Launch by NTT DATA

Is PTSD preventing your organization from delivering real value? In the latest episode of Catalyst, Tammy Soares sits down with Jimit Arora, CEO of Everest Group, to unpack why process reinvention so often falls short and what leaders can do to make adoption meaningful rather than overwhelming. Jimit shares grounded insights on creating clarity, reducing friction for teams and designing change in a way that supports people rather than adding to their load. This conversation is full of practical guidance for anyone navigating digital transformation and striving to build healthier, more resilient organizations. Full episode and recap linked below!

What does it take to move from transactional partnerships to true collaboration? In our latest Catalyst episode, Tammy Soares is joined by Vandana Ramani, Vice President of Global Strategy at UPS. Together, Tammy and Vandana discuss the thrill of hard problems, working toward shared outcomes and getting the most out of AI. Tune in to discover how UPS leverages technology to manage one of the world’s most complex logistics networks, shipping everything from fine wine to live koalas, and what that means for building partnerships that deliver shared success. Explore the full episode or read the recap linked below.

On this episode of Catalyst, Tammy Soares is joined by Parisa Zander, 27-year tech veteran who spent years shaping customer experiences at Xbox, Microsoft, Samsung Mobile and Meta The two dive into leadership, identity and what it really means to navigate a career in tech as a woman. Parisa also shares her perspective on AI and why moving fast is tempting, but smart governance and thoughtful oversight are critical to building trust and long-term value. It’s an honest, timely conversation for leaders trying to balance innovation with intention. Full episode and recap linked below!

2025 was a year of transformation, and the pace isn’t slowing down. We had nearly 50 incredible leaders on the Launch by NTT DATA Catalyst podcast this year, each with a unique take on where we are and where we're going. But there were 5 themes that stood out: 1️⃣ The human side of AI: Trust, fear and the work ahead 2️⃣ Authentic leadership: Courage, transparency and showing up as your whole self 3️⃣ Designing with people, not just for them 4️⃣ Reinventing work: Skills, teaming, and new ways of thinking 5️⃣ Technology as possibility These themes aren’t just trends, they’re signals of where the future is headed. Catalyst host and Launch president, Tammy Soares, digs into these themes in her latest article linked below!

Trust is the foundation of successful AI adoption and it disappears the moment your model invents answers. In the latest episode of Catalyst, Tammy Soares is joined by Namee Oberst, co-founder of LLMWare (by Ai Bloks). Together they explore how to make AI practical, private and trustworthy for large enterprises. Namee shares her insights on why smaller, domain-specific models are gaining traction and how they (unlike large models) can deliver secure AI solutions without sacrificing performance. Full episode linked below!

As Launch's President Tammy Soares shared at The Wall Street Journal Tech Live, technology matters most when it meaningfully serves the people it’s intended for. Put humans first. Use technology to solve human problems. That’s the crux of human-centered AI. Read Tammy’s take on the event here: https://bit.ly/4oTtQog

The next era of mobility will not be defined by horsepower or hardware. It will be defined by how well vehicles understand and support the people who use them. Imagine a world where your vehicle doesn’t just transport, but anticipates, adapts and connects seamlessly to every aspect of your life. Our latest article by Clemens Conrad, Automotive Industry Solution Expert, explores why a human-first approach will shape this transformation and unlock new value streams across personalization, partnerships and intelligent experiences. Full article linked below!

Automation isn’t just a technology upgrade. It’s a leadership challenge. This week on Catalyst, Tammy Soares sits down with Jamie Sermon, Vice President of Engineering Robotics and Automation at UPS. Together, they discuss how organizations can embrace automation without leaving people behind. Jamie shares why balancing innovation with empathy is critical and how leaders can build trust while driving transformation. Curious about how #automation can help your team thrive? Check out the episode for strategies on making it a positive force for your culture, not a disruption. Full episode linked below!

Storytelling isn’t just an art. It’s a business imperative. This week on Catalyst, Tammy Soares is joined by Kainoa Horcajo, speaker, storyteller and cultural wayfinder. Through his firm, The Mo'olelo Group, Kainoa transforms Hawaiian wisdom into actionable business insights and experience design. Together, they explore why uncovering the “why” and the “how” is the most important thing a business can do. Kainoa also shares how to strike the balance between tradition and innovation and weave culture into the very fabric of your organization. Full episode linked below!

We’ve all been there. Shouting “representative” into the phone. Frustrated and angry. At The Wall Street Journal Tech Live, Tammy Soares used this familiar experience to explain what goes wrong when companies focus on cost reduction without considering the human experience. The company didn’t intend to create bad service. They wanted call deflection to reduce labor costs. The unintended consequence is customers who want to throw their phones across the room. The most disruptive companies solve human pain points. Human-centered AI uses technology as the enabler, not the starting point. #wsjtechlive