According to a new Qualtrics + McKinsey report, organizations that effectively use AI to enhance CX could unlock between $860 billion and $1.3 trillion in annual value.

On the latest episode of The Modern Customer Podcast, I speak with Isabelle Zdatny, Head of Thought Leadership at Qualtrics, live from the X4 conference. We dive into what this research means for CX leaders navigating AI transformation.

Key insights from the report:

• 77% of executives say CX is a top strategic priority

• 72% believe AI will fundamentally reshape CX within three years

• Yet only 12% have a coordinated AI strategy

• Only 15% of executives feel ready to lead AI transformation in their industry

This conversation is a must-listen for CX leaders looking to move beyond pilots, connect AI to business outcomes, and build creative strategies that scale.

Listen to the episode and download the full report for a clear roadmap to unlocking CX value through AI: https://www.qualtrics.com/news/qualtrics-report-executives-are-hesitant-to-lead-in-ai-transformation-putting-up-to-1-3-trillion-at-risk/

Blake Morgan is a customer experience futurist, keynote speaker, and author of three books on customer experience. Her new book is called The 8 Laws of Customer-Focused Leadership: The New Rules for Building A Business Around Today’s Customer.

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For regular updates on customer experience, sign up for her weekly newsletter here.

In the latest episode of The Modern Customer Podcast, Tom Eggemeier, CEO of Zendesk, shares what’s next for CX—and why the future is all about outcomes, not tickets.

The conversation explores Zendesk’s new Resolution Platform and the real-world impact of Agentic AI. Key takeaways include:

✅ The shift from interactions to real resolution
✅ Agentic AI that acts, adapts, and anticipates
✅ A business model that only wins if customers do
✅ The 3 biggest CX shifts redefining loyalty, automation, and the human touch

If you're thinking about where customer experience is headed, this episode offers a clear and optimistic view of what’s possible.
🎧 Tune in now!

Blake Morgan is a customer experience futurist, keynote speaker, and author of three books on customer experience. Her new book is called The 8 Laws of Customer-Focused Leadership: The New Rules for Building A Business Around Today’s Customer.

Follow Blake Morgan on LinkedIn

For regular updates on customer experience, sign up for her weekly newsletter here.

This week on The Modern Customer Podcast, I sat down with Jeff Shore, sales strategist, author, and founder of Shore Consulting.

We explored the emotional mechanics behind why customers buy—and what causes them to hesitate. Jeff shared a powerful framework that helps brands reduce friction, build trust, and create experiences that move customers forward with confidence.

If you lead CX, journey design, or customer strategy, this episode offers fresh insights you can apply right away.

Listen now—and discover how to turn hesitation into momentum.

This episode is sponsored by Scayle—the flexible, scalable eCommerce platform built to grow enterprise brands—pain-free.

Visit www.scayle.com to learn more

Blake Morgan is a customer experience futurist, keynote speaker, and author of three books on customer experience. Her new book is called The 8 Laws of Customer-Focused Leadership: The New Rules for Building A Business Around Today’s Customer.

Follow Blake Morgan on LinkedIn

For regular updates on customer experience, sign up for her weekly newsletter here.

This week on The Modern Customer Podcast, I sat down in person with Donna Morris, EVP and Chief People Officer at Walmart, live from the Qualtrics X4 event in Salt Lake City.

We explored how Walmart is using technology, AI, and a deep focus on people to rethink employee experience at scale—and what that means for customers.

If you lead CX, EX, or digital transformation, this episode is packed with insights you can use.

🎧 Don’t miss this powerful conversation with one of the world’s most influential HR leaders.

Blake Morgan is a customer experience futurist, keynote speaker, and author of three books on customer experience. Her new book is called The 8 Laws of Customer-Focused Leadership: The New Rules for Building A Business Around Today’s Customer.

Follow Blake Morgan on LinkedIn

For regular updates on customer experience, sign up for her weekly newsletter here.

AI is no longer a future concept—it’s here, transforming how businesses operate and how customers engage.

In this episode of The Modern Customer Podcast, Zack Kass, futurist, founder of ZKAI Advisory, and former Head of GTM at OpenAI—joins us to explore how AI is reshaping customer experience and the industries that rely on it.

Zack shares his insights on how AI is shifting CX from reactive problem-solving to seamless, proactive engagement. He explains why many businesses still treat CX as a cost center and how AI-driven automation will eliminate inefficiencies, personalize interactions, and unlock new opportunities for innovation.

The AI revolution is here—businesses that adapt will lead, and those that hesitate will fall behind.

Listen now to learn how AI is transforming CX and what you need to do next.

Blake Morgan is a customer experience futurist, keynote speaker, and author of three books on customer experience. Her new book is called The 8 Laws of Customer-Focused Leadership: The New Rules for Building A Business Around Today’s Customer.

Follow Blake Morgan on LinkedIn

For regular updates on customer experience, sign up for her weekly newsletter here.

In this episode of The Modern Customer Podcast, I sit down with Bill Canady, CEO of OTC Industrial Technologies and Arrowhead Engineered Products, and author of From Panic to Profit, set to release on April 29th. With decades of experience leading billion-dollar companies, Bill shares how leaders can scale efficiently by prioritizing high-impact areas, optimizing processes, and leveraging AI to enhance—not replace—human roles.

Under his leadership at OTC:

👉 Revenue grew by 43%

👉 Earnings increased over 80%

🎧 Listen now to hear Bill’s insights on scaling efficiently, prioritizing impact, and leveraging AI for smarter growth.

Blake Morgan is a customer experience futurist, keynote speaker, and author of three books on customer experience. Her new book is called The 8 Laws of Customer-Focused Leadership: The New Rules for Building A Business Around Today’s Customer.

Follow Blake Morgan on LinkedIn

For regular updates on customer experience, sign up for her weekly newsletter here.

Can AI actually improve customer experience while reducing costs? SAP Concur’s results say yes.

This week on The Modern Customer Podcast, Michelle Lewis Miller, VP of Strategy & Transformation at SAP Concur, shares how her team leveraged AI-powered search and automation to scale support, enhance self-service, and deliver measurable business impact.

The results speak for themselves:

✅ 90% fewer searches per session—faster resolutions with less effort.
✅ 30% drop in case submissions—reducing strain on support teams.
✅ 9% year-over-year decrease in case volumes—proving AI’s role in driving efficiency.

Michelle breaks down how SAP Concur balances automation with human connection, ensuring AI enhances, rather than replaces, the customer experience.

If you want to see how AI can drive real results in CX, this episode is packed with insights you won’t want to miss. Tune in now!

Blake Morgan is a customer experience futurist, keynote speaker, and author of three books on customer experience. Her new book is called The 8 Laws of Customer-Focused Leadership: The New Rules for Building A Business Around Today’s Customer.

Follow Blake Morgan on LinkedIn

For regular updates on customer experience, sign up for her weekly newsletter here.

87% of customers engage more with personalized emails—yet too much personalization can feel intrusive.

This week on The Modern Customer Podcast, Malinda Sandman, Senior Director of Global Acquisition and Partner Marketing at Intuit Mailchimp, shares how brands can use AI responsibly to build trust, increase engagement, and drive results.

📢 Key takeaways from the episode:

🔹 07:44 | How to personalize marketing without losing customer trust

🔹 11:15 | The power of AI-driven segmentation and predictive insights

🔹 14:51 | Why first-party data is the key to long-term marketing success

🎧 Don’t miss this conversation—tune in now to learn how AI can make or break your marketing strategy.

Blake Morgan is a customer experience futurist, keynote speaker, and author of three books on customer experience. Her new book is called The 8 Laws of Customer-Focused Leadership: The New Rules for Building A Business Around Today’s Customer.

Follow Blake Morgan on LinkedIn

For regular updates on customer experience, sign up for her weekly newsletter here.