What happens when a legacy institution in a heavily regulated industry turns AI from a compliance challenge to a competitive advantage?

Our guest for this episode, NatWest Bank's Diana Kennedy, shares how the financial services leader does exactly that. The wide-ranging chat explores how NatWest Bank approaches AI-driven transformation, its approach to partnership, and expectations for leaders in setting the pace for innovation.

Featured experts 

Diana Kennedy, Director, Architecture and Engineering, NatWest Digital X

Ralitsa Nenkova, Global Insurance Leader, Consult Partner and Vice President, Kyndryl

More to the story

Scaling AI in regulated spaces
Read Diana Kennedy’s featured article from the Kyndryl Institute on finding the right partners for AI at scale.

AI in Insurance
Explore Kyndryl’s Insurance Recommendation paper for applied industry insights.

Tune in as experts uncover how purpose-driven innovation, AI, and supplier collaboration are enabling banks to build resilient supply chains and drive progress on net zero goals.

Featured experts 

Jenny Pickett, Head of Sustainability for North America, Lloyds Bank

Faith Taylor, SVP & Global Citizenship and Sustainability Officer, Kyndryl

From automating budget alignment with sustainability goals to running on-premise AI for data privacy, Antibes is redefining digital transformation in the public sector. Tune in as experts explore how technology is driving ethical, citizen-focused innovation across government services.

Featured experts 

Patrick Duverger, CIO and CTO, City of Antibes

Michael Bradshaw, SVP & Global Practice Leader, Applications, Data, and AI, Kyndryl

Tune in as experts explore the strategic opportunities and challenges of scaling AI through strong ecosystem collaboration, highlighting how experience-led AI is shaping the future of business and technology. 

Featured experts 

Gina Fratarcangeli, Managing Director, North American GSI Leader, AI Ambassador, Google 

Todd Scott, SVP, Head of Alliances, Kyndryl US/Digital Transformation, Kyndryl 

Join this discussion on how organizations can enable employees to grow with AI, cultivating a culture of curiosity that drives business transformation and prepares the workforce for future challenges.
  

Featured experts 

Borika Vucinic, President of the Board, North American Broadcasters Association 

Tune in as experts discuss how the evolution of digital entertainment platforms is transforming security paradigms, creating new business models and why protecting the modern media value chain has become a C-suite priority that extends far beyond technical considerations.

Featured experts 

Tony Lauro, Senior Director of Security Strategy, Akamai Technologies 

Tina Slivka, Vice President, Consult Lead for US Telecom, Media and Technology, Kyndryl 

Our guests weigh in on how they are leveraging technology to foster a supportive and empowering work environment. 

Featured experts

• Gert Vanhaecht, Director of Technology, Belfius Bank
• Dirk Rombaut, CMO and New Business Development Director, Passwerk

In this episode, our experts explore the transformative impact of AI on the media industry and creatives, all while underscoring the importance of maintaining human creativity.

Featured experts

Gabe Michael, Vice President, Executive Producer – AI, Edelman

Harry Leshner, Consult Partner, Telecommunications, Media and Technology, Kyndryl

1 Source: “Global AI In Media & Entertainment Market Size, Share & Trends Analysis 2023-2030: Market to Soar at 26% CAGR, Reaching $99.48 Billion by 2030” GlobeNewswire, 2024

In this episode, experts discuss how large enterprises can collaborate with nonprofits to bridge the technology gap for underrepresented communities. 

Featured experts

Senta Čermáková, Governing Board Member and Director of International Operations, Czechitas

Monoswita Saha, Director, Social Impact, Kyndryl

Human Resources (HR) plays a vital role in making a business’ most important asset – its people – feel valued and supported, enabling them to deliver their best work. This is imperative for any enterprise undergoing major change. By creating a culture inclusive of well-being, companies can foster a more people-first environment while delivering on strategic business outcomes.

In this episode, our experts dive into why prioritizing people creates a more positive and supportive workplace culture and ultimately drives success for the business.

Source: Organizational Culture: What Leaders Need to Know

Featured Experts

• Matt Elliott, Chief People Officer, Bank of Ireland
• Maryjo Charbonnier, Chief Human Resources Officer, Kyndryl

In this episode, we delve into the journey of one leading CEO who has mastered the art of creating relentless customer experience excellence and shareholder value through trust-building.

Featured experts

Rick Bare, CEO and President, Automated Financial Systems Inc. (AFS)

Dr. Elena Huff, Director, Consult Partner, Kyndryl

Tom Yezzi, Customer Partner, Kyndryl

In this episode, our experts explore how technology is transforming corporate ESG programs, highlighting how it creates a synergy between social impact and business growth, all while keeping people at the core of their mission.

Featured experts

Fred (Wen Jie) Tan, Head of Social Impact, Hewlett Packard Enterprise

Faith Taylor, Global Citizenship and Sustainability Officer, Kyndryl

In this episode, our experts discuss the future of generative AI in the telecom sector, the role of AI agents in network operations, and the critical need for ethical AI practices. Tune in to discover the criteria and frameworks used to identify generative AI PoCs worth investing in and how to take these concepts from initial ideas to production-level implementation. 

Gartner Predicts 30% of Generative AI Projects Will Be Abandoned After Proof of Concept By End of 2025, Gartner, July 29, 2024. 

Featured experts

Eugenia Ramirez, Director of New Trends and Emerging Technologies, Telefónica

Priya Mehra, Equity Partner and Director, Altman Solon

Iman Bendarkawi, Associate Director of Corporate Strategy & Development, Kyndryl

This episode references a Kyndryl and Altman Solon survey that focuses on the challenges customers face with generative AI PoCs. The report will be available on Perspectives on Progress in January 2025. Stay tuned for more details. 

In this episode, our experts discuss their initiatives to promote a more accessible and inclusive cybersecurity community, highlighting the importance of mentorship, diverse talent, and corporate partnerships.

Featured experts

• Lauren Buitta, Founder and CEO, Girl Security
• Amulya Panakam, Program Assistant of Membership and Professional Development, Girl Security
• Pam Hacker, Vice President of Social Impact, Kyndryl

In this episode, experts uncover the challenges of inclusive research, the evolving regulatory environment, and the future of data management. They highlight the importance of ethical governance and leveraging data for good, while also exploring the role of AI in identifying and addressing these issues.

Featured Experts

• Caroline Frankum, Global Chief Executive Officer, Profiles Division, Kantar
• Valeria Piaggio, Global Head, Diversity, Equity & Inclusion, Kantar
• Dr. Elena Huff, Director, Consult Partner, Kyndryl

To address this, cybersecurity professionals need strong mental resilience, well-tested plans, and effective stress management strategies. Organizations like Cybermindz.org are raising awareness about cybersecurity mental health and providing resources to help professionals recognize burnout signs. 

Join our experts as they explore potential solutions to improve mental health support for cybersecurity teams, including the potential role of innovative technologies like AI-powered simulations.

1. https://cybermindz.org/ 

Featured Experts

• Peter Coroneos, Founder, Cybermindz.org 
• Oliver Pettit, Senior Manager, Cyber Monitoring and Defence, AGL
• E-Yang Tang, Vice President, Security, Resiliency & Network, Kyndryl 

In this inaugural episode of Season 4 of The Progress Report, our guests explore how to navigate the complexities of enterprise transformation and lead an organization towards a purpose-driven future. Tune in as experts discuss what it takes to be a “change maker,” including the art of balancing quick wins with long term goals, fostering a culture of adaptability, and the critical role of communication in driving successful change.

Featured Experts

• Ismail Amla, Global Practice Leader, Kyndryl Consult
• Victoria Pelletier, Kyndryl Consult and Founder and CEO, Unstoppable You LLC

Listen as our experts share how they are driving progress for their organizations – guiding their organizations to be more agile, customer-centric, and collaborative – while putting both their employees and their citizen stakeholders first. 

Featured Experts

Tom Kambouras, Chief Information Officer, NYC Employee Retirement System​

Valerie Adamo,  Chief Technology Officer, Ontario Pension Board​

In this episode, our experts talk specifics about digitization, data, innovation, and generative AI in the shipping industry and commercial maritime. They cover challenges, success stories and opportunities for growth.

Featured Experts

Ralf Belusa, Managing Director, Hapag Lloyd​

Nick Chubb, Founder, Thetius​

Listen as our experts share insight into how enterprises should think about network transformation to drive improved application performance, economics and security.​

Featured Experts

Augusto Nellessen, Partner and IT Superintendent, Itaú​

Marcelo Entreconti, LATAM Head of Enterprise, Nokia​

In this episode, our experts will explore the impact these regulations have on cyber risk management strategies, governance, and processes. Listen as they share insight into how to prepare and what we’re learning from recent breaches.

Featured Experts

Greg Spicer, Co-Founder & Chief Revenue Officer, Ostrich Cyber-Risk​

John Feezell, Global Security Consultant, Risk Advisory Services, Kyndryl​

• Ronan Hughes, Core Banking Principal Architect, Bank of Ireland​
• Chris Davis, Managing Director of Ireland and Senior Partner for Bank of Ireland, Kyndryl​

The conversation will dive into insight for how organization should think about implementation of responsible AI practices and ethical principles and policies, including broader stakeholder representation.

Featured experts

• Rachel Higham, CIO, WPP​
• Elizabeth Adams, CEO, EMA Advisory Services

Diverse teams boost creativity and innovation, create greater opportunities for professional growth, and make better decisions over time.1

Companies that believe diversity strengthens their culture and create a flexible, agile and supportive work environment have become more successful at recruiting the right talent, particularly in tough-to-fill skills categories. And company output – including the bottom line – has profited from the lower attrition rates and higher productivity of a diverse workforce. ​

Listen in as our experts discuss how to show up authentically as a leader, best practices for harnessing the unique strengths of neurodiverse talent, and why the best teams are the most diverse.  

Featured experts

• Sarah Maston, Director of Partner Development and Strategy, Microsoft​
• Karima Bryant, Chief Inclusion, Diversity & Equity Officer, Kyndryl​

1 Source: “Neurodiversity at work: a biopsychosocial model and the impact on working adults.” NIH, 2020

While large corporations have a duty to corporate responsibility, startups may not think about their global impact in the earlier series of the business. But what if a partnership with a large corporation included encouragement and guidance and required a commitment to think about their global footprint? What if a startup had to consider the circular economy and be purposeful in a meaningful dimension that has impact?​

Listen as our experts explore the importance of being purpose driven and making a positive contribution to our economies and our communities.​​

Featured experts

• Taïg Khris, CEO & Founder, Onoff telecomm
• Warrick Cramer, Global Director Innovation Strategy, Kyndryl

These advancements bring up questions about strategies for maintaining ethical, trusted data, free from bias. And the application of this data to further the goals of purpose-driven organizations. ​

Listen as CDOs explore the critical role of data strategies in today’s rapidly evolving business landscape, discussing topics from fueling innovation and transforming the business with data insights to preparing for and utilizing generative AI. This conversation will also touch on the importance of diversity, especially when it comes to data analysis and better decision-making.

Featured experts

• Claire Thompson, Group Chief Data & Analytics Officer, Legal & General
• Gary Burnette,  Data & Analytics, Kyndryl

Welcome to The Progress Report, a podcast brought to you by Kyndryl, your partner for continuous innovation. Join us as we sit down with thought leaders, technologists, and creative problem solvers. We’ll explore provocative ideas about to how to modernize IT for efficiency and growth, create differentiated experiences, secure a resilient business, and ensure you’re always ready for change.

Keep your finger on the pulse—listen to The Progress Report.

Quantum computers offer compute power that is orders of magnitude greater than classical computers. The technology will enable economic and commercial advantages across a broad range of business use cases—from designing personalized medicines and treatments to creating secure, eavesdropping-free communication channels.

Quantum computers can be used to enable real business results, today, and companies that adopt quantum will gain significant advantages over those that do not. But where do you start?

Listen as our experts explore the question and remove the mystery of quantum. 

Featured experts

• Paul Bromelow, Quantum Business Leader and Global Sales Leader, Kyndryl
• Guy Siviour, Strategy and Technology Consultant, Kyndryl

Our guests discuss the pivotal role of leadership in setting the right tone for creative thinking, empowering employees at all levels, and fostering an environment that rewards risk-taking and learning. Guests  spotlightsuccessful banks that have embraced innovation and the tangible benefits that have ensued. ​

Tune in if you're part of the banking sector or simply interested in how innovation can revolutionize traditional industries.​

Featured experts

• Kumar Sidhartha, Head of Sales and Service Modernization, Bank of Montreal
• Shelly Kramer, Founder and Principal Analyst, Kramer&Co

Featured experts

• Debbie Waters, CTO, Aegon (financial services sector)
• Ivan Dopplé, Global Practice Leader, Digital Workplace, Kyndryl

The drive to innovate leads to the creation of intellectual property, which can be ideas, software, processes and methods, tooling or anything else that provides a competitive edge. 

Listen as our experts share how intellectual property is created and how to drive a research innovation strategy in enterprise tech. Our Behind the Patent series also explores patents by Kyndryls.

Featured experts

• Ilyas Iyoob, Global Head of Research, Kyndryl
• Lorie Goins, Head of IP Strategy, Kyndryl

But often, the key technology players are also market competitors. How do you foster deep collaboration between partners and your internal IT teams while minimizing the inclination for individuals to hold back the best ideas to ”safeguard” IP? And how can you encourage a true collegial spirit of co-creation among blended teams to optimize business outcomes – especially in highly regulated industries?

Listen in as experts from Lloyds Banking Group, Microsoft and Kyndryl discuss the value of co-creation and best practices for turning competitors into exceptional collaborators.

Featured experts

• Sarah Lucas, Head of Architecture and Product, Lloyds Banking Group
• Rebecca Egerton, Azure Lead – Lloyds Banking Group, Microsoft

Listen as our experts discuss the risks that C-Suite executives face in preparing their organizations for the unplanned. Hear their point of view.

Featured experts

• Ricardo Morales, Chief Information Security Officer, Banorte
• Kris Lovejoy, Global Practice Leader, Security & Resiliency, Kyndryl

No matter the industry, every company needs a comprehensive, strong cyber resiliency strategy. But where does one start? How do businesses remove the siloes that exist between departments and align its leaders?

Tune in as we explore the history of cyber resilience and share their insight on how companies can best plan for the next ‘cybergeddon.’ 

Featured experts

• Gary Meshell, Worldwide Leader Global Partner Security Initiative, AWS
• Flick March, Global Vice President, Security & Resilience, Kyndryl

Listen in as Fábio Napoli, Itaú Unibanco’s Director of Information Technology and Chief Technology Officer, shares the bank’s digital journey, lessons lessons learned, and his personal advice for Latin American peers in other regulated industries.

Featured experts

• Fábio Napoli, Director of Information Technology and CTO, Itaú Unibanco
• Roberto Voi, Customer Partner, Kyndryl

Even though the hype is relatively new, distributed cloud is actually an operational trend from the past, reemerging as new technologies reinvigorate a previously dormant model. It’s a re-imagined, better, more flexible version of the distributed systems from 50+ years ago. Distributed cloud has an impact on nearly every industry, fueling innovative use cases and creating a newly empowered edge primed to deliver transformative business value through new revenue streams or business models.

What is all the hype around distributed cloud? How can distributed cloud and edge computing benefit your industry? 

Featured experts:

• Sam Doherty, World Wide Director Edge Infrastructure and Devices, Microsoft
• Howard Holton, Chief Technology Officer, Gigaom
• Edgar Haren, Senior Lead Offering Manager, Kyndryl

Advocates for a human-centered design espouse an intentional and structured approach to problem-solving that puts people squarely at the center of decision-making. McKinsey has found that companies investing in experience design have been shown to increase their revenue and shareholder returns at twice the rate of competitors — and board rooms are listening. Designers' unique approach gets to the heart of the problem and brings people together to realize imaginative and practical solutions. 

But what does it really mean to design with humans in mind? And how can you make human-centered design part of an organization’s problem-solving DNA? 

Listen in as our experts discuss the value of human-first, integrated approach to customer experience and how the profession of design can have impact on business outcomes. 

Featured experts

• Sarah B. Nelson, Chief Design Officer, Kyndryl Vital, Kyndryl
• Tom Rourke, Global Leader, Kyndryl Vital, Kyndryl

Welcome to The Progress Report, a podcast brought to you by Kyndryl, your partner for continuous innovation. Join our Chief Design Officer, Sarah B. Nelson, and Global Leader of Kyndryl Vital, Tom Rourke, as they sit down with innovators, thought leaders, problem solvers, technologists, and business leaders to explore how you can keep your finger on the pulse of progress. Listen in for provocative and unique perspectives on how to modernize for efficiency and growth, innovate for differentiated experiences, secure for resilient business -- and more! Make sure to subscribe so you don't miss an episode. 

With Industry 4.0. the size and complexity of these IoT networks create vulnerabilities that require extra layers of security. To mitigate risk and enable the successful implementation security and resiliency on the edge is getting more and more critical

Listen in as our experts discuss how network and security are connecting people and devices and making “Connect from Anywhere” a reality. Our experts will explore through the lens of several industries and discuss resiliency in IT and network deployments. 

Hear from our experts Chris Novak, Managing Director Cybersecurity Consulting, Verizon; Jennifer Varner, Managing Director US Cybersecurity Sales at Verizon; and Kris Lovejoy, Global Practice Leader, Security & Resiliency, Kyndryl.

Listen in as our experts explore the changing trends and the potential implications for organizations across industries. We’ll discuss the UN goals and their impact, examine what’s driving the trends in green IT and waste reduction, and how leaders are responding. Hear from our guests Global Christian Thisgaard, VP BTP Partner Ecosystem, SAP; Jim Sullivan, Head of Product Management, SAP Sustainability, SAP​; and Madhuri Chawla, Global Head of SAP Strategic Partnership & Ecosystem, Kyndryl​.​

Compartamos Banco has been operating in Mexico for more than 32 years and has helped more than 13 million people to gain access to vital financial services. With more than 2.5 million customers throughout Mexico – 89 percent of them women – Compartamos Banco is enabling people to capitalize on their ingenuity and hard work and realize their dreams. In this episode our experts discuss what goes into creating a digital experience and enabling flexible business capabilities that support this new journey. Hear from our guests Kenya Muedano, Director of IT Build-The-Bank, Gentera; Katia Diep, Senior Partner Financial Services & Telco, Kyndryl.

Culture is often ambiguous, but it can be a powerful enabler of business transformation. In this episode, our experts explore the role culture plays in business transformation and discuss how companies move forward with the fast-paced technological change required to be successful. 

Hear from our guests Brad Pawlak, Sr. Partner Development Manager, Advisory GSI, Microsoft; Dave Gendron, National Microsoft Alliance Lead, Kyndryl. 

Our experts explore the impact of blind faith in processes without any real understanding of how the business operates and consider why –despite their apparent sophistication –Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence are not the solution to every problem on their own. Listen as they explore how to think about questioning those building the models to make it easy to both sense check how they work, and to make sure they are built at the right level for what’s needed.

Hear from our experts Robert Bates, Head of Decision Sciences, Currys; Rachel Goldberg, Senior Group Strategy Manager, Currys.

In this episode, experts recently inducted into Kyndryl’s Distinguished Technical Program discuss gender representation, equality, and equity in the tech industry. Hear their personal perspectives about what makes an impact and where the tech and business worlds still have room to grow.

Hear from our guests Karen Cheng, Chief Architect, CTO of Automation, Kyndryl; Sarah B. Nelson, Chief Design Officer, Co-Creation; Distinguished Designer, Kyndryl; Kitty Smith, Distinguished Engineer, Global SRE CustomerLiaison, Kyndryl.

With UN Member States making the commitment to SDGs, what role do businesses and start-ups play in attaining these goals? Why is it important to integrate Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) into innovation for start-ups? 

This discussion focuses on the importance of being purpose driven and planning for the long-term impacts businesses have on our collective future. Our experts will explore why siloes are the antithesis for innovation and why empathy is imperative for founders. 

Hear from our guests  Utaukwa Allen,  VP, Corporate Social Responsibility & Citizenship + ESG, Kyndryl;  Warrick Cramer, Global Director Innovation Strategy, Kyndryl.

Hear from our guests Arun Kundu, Global Head – Consulting, Cloud & IT Strategy and Transformation, Kyndryl; Benedikt Ernst, Partner Leader and Head of IT Strategy and Transformation - Germany, Kyndryl;  Guy Tallent, Vice President: IT Strategy & Transformation - Digital & Industry.

Hear from our guests Kris Lovejoy, Global Practice Leader, Security & Resiliency, Kyndryl; Bryan Sartin, Vice President, Security & Resiliency, Kyndryl; Jimmy Nilsson, Director, Advisory & Implementation Services, Kyndryl.