Catalyst Podcast

Racing legend Tony Kanaan shares how he shifted to a team mentality after a career in the spotlight This week Tony Kanaan (also known as TK) joins Tammy to reflect on his career transition from Indy 500 champion to Team Principal at Arrow McLaren. TK shares how he learned to make fast-paced decisions behind the wheel, and why he believes good people are at the center of success. He also confirms the urban legend of the ‘bionic shirt’ created by NTT DATA and how complex, live data is still core to his work today.Please note that the views expressed may not necessarily be those of NTT DATA.Learn more about Launch by NTT DATASee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Ankur Mathur on moving from enterprise to start-up Ever an optimist, Ankur Mathur is always looking to the future for exciting new opportunities. Formerly at Accenture and now the Founder and Chief Experience Officer of REVEL Moments Ankur has vast experience leading change at both large enterprises and start-ups. This week Ankur joins Tammy to share tips on how to create a start-up within a large organization and also the benefits and risks of going out on your own. He also shares what he’s most excited about in the world of tech and how AI could impact the traditional consulting industry. Please note that the views expressed may not necessarily be those of NTT DATA.Links: REVEL Moments Learn more about Launch by NTT DATASee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Brant Beard on embracing challenges and creating a culture of constant learning This week on Catalyst Tammy is joined by Brant Beard, Assistant VP of Talent Growth at HCH Healthcare. In his 22 year career, Brant has held a variety of different roles, from product development, to cybersecurity, to communications and more. The one thing that remained the same throughout it all is his passion for transformation. This week, Brant shares how his career journey transformed him from an introvert to an extrovert, shares tips on how to overcome imposter syndrome and explains the importance of lifelong learning in fast-paced industries. Please note that the views expressed may not necessarily be those of NTT DATA.Links: Mel Robbins - The Let Them Theory Patrick Lencioni - Getting Naked Learn more about Launch by NTT DATASee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Leonardo Hirschbrand looks back on 29 years of digital transformation at Unilever In this week’s episode of Catalyst, Tammy is joined by a pioneer in digital transformation Leonardo Hirschbrand. Over his 29 year career at Unilever Leo helped the brand go from pen and paper to a tech-forward global company. Leo shares some stories about the early days at Unilever and how digital transformation helped bring the company into the future. He also shares his thoughts on how to lead global teams and how AI can revolutionize customer research. Please note that the views expressed may not necessarily be those of NTT DATA.Links: Technically Wrong Learn more about Launch by NTT DATASee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Chappell Ellison on balancing professionalism whilst staying true to yourself This week we’re sharing one of our most recent favorites from the archives, a conversation with Launch’s Director of Digital Strategy, Chappell Ellison. In this episode Tammy and Chappell dive into what it means to bring your authentic self to work and how authenticity can both improve employee happiness and drive customer engagement. They also share their thoughts on the impact AI could have on the future of work- and where it should be best utilized. Please note that the views expressed may not necessarily be those of NTT DATA.Links: Chappell EllisonLearn more about Launch by NTT DATASee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Noelle Russell on harnessing the power of AI in a responsible and ethical way Noelle Russell compares AI to a baby tiger, it’s super cute when it’s small but it can quickly grow into something huge and dangerous. As the CEO and founder of the AI Leadership Institute and as an early developer on Amazon Alexa, Noelle has a deep understanding of scaling and selling AI. This week Noelle joins Tammy to discuss why she’s so passionate about teaching individuals and organizations about AI and how companies can leverage AI in the right way. It’s time to learn how to tame the tiger! Please note that the views expressed may not necessarily be those of NTT DATA.Links: Noelle Russell Scaling Responsible AI AI Leadership Institute Learn more about Launch by NTT DATASee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Sandy Carter on ways to balance human and AI collaborationSandy Carter literally wrote the book on humans interacting with AI. In her book AI First, Human Always Sandy breaks down the hottest trends in AI right now and dives into how humans can use AI to enhance, not replace, the human experience. This week Sandy joins Tammy to talk about the book, about Sandy’s work empowering women to get involved in AI and the crucial role of change management in implementing AI in the workplace. Please note that the views expressed may not necessarily be those of NTT DATA.Links: Sandy CarterAI First, Human Always Unstoppable Women of Web3 and AI Learn more about Launch by NTT DATASee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Nimesh Mehta on how to lead people through large scale transformations When Tammy first met Nimesh Mehta they felt like kindred spirits. Nimesh is the Chief Information and Strategy Officer at National Life Group and is passionate about creating human experiences with AI. This week on Catalyst, Tammy and Nimesh discuss how to implement digital transformations with empathy and with purpose. Nimesh also shares his thoughts on why psychological safety is so important at organizations that are working at the forefront of technological change, because disruption can’t happen on the boundary of fear. Please note that the views expressed may not necessarily be those of NTT DATA.Links: The Trusted Advisor This podcast is presented by Catalyst, the opinions and views expressed are those of the host and participants and do not necessarily reflect National Life Group's views on the topics discussed. This podcast is for informational purposes only and is not to be construed as an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy a security in any state where such offer or solicitation would be illegal. Any unauthorized use is prohibited. National Life Group is a trade name of National Life Insurance Company (NLIC), Montpelier, VT and its affiliates. This podcast was recorded on 2/21/2025. TC7784363(0325)3Learn more about Launch by NTT DATASee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Martina Lee Strickland on using tech to serve underrepresented communities in the healthcare industryMartina Lee Strickland is a unicorn in the healthcare industry. She’s worked in the industry for over 20 years and is now the Chief Growth Officer at Clever Care Health Plan, a healthcare company that provides culturally-sensitive Medicare options. This week she joins Tammy to talk about her work driving community engagement in the healthcare industry. Martina talks about the importance of authenticity in connecting with clients, particularly those in underserved communities, and shares some of the tech she’s excited about that could transform the industry and improve client access. Please note that the views expressed may not necessarily be those of NTT DATA.Links: Martina Lee StricklandClever Care See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Jod Kaftan on imagining a future that’s more human What could a future with AI look like? Jod Kaftan has imagined almost every future scenario possible, both good and bad. Jod has over 20 years of design experience and is now the Head of Product Design and Research at Oracle where he is developing cutting-edge SaaS solutions to tackle climate change. This week Jod joins Tammy to discuss the practice of futures thinking and foresight, a creative process that imagines possible future scenarios in order to better manifest them. He shares why it’s important to imagine both good and bad future scenarios and shares his thoughts on where we’re going with AI. Please note that the views expressed may not necessarily be those of NTT DATA.Links: Design-Led Futures Future Shock - Alvin Toffler Human-Centered AI - Ben Shneiderman Learn more about Launch by NTT DATASee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.