The Bridgecast Live: Reimagining the Customer and Employee Relationship - Part Two
The Bridgecast with Scott Kinka
Release Date: 12/11/2024
The Bridgecast with Scott Kinka
In this episode of the Bridgecast, host Scott Kinka sits down with Jasmina Mueller and Brad Dupree to discuss the charitable organization Tech4Change. This organization brings together technology leaders to raise funds for various grassroots charities. During their discussion, they explore the mission behind Tech4Change and the fundraising strategies used, sharing impactful stories from their events. The conversation emphasizes the importance of community engagement and the potential for technology professionals to make a difference through charitable work. is a 501(c)(3)...
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Can AI make business communication smarter and sales more human? Scott Kinka and Mike Kane from Dialpad break down the future of AI-driven conversations, tech partnerships, and the power of emotional intelligence in sales. They cover Dialpad’s AI-driven growth, the role of emotional intelligence in sales, and how AI is reshaping customer interactions, security, and global tech partnerships. Tune in for insights on leveraging AI for smarter, more effective communication. is the leading AI-Powered Customer Intelligence Platform that completely transforms how the world works with one...
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Sometimes, we think that new tech can solve old problems. For instance, can AI help employees be better at processes that don't exist? This is just one of the questions we tackle on this episode of The Bridgecast. In this conclusion to The Bridgecast’s 2024 Year-End series, Scott and Gene discuss key industry trends, reflections on the past year, and predictions for the future. The conversation highlights AI adoption challenges, the importance of human oversight in AI-driven processes, and the evolving nature of IT strategy. Topics discussed in this episode: • How IT budgets are...
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According to Sun Tzu, energy without strategy is chaos. This sentiment has never been more appropriate today, particularly concerning IT strategy and discussions around AI. In this year-end episode of The Bridgecast, Scott reflects on a monumental year for Bridgepointe Technologies and the broader IT industry. The conversation explores key themes that dominated the year, including AI governance and its impact on business strategy, the evolving role of IT leaders, and lessons from C-suite executives featured on the podcast. Topics discussed in this episode: ...
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Sports are a profoundly human experience—emotional, visceral, and passionately followed. While AI won’t replace athletes anytime soon, it’s increasingly shaping how fans engage with their favorite teams. In this episode of The Bridgecast, Scott Kinka sits down with Doug Kramon, Head of Customer Care and Fan Support at ESPN, to explore the evolving role of AI in sports customer experience. They discuss how generative AI plays a role in CX transformation and fan support, the power of emotional connections in customer care, and the challenges of balancing automation with human-centric...
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A new year often means resolutions and plans for your business. And for 2025, one of those plans is likely focused on literally and figuratively getting your arms around your AI strategy. Making effective use of AI in 2025 means rewinding one whole hype cycle to the early 2020s to big data. That's the last big story we were all talking about. Organization, accuracy, availability, and, of course, security of your data are the essential building blocks for you to build a language model that is serviceable and accurate for your business. It's the core of your AI strategy. In this...
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How is AI transforming IT leadership? AI solves no problems by itself. But with the proper workflows and systems around it, it drives real-world ROI. Rather than replacing humans, it can enable the next level of cross-functional collaboration. The panel explored AI's role in transforming business processes and IT leadership in part two of the 2024 Bridgepoint Tech Summit episode of The Bridgecast. The discussion focuses on AI’s potential to enhance human performance, streamline workflows, and enable cross-functional collaboration within organizations. The panel emphasizes...
info_outlineThe Bridgecast with Scott Kinka
Is your business experiencing AI fatigue? Right now, AI is all anyone is talking about…but too many conversations are about tech and innovation when they should be about getting measurable outcomes. In this live episode of The Bridgecast, recorded at the Bridgepointe Tech Summit 2024, we sat down with thought leaders from Dialpad, Observe AI, Talkdesk, and Vonage so they could share some timely insights on how companies are cutting through the AI hype and making it work. We talk about how AI is transforming customer and employee experiences with some real-life success stories, practical...
info_outlineThe Bridgecast with Scott Kinka
There are five generations in the workforce today, and every one speaks, communicates, and collaborates differently. You have to meet them all where they are—generally in their homes behind screens. While your personal brand used to be based on how you interacted with people in the real world, now, what happens on screen is your brand, and you need to invest in it. In this episode of The Bridgecast, Scott interviews Patrick Kelley, Distinguished Architect at Zoom, who shares insights on optimizing online meetings and video conferencing. Patrick — also known as — discusses...
info_outlineThe Bridgecast with Scott Kinka
Have you ever noticed that being an entrepreneur and an IT leader require nearly the same skills? On this episode of the Bridgecast, Scott sits down with Ryan DiRocco, CTO of . We explore that intersection and how experience and mentorship play critical roles in both realms. We discuss why mentorship is essential—not just when you lack specific skills but even when you think you’ve covered them. It's a lot like using an MSP to deliver a product. Sure, you could go it alone, but sometimes it's worth paying more to avoid costly mistakes. Like an MSP, mentorship can save you time,...
info_outlineHow is AI transforming IT leadership?
AI solves no problems by itself. But with the proper workflows and systems around it, it drives real-world ROI. Rather than replacing humans, it can enable the next level of cross-functional collaboration.
The panel explored AI's role in transforming business processes and IT leadership in part two of the 2024 Bridgepoint Tech Summit episode of The Bridgecast.
The discussion focuses on AI’s potential to enhance human performance, streamline workflows, and enable cross-functional collaboration within organizations. The panel emphasizes that effective AI adoption requires alignment across stakeholders and robust governance policies to mitigate risks like bias and inaccuracy.
Our discussion panel included:
· Nick Slater, Chief Revenue Officer, Dialpad
· Milind Pansare, Vice President of Product Marketing, Observe AI
· Shawn O’Connell, Vice President of Global AI Sales, Talkdesk
· Kristy Thomas, Senior Vice President of Global Channels and Alliances, Vonage
Topics discussed in this episode:
· Why AI should enhance human performance rather than replace it.
· How companies must align cross-functional stakeholders to drive successful AI adoption.
· Why governance and readiness are crucial before implementing AI solutions.
· How AI-driven tools can streamline workflows and improve employee productivity.
· Why knowledge repositories and accurate data are essential for effective AI integration.
· Why personalization and human interaction remain critical for customer satisfaction.
How industry-specific AI applications are gaining traction, with contact centers being a major area of focus.
2024 Live at Tech Summit's Episode Links:
2024 Tech Summit Live Episode Part I
2023 Live at Tech Summit's Episode Links:
2023 Tech Summit Live Episode Part I
2023 Tech Summit Live Episode Part 2
ABOUT THE PANEL
Nick Slater, Dialpad CRO
I am an experienced sales and operations leader with a track record of delivering consistent revenue growth, exceeding targets, improving sales productivity and developing top-tier technology sales and support teams. I have built several global teams from ideation to scale that have sold and supported hundreds of millions of dollars in ongoing revenues.
My previous sales and operations teams built the strategy, charter and infrastructure to take an organization from ~$25M in annual revenues to over $800M in 9 years. We effectively scaled a 100 employee “startup” business unit to a 1,500 employee global leader in the space.
I have a servant leadership philosophy revolving around hiring incredibly passionate, determined and intelligent individuals and providing them with the guidance, resources and autonomy to showcase their abilities most effectively. This has resulted in some of the lowest employee attrition and highest employee trust and engagement scores in my organizations.
LinkedIn. https://www.linkedin.com/in/nick-slater-41113a10/
Shawn O'Connell, Talkdesk Vice President Global AI Sales
Innovative Leader in AI Sales Shawn O'Connell is a distinguished sales executive with extensive experience in AI and technology. As the Vice President of Global AI Sales at Talkdesk, he leads worldwide sales strategies for the Ascend AI Platform. Previously, as SVP of North America Sales at Yellow.ai, Shawn was the driver behind significantly expanded market presence. At Celonis, he played a key role in scaling the Western US HiTech vertical. His tenure at Salesforce was marked by consistent revenue growth and market expansion across Enterprise and Strategic Accounts. Shawn has also excelled in roles at BMC Software, Trace3, and EMC Corporation, building high-performing teams and delivering exceptional results. Shawn is renowned for his strategic vision and commitment to innovation and growth in the technology industry
LinkedIn. https://www.linkedin.com/in/shawn-o-connell-17a27a32/
Milind Pansare, Observe.AI Vice President Product Marketing
Milind Pansare has led marketing and software engineering teams at startups and Silicon Valley icons for 30 years. When not immersed in tech, he grows grapes, makes wine, and prays for snow.
LinkedIn. https://www.linkedin.com/in/milindpansare/
Kristy Thomas, Vonage Senior VP of Global Channel and Alliances
With an unwavering passion for technology and telecommunications, Kristy Thomas is a seasoned expert in driving organizational success. Equipped with extensive knowledge and experience, she empowers businesses to navigate the dynamic technology landscape with confidence.
🚀 Future-Ready Solutions: As a forward-thinking strategist, Kristy is dedicated to helping businesses leverage cutting-edge technologies for operational efficiencies and agility gains. She possesses an innate ability to identify opportunities that drive growth and foster innovation.
💼 Customer-Centric Approach: With a relentless focus on customer experience, Kristy ensures that organizations gain a competitive edge by delivering exceptional service. She understands the power of building strong customer relationships and guides companies in creating meaningful connections.
🔧 Operational Excellence: Armed with her expertise in operations management, Kristy streamlines processes, enhances productivity, and optimizes performance. Her insights enable organizations to adapt swiftly to market changes while maximizing their resources. ✨ Transforming Possibilities into Reality: Known for her visionary mindset, Kristy excels at translating complex technologies into tangible business solutions. She empowers teams to embrace change, embrace innovation, and stay ahead of the curve in this fast-paced digital era.
LinkedIn. https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristy-thomas-bb004a29/