In this episode of Soul of the CIO, we sit down with Dan Anthony, CIO of FedNow at the U.S. Federal Reserve, to unpack the once-in-a-generation technology launch that’s transforming how money moves in America. FedNow is the nation’s instant payments infrastructure—processing billions of payments and trillions of dollars while operating 24/7/365 across nearly 10,000 banks. Dan shares how the Federal Reserve built a greenfield system in the cloud, scaled from a three-person tech team, and balanced speed, security, and resilience under extraordinary national stakes.

We explore:

• What the Federal Reserve actually does—and how its technology powers the U.S. economy
• Why the U.S. lagged behind other countries in instant payments
• How FedNow was built using lessons from Google and big tech
• The governance, security, and resilience required to run national payment rails
• The real-world impact of instant payments on underbanked Americans, small businesses, and veterans
• How AI, automation, and emerging technologies change the risk landscape for critical infrastructure
• Why today’s CIOs must think like business leaders—not just technologists

From cloud architecture and real-time settlement to AI risk, career lessons, and leadership under pressure, this conversation goes deep on what modern CIO leadership looks like when failure is not an option.

Soul of the CIO is Sponsored by Nexthink, the leader in digital employee experience. Learn more: nexthink.com 
Subscribe for more conversations with the leaders shaping the future of IT and technology. 
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What does it really take to build a lasting career in technology? In this episode of Soul of the CIO, we explore the human story behind innovation with a technologist whose journey spans rural India, global enterprises like IBM, Microsoft, Amazon, and American Express, and multiple CTO roles.

From growing up without electricity or running water to launching Office 365, building customer-obsessed systems at Amazon, and leading digital transformation in highly regulated industries, this conversation goes far beyond systems and solutions. It’s about work ethic, discomfort, self-learning, and the courage to start over.

We dive into:

• Why unmeasured innovation is just a science project
• How discomfort becomes a gateway to discovering your potential
• The power of self-made work ethic and why it never leaves you
• What IBM, Microsoft, Amazon, and AmEx each taught about scale, platforms, and culture
• How CTOs and CIOs must partner in the AI era
• Why data, not org charts, is now the connective tissue of modern enterprises What makes a great CTO in 2025: engineering diplomacy, financial fluency, and trust-building

Above all, this episode is a reminder that technology doesn’t change organizations—people do. And every leader brings their full story, experiences, and values into the decisions they make.  

Soul of the CIO is Sponsored by Nexthink, the leader in digital employee experience. Learn more: nexthink.com 

Subscribe for more conversations with the leaders shaping the future of IT and technology. 

Find the full in-studio video version on YouTube.

When people think of Etsy, they picture a crafty online marketplace, but as former CTO Rachana Kumar reveals it’s truly a big data company built on cutting-edge technology and a deep social mission. In this episode of Soul of the CIO, Rachana shares her incredible journey from growing up in a small town in southern India to leading technology at Etsy. She opens up about:

• The mindset shift required to adopt new technologies
• How Etsy empowers millions of women entrepreneurs globally
• Why Etsy’s data challenges make it one of the most fascinating tech companies in the world
• How AI and machine learning are transforming e-commerce
• Her philosophy on leadership and what it takes to become a successful CTO

Rachana’s story is one of resilience, curiosity, and purpose — proving that you don’t have to be the most technical person in the room to make the most impact.

Soul of the CIO is Sponsored by Nexthink, the leader in digital employee experience. Learn more: nexthink.com 

Subscribe for more conversations with the leaders shaping the future of IT and technology. 

Find the full in-studio video version on YouTube.

From selling radios in his dad’s Brooklyn shop to leading one of the world’s most iconic software companies, Bruce Chizen’s journey is a masterclass in resilience, honesty, and bold leadership.

Hear never-before-told stories about:

• Working under Bill Gates’ relentless intensity
• Facing off with Steve Jobs during Apple’s comeback
• Learning leadership from Silicon Valley’s “Coach,” Bill Campbell
• Turning Adobe’s dysfunction into innovation that defined the next generation of creative software

Soul of the CIO is brought to you by Nexthink — the AI-powered DEX platform that keeps IT ahead of every disruption.  

Check out the full video version on our Soul of the CIO YouTube channel.

What does it take to go from managing IT under missile fire in Afghanistan to leading technology for one of the world’s most influential human rights organizations? In this episode of Soul of the CIO, Paul Smith, CIO of Amnesty International, sits down to share his remarkable career journey — from his early days supporting defense operations in active war zones to shaping Amnesty’s global tech strategy today. Paul reflects on: The lessons learned building IT systems in conflict zones How gratitude, resilience, and mentorship shaped his leadership The unique cybersecurity challenges facing Amnesty’s global mission Why purpose-driven work—and paying it forward—define his approach to technology and leadership Hear how Paul’s path from a young father and defense IT manager to a global nonprofit leader reveals the true soul of the CIO: courage, empathy, and purpose.

Soul of the CIO is brought to you by Nexthink — the AI-powered DEX platform that keeps IT ahead of every disruption. 

Check out the full video version on our Soul of the CIO YouTube channel.

Rachel Wilson, Chief Data Officer at Morgan Stanley and former NSA Executive, joins Soul of the CIO. Known as the “Queen of the Hackers” during her time at the NSA, Rachel shares her journey from counterterrorism operations to leading cyber defense for one of the world’s largest financial institutions. She opens up about the pressure of protecting the London 2012 Olympics, the challenges of managing brilliant but complex teams, the transition to Wall Street after years in government service, and what AI means for the future of cybercrime.  

Soul of the CIO is brought to you by Nexthink — the AI-powered DEX platform that keeps IT ahead of every disruption.

Check out the full video version on our Soul of the CIO YouTube channel.

Discover the inspiring journey of Jason Conyard—from entering the workforce at 16 to leading global IT transformation as VMware’s CIO. In this candid conversation, Jason shares insights on leadership, digital transformation, and the evolving role of IT in today’s world. What’s in It for You

• Aspiring Leaders & CIOs: Learn how to navigate leadership roles, embrace career pivots, and build resilient IT services.
• Tech Enthusiasts & Managers: Gain valuable perspectives on digital transformation, AI, and turning technology into an enabler of human success.
• HR & Talent Professionals: Understand the importance of culture, support systems like career breaks, and what it really means to invest in people.

You can hear more from Jason on his website: https://www.jasonconyard.com/   Soul of the CIO is brought to you by Nexthink — the AI-powered DEX platform that keeps IT ahead of every disruption.  

Check out the full video version on our Soul of the CIO YouTube channel.

In this episode of Soul of the CIO, we sit down with Nina D’Amato, Chief Technology Strategist at Lenovo, to explore her remarkable journey from the U.S. Marine Corps to leading technology strategy in the public and private sectors. Nina shares how her commitment to service shaped her career and how those experiences compare to leadership in the corporate world. She also dives into how public sector leaders should prepare for the AI transformation and what excites her most about the future of technology. If you’re interested in CIO leadership, digital transformation, AI in government, or the future of IT in the public sector, this interview is packed with insights you won’t want to miss.  

Soul of the CIO is brought to you by Nexthink — the AI-powered DEX platform that keeps IT ahead of every disruption.  

Check out the full video version on our Soul of the CIO YouTube channel.