The Innovation Engine Podcast

This episode of The Innovation Engine features Part 2 of our interview with Jason Cyr, VP and Head of Product Design at Cisco Security. 3Pillar Field CTO Lance Mohring jumps back into the conversation to talk with Jason about how Cisco is able to acquire the most innovative, cutting-edge cybersecurity startups and then integrate their products into one unified, user-centric platform.Jason explains that Cisco embeds designers as low in the organizational structure as possible and is big on the concept of integrated teams. He describes the essential product development triad at any level, where everyone has an equal say: product management, engineering, and design.Then we pivot to AI: how to design for it, how Generative UI may change workflows in the future, and how it could upend user navigation as we know it. Customers aren’t looking for AI chatbots, Jason says. They’re demanding much higher value processes like cybersecurity data and incident analysis. Product designers need to be ready for this future now.

How does Cisco produce one of the best-integrated cybersecurity platforms in the world? Jason Cyr, VP and Head of Product Design at Cisco, joins The Innovation Engine to talk with 3Pillar Field CTO Lance Mohring about how design is deeply embedded in Cisco’s product development process.Jason walks us through the market and organizational context that shapes Cisco’s unified product design process, which frequently involves incorporating new products to the overall product mix in the wake of an acquisition. He then gives some specific details on how product design can improve cybersecurity by preventing everyday configuration errors, while also anticipating zero-day vulnerabilities.Jason outlines the Cisco product, design, and engineering team’s unique GOAT process, which stands for Give Outcomes A Try and is influenced by Josh Seiden’s book Outcomes Over Output. The GOAT process allows product managers, engineers, and designers to identify and align on end-user outcomes before the iterative development process

According to Gartner, 80% of health system CIOs are actively exploring Generative AI use cases, so we break down the basics that everyone in health IT should know about the technology on this episode of The Innovation Engine. We cover three main topic areas that will be vital for healthcare leaders to understand the implications of with regards to Generative AI: accuracy, cost, and privacy.Pankaj Chawla, 3Pillar’s Chief Innovation Officer, and David Evans, 3Pillar’s Director of Global Innovation, join the show to talk with 3Pillar's Healthcare Industry Lead Steve Rowe to give listeners and healthcare leaders a look at how they can and should harness GenAI to be more efficient and effective.We cover topics including retrieval-augmented generation (RAG), data engineering and databases, workflows, Kubernetes, and self-provisioned GPUs, and separate cloud instances.Episode Highlights:00:00 - Intro to GenAI in Healthcare1:53 - Why hallucinations happen3:56 - Preventing hallucinations11:01 - Cost concerns13:37

In healthcare, it’s the norm for there to be a three-month gap between providing a service and getting paid for it.Our guest today, Zachary Kelly, talks with 3Pillar healthcare industry lead Steve Rowe about what FinTech innovations can do to help physicians and private healthcare practices close that gap. Zachary is the Head of Growth for Chello, a credit line product from Oriental Bank that serves small-to-medium sized healthcare businesses. He explains how their market research showed that healthcare SMBs were facing two main pain points: not having a clear picture of their cash flow, and trouble getting timely access to lines of credit.We then dive into the solutions. We discuss how Chello is bringing the robust use of APIs over from the financial world and integrating it into the healthcare ecosystem. We also discuss how Chello can directly tap into data about claims approval to better underwrite cash injections for practices.If you currently run a healthcare SMB or have hopes of one day starting an inde

According to Gartner Research, 60% of new custom business applications will be built using composable products by 2025. So what exactly are composable products, how should they be used, and which businesses should use them? Join 3Pillar Chief Innovation Officer Pankaj Chawla, Information Services Industry Lead Bernie Doone, and Field CTOs Scott Young and Rich Waller as they break down everything you need to know about composable products.Composability and composable business products are a foundational architecture approach, in which companies are essentially creating modular building blocks of software that can then be quickly assembled into internal and external products. They discuss its lengthy list of business benefits: innovation, agility, operational excellence, accelerated business outcomes, and more.But before you jump on the composable products bandwagon, they warn, you need to keep a few things in mind. First, mature companies with multiple products are typically the ones that can fully benefit fro

Most healthcare organizations — from payers to insurance companies to providers — are so bogged down with maintaining disparate, decades-old legacy systems that they lack the resources to create the technical solutions they want. That’s where Unqork comes into play.3Pillar’s Healthcare Industry Leader, Steve Rowe, hosts this episode and talks with Andrew Sullivan, Industry Partner at Unqork. Unqork is a codeless platform for application building that was founded to help companies eliminate the technical debt that accrues any time companies introduce code-based solutions into their technology stack.Andrew walks us through a few of the challenges commonly seen in the healthcare vertical, including prior authorization systems still being ruled by COBOL and other difficult-to-maintain legacy technologies, client portals that don’t meet customer expectations in 2024, and poorly customized and integrated off-the-shelf SaaS products.Then, Andrew and Steve dive into how Unqork solves these problems. Unqork is a codel

Innovation in Healthcare: Why the Future Has Never Been BrighterDriving innovation in the healthcare space has traditionally been a challenge to say the least. The good news? Many of the challenges that have stood in the way of unlocking healthcare innovation in the past are now fading into the background. VP of Client Success Carl Rudow and our healthcare industry lead, Steve Rowe, unpack why we may well be entering a golden age of innovation in healthcare on the latest episode of The Innovation Engine. The reasons why healthcare organizations have been slower to innovate than companies in many other industries are many. Root causes include a dearth of incentives for payers and providers to innovate on their services, an inability to attract engineering and product expertise to the space, and increasingly ossified systems that increase tech debt and hamper innovation. Recent years, however, have seen a number of positive shifts in the healthcare landscape. These shifts include the emergence of low-code/no-co

On this episode of The Innovation Engine, we dig into the recent past and upcoming future of innovation in the Financial Services industry. Rob Murray, 3Pillar’s Financial Services Industry Leader, moderates a conversation with Jennifer Mun and Albert Thibault, two integral members of our Financial Services industry team.   The trio discusses some of the key trends they saw shaping the FinServ space in 2023, including the evolution of consumer behavior toward a cashless (and sometimes even cardless) society, and examining how data and personalization are revolutionizing customer experiences.Looking ahead to 2024, we predict further enhancements in customer and employee experiences, driven by evolving AI applications and data analytics. We stress the importance of ethical AI deployment and data use in a globalized landscape and the strategic decisions between buying or building solutions.Tune in to this robust conversation as we navigate through these exciting developments and lay out a roadmap for the future

In this episode of The Innovation Engine, we're thrilled to welcome Arjun Pillai, the visionary co-founder and CEO of the emerging company, Docket. Arjun, a seasoned entrepreneur with a rich history of successful ventures, delves into the critical concept of Go-To-Market First Product Management (GTM First Product Management). This episode is a deep dive into why it's essential to consider market strategy, distribution, and user acquisition right from the inception of a product.Arjun brings to light the importance of aligning product features with market needs and ensuring these are effectively communicated to customer-facing teams. He shares valuable insights from his experiences at ZoomInfo, emphasizing the evolution of product management and the pivotal role of product demos. Listeners will gain an understanding of how to empower teams for effective product demonstrations and the significance of setting clear goals for feature adoption.Join us as we explore Arjun's unique approach to product ma

On this episode of The Innovation Engine Podcast, we dive deep into the realm of innovation, change, and the human resistance to new ideas with David Schonthal, an award-winning professor at the Kellogg School of Management. David, co-originator of the revolutionary "friction theory," sheds light on why promising innovations often stumble before reaching their full potential.David and host Scott Varho explore the profound influence of human psychology on the acceptance and adoption of change. Why do people love the idea of innovation but dread the concept of change? David presents insightful real-world examples, highlighting the necessity of understanding the human element for successful innovation.As the discussion unfolds, listeners will be intrigued by the power of subtle shifts in approach, like shifting change management or marketing strategies to foster self-persuasion. It's an enlightening conversation that delves into the intricacies of introducing change, managing resistance, and ensuring

3Pillar’s Financial Services Industry Lead, Rob Murray, joins us on the latest Innovation Engine to share some of the latest insights he’s gleaned from serving 3Pillar clients across the Financial Services space. Rob and Scott Varho dive deep into what it takes to successfully drive innovation in a tightly regulated industry like Financial Services, where many organizations feel handcuffed by the legacy software and systems that power their customer experiences. In this episode, we explore the myriad of opportunities and challenges that the rapidly evolving banking, insurance and broader Financial Services sector presents, and how institutions are navigating this ever-changing landscape.Throughout the conversation, Rob sheds light on the pivotal role of innovation in shaping the future of banking. From the adoption of groundbreaking technologies like blockchain and artificial intelligence to strategic partnerships between traditional banks and FinTech startups, Rob provides a comprehensive overview of the for

In today's transformative digital landscape, what truly defines a tech company? Matt Brandon, the Industry Leader for the 3Pillar Technology Vertical, joins us for a deep dive into the multifaceted world of technology. From the evolution of technology sectors to the omnipresence of data, Matt shares insights on navigating opportunities and threats in this high-paced arena.Matt's rich background showcases a blend of partnerships with leading tech entities, his impactful journeys at Colego and Gartner, and a pivotal role in Gartner's acquisition of CEB. At Three Pillars, the term "tech company" goes beyond the traditional. Whether it's cybersecurity or even a home relocation firm, if there's a significant digital or electronics-based product or service, you're in the tech space.This episode provides a holistic view of the opportunities driven by data and AI, the challenges of security, and the ever-present need to innovate. Dive into Matt's perspective on the importance of ta

Digital transformation is a term often tossed around in boardrooms but rarely understood in its full depth and breadth. David Rogers joins us on this episode of The Innovation Engine podcast to discuss his latest book, The Digital Transformation Roadmap, and his vast experience advising a bevy of top-tier corporate clients including Google, Microsoft, Citigroup, and Toyota. A renowned faculty member at Columbia Business School, expert in digital transformation, and the brain behind several groundbreaking books on the subject, David is the perfect voice of reason to bring a logical understanding to this vital concept. David underscores the significant differences between a digital-first startup and a legacy enterprise attempting to make its products and services viable in the digital realm. He emphasizes that digital transformation is not a short-term project, but a continuous journey intertwined with both digital strategy and sweeping organizational change. In David's latest book, The Digital Transforma

Bernie Doone joins us on this episode of The Innovation Engine to delve deep into the intricate world of Information Services. Bernie is no stranger to our listeners, having previously co-hosted episodes featuring insightful dialogues with experts like Marianne Johnson of Cox Automotive and Josh Eastright from Bloomberg Industry Group. At its core, Information Services revolves around B2B companies whose assets lie predominantly in insights and value-added services. These entities play the crucial role of transforming data into insights and content, combining proprietary, third-party, and publicly available data. Companies like Bloomberg Industry Group and Cox Automotive are stellar examples of Information Services companies that have evolved into digital powerhouses, now offering tools and insights right when their customers need them most. Throughout the conversation, we uncover key developments and trends in the Information Services sector. From building a common data platform to leveraging metadata for in

Productizing a services business is no small feat, but the benefits of doing so are vast: improved margins, increased productivity, higher company valuations, and less reliance on increasingly in-demand tech talent. Eisha Armstrong joins us on this episode of The Innovation Engine to share more about how to turn a services company into a productized business. Eisha has established herself as an authoritative voice in this space, having authored two compelling books: Fearless: How to Transform a Services Culture and Successfully Productize and Productize: The Ultimate Guide to Turning Professional Services into Scalable Products. With her deep understanding of the challenges faced by B2B services companies competing against digital-first companies and scaling efficiently, Eisha offers some insightful strategies and tips. In this conversation, Eisha highlights the importance of setting clear goals to inform your productization approach, treating productization as a portfolio, and overcoming the fear of product

Sam Yen, the Chief Innovation Officer for Commercial Banking at JPMorgan Chase, joins us for this episode of The Innovation Engine to discuss Innovation by Design and Scaling Innovation. Sam is responsible for JPMorgan Chase’s digital products, platforms, innovation, and product strategy, so there is a massive amount of responsibility that falls under his purview. We kick off the episode by diving into Sam's guiding principles for leading teams and prioritizing work in a financial institution of JPMorgan Chase's scale. He stresses the importance of being customer or client-centered, maintaining effective communication, ensuring a deep understanding of end-to-end experiences in product delivery, and keeping the bigger picture in mind while fostering a culture of quick learning and iteration. Sam shares his insights on the power of design in crafting user experiences that are intuitive, delightful, and even "forgettable" in terms of ease of use. We discuss the challenges and constraints of foste

Ready to be inspired by a transformation story that propelled a bank to new heights? In this discussion with Paul Cobban, we dig deep into the remarkable business transformation of DBS Bank under his leadership.  DBS' incredible journey saw the company go from having the reputation of being known as "D#mn Bloody Slow," as Paul tells it, to becoming a digital powerhouse that regularly earns accolades for its digital experience and transformation. DBS was named "World's Best Bank” by Global Finance 5 times, and it was hailed as one of Harvard Business Review's top 10 business transformations of the last decade, alongside innovation stalwarts Netflix, Amazon, and Adobe.  Paul also shares insights from the book he co-authored with Scott Anthony, Eat, Sleep, Innovate which serves as a roadmap for companies and leaders looking to excel with the right mindset, tools, and habits. Join us for this engaging conversation as we uncover the magic behind DBS' transformation journey and gain v

On this episode, we're diving into the world of Agile Thinking with our guest, Kevin Philpott, Director of Product Design at Pie Insurance. Pie Insurance is a venture-backed insurtech startup, having raised over $600 million in funding since its inception in 2017. Kevin, who has been with Pie Insurance from the very start, is now responsible for all B2B, B2C, and enterprise digital interfaces. Prior to Pie, Kevin held senior product design roles at companies such as RapidFinance, part of the Quicken Loans Family of Companies, and GEICO. His experience across small, medium, and enterprise-sized companies gives him a unique perspective on the Agile Thinking challenges that occur in different business environments. In this episode, Kevin shares his insights on building a culture of Agile Thinking. He emphasizes the "think big, start small, learn fast" mentality and the importance of focusing on outcomes over outputs. He stresses that the role UX can play in developing an Agile Thinking culture extend

On this episode of The Innovation Engine, we explore the fascinating world of applied innovation and the critical process of testing the commercial viability of ideas. Join us as we speak with Michael Rabjohns, Global Head of User Experience Research and Design at 3Pillar, and Steven Cooper, a Lead UX Designer in Michael's group. Both bring extensive experience in the digital product space. Between them, they have worked with household names like Marriott, Calvin Klein, Microsoft, Salesforce, and Google. Alongside host Scott Varho, they share their unique insights and valuable advice on navigating the complex landscape of innovation and product development. Listen to the full conversation to hear about the importance of understanding users and their needs, the role of execution and the necessity of pivoting or persevering based on user feedback, and various tools and techniques for user research and testing. We also discuss the challenges of communicating with stakeholders, creating safe spaces for unbias

Do you know the difference between focusing on outcomes versus outputs in product development — and why the difference can make or break a product? In this episode, we explore how shifting the focus from churning out features to driving business outcomes can help product teams deliver far greater value to users and organizations. Our guest, Josh Seiden, is a designer, strategy consultant, and author of the book Outcomes Over Output: Why customer behavior is the key metric for business success. He spent two years working on a stock trading app that never shipped, which taught him the importance of putting products in users’ hands  “unreasonably early.”  Josh presents three “magic questions” to help product teams focus on outcomes and introduces a new behavioral model that suggests teams should focus on changes in user behavior that create business value. He explains the importance of telling a specific story about the user journey, highlighting key moments that make a difference, and building a shared perspec