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

Website

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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

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.

Procurement moves at AI speed

Most companies struggle with AI. And it’s usually not because the technology doesn’t work, but because the right adoption approach isn’t followed. As Conor Grennan, Chief AI Architect at New York University, puts it, treating AI like a digital transformation initiative is a recipe for failure. What actually works is when leaders move beyond rolling out AI tools and drive the behavioral shift that sets clear expectations and enables real change. When leadership teams get the people part right, they can avoid the usual mistakes, align teams on what matters and turn AI into real business results. Learn about AI agents and application architecture → https://ibm.biz/BdbR2B 0:00 Intro04:52 AI adoption is a behavioral challenge07:55 AI isn’t digital transformation 11:30 The risk of using AI agents as mere replacements16:31 Finding the AI champion who drives change18:18 The shift from commands to conversations22:39 The foundation for scaling AI workflows32:22 Why AI agents aren’t just machines33:15 Trust, hallucinations and the data problem 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/BdbdvS

Conor Grennan is Chief AI Architect at NYU Stern School of Business and CEO of AI Mindset, an AI consulting company that trains organizations on a new and effective framework for generative AI rooted in behavioral shifts. Conor has worked with teams across industry, including at OpenAI, McKinsey, NASA, Google, PWC, Amazon, Microsoft, ServiceNow, JP Morgan, New York Life, DaVita Healthcare, BlueCross/BlueShield, Blackstone, WelshCarson Private Equity, and more. He is also a NY Times and #1 international bestselling author, published in 15 languages. He is also a sought-after keynote speaker, serves on the Board of Directors of the SHRM Foundation and has been named a Top Trusted Voice in AI by Edelman. Conor’s AI insights have been featured in the Wall Street Journal, Entrepreneur, Washington Post, BBC, Forbes, Business Insider, Vox, and other media. He co-hosts the AI Applied Podcast (top 20 in Business News) and has over 130k followers on LinkedIn that track his genAI insights. Outside of his work in AI, Conor has been named a Huffington Post Game Changer of the Year for his humanitarian work with trafficked children in Nepal, and in 2014 was given the Unsung Hero of Compassion Award by His Holiness the Dalai Lama. He has a BA from the University of Virginia and an MBA from NYU Stern, and lives in New Canaan with his wife Liz and his two children, Finn (Class of ‘27) and Lucy (Class of ‘29). 

Conor Grennan

Chief AI Architect, NYU Stern School of Business & CEO, AI Mindset

Want AI to truly work? Focus on people, not tools. Learn from Conor Grennan, Chief AI Architect at New York University, how C-suite leaders should drive behavior change to fuel the right result.

AI adoption demands more than just new tools

AI and robotics are revolutionizing industrial work and automation by enhancing efficiency, reducing costs and safeguarding human workers from hazardous tasks.&nbsp;In this episode, Aaron Saunders, CTO of Boston Dynamics, delves into the transformative potential of AI-powered robotics, highlighting how robots are becoming safer, more cost-effective and widely accessible through Robotics as a Service (RaaS).&nbsp;He shares real-world applications of industrial robotics, insights into ROI and the shift from deterministic systems to open-ended technologies, while also addressing key challenges, such as managing expectations and ensuring data privacy.&nbsp; Timestamps:0:00&nbsp;Intro03:03 The future of robots with generative AI07:22 Beyond warehouses: New uses for AI robots12:29 ROI from AI-powered robotics15:13 The next phase of AI and robotics18:41 Guidance for CTOs on AI and robotics 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.&nbsp;&nbsp;AI news is moving fast. Keep your business ahead with updates about AI advancements, strategies and expert perspectives&nbsp;→&nbsp;<a href="https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&amp;redir_token=QUFFLUhqbE5rRFZONlk5TzdkUWhNdnNmdG5MdG5JU3JVUXxBQ3Jtc0tuR01jX1Z5ZVp2NHVKeHAzQmVKSDZxWjdXc2o1MGtWUXRTeUVCQWhJSERCU2NNOVVGaHlaQjVHSEhBZkpVNFlrbDByMmZfLXZGaDBkUFVmLVRrazh0dlJjUnlRcTFvMHN0UXFBXzVweFRpSmNHOFZCMA&amp;q=https%3A%2F%2Fibm.biz%2FBdnXVJ&amp;v=R-ndBZzLxJA" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://ibm.biz/BdnXVJ</a>&nbsp;#AI #Robotics #IndustrialAutomation #RoboticsasAService #ReturnOnInvestment #SafetyInAutomation #FutureTech&nbsp;#AaronSaunders&nbsp;#DavidLevy&nbsp;

Aaron Saunders, Chief Technology Officer at Boston Dynamics, is a dedicated expert in innovative robot development. With over 20 years at Boston Dynamics, he has held key roles, including Vice President of Engineering. He leads multidisciplinary teams to set the company’s technological vision and align R&D with business needs. He holds a Master’s in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Victoria and a Bachelor’s from the University of Alberta. 

Aaron Saunders

Chief Technology Officer, Boston Dynamics

Learn from Aaron Saunders, CTO of Boston Dynamics, how AI and robotics are impacting industrial operations—boosting efficiency, lowering costs and protecting workers from monotonous, dangerous tasks.

Industrial work reimagined with AI and robotics

AI in retail is no longer a buzzword. It’s a reality, and Tractor Supply Company has been one of the pioneers in driving it forward. In this conversation, Glenn Allison, VP of AI platforms at Tractor Supply Company, explains how AI communicators, mobile apps and computer vision are making life easier for teams and creating a truly AI-enabled customer experience. Watch the episode to witness generative AI in action. Discover how it’s reshaping workflows, powering decisions and fueling innovation across retail.&nbsp;Timestamps:0:00&nbsp;Intro03:34 Balancing AI innovation and operations06:09 AI agents transforming retail12:54 Scaling up for AI17:25 Continuous learning in the age of AI19:56 Boosting ROI through AI22:40 The workforce response to AI&nbsp;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.&nbsp;&nbsp;AI news is moving fast. Keep your business ahead with updates about AI advancements, strategies and expert perspectives&nbsp;→&nbsp;<a href="https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&amp;redir_token=QUFFLUhqbE5rRFZONlk5TzdkUWhNdnNmdG5MdG5JU3JVUXxBQ3Jtc0tuR01jX1Z5ZVp2NHVKeHAzQmVKSDZxWjdXc2o1MGtWUXRTeUVCQWhJSERCU2NNOVVGaHlaQjVHSEhBZkpVNFlrbDByMmZfLXZGaDBkUFVmLVRrazh0dlJjUnlRcTFvMHN0UXFBXzVweFRpSmNHOFZCMA&amp;q=https%3A%2F%2Fibm.biz%2FBdnXVJ&amp;v=R-ndBZzLxJA" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://ibm.biz/BdnXVJ</a>&nbsp;#AIinRetail #TractorSupply #ArtificialIntelligence #CustomerExperience #Innovation #GlennAllison&nbsp;#DavidLevy

Glenn Allison is Vice President, Enterprise AI Platforms and AI Solution Engineering for Tractor Supply Company, the largest rural lifestyle retailer in the United States with more than 2,300 stores in 49 states and 52,000 Team Members. In his role, Glenn is responsible for AI & ML Platforms, TSC & Me AI Platform, LLMOps and MLOps AI Engineering, Data Engineering & Governance, Cloud AI Platforms, Hybrid Cloud Infrastructure, Data Centers & Critical Facilities, Merchandising Systems, Product Information Management, SAP / Finance, Legal, Real Estate, HRIS. 

Tractor Supply is frequently recognized as one of the best workplaces for IT professionals, including 2024 CIO 100 award for innovation with AI and Computerworld Best Places to Work in IT. 

Prior to Tractor Supply, Glenn worked at Kellogg Company, where he led global architecture and engineering functions to support supply chain modernization. Glenn also previously held several leadership roles at W.W. Grainger, one of the largest eCommerce retailers in the United States. Glenn received his MBA from the University of Chicago and Master of Science in Information Technology from Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois. 

He currently serves on the CNBC Technology Executive Council, Technology Leadership 
Council for the National Retail Federation (NRF), Nashville Technology Council, and is a lifetime member of the FFA. Glenn was named to the “40 Under 40” list by the Nashville Business Journal in 2016. 

Glenn Allison

VP, IT Enterprise AI Platforms and AI Solution Engineering of Tractor Supply Company 

AI is reshaping every aisle of retail. Learn more about this topic from Glenn Allison, VP of AI platforms at Tractor Supply Company.

Recent Episodes

SEASON 2

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

AI adoption demands more than just new tools

Industrial work reimagined with AI and robotics

Tractor Supply Company shows the power of AI in retail

About The Show

AI in Action

David Levy

Host