In a riveting finale, Eric Ries, bestselling author and Lean Startup creator, explores the future of innovation. He emphasizes the significance of testing assumptions and the MVP concept for aligning products with real customer needs. Eric delves into the challenges large corporations face in funding AI projects and critiques traditional models. He advocates for metered funding to stimulate creativity within teams. The conversation also touches on AI's transformative power in jobs, highlighting both the risks of displacement and new opportunities for creativity.

In this episode of The Lean AI Podcast, host Ben Hafele is joined by Mike Hollinger, Distinguished Engineer at IBM and President of the Austin AI Alliance. Together, they explore the critical importance of understanding user intent, leveraging organizational data effectively, and avoiding common pitfalls in AI implementation.Website: ibm.com/design/ai

In this engaging discussion, Chris Withers, a seasoned leader in data and AI with a background at BT Group, EY, and IBM, shares his insights on leveraging generative AI for business transformation. He explores how AI can enhance productivity and improve customer service. The conversation highlights innovative approaches to AI development, emphasizing human-centric strategies and agile practices. Challenges in governance and cultural resistance within organizations are also addressed, along with key strategies for successful AI integration.

In this episode of The Lean AI Podcast, host Ben Hafele is joined by Christina Mongan, Global Director of AI Practice at Unisys. Together, they discuss driving successful AI transformation in large organizations. Christina shares insights on prioritizing business outcomes, creating a human-centered approach to AI, and avoiding common pitfalls in AI adoption.

Dr. Meeta Vouk, AI Product and Strategy Leader and VP of Product Management at Teradata, shares her insights on navigating the complexities of AI governance. She emphasizes the importance of defining clear problems and establishing governance frameworks to prevent project pitfalls. The discussion highlights the need for stakeholder involvement and ethical AI practices. Vouk also contrasts successful and unsuccessful AI initiatives, stressing business engagement and leveraging innovative data strategies. Her expertise offers a roadmap for executives aiming to harness AI responsibly.

In this episode of The Lean AI Podcast, host Ben Hafele is joined by Mike Schubert, Vice President of Technology at Unum. Together, they discuss Mike’s four-step framework for successful AI initiatives, the importance of grounding AI efforts in real business needs, and the value of learning from both successes and failures.

Vivek Mahapatra, Vice President of Go To Market at Salesforce AI, shares his expertise in AI implementation and change management. He discusses the practical applications of AI in enhancing customer service and highlights common pitfalls during its adoption. Vivek emphasizes the critical role of structured change management and internal alignment among teams. He also explores the balance between quick wins and long-term transformation, offering insights into successful AI strategies in various industries.

In this episode of The Lean AI Podcast, host Ben Hafele is joined by Jonathan Bertfield, Senior Director at Lean Startup Co. Together, they discuss the importance of successful AI adoption and the challenges companies face in achieving it, developing AI-powered products across various industries, and the importance of time to value and engagement as KPIs.

In this episode of The Lean AI Podcast, host Ben Hafele is joined by Nabeel Siddiqui, Global Senior Director & Head of Tech and Automation at SAP Digital. Together they discuss practices for successfully integrating AI into the “day in the life” of users , including ways of testing AI use cases, how to foster a culture of innovation, and other critical success factors. Disclaimer: "I'm sharing all these methodologies, as these are some of the best practices followed industry-wide. Not necessarily based on the organization that I belong to, but just as generic comments, These are all my personal opinions and are very general and can be used by anyone." Nabeel Siddiqui

In this episode of The Lean AI Podcast, host Ben Hafele is joined by Bjoern Lasse Herrmann Corporate AI Executive & Entrepreneur (Sage, Compass). Together they discuss how businesses must transform in order to drive AI adoption successfully, including the need for cross-functional teams and skills beyond technical expertise, and the importance of embracing uncertainty and creating a culture that supports innovation and learning.