Catalyst

Latest Episodes:

Building trust in AI with small language models: With Namee Oberst Dec 16, 2025

Show notes

This week on Catalyst Tammy speaks with Namee Oberst, co-founder of LLMWare about her unique journey into AI. Namee spent years as a corporate attorney and is now developing small language models for legal and financial organizations. She’s solving for the pain points that she experienced for years. Namee and Tammy discuss the importance of small language models in building trust and touch on the future of legal work in an AI-driven world.

Please note that the views expressed may not necessarily be those of NTT DATA

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Namee Oberst

LLMWare

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How to automate without leaving people behind: With Jamie Sermon Dec 09, 2025

Show notes

This week on Catalyst, Tammy is joined by Jamie Sermon, the Vice President of Engineering, Robotics and Automation at UPS. Jamie has been at UPS for over 15 years and knows the company intimately. He also knows that you can't solve logistics problems if you're not thinking about the customer at every step. Jamie shares how his upbringing in the Bahamas and his studies in physical therapy in Cuba helped shape his people's first approach. He also shares how he creates space for experimentation and how automation can be used to create opportunities for people, not take them away.

Please note that the views expressed may not necessarily be those of NTT DATA

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Jamie Sermon

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From the archives: Leaders breaking the mold with Jessica Hartley Dec 02, 2025

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In this episode from the archives Tammy is joined by Jessica Hartley, the Head of Design and Customer Experience for CCB Finance, Tech and Data Analytics at JPMorganChase. Jessica has over 20 years of experience helping clients leverage digital innovation and is passionate about driving employee engagement and culture. Tammy and Jessica talk about what authenticity really means at work and why it’s so much more than just how you present yourself. Jessica also shares her thoughts on how AI is transforming workplaces and how it can be used to improve both the client and employee experience.

Please note that the views expressed may not necessarily be those of NTT DATA.

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Jessica Hartley

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From the archives: Customer centered growth with Donald Chestnut Nov 25, 2025

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In this episode from the archives Tammy sit down with Donald Chestnut. Donald has worked at some of the world’s largest brands like Unilever, Target, Disney, General Motors and Coke and is now writing a book on why companies should move away from customer experience and towards customer centered growth. Tammy and Donald talk about his people-first approach to digital experience and Donald shares his secret to digital transformation - that the real key to transformation isn’t technology, it's people!

Please note that the views expressed may not necessarily be those of NTT DATA.

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Donald Chestnut

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The power of the story: With Kainoa Horcajo Nov 18, 2025

Show notes

This week on Catalyst Tammy is joined by speaker, storyteller and cultural wayfinder Kainoa Horcajo. Through his firm Mo’olelo Group, Kainoa has found a way to transform Hawaiian wisdom into business insights and experience design. Kainoa and Tammy discuss the importance of storytelling and how finding the why and the how is the most important thing a business can do. Kainoa also shares how he finds the balance between tradition and innovation and how to weave culture into the very fiber of your business.

Please note that the views expressed may not necessarily be those of NTT DATA.

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Kainoa Horcajo

Mo’olelo Group

Simon Sinek

Organic intelligence: A conversation with Rika Nakazawa

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The art of corporate collaboration: With Murphy Freelen Nov 11, 2025

Show notes

This week on Catalyst Tammy is joined by longtime friend and recent addition to the Launch by NTT DATA team to lead, Murphy Freelen. Murphy has a proven track record of bringing together multi-disciplinary teams to deliver breakthrough innovative solutions. Murphy reflects on her personal journey working in the music and media industries and how those creative skills transfer to tech and product development. Tammy and Murphy also discuss the role of leadership and listening in fostering an environment where diverse perspectives are valued and how technology, particularly AI, is reshaping the creative process.

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Murphy Freelen

JetZero

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Outcomes without ego: With Jason Warner Nov 04, 2025

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This week on Catalyst Tammy is joined by Jason Warner, co-founder and CEO of Poolside. Jason has over 20 years of experience leading teams and developing innovative technologies including GitHub Co-pilot, and he’s done that all while leading with heart. In this episode, Jason emphasizes the importance of empathetic leadership and why treating people like humans, not commodities, is actually better for the business. He also explores the impact of AI on the future of work and the potential for technology to enhance human capabilities. He makes the case that giving AI to your junior employees will turn them into senior employees!

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Jason Warner

poolside

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From the archives: Driving community engagement with Martina Lee Strickland Oct 28, 2025

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In this episode from the archives Tammy sits down with Martina Lee Strickland. Martina is a unicorn in the healthcare industry. She’s worked in the industry for over 20 years and is now the Chief Growth Officer at Clever Care Health Plan, a healthcare company that provides culturally-sensitive Medicare options. She joins Tammy to talk about her work driving community engagement in the healthcare industry. Martina talks about the importance of authenticity in connecting with clients, particularly those in underserved communities, and shares some of the tech she’s excited about that could transform the industry and improve client access.

Please note that the views expressed may not necessarily be those of NTT DATA

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Martina Lee Strickland

Clever Care

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From the archives: On empowering design teams with Dani Snyder Oct 21, 2025

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On this episode from the archives, Dani Snyder talks leading design teams out of their silos

As someone who started out as an industrial designer and who is now the Head of Design AI, Servicing and Communications at JPMorganChase, Dani Snyder deeply understands the design process and organizational design. This week Dani joins Tammy to talk about how to empower design teams. She shares strategies to help align design teams with organizational strategic goals and encourages designers to break out of their silos and remain curious about all aspects of the design process.

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Dani Snyder

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From the archives: Scaling responsible AI with Noelle Russell Oct 14, 2025

Show notes

Noelle Russell compares AI to a baby tiger, it’s super cute when it’s small but it can quickly grow into something huge and dangerous. As the CEO and founder of the AI Leadership Institute and as an early developer on Amazon Alexa, Noelle has a deep understanding of scaling and selling AI. This week Noelle joins Tammy to discuss why she’s so passionate about teaching individuals and organizations about AI and how companies can leverage AI in the right way. It’s time to learn how to tame the tiger!

Please note that the views expressed may not necessarily be those of NTT DATA.

Links:

Noelle Russell

Scaling Responsible AI

AI Leadership Institute

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