Digitally Curious
Digitally Curious is a show all about the near-term future with actionable advice from a range of global experts. Order the book that showcases these episodes at curious.click/order
Who is your host, Andrew Grill? He’s the AI expert who speaks your business language. After 30+ years building tech solutions at companies like IBM and a range of high-tech startups, Andrew now helps executives navigate AI without getting lost in the complexity.
He has held senior leadership roles, including Global Managing Partner at IBM, and has collaborated with C-suite teams from organisations such as Shell, Vodafone, Dell, SAP Concur, Nike, Nestlé, and the NHS.
Andrew has delivered 600+ keynotes in over 50 countries on topics such as generative AI, quantum computing, digital transformation, and the future of work.
Ranked among the world’s top 10 futurist speakers and a finalist for AI Expert of the Year, in 2025, he was recognised on the AI 100 UK List as one of the country’s leading voices in responsible Artificial Intelligence.
He is the author of Digitally Curious (2024), a bestselling guide to navigating the future of AI and technology, and host of the Digitally Curious Podcast (since 2019), where he translates complex trends into actionable insights.
Andrew is a regular media commentator, featured on BBC Television & Radio, Sky News, LBC, and in publications such as the Financial Times, The Guardian, and The Economist.
Find out more about Andrew at actionablefuturist.com
Digitally Curious
S5 Episode 10: John Phillips from Zuora on the subscription economy
I’ve been guilty of quoting the phrase “The subscription Economy” many times over the last few years without really knowing who coined it - its origins are actually with Tien Tzuo, CEO of Zuora.
To explain more, I was joined by John Smith Phillips, Senior Vice President of SVP Sales & General Manager, EMEA at Zuora on the latest Actionable Futurist Podcast.
We looked at how subscription services might adapt in the future and looked at how John and his clients are currently moving towards a recurring revenue model.
Zuora has helped businesses in all industries transition to subscription models, working with businesses from the Guardian to Schneider Electric.
As John mentions, when you have a recurring revenue model and platform, you can actually see how your customers are consuming the service - and make changes or better versions of the existing product.
This is a fascinating chat about something many of us take for granted.
More on John
John on LinkedIn
Zuora Website
Thanks for listening to Digitally Curious. You can buy the book that showcases these episodes at curious.click/order
Your Host is Actionable Futurist® Andrew Grill
For more on Andrew - what he speaks about and recent talks, please visit ActionableFuturist.com
Andrew's Social Channels
Andrew on LinkedIn
@AndrewGrill on Twitter
@Andrew.Grill on Instagram
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