Connected Futures: A Cisco podcast exploring business innovation insights

Transforming the public sector, from cities to farms Mar 02, 2020

Public sector innovations are powering a more inclusive future, from inner cities to rural farms. And Cisco's Marcus Moffett is helping to make it happen. The company's CTO for U.S. public sector, Moffett is committed to technology transformation in education, transportation, government, and public safety, while working to close the digital divide and create new opportunities. In a free-ranging discussion with Kevin Delaney, senior writer for Cisco's Strategy and Storytelling team, Moffett shares his vision for continuing innovation in the public sector - along with concrete solutions to its biggest challenges.

The promise of AI Jan 31, 2020

For Joseph Bradley, artificial intelligence has the potential to support an Inclusive Future, in which opportunity, education, and equality touch even the most disadvantaged people on the planet. But Bradley, Cisco's global vice president of IoT, blockchain, AI, and incubation businesses, is also quick to share his concerns. The author of Questioneering: the New Model for Innovative Leaders in the Digital Age, he fears the unconscious bias that can be programed into AI. Along with the upheavals that will result if we don't properly retrain workers for a world in which AI assumes more and tasks. In a free-ranging interview with Kevin Delaney - senior writer for Cisco's strategy and Storytelling team - Bradley shares concrete advice for business leaders and society as a whole. To ensure that we successfully navigate the profound changes that the next wave of technology change will bring.

Meeting the security threats of 2020 Dec 18, 2019

Cisco's Bret Hartman shares key strategies for thwarting cyberthreats in the coming year Bret Hartman has been in cybersecurity since he was a young Air Force lieutenant. Followed by stints at the NSA, IBM, and EMC. Along the way he's seen the focus of shift from hardware to cloud and on to machine learning and AI. But Hartman, who is vice president and CTO of Cisco's security business group, never lost sight of the importance of human creativity and collaboration in security - as new innovations arise from hackers and defenders alike. In a free-ranging podcast interview with Kevin Delaney - senior writer for Cisco's Strategy and Storytelling team - Bret shares some of his warnings, predictions, and, above all, best practices for cybersecurity in 2020. Along with insights into the innovative products and solutions in Cisco's portfolio.

The Wireless World of Industry 4.0 Oct 30, 2019

Manufacturing has made astonishing progress in recent decades. But there are even greater changes to come, as the Internet itself undergoes its next level of transformation. 5g and WiFi 6 will be a big part of this, by fully enabling data-intensive manufacturing solutions like AI, virtual reality, advanced robotics, and predictive maintenance. The end result? Factories (and products!) that will be cleaner, safer, and more productive than ever before.

In this podcast, Cisco’s Kevin Delaney chats with some top experts on next-gen wireless, and how it can enable the next leap forward in manufacturing:

Todd Gurela, chief technology officer for Cisco’s Industry Solutions Group

Chantal Polsonetti, vice president of Advisory Services for ARC Advisory

David Vasko, director of advanced technologies at Rockwell Automation

Dr. Jay Lee, a professor of advanced manufacturing at the University of Cincinnati

Stephen Goodman, Cisco business development architect.

Shaun Kirby, head of connected car product development at Cisco

A Wireless Revolution for the Smartest Cities Sep 24, 2019

The next wave of urban transformation will incorporate technologies like AI, robotics, and advanced video analytics in exciting new ways. But such data-intensive solutions demand a new dimension in wireless connectivity. In this podcast, Cisco's Kevin Delaney explores what the experts are saying about the promise of 5G and WiFi 6 to meet the those demands. While helping to create cities that are cleaner, safer, and a whole lot smarter. With: • Bas Boorsma, authorand managing director of Cities Today • Gordon Feller, co-founder of Meeting of the Minds • Brenda Germundson of Cisco's global public sector group • Shaun Kirby, head of connected car product management at Cisco • Craig Mathias, principal of Farpoint Group • Derek Peterson, BoingoWireless CTO • Simon Young of Cisco's IoT, energy and transportation group • Louis Zacharilla, an author and co-founder of the Intelligent Community Forum

Making the Business Case for Rural 5G Jun 25, 2019

A Cisco-led effort is proving 5G's potential to create value in even the most remote places. Many rural locations are abundant in resources and creative drive. Yet a lack of connectivity holds them back. An initiative called 5G RuralFirstis trying to change all that. Spearheaded by Cisco and principal partner the University of Strathclyde, it's showcasing 5G's ability to connect the unconnected and spur growth in even the most remote places - and everything from salmon farms and renewable energy in northern Scotland's Orkney Islands to farms in the southern UK are reaping the benefits. In this podcast, Connected Futures executive editor Kevin Delaney speaks with some of the key players in the 5G RuralFirst consortium - about their successes, challenges, and best practices for leveraging 5G's superior speed, bandwidth, and range. Featuring: Nick Chrissos, head of innovation technology, Cisco UK and Ireland Shona Croy, strategic advisor for renewables and connectivity, Orkney Islands Council. Greig Paul, lead mobile networks and security engineer, University of Strathclyde Stephen Speirs, Cisco data center and cloud services advanced services product management Greg Whitton, managing director, CloudNet IT services

Cracking the Digital Transformation Code Jun 04, 2019

Author James Macaulay shares winning strategies for executing business transformation We all talk about being agile, adaptable, and comfortable with change. But in an age when disruption is relentless and the need for transformation seemingly perpetual, few organizations are managing change effectively. James Macaulay is coauthor of Orchestrating Transformation: How To Deliver Winning Performance with a Connected Approach to Change. And he has some key answers: As to how change itself is changing in the digital age, and how strategies for managing it are falling short. In this podcast, Connected Futures executive editor Kevin Delaney chats with James - who also leads Cisco's Customer Transformation Team - about how leaders can bring true harmony to digital business transformation.

Revolutionizing the Live Concert Experience Apr 09, 2019

If you've have an unforgettable experience at a big concert or music festival this year, there's a pretty good chance that Matt Clair helped to make it happen. The CIO of Clair Global, Matt is in the third generation of a family business that has been revolutionizing the concert experience since the 1960s. But back when Matt's grandfather and grand-uncle were innovating live sound for the likes of Cream and Blood, Sweat, and Tears, they could not have envisioned the challenges and opportunities of the digital age. In this podcast Connected Futures executive editor Kevin Delaney chats with Matt Clair about his family's history of fast innovation - and their continuing quest to perfect the live music experience.

The Perfect Meeting: It's Not Just a Myth Feb 27, 2019

We've all suffered through ponderous, aimless, time sucking meetings. Meetings that were ill-planned, included the wrong people, and were dominated by the loudest voice in the room. And yet, meetings are more critical than ever. If you get them right, they're the key to collaboration, innovation, and the kind of shared vision that can lead to true success, not to mention happier workers. So, just where are meetings going wrong? In this podcast, Kevin Delaney, executive editor of Connected Futures, speaks with Steven Rogelberg, author of The Surprising Science of Meetings: How You Can Lead Your Team to Peak Performance. Rogelberg has some serious answers: as to why meetings are broken, and what business leaders can do to make them effective, inclusive, and, just maybe, fun.

Integrate, Prepare, and Measure: Thwarting Cyberattacks in 2019 Dec 19, 2018

Cisco's Chief Security Officer shares his top-of-mind concerns for the coming year. As Cisco's chief security and trust officer, John Stewart has a unique perspective on global trends in security - what the bad actors are developing and how smart companies can stop them. By integrating security into the very fabric of their cultures; preparing for attacks, whether by stopping them before they cause trouble or minimizing them once they do; and measuring progress along the way. In this podcast, John speaks with Kevin Delaney, Connected Futures' executive editor. It's a free-ranging, year-end discussion about the complex technical, societal, and regulatory trends that business leaders will face in 2019. And what they can do to make cybersecurity part of a winning strategy for the whole organization.

From Megacities to Remote Villages, Africa Shows How Public WiFi Can Serve as a Cornerstone for Developing Nations. Dec 13, 2018

"I think this is just the beginning of a revolution in terms of what internet can do for society," said David Bunei, Cisco's country manager for East Africa. "The more we have low-cost devices that are able to access WiFi, the more we'll see society shifting economically as well as socially."

Across the African continent, low-cost or free public WiFi services are playing a key role in bridging the digital divide - as tech giants and startups alike find innovative solutions for the unique challenges that Africa presents.

Along the way, they are helping to jump start a far-reaching cultural and economic transformation.

In this podcast, Connected Futures executive editor Kevin Delaney speaks with a number of experts with hands-on experience connecting the unconnected in Africa, particularly through WiFi.

Featuring: Kendall Ananyi, founder and CEO of Tizeti, which is building solar-powered WiFi towers in African countries. David Bunei, Cisco's country manager for East Africa Gordon Feller, founder of Meeting of the Minds, a knowledge-sharing platform for connected technologies and smart cities Erik Hersman, CEO of BRCK, a Nairobi-based startup that's bringing public WiFi to a number of African countries. Olakunle Oloruntimehin, general manager in Nigeria for Cisco, Steve Song, communications entrepreneur who has written extensively about connectivity in Africa

'A Low-Level, Perpetual' State of Cyberwar Nov 05, 2018

Author David Sanger believes cyberweapons demand a wide range of new solutions - spanning businesses, governments, and innovators. Cyberweapons are cheap, stealthy, and powerful. They can launch a devastating Pearl Harbor level attack, knocking out power grids, government agencies, and financial institutions. Or they can cause more subtle disruptions, stealing information, influencing voters, or throwing off missile trajectories or nuclear bomb efforts. It's this flexibility that led David E. Sanger to call his new book, The Perfect Weapon: War, Sabotage, and Fear in the Cyber Age. Sanger, who is also a New York Times national security correspondent whose teams have won two Pulitzer Prizes, believes that it's the more subtle "short of war" level attacks that will continue to confound political, business, and technology leaders. In this podcast, Connected Futures executive editor Kevin Delaney chats with David about the often misunderstood potential of cyberweapons. And how we can better prepare for what he sees as a future of 'low-level, perpetual cyberconflict.'

A Strategic CIO, on Culture and Talent Oct 24, 2018

"CIOs are being asked to step up our game," said Cisco CIO Guillermo Diaz Jr., "to be business liaisons, the bridge between the technology and business outcomes." To do that, however, demands sweeping culture change in IT - which Diaz calls the hardest part of digital transformation. A true strategic CIO, Diaz has been a driving force in Cisco's transformation from a hardware to a software and solutions company - by embracing and supporting emerging technologies and new business models. Equally important, he's maintained a laser focus on culture, talent, and expanding the skill sets of his teams, as they've forged a much closer alignment between IT and Cisco's Business. And he's accomplished all of that while being a passionate advocate for diversity, inclusion, and social responsibility. Recently, Diaz shared his enthusiasm for culture change - and deep knowledge of IT - before a packed hall at Gartner Symposium ITXPO in Orlando. Then, he met with Connected Futures executive editor Kevin Delaney for a free-ranging one-on-one discussion - on the culture and talent issues that challenge all CIOs.

Driving Cybersecurity, from the CEO’s Office Oct 19, 2018

For Steve Durbin, cybersecurity isn't just a tech issue. It's a business issue, a culture issue, and above all, a leadership issue. So no matter how effective your CIO or chief security officer, they're going to need help. From the board and the rest of the C-suite, especially the CEO. In this podcast Connected Futures executive editor Kevin Delaney chats with Steve Durbin, the managing director of the Information Security Forum. It's a free-ranging discussion about what senior leadership teams can do to ensure growth and innovation at a time of ever-increasing cyberthreats.

Disrupting Education, for the Augmented Age Aug 30, 2018

At a time when AI and machine learning stand poised to replace many rote human tasks, are schools and colleges preparing the workers of tomorrow? And are business leaders creating the enterprise cultures that will support continuous learning in a climate of constant disruption? In this podcast, Heather McGowan, a thought leader at the intersection of education, business, and technology, chats with Connected Futures executive editor Kevin Delaney. About how the very foundations of learning need to be disrupted, for what she calls the Augmented Age - a time when human ingenuity, creativity and empathy will separate us from the machines.

Driving Your Own Disruption in a Dog-Eat-Dog Digital Market Jul 27, 2018

A lot of talk about disruption is on the assumption that it's about negating negative forces where actually, quite often it's about leveraging the power of the newly possible to do things, which genuinely create game-changing results." So says Tom Goodwin, head of innovation at Zenith Media and author of author of Digital Darwinism: Survival of the Fittest in the Age of Business Disruption. The problem, Goodwin adds, is that too many companies are not sensing the newly possible, or making the tough choices that will set them up for future success. Connected Futures executive editor Kevin Delaney sat with Tom recently for a free-ranging discussion on disruption, opportunity, and the hard decisions that many business leaders are avoiding.

Cyber Experts on the Ever-Expanding Cyberwar Jun 26, 2018

The potential for a major cyberattack strikes fear in the hearts of business and technology leaders everywhere. But while things seem bad now, threats are increasing exponentially and the impact of new technologies like AI and machine learning are just beginning to be realized - for defenders and attackers alike. In this podcast, Connected Futures executive editor Kevin Delaney speaks with some leading luminaries in the security space. For some great insights on how to prepare for today's cyberthreats - as well as tomorrow's. Featuring: Ryan Berg, chief scientist for Barkly Security Steve Durban, managing director, Information Security Forum Luci Lagrimas, director, Cisco Talos Matt Watchinski, senior director, Cisco Talos Sven Krasser, chief scientist at Crowdstrike

Estonia's 'E-Ambassador' on Smart Solutions for Citizens Jun 06, 2018

Estonians are looking pretty smart these days. With 88 percent fast broadband penetration helping to fuel smart lighting, smart traffic, smart buildings and smart just about everything - they are setting what Rhode Island governor Gina Raimondo called the gold standard for digital transformation in the public sector. But it's Estonia's secure, super-streamlined e-government solutions that are really getting noticed. This in a country that struggled to emerge from Soviet-era inefficiency in the 1990s. In this podcast, Connected Futures executive editor Kevin Delaney chats with Anna Piperal, Estonia's "e-ambassador" - about a digital success story that continues to inspire the world.

A Futurist’s-Eye View on How Work Is Changing May 07, 2018

“I don’t think that the end of routine means the end of jobs,” the futurist Gerd Leonhard stressed. “I think it just means the end of routine.”

That means fundamentally human qualities like design, storytelling, creativity, and innovation will loom in importance. But business leaders still need to prepare for some major upheavals.

Kevin Delaney, Connected Futures executive editor, chatted with Gerd about a world in which machines replace jobs — but, ultimately, won’t replace humans. A world that may be closer than you think.

How NASA’s Mission Control Keeps Cool in a Crisis Apr 16, 2018

At Mission Control, Failure — and Panic — Are Not Options

As a NASA flight director and director of mission operations, Paul Sean Hill managed some pretty dicey situations. Like the time in 1991 when a cooling-system failure imperiled the shuttle Discovery, demanding quick action that ran counter to many experts’ opinions. Along the way, Hill, author of Leadership, from the Mission Control Room to the Boardroom, picked up some down-to-earth wisdom that would be valuable for any leader — in any industry. In this podcast, Kevin Delaney, Connected Futures executive editor, chats with Paul about how the “steely-eyed missile men” of NASA learn to stay cool in a crisis.

In the Future of Work, Machines Just Keep Getting Chattier Mar 16, 2018

Siri, Alexa and those ever-chattier bots on retail sites are interacting with us in all-new ways. But as smart as they are, sometimes it still seems as if we may as well be speaking another language. That’s set to change, according to James Landay, an expert on human-computer interactions at Stanford University. In particular, he sees speech recognition — together with other technologies like cloud-based AI — transforming our work experiences in profound ways. As machines go beyond simple commands and questions to understand our intent, context, nuances of language, even our emotions. In this podcast, Connected Futures executive editor Kevin Delaney speaks with James about the coming revolution of smart, talking machines in the workplace.

Digital Solutions for a Thirsty Planet Mar 06, 2018

Experts weigh in on how digital transformation is creating clean water in some of the world’s most challenging places. In this podcast, Connected Futures’ executive editor Kevin Delaney speaks with: Amir Peleg, founder and CEO, TaKaDu Annie Feighery, CEO, mWater Leo T. Kenny, senior scientist and technologist, Planet Singular Kevin Wandolowski, senior manager of monitoring and evaluation, Water for People Anil Menon, global president of Cisco’s Smart+Connected Communities group

Managing Through Disruption, the Army Way Feb 23, 2018

The challenges of the business world can’t compare to the extreme pressures of combat. Some days it just seems that way. But the Army’s hard-won lessons about leadership do apply for any manager dealing with rapid change, disruption, and decision making in fluid situations.

In this podcast, Connected Futures executive editor Kevin Delaney speaks with Col. Scott Snook, an expert on leadership at Harvard Business school. Col. Snook has led soldiers in combat, taught at West Point, and is the author of Friendly Fire: The Accidental Shootdown of U.S. Black Hawks Over Northern Iraq. And he has some fascinating insights into the changing nature of leadership in the digital age.

7 Tips for Making Partners Part of Your IoT Success Feb 15, 2018

The Internet of Things promises unheard of efficiency and opportunities. But no one said it would be easy. And few companies possess all the skill sets to go it alone.

In a Cisco survey, partners proved to be a critical factor among the only 26 percent of companies that reported having even one fully successful IOT implementation. But managing multiple partners on a complex project can raise its own challenges.

In this podcast, Connected Futures executive editor Kevin Delaney discusses some best practices for making the partner ecosystem work for you.

The Digital City, and How To Get There Jan 29, 2018

Imagine a city that’s clean, safe, and economically vibrant? Not to mention, fun, creative, and smart. Who wouldn’t want to live there?

But a smart a city has to be a digital city. And transformation is never easy. So, what can city leaders do to realize that vision of a thriving 21stcentury digital city?

In this podcast, Kevin Delaney, co-author of the paper Digital Cities: Building the New Public Infrastructure, seeks answers from:

Bob Bennet, chief innovation officer of Kansas City, Mo.
Jesse Berst, founder of the Smart Cities Council
Dr. Sumit Chowdhury, founder of India’s Gaia Smart Cities
Lou Zacharilla, Intelligent Communities Forum

Expert Insights for IoT Success Jan 17, 2018

Transforming your organization for the Internet of Things era is no small feat. And according to Cisco’s research, only 26 percent of organizations can claim even one fully successful IoT initiative.

But what are those successful companies doing right?

In this podcast, Kevin Delaney, co-author of the Cisco research report Internet of Things: Challenges, Breakthroughs, and Best Practices, speaks with some leading lights in the technology world about their IoT successes and challenges:

Bob Bennett, chief innovation officer for Kansas City, Mo.; Guy Brassard, CIO of Southwire, a leader cable manufacturer; Peter High, founder of Metis Strategy, an IT consulting firm; Nick Rockwell, chief technology officer of The New York Times; Michael Spandau, CIO of Fender Musical Instruments; and Zeus Karavala, founder of the IT consulting firm ZK Research.

Leading Technology Change at The Times Jan 03, 2018

Few industries were more impacted by digital disruption than print media. And few newspapers were more rooted in tradition than The New York Times.

Yet The Times — once nicknamed the Gray Lady for its stolid resistance to change — has responded to the challenges of the digital age with a wave of innovation. One that has set standards for the industry and created new revenue streams in a challenging, fast-changing marketplace.

In this podcast, Connected Futures executive editor Kevin Delaney chats with The Times’ chief technology officer, Nick Rockwell. Along the way, Nick shares insights that apply to business and tech leaders in any industry dealing with the upheavals of the digital age (that is to say, all industries).

2 Airport CIOs Are Cutting Turbulence – on the Ground Apr 28, 2017

Ray Charles once said, "they don't pay me to play music, I do that for free. They pay me to get stuck in airports." Touring musicians or not, we can all relate to the frustration of lost luggage, flight delays, and missed connections while flying. Today digital technologies offer many new solutions, but in the complex ecosystem of a major airport, implementing those solutions takes some deft leadership.

The Future of IT Apr 10, 2017

Let's face it, life isn't easy for IT leaders. Cloud mobility, shadow IT, and relentless cyber attacks all drive mounting complexity to the point where simply keeping the lights on is a bigger challenge than ever. Today's CIO must deliver so much more. Given the pace of business disruption, CIO's can't just be operational, they must be transformational. That is, innovation leaders; sensing technology and business transitions before they happen and keeping the CEO, the board, and the business side informed and in position to drive competitive disruption.

Win or Lose, Fans Demand a Connected Stadium Experience Mar 31, 2017

Whether your heroes throw googlies or touchdown passes, nothing beats a live sports event.

But win or lose, even die-hard fans demand a great experience at the stadium. And that means a lot more than peanuts, popcorn, and crackerjacks.

To satisfy today’s fans, teams need digital transformation.

Kevin Delaney, Connected Futures senior writer, speaks with Jane Coles, general manager and board director of the Sydney Cricket Club; and Todd Caflisch, vice president and chief technical officer for the Minnesota Vikings.

Digital Transformation At Vancouver International Airport Jan 12, 2017

Digital transformation is hard enough in any industry. But consider the challenges in one of the most complex ecosystems today: a major airport.

Multiple stakeholders — including airlines, vendors, retailers, and, of course, tens of millions of passengers — demand the most efficient and seamless experience. And security and safety are paramount.

Digitization is what makes it all work — and grow.

Lynette DuJohn is the Chief Digital Officer of Vancouver International Airport (YVR), which Business Insider recently rated No. 1 in North America.

Lynette spoke with Connected Futures Senior Writer Kevin Delaney about some of her challenges and successes. And how she is using digital technologies to create what she calls the “perceptive airport” — one that offers an ever-better experience for passengers and workers alike.

Ethics in AI Dec 24, 2016

The Luddites are often portrayed as comical contrarians, on the wrong side of history.

In fact, they had real-life fears about how machinery would impact their textile jobs in 19th century England.

Today, artificial intelligence is driving similar fears about replacing humans.

Tech innovators, business leaders, and politicians will need a better understanding of the moral impact of AI. Especially as AI begins to drive cars, converse with customers, and influence life-and-death decisions on the battlefield.

But what exactly are the ethics of AI? Connected Futures senior writer Kevin Delaney spoke with Colin Allen, who teaches the history and philosophy of science and medicine at Indiana University, Bloomington.

Among his many books, Dr. Allen was co-author of Moral Machines: Teaching Robots Right from Wrong.

Bruce Watson on how Digital Technologies Are Saving the Rhino Dec 13, 2016

Cisco and Dimension Data are known for connecting manufacturing plants, sports arenas, hospitals, you name it.

But in the South African bush, the companies are partnering on another kind of challenge: saving the rhino.

These magnificent animals are being hunted to near extinction for their horns, which in some Asian countries are believed to be an aphrodisiac and cancer cure. In fact, rhino horn is made of keratin, like fingernails, and cures nothing. But that hasn’t stopped a thriving black market.

How can digital technologies protect wild rhinos? Connected Futures senior writer Kevin Delaney spoke with Bruce Watson, who leads Dimension Data’s global strategic alliance with Cisco.

White Hat Hackers Nov 09, 2016

Cybercriminals are brilliant, relentless, and ruthless.

So how can organizations hope to fight them?

One way is to hire people just like them (minus the ruthless part).

A growing wave of companies are using hackers to foil hackers. They unleash “researchers” (aka hackers) to “attack” an organization’s defenses.

Some of these companies create their own elite Red Teams of ethical, or white hat, hackers, as they are known. Others commandeer virtual armies of crowd-sourced hackers. The goal is the same: probe for weaknesses that may have escaped the internal security team’s best efforts.

Kevin Delaney, senior writer for Connected Futures is joined by Jay Kaplan, CEO of the ethical hacking firm Synack.

The Neuroscience Of Decisions Oct 21, 2016

The business world gets more complex every year, if not every week. Yet we’re essentially making important decisions with brains that evolved tens of thousands of years ago. And while we’re no longer fighting for survival on the African Savannah, some days it may feel like it.

But whether facing hostile tribes or belligerent boardrooms, primitive “fight or flight” instincts don’t have to cloud our decision-making.

Kevin Delaney, senior writer for Connected Futures, is joined by Cathy Davidson, author of Now You See It: How Technology and Brain Science Will Transform Schools and Business for the 21st Century. Cathy serves on the Board of Directors of Mozilla and was the 2016 recipient of the Ernest J. Boyer Award for Significant Contributions to Higher Education. In 2011 she was appointed to the National Council on the Humanities by President Obama. She holds the position of Distinguished Professor and is the founding director of the Futures Initiative at the City University of New York.

Smart Machines- Helping Humans or Killing Jobs Oct 21, 2016

$506 billion dollars. In the retail industry, this is the Digital Value at Stake globally over the next three years. It's a big opportunity. And yet, less than one quarter of retailers are actively doing something to secure those dollars.

This two-part series explores the impact of digital disruption on the retail industry. This episode dives into the problem: why retailers are leaving money on the table. Stefanie McCann, editor of Connected Futures Magazine is joined by Shaun Kirby, leader of Cisco's Rapid Prototyping Group and Jason Goldberg, SVP at Razorfish

Paving the Way for the Future of Retail, Part 1 Jul 28, 2016

$506 billion dollars. In the retail industry, this is the Digital Value at Stake globally over the next three years. It's a big opportunity. And yet, less than one quarter of retailers are actively doing something to secure those dollars. This two-part series explores the impact of digital disruption on the retail industry. This episode dives into the problem: why retailers are leaving money on the table. Stefanie McCann, editor of Connected Futures Magazine is joined by Shaun Kirby, leader of Cisco's Rapid Prototyping Group and Jason Goldberg, SVP at Razorfish. Read more: http://www.connectedfuturesmag.com/a/S15R13/retail-roadmap/

The Digital Manufacturer – Resolving the Service Dilemma Jun 27, 2016

Today’s manufacturers are challenged with how to start digitizing their factories. Many want to differentiate with new service-oriented revenue models, especially those that rely on connected machines and machine as-a-service. Yet, complexity and a lack of digital capabilities are holding companies back.

To resolve this service dilemma, the services and digital journeys must converge.

In this podcast, Douglas Bellin, Global Lead, Manufacturing and Energy Industries at Cisco, and Scott Lapcewich, VP GM Customer Support and Maintenance for Rockwell Automation, discuss how manufacturers can implement a service model in order to digitally transform their business. They will highlight the challenges and opportunities as firms manage products and services simultaneously.

Join the conversation, @CFuturesMag

Why the CFO is the Ideal Champion for Cybersecurity: Part 2 Jun 06, 2016

In this episode, Steve Durbin, Managing Director of the Information Security Forum (ISF) and James Mobley, Vice President of Cisco’s Security and Collaboration Services Group continue their discussion about the CFO’s role in cybersecurity. They explore how executives can move past the notion that security is an only an IT problem and view it as business growth enabler.

Why the CFO is the Ideal Champion for Cybersecurity May 19, 2016

There’s no question that chief financial officers are spending more money on cybersecurity. While many are doing so to protect against threats, others see cybersecurity as an opportunity to innovate.

In this podcast, Steve Durbin, Managing Director of the Information Security Forum (ISF) and James Mobley, Vice President of Cisco’s Security and Collaboration Services Group explore how executives view cybersecurity less as a “cost center” and more as a change catalyst.

Going Digital: Secrets of the Successful C-suite, Part 2 Feb 19, 2016

What are the “secrets” and best practices of successful executives? How are they leveraging digital and talent in a disruptive marketplace and leading transformation from within?

In this podcast, Part 2 of a three-part series, Peter High, Metis Strategy President, Author and Keynote Speaker, interviews Ted Colbert, Chief Information Officer of The Boeing Company. Together, they highlight The Boeing Company’s digital journey and what this means for the aerospace industry.

Going Digital: Secrets of the Successful C-Suite, Part 1 Feb 05, 2016

What are the “secrets” and best practices of a successful c-suite? How are executives leveraging digital and talent in a disruptive marketplace and leading transformation from within?

In this podcast, Part 1 of a three-part series, Peter High, Metis Strategy President, Author and Keynote Speaker and Gus Shahin, Chief Information Officer and Senior Vice President of IT at Flex shed light on these trends and questions.

The Trust Cliff and the Importance of Data Privacy Jan 26, 2016

According to Cisco research, over 50% of consumers are willing to exchange certain types of data and personal information with businesses in exchange for value-added services. Most consumers have little or no reservation sharing “basic” information about themselves, their past purchasing behavior, or their interests and hobbies.

However, there is a “trust cliff,” a steep drop-off in willingness to share certain types of personal information beyond this basic information. Factors such as location, purchases from other retailers, and so forth remains a point of question for many consumers.

So how can organizations balance the need to secure customer data and privacy while delivering hyper-relevant experiences based on data insights? How can they avoid falling off the trust cliff, yet maximize the relationship with their customers?

In this podcast episode, Michelle Dennedy, Chief Privacy Officer at Cisco and Michael Kaiser, Executive Director at the National Cyber Security Alliance (NCSA) discuss how organizations can balance trust and need for data privacy. They will share why it’s critical for organizations to de-risk their infrastructure and deliver a personalized and secure customer experience.

Digital Predator or Digital Prey: Steps for Energizing Digital Business Sep 21, 2015

Powerful technology trends including, social, mobile, cloud, and Big Data are converging, creating unprecedented digital disruption. Today’s organizations need to adapt in order to not only stay competitive, but to stay afloat.

How will your organization evolve?

In this podcast, featured speaker, Forrester’s Nigel Fenwick and Cisco’s Mike Riegel, will discuss how organizations can avoid becoming digital prey and thrive in an era of digital disruption. They will explore the untapped opportunities to create new value and win market share by leveraging the advantages of a hyper-connected, Internet of Everything-enabled world.