How do you get bold ideas approved as budgets get smaller and plans face higher levels of scrutiny? In this episode of Pure Signal, the team unpacks what it really takes to earn leadership buy-in for AI and innovation initiatives.
As enterprises race to release their great next product, Kevin Erickson, Jake Carter, and Ryan Medellin unpack how leadership teams are balancing bold ideas with operational reality. From shifting economic headwinds to change fatigue, the episode explores why some projects stall and others gain traction, and what that reveals about timing, trust, and executive attention.
This episode offers a playbook for getting approval, even when you’re not in the room where decisions are made. Topics include translating technical ideas into business outcomes, using design sprints to create executive momentum, understanding the timing of bold vs. incremental bets, and the surprising influence of behavioral economics on buy-in. If you're navigating enterprise dynamics from either the top down or the bottom up, this conversation is packed with tactics to help your next idea land.
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Quotes
"There’s the innovation, and then there’s how you get your organization to go along with it. And those are very different things. One is the big idea. The other is everything from psychology to timing to power dynamics. Honestly, getting buy-in is often harder than the idea itself." – Jake Carter
"What’s interesting right now is how much companies are trying to grow through incremental maturity steps. Not because they’re afraid of bold moves, but because in this kind of environment, boldness without readiness can backfire. The change is nonstop, and people are fatigued. That shifts how you lead and what kind of bets you place." – Kevin Erickson
"From my perspective, the younger generation doesn’t want predictability, they want to be part of change. It’s not about resisting transformation, it’s about being brought along and having a voice in where things are going. That mindset shift is something organizations have to factor into how they lead. Continual evolution isn’t a burden, it’s the expectation." – Ryan Medellin
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Time Stamps
00:00 Intro
01:35 Who's responsible for innovation
04:50 Change is inevitable
09:55 Building excitement for these innovations
13:50 Evaluating if your enterprise is ready
17:30 Maintaining energy & momentum
26:30 Confidence is a needed attribute in today's leaders
29:05 Finding the balance between the future and present
35:10 Tangible advice for earning leadership buy-in
45:10 Final thoughts
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Links
Connect with the hosts on LinkedIn!
What if annual planning no longer fits the world we live in? In this episode of Pure Signal, the team explores why traditional playbooks fall short in an AI-driven era and how leaders must rethink priorities, timelines, and team structures to stay competitive.
With 2026 around the corner, Kevin Erickson, Jake Carter, and Ryan Medellin explore the tension between bold innovation and responsible execution, questioning whether traditional planning models can keep pace with the speed of change. Pulling insights from real client conversations and the recent All-In Summit, the episode explores what AI-first planning actually looks like: budgeting for compute and data readiness, rethinking project structures, balancing near-term experimentation with long-term transformation, and most importantly, investing in your people. This is the year leaders can’t afford to default to copy-paste plans.
Whether you're in strategy, innovation, or delivery, this conversation offers a clear-eyed framework for how to think, plan, and lead in a future that’s already here.
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Quotes
"Getting your employees upskilled when it comes to AI and how to be effective is really important right now. And then you pair that with some selective hiring. You don’t have to go replace your entire workforce. But you do need the injection of fresh thinking." – Jake Carter
"I would encourage our listeners to really focus more on the strategy. Put a ton of thinking about the strategy of where you want to go, the outcomes that you want to have, and let that start to dictate where you're at versus the mechanics of the buildup of classical elements of that. That will come. In fact, I think you should be using AI driven tools to be able to accelerate that." – Kevin Erickson
"We all want to be part of something big. We want to be part of something that gets us excited to go into the office. I want leaders that dream big, but I also want to be able to see that vision and how I can help support getting there." – Ryan Medellin
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Time Stamps
00:00 Intro
00:30 Waymo rides and the All-In Summit
08:40 How AI-first companies are built different
11:00 The future of annual planning
17:00 Supporting the entire organization
21:00 Upskilling your teams for 2026
24:00 The power of curiosity
28:00 Let people own outcomes, not just projects
34:00 What leaders need to be focusing on
37:00 Boldness doesn’t mean recklessness
42:00 Final takeaways
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Links
Connect with the hosts on LinkedIn!
Enterprises are racing to bring AI into their workflows, but most efforts stall in the pilot stage or get lost in measurement debates. In this episode of Pure Signal, hear what it really takes for organizations to move from experimentation to impact.
Today’s conversation brings together Kevin Erickson, Jake Carter, and Ryan Medellin as they explore how AI is reshaping productivity, why traditional planning cycles are under pressure, and what leaders must do differently to unlock sustainable value. Is faster velocity the real win, or is it a distraction? And how should executives measure progress when the benchmarks themselves are shifting?
From the rise of tiger teams and distributed adoption to the importance of data readiness and new talent skills, the discussion surfaces the levers that actually drive enterprise change. You’ll hear why use cases matter more than proofs of concept, how AI is altering the role of annual planning, and what emerging professionals should focus on to thrive in an AI-native workplace.
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Quotes
"You need a number of different elements if you're going to get a company to actually change how they're working with AI. One we already alluded to is the field-level workers who are changing the way they're working already. You’ve got to get the tools in the hands of your people.” – Jake Carter
"Cloud computing increased velocity by 4x. You could do more, but you still just took that extra 4x and put it into more backlog. I don’t know if that plays out the same way in AI, because I think it’s going to require departments thinking together or projects getting done differently” – Kevin Erickson
“When AI started becoming a thing, it was almost like you were hiding at first that maybe you were using AI to help velocity because you weren't sure how it would be received from up or below. Now, it seems like it’s almost an opportunity to display what you're doing to help make you more efficient.” – Ryan Medellin
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Time Stamps
00:00 Intro
01:00 Where is the future of work going to be?
07:45 Adapting your workforce to AI
13:00 Work smarter, not harder
18:55 What it really takes to change at scale
25:00 Where this technology impacts the next generation
27:10 New business expectations
32:00 Advice for supercharging the emerging workforce
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Links
Connect with the hosts on LinkedIn!
AI failures are making headlines with a widely circulated MIT study claiming that 95% of GenAI deployments are falling short of expectations. In this episode of Pure Signal, the team breaks down what’s really behind that number and what it means for enterprise leaders navigating AI adoption.
Joining today as new hosts are Jake Carter, Partner and Global Chief Innovation Officer, and Ryan Medellin, a manager in Credera’s Digital Strategy and Delivery practice. Alongside Jason Goth and Kevin Erickson, they dissect the MIT report’s claims and offer a more grounded view from inside the trenches. Why are internal AI efforts failing at twice the rate of external ones? Why do flashy AI projects often disappoint while quiet back-office initiatives deliver real ROI? And most importantly, what should executives be doing differently to lead with strategy, not panic?
From integrating AI into existing workflows to the growing role of shadow IT, the conversation explores how companies can increase the success rate of AI efforts without chasing the hype. You’ll hear what separates failed pilots from scalable wins, why the most valuable use cases are often invisible, and how to turn AI experimentation into enterprise impact.
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Quotes
"If you know that all of your employees are already using AI, whether they're admitting it or not, figure out what they're using it for. And that'll help you find the use cases that are worth building on. Because AI is already transforming business, it's just not happening through the official channels. It's happening on the side of people's desks." – Jake Carter
"Probably 95% of dot-com companies failed too. But that doesn't mean the internet is not a thing, right? Companies are going to have to continue to push and invest. Individuals are going to continue to do that." – Kevin Erickson
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Time Stamps
00:00 Intro
00:50 Updates to Pure Signal
04:30 Are GenAI efforts failing?
13:00 Every new technology needs iteration
19:50 Where to start as an executive
26:55 Lessons from both the successes and failures
32:30 Make the most of internal AI adoption
37:20 The perception of enterprise solutions
41:15 Wrapping up
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Links
Connect with the hosts on LinkedIn!
AI isn’t just transforming technology, it’s reshaping the very definition of talent. This episode of Pure Signal examines why organizations need to change their hiring scope to focus on skills like adaptability, curiosity, and a real eagerness to embrace new technologies as AI adoption continues across today’s workforce.
As companies struggle to accelerate AI adoption, a new reality is emerging: technology alone won’t drive transformation. Leaders are realizing that success depends on people who can learn quickly, embrace change, and rethink how work gets done. From mid-market disruptors to global enterprises, the pressure is on to identify and develop teams built for continuous reinvention.
Join Vincent and Kevin as they explore what defines AI-ready talent, how leaders can nurture curiosity and resilience across their organizations, and why the ability to adapt is now a competitive advantage. Their conversation offers a candid look at the human side of AI transformation, and the stakes for companies that fail to evolve their workforce as fast as their tech.
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Quotes
“Everything goes back to simplistic elements and traits. Who's going to be successful in that model where you have to learn? Well, it's someone who has a learning mindset, a growth mindset. Someone who is curious, someone who's got the discipline to figure it out. Someone who's got the perseverance to work through things. Someone who gets excited about doing it in a different way." – Kevin Erickson
“In these moments, I think we're going to see the mid-market companies get a lot more aggressive. They have the agility, they have the conviction. Oftentimes they're still sort of founder-led or privately owned in some cases, and that gives them more flexibility. They want real growth." – Vincent Yates
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Time Stamps
00:00 Intro
00:30 Why AI adoption is uneven across organizations
03:00 Getting past the first hurdle
06:00 Carrots vs. sticks
10:00 Moving from faster work to better work
13:00 Redefining value when AI levels the field
17:00 Why mid-market companies have the advantage
23:00 Lessons from past tech transformations
28:00 Hiring for adaptability
36:00 Curiosity, resilience, and change as competitive advantage
42:00 Leading through change without burning out teams
46:30 Closing thoughts
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Links
Connect with the hosts on LinkedIn!
AI projects are falling short across the tech industry and executives are losing their jobs because of it. This episode of Pure Signal explores the reasons behind boards’ new pressures, what CIOs and CEOs can do to right the ship, and how it is possible to balance speed with strategy in regards to AI.
From the early days of AI adoption well through to today, workers everywhere have been worried about if their jobs will be replaced by their computer counterparts. And recently people have been losing their jobs..but not because they’re being replaced. High-profile CIO and CEO departures have been making headlines because they’ve been going too slow in their organization’s AI efforts.
Join Vincent, Jason, and Kevin, as they unpack the rising tension in the C-suite as AI adoption becomes a board-level priority. With only 25% of enterprise AI projects delivering on ROI, companies are reckoning with years of tech debt, siloed systems, and a shortage of generative AI-ready talent. Their conversation dives into how to lead AI transformation from the top without sacrificing security, regulatory standards, or execution speed.
From risk-tolerant innovation and agile delivery to the debate over if titles such as “Chief AI Officer” even mean anything tangible, this episode lays out what forward-leaning organizations are actually doing to win, and why most of them aren’t talking about it publicly.
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Quotes
"We're asking CIOs to solve all of the tech debt for the past 10 years that organizations haven't invested in or paid for and then on top of that, deliver net new outcomes with AI. That's a really difficult spot. CEOs basically want miracles, and they want them now.”
– Vincent Yates
"Boards want to see bold action. If you're a little sloppy but you're showing demonstrated value in terms of velocity and acceleration, people will likely forgive that. But if you're too cautious and get fired for moving too slow, that’s a much harder story to recover from. Right now, this is a moment for action, not preservation."
– Kevin Erickson
"This idea that you have to choose between innovation and security is completely false. If you design things well and use AI and other automation tools, you can actually be more secure while moving faster. The tools can test for vulnerabilities, generate more secure code, and incorporate best practices by default. You get better outcomes at greater speed."
– Jason Goth
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Time Stamps
00:00 Intro
00:25 Holding executives accountable for slow AI adoption
02:35 Overcorrection? Or justified response?
09:55 Roles are shifting across organizations
13:40 Think slow but act fast
20:35 Lean on specific, measureable pursuits
25:25 Security is no longer a good excuse
29:35 It's okay to break things
38:00 Is it as easy as adding a new title to your executive team?
46:35 Empower your existing teams to orient around action
50:50 Recent AI wins to learn from
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Links
Connect with the hosts on LinkedIn!
GenAI capabilities are in a state of constant acceleration, but without true memory, it also is starting from scratch with each use. In this episode of Pure Signal, you’ll hear why context is the next critical unlock in AI and what it means for both businesses trying to stay ahead and consumers craving personalization.
Opening up with a breakdown of how current models are operating, Vincent, Kevin, and Jason weigh how these platforms will need to evolve in order to be fully customized at the user level in a safe and scalable way. They argue that while the most obvious benefit exists on the consumer side with increased user loyalty, executives and businesses would also be able to leverage this unlock to streamline many of their operations.
Is it technically feasible to carry context from app to app? Will vendors allow it, or fight to own it? And what are the strategic risks of letting someone else control your AI memory layer?
Whether you’re designing new products, leading AI integration, or shaping data architecture, this episode offers a timely look at what it takes to build differentiated experiences in a world of commoditized intelligence.
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Quotes
"What’s fascinating is that we’re revisiting the same challenges we’ve seen throughout 200 years of computing. General vs. Special Purpose. Memory vs. No Memory. It’s always been the same problem. AI today looks like early mainframes or punch cards in some ways. We’re going to need another evolution to figure out how memory and personalization really work.” – Kevin Erickson
"The way we've designed systems for the last 20 years is to be stateless. The AI models are no different. You either put memory into the model, which is basically not scalable—or you provide it as input every time. That’s why durable, long-term memory is such a hard architecture problem to solve." – Jason Goth
"We're going to move from a world where your data travels with you. That's the game-changer. I shouldn't have to reintroduce myself to every system I use. The intelligence isn't just in the model, it's in what it remembers about me and how seamlessly it can apply that context." – Vincent Yates
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Time Stamps
00:00 Intro
01:00 The value of being remembered
05:35 Will AI models be sought out for stored context?
14:05 Can each platform be fully customized per user?
19:30 Solving future problems with current technology
25:25 Increasing loyalty with added context
30:10 Where will customers see the impact
36:35 Are potential risks worth worrying over?
43:20 It all comes back to differentiation
47:40 Wrapping up
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Links
Connect with the hosts on LinkedIn!
M&A processes are more efficient than ever before with AI streamlining complicated processes and offering in depth research at will. Today on Pure Signal, you’ll hear what this might mean for the future of services business, consulting firms, and even government systems.
The conversation kicks off with Vincent, Kevin, and Jason covering traditional rollup models from a pre-AI world. With original investment theses centered primarily around centralizing back office tasks and bringing incremental improvements to functions such marketing and IT, Gen AI is now lowering integration costs and accelerating system migrations in ways that reshape the calculus entirely.
From deconstructing tech debt to reinventing customer acquisition and marketing, the trio tackles big questions. Are legacy systems now strategic assets? What does risk management look like in the AI era? And is consulting still defensible when information advantage erodes?
Whether you're a CEO navigating digital transformation or a strategist rethinking your M&A lens, this episode offers a thought-provoking look into the tools, tactics, and mindsets required to lead in the AI-powered future.
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Quotes
“If things are cleaned up and there is less technical debt, then there's going to be opportunities to do things you wouldn’t have done otherwise because it would’ve been too costly.” – Jason Goth
“We’ve always onboarded customers this way, but do we need to anymore? The companies that will win are those questioning what’s possible and willing to rethink.” – Kevin Erickson
“You don’t need a 100% accuracy guarantee. What you need is a reserve model and a willingness to accept some errors because being too risk-averse is costing you money.” – Vincent Yates
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Time Stamps
00:00 Intro
00:55 Centralizing service businesses pre-AI
05:45 Where to consolidate first?
12:30 How does the landscape look now with AI?
20:35 The customer acquisition process is changing
24:45 Removing legacy roadblocks to upgrade systems
30:45 Balancing risk and efficiency
37:55 Reimagining what you thought was possible
41:10 Applying this lens of retooling at the societal level
45:00 Facing the new shift in consulting
49:40 CEOs’ adoption of AI
53:50 Wrapping up
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Links
Connect with the hosts on LinkedIn!
Today on Pure Signal, Vincent, Jason, and Kevin tackle one of the most fundamental questions when looking at today’s technological landscape: What do companies actually believe?
In a wide-ranging conversation that spans from post-war industrial America to the Gen AI frontier, the team explores how implicit belief systems, not mission statements, are truly driving corporate behavior. From Bell Labs and Silicon Valley's shifting ethos to the rise of bold, founder-led companies, the discussion reveals why full neutrality is an impossible hill to stand on.
As generative AI begins to reshape not just how companies operate but what they stand for, this episode offers a timely look at why leadership, taste, and strategic conviction are more critical than ever. Whether you're leading or building an organization, this conversation will challenge how you think about purpose, performance, and the future of AI-led business.
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Quotes
“AI is going to force organizations to define their taste. How they want to sound, look, and operate. You can’t outsource that to a committee. CEOs will have to make bold, unpopular decisions, and that requires a core belief system that doesn’t wobble with the wind.” – Vincent Yates
“I don’t think purpose is just about profits, but I also don’t buy into the idea that stakeholder capitalism alone creates value. The companies that last are the ones that tie employee experience and customer value into a shared mission. That’s where you find real nobility in work.” – Kevin Erickson
“The most successful companies I’ve seen rally around a clear mission. Something bigger than just making money. That sense of purpose drives innovation and attracts people who actually want to build. It’s not about marketing spin; it’s about having something real to stand behind.” – Jason Goth
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Time Stamps
00:00 Intro
01:00 Defining the true beliefs of organizations amidst global turbulence
02:45 Shifting priorities of Silicon Valley companies
06:25 How beliefs create a value prop for employees
08:55 Bell Labs case study11:20 The role of mission-driven innovation in business success
13:10 What companies can learn from a united past
17:15 What gives people purpose?
20:40 Why companies are choosing to stay private
23:55 How are CEOs winning loyalty?
35:30 The importance of defining your company's purpose
36:25 How do you define your company mission?
38:15 How will AI affect company core values?
39:20 The aesthetics of AI
51:10 Where does AI fit in your organization?
52:25 The Corporate AI Mandate
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Links
Connect with the hosts on LinkedIn!
Today on Pure Signal—our first episode since rebranding from Technology Tangents—the team dives into the major shifts reshaping the tech landscape. Vincent, Jason, and Kevin break down everything from crypto M&A and evolving tech policy to rapid AI advancements and the growing crisis in energy infrastructure.
As these forces converge, they explore what it means for businesses facing an increasingly volatile environment—and why adaptability, foundational tech, and clear strategic vision are more essential than ever. With AI’s insatiable demand for power testing infrastructure limits, the need for innovative, future-ready solutions is front and center.
If you’re looking to cut through the noise and stay ahead of what’s really driving tech forward, this episode is your starting point.
Today on Technology Tangents, the team has a very special announcement to share. Starting with our next episode, the show will be updated to Pure Signal, where we will cut through the noise to help you understand what matters in tech. Don’t worry, you won’t have to update anything on your end as a subscriber and you’ll hear more today as Jason, Kevin, and Vincent reflect on the show’s journey.
The big topics for today include recent travels for all three of our hosts as they share their insights from NVIDIA GTC, Adobe Summit, and Kevin’s recent trip to India. As AI continues to dominate all types of industry conversations, it in turn is impacting the conferences of organizations who are leading the charge.
If you want to stay ahead of where enterprise AI is truly going, this episode offers a glimpse into the forces that will shape the next five years of strategy, talent, and technology.
In this episode, Vincent Yates and Jason Goth are joined by Kevin Erickson, Partner at Credera, to explore how generative AI is reshaping advertising and forcing businesses to rethink personalization, revenue models, and accessibility. Is traditional advertising on its way out? How will small businesses compete? And what strategies should leaders adopt to stay ahead? Tune in for a deep dive into the future of digital ads.
In this episode, Vincent Yates and Jason Goth are joined by Kevin Erickson, Partner at Credera, to explore hidden inefficiencies and operational waste within organizations, from AI-driven cost-cutting to modernizing legacy systems. The trio discusses why outdated processes persist, who should be responsible for fixing them, and how to balance cost-cutting with morale and innovation. Tune in for a candid conversation on leadership, efficiency, and smart decision-making.
Super Bowl LIX was a high-tech spectacle, showcasing how technology is reshaping live sports and entertainment.
In this podcast, our hosts discuss the technology advancements displayed in the Super Bowl, from a player perspective, to a fan safety perspective, to, of course, the advertisements. Whether you’re a sports fanatic, a tech enthusiast, or a business leader looking at the future of sports entertainment, this is a chance to appreciate the technology advancements in sports and explore how these innovations can be integrated into your organization's everyday operations.
Learn more about the podcast, or reach out to start a conversation.
Outline:
The introduction of DeepSeek-R1 has made waves in the market, challenging OpenAI's model and causing a significant shift in the US market cap, with a trillion dollars vanishing overnight. What exactly is happening, and what do business leaders need to know?
In this episode, we're deep-diving into the new open-source LLM, exploring its strengths and weaknesses, and discussing the potential implications for your business. Join us as we unpack the transformative power of DeepSeek-R1 and what it means for the future of technology and commerce.
Learn more about the podcast, or reach out to start a conversation.
Outline:
In 2025, where will technology and innovation take us? Coming off CES 2025, our leaders are discussing several overarching trends in technology and our predictions on how it might shape the business landscape this year.
Key topics include the maturation of AI applications, the rise of open-source AI models and self-hosting, the potential of robotics, quantum computing, cybersecurity, and the implications of evolving technology regulations.
Learn more about the podcast, or reach out to start a conversation.
Outline
00:00 - Introductions
1:17 - 2025 tech predictions
3:38 - AI predictions
31:55 - IoT and Edge predictions
36:19 - Robotics at CES... how big is the market for robotics?
49:15 - Quantum computing predictions
51:11 - Cybersecurity predictions
56:50 - Policy regulation predictions
1:03:12 - Cloud and serverless predictions
1:05:38 - Human technology & human-computer interfaces predictions
1:08:25 - The future of work and RTO policies
In our latest episode of Technology Tangents, we're discussing evolutions in large language models (LLMs) and what to expect from these models in 2025. Explore the latest capabilities, advancements, and limitations with the various LLMs in the market.
Learn more about the podcast, or reach out to start a conversation.
Outline
After a recent CNBC Technology Executive Council meeting with other technology leaders, Vincent returned with two topics to discuss on the podcast: the recent US election and quantum computing.
The dialogue explores the complexities of data accuracy in polling, the influence of incentives in politics and business, and the potential threats and strategic opportunities posed by advancements in quantum technology.
Learn more about the podcast, or reach out to start a conversation.
The US FDA recently approved an over-the-counter hearing aid software for Apple AirPods, creating huge implications for the healthcare market and AI integration in personal health monitoring.
In today's podcast, we're discussing Apple's unique position in the market and strategy for growing market share, the implications of FDA regulations on tech innovations, and the evolving landscape of data privacy and technology in healthcare.
Learn more about the podcast, or reach out to start a conversation.
In this episode of our Technology Tangents podcast, Vincent Yates and Jason Goth are joined by Kevin Erickson, Partner at Credera. The trio deep dive into the story of SpaceX's Starlink—the origins of this innovative technology, the potential impact Starlink has on the internet industry and society at large, and the lessons all business leaders can learn from Elon Musk's approach to disruption and creativity in technology.
