Connected Futures: A Cisco Podcast Exploring Business Innovation Insights

Powerful technology trends including, social, mobile, cloud, and Big Data are converging, creating unprecedented digital disruption. Today’s organizations need to adapt in order to not only stay competitive, but to stay afloat. How will your organization evolve? In this podcast, featured speaker, Forrester’s Nigel Fenwick and Cisco’s Mike Riegel, will discuss how organizations can avoid becoming digital prey and thrive in an era of digital disruption. They will explore the untapped opportunities to create new value and win market share by leveraging the advantages of a hyper-connected, Internet of Everything-enabled world.   Be sure to join the conversation, #FutureOfIT

How can organizations beat the statistics and be successful in an era of digital disruption? Because if you don’t innovate fast and disrupt yourself and your industry, you’ll be left behind. It starts by recognizing technology and business strategies are becoming one and the same.   In this podcast, Glen Hiemstra, Founder and Owner of Futurist.com and Michael Wade, Professor of Innovation and Strategic Information Management at IMD, a top-ranked business school focused on executive education, will discuss how organizations can leverage digital transformation to close the gap between where they are now and where they want to go. As Chair of the IMD/Cisco Global Center for Digital Business Transformation in Lausanne, Switzerland, Wade helps executives who are struggling to change and adapt to digital opportunities and threats.  Be sure to join the conversation, #FutureOfIT

How can organizations overcome barriers, take their transformation efforts farther and ultimately, be successful in our digital era? First, organizational leaders will need to recognize the importance of becoming a digital business and understand the role tech savvy leaders play in enabling digital transformation. Then, they need to develop a strong digital strategy.   In this podcast Ade McCormack – Near Futurist, Digital Strategist, Keynote Speaker and Author – along with Thornton May – Futurist, Author and Educator – will discuss the importance of developing a digital strategy and explore steps CXOs can take to create one. As futurists, they will explore how today’s wave of digital transformation is similar to other market disruptions, and highlight areas where organizations can capitalize on innovation right now.  Be sure to join the conversation, #FutureOfIT

How can organizations overcome barriers, take their transformation efforts farther and ultimately, be successful in our digital era? First, organizational leaders will need to recognize the importance of becoming a digital business and understand the role tech savvy leaders play in enabling digital transformation. Then, they need to develop a strong digital strategy.   In this podcast Ade McCormack – Near Futurist, Digital Strategist, Keynote Speaker and Author – along with Thornton May – Futurist, Author and Educator – will discuss the importance of developing a digital strategy and explore steps CXOs can take to create one. As futurists, they will explore how today’s wave of digital transformation is similar to other market disruptions, and highlight areas where organizations can capitalize on innovation right now.  Be sure to join the conversation, #FutureOfIT

The data center model is experiencing a rapid transformation as cloud, mobility, and big data create new demands on the infrastructure. And as demand increases, IT must look beyond the traditional approach of assigning resources and personnel to manage individual servers and routers in relationship to the myriad of applications on its network. In this podcast, Cisco's Soni Jiandani and ZK Research's Zeus Kerravala discuss how organizations can benefit from an application-centric approach to infrastructure. Specifically, they explore how ACI has taken key desigh principles, benefits and the best network features SDN has to offer to offer a more simplified, automated and agile network environment. Be sure to join the conversation, #FutureOfIT  

In our consumer-centric society, product recall announcements grab headlines and cost companies millions - even billions. As the supply chain grows, finding and replacing the source of the problem is becoming more complicated and complex. And when a recall does happen, it's difficult to reach product owners in a timely manner. Imagine what our world would be like if the Internet of Everything (IoE) connected the right technology with the right people and processes to enable ultra-efficient production of goods? In this podcast, Cisco's Joseph M. Bradley and Matt Littlefield, President and Principal Analyst at LNS Research will discuss these ideas and what it will take to make the Last Product Recall a reality.   Join the conversation, #FutureOfIT.      

Our world is rapidly connecting people, process, data, and things in ways that were unimaginable just a few years ago. The Internet of Everything (IoE) is at the heart of this transformation.   As more dark assets are “lit up,” organizations will receive an influx of valuable data that can lead to insights, knowledge, and opportunities. However, much of the data generated will be just beyond reach, frequently referred to as “dark data.”   While some leaders may realize the importance of managing dark data, there is a unique opportunity to capture and use that data to improve business outcomes, and ultimately transform today’s companies into digital organizations.   In this podcast, Cisco's Joseph M. Bradley and Isaac Sacolick, Global CIO and Managing Director at Greenwich Associates discuss how organizations can bring  dark data into the light, to enable a more holistic view of content, maximize the value of information, and bring business intelligence to a new dimension by developing contextual awareness.

Today’s business leaders must navigate an increasingly complex world of connections. These connections extend beyond things to people and processes and as a result, virtually every company is becoming a technology company.     The old way of doing things won’t work anymore and IT must increasingly adapt to keep pace with change.  With this in mind, what should CIOs be focused on? How can they address the technology transitions to mobile and cloud in an efficient and effective way?      In this podcast, Bob Laliberte, Senior Analyst at Enterprise Strategy Group; Dr. George Westerman, Research Scientist for MIT’s Sloan Initiative on the Digital Economy; and Zeus Kerravala, Principal Analyst at ZK Research discuss how the CIO’s agenda is shifting and what they can do to embrace the challenges and opportunities our converging IT landscape offers.     Join the conversation, #FutureOfIT    

Retailers are increasingly leveraging the power of the Internet of Everything (IoE) to transform traditional brick-and-mortar stores into a high-octane digital experience.   From advanced data analytics that monitor customer demand in real-time to pervasive video and cloud technologies that enable shelves to sense, customers and retailers are becoming closer than ever before.     As retailers work to embrace technology solutions to reach and retain customers, will we see a day where the long checkout line is non-existent? In this podcast, Cisco's Lisa Fretwell and IDC's Leslie Hand discuss how the retail landscape is evolving and what will be needed to make the Last Checkout Line ever become a reality. Join the conversation, #FutureOfIT.    

There's an influx of conversation focused on Bring Your Own Device, the consumerization of IT and how organizations can cope in today’s multi-device environment.   With this in mind, how can mobility be addressed at an infrastructure level to tackle challenges and enable opportunities for organizations and employees?   In this podcast, Cisco's Chris Spain and Craig Mathias, Principal at the Farpoint Group discuss why organizations should future-proof their mobility strategy through an infrastructure-centric approach. Be sure to join the conversation, #FutureOfIT.  

There is no silver bullet to enterprise security. As the Internet of Everything (IoE) drives the proliferation and sophistication of connections, the likelihood of attacks are no longer a matter of if, but when.   It is only a matter of time before any organization is compromised.   So how can enterprise systems and networks ensure mission survivability in a cyber-compromised environment? In this podcast, Cisco's Jason Brvenik and Mike Spanbauer, Vice President of Research at NSS Labs discuss how organizations can become cyber resilient in today's Internet of Everything landscape. Join the conversation, #FutureOfIT      

Traffic jams aren’t just stressful – they are also expensive. A recent study by the Centre for Economics and Business Research reveals that in 2013, traffic jams cost Americans $124 billion. With the increasing amount of cost, time and headaches associate with gridlock traffic, could the coming together of people, process, data, and things in an Internet of Everything era make the Last Traffic Jam ever a reality? In this podcast, Cisco’s Joseph Bradley and Doug Newcomb, President of C3 Group and Founder & Curator of the Connected Car Council, explore what will be required to manage traffic congestion for good. Join the conversation, #FutureOfIT.

The workplace is forever evolving. With the widespread use of collaboration technology and the addition of Gen Y and Gen X employees, knowledge workers are changing the definition of the workplace. The emerging mantra is: Work is something you do, it is no longer someplace you go. The definition of a workday is more flexible than ever before and employees are seeking work/life integration instead of work/life balance.    As these dynamics shift and the proliferations of new technology becomes more pervasive, creating a successful environment for the future of work will depend on a strong relationship between IT and HR at the executive level.   In this podcast, Cisco’s Lance Perryand SAP’s Brigette McInnis-Day discuss how  HR and IT leaders can evolve from  technology administrators to strategic business partners in this evolving landscape. Join the conversation, #FutureOfWork and #FutureOfIT.

In this podcast, Cisco’s Rowan Trollope and Maribel Lopez, Principal Analyst and Founder, Lopez Research, explore how the IT and business landscape is changing based on new research from Cisco’s 2014 Connected World Technology Report. Trollope and Lopez discuss how organizations can succeed in the future work environment by making information more available and open - giving employees the agile work space they need to succeed. Be sure to join the conversation, #FutureOfWork.

As the world becomes more connected, there are many entry points to business innovation. One example is the customer contact center, which is fast becoming a critical connection point in the Internet of Everything.   Nearly 25 years ago, the contact center first started to emerge in the business landscape. Its function was to offer customers access to an organization without having to leave home – and offer businesses a way to deliver customer service at an optimal cost. In this podcast, Cisco's Hans Hwang and Paul Stockford, Saddletree Research explore the evolving role of the contact center.  They discuss how collaboration, one of the key technologiesdriving the Internet of Everything, is revolutionizing contact centers, how the workplace of the future will evolve at every level, from the contact center to the C-suite, and the impact of “everything being connected.” Be sure to join the conversation, #FutureOfIT.

While no one can predict the future, it’s certain that technical innovations are certain to change just about every facet of our lives - including how we work.   In this podcast, Cisco’s Rowan Trollope and Maribel Lopez, Principal Analyst and Founder, Lopez Research, explores how the IT and business landscape is changing based on new research from Cisco’s 2014 Connected World Technology Report. From robots in the conference room to the shift to nontraditional work environments and hours,the podcast provides a visionary view for the future of work and how the C-suite can prepare.  For more, join the conversation #FutureOfWork.  

As a key enabling technology to the Internet of Everything (IoE), the Internet of Things (IoT), is connecting new places and objects, such as manufacturing floors, energy grids, wearable devices, and more to the Internet at an unprecedented pace.     In this podcast, Cisco’s Jim Grubb and Steve Hilton, co-founder and Managing Director at MachNation, examine how today’s IoT solutions are impacting IoE. Grubb and Hilton discuss how today’s proliferation of connected devices and sensors will bring organizations closer to capturing a share of the $19 trillion in IoE value at stake over the next decade. Be sure to join the conversation, #FutureOfIT.  

The collision of mobility and cloud - the “mobile cloud” - stands to significantly increase the overall value of mobility. By enabling better access to and synchronization of data, improved scalability and reliability, and an ability to collaborate and access business applications from virtually anywhere at any time, service providers and enterprises alike should be prepared to capture the value from the explosive mobile cloud opportunity.   In this podcast episode, Sujai Hajela, with Cisco's Enterprise Networking Group and Joe Cozzolino,  with Cisco's Service Provider Video Infrastructure group defines what mobile cloud is and what it means for SPs and enterprises. This podcast highlights how enterprises and service providers are currently using mobile cloud and explores the vast scope of opportunities that are possible because of this collision of technology forces.   For more, join the conversation, #FutureOfMobility

How can business and IT leaders keep their organizations safe in a mobile world? And what can we learn from the mobile security adoption we are seeing in Latin America?   In this podcast, Cisco's Ghassan Dreibi and Frost & Sullivan's Bruno Tasco - both from Latin America - discuss the answers to some of these questions and how organizational leaders can address security in a way to reap the benefits of true mobility. The podcast is available for download in Spanish and Portuguese.   Direct Download Link for Spanish Version: http://traffic.libsyn.com/cisco/Edited_LATAM_Spanish_Podcast_.mp3    Direct Download Link for Portuguese Version: http://traffic.libsyn.com/cisco/Edited_LATAM_Portuguese_Podcast.mp3         

While mobility, cloud and big data each enable business transformation, true power comes when organizational leaders think about these technologies collectively as they develop business strategies. In this podcast, Cisco's Carlos Dominguez and Patrick Moorhead, Moor Insights & Strategy will discuss how convergence, fueled by the growth of mobility, is bringing together applications, systems and processes to help meet organization needs and prepare for future innovation. Be sure to join the conversation, #FutureOfMobility.