What It Means: A Forrester podcast

Each week, the What It Means podcast invites Forrester analysts to discuss the latest trends and challenges to help business and technology leaders make bold decisions and become truly customer-obsessed. Topics range from tech-driven innovation and CX design to B2B buying trends and marketing planning. Listen now and subscribe to get a new episode each week. Got a comment or question? Email our team at podcast@forrester.com.

Latest Episodes

Podcast

How B2B Marketing Leaders Can Plan For An(other) Unpredictable Year

What It Means October 21, 2021
Once again, marketing leaders find themselves planning for a year that seems to defy planning. How does the calculus differ this time around? On this week’s What It Means, Vice Presidents Craig Moore and Ian Bruce discuss Forrester’s 2022 Planning Assumptions for B2B marketing executives and how they can position themselves and their teams for success.
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The Risks And Rewards Of Biometric Data

What It Means October 14, 2021
Biometric data use is at a crossroads. Consumers love the convenience it provides but have privacy concerns. In this episode, VP, Research Director Merritt Maxim and VP, Principal Analyst Andras Cser dive into the benefits and risks of biometric data.
Podcast

Transformation, Not Adaptation, Will Be Key For B2B Sales Leaders In 2022

What It Means October 7, 2021
To succeed in 2022 and beyond, B2B sales leaders need to transform and embrace the new digital normal. Vice Presidents Mike Pregler and Stephanie Sissler explain what that requires in this discussion of Forrester’s 2022 Planning Assumptions for sales executives.
Podcast

Chasing The ROI Of Sustainability In Tech

What It Means September 30, 2021
Did you know that the technology industry accounts for more than 1.4% of global carbon emissions? So what are industry players doing about it? In this episode, Analyst Abhijit Sunil and Senior Consultant Jan Sythoff discuss the efforts being made and the returns being sought.
Podcast

Could The Chip Shortage Derail Your IT Transformation?

What It Means September 23, 2021
The short-term impact of the chip shortage is clear to anyone who’s tried to buy something with a plug or a battery lately. But what long-term impacts should IT executives look out for? VP and Research Director Glenn O’Donnell provides insights.
Podcast

A CISO’s Guide To Employee Empowerment

What It Means September 16, 2021
What’s the most important thing a security leader can do to empower their direct reports? Delegate. Learn how to do it effectively from VP, Principal Analyst Jeff Pollard in this week’s episode.
Podcast

Retailers: Here’s What To Expect During The 2021 Holiday Season

What It Means September 9, 2021
Last year, US retail sales increased 8.3% year over year. What will 2021 bring? VP and Research Director Fiona Swerdlow explains what retailers need to know before the season starts on this episode of What It Means.
Podcast

Solve Customer Mysteries By Uniting Quant & Qual

What It Means September 2, 2021
Quantitative data science and qualitative design research deliver richer, more accurate customer insights by working together. VP and Principal Analyst Brandon Purcell joins What It Means to discuss how blending these two types of research can solve customer mysteries.
Podcast

The Why And How Of Co-Innovation

What It Means August 26, 2021
In an era of digital sameness and disruption, leaders need to look beyond their own four walls to innovate. In this episode, Vice Presidents Matt Guarini and Ted Schadler discuss the benefits and logistics of co-innovation.
Podcast

The Rising Cost Of Ransomware

What It Means August 19, 2021
What’s driving the increase in ransomware attacks, and what can security leaders do to protect their organizations? Analysts Allie Mellen and Steve Turner provide insight in this episode.
Podcast

Why Investing In Employee Wellness Is No Longer Optional

What It Means August 12, 2021
Employee wellness became a top priority during the pandemic. But will it remain one? VP, Principal Analyst James McQuivey and Analyst Jonathan Roberts discuss the role of employee wellness in the future of work.
Podcast

A CFO Within Marketing? For Mastercard, The Move Paid Off

What It Means August 5, 2021
As the pressure to prove marketing’s ROI intensifies, marketing leaders should work to build a strong alliance with their finance counterparts. Mastercard’s Chief Marketing and Communications Officer Raja Rajamannar went one step further, hiring a CFO to serve within marketing. He explains the benefits of this unconventional approach on this week’s What It Means.
Podcast

Causes And Cures For Toxic Culture In The Security Org

What It Means July 29, 2021
There’s a culture crisis in the IT security field that could be putting firms at risk. Learn about the causes and cures of a toxic security culture from Principal Analyst Jinan Budge in this episode of What It Means.
Podcast

The “Wild West” Era Of Digital Advertising Is Ending

What It Means July 22, 2021
The third-party cookie is riding off into the sunset, ending the Wild West era of digital advertising. What comes next? The answer is complicated, but the opportunities are many, explain VP, Principal Analyst Joanna O’Connell and Principal Analyst Tina Moffett in this week’s What It Means.
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Innovative AND Sustainable? Akamai Says “Yes”

What It Means July 15, 2021
Are innovation and sustainability mutually exclusive? Not for tech firm Akamai. Get an inside look at Akamai’s strategies for driving innovation while meeting ambitious sustainability goals.
Podcast

Nestlé’s Tech-Driven Innovation At Work

What It Means July 8, 2021
Struggling to embed technology-driven innovation into your organization? Nestlé’s chief innovation technology officer reveals the food and beverage giant’s secrets to innovation success.
Podcast

Risk, Reward, And Trust In The B2B Sphere

What It Means July 1, 2021
Given the high-stakes nature of many B2B purchases, trust with buyers is key. At a time when trust is in decline, how can B2B companies accomplish this? VP and Group Director Isabel Montesdeoca and Principal Analyst Ian Bruce explain on What It Means.
Podcast

Trust Is Up For Grabs — What’s Your Plan?

What It Means June 24, 2021
Through a confluence of crises, public trust is shifting across the globe. In this episode, Senior Analysts Anjali Lai and Enza Iannopollo discuss the impact of those shifts and the importance of developing a trust strategy in your organization.
Podcast

To Succeed In B2B Sales, Talent Alone Won’t Cut It

What It Means June 17, 2021
The days of relying on superstar sales reps to land huge, quarter-saving deals are over. Winning and retaining today’s buyers takes a systematic, broader-based approach to selling. Vice President and Senior Research Director Phil Harrell explains what this approach entails on this week’s podcast episode.
Podcast

The Pandemic’s Lasting Impact On Employee Engagement

What It Means June 10, 2021
The pandemic highlighted the value of effective employee engagement. But what now? VP, Principal Analyst Thomas Husson and Principal Analyst David Johnson discuss the future of employee engagement.