The CX Cast

CX leaders struggle to create strategy days, roadshows, and training that people actually remember. Game design can fix that. Co‑hosts Martin Gill and Angelina Gennis speak with Tim van den Boomen, an interaction designer who creates escape rooms and immersive learning environments for brands. Tim shows how game mechanics, player archetypes, and simple physical props can transform low‑engagement CX moments into high‑impact experiences. Listeners will learn: How “explorers”, “achievers”, “socialisers”, and “killers” shape engagement — and how to design for all four. How to create a “magic circle” that shifts people out of meeting mode and into active participation. How to use props, constraints, time limits, and physicality to build memorable CX learning. How to apply experience‑room techniques to culture change, strategy rollout, and journey education. How to deliver impact even with limited budget, space, or resources.

Tavar James, VP global events, shares what CX leaders can learn from professional event strategists. Tavar discusses how in‑person experiences build trust, why personalization matters more than ever, how to avoid common pitfalls in hybrid formats, and what makes a standout CX event in 2026. He also previews exciting changes coming to Forrester’s CX events portfolio and offers practical advice for anyone planning to attend their first big in‑person gathering.

Jorissa Neutelings, ABN AMRO’s Chief Digital Officer, discusses the bank’s bold vision for becoming a liquid company: a fully adaptable, hyper‑personal, modular, and conversational organization that meets customers exactly where they are. Jorissa explains why trust, transparency, and intentional friction are essential in a digital world shaped by AI, agents, and rising fraud risks. Featuring Jorissa Neutelings, Chief Digital Officer, ABN AMRO Show Notes Jorissa Neutelings, ABN AMRO’s Chief Digital Officer, discusses the bank’s bold vision for becoming a liquid company: a fully adaptable, hyper‑personal, modular, and conversational organization that meets customers exactly where they are. Jorissa explains why trust, transparency, and intentional friction are essential in a digital world shaped by AI, agents, and rising fraud risks. We discuss: What a liquid company is and how it enables ABN AMRO to meet customers where their needs begin How three pillars of digital strategy allow ABN AMRO to architect journeys based on customer behavior The role of intentional friction in building trust The era of serving the "lazy customer"

Principal Analysts Su Doyle and Shari Srebnick join Angelina to explore the differences and overlaps between Customer Success (CS) and Customer Experience (CX) teams. The conversation delves into CX and CS teams' primary goals, metrics, and the importance of collaboration in driving growth and retention. Featuring Su Doyle, Forrester Principal Analyst Shari Srebnik, Forrester Principal Analyst covering B2B Customer Success Show Notes For more information, take a look at Su's report: B2B CX For Customer Loyalty: A Guide | Forrester And Shari's report: To Remain Relevant, Customer Success Requires A Bold Ne... | Forrester

Co-hosts Martin Gill and Angelina Gennis reflect on the past year of CX Cast episodes, including coverage of evolving themes like AI and insights-rich interviews with over 20 external guests. But 2026 will be bigger, with new live events and ever-expanding research coverage. What's a gaming expert got to enhance your roadshows? Why's Martin heading to Amsterdam? Find out - and then hit subscribe to catch every episode of 2026!

Tzachi Ben-Sasson, Head of Global Voice of the Customer at Amdocs, and VP principal analyst Maxie Schmidt join Angelina to discuss the evolution of Amdocs and its approach to customer engagement through its voice-of-the-customer program. Tzachi shares insights on how Amdocs transitioned from a monopoly mindset to a customer-centric approach, emphasizing the importance of understanding customer feedback and its impact on revenue.

Charles Sustaita, Director of Customer Support at Coastline Academy, joins Angelina and Martin to discuss the imperative for AI leaders to fully embrace AI as a transformative technology for business efficiency and connectivity. The discussion highlights the importance of analytics, translation, and the concept of agentic work in leveraging AI for enhanced performance.

Angelina is joined by VP, principal analyst Maxie Schmidt to dive deep into the phenomenon of metrics obsession in organizations, exploring why it happens, its symptoms, and how CX leaders can move from dysfunctional measurement practices to a culture of measurement mastery. Drawing on their keynote experiences and research, they discuss the impact of metrics on employee experience, organizational culture, and customer outcomes.

Hot off the back of the recent publication of Forrester’s Customer Journey Management (CJM) Wave™, VP, principal analyst Joana de Quintanilla joins Martin Gill to talk all things CJM. We shifted the category name this time round from “journey mapping” to “journey management,” which reflects some tangible trends we’ve been seeing in the market.

This week, Doug Washburn — Forrester's VP of product management — joins Angelina and Martin for a deep dive into how he helped launch Forrester’s Izola AI chatbot. Doug shares the organizational mindset, executive commitment, and rapid development cycles that helped Forrester bring a generative AI solution to market ahead of other research organizations. Doug shares candid insights on balancing speed with accuracy, the importance of grounding AI responses in trusted research, and the ongoing challenges of collaboration and client engagement.

This week on the CX Cast, Forrester research director Rick Parrish joins Martin and Angelina to discuss Forrester's new Total Experience Score — a framework designed to unify brand and CX measurement. Tune in to hear why legacy metrics like Net Promoter Score℠ (NPS) and customer satisfaction (CSAT) are no longer sufficient, and how the Total Experience Score provides a more nuanced, actionable view of your brand.

Martin and Angelina welcome back VP Principal Analyst Enza Iannopollo to discuss the evolving nature of trust in CX — especially in the context of global volatility and the rise of AI. The conversation covers Forrester’s latest research on trust, actionable strategies for organizations, and real-world examples of responsible AI.

Brendan Witcher, VP principal analyst, joins Angelina and Martin to discuss the evolving role of AI and data in CX. Brendan shares insights focusing on three key innovations: computer vision, natural language processing, and biometrics. The conversation explores how these technologies are shaping CX strategies, driving business outcomes, and redefining what it means to understand customer intent.

This week, host Martin Gill travels down under to Forrester’s CX Summit APAC in Sydney. Tune in to hear a series of quickfire discussions with Forrester analysts and CX industry attendees on topics affecting CX across Australia and the APAC region.

Martin and Angelina welcome founder of Humanity at Scale and ex-Forresterite Bruce Temkin to explore the complexities of organizational culture, especially in the context of CX. Drawing on decades of research and real-world examples, the trio dives into why culture is so hard to change, what actually moves the needle, and how leaders can inspire lasting transformation.

Martin is joined by Debra Eddy, guest lecturer at University College London (UCL), to discuss how universities are preparing the next generation of CX leaders. Debra shares her journey from fast-moving consumer goods marketing to academia, and how UCL builds real-world skills and employability for students while adapting to changes brought by AI.

Martin and Angelina explore the role of change management in CX transformation. Drawing from Angelina’s latest research and Martin’s past experiences, they unpack why CX programs stall and how organizations can better embed change into their operations. The conversation covers emotional engagement, leadership, AI, and practical strategies for driving lasting change.

In 2019, former CX Cast co-hosts Sam Stern and Jenny Wise brought Jason Bradshaw, then Chief Customer Officer at Volkswagen Group Australia, to discuss customer and employee experiences. As Angelina notes in the introduction, Jason shares a brief autobiography that highlights where his passion for service began. The interview explores the connection between exceptional employee and customer experiences, emphasizing genuinely caring for both groups is essential to achieve business returns from CX improvements.

Recurring CX Cast guest Su Doyle joins Angelina to dive into stakeholder management, discussing how to identify and prioritize stakeholders and various tools and strategies to engage them effectively. Su shares valuable insights on creating stakeholder personas and aligning metrics to drive collaboration and success.

In this episode, Angelina and Martin dive into the evolving world of mobility, exploring how transportation systems — from EVs to mass transit — can be reimagined through a customer-centric lens. Joined by VP principal analyst Paul Miller and CX researcher Hannah Jachim, the conversation challenges traditional tech-centric narratives and emphasizes the importance of understanding real human needs in mobility design.