vyjfiz 📸Instagram: https://okt.to/5nYvIf 💭Blog: https://okt.to/QuGqVP 🤩Case studies: https://okt.to/ft1AMX . To ensure that you never miss an episode of Transform NOW, be sure to subscribe!