From the Horse's Mouth: Intrepid Conversations with Phil Fersht

From the Horse's Mouth: Intrepid Conversations with Phil Fersht

As technology rapidly evolves, the world has undergone a significant transformation. Society has shifted from being human-centered to a complex web of digital automation, AI, and human workers who support it. This rapid innovation outpaces regulations and threatens social mobility. The rise of AI presents a critical challenge: how can businesses and policymakers ensure that AI enhances, rather than hinders, human creativity and innovation? Automating routine tasks could free up people for roles requiring creativity, problem-solving, and emotional intelligence, but it demands a focus on continuous learning and digital literacy. The first season of From the Horse's Mouth: Intrepid Conversations with Phil Fersht explores the intersection of AI, work, and society, aiming to shape the future.

Episodes

May 30, 2025 27 mins

Rewrite the Rules or Be Left Behind 

with May Habib, CEO & Co-founder of Writer 


“This is GenAI’s COVID moment—don’t waste the crisis.” — May Habib 


What You’ll Hear in 30 Minutes 

• Why enterprises are still miles away from building real agentic systems 

• How Writer’s Palmyra X5 enables self-evolving AI agents with memory 

• What smaller firms can teach enterprise giants about speed and scrappi...

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Hands-On Leadership in the Age of AI

with Pascal Bornet, author of Agentic Artificial Intelligence


“If your C-suite isn’t using large-language models to make decisions, you’re already behind.” — Pascal Bornet


What You’ll Hear in 30 Minutes

• Three competencies every leader needs now – AI-readiness, change-readiness, and uniquely human skills

• Why 15–20 % “experiment time” should be baked into every employee’s week

• How AI agent...

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Redesign Your Operating Model — Before AI Redesigns You

with Nigel Vaz, CEO of Publicis Sapient and author of Digital Business Transformation

"What you don't want is faster caterpillars; you want real butterflies." — Nigel Vaz

What You'll Hear in 35 Minutes


- Why AI is a chain of "sequential watershed moments," not a single leap

- The S-P-E-E-D framework (Strategy, Product, Experience, Engineering, Data & AI) behind Publicis Sap...

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Inflection AI’s CEO, Sean White, takes us behind the scenes to explore why trust is the cornerstone of the AI revolution. With boardrooms and tech leaders demanding an “AI-first” strategy, he reveals how building human-centered, conversational systems isn’t just about technology - it’s about forging genuine trust and empowering people. Drawing parallels to the transformative shifts of the 90s and the rapid innovations seen today, h...

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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 nec...

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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 ...

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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 ...

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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 e...

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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 challeng...

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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 d...

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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 ri...

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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 ar...

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In this episode, Phil Fersht engages in a thought-provoking discussion with Gary A. Bolles, a futurist, author, and thought leader specializing in the future of work and workforce transformation. Gary is the Chair for the Future of Work at Singularity University and co-founder of eParachute, a platform designed to help individuals navigate career transitions in our rapidly changing job landscape.

They explore the profound impact of ...

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In this insightful episode, Phil Fersht sits down with Jonathan Normolle, a Danish-born luxury real estate agent, founder of NextGen Ventures, and star of Netflix's 'Owning Manhattan'. They delve into the evolving landscape of real estate, exploring how technology and social media are reshaping industry and the critical role of authentic human connections in today's tech-driven world.

Jonathan shares his unique journey, emphasizing ...

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In this provocative episode, Phil Fersht and Shelly Palmer, CEO of The Palmer Group, push the boundaries of the AI conversation, diving headfirst into the seismic shift triggered by reasoning engines.

Palmer, a trailblazer in the intersection of technology, media, and marketing, unpacks the radical changes reshaping the digital landscape. With the advent of AI systems capable of real-time reasoning and complex decision-making, we’re...

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In the latest episode of From the Horse’s Mouth, Phil Fersht sits down with Heather E. McGowan to discuss the powerful currents reshaping the world of work. They explore how the "riptide of change"—a convergence of rapid technological advances, shifting demographics, and evolving societal norms—is impacting human connections in the workplace. Heather offers insights on how leaders can navigate these forces by fostering empathy, pur...

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In this episode, Phil Fersht interviews Ravi Kumar S, CEO of Cognizant, to examine the shifting dynamics of the tech services industry.  They explore whether the recent industry slowdown is a fleeting downturn or indicative of deeper structural changes, while also unpacking the ripple effects of rising capital costs and geopolitical turbulence.  Ravi talks about how companies are recalibrating their focus toward more sust...

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In this razor-sharp episode, Phil sits down with John Hagel III, a seasoned technology leader with over 40 years in Silicon Valley, to explore the deep-rooted changes shaping the tech industry. Reflecting on his decades of experience, from founding Deloitte's Center for the Edge to senior roles at Atari and McKinsey, Hagel offers a unique lens on the rapid evolution of technology. They discuss the pivotal role of AI in today's land...

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Searching amongst the digital rubble for a kernel of truth, Phil Fersht and bestselling author and regular contributor to Good Morning America, Laura Gassner Otting dismantle the myths of modern work culture, dissecting everything from post-pandemic office politics to the raw truths of leadership. They challenge the notion of "following your passion," exposing the grit behind true perseverance.

With insights grounded in both global ...

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From the Horse's Mouth: Intrepid Conversations with Phil Fersht isn't just another tech podcast - it's a reality check on the world of technological disruptions; examining the role of responsible innovation in building a more sustainable and enlightened future.

With Phil’s unapologetic style, our listeners will be treated to deep, no-nonsense analysis and diverse perspectives that are essential for those looking to understand the fu...

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