As we move into 2026, the way people search and interact with brands is rapidly changing. AI is shifting discovery from traditional search toward personalized, context-aware experiences, and even the interfaces we use are evolving into agent-driven tools that act on our behalf.

In this interview we explore what these changes mean for businesses and how they can prepare for a year where search, ranking, and customer experience will look very different than they do today with one of the worlds experts in search and data.

About the Guest

Christian J. Ward is Executive Vice President and Chief Data Officer at Yext. He specializes in knowledge graphs and data asset optimization, helping clients identify, value, and structure their knowledge to maximize its impact in AI and search.

Christian is the co-author of the Amazon top release Data Leverage and has built hundreds of data partnerships worldwide, working with both startups and major global data companies.

He previously served as Chief Data Officer at Arizent and Data Axle, and as Global Head of Content Innovation at Thomson Reuters. His insights have appeared in the Wall Street Journal, Forbes, Fortune, and Search Engine Journal. He frequently speaks on data strategy, partnerships, and the influence of AI.

Yext helps organizations build digital experiences across any channel on its open, composable platform. The Yext Digital Experience Platform organizes content to deliver AI-driven experiences for customers, employees, and partners.

For more than 15 years, thousands of companies have trusted Yext to create seamless experiences across search engines, websites, mobile apps, and hundreds of digital touchpoints.

Guest social media

- Website: https://mobile.twitter.com/yext

https://www.yext.com/index.html

- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wardchristianj/

- https://www.linkedin.com/company/yext/

- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yextinc/

- Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/YextDE/

Host social media

- Website: www.siinda.org

- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kimberli-lewis-7a34053/?ppe=1

https://www.linkedin.com/company/search-and-information-industry-association/?viewAsMember=true

- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/followsiinda/

Welcome to the show. Have you ever thought about the similarities between nature and business. Well to be honest until I read the book of todays' guest I never did. So today we're going to look at this. We will explore how nature can be one of our greatest teachers in business and leadership. We'll look at what ecosystems can teach us about collaboration, competition, and change—and how these lessons can help organizations not just survive, but truly thrive.

About the Guest

Ines Garcia is an organizational coach and the Founder and CEO of Get Agile.

She is the author of the forthcoming book Nature's Blueprint for Business: Harnessing the Hidden Power of Edges (Routledge, September 8, 2025), in which she explores how principles found in nature can help organizations create greater impact, adapt to complexity, and reduce waste.

Through her work, Ines supports leaders and teams in rethinking how value is created, delivered, and sustained in fast-changing environments.

With extensive experience across industries, Ines partners with organizations that want to move beyond frameworks and tools to achieve meaningful, measurable outcomes. Her approach combines systems thinking, Agile and Lean principles, and practical experimentation, always with a strong focus on people and purpose. She is known for translating complex ideas into actionable practices that teams can apply immediately.

Ines designs and delivers hands-on programs for Agile, Project, and Product professionals, helping them strengthen decision-making, collaboration, and delivery capabilities.

Her work emphasizes learning by doing, continuous improvement, and aligning strategy with real customer and business needs. More information about her work, programs, and speaking can be found at www.inesgarcia.me.

Guest social media

• Website: www.inesgarcia.me
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/inesgarciaagile/

Host social media

• Website: www.siinda.org
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kimberli-lewis-7a34053/?ppe=1

https://www.linkedin.com/company/search-and-information-industry-association/?viewAsMember=true

• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/followsiinda/

Today's conversation is with Karolina Pelc — entrepreneur, former casino dealer, and author of Her Play. Her story is not a story about shortcuts or formulas, but about risk, resilience, and the invisible moments that shape who we become.

From the casino floors of post-communist Europe to building and exiting a global tech company, Karolina's journey challenges how we think about luck, ambition, and belonging. This is a conversation about how life is really played.

About the Guest

Again, Karolina Pelc is the author of Her Play: Making Your Own Luck, available via the following links on Amazon, Target, and Barnes & Noble.

The book is the foundational volume of her Her Playbook series and captures practical insights drawn from a two-decade career across real-money gaming, technology, and executive leadership.

Karolina Pelc began her career dealing cards in land-based and cruise casinos before progressing into senior leadership roles and ultimately serving as a board director of a Nasdaq-listed company.

In 2021, she founded BeyondPlay, an engagement SaaS startup focused on player experience and retention. She raised over €7 million in angel and venture capital and scaled the business rapidly.

In under three years, BeyondPlay was acquired by FanDuel in 2024, where Pelc subsequently served as Vice President.

Her Play was launched on Necker Island with Richard Branson in attendance. Today, Pelc advises venture capital firms and founders, supports M&A and investment due diligence, and actively invests in and mentors early-stage founders through HerPlay, helping them build resilient companies and create their own luck.

Guest social media

• Website: https://www.herplay.com/
• Instagram: @storiesbypelc
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/karolinapelc

Host social media

• Website: www.siinda.org
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kimberli-lewis-7a34053/?ppe=1

https://www.linkedin.com/company/search-and-information-industry-association/?viewAsMember=true

• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/followsiinda/