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When Ethics Meet ROI

Can doing the right thing cost you revenue? Kara Bombell and Kyler Cheatham explore why ethical AI isn’t a barrier to profit, it’s a blueprint for long-term sustainability. They cover how executives can balance risk and responsibility, why “phase two ethics” never works, and what it takes to make ethical AI a core part of business value instead of an afterthought.
 
Watch the full podcast here: https://www.youtube.com/live/eaE4TeZLXTI 
 
Connect with me on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/kylercheatham/ Follow me on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/kyler_cheatham_tech/ Follow me on TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@kylercheatham Connect with The Confluencial https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-confluencial Follow The Confluencial on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@the.confluencial

Human-First Automation and the Future Workforce

Automation shouldn’t erase the human element, it should enhance it. In this discussion, Kara and Kyler dig into how AI can be used to augment rather than replace workers, the difference between inspiring work and busywork, and how leaders can use automation to build capability instead of fear.
 
Watch the full podcast here: https://www.youtube.com/live/eaE4TeZLXTI 
 
Connect with me on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/kylercheatham/ Follow me on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/kyler_cheatham_tech/ Follow me on TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@kylercheatham Connect with The Confluencial https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-confluencial Follow The Confluencial on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@the.confluencial

Why AI Fails in the Enterprise

If AI adoption feels like chaos disguised as innovation, you’re not alone. Kara Bombell explains why 95 percent of enterprise AI initiatives miss the mark. From executive blind spots to short-term cost thinking, she and Kyler reveal the cultural and strategic gaps that keep “ethical AI” stuck in slide decks instead of practice.
 
Watch the full podcast here: https://www.youtube.com/live/eaE4TeZLXTI 
 
Connect with me on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/kylercheatham/ Follow me on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/kyler_cheatham_tech/ Follow me on TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@kylercheatham Connect with The Confluencial https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-confluencial Follow The Confluencial on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@the.confluencial

Building Trust Before Technology

Ethics isn’t a checklist, it’s a culture. Kara and Kyler break down how leaders can embed ethical frameworks directly into AI projects, why human-first design matters, and how sustainable implementation depends on more than compliance documents. This episode explores what it means to create organizational ethics that last longer than the next software upgrade.
 
Watch the full podcast here: https://www.youtube.com/live/eaE4TeZLXTI 
 
Connect with me on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/kylercheatham/ Follow me on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/kyler_cheatham_tech/ Follow me on TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@kylercheatham Connect with The Confluencial https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-confluencial Follow The Confluencial on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@the.confluencial

What Does Ethical AI Actually Mean?

Kara Bombell, co-founder of Ethic AI, joins Kyler Cheatham to unpack what “ethical AI” really means. The conversation explores how businesses can bridge the gap between academic theory and practical implementation, why trust is the foundation of every transformation, and how organizations can design AI strategies that amplify, not replace human capability.
 
Watch the full podcast here: https://www.youtube.com/live/eaE4TeZLXTI 
 
Connect with me on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/kylercheatham/ Follow me on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/kyler_cheatham_tech/ Follow me on TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@kylercheatham Connect with The Confluencial https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-confluencial Follow The Confluencial on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@the.confluencial

Does SaaS Really Save Money?

SaaS platforms promise lower costs and higher efficiency, but the numbers don’t always add up. In this episode, Kristy Barber joins the conversation to examine whether cloud software actually saves companies money or simply moves expenses around. The discussion explores hidden costs like new admin roles, ongoing subscriptions, and integration fees, and why ROI models often look better on paper than in practice. Kristy and Adam share what finance leaders should evaluate before assuming technology will pay for itself and how to tell the difference between real savings and reclassified spending.
 
Watch the full episode here: https://www.youtube.com/live/n557EkJaWag 
 
Connect with me on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/kylercheatham/ Follow me on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/kyler_cheatham_tech/ Follow me on TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@kylercheatham Connect with The Confluencial https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-confluencial Follow The Confluencial on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@the.confluencial

What’s the Biggest Financial Mistake in Tech Projects?

Most technology projects don’t fail because of bad software, they fail because of bad budgeting. In this episode, Kristy Barber joins the conversation to unpack the most common financial mistakes organizations make when funding new technology. From underestimating total project costs to overlooking hidden expenses like integrations, travel, and internal labor, Kristy and Adam share real examples of how projects derail when budgets stop at the order form. The discussion also explores the cost of inaction, why small pivots can become massive budget risks, and how to build a realistic financial strategy that keeps implementations on track from kickoff to go-live.
 
Watch the full episode here: https://www.youtube.com/live/n557EkJaWag 
 
Connect with me on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/kylercheatham/ Follow me on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/kyler_cheatham_tech/ Follow me on TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@kylercheatham Connect with The Confluencial https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-confluencial Follow The Confluencial on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@the.confluencial

What Happens When Finance and IT Don’t Speak the Same Language?

When finance is focused on budgets and IT is focused on speed, alignment can feel impossible. In this episode, Kristy Barber joins the discussion to unpack why these two teams often operate on different timelines and how leaders can bridge the gap. The conversation explores how company structure, reporting lines, and budgeting cycles shape decision-making, and why many digital transformations stall on the hill of funding and unrealistic timelines. Kristy shares practical advice for setting expectations early, building cross-functional alignment, and ensuring technology priorities stay grounded in business outcomes, not departmental agendas.
 
Watch the full episode here: https://www.youtube.com/live/n557EkJaWag 
 
Connect with me on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/kylercheatham/ Follow me on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/kyler_cheatham_tech/ Follow me on TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@kylercheatham Connect with The Confluencial https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-confluencial Follow The Confluencial on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@the.confluencial

Can You Still Capitalize SaaS in a Subscription-Driven World?

The CapEx vs. OpEx debate has never been trickier. In this episode, Kristy Barber breaks down why modern accounting rules haven’t kept pace with the shift to subscription-based software and what that means for finance leaders. She explores how companies are managing SaaS costs under today’s GAAP and FASB standards, why the 80s-era playbook no longer applies, and how missteps in classification can distort your financial health. The conversation also covers why annual audits remain essential and how to navigate the gray areas as business models evolve.
 
Watch the full episode here: https://www.youtube.com/live/n557EkJaWag 
 
Connect with me on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/kylercheatham/ Follow me on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/kyler_cheatham_tech/ Follow me on TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@kylercheatham Connect with The Confluencial https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-confluencial Follow The Confluencial on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@the.confluencial

CapEx vs. OpEx: Getting Technology Budgets Right

When should a new system be treated as a capital investment versus an operating expense? In this episode, Kristy Barber joins the discussion to break down how finance and technology teams can align on budgeting for modern systems. The conversation explores how cloud software, subscriptions, and automation have reshaped accounting strategies and why misclassifying expenses can cause serious financial and compliance issues. From understanding depreciation rules to planning for ROI and exit strategies, Kristy shares how to structure tech investments the right way so they drive long-term value instead of creating hidden costs.
 
Watch the full episode here: https://www.youtube.com/live/n557EkJaWag 
 
Connect with me on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/kylercheatham/ Follow me on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/kyler_cheatham_tech/ Follow me on TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@kylercheatham Connect with The Confluencial https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-confluencial Follow The Confluencial on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@the.confluencial