“What’s the relationship between AI and leadership?” This week, we bring you Part 2 of Jeff’s conversation with Dr. Tommy Weir: self-described leadership nerd, Founder and CEO of enAIble and author of Leadership Dubai Style: The Habits to Achieve Remarkable Success . How do you measure productivity? Do you judge your workforce/team as a whole? Is it based on intuition or, worse, hearsay? Tommy’s company, enAIble, is using AI to measure productivity for leadership on an individual level, reading ...
Oct 17, 2019•35 min•Season 3Ep. 3
“What’s the relationship between AI and leadership?” This week, Jeff is joined by Dr. Tommy Weir, self-described leadership nerd, Founder and CEO of enAIble and author of Leadership Dubai Style: The Habits to Achieve Remarkable Success . An ardent skeptic just a few years ago, Dr. Weir walks through his journey from learning to understanding leadership, to learning to understand AI to learning how AI can enhance great leaders. How many leaders have you had in your life? How many do you remember?...
Oct 03, 2019•20 min•Season 3Ep. 2
And we’re back! In the premiere of season 3, Jeff begins our season-long focus on Artificial Intelligence with Bob Suh, Founder and CEO of OnCorps and a powerhouse of AI expertise. Bob looks at how human patterns of overconfidence, insecurity and self-denial get programmed deep into the systems we’ve designed to improve our decision-making. What happens when AI automates a mistake? As we move into another election cycle that will be dominated by the algorithmic spreading of information, Bob take...
Sep 19, 2019•47 min•Season 3Ep. 1
On this mini-sode teaser, Jeff reveals our theme for the show in Season 3 . . . Artificial Intelligence. AI has been a central topic on the show over the first two seasons with quite a few guests discussing new AI capabilities and where the technology is headed. But now, in this cultural and business environment dominated by AI, it’s the perfect opportunity to dive deep into how AI will shape our personal and professional lives. We’re looking for your help! Everyone has a question about AI and h...
Sep 12, 2019•4 min
Are lawyers ready for the legal sector to be transformed? This week, Jeff is joined by EY Global Law Leader Cornelius Grossman at the Advanced Technology Tax Lab to discuss the future of law, the legal profession and how technology is being applied to it. After a first wave of overpromises and disappointments, the legal sector is starting to see the real fruits of artificial intelligence and platform technologies in their work. As these tools expedite once-tedious processes, lawyers have more ti...
Aug 29, 2019•16 min•Season 2Ep. 18
Oh the places you’ll go! Oh the places you’ll go! Over the course of two seasons of the Better Innovation podcast, Jeff has had the privilege of interviewing some of the brightest innovation minds in our world today. As season two winds down, we bring to you a compilation of some of the best advice that our guests have given over the past episodes. Think of it as our version of a commencement speech. You’ll hear amazing insights from Andy Card, Kate Barton, David Becker, Dr. Lucy Marcil, José Ma...
Jun 13, 2019•18 min•Season 2Ep. 24
“What ever happened to Tucker and his book?” In this episode, Jeff is rejoined by the show’s second-ever guest, Tucker Marion, along with his writing collaborator, Sebastian Fixson, to discuss their book and its impact on business-led transformation. The Innovation Navigator looks at a world filled with disruptors and the disrupted, where the digitization of innovation and a culture of collaboration has seen the landscape explode with new ideas. While that inspires organizations to act faster th...
May 20, 2019•47 min•Season 2Ep. 23
Is an AI winter coming? In this episode, Jeff is joined by Nigel Duffy, EY Global Artificial Intelligence leader, to talk about the state of AI technology today and how we can better prepare for its future. Over the last few decades, hype around AI has swelled and deflated as our imagination has been sparked by the idea that we’re inching closer to machines imitating human intelligence – we call this ‘general AI’. But, not only is the idea of general AI a world away, it perhaps shouldn’t even be...
May 01, 2019•38 min•Season 2Ep. 22
This week, Jeff recorded LIVE at the EY Innovation Realized Summit in Boston. In this episode, Jeff chats with Emilie Sydney-Smith, CEO of ExO Works and one of the event’s co-facilitators. Sydney-Smith is an expert on disruption theory and works with many organizations around the world to spot areas of disruption vulnerability – and take meaningful action. Join us for a powerful discussion on the ever-accelerating rate of change and effective transformation strategies for your organization. Have...
Apr 15, 2019•34 min•Season 2Ep. 21
This week, Jeff recorded LIVE at the EY Innovation Realized Summit in Boston. In this episode, Jeff sits with the event’s keynote speaker: Priya Parker, author of The Art of Gathering and Founder of Thrive Labs. Parker shares insights in her book on the importance of in-person connections and how meeting with purpose can lead to disruptive and inspiring realizations. Join us for a fresh perspective on what it means to get together and how an infusion of humanity can lead to better innovation. Ha...
Apr 11, 2019•19 min•Season 2Ep. 20
World Economic Forum special: Jeff talks blockchain with Dennis Post, EY Tax Partner and leader of Blockchain solutions for the EY Global Advanced Technology Tax Lab. Post discusses the remarkable advancement in blockchain development, and how this progress is creating a myriad of possibilities for new applications in the field of taxation. Have a question for Jeff? Find him on Twitter @JeffreySaviano Watch Jeff's talk from the World Economic Forum (WEF) on the future of tax enterprise solutions...
Apr 07, 2019•7 min•Season 2Ep. 19
World Economic Forum special: Jeff chats with Thomas Hardjono, Chief Technology Officer for the MIT Connection Science Lab, about the notion of homomorphic encryption and how the tokenization of assets is creating new opportunities to protect and securitize data. As the definition of “asset” expands, could we see a future where tax becomes tokenized too? Have a question for Jeff? Find him on Twitter @JeffreySaviano Watch Jeff's talk from the World Economic Forum (WEF) on the future of tax enterp...
Apr 06, 2019•6 min•Season 2Ep. 18
World Economic Forum special: Jeff catches up with Daniel Peled, Co-Founder of Orbs, a startup promoting a public blockchain that scales base-layer protocols. Peled shares his insight on the importance of infrastructure in the future of public (and private) blockchains and the unique start-up culture in his home country of Israel. Have a question for Jeff? Find him on Twitter @JeffreySaviano Watch Jeff's talk from the World Economic Forum (WEF) on the future of tax enterprise solutions here: htt...
Apr 05, 2019•11 min•Season 2Ep. 17
World Economic Forum Special: Jeff is joined by Greg Medcraft, Director of Financial Enterprise Affairs with OECD. Greg and Jeff examine how blockchain and artificial intelligence are being utilized by governments around the world to fight corruption, standardize operations and decrease costs and risks. Have a question for Jeff? Find him on Twitter @JeffreySaviano Watch Jeff's talk from the World Economic Forum on the future of tax enterprise solutions here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VwH5n...
Apr 04, 2019•11 min•Season 2Ep. 16
World Economic Forum Special: Jeff and Fabio Zoffi, President and Executive Chairman of ORS Group, discuss how far artificial intelligence has come and how an influx of data is creating a wave of new possibilities. Zoffi looks at how AI’s next evolution will help organizations enhance decision-making, planning and optimize operations that once seemed too complex to automate. Have a question for Jeff? Find him on Twitter @JeffreySaviano Watch Jeff's talk from the World Economic Forum on the futur...
Apr 03, 2019•6 min•Season 2Ep. 15
World Economic Forum Special: Jeff talks with Panos Panay, fellow Bostonian, and VP of Innovation and Strategy at the Berklee College of Music, about how blockchain and AI are disrupting and will continue to disrupt, the music industry. Panay discusses the uniqueness of the industry and how new technologies can restore value to music artists. Have a question for Jeff? Find him on Twitter @JeffreySaviano Watch Jeff's talk on the future of tax enterprise solutions here: https://www.youtube.com/wat...
Apr 02, 2019•13 min•Season 2Ep. 14
We’re taking a short break in Season 2 to bring you to Davos, Switzerland, where Jeff attended the World Economic Forum 2019. During his time in Davos, Jeff had the opportunity to speak at a special event hosted by Sandy Pentland, leader of the MIT Connection Science Lab, on the convergence of human and machine. The event, ‘Blockchain+AI+Human=Magic,’ explored the opportunities presented by the convergence of these technologies - along with the best of humans. Over the next week, we’ll share our...
Apr 01, 2019•2 min•Season 2Ep. 13
The relationship between diversity, inclusiveness, and innovation is well recognized, but Karyn Twaronite, EY Global Diversity & Inclusiveness Officer, stressed that one of the most important tenets is building environments where professionals can thrive and feel a sense of belonging. Jeff and Karyn discuss why a leader's diversity and inclusiveness strategy should include more than just gender and cultural background. They explore why it's so hard for large organizations to implement diversity ...
Mar 08, 2019•44 min•Season 2Ep. 12
Professor Roz Picard, director and founder of the Affective Computing Research Group at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology's famed Media Lab, argues some artificial intelligence researchers are not adequately addressing the ‘why’ behind their AI work, but are instead too focused on getting their next paper published or grant secured. Roz, a scientist, inventor, and entrepreneur, believes society trusts machines too much and humans and machines should partner and coevolve together. CNN nam...
Feb 28, 2019•22 min•Season 2Ep. 11
This week, Jeff keeps it in the EY family with Mike McKerr, Chairman EY Ireland and the EY Global Leader-Market Solutions. Mike and Jeff talk about the importance of unlearning—breaking down what you know to discover something new—and how it is driving innovation within alternative business models in the professional services industry and beyond. From his upbringing in Northern Ireland during much conflict to his current role at EY, Mike’s story is one you won’t want to miss. Have a question for...
Feb 15, 2019•34 min•Season 2Ep. 10
Two heads are better than one. For the first time, Jeff is joined by two guests: Nicole Sahin and Dr. Patti Fletcher. Sahin is an Entrepreneur Of The Year 2017 New England Award winner and the founder of Globalization Partners, the second-fastest growing company in Massachusetts. Dr. Fletcher is a gender equity advocate for women in business, leadership, and technology. She is also the author of Disrupters: Success Strategies from Women Who Break the Mold. Jeff speaks with these two powerful wom...
Jan 31, 2019•56 min•Season 2Ep. 9
Jeff travels to Madrid to talk with José María Lucía Moreno, director of the EY flagship wavespace—the ‘EY Hubble Artificial Intelligence Center of Excellence.’ José shares his insights on how the Hubble Center leadership team was able to bring together a diverse group of talented professionals to develop transformative client solutions. They also look at José’s life—from growing up in Spain to launching his career in the 90’s tech boom—and how it has inspired his unique approach to purposeful i...
Jan 15, 2019•37 min•Season 2Ep. 8
What would the world look like without the digital camera? On this very special episode, Jeff interviews Steve Sasson, who invented the breakthrough device in 1975 while at Kodak. Since he was a kid taking apart TVs, Steve’s tinkering mindset has been a true inspiration to innovators around the world. Steve reflects on his upbringing in Brooklyn and when he accepted the National Medal of Technology and Innovation award from President Barack Obama.
Dec 17, 2018•50 min•Season 2Ep. 7
Jeff sits down with Dr. Lucy Marcil, a pediatrician at Boston Medical Center and co-founder of the nonprofit Street Cred. Lucy is pioneering a new kind of social outreach, where low-income families can get free tax prep while they wait for their doctor—right in the waiting room. Join Jeff and Lucy as they reflect on her time in the Peace Corps, her role in the Boston medical community and her vision for a more empathetic future.
Nov 30, 2018•31 min•Season 2Ep. 6
Renowned entrepreneur Alexander Osterwalder and EY Global Tax Innovation Leader Jeff Saviano come to you live from downtown Boston. The co-founder of Strategyzer discusses his groundbreaking invention, the Business Model Canvas, a visual management tool that helps challenge, invent and reinvent business models. Jeff and Alex explore how the Business Model Canvas is integrated with Steve Blank’s Lean Startup Theory and how organizations can thrive with a keen commitment to business model innovati...
Nov 06, 2018•1 hr 8 min•Season 2Ep. 5
Just in time for the 2018 midterm elections, Jeff sits down with David Becker, the Executive Director and Founder of the Center for Election Innovation and Research (CEIR). From his time trying voting rights cases in the Department of Justice to his current work improving election administration, no one is more qualified than David to share insights on the future of voter registration and election administration.
Nov 02, 2018•52 min•Season 2Ep. 4
In this special episode, Jeff sits down with five guest speakers at TedxBeaconStreet Salon EmTech at Kendall Square to explore a wide range of technology shaping our future, both in and out of the tax sector. From using virtual reality to improve surgical accuracy to an artificial intelligence bot that can predict court decisions, this unique panel of innovators gives us a glimpse of a not-too-distant tomorrow. Featuring Daniel Hashimoto, Benjamin Alarie, Francisco Aguilar, Sharon Goldberg, and ...
Oct 16, 2018•41 min•Season 2Ep. 3
Jeff is joined by Suresh Kumar, former Assistant Secretary of Commerce and Director General of the US and Foreign Commercial Service under President Barack Obama, for a fresh perspective on what innovation means in the public and private sectors. With decades of experience leading teams in both government and industry, Suresh's unique point-of-view gives a glimpse into public/private partnerships and how a community need can drive a wave of new commercial products.
Oct 02, 2018•33 min•Season 2Ep. 2
In our Season 2 premiere episode, Jeff talks with EY Global Vice Chair of Tax Kate Barton about the importance of innovation in client service. We explored Kate's Boston-Irish roots and how they influenced her growth mentality. With more than 30 years in the EY Tax practice, Kate reflects on her innovation journey, how far tax technology has advanced and the emerging technologies that will shape the future of tax.
Sep 21, 2018•38 min•Season 2Ep. 1
Season 1 of the Better Innovation podcast is a wrap! Our guests in Season 1 were so thought-provoking that we wanted to highlight some of the more memorable moments in this special season-ending episode. Thank you for listening, subscribing and being part of this journey with us. We look forward to interviewing some of the most innovative thought leaders in the world in Season 2 – and beyond! We hope you’ll join us when we resume with new episodes in September.
Jul 30, 2018•27 min•Season 1Ep. 16
