Tech Whisperers: Inside the Playbooks of the Best Digital Leaders

Over the past three years, we’ve had the privilege to sit down with more than 100 of the most visionary and impactful technology leaders across industries. They've shared their bold strategies and hard-earned lessons, and unpacked playbooks that are continuing to shape the future of leadership and innovation.

In this special “Best of the Best” episode, we’ve curated some of the top insights from our most listened-to episodes. From mastering the fundamentals of digital transformation to future-proofing organizations, balancing people and technology, resisting AI hype, and embracing adaptability, these episodes demonstrate the power of guiding principles in a noisy, constantly changing world.

Featuring segments from the following episodes:

• The Great CISO Balancing Act with United's Deneen DeFiore 
• Edward Jones’ CIO Frank LaQuinta on Promises Made, Promises Kept 
• 3 Layers of Transformation with TransUnion CIO Abhi Dhar 
• Top CxO Recruiters Talk the Evolving Role of the CIO & State of Tech Talent in 2024, featuring Shawn Banerji
• Top CxO Recruiters Talk Transformation & State of Tech Talent, featuring Martha Heller
• Inspirations from the CIO GOAT, Rob Carter

Our CI4CI miniseries continues with guest Katrina Redmond, EVP and CIO of Eaton Corporation. As the world hits a historic inflection point in infrastructure — driven by AI, electrification, and massive investments in data centers and energy — Katrina is playing a pivotal role, helping lead one of the most mission-critical companies into the future.

Join us as we explore how Katrina is spearheading Eaton’s digital strategy in this era of rapid innovation, leading with bold strategy, operational excellence, and a refreshingly human approach. 

Tune in for valuable nuggets from Katrina’s leadership playbook, including:

• An exploration of her expanded CIO role and Eaton’s evolving AI capabilities
• How to get results in an age of uncertainty driven by AI advancements
• Her “Embrace the Red” philosophy 
• Her leadership team’s “Festivus” culture-building practice 
• Her approach to servant leadership and building a culture of internal mobility
• The power of peer-to-peer leadership and community-building

Featuring submitted questions from:

• Karenann Terrell, 4x CIO, Eaton Board Director, Tech Whisperers Guest - Episode 48
• Ashish Gupta, CIO of NextEra Energy
• Caroline Eberle, Gartner BD Executive
• Amy Brady, Head of Technology, Operations & Services, KeyBank, Tech Whisperers Guest - Episode 66
• Mark Macioce, VP & CIO, Masco Corporation, Chair of NEOhioCIO
• Alison Magyari, VP, Global IT Business, Relationship Management, Eaton

In part 2 of our Critical Infrastructure for Critical Infrastructure (CI4CI) miniseries, we are joined by Mike Adams, a digital executive who is playing a leading role in this once-in-a-generation inflection point.

As the Chief Digital Technology Officer at Black & Veatch (BV), Mike has a front row seat to the critical infrastructure transformation being driven by the convergence of AI, data centers, and the energy transition. His career journey has been defined by a combination of fearless leadership and clear, inspiring communication, resulting in a leadership style that rallies teams and inspires decisive action. 

Join us as we unpack Mike’s playbook to learn:

• Mike’s guiding principles for high-stakes decision making
• How he developed BV’s digital technology strategy
• Why Mike is embracing the physical and digital aspects of new technology
• The defining moment that propelled Mike’s CIO Journey
• How Mike stood out as a leader among his peers

Featuring submitted questions from:

• Josh Edwards, Global Director of Data Science & Operations, Black & Veatch
• Joy Johnson, SVP, Office of the CDTO, Black & Veatch
• Phuong Tram, Retired CIO of Dupont, Chief Digital Advisor, FPT
• Dani Brown, SVP & CIO, Whirlpool Corporation, 3x Board Director
• Greg Lane, CIO, State of Delaware
• Andi Le, Chief Digital Officer, FMC Corporation

The lightning-fast rise of AI has come with a cost: the need to overhaul America’s power grids, pipelines, and water systems to accommodate its explosive growth. As trillions of dollars pour into this complete overhaul, there are key leaders paving the way. 

In a special mini-series focusing on “Critical Infrastructure for Critical Infrastructure (CI4CI),” we’re shining the light on a few of the extraordinary tech leaders who are architecting, securing, and scaling the systems that power our nation and economy. Joining us to kick off the series is Afshean Talasaz, Senior Vice President and Chief Technology & Data Officer at Colonial Pipeline Company. 

Afshean is a visionary and humble leader who tackles the complex and challenging problems others avoid while letting the results speak for themselves. From his perspectives on AI and tech innovation to his insights on problem-solving, communication, and vision, you are guaranteed to walk away with lessons that will help you level up your own Tech Whisperer playbook.

Join us as we unpack Afshean’s playbook to learn:

• The importance of a tight CEO-CIO relationship
• How Afshean developed his ability to anticipate upcoming trends
• How investing in the artistic side of his brain has influenced Afshean’s leadership
• How to manage the risk that comes with high-stakes, visionary decision-making
• How to ensure that every project returns a financial value to the business
• Why digitization is vital to long-term success
• Important considerations before layering AI on top of current business processes

Featuring submitted questions from:

• Bo Rogers, VP for Process Excellence & Strategic Projects at Colonial Pipeline
• David Benham, Co-Founder and Chief Product & Technology Officer at ROAM AI
• John Dickson, CISO, Colonial Pipeline
• Buck Wheaton, Director of IT Commercial Product Lines, ONEOK

“People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but they’ll never forget how you made them feel.”

Perhaps no Tech Whisperer embodies that timeless Maya Angelou insight better than 7 Brew CIO Danyel Bischof-Forsyth. She is a master at creating cultures where people feel safe, empowered, and inspired, which means she isn’t just driving digital strategy, she is creating an environment where everyone is invested in driving it, too. Through it all, Danyel leads with authenticity, courage, grace, and kindness, no matter the situation.

So grab some coffee, settle in, and get ready to be energized and inspired!

Tune in for Danyel’s advice on:

• Entering the tech industry as a woman
• Navigating organizational politics
• Elevating teams in periods of adversity
• Building complex long-term strategies that don’t require constant adjustments
• Leading as both a manager and as a team member

Featuring submitted questions from:

• Mike Goodwin, 4x Board Member, 2x CIO, West Point Grad, Army Veteran
• Tom Reiter, IT Executive, Danyel’s Former Hallmark Colleague
• Dave Caldwell, International CIO, Digital Leader
• Stephanie Quillen, Chief People Officer, 7 Brew
• Cassie Attlebery, Founder & Principal, Talent Outside the Lines & Former HR Director
• Mike Anderson, Chief Digital & Information Officer, Netskope
• Tiffany Benitez, Head of Data Governance, Compass USA

Bhaskar Ramachandran is the powerhouse CIO behind PPG’s digital transformation. A master at driving culture change, building strong IT teams, and rallying everyone around the organization’s vision, he has a long track record of delivering real business results across industries. We were fortunate to have the opportunity to sit down with Bhaskar in person at PMI Digital’s studio in Pittsburgh for a deep-dive into the many facets of his leadership playbook.

In this episode, Bhaskar talks with Dan about his career journey and approach to his day-to-day role at PPG. He also unpacks a few of his leadership superpowers, including his ability to stay open and connected with his team members as much as possible while still maintaining progress toward his leadership goals.

Tune in for Bhaskar’s insights on:

• How the digital IT strategy is formed and executed in relation to the overall company vision
• His approach to driving culture change and adoption
• How to balance making time for your team with staying productive and on schedule
• Personal responsibility for one’s career journey
• How to build a people-driven culture where IT is the engine fueling innovation, growth, and customer value

Featuring submitted questions from:

• Martha Heller, Founder of Heller Search & The Heller Report
• Kim Mackenroth, VP & CIO, L3Harris Technologies
• Gary Cantrell, 2x CIO & Former Boss
• Kevin Peer, IT Leader & Former Direct Report
• Laura Harshberger, Global IT Director, PPG
• Chris Cassotis, CEO, Pittsburgh International Airport, Fellow Board Director, S&T Bank
• Chris Caruso, Former CIO, PPG, Carnegie Mellon University Lecturer & Advisor

Tech Whisperer Earl Newsome is the pinnacle of modern, mission-driven IT leadership. Informed by a decade-long military career, Earl has fully unlocked his ability to lead through adaptation, inspiration, and ambition. Now, as the CIO of Cummins, Inc. and with 20 years of experience in corporate America under his belt, he has also become skilled at nurturing those traits in his team.

In this episode, Earl is treating us to a masterclass in how to lead, adapt, and inspire, drawing from his leadership playbook of foundational principles tailored to the real-world complexities of modern IT leadership. We’re also exploring how his life’s journey has shaped him into the leader he is today, and how you can integrate some of his philosophies into your own personal and professional journeys.

Tune in for Earl’s wisdom and perspective on:

• What he learned from the military and his 10-year stint in consulting
• How he helps his team members become their best selves
• How to align an organization’s strategic level with its execution level
• How to apply “divergent thinking” to problem-solving
• The importance of doing the simple things well
• The “Plus-One Philosophy” for personal growth

Featuring submitted questions from:

• Dr. Janet Sherlock, Founder & CEO of Org.Works, Former CIO, Board Member, Advisor
• Bonnie Fetch, EVP & President for Operations, Cummins Inc.
• Gina Stead, Executive Director for IT, Cummins Inc.
• Shellye Archambeau, 6x Board Director, Former CEO, Author of Unapologetically Ambitious
• Chris Cardell, Personal Friend
• Michelle Greene, CIO of Cardinal Health, Board Director
• Kimberly Saxton, CEO of The TechPACT, Advisor, IT Executive

In this episode, we are sitting down with a very special guest who has had a massive impact on the CIO profession–Monte Ford. Monte is a CIO Hall of Fame inductee, an advisor to many of the top CIOs and business leaders, and a board member for several large companies, such as JetBlue and Centene. 

For all of his accolades and accomplishments, Monte is a leader who prefers to keep a low profile, so it was a thrill to have the opportunity to sit down with him and unpack his leadership playbook. Monte is opening up about his career journey, his transition into the board room, what he has learned serving on boards, and more. Listen in to discover some of the many reasons Fortune Magazine named him one of the 50 smartest people in technology.

Join us as Monte shares his insights on:

• The evolving influence of corporate tech leaders
• The traits that separate great CIOs apart
• The leadership qualities that are most important in a digital-first environment
• How he builds and maintains a strong relationship network
• How he weaves forward-thinking into his leadership approach

Featuring submitted questions from:

• Rob Carter, FedEx CIO (ret), Board Director, Episode 60 Guest
• Jim Fowler, CIO, Nationwide, Episode 65 Guest
• Kathy Kay, CIO, Principal Financial Group, Episode 64 Guest
• John Repko, 5x CIO, Board Member, Advisor
• Zack Hicks, CIO, Kimberly Clark, Episode 63 Guest
• Michelle Greene, CIO, Cardinal Health, Board Director
• Sabina Ewing, CIO, Abbott

For this episode, we had the privilege of visiting the Regions Bank headquarters in Birmingham, Alabama, for an in-person conversation with Chief Enterprise Operations and Technology Officer Dan Massey. “Digital Dan,” as he’s known to many, embodies what it means to bridge technology, operations, and innovation at the highest level, ensuring technology is not just an enabler but a true driver of business value. He’s someone who is fully present no matter the situation, whether he’s leading a powerhouse organization of 5,000 employees, spending time with his family, or writing and performing music with his band of 30 years, The Shivers.

Dan is opening up his leadership playbook to trace how his career journey and experiences have shaped him into the leader he is today.

Join us as we explore Dan’s unique ability to translate business and technology, including:

• How he seamlessly translates between tech, engineering, and business talk
• How he manages through conflicting agendas or stakeholders
• How he is navigating digital transformation at Regions
• The value of combining operations and technology in a large organization
• Dan’s approach to balancing his personal and professional life

Featuring submitted questions from:

• Ken Meyer, CIO of Enterprise Functions Technology, Wells Fargo
• Kate Danella, Head of Consumer Bank, Regions Bank
• Anil Cheriyan, 3x CIO, Board Member & Advisor
• Ameet Shetty, CDO – US Information Solutions, Equifax
• Scott Case, Head of Technology & Operations, Prudential Financial
• Riley Massey, Dan’s Daughter
• Will Jones, Media Manager, Band Member

In this episode, we are shining the light on CIO Hall of Fame legend Adriana (Andi) Karaboutis and some of the incredible milestones that have defined her career—including a 21-year tenure in the automotive industry at Ford and General Motors, followed by technology and business leadership roles at Dell, Biogen, and National Grid. Now, Andi is focused on writing the next chapter in her professional story, serving as a director on four corporate boards.

Andi is opening up her leadership playbook to reflect on the challenges she’s overcome, the groundbreaking initiatives she’s led, and her vision for the future. We’ll also explore some of the moments that shaped her into an industry trailblazer.

Join us as we discuss key lessons from Andi’s career, including:

• How to cultivate effective collaboration with C-suite executives
• How a mindset shift on failure helped her build resilience
• What led to her career transition to Dell
• How to simplify complex problems and ideas
• Andi’s “rewirement” approach to retirement

Featuring submitted questions from:

• Marv Adams, Strategic Advisor, Former CIO/COO/President
• Ralph Szygenda, Former Board Director, CXO
• Jeanine Charlton, CIO, Merchants Fleet
• Justin Mennen, CIO, Shake Shack
• Alvina Antar, CIO, Zuora & Okta (ret.)
• Tim Dickson, CIO, Regal Rexnord
• Mindy Simon, Global Chief Operating Officer, AON