Thomas Clawson is the Co-founder of Slant, a next-generation AI-powered CRM built to help financial advisors streamline workflows and deepen client relationships. He co-launched the platform to replace traditional CRM systems by integrating AI agents that manage meetings, follow-ups, and client interactions. Under his leadership, Slant has raised $3.3 million in seed funding and scaled to serve over a thousand advisors. Prior to this venture, Thomas held leadership roles in marketing and demand generation at tech unicorns, including Whatnot and Podium.

Financial advisors face growing pressure to deliver personalized service while managing an ever-expanding workload. Traditional CRMs, however, often add complexity instead of reducing it — creating more manual tasks and slowing growth. With AI transforming the way professionals work, how can financial advisors adopt technology that actually simplifies their day-to-day operations while improving client outcomes?

Thomas Clawson, an expert in advisor technology and automation, shares how embracing AI-first design principles can completely redefine the CRM experience. He emphasizes simplifying workflows, reducing manual data entry, and allowing advisors to focus on people instead of processes. Thomas discusses how chat-based interfaces and AI-powered insights can make managing client relationships seamless. By building adaptable systems that learn from user behavior, Thomas highlights how advisors can serve more clients efficiently while maintaining a personal touch.

In this episode of The Customer Wins, Richard Walker interviews Thomas Clawson, Co-founder of Slant, about reimagining CRM for financial advisors through AI and automation. Thomas also discusses the need for simplicity in advisor technology, the rise of chat-driven user interfaces, and how his team built a secure CRM in just six months.

Michelle Feinstein is the General Manager and Vice President, Global Financial Services at Salesforce, a company that provides cloud-based CRM and enterprise software to help businesses connect with customers. She leads global solutions and strategy for the financial services sector, focusing on wealth and asset management. With over 25 years of experience in the industry, Michelle guides firms in digital transformation, data usage, and advisor-client engagement. She works across product, partner, and client teams to modernize the technology and operations of financial firms.

Financial services firms face challenges in unifying technology, streamlining advisor workflows, and adopting AI to improve experiences. Legacy systems, fragmented data, and slow governance often block innovation. How can firms modernize, improve adoption, and leverage AI while maintaining trust?

Michelle Feinstein, an expert in digital transformation and client experience, explains that success begins with a clear strategic purpose — identifying the specific business outcomes technology should achieve. She shares how leading firms streamline advisor experiences by integrating data, simplifying workflows, and leveraging AI to automate repetitive tasks such as meeting prep and client summaries. Michelle also emphasizes adopting open, flexible systems that allow firms to plug in specialized AI tools while keeping human oversight central to innovation.

In this episode of The Customer Wins, Richard Walker interviews Michelle Feinstein, General Manager and VP of Global Financial Services at Salesforce, about transforming financial services with AI and customer-centric design. Michelle discusses how firms can build unified experiences, leverage AI agents for automation, and transition to consumption-based pricing models that drive efficiency. She also shares insights on advisor retention, data integration, and the future of AI adoption.

Greg Bennick is the Founder and Executive Director of One Hundred For Haiti, an international humanitarian initiative focused on rural Haiti's development, community leadership, and human empowerment. He is also a keynote speaker, documentary producer, and author of Reclaim The Moment. Greg has delivered transformative presentations in 27 countries, spoken to audiences ranging from private groups to thousands at major corporate events, and has been recognized as a TEDx speaker. His work centers on building better teams, fostering authentic human interactions, and helping organizations and individuals reclaim focus amidst daily distractions.

Many professionals struggle to connect authentically with their audiences — whether in sales, leadership, or public speaking. They focus too much on outcomes like applause, recognition, or profit, and lose sight of the people they're meant to serve. How can leaders, speakers, and entrepreneurs shift their focus from themselves to creating genuine, lasting impact for others?

Greg Bennick, keynote speaker, author, and humanitarian, offers actionable insights on how to engage people through authenticity, empathy, and listening. He explains that effective communication starts before the first word is spoken — by observing, preparing with intention, and reading the room. Greg encourages listeners to check their egos, focus on shared human experience, and remain adaptable in every interaction. Drawing on decades of stage experience, he emphasizes that success comes from service, not self-promotion.

In this episode of The Customer Wins, Richard Walker interviews Greg Bennick, keynote speaker and author at gregbennick.com, about the power of authenticity in communication and leadership. Greg shares how to listen deeply to audiences, build trust through vulnerability, and adapt quickly when plans change. He also discusses public speaking fears, the role of AI in creativity, and lessons from his book Reclaim the Moment.