Developing AI Solutions for Work Marketplaces - with Andrew Rabinovich of Upwork

Today’s guest is Robert Wenier, Global Head of Cloud and Infrastructure at AstraZeneca. Robert joins us on the program to explore the complex decisions faced by leaders in legacy industries as they balance infrastructure investments between cloud technologies and end-point storage. How can they align these investments with their business goals while managing the competing forces of performance, risk, and cost? We break down the strategic considerations: ensuring technology delivers the required performance, carefully monitoring risks like security and capacity, and managing costs to create value and maintain margins. This episode is sponsored by MinIO. Learn how brands work with Emerj and other Emerj Media options at emerj.com/ad1.

Today’s guest is Abhijeet Kumar, Lead Customer Acquisition and Engagement for Digital Business at Amazon. He joins Emerj Senior Editor Matthew DeMello on today’s episode to offer advice to retail leaders striving to enhance the customer experience at their organizations. With AI driving significant changes in how customers interact with brands, what are the biggest challenges product managers face today? We discuss the importance of crafting a compelling value proposition using AI to connect more personally with customers right now and explore what products, communication strategies, and customer engagement methods are most effective. To access Emerj’s frameworks for AI readiness, ROI, and strategy, visit Emerj Plus at emerj.com/p1.

Today’s guest is Andrew Rabinovich, Vice President of Machine Learning and AI at Upwork. Andrew joins us on today’s podcast to discuss the evolving role of AI in transforming work marketplaces and expediting hiring workflows. With Upwork’s recent launch of a suite of AI products, including Uma, an AI-powered assistant, the conversation focuses on how these innovations aim to streamline the platform’s core functions and enhance collaboration between clients and freelancers. This episode is sponsored by Pieces. Learn how brands work with Emerj and other Emerj Media options at emerj.com/ad1.

Today’s guests are George Williams, Head of Small Business at Nationwide Insurance, and Heather Wilson, CEO at CLARA Analytics. Nationwide is an investor in CLARA Analytics, an AI-as-a-service (AIaaS) provider that improves casualty claims outcomes. The pair join Emerj Senior Editor Matthew DeMello on today’s episode to explain the impact of generative AI workflows on Insurance spaces. Later in the episode, both George and Heather share a broader vision for what the insurance landscape will look like once “proactive” approaches are commonplace. This episode is sponsored by CLARA Analytics. To learn more about Emerj Media and how to reach the Emerj audience, visit emerj.com/ad1.

Today’s guest is Fabio Raffone, Vice President of Customer Service Operations for Americas at Tetra Pak. Tetra Pak is a Swedish multinational company specializing in food packaging and processing solutions. The company provides a range of offerings, including packaging materials, filling machines, and processing equipment for various products such as dairy, beverages, cheese, ice cream, and prepared foods. Fabio joins Emerj Senior Editor Matthew DeMello on the program today to discuss the pressing challenges faced by field service leaders and the growing relevance of AI in overcoming these hurdles. With a team of 700 field service professionals across the Americas, Tetra Pak is navigating complex market-specific challenges, from attracting and retaining talent in a growing U.S. economy to advancing competence development in other regions.

Today’s guest is Supriya Gupta, General Manager and Vice President of Product at Credit Karma. Credit Karma is a multinational personal finance brand under Intuit that makes products free to consumers and helps them find lenders. Supriya returns to the platform today to dive deep into the evolving landscape of financial services, highlighting the challenges and opportunities facing the industry today. We explore Credit Karma’s journey from its inception as a “born digital” company to its innovative use of generative AI, such as the development of Intuit Assist - an AI-driven tool that acts as a financial co-pilot, offering real-time, personalized financial advice and insights. Supriya offers an insider’s look at how these systems go beyond traditional customer service roles to create proactive and context-specific interactions. To access Emerj’s frameworks for AI readiness, ROI, and strategy, visit Emerj Plus at emerj.com/p1.

Today’s guest is Shardul Vikram, CTO and Head of Data & AI for SAP Industries and Customer Experience. Shardul joins Emerj Senior Editor Matthew DeMello on today’s program to explore the evolving landscape of cloud adoption and storage solutions within the life sciences and financial services industries. A decade has passed since cloud technology burst onto the scene with great promises, yet today, not everything resides “on the cloud.” As the hype around new technologies like AI starts to cool, Shardul offers legacy and regulated industry leaders actionable insights on driving a balanced approach—leveraging both cloud and endpoint storage to achieve their unique goals. Today’s episode is part of a special series sponsored by MinIO for a deep dive into the challenges and opportunities at the intersection of infrastructure investment, technology strategy, and competitive advantage in today’s evolving landscape. Learn how brands work with Emerj and other Emerj Media options at emerj.com/ad1.

Today’s guest is Akash Gupta, CEO and Co-founder of GreyOrange. GreyOrange is a warehouse robotics and software company that works in apparel, retail, consumer electronics, and home improvement, among other industries. He joins Emerj Senior Editor Matthew DeMello on today’s episode to explore the critical challenges currently facing manufacturing and logistics leaders and why AI is becoming an increasingly vital tool in addressing these obstacles. As global supply chains become more complex and demand greater efficiency, AI offers new ways to optimize operations, reduce costs, and enhance decision-making. To access Emerj’s frameworks for AI readiness, ROI, and strategy, visit Emerj Plus at emerj.com/p1.

Today’s guests include two senior executives from Sanofi’s manufacturing division, Head of Data & AI for Manufacturing & Supply Chain Kartik Pant and Head of AI & Data Products, Manufacturing & Supply Shreyas Becker, respectively. The pair join us on today’s podcast to identify disconnects between marketing and supply chain workflows that commonly lead to issues such as stockouts and fulfillment delays. Later, they share insights on building what they describe as an ‘end-to-end control tower capability’ for data tools to solve these and similar logistics challenges in life sciences spaces. If you’re interested in unlocking our AI best practice guides, frameworks for AI ROI, and specific resources for AI consultants, visit emerj.com/p1.

Today’s guest is Dr. Raghav Vadhera, Lead Technical Architect for AI/ML Platform & Services at Raytheon Technologies. Dr. Vadhera returns to the program today to talk about a new initiative from the Biden administration in partnership with Raytheon to improve flood prediction capabilities using AI and cutting-edge technologies. Throughout our conversation, Dr. Vadhera explores the capabilities of AI in weather prediction and emergency response systems, including analyzing long-term data, identifying trends, and predicting weather events associated with specific cloud formations. If you’ve enjoyed or benefited from some of the insights of this episode, consider leaving us a five-star review on Apple Podcasts, and let us know what you learned, found helpful, or liked most about this show!