What happens when AI collides with the world of marketing? A seismic shift — but only for those ready to embrace the upheaval. On this recap episode of Where AI Works, host Kartik Hosanagar reviews the four compelling conversations that made up the show’s inaugural season. Jonathan Halvorson, Global SVP of Consumer Experience at Mondelēz International, kicked things off by emphasizing the impact of AI on content creation and media spend — and the importance of preserving brand distinctiveness in an AI-driven landscape. Accenture CMO Jill Kramer shared her personal journey from AI skeptic to champion, outlining a practical roadmap for reskilling marketing teams at scale. David Droga, founder of Droga5 and CEO of Accenture Song, challenged the creative industry to embrace AI not as a replacement, but as a way to elevate originality and move beyond mediocrity. Finally, Accenture’s Chief AI Officer Lan Guan highlighted the gap between AI investment and scaled execution, and stressed the critical need for trust and governance. Together, these voices deliver a powerful message to business leaders: to harness AI's true potential, you must act boldly, intentionally, and creatively.

Episode Highlights:

2:05 - Jonathan discusses the importance of embedding brand distinctiveness in any AI-generated content your company creates.

4:45 - David explains his provocative stance that not all creativity is worth saving.

6:52 - Lan spells out why trust and explainable AI are more important than ever due to the rise in agentic systems.

2:05 - Jonathan discusses the importance of embedding brand distinctiveness in any AI-generated content your company creates.

4:45 - David explains his provocative stance that not all creativity is worth saving.

6:52 - Lan spells out why trust and explainable AI are more important than ever due to the rise in agentic systems.

Is your organization stuck on table stakes or starting to place more strategic bets when it comes to implementing AI? Are your employees still wrapping their heads around LLMs, or have they started experimenting with agentic AI? And what’s the competitive advantage you want your company to be famous for? 

On this season finale episode of Where AI Works, host Kartik Hosanagar tackles those questions and more with the help of a woman who oversees more than 65,000 data and AI practitioners, and has helped her organization book more than 5.6 billion dollars worth of AI-related business in the past 18 months — Accenture’s Chief AI Officer, Lan Guan. Together, they break down the key trends shaping AI’s impact on enterprises, with Lan sharing insights from Accenture’s groundbreaking AI initiatives. You’ll hear specific examples of how AI-powered solutions are improving efficiency and automating workflows across sectors like financial services, oil and gas, and life sciences. Lan also shares her thoughts on which challenges the AI sector still needs to solve, including education, governance, and interoperability.

Episode Highlights: 

7:10 - Kartik and Lan discuss how companies can cope with the “problem of plenty” in the AI space; the vast array of new software solutions on offer.

12:27 - Lan explains how companies need to ensure talent and data readiness to avoid the old “garbage in, garbage out” pitfall that has plagued AI implementation efforts in the past.

17:31 - Lan shares what she sees as the three roadblocks or challenges the industry faces in deploying large scale agent based systems in organizations.

It’s a controversial statement, especially coming from the founder of one of the most famous creative agencies in the world: “Not all creativity is worth saving.” But it’s with that bold declaration that this episode of Where AI Works begins.

This time, host Kartik Hosanagar is joined by David Droga, founder of Droga5, and current CEO of Accenture Song, for a thoughtful and insightful discussion about AI’s transformative impact on the creativity industry. Together, they tackle the question of whether AI is becoming a critical creative partner for agencies and their clients, or if it’s potentially a threat in certain sectors. They also explore David’s belief that AI could actually be an accelerator and enabler for creatives by eliminating what he calls the ‘mediocre middle’. Listen to the very end and you’ll hear about David’s uplifting and inspirational vision for the future of creativity, and why he thinks true creatives are more relevant in more places than ever, despite the rapid pace of technological change.

Episode Highlights:

9:20 - David explains why he feels not all creativity is worth saving, and how AI will “industrialize the imagination.”

13:32 - Kartik and David discuss how AI is causing business leaders to rethink roles and responsibilities within their organizations. 

18:24 - David explains why he’s still bullish on creative people, but believes creative agencies need to adapt their business models.

Where can AI have the biggest impact on business outcomes? How can you empower and encourage your employees to experiment with different use cases? What’s the potential role of agentic AI within your organization? Those are among the central questions in this episode of Where AI Works.

For this wide-ranging and comprehensive conversation, host Kartik Hosanagar sits down with Accenture’s Chief Marketing and Communications Officer, Jill Kramer, to discuss how AI is transforming marketing and how companies can adapt to these changes. Jill shares her journey from fear to embracing AI, emphasizing that curiosity and creativity are the key drivers of innovation. She also stresses the importance of “cohorts, communication, and use-cases” when upskilling and reskilling large teams, to ensure everyone is supported through the transformation. Listen to the very end and you’ll hear Jill’s most important piece of advice for any business leader who’s wrestling with the role of AI within their own organization.

Episode Highlights:

5:55 - Jill details the groundwork she did to position Accenture to be ready to take advantage of Gen AI.

12:02 - Jill explains how to empower employees to try new tools and embrace AI without leaving anyone behind.

19:14 - Jill shares her “cohorts, communication, use-cases” strategy for reskilling large 

Media, entertainment, and advertising are among the industries expected to be most impacted by the rise of artificial intelligence. So what better way to kick off our series on the intersection of AI and business than by exploring the potential perks and pitfalls of AI in the world of marketing?

In this premiere episode of Where AI Works, host Kartik Hosanagar is joined by Jonathan Halvorson, the Global SVP of Consumer Experience at Mondelēz International, which owns some of the most recognizable brands in snacking, including Oreo, Nabisco, and Cadbury. Together, they discuss how AI is transforming marketing and brand strategy, and explore some of the most pressing issues for business leaders, like the role of humans in the loop, and fears that AI could lead to more generic content. You’ll also hear specific case studies and concrete advice to help your organization steer clear of what Jonathan calls that “sea of sameness.”

Episode Highlights:

7:40 - Kartik explains how AI isn’t just about reducing costs but can actually lead to more compelling ad content and better outcomes.

14:23 - Jonathan stresses the importance of clearly defining a brand’s identity before utilizing AI tools, including the product’s visual elements, purpose, and core messaging.

17:14 - Jonathan shares details on a hugely successful Mondelēz campaign in India in which AI was used to generate personalized birthday songs for consumers.

In a world of rapid change, staying competitive requires thoughtful transformation. Where AI Works tackles the big questions shaping AI’s role in business today, cutting through the hype to deliver actionable insights for leaders. Brought to you by the Wharton School, in collaboration with Accenture, this podcast combines cutting-edge research with real-world case studies to uncover how top companies are using AI to upskill workforces, enhance customer experiences, boost productivity, and streamline operations. By addressing the challenges of technological disruption and innovation head-on, each episode provides both the big-picture context and practical strategies leaders need to drive transformation responsibly and effectively. Episode 1 launches on April 17th. Don't forget to follow on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your preferred podcast app to be notified as episodes drop!