Episodios

  • The Digital Transformation of Market Research with Agentic AI

    The Digital Transformation of Market Research with Agentic AI
    Mar 24 2026
    Market research has a productivity problem, and the industry has been too busy fielding studies to fix it. Priscilla McKinney, host of Digital Transformation Success and CEO of Little Bird Marketing, sits down with Jeremy Antoniuk, Founder and CEO of Scalafai, to talk about what happens when someone who has actually run research operations builds the platform they always wished existed. On this episode of Digital Transformation Success, Antoniuk brings two decades of hands-on experience to a conversation about why the research industry is overdue for a different approach and what it looks like when digital transformation meets the day-to-day grind of a project manager. The pressure to do more with less has pushed research teams to patch together workflows across a fragmented landscape of tools, and that fragmentation creates risk at every stage of a project. Data quality issues that force costly re-fielding, executive presentations that consume senior-level hours, survey programming that eats days when it could take minutes — these are not edge cases. They are the standard. What separates a platform built by someone who has lived that reality from one built purely by engineers is the difference between a tool that performs and one that actually fits the way researchers work. "Building software that truly helps a user get through their day faster and with less pain," Antoniuk explains, "to me, that's the ultimate measure of success." The build-vs-buy debate runs underneath much of this conversation, and Antoniuk's perspective is grounded in real patterns he is seeing across the industry. For research teams weighing whether to develop something in-house, the answer may be less about capability and more about what it actually costs in time, in risk, and in the domain knowledge that no engineering team inherits automatically. The path to meaningful marketing automation in research is not just a technology decision. It is an operational one. Sponsors: Priscilla McKinney here! I am very excited to tell you about my book: Collaboration is the New Competition: Why the Future of Work Rewards A Cross Pollinating Hive Mind and How Not to Get Left Behind The book's chapters are designed to be time-efficient, ensuring busy professionals can easily integrate these transformative ideas into their workflow. From discussing the state of affairs in business to providing fundamental strategies and seven practical anchors for staying on course, this book offers a fresh perspective and a competitive advantage in today's complex business landscape. Visit priscillamckinney.com for more information. Ever feel like your marketing plan is just... meh? You've got the pieces, but are they really working together? We often find that even when companies are doing the right things, they may not be doing them in the right order. The results are, well, no results. Curious how you can effectively evaluate your marketing efforts? Want clarity on your next best strategic move? Take our Marketing Assessment Quiz and in just minutes, discover exactly where you stand – and where you could be going. Click here and take the quiz today and don’t leave success to chance. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    28 m
  • Digital Transformation Is a People Problem, Not a Technology Problem

    Digital Transformation Is a People Problem, Not a Technology Problem
    Feb 24 2026
    *Help us shape the future of Digital Transformation Success by taking a short, 11-question ⁠⁠listener survey⁠⁠.* Most companies treat digital transformation as a technology problem and spend accordingly. Digital Transformation Success returns with host and Little Bird Marketing CEO Priscilla McKinney tackling one of the most misunderstood realities in business today. The failure rate of digital transformation initiatives is not a technology crisis. It is a people crisis. And until organizations accept that distinction, no amount of software spending will save them. The rate of business mortality is accelerating, and the organizations that survive are not the ones with the largest tech budgets or the most sophisticated tools. A clear digital transformation strategy matters far less than the organizational willingness to actually change how people work, think, and create value. Because transforming isn't about software, it's about people. "So many digital initiatives fail because people never asked whether their people were willing to work differently," McKinney explains. "Think differently, or let go of the way things used to be." McKinney breaks down the approaches available to organizations at different stages of readiness, and the strategic levers that determine where to focus first, arguing that the right starting point is rarely where most companies begin. Marketing automation, new platforms, and digitized workflows all play a role in transformation. But the organizations that get the most from those investments are the ones that do the harder internal work first. Skipping that step is not a shortcut. It is the reason so many initiatives end up as cautionary tales. Sponsors: Ever feel like your marketing plan is just... meh? You've got the pieces, but are they really working together? Little Bird Marketing often finds that even when companies are doing the right things, they may not be doing them in the right order. The results are, well, no results. Curious how you can effectively evaluate your marketing efforts? Want clarity on your next best strategic move? Take the Marketing Assessment Quiz and in just minutes, discover exactly where you stand – and where you could be going. Click here and take the quiz today and don’t leave success to chance. Priscilla McKinney is not just a CEO; she is also a LinkedIn Influencer. The reality is that very few people are using LinkedIn efficiently or effectively, and if you’re not careful, social media can become a black hole. When you emerge, you find you wound up in a place you never intended to go and you’re wondering where all the time went. Time is precious, and trying to be everything to everyone means becoming nothing to no one. That's why she's developed a transformative 12-week course that goes beyond basic tips and tricks – teaching you how to build a strategic network and create stellar content that cuts through the LinkedIn noise. Click here to learn more, and sign up for a spot in her social influence course today! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    28 m
  • Digital Transformation as a Growth Strategy

    Digital Transformation as a Growth Strategy
    Jan 27 2026
    *Want to win some noise-canceling headphones? Help us shape the future of Digital Transformation Success by taking a short, 11-question ⁠⁠listener survey⁠⁠ and be entered into the giveaway. Deadline is February 28th.* Growth doesn't always require more spending, it requires smarter allocation of existing resources. Digital Transformation Success host and Little Bird Marketing CEO Priscilla McKinney speaks with Eric Siano, Managing Director at Blue Leopard LLC about digital transformation as a business growth accelerator. They examine how companies can achieve measurable growth by rethinking current spending levels rather than demanding increased budgets. Siano shares frameworks for translating digital transformation strategy into executable go-to-market plans that impact revenue, efficiency, and cross-departmental alignment. Siano's experience spanning 15 industries and 17 countries reveals a counterintuitive truth, that digital transformation consulting isn't about mastering industry-specific nuances, but recognizing universal patterns in how businesses create value. The core challenges remain consistent whether working in financial services, automotive, or consumer goods - companies must develop products, communicate their value, and reach customers effectively. This perspective allows him to see beyond surface-level technology debates and identify the fundamental business problems that digital transformation strategy should solve. "Understanding that digital transformation is a growth accelerator, once you understand that, there's a lot of commonality across industries," Siano explains. "We have to create products, we have to communicate the value of those products, we have to reach customers." The shift from viewing digital transformation as a technology project to recognizing it as a digital business strategy requires fundamental changes in how departments communicate and collaborate. When teams align around shared revenue goals rather than isolated departmental metrics, the conversation moves from blame and excuses to collective problem-solving. This alignment doesn't happen through new systems alone, it emerges from understanding customer buying cycles, budget processes, and the strategic use of questions that guide organizations toward actionable solutions rather than scattered tactics. Sponsors: Priscilla McKinney here! I am very excited to tell you about my book: Collaboration is the New Competition: Why the Future of Work Rewards A Cross Pollinating Hive Mind and How Not to Get Left Behind The book's chapters are designed to be time-efficient, ensuring busy professionals can easily integrate these transformative ideas into their workflow. From discussing the state of affairs in business to providing fundamental strategies and seven practical anchors for staying on course, this book offers a fresh perspective and a competitive advantage in today's complex business landscape. Visit priscillamckinney.com for more information. Priscilla McKinney is not just a CEO; she is also a LinkedIn Influencer. The reality is that very few people are using LinkedIn efficiently or effectively, and if you’re not careful, social media can become a black hole. When you emerge, you find you wound up in a place you never intended to go and you’re wondering where all the time went. Time is precious, and trying to be everything to everyone means becoming nothing to no one. That's why she's developed a transformative 12-week course that goes beyond basic tips and tricks – teaching you how to build a strategic network and create stellar content that cuts through the LinkedIn noise. Click here to learn more, and sign up for a spot in her social influence course today! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    34 m
  • Translating Growth Strategy into Business Success

    Translating Growth Strategy into Business Success
    Dec 16 2025
    *Want to win some noise-canceling headphones? Help us shape the future of Digital Transformation Success by taking a short, 11-question ⁠⁠listener survey⁠⁠ and be entered into the giveaway. Deadline is February 28th.* Technology enables strategy, but strategy must come first. On this episode of Digital Transformation Success, host and Little Bird Marketing CEO Priscilla McKinney talks with Alena Rossini, Head of Business Strategy for Tesco Retail Media, about how digital transformation strategy fails when organizations prioritize tools over foundations, treating technology as the answer rather than an enabler of strong brand principles and clear direction. Rossini explains why digital transformation strategy fails when leadership keeps pivoting direction, chasing technology changes instead of staying true to strategic plans. She finds that many organizations struggle with fragmented channels and rapidly changing technology, which tempts CMOs to shift brand positioning, target audiences, and messaging constantly. This creates the opposite of a strong foundation. She shares how an effective demand generation strategy requires consistency even as the landscape evolves. She explains, "If you build strong foundations, you can build really high, what is very tempting nowadays, especially with the shorter cycle of CMOs in place, is to keep changing what you stand for. And that just creates massive inefficiencies." She also shares insights on B2B marketing trends, showing a return to brand building and emotional engagement through video content, as well as the adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) in marketing, distinguishing between productivity gains and creative applications. While AI excels at consistency and scale, true differentiation still requires human intuition, emotion, and boldness in marketing strategy. Music written and performed by Leighton Cordell. Sponsors: Priscilla McKinney here! I am very excited to tell you about my book: Collaboration is the New Competition: Why the Future of Work Rewards A Cross Pollinating Hive Mind and How Not to Get Left Behind The book's chapters are designed to be time-efficient, ensuring busy professionals can easily integrate these transformative ideas into their workflow. From discussing the state of affairs in business to providing fundamental strategies and seven practical anchors for staying on course, this book offers a fresh perspective and a competitive advantage in today's complex business landscape. Visit priscillamckinney.com for more information. Priscilla McKinney is not just a CEO; she is also a LinkedIn Influencer. The reality is that very few people are using LinkedIn efficiently or effectively, and if you’re not careful, social media can become a black hole. When you emerge, you find you wound up in a place you never intended to go and you’re wondering where all the time went. Time is precious, and trying to be everything to everyone means becoming nothing to no one. That's why she's developed a transformative 12-week course that goes beyond basic tips and tricks – teaching you how to build a strategic network and create stellar content that cuts through the LinkedIn noise. Click here to learn more, and sign up for a spot in her social influence course today! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    29 m
  • Getting CRM Implementation Right

    Getting CRM Implementation Right
    Dec 2 2025
    *Want to win some noise-canceling headphones? Help us shape the future of Digital Transformation Success by taking a short, 11-question ⁠listener survey⁠ and be entered into the giveaway. Deadline is February 28th.* CRM systems fail because we confuse strategy with software. On this episode of Digital Transformation Success, host and Little Bird Marketing CEO Priscilla McKinney talks with guest and CEO of aheadCRM LLC, Thomas Wieberneit, about customer relationship management (CRM) and the customer experience (CX) industry. They discuss how CRM implementation fails when organizations confuse the map with the territory, treating systems as silver bullets rather than strategic tools that require proper planning, change management, and continuous optimization. Wieberneit explains the two most common mistakes in digital transformation consulting related to CRM implementation. The first is failing to include the people who will actually use the customer database in planning discussions. The second is implementing systems to serve management rather than frontline teams. The mistake that management or buyers often make, Wieberneit explains. “Is [thinking that] another system helps me get out of [a failing CRM situation]; It's a silver bullet." By contrast, he shares how successful CRM projects focus on removing administrative burdens from sales and service personnel so they can spend more time building customer relationships. He provides expert advice on how to turn systems of record into true engagement platforms by improving audience segmentation, automating mundane tasks, and prioritizing user adoption over key performance indicators (KPIs) and management reporting. McKinney and Wieberneit also discuss the role of emerging technologies, such as agentic AI and large language models (LLMs) in CRM systems. Wieberneit provides real-world examples of where these technologies create genuine value, versus where they become expensive solutions in search of problems. He shares a valuable use case of how Siemens uses LLM-based helper tools for technical service questions, allowing human service personnel to focus on complex problems that require relationship building. The conversation emphasizes the importance of outcome-oriented implementation that creates a unified customer experience by prioritizing customer needs, thereby generating business value for the organization. Music written and performed by Leighton Cordell. Sponsors: Priscilla McKinney here! I am very excited to tell you about my book: Collaboration is the New Competition: Why the Future of Work Rewards A Cross Pollinating Hive Mind and How Not to Get Left Behind The book's chapters are designed to be time-efficient, ensuring busy professionals can easily integrate these transformative ideas into their workflow. From discussing the state of affairs in business to providing fundamental strategies and seven practical anchors for staying on course, this book offers a fresh perspective and a competitive advantage in today's complex business landscape. Visit priscillamckinney.com for more information. Priscilla McKinney is not just a CEO; she is also a LinkedIn Influencer. The reality is that very few people are using LinkedIn efficiently or effectively, and if you’re not careful, social media can become a black hole. When you emerge, you find you wound up in a place you never intended to go and you’re wondering where all the time went. Time is precious, and trying to be everything to everyone means becoming nothing to no one. That's why she's developed a transformative 12-week course that goes beyond basic tips and tricks – teaching you how to build a strategic network and create stellar content that cuts through the LinkedIn noise. Click here to learn more, and sign up for a spot in her social influence course today! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    32 m
  • Brand Positioning for the B2B Customer Journey in Tech

    Brand Positioning for the B2B Customer Journey in Tech
    Sep 9 2025
    Every company today operates as a technology company, whether they realize it or not. On this episode of Digital Transformation Success, host and Little Bird Marketing CEO Priscilla McKinney talks with Dr. Tracy Tuten, VP of qualitative research at Illuminas, a Radius company, where she leads the qualitative practice. They discuss how companies across all sectors must recognize they're operating in a technology-driven marketplace and adapt their digital transformation strategy accordingly through strategic brand positioning. Tuten shares her expertise on emergent positioning dangers and grand flag concepts, explaining how businesses can navigate competitive landscapes through strategic research and positioning. She demonstrates through real-world digital transformation case studies like ONTIC versus Resolver and Stripe versus Audion how companies can understand the B2B customer journey and uncover the right positioning strategy using market research to differentiate themselves in crowded markets and even redefine entire industry categories. The conversation addresses the high-stakes nature of product launches and market positioning in today's competitive landscape, where companies have limited budgets and marketing automation resources. Tuten emphasizes how understanding buyer psychology and strategic research provides the foundation for confident decision-making in these critical business moments. "Research is the antidote to risk," Tuten explains. "We have a limited budget. We need to see success from it. Research is the investment that you make to have that antidote to risk." McKinney and Tuten also discuss practical frameworks for avoiding common positioning pitfalls, such as kitchen sink messaging, parity positioning, and attempting to win where competitors already dominate. They emphasize how engineered positioning strategies enable companies to establish a foothold on competitive ground they can actually hold and defend. Sponsors: Tired of generic marketing firms that don't get market research? Say hello to Little Bird Marketing, the revenue generation company of choice for the market research industry. Our "peeps" understand market research inside and out. We know your buyers, craft meaningful messages that move them to buy, understand the competitive landscape and where you fit in the market. We get the industry - from qual/quant to emerging technologies. Why settle for getting the job done when you can soar with marketing that drives real revenue? Click here to get started. Priscilla McKinney is not just a CEO; she is also a LinkedIn Influencer. The reality is that very few people are using LinkedIn efficiently or effectively, and if you’re not careful, social media can become a black hole. When you emerge, you find you wound up in a place you never intended to go and you’re wondering where all the time went. Time is precious, and trying to be everything to everyone means becoming nothing to no one. That's why she's developed a transformative 12-week course that goes beyond basic tips and tricks – teaching you how to build a strategic network and create stellar content that cuts through the LinkedIn noise. Click here to learn more, and sign up for a spot in her social influence course today! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    24 m
  • Expert Advice for Better B2B Marketing Campaigns for Tech Companies

    Expert Advice for Better B2B Marketing Campaigns for Tech Companies
    Aug 26 2025
    What if the difference between business success and stagnation lies in distinguishing flashy metrics from insights that beat your competition? On this episode of Digital Transformation Success, host and Little Bird Marketing CEO Priscilla McKinney talks with Andrew Elder, SVP for Advanced Analytics at Illuminas, a Radius Insights company, about the critical shift happening in quantitative research and competitive analysis. They explore how AI tools are transforming the baseline of what clients can accomplish independently, forcing research professionals to evolve beyond traditional metrics like Net Promoter Score toward more sophisticated competitive positioning strategies. Elder also explains how B2B decision-making complexity creates unique challenges that AI cannot fully address, particularly when dealing with collaborative organizational decisions involving multiple influencers across different timeframes and contexts. The conversation reveals why understanding your competitive position requires moving beyond simple recommendation scores to capture the nuanced reality of how brands elevate within their specific market categories. "The competitive context is absolutely crucial," Elder explains. “The reality is that companies need buyers to not only think positively about [their] brand, but also think about how that fits [their] needs relative to other options.” The discussion also covers Illuminas' "Science of Winning" methodology, which builds on over 10 years of research demonstrating that relative brand position predicts future outcomes far better than absolute scores. This approach helps technology companies understand that becoming the most recommended brand within their competitive set matters more than achieving high scores in isolation, whether they're competing at the platform level or within specialized technology stacks. Sponsors: Priscilla McKinney here! I am very excited to tell you about my book: Collaboration is the New Competition: Why the Future of Work Rewards A Cross Pollinating Hive Mind and How Not to Get Left Behind The book's chapters are designed to be time-efficient, ensuring busy professionals can easily integrate these transformative ideas into their workflow. From discussing the state of affairs in business to providing fundamental strategies and seven practical anchors for staying on course, this book offers a fresh perspective and a competitive advantage in today's complex business landscape. Visit priscillamckinney.com for more information. Tired of generic marketing firms that don't get market research? Say hello to Little Bird Marketing, the revenue generation company of choice for the market research industry. Our "peeps" understand market research inside and out. We know your buyers, craft meaningful messages that move them to buy, understand the competitive landscape and where you fit in the market. We get the industry - from qual/quant to emerging technologies. Why settle for getting the job done when you can soar with marketing that drives real revenue? Click here to get started. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    32 m
  • Redefining Market Research with AI for Tech Companies

    Redefining Market Research with AI for Tech Companies
    Aug 12 2025
    Technology buyers can't make decisions based solely on immediate needs. On this episode of Digital Transformation Success, host and Little Bird Marketing CEO Priscilla McKinney talks with Jay Shutter, CEO of Illuminas, who has spent three decades interviewing CIOs and senior IT leaders across every major technology transition. How do you use tech products when you’re studying tech products? Interesting question and a good place to start when talking to an expert on market research in the tech space. McKinney takes the opportunity to get a finger on the pulse on how tech companies are struggling to understand enterprise buyers and how they gain a competitive advantage. Shutter gives an informed explanation of how technology purchasing decisions have evolved as systems become more integrated, requiring buyers to consider three to five-year implications because technology stacks create vendor dependencies. He shares insights from launching Radius Tech, which combines decades of technology research experience with AI-powered tools like Radius IQ for real-time qualitative probing within quantitative surveys. "Technology buyers today can't just think about what they're buying for today," Shutter explains. "Because technology changes so fast, you as a buyer have to think about today and the future." They go a bit deeper, examining how marketing automation platforms have reshaped partner ecosystems. This part of the conversation reveals how market research can identify and address common positioning mistakes when companies try to reach skeptical enterprise buyers. In the end, digital transformation consulting approaches must evolve beyond traditional methodologies, and while AI levels the competitive playing field technologically, customer service excellence and human relationships are the standout differentiator for technology companies. Sponsor: Priscilla McKinney here! I am very excited to tell you about my book: Collaboration is the New Competition: Why the Future of Work Rewards A Cross Pollinating Hive Mind and How Not to Get Left Behind The book's chapters are designed to be time-efficient, ensuring busy professionals can easily integrate these transformative ideas into their workflow. From discussing the state of affairs in business to providing fundamental strategies and seven practical anchors for staying on course, this book offers a fresh perspective and a competitive advantage in today's complex business landscape. Visit priscillamckinney.com for more information. Priscilla McKinney is not just a CEO; she is also a LinkedIn Influencer. The reality is that very few people are using LinkedIn efficiently or effectively, and if you’re not careful, social media can become a black hole. When you emerge, you find you wound up in a place you never intended to go and you’re wondering where all the time went. Time is precious, and trying to be everything to everyone means becoming nothing to no one. That's why she's developed a transformative 12-week course that goes beyond basic tips and tricks – teaching you how to build a strategic network and create stellar content that cuts through the LinkedIn noise. Click here to learn more, and sign up for a spot in her social influence course today! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    40 m