The Only Constant

Episode #36 | Thore Dankert | AI beyond the innovation theater

In this episode of The Only Constant, Lasse Rindom engages with Thore Dankert from Novo Holdings to dissect the intricate dance between AI and enterprise innovation. They discuss:How companies can navigate the vast potential of AI to define clear, strategic objectives instead of falling into the trap of "innovation theater."The need for a transformative shift in organizational structures to foster true innovation, and how current legacy frameworks might be stifling progress.Thore challenges the conventional trajectory of AI adoption in enterprises by advocating for a major "external pressure" to catalyze genuine change and disruption.Thore Dankert brings a fresh perspective on using AI not just as a tool, but as a strategic ally to redefine business objectives and operational success.   Do you want to know more about Thore Dankert?Thore Dankert is a prominent leader in digital transformation and data analytics, currently serving as the Head of Digital at Novo Holdings A/S since April 2024. In this role, he is responsible for spearheading the company's digital initiatives, enhancing its technological capabilities, and fostering a culture of innovation within the organization. Prior to joining Novo Holdings, Dankert held the position of Senior Director of Data & Analytics at ATP, where he led efforts to harness advanced analytics and new technologies to improve customer experiences and operational efficiencies. Thore Dankert holds both a BSc and MSc from Aarhus University, along with a MSc in Business Development from Copenhagen Business School. He is recognized for his insights into leveraging data for strategic decision-making and has contributed to numerous conferences, sharing his expertise on the intersection of data science, philosophy and business strategy. Through his work, Dankert continues to play a vital role in advancing digital initiatives that drive growth and transformation in large organizations.

Episode #35 | Ben Torben-Nielsen | AI Strategy or not? A discussion on mandates and hype pressure

In this episode, Lasse Rindom speaks with Ben Torben-Nielsen, an AI expert with over 20 years in the field. Their insightful conversation covers a range of topics about AI strategies and real-world business applications:The debate over AI strategy—whether companies truly need one and the potential pitfalls of treating AI as a boardroom imperativeThe role and limitations of historical data, and when it supports growth versus when it’s "colored trash," emphasizing that not all data holds intrinsic valueIndustry-specific benefits of AI, such as enhancing speed and reducing costs, and how AI’s impact varies by business needs rather than hype cyclesThe complexity of explainability and AI bias, with Ben Torben-Nielsen challenging the necessity of explainable AI by drawing parallels to a doctor's trust in MRI results without knowing the underlying physicsDo you want to know more about Ben Torben-Nielsen?With a career spanning over two decades in the AI industry, Ben Torben-Nielsen has dedicated his life to translating cutting-edge research into practical business solutions. His journey began in academia, where he led a small research group and earned a PhD in Artificial Intelligence and Neuroscience. This foundation, coupled with an Executive MBA, has enabled him to drive innovation at the intersection of technology and business.Throughout his career, as a contributor or as a leader, Ben Torben-Nielsen has developed AI-powered products, secured multiple patents, and authored over 40 peer-reviewed papers to the scientific community. A highlight of his professional journey includes shaping the AI strategy for one of Europe's largest companies. His mission revolves around the ethical application of AI and data, aiming to create solutions that not only optimize performance and decision-making but also generate meaningful employment opportunities. As a passionate advocate for AI's potential, Ben Torben-Nielsen continually strives to foster both business success and human-centric outcomes in this rapidly evolving field.

Episode #34 | Peter Gostev | AI innovation and implementation

In this episode of The Only Constant, Lasse Rindom welcomes Peter Gostev, an influential figure in the AI community, known for his candid and insightful take on the evolving landscape of artificial intelligence. Their conversation explores the challenges and opportunities businesses face in navigating the AI hype while staying grounded in practical applications. Peter Gostev shares his strategies for cutting through the noise in AI news and how companies can effectively integrate AI advancements without getting overwhelmed by the rapid pace of innovation.Key highlights from their conversation include:How Peter Gostev builds and refines a "model of the world" to anticipate which AI developments will truly impact businesses and which are just noiseThe democratization of AI tools, and how this widespread availability drives both innovation and unnecessary hypeThe importance of finding adaptable use cases where AI can evolve, offering more value as models improve over time.Do you want to know more about Peter Gostev?Peter Gostev is an accomplished AI leader with a deep expertise in generative AI, currently serving as the Head of AI at Moonpig. In this role, he spearheads the integration of cutting-edge AI technologies, driving innovation and enhancing customer experiences. Before joining Moonpig, Peter Gostev was the AI Strategy Lead at NatWest Group, where he focused on leveraging generative AI to transform the financial services landscape.With a solid foundation in strategy and analytics, Peter Gostev has built a reputation as a forward-thinking influencer in the AI community. His career spans pivotal roles in financial services, including positions at Accenture, where he concentrated on digital strategy and growth for clients in the financial sector.Peter Gostev is also widely recognized for his contributions to the practical implementation of AI solutions and his rigorous benchmarking efforts, helping organizations understand the competitive landscape of AI models. His work is not only transforming businesses but also setting benchmarks in the AI industry, making him a thought leader and influencer in the ever-evolving field of artificial intelligence. 

Episode #33 | Angela Wick | How Business Analysts Drive Value in 10x Innovation

In this episode of The Only Constant, Lasse Rindom sits down with Angela Wick, a renowned expert in business analysis, to explore how the role of business analysts is evolving in today's landscape of rapid AI-driven innovation. With technology advancing at breakneck speed, traditional methods of gathering requirements and managing processes are no longer sufficient. Instead, business analysts must focus on continuous analysis and strategic alignment to help organizations navigate this era of exponential change. Angela Wick shares her insights on how business analysts can serve as the critical link between business and technology, enabling smarter decisions that drive real value.Key points include:How business analysts must shift from traditional requirements gathering to continuous analysis to keep up with rapid technological change.The growing importance of aligning technology adoption with business strategy, ensuring experiments and AI-driven decisions add real value.Why managing data quality and breaking down silos is critical for companies to succeed in digital transformations and avoid costly missteps.As the conversation wraps up, Angela and Lasse emphasize the need for a balanced approach to AI and innovation. By combining human judgment with AI capabilities, business analysts can help ensure that technology enhances processes without losing sight of the bigger picture. This episode is a must-listen for anyone interested in how business analysis is adapting to the challenges and opportunities of a rapidly changing digital landscape.Want to know more about Angela Wick?Angela Wick is passionate about how Business Analysis skills and practices contribute the value delivered with AI implementations.  She is the co-author of the recently released book "Futureproof - Amplifying Agility with AI and Insightful Business Analysis". She has spent her 25+ year career helping organizations and teams enhance the value innovative technologies bring to their business and customers by using flexible yet deep analysis practices. Angela has had over 2+ Million take her courses on platforms like LinkedIn Learning, and her BA-Cube Community, conferences around the globe, and 10 years at the University of Minnesota teaching business analysis.  She also has been a contributor and expert reviewer to many industry standards/publications about business analysis published by IIBA, and PMI. Angela strives to help others find the balance between agility and rigor in their business analysis practices.

Episode #32 | Rameshwar Balanagu | Elephants can dance, but can enterprises dance with AI?

In this episode of The Only Constant, Lasse Rindom is joined by Rameshwar Balanagu, a seasoned enterprise architect and long-time member of the Forbes Technology Council. With extensive experience in both startups and large enterprises, Rameshwar Balanagu shares his insights on the evolving role of technology in business and the challenges that come with it. Their discussion covers:The balance between harnessing AI for innovation and the risks it brings, particularly in large-scale enterprise environments.The critical need for a "multimodal IT strategy" to manage legacy systems while integrating new technologies.Why embracing change is essential for organizations looking to unlock creativity and stay competitive in a rapidly evolving digital landscape.Do you want to know more about Rameshwar Balanagu? Rameshwar Balanagu brings a blend of Enterprise and Startup experience and believes in the concept of Elephants Can Dance. Although the phrase was popularized across business culture by IBM, he has taken on that role many times throughout his career, helping elephant-headed corporations turn on a dime with his abilities to carry them forward in time and respond to seismic changes in business, finance, culture, and strategies. He is a growth-focused, seasoned technology executive with impactful leadership in Fortune 1000 companies; a lifelong learner with a passion for using Data and AI to advise and mentor startups, specializing in driving innovation, building high-performing teams, and delivering transformative results for leveraging technology for strategic business goals and sustainable empowerment. Rameshwar Balanagu has been nominated as one of the top 100 Technologists for Oncon2024 and won the SAP Innovation Award for 2023. He was a keynote speaker at various international conferences and has recently published "Principles of AI Governance and Risk Management" in partnership with James Sayles, a veteran in GRC. His mantra: there is no AI without IA (Information Architecture = People + Business + Data + Applications + Technology + Security + Sustainability).  

Episode #31 | Pedro Berrocoso | Opportunities and challenges for generative AI in procurement

In this episode of The Only Constant, Lasse Rindom engages with Pedro Berrocoso, a seasoned expert in procurement and AI, to explore how technology is transforming the procurement landscape. Their conversation covers the practical applications of AI in procurement, addressing common pain points, and discussing how AI can bring true value to businesses. They emphasize the need to strike a balance between automation and human insight, particularly in decision-making processes.Key highlights include:AI’s role in automating repetitive tasks, such as spend analytics and supplier negotiations, allowing procurement teams to focus on strategic, high-value decision-making.The potential of AI to identify hidden contract risks, like unnoticed clauses, enhancing contract management.Challenges companies face with poor data quality and outdated processes that hinder effective AI implementation.The importance of deploying AI where it truly adds value, avoiding its use as a response to market hype.Do you want to know more about Pedro Berrocoso:Pedro is an independent Digital Procurement & Process Automation Advisor, dedicated to helping companies leverage emerging technologies to drive significant process value.With over 25 years of leadership experience, he has successfully led programs focused on Process Excellence, Source-to-Pay, and Intelligent Automation across industries including Pharmaceuticals, Consumer Packaged Goods (CPG), and Industrial sectors.Passionate about staying ahead of the curve, Pedro closely follows technology trends to help companies find the best approach to assess, evolve their digital landscape and enhance their teams Digital Literacy.He is based in the Greater Zurich area, Switzerland with his family, enjoying the collaboration with companies and peers worldwide.

Episode #30 | Pascal Bornet | Being irreplaceable in a world of AI

In this episode of The Only Constant, Lasse Rindom interviews Pascal Bornet, an expert in artificial intelligence and automation, to discuss the human side of AI in today’s rapidly evolving technological landscape. Pascal's new book, Irreplaceable, explores how humans can thrive alongside AI, and much of this conversation reflects its key themes. Highlights from their conversation include:How humans can stay human in the face of AI’s rapid growth by focusing on traits like creativity, critical thinking, and empathy.The role of AI in removing repetitive tasks, allowing people to focus on more meaningful and creative work.The concept of "AI obesity," where over-reliance on AI without human oversight can lead to poor decisions and a loss of personal touch.The importance of addressing the biases in AI models, which are often inherited from human data, and how to mitigate these issues.Pascal’s three key competencies—being AI-ready, change-ready, and human-ready—that are critical for success in an ever-evolving technological world.Do you want to know more about Pascal Bornet?Pascal Bornet is an award-winning expert, author, and keynote speaker on Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Automation. He has received multiple awards and is regularly ranked as one of the top 10 global AI and Automation experts. He is also an influencer with more than two million followers on social media.Bornet developed his expertise over more than 20 years as a senior executive at McKinsey and EY, where he created and led their "Intelligent Automation" practices and implemented AI and Automation initiatives for hundreds of organizations around the world.For the past 20 years, Bornet's research has focused on the intersection of AI and Humans, where he believes the greatest value lies. He is a fervent advocate for human-centric AI, and he believes that with the right approach, AI can make our world more human.He has authored two best-selling books, "INTELLIGENT AUTOMATION" and "IRREPLACEABLE," and his insights have been featured in prestigious publications such as Forbes, Bloomberg, McKinsey Quarterly, and The Times. He is also a lecturer at several universities, a member of the Forbes Technology Council, and a Senior Advisor for several startups and charities.

Episode #29 | Devin Gharibian-Saki | Integrating GenAI into automation suites

In this episode, Lasse Rindom speaks with Devin Gharibian-Saki, a technology leader at Redwood Software, specializing in automation and SAP. Their insightful conversation covers a range of topics related to AI and automation in enterprise environments:The impact of generative AI on client discussions and enterprise strategiesRedwood's approach to integrating AI into their automation platform for complex business processesThe balance between hype and practical applications of AI in areas like financial close and supply chain managementThe importance of maintaining a human-centric approach while leveraging automation technologiesDevin's perspective on the future of AI and its potential to transform business operationsDo you want to know more about Devin Gharibian-Saki?Devin Gharibian-Saki brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise on enterprise IT, the SAP ecosystem and business process automation to his current role as SVP of Business Development and Strategy at Redwood Software. Experience within product marketing, product management and enterprise software sales enables Devin to drive strategic initiatives and alliances for the organization and unlock new business models and go-to-market strategies.Acting as an executive advocate for the customer, Devin is passionate about delivering the best solutions to make the most out of a customer’s environment. His approach centers on connecting with customers, prospects and partners to better understand how Redwood can help their digital transformation initiatives, improving their automation roadmaps by leveraging a combination of his SAP and process optimization proficiencies.Prior to working for Redwood, Devin was an SAP Technology Consultant, working directly at SAP and at EnBW, the 3rd latest utility in Germany. Devin holds a diploma in Mathematics from Karlsruhe Institute of Technology in Karlsruhe, Germany and as well as two patents.Explore his LinkedIn profile here

Episode #28 | Allan Andersen Christensen | AI impact and adoption in the Enterprise

In this episode, Lasse Rindom speaks with Allan Andersen Christensen, a seasoned digital transformation leader with extensive experience in large enterprises. Allan shares his insights on navigating the rapidly evolving landscape of generative AI and its impact on businesses. Their engaging conversation covers a range of topics, including:The initial approach to generative AI in enterprises and how strategies have evolved since its introductionThe importance of data modernization and ERP systems in preparing for AI integrationThe changing roles of tech consultants and enterprise architects in the age of AIThe challenges and opportunities for vendors and buyers in the current AI-driven tech marketDo you want to know more about Allan Andersen?Allan Andersen Christensen is the Group Vice President for Data Analytics and AI at DEAS Group, where he plays a pivotal role in integrating advanced analytics, automation, and AI into the company's operations. Since joining DEAS in 2021, his focus has been on driving digital innovation to optimize real estate management practices, ensuring that DEAS remains at the forefront of technological advancements in the industry. Before joining DEAS, Allan Andersen Christensen held significant roles at DXC Technology and Cognizant. At DXC Technology, he was a Practice Partner focusing on business development in analytics, automation, and data engineering for the Northern and Central European regions. His work involved managing large-scale IT projects, driving digital transformation initiatives, and aligning technology solutions with business needs. His time at Cognizant also involved strategic roles where he contributed to commercial growth and technological advancement, further honing his expertise in digital transformation and IT management across various industries.Beyond his corporate roles, Christensen is a recognized thought leader in the fields of AI and data analytics. He frequently speaks at industry conferences, offering insights on digital transformation and the strategic use of AI in business. His expertise is particularly sought after by C-level executives who are navigating the challenges of integrating new technologies into their organizations

Episode #27 | Borhane Blili-Hamelin | Rethinking Intelligence in the Age of AI

In this thought-provoking episode of The Only Constant, host Lasse Rindom speaks with AI risk expert and philosopher Borhane Blili-Hamelin about the complex challenges and opportunities presented by AI. Drawing from his unique background spanning philosophy, social science, and AI auditing, Borhane offers nuanced perspectives on:The multifaceted nature of intelligence and AI risk, involving both descriptive and normative elementsWhy the tension between innovation and risk management in AI development is a false dichotomyChallenges in evaluating AI systems, especially generative models, and the importance of context-specific assessmentHow AI could reshape fundamental aspects of society, from journalism and democracy to artistic creation, presenting both risks and potential benefitsThis wide-ranging conversation explores philosophical and practical considerations around AI, offering a thoughtful perspective on navigating the ongoing AI revolution.   Do you want to learn more about Borhane Blili-Hamelin?Dr. Borhane Blili-Hamelin is an AI ethics researcher and consultant dedicated to mitigating sociotechnical AI harm. He develops practical strategies for AI governance, risk assessments, responsible disclosure, and audits. His research explores leveraging red-teaming to empower communities, creates AI auditing and governance frameworks, and critiques practices like benchmarks and concepts like AGI. His workshops to empower cross-disciplinary collaboration in responsible AI have been featured at FAccT, RightsCon, and Mozilla Festival. He holds a PhD in philosophy from Columbia University. Borhane is an officer at the AI Risk and Vulnerability Alliance, an affiliate at Data & Society, and a senior consultant at BABL AI.