In this conversation, Phil Fersht and Todd Lohr discuss the evolving landscape of technology consulting, particularly in the context of AI and ecosystems. Todd shares insights on KPMG's strategic shift towards ecosystem partnerships, the impact of AI on business models, and the importance of addressing workforce concerns amidst technological advancements. They explore the future of services, the trend towards onshoring, and the necessity for enterprises to adopt intentional ecosystem strategies to navigate the complexities of the modern business environment.

In this intrepid conversation, Phil Fersht and Kathryn Stein discuss the evolving landscape of customer experience, the impact of AI on service delivery, and the cultural challenges faced in the workplace. Kathryn shares her insights from her career journey, emphasizing the importance of driving change within enterprises and the need for a strategic shift towards a more integrated approach to operations. They explore the future of work, the role of technology, and the necessity of adapting education to meet the demands of a changing job market.

In this compelling conversation, host Phil Fersht speaks with Jason Averbook—renowned HR leader and Senior Partner at Mercer—about the seismic changes reshaping the modern workforce. They explore the looming “humanistic recession” driven by AI, and how leaders must shift from “change management” to “change leadership.” Averbook warns that organizations failing to integrate human and machine teaming risk irrelevance, stressing that HR must move beyond counting heads to making heads truly count.

In this Season 2 Bonus Episode of From the Horse’s Mouth, host Phil Fersht sits down with HFS President of Research and Advisory Services Saurabh Gupta for an in-depth discussion on the state of the services industry and the forces shaping its future. Reflecting on 2024’s economic turbulence, they explore the dual pressures of innovation demand and constrained budgets, as well as the evolving role of global capability centers and emerging technologies like blockchain and AI. Gupta emphasizes the industry’s need to shift from traditional people management to building competencies in product and ecosystem management to stay competitive. The episode serves as a thought-provoking analysis of how the services industry can adapt to a rapidly changing world, offering insights for 2025 and beyond.

In the second episode of Season 2, Phil Fersht is joined by Nitin Rakesh, CEO of Mphasis, for an engaging discussion on the evolving landscape of the IT services industry in the age of AI and digital transformation. Drawing from his 30 years of experience, Rakesh highlights the critical inflection points shaping the sector, from the rise of cloud and mobile to the current AI-driven revolution. The conversation explores the challenges of adapting to rapidly shifting client demands, the growing importance of hybrid human-machine workforces, and the necessity for companies to invest in learning, innovation, and talent evolution to remain competitive. With insights on industry disruption, the future of talent, and the delicate balance between automation and human ingenuity, this episode offers a visionary perspective on the opportunities and challenges shaping the next decade of technology services.

In this Season 2 premiere episode, host Phil Fersht sits down with two industry titans—Bill McDermott, Chairman and CEO, ServiceNow, and Ravi Kumar, CEO of Cognizant—to explore the evolving landscape of enterprise technology. They discuss how “digital fluidity” and transforming work from rigid tasks into dynamic workflows enabled by AI-driven agents can reshape entire organizations. They also dive into how AI can turn operational data into strategic assets, the importance of trust and ethics, and why leadership and cultural shifts are key to navigating the next technological renaissance.

In this Season 1 Finale episode of From the Horse’s Mouth, host Phil Fersht engages in a direct, uncompromising dialogue with Scott Galloway, NYU Stern professor of marketing, co-host of the “Pivot” podcast, and host of “The Prof G Show.” Known for his candid takes on media, the economy, and technology’s sweeping impact, Scott unpacks the tensions underlying the 2024 U.S. election, the power and responsibilities of Big Tech, the rising challenges of loneliness—especially among young men—and why America, despite its divisions, still has abundant potential.

Scott also addresses his evolving views on AI, national service, and what’s needed to restore trust and unity in a fractious world. In a world grappling with political friction, concentrated wealth, and rising loneliness, this episode offers a candid assessment and a hopeful call to leverage resources, regulation, and personal connections to steer society toward a more stable, inclusive future.

In this engaging episode of "From the Horse's Mouth," host Phil Fersht welcomes two distinguished guests, Ian Barkin and Professor Tom Davenport, both renowned experts in the fields of emerging technology, automation, and data science. The conversation explores the transformative concept of citizen development and the democratization of technology within modern enterprises.

Ian shares his journey from leveraging global talent and arbitrage in outsourcing to pioneering Robotic Process Automation (RPA) a decade ago. He highlights how the focus shifted from simply using people to digitizing and emulating their work, emphasizing the trend of technology becoming more accessible and thus democratizing its use.

Tom complements this by discussing his background in analytics, big data, and AI. He notes that while he has less experience in the automation space compared to Ian, his expertise in data science provides a valuable perspective on how citizen development is reshaping organizations. The conversation stresses the importance of balancing enthusiasm for citizen development with the need for proper governance to prevent potential pitfalls.