Catalyst

This week, Tammy welcomes Bob Pick to the Catalyst podcast booth, recording live from NTT Research’s Upgrade event. Bob is the EVP & CIO at Tokio Marine North America, a multinational insurance holding company headquartered in Tokyo, Japan. In their conversation, Bob shares how his nontraditional background in the humanities—including research on the history of swimming pool design—has shaped his approach to working in technology. He and Tammy also discuss the advantages of working at a Japanese company, notably the philosophy of sustainability and encouraging personal development. Bob also shares examples of where he’s been bullish on adopting AI, while cautioning against rushing headfirst into disruption. He argues that the most successful companies will be those that take a moment to determine how new technology like AI can meaningfully improve how they work. 

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Bob Pick 

Tokio Marine North America Services 

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This week on Catalyst, Tammy is recording live from Upgrade - NTT Research’s annual event that brings together the latest in research and innovation from NTT groups around the world. In this episode, Tammy is joined by Kathleen Zaski, Vice President of IT, Clinical Innovation and Technology Leader at Renown Health where she oversees the technology shaping how patients are cared for and how clinicians work. Together they dive into Kathleen's journey from nursing in the Cardiac ICU to executive IT leadership, how her clinical background informs every technology decision she makes, and what it truly takes to implement and deploy AI in a way that benefits both the patient and clinician experience.

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Upgrade 2026 

Kathleen Zaski 

Renown Health 

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This week on Catalyst, Tammy is joined by Bob Rosen, Chief Information Officer at Arcosa. Bob discusses his career journey, including his early experience in the Air Force working with electronics and even designing tech for F-14 fighter jets! He shares how those formative roles shaped the leadership principles he carries today—most notably, that the best idea wins and that bad news doesn’t improve with age. Bob and Tammy also explore the role of healthy skepticism in today’s rapidly evolving AI landscape, and the importance of thinking strategically about where—and whether—AI can truly drive business results.

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Bob Rosen 

Arcosa Inc. 

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This week on Catalyst, Tammy is joined by Jackie Talbot, Vice President of Product at Hilton. Jackie has a talent for turning frustrating experiences into moments of joy, and she’s bringing that mindset to her work at Hilton. There, she’s leading the use of AI-powered tools to improve both employee and customer experiences. Jackie explains the idea of “phygital,” which combines digital tools with human interaction to create smoother, more seamless experiences. She also shares lessons from her own podcast, reflects on why authenticity matters in leadership, and highlights the importance of staying curious as you grow your career.

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Jackie Talbot 

How do I navigate this shit 

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This week on Catalyst, Tammy Soares sits down with Dr. Bratin Saha, CEO of NTT DATA AIVista and a true pioneer in the evolution of artificial intelligence. Drawing on his leadership experience at Intel, Nvidia, and AWS, where he built and scaled one of the fastest-growing businesses in the company’s history, Bratin shares insights from a career defined by innovation and impact. Together, Tammy and Bratin explore the critical intersection of technology and business, the role of strong leadership in navigating the rapidly evolving AI landscape, and why a human-centric approach is essential for long-term success. Bratin also underscores a key differentiator in the age of AI: the power of deep domain expertise in unlocking meaningful, real-world value.

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Bratin Saha 

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This week on Catalyst, Tammy is joined by Michael Mahar, SVP & Head of Commercial Technology, Loyalty & Digital Products at Wyndham Hotels and Resorts. Michael’s career started answering calls as a Support Technician at Wyndham and now, over 20 years later, he’s helping the company transform their global infrastructure and leverage AI and cloud technologies to enhance the customer experience. In this episode Michael shares how Wyndham is using new technologies to improve the personal experience of their clients and why keeping an optimistic approach to advancements in AI is beneficial to your business.

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Michael Mahar

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This week on Catalyst, guest host Jod Kaftan is joined by Jim Kalbach, Chief Evangelist at MURAL, speaker, and author of Mapping Experiences and The Jobs To Be Done Playbook. Jod and Jim Kalbach discuss the evolving landscape of design, particularly in the context of AI. They explore the double diamond framework, the Jobs To Be Done methodology, and the importance of understanding customer needs through real-world research. Jim emphasizes the need for designers to embed customer insights into organizational workflows and the ethical responsibilities that come with design in the age of AI. Jim also shares how his experience as a Jazz Bassist informs his work in design - notably his ability to embrace the unknown. 

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Jim Kalbach

Jobs to be Done Toolkit 

Erica Flowers - Trade Your Double Diamonds for Steel 

Leo Frishberg - Presumptive Design 

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This week on Catalyst, Tammy is joined by Tresa Gowland, Manufacturing and High Tech Industry Leader at Launch by NTT DATA. Tresa began her career on the factory floor and has since moved into a strategic role, helping organizations transform and modernize their manufacturing processes. Tammy and Tresa explore what it really takes to modernize manufacturing. They highlight the critical role of empathy, compassion, and active listening when introducing new technologies and tackling long-standing challenges. Tresa also shares why treating innovation like a factory can drive adoption and deliver meaningful, lasting value.

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Tresa Gowland 

From Sci-Fi to Shop Floor: Turning Bold Ideas into Reality

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In this episode from the archives, Tammy is joined by Sarina Malik, a graduate from Columbia University, to discuss the role of AI in shaping the future workforce. They discuss the challenges faced by Gen Z in entering the job market, the importance of AI literacy, and the ethical implications of using AI in education. Serena also shares about her experience leveraging technology to create positive change in the world.

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Project Pearls

Future Faces Foundation Manila  

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This week on Catalyst, Tammy is joined by AI Empowerment Solutions Leader at NTT DATA Christen Bell. Christen’s work focuses on how intelligent systems affect humans in the workplace and, more recently, human’s fears of AI. Christen shares her fascinating findings with Tammy on how AI adoption differs between industries and regions and what makes people more or less trusting of AI. Christen and Tammy also talk about how leaders can quell the perceived threat of AI in their workplaces - no surprise, it's by being human first! 

Please note that the views expressed may not necessarily be those of NTT DATA

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Christen Bell 

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