Zinnov Podcast - Business Resilience series

Optimizing Technology Value Through Cross-Border Talent

How are enterprises optimizing hybrid IT environments facing rising costs and security threats?
Brian Shannon, CTO, Flexera and Niladri Ray, VP of Engineering, and Country Head – India, Flexera, sat with Pari Natarajan, CEO, Zinnov to discuss key trends like cloud migration, IT cost management, and vulnerability remediation in this episode of our podcast.

Hear insights on leveraging a data-driven approach to gain visibility and control over hybrid estates, driving innovation through global collaboration, realizing significant cost savings, and building an empowering engineering culture.

Whether you’re an IT leader looking to optimize your infrastructure, an engineer interested in impactful work, or anyone curious about how enterprises are transforming digitally, this episode provides an enlightening industry perspective. The discussion covers the challenges that organizations are facing an increasingly complex technological landscape and how leaders can navigate them efficiently.

TIMESTAMPS
01:04 Emerging Technology themes
03:50 Current Innovations in R&D
05:50 Driving Innovation from tech hubs
09:30 Taking back control of the IT spend
11:40 Addressing cybersecurity
13:02 How GenAI is helping productivity
17:12 Managing and retaining talent

The 90 day CIO: Moving Healthcare IT from Basement to Boardroom

Explore the intersection of healthcare and technology in this episode featuring an insightful conversation between Dr. Luis Taveras, a seasoned Healthcare CIO with over 30 years of experience and Pari Natarajan, CEO of Zinnov.

Talking about Healthcare IT strategy, the episode discusses the transformation of IT’s role in Healthcare. Dr. Luis shares his practical framework for driving impactful change from the CIO’s desk. Specifically, he talks about Healthcare IT’s journey from an afterthought to a strategic cornerstone in optimizing patient care and organizational efficiency.

Sharing key leadership principles and how to advocate for accountability, communication, and collaboration as essential components of success, the episode offers valuable guidance on navigating the complex landscape of Healthcare IT.
Tune in to gain fresh perspectives and stay informed about the latest trends shaping the future of healthcare innovation.

Partnering for Success through Co-opetition

Unlike the past, where companies fiercely competed and guarded their secrets, today, there’s a rising understanding of how working together with competitors can be beneficial.
This is where coopetition comes in – a business strategy where companies collaborate with their competitors on certain projects or initiatives while simultaneously competing in other aspects of their business. Companies are realizing that in the face of rapid technological advancements, intricate global supply chains, and complex consumer demands, coopetition offers a pragmatic approach to navigating challenges.

In this insightful episode of the Zinnov Podcast, Ethel Garcia, Head of Global New Customer Acquisition Partner Strategy at Amazon Web Services shares her perspective with Rajat Kohli, Partner, Zinnov, on the delicate balance between competition and collaboration, the vital role of ISVs (Independent Software Vendors), and the evolution of the partner ecosystem among hyperscalers.

Discover strategies for hyperscalers to differentiate among peers and sustain engagement with new-age ISVs, along with insights into the channel ecosystem’s growth. Tune in to listen to Ethel share her expertise on navigating the complexities of partnerships and ensuring a superior customer experience.

 

TIMESTAMPS
01:54 Ethel's journey
03:54 How can companies balance co-opetition, and innovation?
07:19 How to sustain engagement with ISVs
13:43 Are ISVs part of tri-party partnerships?
15:58 What are the complexities of the channel ecosystem?
21:03 What kind of innovation do you see in the coming years?
24:43 What are the 2 things that will excite you about 2024?

Inevitable India: Vision 2024 for GCCs and the Tech Ecosystem

In a compelling podcast episode, KS Viswanathan (KSV), Vice President of Industry Initiatives at Nasscom, converses with Nitika Goel, CMO at Zinnov, delving into the transformative developments within India's Global Capability Centers (GCCs) in 2023. KSV, drawing from his extensive experience, discusses the significant surge in engineering roles, the strategic integration of Generative AI, and the evolving synergy between startups and GCCs. He elaborates on how these factors signal the maturation of India's technology ecosystem.

KSV articulates the progression of GCCs from their early stages to becoming globally recognized tech hubs. Looking forward, he provides insights into anticipated trends for 2024, emphasizing the critical role of robust leadership and active community involvement in shaping the future. The conversation effectively highlights India's shift from a primarily talent-rich environment to a leadership-driven technological powerhouse, suggesting a promising and influential trajectory for GCCs in the global tech arena. This dialogue not only captures the essence of India's technological evolution but also underscores the GCCs' pivotal role in redefining the global technology landscape.

TIMESTAMPS
01:33 How was 2023 for GCCs?
04:11 Is India leadership rich?
05:20 How is control being defined in different regions?
09:14 Are GCCs eating into the share of IT services companies?
12:02 Will GenAI lead to job erosion?
17:45 Forecasts for 2024 in GCCs
19:16 Roadblocks to look out for in 2024
22:07 The Rapidfire

Tech-Driven Healthcare: Leading Change from the CIO’s Desk

In this episode, Michelle Greene, Chief Information Officer at Cardinal Health explores the the captivating intersection of healthcare and technology with Pari Natarajan, CEO, Zinnov. The conversation delves into how leadership should start with empathy, and the pivotal role of data in revolutionizing healthcare distribution processes.
Discover the strategies and insights that drive innovation, resilience, and transparency in the healthcare technology sector. Known for her 20 years of global tech expertise, Michelle’s takes us through her inspirational journey from data analyst to CIO.
Michelle's leadership philosophy places a strong emphasis on kindness, collaboration, and servant leadership. She underscores the symbiotic relationship between her success and that of her team, fostering a culture of mutual support.
Tune in now, to hear about how business and technology can co-exist in harmony, with the right leadership.

00:56 Michelle's journey to CIO
02:37 Michelle's leadership mantra
04:40 GenAI's impact on talent
07:02 Creating new opportunities for talent
09:01 The intersection of roles within a business
10:15 Data-driven decision making
12:35 Data's relevance across the healthcare supply chain
13:39 Planning for the future
16:02 Keeping the Board informed, at every step
17:26 How to crack innovation

Leadership Traits That Drive Excellence

In this brand new episode of the Zinnov Podcast, Pari Natarajan, CEO, Zinnov, talks to Rick Crandall, Chairman, Donnelley Financial (NYSE-DFIN) and CEO Enterprise Software CEO Roundtable.

The enterprise software industry is currently undergoing a rapid transformation marked by several noteworthy trends. Firstly, the shift towards cloud computing continues to dominate the landscape, with businesses increasingly adopting cloud-based solutions to enhance scalability, flexibility, and accessibility. In parallel, the sudden rise of Generative AI has disrupted workflows and talent decisions. Cybersecurity remains a paramount concern, leading to a growing emphasis on robust security solutions as the threat landscape evolves. Finally, the demand for remote work tools and collaboration platforms persists, reflecting the new normal of distributed workforces. These trends collectively shape the enterprise software industry, emphasizing the importance of agility, innovation, and digital resilience for businesses striving to remain competitive in today's dynamic market.

The episode explores two crucial aspects – how the enterprise software industry is growing, current trends, and how strong leadership traits are the crux of successful organizations and teams.
In today's rapidly changing business environment, leadership is more critical than ever, and enterprise software is at the forefront of innovation and transformation.

Discover how leadership traits such as adaptability, resilience, and innovation are essential to navigate the complexities of the digital age. Discussing the latest opportunities in the enterprise software industry, the leaders uncover what major global trends are shaping the industry, the pulse of Mergers and Acquisitions, and how valuation metrics are evolving.

Whether you're a seasoned executive, a rising star, or just curious about the future of business, the episode offers something for everyone.

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Timestamps

1:12 - How is the enterprise software industry leveraging Generative AI?
2:49 - Do CEOs see Generative AI as a threat or innovation opportunity?
3:57 - Is Generative AI looked at as an opportunity to improve productivity?
6:10 - What can value creation look like in the next few years?
8:40 - What were some of the major themes that emerged out of the Enterprise Software Roundtable?
10:36 - What is the current conversation on talent?
11:47 - Has the rule of 40 changed, for investors that are looking to buy enterprise software?
15:25 - What are some traits that a CEO needs, to navigate uncertain times?
16:37 - What are the traits you see in CEOs who are able to scale their companies?
19:08 - Are we going into an era where we see more product-centric CEOs or sales-centric CEOs?
20:38 - Secrets to building a network that has gone 25 years strong

The Frugal Entrepreneur: Leadership Lessons on Perseverance

“Success in life is not earning too much. Success in life is spending little”
From our extensive conversations with C-suite executives, investors and business leaders over the last 12 months, a key inflection point is how to scale, sustainably. Volatile market conditions, business uncertainty, and global recessionary forces are calling for organizations to think outside the box.
In our latest episode of Zinnov’s Business Resilience, Dr. A. Velumani, Founder of Thyrocare sits down with Nitika Goel, CMO, Zinnov, to expound growth strategies rooted in first principles of passion, perseverance and cultivating the right attitude. The conversation explores how frugality, perseverance and passion can help leapfrog a growth trajectory.

When Dr Arokiaswamy Velumani stepped foot into Mumbai, India in 1982, little did he know he was going to lead a multi-million dollar business in a few years. A poster child of the theory ‘try, try, try, till you succeed’, Dr Velumani highlights the importance of focus and a learning mindset as the pivotal levers to building a world-class empire. More importantly, his anecdotes are a masterclass in how to build anti-fragile organizations through careful cost management on both the operations and customer sides of business. In his words, “Nobody goes out of business for providing cheaper options .”

The Frugal Entrepreneur: Leadership Lessons on Perseverance leaves a lasting impression on how to recalibrate an approach to success by traversing the road less travelled.

 

Timestamps

0:20 – The building blocks of a good leader
2:01 – The core traits needed to imbibe frugality as a mindset
4:45 – How does a leader maintain focus?
8:17 – How do you balance focusing on now, vs later?
10:20 – How to stay inventive, frugal, disruptive, and focused
12:42 – Dealing with irrelevance
14:43 – Why storytelling is important

Delivering Next-Gen Customer Experience: Leveraging Technology For A New World Order

 

In our newest episode of the Business Resilience series, Pari Natarajan, CEO, Zinnov speaks with Shankar Arumugavelu, SVP & Chief Digital & Information Officer, Verizon Communications Inc., to unravel the strategies, technologies, and innovations that the Telecom giant is using to cater to the modern consumer. With Gen Z characteristic traits such as voracious appetite for seamless connectivity, personalized experiences, and instant gratification pushing today’s businesses to new heights, it is also prompting never-before-seen experiences, and a round-the-clock customer service experience.

 

From 5G’s transformative potential to the integration of AI and IOT, the conversation explores the dynamic landscape where the Telecom industry is not just keeping up with the changes, but actively reshaping the future. This engaging discussion with an industry pioneer dissects the pivotal role of customer-centricity in driving this evolution. The two leaders discuss how Telecom companies are reimagining their service offerings, deploying chatbots and virtual assistants to enhance customer support, and leveraging Data Analytics to tailor solutions that predict and meet individual needs.

 

The episode also touches upon AI and ethics – how data can be relooked at with a more inclusive, and socially aware lens, and why it should be a key area of focus, when tailoring to customer expectations. Using anecdotes and active use cases, Shankar shares how the Telecom sector is ingeniously navigating uncharted waters. He also touches upon Verizon’s current solutions that leverage digital touchpoints, embrace and foster innovation to exceed customer expectations. Whether you’re a tech aficionado, a business leader, or simply intrigued by the evolution of customer service, this episode promises a front-row seat to witness the Telecom industry’s incredible journey toward satisfying the demands of the new-age customer.

1:12 - How are technology trends shaping customer experience for Gen Z consumers?
7:05 - How is Verizon implementing Gen AI?
10:31 - How does automation play a part in customer service?
12:27 - Automation and incorporating human empathy
15:38 - Biases and inclusivity in Digital Twins
17:54 - CIO priorities during a rapid technology evolution
21:13 - Rapidfire round

 

Read the full transcript here: https://zinnov.com/podcasts/business-resilience/shaping-next-gen-customer-experiences-podcast/

 

The Agile CXO: Navigating Disruptions In A Dynamic World

In this episode of the Zinnov Podcast, Rajat Kohli, Partner, Zinnov, and Rani Pangam, Vice President, Strategy Realization Office, ServiceNow, explore the intricacies of leading successful transformations. Join us as we delve into a wealth of knowledge, experiences, and practical strategies that can revolutionize your approach to change.
With her  diverse background and expertise right from law to MIS, Rani provides a comprehensive view of change management, in any set up. Rani and Rajat  discuss the importance of understanding human psychology, aligning stakeholders, and creating a supportive environment to navigate the challenges of change successfully – alongside technology. Drawing from her extensive experiences, Rani provides practical strategies using real-world examples that leaders can apply in their own organizations. 
From leading cultural transformations to managing resistance, Rani and Rajat talk about critical factors that contribute to effective change management. The conversation provides a deep understanding of the importance of leadership, communication, and empathy in driving successful organizational change.
Whether you’re a change management professional, a leader responsible for driving change, or simply curious about the dynamics of change in organizations – large and small, this episode is a must-listen. 

The AI Paradox: Between Human Compatibility And Empathy

As we witness rapid advancements in Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Automation, the concept of intelligent bots wielding unprecedented power becomes an intriguing prospect. Will these machines, equipped with ever-evolving capabilities, surpass human intelligence and ultimately dominate our society? The notion may seem like science fiction, but as technology continues to reshape our world and advance at warp speed, it is essential to explore the possibilities, ponder the ethical implications, and navigate the path ahead with caution and foresight.

In this thought-provoking episode of our podcast, we delve into the fascinating realm of AI and explore the profound implications of AI bots becoming increasingly smarter, more efficient, and eventually developing the capacity to experience emotions.

Chetan Dube, Founder & CEO Amelia, and Lanham Napier, President, Amelia, talk to Pari Natarajan, CEO at Zinnov, about the evolution of AI bots and their potential impact on human productivity. With insights and captivating anecdotes, this episode explores how AI will soon become a way of life, replacing human functions as we know them today.

What does AI really mean for us, as a human workforce? Chetan and Lanham offer diverse perspectives on the capabilities of an AI worker, drawing from psychology, neuroscience, and AI ethics, as they delve into the complexities of human-like emotions in machines, powered by AI.

Timestamps
2:39 – The implications of Generative AI on Amelia
6:32 – How Amelia is keeping up with disruptions
9:09 – How technology can solve problems while building customer relationships
13:17 – How AI will play a role in the future of SMBs
17:17 – What is the technology evolution required for the world to see digital employees?
21:20 – How is Amelia thinking about catering to different verticals?
23:39 – The role of partnerships in building vertical expertise
24:48 – AI and ethics
27:29 – Making AI global ethics-compliant
29:53 – The future of Amelia