In this episode of “What If? So What?” Jim Hertzfeld sits down with C-suite strategist, Professor Rita McGrath, to explore how organizations can thrive amid uncertainty. Rita shares insights from her book “Seeing Around Corners,” including how to rethink competitive advantage, embrace intelligent failure, and plan for the unknown. Learn why fast-following might not be fast enough, how to experiment without fear, and what it really means to “see around corners.” Thank you for listening! You can a...
Jun 11, 2025•25 min•Season 7Ep. 65
In this thought-provoking episode, Jim speaks with Kevin Kelly, Senior Maverick at Wired and author of numerous influential books including "Excellent Advice for Living" and co-founder of the Long Now Foundation. Kevin shares his wisdom on emerging technology, the danger of “Thinkism,” why adoption lags behind innovation, and how AI is reshaping work, creativity, and human connection. From the evolution of “digital” to the future emotional bonds we’ll form with AI, Kevin offers grounded optimism...
Apr 23, 2025•28 min•Ep. 64
In this episode of the "What If? So What?" podcast, Jim Hertzfeld hosts Deena LaMarque Piquion, Chief Growth and Disruption Officer at Xerox. Deena shares insights into her unique role, the intentional disruption at Xerox, and how the company is reinventing itself to stay relevant in a changing market. They discuss the importance of data, the challenges of reaching next-gen decision-makers, and the innovative strategies Xerox is employing to drive growth and productivity. Tune in to learn about ...
Apr 02, 2025•23 min•Ep. 63
In this episode of "What If? So What?", host Jim Hertzfeld interviews Andi Orzehoski, director of brand content and digital communications at LyondellBasell. Andi shares her insights into the company's role as a global leader in the chemical industry, its commitment to sustainability, and the importance of digital transformation in modern business. Jim and Andi discuss the concept of a circular economy, the integration of brand, content, and digital strategies, and the critical role of change ma...
Mar 19, 2025•20 min•Ep. 62
In this episode, Jim Hertzfeld welcomes Efi Pylarinou, a Wall Street pro, former academic, and FinTech expert. They discuss the evolution of financial services, the concept of everywhere banking, and the impact of AI and other emerging technologies on the industry. Efi shares insights on the importance of adapting to new tech cycles, the challenges of legacy systems, and the need for a change in mindset to thrive in the world of AI. Thank you for listening! You can also watch the episode: https:...
Mar 05, 2025•26 min•Ep. 61
What if GenAI Could Turn Anyone Into a Creative Director? In this episode of “What If? So What?” host Jim Hertzfeld is joined by Chris Duffey, head of Global Partnerships, GenAI at Adobe, to discuss the transformative power of Generative AI and Adobe’s innovative product, Firefly . Chris shares his insights on how GenAI revolutionizes creativity across industries, enabling marketers, creatives, and businesses to unlock infinite possibilities. They explore Adobe Firefly's groundbreaking features,...
Feb 19, 2025•16 min•Ep. 60
What If Tech Could Be More Human? In this episode of “What If? So What?” Jim Hertzfeld sits down with Kate O’Neill, tech futurist, keynote speaker, and author of “What Matters Next: A Leader's Guide to Making Human-Friendly Tech Decisions in a World That's Moving Too Fast.” Kate shares with listeners her perspective on balancing innovation with responsibility, exploring how leaders can make thoughtful decisions about technology that prioritize both human experience and business success. Kate cha...
Feb 05, 2025•36 min•Ep. 59
What if Your Digital Transformation Was as Easy as Changing Your Mind? In this episode of "What If? So What?" Jim chats with Brian Solis, a renowned futurist, author, and the Head of Global Innovation at ServiceNow, to discuss the evolving landscape of leadership and innovation. Brian shares insights from his latest book, "MindShift," and explores the importance of self-awareness, cognitive bias, and explains how the beginner's mindset can drive business transformation. The conversation delves i...
Jan 22, 2025•22 min•Ep. 58
In this episode of What If? So What?, Jim talks with Jennifer Baker, former CTO of Synovus. She shares her journey from unexpected career opportunities to becoming a trailblazing technology leader in the insurance and banking sectors, culminating in significant strides in product development, customer experience, and digital transformation. Beyond her professional accolades, Jennifer passionately advocates for education and empowerment of women and children through her nonprofit work. Her story ...
Dec 18, 2024•22 min•Ep. 57
What If MarTech Isn’t Just for Marketers? In this episode of What If? So What?, Jim sits down with Scott Brinker, VP of Platform Ecosystems at HubSpot and editor of chiefmartec.com, to explore the rapidly evolving world of marketing technology (MarTech). They discuss how the definition of MarTech is expanding alongside the changing role of marketers, from customer acquisition to retention. Scott delves into the complexities of technology consolidation, the rise of customer data platforms, and th...
Oct 09, 2024•29 min•Ep. 56
| In this episode, Ron Gaines, senior manager of marketing technology and analytics at Sunbelt Rentals, joins the show to discuss the evolving landscape of equipment rentals and the critical role digital transformation plays in it. Ron shares insights into how Sunbelt Rentals is adapting to meet changing customer expectations, the importance of value communication, and the challenges of integrating digital tools with traditional sales tactics. He also offers valuable advice on staying connected ...
Sep 25, 2024•20 min•Ep. 55
In this episode of the What If, So What podcast, Jim Hertzfeld speaks with Todd Unger, Chief Experience Officer of the American Medical Association and author of "The 10-Second Customer Journey." The conversation uncovered valuable insights on customer experience (CX) and its impact on business growth. Unger emphasized the importance of adapting to the rapid pace of customer decision-making in today's digital landscape and highlighted the need for organizations to unify their approach to custome...
Sep 11, 2024•28 min•Ep. 54
In this episode, Jim Hertzfeld explores the convergence of the communications, media, and technology (CMT) industries with guest Kevin Colletti from Perficient. Jim and Kevin discuss how digital transformation is reshaping these industries, from bundled consumer services to the impact of 5G and IoT on businesses. Kevin offers practical advice for companies navigating this rapidly evolving landscape, providing listeners with a glimpse into the future of digital connectivity and its wide-ranging i...
Aug 14, 2024•22 min•Ep. 53
In this episode of “What If? So What?,” Jim chats with digital strategist Kevin Espinosa about the evolving landscape of manufacturing. Drawing from his diverse career experience, Kevin discusses major challenges facing the industry today, including supply chain issues, inflation, and labor shortages, while highlighting the transformative potential of connected products and the IoT. The conversation emphasizes the importance of customer-centric strategies, clear corporate goals, and cross-enterp...
Jul 31, 2024•25 min•Ep. 52
In this compelling episode, host Jim Hertzfeld welcomes Carolyn Henry, vice president and general manager of Americas regional marketing at Intel. Together, they explore the pivotal role of semiconductors in the digital age and their fundamental impact on various industries and everyday life. Carolyn provides an in-depth look at Intel's groundbreaking work in AI and edge computing and reveals how these technologies are set to transform the future. The conversation takes an inspiring turn as Caro...
Jul 17, 2024•26 min•Ep. 51
In this episode of "What If? So What?" Jim Hertzfeld sits down with Bradie Speller, a seasoned expert in the intersection of technology and organizational behavior, to dive deep into the concept of socio-technical systems. Bradie, who has a rich tech history going back to the early days of personal computing, discusses the evolution of technology from bulky mainframes to the sleek devices we use today. He emphasizes the crucial role of training and development in leveraging technology for busine...
Jul 03, 2024•24 min•Ep. 50
In this episode of "What If? So What?" Jim talks with Neelima Sharma, the Senior Vice President of Ecommerce, Digital, and Technology at Lowe’s. They discuss the challenges and successes of transforming the retail industry through digital innovation. Neelima highlights the importance of teamwork, trust, and a customer-centric approach in driving the company's growth. And also emphasizes the significance of personalization and building long-term relationships with customers, especially in the hom...
Jun 19, 2024•28 min•Ep. 49
In this episode, Jim welcomes Claus Torp Jensen, a seasoned expert in digital transformation and innovation, to discuss the fascinating realms of ambient computing and digital twins. Claus shares his insights on how these technologies are transforming industries, the importance of a proper mindset for innovation, and the critical role of storytelling in driving change. Jim and Claus also delve into the confluence of factors that have brought these technologies to the forefront and the challenges...
Jun 05, 2024•17 min•Ep. 48
In this episode, Jim Hertzfeld sits down with Mike Kosiek, technology product director at a Fortune 100 retailer, to explore the technological innovations shaping 2024 and beyond. The two delve into a discussion that spans practical applications of emerging tech to speculative technologies that could redefine industries. Discussion Highlights: · Retail Wisdom and Tech Innovation · Personalization and Real-Time Applications · Strategic Investments in Speculative Technologies · Exploring Digital T...
May 22, 2024•29 min•Ep. 47
In this episode of "What If? So What?" host Jim Hertzfeld sits down with James Hannis, the visionary chief architect at Cardinal Health. With a legacy in retail, James brings a unique perspective to the transformation of patient care through digital innovation. Dive into a discussion about the fusion of healthcare and retail strategies, the personalization of patient care, and the speed of service delivery that today's healthcare consumers expect. Episode Highlights: James describes his backgrou...
May 01, 2024•10 min•Ep. 46
In this episode of “What If? So What?” Jim sits down with Keith Tomatore, a seasoned automotive industry veteran and leader of Perficient’s automotive practice. Together, they embark on a journey into the electrifying future of the automotive industry. Keith shares his unique journey from his start at Swiss Army Brands to spearheading digital transformation in the automotive industry, emphasizing the importance of customer connection and innovative thinking. The conversation covers the driving f...
Apr 17, 2024•26 min•Ep. 45
In the latest episode of "What If, So What?" host Jim Hertzfeld invites Eisaiah Engel, author of " Innovation Casino ," to dive deep into the essence of innovation in today's business landscape. Engel shares his unique perspective on tackling innovation challenges across the spectrum as he and Jim explore the critical role of innovation in achieving differentiated, premium branding and generating alpha returns. This episode is a must-listen for digital leaders seeking actionable strategies to ha...
Apr 03, 2024•19 min•Ep. 44
In this episode, Jim talks with Kristine Swan, VP, Global Head of Digital Transformation & IT at Bayer Crop Science, to dive into the revolutionary role of digital innovation in agriculture. They unpack the challenges of modern farming, from climate change to food security, and explore cutting-edge solutions like carbon sequestration and regenerative agriculture. Kristine shares her journey from a farming background to leading digital strategies that bolster sustainable practices and enhance...
Mar 20, 2024•16 min•Ep. 43
In our latest episode, we're joined by May Habib, CEO of Writer, for an enlightening conversation on how Generative AI is revolutionizing digital strategies. We dive into the significance of AI guardrails, navigate the journey towards AI literacy, and present practical strategies for integrating AI into your business operations. Tune in to learn how leveraging Generative AI can propel your organization forward and keep you at the forefront of digital innovation. Connect with May Habib Connect wi...
Mar 06, 2024•16 min•Ep. 42
In this episode, Jim Hertzfeld speaks with Nico Frantzen, director of data and AI solutions at Perficient, as they explore the transformative role of generative AI in business intelligence (BI). Nico explains how generative AI and BI come together to create generative BI, which revolutionizes decision-making and data analysis and enables businesses to access insights faster and more effectively. This is a must-listen for anyone eager to understand the future of BI across industries. Connect with...
Feb 21, 2024•15 min•Ep. 41
In this episode, Jim and Kim talk with Justin Racine, director, and lead commerce strategist at Perficient, and explore the concept of unified commerce and its impact on customer experiences and business growth. Learn how you can leverage the technology you already have to make customers feel more connected to your brand. Connect with Justin Racine. Connect with our hosts, Perficient’s Jim Hertzfeld , principal and chief Strategist, and Kim Williams-Czopek , GM of global commerce. Thank you for ...
Jun 22, 2023•23 min•Ep. 40
In this episode, Jim talks with Luca Ranzani, team captain of MRacing at the University of Michigan, about taking what he has learned in the classroom and building upon it in the real world. Listen to this week’s episode to learn more about how Luca applies his education and real-life experience to build racecars and lead his team, as well as our Electrifying the Future of Automotive Program. Connect with Luca Ranzani . Connect with our Perficient hosts Jim Hertzfeld , principal, and chief strat...
Jun 08, 2023•19 min•Ep. 39
In this episode, Jim and Kim talk with Tara Becker, principal of digital health strategy at Perficient, about how to meet both consumer and employee needs in the healthcare industry. It’s no secret that clinicians burned out post-pandemic. Are there ways that we can champion the industry toward a new digital future? Listen to this week’s episode to learn how to mix people, processes, and technology to support healthcare employees and consumers. Connect with Tara Becker Connect with our Perficien...
May 25, 2023•16 min•Ep. 38
In this week’s episode, Jim and guest host Erica talk with Keith Wolf, director of digital strategy at Perficient, about how design relates to achieving specific digital strategy goals. How should a company bring fresh design into its organization? Can strategic design determine if a product succeeds or fails? Tune in to learn more about how to be intentional about aligning design with the rest of your organization’s digital strategy. Connect with Keith Wolf, director of digital strategy. Connec...
May 11, 2023•22 min•Ep. 37
In this episode, Jim and Kim discuss questions submitted by listeners. How do companies stay on top of digital trends? Tune in to this week’s episode to find out the answers to your burning questions! Connect with our hosts Jim Hertzfeld , principal and chief strategist at Perficient, and Kim Williams-Czopek , Perficient’s GM of global commerce. Thank you for listening! You can also watch the episode: https://www.youtube.com/@perficient/podcasts Have a question for Jim? AMA - submit questions: p...
Apr 27, 2023•18 min•Ep. 36
