Practically Tomorrow

Unlocking AI's Potential in SMBs with Kevin Surace, Entrepreneur and Futurist

Recorded during GoFurther 2026 at Comerica Park, this special Practically Tomorrow podcast episode explores how AI is reshaping SMB growth, customer experience,  IT strategy — and how SMBs and companies can use AI deliberately, aligning machine capability with human judgment, creativity, and accountability. Hosted by GoTo's Chief Commercial Officer, Peter Mahoney, this episode features Entrepreneur, Futurist, and GoFurther 2026 Guest Keynote Speaker, Kevin Surace. Named a Tech Pioneer by the World Economic Forum, Kevin led the development of the first AI virtual assistant and built multiple startups to $1B+ valuations. With 94 patents under his belt, he brings a rare mix of real‑world AI innovation and high‑energy insight—equipping IT teams to move from hype to action and innovate boldly. In this episode, Kevin recounts the history of AI from early commercialization and incremental gains in the late ’90s—to today’s rapid GenAI advances. For SMBs, shrinking talent pipelines mean SMBs must use AI to make existing teams more productive while shifting humans to higher-value work. For example, for CX, AI has the potential to solve simple front-end requests letting agents focus on customer care issues that can strengthen the customer relationship. For companies implementing AI transformations, Kevin warns employee sabotage is actually more common than you might expect, and he recommends tiger teams, while advising IT leaders to rely on trusted secure vendors, especially for AI agents. A key takeaway for SMBs? Be AI-first. Commit to testing the AI tools, work the tools into your workflows, and focus on outcomes.Follow Kevin Surace:https://www.linkedin.com/in/ksuraceConnect with GoTo:https://www.linkedin.com/company/GoToLearn about GoTo:https://www.goto.comStream GoFurther 2026:https://goto.com/gofurther

The Era of the Empath: What MSPs Need to Win in the Age of AI with Amy Babinchak

In this episode, GoTo's Vice President of Global Partner Ecosystems Steve Shattuck sits down with Amy Babinchak, MSP expert and cohost of the SMB Community Podcast, to talk about what it's really going to take for managed service providers to thrive in 2026 and beyond. As AI continues to reshape the IT landscape, Steve and Amy make the case that the biggest differentiator for MSPs isn't their tech stack — it's their people skills. Together, Steve and Amy cover why empathy, active listening, and genuine client relationships are becoming the new competitive edge, how to prepare your staff for the AI shift before it's too late, and why the MSPs who win will be the ones who make their customers feel truly cared for.Connect with GoTo:https://www.linkedin.com/company/GoToLearn about GoTo:https://www.goto.comFollow Amy Babinchak:https://www.linkedin.com/in/amybabinchakCheck out the SMB Community Podcast:https://smbcommunitypodcast.comCheck out the MSP Maturity Hub:https://www.logmein.com/resources/msp-maturity-hub

Business Continuity and Disaster Recovery for MSPs and IT Leaders in an Extortion-First Cyberthreats Era, with Acronis

Mike Gutierrez of GoTo speaks with James Abercrombie, Acronis’ Global Community Lead, about business continuity and disaster preparedness, amidst the world’s most alarming cyberthreats facing MSPs and IT teams. Together, they dig into Acronis' latest Cyberthreats Report, which is based on telemetry from over 1M unique endpoints, highlighting ransomware’s move to extortion-first tactics, increased exploitation of legitimate tools for lateral movement, control plane vulnerabilities, and the increased operational integration of AI in cyber attacks. James emphasizes that cyber risk is now defined by more of a trust failure, and the need for business continuity planning to account for data exposure, regulatory impact, and reputational risk, not just system restoration. The conversation covers managed service providers as high-value targets due to RMM access, supply chain attacks, data classification, segmentation, and incident response that includes workflow automation to reduce human error.Connect with GoTo:https://www.linkedin.com/company/GoToLearn about GoTo:https://www.goto.comFollow James Abercrombie:https://www.linkedin.com/in/cyberbeardConnect with Acronis:https://www.linkedin.com/company/acronisRead Acronis' Cyberthreats Report:https://www.acronis.com/en/resource-center/resource/acronis-cyberthreats-report-h2-2025Learn about the LogMeIn Resolve Data Protection Suite powered by Acronis:https://www.logmein.com/features/resolve/bdr-software 

The Intersection of Product and CX, in the Age of AI, with Adrian Brady-Cesana from CXChronicles

Max Marchand, Sr. Director of Product Management at GoTo, talks with Adrian Brady-Cesana, founder and Chief Experience Officer at CXChronicles, about how AI is fundamentally changing the way teams build products and deliver customer experiences across The Four CX Pillars. Max and Adrian explore the benefits of AI-driven product development like “vibe coding” to collect customer feedback and accelerate prototyping, the importance of customer personalization, and what it takes to maintain brand trust when AI becomes the first, or a recurring, point of contact with customers. They discuss how AI is blurring traditional job functions and what this means for product, engineering, and UX teams. In this episode, they also highlight GoTo’s 2025 Pulse of Work report. A key finding, 62% of employees said AI is significantly overhyped, but 86% admit they aren't using AI to its full potential.Connect with GoTo:https://www.linkedin.com/company/GoToLearn about GoTo:https://www.goto.comRead GoTo's 2025 Pulse of Work Report:https://www.goto.com/resources/pulse-of-workFollow Adrian Brady-Cesana:https://www.linkedin.com/in/adrianbradycesanaListen to The CXChronicles Podcast:https://open.spotify.com/show/46c1YHMsx1oXcqeGXJSjhi?si=81aab483736b4913Learn about CXChronicles:https://cxchronicles.com

Human-Centered AI, a Data Science Perspective with Beth Rudden CEO of Bast AI

Olga Lagunova, GoTo's Chief Product and Technology Officer, discusses human-centered AI with Beth Rudden, the CEO of Bast AI and former IBM Distinguished Engineer and Chief Data Officer. This episode looks at explainable AI with a data science lens, covering real-world applications in high-stakes fields like healthcare and the importance of transparency in AI systems to ensure real-world use by humans. Together, Olga and Beth also discuss common challenges in AI development, the importance of being deliberate with AI deployments, and how to effectively drive AI adoption.Connect with GoTo:https://www.linkedin.com/company/GoToLearn about GoTo:https://www.goto.comConnect with Beth Rudden:https://www.linkedin.com/in/bruddenLearn about Bast AI:https://bast.ai

AI and the Employee Experience with Dan Schawbel, New York Times bestselling author

Meredith Hawkins, GoTo’s Chief People Officer, and Dan Schawbel, Managing Partner of Workplace Intelligence, discuss how AI is fundamentally reshaping talent development and the employee experience. In this episode, they dig into GoTo’s 2025 Pulse of Work report. A key finding, 62% of employees said AI is significantly overhyped, but 86% admit they aren't using AI to its full potential. Together, Meredith and Dan dig into the need for adaptability and soft skills like critical thinking, in an AI-integrated work environment. They also explore the future of work with AI potentially accelerating a shift towards remote work, strategies for upskilling employees, and adapting organizational structures to harness AI’s potential.Connect with GoTo:https://www.linkedin.com/company/GoToLearn about GoTo:https://www.goto.comFollow Dan Schawbel:https://www.linkedin.com/in/danschawbelRead GoTo's 2025 Pulse of Work Report:https://www.goto.com/resources/pulse-of-work

Practical AI Adoption and Navigating the AI Gold Rush, with Neil C. Hughes from the Tech Talks Daily Podcast

Olga Lagunova, GoTo’s Chief Product and Technology Officer, catches up with Neil C. Hughes—a Top Voice on LinkedIn and producer/host of the Tech Talks Daily podcast. This episode is geared toward business leaders who are looking to adopt AI or are already integrating AI into their organizations. Together, Neil and Olga discuss future-proofing AI projects, avoiding pitfalls, and how to set AI projects up for measurable success. Key insights? Aligning AI with business problems, the critical role that data readiness plays, investing in employee AI training, navigating "shadow AI," and focusing on gradual, measurable wins.Connect with GoTo:https://www.linkedin.com/company/GoToLearn about GoTo:https://www.goto.comFollow Neil C. Hughes:https://www.linkedin.com/in/neilchughesCatch Olga on Neil's Tech Talks Daily podcast:https://open.spotify.com/episode/7jcEki77Jrfu2GWSyTu30F?si=WWVLFkWJRTykXRb1M0_NXQRead GoTo's 2025 Pulse of Work Report:https://www.goto.com/resources/pulse-of-work

How AI is Transforming HR and the Workforce, with Dan Schawbel, New York Times bestselling author

Meredith Hawkins, GoTo’s Chief People Officer, and Dan Schawbel, Managing Partner of Workplace Intelligence, discuss the transformative impact of AI on the workforce. They explore how Chief People Officers are adapting to AI's impact on the employee experience and traditional job functions. Together, they discuss GoTo’s 2025 Pulse of Work report, revealing the untapped potential of AI in organizations of all sizes and its impact on the workplace. A key finding, 51% of employees believe physical offices will become obsolete in the future. And 62% of employees prefer AI-enhanced remote work over in-office. The episode also covers AI's role in enhancing work-from-anywhere flexibility, how agentic AI can transform departments like HR, recruiting, and customer care, as well as the importance of AI transparency in the workplace.Connect with GoTo:https://www.linkedin.com/company/GoToLearn about GoTo:https://www.goto.comFollow Dan Schawbel:https://www.linkedin.com/in/danschawbelRead GoTo's 2025 Pulse of Work Report:https://www.goto.com/resources/pulse-of-work

From Hype to Reality, How AI is Shaping Leadership and the Future of Work, with Jacob Morgan

Peter Mahoney, GoTo’s Chief Commercial Officer, sits down with Jacob Morgan—five-time bestselling author, TED speaker, and founder of the Future of Work Leaders Community—to explore how AI is shaping the workplace, leadership, and the employee experience. Together, they discuss GoTo’s latest 2025 Pulse of Work report, revealing the untapped potential of AI in organizations of all sizes and its impact on the workplace. A key finding, 51% of employees believe physical offices will become obsolete in the future. And 62% of employees prefer AI-enhanced remote work over in-office. Jacob shares insights on the evolving role of technology for CHROs, the unique challenges and opportunities for small businesses, practical advice for leaders, and why human connection remains essential in an AI-driven world.Connect with GoTo:https://www.linkedin.com/company/GoToLearn about GoTo:https://www.goto.comFollow Jacob Morgan:https://www.linkedin.com/in/jacobmorgan8/Catch Peter on Jacob's 'Future Ready Leadership' podcast:https://open.spotify.com/episode/7FSCi9a72IsRNvkiiqUu1Z?si=d2d4397d78bf44a4Read GoTo's 2025 Pulse of Work Report:https://www.goto.com/resources/pulse-of-work

Defending Against GenAI-assisted and the World's Most Alarming Cyberthreats with Acronis' Cybersecurity Evangelist, Steve Brining (CISSP)

This episode covers the latest, most alarming cyberthreats and how Managed Service Providers, business leaders, SMBs, and consumers can defend against them. Joining GoTo's Kim Zupancic is Steve Brining (CISSP), Cybersecurity Evangelist at Acronis, CW3 and a Commanding Officer in the Arizona Army National Guard. Together, Kim and Steve delve into Acronis' Cyberthreats Report, which is based on over 1M unique endpoints worldwide. Steve covers the most common attack vectors, the red flags to look for especially with the rise of AI-driven attacks, how MSPs can position themselves as trusted cybersecurity advisors, and practical tips on staying vigilant. No surprise, the best offense is a strong defense — from everyday tactics, like multi-factor authentication, to the more advanced like GenAI-assisted defenses, deep fake recognition drills, and incident response plans. Knowing businesses aren't the only targets out there, this episode concludes with pro-tips for consumers too.Connect with GoTo:https://www.linkedin.com/company/GoToLearn about GoTo:https://www.goto.comConnect with Acronis:https://www.linkedin.com/company/acronisRead Acronis' Cyberthreats Report:https://www.acronis.com/en-sg/resource-center/resource/acronis-cyberthreats-report-h2-2024/Learn about the LogMeIn Resolve Data Protection Suite powered by Acronis:https://www.logmein.com/features/resolve/bdr-software