In this AI in Action episode, David Levy speaks with Lorie Meola about how IBM is transforming procurement through AI adoption and data management. Lorie explains how focusing on good-enough enterprise data, supported by data transparency and data visualization, leads to faster insights and better decisions.&nbsp;She shares how agentic AI helps teams move away from manual work and focus on higher-value outcomes. The conversation also highlights the cultural change required for digital transformation, including leadership support and iteration. The episode shows how modern procurement can drive efficiency, insight and business impact across the enterprise.

Lorie Meola is a global business leader and an accomplished Chief Procurement Officer known for driving transformation across complex, multinational enterprises. Recognized for her strategic vision and pragmatic leadership, she has guided organizations through complex cost takeout programs, digital reinvention, and AI-driven procurement modernization, collaborating between business, technology, and finance to unlock enterprise-wide efficiencies and accelerate AI adoption responsibly.
At IBM, she leads the company’s global procurement organization, partnering across business units and leveraging data, AI, and ecosystem relationships to deliver next-level financial results while prudently managing risk for both IBM and its procurement BPO clients.  She and her teams work seamlessly with business teams to ensure all sourcing requirements are leveraged to maximize quality and value from suppliers to their internal and external global client base.  
A trusted advisor to business leaders around the globe, Lorie is passionate about building high-performing teams, mentoring rising talent and fostering inclusion across global teams, advancing responsible AI adoption, and shaping the next generation of digital operating models.  Her leadership has been featured in executive forums and industry publications focused on enterprise transformation, supply chain resilience, and the future of work.  
Lorie has nearly two decades of experience in leading global sourcing and procurement teams, most recently as Chief Procurement Officer for Fiserv, a leading global technology provider in the financial services industry, where she focused on driving procurement innovation, insights and optimization for her organization.  Before joining Fiserv, Lorie worked at First Data Corporation, AIG and ADP in procurement, technology and implementation roles.  Lorie started her career as a high school math and computer science teacher before an opportunity in a start up shifted her career into the business world.
Lorie holds a BS in Mathematics from Andrews University, and an MBA from the University of Michigan.

Lorie Meola

Chief Procurement Officer | Enterprise Transformation Leader | AI & Digital Innovator, IBM

IBM’s Chief Procurement Officer shares how good-enough data, transparency and agentic AI are transforming procurement from a cost center into a strategic, insight-driven function.

How IBM uses data and AI to modernize procurement

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AI in Action explores what it takes to put artificial intelligence into action across a rapidly evolving business and tech landscape. Each episode focuses on responsible AI implementation and real-world business challenges, examined through a practical use case lens.

AI in Action

In this AI in Action episode, David Levy talks with Yashodha Bhavnani, Head of AI at Box, about how enterprises can turn massive volumes of unstructured data into high-value intelligence.&nbsp;Yashodha explains how Box is embedding AI into its content platform for easier data management without compromising security or governance. She shares real-world examples of enterprise content management and explains how agentic AI powers smarter workflows.&nbsp;The conversation also covers the role of IBM watsonx® in Box AI and what it takes to bring AI from experimentation into production.

Yash Bhavnani is the Vice President of AI, Collaboration & Strategy at Box Inc., leading Box’s AI initiatives, which play a crucial role across the company’s portfolio. Before joining Box, Yash spent 10 years at Google, where she contributed to groundbreaking products like Google Ads, Search, and Google Assistant. She was also a founding member of the Bard (now Gemini) team, driving AI innovations for enterprise and productivity. Prior to Google, she developed technical solutions for the U.S. government. Beyond work, Yash is a dedicated mother to 8-year-old twins, a wife to a life coach, and a caregiver to her mother. She has a passion for traveling, hiking, and mentoring women in tech.

Yashodha Bhavnani 

Vice President of AI, Collaboration & Strategy at Box Inc., 

Learn how Box uses AI to transform unstructured enterprise content into structured, searchable data that supports smarter decisions, stronger workflows and better business outcomes.

Making enterprise content actionable with AI

Explore the partnership → <a href="https://ibm.biz/BdbTR7" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://ibm.biz/BdbTR7</a> In this AI in Action episode, David Levy talks with Alon Cohen about how the UFC has turned its deep history of data into clear, meaningful insights. Alon shares how the team has moved from basic number tracking to smart systems powered by machine learning, computer vision and NLP. Thanks to better data management and processing, the team can measure speed, power and even fighter intent with far more accuracy.&nbsp;He explains why combat sports are challenging in terms of AI and data analysis, and how IBM watsonx® helps deliver real-time insights to fans and commentators. The episode also covers why building good AI takes patience, steady improvement and the careful judgment of people who truly understand the sport. 0:00 Intro04:11 Understanding MMA athletes and the culture07:17 Identifying the opportunity for statistical analysis in UFC09:28 The challenges of AI with real-time fight data16:24 How the UFC uses IBM watsonx® to power UFC Insights21:34 What data reaches UFC commentators25:14 How IBM and UFC built and trained the models31:08 How UFC measures the success of AI-driven fan experiences34:02 Advice for businesses advancing with AI The opinions expressed in this podcast are solely those of the participants and do not necessarily reflect the views of IBM or any other organization or entity.

Alon Cohen serves as Executive Vice President of Innovation for TKO, a premium sports and entertainment company that owns iconic properties including UFC, the world’s premier mixed martial arts organization; WWE, the global leader in sports entertainment; and PBR, the world’s premier bull riding organization. Together, these properties reach 210 countries and territories and organize more than 500 live events year-round, attracting more than three million fans.  In this role, Cohen oversees all aspects of research and development of new products, technologies, or processes to improve existing ones for TKO. 
Cohen served as Producer for the most ambitious production in UFC history, Noche UFC, the first live sports event at Sphere, the revolutionary entertainment venue in Las Vegas.   Cohen and the team delivered a once-in-a-lifetime immersive live sports experience by making use of Sphere’s state-of-the-art technology to enhance fan engagement. Noche UFC set numerous records including the highest-grossing UFC event and the highest-grossing single event at Sphere to date.

Throughout his career, Cohen has been instrumental in implementing new technologies into UFC events, including the addition of the UFC Fight Clock, the first-ever official clock for the sport of mixed martial arts, the UFC Fight Deck, a walkable LED fight deck that allows UFC to offer sponsors additional inventory, as well as enhance the viewing experience by integrating additional graphics around the world-famous Octagon.  Cohen also created the UFC Rankings, where fans around the world can access the most up-to-date rankings for UFC athletes, and UFC Access, a custom media portal and credentialing system for UFC and WWE.

Prior to his time with UFC, Cohen served as Founder and COO of FightMetric, a company that provided statistics and graphics for marquee companies like UFC, Apple TV, HBO Boxing, and more.  UFC purchased FightMetric in 2017 and rebranded the company to 3027, and the company now provides statistics and graphics for TKO.

Outside of his role with TKO, Cohen serves as Board Secretary for I Support the Girls, a international nonprofit dedicated to providing essential items, including clothing and feminine hygiene products, to women and folx experiencing homelessness, impoverishment, or distress and allowing them to stand tall with dignity. 

Cohen holds a Bachelor of Arts from Boston University’s Teaching Program of the University Professors in Interactivity Studies, where he graduated summa cum laude.  He also earned his Juris Doctorate from Boston University, where he graduated cum laude. 

Alon Cohen

Executive Vice President of Innovation, TKO

Learn how the UFC is using AI to turn decades of fight data into real-time insights that support analysts, enhance broadcasts and deepen fan understanding.

How UFC uses AI to turn data into real-time insights

Can agentic AI solve the scalability challenge in wealth management while expanding access to underserved communities?&nbsp;Ramona Ortega believes it can, but only with the right foundation. She explains how WealthBuild has moved from basic chatbots to RAG and now to agentic workflows that can deliver accurate and personalized guidance at scale. In her opinion, the real blockers aren’t algorithms but messy data, governance gaps and enterprise-grade security.&nbsp;Since traditional financial services can’t reach many everyday consumers, she partners with community banks to close the gap. For her, the future lies where AI, APIs and blockchain meet, opening the door to accessible and democratized financial advice. Explore the podcast → https://ibm.biz/BdbuaR

Ramona Ortega, Esq. is an award-winning tech entrepreneur and social impact leader shaping the future of financial services with AI. As founder of WealthBuild, she pioneered AI-powered agentic workflows that help financial institutions and SMBs deliver personalized client solutions, boost operational efficiency, and maintain compliance across every channel. WealthBuild is part of the IBM Fintech Fast Pass program, and Ramona also built the largest Latinos & tech event during SXSW in Austin, TX.

Previously, she founded My Money My Future, a leading financial literacy and inclusion platform that partners with the NASDAQ Foundation on the THRIVE Campaign to activate the next generation of investors. She has been a founding team member of Azlo, a BBVA-backed neo-bank, an angel investor, and fractional General Counsel for Rhia Ventures.
A former Wall Street attorney and U.S. Securities & Exchange Commission alum, Ramona brings two decades of expertise at the intersection of law, regulation, tech, and economic justice. Early in her career, she led high-impact nonprofits, submitted the first U.S. shadow report under ICERD to the United Nations, and served as a delegate to the World Conference Against Racism in Durban, South Africa.

Recognized as one of Crain’s Most Notable Women in Financial Advice, 100 Most Influential Latinas (Latino Leaders), and a Politico Impact Leader, Ramona has also been featured in HBO’s Gaming Wall Street. She holds a B.A. from UCLA and a J.D. from Fordham School of Law, and serves on the board of Camino Financial. Her honors include the 2019 Inspiring Fintech Females Award, the Frederick Douglass 200 Award for Entrepreneurship, and the Hispanic Heritage Award from the NYC Council.

Ramona Ortega

Founder & CEO, WealthBuild 

Learn how AI is impacting financial services as Ramona Ortega shares key insights on making financial guidance more accessible, reliable and scalable.

Bringing smarter, accessible wealth management through agentic AI

Explore the podcast → https://ibm.biz/Bdbbwt Every company is sitting on a mountain of data, but only a few know what to do with it. In this episode of AI in Action, Madison Faulkner talks with David Levy about turning data chaos into clarity. She explores how agentic AI depends on strong data management and data governance, and why unstructured data and big data only create value when they’re organized with purpose. In other words, the real competitive edge isn’t the AI itself; it’s the data behind it. Because in the end, intelligent systems are only as powerful as the data that trains them. 0:00 Intro1:35 Madison Faulkner’s journey 2:40 The birth of data science4:00 Bridging Silicon Valley hype with real-world industries8:40 Structuring unstructured data for agentic AI12:00 Automation, knowledge graphs and agentic sourcing16:40 Tactical and organizational failures in data strategy20:30 Data as code: The next wave of infrastructure24:00 Rethinking data foundations for agentic AI30:12 Turning data governance into a real business advantage33:45 Final takeaways: Clarity over chaos in the AI era The opinions expressed in this podcast are solely those of the participants and do not necessarily reflect the views of IBM or any other organization or entity. AI news is moving fast. Keep your business ahead with updates about AI advancements, strategies and expert perspectives → https://ibm.biz/Bdbbw6 #DataStrategy #EnterpriseAI #AIforBusiness #DataLeadership #BusinessIntelligence #AgenticAI #DataDrivenBusiness #DataManagement #MadisonFaulkner #DavidLevy

Madison is a Partner at NEA investing in early-stage data, infrastructure, developer tools, data science, and AI and she also leads the data and AI platform internally for improved investment decision-making. Across her investing career, she has worked with startups including Factory, World Labs, Metabase, Datafold, Delphina, Mindtrip, Fixify, and others. Prior to investing, Madison was Head of Data Science and Machine Learning at growth startup Thrasio, Head of Data Science at Greycroft, and led a data science team at Facebook focused on the ad auction and deep learning with FAIR. Madison received a BS in Engineering from Stanford and grew up in Colorado performing in rodeos. She spends free time advising entrepreneurship organizations at Columbia, University of Washington and Stanford and working towards a pilot's license. 

Madison Faulkner

Partner, NEA

Learn how agentic AI depends on robust data management and governance, and why connecting data with context is crucial to turning information into key insights.

The power of AI starts with better data

Explore the podcast → https://ibm.biz/Bdbvh4 AI can drive transformation or create new vulnerabilities. The difference lies in how we lead. In this episode of AI in Action, former CISA Director Jen Easterly joins David Levy to discuss the intersection of AI governance and cybersecurity, and how leadership and accountability shape both. Watch the episode to understand how security guardrails, robust systems, and a culture that values safety as much as speed can help organizations innovate boldly yet responsibly. Because real AI-based innovation isn’t just smart. It’s also safe. Timestamps:0:00 Intro0:55 Jen Easterly’s journey from national security to AI governance2:28 How imagination shapes innovation and risk4:06 Innovation under pressure in the field7:04 The power of data and information-driven defense8:25 Agentic AI is transforming both defense and attack9:45 Making security part of software design13:50 Accountability and leadership in AI governance17:39 Creating a culture that values safety and innovation24:17 Collaboration, resilience and the future of AI security28:04 Emerging AI threats and the evolving security landscape30:12 Key takeaways on leadership, accountability and trust AI news is moving fast. Keep your business ahead with updates about AI advancements, strategies and expert perspectives → https://ibm.biz/BdbSUv The opinions expressed in this podcast are solely those of the participants and do not necessarily reflect the views of IBM or any other organization or entity.

Jen Easterly is a globally acclaimed cybersecurity and national security leader, with deep expertise on cyber threats, emerging technologies, and organizational resilience. She most recently served as the Senate confirmed Director of the U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA)—America’s premiere cyber defense agency. As the Director of CISA, she led the nation’s efforts to protect critical infrastructure from cyber and physical threats, transforming the agency into a $3 billion operation with over 10,000 employees and contract personnel. A combat veteran, cybersecurity pioneer, and former Wall Street technology executive, Jen brings decades of leadership experience at the intersection of technology, security, and risk. Before CISA, she served as Head of Firm Resilience at Morgan Stanley, where she built and led the company’s Cybersecurity Fusion Center, charged with protecting the Firm from cyber threats. Her public service spans more than three decades, including multiple combat deployments in the U.S. Army, where she played a pivotal role in the creation of U.S. Cyber Command and commanded the Army’s first cyber battalion. She served twice at the White House, including as Special Assistant to President Obama and Senior Director for Counterterrorism and earlier as Senior Policy Advisor to National Security Advisor Condoleezza Rice. She also served as the Deputy for Counterterrorism at the National Security Agency (NSA) and as a senior leader in Tailored Access Operations, NSA’s elite hacking team. A distinguished graduate of West Point and Rhodes Scholar, Jen is a two-time recipient of the Bronze Star as well as numerous awards, including the 2024 George C. Marshall Award in Ethical Leadership, the 2023 Champion of Internet Freedom Award, the 2022 Admiral Grace Hopper Award, and the 2018 James W. Foley American Hostage Freedom Award. A member of the Council on Foreign Relations, Jen is the recipient of the Aspen Institute Finance Leaders Fellowship, the New America Foundation Senior International Security Fellowship, and the Director, National Security Agency Fellowship. A sought-after keynote speaker, Jen has provided dozens of presentations at events around the world and made numerous appearances on television and radio on topics including technology and emerging threats, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, national security, and organizational leadership and design. Beyond her professional achievements, Jen is a proud mom, mental health advocate, Rubik’s Cube enthusiast, and aspiring electric guitarist.

Jen Easterly

Former Director of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency

Discover how AI governance and cybersecurity intersect, and why imagination, leadership and accountability are key to building safer, smarter systems.

When AI governance meets cybersecurity

Explore the podcast → https://ibm.biz/BdbYhM Learn about AI agents for procurement → https://ibm.biz/BdbYhS Procurement is stepping into the future with AI. In this AI in Action episode, expert Daniel Barnes chats with David Levy about how agentic AI is shaking up procurement, which has long been stuck in spreadsheets and slow processes. Watch the episode to understand how AI is pulling insights from contracts, vendor documents and other datasets, empowering procurement teams to make smarter, faster decisions. Also, learn how some companies are stumbling by trying to AI everything at once. Companies need to understand that the smart move is to start small and then scale up. 0:00 - Intro02:14 - Data management in procurement 08:45 - How agentic AI has changed procurement13:10 - How AI and data are redefining vendor evaluation17:17 - Getting CPOs started with the right technology23:54 - The rise of agentic negotiators26:37 - Risks of ignoring AI-driven procurement opportunities The opinions expressed in this podcast are solely those of the participants and do not necessarily reflect the views of IBM or any other organization or entity.

Gatekeeper is the only unified platform for managing third-party compliance, contracting, and spend—screening every partner upfront, accelerating time-to-agreement, and continuously monitoring for risk and savings—so companies stay protected and compliant, reduce costs and move fast. Daniel hosts the Procurement Reimagined and Procurement Legends podcasts, publishes the AI Procurement Blueprint, and runs World of Procurement on YouTube. His community spans 46,000+ across YouTube, Substack, and LinkedIn, plus thousands of podcast listeners.

Daniel Barnes

Director of Product and Customer Marketing at Gatekeeper

Discover how agentic AI is transforming procurement by automating time-consuming tasks, unlocking data and letting teams focus on real negotiations and relationship-building.

Recent Episodes

SEASON 2

How IBM uses data and AI to modernize procurement

Making enterprise content actionable with AI

How UFC uses AI to turn data into real-time insights

Bringing smarter, accessible wealth management through agentic AI

The power of AI starts with better data

When AI governance meets cybersecurity

Procurement moves at AI speed

About The Show

AI in Action

David Levy

Host