The AI in Business Podcast

Today's guest is Sidharth Ojha, Head of Process Optimization in Data and AI at the AXA XL Global Underwriting Office. AXA XL is the property and casualty and specialty risk division of AXA, serving mid-sized companies and large multinationals across more than 200 countries and territories. In this episode, Sidharth breaks down where insurers are seeing real GenAI adoption beyond the back office — including use cases in underwriting efficiency, regulatory alignment, and internal risk triage. He discusses how summarization tools are evolving into more advanced applications like quote comparison and submission prioritization, helping insurers shift from cost savings to growth-focused outcomes. We also explore how AI is helping insurers unlock unstructured policy data and why data governance is critical for enabling the prescriptive workflows many organizations are aiming toward. Want to share your AI adoption story with executive peers? Click emerj.com/expert2 for more information and to be a potential future guest on the 'AI in Business' podcast! If you've enjoyed or benefited from some of the insights of this episode, consider leaving us a five-star review on Apple Podcasts, and let us know what you learned, found helpful, or liked most about this show!

In today's enterprise landscape, many AI initiatives stall before delivering real business value—especially in service operations, where data lives in disconnected systems and frontline speed is critical. For Amit Gupta, Chief Digital Officer, Life Sciences Manufacturing Industry, at Danaher, overcoming these challenges requires a structured, business-first approach. On this episode of the AI in Business podcast, Amit shares how Danaher uses a 70/30 buy-versus-build strategy to accelerate time to value while maintaining flexibility. He details a step-by-step framework for identifying high-impact AI use cases, involving cross-functional teams early, and guiding projects from strategic concept to measurable results—what he calls moving from "strat to street." Want to share your AI adoption story with executive peers? Click emerj.com/expert2 for more information and to be a potential future guest on the 'AI in Business' podcast! This episode is sponsored by Aquant. Learn how brands work with Emerj and other Emerj Media options at emerj.com/ad1.

Today's guest is Kelly Dempski, Head of Solutions for Banking, Financial Services, and Insurance (BFSI) at Turing. Turing is one of the world's fastest-growing Artificial Intelligence companies, working with the world's leading AI labs to advance frontier model capabilities and leveraging that work to build real-world AI systems that help businesses solve their toughest problems — delivering real business results, faster, smarter, and at scale. Kelly is a seasoned technology executive and innovator at Turing, where he leads the development of disruptive, business-focused Artificial Intelligence solutions for financial services clients. Over a 30-year career, he has held Managing Director roles at Accenture, Citi, and JPMorgan Chase, as well as working with smaller start-ups. In each role, he has developed solutions that leverage the latest technologies to solve real business problems. As AI becomes increasingly essential to the financial services industry, Kelly offers a grounded perspective on what really makes or breaks enterprise adoption. He explains that the greatest challenges aren't always in the AI models themselves — but in how they connect to legacy systems, regulatory requirements, and fragmented data environments. From document intelligence to client onboarding, Kelly explores the use cases where AI is already delivering measurable value — and how firms can scale that value by starting small and building momentum. Want to share your AI adoption story with executive peers? Click emerj.com/expert2 for more information and to be a potential future guest on the 'AI in Business' podcast! This episode is sponsored by Turing. Learn how brands work with Emerj and other Emerj Media options at emerj.com/ad1.

Today's guest is Dr. Steffen Hoffmann, Managing Director of Bosch UK. Dr. Hoffmann joins Emerj Editorial Director Matthew DeMello to explore the strategic deployment of AI across industrial sectors, from manufacturing operations to internal business systems. Dr. Hoffmann shares how AI is helping manufacturers address upstream process variables to reduce defect rates and improve efficiency. He also discusses the importance of "human in the loop" oversight in regulated environments, and how Bosch's internal deployment of generative AI — starting with an HR assistant — serves as a model for cautious, business-aligned innovation. The conversation explores industrial applications of AI governance, the role of internal use cases in de-risking new technologies, and the broader cultural conversation around balancing AI's risks and rewards. Want to share your AI adoption story with executive peers? Click emerj.com/expert2 for more information and to be a potential future guest on the 'AI in Business' podcast! If you've enjoyed or benefited from some of the insights of this episode, consider leaving us a five-star review on Apple Podcasts, and let us know what you learned, found helpful, or liked most about this show!

What does it really take to bring AI into the heart of financial services—and why are so many firms still stuck in manual mode? In this episode of the 'AI in Business' podcast, Frank Hattann, Chief Commercial Officer at Ocorian, joins Emerj Editorial Director Matthew DeMello to explore how legacy financial institutions can unlock real commercial value from AI without losing the human touch. Frank draws from his unique background across Microsoft, PayPal, and professional services to explain why mindset — not just infrastructure — is the true bottleneck to transformation. From improving top-of-funnel outreach to redefining service pricing in an AI-supported world, the conversation breaks down what's possible today and what's at stake for firms that delay. Frank also addresses common misconceptions about AI adoption, offers tactical advice for commercial leaders, and highlights how firms can shift from reactive workflows to proactive, data-informed systems — without getting overwhelmed by technical complexity. Want to share your AI adoption story with executive peers? Click emerj.com/expert2 for more information and to be a potential future guest on the 'AI in Business' podcast! This episode is sponsored by FE fundinfo. Learn how brands work with Emerj and other Emerj Media options at emerj.com/ad1.

Today's guest is Ryan Anderson, CEO and Founder of Filevine. Filevine is a cloud-based enterprise legal practice management platform that automates and centralizes workflows—covering case and document management, contract lifecycle, client communication, billing, e-signatures, analytics, and AI‑powered insights. Ryan joins Emerj Editorial Director Matthew DeMello on today's show to discuss how enterprise legal teams can move from reactive to proactive operations with the help of agentic AI systems. As legal departments face unprecedented data volume and complexity, Anderson outlines a vision for AI-enabled workflows that preserve human judgment while surfacing the right insights at the right time. Want to share your AI adoption story with executive peers? Click emerj.com/expert2 for more information and to be a potential future guest on the 'AI in Business' podcast! This episode is sponsored by Filevine. Learn how brands work with Emerj and other Emerj Media options at emerj.com/ad1.

Today's guest is Patricio La Rosa, Head of End-to-End Decision Science in Seed Production Innovation at Bayer Crop Science. Patricio joins the AI in Business podcast to explore how AI is transforming the clinical trial lifecycle, from biomarker discovery to long-term patient engagement. Drawing on his academic expertise, Patricio explains how AI-powered systems such as metagenomics, NLP, and multimodal sensing are helping researchers identify robust biomarkers and predict patient outcomes more effectively. He emphasizes the importance of reproducibility, effect traceability, and the scalability of sensing modalities from trial design to clinical practice. Patricio's discussion with Emerj Editorial Director Matthew DeMello then shifts to the human element — how to build trust with patients, improve adherence, and balance transparency with innovation. With deep insight and clarity, Patricio challenges industry leaders to rethink clinical trials not just as scientific protocols—but as collaborative, data-driven partnerships with future customers. Want to share your AI adoption story with executive peers? Click emerj.com/expert2 for more information and to be a potential future guest on the 'AI in Business' podcast! If you've enjoyed or benefited from some of the insights of this episode, consider leaving us a five-star review on Apple Podcasts, and let us know what you learned, found helpful, or liked most about this show!

Today's guests are Dwight Hill, Head of Retail & Consumer Products at Turing, and Joe Troy, Senior Manager of Site Risk at Amazon. Turing is one of the world's fastest-growing Artificial Intelligence companies, working with the world's leading AI labs to advance frontier model capabilities and leveraging that work to build real-world AI systems that help businesses solve their toughest problems —delivering real business results, faster, smarter, and at scale. Joe and Dwight join Emerj Editorial Director Matthew DeMello to examine how generative AI is delivering measurable value in retail, starting with loss prevention and expanding across store operations, marketing, and workforce strategy. Throughout the episode, Joe shares how AI-powered video analysis and behavioral intelligence tools are helping risk teams surface anomalies faster, reduce investigation time, and prevent insider threats. In turn, Dwight discusses how retailers are using GenAI to optimize pricing, personalize customer experiences, and streamline marketing campaigns — emphasizing the importance of unified data and human-in-the-loop execution. Want to share your AI adoption story with executive peers? Click emerj.com/expert2 for more information and to be a potential future guest on the 'AI in Business' podcast! This episode is sponsored by Turing. Learn how brands work with Emerj and other Emerj Media options at emerj.com/ad1.

For decades, manufacturers have relied on traditional dashboards that often fell short when it came to understanding the complexity of real-time operations. In this episode of the 'AI in Business' podcast, Microsoft's Rad Desiraju and NVIDIA's Mike Geyer explore how AI-powered 3D digital twins and real-time simulation are transforming the way manufacturers monitor, collaborate, and optimize production environments. The conversation begins with a breakdown of how dashboards have evolved—from static displays of sensor data to immersive, simulation-based platforms driven by AI. Rad and Mike then dive into the technical backbone behind today's most advanced digital twin solutions, including edge computing, accelerated computing, and frameworks like Azure Arc and Omniverse. This episode is sponsored by Microsoft and NVIDIA. Learn how brands work with Emerj and other Emerj Media options at emerj.com/ad1. Want to share your AI adoption story with executive peers? Click emerj.com/expert2 for more information and to be a potential future guest on the 'AI in Business' podcast!

Today's guest is Bryan Willett, Chief Information Security Officer at Lexmark, joining Emerj Senior Editor Matthew DeMello to explore how organizations can navigate the trade-offs between cloud and on-prem AI deployments—balancing speed to market, cost efficiency, and the protection of sensitive data. Bryan also emphasizes the importance of a strong governance triad—security, privacy, and AI teams working together—to ensure ethical, compliant, and effective AI adoption. From managing data surges in IoT and biometrics to creating hybrid storage strategies, he shares actionable insights for leaders in security, IT, and AI strategy. This episode is sponsored by Pure Storage. Learn how brands work with Emerj and other Emerj Media options at emerj.com/ad1. Want to share your AI adoption story with executive peers? Click emerj.com/expert2 for more information and to be a potential future guest on the 'AI in Business' podcast!

Today's guest is Marie Flanagan, Director of Product Management in Digital Projects and Solutions at IQVIA. Marie returns to the program to unpack how AI and automation technologies are transforming drug safety workflows. Together with Emerj Editorial Director Matthew DeMello, she shares how IQVIA uses natural language processing (NLP) built on safety-specific training data to surface early signals from massive, multilingual datasets. She also explains why combining NLP with automation tools, such as RPA and OCR, leads to higher accuracy in adverse event detection, especially across social media and non-traditional data channels. Want to share your AI adoption story with executive peers? Click emerj.com/expert2 for more information and to be a potential future guest on the 'AI in Business' podcast! If you've enjoyed or benefited from some of the insights of this episode, consider leaving us a five-star review on Apple Podcasts, and let us know what you learned, found helpful, or liked most about this show!

Today's guest is Zar Toolan, General Partner and Head of Data & AI at Edward Jones, joining Emerj Senior Editor Matthew DeMello to explore how AI can be strategically aligned with corporate goals in financial services. Zar shares his perspective on overcoming barriers to AI adoption, the critical build-versus-buy-versus-partner decisions, and the human-centered change management required for scalable AI transformation. He also discusses the importance of responsible AI principles, leveraging data as a competitive asset, and evolving talent strategies to thrive in today's intelligence age. This episode is sponsored by EPAM. Learn how brands work with Emerj and other Emerj Media options at emerj.com/ad1. Want to share your AI adoption story with executive peers? Click emerj.com/expert2 for more information and to be a potential future guest on the 'AI in Business' podcast!

Today's guest is Bryan Willett, Chief Information Security Officer. Bryan discusses how organizations can shift security from a reactive compliance task to a strategic advantage by leveraging AI partnerships and transparent communication. He explains how proactive security packages and AI-driven tools streamline vendor due diligence and RFP responses, reducing bottlenecks and improving cross-team collaboration. Bryan also emphasizes the importance of evaluating vendor development hygiene and maintaining developer awareness as key components to managing evolving AI-enabled cyber threats. This episode is sponsored by Aquant. Learn how brands work with Emerj and other Emerj Media options at emerj.com/ad1. Want to share your AI adoption story with executive peers? Click emerj.com/expert2 for more information and to be a potential future guest on the 'AI in Business' podcast!

Today's guest is Miranda Jones, SVP of Data & AI Strategy at Emprise Bank. Miranda returns to discuss the evolving reality of responsible AI in the financial services sector. As generative and agentic systems mature, Jones emphasizes the importance of creating safe, low-risk environments where employees can experiment, learn prompt engineering, and develop a critical understanding of model limitations. She explores why domain-specific models outperform generalized foundational models in banking—where context, compliance, and communication style are essential to trust and performance. The episode also examines the strategic value of maintaining a deliberate pace in adopting agentic AI, ensuring human oversight and alignment with regulatory expectations. Want to share your AI adoption story with executive peers? Click emerj.com/expert2 for more information and to be a potential future guest on the 'AI in Business' podcast!

Today's guest is Neil Bhandar, Chief Data Analytics Officer for Generac. Neil brings decades of experience in artificial intelligence, from academic research to enterprise-scale implementation across manufacturing and financial services. He joins Emerj Managing Editor Matt DeMello to explore the hidden costs of building AI in-house, the risks of over-relying on large models, and how service organizations can deploy GenAI to improve efficiency and preserve institutional knowledge. Neil shares how GenAI is helping field teams access hard-to-find information in real-time — reducing the need for costly site visits and accelerating issue resolution. He also explains why human empathy remains essential in last-mile service roles, even as AI tools take on more diagnostic and decision-making responsibilities. Finally, Neil offers practical advice for enterprise leaders evaluating AI partnerships — emphasizing cultural alignment, modularity, and the need to protect what makes their organizations uniquely competitive. This episode is sponsored by Aquant. Learn how brands work with Emerj and other Emerj Media options at emerj.com/ad1. Want to share your AI adoption story with executive peers? Click emerj.com/expert2 for more information and to be a potential future guest on the 'AI in Business' podcast!

As global food demand accelerates, the agricultural sector faces rising pressure to innovate faster, safer, and more sustainably. Today's guest on the 'AI in Business' podcast is Brian Lutz, the Vice President of Agricultural Solutions at Corteva Agriscience, the world's leading pure-play seed and crop protection company. Brian joins Emerj Senior Editor Matthew DeMello to discuss their partnership with Deloitte to drive AI for discovery across biology and chemistry in agriculture. He explains how Corteva integrates AI into every phase of R&D — from genetic optimization in seeds to molecule discovery in crop protection. Want to share your AI adoption story with executive peers? Click emerj.com/expert2 for more information and to be a potential future guest on the 'AI in Business' podcast! This episode is sponsored by Deloitte. Learn how brands work with Emerj and other Emerj Media options at emerj.com/ad1.

Neil Bhandar, Chief Data Analytics Officer for Generac. Generac is a U.S.-based industrial manufacturer that designs and produces a wide range of power solutions—including portable, residential standby, commercial, and industrial generators, along with automatic transfer switches and related accessories. Neil joins Emerj Editorial Director Matthew DeMello on today's show to explore how companies can make smarter decisions around compute and storage—without falling into the trap of overbuilding for marginal gains. Drawing from his deep background in both business and analytics, Bhandar explains why many infrastructure conversations go off-course by starting with technical specs instead of strategic outcomes. He shares real-world examples of when less compute — and less data — actually delivers more value and why thinking in 3–6 month increments is key to making sustainable, cost-effective choices in today's fast-moving AI landscape. Want to share your AI adoption story with executive peers? Click emerj.com/expert2 for more information and to be a potential future guest on the 'AI in Business' podcast! This episode is sponsored by Pure Storage. Learn how brands work with Emerj and other Emerj Media options at emerj.com/ad1.

Today's guest is Josh Haddock, Director of Contact Center Technology at Herbalife. Herbalife is a global health and wellness company that develops and sells nutritional products, personal care items, and weight management solutions through a network of independent distributors. With operations in over 90 countries, Herbalife combines direct selling with a strong focus on community, personal coaching, and customer education. Josh joins the program to share how his team is redefining customer and distributor support in a highly relationship-driven business. Josh explains why adopting AI in the contact center starts with understanding the full journey—from digital engagement to live conversations—and why personalization is about more than just using someone's name. He also contrasts Herbalife's service model with his experience in financial services, where interactions are more transactional and easier to automate. The discussion highlights how Herbalife is leveraging AI for internal efficiencies like call summarization while carefully evaluating the risks and transparency challenges of deploying generative AI directly to distributors. Want to share your AI adoption story with executive peers? Click emerj.com/expert2 for more information and to be a potential future guest on the 'AI in Business' podcast! If you've enjoyed or benefited from some of the insights of this episode, consider leaving us a five-star review on Apple Podcasts, and let us know what you learned, found helpful, or liked most about this show!

Today's guest is Phil Christianson, Chief Product Officer at Xurrent. Xurrent is an IT service management platform that helps large organizations coordinate incident response and improve system reliability. They serve clients across healthcare, government, and financial services and are known for their focus on post-incident accountability and automation. Phil joins Emerj Editorial Director Matthew DeMello on today's episode to explore how AI can help break this cycle and build lasting resilience, drawing from years of experience in fintech, e-commerce, and enterprise IT. Phil outlines how war rooms — once a necessary constant in tech operations—are evolving with automation and machine learning, enabling faster response times, cleaner postmortems, and real accountability. He emphasizes how IT's central role in most organizations uniquely positions the function to lead AI adoption — provided the right technology, executive backing, and cultural readiness are in place. Want to share your AI adoption story with executive peers? Click emerj.com/expert2 for more information and to be a potential future guest on the 'AI in Business' podcast! This episode is sponsored by Xurrent. Learn how brands work with Emerj and other Emerj Media options at emerj.com/ad1.

Today's guest is Brad Kennedy, Senior Director of Business Solutions Strategy at Orlando Health — a not-for-profit healthcare organization headquartered in Florida. With years of experience leading innovation and patient experience programs in hospital systems, Brad joins Emerj Managing Editor Matthew DeMello on the show today to explore how healthcare leaders can turn emerging technologies into measurable improvements for patients and clinical teams. He explains how federal policy has elevated patient experience to a top-level business concern and why small, incremental wins — particularly in AI-driven clinical decision support — are proving the value of innovation on the ground. The conversation also explores the real barriers to adoption in clinical environments, from provider trust and workflow integration to building a compelling business case that secures legal, IT, and leadership buy-in. This episode is sponsored by Productive Edge. Learn how brands work with Emerj and other Emerj Media options at emerj.com/ad1. Want to share your AI adoption story with executive peers? Click emerj.com/expert2 for more information and to be a potential future guest on the 'AI in Business' podcast!

Today's guest is Itumeleng Masunyane, Senior Vice President of Internal Audit at Amicorp Group. Amicorp provides corporate management, financial markets, and fund administration services with a strong presence in emerging markets. Itumeleng joins Emerj Editorial Director Matthew DeMello on the show to discuss the expanding role of AI in internal audit — moving beyond compliance into broader strategic influence across the enterprise. She shares how AI is enabling real-time risk monitoring, automating routine audit tasks, and helping internal audit teams generate timely insights for business leaders. Their conversation also explores how audit functions can reposition themselves as key players in digital transformation efforts and what foundational shifts in data infrastructure and team culture are needed to support that evolution. For audit and risk leaders, Itumeleng offers a grounded perspective on where AI is already making a measurable impact — and why human judgment remains essential for interpreting results, advising stakeholders, and driving long-term value. The views expressed by Itumeleng on today's program do not reflect that of Amicorp or its leadership. This episode is sponsored by MindBridge. Learn how brands work with Emerj and other Emerj Media options at emerj.com/ad1. Want to share your AI adoption story with executive peers? Click emerj.com/expert2 for more information and to be a potential future guest on the 'AI in Business' podcast!

Today's guest is Arun Subramaniyan, Founder and CEO of Articul8. After earning his PhD simulating jet engines and leading GE's digital twin revolution, he's helping Articul8 build domain-specific AI solutions for the world's most complex industries - from Wall Street to electrical grids and aerospace design. Arun joins us on today's show to share why simply plugging in large language models isn't enough for industries with complex, high-stakes processes. Arun explains how enterprises can move beyond general-purpose AI by creating domain-specific models that understand specialized terminology and data, and how orchestration frameworks—what he calls the "Model Mesh"—enable these models to work together dynamically to answer nuanced business questions. Want to share your AI adoption story with executive peers? Click emerj.com/expert2 for more information and to be a potential future guest on the 'AI in Business' podcast! This episode is sponsored by Articul8. Learn how brands work with Emerj and other Emerj Media options at emerj.com/ad1.

Today's guest is Joe Troy, Senior Manager of Site Risk at Amazon. Joe leads efforts to harness AI-powered video intelligence to transform retail security and operational workflows. With extensive experience in risk management and physical security, Joe joins Emerj Managing Editor Matt DeMello to discuss how AI is accelerating investigations, reducing labor costs, and enabling real-time fraud and safety alerts. He unpacks how video intelligence is shifting security teams from reactive surveillance roles to proactive business partners focused on enhancing customer experience and operational efficiency. Joe also shares practical advice for retail leaders on adopting AI-driven video systems responsibly, balancing enablement with privacy and trust considerations. This episode is sponsored by Solink. Learn how brands work with Emerj and other Emerj Media options at emerj.com/ad1.Want to share your AI adoption story with executive peers? Click emerj.com/expert2 for more information and to be a potential future guest on the 'AI in Business' podcast!

Today's guest is Michael Zaiac, Head of Medical Oncology for Europe and Canada at Daiichi Sankyo. Michael joins the platform in a special episode focused on how AI is driving measurable ROI in clinical trials — particularly in eligibility and driving diversity in patient populations. Their conversation explores how life sciences teams are applying advanced analytics to accelerate enrollment, improve diversity in study populations, and reduce time to trial completion. Michael also shares where generative AI is beginning to play a role in patient-facing materials, including simplified consent forms and study summaries. Throughout the episode, Michael emphasizes the importance of early stakeholder alignment, regulatory transparency, and the discipline required to deploy AI responsibly in high-risk clinical environments. This episode is sponsored by Medable. Learn how brands work with Emerj and other Emerj Media options at emerj.com/ad1. Want to share your AI adoption story with executive peers? Click emerj.com/expert2 for more information and to be a potential future guest on the 'AI in Business' podcast!

Today's guest is Miranda Jones, SVP Data & AI Strategy Leader at Emprise Bank, to explore how banks can design AI systems that balance compliance obligations, customer expectations, and employee experience. Miranda unpacks why explainability shouldn't be an afterthought—and how embedding transparency into AI workflows helps institutions avoid costly rework and build trust across all stakeholders. She discusses the importance of co-designing solutions with the people closest to the work and why slowing down to define meaningful KPIs is essential to long-term success. Want to share your AI adoption story with executive peers? Click emerj.com/expert2 for more information and to be a potential future guest on the 'AI in Business' podcast! This episode is sponsored by Searce. Learn how brands work with Emerj and other Emerj Media options at emerj.com/ad1.

Today's guest is Marc Fredman, Chief Strategy Officer at CCC Intelligent Solutions. Marc joins Emerj CEO and Head of Research Daniel Faggella to discuss how leading insurers are using AI to manage growing complexity across the insurance supply chain — from vehicle damage assessment to claim settlement and subrogation. He breaks down where AI is already delivering value across the claims process — including computer vision for total loss prediction, generative AI for document summarization, and predictive analytics for early subrogation detection. Marc emphasizes the need for insurers to shift their mindset from siloed departments to orchestrators of an interconnected "insurance economy" involving repair shops, OEMs, medical providers, and more. He also shares strategies for adopting AI at scale — starting with quick-win use cases that fund the journey, designing pathways to production, and integrating AI side by side with human expertise to improve speed, accuracy, and customer experience. Want to share your AI adoption story with executive peers? Click emerj.com/expert2 for more information and to be a potential future guest on the 'AI in Business' podcast! Learn how brands work with Emerj and other Emerj Media options at emerj.com/ad1.

Today's guest is Brad Kennedy, Senior Director of Business Solutions Strategy at Orlando Health. Brad joins Emerj Senior Editor Matthew DeMello to explore what it takes to implement AI across a complex care environment. From improving patient experience to easing clinician burdens, Kennedy highlights the need for precision, transparency, and collaboration to ensure AI earns its place in provider workflows. Brad shares lessons from his experience in patient experience strategy and innovation, offering insights into how AI tools—from virtual care to clinical decision support—can improve outcomes without replacing physician judgment. The conversation also touches on key inflection points from COVID-19 to the generative AI boom and what's next as agentic systems come into focus. Want to share your AI adoption story with executive peers? Click emerj.com/expert2 for more information and to be a potential future guest on the 'AI in Business' podcast! This episode is sponsored by NLP Logix. Learn how brands work with Emerj and other Emerj Media options at emerj.com/ad1.

Today's guest is Raheel Retiwalla, Chief Strategy Officer at Productive Edge. Productive Edge is a digital transformation consultancy specializing in healthcare that helps payers, providers, and health tech companies use data to streamline operations, reduce costs, and improve outcomes. Raheel returns to the program to outline how agentic AI is helping payers and providers shift from reactive workflows to proactive, real-time engagement. Raheel explores practical use cases already in deployment—from AI agents that monitor benefit utilization and prevent care disruptions, to systems that surface behavioral health risks through missed appointments or medication gaps. Want to share your AI adoption story with executive peers? Click emerj.com/expert2 for more information and to be a potential future guest on the 'AI in Business' podcast! This episode is sponsored by Productive Edge. Learn how brands work with Emerj and explore media options at emerj.com/ad1.

Today's guest is Emily Nguyen, Head of Industrials at Palantir Technologies. Emily joins Emerj Editorial Director Matthew DeMello to discuss how Project Warp Speed is helping manufacturing leaders scale AI rapidly and effectively. She breaks down the key values driving successful AI adoption — including mission focus, first-principles thinking, and urgency — and shares real-world examples of AI applications in manufacturing, such as visual inspection and predictive maintenance. Emily recommends starting small with AI projects, meeting users where they are, and integrating with existing systems. She also explores the future of industrial collaboration, highlighting efforts to preserve tribal knowledge and enhance supply chain connectivity to improve national readiness. Want to share your AI adoption story with executive peers? Click emerj.com/expert2 for more information and to be a potential future guest on the 'AI in Business' podcast! If you've enjoyed or benefited from some of the insights of this episode, consider leaving us a five-star review on Apple Podcasts, and let us know what you learned, found helpful, or liked most about this show!

Today's guest is Kevin Kiley, President of Airia. With extensive experience helping large enterprises implement secure and scalable AI systems, Kevin joins Emerj Editorial Director Matthew DeMello to explore how agentic AI is reshaping enterprise workflows across industries like financial services. He explains how these systems differ from traditional AI by enabling autonomous action across connected environments—introducing both new efficiencies and new risks. Kevin breaks down a phased roadmap for adoption, from quick wins to broader orchestration, and shares key lessons from working with organizations navigating complex compliance, data governance, and access control challenges. He also highlights the growing importance of real-time safeguards and defensive security strategies as AI capabilities — and threats — continue to evolve. This episode is sponsored by Airia. Want to share your AI adoption story with executive peers? Click emerj.com/expert2 for more information and to be a potential future guest on the 'AI in Business' podcast!

Today's guest is Dr. Ankur Sharma, Head of Medical Affairs for Medical Devices and Digital Radiology at Bayer. Dr. Sharma joins Emerj Editorial Director Matthew DeMello to explore the complex intersection of AI, medical devices, and data governance in healthcare. Dr. Sharma outlines the key challenges that healthcare institutions face in adopting AI tools, including data privacy, system interoperability, and regulatory uncertainty. He also clarifies the distinction between regulated predictive models and unregulated generative tools, as well as how each fits into current clinical workflows. The conversation explores the evolving roles of the FDA and EU AI Act, the potential for AI to bridge clinical research and patient care, and the need for new reimbursement models to support digital innovation. This episode is sponsored by Medable. Learn how brands work with Emerj and other Emerj Media options at emerj.com/ad1. Want to share your AI adoption story with executive peers? Click emerj.com/expert2 for more information and to be a potential future guest on the 'AI in Business' podcast!

Today's guest is David Glick, Senior Vice President of Enterprise Business Services at Walmart. Walmart is one of the world's largest retailers, serving millions of customers through thousands of physical stores and online platforms. David joins Emerj Editorial Director Matthew DeMello to share practical lessons from Walmart's experience building AI at scale. He dives into how Walmart uses small, focused AI "nano agents" to solve specific business problems quickly and effectively, and how a "super agile" development process accelerates collaboration between engineers and domain experts. David also discusses overcoming organizational hurdles to deploy AI solutions rapidly while maintaining security and compliance. David is a featured keynote speaker at the AI Infra Summit, September 9–11, 2025, in Santa Clara. This episode is sponsored by Kisaco Research. Want to share your AI adoption story with executive peers? Click emerj.com/expert2 for more information and to be a potential future guest on the 'AI in Business' podcast!

Today's guest is Annabel Romero, Specialist Leader focusing on AI for Drug Discovery at Deloitte and a structural biologist by training. Deloitte is a global consulting firm known for its work in digital transformation, data strategy, and AI adoption across regulated industries. Annabel joins Emerj Editorial Director Matthew DeMello to explore how AI systems are being designed to think more like scientists—particularly in protein modeling and life sciences research. She shares how tools like AlphaFold and large language models are accelerating drug targeting, predicting allergen cross-reactivity, and translating learnings from human biology to agricultural innovation. This episode is sponsored by Deloitte. Want to share your AI adoption story with executive peers? Click emerj.com/expert2 for more information and to be a potential future guest on the 'AI in Business' podcast!

Today's guest is Yunke Xiang, Global Head of Data Science for Manufacturing, Supply Chain, and Quality at Sanofi. Yunke joins Emerj Editorial Director Matthew DeMello to discuss the challenges that slow AI adoption in life sciences manufacturing, highlighting how fragmented data systems and legacy infrastructure create hurdles for AI initiatives. In this episode, Yunke explains how years of acquisitions and siloed data have made building a cohesive data foundation difficult, impacting AI's potential in manufacturing and supply chain optimization. Yunke shares Sanofi's approach to balancing build versus buy decisions for AI solutions and the critical role leadership plays in fostering an environment where data science can thrive. Yunke also reflects on the evolving landscape of AI in pharma manufacturing and the importance of strong governance and collaboration for successful implementation. Want to share your AI adoption story with executive peers? Click emerj.com/expert2 for more information and to be a potential future guest on the 'AI in Business' podcast! Learn how brands work with Emerj and other Emerj Media options at emerj.com/ad1.

Today's guest is Tim Burge, Director at Aquant. Aquant is an AI platform built for service teams that maintain and repair complex equipment. It gives clear, accurate answers to service questions — from basic fixes to deep diagnostics — so field techs, call centers, managers, and customers can get to solutions faster. Used by top manufacturers like Siemens and Hologic, Aquant helps reduce downtime, lower service costs, and boost customer satisfaction. Tim joins Emerj Editorial Director Matthew DeMello for today's conversation to discuss how manufacturing leaders are reevaluating their AI deployment strategies across field service and operations. As the dust settles on the generative AI hype cycle, organizations are moving past the build-versus-buy binary and embracing hybrid approaches. Tim explains why service departments in particular require a specialized lens for AI implementation and shares how leaders can optimize time-to-value, improve data quality, and drive adoption across legacy environments. Want to share your AI adoption story with executive peers? Click emerj.com/expert2 for more information and to be a potential future guest on the 'AI in Business' podcast! This episode is sponsored by Aquant. Learn how brands work with Emerj and other Emerj Media options at emerj.com/ad1.

In this episode of the 'AI in Business' podcast, Principal Group Product Manager Will Guyman of Microsoft and Senior Director Lyndi Wu of NVIDIA explore how healthcare providers are deploying AI at scale to drive clinical and operational transformation. With host Matthew DeMello, they discuss the combined power of NVIDIA's GPU acceleration and Microsoft's Azure cloud to enable seamless AI integration—from the exam room to the data center. Will explains how AI is alleviating administrative burdens, improving imaging diagnostics, and reshaping physician workflows through ambient documentation and agentic systems. Lyndi expands on the infrastructure demands of scaling these systems, highlighting NVIDIA's full-stack ecosystem approach and the role of healthcare startups in fast-tracking AI deployment across hospitals and life sciences organizations. This episode is sponsored by Microsoft and NVIDIA. Learn how brands work with Emerj and other Emerj Media options at emerj.com/ad1. Want to share your AI adoption story with executive peers? Click emerj.com/expert2 for more information and to be a potential future guest on the 'AI in Business' podcast!

Enterprise leaders are no longer asking if they should adopt AI — the question is how to do it effectively. In this episode, Emerj Editorial Director Matthew DeMello speaks with James Raybould, SVP and GM of Turing Intelligence at Turing, about what distinguishes successful enterprise AI deployments from stalled pilots. Turing is one of the world's fastest-growing Artificial Intelligence companies, working with the world's leading AI labs to advance frontier model capabilities and leveraging that work to build real-world AI systems that help businesses solve their toughest problems —delivering real business results, faster, smarter, and at scale. James outlines three critical factors that determine whether an AI initiative gets traction: business alignment, workforce readiness, and infrastructure. He explains why companies that start with the technology — instead of the problem — are likely to fall behind, and what it really means to prepare a workforce for AI when automation changes the expectations of work quality and speed. This episode is sponsored by Turing. Want to share your AI adoption story with executive peers? Click emerj.com/expert2 for more information and to be a potential future guest on the 'AI in Business' podcast! This episode is sponsored by Turing. Learn how brands work with Emerj and other Emerj Media options at emerj.com/ad1.

In this second of a two-part series, Nick Lewis, Managing Director for the High Risk Client Unit at Standard Chartered Bank, returns to the AI in Business podcast to unpack the ongoing transformation of anti-financial crime efforts in an increasingly digitized world. In this episode, Nick and Emerj Editorial Director Matthew DeMello examine the persistent tension between rule-based alert systems and the nuanced, judgment-driven work of human investigators in financial crime prevention. Nick highlights how current AML workflows still rely heavily on deterministic systems that struggle to distinguish legitimate anomalies from criminal behavior—and why AI solutions must be deployed carefully to avoid removing critical human oversight. Want to share your AI adoption story with executive peers? Click emerj.com/expert2 for more information and to be a potential future guest on the 'AI in Business' podcast! If you've enjoyed or benefited from some of the insights of this episode, consider leaving us a five-star review on Apple Podcasts, and let us know what you learned, found helpful, or liked most about this show!

Fraud in retail is evolving fast — from return scams to first-party misuse that blurs the line between customer error and criminal intent. In this episode of the 'AI in Business' podcast, Naveen Kumar, Director of Financial Crimes at Walmart and former PwC fraud specialist, joins Emerj Editorial Director Matthew DeMello to discuss how AI, automation, and policy analytics are reshaping fraud detection strategies in retail and beyond. Naveen outlines the expanding threat surface across digital touchpoints and the rise of personalized, context-aware fraud. He shares how Walmart's financial crimes team applies signal-based analysis, real-time feedback loops, and agentic AI systems to improve proactive detection while preserving customer trust. Want to share your AI adoption story with executive peers? Click emerj.com/expert2 for more information and to be a potential future guest on the 'AI in Business' podcast! This episode is sponsored by Justt. Learn how brands work with Emerj and other Emerj Media options at emerj.com/ad1.

Today's guest is Alain-Sam Cohen, Head of Product at InstaDeep—an AI firm using reinforcement learning and other advanced techniques to solve complex design and optimization problems across industries. It may not make headlines like generative AI, but for manufacturers and engineers, PCB design remains one of the most time-intensive steps in building physical systems. From strict physical constraints to millions of potential component arrangements, even expert teams face persistent bottlenecks. Alain-Sam breaks down how InstaDeep's AI-driven approach is changing that reality—using reinforcement learning to accelerate and enhance circuit board layout in ways rules-based systems can't match. Want to share your AI adoption story with executive peers? Click emerj.com/expert2 for more information and to be a potential future guest on the 'AI in Business' podcast! This episode is sponsored by InstaDeep. Learn how brands work with Emerj and other Emerj Media options at emerj.com/ad1.

Today's guest is Damion Nero, Head of Data Science at Takeda Pharmaceuticals. With over 15 years of experience applying AI, machine learning, and real-world data to drug development and precision medicine, Damion joins Emerj Managing Editor Matthew DeMello to explore the evolving role of AI in drug development and supply chain management. He breaks down how AI is currently streamlining administrative and regulatory tasks, improving efficiency across clinical trials, and saving valuable time for healthcare professionals. Damion also discusses why broader, transformative supply chain efficiencies are still on the horizon, as AI continues to evolve and scale in the pharmaceutical industry. This episode is sponsored by Arkestro. Learn more about Arkestro's upcoming Advisory Council event here. Find out more about sponsored content and how to engage with the Emerj audience at emerj.com/ad1.

With customer expectations at an all-time high, even one broken interaction can result in permanent brand damage. In this episode of 'AI in Business,' Cognigy Chief Marketing Officer Alan Ranger joins Emerj Editorial Director Matthew DeMello to explore how conversational, generative, and agentic AI are reshaping contact center strategy across telecom, retail, and financial services. Cognigy is a leading provider of AI-powered customer service solutions, offering an advanced platform that enables businesses to deliver instant, personalized, and multilingual support across various channels. Throughout the episode, Alan outlines the evolution from chatbots to co-pilots to fully agentic systems—and explains how these technologies are shifting enterprise workflows from task-based to value-driven service. Want to share your AI adoption story with executive peers? Click emerj.com/expert2 for more information and to be a potential future guest on the 'AI in Business' podcast! This episode is sponsored by Cognigy. Learn how brands work with Emerj and other Emerj Media options at emerj.com/ad1.

Today's guest is Xiong Liu, Director of Data Science and AI at Novartis. Xiong returns to the platform in a special episode brought to you by Medable to explore the evolving role of AI in modernizing clinical trials. Their conversation covers how life sciences teams are leveraging AI to streamline data workflows, accelerate study readiness, and maintain regulatory compliance in both decentralized and traditional models. Throughout the episode, Xiong shares insights into the growing importance of integrating structured and unstructured data across trial systems — from clinical notes to imaging and lab results. This episode is sponsored by Medable. Learn how brands work with Emerj and other Emerj Media options at emerj.com/ad1. Want to share your AI adoption story with executive peers? Click emerj.com/expert2 for more information and to be a potential future guest on the 'AI in Business' podcast!

Today's guest is Jiaxi Zhu, Head of Analytics & Insights at Google. Jiaxi joins Emerj Editorial Director Matthew DeMello to explore how enterprises can strengthen data security and governance as customer analytics increasingly relies on both structured and unstructured data. As organizations expand their use of sources like call transcripts, social media posts, and third-party platforms, traditional data protection models are no longer sufficient. Jiaxi explains how modernizing data governance with comprehensive data dictionaries and metadata management is essential for understanding data lineage and ensuring compliance. Learn how brands work with Emerj and other Emerj Media options at emerj.com/ad1. Want to share your AI adoption story with executive peers? Click emerj.com/expert2 for more information and to be a potential future guest on the 'AI in Business' podcast!

Today's guest is Chris Tapley, Vice President and Head of Financial Services Consulting for North America at EPAM Systems. EPAM is a global digital engineering company that provides software development and consulting services across industries, including financial services, healthcare, and media. With deep experience guiding AI adoption in regulated industries, Chris joins Emerj Editorial Director Matthew DeMello on the show today to unpack the foundational challenges facing financial institutions as they move from experimentation to production. He explores the technical and organizational barriers that often stall AI projects, from legacy systems and cloud limitations to gaps in data strategy and executive alignment. Chris shares lessons from EPAM's recent market research on AI maturity in financial services — including how long it typically takes to establish enterprise-ready AI governance and why business leaders must prioritize infrastructure, collaboration, and oversight well before model deployment. Want to share your AI adoption story with executive peers? Click emerj.com/expert2 for more information and to be a potential future guest on the 'AI in Business' podcast! This episode is sponsored by EPAM. Learn how brands work with Emerj and other Emerj Media options at emerj.com/ad1.

Today's guest is Shreyas Becker, Head of AI & Data Products, Manufacturing & Supply at Sanofi. Shreyas joins Emerj Managing Editor Matthew DeMello to discuss the practical application of AI in life sciences, focusing on tools that are already improving supply chain resilience and manufacturing efficiency. He explains how AI helps navigate geopolitical disruptions, optimize production workflows, and ensure the reliable delivery of critical medications. The conversation also covers the evolution of AI systems developed during the pandemic and their role in shaping future innovations. For pharma and life sciences professionals, Shreyas provides valuable insights into where AI is delivering impact today and the continuing importance of human expertise in these processes. Want to share your AI adoption story with executive peers? Click emerj.com/expert2 for more information and to be a potential future guest on the 'AI in Business' podcast! This episode is sponsored by Arkestro. Learn more about Arkestro's upcoming Advisory Council event here. Find out more about sponsored content and how to engage with the Emerj audience at emerj.com/ad1.

Today's guest is Daniel Ferrante, AI Leader in R&D and Data Strategy at Deloitte. Daniel joins Emerj CEO and Head of Research Daniel Faggella on today's show to delve into the intersection of AI, data strategy, and research and development across industries such as agriculture, life sciences, and materials science. Ferrante breaks down the core challenges organizations face in harnessing data to unlock AI's potential and drive efficiencies in R&D processes. Ferrante also emphasizes the importance of contextualizing data through a multimodal framework — Deloitte's Atlas — to bridge gaps between disparate datasets and ontologies. He outlines how AI models, including large language models (LLMs), can be leveraged to label and map complex data landscapes. This episode is sponsored by Deloitte. Learn how brands work with Emerj and other Emerj Media options at emerj.com/ad1. Want to share your AI adoption story with executive peers? Click emerj.com/expert2 for more information and to be a potential future guest on the 'AI in Business' podcast!

Today's guest is Greg Cucino, Managing Director at RoundTable Strategy Advisors. RoundTable is a leading firm specializing in CFO and NetSuite services that help businesses boost financial management and operational efficiency. Greg joins Emerj Editorial Director Matthew DeMello on the podcast to share his perspective on how AI is redefining the CFO role. As AI automates manual finance and accounting workflows, executives are shifting focus from historical data to forward-looking strategy. Greg also explores emerging AI technologies, including agentic AI, and how they're set to transform financial operations and M&A activity across industries. If you want to understand the practical applications of AI in finance and what CFOs and business leaders can expect next, this episode is packed with insights. Want to share your AI adoption story with executive peers? Click emerj.com/expert2 for more information and to be a potential future guest on the 'AI in Business' podcast! This episode is sponsored by RoundTable Strategy Advisors. Learn how brands work with Emerj and other Emerj Media options at emerj.com/ad1.

Today's guest is Sidharth Ojha, Head of Process Optimization in Data and AI at AXA XL, a global commercial insurance and reinsurance company and subsidiary of AXA. Sidharth joins Emerj Managing Editor Matthew DeMello to discuss how AI is being applied across commercial insurance workflows with real, measurable impact. He explains how machine learning is enhancing underwriting efficiency, portfolio decision-making, and risk assessment. The conversation also covers key enablers for scaling AI, including data quality, governance, and change management. For insurance professionals and data leaders, Sidharth offers practical insights on where AI is driving results today and what it takes to implement it responsibly. Want to share your AI adoption story with executive peers? Click emerj.com/expert2 for more information and to be a potential future guest on the 'AI in Business' podcast! If you've enjoyed or benefited from some of the insights of this episode, consider leaving us a five-star review on Apple Podcasts, and let us know what you learned, found helpful, or liked most about this show!

As the financial industry moves deeper into the generative AI era, compliance teams are navigating the tension between modernization and risk oversight. In this episode, Kandie Ibaka, Vice President and Sanctions Control Officer at Citi, returns to the 'AI in Business' podcast to discuss the real-world challenges of balancing legacy tech stacks with emerging technologies across global compliance operations. Throughout the episode, Kandie and Emerj Editorial Director Matthew DeMello explore how institutions can approach AI adoption without losing sight of regulatory expectations or institutional memory. Moving away from chatbot disappointments to meaningful orchestration across systems, she offers firsthand insight into what it takes to move beyond scattered tools and build a connected, risk-aware compliance infrastructure. Learn how brands work with Emerj and other Emerj Media options at emerj.com/ad1. Want to share your AI adoption story with executive peers? Click emerj.com/expert2 for more information and to be a potential future guest on the 'AI in Business' podcast!