This episode features Dave Temkin, Vice President of Platform Infrastructure and Critical Facilities at Walmart. Dave shares insights from his remarkable career journey from building the world’s largest content delivery network at Netflix to leading the technology infrastructure that powers Walmart’s global operations. He discusses the complexity of managing large-scale networks, the strategic adoption of AI and multi-cloud environments, and how technology innovation can drive both operational efficiency and improved customer experience. Throughout the conversation, Dave emphasizes the importance of resilient infrastructure and thoughtful technology leadership in enabling business transformation.

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Guest Bio:

Dave manages Walmart’s networks, data centers, and the foundational platforms for its private cloud infrastructure as vice president of Platform Infrastructure and Critical Facilities. 

Previously, he was the SVP of Infrastructure and Cloud at Imperva, where he rebuilt an industry-leading cloud cybersecurity infrastructure that protects thousands of companies globally. Before that, he assembled and led the team that built the world's largest Content Delivery Network for Netflix, as well as its global studio technical infrastructure including systems and storage. 

He is a Founder and Board Member of Community IX FL-IX, the largest member-run Internet Exchange Platform in the Eastern U.S., and the NY Network Operator's Group (NYNOG). He previously served on the boards of NANOG and Children of Bellevue. 

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Guest Quote

“ When we think about the customer experience in many, many places, especially here in America, when there's something like a natural disaster, right? If there's a series of fires or hurricanes or tornadoes, one of the first places people turn to is Walmart. We need to make sure that our stores are available to serve the communities that they're in at all times. And so that whole network needs to be survivable, right? We need to be able to make sure that they've got connectivity at all times, and we've invested heavily in that as well.”

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Time stamps:

• *(00:00) Episode Start
• *(00:39) Dave's journey into technology
• *(03:55)  Technology's role in Walmart's operations
• *(06:14) Building Walmart's network infrastructure
• *(13:48) Using AI for network optimization
• *(17:53) Solving the complexity of a multi-cloud network
• *(20:17) Walmart’s approach to GenAI adoption
• *(23:10) Driving innovation at scale
• *(26:11) Advice for tech leaders
• *(34:04) Finding the right tech balance

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Links:

• Connect with Dave on LinkedIn
• Learn more about Walmart Global Tech
• Connect with Raj on LinkedIn
• Visit Tata Communications’ website
• Follow Tata Communications on LinkedIn

This episode features Ranjit Bawa, US Chief Strategy and Technology Officer at Deloitte. Ranjit explores how Deloitte integrates strategy and advanced technology to address client challenges effectively. He explores the transformative impact of AI, the accelerating pace of technological innovation, and the pivotal role of connectivity in modern business. He offers valuable insights on managing technology investments while maintaining operational efficiency and provides guidance on leading through change to drive substantial digital transformation. 

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Guest Bio

Ranjit is Deloitte’s US chief strategy and technology officer. He is responsible for corporate and technology strategy, innovation, and emerging growth businesses, as well as oversight of Deloitte ecosystems and alliances. Ranjit is an adviser to the CEO and serves on the Executive Leadership team. He sponsors several Deloitte CXO programs and actively serves a number of clients in the financial services and high-tech space. In his prior role, Ranjit led the Cloud business for Deloitte.

Ranjit’s perspective has been sharpened over the course of nearly two decades spent designing strategy and technology solutions for some of the world’s most technology-centered enterprises, including serving leading global financial institutions where technology is the foundation of the service delivery model.

Ranjit’s educational background—including degrees in electrical engineering and finance—gives him a well-rounded understanding of the interrelated dynamics of technology and economics. His early career in aircraft engineering operations steeped him in an environment where every decision has an impact on a complex, mission-critical system. Today, he applies that perspective to help organizations reimagine themselves at every step along their strategy and technology journey.

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Guest Quote

“There's no strategy today without technology. So us bringing those two together was an integral part of how we show up in front of our clients and how we think about our own strategy.”

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Time stamps

• *(00:00) Episode Start
• *(00:29) Ranjit's career journey
• *(02:02) Connectivity's role at Deloitte
• *(07:05) Current technology trends in the consulting industry
• *(11:19) Balancing client and internal business needs
• *(19:48) Deloitte's digital transformation journey
• *(24:57) Making smart investment decisions
• *(28:43) Data and infrastructure challenges in professional services
• *(33:50) Aligning IT infrastructure modernization with business strategy
• *(43:05) Advice for technology leaders

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Links

• Connect with Ranjit on LinkedIn
• Visit Deloitte’s website
• Connect with Raj on LinkedIn
• Connect with Ian on LinkedIn
• Visit Tata Communications’ website
• Follow Tata Communications on LinkedIn

This episode features Kimberly Anstett, CIO at Trellix. Kimberly shares insights from her experience with digital transformation, focusing on the critical alignment of CIO and CISO roles to create a unified IT and IS strategy. She discusses how prioritizing employee experience and leveraging IT can enhance collaboration and boost productivity. Throughout the conversation, Kimberly highlights the significance of a cohesive strategy and effective teamwork in driving impactful digital transformation.

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Guest Bio:

Kim leads the Enterprise Technology and Operations organization at Trellix. Under her leadership, Kim’s teams develop and execute a technology strategy that drives efficiency, flexibility, and transformation across the business to advance Trellix's vision. With more than 25 years of industry experience, Kim brings her extensive background guiding teams to drive innovation. Prior to Trellix, she was Executive Vice President and Chief Technology Officer at Iron Mountain, leading teams across product development and innovation, and CIO at Nielsen, focused on customer value and increased cybersecurity outcomes. She holds a B.S. from Tufts University and currently serves on the Board of Directors for Quotient Technology.

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Guest Quote

“I'm a big fan and a passionate advocate for really looking at platforms and architecture. It's not just how cool a screen looks or what the latest app is on the phone. It's what's the underlying architecture and where are there open architectures where I know I'll be able to integrate and bring in data and the processes across those platforms. Because the best position I can be in for the organization is to know that I have the flexibility to change out parts and pieces as the business changes.”

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Time stamps:

*(00:00) Episode Start

*(00:45) Kimberly's career journey

*(02:31) CIO vs. CISO: Why they should work together

*(12:32) How to build an impactful digital foundation

*(26:14) Employee experience and technology integration

*(35:08) Learnings from leading digital transformation

*(39:15) Future of GenAI in cybersecurity

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Links:

• Connect with Kimberly on LinkedIn
• Visit Trellix’s website
• Connect with Raj on LinkedIn
• Connect with Ian on LinkedIn
• Visit Tata Communications’ website
• Follow Tata Communications on LinkedIn

This episode features Chetan Kandhari, Chief Innovation and Digital Officer at Nationwide. They cover Nationwide's customer-driven innovation, the impact of GenAI, and the importance of modernized digital infrastructure. Throughout, Chetan emphasizes integrating technology with business goals to deliver real-time digital experiences. In his final thoughts, Chetan shares how Nationwide is leveraging digital innovation to not only drive future growth but also enhance protection and care for businesses and individuals.

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Guest Bio:

As Chief Innovation and Digital Officer, Chetan is accountable for leading the company’s digital vision and maturing our enterprise digital capabilities and expertise while creating new customer-centric products and services for members and partners.

Chetan is a visionary leader who has repeatedly developed high performing teams to work towards a common vision and purpose. During his 18-year career at Nationwide, Chetan successfully delivered several of the industry’s largest transformations, with more than $1B in investment towards creating single core platforms for Policy, Claims, Customer and Data.

In his tenure as the leader of digital and innovation, Chetan and his teams have advanced Nationwide’s strategy through digitization of customer journeys and the development of a robust innovation portfolio. Leading with a people-first philosophy, Chetan has fostered a culture of experimentation and collaboration, guided by a strong commitment to customer-centricity and focus on technology based innovation. His ability to anticipate and embrace change has accelerated innovation efforts and amplified key business outcomes for Nationwide.

Chetan holds a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from The Ohio State University, a Master of Science in Information Systems from Miami University, and a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science from Muskingum University.

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Guest Quote

“Digital is when your consumers of your solutions, be it associates, be it intermediaries, be it your end customers, can get their solutions in real-time, on demand, in the moment. So pause for a second. Why did I say that as a definition? What is the purpose of having something on your mobile app versus not? Because you can do something in the moment.”

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Time stamps:

*(00:00) Episode Start

*(01:18) Chetan's career journey

*(10:32) How Nationwide drives innovation

*(16:02) Empowering enterprises with digital fabric

*(19:35) Delivering value through cutting-edge innovation

*(22:48) Challenges and opportunities of GenAI

*(33:28) Crafting a winning digital customer engagement strategy

*(39:18) Boosting employee engagement for better results

*(43:55) Future innovations at Nationwide

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Links:

• Connect with Cisco on LinkedIn
• Visit Nationwide’s website
• Connect with Raj on LinkedIn
• Connect with Ian on LinkedIn
• Visit Tata Communications’ website
• Follow Tata Communications on LinkedIn

This episode features a deep dive with Cisco Sanchez, CIO at Qualcomm. Cisco shares his remarkable career trajectory, leading Qualcomm, and unveils the strategic vision driving them towards a hyperconnected ecosystem. He shares his unique approach to balancing service provision and fostering strategic partnerships within IT, setting the stage for innovation and growth. They also explore the transformative potential of generative AI and machine learning, Qualcomm's approach to multi-cloud environments, and the pivotal role of technology in enhancing employee and customer experiences. Throughout, Cisco emphasizes the importance of seamless connectivity and the exciting possibilities ahead in leveraging AI to solve practical problems and to future-proof your workflows.

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Guest Bio:

Cisco Sanchez is the CIO at Qualcomm. In this role, he oversees a wide array of functions, including data security, network infrastructure, and support services, ensuring the seamless operation of critical systems across the company. Before joining Qualcomm, Cisco spent twenty-five years with FedEx, holding various IT leadership positions and playing a pivotal role in driving innovation and efficiency. Recognized for his adeptness in turning challenges into opportunities, Cisco champions adaptability and creativity in leveraging emerging technologies, particularly AI, to drive business growth. 

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Guest Quote:

“ If you've been into the business longer than three years, you have a legacy somewhere. Qualcomm has been around for about 38 years and, of course there's legacy, and it's been there for a long time. So it's almost like a taking root and so you almost have to like dig it out and try to get it out of there. And some of it's super hard because it wants to grow back or you don't see the business case. I think a lot of the things that we're transforming and doing is saying, ‘How do we ensure that we don't just forget about the legacy, we bring it forward with us and figure out how to migrate it into the next stuff we're doing?” But you got to find those synergies and values so as we're building this, how do you remove this? And when you're building this, how do you remove this? And so it's not like, “well, it’s someone else's problem.” No, no. In the IT world, it's your problem. It's because you inherited it or you created it, or you have to remediate it. So it's kind of a fun journey. But I think that the balance is how do you take what you're doing for the future and ensure that you're pulling out some of the legacy that you have done in the past, so it's better future-proof.”

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Timestamps:

*(00:00) Episode Start

*(01:28) Cisco's career journey

*(05:35) Role of connectivity at Qualcomm

*(08:15) Strategic vision for a hyperconnected enterprise environment

*(10:35) How to balance strategy and innovation

*(16:00) Creating a digital fabric for agility and scalability

*(20:00) Building a strong digital foundation for emerging technologies

*(26:47) Identifying priority projects for rapid implementation

*(32:36) Qualcomm's multi-cloud strategy approach

*(34:03) Network infrastructure impact on multi-cloud 

*(37:43) Advice on multi-cloud optimization

*(44:55) Looking ahead at Qualcomm's digital ecosystem strategy

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Links:

• Connect with Cisco on LinkedIn
• Visit Qualcomm's website
• Connect with Raj on LinkedIn
• Connect with Ian on LinkedIn
• Visit Tata Communications’ website
• Follow Tata Communications on LinkedIn

In a world where connectivity defines success, where the digital landscape shapes the very fabric of enterprises... 

Welcome to a realm where digitally mature enterprises thrive, navigating hyperconnected, interoperable ecosystems. 

Where CIOs are the architects of tomorrow, orchestrating the perfect blend of technology, processes, and skills. 

Join us on an exploration, where the pillars of digital transformation shape the future: Connected Customers, Connected Workforce, and Connected Infrastructure. 

Discover how technology leaders are future-proofing their digital landscapes, driving enhanced customer experiences, and ensuring seamless collaboration. 

Embark on this journey with us, brought to you by Tata Communications. Prepare to delve into the minds of tech innovators shaping tomorrow's digital universe. 

Are you ready to future-proof your digital infrastructure and revolutionize customer experiences? 

Hyperconnected Journeys: Total Experience with Connected Infrastructure --  presented by Tata Communications, connecting today for a better tomorrow.