Digital Strategy Unlocked

From Search Box to Delight: E-commerce Revenue Nirvana - Eli Finkelshteyn

Photon — Tue, 26 Aug 2025 06:00:55 -0400

Discover how e-commerce is being reimagined with Eli Finkelshteyn, CEO and Founder of Constructor, as he joins host Deepak Sharma to explore how AI is transforming search, discovery, and retail media. From balancing art and science to building “one system, one AI, one brain,” Eli unpacks how search can move beyond relevance metrics to drive true customer delight and revenue growth.

Eli shares his journey from computational linguistics to powering discovery for brands like Sephora and Under Armour. He explains how clickstream intelligence, AI shopping agents, and product insights agents are not just improving conversions, but reshaping how shoppers connect with products. Learn why he believes harmonizing business outcomes with user experience is the key to e-commerce’s next leap forward.

Healing Systems, Healing People: Digital Transformation in Healthcare - Lisa Gohil

Photon — Mon, 23 Jun 2025 08:58:34 -0400

Step into the world of digital healing with Lisa Gohil, Head of Digital Health Strategy at Stanford Healthcare, as she joins host Deepak Sharma to explore how AI is transforming the patient and clinician experience in a historically complex industry. From tech debt to trust-building, discover how healthcare is reimagining its future through agentic AI and user-centered digital strategy.

Lisa shares her journey from semiconductor floors to public health missions in rural India, ultimately landing at the intersection of medicine and technology. She unpacks how ambient scribing, AI-powered care coordination, and empathy-driven GenAI are not just improving workflows, but restoring human connection in medicine. Learn why she believes AI can help healthcare leapfrog past legacy challenges, redefine relationships between providers and patients, and unlock new frontiers of business and human value. A must-listen for those navigating the future of digital health and purposeful transformation.

The Rise of AI Teammates in the Modern Workplace - Munish Gandhi

Photon — Fri, 13 Jun 2025 10:46:56 -0400

Step into the world of agentic AI with Munish Gandhi, Co-founder & CEO of Statisfy, as he joins host Deepak Sharma to explore how AI teammates are reshaping customer success in the enterprise. From repetitive tasks to multi-agent orchestration, discover how Statisfy is transforming B2B customer engagement, making human teams more productive and unlocking repeatable customer health.

Munish shares his journey from SaaS leadership to AI innovation, highlighting how large language models are revolutionizing the role of customer success managers. Learn how Statisfy is embedding AI invisibly into daily workflows, elevating human potential and enabling new levels of organizational velocity. A must-listen for anyone building tech-enabled teams and navigating the future of work in the AI-powered enterprise.

Spark Plugs and Smart Prompts: Infusion of Agentic AI in the Auto Industry - Manavendra Sial

Photon — Thu, 29 May 2025 10:55:57 -0400

Step into the world of auto innovation with Manavendra Sial, Executive Vice President and CFO of Tenneco, as he joins host Deepak Sharma to explore how AI is transforming a 100-year-old manufacturing giant. From spark plugs to smart prompts, discover how agentic AI is reshaping the way Tenneco operates, bridging decades-old machinery with predictive automation and intelligent supply chains.

Manavendra shares his journey through energy, defense tech, and now automotive transformation, emphasizing the rise of “software on wheels” and the critical role of AI in driving organizational velocity. Learn how Tenneco is using AI to power forecasting, preventive maintenance, and strategic decision-making unlocking human value and redefining the CFO role. A must-listen for anyone navigating disruption and accelerating innovation in the industrial age.

From AI Theory to Warehouse Reality: How to Bring AI to the Real World of Supply Chain Software - Patricia Harris

Photon — Tue, 08 Apr 2025 11:31:29 -0400

Step inside the world of supply chain innovation with Patricia Harris, CMO of Blue Yonder, as she sits down with host Deepak Sharma. Discover how Patricia is bringing AI to life in the supply chain, transforming theory into real-world impact. Learn how autonomous supply chains, agentic AI, and the SADA (See, Analyze, Decide, Act) loop are helping businesses stay agile amidst constant disruptions.

Patricia shares how AI is not just accelerating decisions but also unlocking human value and enhancing collaboration across people, machines, and systems. Gain insights from her journey and practical strategies for building resilient, AI-powered supply chains. A must-listen for leaders shaping the future of logistics and digital transformation.

AI and Customer Relationships: Connect or Deflect - Guy Nirpaz

Photon — Thu, 27 Feb 2025 09:26:00 -0500

Join our host, Deepak Sharma, for a thought-provoking conversation with Guy Nirpaz, Founder and CEO of Perspective AI. Explore Guy’s insights on AI’s role in customer relationships, balancing efficiency with human connection, and the concept of customer clarity in a digital-first world. Learn how AI can help businesses scale engagement, enhance trust, and drive value, rather than simply automate interactions.

Discover actionable strategies for customer success at scale, leveraging AI to bridge gaps, break silos, and optimize relationships. Gain inspiration from Guy’s journey in customer success and his vision for AI-driven transformation in business. An essential listen for digital leaders and innovators looking to shape the future of AI-driven trust and customer relationships.

From Chalkboards to Cloud: Digital Transformation in Higher Education - Bharath Prabhakaran

Photon — Tue, 07 Jan 2025 09:37:54 -0500

Join our host, Deepak Sharma, for an engaging discussion with Bharath Prabhakaran, Vice President and Chief Digital Officer at the University of Cincinnati. Explore Bharath’s insights on digital transformation in higher education, including unique challenges such as balancing innovation with regulatory compliance, integrating diverse data systems, and leveraging AI responsibly. Discover actionable strategies through initiatives like the Bearcat Insights program and AI Enablement Community of Practice, aimed at modernizing infrastructure and fostering innovation.

Gain inspiration from Bharath’s journey from corporate to higher education, his passion for giving back, and his dedication to driving impactful change. A must-listen for digital leaders and innovators seeking to navigate the complexities of transformation in the academic space while maintaining ethical integrity and fostering inclusivity.

Accelerating Healthcare with AI, Balancing Innovation with Ethical Health: Sylvain Hanssen

Photon — Fri, 13 Dec 2024 10:11:36 -0500

Join our host, Deepak Sharma, for an engaging discussion with Sylvain Hanssen, Director of Digital Commerce at Phoenix Group. Explore Sylvain's insights on accelerating healthcare with AI, balancing innovation with ethics, and navigating the complexities of healthcare transformation. Discover strategies for responsibly leveraging AI to improve patient outcomes, enhance healthcare professional workflows, and foster trust in a complex ecosystem. Gain actionable advice on transforming operations, creating impactful digital solutions, and driving change with a positive mindset and practical execution.

A must-listen for digital leaders and innovators aiming to redefine healthcare experiences and lead ethical transformations in the digital era.

Crafting Seamless Journeys: Digital Strategy Meets B2B Customer Experience - Sunil Unni

Photon — Mon, 02 Dec 2024 10:20:13 -0500

Join our host, Deepak Sharma, for an engaging discussion with Sunil Unni, VP of Digital Marketing, Strategy and Platforms at Avantor. Explore Sunil's insights on crafting seamless journeys for B2B customer experiences, where digital strategy meets procurement efficiency. Dive into strategies for simplifying complex B2B buying processes, leveraging data integration, and fostering innovation with cutting-edge technologies like agent-based AI. Discover actionable advice on building a strong digital foundation, navigating organizational challenges, and creating a future-ready business culture.

A must-listen for digital leaders aiming to redefine customer experiences and drive digital transformation.

Chat to Conversations Redefined with Digital and Gen AI - Ashish Garg

Photon — Thu, 14 Nov 2024 09:56:31 -0500

Join our host, Deepak Sharma, for a captivating conversation with Ashish Garg, Co-founder & CEO at Eltropy. Discover how Ashish successfully led the transformation of Eltropy, empowering community financial institutions to embrace digital transformation and generative AI. Learn how customer-centered values and a “team of owners” culture were pivotal in reshaping member interactions through anytime, anywhere access, and explore Eltropy’s approach to AI-driven automation, empathy in complex conversations, and ethical leadership in the digital age.

Tune in for actionable insights on driving digital transformation and building a future-ready organization—an essential listen for digital leaders.

Building a Digital Future: The Overlooked Non-Digital Blocks - Anne Guichard

Photon — Thu, 19 Sep 2024 09:19:53 -0400

Join our host, Deepak Sharma, for a captivating conversation with Anne Guichard, Global Head of Digital Platforms and Transformation at L'Oréal. Discover how Anne successfully led the transformation of Website Factory, overcoming challenges through strong management, creativity, and communication. Learn how non-digital skills were pivotal in turning a near-failure into a global success, and explore L'Oréal’s approach to agile development, AI innovation, and ethical leadership.

Tune in for actionable insights on driving digital transformation and building a future-ready organization—an essential listen for digital leaders.

Decoding Smart CPG: Neeraj Agarwal

Photon — Fri, 16 Aug 2024 12:58:47 -0400

Join our host, Deepak Sharma, for an insightful conversation with Neeraj Agarwal, CIO at Torani, as they explore the future of consumer goods through the lens of Smart CPG. Discover how AI, IoT, and data-driven insights are revolutionizing product personalization, supply chain optimization, and customer engagement. Neeraj shares his expertise on the evolving role of technology in driving innovation and maintaining the balance between automation and human touch.

Tune in for actionable strategies on digital transformation and the future of AI in CPG - a must-listen for digital leaders.

Support to Advocacy - The Path to Effortless Customer Experience: Tarun Luthra

Photon — Fri, 21 Jun 2024 11:00:38 -0400

Join our host, Deepak Sharma, for an engaging conversation with Tarun Luthra, Global VP of Customer Experience at SAP. Discover how AI is revolutionizing customer experiences and transforming support functions into revenue drivers. Learn why trust, human connection, and adaptability are more critical than ever in today's digital landscape.

Tune in for actionable insights into experience economy, product success, and the future of digital interactions — a must-listen for digital leaders.

Democratization of AI - The Key to Digital Transformations in the Enterprise: Markus Zirn

Photon — Tue, 19 Mar 2024 09:57:19 -0400

Join our host, Deepak Sharma, in an illuminating conversation with Markus Zirn, Chief Strategy Officer at Workato, as they discuss the democratization of AI and its pivotal role in driving enterprise success. Markus highlights the three key patterns fueling AI integration and the core tenets essential for AI-driven transformations.

Tune in for actionable insights into GenAI's transformative power to reshape your business processes — a must-listen for digital leaders.

Experience Digital – The Dance Between Interactions and Relationships: Martin Mrugal

Photon — Mon, 19 Feb 2024 09:17:36 -0500

Join our host, Deepak Sharma, in a riveting conversation with Martin Mrugal, Former Chief Operating Officer at Ellucian, exploring the evolving dynamics of digital interactions and relationships. Martin highlights the critical role of AI and machine learning in enhancing predictive analytics and customer engagement.

Tune in for actionable insights on integrating technology with human touchpoints to drive customer success.

Mary-Beth Donovan on Customer Value Management: How do you apply the right lens to digital?

Photon — Fri, 02 Feb 2024 11:12:23 -0500

Join our host, Deepak Sharma, in a captivating conversation with Mary-Beth Donovan, Chief Customer Officer at EDB, as they delve into the art of designing impactful customer journeys. This episode unravels the importance of aligning with diverse customer outcomes and harnessing the power of data insights to drive success.

Tune in for insightful strategies to elevate your customer experiences, enhancing value and engagement. A must-listen for digital leaders to amplify customer-centric strategies.

Security in the Digital Customer Journey: Abhay Solapurkar

Photon — Thu, 21 Dec 2023 07:56:35 -0500

Join us as our host, Deepak Sharma, sits down with Abhay Solapurkar, Chief Customer Officer at SkyHigh Security, exploring the power of hyper-personalization and fortifying digital security. Discover the five crucial pillars underpinning digital transformation and learn how to leverage cutting-edge digital tools for customer lifecycle management.

Tune in to learn how to drive unparalleled customer satisfaction and essential traits for thriving as a leader in the digital age.

Customer Success and Digital – One Family: Maranda Dziekonski

Photon — Fri, 01 Dec 2023 07:22:30 -0500

Join us as our host, Deepak Sharma, sits down with Maranda Dziekonski, Senior Vice President of Customer Success at Datasembly, as they navigate the intersection of leadership, innovation, and digital strategy. Maranda shares her remarkable journey, from overcoming early challenges to spearheading customer success in the ever-evolving world of startups.

Discover Maranda's unique approach to blending digital innovation with customer engagement. Don't miss this insightful conversation on harnessing digital transformation to drive business growth and customer satisfaction.

Drew Patel on AI's Transformative Journey: From Children's Toys to Life-Saving Pharma

Photon — Mon, 23 Oct 2023 08:00:00 -0400

In this fresh episode of "Digital Strategy Unlocked," host Deepak Sharma dives headfirst into the intricate and enthralling universe of artificial intelligence. With AI's expansive reach, from its whimsical integrations in toys to its revolutionary implementations in the pharmaceutical realm, the episode promises a comprehensive exploration. We're privileged to have Drew Patel, North America's digital maestro from Bayer, to guide us on this enlightening journey. Prepare to demystify the multifaceted world of AI, shedding light on its playful beginnings and its transformative potential in healthcare. Gear up for a captivating discourse that bridges the gap between playful innovations and life-altering solutions. Don't miss out on this dynamic conversation that seeks to unlock the true essence of AI in our lives.

Bio:

Drew is a seasoned IT and digital professional with over two decades of experience, especially in CPG and retail. He currently serves as the North America Digital Lead at Bayer and has previously held key roles at Amazon and Babies R Us.

Mastering the Art of Digital Leapfrogging: Sarah Venning, Former CDO, Pret A Manger

Photon — Wed, 10 May 2023 10:51:57 -0400

Join us as our host Deepak Sharma sits down with a key figure from Pret A Manger, Sarah Venning, Former Global Chief Digital Officer, exploring their innovative leapfrogging strategy in the digital world. Discover how Pret leverages the power of digital transformation to create seamless customer experiences. Learn about the importance of how brands can adapt to a hybrid world where customers live both physical and digital lives.

Tune in to discover the mindset shift that has enabled leaders like Sarah to create ground-breaking digital propositions. Don't miss this insightful conversation on balancing physical and digital channels.

Customer Success in the Age of AI: Meenu Agarwal

Photon — Fri, 27 Jan 2023 05:58:49 -0500

Join us this week as our host Deepak Sharma joins Meenu Agarwal, Group Senior Vice President at Workday, to discuss the critical role of customer success. They delve into how leading companies utilize technology to empower customers while maintaining a human-centric approach throughout the customer journey. Tune in as they strike the perfect balance between digital touchpoints and human interaction in the AI Age.

The Firefighter Mindset in Digital: Dipesh Biswas

Photon — Mon, 09 Jan 2023 10:29:10 -0500

This week on the podcast, our host Deepak Sharma and guest Dipesh Biswas, Chief Digital Officer at Livinguard, discuss the fascinating journey of digital from Mainframes to Metaverse. They delve into the technological advancements made over the years, from Web 1.0 to Internet-of-Things, and explore the mindset behind it all. Dipesh also shares great insights from his upcoming book called ‘Of Firefighters and Gardeners’ about transforming the organizational culture, the inception of the role of a CIO, and how it has evolved over the years. He concludes the episode with actionable advice for millennials aspiring for a career in digital. Tune in for an informative and engaging discussion that highlights all aspects of digital progress over time– from technology, and job roles to organizational mindsets and beyond!

Lubomira Rochet, Partner at JAB & Ex CDO L'Oréal: Cracking the Digital Code

Photon — Wed, 30 Nov 2022 10:46:34 -0500

In this episode of 'Digital Strategy Unlocked,' our special guest Lubomira Rochet, Current partner at JAB and former Chief Digital Officer at L'Oreal, shares deep insights with our host, Deepak Sharma, about the evolution of Digital Transformation. Tune in as they discuss how digital success requires a digital culture and how companies can bring on their A-game for successful tech-enabled transformations. Lubomira concluded the episode with inspiring advice for women executives seeking a career in Digital Transformation.

A CIO's Moment to Success: Barry Gilmore

Photon — Fri, 12 Aug 2022 08:38:18 -0400

In this episode of 'Digital Strategy Unlocked,' Barry Gilmore, Former CIO of L'Oréal America's has an insightful conversation with our host, Deepak Sharma. Tune in as they discuss the vital aspect of business success and the role a CIO must play in today's ever-changing digital world. Barry also deep-dives into Photon Colleague Success Management and shares his outside-in perspective on the framework. He explains how as a CIO, he used to play the role of a chief problem-solving officer. And how his colleagues often saw him as a partner who cared for the business and solved their problems.

How Can CIOs Show Value: Anthony Roberts

Photon — Wed, 03 Aug 2022 07:00:00 -0400

Welcome to the first episode of 'Digital Strategy Unlocked,' where we provide valuable insights and influential trends that help CIOs advance their capabilities and leadership skills to shape, enable, and influence business strategies. This week Anthony Roberts, former SVP and Global CIO of Walgreens Boots Alliance, joins Deepak Sharma. They take a deep dive through the lens of Photon Colleague Success Management into how the focus of the CIOs has evolved from infrastructure and networks to delivering business outcomes.

Digital Strategy Unlocked

Photon — Wed, 20 Jul 2022 04:52:29 -0400

Digital Strategy Unlocked is hosted by Deepak Sharma, SVP, Strategy & Customer Success at Photon. You can subscribe to the podcast in Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you find podcasts. In every episode, we look through the lens of Photon’s Colleague Success Management and provide valuable insights to help leaders increase IT product adoption and accelerate business outcomes.