Innovation Ambassadors

Episode 48: AWS Innovation with Manchester Airports Group Jul 25, 2024

On this episode of Innovation Ambassadors, we're showcasing the journey of Manchester Airports Group, the UK's largest airport group that's transforming the travel experience for their customers. MAG’s CTO, John Hudson, shares their vision for creating intuitive, data-driven airport journeys with our host, Sara Armstrong. Joining the conversation, MAG’s Sr. Software Engineer, Alex Whitehorn, and AWS Prototyping Engineer, Val Cohen take us through developing an AI virtual assistant that understands multilingual customer inquiries by combining data sources like flights, maps and web content. Discover their use of AWS serverless, large language models, open-source tools, and insights on multilingual support, ethical AI guardrails, and fusing business and software expertise.

Episode 5: AWS Innovation with National Basketball League Australia (NBLA) Nov 27, 2020

Host Sara Armstrong, Sr. Manager of Worldwide Prototyping at AWS speaks with Tony Skinner, Director of Broadcast Production at National Basketball League Australia, along with Marten Payne, AWS Senior Prototyping Engineer sbout how the new forms of fan engagement they’ve needed to develop this year. Get an inside look at how they’ve explored connected technology to sustain the energy and enthusiasm of live crowds. What happens when a global health crisis forces a sports industry powered by the energy of live crowds to find all-new methods to engage their fans? On our latest Innovation Ambassadors podcast, you’ll learn how National Basketball League Australia (NBLA) is addressing the current global pandemic through the lens of innovation, directly from the key participants.

Episode 7: AWS Innovation with OneTwo Jan 28, 2021

Get a behind the scenes look at OneTwo’s innovative approach to deliver interactive experiences to their customers by leveraging the power of cloud computing. How can technology make engagement seamless and help build trust with customers engaged in the complex home loan process? You’ll learn how the prototyping team collaborated with OneTwo on a self-contained communication platform equipped with video conferencing capabilities, and an automated content library capable of answering customer queries by intelligently gauging the sentiment of interactions. Listen to this episode of Innovation Ambassadors for an enlightening discussion between host Sara Armstrong, Ash Crick of OneTwo, and Marten Payne, Sr Prototyping Engineer at AWS.

Episode 12: AWS Innovation with Vimana Tech Jun 16, 2021

Get a behind-the-scenes look at the journey of Vimana Tech, a technology company based in Australia with a mission to bring ethical AI solutions to a broad range of industries. What does it take to make Artificial Intelligence (A.I.) accessible to the general public and not just big businesses? In this episode, we explore how AWS is supporting Melbourne-based Vimana Tech’s vision of consumerizing A.I. Host Sara Armstrong, Sr. Manager of Worldwide Prototyping at AWS speaks with Joel Kuperholz, CEO of Vimana Tech, about his love for experimentation and how his collaboration with AWS Prototyping team realized the ambitious goal of delivering actionable business insights to everyone from farmers, to retailers, to construction companies. Listen on AWS, Spotify or your favorite streaming service.

Episode 11: AWS Innovation with Infosys Apr 27, 2021

Get a behind-the-scenes look at the journey of Infosys, a global leader in next-generation digital services and consulting for workforce development. How can machine learning support human learning? In this episode, we explore how AWS is supporting Bangalore-based Infosys’s vision of intelligently up-skilling it’s large technical workforce. Host Sara Armstrong, Sr. Manager of Worldwide Prototyping at AWS speaks with Arpan Patro, Principal at Infosys about the experimentation and challenges involved in building a collaborative prototype.

Episode 32: AWS Innovation with the UK Met Office Mar 23, 2023

On this episode, we’re showcasing the cloud innovation journey of the Met Office, UK's national meteorological service, and a global leader in weather and climate science. Find out about the innovations in sustainable and scalable cloud architecture being created to overcome the challenges of data proximity and performance across continents. Hear from Jeremy Tandy (Technology Principal Fellow, Met Office), Niall Robinson (Head of Product Futures, Met Office), Jon Hammant (Head of Compute for AWS), and Chakra Nagarajan (Principal ML Prototyping SA at AWS), in conversation with AWS host Sara Armstrong. Through their collaboration with the AWS Prototyping team, we'll discover how Met Office is simplifying access to highly complex climate datasets and computations, enabling scientists and researchers to gain valuable insights into the impacts of climate change. Discover more Innovation Ambassadors episodes on AWS, Spotify, or your favorite podcast platform.

Episode 52: AWS Innovation with FlexGen Nov 15, 2024

On this episode, we go behind the scenes with FlexGen, an innovator in large-scale battery energy storage systems. Hear about their collaboration with the AWS Prototyping team to develop a conversational AI assistant to streamline knowledge workflows and empower frontline technicians. FlexGen's CTO Hugh Scott and AWS Senior Prototyping Architect Allison Pryor share insights on embracing an iterative development approach, maintaining human decision authority, and building continuous learning capabilities. They also explore the broader potential to extend this generative AI approach across FlexGen's business processes.

Episode 31: AWS Innovation with Safran Passenger Innovations Feb 17, 2023

How is cloud technology improving in-flight entertainment? On this episode of Innovation Ambassadors, we’re showcasing the journey of Safran Passenger Innovations (SPI), the creator of award-winning In-Flight Entertainment and Connectivity Systems installed on thousands of aircraft, for airlines all over the world. Featuring Mike Walker (Director of Software Development, SPI) and Tamil Jayakumar (Sr. Prototyping Engineer at AWS), host Sara Armstrong explores SPI's collaboration with the AWS Prototyping team to modernize their architecture. Join us as we explore the underpinning cloud architecture that enables reliable connectivity for in-flight devices, and the challenges involved in managing a large number of custom AWS IoT-Greengrass components. Discover more Innovation Ambassadors episodes on AWS, Spotify, or your favorite podcast platform.

Series Trailer Feb 16, 2021

In today’s world, opportunities are realized through innovation and could technology is enabling organizations to experiment quickly to develop solutions to real world problems. In each podcast episode, we welcome guests from wide range industries around the world and delve into a recent prototype project – we cover the challenges our Customers faced, the technical approach we took, and the solutions we unlocked together. Come Join us on our journey!

Episode 28: AWS Innovation with PeaceLove Nov 08, 2022

What role does the cloud play in improving human well-being? On this episode of Innovation Ambassadors, we showcase the journey of PeaceLove, a company that aims to create a more mentally healthy world by using creativity and expression. Host Sara Armstrong (Sr. Manager for Worldwide Prototyping, AWS) interviews Matt Kaplan (CEO of PeaceLove) and Eric Rice (Creative Director, PeaceLove) along with Shirley Davila (Technical Program Manager, AWS) and Sanju Sunny (Sr. Design Technologist, AWS). Explore how the team used Amazon's Working Backwards process to rapidly envision and build a cloud-based game prototype, with the goal of improving emotional and mental wellness for millions of people. We discuss the personas and key decisions that guided the game’s design and development, as well as its underlying serverless architecture built on AWS Amplify. Discover more Innovation Ambassadors episodes on AWS, Spotify, or your favorite streaming service.

Episode 34: AWS Innovation with ICI May 18, 2023

On this episode of Innovation Ambassadors, we’re showcasing the cloud innovation journey of Infrared Cameras Inc. (ICI). ICI is a leading manufacturer of infrared cameras and software solutions that provide valuable insights into manufacturing and industrial processes, by monitoring thermal data. Joining us on this journey are Jeff Guida, ICI's Chief Innovation Officer; Abhishek Madaan, Sr. Software Engineer from ICI; and Ozan Cihangir, Prototyping Engineer from AWS. Our host Sara Armstrong explores their collaborative efforts with the AWS Prototyping team and their mission to transform infrared video streaming, focusing on cost optimization, reduced latency, and enhanced resilience throughout their architecture. Discover more Innovation Ambassadors episodes on AWS, Spotify, and your preferred podcast platform.

Episode 44: AWS Innovation with Loka Apr 12, 2024

On this episode of Innovation Ambassadors, we showcase the journey of Loka, a pioneering Silicon Valley full stack consultancy working with customers across industries to accelerate their Gen AI, Big Data, DevOps, and design projects. As an advanced member of the AWS Partner Network, Loka offers unique insights into the evolving landscape of Gen AI. Host Sara Armstrong is joined by Bobby Mukherjee, Loka's visionary founder and CEO. Together, they explore the potential of unstructured data for innovation and discuss Gen AI's impact across various industries. Bobby shares his passion for Life Sciences and reflects on technology's transformative role in this field. You'll also hear about the importance of experimentation and customer-centricity in driving innovation forward and the flexibility that AWS provides in using different Large Language Models (LLM) to deliver customer value.

Episode 23: AWS Innovation with Bristol Myers Squibb Jun 01, 2022

What role does the cloud play in research to improve personalized medicine? Machine learning meets impactful medicine, as we showcase the journey of Bristol Myers Squibb, one of the world’s largest bio-pharmaceutical companies. In this episode, host Sara Armstrong, speaks with Goce Bogdanoski (Associate Director, IT for Research and Early Development at BMS), Franklin Bettencourt (Lead of BMS’ Rapid Digital Solutions R&D team) and Stephen Curtis (Senior Prototyping Architect, AWS). They discuss how BMS and the AWS prototyping team developed a low-code, scalable, and composable solution that enabled scientists to compute massive data points using machine learning algorithms. Hear about medical innovation in the making, and explore how analytics and 3D visualization techniques are advancing the application of single-cell technologies, both in drug development and clinical diagnosis.

Episode 6: AWS Innovation with EB Research Dec 30, 2020

Host Sara Armstrong, Sr. Manager of Worldwide Prototyping at AWS speaks with Michael Hund, CEO of EB Research about their mission to accelerate treatments and unlock a cure for Epidermolysis Bullosa (EB), a devastating and life-threatening genetic skin disorder that affects children from birth. Get a behind the scenes look at how their unique approach to funding, "Venture Philanthropy", is leveraging to power of cloud computing to provide a common research and collaboration platform for a consortium of medical professionals, research scientists, as well as patients and parents. What does it take to achieve a more promising future for children born with life-threatening genetic skin disorders? You’ll learn how an organization founded with support of Jill and Eddie Vedder, the lead singer of Pearl Jam took on a unique journey of philanthropy and healthcare technology to achieve this vision. Listen to this episode of Innovation Ambassadors for an enlightening discussion between host Sara Armstrong, Michael Hund of EB Research, and Ryan Jancaitis, Global Product Management Leader for the Envision Engineering Prototyping team at AWS.

Episode 35: AWS Innovation with KomplyAi Jun 29, 2023

On this episode we’re showcasing the journey of KomplyAi, an exciting tech startup from Sydney Australia specializing in governance, risk, and compliance for Artificial Intelligence (AI) and other emerging technologies. Joining us on this journey are Kristen Migliorini, the founder of KomplyAi, as well as Chitra Creta, the Sr. Prototyping Engagement Manager, and Jack Stevenson, the Sr. Prototyping Engineer from AWS. Our host Sara Armstrong dives deep into their collaboration with the AWS Prototyping team. You’ll hear about their work in building an extensible and scalable workflow engine, facilitating crucial compliance activities at every stage of the AI life cycle. From the initial stages of innovation, through implementation, and all the way to ongoing operations.

Episode 9: AWS Innovation with Holo-Light Mar 18, 2021

Get a behind the scenes look at Holo-Light’s journey into building an immersive software that makes it easier to visualize and review designs in a 3D environment. As Augmented Reality (AR) technology evolves, the need for enhanced computing grows along with it. Listen in to find out how cloud technology meets the demand of high performance combined with low latency. What does it take to create a highly immersive, secure and user-friendly AR experience? You’ll learn about the AWS Prototyping team’s approach to helping Holo-Light innovate and uncover the best architecture for preventing rendering latency of 3D content in Holo-light’s virtual environments.

Episode 38: AWS Innovation with Instructure Sep 12, 2023

In this episode, we’re showcasing the cloud innovation journey of Instructure, an education technology company that is on a simple yet powerful mission: to elevate student success, amplify the power of teaching, and inspire everyone to learn together. Joining us on this journey are Zach Pendleton, Chief Architect at Instructure, Katie Standish Sr. Program Manager at AWS, and Gianluca Bertelli Sr. Prototyping Engineer at AWS. Our host Sara Armstrong delves into Instructure's collaborative effort with AWS Prototyping, as well as their cloud architecture that leverages the transformative capabilities of Generative AI and the efficiency of serverless technologies. This architecture is designed to simplify the complex process of generating instructional content, benefitting educators and students on a global scale.

Episode 26: AWS Innovation with ST Engineering Aug 29, 2022

How does the cloud speed up the design and deployment of robots? On this episode of Innovation Ambassadors, we feature the prototyping journey of ST Engineering. This Singapore-based company is combining the power of robot fleets with cloud technology to create real-world innovative solutions in aerospace, smart cities, and public security. Beyond these sectors, this exploration also has important applications in security and hospitality. Host Sara Armstrong speaks with David Yeo (Head of Solutions Business Development at ST Engineering) and Max Kenny, (Sr. Product Manager at AWS) about ST Engineering's work with AWS Envision Engineering Prototyping team to build a secure, scalable, and configurable cloud-based control system for their fleet of robots. You'll hear how the system was architected using AWS IoT Greengrass and Amazon Kinesis, as well as the process for testing robots in simulated and real-life settings.

Episode 21: AWS Innovation with ICON Mar 30, 2022

**PRA Health Sciences has been acquired by ICON since the recording of this podcast. What is cloud technology's role in helping a Global Contract Research Organization (CRO) to expand the accessibility of clinical trials? How does it help accelerate the development of drugs and devices that save lives and improve quality of life? In this episode, host Sara Armstrong (Sr. Manager of Worldwide Prototyping) and Angela Lindstrom (Principal Technical Program Manager) from AWS speak with Dr. Isaac Rodriguez-Chavez (Sr. VP for Scientific and Clinical Affairs & Head of the Global Center of Excellence Strategy for Decentralized Clinical Trials) and Lane Nichols (Exec Director of Product Management Connected Health) from ICON, to discuss the prototype that integrated ICON's connected health system with Amazon Lex, and Amazon Connect. Learn how ICON and AWS Prototyping collaborated to meet the expectations of a new generation of clinical investigations in this behind-the-scenes look at the art of the possible. This episode's guests share how study participants recorded their experiences using voice interactions and the challenges they faced in analyzing these interactions to extract usable information.

Episode 10: AWS Innovation with Provectus Algae Mar 27, 2021

Get a behind the scenes look at the journey of Provectus Algae, a growing biotech startup that is creating a cost-effective way to convert atmospheric CO2 to valuable resources. What role does cloud technology play in environmental sustainability? You’ll hear about how algae growth can be optimized by using information technology to inform physical systems. Host Sara Armstrong, Sr. Manager of Worldwide Prototyping at AWS speaks with Dr. Andreas Huemer, Head of Information Technology at Provectus Algae about the potency of combining nature and technology, and how their teams collaborated to define the approach and technical architecture required for industrial scale bio-tech solutions.

Episode 19: AWS Innovation with Eurosport Jan 19, 2022

In the world of sports broadcasting, the perfectly-selected replay is the payoff for the audience. On this episode of Innovation Ambassadors, we’re showcasing the journey of Eurosport, a company leveraging Machine Learning (ML)-powered video processing service and working with Amazon Web Services on a prototype that classifies frames and segments of sporting events to identify exciting moments worthy of a replay. Host Sara Armstrong (Sr. Manager for Worldwide Prototyping) and Kevin Oleniczak (Prototyping Manager) from AWS, speak with Marc Amiot (VP of Information Technology) from Eurosport about what it takes to automate the generation of replay clips from sporting events through a cost-effective and low-latency cloud architecture. You'll hear how they automate and integrate these capabilities into a production ecosystem that scales to support various tournaments, serving fans across Europe. This episode explores the AWS services that Eurosport leveraged to power their replay generation pipelines for live and video-on-demand content. Listen in and dive into the Media Replay Engine (MRE) open source framework, used to build automated video clipping and replay (highlight) generation pipelines for live and video-on-demand content.

Episode 20: AWS Innovation with Montoux Limited Mar 10, 2022

When companies have to make decisions that affect the lives of millions, they rely on decision science. On this episode of Innovation Ambassadors, we’re showcasing the journey of New Zealand-based Montoux and their work with AWS to integrate serverless technology into their leading decision science and actuarial automation platform for life and health insurers. Host Sara Armstrong, Sr. Manager for Worldwide Prototyping at AWS is joined by Klaas Stijnen (Chief Product Officer and Co-Founder of Montoux) and Chitraleka Creta, AWS Prototype Engagement Manager to discuss their collaboration on a scalable and configurable platform based on serverless technology to simplify the actuarial model replication process, speed up model processing time and increase transparency. It’s a story of digital transformation, and putting the power of cloud technologies into the hands of expert actuaries. Go behind the scenes with Montoux and the AWS Prototyping team on this episode of Innovation Ambassadors.

Episode 24: AWS Innovation with FloodMapp Jun 28, 2022

How can cloud technology help with flood prediction and play a role in helping save lives in times of emergency? On this episode of Innovation Ambassadors, we take a close look at the journey of FloodMapp, an Australian tech company that specializes in real-time flood prediction and inundation mapping. Our Host Sara Armstrong, Ryan Prosser, Co-Founder and CTO of FloodMapp, and Jonathan Gurfinkel, Sr. Prototyping Engineer at AWS discuss the science of flood prediction and the challenges it presents. You'll hear about the prototyping journey to build rapid experimentation platforms for the machine learning model. Go behind the scenes to see how the process is evolving to help predict emergencies and deliver early warning to reduce damage, loss of life, and financial devastation. Discover more Innovation Ambassadors episodes on AWS, Spotify, or your favorite streaming service.

Episode 25: AWS Innovation with VTEX Jul 26, 2022

What role does cloud computing play in shaping the future of e-commerce? In this episode of Innovation Ambassadors, we explore the journey of VTEX, a digital commerce platform that has revolutionized how brands and retailers reach the market and grow their online business. Host Sara Armstrong discusses VTEX’s work with the AWS prototyping team in Brazil in this podcast. Hear from Paulo Monçores (Director of Software Engineering at VTEX), Igor Tavares (Principal Data Engineer at VTEX) and Rafael Martins (Sr. Technical Program Manager from AWS) about a new Business Health Monitoring platform that provides e-commerce merchants with actionable insights, and the challenges involved with building this prototype. We will also dive into the underpinning cloud architecture and different technologies involved in bringing this Business Health Monitoring platform from prototype to market. Discover more Innovation Ambassadors episodes on AWS, Spotify, or your favorite streaming service.

Episode 49: AWS Innovation with TaxDown Aug 16, 2024

On this episode of Innovation Ambassadors, we're showcasing the journey of TaxDown - a startup reshaping tax management in Spain and Latin America. Joaquin Fernandez (Founder & CTO), Alvaro Correa (Head of Data & AI), and Manuel Marquez (AWS Sr. Prototyping Engagement Manager) join Sara to discuss expanding TaxDown's platform for simplifying tax planning while maximizing customer tax breaks. Get a behind-the-scenes look at developing an AI powered virtual assistant that precisely understands inquiries in Spanish by tapping into AWS services, large language models, and open-source tools. Hear about their iterative approach to enhancing question-answering accuracy, scalability, observability, and operationalizing complex AI models seamlessly. Gain valuable insights into fusing domain knowledge with technical capabilities as this innovative team walks us through their journey of delivering smarter, human-centered AI solutions that are transforming tax management.

Episode 13: AWS Innovation with Springs Jul 08, 2021

Get a behind-the-scenes look at the journey of Springs, one of the largest manufacturers of home textiles in the Americas, and their mission to improve your sleep health through innovation and the support of AWS Prototyping. What happens when a textile manufacturing company known for sleep comfort products start extends their mission to sleep health? In this episode of Innovation Ambassadors, we explore how AWS is helping Brazil-based Springs to catalyze the creation of their first cloud-connected product, and develop a sleep tracker that uses ML to learn from the sleeper’s habits. Host Sara Armstrong, Sr. Manager of Worldwide Prototyping and Leticia Santos, Sr. Prototyping Architect at AWS speak with Josue Alencar, Springs CIO, about building a legacy for a company founded by his grandfather by forging a future in collaboration with the AWS Prototyping team. They discuss how the process behind realizing the ambitious goal of creating the most accessible embedded sleep tracking device on the market.

Episode 47: AWS Innovation with Sinclair Jun 26, 2024

Sinclair is a diversified media company and a leading provider of local news and sports. Explore their work with AWS Prototyping to promote content authenticity using open source tools and AWS serverless technologies. Host Sara is joined by Mike Palmer, Vice President of Media Management at Sinclair, Demian Hess, Senior Partner Solutions Architect for Media and Entertainment at AWS, and Patrick O'Connor from the AWS Worldwide Prototyping team. Learn how they rapidly built and tested a cloud-native solution using AWS Lambda and Amazon ECS to cryptographically sign content across production workflows for provenance validation. Discover the emerging opportunities and obstacles of generative AI in the media landscape, hear key architectural insights, and get a glimpse at the future of trusted content creation using this serverless approach.

Series Premiere: AWS Innovation with MLL [Munich Leukemia Laboratory] Sep 23, 2020

Health matters are on everybody’s mind these days. But while the world’s attention necessarily turns to pandemics and testing, there are those who have been on the frontlines of medical diagnostics for other life-threatening conditions. Sara Armstrong speaks with Prof. Dr. Torsten Haferlach of MLL, along with Will Wetton, Senior Technical Program Manager and Halit Oener, AWS Head of Healthcare in Germany on the nature of their technical prototyping activities and their fascinating journey of innovation.

Episode 29: AWS Innovation with MaxAB Nov 22, 2022

What role does the cloud play in emerging retail markets like Egypt, where more than a million mom-and-pop shops sell 90% of groceries? On this episode, we showcase the journey of Cairo-based MaxAB, and their use of Machine Learning and cloud technology to optimize supply chains in the thriving retail markets for North Africa and the Middle East. Host Sara Armstrong speaks with Belal EL-Megharbel (CEO at MaxAB), Amr Faisal (CTO at MaxAB), and Ahmed Bahey (Head of Data, MaxAB) along with Mohamed Ali Jamaoui (Sr. ML Prototyping Architect). Hear about MaxAB’s work with the AWS Prototyping team to build an elastic, reliable and scalable, cloud-based system for data scientists to collaborate and run machine learning models for inventory demand forecasting.Learn how Amazon SageMaker's latest features were used to develop the forecasting engine and to unlock e-commerce applications such as product recommendations. Discover more Innovation Ambassadors episodes on AWS, Spotify, or your favorite streaming service.

Episode 50: AWS Innovation with Epsilon Digital Marketing Sep 13, 2024

On this episode we're showcasing the journey of Epsilon Digital Marketing - a global leader in outcome-based marketing, helping the world's top brands personalize experiences for millions of people. John Conley (Sr. VP of Data Engineering), Andy McNalis (Lead of Marketplace and Taxonomy Teams), and Patrick O'Connor (AWS Prototyping Engineer) join Sara to discuss modernizing Epsilon's taxonomy solutions and digital marketing platform with generative AI and a secure serverless architecture. Interested in joining AWS? The AWS Prototyping team is currently hiring for the following roles: 1. Applied Scientist: https://amazon.jobs/en/jobs/2676654/sr-applied-scientist-aws-prototyping 2. Sr. AI/ML Prototyping Solutions Architect: https://amazon.jobs/en/jobs/2697403/sr-ai-ml-prototyping-solutions-architect-aws-specialist-prototyping-team 3. Sr. Prototyping Solutions Architect: https://amazon.jobs/en/jobs/2708231/sr-prototyping-solutions-architect-aws-specialist-prototyping-team

Episode 39: AWS Innovation with Parameta Solutions Oct 31, 2023

In this episode of Innovation Ambassadors, we feature Parameta Solutions, a global provider of over-the-counter market data within the TP ICAP Group. Their mission is to improve global financial and commodities market access through innovative solutions. Joining us on this journey are Rushmi Katyal, Chief Governance, Risk and Controls Officer at Parameta, Jacob Marlow, Sr. Data Engineer at Parameta, and Patrick O'Connor, WorldWide Prototyping Engineer at AWS. Our host Sara Armstrong explores their collaboration with the AWS prototyping team, where they harnessed the power of Generative AI and a server-less approach to their architecture to establish governance at scale.

A Year of AWS Prototyping: Look Back & Look Ahead Oct 27, 2021

We are celebrating our first full year of showcasing the most compelling AWS Prototyping stories! In this special episode, we look at the key themes that emerged from revealing chats with customer guests across industries, including Holo-light, Icon, Bridgestone, NBLA and EB Research. How is cloud technology enabling companies to innovate, experiment and succeed in their fields? Hear directly from those on the front line of innovation about the biggest lessons and challenges from Prototyping engagements. Host Sara Armstrong, Sr. Manager of AWS Worldwide Prototyping speaks with Angela Lindstrom, Principal Tech Program Manager, Marten Payne Senior AWS Prototyping Engineer and Markus Bestehorn, Principal, Prototype Engineering Manager in a year-end wrap-up and look to the future.

Episode 41: The Human Side of Innovation Jan 10, 2024

In a rapidly evolving technology landscape, discover how emotional intelligence (EQ) can unlock the path to innovation success. Join host Sara in this special episode as she interviews David Lynch, Group Chief Technology Officer at bolttech, and Rich Hua, Worldwide Head of EPIC Leadership at AWS. Together, they explore the critical role of empathy, purpose, inspiration, and connection in driving innovation. Hear about the remarkable journey of bolttech, a global insurtech shaping the future of insurance, and learn how transformative forces have propelled their success. Gain valuable insights into how leaders can cultivate a culture of psychological safety, leverage failure for learning and growth, and effectively balance short-term gains with long-term objectives. Tune in for an enlightening discussion that could reshape your perspective on what it takes to thrive and succeed in the ongoing pursuit of tech-driven innovation.

Episode 37: Inside the AWS Prototyping and Innovation Lab Aug 09, 2023

On this special episode of Innovation Ambassadors, explore "behind-the-scenes" of AWS prototyping engagements at the Santa Clara Prototyping and Innovation Lab. Get a virtual tour and deep dive into the latest innovations from AWS partners: Genymobile, Equinix, Seagate, dSPACE, ICI, Vaisala and Marelli. Hear from Brian Taptich, Vice President, Strategic Initiatives at AWS about the mission and vision of the prototyping labs. Our host Sara Armstrong delves into the technologies and solutions deployed at the lab, and we'll be joined by Kandha Sankarapandian (Manager, WWSO Prototyping at AWS), Jeremy Dahan (Automotive Compute Sr Tech BD at AWS) and Jared Thompson (Hybrid Edge SA Specialist at AWS).

Episode 2: Innovation with Santillana Oct 12, 2020

On the 2nd episode of Innovation Ambassadors, we’re showcasing the journey of Santillana, leading Education specialist for the Spanish and Portuguese speaking world, and the AWS Envision Engineering team. When machine Learning integrates with the Classroom Experience, the outcome is predictive grading of free text assessment answers that saves teachers 40 hours per subject per year.

Episode 15: AWS Innovation with TPG Telecom Sep 28, 2021

Find out how AWS Prototyping worked with Australia's leading full-service telecommunications provider, TPG Telecom, to create simple smart home products and services for their customers by the process of "working backwards". In this episode, host Sara Armstrong, Sr. Manager of Worldwide Prototyping, speaks with Amin Javed, Head of Innovation and Strategic Initiatives for TPG Telecom, along with Richard Taylor, Head of AWS Digital Innovation and Ryan Cross, AWS Prototyping Engagement Manager. They discuss how TPG Telecom unified their IoT ecosystem to deliver a virtually seamless, end-to-end smart home experience for their customers. Additionally, they’ll address the challenges they faced in developing, delivering, and scaling this solution.

Episode 22: AWS Innovation with Light & Wonder May 04, 2022

Game on! This episode of Innovation Ambassadors showcases the journey of Light & Wonder, a global gaming company committed to creating a seamless player experience across all platforms and leveraging cloud technology to deliver this. Go behind the scenes of their collaboration with AWS’s Envision Engineering Prototype team to harness IoT services, asset tracking, and predictive maintenance to provide operators with unique insights into their games and speed up play. Host Sara Armstrong (Sr. Manager for Worldwide Prototyping) is joined by Ramin Firoozye (Sr Prototyping Architect, Envision Engineering) from AWS; Matt Lucchetti (Director of Product Management for Card Shufflers) and Rob McPeak (Software Engineering Manager for Card Shufflers) of Light & Wonder. Listen in on their talk, focusing on the design and technology of a connected device that automatically requests maintenance, provides exact location data, and collects usage insights applied to future products. Learn about a system that works directly with AWS IoT and Greengrass and uses advanced analytics to detect usage patterns, along with a modern array of wireless technologies, including LoRa, Wi-Fi, and UltraWide Band.

Episode 30: AWS Innovation with Utopus Insights Dec 29, 2022

What is the role of the cloud in empowering renewable energy assets and meeting the technology needs of the renewable energy industry? On this episode we talk technology and turbines, and showcase the journey of Utopus Insights, a subsidiary of Vestas, the world's largest wind turbine manufacturer. Get an inside look at their mission to accelerate the integration of renewable energy into the modern grid through digital solutions. Host Sara Armstrong speaks with Magne Borgund (Chief Growth Officer at Utopus Insights), Gopi Maniachari (Principal Software Engineer at Utopus Insights) and Tamil Jayakumar (Sr. Prototyping Engineer at AWS) about their work with the AWS Prototyping team to develop a secure, scalable connected platform for wind turbines. Hear about the challenges and uses of bi-directional communication with wind turbines and how the power of IoT is harnessed to optimize and secure turbine operations.

Episode 17: AWS Innovation with MUFG Investor Services Nov 17, 2021

In this episode we talk with MUFG Investor Services, one of the world’s leading financial services that provides holistic and customized solutions that meet operational, financial and regulatory needs of customers across the investment lifecycle. What does it take to automate data extraction from a vast number of unstructured document formats? Listen in and find out how MUFG Investor Services is leveraging Machine Learning (ML) and natural language processing capabilities of the cloud to create a generalized data processing solution for a broad range of documents types. Host Sara Armstrong, Sr. Manager of Worldwide Prototyping and John Dixon, Sr. Solutions Architect from AWS, speak with Evangelos Skianis, CTO for MUFG and Vasilis Sotiris, Head of Data Engineering & Strategy for MUFG, about the AWS prototyping team engagement that enabled experimentation without having to spend time on the infrastructure configuration. Get a behind-the scenes look at the architecture that combined services like Amazon Comprehend, Amazon Textract and AWS Lambda to process contextually sparse documents. Listen on AWS, Spotify, or your favorite streaming service.

Episode 46: AWS Innovation with DXC Technology May 31, 2024

In this episode we showcase the transformative work of DXC Technology, a leading global IT services company on a mission to drive digital innovation for customers worldwide. Joining us are Gregory Todd, Americas Practice Lead for Data and AI at DXC Technology, Ramachandra Murthy, Chief AI Architect at DXC, Asif Fouzi, Principal Solutions Architect at AWS, and Patrick O'Connor from the AWS Worldwide Prototyping team. Host Sara explores their journey with AWS Prototyping to harness the power of Amazon CodeWhisperer to enhance developer productivity while conforming to DXC's coding standards. Dive into the approach behind this prototype, the architecture involved, and key takeaways - offering a window into the potential of AI-powered coding assistants. The discussion also highlights the importance of up-skilling workforces, leveraging existing investments, and addressing security requirements when adopting new transformative technologies.

Episode 45: Data Modernization Insights from AWS Experts May 16, 2024

In this episode of Innovation Ambassadors we dive into the world of data modernization with AWS experts. Host Sara Armstrong is joined by Kwesi Edwards, Sr. Manager for Data Migration and Modernization, and Doug Booth, Principal GTM and Business Development Specialist from AWS. Together, they share insights from Amazon's own data modernization journey and discuss the connection between data infrastructure and business goals. The discussion also covers the role of automation and the importance of continuous learning and experimentation.

Episode 14: AWS Innovation with Latitude Financial Services Aug 05, 2021

Latitude Financial Services (LFS), a leader in consumer finance in Australia and New Zealand, is applying cloud innovations to revolutionize how people borrow money. By engaging the AWS prototyping team, LFS continues to help consumers build more effective money habits, while also securing their large scale customer data in a cost-effective way. How does a company in a highly regulated industry protect their customer's data at scale without spending millions of dollars a day to assure security and compliance? In this episode, you’ll find out how AWS supports LFS's mission to build cost-efficient frameworks that identify, classify, and secure sensitive data. Host Sara Armstrong, Sr. Manager of Worldwide Prototyping, and Adrian Dimech, Sr. Prototyping Engineer at AWS, are joined by Shahid Faiz, Lead Data Engineer at LFS on this latest episode.

Episode 33: AWS Innovation with KONE Apr 21, 2023

On this episode of Innovation Ambassadors, we’re showcasing the digital transformation journey of KONE, a global leader in the elevator and escalator industry, that is on a mission to improve the flow of urban life. Hear from Jari Karhu (Senior Lead Data Scientist at KONE), Juha-Matti Kuusinen (Head of Digital Innovation at KONE), and Emir Ayar (Senior Prototyping Engineer at AWS). Our host Sara Armstrong explores their collaborative efforts with the AWS Prototyping team to create a 3D representation of physical spaces using AWS digital twin and cloud services. This innovative approach enables KONE to build safe, efficient, and sustainable people flow experiences. Want to hear more about KONE's mission? Check out The flow of urban life podcast. Discover more Innovation Ambassadors episodes on AWS, Spotify, and your preferred podcast platform.

Episode 18: AWS Innovation with Tyson Foods Dec 20, 2021

How does Tyson Foods — the world's second largest processor of chicken, beef, and pork – leverage the power of the cloud to optimize their inventory and order fulfillment? Hear about Tyson Foods' journey and how they collaborated with AWS Prototyping teams to explore emerging technologies. This episode explores how they are meeting their goals of increased transparency, accuracy, and sustainability in their processes to deliver high quality and service to their customers, while reducing waste. Host Sara Armstrong (Sr. Manager for Worldwide Prototyping) and Tanner McRae (Sr. Solutions Architect) from AWS, speak with Barret Miller (Sr. Manager, Emerging Technology) and Jeremy Gerard (Lead Developer for Emerging Technology) from Tyson Foods about their partnership with the AWS America Prototyping team to implement computer vision powered solutions to their inventory tracking — and the lessons of going from prototype to pilot to scaled production.

Episode 36: AWS Innovation with the Genome Institute of Singapore (GIS) Jul 21, 2023

On this episode of Innovation Ambassadors, we’re showcasing the journey of the Genome Institute of Singapore (GIS) - a national initiative with a global vision. Their mission is to harness the power of genomic sciences for remarkable advancements in human health and public prosperity. Joining us on this journey are Chih Chuan Shih, Head of the Office of Research IT at GIS, as well as Callum Smits, Sr. Software Development Engineer from AWS. Our host Sara Armstrong delves into GIS's pivotal role as the trusted producer, custodian, and curator of Singapore's genomic data. You'll also hear about their collaboration with the AWS prototyping team, which has enabled seamless integration and access to vast amounts of genomic data within a secure and scalable framework.

Episode 43: AWS Innovation with FOX Sports México Feb 22, 2024

In this episode of Innovation Ambassadors, we feature FOX Sports México, the leading multi-platform sports media brand in Mexico, providing unique sports entertainment experiences to fans. Joining us are Israel Gomez, SVP of Media Production Technology and Operations at Fox Sports Mexico, Elisa Escalante, Sr. Innovation & Transformation Specialist at AWS, and Arturo Velasco, Sr. Solutions Architect at AWS. Our host Sara Armstrong explores their collaboration with the AWS Innovation Specialists to develop a platform-as-a-service for their direct-to-consumer customers. We delve into the architecture and technology choices, including leveraging AWS media services, that enables Fox Sports Mexico to deliver high-quality live content to viewers. The journey highlights the importance of experimentation, adaptability, and continuous learning from customer feedback.

Episode 40: AWS Innovation with Experian Dec 11, 2023

In this episode of Innovation Ambassadors, we feature Experian, a leading global information services company, providing data and analytical tools to clients around the world. Our host Sara Armstrong is joined by Marcio Felix Goncalves, Head of Product Development at Experian, Jo Kennedy, Engineering Leader at Experian, and Jesse Mulvogue, Senior Account Manager at AWS. Join us as we explore Experian's shift to a dynamic, cloud-first approach. Learn how, in collaboration with the AWS Innovation team in Australia, they adopted the working backwards methodology to leverage the AWS Cloud, resulting in enhanced brand experiences for consumers.

Episode 42: AWS Innovation with Mitsubishi Electric Jan 17, 2024

In this special episode recorded live at re:invent, we delve into the rich history and transformative journey of Mitsubishi Electric. Join Sara Armstrong as she sits down with Nobuo Asahi, General Manager - Digital Innovation Center, and Dr. Shoji Tanaka, General Manager - Advanced Applied Development Center from Mitsubishi Electric, along with Richard Taylor, APJ Innovation Programs Lead at AWS. Explore Mitsubishi Electric's century-long history and its recent shift from a product-oriented to a customer-centric approach through digital transformation. Delve into the collaborative efforts between Mitsubishi Electric and AWS, emphasizing customer-centric innovation, agile methodologies, and investing in talent development.

Episode 27: AWS Innovation with UCSD Sep 28, 2022

How are cloud-based systems helping clinicians deliver personalized care to patients? On this episode of Innovation Ambassadors, we’re showcasing the prototyping journey of University of California, San Diego, and their use of cloud technology in the clinical decision support systems to improve outcomes for patients with acute kidney injury. Host Sara Armstrong (Sr. Manager for Worldwide Prototyping, AWS) interviews Dr. Ravindra Mehta (Emeritus Professor of Medicine, University of California San Diego), and Eduard Sama Casanovas (Sr. Product Manager, AWS) to learn about the prototype that used pre-trained health Machine Learning (ML) algorithms to detect disease onset, and help clinicians anticipate treatments and patient health outcomes.You’ll hear about the AWS services used in the underlying API driven serverless architecture and the major considerations in the prototype's development. Discover more Innovation Ambassadors episodes on AWS, Spotify, or your favorite streaming service.

Episode 3: AWS Innovation with Genie Solutions Nov 16, 2020

Host Sara Armstrong, Sr. Manager of Worldwide Prototyping at AWS speaks with Brenden Conolly, CEO of Genie Solutions, an Australia-based Medical Software Specialist and Ryan Cross, Prototyping Engagement Manager, about collaborating at the forefront of the pandemic response towards the rapid development and deployment of a secure, reliable Telehealth solution. What happens when a global health crisis adds unprecedented urgency to a company's core mission of developing technical solutions for medical practices, and the stakes for the CEO become personal? Get a behind-the-curtain look at how one company addressed the current global pandemic through the lens of innovation, directly from the key participants.

Episode 51: AWS Innovation with Perfect Corp. Oct 16, 2024

On this episode of Innovation Ambassadors, we showcase the journey of Perfect Corp, a leader in AI and AR virtual try-on solutions for the fashion and beauty industries. Joining our host Sara are Perfect Corp's co-founder Wayne Liu, and AWS experts Danny Wang and Roger Huang. Discover how Perfect Corp architected a massively scalable, secure global platform on AWS to handle billions of daily try-on events. Explore the innovative AWS services and architecture powering Perfect Corp's AI/AR capabilities and hear about their use of generative AI in medical applications like AI-driven skin analysis and surgical visualization tools.

Episode 8: AWS Innovation with Bridgestone Feb 18, 2021

Host Sara Armstrong, Sr. Manager of Worldwide Prototyping at AWS speaks with Lorenzo Alleva, Director Digital Labs at Bridgestone about prototyping solutions addressing critical safety improvements for vehicle drivers, by alerting them of potential tire hazards in real-time! How is cloud technology helping the world’s biggest tire manufacturer go the extra mile in driver safety? Get a behind the scenes look at Bridgestone's journey into building an innovative tire monitoring system as part of their vision around vehicle mobility solutions. As mobility evolves, AWS and Bridgestone collaborate on tire design and safety features by harnessing data from software simulators and real world connected vehicles. Get a look at the “craft of the possible”, as AWS host Sara Armstrong and Bridgestone’s Lorenzo Alleva discuss how their companies are leveraging the power of Machine Learning and Amazon Connected Vehicle Solution to inform vehicle drivers about potential hazards. You’ll find about the engagement between AWS’s Prototyping team and Bridgestone’s Digital Lab that led to the deployment of a system that derives meaning from interaction between tires and the road surface -- all this without installing any additional hardware in the car!

Episode 4: AWS Innovation with 3M Nov 16, 2020

Host Sara Armstrong, Sr. Manager of Worldwide Prototyping at AWS speaks with Rob Kieschke, Senior R&D Manager of 3M, along with Kari Ingebritsen, Digital Systems Architect, about how the global powerhouse is applying science to develop products to improve lives daily, in collaboration with the AWS Global Verticals Prototyping team. What happens when a company with a culture of experimentation and innovation in the material and applied sciences realm brings on cloud-based technology solutions to power their research and development of new products. Follow the journey of 3M's collaboration with AWS to develop new technology-driven development models, along with the key participants.

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