CIONET

What is Stefanini’s Innovation ecosystem and how does it relate to company’s success? How do you combine true entrepreneurship with servant leadership? What is the secret ingredient of talent retention at Stefanini?

In this #LeadershipDeepDive episode Marco Stefanini, the CEO and founder of Stefanini Group, talks with Hendrik Deckers about growing as a leader and contributing to a better, more inclusive world. Marco explains the importance of diversifying the business and value of partnerships.

As a leader, Marco is a pure example of servant leadership and hard work. In thirty years, along with his family, he built from scratch a company that’s offering a hybrid model of services combining the traditional IT with the latest digital solutions in over forty countries.

Table of contents:

01:04 | Introduction and Marco Stefanini’s background

01:46 | About Stefanini

04:43 | Cyber Smart Defence: digital company specializing in penetration tests

05:48 | Innovation ecosystem

08:21 | The story of growth

10:45 | The biggest challenge & opportunity

11:56 | Stefanini Institute

14:34 | Global or Brazilian?

18:02 | Talent retention: the secret ingredient

19:43 | Hard work culture

22:42 | Self-funded, more than a billion USD worth company

24:28 | Marco’s role as CEO

26:21 | Selecting the best people

29:09 | The early beginnings

34:33 | Marco’s hobbies & passions

39:15 | Family background

42:20 | The worst & best thing that has ever happened to Marco

48:49 | Marco’s personal mantra

49:54 | Marco’s core values

51:26 | Marco’s mentors

54:10 | Quote of the week

56:32 | Growing as a leader

01:02:08 | Advice for people starting out

What is PSP and why is it critical for Nik and FedEx? What is the real value of servant leadership? Is FedEx's federation model more centralized or decentralized and how does it affect the organisation’s operating model?

In this #LeadershipDeepDive episode Nik Puri, Senior VP IT of FedEx Express, talks with Hendrik Deckers about the organisation’s transformation journey, the need to simplify processes and the unique people culture that is the “secret sauce”. Nik explains the phases of digital transformation after acquiring TNT:

✅ Stabilizing the environment of the two separate entities

✅ Integration

✅ Leapfrog phase: shifting from modernizing and securing the infrastructure to unleashing the real market value

Nik is a true leader, conscious of the importance of culture and people in any transformation. Just like culture, data “is the fuel for our future value”, Nik says and adds that “complexity is the enemy of speed”. Make sure you watch the whole interview and absorb all the knowledge and experience that Nik is sharing with us.

Every year CIONET nominates top CxOs as finalists of the European Digital Leader of the Year. Nik represents Netherlands in the B2B category. Join us on the special edition of #CIONEXT on November 10 at 14:30 CET where we will feature all the finalists of the B2B & B2C categories and announce winners.

01:08 | Introduction and Nik Puri’s background

03:10 | About FedEx

04:26 | Transformation journey and acquisition of TNT

07:56 | “The enemy of speed is complexity”

09:34 | Becoming manager in FedEx and driving change

13:19 | FedEx DNA

15:06 | COVID impact on FedEx

19:38 | Reinventing business model due to COVID

21:39 | Platform and ecosystem company

23:05 | Operating model

28:50 | Data-driven company

32:49 | Platform used for data-driven decision making

36:56 | Nik’s role in FedEx

38:52 | Nik’s management & leadership style

44:14 | MBTI: the Defender

47:05 | The importance of 3F

49:32 | Nik’s core values

52:30 | Global citizen and global mindset

57:49 | Failures, mistakes & lessons learnt

01:00:43 | Nik’s mentors

01:02:45 | Advice for people starting out

How is SEAT:CODE different to Seat & Cupra? Can a car industry organization become a profitable digital business? Why is it so important to keep the control of a digital product in-house? What is Fast Lane and how does it respond to changing customer needs?

In this #LeadershipDeepDive episode Sebastian Grams, CEO of Audi Sport (former CIO of Seat & Cupra) talks with Hendrik Deckers about the transformation journey he took first in Audi, changing from “classical” IT to agile, and then in Seat where he set up SEAT:CODE, “a new organization from an IT perspective, which is caring about projects end to end.” All this was possible thanks to Sebastian’s management style:

✅ Trusting the team

✅ Close collaboration with HR department

✅ Being brave and failing

✅ Continuous learning

Every year CIONET nominates top CxOs as finalists of the European Digital Leader of the Year. Sebastian represents Germany in the B2C category.

Table of contents:

01:03 | Introduction and Sebastian Grams’ background

03:23 | About Seat & Cupra

07:39 | Transformation journey

13:14 | Setting up SEAT:CODE

20:13 | Moving SEAT:CODE to Barcelona

22:47 | Mobility as a service

26:28 | Exciting and dynamic car industry

27:41 | Fast Lane

31:20 | Data-driven company

33:07 | Implementation of AI

34:46 | One team, multiple locations

37:44 | Sebastian’s management style

40:22 | Changing role of CIO

43:17 | Sebastian’s leadership style

44:14 | MBTI: the Protagonist

49:08 | What makes Sebastian happy

50:47 | Sebastian’s mentors

52:15 | Sebastian’s core values

55:03 | Failures & mistakes

57:56 | Advice for people starting out

How to create the right environment in your organization? Did Software AG prove more agile or fragile during the pandemic?

In this #LeadershipDeepDive episode Sanjay Brahmawar, CEO of Software AG, talks with Hendrik Deckers about becoming more agile and the new age CIO, who should support growth through technology and create competitive advantage. Sanjay elaborates on the importance of creating the right environment in an organization, in particular:

✅ Diversity

✅ Innovation

✅ Inclusion

✅ Bringing different perspectives to the table

Sanjay also reflects on the long-term Covid impact and how it changed the way we work: “The way forward will be a balance and a mix of what we have learned versus going back to some things we appreciated in the past, human interaction, having a coffee together.”

Table of contents:

01:08 | Introduction and Sanjay Brahmawar’s background

02:18 | Becoming more agile

03:55 | The role of CIO

05:55 | Best practices

07:19 | The role of Software AG products

09:15 | IoT

11:10 | Helix

17:15 | Sanjay’s team

18:26 | Sanjay’s leadership style

20:02 | How is Sanjay perceived

21:26 | Digital leaders with Indian roots in top positions

22:58 | Diversity is essential for innovation

25:21 | The Covid impact

27:41 | Did Software AG prove more agile or fragile during the pandemic?

28:36 | Sanjay’s core values

30:39 | Sanjay’s most brilliant failure

33:11 | Best practices for CIOs

35:36 | Advice for future CEOs of technology companies

In this #LeadershipDeepDive episode Tarun Kohli, Managing Director & Head of New Propositions of Swiss Re, talks with Hendrik Deckers about the problems with managing the data, challenges of digital transformation in the insurance industry and the Reconnection Program, which solved a huge industry challenge in 3 months. “The collective output of the team is far better than the single output of any team member”, says Tarun and talks about his unique management style:

✅ Empowering the team

✅ Being authentic, trustful and inspirational

✅ Servant leadership

Table of contents:

00:01:06 | Introduction and Tarun Kohli’s background

00:06:25 | About Prudential

00:09:12 |The Reconnections Program

00:14:09 | Swiss RE, business strategy for the digital world

00:16:08 | The best operating model for IT

00:19:48 | Data analytics

00:23:20 | Tarun’s management style

00:31:53 | What makes Tarun happy?

00:39:35 | The power of contentment

00:41:19 l Happiness in the private space

00:43:35 | Tarun’s core values

00:47:31 | Tarun’s personality

00:51:53 | Personal mantra

00:52:48 | Mentors

00:56:08 | The worst and the best thing that happened to Tarun

01:00:21 | What does Tarun love and fear the most in personal life

01:01:42 | Indian roots

01:04:38 | Advice to the young digital leaders

01:06:52 | The reason of Tarun’s active role within the CIONET community

In this #LeadershipDeepDive episode Kristin Lindmark, CIO of SPP, the leading insurance company in the Nordics, talks with Hendrik Deckers about the Future Core, a core renewal program whose implementation might be compared to a heart transplant. Kristin talks about the transformation that has been implemented at SPP since 2016:

✅ migrating 90% of the data into the new platform

✅ cost savings of about 5 million euros on yearly basis

✅ New functionalities compliant with the regulator’s requirements

“We seldom say “no” to new things”, says Kristin and explains how the adequate mentality helped to transition from classical waterfall to SAFe. She also mentions new product that SPP enrolled in 2019 – the fully digital Pension Plan, which became the Digital Product of the Year.

Every year CIONET nominates top CxOs as finalists of the European Digital Leader of the Year. Kristin represents Sweden in the Finance category. Join us on the special edition of #CIONEXT on September 15 at 14:30 CET where we will feature all the finalists of the Public sector & Non-profit and Finance categories and announce winners.

Table of contents

00:59 | Introduction and Kristin Lindmark’s background

• Master in Science and Engineering

• Accenture as a great starting point of a career

• 20 years of experience in technology focused on the financial sector

• 7 years at the position of CIO at SPP

02:50 | About SPP

• “Our mission is to deliver tailored occupational pension solutions”

• “Sustainability is part of our DNA”

03:34 | Transformation challenges & solutions

• Fragmented technological platform

• Difficulties with competing at the market

• Solution: core renewal program “The Future Core”

• Catalyst for change for the entire organization

• The whole process can be compared to heart transplantation

06:39 | Current status of the transformation

• 90% migrated to the new platform

• Cost savings of about 5 million euros on yearly basis

07:10 | New platform

• New functionalities compliant with the regulator’s requirements

• Fully digital pension plan – new product rolled out in 2019 that won the award of the Digital Product of the Year

11:13 | Forming part of the insurance ecosystem

13:09 | How is IT organized

• Two main domains: Core & Digital

• Two main roles: developers & business analysts

• Additionally, UX & Services Design

• Agile Center

16:03 | From waterfall to SAFe

• Transition possible thank to the open mind of SPP

• “We seldom say no to new things”

19:36 | How transparency makes teams happy

20:27 | It’s all about data

22:11 |New role of CIO

24:07 | Looking into the future

25:53 | Kristin’s management style

• “We have much more self-confidence in the organization and that positive spiral gives a lot of energy and that also of course, attracts new people and attracts that people want to stay and be part of building the story”

28:28 | The importance of sustainability

• “The most sustainable insurance company in the world”

30:53 | Gender equality and its impact on business

33:11 | Kristin’s leadership style

34:30 | MBTI: the Executive

37:50 | Ways to relax & be happy

• Family & animals

• Seeing results & solving problems is what drives Kristin

40:09 | Kristin’s core values

• Working hard brings results

• It’s important to look for opportunities and grab them

41:19 | Kristin’s mentors

• Julie Sweet

45:05 | Advice for people starting out

• “Grab the opportunities as they come along”

• “Be open to the opportunities and be patient”

In this #LeadershipDeepDive episode Elena Liria, CEO of Digital Madrid, talks to Hendrik Deckers about crisis management, the innovation that happens now, and the importance of being open to change. Elena talks about building field hospitals, creating infrastructure for them, and the role of the IT department in the public sector. We can find out about Plan Continua & Impulsa and the Digital Innovation Center.

✅ Crisis Management in the public sector

✅ Digital Innovation

✅ Importance of cybersecurity

Elena combines her experience as a business consultant and computer engineer to create a public sector institution that can handle crisis like the Covid outbreak in March 2020. She believes that a great CEO should be an innovator who is not afraid of change.

Every year, CIONET nominates the best CxOs as finalists for the European Digital Leader of the Year. Elena represents Spain in the category Public Sector. Join us for the special edition of #CIONEXT on 15 September at 14:30 CET when we will present all the finalists in the Public Sector & Non-Profit and Finance categories and announce the winners.

Table of contents

01:01 | Introduction and Elena Liria’s background

02:43 | About Madrid

03:24 | Madrid Digital support

05:20 | Covid crisis and what was the role of IT in Madrid

07:22 | Building new hospital in 100 days

08:35 | Creating vaccination and testing center

08:55 | Crisis management

10:00 | Transition to remote work

10:58 | Cybersecurity

11:10 | Plan Continua & Impulsa

12:03 | Next-generation European fund

13:08 | Launch of Digital Innovation Centre

14:30 | Election 2021

15:20 | Organisation of Madrid Digital

16:35 | Priorities

17:20 | Data-driven government

19:22 | Leadership style and core driving factor

21:10 | Elena’s MBTI: The Protagonist - advantages and disadvantages

23:40 | Values

24:20 | Mentors

23:40 | Personal mantra

24:20 | Advice for young professionals

#LeadershipDeepDive #LDD #DigitalLeaders #DigitalTransformation #MadridDigital #PublicSector #CIONET #DigitalLeadership #CEO #CXO

What is a digital twin and how does it help A2A to optimize the maintenance and increase efficiency? How digital relates to sustainability? Why women are better managers than men in the Digital Transformation journey?

In this #LeadershipDeepDive episode Marco Moretti, CIO of A2A, talks with Hendrik Deckers about the future of A2A and the impact technology can have on sustainability. Marco explains what is A2A SmartCity and how the big data digital ecosystem was created to cater for 35 different smart services identified by users. Marco also outlines a 10 years Digital Transformation Plan for A2A:

✅ Digital twin

✅ Process effeciency

✅ Stakeholder management

✅ Digital savvy team

Marco is a visionary who believes that a great CIO should not only be the real coordinator of #DigitalTransformation and innovator who is not afraid of mistakes and changes, but also the person who influences and enables cooperation between different business units.

Every year CIONET nominates top CxOs as finalists of the European Digital Leader of the Year. Marco represents Italy in the Public Sector category.

Table of contents

01:26 | Introduction and Marco Moretti’s background

03:23 | About A2A

04:57 | Drivers for change

08:07 | Sustainability and the digital

10:40 | Digital twin

12:09 | Process efficiency

13:24 | Ultimate goal: cloud platform strategy

16:44 | Stakeholder management

17:59 | Becoming more digital

20:18 | A2A SmartCity

27:20 | Startup as key to innovate

29:27 | Sensors in agriculture

31:47 | Joint venture for smart data centers

34:16 | Operating model of Marco’s team

36:26 | Tri-modal organization

39:20 | New role of CIO

42:42 | Marco’s management & leadership style

48:22 | MBTI: the Executive

52:01 | The importance of coaching

53:41 | Ways to relax

56:52 | Marco’s core values

59:15 | Personal mantra

01:00:43 | Marco’s mentors

01:02:33 | The most brilliant failure

01:04:49 | The worst & the best thing that has ever happened to Marco

01:07:49 | Advice for fellow CxOs who struggle in their digital transformation journey

01:09:24 | Advice for people starting out

Can a highly regulated public institution deliver an MVP in 24 hours? Is it possible to prevent humanitarian crisis by managing data?

In this #LeadershipDeepDive episode Sven Egyedy, CIO & CTO of Federal Foreign Office of Germany talks with Hendrik Deckers about his efforts to bring home over 200,000 German citizens home when the first wave of Coronavirus hit the entire world.

Sven’s team implemented the „Rueckholprogramm“:

✅ a stable worldwide working system implemented within 24 hours

✅ 2 h sprints allowed for the system to be tested and fully operational

✅ risk mitigation by providing an integrated dev-ops team

✅ full agile framework in the highly regulated public sector

✅ strict security approach based on an individual risk-assessment

“My role is to provide an environment where as a team we can work in a really good way”, says Sven and stresses the importance of empowering people and giving them a clear goal.

Every year CIONET nominates top CxOs as finalists of the European Digital Leader of the Year. Sven represents Germany in the Public Sector category.

Table of contents:

01:06 | Introduction and Sven Egyedy’s background

03:49 | About Federal Foreign Office of Germany

06:24 | COVID Repatriation Program

14:14 | Lessons learnt

20:24 | Managing and preventing humanitarian crisis

27:00 | Digital & IT internal organization

28:22 | Rotation system

29:23 | Sven’s role

31:34 | Sven’s management & leadership style

35:48 | Attracting talents

37:16 | What drives Sven?

38:48 | MBTI: the Entrepreneur

43:06 | Sven’s core values

44:27 | Sven’s mentors

46:38 | Personal mantra

46:56 | The best & worst thing in life

52:32 | Advice for people starting out

How to complete #DigitalTransformation in five months? How to convert one of the world’s oldest banking institutions into a new innovative and digital native bank?

In this #LeadershipDeepDive episode Tomasz Motyl, co-founder and CIO of Aion Bank, talks with Hendrik Deckers about doing the impossible. In just over five months the team of Aion Bank successfully completed a deep transformation project which brought to life a bold vision of creating an all-inclusive banking. Aion Bank offers its clients a completely new business model based on subscriptions. But this is only one of the things that makes this bank special. Others include:

✅ Simplifying the processes and the operation model

✅ Connection to Open Banking which gives the customer complete transparency of the market

✅ Offering better services at lower price: for fixed monthly subscription fee the customers receive the full scope of services ranging from daily banking products, competitive rates for loans, smart tools to save on household bills, deposits and loans

✅ Fully digital bank powered by Vodeno Cloud Platform

Aion Bank has become a role model for the entire IT ecosystem. Tomasz modestly says: “We are following the nowadays standards for the new IT companies”, but truth to be told, Aion Bank is setting new standards and redefining the industry.

Table of contents:

01:25 | Introduction and Tomasz Motyl’s background

03:34 | About Aion Bank

06:24 | What makes Aion Bankdifferent

10:42 | David & Goliath and startup attitude

13:48 | Attracting talents

15:40 | IT operating model

16:45 | Cloud strategy

17:11 | Data as the core of the business

18:30 | Changing role of CIO

21:24 | New attitude to sourcing teams

22:51 | Process of continuous learning

24:05 | Tomasz’s leadership style

24:58 | What drives Tomasz?

26:01 | MBTI: The Entertainer

29:40 | Tomasz’s mentors

30:36 | Personal mantra

31:02 | Tomasz’s core values & the best things in life

34:56 | Tomasz’s fears & the most brilliant failure

37:18 | Advantages of the community

38:50 | Advice for people starting out