What Next?

James Vanreusel, founder and CEO of Vanreusel Ventures, brings over 25 years of finance experience to the conversation. He dives into the benefits of fractional staffing, exploring the roles of interim CFOs and international contractors. James also shares insights on how AI is revolutionizing the workplace, pushing leaders toward continuous learning. He discusses integrating for-profit approaches into nonprofits for better sustainability and emphasizes the importance of blending talent with technology for effective business solutions.

Greg Kahn, CEO of GK Digital Ventures, and Shiv Singh, the author of Marketing with AI for dummies and Chief Marketing Officer at C3 AI on the transformative impact of AI and to its potential to revolutionize the industry.  They argue that AI is a technological shift as life-changing as the internet and mobile phones, sparking existential questions about the future of work itself such as who and what to trust. But they stress the importance of companies to be pragmatically enthusiastic, to embrace openness to change, critical thinking, and diverse perspectives in navigating the AI landscape, enabling technology to give birth to more job opportunities than ever before. #AI #Business #advertising #media #FutureofWork

Juan Betancourt, CEO of Humantelligence, shares insights on how AI transforms HR tech with innovative psychometric tools. Companies like Accenture use his software for quick assessments enhancing collaboration and training. He discusses how customization in communication boosts team dynamics and counters skepticism about AI's role in HR. Juan emphasizes the value of human intuition amidst AI's rise and explores new job roles that enrich human work. The conversation highlights the balance between technology and genuine human connection in today’s workplaces.

Brian Wieser, a principal and CFA at Madison and Wall, shares insights from his extensive background in media and advertising. He discusses the decline of traditional media planning as brands shift towards platform-centric approaches. Wieser highlights the growing importance of talent and trust in an age dominated by performance metrics and AI. He also addresses the challenges traditional media companies face in adapting to a digital landscape and the delicate balance between immediate results and long-term brand integrity.

Nichola Hay, MBE, Director of Apprenticeship Strategy and Policy at BPP, the United Kingdom's largest apprenticeship training provider, discusses the evolution of apprenticeships in the UK. After 20 years of helping British businesses attract new talent and upskill employees across their organizations, Nichola is at the forefront of thought leadership and guidance on the challenges and opportunities in the UK's apprenticeship market, for which she was recognized in the Queen's New Year’s Honours List of 2021. She argues that we need to review the examples of Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and the Netherlands, countries leading the way in vocational early talent programmes for young people. She also looks at England showcasing apprenticeship programmes for all ages and levels, which retrain the existing workforce while increasing diversity in these transitional times of digitization, AI, aging populations and declining populations. #Apprentice #Business #UK #Upskill #Academic

Bobi Gilburd, Chief Innovation Officer at Team8, a leading Venture-Creation and Venture-Capital firm in Tel Aviv, on the evolving landscape of cybersecurity and the unique ecosystem of Israeli tech innovation. After 27 years’ experience in the IDF's elite cyber intelligence unit leading its research and cloud divisions, Bobi won the Israel Defence Prize for his cyber security contributions. He believes that AI is both a tool and a target in cybersecurity, that we're moving into a world today where technology is going to become the key differentiator in business. And it may even replace human creativity and innovation. #Business #Advertising #AI #cybersecurity

Ken Mandel, regional Managing Director of Grab Ads and brand insights at Grab on the huge potential of digital advertising in Asia. After building XM Asia Pacific into a top digital consultancy, establishing Yahoo's advertising products in Asia  and launching Buddy Media in the region which was then acquired by Salesforce, he believes that the future is Asian. He argues that the rise of the super app, the cashless society and the massive growth of the digital economy there shows that the rest of the world needs to urgently understand the Asian market  #DigitalAdveritising #Advertising #Media #Digital

Scott Monty, an executive coach known for his values-based leadership, dives into the intersection of human qualities and AI. He discusses the importance of character traits like generosity and empathy in leadership, especially in an tech-driven world. Monty shares his unconventional journey from aspiring pediatrician to a social media strategist, emphasizing adaptive leadership. He highlights how personal storytelling fosters emotional connections, advocating for authentic leadership that complements AI's capabilities while preserving our humanity.

Jerremy Howell, Vice President of Talent and Organizational Development at Publicis Health, and Chris Keating, Vice President of Learning and Development at Publicis Media on the personalisation of learning in the workplace and the impact of AI and trauma in rethinking how we work. Jerremy’s speciality in talent, organizational behavior and leadership development matched with Chris’ passion in understanding and decoding the human condition underscore their drive to explore the psychology, behavior and coping mechanisms of the workforce at Publicis, as well as their podcast guests in The Lessons Learned.  In a world of minimal attention span and more complex human experience, they believe, bosses must figure out how to use different learning styles to maximise the potential of their teams.

Natalie Berg, retail analyst, podcaster and author on the future of trends, innovation and the convergence of physical and digital commerce in the retail space.  The co-author of Amazon: How the World's Most Relentless Retailer will Continue to Revolutionize Commerce, and podcast host of Retail Disrupted argues that successful retailers will focus on continuous innovation, customer centricity and the will to disrupt. Differentiation, she says, will come from offering immersive experiences rather than just convenience and value, and the need to balance technology with human touch to create a seamless and compelling customer experience. Podcast and website: www.nbkretail.com