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.
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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.
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This episode is sponsored by Transmit Security and Cisco.
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.
This episode is sponsored by Transmit Security and Splunk.
627: In this interview, Praveen discusses the remarkable digital and cultural transformation of the IT organization at CommScope. 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 discusses 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.
This episode is sponsored by Transmit Security.
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.
