This year in CX transformation: Tech shifts that defined 2023 - AI, automation, content strategy and more

People Changing Enterprises

#MBA #Business #Varia Makagonova #Enterprise #Leadership #Transformation #Tech #Marketing #Technology

33:20

ChatGPT Agent is here! ↳ What the heck is it? ↳ How does it work? ↳ What do you need to know? Glad you asked, shorties. Join us for the answers. Square keeps up so you don't have to slow down. Get everything you need to run and grow your business—without any long-term commitments. And why wait? Right now, you can get up to $200 off Square hardware at square.com/go/jordan. Run your business smarter with Square. Get started today. Newsletter: Sign up for our free daily newsletter More on this Episode: Episode Page Join the discussion: Thoughts on this? Join the convo and connect with other AI leaders on LinkedIn. Upcoming Episodes: Check out the upcoming Everyday AI Livestream lineup Website: YourEverydayAI.com Email The Show: info@youreverydayai.com Connect with Jordan on LinkedIn Topics Covered in This Episode: ChatGPT Agent Mode Overview & Naming Live ChatGPT Agent Demo Walkthrough ChatGPT Agent Mode Availability & Pricing Operator vs. Deep Research Capabilities Explained ChatGPT Agent Virtual Computer Functions Spreadsheet and PowerPoint Generation in ChatGPT Mini RAG-Ready Agents with Data Connectors ChatGPT Agent Security and Biological Risk Classification Timestamps: 00:00 "Introducing ChatGPT Agent" 03:41 Potential Delay for Paid Plan Rollout 09:24 "Chat GPT Agent: New Tools Overview" 12:44 OpenAI-Microsoft Tensions Over Software Overlap 16:42 "ChatGPT's New RAG Feature Unveiled" 21:55 AI Agent with Weapon Risk 23:31 Agent Models: Boon or Bane? 29:05 "Agent Mode: Seamless Editing Integration" Keywords: ChatGPT Agent, Agent Mode, OpenAI, virtual computer, Agentic skills, Operator, Deep Research, browsing websites, web research, synthesizing information, Microsoft competitor, PowerPoint creation, Excel spreadsheet creation, terminal access, public API integration, connectors, data analysis, image generation, multi-agent environments, retrieval augmented generation, mini RAG, AI operating system, human-in-the-loop, security concerns, biology classifier, biological weapons classification, chemical weapons classification, O3 model, Google Gemini 2.5 Pro, agentic models, AI workflows, editable slide deck, Microsoft Office alternative, AI-powered presentations, spreadsheet automation, cloud-based agents, AI task automation, calendar integration, Gmail connector, Send Everyday AI and Jordan a text message. (We can't reply back unless you leave contact info) Square keeps up so you don't have to slow down. Get everything you need to run and grow your business—without any long-term commitments. And why wait? Right now, you can get up to $200 off Square hardware at square.com/go/jordan. Run your business smarter with Square. Get started today.…

2 years ago 18:41

MP3•Episode home

Jasmin Guthmann, Head of Corporate Communications, Contentstack
Vasu Kothamasu, GM and Head of Engineering, Contentstack
Nishant Patel, CTO, Contentstack
Conor Egan, VP Product, Contentstack
Neha Sampat, CEO, Contentstack

Timestamps:

0:59 How has business to customer communication changed over the past year? (Jasmin Guthmann)
2:34 The challenge and promise of personalization (Vasu Kothamasu)
4:24 How the AI landscape changed in 2023 (Nishant Patel)
6:16 Is this the year of true hyper-personalization? (Nishant Patel)
7:46 Practical implications of AI for businesses (Conor Egan)
9:47 Unlock efficiency with automation (Conor Egan)
11:28 Why composable is the way forward, and how to make composable transformation successful (Vasu Kothamasu)
13:57 Navigating periods of significant change (Neha Sampat)
15:59 Advice for businesses heading into 2024 (Neha Sampat)

55 episodes

People Changing Enterprises

This year in CX transformation: Tech shifts that defined 2023 - AI, automation, content strategy and more

People Changing Enterprises

published 2 years ago

MP3•Episode home

Jasmin Guthmann, Head of Corporate Communications, Contentstack
Vasu Kothamasu, GM and Head of Engineering, Contentstack
Nishant Patel, CTO, Contentstack
Conor Egan, VP Product, Contentstack
Neha Sampat, CEO, Contentstack

Timestamps:

0:59 How has business to customer communication changed over the past year? (Jasmin Guthmann)
2:34 The challenge and promise of personalization (Vasu Kothamasu)
4:24 How the AI landscape changed in 2023 (Nishant Patel)
6:16 Is this the year of true hyper-personalization? (Nishant Patel)
7:46 Practical implications of AI for businesses (Conor Egan)
9:47 Unlock efficiency with automation (Conor Egan)
11:28 Why composable is the way forward, and how to make composable transformation successful (Vasu Kothamasu)
13:57 Navigating periods of significant change (Neha Sampat)
15:59 Advice for businesses heading into 2024 (Neha Sampat)

55 episodes

#MBA #Business #Varia Makagonova #Enterprise #Leadership #Transformation #Tech #Marketing #Technology

All episodes

People Changing Enterprises

1
LADbible Group’s in-house innovation engine 25:46

46 weeks ago25:46

25:46

Meet Tim and Harrison, the tech leaders behind LADbible Group's relentless innovation. They discuss how the company has repeatedly reinvented itself to stay ahead in the ever-changing world of social media. Recorded live in LADbible's Manchester offices, the episode captures the energy of a team committed to embracing change, shedding technological debt and creating a culture of continuous improvement.…

People Changing Enterprises

1
Startup spirit in a traditional industry: Unleashing innovation at Banco Itaú with Priscila Bezerra 34:45

1 year ago34:45

34:45

Creating change is hard. Creating change inside a traditional bank? That's a whole other level of hard. Today's guest is Priscila Bezerra , Head of Martech and Digital Acquisition at Banco Itaú . In this episode, she unveils the secrets behind instituting change inside a century-old banking institution with over 100,000 employees. Priscila shares invaluable lessons on embracing a startup mindset, taking calculated risks, and identifying strategic starting points in a composable transformation journey. Hear her advice from a four-year transformative journey that is helping to redefine traditional banking. This episode is a masterclass in innovation and change management. Timestamps: 01:16 The challenges of innovation in a century-old bank 04:25 Building the martech foundation at Banco Itaú 06:03 Deciding where to start with composable: Overcoming cultural and operational hurdles 11:37 The Importance of "the people part" in technology transformation 18:00 Creating a startup mentality in a traditional bank 21:24 How the perception of martech has shifted inside the business, four years later 24:49 The importance of preserving the "startup" mindset after initial successes 28:52 Advice on maintaining personal motivation and choosing your battles…

People Changing Enterprises

1
The future of retail is digital, with VIA Outlets' Jasper de Jong 23:23

1 year ago23:23

23:23

Outlet shopping centers aren't the first industry you'd think of for being on the forefront of digital transformation. But Jasper de Jong , Group Director for Digital and Media at VIA Outlets, shares why it's more important than you'd think for this business to switch to a composable ecosystem. Learn how Jasper set the strategy for transformation within VIA Outlets, how he got buy-in, and what he sees as the key drivers of digital growth for the retail industry as a whole, and for the outlet shopping business specifically, to maintain a competitive edge. 01:02 Introduction to VIA Outlets 02:02 The (digital) customer journey of an outlet shopping center visitor 03:01 Digital differentiation strategy for VIA Outlets 06:55 The role of data 08:00 Key drivers for going composable 12:58 What does Jasper wish he'd known before he started? 15:40 Selling in composable to stakeholders 21:20 Advice for others starting a digital transformation…

People Changing Enterprises

1
Efficiency unleashed: Leveraging better goal-setting and AI, with Earth Reiser (Topgolf Callaway Brands) 14:37

1 year ago14:37

14:37

Earth Reiser , Director of Strategy and Innovation at Topgolf Callaway Brands, offers advice on goal-setting, the importance of having a strategic vision as a business, and how to bridge the gap between this vision and actionable objectives. She also shares why she's excited about the rise of Artificial Intelligence (AI), discussing how she leverages it in her work today, and its potential for increasing organizational efficiency. 01:06 The Importance of clear goals 04:06 The balance between top-down and bottom-up goal setting 06:09 The power of sharing goals 07:51 The promise and opportunity of AI 11:12 Examples of using AI in professional settings…

People Changing Enterprises

1
Ask better questions: The art of data analytics with Topgolf Callaway Brands’ Earth Reiser 16:52

1 year ago16:52

16:52

Earth Reiser , the Director of Strategy and Innovation at Topgolf Callaway Brands, offers advice for navigating the murky waters of customer data and analytics, and how brands need to be mindful of customers' desire for privacy. She discusses the implications of the increasing call for privacy across various platforms, and why it's important to gather and use data ethically for decision making. Earth also offers advice on marketing analytics, and the art of asking the right questions when using data, without collecting data for its own sake.…

People Changing Enterprises

1
Customer-centric composable transformation, with Topgolf Callway Brands' Earth Reiser 19:25

1 year ago19:25

19:25

Earth Reiser , the Director of Strategy and Innovation at Topgolf Callaway Brands shares insights on the company's transformation journey. Earth shares how Topgolf Callaway Brands restructured its technology and business model around empowering its employees and customers. She provides advice on bridging the gap between business and technology, balancing a north star vision with the necessity for flexibility, and building a strong composable strategy. Listen in to learn why a monolithic structure isn't always a bad thing, how to help companies embrace change, and why a 'one size fits all' approach isn't right for every organization. 01:25 The Topgolf Callaway journey to transformation 05:22 How the brand decided to go composable 08:01 How the company aims to serve the modern golfer not just today, but in the future 09:33 The importance of flexibility in business 11:36 How to embrace change 13:59 Advice for companies looking to go composable…

People Changing Enterprises

1
Your 2024 transformation guide: Wisdom from composable trailblazers 20:38

2 years ago20:38

20:38

In this episode, we check in with some of our first guests, sharing what they've been working on over the past year - and their advice for anyone looking to embark on a transformation in 2024. Bob Howland , Chief Digital Officer at Dawn Foods , explains how composable technology helps their company to effectively cross-pollinate content between their e-commerce and corporate sites. Jon Richards , Head of Digital at Golfbreaks , shares how composable architecture provides time-saving benefits. Danielle Diliberti , CEO of Sommsation , talks about the fast-paced innovative advantages of building a digital marketplace using composable technology. Andreas Westendörpf , CTO of Emma Sleep , shares how their composable stack helped them handle high business spikes during the holiday season. Along with these insights, the guests offer advice for organizations looking to begin their composable transformation journey. Timestamps: 1:02 Bob Howland on the benefits of Dawn Foods merging onto a single composable CMS 02:48 Jon Richards on the benefits of composable transformation for Golfbreaks 04:07 The Golfbreaks portal project ( CXAs award finalist) 05:44 How Sommsation, a digitally native business benefits from composable (Danielle Diliberti) 8:27 How Emma Sleep leveraged composable to thrive and innovate during the holiday season (Andreas Westendörpf) 12:16 Advice for composable transformation: Strategic planning 14:45 The value of quick wins 16:33 Bridging business and technology - before you begin 18:59 Remember the long game…

People Changing Enterprises

1
This year in CX transformation: Tech shifts that defined 2023 - AI, automation, content strategy and more 18:41

2 years ago18:41

18:41

A year recap of customer experience transformation: the Contentstack team reflects on 2023's major changes in tech and comms landscape, and offers advice for the year ahead. Discover what's next for personalization and AI, and how businesses can make their composable initiatives more successful given all the changes that have shaped the year behind us. This episode features: Jasmin Guthmann , Head of Corporate Communications, Contentstack Vasu Kothamasu , GM and Head of Engineering, Contentstack Nishant Patel , CTO, Contentstack Conor Egan , VP Product, Contentstack Neha Sampat , CEO, Contentstack Timestamps: 0:59 How has business to customer communication changed over the past year? (Jasmin Guthmann) 2:34 The challenge and promise of personalization (Vasu Kothamasu) 4:24 How the AI landscape changed in 2023 (Nishant Patel) 6:16 Is this the year of true hyper-personalization? (Nishant Patel) 7:46 Practical implications of AI for businesses (Conor Egan) 9:47 Unlock efficiency with automation (Conor Egan) 11:28 Why composable is the way forward, and how to make composable transformation successful (Vasu Kothamasu) 13:57 Navigating periods of significant change (Neha Sampat) 15:59 Advice for businesses heading into 2024 (Neha Sampat)…

People Changing Enterprises

1
Advice for introducing agile: FREE NOW's Damir Dimitrovici 10:25

2 years ago10:25

10:25

How do you introduce agile to a business, or an area of the business, that's unfamiliar with it? Damir Dimitrovici, Senior Website Manager at FREE NOW led a digital transformation of the technology stack at FREE NOW in just five months, while also introducing agile practices. He shares his experiences, lessons learned and what he would do differently. Tune in for advice on change management, digital transformation, and the balance of trust and responsibility when leading a project in a large organization. 01:01 Damir's role in transforming FREE NOW 01:29 The importance of transparency and collaboration 02:12 Building trust and respect in the team 04:43 The useful concept of MLP (Minimum Lovable Product) 06:17 The importance of documentation and decision logs 07:44 The pressure of being a product manager 08:43 Staying aware of culture when leading change…

People Changing Enterprises

1
Composable transformation in 5 months: FREE NOW's Damir Dimitrovici 17:00

2 years ago17:00

17:00

Damir Dimitrovici, Senior Website Manager at FREE NOW, transformed FREE NOW's marketing site from a monolithic system to a headless setup in a short five months. Damir explains what key decisions he made, how the move prepared the European mobility company for the future, and his top advice for composable transformation. Timestamps: 01:08 About FREE NOW 02:25 The drivers for transformation at FREE NOW 03:56 Key decisions in the transformation process 06:17 The benefits of a composable architecture 14:48 Lessons learned from the transformation 15:44 The importance of documentation 16:56 Future plans for FREE NOW…

People Changing Enterprises

1
Developer freedom vs editor needs: How Sky Group balances both 11:48

2 years ago11:48

11:48

Sky Group has cracked the code to developer-led innovation, and Oliver Cavanagh (Lead Developer) and Richard Mace (Senior Product Manager) are here to tell us how. From agile thinking to collaborative practices, learn how Sky's unique approach empowers developers to own their projects, experiment fearlessly, and transform ideas into reality. Listen for advice on how to foster happier developers and supercharge innovation inside your enterprise. Timestamps: 01:10 Richard and Oliver's background at Sky group 01:32 The culture at Sky 01:58 How Sky gives developers freedom to innovate 03:19 Why you can't schedule innovation 04:29 The importance of developer buy-in 05:09 How do decisions get made? 06:18 Guiding principles for the platform 06:54 The bridge between developers and business users - what to do if tensions arise? 10:15 Advice for implementing developer-led innovation in your business…

People Changing Enterprises

1
From frustration to freedom: The Sky Websites revolution 19:34

2 years ago19:34

19:34

Sky is one of Europe's leading media organizations, and since going composable, they've created a revolutionary way inside the business for content editors to create and update websites without involving developers. It's called Sky Websites, and it won the Contentstack Experience Awards in 2023. Project leads Richard Mace , Senior Product Manager and Oliver Cavanagh , Lead Developer, join the show to talk about how Sky Websites was created, how it's helped to both developers and content editors work more effectively, and what hurdles had to be overcome to make it happen. Timestamps: 01:22 Richard, Oliver, and Sky Group introduction 02:14 The drivers behind composable transformation at Sky Group 03:39 What is Sky Websites? 05:37 A composable content model POC 06:58 What impact has Sky Websites had on the business? 09:40 The hurdles of changing mindsets and challenging the status quo 12:36 Why it's important to be able to let go of your work 13:25 Why composable is essential for the Sky Websites project 15:15 The importance of small steps - transformation won't always go smoothly 17:49 Setting yourself up for future success…

People Changing Enterprises

1
How to take a brick and mortar business digital, with Boels’ Bjørn Kreijen 21:50

2 years ago21:50

21:50

Deep dive into taking a traditional brick and mortar business into the digital age. Bjørn Kreijen , Director of Digital and eCommerce at Boels equipment rental company, shares his firsthand experience of starting a digital department from scratch with a team of just three people, and steering an 8,000 employee enterprise onto the path of digital transformation. Learn about: The unique strategies that guided Boels' digital revolution Creating customer journeys instead of traditional "personas", which shaped their technology and digital strategy Implementing a monolithic platform before making the leap to a composable approach You'll learn how Bjørn overcame challenges, convinced stakeholders to invest in digital, and his roadmap to digital success in the world of brick and mortar businesses. Timestamps: 1:06 What is Boels? 1:35 Bjorn's role at Boels when he started as director of marketing and communications 2:19 Technical landscape at Boels and how the idea of a digital department came to be 4:29 Talking to the board about investing in digital 5:26 How the team structure changed during the company's digital transformation 7:06 Making the decision to have front end and back end developers in different teams 8:25 Changing the ways of working - selecting a framework 11:32 Creating customer journeys for digital (instead of personas) 14:24 Going monolith first, then composable 17:45 Advice for brick and mortar companies starting digital transformation 19:13 Working with partners for change management…

People Changing Enterprises

1
The Content Series: Creating a brand and launching an integrated campaign with Sommsation 20:29

2 years ago20:29

20:29

How to create a disruptive brand from scratch, but in an industry that spans hundreds of years of tradition? Crystal Langley and Alex Tanck join this bonus episode of the new Content Series to share how they did just that for wine startup Sommsation . Learn how they used data-driven approaches to create a new brand, how they built out the brand's first integrated campaign, how they pulled all of that through the brand's digital channels - and advice they have for other creative teams. Check out the Sommsation campaign assets discussed in the episode! Timestamps: 02:20 What is Sommsation? 03:20 Creating a data-driven brand identity for a brand bridging tradition with innovation 06:26 Brand guidelines and training the business 09:45 The process of developing the brand's first integrated campaign 12:28 Key considerations in pulling creative campaigns through the digital experience 14:38 Why templates are crucial 15:57 How brand & company values can inform digital strategy 19:05 The importance of transparency in decision making in digital…

People Changing Enterprises

1
How to change an enterprise: Lessons from ASICS, REI, Icelandair and more 15:06

2 years ago15:06

15:06

In the second part of our anniversary celebration, we're revisiting one of our cornerstone themes - People Changing Enterprises. Join us as we recap the insightful conversations with guests who have mastered the art of driving change from within their organizations. We'll give you three strategic lessons on making change happen, and three super tactical tips you can use today to make change stick. Whether you're a seasoned change-maker or just starting out, this episode is packed with actionable advice and wisdom you can use. Timestamps: 0:44 Danielle Diliberti - CTO of Sommsation on the power of peers 2:38 Bob Howland - Chief Digital Officer of Dawn Foods on the power of advocates 04:29 Jason Greely - Solutions Archtiect at REI on the power of persistence 06:18 Cultivating radical resiliency (Bob Howland) 08:36 Mindy Montgomery - Senior Technical Product Manager at ASICS on how to reduce the pressure of change 10:18 The 3-3-3 rule (Danielle Diliberti) 11:16 Keith Mazanec - Director of Software Engineering at Brad's Deals on the value of documentation 12:28 Jon Richards - Head of Digital at Golfbreaks on how to build resonance, and 13:24 Óskar Völundarson, Edvardas Paskevicius and Hallur Þór Halldórsson from Icelandair - on how to make your mark…

People Changing Enterprises

1
A year of composable transformation: Lessons from Levi’s, ASICS, REI and more 21:06

2 years ago21:06

21:06

Join us in celebrating a remarkable milestone - People Changing Enterprises is turning one! In this special anniversary episode, we're taking a journey back to where it all began, exploring our most captivating insights from the past year. And what better way to kick off this anniversary special than revisiting one of our most talked-about subjects: Composable Digital Experiences, featuring our stellar lineup of guests who've generously shared their expertise with us. Timestamps : 01:02 Jurre van Ruth - Strategic Program Manager, Composable DXP at the Dutch postal service, PostNL. He'll provide insights into what a composable DXP truly means. 03:48 Andreas Westendörpf - CTO of Emma Sleep explains why going composable might just be the last re-platform you'll ever need. 05:28 Kat Valdre and Jason Greely - Members of the REI Platform Engineering team explore the exciting possibilities that composable strategies unlock for businesses. 09:12 Mindy Montgomery - Senior Technical Product Manager at ASICS takes us through ASICS' journey from monolithic technology to a composable customer experience ecosystem. 12:51 Zach Crittendon - Software Architect at Levi's shares firsthand experiences of "going composable" and how this transformative journey can benefit your business. 15:51 Watchouts from our guests: What they wish they'd known before going composable. 18:18 Juliette Olah - Senior Manager of Editorial at Booking.com emphasizes the importance of launching projects in a tiered approach for maximum impact.…

People Changing Enterprises

1
How to raise digital literacy inside your organization, with Informa’s Narisa Wild 13:36

2 years ago13:36

13:36

Narisa Wild (Informa) shares how the company introduced an innovative "digital skills index" to raise digital literacy across the organization. She also shares the keys to effective digital transformation that are crucial for any digital leader embarking on any change initiative. Tune in to gain practical strategies and a fresh perspective on how to empower people at all levels of the business to create a stronger digital foundation for a future-ready enterprise. Timestamps: 01:28 What were Narisa's biggest challenges when starting to digitally transform the giant organization Informa? 04:12 The "digital skills index": what is it and why was it important? 06:50 How digital literacy factors into organization-wide goal setting 07:58 Advice for digital leaders looking to raise digital literacy inside their organization 11:08 Narisa's key mindset for becoming a better digital leader overall…

People Changing Enterprises

1
Content migration and future of content with Informa’s Narisa Wild 21:09

2 years ago21:09

21:09

This week we dive into the complex topic of content migration with Narisa Wild , who has spearheaded the digital transformation at Informa, a global B2B events and information services company. We cover the drivers behind content migration, and how to make data-driven decisions about migration and transformation processes -- and how AI is going to offer new opportunities, not just for migration, but for taxonomy, content, and the events space overall. Timestamps: 1:06 What does Informa do? 1:43 Narisa's role in digital transformation 2:23 3 drivers for content migration 4:08 The #1 content migration question 5:04 Where content creation fits in 7:22 Why a composable stack makes migration decisions easier 10:21 How dashboards help 11:43 The future of content at Informa 13:53 How AI can aid content migration 16:57 How AI can impact event CX strategy 18:27 Looking deeper at the future of enterprise content…

People Changing Enterprises

1
Developer Experience: REI’s definition and how they make it great 13:27

2 years ago13:27

13:27

This week we explore the topic of developer experience with REI's Kat Valdre and Jason Greeley. They take us behind the scenes of platform engineering at REI and how the two of them think about creating the best possible experience for developers working on these platforms. Kat Valdre is the Engineering Manager of the REI Platform Organization, and Jason Greeley, Solutions Architect, manages content and experience at REI. Collectively, Kat and Jason bring a wealth of knowledge in creating user-friendly infrastructure for developers, supporting their productivity, and fostering innovation in their work. Learn: - How REI's platform engineering teams provide tools and services to enhance developer experience and ultimately benefit the end customer - How making a developer's workday easier and reducing repetitive tasks can lead to better productivity and satisfaction - The importance of providing established solutions with robust SDKs and APIs, and offering reliable support for technical questions - Encouraging exploration and flexibility within the development team and the benefits of involving developers in decision-making processes Timestamps: 01:20 The role of platform engineering teams at REI 03:05 What is developer experience? 04:42 The role of creativity 05:54 How to support several developer teams and help them be successful 08:11 What Jason and Kat look for in technology to support a good developer experience 10:37 Advice for developers seeking a better experience…

People Changing Enterprises

1
REI's composable transformation advice 24:27

2 years ago24:27

24:27

Kat Valdre and Jason Greely from the REI Platform engineering team share their composable transformation story. They discuss the challenges they faced while decomposing their monolithic architecture and their approach to building trust across the organization as they embark on a years-long transformation. Their transparent and refreshing perspective on tech transformation will resonate with anyone who feels their progress is slower than they (or their organization) would like to move. Kat and Jason provide valuable insights and advice for any business making a major technological shift. Timestamps: 1:41 What were things like at REI before they decided to go composable 04:06 What pushed REI to start their composable transformation? 06:25 The importance of introducing changes in manageable parts 07:54 What composable will enable for the business 11:17 Advice for companies embarking on composable transformation 12:55 Dealing with differing opinions and disagreements 13:57 The importance of documentation 16:41 Hurdles and challenges REI has faced along the way 18:50 Managing expectations and maintaining morale when transformation takes a long time…

People Changing Enterprises

1
Transformation through Automation: Keith Mazanec, Brad's Deals 15:45

2 years ago15:45

15:45

Keith Mazanec (Director Software Engineering, Brad's Deals) returns to share the company's in-depth transformation story, highlighting the content lifecycle automations that made the biggest different for content teams as the company moved from legacy to composable. This session was recorded live at ContentCon 2023.…

People Changing Enterprises

1
Make it a FEAST: How to get people excited about change, with PostNL's Jurre van Ruth 10:58

2 years ago10:58

10:58

We hear time and time again that digital transformation has less to do with technology and more about helping people to change the way they think. But how do you actually do that? Our guest today has a proven formula. Jurre van Ruth is leading a major digital transformation for the Dutch postal service. Today, he shares the secrets to his success - and the acronym is "FEAST". 00:57 FEAST: How to make sure everyone is excited about change from beginning to end 01:35 Fun - creating engaging and enjoyable meetings 02:18 Empathy - what if the other is right? 3:48 Aligned - how to ensure everyone is on the same page 5:28 Storytelling - the best thing you can hear in a meeting is something that's on the next slide 6:02 Team - bringing others along on the journey to increase your chances of success 7:31 How to address resistance to change 9:02 #1 piece of advice for anyone looking to make a big change…

People Changing Enterprises

1
What is a Composable Digital Experience Platform? With PostNL's Jurre van Ruth 16:11

2 years ago16:11

16:11

What is a composable digital experience platform? What are the key capabilities that it must represent? Where do you start in building one? How do you know if you are successful - what metrics should you look at when, and how do you communiate to business and IT stakeholders along the way? Dutch postal service PostNL's Jurre van Ruth (Strategic Program Manager, Composable DXP) has the answers. In this episode, he tells the story of the company's digital transformation from monolithic technology to a Composable DXP and how that has made PostNL one of the country's most innovative digital businesses. Timestamps: 0:54 What is PostNL? 1:38 Jurre's role and responsibility 2:20 Defining a Composable DXP 4:12 What was the digital capabilty landscape like inside PostNL before going composable? 6:03 Where to start? How the company decided where to begin the transformation. 7:22 What they did instead of a roadshow to get buy-in for the Composable DXP concept 8:38 "Zooming out" strategy to prepare a business for a big change 10:49 Metrics Jurre's team uses to measure success of the Composable DXP 13:41 How the team uses these metrics to create momentum 14:19 A simple but huge benefit of Composable DXP: creating a common language…

People Changing Enterprises

1
Building the business case for headless technology, with Booking.com’s Juliette Olah 12:59

2 years ago12:59

12:59

When Juliette Olah joined Booking.com , she created a comprehensive editorial strategy - but that strategy needed a more robust content management technology behind it. In this episode, she takes us through how she built a business case for headless CMS, how she got the green light for it, and what the new technology will enable for the brand in the years to come. Timestamps: 01:15 The state of content tech at Booking.com when Juliette started at the company 01:33 Juliette's vision for content technology at Booking.com 03:55 Why choose headless? 05:17 Building the business case for headless techology 07:00 Getting the green light 09:35 The importance of advocacy 10:42 What Juliette is most looking forward to becoming possible with the new headless CMS at Booking.com…

People Changing Enterprises

1
Editorial strategy deep dive, with Booking.com’s Juliette Olah 14:05

2 years ago14:05

14:05

Juliette Olah joined Booking.com in March 2020 - a scary time for the travel industry, but a fantastic opportunity to elevate editorial long-form content. In this episode, she takes us through building a net-new editorial strategy for the global travel brand - and how she sold it in to stakeholders throughout the company. This is an editorial strategy masterclass! Timestamps: 1:01 Juilette's role 1:20 The state of editorial at Booking.com when Juliette joined 2:22 The key elements of an editorial strategy 4:19 Measurement and KPIs for editorial 5:22 What's a content pillar? 6:33 Where translation and localization fit in 9:42 How Juliette got stakeholder buy-in for her new editorial strategy 12:25 Remember, your content is competing with all other content…

People Changing Enterprises

1
Tips from the C-Suite: How marketing and sales can get along 13:53

2 years ago13:53

13:53

Whether you're new to the C-Suite or looking to get there soon, there will inevitably be communication challenges along the way - and possibly none as thorny as "sales vs marketing". Contentstack CMO Susan Beermann and Chief Revenue Officer Todd Rathje offer their perspective on how marketing and sales can play as one team, plus some all-around communication tips and tricks you need to know as a C-level executive. Timestamps: 01:18 How Susan got from a career in sales to being CMO 02:03 Todd's entrepreneurial journey to Chief Revenue Officer 03:17 How to speak the language of the C-Suite 5:55 What leaders can do if marketing and sales are "warring factions" inside your business 07:48 C-level 'communications hack': Forging close connections at lightning speed 09:30 Advice for addressing conflict 12:26 Mindset tip: The importance of "being a goldfish"…

People Changing Enterprises

1
Taking career leaps of faith, with Brad’s Deals Director of Engineering 12:52

2 years ago12:52

12:52

Today we talk to a Director of Engineering who went from IT to retail sales and back about what he's learned. From taking a career leap of faith, to CX lessons learned on the retail floor, this episode is a must-listen for anyone in a customer experience oriented industry... or anyone looking to make a career change. Timestamps: 1:11 Keith's backstory - how he got from computer programming to retail and back again 2:52 The "aha" moment that sparked Keith's journey back to technology 4:51 What was it like taking a leap of faith, leaving a solid career for an unknown developer bootcamp? 6:44 What Keith learned about business working in retail 9:39 Customer experience lessons from the retail floor…

People Changing Enterprises

1
Bridging monolith and composable with automation, with Director of Engineering Keith Mazanec 13:40

2 years ago13:40

13:40

Moving to composable technology almost never happens all at once. There is a transition period. How do you help teams make the most of the composable technology, while easing the transition between old and new? Keith Mazanec, Director of Software Engineering at Brad’s Deals shares how they used a composable content technology with automation capabilities (Contentstack) to create an easy transition that improved the lives of content editors straightaway - and created a better experience for everyone, customers included. Plus, hear about their favorite uses of Automation Hub to automate across the content lifecycle. Timestamps: 1:05 The volume of content at Brad's Deals, and what that means for content editors 1:56 Why Brad's Deals looked for a new content management technology 2:27 An example of how automations helped reduce manual data entry for content editors 3:57 The custom dashboard Brad's Deals built for their editors 5:06 Example of automating a categorizing function to speed up content publishing process 6:03 Versioning and automating making changes to the content model 8:16 How Brad's Deals created continuity between their legacy technology and the new headless CMS 9:57 Automating throughout the content lifecycle across different content & marketing applications…

People Changing Enterprises

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(Re)building trust through tech and business change, with Brad’s Deals’ Keith Mazanec 10:38

2 years ago10:38

10:38

How do you create a successful transformation when markets are unstable and business changes are inevitable? Brad's Deals re-imagined their content technology and created a new world that the content teams had to adapt to... And then the market conditions turned and the whole company had to adapt again. In this episode, hear from Director of Software Engineering Keith Mazanec about the lessons he's learned for creating change while building trust through turbulence. Timestamps: 1:00 Why content is the lifeblood of Brad's Deals 1:28 The challenge that led the company to re-imagine their content technology 4:25 Why initially there was fear amongst the content team 5:08 How Keith helped to change the mindset inside the organization and build confidence 6:39 A challenging year 07:04 Rebuilding trust after layoffs 07:53 The importance of writing everything down 8:23 Planning for business continuity…

People Changing Enterprises

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Make your company a great place to work, with Emma Sleep’s Andreas Westendörpf 13:40

2 years ago13:40

13:40

Every company pays lip service to building a great culture where people trust each other, feel free to challenge each other, and openness and transparency are the name of the game. But building that kind of culture doesn't happen without work - and more importantly, a set of principles against which to work. Andreas Westendörpf (CTO, Emma Sleep) has transformed several organizations from slow and complex to agile and innovative - and he says the company culture must transform along with the technology, if you want to be in the 21st century as a business. In this episode, Andreas lays out the principles that Emma Sleep has used to build a culture of openness, trust, and transparency - and how Andreas thinks about management, leadership, and the principles of human motivation to underpin his team's participation in this culture and the company's success. Timestamps: 0:58 What it means to "share early, broadly, and openly" inside a company 2:37 Why a bit of "chaotic noise" is okay, and actually needed, for a healthy culture 3:58 What metaphor Emma sleep uses for their team instead of "family" 5:32 Dan Pink's methodology for motivation, applied to the workplace 9:26 Build a team you want to work in 11:06 Don't become a manager…

People Changing Enterprises

1
The last replatform you’ll ever do, with Emma Sleep’s Andreas Westendörpf 19:32

2 years ago19:32

19:32

Andreas Westendörpf (CTO) brought the concept of composable commerce to Emma Sleep. But that wasn't his agenda from the outset. In this episode, he shares how to know if your organization is ready for composable; why e-Commerce organizations can be surprisingly outdated in their technology; how to challenge vendors and commercial models in parts of the enterprise technology landscape that have not yet embraced composable principles; why Emma Sleep made the jump -- and what you should be prepared for if you do the same. Timestamps: 1:00 Why Andreas brought the concept of composable to Emma Sleep 4:49 Why e-Commerce technology is often surprisingly outdated 5:34 How (monolithic) vendor commercial models make composable difficult 8:14 How Andreas challenged Microsoft on composable models - and won 11:24 What businesses need to know about the potential of composable technology 13:45 The last replatform you'll ever do? 15:35 Andreas's advice for businesses starting their composable journey…

People Changing Enterprises

1
Your misconceptions about the IT department, with Emma Sleep’s Andreas Westendörpf 11:33

2 years ago11:33

11:33

If you're on the "business" side of your company and don't think too much about the workings of the IT department, Emma Sleep CTO Andreas Westendörpf has some news for you: it's time to start paying attention. In this episode, Andreas uncovers common misconceptions about the IT department and shares why it's essential to close the gaps between IT, marketing, and everything in between. Timestamps: 2:00 How a CTO can bring an enterprise into the 21st century 2:25 Common misconceptions in the business world about software 3:49 Just because you can, doesn't mean you should 4:41 The attitude towards the IT department that kills innovation 7:30 How technology creates value inside an organization 9:52 The trend Andreas has noticed in the past few years that means you have to start thinking about your techhnology…

People Changing Enterprises

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You asked... How to speak up when something needs to change? 15:02

2 years ago15:02

15:02

You know that something inside your business needs to change. What do you do next? In this episode, we asked Todd Harris (SVP, Global Alliances, Valtech ) and Gordana (G) Vuckovic (Chief Revenue Officer, Vue Storefront ) about strategies to effect change inside your enterprise. We cover: Why change is hard Strategies to be seen as a positive driver of change (instead of a naysasyer or detractor) How to build confidence to speak up when change needs to happen How to bring change ideas to your leadership successfully Other links and notes: Check out the MACH Alliance Learn more about Beyond Your Block See Valtech's recently released first public D&I report here .…

People Changing Enterprises

1
Disrupting industries and building an "experience library" with ASICS' Mindy Montgomery 10:31

2 years ago10:31

10:31

Mindy Montgomery (Sr. Technical Product Manager at ASICS) is a true disruptor. As a serial product manager and consultant, she has instigated change in a variety of industries - like democratizing patient data in healthcare. In this episode, Mindy shares her perspective on creating change, what it takes to make changes you put in motion stick -- plus, hear her surprising advice for what to look for in your next job. Timestamps: 0:53 Democratizing patient data in healthcare 4:52 Don't work with people you know 6:56 Lessons from transforming 150-year-old brands 8:20 Switching to a new technology won't bring about change 9:08 End user experience is critical for product, process, and brand adoption…

People Changing Enterprises

1
Moving from monolith to composable with ASICS' Mindy Montgomery 14:37

2 years ago14:37

14:37

Mindy Montgomery , Sr. Technical Product Manager at ASICS, describes the brand's journey from monolithic technology to a composable customer experience ecosystem. She describes how their eCommerce, omnichannel, and partnerships brand experiences are underpinned by composable technology, and how all of that stems from their brand mission - "A sound mind in a sound body". Learn about: - The ASICS vision for the truly omnichannel customer experience - How the company moved from a Salesforce monolithic platform to a composable stack - What Mindy has learned about how to run RFPs quickly, efficiently, and effectively Timestamps: 1:01 The ASICS omnichannel vision 2:30 The company's journey to eCommerce and composable technology 3:57 The brand promise that is driving technological strategy at ASICS 4:39 The composable model supporting future brand extensions inside the ecosystem platform 6:33 Moving off the monolith 8:11 What's next in eCommerce for the brand 10:09 Tips for surviving the RFP process 13:06 Trust your internal knowledge - and instincts when it comes to vendor conversations…

People Changing Enterprises

1
Battling resistance to change, with ASICS' Mindy Montgomery 16:54

2 years ago16:54

16:54

Mindy Montgomery has led change from without, from within, as a leader and as an individual contributor - and in this episode, she shares tips learned from years guiding businesses through major technological shifts. - How to work towards a vision, even if leadership hasn't provided one - The killer question that disrupts the attitude "that's the way we've always done things" - How to build your argument to be successful as an agent of change - How to be a leader that empowers change agents (instead of an inhibitor) Timestamps: 1:11 How ASICS built confidence inside the org during a major technology and process change 1:47 Working towards a vision without a leadership directive 3:39 How to help organizations break out of old habits 5:37 De-pressurizing the process of change 8:10 Creating a culture that empowers change agents 10:18 Advice for leaders at all levels of the organization…

People Changing Enterprises

1
Stakeholder management: Getting what you want at work, with Jasmin Guthmann 16:16

2 years ago16:16

16:16

Jasmin Guthmann is Head of Corporate Communications at Contentstack and Vice President & Executive Board Member of the MACH Alliance . She's also an author, ironman triathlete, and host of People Changing Enterprises podcast. We cover: - How to reframe 'workplace politics' for yourself and play the long game, to get what you want - The art and value of self-promotion - How to ask questions without coming off as a naysayer - When to take initiative and how to do it right Timestamps: 1:14 Reframing "workplace politics" in a more useful way 3:11 The give-and-take of stakeholder management 4:33 The value of self-promotion (and how to do it right) 6:22 The power of asking questions (and how to do THAT right) 9:17 When - and how - to take initiative, without ruffling feathers 12:02 Dealing with fear, uncertainty, and rejection…

People Changing Enterprises

1
Carrots, not sticks: building tech for autonomous teams, with Levi’s Zach Crittendon 15:49

2 years ago15:49

15:49

Zach Crittendon has a background as a marketer, software developer, and now software architect at Levi Strauss & Co. And when we asked him what he's most proud of, he said it's that the tools he builds for the marketing team help them to work autonomously, and make their lives easier. In this episode, he shares: - Why one of his proudest achievements is the content technology set-up at Levi's - What it takes to build and maintain tech that supports autonomous marketing teams - Why the marketing team reacted to a feature built for them with a "look of horror"... and what happened next Timestamps: 01:28 Why the content management system is one of Zach's proudest achievements at the company 04:07 Why the 'internal' user experience is 50% of many technology implementation projects 06:49 How to build and implement technology that supports collaboration 07:41 Why Zach's transformation for the marketing team scared people at first - and how he helped bring them on board 12:32 Don't force adoption of tools or features - here's what to do instead…

People Changing Enterprises

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Moving to a composable architecture, with Levi's Zach Crittendon 20:35

3 years ago20:35

20:35

You'll hear: - The brand's risk-reducing method to transition to a best-of-breed architecture - How Zach Crittendon built inventory-aware shoppable videos for Levi's in two days of coding -And why going composable has allowed Levi's marketers to do things they only dreamed of for many years Timestamps: 01:43 Levi's e-commerce journey 02:57 Why go composable? 04:53 What going composable has made possible for Levi's 07:39 Zach's advice for making the move to composable successful 08:33 How Levi's did it: which business case they started with, and what are the phases that followed 12:03 How Levi's commerce + content experience capabilities work, and why Zach is proud of these 17:48 How Zach built "shoppable videos" in two days Learn more about going composable with Contentstack .…

People Changing Enterprises

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An interview with Jasmin Guthmann, by Contentstack CEO Neha Sampat 29:24

3 years ago29:24

29:24

Host of Dreammakers, Neha Sampat, is a three-time tech founder and CEO known for building successful companies that are great places to work - and a sommelier, so the show is recorded sipping a hand-selected wine. Jasmin Guthmann is VP and Executive Board Member of the MACH Alliance, Contentstack's Head of Corporate Communications, and host of People Changing Enterprises. She wrote the book (literally) on training for her first ironman competition, and she is leading the "Women in MACH" movement that is challenging all companies in the MACH Alliance to commit to gender diversity practices. Listen in to this dynamic interview to learn more about our show's host. Other show notes: Atomic Habits by James Clear is a book Jasmin recommended German Riesling from the Mosel region is Jasmin’s wine recommendation Follow Neha Sampat on LinkedIn and @nehasf Follow Jasmin Guthmann on LinkedIn and @JasminGuthmann Follow @Contentstack…

People Changing Enterprises

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Bob Howland: What I learned leading Dawn Foods through massive transformation 22:51

3 years ago22:51

22:51

Bob shares how he steered Dawn Foods from zero to launch, including: - Hiring the right people - Crucial conversations with stakeholders & the board - 3 foundational truths for thinking about their technology - What decisions had to be made first - How the company had to transform along with the technology - Five lessons learned for a successful transformation…

People Changing Enterprises

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How to be scared and challenge anyway 9:36

3 years ago9:36

9:36

In this episode, Jon, Head of Digital at Golfbreaks, shares what motivated him, how it went, and what he believes are the key values that help you to become a change agent even if you're not exactly confrontational. Timestamps: 0:55 Jon's journey from the Daily Telegraph to Golfbreaks 2:37 Why the Golfbreaks website relaunch was one of the biggest wins of his career 3:41 People need to buy into what you're selling 4:50 Jon's #1 piece of advice: Don't be afraid 6:43 Key values for creating sustainable change inside your business 8:20 Get out of the detail to empower your teams…

People Changing Enterprises

1
Create a Digital Center of Excellence for sustained innovation 18:07

3 years ago18:07

18:07

In this episode, learn how leisure travel company Golfbreaks went from outdated to composable technology, what a Digital Center of Excellence can do for your company, and how to sustain innovation across the business with technology, people, and processes. Timestamps: 1:13 What is a Digital Center of Excellence? 2:54 Golfbreaks' messy technology landscape "before" 5:09 Why the company stopped using agencies and moved most functions in-house 6:12 How Golfbreaks transformed its tech stack to support continuous innovation 9:08 Why agnostic "composable" technology de-risks the tech acquisition process 10:52 How the company finds good developers 11:38 Using young talent to revive an old industry 14:04 How to decide what CX innovations to go after - or not 15:05 Example of an innovation Golfbreaks had to roll back 16:24 Example of looking closely at CX data to fix revenue leaks…

People Changing Enterprises

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How to go from good enough to excellent 10:42

3 years ago10:42

10:42

Learn how this industry leader maintains their standard of "excellence" across the entire organization - including what metrics they measure, how they empower their teams, and what they do when things go wrong. Timestamps: 0:53 What is Golfbreaks? 1:37 How Golfbreaks retained 80% of business during the pandemic 2:20 A customer-centric technology buying strategy 4:51 How to demand & maintain excellence throughout the organization 6:55 Examples of how to empower sales agents & customer support for excellence in service 8:44 How empowerment of individuals feeds back into the company's customer service strategy…

People Changing Enterprises

1
Bonus: How to give designers negative feedback 16:12

3 years ago16:12

16:12

Learn how to have better feedback conversations that won't result in ruffled feathers - but instead, better creative, better processes, and better relationships with your designers. This episode features executive creative consultant Kenn MacRae , product designer Sietse Koopmans , and Paul Watson , Head of Brand and Design at Golfbreaks . 02:02 Sietse's best worst feedback story 03:20 Kenn's global perspective 04:17 Paul's unique position inside his enterprise 04:45 Lesson 1 (Set the parameters) 06:36 Lesson 2 (Ask) 07:46 Lesson 3 (Be honest) 09:47 Lesson 4 (Explain why) 12:14 Lesson 5 (Don't solutionize) 14:31 Takeaways - 3 things to try…

People Changing Enterprises

1
How Icelandair's change-makers keep work drama-free 11:04

3 years ago11:04

11:04

Learn the surprisingly simple values and tactics that you can employ as a mid-level employee to create meaningful change. For senior leaders, the team also drops some suggestions for how to create an environment where change-makers can thrive. This is a short and sweet round-robin on the best ticks and tricks three mid-level change-makers inside Icelandair have learned about what makes making change easier. Timestamps: 1:33 How conflict relates to expectations 2:23 The key value Oskar aims for in creating long-lasting change 3:15 How Edvardas frames every project to minimize conflict 4:38 Common mistakes Hallur has seen in people trying to create change 6:42 Be prepared to throw out your plan 7:40 How senior leadership can foster an environment where creating change is the norm 9:43 Quickfire: One piece of advice for someone who wants to make their mark on their business…

People Changing Enterprises

1
Break content speed limits: How Icelandair uses tech to compete with giants 17:24

3 years ago17:24

17:24

That's right, the Icelandair content team doesn't just write content. They are guardians of their headless content management stack, working upstream with developers to make the system - and its output (digital products) - better for employees and customers alike. And they feel strongly that this should be the case in more companies out there. Learn from their example in today's episode, and you might be tempted to call your content team into your sprint planning too. Timestamps: 02:08 What the pandemic was like for Icelandair, and how their technology strategy changed as a result 03:31 Why composable / headless technology was an advantage during the past few years 06:24 The unique way the content team at Icelandair works with the content technology 07:42 Creating independence for distributed global content teams 09:32 How is Icelandair's strategy helping them to compete with other, larger airlines? 12:33 Icelandair's API-based content translation process 15:15 How composable and headless technology maximizes freedom for creative and developer teams…

People Changing Enterprises

1
Earning authority: How a team of copywriters changed an airline 15:34

3 years ago15:34

15:34

Icelandair's content (all of it - from flight destinations to marketing campaigns) was scattered across business teams and third-party agencies. Then this power trio took the reins and brought the process in-house, under control, and to a level of efficiency that allowed them to stay operational through all the chaos during Covid shutdowns and beyond. In the process they became the brand's "content center of excellence". In this episode, Icelandair's Óskar Völundarson, Edvardas Paskevicius, and Hallur Þór Halldórsson dive deep into their content process - so if your organization's content is a bit chaotic, this is a great listen. Or, if you are part of any team that could use some quality control, organization, process and structure, check out this episode to learn how to take the reins and become the managing authority of excellence yourself. Timestamps: 01:18 What is the job of content at Icelandair? 02:02 The content team as intermediaries 02:39 "Before": What was the content landscape before Óskar and Edvardas joined the company? 04:23 "During": What transformed in the business, the culture, and the team, to allow change to take place? 06:06 "After": What does the content Center of Excellence look like today? 07:22 Troubleshooting: What Óskar and Edvardas do when something goes wrong in the content process 09:42 How can someone create their own Center of Excellence inside their organization? 10:19 Example of a well-oiled content excellence process 11:43 How the team ensures clear lines of communication 12:30 How to create, or earn, the authority to become arbiters of excellence…

People Changing Enterprises

1
Toolkit for becoming a change-maker, with CEO, CTO, investor Danielle Diliberti 13:48

3 years ago13:48

13:48

In this episode, Danielle shares her toolkit: How to make a game plan, get buy-in for that plan, and implement it effectively. She also shares the personal values that have made her successful, pitfalls to avoid when trying to change an enterprise, and advice for executives aiming for hyper-growth. Timestamps: 1:10 Danielle's story - How she went from accountant to investor, CTO, and founder/CEO 3:40 Danielle answers "How do you do so many things at the same time?" 4:32 Two traits Danielle values in her ability to make an impact 5:52 What does it take to change an enterprise? 7:24 Advice for gathering intel that will bolster your change-making plan 8:24 Advice for anyone looking to make their mark on their enterprise 10:04 Danielle's "roadshow" strategy for getting buy-in for change 12:05 Advice for executives to enable your organization to move faster…

People Changing Enterprises

1
When best-in-class isn't good enough: Tech strategy for category leadership 17:10

3 years ago17:10

17:10

In this episode, Danielle gives a masterclass on tech selection: how to set a technology strategy for something that's never been done before, how to "diagnose" failure points in a customer experience, and how a flexible architecture approach allowed The St. James to thrive during the pandemic - and become an industry leader in the meantime. Timestamps: 1:14 What is The St James - and why its tech needed an overhaul 3:06 How Danielle diagnoses what needs to be "fixed" in the customer experience 5:08 How to make a plan for what to change 6:17 Danielle's 2 tips to select the right technology 8:45 The unfortunate "best in class" software at The St. James - what they did to change it and thrive during the pandemic 12:03 Survival in the health & wellness industry from a tech perspective 13:29 What businesses that are successful in their transformation do that others don't 14:41 Why you should challenge your assumptions about the IT department…

People Changing Enterprises

1
Leading at high speed: empowerment vs. efficiency with CEO Danielle Diliberti 14:23

3 years ago14:23

14:23

In this episode, Danielle shares what she's learned as a first-time CEO about how to set people up for success, when to step in to fix something - and when to stay out of it, and her top strategy for building a culture of collaboration. Doing all this while building an industry-changing product is no mean feat, even without wearing three high-profile hats; but Danielle has a few tricks up her sleeve that you will want to steal - whether you are the CEO or you're just starting your career. These are strategies everyone can use to become a more effective team member and lead from within. Timestamps: 1:04 How Sommsation is disrupting the wine-tasting industry 1:43 Danielle's journey to CEO 3:08 How Danielle approached stepping into the CEO role 4:00 The "3/3/3" trick to quickly upskill people and teams 5:40 How to decide when to intervene, or challenge your team to do better 7:30 The golden rule for how much to expect from your people 8:12 When to NOT intervene 10:47 Strategy to build culture - while accelerating strategy, planning, and alignment…

People Changing Enterprises

1
Radical resiliency: Cultivate the mindset for change 15:35

3 years ago15:35

15:35

Find out how Bob Howland, a seasoned transformation expert, helps enterprise teams to change: his strategies cover dealing with discomfort, side-stepping the "me vs you" mentality, plus a project he calls "the most embarrassing of his career" that helped rally the entire company around the need for change. Timestamps: 0:11 Intro & Bob's story 2:27 Bob's big decision in the first days on the job that got the entire company to rally behind transformation 4:55 Did Bob need bravery to make change happen? 6:09 Bob defines "radical resiliency" 7:35 How Bob takes the "personal" out of the equation 9:35 What's the best way to get over resistance? 11:13 How Bob hacks knowledge sharing to get compelling data for creating successful change 13:48 What motivates Bob most…

People Changing Enterprises

1
Long-term tech strategy: Advice from a Chief Digital Officer 23:37

3 years ago23:37

23:37

"Too often we build things and then we just let them sit. In all the important aspects of our life, we don't operate that way. So why would we think that a big technology project would be any different?" In this episode, Bob Howland lays down your keys to success as a Chief Digital Officer. For his most recent success, Dawn Foods, Bob sketched out his ideal eCommerce architecture - which was a "composable commerce" stack before that term even existed - and built it in just 22 weeks (which was ahead of time & on budget). This is a massive enterprise transformation - Dawn Foods is a 4,000 people company, and prior to Bob, they had zero eCommerce infrastructure or expertise. Less than 6 months to a fully self-service eCommerce experience from scratch? Yup. And it doesn't stop there. Listen to find out Bob's top 5 lessons for CDOs. Timestamps: 0:11 Intro & Dawn Foods story 2:08 Lesson 1: How to buy technology 5:13 Why Bob allocated more dev hours to post-launch than pre-launch 5:55 Taking internal opinions with a grain of salt 7:23 Handling the quality, cost, time, triangle 8:20 How Dawn Foods collects customer data (Voice of Customer) 9:30 Lesson 2: How to allocate your time 11:15 "But we're doing just fine" - pushing for change when you're already market leader 12:25 Lesson 3: How Bob gains credibility in the first 30 days in any company (30 doughnuts in 60 days) 14:56 Lesson 4: The importance of "disproof" 16:44 How to avoid offending people when you point out what needs to change - and get them to help you instead 20:53 Lesson 5: How (and why) to play the long game when it comes to transformation…

People Changing Enterprises

1
How to have hard conversations with your CFO 17:44

3 years ago17:44

17:44

Bob Howland ushered in a massive transformation as CDO at Dawn Foods. And it all started with him asking the board for a lot more money than they expected, and telling the CFO "we're never going to agree". Find out how he went from that, to this - a(another) highly successful, on-time, on-budget transformation under his belt. There is so much to learn from this short conversation - from how to create advocates, to how to handle bad news, to how to have the courage for tough conversations. Please accept our excuses for the somewhat rough audio quality which suffered due to unforeseen circumstances - we promise future episodes of People Changing Enterprises will be much better! Timestamps: 00:11 Intro - Bob's Story 02:03 Bob's first challenging conversation with his CFO 05:27 How Bob created a powerful advocate in the finance team to earn the trust of the CFO and the board 7:08 How Bob earned credibility in the company by working with the finance team 9:10 Why Bob advises being the bringer of bad news and how he does it 10:50 The importance of paying attention to data to spot potential difficult situations early 12:38 What to do when "the board doesn't get it" - how Bob works with board members to de-risk board approval meetings 15:18 Why having patience is the biggest virtue in dealing with potential blockers…

People Changing Enterprises

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Introducing People Changing Enterprises 2:46

3 years ago2:46