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/

In this episode, Tim Bond speaks with Thomas Power, co-founder of Ecademy (the first-ever social business network) formed in 1998 about the parallels between the dot-com boom of the late 1990s and today's AI revolution. Drawing on his 40 years experience in the tech sector and deep knowledge of current trendsThomas, shares his perspective on how AI will transform business and society.How AI's impact compares to the internet revolution but at 100x the scaleThe technological and infrastructure challenges facing AI adoptionWhy education systems must embrace AI or face obsolescenceHis bold predictions for AI in governance and quantum computingThe future of blockchain, Bitcoin, and cryptocurrency adoptionTimestamps: 01:05 Thomas's experience launching Ecademy, the first social business network 04:31 Reviewing Thomas's past predictions and their accuracy 13:50 The "open, random, supportive" vs "closed, selective, controlling" paradigm 17:19 AI revolution and comparison to the dot-com era 28:40 Infrastructure challenges: chips, data centers, talent and energy 31:38 Model Context Protocol (MCP) and AI systems integration 37:24 The impact of AI on software and enterprise applications 46:51 Bold predictions for AI in governance and society 52:15 The future of education in an AI-powered world 1:01:00 The current state of cryptocurrency and blockchain adoption 1:25:57 The story behind BIP 100, Thomas's business mastermind groupWant to learn more? Visit the Genius Group website: https://www.geniusgroup.net/ Connect with Thomas Power on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thomaspower/ Twitter: https://x.com/thomaspowerConnect with Tim Bond: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tngbond/ Visit Cogniscale: https://cogniscale.info📚 Books• Battle of the Portals (1999) -- Thomas Power https://www.amazon.com/Battle-Portals-George-Jerjian-Thomas/dp/0953762300• Megatrends -- John Naisbitt https://www.amazon.com/Megatrends-John-Naisbitt/dp/0356102092• The Popcorn Report -- Faith Popcorn https://www.amazon.com/Popcorn-Report-Hardcover-August-1991/dp/B010EV38O4• Business Is Personal (2018) -- Penny Power https://www.amazon.com/Business-Personal-Leader-Your-Life/dp/1784521523• The Power of You -- Hannah Power https://www.amazon.com/Power-You-powerful-personal-establish/dp/1781334331• The DOSE Effect -- T.J. Power https://www.amazon.com/DOSE-Effect-Self-Healing-Mind-Body-Hormonal-Connection/dp/0063421879/🧠 Concepts • AGI (Artificial General Intelligence) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Artificial_general_intelligence• MCP (Model Context Protocol) https://www.anthropic.com/news/model-context-protocol• Singularity (Technological Singularity) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Technological_singularity• Fusion Power https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fusion_power• Quantum Computing https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quantum_computingIf 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/

In this episode, Tim Bond explores the newly released AI 2027 report, which forecasts the rapid evolution of artificial intelligence and its far-reaching implications for enterprises. The report, authored by five leading AI professionals including a former OpenAI researcher, examines how AI could change from today's assistants to autonomous agents with potentially superhuman capabilities by 2027.Explore this special AI 2027 report breakdown, featuring:The evolution from AI assistants to autonomous agents in 2025-2026The workplace changes and "skills paradox" in traditionally knowledge-based rolesMarket and economic implications of advanced AI adoptionGeopolitical tensions between the US and China in the AI racePractical considerations for enterprises integrating AI into their operationsThis 24-minute audio analysis was created using Google's Notebook LM to extract the most valuable insights for business leaders from the provocative AI 2027 report.Timestamps:00:00:44 Overview of the AI 2027 report authors00:01:42 Timeline from AI assistants to autonomous agents00:04:13 Early autonomous agent limitations and adoption00:06:50 Investments in AI infrastructure00:08:48 Workforce change timeline00:10:07 The "skills paradox" in technical fields00:10:55 Advanced AI systems and human expertise00:14:00 Economic and market implications00:15:17 Silicon Valley's AI tipping point00:16:20 Acceleration of product development cycles00:18:51 Geopolitical context: US-China AI race00:20:20 Escalating tensions and business impacts00:22:53 Practical enterprise adoption of AI00:26:05 Conclusion and next stepsWant to learn more? Visit the AI 2027 report website: https://ai-2027.com/FREE AI productivity report: https://cogniscale.info/ contact us: https://cogniscale.info/contactConnect 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/

A must-listen for: Operations leaders, technology decision-makers, and service delivery professionals looking to understand how AI is reshaping client-vendor relationships.In this episode, Tim Bond speaks with Kumar Lalit, Applied Advisory Consulting Partner at Genpact, about how generative AI is reconfiguring the service provider landscape. Kumar explains how service providers are evolving from managing processes in low cost economies to becoming custodians of clients' entire "run business" operations, orchestrating both human and AI workforces.Join the conversation as Kumar discusses:• The shift from FTE-based billing models to value-based commercial frameworks• How AI enables service providers to extend their scope and increase value to clients• The emergence of agentic AI and its potential to handle complex, judgmental work• Why service providers need talent with cross-functional industry knowledge• How data remains crucial but AI is making unstructured data more accessibleTimestamps01:21 Kumar's background and experience02:28 Evolution of the service provider landscape with AI05:01 Shift to outcome-based commercial models07:13 Service providers as custodians of both human and AI workforces11:42 Changing client perception of service delivery14:47 Using AI to identify leakages in business processes17:05 Sponsor message: Enate, the leading SaaS solution for business services17:55 Identifying where AI adds the most value21:03 Data's role in AI implementation24:29 Genpact's pivot to tech services with data gigafactory26:16 How AI is helping with unstructured data challenges29:00 Future skills needed in the service provider industryWant to learn more? Visit Genpact's website: http://www.genpact.com/ Connect with Kumar Lalit on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kumarlalit01/ 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/

Join John Cummings, Group CIO of Aviva, and Josh Mackenzie, Founder of Development Beyond Learning, as they dive into AI's transformative role in finance. John outlines Aviva's innovative three-phased AI approach: enhance, transform, reimagine. Discover how AI tools are generating 10% productivity gains, and how Aviva is fostering employee reskilling through 'The Foundry.' Josh emphasizes the critical need for AI literacy among young professionals navigating a tech-driven workforce. Together, they explore balancing human interactions with AI advancements.

A must-listen for: B2B marketing leaders, creative directors, and anyone involved in brand marketing who wants to stand out from the crowd.In this episode, Tim Bond speaks with Regan George, founder of Black Camel Agency, about challenging the status quo in B2B advertising. Regan explains why many B2B brands are stuck in a cycle of bland, forgettable advertising and how a more courageous approach can drive better results. With decades of experience in lead generation and marketing, Regan shares insights on creating memorable campaigns that put your brand in your prospect's mind.Join the conversation as Regan discusses:Why humour and relatability in advertising helps brands stand outThe concept of the "Bravery Metre" and why most B2B brands score just 3-4 out of 10How Black Camel Agency creates concepts that score higher on boldnessThe importance of balancing brand marketing with performance marketingThe role of AI in creative concept development and video productionWhy "the most important search engine is the one in your buyer's brain"Timestamps:06:27 Regan's journey to founding Black Camel Agency 09:22 The balance between brand awareness and demand generation 13:00 The importance of budget allocation for creative brand building 14:33 The results of bold, creative outreach to marketing leaders 16:18 The "Bravery Metre" and what truly bold B2B advertising looks like 21:05 The client's journey: from free creative concepts to execution 22:58 How Black Camel's creative team operates from Cape Town 28:21 LinkedIn advertising insights and the correlation between creative quality and results 34:00 AI's current role and future in video production 46:00 How AI is assisting with pre-production and concept development 50:25 Campaign measurement and reporting 53:45 The future of optimising ad creative with AI 55:35 Why brand building matters: "The most important search engine is the one in your buyer's brain"Want to learn more? Visit Black Camel Agency website: https://blackcamel.agency/ Connect with Regan George on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/regan/ 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/

In this episode, our host Tim Bond is interviewed by Taryn Breetzke, Content Director at TechPros.io and co-founder of CogniScale, a training business they recently launched that helps marketing and sales teams build AI workers to dramatically enhance their operations.Building on their discussion from episode 51, they explore how organisations like their FinTech client, SimCorp, achieved up to 1100% productivity gains by transforming their marketing operations with the right tools, methodologies, and training.Join the conversation as Tim discusses:The shift to an "AI-first mindset" and what that means in practiceTwo types of AI workers: AI assistants for tactical work and AI consultants for strategic projectsHow AI upskilling can deliver massive productivity gains while maintaining content quality Important considerations for GDPR compliance when implementing AI workersRecent advances in deep research tools and their practical applicationsThe broader benefits teams experience beyond efficiency, including better content quality and more time for creative thinkingTimestamps: 00:36 Introduction and background on CogniScale01:25 The transformation of marketing operations with AI workers02:00 Tim's journey with AI and the initial "lightbulb moment"03:23 Defining the "AI-first mindset" and how it differs from experimentation05:20 Example of AI-first approach with LinkedIn content planning06:43 Feedback from SimCorp training participants 08:45 Background on SimCorp as CogniScale's first client10:36 Common misconceptions about implementing AI in marketing operations14:38 Distinction between AI assistants and AI consultants17:41 The importance of investing time to build effective AI assistants19:39 Examples and use cases for AI consultants• 23:24 Addressing GDPR compliance concerns24:24 Key elements of successful AI upskilling28:00 Review of essential AI tools for marketing teams34:22 Change management and ROI: how organisations redeploy saved hours37:58 Addressing concerns about job security42:00 Assessment offering for organisations interested in AI upskillingWant to learn more?Visit CogniScale's website: https://cogniscale.info/Check out the SimCorp case study: https://networksunday.com/case-studies/simcorpConnect with Tim Bond on LinkedIn: 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/