Behind the Growth

In the latest episode of Behind the Growth, host Mudassar Malik engages in a candid conversation with Sorin Hogiu, an Agile Transformation Leader. Sorin's incredible tech journey, spanning across countries and industries, started in Romania and led him to extraordinary experiences. He shares insights from his early forays into networking, his transition to software development, and his eventual immersion into the financial sector.

Diving deeper, Sorin elaborates on the essence of Agile transformation. He emphasizes its iterative nature, the importance of fostering a bottom-up decision-making culture, and the value of customer collaboration. The episode sheds light on how Agile methodologies can be tailored to fit different team dynamics and the significance of experimentation in achieving optimal outcomes.

And as we wrap up this eye-opening episode, Sorin leaves us with some golden nuggets of wisdom. Agile team dynamics, the delicate balance of seniority, and the undeniable role of fun in creating a productive and innovative work environment—these are the ingredients that Sorin believes will steer your agile transformation journey towards success.

Key Takeaways:
- Agile transforms how organizations collaborate and deliver value 
- Transformation will not happen overnight; be strategic 
- The success of Agile isn't just about the process; it's about the people 
- The balance of hybrid working model is suited for agile transformations 
- Start with a small number of teams, and gradually scale up to more 

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

Join host Imran Mian in this captivating episode of Behind the Growth as he dives deep into the world of AI and digital engagement with Robert Simon, the Senior Manager of Digital Adoption at Bell Media. Prepare to be inspired as Robert takes us on a fascinating journey, from his initial discovery of passion for digital technologies to his current role in the telecom industry, where he empowers businesses to embrace the power of digital transformation.

Throughout the conversation, Simon unravels the complexities of Artificial Intelligence (AI), shedding light on the crucial role that customer engagement and digital adoption play in achieving success. Discover the secrets to understanding customer retention and crafting personalized experiences that leave a lasting impact.

But it's not all smooth sailing on the path to digital transformation. Robert also addresses the challenges faced, particularly in the realms of data management and customer segmentation. Gain invaluable insights into overcoming these hurdles and driving your business forward.

As the episode draws to a close, we catch a glimpse of the future of digital transformation, carefully exploring the delicate balance between digital and human touchpoints. With Robert’s expert insights, you'll walk away armed with practical strategies to thrive in the dynamic digital age.

Key Takeaways:
- Personalization is crucial for successful digital adoption.
- Deep linking can direct customers to specific products and enhance engagement.
- Customers still need a human touch in AI experiences.
- Data points are essential to creating personalized customer experiences.
- The right prompts will provide authenticity and value in AI results

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 sits down with Chris Madan, VP of Digital Sales & Service at TELUS. Chris shares his unique career journey across Aviation, Financial Services and Telecommunications, emphasizing the common thread - a focus on customer experience. As the custodian of TELUS's digital storefront, Chris and his team are on a mission to humanize digital experiences and the digital customer journey.

Chris touches on AI and its role in bridging the gap between being data-rich and insight poor. He also discusses the potential of AI to process vast amounts of information and deliver hyper-personalized experiences at scale. But it's not just about machines and algorithms. Chris emphasizes the vital importance of the human touch, showing up in those critical moments that truly matter to clients, a key differentiator between machines and humans.

Beyond the excitement of AI, this conversation then delves into the ethical considerations surrounding its use. Chris passionately advocates for responsible AI implementation, ensuring fairness, transparency, and privacy for all. He underscores the need to be cautious and thoughtful in embracing these groundbreaking technologies, acknowledging the potential risks while maintaining a sense of optimism about the future.

If you want a glimpse into the fascinating world of AI, digital sales, and customer experience, this episode offers an abundance of valuable insights. Join Mudassar and Chris as they unravel the profound impact of technology on the future of client interactions.

Key Takeaways:
- Build a culture that embraces AI for positive change and the right outcomes
- Artificial Intelligence will bridge the gap between data-rich and insight-poor tools
- Hyper-personalization will finally take place, especially in moments that matter
- With all the tech available, the key is in stitching them together to deliver value
- Embrace AI responsibly with fair practices, guardrails, and transparency

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 sits down with Corby Fine, a marketing leader, to discuss the ever-evolving world of digital. Corby discusses the shift in investments towards the inner workings of a digital business, emphasizing the critical importance of flexibility and adaptability in today's rapidly evolving digital landscape.

As a respected voice in the industry, Corby stresses how important it is to know your customer and understand their journey with your brand.

Corby provides insights about pivotal decision points in a career, underlining the balance between retaining technical expertise, while gaining soft skills and transitioning into a leadership role.

Closing on an introspective note, Corby imparts advice to his younger self, stressing the freeing acceptance of life's inherent uncertainty. This episode is a candid examination of the professional journey in the digital era, rich with insights from our digital marketing expert.

Key Takeaways:

- Businesses are investing more on improving core platforms and systems
- Clear roles and a focused mindset are crucial for efficient implementations
- Conversion in digital is influenced by the business model and consumer trust
- Developing both technical and leadership skills benefits you in the long run
- The only certainty in life is uncertainty; so embrace it

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

Join Mudassar Malik in this episode of Behind the Growth as he sits down with Gaurav Bhatia, CMO at PenFed Credit Union, to uncover the secrets behind PenFed’s success, which according to Gaurav, are anchored in their people and culture.

Gaurav shares how critical it is to be part of a team that believes in the company's vision and is motivated to work toward a shared goal. In addition, a leadership team willing to support other teams' initiatives and help them define and overcome their pain points is the prerequisite for business growth.

Finally, Gaurav shares PenFred’s involvement in the community and how they give back to it, aiming to become its trustworthy partner. The conversation also touches on how company culture is critical for attracting and retaining customers. He also suggests that finance professionals should master the skill of listening to understand customers' needs; it's the only way to respond to demand and pivot when necessary.

Key Takeaways:
- Adopt a business first and marketing second mindset.
- Success is driven by its people and culture.
- Marketing is an investment, not an expense.
- Agility is critical for meeting customer needs.
- Community matters; give, and it’ll give back to you.

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

In this episode of the Behind the Growth podcast, we delve into the insightful perspectives of Faisal Kazi, the President and CEO at Siemens Canada, on the vital aspects of business leadership. Faisal emphasizes adaptability and learning from mistakes as crucial aspects of change management. He also discusses the importance of continuous learning and feedback in creating a progressive work environment.

The conversation highlights the concept of blameless culture, focusing on finding solutions instead of assigning blame. Faisal believes that embracing human imperfections leads to building strong teams and fosters organizational growth.

The episode concludes with Faisal's passion for corporate social responsibility. He explains how Siemens integrates giving back into its core values, reinforcing the belief that a company's purpose should be to benefit society.

This episode is a must-listen for anyone seeking to understand the nexus between effective leadership, team-building, and social responsibility.

Key Takeaways
- Take “extreme ownership” of your work, even your mistakes. 
- Demand critical feedback to foster continuous learning.
- The purpose of a company is to create benefit for the society.
- Corporate generosity and corporate success are linked.
- No one person is perfect, but a team can be perfect.

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

In this episode, host Mudassar Malik sits with Laura McCutchan, a seasoned UX design leader with experience in various web designer roles. McCutchan emphasizes the importance of effective communication within teams, sharing personal experiences on how it influences project outcomes. She speaks of the power of inclusive conversation and design thinking, shedding light on the significance of consultation and collaborative decision-making in UX/UI design.

McCutchan further discusses the necessity of striking a balance between feedback, negotiation, and execution in the development process. She underscores the critical role of early discovery and research, cautioning against compromising these for expediency, as it often leads to quality issues down the line.

Finally, McCutchan imparts her advice to fellow web and graphic designers: always ask "why." She advocates for a problem-solving approach, focusing on serving the users rather than merely creating aesthetic designs. She stresses the importance of understanding the purpose behind every design requirement, making "why" an integral part of the design process.

Key Takeaways
- Every client relationship demands a unique approach.
- Always ask the question, “Why are we doing this?”
- Cutting corners in user research comprises quality.
- Inclusive developers improve project outcomes.
- Balance feedback, negotiation, and execution.

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

Pricing is complex but one of the biggest growth levers–even in a dire economy, and It continues influencing customer decisions. So invest in getting it right.

In this episode of Behind the Growth, we invited Vice President of Marketing at Revenue Analytics, Michael McCunney, to share what successful Revenue Management is all about and how you can price to balance customer value and business growth.

Key Takeaways
- Pricing is one of the biggest growth levers
- Price to balance customer value and business growth
- Pricing plays a critical role in the customers' journey
- Revenue tech without humans won’t get the best results
- Use data to reduce pricing frictions with your finance

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

In this episode of Behind the Growth, we are joined by Saeed Otufat-Shamsi, the Director of Information Services at TELUS, to discuss all things digital transformation. Saeed introduces the term ‘humanized digital transformation’ going beyond technology and process into a customer-centric culture.

Saeed draws attention towards the day-2 activities are your key differentiators. As he says, don’t stop at the sale/purchase experience; instead, focus on transforming the after-sales experience as well. You’ll meet customer needs and grow efficiently. He also discusses the ideal team mindset, with leaders being the coaches — not managers

Key Takeaways

• Digital transformation is not about technology and process
• Focus on the customer and how to  simplify their journeys
• Optimize full lifecycle experience for the customer
• Build your team for a collective win 

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

With over 900,000 businesses in Canada and 95,000 new companies registered every year, it's clear that the Canadian startup scene is booming. Adding to that, small and mid-sized businesses contribute 50% to Canada's GDP and employ 13 million Canadians—so embracing and supporting Canadian entrepreneurs is more important than ever.

On this episode of Behind the Growth, Imran is joined by Liesl Mulholland and Isabel Nolan from Startup Canada, a non-profit organization dedicated to helping Canadian startups grow. Isabel leads Startup Women, empowering female-identifying entrepreneurs, while Liesl heads Startup Global, helping Canadian startups expand internationally.

Together, they'll share the impact of their programs, initiatives, and vision for Canada's entrepreneurial landscape. Whether you're just starting out or already growing your business, this episode is packed with valuable insights to succeed in the ever-changing world of startups.

Key Takeaways:

- Startup Canada is a gateway to your entrepreneurial peers
- Supporting women entrepreneurs = supporting a nation
- The support you need is out there: Startup Canada can help you get it
- The global market is within reach
- You could be 6 months or 5 years into your journey, but Startup Canada will help you reach your goals

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