CannonDesign’s Dorinda Shabazz, SVP, Director of Information Technology, blends technical rigor with human-centered change.

She traces a path from early programming to enterprise leadership, then shares what’s working now: moving fully out of the data center; using SharePoint for documents and Autodesk Construction Cloud for production; and rolling out an internal AI chat (for proposals, org knowledge—even PTO checks) with governance over any new AI tools.

We discuss CannonDesign’s Digital Products group that builds targeted internal tools when commercial options don’t fit, and a firm culture that pairs operational efficiency with equity and outcomes for clients. Dorinda’s practical advice lands on continuous improvement, clear governance, and storytelling as a change lever.

If you’re deciding when to build vs. buy, how to deploy Copilot alongside internal AI, or how to guide teams through constant change, this is a concise, actionable playbook.

In this episode:

• Cloud migration lessons (and what it unlocks)
• Internal AI tools vs. public AI—where the line is
• Digital Products building internal tools that fit real workflows
• How to start with inefficiencies, not shiny tech
• The underrated skill: storytelling as change leadership

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