In this episode, we welcome back Didem Un Ates, Founder and CEO of Lotus AI, former Head of Applied Strategy, Data & AI at Microsoft, and former Vice President AI Strategy & Innovation at Schneider Electric. After her hugely popular debut in Episode 1, Didem returns to explore one of the most in‑demand topics requested by our listeners: AI‑driven forecasting and its transformative impact on enterprise finance.

Drawing on her extensive experience advising Fortune 500 companies, private equity firms, and financial institutions, Didem breaks down what it really takes to build smarter, faster, and more resilient forecasting capabilities in today's AI‑powered landscape.

In this episode, Didem shares insights on:

• What separates successful AI‑forecasting organisations from those that struggle — including the critical role of talent transformation, culture, and executive sponsorship • How to prioritise AI use cases in the finance function, from maturity assessments to opportunity scans and ROI‑driven roadmaps • Why culture - not data - is the biggest barrier to AI adoption, and how organisations can overcome fear, resistance, and legacy mindsets • How valuation, modelling, and forecasting have evolved, from spreadsheets and legacy ERPs to intelligent CRMs and continuous, real‑time forecasting • Key differences between traditional forecasting and AI‑powered approaches, including the ability to process hundreds of variables, integrate unstructured signals, and dramatically improve accuracy • Common misconceptions finance leaders still hold about AI, from "we need perfect data" to "AI is either magic or useless" • The future of forecasting in enterprise finance, and why delaying AI adoption is no longer an option

CONNECT Didem on LinkedIn Raluca on LinkedIn

OTHER RESOURCES • Why Financial Services Firms Must Operationalize Responsible AI - Before It's Too Late – Article • The Next Frontier of Finance: Taking AI from Theory to Implementation – Report • Essential AI resources for practical use | AICPA&CIMA – Resources Page • Transformative Skills Pack: Creative mindset – Report • Partnering with AI: A Strategic Blueprint for Finance and Accounting Excellence – Report • Debut podcast episode: AI's impact on private equity – Blog • Big data and AI: Challenges and opportunities in finance – The Reshaping Finance podcast – Blog • AI for private equity and financial services industry – Podcast • Big data and AI technologies: Fundamentals and Applications – Podcast • Leveraging Non-Financial Data for Long-Term Value – Podcast • Non-financial data drives long-term value: The Reshaping Finance podcast – Blog • Agile Finance: Mastering adaptive budgeting and planning – Podcast • Future-ready with adaptive budgeting: The Reshaping Finance podcast – Blog • Future-proof Finance: Partnering in a Shifting World – Podcast • Co-creating solutions through business partnering – Blog • Future of Finance 2.0: Re-defining finance for a sustainable world – Report • 4 shifts redefining how finance creates sustainable value – Article • Our contemporary issues in Management Accounting – Page • Riding the Waves of Transformation – Article

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