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Join Nancy Ridge, Founder of Ridge Innovative, for a fascinating conversation with AI builder and software engineer Justus Huneke, whose unconventional path is a glimpse into the future of software development. Convinced that AI was reshaping engineering faster than traditional education could keep pace, Justus made the bold decision to leave university and immerse himself full-time in the AI revolution. Since then, he's built more than 20 AI-powered projects, helped create Wyatt at Lumin, and ships tens of thousands of lines of AI-assisted code every week. Beyond building products, Justus is an active force in New Zealand's startup ecosystem. He organized SaaSathon, a hackathon that helped launch two new companies, and as an OpenAI Codex Ambassador, he travels the country mentoring developers, supporting hackathons, and helping the next generation of AI builders unlock what's possible. In this episode, Nancy and Justus explore what it really means to build in the age of AI, why traditional career paths are being rewritten, and the skills that will define tomorrow's innovators. Index • 00:46 – Justus Huneke’s Background • 02:35 – How Wyatt Was Born • 7:11 – Why Context Beats Prompts • 9:15 – Beyond the Model: Your Company's Intelligence • 14:06 – The Engineering Behind Wyatt • 18:41 – Reimagining How Teams Work • 25:13 – AI Without Compromising Trust • 32:43 – The Innovation Justus would most like to see gain adoption Links – • Justus Huneke – https://www.jsteagle.dev/ • Justus Huneke LinkedIn – https://nz.linkedin.com/in/justus-huneke • Lumin – https://www.luminpdf.com/lumin-ai-ethics-statement If you enjoyed this podcast, be sure to subscribe to us on Soundcloud for more episodes and write us a review! Share this episode with anyone interested in unconventional ideas. Do you have questions, comments, and insight on the topics discussed today? Send an email to [email protected] with Subject: “Culture of Innovation E38”! Follow Us On: iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/culture-of-innovation/id1537650821 Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/ce61f5ea-6e14-4056-bcf4-bdb2717eb9ca/culture-of-innovation Website: https://ridgeinnovative.com Twitter: https://twitter.com/nancy_ridge LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nancy-ridge-085988a YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCjEMawW6iUoDcQDjvtKTBzA Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/culture-of-innovation

Join Nancy Ridge, Founder of Ridge Innovative, and Michael Pell for an insightful conversation innovation in the 4th dimension, seeing business in a new light. Mike is the inventor of Adobe Acrobat and PDF and several other world-changing products. His career has spanned from intrepid entrepreneur to Silicon Valley startup veteran to corporate man for Adobe and Microsoft, which has given him a unique perspective on how to combine business experience and technology to create breakthrough experiences. Mike currently leads the Microsoft Garage in New York City, which is the company's worldwide innovation program for Curiosity-Fueled Experiments. I love that. Where he helps turn people's passions and ideas into everyday reality. Mike's written three books. Envisioning Holograms is the first. The Age of Smart Innovation was his second book. And the latest, Visualizing Business, is the one we'll explore today. Index • 01:27 – Michael Pell’s Background • 04:14 – Three Decades of Innovation: Shaping the Visualizing Business Lens • 08:13 – Beyond Dashboards: The Power of a 4D Business View • 09:48 – The Cost of Seeing Business Through Snapshots • 12:36 – How AI Changes Business Foresight • 16:37 – Balancing Innovation and Human Experience • 16:58 – Your Entry Point to 4D Thinking • 31:30 – The Innovation Michael would most like to see gain adoption Links – • Mike Pell - https://mike-pell.com/ • Visualizing Business - https://visualizingbusiness.com/ • Mike Pell LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikepell If you enjoyed this podcast, be sure to subscribe to us on Soundcloud for more episodes and write us a review! Share this episode with anyone interested in unconventional ideas. Do you have questions, comments, and insight on the topics discussed today? Send an email to [email protected] with Subject: “Culture of Innovation E37”! Follow Us On: iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/culture-of-innovation/id1537650821 Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/ce61f5ea-6e14-4056-bcf4-bdb2717eb9ca/culture-of-innovation Website: https://ridgeinnovative.com Twitter: https://twitter.com/nancy_ridge LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nancy-ridge-085988a YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCjEMawW6iUoDcQDjvtKTBzA Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/culture-of-innovation

Join Nancy Ridge, Founder of Ridge Innovative, and Cortney Harding for an insightful conversation on how AI and ambient technology will change how we work and live. Cortney Harding is an in-demand expert in helping businesses harness the power of smartglasses, artificial intelligence, spatial computing, and virtual reality. She has created AI-powered conversational avatars for companies like Amazon, Delta, and McDonalds, and virtual reality training scenarios around topics like child abuse, workplace exclusion, mental health, Black maternal mortality, and racial bias for companies like Lowe’s, Walmart, PWC, Target, and more. She routinely leads workshops for Fortune 100 companies and universities on how to use AI and VR in education and training. Her work as been honored on numerous occasions. As an executive producer on JFK Memento, she was nominated for an Emmy and the piece won the audience award for best XR at SXSW and Best in the World at the QLD XR Festival. Her work has also been honored as the Best VR/AR of 2019 at Mobile World Congress, a SXSW Innovation Award Finalist, and a Top HR Product by HR Executive. She is currently a member of the Fast Future Executive faculty and a co-author the "Fast Future Blur" (Wiley, 2024). She has taught at CalTech, NYU, Barnard, North Carolina State University, and New Mexico State University, as well as co-writing and co-teaching the Coursera course "What is the Metaverse?" on behalf of Meta. Index • 01:19– Cortney Harding’s Background • 03:41 – The Spatial Shift: The First Signs of a Meta-Physical Era • 09:59 – Lean-Forward Strategies for the AI Era • 16:19 – Teaching AI How to Work for Us • 21:46 – Designing the Spatial Era for Everyone: Access, Safety, and Trust • 33:05 – Small Moves, Big Readiness • 36:50 – The Innovation Cortney would most like to see gain adoption Links – • Friends with Holograms – https://www.friendswithholograms.com • “The Spatial Race” - The Spatial Race: How to Prepare for Our Future in the Meta-Physical World: Harding, Cortney: 9798294004132: Amazon.com: Books • Cortney Harding LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/cortneyharding/ If you enjoyed this podcast, be sure to subscribe to us on Soundcloud for more episodes and write us a review! Share this episode with anyone interested in unconventional ideas. Do you have questions, comments, insight on the topics discussed today? Send an email to [email protected] with Subject: “Culture of Innovation E36”! Follow Us On: iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/culture-of-innovation/id1537650821 Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/ce61f5ea-6e14-4056-bcf4-bdb2717eb9ca/culture-of-innovation Website: https://ridgeinnovative.com Twitter: https://twitter.com/nancy_ridge LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nancy-ridge-085988a YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCjEMawW6iUoDcQDjvtKTBzA Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/culture-of-innovation

Join Nancy Ridge, Founder of Ridge Innovative, and Robert Horsley for an insightful conversation on redefining identity in the digital age. Robert Horsley is the Chief Operating Officer and Chief Product Officer of Fragomen WorkRight™, where he leads the design and delivery of technology that transforms workforce compliance into a measurable advantage. With over two decades at Fragomen driving innovation across mobility, operations, and technology, Robert builds systems that combine legal integrity with usability at scale. He directs WorkRight’s product vision, developing tools that help global organizations stay audit-ready while simplifying how HR teams manage compliance in real time. Index • 01:11– Robert Horsely’s Background • 06:06 – Authenticity in the Age of Digital Illusions • 13:05 – Open Culture: The Engine of Next-Wave Innovation • 19:37 – Beyond Job Titles: Values as the New Stability • 23:58 – Trust in the Age of Deepfakes: Verifying the Digital Self • 32:14 – Leading With Purpose: The Core of Trust-Driven Innovation • 36:45 – The Innovation Robert would most like to see gain adoption Links – • Fragomen WorkRight™ – https://www.fragomen.com/ • Robert Horsley LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/robertjhorsley/ If you enjoyed this podcast, be sure to subscribe to us on Soundcloud for more episodes and write us a review! Share this episode with anyone interested in unconventional ideas. Do you have questions, comments, insight on the topics discussed today? Send an email to [email protected] with Subject: “Culture of Innovation E35”! Follow Us On: iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/culture-of-innovation/id1537650821 Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/ce61f5ea-6e14-4056-bcf4-bdb2717eb9ca/culture-of-innovation Website: https://ridgeinnovative.com Twitter: https://twitter.com/nancy_ridge LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nancy-ridge-085988a YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCjEMawW6iUoDcQDjvtKTBzA Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/culture-of-innovation

Join Nancy Ridge, Founder of Ridge Innovative, and Samrah Khan for an insightful conversation on AI shaping top trends in partnering. As the Head of SI Partnerships at Google Cloud, Samrah Khan stands at the forefront of revolutionizing cloud technology. Her profound expertise spans across Cloud Data and Analytics and AI. She has held several critical roles in engineering, product management and partner sales that contributed to company growth and previously led to IPOs. Renowned for her in-depth understanding of technology and merging that with business flows. Her extensive knowledge in multiple business and industry-specific arenas further enhances her ability to drive innovation and strategic partnerships for Google. Samrah is actively engaged in philanthropy projects, while mentoring and advising startups. She is a board member of Women of MENA in Tech and spends a lot of time on advancing the careers of women in Tech. Academically, Samrah has a Bachelors in Computer Science and Mathematics and currently resides in Bay Area, CA. Index • 00:52 – Samrah Khan’s Background • 05:50 – TAM for AI and why is it extraordinary • 11:10 – Navigating Complexity Through AI Integration • 18:36 – How AI Elevates Co-Selling Strategies • 24:18 – Rethinking Partner Fit in an AI-Driven World • 29:27 – How Google Enables the Next Wave of Partner Ecosystems • 34:03 – The Innovation Samrah would most like to see gain adoption Links – • Google Cloud – https://cloud.google.com/ • Samrah Khan LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/samrahk/ If you enjoyed this podcast, be sure to subscribe to us on Soundcloud for more episodes and write us a review! Share this episode with anyone interested in unconventional ideas. Do you have questions, comments, insight on the topics discussed today? Send an email to [email protected] with Subject: “Culture of Innovation E34”! Follow Us On: iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/culture-of-innovation/id1537650821 Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/ce61f5ea-6e14-4056-bcf4-bdb2717eb9ca/culture-of-innovation Website: https://ridgeinnovative.com Twitter: https://twitter.com/nancy_ridge LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nancy-ridge-085988a YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCjEMawW6iUoDcQDjvtKTBzA Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/culture-of-innovation

Join Nancy Ridge, Founder of Ridge Innovative, and Curtis Brinkerhoff for an insightful conversation on registration to orchestration, rewiring deal flow with AI. Curtis Brinkerhoff, the Chief Revenue Officer at Impartner, boasts a remarkable career spanning over two decades in the technology sector. His journey in the industry has seen him don pivotal roles such as Sales Director, VP, EVP, COO, and CRO, and led companies from $3M to over $100M in annual revenue. Throughout his tenure, he has not only spearheaded sales but has also led dynamic support, customer service, and marketing teams, showcasing his diverse business acumen and innovative problem-solving approach. This experience, combined with his commitment to innovation and excellence, positions Curtis uniquely in serving Impartner's market needs with utmost professionalism. He emphasizes bringing best-in-class solutions to the heart of the partnerships industry. Outside of work, Curtis is deeply passionate about philanthropy and service. He founded 'Giving is Living,' an organization devoted to long-term educational projects that have made impactful changes in countries like Ethiopia, Philippines, Brazil, and more. Index • 00:54 – Curtis Brinkerhoff’s Background • 05:32 – Evolution of traditional deal flow to the multi-party, AI-powered model • 08:22 – Using AI to measure and reward partner impact • 12:35 – The Distributor Renaissance in a Data-Powered Era • 16:31 – How AI Connects CRMs, Partner Tools, and Attribution • 19:52 – Ensuring Accurate Attribution in Complex Partner Journeys • 24:06 – Scaling Integrated, Customer-Centric Deal Flow • 31:20 – The Innovation Curtis would most like to see gain adoption Links – • Impartner - https://impartner.com/ • Curtis Brinkerhoff LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/curtis-brinkerhoff/ If you enjoyed this podcast, be sure to subscribe to us on Soundcloud for more episodes and write us a review! Share this episode with anyone interested in unconventional ideas. Do you have questions, comments, insight on the topics discussed today? Send an email to [email protected] with Subject: “Culture of Innovation E33”! Follow Us On: iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/culture-of-innovation/id1537650821 Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/ce61f5ea-6e14-4056-bcf4-bdb2717eb9ca/culture-of-innovation Website: https://ridgeinnovative.com Twitter: https://twitter.com/nancy_ridge LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nancy-ridge-085988a YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCjEMawW6iUoDcQDjvtKTBzA Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/culture-of-innovation

Join Nancy Ridge, Founder of Ridge Innovative, and Max Ferguson for an insightful conversation on reimagining workflows - exploring the intersection of trust, technology, and transformation. Max Ferguson is the Founder and CEO of Lumin, a global SaaS platform serving over 120 million users worldwide. Lumin delivers comprehensive document management solutions through a unified platform, including PDF editing, eSignature workflows, collaboration tools, and AI-powered features. The company serves high-growth startups and SMBs through to Fortune 500 enterprises, providing enterprise-grade security and functionality at every stage. Max’s leadership philosophy centers on building a culture of innovation that challenges industry standards and solves complex business problems at scale. Under his direction, Lumin has demonstrated that world-class technology companies can compete globally while maintaining operational excellence and customer-centric innovation. His experience scaling a SaaS platform to serve millions of users across diverse markets provides unique insights into building sustainable competitive advantages within the software landscape. Index • 01:26 – Max Ferguson’s Background • 03:35 – The Spark Behind Lumin: Tracing the Inflection Point of Innovation • 08:37 – Uncovering Deeper Value in the Unexpected Impact of Lumin • 14:10 – AI’s Deeper Disruption Rethinking Workflows and Systems • 20:38 – Tech for All: How Lumin Is Driving Digital Inclusion • 30:41 – Understanding Digital Trust in a Rapidly Changing Ecosystem • 36:03 – The New Gatekeepers of Digital Trust • 40:01 – The Innovation Max would most like to see gain adoption Links – • Lumin - https://www.luminpdf.com/ • Max Ferguson LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/maxkferg/ If you enjoyed this podcast, be sure to subscribe to us on Soundcloud for more episodes and write us a review! Share this episode with anyone interested in unconventional ideas. Do you have questions, comments, insight on the topics discussed today? Send an email to [email protected] with Subject: “Culture of Innovation E32”! Follow Us On: iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/culture-of-innovation/id1537650821 Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/ce61f5ea-6e14-4056-bcf4-bdb2717eb9ca/culture-of-innovation Website: https://ridgeinnovative.com Twitter: https://twitter.com/nancy_ridge LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nancy-ridge-085988a YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCjEMawW6iUoDcQDjvtKTBzA Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/culture-of-innovation

Join Nancy Ridge Founder of Ridge Innovative and Greg Sarafin for a great conversation rethinking GTM, from product push to platform power! Greg is the CEO of Sarafin Advisory, a firm that helps C-Suites and Boards navigate the opportunities and threats presented by the exponential growth of technology and AI. Greg is four decades into a career that has included senior leadership roles at Razorfish, BearingPoint, IBM, and EY. Index • 00:53 – Greg Sarafin’s Background • 01:42 – Unpacking the GTM Fallacy: It's Not Just Marketing or Sales • 04:21 – Selling vs. Enabling: Rethinking the Role of Sales • 17:47 – Moats Are Shifting—Is GTM Your New Defensible Edge? • 23:41 – When You're Not the Platform: Evolving Beyond Traditional Channels • 30:23 – From Founder to Flounder: The GTM Missteps to Skip • 35:14 – The innovation Greg would most like to see gain adoption Links – • Greg Sarafin LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/gsarafin/ If you enjoyed this podcast, be sure to subscribe to us on Soundcloud for more episodes and write us a review! Share this episode with anyone interested in unconventional ideas. Do you have questions, comments, insight on the topics discussed today? Send an email to [email protected] with Subject: “Culture of Innovation E31”! Follow Us On: iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/culture-of-innovation/id1537650821 Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/ce61f5ea-6e14-4056-bcf4-bdb2717eb9ca/culture-of-innovation Website: https://ridgeinnovative.com Twitter: https://twitter.com/nancy_ridge LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nancy-ridge-085988a YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCjEMawW6iUoDcQDjvtKTBzA Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/culture-of-innovation

Join Nancy Ridge Founder of Ridge Innovative and Jessica McDowell for a great conversation on the evolving culture of distributor platforms. Jessica is responsible for driving the strategic direction of the high growth technology market segments within TD SYNNEX’s North American Advanced Solutions business unit, managing relationships and key deliverables for more than 120 vendor partners. McDowell and her team work to deliver innovative routes to market that address industry trends, enabling partners to leverage TD SYNNEX' exclusive tools and services, and execute a best-in-class level of customer service that has earned numerous awards and accolades. Her team is also responsible for streamlining operational efficiencies and delivering the highest level of customer care from pre-sales to post-sales delivery. Prior to her current role, McDowell served as Vice President, Business Development within the Advanced Solutions practice from 2019 to 2022. She also held multiple leadership positions within the SYNNEX Corporation prior to its merger with Tech Data in September 2021, including as a Director, Business Development, from 2016-2019. McDowell has over 15 years of channel experience and has been named a CRN Channel Chief 2023-2025, along with earning a place on CRN’s Women of the Channel list in 2022-25. She graduated from the University of Tennessee and is a Greenville, South Carolina, native. Index • 01:33 – Jessica McDowell’s Background • 04:12 – Advancing from Field Rep to SVP: The Career Advantages Gained • 06:11 – Culture, Innovation, and AI: Evolving How Customers Buy and Partners Sell • 12:02 – Simplifying Complexity for a Better Customer Experience • 14:21 – Leading with Purpose: Embracing Servant Leadership in a Bold Era • 17:18 – Women in Tech: Advancing Leadership in a Challenging Landscape • 27:41 – The innovation Jessica would most like to see gain adoption Links – • TD SYNNEX - https://www.tdsynnex.com/ • Jessica McDowell LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/jessica-mcdowell/ • TD SYNNEX's annual Direction of Technology report - https://content.tdsynnex.com/dot/ If you enjoyed this podcast, be sure to subscribe to us on Soundcloud for more episodes and write us a review! Share this episode with anyone interested in unconventional ideas. Do you have questions, comments, insight on the topics discussed today? Send an email to [email protected] with Subject: “Culture of Innovation E30”! Follow Us On: iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/culture-of-innovation/id1537650821 Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/ce61f5ea-6e14-4056-bcf4-bdb2717eb9ca/culture-of-innovation Website: https://ridgeinnovative.com Twitter: https://twitter.com/nancy_ridge LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nancy-ridge-085988a YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCjEMawW6iUoDcQDjvtKTBzA Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/culture-of-innovation

Join Nancy Ridge Founder of Ridge Innovative and Simonne Eldridge for a great conversation on alliances beyond go to market. Simonne Eldridge brings over 35 years of experience in the planning, design, construction, operation, and governance of civil and environmental projects. Her career has taken her across the United Kingdom, Africa, the Middle East, Asia, Australia, and New Zealand, where she has held senior roles in professional services firms, construction companies, and client organizations. For the past two decades, Simonne has played a pivotal role at Tonkin + Taylor, serving in a range of governance, executive, and technical positions. Tonkin + Taylor, a firm with a proud 65-year history, was founded after Mr. Tonkin and Mr. Taylor met during the construction of the Auckland Harbour Bridge and decided to go into business together in 1959. Today, Tonkin + Taylor is a leading provider of environmental and engineering professional services, operating across New Zealand, Australia, the Pacific, and beyond. With two businesses in New Zealand and three in Australia, the company is also a proud member of the Inogen Alliance—a global network of around 70 professional services firms committed to delivering world-class environmental solutions. Index • 00:58 – Simonne Eldridge’s Background • 04:17 – Managing a complex world to deliver successful outcomes • 08:36 – Tonkin + Taylor projects, roles, and building an alliance • 15:05 – Differences in alliances & partnerships vs those found in tech or biopharma verticals • 17:34 – Most important metrics • 23:28 – Insights in cross over into other sectors • 28:33 – The innovation Simonne would most like to see gain adoption Links – • Tonkin + Taylor. - https://www.tonkintaylor.co.nz • Simonne Eldridge LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/simonne-eldridge-326b164a If you enjoyed this podcast, be sure to subscribe to us on Soundcloud for more episodes and write us a review! Share this episode with anyone interested in unconventional ideas. Do you have questions, comments, insight on the topics discussed today? Send an email to [email protected] with Subject: “Culture of Innovation E29”! Follow Us On: iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/culture-of-innovation/id1537650821 Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/ce61f5ea-6e14-4056-bcf4-bdb2717eb9ca/culture-of-innovation Website: https://ridgeinnovative.com Twitter: https://twitter.com/nancy_ridge LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nancy-ridge-085988a YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCjEMawW6iUoDcQDjvtKTBzA Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/culture-of-innovation

Join Nancy Ridge Founder of Ridge Innovative and Dina Moskowitz for a fascinating conversation on data that delivers and partners that perform. Dina Moskowitz is the Founder and CEO of PartnerOptimizer, Inc., the first AI-powered platform purpose-built for data-driven channel partner discovery in B2B tech. Recognized as a Partner Data Futurist, she’s spent her career leading and advising tech companies and partner ecosystem teams. Under her leadership, PartnerOptimizer is setting the standard for how vendors identify, segment, and grow high-performing partner ecosystems—empowering companies of all sizes with intelligence previously out of reach. She was recently named one of Women in Cloud’s Top 100 Women B2B Tech Founders and has earned accolades including Top Women in the Channel, Cloud Girls Trailblazer, and Top 20 Channel Influencer. A La Jolla resident and passionate advocate for women in STEM and SaaS, Dina holds a B.S. in Economics from The Wharton School of Business. Index • 01:10 – Dina Moskowitz’s Background • 04:02 – How PIPE works • 09:45 – Specific ways data and the use of AI can bring results • 14:06 – Innovations seen in platform selling to leverage network effects • 16:45 – How data delivers in ecosystem optimization and how it’s working for enterprises • 25:33 – How the customer at the center of all successful alliances and partnerships serving the customer • 33:24 – The innovation Dina would most like to see gain adoption Links – • PartnerOptimizer, Inc. - https://partneroptimizer.com/ • PartnerOptimizer, Inc. LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/partneroptimizersaasmax • Dina Moskowitz LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/dinamoskowitz/ If you enjoyed this podcast, be sure to subscribe to us on Soundcloud for more episodes and write us a review! Share this episode with anyone interested in unconventional ideas. Do you have questions, comments, insight on the topics discussed today? Send an email to [email protected] with Subject: “Culture of Innovation E28”! Follow Us On: iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/culture-of-innovation/id1537650821 Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/ce61f5ea-6e14-4056-bcf4-bdb2717eb9ca/culture-of-innovation Website: https://ridgeinnovative.com Twitter: https://twitter.com/nancy_ridge LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nancy-ridge-085988a YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCjEMawW6iUoDcQDjvtKTBzA Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/culture-of-innovation

Join Nancy Ridge Founder of Ridge Innovative and Pradeep Suchdeo for a fascinating conversation on solving complexity in revenue operations! Pradeep Suchdeo is the Co-Founder and Chief Product Officer at SETTL, where Pradeep is building the first partner revenue operations platform to track, manage and reconcile partner-based revenue, commissions and incentives; a platform that bridges the gap between partner operations, revenue operations and finance operations. As An innovator, his approach to strategy and product development is driven by deep domain expertise in revenue operations combined with a pragmatic understanding of business drivers and market dynamics. Previously, Pradeep held leadership roles at Oracle, Zuora and Aria Systems, managing large scale Quote-to-Cash and Lead to Revenue transformations for Fortune 500 organizations driving greater revenue, optimizing operations and improving governance. With an ROI centric mindset, he brings a hands-on problem-solving perspective, helping businesses setup an operational foundation designed to capture market share, enable operational scale and improve cash flow and margins. Index • 01:07 – Pradeep Suchdeo’s Background • 04:05 – Why and how SETTL was formed • 09:40 – How a CFO find clarity in all this complexity • 12:28 – Meaningful attribution data to support strategies • 19:28 – Opportunity for innovation in existing systems for compliance • 22:27 – How AI is disrupting pricing models • 34:26 – The innovation Alyssa would most like to see gain adoption Links – • SETTL - https://settl.pro • SETTL LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/settl-io • Pradeep Suchdeo LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/pradeepsuchdeo If you enjoyed this podcast, be sure to subscribe to us on Soundcloud for more episodes and write us a review! Share this episode with anyone interested in unconventional ideas. Do you have questions, comments, insight on the topics discussed today? Send an email to [email protected] with Subject: “Culture of Innovation E27”! Follow Us On: iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/culture-of-innovation/id1537650821 Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/ce61f5ea-6e14-4056-bcf4-bdb2717eb9ca/culture-of-innovation Website: https://ridgeinnovative.com Twitter: https://twitter.com/nancy_ridge LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nancy-ridge-085988a YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCjEMawW6iUoDcQDjvtKTBzA Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/culture-of-innovation Release Date: 19 February 2025

Join Nancy Ridge Founder of Ridge Innovative and Alyssa Ozer for a fascinating conversation about partners from a GSI perspective! Alyssa Ozer is a Global Alliance Driver at PwC, where she leads strategic alliances and fosters cross-functional collaboration to drive business growth. With a strong background in alliance management and business development, Alyssa has held key roles across several organizations. Before joining PwC, she served as Chief of Staff to the CEO of a hypergrowth healthcare startup, held various roles in the global alliance and business development organization at EY and led the expansion of her family's insurance business from Florida into Georgia. Her earlier experience includes roles in project management and business development in IT, hospitality and education organizations. Alyssa’s expertise in strategic partnerships, team collaboration, and results delivery has made her a trusted leader in driving success within an alliance organization. Her passion for bringing people together to accomplish a common goal, whether in her professional life or her community, is what drives Alyssa. As a mom to two girls, Alyssa is dedicated to demonstrating that empowering others, especially encouraging women to support each other, is one of the most important things a leader can do. Index • 01:06 – Alyssa Ozer’s Background • 06:47 – Evolving role of alliances and partners • 10:26 – Joint Value Proposition and ways it has impacted strategic initiatives • 16:24 – Progress on partner program and ecosystem metrics • 24:20 – Partner programs in 2025 • 31:50 – Opportunity for progress on women in tech • 40:04 – The innovation Alyssa would most like to see gain adoption Links – • PwC: https://www.pwc.com • Female Panel @ Guidewire Connections sponsored & moderated by PwC: https://youtu.be/do9XztWTbKk?si=1Cw5GzakdQNz0bdX • The Grocery Spot: https://thegroceryspot.org/ • Alyssa Ozer’s Grandmother, Annette Willis: https://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/community/miami-dade/community-voices/article293776729.html • Alyssa Ozer’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alyssawillisozer If you enjoyed this podcast, be sure to subscribe to us on Soundcloud for more episodes and write us a review! Share this episode with anyone interested in unconventional ideas. Do you have questions, comments, insight on the topics discussed today? Send an email to [email protected] with Subject: “Culture of Innovation E26”! Follow Us On: iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/culture-of-innovation/id1537650821 Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/ce61f5ea-6e14-4056-bcf4-bdb2717eb9ca/culture-of-innovation Website: https://ridgeinnovative.com Twitter: https://twitter.com/nancy_ridge LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nancy-ridge-085988a YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCjEMawW6iUoDcQDjvtKTBzA Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/culture-of-innovation Release Date: 21 January 2025

Join Nancy Ridge Founder of Ridge Innovative and Mary Wells for a fascinating conversation on shaping culture that drives success! Chief Marketing Officer Mary Wells has 25 years of global marketing leadership experience in the software industry. Prior to Cloudera, she served as CMO of enterprise IT management software provider ASG Technologies from 2017 until its 2021 sale to Rocket Software. Prior to that she held marketing leadership roles at HPE, Axeda, Kalido, BEA Systems, BroadVision, and Sybase. Mary has extensive experience in strategic marketing initiatives as well as sales alignment, operations, and enablement. She holds a bachelor of science degree in marketing and organizational behavior from Boston College and has attended numerous executive leadership programs. Mary also serves on the board of many organizations associated with animal advocacy, elderly advocacy, and mentoring. She is a frequent guest speaker. Index • 01:29 – Mary Wells Background • 03:57 – Finding yourself in the burgeoning software industry • 15:06 – Lessons in leadership essential for driving collaboration across diverse stakeholder groups • 22:24 – Mary’s perspective putting value on employee experience and generating revenue • 25:00 – Attuning to customer needs while leveraging an ecosystem of employees and partners • 33:52 – The innovation Mary would most like to see gain adoption Links – Cloudera: https://cloudera.com Women Leaders in Technology (WLIT): https://www.cloudera.com/about/women-leaders-in-technology.html WLIT community on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/groups/13104138 Mary Wells’ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/maryhwells If you enjoyed this podcast, be sure to subscribe to us on Soundcloud for more episodes and write us a review! Share this episode with anyone interested in unconventional ideas. Do you have questions, comments, insight on the topics discussed today? Send an email to [email protected] with Subject: “Culture of Innovation E25”! Follow Us On: iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/culture-of-innovation/id1537650821 Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/ce61f5ea-6e14-4056-bcf4-bdb2717eb9ca/culture-of-innovation Website: https://ridgeinnovative.com Twitter: https://twitter.com/nancy_ridge LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nancy-ridge-085988a YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCjEMawW6iUoDcQDjvtKTBzA Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/culture-of-innovation Release Date: 17 December 2024

Join Nancy Ridge Founder of Ridge Innovative and Sangeet Paul Choudary for a fascinating conversation on the role of re-bundling in ecosystem innovation. Sangeet Paul Choudary is the best-selling author of Platform Revolution and Platform Scale and has advised CXOs at more than 40 of the Fortune 500 firms on platform strategy. Sangeet has been selected as a Young Global Leader by the World Economic Forum and his work on platforms has been selected by Harvard Business Review as one of the top 10 ideas in strategy, alongside Michael Porter, Clayton Christensen and others. He has been featured on four occasions in the HBR Top 10 Must Reads compilations. Sangeet is appointed to the advisory boards of ING, Standard Bank, GPA Brazil, and others and has formerly served as a member of the WEF's Global Future Council, the co-chair of the MIT Platform Strategy Summit, and a member of the ministerial advisory committee at the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, Govt of India. He has also served as an innovation evangelist for brands like Microsoft, AT&T, SAP, and Oracle. He is a frequent keynote speaker at leading global forums including the G20 Summit, the World50 Summit, and the World Economic Forum. Index • 01:15 – Sangeet Paul Choudary Background • 03:25 – Overview and economics behind unbundling and re-bundling • 11:47 – How does the move to specialization and partnering expand and enable the opportunity and what part do technologies like AL and ML play? • 16:53 – Fast Future Blur • 21:37 – What parts do standards and platforms play in growth and governance of these new models? • 27:52 – Skills needed to successfully expand beyond traditional pipeline models • 35:06 – What innovation would you like most like to see gain adoption? Links – Platform Thinking Labs: https://platformthinkinglabs.com Ecosystem Strategy Mapping Report: https://platforms.substack.com/p/ecosystem-strategy-mapping-report Ecosystem Innovation Playbook: https://platformthinkinglabs.com/ecosystem-innovation-playbook/ Twitter: https://x.com/sanguit LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sangeetpaul If you enjoyed this podcast, be sure to subscribe to us on Soundcloud for more episodes and write us a review! Share this episode with anyone interested in unconventional ideas. Do you have questions, comments, insight on the topics discussed today? Send an email to [email protected] with Subject: “Culture of Innovation E24”! Follow Us On: iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/culture-of-innovation/id1537650821 Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/ce61f5ea-6e14-4056-bcf4-bdb2717eb9ca/culture-of-innovation Website: https://ridgeinnovative.com Twitter: https://twitter.com/nancy_ridge LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nancy-ridge-085988a YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCjEMawW6iUoDcQDjvtKTBzA Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/culture-of-innovation Release Date: 6 November 2024