
What It Means: A Forrester Podcast
Each episode of the What It Means podcast features Forrester analysts providing their unique perspective on the latest news and trends impacting marketing, CX, and technology leaders.
Latest episodes

Apr 17, 2025 • 28min
Oracle’s Data Breach Silence, Tariff Impacts, Homegrown Social Influencers
In this episode, we look at the ongoing fallout from two healthcare data breaches involving Oracle servers and what the on-again, off-again tariffs could mean for CIOs. Then we discuss the rising prominence of social media influencers in the B2B space — and why tapping your own employees could be a smart move.

Apr 10, 2025 • 1min
Coming Next Week: What It Means, 2.0
There are some exciting changes coming to Forrester’s What It Means podcast. Get a sneak preview this week and tune in next week to hear a full episode.

Mar 27, 2025 • 27min
Put Employees At The Center Of Your AI Strategy
What does it take to make the most of AI in the enterprise? Hint: It’s not the tools. VP and Principal Analyst J. P. Gownder shares insights on the value of putting humans at the center of your AI strategy.

Mar 20, 2025 • 21min
Encore Presentation: Get Your AI Aligned
The big challenge with AI for business is risk. How can an organization minimize the risk while maximizing the benefit of AI? In this episode, Vice President and Principal Analyst Brandon Purcell proposes a solution to this challenge — AI alignment — and outlines how an “align by design” approach can help.

Mar 13, 2025 • 31min
Finally, An Alternative To 3LOD: Meet Continuous Risk Management
For more than a decade, risk managers have been trying to use the three lines of defense (3LOD) framework for enterprise risk management. But it was never meant for that. In this episode, Senior Analysts Alla Valente and Cody Scott walk through the new Forrester Continuous Risk Management Model, a more holistic and business-centric risk management approach.

Mar 6, 2025 • 29min
Taming B2B Buying Mayhem
Changing buying dynamics and generative AI are bringing already strained B2B buying processes to a breaking point. This week on What It Means, VP and Research Director Steven Casey and VP and Principal Analyst Barry Vasudevan discuss these forces and introduce the concept of buying networks as they preview new research debuting at Forrester’s B2B Summit North America.

Feb 26, 2025 • 18min
How Can B2B Marketers Adapt To Changing Search Behaviors?
As generative AI changes how buyers search for information, what should marketers do to adapt their content strategies? This week on What It Means, Principal Analyst Lisa Gately shares her advice and previews her session on the topic at Forrester’s B2B Summit North America.

Feb 20, 2025 • 22min
How The Latest Semiconductor Trends Could Impact Your Tech Strategy
What are the latest trends in the semiconductor industry, and what does it mean for your technology plans? Senior Analyst Alvin Nguyen discusses the latest semiconductor advancements and market dynamics in this episode of What It Means.

Feb 13, 2025 • 32min
AI Agents Vs. Agentic AI: Definitions And Use Cases
In this insightful discussion, Craig Le Clair, VP and Principal Analyst at Forrester, and Christina McAllister, Senior Analyst at Forrester, dive into the differences between AI agents and agentic AI. They explore how AI agents enhance customer service and workforce transformation while highlighting the balance of trust and efficiency. The conversation navigates the complexities of AI adoption in businesses and the importance of focusing on outcomes. Listeners will gain a fresh perspective on integrating AI in practical, innovative ways.

Feb 6, 2025 • 33min
How Coach-Like Managers Build Better Teams
What distinguishes a manager from a coach-like leader? This week, Principal Analyst Betsy Summers and VP and Principal Analyst Peter Ostrow explore the evolving role of managers and how adopting coaching behaviors can empower teams for long-term success. They also preview their session on the topic at Forrester’s upcoming B2B Summit North America.
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