DisrupTV

How will AI reshape business models, leadership, and the way companies create value? On this episode of DisrupTV, R "Ray" Wang talks with Alex Osterwalder, co-founder and CEO of Strategyzer, and John Reed, co-founder of Diginomica, about the opportunities—and risks—of the agentic AI era. They explore why customer needs and business model fundamentals still matter, even as monetization and competitive advantages change; why validating customer problems is more important than simply building faster; and how boards and executives can balance today’s business with tomorrow’s. Reed also discusses the risks of premature AI autonomy, the need for resilien...

AI agents are multiplying—and with them come new challenges around identity, authorization, privacy, and security. On this episode of DisrupTV, Jeff Jonas, Founder and CEO of Senzing, and David Bray, Distinguished Chair of the Accelerator at the Stimson Center and Principal and CEO of LDA Ventures Inc., discuss how organizations can govern human and machine identities, set boundaries for agents, and prepare for risks that scale at machine speed. Then, Jeff Cole, author of Disruptors at the Gate: When Visionaries, Trailblazers, and Two Guys in a Garage Turn the World Upside Down, explores why disruption differs from innovation, how es...

How can AI become more affordable, more open, and more useful to people? On this episode of Disrupt TV, James Altucher explores AI’s growing infrastructure needs, the potential of decentralized AI, and his approach to matching different models to tasks based on quality, speed, and cost. Then Ganesh, CEO of Aspr AI, shares how AI can augment sales teams: automating routine work, surfacing overlooked risks in a deal, and giving sellers more room to focus on judgment and relationships. The conversation looks at why AI adoption calls for rapid experimentation—and why the goal should be better human outcomes, not...

How can organizations help people do their best work—and deliver better experiences for customers—in the age of AI? In this episode of DisrupTV, co-hosts Vala Afshar and R "Ray" Wang welcome Camilla Kring, founder of The Bee Society and author of Chrono Leadership, and Celia Fleischaker, CMO of Conga. Kring explains how chronotypes and biological rhythms influence energy, well-being, and performance—and why more flexible, chrono-inclusive schedules could benefit employees, families, and organizations. Fleischaker discusses AI’s impact on go-to-market strategy, the shift from SEO to answer engine optimization, and why AI’s value extends beyond individual productivity to improvi...

In a turbulent, over-hyped, and deeply human AI era, what does it actually take to lead well? In this episode of DisrupTV, hosts R "Ray" Wang and Vala Afshar bring together four leaders whose work spans human psychology, national security crisis response, enterprise AI strategy, and M&A IT leadership — and who all arrive at the same essential insight: the technical and the human are not separate problems. Maria Ross, author of The Empathy Dilemma, reframes empathy as information gathering — a performance multiplier, not a distraction — and shares the five pillars of empathetic and effective leadership: self-awareness, self-care, clarity, decisiveness, and jo...

In the landmark 450th episode of DisrupTV, hosts Vala Afshar and R "Ray" Wang bring together two guests who illuminate the future of work from opposite ends — one from the front lines of AI-powered customer experience, one from the science of what makes teams truly exceptional — and find a coherent argument running through both: the organizations that win will be those that combine disciplined AI deployment with the human habits that turn good teams into great ones. Dave Rhodes, CEO of Verint, shares what AI transformation actually looks like at the scale of 14,000 customers and tens of millions of contact cent...

In Episode 449 of DisrupTV, hosts Vala Afshar and R "Ray" Wang bring together three thinkers whose work spans the enterprise and the individual, the organizational and the deeply human — and who arrive at the same essential warning: AI is not a tool to be deployed. It is a force that will reshape how companies create value and how humans think, whether we are intentional about it or not. Brian Solis and Dave Wright, co-authors of Infinite and leaders at ServiceNow, make the case that most enterprises are caught in the iteration trap — automating the past instead of building the future. They...

In Episode 448 of DisrupTV, host R "Ray" Wang brings together three thinkers whose work sits at the intersection of AI, leadership, governance, and global innovation — and who all arrive, from very different directions, at the same essential insight: the real competitive advantage in the AI era is not access to the technology. It is what you do with it. Frank Castora, CEO of Ollion, makes the case that execution is becoming cheap and differentiation is becoming expensive — and that differentiation comes from human judgment. He explains how to decide which parts of a workflow to automate, augment, or keep fully huma...

Christopher Lochhead makes the case that the doom is manufactured and the opportunity is real. He walks through the actual data on new business formation, unemployment claims, and prediction market odds — and argues that the U.S. is in a phase of massive entrepreneurial building, not collapse. He then traces the AI economy’s parallel to the early internet, makes the case for the creator capitalist mindset (tiny teams, massive leverage, net-new categories), and introduces Invest America accounts as potentially the most powerful wealth-gap tool ever created — one that turns every child into an owner from birth through index-fund compounding and fa...

Most people still think of Steve Jobs’ time at NeXT as a lost decade — an expensive detour between the original Apple story and the triumphant return. In this episode of DisrupTV, hosts R Ray Wang and Esteban Kolsky sit down with two guests who know that chapter better than almost anyone to make a very different argument: the NeXT years were the crucible that forged the Steve Jobs who came back and saved Apple, and the source of technology that still runs the devices in your pocket today. Geoffrey Cain, whose previous books include Samsung Rising and Perfect Police State, digs...

What separates the companies that will define the AI era from those that will be displaced by it? In this episode of DisrupTV, hosts R "Ray" Wang and Vala Afshar bring together two guests with very different vantage points on the same question — one from the front lines of AI-first transformation, and one from the deeply human side of leadership development. Alejandro Laplana, CEO of Shokworks — the AI-first digital transformation consultancy behind work for HBO, FC Barcelona, and the United Nations — makes the case that the traditional services model is being fundamentally disrupted. The billable hour is giving way to gain-s...

What does it actually take to win with AI at the enterprise level — and what does it mean for society as AI becomes inseparable from how we live, work, and relate to one another? In Episode 444 of DisrupTV, hosts R Ray Wang and Vala Afshar bring together two leaders at the front lines of those questions from very different vantage points. TVN Reddy, CEO of Aptean — a vertical enterprise software company serving more than 10,000 customers — shares what AI adoption actually looks like at the front line of business. He explains why most organizations are caught in the action trap, burning tokens...

Charlene Li makes the case that AI is a leadership and strategy test, not a tech rollout — and that most organizations stall because they hand AI to IT instead of owning it as a CEO-level priority. She explains why leaders should kill their pilots, why speed has become the real competitive moat, and why the smartest companies are using AI for value reclamation — building new capabilities and services — instead of just cutting headcount. She also lays out the four building blocks of AI fluency: mindset, skill set, tool set, and decision set, and makes the case for a dedicated AI value...

Patricia Martin introduces the concept of persona fog — a civilizational malady born from a decade of curating ourselves for algorithms, where our online persona becomes load-bearing and our true self becomes hard to access. She explains why AI may become the most colossal persona fog machine we’ve ever encountered, capable of getting you, amplifying you, and optimizing you until it authors versions of you that you never intended. And she offers a counter-move: self-determination, integration, and becoming the editor-in-chief of your own identity. Tom Rath challenges the conventional wisdom of follow your passion, arguing it centers the self instead of c...

How do companies create entirely new markets—and why are the best organizations rethinking profit, trust, and corporate purpose? Join us for a thought-provoking conversation with Bruce Cleveland, author of Market Engineering, and Eric Ries, author of Incorruptible. We’ll explore what “Market Engineering” really means and why companies must actively shape markets to stay ahead, why trust has become one of the most valuable assets an organization can build, and how mission-driven companies outperform during times of disruption. We’ll also discuss why the era of shareholder primacy is being challenged, what comes next for corporate leadership, and how AI governa...

In this episode of DisrupTV, hosts Vala Afshar and R “Ray” Wang are joined by Malcolm Turnbull, Lucy Turnbull, Dr. David Bray, and Sheri Jacobs for a wide-ranging conversation on the future of AI, geopolitics, governance, and leadership. Together, they explore how artificial intelligence is reshaping global power structures through energy and infrastructure, why disinformation and synthetic media threaten shared reality, and how boards and executives must rethink risk in an interconnected world. The conversation also dives into a powerful leadership theme: trust and boundaries. From geopolitics to organizational design, the panel reveals why clarity, ethical structure, and defined limits are...

What happens when intelligence is no longer exclusively human? In DisrupTV Episode 439, Vala Afshar and R "Ray" Wang are joined by internet pioneer Vint Cerf, Dr. David Bray, and decision scientist Cheryl Strauss Einhorn for a far-reaching conversation on agentic AI, governance, misinformation, autonomous systems, and the future of human judgment. Together, they explore: Why agentic AI changes the rules of accountability and governance The rise of digital labor and human + agent collaboration How synthetic media and misinformation are reshaping enterprise risk Why critical thinking may become the most important skill of the AI era The role of human judgment...

What do values and organizational truth have to do with AI success? In this episode of DisrupTV, Vala Afshar and R "Ray" Wang are joined by Paul Ingram, Columbia Business School professor and author of What Do You Really Stand For?, along with Jon Reed, co-founder of diginomica, for a deep conversation on leadership, AI, and the critical importance of context. Topics include: Why values are a leadership performance advantage The hidden “verification tax” hurting enterprise AI readiness Why the context layer may determine AI success or failure The limits of LLMs without governance and organizational truth How AI amplifies both...

AI is scaling fast—but can your organization secure it, govern it, and power it responsibly? In this episode of DisrupTV, Vala Afshar and R "Ray" Wang are joined by Bob Gourley, David Bray, and Andrea Bonime-Blanc to explore the real challenges behind enterprise AI adoption. From data center vulnerabilities and AI-driven cyber risk to the “messy middle” of security and the rise of exponential governance, this conversation unpacks what leaders must do now to stay resilient. Tune in to learn: Why AI infrastructure is becoming a physical and geopolitical risk How AI is reshaping cybersecurity—for better and worse What “ex...

AI is ready—but leadership isn’t. In this episode of DisrupTV, Ray Wang and Vala Afshar are joined by Joe Kim (CEO of DRUID AI) and Paul McCarthy (author of The Fired Leader) to explore the rise of agentic AI and the leadership crisis holding organizations back. They break down why AI is now a CEO mandate, how agentic systems are changing enterprise architecture, and why modularity, governance, and cost discipline are critical to building AI that lasts. The conversation goes deeper into the human side of transformation—why most leadership development fails, why disruptive leaders are often pushed out, a...

On DisrupTV Episode 435, hosts R “Ray” Wang and Vala Afshar explore what it takes to lead in an era of AI, cyber risk, geopolitical tension, and climate disruption. Featuring Paul Abbate (former FBI Deputy Director), Dr. David Bray (CEO, LeadDoAdapt Ventures), and Caroline Stokes (CEO coach and author), this episode dives into insider threats, AI-driven security risks, and why resilience must become a core boardroom priority. They also unpack the rise of the polymath CEO—leaders who can navigate complexity across domains—and why purpose, trust, and human connection matter more than ever in a machine-scale world. If you’re thinking a...

On DisrupTV Episode 434, hosts R “Ray” Wang and Vala Afshar explore what it really takes to succeed in an AI-driven world—with insights from Ena Hull (Ultimate Health School), Dr. Michael Wu (PROS), and Ron Miller (FastForward). They dive into the nursing workforce crisis and how education must evolve, debunk the myth of a “SaaSpocalypse” as AI reshapes—but doesn’t replace—enterprise software, and examine why breakthrough innovation often comes from “lunatics” who connect ideas across disciplines. The conversation also cuts through AI hype to highlight what’s actually working today, where projects are falling short, and how leaders can focus on real busi...

In Episode 433 of DisrupTV, Vala Afshar and R “Ray” Wang explore the shift from AI demos to real business impact—and why love may be the ultimate competitive advantage. Featuring Brian Bryson (MIT Technology Review) and Marcus Buckingham (Designing Love In), this episode covers: Why AI is becoming core infrastructure—and a CEO-level priority How agentic AI is driving revenue, reclaiming value, and transforming workflows Why trust is the biggest challenge in AI adoption How “experience intelligence” and love drive performance, loyalty, and growth As AI scales business at machine speed, leaders must rethink how they design human experiences. This episode show...

In DisrupTV Episode 432, R “Ray” Wang and Vala Afshar explore how AI, algorithms, and global competition are reshaping human agency and technology. Guests Marcos Fontoura (Microsoft CTO, Human Agency in the Digital World) and Rebecca Fannin (Tech Titans of China) share insights on: Auditing your digital life and deploying AI to amplify human value China’s tech, EV, and AI revolution amid global geopolitical tensions India’s rapid emergence as a cost-efficient, talent-rich tech superpower From empowering humans to understanding global tech power shifts, this episode unpacks the forces defining the next decade.

In DisrupTV Episode 431, hosts Vala Afshar and R “Ray” Wang explore how globalization, social status, and AI agents are reshaping business strategy. Russell Haworth, CEO of Acclaro, explains why localization is no longer just translation—it’s a core market access strategy. Companies that want to scale globally must design for international audiences from day one, combining AI-powered localization with human cultural expertise. Later, Toby Stuart, author of Anointed: The Extraordinary Effects of Social Status in a Winner-Take-Most World and professor at UC Berkeley Haas School of Business, breaks down how social status shapes opportunity, influence, and decision-making in a winner-t...

In DisrupTV Episode 430, R "Ray" Wang and Vala Afshar explore the next evolution of business value: the Transformation Economy. Joe Pine, co-author of The Experience Economy, explains why companies must move beyond staging memorable experiences and start guiding customers toward meaningful outcomes—helping them become healthier, wiser, more successful, or more purposeful. Later in the episode, CRM leaders Paul Greenberg and Brent Leary connect these ideas to real-world customer experience strategies, highlighting why convenience, community, and human-centered design still matter in an AI-driven world. From AI-powered personalization to purpose-driven business models, this episode explores how organizations can design experiences that do...

In this episode of DisrupTV, hosts R "Ray" Wang and Vala Afshar explore three critical performance levers in the AI era: negotiation strategy, meeting discipline, and founder focus. Brian Doyle (Holden Advisors) explains why AI-armed procurement teams are reshaping B2B negotiations—and why sellers must shift from discounting to outcome-based value conversations. Dr. Rebecca Hinds (Work Innovation Lab at Asana) reveals how modern meeting culture mirrors sabotage tactics—and how leaders can eliminate “meeting debt” using her 4D + CEO test. Venture capitalist Dr. Igor Ryabenkiy shares why ruthless focus—not feature sprawl—is the hidden engine behind unicorn startups. If you want...

On DisrupTV Episode 428, co-hosts Vala Afshar and R “Ray” Wang are joined by Seth Ravin (Rimini Street), Elizabeth Weingarten (How to Fall in Love with Questions), and James Taylor (SuperCreativity) to explore how agentic AI is transforming enterprise strategy, leadership, and innovation. From layering AI on legacy ERP systems to offset labor shortages, to developing a leadership mindset rooted in better questions—not faster answers—this episode examines how organizations can modernize without disruptive migrations. The conversation also dives into how human-AI collaboration is unlocking scalable creativity across the enterprise. Tune in to learn why autonomy, curiosity, and composable architectures are beco...

What does it take to beat the odds in an AI-driven world? On this episode of DisrupTV, Kyle Young (Success Is a Numbers Game) and Jon Reed (diginomica) join Vala Afshar and Ray Wang to explore probability hacking, enterprise AI leadership, and why kindness still matters. From de-risking big goals to navigating the paradox of AI in the enterprise, this conversation offers practical insights for leaders facing uncertainty—and opportunity.

This week on DisrupTV, we go beyond the AI hype and into the decisions shaping 2026. Peter Danenberg, Senior Software Engineer at Google DeepMind, joins us to unpack the rapid evolution of multimodal models like Gemini, the race toward AGI, and what he’s seeing from inside one of the world’s most influential AI labs. We’re also joined by David Bray, PhD, Distinguished Chair of the Accelerator at The Stimson Center & Principal/CEO, LDA Ventures Inc., to examine the dangerous assumptions executives are making post-Davos — from AI-driven workforce disruption and machine-speed cyber threats to hardware security risks and why geopolit...

Why do most GenAI initiatives never make it past the pilot stage? On this week’s DisrupTV, Vernon Keenan and Nicholas Thorne cut through the hype to explain why enterprise AI stalls, where real value in AI architectures is emerging, and how founders and leaders can co-build with AI to create lasting competitive advantage—from virtual employees to radically human entrepreneurship.

Broadcast live from Davos, this special edition of DisrupTV features Vala Afshar and R "Ray" Wang in conversation with global leaders shaping the future of AI and enterprise transformation. Drawing from the spirit of dialogue at Davos 2026, the episode distills the most important AI insights, lessons learned, and signals executives need to understand what’s coming next. If you’re a senior executive navigating AI-driven disruption, this conversation is essential listening.

On this episode of DisrupTV, we explore what it truly means to grow with intention in a world defined by disruption. Whitney Johnson, founder of Disruption Advisors, breaks down personal disruption, the S-Curve of Growth, and how leaders and individuals move through fear, imposter syndrome, and uncertainty to reach real momentum. We’re also joined by Dean E. Carter and Mark Levy, co-authors of Employee Experience Design, who share how leaders can co-create cultures where people thrive—by designing work with employees, not for them. From human-centered leadership to measurable business outcomes, they reveal what it takes to build workplaces that...

In this episode of DisrupTV, we tackle one of the most urgent leadership challenges of our time: navigating AI-driven cybersecurity threats, geopolitical uncertainty, and converging risk. Hosts Ray Wang and Vala Afshar are joined by: Andre Pienaar, CEO & Founder of C5 Capital Dr. David Bray, Distinguished Chair at the Stimson Center & CEO of LDA Ventures Ken Banta, leadership expert and advisor Together, they explore why AI and cybersecurity budgets must rise together, how human–AI collaboration is reshaping cyber defense, and what leaders must do now to prepare for quantum disruption, AI-enabled attacks, and regulatory fragmentation. The conversation also dives in...

What should leaders be reading to prepare for the future? In this special episode of DisrupTV, we reveal DisrupTV’s Top 25 Books of 2025, featuring powerful conversations with authors whose ideas are shaping leadership, AI, innovation, and human potential in the Age of Intelligence. The discussion explores themes including AI co-creation, mission-driven leadership, personal branding for introverts, ethical decision-making, and why continuous honing—not transformation—is the key to navigating exponential change. Whether you’re leading an organization, building your personal brand, or navigating the future of work, this episode offers a curated roadmap of ideas that will define 2026 and beyond.

AI-powered ERP, continuous improvement, and human-centric leadership take center stage in this episode of DisrupTV. Unit4 CEO Simon Paris shares how his team is building intuitive, conversational enterprise systems that give time back to educators, civil servants, and service professionals. From self-driving ERP to the virtual assistant Ava, he reveals how AI can enhance productivity and decision-making. Author and strategist Geoff Tuff introduces “hone,” a new model for leading through exponential change—focused on small, continuous adjustments rather than traditional transformation. He explains why CEOs must think like system designers and stay close to the behaviors that drive success. In this e...

In this episode of DisrupTV, hosts Vala Afshar and R “Ray” Wang sit down with three leaders shaping the next era of AI, intelligence, and personal branding. Benji Hutchinson, CEO of Babel Street, breaks down the world of mission-grade risk intelligence—how it’s used in national security, why dual-use AI matters, and why fewer than 30% of Fortune 2000 companies truly understand it. Mukund Gopalan, Global Chief Data Officer at Ingram Micro and AI150 executive, shares how the company is building an “AI factory” to industrialize intelligence, improve data quality, empower employees, and drive real business transformation. Goldie Chan, branding strategist and author o...

This week on DisrupTV, Salesforce SVP Marty Kihn and How to Be Bold author Ranjay Gulati join us to explore the rise of AI agents and the courage leaders need to navigate rapid change. Marty breaks down Salesforce’s new Agent Force platform—how enterprises can create and deploy AI agents safely, the importance of grounding and governance, and why the agentic enterprise will shape the next decade of work. Ranjay then shares research-backed insights on courage, fear, purpose, and how leaders can build organizations that act boldly in the face of uncertainty. A powerful conversation at the intersection of AI a...

In this episode of DisrupTV, Vala Afshar and R "Ray" Wang explore the future of AI, leadership, and collaboration with three groundbreaking thinkers. Ed Addison breaks down the shift toward AI-first startups and what multi-agent corporations mean for the future of work. Dr. Scott Hutcheson shares how biohacking leadership can unlock stronger signals of warmth, competence, and gravitas. Ruchika T. Malhotra, author of Uncompete, makes the case for collaboration over competition—and why redefining success matters now more than ever. A fast, insightful conversation on the forces reshaping business, culture, and human potential.

How do leaders thrive in the age of AI? In this episode, hosts Vala Afshar and R "Ray" Wang talk with Dr. David Bray, Sue Gordon, and Barry O’Sullivan about leadership, trust, and decision-making in an AI-driven world. Discover how visionary leaders are balancing innovation with responsibility, empowering teams, and staying grounded in human values as technology transforms business. Tune in to learn how the best leaders are combining AI’s power with human insight to navigate the future of work.