Technovation with Peter High (CIO, CTO, CDO, CXO Interviews): Recent Episodes
Metis Strategy
Twice-weekly conversations with top executives and thought leaders at the intersection of business, technology, and innovation. Each episode of Technovation explores the technology trends that are transforming business, and the leaders driving digital change inside their organizations. Produced by Metis Strategy and hosted by firm President Peter High, Technovation is the premier podcast for IT and technology professionals with the largest collection of interviews with elite CIOs, CTOs, and CDOs.
The next evolution of enterprise networks is not more automation, it is autonomy.
In this episode of Technovation, Peter High speaks with Verizon CTO Yago Tenorio about how Verizon is building toward Level 4 network autonomy, where AI agents operate as “digital colleagues” under human supervision. Yago explains how autonomous systems could reduce incident resolution from hours to seconds, identify customer experience gaps traditional network monitoring cannot see, and operate safely through observability, traceability, reversibility, and accountability.
They also discuss Verizon’s rollout of Claude Code to 33,000 technology employees, the changing skills required in an AI-first workforce, why data and domain expertise matter more than simply deploying the largest language model, and how AI could reshape the future of connectivity.
This episode is presented by ElevenLabs — Bringing technology to life. Learn more at elevenlabs.io
What drives someone to spend decades pursuing artificial general intelligence, not for wealth, but for scientific discovery?
In this episode of Technovation, Peter High speaks with bestselling author and financial historian Sebastian Mallaby about his new book, The Infinity Machine, which chronicles the remarkable journey of DeepMind co-founder Demis Hassabis and the global race to build artificial general intelligence (AGI).
Drawing on more than 30 hours of interviews with Hassabis and conversations with over 100 colleagues, competitors, and friends, Mallaby explores the leadership philosophy, scientific ambition, and organizational decisions that shaped one of the world’s most influential AI companies.
Listeners will also hear an in-depth discussion of Google’s acquisition of DeepMind, the evolution of AI from AlphaGo to Gemini, the competitive dynamics among OpenAI, Anthropic, Microsoft, and Google, and what the pursuit of superintelligence means for business leaders navigating the next era of technological transformation.
Key topics include:
- Why Demis Hassabis devoted his career to AGI
- The founding story behind DeepMind
- Google’s AI strategy and the Innovator’s Dilemma
- Leadership lessons from building world-class research organizations
- The opportunities of increasingly capable AI systems
Listen to discover why the future of AI may depend as much on leadership and organizational design as on technological breakthroughs.
This episode is presented by ElevenLabs — Bringing technology to life. Learn more at elevenlabs.io
Technology transformation isn’t about AI, it’s about building the foundations that make AI possible.
In this episode of Technovation, Peter High sits down with Michael Wisler, Senior Executive Vice President of Technology and Operations at M&T Bank, to explore how the bank spent nearly a decade rebuilding its engineering culture, reducing technical debt, modernizing its data foundation, and transforming technology into a strategic business capability.
Wisler explains why changing organizational beliefs came before changing technology, how M&T dramatically improved engineering productivity and resiliency, why technology and operations now belong together, and how those investments positioned the bank to scale generative AI responsibly.
Key discussion topics include:
- Building a technology-first culture
- Reducing technical debt and improving resiliency
- Developing enterprise engineering talent
- Creating technology hubs in Buffalo and Wilmington
- Preparing data foundations for AI
- Scaling generative AI responsibly
- Integrating technology and operations
- Cybersecurity and quantum readiness
Whether you’re leading digital transformation, modernizing enterprise technology, or developing an AI strategy, this conversation offers practical lessons on why long-term competitive advantage begins with strong engineering foundations.
This episode is presented by ElevenLabs — Bringing technology to life. Learn more at elevenlabs.io
The companies that define an era often appear irrational before they appear inevitable.
In this episode of Technoventure, Peter High speaks with FPV Ventures Co-Founder & Managing Partner Wesley Chan about building products at Google, founding Google Ventures, investing against consensus, and recognizing founders with 100-year visions. Wesley explains how first-principles thinking helped him identify companies such as Canva and why the most important investment question may be, “What if it goes right?”
They also explore:
- Why Google prioritized speed and relevance over keeping users on its site
- How Google Ventures aligned corporate capital with founder interests
- What Wesley saw in Canva after 111 investors said no
- Why specialized data can create more durable AI businesses
- How Bill Campbell taught leaders to protect their time and energy
- Why incentives frequently matter more than policies or intentions
Listen for an operator-investor’s perspective on product excellence, AI investing, organizational design, and building companies capable of outliving their founders.
Artificial intelligence isn’t the transformation, it’s the catalyst.
In this episode of Technovation, Peter High speaks with Francesco Tinto, Chief Information & Global Business Services Officer at Kimberly-Clark, about why enterprise AI success depends on far more than technology. Francesco explains how Kimberly-Clark’s Powering Care strategy combines data, AI, operating model transformation, and process redesign to drive sustainable growth across one of the world’s most recognized consumer products companies.
Together they explore how IT and Global Business Services are converging, why AI requires rethinking enterprise workflows, the importance of building trusted data foundations, and how leaders can prepare their organizations for an AI-first future.
Key topics include:
- Kimberly-Clark’s Powering Care transformation strategy
- Why AI must serve business strategy, not the other way around
- Building enterprise data foundations for scalable AI
- Predictive maintenance, demand forecasting, and supply chain optimization
- Training the workforce for an AI-enabled operating model
If you’re leading technology, digital transformation, or enterprise operations, this conversation offers practical insights into scaling AI while keeping people, process, and business value at the center.
This episode is presented by ElevenLabs — Bringing technology to life. Learn more at elevenlabs.io
How can AI help farmers produce more with fewer resources?
That’s the challenge driving digital transformation at AGCO. In this episode of Technovation, Peter High speaks with Jena Holtberg-Benge, Chief Digital & Information Officer at AGCO, about how AI, precision agriculture, connected equipment, and data are reshaping modern farming.
Drawing on her unique background leading both business operations and technology, Jena explains why successful AI initiatives begin with customer problems, not technology. She discusses AGCO’s precision agriculture strategy, AI-powered dealer experiences, cybersecurity for connected machinery, data governance, and the leadership skills required to scale AI across the enterprise.
In this episode:
- How AGCO uses AI to reduce costs and improve yields for farmers
- Why business-first technology leadership drives better outcomes
- Building AI agents that improve dealer and customer experiences
- Managing data across connected agricultural equipment
- Developing AI literacy and a culture of continuous learning
This episode is presented by ElevenLabs — Bringing technology to life. Learn more at elevenlabs.io
Technology creates competitive advantage when it helps the business move faster, remove friction, and solve customer problems more effectively.
In this episode of Technovation, Peter High speaks with Bhaskar Ramachandran, Vice President and Global CIO of PPG, about transforming IT from a support function into a strategic business capability. Bhaskar explains how PPG’s cloud-only strategy accelerates acquisitions, strengthens security, and creates a foundation for AI. He also shares how FormulationAI is helping scientists develop coatings faster and optimize existing products.
Key insights include:
- Why PPG closed eight global data centers
- How AI drives both efficiency and revenue
- What leaders must do to sustain transformation
- How technology preserves and scales expert knowledge
- Why customer ecosystems represent the next competitive frontier
This episode is presented by ElevenLabs — Bringing technology to life. Learn more at elevenlabs.io
In this episode of Technovation, Peter High speaks with Alex Holt, Field CTO at ElevenLabs, about what separates successful enterprise AI initiatives from those that never move beyond the proof of concept. Alex explains how ElevenLabs combines cutting-edge AI research, enterprise-grade products, and forward-deployed engineering to help organizations deploy voice AI at scale. He also discusses why AI success depends on tying every implementation to measurable business outcomes, how voice agents are transforming customer engagement, and why enterprises must rethink implementation if they expect real ROI.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
- Why AI projects should begin with business KPIs—not technology
- How forward-deployed engineering accelerates enterprise adoption
- What makes enterprise voice AI production-ready
- How ElevenLabs balances innovation with safety and governance
- Why the best AI organizations measure outcomes, not experiments
This episode is presented by ElevenLabs — Modern Email Delivery for developer & product teams. Learn more at elevenlabs.io
For more than four decades, Annie Lamont, Co-Founder and Managing Partner of Oak HC/FT, has invested through every major technology wave, from the early days of personal computing and biotech to cloud software, fintech, and today’s AI revolution.
In this episode of Technoventure, Annie joins Peter High to discuss what separates enduring investors from those who fade with changing markets. She reflects on lessons learned from working alongside pioneering entrepreneurs, explains why continual reinvention is essential for long-term success, and shares how AI is reshaping healthcare, financial services, enterprise software, and venture investing.
Whether you’re an entrepreneur, executive, investor, or technology leader, this conversation offers practical insights on recognizing transformational trends, backing exceptional founders, and leading through periods of unprecedented technological change.
Zoom became synonymous with video meetings, but its next chapter is about delivering business outcomes through AI.
In this episode of Technovation, Peter High speaks with Gary Sorrentino, Global CIO of Zoom, about the company’s evolution from a video conferencing platform to an enterprise AI platform designed to move organizations “from conversation to completion.” Drawing on nearly five decades in technology leadership, Gary explains why CIOs should prioritize integrated AI platforms over disconnected point solutions, how better data drives better AI outcomes, and why the future of work is about enabling effective collaboration wherever work happens. He also shares his perspective on AI agents, deepfake detection, usage-based AI, and the leadership skills technology executives will need as human and digital workforces increasingly operate together.
This episode is presented by Mailtrap — Modern Email Delivery for developer & product teams. Learn more at mailtrap.io
What if the key to breakthrough innovation isn’t more freedom—but better constraints?
In this episode of Technovation, Peter High speaks with bestselling author David Epstein about the surprising ideas behind his newest book, Inside the Box: How Constraints Make Us Better. Drawing on examples from Apple, Pixar, Bell Labs, General Magic, Bach, Dr. Seuss, and scientific research, David explains why carefully designed constraints often produce more creativity, better decisions, and stronger leadership than unlimited choice.
Listeners will also learn:
- Why our brains default to the “path of least resistance”
- How constraints fuel innovation across business, science, and the arts
- What General Magic teaches today’s AI leaders
- Why hypothesis-driven thinking produces better outcomes
- How leaders can create boundaries that encourage creativity without stifling it
This episode is presented by Mailtrap — Modern Email Delivery for developer & product teams. Learn more at mailtrap.io
AI is transforming travel, but according to Priceline CTO Sejal Amin, technology alone isn’t enough. The real competitive advantage comes from redesigning how organizations work.
In this episode of Technovation, Peter High speaks with Sejal about leading technology strategy at one of the world’s largest online travel platforms. They explore how Priceline built Penny, its fully agentic AI travel assistant, why preference data is becoming more valuable than behavioral data alone, and how product operating models are accelerating innovation across engineering teams.
You’ll also hear why Sejal believes developer productivity and engineering performance are fundamentally different, how AI is reshaping software development, and why the future of agentic AI depends as much on customer trust as technical capability.
Key topics include:
- Building Priceline’s AI-powered travel assistant, Penny
- Moving from functional silos to product ownership
- Using preference data to create personalized customer experiences
- Improving developer experience through AI and platform engineering
- Why organizational architecture determines AI success
Whether you’re leading AI initiatives, modernizing engineering organizations, or building customer-centric digital platforms, this conversation offers practical insights for technology executives navigating rapid change.
This episode is presented by Mailtrap — Modern Email Delivery for developer & product teams. Learn more at mailtrap.io
What gives one enterprise an AI advantage over another? According to Atlassian Chief Product & AI Officer Tamar Yehoshua, it’s not simply access to the latest models, it’s the depth of enterprise context.
In this episode of Technovation, Tamar joins Peter High to discuss how Atlassian is leveraging decades of workflow history through its Teamwork Graph to power AI across Jira, Confluence, and Rovo. She explains why enterprise context is becoming the defining ingredient for AI success, how software must now be designed for both humans and AI agents, and why leadership judgment becomes even more valuable as AI accelerates software development. Tamar also shares Atlassian’s approach to AI Builder Weeks, measuring AI productivity, building open agent ecosystems, and helping customers realize measurable business value from AI investments.
This episode is presented by Mailtrap — Modern Email Delivery for developer & product teams. Learn more at mailtrap.io
Artificial intelligence may be transforming how companies are built, but Avi Eyal believes the fundamentals of identifying exceptional founders haven’t changed.
In this episode of Technoventure, Peter High sits down with Avi Eyal, Co-Founder and Managing Partner of Entrée Capital, to discuss what separates enduring companies from the rest. Drawing on years of experience investing in early-stage technology companies, Avi shares how his firm’s investment philosophy continues to prioritize people, timing, technology, and market opportunity—even as AI reshapes startups, enterprise software, and the future of work.
They also explore how venture firms evaluate founders, why smaller AI-enabled teams are becoming the norm, the promise of vertical AI, how enterprise technology is evolving, and why Avi believes quantum computing could arrive sooner than many expect.
Whether you’re a founder, technology executive, investor, or innovation leader, this conversation offers a thoughtful perspective on navigating one of the biggest technology shifts in decades.
In this episode:
- Why exceptional founders remain the biggest differentiator
- Entrée Capital’s Four Ts investment framework
- How AI is changing startups and enterprise software
- The future of agentic workforces
- Why quantum computing may be closer than many expect
Professional services is undergoing its biggest transformation in decades, and AI is only part of the story.
In this episode of Technovation, Peter High speaks with Jim Peko, CEO of Grant Thornton Advisors LLC, about how the firm is redefining the professional services model through private equity, platform consolidation, strategic acquisitions, and a $1 billion technology investment. Jim explains why incremental change is no longer enough, why data will become the true competitive differentiator, and how firms can balance innovation with the trust that clients expect.
You’ll also hear Jim’s perspective on AI governance, agentic AI, the future of talent, evolving pricing models, and why professional services firms must rethink their operating model to remain competitive in an era of rapid technological change.
This episode is presented by Celonis — Give AI the context it needs. Learn more at celonis.com/technovation
Most companies don’t have a technology problem. They have a complexity problem.
In this episode of Technovation, Peter High speaks with Gus Shahin, EVP of Business Technology and Operations at NetApp, about consolidating IT, operations, global security, and enterprise process under a single leader. Shahin joined NetApp in 2024 after 24-plus years at Flex, where he served as CIO and led global supply chain. He argues that transformation stalls on change management, not technology, and that the real goal of enterprise AI is not a handful of pilots but an AI-first culture.
Key Highlights:* Why consolidating four functions under one leader beats siloed CIO, CDO, and CTO roles * How NetApp launched 29 AI projects and deliberately killed 11 to 12 mid-year * Why the shift to inferencing makes storage performance the new bottleneck * How “fail fast” became a transformation lever, not a slogan * Where buy-versus-build is shifting, and the hidden cost of building your own
This episode is presented by Celonis — Give AI the context it needs. Learn more at celonis.com/technovation
What happens when a technology provider can see patterns across 244 million account holders and thousands of financial institutions?
In this episode of Technovation, Peter High speaks with Keith Fulton, Chief Data Officer at Jack Henry, about how data science and AI are transforming community banking. Keith explains how Jack Henry is leveraging industry-scale data to help banks reduce fraud, predict customer churn, identify hidden revenue opportunities, and prepare for an agentic AI future. He also shares how the company is democratizing innovation through citizen development, AI adoption programs, and enterprise-grade governance for employee-built applications.
Key Highlights:* Building the data foundation required for agentic AI * Using consortium-scale data to uncover insights individual banks cannot see * Predicting customer churn and identifying hidden commercial customers * Applying AI to fraud prevention and customer protection * Scaling innovation through AI adoption and citizen development
This episode is presented by Celonis — Give AI the context it needs. Learn more at celonis.com/technovation
As AI agents gain access to enterprise systems, identity security is becoming the control layer for responsible AI adoption.
In this episode of Technovation, Peter High speaks with Sree Kancharla, CIO of SailPoint, about how identity governance is evolving from managing human access to securing machine identities, AI agents, and autonomous workflows. Sree discusses SailPoint’s role as “Customer Zero,” the growing challenge of shadow AI, the importance of governance that enables innovation, and how organizations can balance productivity gains with responsible risk management. He also shares his perspective on persona-based AI experiences, human-led agents, and the workforce implications of AI for the next generation of technology professionals.
Key topics include:
- Why AI agents require a new approach to identity security
- How SailPoint manages shadow AI across the enterprise
- The role of Customer Zero in driving product innovation
- Moving from human-in-the-loop to human-led agents
- Preparing future technology talent in an AI-driven world
This episode is presented by Celonis — Give AI the context it needs. Learn more at celonis.com/technovation
Cybersecurity leadership isn’t ultimately about technology, it’s about judgment, influence, and the ability to lead through uncertainty.
In this episode of Technovation, Peter High speaks with Stephen Ward, cybersecurity executive, investor, and former security leader at several large enterprises. Stephen reflects on his unconventional journey from government service to corporate cybersecurity leadership and ultimately technology investing. Along the way, he shares lessons on building security organizations, navigating risk, developing executive influence, and preparing for a future increasingly shaped by AI.
Key discussion topics include:
- The transition from cybersecurity operator to executive leader
- Building trust while transforming security organizations
- Lessons learned from leading large-scale security programs
- Why leadership skills matter as much as technical expertise
- The evolving relationship between AI and cybersecurity
- What separates enduring technology companies from the rest
How does a 177-year-old industrial company maintain startup speed while preparing for technologies that may not mature for another decade?
In this episode of Technovation, Peter High speaks with Vishwanath Hegadekatte, Director of Innovation at Freudenberg Technology Innovation (FTI), about building an internal innovation engine designed to identify, test, and scale emerging technologies across a global manufacturing enterprise. Vishwanath explains how Freudenberg combines strategic foresight, AI-driven research, external partnerships, and startup-style experimentation to help its business units prepare for opportunities years before they become mainstream. The conversation explores humanoid robotics, agentic AI, advanced materials, and the organizational structures required to turn innovation into measurable business impact.
This episode is presented by Celonis — Give AI the context it needs. Learn more at celonis.com/technovation
Most digital transformation stories begin with customer-facing technology. Chipotle’s began by redesigning operations.
In this episode of Technovation, Peter High speaks with Curt Garner, President, Chief Strategy & Technology Officer at Chipotle Mexican Grill. Curt shares how Chipotle evolved from accepting fax orders in 2015 to operating a $5 billion digital commerce engine today. He explains why solving operational challenges before customer adoption proved critical to scaling digital growth and how cloud architecture, dedicated digital kitchens, rewards, personalization, and AI-enabled supply chain capabilities continue to drive innovation across the business.
Key topics discussed include:
- Building a digital commerce platform capable of operating at web scale
- Scaling from 20% to 85% digital ordering during COVID
- Designing dedicated digital kitchens to eliminate fulfillment friction
- Using rewards and personalization to deepen customer engagement
- Applying AI to forecasting, inventory management, and supply chain operations
- Balancing technology innovation with human hospitality
This episode is presented by Celonis — Give AI the context it needs. Learn more at celonis.com/technovation
Southwest Airlines has spent the last several years modernizing one of the most complex operational environments in the world. In this episode of Technovation, Lauren Woods, EVP and CIO of Southwest Airlines, shares how the company transformed a period of operational disruption into a catalyst for long-term technology modernization and resilience.
Lauren discusses Southwest’s investments in modern data platforms, predictive analytics, cloud infrastructure, AI-enabled operations, cybersecurity, and customer experience transformation. She also explains the technology behind major commercial changes, including assigned seating, new fare structures, and evolving digital experiences.
Key topics include:
- Building operational resilience through proactive analytics
- Creating the data foundation required for AI at scale
- Leveraging machine learning across airline operations
- Modernizing legacy systems while maintaining reliability
- Leading large-scale organizational and cultural transformation
This episode is presented by Celonis — Give AI the context it needs. Learn more at celonis.com/technovation
How do you apply AI to one of the world’s most perishable supply chains?
In this episode of Technovation, host Peter High speaks with Sankar Chinnathambi, CIO of Driscoll’s, the world’s largest berry company. With operations spanning more than 30 growing regions and products sold in approximately 60 countries, Driscoll’s faces a unique challenge: moving billions of berries from harvest to consumers while preserving freshness and quality.
Sankar discusses how Driscoll’s is using AI, predictive analytics, and digital platforms to improve grower collaboration, supply forecasting, pricing optimization, and supply chain visibility. He also shares the company’s broader modernization strategy, including ERP transformation, BerryGPT, and technology initiatives designed to accelerate innovation while supporting growth, sustainability, and resilience.
Key discussion topics include:
- Building an AI-powered digital agronomist
- Modernizing forecasting in a supply-constrained business
- Creating a global digital backbone with Oracle Fusion
- Using real-time monitoring to preserve product quality
- Accelerating agricultural innovation through technology
This episode is presented by Celonis — Give AI the context it needs. Learn more at celonis.com
Artificial intelligence is changing how knowledge work gets done, and AI agents may be the next major leap.
In this episode of Technoventure, Peter High speaks with Arpan Shah, General Partner at Spark Capital, about how AI is reshaping research, investing, software development, and enterprise productivity. Arpan shares how he uses AI agents to accelerate diligence, synthesize information, and expand his own capacity as an investor, while also exploring the future of AI infrastructure, model competition, security, and stablecoins.
Key topics include:
- How AI agents are transforming knowledge work
- Why AI demand may outpace compute supply for years
- The evolution of token economics and enterprise AI adoption
- Security challenges created by increasingly capable AI systems
- How stablecoins could reshape global financial infrastructure
Artificial intelligence may be the most transformative technology in decades, but only if it moves beyond automation.
Recorded live at Vanguard’s unlimITed Technology Conference, Peter High sits down with three Vanguard leaders: Joe Davis, Global Chief Economist; Nitin Tandon, Global Chief Information Officer; and Joanna Rotenberg, Managing Director of Personal Wealth. Together, they explore how AI is reshaping economic growth, financial services, workforce development, and technology strategy.
The discussion examines why Vanguard believes AI’s greatest potential lies in augmentation and entirely new products and services, not simply cost reduction. The leaders also share how years of cloud modernization, data transformation, product operating models, and enterprise-wide AI enablement have positioned Vanguard to accelerate innovation while maintaining trust.
Key topics include AI productivity, economic resilience, digital advice, modernization, and responsible AI adoption.
This episode is presented by Celonis — Give AI the context it needs. Learn more at celonis.com
Healthcare accounts for nearly one-fifth of the U.S. economy, making it one of the most consequential sectors for AI-driven transformation. In this special Technovation summit panel moderated by Mike Bertha, Partner at Metis Strategy, Michael Pfeffer, Chief Information & Digital Officer at Stanford Health Care and Stanford School of Medicine, and Chad Wasserman, CIO of HCA Healthcare, explore how healthcare organizations are moving beyond digitization and toward clinical-grade AI.
The discussion examines how AI is improving clinical decision-making, accelerating disease detection, enabling personalized medicine, and reshaping healthcare operations. The panelists also discuss responsible AI governance, the importance of connecting technologists to patient outcomes, and what it will take for AI to ultimately bend healthcare’s cost curve.
Key topics include:
- Moving healthcare from digitized to truly digital
- Clinical-grade AI and personalized medicine
- Responsible AI governance and Stanford’s FURM framework
- Human-centered technology leadership
- Scaling innovation through operational excellence
- The future of healthcare delivery and AI-enabled care
This episode is presented by Celonis — Give AI the context it needs. Learn more at celonis.com
AI is changing more than software, it’s redesigning how enterprises operate.
In this episode of Technovation, Peter High speaks with Amir Kazmi, Chief Technology and Growth Officer at Ralliant, about how precision technology companies are embedding AI into operational workflows, industrial systems, and critical infrastructure. Amir explains how the Ralliant Business System (RBS) is evolving into an AI-native operating model designed to accelerate decision-making, reduce cycle times, and improve operational resilience at global scale.
Key discussion topics include:
- Embedding AI into enterprise workflows and decision systems
- The role of precision sensing in electrification and grid reliability
- How Ralliant supports critical infrastructure across 90+ countries
- Balancing agility and governance in the AI era
- Why autonomous workflows may redefine enterprise operations
Enterprise AI is entering a new phase, one defined less by experimentation and more by measurable business value.
In this summit panel episode of Technovation, Steven Norton speaks with Richard Jardim of CIBC, Sears Merritt of MassMutual, and Shekar Pannala of The Hartford about what it really takes to scale AI responsibly inside large, highly regulated enterprises.
The discussion explores how leading organizations are rethinking software development, governance, operating models, and financial discipline as AI capabilities rapidly evolve.
Key topics include:
- Moving from AI pilots to measurable P&L impact
- Reducing feature lead times through AI-enabled development
- Modernizing legacy systems with GenAI
- Building governance-by-design operating models
- Managing the shift to consumption-based AI economics
What makes a founder truly exceptional?
In this episode of Technoventure, Peter High speaks with Paige Craig, Founder and Managing Partner of Outlander VC, about the founder characteristics that separate resilient entrepreneurs from persuasive storytellers. Drawing from his experience as a Marine sergeant, intelligence operator, entrepreneur, and early investor in companies like Lyft, Paige shares how leadership under chaos shaped his investment philosophy.
The conversation explores founder psychology, risk management, physical AI, robotics, deep tech, and why software alone may no longer be enough to create defensible businesses in the AI era.
Key topics include:
- Why founder character matters more than ideas
- How military leadership shaped Paige’s investing philosophy
- What investors misunderstand about risk
- Why physical AI and robotics are the next frontier
- How AI is changing venture capital and startup creation
Steve Jobs’ greatest leadership lessons did not come during Apple’s rise, they came during exile.
In this episode of Technovation, Peter High speaks with award-winning journalist and author Geoffrey Cain about Steve Jobs in Exile, his new book examining the overlooked NeXT Computer years that transformed Jobs from a volatile founder into one of the most influential business leaders in history.
Cain explores how failure, resilience, discipline, and leadership maturity shaped Jobs during a period widely misunderstood as a commercial detour.
Key discussion points include:
- Why NeXT’s failures became foundational to Apple’s future success
- The leadership lessons Jobs learned through adversity
- How NeXTSTEP evolved into the backbone of modern Apple software
- Why visionary thinking alone is not enough to build enduring companies
- The role of trust, dissent, and elite talent in high-performing organizations
AI is quickly evolving from a productivity tool into a growth engine, and the organizations that can operationalize enterprise intelligence at scale will define the next era of competition.
In this summit panel episode of Technovation, Peter High and Andrew Krusell speak with Steve Bronson, CIO of Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits, and John Gigerich, SVP & CIO of Keurig Dr Pepper, about how leading enterprises are transforming data, AI, and machine learning into measurable revenue growth.
Key topics include:
- Using AI-driven sales enablement to improve retail execution
- Building trusted enterprise data foundations for scalable AI
- Leveraging predictive intelligence to optimize ordering and inventory
- Aligning business and technology teams around growth outcomes
- Navigating acquisitions, organizational change, and AI governance at scale
AI productivity gains alone are no longer enough. The organizations creating real enterprise value are redesigning their operating models around data, decision advantage, and differentiated capability.
In this episode of Technovation, we feature a panel from our most recent Metis Strategy Summit where Peter High moderated a conversation with Alexandra Guenther, SVP & CIO at Leidos, and Kelly Fletcher, CIO of the U.S. Department of State, about how enterprise leaders are rethinking AI strategy, cybersecurity, and organizational transformation during an era of continuous disruption.
Key discussion points include:
- Why AI value must extend beyond productivity metrics
- How the State Department securely enables AI experimentation at scale
- The role of enterprise data foundations in successful AI adoption
- Using AI to improve cybersecurity visibility and decision advantage
- Leading organizations through the psychology of transformation
As AI reshapes enterprise operating models, the profile of the modern technology leader is changing just as quickly.
In this special Technovation Summit May 2026 panel, Metis Strategy’s Steven Norton sits down with executive search leaders Tarun Inuganti of Korn Ferry, Ryan Bulkoski of Heidrick & Struggles, and Mike Doonan of SPMB Executive Search to discuss how AI is redefining executive hiring, leadership expectations, and boardroom dynamics.
The conversation explores why nonlinear career paths are becoming more valuable, how organizations are approaching Chief AI Officer roles, and why storytelling, influence, and change leadership are now essential executive capabilities.
Key topics include:
- Why cross-industry experience is becoming a competitive advantage
- The rise of AI-fluent boards and executive teams
- How Chief AI Officer roles are evolving
- Why leadership influence now matters more than technical expertise alone
- What recruiters look for in next-generation CIOs and technology leaders
What separates founders who successfully scale companies from those who struggle to evolve beyond the startup phase?
In this episode of Technoventure, Peter High speaks with Enrique Salem, Partner at Bain Capital Ventures and former CEO of Symantec, about leadership, cybersecurity, enterprise software, and the evolving role of AI in both business growth and cyber threats. Enrique shares lessons from building and leading organizations at global scale, advising founders, and investing in next-generation technology platforms.
Key topics include:
- Building mission-driven organizations that scale
- Why trust and accountability accelerate execution
- How AI is reshaping cybersecurity threats and defenses
- Reducing customer friction in enterprise software adoption
- What great founders understand about self-awareness and leadership
As telecom infrastructure becomes increasingly software-defined, technology leaders must rethink everything from engineering talent to AI operations and customer experience.
In this episode of Technovation, Peter High speaks with Jake Perlman, Executive Vice President and Chief Technology and Information Officer at Charter Communications, about how one of the nation’s largest connectivity providers is transforming its network into a software-driven platform. Jake shares how Charter is integrating AI, telemetry, predictive analytics, and edge infrastructure to improve operations at scale while enabling faster innovation across the business.
Key highlights include:
- Why modern telecom networks increasingly resemble software platforms
- How AI is improving technician workflows and predictive operations
- Charter’s approach to agile organizational design and engineering culture
- The strategic role of edge computing and distributed infrastructure
- Why continuous learning has become essential for technology leadership
AI isn’t just a capability, it’s an operating model shift.
In this episode of Technovation, Peter High speaks with Ramana Thumu, CTO of Expedia Group, about how one of the world’s largest travel platforms is embedding AI into the core of how it operates. From AI squads integrated into business units to enterprise-wide AI literacy, Ramana shares how Expedia is aligning culture, processes, and technology to scale AI impact.
They also explore how Expedia is reinventing engineering through AI agents, building a data foundation to power personalization, and reimagining the traveler experience through agentic AI.
Key highlights include:
- Embedding AI into business workflows through AI squads
- Driving 3–5x productivity gains with AI-native engineering
- Building trusted data assets to scale AI innovation
- Creating agentic experiences across the travel journey
- Managing rapid AI evolution with flexible platform architecture
Retail is no longer about transactions, it’s about designing experiences that create joy.
In this episode of Technovation, Peter High speaks with Prat Vemana, Chief Information and Product Officer at Target, about how one of the world’s largest retailers is redefining customer experience across digital and physical channels.
Prat shares how Target is embedding design into every layer of the organization, leveraging AI to power conversational commerce, and building a unified, multi-channel journey that blends convenience with inspiration.
Key highlights include:
- Why Target views itself as “in the business of joy”
- How UX is evolving into an enterprise-wide capability
- The shift from search and browse to conversational discovery
- Building AI-ready data through semantic and contextual layers
- Deploying agentic AI to accelerate decision-making at scale
What does it take to turn a portfolio of legacy retail brands into a scalable technology platform?
In this episode of Technovation, Kumar “Kartik” Kartikeya, SVP and Chief Digital and Technology Officer at Catalyst Brands, shares how he is building a shared operating model across data, AI, and customer experience to unlock enterprise value at scale.
Leading technology for a $9B multi-brand retail ecosystem, Kartikeya explains how selective centralization enables faster innovation while preserving brand identity.
Key insights include:
- How shared data and AI capabilities drive cross-brand scale
- Why “one plus one must equal three” in platform strategy
- The role of Consumer 360 in personalization and growth
- How AI is improving both employee productivity and customer experience
- Why CSAT is the most important KPI
Most enterprises struggle to see beyond their immediate priorities. Toyota built a system to solve that.
In this episode of Technoventure, Ro Gupta, Managing Director of Woven Capital, explains how Toyota uses a “speedboat” venture strategy to identify and act on emerging technologies before they become obvious. Drawing on his experience as both a founder and investor, Ro shares how corporate venture capital can unlock not just financial returns, but strategic foresight.
Key topics include:
- The “speedboat” model for enterprise innovation
- Inside-out vs. outside-in investment strategy
- How Toyota partners with startups at global scale
- The future of mobility across AI, energy, and space
- Lessons from operating at both startup and enterprise levels
AI disruption is no longer a future scenario, it’s already reshaping the workforce. In this episode of Technovation, Andrew Yang, Founder & CEO of Noble Mobile, author of Hey Yang, Where’s My Thousand Bucks? shares why job displacement is accelerating faster than leaders and policymakers can respond.
A former presidential candidate and founder of the Forward Party, Yang has been warning about automation’s impact for years. Now, he explains why those predictions are becoming reality, and what must change.
Key highlights include:
- Why AI is already eliminating white-collar jobs
- The case for taxing AI instead of human labor
- How universal basic income could stabilize the economy
- Why policymakers continue to lag behind innovation
- Lessons from launching Noble Mobile to challenge incumbents
AI is becoming the missing layer that transforms agriculture from a physical practice into a data-driven system.
In this episode of Technovation, Feroz Sheikh, Chief Information and Digital Officer of Syngenta, shares how AI, data, and digital platforms are reshaping how farmers make decisions and how innovation scales across global agriculture.
Key highlights include:
- How AI completes the evolution of agriculture’s “jigsaw puzzle”
- The role of interdisciplinary teams in driving innovation
- Real-world AI applications across R&D, supply chain, and farming
- Democratizing advanced science for farmers worldwide
- Using data at scale to predict and prevent crop disease
What does it take to modernize a 120-year-old real estate powerhouse without losing its entrepreneurial edge?
In this episode of Technovation, Kamini Rangappan Lane, President and CEO of Coldwell Banker Realty, shares how she is transforming one of the largest residential real estate networks in the U.S. by standardizing the back end while preserving the human, local nature of the business.
She discusses how AI and automation are reshaping agent workflows, enabling faster deal processing, and unlocking productivity across a network of 45,000 entrepreneurs.
Key highlights include:
- Transitioning from 50 operating companies to a unified platform model
- Applying AI to reduce listing creation time from hours to minutes
- Balancing efficiency with personalization in a highly local business
- Driving technology adoption through customer obsession
- Redefining leadership through clarity, transparency, and authenticity
AI transformation doesn’t fail because of technology, it fails because of culture.
In this episode of Technovation, Peter High speaks with Trevor Schulze, CIO, and Eva Majercsik, Chief People Officer, of Genesys, about how they are jointly leading a human-centric AI transformation across a 6,000-person global organization. Together, they unpack why AI must be treated as a cultural shift and how organizations can drive adoption at scale.
Key insights include:
- Why AI literacy is the foundation of enterprise adoption
- How CIOs and CPOs must co-own transformation
- The shift from automation to augmentation in the agentic era
- How experimentation unlocks innovation across the workforce
- Why change management is now a core leadership capability
Most career advice gets one thing wrong: it always tells you to follow your passion.
In this episode of Technoventure, Bill Gurley, recent Author of Runnin’ Down a Dream, General Partner at Benchmark and investor in companies like Uber and Zillow shares a more actionable framework: follow your fascination. Drawing from decades in venture capital and insights from his new book, Gurley explains how curiosity, not convention, drives long-term success.
Key insights include:
- Why fascination is a stronger signal than passion
- How over-structured career paths lead to disengagement
- The role of peer networks in accelerating growth
- Why non-linear careers produce better outcomes
- How AI is reshaping opportunity and speculation cycles
What if claims processing could be 10x faster without sacrificing accuracy?
In this episode of Technovation, Pravina Ladva, Group Chief Digital and Technology Officer at Swiss Re, shares how one of the world’s leading reinsurers is using AI to transform claims processing, unlock insights, and redefine how work gets done across the enterprise.
Key highlights include:
- How AI is reducing claims processing time from ~40 days to 4–5 days
- Why data ingestion is the biggest unlock for AI in insurance
- The importance of building “AI-ready” data foundations
- How Swiss Re achieved ~60% enterprise AI adoption
- Why AI transformation is more about people and process than technology
Apple’s greatest successes were built on failure.
In this episode of Technovation, Peter High speaks with David Pogue, an Emmy-winning journalist, former New York Times technology columnist, CBS News correspondent and author of Apple: The First 50 Years, about how Apple transformed early product missteps into category-defining innovation.
Drawing on 150 interviews and decades of coverage, Pogue unpacks the hidden lessons behind Apple’s most famous failures—and how they shaped the company’s future.
Key insights include:
- Why the Apple III and Lisa failed—and what they enabled
- How constraints in the early Mac informed later breakthroughs
- The role of leadership in reframing failure as progress
- Apple’s near-collapse and improbable turnaround
- What today’s executives can learn from Apple’s innovation model
The modern workplace wasn’t designed for today’s leaders, and it’s starting to break under the pressure.
In this episode of Technovation, board director, author and former CIO Lisa Davis joins Peter High to examine why the workplace system, built decades ago, no longer supports the realities of modern careers. Drawing from her leadership experience across government, academia, and the private sector, Davis outlines what must change, and what leaders must do now.
Key insights include:
- Why the current workplace model is structurally outdated
- How power dynamics shape leadership advancement
- The hidden cost of talent loss and system misalignment
- Why AI leadership lacks critical representation
- What executives must do to redesign work for the future
China is competing on control. In this episode, Ram Charan explains the “90% Model,” a strategy designed to dominate global manufacturing through scale, pricing power, and long-term positioning.
Drawing on decades advising CEOs and global leaders, Charan breaks down how this model is reshaping industries—and what it means for business leaders navigating a fragmented, multi-polar world.
Key insights include:
- Why China is willing to lose money to gain global dominance
- How “asset-light” strategies weakened Western manufacturing
- What CEOs must do to redesign supply chains for resilience
- Why AI should be treated as a tool—not a strategy
- How leadership must evolve in an era of unprecedented scale and speed
What does it really take to scale a company 10X in just a few years? Jon McNeill argues it’s not genius, it’s a system.
In this episode of Technoventure, Jon McNeill, former President of Tesla and CEO of DVx Ventures, breaks down “The Algorithm,” a five-step framework that powered Tesla’s rise from $2B to $20B in revenue. He shares how questioning assumptions, eliminating friction, and accelerating execution can unlock exponential growth.
Key insights include:
- Why hypergrowth is a repeatable operating system—not a one-time event
- How Tesla reduced complexity to increase speed and conversion
- The role of first-principles thinking in breakthrough innovation
- Why cycle time is the ultimate performance metric
- How leaders can build cultures that embrace feedback and urgency
Why do most AI initiatives fail to deliver real value? Because they automate broken processes instead of fixing them.
In this episode of Technovation, Peter High speaks with Shobhit Varshney, Global Head of Artificial Intelligence at Citi, about how one of the world’s largest banks is rethinking AI from the ground up. With experience spanning Citi and IBM, Shobhit shares how a value-first, platform-driven approach is enabling AI at scale, while maintaining strong governance and control.
Key highlights include:
- Why re-engineering workflows is essential before applying AI
- How Citi prioritizes high-value use cases with clear ROI accountability
- The role of centralized AI platforms in scaling capabilities
- Embedding responsible AI across the enterprise
- Building an AI-first culture through training and champions
What happens when IT stops delivering projects—and starts delivering outcomes?
In this episode of Technovation, Peter High speaks with Alex Gutman, CTO of Gilbane, about how a 150-year-old construction leader is transforming its IT operating model around value streams. Gutman shares how aligning technology to client-defined value is driving agility, accountability, and measurable business impact.
Key highlights include:
- Transitioning from siloed projects to outcome-driven value streams
- Building faster learning loops through cross-functional alignment
- Treating data as a trusted asset to enable scalable AI
- Applying AI to accelerate RFP responses and field execution
- Designing architecture for flexibility, speed, and long-term differentiation
What does it take to scale technology across one of the world’s largest marketing organizations?
In this episode of Technovation, Peter High speaks with Craig Cuyar, Global CIO of Omnicom, about leading technology transformation across a $25B global enterprise.
Craig shares how Omnicom is evolving from a holding company to a more centralized operating model, particularly in the wake of its acquisition of Interpublic Group.
Key topics include:
- Managing post-acquisition integration at global scale
- Leveraging first-party data and proprietary platforms
- Using AI’s predictive models to agentic workflows, to transform marketing
- Balancing centralization, outsourcing, and business-aligned IT leadership
Why do so many successful companies eventually lose their way?
In this episode of Technovation, Peter High speaks with Eric Ries, entrepreneur, founder of the Long-Term Stock Exchange, and author of The Lean Startup and his new book Incorruptible: Why Good Companies Go Bad and How Great Companies Stay Great.
Eric argues that corporate corruption rarely begins with bad actors. Instead, it emerges from organizational design—governance structures, incentives, and metrics that gradually push companies away from their original mission.
Key highlights from the episode:
- Corporate corruption is often a design problem, not a character problem
- Short-term pressure often acts as an “invisible force” inside organizations
- Organizations behave like “superorganisms,” developing their own intelligence and moral character
- Metrics can distort behavior when companies mistake the measurement for the goal
Is AI evolving beyond software into a new form of digital labor?
In this episode of Technoventure, Peter High speaks with Sandhya Venkatachalam, Co-Founder and General Partner at Axiom Partners, about the next phase of artificial intelligence.
Sandhya argues that AI is moving from a tool that assists humans to systems capable of performing entire jobs, from data science to network engineering. This shift could expand AI’s economic impact far beyond traditional software markets.
Key topics include:
- Why AI is transitioning from software tools to digital workers
- How Axiom Partners is building an AI-native venture capital firm
- Opportunities for AI in industries like construction, legal, and infrastructure
- The importance of creating insanely useful and usable products
- How founders can build companies serving billions of people globally
Enterprise leaders are investing heavily in AI, but many struggle to generate measurable business value.
In this episode of Technovation, Peter High speaks with Kellie Romack of ServiceNow about how the company is scaling AI across its operations to produce real, quantifiable results.
ServiceNow has already generated $355 million in AI-driven value internally, with automation resolving many service requests instantly and improving operational efficiency across the enterprise.
Key topics include:
- How ServiceNow runs its own platform internally as Customer Zero
- Examples of AI resolving 90% of some IT service requests on first touch
- Why AI governance and oversight are essential at enterprise scale
- How automation transforms the workforce rather than replacing it
- Lessons for CIOs seeking real ROI from AI investments
Healthcare systems have traditionally been designed around individual encounters, not the patient journey.
In this episode of Technovation, Peter High speaks with Rajan Mohan, Chief Marketing and Digital Experience Officer at Ascension Health, about how digital platforms, marketing strategy, and AI are reshaping how healthcare organizations engage patients.
Drawing from leadership roles at Marriott International and Qatar Airways, Rajan explains how consumer-grade experience design can transform healthcare delivery.
Key highlights include:
- Why healthcare must shift from encounters to coordinated patient journeys
- How marketing and digital teams can align around shared growth outcomes
- The role of AI in expanding healthcare capacity
- How personalization removes barriers to accessing care
- Why pricing transparency matters more than faster appointments
In this episode of Technovation, Peter High speaks with Stephen Witt, award-winning journalist and author of The Thinking Machine, which has been named Business Book of the Year by Financial Times. Witt writes about Jensen Huang’s improbable journey from near-bankruptcy in the 1990s GPU wars to leading NVIDIA at the center of the AI revolution. Witt unpacks how NVIDIA defeated nearly 70 competitors, why Huang began targeting “zero-billion-dollar markets,” and how CUDA became the backbone of modern AI.
Key highlights from the episode:
- How investing in zero-billion-dollar markets created durable platform advantage
- The emerging bull and bear cases for NVIDIA in robotics, edge computing, and global competition
- The strategic lessons NVIDIA extracted from surviving a 70-competitor GPU market
- Why operating with a constant “near-death” mindset shaped long-term execution discipline
What happens when you put revenue and technology under one executive leader?
In this episode of Technovation, Peter High speaks with Drew Pinto, Executive Vice President and Chief Revenue and Technology Officer at Marriott International, a $26 billion hospitality leader approaching its 100-year anniversary. Pinto shares how Marriott is transforming technology from a support function into a strategic growth engine — tightly integrated with capital allocation, AI experimentation, and commercial outcomes.
Key highlights include:
- Why Marriott merged revenue and IT under a single executive mandate
- How disciplined capital allocation is shaping AI investments
- The shift from “tech for tech’s sake” to measurable business impact
- Why most “technology problems” are actually data problems
- How a new product operating model is breaking down silos
🎧 Listen to learn how modern CIOs can align IT strategy directly to top-line growth.
Is AI just another tech bubble or the defining platform shift of this era?
Duncan Davidson, Co-Founder and General Partner at Bullpen Capital, argues that the answer lies in one critical distinction: Is the technology being used for its core purpose? In this episode of Technoventure, Duncan draws on his experience across the PC boom, dot-com era, mobile, and now AI to explain why real adoption signals durability.
He also explores why CIOs can’t afford to sit out a boom, how AI agents may disrupt the SaaS model, and why history suggests productivity revolutions create more opportunity than they destroy. For technology leaders navigating board-level AI pressure, this conversation reframes the question from timing the bubble to strategically participating in the inflection.
Key insights include:
- Why core-use adoption determines whether AI is hype or a true platform shift
- Why leaders must participate in tech booms rather than try to time the peak
- How to distinguish defensible AI innovation from fragile “wrapper” plays
- What historical signals indicate when a technology boom is nearing exhaustion
How do you scale AI in a regulated enterprise without risking trust, compliance, or credibility?
In this episode of Technovation, Nick Colisto, CIO of Avery Dennison, and Sathish Muthukrishnan, Chief Information, Data & Digital Officer at Ally Financial, share how they are moving from AI pilots to measurable enterprise impact.
From governance-first implementation inside a federally regulated bank to CFO-grade ROI tracking across a global manufacturing enterprise, this conversation focuses on the discipline required to operationalize AI at scale.
Key highlights include:
- Why one AI misstep can set a regulated enterprise back years
- How to win over risk, audit, and compliance before scaling
- Embedding “human-in-the-loop” safeguards from day one
- Measuring AI-enabled initiatives using EBIT and IRR
- Taking credit for AI embedded in SaaS platforms
If you’re leading AI in a regulated or board-visible environment, this episode offers a pragmatic blueprint for scaling responsibly.
🎧 Listen to learn how CIOs are turning AI experimentation into enterprise value.
Can trust be engineered into digital systems or is it purely cultural?
In this episode of Technovation, Peter High speaks with Jimmy Wales, co-founder of Wikipedia and author of The Seven Rules of Trust, about designing platforms that scale without sacrificing integrity. From neutrality policies to radical transparency and human-in-the-loop AI governance, Wales shares how trust must be built, not assumed.
Key highlights from the episode:
- Why trust operates at a human scale, even inside global platforms
- How incentives shape behavior, and why ad-driven models distort integrity
- Lessons from Airbnb’s early trust crisis
- Managing generative AI with human oversight
- Neutrality as a strategic discipline in polarized times
Is AI really eliminating jobs, or is it redefining skills?
In this episode of Technovation, Peter High speaks with Ehren Powell, Chief Digital Officer of Marathon Petroleum Corporation, about leading digital transformation at one of America’s largest and most complex industrial enterprises. Powell shares how he is building a skills-first organization—decomposing roles, augmenting capabilities with AI, and reassembling work around differentiated processes.
Key topics include:
- Why AI should be treated as a value multiplier—not a strategy
- How data contextualization unlocks massive sensor environments
- The creation of data domain ownership across the enterprise
- Applying edge technology and AI to improve safety and reliability
- Why curiosity and reinvention define the future workforce
You can’t scale AI on fragmented data.
In this episode of Technovation, Peter High speaks with Ogi Redzic, Chief Digital Officer of Caterpillar, about the foundational platform transformation that made rapid AI innovation possible across a $65B industrial enterprise.
Ogi shares how retiring legacy systems, consolidating data into the Helios cloud platform, and establishing trusted data pipelines enabled CAT Digital to launch an enterprise AI assistant in just 10 months.
Key topics include:
- Building Helios to process millions of data pipelines daily
- Turning unplanned downtime into predictive maintenance at scale
- Scaling $5B in industrial e-commerce
- Partnering with NVIDIA on edge AI and digital twins
- Aligning digital teams to measurable business outcomes
In this episode of Technovation, Peter High speaks with Saam Motamedi, General Partner at Greylock Partners, about the evolving role of artificial intelligence within the enterprise technology stack. They discuss how venture capital approaches enterprise AI companies at an early stage, how large enterprises are evaluating changes to their technology stacks, and what implications AI may have for workforce dynamics.
Saam shares perspectives on how AI may influence infrastructure decisions, application development, and software business models over time.
Key insights include:
- Shifts in enterprise infrastructure strategy
- Usage- and outcome-based software economics
- The future of AI agents
- What large enterprises should understand about emerging AI startups
Is your AI strategy ready for scale or headed for failure?
In this episode of Technovation, leaders from Norfolk Southern, McCormick & Company, and Vulcan Materials joined us at our Metis Strategy Summit to discuss what it really takes to move from AI pilots to enterprise impact. From AI factories and predictive transportation platforms to hybrid operating models and reward system redesign, this conversation dives into the operational and cultural realities of scaling AI in complex organizations.
Key highlights:
- Why 2026 is shaping up as the “scale or fail” year for AI
- How to industrialize AI with data platforms and governance
- Embedding technologists in business functions for contextual impact
- The critical role of AI literacy and trust
- Aligning incentives to drive behavioral change
Innovation isn’t slowing down, but in many enterprises it’s becoming invisible.
In this episode of Technovation, Peter High speaks with Sean Murphy, Founder and CEO of DemoHop, about why distributed work is trapping great ideas inside organizations and what CIOs can do to fix it. Sean explains how weak ties across enterprises have eroded, why peer-to-peer discovery beats status meetings, and how visibility is becoming the missing ingredient for scaling AI.
Key topics include:
- Why innovation gets trapped in distributed organizations
- How science fair–style demo days reduce duplication
- The hidden role of weak ties in creativity and breakthrough
- Making enterprise AI work visible and scalable
- Building credibility for technology teams with business leaders
Innovation in healthcare doesn’t start with AI. It starts with operational stability.
In this episode of Technovation, Peter High speaks with Chad Wasserman, CIO of HCA Healthcare, about leading technology at massive scale while keeping patient care at the center. Wasserman explains why “operational quiet” is the foundation that makes AI, data, and digital transformation possible and how HCA balances innovation with reliability across thousands of sites of care.
Key topics include:
- Why stability is a prerequisite for innovation
- Treating IT as an extension of the care team
- Scaling AI responsibly in clinical and engineering domains
- Building data platforms to support generational change
- Developing technologists through deep business immersion
What if the real driver of digital disruption isn’t technology, but unit economics?
In this episode of Technovation, Peter High speaks with Dan Gill, Chief Product Officer of Carvana, about how disciplined unit economics power one of the most ambitious e-commerce models in retail. Rather than leading with engineering for its own sake, Carvana focuses relentlessly on eliminating friction, capturing profit pools, and reinvesting those economics back into customer value.
Key highlights from the episode:
- Vertical integration and competitive advantage
- Deterministic, self-service digital experiences
- Proprietary platforms vs. off-the-shelf tools
- AI-human collaboration at scale
How can early-stage investors deliver repeatable, outsized returns—without chasing hype?
In this episode of Techoventure, Mark Fernandes, Managing Director at Sierra Ventures, shares the disciplined model behind one of the industry’s most consistent early-stage venture firms. Sierra’s strategy is designed for repeatable 3–5x returns by focusing on founder-market fit, tight portfolio construction, and tech-savvy sectors like AI, cloud, and cybersecurity.
Key insights include:
- The four-part rubric Sierra uses to vet early-stage founders
- Why fund size discipline is critical to long-term VC performance
- How Sierra balances seed and Series A checks with portfolio theory
- The power of “AI enablers” in healthcare, legal, and vertical SaaS
- The 20-year evolution of Sierra’s CXO Board and its enterprise value
Is AI coming for your job—or just changing how you work?
In this episode, Wall Street Journal technology columnist Christopher Mims shares a grounded, deeply informed perspective on how AI is reshaping productivity, creativity, jobs, and knowledge work. From the pitfalls of overhyping generative AI to the rise of agentic systems and the enduring role of classic AI, Christopher unpacks what leaders need to know now. He also highlights how experts benefit most from AI, what happens when organizations anchor too heavily on AI tools, and why handwritten notes, walking meetings, and skepticism are critical in the AI age.
Key highlights from the episode:
- Why experts extract more value from generative AI
- How CEOs are freezing junior hiring while boosting senior productivity
- Mims’ concept of “work slop” and how to avoid it
- Why hallucinations are structural in AI and require human oversight
- Tips for AI adoption that preserve creativity and context
How does a 100-year-old manufacturing leader reinvent itself through autonomy and AI?
In this episode, Caterpillar CTO Jaime Mineart shares how her team is transforming industrial work sites using robotics, machine intelligence, and real-time data. From mining to construction, the company is applying decades of engineering expertise to modern digital challenges, partnering with customers to co-develop scalable automation solutions.
Key highlights from the episode:
- How autonomy is expanding beyond mining into quarries and construction
- What makes Caterpillar’s AI adoption strategy unique—and replicable
- Inside the Helios platform and NVIDIA partnership powering data-driven insights
- Why the company pledged $100M to upskill the workforce of the future
- Lessons from scaling R&D with real-world customer involvement
1048: What if the hiring process wasn’t broken—but reimagined?
Anthony Moisant, Chief Information Officer and Chief Security Officer at Indeed, details how his teams are building trusted systems, tackling AI bias, and leveraging background agents and AI sourcing to solve the “black hole” of hiring. He also reflects on the importance of early-career talent, skill-based hiring, and the balance of self-learning and leadership-led growth.
The conversation covers:
- Why trust is foundational to AI innovation at Indeed
- How “invite to apply” transforms the candidate experience
- The future of work through agentic systems and AI sourcing
- Balancing self-driven learning with leadership-created space
1047: What does it take to lead tech—and the enterprise—in 2026?
In this episode of Technovation, we feature a panel from our October 2025 Metis Strategy Summit where Steven Norton speaks with three top executive recruiters: Craig Stephenson (Korn Ferry), Jamey Cummings (JM Search), and Scott Robbin (Heidrick & Struggles). Throughout the conversation, each recruiter gives their perspective on the evolving mandate of the CIO.
The conversation covers:
- The convergence of data, security, digital, and operations under the CIO
- How talent strategy and succession planning are changing
- What makes a technology leader board-ready
- The rise (and ambiguity) of the Chief AI Officer
- Offshore workforce trends and leadership development
Enterprises aren’t failing at AI. They’re failing at data.
Daniel Docter, Managing Director at Dell Technologies Capital, shares why the biggest barrier to enterprise AI isn’t models or talent—it’s the fractured, unstructured, and context-free data that most companies still struggle to harness.
In this episode of Technovation, Daniel and Peter High explore:
- Why data context is critical to enabling enterprise reasoning
- How Redis and other startups are fixing the AI performance gap
- What Dell Technologies Capital looks for in early-stage enterprise AI
- How corporate VC has evolved into a founder-enabling force
- Why the next five years will reward enterprises that fix their data layer
Digitization was just the first step. True digital transformation in healthcare is only beginning.
Dr. Michael Pfeffer, Chief Information and Digital Officer at Stanford Health Care, shares how he and his team are moving beyond electronic health records to deliver real-time, AI-powered care. From building ChatEHR, a secure, embedded LLM interface, to developing Stanford’s FIRM framework for responsible AI, Pfeffer provides a behind-the-scenes look at one of the nation’s most advanced digital health systems.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
- Why “digitized” isn’t the same as “digital”
- How Stanford built the first integrated LLM in clinical workflows
- What makes healthcare AI safe, useful, and equitable
- Where AI adds real clinical value and where it doesn’t
- The vision behind precision health at scale
1045: AI is no longer a side experiment—it’s a core capability. But are your people, partnerships, and governance models ready for it?
In this special Metis Strategy Summit panel episode, three seasoned technology leaders explore what it really takes to build trust, scale talent, and lead responsibly in the age of AI:
- Paul Ballew, Chief Data & Analytics Officer, National Football League
- Lakshman Nathan, EVP & CIO, Paramount
- Mark Sherwood, EVP & CIO, Wolters Kluwer
Moderated by Peter High, the conversation dives into transformation through the lens of distributed governance, workforce readiness, and the human element behind every AI ambition.
Key themes from the panel include:
- How the NFL’s “One-to-One” fan engagement model blends personalization and privacy
- What happens when $2B in savings depends on department-level AI strategy (Paramount)
- Why “value realization” starts with your CFO and ends with trust (Wolters Kluwer)
- The limits of centralization—and why distributed innovation may win out
- How to balance Copilot rollouts with responsible AI guardrails
What happens when a former startup CEO brings performance management discipline into city government?
In this episode of Technovation, Peter High speaks with San José Mayor Matt Mahan about applying data-driven decision-making, KPIs, and accountability—practices familiar to tech leaders—to the public sector. Drawing from his experience running venture-backed startups, Mahan explains how focus, measurement, and feedback loops are reshaping how City Hall operates.
Key topics include:
- Applying startup-style performance management to government
- Using dashboards and metrics to improve accountability
- Prioritizing outcomes over activity
- Leveraging AI to improve city services at scale
- Building a workforce ready to use new technology responsibly
How do you build and scale digital innovation inside a 170-year-old company?
Luke Gebb, EVP of Global Innovation at American Express, joins Peter High to share how Amex Digital Labs brings emerging technologies to market through a disciplined stage-gate process.
Gebb outlines how his team incubates and graduates products that become core to Amex’s customer experience—from peer-to-peer payments to blockchain-based travel rewards. He also shares lessons in navigating cross-functional execution, partnering with big tech, and launching products customers actually use.
Key topics include:
- Amex’s stage-gate innovation model
- Scaling peer-to-peer payments via PayPal/Venmo
- Building customer-centric discovery tools with GenAI
- Passport: Using NFTs to enhance travel experience
- Collaborating across engineering, legal, and compliance
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AI can’t fix what the healthcare system fundamentally gets wrong.
In this episode, Liam Donohue, Co-Founder and Managing Partner at 406 Ventures, shares why his firm is betting on value-based care—and why AI risks breaking the system if applied to the wrong incentives.
From launching EdTech’s earliest funds to shaping 406 Ventures’ sector focus in healthcare, cybersecurity, and infrastructure, Liam offers hard-won lessons in disciplined investing, operator-first teams, and systemic transformation.
Key highlights:
- Why fee-for-service economics undermine care innovation
- How value-based care reshapes both incentives and outcomes
- The real reason AI is booming in revenue cycle management
- Lessons from WelbeHealth: rethinking elder care and payments
- Liam’s take on what makes a founder truly backable
What if AI is repeating the same mistakes society made during the Industrial Revolution?
In this episode of Technovation, Peter is joined by Nobel Prize Laureate in Economics and Ronald A. Kurtz Professor of Entrepreneurship at the MIT Sloan School of Management Simon Johnson. Throughout their conversation, they explore why automation has historically failed to deliver shared prosperity and why artificial intelligence may be following the same path. Drawing on centuries of economic history, Johnson explains how mechanization once displaced workers faster than new jobs were created, fueling inequality and social unrest.
Together, they discuss what today’s AI leaders must learn from history, why institutions matter more than technology alone, and how workforce anxiety is an early warning sign of deeper structural problems.
Key topics include:
- Automation vs. job creation
- AI’s impact on entry-level and knowledge work
- Workforce polarization and regional inequality
- Lessons from the Industrial Revolution for today’s leaders
- What it takes to align innovation with shared prosperity
Most enterprises aren’t struggling with AI because of technology. They’re struggling because they’re trying to scale pilots instead of platforms.
In this episode of Technovation, Peter High speaks with Atilla Tinic, CIO of Qualcomm, about how the company is moving beyond one-off AI use cases to build an enterprise AI platform designed for scale. Tinic explains why unified and validated data is essential for AI accuracy, how Qualcomm enables developers and business teams through a centralized AI marketplace, and why security must be embedded into AI architecture from day one.
Key topics include:
- Why data governance is foundational to AI success
- How Qualcomm structures AI as a reusable enterprise platform
- The rise of AI agents and autonomous systems
- Cybersecurity challenges introduced by AI and how AI helps defend against them
What does it actually take to move AI from experimentation to enterprise-wide impact?
In this episode of Technovation, Peter High speaks with Leigh-Ann Russell, Chief Information Officer and Global Head of Engineering at Bank of New York (BNY), about how one of the world’s most systemically important financial institutions is operationalizing AI at scale. Leigh-Ann shares how BNY trained 99% of its 50,000-person workforce on AI, moved beyond pilots into deep enablement, and empowered employees across technical and non-technical roles to build AI agents that drive real productivity gains.
Key topics discussed include:
- Training nearly the entire workforce to become AI-literate
- Moving from AI pilots to enterprise-wide enablement
- Empowering employees to build and deploy AI agents
- Reducing cognitive load while improving speed and resilience
- Leading AI adoption through hands-on executive behavior
What if the key to enterprise AI wasn’t a tool, but a mindset?
Mark Bloom, Global CIO at AJ Gallagher, joins Technovation to share how the 70,000-person insurance giant is scaling AI by leading with data quality and cultural alignment—not flashy tools.
In this episode, Bloom details:
- How Gallagher eliminated 800+ data silos to centralize insight and enable AI
- Why crowdsourcing use cases from employees unlocked adoption at scale
- The shift from efficiency gains to revenue-focused AI
- How culture helped overcome resistance to data consolidation
- His dual perspective as both CIO and board member
What really drives cybersecurity investment and why is “threat” often the last reason?
In this episode, Rakesh Loonkar, co-founder of Transmit Security and general partner at Picture Capital, shares a contrarian take on how cybersecurity product categories emerge and why compliance and platform shifts often matter more than actual threats. Drawing on decades of experience as both operator and investor, Rakesh explains how he evaluates risk timing, founder mindset, and market inflection points.
Key highlights from the episode:
- Why most cyber spend starts with compliance, not attacks
- How to invest ahead of platform shifts like AI and cloud
- A three-part model for understanding cyber spending behavior
- The risks of financial-only boards in technical startups
- Lessons from building Trusteer, Transmit, and Picture Capital
What if your AI strategy is your business strategy?
In this episode, three top tech leaders share how they’re embedding AI not as a standalone initiative, but as a lever for enterprise transformation.
Mojgan Lefebvre (Travelers), Pawan Verma (Cencora), and Glenn Remoreras (Breakthru Beverage) reveal how they’ve partnered with boards, business units, and frontline teams to scale AI from proof of concept to performance.
Highlights include:
- How Travelers reduced onboarding from 2 hours to 2 minutes
- Cencora’s framework for board-level AI education
- Breakthru’s use of summits to build AI literacy across leadership
- The role of generative AI in operational redesign
- Balancing experimentation with responsible governance
What does it really take to design for resilience in an AI-first world?
In this panel from the Metis Strategy Summit, Amtrak CDO Judith Apshago, GE Aerospace CIO David Burns, and Zoetis CDTO Keith Sarbaugh explore how resilient infrastructure is becoming the backbone of enterprise trust, uptime, and AI scalability.
Tune in to learn how these leaders are:
- Responding to cloud outages and software disruption in real time
- Building AI literacy, governance, and use-case portfolios at scale
- Extending cyber defense and IT support to vulnerable supply chain partners
- Using edge computing and sensors to enable predictive diagnostics
- Converging IT and OT teams to enhance infrastructure intelligence
1036: What does it mean to manage a digital workforce?
In this episode of Technovation, we feature a panel from our most recent Metis Strategy Summit where three top executives explore how AI is reshaping work, both automating tasks, and changing the nature of management itself.
Peter High speaks with:
- Jennifer Charters, Chief Information Officer at Lincoln Financial
- Prasanna Gopalakrishnan, Chief Product & AI Officer at ADP
- Daniel Marcu, Global Head of AI Engineering at Goldman Sachs
Together, they discuss:
- Why AI agents require new thinking about team structure and oversight
- How CIOs and CHROs must partner to build enterprise AI fluency
- The risks of shadow AI and the need for secure platforms
- How habit loops and performance incentives impact AI adoption
- What it takes to balance innovation speed with organizational readiness
Our broadcast today features a panel from our most recent Metis Strategy Summit on the topic of Delivering the Product Operating Model (and Mindset) at Scale.
In this panel episode, we explore the limits and lessons of scaling the product operating model. Sal Companieh (Cushman & Wakefield), Jim Fowler (Nationwide), and Diane Schwarz (Smurfit WestRock) reflect on where product thinking thrives and where it breaks down.
Here are 5 takeaways from their candid discussion:
- Why “readiness” must come before model
- The risks of forcing product teams into fragmented structures
- When to co-create with business leaders—and when to slow down
- How agile funding models can clash with CapEx culture
- What to do when the organization “doesn’t want the service”
What if the most defensible companies of the AI era aren’t the ones building the infrastructure—but the ones using it to rethink workflows?
In this Technoventure episode, Peter High speaks with Jamie Montgomery, Founder and Managing Partner of March Capital, about why the firm is investing heavily in the AI application layer—not chips, not clouds, but the companies delivering real task-based outcomes.
Key topics explored:
- Why workflow-based moats beat data moats in the new venture cycle
- How application-layer companies are scaling faster with leaner GTM
- The ripple effects of AI CapEx on the U.S. economy and tax base
- March Capital’s bets on open-source LLMs and scientific discovery
- Why Montgomery believes AI “bailed out” the U.S. and VC industry alike
What’s stopping AI from scaling across the enterprise? For Madhu Ramamurthy, CIO of Zurich North America, it’s not the technology. It’s the culture.
In this episode, Madhu shares how he’s navigating the paradox of AI: a tool with unprecedented potential, surrounded by institutional resistance, unclear regulations, and cultural misalignment. He outlines Zurich’s approach to responsible AI deployment, organizational change, and ethical tech use.
Key highlights include:
- How “organizational antibodies” can kill innovation before it scales
- The case for explainability and governance in AI development
- Why domain expertise is more valuable than tech fluency
- Building AI-native teams outside of legacy systems
- Madhu’s warning on digital flattery and sycophantic AI
What does it really take to scale AI across a global enterprise?
In this episode, Jaime Montemayor, Chief Digital and Technology Officer at General Mills, shares the AI playbook behind the company’s digital transformation from foundational investments in cloud and data governance to business-led innovation across supply chain, e-commerce, and marketing.
With 96% of General Mills’ supply chain data now clean and governed, Jaime’s team is shifting from predictive analytics to agentic architectures that enable scalable, AI-powered automation.
Key insights include:
- Why cloud migration came before ERP modernization
- How trust and business integration drive AI adoption
- Building a connected data foundation to serve every segment
- Agentic AI use cases in supply chain and marketing
- Org design strategies to “lift and shift” innovation at scale
What does it take to transform IT from a bottleneck into a business accelerator?
In this episode, Waco Bankston, Chief Information Officer at NiSource, shares how he’s repositioning the IT organization to support growth, enable speed, and shift decades of technical and cultural inertia. Leading a 6.5-year enterprise transformation effort, Waco discusses the discipline required to modernize legacy systems while instilling a new execution culture.
Key insights from the episode include:
- Building a modern tech foundation to support future acquisitions
- Restructuring outsourced/insourced IT mix through platform consolidation
- Shaping team behavior through leadership-by-experience
- Establishing unified governance across AI, cybersecurity, and innovation
- Leading with operational safety and customer-back design
What does it take to reimagine a 10,000-employee enterprise for a digital-first future?
In this episode, Unum CTO Gautam Roy breaks down how he transformed the company’s operating model, culture, and technology foundation by reshaping experiences from the customer backward.
Gautam shares how Unum evolved from applications to journeys to value streams; how AI, data, and automation have become levers for acceleration; and how innovation culture and continuous learning drive enterprise adaptability.
Highlights:
- Unum’s shift to digital-first architecture and “moments that matter”
- How AI, data, and automation remove friction across operations
- Building predictive, proactive technology employee experience
- Creating safe spaces and recognition models for innovation
- Developing a future-focused, cross-functional learning culture
What if your company’s greatest advantage isn’t the product—but the purpose behind it?
Mike Hayes, Managing Director at Insight Partners and former COO of VMware, believes mission clarity is more than culture—it’s a strategic asset. Drawing on 20 years as a Navy SEAL and senior tech executive, Mike shares why knowing “who you want to be” is a superpower for founders and boards.
In this episode, Mike and Peter High discuss:
- How purpose-led companies outperform in high-growth markets
- Mike’s “Three Circles” framework for aligning talent to mission
- What Insight Partners looks for in founder-VC alignment
- How to say no (with clarity) when everything seems urgent
- Why values-based leadership scales in unpredictable markets
What does it take to evolve IT into a forward-looking innovation engine?
Mike Blandina, CIO of Snowflake, shares how he’s reimagined IT as “Enterprise Technology” as a way to describe what ‘IT’ really does: lead a solutions-first mindset at Snowflake designed for the AI era. In this conversation, Mike reflects on his first eight months leading tech at one of the world’s most AI-forward data cloud companies.
Key highlights include:
- The philosophy behind the Enterprise Technology rebrand
- Building Raven and RevOps—AI agents replacing 250+ dashboards
- The Customer Zero model for product influence
- Governance and localization strategies for responsible AI
- Redefining staff models to include digital agents
What if your hiring strategy were fueled by the largest contingent workforce dataset in the world?
Magnit CEO Chandra Dhandapani joins Technovation to explore how data is reshaping how companies think about talent—from role design to sourcing strategy to real-time labor cost insights. Chandra also shares lessons from her journey from CIO to CEO and offers perspective on why automation—not AI—is the skill trend to watch.
Key topics covered include:
- 12% YoY surge in automation roles vs. 2% in AI
- Data-driven frameworks for balancing contingent and permanent talent
- How Magnit uses GenAI internally via its “Maggi” platform
- Strategic applications of workforce analytics
- Leadership shifts from digital to enterprise-wide responsibility
How can AI be designed from the customer back and not the model forward?
Hari Gopalkrishnan, Chief Technology and Information Officer at Bank of America, joins Peter High to share how one of the world’s largest financial institutions grounds its AI strategy in user behavior. From developing Erica to enabling employees with tools like Ask Merrill, Hari explains why every AI solution must begin with real customer or employee friction.
Key topics include:
- The evolution of Erica from NLP to large language models
- How to avoid the trap of “shiny object” AI
- Bank of America’s 3-tier AI architecture: productivity, personas, and platforms
- Why dismantling old workflows is the prerequisite to automation
- Training 200,000+ employees in AI through “The Academy”
What does it take to scale AI from 800 siloed experiments into enterprise-wide impact?
Doug Schmitt, President of Dell Technologies Services and CIO of Dell, joins Peter High to unpack the company’s enterprise AI playbook—a journey from fragmented innovation to four scalable platforms used across software development, customer service, supply chain, and sales.
Highlights from this episode:
- How Dell consolidated 800 AI initiatives into 4 core platforms
- Why Doug sees AI as both tech and business model disruption
- The “customer zero” approach to testing and learning at speed
- Agentic AI examples in field service and internal ops
- How Dell’s AI factory enables rapid experimentation across 3,000+ customers
What does it take to play the long game in innovation?
Venture capitalist Brad Feld has spent four decades answering that question as a founder, mentor, and early-stage investor in companies like Fitbit, MakerBot, and Techstars. In this episode, Feld unpacks the enduring impact of mentorship, the logic behind his “Give First” philosophy, and how startups and enterprises alike can benefit from ecosystem thinking.
Key insights include:
- How a childhood visit to Frito-Lay inspired a tech career
- What separates peer mentorship from transactional networking
- The origin and strategic power of Techstars’ “Give First” mantra
- How Feld invests in category creation (wearables, 3D printing, cloud)
- Why innovation requires emotional resilience and long-term relationships
What if your company’s data could become a public good and a competitive moat?
Beaumont Vance, SVP of Data and AI at Paychex, shares how his team transforms payroll and HR data into real-time economic insight, powering everything from AI copilots to U.S. government response efforts. With 1 in 11 U.S. workers on the platform and 39 million client interactions annually, Paychex treats data as infrastructure.
In this episode, Beaumont and Peter High discuss:
- How Paychex monetizes data responsibly
- Why statistical precision trumps survey-based signals
- Building AI-ready data from unstructured knowledge
- Lessons from growth equity on “data moats”
- What AI agents will unlock next
1025: What does it take to go from CIO to CEO? For Saul Van Beurden, tech leadership was the ideal proving ground.
Now CEO of Consumer, Small, and Business Banking at Wells Fargo, Saul shares how his background in IT helped him lead at enterprise scale. In this episode, he speaks with Peter High about the strategic, operational, and cultural mindset shifts that enabled his rise—and why CIOs are uniquely positioned to lead beyond technology.
Key topics explored:
- Translating technology leadership into enterprise-wide strategy
- Lessons from operating at scale in risk-heavy environments
- Building customer-centric AI and data foundations
- Driving channel parity across digital, branch, and contact center
- Creating pathways for talent through neurodiversity hiring
Where is AI actually moving the needle in industrial operations?
In this episode, Anil Bhatt, Chief Information and Digital Officer of Norfolk Southern, shares how the $12B freight rail company is turning AI into measurable value without overhyping its potential.
Topics include:
- A disciplined approach to AI deployment with measurable ROI
- Norfolk Southern’s “3 As” framework for enterprise data strategy
- Copilot adoption to augment associate workflows
- Lessons from customer-centric redesign of freight experiences
- The role of AI in enabling safety, resilience, and transformation
What does it really take to scale AI responsibly across a global enterprise?
In this episode, Ramon Richards, Chief Technology Officer at T. Rowe Price, shares how his team is advancing AI capabilities with discipline and speed—balancing innovation with the need for risk controls, data readiness, and workforce enablement.
Ramon unpacks T. Rowe Price’s multi-pronged approach to artificial intelligence, from founding an AI Labs function to piloting autonomous agents, all while modernizing infrastructure and investing in talent development.
Key topics include:
- Building an enterprise AI strategy with embedded risk and legal oversight
- Launching “ChatTRP” to enable AI access across the organization
- Preparing data and cloud architecture for scaled GenAI use cases
- Developing human-in-the-loop frameworks and change management tactics
- Piloting agentic AI to explore the future of autonomous workflows
How can venture investors consistently identify the next breakout market?
Barry Eggers, Founding Partner at Lightspeed Venture Partners, reveals the firm’s thesis-driven approach to venture capital of using early “learning investments” to test conviction, then scaling fast into emerging markets before the crowd arrives.
In this episode, Barry shares insights from Lightspeed’s foundational bets in enterprise tech, Snap’s billion-dollar rise, and how the firm built multi-company portfolios around early themes like flash storage and analytics.
Key highlights include:
- Lightspeed’s strategy for placing early bets to gain market insight
- The story behind the firm’s $500K Snap investment and $1B+ return
- Why EQ matters more than technical depth in founder partnerships
- How globalization and secondaries have reshaped venture economics
- What it takes to defend against competition in the AI era
What if your innovation team operated more like a venture fund than a lab?
In this episode of Technovation, Peter High speaks with Andres Vazquez, Chief Digital Intelligence Officer of América Móvil, about how he leads open innovation at scale, evaluating thousands of companies a year to drive customer value, operational efficiency, and revenue.
Key topics explored include:
- How Andrés acts as a “VC without capital” inside a $46B telecom
- Why América Móvil avoids trendy tech experiments without clear ROI
- Three strategic filters for external innovation: revenue, efficiency, and CX
- The company’s infrastructure advantage in the AI age
- Lessons from building a telco empire alongside Carlos Slim
Is your infrastructure ready to flex?
In this episode of Technovation, Manish Kumar, EVP of Digital Energy at Schneider Electric, explains how buildings can become interactive energy assets with the help of AI, real-time data, and distributed energy systems. He shares the strategy behind Schneider’s Energy Command Center model, which reduced energy use by 25 GWh across 23 buildings, and outlines how AI can be deployed both locally and enterprise-wide to drive sustainability and efficiency.
Key highlights from this conversation:
- Why net-zero infrastructure is already feasible today
- How buildings can interface directly with the grid
- The role of AI in building comfort, performance, and resiliency
- Examples of command centers transforming energy operations
- Public-private collaboration opportunities through transparency
What happens when the CIO responsible for powering AI also has to manage its energy demands?
Richard Donaldson, SVP & CIO of Duke Energy, joins Technovation to discuss the unique position utilities now face: supporting exponential growth in data center power needs while simultaneously using AI to optimize grid performance, customer experience, and internal operations.
In this episode, Richard and Peter explore:
- The intersection of AI and national energy infrastructure
- How one data center can require as much power as a nuclear reactor
- Strategies for responsible AI rollout and internal enablement
- Customer journey innovation in a highly regulated industry
- Why the utility CIO role is now central to digital transformation
What does it take to build a high-performing IT organization from scratch while navigating a carve-out, preparing for IPO, and pivoting into acquisition?
In this episode of Technovation, Kirk Ball, Chief Information Officer at Worldpay, shares his 15-month journey leading digital transformation, tech modernization, and cultural reinvention at a global payments company doing business in 135+ countries.
Ball reflects on the leadership decisions, cloud strategies, and AI integration efforts that helped stand up a scalable, resilient tech function, even as plans shifted from IPO to M&A.
Key Highlights:
- How Kirk tripled Worldpay’s IT team post-spinout from FIS
- Where AI is driving internal productivity and enterprise search
- What it takes to build tech culture through transparency and inclusion
- How to lead through uncertainty—while keeping operations stable
- The CIO’s role in M&A readiness, from day one to long-term integration
Former Cisco CEO John Chambers returns to discuss why AI is scaling faster than any tech wave before it, including the internet. Now the CEO of JC2 Ventures, Chambers shares lessons from advising 24 AI-native startups and offers a strategic lens on how leaders, companies, and countries can win or be left behind.
In this episode:
- AI’s “5x speed” vs. the internet
- How La Poste retrained 220K workers on AI
- Why 60–70% of Fortune 500 firms may disappear
- Chambers’ M&A playbook from 180+ acquisitions
- The U.S.-India innovation corridor
- Risk, reinvention, and why CEOs must lead from the front
How is Experian transforming from a data company into a technology-first innovator?
In this episode, Kathleen Peters, Chief Innovation Officer at Experian, joins Peter High to reveal how her team is scaling Generative AI, agentic AI, and behavioral analytics to fight fraud, streamline decisioning, and make advanced modeling accessible to everyone.
Kathleen shares how Experian’s global Innovation Labs evolved from blue-sky R&D to delivering real-world impact, from the Experian Assistant, a natural-language AI that can build models in minutes, to cutting-edge behavioral analytics that distinguish humans, bots, and AI agents in real time.
As Senior Vice President for Enterprise Business & Digital Transformation and Chief Information Officer at Lockheed Martin, Maria Demaree is leading one of the world’s largest aerospace and defense companies through a sweeping digital and cultural transformation.
In this episode of Technovation with Peter High, Maria shares how Lockheed Martin’s 1LMX program is uniting more than 122,000 employees worldwide under a mission-driven approach to digital enablement, process modernization, and cultural cohesion. She explains how her dual background in business leadership and IT shapes her strategy, the power of connecting global factories through data, and the role of AI and quantum computing in accelerating delivery for national security customers.
Maria also discusses:
► The balance between legacy modernization and digital-native innovation
► How Lockheed Martin is fostering a common culture (1LM) across business units
► The impact of AI and data convergence on defense and aerospace operations
► Why empathy, urgency, and mission focus drive effective digital transformation
The AI workforce won’t replace humans—but it will reshape how work gets done.
On this episode of Technovation with Peter High, Salesforce EVP & CDO Joe Inzerillo joins to explore the rise of agentic AI and how it’s transforming work, from org structure to customer engagement. Joe draws on lessons from Disney, SiriusXM, and now Salesforce to unpack the “Customer Zero” model, how digital labor changes work design, and why empathy is the superpower for AI leadership.
“No one cares about AI if the Wi-Fi doesn’t work.” As CIO of the U.S. Department of State, Dr. Kelly Fletcher leads a global team delivering secure, resilient, and modern technology across 190 countries.
In this episode of Technovation with Peter High, Dr. Kelly Fletcher, Chief Information Officer of the U.S. Department of State, shares how she leads technology strategy for 100,000 users across 190 countries. Kelly discusses her dual mandate of operational excellence and cybersecurity, including the department’s rapid response to the 2023 Microsoft hack. She also explains how AI is reducing “toil” for diplomats, the rollout of StateChat and DocuChat, and the transformative potential of low-earth orbit satellite communications for global connectivity. With past leadership roles at the Department of Defense and the Navy, Kelly reflects on cultural differences across agencies, her philosophy on experimentation, and the future of cloud and cross-government collaboration.
Marina Levinson shares her journey from CIO to venture investor to startup advisor, revealing the skills, relationships, and mindset shifts needed to thrive across roles, how her experience as a tech buyer sharpened her investment approach, how she built bridges between enterprise executives and startups, and highlights such as how CIOs can play a bigger role in innovation ecosystems, why BGV invests in vertical AI rather than infrastructure, lessons from AiDASH, COVU, and Interactly.ai, what makes a solution “must-have” vs. “nice-to-have”, and advice for executives pursuing public or private board roles.
“The speed is so incredible. I can’t tell if I’m getting older and I’m slower, or if just the speed of this technology is so exponentially faster.” As CIO of Analog Devices, Nancy Avila leads digital transformation for a $9.5B semiconductor company at the forefront of AI innovation.
In this episode of Technovation with Peter High, Nancy Avila, Chief Information Officer of Analog Devices, shares how she returned from retirement to lead IT, data, and AI strategy at a company powering intelligent edge technologies. Nancy outlines her three-pillar strategy of operational excellence, process optimization, and innovation highlighting the company’s shift toward enterprise-wide adoption of agentic AI. She details how AI agents are boosting engineering productivity, improving anomaly detection in manufacturing, and transforming internal knowledge access. Nancy also discusses her approach to transparent decision-making in AI and cloud spend, how CIOs can shape business strategy in technical organizations, and her experience serving on public boards.
1013: Wyndham’s Scott Strickland on AI, loyalty, and how digital innovation is reshaping hospitality.
In this episode of Technovation, Wyndham Hotels & Resorts Chief Commercial Officer and longtime CIO Scott Strickland joins Peter High to share how Wyndham is redefining hospitality with digital innovation, from its owner-first philosophy and the new Wyndham Gateway loyalty initiative to the creation of a guest engagement platform that powers mobile check-in, digital tipping, and personalized upsells; Strickland also discusses Wyndham’s $350M technology modernization journey, how it prepared the company for AI adoption, the role of data and personalization in shaping future guest experiences, the impact of user-generated content and micro-influencers, and practical leadership lessons for CIOs aiming to expand into broader commercial roles, proving that in hospitality, where there’s a Wyndham, there’s a way.
1012: Sokwoo Rhee, EVP of Innovation at LG Electronics and Head of LG NOVA, reveals how LG is rethinking corporate innovation through ecosystem-led venture building. In this episode we explore LG NOVA’s venture into healthcare, energy optimization, and AI innovation, including Primefocus Health and PADO, plus how public-private partnerships (like with West Virginia) power new business creation. Learn why LG is focused on vertical AI use cases, how they identify 5-10 year opportunities, and what it takes to build cross-sector teams for impact.
Build with AI. Lead with people.In this episode of Technovation, host Peter High speaks with Jennifer Charters, Executive Vice President and Chief Information Officer of Lincoln Financial. Jennifer shares how she’s shaping the future of IT and innovation at the $18.5B insurer by investing in AI while doubling down on what makes transformation succeed: people.
She discusses Lincoln’s evolving enterprise AI strategy, why a model-agnostic approach matters, and how her team is redesigning workflows and talent models in parallel. From regulatory complexity to the rise of AI agents, Jennifer emphasizes the need to prepare rather than predict the future, and to keep human connection at the center of it.
Key topics include:
- A 401(k)-style framework for IT budgeting and innovation
- How Lincoln’s model-agnostic AI architecture supports agility
- AI use cases in development, cybersecurity, and customer experience
- Partnering with HR to future-proof skills and change readiness
What if every human had an army of agents working for them?
Aaref Hilaly, Partner at Bain Capital Ventures and veteran investor in AI-native startups, joins Peter High to discuss the transformative potential of agentic AI, the mindset he looks for in founders, and how legal, healthcare, and education sectors are poised for disruption.
Key highlights from the conversation:
- How AI is reshaping venture investment strategy
- The role of agents in redefining work and productivity
- Why legal and healthcare are prime for automation
- Lessons from Hilaly’s time as a founder
- Emerging trends like vibe coding and invisible apps
Simplify to accelerate.
In this episode of Technovation, host Peter High speaks with Richard Jardim, Executive Vice President and Chief Information Officer of the Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce (CIBC). Richard shares how his team is modernizing one of North America’s leading banks by focusing on technology simplification, speed, and agility in service of building a relationship-oriented bank for a modern world.
He details CIBC’s transformation journey, from migrating core platforms to the cloud and leveraging proprietary online banking infrastructure, to developing digital talent, integrating AI, and preparing for quantum computing. Richard also reflects on the importance of curiosity, communication, and adaptive leadership in today’s fast-moving tech environment.
Key topics include:
- How CIBC simplifies its 1,200+ app footprint to increase agility
- The bank’s strategy for scaling internal IP and AI skills
- Bridging business and technology through vertical CIO alignment
- Quantum computing as both risk and opportunity in financial services
Ukraine’s Digital Revolution: From Warzone to Innovation Hub
In this episode of Technovation, host Peter High speaks with Valeriya Ionan, Advisor to the Deputy Prime Minister of Ukraine on Innovation, Digitalization, and Global Partnerships. Previously Deputy Minister at the Ministry of Digital Transformation, Valeriya played a pivotal role in launching Ukraine’s groundbreaking Diia ecosystem and driving the nation’s goal of becoming the world’s most convenient digital state.
She shares how digital public services, AI-driven education, and defense-tech innovation are reshaping Ukraine’s future, even in the face of war. With partnerships spanning global governments and tech giants, Valeriya offers a masterclass in crisis-driven transformation, digital infrastructure, and building agile government at scale.
Key insights include:
- The evolution of Diia: from IDPs to e-marriage to war bonds
- Scaling drone production from 7 to 500+ in three years
- Ukraine’s “Win-Win” Innovation Strategy and defense tech surge
- The rise of the CDTO and building a digital-first public sector
Resilience is earned, not given. In this episode of Technovation, host Peter High speaks with Rusty Patel, Chief Information Officer at Baxter, about leading IT through one of the most consequential 13-month periods in the company’s history.
Rusty reflects on Baxter’s mission to save and sustain lives, the resilience required to restore operations after natural disasters, and the CIO’s role in both enabling innovation and enforcing enterprise discipline. He shares insights into simplifying a complex IT ecosystem, building financial acumen across the org, and advancing connected care and AI across Baxter’s portfolio of 1.5 million devices and 350 million patients served annually.
Key topics include:
- How Baxter IT responded to floods and cyber incidents without a playbook
- Rationalizing thousands of systems to reduce IT cost-to-serve
- Creating segment-aligned tech leadership and shared services
- Applying AI to connected care and enterprise transformation
Can AI transform a 200-year-old commercial real estate company?
In this episode, Peter High speaks with Yao Morin, Chief Technology Officer of JLL, a $24B global commercial real estate leader. Yao shares how she is leading JLL’s AI and data transformation which is reshaping how buildings are operated, how software is developed, and how employees work.
Yao details how JLL is building customer-facing AI products like the JLL Property Assistant, driving cultural change through AI literacy programs, and launching internal tools like JLL GPT that already see 17,000 daily users. She also explains why she believes Scrum teams will shrink, engineers will code less, and AI adoption will soon be table stakes across industries.
Key topics include:
- AI strategy across internal and external JLL platforms
- The APEX program for AI-driven software engineering
- Metrics for measuring AI impact beyond efficiency gains
- Ethical AI design, data privacy, and client trust
Where is software value heading in the age of AI?
In the premiere episode of Technoventure, host Peter High speaks with Asheem Chandna, General Partner at Greylock Partners, one of Silicon Valley’s most storied venture firms. Asheem has led early investments in industry-defining companies such as Palo Alto Networks, AppDynamics, Rubrik, and Abnormal Security.
With over 20 years at Greylock and a background in product management and cybersecurity, Asheem offers a masterclass on how he assesses founders, identifies breakout potential, and mitigates risk—often before a single line of code is written. He also explores the evolving dynamics of enterprise software, the impact of agentic AI, and how cybersecurity must adapt to combat both bad and good AI.
Key themes include:
- Assessing founders in a world of younger AI entrepreneurs
- The changing nature of enterprise software and data platforms
- The immigrant’s mindset and risk tolerance in venture
- The venture capitalist’s evolving toolkit in the AI era
Learn more about Greylock’s AI-native security investments, including Abnormal Security, a leader in protecting enterprises from modern email and collaboration attacks.
Apple’s success in China is more complicated—and consequential—than most realize.In this episode, Peter High speaks with Financial Times journalist and author Patrick McGee, who covered Apple for years and recently published Apple in China: The Capture of the World’s Greatest Company. Patrick’s reporting reveals how Apple became deeply intertwined with China’s manufacturing and political landscape, why the company’s investment strategy mirrors the scale of the Marshall Plan, and what it means for America’s technological and geopolitical future.
Patrick explains how Apple trained tens of millions of Chinese workers, enabled critical industrial know-how, and inadvertently supported the rise of China’s tech and military capabilities. He also discusses the internal tensions between product design and supply chain mastery, Tim Cook’s evolution as a CEO, and the risks of Apple’s continued dependence on a single nation for its most critical operations.
Key insights include:
- The little-known “Gang of Eight” and Apple’s in-China-for-China strategy
- Why Apple’s $275B China deal dwarfs U.S. tech investments like the CHIPS Act
- How Apple’s success helped catalyze Huawei’s resurgence and HarmonyOS
- The supply chain realities that make shifting manufacturing nearly impossible
“Great innovations are painkillers, not vitamins.”
In this episode, Peter High speaks with Shez Partovi, Chief Innovation & Strategy Officer and Chief Business Leader of Enterprise Informatics at Royal Philips, a €18B global health technology leader. Shez shares how Philips is building people- and patient-centric innovation by partnering with healthcare providers, co-creating solutions, and scaling software and AI-driven insights to meet the growing demands of modern care delivery.
A former AWS health exec and practicing neuroradiologist, Shez offers a unique lens on the convergence of tech and clinical practice. He outlines how Philips’ software-first strategy is accelerating productivity, reducing clinician burnout, and expanding access to care while also navigating AI trust gaps and reshaping internal engineering practices.
Key themes include:
- The strategy behind Philips’ health tech transformation
- AI’s role in automation, augmentation, and agility in care delivery
- Co-creation with health systems to drive scalable impact
- Philips’ dual-speed innovation model (80% business-led, 20% moonshots)
How can AI, digitization, and data create smarter, healthier, and more sustainable buildings?
In this episode of Technovation, host Peter High welcomes Vijay Sankaran, Chief Digital and Information Officer of Johnson Controls, a global leader in smart building technologies. Vijay shares how he’s leading enterprise-wide digital transformation across a $23B company while scaling platforms like OpenBlue to optimize energy, equipment, and workplace performance.
He unpacks how traditional machine learning, generative AI, and agentic workflows are converging to deliver predictive insights, autonomous actions, and tailored digital experiences. Vijay also reflects on trends in hybrid work, his journey to board membership at Veralto, and why quantum computing is on his innovation radar.
Key topics include:
- AI-driven optimization of HVAC, energy use, and building health
- OpenBlue’s role in unifying smart building systems
- Applying generative and agentic AI to customer and employee experiences
- Trends in workplace utilization and digital transformation at scale
“Resilience is a mindset.” Chris Isaacson, Chief Operating Officer of Cboe Global Markets, joins Technovation host Peter High to discuss how the global exchange operator delivers trusted, 24/7 markets through technology, operational excellence, and a deeply integrated data strategy. A founding employee of BATS Global Markets and former CIO of both BATS and Cboe, Chris reflects on his two-decade journey scaling from startup to enterprise. He shares insights on building fault-tolerant platforms, organizing global teams for growth, and navigating crises like the flash crash and COVID with calm, systems-level thinking. Chris also explores the future of exchange operations, from AI-powered security and timestamping services to data commercialization and agentic software development.
Key themes include:
- Building hyper-resilient, globally consistent trading infrastructure
- Lessons in leadership from startup growth to post-acquisition scale
- Cboe’s unified data platform and timestamping innovations
- The future of exchange technology with GenAI and software agents
- Cybersecurity as the #1 enterprise risk, and how to lead accordingly
How are companies redefining what it means to be a technology leader?
In this episode of Technovation, we feature a panel recorded at our most recent Metis Strategy Summit, where Steven Norton moderated a discussion on executive talent and leadership transformation. Panelists include Joon Yoon, Global Co-Head of the Tech Officers Practice at Egon Zehnder; Tony Leng, Managing Partner at H.I. Executive Consulting; and Eric Sigurdson, Head of the CIO Practice at Russell Reynolds Associates.
Together, they explore how evolving business needs, AI, and shifting workplace norms are reshaping the archetype of modern tech leaders and the boardroom roles they’re increasingly poised to step into.
Key insights include:
- Three emerging archetypes of technology executives
- Why self-awareness and “leading from the inside” matter more than ever
- The growing boardroom presence of tech-savvy leaders
- How AI is changing C-suite titles, expectations, and accountability
- The shift from operational excellence to customer-facing innovation
How do you digitally transform a leading beverage distributor across 16 markets?
In this episode of Technovation, host Peter High speaks with Glenn Remoreras, Chief Information Officer of Breakthru Beverage Group, a family-owned company with $8.6B in annual revenue and operations across the US and Canada. Glenn shares how he is driving innovation, scaling AI adoption, and modernizing the company’s sales and operational processes.
From expanding a $500M+ B2B e-commerce platform to building data architecture that fuels AI innovation, Glenn outlines his strategy for becoming the distributor of choice in a competitive industry. He also reflects on lessons from global leadership roles and offers insights into fostering AI literacy across an organization’s executive ranks.
Key topics include:
- Breakthru’s digital marketplace and AI-powered sales enablement
- Cloud transformation and enterprise data strategy
- Building a culture of AI literacy and scalable use cases
- Innovation operating models and business-led technology partnerships
- Leadership lessons from working in Asia, Europe, and North America
From Hollywood mogul to venture capital visionary, Jeffrey Katzenberg’s story is one of bold bets, iconic storytelling, and relentless reinvention. In this milestone 1000th episode of Technovation, host Peter High welcomes Katzenberg to reflect on a remarkable career spanning five decades across film, animation, and now AI-driven venture investing.
As the founding partner of WndrCo, Katzenberg backs transformative companies like Netomi (conversational AI), Writer (enterprise GenAI), Alembic (causal AI), and Aura (consumer digital safety). But long before that, he shaped global pop culture as President of Paramount Pictures, Chairman of Walt Disney Studios, and Co-Founder of DreamWorks SKG and DreamWorks Animation.
In this wide-ranging and candid conversation, Katzenberg shares:
- Why the best ideas are risky and why failure is essential to success
- How DreamWorks was launched just 8 days after being fired from Disney
- Leadership lessons from icons like Barry Diller and David Geffen
- The real story behind building Hollywood’s most beloved franchises
- Why AI is both “prose” and “poetry” and what that means for creativity
- How WndrCo is scaling category-defining businesses across tech
This episode explores 50 years of transformation, from The Lion King to Shrek, from studio boardrooms to Silicon Valley pitch rooms. A must-listen for anyone interested in creativity, leadership, and what it takes to build at scale.
From Tesla to Tekion: How Jay Vijayan Is Transforming the Automotive ExperienceIn this episode of Technovation, Peter High speaks with Jay Vijayan, Founder & CEO of Tekion and former CIO of Tesla, about revolutionizing the dealer-to-consumer automotive experience through a cloud-first, AI-powered SaaS platform. Jay shares how his time at Oracle, VMware, and Tesla inspired the vision for Tekion, now valued at over $4 billion and serving major OEMs and dealer groups across the U.S.
Jay explains Tekion’s three-cloud architecture—Retail Cloud, Enterprise Cloud, and Partner Cloud—and how it’s streamlining operations, enabling e-commerce, and connecting a vast automotive ecosystem. He also unpacks Tekion’s innovative use of AI agents to enhance after-sales service, deliver transparency, and empower both dealers and consumers.
Key topics include:
- How Tekion modernizes the fragmented automotive retail experience
- The impact of AI co-pilots on vehicle service and customer trust
- Lessons from Tesla and Elon Musk that shape Tekion’s product philosophy
- Jay’s advice for CIOs aspiring to become CEOs
How are executives creating value from AI investment?
In this Technovation episode, we feature a panel from our most recent Metis Strategy Summit where Metis Strategy’s Chris Davis moderates a panel on how companies can unlock real value from their investment in AI with AMD CIO Hasmukh Ranjan, Palantir CIO Jim Siders, and Ingram Micro CTO Dham Pathervellai.
The panel shares bold strategies for AI adoption, including AMD’s “Four A’s” maturity model, Palantir’s mandate to scale lean with high impact, and Ingram Micro’s marketplace revolution powered by GenAI. With an emphasis on data ownership, productivity KPIs, and shifting product development mindsets, this conversation offers a playbook for turning AI talk into measurable impact.
Key themes include:
- AMD’s assist-to-autonomous AI framework and data-centric strategy
- Palantir’s edge IT model and shift to generalist engineering teams
- Ingram Micro’s GenAI integration and “Come as you are” partner model
- Rethinking productivity, talent models, and data governance for AI scale
At Mars, digital services must feel shared and personal at the same time. In this episode, Peter High speaks with Marina Bellini, President of Global Services and Digital Technologies at Mars. With over 150,000 associates across 70+ markets, Mars spans industries from pet care and veterinary services to food and confectionery. Marina oversees shared services, enterprise technology, and Mars’ digital transformation.
She discusses her first six months in the role, how Mars blends scale with customization across business units, and the company’s accelerating use of product operating models, data platforms, and GenAI. Marina also shares how Mars’ family-owned, fifth-generation culture drives long-term thinking and responsible innovation.
Key topics include:
- Mars’ digital and AI platform strategy (MAX)
- Product model adoption and agile scaling
- Tailoring global services for local business needs
- Culture, principles, and shared services as enterprise glue
- GenAI use cases across pet health and marketing
How are digital leaders driving real business impact with GenAI and agents?
In this Technovation episode, we feature a panel from our most recent Metis Strategy Summit where Metis Strategy’s Steven Norton speaks with three top executives who are driving innovation through generative AI and agents: Motti Finkelstein, CIO of Intel; Shri Santhanam, EVP & Chief AI Officer at Experian; and Jaime Montemayor, Chief Digital and Technology Officer at General Mills.
Together, they explore what it takes to move from pilots to production at scale, how to build trust in AI agents, and the organizational shifts required to maximize GenAI’s potential. With insights spanning financial services, semiconductors, and consumer packaged goods, this conversation dives into strategic frameworks, technical foundations, and real-world use cases.
Key topics include:
- Experian’s EVA: A financial agent handling personal credit data at scale
- Intel’s 2,500+ AI use cases tracked through finance-validated buckets
- MillsChat at General Mills: Securing and scaling enterprise AI tools
- AI training compressing certification time from 12 months to weeks
- Future of AI agents as full digital coworkers across B2B and B2C
“The genie is out of the bottle”
In this episode of Technovation, host Peter High speaks with Adam Brotman and Andy Sack, co-CEOs of Forum3 and co-authors of AI First: The Playbook for a Future-Proof Business and Brand. Adam is a former co-CEO of J.Crew and Starbucks Chief Digital Officer, while Andy is a longtime entrepreneur, VC, and former advisor to Satya Nadella at Microsoft. Together, they’re helping executives and brands navigate the unprecedented opportunities and risks of generative AI.
They discuss lessons from their book, including their conversations with thought leaders like Sam Altman and Bill Gates, the imperative of becoming an AI-first company, and why future-proofing requires both agility and principled leadership. Adam and Andy also share practical advice on building an “AI council,” experimenting at all levels, and keeping pace with a technology that’s reshaping work, society, and competition.
Key insights from this episode:
- Why AGI could arrive within 3 – 5 years and what it means for your business
- How to build an AI-first culture, starting with leadership
- Lessons from Moderna’s AI adoption playbook
- The importance of balancing innovation, security, and ethics
- How generative AI can act as a “co-founder” and personal productivity multiplier
994: Leading Through Change Requires Culture, Clarity, and Courage.
In this episode of Technovation, Metis Strategy’s Andrew Krusell moderates a powerful panel with three accomplished CIOs: Richard Donaldson (CIO of Duke Energy), Neal Sample (CIO of Walgreens Boots Alliance), and Darlene Taylor (CIO of Superior Industries). Together, they share candid lessons and actionable strategies for leading large-scale transformation amid disruption.
From building cultural permission for failure and branding your own leadership style to balancing customer needs with operational rigor and navigating AI-driven growth, these executives illustrate how technology leaders can drive meaningful, sustainable change in complex environments.
Key topics include:
- Building cultural agility at legacy, risk-averse organizations
- Branding transformation through authentic leadership
- Balancing internal and external forces driving AI adoption
- Managing through market volatility and geopolitical uncertainty
- Avoiding pitfalls and cultivating resilience through networks and listening
Customer-first IT and innovation at scale. On this episode of Technovation, host Peter High speaks with Mike Trkay, Chief Information Officer at FICO, a $2B analytics software company. Mike leads not only internal IT but also the operations of FICO’s customer-facing SaaS and PaaS platforms making him a unique, customer-facing CIO.
Mike shares insights from his 12-year tenure, during which FICO’s stock has risen 3,600%, and explains how his team drives customer trust, operational excellence, and innovation. Topics include his customer-centric approach to IT, leveraging AIOps and AI to scale operations, and the emergence of focused language models to reduce complexity and deliver business impact.
Key topics include:
- Evolving the CIO role to include customer-facing operations
- Driving revenue retention through world-class SaaS delivery
- Scaling with innovation and a culture of experimentation
- Applying AI, AIOps, and focused language models at FICO
“Healthcare, first of all, unlike other industries, has to be held to a higher standard in terms of responsibility.”
In this episode of Technovation, host Peter High speaks with Sandeep Dadlani, Executive Vice President and Chief Digital & Technology Officer of UnitedHealth Group, the Fortune 3 healthcare leader.
Sandeep explains how his team’s technology and digital strategies are tightly aligned to UnitedHealth Group’s mission: helping people live healthier lives and making the health system work better for everyone. He shares how AI, cloud, and data-driven innovations improve care delivery, enhance provider and patient experiences, and reduce administrative burden while driving transformation at scale.
Key topics include:
- Aligning digital-first strategies to UHG’s mission and patient outcomes
- Using AI to free clinicians and advocates to focus on care, not paperwork
- Empowering patients with seamless, portable, digital healthcare experiences
- Partnering responsibly with startups to accelerate mission-aligned innovation
- Embedding responsible AI governance to uphold trust and fairness
In this episode of Technovation, Peter High speaks with Rajeev Dham, Partner at Sapphire Ventures, about how venture capital investment in enterprise technology is evolving in the age of AI. Rajeev discusses why he prioritizes first-principles, highly technical founders over playbook-driven approaches, and how enterprise buyers are distinguishing between authentic and superficial AI innovation.
Rajeev shares his view on why SaaS remains a powerful model in the AI era, how agentic AI is starting to reshape enterprise use cases, and the profound implications AI has on software development, go-to- market strategies, and business models. He also explains how CIOs can identify the most promising emerging technologies and the cultural change required to adopt them effectively.
Topics include:
- Why agility and creativity define great founders in the AI era
- How agentic AI differs from traditional automation and where it’s gaining traction
- The evolving role of SaaS in an AI-native world
- How AI is transforming software development and the developer experience
- Advice for CIOs evaluating emerging AI-enabled solutions
In this episode of Technovation, we feature a panel from the Metis Strategy Summit moderated by Ozlem Ulusoy, exploring how senior technology executives are preparing their talent for an AI-driven future.
Joining the conversation are Kristie Grinnell, CIO of TD SYNNEX; Madhu Ramamurthy, CIO of Zurich North America; and Sesh Tirumala, CIO of Western Digital. Together, they share how they create safe spaces for experimentation, assess and reskill their workforce, and strike the balance between innovation and governance.
The panelists discuss approaches to building transparent and explainable AI models, retaining subject matter expertise, and aligning people, process, and technology to unlock business value while managing risk.
Topics include:
- Creating “playgrounds” for safe AI experimentation
- Building transparent, incremental AI in regulated industries
- Assessing and reskilling talent across IT architecture, data, and operations
- Balancing insourcing, outsourcing, and SME development
- Fostering a mindset of curiosity, business literacy, and innovation
How do you modernize a 160-year-old company feeding 500 million people?
Jennifer Hartsock, Chief Information and Digital Officer of Cargill, joins Peter High to unpack one of the most ambitious IT transformations in food and agriculture. Cargill, the largest privately held company in the U.S., is streamlining tech operations, insourcing talent, and deploying AI to drive global impact.
In this episode, Jen shares how she restructured Cargill’s tech teams to better align with business goals, reduced outsourcing from 80% to 60%, and embedded AI across R&D, sales, and operations. She also discusses her board service at Ingersoll Rand and reflects on ethical tech leadership at scale.
Key topics include:
- Cargill’s 2030 digital strategy and purpose-driven IT
- Scaling AI for precision agriculture and customer insights
- Building global tech hubs in Atlanta and Bangalore
- Navigating ethical AI and autonomous agent adoption
In this episode of Technovation, we feature a panel from the Metis Strategy Summit moderated by Metis Strategy’s Co-Head of Executive Networks, Media, and Research Steven Norton, exploring how senior technology executives are aligning AI to their business strategy. Joining the conversation are Ryan Snyder, CIO of Thermo Fisher Scientific; Ramkumar Rayapureddy, CIO of Viatris; and Allen Fazio, CIO of Houlihan Lokey.
Together, they share how their organizations are evolving from isolated AI pilots to holistic strategies grounded in business value, robust governance, and relentless data modernization. The panelists discuss the practical realities of establishing clear measurement frameworks, navigating the tension between centralized control and decentralized innovation, and leading cultural change as AI adoption accelerates across regulated and fast-moving industries.
Topics include:
- Building measurement frameworks to align AI with core business objectives
- Defining guardrails and governance models for safe, scalable AI innovation
- Approaches to data consolidation and ownership in the age of AI
- Enabling decentralized creativity without losing strategic oversight
- Upskilling technology and business teams to meet new demands
Kelly Services is transforming the way enterprises approach staffing through AI-powered innovation, scalable tech, and smart acquisitions.
In this episode of Technovation, Peter High speaks with Sean Perry, Chief Information Officer of Kelly Services, a $4.3B staffing and professional services company. Sean shares how he’s driving modernization across IT, integrating recent acquisitions like Motion Recruitment, and developing innovative AI tools to deliver enterprise-wide value.
From launching a custom AI assistant (GRACE) to implementing a modern tech stack across legacy systems, Sean reveals how Kelly is reshaping its digital future while improving candidate and client experiences. He also draws lessons from his time at Amazon and Robert Half to rethink internal products with a customer-first mindset.
Key themes include:
- Scalable AI deployment through internal platform GRACE
- Integrating acquired tech stacks post-M&A
- Applying Amazon-style product thinking to IT
- Future-ready strategies for AI in staffing tech
In today’s episode of Technovation, we feature a fireside chat from our Metis Strategy Summit, held on May 13, 2025, and moderated by Peter High. The guest is Justin Wexler, General Partner at WndrCo, a venture capital firm focused on scaling AI and enterprise innovation.
In this candid conversation, Justin offers a behind-the-scenes look at how WndrCo identifies, mentors, and scales AI startups into enterprise-ready solutions. With deep involvement in companies like Writer and Netomi, he explores what separates proof-of-concept from production-grade success—and what enterprise CIOs can do to help startups land and expand.
Topics include:
- Bridging the startup-enterprise gap through curated CIO ecosystems
- Designing AI pilots that deliver measurable ROI from day one
- Building internal champions to accelerate deployment
- Evaluating causal AI and agentic workflows in marketing and CX
- How WndrCo supports founders beyond capital—through storytelling, hiring, and scaling
How does a $48B tech distributor reinvent itself as a platform company?
In this episode, Peter High speaks with Dham Pathervellai, Chief Technology Officer of Ingram Micro, a global distributor and technology platform connecting 2500+ vendors with 160,000 customers in 200+ countries. Dham unpacks the company’s evolution from a traditional distributor to a platform-first enterprise.
Dham shares his perspective on building Ingram’s digital backbone, leading enterprise architecture, and scaling a global technology team. He also outlines how Ingram’s data mesh, intelligent data assistant, and “come as you are” integration strategy are helping to drive customer value, fuel innovation, and power AI transformation.
Key insights include:
- The cultural shift needed for platform transformation
- How enterprise architecture became the “tip of the spear”
- Driving revenue with data-driven automation
- Preparing for an AI-enabled workforce
In today’s episode of Technovation, we feature a panel from our Metis Strategy Summit held on May 13, 2025 moderated by Peter High. The topic was Designing an AI-First Operating Model, and the executives who joined the discussion were Talal Butt, Chief Information Officer of Generac Power Systems; Ampily Vijay, Chief Digital & Technology Officer of CBRE Investment Management; and Chris Nardecchia, Chief Digital Officer of Rockwell Automation. Each shares frontline perspectives on embedding AI at scale from energy tech and industrial automation to real estate investment and operations.
Together, they explore how enterprise leaders are shifting from isolated AI pilots to fully integrated operating models that prioritize data, talent, and measurable impact. From reshaping customer experiences and product ecosystems to building architecture for sustainable scale, this conversation delivers a playbook for moving beyond experimentation and into durable transformation.
Topics include:
- Building connected digital platforms to unify products and services
- Restructuring decision-making through data-driven executive dashboards
- Establishing AI innovation funnels and prioritization frameworks
- Redesigning talent strategy to make AI part of everyone’s job
Kevin Doyle, Chief Digital Officer at Ecolab, joins Peter High to unpack how the company is scaling innovation through AI, IoT, and a modern data backbone. In this episode, Kevin shares how Ecolab Digital was formed to unify commercial product innovation, internal IT, and supply chain digitization. He describes the company’s use of agentic AI and generative tools to equip 28,000 field reps with insights, how digital twins and subscriptions drive monetization, and why MAP (Modern Analytics Platform) is central to value delivery.
Key topics include:
- Empowering field teams with generative AI and IoT-backed insights
- Monetizing digital offerings through connected services and usage modeling
- Embedding factory AI and vision tech in supply chain operations
- Using third-party data (e.g., weather, Yelp) to tailor solutions
- Fostering a pod-style innovation culture with R&D and design integration
How do leading CIOs drive innovation, resilience, and trust amid volatility?
In today’s episode of Technovation, we feature a panel from our Metis Strategy Summit held on May 13, 2025 moderated by Peter High. The topic was Cultivating Resilience and Trust in Uncertain Times and the executives who joined the discussion were Cindy Hoots, Chief Information Officer of AstraZeneca, Rahul Jalali, Chief Information Officer of Union Pacific, and Ather Williams III, Head of Strategy, Digital, Innovation, & Enterprise Payments at Wells Fargo. Each shares frontline perspectives on navigating disruption from economic uncertainty and shifting supply chains to generative AI and regulatory complexity.
Together, they unpack how their organizations are leveraging digital platforms, data, and cross-functional leadership to respond to instability and build enduring trust with customers, regulators, and employees.
Key topics include:
- Enterprise strategies for managing geopolitical risk and supply chain volatility
- AI governance, digital ethics, and human-in-the-loop practices
- Customer-centric IT operating models and adaptive transformation
- Talent, training, and leadership in a next-gen digital environment
How does a 174-year-old mutual insurance company stay ahead of the curve?
In this episode of Technovation, Peter High speaks with Sears Merritt, Head of Enterprise Technology and Experience at MassMutual. Sears leads a $650M tech budget and a global team of 3,000, driving innovation in cybersecurity, data, and generative AI to deliver superior experiences for employees, advisors, and policyholders. Sears shares insights on MassMutual’s modernization journey from consolidating legacy systems to rolling out secure GenAI tools like Microsoft Copilot and GitHub Copilot. He also unveils the company’s strategic investments in virtual assistants, R&D partnerships, and a groundbreaking health and wellness platform that aligns longevity with economic value for policyholders.
Topics include:
- Modernization via simplification
- Virtual assistants powering productivity and service
- AI trust, security, and governance principles
- Wellness tools that align with life insurance incentives
- Building an R&D function to future-proof tech strategy
“Enterprise data platforms must evolve to express context to AI systems.”
In this episode of Technovation, Peter High speaks with Louis Landry, Chief Technology Officer at Teradata, a $1.75B cloud analytics and AI data platform. Louis shares how Teradata is reshaping its core platform to meet the demands of the AI era through open, hybrid architectures, vector search integration, and mixed workload optimization.
A 11-year veteran of the company, Louis reflects on Teradata’s evolution from centralized analytics to a hybrid, multi-cloud powerhouse, and what it means to support some of the world’s largest banks, airlines, and healthcare providers. He also offers insight into agentic AI, data-centric intelligence, and model-sharing futures.
“We don’t just deliver data—we deliver trust.”
In this episode of Technovation, host Peter High speaks with Gary Kotovets, Chief Data & Analytics Officer at Dun & Bradstreet, a global leader in business decision-making data and analytics. Gary shares how he oversees the company’s end-to-end data strategy, from acquisition and normalization to advanced analytics and GenAI integration, serving a customer base that spans Fortune 500 giants to small businesses.
Learn how Gary’s team fuels innovation through alternative data, builds trusted AI tools like ChatD&B, and partners directly with C-level clients to deliver decision-ready intelligence.
Key insights from Gary:
- Why governance and trust are core to scalable AI
- How D&B integrates social media, merchant, and geospatial data into risk scoring
- The role of GenAI in entity resolution and customer engagement
- How D&B.AI Labs helps clients co-create GenAI solutions with enterprise-grade oversight
“We start with capability, not technology.”
Seth Cohen, Chief Information Officer of $84B consumer goods leader Procter & Gamble, joins Peter High on Technovation to share how P&G is transforming through data-driven innovation, a robust AI factory, and end-to-end supply chain visibility.
Seth, who previously held CIO roles at PepsiCo and Reckitt Benckiser, unpacks P&G’s digital flywheel from freeing siloed data and scaling AI use cases to upskilling IT talent and building a quantum-ready future. He also explains how the Pampers Club app connects consumer insights with factory-level data, and why agentic AI could make dashboards obsolete.
Key topics include:
- P&G’s enterprise data strategy and AI factory approach
- Creating supply chain transparency across 11 categories
- Upskilling IT and the broader workforce for digital fluency
- Building a reasoning model-ready AI platform with identity controls
“Marketcraft isn’t left or right—it’s a method,” says Chris Hughes, co-founder of Facebook and author of Marketcrafters. In this episode, Hughes and host Peter High explore how governments have shaped U.S. markets over the past century.
They discuss economic history, policy strategy, and the role of institutions like the Federal Reserve and RFC in stabilizing the economy.
Key highlights include:
- Why the Fed is an overlooked example of successful marketcraft
- How the U.S. semiconductor industry was saved through coordinated policy
- The structural failure of U.S. healthcare markets
- Distinguishing industrial policy from broader economic strategy
- Hughes’s call for expert-driven, stable institutions in a volatile era
“If St. Jude doesn’t do it, who will?” That mission-driven mindset fuels innovation at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. In this episode of Technovation, host Peter High speaks with Keith Perry, Chief Information Officer of St. Jude, about how he is leveraging technology to enhance the patient journey and accelerate research into pediatric catastrophic diseases.
Keith shares how his nearly decade-long tenure has driven transformation through a strategic six-year, $12.9B plan, including the implementation of Epic and Workday, GPU-enabled research infrastructure, and a concierge-style patient mobile app. He also explores the global impact of St. Jude’s outreach in under-resourced countries, the evolution of data science partnerships, and the future of AI and cybersecurity in healthcare.
Key topics include:
- Delivering patient-centered care with a customized mobile app
- Aligning technology strategy with long-term institutional goals
- Partnering with data science leaders to scale research insights
- Elevating information security as a shared executive priority
Transforming healthcare through digital innovation and AI.
In this episode, Peter High speaks with Onyeka Nchege, EVP and Chief Digital and Information Officer at Novant Health, a $10B healthcare network with over 900 locations across the southeastern United States. Onyeka shares how his team is building a future-ready digital infrastructure to scale operations, improve patient care, and expand access through cloud migration, predictive analytics, and artificial intelligence.
He also highlights Novant Health’s Institute for Innovation and AI, explains how they embed responsible AI practices, and outlines the vision for the hospital of the future including virtual care, virtual nursing, and a data-driven approach to personalized healthcare. Onyeka also speaks to the culture he’s fostering within the IT organization, his lessons from five previous CIO roles, and how the right leadership bench powers transformation.
Key topics include:
- Creating a $30B scalable health system through cloud and EMR strategy
- Building AI governance through the Institute for Innovation and AI
- Expanding virtual care: telestroke, virtual nursing, menopause clinics
- Fostering IT culture, mentorship, and leadership development at scale
How should global leaders govern artificial intelligence responsibly without stifling innovation?
In this episode, Russell Wald, Executive Director at Stanford HAI, joins Peter High to explore how universities, policymakers, and industry must collaborate to keep AI human-centered. Wald shares takeaways from the AI Index, explains how China is narrowing the performance gap, and outlines why academic institutions are vital to ethical AI leadership.
Key highlights include:
- HAI’s concentric model of human-centered design
- The AI Index’s global benchmarking methodology
- Why China is narrowing the frontier AI performance gap
- The pivotal role of public investment in universities
- How ethics reviews are embedded in HAI’s research lifecycle
In this episode of Technovation, Peter High speaks with Mark Sherwood, Chief Information Officer at Wolters Kluwer, a €6B global professional services and software firm headquartered in the Netherlands. Mark joined as CIO in December 2024 and has helped accelerate the company’s transition from a traditional publishing business to a tech-centric organization.
Mark discusses how his global team supports the company’s AI- and cloud-first strategy, the role of business relationship managers (BRMs) in bridging tech and business, and how a strong innovation culture helps Wolters Kluwer stay ahead in the digital age. With nearly half the company’s products leveraging AI and a robust multi-cloud foundation, the firm is redefining access to expert content in legal, tax, healthcare, and finance.
Key topics include:
- Building a multi-cloud foundation for global resilience and innovation
- The evolution from a holding company to a unified operating mode
- Scaling AI across products while protecting intellectual property
- Driving cultural change through transparency, inclusion, and BRM alignment
- Balancing cutting-edge tech with ethical AI and data governance
In this episode of Technovation, Peter High speaks with Venkat Achanta, Executive Vice President and Chief Technology, Data & Analytics Officer at TransUnion, a $4.5B global information and insights company. Since joining after TransUnion’s acquisition of Neustar, Venkat has led a sweeping modernization of the company’s tech stack—culminating in the creation of OneTru, a platform powering data governance, analytics, and AI innovation at scale.
Venkat shares how his 7,000-person global team built a single pane of glass to manage petabytes of sensitive data across 30+ countries and hundreds of products. He also discusses how TransUnion’s OneTru and TruIQ platforms are enabling internal teams and external clients to rapidly build, deploy, and govern real-time machine learning models.
Key insights include:
- The architectural vision behind TransUnion’s unified platform strategy
- How OneTru boosts fraud detection by 50% while reducing false positives
- Why TransUnion is embedding agentic AI workflows across its ecosystem
- Lessons from merging 10+ tech stacks post-acquisition, including Neustar
Tune in to learn how TransUnion is reshaping analytics and decision-making in a highly regulated, data-driven industry.
“Technology at American Express provides the foundation for everything we do at the company,” shares Ravi Radhakrishnan, EVP & CIO of American Express, as he outlines the company’s AI strategy, continuous modernization philosophy, and data-driven customer focus.
In this episode, Ravi offers an inside look at how American Express is evolving its technology foundation to power trust, security, and world-class service. From AI governance to the Intuitive Servicing Portal, he breaks down key strategies shaping the company’s digital future.
Key highlights:
- Continuous modernization through foundational technology reuse
- AI governance via a Generative AI Council and risk frameworks
- Data as a strategic asset for fraud detection and customer personalization
- Curating a diverse AI ecosystem with flexible enablement layers
- Future trends in AI, including agentic AI and quantum intersections
“AI is the New UI” at S&P Global. Swamy Kocherlakota, EVP and Chief Digital Solutions Officer, reveals how the 165-year-old market intelligence leader is scaling AI, reinventing digital ecosystems, and driving innovation with Kensho at the helm.
In this episode:
- How S&P Global’s product operating model fuels innovation at scale
- Why Kensho serves as the AI speedboat for generative breakthroughs
- Expanding digital ecosystems to deliver essential intelligence anywhere
- Applying the Four Ps Framework for responsible, enterprise-wide AI adoption
- Empowering teams with low-code AI workflows via sFlow and Spark
Capital One has long been recognized as a digital-first financial services company. Now, it’s productizing its tech DNA into standalone B2B software.
In this episode, Peter High speaks with Ravi Raghu, President of Capital One Software, about how internal cloud and data security capabilities led to the launch of an enterprise SaaS business—starting with offerings like Slingshot and Data Bolt.
Key topics covered include:
- Building a software business from internal IP
- Data tokenization as an enabler for GenAI
- Slingshot and Snowflake adoption optimization
- Structuring cross-functional tech teams
- Expanding data governance into new product areas
From used-car retailer to tech-powered industry leader—CarMax is redefining automotive retail. In this episode, Peter High speaks with Shamim Mohammad, EVP and Chief Information and Technology Officer at CarMax, about the company’s bold transformation into a digital-first business.
Shamim shares lessons from his 12+ years with the company, including nearly a decade as CIO and over six years as CTO. He discusses CarMax’s transition to a product operating model, its pioneering use of generative AI tools like Skye and Rhodes, and how data governance, platform agility, and agentic AI are powering customer and associate experiences.
He also reflects on the company’s culture of innovation, his board service at UNFI, and the leadership values that have fueled CarMax’s continued growth.
Key topics include:
- CarMax’s enterprise AI strategy, from GenAI to Agentic AI
- Building a strong digital backbone and data foundation
- Structuring product teams for retail, supply, and shared platforms
- Managing a complex partner ecosystem for sustained innovation
Generac Power Systems is no longer just a generator company — it’s becoming a full-stack energy technology platform. In this episode of Technovation, CIO Talal Butt offers a behind-the-scenes look at how he’s reshaping the $4.3B manufacturer’s technology landscape to support that evolution.
Speaking directly to senior IT and digital leaders, Talal shares how he’s building a modern digital ecosystem from scratch — one that’s powered by real-time data, platform thinking, and AI-driven decisioning. From architecting Generac’s first scalable data governance program to operationalizing GenAI use cases and redefining the partner experience, this episode is a playbook for CIOs navigating transformation in legacy industries.
Highlights include:
- Digital Ecosystem Strategy: Creating a seamless platform experience for both customers and partners across 140+ countries.
- AI-Enabled Operations: How Generac is moving beyond dashboards to predictive models for forecasting, cross-sell, and supply chain optimization.
- Operational Excellence: Leveraging ITSM and root cause analysis to scale global operations while reducing tech debt and downtime.
- Platform Thinking: Building product lines to serve hyperscale data centers while unifying energy generation, storage, and management.
From predicting the next flavor trend to revolutionizing procurement with AI, Guy Peri is leading a bold digital transformation at McCormick & Company. In this episode of Technovation, host Peter High speaks with Guy about how he’s bringing AI and data strategy to life at a 135-year-old flavor giant. Drawing from nearly three decades at Procter & Gamble, Guy shares how McCormick is building a modern digital backbone, using AI to forecast demand and ingredient pricing, and upskilling employees into citizen data scientists.
Highlights include:
- McCormick’s digital transformation pillars
- How AI predicts procurement costs and retail trends
- The making of the Flavor Forecast
- The future of Agentic AI and human-machine collaboration
- Upskilling and shifting organizational culture through digital fluency
What does it take to digitally transform a global manufacturing giant? In this episode of Technovation, host Peter High speaks with Regina Salazar, Chief Digital and Information Officer at Novelis, about how the world’s largest aluminum recycler is scaling enterprise-wide innovation through technology.
Regina shares how she unified IT and digital into a single operating model, launched a global business relationship framework, and enhanced Novelis’ data architecture to support AI at scale. She also discusses the company’s ambitious smart factory in Alabama, how digital twins are reshaping operations, and Novelis’ roadmap to becoming a tech-enabled, sustainable enterprise.
Highlights include:
- Factory of the Future: Inside Novelis’ new Alabama facility powered by digital twins, automation, and a next-gen MES platform.
- AI in Action: Real-world examples of predictive maintenance and cycle time optimization through AI and edge computing.
- Generative AI Strategy: How Novelis built a secure internal GPT on Azure while leveraging Copilot and Moveworks across the enterprise.
- Smart Robotics: Deploying robotic “dogs” to inspect hazardous environments and reduce risk.
- Vision 3×30: Novelis’ company-wide transformation focused on data literacy, governance, and technology architecture by 2030.
Caterpillar is celebrating 100 years of innovation—and it’s just getting started. In this episode of Technovation, host Peter High welcomes Jamie Engstrom, CIO and SVP of IT at Caterpillar, to discuss how the industrial giant is evolving through data strategy, digital transformation, and customer-centric innovation.
Jamie shares her insights on leading a global IT organization of 2,200 professionals, the company’s customer-back mindset, and how Caterpillar leverages AI, telematics, and real-time analytics to support over 4 million assets across the globe. From smart manufacturing to supply chain modernization and condition monitoring systems, Jamie explores how Caterpillar is shaping the next century of industrial excellence.
Key topics include:
- Caterpillar’s enterprise-wide data strategy and AI integration
- The role of IT in supporting 1.5M+ connected machines
- Supply chain optimization with predictive analytics
- Strategic CIO-CDO collaboration and leadership development
- Creating a sustainable future through smart infrastructure
Hertz CIO Tim Langley-Hawthorne joins Peter High on Technovation to share how he’s modernizing a $9B global fleet operation through AI, cloud, and a product-first mindset. Since joining post-COVID, Tim has sunset Hertz’s data centers, scaled AWS infrastructure, launched a consumer+fleet product org, and embedded AI from customer chat to tire inspections.
He explains why he rejected a centralized AI model, the power of grassroots innovation, and why partnerships with firms like Palantir and Amadeus are accelerating results. This episode is packed with real-world digital transformation strategies from a high-stakes, asset-heavy enterprise.
Highlights include:
- Product Operating Model: Merged consumer and fleet tech under dual product strategy.
- AI in Action: How decentralized AI is enhancing CX, fleet, and operational speed.
- Fleet Optimization: Partnership with Palantir to keep cars rented and moving.
- Post-COVID Reset: Lessons in fleet lifecycle economics and demand response.
- Culture Change: Infusing big tech talent with long-tenured ops veterans.
A unified customer experience helps companies deliver consistency, build trust, and reduce friction across their offerings making it easier for customers to engage, buy, and stay loyal. That’s why Aflac is investing in a unified group strategy consolidating acquired products into a seamless, integrated experience across dental, vision, disability, and more. In this episode of Technovation, Peter High interviews Shelia Anderson, EVP and CIO of Aflac, and speaks with her about the company’s strategy for transforming IT from a fragmented, acquisition-heavy operation into a centralized, data-driven engine for business value.
She outlines how Aflac avoided a costly cloud migration misstep, refocused its data and AI capabilities, and aligned talent strategy with architectural goals. Her approach to innovation is pragmatic and powerful: tie everything to business priorities and know your why.
Highlights include:
- AI at Scale: Legacy ML driving value in claims; GenAI mapped to entire insurance lifecycle
- Talent Shift: Reducing third-party reliance and redefining internal job architecture
- Unified Group Strategy: Streamlined digital experience across acquired businesses
- Smart Cloud Strategy: Focused migration driven by value, not hype
- Innovation Alignment: Hatch Lab and GenAI tied to Aflac’s top goals
What does it take to digitally transform a $5B retail giant across 13 countries? In this episode of Technovation, Peter High sits down with Wayne Sadin, Chief Information Officer of PriceSmart, the largest membership-based warehouse club chain in Central America, the Caribbean, and Colombia.
With a tech leadership career spanning over 40 years, Wayne shares how he’s orchestrating a sweeping modernization of PriceSmart’s legacy systems—moving from 1980s green screens to a real-time, AI-ready infrastructure. He outlines how embedding IT within the business, redefining budgeting to drive alignment, and creating cross-functional collaboration have helped accelerate transformation in a complex, multi-market environment.
Wayne also explores:
- The evolution from Excel silos to integrated digital retailing
- Enabling e-commerce, B2B, and in-club experiences simultaneously
- Building sustainable operations and community impact through technology
- Why legacy retailers must act now to stay relevant in an Amazon-era economy
How does Palantir, a $3.7 billion data analytics powerhouse, run its own IT operations? In this episode of Technovation, host Peter High sits down with Jim Siders, Chief Information Officer of Palantir, to explore his unique journey from a career in music to leading one of the most efficient IT teams in the industry.
Jim discusses Palantir’s Customer Zero strategy, the company’s federated IT model, and how it has streamlined operations from 200+ IT staff to under 80 while continuing to scale. He also shares his views on AI’s role in IT, the elimination of traditional Centers of Excellence, and why breaking legacy IT structures is key to innovation.
Key Takeaways:
- Why Palantir’s IT team is “Customer Zero” and how it shapes the company’s products
- The radical efficiency model that reduced IT headcount while increasing impact
- How AI, cloud, and automation are redefining enterprise IT strategy
- Lessons from Jim’s unconventional career shift from classical music to CIO
In this episode of Technovation, host Peter High speaks with Ryan Snyder, Senior VP & CIO of Thermo Fisher Scientific, a $40 billion global leader in life sciences. Ryan shares how AI, automation, and data strategy are driving digital transformation—optimizing operations, accelerating clinical trials, and enhancing customer experiences.
Key topics include:
- Thermo Fisher’s Three-Pillar AI Strategy – How AI is improving efficiency, products, and customer experience
- AI in Clinical Trials & Automation – Reducing drug development timelines and streamlining internal workflows
- Embedding IT Leaders in Business Units – A unique approach to aligning technology and business strategy
- Future AI Trends – Multimodal AI, reasoning models, and the next phase of AI-driven decision-making
- The Role of Empathy in IT Leadership – Ensuring AI enhances human collaboration, not replaces it
How is AI revolutionizing healthcare? In this episode of Technovation, Melissa Flicek, CIO of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Minnesota, joins host Peter High to explore how the nearly 100-year-old healthcare giant is leveraging AI and data analytics to enhance patient experiences and operational efficiency.
With $15B+ in annual revenue, BCBSMN is modernizing its technology infrastructure, implementing AI-powered automation to streamline patient interactions, and consolidating data into a single-source architecture to ensure consistency across all touchpoints. Melissa shares how these innovations are improving customer service, optimizing clinical workflows, and supporting predictive healthcare modeling to help lower costs.
Key topics include:
- How BCBSMN is using AI to accelerate patient approvals and improve decision-making
- The role of data governance in ensuring AI-driven healthcare is accurate and ethical
- How predictive analytics is helping employers proactively manage rising healthcare costs
- The future of AI-driven patient engagement, clinical automation, and digital healthcare experiences
Marvell Technology is at the forefront of AI-driven semiconductor innovation. In this episode, Nishit Sahay, CIO of Marvell Technology, joins Peter High to discuss the company’s rapid growth, enterprise AI strategy, and the transition of semiconductor design to the cloud.
Nishit shares how Marvell is leveraging AI and data analytics to enhance decision-making, improve semiconductor product development, and accelerate business processes. He also provides insights into the challenges of integrating $10B+ acquisitions and how Marvell is pioneering cloud-based silicon design with AWS.
Additionally, Nishit discusses quantum computing, data governance, and how Marvell is preparing for the next wave of technology disruption.
Key topics include:
- AI’s role in semiconductor innovation
- Cloud-based silicon design & customizable compute
- Fast-tracking billion-dollar acquisitions
- Building an enterprise-wide data-driven culture
- The future of quantum computing
956: How can AI, data analytics, and predictive modeling revolutionize healthcare? In this episode of Technovation, host Peter High interviews Matt Kull, Chief Information and Digital Officer at Inova Health System, about how AI and data are reshaping patient care. Matt shares how AI is helping to automate administrative tasks, secure patient data, and predict hospital resource needs. He also discusses the future of edge computing and wireless technology in healthcare, ensuring hospitals operate more efficiently while delivering personalized, data-driven treatments.
Topics Include:
- How Inova is leveraging AI & automation to tackle healthcare workforce shortages.
- The importance of data privacy and ethical AI implementation.
- How predictive analytics improves staffing, supply chain, and decision-making.
- The impact of edge computing and 5G on future hospital infrastructure.
How can AI revolutionize the $2B+ quick-service restaurant (QSR) industry? In this episode of Technovation, Wendy’s CIO Matt Spessard joins Peter High to reveal how the company is leveraging AI, automation, and digital transformation to enhance customer and crew experiences.
With 7,000+ locations worldwide, Wendy’s is redefining fast food with FreshAi, its AI-powered drive-thru assistant, developed in partnership with Google Cloud. Matt shares how this cutting-edge technology is boosting order accuracy, improving speed, and optimizing crew workflows. Plus, he discusses how Wendy’s revamped CRM, loyalty program, and mobile-first strategy led to 40% growth in digital revenue in 2024.
Key Takeaways: FreshAi: The AI-powered drive-thru system redefining QSR efficiency. * 40% Digital Growth: How Wendy’s revamped CRM and mobile experience is driving revenue. * AI-Driven Innovation: Wendy’s framework for testing, iterating, and rejecting 6 out of 7 ideas. * The Future of AI in QSR:* Edge computing, spatial computing & what’s next for digital transformation.
MetLife is one of the world’s largest financial services companies, serving over 90 million customers globally. Leading its technology and operations division is Bill Pappas, who oversees AI strategy, cybersecurity, customer experience, and digital transformation across the company.
In this episode of Technovation, Bill Pappas joins host Peter High to discuss how MetLife is leveraging AI, automation, and technology to enhance customer experience, ensure security, and drive operational efficiency. He shares insights on managing a 38,000-person global team, the role of AI in financial services, and why customer-centric innovation is key to long-term success.
Key Topics:
- AI, Automation & Innovation – How MetLife is using AI to drive operational efficiency
- Cybersecurity & Risk Management – Protecting a $67B enterprise from digital threats
- Customer-Centric Digital Transformation – Why personalized, tech-enabled service is the future of insurance
- Leadership & Workforce Development – How to build an agile, innovative global team
Ingram Micro is no longer just a technology distributor—it’s becoming a platform company. In this episode of Technovation, Peter High welcomes Sanjib Sahoo, President of the Global Platform Group at Ingram Micro, to discuss the company’s digital transformation journey and how it is leveraging AI, data, and platform technology to revolutionize the B2B technology ecosystem.
Sanjib shares insights on the Xvantage platform, Ingram Micro’s push toward AI-powered automation, and how the company is connecting 1,500 OEMs with over 160,000 B2B partners. He also delves into agentic AI, the importance of mindset in AI adoption, and how leadership in the digital era requires balancing innovation with human collaboration.
Highlights:
- The shift from technology distribution to platform ecosystems
- AI-driven automation and agentic AI in B2B operations
- The Xvantage platform and its impact on channel partners and vendors
- Leadership philosophy: Why vulnerability and adaptability matter in digital transformation
- How Ingram Micro is shaping the future of B2B commerce
952: Regal Rexnord CDIO Tim Dickson joins Peter High to discuss how the $6B industrial manufacturing leader is driving digital transformation. Tim shares insights on leveraging AI, cloud, and e-commerce to enhance operations and customer experience. He also discusses the company’s generative AI initiatives, including chatbots for internal and customer interactions, and how Regal Rexnord is embracing data-driven innovation.
- AI & Digital Strategy: How Regal Rexnord is using AI to optimize operations
- E-Commerce & CX: The role of digital in enhancing customer experience
- Generative AI & Automation: The impact of AI-driven chatbots like RRXy and RRXGPT
- Leadership & Growth: Tim’s approach to building a digital-first culture
In this episode of Technovation, Peter High interviews Dan Caruso, founder of Zayo Group and Caruso Ventures. Dan, a pioneer in communications infrastructure, shares his journey from leading multi-billion dollar exits with MFS and Level 3 to his current investments in quantum and space technologies. He discusses insights from his new book Bandwidth: The Untold Story of Ambition, Deception, and Innovation That Shaped the Internet Age.
Key Highlights:
- The breakup of AT&T and how it created modern telecom.
- How fiber optics and broadband became the foundation of the internet.
- The boom-bust cycle of innovation and how it applies to AI and quantum today.
- Why quantum computing and space tech will reshape industries from cybersecurity to finance.
- How ambitious professionals can ride the next tech wave.
How do you build a modern, AI-powered financial services platform while keeping your workforce agile and innovative? On this episode of Technovation, Bread Financial CTO Allegra Driscoll joins Peter High on Technovation to discuss her leadership in technology modernization, cloud migration, and fintech innovation. She shares insights into Bread Financial’s shift to a product operating model, AI-driven transformation, and mainframe-to-cloud transition—all while leading a large-scale reskilling initiative.
Key Topics:
- AI-Driven Financial Services – Using AI and real-time analytics to enhance customer experiences.
- Cloud & DevSecOps – How Bread Financial is retiring mainframes and embracing public cloud for scalability.
- Workforce Reskilling & Agile Transformation – Investing in cloud & AI training while rethinking the way teams work.
- Diversity & Inclusion in Tech – Creating high-performing teams with diverse perspectives and problem-solving approaches.
- The Future of AI in Finance – How Bread Financial balances AI automation with human decision-making.
New York Life is embracing AI and data to enhance customer experience and business strategy. In this episode of Technovation, Don Vu, Chief Data & Analytics Officer, shares how he’s leading a transformation at the 180-year-old mutual insurance giant. Don discusses how AI and data modernization are reshaping insurance, the role of data in improving agent and customer interactions, and how New York Life is structuring its organization for agility and innovation. He also reflects on his career spanning Major League Baseball, Northwestern Mutual, and WeWork, and what excites him about AI’s future.
Highlights:
- How AI & data are driving New York Life’s customer and agent experience
- The four pillars of AI strategy: data foundation, insights, culture & experience
- The role of AI in transforming traditional industries
- Don’s reflections on the evolution of data leadership
How does the world’s largest logistics real estate company stay ahead of rapid growth and disruption?
Prologis CTO Sineesh Keshav joins Peter High to discuss how the global logistics real estate leader is leveraging AI, automation, and proprietary data to drive efficiency, sustainability, and business expansion. Sineesh shares insights into Prologis’ rapid growth, $220 billion in assets under management, and its transition into energy, EV charging, and smart buildings. He also explains the company’s 100% cloud-based strategy, how AI is embedded into decision-making, and the role of data-driven innovation in scaling global logistics operations.
Key Topics: AI & Automation in Logistics – How Prologis is embedding AI into decision-making. * Scaling Growth with Data – Leveraging proprietary data to drive operational efficiency. * Energy & Sustainability – Becoming the 2nd largest solar producer in the U.S. * Tech-Driven Expansion – Why M&A strategy* and digital transformation are critical to Prologis’ success.
How can technology leaders leverage innovation ecosystems to drive meaningful business transformation? In this episode of Technovation, Steven Norton moderates a discussion with Medtronic CIO Rashmi Kumar and Berkadia CIIO Damu Bashyam on how they are tapping into hyperautomation, AI, and startup partnerships to expand their innovation ecosystems and accelerate growth. Rashmi shares how Medtronic is building an innovation ecosystem through its Hyperautomation Center of Excellence, enabling AI-driven decision-making, automation, and operational efficiencies that enhance healthcare delivery. Damu explains how Berkadia’s Startup Accelerator Program fosters an ecosystem of fintech and proptech innovators, driving competitive advantage and industry-wide transformation. Learn how leading technology executives are creating and nurturing innovation ecosystems by integrating cutting-edge technology, fostering cross-functional collaboration, and leveraging external partnerships to fuel continuous innovation.
Comerica Bank COO Megan Crespi joins Peter High to discuss the bank’s digital transformation strategy, AI adoption, and customer-centric innovation. Megan shares insights on Comerica’s cloud migration journey, investments in AI-powered risk management, and how the bank is modernizing operations to enhance customer experience. She also delves into cybersecurity strategies for the quantum computing era and lessons from her leadership roles at Ally Bank and General Motors.
Highlights:
- Digital Transformation at Comerica: Moving 80% of applications to the cloud and modernizing banking infrastructure.
- AI in Banking: How AI and analytics are enhancing customer insights, security, and operations.
- Cybersecurity & Quantum Computing: Preparing for next-gen security threats.
- Customer-Centric Innovation: Improving digital banking, payments, and self-service experiences.
In a panel from last year’s Metis Strategy Summit, Royal Caribbean’s CIO Martha Poulter and Avis Budget Group’s Chief Digital and Innovation Officer Ravi Simhambhatla share how they’re harnessing AI to transform customer experiences and operations. During the discussion, these executives explore how AI-driven personalization boosts conversions, the role of predictive models in operational efficiency, and the importance of blending digital and physical realities. From improving asset utilization to reducing waste and empowering employees, discover how these industry leaders are shaping the future of travel and hospitality.
Highlights include:
- AI-powered vacation planning at Royal Caribbean: Simplifying complex customer journeys.
- Avis Budget Group’s innovative use of predictive AI models to optimize fleet utilization.
- Operational excellence: Transforming food waste and sustainability challenges into data solutions.
- The intersection of technology and customer satisfaction in travel and hospitality.”
Unisys CTO Dwayne Allen joins Technovation to discuss how he is leading AI-driven innovation and shaping the future of IT services. Dwayne shares insights into Unisys’s transformation from hardware to IT solutions, the democratization of digital acumen, and how the company’s AI training program has driven adoption across 13,000 employees. He also highlights the promise of generative AI, ethical use policies, and emerging technologies like quantum computing. Tune in to learn how Dwayne’s strategic leadership is driving Unisys forward and empowering clients globally.
Highlights include:
- CTO Role Evolution: Discussion on CTO 3.0, focusing on AI practices, solution development, and client collaboration.
- AI Strategy: Details of Unisys’s AI training program and its integration into internal and client solutions.
- Customer Collaboration: Insights into leveraging client partnerships to enhance solutions and strategy.
- Generative AI & Ethical Guidelines: Highlights of AI use cases, Unisys’s AI acceptable use policy, and future integration.
- Board Membership: Reflections on serving as a board member and its influence on his operational role.
Onsemi CIO Neeraj Vijay joins Technovation to discuss the company’s transformation journey, driven by a unique digital thread framework. Neeraj shares insights on leveraging intelligent power and sensing technologies for industries like automotive and life sciences, achieving carbon neutrality by 2040, and fostering cultural adaptability in IT leadership. Learn how Onsemi integrates AI and digital innovation to lead in the semiconductor space.
Highlights include:
- Digital Threads: Explanation of the framework and seven defined threads, such as idea-to-market and silica-to-chip.
- AI in Action: Use of large language models for customer engagement and support optimization.
- Cultural Shifts: Emphasis on flexibility, change readiness, and breaking down silos in IT leadership.
In this episode of Technovation, host Peter High interviews Kai Boysan, CEO of Flix North America, to explore how Flix is modernizing intercity travel. Learn about Flix’s strategic acquisition of Greyhound, its use of AI for optimizing operations, and its mission to provide sustainable, affordable travel to over 1,600 destinations. Discover how Flix employs AI to forecast demand, optimize pricing, and improve customer engagement through seamless technology integration. Kai also discusses the company’s innovative approach to partnerships and the adaptability needed to succeed across diverse global markets.
Highlights include:
- Greyhound Acquisition: Merging legacy and innovation for transformation.
- AI-Driven Operations: Forecasting demand and optimizing efficiency.
- Customer-Facing Technology: Enhancing satisfaction with real-time updates.
- Sustainability Focus: Promoting greener travel alternatives.
- Leadership Insights: Structuring teams for innovation and growth.
Fifth Third Bancorp CIO Jude Schramm shares how he has spearheaded a comprehensive digital transformation over the past seven years, positioning the bank for growth, resilience, and innovation. Jude discusses the modernization of IT infrastructure, the integration of AI tools for employees and customers, and the bank’s strategic fintech acquisitions, such as Rise Money, to advance in embedded finance. He also delves into the evolution of customer experience, emphasizing a blend of human and digital interactions to meet modern banking needs. Additionally, Jude reflects on lessons from his tenure at GE, including the importance of leadership development and applying Lean Six Sigma principles to technology and business processes.
Highlights include:
- Modernization and Resilience: Jude explains how Fifth Third upgraded its infrastructure, migrated to cloud-based systems, and established a robust foundation for scalability.
- AI for Transformation: The discussion explores the four pillars of AI at Fifth Third: for employees, engineers, business processes, and customers.
- Customer Experience Evolution: How the bank enhanced its mobile app, enabling 500+ updates in 2024 and creating seamless digital banking experiences.
- Talent Development: Strategies for building an engineering-centric IT workforce, including reskilling programs and partnerships for nontraditional hires.
- Fintech Acquisitions: Insights into how acquisitions like Rise Money and Provide have accelerated the bank’s entry into embedded finance and healthcare verticals.
- Governance and Innovation: The balance between adopting generative AI and ensuring regulatory compliance in a banking context.
- Lessons from GE: Jude reflects on the leadership training and Six Sigma practices that shaped his approach to problem-solving and innovation.
Shaleen Devgun, Chief Innovation and Technology Officer at Schneider National, joins Technovation to share how the company is transforming logistics through innovation, sustainability, and advanced technology. In this episode, Shaleen discusses Schneider’s Scope 23 platform, a groundbreaking solution to decarbonize supply chains, and the role of Packerland Ventures in investing in startups that are redefining logistics and transportation management. He also delves into how generative AI is optimizing human decision-making and operational efficiency, as well as the impact of The Grove, Schneider’s innovation hub in Green Bay, which attracts talent and fosters collaboration to solve critical industry challenges. This episode is a must-listen for technology executives and rising leaders eager to explore how innovation is reshaping logistics and supply chains for a sustainable future.
Highlights include:
- Scope 23 and Decarbonization: Shaleen explains how Scope 23 enables companies to proactively reduce greenhouse gas emissions in their supply chains today.
- Packerland Ventures: Schneider’s corporate venture fund invests in transformative technologies like Platform Science and Mastery Logistics to redefine logistics and transportation management.
- Generative AI in Logistics: Shaleen discusses how Schneider is piloting generative AI solutions to enhance human decision-making and operational efficiency.
- The Grove Innovation Hub: Located on Schneider’s Green Bay campus, The Grove attracts entrepreneurs and fosters collaboration to tackle industry-wide challenges.
- Leadership Philosophy: Shaleen shares how Schneider’s innovation culture is embedded in its DNA and how the company’s “corporate athletes” drive transformative change.
939: Dmitri Alperovitch, co-founder of CrowdStrike and the Silverado Policy Accelerator, joins Technovation to explore the U.S.-China geopolitical rivalry and the rise of a second Cold War. In his latest book, World on the Brink: How America Can Beat China in the Race for the 21st Century, Dmitri outlines the critical need for the U.S. to dominate key technological industries, strengthen alliances, and focus strategically on the Indo-Pacific region to deter China’s ambitions. He also discusses parallels between today’s geopolitical tensions and the Cold War with the Soviet Union, as well as Taiwan’s emergence as a pivotal flashpoint.
Highlights include:
- The Second Cold War: Dmitri compares U.S.-China tensions to the Cold War with the Soviet Union, emphasizing the striking similarities and the critical role of Taiwan in the current geopolitical landscape.
- Winning the Innovation Race: The discussion focuses on the importance of U.S. leadership in AI, biotech, clean energy, and aerospace to maintain global power.
- Lessons from Ukraine: Dmitri reflects on Russia’s cyber operations in the Ukraine war and the implications for U.S. companies and global cybersecurity.
- The Role of Cybersecurity in Modern Warfare: Insights into how cyber operations have become a cornerstone of geopolitical strategy, from espionage to infrastructure disruption.
- North Korea’s Cyber Prowess: A deep dive into how North Korea is innovating in cyber operations to fund its missile programs and achieve strategic goals.
- Xi Jinping’s Legacy: Dmitri examines Xi’s ambitions to surpass Mao Zedong’s legacy and the potential for a Chinese invasion of Taiwan in the coming decade.
Kristy Folkwein, Chief Information Officer of Archer Daniels Midland (ADM), shares how she has driven a comprehensive digital transformation at one of the world’s largest food supply companies. From consolidating processes with S4 to leveraging generative AI for flavor innovation, Kristy explains the importance of data-driven decision-making and creating a digital-first culture. In this episode of Technovation, host Peter High interviews Kristy about her strategic approach to using data and AI to unlock operational efficiencies, safeguard proprietary information, and promote experimentation across the organization. Kristy also discusses the challenges of balancing innovation with managing cybersecurity risks, navigating subscription-based technologies, and building a sustainable digital culture.
Highlights include:
- Digital Transformation at Scale: Kristy outlines ADM’s strategy to modernize processes, standardize operations, and enhance agility with S4.
- AI in Action: Examples include flavor innovation with generative AI and capturing tribal knowledge in manufacturing.
- Protecting Proprietary Data: How ADM navigates the risks of adopting AI while ensuring data security and aligning innovation with business goals.
- Fostering a Digital Culture: Initiatives like ‘Feast Your Mind’ tech talks and success storytelling to encourage adoption of new technologies.
- Future Trends and Concerns: Kristy highlights emerging technologies like edge AI and machine vision while addressing the challenges of the subscription model shift and cybersecurity.
937: In this episode of Technovation, Peter High speaks with Joe Park, President of Digital and Restaurant Technology Ecosystem and Chief Digital and Technology Officer at Yum! Brands. Joe discusses Yum!’s incredible journey from 19% to over 50% digital sales in just a few years, fueled by innovations in proprietary technologies and AI-first strategies. He shares insights into how the company has built and scaled an integrated technology ecosystem—referred to as “Restaurant in a Box”—to empower franchisees and enhance the customer experience globally.
Joe also highlights Yum!’s strategic use of generative AI and voice AI to streamline operations, reduce team member attrition, and improve restaurant operations. Additionally, he delves into leadership training initiatives, including an AI and digital mindset curriculum developed in partnership with Harvard Business School, to prepare Yum!’s leaders for the digital future.
Highlights include:
- Digital Transformation at Scale: Joe discusses Yum! Brands’ evolution from 19% to over 50% digital sales and the deployment of kiosks across its restaurants.
- Restaurant in a Box: How Yum! Brands integrates proprietary technologies into a seamless platform for franchisees.
- AI-Driven Operations: The use of voice AI and Dragontail to enhance efficiency and employee satisfaction.
- AI and Digital Leadership Training: A Harvard-led curriculum to equip Yum!’s top 200 leaders with AI skills.
- Team Member Empowerment: How tools like the SuperApp digitize and simplify daily routines for restaurant managers.
- Centralized vs. Decentralized Governance: Balancing global and brand-specific needs for scalability.
Medtronic CIO Rashmi Kumar discusses her leadership in advancing digital transformation for one of the world’s largest healthcare technology companies. Rashmi shares how hyperautomation, artificial intelligence, and robotic-assisted surgery are reshaping patient care and operational efficiency. She also highlights Medtronic’s recent establishment of a global IT center in Hyderabad and her journey to joining the board of Myriad Genetics. In this episode of Technovation, host Peter High explores Rashmi’s unconventional path from metallurgical engineering to technology leadership, the cultural changes needed to foster innovation, and the role of AI in the future of healthcare. Rashmi also delves into Medtronic’s use of generative AI for internal operations and product innovation, including its transformative impact on patient care and global healthcare access.
Highlights include:
- Hyperautomation at Scale: Rashmi explains Medtronic’s AI-powered chatbots and machine learning models that drive operational efficiency and predictive analytics.
- The Hyderabad IT Center: Insights into Medtronic’s global talent strategy and its focus on cloud engineering, cybersecurity, and AI.
- AI in Healthcare: How Medtronic is using AI for robotic-assisted surgery and imaging to improve diagnostics and patient outcomes.
- Leadership Lessons: Rashmi reflects on the importance of aligning IT goals with business outcomes and fostering a culture of innovation.
- Path to Board Membership: Her journey to joining the board of Myriad Genetics and how it has expanded her professional perspective.
- Future Trends: Rashmi shares her vision for the future of healthcare technology and its potential to reach underserved populations worldwide.
In this episode of Technovation, Peter High speaks with Soumya Seetharam, Chief Digital and Information Officer of Corning, a 170-year-old material science innovator. Soumya discusses her dual role in leading IT operations and driving digital transformation, focusing on reducing technical debt, democratizing technology, and implementing AI-powered solutions like Corning GPT and GenAI operator assistants. Learn how Corning is harnessing data and AI to stay at the forefront of innovation and efficiency.
Highlights include:
- Corning GPT: A secure private instance of OpenAI for enterprise innovation.
- GenAI in Manufacturing: Revolutionizing operations with AI-driven assistants.
- Technical Debt Strategy: Retiring legacy systems for clean data and agility.
- Data-Centric AI Strategy: Plans for advancing Corning’s digital footprint in 2025.
Fraud is constantly evolving, but leveraging data accelerates understanding and adaptation to changes in the environment. In this episode of Technovation, Peter High interviews Prem Natarajan, EVP, Chief Scientist and Head of Enterprise AI at Capital One. Prem delves into how Capital One is leveraging AI to revolutionize financial services, with applications ranging from fraud detection to customer service enhancements. Discover how the company’s vibrant tech culture and partnerships with academia fuel innovation, and learn why Prem believes diverse perspectives are critical in shaping the future of AI.
Highlights include:
- AI-Powered Fraud Prevention: How real-time data analytics and machine learning protect customers.
- Generative AI Applications: Enabling developers and call center agents with Gen AI tools.
- Responsible AI Partnerships: Multi-year collaborations with universities like Columbia and USC to explore ethical AI use cases.
- Innovation Culture: How events like SECON and Data Week foster tech collaboration and growth.
- Diversity in AI Development: The importance of diverse perspectives in AI lifecycle stage
933: Through advanced data and AI, healthcare companies are transforming care with precision health, delivering earlier diagnoses and personalized treatments. At Illumina, CIO Carissa Rollins is leading the charge, modernizing the tech stack to power the future of precision health. In this episode of Technovation, Carissa discusses how technology is reshaping genomics, sharing her efforts to streamline IT, foster AI innovation, and tackle global challenges like cancer and rare diseases. Host Peter High explores Carissa’s journey to becoming a CIO, her leadership in change management, and her vision for advancing precision health.
Highlights include:
- Modernizing Technology: How Illumina is eliminating redundancies and driving organizational growth with a modernized IT landscape.
- Global Capability Centers: The launch of Illumina’s India GCC to enable 24/7 operations and scale innovation.
- AI Governance and Personalization: Ensuring ethical AI use and leveraging it for breakthroughs in personalized medicine.
- Leadership and Board Membership: Carissa’s boardroom experience and its impact on her CIO role.
- Precision Health and Genomics: The future of healthcare through genomics, addressing critical diseases, and improving patient outcomes.
932: Customer loyalty is a key metric for success in retail, prompting companies to leverage AI to optimize customer engagement. In this episode of Technovation, Peter High interviews Sharmeelee Bala, Chief Information Officer and Head of Product Management at JCPenney, to explore how she is enhancing customer engagement and the transformative role AI plays in this process.
Highlights include:
- Customer-Centric Innovation: Sharmeelee discusses how JCPenney creates seamless experiences tailored to customer preferences.
- AI and Data Strategy: She explains the role of clean, consolidated data in improving decision-making and how AI augments both employee productivity and customer insights.
- Next-Gen POS Systems: Learn about JCPenney’s mobile-first POS systems pilot, designed to enhance in-store shopping experiences.
- Loyalty Program Relaunch: The revamped rewards program strengthens customer engagement with benefits like “Cash Passes.”
- Retail from the Customer Perspective: Sharmeelee shares how her personal experience as a customer informs her leadership in retail innovation.
931: Transitioning from project to product thinking is more than an operational change—it’s a mindset shift. In this episode of Technovation, host Peter High speaks with Dak Liyanearachchi (CTO, NRG Energy), Arthur Hu (Global CIO, Lenovo), and Mike Anderson (CIO, Netskope) about how their organizations are embracing this evolution. The discussion spans the challenges of aligning business capabilities, fostering cross-functional teams, and developing leadership for a product-driven future.
Highlights include:
- From Projects to Products: Transitioning to agile and product-focused models that enhance collaboration and deliver enterprise-wide innovation.
- Transformation Offices: How these structures act as enablers for integrating technology, data, and business functions for strategic alignment.
- Building Cross-Functional Teams: Developing “fusion teams” to break down silos and streamline operations.
- Developing Product Owners: The importance of identifying and nurturing leaders to take ownership of digital and technology products.
- The Role of AI in Innovation: Exploring how AI and Generative AI are reshaping enterprise operations and the customer experience.
930: The role of digital and technology leaders is rapidly evolving, with executive recruiters discussing how advancements like AI are redefining their titles, responsibilities, and organizational impact globally. In this episode of Technovation, we feature a panel from our 2024 Metis Strategy Summit with executive recruiters Katie Graham Shannon (Heidrick & Struggles), Art Hopkins (Russell Reynolds), and Henry Man (Candela Search) who explore how technology executive roles are changing in title, scope, and influence. The panel, moderated by Metis Strategy’s Steven Norton, delves into the shifting dynamics of leadership and discusses the implications for organizations worldwide.
Highlights include:
- CIO Role Evolution: The panel explores how technology leaders are moving closer to the CEO, taking on broader responsibilities like cultural transformation and value creation.
- AI’s Leadership Impact: Discussion on how AI is reshaping leadership, with roles focusing on business disruption rather than purely technical oversight.
- Global Leadership Trends: Insights into differences between US and European leadership cultures, including compensation, risk-taking, and reporting lines.
- Technology Leaders on Boards: Analyzing the growing trend of CIOs joining corporate boards and the critical business acumen required.
- Recruiter Relationships and Interview Tips: Practical advice on building meaningful recruiter connections and standing out in executive interview processes.
929: In this episode of Technovation, we feature a panel from our 2024 Metis Strategy Summit with panelists Nick Parrotta (CDIO & President of Digital Transformation Solutions at HARMAN Intl.), Bonnie Titone (CAO of Duke Energy), and Pritha Mehra (CIO of USPS) where they discuss their insights into leading large-scale modernization efforts. The conversation spans diverse industries—automotive, energy, and logistics—exploring how these leaders balance innovation with the challenges of legacy systems and crisis management.
Highlights include:
- USPS’s Cloud Strategy: Pritha Mehra details USPS’s hybrid cloud approach and its role in transforming the organization’s 950 legacy applications into efficient, scalable solutions.
- Clean Energy Transition: Bonnie Titone explains Duke Energy’s use of cloud-based grid planning tools to support its clean energy goals and manage disaster preparedness with tools like drones and Scout.
- Personalized Digital Experiences: Nick Parrotta discusses how HARMAN integrates AI and cloud technologies to deliver cutting-edge customer experiences in automotive and consumer audio.
- Crisis Management at Scale: Stories of leadership and innovation, from USPS’s COVID-19 test kit distribution to Duke Energy’s hurricane response.
- Building Cultures of Curiosity: Strategies for fostering innovation, enabling teams to adopt emerging technologies, and bridging the gap between legacy and modern systems.
As the role of CIO continues to evolve as a strategic partner to the business, many CIOs are emerging as strong contenders for CEO positions. In a panel discussion from the 2024 Metis Strategy Summit, Alorica Co-CEOs Mike Clifton and Max Schwendner sit down with Peter High to discuss their leadership journeys—Mike’s transition from CIO to CEO and Max’s progression from CFO to Co-CEO. They delve into how their complementary expertise in technology and finance fuels innovation at Alorica. Additionally, the conversation highlights the transformative power of AI in customer experience (CX) and the bold strategies Alorica employs to disrupt its own business model for future growth.
Highlights include:
- From CIO to CEO: Mike Clifton shares how his experience as a CIO prepared him for his role as Co-CEO, emphasizing the importance of technology leadership and inspiring teams.
- Co-CEO Collaboration: Mike and Max discuss how they divide responsibilities while maintaining a unified leadership approach, leveraging their complementary expertise.
- AI Innovations in CX: Alorica’s cutting-edge advancements in AI, including real-time voice translation and dialect neutralization, are transforming customer interactions and operational efficiency.
- MetaHuman AVA: Introduction of AVA, a bespoke AI solution tailored for Alorica’s clients, capable of delivering human-like interactions to enhance customer service.
- Disruptive Innovation: The necessity of cannibalizing existing business models to remain competitive in a rapidly evolving industry.
- Future of AI in Business: Insights into how AI is enabling new opportunities for efficiency, customer satisfaction, and revenue generation across industries.
927: Operationalizing AI offers transformative potential but requires organizations to adopt “responsible AI” practices that ensure transparency, accountability, legality, and ethics. In this episode of Technovation, host Peter High speaks with three influential leaders—Ed McLaughlin, CTO and President at MasterCard, Marina Bellini, President of Global Business Services at Mars, and John Russell, CIO at Northrop Grumman—about the critical role of responsible AI in driving innovation while maintaining ethical and regulatory integrity. Moderated by Alex Kraus, the panel unpacks how companies across industries can balance business value with accountability, leveraging AI responsibly for global impact.
Highlights include:
- Responsible AI Frameworks: The panel shares how organizations like Mars, MasterCard, and Northrop Grumman are developing governance models that ensure AI aligns with corporate values and global regulations.
- Balancing Innovation and Risk: Insights into navigating the risk-reward trade-off by focusing on scalable AI applications that enhance productivity, minimize bias, and reduce operational risks.
- Ethics at the Core of AI: Ed McLaughlin emphasizes that ethics must guide innovation, with AI only adding value when it upholds organizational principles and consumer trust.
- AI Scalability and Validation: Techniques like MasterCard’s “silent mode validation” to test AI in real-time environments and prevent concept drift, ensuring robust performance at scale.
- Navigating Global Regulations: Marina Bellini and John Russell discuss the challenges of adapting AI practices to comply with international regulatory frameworks while maintaining organizational principles.
- The Future of AI in Defense and Business: John Russell explores how ethical constraints drive innovation in the aerospace and defense sectors, while Ed McLaughlin warns against over-restricting AI technologies.
926: As organizations navigate the future of work and technology, leaders are rethinking how to recruit, retain, and upskill talent to drive innovation. In this episode of Technovation, we feature a panel discussion from our 2024 Metis Strategy Summit with Soumya Seetharam (Chief Digital and Information Officer, Corning), Teddy Bekele (Chief Technology Officer, Land O’Lakes), and Tigran Khrimian (Chief Technology and Engineering Officer, FINRA). Moderated by Peter High, the conversation highlights practical strategies for developing next-generation operating models and integrating emerging technologies into the workforce.
Highlights include:
- Global Talent Hubs: Soumya discusses Corning’s strategic creation of digital hubs worldwide to access diverse talent pools and align operations with business needs.
- AI and Data-Driven Insights: Tigran shares FINRA’s groundbreaking use of AI to process exabytes of data and maintain market integrity.
- Fusion Teams for Agility: Teddy reveals Land O’Lakes’ approach to embedding IT talent within business functions for deeper collaboration and innovation.
- Rotational Programs for Skill Development: Soumya explains how Corning’s mid-career rotational programs build leadership and broaden expertise.
- Generative AI’s Impact on Programming: Tigran explores the transformative potential of AI, including the idea of English as a programming language.
- Citizen Development: Insights on empowering non-technical employees to leverage low-code/no-code tools safely and effectively.
925: As organizations increasingly experiment with AI, technology leaders are turning their attention to demonstrating how these tools can deliver tangible returns for the business. In this episode of Technovation, we feature a panel from our 2024 Metis Strategy Summit where Rob Alexander (CIO, Capital One), Katya Andresen (Chief Digital and Analytics Officer, Cigna), and Nitin Tandon (CIO, Vanguard) discuss how their organizations are advancing data strategy and extracting measurable value from AI initiatives. Moderated by Chris Davis (Partner and West Coast Office Lead, Metis Strategy), the conversation highlights real-world insights and provides actionable advice for technology leaders on how to measure AI’s business value, identify initiatives that will drive the greatest impact inside their organizations, and ensure a strong data strategy to guide it all.
Highlights include:
- Cloud Infrastructure for AI Readiness: Panelists emphasize the critical role of cloud adoption as the foundation for scalable AI strategies and innovation.
- AI and Business ROI: The group explores frameworks for identifying high-impact AI use cases and measuring their value, from productivity gains to cost reductions.
- Generative AI in Action: Examples of how Generative AI is transforming customer service, developer productivity, and predictive analytics in their organizations.
- Human-Centric Product Mindset: Insights on embedding a human-focused, outcome-driven approach to AI development and deployment.
- Data Strategy and Governance: Practical steps for creating AI-ready data ecosystems while balancing experimentation with structured governance.
- Cross-Industry Lessons: Rob, Katya, and Nitin share their unique perspectives on leveraging AI to drive transformation in large-scale, data-intensive businesses.
With the global economic outlook in flux, companies worldwide are preparing for scenarios that could redefine their technology adoption strategies. In a fireside chat at our 2024 Metis Strategy Summit in NYC, George Lee, Co-Head of the Goldman Sachs Global Institute, shares his insights with Peter High on how technology and business leaders can position their organizations for readiness and resilience amid uncertainty.
Highlights include:
- Supply Chain Resilience Amid Geopolitical Complexity: George emphasizes the critical need for companies to bolster supply chain resilience in response to global geopolitical shifts. He highlights how these changes are pushing companies to rethink their strategies to ensure stability and agility.
- AI as a National Strategic Asset: The conversation dives into AI’s evolution from a technological tool to a national strategic asset, with George exploring its implications for productivity, culture, and national defense in a rapidly advancing digital landscape.
- Focus on Inflection Points Over Predictions: George introduces the concept of planning around “inflection points” instead of relying solely on predictions, encouraging leaders to proactively navigate pivotal moments that could redefine their industries.
- Enterprise AI and the Productivity Paradox: George discusses the “productivity paradox” seen in AI’s adoption within enterprises, noting the discrepancy between AI’s rapid advancements and its slower integration into enterprise workflows.
- Superintelligence vs. Super Automation: The discussion distinguishes between the concepts of superintelligence and super automation, examining the different impacts each could have on future economies and labor markets.
- Insights from Global Conversations: George shares how the Goldman Sachs Global Institute gathers and refines insights from dialogues with global leaders, using these insights to guide clients through geopolitical and economic complexities.
- Challenges in Adopting New Technology: Drawing on his experience as a former CIO, George addresses the practical challenges organizations face when implementing advanced technologies, underscoring the importance of strong frameworks and patience in driving enterprise adoption.
In their latest book, All Hands on Tech, Babson College Professor Tom Davenport and automation pioneer Ian Barkin explore how citizen development is transforming the workplace. In this episode of Technovation, Peter High interviews Tom and Ian about the core concepts of their book, covering the rise of citizen developers, the role of governance frameworks, and real-world case studies that demonstrate the impact of democratizing technology.
Highlights include:
- Citizen Development: Tom and Ian define citizen development as the democratization of IT, allowing non-technical employees to create applications and automations, empowering them to drive meaningful change within their organizations.
- Digital Transformation: They explain why citizen development is a critical ingredient in digital transformation, providing organizations with the agility to respond faster and innovate continuously.
- 4G Framework for Governance: The 4G Framework—Genesis, Governance, Guidance, Guardrails—offers a structure for responsibly supporting citizen development, ensuring scalability and mitigating technical debt.
- Amtrak and Shell Case Studies: The authors share insights from Amtrak’s individual-led development and Shell’s structured DIY movement as examples of successful grassroots innovation.
- Generative AI & Low-Code Tools: Tools like Microsoft’s Power Platform and generative AI enable non-technical users to develop software and solutions, fostering a culture of innovation from all levels within an organization.
- Future of Work and Citizen Development: Tom and Ian discuss the future of work, where employees with domain expertise play an increasing role in technology initiatives, bridging gaps between IT and business for collaborative innovation.
922: Artificial intelligence has enabled software developers to significantly boost productivity by automating tedious tasks and improving code quality across complex projects. In this episode of Technovation, host Peter High speaks with Scott Dietzen, CEO of Augment, about how Augment’s AI platform is changing how software teams collaborate, making it easier for developers to work efficiently and creatively. Scott shares how Augment’s AI sets itself apart by deeply understanding the codebase and architecture of each team, providing tailored support beyond coding tools from the tech giants.
Highlights include:
- Codebase Intelligence and Team Collaboration: Scott explains how Augment’s AI goes beyond generating code; it learns from your team’s specific codebase and workflows, fostering enhanced collaboration and efficiency.
- Competing with Microsoft: The discussion dives into Augment’s strategy for taking on Microsoft Copilot, emphasizing specialized AI that deeply understands complex code repositories, enabling faster problem-solving and greater project continuity.
- Productivity Gains and ROI: Scott shares examples of customers who have doubled their productivity and reduced their software backlogs, demonstrating the strong ROI and value Augment delivers to enterprises.
- Human-AI Collaboration: Scott reflects on the future of software engineering, highlighting how Augment’s approach is about augmenting human capabilities rather than replacing them, giving developers more freedom to focus on creative problem-solving.
- The Future of AI in Software Development: Scott offers insights into the potential for AI to reshape the software development landscape, emphasizing the importance of continued innovation and specialization to stay ahead of industry giants.
921: Picking up a rental car is often the final step in a traveler’s journey, making it a pivotal moment where technology can transform the customer’s overall experience. In this episode of Technovation, host Peter High interviews Ravi Simhambhatla, Executive Vice President and Chief Digital and Innovation Officer at Avis Budget Group, about his approach to driving digital transformation and customer-centric innovation within a global car rental company. Ravi shares how he and his team are enhancing every touchpoint of the customer journey through AI-driven self-service tools, dynamic pricing, and real-time personalization.
Highlights include:
- Customer-Centric Digital Transformation: Ravi discusses the modernization efforts underway at Avis Budget Group, including a focus on cloud migration and the integration of AI to create frictionless customer experiences.
- Dynamic Pricing and Personalization: Using data-driven insights, Avis Budget Group tailors offers to individual customer profiles, aiming to maximize satisfaction and optimize revenue through strategic dynamic pricing.
- Generative AI in Operations: Ravi describes how AI-based damage detection and chatbots for customer support improve efficiency and transparency, reducing customer disputes and response times.
- Autonomous Vehicles and Future Innovation: Ravi shares his vision for autonomous vehicles in car rentals, detailing a future where customers can seamlessly locate and receive their vehicles upon arrival at airports, further enhancing convenience.
- Employee Enablement: Emphasizing the value of frontline employees, Ravi highlights efforts to equip staff with tools that enhance their ability to serve customers efficiently, ensuring customer satisfaction from arrival to vehicle return.
Ulta Beauty has positioned itself as an industry leader by merging in-store and digital experiences for a seamless, personalized customer experience. In this episode of Technovation, Peter High speaks with Ulta Beauty’s Chief Technology and Information Officer Mike Maresca on the company’s digital transformation, cloud expansion, and omni-centric strategy. Mike shares insights on how Ulta’s GlamLab enables virtual try-ons and how data and AI drive hyper-personalization for Ulta’s 44 million loyalty members.
Highlights include:
- Digital Transformation and Omni-Centric Strategy: Mike shares how Ulta Beauty is investing in multi-cloud infrastructure and agile development to build a connected experience across online and in-store channels.
- Hyper-Personalization Through Data and AI: Ulta’s approach to creating personalized customer experiences leverages a modern data platform, enabling customized product recommendations, loyalty rewards, and shopping experiences.
- GlamLab and Virtual Try-Ons: Using augmented reality, Ulta’s GlamLab allows customers to try on products virtually, blending digital convenience with a tactile shopping experience.
- Talent and Agile Innovation: Mike emphasizes the importance of fostering a learning culture through Ulta University and empowering fusion teams that bring business, product, and IT closer together.
- Expansion into Mexico: Announcing Ulta Beauty’s international expansion into Mexico in 2025, Mike provides a glimpse into the company’s future growth strategy.
- Automation and Supply Chain Efficiency: Through robotic automation in distribution centers, Ulta is optimizing fulfillment accuracy and scaling to meet seasonal demand, enhancing overall operational efficiency.
919: NYU Stern Professor Aswath Damodaran explains in his latest book, The Corporate Life Cycle, that companies must adapt their strategies and leadership styles to match their stage in the corporate life cycle, whether it’s embracing visionary leaders to drive growth during startup phases or appointing pragmatic managers to steer the company through periods of decline. In this episode of Technovation, host Peter High interviews Aswath about the core concepts of his book, exploring how companies experience growth, maturity, and decline just like humans. He offers insights on aligning leadership styles to different stages of a company’s life cycle and shares examples of companies like Microsoft and Apple that have successfully rejuvenated their growth.
Highlights include:
- The Corporate Life Cycle: Aswath breaks down the stages of business aging, comparing them to human life and outlining the strategic adjustments companies need at each phase to stay competitive.
- Leadership Evolution: The discussion covers the importance of adapting leadership styles according to the company’s life cycle stage—visionaries for startups, business builders for expansion, and pragmatic leaders for firms facing decline.
- Reincarnation of Companies: Rare cases like Microsoft and Apple illustrate how some companies reverse aging through leadership changes, organic growth, and strategic acceptance rather than relying on acquisitions.
- Valuation and Storytelling: Aswath emphasizes the need to integrate financial modeling with a compelling narrative to give deeper meaning to valuation metrics.
- Scaling Challenges in Modern Business: The conversation highlights the rapid rise and fall of companies like Yahoo and Uber, showcasing the difficulties of scaling quickly without establishing a sustainable business model.
- Active vs. Passive Investing: Aswath discusses why active investing yields diminishing returns in today’s data-rich environment, as passive investing gains popularity and market share.
- AI’s Role in Business: The episode explores Microsoft’s strategic investment in OpenAI, underscoring the mix of strategy and luck that fuels success in the AI-driven economy.
To create stronger alignment between technology and business objectives, farm-to-fork cooperative Land O’Lakes is embracing Fusion Teams, which combine deep technical expertise with business insights to anticipate needs, innovate faster, and deliver more tailored solutions. In this episode of Technovation, host Peter High interviews Land O’Lakes CTO Teddy Bekele about the critical role technology plays in driving both innovation and operational alignment within the company’s cooperative model. Teddy shares how Land O’Lakes is transforming its operations through Agile practices, Fusion Teams, and AI-driven decision-making, all while fostering sustainability and growth across its diverse business units, including smarter farming and enhanced supply chain management.
917: In his newest book This is Strategy, renowned author and marketing thought leader Seth Godin provides a detailed framework for developing an effective strategy and challenges the way strategy is approached across industries. In this episode, Peter High sits down with Seth to explore the critical difference between strategy and tactics, offering practical insights into how individuals and organizations can craft strategies that stand the test of time. Seth emphasizes the importance of simplicity, demonstrating how profound strategies can be communicated in clear, memorable terms. Seth also dives into the growing role of AI in strategic thinking, sharing his experience with tools like Claude to challenge assumptions and refine strategies. Additionally, he discusses the necessity of empathy in leadership and the importance of embracing change and constraints to fuel innovation. Whether you’re a business leader, entrepreneur, or simply curious about the future of strategy in an AI-driven world, this episode offers actionable insights to help you navigate the complexities of modern leadership.
Also available on YouTube:
https://youtu.be/yaEYSQio7mE
916: The ways customers interact with retailers and other organizations have vastly changed in recent years, and the pet care industry is no different, leveraging technology to deliver personalized, efficient experiences for pet parents. In this episode of Technovation, Peter High interviews Greg Fancher, Executive Vice President of IT and Chief Information Technology Officer of PetSmart. Greg discusses PetSmart’s ongoing digital transformation, which has included a shift from a distribution center-focused model to store-based e-commerce fulfillment, improving speed and efficiency for customers. He also shares insights into re-platforming PetSmart’s systems to use microservices, enabling faster innovation, and the company’s strategic use of AI for optimizing operations like pick path efficiency and personalized marketing. Greg provides an inside look at the company’s efforts to enhance its omnichannel retail strategy, including cloud-based booking for pet services and real-time inventory visibility. Lastly, Greg highlights the importance of leadership restructuring and portfolio management in aligning technology investments with business goals and discusses his excitement for future technologies like quantum computing and their potential impact on security.
Also available on YouTube:
https://youtu.be/8zch5L2EhAs
915: Consumer insights are the lifeblood of any company, enabling them to optimize product availability, personalize marketing, and enhance customer experiences through direct-to-consumer channels and loyalty programs. In this episode of Technovation, Peter High interviews John Gigerich, Chief Information Officer of Keurig Dr Pepper. John shares insights into the 2018 merger between Keurig and Dr Pepper, which created a beverage powerhouse, and discusses his role in integrating the companies’ IT systems while ensuring cybersecurity. He elaborates on Keurig Dr Pepper’s digital transformation journey, covering cloud migration, intelligent automation tools like RPA and AI, and the company’s data-driven approach to consumer insights that optimize product offerings and marketing strategies. John also provides a fascinating look into the company’s supply chain optimization initiatives and the role of the digital value chain. Finally, he highlights the importance of ROI in IT investments and shares his excitement for AI and data-driven innovation at KDP.
Also available on YouTube:
https://youtu.be/fKcDfK7kgs4
914: The shift towards cloud computing has accelerated with the rise of artificial intelligence (AI), and venture capital firms like Bessemer Venture Partners have taken notice. In this episode of Technovation, host Peter High interviews Mary D’Onofrio, partner at Bessemer, who leads investments in cloud software and emerging technologies. Mary discusses her journey into venture capital, Bessemer’s Cloud Index, and the State of the Cloud reports, while highlighting how AI is transforming the cloud landscape. She also shares insights into the “five Cs of cloud finance” and the importance of customer feedback in shaping investment decisions.
Also available on YouTube:
https://youtu.be/wMB84wFVyGg
913: In this episode of Technovation, host Peter High interviews Aaron Gwinner, Senior Vice President and Chief Information Officer of Reynolds American. Aaron discusses the company’s ambitious goal to reduce the health impact of its products by transitioning customers away from traditional cigarettes to lower-risk alternatives like vaping. He explains how technology plays a critical role in this transformation, including a significant cloud migration effort aimed at centralizing data and improving operational efficiency. Aaron also shares insights on the evolving challenges of cybersecurity and the potential of generative AI to improve employee productivity and supply chain management. Drawing on over two decades of experience at The Coca-Cola Company, Aaron reflects on how his international career has informed his approach to leadership at Reynolds American. Tune in to hear more about Reynolds American’s digital transformation, its mission to build a better tomorrow, and the key role of IT in achieving this vision.
Also available on YouTube:
https://youtu.be/v89Uzr90zgY
912: The fusion of IT transformation and AI is revolutionizing how businesses leverage technology to drive growth and innovation. In this episode of Technovation, Peter High speaks with Satya Jayadev, CIO of Skyworks Solutions, a global leader in high-performance analog semiconductors that power the wireless revolution. Satya shares insights into his six-year journey at Skyworks, leading a digital transformation that took IT from a back-office support role to a business driver and visionary partner. He discusses how Skyworks is leveraging AI to optimize processes and product development and how the AI Enablement Office is identifying critical use cases across the organization. Satya also explains the role of Electronic Design Automation (EDA) in improving engineering efficiency and product design speed. Lastly, he provides a forward-looking view on how AI and 5G are shaping the future of business and consumer experiences.
Also available on YouTube:
https://youtu.be/5DKmNq7g-CQ
911: In financial services, automation and AI are transforming risk management, streamlining compliance, and enhancing customer experiences for greater efficiency. In this episode of Technovation, Peter High interviews Jason Strle, Chief Information Officer of Discover Financial Services. Jason discusses Discover’s unique position as one of the first FinTech companies, emphasizing its direct-to-consumer model and its role as one of the four major credit card networks. He highlights how Discover’s customer-first approach drives innovation across the company, earning high levels of customer loyalty. As CIO, Jason provides insights into the breadth of his responsibilities, covering everything from core banking platforms to cloud infrastructure and information security. He also delves into how Discover is embracing AI and automation to innovate risk management, making traditionally complex processes more efficient and competitive. Jason shares his thoughts on how Generative AI is transforming customer service and risk management, while also addressing the challenges it presents. The conversation also explores Discover’s partnerships with FinTech startups and how the company stays on the cutting edge of financial technology.
Also available on YouTube:
910: Biopharma companies have adapted their business and technology strategies to address the decreased demand for COVID-19 vaccines, shifting towards a more predictable, seasonal market. In this episode of Technovation, Peter High speaks with Brad Miller, Chief Information Officer of Moderna. Brad shares how Moderna is harnessing cutting-edge technologies like AI, machine learning, and cloud computing to revolutionize the pharmaceutical industry. As Moderna transitions from a COVID-19 vaccine-focused company to a diversified portfolio that includes oncology and rare disease treatments, Brad explains how digital transformation is powering advancements in R&D, manufacturing, and commercialization. He also highlights Moderna’s internal learning academies, which ensure the workforce stays on the leading edge of digital and AI innovations. With a rich background that includes leadership roles at Capital One, Mastercard, and Amazon, Brad brings valuable insights into technology leadership in biotech. Tune in to discover how Moderna is shaping the future of medicine through technology.
Also available on YouTube:
https://youtu.be/Ip7YwrrB5To
909: According to MIT’s Center for Information Systems Research (CISR) Senior Research Scientist and Chairman Peter Weill, “real-time business” refers to an organization’s ability to make decisions, respond to customer needs, and manage operations instantly using up-to-date data and technology to drive efficiency and outcomes. In this episode of Technovation, Peter High welcomes Weill to discuss his groundbreaking research on real-time business and lessons for executives seeking to transform their organizations. Weill shares how companies are leveraging cloud data, AI, and APIs to enable real-time decision-making, customer onboarding, and employee support. He highlights case studies from companies like Chase and United Airlines, showing how real-time operations have improved customer satisfaction and boosted performance. Weill also emphasizes the importance of digital-savvy leadership, noting that boards and executives with these skills are best positioned to succeed in this new paradigm. Finally, he offers insights into the future of real-time business with Generative AI, which promises to revolutionize customer interactions and internal processes.
Also available on YouTube:
https://youtu.be/JG-kTGfizI4
908: In the world of customer service, artificial intelligence (AI) and generative AI (GenAI) are unlocking new possibilities to elevate the customer experience beyond what was once thought possible. In this episode of Technovation, host Peter High sits down with Harry Folloder, Chief Digital and Technology Officer at Alorica, to explore how the company utilizes AI to revolutionize customer service, streamline operations, and empower both employees and customers. Harry highlights the crucial role of technology in building trust and delivering personalized, seamless customer interactions in today’s digital-first world. He also shares his inspiring personal journey, detailing how his background in law and emergency services—as a firefighter and paramedic—has uniquely prepared him to lead digital transformation at a tech-driven company. Discover the innovative AI-powered solutions propelling Alorica’s success and how Harry’s leadership is shaping the future of customer experience. Whether you’re interested in AI, digital transformation, or leadership, this episode provides valuable insights into the technologies and strategies driving innovation at Alorica.
Also available on YouTube:
https://youtu.be/wYpw7_aG50w
907: Enhancing the end-user experience is key to driving productivity, security, and scalability in today’s digital landscape. In this episode of Technovation, host Peter High speaks with Muneer Mirza, Director of End-User Computing at Amazon Web Services (AWS). Muneer shares his journey at Amazon, starting from his role in developing the company’s website to overseeing AWS’s end-user computing services. He provides an inside look at services like Amazon WorkSpaces, AppStream, and Secure Browser, and how these products address diverse customer needs. Muneer also delves into the challenges of balancing innovation with cybersecurity and cost management, a common struggle for tech and digital leaders. He shares AWS’s customer-centric approach to problem-solving and provides insights into the role of generative AI in cloud computing. This conversation is packed with practical advice for leaders navigating the complex world of cloud economics, cybersecurity, and technological innovation.
Also available on YouTube:
https://youtu.be/933uS_WsUIA
906: The combination of predictive AI and generative AI allows companies to not only anticipate customer behavior, but also deliver a more personalized experience. In this episode of Technovation, Peter High speaks with Shankar Arumugavelu, Executive Vice President and President of Verizon Global Services. Shankar shares his journey from Chief Information Officer to his new expanded role, overseeing not only IT and data but also supply chain, real estate, and shared services. The conversation delves into Verizon’s innovative use of AI, including generative AI’s role in customer service, predictive AI for churn management, and the company’s commitment to scaling these technologies across all functions. Shankar discusses the challenges and opportunities involved in industrializing AI at Verizon and offers insights into the future of technology, particularly the convergence of AI, edge computing, and 5G. Tune in to learn how Verizon is leveraging cutting-edge technologies to stay ahead in a rapidly evolving industry.
Also available on YouTube:
https://youtu.be/KOC8ErunmU8
905: With Generative AI becoming prevalent across industries, proper data management is also becoming more important than ever. In this episode of Technovation, Peter High speaks with Graeme Thompson, the Chief Information Officer at Informatica, a leader in AI-powered cloud data management. With over eight years at the helm of Informatica’s IT, information security, and data functions, Graeme has overseen the company’s digital transformation from a traditional software licensing model to a cloud-first, consumption-driven business. Graeme shares how Informatica empowers its clients to leverage data as a critical asset, driving business outcomes through trusted AI and automation solutions. He discusses the company’s AI initiatives, its hybrid and multi-cloud strategy, and real-world use cases that demonstrate the power of AI in automating processes and improving decision-making. Additionally, Graeme reflects on how peer collaboration within the IT community helps address common challenges, and he explores the future of AI in enterprise automation and beyond.
Also available on YouTube:
https://youtu.be/ADdnjekxRqk
904: As technical surveillance, AI, and advanced technologies become increasingly ubiquitous, the CIA, as a human intelligence organization, must be equipped to address these challenges. Through public and private collaborations, the agency is integrating critical technologies essential for national security. In this episode of Technovation, host Peter High welcomes Nand Mulchandani, the first-ever Chief Technology Officer at the CIA. Nand discusses his role working closely with Director William Burns to oversee the CIA’s technological advancements. Drawing on his Silicon Valley experience, Nand shares how the agency fosters innovation, builds relationships with tech companies, and adapts to the evolving challenges of great power competition, particularly with China. He explores the transformative role of AI, data analytics, and other technologies in national security while emphasizing the need for cultural change within the agency to tackle future threats. Tune in to hear insights from a leader at the forefront of both national security and cutting-edge technology.
Also available on YouTube:
https://youtu.be/_11eWsaiyGA
903: Artificial Intelligence (AI) has had a transformative impact on the financial services industry by enhancing decision-making, personalizing customer experiences, and driving innovation. In this episode of Technovation, Peter High interviews Shri Santhanam, Executive Vice President and General Manager of Software Platforms and Artificial Intelligence at Experian. Shri delves into Experian’s evolution from a credit bureau to a platform company, emphasizing the critical role of Artificial Intelligence in driving this transformation. He discusses the development of the Ascend Technology Platform, AI’s impact on financial inclusion, and the importance of AI governance. Shri also shares his passion for credit education and how generative AI is helping consumers better understand and improve their financial health. Tune in to gain insights into the future of data-centric AI and Experian’s innovative use of technology to create business and consumer impact.
Also available on YouTube:
902: AI is reshaping legal services by streamlining tasks and driving innovation, yet it also challenges firms to navigate complex ethical and security issues. In this episode of Technovation, Peter High interviews Mike Lucas, Chief Information Officer at Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati. They discuss the integration of Artificial Intelligence in legal services and how Mike is driving Digital Transformation at one of the world’s leading law firms. Mike shares insights on the firm’s innovative initiatives, including the development of AI tools like the Neuron platform and pilots with ChatGPT and Microsoft Copilot. He also delves into the challenges of change management and the ethical considerations of adopting AI in a traditional industry like law.
Also available on YouTube:
https://youtu.be/2yYGIPsxP3s
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This episode is sponsored by Amazon WorkSpaces.
901: As AI and analytics evolve, one constant remains: clean, well-organized data is at the heart of these technologies. In this episode of Technovation, Peter High interviews Ajit Jagtap, Chief Information Officer at MODE Global. They discuss the rapid digital transformation in the logistics industry, driven by the pandemic, and how MODE Global is leveraging technology to enhance its services. Ajit shares insights on the importance of a robust data strategy to support AI and machine learning initiatives, the role of IT in integrating MODE’s family of brands, and the future of AI in logistics. The conversation also touches on Ajit’s approach to leadership and the significance of a people-centric culture within the IT organization.
Also available on YouTube:
https://youtu.be/9LjcQ5tP8mo
900: Recognized as one of the most influential CIOs, Rob Carter of FedEx has had an extraordinary career, driving the company’s digital transformation while reshaping the technology landscape and redefining the CIO role. In this milestone 900th episode of Technovation, Peter High speaks with Rob to reflect on his remarkable journey and explore the evolving role of technology executives in enterprise leadership. They discuss FedEx’s digital transformation, including the transition from proprietary systems to cloud-based, virtualized environments. Carter shares insights from his early career, the impact of key mentors, and how FedEx leverages data through initiatives like FedEx DataWorks. The conversation underscores the critical role of leadership and technology in modernizing one of the world’s largest logistics companies.
Also available on YouTube:
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This episode is sponsored by Amazon WorkSpaces.
899: Digital transformation goes beyond technology, requiring robust enterprise change management and the implementation of secure, responsible guardrails to drive sustainable innovation. In this episode of Technovation, Peter High interviews Dolores Mears, Chief Information Officer at Hensel Phelps. They discuss the company’s comprehensive modernization journey, focusing on digitization, data strategy, and the integration of advanced technologies like AI. Dolores shares her approach to leading enterprise change management, fostering innovation through the AI Council, and evaluating investments in emerging technologies. They also explore how augmented reality is transforming the construction industry. Join us for an insightful conversation on the future of technology in complex project management.
Also available on YouTube:
https://youtu.be/ekRQ03Ld3NY
898: Target’s decade-long experience with Artificial Intelligence (AI) has primed the company to fully leverage the transformative potential of Generative AI. In this episode of Technovation, Peter High interviews Brett Craig, Executive Vice President and Chief Information Officer at Target. They discuss the pivotal role of Generative AI in transforming retail and how technology has evolved to become a defining element in enhancing customer and employee experiences. Brett shares his journey from various roles within Target, including merchandising and finance, to his current role as CIO, where he leads the company’s technology strategy. The episode also delves into Target’s culture of innovation, highlighting initiatives like demo days, hackathons, and 50 Days of Learning that empower technologists to drive progress. Tune in to learn how Brett and his team are shaping the future of retail technology at Target.
Also available on YouTube:
https://youtu.be/mTufppafzC4
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This episode is sponsored by Amazon WorkSpaces.
897: Successfully adopting AI within an organization hinges on aligning people and processes first, rather than relying solely on the technology. In this episode of Technovation, Peter High interviews Leo Bodden, Group Vice President and Chief Digital and Technology Officer at New York-Presbyterian. Leo discusses the transformative journey of the hospital system through strategic digital initiatives, the integration of AI in healthcare, and the balance between centralized and decentralized IT management. With nearly three decades at the organization, Leo offers valuable insights into the evolution of healthcare technology and shares his thoughts on the future trends that will shape the industry.
Also available on YouTube:
https://youtu.be/dRoH6CEz4qU
896: Artificial Intelligence (AI) is transforming healthcare and enhancing the patient experience by making it more efficient, predictive, and consumer-friendly. In this episode of Technovation, Peter High interviews Rajeev Ronanki, Chief Executive Officer of Lyric, a leading AI-based platform focused on enhancing payment accuracy in healthcare. Rajeev discusses the challenges in modern healthcare and the AI solutions his team is building. He shares his journey from Deloitte to Elevance Health and finally to Lyric, highlighting his passion for healthcare innovation. They explore how AI is automating administrative processes, improving payment accuracy, and providing personalized consumer experiences. Rajeev also shares his vision for the future of Lyric and the broader healthcare industry, emphasizing the importance of consumer-friendly solutions and the potential of AI to simplify healthcare transactions.
Also available on YouTube:
https://youtu.be/S3BXwMlYo3I
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This episode is sponsored by Amazon WorkSpaces.
895: As the AI landscape continues to expand, cybersecurity remains a top priority for technology executives, creating abundant opportunities for venture capital firms to invest in the cyber space. In this episode of Technovation, Peter High interviews Andrei Brasoveanu, Partner at Accel. They discuss the evolving landscape of cybersecurity, highlighting the increasing complexities introduced by cloud computing and AI. Andrei shares Accel’s investment strategies, focusing on developer tools, data security, and Web3 technologies. The conversation also delves into the challenges and opportunities presented by AI in cybersecurity and Andrei’s journey from Romania to becoming a key figure in Accel’s global investment efforts.
Also available on YouTube:
894: General Electric (GE) historically has been a powerhouse in the technology world as a bootcamp for some of the most prestigious tech leaders of today. In this episode of Technovation, Peter High interviews David Burns, Chief Information Officer at GE Aerospace. They discuss the company’s recent separation from General Electric and its transformation into an independent entity. David shares insights into the challenges of decentralizing IT services, the role of AI and augmented reality in enhancing operations, and the importance of a lean and cloud transformation journey. He also reflects on his extensive career at GE, the lessons learned from crises, and the value of continuous learning and talent development.
Also available on YouTube:
893: As the future of work continues to evolve, executives must keep pace with not only technological advancements but also talent strategies, learning to leverage both internal and external talent to succeed as a global enterprise. In this episode, Peter High interviews John Winsor, Executive in Residence at Harvard Business School’s Laboratory for Innovation Science and founder and CEO of Open Assembly, about his latest book, ‘Open Talent,’ and the strategies he has developed for leveraging global talent pools, including freelancers, internal talent clouds, and open innovation contests. John shares his journey from founding an open talent company in the ’90s to leading innovation at Havas and exploring the future of work with AI and digital transformation. He offers insights into the challenges large organizations face in adopting new business models and emphasizes the importance of culture in a networked organization. Finally, John looks ahead at how AI and technology, more broadly, can play a role in the framework of ‘open talent.’
Also available on YouTube:
https://youtu.be/8Udbto5o-wc
892: Ascending to the CEO role from a technology background showcases the critical impact of tech expertise in guiding business transformation and growth. In this episode of Technovation, Peter High interviews Mike Clifton, Co-Chief Executive Officer at Alorica, about his career journey and how his experience as a technology executive has shaped his perspective as a co-CEO. Mike discusses Alorica’s strategic approach to enhancing customer experiences through AI and digital transformation, and provides insights into the company’s unique Co-CEO model. He also explains his strategy for investing in startups to curate an ecosystem of partners, keeping the company at the forefront of innovative technologies like noise cancellation and voice translation.
Also available on YouTube:
https://youtu.be/TCwUr8I9GYc
891: Proper cybersecurity practices within a company involve a shared responsibility across the entire enterprise, not just the IT organization, requiring a unified approach that encompasses people, processes, and technology. In this episode of Technovation, Peter High interviews Sesh Tirumala, Chief Information Officer of Western Digital, to discuss the company’s focus on cybersecurity, employee experience, and engineering excellence. Sesh details his experience handling a major cyber incident at Western Digital and the framework he applied to identify vulnerabilities and establish guardrails to mitigate future cyber incidents. He also talks about his approach to improving operational and engineering excellence at the company and explains the importance of culture in IT. Furthermore, he reflects on his journey across various scaled and fast-growing technology companies and shares the future trends in technology that excite him, such as generative AI and digital twins in manufacturing.
Also available on YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mNVAKbYgZAo
890: During the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, the US Postal Service (USPS) had to rapidly set up infrastructure to ship subsidized test kits, scaling their operations within three weeks. In this episode of Technovation, Peter High interviews Pritha Mehra, Chief Information Officer and Executive Vice President of USPS, about this incredible story and the resulting digital transformation. With 34 years at USPS, including more than three and a half as CIO, Pritha discusses the immense technological infrastructure she oversees, including 32,000 network locations and over 930 applications. She highlights USPS’s modernization efforts to stay competitive, their significant role during the pandemic, and initiatives to enhance employee experience and efficiency. Pritha also delves into the implementation of digital twins for tracking packages, the importance of data, AI, and machine learning, and fostering a culture of curiosity and innovation within her team.
Also available on YouTube:
889: Venture capital has driven technological advancement from hardware companies like Cisco to software giants like Google. But what does the future hold? In this episode of Technovation, host Peter High talks with Saul Klein, co-founder and managing partner of Phoenix Court, about his insights on a more balanced future for tech VC. They discuss Saul’s innovative approach, which includes managing four distinct funds—LocalGlobe, Latitude, Solr, and Basecamp—to strategically support potential unicorns. With experience as a partner at Index Ventures and a non-executive director at the UK’s Department for Science, Innovation, and Technology, Saul shares insights on the European and Israeli tech ecosystems, the historical and social context of innovation, and the need to demystify venture capital. Additionally, he analyzes the impact of Brexit on innovation, regulation, and trade agreements, and delves into the social impact initiatives of Phoenix Court and his perspectives on the future of tech investment.
Also available on YouTube:
https://youtu.be/cDSfhLPypVo
888: The rapid pace of technological change, particularly with the advent of AI tools, has drastically decreased the average half-life of skills to less than five years, necessitating a focus on continuous learning at every level. In this episode of Technovation, we feature a panel from our May 2024 Metis Strategy Digital Symposium, where Liberty Mutual Global CIO Monica Caldas and WestRock CIDO Amir Kazmi speak with Metis Strategy Partner and East Coast Lead Alex Kraus about future-oriented storytelling, talent upskilling, and innovation processes. Discover how Liberty Mutual leverages its ecosystem of partners to develop the ‘Skills to Fuel our Future’ strategy, maturing employee skills in data, software, and AI, and how Amir at WestRock emphasizes purpose-driven innovation and a growth mindset. Both executives also share their thoughts on executive storytelling, cultural nuances in approaching different personas, and the importance of metrics for evaluating performance and progress.
Also available on YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-LJtslLseeo
887: Peter Zeihan, renowned geopolitical strategist and founder of Zeihan on Geopolitics, wrote in his most recent book, “the seeds of deglobalization were sown decades ago.” Since then, the world has seen both demographic and economic shifts that further validate his analysis. In this episode, Peter High interviews Peter Zeihan about his deep insights on topics intersecting demography, economics, energy, politics, technology, and security. The conversation delves into Zeihan’s perspectives on Stalin’s influence on the global order, the early indicators of deglobalization, and the demographic challenges leading to economic declines. Zeihan provides an in-depth look at the geopolitical futures of major powers like China, Russia, and the United States. He explains the mechanisms driving historic trends, the ongoing conflict with Ukraine, and what might be expected on the world stage in the coming years. Pivoting more locally, Zeihan discusses his predictions for the 2024 US Presidential elections, what each candidate’s win might mean for America’s role on the world stage, and what needs to happen for the US to keep pace with the shifting trends toward deglobalization. Finally, Zeihan gives his thoughts on which other countries might come out on top in the coming years once the dust settles.
Also available on YouTube:
886: In high-stakes negotiations, whether for ransom, cyber extortion, or business dealings, emotional self-regulation, empathy, and trust-building, alongside practical stress management techniques, are critical to achieving a successful outcome. In this episode of Technovation, Peter High interviews Scott Walker, a former Scotland Yard detective-turned-crisis and risk management consultant about his experience in crisis management and the skills he wishes to pass along to help others in similar situations. With 16 years of experience in serious crime investigation and military intelligence, Scott shares his journey into crisis management, his techniques for negotiation, and the importance of emotional intelligence and resilience. He offers practical advice on how to regulate emotions, build trust through empathy, and manage high-pressure situations, illustrating these with stories from his career. Scott also delves into the parallels between kidnap negotiations and cyber extortion, emphasizing the critical role of time and trust in successful outcomes. His recently published book, ‘Order Out of Chaos,’ further explores these themes to help readers thrive in adversity and become world-class communicators.
For more information about Scott’s career and his speaking sessions, you can connect with him on LinkedIn.
Also available on YouTube:
885: Organizations navigate a landscape marked by frequent AI interface releases, expanding interaction channels, and heightened expectations for quick, seamless, personalized experiences. Emphasizing responsible customer data use, they strive to balance AI with human touch to enhance both customer and employee engagement. In this episode of Technovation, a panel from our May 2024 Metis Strategy Digital Symposium features Bala Subramanian, Executive Vice President and Chief Digital and Technology Officer at UPS, and Marty Brodbeck, Chief Technology Officer at Priceline, in conversation with Metis Strategy Co-Head of Research, Media, and Executive Networks Steven Norton about customer experience in the age of AI. Bala discusses UPS’s tech-driven improvements in customer and employee experiences and operational efficiency, while Marty outlines Priceline’s use of AI tools for enhanced customer care and efficiency. They delve into evolving customer expectations, generative AI applications, and the balance of tech with human touch. Both emphasize leveraging data and innovation for efficiency, effectiveness, and new business models, stressing the importance of robust data infrastructure and foreseeing AI’s potential to boost operational productivity and drive future development.
Also available on YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b_zxGsY_lVI
884: Although AI won’t fundamentally change the notion of leadership, it challenges business leaders to adopt it to enhance their workforce, fostering innovation and competitive value. In this episode, Peter interviews David De Cremer, Dean of the D’Amore-McKim School of Business at Northeastern University and a Professor in Management and Technology. David, with an esteemed career in AI and management studies across global institutions like Cambridge University and the National University of Singapore, discusses his journey into artificial intelligence and its significant impact on business leadership. He delves into his latest book, “The AI-Savvy Leader: Nine Ways to Take Back Control and Make AI Work,” and the core leadership skills necessary to harness AI effectively. As a dean, David offers his perspective on AI in education, emphasizing how “outputs have become the inputs” and AI’s role in making better decisions post-graduation. The conversation also covers cultural nuances in AI adoption across different continents, the balance between human intelligence and AI, and the role of purpose-driven AI integration in modern businesses. Tune in for profound insights into how AI can augment human capabilities rather than replace them, and the critical leadership qualities needed in the AI era.
Also available on YouTube:
https://youtu.be/gfKlylYYnWI
883: Innovation can be transformative for companies in terms of internal productivity and efficiency, but there is often even greater potential in advancing that innovation to productize it for external use. In this episode of Technovation, Peter High interviews Prasanna Gopalakrishnan, Group Chief Technology Officer at Sky Group, about her perspective on the innovation cycle within the company, from value-driven use cases to potential monetization and productization strategies. Prasanna discusses her role, managing technology across multiple markets, and leading an innovation engineering team focused on future-state technology. She highlights the use of AI and data analytics to enhance customer experiences and operational efficiency and considers the potential impact of quantum computing on Sky’s industry. Prasanna also explores the opportunities and challenges of generative AI, particularly in creating personalized sports highlights and addressing IP concerns. Additionally, she emphasizes the importance of hyper-personalization in customer engagement and shares insights into Sky’s strategies for monetizing technological developments. Prasanna also reflects on her global career journey and experiences serving on the board of Tesco Bank, drawing lessons from her extensive background in financial services.
Also available on YouTube:
https://youtu.be/Ickbnxbr6tM
882: The IT organizations within universities operate similarly to those in the corporate sector, but the role of the technology leader often differs in terms of both authority and responsibility. In this episode of Technovation, Peter High interviews Tom Murphy, the Senior Vice President of Information Technology and University Chief Information Officer at the University of Pennsylvania about the innovation he is driving, the obstacles universities are facing, and more. With over a decade of experience at Penn and multiple tenures as a CIO in the private sector, Tom shares his insights on managing the challenges of a highly decentralized IT function, starting with the successful centralization of the email system, and reflects on the lessons learned in serving a diverse set of constituents. Tom also discusses the significant impact generative AI has had on education and why he believes the future lies in embracing this technology and integrating it into the curriculum with appropriate tools to detect plagiarism and enhance the education process. Drawing from his extensive experience as a technology executive in the corporate world, he reflects on the unique challenges faced when transitioning into higher education, the higher levels of collaboration among peer CIOs at other universities, and the influences these experiences have had on his perspective of a career in IT.
Also available on YouTube:
https://youtu.be/56T5xdnybMk
881: Fame is often perceived as a pathway to wealth, popularity, and happiness, but its reality is more nuanced than commonly thought. In this episode of Technovation, Peter High hosts Harvard Professor and author Cass Sunstein to discuss his latest book, ‘How to Become Famous: Lost Einsteins, Forgotten Superstars, and How the Beatles Came to Be.’ Throughout their conversation, Cass explores his method of selecting long-term projects and the creative journey of developing ideas with modest claims to originality into compelling books. He shares insights from his research, including stories of the Beatles’ rise to fame, Taylor Swift and Beyoncé as contemporary examples of fame’s mechanisms, and the lessons from unrecognized talent. Cass also reflects on The Music Lab Experiment, his tenure at the University of Chicago, and his broader career.
Also available on YouTube:
https://youtu.be/gvJ-iRvls-E
880: Few industries are as knowledge-centric as pharma and healthcare, where groundbreaking innovations can positively impact lives and potentially eradicate diseases. In this episode of Technovation, we feature a discussion from our May 2024 Metis Strategy Digital Symposium, where AstraZeneca CDO/CIO Cindy Hoots, Bristol Myers Squibb CDTO Greg Meyers, and Eli Lilly CIDO Diogo Rau explore the profound impact of artificial intelligence on talent management, research and development, and operational efficiencies within the pharma industry. These executives delve into the innovative applications of AI, from improving clinical trials and document generation to enhancing internal workflows and customer service. Discover how these AI pioneers are laying the foundation for a future where AI and human ingenuity drive unprecedented advancements in medicine and patient care.
Also available on YouTube:
https://youtu.be/m-PiyETgWRU
879: AI can serve as a great enabler of customer experiences and breakthrough innovations, but a lack of preparation and organizational readiness often limits how quickly companies can adopt and leverage AI tools. In this episode of Technovation, we feature a panel from our May 2024 Metis Strategy Digital Symposium where Praveen Jonnala, CIO of CommScope, and Tim Dickson, CDIO of Regal Rexnord, speak with Metis Strategy Partner and Central Office Lead Mike Bertha about how organizations can prepare to leverage AI effectively. The panel explores strategies like the 80/20 principle of organizational readiness at CommScope, the creation and implementation of AI playbooks, and the importance of data quality. Learn about practical approaches to upskilling internal teams, leveraging external partners, and focusing on business-driven AI initiatives.
Also available on YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tivq9nY18Hg
878: Centuries-old industries like the legal profession and home-building are typically slower to adopt the latest advancements in technology, but even these industries today are taking advantage of the benefits provided by new artificial intelligence tools. In this episode of Technovation, we feature a panel from our most recent Metis Strategy Digital Symposium where Greg Moore, Chief Information Officer at KB Home, and Michael Lucas, Chief Information Officer at Wilson Sonsini discuss the topic of driving digital innovation ahead of disruption with Metis Strategy Partner and West Coast Lead Chris Davis. Greg shares insights into how KB Home uses technology to enhance customer experiences and streamline operations, while Michael explains Wilson Sonsini’s use of AI-driven legal tools to improve service delivery. Both leaders highlight the importance of fostering a culture of continuous learning and adapting to new technologies.
Also available on YouTube:
https://youtu.be/gcPPotyKJ6M
877: Kellogg’s has become a household name in cereals and snack foods. When the company spun off its snack food business as Kellanova in 2023, extensive IT efforts were made to preserve the company’s culture and brand identity. In this episode of Technovation, Lesley Salmon, SVP and Chief Digital and Information Officer of Kellanova, joins Peter High to share insights from her 11-year tenure, detail the challenges and innovations involved in the spin-off of Kellanova from Kellogg’s, and provide a deeper look at the strategic priorities of the new company. She emphasizes the importance of a unified IT team, leveraging cloud strategy for seamless transitions, the creation of dual IT functions, and the integration of AI and machine learning to drive business value. Lesley also discusses fostering a culture of curiosity and innovation, balancing risk with compliance, and maintaining strong global collaboration despite geographical boundaries. She also talks about the unique talent development program YODA that drives this culture of curiosity and how it embraces new ways of working in a global setting. Finally, Lesley looks ahead at the future trends in digital twins and reflects on the keys to her career success.
Also available on YouTube:
https://youtu.be/-heV4wZNmVY
876: Despite extensive regulations and public health efforts, 1 billion people still smoke today, prompting companies like Philip Morris International (PMI) to develop better alternatives to continued smoking. In this episode of Technovation, Michael Voegele, the Chief Digital and Information Officer of PMI, joins Peter High to discuss the company’s ambitious journey towards creating a smoke-free future and the innovative role of AI and data in this endeavor. Michael talks about PMI’s transformation from a traditional tobacco company to a leader in smoke-free products, driven by significant technological and digital innovations. He shares insights into the role of technology in evolving business models, the importance of data governance in leveraging AI tools, and the people-first approach to fostering a fast-learning organizational culture. Michael also reflects on lessons from his previous experience as Group CIO of Adidas, offers advice on career growth in tech leadership, and looks ahead at trends in AR, VR, and generative AI.
Also available on YouTube:
https://youtu.be/AtghoRyEH9M
875: Buying a car is often a significant decision for many households, and a process filled with friction only adds to the stress of the customer experience. In this episode of Technovation, Jim Lyski, Chief Strategy and Innovation Officer at CarMax, joins Peter High to discuss the innovations he is driving to enhance customer experience, address information imbalances in the used car industry, and revolutionize the vehicle purchase process. Jim explores the history of CarMax, his role in shaping the company’s direction, and the collaborative culture he fosters within his team. He explains how the company improves customer experiences through its transparent no-haggle pricing model, personalized vehicle recommendations, and virtual showrooms. Jim also emphasizes the importance of responsible AI, detailing the development of an AI Center of Excellence and the necessity of providing accurate data. Finally, Jim discusses the positive impact of a good associate experience on customer satisfaction, looks ahead at future trends in generative AI, and reflects on the keys to his career success.
Also available on YouTube:
https://youtu.be/Bn-FfbKNljw
874: In the realm of payments, integrating an AI assistant can significantly streamline operations and ease the burden on support teams handling common customer inquiries. In this installment of Technovation, Shannon Johnston, Senior Vice President and Chief Information Officer at Global Payments, explores the company’s focus on enhancing internal capabilities and automating processes. Specifically, she delves into the utilization of chatbots for customer service and co-pilots for development teams. Shannon highlights the benefits of these technologies in boosting performance and improving both customer and employee experiences. Additionally, she outlines the implementation of GenAI tools within her organization, stressing the importance of security and privacy. Looking ahead, Shannon discusses the ongoing evolution and refinement of these initiatives while reflecting on the key factors driving her career success.
Also available on YouTube:
https://youtu.be/zS3a3WIDYQk
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This episode is sponsored by Cisco’s Panoptica.
873: As demographics shift and alter people’s news and media consumption habits, companies such as the Washington Post are implementing significant changes in how they engage with their readers, adopting new technologies internally to stay abreast of new trends. In this episode of Technovation, Peter High is joined in conversation by Vineet Khosla, CTO of The Washington Post, and they explore the transformative changes in technology and innovation at this iconic news organization. Vineet shares insights into his role, the integration of AI throughout the company, and the omnichannel approach to delivering news. Vineet also discusses how his team leverages data, analytics, and AI to enhance the reader experience and adapt to the changing media landscape. He also details his journey from roles at Uber and Apple to leading The Post’s tech team, his views on the future of news, and the exciting potential of quantum computing.
Also available on YouTube:
https://youtu.be/dEDCbaxdGuM
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This episode is sponsored by Cisco’s Panoptica.
872: Deploying AI or any new technology across an enterprise can quickly become time-consuming and expensive if not approached with a plan in mind. In this episode of Technovation, host Peter High interviews Deepika Rayala, the Chief Digital and Information Officer at Cornerstone OnDemand, and speaks with her about her ‘frugal IT’ approach and how she thinks about AI deployment at the company. Deepika shares insights into her role, focusing on IT operations, data, corporate security, and the implementation of Generative AI. She highlights key initiatives like the North Star program, which integrated multiple acquisitions through advanced IT infrastructure, and the AI innovation her team has deployed to enhance productivity across the company. Additionally, she covers the digital academy that she has helped develop to upskill and train employees on skills for the future. Deepika also touches on the future of hybrid work, the impact of generative AI and quantum computing, and her personal leadership philosophy characterized by authenticity, empathy, situational leadership, and resilience.
Also available on YouTube:
https://youtu.be/4oXov5W_YIs
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This episode is sponsored by Cisco’s Panoptica.
871: In the age of artificial intelligence, cybersecurity has become of utmost importance to protect private information and customer data. In this episode of Technovation, host Peter High speaks with Gafnit Amiga, leader of the security research group at Outshift by Cisco, where they delve into the evolving landscape of cloud and artificial intelligence security. Gafnit, having a substantial background in application and cloud security, shares her journey from Lightspin to Cisco, highlighting her team’s focus on identifying and mitigating potential security vulnerabilities in cloud services, Kubernetes, software supply chains, and AI. She shares insights on the unique challenges AI presents to security, the importance of observability, and the continuous game of staying ahead of threats. Gafnit also discusses the diversity and approach of her research team in tackling security challenges, reflecting on the transition from a startup to being part of Cisco, and offers advice to CIOs and CISOs on safeguarding against emerging security threats.
Also available on YouTube:
https://youtu.be/3oWYF1zNNcM
870: Innovation is key to becoming a nimble enterprise, and an important way to foster a culture of innovation is to ensure employees have the ability and the forum to share their ideas. In this episode of Technovation, Brett Lansing, Chief Information Officer of AccentCare, shares his insight into how technology, particularly innovations like generative AI, plays a crucial role in enhancing patient services and alleviating the administrative burden on clinicians, and the process behind driving that innovation at the company. He discusses the importance of aligning technology with business strategy, challenging the status quo, and fostering a culture of innovation and employee satisfaction. Brett dives into the Quarterly Ideas Forum he has developed to amplify voices across AccentCare and ensure the company isn’t resting on its laurels. Brett also highlights the significance of cybersecurity in healthcare and shares his experiences and benefits of working in a private equity-owned company. Finally, Brett concludes with the keys to his success and recounts the career development philosophies passed down to him, offering valuable guidance for increasing marketability and succeeding in leadership roles.
Also available on YouTube:
https://youtu.be/IYTAQ0z-liA
869: The new digital tools available to logistics providers have allowed these companies to reimagine what the network of the future looks like. In this episode of Technovation, host Peter High interviews Bala Subramanian, Executive Vice President and Chief Digital and Technology Officer at UPS, about how they are using these new tools to become a ‘logistics orchestrator’. They discuss UPS’s role in global logistics and its digital transformation efforts aimed at enhancing customer and employee experiences, and improving organizational agility. Bala shares insights into his background, including his stint as Chief Digital Officer at AT&T, and delves into UPS’s initiatives like creating a digital twin of the network, expanding the use of RFID for package tracking, and developing UPS’s DeliveryDefense to protect against fraud. Additionally, Bala and Peter cover the importance of digital and data fluency, the concept of logistics as a service, and the vision for a network of the future that mimics an IP network’s flexibility. Bala also reflects on the cultural and leadership aspects key to successful digital transformation and other lessons he has learned across his career.
Also available on YouTube:
868: As data becomes increasingly valuable, technology executives have the important task of ensuring the company’s data infrastructure allows for efficiency and scalability. In this episode of Technovation, James Rhodes, President of Morningstar Data Research and Enterprise Solutions and the company’s Chief Technology Officer, joins Peter High in a discussion about modernizing the company’s enterprise architecture and enhancing the client experience with improved personalization. James elaborates on the three hats he wears in his current role at the company and the approach he is taking to modernize legacy systems for scalability and efficiency. He shares insights on driving customer personalization at scale, leveraging AI for better financial advice, and establishing a Responsible AI Council to ensure the company retains its transparency and client trust. James also describes the evolution of their AI-driven digital assistant ‘Mo’ and how it will augment, but not replace, the financial advisor. Finally, James shares the technology trends on his radar including digital avatars for enhancing customer engagement and the advancement of cybersecurity measures, and the keys to success that he’s learned across his career.
Also available on YouTube:
https://youtu.be/O0VPjY4Eg9A
867: In a global organization, an enterprise architecture that links technology to its everyday users enables IT to better identify and deliver value-added opportunities. In this episode of Technovation, host Peter High interviews Jonathan Webster, the senior managing director and chief operating officer of CPP Investments. Jon discusses his career journey, his experience at Boston Consulting Group and Lloyds Banking Group, and the transition from the CIO role into the COO role. Jon talks about the strategic importance of technology and data in driving investment strategies, the shift towards a product-based technology delivery model, the implementation of a modular architecture, and the potential of generative AI to revolutionize workflows. Jon emphasizes the significance of being software-defined for security, integrating user-centric design, and the necessity of fostering a culture of curiosity, dissatisfaction with the status quo, and thorough understanding within his team. Finally, Jon reflects on the kets to his career success and looks ahead at the trends in generative AI and other technologies.
Also available on YouTube:
866: The role of IT within companies is constantly evolving, driven forward by tech sector companies as they propel it into the future. In this episode of Technovation, Peter High speaks with Intel’s CIO, Motti Finkelstein, about the future of IT and his strategies for preparing the IT organization within Intel to lead this industry-wide evolution. Having transitioned into his role roughly six months ago from serving as the company’s Digital Transformation Officer, Motti elaborates on the various organizations within the broader Intel Corporation and outlines his current focal points, including cloud computing, data center innovations, the Internet of Things, and PC solutions. He shares insights into Intel’s distinctive position as both a product designer and manufacturer and delves into the complexities of his role as a tech-sector CIO. With the recent release of Intel’s IT Annual Report titled ‘The Next Evolution of IT,’ Motti highlights key points from the report, such as the significant role artificial intelligence plays in improving the company’s operational efficiency and the emphasis placed on enhancing the customer experience. The conversation also encompasses Intel’s strides in integrating sustainability into its product design and how sustainability is emerging as a critical focus for IT leaders across sectors. Finally, Motti reflects on his career journey, his motivations for joining Intel at a pivotal moment in its history, and the noteworthy trend of integrating security into software products.
Read the 2023-2024 Intel IT Annual Report:
www.intel.com/ITAnnualReport
Also available on YouTube:
https://youtu.be/nODyFwt89SM
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This episode is sponsored by Nile.
865: CEOs of major companies serve as both the public face of the organization and pivotal leaders responsible for shaping its strategy and upholding internal values through their actions. In this episode of Technovation, Jim Kavanaugh, co-founder and CEO of World Wide Technology, joins Peter High in a conversation regarding his 34-year leadership tenure at the company and the career path that culminated in his current position. Jim shares his early career journey, playing professional soccer and representing the United States in the 1984 Summer Olympics, and what led him to pivot into technology and co-found WWT in 1990. He reflects on the transition from athlete to entrepreneur, the influence of his upbringing, and the foundational values that have guided his leadership and WWT’s culture. Jim also gives his assessment of the evolution of technology since starting WWT, the strategic pivots the company has made to stay ahead in the industry, and the importance of culture, teamwork, and continuous learning in driving success. Given the rise and current significance of generative AI as a transformative technology, Jim talks about the role this technology plays at the company and how WWT’s Advanced Technology Center explores future tech advancements. Finally, he recounts the lessons he has learned from his remarkable career and offers valuable advice for individuals seeking to level up their leadership within their organizations.
Also available on YouTube:
https://youtu.be/T6PnxUFIDo0
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This episode is sponsored by Nile.
864: In many cases, companies develop systems with a primary focus on efficiency and begin to address their impacts on the customer late in the process. At BJ’s Wholesale Club, CIO Anjana Harve looks to flip this around with the customer experience in mind at the beginning and end of the process. In this episode of Technovation, Anjana joins Peter in a discussion on improving the digital customer experience at BJ’s Wholesale, optimizing revenue, and boosting efficiency. With extensive experience as a CIO in the healthcare industry, Anjana brings a unique perspective to the retail sector, focusing on customer centricity and the application of technology to serve and improve the member experience at BJ’s. She delves into her strategy for a member-centric architecture that provides a 360-degree view of the customer and fosters hyper-personalization at scale. Finally, Anjana shares her perspective on how companies can uplift and support women in tech, the trends and intersections in technology she keeps her eye on, and the secrets to her continued career success.
Also available on YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ISE12zJFaGI
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This episode is sponsored by Nile.
863: In the Digital Age, customers rarely distinguish between digital and physical when evaluating the experiences provided by companies. In this episode of Technovation, Tilak Mandadi, Executive Vice President of Ventures and Chief Digital, Data, Analytics, and Technology Officer at CVS Health, joins Peter High in a discussion about how he is driving a consistent and accurate omnichannel experience for customers. Tilak discusses the evolution and current scope of CVS Health, detailing the company’s extensive reach and current integration of physical and digital healthcare services. He reflects on his career journey from MGM Resorts International and Disney to CVS Health and how his prior experiences have informed his view on digital innovation, customer-centricity, and healthcare accessibility. Tilak talks about leading CVS Health Ventures and the organization’s role in fostering innovation and investments in healthcare technology, keeping CVS Health abreast of industry trends, and providing critical assistance to startups through the company’s scale and expertise. Finally, Tilak explains why a one-company mentality is essential for creating better customer experiences, looks ahead at broader technology trends in AI and digital accessibility, and speaks about the personal principles that have guided his career success.
Also available on YouTube:
https://youtu.be/81VoMuFh9uI
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This episode is sponsored by Nile.
862: Tomorrow’s banking will be unrecognizable to past generations, driven by rapid technological and digital advances in the financial services industry. In this episode of Technovation, Ather Williams III, the Senior EVP and Head of Strategy, Digital, Innovation & Enterprise Payments at Wells Fargo, returns to the broadcast to discuss the progress being made towards providing a comprehensive digital customer experience and the exciting innovations he is driving which leverage the latest tools in artificial intelligence (AI). Ather shares the recent expansion of his role to include the head of enterprise payments and the organizational rationale behind it. He delves into the strategic focus on delivering seamless digital experiences through new digital platforms highlighting initiatives such as the development of Vantage, the bank’s new digital banking platform; the adoption of Fargo, the digital assistant powered by AI; and the deployment of LifeSync, the digital financial advice and planning tool. The conversation also covers Ather’s three major predictions for the future of banking, the company’s strategic approach to digital transformation, and the anticipation of significant generational wealth transfers. Finally, Ather shares insights into his career success, emphasizing the importance of being data-driven, staying customer-focused, and fostering a curious mentality.
Also available on YouTube:
https://youtu.be/Ri49ihWVUCc
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This episode is sponsored by Nile.
861: Kara Swisher has established herself as one of the tech world’s most influential, recognizable, and ‘feared-but-revered’ journalists. In this episode of Technovation, Peter High speaks with Kara about her remarkable career journey and highlights from her recent book “Burn Book”. Kara reflects on the events from her early life that instilled a sense of resilience and toughness and the impacts they had on her career success. She touches on her military ambitions, the early realization of the limitations imposed on her by her sexual orientation, and how that inspired her to instead pursue journalism. Kara then shares her experiences from her decorated career as a tech journalist interviewing tech giants, developing a critical view of Silicon Valley’s leadership, and learning the role of technology, media, and government regulation in society. Throughout the conversation, Kara sheds light on the impact of technology on societal progression and the continual need for innovation in media.
Learn more about “Burn Book”: https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Burn-Book/Kara-Swisher/9781982163891
Also available on YouTube:
https://youtu.be/L8XH3X5eDvI
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This episode is sponsored by Nile.
860: Artificial intelligence (AI) plays a larger role than ever in every aspect of our lives. From businesses to academia, technology leaders must not only learn how to wield these tools but also how to collaborate with them. In this episode of Technovation, Ethan Mollick, Associate Professor of Management at The Wharton School, discusses insights from his latest book “Co-Intelligence: Living and Working with AI” and focuses the conversation around the dynamic interplay between humans and artificial intelligence. Ethan begins by reflecting on his early entrepreneurship journey during the internet boom and his eventual pivot into academia pioneering educational methods using AI and simulations at Wharton Interactive. He shares his research on the implications of AI on work and creativity, demystifies common myths around entrepreneurship, and provides a glimpse into an AI-driven future of entrepreneurship. Furthermore, Ethan delves into the ‘Four Rules of Co-Intelligence’ explained in his book, talks through the variety of roles that AI can play ranging from a co-founder to a tutor, and emphasizes the importance of a proactive and experiential approach to integrating AI into educational and professional environments citing its potential challenges and opportunities.
Learn more about the book “Co-Intelligence”: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/741805/co-intelligence-by-ethan-mollick/
This interview was recorded in early March 2024.
Also available on YouTube:
https://youtu.be/ewpjPyZExow
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This episode is sponsored by Nile.
859: As the digital landscape continues to evolve rapidly, executives are quick to understand that doing the same thing they did before isn’t going to get them where they need to go in the future. In a panel from our February 2024 Metis Strategy Symposium, Sunbelt Rentals CDTO JP Saini and Grainger CTO Jonny LeRoy join Metis Strategy Co-Head of Research, Media, and Executive Networks Steven Norton in a discussion about digital as an enabler of scale and how these executives are evolving their organizations’ business practices through the integration of technology and people to achieve growth and efficiency. JP and Jonny share insights on their companies’ journeys toward digital transformation, focusing on scaling operations, enhancing customer experiences, and improving predictive maintenance and service quality. These executives also cover the significance of culture, value alignment, and leadership in driving innovation and operational change. The discussion also covers the role of AI in enhancing productivity and decision-making highlighting the practical applications both JP and Jonny have identified and the challenges they’ve encountered in managing the costs of emerging technology. Finally, both technology leaders conclude with strategies they’ve implemented within their organizations for maintaining a forward-looking mindset and inspiring teams to navigate the dynamic landscape of technology and business.
Also available on YouTube:
https://youtu.be/F4M_KFibouM
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This episode is sponsored by Nile.
858: The world of travel today is defined by digital experiences and powered by technology. At Marriott, CTO Naveen Manga is leading a digital transformation across the company’s 30 brands to bring guests the digital experiences they desire and transform the hospitality industry as a whole. In this episode of Technovation, Peter High speaks with Naveen about technology transformation and Marriott’s new tech-enabled headquarters, which serves as a symbol of how the company has embraced technology in its corporate strategy. Naveen provides insight into the new technology capabilities his team has delivered, including a revolutionary composable architecture, and a range of other initiatives. Finally, Naveen looks ahead at trends in artificial intelligence and other emerging technologies and shares how he has fostered a culture of innovation in his team to be able to act upon these trends quickly.
Also available on YouTube:
https://youtu.be/rqSazUGK8Y4
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This episode is sponsored by Nile.
857: In the last decade, companies across a variety of industries have experienced the ascent of the as-a-service model. At Nile Secure, Co-Founder and CEO Pankaj Patel has pioneered the category of network-as-a-service featuring built-in security, automation, and continuous monitoring for maximum performance. In this episode of Technovation, Peter High speaks with Pankaj about this category of network-as-a-service and the broader mission of Nile. Pankaj reflects on his early career at Cisco, the challenges he saw in the IT landscape, and how the partnership with Cisco’s former CEO John Chambers led to the eventual establishment of Nile Secure. He also details the market transitions that influenced the company’s founding, the impact of AI and automation in network engineering, and what the future ahead looks like for the industry. Finally, Pankaj looks back on starting a company as a grandfather, balancing family life with work, and the secrets to his career success including early customer interaction and emphasis on team building.
Also available on YouTube:
https://youtu.be/Ja1Iy1bch5g
856: With a wide range of levers at their disposal, technology and operational executives are strategically positioned to be masters of speed within their respective organizations. In this episode, we feature a panel from our February 2024 Metis Strategy Digital Symposium where Jen Felch, Chief Digital Officer and Chief Information Officer of Dell, and Mojgan Lefebvre, Chief Technology and Operations Officer of Travelers speak with Peter High about how they drive speed and agility at their companies. Both executives discuss cultivating a culture of speed and innovation on their team, leading the change management associated with the mindset shift toward agility, and the methods they use to accelerate and automate processes within the organization. Jen and Mojgan also dive deeper into the types of technology they are using today and the emerging technologies like advancements in artificial intelligence that are on their radar for the future.
Also available on YouTube:
https://youtu.be/GG3qnUELhFw
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This episode is sponsored by ASAPP.
855: As digital capabilities become more important to competitive positioning, companies have begun to rethink the composition of their digital and IT workforces. In a panel from our February 2024 Metis Strategy Digital Symposium, Brink’s Global CIO Neelu Sethi and Zurich North America COO Barry Perkins join Metis Strategy Partner and Central Office Lead Michael Bertha in a conversation about optimizing workforce composition for digital maturity. Tune in to the discussion to hear these executives speak about shifting workforce compositions within their organizations, focusing on storytelling when driving the mindset shift, and the cultural implications of the new composition.
Also available on YouTube:
https://youtu.be/Q1En0BXnO2I
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This episode is sponsored by ASAPP.
854: The pandemic has caused executives from across industries to think through how to best prepare their organizations for times of uncertainty and develop a digital strategy that fosters resilience. In a panel discussion moderated by Metis Strategy Partner and West Coast Lead Chris Davis, Shobie Ramakrishnan, CDTO of GSK, and Diego Silva, CIO of Gates Corporation, discuss building resilience through technology amid disruption. Shobie, hailing from a long-standing science and pharmaceutical company, emphasizes the importance of innovation and the dual approach of playing offense and defense in digital and technological implementations to impact global health positively. Diego shares insights from Gates Corporation’s manufacturing and materials science advancements, highlighting how investing during downturns can prepare a company for future success. Both executives explore the significance of cybersecurity, AI responsibility, and supply chain management in maintaining a resilient organization and underscore the need to balance investment in innovation with risk management to navigate uncertain times effectively.
Also available on YouTube:
https://youtu.be/PmDFsw-tA_8
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This episode is sponsored by ASAPP.
853: Advancing and maintaining digital capabilities can be a tall task especially if for organizations that are not digitally native, or those that have been in existence and operating before the onset of the Digital Age. In this episode of Technovation, we feature a panel from our February 2024 Metis Strategy Digital Symposium with FM Global Chief Strategy & Innovation Officer Srini Krishnamurthy and Northrop Grumman Chief Information Officer John Russell speaking on the topic of advancing digital capabilities in non-digital-native organizations. Both executives discuss their digital strategies, automating processes within their organizations, and the role technology overall plays in the broader corporate strategy. Additionally, these executives share their forward-looking perspectives on the advancement of artificial intelligence, the opportunities it will present, and the challenges that will be faced.
Also available on YouTube:
https://youtu.be/5b0UytoVPko
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This episode is sponsored by ASAPP.
852: Technology executives within an organization are no longer solely regarded as a support function having had their responsibilities grow into key business decision-makers with a seat at the table. According to Total Quality Logistics (TQL) CIO Ryan Kean, tech execs are “business leaders first and technology leaders second.” In this episode of Technovation, Peter High speaks with Ryan about the massive growth TQL has experienced over the past few years and the elements of his strategy that have helped facilitate that growth. Ryan discusses the broader modernization of the logistics industry, the focus he has placed on people and talent development, and the importance of having a sound data strategy. He also shares the work being done to improve the business user experience for the clients TQL serves, the company’s shift toward a product-oriented approach, and the interplay between automation and process innovation at the company. Ryan dives deeper into the Hackathons TQL hosts to bring about innovative ideas within the company, the advancements in AI that have come from those events, and the emphasis placed on celebrating the successes of talent within the company. Finally, Ryan looks ahead at the broader impacts of trends in emerging technologies and reflects on the keys to his career success.
Also available on YouTube:
https://youtu.be/RB-W8dcRZt8
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This episode is sponsored by ASAPP.
851: Following the COVID-19 Pandemic, companies operating within the biopharmaceutical space are seeing an increased need to stay ahead of technology trends and keep pace with the speed at which digital technology is evolving. At Danaher, the leading producer of technology and services for biopharma companies, CTO James Ross is leading a digital transformation that sets the foundation for future agility and “innovation at the speed of life.” In this episode of Technovation, Peter High speaks with James about the company’s transformation, the strategic areas of focus for his team, and how he is shifting away from the legacy OpCo model towards an IT-centric model. James also discusses the importance of Danaher’s Data and Analytics Strategy, their exploration of AI tools, and other areas of innovation. Finally, James looks ahead at the trends in technology, reaffirms the growing popularization of the metaverse, and reflects on the keys to success from his career journey.
Also available on YouTube:
https://youtu.be/clZScYK8oek
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This episode is sponsored by Codeium and ASAPP.
850: With patient care being the top priority for healthcare providers, offering digital experiences for clients and associates and integrating technology into every aspect of operations is crucial in staying ahead of the competition. In this episode of Technovation, Jane Moran, the Chief Information and Digital Officer at Mass General Brigham, discusses the impact of integrating technology in healthcare. Jane shares her experiences transitioning into the non-profit healthcare sector, the strategic unification of technological operations within Mass General Brigham, and the emphasis on improving patient care through digital innovation. She notes the catalytic effect the pandemic had on digital innovation across industries, explains the advancements that her team has made in identifying use cases for AI tools, and provides a deeper look at the newly founded digital research operations team at the company. Jane also delves into her passion for fostering greater health equity and championing diversity. Finally, she shares her insights on the technology trends that are on her radar and reflects on the keys to her career success.
Also available on YouTube:
https://youtu.be/mTGCZNgjmwQ
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This episode is sponsored by Codeium and ASAPP.
849: In a world of work defined by remote employees, management skills are crucial for executives to retain talent, develop culture, and achieve success. In this episode of Technovation, host Peter High interviews David Dodson, a seasoned entrepreneur, author, and academic at Stanford Graduate School of Business, to discuss Dodson’s career journey, from his initial foray into investment vehicles called search funds to his ongoing involvement in over 40 businesses. Dodson highlights the importance of entrepreneurship through acquisition and shares the strategy behind the notable success of companies like Apple and Amazon. He also offers in-depth insight on critical skills for a leader gleaned from his book ‘The Manager’s Handbook: Five Simple Steps to Build a Team, Stay Focused, Make Better Decisions, and Crush Your Competition’. These skills include building teams, managing time, using advisors, sticking to priorities, and obsessing over quality. With real-world examples, Dodson highlights how these skills contribute to successful execution and, ultimately, business success.
Also available on YouTube:
https://youtu.be/Hr9hDWW9iFI
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This episode is sponsored by Codeium and ASAPP.
848: The experience a company delivers to its customers is critical to its success, making it the number one priority for many technology and digital leaders. As such, a paradigm shift is beginning to emerge transitioning from being product-oriented to being experience-oriented. In this episode of Technovation, Ally’s President of Consumer & Commercial Banking Diane Morais and Chief Information, Data, & Digital Officer Sathish Muthukrishnan jointly discuss the digital financial institution’s journey and its focus on being experience-oriented. Throughout the conversation, both executives expand on the company’s digital capabilities they’ve developed and explain how the Ally Technology Operating Model (ATOM) was the answer to creating a better banking experience. Similarly, both Sathish and Diane share details around the One Ally initiative which aims to bring the company’s multiple customer experiences to a single platform powered by data and artificial intelligence. Finally, both executives reflect on the opportunities that have come from challenging times, the innovation process they’ve developed, and the culture of collaboration they’ve fostered to drive forward this experience-oriented mindset.
Also available on YouTube:
https://youtu.be/ZxK_S29xYCo
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This episode is sponsored by Codeium and ASAPP.
847: The digital experiences for both customers and employees are experiencing an overhaul thanks to new artificial intelligence tools at executives’ disposal. But what value do these tools provide? In this episode of Technovation, Munir Hafez, CIO of TransUnion, discusses the role that AI is playing at the company and how it is improving the digital experiences the company provides. He explains how he leverages AI tools in business operations, developer workflows, and the overall employee experience. Munir also talks about how he integrates security into the innovation process and how he manages the multitude of integrations coming from the company’s M&A activities. Finally, Munir looks ahead at the trends in technology that he is keeping an eye on and reflects on the keys to his career success.
Also available on YouTube:
https://youtu.be/c25oyzCqyRk
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This episode is sponsored by Codeium and ASAPP.
846: Enterprises are rapidly accelerating their artificial intelligence strategies as new tools emerge, and the executives at these companies are constantly looking for ways AI can solve big problems that have plagued them for decades. Seeing this niche as an opportunity, Gustavo Sapoznik, the founder and CEO of ASAPP, has led the company toward building products that leverage AI/ML tools to solve the world’s most difficult problems. In this interview, Gustavo sits down with Peter High to describe the journey he went through starting up ASAPP, the value it provides companies, and what inspired him to start down the path of entrepreneurship. Throughout his career, Gustavo has gathered many unique insights on the evolution and potential of artificial intelligence and shares some of what he has learned throughout the conversation. More broadly, Gustavo discusses his personal entrepreneurship journey and his advice for those looking to follow in his footsteps.
Also available on YouTube:
https://youtu.be/f80-LezX3Ag
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This episode is sponsored by Codeium.
845: As with most industries, artificial intelligence has had an immeasurable impact on the entrepreneurial journey and the types of offerings being provided to enterprises from start-ups. In this episode of Technovation, Samsara co-founders Sanjit Biswas and John Bicket join Peter High in a conversation about the genesis story behind the company, its rationale for selling into physical operations, and how artificial intelligence is changing the start-up landscape. Both executives explain the role of AI at the company, the convergence of IT and OT within the industrial sector, and how they came to focus on the industrial sector when starting Samsara. They share how they overcame the learning curve associated with operating in an unfamiliar industry, the evolution of generative AI applications within the industrial sector, and how they’ve built their team with the right skills in technology. Finally, they share their lessons from scaling the business to become a publicly traded company, the trends in technology that are on their radar for the future, and the learnings they’ve taken away from their entrepreneurial journey.
Also available on YouTube:
https://youtu.be/3FkoKK6nflg
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This episode is sponsored by Codeium.
844: The railway industry has gone through a number of technological transformations since its inception, and is again transforming to take full advantage of the latest tools available to rail companies. In this episode of Technovation, Judith Apshago, CDO at Amtrak, joins Peter High in a discussion about her team’s efforts in modernizing the company’s legacy systems. Judith explains the method of bringing mobile technology to employees as a way of improving efficiency and productivity as well as implementing sensors and AI tools into newly manufactured fleets in order to ensure safety and security. She also talks about her focus on sustainability and reducing emissions over the next few years. Finally, Judith reflects on her career journey and provides advice for executives looking to grow into a similar role as hers.
Also available on YouTube:
https://youtu.be/GDbasTf4FBM
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This episode is sponsored by Codeium.
843: The introduction of DevOps and Agile practices revolutionized organizational management, but while these practices helped organizations tackle once-daunting challenges, other problems still remained. In order to help these companies develop better mechanisms for problem-solving and create high-performance teams, award-winning CTO Gene Kim along with his co-author Dr. Steven J. Spear wrote Wiring the Winning Organization with a groundbreaking new theory of organizational management. In this episode, Gene joins Peter in a conversation about this theory and how organizations can win by using three key approaches: slowification, simplification, and amplification. Throughout the conversation, Gene explains each of these three approaches, describes in detail the research he conducted on their benefits, and exemplifies what a successful adoption of that approach looks like. Finally, Gene shares his broader perspective on the evolution of IT, leadership, and organizational management.
Also available on YouTube:
https://youtu.be/7bLyo1s6P7I
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This episode is sponsored by Codeium.
842: Software development, like the tech landscape as a whole, is constantly evolving, and the pace of change is faster than ever. Now, with the advent of generative AI and ChatGPT, a significant paradigm shift is occurring. Varun Mohan, co-founder and CEO of the code acceleration toolkit Codeium, joins Peter High on the broadcast to explain this shift and how generative AI is being leveraged to accelerate coding and the software development lifecycle. Varun shares the genesis story of Codeium, the benefit his infrastructure background had on building the company, and the trends he noticed signaling the impact of artificial intelligence on software development. He shares the future ahead for generative AI as a whole, the value proposition that Codeium’s generative AI toolkit offers its customers and the best practices that executives should follow when partnering with generative AI vendors. Finally, Varun talks about how Codeium competes with larger-scale organizations, the company’s plans with its new Series B investment, and the lessons he learned from his career.
Also available on YouTube:
https://youtu.be/GvcPP4IJocI
841: The product development lifecycle includes a list of many disparate stakeholders that if not aligned properly, can result in disagreements, delays, and potential negative financial impacts. At Northrop Grumman, CIO John Russell has developed a “digital thread” that brings every stakeholder together to align the team before the product hits production. In this interview, John discusses the concept behind the “digital thread” and other methods he has adopted to create a more efficient enterprise. He explains the sanctity of data in a highly sensitive industry, the advantages of implementing automation across the organization, the implications of AI on talent development, and the critical process of including cybersecurity early in the product development process. Finally, John looks ahead at trends in AI and remote collaboration and reflects on the key elements of his career ascension.
Also available on YouTube:
https://youtu.be/p1Zg_sEYuqI
840: Adopting a customer-focused culture requires the implementation of internal processes that allow the organization to quickly deliver improvements to the client experience. In this interview, Michael Hicks, CIO at Jackson, shares how he has fostered a customer-oriented culture by understanding the customer journey and setting up an agile architecture with the customer at the center. Michael underlines Jackson’s commitment to customer service and a strong technology strategy that includes data, AI, portfolio management, and more. He speaks about the rationale behind centralizing IT across the organization, separating the CIO and CTO responsibilities, and adopting agile practices on his team. Given his diverse set of leadership experiences, Michael shares how his non-IT background prepared him for the CIO role and what lessons he has brought to his current role. Finally, Michael looks ahead at trends in APIs, AI, and digital experiences that continue to shape the financial industry.
Also available on YouTube:
https://youtu.be/65oyN4RAVWQ
839: The healthcare industry is constantly evolving and finding uses for new and emerging technologies. Zeeshan Tariq, CIO at Zimmer Biomet, shares his experience exploring the use cases of AI in this latest episode and explains his metrics-based approach to driving that transformation internally. Zeeshan describes the company’s transition from purely medical devices to a full healthcare solutions provider and what new operating models came along with that transition. He details the company’s adoption of KPIs for every facet of performance and why it has led to immense success in benchmarking over the last few years. Zeeshan also discusses the value of artificial intelligence, the advantages of collaborating with strategic partners, and the challenges of collaborating with a global team. Finally, Zeeshan looks ahead at the trends in emerging technologies that are on his radar and the advice he has for those early in their careers.
Also available on YouTube:
https://youtu.be/X7PefCt-viE
838: There’s no shame in being called a “geek”. In fact, according to Andrew McAfee, it’s actually a compliment. In this episode, Andrew, co-founder of MIT’s Initiative on the Digital Economy, shares insight into the research he’s conducted while writing his latest book “The Geek Way”. He explains the ‘Four Norms’ of geeks; science, ownership, speed, & openness; and how companies can foster and navigate a culture that follows ‘the geek way’. Andrew discusses what it means to adopt Agile, how to leverage Agile practices to accelerate the pace of innovation, and why companies often get trapped in planning-heavy processes. Finally, Andrew looks back on his career and the learnings he has drawn from his writing process.
Also available on YouTube:
https://youtu.be/EO90_l_t48c
837: The media and publishing industry has undergone a massive evolution over the years as more and more readers prefer a digital experience. To talk about this shift in customer expectations towards digital, Sanjay Bhakta, Chief Product & Technology Officer at Condé Nast, joins Peter High on the broadcast and speaks about the company’s digital-first strategy. He begins with an overview of his role that combines product and technology and explains the rationale behind having a single executive focused on both. He shares his insights on centralizing the IT function across his global team, building offshore capabilities like the Condé Nast Technology Lab in India, and his transition from traditional IT to broader engineering responsibilities. Finally, Sanjay talks about the trends on his radar for the coming years, the ethics behind generative AI in media, and his reflections from across his career.
Also available on YouTube:
https://youtu.be/gvfaz_Fqi-A
836: The world of technology is increasingly becoming more and more connected offering valuable data to enterprises offering such products. At Textron, this data provides critical insight into product usage and allows the company to offer true value-added services to its customers. On this episode of Technovation, Global CIO Todd Kackley explains how he has built a better-connected business and aligned the IT function that reports to him. He discusses the collaboration between the Divisional CIOs, ascending to the Global CIO post, and the North Star Strategy he follows to foster this alignment. Todd also talks about the technology he uses including the adoption of generative AI tools, the advantages of digital twins, and the necessity of connected products. Finally, Todd covers his talent strategy, succession planning, and the trends in technology that are on his radar for the future.
Also available on YouTube:
https://youtu.be/gBHTgtvluWE
835: No matter what the latest technology is that’s available to IT organizations, the need for talent and a seamless digital employee experience is a constant for organizations to compete in the digital age. This episode of Technovation features a panel from our December 2023 Metis Strategy Digital Symposium where Munir Hafez, CIO of TransUnion, and Muru Murugappan, CIO of BNSF Railway, spoke with Metis Strategy’s Steven Norton on optimizing the digital employee experience. Muru shares insights from the company’s digital transformation and how it has impacted the employee experience, speaks to the impact AI has had on improving safety for employees, and explains how AI tools have increased internal productivity for the organization. Munir makes the case for the digital experience citing the importance of that experience being “human-centric” and details the way he has optimized the developer experience balancing efficiency with security. Finally, both panelists provide their strongest piece of advice for other executives looking to drive a digital employee experience transformation at their enterprise.
Also available on YouTube:
https://youtu.be/oFq6bcOZD5E
834: The introduction of ChatGPT and generative AI this past year has pivoted the conversation around AI in terms of how this new technology fits into a company’s broader transformation strategy. In a panel from our December 2023 Metis Strategy Symposium, Vishal Gupta, CITO of Lexmark, and Sumedh Mehta, CIO of Putnam Investments, join Metis Strategy’s Steven Norton in a conversation about driving an enterprise AI mindset and the implications the new technology has across the business. Vishal adds color to his role and team structure at Lexmark, the value he aims to deliver with new AI capabilities, and the importance that trust holds when driving a mindset shift. Sumedh expands on this with details on how he breaks down the silos present between teams at Putnam, collaborates with strategic partners to deliver AI capabilities, and brings talent into the organization to realize a successful AI strategy.
Also available on YouTube:
https://youtu.be/kLxeCToJwNM
833: The advent of artificial intelligence comes with a host of new cybersecurity risks that technology and business leaders alike must consider when adopting these tools. In a panel from our most recent Metis Strategy Digital Symposium, Peter High spoke with Martin Stanley, Chief of the Strategic Technology Branch at the US Department of Homeland Security Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), to discuss the ways executives can prepare for these risks and the work he is doing to stay ahead of bad actors in the space. Martin explains the relationship between CISA and NIST and the basis behind their collaboration on the AI Risk Management Framework. Finally, Martin shares the advantages of collaboration with both private and public sector organizations on AI cybersecurity and what the path ahead looks like for cybersecurity innovation.
Also available on YouTube:
https://youtu.be/jYmzY6odmWc
832: As AI tools become more prevalent across companies, executives are putting more emphasis on refining processes and implementing new technology to compete in a future defined by data. In a panel from our most recent Metis Strategy Digital Symposium, Vish Narendra, CIO & SVP of Global Business Services at Graphic Packaging, and Filippo Catalano, CIDO at Reckitt, join Metis Strategy’s Alex Kraus on the virtual stage to discuss how they are leading the transformation in preparation for the data-driven future and the key ingredients necessary to ensure success. Throughout the discussion, both executives explain the importance of data hygiene and proper data governance as a part of a company’s data strategy and what it looks like to operationalize these new AI tools available to them. Vish and Filippo also touch on the impact AI will have on business including the value they hope to see from the use cases they’ve explored, the implications the technology will have on talent strategy, and generally what the art of the possible looks like. Finally, each panelist shares their perspective on the challenges they are facing when it comes to AI and their strategies for hedging their bets.
Also available on YouTube:
https://youtu.be/Zypv7bnxVio
831: Once executives implement the much-talked-about AI and GenAI tools into their company’s operating models, the next step in their AI journey is scaling those tools. In a panel from our December Metis Strategy Digital Symposium, Yasir Anwar, CTO/CDO of Williams-Sonoma, and Cisco Sanchez, CIO of Qualcomm, join Metis Strategy Partner and West Coast Lead Chris Davis in a discussion about how they’ve scaled their respective AI-first operating models and the impact they’ve seen on AI tools on their business. Yasir talks about beginning the journey with a moonshot idea and tracking the evolution of AI within the company’s operating model. Cisco shares details about Qualcomm’s Imagine platform used to explore the art of the possible with GenAI and the impact it has had on the overall AI journey. Finally, both executives discuss challenges, risks, and future ambitions when it comes to implementing AI into more of their business models.
Also available on YouTube:
https://youtu.be/NQc7b9V1sM4
830: A primary focus of the CIO is increasing the pace at which IT operates. To Marsh McLennan’s CIO Paul Beswick, a fundamental part of his role is what he describes as increasing the velocity of IT. In this interview, Paul shares the methods by which he accomplishes this which includes forging the right culture, creating central capabilities, and enabling efficiency. He also talks about exploring the art of the possible through innovation, organization, and driving business value. Specifically, Paul explains the inception of the company’s in-house generative AI tool “LenAI”, the process he went through to adopt GenAI internally, and how GenAI might impact IT more generally. Finally, Paul reflects on the keys to success across his unique career path, provides advice on ascending to leadership positions, and looks ahead at the trends that are on his radar for the future.
Also available on YouTube:
https://youtu.be/p1zAI6BFwNo
829: As a technology leader within a tech company, an important advantage is acting as the first customer of its products to test them before offering them to customers. Salesforce, often cited as the first SaaS company, is no different. In this conversation, Juan Perez, CIO of Salesforce, shares his thoughts on serving peer CIOs in his role at the company and discusses the key priorities that have remained constant throughout his career. He delves into Salesforce’s mission in building technology to help customers succeed and highlights the potential applications of generative AI. In addition, he discusses the importance of maintaining technological modernity, cybersecurity, and people development. Juan also details his board responsibilities at The Hershey Company and shares valuable advice for aspiring board members. Finally, Juan reflects on his methods for championing diversity, equity, and inclusion at the firm, the critical leadership skills he learned at UPS, and the exciting trends in technology that have been on his roadmap for the future.
Also available on YouTube:
https://youtu.be/Qce4-Rzf9mY
828: In order for the technology organization within an enterprise to function properly, there must be a deliberate focus on talent and collaboration. According to W.W. Grainger CTO Jonny LeRoy, “technology is a team sport.” In this interview, Jonny discusses how he fosters this collaboration within his technology team and how this focus on talent is a key part of the company’s overall strategy. Jonny explains the three major components of talent development, the approach he takes to in-person versus remote work environments, and what it means to make the workplace a magnet rather than a mandate. He also talks about the process of modernizing the nearly 100-year-old company, efforts to adopt automation, and the company’s overall data strategy inclusive of cybersecurity. Finally, Jonny looks ahead at the future of generative AI, identifies the methods of finding focus areas for customer interactions, and reflects on his unique career path into technology.
Also available on YouTube:
https://youtu.be/EGaDgwIijdA
827: For the past three decades, WIRED co-founder Kevin Kelly has published multiple pieces of work ranging from tool reviews to long-form books. In his latest book, Excellent Advice for Living, Kevin takes his learnings from his life and shares the advice he wished he had learned when he was younger. In this interview, Kevin discusses some of these insights from his book including his recommendation of “being the only,” the concept of prototyping your life, and the importance of time and experiences. He discusses his source of ‘radical optimism’, the lesson that the best things happen slowly, and the ‘better delusion’ which he calls ‘pronoia’. Finally, Kevin turns the conversation towards his view of technology, specifically on the future of artificial intelligence, its impact on humans, and why it will become more of a partnership between AI and humans than a total replacement.
Also available on YouTube:
https://youtu.be/DWBMciEw-mU
826: Companies often serve a variety of clients ranging from individual consumers to large-scale organizations. When delivering experiences for each of these clients, Jen Felch, CIO and CDO at Dell, believes they are one and the same. In this interview, Jen explains the interplay between these two types of experiences her team delivers and the customer-centric mindset she fosters at the company. She describes the benefits and challenges of being customer zero for the company’s products, the management of the organization’s modernization efforts, and what having a magnetic and transformative culture looks like. Similarly, Jen talks about the culture of risk-taking when it comes to innovation, her approach to generative AI and AI more generally, and the necessity of weaving together cybersecurity with these innovative technologies and methods of experimentation. Finally, Jen reflects on the keys to her success and looks ahead at the trends in technology that are on her radar.
Also available on YouTube:
https://youtu.be/3ZZ3Dalep-g
825: Creating high-performing teams is increasingly important in a world defined by hybrid working environments. In this episode, Keith Ferrazzi, Chairman of Ferrazzi Greenlight and bestselling author of Competing in the New World of Work, delves into the world of high-performing teams and the creation of a sense of bonding among team members. Keith explains his process of diagnosing team issues, emphasizing the importance of cross-divisional teamwork and a concept he coined as ‘co-elevation.’ In a profound meditation on evolving work culture, Peter and Keith discuss implementing methods that encourage mutual trust and promote psychological safety in the shifting landscape of hybrid work. They also shed light on re-engineering collaborations and emphasize making the best of face-to-face interactions. Keith also describes his perspective on the implications of generative AI and how to ‘future-proof’ oneself. Finally, Keith reminisces about his transformative journey from being a CMO to becoming a thought leader and shares insightful reflections on leading without authority, the significance of relationships, and the potential for creating high-performing teams in IT.
Also available on YouTube:
https://youtu.be/n0wR3RATiy8
824: Behind every successful digital transformation is a well-defined mission that drives the enterprise toward a common goal. At Collins Aerospace, CIO Mona Bates leads her team with the company’s mission in mind and ensures everyone feels that tie to the business and the customers they serve. In this interview, Mona talks about the strategy behind Collins’ digital transformation, the four pillars that make up that strategy, and how the company’s mission connects her globally distributed team. She emphasizes the importance of building digital literacy in talent beyond IT, defines the process of digitizing the product lifecycle, and explains her methods of collaborating with the other business units within the broader organization of RTX. Finally, Mona describes her passion for diversity, equity, and inclusion; reflects on the keys to her career success; and looks ahead at the trends in technology and beyond.
Also available on YouTube:
https://youtu.be/GaubZuiD8iM
823: The role of the technology executive has expanded beyond the help desk capacity and into being a partner to the business. In this episode, Subha Tatavarti, CTO of Wipro, joins us to speak about how she is planning for the future and growing the core capabilities of Wipro in her role at the company. Through a combination of creating compelling solutions, building the right infrastructure, and exploring the art of the possible, Subha aims to grow the company as well as improve its efficiency internally. She explains the organization of her team, the interplay with the company’s think tank Lab45, and the internal training and skill credentialing platform DICE ID. Subha also talks about engaging with technologist clients as a CTO, curating an ecosystem of partners, and experimenting with various use cases for generative AI. Finally, Subha shares the secrets to her career success and the advice she has for other aspiring technology executives.
Also available on YouTube:
https://youtu.be/G5je-nGvduE
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This episode is sponsored by Cisco’s Panoptica.
822: The last decade is referred to as the Age of the Customer due to the digital capabilities that have unlocked the customer experience and increased personalization. In this episode of Technovation, we feature a panel from our September Metis Strategy Digital Symposium where Fahim Siddiqui, CIO of the Home Depot, and Kristie Grinnell, CIO of DXC Technology, discuss the future of the digital customer experience with Metis Strategy Partner and East Coast Lead Alex Kraus. Throughout the session, these two executives share how technology has improved the value streams and end-to-end process behind the customer and employee experiences, how data has allowed them to measure the user experience and take corrective action, and how that same data is at the center of the relationship between the customer and the employee. Finally, these executives speak about the culture of learning they foster to stay ahead of trends, the office of AI that was set up to manage risk, and the role leadership plays in shepherding cultural change at the company.
Also available on YouTube:
https://youtu.be/U1puIOG_vLA
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This episode is sponsored by Cisco’s Panoptica.
821: The topic of generative AI needs no introduction, however, that doesn’t mean that it is easy to move fast on the journey towards developing and scaling it within an organization. On a panel from our September Metis Strategy Digital Symposium, Salumeh Companieh, Chief Digital & Information Officer of Cushman & Wakefield, and Dak Liyanearachchi, Head of Data &
Technology at NRG Energy, speak about their approaches to AI and how they prepared their organizations to leverage it effectively. Both executives share the challenges they face in educating their teams, tackling practical problems with AI adoption, and prioritizing the use cases to experiment. They also discuss how it is shaping their respective industries, the what opportunities it presents, and how they balance innovation and risk management.
Also available on YouTube:
https://youtu.be/cEkl2_2f2V0
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This episode is sponsored by Cisco’s Panoptica.
820: Client-centricity is the key to delivering an excellent digital experience, and TIAA looks to take that a step further. In this episode, we’re joined by Jessica Austin Barker, Chief Digital and Client Experience Officer at TIAA where she explains how she is pivoting the culture of her team towards ‘customer obsession’ to deliver a ‘digital-first client experience’. Jessica shares her early career experience in customer experience and how it has informed her perspective in her current role. She talks about the art of designing products that simplify complexity for the customer, the critical role analytics plays in the client experience, and the future skills shaping talent development in Jessica’s team. Jessica also describes the collaboration she engages in to leverage broader expertise, the metrics she uses to measure quantitative progress toward customer satisfaction, and the importance of retaining the empathy component to customer interactions. Finally, Jessica shares the trends she is seeing in customer experience and the key difference-makers she has noted across her career.
Also available on YouTube:
https://youtu.be/j4rUN_uwJnw
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This episode is sponsored by Cisco’s Panoptica.
819: When the infamous motto “Move fast and break things” was informally embraced by Facebook years ago, it fueled the idea that there was a trade-off between the pace of transformation and building a great company. Bestselling authors Frances Frei and Anne Morriss assert otherwise. Join us in this episode of Technovation where the renowned authors and co-hosts of TED podcast ‘Fixable’ share valuable insights on leading change management with both speed and excellence from their latest book, “Move Fast & Fix Things: The Trusted Leaders Guide to Solving Hard Problems”. Frances and Anne both draw from their expertise in leadership coaching and provide actionable strategies to build trust through authenticity, logic, and empathy; lead effective change management; and achieve excellence through radical prioritization. Tune in as we explore the importance of storytelling, the advantage of failures, and other key takeaways from their book.
Also available on YouTube:
https://youtu.be/T9hqDCY-WV0
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This episode is sponsored by Cisco’s Panoptica.
818: Lakshman and Shubham join us on a panel at our most recent Metis Strategy Digital Symposium to discuss the topic of talent strategy in the age of artificial intelligence. Both executives give their perspectives on the general evolution of the talent landscape, the impacts that AI is having on the skills they are hiring for, and use cases for generative AI on internal learning. Each shares his view on the financial component of talent and AI strategies, in-house solutions on cost control, and other opportunities and challenges that AI poses on a company’s talent management strategy.
Also available on YouTube:
https://youtu.be/ewpnJTJFhUA
_____________________________________
This episode is sponsored by Cisco’s Panoptica.
817: Andrew Brock joins the broadcast to speak about the future of real estate innovation and how he has paved the way for Associa to become a technology company at its core. Andrew shares his journey in the company, the unique approach Associa takes with its entrepreneurial culture and acquisition strategy, and the vision he brings to Associa’s digital transformation. He also explains his purview as President and CEO of HOAM Ventures, the team he has curated there, and how he manages his expansive responsibilities across these roles. Finally, Andrew shares the exciting trends in AI and data that are on his radar for the future and details the secrets to his career success.
Also available on YouTube:
https://youtu.be/vMNKbSN0PQM
_____________________________________
This episode is sponsored by Cisco’s Panoptica.
816: Michael Lewis joins Peter High in a discussion about his latest book, Going Infinite: The Rise and Fall of a New Tycoon, and the insights he gleaned from his research into FTX and the disgraced founder, Sam Bankman-Fried. He shares how the topic stumbled into his lap, what interested him about the story, and why luck played a role in the story’s success. Michael Lewis pulls anecdotes from his book and talks about getting to know the crypto tycoon, learning about his upbringing, and understanding how the concept of ‘effective altruism’ set SBF on his eventual path. He talks about the unconventional business structure of FTX, the skepticism he has around cryptocurrency in general, and his unique perspective on whether or not the crypto startup founder is criminally crooked or just chaotically disorganized.
Also available on YouTube:
https://youtu.be/6bI6Qz0l7ls
_____________________________________
This episode is sponsored by Cisco’s Panoptica.
815: Papi Menon, Vice President and Chief Product Officer of Cisco’s incubation engine Outshift, discusses the innovation he is leading at the company and the process by which his team is scaling that innovation. He explains the skills he has on his team at Outshift and how he is developing that talent internally. Papi also describes the focus on cloud security, the platforms his team has built to help companies secure their cloud infrastructure, and the core pillars of these products. Finally, Papi touches on the cultural component of innovation, exploring use cases for artificial intelligence, and the secrets to his career success.
Also available on YouTube:
https://youtu.be/nVV25Z3-NiM
814: Rajan and Sesh joined us on a panel at our most recent Metis Strategy Digital Symposium to discuss the topic of data and AI strategy as enterprise change agents. Rajan shares insights about Intuit’s AI platform, how it drives new customer experiences, and its use in running and scaling business operations within the company. Sesh describes the main components of Western Digital’s AI strategy, his perspective on the change management part of the equation, and the importance of risk management and data governance. Finally, both executives talk about how they approach the adoption of AI and the most critical elements to keep in mind throughout the implementation process.
Also available on YouTube:
https://youtu.be/ToueTsAuNnw
813: Douglas Lindemann discusses his experience joining ArcBest through acquisition and how those lessons have helped him in his current role. Douglas covers the improvements he has helped facilitate in the supply chain, the new business model he has helped launch, and why launching this new business model was necessary at the legacy enterprise. He also talks about how he applies the lessons learned from his M&A experience to this new business model implementation. Finally, Douglas explains the tech trends in generative AI and sustainability that are on his radar and the keys to his career success.
Also available on YouTube:
https://youtu.be/jh4IwMGvK28
812: Amy Brady, CIO at KeyBank, and Ryan Kean, CIO of Total Quality Logistics, join Peter High on the virtual stage at our September 2023 Metis Strategy Digital Symposium to speak about strategic automation across the enterprise. Both executives talk about the opportunities for automation within their enterprises, the impact generative AI has had on the organization, and how automation fits into the long-term strategy for the firm. They also discuss the talent component of the equation, how they train employees in the relevant skills, and how they communicate the value of automation in their respective teams. Finally, the panelists cover the best practices for adopting automation, sources of insight for professional education, and the trends in automation that they both have on their radars.
Also available on YouTube:
https://youtu.be/BUVXbs6RJC8
811: Marcia Calleja-Matsko discusses the elements behind the remarkable growth of the company throughout her tenure. Marcia explains the way she typifies culture at OneDigital, how it’s impacted the process of integrating the technology functions of the company’s various acquisitions, and how she manages this rapid growth in a responsible and sustainable manner. She also talks about the company’s data strategy and the use cases she has identified for generative AI technology. Finally, Marcia reflects on the keys to her career success, the progress being made to bring more women into STEM professions, and the trends in technology that she has kept abreast of in recent months.
Also available on YouTube:
https://youtu.be/OFofHPpZwcY
810: Filippo discusses the foundational elements of a resilient and intentional IT and digital strategy. He explains his vision behind rebranding IT internally to include digital and what impacts that has had on the make-up of his team. Filippo also touches on the elements of a sound data strategy, what the future of data and AI looks like at Reckitt, and how AAA Architecture is the key to a successful IT strategy. He talks about fostering resilience during COVID, collaborating with startup founders and venture-backed companies, and trends in technology that he is staying educated on for the future. Finally, Filippo reflects on his career and gives advice for others to follow in his footsteps.
Also available on YouTube:
https://youtu.be/etqPYc8HhT4
809: Lakshman Nathan joins our host Peter High in a conversation about the catalyzing factors behind the company’s cloud transformation and the strategic alignment he aims to achieve between the IT organization and the rest of the business. Laksh explains his expanded purview as he has moved into a global role within the company, the evolving team composition as a result, and the changing skillsets needed along with the process of upskilling the talent on his team. He also goes into the M&A integration process, how it has helped push forward the cloud-first adoption, and how collaboration has been impacted by the move toward a more remote workplace environment. Finally, Laksh talks about the trends in generative AI, the experimentation with the new technology on the horizon, and the secrets to his career success.
Also available on YouTube:
https://youtu.be/LWIGjPmONzE
808: Sumedh Mehta discusses the key elements of the company’s digital transformation and aligning the organization to the overall business strategy. Sumedh describes the methods behind this transformation, the ways in which he thinks about connecting the dots across the enterprise to engage multiple business units, and the role that technology plays in the company’s consumer products. He also shares how he approaches the transformation from a change management perspective and how trust and diversity are foundational components of the underlying culture. Finally, Sumedh reflects on the keys to his career success and looks ahead at the trends in technology such as blockchain and generative AI.
Also available on YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c9jNiGZ8n2A
807: Gili Raanan, venture capitalist and co-founder of Cyberstarts, discusses his entrepreneurial roots, his pivot into venture capital, and cybersecurity more generally. Gili begins with explaining the concept of the ‘sunrise process’ which he uses to identify product-market fit and dives into his experience with starting up a cybersecurity company early in his career. He discusses the cybersecurity threats on the horizon, the constantly changing nature of cybersecurity, and the positive outlook he has for the industry. Gili also talks about how he finds talent worth investing in, the characteristics of great entrepreneurs, and why talent matters more than investing in new trends or technologies.
Also available on YouTube:
https://youtu.be/UG0SiUtBSh0
806: Naveen joins Peter High in a conversation about the foundational technology strategy that he has helped set up to foster greater enterprise growth. He explains what it’s like to run IT within a tech-centric organization and how the company’s Databricks-on-Databricks customer zero program helps to develop better product offerings for customers. Naveen provides insight into his perspective on generative AI, the value it poses to executives, and the necessity of creating a sound data strategy in order to fuel AI. Finally, Naveen shares learnings from across his career, the keys to his success, and the trends that are on his radar for the future.
Also available on YouTube:
https://youtu.be/_1Do9uz_i1E
805: Ravi discusses his role as a CIO within a scaled technology organization and how he interacts with the CIO-level clients that the company serves. He explains the focus areas he prioritized when he joined the company including scalability, agility, and execution. He also describes the company’s Box-on-Box program where they pilot offerings internally as ‘customer zero’ and how this helps deliver better products and services for their clients. Finally, Ravi reflects on the keys to his career success, recounts his pathway into technology, and looks ahead at the trends in AI and cybersecurity.
Also available on YouTube:
https://youtu.be/hFfUiUkCN1M
804: Vijay Sankaran discusses the future of work, the growing impact of AI, and its downstream effects on real estate. Vijay explains the critical role the digital customer experience plays in real estate, the way workspaces have evolved in recent years, and technology’s impact on how companies leverage their physical workspaces. He also reviews the company’s acquisitions in recent years and the effort to bring digital capabilities like cyber, data, AI, and more in-house. Finally, Vijay covers the generational differences in perspectives on hybrid and remote work environments, looks ahead at other trends in technology that he has on his radar, and reflects on the major keys to success from across his career.
Also available on YouTube:
https://youtu.be/rSRP1jV6Rw4
803: Moti joins our host Peter High in a conversation about creating a world-class supply chain and developing a digital customer and employee experience at the company. He explains how his global team is organized and the ways he collaborates with the broadly distributed executive team. Moti talks about the transformation of the 150-year-old company, the responsibility he holds in supply chain management, and his perspective on the future of work and its impact on real estate. Finally, Moti looks ahead at the trends in 6G and other technologies on the horizon and reflects on the secrets to his career success.
Also available on YouTube:
https://youtu.be/AvELTKJQmi4
802: Thomas Benjamin; EVP, CTO, and Head of Platform & Analytics R&D at National Instruments (NI); discusses the innovation he is leading at the company focused on what he calls ‘Horizon 3’ technologies and the preparation needed to take advantage of these technologies down the road. He shares how his team is organized across the diverse segments that are a part of the broader business and the ways in which these segments interact and collaborate with the IT organization. Thomas also gives an in-depth overview of the innovation labs he leads, the potential value that generative AI can bring to NI, and the skills that will be necessary to leverage these emerging technologies. Finally, he reflects on the lessons he has learned across his diversified career path, explains the benefit of being a hands-on leader, and looks ahead at the trends in technology that he believes will change the game.
Also available on YouTube:
https://youtu.be/_FvWmNQTo3s
801: Srini talks about the transformation he is leading within the company and the art of change management behind the transformation. He discusses his unique title and why it made sense to blend strategy with the CIO’s responsibilities and sheds light on the strategic planning that takes place within the large-scale insurance organization. Srini delves into the innovative use of digital and data in assessing property risks coming from climate as well as other areas and expands on that use of data with a background on the company’s experimentation with generative AI. Additionally, Srini elaborates on the importance of developing his team’s skill set to prepare for the future, being a force for change management, and using the lessons from his experience in human resources to drive this talent strategy. Finally, he reflects on the secrets to his success and looks ahead at trends in InsureTech, AI, and more.
Also available on YouTube:
https://youtu.be/hGQ4jbx80_s
800: Mustafa Suleyman, Co-Founder of DeepMind and Inflection AI, discusses his career journey, the future of artificial intelligence, and his latest book; The Coming Wave: Technology, Power, and the 21st Century's Greatest Dilemma. Mustafa describes his entrepreneurial background as a pioneer of the AI and Deep Learning space from studying philosophy at Oxford to his eventual founding of DeepMind and subsequently Inflection AI. He recounts the inception of groundbreaking AI concepts, Google's acquisition of DeepMind, and the importance of ethics in AI. In his book, Mustafa proposes the idea of a modern Turing Test to mitigate the spread of misinformation, AI's paradoxical impact on productivity and stability, and the vision of a fully digital ‘Chief of Staff’ called Pi.
799: Nitin discusses the customer-facing technology that he oversees and how his team remains innovative and up-to-date on trends despite the company’s massive size. He emphasizes the company’s push towards automation and personalization when it comes to the digital customer experience and how he drives cross-functional collaboration to align this experience with the overall business strategy. Nitin talks about his “fast follower” approach to experimenting and piloting emerging technologies, the cybersecurity implications that must be considered, and how he views the business from the customer’s perspective. Finally, Nitin explains the culture that brought him to the company, the secrets to success over the course of his career, and the technology trends that are on his radar for the future.
Also available on YouTube:
https://youtu.be/QKDZKYhldfs
798: Shubham Mehrish, Global Vice President at Mars, discusses how he is developing a digital, technology, and associate strategy based on a modular architecture approach that is focused on microservices, API-driven, Cloud-native, and Headless. Discover how Shubham builds an ecosystem of talent internally and externally, applies data and AI to differentiate the business, and embraces design thinking and collaboration across the firm all with the aim of developing a digital customer experience to enhance the traditional tactile experience. Shubham also talks more broadly about how he pushes his team to learn from experiences regardless of their success and approach challenges with what notes as a comp[any-wide collective confidence. This translates more specifically to how his team is experimenting with generative AI and the other technology trends that are on his radar. Finally, Shubham describes the mental models he has applied in his role and recommends a few critical readings that he has found helpful in his career.
Emotional Intelligence by Daniel Goleman What Got You Here Won't Get You There by Marshall Goldsmith Build by Tony Fadell
797: Josh Goode, CIO at SCAN Health Plan, discusses the tremendous growth of the company throughout his tenure and the areas he has focused on to achieve that growth. He explains the pivotal role the CIO plays in shaping the digital customer experience and dives deep into the progress of the company’s overall modernization journey. Following the company’s acquisition of CareOregon, Josh explains the process behind integrating acquisitions from a digital and technology perspective and how this helps to grow the company in addition to the organic growth and expansion efforts. Josh also talks about the strong technology culture at SCAN, facets of its data strategy, and the Emerging Technology Operating Model he developed to address the emergence of artificial intelligence and find its use cases. Finally, Josh looks ahead at the trends in technology on his radar and reflects on his career path including his pivot to the not-for-profit space as well as the keys to his career success.
796: Daron Acemoglu, Elizabeth & James Killian Professor of Economics at MIT and author, joins the broadcast to speak about his latest book, Power and Progress: Our Thousand-Year Struggle Over Technology and Prosperity, and his perspective on techno-optimism in the era of artificial intelligence. Daron issues a warning about blind optimism during this pivotal moment in technology and draws on the key themes of power dynamics, techno-optimism, and effective regulation strategies from his book to explain the balance between power and progress and ways to counteract the accrual of power to a select few. He explains the three countervailing forces of democracy, worker voice, and regulation; the two key problems with regulations surrounding generative artificial intelligence; and what this future of AI regulation means on a global scale. Finally, as a writer himself, Daron talks about the ongoing Writer’s Strike as a defense against Generative AI, the potential benefits generative AI will have for writers of the future, and why he is optimistic about generative AI being a “job helper”.
795: Alina Parast, CIO at ChampionX, discusses the future of innovation, cybersecurity, and IT in general. With her extensive experience as CIO for over three years, Alina delves into the company's strategy around artificial intelligence, its robust cybersecurity practices, and its commitment to data protection. When it comes to innovation, she speaks to the partnership with R&D for groundbreaking initiatives and areas to revolutionize while introducing continuous improvement and automation to a field of R&D. Alina also talks about the implementation of training and upskilling policies around cybersecurity. Finally, Alina looks ahead at the latest trends in technology and reflects on the key drivers of her career success.
794: Vishal Gupta, SVP of Connected Technology and Chief Information & Technology Officer of Lexmark, joins the broadcast to explain the elements behind his broad purview in corporate and IT strategy. Vishal explains the structure of his relatively new team and how he trains the talent he hires through Lexmark's Cohort Training Program. Vishal talks about overseeing the company's overarching corporate strategy, the innovation he is driving, and the security implications that come with what he and his team are developing. Of the innovation discussed, Vishal specifically dives deep into his perspective on the potential of AI and Generative AI within the firm. Finally, he reflects on the keys to his success and looks ahead at the trends in technology that excite him.
793: Jeff Sippel, CIO of Northwestern Mutual, joins the broadcast to describe why he believes technology strategy should be viewed as a ‘peer’ to corporate strategy, focusing on client-centricity. He explains the importance of cybersecurity as a core capability and driver of trust within the financial services industry, the advantage of data as a key element in developing a perspective on customer experience, and the criticality of incorporating AI/ML for automation and productivity enhancement. Jeff also explains the modernization process at Northwestern Mutual, the culture that helps with the change management behind that modernization, and how his past roles in customer experience helped inform his view as CIO. Finally, Jeff looks ahead at the trends in technology on the horizon and reflects on the keys to his career success.
792: Shobie Ramakrishnan, Chief Digital and Technology Officer of GSK, shares insights with our host Peter High about developing a cohesive technology strategy that focuses on intersections within the organization. Shobie shares how she orchestrates her team's collaboration across departments, crafting a strategy with a clearly communicated vision, and plays both defense and offense with technology and data. She explains GSK's forward-thinking approach to AI, maturation of cybersecurity practices, and efforts to supercharge R&D with data. Shobie also dives into the tech-centric culture of the firm, the talent training strategy it has developed, and the skills that are necessary to drive the business forward. Finally, Shobie looks ahead at trends in technology that are on her radar and reflects on the keys to her career success.
791: Damu Bashyam, EVP and Chief Information & Innovation Officer of Berkadia, sits down with our host Peter High to discuss the various ways he approaches innovation to drive growth, efficiency, and improvements to the digital customer experience. Damu explains the idea behind Berkadia's Startup Accelerator program BeEngaged and its role in keeping his team on top of emerging trends, building innovative solutions, and integrating new platforms like Blue Suit AI into its ecosystem. Similarly, Damu shares his experience leading the redIQ software business at the company and the way the cloud-based platform leverages AI/ML to help clients visualize data. He also talks about balancing the priorities of both IT and the broader business, building a data strategy, and driving internal technology adoption. Finally, Damu reflects on the three C’s to his career success and looks ahead at the trends in technology that he is excited about.
expertise in leading technology and digital initiatives at GPC, ensuring alignment with the company's strategic roadmap, and driving innovation to prepare for a future of electric vehicles (EV). Naveen delves into the topic of creating a frictionless digital customer experience, leveraging technology to optimize supply chains, and driving innovation and emerging tech exploration within the company. He goes over the rationale behind GPC's strategic investment in the EV sector as it prepares for the transition to an EV future. Finally, Naveen looks back on the keys to success across his career and explains the top trends in technology that are on his radar.
789: Shanthi Iyer, CIO of DocuSign, shares her remarkable journey in scaling the organization and developing a sound data strategy. Shanthi describes how she and her team have elevated employee experience, focused on the customer experience, and streamlined internal processes through strategic automation. She also discusses how she is crafting a robust data strategy for DocuSign and exploring potential use cases for Generative AI to unlock a realm of future value. Finally, Shanthi provides an update on the state of women in technology, looks ahead at the latest trends in technology, and reflects on the keys to her career success.
788: Laura Miller, CIO of Macy's, discusses the modernization efforts that she is helping to drive at the company. She provides insights on aligning IT with business objectives, the democratization of data, and the development of a comprehensive 360-degree view of the customer. Laura talks through the five pillars of growth as a part of Macy’s modernization and the company’s approach to personalized customer experiences which includes leveraging data and AI/ML. Finally, she reflects on her pathway to board membership, the keys to her career success, and the trends in technology that are on her radar.
787: Ramesh Babu, CIO of DigiKey Electronics, discusses the modernization efforts at the company and the AI journey he has led. Ramesh has driven a remarkable transformation and instilled a positive, driven mindset across the organization. In this insightful conversation, we explore the company's thriving AI journey, its participation in the surrounding community, and the cultural shifts that accompanied its modernization efforts. Discover Ramesh's keys to success and the tech trends that are shaping the future of the industry.
786: Pegah Ebrahimi, co-founder and managing partner of FPV Ventures, joins the broadcast to speak about investing in mission-driven founders and leveraging her experience as a former CIO and COO to bring a wealth of go-to-market expertise to the companies she invests in. We delve into FPV Ventures' business overview as well as the company’s emphasis on life sciences and what attracted Pegah and her co-founder to that area. Pegah also explains her journey to the CIO post, her journey to the COO post, and how these experiences have uniquely equipped her for success in the world of venture capital. Finally, she shares valuable insights into investing during uncertain times, the tech trends that are on her radar, and the keys to her career success.
785: Steve Bandrowczak, CEO of Xerox, discusses the future of the company, the role of technology in driving strategy, and how Xerox is leveraging emerging technology to reinvent the service industry. He highlights the importance of using this cutting-edge technology, such as AI, robotics, and augmented reality, to drive productivity in the office and serve the needs of small and medium-sized businesses. Steve also emphasizes the value of data and the impact of edge computing and quantum computing on the future of technology. Finally, he shares insights from his experience as a CIO and the importance of taking risks and seeking diverse leadership opportunities to advance your career.
784: Greg Brown, Chief Customer Service Officer at Health Care Service Corporation (HCSC), joins the broadcast to speak about being a customer-focused organization and leveraging technology to drive a proactive, predictive, and personalized customer experience. He emphasizes the value of a positive attitude, positive habits, and continuous improvement in achieving success in customer service and why he looks for humility, emotional intelligence, accountability, and learning agility when recruiting talent for his team. Finally, Greg talks about the trends in technology that are on his radar, how those trends aim to impact the customer experience, and the keys to success that have helped him throughout his career.
783: Tracy Kerrins, Senior EVP and Head of Technology at Wells Fargo, joins the broadcast to discuss the company's efforts in becoming digital-first and the new technology and innovations she is helping to drive. She highlights the introduction of Fargo, the company's first customer-facing AI virtual assistant, and dives into the broader use of artificial intelligence to improve customer service and experiences. Tracy also emphasizes the criticality of data and the organization's cloud strategy as well as the importance of empowering employees and creating a positive culture of collaboration. Finally, she looks ahead at other trends in technology and reflects on the keys to her career success.
782: Mojgan Lefebvre, EVP and Chief Technology & Operations Officer of Travelers, joins Peter in the latest episode to cover the intersection of technology and operations within her purview and the alignment she drives between her team and the broader business. She emphasizes the importance of understanding the business and customer needs in order to drive technology strategy and highlights the company's focus on creating great experiences for customers, modernizing technology infrastructure, leveraging data and analytics, and protecting the organization from cyber threats. Mojgan shares examples of how machine learning and AI are being used to enhance employee and customer experiences, the importance of diversity, equity, and inclusion in driving innovation and success within the organization, and creating a culture of digital fluency through employee training programs. Finally, Mojgan looks ahead at trends in technology that are on her radar and reflects on the keys to her career success.
781: Martin Brodbeck, CTO of Priceline, joins Peter in a discussion on how he has developed his team and the new platforms and capabilities that he has driven across the company. He highlights the use cases for AI and ML technologies in areas such as personalization, recommendation, and marketing as well as emphasizes the importance of developer productivity and the automation of software engineering tasks. He shares insights on fostering resilience and scalability within the organization, as well as the impact of COVID-19 on the travel industry. Finally, he touches on future trends in self-service analytics and quantum computing, reflects on the keys to his career success, and looks ahead at the potential use cases for generative AI at the company and beyond.
780: Jared Cohen and George Lee, the Co-Heads of the Office of Applied Innovation at Goldman Sachs, delve into the intersections between global affairs, geopolitics, and cutting-edge technology such as generative AI. As leaders in the financial services industry and technology space, both executives provide valuable insights into the significance of geopolitical swing states and the current state of global affairs, as well as the rapid rise of generative AI, and the role government regulation plays in technological advancements.
779: Tom Davenport, bestselling author and distinguished professor at Babson College, joins us to discuss insights from his latest book, All-in on AI, and give his perspective on the rapid rise of artificial intelligence and its impact on businesses. From his sociology background to becoming a seasoned technology academic, Tom shares reflections on his career path and the evolving landscape of analytics and the birth of AI. Listen to his explanation of the three eras of analytics, culminating in the rise of "Analytics 4.0" powered by AI. As an AI optimist, Tom shares concerns and opportunities associated with AI, including its potential impact on jobs and the declining automation costs. Gain valuable insights into how companies successfully explore AI tools, allocate organizational resources to its experimentation, and strategize its adoption in order to “win big with AI”. Tom also provides his outlook on the future of AI, its influence on consulting, and practical career advice for young professionals in this transformative era.
778: In this episode, Rackspace Technology’s President of Private Cloud, Brian Lillie, speaks about the keys to successful cloud adoption and the benefits of a multi-cloud architecture. Throughout this conversation, we dive into Rackspace’s business, explore Brian's purview within Private Cloud, and discuss the shared and differing responsibilities with his counterpart in Public Cloud. Brian explains how having a CIO background has been advantageous to him when partnering with the current CIO and the IT organization. With a breadth of experience across companies, disciplines, and industries, Brian shares insights into his thoughtful leadership style shaped by his core values, walks us through his career path, and talks about the impact that both his military experience and his pursuit of higher education has had on his professional career. Finally, Brian covers the advantages of having technologists on a board of directors, looks ahead at the latest trends in technology, and reflects on the secrets to his career success.
777: Cal Newport, Associate Professor of Computer Science at Georgetown University and bestselling author, joins Peter in conversation to dive into the world of productivity, focus, and intentional living. Cal reflects on his journey as a writer, the impact that professional advice had on his strategies for developing longevity in the field, and why he avoided social media during the age of Facebook. He explains the major themes of his books including time management and the power of "slow productivity" for success, as well as the role that COVID-19 played in influencing these topics. Cal talks about the concept of living a "values-driven lifestyle", his experience with the "30-Day Declutter" project, and helping young people train their focus. Finally, the conversation uncovers the surprising effects of efficiency and delves into the risks and uncertainties of generative AI and its future.
776: Monica Caldas, the Global CIO of Liberty Mutual, joins Peter for a conversation focused on the digital transformation journey of this century-old firm and developing it into a tech-forward insurance company. Monica describes how her team is driving the modernization program focused on creating a sound data strategy and improving data literacy across the organization. She dives into the process of digitization, collaboration with internal and external constituent groups, and the optimization of the individual experience. Monica provides insights into maintaining technological literacy through training programs and balancing IT resource allocation for operational efficiency and differentiation. Additionally, she covers topics such as cloud migration, the development of an architecture community, and the exploration of generative artificial intelligence and its diverse use cases. Lastly, Monica explores the emerging technology trends in quantum computing and reflects on the keys to her career success.
775: Lori Beer, Global CIO of JPMorgan Chase, joins us for a conversation about how her team explores use cases for emerging technologies to add value to the business. She explains the process behind the company’s cloud-based core system modernization and also dives deep into the potential value-add coming from advancements in generative AI, quantum computing, augmented reality, and blockchain in banking. Lori also walks through the cycle of innovation within the company and how she partners with the rest of the business to bring these innovations to life and develop an internal ecosystem of sorts. Finally, Lori covers the progress she is helping to drive in improving the state of women in tech and STEM fields, reflects on her own career path and the keys to her success, and looks ahead at the trends in technology that are on the horizon for the company.
774: Steve Yates, a storied former head of technology, joins Peter to talk about his remarkable journey as a renowned early version of the CIO across multiple companies and how the role has evolved over the course of his career. He discusses how he developed his IT department from scratch early in his career, carved out the purview for the modern-day CIO, and pioneered the convergence of technology and business. Steve gives insight into major learnings from his roles at Rockwell, USAA, and KeyBank as well as what that pathway into each role looked like. He also describes his pathway to board membership and the value he added as one of the first technologists to join a scaled company’s board. Finally, Steve discusses his plans for the future, and how he continues to stay up-to-date on emerging trends in technology, politics, economics, and more.
773: May Yap, the Chief Information Officer of Jabil, talks about the remarkable modernization and transformation journey she has led within the company. With May based in Singapore, May leads a truly global team with tech centers worldwide and shares her insights into managing this diverse and distributed workforce. She describes the process and benefits of modernization, how digitalization leads to better organization throughout IT, and how her team tests new technologies for potential implementation. May describes the advantages of having a long tenure as CIO, the latest tech trends shaping the industry, and the keys to her career success.
772: Eswar Veluri, Chief Technology Officer of Equinox, explores how data and artificial intelligence are transforming the high-performance lifestyle industry and helping customers to achieve their macro and micro health goals. With over a decade of experience at Equinox, Eswar shares his remarkable career journey, discusses the pivotal role of technology in improving customer engagement, and details the types of innovation his team is driving within the company. We delve into Equinox's comprehensive data strategy, emerging tech trends, and the keys to Eswar's career success.
771: Sunny shares an overview of Snowflake’s business and what his purview encompasses at the company. Sunny embodies a customer-centric mindset in his role, spending a remarkable 70% of his time directly engaging with customers, and shares how he has built his team to allow him the bandwidth to do so. He explains how he has managed IT during a period of massive growth, built a strong culture in a remote working environment, and drove innovation in the evolving landscape of data. Sunny explains the key differentiators he has seen of successful data leaders and companies that have leveraged data effectively. He also dives into the importance of platform solutions and why he focuses on investing and building platforms at Snowflake. Additionally, he shares the value derived from his board experience, highlights the latest tech trends shaping the industry, and reflects on the keys to his career success.
Also available on YouTube:
https://youtu.be/n9NZelqSjlg
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This episode is sponsored by Quantiphi.
770: Our latest episode features a panel from our Metis Strategy Digital Symposium in May 2023 where Rajan and Eben share their experiences applying a product mindset to advance digital and technology capabilities at their organizations. Rajan explains the project-to-product transformation at Ascension, the shifting customer expectations around digital interactions, and the metrics he uses to measure the success of the company’s customer-centric culture. Eben expands on the role technology plays in customer care at Hyatt, the agile and data-focused culture at the company, and driving the long-term strategic mission through the day-to-day empowerment of teams. Finally, both executives speak on the organizational impacts of moving to a customer-centric mindset, the workflow changes as a result of that mindset shift, and the partnership between the CDO and CIO to advance digital within the company.
Also available on YouTube:
https://youtu.be/VRTnlv-b3po
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This episode is sponsored by Quantiphi.
769: Our latest episode features a panel from our Metis Strategy Digital Symposium in May 2023 where Michael and Rob discuss the topic of design thinking in ecosystem business models. Michael explains how he brings design thinking into ArcBest as a mechanism to drive innovation and the role ArcBest Technologies plays in ArcBest’s innovation ecosystem. Rob details the innovation cycle within Broadridge and how he brings the customer’s voice into that cycle to ensure continuous value is getting delivered. Finally, both executives speak on driving centralized innovation within their ecosystems and deploying those innovations to internal and external customers.
Also available on YouTube:
https://youtu.be/cOq6BxPIDf0
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This episode is sponsored by Quantiphi.
768: Our latest episode features a panel from our Metis Strategy Digital Symposium in May 2023 where Kathy and Josh discuss the topic of sustaining a high-performance culture in times of change. Kathy describes the culture of Principal when she joined the company remotely during the pandemic, explains the necessity of leadership driving the cultural transformation, and speaks to the way she responds to misalignments in the culture of the company. Josh covers the elements of World Fuel’s cultural transformation, how he quantifies and measure culture, and how he communicates constructive feedback to his organization. Finally, both executives look ahead at how hybrid work environments, generative AI, and more will impact the practices around culture at their companies.
Also available on YouTube:
https://youtu.be/PLPOxQQCp34
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This episode is sponsored by Quantiphi.
767: Our latest episode features a panel from our Metis Strategy Digital Symposium in May 2023 where Ramesh and Allen speak about driving practical progress on your AI journey. Ramesh explains his methods to educate talent within the company on the latest advancements in AI, measuring the value of AI use cases, and reigning in the bespoke AI applications across the company into a single vision or strategy around artificial intelligence. Allen shares how he cuts through the noise and the hype around AI to pursue practical applications of the technology, leverages AI to navigate talent shortages, and focuses on understanding the foundational data being fed into the AI model.
Also available on YouTube:
https://youtu.be/Orsk1iJby2o
_____________________________________
This episode is sponsored by Quantiphi.
766: Rob discusses the concept of intrapreneurship, bringing an entrepreneurship mindset to within the organization, and how this concept has helped drive innovation at the company. He talks about the innovation teams he has built, the design thinking and storytelling they bring to the innovation process, and how they collaborate with the rest of the business. Finally, Rob looks ahead at the value potential of emerging tech trends like ChatGPT and generative AI as well as reflects on the keys to his success.
Also available on YouTube:
https://youtu.be/JwnrCt4mldY
_____________________________________
This episode is sponsored by Quantiphi.
765: Cisco speaks about transforming Qualcomm into an intelligent company across hardware and software. Cisco shares his insights on Qualcomm’s future roadmap and the role of partnerships in the company’s broader ecosystem. We also explore how Cisco’s team is developing a solid foundation to foster growth, how culture facilitates successful change management, and why a high-functioning IT organization should act as guardrails for the rest of the organization. Finally, Cisco shares his views on how he stays ahead of the curve of emerging technology, the trends on his radar, and how he trains his team members in new skills for the future.
Also available on YouTube:
https://youtu.be/iauGa1ACixI
_____________________________________
This episode is sponsored by Quantiphi.
764: Asif discusses the evolution of the company and how it reflects the evolution of artificial intelligence more generally. Asif shares his pathway into AI and data science, the genesis story of Quantiphi, and why he decided not to seek outside capital in the early stages of the company’s growth. We also cover the various phases of the company’s history including finding the company’s product market fit, specialization, verticalization, and finally the latest phase of exploring and leveraging generative AI. Asif shares his perspectives on how companies have successfully harnessed the power of AI, the potential disruptions coming from ChatGPT and other generative AI platforms, and the future ahead for AI in general. Finally, Asif shares the two key pieces of advice that he believes facilitated his career success and will continue to help him in the future.
Also available on YouTube:
https://youtu.be/XnVW2L3EvyI
763: Tony discusses the remarkable transformation he led at the company focused on rethinking the digital customer experience and fostering an agile culture with a digital mindset. We explore Signify’s five-frontier strategy and how digital plays in each frontier. We also delve into how the company is digitalizing offers, co-innovating with business partners, and refiguring the business from the perspective of the customer. Tony shares his reflections on his career experience and the tech trends on his radar that are shaping the future of lighting.
Also available on YouTube:
https://youtu.be/18Cg1Tsu-_c
762: Hasmukh discusses his experience in the CIO role at AMD and how his team thinks about sustainability, innovation, and artificial intelligence within the context of the semiconductor industry. He talks about driving AMD’s talent strategy, advocating for the customer’s needs through the customer zero program, and leading M&A in the CIO role. Additionally, Hasmukh talks about the overall evolution of the semiconductor industry, looks ahead at trends in AI on the horizon, and reflects on the keys to his career success.
Also available on YouTube:
https://youtu.be/8N7vyaEAq6g
761: Uri joins Peter High in our latest episode to discuss his experience founding Waze and the insights from his latest book, Fall in Love with the Problem, Not the Solution: A Handbook for Entrepreneurs. He describes his calling as being a teacher of others and shares what he sees as the common denominator across his career journey. From founding to the company’s eventual acquisition, Uri tells the story of Waze’s evolution, its collaboration and competition with tech giants like Google and Microsoft, and how Waze exemplifies disruptive innovation. He also shares the characteristics of successful entrepreneurs, why the process of firing an employee is more important than hiring, and the three main categories of “users”, among other topics from his book. Finally, Uri looks ahead at the future of disruptive technology trends and what he is keeping an eye on in the market.
Also available on YouTube:
760: In a panel from our February Metis Strategy Digital Symposium, Michelle and Marco speak with Metis Strategy’s Steven Norton about cultivating an enterprise mindset. Tune in to hear how both executives drive enterprise alignment, recruit talent with an enterprise mindset, and develop that talent through reskilling and upskilling efforts.
Also available on YouTube:
https://youtu.be/cLqXQ8gSuao
759: Shannon discusses the business unit she leads and how it acts as a start-up within a large company like Jacobs Solutions. She covers the company’s talent strategy balancing new and legacy talent within her team and how her team works with clients to anticipate and respond to changing needs. Shannon also talks about the innovations in sustainability her team is driving, the collaboration she engages in with other business units within the company, and how her team’s ‘cyber-centricity’ has led to developing stronger cyber products for clients across the business. Finally, she reflects on the keys to her career success and looks ahead at trends in data and computing that are on her radar.
Also available on YouTube:
https://youtu.be/EJ7L-1yIAyU
758: Our latest episode comes from our February Metis Strategy Digital Symposium on the topic of becoming an AI company with Katia Walsh, Chief Global Strategy and Artificial Intelligence Officer of Levi Strauss & Co., and George Brady, Chief Information Officer of loanDepot. Katia describes the strategies she used to introduce the mindset of artificial intelligence at Levi’s and how she deployed the technology at the company. George similarly describes how he deployed AI at his organization, the use cases he sees for ChatGPT, and how he reskilled talent at Capital One to accommodate AI initiatives.
Also available on YouTube:
757: In this episode, we dive into the concept of the “brilliant basics” with Eben Hewitt, CIO of Hyatt Hotels. Eben shares how he achieves reliability, scalability, speed, and transparency in IT at the company while also improving customer experience. We explore Eben’s experience in replacing Hyatt’s central reservation system, developing better communication throughout the organization, and rebuilding the company after the pandemic shook the hospitality industry.
Also available on YouTube:
https://youtu.be/iI0TEkRuMS4
756: Rob and Mark join our host Peter on a panel at our February Metis Strategy Digital Symposium on the topic of the technology leader’s expanding operational purview. Rob shares his experience across the CIO, COO, and co-CEO roles he has held at Cenlar, the skills he found were necessary to succeed in those roles and the advantage of developing a relationship with the board of directors. Mark discusses his transition from COO to CIO during ICE’s massive growth, insights from the M&A integrations he led that contributed to that growth and the combination of technology and operations in his COO that pushed him toward taking the CIO role.
Also available on YouTube:
755: Josh discusses the remarkable cultural and digital transformation he has led at World Fuel Services to modernize the legacy systems at the Fortune 100 energy company. Josh explains the elements of culture that he focuses on and the process of operationalizing culture in order to transform an organization and facilitate high-performing teams. Josh also reflects on his career, the keys to his success, and the trends in technology that he has been following.
Also available on YouTube:
https://youtu.be/0G8dQqM0ROY
754: Our broadcast today comes from our February Metis Strategy Digital Symposium on the topic of talent’s role in making transformations stick featuring Sastry Durvasula, Chief Information & Client Services Officer of TIAA, and Ramon Richards, CIO of Fannie Mae. Sastry shares how talent plays a key role in TIAA’s six strategic pillars and how he is upskilling his team to operate within this new virtual normal. Ramon discusses how he energizes talent in order to accelerate transformation and approaches the topic of talent retention at Fannie Mae. Both executives also give their perspectives on the importance of diversity, equity, and inclusion as well as how the advancement of technologies like AI and ChatGPT will impact the business in the future.
Also available on YouTube:
https://youtu.be/5bxRnZVhk-0
753: Having been with the company for nearly a decade and ascending to the role of CDIO one year ago, Sal shares the remarkable transformation she has driven at the company to bring world-class technology to world-class real estate. She speaks about her approach to end-to-end technology, the implementation of a chief data officer role to curate better insights, and the creation a business information officer role to align her team with the broader business. She also emphasizes the importance of diversity in thought when it comes to business decision-making and why she prioritizes an ESG strategy at the company. Finally, Sal looks ahead at trends in technology and reflects on the keys to her career success.
Audio-only is also available on YouTube:
https://bit.ly/YouTube-753
752: Our broadcast today comes from our February Metis Strategy Digital Symposium on the topic of establishing a data strategy in complex organizations featuring Krzysztof Soltan, CIO of Vulcan Materials Company, and Anupam Khare, CIO of Oshkosh Corporation. Anupam shares his thoughts on creating a data strategy at Oshkosh and forming an organizational structure that fosters a data-rich decision-making culture at the company. Krzysztof talks about how he helps communicates data across the organization and how he measures the success of its data strategy.
Also available on YouTube:
https://youtu.be/_Z3jUwtLIug
751: Rajan joins us to speak about his experience driving one of the most extensive cloud adoption journeys in corporate America and managing a product-oriented operating model at Intuit. We discuss the company’s ‘Big Bets’ and how technology is being used to bring them to life, specifically the company’s AI virtual expert platform. Rajan covers how he interacts with different customer journeys, how he builds an ecosystem to leverage artificial intelligence tools, and what other trends in technology are on Rajan’s radar. We also explore Intuit’s company culture, the focus on retaining talent, and the keys to Rajan’s career success.
Also available on YouTube:
750: We celebrate 750 episodes of Technovation with a discussion featuring Arthur Hu, Lenovo’s Global Chief Information Officer, and Chief Technology and Delivery officer of its Services and Solutions Group (SSG). Peter High discusses with Art the development of SSG, his expanded role within Lenovo, and how this group bridges the gap between IT and the new business group. We also touch on how he divides his time and team across his CIO, CTO, and Chief Delivery Officer roles. Art shares insights on the upstream impacts of new models within SSG and how Lenovo helps organizations navigate the complexities of global business. We also talk about learnings pre- and post-pandemic on managing global teams effectively, the technology that has helped keep him in touch with his team, and the necessity of being physically together in the workplace to build trust. Finally, Art gives his perspective on emerging technology trends and reflects on the secrets to his career success.
Also available on YouTube:
https://youtu.be/L99tOiZ6jg8
749: Allen shares his insights on the evolving role of the CIO and how he has managed the technology life cycles over the course of his 21-year tenure with the company. Allen provides valuable advice on how he has navigated the War for Talent by improving the employee experience, broadening the scope of talent acquisition, and leveraging technology and automation to open up opportunities for process efficiencies. He talks about the strong relationships he has built within the company and how he collaborates with the broader organization to be a better partner to the business. Finally, Allen reflects on the keys to his career success and looks ahead at the trends in technology that are on his radar for the future.
Also available on YouTube:
https://youtu.be/xhMInuypOGw
748: Amy joins Peter in a discussion about leading IT at the Cleveland-based regional bank and training talent in both operations and technology. With over a decade of experience at KeyBank, Amy shares her insights on leading digital transformation initiatives and building an end-to-end digital experience for both customers and employees. She also covers the importance of collaboration with the business to understand operational needs and build the digital literacy of non-tech-focused talent. Amy describes her pathway to board membership, provides valuable advice for those looking to develop critical skills to become “board-ready”, and reveals how she keeps up-to-date with emerging technology trends. Tune in to this episode for an informative conversation with Amy on her expansive purview and the keys to her continued career success.
Also available on YouTube:
https://youtu.be/fYulWZF7sEM
747: Kirk joins us to discuss his role in managing all things digital in the 104-year-old supermarket chain that generates $10B in annual revenue. Kirk explains the structure of his IT team and how he manages a largely virtual team while fostering a collaborative culture. He also shares the areas of priority in Giant Eagle’s technology strategy, including the vision behind the company’s global capability center in Bangalore. Kirk draws from his breadth of industry experience to discuss tech trends and keys to his career success. Tune in for an insightful conversation with Kirk on leading a technology team in a large retail organization.
Also available on YouTube:
https://youtu.be/iHWoam01Fr4
746: Anita Klopfenstein, CIO of Little Caesars Pizza, joins Peter in a conversation about the IT transformation that she has led at the company, the emerging technologies her team leverages to drive improvements in the customer experience, and the positioning of the IT organization as a profit center for the business. Anita also shares how she implemented an IT steering committee to prioritize the most critical elements of the organization and collaborated with franchisees and customers to identify opportunities for improvements. She describes her team’s process of becoming a predictive enterprise, flexing IT to support the diverse array of additional venues, and giving back to the community during the height of the pandemic. Finally, Anita reflects on her career, the keys to her success, and the tech trends that are on her radar.
Also available on YouTube:
https://youtu.be/-j5sRxTmf_k
745: Matt discusses how he is driving an interconnected experience at The Home Depot bringing together the digital, mobile, and in-store customer experiences. He covers what falls under his purview and what role the CIO plays in improving the customer experience. Matt shares the focus areas in CX that are on The Home Depot’s strategic roadmap, how he measures the progress he and his team are making, and how he partners with the rest of the business to deliver best-in-class customer experience. Finally, Matt reflects on his successful career, the pathway to securing a board position at Chipotle, and the trends in technology and CX that he has kept up-to-date on.
Also available on YouTube:
https://youtu.be/rJN4Gds5qz0
744: Ria discusses the work she is leading at Intel on developing ethical artificial intelligence solutions with a focus on explainability, fairness, and trustworthiness. She discusses her perspective on what it will take to reach ethical AI solutions, the opportunities and hurdles that she faces, and the value proposition that ethical AI offers to companies and communities. Ria also talks about the skills that she hires for on her team, the collaboration she engages in with external and internal partners, and the medium-term outlook for AI given the rise of ChatGPT and other AI tools. Finally, she reflects on her early start in a career in technology and explains how her passion for poetry and writing has helped balance and anchor her during her more technical position at Intel.
Also available on YouTube:
https://youtu.be/wWjlWpI4EIE
743: Penelope covers the integration of the data and analytics officer role into her CIO role at Accenture as well as the importance of focusing on the basics when developing a data strategy at your company. She discusses the structure of her teams in her role, the shared services she leverages to strengthen the relationships across those teams, and how she contemplates the art of the possible when it comes to delivering new innovations to the rest of the business including how she co-innovates with business partners and clients. Penelope also talks about driving sustainability at Accenture, facilitating hybrid work, and using her experience across the company to inform her role as CIO. Finally, she looks ahead at trends being driven by the digital-native generation and reflects on the keys to her career success.
Also available on YouTube:
https://youtu.be/SKTKQWO3WGU
742: Guido joins Peter on the broadcast to speak about the innovation he is driving at the company and what the future of decentralized finance looks like. Guido explains his expansive purview in his role, the structure of IT at the company, and the emerging technologies he is leveraging to enhance business capabilities. He talks about co-innovating with clients and business partners, rethinking the use cases for crypto and blockchain, and expanding the metaverse concept through the payments industry. Finally, Guido talks about other trends in technology that are on his radar and the keys to his career success.
Also available on YouTube:
https://youtu.be/MbVT4be6SZU
_____________________________________
This episode is sponsored by Adyen.
741: Vish discusses the incredible digital transformation that he is leading at the company, the thoughtful and methodical approach he has taken to drive it forward, and the long-term mindset he adopted from the get-go. As a part of this transformation, Vish talks about the cultural elements including the retention of talent, pushing forward a data strategy focused on visibility, and how his experience at GE has informed his view of talent development at Graphic Packaging. Finally, Vish looks ahead at trends in employee engagement and reflects on the difference makers to his own career.
Also available on YouTube:
https://youtu.be/HzNu6Uv74GQ
_____________________________________
This episode is sponsored by Adyen.
740: Tom discusses the progress he has seen in the artificial intelligence space and the evolution of the role of platform companies like C3.ai in a company’s overall strategy. He explains what he saw back in 2009 that prompted him to embark on his journey to found C3.ai, shares the common characteristics of companies that have successfully adopted AI solutions, and dives into the emerging trend of CEOs becoming more involved with driving AI at their companies. Finally, Tom reflects back on his career success, the key learnings he has brought with him, and what continues to keep him motivated.
Also available on YouTube:
https://youtu.be/q10Crug30Hs
_____________________________________
This episode is sponsored by Adyen.
739: Our broadcast today comes from our recent Metis Strategy Digital Symposium on the topic of mastering the human side of digital transformation. Rob addresses his role as a strategic facilitator within Tractor, speaks to influencing the prioritization of technology during M&A, and explains how he is building product management capabilities within the organization. Jen discusses the challenges of change management, the emphasis she places on her “platinum rule,” and driving change among her C-Suite level peer group.
Also available on YouTube:
https://youtu.be/bwhwo-PI4OY
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This episode is sponsored by Adyen.
738: Michael discusses the cultural shift that was necessary at the company to drive forward its digital transformation. He covers the way technology is structured at the bank, how he has built his team, and where he focused his modernization efforts. As a part of this modernization, Mike talks about the talent part of the transition and moving towards an engineering culture with a build mindset. He also talks about his involvement with startup accelerator 43North, the experience he gained at Capital One, and the learnings he brought to M&T. Finally, he reflects on his career and the future ahead for technology.
Also available on YouTube:
https://youtu.be/OgBgOJwmtR4
_____________________________________
This episode is sponsored by Adyen.
737: Our broadcast today comes from our recent Metis Strategy Digital Symposium on the topic of Establishing the Foundation for a Modern Enterprise. The panelists who spoke about this topic were Boris Shulkin, Chief Digital and Information Officer of Magna International, and Michael Rodgers, Chief Technology Officer of Pilot Company and the conversation was moderated by Metis Strategy Co-Head of Executive Networks, Research, and Media; Steven Norton. Michael Rodgers begins the discussion with the role technology plays in the broad businesses under Pilot Company’s umbrella and speaks to the ways he and his team are developing a holistic experience for the business’s customers. Boris talks about the digital transformation of Magna Intl. and the components behind the company’s cloud strategy, data strategy, and more.
Also available on YouTube:
https://youtu.be/gDkuVCRatf4
_____________________________________
This episode is sponsored by Adyen.
736: David joins the broadcast to talk about his latest book How to Invest: Masters on the Craft and the common traits he found among the investors he profiled in the book. He shares anecdotes of his early investment misses, how they led to his future successes, and the reason he always chooses good work ethic over high IQ when hiring prospective employees. David contends that investors often think against the grain and explains why this acceptance of higher risk is critical to the success of these titans of finance. He also sees younger people as being key indicators of successful investments as they drive the technology of future generations. Finally, David reflects on his “patriotic philanthropy” and looks ahead at trends in politics, economics, and the future of cryptocurrency.
Also available on YouTube:
https://youtu.be/s-gQNQfD604
_____________________________________
This episode is sponsored by Adyen.
735: Our broadcast today comes from our recent Metis Strategy Digital Symposium on the topic of Optimizing Value Delivery through Digital and Technology Capabilities. The panelists who spoke about this topic were Anita Klopfenstein of Little Caesars and Kirk Ball of Giant Eagle and the conversation was moderated by Metis Strategy Partner and East Coast Lead Alex Kraus. Both executives talk about how they align business objectives to operational needs and leverage data & analytics capabilities to improve the employee experience and internal training. Anita shares thoughts on Little Caesar’s “Area 51” initiative to help pilot innovations and measure their success at select locations while Kirk discusses the philosophy behind the co-creation of strategy to build commitment within the team.
Also available on YouTube:
https://youtu.be/0P94Kbj–_4
_____________________________________
This episode is sponsored by Adyen.
734: Katia discusses her unique role combining digital, data, artificial intelligence, and strategy as well as how her role helps blur the dividing line between the business and IT. She describes how she organizes her team cutting across various verticals, drives the strategic roadmap for the business, and modernizes the footprint of a legacy company like Levi’s. Katia explains the impact artificial intelligence has on the customer experience, the consequences of widespread artificial intelligence usage, and the ecosystem of skills and partnerships that help build the AI solutions her team develops. Finally, Katia reflects on the keys to success across her career from her initial stint in journalism, her pivot to technology, and her subsequent pathway to board membership.
Also available on YouTube:
https://youtu.be/M-l0LPkwzaQ
_____________________________________
This episode is sponsored by Adyen.
733: Chris discusses the innovations he has driven to create new mobility experiences focused on sustainability and efficiency. He discusses the 125-year-old company’s business, what falls under his purview, and why combining operations and technology was key to the company’s digital transformation. Chris also talks about the “Beyond Tires” side of Goodyear’s business, its place in the broader mobility ecosystem, and the open innovation model it uses to breathe life into the digital transformation at Goodyear. As a part of this transformation, Chris covers Goodyear Ventures, the investment arm of the company, and the investments in sustainable mobility solutions such as the non-pneumatic tire. Finally, Chris reflects on his career success and the trends in technology that will help transform the mobility industry.
Since the recording of this episode, Goodyear unveiled at CES 2023 a 90% sustainable-material tire and announced plans to sell a tire with up to 70% sustainable-material content in 2023.
Also available on YouTube:
https://youtu.be/hFMsjEo-OiI
_____________________________________
This episode is sponsored by Adyen.
732: Patricia discusses the infrastructure processing unit and foundational network that she leads at Intel and how it has enabled the company to build a software ecosystem for its customers. Having been at the company for nearly two decades, she gives her perspective on the advancements being made in data as a discipline and what have been the difference makers for companies that have successfully adopted better data practices. Patricia also talks about the skills that make up her team and the collaboration efforts both internally and externally. Finally, Patricia reflects on her experience as a board-level executive and the trends in artificial intelligence and data that are on her radar.
Also available on YouTube:
https://youtu.be/tB95hga7tXk
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This episode is sponsored by Adyen.
731: Pragati joins Peter High on Technovation to speak about the digital transformation that she is driving at the company and how she is weaving ESG Excellence into the company’s key objectives. She explains her role, and the role of the CIO more generally, in driving ESG at a company and the way digital acts as an enabler for sustainability. Pragati also reflects on her career success, how she has educated herself on the intricacies of each industry she has worked in, and looks ahead at trends such as data and the metaverse that particularly excite her for the future.
Also available on YouTube:
https://youtu.be/x6pPqnuwR-c
_____________________________________
This episode is sponsored by Adyen.
730: Kristie joins the broadcast to speak about the “Digital DXC Strategy” that she is driving and how she organizes her team to do it. She brings a wealth of experience to the role and talks about continuing a close relationship with the former CIO of DXC, Chris Drumgoole, and the insight that she has gained from it. Having previously held the role of Chief Supply Chain Officer for General Dynamics IT, she speaks to the supply chain issues that companies are facing and how DXC is navigating them. Kristie also reflects on her career, how she got here, the path ahead for women in technology, and trends that she has on her radar for the future.
Also available on YouTube:
https://youtu.be/fTKKW6Af5f8
_____________________________________
This episode is sponsored by Adyen.
729: Nancy discusses the strategic importance of operations within the CIO role and how that part of her purview overlaps with technology. She also talks about the company’s data strategy, its criticality within operations, and using it to improve the customer experience. Nancy covers the way she organizes her team, creates a culture of innovation, and leverages technology to alleviate supply chain issues that companies across industries face. Finally, she reflects on her career success, describes her pathway to board membership, and looks ahead to trends in technology that she is excited about.
Also available on YouTube:
https://youtu.be/bd65srWBEIs
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This episode is sponsored by Adyen.
728: Lidia discusses the game-changing innovation that she is driving at the company and the key components that have helped move this forward. She talks about the company-wide initiative as a result of the pandemic to increase the speed of innovation and the role that her team, as well as technology more broadly speaking, has played in this initiative. Lidia talks about developing the careers of employees through a “zigzag” approach to growth, leveraging talent from other areas including the Digital Innovation Center in Greece, and how culture plays into the innovation process. Finally, she reflects on the keys to her own success and the trends that she has kept an eye on as we enter 2023.
Also available on YouTube:
https://youtu.be/sL0QDpUmIVI
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This episode is sponsored by Adyen.
727: Paul Heller and Kendall Kowalski, CTO/COO and CIO of Huntington Bancshares respectively, discuss their collaboration over their careers, the responsibilities that fall under each of their purviews at Huntington, and how they have organized their teams. They also speak about the core modernization effort that they are both driving at Huntington, the transformation office that they have set up to drive the digitization of the customer experience, and the key components behind the successful M&A integrations that they have led, among other topics.
Also available on YouTube:
https://youtu.be/8LMJ7m3q2SM
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This episode is sponsored by Adyen.
726: Michael discusses how he is driving new digital touchpoints for customers and implementing a frictionless experience for truck drivers and other business partners. He describes the structure of the conglomerate, the various verticals he leads, and how marketing and data fit within his purview. Michael covers his career prior to Pilot and what innovations and new trends in technology are on his and Pilot’s roadmap. Finally, he describes the relationship Pilot has with universities to bring in new talent and foster a culture of innovation, among other topics.
Also available on YouTube:
https://youtu.be/ssiy2CKQZUk
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This episode is sponsored by Adyen.
725: Marco discusses his journey from one of the premier digital native organizations and applying his learnings from that experience to one of the older and more storied investment banks. He provides a thumbnail sketch of Goldman Sachs’ long history and how the company’s scale is actually an advantage to its digital transformation. Marco also talks about coming from a background outside of financial services, building credibility within Goldman Sachs, and leveraging his time at AWS to build the B2C business within the organization. Finally, Marco dissects the necessary ingredients in becoming a more nimble enterprise, reflects on the keys to his career success, and talks about his passion for music.
Also available on YouTube:
https://youtu.be/GiGHgY0uJWU
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This episode is sponsored by Adyen.
724: Jen discusses her philosophies in leadership and how she has used those lessons to realize the art of the possible at Cargill. She explains her preference for the term ‘digital’ over ‘IT’, describes the value both federated and centralized solutions have within her team, and shares anecdotes about how technology has improved the customer experience at the company. When it comes to leadership, Jen shares her “Four Ls of Leadership,” the “platinum rule” she lives by, and how these frameworks have pushed her to be a strategic driver in the CIO role. Finally, Jen reflects on the keys to her continued success, the progress we still have to bring more women into STEM fields, and the trends in technology that are on her roadmap.
Also available on YouTube:
https://youtu.be/vdes2a0QqJE
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This episode is sponsored by Adyen.
723: Steve discusses his latest book, Rise of the Rest and his mission of growing venture capital outside of the three big epicenters of CA, MA, and NY. He explains the thesis of the book, why 75% of VC focuses on these metropolitan areas, and what inspired him to explore this phenomenon. Steve also gives his perspective on how communities can stimulate venture capital expansion into new areas, how the Rise of the Rest Bus Tours help spur greater visibility on entrepreneurship in these areas, and the venture capital firms he partners with to realize this. He then shares specific anecdotes from his book and the stories from cities that stood out to him during his tours. Across these stories, Steve breaks down the ingredients of a successful venture that he has seen, how the pandemic has changed this, and the role government plays in growing venture capital in their cities. Finally, he talks about growing opportunities for diverse entrepreneurs, economic headwinds that entrepreneurs are beginning to face, and how the tech community has grown in the D.C. Metro area.
Also available on YouTube:
https://youtu.be/jIHIn0YaqEg
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This episode is sponsored by Adyen.
722: Rob discusses his career journey going from CIO to COO and ultimately to co-CEO. He gives a brief thumbnail sketch of Cenlar’s business and describes his purview in his new post alongside Jim Daras. Rob also talks about the advantages of being a technologist in his role, the importance of developing a solid relationship with the company’s board of directors, and the benefit of having a close relationship with his CIO successor. Finally, Rob covers the trends in technology that are on his personal radar and reflects on what he attributes to his career success.
Also available on YouTube:
https://youtu.be/SBSixRaTGbI
_____________________________________
This episode is sponsored by Adyen.
721: Sastry discusses the company’s mission of powering the business’s strategic shifts and fueling innovation all while transforming the core. He gives a brief overview of TIAA’s business, the two sides to his purview as Chief Information and Client Services Officer, and how his team collaborates with clients to deliver solutions that resonate with each stakeholder regardless of which stage they are at in their retirement journey. Sastry also describes the way his team is organized, how it drives the broader strategy of the company, and how it is developing a data and AI strategy to realize the organization’s mission. He goes into detail on the types of creative partnerships including those with Universities to upskill talent and diversity groups to open up opportunities for members of those groups. Sastry talks about his involvement in one such group, Girls in Tech, and the impact that it has had on his outlook for DE&I in the industry. Finally, Sastry covers trends in artificial intelligence and the metaverse and reflects on the keys to his career success.
Also available on YouTube:
https://youtu.be/L8Ia0SCIL1A
_____________________________________
This episode is sponsored by Adyen.
720: Doug discusses the evolution of ethernet and how it continues to be used today. Doug explains the difference between ethernet and other similar technologies it is often confused with, its use across industries, and where it has been used for cost efficiencies. He also shares a personal anecdote about how the technology he works on has been used to impact his life in a meaningful way. Doug then talks about his long career at Intel, the collaboration he experiences across other groups within the company, and the skills he hires for. Finally, Doug looks ahead at trends in autonomous vehicles and other technologies that he is excited about.
Also available on YouTube:
https://youtu.be/QU97Zsn5l1w
_____________________________________
This episode is sponsored by Adyen.
719: Bill discusses his latest book True North: Leading Authentically in Today’s Workplace and why authentic leadership is crucial for success. Bill reflects on his upbringing, his time at Honeywell, and why he felt that joining Medtronic was the perfect move for him. He then talks about insights from his book including the importance of building strong relationships based on trust as a leader, why EQ is as important if not more than IQ, and the COACH framework he developed on organizing people. Bill then talks about the men’s group he has been a part of, how it helped orient and support him through his life, and why everyone should find an equally supportive group. Finally, Bill looks ahead at the future of hybrid work, gives advice for young leaders as we face major economic headwinds, and shares what have been the major keys to his career success.
Also available on YouTube:
https://youtu.be/fB93JqZ-t0Q
_____________________________________
This episode is sponsored by Adyen.
718: Kamran Zaki and Roelant Prins, COO & CCO of Adyen respectively, discuss the genesis of the company and its vision for driving the future of Unified Commerce. Kamran gives a brief history of the company, how he got introduced to the platform, and why Adyen has chosen to grow organically instead of pursuing an M&A strategy. Roelant gives his perspective on why unified commerce is imperative for the future of digital transformations, and shares learnings from working with customers during the pandemic. Finally, both executives then talk about the process of international expansion, the hurdles associated with it, and translating the business model across regions.
717: Mario Harik, CEO of XPO, discusses his journey from CIO to CEO and his vision for the future of the business. Mario talks about his initial reflections on his transition to the CEO role and explains what helped him rise to the position. He gives an overview of how XPO was founded and the different verticals and spin-offs that have been a part of the company’s history, including the Less-Than-Truckload vertical he served as President for before his promotion. Mario describes the skillsets on his team, lessons from the company’s many successful M&A integrations, and how he fosters a culture of innovation. Finally, Mario speaks about the tech trends in data that are on his radar for the future of XPO and looks back at the keys to his career success.
716: Greg Meyers, Chief Digital and Technology Officer of Bristol Myers Squibb (BMS), discusses the innovations in digital health that he is driving and how they have accelerated the pace of drug discovery. He gives an overview of BMS's business and the company’s digital health program as well as how collaboration with physicians and hiring for various skills have been critical in developing game-changing innovations. Greg also covers the way his team collaborates internally across the silos within the organization and leverages technologies like artificial intelligence to increase the speed at which drugs are tested and developed. Finally, he explains why he chooses to immerse himself deeply in more technical aspects of the business, looks ahead at what trends in technology he believes will continue to make important contributions to healthcare, and reflects on the keys to his career success.
715: Sigal Zarmi, Board Member of ADT & HashiCorp and senior advisor at Morgan Stanley & BCG, reflects on her seasoned career in technology, what she derives from her experiences, and what’s next for her. She explains the growing strategic nature of the CIO role, the insights from her advisory experiences, and how they have all paved the way for her journey to board membership. Sigal also weighs in on how IT can be a differentiator for high-power intellectual organizations like the ones she has been a part of and why GE Capital became a powerhouse for growing the great CIOs of today. She looks back on her time at the Israeli University Technion and the tech and entrepreneurial community coming out of Israel. Finally, Sigal looks ahead at the trends in cloud computing and advises future CIOs on the difference makers in her career.
714: Rob Mills, EVP, Chief Technology, Digital Commerce, and Strategy Officer of Tractor Supply Company, discusses how he is leveraging technology to improve customer and employee experiences, build a closer connection between them, and improve overall operational efficiencies. He describes the three verticals under his purview, why it makes sense to combine them under one role, and how he fosters cross-functional team culture to drive customer experience improvements. Rob shares perspectives from his experience across the retail industry, the insights he has drawn from across the different segments in retail, and how it has led to securing a board-level position in his career. Finally, he looks ahead at trends in data and artificial intelligence and reflects on the keys to his career success.
713: Cindy Hoots, CDO and CIO of AstraZeneca, discusses tapping into the global talent network and leveraging the company’s innovation hubs around the world. She explains her purview as both CIO and CDO, why she chose to commingle her team between digital and IT, and how she manages the global team. Cindy gives insight into change management practices, creating firm buy-in to ensure successful execution, and why startup ecosystems around the world are becoming more popular. Finally, she talks about the lessons she learned coming out of the pandemic, trends in technology on her radar, and the keys to her continued success.
712: Anil Cheriyan, EVP of Strategy and Technology at Cognizant, covers the recent economic headwinds and their impact on recruitment and the future of work. He gives his perspective on how companies can prepare for a possible recession in the near future and mitigate economic risk through geographic diversification. Along with risk mitigation, Anil shares how diversity can increase the types of expertise talent can bring from other areas around the world and shift the tide in the War for Talent. Finally, Anil talks about the skill sets he specifically hires for and what the future holds for new ways of working.
711: Ashok Srivastava, Chief Data Officer of Intuit, discusses the way he is transforming the business through the intersection of data, analytics, and artificial intelligence. He describes the way the three areas of focus act independently as well as act interdependently. Ashok follows up with Intuit's Follow-Me-Home Approach to customer experience and how the three areas of data, analytics, and AI bring the perspective of the customer to the business. He also talks about the skills he hires for his team, the methods of collaboration across the organization, and maturing the company’s data strategy. With respect to artificial intelligence, Ashok addresses safety and biases and how he mitigates the risks associated. Finally, he talks about having a longer tenure in the role of Chief Data Officer, how he balances his responsibilities outside of the organization, tech trends on his radar, and his reflections on the keys to his career success.
710: Neal Sample, former CIO of Northwestern Mutual, discusses his seasoned career as a technology executive across a variety of companies and shares the insights that he has drawn from each experience. He explains both the enticing and challenging aspects of the CIO role and how it can translate into a broader set of responsibilities at a company. Neal also talks about his board-level experience and why companies, regardless of industry, should look to have a technologist on the board of directors. He looks ahead at his future career prospects, reflects on his pursuit of his Ph.D., provides advice for aspiring CIOs, and speaks to the trends in artificial intelligence and automation that he believes will become prominent in the years to come.
709: Rich Karlgaard, publisher emeritus of Forbes Magazine and bestselling author, reflects on his career at the periodical and the insights he has gained on culture, politics, and the world of business. He talks about the recent Forbes Global CEO Conference in Singapore and debriefs Peter on the high-level takeaways about the foreign perspectives of the global economy, the trajectory of the U.S. economy, and anticipation of the Fed’s response. Rich also looks at his experiences in technology and how he has viewed the generational gap between understanding consumer technology and enterprise technology. Finally, Rich describes his view on entrepreneurship, the keys to his career success, and how he stays knowledgeable on a variety of topics.
708: Justin Mennen, Chief Digital and Technology Officer of Rite Aid, discusses the digital transformation of Rite Aid and how it is leveraging the symbiotic relationship between traditional and digital commerce. He details the hallmarks of a great digital experience, the way his team is structured, and how he has recruited and trained talent to be able to deliver the experience to the company’s customers. Justin describes how he determines when the company invests in shared services across the business versus when a dedicated solution is necessary as well as how the digital platforms increase traffic to the in-store experience. Finally, Justin reflects on the keys to his successful career and how trends in artificial intelligence and data will drive a new level of personalized experiences.
707: Michelle Greene; EVP, CIO, and Head of Global Business Services; discusses with Peter High the complexities of Cardinal Health’s business, the power of collaboration, and the company’s internal talent strategy. She gives an overview of how her teams are organized and a deeper look into the company’s technology commercialization engine Fuse and how it contrasts with the company’s digital office. Michelle also discusses how she works together within her executive time and focuses on implementing a culture of collaboration with her colleagues. She covers the recruiting and retraining strategy for employees relating to continuous improvement and diversity of thought and experience. Finally, Michelle talks about the keys to her career success and looks ahead at the trends in automation that are on her radar for the future.
706: In a panel discussion from our September Metis Strategy Digital Symposium, Frank Cassulo, CDO of Chevron, and Bhavani Amirthalingam, CDIO of Ameren, speak with Metis Strategy’s Chris Davis about creating innovative sustainable business models. Both executives share what sustainability means for their respective businesses and how technology unlocks new revenue streams. Frank gives insight into the use of industrial IoT at Chevron and looks at driving an ESG strategy through a global lens while Bhavani provides advice for executives operating outside the energy sector on how to build an effective ESG strategy at their companies.
705: In a panel discussion from our September Metis Strategy Digital Symposium, Ash Banerjee, Global CIO of Dentons, and Anil Bhatt, Global CIO of Elevance Health (formerly Anthem Inc.), speak with Metis Strategy’s Mike Bertha about transforming a global IT operating model. Anil speaks to the company’s transition to a customer-centric operating model and the role that culture plays in bringing about this transformation. Ash discusses how the complex environment Dentons operates in is accommodated in the company’s operating model and how he is creating buy-in for a unified IT model from the non-technical executive team.
704: In a panel discussion from our September Metis Strategy Digital Symposium, Marykay Wells, CIO of Pearson, and Carman Wenkoff, CIO of Dollar General, speak with Metis Strategy’s Steven Norton about driving strategic IT modernization efforts at their respective companies. Marykay gives insight into Pearson’s use of data and technology to engage with consumers and the metrics she looks at to gauge the progress being made in the company’s digital transformation. Carman shares how he is applying digital to the in-person experience at Dollar General’s stores and how consumer insights have driven the evolution of the company’s mobile app. Finally, both executives talk about the methods they’ve followed to future-proof their organizations and foster resilience.
703: Dak Liyanearachchi, Head of Data and Technology at NRG Energy, discusses the two sides of his purview and how data and technology help maximize value coming from the business. He gives his perspectives on data strategy, NRG's emphasis on consumer products and services, and the role data and technology play in the company’s overall goals in sustainability, digital engagement, and product development. Dak talks about the universality of his experience in data, but how the unique value comes from how that experience is applied to the specific company and industry. Finally, he looks ahead at trends in the decarbonization of our economy and reflects on the keys to his career success.
702: In a panel discussion from our September Metis Strategy Digital Symposium, Chandra Dhandapani, CEO of Global Workplace Solutions at CBRE, speaks about the future of work. Chandra discusses how the landscape is evolving as we come out of the pandemic and how companies are thinking about balancing in-person collaboration and workplace flexibility. She provides advice on how managers can be intentional about bringing employees back to the office and leverage data-driven insights to make the right decisions for their companies. Finally, Chandra reflects on her journey from CIO to CEO and why she believes the CIO role is a great training ground for future CEOs.
701: In a panel discussion from our September Metis Strategy Digital Symposium, Kevin Stine, the Chief of Applied Cybersecurity Division at the National Institute of Standards and Technology’s Information Technology Laboratory, discusses the evolution of the cybersecurity landscape and the frameworks being adopted to manage this risk. Kevin talks specifically about the NIST Cybersecurity Framework, the new update the organization rolled out recently, and why global alignment is important to help US businesses remain competitive in global markets. Finally, he also talks about the future of cybersecurity, how companies are implementing better risk-management measurement capabilities, and why the introduction of quantum computing can pose a real threat to organizations.
700: In this interview, we celebrate 700 episodes of Technovation with special guest, author, thought leader, and NYU Stern Professor Scott Galloway. Scott shares his goal of becoming the most influential thought leader in the history of business, what that means to him, and how he is stretching his expertise as his brand has expanded into a variety of subject areas across media. Despite his tenure at NYU Stern, Scott has been a vocal critic of the traditional university education model. He explains the rationale behind this critique and what the future holds for education and training. Scott also talks about the broader societal problems that America is facing and while these problems are touted as insurmountable, he makes the case for why they can be easily addressed and solved by what America has to offer. Finally, Scott gives his perspective on the overvaluation of the Tech Giants, why the government has yet to step in, and what scenarios are likely to play out in the near future.
Pre-order Scott’s latest book Adrift: America in 100 Charts here: https://www.amazon.com/Adrift-America-Charts-Scott-Galloway/dp/0593542401
Check out Scott’s podcast, newsletter, and other works on his website: https://profgmedia.com/
699: In a panel discussion from our September Metis Strategy Digital Symposium, Susan Doniz, CIO & SVP of IT & Data Analytics at Boeing, and Vinod Bidarkoppa, SVP of Walmart and CTO of Sam’s Club, cover the topic of Data & Analytics as a Source of Resilience and Growth. Susan explains the role data & analytics play in delivering predictability and stability as a part of Boeing’s overall strategy, how she trains her team in the skills needed to achieve that, and why data is integral to a company’s culture and telling its story. Vinod describes how data & analytics impact the customer experience at Sam’s Club, how he is making Sam’s Club into an AI-enabled digital enterprise, and how he is democratizing that data across his business.
698: In a fireside chat from our September 2022 Metis Strategy Digital Symposium, Peter High speaks with Gabe Dalporto, CEO of Udacity, to discuss the skills that will be necessary for employees in the Digital Age and how companies can foster the upskilling essential to keep pace with their digital transformations. Gabe looks at the current state of digital skills and where Udacity fits in the spectrum of overall education. He describes the three main skill sets that will be crucial for companies to train employees in, the path ahead for employees in non-technical roles, and the best practices for companies developing their own in-house digital academies. Finally, Gabe advises incoming college students on what skills to learn for their future careers.
697: Ramon Richards, CIO of Fannie Mae, speaks about the digital transformation of Fannie Mae and the mortgage lending industry. He gives an overview of Fannie Mae’s business and what the digital transformation at the company entails including incorporating automation, maturing a data strategy, and building a team to foster innovation. Ramon describes the process of upskilling the employees with the digital skills necessary and how technology facilitated resiliency during the pandemic. Finally, Ramon looks ahead at the trends in technology that are on his radar and reflects on his long tenure as well as the keys to his success.
696: Rima Qureshi, Chief Strategy Officer of Verizon, speaks about the evolution of the telecom industry and how Verizon has pivoted its strategy along the way. She explains her purview as Chief Strategy Officer, how she engages different areas of the business to develop Verizon’s strategy, and dives deeper into what the company’s 2022 strategic imperatives included. Rima also discusses the importance of Verizon's partnerships with strategic partners and hyperscalers highlighting the way her team invests in ecosystems and a few general principles that define a successful acquisition. Finally, Rima reflects on the trends in the telecom industry, the keys to her success in the industry, and the trends on Verizon’s horizon.
695: Mike Feliton, CIO of Crocs, speaks about how the IT organization has stayed ahead of the company’s growth both organically and through acquisition. He describes the role that technology plays at a company as tactile as Crocs and how that technology has facilitated agility and scalability. Mike also covers how relationships with vendors have allowed the company to grow internationally at an impressive rate. He also discusses the processes of integrating the HEYDUDE acquisition, leveraging the perspective of a consumer to enhance the customer experience within IT, and maturing the data strategy behind Crocs. Finally, Mike looks ahead at the trends in automation and gives advice on the keys to his continued career success.
694: Kevin Vasconi, CIO of Wendy’s, discusses the digital transformation of the quick-service restaurant industry and how the pandemic has impacted customer behaviors. He details the tech landscape he found at Wendy’s when he joined and the innovation he has driven to digitize the customer experience further. Kevin explains the recently announced “Next Gen Restaurant Design” of Wendy’s locations, the technology being implemented, and how it all comes together to improve and personalize the customer experience. He also describes the relationship he has with franchisees, how they help pilot innovative technology solutions, and how all business units work together to improve the mobile app experience. Finally, Kevin looks ahead at the trends in technology on his radar and reflects on the keys to his career success.
693: In this interview, Frank Cassulo, Chief Digital Officer of Chevron, discusses the role digital plays in Chevron’s overall strategy. As the first to occupy the role of CDO, Frank describes the responsibilities that fall under his new purview and how he has built his team drawing on talent from both inside and outside the company. He also covers how digital fits into the company’s three key strategic imperatives, customer and employee experiences, and efforts in providing clean reliable energy. Frank also touches on how he leverages ecosystems with startups to develop innovations and speaks to lessons he learned during the pandemic on how digital helps foster resilience at Chevron. Finally, he looks ahead at the trends in technology that excite him and reflects on the keys to his career success.
692: In this interview, Jay Ferro, Chief Information and Technology Officer of Clario, discusses with Peter High the way he collaborates and engages with his ecosystems, both internally and externally. He gives an overview of Clario’s business, the two sides of his purview, and his role’s impact on the company’s R&D efforts. Jay explains how he engages with the four constituent groups Clairo serves; clinical trial sites, sponsor organizations, patients, & internal customers; how he removes the internal barriers to collaboration, and how he sustains company culture in a hybrid working environment. Finally, he weighs in on the benefits he has seen from his substantial social media presence, the trends that he is actively following, and the keys to his career success.
691: In this interview, Huma Abidi; General Manager and Senior Director of Artificial Intelligence, Software, and Engineering at Intel; discusses the creative ways artificial intelligence is being applied and the path ahead for combatting unconscious biases in AI models. She describes her purview at Intel and explains to Peter High the key differences between typical software and artificial intelligence software. Huma dives deep into the intersection of AI and creativity and shares the remarkable progress being made in the creation of things like art, podcasts, and more. Finally, Huma reiterates the importance of diversity when building AI models to eliminate biases and shares how companies, both AI and non-AI-focused, can improve the opportunities granted to diverse talent in the workplace.
689: In this interview, Earl Newsome, CIO of Cummins, discusses the company’s strategic pivot to focus on agility, resiliency, and business capability management. Earl begins with an overview of the company’s business and his role as CIO. As CIO, he covers the areas of importance on his priority list, the new business engagement model he has driven at the company, and the change management that arose as a result. Earl also speaks on bringing diversity into the workplace and the work he and others are doing to increase diverse talent in the workplace through the TechPACT organization. Additionally, Earl also talks about the company’s increased focus on cybersecurity and how he is training his employees to be “CyberSMART”. Finally, Earl shares the trends in technology that he is looking forward to and gives advice on how others can reach the same level of success as he has had throughout his career.
690: In this interview, Shanthi Iyer, CIO of DocuSign, discusses the company’s immense growth and the transformation that arose as a result. Shanthi begins with what brought her to the company and what her purview entails as the company’s CIO. As a part of her role, she drives the employee experience and looks to improve it across areas like process automation and a consolidated and three-layered data strategy. Shanthi also reflects on her time at Cisco, the lessons she has brought with her to DocuSign, and how the role of the CIO has evolved over the years. Finally, she covers the state of women in technology, trends that excite her as she looks ahead, and the keys to her continued success in the field.
688: Thimaya Subaiya, SVP and GM of Global Customer Experience at Cisco, shares his perspective on changing customer expectations and their impact on the future of work. He shares the hallmarks of great customer experience in the digital age, highlights shifting customer priorities, and articulates the ways in which companies are responding to these changes. He also discusses how hyper-automation is changing collaboration tools and shares his thoughts on what the future might hold. Finally, Thimaya looks ahead at other trends in technology on his radar, including the expansion of 5G and continued prevalence of data analytics.
687: In this interview, Keith Krach, former CEO of DocuSign and former Under Secretary of State, discusses his remarkably diverse set of career experiences. Keith reflects on the evolution and adoption of robotics and the internet and the genesis behind Ariba. He also talks about the importance of trust in technology and how that paved the way for DocuSign. We then discuss his time in policy as Under Secretary of State and developing the Institute for Tech Diplomacy at Purdue. Finally, Keith shares his perspective on current geopolitical topics including US-China relations, China’s relationship with Taiwan, and the future of tech diplomacy.
686: Dame Stephanie “Steve” Shirley, entrepreneur and venture philanthropist, reflects on her storied career as an IT pioneer. After escaping Nazi Germany and arriving in the UK as a child, she went on to hold a series of influential positions in the technology industry. Dame Stephanie describes the trials and tribulations of starting a company as a woman in the 1960s, building client relationships as a woman-led business, and adopting an ahead-of-its-time approach to workplace flexibility. She also shares her passion for autism research, her role as a “venture philanthropist,” in the space, and progress made in developing an autism treatment. Finally, Dame Stephanie discusses her memoir, Let It Go: My Extraordinary Story, and how she remains active and productive in the later years of her life.
685: Craig Richardville, Chief Digital and Information Officer of Intermountain Healthcare, discusses the evolution of digital in the healthcare space across his career as a digital executive in the industry. Craig shares how he helped drive a patient-first perspective when it came to digital and his focus on cloud adoption and a mobile-first orientation to set a better foundation for the company. He also discusses the pathway he and his peers have taken going from running support organizations to running strategic drivers for their companies at present.
684: Marykay Wells, CIO of Pearson, discusses the remarkable transformation she has driven at Pearson to reinvent itself for the digital age. Marykay dissects the pandemic's impact on digital learning platforms and their adoption, including Pearson’s own Pearson+ platform. She also covers how this digital learning has translated into internal training at Pearson and how it has shifted the company’s focus from primarily B2B into a B2C orientation. Marykay describes the internal innovation competitions the company holds to identify opportunities and how she has moved the IT organization towards a new IT service model. Finally, Marykay talks about the up-and-coming trends in technology she sees and gives advice for people looking to follow in her footsteps as a tech executive.
683: Ather Williams III; EVP & Head of Strategy, Digital, and Innovation at Wells Fargo; and Prakash Kota, SVP & Chief Information Officer of Autodesk, discuss the technology-led business model innovations at their respective companies. Prakash begins with the digital transformation he has led at Autodesk. Both executives then give their perspectives on identifying and operationalizing innovation opportunities and adopting an agile mindset to measure the value realized from these opportunities.
682: In this interview, Rahul Jalali, Chief Information Officer of Union Pacific, discusses with Peter High the transformation efforts to modernize the 160-year-old railroad. Rahul covers his purview as CIO, what it means to be a tech executive at a railway company, and the internal operational lens of his purview. He also reflects on his experience in B2C functions and how they have informed his B2B role at Union Pacific. Rahul also describes what he means by transforming Union Pacific into a platform company, creating a high-performing culture through recruitment and DE&I, and why he has chosen to rebrand IT at the company. Finally, Rahul looks ahead at trends in technology that he is keeping abreast of and clues us into the keys to his career success.
681: In this interview, Mamatha Chamarthi, Head of Software Business and Product Management P&L at Stellantis, and Vipin Gupta, Group Vice President & Chief Information Officer of Toyota Financial Services (TFS), discuss building talent for digital operating models. Vipin begins with an overview of the product orientation model he has adopted within the financial services industry and talks about the Digital Academy he has created to train non-technical talent throughout the organization. Mamatha describes the skills and experiences needed to be a successful product owner at Stellantis. Finally, both executives discuss how they curated their career paths from IT to become broader business leaders within their respective organizations.
680: In this interview, Intel Fellow Andres Rodriguez discusses the work he and his team are doing to advance artificial intelligence and its applications. Andres speaks to the historical evolution of artificial intelligence, the work being done to democratize access to AI algorithms, and the benefits and risks that AI can pose to society. Andres also provides a unique look at the hardware side of artificial intelligence, the trade-offs in complexity with its software counterpart, and how companies of all sizes can train and distill large AI models into smaller more applicable models. Finally, Andres explains how open-source communities are advancing the progress being made in AI and how citizen developers and people without engineering backgrounds can be easily trained to become familiar with the tools behind AI.
679: In this interview, Chris Drumgoole, COO of DXC Technology, and Jeff Smith, COO of World Fuel Services, discuss their journey going from the CIO role to COO. Jeff shares his method to operationalize culture and measure the productivity of his teams. Chris then talks about how he uses the Net Promoter Score (NPS) to gauge employee satisfaction at DXC. Finally, both executives opine on the mindset shifts as they entered the role of the COO and give their perspective on the current supply chain challenges that companies are facing.
678: In this interview, Anil Bhatt, Global CIO of Elevance Health (formerly Anthem Inc.), discusses the remarkable work he has done over his tenure and the ascent of technology at the company. Anil covers the work he and his team are doing to humanize the solutions Elevance Health provides and make technology more empathetic as the pandemic has accelerated people's willingness to engage with technology. He also talks about the way Elevance Health is leveraging artificial intelligence and how it is helping to bring about experience personalization across a variety of different constituents. Finally, Anil touches on how he structures and facilitates collaboration across the large team he leads, what trends in technology are on his radar for Elevance Health’s future, and what he sees were the keys to his career success. This episode was recorded before Anthem, Inc. rebranded to Elevance Health on June 28, 2022.
677: In this interview, Teddy Bekele, SVP & CTO of Land O’Lakes, and Ryan Snyder, SVP & CIO of Thermo Fisher Scientific, discuss how innovation ecosystems act as a source of growth for their respective companies. Teddy describes what Land O'Lakes's innovation ecosystem looks like, IT's role within it, and how those ecosystems interact. Ryan then talks about how he connects the dots across the business and influences innovation and why he believes single-instance tech applications are the right move for Thermo Fisher instead of firm-wide consolidation. Finally, Teddy and Ryan speak about how they interact with C-suite peers to work with these ecosystems and drive broader innovation across the company.
676: In this interview, Katya Andresen, Chief Digital and Analytics Officer of Cigna, discusses her impressive and diverse career path and the insights that she’s drawn from it along the way. She begins with an overview of Cigna's business and the two sides of her purview as Chief Digital and Analytics Officer. Katya covers the company’s broader data strategy, the way she assembles and structures her teams, the overlaps present across the multiple teams she leads, and reflection on the acceleration of telemedicine with Cigna’s release of MDLIVE and more. Finally, she discusses the process of onboarding during the pandemic, orienting herself at the company, and what trends in technology are on her radar.
676: In this interview, four executives from the financial services industry give their perspectives on talent, data, and innovation at their respective companies and what the future of the industry looks like. Citizens Bank’s Michael Ruttledge discusses the company’s in-house engineering academies and training programs and how automation is helping with a more efficient self-service-focused customer experience. Comerica’s Megan Crespi covers the DE&I recruiting programs at the company and her thoughts on the “Amazoning” of customer expectations. Ally Bank’s Sathish Muthukrishnan talks about leveraging data to differentiate the digital-born company from its competitors. Finally, Truist’s Scott Case gives insight into the merger of BB&T and SunTrust that formed the company and how its Digital Straddle helped facilitate the merger during the pandemic.
674: In this interview, Paul Ballew, Chief Data and Analytics Officer of the NFL, discusses the role that data and analytics play in the most popular of American sports, as well as the evolution of the disciplines associated with each from across his career. He reflects on the early stages of his journey in data and analytics, the limitations he faced throughout its evolution, and how it's being used now for personalizing the customer experience across the NFL’s constituent groups. Paul also describes how the roles in data analytics have changed, why Chief Data Officer tenures tend to be shorter on average, and the way the teams and reporting relationships have changed throughout the years. Finally, Paul talks about how his background suits him well for a position on the board of Hyatt Hotels, trends in analytics that excite him, and the keys to success that he believes have led to his career ascension.
673: In this interview, Thomas Kurian, Chief Executive Officer of Google Cloud, discusses the future ahead for cloud technology. He begins with an assessment of where we as a society are currently in the evolution of cloud computing and how Google’s Cloud Platform differs from the rest of the players in the space. Thomas then describes Google’s ambitious mission of training 40 million people on cloud technology, why it’s important, and how Google plans on achieving it. Finally, Thomas looks ahead at the future of work and the role technology and collaboration tools will play in managing a hybrid workforce.
672: In this interview, Nick Colisto, Chief Information Officer of Avery Dennison, shares the remarkable work Avery Dennison and IT more specifically, are doing relative to environmental, social, and governance or ESG goals, a topic of great consequence and interest to many technology and digital executives currently. Nick shares the three goals in ESG and how each connects to both doing good and good business practices. He talks about the impacts of this ESG strategy on recruiting, IT, and the CIO role more specifically. Finally, Nick looks ahead at trends in sustainability and the work that he hopes to achieve at Avery Dennison in the near future.
671: In this interview, Chris Nardecchia, Chief Information Officer of Rockwell Automation, discusses some of the necessary ingredients that he and his team have put in place in order to bring about the company’s remarkable transformation. Chris talks about the broader strategy of the company, the power of the CIO role in driving unique value, and how the company’s strategy contains both an internal and external lens. He addresses some of the impediments to transformation in the industrial sector, describes the process of recruiting and retaining top talent, and upskilling talent within and outside the organization to deliver the art of the possible. Finally, Chris looks ahead at the trends in technology and talent he has on his radar and the keys to his career success.
670: In this interview, Willard Lee, Chief Information and Innovation Officer of The Hanover Insurance Group, discusses the topic of continuous modernization and innovation through co-creation. Will begins with an overview of The Hanover Insurance Group's business model and the two sides of his purview. He shares his career journey through various roles in IT, operations, and other business lines; how they culminated in his current role in both IT and innovation; and how they have positioned him to better seize opportunities in innovation. Will also covers how his team is set up, its intersections across the rest of the business, and the role of IT in the agent, customer, and employee journeys. Finally, Will touches on the role of data and analytics at the company, his perspective on rising InsurTech players, future trends, and the keys to his career success.
669: In this interview, Sanjib Sahoo, EVP and Chief Digital Officer of Ingram Micro, covers the topic of value-driven development and creating tangible value through digital. Sanjib shares how he looks at internal processes and behaviors models those of the customers and helps improve the external practices Ingram Micro adopts. He discusses the vision at Ingram Micro, the internal cultural change that is necessary to achieve the vision, and how he recruits and retains top talent to drive that vision. Finally, he looks ahead at the tech trends he is excited about and talks about what he views as the key to his career success.
668: In this interview, Maya Leibman, Chief Information Officer of American Airlines, covers the company’s mission of “delivering value faster” to customers and leveraging technology to improve the customer experience. She begins by reflecting on the challenges American has faced during the COVID-19 Pandemic, the new sources of innovation that arose during the time, and how the next generation strategic initiatives that began at the company prior to the pandemic became a major source of resilience. Maya also discusses how technology is being leveraged to improve customer and employee experiences, how her experience as President of AAdvantage Loyalty Program influenced how she views the customer experience, and how her long tenure as CIO has opened up a world of opportunities. Finally, she talks about her personal and professional growth as a woman in technology, the trends she is excited to see in customer experience design, and the keys to her continued success.
667: In this interview, Dave Girouard, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Upstart, covers the topic of how Upstart is leveraging artificial intelligence models to increase people’s access to credit. He provides an overview of the company’s business model, how it collects the data it uses across multiple constituents, and the learning process he went through during the development of the company. He then describes the way artificial intelligence fits into the model, why this approach is its differentiator, and what hurdles he faced along the way. Finally, Dave talks about the company’s IPO, why this was the right time to go public, and how his experience building out Google's cloud business set him up for success with Upstart.
666: In this interview, Pres. Vicente Fox, former President of Mexico and President of Centro Fox, covers the topic of leadership and the key traits that determine a successful leader. He starts by giving a thumbnail sketch of the state of politics currently in Mexico and other Latin American countries and describes the evolution that Mexico has undergone to become a hub for technology and talent in the global economy. Pres. Fox also shares his perspective on the current war in Ukraine and why leadership needs to be both compassionate and purposeful in order for it to work. Finally, Pres. Fox talks about what makes him optimistic for the future and the work that he is doing now to make it a better place for everyone.
665: In this interview, Prakash Kota, SVP and Chief Information Officer of Autodesk, covers the topic of Autodesk’s transformation into a customer-centric organization with a focus on people and processes. Prakash provides an overview of Autodesk’s business, his purview as CIO, and what the migration towards customer-centricity has looked like. He describes the way his role as an IT leader and consumer of cloud services and prepared him for the transformation at Autodesk as well as how his various roles at the company has given him a unique perspective in IT. Specifically, Prakash looks at the way IT has played a role in improving both the customer and employee experience, recruiting top talent, and providing growth opportunities for current talent at the company. Finally, Prakash looks at the trends in technology that his team is focusing on and what the keys to success were in his personal career path.
664: In this interview, Puneet Bhasin; EVP, Global CIO, and CDO of Unum Group; discusses the combination of business operations and technology in his career. Puneet begins with an overview of Unum Group and his purview as both CIO and CDO. He talks about the skill sets he looks for in talent when building his team and how they contribute to the company’s focus on creating value through platforms in addition to other areas of innovation at Unum. Puneet also shares his career experience in both operations and technology and covers the ways the CIO role translates into adjacent areas of influence in a company. Finally, Puneet gives his perspective on his pathway to board membership, trends in technology that are on his radar, and the keys to his success in his field.
663: In this interview, Dan Blanchard, SVP and Chief Technology Officer of IHG, covers the topic of leveraging digital channels to build a resilient business model. Dan begins with an overview of IHG, the company’s differentiating factors in the hospitality space, and his purview as CTO. He recalls the nimble strategy the company adopted during the early stages of the pandemic and how he focused on new digital channels as well as transitioning towards next-generation capabilities through an art-of-the-possible mindset. Finally, Dan gives his perspective on emerging trends in technology that could impact the hospitality industry and the keys he attributes to his successful career.
662: In this interview, we discuss the thesis behind Unscaled and how companies need to be intentional about scaling their businesses. Hemant emphasizes the importance of integrating General Catalyst's values in the companies he grows and looking at long-term consequences of these investments. He also gives his perspective on social good businesses and how artificial intelligence can be used to measure consequences of investment decisions. Finally, we discuss how Hemant’s approach to investing has changed over the pandemic, why writing allows him to become convicted in his own thinking, and other keys to his successful career.
661: In this interview, we feature a conversation from our most recent Metis Strategy Digital Symposium on the topic of how data and digital capabilities are shaping the future of work with Vince Campisi, the Senior Vice President of Enterprise Services and Chief Digital Officer of Raytheon Technologies, and Edward Wagoner, the Chief Information Officer of JLL. The conversation was moderated by Metis Strategy’s Co-Head of Research, Media, and Executive Networks Steven Norton. Edward discusses the evolution of hybrid working environments, the future of technology’s role as a whole in how employees work and live, and how CIOs can take full advantage of facilities using technology. Vince gives his perspective on Raytheon’s return-to-site strategy and bridging the physical and digital through the use of digital twins. Finally, both executives talk about the importance of sustainability and what the path forward looks like at their respective companies.
660: In this interview, Chris Clark, SVP & Chief Information Officer of Levi Strauss & Co., discusses the many facets of the company’s digital transformation. Chris talks about how he harnesses trends in digital innovation to create a competitive advantage and how he creates a curriculum that aims to upskill talent in both business and technology. He also shares the strategic imperatives LS & Co. is focused on in the years ahead, how the company’s data strategy has evolved, and the role the Eureka Innovation Lab plays in driving digital innovation. Finally, Chris shares how his role as CIO has been informed by his experiences in supply chain roles and the military.
659: In this interview, we feature a panel discussion with Raghu Sagi, Chief Information Officer of Inspire Brands, and Onyeka Nchege, Chief Information Officer of Novant Health, on the topic of how talent and culture enable enterprise agility. Both Raghu and Onyeka share remarkable stories of how the culture of their respective companies takes inspiration from constituents and members of their ecosystems, bringing the company values closer to the customers they serve. Onyeka discusses how these ecosystems influence culture and innovation. Raghu shares an impressive anecdote about evolving the in-person model of their restaurants during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic.
658: In this interview, Teddy Bekele, CTO of Land O’Lakes, covers the digital transformation undergoing in the farm-to-fork agriculture supply chain. He begins with an overview of the cooperative and the two sides to his purview in traditional IT and digital transformation. Teddy discusses the process his team uses to foster innovation, bring actionable insights to farmers, and bridging the digital divide in agriculture. Finally, Teddy recounts his experience as a technologist as a part of the American Connection Project and BCBS of Minnesota board position, recalls the keys to his success, and looks ahead at the tech trends on his radar.
657: In a panel discussion from our February Metis Strategy Digital Symposium, Gurmeet Singh, CTO and CIO of Big Lots Stores, and Gary Desai, CIO of Discount Tire, join Metis Strategy Vice President and Central Office Lead Michael Bertha on the topic of building resilient digital supply chains. Gurmeet provides his perspective on the role of data in supply chains and how ecosystems fit into making them more resilient. Gary describes what role the CIO plays and how the company is exploring new business models that could fundamentally change the way supply chains operate.
656: In this interview, Raghu Raghuram, CEO of VMware, joins Peter High to discuss the future of multi-cloud strategy. Raghu recalls the lessons he learned during VMware’s cloud transformation and how it influenced the transformations VMware provides to its customers. He also described what he called “redefining the category” when it comes to innovating the multi-cloud strategy, broadening his ecosystem, and what it means for companies to be “cloud smart”. Finally, Raghu looks ahead at the future of cybersecurity preparedness and his recommendation for technology executives, the impacts of the pandemic on his business, and his perspectives on how it's impacted his customer's businesses, among other topics.
655: In this interview, Gadi Singer, VP of Intel Labs and Director of Emergent Artificial Intelligence Research Lab, joins Peter High in a discussion about the third wave of artificial intelligence and the development of cognitive AI. Gadi provides an overview of the Emergent Artificial Intelligence Research Lab at Intel and the multidisciplinary nature of his team. He speaks on the history of artificial intelligence’s development, where the current limitations exist, and how we can continue to safeguard artificial intelligence from bad actors, among other topics.
654: In this interview, we feature a conversation with Charu Jain, SVP of Merchandising and Innovation at Alaska Airlines, and Sanjib Sahoo, EVP and CDO of Ingram Micro, from our recent Metis Strategy Digital Symposium on the topic of creating a world-class digital customer experience moderated by Metis Strategy VP and West Coast Lead Chris Davis. Charu shares how Alaska Airlines is tackling the innovation cycle and Sanjib shares how Ingram Micro makes this innovation cycle a core ethos of the organization. Sanjib also covers the four ways he is approaching innovation and using that to drive scale. Finally, Charu discusses realizing tangible business value through innovation and how Alaska Airlines is using data to personalize the guest experience.
In this interview, Fred Reichheld, creator of the Net Promoter Score and Author of Winning on Purpose, covers the genesis of the Net Promoter Score and why customer-centricity should be every company’s focus. Fred talks about the lessons he learned when spending time with CEOs of customer-focused companies and how they relate to his metric for measuring customer lives enriched. He covers the common ways that NPS has been misused, practices that NPS has led to remarkable success, and how this holds true for even digital native companies. He also discusses the employee side of the equation as it relates to recruiting talent, enriching employee lives, and fostering greater degrees of customer-centricity across the organization. Finally, Fred hones in on why the nuance of enriching a customer’s life is an important distinction to enriching a company’s outputs.
652: In this interview, Vince Campisi, Chief Digital Officer and SVP of Enterprise Services at Raytheon Technologies, discusses how he is creating a digital thread throughout the conglomerate. Vince gives an overview of Raytheon Technologies, its merger with United Technologies, and the two sides of his purview. He describes what the digital thread at the company looks like and how it has accelerated the pace at which the company can create minimal viable products in the space. Vince also covers how he brings both unique and common solutions to the companies under the Raytheon umbrella, how he has curated his team at the company, and how he leverages an ecosystem of partners to accomplish the speed of innovation he seeks to achieve. Finally, Vince talks about his 70-20-10 philosophy behind investing in innovation, developing a sound data strategy, and the tech trends that he believes will change the aerospace industry down the road.
651: In this interview, Raghu Sagi, Chief Information Officer of Inspire Brands, covers the way he is using digital to enhance the customer experience of the dine-in restaurants in the company’s portfolio of brands. Raghu discusses to what degree his team creates unique solutions across its brands and when these solutions become commonly adopted across all brands under the company’s umbrella as well as how franchisees play a role in the adoption of these solutions. He also talks about the recruiting practices the company follows to hire the right talent during its significant digital transformation, why he thinks of himself as a business leader first and technologist second, and how he inspires his team to think of themselves as both customers and colleagues. Finally, Raghu gives his perspective on tech trends that are on his radar and how he leverages these trends to innovate at the company.
650: In this interview, Mike Clifton, EVP and Chief Information and Digital Officer of Alorica, discusses the expansion of his role in the client-facing side of the business and leveraging actionable insights from an ocean of data. Mike begins with an overview of Alorica's business, what his purview as CIDO consists of, and how he is focusing on the consumer in his role. He also talks about developing a strong data foundation at Alorica and how he thinks about building the technology ecosystem to drive the data strategy at the company. Finally, Mike gives his perspective on how his background in multiple disciplines has helped him in his new role, the key elements to his success, and what trends in technology are on the horizon.
649: In this interview, Kathy Kay, Chief Information Officer for Principal Financial Group, discusses how she is driving the modernization and simplification efforts at the company to evolve the customer interactions from a digital perspective. Kathy also gives her perspective on the war for talent and how her experience starting her role during the pandemic has informed her view on remote onboarding. Finally, she shares a few lessons learned from her diverse array of experiences, what the future of women in tech looks like, and the various trends in technology that she is keeping her eye on.
648: In this interview, Diogo Rau, CIDO of Eli Lilly, discusses with Peter High the areas of opportunity in the drug discovery industry that technology has helped accelerate. He starts with his strategic priorities in his first year as CIDO and what attracted him to this complex industry. Diogo then expands upon the data strategy of the company and how machine learning is accelerating drug discovery. Finally, he talks about how he has harnessed the talent in the Indianapolis area, long-lasting changes from the pandemic, and the keys to success in Diogo’s diverse career.
647: In this interview, Bill Pappas, EVP & Head of Technology and Operations at MetLife, discusses the expansion of the technology leader's role and its growing impact on the company’s interactions with customers. Bill begins with what his joint responsibility consists of and the power it holds under one executive’s responsibilities. He explains how people are the most important asset of a company and MetLife's investments in talent to retain its skilled workforce. Finally, Bill gives his perspective on being cognizant of customer experiences outside his industry to ensure he is providing the best service to his customers and the company’s natural coopetition with InsurTech companies in the space.
646: In this interview, Mark Mills, author of The Cloud Revolution, discusses with Peter High his latest book and how the intersections of the three spheres of technology have caused technological revolutions. Mark covers the rhyming political, social, and technological dynamics between the 1918-1920 Pandemic and the present and how the three spheres of technology; information, materials, and machines; have intersected over the years to bring about revolutions. Finally, Mark looks ahead at how technology is changing employment, the necessary retraining that arises, and what will define the winners in the Roaring 2020s.
645: In this interview, Stanley McChrystal, retired US Army General and CEO of the McChrystal Group, covers his latest book, Risk: A User’s Guide, and discusses the way people should be assessing, calculating, and acting on risks an organization faces. He begins by defining what risk is, ten risk control factors used to evaluate risk, and why humans are naturally poor at calculating risk. Stanley discusses the necessity of having a narrative that aligns with the values set forth by the organization and ties this into the U.S.’s foreign policy. Finally, Stanley gives his perspective on the current war in Ukraine, the risk each party faces, and what constitutes a good decision. This broadcast was recorded in front of a live audience.
644: In this interview, Carman Wenkoff, CIO of Dollar General, discusses the restructuring of IT’s vision to provide a better customer experience for Dollar General. Carman shares what this vision for IT looks like and how he has used it to develop scale at the company. He also goes over Dollar General’s digital strategy and app-based technologies to serve its customers. Finally, Carman gives his perspective on how modernization and advancements in technology have provided him a better toolkit for finding efficiencies, how his legal background has informed his view as CIO, and what tech trends are on his radar for the future.
643: Lama Nachman, Intel Fellow and the Director of Intelligence Systems Research Lab at the company, discusses how her team is driving the future of artificial intelligence and its collaboration with people. Lama explains the mission of Intel’s Intelligence Systems Research Lab and describes the types of skills necessary to research the groundbreaking collaboration between humans and AI. She also provides a look at what the next frontier of artificial intelligence is in human augmentation including aiding in education, accessibility for adults with disabilities, and manufacturing. Finally, Lama gives her perspective on developing responsible AI and how further developments could prove to create a more sustainable future.
642: In this interview, Seemantini Godbole, EVP & CIO for Lowe’s, discusses how she is driving innovation at the company and using technology to be a differentiator among competing retailers. Seemantini describes her expansive purview overseeing various functions at the company and how those functions ultimately fit together. She also explains the evolution of data products at Lowe's, pre-pandemic efforts to foster resilience, as well the idea of “spatial commerce” and the innovations that come along with it to meet changing customer needs.
641: Casey Santos, CIO of Asurion, discusses how her team is driving customer experience and how it is rooted in the employee experience at the company. Casey begins with how she views her role as a technologist within a tech-centric organization like Asurion as well as how Asurion oftentimes lives its customer journey as customer zero. She covers the role technology plays in Asurion's omnichannel approach, her experience onboarding remotely, and what the future of work looks like. Additionally, Casey gives her perspective on retaining talent during hybrid work, how she draws upon past experiences in her current role, and what the future holds for women in technology.
640: In this interview, Bharat Amin, CIO of Hungtington Ingalls Industries (HII), discusses with Peter High the digitization of the defense industry. Bharat provides an overview of Huntington Ingalls Industries and his purview as Chief Information Officer. He describes how his team is structured and what areas under his purview are managed on a global level versus what are managed on a divisional level. Bharat details his framework for gauging the effectiveness of cybersecurity at the company and what digital innovation looks like. Finally, Bharat talks about how he curates an ecosystem of technology partners to expand the advanced technologies used to protect, connect, and integrate the joint forces as well as the trends in technology that are on his radar which will further transform the defense industry.
639: In this interview, Jim McKelvey, Co-Founder of Square and Founder of Invisibly, discusses the beginnings of his career and how his early experiences inspired the genesis of Square. He shares a couple key strategies that he pursued to compete with large players like Amazon and how this led to the concept of his book, The Innovation Stack: Building an Unbeatable Business One Crazy Idea at a Time. Finally, Jim gives an overview of Invisibly’s business, gives his perspective on the problems with the business model of existing platforms, and looks ahead at what the future holds for the company.
638: In this interview, Santhosh Keshavan, EVP and Chief Information Officer of Voya Financial, focuses on growth through innovation and simplification to create efficiencies to deliver a better experience for Voya’s customers. Santhosh discusses the role digital plays in interactions with customers and how it has evolved over the last few years. He also talks about efforts at the company to simplify tech and digital as a source of growth and shifting the mindset at Voya to focus on both simplification and innovation. Santhosh goes over the role of data at Voya, other areas of innovation that his team is looking at, and creative ways he has identified and recruited talent during a time of high attrition. Finally, Santhosh gives a couple of tech trends that have been on his radar as he continues to grow the company.
638: In this interview, Vlad Rak, EVP and Chief Technology Officer of Dick’s Sporting Goods, covers the athlete and teammate-centered strategy at the company. Vlad begins with an explanation of his purview as CTO of the sports retailer and provides background on the company’s strategy focusing on the distinction between the inward and outward-facing aspects. He describes the ways his experience as a professional athlete has shaped his perspective in his role, weaved the teammate mentality into the DNA of the organization, and influenced the way he focuses on the customer and employee experience. Finally, Vlad talks about how he curates his unique ecosystem of experts to improve the athlete experience and the trends in technology that will continue to evolve the sports industry.
636: In this interview, Brett Brunick, EVP and Chief Digital and Technology Officer at Thrivent, covers the importance of creating digital competencies and weaving them into the fabric of the organization. He gives an overview of Thrivent’s business and the two sides of his purview in digital and technology as well as why he feels his role as Chief Digital Officer is temporary as he shifts digital competencies to be incorporated into the overall company. He then provides the necessary components of transforming Thrivent into a digital-first organization and how the role of IT has transformed into a driver of the true customer experience. Finally, Brett shares the commonalities finance shares with retail when it comes to digital adoption, his view of the tech talent coming out of the Twin Cities, and the trends in digital and technology that he is particularly interested in.
635: In this interview, Shri Santhanam, EVP and Global Head of Analytics and AI at Experian, and Anjana Harve, Global Chief Information Officer of Fresenius Medical Care, join Metis Strategy’s Chris Davis in a recent panel from our December Metis Strategy Digital Symposium on the topic of digital platforms as strategic drivers of growth. Shri discusses his definition of platform in the context of his business at Experian and evaluates how he identifies the business case for these platforms. Anjana explains why she aimed to adopt a platform-centric mindset to deliver care to dialysis patients and how she has built and curated the skill sets of her team to enable the hub strategy at Fresenius. Finally, Shri talks about tackling the challenge of enabling inclusive lending at Experian, and Anjana explains another use case for delivering personalized medical care to Fresenius’s patients.
634: In this interview, Ajit Naidu, EVP and Head of Client Services and Technology at TIAA, discusses the digital journey of the 100-year-old company and the strategic priorities on his roadmap. He begins with an overview of TIAA and his purview as Head of Client Service and Technology. Ajit shares the six pillars as a part of the company’s strategic priorities and expands upon how he is shifting the company towards a data-driven culture and creating a wide ecosystem of partners. He explains how he leverages this ecosystem with Universities to upskill the organization and provide technology and digital training. Finally, Ajit describes how he evaluates where he buys for parity and builds for differentiation, why he shifted towards a product oriented approach, and what trends in technology are on his radar.
633: In this interview, Casey and Sri discuss how they are tuning their approach to recruiting and retaining talent as we enter a post-pandemic world. They also share ways they are instilling lifelong learning as a part of their company cultures to drive continuous upskilling efforts. Finally, Casey talks about ramping up automation at Asurion and both her and Sri give tips on collaborating in hybrid working environments.
631: In this interview, Sangy Vatsa, EVP and Chief Technology and Digital Officer of FIS, discusses his transformational journey and sources of innovation using digital technology. He gives his view of the future of tech at FIS marshaling the efforts of a team of roughly 11,000 colleagues in his organization and curating an ecosystem of partners to invest in modernizing innovations. Sangy also discusses the shifting expectations of employees and customers, evolving uses of cloud technology, traits of a transformational leader, as well as the tech trends that are on Sangy’s radar.
631: In this interview, Amir and Dean discuss scaling artificial intelligence as a method of delivering innovative customer experiences. Amir begins by talking about how AI/ML creates value at the highest level at Discover and what the team structure looks like when bringing these innovations to market. Dean talks about how AI is used along the customer journey at Guardian Life and provides a few use cases of how automation is improving business results. Both executives then share insight into how they are integrating cross-functional product teams with the operations of the company.
630: In this interview, Shawn discusses the importance of having a strong and efficient data foundation. Shawn provides an introduction to Splunk’s business and his purview. He explains how the future is shifting to a multi-cloud hybrid approach and the importance of having consistent security and observability on a shared data platform. Shawn tells us how he sees data security as a foundation for innovation, how his company is turning data into doing, and how this real-time data empowers technology teams. Finally, he talks about the evolution of the role of the IT Leader, the role that Splunk plays in the broader technology ecosystem, and trends in technology that he is excited about.
629: In this interview, Jacqueline goes in-depth on the future of work and what changes in culture will come about as a result. Jacqui begins with her purview as a CIO and technology leader at one of the most influential technology companies on the market and how she has curated her team over her three years in-role. She shares lessons on building a strong company culture and maintaining that culture during a hybrid working environment. Jacqui also talks about Cisco’s Customer Zero program, the future of work, and how the role of the CIO has evolved. Finally, Jacqui shares a personal story about her career journey, discusses improving the number of women in technology roles, and trends in technology as she looks ahead.
628: In this interview, Praveen Jonnala, Chief Information Officer of CommScope, discusses the remarkable digital and cultural transformation of the IT organization at the company. He shares how he has organized his team at the company and how his diverse experience across various parts of the business has impacted the way he thinks about the value IT can bring. Praveen covers the cultural shift required to bring IT to the center of the business pushing his department to be a driver of revenue, a source of speed and nimbleness, while instituting a service-based model. Finally, Praveen looks ahead at the trends in technology that he sees as being drivers of value for IT in the future.
627: In this interview, Mike McNamara, Chief Information Officer of Target, discusses with Peter High his beginnings at the company and what drew him to the US-based company. He focuses on the company’s extraordinary digital transformation, the sanctity of data and forming a data strategy, and the cultural change required to bring Target’s IT organization to the forefront of the customer experience. Mike shares how he leads his team in “ruthless prioritization” and the ways in which Target acts as a talent factory developing the next generation of CIOs.
626: Ather discusses the strategic changes at the company and how the three verticals he leads work together. Ather describes his purview in each of the verticals he leads; Strategy, Digital Platforms, and Innovation; and reflects on how the digital- and mobile-first strategy has evolved in the financial services industry. He talks about the ecosystems he’s built at the company, how they help knit together the three verticals, and what degree of coopetition exists in the space. Ather shares how good corporate strategy has changed in a time of digital disruption and what he believes successful innovation looks like. He shares how Wells Fargo’s Innovation Team operates and how it evaluates the true value-add innovations that will change the needle at the company. Finally, Ather looks ahead at increasing diversity, equity, and inclusion at the company, what the future of work looks like, and trends in technology.
625: Ralph discusses the role of IT in the company’s strategic roadmap. Ralph talks about the areas of emphasis in Lumentum’s current strategy for IT including developing a data strategy, navigating cybersecurity, and improving technological footprint on the factory floor. Additionally, he discusses the changing dynamics in the war for talent and how the relationship between employee and employer has shifted during the pandemic. Finally, Ralph covers the similarities across industries he's been in, how he built his ecosystem, and how he leverages learnings from the VC community to move on the trends coming out of it.
624: Warren discusses the transformation of Turner Construction and the expansion of his CIO responsibilities. Warren begins with his purview as CIO, gives details around the expanded responsibilities in his role surrounding marketing and communications, and how the impact of IT inside and outside of the company creates a rationale for the combined responsibilities. He also discusses the change management in standardizing tech within an industry that is a traditionally late-stage adopter of IT. Warren tells how this standardization builds a better foundation for data strategy at the company and how leveraging that technology and data can have positive impacts on large-scale projects like the company’s joint project constructing the SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles. Finally, Warren shares lessons from the partial return-to-office, how his unique perspective has driven the expansion of the CIO role, and trends in technology that he is focused on for the future.
623: Scot discusses the origination of Arc XP and broadening the technology's applications beyond The Washington Post and the media/publishing industry. Scot tells the story of how Arc XP began within The Washington Post and compares its genesis to that of AWS at Amazon. He then describes the broader possibilities and applications of Arc XP beyond media and how he balances the competitive advantage of the technology and the controversial nature of sharing it with competitors. Scot shares how he leverages his past experiences outside of media to help with these broader applications, how he builds the skill set of his team, and how his vision for expansion is driven by where the talent is located. Finally, Scot talks about the growth opportunities at Arc XP and the advantages of having regular access to someone like Jeff Bezos.
622: Kevin Eamigh discusses the two sides of his responsibilities in his role and why it was a logical step for him to take on the Global Business Services responsibilities. He also talks about his role in developing connected products for the company and his team's work on providing customers with self-service options. Finally, Kevin spends some time reflecting on his tenure as CIO, the evolution of the role throughout his career, and trends in technology that he and his team are following.
621: Michael discusses the development and implementation of Next Generation Technology at Citizens Financial. Michael begins with his purview as Chief Information Officer and describes the Next Gen Tech Transformation Program at the company. He talks briefly about the broader impact of IT, enhancing engineering talent through leveraging partners and in-house academy programs, and building up the momentum for using APIs at the company. Finally, Michael provides an example of the Next Gen Tech in action at the company, what the process of modernizing a 200-year-old company looks like, and trends in technology that he sees as being important in the years ahead.
620: Mike Davies discusses the relevance and impact of neuromorphic computing on Intel as a company and the world more generally. Mike gives a birds-eye view of what neuromorphic computing aims to achieve and the relationship it has to traditional forms of artificial intelligence and deep learning. He breaks down the near-, medium-, and long-term implications the technology could have on how we think about computing capabilities and the technology and cost challenges that his team is working to overcome. A key component of commercializing this technology is the collaboration with partners, and Mike spends a moment discussing how he looks to curate an ecosystem of academics and corporations to help deliver this technology as well as how he collaborates internally with other groups within Intel Labs.
619: Mike, Diane, and Vijay of Johnson Controls discuss how the three executive roles fit together and how digital and technological innovation are shaping the 136-year-old company. Each explains their purview within their respective roles and how these roles share governance and collaborate with one another. Vijay expands on how his team was built by centralizing various disparate capabilities across the company as a means to create value and discusses the learnings from Johnson Control’s Open Blue platform. Mike shares the strategic nature of technology at Johnson Controls and what the future of work looks like coming out of the pandemic. Diane then talks about enabling the employee experience at the company and expands on the company’s view of the hybrid work strategy. Finally, the executives provide a look ahead at future opportunities to leverage technology and digital at the company.
618: Tom discusses the strategic plan for Sysco’s digital transformation and the impact on the B2B customer interaction. Tom provides his purview as both the CIO and CDO and gives his perspective on the five strategic pillars for the company’s Recipe for Growth. He talks about bringing a B2C sensibility to the B2B transactions, focusing on customer engagements and customer journeys, and fostering resilience at the company during the pandemic. Tom also shares how he is not only looking at new solutions for the customer but also how to better position his team for innovation through diversity and inclusion. Finally, Tom discusses tech trends and areas within the company that he looks to focus on in the future.
617: Jonathan and Wouleta share their perspectives on the digital transformation of the fast-casual restaurant. Jonathan provides his vision for optimizing the restaurant business through innovation and digitization, how he sees the pandemic’s impact on digital customer interaction, and why now is the perfect time to fill the role of the Chief Technology Officer for the company. Wouleta then shares why Sweetgreen was the next best move in her career, what her purview entails as CTO, and how she plans to drive value at the company through technology and leveraging her experience from prior CTO roles. Finally, Jonathan discusses the company’s strategy in balancing geographic expansion and expansion through digitization and innovation.
616: Kai-Fu Lee discusses the evolution of artificial intelligence and the 20-year horizon for its implementation. Kai-Fu shares why 20 years was an appropriate time horizon for his book on the future of AI, why Chen Qiufan, a science-fiction novelist, was the perfect person to partner with, and how the two of them originated the idea for ten visions of AI. He also discusses the impact of artificial intelligence on society including the future of work, changes in society, and shaping of opinions. Finally, Kai-Fu gives his perspective on the factors necessary to lead to greater adoption of artificial intelligence and how the global leadership of certain areas of its development and implementation has evolved.
615: In our latest interview, Mike Giresi, Chief Digital Officer of Molex, discusses with Peter High the operating model changes to enhance the customer experience at a B2B company. Mike provides an overview of Molex’s business, how he collaborates with peer CIOs under Koch Industries and externally, and what his purview as Chief Digital Officer entails. He also gives his vision for customer experience at a B2B Company leveraging his experience in B2C environments. Mike talks about operating model changes at the company, change management necessary, and fostering cultural change within Molex. Finally, Mike shares how he looks at connecting IT to the broader business, moving talent into higher orders of work, and trends in technology he is looking forward to.
614: Carhartt’s John Hill joins Peter High in a discussion on digital agility and the digital transformation of Carhartt. John provides an overview of Carhartt’s business, his purview as Chief Digital and Information Officer, and the role of digital and sources of innovation at the company. He details what he sees as the keys to successful change management as a part of the digitization effort of the company and how data and analytics have impacted business outcomes. John also describes his field of study in his pursuit of a doctorate degree in Business Administration and the research he has done on organizational constructs and how they drive a firm’s ability to create digital capabilities. Finally, he talks about the hindrances he faced during the digital transformation and looks ahead at the tech trends that could impact Carhartt’s business.
613: In a panel from our recent Metis Strategy Digital Symposium in September, Vagesh and Danielle speak with Metis Strategy’s Michael Bertha in a conversation about combining AI and IoT to drive digital processes. Danielle shares how IoT and AI fit into Whirlpool’s four strategic imperatives and each technology’s role in enabling partnerships and product innovations. Vagesh details what opportunities McDermott sees with IoT and AI in its business model and the company’s use of digital twins. Finally, both executives share how digital twins can produce business value, unique customer insights, and product learnings.
612: Toyota Financial Services CIO Vipin Gupta discusses his journey at TFS and the radical business and operating model transformation he has led, which includes transforming TFS into a private-label platform that other mobility brands can leverage. We also discuss the cultural change that was necessary to enable this shift, including how he is upskilling talent at the company through the company’s TFS Digital Academy and bringing higher orders of work to employees. Finally, Vipin explores the trends in technology that he and his team are keeping an eye on.
611: In this interview from our recent Metis Strategy Digital Symposium in September, Lisa Davis, SVP and CIO of Blue Shield of California, and Mike Shadler, SVP and CIO of Pacific Life, join Metis Strategy’s VP and West Coast Lead Chris Davis in a conversation about IT-led breakthroughs in the insurance industry. Lisa talks about how the pandemic has accelerated the digital business and customer experience at Blue Shield of California while Mike discusses the way Pacific Life has digitized its B2B business operations. Both leaders share insight into how their past experiences have shaped the way they lead and approach their current roles as CIOs of their respective companies. Mike gives examples of how Pacific Life is shifting and reshaping the employee experience and Lisa provides a look at how Blue Shield of California is sustaining its pace of innovation. Finally, Lisa and Mike look ahead at trends in technology that are on their radar and how they are setting the foundation for future plans at their companies.
610: In this interview, Atul Bhardwaj, Executive Vice President and Chief Digital and Technology Officer of LEGO, speaks with Peter High about the digital transformation of the iconic and well-known toy company. Atul provides an overview of his post as Chief Digital and Technology Officer for LEGO and explains how LEGO is integrating digital into its product offerings. He describes the various ways digital experiences differ between adult and children customers, how LEGO works together and keeps pace with the digital transformation of partners within its ecosystem, and how LEGO is digitizing the internal organization overall. He also discusses the process of building his team at LEGO including what role passion for the product plays, how the common language of code unites a global effort of digital transformation, and how LEGO fosters diversity and inclusion at the company. Finally, Atul looks ahead at the tech trends that his team is keeping an eye on.
609: In this interview from our recent Metis Strategy Digital Symposium in September, Jim Swanson, Executive Vice President and Enterprise CIO for Johnson & Johnson, and Debra King, Senior Vice President and Chief Information and Transformation Officer for Corteva Agriscience, speak with Metis Strategy’s Vice President and East Coast Lead Alex Kraus about digital acceleration in times of uncertainty. Debra describes how Corteva maintains the characteristics of a startup and how the company leverages its Execute to Win program to bring about new and innovative ideas. Jim shares insight from Johnson & Johnson’s Four Pillars Approach as they relate to advancing the company’s mission of transforming the trajectory of human health. Finally, Debra gives her perspective on how Corteva’s agility has been shaped by uncertainty, and Jim gives his perspective on how Johnson & Johnson has developed resiliency during the pandemic.
608: In this interview, Iddo Kadim, Chief Technology Officer and Director of Olympic Technology at Intel, focuses on the development and application of innovative technology at the Olympic Games. Iddo begins with how his role as Intel’s Director of Olympic Technology functions and the real-time problem solving that comes as a result. He discusses his method of planning for the Olympic Games, the implication of planning so far in advance, and how he takes into account and balances the various needs of multiple constituents. Finally, Iddo explains the technology behind a few of these technologies and provides detailed examples of their applications including 3D Athlete Technology, Mobileye, 5G, and Smart Venues.
607: In this interview from a recent Metis Strategy Digital Symposium, Tim Dickson, Chief Information Officer for Generac, and Mike Giresi, Chief Digital Officer for Molex, focus on the ways in which technology leaders are engaging both employees and customers as part of their digital transformations. Tim discusses how he and his team at Generac think about the customer experience from a B2B perspective. Similarly, Mike discusses how he brings his background in B2C customer sensibility to the B2B work at Molex and how he achieves that through elevating the employee experience. Tim also talks about the ways in which the hiring of new talent and development of existing talent will change at Generac. Mike and Tim then both give their perspectives on how they bring people onboard and create buy-in with these new ways of working.
606: In this interview, Steve Zerby, Senior Vice President and Chief Information Officer of Owens Corning, focuses on the culture and structure of a small IT team within a company. Steve provides an overview of Owens Corning’s business and the role of technology and digital in a large and broad organization. He gives insight into how the IT organization operates and how it forms a culture that focuses on employee retention. Steve discusses how he manages relationships both internally as a small IT organization and externally with contractors and partners within an ecosystem. Finally, he talks about his tenure as CIO, the benefits of having a continuity of leadership in his role, how Owens Corning stays innovative with a small team with low attrition, and various trends in technology he looks forward to.
605: In this interview, Danielle Brown, SVP and CIO of Whirlpool, focuses on the digital consumer journey and how technology plays a role in the strategic imperatives of the company. Danielle shares the four major strategic imperatives of the company and provides background on how the IT organization partners with the rest of the business in cross-functional teams and uses data and analytics to meet those imperatives. She also describes how Whirlpool redefines products and continues to innovate and engage with consumers on their digital journey from start to finish. Danielle also gives insight into how she is maintaining a modern technology footprint at Whirlpool as well as how cybersecurity plays a role in the company’s overall strategy. Finally, she gives her perspective on the state of women of color in leadership positions in IT organizations, provides advice for aspiring board-level CIOs, and looks ahead at a few trends in technology that her team is looking at.
604: In this interview, Amir Kazmi, Chief Information and Digital Officer of WestRock, focuses on the role of digital in creating sustainable packaging solutions for supply chains. Amir provides an overview of WestRock’s business as a sustainable packaging solutions company and the purview of the two sides to his role as Chief Information and Digital Officer. He gives a few examples of how WestRock has grown its digital channels, what role digital plays in the supply chain, and how he builds greater digital dexterity and acumen across the company. Additionally, he discusses how his experience as a CEO of a startup informed his current role as a tech executive, how he continues to work with and leverage the capabilities of startups through ecosystems, and why providing leadership on a board of directors can make a real impact on the company and society. Finally, Amir shares with us a few tech trends he is looking forward to in the future.
603: In this interview, Rakesh Loonkar, President and Co-Founder of Transmit Security, focuses on identity experience and a shift towards a passwordless future. Rakesh begins with how he defines “identity experience”. He describes the potential business outcomes that a passwordless future can help achieve and what the process is to move towards making that a reality today. Rakesh discusses what industries have been the first adopters of passwordless technology and shares his perspective on the overall evolution of the cybersecurity industry. Finally, he provides insight into why now is the best time for Transmit Security to take outside capital, how Transmit Security plans to keep evolving, and recommendations for CIOs and executives to improve their organization's cybersecurity.
602: In this interview, Greg Carmichael, CEO of Fifth Third Bancorp, describes his journey from CIO to CEO at the company and why now is the best time for other CIOs to begin their journey. He also gives his perspective on how the CIO role presents a solid foundation for advancement to the CEO post. Jude Schramm, CIO of Fifth Third, then shares how technology is becoming a fabric of how the company operates and how the pandemic helped accelerate the company’s digital capabilities, changing the way the company looks at cybersecurity. Finally, Jude talks about the benefits of having a CEO cognizant of the CIO role, and Greg shares some of the trends in technology that he is excited about in the future.
601: In this interview, Brad Stone, Senior Executive Editor for Global Technology at Bloomberg News and bestselling author of his latest book Amazon Unbound, focuses on Amazon’s growth since his last book and what the future of Amazon looks like. Brad describes his decision to write about Amazon again after his 2013 book and shares insights from it on how Amazon manages to succeed despite its increasing size. He also talks about what the handoff of the CEO role to Andy Jassy will look like, Amazon’s headwinds when it comes to regulatory scrutiny, and Amazon’s overall impact on society. Brad discusses how Amazon continued its massive growth during the pandemic, how Amazon attracts and retains technical talent in a competitive market, and how Amazon strategizes its acquisitions. Finally, Brad gives his perspective on how Jeff Bezos’s personal life influences his success at Amazon, how Brad’s access to Amazon and Bezos’s circle of friends changed after his first book, and what Brad Stone sees as his next big topic to investigate.
600: In this interview, Seth Godin, bestselling author of The Practice, focuses on what it means to be an artist and navigating your journey as one. Seth begins by describing himself as a teacher and why the term “art” should be broadly applied beyond traditional forms of visual art. He shares how instituting a process causes flow and success as a writer as opposed to flow causing process and describes the three foundations of art: curiosity, generosity, and connection. Seth shares why consistency in art is crucial and how the internet helps aspiring artists find the smallest viable audience for their work to navigate and pivot their journey. He gives his perspective on the importance of having constraints and being able to find joy in the challenge to work with them. Additionally, Seth opines on the concept of Imposter Syndrome, the myth of writer’s block, and building skill over-relying on talent, among other topics.
599: In this interview, Dean Del Vecchio; Executive Vice President, Chief Information Officer, and Chief of Operations at Guardian Life; focuses on the expansion of the CIO role in company innovation, customer experience, and infrastructure modernization. Dean provides an overview of his responsibilities as CIO and Chief of Operations and how his responsibilities have expanded over the course of his career. He discusses the company’s Guardian on the Go Strategy as it relates to enabling employees for successful remote work and the future of remote and hybrid work environments. He gives his perspective on how remote work leveled the playing field for employees and how this might work in a hybrid work environment. Additionally, Dean talks about how culture plays a critical role in innovation and how to develop and upskill talent to foster innovation, and areas where innovation is crucial including the evolving customer digital experience. Finally, he shares how his team looks at modernizing the company’s IT Infrastructure, how ecosystems can benefit efforts in innovation, as well as trends in technology he has his eye on, among other topics.
598: In this interview, Sri Donthi, Executive Vice President and Chief Technology Officer of Advance Auto Parts, focuses on consumer-centric automotive innovation and building a modern enterprise architecture. Sri begins with his purview as CTO at Advanced Auto Parts and talks about the company’s overall vision for the industry. He gives insight into new ways of doing business digitally, how his team looks to retrain current staff on the necessary skills in this digital model, and the role data and digital play in meeting evolving expectations in employee and customer experiences. Additionally, Sri shares his team’s three approaches to modernizing enterprise architecture: fix, build, and transform. Finally, Sri speaks to some of the emerging trends in the industry and technology that he is excited about in the future.
597: Mamatha Chamarthi, Head of Software Business and Product Management P&L at Stellantis, focuses on the future of autonomous vehicles. Mamatha explains her purview as Head of Software Business & Product Management P&L and describes a trend she sees of technology leaders taking on greater responsibilities on the business and P&L side of the enterprise. She gives insight into the growing opportunities for advancement in autonomous driving and electric vehicles, the coopetition and ecosystems necessary in attaining higher levels of autonomy, and where we are in the journey towards Level 4 and 5 automation. Finally, Mamatha talks about how her global work experience shapes her leadership style, why it is important to have women leaders in technology and business, and what additional trends in technology her team looks to leverage in the future.
596: In this interview, Rich Uhlig, Intel Senior Fellow and the Managing Director of Intel Labs, focuses on the research and delivery of breakthrough innovations. Rich provides an overview of the work that Intel Labs does and explains his team’s process in evaluating prototypes and ideas to determine which can go to scale. He describes a few of the areas of innovation the organization has explored including the intersection of data and AI, cybersecurity and a trusted compute base, and homomorphic encryption as well as provides how these areas can be benefited from advancements in technology. Finally, Rich describes the progress towards quantum computing and how his team at Intel Labs leverages ecosystems of companies and consumers for insight into the technology’s feasibility.
595: In this interview, Colleen Berube, Chief Information Officer and SVP of Operations at Zendesk, focuses on the customer and employee experiences. Colleen describes how tech, data, and process help to scale the business and provides insight into how she balances adding processes without adding unneeded bureaucracy. We discuss the role her team plays in enhancing the customer experience, how the customer and employee experiences are connected with one another, and how COVID has changed the way companies think about the overall idea of “experience.” Finally, Colleen shares her perspective on the state of women in technology leadership positions and trends in technology she looks forward to.
594: In this interview, Mark Papermaster, Chief Technology Officer and Executive Vice President of Technology and Engineering at AMD, focuses on the acceleration of compute technology and fostering a culture of innovation within AMD. Mark provides a background on the responsibilities in his role as both CTO and EVP as well as insight into how his team at AMD collaborates and works as it innovates new products. Mark discusses where he attributes the source of the company’s impressive value creation over the years, the importance of a culture based on open communication, problem-solving, and what he calls “creative contention”, and how that culture allows AMD to recruit top talent. Finally, Mark talks about how AMD uses being the first user of its technology to develop better products and some of the tech trends he is excited about.
593: In this interview, Jack Clare, Chief Information Officer of United Natural Foods Incorporated (UNFI), focuses on the expansion of eCommerce channels and modernizing IT systems. Jack provides an overview of UNFI’s business and his role as CIO at the company. He explains how the pandemic accelerated UNFI’s digital transformation by expanding its eCommerce model and how Jack is managing the company’s modernization efforts and capability integration following the multiple historical acquisitions. Jack speaks on his experience being onboarded remotely and how he sees it as an opportunity for flexibility in recruiting greater talent. Finally, he discusses the evolution of the CIO role, future tech trends, and how partnering with technologically sophisticated distributors like Amazon presents learning opportunities for the company.
592: In this interview, Jeff Wysocki, Chief Information Officer of The Mosaic Company, focuses on IT Strategy and change management. Jeff describes his Five-Pronged IT Strategy which includes Partner to Win, Accelerate Impact of IT, Unlock Data, Security and Scale, and Business of IT. Jeff discusses what the company’s cultural change looks like with re-training employees on IT, how Mosaic focuses on modernizing IT, and how to evaluate the value gained from IT more broadly. Finally, Jeff talks about the diversity in his experience across different industries and the trends he is excited about in technology.
591: In this interview, Anjana Harve, Global Chief Information Officer for Fresenius Medical Care, focuses on the broader role of the CIO and the business use of technology. Anjana begins with sharing her perspective on why now was the right time for the Global CIO Role at Fresenius and her role in leveraging digital technology as a source of competitive growth. She discusses how the global operating model helps with focusing on achieving business outcomes, finding top-line efficiencies, and improving the customer experience. Finally, Anjana talks about the role of the Global CIO during COVID, the role of culture and tech in hybrid work, and the state of women in technology.
590: In this interview, Adhir Mattu, Senior Vice President & Chief Information Officer of Marvell Semiconductor, focuses on the role IT plays in the growth of companies. Adhir provides an overview of Marvell Semiconductor’s business and how the IT department operates within a tech-focused company like Marvell. Adhir highlights the crucial role IT plays in expanding the infrastructure for a company to grow organically and integrating the capabilities acquired through M&A transactions. Through Marvell’s various historical acquisitions, Adhir describes the “blueprint”, culture, and guiding principles the company has curated to ensure M&A integrations are successful. Finally, Adhir discusses the ways in which IT partners with other teams to drive customer experience, designs new digital ways of working, and explores growing trends in technology.
589: In this interview, Michael Newcity, Chief Innovation Officer and President of ArcBest Technologies, focuses on the topic of transformative innovation. Michael describes what transformative innovation entails within a company and how he organizes his teams to foster innovation and drive it forward. He talks about his previous roles and responsibilities as the former CIO, CFO, among others and how these various experiences influenced his perspective as Chief Innovation Officer. Specifically, Michael highlights how his previous role of CFO informed his experience in IT around finance and data within the company. Finally, he covers how ArcBest allocates resources to and focuses on innovation while still maintaining sufficient efforts to run the broader business.
588: Ed Jennings, Chief Executive Officer of Quickbase, dials into the concept of citizen developers. Ed describes the nature of Quickbase’s business and how he defines citizen automation. He provides insight into how companies can train and empower citizen developers, how the pandemic acted as a catalyst for citizen automation with a renewed focus on resilience, and how citizen automation can unlock the full potential of systems, people, and teams. Finally, Ed also describes where citizen automation typically begins in enterprises, how citizen automation both competes and collaborates with traditional IT organizations and ecosystems, and how companies can begin their citizen development journey.
587: In this interview, Bhavani Amirthalingam, Chief Digital Information Officer of Ameren, focuses on the digital customer experience. Bhavani describes how she sees the evolution of customer needs and the importance of providing frictionless digital experiences. She shares how Ameren has navigated the expansion of digital channels and the growing number of digital transactions that the company has seen. Bhavani also provides some insight into how she looks at balancing taking on risk and risk management that goes into innovation, the way Ameren has organized a centralized group integrating both IT and OT, and trends in technology she looks forward to.
586: In this interview, Jennifer Charters, CIO of Flagstar Bank, focuses on how Flagstar is expanding its digital capabilities and how it remained resilient during the pandemic. Jennifer speaks on the coopetition between traditional brick-and-mortar banks and FinTech firms and how smaller banks can benefit greatly from developing ecosystems to leverage FinTech’s digital capabilities. Additionally, Jen describes the investments Flagstar has made in its own digital capabilities including cloud infrastructure and various platforms. She gives her perspective on the culture of IT, growing the opportunities for women in technology, the advantages of Flagstar's announced merger with New York Community Bancorp, and trends she foresees.
585: In this interview, Dave Evans, assistant professor at Stanford and best-selling author, discusses his latest book, Designing Your Work Life, which highlights how employees and managers can improve the work experience. Dave provides strategies that people can use with their current jobs to make their career more fulfilling, the three kinds of overwhelm employees can feel, how they can mitigate these before overwhelm turns into burnout, and how managers can help employees develop their own pathways in the company. Finally, Dave talks about how remote work has made face-to-face interaction easier, yet made onboarding new employees and informal interactions between employees more difficult to facilitate.
Brian McCarson, Intel’s Group VP of IoT, shares his perspective on the evolution of the Internet of Things and Artificial Intelligence. Brian speaks to the increasing affordability and accessibility of both IoT and AI and how their development in other industries has brought it to the industrial sector. We talk about each service’s growth from something out of a science fiction novel available to large-scale enterprises to the ways in which AI and IoT have now intersected with and augmented the capabilities of small- and medium-sized businesses. Brian credits this evolution to open-source ecosystems where online innovators have helped improve the scalability of AI integration. Finally, he talks about how Intel specifically has helped scale manufacturing capabilities through automating processes and leveraging a place in an ecosystem of technology ingredient providers for small- and medium-sized enterprises.
583: Chris Bedi, CIO of ServiceNow, focuses on the topic of digital transformations within companies and steps organizations have taken to foster resilience during the pandemic. Chris shares his perspective on how companies are doubling down on digital transformations, how AI is being used to improve the employee and customer experience, and how virtual agents are augmenting reality to assist remote employees in areas where they would have normally asked co-workers in person. Additionally, he talks about the future of app development, its minimum requirements, integrating AI into the development, and leveraging the growth of low-code/no-code to encourage citizen app developers. Finally, he touches on the topic of structuring the IT team to equip non-IT team members to think about machine learning and take advantage of new evolutions in technology among other topics.
582: In this interview, Yves Behar, Founder and Principal Designer of fuseproject, discusses the importance of product design and how companies can think about developing their own products. Yves discusses the importance of integrating storytelling and intent into product design. He also speaks on the importance of continuously improving product designs and using the problems and frictions that arise as opportunities for improvement. Additionally, Yves talks about bringing these designs to market from team alignment to marketing strategy. Finally, Yves talks about his team’s work on the VOX ventilators as a response to an open innovation challenge and how it is important to sometimes allow your team to drive the ideas and support them along the way.
581: In this interview, Michael Wondrasch, EVP & CIO of Avantor, provides an overview of Avantor’s business and the digital and technological aspects behind its mission of accelerating the speed of science. Mike explains how he sees the barriers between suppliers and customers are fading, why the technology implications that arose during the pandemic are likely to stay, how Avantor implemented and navigated a hybrid work environment during the pandemic, and how the merger with VWR helped consolidate its e-commerce platforms and focus on being more customer-centric. He also describes how the differences between the CTO and CIO titles tend to be company-specific and some of the trends in technology he is looking forward to.
580: In this interview, Ray Wang shares insights from his book on data-driven digital networks (DDDNs) and why he believes digital transformation alone is not enough for companies to survive. He explains how digita0l transformations need to extend beyond integrating new digital channels and include transformations in the business model, the monetization model, the technology, and the culture. We discuss the shifting ways investors are looking at their fundamentals in companies and how businesses must develop unusual ecosystems and joint ventures in order to compete with these emerging digital giants. When it comes to data, Ray believes third-party data collection isn’t sufficient and what is really driving the future is first-party data. He describes the five key elements of building a DDDN, how it is causing industries and the respective total addressable markets to drastically change, and how government regulation should be analyzed through a cost-benefit analysis of its effect on customer value. Finally, Ray provides a framework for how older companies can compete with DDDNs.
579: In this interview, Michael Taylor, Chief Technology Officer of World Wide Technology, focuses on how the company sees the future of digital and technology. He explains how he views the dot com bubble as the advent of the impact that technology could have on business and why a culture that encourages furthering innovation is crucial during a time of uncertainty. Michael talks about the strategic role he plays as CTO and how his focus is as he describes moving from “the art of the possible to the art of the probable.” He provides a few key themes of WWT’s Technology Strategy connecting technology to business outcomes, digital to physical worlds, and strategy to delivery. Additionally, Michael stresses the importance of engaging with employees during difficult and uncertain times as well as how the expansion of remote work and introduction of hybrid working models lead to more flexibility and invite the opportunity to attract a more diverse talent pool. Finally, he describes how he divides his time among his team, his customers, and his ecosystem to see from different lenses how organizations are thinking about disruption and taking advantage of emerging trends in technology.
578: In this interview, James Sills provides an overview of M&F Bank, how the pandemic has affected the digital customer experience and digitization of banking, and how M&F Bank has managed the differences in digital adoption across consumer age demographics. Additionally, he gives his perspective on that state of racial injustice and social inequity in America, the importance of engaging with minority populations within and outside the company, and how businesses can leverage partnerships with minority-owned businesses and minority-focused organizations to support the push for social justice. Finally, James discusses his career evolution including his experiences as CIO of the state of Delaware and how his current position is taking advantage of ecosystems to foster innovation and keep pace with some of the tech trends he and his team are excited about.
577: In this interview, Janet Sherlock, Chief Information Officer of Ralph Lauren, explains her purview as CIO and how the company’s Flexible Work Arrangement and virtual stores put the company in a stronger position going into the COVID-19 Pandemic. Janet debriefs some of the learnings and silver linings from the pandemic, specifically on how it accelerated a streamlining of processes; why those changes won’t go away any time soon; and how ingenuity, innovation, architecture, and agility are key to Ralph Lauren’s continued success. She emphasizes Ralph Lauren’s strategic focus on experience, data, and automation. Finally, we discuss lessons on recruiting for board-level positions, balancing her doctoral candidacy with career and family, and trends that she is looking forward to.
576: In this interview, Dave gives his perspective on the similarities and differences between the CIO and CDO roles and the way they relate to driving business transformations. In this combined role, he explains the importance of cultivating great relationships with business partners, prioritizing high-value drivers, and learning to be agile in adapting to the rapidly changing technology landscape. Within Merck, Dave speaks to the insights arising from the company’s transition from a project-focused to product-focused model, the advantages from its investment in cloud technology, and the use of data analytics and AI/ML to make decisions and assess risks. Finally, we discuss the risk of companies losing focus and falling into “tech for tech’s sake”, learnings from the pandemic, and industry trends towards quantum computing.
575: In this interview, Scott discusses Wyndham’s investments in the cloud and various platforms, how the company leverages them to meet the needs of various constituent groups, and how the insights his team draws from them help drive the broader business strategy. Scott also explains the technology implications behind Wyndham’s spin-off, the acquisition of La Quinta, the pandemic, and how the company managed and changed at such a rapid pace throughout these major points in his career. Finally, we discuss what the future looks like for the hospitality industry and some of the trends he sees coming out of the pandemic.
574: In this interview, Rashmi Kumar, CIO of HPE, offers her perspective on the HPE’s digital transformation, the benefits of moving HPE’s headquarters to Texas, and the company’s focus on what she calls “digitalization to the core.” She talks about how HPE acting as customer zero for many of its offerings allows for a better understanding of technology’s limitations and leads to honest communication with HPE’s customers. Additionally, we discuss how HPE assessed its ability to transition 60,000 employees and 20,000 contractors to work remotely and why focusing on company culture was critical for the transformation. Finally, Rashmi offers advice on recruiting for a board-level position, ways for companies to sponsor and foster diverse organizations, and a look into some of the trends in IT that HPE is focused on.
573: In this interview, Ken Spangler, EVP of IT & CIO of OpCo Technologies at FedEx, focuses on the culture of innovation at FedEx. Ken describes how his experiences serving as CIO for each of FedEx’s businesses has given him a unique perspective on the firm’s principles to compete collectively, operate independently, and manage collaboratively. He talks about how the company fosters innovation and focuses on what he calls “Constructive Dissatisfaction” in the company. Further, Ken speaks to the culture of FedEx, what it means to still be a founder-led company, and FedEx’s People-Service-Profit model. Additionally, Ken gives his perspective on how FedEx went through four phases of learning due to the pandemic, what the return to work looks like, and a variety of other topics.
572: In this interview, Barbara Lavernos, Deputy Chief Executive Officer in charge of Research, Innovation, and Technology at L’Oréal, discusses the intersection of technology and cosmetics and the evolution of what Barbara calls “Beauty Tech.” We cover how L’Oréal aims to develop personalized and innovative beauty products, services, and devices at scale through the use of artificial intelligence, data, and virtual reality. Barbara shares how the pandemic was a catalyst for digital transformation, e-commerce, and virtual customer experiences, and why business leaders are becoming more tech- and data-savvy. Finally, we discuss the importance of diversity and inclusion in leadership positions.
571: In this interview, Lisa Davis, SVP & CIO of Blue Shield of California, talks about Blue Shield’s mission of transforming the healthcare industry through balancing high tech with high touch, aligning the IT organization around portfolios and products, and engaging with the multiple stakeholders of Blue Shield. She also shares the lessons of authentic leadership, advantages of her experience as a CIO across different industries, advice for CIOs who wish to join boards, as she has, increasing diversity and inclusion in STEM fields, and the latest tech trends she is excited about in healthcare.
570: In this interview, Ashok Reddy, CEO of Digital.ai discusses the intersection of digital and AI, why only 8-10 percent of companies are truly transforming digitally. We also cover why IT teams who are successful in truly transforming work jointly with the broader business to define value. Further, we discuss why IT should work with the rest of the business to run agile, why value streams are best derived by collaboration across the typical silos of the enterprise, how Ashok believes innovation is done best, and a variety of other topics.
569: In this interview, Catherine Zhou, Global Head of Ventures for Digital Innovation and Partnerships at HSBC, and Megan Crespi, Chief Operations and Technology Officer for Comerica Bank, discuss how barriers to digital adoption are dissolving out of necessity, how Comerica has transformed to enhance the customer experience, and how Comerica is using the pandemic as an opportunity to break down barriers and reach new demographics as work becomes more remote. We also discuss three areas HSBC looks at regarding innovation and profit pools: big tech, the Eastern hemisphere, and FinTech, why it's every person's job to innovate at HSBC, not just the innovation team's job, and a variety of other topics.
568: In this interview, Ramkumar Rayapureddy, Global CIO of Viatris, discusses how the IT team came together over one weekend and transitioned the entire company to virtual work with no business disruption, how COVID accelerated the pace of change for the entire organization, and steps Viatris has taken to keep its employees engaged throughout the pandemic. Ramkumar highlights some of the technologies the company adopted that it likely would not have had it not been for the pandemic as well as the improvements Viatris has made to its preventive maintenance program as it adopts new technologies. Lastly, we discuss how IT is becoming a bigger part of the initial strategic discussion within the company, why Ramkumar likes to hire people from the business into IT, and a variety of other topics.
567: In this interview, we discuss Williams-Sonoma’s digital transformation and how Yasir helped build a future-proof business model for the company that was able to not only withstand, but grow during the pandemic. He talks about the merging responsibilities of the CTO and CDO and what it means for the company to be “digital-first”. Yasir details how the company is focused on creating a frictionless customer experience, how digital and technology play a role in in-house design, and how Williams-Sonoma balances centralization with independence between their brands. Finally, we discuss what Yasir sees as the most salient trends in technology and digital coming out of the pandemic.
566: In this interview, we discuss the state of American politics and the role that technology plays. Dr. Fukuyama describes what he sees as the rise of populism in the U.S., the deepening polarization between voters, and how platforms like Twitter, Facebook and Google have facilitated this polarization. He proposes the application of middleware to these platforms and provides possible benefits to such applications as well as criticisms that it has received. Additionally, Dr. Fukuyama gives his perspective on challenges arising from both Russia and China and provides an analysis of the current Biden Administration.
565: In this interview, Rhonda discusses the four key focus areas for IT at Stanley Black & Decker once the pandemic struck and how COVID has given Stanley Black & Decker the permission to change and accelerate. Shankar discusses the stakeholder prioritization framework Verizon adopted during the pandemic in which it puts its employees first, customers second, society third, and its shareholders fourth, some of the innovative ideas Verizon has adopted during the pandemic, how Verizon has accelerated its digital transformation during the pandemic, among a variety of other topics.
564: In this interview, we discuss The Premonition and how the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention evolved into an organization ill equipped to manage a pandemic. Michael shares anecdotes from the interviews he conducted and how the problems that the pandemic wrought began long before the Trump Administration. We also discuss how he developed the stories for his book, what his career as an author is like between books and a variety of other topics.
In this interview, we discuss what drew Shaleen to Schneider, ways Schneider has disrupted itself over the years, why Schneider considers itself the Moneyball of trucking, and how the pandemic has accelerated the adoption of frictionless experience platforms at Schneider. We also discuss the importance of using familiar language when discussing digital transformation, the importance of embracing business agility, and getting used to the unknown, Atif and Shaleen's take on the state of autonomous vehicles, among a variety of other topics.
562: In this interview, Orion Hindawi, Co-Founder and CEO of Tanium, discusses the evolution of IT Infrastructures and cybersecurity. Orion gives an overview of Tanium’s business and discusses the changing ways companies look at adopting IT. He also covers the digital and technological transformations, the importance of curating strong ecosystems, and future opportunities for the company. Additionally, Orion shares his perspective on applying business cybersecurity knowledge to maintaining personal cybersecurity.
561: In this interview, Ken Lamneck, President and CEO of Insight, discusses how cyber attacks are becoming more and more sophisticated, and four ways companies can protect themselves from these attacks. He discusses the importance of companies embracing the seriousness of cybersecurity, why cyber has to go from being buried in IT to being part of the fabric of the organization, and how governments are starting to take on a greater role in cybersecurity. Lastly, Ken discusses why he thinks IT is going to explode in the next 10 years, how all companies are becoming IT companies, among a variety of other topics.
560: In this interview, Hubert Joly, former Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Best Buy, discusses his personal philosophy on the goal of a business and why he viewed Best Buy as being more than just a technology retailer. Hubert goes on to share insight from his book such as how he identified weaknesses in Best Buy’s strategy and transformed the company to focus on collaboration with suppliers, alignment of interests of all stakeholders, and what he calls “human magic”.
In this interview, John Hinshaw, Group Chief Operating Officer of HSBC, discusses why he decided to join HSBC after a diverse career, and how many financial industry disruptors come from outside the industry. We discuss HSBC's coopetition with FinTech and the advantages both sides get from partnering with each other, why HSBC has shifted from investing in later-stage companies to earlier-stage organizations in the Series A or angel rounds, and HSBC's partnership with Google looking at financial crime and money laundering. Lastly, we discuss how COVID accelerated the digital adoption curve by 3-5 years, the future of office and remote work at HSBC, John's take on a variety of technology trends, such as quantum, 5G, and AI, among many other topics.
In this interview, Richard Cox, Chief Information Officer of Cox Enterprises, and Rick Rioboli, Chief Information Officer of Comcast, discuss how both executives are rethinking the employee experience for a new world of work. Rick shares his view on the future of work and why he thinks Comcast will work in a hybrid model once the pandemic is over, the cultural differences Rick has noticed between product development teams and IT teams, and how Rick went after the culture in IT when he joined Comcast and sought to transform the way the function worked. We also discuss how Richard defines leadership, why Cox Enterprises is putting cybersecurity at the top of mind for all of its employees, not just those in IT, among a variety of other topics.
In this interview, Mike Hayes, Chief Digital Transformation Officer of VMWare, discusses the increasingly blurred line between internal IT and the customer experience, VMware's SaaS transformation, and Mike's advice on how to effectively network. We also discuss lessons Mike learned serving in the White House, Mike's experience at Bridgewater Associates and the importance of honest feedback loops, among a variety of other topics.
556: In this interview, Angela Yochem, the executive vice president and Chief Transformation & Digital Officer at Novant Health, and George Llado, the senior vice president and chief information officer of Alexion Pharmaceuticals, focus on the power of ecosystems. Angela discusses the importance of leveraging ecosystems to drive innovation at scale, and she shares the story of how Novant Health formed an “unconventional partnership” with Stewart-Haas to build ICU carts for overrun hospitals. Meanwhile, George discusses Alexion’s strategy of cultivating relationships with startups and venture capital firms to accelerate innovation, as well as his approach to strategic planning.
In this interview, Cathy Southwick, CIO of Pure Storage, discusses the storage as a service model and IT’s three strategic priorities: scaling the IT organization, having a lens on security, and enabling the broader business. Cathy discusses how Pure Storage uses its own technology inside the business, the differences she has recognized working for a small and growing company versus a Fortune 15 giant, and how being a prior customer of Pure Storage has helped her since coming into the role. Lastly, Cathy talks about what customers look for in a strategic technology provider, how her IT team works with the rest of the organization, which is full of tech talent as a whole, and a variety of other topics.
Rob Carter, the Executive Vice President of FedEx Information Services and the Chief Information Officer for FedEx, and Steve Randich, the Executive Vice President and Chief Information Officer of FINRA, discuss the role of technology in creating a nimble enterprise. Rob shares the story of how technology that once provided FedEx with a competitive advantage had become outdated, and the massive effort the company undertook to overhaul and modernize its legacy technology. Meanwhile, Steve discusses the benefits of being an early adopter of the cloud, how FINRA is pushing up against the limits of Amazon Web Services, and FINRA’s use of advanced analytics and machine learning to better identify fraud and bad actors.
Marta Zarraga, Global Chief Information Officer of Capital Group discusses her experience onboarding into her new role virtually, how Capital Group has given flexibility to its employees during the pandemic so that they can best serve their customers, and how the company has adjusted to a mobile workforce. We also discuss aspects of work that are done much better face-to-face than remotely, Capital Group's ambitions to expand more into Europe and Asia, the different experiences Marta has had across four different CIO roles, among a variety of other topics.
552: Shailesh Prakash, the CIO and Chief Product Officer of the Washington Post, and Chintan Mehta, the CIO and Head of Digital, Technology, and Innovation for Wells Fargo, discuss strategy and its role in driving growth and innovation. Shailesh discusses how IT and engineering went from being a cost center to being a strategic differentiator and driver of business growth. He goes on to share the story of Arc Publishing and Zeus Technologies, which grew from internal solutions into sizable revenue drivers with over 200 customers. Meanwhile, Chintan shares his view on the importance of long-term strategic planning and how the company’s Strategy, Digital Platform & Innovation (SDI) group set strategy across the organization.
551: Marcello Damiani, the chief digital and operational excellence officer of Moderna, has been a major part of Moderna being at the forefront of the COVID vaccine development. In this interview, we discuss how Moderna is using messenger RNA to prevent and cure diseases, such as COVID-19, aspects of Moderna’s data strategy, and how the company has used data to run the most effective clinical trials possible. We discuss how Moderna is building a digital environment and how COVID accelerated the company’s digitization. Lastly, we discuss the emerging technologies Moderna has used in its digitization journey, the importance of being agile in how you adjust your day-to-day tactical activity to the strategy that you are building, among a variety of other topics.
550: Melanie Kalmar, the CIO & CDO of Dow, and Shamim Mohammad, the chief information & technology officer of CarMax both have experience modernizing large organizations. In this interview, Melanie discusses Dow’s adoption of agile and DevOps practices, offers insight into how she has reoriented IT around service delivery, and gives her take on how to innovate at scale. Meanwhile, Shamim discusses CarMax’s shift from a project orientation to a product orientation and why the traditional way of delivering IT projects does not work anymore. We also discuss how transforming to a nimbler organization has helped CarMax during the pandemic, among a variety of other topics.
549: Seth Cohen, the global CIO of PepsiCo, leads IT for one of the largest beverage companies in the world. In this interview, we discuss the main difference between digital and analog companies along with PepsiCo’s digital agenda. We discuss how data strategy has evolved over the past 5-10 years, and a bit about PepsiCo’s own data journey. Lastly, we discuss cross-cultural communications lessons Seth has learned from living all over the world, the benefits of an East to West innovation path, PepsiCo's experience switching to an entirely remote workforce, among a variety of other topics.
548: Kimberly Johnson and Rob Alexander have both been part of massive transformations at Fortune 100 companies. In this interview, we focus on people and talent strategy. Rob discusses how Capital One’s talent transformation was critical in supporting the company’s massive technology transformation, which has included insourcing IT and building technology internally as well as moving its data centers to the cloud. Meanwhile, Kimberly discusses the importance of teamwork in driving innovation, and how Fannie Mae rapidly responded to enable teams to continue collaborating during the COVID pandemic.
547: Lee Crump, the former CIO of Rollins, represents a unique case in which he hand picked his successor Thomas Tesh, the current CIO of Rollins. In this interview, we discuss Thomas and Lee's working relationship over the past 23 years, why Lee picked Thomas to replace him, and what Thomas believes are Lee's greatest strengths as a leader. We discuss Rollins' M&A Strategy and the only two things Rollins always takes over when buying a company: security and payroll. Lastly, we discuss Rollins' strategic priorities over the next few years, why Thomas believes we will see all computers go away in the future, and a variety of other topics.
546: General Stanley McChrystal has decades of leadership experience. In this interview, we discuss the importance of adaptability and agility, and General MyChrystal’s view that nimbleness is a continuous journey. He notes that cross-functional collaboration is not automatic, and organizations must be deliberate in fostering trust in a distributed environment. To do this, he suggests that transparency, vulnerability, individual empowerment, and a common purpose are all critical ingredients. We also discuss the characteristics of a resilient organization and which lessons from the military he sees as most applicable to the business realm, among a variety of other topics.
545: Peter High, the president of Metis Strategy and the author of Getting to Nimble, has advised many of the best chief information officers at multi-billion dollar corporations in the United States and abroad. In this interview, Peter shares how he got to the title Getting to Nimble, why he decided to put people as his first principle, and the critical importance of change in any IT organization. He also discusses how data and analytics are rising up many organization's priority lists, his take on the chief data officer role, and why competition has changed from company versus company to ecosystem versus ecosystem. He also shares the four sets of ecosystems he recommends partnering with, how many CIOs are moving beyond the CIO role, the growing trend of CIOs joining boards, among a variety of other topics.
544: Jeff Immelt, the former CEO of GE, spent over 15 years running one of the world’s largest companies. In this interview, Jeff discusses his experience growing up professionally at GE, Jeff's relationship with his predecessor and legendary CEO, Jack Welch, and Jeff's story ascending to the CEO role. We discuss why Jeff decided to write the book about his time at GE, two things Jeff would have done differently if he had the chance to do them over again, and the digital push Jeff made as CEO. Lastly, we discuss what Jeff misses most about his time at GE, Jeff's views on the global economy going forward, Jeff's advice to younger individuals at the beginning of their careers, among a variety of other topics.
543: Sandeep Dave, the chief digital and technology officer of CBRE, knows a thing of two about digital transformations and innovation at large companies. In this interview, we discuss the five elements of CBRE digital transformation, why the future workforce is likely to be distributed, and why innovation labs that sit far from core operations do nothing to transform the core business. We also discuss the approach that CBRE uses to innovate, how CBRE leverages AI/ML, the power of bringing emerging technologies together to solve real-world problems, among a variety of other topics.
542: Steve Phillpott, the CIO of Illumina and former CIO of Western Digital, is an expert in change management having overseen change at one of the largest computer data storage companies in the world. In this interview, we discuss the importance of organizations investing in change management and how he approached change management at Western Digital. We also discuss trends in cloud and DevOps, the crucial importance of building up your peer and executive recruiter networks, among a variety of other topics.
541: Sunny Gupta, the CEO of Apptio, has driven his company to become a market leader with significant scale. In this interview we discuss the Technology Business Management Council the company created and its strategic priorities, the four areas where technology business management plays a role today, and Sunny’s advice for those low on the transformation curve. We discuss why there is no separation between the business and IT anymore, how Apptio integrates with other platforms to create a central financial technology decision engine, and Apptio's experience going public and then going private. Lastly, we discuss four acquisitions the company has made in recent times, some of the emerging technologies Sunny has his eye on, and a variety of other topics.
540: Paola Arbour has more than 30 years of experience leading and transforming IT organizations. In this interview, we discuss the cultural transformation she’s driving at Tenet Healthcare and why skill sets are more important than titles. Paola also shares tips for effectively managing change, and she discusses the importance of having a culture of innovation, rather than a program of innovation, among a variety of other topics.
539: Daniela Rus, the director of MIT CSAIL, imagines a future where robots are so integrated in the fabric of human life that they become as common as smart phones are today. In this interview, we discuss some of the many examples in which robotics and AI have been used in new ways during the pandemic, why AI is most effective when people and machines work together, and some of the ways AI will positively impact our lives in the future. We also discuss why we should think of AI as interns and humans as the ones who make the important decisions, the state of autonomous vehicles and the work Daniela's team is doing in that field, among a variety of other topics.
538: Atticus Tysen, CIO/CISO of Intuit, discusses the importance of aligning technology strategy with business strategy and how having a strategic framework facilitates organizational agility. We also discuss how Atticus balances innovation with security in his role as CIO and CISO, how technology creates new opportunities for the business, among other topics.
537: Timothy Kasbe, the president of Zoho, discusses why Zoho has decided to stay private and the freedom and long-term outlook the company has as a result, and how Zoho banks everyone's salaries for three to five years. We cover Zoho Schools of Learning, and why IT needs to move away from being a function that supports the business to being one that drives the business. We discuss why Timothy decided to get a Divinity School degree, why he believes in the need to engage religious communities in science and math, lessons he has learned in cross cultural communication from living all over the world, among a variety of other topics.
Maryfran Johnson, the host of CIO Leadership Live on CIO.com has had a non-traditional pathway to covering chief information officers. In this interview, we discuss why technology leaders should not look to align with the business but instead look to accelerate it and how CIOs are no longer fighting for a seat at the leadership table, but working towards keeping that seat. We also discuss Maryfran’s take on CIO board leadership, including some common factors of CIOs who make it onto boards. She also covers the benefits to companies who have CIOs on their boards, lessons CIOs can take from a board back into their home organization, her advice for CIOs looking to join boards, among a variety of other topics.
In this interview, we discuss some of the foundational elements of the company's strategic roadmap and how the company is increasing the technology IQ of its employees. We discuss the company's multi-pronged approach to innovation and the venture capital fund inside the company. Lastly, we discuss steps the company has taken over the past few years that helped prepare it for the pandemic, how the company has been able to serve its customers better during the pandemic, among a variety of other topics.
In this interview, Andi discusses the near- and long-term considerations when hiring new talent, as well as National Grid’s omnichannel approach to training. We also discuss the importance of being agile and focusing on consumer needs rather than product life cycles, the ways the company has utilized its external partnerships to create better energy solutions, among other topics.
In this interview, we discuss the modernization journey Gap's technology team has been on, how Sally leverages her strategy, finance, and supply chain backgrounds in her role, and the interplay between the company's enterprise, digital, and data strategies. We discuss several aspects of the COVID-19 pandemic, such as how it forced agile and innovative thinking, how it accelerated several trends that were on the roadmap, some of the transformations the company made that helped prepare it for the pandemic, and some of the indelible marks of the pandemic that Sally believes will remain once we return to a new normal. Lastly, we discuss the benefits of having a diversity of talent in technology, the state of the union of women in technology, the importance of having a pipeline and role models for under-represented groups in technology, among a variety of other topics.
In this interview, we dive into several of the book’s themes, including People and Technology. Cynthia shares insight into how she motivates her team, and how robotic process automation can boost morale by automating repetitive tasks. We also discuss Adobe’s journey to become a cloud-native company, the ways in which enterprise architecture can impact culture, and a variety of other topics.
In this interview, we discuss how SYKES leverages technology inside the company, how SYKES uses data to deeply understand the buyer and design the best solutions for them, and some of the ways in which companies are mismanaging customer experience management. We discuss why Ian believes RPA will be a foundation to organizational transformation for years to come, the major differences between RPA and AI/ML, and the dangers of using intelligent automation capabilities, such as AI, too soon. Lastly, we discuss Ian's career path from strategy consulting, to business process outsourcing, to founding Symphony Ventures, to the C-suite of SYKES, among a variety of other topics.
In this interview, we discuss how being a mutual company, as opposed to a public company, allows IT and the broader organization to think with a longer-term perspective in mind, and how that impacted the firm’s actions during the pandemic. We discuss the difference the company is making in local communities through initiatives such as Outsource to America and Hi, Tech, why Neal decided to join Northwestern Mutual as CIO after having been promoted out of that role to the COO post at Express Scripts, and how the CIO role has evolved to become an immensely influential role. Lastly, we discuss how being a former national champion debater has served him well in business, how COVID and changing consumer expectations have massively accelerated the pace of business change, why talent mobility is going to have a significant impact going forward, and a variety of other topics.
In this interview, we dive into several of the book’s themes, including Process, Technology, and Ecosystems. Steve discusses some of the sweeping changes he has made across his career, such as how he has inverted FINRA's entire IT organization to be platform-oriented. Steve also shares best practices related to cloud computing based on the journeys he has led at NASDAQ and FINRA, his perspective on IT’s role in the business, among a variety of other topics.
In this interview, we discuss some of the tough questions and interesting business challenges Sridhar faced during his time at Google, the consequences of an all growth at all costs mentality, and Sridhar's take on the Justice Department's antitrust lawsuit facing Google. We discuss Sridhar's experience at Greylock and why he joined the firm as an investor, the genesis story of Neeva, and why he felt the time was right to leave Google and start the company. Lastly, we discuss the importance of having a great co-founder when starting a company, why a customer first model lends itself much better to monetizing content on the web, among a variety of other topics.
In this interview, we discuss two strategic decisions IT made to rebuild its technology at the outset of Synchrony and Carol's talent strategy, including why she looked for individuals who wanted to stay beyond the Synchrony’s IPO and were willing to learn. We discuss how health and safety has become a requirement of digital transformations, the company's three pronged AI approach around machine learning, intelligent virtual assistants, and RPA, and how the company uses machine learning models to better understand and detect fraud sooner. Lastly, we discuss the COVID-19 pandemic, including three steps the company took that helped it move quickly once the pandemic struck, the massive technology transformation the company undertook to get its associates home in March, steps Carol and the company have taken to support its employees throughout the pandemic, including launching a virtual summer camp and an after school program to help Synchrony parents and kids, among a variety of other topics.
In this interview, Pat discusses some of the key trends regarding observability, the benefits of taking a best of breed approach to it, and why observability is part of the solution to data privacy, not the problem. We discuss some first steps those low on the maturity curve relative to observability can take and why it has been a key to the digital acceleration that has happened during the pandemic. Lastly, we discuss how COVID has dramatically accelerated Sequoia's business, some of the indelible marks of COVID that will become permanent, among a variety of other topics. Pat has a significant track record of success as his investment portfolio consists of companies like Zoom, Okta, ServiceNow, and Snowflake.
In this interview, we discuss why Mark has decided to kick off his time as CDIO with a digital literacy campaign, the operating model Mark is creating around digital, data, IT, and innovation, and why digital delivery is more important than digital transformation. We discuss Mark's experience being onboarded virtually, the 6 strategic pillars that will anchor Mark’s strategy going forward, and how Mark thinks about data and automation. Lastly, we discuss Mark's path to a corporate board, his advice to those wishing to do the same, Mark's take on the social injustice across the country, among a variety of other topics.
In this interview, we dive into several of the book’s themes, including People, Technology, Strategy, and Ecosystems. Herve begins by sharing how Schneider Electric’s business culture continues to evolve as they adopt aspects of culture from the businesses they acquire. He also discusses his process for making bets on new technologies to gain a first-mover advantage, the importance of agile portfolio management, the partnerships Schneider has forged to foster innovation, among other topics.
In this interview, we discuss why Rhonda formed an enterprise IT organization to consolidate all of IT across the company and why Rhonda has aligned IT to the company's three strategic pillars: financial performance, innovation, and responsibility. We discuss the company's North Star innovation model, which has the data platform positioned at the core and 4 interconnected platforms, as well as ways in which IT's standardization and modernization helped prepare the company for the pandemic. Lastly, we discuss the company's 4 top priorities once the pandemic hit, Rhonda's path to a public board, her advice to others wishing to do the same, among a variety of other topics.
In this interview, we discuss the company's journey from on-premise to the cloud and the benefits that provided, Alexion's secret sauce to change management, and the firm’s close relationship with external partners. We discuss how George works with the VC community, including why Alexion invests in smaller companies, the risk George took on Zoom back in 2016, and the win-win partnership between Alexion and the smaller companies it invests in and works with. Lastly, we discuss some of the lessons George has taken from the pandemic, how the social injustices that came to light this year are not new, George's take on new and emerging digital tools, among a variety of other topics.
In this interview, we discuss Dmitri’s perspectives on the recent US government hack believed by many to have originated in Russia, including why the hack was not an act of war but instead was traditional espionage, why this hack has potential to be 100X as significant as the OPM hack, as well as some of the silver linings of the hack. We discuss how organizations can protect themselves from adversaries, including why every organization needs to start with the assumption that an attacker is already inside, why trying to build walls around the perimeter of your network is futile, and the importance of planning regularly to defend a cyber attack. We also discuss the importance of using a password manager, why individuals should be suspicious of emails and not click attachments from unknown people, why our government is at its weakest point to be able to respond to this threat, among a variety of other topics.
In this interview, we discuss the opportunity Paul sees for the oil and gas industry to adopt new technologies, the significance of Paul's title change from chief information officer to chief digital officer, and some of the strategic priorities for Paul's team as he has taken the CDO role. We discuss some of the external partnerships the company has formed as it has looked to embrace analytics, why Calgary is one of the world's best kept secrets in the technology landscape, and how the company's future of work program allowed it to have a more seamless transition to work from home once the pandemic struck. Lastly, we discuss Paul's view on the future of the mobile workforce, some of the emerging technologies on Paul's mind, including 5G, AR, VR, drones, and blockchain, among a variety of other topics.
Lenovo CIO Art Hu discusses several of the themes from our upcoming book, Getting to Nimble, including Process, Technology, and Strategy. Art describes how Lenovo has managed the shift from a project to a product-focused IT management mindset and shares lessons learned from that change. We also discuss how Lenovo is using cloud technology to improve key applications and explore how Art ensures IT and business strategy remain aligned; among other topics.
In this interview, we discuss Fumbi's career path as a woman of color, the legacy she wants to leave, and the value Fumbi gained growing up and living in many continents of the world. We discuss how Fumbi brings her whole self to each role she has taken on and why organizations have no choice but to change following the pandemic. Lastly, we discuss insights from Fumbi’s board membership, including why companies need technologists on their boards if they are going to survive over the next five to ten years, a bit about the technologist's role on boards, how being on a board helps Fumbi in her day job, and a variety of other topics.
In this interview, we discuss the defensive and offensive roles the technology team runs, the company’s Six S strategy, which stands for skills, secure, stable, scale, speed, and satisfaction, and Wells Fargo’s three pillared innovation strategy. We discuss Saul’s view on quantum computing, the natural partnership between big banks and Fintechs, and Wells Fargo’s response to the pandemic. We also discuss some of the indelible marks Saul believes will and won’t remain once we return to normal, why we need to be careful that we are using AI ethically, Saul’s lessons for effective cross-cultural communication, among a variety of other topics.
In this interview, we discuss the company's transformation to modernize its technology and how the company has transitioned to a mobile workforce. We discuss the implications of switching to a gig economy, why Copart keeps a closer eye on companies in other markets than those in its own industry, and Copart's partnership with Twilio. Lastly, we discuss some aspects of Copart's strategic plan, why WhatsApp is tremendously underutilized in Rama’s estimation, and a variety of other topics.
In this interview, we discuss Richard's interactions with the division CIOs of Cox Enterprises and how they work together, why Richard is focused on building a holistic strategy, and some of IT's focus areas for 2021. We also discuss the digital acceleration driven by the pandemic, the importance of having relentless and transparent communication during times like these, and Richard's experience working for the City of Atlanta during a major cyberattack. Lastly, we discuss some of Cox Enterprises' diversity and inclusion efforts, Richard's take on RPA, AI, and data analytics, and a variety of other topics.
In this interview we discuss Cognizant's three pillared strategy around accelerating digital, globalizing Cognizant, and increasing its relevance to its clients. We discuss Cognizant's approach to partnering with other companies, and the pros and cons of being onboarded virtually. Lastly, we discuss the changes driven by the pandemic that will be permanent. some of the emerging technologies Anil is keeping an eye on, Anil’s experience working for the Federal Government, among a variety of other topics.
In this interview, we discuss why Howard joined Signet Jewelers and the company's path to brilliance strategy, which has been focused on 1) customer-first, 2) omnichannel with a digital focus, and 3) building a culture of agility and efficiency. We discuss how COVID served as an accelerant for the company's digital strategy, how IT has leveraged centers of excellence to achieve agility and efficiency at scale, and why measuring business value is the most important metric businesses should focus on. Lastly, we discuss how the company uses analytics to help maximize return, how augmented reality allows customers to try on a ring from home, how the company enabled its jewelry consultants to keep working during the pandemic, among a variety of other topics.
In this interview, we discuss five problems companies are facing brought on by the explosion of data and three of the biggest challenges in discovering sensitive data: the diversity of the systems, the massive scale of data, and the attack surface. We discuss the most common ways threat actors can breach data and some of the ways companies can handle data internally to protect themselves from cyber attacks. Lastly, we discuss individuals' legal rights to their data, among a variety of other topics.
In this interview, we discuss the importance of being in a company whose products you believe in, understand, and can talk credibly about, and how Sharon’s background as a software engineer helps her as a CIO. We discuss how the distinction between what goes on inside the walls of a company and how the product is delivered is becoming increasingly blurred, Sharon’s decision to get an MBA to better understand how business people think, and how Juniper uses the cloud and AI. Lastly, we discuss how Juniper has responded to the pandemic, the measures it has taken to keep its employees safe, Sharon’s experience being onboarded during the pandemic, among a variety of other topics.
In this interview, we discuss the differences in IBM and Red Hat’s culture, why they are looking to inject cultural elements from each other into their own operating models, and the three cultural characteristics IBM wants to drive: entrepreneurial spirit, growth mindset, and radical candor. We discuss why IBM decided to spin out the managed services business, why Red Hat is separate from IBM, and the importance and potential of AI. Lastly, we discuss some of IBM’s failures, how IBM thinks about where it’s going to invest versus where it’s going to rely on open source, among a variety of other topics.
In this interview, we discuss Domino’s remarkable transformation over the past decade focused on product, technology, and customer experience. We also discuss the advantages the company gained by insourcing talent that was once outsourced, and why Domino’s considers itself an e-commerce company that sells pizza rather than a pizza company that sells online. We cover the steps Domino’s has taken to create a memorable customer experience both in-store and online, how recent innovations positioned Domino’s to quickly become a consumer safety leader during the pandemic, and why the company is filling in potholes in every state in the US. Lastly, we discuss how Domino’s is preparing for autonomous delivery, the consumer preference changes that are here to stay post pandemic, and a variety of other topics.
In this interview, we discuss the two roles of a technology leader: To manage technology and to help differentiate their enterprises. We also discuss some of the education programs CISR has for management teams to increase digital savviness, and some of the long-term implications the pandemic will have on the world. We also discuss the results and implications from several of the machine learning based studies done by CISR that show that less than half of CIOs or CTOs and less than a quarter of boards are digitally savvy. Lastly, we discuss his view on boards, including the importance of having at least three digital savvy directors on a board, the three major aspects of a board, and the value of having CIOs on boards, among a variety of other topics.
In this interview, we discuss why data is the currency of any digital transformation, how the IT organization moved from being 69% outsourced, to much more heavily insource, and how the pandemic has supplied the market with a significant amount of world class talent. We discuss how Honeywell has successfully identified, hired, and onboarded new employees during the pandemic, why video is here to stay, and the increasing importance of security in a remote workforce. Lastly, we discuss an overview of Honeywell’s connected enterprise, the state of the union of women in IT, Sheila's take on AI, and a variety of other topics.
In this interview, we discuss the problems ThoughtTrace solves for its customers, how the company uses AI to create extraordinarily detailed models for natural language processing for highly specific use cases, and why some people miss the progress made in the realm of AI due to the future promise of artificial general intelligence. We discuss why we should embrace incrementalism with AI, why you do not need a degree from a top technology school to be effective with AI and data science tools, and the right and wrong way to approach AI when first starting out. Lastly, we discuss why companies should ask if they have the requisite data in-house to build a durable AI model, rather than if they have a large enough quantity of data, Nick’s path from being an Army officer to a CEO, and a variety of other topics.
In this interview, we discuss how Duke Energy uses data, as well as an overview of Lighthouse, the company’s enterprise digital transformation program. We discuss how Duke Energy’s people-focused approach towards digital transformation helped set the company up well to deal with COVID and how the pandemic has accelerated the digital and technology transformation for many companies. Lastly, we discuss Bonnie’s view on the state of women in technology, how AI and other technologies can be used to modernize the energy sector, and a variety of other topics.
In this interview, we discuss how Allstate evolved from just using AI for the purpose of using AI and how the company introduced voice technology and machine learning in its claims process. We also discuss how Paola and Tenant Healthcare view technology’s role in healthcare, how the company partnered with a tiny company to help it think differently about the speed at which it makes decisions, among a variety of other topics.
In this interview, we discuss how Jay differentiates the IT department in a company where technologists are everywhere. We also cover how SAS uses its own products internally. We discuss the company’s response to COVID, including how Jay looked to coach his team through the isolation of working from home and keep them engaged and the COVID-19 dashboards the company created to make the analytics available to anybody. Finally, we discuss the company’s partnership with Microsoft, SAS’ cloud strategy, and a variety of other topics.
In this interview, we discuss Dale’s work as the CEO of Diversified Search, but we also speak about how COVID has accelerated changes around transformation and innovation. As a leader of color, I was also interested in getting his thoughts on how the pandemic has underscored racial disparities in the United States, and we also discuss the importance of listening before taking a stand against racial injustice and how diverse teams add value to companies in terms of thinking and processing, among a variety of other topics.
In this interview, we discuss the digital transformation the company has undertaken, including what he refers to as “One Digital Aflac” and how the transformation has impacted the customer experience. We discuss Rich’s thoughts on the COVID-19 pandemic, including how it forced Aflac to reinvent and double down on digital as well as the changes here to stay post-pandemic. Finally, we discuss how the company shifted from a waterfall to an agile approach, why one's ability to adapt to more than coming up with new technologies is the most important thing for the company, among a variety of other topics.
In our 500th episode, The Carlyle Group's David Rubenstein discusses his youth growing up in a blue-collar family in Baltimore, his experience working for the Jimmy Carter administration, and why that administration was viewed as unsuccessful. We also discuss David’s decision to leave government and the legal profession to start Carlyle and how David and a partner came up with the firm’s name. We discuss how Carlyle got major prominent political figures to join the firm, including presidents and prime ministers, David’s decision to have the business diversify and go global, and David’s rationale for taking the firm public. Lastly, we discuss David’s philanthropic endeavors, why he has decided to give all of his money away, why he now stays out of politics, among a variety of other topics.
In this interview, we discuss Sri's purview as CTO and his three main priorities in the role. We discuss aspects of the COVID-19 pandemic, such as PayPal’s response, how the company has seen significant growth throughout it, and how it has resulted in an acceleration of digital payments. Lastly, we discuss Sri’s experience serving on the board of a public company, why Sri believes payments as a known activity will begin to disappear, among a variety of other topics.
In this interview, we discuss how focusing on the customer experience and leading with digital and analytics is serving Zoetis well and the steps the company takes to position its customer at the center of the universe. We discuss how T.D Ameritrade uses analytics and AI to enhance the customer experience, including the Voice of the Customer Analytics capability it has created to help with the added digital pressures on the business and how it has used AI for personalization. Lastly, we discuss how COVID and low interest rates have caused more and more investors to explore the stock market, how the culture of innovation at T.D Ameritrade has allowed it to bring new ideas to market extremely quickly, among a variety of other topics.
Welcome to Technovation, a twice-weekly podcast highlighting the stories of people who are shaping the technology landscape. I'm Peter High, president of Metis Strategy, advisor to technology executives, Forbes columnist, book author, and your host. Each episode of Technovation features insights from top executives at the intersection of business technology and innovation.
From CXOs of the world's largest, most recognizable companies, to high profile founders and investors, to industry influencers, authors, and former heads of state, our extensive collection of over 500 high profile interviews makes Technovation the leading independent podcast for business and technology, executives and professionals.
Whether you are an innovator, a technology creator, an investor, a CIO CDO, or CTO, or you aspire to be any of the above, you will hear powerful yet accessible stories along with practical advice from leading thinkers. We would be grateful to have you as a listener. Find us wherever you get your podcasts. And do not forget to subscribe.
In this interview, we discuss Adam’s view on working from home, why he moved from Chicago to Austin, and his belief that technology cannot replicate the full in person work experience. We also discuss Adam’s advice for those looking to make a positive change in social justice, why every board of a Fortune 500 company needs to demand a quarterly diversity report, and some of the recruiting tools that are looking to take away subconscious bias out of recruiting. Lastly, we discuss Adam’s advice for CIOs looking to join boards, Adam’s interest in technologies that positively impact the environment, how the pace of technological change is faster today than ever before, and a variety of other topics.
In this interview, we discuss Goldman Sachs’ strategic decisions around technology, including how it is building new businesses that are adjacent to its historical core businesses, how it is trying to build the digital consumer bank of the future, and the transaction banking business it is building. We discuss Clay’s view on the importance of having a fail-fast model, especially in the days of COVID, and the pivot Yum! Brands has made since COVID. We also discuss Clay and George’s view on the customer experience, including how customers have come to expect the Amazon experience everywhere and the importance of the business product and the tech product working together to create a seamless journey for the customer. Lastly, we discuss how the lines between the business and IT are eroding, including how agile and DevOps are beginning to move into the business and why the people capable of leading businesses are oftentimes engineers, among a variety of other topics.
In this interview, we discuss ADP’s history as one of the earliest cloud companies, as well as why the company has shifted from embracing the private cloud to the public cloud. We also discuss the innovation labs the company has created, how the larger ADP organization draws new practices from the innovation labs, and why one of the hardest challenges that any organization has is not identifying new ideas that have promise, but cancelling the ones that do not show value. We also discuss how a partial reopening of offices could negatively impact productivity and agile methodologies, some of ADP’s efforts around diversity and inclusion, how artificial intelligence algorithms can actually reinforce historical bias, and a variety of other topics.
In this interview, we discuss an overview of SYKES, including its portfolio of capabilities, and the company’s partner network, and SYKES Digital. We also discuss Dave’s purview as CIO and the OneTeam platform the company developed to support its work-at-home agents. We also cover why the company has had a virtual structure for many of its employees since before the pandemic, and the learnings from that. Lastly, we discuss Dave’s take on the cloud and artificial intelligence, among a variety of other topics.
In this interview, we discuss Atif's purview in his role, MGM’s expansion into digital services, and Viva La Office, an offering the company has developed to encourage people to work and live from Las Vegas during the pandemic. We also discuss the company’s response to COVID-19, including the digital and contactless experiences the company has swiftly put in, how the customer conveniences created by COVID are sticky and will remain long term, and the company’s Seven-Point Safety Plan aimed to keep customers and employees safe during the pandemic. We also discuss how COVID has resulted in far more agility inside companies, CONBODY, a digital fitness started by a formerly incarcerated person with formerly incarcerated instructors, among a variety of other topics.
In this interview, we discuss both company’s reactions to the COVID-19 pandemic, including how Fiserv’s digital agenda was impacted by COVID, how the pandemic forced Fiserv to react at a speed significantly faster than before, and how Subway franchises innovated and solved problems to keep their businesses sustainable throughout. We also discuss why Subway is looking to react to the current marketplace rather than try to predict it, the permanent changes that will result from COVID-19, such as the digital transformation we are seeing in the office, among a variety of other topics.
In this interview, we discuss Shankar’s role as the Global CIO of Verizon, the five questions embedded in the company’s IT strategy, and the company’s approach to change management. We also discuss the company’s response to COVID-19, including how the company quickly retrained 20,000 sales associates once the pandemic hit, how the company transitioned to a remote workforce, and the framework the company developed to guide it through the pandemic. Finally, we discuss Shankar’s front row seat in Verizon’s technological evolutions over the past 20+ years, the three prongs to the company’s 5G strategy, how the company uses AI, among a variety of other topics.
In this interview, we discuss Kimberly’s take on the renewed focus on social injustice in our society and the role technology can play to help foster change. We also talk about how the concept of anti-racism is gaining traction as well as some of the groups Kimberly admires. We also discuss how the COVID-19 pandemic has brought out more empathy in people, the importance of diversifying your slate of mentors and mentees, and a variety of other topics.
In this interview, we discuss Harman International's focus on driving integrated, seamless, frictionless, excellent experiences to both the automotive and the consumer markets, IT’s focus on four S's: To make technology simpler, smarter, scalable, and secure, and some of the work the company has done around cyber. We also discuss how the company has responded to COVID-19, how it is preparing to return to work, and how the pandemic has resulted in a rapid acceleration towards a digital workforce. Lastly, we discuss how the company is looking to improve the experience in the car, how Nick’s time at GE helped him become a better leader, his take on 5G, AI, and autonomous vehicles, among a variety of other topics.
In this interview, we discuss racial inequities and social justice, and the importance of not reinforcing the same networks and biases, but rather providing equal opportunity when it comes to developing talent. We also discuss how the company is bringing in excellent talent by investing in historically black colleges and universities, high school programs, and other funds, and a variety of other topics.
In this interview, we discuss an overview of Ryder and Rajeev’s purview as CIO, the IT function’s four strategic goals, and the company’s approach to eliminating technical debt. We also discuss the COVID-19 pandemic, including why Ryder was prepared for it and how the company has created a sense of community throughout it. Lastly, we discuss Rajeev’s take on a variety of rising trends, such as AI modeling, robotics, and autonomous vehicles.
In this interview, we discuss the three parts of Insight’s investment thesis, an overview of the company’s digital acceleration program, Insight IGNITE, and the challenges of communication between IT and the rest of the business. We also discuss how Insight Partners can save IT leaders many trips to Silicon Valley by finding tech globally, and how the COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated many of the areas the company has invested in. Further, we discuss the four types of boards that exist based on the size and maturity of those companies and the assistance each needs from its directors, the increased importance on creativity for humans with more AI and automation, Emmet’s take on IoT, the cloud, automation, 5G, and RPA, and a variety of other topics.
In this interview, we discuss Sathish’s three-pillared IT strategy, which is focused on driving customer value, creating a compelling financial trajectory for all its shareholders and investors, and executing that through great culture. We also discuss the company’s transition to a mobile workforce due to the pandemic and Sathish’s experience being onboarded largely in quarantine. Finally, we discuss the approach Sathish used to create his data strategy, what he has learned from his prior experiences as CIO, and a variety of other topics.
In this interview, we discuss how Jason has navigated working with three variations of the same company, and how Lenovo operates as a global firm. We also discuss the pandemic’s impact on the company, and how the fact that Lenovo has a major manufacturing operation in Wuhan, China led to early warnings as to the issues that arose related to COVID-19. We cover how the pandemic has led to a 3x increase in cyber attacks, and the methods Jason and his team have undertaken to counteract them. We also cover his CIO and CISO responsibilities and how he segments his thoughts processes related to each and a variety of other topics.
In this interview, we discuss Bill’s purview as the CIO of NetApp and how the company works with external partners to build capabilities. We also discuss how the company acts as an internal first user, including NetApp on NetApp and the Customer One Platform, as well as The Cloud One Platform and The DevOps framework the company has built. We discuss Bill’s view on the COVID-19 pandemic, including how it will impact the world in the long term and how the company responded to it. Finally, we discuss the importance of CIOs getting advantages out of data and the biggest threats to CIOs today.
In this interview, we discuss Shardul’s thoughts on how COVID-19 has accelerated a tech-enabled shift to an employee-focused culture rather than customer-focused culture, how a younger workforce deals with unprecedented economic shock, and how investment decisions and collaboration have been impacted by virtual communication. We also discuss how his investment philosophy is tied to empathy and community, the story of the least successful investment he’s ever made, among other topics.
In this interview, we discuss how Ed balances innovation with risk mitigation, and how security can be used as a strategic weapon. We also discuss his thoughts on the current pandemic, including how it will result in a permanent shift in certain behaviors and why bold pronouncements about the future of work can’t be made just yet. Finally, we discuss Ed’s view on blockchain, and Mastercard’s lab group, whose job is to investigate new technologies, along with a variety of other topics.
In this interview, we discuss John’s experience with previous financial crises and the playbook he is running with his 18 startups through the current pandemic. We discuss why John went into venture capital after his time at Cisco, why John is partnering with 18 startups, rather than just one, and how the current crisis has impacted John’s investment theses. We discuss the playbook John ran when making acquisitions at Cisco, and the successes and failures he has experienced with digital transformations. Lastly, we discuss the impact COVID is going to have long-term, including how COVID has and will continue to accelerate the shift to digital, why the top ten companies in each industry will be shuffled, why we won’t have an environment where everyone works from home, and a variety of other topics.
In this interview, we discuss Jamie’s purview as Chief Digital and Technology Officer and Ocean Spray’s five-year plan to transform from a cranberry business to a health and wellness business. We also discuss the company’s innovation plan, the digital hub his team is building, and the company’s relationship with the farmers who grow the cranberries. Finally, we discuss how the company approaches external partnerships, Jamie’s interest in the health and wellness space, and a variety of other topics.
In this interview, we discuss the current pandemic and the economic crisis, and how one must lean on one’s ecosystem for insights and support while offering the same back into the ecosystem. We also cover how the pandemic has caused previous market failures to move to market readiness. We discuss the importance of entrepreneurs co-designing their go-to-market strategy and the precise definition of blitzscaling and its application to large companies, as well as a variety of other topics.
In this interview, Clay provides an overview of the Yum! Brands ecosystem, how the company delivers an excellent customer experience, and how the company has implemented customer feedback to deliver contactless payments. We also discuss Clay’s perspective on the current pandemic, including how it has accelerated the company's digital journey, as well as Clay’s view on the future of the mobile workforce post pandemic. We discuss how agile thinking applies to operations, and how switching from a project to a product mindset can accelerate product development and delivery. Finally, we discuss Clay’s take on the evolution of the CIO role and the innovation lab at Yum! Brands.
In this interview, we discuss an overview of no code, why the metrics that gauge success or lack thereof for IT departments are flawed, and how companies need to reward their technologists based on the value they achieve, rather than being on time and on budget. We also discuss why Gary left the CIO ranks, and we cover his advice for others looking to do the same and start their own companies. Lastly, we discuss why Gary believes that you can always improve a big company, some of the groundbreaking things Unqork has done with large enterprises, and a variety of other topics.
In this interview, we discuss Pascal’s 6-pillared IT strategy, the advantages Pascal gains having technology and operations disciplines under his purview, and some of the innovation efforts Commonwealth Bank is undergoing. We also discuss why working remotely due to COVID-19 was even more of a transition for Australians than other parts of the world, the tech landscape in Australia, and how the company works with other FinTechs. Lastly we discuss Pascal’s take on quantum computing, AI, and the cloud among a variety of other topics.
In this interview, we discuss the genesis story of Woven, the most successful go to market model for productivity software, and why Woven decided not to directly compete with Apple, Microsoft, and Google. We also discuss how Tim has built his team at Woven, how the CIO role prepared Tim for the CEO role, and three elements that are needed to start a company successfully. Lastly, we discuss how Tim has managed during this time of crisis, Tim’s experience on boards, and a variety of other topics.
In this interview, we discuss Archana’s purview as the global CIO of Intel and her experience coming up to speed in the role. We discuss the current pandemic, including Intel’s response to it, how it will impact the long-term future of work, and how her team has been enabling the shift to remote work. Finally, Archana provides insight into the company’s data-first mindset and their Corporate Data Office, how the company is using artificial intelligence, how the CIO role has evolved in Archana’s 17+ years in the post, among other topics.
In this interview, we discuss COVID’s impact on enterprises, including the productivity benefits and accompanying loss of socialization, how this can cause employee burnout, and what leaders can do to alleviate uncertainty. We also discuss how COVID has impacted the amount of Slack users positively and negatively and the potential challenges a hybrid model of working will present. Lastly, we discuss how people are more attracted to new features versus core improvement to the existing features, the main difference between Slack and Microsoft Teams and how they can be used together, how the demand for synchronous communication can be disruptive to people's time management and their ability to focus, among a variety of other topics.
In this interview, Sandeep discusses his purview as the CDO of Mars, the three pillars that drive Mars’ digital engine, and the five cultural principles that guide Mars as a company. We discuss the extreme focus Sandeep has put on customer centricity, including the creation of user centricity teams and how this mindset has been applied to the courses developed by Mars University, the company’s internal training platform. We also cover why Sandeep believes creating a culture of curiosity is as important as creating the right data infrastructure. Finally, we discuss Mars’ movement to come up with 100 insights in the next 100 weeks, the prevalence of AI in the company, how the company is using Snickers to show gratitude to frontline workers, among other topics.
In this interview, we discuss the genesis story of John’s book The Great Influenza, and the lessons of the pandemic of 100 years ago to today. We discuss some of the most interesting aspects of the 1918 pandemic, while also getting into some of the deeper scientific details in comparing the influenza virus and the coronavirus. We also talk about the critical importance of honesty and transparency of leadership in the face of this crisis, the failures of the federal government in its response to COVID-19, and a variety of other topics.
In this interview, we discuss Atish’s career path and his experience as CIO of a technology giant, including how the CIO role is more similar to CTO roles that he has held in the past, the focus on engineering and building internal products, and the three main functions he oversees. Also, Atish shares his thoughts on the two biggest ways COVID will change the business world. Lastly, we discuss the value an executive with technology expertise can bring to a corporate boards, as Atish sits on the boards of Hibu a multinational digital and print marketing solutions company, and of Nelson Education, an education publishing company.
In this interview, we discuss Daphne’s transition from CIO to board membership. We discuss her advice for CIOs looking to join boards, including why not-for-profit boards are a good stepping stone to for-profit boards and how CIOs can bring both an offensive and defensive mindset to the boardroom. We also discuss how the CIO role has dramatically evolved over her career, Daphne’s view on the progress of women in technology, and a variety of other topics.
In this interview, we discuss Scott’s purview as CTO and how it compares to his past CIO roles. Scott also shares insight into the company’s digital transformation and data strategy. We discuss how COVID-19 has changed the ways in which people work, as well as the new normal that Scott sees emerging. Additionally, Scott shares his advice to CIOs who have ambitions to join a board, his take on big data, among a variety of other topics.
In this interview, we discuss Vittorio’s purview as CIO, how he made the most of his first 100 days in the role, and his thoughts on how the CIO role is evolving. We discuss the impact of COVID-19, including the three principles that are guiding the company through the pandemic, and how COVID-19 has accelerated the company’s technology plans. We also cover the two-pronged approach to P&G’s digital transformation, the importance of building and maintaining internal expertise, Vittorio’s take on deep learning and machine learning, among a variety of other topics.
In this interview, we discuss an overview of Zoho's evolution across the years, why Shidhar has elected to keep his company private, and has not sought outside investors. We discuss his plan to expand the company’s offices from major cities to rural areas in some cases. Additionally, we cover Zoho’s participatory and informal culture, which has a focus on treating people well, including offering nap and playrooms for its employees. Sridhar also shares how the company is responding to COVID-19, his views on the future of mobile workforces, and a variety of other topics.
In this interview, we discuss SAIC’s business, Nathan’s purview as CIO, the interesting complexities of being a CIO of a business-to-government (B2G) company. We also discuss SAIC’s acquisition of Engility and Nathan’s role in that, his first few months as CIO, SAIC’s goal to make IT customer zero of the company, why the cultural element of the future of work is a challenge, and a variety of other topics.
In this interview, we discuss Kevin's upbringing in rural Virginia and why he felt he had to leave his hometown to pursue opportunity, how people can have successful careers by using sophisticated technological tools without having to move to technology hubs like Silicon Valley, Kevin's thoughts on improving technology knowledge and expertise, the importance of teaching kids technology, how COVID-19 will make distance learning and working more prevalent, how AI and ML can be used for positive benefit with healthcare applications, such as disease detection, why everyone must play a role in shaping technologies future, not just a select privileged few, Scott’s take on synthetic biology, among other topics.
In this interview, we discuss insights from Mik’s book, the massive IT productivity discrepancies between digitally native organizations and legacy enterprises, the economic impact of technological revolutions, and how and why companies must shift from project orientation to product orientation. We also discuss why IT executives must measure the value they create and not simply if they deliver initiatives on time and on budget, the importance and the shortcomings of traditional project management, what legacy enterprises can learn from both startups and tech giants, and a variety of other topics.
In this episode, Mojgan discusses the company’s commitment to making innovation part of its DNA and the strategic pillars the company has put in place, which are focused on evolving the way the company works to drive integrated teams to push the blurring of lines between business and technology. First, the company leverages design thinking methodologies and always starts with the customer and works backward, and it has small multifunctional teams of technologists and business experts. Second, the company has developed a strategic architecture, driving modernization and simplification where appropriate. Lastly, but most importantly is talent, which the company considers its advantage multiplier. Mojgan cites that Travelers drives new skill sets and engineering talent in a variety of ways. We also discuss Mojgan’s view on the future of women in technology, and the revolution she sees happening in that regard, how Mojgan looks at the company's 160-year old history as a position of extreme strength, how Mojgan’s diverse career path has colored her experience at Travelers, and a variety of other topics.
460: Syngenta Group chief information and digital officer Greg Meyers asserts that we are now heading into the third wave of technology change, which he believes can help reverse some of the effects that we have seen with climate change. Agriculture is responsible for about one third of the world's greenhouse gas emissions, and it consumes about 70 percent of the world's freshwater supply, which is 30 percent more than we can naturally replenish. This third wave entails bringing computer and data science to the farms to try to find these breakthroughs that allow farmers to continue to increase food production as the world population grows in a way that is more regenerative, keeps more carbon in the soils, and allows us to conserve more water. We also discuss the extreme difference between different market segments that the company operates in, the talent landscape in Switzerland, the evolution of IT going from trying to get IT on the agenda of management teams to extreme excitement around the function, among other topics.
459: ProntoForms Corporation CEO Alvaro Pombo gives valuable advice to other CIOs who would wish to follow in his footsteps to become a CEO. First, he notes that technologists can become too enamored with technology. He notes that since businesses ultimately care most about outcomes, he advises focusing on transformations that impact the broader business. He also underscores the importance of being proximate to customers, noting that they care most about outcomes that are scalable. We also discuss the genesis story of ProntoForms, how the company managed through the 2008 financial crisis, and other advice for CIOs who wish to rise above the role, among other topics.
458: TD Ameritrade CIO Vijay Sankaran discusses how TD Ameritrade approaches innovation. The company looks to apply a systematic design thinking process to innovation and seeks to understand the problem it is trying to solve. It then determines what the internal or external consumers pain points are , apply a disciplined discovery approach to understanding those pain points, experiment with what the best possible solution is for that pain point, and then experiment through a set of tests, develop a minimum viable product, and generate feedback to cultivate a solution that best addresses those pain points for the consumer. We also discuss the Discotech incubator, how Vijay used his experiences at a complex organization such as Ford to be successful in his new post at TD Ameritrade, how the company uses artificial intelligence, among other topics.
457: Oshkosh CIO Anupam Khare outlines the company’s five strategic pillars, which are being people-first; running digital technology as a business; modernizing and innovating; building advanced capabilities in analytics and process automation, among other areas; and securing the organization in a way that reduces friction and makes experiences better for its employees, customers, and partners. We also discuss how the company has been able to recruit new employees, how the team has mixed retraining with bringing in new people externally, how the Information Technology function has rebranded to “Digital Technology” to change its perception internally and externally, among other topics.
456: Equinix CEO Charles Meyers discusses the trend for organizations to get out of the data center business, which puts Equinix in a solid position to support CIOs in their digital transformation journey. Charles cites that companies are noticing that building, operating, maintaining, and ensuring that data centers are equipped to meet their go-forward needs is not in line with their differentiation and their capability nor is it the best use of their capital. Instead, they have looked for highly distributed IT infrastructure to meet a variety of needs, and the cloud is playing a large role. We also discuss the benefits Equinix gains from being an internal first user, how the CIO role has evolved to be more customer-facing and strategic, Charles' takes on AI, IoT, the Digital Edge, and 5G, among other topics.
455: Commvault CEO Sanjay Mirchandani covers a variety of topics, including the company's strategic plan, which focuses on simplification, execution, and innovation, how his time as CIO of EMC prepared him for the CEO role, how data has gone from something companies only use when they absolutely need it to being at the forefront of the business, the tech landscape in Tinton Falls, New Jersey, his take on AI/ML, automation, and DevOps, among other topics.
454: Unity Technologies CIO Brian Hoyt discusses how as enterprise becomes more consumerized, employees gain autonomy and the nature of IT work changes. He cites his and his team’s focus on employee productivity. We also discuss the merging of business operations and IT, what it’s like being in a CIO within a tech-centric business, how to manage a fast-growing organization, among other topics.
453: NVIDIA Director and Caltech Professor of AI Research Anima Anandkumar discusses the synergy of working in both academia and in the industry, from her previous positions at AWS and University of California, Irvine, to her current research at NVIDIA and Caltech. She shares how AI can accelerate scientific discovery with engineering capabilities, such as powerful GPUs, that continuously push AI forward at a very fast pace. We also discuss what is known as the Trinity of the deep-learning revolution: algorithms, data, and compute infrastructure. Anima shares insights on scaling, self-supervision techniques, embodied intelligence, and her thoughts on the future of AI. Finally, we end with a discussion of Anima’s mission of globally democratizing and diversifying AI.
452: Visteon CIO Raman Mehta discusses how IT has enhanced its role and gained the trust of the business. Historically, IT at Visteon has been great at solving problems it was presented with. However, IT was never given a voice in the company’s strategy or product roadmap. That has changed, and the board and executive committee now has great confidence in the capabilities of IT, which has enabled the organization to take on a more strategic role. We also discuss Raman’s take on 3D printing and autonomous driving, the tech landscape in Detroit, where Visteon is based, how the company is looking to turn its technology debt into a dividend, and a variety of other topics.
451: Dow CIO and CDO Melanie Kalmar recaps the merger with DuPont, subsequent executive shuffle, and ultimately the spinoff that resulted in Dow and two other publicly traded companies, Corteva and Dupont. The new Dow is a material science company that heavily invests in research and development and collaborating with customers to drive innovation. She notes that mergers present an opportunity to invest in future capabilities, and that Dow invested heavily in its digital transformation. We also discuss the expansion of her role to include the CDO title, the three anchors of Dow’s digital and IT strategy, her interest in artificial intelligence and Dow’s artificial intelligence competency center, and a variety of other topics.
450: XPRIZE Foundation CEO Anousheh Ansari discusses XPRIZE’s Pandemic Alliance, a global coalition of corporate, academic, and non-governmental partners focused on accelerating solutions to the coronavirus pandemic. In the short-term, that means expanding visibility into solutions underway in areas such as remote care and access to testing. We also discuss the XPRIZE Data Collaborative which provides access to exclusive data sets and AI capabilities, how XPRIZE facilitates resource and idea sharing between alliance members, and why XPRIZE is well positioned to bring together uncommon partners to tackle this historic challenge.
449: Navistar CIO Julie Ragland discusses how the IT team has evolved its approach and positioned itself to mirror the business organization by embedding its people within the business units, Julie’s approach to creating new value streams, and how IT has grown in strategic importance inside the company. We also discuss the OnCommand intelligent vehicle platform and how Navistar uses insights from the platform to change internal processes, trends in telematics and connected vehicles, and a variety of other topics.
448: Johnson Controls CCO/CDO Mike Ellis discusses his experience joining the company after the recent merger with Tyco, the digital agenda that drives innovation across Johnson Controls’ multiple businesses, and his role as Chief Customer and Digital Officer. We also discuss the importance of the different customer personas that he must be aware of and attuned to, the importance of internal partnerships, and the capabilities that drive innovation in the business, specifically data-edge capabilities, smart edge, IoT, and AI and machine learning. We end with Mike’s outlook on the growing importance of AI and machine learning.
447: ThoughtSpot Executive Chairman and co-founder Ajeet Singh discusses the value of transparency within a company. In his time in Silicon Valley, Ajeet has noticed situations where there is a disconnect between how executives are thinking, what is happening in reality, and how much the board gets to know. However, Ajeet has built a culture with absolutely nothing to hide, as he notes. He has chosen to invite all the employees to board meetings because he claims that employees should know everything that is going on in the company. Further, he cites that this has given young engineers the opportunity to present to some of the most respected investors in Silicon Valley. We also discuss Ajeet’s goal for 10 unicorns to come out of ThoughtSpot, the benefits Ajeet gains from taking a personal off-site alone frequently to contemplate the company’s priorities, the partnerships ThoughtSpot has formed with a variety of different companies, and brainstorm new ideas, among other topics.
446: World Fuel Services COO Jeff Smith discusses the form that digital transformation has taken at World Fuel Services. Jeff talks about how the company’s updated data systems now allow for customer and supplier information to be processed digitally and how applications of artificial intelligence and machine learning are improving the company’s operating margins and the customer experience. We also discuss how Jeff went about evaluating what needed to change in the company, and how he used the concept of job content to attract the necessary talent to drive change. We end our discussion with Jeff’s outlook on the importance of cloud capabilities in digital transformation.
445: In this interview, Shri shares the details and challenges of his new position, his mission to fundamentally democratize analytics and AI, his objective to create a team of people from diverse knowledge backgrounds, and his predictions for the future of the analytics and AI space. We also discuss solutions to the growing demand for data science talent and how Experian is working to attract talent to achieve their goals.
444: Citrx CEO David Henshall lays out his three strategic pillars as CEO. First, David is focused on driving an organizational and strategy shift from product to platform. Second, he is looking to move the company’s products from on-premise to being cloud-first, and third, he is focused on a business model shift to move from perpetual licensing to a subscription model. We also discuss how Citrix’s technology allows the company to be a virtual organization, the challenges of attracting the right employees and retaining them, the partnerships Citrix has developed over the years, among other topics.
443: In this interview, Sanjeev discusses how AES is applying its digital vision and strategy across the core business, specifically technologies such as strategic data platforms, artificial intelligence, IoT, and robotics. Sanjeev also elaborates on AES’s three strategic dimensions and five specific themes in their plan for digital transformation. Additionally, Sanjeev shares how he developed the framework for growth when he arrived at AES Corp in October of 2018 and how far AES has come since then. We also discuss the importance of cultural transformation, the customer experience, Sanjeev’s experience as a board member, among other topics.
442: In this interview, Greg Sullivan describes how the company works to exceed its guest expectations in every possible way. To surprise and delight, the company has rolled out the ocean medallion wearable, a coin-size device that can be sensed by location and transaction sensors throughout the ship. This wearable removes friction by allowing crew members to provide a personalized experience, and allowing guests to pay and unlock doors. We also discuss the benefits of being an internal first customer, Greg’s take on data privacy, data virtualization, blockchain, and edge computing, his background as a CEO, among other topics.
In this interview, Metis Strategy Central Region Office Head Mike Bertha interviews Art Hu, Atticus Tysen, and Srini Koushik, the CIOs of Lenovo, Intuit, and Magellan Health respectively who have pioneered the shift from a project orientation to product orientation. These CIOs share the challenges they have encountered during their transitions, such as finding product managers with the necessary skills and how to manage traditional perceptions of IT through culture changes. They also discuss the limits of product-based IT in specific situations where there are static goals, among other topics.
440: In this interview, Gene elaborates on each of the five ideals the book introduces, which are locality and simplicity, focus, flow, and joy, the improvement of daily work, psychological safety, and customer focus. For each one, he provides his definition, examples of it working and not working, and explains why it is important. We also discuss why the days of taylorism, project management, and people treating others as fungible and replaceable resources is coming to an end, why he writes his books as novels, among other topics.
439: Best-selling author Simon Sinek talks at length about his book The Infinite Game, explaining what the difference is between finite and infinite games, and what factors are most key in the latter. Simon warns about the dangers of playing infinite games with a finite mindset, which hurts trust, cooperation, and innovation. Simon also shares that there is no such thing as a natural-born leader, as well as the importance of having empathy in leadership. He also explains how he became obsessed with the idea of “why,” and a variety of other topics.
In this interview, Alex, Angela, and Seemantini discuss how they are using business capabilities including people, processes, tools, technology, metrics, and culture, to manage and strategically guide their businesses. Both Angela and Seemantini speak on the strategic and foundational capabilities in their businesses and how digital is impacting both retail and healthcare. Seemantini shares how she transformed Lowe’s omnichannel customer experience and the process of managing project teams through successes and failures.. They also discuss the digital transformation of healthcare, the rise of delivering healthcare digitally, and the importance of data.
437: In this interview, Adrian Gore discusses why and how he founded Discovery in South Africa in 1992. As the country was going through dramatic changes, Adrian saw an opportunity in the health insurance market as there was a shortage of doctors, extreme inequality, and a dramatic rate of medical inflation. Adrian set his company apart by using concepts of behavioral economics and incentives to create Discovery’s unique business model. Since then, Adrian reaped the advantages of being years ahead in behavioral data collection and has grown his organization beyond health insurance to life insurance and behavioral banking. We also discuss how Discovery went beyond South Africa and into other countries through strategic partnerships starting with expansion into the UK. Beyond that, Adrian shares his outlook and hope for the South African market.
In this episode, Nick discusses how Avery Dennison’s IT team shows its value to other functions by capturing, reporting, and then communicating how IT is contributing value to the company. This process starts by aligning IT’s goals with other functions and influencing how IT can help the company achieve its key strategic pillars over a five-year planning horizon. Moreover, the team has created an IT-value scorecard, which contains metrics regarding health, delivery, outcomes, and agility. Lastly, the team communicates the value it is providing through quarterly business reviews and a well written annual report that communicates the value across the spectrum. We also discuss the three parts of the company’s digital workplace strategy, the education program that the company has put in place, which has sent leaders to UC Berkeley and looks to improve digital literacy throughout the organization, Nick’s take on IoT, AI, and quantum computing, among other topics.
In this episode, Jay provides an overview of the fragmented automotive industry, highlights the industry’s shortcomings, and describes how Tekoin is using advanced technology and their automotive retail cloud platform to create a win-win-win situation for the large OEMs [original equipment manufacturers], retailers, and consumers. Additionally, Jay discusses the importance of delivering a seamless customer experience, how his time as CIO of Tesla prepared him for his current role, Tekion’s global ambitions, among other topics.
434: Dilbert creator Scott Adams shares his story of leaving the corporate setting to become a cartoonist. While he wanted to be a cartoonist from a young age, this dream was temporarily put on hold at the age of 11. When he discovered that the corporate world was not for him, Scott took a chance and reached out to legendary cartoonist Jack Cassady for advice. Based on that conversation, Scott sent his work to the big magazines, but he was rejected and had all but given up on his dream once again. However, one year later, Cassady reached out to Scott to check in. This prompted Scott to try again and send his work to the major cartoon syndication companies, he got a contract with United Media, and Dilbert got published. We also discuss how Scott has made his life more efficient so he can fit more into his day, the formula Scott uses when turning a tweet into a joke, how people don’t think about the world productively, and why we need to think more like economists, scientists, and engineers, among other topics.
433: Xerox’s CTO Naresh Shanker discusses the three key elements of a successful digital transformation. Naresh cites bold leadership that has grit as the most exciting ingredient for transformation. Second, he describes the importance of culture in preparing for the future. As the pace of change accelerates, he notes that it is critical to bridge the established culture that sustains companies at scale with the next-generation culture that has the mental muscle of a startup. Lastly, he discusses the need for a team that is passionate, driven, energized, and exceedingly mission-focused. We also discuss the outside-in and inside-out approach Xerox is using to make its digital transformation, how Xerox uses AI and IoT, Naresh’s experience as a board-level CIO, among other topics.
432: In this episode Hunt Consolidated CIO/CDO Diane Schwarz and National Grid CIO/CDO Adriana Karaboutis explain how they are taking digital back in their respective positions. When they joined Hunt and National Grid, the CIDO’s met with board members to envision the future of digital in their organizations. Andi outlines the “North Star” that defines the direction of long term digital initiates that are developed in the NGDigital Labs. Meanwhile, Diane explains how Hunt’s Collaborative Resource Group is used to “frack for talent” that is motivated to be a part of digital initiatives. This panel also includes a discussion of AI and predictive analytics uses, the reasons digital strategies fail, and the challenge and utility of the two-in-one CIDO role.
431: MIT Sloan's Center for Information Systems Research Principal Research Scientist Jeanne Ross lays out the three characteristics companies must have to implement a successful digital transformation, which are experimenting repeatedly, co-creating with customers, and assembling cross-functional development teams. The experiment aspect involves recognizing that the digital economy is making new directions possible, but for companies to succeed, they need to find the intersection between what they can do and what their customers will pay for. Co-creating with customers, which solves the same problem, entails starting a workshop where everybody puts the issues on the table and are asked, "What can we do to creatively solve this?" Lastly, cross-functional teams are about recognizing that you do not want to simply throw all your money at your R&D or IT unit and ask them to get it done. Instead, Jeanne argues that it is an iterative process that requires many teams. We also discuss the evolution of the CIO role, why companies should not get so hung up on set roles of what a CIO or CDO should do but look to get away from structure, why having only 5% of revenue come from digital is actually an accomplishment, among other topics.
430: Mayfield Fund Managing Director Navin Chaddha discusses what the company looks for when deciding which entrepreneurs to invest in and which do not fit the Mayfield model. The company looks closely into what the entrepreneur is doing, which entails determining what is driving them, what their values are, what their vision is, what their mission is, and if they are interested in creating a product company and flipping it or if they are interested in building an industry-defining company and changing the way people work, live, and play. To do that, the company must spend a great deal of time with the entrepreneur outside of the pitch meetings to truly understand what is driving and motivating them. Further, Navin cites that it is critical to find out who they are, which involves determining if they have high EQ and IQ, how hungry they are, and what their ethics are. We also discuss Mayfield’s work in China and India, three attributes of millennials and how to reach them, what makes for a great partnership between partners and the early-stage companies, among other topics.
Bonus: Express Scripts COO Neal Sample and Mastercard President of Operations and Technology Ed McLaughlin debate the usefulness of blockchain. Neal believes that there is no use case for which blockchain is an optimal solution. He argues that for whatever problem an enterprise is trying to solve, there is already a better technology out there, and it has likely been out for decades. Neal claims that executives often look to blockchain because of the hype, which he claims is the wrong reason to look at it. Ed agrees that the enthusiasm runs amok when people are simply using it to get funded or just to use it. However, Ed considers himself a highly skeptical and jaded enthusiast, and he argues that blockchain can be useful, especially when dealing with trust across enterprise boundaries. As the enterprise lines become less fluid, Ed cites that the ability to have something to immediately give to regulators as a validation of what has occurred is an interesting concept.
428: AI Pioneer and UC Berkeley Professor Stuart Russell warns that AI is reshaping society in unintended ways. For example, social media content selection algorithms that choose what individuals watch and read do not even know that human beings exist. As AI becomes more capable, he suggests that we are going to see bigger failures of this kind unless we change the way we think about AI altogether. Stuart argues that to ensure AI is provably beneficial for human beings, we must design machines to be inherently uncertain about human preferences. This way, we can ensure they are humble, altruistic, and committed to pursuing our objectives even as they set their own goals. We also discuss why AI needs regulation similar to civil engineering and medicine, the impact AI is going to make over the next decade, autonomous vehicles, among other topics.
427: Blackstone CEO Stephen Schwarzman shares stories from his childhood, his time as an undergraduate at Yale, on Wall Street, and business school at Harvard, and his experiences at Lehman Brothers and Blackstone. These stories how he went from nearly failing in an English course in college to the Dean’s List, how he offered constructive criticism to the Dean of Harvard Business School while he was a student, how he led one of the biggest mergers in history to date as a fourth-year associate at Lehman Brothers who had never done a merger, as well as tales from the founding and growth of Blackstone. We also discuss the importance of having a strong culture and hiring the best people, how and why China bought 9.9 percent of the firm when Blackstone was going public, the Schwarzman Scholars program that he has developed in China, among other topics.
426: UCSD Chancellor Pradeep Khosla details the strategic plan he has led. While he cites that he found a great university when he arrived, he knew it was destined for greater things and he set out to create a vision to realize that goal. We also discuss how the University of California System schools interact and share best practices, why Pradeep preferred an 8-word strategic plan over a longer form plan, why he misses being a professor, among other topics.
425: UCLA Professor Ramesh Srinivasan discusses why and how we should look past Silicon Valley for innovation. He argues that innovation is happening all around the world, and he shares his experiences in countries like Kenya and Mexico. Citing how these countries are doing more with less and being resourceful, rather than feeling as if economic or infrastructural constraints are restricting their ability to act, he claims that individuals in these countries are innovating with constraints. Further, he cautions against creating a world in which the inequalities that we currently see are amplified by technological innovations that are only defined within the Valley. Instead, he advocates for an internet that lifts all of us up because it creates a win-win scenario. We also discuss Ramesh’s goal to have a digital bill of rights, his Lab's attempt to bring a variety of scholars and researchers into contact with one another and share their learnings with the wider public through workshops, engaging with journalists, and writing books, companies Ramesh has seen emerge in the countries he has worked in, among other topics.
424: Workday’s Executive Vice President of the Planning Business Unit Tom Bogan explains the rationale behind the Workday and Adaptive merger. From Adaptive’s perspective, finding the right partner was about how the company delivered the most value to the market and its impact on Adaptive’s various constituencies. Tom cites that investors primarily care about the valuation, customers care about who the acquiring entity is, and the team cares about both. Because the company had the right valuation and is the leader in both human capital management and financial planning, Adaptive saw Workday as a tremendous partner. We also discuss the benefits of operating in the Bay Area, the elements that have remained the same and those that have changed since the acquisition, how having a broad range of experiences as an operator, executive, and board member helped Tom coming into Adaptive, among other topics.
423: AES’ President and CEO Andrés Gluski discusses how AES is transitioning into cleaner energy. While the company’s coal technology was among the best in the world, AES realized that was not a sustainable driver of growth. Under Andrés’ leadership, the company has reduced its generation capacity from 60 percent coal to 30 percent, it has become a big builder of renewables, and it is looking to reduce its carbon footprint by 50 percent by 2022. We also discuss the advantages Andrés has enjoyed being from a multicultural family, AES’ work in China and India, the value Andrés gained from his education, among other topics.
422: General Electric CIO Chris Drumgoole discusses the changes GE has made through a period of great change for the company. While the company led the way in outsourcing technology, Chris points out that that is not aligned with the digital world. Because of this, the company has decided to invest in IT talent and grow that capability within the company. Also, in an effort to modernize IT, the company has spent a great deal of time transforming end-user technology. We also discuss GE's two-fold approach to attracting talent, how Chris looks to ride the fine line between standardization across business unit IT versus investing in solutions specific to one BU versus another. We also cover the cultural change afoot in the company and how the company is in the process of shifting from being a deep domain expert instead of a generalist, and a variety of other topics.
421: Steven Rogelberg, the author of "The Suprise Science of Meetings," exposes the main reasons why meetings are inefficient and shares his tips on how organizations can improve the effectiveness of meetings. Steven points out that there are roughly 55 million meetings per day, and most of them are ineffective or at least suboptimal. He notes that part of the reason is that 20 percent of leaders ever receive any training on how to run a meeting, the training they do receive is not meaningful, organizations have no type of accountability on how their meetings are going, and no one in the organization is owning meetings. To improve meetings, Steven suggests that organizations consider shortening the meeting times, structuring meeting agendas around questions to be answered, banning the mute button for remote meetings, and limiting attendance at meetings to those who must be there. We also discuss the importance of being intentional in meetings, how Steven got the inspiration to write a book on meetings, how a positive mindset from the leader is the best predictor of the mood of the entire team, among other topics.
420: Blue Shield California CIO Michael Mathiasl discusses the company’s mission to move healthcare into the digital age, which is at the front and center of its agenda. Michael claims that as customer service is evolving, it is doing so around the digital experience, and since customers want to interact with the company in that way, that is what the company is driving towards. We also discuss how the CIO role has evolved to working more closely with the business, Michael’s take on artificial intelligence, Blue Shield of California's enterprise architecture approach, among other topics.
419: Arity President Gary Hallgren highlights the three main issues in the transportation industry. Most importantly, driving is extremely inefficient as the average car is used for four percent of the day. Further, 40,000 people die on the roads each year, and driving is extremely expensive, both in time and money. To make a difference in these areas, Arity is working with shared mobility companies, insurance companies, and automobile companies to solve these issues. We also discuss why Gary believes fully autonomous vehicles are further away than many think, how the company mixes the stability, strength, and resources of a Fortune 80 company with the entrepreneurial spirit of a startup, how Arity attracts talent, among other topics.
418: GSK’s Chief Digital and Technology Officer Karenann Terrell discusses GSK’s 40, 50, 10 framework for thinking about technology and digital's impact. The company spends 40 percent of its efforts on digital as usual, which involves its ability to change its landscape of looking cross-enterprise for strikes in value. It spends 50 percent on digital through a reinvention window of its existing business, and it spends 10 percent on the true disruption, which entails the high-end innovation of how digital is disrupting the business that the company works in. We also discuss the benefits Karenann gains from board membership, why GSK’s CEO added the CDO role as a remit to the technology organization, rather than separately, how GSK has looked to mix an infusion of talent externally with skilling the folks in a transformative way internally, among other topics.
417: C3.ai CEO Tom Seibel discusses how AI is going to impact commercial, industrial, and government systems. Tom believes that the global information technology market will jump from 3.5 trillion to 8.5 trillion in the next five years, mostly because of AI. This will be achieved by lowering the cost of production and delivering products and services with greater safety, greater cybersecurity, and lower environmental impact. That said, Tom recognizes the consequences of AI. He warns companies that if they do not adapt to new technologies, they will cease to be competitive, and he believes the U.S. will be in trouble if they do not win what he describes as a non-kinetic war over AI with China. We also Tom’s belief that large organizations have the advantage in the new generation of 21st-century technology, how Tom stays motivated after a long career of success, Tom's view on the global rush at the boardroom and the CEO's office to digitally transform their company, among other topics.
416: Aaron’s CIO John Trainor discusses the benefits of operating in a product mindset, rather than a project mindset. John’s team avoids the “throw it over the wall” approach to IT. Instead, the company strives to deploy working software into production as soon as possible. John argues that this product mindset leads to more cohesive teams and eliminates separate interests within the organization. We also discuss the tech landscape in Atlanta, John’s take on blockchain, the importance of having a fail-safe environment, among other topics.
415: Axon CEO Rick Smith shares his entrepreneurship journey and details how Axon has pursued its mission to protect life without taking life. The company began by selling TASERS to consumers as a way to incapacitate a threat without hurting them. However, when that failed to gain traction, the company began selling the weapon to police officers, which was a huge success. Later, the company pivoted to selling body-worn cameras backed by the cloud as a way to protect police officers and increase transparency between law enforcement and the public. We also discuss the future of facial recognition and AI in law enforcement, the Policing Technology Ethics Board the company has developed, Rick’s new book The End of Killing: How Our Newest Technologies Can Solve Humanity's Oldest Problem, among other topics.
414: Comcast CIO Rick Rioboli details Comcast’s heavy focus on the customer experience and the unique focus of Comcast’s digital transformation. In addition to digital sales and e-commerce, the main emphasis of Comcast’s digital transformation is on self-service from a service and support standpoint, which involves enabling digital interactions and providing customers with a frictionless experience. We also discuss Comcast’s use of artificial intelligence, how the IT team partners with the rest of the business, an overview of the new Comcast Technology Center, among other topics.
413: Discovery Bank CEO Barry Hore explains how Discovery Bank looks into behavior to improve people's financial and overall health. South Africa faces extremely high levels of credit indebtedness, more people have loans than jobs, the country has one of the lowest savings rates in the world, and people are not well prepared for retirement. Barry claims that by improving these behaviors, the bank can help South Africans become financially healthier, and he cites that helping people change their behaviors will improve their physical health and society as a whole. We also discuss how Discovery Bank taps into South Africa’s talent ecosystem, how Discovery Bank is looking to scale its client base smoothly, the specific programs that Discovery Bank uses to incentivize its customers to be healthier, among other topics.
412: Omnitracs CEO Ray Greer discusses innovations in the $800 billion trucking industry. Ray describes the issues that truck drivers face today, and he cites that the single greatest advancement Omnitracs can make for the driver is to automate their life so that they just have to drive. Truck drivers spend too much time finding the loading dock, going in and out of navigation applications, and waiting. To provide a more user-friendly experience, Ray has engaged third parties to accelerate the modernization of Omnitracs’ platform, to bring automation to the driver’s lives, and to migrate Omnitracs’ to a cloud-native platform. We also discuss Omnitracs’ usage of machine learning, why technologist focused on autonomy are not thinking about the potential challenges autonomous trucks would cause, the massive impact Omnitracs is able to have on the industry, among other topics.
411: Greylock Partners general partner Sarah Guo provides perspectives on robotic process automation, machine learning, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, and more. We also discuss what Sarah looks for when making investments, the benefits of having parents who are entrepreneurs, why Sarah believes that a company’s size and scale can prohibit its ability to remain current, and a variety of other topics.
410: Humu Co-Founder and CEO Laszlo Bock describes the genesis, development, and deployment of Nudges, which were created to address that problem that great numbers of people are miserable in their jobs. Nudges are digital reminders that prompt the small actions that are most impactful when driving five factors: organizational performance, retention, individual happiness, inclusion, and innovation. In addition to using the product themselves, Humu targets large organizations as customers in order to make the greatest impact toward their mission and to ensure that they are developing products around data sets that are representative of the general population of workers. We also discuss the values that Laszlo draws from his time at Google, why he believes analytics, statistics, and computer science will drive a revolution in HR, and how immigrants, such as Laszlo himself, are fundamentally entrepreneurial in character.
409: McAfee CEO Chris Young explains how the cybersecurity industry faces a duel challenge of keeping up with the transformations that happen within core technologies and simultaneously tracking the innovative nature of cyber attackers. Staying current requires consistent research, collaboration within the industry, acquisitions, and partnerships. Chris describes some of the best practices he sees within the cybersecurity space, including red teaming and risk prioritization. We also discuss the future of advanced forms of analytics and AI within cybersecurity, Chris’s career path, the CEO’s advice to individuals on protecting their information, among a variety of other topics.
408: Tenet Healthcare CIO Paola Arbour describes the process of transforming Tenet’s IT organization from a cost focus to an investment focus. The transformation centered around 4 imperatives: enhancing the voice of the customer, changing the language of IT, building an innovation culture, and focusing on talent. Paola highlights the importance of transparency, communication, and collaboration among teams to successfully lead an organizational change of great scale. We also discuss Paola’s prior experiences serving CIOs, the need for greater mentorship for women in technology, artificial intelligence, data analytics, and a variety of other topics.
407: Hunt Consolidated, Inc. CIO and CDO Diane Schwarz describes her methodology for transitioning into new executive roles using her arrival at Hunt to explain the 90-day process. Extensive planning, learning the business and stakeholders, meeting the company, and, lastly, focusing on suppliers develops the extensive knowledge of an organization needed to effectively lead it. Diane emphasizes the importance of understanding company culture to successfully rally support for changes to foundational pieces of IT, which she did at Hunt after careful investigation and planning. We also discuss the agile skills required for employees working in technology today, Diane’s journey to her leadership role as a woman in a male-dominated field, and the future of women in STEM.
406: CBRE CDO/CTO Chandra Dhandapani breaks down the process of digital transformation through her experience of modernizing technology and rapidly creating agile teams at CBRE. She explains that technology is at the core of any business model, making it crucial to insource the talent necessary for software development and understand the ecosystem of technology trends. Dhandapani describes how building collaboration between product designers and clients yields entrepreneurial services, such as the new flexible spaces and tenant experience lines at CBRE. We also discuss a powerful WhatsApp group for women leaders in technology, the difference between digital and technology, the value of efficient leadership teams, and various other topics.
405: Royal Caribbean Cruises CIO Martha Poulter describes the growth minded business strategy of Royal Caribbean which places emphasis on differentiating products, gaining value from scale, engaging employees and guests, and reducing business risk. The company responds to the distinct needs of diverse demographics of guests and creates unique brand experiences on each cruise, a task that requires the collection and optimization of data from numerous sources. Poulter explains how data drives the innovation of systems and technologies that support all of Royal Caribbean’s operations. We also discuss Poulters own experiences on Royal Caribbean cruises, the unique features of IT organization in the industry, and exciting trends such as algorithmic intuition and miniaturization.
404: Align Technology Senior Vice President of Information Technology Sreelakshmi Kolli discusses how the company is leading the evolution in digital dentistry by transforming the industry from analog to digital. Kolli claims that there are over 300 million consumers that could benefit from teeth straightening, and the only way to reach all of them is through digital technologies. Because of this, Kolli cites that everything the company does is dependent on digital and that IT is the central nervous system for the company. Through this transformation, Kolli is focused on delivering great treatment outcomes with data science, driving consumer demand to doctors’ offices, helping with conversion as customers become Invisalign patients, using global scalable infrastructure to support real-time ordering from over 100 countries, and manufacturing over 400,000 customized aligners per day. We also discuss Kolli’s take on IoT and blockchain, Align Technology’s value proposition to potential employees, how being a consumer of the product helps the company better understand the customers’ needs, among other topics.
403: Sierra Ventures Managing Director Mark Fernandes discusses the five attributes he looks for in an entrepreneur. These five attributes include their ability to raise money beyond the early stages, their ability to attract talent, their ability to generate momentum, if they come prepared, and their ability to tell their story. In terms of what Mark looks for in a company, he cites that there needs to be a technology platform shift or a business model innovation that is applicable to something that they are doing. We also discuss Mark’s accidental path to the VC community, the CXO Advisory Board Sierra has started, the importance of approaching investing from a bottoms-up and top-down approach, among other topics.
402: UPS CIO Juan Perez details how the company has taken data from simply being an input for descriptive analytics to prescriptive analytics, which goes beyond predictive analytics. Juan has played an integral role in developing the company’s on-road integrated optimization and navigation system [ORION], which helps optimize the delivery paths that the company’s drivers take to make sure that they efficiently satisfy their service commitments to its customers. Juan also describes an advanced big data analytics project, which is designed to constantly take the massive amount of data points the company collects, learn from them, and use them to better predict what volume is going to come into their operations. We also discuss UPS’ strategic pillars, Juan’s take on artificial intelligence, the cloud, drones, and robotics, how UPS is using digital to enhance the physical experience that the customer receives, and a variety of other topics.
401: Express Scripts CTO emeritus Phil Finucane details Express Scripts’ integration with Cigna. While Cigna has a strong engineering organization, the two companies have different visions for how to execute a successful integration. Because of this, a large part of Phil’s job was to help Cigna understand how Express Scripts operated, to understand how Cigna operated, and to understand how the combined entity would interface with its business partners. From there, Phil looked to build a path that brought together the best of both worlds by bringing complementary strengths together. We also discuss the lessons Phil has pulled from his time in Silicon Valley, Express Scripts’ approach to eliminating technical debt, his take on artificial intelligence, and a variety of other topics.
400: Bestselling author Michael Lewis tells the story of his career and dives deeply into several of his most notable books, including Moneyball, Liar’s Poker, and The Undoing Project. Despite being discouraged from his thesis advisor at Princeton to pursue writing and consistent rejections from publishers, Michael always had a passion for writing, and he knew that it was only a matter of time before he left Wall Street to pursue this passion. We also discuss how Michael organizes his ideas, how he has been able to defy pigeonholing his writing, how he is able to write about complex topics for those who are not expert in the topics, and a variety of other topics.
399: Intuit CIO Atticus Tysen describes how the company is looking to use data to give insights back to its small business owners and self-employed individuals regarding how their businesses are doing, as well as how the company can give consumers insight into their finances and help individuals file their taxes with more confidence using artificial intelligence and machine learning. While many believe that big data will only benefit large corporations, Atticus provides examples of how big data can help the little guy, whether he be a small business owner or a self-employed individual. We also discuss Atticus’ advice to CIOs looking to become more product-focused, Atticus’ take on AI and conversational user experiences, the evolution of TurboTax Live, and a variety of other topics.
398: Zoom CIO Harry Moseley discusses how collaboration needs are changing with new generations. Millennials and Generation Z make up about a third of the global population, and since these generations have grown up in a digital world, they have different expectations regarding how they collaborate in their personal, academic, and professional lives. We also discuss Harry’s view on artificial intelligence and 5G, his experience on the board of Rewards Network, his time as the first ever CIO of Zoom and his first experience as a CIO of a technology company, as well as a variety of other topics.
397: Atlassian’s President, Jay Simons, and CIO, Archana Rao, discuss the unique culture of Atlassian. Both note that the company is extremely open, honest, and direct. The work of the executives is transparent to the rest of the company. Archana believes that allowing people to see other’s work, performance, and perspectives provides a recognition that there are challenges everywhere and it builds an immensely strong culture because people tend to work well together in this way. Jay has seen the company go from 100 to 3,000 employees in his 11 years with the company, and he declares that this culture has scaled remarkably, which in his mind is a testament to foundational parts of the culture that the company created.
396: E. & J. Gallo Winery CIO Sanjay Shringarpure elaborates on the changes the company has made to achieve its transformational vision. One of the major changes has involved transitioning IT toward supporting four verticals supporting each of the business functions of the company. We also discuss the cultural changes necessary to realize this vision, Sanjay’s take on blockchain and the cloud, the Wine OS platform the company has created, and a variety of other topics.
395: Liberty Mutual CIO James McGlennon discusses the company’s agile and cloud transformation, which has included a multi-pronged approach designed to eliminate or refactor legacy technology, send existing employees to coding immersion programs, have 90 percent of teams working in an agile fashion, and move from one percent to 25 percent of technology in the cloud with a goal to reach 100 percent. We also discuss James’ take on artificial intelligence, robotics, and augmented and virtual reality, how Liberty Mutual works with its different customer groups, what the company does at the business unit level versus the enterprise level, among other topics.
394: Schneider Electric CDO Herve Coureil discusses how Schneider has blended talent in the new digital unit. Herve believes the organization needs to balance the internal and external view, Herve does not believe in a digital organization that only includes external digital talent looking in from the outside or an exclusively internal team that is made up of subject matter experts, without an infusion of external talent. To create a mix, Schneider has focused on reskilling, retraining, and learning internally so everybody has the basic skills that go with digital while simultaneously recruiting new talent that can bring subject matter expertise and new digital skills to the team. We also discuss Herve’s take on the cloud, AI, and blockchain, how Herve manages such a large, distributed team, how his experience as a CFO helps him in his current role, among other topics.
393: Adobe CIO Cynthia Stoddard discusses how the company has modernized its technology stack. She notes that architecture needed to lead the company’s decisions and be in everything that it did going forward. Through this modernization, Adobe has switched to being cloud-enabled and it has enabled architecture and business capability changes without causing disruption along the way. We also discuss Cynthia’s take on immersive technologies, how Adobe is using AI to complement its workforce, how the company has transitioned from selling box software to becoming more customer-facing, among other topics.
392: Ingram Micro CIO & CDO Tom Peck says that Ingram Micro is in race to win the customer experience. The speed in which IT is delivered has changed dramatically. In response, Ingram Micro has made massive changes around its IT team. These changes include shifting from a traditional waterfall approach to agile and scrum methodologies, changing its technology stack to be more reliant on microservices, getting people to collaborate in small teams, and showing businesses that a near-perfect product delivered in a short period of time is better than a perfect one in a long period of time. We also discuss Tom’s view on AI, IoT, and zero-trust architecture, why CIOs need to focus on strategy, ways in which the CIO role has remained the same over Tom’s several decades in the role, among other topics.
391: Washington Post Chief Product and Information Officer Shailesh Prakash describes the genesis story of Arc Publishing. Arc was initially built by the company to meet its own needs, but after realizing it had built one of the best media tech stacks in the industry, the company began selling it to other publishers. The Post now believes Arc Publishing has the ability to become a $100 million business. Shaliesh also shares his view on building technology in-house versus buying and integrating, his experience on the board of Blue Origin, how Jeff Bezos has helped the company further its technology abilities, and how the company partners with large tech organizations, such as Google, Apple, and Facebook, among other topics.
390: LinkedIn co-Founder Reid Hoffman argues that companies should value speed over efficiency. In the modern world of network effects, being the first to scale often provides significant first mover advantages in creating a transformative company. While second place can be a decent consolation prize, Reid believes that if you are third or worse, you failed. However, while speed is important, Reid warns against having a blind adhesion to size as companies also need to determine which components put them in the best possible position. We also discuss the lessons Reid took from SocialNet, a company he founded before LinkedIn, his experience as a founding board member at PayPal, how China is able to move at such an extraordinary pace, among other topics.
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389: Nationwide CIO Jim Fowler shares what drew him to Nationwide after nearly two decades at GE. He also elaborates on his three pillars of focus as CIO. Jim is focused on modernizing the technology team itself, which involves becoming more agile, the modernization of all the underlying platforms, such as Nationwide’s policy management, claims, life insurance systems, and leveraging the first two pillars to create a set of customer journeys. We also discuss the evolution of the CIO role, Jim’s take on AI, digital twins, and quantum computing, among other topics.
388: Volvo CDO/CIO Atif Rafiq discusses Volvo’s evolution into a mobility company. While Volvo has been around since 1927, the company’s executives’ first order of business is to define the future state of the company, which allows them to understand the ambition they need to fulfill. If a company can put together a plan to move towards that higher ambition, it will gain momentum, which builds on itself. Atif claims that once a global company has clarity on this aspect, it will have the necessary resources to chase that. We also discuss Atif’s focus on the customer experience, Volvo’s partnership with Silicon Valley firms, the company’s value proposition to potential employees, among other topics.
387: Schneider Electric CIO Elizabeth Hackenson provides details from her first 100 days as CIO when she made multiple trips around the world to speak with as many business peers, customers, and employees as possible. Early in her tenure, a key IT leader stepped down, resulting in Elizabeth being forced into the dual role of Global CIO and Head of IT for North America. Though more than she expected, the dual role allowed Elizabeth to immerse herself into some of the challenges that operations were facing, and she was exposed to new leaders, challenges, and opportunities in IT. We also discuss Elizabeth’s relationship with her predecessor and current Chief Digital Officer Herve Coureil, Schneider's approach to eliminating technical debt, and Elizabeth's take on the evolution of the CIO role.
386: Akamai CEO Tom Leighton details the private and public sector’s growing security concerns, which has led to the company’s pivot from its traditional internet offerings to a fast-growing security business. Today, there are billions of devices in homes and offices that are not adequately secured. Bad actors have the ability to wipe out any cloud data center, which can isolate many countries from the rest of the world. Tom believes that this damage is a fraction of what could be done in future attacks, and the only way to stop these attacks is to absorb it out at the edge. We also discuss Akamai’s founding story, how the company survived the difficult times following the dot.com crash, why Tom believes the firewall’s time has passed, among other topics.
385: Toyota (TMNA) CDO and Toyota Connected CEO Zack Hicks shares his vision for how technology will transform driving. As the CEO of Toyota Connected, Zack and his team use data to provide an enhanced and seamless driving experience. To do so, Zack is focused on removing friction points throughout the entire process by having 3rd party services integrate with Toyota’s technologies. He claims to be agnostic about who owns the experience, and that his only goal is to enable it. While he is focused on augmenting the driving experience, he asserts that full autonomy is still far in the future. We also discuss Zack’s experience as a board-level executive, his view on the future of autonomous vehicles, the benefits of containers and server-less technologies, among other topics.
384: Fortinet CISO Phil Quade argues that cybersecurity needs to act like a science in order to understand its core strategies and implement the complex elements that can be layered on top of that strategy. Phil believes that doing so starts with building a foundation based on speed, integration, and connectivity. Fortinet, which was built on these elements, is focused on making sure they provide the fastest possible cybersecurity solutions out there, as well as providing the ability to connect them together. We also discuss the differences between private and public sector cybersecurity, Phil’s approach to mitigating risk, the advantages of being an internal first user, among other topics.
383: Symantec’s CEO In this interview, Greg argues that detection and automation are absolutely critical in the era of prevention. He cites that in today’s cyberspace, companies report as little as seven minutes between first infection and disaster, so it is critical that organizations be able to detect and automate the response to those threats. At Symantec, the company has used artificial intelligence to improve its ability to defend, as Greg describes in this interview. We also discuss Symantec’s four pillar cyber safety umbrella, the importance of having consequences for those who try to steal data, the value of zero trust infrastructure, and a variety of other topics.
382: Workday CIO Diana McKenzie discusses the importance of understanding how the customer experiences the company’s product and the competitors’ products. Diana notes that CIOs have a unique opportunity to collaborate with customers, hear their feedback regarding what they hope to see from their products, and bring those insights back to the company. To better understand the product, the company has rolled out a Workday-on-Workday program, where IT is the first user of Workday’s product. This allows Diana’s function to influence how the product evolves and enables Workday to ensures that their product strategy always reflects what the marketplace is likely to need most. We also discuss Diana’s experience serving on a public board, the employee engagement survey Workday has rolled out, Workday’s acquisition of Adaptive Insights, among other topics.
381: Sequoia Partner Roelof Botha and Ethos Life co-founder and CEO Peter Colis dive into the major issues with life insurance and how Ethos Life can make a difference. A great life insurance company has not been built for 150 years, and while the existing players have massive amounts of capital, Ethos is relying on their speed of execution and digital advantage. We also discuss how Ethos is using behavioral science and product testing for ease of use, how Ethos is able to overcome the faster process, Roelof’s take on AI and voice technologies, why Roelof was determined to immigrate to the United States, among other topics.
380: TGI Friday’s Chief Experience Officer Sherif Mityas highlights the importance of intertwining strategy and technology, and he argues that because of the overlap between the two, that every CIO should serve in the Chief Experience Officer role. From his perspective, every CIO today is dealing with the experience of the customer because, from an experiential perspective, technology permeates everything that the guest does. Technologies, such as artificial intelligence and voice-assisted devices, have provided the company with ways to better understand and engage with their guests. By leveraging AI specifically, the organization has shifted from a one size fits all approach to a more specific engagement, which provides a more relevant, frictionless, and convenient experience for the guest. We also discuss the ways in which the company segments the guest journey, the use case Sherif’s sees for blockchain, and how companies need to engage with the consumer.
379: Estee Lauder CIO Michael Smith stresses the importance of talent and culture. On the talent side, Michael has brought in business leadership from several Fortune 500 companies, and he has helped open a new technology hub in Long Island City, New York, which is part of a two-campus model in New York that has formed after consolidating down from nine location. Michael notes that culture is Estee Lauder’s number one asset. We discuss how consumer expectations will change as technology evolves, the benefits Michael gets from being a consumer of his own products, among other topics.
378: Winnebago CIO Jeff Kuback argues that a strong IT team is an essential element in all industries, even non-technical ones such as RVs and boats. In the past, the industry has been hesitant to invest in IT due to its reputation for high fixed costs, and in fact, Winnebago did not have a CIO when Mike Happe joined as CEO. However, Jeff has worked to make IT more efficient, which includes spending the appropriate amount of money on cybersecurity and moving from an on-premise data center to the cloud. We also discuss how Winnebago has gone from a traditional RV company to focusing on the outdoor lifestyle as a whole, how Winnebago has leveraged Microsoft tools, what Jeff looks for in external partners, among other topics.
377: Last year, Equifax experienced one of the most devastating security breaches ever, which exposed the private information of 143 million individuals. In this interview, Bryson, who joined the firm after the breach, explains the company’s response and its goals to rebuild customer’s trust through security and compliance work, to build a sustainable future, and to constantly invest in new technologies. We also discuss Bryson’s take on blockchain and the cloud, how Equifax invests in artificial intelligence, his approach to obtaining the best talent, among other topics.
376: Ocado CTO Paul Clarke has guided the company to differentiate itself by focusing not on how fast they can innovate, but on how fast they can innovate their system for innovation. Paul discusses the broad and deep technology estate that has enabled Ocado’s online grocery business to operate with scale, sustainability, and profitability. Through a focused but balanced approach to innovation, the company has developed a unique end-to-end operating solution for online grocery retail that includes massive automated warehouses and an e-commerce, fulfillment, and logistics platform. In a strategy that resembles Amazon’s AWS, Ocado is now making its technology available to other retailers through the B2B-focused Ocado Solutions arm. We also discuss Ocado’s roadmap for a frictionless customer experience, the advantages of its business model, its culture of disruptive innovation, among other topics.
375: MIT's Max Tegmark, author of “Life 3.0" and co-founder of the Future of Life Institute, asserts that the most important conversation in the world is the one about humanity's future with artificial intelligence. Technology is a neutral force, and it is our responsibility to manage it wisely and steer it towards a beneficial future. As our technology becomes more powerful, so too do the positive and negative consequences. Max notes that we need to decide what type of future we want to have with AI so that its impact on society is beneficial, rather than harmful. We also discuss how governments, academia, and companies can help create a better future with AI, the comparisons between prior science advancements and today’s intelligence advancements, how Max became interested in AI, among other topics.
374: Equinix CIO Milind Milind stresses the importance of creating a positive customer experience. Equinix's core value is to put the customer at the center of everything that they do, and the company has laid out a recipe for customer focus and success consisting of five major components. These components are treating their customers like assets, looking at the entire life cycle of customers, building a customer listening system to receive feedback, using a prioritization system to interpret that feedback, and delivering that feedback to the entire organization. We also discuss how Equinix’s annual revenue grew from $1 billion to $5 billion over an eight year period, the importance of culture in a digital transformation, and Milind’s view on artificial intelligence and machine learning.
373: Travelport CIO Matt Minetola asserts that as a CIO of a technology company, a critical part of his job is to bring in technology that allows Travelport to distinguish itself, rather than simply managing technology. He cites that if you are the leader of a technology company in today’s world, it is your responsibility to change how the organization builds and develops products. To do this, Matt is focused on constantly identifying key technology enablers to help Travelport set itself apart. We also discuss the value of the cloud, the importance of quickly digesting and managing data, Travelport’s focus on the customer experience, and a variety of other topics.
372: Bain Capital Ventures Managing Director Matt Harris analyzes how the FinTech competitive landscape has dramatically shifted over his career, from the domination of large financial institutions, which grew ever larger through mergers and acquisitions to the emergence of startups. We also discuss Matt’s interest in real estate tech and InsurTech, his views on Bitcoin and blockchain, what he looks for when making investing decisions, among other topics.
371: General McChrystal is a retired four-star general of the US Army and the author of multiple books, including his most recent one, Leaders: Myth and Reality. Following a 34-year career in the United States Army, General McChrystal founded the McChrystal Group, an advisory services firm that specializes in leadership consulting.
370: John Chambers, the former CEO of Cisco, reflects on his 25 years at Cisco, from his greatest professional regret, to the key factors behind Cisco's massively successful acquisition strategy, to the critical importance of culture. We also discussed his work with the leaders of France and India to digitize their countries, what he looks for when evaluating companies to invest in, insights from his new book, Connecting The Dots: Lessons For Leadership In A Startup World, among other topics.
369: Sasan Goodarzi stresses the importance of a strong culture and why it is critical to deliver to your customers quickly. Since its founding in 1983, it has been Intuit’s goal to innovate, empower their employees, and remove obstacles so that they can best serve their customer. Intuit was recently recognized as the thirteenth best place to work by Fortune Magazine, which Sasan credits to the people’s kindness and how all employees will do anything to help others achieve greatness for their customer. We also discuss Sasan’s view on AI, what Sasan gained from the CIO role, and how Sasan career ambitions have changed over time.
368: Schneider National CIO Shaleen Devgun asserts that in the age of instant gratification, every company must be a technology company regardless of industry. Even as a trucking company, Shaleen highlights how Schneider’s ability to present timely information is crucial for their success, and how every aspect of Schneider’s value chain is impacted by technology. We also discuss how great competitors can make great customers, how they leverage technology to optimize load assignments from 373 trillion combinations, and the relationship between the CIO and VC communities.
367: Honest Tea co-founder Seth Goldman discusses the origins and growth of Honest Tea, how they overcame the company’s 2003 bottling crisis, and the unique equity structure that put them in a position of strength when they sold to Coca-Cola. We also discuss Seth’s board membership with Beyond Meat and Bethesda Green.
366: Red Hat CIO MIke Kelly discusses the companies strategic priorities and mission to become the default choice for next-generation IT, which culminated in the massive IBM deal that could reshape the cloud landscape. We also discussed how IT differentiates itself within a technology organization, how the company’s Red Hat on Red Hat approach enables IT to be the first and best customer of their products, and how Red Hat engages with the CIO community to learn from their different experiences.
365: Lenovo CIO Art Hu asserts that as digital disruption accelerates, CIOs must lead the way in showing the organization how technology can be embedded into the business, and how technology can create new opportunity for companies and their customers. He also discusses Lenovo's IT roadmap, the commonalities and differences between working in the US and China, the three intersecting elements of a business transformation, among other topics.
364: Shafiq Khan, the President of the Teach the World Foundation, shares how he’s leveraging his experience as a digital pioneer to establish and deploy models of literacy and learning effectively and at scale through the power of digital technology. Globally, two of every seven people are functionally illiterate, and Shafiq argues that traditional models of education cannot effectively close this gap, especially in the developing world. Shafiq’s believes digital technology can democratize education to benefit not just the individuals receiving it, but the global economy as a whole.
Kai-Fu is a prominent venture capitalist, technology executive, artificial intelligence expert, and author of the new book, “AI Superpowers. China, Silicon Valley, and the New World Order.” Currently, Kai-Fu is the founding CEO of Sinovation Ventures, a Chinese venture capital firm with $2 billion under management, a third of which is in AI. He founded Sinovation Ventures after leading Google’s initial entry into China as the President of Google China. Prior to Google, he spent a number of years at Microsoft as a Corporate Vice President. While at Microsoft he established Microsoft Research Asia, which is widely considered one of the best computer science research labs in the world.
Kai-Fu began his career as an AI researcher, having obtained a Bachelors of Science in Computer Science from Columbia University, and a Ph.D. in Computer Science from Carnegie Mellon.
In this interview, Kai-Fu discusses his new book, “AI Superpowers,” in which he highlights the stunning, government-supported progress China’s technology sector has made in recent years. He goes on to argue that China is well positioned to surpass the US in AI prowess, and the reasons for that country’s gains. We also discuss the risk of job displacement, why US companies struggle to break into the Chinese market, and why the reverse is also true, what Sinovation Ventures looks for when identifying new opportunities, and a variety of other topics.
- Kim’s purview as the Chief Operating Officer of Fannie Mae, which includes overseeing the companies’ technology, operations, innovation, data, and strategic execution.
- Fannie Mae’s innovation days and hackathons, which are designed to inspire innovation throughout the company.
- The Digital Operating Model that Fannie Mae has implemented to strengthen collaboration between the business owners, product managers, and technologists.
- The importance of digitizing data to help gather new insights and increase operational performance.
- Fannie Mae’s shift in focus to winning for everyone, rather than for just FannieMae by generating more accessibility to homeownership, creating better living communities, and ensuring that the entire ecosystem is functioning better.
- How Kimberly’s time in the CRO role prepared her for the COO role, and the similarities between risk and innovation.
- Why the pipeline for women’s involvement in cybersecurity must be built at every stage along the way, as opposed to hiring as many women as possible out of college and hoping for a better future in twenty years.
- An eye on the trends: Green financing.
Kimberly is the Chief Operating Officer of Fannie Mae, a Fortune 25 company with revenues exceeding $112 billion. As COO, Kimberly is responsible for overseeing the company’s technology, operations, innovation, data, and strategic execution functions. Previously, Kimberly held a variety of roles in her twelve years with the company, including Chief Risk Officer and Chief Credit Officer.
Prior to Fannie Mae, Kimberly was the Director of Fixed Income Sales at the Investment Bank, Credit Suisse. Before Credit Suisse, Kimberly was an equity trader at D.E Shaw & Co.
Kimberly received a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from Princeton University, and an MBA in Finance and Economics from Columbia Business School.
Kimberly serves as a Director on the Board at Calvert Impact Capital.
- Steve’s role as the Chief Information Officer of FINRA, where he leads a 1,100-person organization.
- FINRA’s switch to open-source, which was designed to handle the massive amounts of data, as well as their increasing focus on machine learning.
- How FINRA partnered with organizations such as Amazon, Cloudera, and Hortonworks during its transition to the public cloud.
- FINRA’s ability to attract talent through displaying their innovative environment, attending conferences, hosting events, and winning awards.
- A look into the DC metro area’s highly skilled IT market, which holds one of the highest concentration of data centers and internet providers in the country.
- The advantages of transitioning to the public cloud, including leveraging Moore’s Law, improved cybersecurity, and the ability to pay for the service on-demand.
- The financial advantages FINRA realizes with cloud computing, including ability to increase data volumes while simultaneously reducing cloud costs.
- Steve’s belief that the CIO has not changed much, and that successful IT team looks for innovative solutions that the business could not otherwise find.
- Eye on the trends: Robotics and automation.
Steve is the Chief Information Officer of FINRA, a non-governmental organization that regulates member brokerage firms and exchange markets, such as the New York Stock Exchange. As CIO, Steve focuses on building surveillance systems that assist the company’s staff in examining firms and regulating the markets.
Prior to FINRA, Steve was the Co-CIO at Citibank. Before Citibank, Steve was the Executive Vice President, Chief Information Officer, and the Head of Operations and Technology of the NASDAQ. Prior at the NASDAQ, Steve held the same roles at the Chicago Stock Exchange. Before the Chicago Stock Exchange, Steve worked as a Managing Principal at IBM. Steve began his career with KPMG.
Steve received his Bachelors of Science in Computer Science from Northern Illinois University and his MBA from the University of Chicago’s Booth School of Business.
- The four E’s Bill focused on while Governor of Colorado: energy, environment, economy, and equity for customers.
- Bill’s perspective that collaboration between the private and public sector, especially at the state level, is necessary to develop a new energy economy.
- Bill’s work with utility CEOs in facilitating the energy transition and the two major factors driving it: the fact that utilities are setting emission targets, and the fact that the partisan divide around energy and the environment is less pronounced at the state level.
- Bill’s focus as Strategy Partner at Blackhorn Ventures, where he focuses on the future of the built environment, the energy sector, and the transportation industry.
- The budding economy in Colorado, including the state’s ingrained entrepreneurial spirit and growing startup community, strong aerospace industry, and growing financial sector.
Bill was the 41st Governor of Colorado, serving in that capacity from 2007 through 2011. Currently, Bill is an Energy Strategy Partner at Blackhorn Ventures where he focuses on the built environment, the energy sector, and the transportation sector. Bill is also the Founder of The Center for the New Energy Economy at Colorado State University. In this role, Bill drives the organizations mission to work with state governments and the private sector to transform energy production across the country. As Governor, Bill oversaw Colorado’s renewable energy focused transition to create an environmentally friendly energy economy. Bill signed 57 bills into law as governor, including the thirty percent Renewable Portfolio Standard Act. Before becoming Governor, Bill served as Denver’s District Attorney. Bill received his Bachelor degree in political science from Colorado State University and his J.D. from the University of Colorado School of Law.
- Blackstone’s IT strategy, which focuses on the coordination of many small use cases across an extremely broad spectrum versus
- Blackstone’s focus on optimizing their business to ensure that all professionals have a secure and stable set of applications and the tools needed to be as efficient as possible in driving productivity.
- How larger companies have been overtaken by startups by failing to update their legacy technology, and how Blackstone has worked tirelessly to ensure that the innovation-preventing technical debt does not accumulate.
- How the CTO role has evolved, and its current focus on integration solutions.
- Why companies need to embrace and dream ahead with technology, how the CIO and CTO roles vary in difficulty based on the CEO’s approach to innovation, and the difficulty across all companies to find the necessary talent to innovate.
- Sapient’s culture of teamwork and collaboration, his role at Capital IQ focused on what their customers were being delivered, and Blackstone’s long-term view of investing, which originally drew Bill’s interest.
- Google, Microsoft, and Amazon’s innovation in a space that all companies can take advantage of.
- An eye on the trends: The cloud, Machine learning, and Artificial Intelligence [AI]
Bill is the Chief Technology Officer of Blackstone, the alternative asset management and financial services firm with revenues exceeding $7 billion. As CTO, Bill is responsible for working with vendor partners to better understand the business to make better types of investments. Bill is also responsible for advising companies across Blackstone’s portfolio operations group.
Prior to Blackstone, Bill was the Chief Technology Officer at OpenSky. Before OpenSky, Bill served as the Chief Technology Officer at Capital IQ. Bill also worked as an Architect at Sapient.
Bill received his Bachelor of Science in Engineering with a computer science major and a concentration in Finance from the University of Pennsylvania.
- An overview of Qlik’s, a leading provider of analytics software and visualization analytics, and their focus on the user experience.
- How Qlik engages their diverse customers, which include end users, department heads, functional areas, and IT.
- How Qlik solves a larger problem than their competitors by focusing on the entire data platform as opposed to just end-user analytics.
- How the complexity of analytics results in a slightly slower transition to a full cloud model, and how Qlik is at the forefront of that transformation.
- The value Qlik provides its customers by giving them an integrated platform to solve all their analytics needs.
- How Mike’s experience as a former CIO allows him to better understand the product and persona Qlik is selling as well as empathize with the customer’s difficult task of dealing with a heterogeneous vendor environment.
- Mike’s decision to hold a variety of different experiences in his 26 years at ADP as opposed to holding the same title at multiple firms.
- Advice to CIO’s looking to advance beyond the CIO role such as ignoring those who say it is not possible, leveraging your network, and having the willingness to take unique experiences that force you out of your comfort zone.
- Qlik’s free data literacy program, and the company’s social responsibility to increase data literacy around the world.
Mike is the Chief Executive Officer of Qlik, a leading provider of analytics software and visualization analytics. As CEO, Mike is responsible for leading Qlik’s mission to become the leader in the analytics economy.
Prior to Qlik, Mike was the Chief Operating Officer of Medidata Solutions. Before Medidata Solutions, Mike spent 26 years at ADP in a variety of senior leadership positions including Chief Information Officer, Head of Product Development, and General Manager of Global HR/Payroll.
Mike received his Bachelor of Science in Computer Science from Dickinson University and his MBA from Pace University.
- Why autonomous vehicles are beneficial such as creating a safer driving environment and the reduction of traffic and parking lots.
- Why Mike believes autonomous vehicles are still a few years away, including the immaturity of technology, the integration the technology requires, and the location-specific difficulties.
- An overview of the legislation and regulation component, and Mike’s view that will be the equivalent of a driver’s license for self-driving cars.
- How traditional automakers are taking different approaches – including building, buying, and partnering – to develop autonomous capabilities.
- How legacy organizations are transforming for digital competitiveness, including the need for new technology across all departments as opposed to just IT, and the switch from servers to the cloud.
- An overview of the wide range of business functions that SaaS solutions are offering, and why first-generation SaaS systems need to evolve to meet evolving customer needs.
- How open source software has become increasingly popular in companies due to its superior security and ability to avoid vendor lock-in.
- Mike’s reflection on his time at Cisco, including how his expectation that the internet would take off led him to Cisco, and how he surrounded himself with innovators and risk-takers who embrace transformative changes in the world.
- Index Ventures’ perspective that when making investments, it is more important to look at the entrepreneur and founding team, as opposed to the specific sector.
Mike is a General Partner at Index Ventures, where he helped establish the firm’s San Francisco office. As a Partner, Mike is responsible for investing in early-stage companies, with a focus on open-source and SaaS companies.
Prior to Index Ventures, Mike was the Chief Executive Officer of Joost. Before Joost, Mike held multiple executive positions at Cisco Systems, most recently as Senior Vice President and GM of the Routing and Service Provider Group, and before that, as the company’s first Chief Strategy Officer. Prior to Cisco, Mike worked as a Product Development Engineer at Hewlett-Packard.
Mike received his Bachelor of Science in Medical Engineering, his Master of Science in Manufacturing Systems Engineering, and his MBA from Stanford University.
Mike currently serves on the board of 16 public and private companies, including Fiat Chrysler.
- The four parts of an organization that should be the focus on any digital transformation effort, including business strategy and business model, internal operations, customer touchpoints, and skills and operating model.
- Gupta believes that transformation should begin with an examination of customer pain points, rather than bigger technology changes.
- How the blurring of industrial boundaries is forcing companies to ask, “What business am I in,” and develop competitive advantages by creating compliments and network effects.
- How Best Buy redefined its business to successfully compete with Amazon by changing its cost structure with the store-within-a-store model, and then used that revenue to build out service and subscription offerings.
- How the New York Times successfully moved to a profitable subscription model, despite traditional media facing challenges in realizing significant online advertising revenue.
- How John Deere changed its business model and began hiring data scientists after realizing it wasn’t in the business of selling farm equipment, but rather, was in the business of farm management and making farmers more productive.
- How the nature of competition has shifted from across products to across ecosystems and platforms, and why companies should look to partner externally to succeed here.
- Why innovation labs alone are not effective, and companies instead need to focus on transforming the core of their business proposition and not just the sides.
- The responsibility senior management has to retrain employees in order to stay competitive, and how Unilever has done so by pairing junior and senior employees to create a diverse mentorship platform.
- Advice on how to pitch a multi-year digital transformation to a skeptical management team or board
- How Albert took on COO responsibilities beyond the CIO role by identifying the need to streamline not just the companies underlying technology, but the operational processes as well.
- Albert’s responsibilities, which in addition to IT and digital transformation include product development, procurement, supply chain, customer service, and real estate.
- The evolution of the CIO role from the back office to the front office and Albert’s view that the role has become transformative to the point where it needs to encompass the operating model of the business
- The three-phased transformation Albert is leading, which includes radical simplification, platform strategy, and execution strategy
- How Pearson is working towards a single platform, similar to Netflix for education, which would be highly scalable, global in nature, high-quality, and one that can deliver all of their experiences around the world to millions of learners.
- An overview of the changes occurring at Pearson, including radical simplification and consolidation of systems, moving from data centers to the cloud, and people and culture changes.
- How Pearson has looked to an innovation ecosystem for idea generation
- How the company is using AI and augmented reality to make a difference in education and the workforce.
- How Pearson is preparing for the skills revolution with its Technology Academy, and how they are working to assist other companies in doing the same.
- Albert’s view on companies needs to re-equip their workforce and the challenges that arise with it.
Albert is the Chief Operating and Technology Officer at Pearson, the 174-year-old, £4.5B British education and publishing company. In this role, Albert has been responsible for overseeing the company’s multi-step digital transformation, as well as procurement, supply chain, customer service, and real estate.
Prior to joining Pearson, Albert was the Group Chief Information Officer at Vodafone. Before Vodafone, Albert was the Chief Information Officer at Nortel Networks.
Albert received his Bachelor of Science in Electronic Engineering at South Devon College of Arts and Technology and his MBA from Exeter University.
- An overview of Glazer’s, North America’s largest wine and spirit distributor with over five thousand brands.
- Ann’s role as CIO, where she is responsible for infrastructure, information security, the supply chain, digital, among other areas.
- Glazer’s objective with digital as it relates to the customer experience, which is to ensure that customers and supplier-partners can interact with them on their terms
- How Glazer’s has merged the IT organizations to ensure that the company is meeting State regulations while maintaining an entrepreneurial spirit within the company.
- How the merger and integration with Legacy Glazer’s provided an opportunity to both integrate and update legacy systems.
- How Glazer’s has leveraged their network of partners to drive the technology for the future.
- How Glazer’s was able to complete a high-profile merger and add a national partnership while making sure the users did not feel the burden of all the movement by making excellent decisions and having the support of senior executives.
- An eye on the trends: Business Intelligence, AI, IoT, Blockchain
Ann is the Senior Vice President and Chief Information Officer at Southern Glazer’s Wine and Spirits, North America’s largest wine and spirits distribution company with revenues exceeding $16 billion. As CIO, Ann is responsible for a wide variety of areas such as infrastructure, information security, the supply chain, and digital.
Prior to Southern Glazer’s, Ann was the Vice President of Consumer Products, Retail, and Distribution at Capgemini Consulting. Before Capgemini Consulting, Ann was the Vice President of the Fresh Dairy Direct and Supply Chain at Dean Foods. Ann additionally has held a variety of roles at The Coca Cola Company.
Ann received her Bachelor of Arts in Economics from the University of Georgia and her Masters in Executive Education and Business from Harvard University.
- The relationship between Dell and VMware, which are two separate companies
- How Bask balances his dual responsibilities as an executive at both companies, including owning IT and ecommerce responsibilities at Dell, and working closely with R&D at VMware
- The challenges of bimodal IT, including the difficulty of motivating people who are on the “slow IT” team
- The differences between the IT organizations at VMware and Dell:
- VMware was a digital native whereas Dell’s IT had to transition to digital
- The organization structure at VMware is straight forward IT with heads of infrastructure, apps, and information and physical secretly, IT, whereas Dell is centered around portfolio leaders
- Bask’s perspective that digital transformations must start with people, then processes, and then technology; and how Bask has focused on attracting the right people with the right skills to the companies
- What it takes to implement a successful digital transformation centered around cutting bureaucracy, putting the transformation under a leader while avoiding a bimodal approach, and ensuring that the transformation extends past IT to the entire organization.
- An eye on the trends: Artificial Intelligence, Internet of Things.
- Bask’s view on age discrimination which is excluding older employees despite their talent, wisdom, and creativity, and the importance of avoiding that by multigenerational workplaces where younger and older employees can learn from each other
- A rundown on the future of IT which involves all businesses becoming digital, a growing CIO role, and changing expectations among consumers
Bask is the EVP Dell Digital and Chief Information and Digital Officer Dell and VMware. In those roles, he oversees the critical technology systems supporting some of the world’s largest global business and commerce operations. He is also responsible for driving Dell and VMware’s digital transformation to accelerate outcomes; deliver world-class experiences; and share the team’s best practices using technologies, services and solutions from both companies.
Prior to working at Dell and VMware, Bask was the Group Senior Vice President of Business Operations and the Chief Information Officer of Juniper Networks. Before Juniper Networks, Bask was the Group Chief Information Officer of Honeywell. Prior to Honeywell, Bask was a divisional Chief Information Officer of GlaxoSmithKline.
Bask received his Bachelors of Science in Engineering from Annamalai University as well as his Masters of Science in Computer Science from the Florida Institute of Technology.
- How the DWP touches all lives in the United Kingdom whether that be looking after children with separated parents, the working class, disabled people, or retired people to produce better outcomes for them and society
- The DWP’s digital goal to become more efficient by meeting the emerging customer experiences to improve outcomes for society
- How the DWP is able to satisfy the diverse group of people that they serve by avoiding a one size fits all strategy in favor of active segmentation that leads to better delivery of targeted services
- How being an older company can be an advantage during a digital transformation due to the diverse mature analytics on data spanning over decades
- How the DWP has balanced retaining existing employees and hiring new talent by holding a series of interventions to help existing employees think about their values while additionally bringing in new people for the people in-house to learn from
- Why Mayank prefers a more combined approach to IT versus a bimodal IT approach
- Why Mayank switched from the private to the public sector including the opportunity to catch up to the private sector in technology transformation, the opportunity to make an impact on 22 million real people’s lives, and the chance to work with the most talented and humble people
Mayank is the Chief Digital and Information Officer of the United Kingdom’s Department of Work and Pensions, the UK’s largest public service department which impacts over 22 million citizens. Mayank is responsible for IT infrastructure, data, and security, as well as for driving the implementation and adoption of digital technologies to meet emerging customer expectations.
Prior to joining the DWP, Mayank was a Managing Director at Morgan Stanley where he was responsible for Global Wealth and Investment Management Technology. Prior to that, Mayank was the Chief Information Officer at Sage UK. Prior to Sage UK, Mayank was the Group Chief Information Officer at iSOFT. Prior to iSOFT, Mayank was the International Chief Information Officer at Avaya.
Mayank received his MBA from The Manchester Business School, and has completed the executive program at Singularity University (non-accredited). Mayank is a Wharton Fellow at the University of Pennsylvania.
Mayank currently serves on the board of the Tech Partnership in London and for the DWP.
- Bill’s perspective on the digital transformation taking place in the industrial sector and how this transformation will eventually impact all sectors.
- The challenges of executing a digital transformation, and Bill’s thoughts on the critical “soft” elements, such as culture, leadership, and talent.
- Bill’s advice on how to blend talent by bringing new people into work with existing employees as opposed to less effective approaches such as not bringing people from the outside at all or segregating new employees.
- A rundown of the digital reporting structure at GE, where Chief Digital Officers report to the CEOs of their business, as well as to Bill.
- An overview of the roles and responsibilities of the three programs created for digital: GE for GE, GE for installed base customers, and GE for the industrial world.
- The importance of realizing that change must be reflected by the entire organization and that it is something that cannot be done overnight.
- An emphasis on how digital is able to drive greater productivity and efficiency while giving clear outcomes that companies can show to their customers, something GE always starts.
Bill is the Chief Executive Officer of GE Digital, as well as the Senior Vice President and Chief Digital Officer of General Electric, a 126 year-old industrial conglomerate with revenues exceeding $120 billion. At GE, Bill has been responsible for leading a massive digital transformation by bringing in new employees, reprogramming the existing employees, and bringing in Chief Digital Officers from the outside.
Before joining General Electric, Bill served as the Vice President at CISCO. Prior to working at CISCO, Bill was the Senior Vice President at Software AG. Bill has also held executive management positions at The Advisory Board, The MITRE Corporation, and Concept 5 Technologies.
Bill received both his Bachelor of Science and Master of Science in Computer Science from California State University, Fullerton.
Bill serves on the Board of Directors of Magna International Inc.
- Gary’s responsibility as Operating Partner focused on helping companies which he advises grow.
- Gary’s perspective from serving on boards such as Citigroup and Hewlett-Packard Enterprise and the different experience resulting from them.
- How Gary keeps up with the pulse of enterprise buying by keeping in touch with previous colleagues and through the exposure being a board provides.
- Ways in which the CIO has evolved and become more exciting due to the migration to machine learning, new technology, and the increasing importance of developing software quickly.
- Ways in which companies can make the challenging technological transformation by either leveraging and refactoring old software, or by developing applications that replace their legacy.
- Eye on the Trends: Machine Learning
Gary is an Operating Partner and part of the Resources Group at General Atlantic, a global growth equity firm that has over $20 billion dollars in assets under management. As an operating partner, Gary is responsible for providing strategic support and advice to the firm’s investment teams and portfolio companies with a focus on strategy and technology.
Before joining General Atlantic, Gary was the Senior Vice President and Chief Information Officer at General Electric, where he led the mergers & acquisitions, sourcing, IT, operations, and quality teams. Prior to joining General Electric, Gary was a partner at the Boston Consulting Group.
Gary received both his Bachelor of Arts in Economics, as well as his MBA from Harvard University.
Gary currently serves on the boards of Citigroup, Hewlett-Packard Enterprise, Box, Mu Sigma, and Turbonomic, among other companies.
- An overview of Zendesk’s business and the growth the company has experienced going from a startup to a $500 million public company in eleven years
- Tom’s responsibilities as COO which include IT responsibilities such as business analytics and security, as well as operational responsibilities such as go-to-market and customer-facing functions
- Tom’s perspective on the ever changing customer service world and how the company has been able to evolve by focusing on having an agile foundation while making sure the right technologies are in place.
- The difference in how CIO’s of traditional companies with monolithic systems and modern companies with cloud-based technology are trying to incorporate new technology to keep up with the competition.
- An overview of Tom’s adjustment from a retail company to Zendesk, as well as Tom’s perspective on how the CIO role has been reinvigorated over the past year going from back-office focused to customer-focused
- How reporting directly to the CEO has benefited Toms career by allowing him increased access conversations around value from the standpoint of operational improvement, and Tom’s advice for how CIOs can take on additional (CIO Plus) responsibilities, including leveraging the unique position of IT within the organization
- Tom’s advice to older companies looking to leverage modern technology, which includes trialing new software to see what works best for the company.
- Eye on the Trends: AI and machine learning
Tom is the Chief Operating Officer of Zendesk, a cloud-based provider customer service and engagement platform with nearly half a billion dollars in revenue. Tom joined Zendesk as Chief Information Officer, and has transferred many of those responsibilities to his role as Chief Operating Officer. In addition to IT, security, and analytics, Tom is primarily responsible for operations, go-to-market, and customer-facing functions.
Before joining Zendesk, Tom was the Executive Vice President of Global Product Operations and Chief Information Officer for Gap. Prior to Gap, Tom was the Senior Vice President and Chief Information Officer at L-Brands. Additionally, Tom invests in and advises a number of technology startups.
Tom received his Bachelors of Science in Systems Science from the University of West Florida.
Tom currently serves on the board of the Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Bay Area.
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- An overview of PSAV’s business as well as Cathie’s key focus on stabilizing the IT environment and making technology an enabler for the business rather than a roadblock
- PSAV’s digital transformation, which is focused on the technician experience, business insight through data analytics, and looking to other industries for ideas
- How Cathie encourages her staff to find learning opportunities, such as sending them to spend a day in the field as a technician so they can understand the day-to-day as well as how the business makes money
- Cathie’s experience serving on a board, including her personal path to membership and the lessons she has learned in terms of leadership, such as watching managers deal with the challenge of growing without losing focus on the core vision of the business
- Cathie’s advice to peers looking to join a board, which centered around the importance of showing your interest, exposing yourself to organizations beyond your own, and joining impactful clubs to build your profile
- The state of women in IT, as well as Cathie’s perspective on getting more women involved in IT, including showing young women the benefits of IT, refuting the notion that women cannot be mothers and business leaders, and most importantly, giving women the crucial business experience to grow and develop
- Eye on the Trends: Blockchain, AI, and conversational user interfaces
Cathie is the Senior Vice President and Chief Information Officer at PSAV, the world’s largest event experiences company. As CIO, Cathie is responsible for ensuring that PSAV has the information solutions to improve effectiveness and efficiency in delivering services to customers.
Before joining PSAV, Cathie was the Executive Vice President and Chief Information Officer at the Hub Group. Prior to joining the Hub Group, Cathie held a number of executive IT positions at Motorola, including several divisional Chief Information Officer roles, and, most recently, Corporate Vice President of their Global Solutions and Services Operations. Before Motorola, Cathie was the Senior Vice President and Chief Information Officer at Tellabs. Cathie began her career at AT&T.
Cathie received her Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering from Purdue University and her MBA from the University of Chicago.
Cathie serves on the board of Northwestern Memorial Health Care.
- Kim’s purview at Lenovo, which includes leading the data center infrastructure segment, the high-performance computing and artificial intelligence segment, the software-defined infrastructure segment, and the IoT segment
- The three things boards and CEOs expect from their CIO, which are (1) to reimagine and define the customer experience, (2) extreme productivity, and (3) that they invent and deliver new products and services
- The values of having worked in technology-centric organizations and the advantages of having been both a buyer and a seller of technology, including being able to work with more knowledgeable customers
- The diversity of Lenovo, where the company’s top 25 executives represent 16 different nationalities, and a great many women hold executive leadership positions
- The benefits of Fu Pan, Lenovo’s unique take on the post-mortem analysis, which focuses on what went right and how to replicate it rather than what went wrong and how to avoid it
- Kim’s experience on corporate boards, and her belief that the end-to-end visibility and well-rounded set of experiences make technologists increasingly attractive for board membership
- Kim’s thoughts on the state of women in technology, including her belief that there are more than enough qualified women, but the challenge is that people recruit from their own network, which is often limited
- Eye on the Trends: private cloud, containers, micro-services, and 5G
Kim is the Senior Vice President and General Manager of Data Center Infrastructure at Lenovo, a multinational technology giant with $45 billion in revenue. In this role, Kim leads Lenovo’s data center infrastructure segment, high-performance computing and artificial intelligence segment, software-defined infrastructure segment, and the new IoT segment.
Prior to joining Lenovo, Kim was Chief Operating Officer of the Client, IoT, and Systems Architecture Group at Intel. Before that, she held several other senior executive positions at Intel including Corporate Vice President and CIO, and Vice President and General Manager of IT Operations and Services before that. Prior to joining Intel, Kim was Vice President and General Manager at Hewlett Packard Enterprise where she served customers in the Communications, Media and Entertainment industry. Before HPE, Kim was a Vice President at EDS. Kim spent the first two decades of her career at IBM.
Kim received a Bachelor of Science in Accounting and Business Management from Northeastern University, and an MBA from Cornell University.
Kim is a member of the board of directors for Boston Private, and previously sat on the boards of Cloudera, Riverbed Technology, among other companies.
- How GM has evolved over the years that Randy has spent as CIO including switching from an outsourced IT workforce to an entirely insourced one by hiring thousands of new IT employees, consolidating data center operations into two enterprise data centers, and expanding the footprint towards new talent by creating four innovation centers.
- Randy’s perspective on how GM has been able to cut costs by providing automation for manual processes and the importance of taking advantages of new technologies.
- How GM’s IT team has been able to innovate including delivering new products and services driven by technology by creating a mobile center for customers, and developing a private cloud to increase efficiency.
- An overview of GM’s organizational structure, which is a centralized organization with both a vertical executives that have teams and report up the line and horizontal executives that support the vertical executives.
- Randy’s take on GM’s recruiting successes and pitch which is made successful by having a large footprint and ability to reach a large audience of college graduates, giving graduates the ability to pick which innovation center to work for, and having a reputation of being a successful company that gives them a lot of choice and opportunity.
- Randy’s perspective on driverless cars and how the company has been working on Cruise Automation.
- Randy’s advice to boards of smaller companies including increasing the use of direct reports of global CIO’s due to their amount of talent and exposure to what is happening across a broad technology.
- Randy’s advice to CIO’s looking to be on a board of an external company as well as his advice to CEO’s who are hesitant to allow CIO’s of that opportunity to be more progressive as it is a win-win situation.
- Randy’s emphasis on the application of new technology and the importance of evaluating the advancements of technology annually in a period of time where failure to innovate will result in major losses.
Randy is the Senior Vice President of Global Information Technology and Chief Information Officer of General Motors, a Fortune 10 company with revenues exceeding $145 billion. As CIO, Randy is responsible for the global IT strategy and all the IT assets, and serves as a member of the executive leadership team. Since becoming CIO in 2012, Randy has lead a major transformation which has dramatically changed the company’s approach to IT.
Prior to joining General Motors, Randy served as the Executive Vice President and CIO of HP. Before joining HP, Randy spent six years at Dell where he was Senior Vice President and CIO. Earlier in his career, Randy spent 22 years at Walmart where he held many positions, eventually working his way up to Senior Vice President and Chief Information Officer.
Randy received his Bachelor of Science in Mathematics from The University of Arkansas, Fayetteville.
Randy serves on the Board of Directors for Dun & Bradstreet.
- An overview of Transmit Security and its goal of building a cross-channel identity platform that is designed to simplify, accelerate, and reduce the cost of identity-related projects
- The advantages to self-funding Transmit Security, including the strong drive and motivation to succeed that it instills
- An overview of the cybersecurity landscape, which includes network security, endpoint security, and identity
- The rationale behind starting Transmit Security – Mickey and Rakesh already founded companies in network security and endpoint security, so identity was the logical next step
- How Transmit Security is able to stay ahead of the competition by working closely with its customers and having a flexible, scalable platform that allows them to build capabilities extremely quickly
- The main criteria Mickey looks at when investing in startups, which is personal interest
Mickey is the Co-Founder and CEO of Transmit Security, a cybersecurity startup focused on building a cross-channel identity platform designed to simplify, accelerate, and reduce the cost of identity-related projects for large enterprises. Along with his Co-Founder and company President, Rakesh Loonkar, Mickey has positioned the self-funded company as a go-to security solution for enterprise.
Prior to founding Transmit Security, Mickey was the Founder and CEO of Trusteer, which was acquired in 2013 by IBM for $1 billion. Before founding Trusteer, Mickey was co-founder of Imperva, now a leader in web and database security.
Mickey has successfully invested in various cybersecurity startups including Skyfence, Aorato, Hyperwise, and Lacoon Security, among several others. Mickey holds board seats at several companies he has invested in.
Mickey received his Masters of Science in Computer Engineering from the Israel Institute of Technology (Technion), and his MBA from Ben Gurion University.
- 7-Eleven’s multi-year journey to become a digitally-enabled organization, including Gurmeet’s “full stack transformation” approach which encompasses consumer-facing technology, back-end technology, infrastructure, and the organizational stack
- How digital is a strategic pillar at 7-Eleven, mandated directly by the CEO
- The critical importance of technical talent to 7-Eleven’s future, and Gurmeet’s strategy for attracting top talent – such as highlighting his credibility as a leader and telling a compelling story
- The ways in which Gurmeet is redefining convenience with software, such as the recognition that the closest store to a customer is the phone in their pocket, and 7-Eleven’s use of APIs and new interfaces to create delightful experiences
- The expansion of 7-Eleven’s loyalty program from its initial focus on beverages to as a full-fledged loyalty offering that is available on mobile, web, digital loyalty card, and even chatbot
- 7-Eleven’s approach to experimenting with emerging technologies, including their distinction between technologies that are ready to scale and technologies that are still in the proof of concept phase, a new R&D center, and a CTO function that reports to Gurmeet
Gurmeet is the Senior Vice President, Chief Digital Officer, and Chief Information Officer of 7-Eleven. As Chief Digital and Information Officer, Gurmeet leads 7-Eleven’s full stack digital and technology transformation, and is responsible for digital product management, big data, digital user experience, digital partnerships, digital marketing, digital technology, enterprise technology, and R&D.
Prior to 7-Eleven, Gurmeet was Head of Direct to Consumer Auto Finance at Capital One where he grew the digital consumer tripled the revenue of the business in less than two years. Before Capital One, Gurmeet led product marketing at Intuit as a Director. Before Intuit, Gurmeet was a Managing Director at FedEx. Gurmeet began his career as a consultant with McKinsey & Company.
Gurmeet received a Bachelor of Technology from the Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur, his Masters of Science in Engineering from Texas A&M University, and his PhD in Engineering from Rice University.
- An overview of Elsevier’s business, including its focus on the legal field, the academic and health research fields, the business risk and financial fields, and their exhibitions business
- Dan’s responsibilities as CTO, which include customer-facing responsibilities such as overseeing product development, as well as more traditional responsibilities such as applying technology to internal efficiency as well as revenue generation
- Dan’s perspective on our rapidly accelerating digital world and the emerging symbiotic era, where intelligent conversational interfaces, mixed reality, and other technologies essentially eliminate the boundary between man and machine
- The implications of machine learning at Elsevier, such as how it has enabled the creation of a new generation of products that move beyond providing static information and in to real-time recommendation and decision support
- Dan’s perspective on the human element of AI, such as the idea that the human-machine system becomes greater than the sum of its parts, how digital intelligence can augment human decision making, and how Elsevier creates cross-functional teams with the necessary skills
- How Dan’s background in agile development prepared him for his current customer-facing responsibilities, and his belief that customers must be embedded in the development process
- How Dan aligns the fast moving R&D function with the broader, more traditional organizational strategy
Dan is the Chief Technology Officer and Executive Vice President of Product Development at Elsevier, the 138 year old, $3.3 billion publisher which is now the science, technology, and healthcare division of RELX Group. As CTO, Dan is responsible for traditional IT, as well as evolving the company’s products in support of its transformation from a traditional print-based business to a digital solutions provider.
Before joining Elsevier, Dan was the Chief Technology Officer of Reed Business Information (formerly Reed Elsevier), a sister company within RELX Group. Dan joined Reed Business Information as the United Kingdom Chief Technology Officer and later became Global Chief Information Officer. Prior to joining RELX Group, Dan held technology and product development leadership roles with GM Financial, Wunderman Cato Johnson, and IBM, as well as a number of UK and international software organizations.
Dan was one of TechRepublic’s ‘The top 50 CIOs”, and was inducted into the CIO hall of fame in 2017.
- Stephen’s transition from Symantec to Google/Alphabet, including how his original role as Entrepreneur-in-Residence at GV led to his work with their moonshot factory, X
- X’s process for identifying which moonshots to pursue, which include (1) addressing a huge problem, (2) employing a radical solution, and (3) using relatively feasible technology
- Stephen’s ambition to work on an ambitious enterprise security project, and how that led to a cybersecurity project within X that resulted in Chronicle
- A high level overview of Chronicle, which will offer an intelligence and analytics platform to help enterprises manage their own security-related data, and a malware intelligence service
- The benefits of being an Alphabet company, including the ability to leverage Google’s infrastructure and machine learning expertise, their ability to attract talent, and the credibility they have with potential customers
- Stephen’s diverse career and how that prepared him to be a CEO, such as honing the ability to see things from a holistic perspective, which is one of the advantages IT has over many other functions within an organization
- Stephen’s perspective on digital, having been one of the first executive to carry the digital title, such as how digital can be applied to internal operations as well as to the customer experience
Stephen is the co-founder and CEO of Chronicle, a cybersecurity company born out of Alphabet’s Moonshot factory X (formerly Google X) that aims to “10X the speed and impact of security teams by making it easier, faster, and more cost-effective for them to capture and analyze security signals that have previously been too difficult and expensive to find.” As CEO, Stephen is building the team, setting the vision and strategy, and developing relationships with potential customers.
Prior to founding Chronicle, Stephen was a senior leader and advisor at X. While at X, Stephen explored the potential for a cybersecurity moonshot and developed the concept for Chronicle. Stephen’s collaboration with X grew out of his position as Executive in Residence at GV (formerly Google Ventures), where he was a resource and mentor to the entrepreneurs of the fund’s portfolio companies. Prior to joining Alphabet, Stephen was the Chief Operating Officer of Symantec. Prior to Symantec, Stephen was the President of Digital, Marketing, and Operations at Best Buy. Before Best Buy, Stephen was the Chief Information Officer and GM of Digital Ventures at Starbucks. Prior to Starbucks, Stephen held a number of IT leadership roles at Corbis, Yahoo!, CNET and Sun Microsystems.
Stephen received a Bachelor of Science in Political Science from the University of Oregon, and an MBA from San Francisco State University.
- Pawan’s diverse role as Global CIO/CTO, which encompasses overseeing Foot Locker’s global technology function, the digital supply chain, digital marketing and the customer experience across physical and digital touchpoints, and driving loyalty
- How Foot Locker uses customer journey mapping to activate strong signals and amplify weak signals to better understand the rapidly changing expectations of their customers
- Why machine learning and data analytics is playing an increasingly important role in enabling rapid decision making, and the ways in which the technical team of data scientists collaborates with the business
- The three foundational elements of Foot Locker’s customer loyalty strategy, which include (1) engage and earn, (2) redeem, and (3) freshness
- The customer-facing aspects of Pawan’s responsibilities, and how having end-to-end visibility enables him to find synergies, respond to customers more quickly, and serve them in a more meaningful way
- Eye on the Trends: artificial intelligence, blockchain, experiential commerce, connectivity and networks
Pawan is the Executive Vice President and Global Chief Information and Technology Officer of Foot Locker, the $7.7 billion footwear retailer with 3,310 stores in 24 countries. As CIO and CTO, Pawan oversees the global information technology functions and infrastructure, and provide leadership and vision to align technology with strategic business initiatives. He is also responsible for digital marketing and the customer experience across touchpoints, optimizing the supply chain to meet changing customer expectations, and creating memorable experiences that promote customer loyalty.
Prior to joining Foot Locker, Pawan was Vice President of Digital and Marketing Technologies and Services Platforms at Target, where he led the eCommerce, Mobility, Cloud and API Platform teams. Before Target, Pawan spent a decade at Verizon Wireless, most recently as Senior Director of Architecture and Product Engineering.
Pawan received a Master’s of Science in Software Engineering and Computer Applications from the Government College of Engineering, Aurangabad, and an MBA in Strategy and Management Information Systems from Kent State University’s Graduate School of Management.
- An overview of Magellan’s business, including its two primary growth platforms: healthcare and pharmacy benefits management
- Magellan’s Massive Transformative Purpose of “Leading humanity to healthy, vibrant lives,” and how that leads them to unconventional but extremely impactful offerings such as Magellan Complete Care, a first-of-its-kind benefits plan aimed at the seriously mentally ill in Florida, or managing specialty care
- How Srini leverages innovative organizational techniques and emerging technologies to compete with larger healthcare companies, a concept he calls Exponential IT. Some examples of this include leveraging cloud services instead of building solutions in-house, adopting platforms its employees were already familiar with such as Workplace by Facebook to reduce training needs and facilitate adoption, and building solutions for tomorrow’s technology like 5G, instead of yesterday’s technology
- How operating in a high-touch industry that requires the company to be empathetic and sensitive to the needs of its customers has shaped its approach to digital
- The unique perspective on technology that Srini has developed over his career, which includes both time at large companies like IBM, Hewlett Packard, Nationwide, as well as entrepreneurial experience as CEO of a startup
Srini is Chief Technology Officer and Chief Information Officer of Magellan Health, a $3.75 billion managed healthcare company with the Massive Transformative Purpose of leading humanity to healthy, vibrant lives. As CTO/CIO, Srini leads the technology strategy and operations team to deliver innovative technology and data-enhanced products and services that improve patient outcomes.
Prior to joining Magellan Health, Srini was the President and CEO of NTT, a startup focused on building multi-sided platforms for digital business. Prior to NTT, Srini spent a short time at Hewlett Packard Enterprise as General Manager and Global Practice Leader of Strategic Enterprise Services. Prior to HPE, Srini was SVP CIO and CTO of Nationwide Insurance where he oversaw an annual IT budget of $1.2 billion. Before Nationwide, Srini spent nearly a decade at IBM Global Services.
Srini earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Physics from the University of Madras, a Master’s degree in Computer Science from the University of Bombay, and a Master’s degree in Business Administration from Ohio State University. As a lifelong learner, Srini has also received executive education on systems thinking and design thinking from Stanford University’s d.school, and clean energy and innovation from MIT’s Sloan School of Management. Srini has also completed the Executive Program at Singularity University.
Among other topics, Anil discussed the following with Metis Strategy:
- Anil’s plans after he retires from SunTrust, including traveling, continuing to serve on advisory boards for late-stage growth startups, continuing to consult and advise companies, and pursuing a board position at a public company
- How Anil came to advise growth-stage startups by developing relations during his tenure as CIO, and the ways in which startups benefit from a CIOs perspective, such as on the topics of attracting talent and pursuing revenue opportunities
- How Anil addressed SunTrust’s fragmented approach to digital by hiring business segment CTOs, a Chief Data Officer, and an enterprise-level Chief Digital Officer, all of which reported to him as CIO
- The siloed state SunTrust’s technology group was in when Anil joined, and how Anil broke those silos down over the course of a six-year transformation that implemented a new operating model to drive alignment, cost transparency, and strategic investment decisions
- The advantages Anil sees to having been a consultant earlier in his career, including gaining experience in driving change management and business alignment, as well as working closely with the leadership team at SunTrust
- SunTrust’s transition from an innovation strategy of ad hoc hackathons and collaborative office hours to a comprehensive framework that leveraged an agile way of working, a DevOps mindset, and new technologies like the cloud and AI
Anil is the former Corporate Executive Vice President and Chief Information Officer of SunTrust Bank, having retired in March 2018 after six years with the company. While at SunTrust, Anil led a transformation effort that saw the consolidation of the company’s digital efforts, as well as the implementation of a new operating model to align IT to the business.
Prior to joining SunTrust as CIO, Anil had a long career in consulting. Anil spent over nine years as a Partner at IBM, and spent fifteen years at PWC prior to that.
Anil sits on the advisory board of several growth-stage startups including Fenergo, Mirantis, Skytap, and Tricentis.
Anil earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical and Electronic Engineering from the Imperial College London, as well as a Masters of Science in Management Science and a Masters of Philosophy in Management Science, both from the Imperial College Business School.
Among other topics, President Ilves discussed the following issues with Metis Strategy:
- How President Ilves’ international upbringing shaped his worldview, including the influences of growing up bilingual, being a child of refugee parents, and learning to program at a young age
- The role that President Ilves played in pushing the digitization narrative, both before he was President as part of the underground Communist resistance, as well as during his presidency
- The impact that becoming a newly independent nation around the time that the internet was exploding had on Estonia’s ability to recognize the power of a digital society, and Estonia’s early digitization efforts such as e-identity and the X-Roads distributed architecture which was implemented in 2001
- The collaboration required between the government, the private sector, and the public that was required to digitize the nation, why the private sector and general public have been more enthusiastic than the government due to the business efficiencies and personal conveniences, and how thee digital system is decoupled from politics in the mind of the Estonian people
- Estonia’s cyber-war with Russia, which was the first of its kind, and how it resulted in the creation of the NATO Center for excellence in Cyber Security, which is located in Estonia
- The features of Estonia’s e-residency program, such as being able to become an e-citizen and set up an online business registered in the European Union, and how that helps Estonia’s economy compensate despite its small geography and population
- President Ilves’ focus since leaving office, including his academic focus on threats to democracy in the digital era, and work with other nations that are interesting in emulating Estonia’s digital society
President Ilves was the fourth President of Estonia, serving two consecutive terms between 2006 and 2016. During his time in office, he ushered in a number of changes that have led many to refer to Estonia as the most digitally savvy country on earth. He successfully defended his country in a cyberwar with Russia, introduced e-voting, digital health records, and e-residency programs to name just a few. Since his term ended, President Ilves has focused on issues related to e-government and cybersecurity as a Distinguished Visiting Fellow at the Hoover Institution at Stanford University, as the Bernard and Susan Liautaud Visiting Fellow at Stanford’s Freeman-Sprogli Institute for International Studies, and as the Co-chair of the World Economic Forum’s Global Futures Council on Blockchain. Ilves also works with nations looking to emulate Estonia’s digital society as the CEO of Ilves Consulting Group.
While President of Estonia, Ilves was appointed to several high positions in the field of information and communications technology in the European Union, including serving as the Chairman of the EU Task Force on eHealth, Chairman of the European Cloud Partnership Steering Board, Co-chair of the advisory panel of the World Bank’s Digital Dividends report, and Chair of the World Economic Forum’s Global Agenda Council on Cyber Security.
Prior to serving as President, President Ilves was a member of the European Parliament, where he was Vice President of the Foreign Affairs Committee. Prior to this, he serves as a member of the Estonian Parliament. Before being elected to Parliament, President Ilves was the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Estonia, and briefly served as a Chairman of the North Atlantic Institute. Prior to being appointed Minister, Ilves served as the Ambassador of the Republic of Estonia to the United States of America and Canada. During this time, he initiated a program to computerize and connect all Estonian schools, the countries first digital initiative. Before serving in the Estonian Government, President Ilves worked at the office of Radio Free Europe in Germany, first as a research and foreign policy analysis, and later as the head of the Estonian Service.
President Ilves has written extensively on topics ranging from Estonian language to global foreign and security policy, and he has received numerous international awards and honorary degrees for his work.
President Ilves obtained a Bachelors of Arts in Psychology from Columbia University, and a Master’s degree in Psychology from the University of Pennsylvania.
Among other topics, Vince discussed the following issues with Metis Strategy:
- How United Technologies approaches IT and digital in a way that maximizes synergies
- How IT and digital are organized and governed within the organization
- How United Technologies manages offensive and defensive capabilities
- How United Technologies organizes its innovation functions into United Technologies Digital and United Technologies Research Center
- United Technologies Digital Accelerator in Dumbo Brooklyn, how priorities are set, and the unique processes they employ
- Vince’s perspective on the advantages of companies operating at scale, versus the advantages of a digitally native organization
- How United Technologies manages cybersecurity risk as an increasing number of its products are connected to the IoT
Vince is the Senior Vice President, Digital and Chief Information Officer of United Technologies Corp. (UTC), an industrial conglomerate and military contractor with over $57 billion in revenue. Since joining UTC in June of 2016, Vince has been responsible for the strategic direction of the company’s global IT operations, including the continued implementation of UTC’s digital strategies, and identifying opportunities that harness and leverage data to create value for customers and increase UTC’s operational efficiency.
Prior to joining UTC, Vince held a number of executive positions as General Electric, including most recently as Chief Operating Officer for GE Digital. Prior to the COO role, Vince was the General Manager, Cloud Services & CIO of GE Digital. Before GE Digital, Vince spent time as both the CIO & Lean Leader and CIO & Quality Leader of GE Power. Prior to GE Power, Vince was the CIO of GE Corporate.
Vince earned a Bachelor of Science in Information Systems and Marketing from the State University of New York at Albany