Contact Center Perspectives🎙️

Matt Hartley, Head of Pixel Customer Care at Google, dives into why customer care must be its own strongest advocate within a large organization. He outlines how support teams can earn a “seat at the table” by tying their work to product and business outcomes. Matt discusses systems for cross‑functional touchpoints and using data plus storytelling to influence peers. He also shares anecdotes from...

Luke Squires, Customer Experience Director at Sykes Holiday Cottages, discusses how businesses can integrate transformational technologies like AI into their traditional customer support operations. He discusses the evolution of customer service, the exciting potential of AI, and how it’s becoming more accessible to companies. Luke emphasizes that while AI comes with challenges, it opens up many n...

Enav Birnbaum, Director of Customer Solutions at Zencity, explores how customer support can directly impact revenue growth. She outlines her PhD background in international relations and explains how it informs her approach to solving real‑world challenges. She also reveals the cultural foundation that drives passionate service and fosters strong customer bonds. “I believe that when managing a con...

Ash Rhodes, Business Consultant in Customer Experience at Ash Rhodes Consulting, shares how contact centers can break free from the “cost center” mindset. He dives into strategies highlighting the invaluable customer data gathered during service interactions. Ash reveals how internal advocacy reshapes a team’s influence. Finally, he explains how to speak the language of stakeholders to gain a perm...

Ilai Szpiezak, Co-Founder at Dolphin AI, explores how businesses can unlock the power of customer insights hidden in everyday interactions. He reveals the potential of contact centers as rich data sources that guide product innovation and increase retention. He shares the impact of empathy, technology, and organizational alignment on customer satisfaction. Finally, he underscores how focusing on t...

Dean Czuma, Head of McKinsey Global Services at McKinsey & Company, explains why contact centers should be viewed as strategic investments that drive value rather than control costs. He shares insights on empowering agents, using the right tools, and fostering a strong culture. By aligning these elements, companies can transform contact centers into powerful customer satisfaction and profitabi...

Vladyslava Vozniuk, Customer Success Manager at Usersnap, explores the evolving role of AI in contact centers from the agent’s perspective. She dispels the myth of AI replacing human agents, instead advocating for a hybrid model that enhances customer experience. The discussion highlights AI’s impact on training, turnover, and the irreplaceable value of human empathy. “AI is not here to replace bu...

Mark Smith, Founder of Journey-Smiths, explores the transformative power of customer experience (CX) on business growth. He shares insights on CX technology, journey orchestration, and leadership’s role in creating brand-aligned experiences. Mark also highlights how CX-driven strategies can double company growth over a decade. “Being customer-focused gets you a business. Being customer experience-...

Anthony Chang, Business Platform Lead for Consumer Care at Versuni, discusses how contact centers can transition from cost centers to growth drivers by leveraging the voice of customer data. He highlights the role of advanced analytics and collaboration in boosting customer lifetime value and unlocking new revenue opportunities. “The missed opportunity lies in the goldmine of voice of customer dat...

Sarah Caminiti, Head of Customer Support and Service at abcam, shares insights on mending systemic cracks in CX practices to drive business growth and sustainability. She emphasizes the importance of viewing customers as valued individuals and leveraging data to advocate for change. Sarah also discusses strategies for building strong teams that enhance customer experience. “I think these systemic...

Henry Hildesheim, Director of Operations at TechStyleOS, shares deep insights into building successful contact center partnerships and driving business growth. He explores the challenges and opportunities of aligning corporate strategies with BPO operations, emphasizing the importance of integrating partners into company culture. The conversation also highlights leveraging data analysis to enhance...

Filip Popovic, Head of Relationship Centre Worldwide at Avon, outlines his ‘Golden Age’ approach to BPO partnerships. He explains how co‑creation with providers builds trust and drives mutual value. Filip shares real-world examples of how transparent collaboration improves customer feedback loops. He also demonstrates how AI synthesizes frontline insights to inform strategic decisions. “We now act...

Filip Popovic, Head of Relationship Centre, Worldwide, at Avon Consumer Experience, explains how his team evolves a relationship center into an experience center. He details a Consumer Experience Board for real-time insight. He shares value-creation tactics that generate revenue. He offers practical steps any CX leader can start now. “We evolve our relationship center into the experience center to...

Afshan Kinder explores how Chief Customer Officers can overcome internal hurdles to drive growth. She discusses the role of AI, strategic clarity, and frontline insights in enhancing customer engagement. Afshan also provides actionable advice on treating BPO partners as strategic assets and fostering alignment to accelerate organizational success. “To be forward-thinking, you’ve really got to be t...

Justin Robbins, Founder & Principal Analyst at Metric Sherpa, challenges preconceived notions in the contact center industry. He explores the concept of understanding the "business of the business" to transform contact centers from cost centers to value centers. Justin shares how impactful insights from customer interactions can drive strategic change across organizations. Using real-world exa...

Mike Aoki, President of Reflective Keynotes Inc., discusses rebalancing contact centers for optimal performance. He highlights the generational communication gap and the importance of AI in managing routine tasks. He also emphasizes viewing contact centers as drivers of customer loyalty and brand value rather than as cost centers. “Customer service is really a balance between efficiency metrics. I...

Mark Brody, Director of Contact Center Programs at TrachMar, discusses leveraging trusted advisors to scale contact centers. He emphasizes understanding a center's purpose, overcoming resistance to change, and using AI and BPO partners effectively. He also reveals key strategies and common errors in optimizing contact center operations. “Sometimes, getting the right set of eyes on a problem can he...

Karla Kannan, SVP of Customer Experience at Karla Kannan Leadership Solutions, shares her insights on navigating cultural differences and challenges in outsourcing. She highlights the importance of empathy, situational awareness, and ongoing training for service agents. She also explores how BPOs enhance scalability, financial efficiency, and cultural localization to improve customer support. "Cul...

Gary Yorke, Executive Director of Customer Experience at the City of Toronto, shares his approach to integrating 69 city entities to enhance service standards. By prioritizing empowerment, psychological safety, and data-driven strategies, Yorke transformed the customer experience without additional budget. He emphasizes the value of transparent communication, agile processes, and strong leadership...

Darcy Perry, Customer Experience Manager at Franke Group, shares her journey from early customer service roles to managing contact centers, highlighting lessons learned from healthcare and emergency services. She emphasizes the pivotal role of contact centers in business success, addressing challenges like turnover and employee engagement with empathy-driven strategies. She advocates for balanced...

Bennett Potter, Director of Customer Experience at Fullsteam, shares insights on blending historical theology and tech to improve customer experience. He focuses on research-driven strategies, highlighting the need to address inefficiencies in core activities and understand root causes without bias. Bennett’s methods of process simplification and clear mission alignment foster a productive, enthus...

Christian Hörnebrant, Customer Experience Manager at Telia, shares his innovative approaches for modernizing contact centers. He details his “contact center nudging strategy,” which leverages incremental changes to improve customer experience and service conversions. He also emphasizes integrating technology with empathy for personal, consistent interactions and highlights the role of active liste...

Chris Rojas, Head of U.S. Customer Service at Raisin, shares insights on transforming customer support teams from cost centers into value creators. He discusses building customer-centric operations, aligning stakeholders on service goals, and leveraging qualitative and data-driven approaches. He also highlights AI’s role in empowering agents, not replacing them, and stresses robust agent support t...

Vivian Malandrin, Senior Manager of Customer Experience at Amazon Brazil, explains how customer obsession fuels Amazon's continued success. She emphasizes the company’s strong culture and leadership principles that prioritize customer needs. She also describes how real-time feedback and anecdotes drive innovation and improvements. “Customer obsession means that leaders, like every Amazonian, start...

Thomas Lehner, Director of Global Support and Operations at Spryker, shares his journey from entrepreneur to global leader in customer experience. He emphasizes the role of an entrepreneurial mindset in fostering innovation, sustainable value, and effective feedback loops for continuous improvement. He also discusses the importance of aligning product development with evolving customer needs. “If...