In this episode, Joe Crist interviews Jed Meyer, President and CEO of St Cloud Financial Credit Union, discussing the evolving landscape of the financial industry. They explore the challenges of rapid change, the importance of technology adoption, and the role of regulation in fostering innovation. Jed emphasizes the need for credit unions to build community resilience and maintain a strong human connection with members. He shares insights on long-term strategies for success, highlighting the importance of understanding one's value proposition and the need for a proactive approach in a fast-paced environment.

In this episode of 'Thriving in the Digital Age', Joe Crist interviews GQ, a marketing business coach and agency owner. They discuss the importance of a holistic approach to business, focusing on time management, self-awareness, and the need for boundaries in both personal and professional life. GQ shares insights on delegation, hiring challenges, and the vital role small businesses play in the economy. The conversation emphasizes the significance of community support for entrepreneurs and offers practical advice for maintaining balance and awareness in business.

In this conversation, Joe Crist interviews Craig Kielstrom about the challenges organizations face in adopting agile and digital transformation. They discuss the importance of breaking down silos and fostering communication between different teams and departments. They also emphasize the need for a shared purpose and alignment of goals within the organization. The conversation highlights the significance of customer lifetime value and employee lifetime value in driving business success. They also touch on the role of culture in shaping an organization's success and the future of agile and digital transformation.

Summary

Caleb Avery, founder and CEO of Tilde, discusses the concept of PayFac as a service and the benefits it offers to vertical software companies. He explains that PayFac stands for payment facilitator and companies like Stripe and Square are examples of well-known payment facilitators. Caleb highlights the advantages of the PayFac model, such as instant digital onboarding and streamlined boarding experiences. He also introduces Tilde's role as a PayFac as a service provider, offering a turnkey white-labeled infrastructure for vertical software companies to quickly embed payments within their platforms.

Nick Bicanic, a serial entrepreneur and filmmaker, discusses his diverse background and his current passion for Pickleball. He shares his philosophy on learning and problem-solving, emphasizing the importance of critical thinking and passion. Nick explains the challenges he identified in the Pickleball industry, particularly the rapid degradation of paddles. He describes his journey of developing a replaceable paddle surface to improve performance, value, and sustainability. Nick highlights the potential conflict between existing paddle manufacturers and his innovative solution, but also the opportunity for a customer-centric approach. In this conversation, Nick Bicanic discusses the environmental impact of pickleball paddles and the need for sustainable solutions. He explains how his company, Reload Pickleball, has developed a paddle with a replaceable surface that is more environmentally friendly. Bicanic emphasizes the importance of considering both performance and sustainability when developing products. He also discusses the growth of pickleball as a sport and its unique ability to bring together players of different skill levels. Bicanic offers advice to young entrepreneurs, encouraging them to not be afraid to try and to continuously learn and improve.

In this episode of Thriving in the Digital Age, Joe Crist interviews Imran MacMillan, Senior Director at Launch by NTT Data, about the challenges and trends in the digital world. Imran highlights the importance of managing the separation between expectation and reality when it comes to implementing digital technologies. He also discusses the impact of AI ecosystems on digital transformation and the evolution of employee toolkits. Imran emphasizes the significance of data in AI maturity and advises companies to focus on a data-first approach. He also explores the concepts of process mining and platform convergence as key trends in digital transformation.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/imran-macmillan/

Kimberly Wiefling, a leadership expert, discusses the importance of building effective teams and communication skills in the digital age. She highlights the challenges organizations face in building teams and the common causes of failure in global teams. She emphasizes the need for psychological safety and trust in teams and the role of leadership in creating a culture of open communication and innovation. Kimberly also shares practical strategies for improving leadership skills and employee engagement, such as listening actively and creating a positive organizational culture. She concludes by urging leaders to focus on the future and create a clear vision that inspires and motivates their teams.

Summary

In this episode, Manuj Aggarwal, the CIO and founder of TetraNoodle, discusses the challenges and opportunities of adopting AI in various industries. He emphasizes the importance of educating decision-makers about AI and its potential impact on their businesses. Manu also highlights the need for companies to have a strong technological foundation before implementing AI. He advises companies to focus on the 20% of their operations that generate 80% of their revenue and to prioritize low-hanging fruit for AI implementation. Manu predicts a future where AI and humans coexist, with AI assisting and empowering humans in various aspects of life.