This weeks episode of Tea with Rich features Brian Walker, whom shares his extensive career in the commerce tech space, discussing current ventures, including his podcast 'Cocktails and Commerce'. 

Our dialog delves into the evolution of the commerce industry, the MACH Alliance, and the future trends in commerce and technology, including order orchestration (possibly) about to take center stage, and the continued rise of (actual) composable. We also chatted up the importance of a proper strategy and strong leadership in navigating the current wave of “what’s next in commerce”. 

Toward the back-half of this episode we discuss the importance of integrating customer experience, the role of AI, and the challenges of building effective partnerships. We or course, also, get into a dialogue that touches on personal experiences, including balancing career and family life, and providing a holistic view of the commerce industry, maybe, today.

Chapters, ish...

00:00 - Introduction and Shooting the Sh!t

06:29 - Brian's Career Journey and Current Venture

16:30 - Reflections on the Commerce Industry

27:56 - Insights from Brian's Experiences

37:58 - The Impact of COVID on Digital Investments

45:28 - The Rise of Shopify and Market Dynamics

49:34 - Future Trends in Commerce Technology

59:26 - Debating Composability and Headless Commerce

01:01 - The Shiny New Toy Syndrome

01:04 - Navigating Composability in Commerce

01:07 - The Evolution of Commerce Technology

01:13 - The Integrated Commerce Experience

01:15 - Balancing Career, Fatherhood and Emotional Growth

01:25 - Lessons from our Grandparents

01:28 - Advice for Tech Leaders on Partnerships

01:40 - Building Successful Partnerships

Peace. -t

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