Gen AI Breakthrough

Welcome to The Hackett Group’s “Gen AI Breakthrough” podcast, where top experts give actionable artificial intelligence (AI) insights, expert advice and strategies to achieve breakthrough business performance. In this episode, hosts Dan McCabe and Jay Ruffin explore how organizations can future-proof their technology stacks to fully capitalize on AI’s potential. 

On this episode of the Gen AI Breakthrough podcast, Kyle Robichaud and Jay Ruffin discuss the challenges organizations face in realizing value from their AI investments and explore why a lack of proper structure, rather than technology limitations, hinders success. They highlight the importance of establishing a Center of Excellence (COE) to provide the operating models, governance, and prioritization needed to convert AI experimentation into measurable business value. 

On this episode of the Gen AI Breakthrough podcast, Harry Osle, Chief Human Resources Officer at The Hackett Group®, speaks with Laura-Elizabeth Ware, Senior Vice President of HCM Cloud and Agentic Applications for North America at Oracle, about how AI is reshaping the future of human resources. They discuss the shift from HR as a support function to HR as a strategic driver of business transformation, where AI helps organizations automate routine work, improve decision-making, enhance employee experiences and enable a new human-agent workforce model.

On this episode of the "Gen AI Breakthrough" podcast, hosts Harish Murthy and Ryan Sebastiani discuss emerging technology outsourcing trends for 2025. They highlight an increase in outsourcing spend and a shift in contracting models due to economic uncertainties and growing demand for digital services. The conversation emphasizes the importance of strategic partnerships and long-term value creation over mere cost savings as companies reassess their sourcing strategies.

On this episode of the "Gen AI Breakthrough" podcast, Kyle McNabb leads a discussion with technology transformation leaders Jay Ruffin and Salil Kulkarni about the evolving landscape of digital technology organizations. They explore how proactive engagement from CEOs and a focus on AI automation are driving productivity and competitive differentiation amidst market uncertainty. The conversation highlights the importance of trusting relationships between IT and business leaders in fostering innovation and achieving positive outcomes.

On this episode of the "Gen AI Breakthrough" podcast, Jessica Haley and David Gibbens discuss the findings from their annual HR Digital World Class®, highlighting key trends in the evolution of HR practices. They emphasize the importance of technology investment and digital enablement within HR operations, which allows organizations to shift their focus toward more strategic activities. The conversation also touches on the defining characteristics of Digital World Class® HR organizations, particularly their ability to align service delivery models with overall business strategies. 

 On this episode of the "Gen AI Breakthrough" podcast, Chris Sawchuk and Nic Walden discuss the concept of digital world-class performance and its implications for organizations in today’s volatile environment. They explore how procurement teams can leverage AI and data-driven insights to develop agile supply chains that thrive amid uncertainty and complexity. By examining historical trends, they highlight how prepared organizations can capitalize on challenges to achieve significant savings and performance improvements. 

 On this episode of the "Gen AI Breakthrough podcast", the hosts delve into the transformative impact of artificial intelligence on various industries. They discuss the concept of Digital World Class®, exploring how businesses can leverage AI to achieve operational excellence and enhanced customer experiences. Through insightful interviews and real-world examples, the episode highlights the challenges and opportunities that AI presents in today’s digital landscape. 

On this episode of the "Gen AI Breakthrough" podcast, Andy Warzecka, Tracee Bowles, and Matt Merker discuss the newly released Digital World Class® Matrix Payroll study. They highlight the critical importance of payroll accuracy and the need for in-depth market analysis to understand provider capabilities and client satisfaction. The conversation also touches on the potential for automation and AI innovations to further enhance payroll processes and meet organizational objectives.

On this episode of the "Gen AI Breakthrough" podcast, Thomas Kellaway interviews Placid Jover, the Executive Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer at Teva Pharmaceuticals. They discuss Placid's leadership philosophy, which emphasizes leveraging data and analytics to unlock the potential of individuals and teams within an organization.