Recent breakthroughs in quantum computing show that the technology is on the verge of fulfilling its vast potential, creating a wave of opportunity for businesses. Leaders who understand the capabilities of quantum computing will be better positioned for the long term — and will be able to capitalize as the technology continues to mature. In this episode, we’ll speak to Celia Merzbacher, Executive Director of the Quantum Economic Development Consortium (QED-C); Carl Dukatz, Next Gen Compute Lead at Accenture; and Rebecca Krauthamer, Chief Product Officer at QuSecure. 

For most of the 20th century, the role of CFO didn’t exist. But the economic turmoil of the 1970s prompted big changes and highlighted the need for more stable financial leadership in most organizations. The role has evolved over the years, with the responsibilities becoming broader and more strategic. These days, the modern CFO is often at the helm for critical decisions within their organization, driving change and taking responsibility for vast amounts of data. In this episode, we’ll speak to Itay Goldstein, Professor of Finance at the Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania; Jason Dess, Global Lead of CFO and Enterprise Value at Accenture; and Alice Globus, CFO of Nanotronics.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, a fourth of the American workforce will be over the age of 55 by 2024. At the same time, technology is changing at such a rapid pace that skill gaps and talent shortages are emerging at every level. To help close those gaps, business leaders should invest in a talent pool that is often overlooked: our aging workforce. And yet, Accenture research shows that only 23% of workers feel that their workplace provides them with a learning environment that promotes skill development. In this episode, we’ll explore why the onus is on business leaders to offer better opportunities for skilling — and speak to a former teacher who made a successful transition into a tech career. Our guests will be Michele Richmond, Software Engineer Associate at Accenture Federal Services; Allison Horn, Global Talent Lead at Accenture; and Aaron Skonnard, Co-Founder and C.E.O. at Pluralsight.

Many organizations are collecting large amounts of data just by going about their everyday business. All this data can provide insight into broader industry trends, consumer habits, market shifts and much more. That’s why businesses need to shift their mindsets toward responsibly embracing transparency, to enhance customer relationships—and to secure new ones. The bottom line? Companies can seize the moment and find ways to take advantage of the changing data ecosystem, or resist them and miss big opportunities. In this episode, we’ll speak with Nick Smith-George, Senior Director of Growth Strategy and Revenue Operations at StreetEasy; Karthik Narain, Lead of Accenture Cloud First and Data & AI; and Carolyn Jameson, Chief Trust Officer at Trustpilot. 

Progress in science and technology go hand in hand — their relationship is a bidirectional feedback loop. Advancements in one direction can accelerate innovation in the other. Today, as new discoveries are being made in areas such as space exploration, artificial intelligence and life sciences, it’s critical for organizations to take strategic advantage of these developments to transform their industries. In this episode, we’ll explore the nascent fields of space data and synthetic biology, and identify key strategies for enterprises looking to benefit from the science-tech feedback loop. We’ll hear from Jason Kelly, Co-Founder and C.E.O. of Ginkgo Bioworks; Marc Carrel-Billiard, Global Senior Managing Director at Accenture R&D Labs; and Rafel Jorda Siquier, Founder and C.E.O. of Open Cosmos.

A.I.-enabled creative technology is evolving at an astonishing speed and becoming increasingly accessible to all. Chatbots, image processors and music generators are changing the way humans create, but they are also raising concerns around ethics, authorship and intellectual property. As a result, companies must stay ahead of this trend to avoid missing out on a wave of innovation. In this episode, we’ll learn how two A.I.-based companies have reimagined music and design. We’ll also hear from an Accenture thought leader on how A.I. can enable new ways of working for teams. This episode features Oleg Stavitsky, C.E.O. and Co-Founder of Endel; Nick Law, Global Lead for Design and Creative Tech at Accenture Song; and Joseph Reisinger, C.E.O. and Co-Founder of Facet.

How can businesses free up more time for their employees, reduce effort spent struggling with multiple applications and foster meaningful collaboration between teams? The key is interoperability. Accenture research shows that companies that achieve high interoperability grow revenue 6x faster than their more disconnected peers. So, in this episode we explore how the ability to quickly adapt to new circumstances, adopt new technologies and otherwise remain nimble allows companies to thrive. We’ll speak to Michelle Green, V.P. of Business Technology for Strategy, Transformation and Governance at Discover Financial Services, and Emma McGuigan, Global Lead for Enterprise and Industry Technologies at Accenture.

In an unstable world, communities of belonging are more important than ever. That’s why people are using technology to build new digital identities. The question is: Will brands find success online by treating people as customers, or as part of the brand? In this episode, we explore why companies should take a community-first approach to things like content, experiences, data and identity. We’ll speak with Tom Verrilli, Chief Product Officer at Twitch, an interactive livestreaming platform; Katie Burke, Global Thought Leadership Lead at Accenture Song; and Karyl Fowler, C.E.O. and Co-Founder of Transmute, a company empowering enterprises across industries with authentic data and traceable insights.

The energy industry is undergoing a huge transformation. Sustainability goals and the demand for a cleaner energy system are driving new investment across the entire sector. But recently, global challenges such as the pandemic, inflation and the war in Ukraine have shown that the need for secure energy resources also demands immediate attention. In this episode, we’ll explore how the global economy’s energy future depends on a balanced approach to both security and sustainability. We’ll speak to Ory Zik, C.E.O of Qnergy; Muqsit Ashraf, Chief Executive of Accenture Strategy; and Luis Cabra, Managing Director of Energy Transition Technology, Institutional Affairs and Deputy C.E.O. at Repsol.

Over the past several years, disruption has been the norm in the travel industry. But in 2022, customer demand for vacations, air travel and other forms of hospitality climbed back toward pre pandemic levels. In this episode, we’ll explore how the demands of the modern traveler are shifting – and how companies can reward their customers with new experiences, better service and seamless operations. We’ll speak to Claire Bennett, Global Chief Customer Officer at IHG Hotels and Resorts; Emily Weiss, Global Travel Industry Lead at Accenture; and Steven Zaat, Chief Financial Officer at Air France-KLM.