Nearshoring Meets AI | S5 E49

Send us a textWalk the floor at Web Summit without leaving your headphones. We sit down with Jo Smets, founder of BluePanda and president of the Portuguese Belgian Luxembourg Chamber of Commerce, to unpack how nearshoring and AI are reshaping CRM, marketing, and team delivery across Europe.We start with clarity on nearshoring: why time zone, culture, and communication speed beat cost alone, and how that proximity pays off when you’re wiring AI into daily work. Jo shares how BluePanda applies AI beyond demos—recruitment, performance, and operations—then translates those lessons into client outcomes. We compare adoption patterns across startups and corporates, call out the real blocker (end‑to‑end process automation), and map the role of global networks like BBN for keeping pace with tools and trends.The conversation pivots to trust and governance: practical ways to protect data, when on‑prem makes sense, and how to use EU AI Act guidance without stalling innovation. We explore the marketing shift from SEO to GEO, the idea of “AI‑proof” websites, and the move toward dynamic, persona‑aware content that renders at load. Jo offers a simple path to progress—pick one process, pilot, measure, educate—while keeping empathy at the core as managers start leading both humans and AI agents. Along the way, we spotlight how chambers and communities connect ecosystems across borders, turning events into learning loops and real partnerships.Looking to modernize without losing your team’s identity? You’ll leave with a plan for small wins, a lens for tool curation, and a sharper view of where marketing is headed next. If this resonated, subscribe, share it with a colleague who’s wrestling with AI adoption, and drop a review to help others find the show.This episode was recorded in the official podcast booth at Web Summit (Lisbon) on November 12, 2025. Check the video footage, read the blog article and show notes here: https://webdrie.net/why-european-teams-win-with-nearshoring-and-practical-ai/.......................................................................... 📘 Read The Future CMO: Amazon 👥 Join the Future CMO Community 🌿 Explore Sintra Synergies Retreat 💼 Connect on LinkedIn..........................................................................

Send us a textWhat if most of the economy can be automated without anything we’d call real general intelligence? That provocative idea launches a candid tour with Ben Goertzel through the difference between LLM “breadth” and the kind of generalization that marks true AGI. We unpack why today’s models are powerful yet limited, how they’ll reshape work in the near term, and what ingredients are missing for systems that reason, invent, and move beyond the data that formed them.We dig into a practical path forward: blending deep neural networks with logic engines, evolutionary learning, and a massive knowledge graph so each part amplifies the others. Ben shares how the Hyperon framework and the ASI chain bring AI on-chain, not just coordinated by it. That means a new AGI language, MeTTa, serving as a smart contract language, enabling formal verification, rich composability, and an integrated reputation layer. Together, these tools aim to embed trust into the stack while opening the door to decentralized AI networks that resist capture by any single company or state.Culture, narrative, and emotion matter just as much as code. A robot-led band nearly got booed off stage until the performance was reframed as exploration, not replacement—proof that context shapes how people accept new tools. We follow that thread into creativity, where AI can mix stems, spark ideas, and widen access for musicians, even as some roles compress. The larger question becomes not whether AI can do the job, but what humans will choose to do for meaning, connection, and joy. Along the way, we weigh openness versus control through a proactionary lens and point you to resources to explore decentralized, trustworthy AI.If this conversation challenged your assumptions or sparked new ones, follow the show, share it with a friend, and leave a quick review to help others find it. Your thoughts shape where we go next—what part of decentralized AGI are you most curious about?This episode was recorded at Web Summit in Lisbon on November 13, 2025. Read the blog article and show notes here: https://webdrie.net/creating-benevolent-decentralized-agi-at-singularitynet/.......................................................................... 📘 Read The Future CMO: Amazon 👥 Join the Future CMO Community 🌿 Explore Sintra Synergies Retreat 💼 Connect on LinkedIn..........................................................................

Send us a textWhat if the safest career move right now is the one that looks riskiest on paper? We sit down with Joe Pulizzi, author of Burn the Playbook, to unpack why synthetic content is rising, why the algorithm favors cheap efficiency over human craft, and how creators and marketers can still win by building audiences they truly own. The stakes are real: job security is fragile, feeds are optimized for cost, and the window to establish direct relationships is closing faster than most realize.Joe lays out a clear path from uncertainty to ownership. We explore how to move beyond platform dependency and invest in durable channels—email, podcasts, in-person gatherings, and even print—that foster human-to-human connection. You’ll hear why “we don’t build factories anymore, we build audiences,” how a small base of true fans can power freedom and optionality, and the many ways a creator can monetize without losing integrity: sponsorships, memberships, ticketed events, premium communities, and productized knowledge. We also tackle the artist-versus-seller myth and show how leaning into your unique tilt is the most defensible moat in an AI-heavy world.If you’re stuck at start, we break it down: list ten curiosities, recombine two into a distinctive niche, pick the medium you can sustain, and commit to a consistent cadence. Use AI as an assistant to repurpose and polish, not to replace your voice. Along the way, Joe shares personal lessons on exits, compounding trust, and why creators often support each other more than any corporate ladder ever will. Ready to stop renting attention and start owning your future? Press play, then tell us the one asset you’ll build this week—and if this conversation helps, subscribe, share it with a friend, and leave a quick review.This episode was recorded through a Descript call on November 6, 2025. Read the blog article and show notes here: https://webdrie.net/how-human-connection-beats-ai-at-scale-with-joe-pulizzi/.......................................................................... 📘 Read The Future CMO: Amazon 👥 Join the Future CMO Community 🌿 Explore Sintra Synergies Retreat 💼 Connect on LinkedIn..........................................................................

Send us a textImagine boosting engagement by 400% without changing your product, only your story. That’s the promise Park Howell delivers as we dive into why audiences don’t care about what you make—they care about what you make happen in their lives. Park, an Emmy-winning business storytelling coach and author of Brand Bewitchery and The Narrative Gym for Business, breaks down the ABT framework—And, But, Therefore—and shows how it turns intuitive storytellers into intentional communicators who move people to act.We explore the most significant mistake even seasoned marketers make: telling stories from the brand’s point of view. Park reframes the job with crisp language and practical examples, revealing how ABT aligns perfectly with the brain’s preference for agreement, contradiction, and consequences. You’ll hear why outcomes beat offerings, how to embed emotion with “because,” and how ABT builds trust through understanding, appreciation, and empathy. Then we scale from message to strategy with Park’s 10-step Story Cycle System, adapted from the Hero’s Journey and shaped for modern brands.For leaders navigating Web3 and AI, clarity is the new competitive edge. We talk through audience triggers for traditional CEOs and CMOs—fear of complexity, demand for ROI, desire to be future-ready—and show how to turn vague tech buzz into practical, measurable growth. Park also introduces Story Cycle Genie, an AI-powered platform that audits your current story, identifies gaps, and drafts ABTs, positioning, and value propositions in hours instead of months, keeping your content on brand and on brain.If you want story frameworks that work in pitches, decks, emails, and everyday conversations, this conversation gives you the tools and the language. Subscribe, share with a colleague who needs sharper messaging, and leave a quick review to help more marketers discover the power of ABT.This episode was recorded through a Descript call on October 28, 2025. Read the blog article and show notes here: https://webdrie.net/audience-first-storytelling-that-sells-with-park-howell.......................................................................... 📘 Read The Future CMO: Amazon 👥 Join the Future CMO Community 🌿 Explore Sintra Synergies Retreat 💼 Connect on LinkedIn..........................................................................

Send us a textA packed Lisbon room. A candid conversation with Sérgio Ferreira, Partner at EY and Jo Smets, President, CCLBL & CEO, BluePanda. And a straight shot of strategy on how AI shifts from cost-cutting to true growth. We take you inside real examples—finance, HR, retail, and contact centers—where automation speeds the work while people make the judgment. The result is faster decisions, 24/7 service, and new operating models that put digital assistants in every pocket and at every counter.We dig into the trust problem head-on. When “good enough” AI content floods the feed, the edge moves to teams that show their process and protect their voice. You’ll hear why we frame AI as augmented intelligence, not artificial intelligence: use machines to gather, draft, and summarize, then apply human editing, taste, and accountability. That mindset becomes essential as we move through three phases: assistants that co-create, agentic AI that works autonomously, and a near future where leaders manage mixed teams of people and digital employees.Customer behavior is changing just as fast. People seek direct answers, not links, which upends SEO and demands distinct expertise, structure, and signals to surface in AI results. We share how to adapt content strategy, build AI literacy and fluency across teams, and maintain strong consulting value by compressing research time while doubling down on human creativity. We also tackle sustainability pressures with pragmatic optimism—acknowledging energy and water costs while highlighting how AI accelerates breakthroughs in materials, medicine, and clean energy.If this conversation helps you reframe your roadmap, follow and share the show with a friend who leads marketing or product. Leave a quick review to support the work, and grab The Future CMO on Amazon for deeper playbooks. Most of all, don’t wait for the future to lead you—lead the future.This episode was recorded at the EY headquarters in Lisbon on October 29, 2025. Read the blog article, and show notes here: https://webdrie.net/ai-at-work-humans-in-charge/.......................................................................... 📘 Read The Future CMO: Amazon 👥 Join the Future CMO Community 🌿 Explore Sintra Synergies Retreat 💼 Connect on LinkedIn..........................................................................

Send us a textWhat happens when you stop treating crypto like a lottery ticket and start treating it like money? We sit down with Joël Valenzuela – core member of DashDAO and creator of Digital Cash Network – who has lived entirely on cryptocurrency since 2015, closed his bank account, and built a daily routine on digital cash.Joel takes us from childhood memories of currency devaluation in Mexico to the first time he split a dinner bill with Bitcoin before payment apps were mainstream. He explains why speculation can’t sustain an ecosystem, how real-world utility creates lasting value, and what investors learn by actually using the product. We explore the bumpy parts too: 2016 fee spikes, network congestion, and the practical decision to move day-to-day spending to Dash for instant settlement, optional privacy, and on-chain scaling that aims to keep payments fast and affordable.We also dive into decentralization that works in practice. Joel outlines the limits of leaderless governance on major networks and why DAOs matter for transparent, network-wide decision-making and funding. Then we zoom out to the Free State Project in New Hampshire, the unlikely incubator where early crypto pioneers swapped ideas, launched tools, and helped shape a payments-first culture long before it trended. Along the way, Joel shares how legacy projects stay relevant through integrations, liquidity, and partnerships that compound over time.If you’ve wondered whether crypto can move beyond charts and narratives to something you can actually live on, this conversation delivers hard-won lessons from the checkout line. Subscribe, share with a friend who still thinks crypto is only an investment, and leave a review to help more people find the show.This episode was recorded through a Descript call on October 22, 2025. Read the blog article and show notes here: https://webdrie.net/living-on-crypto-since-2015/.......................................................................... 📘 Read The Future CMO: Amazon 👥 Join the Future CMO Community 🌿 Explore Sintra Synergies Retreat 💼 Connect on LinkedIn..........................................................................

Send us a textCrypto isn’t supposed to feel like homework. We sit down with Lani Dizon, co-founder and president of Zenza Capital and the RYO Digital Project, to unpack how RYO turns Web3 from hype into habit—usable money, real payments, and tools your family can actually trust. From the origin of RYO as Japan’s historic symbol of trust to its rebirth as a modern digital currency, we trace a clear through-line: make crypto simple, human, and useful.We dig into RYOPAY’s pilot with Grain X Global, where grain shipments settle near-instantly once delivery is confirmed, cutting weeks of bank delays and lowering fees for farmers and buyers. That same settlement layer can power real estate, auto, and global trade—anywhere speed and auditability matter. Then we shift to Life Wallet, a non-custodial app on iOS designed to feel familiar: hold your keys, chat, send assets, connect to social, and soon shop through the global mall or cash in/out via Japan’s first FSA-licensed crypto ATM network. Android is on the way, and RYOPAY will integrate for stable, predictable checkout.We also introduce RYO-CHAN, an AI companion inspired by a real schnauzer, built to guide users through safer Web3 interactions—flagging smart contract risks, offering portfolio tips, and bringing education and rewards into one friendly experience. Beyond products, Lani shares a candid look at building under Japan’s toughest compliance standards and the Japan Revival campaign—a manga-led movement celebrating trust, quality, and ownership as Web3’s north star.If you’re ready for crypto that works in the real world—payments you can rely on, tools that reduce risk, and an ecosystem grounded in integrity—this conversation is your roadmap. Subscribe, share with a friend who needs a simpler path into Web3, and leave a quick review so more people can find the show.This episode was recorded through a Descript call on October 10, 2025. Read the blog article and show notes here: https://webdrie.net/from-maze-to-movement-how-ryo-brings-real-world-payments-to-web3/Find Out More >>Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you........................................................................... 📘 Read The Future CMO: Amazon 👥 Join the Future CMO Community 🌿 Explore Sintra Synergies Retreat 💼 Connect on LinkedIn..........................................................................

Send us a text🎧 Full audiobook edition of “The Future CMO” – written and narrated by Joeri Billast.The job changed while most of us were still crafting campaigns. We break down how the CMO is being rebuilt into a Chief Value Officer who speaks in revenue, margin, risk—and proves it. No marketing theatre. Just a clear path to measurable impact powered by trust, technology, and community.Across a fast-moving conversation, we map the value equation (perception + trust + outcome) and show how raising all three in tandem drives durable growth. We walk through the AI marketing maturity model (from automation to autonomous), where to place your next bet, and why governance matters as much as experimentation. Community takes center stage with a practical health score, co-creation tactics, and case studies from GOAT Gaming, Ledger, and Transak that demonstrate lower CAC, higher LTV, and real crisis resilience. Narrative excellence ties it all together: the five‑second story rule, a story resonance matrix, and fractal storytelling that adapts one message across TikTok, YouTube, LinkedIn, and X without losing voice.We also get tactical: an AI content pipeline for speed with quality, platform‑native adaptation, and decision frameworks that let teams move in 48 hours without losing control. Then we push into strategic audacity – why competence is invisible in an AI world, how boldness with guardrails builds moats, and the exact questions to pass a CFO’s reality check. Finally, we step into the marketing technologist mindset: audit and unify your stack, favor interoperability, automate real growth reporting, and build cross‑functional coalitions with sales, product, finance, legal, and community.If you’re ready to own P&L impact, master AI without losing authenticity, and scale belonging that outlasts algorithms, this conversation is your roadmap. Subscribe, share with a fellow leader who needs it, and leave a review to tell us where you’ll start.—Recorded via Descript in early October 2025, shortly after the release of the eBook and paperback editions. The transcript was auto-generated for accessibility and may contain small errors. To access the full text and bonus resources, visit joeri.link/future-cmo-skool........................................................................... 📘 Read The Future CMO: Amazon 👥 Join the Future CMO Community 🌿 Explore Sintra Synergies Retreat 💼 Connect on LinkedIn..........................................................................

Send us a textImagine algorithms that feel more attentive than people – always patient, never tired, and ready with the perfect follow‑up question. That illusion of empathy is already shaping how buyers research, decide, and stay loyal. We sit down with Mark Schaefer to unpack the human side of AI: cognitive offloading at scale, de‑skilling that changes how customers think, and what it means when assistants default to a single recommendation instead of a page of links.We dig into the new rules of discoverability and why text‑rich content, precise transcripts, and entity clarity now carry outsized weight with large language models. Mark explains why PR is having a renaissance as AI shifts from counting backlinks to interpreting authoritative mentions, and how urgency matters because early movers will lock in the default answers. We also explore the power of overrides—those human factors that still trump machine suggestions – like word‑of‑mouth, brand preference, and community trust that carries through to the moment of choice.The conversation moves beyond tactics to tackle a looming trust crisis. Deepfakes, synthetic media, and frictionless misinformation demand visible transparency: provenance for assets, clear disclosures, and rapid response playbooks. Yet there’s optimism here. With daily experimentation and a strong learning community, founders and teams can use AI to compress go‑to‑market cycles, scale real empathy in service, and design products faster – without losing the human touch that makes brands memorable and resilient.If you’re ready to future‑proof your marketing while staying deeply human, this one’s for you. Listen, subscribe, and leave a review to help others find the show – and tell us: what’s your smartest move to stay findable and trusted in an AI‑first world?This episode was recorded through a Descript call on October 7, 2025. Read the blog article and show notes here: https://webdrie.net/how-ai-changes-your-customers-mark-schaefers-new-book.......................................................................... 📘 Read The Future CMO: Amazon 👥 Join the Future CMO Community 🌿 Explore Sintra Synergies Retreat 💼 Connect on LinkedIn..........................................................................

Send us a textTwo launches, one clear direction: make technology usable and make marketing accountable. We open with the debut of RYO's LIFE Wallet, a super wallet designed for everyone. Start in seconds, sign in with biometrics, recover securely, and send crypto as easily as a text. With a roadmap that includes a global mall for direct payments, staking, NFTs, stablecoins, and AI assistance, the vision is practical: move crypto from speculation to everyday value.Then we turn to "The Future CMO," a 90-minute short read with a big thesis: the next marketing leader operates like a Chief Value Officer. No more marketing theater measured by impressions and likes. We outline eight dimensions of the modern CMO, ranging from narrative excellence with AI as a creative amplifier to content ecosystems that scale, from genuine community building to rigorous measurement of perception, trust, and outcomes. It’s a blueprint for margin resilience, revenue impact, and real accountability to the board.Along the way, we share the tools and community that make change stick: a Trust ROI calculator, a community health score framework, curated AI prompts for speed and quality, plus mastermind calls and events like Sintra Synergies featuring industry voices such as Mark Schaefer. The through line is simple: lead with trust, master technology without losing human authenticity, and design for outcomes that matter. If that future speaks to you, subscribe, share this episode with a colleague, and leave a quick review. What shift will you make first?👉 Buy the book here: https://www.amazon.com/Future-CMO-Modern-Trust-Visibility-ebook/dp/B0FNLBZGB9/This episode was recorded via Descript on Oct 1, 2025. .......................................................................... 📘 Read The Future CMO: Amazon 👥 Join the Future CMO Community 🌿 Explore Sintra Synergies Retreat 💼 Connect on LinkedIn..........................................................................