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In this episode of Generate Now!, host James Caton sits down with Jason Baumgarten, a senior partner at the leadership advisory firm Spencer Stewart. As a consultant who works directly with C-suite executives, CEOs, and board members, Jason provides a unique perspective on how the world's top leaders are—and aren't—adapting to the AI revolution. The conversation explores his three-phase roadmap for leaders to move from AI novices to visionary evangelists. Jason explains why the biggest hurdles to AI adoption aren't technical, but cultural, and why every leader must personally get on the keyboard to understand the future of their business. The AI Adoption Gap: Why many executives are still using AI as a basic search engine rather than a transformative productivity tool. The "Steno Pad" Parallel: Comparing today's AI hesitancy to the 1980s transition when some executives resisted using PCs. Red Teaming Your Leadership: Using AI agents to create "digital twins" of a board of directors to predict questions and refine strategy. Data Swamps vs. Strategic Data: How to identify the "fumes" of your business—the unique data assets that actually create a competitive moat. Culture Over Code: Why AI initiatives fail when rigid corporate cultures penalize the "trial and error" required for learning. Start with low-stakes, high-impact tasks to become familiar with the technology: Evaluate Communications: Use AI to audit the tone and receptivity of your emails from various stakeholder perspectives. Audit Time Allocation: Analyze your calendar data to see if your schedule actually aligns with your strategic priorities. Automate a Workflow: Move beyond simple prompting to automating a daily task, such as competitive landscape monitoring. Move beyond the surface to understand the "how" and "why" of the technology: Find an AI Mentor: Partner with someone—even a junior employee or "AI native"—who uses these tools to transform their daily work. Master the Core Areas: Gain literacy in machine learning, model architecture, data engineering, and responsible AI governance. Transition from personal use to organizational leadership: Set the Ambition: Determine if your goal is 5% efficiency in customer service or a 50% shift in work product generated by agents. Manage the Change: Foster a "typing class" mentality where employees are given the time and safety to learn without penalty. "If you put the lawyers in the room first to talk about governance, you're probably not going to get to a good end state view of what this can do because you'll spend all the time talking about what it shouldn't do." — Jason Baumgarten "This is not about delegating it to a team. This is about your personal journey of learning where the future is headed... get on the keyboard." — Jason Baumgarten Jason Baumgarten is a leader at Spencer Stewart, specializing in CEO and board advisory services for companies ranging from high-growth startups to the Fortune 10. He is a leading voice on how AI is redefining the "what" and "how" of modern leadership. Unlock the C-suite AI roadmap with Spencer Stewart’s Jason Baumgarten. Learn how CEOs use "digital twins" and personal sandboxes to lead the AI revolution.

Genzeon CEO Ilanko Kumaresan, is transforming healthcare with AI. Industry estimates are that up to 11% of all claims are underpaid - James and Ilanko discuss REVA, the intelligent agent based on Microsoft copilot. We also discuss Patient Engagement, using Microsoft Nuance technology, and Health Intelligence, and the power of the Microsoft ecosystem. * Youtube @ https://youtu.be/ED-xa6vF1mU * Spotify @ https://open.spotify.com/show/43XcU8A1dsNfW3YGT8KXhp?si=7fc7caf95f764cfe * Apple @ https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/generate-now/id1566458654 Connect with * Ilanko @ https://www.linkedin.com/in/ilanko/ * James @ https://www.linkedin.com/in/jmcaton/

Most organizations struggle to balance building their own AI infrastructure with leveraging reliable, scalable solutions. Oded Sagie and Perry Krug reveal how partnering with Pinecone transformed their approach—turning complex infrastructure challenges into seamless, "boringly reliable" systems. Discover how this shift unlocked faster innovation, lower operational overhead, and the peace of mind to focus on delivering real customer value. In this episode, you'll break down the core architectural innovations behind Pinecone’s platform, including its adaptive indexing and serverless design, which support workloads from low-latency high-throughput applications to massive multi-tenant environments. Oded shares real-world lessons on choosing build vs. buy—highlighting the long-term costs of ownership versus operational simplicity and scalability. Perry dives into how Pinecone's managed vector database facilitates rapid deployment on cloud platforms like Azure, helping teams focus on their core product, not infrastructure. If you're navigating the complexity of deploying AI at scale—especially in industries demanding high reliability and performance—this episode is your game plan. Perfect for data engineers, AI leaders, and CTOs ready to ditch operational headaches and embrace "boringly reliable" technology that accelerates innovation while minimizing risk. Tune in to discover how to build smarter, scale faster, and focus on what truly matters—your customers. Apple @ https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/generate-now/id1566458654 Spotify @ https://open.spotify.com/show/43XcU8A1dsNfW3YGT8KXhp?si=62e09c6df65b4dc9&nd=1&dlsi=e9e6a138e7064929 Youtube @ https://www.youtube.com/@generatenowpodcast/featured Connect with Oded @ https://www.linkedin.com/in/odedkal/ Perry @ https://www.linkedin.com/in/perrykrug/ James @ https://www.linkedin.com/in/jmcaton/

In this episode, James Caton (Microsoft) interviews Srinivasaa HG (Wipro) to discuss the advancements and challenges in Data and AI. They explore the important of Wipro being a finalist for Partner of the Year for Data and AI, the impact of integrated offerings like Foundry IQ and Work IQ, and Wipro's strategies for distinguishing itself across industries. Conversation topics include Wipro's venture investments, acquisitions, and the importance of data readiness for AI value realization. Connect with Srinivasaa at https://www.linkedin.com/in/srinivasaahg/?originalSubdomain=uk and with James at https://www.linkedin.com/in/jmcaton/

James Caton hosts Pavan Ganugapati, EMEA Leader at Accenture for the Microsoft Alliance, discusses the historic 20th consecutive Partner of the Year award, and the impact strategic partnership with Microsoft. The episode explores AI transformation, sovereign cloud, and leveraging sovereignty as a strategic advantage. Pavan emphasizes that sovereignty is not just about compliance but also a driver for value creation, with Microsoft technology supporting a full-stack sovereign architecture to adapt to evolving regulations.

In this episode, James Caton interviews Christoph Wollersheim from Egon Zehnder, discussing the impact of AI on organizational structures and leadership. They explore how AI is reshaping traditional pyramid structures into rectangles, the roles of AI builders and transformers, and the importance of cultural adaptation in AI transformations. Apple @ https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/generate-now/id1566458654 Spotify @ https://open.spotify.com/show/43XcU8A1dsNfW3YGT8KXhp?si=62e09c6df65b4dc9&nd=1&dlsi=e9e6a138e7064929 Youtube @ https://www.youtube.com/@generatenowpodcast/featured Connect with Christoph @ https://www.linkedin.com/in/christoph-wollersheim-a4b58744/ Connect with James @ https://www.linkedin.com/in/jmcaton/

Most companies overlook a game-changing secret behind their AI success — but KPMG's Cherie Gartner reveals how strategically embedding Microsoft's AI tools has transformed their entire operation. Imagine leveraging AI not just for clients, but first for your own teams, creating a ripple effect of innovation and efficiency that competitors can’t match. This episode uncovers the real partnership behind KPMG’s industry-leading AI adoption, offering insights you won’t hear anywhere else. See how KPMG's "Client Zero" approach harnesses Microsoft 365 Copilot, Azure AI Foundry, and new toolkits like Agent 365 to embed AI deeply into audits, tax, advisory, and legal services. You’ll discover the frameworks and best practices that are setting new standards for enterprise AI. Learn how this internal "test kitchen" accelerates client-ready solutions — with real-world examples from Telstra and Vodafone demonstrating the tangible results of their AI journey. We break down the evolving role of platforms like KPMG Workbench, a unified, secure engine built on Azure that manages AI agents at scale. Cherie Gartner shares how this platform is revolutionizing professional services, enabling seamless AI deployment across industries and geographies. Plus, get a glimpse into the future of the Microsoft-KPMG alliance, where trust, transparency, and innovative co-creation are powering a new era of client transformation. Why does all this matter? Because in the race for AI dominance, the difference isn’t just technology — it’s strategic internal adoption, relentless experimentation, and a partner ecosystem that fosters rapid evolution. This episode is essential listening for leaders eager to embed AI deeply, scale securely, and stay ahead in a competitive landscape. Whether you're a C-suite executive, a tech innovator, or an AI enthusiast, you’ll come away with proven frameworks, inspiring examples, and a clear vision of how to unlock your organization’s full AI potential. The future belongs to those who act first — don’t miss your chance to learn how KPMG and Microsoft are shaping that future today. Connect with Cherie at https://www.linkedin.com/in/cherie-gartner/ Connect with James at https://www.linkedin.com/in/jmcaton/ Video at https://youtu.be/tMdNTnJIp1c On Apple at https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/generate-now/id1566458654

In this episode with Pinecone CEO Ash Ashutosh, James explores why Pinecone stands out in the AI landscape. Pinecone is designed to handle billions of vectors with low latency, transforming data into actionable knowledge, thus enhancing business processes and decision-making. James speaks with Ash about Pinecone's strategic partnership with Microsoft Azure, and Pinecone empowers enterprises to fully leverage AI's potential. The focus on context-aware systems provides real-time, relevant solutions, making AI more valuable and aligning with essential AI-first strategies for modern businesses. Apple @ https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/generate-now/id1566458654 Spotify @ https://open.spotify.com/show/43XcU8A1dsNfW3YGT8KXhp?si=62e09c6df65b4dc9&nd=1&dlsi=e9e6a138e7064929 Youtube @ https://www.youtube.com/@generatenowpodcast/featured Connect with Ash @ https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashashutosh/. Connect with James @ https://www.linkedin.com/in/jmcaton/

This interview is part of a Microsoft Agentic AI Playbook, the download link is below. James Caton interviews Dmitry Tikhomirov, VP, Head of Cloud Technology and Delivery, EMEA and APAC, EPAM Systems, on the Agentic conversations he is having in Industry. We discuss: • a project from the insurance industry where Agentic AI-driven claim submission and risk flagging significantly speed up decision-making. • how EPAM is upskilling their workforce across all job functions to leverage AI, including retraining sellers to articulate AI value and training engineers in AI for business solutions. • Dmitry’s advice that companies start experimenting with AI to avoid missing opportunities for basic capabilities, and then continuously evolve with the fast-moving industry YouTube: https://youtu.be/52HFtUvIfVY Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/generate-now/id1566458654 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/43XcU8A1dsNfW3YGT8KXhp?si=97412552ae4c439a Dmitry Tikhomirov: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dmitrytikhomirov/ James Caton: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jmcaton Agentic AI Playbook: https://aka.ms/AgenticPartnerPlaybook

This interview is part of a Microsoft Agentic AI Playbook, the download link is below. James Caton interviews Charlie Doubek, Global VP, Agentic AI Leader, Cloud and Security, NTT DATA, on the Agentic conversations he is having in Industry. We discuss: • how multi-agent models are revolutionizing supply chains, driving significant improvements in efficiency • importance of red-team agents to confirm and thus improve compliance and accuracy in multi-agent orchestration • the shift from experimentation to deployment for Agentic AI, focusing on achieving ROI leveraging the expansive Microsoft ecosystem. YouTube: https://youtu.be/VXk06HKqkk4 Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/generate-now/id1566458654 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/43XcU8A1dsNfW3YGT8KXhp?si=97412552ae4c439a Charlie Doubek: https://www.linkedin.com/in/charlie-doubek-6476803/ James Caton: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jmcaton Agentic AI Playbook: https://aka.ms/AgenticPartnerPlaybook

This interview is part of a Microsoft Agentic AI Playbook, the download link is below. James Caton interviews Sheba Fernando, Vice President, AI Solutions and Presales, LTIMindtree, on the Agentic conversations she is having in Industry. We discuss: • an example of how Agentic AI transformed the operations of a building automation customer, reducing call handling time by 60% and significantly lowering operational costs • how LTI Mindtree is rethinking the traditional AI COE, to include specialized components such as agentic frameworks, reasoning and planning engines, memory systems, and execution environments. • the need for ‘watcher’ agents, which will monitor incoming signals and alert for anomalies, driving consistency and enterprise value for customers. . YouTube: https://youtu.be/7jwYA3ZxOms Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/generate-now/id1566458654 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/43XcU8A1dsNfW3YGT8KXhp?si=97412552ae4c439a Sheba Fernando: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sheba-fernando-40060619/ James Caton: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jmcaton Agentic AI Playbook: https://aka.ms/AgenticPartnerPlaybook

This interview is part of a Microsoft Agentic AI Playbook, the download link is below. James Caton interviews Roshan Gya, CEO Capgemini Invent, on the Agentic conversations he is having in Industry. We discuss:• the shift towards AI as a utility, and helping clients understand which parts of their value chain to disrupt or move incrementally.• rethinking human-AI chemistry for hybrid teams working together seamlessly.• a focus on outcome-based projects instead of deliverables to show real proof points and value creation. HBR article referenced: https://www.capgemini.com/us-en/insights/research-library/hbr-guide-to-generative-ai-for-managers YouTube:https://youtu.be/z7VZswRV_ys Apple:https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/generate-now/id1566458654Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/43XcU8A1dsNfW3YGT8KXhp?si=97412552ae4c439aRoshan Gya:https://www.linkedin.com/in/roshan-soorunsingh-gya-5b29a12/James Caton:https://www.linkedin.com/in/jmcatonAgentic AI Playbook:https://aka.ms/AgenticPartnerPlaybook

This interview is part of a Microsoft Agentic AI Playbook, the download link is below. James Caton interviews Diego Jarne, Principal, at PWC US, on the Agentic conversations he is having in Industry. We discuss: how Agentic AI is reshaping PwC's business model, moving from billable hours to outcome-based and agent workflow-run pricing models. how PwC's sales conversations are shifting to focus on how agents can drive business outcomes: reducing onboarding time, compressing sales cycles, and increasing software delivery velocityan example of PwC's agentic solution automating the review of high-risk deal documentation for a large tech company, expediting the process thru end-to-end task automation. Youtube: https://youtu.be/PPcxKEapdYM Diego Jarne: https://www.linkedin.com/in/diegojarne/ James Caton: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jmcaton Agentic AI Playbook: https://aka.ms/AgenticPartnerPlaybook All platforms: https://linktr.ee/GenerateNowPodcast

This interview is part of a Microsoft Agentic AI Playbook, the download link is below. James Caton interviews Ed Bobrin, Executive Director, Technology Consulting, AI & Data, EY LLC, on the Agentic conversations he is having in Industry. We discuss: the value of Agentic AI to integrate apps in the enterprise ecosystem, how Agentic AI is causing customers to rethink their Centers of Excellence, focusing more on orchestration, multi-agent architecture, and governance.the value of the Microsoft ecosystem, its openness, enterprise-wide integration, and ability to simplify technology, allowing clients to focus on bigger challenges Youtube: https://youtu.be/NricI5fRubg Ed Bobrin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/edwardbobrin/ James Caton: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jmcaton Agentic AI Playbook: https://aka.ms/AgenticPartnerPlaybook All platforms: https://linktr.ee/GenerateNowPodcast

This interview is part of a Microsoft Agentic AI Playbook, the download link is below.James Caton interviews Eleni Rachaniotou, Manufacturing Industry Leader at Microsoft, on conversations he is having with customer about Agentic AI.We discuss how: Agentic AI bridges the digital divide between IT and OT technologies, enabling seamless communication with machines.It offers new revenue streams through integration and orchestration of agentic ecosystems.Implementing an AI innovation board can govern and optimize AI solutions at the portfolio level.Experimenting with agentic AI can enhance human abilities and productivity. YouTube: https://youtu.be/tkFvcGofoWE Eleni Rachaniotouhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/eleni-rachaniotou/James Caton:https://www.linkedin.com/in/jmcatonAgentic AI Playbook:https://aka.ms/AgenticPartnerPlaybookAll platforms: https://linktr.ee/GenerateNowPodcast Microsoft: https://aka.ms/generatenow