Pioneers Podcast

Marc Curtis
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  • Entrepreneurship
  • Updated Monthly

The podcast that explores the Future of Work. 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. Smart Glasses Will Replace Phones Sooner Than You Think

    May 28

    Smart Glasses Will Replace Phones Sooner Than You Think

    A phone in your hand has become the default shape of modern life, but what if the next interface is something you already wear? I’m joined by Robin Solleveld, General Manager at EssilorLuxottica in the Netherlands, to unpack why smart glasses are suddenly hitting the usability and price point that wearables promised for years, and why Ray-Ban Meta and Oakley Meta are turning wearable AI into something people actually choose to wear all day.  We get specific on business value: hands-free support for technicians, live POV calling, instant translation across multilingual teams, and voice-driven notes that can be transcribed and sent without breaking flow. Robin also shares what’s coming next for B2B, including the potential of an SDK that lets organisations build tailored apps for field engineers, service teams and other roles where “eyes up, hands free” matters. Alongside the opportunity, we dig into privacy, ethics and workplace policy, and why companies need to treat smart glasses like any other enterprise device with clear rules, training and accountability.  Then we zoom out to the future of work and health tech. Robin explains “enhanced reality” versus augmented reality, the next generation prototype with an in-lens display and wristband control, and why eyewear could become the most personal computing platform we’ve ever had. We also explore hearing support through Nuance Audio, and how the eye may become a gateway to preventive healthcare through better screening and AI-assisted analysis. If you’re curious about wearable AI, smart glasses, workplace productivity and where the interface is heading next, this one will stretch your thinking. Subscribe, share with a colleague and leave a review with your most interesting wearable AI use case. Find out more about the Future of Work -> www.future-of-work.eu

    56 min
  2. Are We Building Tools Or Outsourcing Thinking

    May 7

    Are We Building Tools Or Outsourcing Thinking

    AI is already in our lecture halls and our workplaces, but the real question is whether we are using it to learn faster and build better, or just to cut corners more efficiently. I sit down with Professor Dr Vincent Ginis (VUB Brussels, visiting professor at Harvard) to unpack what he is seeing on the ground as universities rethink assessment, companies scramble for “AI strategy”, and everyone tries to work out what responsible adoption actually looks like. We get into the messy reality behind the headlines: why focusing only on cheating misses the upside of personalised AI tutoring, why continuous evaluation suddenly becomes feasible, and why some of the healthiest learning environments may be the ones with clear “no screens” time to protect attention. Vincent shares a useful lens: AI puts both good and bad behaviours on steroids, so the challenge is designing systems that reward real understanding rather than outsourced cognition. From there we move into workplace AI adoption and AI governance. We talk about Goodhart’s law, the traps of measuring the wrong things, the tension inside IT departments between security and experimentation, and why heavy-handed guardrails often produce shadow AI anyway. Vincent makes the case for internal champions, high-variance experiments, and building new products as the gap between idea and execution collapses. If your organisation is stuck rewriting emails, this conversation will help you aim higher. Subscribe, share the episode with a colleague, and leave us a review, then tell us: what is the most genuinely valuable way you have seen AI used at work? Find out more about the Future of Work -> www.future-of-work.eu

    58 min
  3. Fake It Till You Make It Fails In Hardware

    Apr 30

    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/ Find out more about the Future of Work -> www.future-of-work.eu

    57 min
  4. 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 Find out more about the Future of Work -> www.future-of-work.eu

    59 min
  5. How MAD Turns Everyday Drinks Into Measurable Good

    Apr 9

    How MAD Turns Everyday Drinks Into Measurable Good

    Find out more about the Future of Work -> www.future-of-work.eu

    46 min
  6. 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/ Find out more about the Future of Work -> www.future-of-work.eu

    50 min
  7. 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 Find out more about the Future of Work -> www.future-of-work.eu

    55 min
  8. 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 Find out more about the Future of Work -> www.future-of-work.eu

    45 min
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About

The podcast that explores the Future of Work. 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
    Marc Curtis
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2026
  • Episodes
    19
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Marc Curtis
  • Show Website
    Pioneers Podcast