Luminaries - Talking to the Brightest Minds in Tech

In this episode, actress-turned-entrepreneur Nikki Reed talks about the innovative way her business, BaYou with Love, is using technology to promote sustainability and leave a legacy of good.

Most cities were built for a reality that no longer exists. The streets were laid out for horse-drawn carriages. Crosswalks and intersections were designed for 1980s population levels. To make cities more livable, city planners need better insight into how people actually use the city, how they move through it and live in it. In this episode, Dr. Richard Kelley explains how artificial intelligence, machine learning and the internet of things work together to create “smart cities” – cities that reflect the needs of citizens now and in the future.

Genome sequencing is medicine that moves at the speed of technology. The faster that computers can process genetic data, the faster scientists can develop gene therapy for diseases like cancer, Alzheimer’s, and more. James Lowey, CIO at TGen, discusses how his team creates the supercomputers that are driving amazing advances in medicine.

Augmented Reality (AR) is about to change the way people work. By overlaying digital visualizations onto the real world, AR takes data out of the server stack and puts it exactly where you need it. In this episode, learn how AR works, how it’s currently being deployed, and what comes next. Roy Ashok, CEO of AR company DAQRI, shares his practical experience with the technology for applications ranging from the U.S. Navy to automotive assembly lines.

The results are in: Investment in IT transformation can have a dramatic impact on every aspect of your organization. But it’s not enough to pour money into the latest tech. IT transformation requires a shift in cultural mindset. This episode, learn how to develop a strategic approach to IT transformation that can catapult your organization ahead of the competition. Adam Demattia and John McKnight, of the Enterprise Strategy Group, share what they’ve learned from a worldwide survey of 4,000 businesses.

Imagine managing IT for the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) with its 29 nation members, each with their own culture, language, and technological protocols. Quite a task! Luminaries hosts, Mark Schaefer and Doug Karr, met up with Dr. Gregory Edwards, Director of Infrastructure Services in the NATO Communications and Information Agency, to find out how this Dell Technologies customer builds trust and consensus in this highly diverse organization.

What does it take to create a culture of innovation? According to Assaf Natanzon, innovation is a team sport. He should know; he holds over 200 patents with hundreds more pending. For Assaf, encouraging innovation is all about learning new things, taking in other points of view, and applying solutions from one field to another. It doesn't happen in a single, coincidental lightning flash; it's a process that can be deliberately encouraged and nurtured.

Finding new uses for existing technologies can be a powerful force for innovation. For example, the same technology that saves stranded astronauts can help firefighters navigate smoke-filled buildings.

But it takes more than a big intellectual property catalog to make new products out of old tech: It takes a corporate culture that embraces diversity and encourages collaboration. Draper Laboratory CIO Mike Crones explains how he fosters a culture that drives innovation.

You need to think fast in the sport of racing. That includes development. McLaren Racing has migrated towards simulation and predictive analytics to create a winning team. CEO Zak Brown takes us through the ultimate human-machine partnership.

Soccer fans insist on instant accuracy from officials, but the human eye can misjudge a goal. GoalControl CEO Daniel Marchwinski explains how technology can instantly share the validity of a goal in 4D.