The AI in Business Podcast

Today’s guest is Eric Wilson, Director of Internal Audit and Chief Audit Executive of Gulfport Energy. Gulfport Energy is a natural gas-focused exploration and production company operating independently. It specializes in exploring, acquiring, and producing natural gas, crude oil, and natural gas liquids (NGL) within the United States, with key activities centered in the Appalachia and Anadarko basins. With his extensive experience in the energy and retail sectors, Eric shares his insights on the critical challenges auditors face today, especially as they navigate the complexities of emerging AI capabilities. We explore how the oil and gas industry, among others, is integrating AI and advanced technologies. This episode is sponsored by MindBridge. Find out more about sponsored content and how to engage with the Emerj audience at emerj.com/ad1.

Today’s guest is Jennifer Sieber, Global Head of Procurement for Systems and Insights at Gilead Sciences. Jennifer joins today’s podcast to share her perspectives on overcoming the operational complexities global procurement faces, especially when aiming to optimize data and maintain agility in a competitive 2024 landscape. Jennifer begins highlighting the ongoing transformation at Gilead, emphasizing that efficient procurement begins with data integrity and a unified process architecture. Later, she shares how her team is addressing these through data cleansing, integration into a data lake, and using AI to support data mapping and visualization, which are essential steps toward creating a more proactive, data-driven procurement strategy. This episode is sponsored by Arkestro.  To learn more about Emerj Media and how to reach the Emerj audience, visit emerj.com/ad1.

Today’s guest is Saurin Patel, Digital Transformation & Analytics Lead at Symrise AG. Symrise  AG is a German chemicals company specializing in flavors and fragrances, with sales reaching 4.6 billion euros in 2022. Saurin joins us in the program to give listeners a deep dive into the complex journey of digital transformation within procurement and supply chain functions, particularly in the food and beverage (F&B) sector. The conversation addresses critical challenges that arise from operating in multiple countries and managing a vast network of suppliers and acquisitions. To access Emerj’s frameworks for AI readiness, ROI, and strategy, visit Emerj Plus at emerj.com/p1.

Today’s guest is Mark Surman, President of the Mozilla Foundation. In conversation with Emerj CEO and Head of Research Daniel Faggella from 2023, Mark speaks at length about the shifting paradigms of privacy, security, and data governance in the age of generative AI. Throughout the episode, Mark explains how privacy concerns have evolved from simple data protections in the early days of the internet to complex issues involving data provenance, consumer trust, and ethical AI governance. As businesses increasingly rely on AI-powered services, leaders must address not only compliance but also new expectations around customer respect and transparency. Their conversation highlights the importance of building privacy and governance expertise into leadership teams, encouraging proactive engagement with evolving regulations and emerging technologies. If you’ve enjoyed or benefited from some of the insights of this episode, consider leaving us a five-star review on Apple Podcasts, and let us know what you learned, found helpful, or liked most about this show!

Today’s guest is Patrick Simonnet, Chief Audit Executive for Bank of China’s US operations. Patrick joins us on today’s show to explore the evolving landscape of financial risk management. As technology reshapes the financial sector, Patrick shares practical use cases of generative AI in audit workflows and cybersecurity, touching on how these technologies assist financial institutions in staying ahead of increasingly sophisticated cyberattacks. His conversation with Emerj Senior Editor Matthew DeMello also covers the long-term future of audit, emphasizing the importance of merging data science skills with traditional audit practices. This episode is sponsored by MindBridge. Learn how brands work with Emerj and other Emerj Media options at emerj.com/ad1.

Today’s guest is Joe Gelman, Platform Marketing Manager at Riskified. Riskified is a publicly traded SaaS company that specializes in fraud and chargeback prevention. Joe joins us to talk about the evolving landscape of fraud prevention for retail and eCommerce. As the holiday season approaches, with forecasts projecting $240 billion in U.S. online shopping, merchants face increasing challenges balancing customer-friendly policies with the risk of policy abuse and sophisticated fraud schemes. Joe explains how the pandemic reshaped consumer behavior, normalizing liberal return policies but also creating opportunities for fraud. He highlights how policy abuse—such as repeat returns or fake claims—differs from more organized fraud operations manipulating shipping systems or repackaging defective products. This episode is sponsored by Riskified. Learn how brands work with Emerj and other Emerj Media options at emerj.com/ad1.

Today’s guest is Juan Ferres, Corporate Vice President and Chief Data Scientist at Microsoft. Juan returns to the program to explore how to win buy-in for sustainable AI projects. As a leader in the AI4G Lab and author of the new book AI for Good, Juan shares insights on navigating complex digital transformations, particularly when it comes to initiatives where the return on investment is philosophical rather than immediately measurable. Throughout the episode, Juan and Emerj Senior Editor Matthew DeMello discuss the challenges of managing up and driving forward AI innovations that aim to benefit society as a whole. If you’re interested in unlocking our AI best practice guides, frameworks for AI ROI, and specific resources for AI leaders, visit emerj.com/p1.

Today’s guest is Luke van der Waals, Demand-to-Deliver Value Stream Owner at SLB. SLB is a global technology company driving energy innovation for a balanced planet. They are the largest offshore drilling company by revenue as of 2022 and were ranked 349th largest company globally by the Forbes Global 2000 list that same year. Luke joins us on today’s show to explore the evolving complexities of global supply chains and procurement. He shares insights on the challenges of maintaining resilience amid geopolitical tensions, inflation, and post-pandemic disruptions—especially in the energy sector. Luke also offers a candid look at how global conflicts amplify supply chain risks and emphasizes the importance of balancing local sourcing with global constraints to control costs and ensure seamless operations. This episode is sponsored by Arkestro. Learn how brands work with Emerj and other Emerj Media options at emerj.com/ad1.

Today’s guest is Chloe Rice, Director of Global Customer Experience at Shutterstock. Shutterstock is a New York-based provider of stock photography, stock footage, stock music, and editing tools with a library of nearly 200 million royalty-free stock photos. Chloe joins us to explore the rapidly changing landscape of media and the role AI plays in shaping customer interactions. Throughout the episode, Chloe shares her insights on the emerging trends in customer experience, from the ethical use of AI to building transparent policies that ensure authenticity across all content channels. To access Emerj’s frameworks for AI readiness, ROI, and strategy, visit Emerj Plus at emerj.com/p1.

Today’s guest is Ermir Qeli, Head of Data Science in AI at Swiss Re. Ermir returns to the program to discuss strategies for gaining executive buy-in and scaling AI within the insurance industry. Throughout the discussion, Ermir highlights the role of data infrastructure, particularly for legacy institutions, in ensuring that data is clean, structured, and distributed effectively across the enterprise. He also delves into how change management is crucial for driving AI adoption, emphasizing the need for collaboration from day one, upskilling teams, and building trust in the technology from the beginning. Download our PDF brief “AI in Insurance: Executive Cheat Sheet” at emerj.com/ins1.