Shows
Peggy Smedley ShowAI and the Global Intelligent DelusionPeggy Smedley and Alex Adamopoulos, chairman and CEO, Emergn, talk about the Global Intelligent Delusion survey and what it has revelated about today’s businesses. Roughly 75% of business leaders expect to drive revenue from AI (artificial intelligence) initiatives in the next 12 months, yet 60% acknowledge AI expectations are growing faster than their ability to meet them. He says leaders expect AI to drive growth, but most aren’t equipped to deliver at scale, saying the gap isn’t even technology, it is capability. They also discuss: · If the return is being overhyped and why AI projects fail.
2025-10-0129 minPeggy Smedley ShowAI and the Global Intelligent DelusionPeggy Smedley and Alex Adamopoulos, chairman and CEO, Emergn, talk about the Global Intelligent Delusion survey and what it has revelated about today’s businesses. Roughly 75% of business leaders expect to drive revenue from AI (artificial intelligence) initiatives in the next 12 months, yet 60% acknowledge AI expectations are growing faster than their ability to meet them. He says leaders expect AI to drive growth, but most aren’t equipped to deliver at scale, saying the gap isn’t even technology, it is capability. They also discuss: · If the return is being overhyped and why AI projects fail.
2025-10-0129 min
Al RevolutionA New Era of the PossibleAll about rewriting the rules of the game.
We stand at the threshold of a revolution. A revolution that won't be written in history books, but one we'll experience firsthand. This isn't about incremental improvements. This is about rewriting the rules of the game.
## Act 1: The End of the Status Quo
Some people look at today's world and see only limitations. They see silos, inefficiencies, outdated processes. We see a canvas waiting to be painted anew. Take industry. For decades, we've talked about efficiency, but what have we really achieved? We've optimized processes that were fundamentally wrong from the start...
2025-09-1905 min
Tech Talks DailyFrom Deliverables to Outcomes: Emergn’s New Playbook for Digital SuccessIn November, Alex Adamopoulos, CEO of Emergn, joined me on Tech Talks Daily to talk about transformation fatigue and why so many well-intentioned change programs leave people drained rather than inspired. This time, he’s back with a sharper question: if traditional transformation is broken, what actually works? His answer is refreshingly direct. Product thinking is strategic thinking, and it belongs everywhere in the enterprise, not just in product teams. In our conversation, Alex explains why HR, finance, and even legal teams now need product strategy skills as much as engineers or designers. He introduces Praxis, Emergn’s ne...
2025-08-2522 min
The CRO Spotlight PodcastTarget Accounts, Intent Signals & Marketing Alignment with Jaime RuhlJaime Ruhl, CRO at Emergn, joins Warren Zenna to explore how a sales leader becomes a strategic revenue architect in a product‑centric consulting firm. She explains stepping into a broader remit that covers sales, go‑to‑market and marketing alignment across global teams. Jaime describes being a player‑coach who builds repeatable sales motion and champions measurable customer outcomes after delivery.Jaime digs into practical moves she led: shifting from sporadic lead chasing to a disciplined target account approach, tightening qualification at the funnel entrance, and leveraging intent signals, account reports and smarter prospecting tools. She describe...
2025-08-201h 05
10 Years Podcast#5 Coming To Porto: Talent, Culture and Community - 10 Years Podcast by Porto Tech Hub🎙️ The fifth episode of the 10 Years Podcast is out!In this episode, we dive into the evolution of the tech ecosystem over the past decade, explore why global companies like Emergn and MSG insur:it chose Porto to grow their presence, and look ahead to the major challenges facing the city and the northern region.And who better to guide us through all this than João Ferreira, Portugal Location Lead at Emergn and Jorge Miranda, Regional Manager / Managing Director at MSG insur:it! 🚀Watch the fifth episode now, and tune in to your most technological podcast!
2025-06-2551 min
The Future Of Less WorkWhat Does a Product Operating Model Look Like with Alex AdamopoulosWhat happens when you stop organizing work around timelines and tasks—and start designing it around value, outcomes, and real capability?In this episode of The Future of Less Work, host Nirit Cohen sits down with Alex Adamopoulos, CEO of Emergn, to explore how organizations can move from project-based to product-based models, and why that shift changes everything—from how teams are structured to how people learn.Together, they unpack why stable, cross-functional teams matter more than org charts, how to turn learning into part of the work (not a pause from it), and why training for today...
2025-05-2928 minTech Talks DailyWhy 70% of Transformation Programs Fail – And How to Fix ItHow do organizations tackle the growing challenge of transformation fatigue, and what does it mean for the future of innovation? In this episode, Alex Adamopoulos, CEO of Emergn, joins the conversation to explore the realities of transformation fatigue, why it persists in global enterprises, and how Emergn’s unique approach is helping organizations break free from dependency on traditional consulting firms. Alex shares insights from Emergn’s research, revealing that nearly 50% of employees consider leaving their roles due to burnout from repeated organizational changes, and 70% of transformation programs fail to deliver meaningful results. He outlines how transformation fati...
2024-11-2428 min
2024-09-2600 min2024-09-2600 min
The Product ExperienceThe journey to becoming customer-centric at Pfizer: Atif Faruqui (Director, Developer Products and Platforms, Pfizer)Join our conversation with Atif Faruiqui, Director of Developer Products and Platforms at Pfizer, as he illuminates the path the pharmaceutical colossus took towards a product-focused approach. He takes us behind the scenes of Pfizer's strategic pivot, highlighting the signals that spurred the company's leadership to champion a customer-centric approach. Featured Links: Follow Atif on LinkedIn | Pfizer | 'What's a Proof of Concept? The Complete Beginner's Guide' feature at Career Foundry | 'The Rising Importance of Product Managers in Digital Transformation' piece at Emergn Our HostsLily Smith enjoys working as a consultant product ma...
2024-05-0834 min
Innovation TalksWhy combining people and technology creates competitive advantage with Alex Adamopoulous In this week's episode, we delve into the synergetic relationship between people and technology and how it can create a competitive edge in businesses. Our conversation with Alex Adamopoulos, CEO of Emergn, focuses on the complex and evolving landscape of Artificial Intelligence (AI). With a unique perspective on the integration of AI in business strategies, Alex shares deep insights on how organizations are navigating this space and the challenges they face in harnessing the full potential of AI-driven innovation. Alex Adamopoulos is a thought leader in the field of organizational im...
2024-05-0629 minInnovation TalksHow a dual mindset supports innovation In this week's episode, I had the privilege of diving into the world of innovation and product development with Alex Adamopoulos, CEO of Emergn. With a focus on improving the way people and companies work, Alex has extensive expertise in helping organizations navigate the complexities of transformation and innovation. Emergn has a 15-year history of successful case studies, making them a valuable resource for companies seeking to enhance their innovation processes. Alex Adamopoulos is a visionary leader and innovator, with a strong track record of helping companies accelerate their ability to...
2024-03-1830 min
B2B Sales and Marketing #FriTalks42. Cracking International Markets: Success Factors for Software Companies
In this episode, continue talking about expansion to international markets.Our guest is Aldis Erglis, VP of Technology Strategy at Emergn, a global software development company that operates in various markets, including financial services, healthcare, retail, government, and technology. Their clients include large multinational corporations as well as smaller organizations. Emergn has offices and teams located in North America, Europe, and Asia, and they have a global network of partners and affiliates.In our conversation with Aldis, we talk about the success factors of international expansion, including the following topics:- Is the local presence a "...
2023-03-2035 min
CEO Perspectives with Meg GreenJulian James, Chief Executive Officer, Global Markets at Sompo International Commercial P&C Insurance - In Partnership With EmergnIn this episode, we learn how Julian used his teamwork skills to lead Sompo International’s Global Markets business. He also believes the industry could do a better job at being customer focused. Support the show
2022-12-1322 minCEO Perspectives with Meg GreenClaude LeBlanc, President and Chief Executive Officer at Ambac Financial Group - In Partnership With EmergnIn this episode, Claude offers insight on how he used his negotiation skills to turn around Ambac Financial. He listened to what the other side wanted, and found a way for both sides to win. He also believes in the strength of teamwork. Finally, he advises us not to challenge him to a game of Othello!Support the show
2022-11-3027 minCEO Perspectives with Meg GreenRod Fox, Executive Chairman, TigerRisk Partners - In Partnership With EmergnIn this episode, Rod Fox offers insight on how he applied his sports coaching experience to the business world, and his vision of seeing reinsurance coverages becoming more liquid, tradeable investments.Support the show
2022-10-1925 minCEO Perspectives with Meg GreenChristian Mumenthaler, Group CEO of Swiss Re - In Partnership With EmergnIn this episode, Christian Mumenthaler, Group CEO of Swiss Re, shares how creativity can play a role in helping insurers and reinsurers manage risk, plus how diversification can help reinsurers balance their risks. He also discusses the potential role of embedded insurance to close the protection gap -- the difference between insured losses and the total economic losses from catastrophes.Support the show
2022-09-1523 min
Digital: DisruptedThe Five Fallacies of Digital Transformation – with Brian HanlyIn this episode, Paul and Brian discuss Brian’s tough love attitude toward the consulting industry, as well as five anti-patterns from “on time, on budget” to “fail fast.” Brian Hanly is the Chief Customer Officer at Emergn. Follow Brian on Twitter or connect with him on LinkedIn to learn more about his work.
2021-03-1656 min
University of GalwayKey trends in Business and Innovation - the COVID-19 EffectIn this episode, Tom Felle, Head of Journalism and Communication at NUI Galway talks to some of NUI Galway's alumni and staff on some of their views on the lessons learnt and business resilience in response to Covid-19. Featuring Adrian Jones, Managing Director of Merchant Banking at Goldman Sachs, Brenda Romero, CEO, Romero Games, Brian Hanly, Chief Customer Officer, Emergn, Dorothy Creaven, Managing Director, Rent the Runway, Prof Alma McCarthy, Head of NUI Galway's School of Business and Economics and Danny McCoy, CEO, IBEC
2020-12-2720 min
The Emerging World of Work13 - Cracking the Code: Working With AmericansWhat drives American informality, schedules and the desire to combine fun with business? We interview Allyson Stewart-Allen – a renowned advisor, speaker, non-executive director, educator and author of the best-selling book ‘Working with Americans’ - who offers a deeper understanding of America’s business mindset, diversity and regions so you can confidently navigate this large, complex and profit-making economy.Whether new to working with Americans or an experienced internationalist, her top tips for connecting with US colleagues, clients, customers or consultants reveal what drives American informality, schedules and the desire to combine fun with business.Guest: Allyson Stewart...
2020-03-091h 10
Scaleup Valley PodcastTaking On Corporate Scale With The Country Head At EmergnMike Dias speaks with Telmo Fernandes, formerly Natixis Portugal and current Country Head at Emergn, to discuss corporate scale on this episode of the Scaleup Valley podcast.
2020-03-0332 min
The Emerging World of Work12 - Scaling Transformative BusinessesBusiness growth and scale are undeniably interconnected but differ in a few fundamental ways. The latter can’t be realized without the former, but they are also wholly different measures of a business’s development. To explore this topic further, we posed three questions to our panelists – April Seggebruch (COO, Movista), Michal Alter (CEO Visit.org) and Rick Webb (Director, Grit Studios) – each bringing a different perspective based on their industry, experience and stage of business maturity.Guest:● April Seggebruch – Co-Founder & COO, Movista● Michal Altar - CEO, Visit.org● Rick Webb - Grit Studios, Founder and Director
2020-02-2550 min
The Emerging World of Work11 - How Great Leaders Win Support for Innovative IdeasIt’s one thing to come up with ideas and test them in the market. How do you find a way to win the resources and support to bring ideas to life? To find out, we interview Jeff Dyer and Nathan Furr, co-authors of the new book “Innovation Capital: How to Compete--and Win--Like the World’s Most Innovative Leaders.” They share insights from their research and conversations with some of the top leaders of our time, like Jeff Bezos, Elon Musk, and Marc Benioff, explaining how they compete for and obtain, the resources they need to bring ideas to life.
2019-06-1132 min
The Emerging World of Work10 - Unlocking Innovation with the Power of PlayCreativity is in high demand in the workplace, both among front-line workers and leadership. But do our current ways of working support innovative, imaginative ideas? Johan Roos believes play nurtures the imagination, so you can put it to more productive use. Johan is the co-inventor of LEGO Serious Play, a methodology designed to enhance innovation and business performance through playtime. We ask him how he created the concept, how play helps leaders unlock their capacity to innovate, and why he feels it’s more useful than ever in our current business climate.Guest: Johan Roos – Professor and Chief Acad...
2019-05-1522 min
The Emerging World of Work9 - Lessons From China’s InnovatorsChinese innovators are making their mark globally. What can leaders and entrepreneurs around the world learn from the innovation happening in this country? Authors Mark Greeven, George Yip and Wei Wei join us to discuss their new book, "Pioneers, Hidden Champions, Changemakers, and Underdogs: Lessons from China’s Innovators." They explain the four different type of innovators in China, the successes of Western companies that have tried to move into this market, and the lessons the rest of us can learn from China’s startup culture.Buy "Pioneers, Hidden Champions, Changemakers, and Underdogs" https://bit.ly/2USAoqe
2019-04-1632 min
The Emerging World of Work8 - The New Science of Radical InnovationWhat can science teach us about the qualities of great, innovative leaders? In her new book The New Science of Radical Innovation: The Six Competencies Leaders Need to Win in a Complex World, Dr. Sunnie Giles explains how concepts like neuroscience and quantum mechanics apply to everyday work. She tells us how leaders can leverage these concepts to create the right environment for “radical” innovation within their business.Buy The New Science of Radical Innovation at book.sunniegiles.com.Learn more about Dr. Sunnie’s work at sunniegiles.comGuest:Dr. Sunnie Giles...
2019-03-1423 min
The Emerging World of Work7 - The Productive CreativesIs it possible to be both constantly creative and constantly productive? In her new book “Hustle and Float: Reclaim Your Creativity and Thrive in a World Obsessed with Work,” Rahaf Harfoush suggests that society’s preoccupation with life hacks, hyper-efficiency and “Inbox Zero” directly harms our creative best interests. She shares advice for leaders who want to help the “Productive Creatives” in their workforce find a healthier balance.Buy “Hustle and Float” at HustleandFloat.com.Learn more about Rahaf’s work at rahafharfoush.com.Guest:Rahaf Harfoush, author of Hustle and Float
2019-02-2026 min
The Emerging World of Work6 - The Power of Market-Creating InnovationWhat can leaders and entrepreneurs learn from the effort to solve global poverty? Along with Clayton Christensen, Efosa Ojomo and Karen Dillon are co-authors of The Prosperity Paradox: How Innovation Can Lift Nations Out of Poverty. In this interview, Efosa and Karen reveal the paradox at the heart of existing approaches to solving poverty, and propose a better way forward based on entrepreneurship and market-creating innovation.To learn more about their work, visit https://www.christenseninstitute.org/Get the book: https://www.harpercollins.com/9780062851826/the-prosperity-paradox/Guest:Efosa Ojomo and Karen Dillon, co-authors of The...
2019-01-1643 min
The Emerging World of Work5 - The servant leaderA veteran of IT management and delivery, Randy Salley has had the opportunity to peek inside many enterprises and see how they run their IT functions. He now advises tech startups who are looking to get a head start in the retail industry. So, he’s got strong opinions about what works and what doesn’t. We asked him how IT leaders can better manage their teams to deliver the best results, including how to position themselves as servant leaders.Guest:Randy Salley, former SVP of Retail Technology at Walmart, and a veteran of IT management and deli
2018-11-2818 min
The Emerging World of Work4 - The Great Leveler: Higher Education and Cognitive AgilityIs the higher ed system doing a good enough job preparing our next generation of leaders for the demands of the workplace of the future – and, for that matter, the present? We asked Mary Curnock-Cook, an expert on this topic and the former chief executive at the Universities and College Admissions Service in the United Kingdom. In her 25-year career in education, Mary has gotten a first-hand look at how people move through the higher ed system, and she’s been privy to data insights that inform her own perspectives on the direction this field is moving in. Conn...
2018-11-2128 min
The Emerging World of Work3 - The Right Environment for InnovationGuillaume Alvarez is fascinated by the relationship between people and the places they work. He believes leaders can create a physical environment that is conducive to creativity, as well as the personal wellbeing of their employees and the business as a whole. We asked him to explain, and to also explore one project at Steelcase where the IT team’s workspace was redesigned to maximize the effectiveness of an agile transformation.To learn more about that Steelcase Agile IT story, read their case study: https://www.steelcase.com/research/articles/topics/agile/agile-case-study/ Guest:Gu...
2018-11-1441 min
The Emerging World of Work2- Artificial Intelligence at WorkWhat do business leaders need to know about the future of AI? And, among all the fear-mongering about what AI will or won’t mean for human jobs, how can those leaders ensure they’re keeping humans at the center of this technological revolution? Felix Hovsepian, an expert in the implications of emerging technologies on business, believes that AI, if used properly, will be of immense benefit to humanity. He also explains why the concept of lifelong learning is the key to human-centered, properly-utilized AI deployment. To keep up with his perspectives on AI, connect with Feli...
2018-11-0724 min
The Emerging World of Work1 - Anyone can be an entrepreneur. Everyone should try.Are entrepreneurs born, or bred? Can you teach someone how to think like an entrepreneur? What are the most useful skills? When are they useful?To find out, we asked two professors of entrepreneurship and innovation, Joseph Pistrui and Dimo Dimov, who are conducting research into the way entrepreneurs think. To learn more about Joseph and Dimo’s Entrepreneurial Styles Assessment research, visit http://www.emergn.com/esa.Guests:Joseph Pistrui, Professor of Entrepreneurial Management at IE Business School in Madrid.Dimo Dimov, Professor of Innovation and Entrepreneurship at the University of Ba...
2018-10-2932 min
Global Peter Drucker Forum Podcasts by Peter Day"Being digital, staying agile" Alex Adamopoulos interviewed by Peter DayAlex Adamopoulos is the founder and CEO of the international digital business consultancy Emergn Limited, based in Boston Mass. He tells Peter Day why he’s a champion of products over corporate projects..and how (in Peter Drucker’s words) “culture eats strategy for breakfast”.
2017-08-2111 min