In this episode: 

• [00:50] Jim Cuene Introduction
• [2:40] Jim talks about what inspired him to start his own consultancy
• [4:00] Jim talks about the vision of his consulting company, Fahren
• [5:45] How does Jim define digital transformation?
• [7:40] Technology is the key enabler
• [8:20] What’s the biggest upside to undergoing digital transformation for (big and small) companies?
• [9:35] “Large organizations need an outside stimulus to drive digital transformation.” Jim comments on where the real change can take place and the importance of leveraging outside partners in large organizations
• [11:50] Jim talks about how Fahren evolved over time to serve its clients
• [13:10] The last 18 months have been challenging to business leaders. Jim talks about shifts he’s seen within his clients due to the pandemic. How are companies creating breakthroughs or transforming their digital processes?
• [14:40] Fahren is a kind of “B2B2C” company. Jim discusses creating a more streamlined consumer experience with digital.
• [15:51] Jim speaks to how Fahren helps organizations set up digital marketing team structures, leveraging human resources, and goes deep on driving organizational change.
• [19:25] What is Jim doing as Fahren’s leader to drive change? How does Jim coach clients to drive change?
• [22:00] Jim looks at mass career changes in today’s hiring market, why top talent are choosing meaningful work and embracing innovation. 
  [23:00] What advice does Jim have for marketers wanting to become digital leaders?
• [25:30] Rapid Fire! Quick questions and fast answers with Jim Cuene
• [27:35] How does Jim stay current on all things digital? He spends an hour per day reading or listening to tech, marketing, and business content.
• [29:00] Jim talks about the future of digital and what he sees as the next big thing.
• [31:30] Kathy and Gino’s Key Takeaways

Links & Resources:

• Stratechery – Tech Blog & Podcast
• Not Boring by Packy McCormick – Business strategy & investing
• Waxy by Andy Baio – Internet Blog
• TechMeme – Technology News
• Follow Jim on Twitter: @jcuene
• LinkedIn
• Visit Fahren

Kathy & Gino’s Key Takeaways:

-Digital transformation (DT) is about streamlining the customer’s experience with your product or services. It’s about making products easier to find, understand and buy. It takes a team effort (From HR to IT to Marketing) to pull off DT successfully. 

-DT happens at an organization’s cultural center and not at the technology level (though tech is the key enabler). It’s about changing how you do what you do. The middle management of a large company can often jumpstart the digital transformation process because they have a pulse on what’s really going on across departments and teams.

-Large organizations need outside partners/a third party who can bring new ideas, perspectives, and practices. Outside partners (like Jim’s company Fahren) can deliver hard truths about what an organization can do better, help identify blind spots and empower middle management to make those changes. Hard truths are easier to hear from experts outside the “family.” 

-Jim’s Leadership Stack: Look around at trends and write it down to process your thoughts, help your employees find out what they want to do and empower them to do it, put your team together to maximize talent, coach employees using honest but encouraging feedback.

-DT requires balancing slow leadership with fast action. Steady leadership is necessary to create organizational buy-in; consider the angles before working with middle management and doers to get digital transformation over the finish line quickly. Today’s business leaders must sustain the energy for change in their organizations and lead with empathy. 

-There’s never been a better time to be a marketer than right now! Though we are emotionally tired (due to the pandemic), we’re intellectually stimulated. People are ready to do new things and have a strong appetite for doing meaningful work. Stay curious.