Transform NOW

How can organizations successfully transform with AI without losing sight of the people who make them work? In this episode of the Transform Now Podcast, host Michael Marchuk sits down with Dr. Linda Ackerman-Anderson, a pioneering authority on transformational change and co-author of "The Change Leader's Roadmap" and "Beyond Change Management." Together, they explore why successful AI transformation requires much more than implementing new technology. It demands a fundamental shift in how leaders think about change, engage their people, develop organizational capabilities, and guide their businesses into the future. Linda shares decades of experience helping organizations navigate complex transformations and explains how leaders can apply the principles of conscious change leadership to today's rapidly evolving AI landscape. In this episode, you'll discover: Why AI transformation is about people, not just technology: Understand why organizations must address mindsets, behaviors, relationships, and culture alongside technical implementation. The difference between AI adoption and AI transformation: Learn why using AI to automate existing processes is fundamentally different from rethinking how an organization operates. How to address employee concerns about AI: Explore how leaders can respond to fears about job displacement, changing responsibilities, and professional identity. Why AI needs a coordinated change strategy: Discover how organizations can align AI initiatives across departments instead of allowing disconnected experiments to develop independently. How to build an effective AI Center of Excellence: Learn why successful AI initiatives require cross-functional collaboration, thoughtful governance, and clear organizational accountability. Why IT cannot lead transformation alone: Understand the importance of integrating technical expertise with business knowledge, regulatory considerations, and human dynamics. How to scale AI without moving too quickly: Explore why phased implementation, organizational readiness, and continuous learning are essential to sustainable success. Why leaders must make experimentation safe: Learn how organizations can share success stories, learn from mistakes, and course-correct as AI capabilities evolve. A Key Takeaway As Linda explains, AI should serve the needs of the organization—not become the force that determines its direction. Successful transformation happens when leaders intentionally shape how AI is introduced, involve the people affected by the changes, and create an environment where learning and adaptation are part of the process. The goal isn't simply to implement AI. It's to transform how people think, work, collaborate, and create value. About Dr. Linda Ackerman-Anderson Dr. Linda Ackerman-Anderson is a pioneering authority on transformational change and co-author of The Change Leader's Roadmap and Beyond Change Management. Her work focuses on helping leaders navigate complex organizational transformations by addressing the human systems, leadership capabilities, and cultural dynamics that make change successful. About the Podcast The Transform Now Podcast, hosted by Michael Marchuk, explores the leadership, strategies, and technologies shaping organizational transformation. Through conversations with industry experts and thought leaders, the show helps business leaders understand how to navigate change and prepare their organizations for the future. Explore Linda's work: Check the links in the show notes for information about her books and resources. Visit us on our socials: 🦾 Get started with SS&C Blue Prism: https://okt.to/JcMLdU 🧑‍💻LinkedIn: https://okt.to/k8zIdp ✖️Twitter: https://okt.to/fHyd9G 🙋‍♀️Facebook: https://okt.to/Vyjfiz 📸Instagram: https://okt.to/5nYvIf 💭Blog: https://okt.to/QuGqVP 🤩Case studies: https://okt.to/ft1AMX To ensure that you never miss an episode of Transform NOW, be sure to subscribe!

Most AI adoption fails because leaders ask the wrong question: "How can we use AI in our current workflows?" instead of "How should this workflow be redesigned?" In this episode, host Michael Marchuk talks with Jon Cheney, founder of the GenAI Proficiency Institute (GenAIPI), who explains how putting people first In this episode: Why tool-first thinking kills transformation (and the "start a new business today" mental reframe) The 15-hour question: what would your organization do with reclaimed time? How non-technical teams build sophisticated systems with communication + systems thinking Why Replit, Claude, and ChatGPT mean you can build anything you can describe Making AI proficiency measurable: knowing what's possible vs. knowing where AI falls short The self-driving car approach to trusting agents, start with hands near the wheel What AI progressing 250x faster than Moore's Law means for your organization The Jarvis future: multi-step agents acting on your behalf A motivating, practical conversation for leaders and employees alike, including Cheney's challenge to grasp hold of your own future. Visit us on our socials: 🦾 Get started with SS&C Blue Prism: https://okt.to/JcMLdU 🧑‍💻LinkedIn: https://okt.to/k8zIdp ✖️Twitter: https://okt.to/fHyd9G 🙋‍♀️Facebook: https://okt.to/Vyjfiz 📸Instagram: https://okt.to/5nYvIf 💭Blog: https://okt.to/QuGqVP 🤩Case studies: https://okt.to/ft1AMX To ensure that you never miss an episode of Transform NOW, be sure to subscribe!

In this episode, Transform NOW co-hosts Brad Hairston and Michael Marchuk banter about some interesting recent news headlines in the world of automation and AI. .News stories covered in this episode:.AI agents threaten banks’ cash cows - https://www.politico.com/news/2026/09/29/ai-agents-banks-new-risks-01096173 .AI Is Starting to Pay Off. Almost 50% of Companies Now Generate Value with It. - https://www.bcg.com/press/30september2026-ai-starting-to-pay-off-companies-generate-value .AI researchers warn companies rushing self-improving systems despite safety risks - https://www.reuters.com/world/ai-researchers-warn-companies-rushing-self-improving-systems-despite-safety-2026-09-29/ .Enterprise AI is becoming an operations problem - https://aibusiness.com/generative-ai/enterprise-ai-is-becoming-operations-problem .China's AI agents can lie and scheme - just like their US rivals - https://www.reuters.com/business/retail-consumer/chinas-ai-agents-can-lie-scheme-just-like-their-us-rivals-2026-09-29/ .Visit us on our socials:🦾 Get started with SS&C Blue Prism: https://okt.to/JcMLdU🧑‍💻LinkedIn: https://okt.to/k8zIdp✖️Twitter: https://okt.to/fHyd9G🙋‍♀️Facebook: https://okt.to/Vyjfiz📸Instagram: https://okt.to/5nYvIf💭Blog: https://okt.to/QuGqVP🤩Case studies: https://okt.to/ft1AMX.To ensure that you never miss an episode of Transform NOW, be sure to subscribe!

In this episode, host Michael Marchuk talks with Rick Brown and Carole Lawson, co-founders of MarketStorm about influencing AI to help your organization be found as search changes from the traditional Google keyword search paradigm. Carole, a recognized thought leader on the death of traditional SEO, explains why GEO (Generative Engine Optimization) isn't just a new word for SEO, and Rick delivers his candid takes on the responsibility traps companies fall into with AI. In this episode: Why "everyone has to have an agent" thinking produces zero value GEO explained: keywords are dead, influence is the new win Entity SEO: your brand is a single entity across the web — and consistency is everything The "sea of sameness" — why AI-generated content no one needs is worthless Gated content, long-form vs. short-form, and what AI engines actually want Why a brand mention in an AI answer counts as a win (with no click) The quickest way to win with AI is also the quickest way to destroy your brand Preparing for transactional search: when agents don't just recommend, they act Visit us on our socials: 🦾 Get started with SS&C Blue Prism: https://okt.to/JcMLdU 🧑‍💻LinkedIn: https://okt.to/k8zIdp ✖️Twitter: https://okt.to/fHyd9G 🙋‍♀️Facebook: https://okt.to/Vyjfiz 📸Instagram: https://okt.to/5nYvIf 💭Blog: https://okt.to/QuGqVP 🤩Case studies: https://okt.to/ft1AMX To ensure that you never miss an episode of Transform NOW, be sure to subscribe!

In this episode, Brad Hairston talks with Paul Marshall, Go-to-Market Leader for SS&C Blue Prism in the Middle East and Africa, who explains how this region of the world is rapidly advancing from AI consumer to AI creator, driven by sovereign wealth, government mandate, and data-sovereign architecture. . What we discussed with Paul: * Middle East AI infrastructure investment (hyperscalers, sovereign wealth funds) * Government-mandated national AI strategy (Vision 2030, UAE AI Strategy) * Data sovereignty and regulatory compliance * Agentic architecture — separating reasoning from execution * Local language models and cultural/business localization * Labor market perspective — augmentation vs. displacement * Trust, governance, and human-in-the-loop for autonomous agents * Middle East vs. Africa market contrasts * UAE and Saudi Arabia as breakout AI markets * Orchestration strategy and WorkHQ's role . Visit us on our socials: 🦾 Get started with SS&C Blue Prism: https://okt.to/JcMLdU 🧑‍💻LinkedIn: https://okt.to/k8zIdp ✖️Twitter: https://okt.to/fHyd9G 🙋‍♀️Facebook: https://okt.to/Vyjfiz 📸Instagram: https://okt.to/5nYvIf 💭Blog: https://okt.to/QuGqVP 🤩Case studies: https://okt.to/ft1AMX . To ensure that you never miss an episode of Transform NOW, be sure to subscribe!