Podcast
Catalyst
Hosted by Launch by NTT DATA · EN
Catalyst, Launch by NTT DATA’s podcast hosted by Tammy Soares, puts humans at the heart of transformation. Each week, visionary leaders and changemakers share how creativity, technology and human insight are reshaping business, culture and the future of work. From platform innovation to AI and design leadership, Catalyst isn’t just about what’s next in tech — it’s about shaping business, technology, and culture through a human lens and spotlighting the visionaries paving the way forward.
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Please note that the views expressed may not necessarily be those of NTT DATA.
37episodes
Episodes
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Leading when you don’t have all the answers: Shelly Swanback on culture, vision, and continuous learning
2d ago00:36:10Tap to summarizeThis week on Catalyst, Tammy is joined by Shelly Swanback, a transformation executive who spent her career helping global organizations navigate digital disruption and large-scale cultural change. Before retiring, Shelly co-founded and helped build Accenture Digital, then went on to lead Western Union and TTEC through major transformations, and she recently published a chapter in The AI Edge: How to Thrive Within Civilization's Next Big Disruption. Shelly and Tammy discuss what leaders need to be communicating right now, and why in this moment of disruption, messaging matters as much as the vision itself. They also dig into why so-called soft skills, curiosity and emotional intelligence are, in fact, hard business requirements at a time when employees are anxious about what AI means for their jobs and their futures. As Shelly puts it, leadership isn’t about having all the answers, it’s about building teams that can thrive within the questions. Please note that the views expressed may not necessarily be those of NTT DATALinks: Shelly Swanback The AI Edge: How to Thrive Within Civilization's Next Big DisruptionLearn more about Launch by NTT DATASee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Transcribe →Mindfulness and design: Cal Thompson on why human-centered design matters more than ever
1w ago00:34:10Tap to summarizeThis week on Catalyst, Tammy is joined by Cal Thompson, designer, product advisor, artist and mindfulness teacher with over 15 years of experience in human-centered design. Cal most recently served as VP of Product Design and Research at Headspace, where they led both a design team and a scientific research team through the company's expansion from a meditation app into a full mental health platform. Cal explains how growing up gay in the south impacted how they see design and makes a strong business case for incorporating accessibility into all products and designs. They also explore why the design toolkit is more critical in the AI era than ever before, and why vibe coding without domain expertise risks producing what Cal calls "feature slop." They also dig into the attention economy and how mindfulness is quietly becoming a radical act in a world engineered to capture your focus.Please note that the views expressed may not necessarily be those of NTT DATALinks: Cal Thompson Headspace Future London Academy Center for Humane TechnologyGreenway Institute Learn more about Launch by NTT DATASee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Transcribe →From the factory floor to the future of work: Carolyn Lee on closing manufacturing's AI skills gap
2w ago00:40:36Tap to summarizeThis week on Catalyst, Tammy is joined by Carolyn Lee, President of The Manufacturing Institute, the workforce development and education affiliate of the National Association of Manufacturers. Carolyn grew up in a manufacturing family on Long Island and spent years on Capitol Hill before taking the helm of the MI in 2017. Tammy and Carolyn dig into the widening gap between AI adoption at the executive level and awareness on the shop floor, and why closing it is the defining challenge for American manufacturing right now. They also unpack the fear factor driving resistance to change and Carolyn announces the forthcoming AI for Manufacturing 101 curriculum to help manufacturers who are at risk of falling behind. Please note that the views expressed may not necessarily be those of NTT DATALinks:Carolyn LeeThe Manufacturing Institute - AI Skills Training Learn more about Launch by NTT DATASee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Transcribe →From the CIA to leading AI industry solutions: Sezin Palmer on the breakthroughs yet to come
3w ago00:39:03Tap to summarizeThis week on Catalyst, Tammy is joined by Sezin Palmer, AI Solutions Leader at NTT DATA in North America. Sezin traces her impressive and unconventional journey from CIA analyst and Navy submarine warfare programs to building the National Health Mission area at Johns Hopkins' Applied Physics Lab from scratch, then leading health AI and data at EY. Tammy and Sezin dig into the democratization of AI and what it means that capabilities once locked behind years of data science training are now accessible to nearly anyone. They also discuss the thorny challenge of how organizations decide what not to build and why the hardest leadership problem right now isn't launching AI, it's knowing when to stop. Sezin also shares her vision for what has her most excited: the convergence of software, robotics, and biology. Please note that the views expressed may not necessarily be those of NTT DATALinks: Sezin Palmer Learn more about Launch by NTT DATASee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Transcribe →The new era of sustainability: With Senior Forrester Analyst Abhijit Sunil
Jun 200:41:39Tap to summarizeThis week on Catalyst, Tammy is joined by Abhijit Sunil, Senior Analyst at Forrester Research, where he leads flagship research programs on IT sustainability, sustainability management, and climate risk. Abhijit traces his remarkable journey from designing robotics labs at IIT Bombay to consulting at Ericsson and McKinsey, before landing at Forrester where a flood of client questions about data center efficiency set him on the path to sustainability research. He shares how volunteering as a teacher in Mumbai's slums profoundly shaped his worldview—giving him a lens for seeing optimization and sustainability as deeply human issues, not just technical ones. Tammy and Abhijit also dig into the double-edged nature of AI, from its staggering energy demands to its extraordinary potential to democratize access, and why the answer to almost every big question in sustainability lives somewhere in the Goldilocks zone between extremes.Please note that the views expressed may not necessarily be those of NTT DATA.Links: Abhijit Sunil Learn more about Launch by NTT DATASee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Transcribe →From research to reality: An AI adoption conversation with analyst Will Townsend
May 2600:21:18Tap to summarizeThis week, Tammy welcomes Will Townsend to the Catalyst podcast booth, recording live from NTT Research’s Upgrade event in Silicon Valley. Will is the Chief Analyst at LoneStar Advisory and Research, an independent firm he launched after nearly a decade at Moor Insights & Strategy. In this conversation, Will shares where he's seeing AI create genuine, measurable impact beyond the pilot stage. Will also makes the case for post-quantum readiness as the next critical frontier and gives a candid look at his own hands-on science experiment with an OpenClaw mini PC — because, as he puts it, there's no substitute for getting your hands dirty.Please note that the views expressed may not necessarily be those of NTT DATA.Links: LoneStar Advisory and Research Learn more about Launch by NTT DATASee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Transcribe →From education to employment: Caleb Knight on empowering the next generation of workers with AI
May 1900:36:08Tap to summarizeThis week on Catalyst, Caleb Knight joins Tammy in the Catalyst podcast booth, recording live from NTT Research’s Upgrade event. Caleb is the Director Of AI TechX, Industry Partnerships and Economic Development at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. Together they explore the reality of AI in the workforce; reframing the conversation around job displacement into job creation and opportunities.They dive into how the University of Tennessee is working with a variety of industry partners to empower the next generation entering the workforce, how this translates across industries and fields, and how being a lifelong learner is the way forward! Please note that the views expressed may not necessarily be those of NTT DATALinks: Caleb Knight AI TECHX Learn more about Launch by NTT DATASee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Transcribe →Going slow to move fast: Tokio Marine’s Bob Pick on calm, deliberate action with AI
May 1200:39:05Tap to summarizeThis week, Tammy welcomes Bob Pick to the Catalyst podcast booth, recording live from NTT Research’s Upgrade event. Bob is the EVP & CIO at Tokio Marine North America, a multinational insurance holding company headquartered in Tokyo, Japan. In their conversation, Bob shares how his nontraditional background in the humanities—including research on the history of swimming pool design—has shaped his approach to working in technology. He and Tammy also discuss the advantages of working at a Japanese company, notably the philosophy of sustainability and encouraging personal development. Bob also shares examples of where he’s been bullish on adopting AI, while cautioning against rushing headfirst into disruption. He argues that the most successful companies will be those that take a moment to determine how new technology like AI can meaningfully improve how they work. Please note that the views expressed may not necessarily be those of NTT DATALinks: Bob Pick Tokio Marine North America Services Learn more about Launch by NTT DATASee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Transcribe →From the ICU to IT VP: Kathleen Zaski on innovating clinical healthcare technology
May 500:28:55Tap to summarizeThis week on Catalyst, Tammy is recording live from Upgrade - NTT Research’s annual event that brings together the latest in research and innovation from NTT groups around the world. In this episode, Tammy is joined by Kathleen Zaski, Vice President of IT, Clinical Innovation and Technology Leader at Renown Health where she oversees the technology shaping how patients are cared for and how clinicians work. Together they dive into Kathleen's journey from nursing in the Cardiac ICU to executive IT leadership, how her clinical background informs every technology decision she makes, and what it truly takes to implement and deploy AI in a way that benefits both the patient and clinician experience.Please note that the views expressed may not necessarily be those of NTT DATALinks: Upgrade 2026 Kathleen Zaski Renown Health Learn more about Launch by NTT DATASee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Transcribe →The best idea wins: Bob Rosen on leading with a curiosity mindset
Apr 2800:32:27Tap to summarizeThis week on Catalyst, Tammy is joined by Bob Rosen, Chief Information Officer at Arcosa. Bob discusses his career journey, including his early experience in the Air Force working with electronics and even designing tech for F-14 fighter jets! He shares how those formative roles shaped the leadership principles he carries today—most notably, that the best idea wins and that bad news doesn’t improve with age. Bob and Tammy also explore the role of healthy skepticism in today’s rapidly evolving AI landscape, and the importance of thinking strategically about where—and whether—AI can truly drive business results.Please note that the views expressed may not necessarily be those of NTT DATALinks: Bob Rosen Arcosa Inc. Learn more about Launch by NTT DATASee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
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