The CX Cast

Hot off the back of the recent publication of Forrester’s Customer Journey Management (CJM) Wave™, VP, principal analyst Joana de Quintanilla joins Martin Gill to talk all things CJM. We shifted the category name this time round from “journey mapping” to “journey management,” which reflects some tangible trends we’ve been seeing in the market.

This week, Doug Washburn — Forrester's VP of product management — joins Angelina and Martin for a deep dive into how he helped launch Forrester’s Izola AI chatbot. Doug shares the organizational mindset, executive commitment, and rapid development cycles that helped Forrester bring a generative AI solution to market ahead of other research organizations. Doug shares candid insights on balancing speed with accuracy, the importance of grounding AI responses in trusted research, and the ongoing challenges of collaboration and client engagement.

This week on the CX Cast, Forrester research director Rick Parrish joins Martin and Angelina to discuss Forrester's new Total Experience Score — a framework designed to unify brand and CX measurement. Tune in to hear why legacy metrics like Net Promoter Score℠ (NPS) and customer satisfaction (CSAT) are no longer sufficient, and how the Total Experience Score provides a more nuanced, actionable view of your brand.

Martin and Angelina welcome back VP Principal Analyst Enza Iannopollo to discuss the evolving nature of trust in CX — especially in the context of global volatility and the rise of AI. The conversation covers Forrester’s latest research on trust, actionable strategies for organizations, and real-world examples of responsible AI.

Brendan Witcher, VP principal analyst, joins Angelina and Martin to discuss the evolving role of AI and data in CX. Brendan shares insights focusing on three key innovations: computer vision, natural language processing, and biometrics. The conversation explores how these technologies are shaping CX strategies, driving business outcomes, and redefining what it means to understand customer intent.

This week, host Martin Gill travels down under to Forrester’s CX Summit APAC in Sydney. Tune in to hear a series of quickfire discussions with Forrester analysts and CX industry attendees on topics affecting CX across Australia and the APAC region.

Martin and Angelina welcome founder of Humanity at Scale and ex-Forresterite Bruce Temkin to explore the complexities of organizational culture, especially in the context of CX. Drawing on decades of research and real-world examples, the trio dives into why culture is so hard to change, what actually moves the needle, and how leaders can inspire lasting transformation.

Martin is joined by Debra Eddy, guest lecturer at University College London (UCL), to discuss how universities are preparing the next generation of CX leaders. Debra shares her journey from fast-moving consumer goods marketing to academia, and how UCL builds real-world skills and employability for students while adapting to changes brought by AI.

Martin and Angelina explore the role of change management in CX transformation. Drawing from Angelina’s latest research and Martin’s past experiences, they unpack why CX programs stall and how organizations can better embed change into their operations. The conversation covers emotional engagement, leadership, AI, and practical strategies for driving lasting change.

In 2019, former CX Cast co-hosts Sam Stern and Jenny Wise brought Jason Bradshaw, then Chief Customer Officer at Volkswagen Group Australia, to discuss customer and employee experiences. As Angelina notes in the introduction, Jason shares a brief autobiography that highlights where his passion for service began. The interview explores the connection between exceptional employee and customer experiences, emphasizing genuinely caring for both groups is essential to achieve business returns from CX improvements.