Shows
Digital Transformation Survivors.Scott Brinker on AI agents, AEO and the new buyer journeyWhat happens when your ideal customer never sees your website or your emails—because their AI agent screens everything first?In this episode of Digital Transformation Survivors, Julian Tedstone sits down with Scott Brinker - former VP, Platform Ecosystem at HubSpot and editor of chiefmartec.com - to explore how AI agents, answer engines, and an ever-expanding Martech landscape are reshaping marketing.Scott shares the story behind his iconic Martech supergraphic (from 150 tools to an “infinite fractal” of logos) and explains why SaaS is far from dead, even as AI gives indivi...
2025-11-1942 minDigital Transformation Survivors.From 2,000 Sites to One: Nestlé’s Drupal Journey with Antonella SeveroHow do you consolidate a web estate the size of a small country? In this episode of Digital Transformation Survivors, host Julian Tedstone talks with Antonella Severo, Product Manager for WebCMS at Nestlé Global Services Spain. Antonella shares how Nestlé reduced more than 2,000 websites to 1,300 while improving governance, security, and speed to market.She walks through the decision to standardise on Drupal, the move to a multi-site model, and the creation of Lightness, Nestlé’s in-house Drupal distribution that drive...
2025-11-0534 minDigital Transformation Survivors.How Membership Organizations Shape Their Digital FutureIn this episode, Alan Perestrello, Managing Director at HartSquare, joins Digital Transformation Survivors to explore how membership and charity organizations are redefining their digital journeys. From balancing tradition with innovation to building user-led technology ecosystems, Alan shares how communities rooted in shared purpose can make smarter decisions about their marketing and CRM stacks. Together, we discuss the unique dynamics of member-driven engagement, the challenges of retention versus acquisition, and how truth, standards, and trust are being reshaped in the age of intelligent agents.Send us a textSupport the show
2025-10-2255 minDigital Transformation Survivors.Building the House, Furnishing 43 Markets: Helga Eriksson on Global Web and the AI ShiftIn this episode of Digital Transformation Survivors, Helga Eriksson, Global Web Leader at Alfa Laval, shares how she orchestrates a decentralized digital presence spanning 43 markets. From upgrading complex CMS systems to building a global web community, Helga explains how structure, governance, and trust turn chaos into collaboration. She also explores how AI is reshaping search behavior and why agility—not just technology—defines the future of digital marketing.Send us a textSupport the show
2025-10-0941 minDigital Transformation Survivors.Leading with Empathy: Alessandra Canavesi on Digital Marketing for Global InvestorsAlessandra Canavesi, Head of Digital Marketing & Customer Experience at AXA, sits down with Jules to share her perspective on managing multicultural teams and building authentic connections with sophisticated investors. She explains how her team navigates the tension between global consistency and local nuance, the art of tailoring communications for different levels of expertise, and why listening first is her leadership anchor.The conversation dives into the role of digital infrastructure—from CRM and Eloqua integration to LinkedIn campaigns and personalised client journeys—and how AI is reshaping everything from translation to strategy. Alessandra also refl...
2025-09-1648 minDigital Transformation Survivors.Cutting Through the Noise: Agility, MVPs, and the Methods That MatterIn this energising and honest episode finale, Jules and Allison dig into the real-world dynamics of agility in practice—beyond the buzzwords. From unpacking the myth of self-organization to naming the creeping dangers of technical debt, they explore what truly drives high-performing teams.Together, they take on:Why self-organising teams aren’t free fallThe difference between agile theater and meaningful agilityHow technical debt quietly erodes momentum and moraleWhen Kanban works, when Scrum matters, and when neither is enoughMVPs, Lean Startup thinking, and the trap of stopping too soonThe rare cases where Waterfall makes more senseIt’s...
2025-08-1327 minDigital Transformation Survivors.Sheep-Dip Agile and the Cost of Doing It WrongIn Part 2 of this thought-provoking conversation, host Julian Tedstone welcomes back Alison from Quantum of Value for a candid exploration of the deeper issues surrounding Agile methodologies in digital transformation.Together, they take on a pressing question: What’s going wrong with Agile? From disillusionment at the boardroom level to ineffective top-down mandates, Alison unpacks the “cargo cult” phenomenon—where organizations go through the motions without understanding the purpose behind Agile practices. She draws on real-world experiences, data from Gartner, and field insights to explain why 70% of digital transformations fail—and how poor adoption, rushed scaling, and a focus on...
2025-07-3025 minDigital Transformation Survivors.From Consultant to Catalyst: Rethinking Transformation with PurposeIn this episode of Digital Transformation Survivors, host Julian Tedstone speaks with Allison Bacher, co-founder of Quantum of Value, about what it really takes to lead meaningful, measurable change in complex organisations.Allison shares her journey from agile consultant to product innovator, and offers practical insights from years of guiding highly regulated and fast-scaling businesses through the realities of digital transformation. Together, they unpack what it means to manage change that sticks—starting with the business, not the technology-and how to identify and empower true change agents within organizations.Send us a textSup...
2025-07-1346 minDigital Transformation Survivors.Composability, Consolidation, and the CMS You Really NeedIn this episode of Digital Transformation Survivors, host Julian Tedstone sits down with Tony Byrne, founder of Real Story Group, to unpack the realities of enterprise MarTech decision-making. With decades of experience offering vendor-agnostic insights, Tony discusses why traditional analyst quadrants fall short, how organizations can navigate platform consolidation, and the growing role of composability in digital experience architecture.From the pitfalls of overbuying to the emergence of “legless” CMS architectures, Tony shares practical guidance for enterprises managing complex digital estates. The conversation also explores how AI and agents are reshaping content and decisioning workflows—and why strong...
2025-06-2539 minDigital Transformation Survivors.Thriving Through Change: Product Leadership in the Payments SpaceIn this kickoff episode of Digital Transformation Survivors Season 2, Julian Tedstone sits down with Paul Taylor, Product Transformation Lead at Worldline Merchant Services. Paul brings decades of experience in financial technology, mergers, and product transformation to the table, sharing insights on how organizations can thrive amid complexity.Paul unpacks what transformation truly looks like from the inside: tackling legacy platforms, navigating post-merger integration, and building empowered product teams in the ever-evolving payments landscape. With a focus on leadership as a service, Paul reveals how to foster resilience and cultivate ‘muscle memory’ for continuous improvement in fast-paced industries....
2025-06-1252 min
Digital Transformation Survivors.Balancing Local Execution and Global Strategy in Digital Experience PlatformsManaging a digital ecosystem at scale is no small feat, especially when balancing creativity and control. In this episode of Digital Transformation Survivors, host Julian Tedstone sits down with Alan Botwright, Director of Product and Solutions Marketing at Acquia, to explore the evolving landscape of digital experience platforms (DXPs).Together, they discuss the unique challenges of managing web estates across multiple brands, regions, and audiences. Alan shares insights from his decade-long journey at Acquia, reflecting on the evolution of Drupal from a developer-centric CMS to an adaptable, enterprise-grade DXP. They also tackle the pressing question: How can...
2025-04-0826 min
Digital Transformation Survivors.Balancing Brand, Culture, and Clarity in a Global Comms StrategyIn this episode of Digital Transformation Survivors, host Julian Tedstone sits down with communications expert Matthew McCarthy to explore the dynamic world of global digital communications. With extensive experience managing communications for powerhouse brands like Syngenta and Novartis, Matthew shares his unique approach to crafting messages that resonate across diverse audiences.🚀 Key Topics Covered:•Balancing global brand consistency with local relevance•Building empathy-driven communication strategies•Navigating crisis management in global organizations•The evolving role of AI in digital communications•Why learning a second language is a game-changer for communicatorsMatthew also dives in...
2025-04-021h 06Digital Transformation Survivors.Building Digital for Everyone: National Grid’s Shift to Product ThinkingIn this episode of Digital Transformation Survivors, host Julian Tedstone sits down with Simon Sanett, Senior Group Digital Manager at National Grid, to unpack the realities of leading digital transformation inside one of the UK’s most critical infrastructure organisations.Simon shares his journey from the music industry’s frontlines during the Napster era to heading up a complex digital estate that spans continents and audiences—from bill-paying US energy consumers to UK-based policymakers, investors, and regulators. Together, they explore how Simon’s team at National Grid is evolving from traditional project-based delivery to a modern, agile, product...
2025-03-2653 min
Digital Transformation Survivors.Balancing Agility and Governance at the British Business BankIn this episode of Digital Transformation Survivors, host Julian Tedstone sits down with Adam Bird, Senior Technical Website Development Manager at the British Business Bank. Adam shares his insights into managing a complex web estate that supports UK businesses with funding, investment and advice - especially in an environment shaped by government mandates, economic shifts and rapid digital evolution.They discuss the challenges of re-platforming a growing web portfolio, the balance between governance and agility and the critical role of accessibility in delivering inclusive digital services. Adam also reflects on the impact of AI on content delivery...
2025-03-1946 min
Digital Transformation Survivors.What's the Key to Robust User Research & Responsible AI in Digital Transformation?In this final installment of our conversation with Dr. Jonathan Sykes, we explore the journey from user research to leadership, uncovering the critical role of design thinking in driving organizational transformation. Jonathan shares insights from his experience working with financial institutions, local government, and global digital justice initiatives, emphasising the importance of stakeholder management, team empowerment and multidisciplinary collaboration.We also dive into the future of AI in digital transformation, discussing both the efficiency gains it offers and the ethical challenges it presents. Jonathan’s reflections on research methodologies, resilience in the industry, and the evolving role of...
2025-03-1227 min
Digital Transformation Survivors.What's the Power of Human-Centred Design in UK Government Digital Transformation?In this episode of Digital Transformation Survivors, host Julian Tedstone continues his conversation with Dr. Jonathan Sykes, exploring the critical role of content design, user research, and service transformation in the public sector.Jonathan shares how understanding audience context, emotions, and stress levels is vital—especially when designing digital services for government users in crisis. They discuss how AI and content design can streamline complex services, making them more accessible while ensuring human-centered experiences.Jonathan also reflects on his journey from academia to digital transformation, his work in human-computer interaction, AI, and gaming, and how th...
2025-03-0518 min
Digital Transformation Survivors.Reimagining Digital Services in Government - With People at the CenterIn this episode of Digital Transformation Survivors, host Julian Tedstone sits down with Dr. Jonathan Sykes—aka “Dr. Fun”—to explore the groundbreaking use of AI in UK government services. With a background in academia, human-computer interaction, and digital transformation across public sector organizations, John shares his experience leading the first AI-driven customer service solution for the UK Foreign Office.They dive into how AI can enhance, rather than replace, human processes—helping to triage consular inquiries, reduce response times, and ensure vulnerable individuals receive the right level of support. John discusses the importance of service design, content st...
2025-02-2621 min
Digital Transformation Survivors.Behind the Scenes of a Multilingual Platform: Insights from AuPairWorldIn this episode, we explore how AuPairWorld, the world’s leading au pair matching platform, manages global digital operations across six languages, multiple markets, and thousands of daily users.Sara Redondo, Operations Manager at AuPairWorld, shares insights from her 12-year journey—starting as a linguist and customer support agent to leading digital transformation across content, marketing, and product development.Key topics in this episode include:Managing multilingual content – How to balance cultural differences, translations, and user expectations across global audiences.Agile in a high-stakes environment – How AuPairWorld blends growth hacking and stabilit...
2025-02-1847 min
Digital Transformation Survivors.Why Editor Empowerment and Sustainability Matter in Modern CMS StrategyIn this second part of our conversation with Filip Bech-Larsen, CTO of Umbraco, we explore two of the biggest challenges facing enterprises today: sustainability in web development and how to empower marketers and editors to optimize digital experiences with ease.Key topics in this episode include:- Sustainability in digital – How Umbraco is helping businesses measure and reduce their website’s carbon footprint.- The cost of experimentation – Why speed and ease of iteration are critical for content editors and marketers.- Engaging users effectively – The role of personalization, A/B testing...
2025-02-1235 min
Digital Transformation Survivors.Navigating Composable Complexity with Umbraco’s CTO Filip Bech-LarsenWelcome to the very first episode of Digital Transformation Survivors! In this series, we explore the challenges and breakthroughs that come with managing complex web estates and digital transformation.In this episode, host Julian Tedstone, Managing Director at Coherence, sits down with Filip Bech-Larsen, CTO of Umbraco CMS—one of the most widely used open-source content management systems powering major brands like Domino’s, Mercedes-Benz, and Carlsberg.Together, they dive into:🔹 The rise of open-source in enterprise environments and how trust has evolved over the last decade.🔹 The balance between flexibility and governance when manag...
2025-02-0545 min