Ep. 18 - Cracking the Consumer Code: Lessons from Applebee's

In this episode, Ellie sits down with Simmi Singh, Chief Product Officer at Hook Music, as we explore how she's building the "Instagram for music" - a platform that lets anyone create professional-quality remixes with just a tap while ensuring artists get properly compensated. Simmi shares her fascinating journey from investment banking during the 2008 financial crisis to scaling Saavn from 20M to 150M users, and reveals surprising insights about user behavior that completely changed Hook's product strategy, including how creators listen to their own remixes for 30+ minutes on repeat.

In this episode, Ellie sits down with Josh Angotti, VP of Product Development at Windstream. He reveals how telecoms use customer speed test patterns to predict churn and build self-healing networks for rural connectivity. He shares his "documentation-first" product philosophy, three-phase AI adoption strategy, and why being "comfortable being wrong" is essential for scaling product teams in complex technical environments.

In this episode of The Elusive Consumer, host Ellie Tehrani sits down with Ilyas Iyoob, Head of Global Research at Kyndryl, to explore how enterprise leaders can master the delicate balance between AI automation and human expertise in mission-critical environments. From implementing AI in the world's largest IT services infrastructure to understanding when automation enhances versus undermines customer experience, Ilyas shares insights on strategic AI deployment that treats technology as a "rookie with speed and precision" rather than a replacement for human judgment, revealing how organizations can leverage AI's capabilities while preserving the irreplaceable value of human insight and domain expertise.

In this episode of The Elusive Consumer, host Ellie Tehrani sits down with Akash Sharma, Director of Product Innovation at Enverus, to explore how AI is transforming the traditionally conservative energy sector. From implementing generative AI in high-stakes environments to uncovering unstated customer needs, Akash shares insights on product development strategies that balance innovation with human expertise, revealing how energy companies are leveraging vast amounts of untapped data to turn hindsight into foresight.

In this episode, Ellie sits down with Don Spaulding, a seasoned innovation and product leader with over 17 years at Verizon. Don shares his remarkable journey from educational psychology to tech leadership, bringing a unique human-centered perspective to digital transformation. We explore how his background helps him develop data-driven strategies that improve customer experiences while maintaining trust and security. Don dives deep into the evolving landscape of AI in customer service, the growing threats of voice fraud, and the delicate balance between security and user experience.

In this episode, host Ellie Tehrani sits down with AI and data analytics leader Koyelia Ghosh Roy to unpack the transformative power of AI in modern marketing. From democratizing data insights to creating hyper-personalized customer experiences, Koyelia shares invaluable insights from her journey from business analyst to AI leadership. Discover how leading brands like Starbucks and Nike are leveraging AI, learn about the pitfalls to avoid, and understand what skills marketers need to thrive in an AI-driven future.

Today, Ellie sits down with Ibrahim Bashir, former VP of Product at Amplitude and current Chief Creative Officer for Run the Business, as he shares his journey from software engineer to product leader at tech giants like Twitter, Amazon, and Box. In this episode, we discuss the evolution of product management, the importance of user-centric design, and the delicate balance between data-driven decisions and human intuition. Ibrahim offers unique perspectives on responsible innovation, scaling B2B products, and the future of product management in the age of AI.

Today, Ellie sits down with Jill Marchick, a veteran insights leader at Applebee's. From navigating post-pandemic shifts in dining behavior to leveraging cutting-edge technology in research, Jill shares invaluable wisdom from her extensive career spanning roles at iconic brands like Starbucks and McDonald's. She offers fascinating perspectives on how casual dining is adapting to changing consumer expectations, the role of AI in research, and the delicate balance between innovation and maintaining brand identity

In this episode of The Elusive Consumer, we explore the intersection of technology, data, and human-centered design with Yasir Drabu, a visionary tech leader and immigrant entrepreneur. From his journey starting at the foothills of the Himalayas to building a successful software company in America, Yasir shares insights about creating software that truly serves humanity. We discover how data-driven strategies can be balanced with ethical considerations, the future of AI in business, and why empathy should be at the core of technical innovation.

In this episode, we dive into the world of automation and AI with Niti Mehta, co-founder and Social Impact Officer of Automation Anywhere. Niti shares valuable insights on how robotic process automation (RPA) is transforming industries, the importance of balancing technology with human-centric work, and the ethical considerations surrounding AI. Niti also highlights inspiring examples of how RPA is being used for social good and shares her optimistic vision for the future of technology.