CIO In The Know

Ever wondered how a non-IT background can give a unique perspective to the Chief Information Officer role? Join us as we unravel this with our guest, David Costar, the CIO at Wolfspeed. As an unconventional CIO, David champions the transformation of the CIO role from an IT-centric position into a business-oriented one. We navigate through the skills for future CIOs, the cruciality of understanding your business, the role of curiosity, and the impact of digital transformation and large system changes like ERP. David further emphasizes the importance of viewing IT from a macro perspective and focusing on the economical value it brings to organizations.As we further our conversation with David, we delve into the significance of comprehending the business context to effectively align technology. The strength of a team of technologists who feel empowered to voice their ideas is examined and the role of the future CIO in steering company strategy is discussed. We then decode digital transformation for the CEO and explore how it assists in navigating organizational changes. The role of mammoth systems like ERP, the potential influence of artificial intelligence, and the importance of adopting a business-first approach to technology forms the crux of our talk. Get ready to be enlightened by a leader who's redefining the narrative of the CIO role!Links:David LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-costar/Wolfspeed: https://www.wolfspeed.com

Could the future of your business hinge on how well you leverage technology? This week, seasoned tech veteran and managing partner at DUNELM Associates, Martin Davis, helps us uncover the immense potential of technology in business transformation. Known for his propensity to challenge conventional thinking, Martin shares his intriguing insights on how a CIO’s strategic role can shape a company’s journey towards redefining itself. Just as technology is evolving at an unprecedented pace, so is the business landscape. A consumer-centric approach seems to be the name of the game, but how does one create a seamless customer experience across multiple channels? Martin addresses this conundrum and further dives into the dichotomy between project-centric and process-centric approaches to transformation. On a more personal note, he reveals how the pandemic has fine-tuned his leadership style and the value he places on casual interactions.Switching gears, Martin and I dissect the implications of the global shift to remote work and what it means for businesses contemplating a hybrid or fully remote model. As we discuss industry 4.0, we underscore the crucial role of data in decision making, backed by Martin's real-life example from his days at a manufacturing plant. This episode is jam-packed with thoughtful reflections on the advantages of a data-driven approach within organizations, the complications in delivering a consistent customer experience, and the impacts of transitioning to a remote work setup. Tune in, you won't want to miss it.Links:Martin Davis Twitter: https://twitter.com/mcdavis10Martin Davis LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mpdavis/Dunelm Associates: https://dunelmassociates.com

Imagine living in a world where technology could be simultaneously less interesting yet vitally necessary. Our esteemed guest, Ashwin Rangan, SVP of Engineering and Chief Information Officer at ICANN, takes us on a fascinating journey through his career, sharing his unique insights into the internet's struggles and its profound impact on the world.Navigating through a post-pandemic world, we delve into the heart of how our lives have radically transformed, both personally and professionally. Ashwin brings to light the incredible acceleration of technology, leading to a more virtual world, and the consequential erosion of trust in institutions due to information overload. He encourages us to re-establish the trust anchors we once took for granted pre-pandemic and adapt to this new normal.As we explore the challenges of universal internet access, Ashwin underlines the importance of STEM education and the role of organizations like ICANN in bridging the gap between tech speak and the English language. He emphasizes the need for future CIOs to be fluent in both worlds, capable of facilitating conversations between them. Ending on a hopeful note, we discuss the need for senior executives to engage with university students, ensuring the knowledge is passed down and the future of technology is secure. Tune in for this enlightening discussion with one of the leading voices in tech.Links:Ashwin Rangan Twitter: https://twitter.com/ICANNCIIOAshwin Rangan LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/theinsightfulcio/ICANN: https://www.icann.org

This week I’m joined by Sharon Mandell, the Chief Information Officer for Juniper. In our discussion, Sharon shares her perspective on how business is changing and how the role of IT is changing alongside of it. She discusses how she views digital transformation as a continuous improvement process versus a project. Sharon talks about the changes we are all facing and how AI can help alleviate some of the pressure. Lastly, she discusses how she views technical debt and the risk associated with it.Links:Sharon Mandell Twitter: https://twitter.com/sharonominkSharon Mandell LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sharon-mandell-juniper/Juniper Networks: http://www.juniper.net/

This week I’m joined by Nellson Burns, the VP of IT and CIO at Daltile. In our discussion, Nellson shares how the pandemic accelerated the company’s business transformation efforts and how this impacted customers. He also goes into what the…… Read More Navigating through business transformation with Nellson Burns

This week I’m joined by Karl Mosgofian, the CIO at Gainsight. We discuss how the role of the CIO and IT has changed…and continues to change. Karl talks about his perspective on the CIO’s role in business transformation and customer…… Read More Changing how we think about technology with Karl Mosgofian

This week I’m joined by Ahsan Baig, the Chief Information Officer of AC Transit. In our discussion, we cover Ahsan’s perspective on how the pandemic has created a silver lining for his organization and stakeholders. We talk about the importance…… Read More Leading through a pandemic with Ahsan Baig

This week I’m joined by Jerry McGlynn who has served as the CIO of Specialized and Interim CIO of Disney Studios. We discuss the challenges facing companies today and the role of the CIO. Jerry shares his perspective on how…… Read More Unique CIO opportunities in times of crisis with Jerry McGlynn

This week I’m joined by Lisa Davis, the Chief Information Officer at Blue Shield of California. Lisa joined Blue Shield two weeks before California instituted their ‘stay at home’ requirements due to the pandemic. She goes into her game plan…… Read More Authentic leadership in times of crisis with Lisa Davis

This week I’m joined by Ken Grady, the Corporate Vice President and Chief Information Officer at IDEXX. We discuss Ken’s perspective on people-centered leadership and how it has changed in just in the past six months. We talk about the…… Read More Taking a people centered leadership approach with Ken Grady

This week I’m joined by Ralph Loura, the CIO of Lumentum. In our conversation, Ralph discusses how he is leading through crisis. He shares his perspective on the social impact to business and things that might be overlooked. Ralph also…… Read More Moving from tactical to strategic with Ralph Loura

This week I’m joined by Charles Sims who is the Head of Technology for the Los Angeles Clippers basketball team. In our discussion, Charles starts with what his day looks like as Head of Technology for an NBA basketball team.…… Read More The role of technology in the fan experience with Charles Sims

This week I’m joined by Prakash Kota who is the Chief Information Officer for Autodesk. In our discussion, we talk about how Autodesk changed from a company that shipped software to a subscription-based business. We talk about the role of the CIO and what it means to work backwards. Prakash shares his perspective on digital transformation delving into how cloud and AI are providing greater value and making the work more exciting. He talks about the value he gets from his CIO to CIO interactions and his perspective on the CIO role moving forward. Links:Prakash Kota LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/prakashkota/Autodesk Twitter: https://twitter.com/autodeskAutodesk: https://www.autodesk.com

This week I’m joined by Sangy Vatsa who is the EVP and Chief Information Officer at Comerica Bank. In our discussion, Sangy outlines how digital transformation came to a 178-year-old bank. As part of that transformation, Sangy shares the details…… Read More Leading Digital Transformation in a Financial Institution with Sangy Vatsa

This week I’m joined by Aaron Miri, the Chief Information Officer for Dell Medical School and the University of Texas Health Austin. In our discussion, Aaron talks about the complexity within the healthcare ecosystem and how they leverage innovation in…… Read More Building the innovative learning health system with Aaron Miri

This week I’m joined by Colleen Berube, the Chief Information Officer for Zendesk. In our discussion, Colleen outlines how today’s CIO is different from that of the past with regards to customer engagement. She talks what the CIO brings to…… Read More The unique value a CIO brings to customer engagement with Colleen Berube

This week I’m joined by Mitch Davis, who is the Chief Information Officer at Dartmouth College. In this episode, Mitch talks about how IT really manages chaos and how it ultimately turns CHAOS into Order. He goes further by discussing…… Read More The cost of awesome – Turning CHAOS into Order with Mitch Davis

This week I’m joined by Les Ottolenghi who is the EVP and CIO for Caesars Entertainment. In this episode, Les shares his perspective on how the CIO sits at the epicenter of strategy, execution and value creation within the enterprise.…… Read More The customer and digital sovereignty are central to transformation with Les Ottolenghi

This week I’m joined by Wendy Pfeiffer who is the Chief Information Officer at Nutanix and the UC Berkeley 2019 Fisher CIO of the Year. In this episode, Wendy shares her perspective on how IT and the role of the…… Read More Enabling the millennial and Gen Z workforce with Wendy Pfeiffer

This week I’m joined by Mark Tonnesen who is the Chief Information Officer at Freedom Financial Network. In this episode, Mark shares his perspective on what business leaders are looking for and why he approaches problems differently. He talks about…… Read More Using technology as a business game changer with Mark Tonnesen