The Customer Wins

Richard Walker
  • 5.0 (4)
  • Entrepreneurship
  • Updated Weekly

This is The Customer Wins podcast where business leaders discuss their secrets and techniques for helping their customers succeed and in turn grow their company.

  1. 15h ago

    Building Trustworthy Brands in an AI World With Sasha Strauss

    Sasha Strauss is the Founder and Chief Brand Officer of Innovation Protocol, a brand strategy consultancy that helps organizations define, strengthen, and communicate their identities with clarity and purpose. Since founding the firm in 2006, he has advised leading organizations, including Google, Disney, LEGO, PayPal, and Nestlé, on brand strategy and leadership communications. Sasha is also a longtime graduate professor of brand strategy at UCLA, USC, and UC Irvine, where he teaches the next generation of business leaders. An internationally recognized speaker, he shares insights on branding, leadership, and AI-driven strategy with organizations and conferences worldwide. In this episode… Successful businesses often struggle to clearly communicate what sets them apart, leading to inconsistent customer experiences, reduced trust, and missed opportunities. As AI reshapes how people discover and evaluate companies, organizations also face the challenge of maintaining authenticity as they adopt new technology. How can businesses build a brand that customers trust without losing their human identity? Sasha Strauss, a brand strategy expert and educator, explains that a strong brand is built on a consistent promise that is reflected in company culture, employee behavior, and every customer interaction. He recommends defining a clear brand identity through research and competitive analysis rather than guesswork, ensuring employees understand and embody the brand, and training AI tools to communicate in ways that align with an organization's values and voice. Sasha also shares how AI can accelerate research, personalize content, and improve customer experiences while reinforcing — not replacing — human expertise and creativity. In this episode of The Customer Wins, Richard Walker interviews Sasha Strauss, Founder and Chief Brand Officer of Innovation Protocol, about building trusted brands in the age of AI. Sasha discusses why company culture and brand are inseparable, how businesses can use AI to strengthen customer trust, and why authentic human creativity remains a competitive advantage.

  2. Jul 27

    Building the Future of Private Markets Technology With Gareth Lewis

    Gareth Lewis is the Chief Business Officer at Helm, a fintech company providing unified infrastructure and workflow technology for capital raising, investor management, and private markets operations. He co-founded Delio in 2015, growing it into a leading private markets platform used by financial institutions across multiple countries before its acquisition by iAltA Holdings and integration into Helm. A qualified Chartered Accountant, Gareth previously held corporate finance and M&A roles at IBM, Ernst & Young, and Convex Capital. Today, he helps financial firms modernize private markets infrastructure with scalable, AI-enabled technology that improves advisor and investor experiences. In this episode… The rapid growth of private markets has exposed outdated systems, fragmented workflows, and inefficient client experiences, making it difficult for financial firms to scale. Many organizations struggle to balance flexibility, compliance, and operational efficiency while also adapting to the growing influence of AI. How can firms modernize their infrastructure without sacrificing the unique needs of their advisors and clients? Gareth Lewis, a private markets technology and financial infrastructure expert, explains how building configurable operating systems instead of rigid software enables firms to create better advisor and investor experiences. He shares why maintaining a customer-first mindset, embracing continuous collaboration through an always-on implementation approach, and staying focused on core strengths lead to stronger long-term partnerships. Gareth also discusses using AI to accelerate product development, improve internal efficiency, and enhance advisor workflows while allowing firms to maintain control of their customer experience. In this episode of The Customer Wins, Richard Walker interviews Gareth Lewis, Chief Business Officer at Helm, about transforming private markets infrastructure through customer-focused technology. Gareth discusses the benefits of configurable software platforms, the impact of AI on product development, and the leadership lessons that shaped his entrepreneurial journey.

  3. Jul 20

    Customer Experience, AI, and Cloud Security With Mikhail Ruchkin

    Mikhail Ruchkin is the CEO of Innovative Digital Transformation, an AWS Advanced Tier Services Partner that helps organizations modernize their technology through cloud migration, cybersecurity, AI, and digital transformation solutions. He has more than 15 years of experience leading cloud strategy and security initiatives for startups, mid-sized businesses, and Fortune 500 companies. Before founding Innovative Digital Transformation, Mikhail held leadership roles in cloud security and IT, including serving as Director of Information Technology and Security at AWS consulting partner ClearScale. He is passionate about building long-term customer relationships, helping organizations innovate securely, and developing high-performing teams. In this episode… Many organizations invest heavily in cloud technology and AI but still struggle to deliver the business outcomes they expect because they focus on tools instead of people, trust, and long-term partnerships. As AI accelerates innovation, balancing rapid development with strong cybersecurity practices has become even more challenging. How can business leaders embrace new technology while building lasting customer relationships and maintaining security? Mikhail Ruchkin, a cloud strategy, cybersecurity, and digital transformation expert, explains that successful technology projects begin by understanding what customers truly need rather than simply delivering what they request. He shares why investing in people, mentoring future leaders, and treating every customer as a long-term partner creates stronger business outcomes. Mikhail also discusses practical ways organizations can adopt AI responsibly by implementing security guardrails, continuously reviewing their security posture, and educating employees to innovate safely without slowing progress. In this episode of The Customer Wins, Richard Walker interviews Mikhail Ruchkin, CEO of Innovative Digital Transformation, about building customer trust through cloud technology, AI, and cybersecurity. Mikhail discusses developing high-performing teams, knowing when to walk away from the wrong customers, and creating security-first AI practices that enable innovation without sacrificing long-term success.

  4. Jul 13

    Transforming IT Buying: Authentic Matches With Tonya Turrell

    Tonya Turrell is the Founder and CEO of TechnologyMatch, a buyer-first platform that connects IT leaders with technology providers through AI-powered matchmaking and demand generation. A three-time founder with two successful exits, she is known for challenging traditional lead-generation models and creating trust-based alternatives that prioritize buyer intent. Tonya has earned Inc. recognition on both the Inc. 5000 and Female Founders 250 for leadership and innovation. She also hosts the Between Fires and Futures podcast, where she explores IT leaders' changing role amid AI's growing influence. In this episode… Technology buyers today are inundated with sales outreach, making it harder to identify the vendors and solutions best suited for their business needs. At the same time, technology providers struggle to reach qualified prospects, and many sales teams miss opportunities by prioritizing the pitch over a deeper understanding of customer challenges. How can buyers and sellers create more meaningful connections that lead to better outcomes for everyone involved? Tonya Turrell, a technology marketplace innovator and demand-generation expert, explains how buyer-driven matchmaking can eliminate noise and streamline the technology purchasing process. She shares why authentic alignment between buyer needs and vendor solutions leads to higher conversion rates, how analyzing thousands of sales conversations revealed critical gaps in sales execution, and why customer experience should remain the priority throughout the buying journey. Tonya also discusses using AI-powered pre-sales intelligence, personalized research, and sales coaching tools to help representatives better understand prospects, build trust, and create long-term customer relationships. In this episode of The Customer Wins, Richard Walker interviews Tonya Turrell, Founder and CEO of TechnologyMatch, about transforming B2B technology buying through buyer-driven connections and AI. Tonya discusses building an IT buyer community, lessons learned from analyzing more than 30,000 sales calls, and leadership insights on transitioning from founder to CEO while scaling a growing business.

  5. Jul 6

    Building Trust-Driven Tech Partnerships With Brian Hyman

    Brian Hyman is the Founder and CEO of High Meadow Solutions, a wealthtech advisory and consulting firm that helps wealth management organizations modernize their technology, optimize operations, and drive successful business outcomes. He founded the company to bridge the gap between strategy and execution, helping firms make better technology decisions and implement them effectively. Brian has deep expertise in digital transformation, CRM strategy, Salesforce, data management, and AI adoption within the financial services industry. Under his leadership, High Meadow Solutions has become a trusted partner for wealth management firms seeking to improve advisor experiences, streamline workflows, and accelerate growth. In this episode… Many organizations face challenges in delivering customer experiences as they scale their operations, especially when technology, processes, and people are misaligned. Leaders often invest heavily in software platforms but still face fragmented workflows, poor user adoption, and difficulty building lasting trust with customers. How can businesses create a culture and technology strategy that consistently drives customer success and long-term growth? Brian Hyman, a wealth technology consultant and business leader, explains that successful outcomes begin with trust, transparency, and strong company culture. He emphasizes hiring people who share the organization's values, empowering employees to take ownership, and creating clear growth opportunities that foster engagement and accountability. Brian also discusses the importance of building unified technology experiences, leveraging AI as a tool to enhance human capabilities rather than replace them, and maintaining structured systems that support both operational efficiency and meaningful client relationships. In this episode of The Customer Wins, Richard Walker interviews Brian Hyman, Founder and CEO of High Meadow Solutions, about building trust-driven customer experiences through culture and technology. Brian discusses creating a unified advisor experience, implementing AI responsibly to improve productivity, and why CRM platforms remain critical for maintaining data quality, operational structure, and long-term business growth.

  6. Jun 29

    Customer Psychology, Marketing, and Growth With Bob Serling

    Bob Serling is the Founder of Licensing Lab, a consulting firm that helps companies understand why customers buy and how to create marketing that drives more sales. He is a buying behavior specialist known for uncovering the real motivations behind customer purchasing decisions. Bob pioneered the Customer Created Framework, a customer-driven approach to developing products, offers, and marketing strategies. He has spent more than 35 years helping businesses improve customer experience, increase conversions, and accelerate growth. In this episode… Many businesses struggle to understand what truly motivates customers to buy. As a result, they create products, services, and marketing messages based on assumptions rather than real customer insights, leading to missed opportunities and underperforming campaigns. How can companies uncover what customers actually value and use that knowledge to drive growth? Bob Serling, a buying behavior specialist and founder, explains that the key is regularly speaking with customers to understand their experiences, frustrations, goals, and buying motivations. He recommends asking what challenges led customers to seek a solution, what alternatives they tried that failed, and which aspect of a product or service they would never want to lose. Bob emphasizes that businesses should focus on customer experiences rather than features, incorporate customer feedback into marketing and product development, and use AI as a research tool to supplement — not replace — direct customer conversations. In this episode of The Customer Wins, Richard Walker interviews Bob Serling, Founder of Licensing Lab, about uncovering the real reasons customers buy and using those insights to improve marketing and customer experience. Bob discusses why most marketing offers fail, how customer feedback can dramatically increase revenue, and the role AI can play in supporting customer research and market analysis.

  7. Jun 22

    [Governance Series] Transforming Wealth Management Compliance With David Reeve

    David Reeve is the Founder and CEO of InvestorCOM, a compliance technology company that helps wealth management firms streamline regulatory requirements, investor disclosures, and retirement rollover processes. He has led the company for more than three decades, building long-term partnerships with leading financial institutions across North America. David leads InvestorCOM in delivering simple, advisor-friendly technology that improves compliance and enhances the client experience. He is recognized for his expertise in wealth management technology, regulatory innovation, and helping financial advisors become more productive and effective. In this episode… Financial advisors and wealth management firms face mounting pressure to balance regulatory compliance, investor protection, and operational efficiency. At the same time, emerging technologies like AI are rapidly changing how firms deliver services, manage risk, and support advisors. How can organizations simplify complex compliance processes while improving productivity and maintaining a high-quality client experience? David Reeve, a wealth management technology and compliance expert, shares how firms can address these challenges by focusing on simplicity, usability, and automation. He explains the importance of reducing friction in advisor workflows, creating clearer investor disclosures, and using AI to enhance productivity without compromising data security or regulatory requirements. David also discusses how firms can capitalize on retirement rollover opportunities, support advisor growth, and leverage technology to drive more effective client outcomes. In this episode of The Customer Wins, Richard Walker interviews David Reeve, Founder and CEO of InvestorCOM, about simplifying compliance and driving growth in wealth management. David discusses the impact of AI on advisor productivity, the importance of retirement rollover compliance, and strategies for achieving organic growth. He also explores advisor demographics, investor disclosures, and the future of technology-enabled financial advice.

  8. Jun 15

    Redefining Meetings and the Agentic Future With Artem Koren

    Artem Koren is the Co-Founder and CPO at Sembly AI, an AI-powered meeting intelligence platform that helps teams capture, organize, and act on insights from conversations and meetings. He leads the company's product vision, building AI tools that improve collaboration, productivity, and decision-making for modern organizations. With a background in systems engineering, enterprise consulting, and product leadership, Artem specializes in creating human-centered AI solutions for the workplace. Since co-founding Sembly AI in 2019, he has helped pioneer innovations in meeting intelligence, AI teammates, and agentic workflows. In this episode… Businesses today are overwhelmed by meetings, information overload, and rapidly evolving AI technology. Many leaders struggle to understand how AI agents, automation, and large language models can improve productivity rather than add complexity. As AI transforms the way people work, how can organizations adapt quickly without losing the human element? Artem Koren, an expert in AI-powered productivity and meeting intelligence, explains how businesses can simplify workflows by using AI to capture, organize, and activate knowledge from conversations. He shares how organizations can embrace AI-first thinking, adopt agentic workflows, and redesign software experiences around collaboration between humans and AI agents. Artem also discusses the importance of building reliable AI systems, helping teams transition into new ways of working, and preparing for a future where agents communicate and solve problems autonomously. In this episode of The Customer Wins, Richard Walker interviews Artem Koren, Co-Founder and CPO at Sembly AI, about the rise of AI agents and the future of work. Artem discusses overcoming resistance to AI adoption, differences between frontier and open-source AI models, and how agent-to-agent collaboration will reshape enterprise software and productivity.

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About

This is The Customer Wins podcast where business leaders discuss their secrets and techniques for helping their customers succeed and in turn grow their company.

Information

  • Creator
    Richard Walker
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2026
  • Episodes
    185
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © The Customer Wins (c) 2023
  • Show Website
    The Customer Wins