The AI in Business Podcast Daniel Faggella

Today’s guests are Arkestro Founder & Chief Strategy Officer Edmund Zagorin and Johnson & Johnson Chief Procurement Officer Len DeCandia. Arkestro is an AI-driven startup in the procurement space with broad partnerships across the automotive, construction, and manufacturing sectors, including Johnson & Johnson and Koch Industries. Together, the two discuss procurement from a distinct leadership perspective and the broad range of challenges, from keeping talent ahead of scaling to the post-pandemic realities of recovering supply chains. 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 Chris Helsel, Senior Vice President of Global Operations and Chief Technology Officer at The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company. Despite the disparity in the predictions about self-driving cars that were made a decade ago, the era of automated transportation is close at hand. Chris joins the podcast today to discuss the enormous implications of the transition for numerous industries, from consumer goods to manufacturing and retail, and every industry that touches on transportation. To access Emerj’s frameworks for AI readiness, ROI, and strategy, visit Emerj Plus at emerj.com/p1.

Today’s guest is Dr. John Almasan, Head of AI & Emerging Technologies at TIAA. TIAA, or the Teachers Insurance and Annuity Association of America-College Retirement Equities Fund, is a US-based insurance provider specializing in retirement services in areas like academia, research, healthcare, and government. Dr. Almasan joins Emerj CEO and Head of Research Daniel Faggella on today’s podcast to discuss AI in insurance with a focus on governance, talent, and innovation. Together, they cover practical use cases in customer experience, fraud detection, and marketing throughout the episode. 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 Shreyas Becker, Head of AI & Data Products, Manufacturing & Supply at Sanofi. Shreyas joins Emerj Senior Editor Matthew DeMello on today’s podcast to talk about alleviating pain points for supply chain leaders in life sciences spaces. From building systems that deliver “real world evidence” to the subject matter experts and managers who need it to the pros and cons of sharing sensorial data with big tech data storage platforms like Amazon Web Services – Shreyas helps the executive podcast audience understand how problems are both viewed and solved through the lens of data, from no matter where they arise. 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 Daniel Ferrante, AI Leader in R&D and Data Strategy at Deloitte. Together with Emerj CEO and Head of Research Daniel Faggella, they delve into the complex challenges in AI adoption that major pharmaceutical firms encounter with cultural shifts, technological complexities, and the difficulties in monetizing data and aligning teams efficiently. Additionally, the pair explores the future landscape of phenotypical drug discovery, drawing insights from the context of COVID-19. Their focus underscores the critical importance of collecting and analyzing data to yield actionable insights, especially in the healthcare sector and amidst global health crises. 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 Bikalpa Neupane, Head of AI/GenAI and Natural Language Processing at Takeda. Bikalpa returns to the program to talk about the difference between a legacy enterprise culture and a data-based enterprise culture, showing how legacy leaders in sectors as diverse as healthcare, financial services, manufacturing, and beyond can make the transition in today’s AI-driven global economy along the way. Later, he and Emerj Senior Editor Matthew DeMello pull apart challenges for large enterprises as more open-source AI tools become available to individuals, eroding the traditional and structural advantages legacy firms have long held in the marketplace. 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!