Neal Sample on the Compelling, Challenging, and Evolving Nature of the CIO Role

October 27, 2022

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About the Guest

Neal Sample

Former CIO of Northwestern Mutual; Board Member of Wellfield Technologies; Senior Vice Chair Board of Trustees, University of Health Sciences & Pharmacy in St. Louis

Neal Sample is the former Chief Information Officer of Northwestern Mutual, a post he retired from in May 2022. Prior to that, he was the CIO, and subsequently the COO of Express Scripts. Neal has also held the CIO role at American Express Enterprise Growth, where he ascended to the position of President of that unit. He is also on the Board of Directors for Wellfield Technologies and for the University of Health Sciences and Pharmacy in St. Louis.

Episode Overview

710: Neal Sample, former CIO of Northwestern Mutual, discusses his seasoned career as a technology executive across a variety of companies and how the role has evolved over the years. 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.

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