In this episode of Digitally Curious, host Andrew Grill, renowned futurist and author, sits down with Shannon Scott, Senior Vice President and Global Head of Product at Airwallex, one of the world’s fastest-growing FinTech innovators.

Key Topics Covered:

• Shannon’s Journey:
  From rural Victoria to leading global product strategy at Airwallex, Shannon shares how his background in computer science and mechatronic engineering shapes his approach to building next-generation financial products.
• Engineering Mindset in Product Leadership:
  Discover how thinking from first principles and understanding technology “under the hood” enables Airwallex to deliver seamless, global financial services and challenge industry assumptions.
• AI’s Transformative Role in Financial Services:
  Explore how AI is not just automating traditional tasks like fraud detection and compliance, but fundamentally transforming business workflows, onboarding, and financial operations — turning hours of manual work into minutes.
• Agentic AI Explained:
  Shannon demystifies agentic AI, describing how autonomous AI agents can handle complex, multi-step financial processes, from vendor onboarding to payment reconciliation, and what this means for both large and small businesses.
• Trust, Explainability & Regulation:
  The episode delves into the importance of maintaining trust and explainability in AI-driven finance, the role of human feedback, and why robust regulation gives financial services a head start in adopting AI responsibly.
• Data as a Strategic Asset:
  Learn why proprietary, high-quality data is the new competitive edge in the AI era, and how modular, adaptable data infrastructure is critical for future-proofing financial services.
• The Future of Decision-Making:
  Andrew and Shannon discuss the evolution of AI from an operational tool to a strategic decision partner, capable of suggesting best practices, optimising approval flows, and proactively managing risk.
• Actionable Insights:
  Shannon shares three practical steps for listeners to better understand and leverage agentic AI in finance:
  • Embrace podcasts and diverse learning sources
  • Experiment with new AI tools and services
  • Continuously question and seek better ways of working

Resources

Airwallex Website
Shannon on LinkedIn

Thanks for listening to Digitally Curious. You can buy the book that showcases these episodes at curious.click/order

Your Host is Actionable Futurist® Andrew Grill

For more on Andrew - what he speaks about and recent talks, please visit ActionableFuturist.com

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In this episode, Andrew Grill welcomes back Chris Juneau from SAP Concur to discuss the latest findings from the 2025 CFO Insights report, “Action for Growth.” The conversation explores the evolving role of CFOs, the growing impact of AI and automation in finance, and the introduction of new agentic AI capabilities within SAP Concur’s platform.

Key Topics Covered

• Evolution of CFO Mindset:
  The shift from “repositioning for growth” to “action for growth” reflects CFOs moving from reactive strategies to actively driving business expansion.
  
  
• Expanded Research Scope:
  This year’s report surveyed not only 350 CFOs but also 115 HR and 150 IT leaders, providing a more holistic understanding of business pressures and cross-functional collaboration.
  
  
• Top Challenges for CFOs in 2025:
  • Geopolitical tensions cited as the top external challenge by 37% of CFOs
  • Concern over worsening economic conditions has declined
  • A dramatic rise in manual processes as a pain point
• AI’s Transformational Role in Finance:
  • Adoption of generative AI is now mission-critical for managing data overload and driving efficiency.
  • AI is being used for forecasting, closing the books, fraud monitoring and creating new pricing models.
  • SAP Concur’s “Verify” tool now automatically audits 100% of expense reports, with 97% requiring no human intervention.
• Agentic AI & SAP Joule:
  • Introduction of “Joule,” SAP’s generative AI copilot, embedded across SAP applications.
  • Joule automates mundane tasks, pre-audits expense reports, and provides real-time policy compliance checks.
  • Joule acts as an agentic AI, orchestrating decisions and actions across multiple business processes, not just within finance.
• Integration and Real-Time Data:
  • SAP Concur now integrates with payment providers like MasterCard and American Express to capture real-time authorisation data, streamlining expense reporting and improving categorisation.
• Data Privacy & Security:
  • All financial data processed by Joule is contained within the customer’s environment and is not exposed to external AI sources.
  • Data is anonymised when used for model training, ensuring compliance with strict privacy standards.
• Customisation & Future-Proofing:
  • SAP’s Business Data Cloud enables organisations to unify and govern all SAP and third-party data, supporting custom AI queries across previously siloed data sets.

Resources & Further Reading

SAP Concur CFO Insights Report

SAP Concur Blog

Chris Juneau on LinkedIn

Upcoming Events
Catch Andrew Grill and Chris Juneau on stage at Fusion Exchange in London on June 12.

Thanks for listening to Digitally Curious. You can buy the book that showcases these episodes at curious.click/order

Your Host is Actionable Futurist® Andrew Grill

For more on Andrew - what he speaks about and recent talks, please visit ActionableFuturist.com

Andrew's Social Channels
Andrew on LinkedIn
@AndrewGrill on Twitter
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What happens when we prioritise innovation over ethics in AI development? For the 100th episode of the Digitally Curious Podcast, Kerry Sheehan, a machine learning specialist with a fascinating journey from journalism to AI policy, explores this critical question as she shares powerful insights on responsible AI implementation.

Kerry takes us on a compelling exploration of AI guardrails, comparing them to bowling alley bumpers that prevent technologies from causing harm. Her work with the British Standards Institute has helped establish frameworks rooted in fairness, transparency, and human oversight – creating what she calls "shared language for responsible development" without stifling innovation.

The conversation reveals profound insights about diversity in AI development teams. "If the teams building AI systems don't represent those that the end results will serve, it's not ethical," Kerry asserts. She compares bias to bad seasoning that ruins an otherwise excellent recipe, highlighting how diverse perspectives throughout the development lifecycle are essential for creating fair, beneficial systems.

Kerry's expertise shines as she discusses emerging ethical challenges in AI, from foundation models to synthetic data and agentic systems. She advocates for guardrails that function as supportive scaffolding rather than restrictive handcuffs – principle-driven frameworks with room for context that allow developers to be agile while maintaining ethical boundaries.

What makes this episode particularly valuable are the actionable takeaways: audit your existing AI systems for fairness, develop clear governance frameworks you could confidently explain to others, add ethical reviews to project boards, and include people with diverse lived experiences in your design meetings. These practical steps can help organisations build AI systems that truly work for everyone, not just the privileged few.

This is an important conversation about making AI work for humanity rather than against it. Kerry's perspective will transform how you think about responsible technology implementation in your organisation.

More information
Kerry on LinkedIn

Thanks for listening to Digitally Curious. You can buy the book that showcases these episodes at curious.click/order

Your Host is Actionable Futurist® Andrew Grill

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A phone call that changes everything. A seemingly impossible challenge. Hours instead of months to prepare. When mezzo-soprano Deborah Humble received that unexpected call from the Sydney Symphony Orchestra, she faced a career-defining decision: step onto the stage of the Sydney Opera House that very evening to perform Gustav Mahler's Second Symphony—a piece she had never fully sung before—or walk away from the opportunity of a lifetime.

What followed was a whirlwind day of frantic preparation, from retrieving a discarded concert dress from a garbage bag in her car trunk to a 45-minute crash course with her vocal coach. With barely enough time to warm up, Deborah found herself standing before a sold-out audience at the Sydney Opera House, performing in a concert that was not only being live-streamed globally but also recorded by Deutsche Grammophon for worldwide release.

The stakes couldn't have been higher. The pressure more intense. Yet amid the chaos, Deborah found clarity in a simple thought: "Simone wouldn't have asked you to step up if she didn't think you could do it." With the support of conductor Simone Young and drawing on decades of professional experience, Deborah delivered a performance that earned her a standing ovation and secured her place in Sydney Opera House history.

This remarkable story transcends the world of classical music, offering powerful insights about preparation meeting opportunity, managing self-doubt, and having the courage to take calculated risks. As Deborah reflects, "We are capable of doing what we have spent our whole lives working towards." Her experience reminds us that behind every "overnight success" lies years of dedication, discipline, and determination—qualities that prepare us to seize extraordinary moments when they unexpectedly arrive.

Ready to be inspired by a tale of remarkable courage under pressure? Listen as Deborah reveals what it truly takes to rise to an impossible occasion when everything is on the line.

Find out more about Deborah Humble on her website.

Listen to the recording here.

Thanks for listening to Digitally Curious. You can buy the book that showcases these episodes at curious.click/order

Your Host is Actionable Futurist® Andrew Grill

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Welcome to Season 7 of the Digitally Curious Podcast. This show is a perfect compendium if you’ve bought the book of the same name, and if you haven’t grabbed yourself a copy, may I suggest that’s something you should consider investing in - just click here or ask for it by name wherever great books are sold.

In today’s episode, we’re going back in time to an interview I conducted with David Shrier in late 2021 - well before ChatGPT hit the headlines. We discuss his book Augmenting Your Career: How to Win at Work In the Age of AI, and the book and our discussion are as relevant as ever, three years on.

What I found interesting while editing the episode on New Year’s Day 2025 is that it’s an excellent discussion about the fundamentals of AI without the hype of ChatGPT and Generative AI

David Shrier, a trailblazer in technology and educational innovation, joins us in dissecting the future of work in the age of artificial intelligence. His perspective on AI as "augmented intelligence" challenges us to rethink the relationship between humans and machines.

With examples from around the globe, David advocates for AI literacy as a cornerstone of modern education, highlighting how nations like Denmark, China, and Singapore are setting benchmarks.

This episode promises to enhance your understanding of how AI can be integrated into educational ecosystems and professional life, guided by insights from David's book, "Augmenting Your Career."

Navigating the ethical landscape of AI is more important than ever, and we bring focus to the critical role of government regulators in this space. We dive into real-world examples, such as Google's image recognition failures, to underscore the importance of diverse data and ethical diligence. The conversation praises initiatives like those of the UK government and challenges the pitfalls of overregulation, drawing lessons from New York's BitLicense situation. ]

Our discussion is a must-listen for anyone interested in how regulatory frameworks can either propel or stifle technological innovation.

As AI reshapes the job market, we explore the shifting roles and opportunities emerging across various industries. From philosophy majors finding their niche in AI development to the resilience of healthcare and creative arts, there's a world of possibility awaiting those prepared to adapt. We also touch on corporate responsibility, using Accenture's workforce reskilling as a model for sustaining company culture amidst AI-driven changes.

Discover practical strategies for staying ahead in this rapidly evolving landscape, emphasizing cognitive flexibility and continuous learning as keys to thriving in the digital age.

More on David
David on LinkedIn
David's books

Thanks for listening to Digitally Curious. You can buy the book that showcases these episodes at curious.click/order

Your Host is Actionable Futurist® Andrew Grill

For more on Andrew - what he speaks about and recent talks, please visit ActionableFuturist.com

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In this episode, we speak to Australia's first official astronaut, Katherine Bennell-Pegg, about her lifelong passion for space exploration and how she pursued her dream of becoming an astronaut.

We also covered:

• The importance of international experience and cultural adaptability in the astronaut selection process and training
  
  
• The rigorous and diverse nature of astronaut training, including spacecraft systems, robotics, survival techniques, and more
  
  
• The exciting future of space exploration, including missions to the Moon and the scientific research opportunities on the International Space Station
  
  
• Advice for those interested in space-related careers, emphasizing the need for purpose-driven work and a willingness to step outside one's comfort zone

We last covered space on the podcast in Season 4, Episode 3 - Space Based Solar Power.

Quotable Quotes:

"Working in an international environment from a project basis as well as from a life basis really made me say that there's lots of different kinds of engineers, lots of ways to culturally come to solutions."

"Being an astronaut is bigger than the space sector. It's for many kinds of researchers, as well as raising the aspirations of the public as well."

Resources:

Katherine on LinkedIn
Katherine on Instagram
Katherine on Twitter

Learn more about Katherine Bennell-Pegg and the Australian Space Agency at space.gov.au

Explore the International Space Station and its scientific research here.

Thank you to Katherine, Engineers Australia and Frank Gallagher for contributing to this episode.

Thanks for listening to Digitally Curious. You can buy the book that showcases these episodes at curious.click/order

Your Host is Actionable Futurist® Andrew Grill

For more on Andrew - what he speaks about and recent talks, please visit ActionableFuturist.com

Andrew's Social Channels
Andrew on LinkedIn
@AndrewGrill on Twitter
@Andrew.Grill on Instagram
Keynote speeches here
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In this episode, Andrew Grill sits down with Carol Howley, Chief Marketing Officer at Exclaimer, a leading email signature management company. Carol shares her extensive experience in B2B marketing, from her early days at Skyscanner to her current role at Exclaimer, where she has been instrumental in scaling the company's marketing efforts. They discuss a wide range of topics, including:

• Carol's Marketing Journey: From her start at Best Western Hotels to building the B2B arm at Skyscanner and her move into the tech-heavy world of Canonical (the company behind Ubuntu), Carol’s career path is full of insights for aspiring marketers.
  
  
• The Role of Exclaimer: Learn how Exclaimer helps organisations manage their email signatures centrally, ensuring compliance and branding consistency while also turning email signatures into valuable marketing real estate.
  
  
• Innovative Use Cases for Email Signatures: Discover how companies are leveraging email signatures for account-based marketing, customer feedback collection, and more.
  
  
• Challenges in Scaling Marketing Programs: Carol discusses the challenges she faced in scaling Exclaimer’s marketing efforts, particularly around change management and balancing short-term lead generation with long-term brand building.
  
  
• The Evolution of Buyer Behaviour: With buyers now doing up to 80% of their research before engaging with sales teams, Carol explains how Exclaimer is adapting to this shift by focusing on personalisation and delivering value at every touchpoint.
  
  
• B2B Influencer Marketing: Carol shares her thoughts on the growing role of influencers in B2B marketing, both formal and informal, and how they can help build credibility and trust in a crowded marketplace.
  
  
• The Power of Integrated Marketing Campaigns: Why integrating multiple marketing channels leads to higher success rates and how Exclaimer wraps potential customers in consistent messaging across various touchpoints.
  
  
• AI in Marketing: Carol highlights how AI is transforming marketing operations at Exclaimer, from automating routine tasks to analysing customer reviews for insights that drive product development.

Join us as we explore the strategies behind successful B2B marketing campaigns and gain actionable insights from one of the industry’s leading voices.

Key Takeaways:

• Email Signatures as a Marketing Tool: Email signatures can be more than just contact information; they are valuable real estate for promoting content, scheduling meetings, and driving engagement.
  
  
• Scaling Challenges: Change management is crucial when scaling a business. Building new channels and operational foundations requires buy-in from all stakeholders.
  
  
• Adapting to Buyer Behaviour: Modern buyers are more independent, often completing most of their research before contacting sales. Marketers need to focus on building trust early in the buyer journey.
  
  
• AI’s Role in Marketing: AI is not replacing marketers but enhancing their ability to scale operations and make data-driven decisions faster than ever befo

Thanks for listening to Digitally Curious. You can buy the book that showcases these episodes at curious.click/order

Your Host is Actionable Futurist® Andrew Grill

For more on Andrew - what he speaks about and recent talks, please visit ActionableFuturist.com

Andrew's Social Channels
Andrew on LinkedIn
@AndrewGrill on Twitter
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Keynote speeches here
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Join Carolanne Ashley, co-host of the Your MindBody Link podcast, as we journey into the future of AI and unpack Andrew Grill's new book, Digitally Curious.

Have you ever wondered how digital curiosity can shape your career? This episode promises to unravel that and more as we uncover the behind-the-scenes story of "Digitally Curious" and how Andrew's early experiments with technology and over 100 podcast interviews fueled its content.

The episode examines groundbreaking technologies such as quantum computing and self-sovereign identity, discussing their imminent and profound impact on businesses.

We also tackle the looming "Q-Day", and the need for organisations to prepare for a new era where quantum computers will challenge current data security measures.

Find out how Andrew's experience speaking to corporate audiences as the Actionable Futurist, where he leaves them with five things to do next, spawned the "Curious Five", which is included at the end of every chapter, making it practical and actionable.

Carolanne asks how AI can transform everyday workflows like never before, acting as an "always-on intern" to revolutionise business operations.

Watch as the tables are turned, and the interviewer becomes the interviewee!

More information

Order Digitally Curious
More on the book
Your MindBody Link podcast
Carolanne's website
Carolanne on LinkedIn

Thanks for listening to Digitally Curious. You can buy the book that showcases these episodes at curious.click/order

Your Host is Actionable Futurist® Andrew Grill

For more on Andrew - what he speaks about and recent talks, please visit ActionableFuturist.com

Andrew's Social Channels
Andrew on LinkedIn
@AndrewGrill on Twitter
@Andrew.Grill on Instagram
Keynote speeches here
Order Digitally Curious