AI is everywhere, but turning it into lasting value is a challenge for every organization. In this episode of #shifthappens, Claire Engels, Senior Manager for Collaboration Experience & Productivity at Versuni, shares how to make AI adoption practical, sustainable, and people-first. From building momentum with small wins to keeping teams engaged beyond the initial rollout, Claire explores what it takes to move AI from hype to habit.

Greg van der Gaast, cybersecurity leader and founder of Sequoia Consulting, shares why modern security keeps failing — and it’s not because attackers are getting smarter. Drawing from his path from teenage hacker to government witness to CISO, Greg reveals how weak IT foundations, broken processes, and poor data habits create the conditions for most breaches. He explains why security must be treated as a quality discipline, how unstructured data quietly multiplies risk, and how AI can finally help uncover the root causes that organizations often overlook.

Ally Ward, M365 Product and Platform Services Manager at a leading global law firm, shares how innovation takes shape in one of the most complex business environments for this #shifthappens episode. 

Managing technology across regions, regulations, and cultures, Ally leads the firm’s strategy for responsible AI and collaboration at scale. She discusses how data-driven adoption, strong governance, and an inclusive approach to training help transform ambitious ideas into everyday impact — creating a workplace where technology builds both confidence and capacity.

How do you thrive when cultural expectations, career pivots, and global moves collide? In this episode of #shifthappens, we sit down with Angela Chen, Microsoft’s Communications Lead, podcast host, and mentor to the next generation of tech talent. Angela shares how growing up in an Asian cultural context shaped her views on personal branding, why mentorship must be a two-way street, and how she redefined work-life balance into a life-work blend. Her story – spanning journalism, entertainment, and tech – proves that resilience isn’t just about adapting to change, it’s about intentionally writing your own playbook.

In this #shifthappens episode, Travis Hann, Co-Founder and Managing Partner at Pender & Howe and Board Member at Kestria, shares how AI is transforming executive search — without replacing the human judgment that defines great leadership. From the cost of a bad hire to the traits that set modern leaders apart, Travis discusses why curiosity, humility, and storytelling matter more than ever, and how balancing innovation with genuine human connection is crucial to success.

Work today feels busier than ever, and yet, we’re all expected to do more. That tension between what people can give and what organizations demand is what Shawn Villaron calls the “capacity chasm.” 

In this episode of #shifthappens, Microsoft’s Vice President of Customer and Strategic Initiatives in the Office Product Group, Shawn Villaron, shares how AI can help bridge that gap by empowering people, not replacing them. He discusses giving teams “permission to play” with AI, fostering a culture where curiosity and experimentation drive progress, and why, sometimes, responsible innovation means saying no — even to a great idea.

Autonomy in tech is already changing how we move. In this episode, Michael Kelly, Chief Strategy Officer of Mozee, shares how people-first technology is making urban transportation safer, more efficient, and more connected. Michael discusses the practical realities of deploying autonomous vehicles, the importance of building trust with communities, and how these advances in mobility are inspiring new ways to think about technology’s role in our daily lives.

In this #shifthappens episode, Ghazenfer Mansoor, CEO and founder of Technology Rivers, shares how real AI adoption in healthcare starts with trust, not tech. From HIPAA-first design to clinician-led workflows, Ghazenfer reveals why starting small, designing for compliance, and embedding AI invisibly into operations are the keys to scaling transformation in the industry. He also dives into the ethical challenges of bias, the strategic tension between HIPAA and GDPR, and why human oversight remains essential in care delivery.

Plastic pollution is an environmental crisis and a leadership challenge. In this episode of #shifthappens, we sit down with Nanette Medved Po, founder of HOPE and Plastic Credit Exchange (PCX), to talk about what it takes to move from pledges to action. From failed treaty negotiations to grassroots innovation, Nanette shares how governments, businesses, and individuals can take real responsibility for their plastic footprint. We cover lessons from why “start and improve” beats waiting for perfection and how leaders can turn systemic problems into opportunities for impact.

Virtual CMO for B2B Tech Companies Mark Donnigan shares his philosophy: Don’t compete – create. In this #shifthappens episode, Mark explains how it’s not the perfect plan that wins in the AI era but the team that can move fast and keep improving. He reveals how to reshape marketing teams into nimble “marketing pods,” hand repetitive work to AI, and give people more time for the creative, strategic work that actually gets buyers to say “yes.”