Episode Details: 

• Duration: ~29 minutes 
• Host: Bret Pontillo 
• Guests: 
• Bharath Prabhakaran - VP and Chief Digital Officer, University of Cincinnati 
• Josette Riep - AVP of Integrated Data Engineering and Application Services, University of Cincinnati 

Episode Summary: 

In this episode, Bret Pontillo sits down with two leaders from the University of Cincinnati to discuss their comprehensive digital transformation journey. Bharath Prabhakaran and Josette Riep share insights on modernizing a 200+ year old institution serving 54,000 students across three campuses. They discuss their four-pillar approach to digital transformation, including operational excellence, cybersecurity, modernization, and innovation through AI and data analytics. The conversation covers their implementation of modern data architecture using AWS, Snowflake, and Informatica, the launch of their AI enablement community of practice, and their vision for personalized learning experiences powered by agentic AI. 

Key Discussion Points: 

• Four-pillar digital transformation framework: operational excellence, cybersecurity/resiliency, modernization, and innovation 
• Centralization of distributed IT operations across colleges and units 
• Implementation of Bearcat Insights platform using AWS, Snowflake, and Informatica 
• Launch of AI enablement community of practice with 75+ use cases submitted 
• Development of Bearcat Portal as unified student experience platform 
• Transition from data silos to integrated enterprise data strategy 
• Building CMMC compliant research enclave on AWS 
• Addressing the demographic cliff and enrollment challenges in higher education 

Key Takeaways: 

• Digital transformation requires focus on people, process, and technology - in that order 
• Building trust with data owners is critical for breaking down data silos 
• Innovation must come from the edge, not the center - community-driven approach works 
• Change leadership and relationship building are essential in higher education governance 
• Workforce upskilling is critical to prepare teams for AI-enabled future 
• Personalized learning at scale will be enabled through agentic AI workflows 

Resources Mentioned: 

• University of Cincinnati "Next Lives Here" strategic direction 
• CMMC (Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification) 

Tags: 

#HigherEducation #DigitalTransformation #AWS #DataStrategy #AI #EdTech #CyberSecurity #StudentExperience #Innovation #UniversityOfCincinnati #Bearcats #CloudComputing #ModernDataArchitecture