Next Future Today

Dan Keldsen - Host, Next Future Today
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Next Future Today - For Future-Facing Leaders Creating the Future Right Now!Host Dan Keldsen talks with the people making the future happen today - at the collision point of agentic AI, automation, and audit, risk, and compliance in regulated enterprises. Guests have included Craig Le Clair (Forrester VP Principal Analyst), Larry Gioia (PwC Emerging Tech Leader), May Cheng (US federal Acting CIO), Chris Surdak (former Deputy PMO of the FDIC, CTO of IRPA.ai), Dr. Lamont Black (Filene Research Institute), Kevin Eikenberry, and many more.Audio and video. Show notes and production templates: github.com/dankeldsen/next-future-today-showbook. Site: nextfuturetoday.com.

  1. Feb 17

    The Accidental Healthcare Policy Expert - NextFutureToday Ep. 34: Dan Keldsen and Guest Jeff Grant

    Episode 34 Recap: "The Accidental Healthcare Policy Expert" with Dan Keldsen, Chief Innovation Officer at Infocap.AI and Jeffrey Grant, Founder and President, Schedule F Healthcare Strategies. This week, Dan sat down with Jeff Grant for a candid and insightful conversation about the fascinating evolution of healthcare policy, innovation in public health, and the power of following opportunities - even when they’re unexpected. From Navy to Healthcare Operations – Jeff Grant’s Journey Jeff Grant’s path to public health was anything but straightforward. After his stint in the Navy with plans for academia, Jeff pivoted to public administration. He found himself swept into healthcare operations during the Clinton administration’s push for reform. His knack for operations and systems thinking took him into the heart of CMS (Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services), where he tackled major shifts like the Balanced Budget Act and risk adjustment in Medicare. Jeff’s story is a reminder that sometimes, saying “yes” to the unforeseen creates the best opportunities. Innovation Means Raising Your Hand The conversation highlighted how innovation in public service is often about willingness to jump into the breach - even when the path isn’t clear. Jeff and Dan discussed the difference between military and civilian career paths, emphasizing that, unlike the military’s clear roadmap, public sector careers reward opportunists and bridge builders who aren’t afraid of risk or ambiguity. Bridging Policy, Technology, and Operations Jeff shared war stories of bridging visionary policy with practical technology - like developing the National Provider ID, which eventually became a cornerstone for billing across Medicare, Medicaid, and private sectors. It’s a vivid example of radical reimagination made real by necessity and adaptability. The Push for Simplicity: HR-1 and Medicaid Work Requirements Another timely topic was the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (HR-1) and its impact on Medicaid and ACA coverage. Jeff unpacked the complex new work requirements, highlighting their operational challenges for applicants (like proving employment in a world dominated by gig work and independent contracting). Dan and Jeff discussed how technology, AI, and usability principles (think: “Don’t Make Me Think” by Steve Krug) can help streamline processes but also introduce new layers of complexity and privacy concerns. Skills Over Industry: Reinventing Your Next Future Wrapping up, Jeff dropped practical advice for those seeking purposeful change in their careers. Focus on the skills you bring to the table - operations, data, startup mentality. If you’re feeling “stuck,” consider a career coach or self-assessment. The trick isn’t just domain knowledge, but transferable skills and knowing what makes you tick. Connect with Jeff Grant Interested in digging deeper or connecting with Jeff? You can find him at Schedule F Healthcare Strategies (schedf.com), or email him at info@ (at) schedf (dot) com. He’s also active on LinkedIn for those who want to network or continue the conversation here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeffrey-grant-480aaa19/ What’s Next? If you’re navigating your own “Next Future,” remember: opportunity often shows up disguised as uncertainty. Embrace your generalist tendencies, seek out innovation, and don’t be afraid to take calculated risks. And as always, tune in to Next Future Today for more stories that inform, inspire, and ignite possibility. Subscribe for future episodes, and thanks for being part of our community! Stay curious, stay connected, and shape your next future - today! Connect with Dan at https://www.linkedin.com/in/dankeldsen/ Learn more about Infocap at

    The Accidental Healthcare Policy Expert - NextFutureToday Ep. 34: Dan Keldsen and Guest Jeff Grant

  2. 11/12/2025

    Transforming Federal Agencies- NextFutureToday Ep. 32 Dan Keldsen & May Cheng

    🌟 LIsten in on an insightful episode of NextFutureToday with May Cheng, Acting CIO at the International Trade Administration, hosted by Dan Keldsen, Chief Innovation Officer at infocap.ai. May shared her powerful experiences leading transformation in the federal government—including guiding an entire agency to a digital, virtually paperless environment in just nine months!🚀 Here are 3 key takeaways you don’t want to miss: Change Management Is People Management: Technology isn’t the hardest part—success hinges on clarifying roles, building trust, and ensuring every key player is engaged and accountable. Even 1% non-participation from crucial stakeholders can derail progress.Start Small and Iterate: May’s approach combined agile, rapid incremental development with strong project management fundamentals—piloting with a small group, adapting quickly, and letting word-of-mouth drive adoption across 23 states.Turn Resistance Into Advocacy: Work with early adopters but also listen to skeptics. May’s story shows that the loudest critics often become your best champions when their pain points are acknowledged and addressed.If you’re driving digital transformation—especially in complex organizations—this episode is a must-listen. It’s a masterclass in leading with empathy, resilience, and strategy.

  3. 11/12/2025

    Building Trust While Moving Fast - NextFutureToday Ep. 33: Dan Keldsen (Infocap) & Larry Gioia (PwC)

    ✅ Is innovation just for the tech geniuses—or can anyone shape the future? ✅ On the latest episode of Next Future Today, host Dan Keldsen dives into democratizing innovation with Larry Gioia, PwC’s Emerging Tech Leader. ✅ Discover how PwC is reinventing itself, empowering 75,000+ employees, and building a culture where new ideas don’t just come from the top. ✅ Takeaway: Real innovation starts with trust, agency, and a little reverse mentorship—because your next big idea might come from the newest voice in the room. Ready to be part of the next future? Listen now! 🚀 Bonus Content: 10 Innovation Maxims Every Leader Needs to Know 1. Trust Over Speed Moving fast is good—but never at the expense of trust. Integrity and reliability are the cornerstones of lasting innovation. 2. Everyone Innovates Innovation isn’t just for experts. Every team member, from new hires to senior leaders, can offer valuable ideas. 3. Reverse Mentorship Rocks Younger voices bring unique insights. Pairing veterans with new talent sparks creative solutions and fresh perspectives. 4. Make Space for Agency Empower people with the autonomy and tools they need. Trust teams to make smart decisions—within the right guardrails. 5. Show, Don’t Tell Don’t just talk about innovation. Build, demo, and share real progress—fast. Move from ideas to action. 6. Collisions Create Magic In-person team time isn’t just nice—it accelerates serendipitous problem-solving and the birth of probable ideas. 7. Organized Chaos Wins Structure is key, but allow for productive chaos. Innovation thrives where art, science, and a little luck meet. 8. Shorter Sprints, Sharper Focus In a fast-moving world, one-week sprints beat two. Ship quickly, iterate often, and adapt as you go. 9. Focus on Probable Everything’s possible with new tech—but filter for what’s probable and impactful. Don’t chase shiny objects; pursue what matters. 10. Build Open Communities Invite everyone in. From internal forums to knowledge sharing, community drives continuous learning and better solutions. Ready to build your next future today? Share this post, tag someone who needs these maxims, and follow for more actionable insights from Next Future Today! 00:00 "Driving Innovation Through Collaboration" 05:59 "Technology, Innovation, and Transformation" 08:31 Autonomy, Mastery, Purpose Drive Engagement 10:05 Empowering People Through Agency 13:06 Embracing Innovation and Collaboration Spectrum 17:01 Driving Enterprise-Wide Innovation 20:27 "Leveraging Innovation for Work-Life Balance" 24:43 "Horizon 2: Concept to Reality" 27:58 "Growing Interest and Community Impact" 31:39 "Driving Innovation at PwC" 33:46 "Upskilling and Cultivating Innovation" 37:00 "Value of In-Person Collaboration"

  4. 08/20/2025

    You're Thinking Too Small about AI - NextFutureToday Ep. 30 Dan Keldsen & Jack Crawford

    NextFutureToday Ep. 30: Dan Keldsen & Jack Crawford - You're Thinking Too Small about AI Welcome to another episode of Next Future Today! In this episode, host Dan Keldsen, Chief Innovation Officer at infocap.ai, sits down for an inspiring conversation with Jack Crawford, CEO and co-founder of mVara, and former leader at Wells Fargo, Cognizant, and Datalog AI—not to mention his early days in the US Air Force. Dan and Jack pull back the curtain on the rapidly evolving world of AI, challenging the idea that most of us are thinking too small and too slow when it comes to artificial intelligence. If you’re wondering how AI is transforming the business landscape—from Fortune 1000 giants to mid-sized companies and even main street dog groomers—this episode is packed with real-world insight. Jack shares lessons learned from navigating regulated industries and speaks candidly about why experimenting with generative and agentic AI is mission-critical for organizations of every size. You’ll hear why hackathons might just beat out traditional proof of concepts, how human-centric automation can safeguard our humanity, and how a culture of experimentation can give your team the competitive edge. Whether you’re an executive trying to future-proof your company, a knowledge worker eager to level up, or just AI-curious, this episode promises fresh perspectives, actionable advice, and some compelling stories about why “waiting” is no longer an option in today’s AI revolution. So get ready to have your thinking stretched—and maybe even supercharged—by two experts who have been living on the cutting edge of tech for decades. Let’s dive in!

    You're Thinking Too Small about AI - NextFutureToday Ep. 30 Dan Keldsen & Jack Crawford

  5. 07/16/2025

    Unlock the Power of AI w/InfoGov - NextFutureToday Ep. 31 Dan Keldsen & Donda L. Young

    9 questions covered in this episode of NextFutureToday Why do many organizations struggle to prioritize Information Governance fundamentals? What successful change management strategies have you witnessed or experienced in your work? (And if the answer is never, what would you change?) What tactics might help "sell" the value of good data practices to different parts of an organization? Hint: It's not just the "data scientists" who should care. Role of AI in Exposing Data Weaknesses: Can you think of examples where introducing new technology revealed underlying problems that had gone unnoticed? What are the pros and cons of using maturity models as a benchmark for your organization, and how can you ensure honest self-assessment? Why do you think culture plays such a big role in the success or failure of an information governance initiative? Heavily regulated industries like healthcare or finance tend to take information governance more seriously due to the financial and legal penalties that loom overhead. Should non-regulated industries be equally concerned, and if so, why?  What steps should organizations take to minimize bias when implementing AI? Is that an #infogov process? What practical advice would you give for crafting a compelling business case in support of information governance? 00:00 AI Challenges in Regulated Industries 05:00 Embracing Diverse Industry Perspectives 07:13 Unexpected Career in Librarianship 09:48 Information Governance Challenges 14:39 Tailor Communication to Your Audience 17:13 Data Quality: Foundation for Success 19:21 Choosing Models for Business Goals 25:20 AI's Impact on Data Governance 29:44 Gen Z's Desire for Instant Answers 33:20 Building a Persuasive Business Case 34:15 Effective Leadership in Governance

    Unlock the Power of AI w/InfoGov - NextFutureToday Ep. 31 Dan Keldsen & Donda L. Young

  6. 06/04/2025

    Ep. 29 - Dan Keldsen and Chris Surdak

    Today on Next Future Today, Dan Keldsen, Chief Innovation Officefr at infocap.ai sat down with Chris Surdak, Chief Transformation Officer at IRPA.ai, to unpack the real-world challenges of automation and AI in the enterprise. We explored why context and resilience are crucial for success, why most IT projects actually fail, and how embracing pragmatic futurism can give your business a serious edge. If you want actionable insights on leveraging automation, AI governance, and making smarter decisions with your data, this episode is your must-listen. Dive in to learn how to future-proof your organization—starting right now!

    Ep. 29 - Dan Keldsen and Chris Surdak

  7. 05/15/2025

    Episode 28: Dan Keldsen and Dr. Lamont Black on Wide Open Future

    Welcome to another episode of Next Future Today! In this installment, host Dan Keldsen, Chief Innovation Officer at InfoCap.ai, sits down with Dr. Lamont Black, founder of Wide Open Ventures and research fellow with the Filene Research Institute—a groundbreaking think tank focused on advancing credit unions. Together, they dive deep into what makes credit unions unique, exploring their cooperative roots, the critical role of innovation, and how technology like AI and blockchain are shaping the future of member-driven financial services. You’ll discover the inspiring journey of Dr. Black, from his days at the Federal Reserve through his pioneering work in credit union research. Dan and Lamont get candid about legacy core banking systems, the importance of storytelling in financial services, and the evolving relationship between credit unions and their members—especially in a rapidly changing digital landscape. Packed with compelling stories, thought-provoking analogies (including a clever Credit Union "Christmas Carol" story), and practical insights, this episode is a must-listen for anyone curious about the future of community banking and financial innovation. Want More? Connect with Dan Keldsen on LinkedIn - linkedin.com/in/dankeldsenLearn more about Infocap's Human-Centric Automation approach - www.infocap.aiConnect with Dr. Lamont Black on LinkedIn or visit LamontBlack.com - linkedin.com/in/lamontblackCheck out Wide Open Ventures’ newsletter for ongoing insights Thank you for being part of our growing community of innovators, dreamers, and credit union champions. Stay tuned for more perspectives on the future of financial services!

    Episode 28: Dan Keldsen and Dr. Lamont Black on Wide Open Future

  8. 05/02/2025

    NextFutureToday - Episode 27: Flexible Leadership in the Age of AI

    Join host Dan Keldsen, Chief Innovation Officer at infocap.ai, for an enlightening interview with leadership expert Kevin Eikenberry on the principles of "Flexible Leadership." In this episode, you'll learn how to balance consistency and adaptability, tackle uncertainty with confidence, and apply frameworks like Cynefin to real-world leadership challenges. Highlights include: - The idea of "flexors"—balancing opposing leadership strengths - How context should guide your leadership approach - The importance of mindset, skill set, and habit set for long-term change - Practical tips for leading teams (and yourself) through chaotic times Whether you’re responsible for a team or your own personal growth, get actionable strategies to help you become a more effective, flexible leader. Connect with Kevin and Dan: - Kevin Eikenberry: kevineikenberry.com - Dan Keldsen (host): linkedin.com/in/dankeldsen - Learn more about Infocap: infocap.ai | hello@infocap.ai Don’t miss this episode if you want to level up your leadership and thrive in a changing world!

    NextFutureToday - Episode 27: Flexible Leadership in the Age of AI
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About

Next Future Today - For Future-Facing Leaders Creating the Future Right Now!Host Dan Keldsen talks with the people making the future happen today - at the collision point of agentic AI, automation, and audit, risk, and compliance in regulated enterprises. Guests have included Craig Le Clair (Forrester VP Principal Analyst), Larry Gioia (PwC Emerging Tech Leader), May Cheng (US federal Acting CIO), Chris Surdak (former Deputy PMO of the FDIC, CTO of IRPA.ai), Dr. Lamont Black (Filene Research Institute), Kevin Eikenberry, and many more.Audio and video. Show notes and production templates: github.com/dankeldsen/next-future-today-showbook. Site: nextfuturetoday.com.

Information

  • Creator
    Dan Keldsen - Host, Next Future Today
  • Years Active
    2021 - 2026
  • Episodes
    34
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Dan Keldsen
  • Show Website
    Next Future Today