Best Leapfrog Technology Podcasts (2025)

1
Predicting a brighter future for Africa 20:50

5d ago20:50

20:50

Host Landry Signé and fellow futurist Jakkie Cilliers, founder of the Institute for Security Studies and head of its African Futures Innovation Programme, discuss the importance of evidence-based forecasting for preparing for shaping a brighter future in and for Africa and how youth are key to achieving the best-case scenarios for African economies…

1
Namibia’s foreign minister on the transformative impact of trade and foreign policy for Africa’s development 22:56

19d ago22:56

22:56

Host Landry Signé speaks with Hon. Selma Ashipala-Musavyi, Namibia’s minister for international relations and trade, and seasoned career diplomat, on the need for African countries to think locally while acting continentally, and how agreements like the AfCFTA and a spirit of solidarity among African countries create opportunities for Africans and …

1
From Legacy to Leapfrog: AI Innovation at Avnet with SVP & CIO Max Chan 28:32

26d ago28:32

28:32

On the 54th episode of Enterprise AI Innovators, hosts Evan Reiser (Abnormal AI) and Saam Motamedi (Greylock Partners) talk with Max Chan, Senior Vice President and Chief Information Officer at Avnet. Avnet is a $20 billion global technology distribution company that plays a critical role in the electronics supply chain, supporting the design, prod…

1
Population dividend, technological leapfrogging, and high growth rates signal opportunities for African economies 28:22

1M ago28:22

28:22

Host Landry Signé speaks with Acha Leke, chairman of McKinsey & Company’s Africa Region and senior partner in their Johannesburg office, about Africa’s many advantages in human and natural resources. Leke explains how different actors, from family-owned businesses to national governments and international investors, can align themselves to benefit …

1
The Future of AI-Powered Supply Chains with Prologis CTO Sineesh Keshav 30:25

2M ago30:25

30:25

On the 53rd episode of Enterprise AI Innovators, hosts Evan Reiser (Abnormal AI) and Saam Motamedi (Greylock Partners) talk with Sineesh Keshav, Chief Technology Officer at Prologis. With over 1.3 billion square feet under management and over 8 billion in revenue, Prologis is the world's largest logistics real estate company. In this conversation, …

1
Democratic resilience in Africa (and Kenya) takes many forms 28:19

2M ago28:19

28:19

Foresight Africa host Landry Signé and Drs. Oscar Otele and Danielle Resnick examine the nuances of the state of democracy across Africa, providing insights into strategies for democratic resiliency moving forward. Show notes and transcript Foresight Africa podcast is part of the Brookings Podcast Network. Subscribe and listen on Apple, Spotify, Af…

1
Modernizing a 100-Year-Old Institution: AI at TIAA with Chief Operating, Information & Digital Officer Sastry Durvasula 30:58

2M ago30:58

30:58

On the 52nd episode of Enterprise AI Innovators, host Evan Reiser (Abnormal AI) talks with Sastry Durvasula, Senior Executive Vice President and Chief Operating, Information, and Digital Officer at TIAA. Serving the investment and retirement needs of over 5 million customers, TIAA is a Fortune 500 financial services company with $40 billion in reve…

1
Partnerships elevate Africa’s development successes 30:41

2M ago30:41

30:41

On this episode of Foresight Africa, hosted by Landry Signé, Gargee Ghosh, president of Global Policy and Advocacy at the Gates Foundation, explains why collaborative, context-specific, and innovative solutions elevate development success across Africa. Show notes and transcript Foresight Africa podcast is part of the Brookings Podcast Network. Sub…

1
Meet African girls’ educational needs by listening to their experiences 36:15

2M ago36:15

36:15

Adefunke Ekine and Mary Otieno, university educators from Nigeria and Kenya respectively, and alumnae of the Echidna Scholars Program at Brookings, talk with Foresight Africa host Landry Signé on why innovation and listening to girls’ stories are crucial to advancing girls’ education across Africa. Show notes and transcript Foresight Africa podcast…

1
From Automation to Agentic AI with Nextdoor CIO Shyam Bhojwani 39:38

3M ago39:38

39:38

On the 51st episode of Enterprise AI Innovators, host Evan Reiser (Abnormal AI) talks with Shyam Bhojwani, Chief Information Officer at Nextdoor. With millions of users across the U.S., the U.K., and Canada, Nextdoor is one of the largest neighborhood-based platforms in the world, connecting communities with real-time information, local recommendat…

1
How the World Bank is advancing shared prosperity and jobs in Africa amid global economic uncertainty 27:02

3M ago27:02

27:02

During the World Bank/IMF Spring Meetings in Washington, D.C., Foresight Africa host Landry Signé caught up with Axel van Trotsenburg, senior managing director of the World Bank, who spoke about how to mobilize the private sector to help create more jobs for African youth in the coming years, while also addressing the debt distress crisis many Afri…

1
On site with leaders at the World Bank/IMF Spring Meetings 2025 34:57

3M ago34:57

34:57

During the World Bank/IMF Spring Meetings in April 2025, Foresight Africa podcast host Landry Signé interviewed leaders in the global finance and development space to glean their key takeaways from the meetings and how they might shape policy decisions and deliver tangible results across Africa. In this special episode, you will hear highlights fro…

1
To reduce inequality in Nigeria, focus on jobs, laws, and cash 28:57

3M ago28:57

28:57

Host Landry Signé and Belinda Archibong, a fellow with the Africa Growth Initiative at Brookings, discuss inequalities that hinder development across Africa and policy choices that can overcome them. These include increasing job opportunities for women and youth, passing laws against gender and youth discrimination, and providing access to financia…

1
Rethinking South-North cooperation across the Atlantic in a shifting global economy 31:12

4M ago31:12

31:12

Host Landry Signé and Dr. Karim El Aynaoui, executive president of the Policy Center for the New South, discuss the rapid shift toward transactional relationships between countries in the South and North that may prove difficult for less stable countries in the New South to navigate. Macroeconomic stability and independent monetary policy are funda…

1
Why do some African countries perform better for their citizens than others? 27:25

4M ago27:25

27:25

Foresight Africa host Landry Signé discusses the findings of the Mo Ibrahim Foundation’s newest governance index with Nathalie Delapalme, the Foundation’s CEO. Countries that have continued to make progress, she says, have done so by putting equal emphasis on all four dimensions of governance: human development, sustainable economic opportunity, se…

1
The African Continental Free Trade Area is a game changer for both African and global economies 22:52

5M ago22:52

22:52

The African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA) provides a blueprint for the continent to overcome development challenges through intra-African trade that is economically and environmentally sustainable. On this episode of Foresight Africa, host Landry Signé talks with AfCFTA Secretary-General Wamkele Mene, who shares his vision of how the wo…

1
Nobel laureate in economics explains why African societies are ready for rapid economic development 22:54

5M ago22:54

22:54

Foresight Africa podcast host Landry Signé speaks with James Robinson, 2024 Nobel Laureate in economics and University Professor at the University of Chicago’s Harris School of Public Policy, about the critical importance of societal institutions in driving economic prosperity in Africa and the imperative of homegrown solutions in unlocking the con…

1
How Western Digital Balances AI, Automation, and 24/7 Operations with SVP and CISO Sesh Tirumala 21:03

6M ago21:03

21:03

On the 50th episode of Enterprise AI Innovators, hosts Evan Reiser (Abnormal Security) and Saam Motamedi (Greylock Partners) talk with Sesh Tirumala, Senior Vice President and Chief Information Officer at Western Digital. Western Digital is one of the world's largest data storage manufacturers, with over 51,000 employees, 13,000 patents, and $13 bi…

1
National Geographic Explorers discuss African filmmakers’ role in conservation, economic development, and storytelling for Africa 46:09

6M ago46:09

46:09

Landry Signé speaks with National Geographic Explorers Noel Kok and Pragna Parsotam-Kok about their work to create a network of African conservation filmmakers to highlight African voices and engage African audiences. Kok and Parsotam-Kok are co-founders and executive directors of Nature, Environment & Wildlife Filmmakers (NEWF). Show notes and tra…

1
New AGI Director Pierre Nguimkeu calls for a true African perspective in research and policy advice about Africa 17:57

6M ago17:57

17:57

In episode one of the fourth season of Foresight Africa podcast, host Landry Signe talks with the new director of the Africa Growth Initiative, Pierre Nguimkeu, who talks about his research priorities for AGI in the coming year. Show notes and transcript Foresight Africa podcast is part of the Brookings Podcast Network. Subscribe and listen on Appl…

1
Breaking News in AI with The Washington Post Chief Technology Officer Vineet Khosla 32:13

6M ago32:13

32:13

On the 49th episode of Enterprise AI Innovators, hosts Evan Reiser (Abnormal Security) and Saam Motamedi (Greylock Partners) talk with Vineet Khosla, Chief Technology Officer of The Washington Post. The Washington Post is the third-largest newspaper in the United States, with 135,000 print subscribers and 2 and half million digital subscribers. In …

1
Introducing Season 4 of Foresight Africa podcast 3:31

7M ago3:31

3:31

With 2030 on the horizon—the looming deadline for the Sustainable Development Goals, now is a critical time to assess the progress, gaps, and road ahead for the top policy and development priorities for Africa, U.S.-Africa relations, and the continent’s broader global partnerships. In season four of Foresight Africa podcast, host Landry Signé, seni…

1
The Future of AI Banking with Ally Chief Information, Data, & Digital Officer Sathish Muthukrishnane 22:36

8M ago22:36

22:36

On the 48th episode of Enterprise AI Innovators, hosts Evan Reiser (Abnormal Security) and Saam Motamedi (Greylock Partners) talk with Sathish Muthukrishnan, Chief Information, Data, and Digital Officer of Ally Financial. Ally is an American bank holding company, with over $8 billion in annual revenue and over 11,000 employees. The company provides…

1
Innovation at the Edge: How AI Transforms the Enterprise with Bain Global CIO & CTO Ramesh Razdan 30:10

9M ago30:10

30:10

On the 47th episode of Enterprise Software Innovators, hosts Evan Reiser (Abnormal Security) and Saam Motamedi (Greylock Partners) talk with Ramesh Razdan, Global CIO & CTO of Bain & Company. Bain & Company is a “Big Three” management consulting firm with 65 global offices, 19,000 employees, and over $8 billion in annual revenue. Bain helps Fortune…

1
Inside TransUnion's AI Evolution with CIO Munir Hafez 27:22

10M ago27:22

27:22

On the 46th episode of Enterprise Software Innovators, host Evan Reiser (Abnormal Security) talks with Munir Hafez, CIO of TransUnion. TransUnion specializes in credit reporting, fraud detection, and data analytics. With over 19,000 employees and over $3.6 billion in annual revenue, the company impacts more than a billion people worldwide. In this …

1
Advancing tech, innovation, and AI governance in Africa 29:15

10M ago29:15

29:15

Rwanda has made impressive progress in driving inclusive digitalization across its economy. By harnessing data-driven insights, the country has empowered evidence-based policymaking, fostered innovation, and catalyzed digital transformation of Rwandan society. In this episode, host Landry Signé speaks with Crystal Rugege, managing director of Rwand…

1
Unlocking the Practical Power of AI to Drive Enterprise Innovation with Grainger CTO Jonny LeRoy 29:57

10M ago29:57

29:57

On the 45th episode of Enterprise Software Innovators, hosts Evan Reiser (Abnormal Security) and Saam Motamedi (Greylock Partners) talk with Jonny LeRoy, CTO of Grainger. Grainger is a Fortune 500 industrial supply company, ensuring seamless operations for a broad range of customers, from hospitals to manufacturing plants and everything in between.…

1
The promise of free trade and integration across Africa’s nations 40:37

10M ago40:37

40:37

The African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) aims to create one market across the 55 countries of the African Union, promising free movement of goods, services, investment, people, and cooperation. In this episode, host Landry Signé speaks with Francis Mangeni and Andrew Mold, both experts on African trade and regional integration, about the st…

1
Why the climate crisis is a generational opportunity for Africa 31:22

11M ago31:22

31:22

Climate change is one of the biggest challenges the continent of Africa faces, but with severe challenges come generational opportunities. In this episode, host Landry Signé interviews Vera Songwe, chair of the board of the Liquidity and Sustainability Facility and a Brookings Africa Growth Initiative nonresident senior fellow, about those opportun…

1
From Noise to Signal: How AI is Shaping the Future of IT with Cloudflare CIO Mike Hamilton 27:45

11M ago27:45

27:45

On the 44th episode of Enterprise Software Innovators, host Evan Reiser (Abnormal Security) talks with Mike Hamilton, CIO of Cloudflare. Cloudflare is a cloud connectivity company that helps businesses deliver content and applications worldwide while keeping them secure. More than 20% of all internet traffic flows through Cloudflare’s networks, mak…

1
Angola’s innovative approach to managing debt distress 30:48

11M ago30:48

30:48

Angola has faced waves of economic uncertainty over the last decade—from oil price shocks in 2014 and 2023 to the spillover effects’ of COVID-19. Despite these challenges, Angola is determined to manage the ramifications to its economy. Host Landry Signé is joined by Angola's minister of finance, Vera Esperança dos Santos Daves de Sousa, to discuss…

1
What’s on the World Economic Forum’s agenda for Africa? 20:31

12M ago20:31

20:31

The African Union’s Agenda 2063 and the African Free Continental Trade Agreement (AfCFTA) are two examples of landmark efforts to positively transform the continent. Host Landry Signé is joined by Chido Munyati, the head of Africa at the World Economic Forum, to discuss how the program is supporting these unprecedented initiatives. Munyati shares t…

1
How AI is Revolutionizing Digital Marketing with Intuit Mailchimp SVP & CTO Jack Tam 21:53

1y ago21:53

21:53

On the 43rd episode of Enterprise Software Innovators, host Evan Reiser (Abnormal Security) talks with Jack Tam, SVP & CTO of Intuit Mailchimp. Intuit Mailchimp is a comprehensive email marketing and automation platform leveraging advanced AI-driven tools to create personalized, data-driven marketing campaigns. In this conversation, Jack shares ins…

1
Addressing public procurement barriers will empower women-owned businesses in Africa 26:56

1y ago26:56

26:56

Public procurement is the system of laws and operational arrangements that allows the public sector, including the government, to purchase goods and services, with the aim to maximize social welfare and do public good. However, many African countries fail to address legal and social impediments women-owned businesses face when trying to participate…

1
Shifting the narrative on AI in Africa 24:30

1y ago24:30

24:30

Artificial intelligence’s acceleration has increased the need for data regulation and privacy protections globally. Chinasa Okolo joins host Landry Signé to discuss AI’s impact on the African continent and the continent’s current policy landscape. Okolo explains why a lack of policy and privacy protection is harmful, and how to design an inclusive …

1
Enlightening the Future of AI and Photonics with Excelitas Technologies EVP & CIO Amit Shah 31:14

1y ago31:14

31:14

On the 42nd episode of Enterprise Software Innovators, host Evan Reiser (Abnormal Security) talks with Amit Shah, EVP & CIO of Excelitas Technologies. Excelitas is a global technology company specializing in generating and sensing light in photonics. In this conversation, Amit shares insights into how Excelitas utilizes AI to enhance its photonic t…

1
A fairer credit rating system for African countries could save billions 44:17

1y ago44:17

44:17

Subjectivity and bias in credit ratings cost African countries up to $24 billion in interest and over $46 billion in foregone lending. On this episode, host Landry Signé is joined by Raymond Gilpin and Daouda Sembene to discuss their 2024 Foresight Africa piece “Making Africa’s credit ratings more objective.” Gilpin and Sembene discuss the reasons …

1
Expanding digital entrepreneurship in Africa 30:36

1y ago30:36

30:36

Africa has a growing problem: a large population of youth and working-age people with limited employment opportunities. She Leads Africa co-founder Afua Osei joins host Landry Signé to discuss the role entrepreneurs play in closing that gap. Highlighting the importance of technological access, the Africa diaspora and the outsourcing of digital tale…

1
African policymakers have the tools to make Africa globally competitive 30:09

1y ago30:09

30:09

Policymakers have the tools to make Africa globally competitive as a continent. With an increasingly young and underemployed population, there is a large gap between the continent’s current stasis and its potential for economic growth. Landry Signé is joined by Zouera Youssoufou, CEO of the Aliko Dangote Foundation, to discuss how proper investment…

1
Transforming Retail Through AI with Former Giant Eagle EVP & CIO Kirk Ball 28:15

1y ago28:15

28:15

On the 41st episode of Enterprise Software Innovators, hosts Evan Reiser (Abnormal Security) and Saam Motamedi (Greylock Partners) talk with Kirk Ball, former EVP & CIO of Giant Eagle. Giant Eagle is one of the largest regional supermarket chains in the United States, with over 37,000 employees and more than $11 billion in annual revenue. In this c…

1
New trends in Africa-Asia economic relations 30:59

1y ago30:59

30:59

Africa’s relationship with Asia has changed dramatically over the last few decades. From little economic integration in the early 1990s to the strong trade partnerships seen today, the regions are now strongly intertwined. The continents also face similar economic and development challenges and share colonial histories and cultural values. Host Lan…

1
Measuring African perspectives on democracy and governance 38:49

1y ago38:49

38:49

Africa experienced a wave of democratic unrest from 2020-23, with seven countries—Mali, Chad, Guinea, Sudan, Burkina Faso, Niger, and Gabon—falling to military coups during this time. Why? Host Landry Signé and his guest Joseph Asunka. CEO of Afrobarometer, a pan-African survey research network, discuss Africans’ views on democracy and governance, …

1
Supercharging Enterprise Operations with AI with Lexmark Global CTO & CIO Vishal Gupta 25:24

1+ y ago25:24

25:24

On the 40th episode of Enterprise Software Innovators, hosts Evan Reiser (Abnormal Security) and Saam Motamedi (Greylock Partners) talk with Vishal Gupta, Global CTO & CIO of Lexmark. With over 9,000 employees in 170 countries, Lexmark is a global technology company specializing in printing solutions and cloud-enabled IoT imaging technology. In thi…

1
What African countries risk if they don’t accelerate their digital transformation 33:37

1+ y ago33:37

33:37

African countries lag behind G20 nations in their digital infrastructure and risk falling behind in their economic development and exacerbating existing inequalities. Host Landry Signé and his guest Haroon Bhorat of Cape Town University—co-authors of new research on how to foster an inclusive digital economy in Africa—discuss the indicators of digi…

1
Africa’s opportunities for change and transformation 32:55

1+ y ago32:55

32:55

Aloysius Uche Ordu, director of the Africa Growth Initiative (AGI) at Brookings, and Landry Signé, AGI senior fellow, discuss the vulnerabilities and opportunities facing nations on the African continent. From climate change to political instability, positive economic growth to increasing life expectancy, Ordu and Signé offer their perspectives on …

1
Empowering Teams Through AI Skills Enablement with LexisNexis Chief Information Officer Reena Tiwari 25:26

1+ y ago25:26

25:26

On the 39th episode of Enterprise Software Innovators, host Evan Reiser (Abnormal Security) talks with Reena Tiwari, Chief Information Officer of LexisNexis. With over 10,000 employees in over 160 countries, LexisNexis is the global leader in tooling and resources for legal research, boasting the world’s largest database for legal and public record…

1
AI and the Future of Insurance with Travelers EVP and Chief Technology & Operations Officer Mojgan Lefebvre 23:49

1+ y ago23:49

23:49

On the 38th episode of Enterprise Software Innovators, hosts Evan Reiser (Abnormal Security) and Saam Motamedi (Greylock Partners) talk with Mojgan Lefebvre, EVP and Chief Technology & Operations Officer of Travelers. Travelers is a Fortune 500 insurance company offering a range of insurance products to customers across the globe. With over $41 bil…

1
Empowering Your Enterprise Through Generative AI with Asana CIO Saket Srivastava 28:25

1+ y ago28:25

28:25

On the 37th episode of Enterprise Software Innovators, hosts Evan Reiser (Abnormal Security) and Saam Motamedi (Greylock Partners) talk with Saket Srivastava, CIO of Asana. Asana is a leader in project management platforms, allowing teams to stay organized, communicate effectively, and achieve their project goals efficiently. Asana has more than 13…

1
Leveraging AI to Transform the Future of Global Logistics with FedEx EVP & CIO Rob Carter 29:53

1+ y ago29:53

29:53

On the 36th episode of Enterprise Software Innovators, hosts Evan Reiser (Abnormal Security) and Saam Motamedi (Greylock Partners) talk with Rob Carter, EVP & CIO of FedEx. FedEx is a multinational courier delivery services company with over $90 billion in annual revenue and is the fifth largest employer in the US, with more than 500,000 workers gl…

1
The Road Ahead: Pioneering the Future of Mobility with Goodyear SVP of Global Operations and CTO Chris Helsel 30:56

1+ y ago30:56

30:56

On the 35th episode of Enterprise Software Innovators, hosts Evan Reiser (Abnormal Security) and Saam Motamedi (Greylock Partners) talk with Chris Helsel, SVP of Global Operations and CTO of The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company. Goodyear is a leading vehicle equipment manufacturer known for producing tires and rubber products for diverse applications…

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