Behind the Growth

In this episode of Behind the Growth, host Imran Mian interviews Nitesh Soni, Global AI Solutions Leader at Sanofi. Nitesh sketches the diverse scope of his role as a data science practitioner, and how it enables him to navigate machine learning and AI in driving pharmaceuticals. He also talks about the significance of building a diverse team to meet consumer requirements on a global scale, ensuring that cultural sensitivities are not relegated to the background. 

While talking about Sanofi’s mindset of collaboration for the ultimate good of the customers, Nitesh also sheds light on the role of AI integration in pharma, which includes automation of drug-developing processes, optimizing yields, strengthening supply chains, and facilitating marketing. Personalized and transformative solutions for healthcare professionals also make the list.  

Nitesh offers advice to those looking to switch from academia to the private sector, suggesting that picking a mentor, embarking on a skill discovery endeavour, and building the necessary niche-specific skills goes a long way. He sheds light on the innovative AI-specific trends that will potentially alter the pharmaceutical world in the days to come, and believes that the future is AI, provided we navigate it with a positive mindset. 

Key Highlights:  
- A diverse team can better help navigate consumer requirements  
- Keeping cultural sensitivities in view drives global collaboration 
- AI integration in pharma is as beneficial as other sectors  
- Discovering and developing skills can go a long way in the private sector  
- The future is AI, if navigated with a positive mindset 

Visit mlarteka.com/podcast to learn more about each guest and read key insights for every episode.

In this episode of Behind the Growth, host Imran Mian interviews Suhanniyah Carpenter, Director of Consumer Banking, Technology Lead at Royal Bank of Canada as she traces her transition from a computer science major to a director. She talks about the tussle between work and starting a family in the minds of young women in the corporate world, and suggests that the latter works out if you maintain your network and make yourself visible.  

Suhanniyah clears up uncertainties around remote working, stressing upon the benefits of considering your manager your partner in career progression. She talks about focusing on why you are in the room instead of the challenges that come in your way as a woman of color. Sharing her personal experiences, she talks about how her managers helped her get over her imposter syndrome and pushed leadership opportunities her way.  

The intentional focus on diversifying the talent mix encourages and delights her, for she believes that it opens doors long stuck. Suhanniyah also stresses upon having supportive conversations for career advancement as an important pillar of diversity and inclusion. She sheds light on the latest fintech advancements and changes in the landscape of consumer banking, while highlighting the ripple effects of having meaningful connections and conversations.  

Key Takeaways: 
- Early motherhood IS compatible with corporate success 
- Remote working can pave opportunities for growth just like its counterpart  
- Excelling in your field as a woman of color is not impossible  
- Considering your managers as partners in your career progression works a long way 
- Intentional focus on diversifying talent opens age-old stuck doors

Visit mlarteka.com/podcast to learn more about each guest and read key insights for every episode.

This episode of Behind the Growth covers the story and insights of Mahima Poddar, Group Head of Personal Banking at Equitable Bank. In conversation with host Imran Mian, Mahima traces her corporate journey that led her to EQ Bank’s digital platform, and eventually to the leadership seat of Personal Banking at the Bank. She considers networking and diverse reading to be the hallmark of creativity, and talks about its significance in chalking out intersections between distinct domains.

Mahima also shares Equitable Bank’s philosophy of prioritizing intellect, professional energy, and cultural adaptability over experience of the nuances of Canadian banking. She talks about the year-long metamorphosis of the bank’s operating model to boost productivity and streamline team dynamics by essentially giving precedence to diagnosis over deliverables.

Emphasizing the importance of customer satisfaction as the ultimate measure of success, Mahima conveys Equitable Bank’s strategies for sustainable innovation and successful purpose-led business management. She highlights the bank's commitment to providing superior customer service and maintaining high satisfaction levels as benchmarks for success. 

Key Highlights:   
- Information-seeking corporate attitudes can go a long way  
- Prioritizing intellect and cultural fit helps hire more diverse talent
- Customer satisfaction is the ultimate indicator of success
- Collective accountability can boost productivity
- Sustainable business models pay off more in the long-run 

Visit mlarteka.com/podcast to learn more about each guest and read key insights for every episode.

In this episode of Behind the Growth, host Mudassar Malik chats with Hasan Jafri, VP Engineering, Digital Business Solutions at TELUS. As they explore Hasan's extensive background, starting from his early days in Northern Virginia to influential roles in various major corporations, Hasan talks about his time at companies like IBM and Citibank, focusing on his experiences in handling large-scale operations and cloud-based initiatives. 

Detailing his transition to TELUS and their strategic shift to a more integrated, API-driven approach, Hasan emphasizes the importance of enterprise architecture and engineering excellence in driving successful digital transformations. He also elaborates on innovative strategies like product-oriented architecture, stream-aligned teams, and the integration of AI and DevOps tools to boost both customer excellence as well as operational efficiency across business units. 

As the conversation progresses, Hassan discusses the current state of digital transformation in Canada and the priority shifts that come with it, including a wider adoption of remote work, increase in e-commerce trends, and more focus on data privacy and security. Finally, he emphasizes the critical need for continuous learning and adaptation in the tech sector to meet changing business demands and stay competitive amidst emerging digital advancements. 

Key Highlights:
- Enterprise architecture should focus on execution 
- E-commerce growth necessitates digital adaptation
- Remote work increases the need for collaboration tools 
- Successful digital transformations require top-down support 
- Learn prompt engineering to integrate and adapt to GenAI 

Visit mlarteka.com/podcast to learn more about each guest and read key insights for every episode.

In this episode of Behind the Growth, host Imran Mian welcomes Sabih Ahmed from Scotiabank, who shares his decade-long experience in deploying conversational AI. Sabih emphasizes the importance of aligning conversational AI applications with customer needs over mere cost-cutting. He explains how these technologies should focus on high-volume, low-complexity tasks to optimize operational efficiency.

Sabih also discusses the critical steps involved in developing conversational AI from identifying suitable use cases to securing executive buy-in. He stresses the need for clear business objectives and robust testing to avoid potential pitfalls, using real-world examples to illustrate common challenges and solutions.

As the conversation progresses, he covers the future of conversational AI, touching on the integration of generative AI and its potential to expand service capacities without replacing human jobs. Finally, Sabih emphasizes the importance of an AI-first organizational culture that views AI as an enhancement rather than a replacement of human capabilities.

Key Highlights: 
- Prioritize customer value over business cost savings 
- Target repetitive, simple tasks with conversational AI 
- Focus on conversational design for AI effectiveness 
- Implement continuous learning for conversational AI improvement 
- Define precise KPIs to measure AI performance 

Visit mlarteka.com/podcast to learn more about each guest and read key insights for every episode.

In this episode of Behind the Growth, Mike Hamilton, President of GE HealthCare Canada, explores the critical role of AI and digital transformation in the healthcare sector. He discusses GE HealthCare's innovative solutions, including AI-powered technology like True Fidelity in CT scanning, which revolutionizes cardiac care by providing clinicians with detailed real-time heart images. This technological leap enhances image clarity, leading to more accurate diagnoses and better patient outcomes.

As the conversation continues, Mike elaborates on the broader implications of digital transformation in healthcare, pointing out its challenges and opportunities. He discusses the Canadian healthcare system's progress in digitizing health records and adopting telemedicine, propelled significantly by the pandemic's demands. Despite these advances, Mike highlights obstacles such as reliance on legacy systems, regulatory complexities, and cybersecurity concerns.

Looking to the future, Mike envisions a healthcare system in which AI models support clinical decision-making and predict patient health outcomes years in advance. This anticipatory approach could improve patient care, making it more proactive and personalized.

He also advocates for collaboration between technology providers and healthcare professionals to maximize the benefits of digital solutions, emphasizing the necessity of training and education to utilize AI tools effectively.

Key Highlights:
- "True Fidelity" AI revolutionizes cardiac care with precise, real-time imagery
- AI in Canadian healthcare improves radiology workflows and diagnostic accuracy
- Challenges to digital healthcare include legacy systems and regulatory issues 
- Public opinion favors AI enhancements in healthcare imaging 
- AI's predictive capabilities are set to transform proactive patient care 

Visit mlarteka.com/podcast to learn more about each guest and read key insights for every episode.

In this episode of Behind the Growth, host Imran Mian chats with Matt Collins, Chief Commercial Operations Officer at Calix, a company that transitioned from a traditional networking equipment provider to a cloud services leader. Matt shares insights into how Calix shifted from hardware to software, detailing the strategic vision, challenges, and the importance of meeting customer needs.

As the episode progresses, Matt talks about the leadership and collaboration strategies at Calix. He highlights the necessity of reskilling the workforce, hiring new talent with software and cloud expertise, and building a culture of transparency, dynamic tension, and collaborative decision-making. The conversation also touches on the challenges and advantages of remote work, highlighting the importance of technological and cultural enablement to ensure productivity and inclusivity in a virtual environment.

Matt then discusses Calix's impact on broadband service providers, emphasizing net promoter scores as a key metric of customer satisfaction and loyalty. Looking to the future, he explores the role of AI in transforming customer interactions and operational efficiency, and how broadband expansion is shaping industry economics and competition. He underscores the necessity for service providers to deliver compelling experiences to stay relevant.

Finally, Collins offers advice for aspiring leaders, encouraging boldness, resilience in the face of failure, and a focus on understanding the "why" behind actions to drive meaningful change. This episode provides valuable insights into navigating industry shifts, fostering customer partnerships, and driving impactful transformations.

Key Highlights 

- Transformations require customer trust, Ops agility, and peer references.
- Foster a culture of dynamic tension and collaborative decision-making.
- Remote work thrives on technology enablement and cultural alignment.
- AI will transform customer interactions, operations, and industry competition. 
- Embrace boldness, learn from failure, and focus on the “why”. 

Visit mlarteka.com/podcast to learn more about each guest and read key insights for every episode.

In this episode of Behind the Growth, Imran Mian hosts Aaron Cheng, VP of Digital Health at Shoppers Drug Mart, to dive into the transformative power of digital health in pharmacy care. Aaron shares his journey from a career in engineering and digital products, through various startups, to his current role. He emphasizes the significant impact digital solutions like the PC Health app are making in Canadian healthcare, improving patient care and streamlining healthcare delivery.

Aaron discusses the challenges and opportunities in integrating digital health into traditional pharmacy models. He highlights the importance of a patient-centric approach, leveraging technology to enhance accessibility and efficiency in healthcare services. Aaron's insights reveal the potential of digital innovations to revolutionize healthcare, making it more responsive and accessible to patients' needs.

The conversation sheds light on the future of healthcare, where digital tools and AI promise to create a more connected, efficient, and patient-focused healthcare ecosystem. Aaron's experience and vision for digital health illustrate the crucial role of technology in advancing healthcare and improving outcomes for patients across Canada.

Key Highlights:

- Digital health services improve patient experiences.
- Challenges of digital health include data, security, and integration. 
- AI automates tasks, enhances workflows, & aids decision-making. 
- Accuracy and data security are essential to build patient trust & safety. 
- Online appointment booking and virtual care are crucial in healthcare. 

Visit mlarteka.com/podcast to learn more about each guest and read key insights for every episode.

In this episode of Behind the Growth, Imran Mian engages with Andrea De Mauro, a renowned Data & Analytics Leader, Author, and Executive Advisor, to explore the intricacies of artificial intelligence (AI), particularly Generative AI, and its human-centric challenges. Andrea shares insights from his extensive experience, emphasizing the importance of ethical considerations and the human element in the development and implementation of AI technologies.

The conversation delves into the critical role of corporate culture and talent cultivation in driving innovation while ensuring that technology serves humanity's best interests. Andrea shares successful strategies for fostering a culture that embraces change and supports continuous learning and adaptation in the face of rapid technological advancements.

Furthermore, the episode touches on the balance between leveraging AI for business growth and addressing societal impacts, underscoring the need for executives and leaders to prioritize ethical considerations. Andrea's perspectives offer valuable lessons on navigating the complexities of AI, making it a must-listen for anyone interested in the intersection of technology, business, and ethics.

Key Highlights:
- Fostering a culture of collaboration and ensuring fluency are key for AI integration
- Ethical AI requires clear understanding and governance
- The future of work involves collaboration between humans and AI
- Identify Gen AI use cases demonstrating tangible value to stakeholders
- Integrate data professionals in business with well-defined roles and responsibilities 

Visit mlarteka.com/podcast to learn more about each guest and read key insights for every episode.

In this episode of Behind the Growth, Imran Mian hosts Ramzi Rahbani, VP of Product & Customer Platforms at FlightHub, to discuss digital transformation within the travel industry. With extensive experience in steering digital transformation across industries, Ramzi shares insights from both the banking and travel sectors, drawing parallels between the two and revealing how digital innovation is reshaping customer experiences and operational efficiency.

Across 13 years of leadership, Ramzi has always stood by a product-first approach. His approach to product development is deeply rooted in customer insights, showcasing his unique perspective on driving growth and adapting to the digital era's challenges.

Reflecting on his journey at FlightHub, he emphasizes the critical role of understanding customer needs and leveraging technology to create more engaging, seamless travel experiences. By focusing on user-centric product development and embracing change, he illustrates how FlightHub is setting new standards in the travel sector.

As the conversation evolves to discuss Ramzi’s perspective on the dynamic nature of the travel industry, he also touches on future trends, highlighting the role of data and customer feedback in shaping services to meet the ever-changing needs of travellers, as well as the digital channels that must be leveraged to continuously improve the user experience.

Key Highlights:
- Mobile is no longer a nice-to-have channel, but a must-have. 
- Omni-channel strategies improve customer satisfaction and drive more purchases. 
- It is more challenging to keep customers engaged in travel. 
- Engage customers by supporting their entire journey and using outbound channels.
- Capitalize on perceived utility to deliver the best customer experience.
- Always think about how digital transformation can enable your strategy.

Visit mlarteka.com/podcast to learn more about each guest and read key insights for every episode.