What It Means: A Forrester podcast

Each week, the What It Means podcast invites Forrester analysts to discuss the latest trends and challenges to help business and technology leaders make bold decisions and become truly customer-obsessed. Topics range from tech-driven innovation and CX design to B2B buying trends and marketing planning. Listen now and subscribe to get a new episode each week. Got a comment or question? Email our team at podcast@forrester.com.

Latest Episodes

Podcast

Mobile World Congress 2019: Mobile’s Far From Dead

What It Means March 7, 2019
Don’t hold a funeral for mobile just yet. While the shiny promise of emerging technologies like AI may have stolen some of its spotlight, Mobile World Congress 2019 made it clear that mobile is the springboard for future innovations.
Podcast

Health Insurers: Innovation Under Pressure

What It Means February 28, 2019
Health insurers face threats and limitations. But that doesn’t have to be a bad thing. As Senior Analysts Arielle Trzcinski and Jeff Becker explain, health insurers have an opportunity to redefine the member experience to boost satisfaction and engagement.
Podcast

Who Chooses Direct-To-Consumer Brands?

What It Means February 21, 2019
Why do people buy from direct-to-consumer brands? Until now, little research has been done to determine what’s driving consumers to choose DTC. Forrester Senior Analyst Anjali Lai shares pioneering research in this episode of What It Means.
Podcast

Predictions 2019: Highlights

What It Means February 14, 2019
2019 is shaping up to be a challenging year. The market may slow, but the pace of disruption won’t. Now isn’t the time to throw in the towel on digital transformation and CX. Instead, build a solid foundation and get ready to come out strong in 2020.
Podcast

Quantum Computing: The Early Days (And Future Potential)

What It Means February 7, 2019
Forrester VP and Principal Analyst Brian Hopkins gives us a lesson on quantum computing: what it is, what it isn’t, and why it’s important to explore — even while the boundaries of the technology are still being defined.
Podcast

The Fast Follower Model: Less Sexy, Still Successful

What It Means January 31, 2019
Digital disruption has been the mantra of many over the past several years, but not everyone can be a disruptor — and not everyone needs to be a disruptor. Vice President and Research Director Pascal Matzke explores the benefits of being a strategic fast follower.
Podcast

The Future Of IT: Technology-Driven Innovation

What It Means January 24, 2019
Information technology has changed substantially over the years, not just in the tech it deploys but in its influence within the business. Forrester’s Sharyn Leaver and Craig Le Clair discuss the future of IT.
Podcast

Lessons From CES 2019: Consumer Technology Drives Brand Experience

What It Means January 17, 2019
Consumers have more tech at their disposal than ever before. And it has fundamentally changed how they experience brands. VP & Principal Analyst Dipanjan Chatterjee discusses the latest from CES 2019 and why marketers must understand the impact of consumer tech. 
Podcast

Untangling The Martech Knot

What It Means January 10, 2019
Martech changes, provides value, offers vaporware, and proliferates on a regular basis. So where does this leave marketers? Forrester Analysts Joe Stanhope, Rusty Warner, and Lori Wizdo help you untangle the martech knot . . . before your marketing org gets jumbled up.
Podcast

Low-Code Platforms: Govern For Greatness

What It Means January 3, 2019
Low-code development and shadow IT are not one and the same. As VP and Principal Analyst John Rymer explains, it’s all in how you govern.
Podcast

Why Corporations Are Bad At Engaging Startups

What It Means December 27, 2018
Corporations can gain much-needed innovation by engaging startups. But as VP, Emerging Technology Research Carl Doty and Venture Scanner CEO Nader Ghaffari explain, most corporations lack the full-sector view and unbiased advice necessary to make the best decision.
Podcast

Should You Give Up On CX? A Look At Your Much-Worse Alternatives To CX Excellence

What It Means December 20, 2018
In 2019, we predict that 20% of brands will throw up their hands and stop trying to win at CX. Why? CX is hard. But as VP, Research Director Harley Manning explains, the path of least resistance ends up being a bumpy ride in the end.
Podcast

Fulfillment, Not Happiness, Makes A Great Employee Experience

What It Means December 13, 2018
Happiness is not the prerequisite for productivity. As Principal Analyst Sam Stern explains, fulfillment and productivity are intertwined, and employee empowerment fuels both.
Podcast

A Seat At The Table: How CX Leader Navy Federal Builds A Culture Of Member Obsession

What It Means December 6, 2018
For three years running, Navy Federal Credit Union has been the top-ranked multichannel bank in Forrester’s CX Index. In this podcast episode, Navy Federal’s SVP Pam Piligian explains the customer experience strategy that drives the bank’s member obsession. 
Podcast

Zero Trust: Your Knight In Cyber Armor

What It Means November 29, 2018
2019 will be a year of unprecedented cyberthreats to companies, and one major brand will lose valuation of more than 25% due to a cyberattack. Principal Analysts Jeff Pollard and Chase Cunningham explain why Zero Trust is the best defense.
Podcast

The Algorithm Of You: Data Strategy & Insights 2018 Forum Preview

What It Means November 20, 2018
Brands’ recklessness has marred algorithms’ success. Customers are fed up with data privacy breaches and “creepy” personalization. And soon, they’ll rebalance the internet. Get the full story at Forrester’s Data Strategy & Insights 2018 Forum. Get a preview on this week’s podcast.
Podcast

The Agile Enterprise

What It Means November 15, 2018
Disruption is the new norm, but don’t let that intimidate you. Research Director Matt Guarini explains how CIOs can take the lead in the business of fast and furious.
Podcast

How To Unlock Seamless Customer Experience (Live)

What It Means November 8, 2018
Seamless customer experience is more than continuity across devices — seams traverse channels, contexts, and time. Principal Analyst Jennifer Wise discusses how firms can remove damaging seams using data, design, and technology.
Podcast

Nationwide: Innovation At 92 Years Young

What It Means November 1, 2018
Scott Sanchez, chief innovation officer at Nationwide, and Forrester Vice President and Principal Analyst James Staten discuss the realities of innovation: Culture, disruption, participation, acclimation, and customer obsession.
Podcast

Business Platforms: How Asia Is Building Customer Relationships

What It Means October 25, 2018
Research Director Frederic Giron discusses the three key layers of successful platform business models — technology, business, and relationship platforms — and how firms are using business platforms to expand their value position with customers.