Enterprise Thought Leadership

Bryan Murphy, CEO of Smartling, shares how his company evolved from a software-focused translation provider into an AI-enhanced platform that delivers eight times more content for the same budget. Having joined just before ChatGPT's launch, Bryan led a product overhaul achieving 64% revenue growth whilst quadrupling translator productivity.The conversation explores Smartling's journey from neural machine translation to multi-layered AI workflows that solve quality, fluency, and cultural adaptation challenges. Bryan explains their multi-model approach, automated quality assurance systems, and how they help companies like IHG Hotels, British Airways, and IBM translate content at scale.Bryan also reveals why implementing AI across internal operations proved more challenging than the product changes themselves. He shares specific examples from leading company-wide change, the importance of dedicated resources, and why CEOs must be prepared for their initial AI plans to fail and require iteration.Timestamps:01:58 Bryan's background and eBay Motors experience02:24 Joining Smartling and the ChatGPT moment03:18 Company's tech-forward foundation04:02 From neural machine translation to AI translation07:04 Current product architecture and workflow09:22 Multi-model approach and benchmarking11:28 4× productivity gains for translators13:04 8× content for same budget achievement14:58 Customer case studies and industries served16:35 Internal AI challenges across departments19:05 Sales team doubles productivity20:42 Build vs buy debate and last mile complexity25:47 Customer journey and onboarding process28:22 Action steps for enterprise leadersWant to learn more?Visit Smartling website: https://www.smartling.com/ Connect with Bryan Murphy on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bryanmurphy2/ Connect with Tim Bond: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tngbond/ Email tim.b@techpros.ioIf you like our podcast, please do follow us and rate each episode. Do you have burning topics or questions you'd like us to explore on the podcast? Email our team at podcasts@techpros.ioFind out more about TechPros.io: https://techpros.io/ Upcoming Events and Roundtables: https://techpros.io/virtual-experiences/ Join our budding podcast community on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/enterprise-thought-leadership/

Software development is experiencing substantial changes as AI tools alter how teams build, test, and deploy applications. Kyle Hauptfleisch, Chief Growth Officer at Daemon, explores how organisations can successfully navigate these changes without losing the human element that makes great software possible.Kyle brings extensive experience across technology publishing, advertising, core banking, and now leads digital change initiatives at a boutique consultancy. He explains why the current discourse around AI in development divides experienced engineers, and shares practical insights from Daemon's AI-first squad approach.The conversation covers:• Why AI should augment rather than replace human decision-making in software development• The essential role of stakeholder engagement in AI adoption projects• How AI can improve the entire software development lifecycle from requirements gathering through to documentation• The motorcycle versus bicycle analogy: why using AI requires changing how you work• Moving from orchestra member to conductor: the shift in engineering roles• Performance metrics that demonstrate real progress: lead time from whiteboard to production• Daemon's AI-first squad methodology and how it works with client teams• Three practical steps technology leaders can take to embrace AI-first engineeringKyle addresses the tension between developers who see AI as creativity-killing automation and those embracing the acceleration it provides. He argues that engineering stops when coding starts - highlighting how AI can handle the production work whilst humans focus on problem-solving and design.Timestamps: 02:23 Kyle's background and journey to Daemon 03:28 What Daemon does as a digital and AI consultancy 04:38 The current state of AI adoption in software development 07:25 Framework for AI adoption: strategy, data, culture, and applications 09:31 Stakeholder engagement challenges and solutions 11:32 AI-first squads: the core proposition and methodology 12:07 Performance metrics and measuring success 13:18 How AI helps across the software development lifecycle 14:19 Medical organisation case study: turning data into information 14:30 AI in coding: solving problems that have been solved before 18:10 Documentation and unexpected use cases like case study generation 20:32 The motorcycle versus bicycle analogy 21:26 Deploying AI-first squads versus changing engineering capability 25:58 Three actions for technology leaders to embrace AI-first engineeringWant to learn more? Visit Daemon's website: ⁠http://dae.mn ⁠Connect with Kyle Hauptfleisch on LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/kyle-hauptfleisch-84ba2357/ ⁠Connect with Tim Bond: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/tngbond/⁠Email ⁠tim.b@techpros.io⁠If you like our podcast, please follow us and rate each episode. Do you have burning topics or questions you'd like us to explore on the podcast? Email our team at ⁠podcasts@techpros.io.⁠Find out more about TechPros.io: ⁠https://techpros.io/⁠Upcoming Events and Roundtables: ⁠https://techpros.io/virtual-experiences/⁠Join our budding podcast community on LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/enterprise-thought-leadership/

Tim Bond explores the substantial shift happening in graduate employment as companies increasingly prioritise "AI natives" over traditional degree holders. This episode examines how the conventional university-to-job pipeline is fracturing and what this means for students, parents, and educators navigating an uncertain future.Using insights from leading experts including Sam Altman from OpenAI, alongside research from McKinsey, the World Economic Forum, Microsoft, and LinkedIn, this episode unpacks the emergence of "AI-first hiring" and its implications for the next generation entering the workforce.Key topics covered:• Why 66% of business leaders won't hire candidates without AI skills• The "chasm challenge" - the dangerous gap between job displacement and job creation• How major consulting firms like McKinsey are reducing their graduate intake• The decline in confidence in higher education • Alternative pathways emerging beyond traditional degrees• Essential skills for succeeding in an AI-augmented workplace• Practical strategies for future-proofing your careerThe episode reveals both concerning realities and also opportunities for those who understand and adapt to these changes. From the rise of apprenticeships at companies like IBM and Microsoft to the growing importance of hybrid skills that combine AI fluency with uniquely human capabilities, this episode provides a roadmap for navigating the changing employment landscape.Timestamps:• 02:09 The emergence of AI-first hiring practices• 04:00 Data on employer preferences for AI skills• 06:00 New job categories and roles being created• 07:00 Understanding the "chasm challenge"• 09:00 Adapting to exponential change• 11:00 The education system's struggle to keep pace• 13:00 Alternative pathways to traditional education• 17:00 Essential skills for the AI-augmented workplace• 20:00 Seven-step roadmap for career future-proofing• 24:00 Final thoughts and call for perspectivesWant to learn more? Listen to the AI Daily Brief - 20 New jobs AI might create - https://open.spotify.com/episode/3IubJxqwd3ZF9KSuHs8mw0Connect with Tim Bond: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tngbond/If you like our podcast, please follow us and rate each episode. Do you have burning topics or questions you'd like us to explore on the podcast? Email our team at podcasts@techpros.ioFind out more about TechPros.io: https://techpros.io/ Upcoming events and roundtables: https://techpros.io/virtual-experiences/ Follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/enterprise-thought-leadership/

Tim Bond tackles the widespread confusion around "AI-first" by examining what this approach actually means versus the fearful narratives dominating headlines. Using Google's NotebookLM to create an engaging dialogue, this episode unpacks Tim's recent article and extensive research to separate fact from fiction.The discussion explores how companies like Duolingo and Klarna created unnecessary panic with poorly communicated ‘AI-first’  strategies, whilst organisations like SimCorp achieved outstanding results through teamwise upskilling. Rather than mass redundancies, AI-first represents a shift in workflow sequence - engaging with AI tools at the start of any task to handle initial research, drafting, and analysis and building AI assistants and consultants to automate parts of workflows.Key topics covered:• The actual definition of AI-first as workflow sequencing, not human replacement• SimCorp's case study showing 600% productivity gains without job losses• Why AI-first functions as "cognitive ergonomics" for modern knowledge work• Research findings from Microsoft, McKinsey, PWC, and World Economic Forum• How entry-level roles are evolving rather than disappearing• The importance of upskilling and employee training programmes• Why early adopters see 122% cashflow increases whilst laggards face 23% lossesTimestamps:02:00 - What AI-first actually means 03:52 - Why workflow sequence matters 05:26 - The cognitive ergonomics analogy 07:02 - SimCorp case study results 09:09 - Economic impact and growth opportunities 11:00 - Entry-level role development 12:24 - Skills development requirements 13:32 - Competitive advantages for early adopters 15:25 - Employee satisfaction at AI-advanced companies 16:21 - Investment priorities for successful implementationWant to learn more? Visit Network Sunday website: https://networksunday.com and cogniscale.info Connect with Tim Bond on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tngbond/If you like our podcast, please do follow and rate us. Do you have an interestng AI transformation story to tell? Email podcasts@techpros.ioFind out more about TechPros.io: https://techpros.io/ Upcoming Events and Roundtables: https://techpros.io/virtual-experiences/ Join our budding podcast community on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/enterprise-thought-leadership/

Tim Bond examines a disconnect that's currently shaping the sprouts of AI transformation through analysis of two reports that have recently been published. Signal Fire's State of Talent Report reveals entry-level hiring at major tech companies has dropped 50% from pre-pandemic levels, while Ethan Mollick's "Making AI Work" research explains why individual workers achieve three times productivity gains with AI, yet companies see minimal organisational impact.This analysis reveals the emergence of "secret cyborgs" - employees who use AI to change their work but conceal these capabilities from their employers. Meanwhile, the traditional talent pipeline that builds future workforces is showing signs of collapsing, creating what may be one of the most substantial organisational challenges of our time.With help from Anthropic and Google Tim synthesizes the reports and an AI podcast dissects why 40% of workers use AI privately while only 20% adoption rates are officially recorded, the breakdown of traditional career progression models, and the geographic shifts occurring as AI talent clusters in new locations. The episode examines Mollick's three-pillar framework - Leadership, Lab, and Crowd - for capturing productivity gains at scale.Main findings include:• How workers are tripling productivity on specific tasks while organisations capture little or no value• Why entry-level hiring has collapsed across major tech companies and startups• The experience paradox: companies demand experience but provide no pathway to gain it• Geographic talent migration driven by AI opportunities and hybrid work preferences• Strategies for converting secret cyborgs into organisational benefitsTimestamps00:00 Introduction and report overview02:08 Analysis begins: Individual versus organisational AI impact03:26 Individual productivity gains: Danish study and American survey findings04:25 The corporate disconnect: 20% official adoption versus 40% actual usage05:09 Secret cyborg phenomenon: Why workers hide AI capabilities06:20 Organisational design challenges: Systems built for human-only work07:22 Task versus job automation: The £50,000 research report example08:20 Workforce change without permission: Professional adoption rates08:58 Signal Fire data: 50% drop in entry-level hiring across tech09:36 Geographic shifts: Austin, Miami, and AI talent clustering10:19 Leadership challenges: Industrial age thinking versus AI hybrid reality11:41 Talent pipeline crisis: The broken pathway to experience13:33 Long-term compound effects of neglected talent development14:11 Anthropic's retention success: Culture and autonomy as differentiators15:24 Mollick's framework: Leadership, Lab, and Crowd orchestration16:20 Laboratory approach: Beyond research towers to practical scaling17:21 The crowd element: Rational secret cyborgs and sharing incentives18:21 Practical recommendations: Creating transparent AI environments19:38 Concrete actions: Benchmarks, provocations, and rewards20:35 The real challenge: Technology ahead of organisational structures21:29 Conclusion: Building trust and environments for shared AI developmentWant to learn more? Access your complimentary AI Acceleration Report from CogniScale - email Tim Bond at tim.bond@networksunday.comRead Signal Fire's State of Talent Report 2025: https://www.signalfire.com/blog/signalfire-state-of-talent-report-2025 Read Ethan Mollick's "Making AI Work": https://www.oneusefulthing.org/p/making-ai-work-leadership-lab-and?triedRedirect=true Connect with Tim Bond: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tngbond/If you like our podcast, please follow us. Do you have burning topics or questions you'd like us to explore on the podcast? Email our team at podcasts@techpros.io. Find out more about TechPros.io: https://techpros.io/Upcoming Events and Roundtables: https://techpros.io/virtual-experiences/Join our podcast community on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/enterprise-thought-leadership/

Tim Bond speaks with Pierre Kremer from Globant about how modern retail architecture creates unified shopping experiences. Pierre shares his expertise on helping retail clients implement technical architectures that support their business models whilst providing excellent customer experiences.Pierre explains how the retail sector has moved beyond traditional e-commerce into unified commerce, where physical and digital shopping experiences work together. He outlines Globant's retail vision based on five key pillars: convenience, consistency, relevance, empowerment, and flexibility.The conversation covers composable architecture and how retailers are moving from monolithic systems to more adaptable, API-driven approaches that accelerate development cycles. Pierre shares real-world examples of advanced checkout experiences, including the LA Clippers' Intuit Dome arena with facial recognition entry and Uniqlo's RFID-equipped checkout system that eliminates item scanning.They also discuss the ROI challenges of certain retail AI applications, the importance of accurate inventory data between online and physical stores, and how blockchain supports better supply chain traceability and sustainability initiatives.• The progression from e-commerce to unified commerce• Composable vs monolithic architecture approaches• Advanced checkout systems like remote payment processing• AI applications in retail and which ones provide real value• How retailers can reduce technology costs and time-to-value• Future retail trends focused on sustainability and personalisationTimestamps01:41 Introduction to modern retail architecture 03:21 Pierre's background and experience 05:07 Globant's Retail Studio vision 07:23 Composable vs monolithic architecture 10:20 Real-world case studies of advanced checkout experiences 14:11 Connecting online and in-store experiences 17:50 AI applications and challenges in retail 21:34 Critical data handoffs between store and online 23:51 Essential business outcomes from modern retail architecture 25:14 Blockchain applications in retail 28:08 Future retail trends and sustainability 32:27 Advice for new technical leadersWant to learn more?Visit Globant's website: https://www.globant.com/Connect with Pierre Kremer on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/pierrekremerConnect with Tim Bond: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tngbond/If you like our podcast, please do follow us and rate each episode.Do you have burning topics or questions you'd like us to explore on the podcast?Email our team at podcasts@techpros.ioFind out more about TechPros.io: https://techpros.io/Upcoming Events and Roundtables: https://techpros.io/virtual-experiences/Join our budding podcast community on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/enterprise-thought-leadership/

Tim Bond speaks with Josh Mackenzie, Founder and Chairman of Development Beyond Learning, about how the transition from AI literacy to AI fluency is reshaping skill requirements for graduates and early career talent. Josh explains why human skills become more essential as AI tools become more prevalent in the workplace.Josh shares:The distinction between AI literacy (a technical transition) and AI fluency (a human skills question)Why self-awareness and resilience remain the biggest skills gaps for young people entering the workforceHow employers can prepare early career talent for an increasingly AI-augmented workplaceThe concept of becoming "agent bosses" who manage digital colleaguesCommon pitfalls such as the "trust trap" (over-trusting AI outputs) and the "speed trap" (prioritising speed over quality)How personalised AI-enabled learning is transforming corporate trainingTimestamps:00:00:17 Introduction and topic overview 00:02:00 Job predictions and the impact of AI on employment 00:04:43 Key skills for early talent in an AI-augmented workplace 00:07:25 The difference between AI literacy and AI fluency 00:11:50 University education value in the AI era 00:14:22 Changing graduate recruitment approaches 00:18:27 Self-awareness and resilience as critical skills gaps 00:21:47 Common AI usage traps to avoid 00:23:43 Development Beyond Learning's vision and AI innovations 00:29:04 AI-enabled personalised learning solutionsWant to learn more? Visit Development Beyond Learning website: https://www.developmentbeyondlearning.com Connect with Josh Mackenzie on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/josh-mackenzie-92795710/Connect with Tim Bond: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tngbond/Reid Riffs - AI on education https://podcasts.apple.com/cm/podcast/reid-riffs-on-pbcs-jobs-and-automation-and-ai-access-for-kids/id1677184070?i=1000708426358&l=en-GB2025:The Year the Frontier Firm Is Born - https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/worklab/work-trend-index/2025-the-year-the-frontier-firm-is-bornIf you like our podcast, please do follow us and rate each episode. Do you have burning topics or questions you'd like us to explore on the podcast?Email our team at podcasts@techpros.ioFind out more about TechPros.io: https://techpros.io/Upcoming Events and Roundtables: https://techpros.io/virtual-experiences/ Join our budding podcast community on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/enterprise-thought-leadership/

Tim Bond sits down with Ilana Esterrich, Chief Financial Officer of Planned Parenthood Federation of America, to explore the evolving role of finance professionals. They discuss how financial leaders are transitioning from number-crunchers to strategic partners, and why tomorrow's CFOs might be the CEOs of the future.Join the conversation as Ilana shares insights on:• Why finance professionals must develop human skills beyond technical expertise• How automation and AI can address critical time challenges• The increasingly non-linear nature of finance careers• Why understanding cross-functional operations is essential for finance leaders• The shift from CFO to CEO rather than COO• Navigating volatility in today's uncertain business environmentThis episode is brought to you by Rillion, accounts payable automation that fits your workflow. Rillion's platform helps finance teams capture every invoice, route approvals, and pay vendors in a single click, processing over 40 million invoices a year for 3,000+ organisations. Visit rillion.com to learn how effortless accounts payable can be.Timestamps:00:02:06 The changing role of finance professionals00:04:22 Why human skills matter for CFOs00:06:42 Career aspirations and challenges for finance professionals00:08:43 Navigating volatility in today's business climate00:11:27 Creating time through automation and technology00:13:39 The role of AI in finance operations00:19:40 Technology innovation opportunities in finance00:22:51 Skills needed for tomorrow's finance professionals00:25:33 The evolution from CFO to CEOWant to learn more?Connect with Ilana Esterrich on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ilanaesterrich/Connect with Tim Bond: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tngbond/If you like our podcast, please do follow us and rate each episode. Do you have burning topics or questions you'd like us to explore on the podcast?Email our team at podcasts@techpros.ioFind out more about TechPros.io: https://techpros.io/Upcoming Events and Roundtables: https://techpros.io/virtual-experiences/Join our budding podcast community on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/enterprise-thought-leadership/

Tim Bond shares insights from Microsoft's 2025 Work Trend Index annual report, which introduces the concept of the "frontier firm" - organisations structured around on-demand intelligence and powered by hybrid teams of humans and AI agents.This report, based on surveys with over 31,000 workers across 31 countries, reveals we're entering a new phase where intelligence is becoming available on tap - abundant, affordable and available on demand.Join Tim as he explores:• The three phases of workplace transformation with AI: from assistant to human-agent teams to human-led, agent-operated processes• How 82% of leaders see 2025 as a pivotal year for rethinking strategy and operations• The capacity gap between increasing business demands and limited human capacity• Why workers in "frontier firms" report 71% higher thriving rates compared to 37% globally• The emerging role of the "agent boss" who oversees AI systems rather than doing tasks directly• Real-world examples of companies already seeing concrete results from this approachTimestamps 00:26 Introduction and overview of the episode 02:16 Beginning of the deep dive into the 2025 Work Trend Index report 03:17 Intelligence on tap concept and frontier firms explained 04:18 The 82% of leaders viewing 2025 as a pivotal year 05:44 The capacity gap and workplace fragmentation 07:05 The shift from doing tasks to managing AI agents 07:34 Three phases of becoming a frontier firm 08:52 New vocabulary for the new world of work 10:35 Leaders' priorities for adapting workforce strategies 12:01 Employee sentiment in frontier firms vs traditional companies 12:48 Real-world examples of AI implementation across industries 13:40 The work chart concept vs traditional org structures 15:10 Why employees sometimes prefer AI over colleague collaboration 16:10 Skills needed to work effectively with AI as a thought partner 17:32 The agent boss mindset and its career implications 18:04 Balancing AI literacy with uniquely human skillsWant to learn more?Read the full Microsoft 2025 Work Trend Index report: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/worklab/work-trend-index/2025-the-year-the-frontier-firm-is-bornGet your FREE AI Opportunity report - Survey your sales and marketing team take CogniScale's 10 minute AI opportunity survey and receive a free customised report that pinpoints where they can learn to build no code, no integration AI assistants to augment their workflows and lift productivity by 300% or more. https://cogniscale.info/Connect with Tim Bond: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tngbond/If you like our podcast, please follow us and rate each episode. Do you have burning topics or questions you'd like us to explore on the podcast? Email our team at podcasts@techpros.io.Find out more about TechPros.io: https://techpros.io/Upcoming Events and Roundtables: https://techpros.io/virtual-experiences/Join our podcast community on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/enterprise-thought-leadership/

Tim Bond speaks with Latane Conant, Chief Revenue Officer at 6sense, about their recent product launch of intelligent workflows and how AI is reshaping sales and marketing efficiency. Latane shares insights on 6sense's evolution from an AI platform that uncovers the "dark funnel" to one that enables marketers to orchestrate ideal buyer journeys based on behavioural signals and intent data.How 6sense orchestrates ideal buyer journeys using AI and behavioural dataWhy marketing operations teams are becoming AI engineersThe concept of "locker room time" and how AI can free up sales teams to focus on actual sellingThe future of personalisation at scale without sacrificing automationCreating meaningful metrics beyond MQLs to measure marketing effectivenessHow top-down leadership is essential for driving AI adoptionTimestamps01:48 Introduction to Latane Conant and 6sense 02:11 6sense's founding story and evolution as an AI company 03:12 From the "dark funnel" to orchestrating buyer journeys 04:22 New product launch: intelligent workflows and email agents 07:17 The importance of people and process in technology adoption 09:07 Building certifications and community for product adoption 11:31 Sales and marketing measurement beyond MQLs 14:21 The role of salespeople in prospecting 17:15 How 6sense helps marketing teams demonstrate value 22:19 The concept of "locker room time" in sales and marketing 25:03 The vision for automation and personalisation with AI 27:29 How AI can minimise administrative tasks and increase productivity 31:52 The changing skills needed for sales and marketing teams 34:33 Triangulating between AI and traditional approaches 36:29 Key takeaways from the conversationWant to learn more? Visit 6sense's website: https://6sense.com/ Connect with Latane Conant on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/latane-conant/Connect with Tim Bond: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tngbond/If you like our podcast, please do follow us and rate each episode. Do you have burning topics or questions you'd like us to explore on the podcast? Email our team at podcasts@techpros.ioFind out more about TechPros.io: https://techpros.io/ Upcoming Events and Roundtables: https://techpros.io/virtual-experiences/ Join our budding podcast community on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/enterprise-thought-leadership/