Evolving Industry

In this episode, we explore the GovTech super worker, unpacking how AI is transforming public sector roles. Denise Hemke, Chief Product Officer at NEOGOV, explains why government customers, unlike those in the private sector, are uniquely collaborative and eager to share data to “raise the tide for everyone.” She details AI applications like the recall product, which uses reinforcement learning to ensure public safety officers have critical policies top-of-mind for split-second decisions. The conversation also covers how AI is changing product development through rapid prototyping and the central importance of mission and wellness in serving first responders.Join us as we discuss: [7:37] Creating “super workers” by driving efficiencies in policy management[12:16] Reinforcement training and conversational policy searches with AI[23:22] Using rapid prototyping to manage strategic product roadmapsCraving more? You can find this interview and many more by subscribing to Evolving Industry on Apple Podcasts, on Spotify, or here.Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

In this episode, we frame the challenge of adapting to AI using the octopus organization model. Stephen Wunker, Managing Director at New Markets Advisors and co-author of AI and the Octopus Organization, discusses the need to think beyond 5% process efficiencies and aim for 35% process rethink. Drawing on lessons from the first smartphone, Stephen explains the "Three Hearts" framework for balancing analytic, agile, and aligned operations. The conversation also tackles the need for rapid rewrite squads, cross-functional teams empowered to quickly adapt workflows, and how to set organizational guardrails against the potential for dangerous “rogue AI.”Join us as we discuss: [4:40] Addressing legacy processes before trying to solve new problems with AI[10:01] What human orgs can learn from the agility and adaptability of the octopus[19:53] The dangers of reckless AI use across siloed departments and the hardest part about an organizational transition to an AI strategyCraving more? You can find this interview and many more by subscribing to Evolving Industry on Apple Podcasts, on Spotify, or here.Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

This episode dives into the evolution of private equity and the strategy of operationalizing brand. Scott Markman, President at MonogramGroup, shares insights from nearly 30 years in PE-backed companies. He explains why the operating partner role is now essential and reframes the public's perception of PE by focusing on the real value created in the middle market. The conversation tackles the difficult challenge of executing brand strategy in rollups and herding founder-led companies through name changes and cultural transitions to unlock millions in valuation. Scott details the craft of complex problem solving that delivers world-class impact to essential, unsexy businesses.Join us as we discuss: [3:48] The evolution of private equity from a few firms to thousands of specialized groups[12:41] Why organizational branding is critical to getting regional leaders on board through the PE transition [22:25] The highs of making a positive impact on scaling companiesCheck out these resources we mentioned during the podcast:Beer Stories for Private EquityCraving more? You can find this interview and many more by subscribing to Evolving Industry on Apple Podcasts, on Spotify, or here.Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

Jessica Want, Enterprise Data Practices Director at the Maryland Department of Information Technology, compares the current AI era to the dot-com boom, arguing that AI hype is creating a dangerous culture that diminishes young talent and expertise. She also discusses why UX often gets pushed to the background by rigid frameworks like Agile. The conversation covers the loss of organic mentorship in remote culture, the importance of accessibility in public sector work, and the need for companies to foster truly inclusive environments for diverse talent.Join us as we discuss: [1:41] How the internet’s “golden age” compares to the age of AI and the decline in user experience[12:38] Intentionality in remote work culture mentorship and why it’s important to hire young people[19:12] Women in tech and the inherent need to diversify voices in the fieldCraving more? You can find this interview and many more by subscribing to Evolving Industry on Apple Podcasts, on Spotify, or here.Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

In this episode, we’re redefining the innovation mindset. Arun Samuga, Supply Chain Technology Executive at Elemica, challenges the idea that innovation is only about bleeding-edge technology. He argues that true innovation often lies in incremental steps, adapting solutions from other industries, and solving real-world problems. Arun discusses the critical balance between internal core focus and external supply chain optimization, addressing challenges like managing technical debt and navigating talent shortages. Tune in as we unpack the importance of a continuous improvement mindset and prioritizing stability over speed for lasting progress.Join us as we discuss: [1:04] Redefining innovation and looking outside your industry for new ideas[16:23] Bridging ideas between the C-suite and frontline employees[26:01] Confronting tech debt and prioritizing the hunt for solutionsCraving more? You can find this interview and many more by subscribing to Evolving Industry on Apple Podcasts, on Spotify, or here.Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

This episode dives into the brand frameworks of companies. Tyler Borders, Chief Brand Officer at Carnegie, discusses his journey from artist to brand strategist and how he flipped the script on traditional branding. He explains his psychographic framework for going beyond demographics to understand what truly motivates an audience. The conversation also explores the transition from a nimble "pirate ship" startup to a repeatable "battleship" organization and the challenge of maintaining an innovative edge.Join us as we discuss: [1:19] Psychographic frameworks and shifting to a research-first branding mindset[10:38] Automation versus the human element and avoiding paralysis by analysis[19:56] Navigating higher ed stakeholders and pushback on innovationCraving more? You can find this interview and many more by subscribing to Evolving Industry on Apple Podcasts, on Spotify, or here.Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

In this episode, we explore the cultural DNA of tech ecosystems. Kenneth Kashif Thomas, Principal at BackFuture, joins us to talk about the surprising differences in the US and European startup scenes. Kenneth explains how the American "no-BS" attitude and willingness to fund “napkin deals” creates a different landscape for founders. The conversation also tackles the hype around AI, the importance of focusing on real use cases, and how building a strong community is the human underpinning of success in the tech world.Join us as we discuss: [1:04] The European VC community and fostering a startup culture[8:08] AI in the investment world and kneejerk reactions from the C-suite[21:39] Bringing the American spirit to the European founders’ communityCheck out these resources we mentioned during the podcast:SaaStockCraving more? You can find this interview and many more by subscribing to Evolving Industry on Apple Podcasts, on Spotify, or here.Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

Organizational archetypes are recurring patterns that reveal how dysfunction takes root and persists. In this episode, Scott Wozniak, CEO of Swoz Consulting, breaks down some of the most common dysfunction types he’s encountered while helping companies scale. From the reactionary chaos of the “Firefighting Factory” to the rigid habits of the “Fortress,” Scott explores how leaders can identify these patterns and start engineering healthier operations. He also explains how industry pressures and founder personalities shape culture more than many leaders realize, and why “diagnosing the disease” is always step one.Join us as we discuss: [1:24] Why most successful organizations are just as nuanced as people[8:57] The eight organizational archetypes and their core dysfunctions[16:49] Why customers are bad at delivering their own solutions[32:38] The “over-entrepreneur” and leadership malpracticeCraving more? You can find this interview and many more by subscribing to Evolving Industry on Apple Podcasts, on Spotify, or here.Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

Organizational transformation is rarely about tech alone. Wayne Powers, Principal at Powers Consulting LLC, has led multiple turnarounds at the intersection of leadership, private equity, and digital evolution. In this episode, he unpacks why once-dominant companies fall behind, how misaligned incentives silently derail innovation, and what it really takes to course-correct in high-stakes environments. Drawing on experiences from Fortune 50 firms to PE-backed ventures, Wayne shares what makes digital investments pay off and how to build transformation strategies people actually support.Join us as we discuss: [1:12] Why so many market leaders eventually lose their way[11:49] How private equity can positively influence culture dynamics[22:29] Managing the pressures of rapid change and “trusted conflicts”Craving more? You can find this interview and many more by subscribing to Evolving Industry on Apple Podcasts, on Spotify, or here.Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

Quote to cash is a complex but critical process that connects every department in a business, and perhaps no one explains it more clearly than John Garvens, Owner and Principal Architect at Garvens Consulting. John joins us to break down the quote to cash lifecycle into its essential purpose — sell stuff, get money. He shares how CPQ fits into the larger revenue equation, the most common pain points businesses face, and why streamlining this process is often the key to unlocking enterprise-wide productivity. He also unpacks the flurry of M&A activity happening in the quote-to-cash software space and why big players are racing to own this part of the stack.Join us as we discuss:[1:47] Quote-to-cash, CPQ, and common pain points in bringing it all together[11:51] The Q2C renaissance and the back-to-front office battleground[25:54] Why companies need to slow down their subscription managementCraving more? You can find this interview and many more by subscribing to Evolving Industry on Apple Podcasts, on Spotify, or here.Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

For decades, product data has been rigid — trapped in static formats that limit flexibility and transparency. But as supply chains become more complex and consumer expectations grow, the need for dynamic data is greater than ever.John Abrams, CEO at nutrād, shares his vision for a future where supply chains move beyond outdated data standards. He explains how real-time data translation, powered by AI, can create deeper consumer trust, improve recall management, and unlock massive new business value.If you’re looking for a fresh take on how data is shaping the next era of commerce, this is a conversation you won’t want to miss.Join us as we discuss:[1:25] Dynamic data and how it manifests in the modern supply chain[10:59] Speedrunning dynamic data interpretation with machine-learning algorithms[19:10] Shifting to a dynamic data mindset and its future implicationsCraving more? You can find this interview and many more by subscribing to Evolving Industry on Apple Podcasts, on Spotify, or here.Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

Many of the biggest names in e-commerce, from Amazon to Nike, have adopted headless commerce solutions to streamline their customers’ digital shopping experiences. But what sets headless commerce apart from other monolithic platforms, and is it the right solution for your business?Joshua Williams, Staff Engineer at Intevity, helps us unpack the benefits of this forward-thinking e-commerce architecture.If speed and efficiency are at the top of your digital customers’ wishlists, then you won’t want to miss this conversation around the brass tacks of headless commerce. Join us as we discuss:[1:59] The performance benefits of headless commerce platforms[15:30] Common inflection points that lead to headless implementation [23:55] What the early stages of a headless platform adoption look likeCheck out these resources we mentioned during the podcast:Conversational AI: Do Chatbots Dream of the Human ExperienceFix Your Technical Debt: The Secrets to a Healthy Engineering EcosystemCraving more? You can find this interview and many more by subscribing to Evolving Industry on Apple Podcasts, on Spotify, or here.Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

Stephen Ma, Head of Enterprise Architecture at Ulta Beauty, joins us to explain the full stack architecture model — a concept that merges strategic and technical roles within enterprise systems. Stephen shares how his full stack approach is helping Ulta Beauty innovate faster while breaking down silos between teams. He also discusses the challenges architects face in bridging business and IT to create real impact across an organization. Technical innovation is moving faster than ever, so enterprise architects need to deliver quantifiable value. Tune in for insights on how this holistic approach is shaping the future of enterprise architecture.Join us as we discuss:[1:46] How the full stack approach helps quantify value for the customer[9:46] Parallels between building and software architecture[17:40] Driving organizational change through a culture of empowerment[30:27] Unpacking the full stack architect’s ideal mindsetCraving more? You can find this interview and many more by subscribing to Evolving Industry on Apple Podcasts, on Spotify, or here.Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

The civilian-military divide has been an unfortunate cultural barrier between American service members’ families and civilian communities for decades. The average military family has to relocate every two to three years, and the mental and financial toll it takes on soldiers’ spouses and children can be overwhelming.As the son of a U.S. Marine, Ryan Callahan, EVP of Digital Innovation at Blue Star Families, found his passion in partnering with sponsors and volunteers to help these families thrive.Ryan shares how Blue Star is using human-centered design and new data models to help military families feel the sense of belonging they deserve as they navigate civilian communities. Join us as we discuss:[3:36] Typical daily challenges military families face  [13:29] Translating corporate marketing to a military nonprofit[17:47] How Veterans Affairs is leading the way in innovationCraving more? You can find this interview and many more by subscribing to Evolving Industry on Apple Podcasts, on Spotify, or here.Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

For decades, women’s professional sports leagues have watched from the sidelines as their male counterparts reaped exponentially greater rewards for their efforts. This massive financial disparity has also contributed to missed data collection and analysis opportunities that could lead to advances in women’s sports science and management. Nancy Hensley, Founding Member and Advisor for Mercury/13, has made it her mission to disrupt that narrative.Nancy breaks down some of the hard numbers behind the history of women’s professional sports and explains why data is so critical to its steady rise and future success.Join us as we discuss:[9:17] How low broadcast production value impacts sports data management[16:11] How sports leagues and investors can leverage new data[23:54] Unpacking the numbers behind the growth in women’s sportsCraving more? You can find this interview and many more by subscribing to Evolving Industry on Apple Podcasts, on Spotify, or here.Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

After a successful career as a federal prosecutor, Robert Chesnut left the public sector to work with the in-house legal teams of some of the world’s most recognizable brands, including eBay and Airbnb.His experiences inspired him to write Intentional Integrity, a critique of the steady erosion of trust in workplace culture and consumer expectations.Robert shares some remarkable stories from his corporate journey and explains why companies that practice intentional integrity ultimately succeed while those that take unethical shortcuts fail.Join us as we discuss:[00:06] The dangers of not blending business goals with integrity[15:01] Trending visibility and anticipating problems before they happen[23:38] Why your legal team needs to be involved in the businessCraving more? You can find this interview and many more by subscribing to Evolving Industry on Apple Podcasts, on Spotify, or here.Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

The demise of third-party cookies in Google’s Chrome internet browser is nearly upon us, but how will it really impact ad vendors and e-commerce platforms? Will mounting regulations and data privacy concerns cause a massive paradigm shift in digital marketing? Is Google's pivot simply a power play to corner the analytics market under the guise of discretion?Intent aside, Donal Casey, Senior Consultant at Intevity, thinks the event will lead to some tough conversations within marketing departments about the intentionality behind data usage. Tune in as Donal helps us break down what the death of third-party cookies will mean for the future of data analytics. Join us as we discuss:[2:48] What Google Analytics stands to gain from the Cookie revolution[12:18] How third-party vendors might respond to new data protocols [24:08] Performance concerns and the future of zero-party dataCraving more? You can find this interview and many more by subscribing to Evolving Industry on Apple Podcasts, on Spotify, or here.Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

Data is digital gold for e-commerce businesses, so why do so many of them struggle with data management?Perhaps it’s because many business leaders view data management as a means to an end rather than an integral part of their organization’s strategic initiatives.But proper data management isn’t a one-and-done project. It’s a cultural mindset that executives who want to achieve exponential growth must embrace.Intevity’s Eric Webster, Director of Digital Solutions, and Mike Wiseman, Senior Data and Business Intelligence Architect, stop by to help unpack why so many companies struggle with data processes.Join us as we discuss:[3:34] Why so many organizations have gaps in their data processes[13:54] The need for a champion in data-driven initiatives [24:33] How a common data language amongst stakeholders sparks growthCraving more? You can find this interview and many more by subscribing to Evolving Industry on Apple Podcasts, on Spotify, or here.Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

Headless commerce platforms have become all the rage in large corporations like Google and Amazon. But are these customizable solutions the right fit for your organization’s roadmap for growth? When is the right time to make the switch, or should you?These are the types of conversations we love at Intevity. In the first part of our internal series, Jason Anthony, Senior Consultant and Software Engineer, and Eric Webster, Director of Digital Solutions, join the studio to share their thoughts.If you’re curious how headless commerce can help scale your business by supercharging the customer experience, you won’t want to miss these insights.Join us as we discuss:[3:15] When it’s time to move on from legacy systems[12:57] How to determine the right platform for your needs[23:31] Small, simple solutions versus one-size-fits-all platformsCraving more? You can find this interview and many more by subscribing to Evolving Industry on Apple Podcasts, on Spotify, or here.Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

Pet supply retailer Chewy is renowned for building a customer-first culture that covets brand loyalty. So how did they do it?According to Remya Narayanaswami, Chewy’s Senior Director of Loyalty, it starts with having leadership who can clarify an enterprise-wide goal. Only then can internal teams check their egos at the door and keep organizational priorities in order.After an impressive stint with Amazon, Remya is now empowering her Chewy team to bring their customers solutions by getting ahead of customer problems. She gives us an exclusive peek into how she facilitates vastly divergent ideas and why a company’s operational “paper cuts” are a cultural issue.  Join us as we discuss:[7:00] Aligning internal priorities to stem pushback on company initiatives[18:07] Building a digital experience from a blank canvas[26:04] Filtering real contributors from the well-intentioned for new projectsCraving more? You can find this interview and many more by subscribing to Evolving Industry on Apple Podcasts, on Spotify, or here.Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.