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3 Pillars that Empower Executives to Thrive During Tough Times

The Modern Customer Podcast

Release Date: 03/31/2020

The AI Powering 5 Billion Customer Resolutions—and the Future It’s Creating for Service show art The AI Powering 5 Billion Customer Resolutions—and the Future It’s Creating for Service

The Modern Customer Podcast

What does it take to power 5 billion customer resolutions a year—with speed, empathy, and zero shortcuts? At Zendesk, AI plays a central role. It learns from massive data, follows clear rules, and helps teams make service feel more human. On this episode of The Modern Customer Podcast, I speak with Shashi Upadhyay, President of Products, Engineering, and AI at Zendesk, about how they’re building AI that scales globally and enhances every human interaction it touches. 🎧 Listen in for:  ◦ Why AI needs guardrails, not guesswork  ◦ The “smart intern” approach to...

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Reimagining Healthcare Experience Through Feedback and AI show art Reimagining Healthcare Experience Through Feedback and AI

The Modern Customer Podcast

The future of healthcare isn’t just digital—it’s deeply human. And AI is helping make that possible. This week on The Modern Customer Podcast, , Chief People Officer at , shares how her team is transforming both patient and employee experience. By combining the power of AI with real-time employee feedback, they’re building a more connected, responsive, and human-centered healthcare system. In this conversation, Heather shares: ✔️ How AI is helping doctors stay present and build trust with patients ✔️ Why transparent feedback is reshaping leadership culture ✔️ What it takes...

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Why Most AI in CX Is Missing the Mark—and What Comes Next show art Why Most AI in CX Is Missing the Mark—and What Comes Next

The Modern Customer Podcast

Most AI chatbots are built to answer FAQs—but that only solves a fraction of the problem. According to Deon Nicholas, founder of Forethought, just 23% of support inquiries are informational. The other 77% require action—like account lookups, password resets, and policy decisions. That’s where most GenAI tools fall short—and where agentic AI steps in. On the latest episode of The Modern Customer Podcast, recorded live at the Qualtrics X4 Summit, Deon and I go rapid-fire on the future of AI in CX and EX. We cover: ✅ Why most chatbots can't handle the majority of real-world support...

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How Creative Thinking Unlocks the True Power of AI in CX show art How Creative Thinking Unlocks the True Power of AI in CX

The Modern Customer Podcast

The missing piece in AI-powered CX? Creative thinking. This week on The Modern Customer Podcast, I’m joined by Zendesk CTO Adrian McDermott, live from the Zendesk Relate conference in Las Vegas. We explore why AI alone isn’t enough—and how customer experience leaders must pair technology with imagination to drive meaningful innovation. Inside the episode:  ✔️ RAG: The new standard for self-service ✔️ Agent co-pilots that reduce training time ✔️ Smarter automation that actually delivers 🎧 Listen now and let me know how you’re combining creativity with AI in your own...

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The $1.3 Trillion CX Opportunity: It Starts with Creative AI Leadership show art The $1.3 Trillion CX Opportunity: It Starts with Creative AI Leadership

The Modern Customer Podcast

According to a new Qualtrics + McKinsey report, organizations that effectively use AI to enhance CX could unlock between $860 billion and $1.3 trillion in annual value. On the latest episode of The Modern Customer Podcast, I speak with Isabelle Zdatny, Head of Thought Leadership at Qualtrics, live from the X4 conference. We dive into what this research means for CX leaders navigating AI transformation. Key insights from the report: 77% of executives say CX is a top strategic priority 72% believe AI will fundamentally reshape CX within three years Yet only 12% have a coordinated AI...

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Agentic AI, Customer Resolution, and the Future of Zendesk’s CX Vision show art Agentic AI, Customer Resolution, and the Future of Zendesk’s CX Vision

The Modern Customer Podcast

In the latest episode of The Modern Customer Podcast, Tom Eggemeier, CEO of Zendesk, shares what’s next for CX—and why the future is all about outcomes, not tickets. The conversation explores Zendesk’s new Resolution Platform and the real-world impact of Agentic AI. Key takeaways include: ✅ The shift from interactions to real resolution ✅ Agentic AI that acts, adapts, and anticipates ✅ A business model that only wins if customers do ✅ The 3 biggest CX shifts redefining loyalty, automation, and the human touch If you're thinking about where customer experience is headed, this...

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What Drives Customers to Buy—And What Holds Them Back show art What Drives Customers to Buy—And What Holds Them Back

The Modern Customer Podcast

This week on The Modern Customer Podcast, I sat down with Jeff Shore, sales strategist, author, and founder of Shore Consulting. We explored the emotional mechanics behind why customers buy—and what causes them to hesitate. Jeff shared a powerful framework that helps brands reduce friction, build trust, and create experiences that move customers forward with confidence. If you lead CX, journey design, or customer strategy, this episode offers fresh insights you can apply right away. Listen now—and discover how to turn hesitation into momentum. This episode is sponsored by Scayle—the...

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Inside Walmart’s EX Strategy: How 2.1 Million Associates Are Powering CX Innovation show art Inside Walmart’s EX Strategy: How 2.1 Million Associates Are Powering CX Innovation

The Modern Customer Podcast

This week on The Modern Customer Podcast, I sat down in person with Donna Morris, EVP and Chief People Officer at Walmart, live from the Qualtrics X4 event in Salt Lake City. We explored how Walmart is using technology, AI, and a deep focus on people to rethink employee experience at scale—and what that means for customers. If you lead CX, EX, or digital transformation, this episode is packed with insights you can use. 🎧 Don’t miss this powerful conversation with one of the world’s most influential HR leaders. Blake Morgan is a customer experience futurist, keynote speaker, and...

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AI and CX: The Shift Toward Smarter, Seamless Service show art AI and CX: The Shift Toward Smarter, Seamless Service

The Modern Customer Podcast

AI is no longer a future concept—it’s here, transforming how businesses operate and how customers engage. In this episode of The Modern Customer Podcast, , futurist, founder of , and former Head of GTM at OpenAI—joins us to explore how AI is reshaping customer experience and the industries that rely on it. Zack shares his insights on how AI is shifting CX from reactive problem-solving to seamless, proactive engagement. He explains why many businesses still treat CX as a cost center and how AI-driven automation will eliminate inefficiencies, personalize interactions, and unlock new...

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How the 80/20 Rule, AI, and Leadership Drive Business Growth show art How the 80/20 Rule, AI, and Leadership Drive Business Growth

The Modern Customer Podcast

In this episode of The Modern Customer Podcast, I sit down with Bill Canady, CEO of OTC Industrial Technologies and Arrowhead Engineered Products, and author of From Panic to Profit, set to release on April 29th. With decades of experience leading billion-dollar companies, Bill shares how leaders can scale efficiently by prioritizing high-impact areas, optimizing processes, and leveraging AI to enhance—not replace—human roles. Under his leadership at OTC: 👉 Revenue grew by 43% 👉 Earnings increased over 80% 🎧 Listen now to hear Bill’s insights on scaling efficiently, prioritizing...

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More Episodes

It’s no secret that we are experiencing a moment in history that is uncertain and distressing. The coronavirus pandemic has affected millions of businesses around the country, leaving employees and leaders in a state of panic. Executives at these businesses hold a heavy responsibility on their shoulders to remain calm, adaptable, and resilient. As the world changes drastically around us, we are looking to these c-suite leaders to step up and set an example. 

Damon D’Amore, C-Suite Advisor and Elite Performance Mentor, works with executives every day to help them build their legacy, meaning the clear and consistent message the stakeholders in his clients’ lives and businesses will share when they are gone. While he believes we all have to focus on tactical and immediate business needs, the only way to secure a legacy, the narrative of which you control, is to make tradeoffs with time and dedicate resources to focusing on what matters most. This is done by focusing on these three pillars:

Psychological: Mindset

Create filters to determine what time and resource demands are worthy of focusing on. You are the one who prioritizes your time, not your employees, customers, or board. The result is establishing confidence that you are focused on what matters most.

Emotional: Resilience as a Lifestyle

Resilience is not about surviving one challenge or trauma. It is being an optimist in the sense of waking up everyday knowing things will go wrong but you have the tools to survive and thrive. Knowing you will be ‘OK’ combined with the confidence that you are focused on the right priorities, you will be equipped to lead effectively. 

Narrative: Share Your Story

Use the data points of your life and career to tell a unique and compelling story. Your story will gain advocacy for your goals from all of your stakeholders like your company’s board, customers, investors, family and friends. You need to know your story, believe it, and learn how to communicate it. 

For executives out there that are still at a loss for how to cope with the changes that coronavirus has brought, and will continue to bring, Damon says to compose yourself and take stock of what you have and what you need. If you’re safe and have food, shelter and whatever medical supplies you need for a couple of weeks, you’re likely in a good place. You should also find a way to be present and focus. That can mean learning to meditate, breath work, or practicing gratitude. You don’t need to travel to a mountaintop in a faraway land to learn to do any of these. You can watch a video online, listen to a podcast, or download an app. 

Another helpful tool is to find an accountability partner or group. Even if it’s just 1 hour per day, get on a video chat with coworkers or peers. Set an intention or goal for the next hour, mute your video, put on headphones and do the work. Just seeing others being productive will alleviate some stress and help you to focus. The reassuring news is that many of us are in the same boat and there’s no need to be embarrassed about sharing your feelings with your peers.

As we all navigate this new reality, let’s not forget that this is an opportunity to build a legacy that we are proud of. Getting your mindset right, being resilient, and having the confidence to share your story in a vulnerable way sets you apart from the masses. As an executive, your responsibility is just as large as the impact you are capable of creating.