From the Horse's Mouth: Intrepid Conversations with Phil Fersht
Phil Fersht
31 episodes
5 days ago
As technology rapidly evolves, the world has undergone a significant transformation. Society has shifted from being human-centered to a complex web of digital automation, AI, and human workers who support it. This rapid innovation outpaces regulations and threatens social mobility.
The rise of AI presents a critical challenge: how can businesses and policymakers ensure that AI enhances, rather than hinders, human creativity and innovation? Automating routine tasks could free up people for roles requiring creativity, problem-solving, and emotional intelligence, but it demands a focus on continuous learning and digital literacy.
The first season of From the Horse's Mouth: Intrepid Conversations with Phil Fersht explores the intersection of AI, work, and society, aiming to shape the future.
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As technology rapidly evolves, the world has undergone a significant transformation. Society has shifted from being human-centered to a complex web of digital automation, AI, and human workers who support it. This rapid innovation outpaces regulations and threatens social mobility.
The rise of AI presents a critical challenge: how can businesses and policymakers ensure that AI enhances, rather than hinders, human creativity and innovation? Automating routine tasks could free up people for roles requiring creativity, problem-solving, and emotional intelligence, but it demands a focus on continuous learning and digital literacy.
The first season of From the Horse's Mouth: Intrepid Conversations with Phil Fersht explores the intersection of AI, work, and society, aiming to shape the future.
AI, Agents, and Ambitions: KPMG's Ron Walker on Rebuilding the Services Stack
From the Horse's Mouth: Intrepid Conversations with Phil Fersht
25 minutes
1 month ago
AI, Agents, and Ambitions: KPMG's Ron Walker on Rebuilding the Services Stack
Ron Walker, Head of Global Managed Services at KPMG, sits down with Phil Fersht to unpack how AI is reshaping services—and why enterprise leaders can't afford to wait.
They explore the "Kodak moment" facing traditional tech firms, the critical shift from vendor to value partner, and why platform-enabled services are rewriting the outsourcing playbook. This is not your typical vendor chat—Ron gets candid about contracts, cost pressures, talent strategy, and the rise of agentic delivery models.
If you've ever asked, "Where is this all going?" — this episode answers it.
What You'll Hear in 30 Minutes
• Why AI is forcing enterprises to rethink their entire services stack
• How geopolitical volatility is accelerating automation investments
• The rise of agentic delivery—and what it means for your contracts
• Why smart, curious generalists will define the next wave of talent
• The one thing every enterprise must do right now
Guest Snapshots
Ron Walker is the Global Head of Managed Services at KPMG, where he leads the firm's vision for reinventing managed services in the AI era. With deep roots in consulting, outsourcing, and global transformation, Ron is at the forefront of building outcome-based delivery models that blend human expertise with intelligent automation.
A trusted advisor to Fortune 1000 enterprises, Ron is passionate about aligning tech, talent, and trust to meet the demands of a volatile, high-speed digital economy.
Timestamps
00:00 – Welcome and Backstory
01:05 – How Trade Volatility Is Reshaping Global Services
02:50 – 83% of Enterprises Are Accelerating AI—What That Really Means
05:16 – From Talent at Scale to AI at Scale
07:30 – Machines Now Outperform Humans—Where Does That Leave Us?
08:52 – Reinventing Contracts for an Agentic Future
10:40 – The New Economics of Outsourcing
12:33 – Why Service Providers Must Become Educators
14:57 – KPMG's Hybrid Model: Productization + Partnership
16:40 – Redefining Talent for a Platform-Enabled World
19:03 – Vibe Coding, Agentic AI, and the Next Phase of Work
22:40 – Ron's One Piece of Advice for Enterprise Leaders
24:13 – Will We See a New Wave of Transformational Outsourcing?
25:32 – The Big Four + Scalers: Why Collaboration Is Key
Explore More
• Ron Walker on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ronwalkerkpmg/
• KPMG's AI Thought Leadership: https://kpmg.com/xx/en/our-insights.html
• Phil Fersht on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/pfersht/
• More from HFS on Agentic AI: https://www.hfsresearch.com/
From the Horse's Mouth: Intrepid Conversations with Phil Fersht
As technology rapidly evolves, the world has undergone a significant transformation. Society has shifted from being human-centered to a complex web of digital automation, AI, and human workers who support it. This rapid innovation outpaces regulations and threatens social mobility.
The rise of AI presents a critical challenge: how can businesses and policymakers ensure that AI enhances, rather than hinders, human creativity and innovation? Automating routine tasks could free up people for roles requiring creativity, problem-solving, and emotional intelligence, but it demands a focus on continuous learning and digital literacy.
The first season of From the Horse's Mouth: Intrepid Conversations with Phil Fersht explores the intersection of AI, work, and society, aiming to shape the future.
