What’s the BUZZ? — AI in Business

AI in the enterprise has moved from theoretical discussion to real deployments, with measurable business impact.In this episode, host Andreas Welsch sits down with Bob Sakalas, Innovation Strategist at SAP, to explore how leading organizations are moving past the hype and actually delivering business value with AI.Together, they discuss:How can you move your organization from a “what could go wrong” to a “what’s going right” mindset?Why does good AI start with good data, and does your business data really move the needle?What’s the bottom-line impact industry leaders in retail and transportation achieve with built-in AI?How does a collaborative approach fuel AI success, and what does it look like?Whether you are an IT leader to hear how others are doing AI or tasked with maximizing the value from your SAP deployment, this episode offers insights straight from the source that you can apply right away. Are you ready to hear more?Join SAP's Platform & Data Summit series in North America this September and October to hear from IT leaders and practitioners how they are getting value from AI in the SAP applications they use every day: https://events.sap.com/us-2025-sap-data-summit-home/en_us/home.html?source=Andreas3Thank you, SAP, for sponsoring this episode.Questions or suggestions? Send me a Text Message. Support the show***********Disclaimer: Views are the participants’ own and do not represent those of any participant’s past, present, or future employers. Participation in this event is independent of any potential business relationship (past, present, or future) between the participants or between their employers.Level up your AI Leadership game with the AI Leadership Handbook:https://www.aileadershiphandbook.comMore details: https://www.intelligence-briefing.com All episodes:https://www.intelligence-briefing.com/podcastGet a weekly thought-provoking post in your inbox:https://www.intelligence-briefing.com/newsletter

What if your AI agents could not only collaborate but also autonomously safeguard your enterprise? In this episode, host Andreas Welsch sits down with Steve Wilson, Chief AI and Product Officer at Exabeam, to explore the nuances of securing agentic AI and the emerging landscape of multi-agent communication. Together, they discuss how businesses can enhance their cybersecurity measures while adapting to the rapid evolution of AI capabilities, from agency levels to ethical governance. Learn about practical strategies for evaluating AI agent frameworks, mitigating insider threats, and implementing security-first approaches in a world increasingly dominated by AI:What are the internal and external threats and challenges of AI agents and Agent-to-Agent (A2A)/ multi-agent systems?How can organizations defend against those threats?What can also go right with Agentic AI security?What do AI and IT leaders need to do to ensure enterprise security despite all the Agent sprawl?Ready to navigate the complexities of AI security? Don't miss this insightful conversation and tune in now to tap into the potential of secure AI agents for your business!Questions or suggestions? Send me a Text Message. Support the show***********Disclaimer: Views are the participants’ own and do not represent those of any participant’s past, present, or future employers. Participation in this event is independent of any potential business relationship (past, present, or future) between the participants or between their employers.Level up your AI Leadership game with the AI Leadership Handbook:https://www.aileadershiphandbook.comMore details: https://www.intelligence-briefing.com All episodes:https://www.intelligence-briefing.com/podcastGet a weekly thought-provoking post in your inbox:https://www.intelligence-briefing.com/newsletter

Kathleen Walch, Director of AI Engagement at the Project Management Institute and co-founder of Cognolitica, shares her expertise on leading AI projects. She discusses the six-step CPMAI methodology for navigating AI complexities, from identifying business problems to data requirements. Kathleen highlights common challenges new AI leaders face, the significance of a data-centric approach, and the shift towards agentic AI. With actionable insights, she addresses how to transform AI hype into meaningful outcomes, encouraging professionals to embrace AI fully.

Jon Reed, an enterprise tech analyst, dives into the current landscape of AI agents in business, drawing from frontline experiences and industry conferences. He discusses the critical need for organizations to prioritize AI readiness and cultivate a culture of trust, avoiding the pitfalls of 'shadow AI.' Jon emphasizes the importance of defining clear business outcomes over abstract autonomy, advocating for hybrid agent-human designs. His grounded strategies highlight how fostering experimentation can lead to meaningful impact and faster ROI—essential insights for businesses navigating the AI revolution.

What if the future of your business relied on mastering AI agents? In this episode, host Andreas Welsch explores the essential skills required to work effectively with AI agents and transform your organization. Join Andreas as he talks with John Thompson, Senior VP at The Hackett Group, who brings a wealth of experience from leading AI initiatives in multiple high-profile companies. They explore critical themes, including the integration of AI into business processes, the comparison of AI agents to traditional automation, and the need to develop critical thinking skills in an era dominated by AI. You'll gain practical insights on building a secure environment for AI experimentation and discover how to navigate the complexities surrounding AI use in the workplace. Don't miss this chance to future-proof your business—tune in now to turn AI potential into action!Questions or suggestions? Send me a Text Message. Support the show***********Disclaimer: Views are the participants’ own and do not represent those of any participant’s past, present, or future employers. Participation in this event is independent of any potential business relationship (past, present, or future) between the participants or between their employers.Level up your AI Leadership game with the AI Leadership Handbook:https://www.aileadershiphandbook.comMore details: https://www.intelligence-briefing.com All episodes:https://www.intelligence-briefing.com/podcastGet a weekly thought-provoking post in your inbox:https://www.intelligence-briefing.com/newsletter

Everyone is talking about building AI agents. But is your foundation even ready?In this episode, Andreas Welsch speaks with Barr Moses, CEO of Monte Carlo, about the hidden risks behind the push for Agentic AI and what business leaders are missing when they rush to scale.Barr shares what she’s hearing from data and AI leaders: The majority is building or deploying AI this year, but only 1 in 3 believe their data is ready, and even few have a reliable way to ensure agent outputs are correct.What does that mean for your AI roadmap? A strong model or prompt isn’t enough. If the data is wrong, the agent’s action will be wrong and in some cases, costly. From AI chatbots selling cars for $1 to data platforms returning flawed recommendations, the risks are real.Barr also breaks down three areas data and AI teams must prioritize:Productivity by using AI to accelerate their own workflowsReadiness to build a foundation of high-quality, trustworthy dataRealiability by ensuring AI agents produce outputs that align with business goalsIf you’re working on an AI strategy or are leading teams expected to deliver on it, this conversation makes the case for why AI success is built upon operational readiness.Don't miss out on the conversation – tune in now to learn how to turn AI hype into business outcomes.Questions or suggestions? Send me a Text Message. Support the show***********Disclaimer: Views are the participants’ own and do not represent those of any participant’s past, present, or future employers. Participation in this event is independent of any potential business relationship (past, present, or future) between the participants or between their employers.Level up your AI Leadership game with the AI Leadership Handbook:https://www.aileadershiphandbook.comMore details: https://www.intelligence-briefing.com All episodes:https://www.intelligence-briefing.com/podcastGet a weekly thought-provoking post in your inbox:https://www.intelligence-briefing.com/newsletter

In a lively discussion, Leah Tharin, a product-led growth expert with experience at SmallPDF and Microsoft, shares her insights on harnessing AI agents for business success. She highlights the need for companies to move beyond hype, focusing on integrating AI solutions in workflows. Leah emphasizes the importance of understanding customer needs and creating transparent monetization models that foster trust. By advocating for cross-functional collaboration and showcasing holistic AI solutions, she provides actionable strategies to enhance efficiency and drive sustainable growth.

How can leaders foster a true AI mindset among their teams? In this episode, host Andreas Welsch illuminates this pressing question with guest Matt Lewis, CEO and Chief Augmented Intelligence Officer of LLMental. Drawing from decades in Data & AI leadership roles in healthcare/ life sciences, Matt shares invaluable insights into how a leadership mindset profoundly influences AI adoption within organizations. Discover why human factors, rather than just technology, play a crucial role in successful AI integration, and learn practical strategies for empowering teams and demystifying AI. Whether you're a business leader or just curious about the intersection of AI and leadership, this episode is rich with knowledge to help navigate the complexities of AI transformation. Ready to elevate your organization's approach to AI? Don't miss this enlightening discussion—listen now!"Questions or suggestions? Send me a Text Message. Support the show***********Disclaimer: Views are the participants’ own and do not represent those of any participant’s past, present, or future employers. Participation in this event is independent of any potential business relationship (past, present, or future) between the participants or between their employers.Level up your AI Leadership game with the AI Leadership Handbook:https://www.aileadershiphandbook.comMore details: https://www.intelligence-briefing.com All episodes:https://www.intelligence-briefing.com/podcastGet a weekly thought-provoking post in your inbox:https://www.intelligence-briefing.com/newsletter

What if you could cut through the noise of AI hype and truly understand agentic AI's potential?In this episode, host Andreas Welsch engages with Peter Gostev, Head of AI at MoonPig, to explore the practical implications of AI agents in business. Together, we delve into key distinctions between genuine agentic capabilities and simple workflows, as well as meaningful applications like research and coding agents. In this episode, we discuss key issues shaping AI adoption:• Every company seems to be launching an Agentic AI product. How can leaders avoid getting fooled by marketing buzzwords?• What defines a true AI agent, and how does it differ from a simple LLM-powered workflow?• AI job titles are shifting—but do you need to update your title with every latest development?• Who’s experimenting with AI agents, who’s rolling them out at scale, and which companies have already been using them for a while?Whether you're navigating the complexities of AI in your organization or simply curious about its future impact, this episode is packed with insights that can help you make informed decisions. Ready to separate fact from fiction in AI claims? Don’t miss this enlightening discussion—tune in now!Questions or suggestions? Send me a Text Message. Support the show***********Disclaimer: Views are the participants’ own and do not represent those of any participant’s past, present, or future employers. Participation in this event is independent of any potential business relationship (past, present, or future) between the participants or between their employers.Level up your AI Leadership game with the AI Leadership Handbook:https://www.aileadershiphandbook.comMore details: https://www.intelligence-briefing.com All episodes:https://www.intelligence-briefing.com/podcastGet a weekly thought-provoking post in your inbox:https://www.intelligence-briefing.com/newsletter

Maxim Ioffe, Director Global IA CoE at WESCO, brings a wealth of experience in AI governance and implementation. He discusses the pivotal role of strong governance in aligning AI with business goals and fostering innovation. Maxim explores the collaboration needed between IT and business leaders, the importance of employee education, and addressing concerns over AI's impact on jobs. He shares actionable strategies for creating a thriving environment for AI adoption, ensuring it becomes a powerful ally rather than just a buzzword.