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On the Brink with Andi Simon


Nov 6, 2017

Get ready for the future that is just around the corner—the digital world that awaits us, tomorrow. In this podcast with Michael Gale, you'll be thoroughly excited by the digital revolution and how you can leverage its many opportunities, as revealed in Michael's new Wall Street Journal Bestseller book, "The Digital Helix: Transforming Your Organization's DNA to Thrive in the Digital Age," co-authored with Chris Aarons. Catch my conversation with Michael as he gives organizations the tools they need to work better, faster and smarter by developing a digital culture from the ground up. Enjoy!

Digital Helix.pngIn "The Digital Helix," Michael Gale and Chris Aarons (who was not available for the podcast) explain the specifics of digitally transforming your organization—in particular, 1) developing the role of the digital-explorer leader who uses information to empower the organization, and 2) adjusting the responsibilities of leadership, sales, marketing, communications, product development, customer service and support.

During our interview, Michael talks in-depth about the theory, methods and tools of digital transformation and how it is a bridge to a digital future where organizations can thrive with more fluid business models and processes. Some of the observations he shares:

  • More than 80% of Fortune 500 organizations are trying to digitally transform but less than 20% get the total value of it.
  • 40% either abandon or scale back because it is so tough to do.
  • The ROI on a range of areas is amazing if you get it right: OPEX, margins, brand value, speed.

Listen in, then join the conversation and tell us what you are doing to change your organization using information power.

Michael Gale Headshot.jpegIn 2001, MICHAEL GALE founded Strategic Oxygen which quickly became one of the technology industry’s primary data toolsets for marketers. Used by over 20 brands and facilitating $4 billion of marketing and sales investments, the company was sold to Monitor Group, where Michael served as a group partner from 2006-2010. The next year, he became a partner at the digital consulting company Pulsepoint Group, which was acquired by ICF in 2015. Michael has also served as Chief Web Officer and GM at Micron Technology and Vice President of worldwide brand research at IntelliQuest. 

Chris Aarons Headshot.jpegCHRIS AARONS, Michael's co-author has helped launch dozens of produts companies using a unique mix of digital, sales and marketing strategies. At Pulsepoint Group, Chris helped leading organizations become digital in both their practice and delivery. In 2006, he launched one of the first social media departments at AMD and authored the book "Social Media Judo: The Essential Guide to Mastering Social Media and Delivering Real Results." Chris also teaches digital marketing at the University of Texas at Austin and has won numerous awards for his digital programs for clients such as Adobe, Amazon, AMD, Cisco, Dell, HP, LG, Microsoft, Philips, among others. 

In this episode, Michael Gale and I discuss:

  • The digital revolution’s effect on the future
  • How CEOs can overcome their fear and embrace digital transformation
  • The pitfall of marketing as a world of extremes
  • Approaching inputs and outputs in a way that is responsive rather than systematic
  • Marrying abundant data and agile strategy to implement change
  • Reassessing business assets to be more in tune with a digitally focused world
  • Gender difference in responsiveness and collaborative problem solving
  • Adjusting managers’ mindsets to comprehend the rapidly changing, hands-on world

Resources mentioned in this episode: