IT Visionaries

Are data-driven decisions overrated? On this special roundtable episode, we challenge the conventional wisdom that more data always leads to better outcomes. Our guests, Kevin McEvilly, Andrew Fox, and Mike Della Porta, discuss the pitfalls of relying solely on analytics and the importance of human insight in crafting successful marketing strategies. Are you ready to rethink your approach?

Tune in to learn:

• Diversity is a significant challenge in the tech space.
• Agencies have always been technology-focused.
• The landscape of marketing is increasingly complicated.
• Investment in technology infrastructure is essential.
• Data governance is critical for effective decision-making.
• Human intuition plays a vital role alongside data.
• Organizations must adapt to rapid technological changes.
• Collaboration across departments enhances decision-making.
• The right questions lead to better insights and outcomes.

Mentions:

• Della Porta Consulting
• Unista
• Canvas Worldwide

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Imagine a world where your data flows like electricity—unseen, yet powering everything you do. A world where high availability, low latency, and disaster recovery are not just expectations but realities. Welcome to the future, powered by Zayo's network.

In a world that never stops, Zayo is the network underneath it all, helping the most innovative and forward-thinking companies grow. Because Zayo doesn't just connect places, they connect possibilities. Zayo connects what's next for you.

Discover the power of Zayo’s network today. Visit https://go.zayo.com/network/itvisionaries
 

Mission.org is a media studio producing content for world-class clients. Learn more at 

mission.org

On this episode, Andy Tay, Senior Managing Director, Cloud First Lead Accenture Cloud First, Accenture, discusses the critical role of digital transformation and AI readiness for businesses. He emphasizes the importance of establishing a strong digital core, which includes infrastructure, data strategies, and responsible AI practices, and he shares insights on the common pitfalls companies face when adopting AI and highlights successful case studies, particularly in the fast food industry.

Key Insights:

• AI readiness requires a strong digital core with seven foundational elements.
• Companies must embrace responsible AI to avoid ethical pitfalls.
• The success of AI initiatives often hinges on the people involved.
• Technical debt can increase with rapid AI adoption if not managed properly.
• Successful companies balance innovation with strategic investments.
• Understanding customer preferences is key to enhancing engagement.
• Digital transformation is a continuous journey, not a one-time effort.
• Collaboration with partners can accelerate digital initiatives.
• A strong infrastructure is essential for effective AI implementation.

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Imagine a world where your data flows like electricity—unseen, yet powering everything you do. A world where high availability, low latency, and disaster recovery are not just expectations but realities. Welcome to the future, powered by Zayo's network.

In a world that never stops, Zayo is the network underneath it all, helping the most innovative and forward-thinking companies grow. Because Zayo doesn't just connect places, they connect possibilities. Zayo connects what's next for you.

Discover the power of Zayo’s network today. Visit https://go.zayo.com/network/itvisionaries
 

Mission.org is a media studio producing content for world-class clients. Learn more at mission.org.

 On this episode, Janet Cinfio, Chief Information Officer of Acxiom, discusses the company's role in marketing intelligence and data management, the importance of balancing privacy with personalized marketing experiences, the need for responsible innovation in technology, and the significance of encouraging diversity in STEM careers.

Key Insights:

• Personalization in marketing is crucial for consumer engagement.
• Brands are closer to understanding consumer preferences without identification.
• How Acxiom employs machine learning for data preparation and real-time insights.
• Privacy by design is integral to Acxiom's solutions.
• Diversity in STEM is essential for innovation and growth.
• Investing in young people's interest in STEM is vital for the future.
• Collaboration between technology and business strategy is key.

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Imagine a world where your data flows like electricity—unseen, yet powering everything you do. A world where high availability, low latency, and disaster recovery are not just expectations but realities. Welcome to the future, powered by Zayo's network.

In a world that never stops, Zayo is the network underneath it all, helping the most innovative and forward-thinking companies grow. Because Zayo doesn't just connect places, they connect possibilities. Zayo connects what's next for you.

Discover the power of Zayo’s network today. Visit https://go.zayo.com/network/itvisionaries

Mission.org is a media studio producing content for world-class clients. Learn more at mission.org.

On this episode, Ahmad Bahai, CTO of Texas Instruments, discusses the importance of innovation in the semiconductor industry and the challenges of meeting the increasing demands for faster, more efficient technology. He highlights the need for disruptive innovation to keep up with the exponential growth of data and the widening gap between hardware capabilities and demand. Bahai emphasizes the role of problem-solving and risk management in the innovation process, as well as the importance of talent and multidisciplinary approaches. He also touches on the power of human intuition and the limitations of AI in replicating it.

Key Insights:

• Texas Instruments is a leading semiconductor company specializing in analog and embedded processing.
• Dr. Ahmad Bahai's role as CTO is to identify strategic and disruptive innovations for TI's product lines.
• TI addresses challenges in energy efficiency, connectivity, and intelligence in electronic systems.
• Engagement with customers and suppliers is crucial for understanding system requirements and driving innovation. The semiconductor industry is constantly pushing for innovation to meet the increasing demands for faster, more efficient technology.
• Disruptive innovation is necessary to bridge the widening gap between hardware capabilities and the exponential growth of data.
• Problem-solving and risk management are crucial in the innovation process, balancing the need for progress with calculated risks.
• Talent is essential in driving innovation, and a multidisciplinary approach can lead to new perspectives and breakthroughs.
• Human intuition plays a significant role in innovation and is difficult to replicate with AI.

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Imagine a world where your data flows like electricity—unseen, yet powering everything you do. A world where high availability, low latency, and disaster recovery are not just expectations but realities. Welcome to the future, powered by Zayo's network.
 

In a world that never stops, Zayo is the network underneath it all, helping the most innovative and forward-thinking companies grow. Because Zayo doesn't just connect places, they connect possibilities. Zayo connects what's next for you.

Discover the power of Zayo’s network today. Visit https://go.zayo.com/network/itvisionaries

Mission.org is a media studio producing content for world-class clients. Learn more at mission.org.

On this episode, Tony Lambert, CTO of TechSmith, discusses how TechSmith stays at the forefront of innovation by listening to customer needs, conducting research, and staying informed about industry trends. Plus, he explains why TechSmith has invested in content creation roles and how, in the future, video AI may be able to diagram manual skills, teach soft skills, and provide more advanced editing capabilities.

Tune in to learn:

• How the screen recording industry has evolved, with more tools entering the market and screen capture becoming more prevalent.
• How TechSmith stays at the forefront of innovation by listening to customer needs, conducting research, and staying informed about industry trends.
• Why TechSmith prioritizes the end-user experience while also considering the needs of enterprise customers and addressing security and privacy concerns.
• How the company culture at TechSmith fosters longevity and loyalty among its engineers, who appreciate the focus on work-life balance, support for experimentation, and the opportunity to make a meaningful impact. 
• How TechSmith uses its own products for documentation, project management, and HR training.
• Why the company has invested in content creation roles and leverages visual communication tools.
• Whether in the future, video AI may be able to diagram manual skills, teach soft skills, and provide more advanced editing capabilities

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Imagine a world where your data flows like electricity—unseen, yet powering everything you do. A world where high availability, low latency, and disaster recovery are not just expectations but realities. Welcome to the future, powered by Zayo's network.

In a world that never stops, Zayo is the network underneath it all, helping the most innovative and forward-thinking companies grow. Because Zayo doesn't just connect places, they connect possibilities. Zayo connects what's next for you.

Discover the power of Zayo’s network today. Visit https://go.zayo.com/network/itvisionaries

Mission.org is a media studio producing content for world-class clients. Learn more at mission.org.

On this episode, Leslie Beavers, the acting Chief Information Officer for the Department of Defense, discusses the role and responsibilities of the Department of Defense (DoD) in defending the nation. The DoD is responsible for coordinating all IT efforts within the department, as well as warfighting command control and communications. With a budget of $60 billion annually and over 4 million people across the globe, Ms. Beavers emphasizes the importance of interoperability and integration within the department, as well as the need for a streamlined acquisition process and organizational change strategy.

Tune in to learn:

• The Department of Defense’s responsibilities in for defending the nation and coordinating all IT efforts within the department.
• Why interoperability and integration are key challenges in aligning the various branches and agencies within the DoD.
• How the DoD aims to utilize commercial off-the-shelf solutions as much as possible, but modifications are often necessary to meet unique requirements.
• Why organizational change and education are crucial in driving technology strategy and ensuring alignment and cooperation across the department.

Imagine a world where your data flows like electricity—unseen, yet powering everything you do. A world where high availability, low latency, and disaster recovery are not just expectations but realities. Welcome to the future, powered by Zayo's network.

In a world that never stops, Zayo is the network underneath it all, helping the most innovative and forward-thinking companies grow. Because Zayo doesn't just connect places, they connect possibilities. Zayo connects what's next for you.

Discover the power of Zayo’s network today. Visit https://go.zayo.com/network/itvisionaries

Mission.org is a media studio producing content for world-class clients. Learn more at mission.org.

On this episode, Sastry Durvasula, the Chief Information and Client Services Officer at TIAA, discusses how TIAA uses technology, including AI, to improve the retirement experience for its customers. He also digs into the challenges of integrating new sources of data and the need for companies to reimagine their approach to technology and innovation.

Tune in to learn:

• How to use technology to improve retirement education
• What AI looks like in action
• Why TIAA is changing mindsets with RetireTech
• The importance of democratizing access to AI
• The Changing Role of Data Scientists
• How to build on integrated platforms
• How to navigate the challenges of legacy systems

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Imagine a world where your data flows like electricity—unseen, yet powering everything you do. A world where high availability, low latency, and disaster recovery are not just expectations but realities. Welcome to the future, powered by Zayo's network.

In a world that never stops, Zayo is the network underneath it all, helping the most innovative and forward-thinking companies grow. Because Zayo doesn't just connect places, they connect possibilities. Zayo connects what's next for you.

Discover the power of Zayo’s network today. Visit https://go.zayo.com/network/itvisionaries

Mission.org is a media studio producing content for world-class clients. Learn more at mission.org.

On this episode, Harpreet Suri, the CTO of K&L Gates, discusses the role of technology in the legal industry and how it is transforming the way law firms operate. She highlights the importance of ease of adoption and security when evaluating technology solutions for law firms, and she shares her insights on the future of the legal industry, including the use of AI in understanding slang, solving logical arguments, and sequencing screenshots, among other applications.

Tune in to learn:

• The Impact of Gen AI on the Legal Industry
• How to Go About Implementing and Validating New Technologies
• Challenges Around Acquiring Technical Talent for Law Firms
• Tips For Evaluating Technology Solutions for Law Firms
• The Future of Law and Technology
• Fun Predictions: What Tech is Less Than Five Years Away

Mentions:

• K&L Gates Careers

Babak Hodjat, CTO of AI at Cognizant, discusses the impact of advancements in AI and the factors that have enabled its rapid progress, including increased processing capacity, access to large amounts of data, and improved neural network architectures. Babak also highlights the importance of moving to the cloud and leveraging AI to make informed decisions.

Key Takeaways:

• Advancements in AI have been driven by increased processing capacity, access to large amounts of data, and improved neural network architectures.
• Moving to the cloud is essential for companies to leverage the power of AI and stay competitive.
• AI agents can help companies reduce tech debt and navigate complex data flows, enabling faster and more efficient AI adoption.
• Synthetic data plays a crucial role in building AI models and simulating real-world scenarios.
• AI-enabled decision-making has the potential to transform various industries and improve outcomes. 
• Enterprises are gradually moving toward agent-oriented architecture, enabling robust and scalable systems
• Agent-based AI systems can streamline workflows and simplify everyday tasks

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Imagine a world where your data flows like electricity—unseen, yet powering everything you do. A world where high availability, low latency, and disaster recovery are not just expectations but realities. Welcome to the future, powered by Zayo's network.

In a world that never stops, Zayo is the network underneath it all, helping the most innovative and forward-thinking companies grow. Because Zayo doesn't just connect places, they connect possibilities. Zayo connects what's next for you.

Discover the power of Zayo’s network today. Visit https://go.zayo.com/network/itvisionaries

Mission.org is a media studio producing content for world-class clients. Learn more at mission.org.

On this episode, Prince Kohli, the CTO of Automation Anywhere, discusses the evolution of robotic process automation (RPA) and its impact on industries. He shares real-world examples of how RPA and AI have transformed processes and improved efficiency in various sectors, and he delves into the implementation of RPA and AI, data governance, and the future of automation.

Key Takeaways:

• The evolution of RPA and AI has led to significant advancements in automation, impacting various industries and improving efficiency.
• Real-world examples demonstrate the transformative impact of RPA and AI in healthcare, government, and other sectors, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic.
• The implementation of RPA and AI requires careful consideration of data governance, AI model governance, and the reduction of hallucinations in AI models.
• The future of automation involves the seamless integration of RPA and AI to address complex business challenges and improve operational processes. AI and automation are transforming industries and enabling the creation of new tools and processes.
• Data quality is crucial for the success of AI and automation, and techniques like RAG (Retrieval Augmented Generation) are used to ensure veracity and reliability of data.
• Technological advancements have the potential to solve everyday problems such as traffic optimization, flight rerouting, and automated invoice processing.
• Investment and awareness are key drivers for the adoption and implementation of advanced technologies in various sectors.

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Imagine a world where your data flows like electricity—unseen, yet powering everything you do. A world where high availability, low latency, and disaster recovery are not just expectations but realities. Welcome to the future, powered by Zayo's network.

In a world that never stops, Zayo is the network underneath it all, helping the most innovative and forward-thinking companies grow. Because Zayo doesn't just connect places, they connect possibilities. Zayo connects what's next for you.

Discover the power of Zayo’s network today. Visit https://go.zayo.com/network/itvisionaries

Mission.org is a media studio producing content for world-class clients. Learn more at mission.org.