Lenovo Work Reborn Podcast

Work Reborn research shows leaders are investing in AI, but human friction remains one of the biggest blockers to progress. So how do you reduce it without sacrificing security? We sit down with CISO advisor Javvad Malik to explore how cybersecurity, behavior, and AI intersect inside today’s workplace. Javvad explains why secure systems only work when they support people’s natural workflows, how a...

What does it take to guide an organization through meaningful transformation? On today’s episode, David Smith, Digital Transformation Director at Costain, breaks down why effective change has far less to do with tools and far more to do with people. He shares how alignment across strategy, process, and data sets the foundation, and why empowerment is essential for teams navigating complex, organiz...

How can organizations embrace AI without losing trust or momentum? In this episode of Lenovo’s Work Reborn podcast, host Rita Richa speaks with Veronique Roy, Director of IT Change Management at Héma-Québec, about how to lead transformation when excitement and uncertainty coexist. Veronique explains how her team uses small, strategic steps, proofs of concept, education, and ongoing dialogue to cre...

What does a frictionless workplace really look like? In this episode of Lenovo’s Work Reborn podcast, host Rita Richa speaks with Tal Klein, Chief Marketing Officer at Lakeside Software, about how organizations are combining data and AI to improve the employee experience. Tal shares how telemetry helps teams understand digital performance at scale, how automation can eliminate recurring issues, an...

Transformation succeeds when courage meets clarity. In this episode of Lenovo’s Work Reborn podcast, host Rita Richa talks with Matt Clay, CIO at HBC, about leading large-scale modernization that bridges legacy systems and future-ready infrastructure. Matt shares how simplifying architecture, adopting a cloud-first mindset, and pausing strategically helped his organization deliver measurable progr...

Great leadership combines trust, agility, and empathy. In this Work Reborn Barcelona episode, host Rita Richa speaks with Marcela Lycka Kubalakova, IT Leader at Deutsche Telekom IT Solutions Slovakia, about how trust-based leadership is reshaping teams and culture. Marcela explains how coaching helps managers move from directing to empowering, why listening prevents burnout, and how leaders can bu...

Sustainability is changing what success looks like in banking. In this episode of Lenovo’s Work Reborn podcast, host Rita Richa speaks with Fadi Khalil, Head of Corporate Banking at Jordan Kuwait Bank, about how sustainability and digital transformation are driving financial innovation. Fadi explains how his team issued Jordan’s first green bond, developed solar-powered data centers, and launched...

AI has become an everyday partner in the modern workplace. In this Work Reborn episode, host Rita Richa speaks with Alpamys Shurtabyev, Digital Infrastructure Manager at Tengizchevroil, about how his organization has made AI a standard part of daily operations. Alpamys describes how company-wide adoption has delivered measurable results in productivity and efficiency. He shares how automation is h...

What happens when AI becomes a core partner in the software development lifecycle?        This conversation features Avishay Cohen, CEO and Co-Founder of Anima, who explains how design-to-code automation is changing engineering culture, altering entry-level roles, and opening doors for entirely new kinds of expertise.        Avishay discusses emerging positions like governance reviewers and data-f...

How is AI transforming creative work without replacing the creatives behind it?        We sit down with Charles Verhey, Head of Creative Digital Content at a global software company, to discuss how AI is enabling writers, designers, and marketers to produce more, experiment more, and expand creative possibilities, while prompting new questions about quality and responsibility.        Charles share...

What are C-suite leaders really saying about AI, productivity, and the future of work?        On today’s show, we talk with David Vestal, Marketing leader of  Digital Workplace Solutions at Lenovo, about the themes emerging from deep conversations with CIOs at the Orlando Gartner Symposium.        David shares why leaders are craving practical, data-driven insight as they determine how to moderniz...

Where does human talent go when AI begins taking on more of the routine work?        We sit down with Imran, Director of Enterprise Architecture at a biotech firm, to explore how AI is reshaping capacity, creativity, and the expectations placed on modern teams.        Imran breaks down how tools like Copilot are helping his team work at nearly 50% greater capacity, why “superhuman performance” is...

 What does AI look like from the perspective of a security leader on the front lines?        We sit down with John Brooks, Director of IT Governance and Security at a major insurance company, for an unfiltered discussion on AI’s strengths, risks, and long-term promise.        John shares why AI isn’t yet delivering ROI in security, how deepfake-driven phishing is changing the threat landscape, and...

What does innovation look like inside one of the largest public utilities in the United States?        We sit down with Kingsford Kyei, Program Manager of Research, Development, and Analytics at the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power, to discuss how LADWP is balancing sustainability, AI, and resource constraints while preparing teams for the future of work.        Kingsford shares why the o...

What does empowerment look like on the front lines of construction and industrial work?        We sit down with Mica Ashmore, Continuous Improvement Leader at Alterman Electric, to talk about productivity, readiness, and the role AI can play in simplifying complex workflows.        Mica explains why field electricians and project managers are the true “elite athletes” of the business, how leaders...

 What does creativity look like when AI becomes a true collaborator?        We sit down with Myriam Cohen, Head of Marketing at Anima, to explore how AI is expanding what’s possible for marketers, designers, and developers across the software lifecycle.        Myriam shares how design-to-code automation reduces the fear that developers will become irrelevant, why prompt engineering is becoming ess...

 |What happens when IT support becomes truly tailored to every role in the organization?        On today’s show, we talk with Prafull Khare, Global Head of AI Strategy and Solution Engineering at Radiant Digital, about the shift from standardized systems to hyper-personalized employee experiences and the game-changing productivity gains that follow.        Prafull shares how personalized recommend...

 | What does real AI readiness look like inside a modern organization?        We sit down with Sean Iannuzzi, Head of Global AI Practice at NewRocket, to explore how teams can build trust, develop new skills, and adopt AI tools responsibly, without overwhelming employees or derailing operations.        Sean explains how NewRocket designed a company-wide enablement framework that spans sales, pre-s...

What does cybersecurity look like inside an organization that manages some of the most sensitive data imaginable?        We sit down with Steve Ferrigni, Chief Information Security Officer at WSIB, to unpack how his team defends against modern threats, from deepfakes to business email compromise, while empowering employees to stay vigilant in their day-to-day work.        Steve explains how WSIB b...

AI performs best when the plan is clear and the team knows its role.        In this episode of Lenovo’s Work Reborn podcast, host Rita Richa speaks with Tat Chu, an IT Leader based in Cambridge, Massachusetts, about how AI is changing the structure of modern teams.        Tat shares why he sees AI as a “coach” that helps organizations understand their strengths, build the right systems, and prepar...

AI is transforming the way people work and communicate, from customer service to collaboration.        In this episode of Lenovo’s Work Reborn podcast, host Rita Richa speaks with Steve Brock, Head of AI Solutions at Avaya, about how his organization is turning AI from a technology tool into a cultural mindset.        Steve shares how Avaya’s AI-first approach has enhanced both customer and employ...

What can IT teams learn from professional athletes? More than you might think.        In this episode of Lenovo’s Work Reborn podcast, host Rita Richa speaks with Scott Lee, IT Executive in Infrastructure and Operations, about how preparation, teamwork, and recovery are the cornerstones of both sports and technology.        Scott explains why AI literacy is essential for modern IT, how predictive...

Innovation and security can advance together.        In this episode of Lenovo’s Work Reborn podcast, host Rita Richa speaks with Paula Crowell, CIO of the Los Angeles County Sanitation District, about how government organizations are implementing AI responsibly while protecting public trust.        Paula explains how her team developed clear “do’s and don’ts” for AI use, built an internal steerin...

When experience defines the brand, technology becomes part of the story.        In this episode of Lenovo’s Work Reborn podcast, host Rita Richa speaks with Oscar Delgado, Finance and IT Director at Casa Del Sol Tequila, about how the luxury spirits industry approaches technology with precision and care.        Oscar shares how his team creates flawless digital experiences that protect the brand’s...

 AI is reshaping how organizations operate, learn, and lead.        In this episode of Lenovo’s Work Reborn podcast, host Rita Richa speaks with Mike Schumacher, Founder and CEO of Lakeside Software, about the practical side of AI innovation.        Mike shares how Lakeside is applying reasoning engines to generate real-time insights, improving how IT teams anticipate and resolve issues. He explai...