Shows
What's Next! with Tiffani BovaHow AI Changes Everything with Adam Brotman and Andy SackWelcome to the What's Next! Podcast with Tiffani Bova. I'm thrilled to have two guests with me this week. The first is Adam Brotman. He is the co-founder and co-CEO of the strategic consultancy Forum3. He was the inaugural Chief Digital Officer at Starbucks, where he played a pivotal role in launching the company's renowned mobile payment and loyalty platform. His leadership extended to strategic roles at J. Crew, MOD Pizza and Ruby Tuesday, showcasing his expertise in digital transformation and consumer engagement. We're also joined by Andy Sack, who is the co-founder and co-CEO of...2025-07-2432 min
Technovation with Peter High (CIO, CTO, CDO, CXO Interviews)Adam Brotman & Andy Sack on Becoming an AI-First Business and Future-Proofing“The genie is out of the bottle”
In this episode of Technovation, host Peter High speaks with Adam Brotman and Andy Sack, co-CEOs of Forum3 and co-authors of AI First: The Playbook for a Future-Proof Business and Brand. Adam is a former co-CEO of J.Crew and Starbucks Chief Digital Officer, while Andy is a longtime entrepreneur, VC, and former advisor to Satya Nadella at Microsoft. Together, they’re helping executives and brands navigate the unprecedented opportunities and risks of generative AI.
They discuss lessons from their book, including their conversations with thought leaders like Sam Al...2025-07-2152 min
DisrupTVAI First: Leading the Next Wave of Business ReinventionThis week on DisrupTV, we interviewed:
- Brian Shield, CIO of Safe-Guard Products
- Ravi Pal, CTO of Ogilvy One
- Adam Brotman, former Chief Digital Officer at Starbucks, co-founder of Forum3 and co-author of AI First: The Playbook for a Future-Proof Business and Brand
- Andy Sack, former Microsoft advisor, co-founder of Forum3 and co-author of AI First: The Playbook for a Future-Proof Business and Brand
This week’s episode spotlighted how #AI is reshaping industries. Brian Shield, former CIO of the Boston Red Sox and now at Safeguard Products, shared insights on digital transformation in the automotive space an...2025-07-181h 13
Secrets of SuccessAndy Sack & Adam Brotman - AI FirstBill Horan talks with Adam Brotman and Andy Sack, authors of AI FIRST. Andy and Adam will discuss what the differences between AI, AGI and ASI are, why they say they were dunbfounded by CHAT GPT 3.5, how people can learn more about AI just by using it for everyday simple tasks and how we can be hurt by scammers if we don't keep up with AI.2025-07-1427 min
CMO ConfidentialAdam Brotman and Andy Sack | Co-Founders, Forum3 | It's a Bird! It's a Plane! Holy Sh!t, It's AI!A CMO Confidential Interview with Andy Sack and Adam Brotman, Co-Founders and Co-CEO's of Forum 3, authors of the book AI First, previously at Microsoft and Starbucks. They discuss why AI is different from previous technology advances and the series of "Holy Shit!" moments experienced when interviewing Sam Altman, Bill Gates and others. Key topics include: their belief that AI is "moving faster than you think" since it isn't constrained by an adoption curve or infrastructure; the power of Artificial General Intelligence which will be smarter than most experts; why trying to calculate the ROI of AI is comparable to...2025-07-081h 07
FUTUREPROOF.Don’t Adopt AI—Build Your Company Around It (ft. authors Adam Brotman and Andy Sack)Send us a textHow do you build a business that thrives because of AI—not in spite of it?In this episode, we’re joined by Adam Brotman, former Chief Digital Officer at Starbucks, and Andy Sack, serial entrepreneur and longtime advisor to Microsoft, to talk about their new book: AI FIRST. Drawing insights from conversations with leaders like Sam Altman, Reid Hoffman, and Bill Gates, Adam and Andy argue that being “AI-aware” isn’t enough—leaders must put AI at the center of how they operate.They break down t...2025-06-2628 min
The Next Big IdeaAI FIRST: The Tsunami Is Already HereAI, according to Andy Sack and Adam Brotman, co-founders of Forum3 and co-authors of the new book AI First, isn't just a neat new tool. It's "a tsunami of technology and capabilities." And if you don't start learning how to use it properly, they say, "you are absolutely gonna be left behind." The problem? Most people are using AI wrong. They're treating it like Google search when it should be treated like "an alien synthetic intelligence that can really reason and think and help you." In this episode, Andy and Adam share the mindset shifts and practical techniques that...2025-06-261h 02
AI First with Adam and AndyAI First Digital Epilogue: Living in the AGI ZoneAI First: A Playbook for Future-Proofing Your Business and Brand in the AI Era is officially out, and the world of AI has moved fast since we submitted the manuscript nine months ago. In this special launch-day episode, Adam Brotman and Andy Sack bring listeners behind the scenes to reflect on what has changed, what didn’t make it into the book, and what leaders need to be thinking about right now.From Sam Altman’s viral blog post The Gentle Singularity to the rapid rise of reasoning models, autonomous agents, and early signs of economic disruption, this...2025-06-2517 min
Restaurant InfluencersBill Gates Told These Authors AI Is More Important Than The PC. ‘This Time, The Computer Understands Us.’Adam Brotman and Andy Sack of Forum3 wrote AI First: The Playbook for a Future-Proof Business and Brand to share insights on how AI is transforming industries like restaurants. They’re helping operators adapt to a new tech-driven reality.
Listen now to learn about their research on AI, its future in our world, and the technology’s impact on hospitality.
Sponsored by:
• TOAST - All-In-1 Restaurant POS: https://bit.ly/3vpeVsc
• NEXT INSURANCE: http://www.nextinsurance.com/calibbq 2025-06-2440 minRestaurant InfluencersBill Gates Told These Authors AI Is More Important Than The PC. ‘This Time, The Computer Understands Us.’Adam Brotman and Andy Sack of Forum3 wrote AI First: The Playbook for a Future-Proof Business and Brand to share insights on how AI is transforming industries like restaurants. They’re helping operators adapt to a new tech-driven reality.
Listen now to learn about their research on AI, its future in our world, and the technology’s impact on hospitality.
Sponsored by:
• TOAST - All-In-1 Restaurant POS: https://bit.ly/3vpeVsc
• NEXT INSURANCE: http://www.nextinsurance.com/calibbq 2025-06-2440 min
The Digital Leader ShowAI First: The Playbook for a Future-Proof Business with Starbucks’ former Chief Digital OfficerOn this episode of The Digital Leader Show we are discussing "AI First: the Playbook for a Future-proof Business & Brand" with Starbucks' former Chief Digital Officer Adam Brotman and Andy Sack, former advisor to Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella, following their interviews with some of the world's top tech industry leaders including the likes of OpenAI Founder Sam Altman, Bill Gates, LinkedIn Co-founder Reid Hoffman & DeepMind cofounder Mustafa Suleyman.
About the Show: During each episode we explore some of the key issues defining our ongoing transformation into digital enterprises, including automation, AI & digital transformation...2025-06-1946 min
AI First with Adam and AndyWhat Restaurant Leaders Can Do to Unlock Growth Again: Recapping Food on Demand Conference 2025Fresh from the floor of the Food on Demand Conference in Las Vegas, Adam Brotman and Andy Sack unpack what’s top of mind for today’s restaurant leaders. In this episode, they reflect on the slowdown in digital growth, rising consumer price sensitivity, and the evolving challenges facing operators in 2025.They also explore how AI is transitioning from hype to practical application, powering smarter decisions in areas such as guest feedback, menu optimization, and operational efficiency. With insight, clarity, and candor, Adam and Andy offer a timely recap of where the industry is headed and what bran...2025-06-1107 minThe Next Big Idea‘The Next Big Idea Daily’: Where Were You During the AI Revolution?If you want your organization to succeed in the future, you need to take advantage of AI now. Lucky for you, Adam Brotman and Andy Sack have written AI First, a playbook that can help you future-proof your business.
📱 To hear the rest of this week’s Next Big Idea Daily episodes, follow the show on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen
📩 Want to transform your day in just 10 minutes? Sign up for our Book of the Day newsletter, and you’ll get daily, bite‑sized insights from the best new nonfiction books — in audio or text —...2025-06-0913 min
The Next Big Idea DailyWhere Were You During the AI Revolution?If you want your organization to succeed in the future, you need to take advantage of AI now. Lucky for you, Adam Brotman and Andy Sack have written AI First, a playbook that can help you future-proof your business.
📱 To hear the rest of this week’s Next Big Idea Daily episodes, follow the show on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen
📩 Want to transform your day in just 10 minutes? Sign up for our Book of the Day newsletter, and you’ll get daily, bite‑sized insights from the best new nonfiction books — in audio or text —...2025-06-0912 min
Peggy Smedley ShowAn AI First OrganizationPeggy Smedley and Adam Brotman and Andy Sack, cofounders, Forum 3, and authors, AI First, talk about the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead for businesses, with the advancement of AI (artificial intelligence). Andy says the young people are using AI all day every day and they have a set of skills and intelligence that are broad. Adam says the AI first company starts with the AI first leader. They also discuss: The importance of becoming an AI first organization. The AI learning journey they went on. The playbook for AI that can help future proof a...2025-06-0414 minPeggy Smedley ShowAn AI First OrganizationPeggy Smedley and Adam Brotman and Andy Sack, cofounders, Forum 3, and authors, AI First, talk about the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead for businesses, with the advancement of AI (artificial intelligence). Andy says the young people are using AI all day every day and they have a set of skills and intelligence that are broad. Adam says the AI first company starts with the AI first leader. They also discuss: The importance of becoming an AI first organization. The AI learning journey they went on. The playbook for AI that can help future proof a...2025-06-0414 min
AI First with Adam and AndyGame-Changing AI: Inside the Seattle Sounders’ Strategic ShiftJoin hosts Andy Sack and Adam Brotman as they sit down with Hugh Weber, President of Business Operations at Seattle Sounders FC, to explore how AI is reshaping sports management. Hugh dives into the team’s AI journey, revealing game-changing strategies, cultural shifts, and key lessons from integrating AI into operations. Hear firsthand about the productivity boosts, decision-making insights, and the challenges of embracing innovation in a fast-paced industry. Plus, Andy and Adam’s post-episode commentary delves into the future of AI—unpacking agentic AI, text-to-action capabilities, and strategic planning for businesses looking to harness AI’s full potential. Don’t mi...2025-02-191h 01
AI First with Adam and AndyAI-Driven Productivity at Moderna: A Conversation with Brice ChallamelIn this episode of AI First, hosts Adam Brotman and Andy Sack engage with Brice Challamel, VP of AI Products and Platforms at Moderna, to discuss the transformative impact of generative AI on business operations. Brice shares how Moderna has successfully integrated AI into its culture, enhancing decision-making processes, productivity, and cross-functional collaboration. The discussion highlights actionable strategies for promoting AI adoption, addressing cultural shifts, and overcoming resistance to change.In the follow-up commentary, Adam and Andy reflect on their conversation with Brice, emphasizing the strategic implications of AI adoption and looking ahead to upcoming advancements like...2025-01-221h 13
AI First with Adam and AndyThe Future of AI in 2025: Business Trends You Can’t IgnoreWelcome to the inaugural episode of AI First with Adam and Andy! Kicking off the new year, hosts Andy Sack and Adam Brotman share their bold predictions for AI in 2025. From the rise of AI-powered search and agentic AI to Apple's big move into artificial intelligence, this episode explores the trends set to disrupt businesses, reshape industries, and influence our daily lives.Topics include:Will AI search finally challenge Google’s dominance?Why 2025 is the year of agentic AI and generative video.How Apple and Elon Musk’s X.AI will transform the AI landscape.The surp...2025-01-0727 minCMO ConfidentialAdam Brotman and Andy Sack | Forum 3 | It's a Bird! It's a Plane! Holy Shit, It's AI! Part 2This is Part 2 of A CMO Confidential Interview with Andy Sack and Adam Brotman, Co-Founders and Co-CEO's of Forum 3, authors of the book AI First, previously at Microsoft and Starbucks. They discuss why AI is different from previous technology advances and the series of "Holy Shit!" moments experienced when interviewing Sam Altman, Bill Gates and others. Key topics include: their belief that AI is "moving faster than you think" since it isn't constrained by an adoption curve or infrastructure; the power of Artificial General Intelligence which will be smarter than most experts; why trying to calculate the ROI of...2024-12-1733 minCMO ConfidentialAdam Brotman and Andy Sack | Forum 3| It's a Bird! It's a Plane! Holy Shit, It's AI!" Part 1A CMO Confidential Interview with Andy Sack and Adam Brotman, Co-Founders and Co-CEO's of Forum 3, authors of the book AI First, previously at Microsoft and Starbucks. They discuss why AI is different from previous technology advances and the series of "Holy Shit!" moments experienced when interviewing Sam Altman, Bill Gates and others. Key topics include: their belief that AI is "moving faster than you think" since it isn't constrained by an adoption curve or infrastructure; the power of Artificial General Intelligence which will be smarter than most experts; why trying to calculate the ROI of AI is comparable to...2024-12-0936 min
AI for ArchitectsAI First: Transforming Businesses in the Digital Age with Andy SackIn this episode, host Aya Shlachter sits down with Andy Sack, Co-Founder and Co-CEO of Forum3, to explore how AI is reshaping businesses and the architecture industry. Andy, a seasoned technologist with deep experience in venture capitalism and CEO advising, shares the journey of Forum3's pivot from Web3 to becoming an AI-first consultancy. The episode dives into the innovative tools Forum3 offers— like Spok, an AI marketing assistant that helps companies gain market insights and refine their content strategy, and Hive 3, an AI crowdsourcing platform. Andy discusses the broader implications of AI across industries, how...2024-10-1533 min
Decoding AI for MarketingAI Marketers, Digital Transformation, and Lessons from Starbucks Mobile PayAdam Brotman, co-founder and co-CEO at Forum3, an AI lab, has spent his whole career helping brands embrace technologies to lead them into the future. Now, with his co-founder Andy Sack, he’s taking what he’s learned about places like Starbucks and J. Crew and building and testing tools around artificial intelligence that can help marketers at every size organization. In this episode, he talks about their AI marketer product for SMBs, Spok, lessons he learned from getting Starbucks to embrace mobile pay, and how he thinks organizations can and should change in the coming years to become AI-f...2024-10-0943 minThe Next Big IdeaBill Gates Says Superhuman AI May Be Closer Than You ThinkWhere is AI headed, and how quickly will it get there? Should we be early adopters or keep our distance? Will it make our lives better or put us out of work?We can’t think of a better person to answer these questions than Bill Gates. He’s played a leading role in every major tech development over the last half-century, and he’s got a pretty good track record when it comes to forecasting the future. Back in 1980, he predicted that one day there’d be a computer on every desk; today on the show, he says...2024-06-271h 22
Imagine AI PodcastTransforming the Print Industry with AI | Warren Werbitt at Imagine AI Live 2024 in Las Vegas | E32In this episode, Chris Madden converses with Warren Werbitt about his current AI projects in the print industry. They discuss the importance of AI and its real-world applications in design, reflecting on favorite AI conference speeches. Warren also shares insights on making AI accessible for the average person.
(0:00) Warren the Printing OG
(0:49) Key takeaways from ImagineAiLive: “It’s today, not tomorrow.”
(2:17) How is AI going to help the printing business?
(3:47) Why Antonis Kocheilas had the best session
(4:38) 2nd favorite session Andy Sack and Adam Brotman “Closest I’ve come to Bill Gates"
(5:45) Confernce Feedback -- Next year Sam Altman.
(6:55) With AI, you ca...2024-05-1008 minImagine AI PodcastWhat better Co-CEO than AI? | Adam Brotman and Andy Sack at Imagine AI Live 2024 | E19In this episode, Adam Brotman and Andy Sack shares the journey of their AI company, Forum3, along with AI marketing, the global impact of AI, and its role in decision-making and education. They introduce SPOC, their AI product, and share insights on AI's future in the workplace. The conversation also touches on their upcoming book, "Our AI Journey", their feedback on the Imagine AI Live event, and the importance of building an AI community.
(0:00) Introduction with guests Adam Brotman and Andy Sack
(0:26) Discussion on Forum3, the co-founded AI company and AI marketing
(2:10) Exploration of global reach of AI and its...2024-04-0515 min
Fine Tune with Corby FineEP45 - If You're Not Already Playing With AI You're Far Behind with Adam Brotman and Andy SackHelping organizations embrace emerging technologies so that they can have a better relationship with their customers, unlock growth and build their brand is the goal of Forum3. Co-founders Adam Brotman and Andy Sack know a thing or two about each of those goals, which is why they started the business in the first place, and the emerging technology of focus, Generative AI.Adam is the former Chief Digital Officer at Starbucks, where he was responsible for building the brand’s Odyssey loyalty platform, Mobile App and led the company through its massive digital transformation. Andy is a sea...2024-01-0329 min
Innovation TalksBrewing brand loyalty using AI and emerging tech with Adam Brotman and Andy SackAdam Brotman is the co-founder and co-CEO of Forum3, an organization committed to building and partnering with creators, brands, and projects that leverage the unique innovations and creativity unlocked by Web3. Prior to co-founding Forum3, Adam served as the Chairman and CEO of Brightloom and the CEO of J.Crew. He also served as the EVP for Global Retail Operations at Starbucks. Adam holds a BA in Classical Civilizations specializing in Business & Administration from UCLA and a JD from the University of Washington School of Law.Andy Sack is the co-CEO of Forum3. He...2023-11-2740 min
No Brainer - An AI Podcast for BusinessMaking Marketing AI FunIn this special episode, Geoff Livingston interviews Forum3 co-CEOs Adam Brotman, of Starbucks and JCrew fame, and Andy Sack, a Satya Nadella advisor about their new AI crowdsourcing platform Hive3. Hive3 aims to let brands run ‘creator content’ contests to source creative for marketing campaigns. AI-powered creators are encouraged to enter contests with AI works for brands.It’s a fun concept. The three dive into how it works for brands, why brands might be motivated to experiment here with AI first, some of the cool things creators have already done on the beta platform, and much more. T...2023-10-1859 min
Gen CHow Ownership Changes the Experience With Adam Brotman and Andy Sack, Co-Founders and Co-CEOs of ForumAdam Brotman and Andy Sack of Forum3 discuss how they help brands build Web3-powered loyalty programs, most notably for Starbucks Odyssey.Adam Brotman and Andy Sack talk about their journey into Web3, one that includes the actor and entrepreneur, Brock Pierce. Together they’ve created Forum3, a strategic advisory company for Web3 initiatives, and have worked with some of the largest brands entering the space. From Starbucks to The New York Times, Forum3 educates brands on the ethos of the ownership economy and the value Web3 brings in developing deeper relationships with consumers.Links me...2023-02-2147 min
The Carly P Reilly ShowThe Most Important NFT Project This Year: Starbucks Odyssey | Overpriced JPEGs #69Description: ✨ SUBSCRIBE TO THE OVERPRICED JPEGS CHANNEL ✨ https://bankless.cc/jpegs ------ 🚀 SUBSCRIBE TO NEWSLETTER: https://jpegs.banklesshq.com/ 🎙️ SUBSCRIBE TO PODCAST: https://availableon.com/overpricedjpegs ------ BANKLESS SPONSOR TOOLS: 🔐 LEDGER | NFT MARKETS https://bankless.cc/LedgerOP3N 😎 BUENO | CREATE NFTS WITHOUT CODE https://bankless.cc/Bueno 🔑 COINSHIFT | TREASURY MANAGEMENT https://bankless.cc/Coinshift 🌐 CRYPTEX | NFT EXPOSURE WITH JPEGZ https://bankless.cc/Cryptex ------ Timestamps: 0:00 Intro 4:25 The Initial Mandate: Building Starbucks' Digital Strategy 8:09 The Customer Experience Equation...2022-12-151h 06