The Modern Customer Podcast

This week on The Modern Customer Podcast, Gadi Shamia—Co-founder and CEO of Replicant—shares his expertise on building a customer-centric AI strategy that delivers real results. From starting small with AI adoption to automating impactful call flows and scaling strategically, Gadi breaks down the steps leaders can take to unlock efficiency, empower agents, and improve customer experiences. He also...

This week on The Modern Customer Podcast, Josh Linkner —globally recognized innovation expert, bestselling author, tech entrepreneur, and professional jazz guitarist—shares his insights on how leaders can unlock creativity, overcome fear-driven barriers, and build a culture where bold ideas thrive. From embracing AI as a co-pilot to applying frameworks like the 'To-Test List' and 'Judo Flip,' Josh...

The U.S. hotel industry saw occupancy rates reach 67% in October 2024 (Statista, 2024). In such a high-demand period, success isn't just about elegant rooms or luxurious amenities—it's about how every guest feels during their stay. In this episode of The Modern Customer podcast, Bashar Wali, Founder & CEO of This Assembly and Practice Hospitality, shares his expertise on crafting exceptional guest...

This week on The Modern Customer Podcast, Meridith Elliott Powell—an award-winning sales keynote speaker and master certified business growth strategist—reveals how embracing uncertainty can fuel growth, resilience, and success in both life and business. With over 600,000 learners completing her LinkedIn course, Meridith shares powerful insights on mindset shifts, the often-overlooked power of sma...

This week on The Modern Customer Podcast, Damon Covey, General Manager of Unified Communications and Collaboration at GoTo , dives into how unified communication tools are elevating customer experience in modern contact centers. Damon shares how GoTo enables businesses to meet customers on their preferred channels—whether it's SMS, social media, or web chat—fostering deeper connections and creatin...

Ranked #1 by ACSI in multiple categories for the second year, Samsung is raising the bar in customer care. From proactive solutions with SmartThings to AI-powered multilingual support, Samsung is redefining what it means to put the customer first. Their Beyond Boundaries program takes service to even the most remote areas, while their 10,000-strong team of passionate employees ensures every intera...

This week on The Modern Customer Podcast, Karen Dillon—New York Times bestselling author and former editor of Harvard Business Review—shares insights from her book The Microstress Effect and explores how microstress affects leaders, teams, and customers, while providing actionable strategies to address it. Karen unpacks the impact of these small, everyday stressors and shares practical strategies...

This week on The Modern Customer Podcast, Robert Glazer—entrepreneur, bestselling author, and keynote speaker—shares powerful strategies to master high-performance leadership and elevate customer experience. Robert explores the importance of clarity, accountability, and his four-part framework for building team capacity. He explains how aligning teams with shared goals, balancing culture with resu...

How do you turn everyday customers into passionate superfans? This week on The Modern Customer Podcast, Brittany Hodak, author of Creating Superfans, reveals her proven strategies for building customer loyalty that goes beyond the product. Brittany dives into her SUPER framework, sharing how brands can engage customers on an emotional level, personalize experiences, and create long-lasting relatio...

How does a fast-food giant like Jack in the Box stay relevant after 74 years?  This week on The Modern Customer Podcast, Ryan Ostrom, Chief Marketing Officer at Jack in the Box, shares how the iconic fast-food brand keeps its customers coming back for more. With experience at GNC, Yum! Brands, Sears, and Reebok, he brings a fresh perspective on modern marketing and customer experience. Ryan also o...

This week on The Modern Customer Podcast, David Edelman, senior lecturer at Harvard Business School and former CMO of Aetna, shares a five-part framework for using AI to drive growth based on his book, "Personalized: Customer Strategy in the Age of AI," co-authored with Mark Abrahams. With decades of experience helping top brands enhance their CX, David shows how companies can leverage AI to drive...

This week on The Modern Customer Podcast, Michele Crocker shares her insights on transforming contact centers through customer-focused leadership, AI, and change management. She dives into actionable strategies for aligning people, processes, and technology to create high-performing, customer-centric operations. Michele also explains how successful AI implementation hinges on effective change mana...

This week on The Modern Customer Podcast, Calvin Stovall, Chief Experience Officer at Iconic Presentations and hospitality expert, shares insights from his 30-year career in hospitality and how his leadership approach has transformed employee engagement. We discuss the importance of emotionally intelligent leadership in creating a highly engaged workforce, hiring passionate individuals, and buildi...

We're celebrating the 400th episode of The Modern Customer Podcast with Henrik Werdelin, co-founder of Bark, founding partner of Prehype! Henrik explores the powerful role of AI in leadership and customer experience, showing how it drives personalization, efficiency, and innovation.  From building personalized customer relationships to empowering leaders to embrace AI firsthand, Henrik shares acti...

In this episode of the Modern Customer Podcast, Jessica Austin, the Chief Digital and Client Experience Officer for TIAA, shares her insights on customer experience innovations, the integration of AI in financial services while maintaining customer trust, the challenges of serving an aging population digitally, and training contact center agents for empathetic engagement. Jessica shares her experi...

  This week on The Modern Customer Podcast, Cosimo Spera, founder and CEO of Minerva CQ, shares how AI is transforming the way contact centers operate by empowering agents with real-time information and reducing call times for smoother customer interactions. We explore the future of AI in customer experience, discussing how Minerva CQ's AI copilot helps agents deliver more efficient service while...

This week on The Modern Customer Podcast, John Finch, Global VP of Product Marketing for Customer Experience at RingCentral, shares insider knowledge on how AI is reshaping the future of contact centers, tackling the toughest challenges in customer experience today.  We dive into the complexities of bringing AI products to market, the importance of simplifying customer experience, and how RingCent...

This week on The Modern Customer podcast, Linda Jojo, EVP, Chief Customer Officer at United Airlines, reveals how the airline is transforming customer experiences by harnessing the power of AI, mobile apps, and real-time communication—while maintaining a strong focus on customer service. Learn how innovative tools like Agent on Demand and Connection Saver are reducing friction in travel, and disco...

This week on The Modern Customer podcast, Christian Mitchell, EVP and Chief Digital and Information Officer at Northwestern Mutual, shares how the company is blending human touch with AI-driven insights to enhance client experiences—balancing more than 165 years of tradition with cutting-edge technology. Discover how leadership, a growth mindset, and continuous customer feedback are driving innova...

This week on The Modern Customer Podcast, Hugh Blane, leadership coach and author of Lead Boldly: How to Coach Others to Greatness, reveals management strategies to unlocking your team's potential. From mastering mindset to improving customer experience, Hugh shares actionable advice on leading with purpose and navigating the complexities of professional relationships. Don't miss this episode fill...

This week on The Modern Customer podcast, Lupine Skelly, retail research leader at Deloitte, shares insights about retail and the current back-to-school shopping trends. With over 15 years of experience in retail market research, Lupine also touches on the evolving roles of digital and in-store experiences, the importance of building trust, and the rising significance of loyalty programs. Blake Mo...

In this episode of the Modern Customer Podcast we will explore key leadership principles that can help you learn to lead, empower your team, and achieve lasting business success. Robert Irvine, a celebrity chef, entrepreneur, and author of the book 'Overcoming Impossible' shares insights on leadership and creating a customer-centric culture, stressing the importance of listening, empathetic leader...

Sri Narasimhan, Head of Enterprise Customer Experience at CVS Health, talks about his journey from a background in analytics and finance at companies like Medallia and Wells Fargo to his current role. He emphasizes the importance of moving from reactive to proactive customer feedback mechanisms and using quantitative data to improve customer experiences. The episode also touches on the challenges...

The importance of the CEO in fostering a customer-centric culture stands out as a key takeaway from the conversation with Sowmyanarayan Sampath, CEO of Verizon Consumer. Learn about his strategic moves to regain market momentum, simplify customer interactions, and the innovative use of AI in improving both customer and employee experiences. Blake Morgan  is a customer experience futurist, keynote...

Customer journey mapping is a critical tool for understanding and enhancing customer experience. Stacy Sherman, a professional speaker, coach and business advisor with a wealth of experience in the customer experience field, recently shared her insights on this topic, along with her perspectives on agent experience, the role of AI, and the importance of communication. Blake Morgan  is a customer e...