Pioneers Podcast by Lyreco

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The podcast from Lyreco that explores the Future of Work, from Lyreco's innovation team.Each episode we talk to a pioneer of the future of work, exploring the themes and trends that will shape the workplaces of tomorrow.

  1. Fake It Till You Make It Fails In Hardware

    6D AGO

    Fake It Till You Make It Fails In Hardware

    A vending machine, two refillable bottles, and one blunt question: why is “something tasty” still chained to single-use packaging? I’m joined by Colin DeBlonde, co-founder of Brussels-based startup Dripl, to unpack how that moment became a real hardware business that dispenses healthy flavoured drinks from filtered tap water in workplaces. We talk honestly about what it’s like to build hardware when everyone around you is chasing software, AI, and subscriptions. Colin shares the painful early lessons of putting machines in front of customers too soon, why “fake it till you make it” backfires with physical products, and how being upfront about prototypes can actually strengthen trust. We also dig into the unglamorous realities: supply chains, on-site updates, reliability, and the slow grind that turns a prototype into something companies depend on every day. From there we get into the commercial side of workplace hydration. Dripple’s model evolves away from “hydration as a service” because customers want straightforward value, not buzzwords. Colin explains how they think about cost per drink, why health often sells better than sustainability, and how IoT data reveals real behaviour: morning vitamin choices, the 3pm caffeinated rush, and the clues that guide flavour development across regions and sectors. We also discuss choosing the right investors, Spadel’s role as a strategic partner, and what Dripple’s European expansion looks like from a position of operational profitability. If you enjoy founder stories, sustainable workplace benefits, and practical product thinking, subscribe, share this with a friend, and leave a review. What would make you drink more water at work? Colin and Dripl will be at the Future of Work conference on the 18th June n Brussels. Get you ticket here: www.future-of-work.eu Find out more about Dripl here: https://en.dripl.be/

    57 min
  2. AI Will Not Fix Your Business Until You Rethink Work

    APR 23

    AI Will Not Fix Your Business Until You Rethink Work

    Everyone is talking about AI productivity, but the reality inside large organisations is messier, slower and far more human. I sit down with Marion Devine, Principal Researcher in Human Capital at the Conference Board, to get past the hype and into what companies are actually doing with AI and generative AI, what’s working, and what’s quietly breaking.  We dig into why CEOs are making big bets despite uncertain ROI, and why “everyone feels behind” even when it’s unclear who’s truly ahead. Marion shares what her research and interviews reveal about the readiness gap between leaders and workers, the mix of excitement and fear on the front line, and why AI can create new work just as easily as it removes grunt work. We also explore the uncomfortable truth that automating busywork is not the same as improving value, and that the hardest part of AI transformation is redesigning processes, decision making and culture.  From psychological safety and middle manager pressure to ethical guardrails and the role of regulation, we look at what responsible AI governance really demands. We also tackle HR transformation, why curiosity and learning agility are being undervalued, and what happens to the early career ladder when entry level tasks disappear. If you care about the future of work, workforce skills, reskilling, and sustainable performance, this conversation offers a clear framework for asking better questions now.  Subscribe, share the episode with a colleague, and leave a review if it helps you rethink your own AI strategy. What’s the one piece of work you think AI should never be allowed to replace? Hear more from Marion at the Future of Work event on the 18th June in Brussels. www.future-of-work.eu

    59 min

  3. APR 9

    How MAD Turns Everyday Drinks Into Measurable Good

    Pioneers Podcast by Lyreco

    46 min
  4. How AI Flattens Customer Journeys And What To Do Instead

    APR 2

    How AI Flattens Customer Journeys And What To Do Instead

    AI is about to make “great customer service” normal and cheap, and that should worry every leader who thinks a chatbot equals customer experience. I’m joined by Steven Van Belleghem, a global authority on customer experience and AI, to explore what happens when large language models become the portal of our lives and customers no longer visit your website, browse your journeys, or even choose your brand directly. We get practical and provocative. Steven argues that automation can widen the gap between companies and the people they serve, because employees stop feeling real customer emotion and start managing graphs instead. We talk about why “authenticity” is overrated, why intention over perfection creates trust, and how the most memorable experiences are often carefully orchestrated rather than spontaneous. From there we map a path out of the efficiency trap. Steven shares IKEA’s standout approach to AI and reskilling, then introduces his three layers of loyalty: transactional convenience, transformational relevance, and deep belonging. We also dig into brand commoditisation, short-term marketing dopamine, AI advertising models, and even the next frontier of customer experience through humanoid robots. If you care about customer experience strategy, employee experience, brand differentiation, and the future of work, this one will give you frameworks to test immediately. Subscribe, share the episode with a colleague, and leave a review telling us where you think human-made value will matter most next. You can get tickets for the Future Of Work event in Brussels on the 18th June 2026 at https://future-of-work.eu/

    50 min
  5. Reluctant Futurist, Real Agency: Henry Coutinho-Mason

    MAR 26

    Reluctant Futurist, Real Agency: Henry Coutinho-Mason

    Prediction is comforting, but it’s the wrong game. We sit down with futurologist Henry Coutinho-Mason to unpack a bolder approach: stop hunting for certainty and start building the muscle to spot shifts, test ideas, and turn change into advantage. Henry shares why he calls himself a “reluctant futurist,” how stable human needs meet “godlike” technologies, and why the real lever for leaders is redesigning medieval institutions into AI‑native organisations that distribute agency. Together, we map the difference between chasing efficiency and creating new value customers will pay for. From E.O. Wilson’s timeless framing to Jeff Bezos’ “what’s not changing” question, Henry shows how to pair AI abundance with human scarcity: empathy, taste, trust, and meaningful choice. We explore cognitive overload in a world of multi‑agent workflows, the rise of smaller, “spiky” teams with outsized impact, and why purpose – once dismissed as a fad – returns as an operating system for focus and speed. The conversation turns practical with IKEA’s “Billy” example, where routine queries shift to a chatbot and 8,500 people are retrained into entry‑level interior advisors, transforming a cost centre into a fast‑growing sales channel. We dig into what an AI‑native culture looks like – lightweight rituals for experimentation, clear decision rights, human‑centred services – and why empathy may become the decisive edge as intelligence becomes abundant. If you’re a leader, operator, or curious builder, you’ll leave with questions that matter and moves you can make on Monday. Ready to rethink your roadmap? Listen now, subscribe for future episodes, and share this with a colleague who needs a nudge toward human‑centred, AI‑native strategy. Your review helps more people find the show – what was your biggest insight today? To get your ticket for the Future of Work conference in Brussels on the 18th June (and hear more from Thierry and a host of thought leaders and AI experts) visit - www.future-of-work.eu

    55 min
  6. From Google To Brussels Chamber of Commerce: Leading Digital Change With Humanity

    MAR 18

    From Google To Brussels Chamber of Commerce: Leading Digital Change With Humanity

    Forget buzzwords - this conversation digs into how AI creates real value only when it’s aligned to people and outcomes. With Thierry Geerts, former Google country director and current CEO of the Brussels Chamber of Commerce, we unpack the moves that matter: training every employee, cleaning your data, starting with low‑risk wins, and anchoring change on customer satisfaction rather than cost cuts. We chart three practical waves of adoption-traditional AI for pattern detection, generative AI for content, and agentic AI for reliable task execution-and show where each wave fits. Thierry explains why GenAI headlines outpaced real business impact, how hybrid models outperform either ‑ or thinking, and why SMEs can move faster than giants when the CEO leads from the front. We also challenge a pervasive myth: technology doesn’t dehumanise by default. Used well, it frees time for service, creativity and relationships, much like previous revolutions did with electricity and mobile banking. Expect candid stories - from Google’s “AI‑first” bet in 2016 to a Belgian bank’s culture shift - that reveal what separates momentum from motion. We talk enterprise lock‑in, compliance bottlenecks, and the underrated power of simple tools like Gemini and Copilot to build literacy before you invest in bespoke projects. The takeaway is clear: demystify AI, set guardrails, measure the benefits, and keep the goal human. That’s how teams become truly digital and more human at the same time. If this sparked ideas for your roadmap, follow the show, share it with a colleague, and leave a quick review - it helps more leaders find practical guidance on building AI‑proven businesses. To get your ticket for the Future of Work conference in Brussels on the 18th June (and hear more from Thierry and a host of thought leaders and AI experts) visit - www.future-of-work.eu

    45 min
  7. Designing a Future Where Workwear Works for Everyone

    06/12/2025

    Designing a Future Where Workwear Works for Everyone

    Workwear should be a tool that helps you do your job safely and comfortably, yet for women across numerous industries, ill-fitting protective equipment remains a daily frustration. In this special episode recorded at the Future of Work event in Brussels, we explore the often-overlooked world of gender-specific workwear with two experts at the forefront of this issue. Lena Bay-Høyland, Product Director at Fristads, reveals that while women's workwear has existed for decades, awareness and accessibility remain the biggest hurdles. "It's there, but somehow, miraculously, we don't notice," she explains. Meanwhile, Martyna, Lyreco's UK Innovation Ambassador and previous winner of our Pioneers program for her work on this very issue, describes the real-world challenges women face when forced to wear men's workwear in professional settings. The conversation unveils fascinating insights into corporate purchasing behaviors that perpetuate these problems, with many companies opting for the simplicity of ordering a single product line rather than accommodating different body types. We also explore surprising specialized options that many don't realize exist – from maternity PPE to flame-retardant religious accommodations. Most exciting is Fristads' innovative solution launching in 2026: gender-inclusive workwear offering both men's and women's fits under a single product code. This approach not only simplifies purchasing decisions but addresses sustainability challenges caused by inefficient production of women's sizes while creating more inclusive workplaces for everyone. Whether you're responsible for workwear purchasing decisions, interested in workplace equality, or simply curious about how something as seemingly straightforward as protective clothing intersects with important issues of gender, sustainability and inclusion, this episode offers valuable perspectives on creating workplaces where everyone can perform at their best.

    39 min
  8. Brain Moving: The Psychology of Workplace Change

    05/20/2025

    Brain Moving: The Psychology of Workplace Change

    Organizational psychologist and BrainMove founder Anton Maes explores how workplace environments impact productivity, wellbeing, and organizational culture, particularly in the shift to hybrid working models. Anton reveals practical strategies to manage change, engage teams, and create productive workplaces that balance business needs with human psychology. • The psychology of resistance to change and why people experience change as uncomfortable • Balancing productivity objectives with employee wellbeing needs • Why face-to-face interaction remains critical for knowledge sharing and team building • The limitations of using solely physical environments to attract employees • Creating effective activity-based workspaces that support different work processes • How leadership practices need to adapt to hybrid working models • Practical approaches to bring teams back together while maintaining flexibility • The four key elements for successful hybrid working: environment, structure, knowledge exchange, and leadership • Why leadership communities are becoming increasingly important • How disruption can be positive for organizational growth when managed well Join us at our Future of Work event on June 5th where Anton will be speaking and participating in a panel on return-to-work strategies.

    1h 7m
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About

The podcast from Lyreco that explores the Future of Work, from Lyreco's innovation team.Each episode we talk to a pioneer of the future of work, exploring the themes and trends that will shape the workplaces of tomorrow.

Information

  • Creator
    Lyreco
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2026
  • Episodes
    17
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Pioneers Podcast by Lyreco
  • Show Website
    Pioneers Podcast by Lyreco