This is the Podcast for Networking Unleashed: Building Profitable Connections,
Define what you want to achieve through networking. Are you looking for new clients, partnerships, or career opportunities? Having clear goals will guide your efforts and make your networking more purposeful. Networking is about building genuine relationships. Be yourself and show genuine interest in others. Effective communication is not just about talking but also about listening. Pay attention to what others are saying, ask questions, and show empathy. After meeting someone, follow up with a personalized message. Mention something specific from your conversation to remind them of who you are. Networking is not a one-time activity.
Hosted by Georgia keynote speaker Michael A. Forman, Networking Unleashed helps professionals turn conversations into clients through powerful communication and relationship strategy.
Networking Unleashed: An Interview with Evan Siegel and Michael A Forman, Professional Speaker
Evan Siegel
esiegel@egain.com (mailto:esiegel@egain.com)
Please share a brief Bio.
Evan Siegel is VP of AI Business Solutions at eGain, where he helps Global 2000 enterprises unify content, automate workflows, and achieve measurable AI return on investment. He's focused on building AI systems that solve actual business problems. Over 16 years at Wells Fargo, he led customer experience strategy for the bank's 23 million retail customers and helped lead the 10,000+ agent contact center. He also created and led a financial coaching program so successful it landed in the bank's annual report, TV ads, and a feature story on Good Morning America. Earlier in his career, Evan spent a decade as a strategy and transformation consultant at Bain & Company, EY, and CSC. This background gives him a unique perspective on why business initiatives succeed or fail across industries. He holds a BA from Brown University and an MBA from Stanford Graduate School of Business. He has written articles for The Financial Brand, BAI Banking Strategies, and Deloitte Insights. His podcast appearances include shows from Bain & Company and Deloitte Consulting, where he cuts through buzzwords to talk about what works
What are 2-3 things you would love to talk about?
1. Thought Leadership & Networking How I combine thought leadership and networking to open doors with consulting partners and bank and credit union executives, turning published insight and a strong viewpoint into real relationships with the people who actually buy.
2. Financial Wellness at Wells Fargo How I used a passion for financial wellness and networking inside a massive organization to build a coaching program from scratch that ended up in Wells Fargo's annual report, TV commercials, and on Good Morning America. 3. Regaining Credibility After a Failed AI Pilot Regaining credibility after a failed AI pilot with another vendor takes more than fixing the technology, it takes rebuilding trust internally through networking, something I see constantly with the clients I work with at eGain.
What are 2-3 things you would like to gain as a result of being on this podcast?
New connections with Michael Forman's network. A reusable episode I can share across my channels. Greater eGain awareness among the audience.
Any website you wish to share with the audience?
https://www.egain.com/ (https://www.egain.com/) This is a link to an article I recently wrote that was published by Deloitte Consulting https://www.deloitte.com/us/en/insights/topics/talent/knowledge-management-plan.html?id=us:2em:3na:4diUS188956:5awa:6di:MMDDYY:author&pkid=1014435 (https://www.deloitte.com/us/en/insights/topics/talent/knowledge-management-plan.html?id=us:2em:3na:4diUS188956:5awa:6di:MMDDYY:author&pkid=1014435)
Any social media links you wish to share with the audience?
https://www.linkedin.com/in/evan-siegel-ab436845/ (https://www.linkedin.com/in/evan-siegel-ab436845/)
Michael is a business networking expert specializing in enhancing professionals' networking and communication skills to drive profitability. As a leading authority in this field, he is highly sought after for his dynamic presentations and workshops. His extensive experience has consistently led to significant improvements in corporate profitability by empowering individuals and organizations to connect more effectively and efficiently.
Digital Courses
https://michael-s-site-fc88.thinkific.com/ (https://michael-s-site-fc88.thinkific.com/)
13 Oct 2026
Networking Unleashed: An Interview with Saurabh Kakkar and Michael A Forman, Professional Speaker
SAURABH KAKKAR
skresearch81@gmail.com (mailto:skresearch81@gmail.com)
Please share a brief Bio.
Saurabh Kakkar is an AI, data, and risk transformation leader with extensive experience in banking and financial services. His work focuses on applying AI/ML, generative AI, data analytics, and intelligent automation to complex credit-risk and regulatory challenges. He is also an author, researcher, inventor, keynote speaker, and technology judge, with a particular interest in responsible and explainable AI in highly regulated industries.
What are 2-3 things you would love to talk about?
1. How AI and Generative AI are transforming banking, credit risk, and regulated industries. 2. Moving from AI experimentation to responsible, explainable, enterprise-scale implementation.
3. How sustained study and applied research in AI can translate into practical innovation — including developing patented AI solutions, publishing a book on AI/ML in credit risk, and using that body of work to inform enterprise transformation and thought leadership.
What are 2-3 things you would like to gain as a result of being on this podcast?
Share practical lessons that can help leaders and professionals adopt AI responsibly. Connect with other AI, technology, banking, and transformation leaders. Expand meaningful conversations around responsible AI, innovation, and the future of financial services.
Any website you wish to share with the audience?
saurabhkakkar.com (http://saurabhkakkar.com)
Michael is a business networking expert specializing in enhancing professionals' networking and communication skills to drive profitability. As a leading authority in this field, he is highly sought after for his dynamic presentations and workshops. His extensive experience has consistently led to significant improvements in corporate profitability by empowering individuals and organizations to connect more effectively and efficiently.
https://www.michaelaforman.com/ (https://www.michaelaforman.com/)
https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelforman/ (https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelforman/)
https://www.instagram.com/flyboy_197/ (https://www.instagram.com/flyboy_197/)
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCI6GkxoRFCk969A_rCfpHWQ (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCI6GkxoRFCk969A_rCfpHWQ)
Digital Courses
https://michael-s-site-fc88.thinkific.com/ (https://michael-s-site-fc88.thinkific.com/)
12 Oct 2026
Networking Unleashed: An Interview with Natalie Jackson and Michael A Forman, Professional Speaker
Natalie K. Jackson
natalie.jackson@thecrescentconsultancy.com (mailto:natalie.jackson@thecrescentconsultancy.com)
Please share a brief Bio.
Natalie K. Jackson is a Customer Experience (CX) strategist and founder of Crescent Consultancy, where she helps organizations design customer and employee experiences that reduce friction, strengthen trust, and drive measurable business outcomes. With more than two decades of cross‑industry experience, she has led large‑scale CX and EX initiatives across consulting, sales, quality, operations, and enterprise transformation. Natalie serves on the 2026 U.S. Customer Experience Professional Association (CXPA) Council, where she contributes to elevating the CX profession and educating executive leaders on the strategic value of experience disciplines. She also hosts national CX/EX roundtables and webinars that bring senior leaders together to explore the future of customer and employee experience. She is the author of Now Keep Listening™, a publication dedicated to the power of intentional listening inside organizations. Her work introduces the concept of listening architecture -- a practical framework for closing the Listening Gap™ and dissolving silos that undermine effective CX and EX. Natalie is also a new member of the National Speakers Association (NSA), where she is developing her speaking platform focused on strategic listening, organizational alignment, and the next era of customer and employee experience.
What are 2-3 things you would love to talk about?
1. How Natalie uses networking as a strategic tool to grow her CX/EX business by building relationships that fuel insights, innovation, and client success.
2. The story behind launching Crescent Experiences and why Natalie created a networking community focused on skill-building, connection, and meaningful conversations.
3. The CX leadership mindset that makes networking more effective — listening architecture, emotional intelligence, and showing up with intention, ideally in the right rooms to match your strengths.
What are 2-3 things you would like to gain as a result of being on this podcast?
1. Increase awareness of how CX/EX drives business growth
2. Share how intentional networking helped me build Crescent Experiences — a community designed for meaningful connection and skill-building.
Any website you wish to share with the audience?
https://www.thecrescentconsultancy.com/ (https://www.thecrescentconsultancy.com/)
Any social media links you wish to share with the audience?
https://www.linkedin.com/company/crescent-consultancy (https://www.linkedin.com/company/crescent-consultancy) https://www.linkedin.com/in/natalie-k-jackson-ccxp-8644b21/ (https://www.linkedin.com/in/natalie-k-jackson-ccxp-8644b21/)
Michael is a business networking expert specializing in enhancing professionals' networking and communication skills to drive profitability. As a leading authority in this field, he is highly sought after for his dynamic presentations and workshops. His extensive experience has consistently led to significant improvements in corporate profitability by empowering individuals and organizations to connect more effectively and efficiently.
Digital Courses
https://michael-s-site-fc88.thinkific.com/ (https://michael-s-site-fc88.thinkific.com/)
Inside a recent episode
Networking Unleashed: An Interview with Malcolm Reid, Sr and Michael A Forman, Professional Speaker
Published 21 Apr 2026 · Transcript excerpt
[…] And again, you can tell immediately. Again, when people talk too much, first of all, we tune out. But a giver has a listening ear. And you're looking for an opportunity to support that person. And I'm the same way, Michael, when you have people that have morals, values to ethical, they're authentic, you just can't teach that. But you can feel it when you're around it. And so that's kind of what stands out in networking situations for me. It does. And what you also said was right on point, it's the listening. You have to be a good listener. You don't talk. And that's one of the mistakes I made years ago. […]
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