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
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Without Employee Activation, Business Strategies Are Just Hot Air
Strategies don’t yield business results. The execution of a winning strategy does. On this episode of What It Means, Principal Analyst Sam Stern and VP, Training & Certification Erin Streeter discuss how learning empowers employees to activate business transformations.
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The Organizational Architecture Of Innovation
Team structure sets the foundation for innovation. On this episode of What It Means, we’re joined by CEO Dennis Barnes to learn how RGAX organizes itself for transformative innovation.
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The Future Of Work
Automation possesses transformational power, and yet, just as with all emerging technologies, implementation is everything. This week, we’re joined by VPs and Principal Analysts J. P. Gownder and James McQuivey to explore how automation will shape the future of work.
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US CX Index 2019: Where Brands Are And How They’ll Excel
Forrester’s US CX Index™ 2019 revealed a modest increase in overall quality, with no brands achieving an “Excellent” score. VP, Research Director Harley Manning and Director, CX Analytics Michelle Yaiser delve into what’s behind the slow pace and how brands can accelerate.
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Entering Dullsville. Population: Too Many Brands
Brands have driven themselves straight into Dullsville. For years, they’ve slashed creative to the quick and overinvested in tech. Principal Analyst Jay Pattisall explains why you need both to succeed, and how creative can augment your tech investments.
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Will Facebook Survive?
For 18 months and counting, Facebook has been rocked by constant scandals. Senior Analyst Jessica Liu explains that Facebook will be fine in the short term. But in the long term . . . maybe not so much.
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How Lloyds Uses Privacy As A Differentiator
Privacy regulations can seem like a hassle. But if you want to grow customer affinity, privacy can be a strategic strength. Lloyds Banking Group Experience Strategist Laurent Christoph and Forrester VP and Principal Analyst Fatemeh Khatibloo explain how Lloyds uses privacy as a differentiator.
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Implementing Zero Trust Compliance
What does a Zero Trust framework look like on the ground? On this episode of What It Means, we’re joined by Principal Analysts Renee Murphy and Chase Cunningham to explore the intersection of Zero Trust and compliance.
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Why Every Firm Needs A Values Strategy
On this episode of What It Means, Principal Analyst Rick Parrish lays out the case for why brands must craft a thoughtful values strategy — and why shouting values from the rooftops may not be right for your brand.
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A Practical Guide To Evaluating Emerging Tech
When emerging tech hype meets reality, businesses can lose. On this episode of What It Means, VP and Principal Analyst Martha Bennett guides businesses through the difficult work of successfully leveraging emerging tech.
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“Direct-To-Value” Is An Opportunity For B2C Brands
How should incumbent brands respond to the direct-to-consumer (DTC) phenomenon? To help firms answer this crucial question, we’ve released Principal Analyst Ryan Skinner’s keynote from Consumer Marketing 2019.
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Edge Computing: How And Why Now
Intelligent technology is spreading to fridges, bridges, televisions, and more. Edge computing seeks to link these smart devices into a smart ecosystem that can work with previously unimaginable complexity and speed. VP and Principal Analyst Brian Hopkins explains how.
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WW’s Digital Transformation Journey
With the infusion of tech into every aspect of modern business, a successful business transformation requires digital transformation. This week, WW CTO Michael Lysaght joins to explain how tech transformation can thrive during a larger business transformation.
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Using Tech To Improve The Citizen Experience
Government agencies are striving to serve citizens better, faster, and more efficiently. As Principal Consultant Chris Gallacher notes, great citizen experience (CX) requires a revitalized tech core. Discover how to beat technical debt and win citizen approval on this week’s What It Means.
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Marketers, Challenge False Assumptions To Truly Win Fans
With good intentions, marketers have made wrongful assumptions about what customers want, corroding consumer trust. Hear VP and Group Director Melissa Parrish explain how marketers succeed by valuing their customers’ voices on this episode of What It Means.
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Yes, You Still Need To Prep For Brexit
The terms of Brexit are (still) uncertain. But you’ll thank yourself later if you prep for Brexit now. VP and Group Director Laura Koetzle advises how you should handle key issues on this week’s What It Means.
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Operational Technology: The Key To Digital Transformation
Looking to drive new digital business models? Well, it’s not possible if you don’t address your operational technology. VP and Principal Analyst Liz Herbert explains why modernizing foundational technologies is crucial for digital transformation.
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Software Needs CEOs — And Vice Versa
Digital transformation is crucial. As John Rymer and Jeffrey Hammond explain, it’s only possible if CEOs support the software capability their firms need.
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B2B Is Also B2P (Business To Person)
The term “business-to-business” can be deceptive: You’re never really selling to a business; you’re selling to people who happen to work at a business. Principal Analyst TJ Keitt explains why this makes B2B CX a crucial consideration.
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Boxed Shows The Winning Strategies of Direct-To-Consumer Brands
The explosive growth of direct-to-consumer brands rests on a mix of agility and superior CX. Boxed CEO Chieh Huang gives us a deep dive into his company’s winning philosophy and strategies.