JAN 27

The CTO Trap: When Execs Delegate AI , Companies Bleed. With Dawid Naude, CEO Pathfindr .

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 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.

34 min

12/25/2025

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

12/15/2025

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

12/07/2025

Why AI Fails: The Hidden "Data Gap" Killing ROI | Samir Ghoudrani, AI Director

Why AI Fails: The Hidden "Data Gap" Killing ROI | Samir Ghoudrani, AI Director Episode Description:72% of Australian enterprises aren’t seeing measurable ROI from their AI spend. On average, companies are burning $28M in CapEx, yet most projects never deliver shareholder value. In this episode, Samir Ghoudrani (Data Scientist & AI Director) joins us to expose the "Invisible Layer" costing boards millions: the gap between your raw data and your AI models. If you treat AI like a magic box rather than a reasoning engine, your budget will deliver zero ROI. Samir breaks down the 4-person team structure required to make AI work and how to use AI to fix your data problems—before you try to fix your business. Key Takeaways: The $28M Reality Check: Why 72% of Australian enterprises are seeing zero return on their AI investment. The Data Paradox: Why you have "too much information" but "not enough wisdom"—and how to bridge the gap. The Mandatory "AI Squad": The specific 4-person team structure required for success (most orgs are missing at least two of these roles). AI as a Janitor: How to use AI to clean and structure its own data, fixing the bottleneck that stalls 90% of projects. Knowledge Transfer at Speed: Case study: How one org captured a 20-year employee’s knowledge in 6 weeks instead of 6 months. Timestamps: [00:00] The CapEx Crisis: Why $28M investments are returning $0. [03:15] The "Invisible Layer": The data gap executives don't see. [08:40] Team Structure: Who you actually need to hire (it's not just data scientists). [14:20] The Reasoning Engine: Shifting your strategy from "Database" to "Logic." [22:10] Framework: Samir’s 5-step path from awareness to implementation. [31:00] Board Strategy: The one question you must ask vendors to expose vaporware. Links: Connect with Samir Ghoudrani on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/samir-ghoudrani/ Download the free AI Adoption Scorecard: HERE SUBSCRIBE TO APPLIED AI AUSTRALIAThe #1 source for Applied AI strategy for the Australian C-Suite. Frameworks you can apply in 48 hours. 📧 Newsletter (Applied AI Australia): https://appliedaiaustralia.substack.com/about Got questions? Need advisory? Reach out: ramon@appliedaiaustralia.com.au 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.

35 min

11/20/2025

Revenue, Cost or Noise? John Foong’s Lessons from Google, Uber & Domain

In this episode of Applied AI Australia, I launch the new In Practice series, focused on how leaders are using AI to drive real business outcomes. I sit down with John Foong, recent Chief Commercial Officer at Domain and a global tech operator in executive leadership roles at both Uber and Google. He brings a very direct view on what actually moves the needle with AI. John shares a simple filter he has used consistently: if it does not increase revenue or reduce cost, it is noise. You will hear insights on: • Leading digital transformation at scale across industries • Where AI is actually delivering returns in real estate • Why most AI pilots stall and what it takes to get adoption • The people and culture factors that decide whether AI sticks • How execs can assess AI with curiosity and a clear commercial lens If you are a CEO, board member, executive or business leader, this episode gives a straight view on how AI should be approached. 00:00 Introduction to Applied AI Australia 00:33 Introducing John Fong: A Journey Through Tech Giants 01:56 Lessons in Transformation and Innovation05:56 The Hype and Reality of AI 06:45 AI in Practice: Real-World Applications 10:22 Insights from Google: Early AI Implementations 18:26 Governance and Risk in AI Adoption 21:18 Practical AI Products at Domain 25:53 Future of AI: Opportunities and Challenges 31:17 Conclusion and Final Thoughts Got questions? Connect with me: Website - www.appliedaiaustralia.com.au Blog - appliedaiaustralia.substack.com Linkedin - linkedin.com/in/ramonrod Email - ramon@appliedaiaustralia.com.au

36 min

11/10/2025

Agentic AI in the Boardroom: Who's Accountable When AI Acts?

Agentic AI in the Boardroom: Who's Accountable When AI Acts? OpenAI dropped Atlas, their new agentic browser. Within hours, executives across Australia were texting me asking: "Should we use this?" Wrong question. The right question: Who owns decisions your browser makes when it's authenticated in your profile and making decisions on your behalf? In this episode, Ramon Rodriguez breaks down the agentic browser revolution, and the governance gaps no board has answered yet. This is essential listening for CEOs, CFOs, and board members responsible for AI oversight. What You'll Learn: OpenAI's Atlas vs. Perplexity's Comet—what they do with your credentialsLive demo: Comet analyzing Gmail, board papers & M&A financials in 25 minutesFour governance gaps: credentials, prompt injection attacks, data sovereignty, accountabilityKey stat: 28% of enterprises had Atlas downloaded within one week, with no IT approvalWhen to deploy agentic browsers (and when to wait) Key Takeaway: 42% of Australian firms have no AI governance procedures. Atlas just forced that decision forward by six months. CONNECT LinkedIn Newsletter: https://www.linkedin.com/build-relation/newsletter-follow?entityUrn=7361367802600935424 YouTube: @AppliedAIAustralia Website: www.appliedaiaustralia.com.au ABOUT APPLIED AI AUSTRALIA This show cuts through the noise and delivers only on what matters: growth, margins, and time. Each week, Ramon Rodriguez translates AI into practical outcomes leaders can actually use. You can't control the speed of change, but you can control how quick you adapt. DISCLAIMER This episode provides educational information about AI governance and is not legal, financial, or compliance advice. Consult your legal and IT security teams before deploying agentic AI tools in your organization. © 2025 Applied AI Australia. All rights reserved.

17 min

10/13/2025

Executive Leverage in 2025: Building Zero-FTE Capability

Ramon unpacks zero-FTE departments, agentic task equivalence (TEA), and the audit trail every board expects. With Australian case studies from Telstra and Woolworths, you’ll learn what to automate first and a four-step rollout you can run in 48 hours. Lead people and agents with confidence, and turn efficiency into EBITDA and imagination.00:00 Introduction to Applied AI Australia00:20 The Leverage of AI in Leadership00:52 AI Agents in the Workforce01:36 The Future of Organisational Structure03:03 Managing AI Agents Effectively03:57 Real-World Examples and Data09:21 Steps to Implement AI Agents11:09 Conclusion and Final Thoughts Weekly Newsletter : Subscribe on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/build-relation/newsletter-follow?entityUrn=7361367802600935424 Website : www.appliedaiaustralia.com.au

13 min

09/21/2025

The AI Execution Playbook

The AI Execution Playbook: Turning AI into Measurable Business ResultsIn this episode of Applied AI Australia, Ramon Rodriguez highlights the critical importance of AI adoption for businesses to stay competitive. He discusses the high failure rate of AI pilots and the substantial returns for those who execute effectively. The episode introduces the AI impact loop, emphasizing the importance of utilizing existing teams, clear financial attribution, and starting AI initiatives in assist mode. Rodriguez underlines the necessity of practical, step-by-step execution over chasing 'shiny' new AI tools and provides actionable insights for achieving measurable results within 90 days, including a one-hour bottleneck workshop, setting guardrails, and ensuring disciplined execution. Download the free AI Adoption Scorecard for practical next steps: https://appliedaiaustralia.com.au. Subscribe to the newsletter: https://appliedaiaustralia.substack.com Subscribe to Youtube: www.youtube.com/@AppliedAIAustralia00:00 Introduction to Applied AI Australia00:21 The AI Opportunity and Execution01:02 The AI Impact Loop02:02 Common Pitfalls in AI Implementation03:15 Empowering Internal Teams04:53 Steps to Successful AI Deployment11:48 Guardrails for AI Implementation15:37 Summary and Final Thoughts

17 min

09/09/2025

Here’s why I deleted Google

In this episode of Applied AI Australia, Ramon Rodriguez highlights the transformative impact of AI on the customer journey. He shares a personal experience where AI, specifically Perplexity, streamlined his decision-making process to invest over $10,000 in home renovations without visiting a traditional website. Ramon highlights how businesses can capture 'invisible customers' and adapt to the new AI-driven decision-making landscape. He outlines three actionable steps for businesses to enhance their AI visibility: ensuring digital clarity, creating answer assets, and building authority through credible sources. The episode underscores the urgency for businesses to integrate AI strategies to remain competitive as AI's influence rapidly grows .00:00 Introduction to Applied AI Australia 00:22 The Power of AI in Everyday Decisions 03:12 The Invisible Customer Phenomenon 04:59 AI's Influence on Business Decisions 09:50 The Changing Customer Journey 13:15 Three Moves to Capture Invisible Customers1 5:50 Conclusion and Call to Action

17 min

08/31/2025

GPT-5 Advantage: Stop prompting. Start managing AI like a consultant.

Unlocking Strategic Decision-Making with AI: The Power of Structured Prompting Most executives think prompting is about clever questions. With GPT-5, that’s outdated. The real advantage is structured briefing - managing AI like you would a consultant. In this episode of Applied AI Australia, Ramon Rodriguez shares how structured prompting turns GPT-5 into a boardroom asset, delivering consulting-grade intelligence in hours, not weeks As promised, here’s what to put in custom settings: 1️⃣ Assign a role & scope the mandate → Tell the AI who it is (e.g., “You are a strategic consultant to a mid-market CFO”) and what it’s responsible for. 2️⃣ Control reasoning depth → Specify when it should go step-by-step versus when you want a concise, high-level summary. 3️⃣ Specify the deliverable → Define the output format upfront (e.g., board brief, 2x2 matrix, table) and set length (e.g., 800 words). 4️⃣ Install a feedback loop → Instruct the AI to ask clarifying questions before advising if your prompt is missing context. 5️⃣ Sequential prompting to stress-test decisions → Use structured steps like a premortem, scenario analysis, or a skeptical board review to challenge assumptions and strengthen recommendations. Ramon also introduces a 48-Hour Strategic Briefing Challenge and the free AI Adoption Scorecard, giving non-technical executives a practical playbook to accelerate smarter decisions and stay competitive. 👉 Download the AI Adoption Scorecard: appliedaiaustralia.com.au 👉 Join the newsletter: appliedaiaustralia.substack.com Chapters 00:00 — Introduction to Applied AI Australia 00:25 — The reality for mid-market Australian executives 02:01 — Leveraging AI for strategic decision-making 04:17 — The evolution and challenges of AI tools 08:57 — Crafting effective AI prompts 10:46 — Five principles for AI briefing 14:03 — Sequential prompting for strategic value 16:35 — Conclusion + strategic briefing challenge

18 min

08/21/2025

Navigating AI : Practical Insights for Non Technical Leaders

In the launch of Applied AI Australia, Ramon Rodriguez unpacks the rapid rise of AI and what it means for business leaders who don’t come from a technical background. Drawing parallels with the fall of the Yellow Pages, he shows why companies that delay risk being left behind. Ramon highlights how AI adoption is moving faster than any past technology wave, already reshaping industries and decision cycles. He shares his own experiences of applying AI to overcome resource constraints and deliver measurable results, making the case that AI is not a future project — it’s today’s competitive advantage. Download scorecard or get in touch - https://appliedaiaustralia.com.au This episode is designed to give non-technical executives a clear entry point: practical guidance, an AI adoption scorecard, and simple workflows you can act on within 48 hours. • The Rise and Fall of the Yellow Pages • Technological Revolutions: • AI’s Unprecedented Growth • Introduction to Applied AI Australia • Personal Journey: Embracing AI • AI in Business: Practical Applications • The Power and Potential of AI • The Uncertainty and Fear • The AI Preparedness Gap • Leveraging AI Without Coding Skills • Spotting AI Opportunities • The Importance of AI Literacy • Generative AI for Everyone • AI’s Impact on Jobs • The Future of AI in Business • Principles for AI Adoption • Stages of AI Integration • Staying Updated with AI Trends • Conclusion and Next Steps

34 min

Applied AI Australia

Episodes

The CTO Trap: When Execs Delegate AI , Companies Bleed. With Dawid Naude, CEO Pathfindr .

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

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

Why AI Fails: The Hidden "Data Gap" Killing ROI | Samir Ghoudrani, AI Director

Revenue, Cost or Noise? John Foong’s Lessons from Google, Uber & Domain

Agentic AI in the Boardroom: Who's Accountable When AI Acts?

Executive Leverage in 2025: Building Zero-FTE Capability

The AI Execution Playbook

Here’s why I deleted Google

GPT-5 Advantage: Stop prompting. Start managing AI like a consultant.

Navigating AI : Practical Insights for Non Technical Leaders

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