.png)
In this pilot episode of "Making Agents Real," Steve Hochman sits down with Vaibhav Gadodia to explore what it really takes to put AI agents to work inside enterprises. They discuss the real-world hurdles of deploying and scaling AI agents across organizations, from choosing between a crowded field of platforms and managing hidden costs, to the change management challenges that stand in the way of successful adoption. Vaibhav shares practical lessons from deploying AI agents in a high-volume help desk, including why treating agents as copilots (not replacements) and keeping humans in the loop from day one proved critical to successful adoption.
Jul 27, 2026
Steve has spent three decades leading, writing, and speaking about digital and AI innovation and transformation. He is a globally recognized expert in supply chain transformation, cited regularly by BBC World News, Wall Street Journal, Bloomberg Network, Marketplace Radio, Global Trade Magazine, and South China Morning Post on supply chain innovation and enterprise resilience response to our current wave of global geopolitical crises.
Steve is also a seasoned operator, entrepreneur, and CxO advisor, having led supply chain strategy and transformation for Nike, raised over $200M in venture funding across 5 diversified technology startups, and consulted to leading Fortune 500 CxOs on AI strategy and execution across consumer, retail, industrial, life sciences, and energy sectors.
