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.
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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.
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.
Previously: Listen to our interview with AES CEO Andres Gluski.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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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.
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.
Lyn is the Senior Vice President and Chief Information Officer of Dominion Resources. She has held that position since January of 2001, making her an unusually long-tenured CIO.
She joined the energy industry with Virginia Power in 1982, rising to the position of CIO in 1998.
Lyn is the chair of the board of directors of the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond, chair of the board of trustees of Mary Baldwin College and chair of the board of directors of RichTech, among other boards upon which she serves.
Lyn was named to Computerworld’s list of “Premier 100 IT Leaders for 2004,” won the 2008 Executive Women in Business Achievement Award, and received the 2010 Outstanding Woman Award in the Business category from the YWCA of Richmond.
Lyn received her bachelor’s degree in business from Mary Baldwin College and earned her master’s degree in business administration from the University of Richmond.
