Ted Souder: 20 Years at Google and Looking Ahead

In the first episode of Season 3 of the Up2 Podcast, host Adam Kaufman talks technology of the past, present and future with Ted Souder, who has spent the last 20 years at Google. Together they discuss companies going digital and exchange views on their predictions for the future. 

Ted and Adam discuss the economic and cultural changes we have seen due to COVID-19. They speak about businesses' adaptability and expansion since the crisis. Ted has seen a cycle of change since his time at America Online and predicts another transition to come.

“There is going to be a new golden age of opportunity that every business now is going to have digital leading the conversation with their customers.”

Ted described how he believes companies will need to operate as a team in order to be at the forefront of success. No matter what the landscape of a business looks like in the future, the individual members and leaders of the organization will need to ensure open communication across departments.

“Digital touches every single aspect of the business, so if they're not all talking with one digital voice, then the company is not going to be as fluid and be able to react to things as quickly as they need to.”

The conversation continued as Adam and Ted spoke about the future generations of employees and entrepreneurs, and how they can prepare for upcoming trends. Ted challenged everyone to ask themselves how forward thinking their employers and future employers are, and also noted the ambition of entrepreneurs and change agents willing to take risks.

“The idea of going into the unknown or something that is potentially less stable is what motivates them. It's their energy. Other people really like the idea of comfort and stability, predictability, and that's okay too. There's no right answer.”

Ted Souder is an innovative thinker; Adam refers to him as a ‘futurist’ as he has taken many risks in his career which has allowed him to grow with early adopters of technology. Though he is a savvy businessman, he prides himself on being a family man first. His wife and two kids are the drive of his motivation and determination.

To hear more about Ted and Adam’s predictions in business and society, click here to listen to his full episode on the Up2 Podcast or tune in wherever you listen to podcasts.

Click here to read the full episode transcript.