The BizTech Pulse Podcast

The era of paying for access, activity, and effort is ending. "Did it work — and can you prove it?" is the new standard CFOs are setting for shared services.

Ian Thompson spent more than 30 years running global finance operations — leading order to cash, credit, and enterprise transformation at S&P Global across more than ten countries — before founding Clear Cycle Advisors. He joins Krishna Hari, CEO of BizTech Solutions Inc., to break down outcome-based contracting: why vendors are ready and buyers aren't, how the best teams build a counterfactual baseline before the contract is signed, and where agentic AI is already delivering provable value in order to cash.

Chapters:

(00:05) Welcome & guest introduction

(01:41) The two misconceptions stalling order to cash

(03:12) Why "did it work — prove it" is the new standard

(06:08) Top barriers to scaling AI in GBS (The Hackett Group)

(11:41) Why PE-backed transformations miss half their planned value

(13:35) Attribution: build the counterfactual first

(15:57) How agentic AI restructures GBS

(21:06) Rapid-fire round

Connect with Ian Thompson: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ian-thompson-cca

Work with BizTech Solutions Inc.: https://calendly.com/hari-66/30min

All episodes: https://biztechsolinc.com/biztech-pulse/

Leadership today demands more than strategy — it demands humanity. In this BizTech Pulse episode, executive coach and TED speaker Steliana Economu explains how leaders can turn loneliness into reflection, transform the inner critic into self-empathy, and apply her “Parentship” model of shared leadership across teams and families.

👉 What you’ll learn:

• Patterns of high-achiever burnout & self-empathy resets
• How to turn executive loneliness into reflection
• Family teamwork & leadership parallels
• Politeness vs. productive conflict
• “Share power, gain love” — her leadership philosophy
• TED Talk prep: emotion > performance
• Global lessons on empathy and adaptability\

🎙️ Guest: Steliana Economu

👤 Host: Krishna Hari

📚 Books: Parentship, Mothers as Leaders (Amazon)

Chapters

00:00 Intro & guest overview

01:28 Early curiosity & human behavior

03:32 High standards & the inner critic

05:18 Empathy & self-kindness

05:54 Executive loneliness

07:47 Journaling & hobbies

09:18 Families as leadership labs

12:33 Organizational lessons from families

14:36 Rethinking leadership: triangle of influence

17:45 TED prep & authenticity

22:23 Immigrant mindset & optimism

24:26 Advice to younger self

25:19 Rapid fire & inspirations

27:42 Final thoughts

Agentic AI is no longer fiction—it’s quietly transforming enterprise finance. In this episode of The BizTech Pulse Podcast, HighRadius VP Vikram Gollakota reveals how the best-run CFO offices are deploying AI agents, machine learning, and LLMs to automate collections, forecasting, R2R, and treasury.

Here’s what you’ll learn:

• What is Agentic AI—and how it differs from GenAI
• Why 95% of AI projects still fail
• CFOs' top challenge: proving AI ROI
• Machine Learning vs LLMs in real finance use cases
• Data quality fallacy — and what to do instead
• 3 layers of agentification: RPA, ML, LLM
• Collections case: from AP portals to prediction
• The future org: 70% agents, 30% humans
• When to start: now — with your own time study

Guest: Vikram Gollakota, HighRadius

Host: Krishna Hari, BizTech Solutions Inc.

Chapters

00:05 – Intro: AI in the CFO Office

01:05 – AI Explained: ML vs LLMs

04:05 – CFO Expectations vs Reality

06:05 – Vendor Loops & ROI Pressure

08:50 – Agentification in Collections

12:05 – Data Quality: A Continuous Battle

14:35 – How to Start: Time Study + Proof

17:35 – What Will 2027 Look Like?

20:05 – Closing Advice: Underwrite Value

AI in Finance is delivering real ROI—today. AI in Finance for AR collections, FP&A accuracy, and faster close is where CFOs are winning. If you lead a mid-market P&L, this episode shows AI in Finance you can ship now.Global finance leader K.M. Suresh (ex-CoreTrust/Blackstone, Microsoft, HPE, NCR) joins Krishna Hari to break down: • Where AI is in production inside the CFO’s office • How to cut DSO by 5–10 days with AR automation • Forecasting you can trust (MAPE thresholds, model vs. human) • Close acceleration: governance, approvals, audit trails • Agentic workflows: where to pilot “hands-off” safely • Up-skilling finance: from spreadsheets to model design & prompts • Mid-market playbook: tight paybacks, avoid platform sprawl 👤 Guest: K.M. Suresh 🎙️ Host: Krishna HariChapters:00:00 Intro & guest background01:12 Is AI in production inside the CFO’s office?02:15 The finance stack: FP&A, close, O2C, P2P, treasury, tax, audit, partnership04:55 The 3 use cases that stick: FP&A, AR, close05:40 Fintech momentum (BlackLine, HighRadius…); agentic shift06:02 Where should the next AI dollar go? What’s overhyped?07:27 Treasury & bank reconciliations—what’s ready vs. still human-nuanced08:11 AR automation KPIs: DSO cuts, guardrails, invoice quality upstream11:15 What proof before AI influences targets? MAPE & ranges15:22 If you fix one thing first: ownership to lineage/contracts16:59 Governance: approvals, thresholds, audit trails, model monitoring18:57 How fast can you close? 3–8 days reality; M&A/ERP complexity20:43 2025 skills for CFOs/FP&A heads (GenAI fluency, cloud econ, ML basics)23:26 Up-skilling teams: from spreadsheets → model design & prompt craft26:17 Agentic pilots: start with reconciliations/working capital; red lines28:50 Mid-market playbook: tight paybacks, avoid platform sprawl31:37 Rapid fire: books, podcasts, routines, hobbies35:18 Closing thoughts: CFO’s role = forward-looking navigation********🎙️ About The BizTech PulseThis is where digital transformation meets real-world leadership. Each episode brings you candid conversations with leaders who are reshaping business through SAP, tech and sheer strategic clarity.🏢 About BizTech Solutions Inc.BizTech Solutions Inc. is a trusted SAP Silver Partner and HighRadius Implementation Partner helping mid-sized businesses simplify operations and accelerate digital transformation.We specialize in SAP S/4HANA implementation, migration, support and AMS—delivering enterprise-grade solutions that are accessible, scalable and people-centric.Our proprietary framework, BizField LITE, enables faster, cleaner SAP S/4HANA migrations by eliminating legacy data complexity—ideal for organizations ready to start fresh and move fast.We are headquartered in the U.S. with a strong delivery center in India🔗 Explore More:Book a Free Call: https://bit.ly/hdemobppytWebsite: https://bit.ly/biztechsolincwebytThe BizTech Pulse Podcast: https://bit.ly/biztechsolincbppytBlog: https://bit.ly/biztechsolincblogytLinkedIn: https://bit.ly/biztechlibppyt

What does it take to scale a $3.5B tech services company across some of the world’s fastest-changing markets?In this episode of The BizTech Pulse Podcast, Elena Overchuk, Chief Operating Officer at Kyndryl Middle East, shares her extraordinary journey from a small Siberian town to leading finance and operations across 50+ countries.With two decades at IBM and now at Kyndryl, Elena reflects on pivotal career choices, the leap from CFO to COO, and driving SAP S/4HANA and Power BI-powered transformations. She also opens up about navigating cultural barriers as a woman leader in Saudi and Pakistan, balancing work and family across continents, and building resilience through constant reinvention.ℹ️In this episode:• Building an international career: mentors, mobility & bold decisions• CFO → COO: how financial fluency powers operational leadership• Lessons from SAP S/4HANA rollouts and Power BI dashboards• Women at the table in Saudi & Pakistan: resilience & advocacy• Adapting global strategies to GCC’s regulatory & cultural realities**********Chapters:00:00 Welcome & Elena’s global finance journey02:24 From Siberia to Dubai: saying “yes” to bold moves04:01 CFO ➝ COO: shifting from numbers to operations05:42 Inside Kyndryl MEA: scaling across $3.5B markets07:10 Women leading in Saudi & Pakistan: lessons from the table08:49 SAP rollouts that work: planning, drills & fixes10:56 Why Power BI beats Excel for real-time decisions12:17 ERP & AI today: S/4HANA and Kyndryl Bridge13:46 Building in GCC: RHQ setup, VAT & compliance hurdles15:03 Career playbook: brand, mentors & going beyond your JD16:27 Must-reads: Lean In, Indra Nooyi & building resilience17:32 Motherhood, resilience & “Parentship” in real life19:32 Raising third-culture kids in Dubai20:45 Final advice: overcoming impostor syndrome & finding coaches#BizTechPulse #Leadership #Kyndryl #SAP #PowerBI #WomenInLeadership #DigitalTransformation #MiddleEast #GCC #CFO #COO #Dubai #Siberia********🎙️ About The BizTech PulseThis is where digital transformation meets real-world leadership. Each episode brings you candid conversations with leaders who are reshaping business through SAP, tech and sheer strategic clarity.🏢 About BizTech Solutions Inc.BizTech Solutions Inc. is a trusted SAP Silver Partner and HighRadius Implementation Partner helping mid-sized businesses simplify operations and accelerate digital transformation.We specialize in SAP S/4HANA implementation, migration, support and AMS—delivering enterprise-grade solutions that are accessible, scalable and people-centric.Our proprietary framework, BizField LITE, enables faster, cleaner SAP S/4HANA migrations by eliminating legacy data complexity—ideal for organizations ready to start fresh and move fast.We are headquartered in the U.S. with a strong delivery center in India🔗 Explore More:Book a Free Call: https://bit.ly/hdemobppytWebsite: https://bit.ly/biztechsolincwebytThe BizTech Pulse Podcast: https://bit.ly/biztechsolincbppytBlog: https://bit.ly/biztechsolincblogytLinkedIn: https://bit.ly/biztechlibppyt

What happens when a CFO has to scale a global fashion empire - without losing its soul?In this episode of The BizTech Pulse Podcast, Tarun Pathria, CFO at House of Anita Dongre, shares how he balances sustainability, profitability, and global growth. From managing post-pandemic supply chain shifts to building an ERP backbone that integrates creativity with efficiency, Tarun reveals the hard choices CFOs must make to ensure brands grow with purpose.Key insights from this episode:• Why CFOs must see purpose and profit as partners.• How ERP enables better inventory control and decision-making.• The role of Agentic AI in driving finance transformation.• Scaling international retail while respecting local markets.• Lessons in leadership, collaboration, and building resilient teams.Whether you’re a finance leader, retail executive or someone exploring sustainable business models, this conversation is a practical playbook for aligning numbers with values.👉 Watch now for actionable strategies on CFO leadership, digital transformation and sustainable growth in fashion retail.#TheBizTechPulse #CFO #SustainableScaling#ERP #AgenticAI********🎙️ About The BizTech PulseThis is where digital transformation meets real-world leadership. Each episode brings you candid conversations with leaders who are reshaping business through SAP, tech and sheer strategic clarity.🏢 About BizTech Solutions Inc.BizTech Solutions Inc. is a trusted SAP Silver Partner and HighRadius Implementation Partner helping mid-sized businesses simplify operations and accelerate digital transformation.We specialize in SAP S/4HANA implementation, migration, support and AMS—delivering enterprise-grade solutions that are accessible, scalable and people-centric.Our proprietary framework, BizField LITE, enables faster, cleaner SAP S/4HANA migrations by eliminating legacy data complexity—ideal for organizations ready to start fresh and move fast.We are headquartered in the U.S. with a strong delivery center in India🔗 Explore More:Book a Free Call: https://bit.ly/hdemobppytWebsite: https://bit.ly/biztechsolincwebytThe BizTech Pulse Podcast: https://bit.ly/biztechsolincbppytBlog: https://bit.ly/biztechsolincblogytLinkedIn: https://bit.ly/biztechlibppyt

Unlock how mid-market enterprises can move from rule-based ERPs to AI-native SAP—where systems reason, learn, and adapt.Guest Vineet Moroney (AI Advisor; ex-Head of Enterprise Apps at a large conglomerate) joins host Krishna Hari to cover: the 3-phase path to AI-native SAP, “vibe coding,” human-in-the-loop controls, SAP Joule + BTP, a 90-day pilot blueprint, and a real supply-chain case that boosted ATP adherence from ~80% to ~92%.

What happens when you roll out SAP GROW in 15 weeks—with zero customization and no downtime? In this episode of The BizTech Pulse Podcast, we sit down with Brian Hardy, a seasoned CIO, COO, and transformation expert who's worked with IBM, Accenture, Tommy Bahama, and more.From exposing the SAP GROW customization myth to simplifying ERP licensing (FUE vs Named User), Brian shares a real-world, brutally honest playbook for scaling businesses through process-first execution.Whether you're a CEO, CFO, PE partner, or IT leader, this episode is your fast-track to:• Scaling ERP without unnecessary complexity• Driving adoption and alignment across teams• Understanding SAP BTP and avoiding customization pitfalls• Navigating ERP alternatives like NetSuite with clarity• Saving costs and unlocking value through smart executionTopics Covered:• 15-week SAP rollout success story at PureTech• The truth about SAP GROW and Public Cloud• People-first leadership in digital transformation• How to choose ERP wisely: SAP vs NetSuite• Why process optimization matters more than techWant real results, not frameworks? Listen in. Hit play. #TheBizTechPulse #SAP #GROWwithSAP #ERP #Transformation********🎙️ About The BizTech PulseThis is where digital transformation meets real-world leadership. Each episode brings you candid conversations with leaders who are reshaping business through SAP, tech and sheer strategic clarity.🏢 About BizTech Solutions Inc.BizTech Solutions Inc. is a trusted SAP Silver Partner and HighRadius Implementation Partner helping mid-sized businesses simplify operations and accelerate digital transformation.We specialize in SAP S/4HANA implementation, migration, support and AMS—delivering enterprise-grade solutions that are accessible, scalable and people-centric.Our proprietary framework, BizField LITE, enables faster, cleaner SAP S/4HANA migrations by eliminating legacy data complexity—ideal for organizations ready to start fresh and move fast.We are headquartered in the U.S. with a strong delivery center in India🔗 Explore More:Book a Free Call: https://bit.ly/hdemobppytWebsite: https://bit.ly/biztechsolincwebytThe BizTech Pulse Podcast: https://bit.ly/biztechsolincbppytBlog: https://bit.ly/biztechsolincblogytLinkedIn: https://bit.ly/biztechlibppyt

In this episode of The BizTech Pulse, award-winning CIO Silji Abraham shares how first-principles thinking helped him lead flawless ERP rollouts, build real-time digital enterprises, and stay hands-on with tech like AI, HPC, and computational storage.We dive into:• Why he never needed to apologize for an ERP rollout• Real-time enterprises vs. screensaver digital culture• How AI and automation will reshape knowledge work• The future of life sciences, biotech, and HPCThis is a must-watch for CIOs, technologists and anyone who believes learning is a superpower.#TheBizTechPulse #Leadership #FirstPrinciples #CIOInsights #CIO********🎙️ About The BizTech PulseThis is where digital transformation meets real-world leadership. Each episode brings you candid conversations with leaders who are reshaping business through SAP, tech and sheer strategic clarity.🏢 About BizTech Solutions Inc.BizTech Solutions Inc. is a trusted SAP Silver Partner and HighRadius Implementation Partner helping mid-sized businesses simplify operations and accelerate digital transformation.We specialize in SAP S/4HANA implementation, migration, support and AMS—delivering enterprise-grade solutions that are accessible, scalable and people-centric.Our proprietary framework, BizField LITE, enables faster, cleaner SAP S/4HANA migrations by eliminating legacy data complexity—ideal for organizations ready to start fresh and move fast.We are headquartered in the U.S. with a strong delivery center in India🔗 Explore More:Book a Free Call: https://bit.ly/hdemobppytWebsite: https://bit.ly/biztechsolincwebytThe BizTech Pulse Podcast: https://bit.ly/biztechsolincbppytBlog: https://bit.ly/biztechsolincblogytLinkedIn: https://bit.ly/biztechlibppyt

This episode is a must watch for CIOs, CISOs and IT leaders for driving transformation without burning millions.In this episode of The BizTech Pulse Podcast, Iqbal Rana (CIO & CISO at K&N Engineering) shares his refreshingly grounded approach to digital transformation - covering ERP modernization, successful generative AI use cases and building a cybersecurity-first culture.Learn how:• A homegrown ERP system outperformed expensive replacements• GenAI helped launch multilingual websites across 18 countries• Cybersecurity isn’t just about tools—it’s a mindset• People-first leadership retains top talent even in competitive marketsBonus: Iqbal shares personal productivity hacks, books like Atomic Habits, and his decision to pursue a Cybersecurity Master's at Georgia Tech.#TheBizTechPulse #CIOInsights #DigitalTransformation #GenAI #CybersecurityCulture #LeadershipInTech #ERPStrategy********🎙️ About The BizTech PulseThis is where digital transformation meets real-world leadership. Each episode brings you candid conversations with leaders who are reshaping business through SAP, tech and sheer strategic clarity.🏢 About BizTech Solutions Inc.BizTech Solutions Inc. is a trusted SAP Silver Partner and HighRadius Implementation Partner helping mid-sized businesses simplify operations and accelerate digital transformation.We specialize in SAP S/4HANA implementation, migration, support and AMS—delivering enterprise-grade solutions that are accessible, scalable and people-centric.Our proprietary framework, BizField LITE, enables faster, cleaner SAP S/4HANA migrations by eliminating legacy data complexity—ideal for organizations ready to start fresh and move fast.We are headquartered in the U.S. with a strong delivery center in India🔗 Explore More:Book a Free Call: https://bit.ly/hdemobppytWebsite: https://bit.ly/biztechsolincwebytThe BizTech Pulse Podcast: https://bit.ly/biztechsolincbppytBlog: https://bit.ly/biztechsolincblogytLinkedIn: https://bit.ly/biztechlibppyt