The Modern Customer Podcast

What does it take to deliver human-centered customer experience across nearly 200 resorts and 22,000+ employees? On this episode of The Modern Customer Podcast, I’m joined by Derek De Salvia, Chief Customer Officer and EVP at Hilton Grand Vacations. Derek leads the company’s global CX strategy and brings a practical, people-first lens to metrics, personalization, and leadership at scale. We talk about moving beyond NPS, using real-time feedback to drive smarter decisions, applying AI to elevate both guest and employee experience, and staying meaningfully connected to the frontline. Ready to see what future-ready CX leadership really looks like? Hit play to hear how Hilton Grand Vacations is using data, AI, and frontline insight to stay ahead. This episode is sponsored by SCAYLE, the flexible and scalable eCommerce platform built to grow enterprise brands pain-free.  Visit www.scayle.com to learn more Blake Morgan is a customer experience futurist, keynote speaker, and author of three books on customer experience. Her new book is called The 8 Laws of Customer-Focused Leadership: The New Rules for Building A Business Around Today’s Customer. Follow Blake Morgan on LinkedIn For regular updates on customer experience, sign up for her weekly newsletter here. 

Ever wonder what half a billion minutes of AI-powered customer service actually sounds like?  On the latest Modern Customer Podcast, I chat with Benjamin Gleitzman, CTO & Co-founder of Replicant. We dive deep into how their enterprise-grade AI is transforming customer service, moving beyond frustrating IVRs to deliver full-call resolution for even the most complex issues. This AI doesn't just sound natural; it thinks on its feet, adapts in real time, and helps customers solve complex problems. It’s set up to handle an emergency roadside service scenario, just like the Replicant AI agents that have automated millions of calls for North America’s largest roadside assistance providers. Learn why this is a "now or never" moment for voice automation, and how AI can drive massive cost savings while boosting customer satisfaction. We tackle everything from empathy to human + AI handoffs! This episode is sponsored by Replicant. Ready to experience it yourself? You can talk to Replicant's AI agent right now: 👉 www.replicant.com/showcase Don't miss this insightful conversation! Tune in now! Blake Morgan is a customer experience futurist, keynote speaker, and author of three books on customer experience. Her new book is called The 8 Laws of Customer-Focused Leadership: The New Rules for Building A Business Around Today’s Customer. Follow Blake Morgan on LinkedIn For regular updates on customer experience, sign up for her weekly newsletter here. 

What does hospitality get right about delivering memorable customer experiences? On this episode of The Modern Customer Podcast, Taylor Scott, bestselling author, keynote speaker, and organizational development consultant, joins the show to share what two decades in hospitality taught him about culture, leadership, and service that truly lasts. With experience at Disney, Gaylord Hotels, Wynn Las Vegas, and The Cosmopolitan, Taylor now helps Fortune 500 companies build values-driven cultures that deliver real results. This conversation draws from his forthcoming book, Give Hospitality, focused on leading through values and culture. Key takeaways from the episode: • How five core values drive meaningful customer and employee interactions every day • Why lasting loyalty is built through human connection, not just operational efficiency • How inclusive cultures unlock higher performance, engagement, and innovation • What every leader can take from hospitality to create a more people-centered, service-driven culture Listen now to The Modern Customer Podcast to discover how hospitality leadership can elevate how your organization serves, connects, and grows. This episode is sponsored by SCAYLE Commerce Engine, the flexible and scalable eCommerce platform built to grow enterprise brands pain free. Visit www.scayle.com to learn more Blake Morgan is a customer experience futurist, keynote speaker, and author of three books on customer experience. Her new book is called The 8 Laws of Customer-Focused Leadership: The New Rules for Building A Business Around Today’s Customer. Follow Blake Morgan on LinkedIn For regular updates on customer experience, sign up for her weekly newsletter here. 

How does a 150-year-old company continue to lead in customer experience? At Prudential Financial, it starts with culture. With 11 consecutive years of CX recognition, Prudential has built a foundation of accountability, innovation, and trust—while actively scaling AI and automation across the enterprise. On this week’s episode of The Modern Customer Podcast, Abhii Parakh, Head of Customer Experience, shares how Prudential:✔️ Empowers 100+ internal CX champions ✔️ Operationalizes voice-of-the-customer company-wide ✔️ Pilots agentic AI to streamline service at scale ✔️ Maintains trust in a highly regulated industry 🎧 Tune in now and learn how a legacy brand stays future-focused. This episode is sponsored by SCAYLE, the flexible and scalable eCommerce platform built to grow enterprise brands pain-free.  Visit www.scayle.com to learn more Blake Morgan is a customer experience futurist, keynote speaker, and author of three books on customer experience. Her new book is called The 8 Laws of Customer-Focused Leadership: The New Rules for Building A Business Around Today’s Customer. Follow Blake Morgan on LinkedIn For regular updates on customer experience, sign up for her weekly newsletter here. 

How do you lead customer experience in an industry most people overlook? This week on The Modern Customer Podcast, Suzie Dieth, Chief Experience Officer at NRG, shares how her team is reshaping the way 7.5 million customers experience energy. She explains how NRG blends smart home tech, AI, and cross-functional teamwork to create personalized, proactive experiences that build trust, even in a space customers rarely think about. Key topics in this episode:  ✅ Making customer experience visible in a behind-the-scenes industry  ✅ A hub-and-spoke model for company-wide CX ownership  ✅ Using AI to support agents and solve complex issues   ✅ Leading cultural transformation post-acquisition  🎧 If you’re building CX in essential services, utilities, or complex industries, this episode is packed with insight and inspiration. This episode is sponsored by SCAYLE, the flexible and scalable eCommerce platform built to grow enterprise brands pain-free.  Visit www.scayle.com to learn more Blake Morgan is a customer experience futurist, keynote speaker, and author of three books on customer experience. Her new book is called The 8 Laws of Customer-Focused Leadership: The New Rules for Building A Business Around Today’s Customer. Follow Blake Morgan on LinkedIn For regular updates on customer experience, sign up for her weekly newsletter here. 

What happens when AI becomes part of everyone’s job, from the research lab to daily workflows? In this episode of The Modern Customer Podcast, I speak with Brice Challamel, VP of AI Products & Innovation at Moderna, about how AI is transforming the way science, work, and care come together. We explore: ✅ How AI accelerates mRNA drug development ✅ How it boosts workplace creativity and smarter decision-making ✅ How it empowers caregivers to act with confidence ✅ What leaders must do to guide responsible adoption at scale Moderna’s approach shows what it really looks like to put AI into practice across science, the workplace, and human experience. 👉 Tune in now to hear how AI moves from pilot to impact. This episode is sponsored by Scayle—the flexible, scalable eCommerce platform built to grow enterprise brands—pain-free. Visit www.scayle.com to learn more Blake Morgan is a customer experience futurist, keynote speaker, and author of three books on customer experience. Her new book is called The 8 Laws of Customer-Focused Leadership: The New Rules for Building A Business Around Today’s Customer. Follow Blake Morgan on LinkedIn For regular updates on customer experience, sign up for her weekly newsletter here. 

What does it take to power 5 billion customer resolutions a year—with speed, empathy, and zero shortcuts? At Zendesk, AI plays a central role. It learns from massive data, follows clear rules, and helps teams make service feel more human. On this episode of The Modern Customer Podcast, I speak with Shashi Upadhyay, President of Products, Engineering, and AI at Zendesk, about how they’re building AI that scales globally and enhances every human interaction it touches. 🎧 Listen in for:  ◦ Why AI needs guardrails, not guesswork  ◦ The “smart intern” approach to responsible AI  ◦ How Zendesk blends automation with emotional intelligence This is how great service gets smarter, faster and more human. Don’t miss this short, smart conversation on AI that works. Blake Morgan is a customer experience futurist, keynote speaker, and author of three books on customer experience. Her new book is called The 8 Laws of Customer-Focused Leadership: The New Rules for Building A Business Around Today’s Customer. Follow Blake Morgan on LinkedIn For regular updates on customer experience, sign up for her weekly newsletter here. 

The future of healthcare isn’t just digital—it’s deeply human. And AI is helping make that possible. This week on The Modern Customer Podcast, Heather Brace, Chief People Officer at Intermountain Health, shares how her team is transforming both patient and employee experience. By combining the power of AI with real-time employee feedback, they’re building a more connected, responsive, and human-centered healthcare system. In this conversation, Heather shares: ✔️ How AI is helping doctors stay present and build trust with patients ✔️ Why transparent feedback is reshaping leadership culture ✔️ What it takes to create an experience-first organization at scale This episode is packed with insight for leaders who believe technology should enhance empathy, not replace it. 🎧 Tune in to learn how feedback and AI are reshaping healthcare from the inside out. Blake Morgan is a customer experience futurist, keynote speaker, and author of three books on customer experience. Her new book is called The 8 Laws of Customer-Focused Leadership: The New Rules for Building A Business Around Today’s Customer. Follow Blake Morgan on LinkedIn For regular updates on customer experience, sign up for her weekly newsletter here. 

Most AI chatbots are built to answer FAQs—but that only solves a fraction of the problem. According to Deon Nicholas, founder of Forethought, just 23% of support inquiries are informational. The other 77% require action—like account lookups, password resets, and policy decisions. That’s where most GenAI tools fall short—and where agentic AI steps in. On the latest episode of The Modern Customer Podcast, recorded live at the Qualtrics X4 Summit, Deon and I go rapid-fire on the future of AI in CX and EX. We cover: ✅ Why most chatbots can't handle the majority of real-world support needs ✅ What agentic AI is—and why it's reshaping customer experience ✅ How to personalize at scale without compromising trust ✅ What proactive AI looks like—and why it's the next evolution If you're serious about using AI to drive real CX results, this episode is packed with insight you can’t afford to miss. 🎧 Ready to rethink your AI strategy? Listen to the full episode now! Blake Morgan is a customer experience futurist, keynote speaker, and author of three books on customer experience. Her new book is called The 8 Laws of Customer-Focused Leadership: The New Rules for Building A Business Around Today’s Customer. Follow Blake Morgan on LinkedIn For regular updates on customer experience, sign up for her weekly newsletter here. 

The missing piece in AI-powered CX? Creative thinking. This week on The Modern Customer Podcast, I’m joined by Zendesk CTO Adrian McDermott, live from the Zendesk Relate conference in Las Vegas. We explore why AI alone isn’t enough—and how customer experience leaders must pair technology with imagination to drive meaningful innovation. Inside the episode:  ✔️ RAG: The new standard for self-service ✔️ Agent co-pilots that reduce training time ✔️ Smarter automation that actually delivers 🎧 Listen now and let me know how you’re combining creativity with AI in your own work. Blake Morgan is a customer experience futurist, keynote speaker, and author of three books on customer experience. Her new book is called The 8 Laws of Customer-Focused Leadership: The New Rules for Building A Business Around Today’s Customer. Follow Blake Morgan on LinkedIn For regular updates on customer experience, sign up for her weekly newsletter here.