Transformers Podcast

It’s the Transformers podcast’s first birthday! In this special anniversary episode, host Ann Funai takes on a series of rapid-fire questions from the production team. From personal advice and Midwest sayings to favorite songs, holiday traditions and reflections on transformation, this episode is packed with humor, honesty and heart. It’s a fun, candid look behind the mic as we celebrate one year of Transformers.

The opinions expressed in this podcast are solely those of the participants and do not necessarily reflect the views of IBM or any other organization or entity.

Season 2 of Transformers tackled the big challenges—and big opportunities—facing today’s leaders. From naming the elephants in the room to embracing AI agents as part of the workforce, this recap distills the most powerful insights from CXOs, tech leaders and innovators. If you’re navigating a transformation, big or small, this survival guide is for you.

Chapters

00:00 – Season 2: Let’s recap

00:53 – AI is a partner, not a replacement

03:26 – Empower your front lines

05:22 – The human side of leadership

07:13 – Facing the elephants in the room

09:15 – Data + People + Governance = Real AI Impact

11:55 – The future of work: Humans + AI agents

16:29 – What does transformation mean?

19:44 – Wrapping up the season 2 recap

The opinions expressed in this podcast are solely those of the participants and do not necessarily reflect the views of IBM or any other organization or entity.

In this episode, Shibani Ahuja joins Ann Funai to cut through the AI hype, unpack the future of enterprise transformation, and outline what really matters to CIOs. They dive into the human side of AI, why Adaptability Quotient (AQ) should be the new leadership metric, and how agentic AI will reshape the digital workforce.

Discover practical strategies for CIOs building an adaptable tech stack, balancing innovation with governance, and driving real ROI with AI. Whether you're leading digital transformation or shaping enterprise AI strategy, this episode delivers the clarity and candor today's leaders need. Tune in for bold insights, actionable frameworks and a fresh perspective on what it really takes to lead in the age of intelligent enterprise.

Chapters

00:00 – Meet Shibani Ahuja, Salesforce’s SVP of Enterprise IT Strategy and CIO persona expert

03:55 – Transformation is not just technical: Navigating change in the CIO’s landscape

05:55 – Implementing AI: Necessary changes and how to avoid AI panic traps

09:22 – Patterns across CIOs: Data challenges, ROI and when to use different types of AI

13:30 – Autonomous Agentic AI: The third wave of AI

14:30 – “Trust cannot be bolted on”: Balancing innovation and the governance of AI

17:37 – Using AI for human enhancements and the future of AI impacts on the workforce

21:30 – The new C-Suite role: Chief AI Officer

23:50 – Pivotal career moments: Shibani’s POV on embracing experimental transformation

26:41 – Adaptability Quotient (AQ) is the edge CIOs need for success with AI

27:57 – Shibani’s unfiltered leadership guide for taking risks and building authentic teams

The opinions expressed in this podcast are solely those of the participants and do not necessarily reflect the views of IBM or any other organization or entity.

In this episode of Transformers, Ann Funai sits down with Mark Polyak, Chief Product & Technology Officer at MINT.ai, to explore how multimodal AI and intelligent automation are reshaping the future of work, marketing and human innovation.

Drawing from his background in counterterrorism and real-time data systems, Mark shares how data integrity, transparency and human oversight are essential to successful AI implementation. The conversation explores the shift to prescriptive analytics, the rise of agentic AI and how multimodal systems are driving workflow automation, a creative production boom, and business ROI.

Chapters

00:00 – From conflict zones to campaigns: Using data to get closer to truth

04:52 – Why data integrity matters: Guardrails, transparency and trust in AI systems

06:35 – Beyond descriptive: Unlocking prescriptive analytics for smarter business decisions

12:34 – Adapt or stagnate: The rise of multimodal AI and intelligent automation

15:33 – AI and the workforce: How technology is reshaping labor trends

21:20 – 3 ways AI is changing marketing: Automation, creativity and ROI

25:00 – Most AI solutions are failing: The role of trusted partners in driving real results

28:55 – The ‘glue’ role: Why business translators are essential to success with AI

31:44 – Responsible innovation in action: Building multiagentic AI with guardrails

36:20 – Spotting AI hype: How to tell real value from empty promises

39:55 – Team of Teams: Leadership lessons from high-security environments

The opinions expressed in this podcast are solely those of the participants and do not necessarily reflect the views of IBM or any other organization or entity.

Tax is a business game changer. Yes, really.

What happens when tax meets cutting-edge technology like AI? Transformation.

In this episode of Transformers, host Ann Funai is joined by Martin Fiore, EY Americas Vice Chair – Tax, and Kanthi Morrissey, IBM’s Chief Tax Officer, to explore how AI, automation and strategic partnerships are revolutionizing tax and reshaping business operations.

Whether you're a CIO, CFO, tech strategist or business leader, this conversation will reshape how you think about tax, data and the future of enterprise transformation.

Chapters

00:00 — Tax touches everything; it needs a tech transformation, too.

05:58 — Transformation optimism: The balance of human talent and AI augmentation

10:17 — Data, process, then AI: Getting full value from transformation takes time

13:48 — Getting from proof-of-concept to commercially viable solutions

16:48 — Prioritize partnerships: Use your ecosystem for future success

18:58 — EQ, IQ, AQ and the broad skillsets that leaders want from the future workforce

25:29 — Learn every day and go where your purpose resides.

The opinions expressed in this podcast are solely those of the participants and do not necessarily reflect the views of IBM or any other organization or entity.

Ann Funai welcomes Miha Kralj, CTO of IBM Consulting’s Microsoft practice, to explore how AI is reshaping enterprise technology. From digital workers and agentic AI to shifting talent pipelines and evolving software roles, this episode dives into the future of work and the skills needed to thrive.

Miha shares insights from his experience at IBM, Microsoft, AWS and Accenture, highlighting how progressive companies are deploying AI agents to handle tasks like testing, documentation and code fixes—while traditional enterprises struggle to keep pace.

They also discuss the rise of low-code/no-code tools, the changing definition of software engineering, and the growing need for resilient systems and cross-functional talent. Whether you're a business leader, technologist or strategist, this episode offers a candid look at what’s next in enterprise transformation.

00:00 – Meet Miha Kralj, CTO of the Microsoft practice for IBM Consulting

04:25 – Strategic and system integration partners

05:34 – “Faster”: The business f-word impacting every innovation, organization and skilled workforce baseline

11:40 – AI tools and adoption: Exploring start-up expectations and enterprise reluctance

13:39 – Transforming mindsets around system architecture resiliency

15:57 – Smarter business trends around AI

18:44 – Today’s critical skills in software engineering and product development

21:55 – IT academia, entry-level skills and the rise of the Universalist employee

30:55 – Over-hyped speed and over-estimated technologies

The opinions expressed in this podcast are solely those of the participants and do not necessarily reflect the views of IBM or any other organization or entity.  

Cyber threats aren’t a matter of “if”—they’re a matter of “when.” In this episode of Transformers, Ann Funai sits down with Mike Gowen, Chief Revenue Officer at Celerity, to explore how sales, cybersecurity and AI are converging—and what executives must do to stay ahead.

With over 25 years in tech sales, Mike shares how executive conversations have shifted from product education to strategic enablement. He breaks down the shift toward operational resilience, the urgency of quantum readiness, and the real risks of poor AI implementation.

Mike’s leadership insights—shaped by his experience in team sports—offer a fresh take on adaptability, teamwork and transformation. Whether you're a CRO, CIO or business leader, this episode delivers actionable strategies and relatable stories to help you navigate tech-driven change.

Chapters

00:00 – Rapid fire kick-off: Meet Mike Gowen

01:20 – The evolution of sales, technology, cyber and the C-Suite roles that drive the business

03:30 – Protection to recovery: Preparing customers for inevitable cyber threats

09:05 – Evaluating technology from table stakes to Quantum

11:15 – Intersecting IT and operations to deliver value

14:20 – AI: Real ways to use it for value, real missteps you must avoid

18:44 – Common myths around cyber and AI

20:18 – Partnerships, privacy and a multidiscipline approach to cyber

26:55 – Developing high-performing teams with a coach’s mindset

The opinions expressed in this podcast are solely those of the participants and do not necessarily reflect the views of IBM or any other organization or entity.

In this powerful episode of Transformers, Ann Funai sits down with Dr. Michelle Barry, PhD, CEO and co-founder of CTI LifeHealth to explore how her team is revolutionizing healthcare for underserved communities across the globe. From rural Africa to rural Alabama, Michelle shares how CTI’s modular digital health ecosystem bridges the gap between lifestyle and clinical care starting with the patient, not the institution.

With a background in sociocultural and medical anthropology, Michelle brings a unique lens to innovation and transformation, emphasizing cultural responsiveness, data sovereignty and the importance of listening loudly. This episode is a must-listen for anyone passionate about health equity, AI tech for good and the future of global wellness.

Chapters

00:00 — Cold open question

00:57 — Meet Michelle Barry and CTI Life Health, a digital health ecosystem

01:52 — Built in Africa, by Africa, for Africa: A patient-first view of digital healthcare

03:38 — Listening loudly: Designing responsive tech for a cultural fit

07:04 — Building trust and individual agency in the face of resistance to AI

10:00 — Empowering patients with data ownership and sovereignty

12:28 — Designing for the edges: Scaling healthcare with empathy for all

16:03 — Bridging institutional and community health at a solutions level

25:48 — Body hacking and improving whole-person wellness

28:45 — Bridging gaps to the basics: Indigenous wisdom, community connectivity and leapfrogging legacy systems for best-in-class tech in emerging countries

31:25 — Partnerships Over Competition: Building Ecosystems

34:33 — Healing through creativity

The opinions expressed in this podcast are solely those of the participants and do not necessarily reflect the views of IBM or any other organization or entity.

In this special episode of Transformers, we flip the script on host Ann Funai, CIO and VP of Business Platform Transformation at IBM, as she becomes the guest of her own show. Interviewed by show producer Amanda Downie, Ann shares what keeps her up at night—and what gets her out of bed in the morning.

Through a candid, funny and deeply human conversation, Ann reflects on leadership, transformation, psychological safety and the power of assuming positive intent. From “speeding tickets” in innovation to rogue curls and pineapple pizza, this episode offers a rare behind-the-scenes look at the mindset of a modern enterprise leader.

Chapters

00:00 – What keeps Ann up at night, and what motivates her every day?

03:18 – Prioritization, psychological safety and learning from work-place speeding tickets

08:05 – Future leaders listen up: What is the CIO role really like? And what advice would Ann give her younger self?

12:20 – Authenticity can stay; buzzwords and rogue curls need to go

17:43 – Data storytelling, cognitive bias and drawing out unexpected insights

24:12 – Honest conversations and hysterical analogies: Go-to advice for bringing calm to the chaos

28:24 – Time for rapid fire questions!

35:14 – Final reflections

The opinions expressed in this podcast are solely those of the participants and do not necessarily reflect the views of IBM or any other organization or entity.

In this episode of Transformers, Ann Funai sits down with Barbra Sainsurin, GCMO of Anthropologie Group, to explore the fast-paced world of B2C marketing—from real-time insights and AI tools to building cross-functional trust and cultural relevance. From her days at Under Armour to leading transformation at Anthropologie, Barbra shares how she combines data, curiosity and heart to drive purposeful change. With warmth, vulnerability and an unapologetically customer-obsessed mindset, Barbra reveals what it takes to lead with impact and thrive in modern retail.

Chapters

00:00 – Barbra Sainsurin on her leadership style

02:25 – B2C vs B2B: 3 key marketing transformation differences

08:35 – Why cross-functional insights drive marketing success

12:30 – Translating marketing for stakeholders

15:20 – Ditch the jargon: Embrace curiosity in communication

19:47 – What it means to be a tech-savvy marketer: The evolution of data-driven marketing

27:04 – Buy vs. Build: Scaling omnichannel experiences

30:22 – 3 keys to building high-impact marketing teams

The opinions expressed in this podcast are solely those of the participants and do not necessarily reflect the views of IBM or any other organization or entity.