Welcome back to our special series of interviews called Tech Leaders Untold!

In this episode:

• The role of the CIO and CTO has transformed from keeping systems running to shaping the future of entire organizations
• Host Fanny Dunagan sits down with three seasoned leaders to unpack the evolution of the Tech C-Suite:

Gertrude Van Horn – SVP & CIO at Cien.ai, Former CIO at NCH Corporation

Kris Fitzgerald – COO at Unknot.id, Former CTO at NTT DATA Services

Paul Bendel – Executive Director of Tech Titans, the leading technology association in North Texas

Together, they explore how today’s tech leaders must master more than technology. They must be orchestrators, communicators, and visionaries guiding CEOs and boards through rapid change.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

• Why CIOs and CTOs are now strategic drivers, not back-office operators
• How AI is reshaping leadership, strategy, and culture
• The new balance between risk, innovation, and business outcomes
• Why soft skills like vulnerability, curiosity, and communication matter more than ever
• How Tech Titans organization is fueling North Texas innovation, forging powerful connections, and inspiring the next generation of STEM leaders

The conversation blends decades of C-suite experience with future-focused insights on AI, orchestration, and leadership. If you want to understand what it really takes to thrive in the evolving tech ecosystem, this episode is a must-watch.

Whether you’re a CIO, CTO, aspiring leader, or part of the North Texas technology community, you’ll walk away with practical lessons and a renewed perspective on the human side of tech leadership.

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Connect with Fanny Dunagan on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/fannydunagan/

Connect with Gertrude Van Horn on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/gertrudevanhorn/

Connect with Kris Fitzgerald on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/kris-fitzgerald-baa72/

Connect with Paul Bendel on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/paul-bendel-7938119/

Want to build your authority and brand as a tech leader? Subscribe to our newsletter for updates, a free branding guide and 1-hour training for tech professionals: https://techlegacies.ck.page/newsletter

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📖 Episode Chapters:

00:00 – Augmenting, Not Annihilating Your Intelligence

00:50 – Welcome to Tech Leaders Untold Podcast x Tech Titans

02:16 – Meet the Tech C-Suite Leaders

04:39 – The CIO Role 20 Years Ago

06:02 – From Back Office to Boardroom

07:24 – Data Centers to the Cloud

09:05 – Build or Buy? Lessons from the Past

10:31 – Why 80% of AI Projects Fail

12:09 – The Modern CIO: The Art of Orchestration

14:03 – From Smartest in the Room to Chief Orchestrator

16:12 – Culture Is the Real Strategy

17:46 – Leading Change in the AI Era

19:05 – Curiosity and Vulnerability in Leadership

23:36 – Teaching, Mentorship & Lifelong Learning

25:13 – Skills Every Tech Leader Needs by 2030

26:07 – Facing Self-Doubt in the C-Suite

28:25 – Overcoming Self-Doubt Through Collaboration

29:39 – Inside Tech Titans: North Texas’ Tech Powerhouse

30:37 – The Four Pillars of Tech Titans

34:39 – Why In-Person Networking Still Matters

38:07 – How to Learn AI in 30 Minutes a Day

40:23 – AI Hype vs. Reality: What’s Working Now

43:28 – Quantum Computing: The Next Big Leap

45:21 – Building Human Connection in a Digital World

49:09 – How Gen Z Views AI and Networking

51:47 – Why Networking Still Builds Careers

53:31 – Rapid-Fire Leadership Lessons

55:32 – Final Advice for Future CIOs & CTOs

57:07 – Closing Thoughts & Tech CXO Launchpad