The Future of Digital Customer Experience | Innovantage Podcast #21

In this episode of the Innovantage Podcast, host Max Golikov sits down with Adriana Grüschow — Industry Lead Business Development Manager at Zühlke Group and a seasoned expert in smart connected solutions, complex innovation, and sustainability in the industrial sector. Together, they explore what it really takes to bridge hardware with AI — and how IoT is reshaping not just products, but entire business models. Discover how to: ➡️ Move beyond buzzwords and align AI with real-world business challenges ➡️ Navigate the shift from selling products to delivering services — and why this matters now more than ever ➡️ Scale IoT initiatives from proof of concept to profit-driving solutions ➡️ Understand the impact of the EU Data Act — and why data ownership is the next big frontier ➡️ Lead successful digital transformation in traditional industries Adriana brings rare clarity and cross-disciplinary insight — blending engineering expertise with business strategy to tackle the complex challenges of industrial innovation. Whether you're building IoT products, leading transformation efforts, or just trying to separate the hype from the opportunity, this conversation is packed with actionable lessons. 🎙 Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and share! Connect with Our Guest Adriana Grüschow – https://www.linkedin.com/in/adriana-grueschow/ Connect with Max (Host) Max Golikov – https://www.linkedin.com/in/maxim-golikov/ Follow for More Insightful Episodes Innovantage Podcast: https://www.linkedin.com/company/innovantage-podcast/ Sigli: https://www.linkedin.com/company/sigli/ Instagram: https://instagram.com/sigli.gang TikTok: @innovantage / @sigliofficial Tech is changing. Business models are evolving. If you're serious about leading innovation — this episode is a must-listen.

In this episode of the Innovantage Podcast, host Max Golikov sits down with Remco Janssen — founder of Silicon Canals, one of Europe’s leading tech media outlets, and a tireless advocate for European innovation, startups, and smart tech policy. Together, they unpack how Europe can tell its own story — and why now is a critical moment for startups to get strategic about media, policy, and AI. Discover how to: ➡️ Avoid the most common PR mistakes startups make — and tell stories that actually get coverage ➡️ Think beyond the funding announcement and build long-term visibility in European media ➡️ Understand how regulation shapes trust — and why it doesn’t have to kill innovation ➡️ Navigate the role of AI in Europe’s economic future — from productivity to policymaking ➡️ Explore what trustworthy AI really means — and where Europe can lead globally About the guest: Remco brings a no-nonsense, clear-eyed view of where Europe stands today — and what it’ll take to build a more confident, competitive, and collaborative tech ecosystem across the continent. If you're building in Europe, scaling a startup, or just curious about how PR, policy, and AI intersect — this episode is packed with practical insights and bold perspectives.   🎙 Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and share! Connect with Remco - https://www.linkedin.com/in/remcojanssen/  Connect with Max (Host) Max Golikov – https://www.linkedin.com/in/maxim-golikov/ 🎧 Listen Now: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/19M3HKc1pbeTkYcOeOkJc0?si=aab60a9ec2864ba2 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/pl/podcast/innovantage-podcast/id1749330437 Follow for More Insightful Episodes Innovantage Podcast: https://www.linkedin.com/company/innovantage-podcast/ Sigli: https://www.linkedin.com/company/sigli/ Instagram: https://instagram.com/sigli.gang TikTok: @innovantage / @sigliofficial  

In this episode of the Innovantage Podcast, host Max Golikov is joined by Dominique De Cooman — Founder, CTO, and co-CEO of Dropsolid, a leading Digital Experience Company based in Ghent, Belgium. Get ready for an insightful conversation as Dominique takes us through the evolution of Digital Experience Platforms (DXPs) and how AI is shaping the future of digital ecosystems.   Discover how to: ➡️ Understand the shift from traditional CMSs to intelligent, AI-driven Digital Experience Platforms. ➡️ Harness AI for personalized content at scale and drive more effective engagement. ➡️ Integrate open-source solutions like Drupal to enhance flexibility and control in enterprise and government solutions. ➡️ Prepare for the future of AI agents, orchestration layers, and fully autonomous content workflows. ➡️ Navigate the complex balance between openness, sovereignty, and business agility in the digital world. Dominique shares his incredible journey from leading software engineering projects to transforming Dropsolid into an AI-first digital product company. He dives deep into the challenges and opportunities of integrating AI into digital experiences, the importance of open-source sovereignty, and how future digital ecosystems will be shaped by intelligent agents and orchestration layers. If you're passionate about the future of AI, digital transformation, and how these technologies are revolutionizing digital experiences, this episode is packed with valuable insights that will help you stay ahead of the curve. 🎙 Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and share! Connect with Our Guest Dominique De Cooman – https://www.linkedin.com/in/dominiquedecooman/ Connect with Max (Host) Max Golikov – https://www.linkedin.com/in/maxim-golikov/ 🎧 Listen Now: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/19M3HKc1pbeTkYcOeOkJc0?si=aab60a9ec2864ba2 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/pl/podcast/innovantage-podcast/id1749330437 Follow for More Insightful Episodes Innovantage Podcast: https://www.linkedin.com/company/innovantage-podcast/ Sigli: https://www.linkedin.com/company/sigli/ Instagram: https://instagram.com/sigli.gang TikTok: @innovantage / @sigliofficial Embrace the future of digital experiences. Tune in now!

In this episode of the Innovantage Podcast, host Max Golikov sits down with Stijn Staes — Founder of Stappen met Stijn, trusted transformation counselor, and podcast host — for an eye-opening conversation on leadership, diversity, and the evolving partnership between humans and agentic AI. Whether you’re navigating your first leadership role or driving transformation at scale, this episode is packed with practical insights and thought-provoking ideas to shape the future of work. Discover how to: ➡️ Build truly diverse teams — and avoid the most common (and costly) mistakes organizations make. ➡️ Create psychological safety so every voice is heard, valued, and empowered to contribute. ➡️ Lead large-scale organizational change with minimal turnover and maximum trust. ➡️ Identify and nurture hidden talent within your teams, turning career development into a retention superpower. ➡️ Strike the right balance between human intuition and AI-driven insights, ensuring ethical and effective leadership in a tech-driven world. Stijn shares hard-won lessons from his journey — from youth movement leadership and nursing to guiding executive teams through complex transformations. He reveals practical strategies for fostering psychological safety, building multicultural teams, and making technology serve both people and progress. You’ll also hear candid stories of resistance and resilience during major restructurings, along with Stijn’s take on the leadership trends that will define the next decade. If you’re ready to future-proof your leadership style and build organizations where diversity, ethics, and innovation thrive together, this episode is your next playbook. 🎙 Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and share! Connect with Our Guest Stijn Staes – https://www.linkedin.com/in/stijnstaes/ Connect with Max (Host) Max Golikov – https://www.linkedin.com/in/maxim-gol... 🎧 Listen Now: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/19M3HKc... Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/pl/podcast... Follow for More Insightful Episodes Innovantage Podcast: https://www.linkedin.com/company/inno... Sigli: https://www.linkedin.com/company/sigli/ Instagram: https://instagram.com/sigli.gang TikTok: @innovantage / @sigliofficial Lead with empathy. Lead with vision. Lead with purpose. Tune in now!

In this episode of The Innovantage Podcast, host Max Golikov interviews Thiago de Faria, Senior Solutions Architect at AWS and a recognized Team Topologies expert, to discuss how organizations can modernize their architecture, scale engineering teams effectively, and implement AI strategies that actually work. Whether you're a CTO, software architect, DevOps lead, or tech-savvy founder, this episode offers actionable advice on how to transform your tech teams, workflows, and organizational design using proven frameworks like Team Topologies, cloud-native architecture, and grounded AI implementation.   Key Topics Covered ➡️ What is Team Topologies and why it's a game-changer for scaling tech teams. ➡️ How to modernize your cloud architecture to support agility and innovation. ➡️ Avoiding common mistakes in org design and AI adoption. ➡️ How cloud has evolved into a business enabler, not just infrastructure. ➡️ The role of psychological safety, storytelling, and curiosity in tech leadership. ➡️ How to integrate AI/ML meaningfully into enterprise systems.   About Our Guest Thiago de Faria helps global organizations adopt cloud-native architectures and transform their engineering culture. He’s an advocate for kind, scalable tech teams, a former EMEA Startup Architect Leader, and an expert in bridging business outcomes with modern engineering practices. Connect with Our Guest Thiago de Faria – https://www.linkedin.com/in/thiagoavadore/ Connect with Max (Host) Max Golikov – https://www.linkedin.com/in/maxim-golikov/ 🎧 Listen Now & Transform Your Pitch Game Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/19M3HKc1pbeTkYcOeOkJc0?si=aab60a9ec2864ba2 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/pl/podcast/innovantage-podcast/id1749330437 Follow for More Insightful Episodes Innovantage Podcast: https://www.linkedin.com/company/innovantage-podcast/ Sigli: https://www.linkedin.com/company/sigli/ Instagram: https://instagram.com/sigli.gang TikTok: @innovantage / @sigliofficial Modernize with purpose. Lead with empathy. Architect for agility. Tune in now!

In this episode of The Innovantage Podcast, host Max Golikov explores the science and art of pitching with Robin De Cock — Professor of Entrepreneurship at Antwerp Management School and author of Mastering the Pitch. Whether you're a startup founder, investor, or just want to level up your storytelling, this episode delivers powerful, research-backed advice to help you win hearts and minds in milliseconds. Discover how to: ➡️ Make a lasting impression in just 150 milliseconds using proven persuasion techniques. ➡️ Use humor strategically (without crashing your credibility). ➡️ Build long-term relationships with investors across cultures and geographies. ➡️ Leverage AI tools to refine and future-proof your pitch — without losing the human touch. ➡️ Avoid the most common (and costly) pitching mistakes.   Robin shares unforgettable stories from the pitch trenches — including hilarious fails — and offers practical advice that anyone can apply right away. You’ll also get a sneak peek into his upcoming talks at Supernova and the official launch of Mastering the Pitch at AMS. If you're serious about mastering your pitch, this episode is your shortcut to standing out in a crowded investor landscape.   🎙 Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and share! Connect with Our Guest Robin De Cock –   / robin-de-cock-7137868   Connect with Max (Host) Max Golikov –   / maxim-golikov     🎧 Listen Now & Transform Your Pitch Game Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/19M3HKc... Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/pl/podcast...   Follow for More Insightful Episodes Innovantage Podcast:   / innovantage-podcast   Sigli:   / sigli   Instagram:   / sigli.gang   TikTok: @innovantage / @sigliofficial

In this episode of the Innovantage podcast, we explore how AI agents are reshaping sales and business strategy with Frank Sondors, founder of Salesforge. Frank is leading the charge in building AI-powered sales engines that don’t just automate — they outperform.   Why Listen? In this episode, we unpack what AI agents actually are, how they differ from basic automation, and how companies can use them to create smarter, faster, and more personalized sales processes.   Key Insights from the Episode: 🔹 What AI agents are — and why they’re not just fancy chatbots 🔹 Where humans still beat AI (and where they don’t) 🔹 Personalization vs. automation — can we have both? 🔹 Buy vs. build — what’s smarter for AI in sales? 🔹 Salesforge’s playbook — how Frank’s team builds cutting-edge AI agents 🔹 Real risks — bias, trust, and cultural shifts in sales teams 🔹 Future trends — what AI in sales will look like in 5 years   Connect with Frank Sondors: 🔹 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/franksondors/   Watch, Listen & Follow: 🎧 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/19M3HKc1pbeTkYcOeOkJc0 🎧 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/pl/podcast/innovantage-podcast/id1749330437 Follow for More Insights: 🔹 Innovantage Podcast: https://www.linkedin.com/company/innovantage-podcast/ 🔹 Sigli: https://www.linkedin.com/company/sigli/ 🔹 Instagram: https://instagram.com/sigli.gang 🔹 TikTok: @sigliofficial & @innovantage   #AI #SalesAutomation #ArtificialIntelligence #BusinessStrategy #InnovantagePodcast #Sigli #Salesforge

In this episode of The Innovantage Podcast, host Max dives into the future of digital customer experience with a special guest — Tomer Azenkot, CEO of Vee24. Drawing from his deep expertise in blending AI-driven automation with human-led interactions, Tomer explains why a balanced approach is key to truly delighting customers and forging lasting relationships online.   Why Listen? Tomer reveals real-world success stories, common mistakes companies make, and why “customer-first” often fails in practice without the right execution strategy.   Key Insights? ➡️ Transform your digital customer journey with the right mix of AI and human engagement. ➡️ Avoid the biggest pitfalls in chatbot implementation and automation overload. ➡️ Drive real connections that boost brand loyalty, even in a world of increasing automation. ➡️ Identify the emerging trends in customer experience that businesses can’t afford to ignore. ➡️ Future-proof your strategy to stay competitive in an AI-driven marketplace.   Connect with Our Guest LinkedIn: 🔗 Tomer Azenkot: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tomerazenkot/   Connect with Max (Host) LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/maxim-golikov/   Listen Now & Stay Ahead of AI Investment Trends Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/19M3HKc1pbeTkYcOeOkJc0?si=aab60a9ec2864ba2   Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/pl/podcast/innovantage-podcast/id1749330437   Follow for More Insights Innovantage Podcast: https://www.linkedin.com/company/innovantage-podcast/ Sigli: https://www.linkedin.com/company/sigli/ Instagram: https://instagram.com/sigli.gang  Sigli TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@sigliofficial Innovantage TikTok: @innovantage   

On this episode of the Innovantage Podcast, we dive into the real-world impact of AI in business with Maxime Vermeir, Senior Director of AI Strategy at ABBYY. Maxime has been in the AI space long before it became a buzzword.   Why Listen? In this conversation, we cut through the noise to discuss what’s actually working in AI adoption, where companies are wasting time and money, and how businesses can navigate the next evolution of AI.   Key Insights from the Episode: 🔹 The truth about AI in business — when it adds real value vs. when it’s just for show 🔹 How companies get AI adoption wrong — common pitfalls and misconceptions 🔹 The AI hype cycle — spotting real innovation vs. marketing fluff 🔹 Hidden costs of AI — what business leaders underestimate 🔹 AI ethics and risks — the challenges companies don’t talk about 🔹 The future of AI — emerging trends and what’s coming next    Connect with Maxime Vermeir: 🔹 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/maximevermeir/ 🔹The AI Pulse Podcast: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLcawcg-HXtXeE7L_eP5yIE8vg64jhaUXj   Listen & Stay Ahead of AI Trends: 🎧 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/19M3HKc1pbeTkYcOeOkJc0 🎧 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/pl/podcast/innovantage-podcast/id1749330437   Follow for More Insights: 🔹 Innovantage Podcast: https://www.linkedin.com/company/innovantage-podcast/ 🔹 Sigli: https://www.linkedin.com/company/sigli/ 🔹 Instagram: https://instagram.com/sigli.gang 🔹 Sigli TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@sigliofficial 🔹 Innovantage TikTok: @innovantage   #AI #ArtificialIntelligence #BusinessStrategy #MachineLearning #InnovantagePodcast #Sigli

In this episode of the Innovantage Podcast, host Max dives deep into the evolving landscape of data, analytics, and AI with a special guest — Dr. Carsten Bange, Founder & CEO of BARC and host of The Data Culture Podcast. Why Listen? With over 25 years of experience in data strategy, governance, and AI, Carsten shares his expert insights on how businesses can truly embrace a data-driven culture and navigate the AI revolution in analytics. Introduction  Key Insights? Build a strong data-driven culture in your organization. Overcome cultural and organizational blockers to data adoption. Differentiate between AI-driven innovation and AI hype. Find the right balance between centralized and decentralized data governance. Prepare for the future of AI and data in enterprise strategy.   Carsten also discusses real-world success stories, the impact of regulatory shifts like the EU AI Act, and the biggest blind spots companies have when preparing for an AI-driven future. Whether you're a data leader, AI enthusiast, or decision-maker, this episode is packed with practical insights you don’t want to miss! Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and share!   Connect with Our Guest: 🔗 Carsten Bange: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carsten-bange/ 🎙️ The Data Culture Podcast: https://barc.com/data-culture-podcast/ Connect with Max (Host): 🔗 LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/maxim-golikov/ Listen Now & Stay Ahead of AI Investment Trends 🎧 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/19M3HKc1pbeTkYcOeOkJc0?si=aab60a9ec2864ba2 🎧 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/pl/podcast/innovantage-podcast/id1749330437 Follow for More Insights: 🔹 Innovantage Podcast: https://www.linkedin.com/company/innovantage-podcast/ 🔹 Sigli: https://www.linkedin.com/company/sigli/ 🔹 Instagram: https://instagram.com/sigli.gang 🔹 Sigli TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@sigliofficial 🔹 Innovantage TikTok: @innovantage