Ep 4: Speed Over Perfection: Leading AI Transformation in Financial Services

Ep 12. Retail Intelligence & the AI Revolution: How Brands Win in the Era of Commerce AI

In this energizing episode of the Evolve Podcast, Blend leaders sit down with Janine Flaccavento, SVP Retail Media Americas at Criteo, to unpack how AI, retail intelligence, and commerce media are fundamentally reshaping the customer journey. From the rise of agentic commerce and LLM-powered product discovery to the future of first-party data and personalization, the conversation explores what brands and retailers must do now to stay competitive in an AI-first marketplace. Packed with practical insights, bold predictions, and real-world examples, this episode offers a front-row seat to the next era of commerce innovation.

Ep.11: Synthetic Personas & The History of Simulation

In Episode 11 of Evolve, Alex Sion sits down with Brett King and Jesse Fagan to explore how AI-powered simulations and synthetic personas are changing the way organizations test ideas, understand customers, and bring products to market. From flight simulators to digital twins to LLM-driven audience research, this episode examines why simulation is becoming a core capability for modern enterprises.

EP 10. Future of Talent: The AI Skillset

In this episode of the Evolve Blend podcast, Caroline Caldwell sits down with Erik Wischhusen, Steven Tom, and Celia Wanderley to unpack how AI is reshaping the skills, teams, and operating models needed to move from demo to production. The conversation explores agentic engineering, the shift from coder to builder, and why the future belongs to organizations that can combine speed, trust, and scalable human and AI collaboration.

Ep5. The Power of Partnership: Co-Creating the Future of Business with Blend

In this episode of Evolve, Adam sits down with Maggie to uncover how Blend is redefining what partnership really means in the age of AI. They dive into the realities of transformation and how co-creation turns big ideas into measurable results. Maggie shares stories from the frontlines of working with Fortune 1000 clients, the art of blending deep expertise with innovation, and why “we blend in so you stand out” isn’t just a tagline, it’s a mindset. From hyperscalers to high fives, this conversation is a fast-paced look at how culture, technology, and purpose come together to drive real change.

Ep 4: Speed Over Perfection: Leading AI Transformation in Financial Services

In this episode of Evolve, Alex and Rob tackle the AI transformation battle reshaping financial services. Rob introduces his “mountains vs. fields” metaphor to explain why legacy banks, though rich in customers, brand trust, and resources, must balance their scale and stability with the need for speed. Legacy banks sometimes struggle under decades of tech debt and rigid processes, while other players move fast with modern tools. They explore how true philosophical alignment only becomes clear under pressure, when existing business units resist change. Rob argues that transformation requires radical structural shifts: dedicated teams empowered to make decisions and move fast without waiting for cross-department approvals. Looking ahead, they envision a future where speed defines winners as financial products evolve into holistic customer relationships.