AI Today Podcast

In this episode of AI Today, host Kathleen Walch sits down with Dr. Katrenia Reed Hughes, educator, curriculum designer, and project leader, to explore how AI is transforming education—and what it means to prepare learners for project success in a rapidly changing world. 
As part of AI Today's PMI Global Summit Series, this conversation highlights how AI can be used not just as a tool, but as a pathway to equity, empowerment, and confidence—especially for underrepresented learners. Katrenia shares insights on curriculum development, early exposure to AI, and the mindsets needed to ensure no one gets left behind in the age of automation. 
Tune in to hear about: 
Why exposure to AI early builds not just skills, but belief 
How educators are integrating AI across curriculum design 
The role of psychological safety and representation in project learning 
What “future readiness” means for tomorrow’s project leaders 
How AI can both challenge and enhance traditional education models 
The importance of mentorship, agency, and human connection in AI-powered learning 
Whether you're in education, project management, or talent development, this episode offers a hopeful and practical vision for building more inclusive, AI-literate teams—starting in the classroom.

In this episode of AI Today, host Kathleen Walch sits down with Lee Lambert, PMI Fellow, a founder of the PMP certification, and long-time project management thought leader. Recorded live at PMI Global Summit 2025, this conversation bridges the past, present, and future of the project management profession.
Lee shares his candid thoughts on how AI is reshaping what it means to lead projects—and why the future belongs to those who pair smart tools with power skills like communication, leadership, and empathy.
Tune in to hear about:
Why mindset matters more than memorization in an AI-augmented world
How project managers can embrace AI without losing their human edge
Why power skills are more valuable than ever
What changes—and what doesn’t—as tools evolve
Lee’s advice for staying relevant in a fast-changing profession
Reflections on the PMP’s legacy and the future of PM education
Whether you're new to the field or decades into your career, this episode offers practical, energizing advice on how to grow with the profession as AI transforms the landscape.

In this episode of AI Today, host Kathleen Walch sits down with Ashima Sharma, Founding Partner of Ayuka Consulting, to explore what it really takes to deliver AI that works—in practice, at scale, and with purpose. 
This conversation was recorded live at PMI Global Summit 2025 and highlights the often-overlooked foundations of successful AI adoption: clean, contextual data; empowered, cross-functional teams; and a human-centered mindset that sees AI as a partner, not a product. 
Tune in to hear about: 
Why most AI efforts fail without operationally ready data 
How project teams can bridge the gap between experimentation and delivery 
What true upskilling looks like for today’s AI-augmented workforce 
How to navigate value misalignment, scope creep, and early AI friction 
What makes for “good” AI adoption—and what questions we should be asking 
The importance of empathy, ethics, and inclusion in AI delivery work 
Whether you're a project leader, product owner, or transformation coach, this episode delivers grounded insight into building AI that supports both systems and the people who run them.

In this episode of AI Today, host Kathleen Walch sits down with Chris Caldwell, CEO of Concentrix, to explore how AI is being operationalized across customer experience (CX) ecosystems—from listening and learning to acting and delivering at scale. 
This conversation dives into how trust, transparency, and intentional use of AI are helping Concentrix deliver highly personalized experiences for some of the world’s largest brands. Chris shares how their teams are moving beyond dashboards and metrics toward outcomes powered by real-time, AI-driven insight. 
Tune in to hear about: 
Why trust is foundational for AI adoption in customer interactions 
How natural language AI is transforming both listening and action 
What it takes to deliver true hyper-personalization at scale 
Why transparency, control, and choice matter in every AI use case 
Real-world examples of AI streamlining service, support, and retention 
How Concentrix balances experimentation with client outcomes 
Whether you're in customer experience, enterprise transformation, or scaling AI in a service environment, this episode delivers clear, grounded insight into what it really means to build AI that listens, learns, and acts—with the customer at the center. 
Concentrix Corporation (NASDAQ: CNXC), a sponsor of today’s podcast episode, is a Fortune 500® company, is the global technology and services leader that powers the world’s best brands, today and into the future. The company is solution-focused, tech-powered, intelligence-fueled to design, build, and run fully integrated, end-to-end solutions at speed and scale across the entire enterprise. Concentrix helps over 2,000 clients solve their toughest business challenges. With unique data and insights, deep industry expertise, and advanced technology solutions, it’s the intelligent transformation partner that powers a world that works, helping companies become refreshingly simple to work, interact, and transact with. Delivering outcomes unimagined across every major vertical in 70+ markets. Virtually everywhere. Visit concentrix.com to learn more.

In this episode of AI Today, host Kathleen Walch sits down with Fred Laluyaux, CEO of Aera Technology, to discuss how enterprises are evolving their operating models through AI-powered decision intelligence.  
Tune in to hear about: 
What “decision intelligence” really means—and why it matters 
How AI can move from experiments to operational transformation 
The rise of decision architects and control rooms inside the enterprise 
Why “learning by doing” beats “learning by reading” when adopting AI 
How change fatigue, value misalignment, and risk aversion affect AI initiatives 
What the future of knowledge work could look like with embedded intelligence 
Whether you’re leading digital transformation, deploying enterprise AI, or exploring new operating models, this conversation offers sharp insights into building organizations that can sense, decide, and act at scale.  
Aera Technology, a sponsor of today’s podcast episode, is the leader in decision intelligence and creator of Aera, the first decision intelligence agent. Aera understands how your business works, makes real-time recommendations, takes actions, and learns from every decision. By empowering enterprises to optimize and automate decisions, Aera enables greater sustainability, intelligence, and efficiency. See this in action at AeraHUB NYC as market leaders share how they are scaling decision intelligence for a competitive edge in the age of AI.