Technovation with Peter High (CIO, CTO, CDO, CXO Interviews)

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 Experience In 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