Invention Mode

Tanya Kohen, WaveAccess

Join Tanya Kohen, a finance leader, corporate inventor, and advocate for digital transformation, as she explores how everyday corporate pros across various disciplines are embracing the invention mindset to rethink how things are done in their companies and discover unique ways to solve business problems. Her perspective focuses on building a culture where invention thrives, and how this is essential to making businesses competitive, and future-ready. This podcast is for curious leaders who believe invention is about practical, original solutions driven by necessity and bold thinking.

Episodes

  1. 12/16/2025

    Your first AI Agent: Lessons from real implementations

    Many companies rush to build their first AI agent. Few stop to think what happens after it works. In this episode of Invention Mode, host Tanya Kohen talks with Integration & AI Solution expert Paul Chayka about how to implement your first AI agent in a way that delivers real business value and doesn’t break when it’s time to scale. Based on real implementations in finance, treasury, and operations, they discuss how to choose the right initial use case, decide between low-code and custom development, and define metrics that prove ROI to leadership. The conversation focuses on fundamentals that determine long-term success: clean data, stable processes, integration-ready architecture, and governance that prevents a growing patchwork of disconnected agents. Featuring practical cases — from reporting automation to conversational BI and multi-agent support systems — this episode offers a grounded guide for leaders moving from AI experimentation to sustainable impact. * * * ✦ Share your own story of invention with Tanya Kohen on LinkedIn — https://www.linkedin.com/in/tanyakohen/ ✦ Paul Chayka on LinkedIn — https://www.linkedin.com/in/paul-chayka-5a0511250/ ✦ Watch the webinar where Tanya Kohen and Paul Chayka break down how AI is adopted in treasury operations — https://youtu.be/UUr3Vjd1Adg?si=JsKkFQxCxjzoamjo * * * Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed by the guest speakers on this podcast are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of their current or previous employers or affiliated organizations.

    27 min

  2. 12/05/2025

    Beyond dashboards: How conversational AI is reinventing finance

    Are we witnessing the end of the dashboards? For years, charts and graphs have been the primary window into complex financial data, but what if you could simply talk to it instead? This episode explores how conversational AI is reshaping the way finance teams work — from speeding up analysis to giving experts direct, on-demand access to deeper insight. Instead of digging through static reports, professionals can now ask complex questions in natural language and get clear, context-aware answers in seconds. Tanya sits down with AI strategist Daniel Huszar to discuss what this shift means in practice: faster decision cycles, stronger forecasting, leaner operations, and a new level of confidence for teams that rely on accurate, timely data. They examine the architectural choices behind conversational systems and how LLMs amplify the strength of domain expertise rather than replace it. A focused, practical conversation for leaders who want finance to move at the speed of the business — not the speed of dashboard refreshes. Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed by the guest speakers on this podcast are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of their current or previous employers or affiliated organizations. *   *   * Please subscribe and leave a review https://creators.spotify.com/pod/prof....  Share your own story of invention with Tanya Kohen on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/tanyakohen/ Article "The End of the Dashboard? Why Your Next Data Interface Will Be a Conversation" by Daniel Huszar https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/end-dashboard-why-your-next-data-interface-daniel-huszár-u6uye/ Contact us at hello@wave-access.com

    38 min

  3. 10/27/2025

    From tech debt to growth: Inventing the startup's financial and operational core

    "Building the plane while flying it" is a common startup mantra. But when it comes to the tech stack, the patchwork of apps and tools becomes a silent growth killer, leading to conflicting data, security risks, and endless manual work. In this episode of Invention Mode, host Tanya Kohen talks with fractional CFO Maria Frolova about applying an inventive mindset to this core challenge. They unpack the early warning signs founders miss, why clean data is more critical than any single tool, and how to build a scalable financial engine from seed to Series C. Learn a simple, no-budget exercise to identify your team's biggest inefficiencies, understand why the CFO role is key to your entire company's tech strategy, and get a practical framework to stop patching problems and start building a solid foundation for growth. Essential listening for founders and finance leaders in FinTech ready to turn tech stack chaos into a strategic advantage. Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed by the guest speakers on this podcast are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of their current or previous employers or affiliated organizations.

    36 min

  4. 09/25/2025

    Build vs. Buy decisions in treasury: Why invention happens on both sides

    The classic build vs. buy dilemma is more than a cost or speed decision — it's a core strategic choice, especially in treasury and finance. Tanya Kohen and treasury consultant Tom Tarrant explore how invention emerges not only from building custom tools, but also from creatively combining, adapting, and owning bought solutions. They unpack Tom's framework "buy is for ops, build is for strategy", and discuss how the right balance, fueled by collaborative teams and cross-functional input, shapes strategy, builds operational resilience, and drives growth. Learn how organizations can leverage both approaches across areas like TMS implementation, AI forecasting, and fraud detection to turn technology into a true competitive advantage. Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed by the guest speakers on this podcast are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of their current or previous employers or affiliated organizations.

    35 min

  5. 08/27/2025

    Invention is where professional growth meets data insights

    This episode of Invention Mode explores the often-overlooked potential within individuals, teams, and the data organizations already have — and how it can spark true invention. Host Tanya Kohen talks with Tracey Knight, a nationally recognized treasury and finance technology expert with over 30 years of FinTech experience. Together, they discuss how personal readiness fuels organizational transformation, why it’s important to look beyond basic automation, and how curiosity combined with a fresh perspective on existing data can lead to meaningful breakthroughs in the way a company operates. Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed by the guest speakers on this podcast are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of their current or previous employers or affiliated organizations.

    28 min

  6. 08/08/2025

    Why invention beats innovation and how to make space for it

    In this kickoff episode of Invention Mode, host Tanya Kohen sits down with Seth Marlowe, a seasoned treasury, banking, IT, and consulting executive with over 30 years of experience. Seth has led transformation initiatives within some of the world’s largest companies, including GE, Wells Fargo, Danone, and EY. Seth shares his perspective on why true invention is crucial today, recounting a behind-the-scenes story of how his team developed an automated process that fundamentally changed finance operations. He discusses how something "new" emerged from within the "old way" of working. Tune in to explore the distinction between invention and innovation, why invention is more specific and impactful, and how organizations can create space for employees to act on bold ideas that drive business success. Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed by the guest speakers on this podcast are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of their current or previous employers or affiliated organizations.

    27 min
  • 6 Episodes

About

Join Tanya Kohen, a finance leader, corporate inventor, and advocate for digital transformation, as she explores how everyday corporate pros across various disciplines are embracing the invention mindset to rethink how things are done in their companies and discover unique ways to solve business problems. Her perspective focuses on building a culture where invention thrives, and how this is essential to making businesses competitive, and future-ready. This podcast is for curious leaders who believe invention is about practical, original solutions driven by necessity and bold thinking.

Information

  • Creator
    Tanya Kohen, WaveAccess
  • Years Active
    2K
  • Episodes
    6
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Tanya Kohen, WaveAccess
  • Show Website
    Invention Mode