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FWD: Technology
FWD: Technology episodes
- Allie Garfinkle (Fortune): From AI FOMO to measurable value
AI is attracting unprecedented investment, but is it producing measurable value? In this episode of FWD: Technology, hosts Bill Briggs, Simona Spelman, and Brett Davis speak with Allie Garfinkle, senior writer and editor at Fortune, about AI's funding boom, venture capital's fear of missing out on that boom, and the challenge of turning ambitious AI goals into measurable business outcomes. They discuss how AI is reshaping just about everything in business, including enterprise technology, professional services, education, and infrastructure. The conversation's throughline: Leaders should pursue AI with optimism, discipline, clear metrics, and a strong belief in human judgment.
41 min - Colie Edison (WNBA): Building a growth engine from the ground upGrowth is sharply in focus as technology continues to blur the lines between innovation, the customer experience, and business strategy. In this episode of FWD: Technology, hosts Brett Davis and Simona Spelman speak with Colie Edison, Chief Growth Officer of the WNBA, about how she's leading the charge to build a growth function from the ground up and turning a clear consumer mandate into action. Edison shares how the WNBA is making it easier, and more exciting, to be a fan with innovative digital products, athlete affinity initiatives, expanded media access, and strategic partnerships. The conversation offers a practical lesson for leaders: Tech creates enormous value when it's used to implement strategy, align teams to business goals, and keep the customer at the center of it all. Like, comment, share, and subscribe!32 min
- Scott Donaton (Crunchyroll): Why fans, not subscribers, drive growthThe strongest brands don't try to be everything to everyone. For Crunchyroll, that means protecting the hand-drawn artistry and human creativity that make anime so beloved by its fans, while using technology to enrich the fan experience rather than replace the creative process. In this episode of FWD: Technology, hosts Bill Briggs and Simona Spelman talk with Scott Donaton, Global Head of Brand and Community at Crunchyroll, about how Crunchyroll has turned fandom into a business model and continues to practice leadership discipline while keeping human creativity at the heart of its identity. Donaton shares how passionate communities can create conversation, advocacy, and co-ownership around new ideas. He discusses how Crunchyroll demonstrates, rather than simply claims, authenticity—and how the company strives to better understand the role it plays in its customers' lives. The upshot? Growth becomes more durable when strategy begins with a real relationship, not a broad demographic. Like, comment, share, and subscribe!26 min
- Suzie Reider (Lyft): Turning mobility data into durable growthLyft isn't just a transportation company. It's building a broader mobility platform connecting riders, drivers, destinations, advertisers, and new services. In this episode of FWD: Technology, Deloitte's Chief Technology Officer, Bill Briggs, and Chief Human Officer, Simona Spelman, speak with Suzie Reider, EVP of Marketing, Ads, and Business at Lyft, about the strategy shaping Lyft's growth. Reider shares how Lyft is building a more connected mobility experience, using context to make advertising more impactful, and treating trust as an essential part of the consumer experience. She also discusses acquisitions, integration, work redesign, and why leaders shouldn't simply refine last year's business strategy when change is happening so quickly. Bottom line? Growth requires both ambition and operational discipline. Like, comment, share, and subscribe!34 min
- Hunter Woodhall (US Paralympic Gold Medalist): Digital twins, human edgeBreaking a world record takes more than speed. It requires digging deep to find out whether human instinct can adapt to hard evidence. On FWD: Technology, hosts Simona Spelman, Deloitte's Chief Human Officer, and Bill Briggs, Deloitte's Chief Technology Officer, join Hunter Woodhall, US Paralympic Gold Medalist, to explore the Unbreakable Twin project. By running simulations and live-testing hypotheses on the track, the team uncovers performance gains that conventional wisdom and instinct may miss. For business and technology leaders, Hunter's experience offers a powerful lesson: Progress often begins when we set ego aside, trust the people and tools around us, and act on the data. Like, comment, share, and subscribe!38 min
- Dr. Harrison Keller (UNT): Redesigning entry-level work for the AI eraAI didn't just change jobs. It changed what "ready for work" means. In this episode of FWD: Technology, Bill Briggs (Deloitte's chief technology officer) and Simona Spelman (Deloitte's chief human officer) break down the skills college graduates need to thrive in a fast-moving, AI-shaped workplace, and what higher education may need to rethink as a result. They are joined by Dr. Harrison Keller, president of the University of North Texas, for a practical conversation about workforce readiness, curriculum evolution, and how leaders can better define what day-one success looks like now. Like, comment, share, subscribe today!48 min
- Rob Gaige (Reddit): Turning community insight into actionAI can identify patterns at unparalleled scale, but human judgment is still essential to understanding what those patterns might mean. In this episode of FWD: Technology, Deloitte's Bill Briggs, US Chief Technology Officer, and Simona Spelman, US Chief Human Officer, sit down with Rob Gaige, Global Head of Insights at Reddit, to explore how real, frank conversations across Reddit's communities can reveal emerging behaviors, unmet needs, and new opportunities for brands. They discuss how AI helps surface unexpected signals, why context is critical, and how leaders can pair technology with human conversations to make better decisions. The takeaway: Important insights are hidden in public conversations, and organizations are better positioned when they learn how to listen. Like, comment, share, and subscribe!35 min
- Mo Reynolds (Deloitte): AI, work redesign, and the human side of resilienceIn this episode of FWD: Technology, Deloitte's Bill Briggs, US Chief Technology Officer, Brett Davis, US Chief Innovation Officer, and Simona Spelman, US Chief Human Officer, welcome guest Mo Reynolds, Deloitte's US Chief People Officer, to examine what it really takes to build a resilient workforce in the age of AI. The conversation goes beyond the headlines to examine work redesign, change fatigue, leadership alignment, and the human capabilities that will matter most as transformation accelerates. Like, comment, share, subscribe today!46 min
- Andrea Gellert (Meta): AI and the creator economy
In this episode of FWD: Technology, Deloitte's Bill Briggs, US Chief Technology Officer, and Simona Spelman, US Chief Human Officer, speak with Andrea Gellert, VP of global business and product marketing at Meta, about how AI is reinventing the marketing funnel, from discovery to purchase to post-purchase. They discuss conversational commerce, business agents, smart glasses, and the shift from traditional campaigns to tailored experiences that feel helpful rather than intrusive. The takeaway: Leaders who pair AI scale with trust, strategy, and human judgment can create more seamless and authentic customer connections.
36 min - Marla Aaron (Marla Aaron Jewelry): How AI can boost creativity without losing humanityTechnology is changing how brands create, scale, and connect with customers. But the most interesting stories are not about replacing human creativity, they are about amplifying it. In this episode of FWD: Technology, Deloitte's Bill Briggs (US Chief Technology Officer), Brett Davis (US Chief Innovation Officer), and Simona Spelman (US Chief Human Officer) sit down with Marla Aaron, CEO and Founder of Marla Aaron Jewelry, to explore how technology can support craft, storytelling, and customer experience without stripping away the human point of view that makes a brand distinctive in the first place.59 min
About FWD: Technology
From the publisher's feed
Automation will speed us up. AI will help us see further.
But inside businesses, progress depends on something harder to scale: human judgment.
FWD: Technology explores what happens when technology meets human decision-making. Hosted by Bill Briggs (Chief Technology Officer of Deloitte), Brett Davis (Chief Innovation Officer), and Simona Spelman (Chief Human Officer), the show brings clarity to a world of complexity, helping you move from buzzwords to business impact.
Each episode features stories, insights, and hard-earned lessons from builders who know that innovation only works when people know what matters…and why.
For leaders balancing competing priorities, proving ROI, and guiding what's next for their organizations, FWD: Technology is a place where optimism meets realism.
Don't bet on the future. Build it.