Stay ConnectedThe AI in Business Podcast is for non-technical business leaders who need to find AI opportunities, align AI capabilities with strategy, and deliver ROI.
Each week, Emerj research staff and journalists interview top AI executives from Fortune 2000 firms and unicorn startups – uncovering trends, use-cases, and best practices for practical AI adoption.
Visit our advertising page to learn more about reaching our executive audience of Fortune 2000 AI adopters: https://emerj.com/advertise
Copyright: © Daniel Faggella, 2014
Today's guest is Alain-Sam Cohen, Head of Product at InstaDeep—an AI firm using reinforcement learning and other advanced techniques to solve complex design and optimization problems across industries. It may not make headlines like generative AI, but for manufacturers and engineers, PCB design remains one of the most time-intensive steps in building physical systems. From strict physical constraints to millions of potential component arrangements, even expert teams face persistent bottlenecks. Alain-Sam breaks down how InstaDeep's AI-driven approach is changing that reality—using reinforcement learning to accelerate and enhance circuit board layout in ways rules-based systems can't match. Want to share your AI adoption story with executive peers? Click emerj.com/expert2 for more information and to be a potential future guest on the 'AI in Business' podcast! This episode is sponsored by InstaDeep. Learn how brands work with Emerj and other Emerj Media options at emerj.com/ad1.
Today's guest is Damion Nero, Head of Data Science at Takeda Pharmaceuticals. With over 15 years of experience applying AI, machine learning, and real-world data to drug development and precision medicine, Damion joins Emerj Managing Editor Matthew DeMello to explore the evolving role of AI in drug development and supply chain management. He breaks down how AI is currently streamlining administrative and regulatory tasks, improving efficiency across clinical trials, and saving valuable time for healthcare professionals. Damion also discusses why broader, transformative supply chain efficiencies are still on the horizon, as AI continues to evolve and scale in the pharmaceutical industry. This episode is sponsored by Arkestro. Learn more about Arkestro's upcoming Advisory Council event here. Find out more about sponsored content and how to engage with the Emerj audience at emerj.com/ad1.
With customer expectations at an all-time high, even one broken interaction can result in permanent brand damage. In this episode of 'AI in Business,' Cognigy Chief Marketing Officer Alan Ranger joins Emerj Editorial Director Matthew DeMello to explore how conversational, generative, and agentic AI are reshaping contact center strategy across telecom, retail, and financial services. Cognigy is a leading provider of AI-powered customer service solutions, offering an advanced platform that enables businesses to deliver instant, personalized, and multilingual support across various channels. Throughout the episode, Alan outlines the evolution from chatbots to co-pilots to fully agentic systems—and explains how these technologies are shifting enterprise workflows from task-based to value-driven service. Want to share your AI adoption story with executive peers? Click emerj.com/expert2 for more information and to be a potential future guest on the 'AI in Business' podcast! This episode is sponsored by Cognigy. Learn how brands work with Emerj and other Emerj Media options at emerj.com/ad1.
Today's guest is Xiong Liu, Director of Data Science and AI at Novartis. Xiong returns to the platform in a special episode brought to you by Medable to explore the evolving role of AI in modernizing clinical trials. Their conversation covers how life sciences teams are leveraging AI to streamline data workflows, accelerate study readiness, and maintain regulatory compliance in both decentralized and traditional models. Throughout the episode, Xiong shares insights into the growing importance of integrating structured and unstructured data across trial systems — from clinical notes to imaging and lab results. This episode is sponsored by Medable. Learn how brands work with Emerj and other Emerj Media options at emerj.com/ad1. Want to share your AI adoption story with executive peers? Click emerj.com/expert2 for more information and to be a potential future guest on the 'AI in Business' podcast!
Today's guest is Jiaxi Zhu, Head of Analytics & Insights at Google. Jiaxi joins Emerj Editorial Director Matthew DeMello to explore how enterprises can strengthen data security and governance as customer analytics increasingly relies on both structured and unstructured data. As organizations expand their use of sources like call transcripts, social media posts, and third-party platforms, traditional data protection models are no longer sufficient. Jiaxi explains how modernizing data governance with comprehensive data dictionaries and metadata management is essential for understanding data lineage and ensuring compliance. Learn how brands work with Emerj and other Emerj Media options at emerj.com/ad1. Want to share your AI adoption story with executive peers? Click emerj.com/expert2 for more information and to be a potential future guest on the 'AI in Business' podcast!
Today's guest is Chris Tapley, Vice President and Head of Financial Services Consulting for North America at EPAM Systems. EPAM is a global digital engineering company that provides software development and consulting services across industries, including financial services, healthcare, and media. With deep experience guiding AI adoption in regulated industries, Chris joins Emerj Editorial Director Matthew DeMello on the show today to unpack the foundational challenges facing financial institutions as they move from experimentation to production. He explores the technical and organizational barriers that often stall AI projects, from legacy systems and cloud limitations to gaps in data strategy and executive alignment. Chris shares lessons from EPAM's recent market research on AI maturity in financial services — including how long it typically takes to establish enterprise-ready AI governance and why business leaders must prioritize infrastructure, collaboration, and oversight well before model deployment. Want to share your AI adoption story with executive peers? Click emerj.com/expert2 for more information and to be a potential future guest on the 'AI in Business' podcast! This episode is sponsored by EPAM. Learn how brands work with Emerj and other Emerj Media options at emerj.com/ad1.
Today's guest is Shreyas Becker, Head of AI & Data Products, Manufacturing & Supply at Sanofi. Shreyas joins Emerj Managing Editor Matthew DeMello to discuss the practical application of AI in life sciences, focusing on tools that are already improving supply chain resilience and manufacturing efficiency. He explains how AI helps navigate geopolitical disruptions, optimize production workflows, and ensure the reliable delivery of critical medications. The conversation also covers the evolution of AI systems developed during the pandemic and their role in shaping future innovations. For pharma and life sciences professionals, Shreyas provides valuable insights into where AI is delivering impact today and the continuing importance of human expertise in these processes. Want to share your AI adoption story with executive peers? Click emerj.com/expert2 for more information and to be a potential future guest on the 'AI in Business' podcast! This episode is sponsored by Arkestro. Learn more about Arkestro's upcoming Advisory Council event here. Find out more about sponsored content and how to engage with the Emerj audience at emerj.com/ad1.
Today's guest is Daniel Ferrante, AI Leader in R&D and Data Strategy at Deloitte. Daniel joins Emerj CEO and Head of Research Daniel Faggella on today's show to delve into the intersection of AI, data strategy, and research and development across industries such as agriculture, life sciences, and materials science. Ferrante breaks down the core challenges organizations face in harnessing data to unlock AI's potential and drive efficiencies in R&D processes. Ferrante also emphasizes the importance of contextualizing data through a multimodal framework — Deloitte's Atlas — to bridge gaps between disparate datasets and ontologies. He outlines how AI models, including large language models (LLMs), can be leveraged to label and map complex data landscapes. This episode is sponsored by Deloitte. Learn how brands work with Emerj and other Emerj Media options at emerj.com/ad1. Want to share your AI adoption story with executive peers? Click emerj.com/expert2 for more information and to be a potential future guest on the 'AI in Business' podcast!
Today's guest is Greg Cucino, Managing Director at RoundTable Strategy Advisors. RoundTable is a leading firm specializing in CFO and NetSuite services that help businesses boost financial management and operational efficiency. Greg joins Emerj Editorial Director Matthew DeMello on the podcast to share his perspective on how AI is redefining the CFO role. As AI automates manual finance and accounting workflows, executives are shifting focus from historical data to forward-looking strategy. Greg also explores emerging AI technologies, including agentic AI, and how they're set to transform financial operations and M&A activity across industries. If you want to understand the practical applications of AI in finance and what CFOs and business leaders can expect next, this episode is packed with insights. Want to share your AI adoption story with executive peers? Click emerj.com/expert2 for more information and to be a potential future guest on the 'AI in Business' podcast! This episode is sponsored by RoundTable Strategy Advisors. Learn how brands work with Emerj and other Emerj Media options at emerj.com/ad1.
Today's guest is Sidharth Ojha, Head of Process Optimization in Data and AI at AXA XL, a global commercial insurance and reinsurance company and subsidiary of AXA. Sidharth joins Emerj Managing Editor Matthew DeMello to discuss how AI is being applied across commercial insurance workflows with real, measurable impact. He explains how machine learning is enhancing underwriting efficiency, portfolio decision-making, and risk assessment. The conversation also covers key enablers for scaling AI, including data quality, governance, and change management. For insurance professionals and data leaders, Sidharth offers practical insights on where AI is driving results today and what it takes to implement it responsibly. Want to share your AI adoption story with executive peers? Click emerj.com/expert2 for more information and to be a potential future guest on the 'AI in Business' podcast! If you've enjoyed or benefited from some of the insights of this episode, consider leaving us a five-star review on Apple Podcasts, and let us know what you learned, found helpful, or liked most about this show!
Our TOPPODCAST Picks 
