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
Slow Economy, Tight Talent Market? How To Navigate The 2023 Paradox
The current economic downturn is unlike others that have preceded it. Instead of becoming more abundant, talent will continue to be constrained. What should companies do — and what should they avoid doing — to navigate these unique challenges? Vice President, Principal Analyst Katy Tynan and Principal Analyst Betsy Summers explain as they break down Forrester’s 2023 future-of-work predictions.
Podcast
As Global Economic Woes Spread, Asia Pacific Charts Its Own Path
In 2023, the economic fears that have plagued much of the rest of the world will dampen prospects for the APAC region. How will governments and business respond, and what should firms do to come out ahead? On this week’s What It Means episode, Vice Presidents and Research Directors Ashutosh Sharma and Michael Barnes discuss Forrester’s 2023 predictions for the APAC region.
Podcast
Unpacking Forrester’s 2023 Tech Leader Predictions
An unpredictable economy will spur some unexpected changes in the technology space in 2023. Stay one step ahead of them as VP, Senior Research Director Matt Guarini reviews our 2023 predictions for tech leaders.
Podcast
CX Teams Face Diverging Fates In 2023
The alarm bells are sounding: CX organizations are in trouble. One in five will find themselves on the chopping block in 2023 as the economy weakens, CX performance slips, and proof of ROI remains elusive. But there’s good news, too. One in 10 CX organizations will be stronger than ever at the end of 2023, explains VP, Research Director Rick Parrish. Find out how in this episode of What It Means.
Podcast
How A Sharper Customer Focus Will Fuel B2B Growth In 2023
As inflation woes, market turbulence, and supply chain disruptions cloud the 2023 landscape, B2B organizations will look to their existing customers to forge a more predictable path to growth. On this week’s What It Means, VP, Principal Analyst Ross Graber discusses this and other 2023 predictions for B2B marketing and sales leaders.
Podcast
An Inside Look At Forrester’s Top 10 Emerging Technologies Report
Which emerging technologies should be on your radar in the year ahead? VP, Emerging Tech Portfolio Brian Hopkins and VP, Principal Analyst Julie Ask walk through Forrester’s list of the top 10 emerging technologies to watch.
Podcast
The Role Of Synthetic Data In Expanding AI
As the demand for AI expands, so does the need for relevant data to develop the models that power AI. In this episode, Analyst Rowan Curran describes the role that synthetic data can play in expanding your AI efforts.
Podcast
Automation’s Impact On The Future Of Jobs In APAC
Forrester forecasts that by 2040, 63 million jobs will be lost to automation across the five largest economies in APAC. Principal Analysts Michael O’Grady and Sam Higgins discuss the complex factors driving those numbers and the future of jobs in APAC overall.
Podcast
The Growing Need For A Chief Automation Officer
As automation efforts continue to expand across the enterprise, one question looms large: Who should be overseeing the use of automation technologies in an organization? In this episode, Principal Analyst Leslie Joseph provides his perspective.
Podcast
Is Your Organization Equipped To Handle Geopolitical Risks?
Is your security team effectively assessing your exposure to geopolitical risk? Principal Analyst Renee Murphy and Senior Analyst Allie Mellen provide some insights and next steps every security org will want to hear.
Podcast
Find The CX Collaboration Strategy That’s Right For Your Company
No customer experience team, no matter how mighty, can achieve its strategic vision alone. Fostering the necessary cross-functional collaboration requires a strategy that taps into your organization’s existing strengths and cultural norms, explain Senior Analysts Su Doyle and Angelina Gennis on this week’s What It Means.
Podcast
Where Did Gaia-X Go Wrong?
The Gaia-X initiative was launched in 2019 as a way for European governments to reclaim data sovereignty from non-European cloud hyperscalers. But it hasn’t lived up to its promise. In this episode, senior analysts Dario Maisto and Jeffrey Rajamani provide an update on the current state and future outlook for Gaia-X.
Podcast
Where Tech Leaders Should Focus Spend In 2023
Where should technology leaders focus their 2023 investments? In this episode, VP, Research Director Chris Gardner and Principal Analyst Chris Gilchrist review the recommendations in Forrester’s new planning guides for technology leaders.
Podcast
The Secrets To Becoming An Effective Change Catalyst
Meaningful change in a company doesn’t have to come from the top. Anyone — regardless of seniority or title — can bring it about, say Vice Presidents Meta Karagianni and Peter Ostrow. On this week’s What It Means, they discuss how B2B professionals can successfully initiate change and give a preview of their keynote session at Forrester’s B2B Summit EMEA.
Podcast
How B2B CMOs Can Spend To Succeed In 2023
B2B marketing leaders will face intense budget scrutiny as they plan for 2023. But making reactive, cost-saving decisions could undermine long-term gains, cautions VP and Principal Analyst Barbie Mattie. On this week’s What It Means, she discusses Forrester’s 2023 planning guide for B2B marketing executives and its spending recommendations.
Podcast
Succession Planning For The Security Org
Is overreliance on key security employees putting your entire organization at risk? Learn best practices for retention and succession planning in security from Senior Analyst Jess Burn.
Podcast
When Should Brands Take A Stand?
Consumers, employees, and shareholders increasingly expect companies to speak out on social and political issues. When should they, and how should they make the decision? On this week’s What It Means, Vice President, Research Director Mike Proulx and Vice President, Principal Analyst Dipanjan Chatterjee explain how brands can navigate these scenarios.
Podcast
How Does Automation Enable Human Innovation?
Fears that automation will replace human creativity with mindless robots are unwarranted. VP, Principal Analyst Paul Miller and Principal Analyst Dan Bieler explain why in this episode.
Podcast
Tackling Technology’s Trust Problem
What can be done to address a growing lack of trust in technology? Principal Analyst Sara Watson digs into the causes of this issue and provides some examples of firms taking proactive steps to minimize its impact.
Podcast
What COVID-Related Absenteeism Has Taught Us About Workforce Planning
COVID-related absenteeism continues to cause challenges across industries and business functions. In this episode, VP, Research Director James McQuivey and VP, Principal Analyst J. P. Gownder highlight some key learnings for workforce planning.