You may think everything in IKEA is easy to piece together, but what you see in-store and online has taken years, even decades, of iteration to create. Unlike their mattress frames, IKEA’s technology takes more than just an Allen wrench to build. And leading it all is Susan Standiford.

Susan grew up with an innate interest in technology. Her father was a historian and journalist and her mother was a physicist, scientist, and mathematician. Because Susan basically grew up in a computer lab, her interest in technology quickly took hold leading her into many important tech roles later in life. From VP of Technology at Disney Interactive to leading the tech team at Travelocity to her current role as Chief Technology Officer of Ingka Group, the strategic partner in the IKEA franchise system- Susan is one of today’s top technology leaders. In her day to day as CTO, Susan plans the company’s product and digital strategies and is working on moving the company into a new digital revolution.

“For us, the digital transformation is not about turning IKEA into a technology company. We’re not changing our core values. We’re still trying to generate our mission which is to create a better everyday life for many people by bringing product to people wherever they are in their life. But how do you use digital capabilities and modern ways of thinking about tech to empower all those good things that are IKEA?”

On this episode, Ian and Susan discuss how Susan first became interested in technology, what her work looks like as CTO of Ingka Group, and how the role of AR and VR is changing the way people shop. 

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P.S. Thanks to our partner, b8ta, this week we will be giving away three Skylight touch-screen photo frames. Enter the giveaway here for a chance to win!

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