Frontline Innovators

frontlineinnovators
  • 5.0 (10)
  • TECHNOLOGY
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This is Frontline Innovators. Host Justin Lake speaks with experts who are leading the way and driving digital transformation to the frontlines. We explore how to overcome challenges and achieve success when we empower our essential workers. This podcast is sponsored by Skyllful, on a mission to help frontline workers learn and use the technology needed to succeed in their jobs.

  1. Why Trust is The Real Prerequisite for Frontline Change - Episode #128 - Carlos Linares

    1D AGO

    Why Trust is The Real Prerequisite for Frontline Change - Episode #128 - Carlos Linares

    Host Justin Lake interviews Carlos Linares, founder and CEO of FoodOpsIQ and Third Wish Food Services, about using AI and technology to empower frontline food-service teams. Carlos explains his global experience, the idea of "virtual OPEX," and how voice-enabled generative AI can augment workers in kitchens and service roles. They cover practical change management: designing with operations, running pilots, building trust, measuring baselines and KPIs, and keeping solutions simple to increase adoption. Carlos shares a smart-kitchen example that cut costs, improved safety and sustainability, and boosted staff engagement. The episode highlights a people-first approach to digital transformation, arguing that AI should elevate frontline workers and the guest experience rather than simply replace jobs. YouTube: https://youtu.be/HYIWYAOryDo Carlos' LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/clinaresb/ Find more episodes of Frontline Innovators at https://www.skyllful.com/podcast

    48 min
  2. Act & Transact: The Frontline's Role in Enterprise Success - Episode #127 - Anna Karousis

    JAN 28

    Act & Transact: The Frontline's Role in Enterprise Success - Episode #127 - Anna Karousis

    In this episode of Frontline Innovators, host Justin Lake welcomes Anna Karousis, Senior Director of Change Management with more than 15 years of experience helping organizations navigate complex technology and process change. Together, they unpack why frontline technology initiatives so often fail to deliver on their promised ROI, and what leaders can do differently to drive real adoption, trust, and long-term value.  Anna brings a grounded, frontline-first perspective to change management, challenging common assumptions about automation, efficiency, and “go-live” success. This conversation is especially relevant for leaders responsible for large, distributed frontline teams who are expected to modernize operations while keeping the business running. Key Points to Listen For: The Hidden Cost of Poor Adoption: Anna explains how failed adoption erodes not just financial ROI, but “people ROI”, damaging trust, confidence, and engagement among frontline workers. Why Automation Isn’t the Answer: The discussion reframes automation as a “dirty word” when applied to broken processes, emphasizing the importance of fixing workflows before digitizing them. Measuring What Actually Matters: Justin and Anna explore why organizations stop measuring ROI after implementation, and how defining success beyond “on time and on budget” changes outcomes. Frontline Reality vs. Leadership Assumptions: From technology literacy gaps to fear of making mistakes in enterprise systems, Anna shares real-world examples that highlight the disconnect between design decisions and frontline experience. The Importance of Time in Change: They break down why productivity dips are normal after go-live, why leaders must plan for them, and how setting realistic expectations builds trust. Super Users and Unspoken Leaders: Anna discusses the critical role of frontline influencers and change champions, and how investing in them can dramatically increase adoption and feedback loops. “Act and Transact”: A Simple Phrase for a Complex Problem: Anna introduces a powerful concept that captures the frontline challenge of modern enterprise systems: doing the work isn’t enough unless it’s accurately transacted in the system. Tune in for a thoughtful, practical conversation on what it really takes to make frontline technology investments successful—without disrupting the business or burning out the people who keep it running. YouTube: https://youtu.be/B5shttps://youtu.be/Ek2A8FkudbYbH7YrXtA Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/2Y4Vjf3X97AXc5Re4TwIjq?si=_n4-Isq-TmmjxpJdQ4gH6w Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/act-transact-the-frontlines-role-in-enterprise/id1572329402?i=1000747020374 Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/2f4ecd92-6468-4769-b0bf-254e236510b7/episodes/2a862722-82cf-4e5a-ba75-9b6b2d6051f5/frontline-innovators-act-transact-the-frontline's-role-in-enterprise-success---episode-127---anna-karousis Anna's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/annakarousis/ Find more episodes of Frontline Innovators at https://www.skyllful.com/podcast

    46 min

  3. 07/12/2024

    Navigating AI and The Future of Frontline Work - Episode #126 - Heather Brizzi

    In this episode, host Justin Lake sits down with Heather Brizzi, IT Director of Generative AI Initiatives at a Wholesale Building Materials company.   Heather shares her insights on the transformative power of AI and its impact on both frontline and knowledge worker roles. With a career dedicated to integrating technology with process enablement, Heather's expertise provides valuable perspectives on the evolving landscape of work.   "So whether it's software technology, whether it's automation technology, this is where, you know, for me, we have the opportunity to be able to meet people right where they are and identify 'How do we get better at the way that we work?'"   Key Points to Listen For: AI and Job Transformation: Heather discusses the impact of technology on job roles, emphasizing that the way we work today will not be the way we work tomorrow due to advancements in AI and robotics. Collaboration and Innovation: Heather highlights the importance of collaboration in solving problems and driving innovation, even across different industries and job roles. Human and AI Coexistence: The conversation delves into how humans and AI can coexist, with technology serving people rather than replacing them. Heather introduces the concept of "cobots," which work alongside humans to enhance productivity. Overcoming Resistance to Change: Heather addresses the resistance and fear that workers often feel towards technological advancements, and how understanding and upskilling can mitigate these concerns. Future Skills and Workforce: Heather talks about the skills that will remain crucial in the future workforce and the importance of continuous learning and adaptation to stay relevant in a rapidly changing technological landscape.   Tune in to this enlightening episode to gain a deeper understanding of how AI is shaping the future of work and what it means for both frontline and knowledge workers.   LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/heather-brizzi/ Youtube - https://youtu.be/GACHs9CeZjM Find more episodes of Frontline Innovators at https://www.frontlineinnovators.com

    46 min

  4. 02/23/2024

    Attracting And Retaining The Frontline - Episode #125 - Justin Eubanks

    This week we have Justin Eubanks, Learning & Development Manager at Great Day Improvements on the Frontline Innovators podcast with host Justin Lake. Justin is a developmental strategist with extensive experience using LEAN methodologies to engage, attract, and retain the frontline workforce in a variety of ways at Great Day Improvements.    Quote: "I asked them how, how do you measure culture and how do you measure learning? You know and the answer I got was, it takes years to collect that data and you can't engage in something like this and expect six months from now everyone to be highly engaged, highly motivated, and want to stay here.  That's not how that works. What we have noticed is that the engagement has gone up and the more people that know about it, then the more people want to talk about it, engage, and ask questions."   Key Takeaways: ➖ Aligning change management throughout the company is key ➖ Let the frontline know that change is not a threat - it is a motivational factor for you to excel ➖ Creating change agents on the frontline is beneficial to increase engagement and adoption ➖ You need to have a people-first mentality and culture ➖ You have to have continuous learning for manufacturing environments to succeed   LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/justineubanks/ Company Website: https://greatdayimprovements.com/   Here's other ways you can listen: Amazon Music -  https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/2f4ecd92-6468-4769-b0bf-254e236510b7/FRONTLINE-INNOVATORS Apple Podcast -  https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/frontline-innovators/id1572329402 Spotify -  https://open.spotify.com/show/29m3wnK8pbFjdSvJ9wjmyS Stitcher -  https://www.stitcher.com/show/frontline-innovators Google Play -  https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZnJvbnRsaW5laW5ub3ZhdG9ycy5jb20vZmVlZC54bWw Youtube - https://youtu.be/yXGQO7jJVuk   Find more episodes of Frontline Innovators at https://www.frontlineinnovators.com

    43 min

  5. 01/26/2024

    Choosing The Right Device To Train Your Frontline - Episode #124 - Jerry Ryan

    This week on the Frontline Innovators host Justin Lake speaks with Jerry Ryan, Senior Solution Principal at Dell Technologies. Jerry has over thirty-five years of information technology, management, and overall business experience including IT Management, IT Project/Program/End User experience primarily around Microsoft Technologies. He is currently responsible for services pre-sales activities to DoD entities including the U.S. Air Force and Navy.   Quote: "How are you doing things now? How are you deploying? How are you getting applications to people? How are you training them? And then we go, OK, in the middle is the transformative piece. So this is how we're going to transform everything. Oh, and here's the "to be".  Here's what it's going to look like when we're done, and here's how you're going to save money by transforming everything from the way you're doing it here to the way you're doing it. And when you can show that to a customer, that usually gets them pretty well motivated."   Key Takeaways: ➖ It's important to put together a smart lifecycle plan for your frontline  ➖ Training your frontline has to be at the forefront in choosing the right device ➖ The more times you touch an asset as you're deploying it, there's more room for error  ➖ It's vital to understand how long it takes to procure devices for your frontline and how quickly they can get their essential apps  ➖ There are user experience implications when software is not up-to-date for the frontline   LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jerry-ryan-8587042/ Company Website: http://www.delltechnologies.com/   Here's other ways you can listen: Amazon Music -  https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/2f4ecd92-6468-4769-b0bf-254e236510b7/FRONTLINE-INNOVATORS Apple Podcast -  https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/frontline-innovators/id1572329402 Spotify -  https://open.spotify.com/show/29m3wnK8pbFjdSvJ9wjmyS titcher -  https://www.stitcher.com/show/frontline-innovators Google Play -  https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZnJvbnRsaW5laW5ub3ZhdG9ycy5jb20vZmVlZC54bWw Youtube - https://youtu.be/Bsir8NKBqtI     Find more episodes of Frontline Innovators at https://www.frontlineinnovators.com

    39 min

  6. 01/19/2024

    Supporting Your Technology Ambassadors - Episode #123 - Don Jacobson

    This week on the Frontline Innovators we're speaking with Don Jacobson, IT Business Partner for Innovation @ City of Las Vegas Don brings 23 years of experience in municipal government with enterprise-wide initiatives, and he supports the city's many initiatives to become a model Smart City as well as the visioning for its Innovation District and associated programs and projects.   Quote: "A key factor in digital adoption is understanding the benefits to every party whether it be the public, the citizen, the resident, the tourist, the business owner or internally whether you're executive or you're the person that's out in the field. Everybody needs to understand and appreciate the benefits. Reception is better if workers know how adopting technology will help them be more successful at their job."   Key Takeaways: ➖ Lack of recognition creates added stress for the frontline  ➖ Anytime an organization grows, there's going to be potential for breakdown in communication ➖ Your frontline needs to know that their actions are contributing to a better community/public ➖ Technology ambassadors will help shift your organization's culture for the better  ➖ You need to give your frontline ample practice to adopt their new technology   LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/don-jacobson-6050ab9/ Company Website: https://www.lasvegasnevada.gov/     Here's other ways you can listen: Amazon Music -  https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/2f4ecd92-6468-4769-b0bf-254e236510b7/FRONTLINE-INNOVATORS Apple Podcast -  https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/frontline-innovators/id1572329402 Spotify -  https://open.spotify.com/show/29m3wnK8pbFjdSvJ9wjmyS Stitcher -  https://www.stitcher.com/show/frontline-innovators Google Play -  https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZnJvbnRsaW5laW5ub3ZhdG9ycy5jb20vZmVlZC54bWw Youtube - https://youtu.be/JmG8rnpCsxk   Find more episodes of Frontline Innovators at https://www.frontlineinnovators.com

    45 min

  7. 01/12/2024

    Co-Creating Change With The Frontline - Episode #122 - Julie Whitten

    This week on the Frontline Innovators we welcome Julie Whitten, Sr. Director Change Management Strategy @ Sodexo. Julie has more than 25 years of experience in change leadership, marketing, and communications.   Julie is an empathetic leader who serves as an advisor to senior leaders and is a resourceful and creative problem-solver who drives business results with her strategic planning, organizational change management, and communications expertise.   Quote: "Maybe it's something that's coming down globally, maybe it's a structural reorganization type of change, You know that we kind of have to catch, receive and move forward with and we try to do that, you know, in the best way that we can with the people in mind. But most times, you know, whether it's a process change or a technology change, we have the opportunity to co-create that change together."   Key Takeaways: ➖ Everyone on the frontline has a different perspective ➖ At the end of the day - the frontline just wants to be included ➖ We often underestimate the amount of socialization needed for a change to go well ➖ You need to love your resistors, listen, understand, and validate ➖ We all go through an emotional journey around change   LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/juliewhitten/ Company Website: https://www.sodexo.com/en   Here's other ways you can listen: Amazon Music - https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/2f4ecd92-6468-4769-b0bf-254e236510b7/FRONTLINE-INNOVATORS Apple Podcast - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/frontline-innovators/id1572329402 Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/29m3wnK8pbFjdSvJ9wjmyS Stitcher - https://www.stitcher.com/show/frontline-innovators Google Play - https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZnJvbnRsaW5laW5ub3ZhdG9ycy5jb20vZmVlZC54bWw Youtube - https://youtu.be/vuF5cF9By_I   Find more episodes of Frontline Innovators at https://www.frontlineinnovators.com

    45 min

  8. 01/05/2024

    Articulating The Right Problem With Your Frontline - Episode #121 - Nea Christensen

    This week on the Frontline Innovators we have Nea Christensen, Director IT @ ProAmpac | PMP, Process Improvement.   Nea has over 10 years of experience in providing executive-level information systems and technology leadership, leading innovative strategies and solutions-driven teams that drive business performance and efficiencies.   Nea oversees a portfolio of projects valued at $1.5 million and manages the PMO, Policy, and Documentation functions for the IT department.       Quote: "So one of the things that we do in continuous improvement is called 5 whys. And with it you go through and you say what problem that you have and then you say, well, why is that a problem? And then you answer it and you say, well, why is that a problem? And you want to keep kind of pushing to the point of actually finding what the problem is that everybody like, yes, that that's the problem. And then once you have that problem, you want to decide what to do with it."     Key Takeaways: ➖ You can have all the plans in the world, but you still need the humans to do them ➖ Let's solve the problem that we have at hand that we all agree is a problem ➖ Ranking problems helps to give objectivity and see the bigger picture ➖ Gaining trust from other departments will help the rollout be successful     LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/nea-christensen-56130028/ Company Website: https://www.proampac.com/en-us/   Here's other ways you can listen: Amazon Music -  https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/2f4ecd92-6468-4769-b0bf-254e236510b7/FRONTLINE-INNOVATORS Apple Podcast -  https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/frontline-innovators/id1572329402 Spotify -  https://open.spotify.com/show/29m3wnK8pbFjdSvJ9wjmyS Stitcher -  https://www.stitcher.com/show/frontline-innovators Google Play -  https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZnJvbnRsaW5laW5ub3ZhdG9ycy5jb20vZmVlZC54bWw Youtube - https://youtu.be/XRyHrHPoin4   Find more episodes of Frontline Innovators at https://www.frontlineinnovators.com

    45 min
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About

This is Frontline Innovators. Host Justin Lake speaks with experts who are leading the way and driving digital transformation to the frontlines. We explore how to overcome challenges and achieve success when we empower our essential workers. This podcast is sponsored by Skyllful, on a mission to help frontline workers learn and use the technology needed to succeed in their jobs.

Information

  • Creator
    frontlineinnovators
  • Years Active
    2021 - 2026
  • Episodes
    125
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2025 All rights reserved.
  • Show Website
    Frontline Innovators