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

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2023 European Predictions: Energy And Economic Woes Fuel Citizens’ Distrust

What It Means February 9, 2023
The war in Ukraine, exorbitant energy prices, and economic turbulence will have a profound impact on Europeans’ attitudes and choices in the months ahead. Principal Analysts Enza Iannopollo and Dan Bieler break down Forrester’s 2023 predictions for Europe and the UK this week on What It Means.
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The New Space Race — For Businesses

What It Means February 2, 2023
Low-Earth-orbit satellites open up a host of new opportunities for businesses. Should your firm be exploring these new solutions? Find out in this episode of What It Means.
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The Green Market Revolution Is Here: Are You Ready?

What It Means January 26, 2023
Climate change is among the biggest challenges we face, and the solution could be one of the biggest market opportunities in history. Learn about the unique opportunities provided by the green market revolution in this episode.
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What’s Behind The Lack Of Trust In Financial Services Firms?

What It Means January 19, 2023
Would it surprise you to learn that only 2% of US financial services brands were rated “strong” on trust by their customers? In this episode, Principal Analysts Alyson Clarke and Tom Mouhsian discuss new research digging into the drivers and impacts of low trust levels in the financial services industry.
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Slow Economy, Tight Talent Market? How To Navigate The 2023 Paradox

What It Means January 12, 2023
The current economic downturn is unlike others that have preceded it. Instead of becoming more abundant, talent will continue to be constrained. What should companies do — and what should they avoid doing — to navigate these unique challenges? Vice President, Principal Analyst Katy Tynan and Principal Analyst Betsy Summers explain as they break down Forrester’s 2023 future-of-work predictions.
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As Global Economic Woes Spread, Asia Pacific Charts Its Own Path

What It Means January 5, 2023
In 2023, the economic fears that have plagued much of the rest of the world will dampen prospects for the APAC region. How will governments and business respond, and what should firms do to come out ahead? On this week’s What It Means episode, Vice Presidents and Research Directors Ashutosh Sharma and Michael Barnes discuss Forrester’s 2023 predictions for the APAC region.
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Unpacking Forrester’s 2023 Tech Leader Predictions

What It Means December 22, 2022
An unpredictable economy will spur some unexpected changes in the technology space in 2023. Stay one step ahead of them as VP, Senior Research Director Matt Guarini reviews our 2023 predictions for tech leaders.
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CX Teams Face Diverging Fates In 2023

What It Means December 15, 2022
The alarm bells are sounding: CX organizations are in trouble. One in five will find themselves on the chopping block in 2023 as the economy weakens, CX performance slips, and proof of ROI remains elusive. But there’s good news, too. One in 10 CX organizations will be stronger than ever at the end of 2023, explains VP, Research Director Rick Parrish. Find out how in this episode of What It Means.
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How A Sharper Customer Focus Will Fuel B2B Growth In 2023

What It Means December 8, 2022
As inflation woes, market turbulence, and supply chain disruptions cloud the 2023 landscape, B2B organizations will look to their existing customers to forge a more predictable path to growth. On this week’s What It Means, VP, Principal Analyst Ross Graber discusses this and other 2023 predictions for B2B marketing and sales leaders.
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An Inside Look At Forrester’s Top 10 Emerging Technologies Report

What It Means December 1, 2022
Which emerging technologies should be on your radar in the year ahead? VP, Emerging Tech Portfolio Brian Hopkins and VP, Principal Analyst Julie Ask walk through Forrester’s list of the top 10 emerging technologies to watch.
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The Role Of Synthetic Data In Expanding AI

What It Means November 17, 2022
As the demand for AI expands, so does the need for relevant data to develop the models that power AI. In this episode, Analyst Rowan Curran describes the role that synthetic data can play in expanding your AI efforts.
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Automation’s Impact On The Future Of Jobs In APAC

What It Means November 10, 2022
Forrester forecasts that by 2040, 63 million jobs will be lost to automation across the five largest economies in APAC. Principal Analysts Michael O’Grady and Sam Higgins discuss the complex factors driving those numbers and the future of jobs in APAC overall.
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The Growing Need For A Chief Automation Officer

What It Means November 3, 2022
As automation efforts continue to expand across the enterprise, one question looms large: Who should be overseeing the use of automation technologies in an organization? In this episode, Principal Analyst Leslie Joseph provides his perspective.
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Is Your Organization Equipped To Handle Geopolitical Risks?

What It Means October 27, 2022
Is your security team effectively assessing your exposure to geopolitical risk? Principal Analyst Renee Murphy and Senior Analyst Allie Mellen provide some insights and next steps every security org will want to hear.
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Find The CX Collaboration Strategy That’s Right For Your Company

What It Means October 20, 2022
No customer experience team, no matter how mighty, can achieve its strategic vision alone. Fostering the necessary cross-functional collaboration requires a strategy that taps into your organization’s existing strengths and cultural norms, explain Senior Analysts Su Doyle and Angelina Gennis on this week’s What It Means.
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Where Did Gaia-X Go Wrong?

What It Means October 13, 2022
The Gaia-X initiative was launched in 2019 as a way for European governments to reclaim data sovereignty from non-European cloud hyperscalers. But it hasn’t lived up to its promise. In this episode, senior analysts Dario Maisto and Jeffrey Rajamani provide an update on the current state and future outlook for Gaia-X.
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Where Tech Leaders Should Focus Spend In 2023

What It Means October 6, 2022
Where should technology leaders focus their 2023 investments? In this episode, VP, Research Director Chris Gardner and Principal Analyst Chris Gilchrist review the recommendations in Forrester’s new planning guides for technology leaders.
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The Secrets To Becoming An Effective Change Catalyst

What It Means September 29, 2022
Meaningful change in a company doesn’t have to come from the top. Anyone — regardless of seniority or title — can bring it about, say Vice Presidents Meta Karagianni and Peter Ostrow. On this week’s What It Means, they discuss how B2B professionals can successfully initiate change and give a preview of their keynote session at Forrester’s B2B Summit EMEA.
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How B2B CMOs Can Spend To Succeed In 2023

What It Means September 22, 2022
B2B marketing leaders will face intense budget scrutiny as they plan for 2023. But making reactive, cost-saving decisions could undermine long-term gains, cautions VP and Principal Analyst Barbie Mattie. On this week’s What It Means, she discusses Forrester’s 2023 planning guide for B2B marketing executives and its spending recommendations.
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Succession Planning For The Security Org

What It Means September 15, 2022
Is overreliance on key security employees putting your entire organization at risk? Learn best practices for retention and succession planning in security from Senior Analyst Jess Burn.