Applied AI Australia

Ramon Rodriguez
  • 5.0 (4)
  • BUSINESS
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

Applied AI Australia is the podcast for Australian executives who turn AI complexity into clear, practical business outcomes. Each week, Ramon Rodriguez, an Australian GM with P&L accountability, cuts through the noise to focus on what matters: growth, margins, and time. Practical frameworks that can be applied in 48 hours, to cut costs, grow revenue, speed decision cycles, strengthen governance, manage risk, handle board and shareholder pressure in a shifting competitive landscape. This is not a tech show. It is leadership for executives accountable for results. Subscribe and stay ahead.

  1. The AI Identity Risk Your Board Can’t See | Okta SVP & GM Dan Mountstephen

    3 MAY

    The AI Identity Risk Your Board Can’t See | Okta SVP & GM Dan Mountstephen

    The AI Risk Your Board Can’t See: Identity, Fraud and AI Agents | Dan Mountstephen, Okta Subscribe - know a director who still thinks cyber is an IT problem? Forward this. CBA self-reported $1B in suspected AI-generated fraud this year and committed $900M to fight back. For every human logging into your systems, there are 82 machine identities. Service accounts, API tokens, AI agents. Most have no owner. Most have more access than the people they serve. When one of them goes rogue, the board's looking at you. Dan Mountstephen runs Asia Pacific for Okta, a $3B identity-security business. 20 years in enterprise tech, the last five deep in identity. The biggest risk in your business isn't the people you hire. It's the accounts you forgot about. What you'll learn: ​The 82:1 ratio: how machine identities outnumber human ones, and why nobody's watching​Why AI isn't breaking new systems. It's scaling the weaknesses you already have.​ How to govern an AI agent the same way you'd govern a contractor​The kill-switch: what to do when an agent goes rogue​Why directors are personally on the hook if due diligence can't be proven Key stats: ​ 82:1 machine to human identity ratio. ​ 86% of staff using unsanctioned AI. ​ 22% of incidents start with stolen credentials. 48-hour action: Get visibility of every identity across your organisation, human and machine. You can't secure what you can't see. "AI isn't breaking systems. It's scaling the weaknesses you already have." - Dan Mountstephen Timestamps: 0:00 - 82 machines per human1:00 - CBA: $1B fraud, $900M response3:00 - AI scales weaknesses, doesn’t create them5:00 - 212% YoY cybercrime growth5:10 - 86% using unsanctioned AI6:00 - What good cyber looks like7:00 - Identity Security Posture Management8:00 - Directors personally on the hook10:00 - Static API keys = standing privilege12:00 - Kill chain: identity to damage13:00 - Agents as contractors: the ownership model16:00 - Dell case study18:00 - Where to start: visibility first19:00 - 48-hour action20:15 - Blast radius and kill switch22:00 - Close www.appliedaiaustralia.com.au linkedin.com/in/ramonrod Guest: Dan Mountstephen, SVP & GM APAC at Oktalinkedin.com/in/danmountstephen | okta.com About Applied AI Australia: We help Australian companies between $100m and $1b turn AI into revenue, margin, time back, and better operating discipline. One podcast and one newsletter each week, built so you can brief a board in under an hour.

    23 min
  2. 60% Fewer People, 90% Faster: The Vacancy Strategy (Diego Mogollon, VentureCrowd)

    1 APR

    60% Fewer People, 90% Faster: The Vacancy Strategy (Diego Mogollon, VentureCrowd)

    Fewer People, More Output: The Vacancy Strategy (Diego Mogollon, VentureCrowd) Subscribe: Know a leader still hiring the same org chart? Forward this. You can drive AI transformation in compliance heavy industry! This episode proves it! Diego Mogollon wears two hats at VentureCrowd: CMO and CTO. The regulated FinTech platform has raised $440 million. Over the last two years,Tech team shrank 60%.Development time dropped 90%.Marketing team went from six people to one, and they're handling more volume than ever before.He didn't fire anyone. His team kept getting poached because they were good. Each time someone left, instead of opening a job req, Diego mapped every task that person owned and asked three questions: what can an agent handlewho can upskill into this,what process can we redesignHe calls it the Vacancy Strategy, it's changed everything about how VentureCrowd builds. What you'll learn: Why backfilling roles the traditional way is the biggest missed opportunity in AI adoptionThe Customer Zero strategy: build AI agents for your team before your customersHow a crew of specialised AI agents replaced a marketing team of six in a regulated FinTechAgent KPIs most companies aren't tracking: resolution rates, escalation rates, latency, and context poisoningWhy giving agents more data makes them worse, not betterThe shift from human in the loop to human at the helmHow to run a 24-hour agent challenge with your team this weekKey frameworks: Vacancy Strategy: Every time someone leaves, don't backfill. Map. Reassess. Redesign.Customer Zero: Build AI for your internal team first. Solve your problems, then your customers'.Agent KPIs: Resolution rate, escalation rate, latency, tokens per agent.Context Poisoning: An agent should know what it needs to know. You don't dump the company wiki on a new hire's first day.Key stats: Tech team 60% smaller over two yearsDevelopment time down 90% (months to weeks, weeks to days)Marketing team: 6 people to 1$440M raised through VentureCrowd's digital platformBug debugging time cut 90%+ with a single agent48-hour action: Next time a role opens on your team, hold the job req for 48 hours. Map every task that person did. Identify one that an agent could handle. You'll find it. Guest: Diego Mogollon, CMO/CTO at VentureCrowd LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/diegomogollon Company: venturecrowd.com.au Host: Ramon Rodriguez LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/ramonrodriguez Website: www.appliedaiaustralia.com.au

    41 min
  3. AI Ready in 2026 - Part 2 (Anthony Mittelmark)

    19 MAR

    AI Ready in 2026 - Part 2 (Anthony Mittelmark)

    $28M Spent on AI. One Question Tells You If It's Working. Subscribe - Know a CFO still measuring AI by project count? Forward this. Episode Summary: 90% of Australian companies have invested in AI. Only 40% are seeing results. The problem isn't the technology. In Part 1, we showed you which type of AI leader you are: Believer, Driver, or Builder. In Part 2, we reveal why that's only half the picture. There are two tracks of AI maturity and most organisations only measure one. Anthony Mittelmark calls it the Two-Track Trap: your AI usage might be advancing, but if your organisation isn't built to carry it, the investment leaks value. This episode gives you diagnostic questions most leadership teams can't answer, a real case study of how one multinational reframed AI as a valuation play, and a 48-hour action you can run this week without budget or approval. What you will learn: Why treating AI projects like IT projects is the #1 reason programs stallThe four levels of AI usage maturity (Tool User to AI-First) and where most companies are stuckThe second maturity track nobody measures: organisational readinessWhy tactical AI integration can make the rest of the business worseHow a multinational used upstream data IP to change their valuation narrativeA 48-hour brutal audit you can run with your leadership team this weekKey Frameworks: Two-Track TrapTrack A: AI Usage Maturity (Tool User > Process Runner > Commercial Operator > AI-First)Track B: Organisational Maturity (leadership articulation, business resistance, architecture to roadmap)Most companies measure Track A and ignore Track B. That's where investment leaks. Portfolio Mindset: Every AI project must deliver commercial value, build reusable capability, and advance organisational AI fluency. Valuation Reframe: Not "what does your org look like in 2030" but "how will it be valued in 2030?" Key Stats: 12% of Australian leaders say GenAI is transforming their business (vs 25% globally)90% invested in AI, only 40% seeing results (Frontier, March 2026)Financial services moving to AI-first: cost-to-serve gap makes it impossible to compete without it48 Hour Challenge: Ramon: 30 mins. One page. Can leadership articulate why you're investing in AI (commercial reasons, not efficiencies)? Is the business resisting - where and who? What does next-gen CX look like? Does tech map AI architecture to a roadmap with cost-benefit? For every AI initiative, does the org support it or is tech running ahead? If you can't answer with confidence, there's a gap. Anthony: List every AI tool, subscription, pilot, and POC. Portfolio strategy or just a collection of stuff? CEO to CFO: are we aligned on AI investment and what's the return? "The board doesn't need another AI update. They need a name to it next quarter." Timestamps 0:00 - Intro: the two-track blind spot1:00 -Why AI programs stall: IT projects vs portfolio mindset5:00 - The four levels of AI usage maturity8:30 - The Two-Track Trap: organisational readiness11:30 - What happens when leadership can't articulate why14:30 - Level 3 usage, Level 1 organisation17:30 - The $500M CEO building a business within her business19:00 - Upstream data IP and valuation narrative21:30 - Does this project advance your AI thesis?23:00 - The brutal audit25:30 - Close: AI maturity runs on two tracksPart 1 (Believer, Driver, Builder): Here Applied AI Australia: https://appliedaiaustralia.com.auhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/ramonrodPodcast + Executive Newsletter Guest: Anthony Mittelmark, 20+ years AI strategy across ASX 100 companies and high-growth ventures.. LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/anthonymittelmark

    26 min
  4. AI Ready in 2026: Know Your Type (Part 1)

    10 MAR

    AI Ready in 2026: Know Your Type (Part 1)

    AI Ready in 2026: Know Your Type (Part 1) Applied AI Australia In Conversation With: Anthony Mittelmark. Technology executive with 20+ years delivering enterprise-scale AI strategy and digital transformation across ASX 100 companies and high-growth ventures. Duration: ~28 minutes EPISODE SUMMARY Every Australian executive falls into one of three AI leadership categories. The problem: most think they're a different type to what they actually are. Ramon Rodriguez and Anthony Mittelmark unpack the Believer, the Driver, and the Builder using real data from KPMG, Deloitte, and MIT. Part 1 is diagnosis. Part 2 covers what to do about it. THE 3 TYPES Type 1: The Believer Well read, forwarding articles to leadership, but hasn't committed to a first commercial move. The risk of being wrong feels bigger than the risk of waiting. That's a false trade-off. Every quarter at Level 1 widens the gap. Type 2: The Driver Committed, shipping results, capital deployed, reorgs done. But running from fear of being caught flat-footed. The tension between AI's 9-18 month value curve and 6-month ASX reporting cycles pushes Drivers toward highly visible, low-impact tools over structural redesign. Type 3: The Builder Budget, pilots, task force, enthusiasm. Missing the commercial thread. Has AI champions but no AI owners. The champion raises their hand. The owner answers to the board when it fails. KEY DATA 63% of Australian C-suite rank AI as chief concern for 2026 (KPMG)12% of Australian leaders report AI is actively transforming their business, vs 25% globally (Deloitte)28% of Australian organisations have moved 40%+ of AI pilots to production (Deloitte)95% of enterprise gen AI pilots fail to deliver measurable impact (MIT)THE EXECUTIVE LANGUAGE DECODER "Exploring AI opportunities" = We haven't committed to anything"Piloting in one department" = We don't know if it works yet"Monitoring the landscape" = We're waiting for someone else to go first"Developing our AI strategy" = We don't have one"AI-augmented workflows" = We added a chatbot"Responsible AI approach" = We're using compliance as a brake YOUR 48-HOUR FIRST MOVE Believers: Map your category against a 20% margin compression scenario. One page. This week. Have the conversation. Drivers: Ask your leadership team: where are we still making decisions the same way we did three years ago? Find it before a competitor does. Builders: Name one AI initiative running right now and put a strict dollar figure on it. Savings or revenue. If you can't do this by Friday, pause the build. TIMESTAMPS 00:00 Introduction and episode framing 01:07 The Australian AI readiness gap in numbers 03:11 The 3 types of AI leader: overview 03:37 Type 1: The Believer 09:26 Believer self-diagnosis questions 11:00 Type 2: The Driver 12:42 Tactical AI vs AI-first 16:09 Type 3: The Builder 22:00 The Executive Language Decoder 23:56 Traditional frameworks vs probabilistic technology 26:08 Your 48-hour first move 27:20 Closing and Part 2 preview LINKS Website: www.appliedaiaustralia.com.au Executive Newsletter: https://substack.com/@appliedaiaustralia Ramon Rodriguez: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ramonrod Anthony Mittelmark: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anthonymittelmark/ SUBSCRIBE TO APPLIED AI AUSTRALIA The #1 source for Applied AI strategy for the Australian C-Suite. Frameworks you can apply in 48 hours.. ABOUT APPLIED AI AUSTRALIA Applied AI Australia helps execs cut through the noise and deliver practical outcomes: growth, margins, and time. We translate AI into executive action every Monday and Friday.

    27 min
  5. Stop Losing Your Company’s IQ: | Notion, GM - Andrew McCarthy

    15 FEB

    Stop Losing Your Company’s IQ: | Notion, GM - Andrew McCarthy

    Tasks tell you what happened. Decisions explain the outcome. If you aren't capturing the logic behind your decisions, your workflow is broken. 90% of Australian executives believe AI is critical for survival, yet only 3% have successfully operationalised it. Why the gap? Because their data is fragmented across too many tools. In this episode, Andrew McCarthy (GM, Notion APAC) joins us to dismantle the "AI Aspiration Gap." We move beyond the hype to discuss the infrastructure required to turn your company's "Institutional Memory" into a queryable AI asset—and deliver massive operational ROI. Key Takeaways & ROI: The $1M Efficiency Play: How consolidating decision logic saved over $1 million in costs and reduced reporting time from 3.5 days to just 6 hours The "Heidi" Case Study: How one workflow change saved 260 hours a month by automating context, not just tasks Scaling Decision Logic: A framework for capturing the "why" behind executive decisions so they can be replicated at scale The Cost of Tool Sprawl: How fragmented data silos are preventing your AI from generating accurate insights Retention as ROI: How reducing workflow friction directly impacts your ability to retain top talentTimestamps: [00:00] Introduction: The disconnect between AI strategy and execution [01:49] The state of AI in Australian Enterprise: Why we are "aspirational" but not "operational" [02:59] The "Tool Sprawl" Crisis: Why your tech stack is killing your AI potential [04:17] Framework: How to consolidate knowledge infrastructure [10:24] Case Study: Practical examples of AI reducing operational drag [16:47] Leadership Strategy: How to govern AI adoption without stifling inovation [35:13] Andrew's forecast for the future of workLinks: Connect with Andrew McCarthy on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/awmccarthy/ Explore Notion for Enterprise: https://www.notion.so/product/enterprise Connect with Ramon Rodriguez on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ramonrod/ SUBSCRIBE TO APPLIED AI AUSTRALIA The #1 source for Applied AI strategy for the Australian C-Suite. Frameworks you can apply in 48 hours. 📧 Newsletter: HERE ABOUT APPLIED AI AUSTRALIA Applied AI Australia helps execs cut through the noise and deliver practical outcomes: growth, margins, and time. We translate AI into executive action every Monday and Friday.

    38 min
  6. The CTO Trap: When Execs Delegate AI , Companies Bleed | Pathfindr CEO - Dawid Naude,

    27 JAN

    The CTO Trap: When Execs Delegate AI , Companies Bleed | Pathfindr CEO - Dawid Naude,

    The CTO Trap: Why 80% of AI Pilots Fail | Dawid Naude, Pathfindr Episode Description: 80% of Australian AI investments are currently failing, costing enterprises north of $28M per failed pilot. The data proves it: this is not a technology problem; it is a leadership failure. In this episode, Dawid Naude (CEO & Founder, Pathfindr) joins us to dismantle the "CTO Trap"—the dangerous illusion gripping corporate Australia that you can delegate AI strategy to the IT department, a consultant, or a vendor. You cannot scale what leadership doesn't use, and you cannot govern what leadership doesn't understand. We break down why real transformation must move from "Inbox Sorting" to "Reasoning" and why it must start at the Board level. What You'll Learn: The "CTO Trap": Why assigning AI ownership to the IT department is a P&L risk that leads to "Pilot Purgatory." Reasoning vs. Doing: How to move beyond basic automation to leverage the true reasoning capabilities of frontier models for strategic decision-making. The $1M PDF Strategy: A practical case study on how simple, non-technical tools can solve complex executive problems and deliver instant ROI. Consultant Red Flags: The "PowerPoint Test" to instantly audit if your advisor is a practitioner or just a theorist. The 48-Hour Challenge: Three tactical moves you can execute tonight to audit your calendar and your AI readiness. Timestamps: [00:00] The $28M Reality Check: Why 80% of Australian AI pilots never reach production. [03:10] Pilot to Production: The governance and cultural friction points killing your ROI. [07:20] The "CTO Trap": Why you cannot delegate business transformation to the tech team. [09:45] Case Study: How a simple AI workflow saved $1M in logistics costs. [13:15] Reasoning Engines: Moving from "Generative" text to "Strategic" thinking. [18:40] Vendor Due Diligence: How to spot a "Fake Expert" using the PowerPoint Test. [29:30] The 48-Hour Executive Challenge: Immediate steps for the C-Suite. Links: Connect with Dawid Naude on LinkedIn: HERE Is your organisation falling into the CTO Trap? Take the 2-minute AI Revenue Scorecard to find your hidden margins and get your personalised risk assessment: [Insert URL] SUBSCRIBE TO APPLIED AI AUSTRALIA The #1 source for Applied AI strategy for the Australian C-Suite. Frameworks you can apply in 48 hours. 📧 Newsletter: https://rebrand.ly/9uyuana ABOUT APPLIED AI AUSTRALIA Applied AI Australia helps senior leaders cut through the noise and deliver practical outcomes: growth, margins, and time. We translate AI into executive action every Monday and Friday.​

    34 min
  7. AI: Test or Invest? 3 Questions for Australian Execs. With Brad Granger, MD Podium.

    25/12/2025

    AI: Test or Invest? 3 Questions for Australian Execs. With Brad Granger, MD Podium.

    Invested in AI and got no results? You’re not alone - and it’s not the technology. In this episode, Ramon Rodriguez sits down with Brad Granger, Managing Director at Podium, to unpack why Australian executives keep getting burned by AI pilots and how to escape the “Test‑First Trap.” Brad shares a practical framework and three critical questions every CEO and CFO must ask before approving the next AI project.​ You’ll learn: Why AI pilots stall in “Pilot Purgatory” and how to move to real, measurable ROI.​ The three questions that stop bad AI investments before they start.​ How to treat AI agents like employees, with onboarding, KPIs, and performance management.​ How to design AI for both efficiency and growth, instead of trading one off against the other.​ The data, people, and process foundations that actually make AI work in an Australian enterprise.​ How to balance automation speed with governance, customer experience, and risk.​ This episode is for CEOs, CFOs, and Australian business leaders who tried AI, were disappointed by pilots, and now want a concrete roadmap to real outcomes.​ Key Takeaways: The “Test‑First” Fallacy: Why treating AI like a science experiment guarantees failure, and how to shift to an outcome‑based investment model.​ The 3 Critical Questions: A simple vetting framework for executives to prevent wasted AI capital.​ AI as an Employee: How to “hire” AI agents with clear roles, onboarding, KPIs, and accountability.​ Balancing Control vs Speed: How to automate customer experiences without losing the human touch or governance.​ [00:00] Introduction: The crisis of stalled AI pilots in Australian enterprises.​ [00:35] The “Test‑First Trap”: Why your AI pilot was doomed from day one.​ [03:10] Efficiency vs Growth: Solving the AI ROI equation for executives.​ [08:45] Executive Framework: The 3 questions to ask before signing off on a pilot.​ [15:20] The “Hiring” Mindset: Treating AI like a staff member, not a software tool.​ [22:00] Change Management: Getting your team to adopt, not fight, AI.​ [28:30] Automation vs Experience: Managing the trade‑offs between speed, control, and CX.​ [34:00] Action Plan: Immediate steps to rescue your AI strategy and escape Pilot Purgatory.​ Is your business ready to move beyond AI pilots? Take the 2-minute AI Readiness Scorecard and get your personalised risk assessment: HERE SUBSCRIBE TO APPLIED AI AUSTRALIA All you need to know in one place, specifically for Australian Executives and Organisational leaders. Frameworks you can apply in 48 hours. 📧 Newsletter: Here🎙️ Podcast: Subscribe on Apple Podcasts | Spotify | ABOUT APPLIED AI AUSTRALIAApplied AI Australia helps Australian executives cut through AI noise and implement strategies that deliver real business outcomes. Every week, we translate AI into practical actions for growth, efficiency, and ROI.

    28 min
  8. The Death of the Search Bar: Mastering Intent Resolution | Anthony Mittelmark, Ex-PwC Partner

    15/12/2025

    The Death of the Search Bar: Mastering Intent Resolution | Anthony Mittelmark, Ex-PwC Partner

    Episode Title:The Death of the Search Bar: Mastering Intent Resolution | Anthony Mittelmark, Ex-PwC Partner Episode Description:Australian online retail is a $65B market, but up to $19B of that is now influenced by AI-led curation, not traditional search. If your strategy relies on customers typing keywords into a box, you are optimizing for the past. In this episode, Anthony Mittelmark (Ex-PwC Partner & Ex-CTO, Fujitsu) joins us to dismantle the traditional "Linear Customer Journey." We explore the rise of Intent Resolution—where AI agents don't just find links, they execute decisions. We discuss the strategic pivot required for Australian executives: moving from "Traffic Acquisition" (SEO/SEM) to "Utility-Led Value" to survive the age of Agentic AI. Key Takeaways: The $19B Disruption: How AI-led curation is cannibalizing traditional search traffic and what this means for your customer acquisition costs (CAC). Intent Resolution: Why the future belongs to brands that can resolve a customer's intent (solve the problem) instantly, rather than just providing information. The Rise of AI Agents: Preparing your digital infrastructure for a world where your "customer" is a software bot, not a human. Startups vs. Incumbents: Why legacy data structures are preventing ASX leaders from pivoting, and how startups are leveraging "Utility" to steal market share. Timestamps:[00:00] The $19B Risk: Why AI is eating search traffic.[04:15] The Death of the Linear Journey: Moving beyond the funnel.[09:30] Intent Resolution: The new metric for commercial success.[15:45] Agentic Markets: When your customer is an AI, not a human.[24:20] Data Strategy: Why legacy data silos kill AI transformation.[31:10] Executive Action Plan: How to audit your business for AI readiness SUBSCRIBE TO APPLIED AI AUSTRALIAThe #1 source for Applied AI strategy for the Australian C-Suite. Frameworks you can apply in 48 hours. 📧 Newsletter: https://rebrand.ly/9uyuana ABOUT APPLIED AI AUSTRALIAApplied AI Australia helps senior leaders cut through the noise and deliver practical outcomes: growth, margins, and time. We translate AI into executive action every Monday and Friday.​

    42 min
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
4 Ratings

About

Applied AI Australia is the podcast for Australian executives who turn AI complexity into clear, practical business outcomes. Each week, Ramon Rodriguez, an Australian GM with P&L accountability, cuts through the noise to focus on what matters: growth, margins, and time. Practical frameworks that can be applied in 48 hours, to cut costs, grow revenue, speed decision cycles, strengthen governance, manage risk, handle board and shareholder pressure in a shifting competitive landscape. This is not a tech show. It is leadership for executives accountable for results. Subscribe and stay ahead.

Information

  • Creator
    Ramon Rodriguez
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    16
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Ramon Rodriguez
  • Show Website
    Applied AI Australia

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