Workato

For the last 30 years, companies have worked to create value with better processes. We've seen all kinds of approaches, from process re-engineering to robotic process automation. But this new era of AI– it's turning 30 years of business process theory on its head. It will change the way we all work forever. In this new podcast, we'll go on a journey behind the scenes with leaders bringing this new era to life. Together, we'll uncover the secrets behind their success, the strategies that propelled them forward, and the challenges they conquered along the way. The New Automation Mindset is your leadership blueprint, your guide to success in a world where change is constant and innovation is everything. The New Automation Mindset, where AI,&nbsp;automation, and integration come together.&nbsp; Hosted by Markus Zirn and brought to you by Workato.

The New Automation Mindset, where AI, automation, and integration come together. Hosted by Markus Zirn and brought to you by Workato.


Introducing The New Automation Mindset

<h3>Episode Summary</h3>In this episode, Markus Zirn and Tembi Holmes explore the critical role of being data-driven in achieving sustainable and resilient global solutions. As a leader at Arup, Tembi discusses the importance of data integrity in real-time information exchange and the complexities of managing extensive data ecosystems. She shares her diverse background in financial services and tech, highlighting how these experiences influence her leadership. They delve into the challenges of standardizing processes across a global company and the impact of generative AI on productivity and efficiency in engineering and architecture. Tembi's insights underscore the future of data-driven practices and the value of hands-on experience for data leaders.<h3>Timestamps</h3>*(00:00) Episode Start*(04:50) Why Arup has embarked on their digital transformation journey*(09:52) The winning focus on collaboration*(11:40) Building guardrails around innovation*(14:53) From big data to big processes*(23:09) Maintaining data integrity across flows*(29:20) Added complexities in the AEC space*(32:14) Why Tembi has such a passion for data*(37:52) The importance of getting your hands dirty*(41:20) Practical use cases for Gen AI*(48:28) Tembi's advice for others on the journey<h3>Episode Key Takeaways</h3><ul><li>Data Integrity is crucial: Ensuring the integrity of data as it moves through various processes and systems is vital. It’s not just about transferring data; it needs to maintain its accuracy and quality at every stage.</li><li>Collaboration is key: Strong internal and external collaborations are necessary to tackle complex projects. Engaging with multiple stakeholders, from engineers to architects and clients, ensures a collective approach toward achieving goals.</li><li>Utilize custom applications and innovations: Invest in developing and leveraging custom applications that can support specific industry needs, such as parametric design for engineers or specialized simulation tools.</li><li>Start small with GenAI: Begin with manageable use cases of GenAI to understand the value it can bring to your company and identify any gaps in your data management strategies.</li></ul><h3>Top Quote</h3>“We always ask, as data leaders, is how do we make sure that the business consumer who's not technical can leverage this technology? A lot of technology can be highly technical, the barrier to entry can be really onerous and complex. And that makes it really difficult, especially if you want to federate some of the data services that people need to be able to do by themselves. And so you need something that's at least visual, that has a process mind behind it because a lot of business consumers are thinking about the process and what they need to get to, not necessarily the technical complexity behind it. So, I agree with you that I think the visual component, the simplification is really powerful.”

Tembi is a seasoned data and analytics leader with a track record of developing and implementing data strategies across a range of industries, both as a trusted advisor and business leader. As Arup's Global Chief Data Officer and Principal, Tembi leads the delivery of our firm's data strategy and oversees Arup's data governance plans. She formerly was accountable for the delivery of global best-in-class data solutions with the company, Okta. Prior to joining Okta, Tembi was part of the CIO leadership team at Peloton where she led the Enterprise Data team. She began her career at accounting giant, PwC, and has previously held leadership roles at boutique consulting firm, CrossCountry Consulting, and also at Australia’s largest bank, the Commonwealth Bank. Tembi holds a bachelor’s degree in accounting, and an MBA from Duke University’s Fuqua School of Business. She loves to hike and is an avid squash player. She is passionate about causes that empower women and children and has held various advisory roles supporting female-led companies.

Tembi Hommes

Global Chief Data Officer, Arup

In this episode, Markus Zirn and Tembi Holmes explore the critical role of being data-driven in achieving sustainable and resilient global solutions. As a leader at Arup, Tembi discusses the importance of data integrity in real-time information exchange and the complexities of managing extensive data ecosystems. She shares her diverse background in financial services and tech, highlighting how these experiences influence her leadership. They delve into the challenges of standardizing processes across a global company and the impact of generative AI on productivity and efficiency in engineering and architecture. Tembi's insights underscore the future of data-driven practices and the value of hands-on experience for data leaders.

Supercharging Collaboration While Ensuring Data Integrity

<h3>Episode Summary</h3>In this episode, Markus Zirn and Stanley Toh discuss how Broadcom is leveraging automation and AI to stay ahead of the curve. Stanley shares his journey from teaching COBOL to leading major automation projects at Broadcom. They talk about Broadcom's dynamic growth through significant acquisitions, the power of simplifying processes, and the company's cloud-first strategy. Stanley reveals how automation has transformed processes like IT service provisioning and employee onboarding. They also delve into the exciting potential of generative AI and LLMs in enhancing automation. Stanley's insights highlight the importance of embracing future technologies and their transformative impact on business efficiency and scalability.&nbsp;<h3>Timestamps</h3>*(00:00) Episode Start*(02:05) Stanley's career journey*(06:05) What is Broadcom?*(10:58) How to leverage technology effectively*(15:38) Importance of fast implementation with cloud-first technologies*(18:30) Workato's impact at Broadcom*(32:45) COBOL vs. Workato: Changes, constants, and advice*(38:50) Areas of opportunity with Workato and the impact of GenAI*(42:16) Impact of LLMs on automation*(45:12) Leveraging Workato for cost-effective automation and integration*(48:25) Stanley's takeaway from 'The New Automation Mindset' book<h3>Episode Key Takeaways</h3><ul><li>Adopt a cloud-first strategy: Emphasize the adoption of cloud-first technologies to ensure quick and scalable solutions that can accommodate rapid growth and change. This approach will speed up how you roll out new ideas and scale them up.</li><li>The importance of a process mindset: Before diving into any automation or coding, take the time to map out your processes and workflows. This will not only clarify what needs to be done but also highlight areas for simplification and efficiency gains.</li><li>Embrace future technologies: Acknowledge the inevitability of change and keep an open mind to emerging technologies such as AI and automation tools. Consider how they can be integrated into your operations to enhance efficiency, scalability, and user experience.&nbsp;</li><li>Leverage automation and AI for efficiency: Use automation and AI to streamline repetitive tasks, scale operations effectively, and manage complex challenges with greater precision. Explore how these technologies can be applied to your specific challenges to drive substantial improvements.</li></ul><h3>Top Quote</h3>“Embrace the future. You cannot stop technology. It's coming, no matter what you do. You have to embrace this, and this is the new way of operations. Times are changing. People are looking at speed and efficiency and scalability. And there's no way you can stop it, Markus. So, the idea of embracing this. And you can actually do extraordinary things with it if you embrace the technology.”

Stanley Toh is the Head of Enterprise End-user Services and Experience at Broadcom's Global Technology Organization. He has extensive experience leading diverse global teams. He brings almost three decades of experience in successfully executing M&A integrations, improving IT operations efficiency, implementing digital transformation programs, and utilizing cutting-edge Cloud First technologies to drive innovation and enhance the end-user experience through AI, ML, and automated workflows.

Stanley Toh

Head of Enterprise End-user Services & Experience

In this episode, Markus Zirn and Stanley Toh discuss how Broadcom is leveraging automation and AI to stay ahead of the curve. Stanley shares his journey from teaching COBOL to leading major automation projects at Broadcom. They talk about Broadcom's dynamic growth through significant acquisitions, the power of simplifying processes, and the company's cloud-first strategy. Stanley reveals how automation has transformed processes like IT service provisioning and employee onboarding. They also delve into the exciting potential of generative AI and LLMs in enhancing automation. Stanley's insights highlight the importance of embracing future technologies and their transformative impact on business efficiency and scalability.

Integrating Systems, People, and Processes in Massive Acquisitions

<h3>Episode Summary</h3> In this episode, Markus Zirn and Tristan Cox dive deep into the digital and regulatory landscape of aged care in Australia. Tristan shares insights into the formation and evolution of the Royal Commission, driven by significant events and the need for an integrated regulatory approach. He discusses the challenges and transformations within aged care, highlighting the importance of process mapping and technological adaptation in enhancing care quality. They also explore Tristan's remarkable career journey from studying archaeology to leading digital innovation in aged care, underscoring the invaluable role of a growth mindset in government IT leadership. Lastly, they delve into the future of aged care regulation, touching on Tristan's vision for leveraging technology to simplify government processes and make a lasting impact in the sector. <h3>Timestamps</h3> *(00:00) Episode Start *(02:23) Understanding the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety in Australia *(05:16) Tristan's career journey *(14:22) Challenges technology leaders face in aged care *(23:30) Tristan's driving forces in his work *(27:18) IT's role in simplifying government processes *(35:50) Key takeaways from ‘The New Automation Mindset' book *(41:22) Improving efficiency with Tristan's 'Operational Digital Toolkit' <h3>Episode Key Takeaways</h3> <ul><li>Optimize your workflow with process mapping: Begin by mapping out your workflows to thoroughly understand your processes and pinpoint areas for improvement. This fundamental step is crucial for enhancing efficiency and achieving operational clarity.</li></ul> <ul><li>Boost agility with low-code platforms: Empower your team to adapt quickly with low-code platforms. These user-friendly tools enable rapid development and deployment of solutions, enhancing your organization's agility and responsiveness to change.</li></ul> <ul><li>Future-proof your operations through composability: Design systems and processes to be flexible and adaptable. Embracing modularity ensures easy adjustments to evolving challenges, keeping your operations resilient and ready for the future.</li></ul> <h3>Top Quotes</h3> “Decomposition is right at the center of our enterprise architecture. We want to use best in breed products and connect them together in a smooth transition, an easy connection, so that we can get the data transfer between systems. And actually the Workato product is what we landed on to do that. It has all of these attributes, it has an ability to be used in a very powerful and flexible way. Is it fast? Absolutely. We can develop stuff really quickly in there. Does it have flexibility? Yes. We can do all sorts of things with it that, in fact, we're discovering some things that weren't even in our original intent, but we're playing with those things just to understand the boundaries.” - Tristan Cox

Tristan Cox is the Chief Digital Officer at Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission in Australia. Striving toward digital excellence in the modern era, he levers his exceptional skills in technology and Lean Six Sigma systems development to redesign business systems and processes to drive effectiveness, efficiency, and security. He is adept at driving innovation and leading intensive large-scale change management, including parallel implementation across different organizations working to common purpose. No challenge too great and no problem too small; solving problems since 1984.

Tristan Cox

Chief Digital Officer, Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission

In this episode, Markus Zirn and Tristan Cox dive deep into the digital and regulatory landscape of aged care in Australia. Tristan shares insights into the formation and evolution of the Royal Commission, driven by significant events and the need for an integrated regulatory approach. He discusses the challenges and transformations within aged care, highlighting the importance of process mapping and technological adaptation in enhancing care quality. They also explore Tristan's remarkable career journey from studying archaeology to leading digital innovation in aged care, underscoring the invaluable role of a growth mindset in government IT leadership. Lastly, they delve into the future of aged care regulation, touching on Tristan's vision for leveraging technology to simplify government processes and make a lasting impact in the sector.

Leveraging Composition for a Noble Mission

<h3>Episode Summary</h3> In this episode, Markus Zirn and Jim Williams discuss automation's impact on marketing operations, spotlighting Uptempo's innovative approach. They explore how Utempo uses Workato to streamline data flow between marketing and finance, setting new efficiency standards. They also touch on AI's potential in redefining marketing strategies. This episode offers a glimpse into the future of marketing, emphasizing integration, innovation, and insight. <h3>Timestamps</h3> *(00:00) Episode Start *(02:50) What is Uptempo? *(04:47) Why automating the back end of marketing matters *(08:34) Workato’s Impact at Uptempo *(14:42) Role of integration in marketing strategies *(17:24) 'The New Automation Mindset' and its impact on the CMO role *(22:30) Turning big data into big marketing operations *(28:29) AI revolution in marketing *(35:50) How to scale through integration <h3>Episode Key Takeaways</h3> <ul><li>Automate the back end of marketing: Simplify your marketing processes by automating back-end tasks. Ditch the spreadsheets and embrace efficiency, saving time and reducing errors in planning, budgeting, and execution.</li></ul> <ul><li>Merge your marketing and finance data: Unify marketing and financial data for deeper insights. This will enable your team to track spending, measure effectiveness, and adjust strategies confidently while empowering your CMO to make more informed decisions.</li></ul> <ul><li>Embrace AI in your marketing: Harness AI to enhance marketing efforts. From content creation to campaign planning, AI boosts efficiency and provides valuable insights, keeping you ahead of the curve.</li></ul> <h3>Top Quote</h3> "Change management in any organization is difficult. But take a global organization that's got 5,000 marketers, and they're organized into different regional groups and each wants to go to market in their own unique way. So that whole idea of the automation mindset is, by integrating these systems and then applying smart automation, smart business practices, you can actually begin to pull this system together into something that gives you the agility you need."

Jim Williams is the CMO at Uptempo. With over 25 years of experience in B2B marketing, Jim has a passion for working with early-stage and growth-oriented technology companies to jump-start and scale revenue. He is a strategic executive who can also manage tactical demand programs that generate quality leads, pipeline, and revenue.

As the CMO of Uptempo, a provider of marketing planning software, he leads all facets of marketing, including product marketing, demand, customer & community, branding, and corporate communications. His mission is to help CMOs run their departments the way great CEOs run their companies, by transforming how marketing planning, performance, and productivity is done. He believes strongly in the power of data to test new approaches to marketing, of customer advocacy to drive brand recognition, and of great sales enablement to convert pipeline.

Jim Williams

CMO, Uptempo

In this episode, Markus Zirn and Jim Williams discuss automation's impact on marketing operations, spotlighting Uptempo's innovative approach. They explore how Utempo uses Workato to streamline data flow between marketing and finance, setting new efficiency standards. They also touch on AI's potential in redefining marketing strategies. This episode offers a glimpse into the future of marketing, emphasizing integration, innovation, and insight.

From Big Data to Big Ops

<h3>Episode Summary</h3> In this episode, Markus Zirn, Kerry Officer, and Al Smith discuss the future of business applications in HR, focusing on the shift from digitizing paper systems to creating outcome-driven user experiences. They explore iCIMS' journey through three generations of integration platforms, emphasizing low-code solutions, event-driven workflows, and the integration of AI and generative AI. You’ll learn how these advancements enhance recruitment processes and create efficient, customizable user applications. Moreover, they shed light on the principles of responsible AI, especially in sensitive data domains like HR and recruiting, ensuring fairness and transparency in automated systems. <h3>Timestamps</h3> *(00:00) Episode Start *(03:25) Business applications as a 'digitization of paper systems' *(05:22) iCIMS's integration journey *(12:15) How iCIMS is scaling adoption of integration *(19:00) Workato's impact on iCIMS’ next-gen business applications *(21:38 iCIMS’ AI and GenAI journey *(31:55) Responsible AI in sensitive data *(43:10) How to enhance business applications with low code integration, event-driven workflows, and AI <h3>Episode Key Takeaways</h3> <ul><li>Transition to outcome-driven applications: Evaluate your current business applications to identify areas where they simply digitize existing processes. Transform them into tools that actively achieve desired outcomes, leveraging tech for added value beyond digitization.</li></ul> <ul><li>Leverage low-code platforms for better integration: Assess your integration challenges with low-code platforms. Start small to familiarize your team, then expand gradually. This approach can help streamline your business processes, making them more adaptable and efficient.</li></ul> <ul><li>Adopt event-driven workflows: Identify business processes that could benefit from becoming more dynamic and responsive. Automate with event-driven architectures to enhance agility and reduce manual processing.</li></ul> <ul><li>Implement responsible AI practices: Begin by auditing your current use of AI to ensure it aligns with ethical guidelines. Consider where generative AI can enhance your operations without introducing bias. Focus on transparency, allowing users to understand how AI decisions are made, and involve them in the process to ensure outcomes are fair and balanced.</li></ul> <h3>Top Quotes</h3> “When we look at scaling, it's not just ‘can we deploy more customers,’ right? It’s ‘can we load larger volume data? Can we put more customers on the platform without degradation? Can we scale globally? How do we just make smarter integrations so that it's faster to deploy same day? We get them up and running in an hour.’ So there's lots of facets in scaling that come to play in automation and integrations that we've really been looking at. As technology gets smarter, and these customers continue to want more automations, they're not settling with what they have. They're always pushing those boundaries.” - Kerry Officer “I don't think anybody says, ‘Hey, I want to do the 10 steps that it takes for me to generate a job offer for Markus.’ But I'd like to generate a job offer for Markus. That's the outcome I want to get to and I may or may not be an expert user of the software to do that. And look, there are regulatory steps in there that I need to make sure get covered. But why can't the technology help me pre-populate, know what things need to be done, take me as if it was an expert to the outcome steps and let me handle the differential things that I need to be the value add, decision-maker on. That's what we're working on as kind of the next step with this technology.” - Al Smith

Kerry Officer is the Vice President of Product - Integration at iCIMS. She is an accomplished and forward-thinking executive leader with over 20 years of exceptional experience in spearheading the growth and success of packaged software and SaaS cloud-based start-ups. Recognized for visionary leadership, strategic expertise, and an unwavering commitment to driving innovation and operational excellence. Kerry is a trusted member of multiple Executive and Senior Leadership Teams, consistently delivering impactful results in product development, integration strategy, and operational enhancements. She is adept at managing cross-functional teams, fostering collaboration, and achieving remarkable outcomes even in complex environments.

Kerry Officer

Vice President of Product - Integration, iCIMS

Al Smith served as chief technology officer at iCIMS for nearly 10 years, leading the technology team behind iCIMS’ award-winning product portfolio that supports hundreds of millions of global users. He joined the company in 2015 and led the vision and execution of the company’s product management, business analysis, development, quality assurance, research, architecture and production strategies. Al is a proven software executive with an ability to lead creative, productive teams that deliver enterprise products aligned with business objectives.

Al Smith

Advisor to the CTO, iCIMS

In this episode, Markus Zirn, Kerry Officer, and Al Smith discuss the future of business applications in HR, focusing on the shift from digitizing paper systems to creating outcome-driven user experiences. They explore iCIMS' journey through three generations of integration platforms, emphasizing low-code solutions, event-driven workflows, and the integration of AI and generative AI. You’ll learn how these advancements enhance recruitment processes and create efficient, customizable user applications. Moreover, they shed light on the principles of responsible AI, especially in sensitive data domains like HR and recruiting, ensuring fairness and transparency in automated systems.

The Integration Scaling Journey

<h3>Episode Summary</h3> In this episode, Markus Zirn and Kamlesh Talreja explore the technology parallels between Workato and Capital One, highlighting the strategic significance of cloud computing. They explore how harnessing cloud-native capabilities has fueled innovation, enriched customer experiences, and optimized data utilization well beyond the simple migration of traditional platforms. Drawing from his extensive experience, including 15 years at Amazon, Kamlesh reveals how it shaped his perspective on innovation in the cloud. They further dive into the transformative power of APIs, the role of AI and data in enhancing customer experiences, and the cultural and operational shifts necessary for companies to thrive in a cloud-dominated landscape. This discussion uncovers key strategies and insights on leveraging cloud technology to drive business innovation and operational efficiency. <h3>Timestamps</h3> *(00:00) Episode Start *(05:05) Kamlesh's 15-year journey at Amazon *(16:18) Capital One vs. Amazon: Similarities and differences *(20:10) Benefits of going cloud-native *(25:42) Is on-prem more secure than the cloud? *(30:50) Impact of Jeff Bezos' 'Build APIs or you will get fired' memo *(38:16) Capital One's strategies around data and AI *(41:45) Understanding Capital One's Auto Navigator *(46:10) How the cloud transformed culture at Capital One <h3>Episode Key Takeaways</h3> <ul><li>Make the shift to the cloud: Transitioning to the cloud offers more than just cost efficiency. It unlocks agility, fosters innovation, and elevates customer satisfaction. By harnessing cloud technologies, you can catalyze business transformation and cultivate a culture of scalable innovation.</li></ul> <ul><li>Adopt an API-first strategy: Follow industry leaders like Amazon. Embrace service-oriented architecture for swift and scalable development, laying down a robust digital infrastructure that empowers teams to innovate seamlessly and deliver transformative solutions.</li></ul> <ul><li>Enhance your customer experience with data and AI: Transform data into stories and AI insights into personalized experiences. Anticipate customer needs to create intuitive products and services, ensuring every interaction reflects your commitment to customer value and fosters loyalty.</li></ul> <ul><li>Foster a collaborative cross-functional culture: Break down silos and foster collaboration across departments. Model after successful examples like Capital One's cross-functional teams to spark innovation and align technology with business objectives. By cultivating a culture of collaboration, you can ensure transformative projects that prioritize customer-centric outcomes.</li></ul> <h3>Top Quote</h3> “The strong belief we have and what I've seen, cloud today is in fact way more secure than any on-prem infrastructure we might have. You have cloud services such as AWS and Azure and Google now powering many of the military and intelligence operations of many countries, including the US. So you can't have more security than those, many of those highly sensitive workloads. And, I know for a fact, AWS, it is applying that same way they build regional data centers for the military, the same way they build it for the intelligence services. That's the same way they're building any of the data centers.” – Kamlesh Talreja

As Senior Vice President and Chief Technology Officer for Capital One’s Financial Services division, Kamlesh’s responsibilities include divisional technology, and the Garage, Capital One Financial Service’s innovation and incubation group. Kamlesh’s organization is reimagining the auto finance business by leveraging cloud-native technologies, machine learning and next-generation data solutions to develop breakthrough innovations and deliver transformative customer experiences.

Kamlesh holds a Bachelor of Engineering (B.E), Electronics and a Master’s degree in Computer Science, Multimedia. Kamlesh joins the Capital One team from Goldman Sachs where he was a Partner leading Asset Management Engineering leading technology transformation of their customer experience as Goldman tried to diversify into predictable fee based businesses. Prior to Goldman Sachs, he spent 16 years with Amazon leading globally distributed engineering, product and business organizations across Retail, Digital Media and AWS. In this time, he has invented, built and brought to market innovative products and customer experiences across Enterprise (AWS Marketplace) and Consumer (Amazon Retail, Prime Video, Amazon AppStore) businesses.

Kamlesh lives in Seattle with his wife and son. He’s an avid hiker and digital media enthusiast and loves coaching his son’s robotics team.

Kamlesh Talreja

Chief Technology Officer, SVP, Financial Services, Capital One

In this episode, Markus Zirn and Kamlesh Talreja explore the technology parallels between Workato and Capital One, highlighting the strategic significance of cloud computing. They explore how harnessing cloud-native capabilities has fueled innovation, enriched customer experiences, and optimized data utilization well beyond the simple migration of traditional platforms. Drawing from his extensive experience, including 15 years at Amazon, Kamlesh reveals how it shaped his perspective on innovation in the cloud. They further dive into the transformative power of APIs, the role of AI and data in enhancing customer experiences, and the cultural and operational shifts necessary for companies to thrive in a cloud-dominated landscape. This discussion uncovers key strategies and insights on leveraging cloud technology to drive business innovation and operational efficiency.

Customer-Obsessed Technology Leadership

Fintech in the Fast Lane, Fueled by the Cloud

Welcome to "The New Automation Mindset: AI + Automation + Integration," a groundbreaking podcast series by Workato. On this show, we bring you real-world stories of business efficiency, agility, growth, and transformation from executive leaders in the industry. In each episode, we dive deep into the minds of top-level executives who have successfully embraced automation to work faster, smarter, and more securely without compromising governance. From Fortune 500 companies to innovative startups, we explore the strategies, challenges, and triumphs of these forward-thinking leaders.Hear firsthand accounts of how automation has revolutionized their organizations, enabling them to unlock new levels of productivity, drive innovation, and fuel business growth. Gain valuable insights on navigating AI, digital transformation, streamlining workflows, integrating systems, and optimizing processes to achieve seamless operations across your enterprise.We believe that automation is not just a technology but a mindset. Join us on "The New Automation Mindset" – a leadership blueprint to reshape your organization for success in the digital age.

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Introducing The New Automation Mindset

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Markus Zirn

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