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In this episode, Khushi and Liza dive into how AI is reshaping the workplace, not by replacing people, but by transforming what people spend their time on.  They explore how automation takes over repetitive tasks, freeing humans to focus on creativity, judgment, and collaboration. The conversation highlights why successful AI adoption is less about tools and more about mindset, trust, and change readiness.  They discuss the importance of transparent systems, strong process foundations, continuous learning, and designing workflows where humans and AI complement rather than compete with one another. 1. AI will automate repetition, not human intelligence.  AI is most effective in handling tasks that are rule-based, predictable, and time-consuming. This frees people to focus on higher-value responsibilities such as strategy, innovation, collaboration, and relationship building. The workplace shift is from task execution to thinking, solving, creating, and reinforcing the value of uniquely human skills. 2. Adaptability is the skill of the future. Technical proficiency matters, but the most important workforce capability now is adaptability. Employees who are willing to learn continuously and evolve with new tools will move forward. Organizations must foster learning environments that encourage curiosity, experimentation, and skill expansion rather than resistance or fear of change. 3. AI success depends on business alignment, not technology alone.  AI initiatives must begin with a clear understanding of business goals. When organizations deploy AI purely for technical uplift, the outcomes are inconsistent. When they anchor it to measurable objectives like efficiency, decision speed, compliance, cost optimization, outcomes are scalable and repeatable. AI is most valuable when it solves a real operational or strategic problem. 4. Trust and transparency drive adoption. For AI to be actively embraced, people must understand how outputs are generated. Explainable, transparent systems create confidence and reduce hesitation in usage. Without trust, adoption stalls, regardless of how advanced the technology is. 5. The future workplace is human + AI co-intelligence.  AI accelerates the work. Humans shape the meaning. The future belongs to employees and leaders who use AI as a partner, combining machine efficiency with human judgment to create outcomes that are faster, smarter, and more impactful.

The podcast, "From CIO to AI Visionary: Nishit Sahay on Marvell's Tech Transformation and the Future of AI Governance, features guest Nishit Sahay, CIO at Marvell Technology who discusses his journey to becoming an SVP and CIO, emphasizing the shift in his role from an "apps and data person" to someone focused on making the company more efficient through technology. The host is Khushboo Bajaj, ServiceNow leader, InfoBeans.

The podcast, "Data Flops to AI Wins: Sandwich Secrets from Walmart's Data Bridge," features guest Amit Shivpuja,  Director of Data Governance and Strategy, Walmart discussing his journey in data and AI, including his "sandwich framework" for understanding data, tools, processes, people, and security. The host is Vandana Sharma, Senior Director AI - Powered Solutions & Impact, InfoBeans.

Join InfoBeans' Vice President, Sales, Sandeep Padhye, as he speaks with guest Vivek Mahapatra, Vice President, AI Product, Salesforce, about the rapidly evolving world of AI and its impact on the enterprise. They discussed the importance of "failing fast" and the critical elements for successful AI implementation, including trust, governance, and data integration.

In this Fail Faster episode, we catch up with Derek Nohr, Director of Corporate Solutions (ServiceNow and Atlassian) at Avalara once again. We discuss his team's remarkable growth and also explore the impactful role of generative AI and Now Assist in revolutionizing ITSM. Derek shares insights on the importance of data quality for AI success and his vision for enhancing employee experiences in 2025. Tune in to discover future trends, challenges in adapting new technologies, and Derek's personal and professional resolutions for the year ahead.

In this episode of the Fail Faster Podcast, Gurdeep Singh, a seasoned solution architect at Chubb with over 25 years in the technology sector, shares his fascinating journey from dismantling radios in his childhood to tackling large-scale modernization projects in financial services. Gurdeep discusses the complexities of legacy system transformation, navigating organizational resistance, and the power of aligning business and technology for impactful change. He also shares his insights on leveraging AI responsibly, building strong data foundations, and fostering collaboration across all levels of an organization. Packed with lessons learned from career-defining challenges and forward-looking strategies, this episode is a must-listen for anyone aiming to modernize systems while keeping people at the heart of innovation.

In this episode of Fail Faster, we welcome Dana St. Pierre, Director of Digital Talent Engine at Constellation Brands. With over 15 years of HR and recruitment experience across nuclear engineering, cannabis, and beverage alcohol industries, Dana brings an innovative approach to HR. She is passionate about diversity and inclusion, and in her current role, she leads digital talent recruitment and HR programming to drive transformation at Constellation Brands. Dana holds a B.A. in Organizational Leadership and a Master's in Human Resource Management from Chapman University, as well as a Masters in Ayurvedic Medicine. Outside of work, she enjoys holistic wellness, yoga, art, music, and spending time with her family. Join us to hear Dana's insights on digital transformation in HR.

In a world where institutional trust is at an all-time low, how can organizations rebuild confidence through innovation? Ryann Foelker, a trailblazing design leader at American Family Insurance, shares how her strategic vision not only saved millions but also restored trust. Discover the power of narrative-driven design and why great designers can be found in places you wouldn't expect. —----------------------------- Episode highlights: Breaking down institutional trust: Ryann explores how organizations can approach rebuilding trust with customers and employees alike, even when they're not directly at fault. The strategic transformation: Hear how Ryann led a groundbreaking initiative that consolidated claims processes, delivered tens of millions in savings, and positioned her company as a leader in efficiency and innovation. Claims adjusters as designers: Ryann found a team of amazing designers in a way she didn't expect but made perfect sense. After all, balancing empathy and business goals is the business of insurance. The power of storytelling in design: Learn why crafting a compelling narrative is the key to engaging stakeholders and gaining buy-in for big ideas. Failures that teach: Ryann opens up about a pivotal career lesson—why defining your role clearly matters—and how she turned a professional misstep into a stepping stone for success. Looking ahead to 2025: Explore Ryann's vision for using digital innovation to rebuild trust in institutions and her beta-tested trust and value metrics designed to guide strategic decisions. Whether you're a leader, a designer, or simply curious about transforming old-school industries, this episode is packed with actionable insights and inspiring stories. Don't miss the chance to connect with Ryann and learn from her journey! Ryann Foelker LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryann-foelker-5827494/ Emerson Taymor LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/etaymor/ "Who Can You Trust?: How Technology Brought Us Together and Why It Might Drive Us Apart" by Rachel Botsman:  https://www.amazon.com/Who-Can-You-Trust-Technology/dp/1541773675 InfoBeans: https://infobeans.com

In this episode of Fail Faster, Phani Korasala, Senior Director, Product, Analytics, and Operations, Merchandizing platforms at Walmart, shares his remarkable journey from building first-generation smartphones to revolutionizing retail at one of the world's largest companies. Phani dives into his innovative approach to scaling Walmart's product assortment by flipping traditional methods, accelerating growth by 6x, and leveraging cutting-edge technology. He unpacks the importance of customer-centric solutions, adapting to global markets, and fostering collaboration through advisory boards. With stories of bold ideas, overcoming challenges, and reimagining retail through technology, this episode offers a masterclass in innovation and leadership for anyone looking to stay ahead in a competitive industry.

In this episode of Fail Faster, Babak Abbaschian, Senior Director of Data Strategy and Analytics at Churchill Down shares how to deliver AI projects that actually succeed. Babak turned 150 year old Churchill Downs into an AI powerhouse through these techniques. And he is using his expertise to make people's lives better by using AI in a way that humanizes people instead of technology for the sake of technology. He emphasizes the importance of failing fast, asking the right questions, and sharing wins early and often. Babak discusses how to prioritize projects by targeting quick wins that deliver significant business value, stressing the need for data readiness and organizational preparation when adopting AI solutions. He also offers insights on using technology to address human challenges, such as improving public safety and enhancing people's lives. Listen in to learn how to tackle the hurdles of digital transformation and drive positive change through innovation. Babak on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/babakabbaschian/ Babak on X: https://twitter.com/babakkab

Michael Warren, Associate Vice President and BIM Director at AECOM, rejoins us on Fail Faster after his riveting previous episode. Michael reflects on lessons learned from his journey as an early adopter of 3D technology and dives into how leaders can balance innovation, fiscal responsibility, and ethics in an era defined by digital transformation, AI, and big data. From managing generational gaps in tech adoption to setting measurable KPIs for smarter experimentation, Michael offers actionable insights for navigating today's fast-evolving landscape. This episode is packed with compelling stories, including strategies for embracing failure, building better experiments, and leveraging the human mind as the ultimate tool for innovation. Don't miss this engaging discussion that challenges conventional leadership paradigms and inspires forward-thinking solutions.

Jeff Barry, Head of Innovation at DOT Foods joins us on this episode of Fail Faster. Jeff shares his journey of reshaping business practices and driving impactful projects by making sure to avoid "Project X." He discusses how DOT Foods efficiently handles 4 billion pounds of food annually and highlights initiatives like fleet monitoring and warehouse safety enhancements. Jeff explores the value of starting with human insights, embracing discomfort to challenge norms, and refining ideas through experimentation. Sharing a standout success story involving heat-reflective trailer coatings, Jeff illustrates the art of turning bold concepts into scalable solutions. Packed with actionable advice, this episode offers inspiration for those seeking to evolve their approach while remaining grounded in practical strategies.

In this episode of Fail Faster we talk to Todd James. As Chief Data & Technology Officer at 84.51°, Todd oversees all technology functions and enterprise capabilities, including product and design, engineering, data science, and consumer research. He drives digital transformation, enhancing 84.51°'s robust data, science, and technology assets to support sustained growth. Within Kroger, Todd is accountable for setting and advancing the enterprise data and AI agenda to maximize the impact of Kroger's data and analytics. With 15 years at Fidelity Investments, he has led global data and analytics initiatives and AI-driven operational modernization. Todd is a board member for CDO Magazine, GS1, and other advisory organizations, holding degrees in mathematics, computer science, and an MBA.

In this episode of Fail Faster, we speak with Chris Francosky, Chief Information Officer at Spirent Communications. Chris is responsible for overseeing the global vision, strategy, and planning of IT security and AI initiatives. With over 25 years of experience in technology leadership, he previously served as CIO at KORE Wireless, where he led global teams in enterprise digital transformation and managed mobile core networks. Chris also brings a strong background in organizational change management, IT-business alignment, technology innovation frameworks, cybersecurity, and cloud-native application architectures. Additionally, he serves on the customer advisory boards for multiple technology and cybersecurity companies. Chris holds a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science from The Ohio State University and has several industry certifications.

Pratik Patel is the Director of Category Management at Mastercard, bringing over 20 years of experience in procurement. He has traveled to 18 countries, conducted negotiations globally, and managed both direct and indirect spend. Currently, he leads category management for labor and technology sourcing in North America. Pratik follows a servant leadership style, always prioritizing the success of his team. He is guided by four key principles: we are the sum of our life experiences, create opportunities where none exist, diversity breeds diversity, and focus on eliminating waste. His leadership has earned him the CFO Award at Mastercard, as well as recognition as a 3x Game Changer and Diversity Influencer by SIA.