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HFS PODCASTS

HFS PODCASTS

Hosted by HFS

Episodes

331

Latest episode

Jun 2026

Language

EN

About the show

HFS PODCASTS extract a real and unfiltered view of business operations and the world today and in the future. Watch or listen now, in order to be updated with the latest insights from senior HFS analysts and enterprise leaders.

Listen to episodes

60 recent
June 16, 202617 min

HFS GCC Advantage | From landlord to leader: Rethinking GCC leadership in the AI era

Join Achyuta Ghosh and Arindam Mukherjee for a candid conversation on how leadership in Global Capability Centers must change. They talk about how the GCC model is moving past the old scale game and the "landlord" style of leadership, as AI reshapes how work gets done, how value is delivered, and what GCC leaders need to focus on next.What you'll hear: Why the biggest threat to the GCC model isn’t AI.It is leadership that has drifted away from domain expertise and process ownership, and what it takes to close that gap.Arindam draws on nearly two decades of building, scaling, transforming, and exiting GCCs across India, the Philippines, Malaysia, Poland, Hungary, Costa Rica, Ireland, and the US, and shares his view on what future-ready leadership looks like. Key takeaways:Why strong GCC growth numbers can mask real questions about long-term sustainability.The end of the "landlord" leadership role. • Managing facilities and headcount is no longer enough. Why the shift from scale-led to outcome-driven GCCs is a leadership problem first, and a technology problem second. The value of staying close to the process and demanding excellence from your team rather than just their time. How AI is reshaping the talent pyramid and the skills GCCs will need next. A practical test every leader can apply: start from the assumption that AI can do the work and rule it out only after kicking the tires hard. Why the next wave of GCC leaders will pivot from running large teams of people to leading a smaller core of rare, high-impact skills. The simple leadership mantra to carry forward: your job is to make your colleagues successful. To know more about HFS on Global Capability Centers (GCCs), visit us here.

June 11, 202622 min

Unfiltered Stories | Blockchain is the killer app for AI

In this episode of Unfiltered Stories, HFS Research President Saurabh Gupta sits down with Eric Piscini, CEO of Hashgraph, to explore the real intersection of AI and blockchain and why trust is becoming the defining challenge for both. While AI is rapidly reshaping enterprise workflows, one question continues to surface. Can we trust it? This conversation dives into how distributed ledger technology is quietly emerging as the trust layer for AI, enabling transparency, control, and accountability in a world driven by autonomous systems. From stablecoins and tokenization to AI-driven payments and decentralized governance, Eric shares how blockchain is moving beyond hype into real enterprise adoption. If you are thinking about the future of AI at scale, this conversation connects the dots between two of the most important technologies shaping it. What you’ll learnWhy trust is the biggest barrier to enterprise AI adoptionHow blockchain can act as a control and audit layer for AI systemsThe real differences between stablecoins, tokenized cash, and CBDCsHow AI and blockchain are converging to enable new business modelsWhat asset tokenization means for enterprises and individualsHow AI-driven payments and autonomous agents will reshape transactionsKey takeawaysAI and blockchain are complementary technologies, not competing onesBlockchain enables transparency and accountability for AI decisionsEnterprise adoption of blockchain is accelerating due to regulatory clarityTokenization has the potential to unlock new forms of value and accessAI-driven agents will require trusted payment and transaction systemsThe future of trust in digital systems will be built into the infrastructure

June 8, 202612 min

Unfiltered Stories | HFS Horizons - Agentic Tech: How EMA shifts from human, to agent orchestration

HFS Executive Research Leader David Cushman learns how Agentic Tech market leader EMA is going further in productizing agentic work, delivering hard ROI, and building trust in regulated industries. Key point discussed:The importance of redefining what work looks like, why change management is key, and the importance of understanding both business needs and processes, to deliver ROI with AI.Learn more about the 2026 HFS Agentic Services Report - covering 35 service providers: https://www.hfsresearch.com/research/hfs-horizons-agentic-technology-2026/

May 26, 202618 min

Unfiltered Stories | Building trust and scaling Agentic AI

In this episode, HFS Research’s Dana Daher is joined by Genpact’s Ajay Vasal to unpack insights from a new study of over 500 enterprise leaders on what it really takes to scale agentic AI. While most organizations believe the technology is ready, very few are prepared to let AI act autonomously. The conversation explores why this is not a technology challenge, but an operating model shift that requires rethinking processes, governance, and decision-making at a fundamental level. Drawing from real-world experience, Ajay shares how enterprises can move beyond pilots and unlock value by redesigning workflows for AI, establishing accountability, and shifting how success is measured. This is a practical discussion on what separates AI ambition from execution. What you’ll learnWhy scaling agentic AI is an operating model challenge, not a technology oneThe gap between AI ambition and enterprise readinessHow to redesign processes for autonomous executionWhat governance and accountability look like in an AI-driven environmentWhy productivity alone is not the right way to measure AI successHow leading enterprises are moving from pilots to real business impactKey takeawaysMost enterprises trust AI to recommend, but not to actAI cannot be layered onto processes designed for humansProcess redesign is critical to unlocking AI valueGovernance and decision ownership must be clearly definedMeasuring AI through productivity alone limits its true potentialOrganizations that treat AI as a business transformation will scale fasterAlso, read the associated Market Impact Report titled "Autonomy requires trust in AI", here: https://www.hfsresearch.com/research/autonomy-requires-trust-in-ai/

May 20, 202614 min

Hot Tech | OrbitShift - How to turn signals into sales

HFS Research selected OrbitShift as a Hot Tech for its ability to turn fragmented market signals into structured opportunity shaping and pipeline execution through full-stack agentic orchestration. In this videocast, HFS Executive Research Leader David Cushman sits down with OrbitShift co-founder and CEO Saurabh Mishra to unpack what that really means in practice. Together, they explore how sales teams are navigating an increasingly complex landscape filled with dashboards, signals, and AI tools, yet still struggle to prioritize the right opportunities at the right time. The conversation looks at how OrbitShift approaches this challenge differently, combining contextual intelligence, real-time data, and agent-driven workflows to support deal shaping and pipeline development. Saurabh also shares where automation works best, where human judgment remains critical, and how this balance is evolving as agent capabilities mature. From pipeline impact and user experience to the future of agent-to-agent interactions, this discussion offers a grounded view of how sales models are shifting and what it takes to turn signals into meaningful outcomes. Key points discussed:What kind of data makes the biggest difference to sales conversions? Where should agentic AI be deployed and where should humans remain at the helm, and how should we prepare for the rise of agent-to-agent sales?Read the HFS Hot Tech report, titled “HFS Hot Tech: OrbitShift”, here: https://www.hfsresearch.com/research/hfs-hot-tech-orbitshift/

May 18, 202623 min

Unfiltered Stories | Gopalratnam, Global CIO, Philips: Physical AI for software-defined healthcare

Healthcare is undergoing a serious transition away from hardware-centric systems toward software-defined and physical AI-enabled healthcare environments. Healthcare is also moving toward a paradigm that is proactive, personalized, and ambient, leveraging intelligent technologies to improve patient care, operational efficiency, and clinical outcomes. The conversation explores how technologies such as advanced diagnostics, surgical robotics, remote monitoring, and smart medical devices are reshaping healthcare delivery. Gopal also shares practical insights into the challenges the industry faces around regulation, cybersecurity, data interoperability, verification and validation, and operational transformation. Most importantly, the discussion highlights how healthcare is gradually moving from reactive treatment models toward more proactive, personalized, and patient-centric care by 2030. This is a valuable conversation for healthcare leaders, technology executives, and anyone interested in the future of healthcare innovation. Watch this insightful interaction Ramachandran S, HFS Research, had with Gopalratnam VC, Executive Vice President and Global CIO at Philips, on the move toward software-defined healthcare. Key TakeawaysSoftware is becoming the key differentiator in modern medical devices. Intelligent systems and robotics are improving precision and operational efficiency in healthcare. Verification, validation, and compliance remain critical in healthcare technology adoption. Data fragmentation and lack of interoperability continue to slow innovation across healthcare ecosystems. The healthcare industry is moving toward more proactive and preventive care models. Personalized healthcare experiences will become increasingly important by 2030. Automation can help reduce administrative burdens for clinicians and healthcare staff. Future healthcare systems are expected to become more connected, efficient, and patient-focused.

May 13, 20269 min

Unfiltered Stories | Agentic Services Horizons: iOPEX on Domain Expertise and Outcome Pricing

iOPEX CRO Dharmesh Mistry and HFS Executive Research Leader David Cushman discuss how iOPEX applies domain expertise and outcome-based pricing to deliver agentic services in the enterprise.Key points discussed:Dive deeper into iOPEX’s impact in the first-ever HFS Agentic Services Horizons report. How are they combining deep domain and process expertise with gain-share commercial approaches to move the needle for a significant client?Learn more about the 2026 HFS Agentic Services Report - covering 35 service providers: https://www.hfsresearch.com/research/hfs-horizons-agentic-services-2026/

April 29, 202616 min

Fireside Chat | From headcount to outcomes: Rethinking digital engineering in the AI era

What happens when services are no longer delivered through people alone, but through platforms, software, and AI working together? In this Fireside Chat, Phil Fersht speaks with Jo Debecker, President and CEO at Akkodis, on how the company is shifting from a traditional staffing-led model to outcome-driven digital engineering. With engineering becoming increasingly digital, Akkodis is combining deep domain expertise with platforms, IP, and AI to accelerate innovation for clients. From building simulation environments for industries like aerospace to enabling faster product development cycles, the focus is on delivering measurable outcomes rather than just effort. The conversation explores what it really takes to move away from headcount-based services, how sales and delivery models must evolve, and why AI should be seen as an enabler of human potential rather than a replacement. It also highlights a critical shift ahead. Less experimentation, more focused implementation. Less hype, more real impact. Subscribe to stay up to date with our visionary research, insights, and upcoming events: https://www.hfsresearch.com/subscribe/

April 17, 202613 min

Unfiltered Stories | Revolutionizing the Boardroom: Women at the Helm

Join Saurabh Gupta and Rita Scroggin in a compelling discussion about the transformative power of diversity in corporate leadership. Discover how Firstboard.io is leading the charge to place more women in boardrooms, challenging traditional norms, and fostering innovation and inclusivity in governance.What you'll hear:This episode delves into the mission of Firstboard.io, the challenges of diversifying boardrooms, and the urgent need for modernizing leadership to keep pace with technological advancements like AI. Rita shares her insights on breaking insider networks, building new ecosystems, and the strategic importance of gender parity in corporate boards. Key takeaways:The impact of Firstboard.io's mission on corporate leadership and diversity.Challenges posed by traditional board appointment processes and insider networks.The importance of creating new networks for visibility and board readiness.The disconnect between AI advancements and board expertise, and the leadership gaps that hinder innovation.Balancing short-term financial results with long-term strategic vision in boardrooms.The influence of company size, reserves, and industry on board composition and decision-making.The future of gender parity on boards and the need for nimble, inclusive leadership.Best practices for private companies in adding independent directors early for growth and scaling.

April 8, 202613 min

Unfiltered Stories | AI can fix tech debt but it might also create more

AI is both exposing and accelerating the fight against tech debt, but it’s not a silver bullet. In this episode of HFS Unfiltered Stories, Saurabh Gupta, President at HFS Research, speaks with Amardeep Setty, Director - Global IS - Customer Experience, at Nissan Motor Corporation, and Pinak Kiran Vedalankar, Group VP Technology & International Head of Engineering at Publicis Sapient, about what it really takes to become “AI-ready.” The discussion goes beyond technology to focus on mindset, governance, data readiness, and the shift toward new operating models.From using AI to tackle technical debt to introducing the concept of “context debt,” this conversation explores how enterprises must rethink architecture, decision-making, and transformation itself.

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