Season 2 of Electric Mindset is here. And we're kicking it off with one of the biggest questions in enterprise AI right now: how do you actually get value from it?

Most organizations know they need to do something with AI. Fewer know what that something should be. Even fewer are measuring whether it's working.

In this episode, host Dave Manley talks with Keith Shiner, Engineering Lead Partner at Electric Mind, and Dan Adamson, CEO & Co-Founder of AutoAlign AI, about the gap between AI hype and AI impact inside large organizations. The conversation covers what separates companies that are getting real returns from the ones still stuck in pilot mode, and why leadership buy-in means more than signing off on a budget.

What you'll hear:

• Why the winners in AI transformation aren't chasing tools, they're asking better questions
• What "fail fast" actually looks like when there's real money on the table
• How to measure ROI in terms your board will care about
• The culture shift that has to happen before any technology can stick

This isn't a conversation about what AI could do someday. It's about what's working now, what's not, and what to do about it.

Contact us:

Dan Adamson:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/danadamson/

Keith Shiner:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/keithshiner/

Dave Manley:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/dmmanley/

Auto Align AI: https://www.autoalign.ai

Electric Mind: www.electricmind.com

#ElectricMindset #ElectricMind #AutoAlignAI #AI #AITransformation #TheFutureIsBright

Payments innovation impacts us all—but most of us rarely think about what happens behind the tap or transfer. In this Season 1 bonus episode of Electric Mindset, our host Nick Dyment sat down with Alex Achtemichuk and Eric Lombardi to unpack the transformation reshaping Canada’s financial system.

From the future of real-time rails to the rise of agentic AI, the conversation revealed that payments modernization isn’t a one-and-done event—it’s an ongoing journey requiring constant investment, scale, and curiosity. Alex Achtemichuk put it succinctly: the financial institutions agile enough to harness structured data and AI are poised to pull ahead, while Eric Lombardi reminded us that smaller players can now leapfrog incumbents by building around nimble architectures and next-gen tools.

If you’re building in fintech or rethinking business strategy, remember: sustainable advantage comes from focusing on what makes your experience unique, while leveraging partners to take care of the complex infrastructure. And as the barriers to entry drop, success will belong to those who embrace learning, humility, and bold execution—no matter the market climate.

Curious about how to adapt your roadmap or where Canada stands on the global innovation stage? Reach out and let’s keep the conversation going. In a world that’s only getting more complex, there’s never been a better time to stay curious and build something future-ready.

Contact us here:

Electric Mind: https://www.electricmind.com/contact

Eric Lombardi:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/ericlombardi/

https://x.com/EricDLombardi?s=20

Alex Achtemichuk: 

https://www.linkedin.com/in/alex-achtemichuk-91295167/

www.centralone.com

www.electricmind.com

00:00 Simplifying Payments for Financial Institutions

06:11 "C1: Empowering Fintech Payment Solutions"

08:51 Canada's Paradigm Shift in Payments

11:58 Canada’s Role as Payment Innovator

15:45 Canada's Digital ID & Payments Innovation

19:45 "AI Advancing AML and Payments"

22:50 "AI Reshaping Business Strategies Globally"

26:48 "Challenges Facing Young Entrepreneurs Today"

31:39 "Career Growth by Understanding Why"

35:33 Curiosity, Systems Thinking, and Advocacy Insights

37:10 "Navigating Growth, Curiosity, and Confidence"

40:35 "Connect with Me on LinkedIn"

#ElectricMindset #TheFutureisBright #ElectricMind #CentralOne #Payments #NickDyment #EricLombardi #AlexAchtemichuk #AI #AIConsulting #Podcast

Contact centers get a bad rap. They're often written off as cost centers: high-volume, high-churn, and low on innovation. But what if flipping that mindset is the key to real CX transformation?

In episode 006 of Electric Mindset, host Nick Dyment talks with Michael Lang, Advisory Director and contact center transformation specialist about what it takes to turn customer service into a value engine. 

Michael’s been deep in the weeds: navigating outdated systems, inconsistent processes, and frustrated agents and customers alike. Through it all, he’s learned that real progress doesn’t come from slashing costs, it comes from designing experiences that work for people.

Nick and Michael dig into:

• Why AI alone won’t save your contact center
• How legacy tools hold teams back—and what to do about it
• What happens when you listen to your frontline

If you’re dealing with high turnover, clunky workflows, or wondering whether Gen AI can really make a difference, this one’s for you. Michael shares practical insights from the field, plus a few hard truths about what works and what doesn’t.

Empathy, smart tech, and metrics that matter—that’s the playbook.
Ready to shift your perspective?

00:00 Career Shift from Arts to Engineering

04:13 Improving Customer Experience

09:11 Lessons from Frontline Workers

12:15 Rethinking Contact Centers

15:45 AI Revolutionizing Contact Centers

16:33 Amazon's Cloud Strategy Dominance

21:15 Collaborative Site Visits for Empathy

24:36 Contact Center Reporting Automation Insights

27:29 Technology-Driven Customer Experience Shift

28:45 AI Monitors and Saves Troubled Calls

33:11 Evolving Contact Centers with AI

35:50 Expanding Customer Communication Channels

40:21 "Contact Center NPS Boosted 20 Points"

43:13 "Customer Value Over Call Center"

45:56 "Answer Anywhere: Remote Phone Tools"

48:16 Redefining Customer Support Metrics

51:36 "Spread the Electric Mindset"

#ElectricMindset #ElectricMind #Podcast #AIconsulting #DigitalStrategy #CustomerExperience #AI #Transformation #AdvisoryTeam

Thinking about AI agents but not sure where to start—or how to stay out of trouble? You're not alone.

In episode 005 of Electric Mindset, host Nick Dyment sits down with Duke Osei, an implementation consultant leading the charge on ServiceNow’s AI orchestration tools.

Duke breaks it down: agentic AI isn’t just another tech upgrade. It’s a fundamental shift in how organizations handle automation, risk, and accountability. He maps it all out with a killer analogy: your org is the airport, AI agents are planes, and ServiceNow? That’s your air traffic control. Smooth landings only.

🛑 Before you dive in, make sure you’ve got the essentials:
✔️ Visibility
✔️ Policy
✔️ Logging
✔️ Incident management
✔️ Orchestration

The goal? Safer, smarter AI adoption without the headlines you don’t want.

Ready to get your AI house in order? Hit play and learn how to scale agents with confidence, clarity, and control.

00:00 "From Gamer to Streamer"

06:27 From Generative AI to Agentic AI

08:32 Agentic AI Governance Strategies

11:39 AI Compliance Tool Challenges

15:02 AI Adoption Strategies in Business

17:29 Navigating Complex Systems with AI

22:55 Enhancing IT Management with AI

25:38 ServiceNow: Integrating Third-Party Agents

29:46 Ensuring Compliance and Audit Trails

31:18 ServiceNow: Orchestrating Multi-Agent Management

34:27 Navigating AI in Company Culture

39:22 "AI Safety Discussion"

#ElectricMindset #ElectricMind #MeetTheTeam #ServiceNow #DigitalTransformation #TechWithImpact #TheFutureisBright

Change isn’t about the newest tool. It’s about people, timing, and making every move matter.

In episode 4, Gen AI in Canadian Banks, Nick Dyment and Lauren Bergstrom talk about transformation inside some of Canada’s largest banks, about what really drives change that sticks.

Lauren’s take? Shiny tech doesn’t get you far without the basics. Transformation only works when people are ready. That means clear ownership, teams trained for new workflows, and governance that scales with innovation.

As Gen AI quietly reshapes everything from operations to branch support, Lauren breaks down the real work behind the scenes: clean data, realistic cost models, and involving the people the tech is meant to support. No shortcuts. Just smart program design, real testing, and feedback loops that turn pilots into progress.

Working through change in your world? Lauren’s playbook is a reminder: transformation is successful when people are part of the plan from day one.

Want to go deeper on frameworks that work? Let’s talk.

00:00 "Transferable Skills from Art to Consulting"

05:54 Avoid Last-Minute Project Panic

08:43 Gen AI Transforming Bank Operations

10:28 Data Transformation for AI Readiness

14:44 Bank Governance Enhances Tech Alignment

18:33 Accelerating Development with AI Tools

20:16 Evolving Code Management with LLMs

24:47 Chatbots Enhance Branch Efficiency

29:29 Optimizing Team AI Interactions

30:49 Inclusive Design in Business Pilots

36:42 Transformative AI in Banking Operations

41:13 Balancing Efficiency and Oversight Costs

42:27 Gen AI in Bank Project Management

45:39 Gen AI Myth Debunking

Catch up on Episode 001 through 003 here: https://www.electricmind.com/whats-on-our-mind?type=Podcast

Remote work isn’t just a trend. It’s shaping a new era of collaboration and productivity. In the latest episode of Electric Mindset, host Nick Dyment welcomed Edward Philip, a technologist, musician, and bona fide AI whiz, to explore how organizations are adapting to this transformation.

Edward shared real stories from leading virtual-first startups through the upheaval of lockdown, redesigning culture and trust for distributed teams across the globe. From implementing AI-driven developer workflows to pioneering virtual spaces where colleagues can “roast marshmallows” by a virtual fire, his experience proves that embracing the right tools is only half the battle.

The most impactful change? Shifting from a culture of visibility to one of trust and outcomes, empowering teams with flexibility and holding space for true connection, even from a distance.

Edward reminds us: AI tools open the door, but unleashing real productivity means championing digital literacy and reimagining how we lead. The future of work is limitless for those bold enough to rethink the rules.

If you’re navigating hybrid or remote work or wrestling with how AI fits into your team’s daily flow, let’s connect. We’re always here to trade stories and share practical playbooks for the next chapter of work.

01:31 Tech Gloves Transform DJ Experience

07:06 Transition to Flexible Work Model

09:30 "Embracing Flexible Work Options"

12:39 "Optimizing Hybrid Interactive Spaces"

15:13 Embracing Remote Work Benefits

18:18 Evaluating Text Generation Accuracy

22:16 Shadow IT and Software Standardization

24:20 AI-Assisted Coding Solutions

29:37 AI Scheduling Errors Concerns

33:21 "AI-Assisted RFP Code Generation"

35:09 Flexible Work and Family Balance

40:33 AI Agents in Future Workplaces

42:16 Agent Communication Beyond Built APIs

46:44 Vibe Coding's Responsibility Dilemma

50:14 AI's Workforce Impact Explored

51:06 Rapid Evolution of AI Models

54:08 Passionate Pursuits in Modern Music

57:24 "Rayban Metas: Embracing Virtual Reality"

Watch a young Edward Philip demo “DJ Gloves”: https://youtu.be/E1UgFynVWCQ?si=ePBDIcge9dVu9a-7

Watch Edward Philip on the Discovery Channel: https://vimeo.com/70206133

Recommended reading from Edward Philip: 

Understanding Deep Learning: https://g.co/kgs/h1Mcsiy

Build a Large Language Model (From Scratch): https://g.co/kgs/RYiE3m8

AI Engineering: Building Applications with Foundation Models:

https://g.co/kgs/7naZ4mb

Links to some of the tools that Edward and Nick use:

ChatGPT Multi Modal : https://community.openai.com/t/chatgpt-goes-multimodal-sound-and-vision-is-rolling-out-on-chatgpt/394501

CoPilot : https://copilot.microsoft.com/chats/qK9dTmTufue1xZiQwASSX

Cursor : https://cursor.com/en

Motion : https://www.usemotion.com

MS Teams Meeting notes : https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/office/take-meeting-notes-in-microsoft-teams-3eadf032-0ef8-4d60-9e21-0691d317d103

Canva : www.canva.com

Sonnet : https://www.anthropic.com/claude/sonnet

#electricmind #electricmindset #thefutureisbright #podcast #ai #aitrends #thefutureofwork #agenticAI #NickDyment #EdwardPhilip #thefutureofai #workplaceofthefuture

Digital transformation can feel daunting, especially when legacy technology is standing in your way. In the latest episode of Electric Mindset, our host Nick Dyment sat down with Paul Kalinowski, who’s seen firsthand how large-scale modernization unfolds in capital markets and wealth management.

Paul shared powerful insights about why transformation is about more than just tech, and how breaking down monolithic systems starts with mindset, not code.

If you’re staring down a modernization project, remember: progress starts with prioritization and people alignment, not just technology.

Curious how to kickstart your journey? Let’s connect—always happy to share a framework or two from the trenches.

00:00 "Career Journey: Law to Consulting"

04:36 Complexity in Wealth and Capital Markets

06:35 Tackling Legacy Tech for Growth

12:09 Limitations of Composable Architecture

15:43 Obsolete Training Challenges in Contact Centers

19:20 Legacy Systems vs. Modernization Challenge

21:08 Frameworks for System Transformation Analysis

25:52 Home Renovation Disruption Analogy

27:21 "Big Bang Approach: Data Migration Risks"

32:30 Aligning Technology and Business Operations

36:40 Balancing Speed and Strategic Focus

38:36 AI-Driven Efficiency in Transformation

41:59 Iterative Product Development Benefits

45:05 "Persona-Driven Project Success"

47:59 Embrace Modernization for Growth

 Find us at www.electricmind.com

#electricmind #electricmindset #thefutureisbright #podcast #ai #aitrends #legacymodernization #digitaltransformation

AI or Bust: Our host, Nick Dyment, Chief of Staff and Technical Director, sits down with Chris Ford, Managing Partner and CEO of Electric Mind. With candid stories, humor, and real-world insight, they unpack AI’s impact on business transformation, the consulting industry, and what it takes to be an ongoing innovator in tech today.