Winners' Circle

Chief Commercial Officer Laurie Oswald joins host Ruth Redding on Winners Circle to talk about leading commercial transformation at two century old companies, C and D Technologies and Trojan Battery Company, while championing women in leadership and global diversity.

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Laurie shares how she oversees sales, marketing, product, customer service and inside sales across both businesses, powering critical infrastructure like data centers, telecom networks and utilities on the C and D side, and motive applications like golf carts and aerial work platforms on the Trojan side. She explains how these companies are modernizing with new battery chemistries, a globalized portfolio and digital initiatives including Trojans first B2B ecommerce platform and AI powered analytics to improve customer experience and responsiveness.

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The conversation dives into:

How C and D and Trojan are preparing for the next 100 years of market leadership while serving booming segments like data centers and motive power.

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The role of batteries in ensuring uptime for AI driven data centers and other critical infrastructure amid rising expectations and high profile outages.

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Using AI in commercial teams for analytics, CRM upgrades, partner portals and sales enablement, while keeping the human factor firmly in the loop.

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Laurie also opens up about her own journey, from funding college through service in the U S Air National Guard to 20 plus years in critical and digital infrastructure, then stepping into a global commercial leadership role that spans very different markets and product sets. She talks about learning a new industry as CCO, relying on a strong team and transferring technology and insight between stationary power and motive power businesses.

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A major theme of this episode is the global mindset. Laurie describes how moving into a global role early in her career shaped her approach to building diverse leadership teams, standardizing tools and processes worldwide and respecting regional requirements like environmental conditions for battery performance. She argues that diverse, global teams are more creative, more thorough and better at solving complex problems.

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For women in tech and aspiring leaders, Laurie offers three pieces of advice:

Embrace your authentic value, including empathy, instead of trying to be one of the guys.

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Take your seat at the table and use your voice, especially when you are the only woman in the room.

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Build and leverage your network, championing other women and colleagues as you climb the spiral together instead of competing for a single seat at the top.

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She closes by reflecting on where her drive comes from, a competitive spirit, a deep desire to contribute and a commitment to building strong, collaborative and diverse teams. Roughly half of her current leadership team are women. For Laurie, true leadership means helping people grow into their next role while driving business transformation in an era defined by AI, changing markets and constant disruption.

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If you care about women in leadership, commercial transformation, AI in sales and the future of critical infrastructure, this Winners Circle conversation is for you.

Modernizing with AI is not just about more GPUs or chatbots. In this Winner’s Circle episode, host Russ Fordyce talks with all star judge and Cloud Engagement Manager Krish (Radhakrishna) Banavalikar about what real transformation looks like when you blend data, AI, and human insight. Krish shares his journey from an Indian village to leading global cloud and AI programs, and why he calls himself a “serial learner and unlearner.”​

He explains how he helps enterprises move from experiments to value, using agentic AI to design products, shape campaigns, and feed customer feedback back into the loop. The surprising blockers are not usually technology, he notes, but compliance, privacy, and governance that slow deployment and force teams to rethink how they handle customer data. Krish breaks down practical patterns like medallion architectures and data mesh that turn messy operational and transactional data into AI ready assets, and why operational signals often matter more than traditional summaries for understanding real customer behavior.​

A highlight of the episode is Krish’s passion for multilingual AI and underrepresented Indo Aryan languages such as Hindi, Marathi, and Sanskrit. He explains why today’s large language models, while seemingly multilingual, still struggle with culture, humor, slang, and mixed language content, and how his own research, including a 97 percent accuracy sentiment analysis project on biased Amazon reviews, points to the need for better datasets and benchmarks beyond English centric standards.​

Throughout the conversation, Krish returns to people and careers. He talks about mentoring more than 300 professionals into cloud and AI roles, the impact of early mentors on his own path, and how he tracks job market signals and hype cycles to decide which skills to build for the next three to five years. Russ and Krish close by looking ahead to the massive AI infrastructure build out, the potential shock of quantum computing, and why many enterprises today are simply “keeping up” – caught between old playbooks and a fast moving agentic AI future.​

What happens to sales when AI can flood every inbox, feed, and phone line, but real human attention is scarcer than ever? In this Winners Circle episode, Russ Fordyce sits down with Sammy Award winner Chris Sorensen, CEO of PhoneBurner, to unpack what “responsible dialing” really means in 2025 and why authentic conversations still win.

Chris explains how PhoneBurner helps quota carrying reps hit their numbers the old fashioned way, by having real, one to one calls with people who actually pick up, while using modern infrastructure, analytics, and AI to keep answer rates high. He pulls back the curtain on what happens between the moment you hit dial and when or if a call reaches a mobile phone, from carrier filtering and “spam likely” labels to silent blocking deep in the network. Over half of PhoneBurner’s team now focuses purely on call delivery and reputation, working closely with tier one carriers like AT&T, Verizon, and T Mobile to ensure that legitimate calls show up with clean caller ID instead of being treated like robocall noise.

The conversation dives into why spam flags and call blocking have become such a massive issue and why many outbound teams are making it worse. Chris breaks down the hidden cost of bad tactics like number rotation, where organizations blast prospects from dozens of different phone numbers in the hope that one gets through. Carriers can now fingerprint this behavior quickly, he explains, which not only torpedoes answer rates but also destroys the long term value of your phone numbers, much like burning through disposable email domains. Instead, he shares a practical framework for getting back into double digit answer rate territory: start with high intent leads, stop rotating numbers, register where appropriate, and treat frequency and follow up like a relationship, not a game.​

Chris also introduces ARMOR, Answer Rate Monitoring, Optimization, and Remediation, PhoneBurner’s end to end program for diagnosing and improving outbound performance. By analyzing SIP signaling data, carrier reputation signals, call durations, and even whether calls are getting returned, ARMOR helps separate delivery problems from behavior problems and gives teams clear steps to “nurse back to health” their outbound strategy. Looking ahead, Chris and Russ explore a near future where AI agents sit on the network itself, screening calls before a human ever hears a ring. In that world, integrity based practices, clean data, honest caller identity, thoughtful cadences, will not just be ethical choices, they will be survival requirements.

For sales leaders, revenue teams, and marketers, this episode is a masterclass in how to keep the phone a trusted, high value channel in an AI saturated landscape: use technology to protect and amplify human to human conversations, not to overwhelm them.

Herizon Award winner Daria Leshchenko, CEO of SupportYourApp, joins Russ Fordyce on The Winners’ Circle to share how she built a global “support-as-a-service” company that blends human empathy with AI-driven efficiency. Starting as a customer support rep herself and becoming CEO at 24, Daria grew SupportYourApp from a small team serving Mac developers in Ukraine into an international operation supporting software, e-commerce, telecom, and more in 60+ languages, 24/7. Along the way, she led through COVID, war, and rapid expansion into markets from Argentina to West Africa.​

Daria opens up about what it really takes to scale a remote-first service business: hiring for values and “energy fit,” learning from failed market entries like the Philippines, and keeping people engaged for 7–14 years in a constantly changing company. She explains why loyalty is no longer a buzzword but the byproduct of continuous growth, new challenges, and genuine care for her team’s development.​

The conversation dives deep into AI in customer support. Daria shares why SupportYourApp has spent five years investing in AI frameworks for email, chat, and voice, and why she treats AI like a knife: incredibly powerful if used correctly, dangerous if deployed blindly. She breaks down how they measure AI impact through deflection rate, why clean, constantly updated documentation is the real bottleneck, and how humans must stay in the loop to check tone, handle edge cases, and bring empathy where models fall short.​

Russ and Daria also explore her philosophy of experimentation, tolerating smart failures, and introducing AI gradually—start with one use case, test, refine, then expand—rather than trying to automate everything at once. For leaders, founders, and CX professionals, this episode offers a grounded playbook for combining human talent and AI in a way that protects customer experience while unlocking real scale.​

In this episode of The Winners’ Circle, host Russ Fordyce sits down with Ravi Bhushan, founder and CEO of Brightchamps, to explore how AI is reshaping what kids learn, how they learn, and who gets left behind when education does not keep up.​

Ravi shares the origin story of Brightchamps, founded in 2020 at the peak of the pandemic to give kids around the world access to “new age skills” that traditional K–12 systems were not designed to teach. From technology and coding to financial literacy, robotics, public speaking, and now math taught through adaptive AI, Brightchamps focuses on building real, marketable skills rather than just test scores.​

He explains why core areas like money, automation, and communication are still mostly missing from formal curricula, and how institutional inertia makes it hard for schools to update content at the same pace the world is changing. Ravi argues that this growing gap is exactly where AI can be a “savior,” enabling rapid content creation, true personalization at the level of each child, and one to one style practice that adjusts in real time.​

Ravi and Russ dive into how Brightchamps is using agentic AI not only in the learning experience but across the company: tailoring questions based on a child’s specific mistakes, adapting explanations to analytical versus creative learners, monitoring millions of classes for teaching quality, and even having AI “mentors” proactively reach out to parents when engagement drops.​

You will also hear Ravi’s personal take as a parent, including how he uses nightly “why” sessions with his son and tools like ChatGPT to keep curiosity alive, and why he believes AI, used well, is less a shortcut and more a powerful curiosity engine in every kid’s pocket.​

Key discussion themes:

• Why skills like technology, financial literacy, robotics, and public speaking belong in foundational education
• How fast the skills gap is widening between what schools teach and what the world demands
• Practical ways AI can deliver truly personalized, non boring learning at scale
• Using agentic AI to detect disengagement, support teachers, and improve class quality
• Reframing AI from “cheating tool” to universal teacher and curiosity amplifier for kids and parents alike​

Stay to the end to hear Ravi’s vision of a future where AI does more “heavy lifting” inside education companies, freeing humans to focus on empathy, motivation, and designing better learning journeys

Sophie Reymond, founder of SRPR and Coworker, joins Russ Fordyce on The Winners' Circle to explore how mentorship and AI are shaping modern communication careers. Sophie shares her journey from corporate burnout to leading a boutique PR consultancy focused on AI-driven tech startups, and how she helps professionals integrate AI in ways that enhance creativity and efficiency.

She also introduces Coworker, an upcoming global mentorship platform designed to connect women across industries for guidance, support, and career growth. Born from Sophie’s own challenges in navigating male-dominated workplaces without mentorship, Coworker will use a matchmaking approach to foster meaningful connections.

The conversation delves into how AI is transforming PR while maintaining the essential human touch. Sophie discusses the challenges of AI training data, the need for regulation, and practical ways organizations and individuals can adapt to this fast-evolving landscape. She offers advice on storytelling as a tool to make technology relatable and impactful.

Topics covered include:

• Sophie’s path to becoming her own mentor with AI training at MIT and hands-on experience
• The vision and mission behind Coworker as a space for women to connect and thrive
• Balancing multiple roles in communication, community building, and technology
• Insights for communication professionals starting out or embracing AI
• The art of crafting stories that bring complex technology to life
  This conversation offers fresh perspectives on navigating the evolving worlds of AI, communication, and professional growth. Sophie’s insights illuminate the ways technology can empower creativity and community while highlighting the importance of support and connection in career journeys. Whether you’re a communication professional, entrepreneur, or simply curious about the intersection of AI and mentorship, this episode provides valuable inspiration for adapting and thriving in today’s fast-changing landscape.

Join Harshit Kohli, Senior Technical Account Manager at AWS and recognized expert in data analytics and enterprise IT, for an insightful conversation about what’s truly shaping the future of business and technology. In this episode, Harshit shares his unique journey through the cloud ecosystem, moving from hands-on problem solver to trusted advisor for leading organizations embracing next-generation AI and big data.

Get ready to hear how the role of “big data” has evolved from just another buzzword to the engine behind digital transformation, with Harshit clarifying why actionable insights—not just data volume—drive success. He unpacks how generative AI is changing the business playbook, but explains that true innovation still depends on human trust, governance, and a willingness to learn continuously.

Listeners will gain candid advice for building teams that thrive in a fast-moving world, strategies for keeping ethics and customer trust at the center of tech initiatives, and real-life examples of cloud innovation in action. From the importance of cross-training and accessible STEM education, to the AI trends most likely to reshape industries, Harshit offers practical recommendations for both business leaders and technical professionals.

If you want to learn what’s actually required to drive meaningful business results—and why the human element still matters most—this episode delivers the expertise, stories, and fresh perspective you’ve been looking for.

In this episode of The Winners’ Circle, host Russ Fordyce sits down with Joe Wiltshire, Corporate EHS & Sustainability Manager at Fastenal, to explore how one of the world’s largest industrial supply companies is redefining what it means to be safe, sustainable, and scalable in today’s global economy.

Fastenal operates across 25 countries, supporting more than 20,000 employees and over 3,200 branches and onsite locations. Joe leads the teams responsible for environmental, health, and safety (EHS) programs, OSHA and EPA compliance, security initiatives, and sustainability strategy—a massive operation balancing people, planet, and process at scale.

Joe shares how his 12+ years at Fastenal shaped his leadership philosophy and why EHS and sustainability are no longer checkboxes—they’re strategic pillars of long-term business resilience. From carbon reduction goals and data-driven reporting to innovative safety programs and digital inventory management, Joe walks us through the intersection of technology, compliance, and culture that drives Fastenal forward.

You’ll also hear how Fastenal’s Fastenal Managed Inventory (FMI®) solutions and digital transformation efforts are improving efficiency, reducing waste, and helping partners across the supply chain meet their own sustainability targets.

Key discussion highlights:

• How sustainability and safety initiatives work hand-in-hand to drive measurable impact
• The importance of leadership and communication in building a safety-first culture
• Balancing global compliance with local flexibility
• Fastenal’s approach to sustainability innovation in the industrial supply chain
• Lessons on team management and mentorship across large global operations

Plus, Joe shares insights into the biggest changes he’s seen in OSHA and EPA compliance, how Fastenal keeps pace with evolving environmental standards, and what he believes the next five years of sustainability look like for the industry.

Stay tuned until the end for our Quick Fire Round, where Joe gives fast, fun takes on leadership, sustainability, and Cleveland pride.

🎧 Listen now and learn how a global company like Fastenal keeps its people safe, its business compliant, and its future sustainable.

👉 Visit fastenal.com for more on Fastenal’s sustainability initiatives and supply chain solutions.
👉 Follow the Winners’ Circle podcast for more stories from business and technology leaders shaping a better world.

When artificial intelligence meets healthcare, there’s no room for guesswork. Every insight, every prediction, every decision has real-world consequences.

In this episode of Winners’ Circle, host Russ Fordyce sits down with Naren Santhanam, Director of Analytics at Counterpart Health, to explore how explainable AI is helping rebuild trust in healthcare analytics — and why doing it “the right way” matters more than doing it fast.

With more than 20 years of experience turning complex data into actionable healthcare insights, Naren has worked across claims systems, quality metrics, and risk analytics. Today, he’s part of a growing movement that believes transparency and explainability are the real breakthroughs in AI.

“If AI says a patient has a condition, it has to explain why. That’s how we build trust — not by replacing clinicians, but by helping them see what the data sees.”

In this conversation, Russ and Naren unpack:

• Why explainable AI is essential for responsible innovation in healthcare
• The balancing act between compliance, regulation, and innovation
• How real-world data (RWD) is reshaping the future of health analytics
• What healthcare leaders get wrong about AI adoption — and what they can do better
• The leadership principles that help teams stay grounded in purpose, not hype

Naren also shares his thoughts on where AI goes next in healthcare — and why success won’t be defined by how fast technology moves, but how well it earns trust.

For anyone working at the intersection of technology, data, and care, this episode is a must-listen. It’s a rare look inside how true innovation happens: methodically, transparently, and always with integrity.

Listen to the full episode of Winners’ Circle to learn:

• How to make AI explainable and auditable in regulated industries
• What “trustworthy analytics” really looks like in practice
• Why compliance can be the blueprint — not the barrier — to innovation

🎧 Tune in now to hear how data, design, and ethics are coming together to power the next wave of healthcare intelligence — and why leaders like Naren Santhanam believe the future of AI starts with trust.

In this inspiring episode of Winners’ Circle, host Russ Fordyce sits down with Maggie Doyne, award-winning humanitarian and co-founder of BlinkNow—an organization transforming how the world thinks about orphan care, sustainability, and community empowerment.

At just 19 years old, Maggie left her suburban New Jersey home with a backpack and curiosity about the world. Traveling through India and Nepal, she came across children breaking rocks in a riverbed to survive. That moment changed everything. Instead of moving on, she decided to stay—and help. What began as one child’s tuition payment grew into a movement that would reshape an entire community.

Nearly two decades later, Maggie’s organization, BlinkNow, operates in western Nepal’s Kopila Valley and has become a global model for sustainable, community-led change.

Together with her team and local leaders, Maggie has built:

• A school serving more than 400 students.
• A children’s home that’s raised over 100 kids.
• A women’s center empowering more than 1,800 women with training and microloans.
• Sustainability programs for regenerative farming, clean energy, and waste management.

“The greatest way to prevent orphanhood is to take care of mothers,” Maggie says. “Everything changes when you support women.”

Through her leadership, Maggie has shown that true impact isn’t about charity—it’s about partnership, listening, and building from the ground up. BlinkNow’s model is now studied by NGOs and leaders around the world as a blueprint for meaningful, scalable progress.

In this conversation, Russ and Maggie explore the practical side of purpose-driven leadership—what it means to create systems that last, lead with empathy, and rebuild trust in the power of community. Maggie reflects on how hope, resilience, and collaboration guide her through even the hardest days.

“When people come to BlinkNow, they expect sadness,” she says. “But they find joy, color, and laughter. It’s what every child deserves—a place that feels like home.”

You’ll hear how a single act of compassion evolved into a thriving network of education, empowerment, and sustainability that’s transforming lives in Nepal—and inspiring others worldwide to rethink what’s possible.

Maggie’s extraordinary story is also captured in her documentary film Between the Mountain and the Sky, which chronicles her journey of love, loss, and hope. It’s a reminder that when we choose to act with empathy, the ripple effects can reach across the globe.

This episode is a celebration of purpose in action—proof that one person, one choice, and one act of kindness can indeed change the world.

Listen now to hear how Maggie Doyne turned compassion into a global movement—and what it really takes to build hope that lasts.

🔗 Learn more about BlinkNow: https://blinknow.org
🎬 Watch the film Between the Mountain and the Sky: https://www.betweenthemountainandthesky.com
🌍 Explore more Winners’ Circle episodes: https://www.bintelligence.com/podcast