This is Digital

West Monroe’s leading experts reveal the trends shaping seven major industries in 2025. From the transformative power of AI in manufacturing and healthcare to the clean energy shift in utilities and the growing importance of digital transformation in financial services, this episode highlights the innovations and challenges poised to redefine business landscapes.For more information on our 2025 Industry Outlooks, visit westmonroe.com/2025outlooksIn this episode:Energy and UtilitiesShift to clean energy and unprecedented load growth    Challenges in regulatory pushback and infrastructure investmentBalancing customer affordability with decarbonization efforts Private Equity  Pressure from LPs and aging portfolio companiesOperational improvement as a competitive advantagePredictions on AI adoption and measurable results Insurance  Impact of inflation, weather events, and inflationary pressuresIncreased focus on business transformation and personalizationDifferentiation through targeted investments in technology  HealthcareBalancing operational efficiency, growth, and cybersecurityLeveraging AI for efficiency and supplemental decision-makingPredictions on ethical AI use and cyber-resiliency investments  High Tech and Software  Transition from efficiency to growth-focused strategiesData-driven decision-making and AI-driven insightsPredictions on capital market movement and deal flow  Manufacturing (Consumer and Industrial Products)  Adoption of Industry 4.0 technologies in mid-market manufacturing    -AI-enabled automation and operational flexibility    Addressing labor shortages and sustainability goalsFinancial Services  Accelerating digital transformation and customer experience improvements    Opportunities created by a favorable regulatory and interest rate environment    Predictions for growth, M&A, and AI adoption in banking 

Christina Galoozis discusses the role of AI in enterprise-level workforce optimization with experts Steven Kurz and Brigitte Coles from West Monroe. They explore how AI should be viewed as a type of talent rather than just a technology, emphasizing the importance of training employees to leverage AI effectively. Listeners will learn how this mindset shift can drive significant cost savings and elevate workforce performance across industries.In this episode:Introduction to AI and workforce optimizationWest Monroe's unique perspective on AIAI as a talent type: changing mindsetsAugmentation vs. productivity: the AI advantageTraining employees: the key to AI successIncentivizing AI use among employeesAI Week: fostering a culture of innovationStrategic workforce optimization frameworkThe future of AI in enterprisesGenerative AI: a game changerPractical tips for using AI “interns”

Christina Galoozis hosts Moody's economists Matt Colyar and Justin Begley to explore the latest economic trends following the Federal Reserve’s Sept. 18 meeting. They dive into the implications of the deeper-than-expected rate cut, the nuanced state of the labor market, and the anticipated effects of the upcoming election on business decisions and consumer sentiment. In this episode:Understanding the Fed's rate cutThe role of the labor marketBusiness investment trendsConsumer spending dynamicsImpact of the upcoming U.S. presidential electionPredictions for the future

What are the five technology trends driving business right now? West Monroe’s Erik Brown, Senior Partner, PXEL, is joined Casey Foss, Chief Commercial Officer, and Jonathan Williams, Managing Director of Technology Experience, to provide practical advice on navigating the rise of AI-driven productivity, the resurgence of cloud infrastructure, the potential of synthetic data, the balance between techno-optimism and tech backlash, and the critical role of humanity in the digital age. Each trend is examined through the lens of how businesses can leverage technology to drive efficiency, innovation, and human-centered outcomes. In this episode:Overview of West Monroe’s annual Tech Trends to Watch reportThe new productivity paradigmResurgence of cloud and infrastructureSynthetic dataHumanity in the Digital AgeTechno-optimism vs. techlash: balancing the human element

Host Joe Brown interviews Stefanie Khan, Director of Business Intelligence and Data Analytics at UPS about the transformative power of data science and AI within the logistics giant. Stephanie shares insights on leveraging advanced analytics to tackle strategic challenges, the importance of upskilling and democratizing data science across the organization, and the future of technology in logistics. In this episode:Stefanie’s introduction and backgroundLeveraging data science and AI for strategic challengesDemocratizing analytics and customizing solutionsExperimentation and scalabilityCreating a digitally fluent culture through upskillingThe future of logistics: AI, sentiment analysis, and human-machine convergence

How do employees and employers navigate the evolving usage of generative AI tools in the workplace? We explore the risks and benefits of employees using AI tools independently, the importance of creating a safe space for experimentation, strategies for successful generative AI adoption, and how companies measure the benefits of generative AI. In this episode:Employees Bringing AI Tools to WorkCreating a Safe Space for ExperimentationEmployee Perspective and FeedbackInspiring People to Embrace Generative AIEmpowering People to InnovateBalancing Governance and InspirationProviding Examples of Appropriate UseEngaging in Ethical and Governed Use

Silicon Valley Bank has redefined banking in its quest for the frictionless customer experience. Milton Santiago, Global Head of Digital Solutions at Silicon Valley Bank, joins us to discuss SVB's journey in adapting its services to meet the sophisticated needs of tech companies. We also cover the need to prioritize the client's needs and to experiment and learn from internal solutions before implementing AI capabilities for customers. In this episode:Introduction to Santiago and his role with Silicon Valley BankLeveraging technology to enhance customer experienceBalancing innovation and cost-effectivenessCollaboration with fintechs: friends, not foesFirst Citizens Bank acquisition and new ownership structure

What is the 10-second customer journey? Todd Unger, Chief Experience Officer and Senior Vice President of Marketing & Member Experience at the American Medical Association, discusses the importance of breaking down silos to create seamless customer experiences. He offers insights from the AMA’s digital reboot and his new book, The 10-Second Customer Journey.In this episode:Universal challenges in the digital landscapeWhat is a Chief Experience Officer anyway?Breaking down silos and overcoming friction for a seamless experienceThe 10-second customer journeyThe role of storytelling in marketingThe American Medical Association’s digital rebootCreating a vision for changeAdvice for Chief Experience OfficersHarnessing the power of AI

We're celebrating International Women’s Day. Over the past three seasons, we’ve had phenomenal women on our show who have shared their passion for their work! Listen in as we showcase the best moments from inspiring women I had an opportunity to have a conversation with. In this episode:Tiffani Bova, Global Growth Evangelist at SalesforceBetsy Ziegler, first female CEO of 1871Dana Peterson, Chief Economist at The Conference BoardJanice Fraser, auther of Further, Faster, and with Far less Drama!Helen Yu, founder and CEO of Tigon Advisory and WSJ Best Selling AuthorEkta Chopra, Chief Digital Officer, e.l.f. Beauty

From thought-provoking discussions to inspiring interviews, the Best of Season 3 features the most memorable moments from our diverse range of topics and guests throughout the season. Join us as we revisit the most captivating moments, inspiring conversations, and game-changing insights from the past season.In this episode:Ekta Chopra, Chief Digital Officer of e.l.f. beauty on how they’ve worked to differentiate themselves as a digitally native brandDon White, CEO and Co-founder of Satisfi Labs on the digital fan experienceTyson Jominy, Vice President, Data & Analytics at J.D. Power on if EV’s can be considered digital productsSara Vaezy, EVP, Chief Strategy and Digital Officer with Providence, talks about the latest healthcare digital adoptionNick Mehta, CEO at Gainsight explains how he helps clients make the case for customer successScott Crabill, Managing Partner of Thoma Bravo, on the trends shaping the business landscape todayErik Brown, Sr. Partner of Product Experience & Engineering Lab at West Monroe discusses the new video podcast series, This is AICurtis Dubay, Chief Economist at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, on his predictions for AI in the workplace