Centric Commemorates presents a conversation about understanding and celebrating Juneteenth in this special edition of our Couch Convos: Biz and Tech Talks podcast.


Monday, June 19, marks the celebration of Juneteenth, which became a federal holiday in 2021. The holiday now reflects an even more widespread recognition.
Team members Maurice Faison, Blaiden Kirk and Dr. Jodi Merriday join our Couch Convos podcast host John Kackley for an insightful discussion on Juneteenth. They dive into why – and how – people celebrate it today.

Whether you actively celebrate Juneteenth or are just starting to learn about it, we encourage all to enjoy this informative and inspiring dialogue. Happy Juneteenth!
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Centric Consulting · Biz and Tech Talks 54: Celebrating Juneteenth
 

In this episode of Couch Convos: Biz and Tech Talks, our automation experts discuss what went wrong with Taylor Swift’s latest concert ticket sales.




In November 2022, tickets for Taylor Swift’s latest concert tour went on sale on Ticketmaster.
Huge demand swamped the website during the “pre-sales” period, crashing it and resulting in considerable outcry about customer service, a near-monopolistic business, and other concerns. We are only now seeing how many lawsuits people are filing.

In this podcast, we dive into this situation from a technical point of view. What if your organization manages a website that faces substantial demand? It’s not only concert tickets that can drive that kind of demand. What about the widespread use of bots, which is one point of contention regarding the topic?

Join us for more discussion about the intricate dance between policy and technology in managing high-volume websites!
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Centric Consulting · Biz and Tech Talks 51: Taylor Swift Ticketmaster Debacle
 

In this episode of Couch Convos: Biz and Tech Talks, we sit down with some of our finest innovators to discuss their ideas for this year’s CampIO.


Every year Centric Consulting hosts CampIO, an internal tech conference where our consultants can get together to share crazy ideas, amazing projects and good times.
In this podcast, we visit with Eric Galluzzo, the organizer, and this year’s two winners for top presentations, Becky Gandillon and Jeff Aalto.

Join us to hear about their amazing projects and for a far-reaching discussion among passionate people excitedly talking about their favorite side projects. How do these passion projects relate to the client work people do? What problem-solving approaches do these passionate people use, and how can you apply them?

We also share ideas about how you can share your own enthusiasms with us even if you can’t make it to Centric’s CampIO 2023!
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Centric Consulting · Biz and Tech Talks 50: Camp IO 2022
 

In this episode of Couch Convos: Biz and Tech Talks, we talk about organizational change management and how it works within your business, no matter where you are in your change journey.


To other roles in a transformational project, organizational change management (OCM) can feel like a discipline on its own little island. It’s certainly connected to the rest of the project, but how?
We talk with Mark Paulson, Senior Manager for People and Change in Chicago, about how OCM best practices mesh with changes in other disciplines, including agile methodology, sprint development, and new expectations in corporate culture. He also walks us through answers to questions like: How does it engage with the technical world? How do you assess an organization’s capacity for change? How does OCM adapt for hybrid or remote work?

Join us as we dive into OCM in the context of your business projects.
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Centric Consulting · Biz and Tech Talks 49: OCM In Context



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In this episode of our Couch Convos: Biz and Tech Talks podcast, we sit down with a consultant recently recognized by Consulting Magazine as Women Leaders in Technology.


In this podcast, we’re celebrating some of our finest consultants, recognized in 2022 by Consulting Magazine among the Women Leaders in Technology: our Chicago operating group’s Anelia Schmitt and Hilary Lee.
We wanted to get a take from these leaders on the challenges women face in consulting today and what they have learned from their experiences. One of the challenges that is all too common these days is being tremendously busy, which meant we couldn’t make the schedule work to talk to Hilary. Instead, another Chicago leader, Amy McJoynt, joins the conversation.

In this discussion, we talk about these challenges and more. While we look back on their formative professional years, we look forwards as well discussing how we can lay the groundwork for the leaders of the future.

Join us for this podcast to get Amy’s and Anelia’s thoughtful insights on the opportunities for women in consulting today.
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Centric Consulting · Biz and Tech Talks 48: Women In Consulting
 

In this episode of Couch Convos: Biz and Tech Talks, we sit down with Modern Software Delivery expert Pete Walen to talk about using test automation to support software development.


A lot of software testing is repetitive, and therefore a great candidate for some sort of automation.
Automation on its own doesn’t solve all your problems, however. You need to design it around the needs of your business environment and the business solution you’re implementing. And even then, it can have surprising complications. In this discussion, we talk to Pete Walen about how to get the most out of test automation: when it works, when it doesn’t, and how to make the most of it in your particular situation.

Join us for this podcast to see how test automation can support your software development project, plus a whole lot more!
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Centric Consulting · Biz and Tech Talks 47: Test Automation in Software Development
 

In this episode of Couch Convos: Biz and Tech Talks, we sit down with a few members from our Innovation Lab to talk about their latest accomplishment – the Centric Virtual Assistant.

In this episode of Couch Convos: Biz and Tech Talks, we sit down with our Insurance experts to talk about using a security logging framework with Guidewire.


Guidewire is an industry leader core tool in the insurance space. As a Guidewire partner, Centric often works with clients to adapt Guidewire to their unique needs.
Recently, we teamed up with a client to add a security logging framework to their implementation of the system. In this discussion, we talk to Sean Neben, our National Insurance and Guidewire Practice Lead, and Steve Dripps, Architect, about their objective on this project. We also walk through how they adapted the security logging framework to the Guidewire architecture, and the scope of how logging activities can supplement more traditional security measures.
Join us for this podcast about Guidewire’s security logging platform, and see how you can adapt some of these ideas to your own needs.

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https://centricconsulting.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/Centric-Podcast-45-Guidewire-Final.mp3

In this episode of Couch Convos: Biz and Tech Talks, we discuss the various uses of Microsoft Teams as a collaboration tool and learn how businesses can use it as a full digital hub for remote and hybrid employees.


The business world initially warmly welcomed Microsoft Teams due to its strong integration of chats, calls and collaboration. The subsequent pandemic and virtualization of many work environments led to an explosion of growth, and with that came many new ideas about how to use it.
For those of us who may have seen Teams as a user-friendly skin on top of SharePoint, boy, is there more to learn! In this discussion, we talk to our Modern Workplace Co-Lead Michael McNett about how companies can use Microsoft Teams as a platform to enable other workflow, documentation standards and business processes. McNett also shares how your organization’s IT department can enable options for expansion.

Beyond the basics, there’re also the exciting new integration capabilities of Microsoft Viva. McNett runs through the capabilities of Viva. For instance, if you hadn’t noticed Viva besides its replacement for Cortana’s daily digest, you may be surprised how much you already use this tool. Surprised or not, there are even more functions you can use.

Join us for this podcast on Microsoft Teams as a platform and get your creative, collaboration juices flowing.
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https://centricconsulting.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Centric-Podcast-44-Teams-as-Platform-Final.mp3

Do you only want the highlights about Microsoft Viva? Check out this episode of Centric Shorts.
Listen to Centric Shorts
https://centricconsulting.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Centric-Podcast-44a-Teams-as-Platform-Short-Final.wav

In this episode of Couch Convos: Biz and Tech Talks, we talk to two of our Salesforce specialists about using Salesforce Lightning to build out their own version of Wordle.


Some of our more recent podcasts have touched on a hot topic in the tech world – citizen development. Now we’re talking about what a business user might want to implement within a broader platform and how difficult would that be to create?
We’re looking at a concrete example of citizen development in action to answer these questions. Doug Burkhart and Shahid Mahmood, two of our Salesforce specialists, decided to replicate the word game Wordle on the Salesforce platform. Your users might have a slightly more practical objective, but maybe not one so much fun (or addicting).

In this podcast, we demonstrate the demo application and examine what we can learn from it about citizen development and the use of a platform for application construction. You can either watch or listen to this special edition podcast!

Join us for more!
Watch Here
https://vimeo.com/718432049
Listen Here
https://centricconsulting.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Centric-Podcast-43-Final-Salesforce-Wordle-1.mp3

In this episode of Couch Convos: Biz and Tech Talks, we’re looking at how company culture can determine business success.


Company culture is a common topic of discussion these days and has been for quite some time. As early as 1951, businesses noted culture as a concept, and arguably, we can associate it with earlier industrial organizations such as Ford Motor Company in the early 20th century.
Much of the discussion, however, has evolved into either:

Company culture is a goal of its own – basically, you should have one. Or,
Company culture is important for hiring people.

Neither of those relates culture to the success a company may have in accomplishing its goals, whether at a project level or the bottom line. In this podcast, we talk about how culture can impact a company's success, as well as how diversity and social media reflect a company's culture and have their own impacts. Join us to hear more!
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https://centricconsulting.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/Centric-Podcast-42.mp3

Only want the highlights? Check out our mini-podcast, Centric Shorts. John shares an example about his time on a project where he personally observed how culture can impact the outcome of work effort.
Listen to Centric Shorts
https://centricconsulting.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/Centric-Podcast-42-Centric-Shorts.mp3

In this episode of Couch Convos: Biz and Tech Talks, we talk to our experts about the importance of people, process and technology working together for business success.


People, process and technology can combine to provide your business with a complete solution to your most complex problems.
While all three of these offerings can do wonders for your organization and can make complex or challenging problems easier, combining the three brings you to an even stronger solution that will truly transform your business. While we focus on the synergy of people, process and technology in our latest podcast, we also spent quite a bit of time talking about metrics.

Depending on where we were with our metaphor at any given point in the discussion, metrics were either a fourth leg of the project stool or a reflection of the stool's effectiveness as something to sit on. Join us as we dive deeper into how metrics can help the synergy of various focus areas within your business and can encourage collaboration across groups.
Listen here
https://centricconsulting.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Centric-Podcast-41-Final-1.mp3

 

Only want the highlights? Check out our mini-podcast, Centric Shorts. We drill down to talk about how you can define and implement metrics that reflect the cooperation of people, process and technology.
Listen to Centric Shorts
https://centricconsulting.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Centric-Podcast-41-Centric-Shorts-Final.mp3

In this episode of Couch Convos: Biz and Tech Talks, we sit down with Noah Grayson to talk about how customer journey mapping can benefit your business.


With brick-and-mortar shops, websites, apps and social media, companies have more ways to interact with their customers and business partners than ever before.
That sounds like a situation rife with opportunity, but it's also a recipe for disaster if you don’t cohesively design the overall experience with the customer experience in mind.

In this podcast, we talk with Noah Grayson about a marketing and user experience design tool called customer journey mapping. We talk about how you can employ it to transform not just the basic customer experience, but your entire enterprise. Join us, and let your imagination run wild with how you can use this methodology for the needs you have now!
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https://centricconsulting.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Centric-Podcast-40-Final-1.mp3

In this episode of Couch Convos: Biz and Tech Talks, we sit down with Becky Gandillion to talk about the intricacies of small (and big) data.


Do you think data is kind of dry and dull? Or do you believe data is the bread and butter of life? It doesn't matter because either way, we have a podcast that’s right up your alley!
We visit with Becky Gandillon, a Data Analysis Manager from our St. Louis practice, to discuss how you can use different types of data in unique and creative ways. 

Do you find analyzing data makes your eyes glaze over? Becky shows us how to read the data, breathe life into it, and make it relatable and useful. On the flip side, do you love data and want to learn more? Becky shows us how to take data, big or small, and interpret it for people who don't think about data in quite the same way. 

Join us to hear more, including what data analysis has to do with Disney World and what hibiscus-flavored sparkling water has to do with data!
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https://centricconsulting.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/Centric-Podcast-39-4.mp3

In this episode of our Biz and Tech Talks podcast, we’re talking about how leaders need to rethink their leadership styles in the remote and hybrid workplace.





It's now early 2022, and many of us thought we'd be back in the office full-time by July of last year. It seems we were wrong about that! But what we weren’t wrong about is how many people enjoy working remotely.
In fact, according to the Qualtrics Future of Work in 2021 Report, 80 percent of us like doing work - at least some of the time - from somewhere besides our offices.



Permanently adopting a remote or hybrid workplace strategy will be a big change for all of us with a different kind of change for managers, executives and leaders everywhere. We can’t expect to be in the same place, seeing the same motivational posters on the walls, and hanging out in the same break room to keep us connected and visible. It takes more than that.
In this conversation, Larry English, president of Centric Consulting and author of "Office Optional: How to Build a Connected Culture with Virtual Teams," talks about what's needed to lead and develop people in this new environment. Join us to hear more!
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https://centricconsulting.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/Podcast-Interview-38-Rethinking-Leadership.mp3

In this episode of our Centric podcast, we reflect on our DEI initiative, Centric Together, and our first year since its conception.


It's been a year since we met with Jen Barnes and Maurice Faison and discussed the launch of Centric Together, Centric's initiative to go beyond Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) to ensure an unmatched employee experience for every one of us.
In this episode of Centric Biz and Tech Talks, we look back at the last year:

What did we accomplish?
What did we learn?
How has the road ahead changed for Centric Together?

We have Jen and Maurice back to talk about their experiences, and also joining us is Shan Mukhtar, Centric's Former DEI lead. Together we talk about what Centric Together means, how it is critical to our culture, and how it fits in with today's business world. Join us to hear more!
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https://centricconsulting.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/CT-podcast.m4a

In this edition of our Biz and Tech Talks podcast, we talk with our experts about the ins and outs of citizen development, taking an even closer look at how citizen developers can benefit your business.


What is Citizen Development? At a high level, it is implementing supporting business processes using enterprise tools developed by end users rather than IT.
Various forms of this have been around for a long time, but as tools grow in sophistication, so do the options available to these citizen developers. The goal is to provide efficiency-enabling solutions to your business where the rigor of IT portfolio management and development methodology aren't needed.

Two of our ace specialists, Senior Manager for Modern Workplace Brit Kwait, and Senior Architect Jo Karnes, have teamed up on a series of webinars on Citizen Development, covering the capabilities of several leading platforms as well as the enterprise support needed for success. Today's chat is a companion piece to answer other questions you may have about the movement -- where it is and where's it going.

Join us to hear more!
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https://centricconsulting.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/Podcast-Interview-35-Citizen-Development-Introduction.mp3




Want to take a deeper diver into the world of citizen development? We discuss the tools to use in our "Microsoft Power Hour" on-demand webinar.




Watch our webinar

In this edition of our Biz and Tech Talks podcast, we share our “Citizen Development: How Business and IT Teams Achieve More” webinar.


In this edition of our podcast, National Modern Workplace Practice Lead Joe Hartsel, Senior Manager for Modern Workplace Brit Kwait, and Senior Architect Jo Karnes discuss how citizen development is improving productivity, accelerating innovation, and freeing up IT groups to focus on the most business-critical applications and solutions.
Would your company be better off if you could complete internal projects faster?

We all know the answer is yes. But, it’s difficult to fathom freeing up time and completing more projects when the demand for applications and solutions only grows by the day. Our two-part webinar, “Citizen Development: How Business and IT Teams Achieve More,” which we are now offering as an easy-listening podcast, dives into why and how companies are beginning to use citizen development.




Want to take a deeper diver into the world of citizen development? We discuss the tools to use in our "Microsoft Power Hour" on-demand webinar.




Watch our webinar




Our host John Kackley introduces the podcast, which shares how citizen development empowers employees to build the tools they need without depending on the software experts in IT to get it done.

Our experts and business leaders who specialize in creating and empowering citizen developers share:

What citizen development means and why it’s important to both business and IT
Who can (and should) be a citizen developer
How to know if citizen development is the right fit
Four ways to have successful citizen development initiatives
Establishing a center of excellence to create proper governance, security, and adoption over citizen development

This recording concludes with a Q&A session to ensure you have a solid foundation.
Listen Here
https://centricconsulting.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Podcast-Interview-32-Citizen-Development-Webinar-pt-1-1.mp3

It's the rise of the hybrid workplace, but implementation may not be as easy as you think. In this episode of our Biz and Tech Talks podcast, we discuss what you need to do to prepare for a hybrid model.


2020 saw an unprecedented change to how we work in the industrialized world, with many people working from home - or at least away from the office - early returns suggest that productivity soared.
In this episode of Centric Biz and Tech Talks, we talk with our President Larry English about what happens next. It turns out people like the option to work from home, and employers will have to embrace it to hold on to their top employees. So, what can a company do to remold itself into a hybrid workplace, where sometimes people work remotely and sometimes on-site?




Want to learn more about going hybrid? Watch our on-demand webinar.




Watch the Webinar




As Steve tells us, it's a little more difficult than just telling everyone to do what they want. In this discussion, Steve and Larry take us through the key decisions an organization must make in defining its new workplace model. We also discuss other impacts on company culture and career development.

Join us to hear more!
Listen Here:
https://centricconsulting.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/Podcast-Interview-31-Hybrid-Workplace.mp3

And if you're interested in reading more about what the world has learned about the virtual work model, check out this recent article in The Atlantic.

 

In this episode of our Biz and Tech Talks podcast, we talk to our leadership team about this past year and look at how we will navigate what’s next as a company in 2021.


2020 has been an epically strange year, but has this epic strangeness impacted Centric Consulting?
In this episode of Centric Biz and Tech Talks, we talk to our leadership team, the legendary Four Amigos, about what we've gone through in 2020 and our positioning for the future. We pride ourselves on our culture, and in this talk, our leaders talk about what that culture has meant to us in this past year.

While they’re doing that, the conversation also hints at the uniqueness already resident in our culture, as we explain how to use dogs as lumbar supports, fake office backgrounds for video calls, and the social meaning of Golden Corral gift cards.

Join us to hear more and figure this out for yourself.
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https://centricconsulting.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/Podcast-Interview-28-Amigos-2021-1.mp3