Lenovo Work Reborn Podcast

AI is no longer something IT leaders can afford to ignore.Jai Arun, Chief Product Officer at IBM Corporation, explains why AI should be embraced as a human assistant that improves productivity, accelerates development, and helps solve harder problems. He also shares why responsible adoption starts with the right use cases, clear guardrails, and experienced guidance when organizations are still learning where AI creates value and risk.🎧 Explore how leaders are shaping the future of work through smarter technology, stronger strategy, and a more human-centered approach to innovation.

How do security leaders keep control when AI is accelerating attacks and hybrid work has pushed endpoints everywhere?Clark Lovrien, Deputy Chief Information Security Officer at Absolute Security, explains why endpoint resilience starts below the operating system, and why the next era of security is about restoring control, managing shadow AI risk, and recovering in hours or days, not weeks or months.🎧 Explore how leaders are shaping the future of work through smarter technology, stronger strategy, and a more human-centered approach to innovation.

AI adoption only works when security and innovation move together.Monica Grace, Senior Analyst Relations Manager at Microsoft, explains why organizations need end-to-end guardrails, employee education, and cautious experimentation to secure AI without stopping progress. Her takeaway: the future of work is not just more automation, it is using AI to free people’s time for the ideas and connections that matter most.🎧 Explore how leaders are shaping the future of work through smarter technology, stronger strategy, and a more human-centered approach to innovation.

AI is moving faster than most organizations can comfortably govern. Vikas Singh explains why enterprise AI success depends on balancing innovation with security, governance, and employee education while still moving quickly enough to keep up with the pace of change. From data risks and reputational concerns to AI-powered decision-making and operational agility, this conversation explores what responsible AI adoption looks like in practice. 🎧 Explore how leaders are shaping the future of work through smarter technology, stronger strategy, and a more human-centered approach to innovation.

AI governance works best when risk teams join the build instead of reacting after deployment. Scott Beasley explains how NFU Mutual created tailored governance frameworks, safer experimentation environments, and more practical controls by connecting IT, security, and risk teams earlier in the AI rollout process.🎧 Explore how leaders are shaping the future of work through smarter technology, stronger strategy, and a more human-centered approach to innovation.

Johan Skånberg believes organizations should prove AI value before pushing deployment at scale. From Copilot rollout and manufacturing workflows to R&D data models, super-user enablement, and governance controls, Johan explains why practical use cases and organizational readiness matter more than rapid rollout.🎧 Explore how leaders are shaping the future of work through smarter technology, stronger strategy, and a more human-centered approach to innovation.

AI fitness, not one-time training, may become the defining factor between organizations that sustain AI adoption and those that stall after rollout. Ole Bülow explains why leadership alignment, continuous enablement, workforce ambassadors, and employee trust are becoming critical to long-term AI success.🎧 Explore how leaders are shaping the future of work through smarter technology, stronger strategy, and a more human-centered approach to innovation.

AI adoption accelerated once employees stopped watching and started building. Sushant Suman explains how Expedia teams used Claude as a collaborative soundboard, reduced planning time, and turned ideas into working prototypes during an internal “Ralphathon” experiment that produced 50–60 projects in a single day.🎧 Explore how leaders are shaping the future of work through smarter technology, stronger strategy, and a more human-centered approach to innovation.

AI implementation isn’t just a technology challenge it’s a cultural and organizational one. Nicholas Williamson explains why training, communication, experimentation, and risk tolerance are becoming critical to enterprise AI success, and why organizations that treat AI like a simple “on/off switch” risk missing the real transformation happening underneath. 🎧 Explore how leaders are shaping the future of work through smarter technology, stronger strategy, and a more human-centered approach to innovation.

AI only creates value when people know how to use it. Keith Howell breaks down why organizations need more than tools to succeed with AI; they need change management, clear policies, cross-functional ownership, and a human-centered adoption strategy that brings IT, HR, and business leaders together. 🎧 Explore how leaders are shaping the future of work through smarter technology, stronger strategy, and a more human-centered approach to innovation.

You can’t stop employees from searching for productivity, and that’s reshaping enterprise AI adoption. Tal Klein explores why shadow AI is accelerating across organizations, why saying “no” to AI is no longer realistic, and how leaders can move from restrictive policies toward safer, more mature AI enablement strategies.🎧 Explore how leaders are shaping the future of work through smarter technology, stronger strategy, and a more human-centered approach to innovation.

Enterprise AI is not a sprint; it requires preparation, trust, and sustained enablement. Daniel Langton shares how organizations can move from experimentation to scalable deployment by building AI champions, enabling managers, creating a center of gravity across the business, and helping leaders model the behaviors that build organizational trust.🎧 Explore how leaders are shaping the future of work through smarter technology, stronger strategy, and a more human-centered approach to innovation.

AI adoption without governance can quickly become a business risk. Paul Birkett explains how organizations can move beyond fragmented AI experimentation by building cross-functional AI leadership, creating practical guardrails, and helping employees adopt AI responsibly at scale. From shadow AI and endpoint intelligence to cybersecurity and AI agents, this conversation explores why enterprise AI is now a business survival issue. 🎧 Explore how leaders are shaping the future of work through smarter technology, stronger strategy, and a more human-centered approach to innovation.

If your organization is still “experimenting” with AI, you may already be falling behind. David Rabin breaks down why enterprise AI success now depends on execution, workflow integration, and organizational alignment, not just aspiration. From shadow AI and governance gaps to AI-enabled customer experience and scalable adoption, this conversation explores what leaders need to get right before the gap becomes impossible to close. 🎧 Explore how leaders are shaping the future of work through smarter technology, stronger strategy, and a more human-centered approach to innovation.

AI doesn’t create value at the strategy level; it shows up in the small workflow fixes.In this conversation, Christian Lambert (Vivint) shares why real AI value starts with solving small workflow problems, and why training, trust, and full organizational buy-in are critical to scaling adoption.🎧 Explore how leaders are shaping the future of work through smarter technology, stronger strategy, and a more human-centered approach to innovation.

AI is moving fast, but ROI is not always keeping up. Thilo Bayerlander unpacks what enterprise leaders are facing as AI moves from hype to implementation, from unclear Copilot returns and trust gaps to proactive IT, governance, and the need for a clearer AI vision.🎧 Explore how leaders are shaping the future of work through smarter technology, stronger strategy, and a more human-centered approach to innovation.

Agentic AI is changing software development in a way that feels different from past waves of technology hype. Wayne explains why AI can make skilled developers dramatically more productive, but also why it can amplify weak practices if organizations do not confront the change directly. The takeaway: AI is an accelerator, and the real risk is pretending the way teams work will stay the same.🎧 Explore how leaders are shaping the future of work through smarter technology, stronger strategy, and a more human-centered approach to innovation.

Pilots are easy, but enterprise AI value is not. Rakshit Ghura explains why organizations need scaled, governed, business outcome-oriented AI, with IT acting as the emerging coach that creates the platform, connects departments to a common control layer, and helps standardize adoption across the workforce.🎧 Explore how leaders are shaping the future of work through smarter technology, stronger strategy, and a more human-centered approach to innovation.

AI isn’t failing because of the tools; it’s failing because organizations haven’t aligned it to real business outcomes.In this conversation, Tiago Da Costa Silva (Lenovo) explains how organizations can align AI with business outcomes, select the right partners, and build a scalable foundation for the future workplace.🎧 Explore how leaders are shaping the future of work through smarter technology, stronger strategy, and a more human-centered approach to innovation.

The real shift in AI isn’t happening at the organizational level; it’s happening with individuals.In this conversation, Josh LeBlanc-Shulman explains why common AI usage stats can be misleading, and what real adoption should actually look like inside organizations.🎧 Explore how leaders are shaping the future of work through smarter technology, stronger strategy, and a more human-centered approach to innovation.

We’re not just adopting AI tools, we’re shifting to a new computing model.In this conversation, Jaymes Davis explains why generative computing is changing how work gets done, why AI must be applied role by role, and why over-trusting it creates real risk inside organizations.🎧 Explore how leaders are shaping the future of work through smarter technology, stronger strategy, and a more human-centered approach to innovation.

AI adoption is already happening at scale, but enablement, integration, and training are struggling to keep up.In this conversation, Gavin Campbell from Amazon shares how IT must evolve into an enablement platform, empowering teams to build AI solutions while maintaining security and scalability.🎧 Explore how leaders are shaping the future of work through smarter technology, stronger strategy, and a more human-centered approach to innovation.

AI adoption isn’t just a technology shift; it’s a cultural one.In this conversation, Abhilash Shashidhara from Pure Storage explains why mindset, enablement, and individual motivation are critical to unlocking AI’s full value across the enterprise.🎧 Explore how leaders are shaping the future of work through smarter technology, stronger strategy, and a more human-centered approach to innovation.

AI adoption is accelerating, but most organizations are underestimating the importance of implementation.In this conversation, Andrei Serban from Console explains why AI success depends on execution quality, focused deployment, and rethinking how work is structured across the enterprise.🎧 Explore how leaders are shaping the future of work through smarter technology, stronger strategy, and a more human-centered approach to innovation.

What's the difference between individual AI adoption and enterprise AI readiness? In this conversation, Vikas Srivastava from UST breaks down why data governance is the real gap, makes the case for lean governance as the model that actually scales, and explains why the organizations that win with AI won't just work faster; they'll work differently.🎧 Explore how leaders are shaping the future of work through smarter technology, stronger strategy, and a more human-centered approach to innovation.

Employees are already bringing AI expectations into the workplace, but most organizations are still catching up on visibility, governance, and training.In this episode, Lakeside CEO Mike Schumacher explains why AI success depends on understanding current usage, standardizing the right tools, and redesigning work around real business outcomes.

AI adoption is accelerating, but many organizations still lack clarity on governance, accountability, and execution.In this episode, Kelsey Ziser, Senior Editor from InformationWeek, shares what CIOs are seeing right now, from shadow AI risks to the growing importance of integration and the challenges of scaling AI across the enterprise.

AI can help security teams move faster, but the AI systems themselves also need to be secured. Mudit Sinha explains why leaders need visibility into AI workflows, costs, black-box behavior, and controls before relying on AI to optimize critical work.🎧 Explore how leaders are shaping the future of work through smarter technology, stronger strategy, and a more human-centered approach to innovation.

When a device goes missing, powers down, or drops off the network, the risk does not disappear with it.Ed Metcalf of Absolute Security joins Lenovo to discuss why endpoint resilience is becoming critical for distributed and AI-enabled work. He explains how Lenovo ThinkShield TraceLock, powered by Absolute Security, helps IT and security teams maintain visibility and control through firmware-level persistence, supporting stronger data protection across remote, mobile, and regulated work environments.

How do you reduce fear and build trust when introducing AI into the workplace?In this episode of Lenovo’s Work Reborn podcast, host Rita Richa speaks with Sasa Ellen Wallace, Information Systems Security Officer at the South African National Defense Force, about how awareness and education are driving AI confidence across teams.Sasa explains how personalized IT support, proactive monitoring, and open communication help prevent threats while empowering employees to embrace change. She also shares how simple awareness initiatives can turn hesitation into readiness.🎧 Explore how knowledge and trust can turn AI from an unknown into a shared advantage.

What happens when AI becomes part of everyday work?In this episode of Lenovo’s Work Reborn podcast, host Rita Richa speaks with Raj Patel, VP of AI Transformation at Holistic AI, about how organizations can scale AI safely and responsibly.Raj explains how companies are bridging the gap between pilot projects and enterprise deployment using frameworks that balance innovation with risk management. He also shares why employee education, trust, and creativity are essential to realizing AI’s full potential, without losing the human element.🎧 Explore how readiness, governance, and empowerment are shaping a smarter, more confident AI-driven workforce.

How can organizations use AI to empower people instead of replacing them?In this episode of Lenovo’s Work Reborn podcast, host Rita Richa speaks with Omar Khokhar, Technical Team Lead at Systal, about building confidence, trust, and capability in the age of AI.Omar shares how his team is creating proactive, AI-driven IT environments that enhance visibility, reduce downtime, and strengthen compliance. He also explains why training, transparency, and education are the real foundations of successful AI adoption.🎧 Discover how empowerment and trust are shaping the next chapter of digital transformation.

How can AI make work more human?In this episode of Lenovo’s Work Reborn podcast, host Rita Richa speaks with Mollie Brentnall, UK & Ireland IT Director at Crawford & Company, about how her team is modernizing insurance operations through a people-first approach to AI.Mollie shares how her company is using technology to automate repetitive tasks, accelerate claims handling, and make space for human connection where it matters most. She also discusses how accessibility tools and flexible learning options are helping neurodiverse employees thrive.🎧 Discover how empathy, innovation, and automation are shaping a workplace where people and technology move forward together.

How do you build transformation that lasts?In this episode of Lenovo’s Work Reborn podcast, host Rita Richa speaks with Jubilee Kar, Portfolio Strategy Manager at TGW Logistics, about why every successful digital transformation begins with education.Jubilee shares how her company is addressing skill gaps by combining external training with internal mentorship, and how creating a culture of knowledge-sharing accelerates innovation. She explains why learning is the core of every transformation journey.🎧 Discover how empowering people through upskilling builds stronger teams and smarter organizations.

How do you build digital confidence in a time of constant change?In this episode of Lenovo’s Work Reborn podcast, host Rita Richa speaks with Joanna Tiffin, Director of Corporate Services at WIG, about how leaders can help teams embrace new technology through empathy, structure, and trust.Joanna shares how her organization is building digital foundations, piloting AI tools, and developing peer champions to guide adoption from the ground up. She explains how emotional awareness, readiness, and communication create smoother transitions and stronger engagement during transformation.🎧 Discover how a people-first approach is turning digital disruption into opportunity.

How do you bring AI into a workplace that values certainty, safety, and trust?In this episode of Lenovo’s Work Reborn podcast, host Rita Richa speaks with Greg Buckle, Head of IT Architecture at EDF Energy, about how his team is navigating AI adoption in one of the world’s most regulated industries.Greg discusses how EDF is educating employees about AI, helping leaders understand what AI can and can’t do, and addressing the fears that come with emerging technology. He also shares how empathy, dialogue, and awareness are the keys to building confidence across the business.🎧 Explore how people-first leadership can make AI a trusted part of everyday work.

Can AI be trusted to run the systems that power our industries?In this episode of Lenovo’s Work Reborn podcast, host Rita Richa speaks with Christina Dinne, Industry Analyst Relations Lead at Siemens, about the company’s approach to creating reliable, industrial-grade AI.Christina explains how Siemens uses predictive and proactive systems to improve outcomes in manufacturing and smart infrastructure. She also shares why data quality, precision, and reliability matter more than speed and how lifelong learning will define the workforce of the AI era.🎧 Discover how reliability and trust are helping turn AI readiness into real-world progress.

What makes an employee experience truly meaningful?In this episode of Lenovo’s Work Reborn podcast, host Rita Richa speaks with Amaury Martin, Head of Sales for South CME at UKG, about how AI and human connection are redefining the employee journey, from recruitment to long-term engagement.Amaury shares how companies like Euro Disney and El Corte Inglés are using AI-driven scheduling and workforce insights to balance efficiency with well-being. He also explains how UKG’s vision of “humanizing AI” helps employees feel empowered rather than replaced, turning digital tools into genuine sources of connection and confidence.🎧 Discover how technology and empathy can work hand in hand to create happier employees and stronger organizations.

How do you introduce AI into an organization while protecting jobs, supporting people, and redefining what productivity really means?This conversation with North-West University’s IT Service Delivery Director, Thato Lehutso, explores exactly that. Thato shares how his teams are experiencing the shift from AI hype to hands-on adoption, how tools like Copilot are reshaping tasks, and why fear of being replaced remains top of mind for many employees.He also dives into the changing expectations of younger generations, the rise of gig-style working, and the move toward outcome-based performance rather than physical presence. Through this lens, Thato shows how leaders can prepare their people for AI-enhanced work without losing sight of compassion, flexibility, and long-term development.For leaders navigating cultural and technological change, this episode delivers a candid and practical perspective on what the future of work could look like.🎧 Listen to the full episode for more reflections from leaders shaping how work is being reborn.

One of the most revealing truths about AI adoption is that real progress begins only when people understand what AI can and can’t do.We sit down with Aselsan CTO Taha Yucel to explore how one of the world’s top defense companies approaches AI with clarity and discipline. Taha explains how his team developed a secure internal AI system for translation, coding, and document support; how AI assists engineers in the field; and why literacy for the entire workforce is essential.He also breaks down why many AI projects fail, how clear strategy prevents wasted investments, and why organizations must apply AI to real business outcomes rather than experimentation for its own sake. Taha’s perspective reveals how deep expertise and structured planning shape successful AI integration in highly sensitive environments.For leaders building AI-ready teams, this episode offers a grounded look at practical adoption, workforce readiness, and secure implementation.🎧 Listen to the full episode for insights on building AI capability with purpose and precision.

Solution starts with data strategy and culture.We sit down with the Lionsville founder, Steve Douho, to unpack why AI is triggering not an evolution, but a revolution across IT and operational landscapes. Steve shares how his team restructures organizations around engineering leadership, embraces optimism, and embeds plan-build-run practices to ensure every project reaches production.He explains why multidimensional data models are becoming the new data strategy, how fragmentation across nearly 900 enterprise applications slows progress, and why modernization must come before advanced AI adoption. Steve also connects these ideas back to Lionsville’s “customer love” DNA, where responsibility, trust, and speed drive every engagement.For leaders navigating fast-moving digital change, this episode offers a grounded, forward-looking view of how to adopt AI responsibly and reshape the workplace for what’s coming next.🎧 Listen to the full conversation to explore how technical excellence and cultural clarity come together in the era of AI.

What does it take to guide AI adoption in an environment where failure must be small, impact must be clear, and frontline teams define true success?We sit down with Paul, Deputy CTO, who oversees transformation across all policing business lines. Paul shares why his team starts with short, contained projects, how they define success metrics before any build begins, and why the business decides whether an initiative works.He also explains why partnering with smaller, more agile vendors supports real collaboration, how AI features are added only when they meaningfully improve access to information, and why involving frontline teams is essential to long-term adoption.If you’re shaping the future of work, this episode offers a grounded perspective on responsible AI adoption, effective measurement, and collaborative transformation.🎧 Tune in to the full conversation for insights on building practical, people-centered digital change.

Organizations know AI is coming, but without a roadmap, use cases, or clear ROI, the path forward can feel overwhelming.We sit down with Scott Crawford to discuss the growing pressure leaders face as AI becomes an operational necessity rather than an innovation highlight. Scott explains how Lenovo is helping organizations move from concept to execution through real use cases, including the major activation with FIFA to elevate their global digital workplace.He also breaks down why adoption is slow, how AI and IT are becoming inseparable, and why personalization frameworks like Care of One help reduce employee friction and unlock higher productivity. Scott shares why long-term vision, organizational readiness, and the right partner network are essential as the next wave of AI emerges.For leaders navigating rapid change, this episode offers a grounded view of what comes next and how to prepare for the next phase of AI evolution.🎧 Listen to the full conversation for insights that help bridge the gap between AI ambition and real transformation.

Many leaders want to improve sustainability, yet most overlook the hidden costs of device waste, short lifecycles, and inefficient end-of-life processes.We sit down with Lenovo’s Phil Caley to unpack why sustainability must be integrated into every stage of the device lifecycle, from planning and procurement to deployment, support, and eventual recovery. Phil explains how organizations can reduce environmental impact while strengthening ROI, improving efficiency, and creating responsible pathways for older devices.He also discusses the power of refurbished hardware, the financial upside of asset recovery services, and why customers are often surprised to learn Lenovo can manage end-of-life processing, CO₂ offsetting, and second-life reuse programs.Whether you’re building sustainability strategy or modernizing your fleet, this episode offers clear, actionable insights on driving environmental and financial value simultaneously.🎧 Listen to the full conversation for a closer look at how sustainable IT practices shape the future of work.

One of the most honest truths about AI adoption is this: we don’t know what we don’t know, and that’s exactly why leaders must start testing now.This conversation features RHB Bank CTO Kwang Leh Wong, who shares how his team is approaching AI with a blend of curiosity and discipline. Kwang explains why the bank uses structured ROI frameworks, how POCs help validate real impact, and why productivity, cost efficiency, and customer satisfaction remain central to evaluating success.He also reflects on the urgency many leaders feel as AI accelerates, the importance of starting small with use cases that matter, and why consistent measurement helps organizations move beyond hype and toward meaningful value.If you’re shaping the future of work, this episode offers a grounded roadmap for adopting AI responsibly while staying ahead of rapid industry change.🎧 Listen to the episode for more insights from leaders navigating AI readiness and AI reality.

Our survey of 600 IT leaders shows that most organizations are still reactive in their IT operations. So what does it take to bridge that gap?Join us as we explore this question with Evo Stefanov of Methodia, who specializes in automating utility operations across gas, electricity, water, and more. Evo explains why IT must shift from a visible barrier to an invisible enabler, and how aligning automation with business outcomes helps organizations modernize without disrupting mission-critical services.He also discusses why sustainability should deliver value and how companies can rethink e-waste reduction to drive innovation, efficiency, and stronger bottom-line performance.For professionals at every level, this episode provides a grounded look at the future of IT, where automation, sustainability, and business impact go hand in hand.🎧 Watch the full episode for more insights from leaders bringing new life to the modern workplace.

What does it take to help teams adapt without falling behind?We sit down with Emil Spliid Skyttegaard of Implement Consulting Group to explore how AI is reshaping strategy and organizational design across industries. Emil explains why leaders can no longer treat change management as a separate workstream and why designing for change from day one is essential to realizing the value of AI initiatives.He also shares how the accelerated pace of market evolution demands a more integrated approach to strategy, how employees play a crucial role in identifying high-impact use cases, and why leaders must rethink how they prepare their organizations for what AI will fundamentally alter.If you’re shaping the future of work, this episode offers a grounded look at navigating rapid change while keeping people engaged, included, and confident.🎧 Discover more in the full episode for insights on embedding change management into the heart of AI strategy.

Even with thousands of applications in the cloud, many organizations are still stuck with legacy systems that slow them down. So how do leaders modernize without putting business-critical operations at risk?We sit down with Tessell co-founder Bakul Banthia to examine the tension between modernization and stability. Drawing from years of experience in database management, Bakul explains why cloud migration remains one of the most complex transitions in IT and how AI is reshaping the path forward.He discusses the fear of disrupting long-standing systems, the need for thoughtful consolidation, and why starting small with measurable outcomes helps organizations scale new technologies with confidence. Bakul also shares how performance expectations are shifting, and why leaders must adopt a “crawl, walk, run, fly” approach to implementing AI responsibly.For leaders, builders, and everyone in between, this episode provides a clear look at how modernization unfolds in real time and what it takes to do it safely.🎧 Catch the complete discussion for a practical breakdown of cloud evolution, data challenges, and AI-driven opportunities.

What does it really take for CIOs and CTOs to guide their organizations through AI-driven change without losing sight of people?This conversation features Suresh Deshpande of HCLTech, who breaks down how AI, modernization, and human readiness intersect in today’s rapidly advancing environment. Suresh discusses why integrating fragmented systems, harmonizing data, and empowering teams are essential steps in creating sustainable digital transformation.He also explains how performance metrics are shifting from uptime and SLAs to business outcomes, why leaders must retrain existing talent to meet rising expectations, and how younger employees influence the design of modern digital experiences.No matter your role in the workplace, this episode offers practical insight into building AI-enabled systems that people can trust, use, and grow with.🎧 Tune in to the full conversation for more guidance on leading teams through continuous evolution.

Great IT leadership often starts with one simple shift: realizing that you don’t have to have every answer.This conversation features Paul Anthony Jones, Director of User Technology and Service Management at a global law firm, who shares how collaboration, curiosity, and human-centered approaches shape his leadership style. Paul explains why empowering teams, listening intentionally, and celebrating success matter more than ever as AI accelerates the pace of change.He also breaks down why digital transformation feels like a legacy term, how legal workflows are evolving, and why client data protections such as no-cloud and no-AI clauses make adoption uniquely complex. Through these challenges, Paul frames digital evolution as an ongoing journey grounded in purpose, practicality, and people.For professionals at every level, this episode offers a grounded look at leading with awareness in an era defined by fast-moving technology and rising expectations.🎧 Catch the complete discussion for more insights from leaders navigating change in real time.