The Trick to Aligning Tech, People & Process for Operational Success
What happens when a fast-growing company completely rethinks how it delivers customer experience — from the inside out? Lacey Peace sits down with Phil Parbury, Service Manager at TOMRA Collection Australia, to unpack one of the most seamless and high-impact digital transformations we’ve seen in CX ops.Phil takes us behind the scenes of a tech overhaul that reduced dozens of disconnected systems to one integrated solution, boosted technician response time by 26%, and achieved a first-time fix rate of over 99% — all while keeping humans at the center of an AI-assisted workforce.Whether you're leading a digital transformation, scaling CX operations, or just nerding out over smart logistics, this episode is packed with actionable insights — and yes, it features a very charming Aussie accent. 🇦🇺👉 Tune in to hear how Phil’s team is future-proofing CX from the inside out.Key Moments:00:00 - The Power of Predictive AI in Customer Experience01:25 - What Are Reverse Vending Machines?05:23 - Phil’s Engineering Background & Career Path07:38 - Scaling Pains: Early Operational Challenges at TOMRA15:17 - Streamlining Tech: From 26 Tools to One Unified System21:39 - How AI Optimizes Field Technician Dispatching23:56 - Real-Time Monitoring & Keeping Machines Online25:20 - Performance Metrics: 26% Faster Response, 99% First-Time Fix28:11 - What’s Next: Planning for Predictive Maintenance32:01 - Personalization, AI Agents & Changing Customer Expectations35:45 - Training Humans to Work with AI: Empowering Support Teams43:02 - Reddit Question: What Tools Actually Improve CX?
–Are your teams facing growing demands? Join CX leaders transforming their AI strategy with Agentforce. Start achieving your ambitious goals. Visit salesforce.com/agentforce Mission.org is a media studio producing content alongside world-class clients. Learn more at mission.org
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49:14
Behind the Scenes of L'Oréal’s Real-Time Marketing Machine
How does a 115-year-old beauty giant keep up with TikTok trends, viral moments, and AI-powered hair tech?Chief Digital & Marketing Officer Darienne Kennedy pulls back the curtain on how L’Oréal’s Professional Products Division moves at the speed of culture. From signing pop icon Sabrina Carpenter and her stylist, to harnessing AI scalp diagnostics, to deciding which viral moments are worth jumping into—Darienne shares the brand storytelling playbook that keeps nine iconic haircare brands distinct, relevant, and trusted.We also dive into the art of B2B loyalty, how L’Oréal supports salon professionals beyond just products, and why technology should enhance — not replace — the deeply human connection between stylist and client. Whether you’re in marketing, beauty, or just obsessed with a great brand story, you’ll come away with insights on blending heritage with innovation.Watch the full interview to hear how L’Oréal balances risk-taking with brand integrity, the surprising celebrity moment that went viral, and the next big beauty frontier starting at the scalp. Key Moments:00:00 Inside L’Oreal’s Celebrity Partnerships and Cultural Moments04:25 Darienne Kennedy: 25 Years Growing with L’Oreal11:29 How L’Oreal Balances B2B and B2C Strategies15:58 Crafting Distinct Stories for Nine Global Haircare Brands22:40 L’Oreal’s Sustainability Push: Refills and Green Innovation28:16 Moving at the Speed of Culture in Beauty Marketing31:10 How L’Oreal Measures Marketing Impact34:07 Education and Training as Brand Loyalty Drivers41:39 AI and Smart Tools Shaping the Future of Haircare50:46 The Next Big Trends in Hair, Health & Wellness51:38 Lightning Round: Quick Insights from Darienne Kennedy
–Are your teams facing growing demands? Join CX leaders transforming their AI strategy with Agentforce. Start achieving your ambitious goals. Visit salesforce.com/agentforce Mission.org is a media studio producing content alongside world-class clients. Learn more at mission.org
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56:49
How to Lead Brands That Translate Globally
What does it take to build a brand that resonates across cultures… not just across markets? In this special dual-guest episode, Lacey Peace sits down with Nataly Kelly, Chief Marketing Officer at Zappi, and Katherine Melchior Ray, UC Berkeley lecturer and former executive at brands like Nike, Hyatt, and Louis Vuitton. Together, they co-authored the new book Brand Global, Adapt Local: How to Build Brand Value Across Cultures and they’re here to share the lessons learned from decades of global brand-building. Nataly and Katherine dive deep into why cultural intelligence is the most under-leveraged skill in modern CX, why brands that ignore cultural context are building in globalization debt, and how something as simple as a melon can repair — or ruin — customer trust. They explain the importance of shared values, the risks of applying the same CX metrics globally (spoiler: NPS doesn’t mean the same thing in every country), and how AI is both accelerating and complicating cross-cultural brand connection. From real stories about Kit Kat’s flavor strategy in Japan to awkward CX blunders in global grocery stores, this episode is packed with tangible takeaways and perspective shifts for any business looking to scale with humanity and intention. Get your copy of Brand Global, Adapt Local: How to Build Brand Value Across Cultures now! https://www.amazon.com/Brand-Global-Adapt-Local-Cultures/dp/139861971X Key Moments: 00:00 Do Customer Service Expectations Differ Across Cultures?06:03 Why Cultural Intelligence Is Crucial for Global Business07:04 Co-Authors’ Nataly Kelly & Katherine Melchior Ray’s Meet cute 15:18 Real-Life Cultural Missteps and Surprising Service Norms24:13 Can AI Replace Cultural Insight? Why Human Context Still Matters34:38 What’s at Stake When You Ignore Cultural Differences38:23 Globalization Strategy: Why Flexibility Beats Uniformity39:09 How Cultural Agility Builds Better Customer Experiences40:34 Style Switching & Cultural Intelligence in Leadership42:18 Kit Kat’s Local Flavors & HubSpot’s Global CX51:01 How Tech Adoption Varies by Country (And Why It Matters)55:12 Daily Habits That Boost Strategic Thinking & Creativity01:00:24 How AI Is Changing Global Marketing and Customer Experience01:15:46 Final Leadership Lessons on Trust, Culture & Global Growth
–Are your teams facing growing demands? Join CX leaders transforming their AI strategy with Agentforce. Start achieving your ambitious goals. Visit salesforce.com/agentforce Mission.org is a media studio producing content alongside world-class clients. Learn more at mission.org
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1:19:46
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1:19:46
Digital Labor Is Now: Why 2025 Will Be a Turning Point
2025 is the last year of human-only teams. Are you ready to lead both people and AI? Usman Nasir, VP of Agentforce Acceleration at Salesforce, joins us to explore a future that's already here: digital labor working hand-in-hand with humans. Usman explains why 2025 marks the end of the human-only workforce and dives deep into how AI agents are transforming the workplace — from automating customer support to driving internal productivity. He shares practical advice on starting your agentic journey, debunks common myths, and explains why trust, data quality, and modular agent design are the pillars of successful implementation. Whether you’re leading a Fortune 500 company or bootstrapping a startup, this episode will shift how you think about work, leadership, and the AI-enabled future. Key Moments: 00:00 Introducing Usman Nasir, VP of Agentforce Acceleration at Salesforce03:13 The Future of Human and Digital Labor06:32 Salesforce's Agentforce (Chatbot vs. AI Agents)19:41 Real-World Use Cases and Misconceptions34:16 Exploring AI in Operations Management37:12 Identifying AI-Ready Use Cases41:44 Change Management for AI Adoption45:35 Lessons from Early AI Adoption01:04:29 Future of AI Agents and Predictions
–Are your teams facing growing demands? Join CX leaders transforming their AI strategy with Agentforce. Start achieving your ambitious goals. Visit salesforce.com/agentforce Mission.org is a media studio producing content alongside world-class clients. Learn more at mission.org
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48:24
Why Music Makes You Buy More
Lauren Pufpaf, COO and Co-Founder of Feed Media, joins us to explore how music is far more than just background noise — it’s a potent driver of customer emotion, behavior, and loyalty. Lauren reveals how brands like American Eagle and fitness platforms are using curated music to create “sticky” digital experiences that boost engagement and conversions. The conversation dives into the neuroscience behind why music works so effectively in CX and how the right sound strategy can elevate everything from retail apps to telehealth waiting rooms. Hit play and discover how your brand might be missing out on a powerful emotional trigger.🎧 Listen to the full episode now and learn how to tune your brand into what your customers are really feeling.Key Moments: 00:00 Music’s Role in the Digital Customer Journey07:32 Inside Feed Media Group with COO Lauren Pufpaf11:29 How Music Hacks the Brain: Science Meets CX20:55 Music Licensing Explained (And Why It’s So Complicated)24:31 From Stores to Screens: Music in Retail and E-Commerce34:31 AI in Music: Smarter Curation, Deeper Connections40:12 Creating a Music Strategy That Fits Your Brand57:30 How Music is Transforming Healthcare Settings59:10 Lightening Round: Customer Experience that Sticks
–Are your teams facing growing demands? Join CX leaders transforming their AI strategy with Agentforce. Start achieving your ambitious goals. Visit salesforce.com/agentforce Mission.org is a media studio producing content alongside world-class clients. Learn more at mission.org
If your customers aren’t happy, they will let you and the whole world know. Loudly. Ever wonder how companies deliver a consistent experience that meets - and exceeds - their customer’s expectations? On this show, we’ll dive deep into the world of customer experience and share how businesses are navigating high expectations and leveraging emerging technology like AI and GPT to create the next great experience for their customers. Hosted by Lacey Peace and featuring some of the smartest business minds of the day, Experts of Experience is your go-to resource for ideas, innovation, and inspiration to level up your CX.
This podcast is presented by Salesforce Customer Success.
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