IBM thinkLeaders artwork

IBM thinkLeaders

127 episodes - English - Latest episode: almost 4 years ago - ★★★★★ - 15 ratings

thinkLeaders tells the stories behind AI and business transformation through engaging interviews with top entrepreneurs, technologists, and researchers at the forefront of disruption.

Join host Amanda Thurston as she and her guests offer insights and advice on strategic, data-driven leadership, and innovation. It is a deep dive into emerging technologies that unpacks and explains the issues, having some fun along the way. Brought to you by IBM.

This channel is managed by Serena Peters and Amanda Thurston, and follows IBM Social Computing Guidelines (www.ibm.com/blogs/zz/en/guidelines.html). We reserve the right to delete comments that are offensive or suggestive, personal attacks, anonymous, wildly off-topic, spam or advertisements.

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Episodes

How can we build AI for everyone? Behind the scenes from our NYC event

April 18, 2019 20:18 - 23 minutes - 27.3 MB

Behind the scenes from our March event in NYC, we talk to two of our AI experts, Pamela Pavliscak, Emotional AI researcher and futurist, and Mitu Khandaker, game designer, CEO and co-founder of Glow Up Games about trust, bias, ethics and transparency in artificial intelligence.

Can AI Help Us Find Love? With Rori Sassoon & Ryan Matzner

April 12, 2019 10:00 - 23 minutes - 21.5 MB

Can AI Help Us Find Love? With Rori Sassoon & Ryan Matzner Can we use AI to help us find love? And at what point does this become creepy? We're always talking about trust and transparency related to AI, but what about trust and transparency with humans and dating? In this episode of thinkPod, we are joined by Rori Sassoon (co-founder of Platinum Poire and author of The Art of the Date) and Ryan Matzner (founder of Fueled). We discuss and debate whether AI is an effective and efficient match...

Product design, ethics, & human-centric digital transformation w/ Kate O’Neill & Jennifer Shin

April 05, 2019 10:03 - 39 minutes - 45.7 MB

Does being human-centered design correlate with ethics or is all product design strictly business-driven? In this episode of thinkPod, we are joined by Kate O’Neill (founder and CEO of KO Insights) and Jennifer Shin (data science expert, Founder at 8 Path Solutions). We dig into the news regarding Stanford’s newly-announced Institute for Human Centered Artificial Intelligence, whether ethics has a central role in product design, and the intersecting roles of consumers, government, and compani...

How Can AI Improve the Employee Experience? With Dennis Mortensen & Ben Jackson

March 29, 2019 10:30 - 39 minutes - 36.4 MB

How can AI Improve the Employee Experience? In this episode of thinkPod, we are joined by x.ai co-founder & CEO Dennis Mortensen and Ben Jackson, founder of For the Win. We talk to Dennis and Ben about hiring algorithms and the danger of bias, whether HR teams are equipped to make data-driven decisions, Inbox Zero versus Inbox Infinity, and the possibility of cultural change. We also discuss whether engineers can predict human behavior, the ethics of employee nudging, how startups will start ...

Sniffing out a New Market, feat. Brett Podolsky, CEO, The Farmer's Dog

March 22, 2019 10:00 - 18 minutes - 17.2 MB

Brett Podolsky's dog was sick for a long time. He realized that healthy home-cooked meals fixed the problem, which led to his startup The Farmer's Dog, which provides minimally-processed pet meal subscriptions via mail. In this discussion with Brett, we talk about disrupting traditional business models, finding alliances among perceived competition, educating markets through smart branding, and creating the best possible experience for your customer, even when they're not human.

How human should a chatbot be? Transparency, personality, and on brand w/ Clara de Soto & John Keefe

March 15, 2019 13:01 - 29 minutes - 27.3 MB

How human should a chatbot be? In this episode of thinkPod, we are joined by chatbot experts Clara de Soto and John Keefe. Clara is a serial entrepreneur and co-founder of Reply.ai, and John is the technical director for bots and machine learning at Quartz. We talk to Clara and John about the types of personalities chatbots should have, bot transparency, why liberal arts majors may now have jobs as conversational designers, and delicate balance brands face when crafting a chatbot. We also hea...

To win the Internet, love the Internet, feat. Taylor Lorenz, reporter, The Atlantic

March 12, 2019 10:00 - 28 minutes - 26 MB

Is internet culture the bellwether for mainstream culture? In this episode of thinkPod, we are joined by Taylor Lorenz, a staff writer at The Atlantic where she covers technology. We talk Taylor about the advent of Internet culture, the pros and cons of feed-based social and how brands should be and can be creating communities online. We also hear about Taylor’s experience being trolled online, how comments can be more important than the post, the Gillette bruhaha, internet literacy, and how ...

“Social Media is a Live Microphone” Feat. Whitney Holtzman, CEO, Social Victories

March 07, 2019 16:28 - 19 minutes - 18.3 MB

In this episode of thinkPod, we are joined by Whitney Holtzman, CEO, Social Victories. We talk about engagement and tech in the sports industry and how AI is becoming more usable though case studies.

Why aren’t there more Chief Trust Officers? Feat. IBM Futurist, Peter Lavers

March 05, 2019 18:29 - 17 minutes - 15.7 MB

On this episode of thinkPod, we are joined by IBM Futurist, Peter Lavers. We talk about the importance of integrating CRM across the business, how trust is at the heart of B2B customer experiences, and much more.

GPDR is the Marie Kondo of Data, Feat. Jamie Gutfreund, CMO, Wunderman Thompson

February 28, 2019 15:51 - 30 minutes - 27.6 MB

We sat down with Jamie Gutfreund, Global CMO of Wunderman Thompson, to talk about the future of marketing as she sees it. Jamie shared some key insights with case studies as diverse as Fortnite and Chance the Rapper, about how tomorrow's best marketing initiatives will be integrated and unsiloed, an elegant partnership between data and creative. They will seek to change and adapt to fit customers' changing needs, pursuing "wantedness" and community rather than the myth of the customer with un...

Making Mom Proud with Collaboration Solutions, Feat Michael McCabe, VP, WW IBM Go to Market at Box

February 26, 2019 15:39 - 13 minutes - 12.2 MB

In this episode of thinkPod, we are joined by Michael McCabe, Vice President of WW IBM Go to Market at Box. Michael and Amanda talk about how companies are leveraging collaboration tools to drive insights and outcomes, the evolution of content, and the future of AI in managing unstructured data.

AI Explained: Advanced Conversational Concepts

February 21, 2019 14:00 - 24 minutes - 19.7 MB

Once you have built a virtual assistant for your business, what can you do to make it stand out? In this episode of AI Explained: Building with Conversational AI, Christine Gabbard, Product Manager at Autodesk, will describe their virtual assistant’s unique features that set her apart from their competition. Fredrik Tunvall, Offering Manager for Watson Assistant, will discuss the Watson Assistant advanced conversational concepts that will help you optimize your AI solution. For more detail on...

All Things AI at Think 2019

February 19, 2019 16:47 - 15 minutes - 14.4 MB

In this episode of thinkPod, Amanda Thurston, Leader, Demand Generation, IBM Watson is joined by Caitlin Leddy, Product Marketer, IBM Watson. They re-live the magic of Think 2019 and discuss all things AI.

AI Explained: Conversational Design

February 14, 2019 20:00 - 21 minutes - 16.7 MB

In this episode of AI Explained: Building with Conversational AI, Lakisha Hall, Director of Watson AI Expert & Delivery Services, dives into how to design a conversational AI solution. Learn how to build an AI system that will effectively converse with your users whenever and wherever they are. Rachael Rekart, Director of Machine Assistance at Autodesk, will discuss the importance of building a virtual assistant with a persona that matches the brand of your organization. For more detail on h...

Deep Fakes, Biased News, & The Modern Newsroom Feat. Sara Fischer, Axios

February 12, 2019 14:00 - 24 minutes - 22.8 MB

Is it better to allow an algorithm to optimize the most relevant and authoritative news? In this episode of thinkPod, we are joined by Sara Fischer, a DC-based media reporter at Axios. We talk about the evolution of news distribution, trends to look out for in 2019, and how the problem of deep fakes and intentionally manipulated news will require leaning on AI and machine learning.

AI Explained: Core Conversational Concepts

February 07, 2019 14:00 - 18 minutes - 14.9 MB

You know that conversational AI will change the way you do business, but what concepts do you need to understand to get started? In this episode of AI Explained: Building with Conversational AI, Fredrik Tunvall, Offering Manger for Watson Assistant, and Ghassan Makhoul, Conversational Engineer at Autodesk, break down the conversational AI core concepts; intents, entities and utterances, and discuss how these concepts work together to create conversations. For more detail on how to get started...

AI Explained: Organizing Your Team

January 31, 2019 14:00 - 17 minutes - 13.6 MB

When building with an AI solution, organizing the right team is critical. In this episode of AI Explained: Building with Conversational AI, we are joined by Toby Cappello, VP of Watson AI Expert & Delivery Services, who discusses the importance of building up the right talent to optimize and customize your conversational AI solution. We’ll also hear more from Rachael Rekart, Director of Machine Assistance at Autodesk, on the importance of each individual role on her team that build their virt...

Building Bots that Speak the Brand feat. Don White, CEO and Co-founder of Satisfi Labs

January 29, 2019 14:00 - 21 minutes - 49.2 MB

In this episode of thinkPod, we are joined by return-guest, Don White, CEO and Co-founder of Satisfi Labs. We talk about how Satisfi Labs shape customer experiences across sports, retail, music and Broadway and why companies should view AI as an employee of the brand.

AI Explained: Getting Started

January 24, 2019 14:00 - 28 minutes - 23.4 MB

You know that you need to build a virtual assistant for your business, but where do you start? In this episode of our series, AI Explained: Building with Conversational AI, we are joined by Rachael Rekart, Director of Machine Assistance at Autodesk, Rob High, IBM Fellow, and Lakisha Hall, Director of Watson AI Expert and Delivery Services. They review the three most important steps to taking the first steps toward building with conversational AI; developing your strategy, building your team, ...

AI Explained: Why Conversational AI

January 17, 2019 20:00 - 19 minutes - 22 MB

In this first episode of our series, AI Explained: Building with Conversational AI, we are joined by Rachael Rekart, Director of Machine Assistance at Autodesk, Rob High, CTO of Watson, and Shobhit Varshney, Partner at IBM Services, the Cognitive Customer Care Lead in North America. They discuss the first steps to getting started with conversational AI, including why your business needs it, how to build out a business case, and what companies like Autodesk have seen since building their virtu...

Jingle Bells and Ticket Sales feat. Brian Fenty, Co-Founder & CEO, TodayTix

January 14, 2019 14:12 - 25 minutes - 58.9 MB

In this episode, we are joined by Brian Fenty (Co-Founder & CEO, TodayTix) to discuss the intersection of art and technology, brand passion and purpose, and using mobile to improve physical experiences. ---- Follow @IBMthinkLeaders on Twitter - twitter.com/IBMthinkLeaders Join the IBM thinkLeaders LinkedIn group - www.linkedin.com/groups/3299993/ Subscribe to our Podcast! 🎙 iTunes: ibm.biz/thinkpod 🎙 Soundcloud: ibm.biz/thinkpodsoundcloud 🎙 Spotify: ibm.biz/thinkpodspotify

Crowdfunding & the Power of People, Purpose, & Participation ft. Breanna DiGiammarino, Indiegogo

November 01, 2018 14:10 - 18 minutes - 21.3 MB

In this episode, we are joined by Breanna DiGiammarino (Senior Director of Social Innovation at Indiegogo) to discuss crowdfunding as an alternative investment vehicle and how it can help democratize fundraising. ---- Follow @IBMthinkLeaders on Twitter - twitter.com/IBMthinkLeaders Join the IBM thinkLeaders LinkedIn group - www.linkedin.com/groups/3299993/ Subscribe to our Podcast! 🎙 iTunes: http://ibm.biz/thinkpod 🎙 Soundcloud: http://ibm.biz/thinkpodsoundcloud 🎙 Spotify: http://ibm.bi...

Beyond the Numbers feat. Rachel Williams, Global Head of Diversity & Inclusion, StubHub

October 11, 2018 19:16 - 25 minutes - 23.7 MB

In this episode, we are joined by Rachel Williams, Global Head of Diversity and Inclusion at StubHub, to discuss hiring practices, confronting your own biases, and how a new generation of tech companies are promoting diversity. Follow @IBMthinkLeaders on Twitter - https://twitter.com/IBMthinkLeaders Join the IBM thinkLeaders LinkedIn group - https://www.linkedin.com/groups/3299993/ Subscribe to our Podcast - https://soundcloud.com/ibmthinkleaders

Creative Collisions & NYC Tech feat. Jeremy Goldberg, Deputy CTO, City of New York

October 09, 2018 18:00 - 19 minutes - 17.4 MB

In this episode, we are joined by Jeremy Goldberg, Deputy CTO (Managing Director NYCx and NYC Digital) at City of New York, Mayor's Office of the CTO. We discuss smart cities, creating cultures of innovation in government and community, and New York as a startup environment. Follow @IBMthinkLeaders on Twitter - https://twitter.com/IBMthinkLeaders Join the IBM thinkLeaders LinkedIn group - https://www.linkedin.com/groups/3299993/ Subscribe to our Podcast - https://soundcloud.com/ibmthinkleaders

The Idea Is Only As Good As The Hustle feat. Anurag Agarwalla, Innovation at Uber

October 02, 2018 19:50 - 21 minutes - 19.5 MB

In this episode of thinkPod @ Dreamforce 2018, Anurag Agarwalla (Innovation at Uber & Co-lead of Uber's Asian Heritage ERG) joins us to share his perspective on balancing the physical vs digital, sourcing ideas from intrapreneurs, and bringing your authentic self to work.

AI: Helping Teachers Sleep at Night feat. Matthew Glotzbach, CEO, Quizlet

October 01, 2018 19:52 - 17 minutes - 20.4 MB

Matthew Glotzbach, CEO of Quizlet, joins us to discuss the difference between consumer learning and EdTech, leveraging AI to improve visibility into the education process, and how technology can further democratize information.

Wonder Woman & the Power of Empathy & Representation ft. Stephanie Rice, Women at Yelp

September 26, 2018 18:37 - 26 minutes - 24.3 MB

In the first installment of thinkLeaders at Dreamforce 2018, we are joined by Stephanie Rice, Yelp Senior Marketing Associate and National Lead for Women at Yelp (WAY), to discuss the value of diversity and inclusion resource groups in the workplace, and the power of scaling communities while maintaining empathy and connection at the core.

Bitcoin & the Democratization of Commerce feat. Alex Adelman, Co-Founder & CEO, Lolli

September 12, 2018 18:42 - 15 minutes - 14 MB

In this episode, we are joined by Alex Adelman, Co-founder and CEO of Lolli, a bitcoin rewards e-commerce startup based in NYC. We talk about borderless commerce, barriers of entries to cryptocurrency, and evolving business models.

Foodie Tribes and Changing Times feat. Jon Carter, CDO & CTO, Snap Kitchen

September 06, 2018 15:52 - 16 minutes - 14.9 MB

In this episode of thinkPod at SXSW 2018, Amanda Thurston (Marketing Services Leader, IBM iX) is joined by Jon Carter (Chief Digital Officer and Chief Technology Officer, Snap Kitchen) to discuss conscious sourcing, Foodie Tribes, and transitioning to digital business models.

The Speed of the Customer Feat. Liesbeth Oudkerk, Product Owner, Digital Transformation, KLM

August 15, 2018 18:08 - 8 minutes - 9.35 MB

In this episode of thinkPod, Amanda Thurston, Leader, Digital Marketing Services, speaks to Liesbeth Oudkerk, Product Owner, Digital Transformation at KLM. They talk about putting your employees at the center of transformation efforts, building customer experience through multi-disciplinary teams, and leveraging design thinking principals for driving creativity.

Data-based Customer Understanding feat. Prof Markus Warg, COO, SIGNAL IDUNA & Board Member, SDA SE

August 13, 2018 15:44 - 16 minutes - 18.7 MB

In this episode of thinkPod at CEBIT 2018, Amanda Thurston, Leader, Digital Marketing Services, talks to Professor Markus Warg, COO at SIGNAL IDUNA & Board Member at SDA SE, about Service Dominant Architecture, partnerships, and working in agile.

Comfortable Spaces for Uncomfortable Conversations Feat. Gemma Greaves, CEO, The Marketing Society

August 01, 2018 13:11 - 11 minutes - 13.5 MB

In this episode of thinkPod at Cannes Lions, Amanda Thurston (Leader, Marketing Services, IBM iX) talks to Gemma Greaves (CEO, The Marketing Society) about bravery, bringing people together, and ensuring bolder marketing leadership by allowing people to be themselves.

Old Friends, New Cannes Feat. Errol Baran, SVP, Business Development and Innovation, BBC

July 23, 2018 13:57 - 18 minutes - 20.9 MB

In this episode of thinkPod at Cannes Lions 2018, Amanda Thurston (Marketing Services Leader, IBM iX) is joined by Errol Baran (SVP, Business Development and Innovation, BBC). They talk about story telling, the evolution of Cannes Lions, and exciting new work coming out of BBC this year.

Inclusivity, Talent and the Heart of Events feat. Jeremy King, CEO, Festival of Media and M&M Global

July 11, 2018 16:34 - 23 minutes - 27 MB

In this episode of thinkPod at Cannes Lions 2018, Amanda Thurston (Marketing Services Leader, IBM iX) is joined by Jeremy King (CEO, Festival of Media and M&M Global) to talk about conscious inclusion, fostering creative and productive work cultures, and the value of intimacy in event marketing.

iX thinkLeaders at Cannes Lions 2018

July 02, 2018 09:38 - 27 minutes - 31.4 MB

In this episode of thinkPod, Robert Schwartz (Global Leader, Agency Services) and Amanda Thurston (Marketing Services Leader) of IBM iX reflect on the highlights of this year's Cannes Lions festival.

Creativity is at the Heart of Connection feat. Bridget Perry, VP of Marketing EMEA, Adobe

June 28, 2018 19:38 - 16 minutes - 19.2 MB

In this episode of thinkPod at Cannes Lions 2018, Amanda Thurston, Marketing Services Leader at IBM iX, is joined by Bridget Perry, VP of Marketing EMEA at Adobe, to discuss the celebration of creativity at Cannes Lions, the state of the CMO, and navigating the worlds of B2B and B2C.

Not Just Another Yacht in the Marina feat. Dom Joseph, CEO & Co-Founder, Captify

June 26, 2018 11:08 - 12 minutes - 14.2 MB

In this episode of thinkPod at Cannes Lions 2018, Amanda Thurston (Marketing Services Leader, IBM iX) sits with Dom Joseph (CEO & Co-Founder, Captify)who talks about the intersection of technology and creative, search intelligence, and leveraging those insights to reinvent marketing.

We Should Be Paying Agencies More feat. John Nardone, CEO, Flashtalking

June 21, 2018 17:23 - 18 minutes - 20.6 MB

In our first installment of thinkPod at Cannes Lions 2018, Amanda Thurston (Marketing Services Leader, IBM iX) sits with John Nardone (CEO, Flashtalking)to discuss the realities of GDPR, the intersection of creativity and personalization, and the state of the agency relationship.

Meet The Parents feat. Niko Woischnik, Founder of Tech Berlin, Tech Open Air, and Ahoy! Berlin

June 19, 2018 10:20 - 14 minutes - 17 MB

In the latest episode of thinkPod, Robert Schwartz (Global Leader of Agency Services, IBM iX) is joined by Niko Woischnik (Founder of Tech Berlin, Tech Open Air, and Ahoy! Berlin), a serial entrepreneur and all-around Renaissance man. Find out why in this episode.

Math and a Little Moral Courage feat. Gina Ortiz Jones, TX-23 Congressional Candidate

April 04, 2018 20:03 - 19 minutes - 18 MB

In this episode, Robert Schwartz, Head of Agency Services at IBM iX, sits with Gina Ortiz Jones, TX-23 Congressional Candidate. They discuss Gina's inspiring back story, the importance of diversity, and the need to close the digital divide in rural districts

Navigating Through the Red Tape feat Joseph Kopser, Congressional Candidate in TX-21

April 02, 2018 14:58 - 16 minutes - 19.4 MB

In this episode, Amanda Thurston, Marketing Services Leader at IBM iX, sits with Joseph Kopser, Congressional Candidate in TX-21. They discuss inspiring a new generation of workers, closing skill gaps and managing bureaucratic change.

This is Not Your Parent's CRM feat. Ben Hindman, Co-founder & CEO, Splash

March 29, 2018 18:18 - 17 minutes - 20.4 MB

In this episode, Amanda Thurston, Marketing Services Leader at IBM iX, sits with Ben Hindman, CEO, Splash, they discuss the data that drives great experiences, connecting most effectively with your customer, and how thoughtful event strategy can empower CRM and drive ROI.

Building Authentic Brand Experiences on Social feat. Ragy Thomas, Founder & CEO, Sprinklr

March 27, 2018 14:24 - 20 minutes - 28.1 MB

In our first installment of thinkPod @ SXSW 2018, we are joined by Ragy Thomas, Founder & CEO of Sprinklr. In this chat hosted by Amanda Thurston, Digital Marketing Services Leader at IBM iX, the two discuss experience-building as branding, the evolution of social, and the role of the CMO.

thinkPod @ IBM Think 2018: Putting Smart to Work with iX thinkLeaders

March 23, 2018 15:18 - 18 minutes - 20.8 MB

Take a sneak peek into the happenings at IBM Think 2018. Listen as Robert Schwartz (Global Leader, Agency Services, IBM iX) and Amanda Thurston (Digital Marketing Services Leader, IBM iX) reflect on this week's interviews with industry leaders who shared how they are using technology to put smart to work in Blockchain, Diversity, Branding, & more!

thinkPod: iX thinkLeaders at SXSW 2018

March 15, 2018 15:30 - 18 minutes - 21.3 MB

Join IBM iX's Robert Schwartz, Global Leader of Agency Services, and Amanda Thurston, Marketing Services Leader, as they reflect on SXSW 2018 and share insights from this week's thinkLeaders guests.

ThinkPod feat. Nolan Bauerle, Director of Research at CoinDesk

February 27, 2018 16:19 - 20 minutes - 18.3 MB

In this episode, Amanda Thurston, Marketing Services Leader at IBM iX, sits with Nolan Bauerle, Director of Research at CoinDesk, to the history of cryptography, blockchain use cases, and the importance of patience in this rising ecosystem.

ThinkPod feat. Eric Martinez, former Partner at VSA, co-founder at Studio Bonafide

January 16, 2018 17:02 - 15 minutes - 14.4 MB

In this episode, Amanda Thurston, Marketing Services Leader at IBM iX, sits with Eric Martinez, former Partner and Designing Change Lead at VSA, to discuss business visioning, nurturing talent and creativity, and the written word in a digital world. Since the recording of this podcast, Eric Martinez has left VSA to start a new venture. See his note below for details: "I've co-founded a business and brand consultancy called Studio Bonafide (though the name is likely to change soon due to tra...

ThinkPod feat. Akash Malhotra, Co-founder & COO, Eventable

December 18, 2017 20:57 - 11 minutes - 10.6 MB

We're back after a busy week at Dreamforce 2017! Listen as IBM iX Marketing Services Leader Amanda Thurston is joined by Akash Malhotra, Co-founder and COO of Eventable. In this fireside chat, they discuss entrepreneurship, what it means to be a mentor, and a new facet of digital - marketing through the calendar.

thinkPod @ Dreamforce 2017:Maria O'Hollearn, Program Director, Hispanic Foundation of Silicon Valley

November 14, 2017 19:09 - 20 minutes - 28.6 MB

As part of our Dreamforce 2017 thought leadership series, Amanda Thurston, Marketing Services Leader at IBM iX, sits with Maria O'Hollearn, Program Director of the Hispanic Foundation of Silicon Valley, to discuss diversity, early education, and the importance of support communities. Theme music by Andrew Atkin & Michael Simonelli, of Full Stop Art

thinkPod @ Dreamforce 2017: Reggie Wirjadi, Director of Interaction Design, Punchcut

November 13, 2017 18:16 - 14 minutes - 19.8 MB

As part of our Dreamforce 2017 thought leadership series, Amanda Thurston, Marketing Services Leader at IBM iX, sits with Reggie Wirjadi, Director of Interaction Design at Punchcut, to discuss design inspiration, agency life, and driving culture and development of creative teams. Theme music by Andrew Atkin & Michael Simonelli, of Full Stop Art

Guests

Ben Jackson
1 Episode
Lauren Maffeo
1 Episode
Mark Schaefer
1 Episode

Twitter Mentions

@ibmthinkleaders 4 Episodes