In this episode, Markus Zirn and Steve Brodrick explore the power of data democratization and its role in driving transformation. Steve shares his journey from CFO to CTO and now CEO of Horizon Five, where he is dedicated to making data accessible and empowering teams to thrive. They discuss the importance of integrating IT and business, the challenges of scaling data-driven insights, and the potential of emerging technologies like generative AI. Steve offers practical strategies for fostering collaboration, building a data-driven culture, and driving innovation across organizations.

00:00 Episode Start

02:55 Steve's career journey and passion for data

07:40 Importance of The New Automation Mindset

12:00 Exploring data-driven challenges in RPA

17:05 Bridging business and IT with integration

20:00 Maturity in data across organizations

24:45 Overcoming resistance to process democratization

34:00 Impact of GenAI on data democratization

38:00 Advice for aspiring IT and business leaders

• Bring teams together: Break down silos by creating cross-functional teams that include IT, finance, marketing, HR, and more. Collaboration like this helps combine different perspectives, leading to smarter decisions and more innovative solutions.
• Empower everyone with the right tools: Equip your team with easy-to-use tools like Workato. These self-service platforms make it easier for non-technical users to work with data, automate tasks, and find valuable insights, boosting both productivity and confidence.
• Make learning part of your culture: Encourage curiosity and experimentation with new tools and technologies. Highlight wins, offer training, and celebrate a culture of continuous learning to spark innovation and creative problem-solving.
• Focus on clean, connected data: Great decisions start with great data. Invest in systems that ensure your data is clean, well-integrated, and accessible. This sets the stage for advanced tools like GenAI to deliver accurate, actionable insights.

“Data professionals are not just in IT, they're certainly there, but also, others across every function. Data really knows no function. It sits in your marketing organization, your HR organization, it sits everywhere. So, you have to develop a strategy when you're transforming, where you have an integrated way to welcome everybody to the data dance.”

“You have to make a bet that if you empower people and democratize these tools, there will be great outcomes.”

In this episode, Marcus Zirn and Vladimir Lukic dive into BCG's latest report, Where’s the Value in AI?, highlighting why only a small percentage of companies are scaling AI effectively. They explore strategies for successful AI adoption, such as focusing on core workflows, optimizing operating models, and choosing fewer but deeper use cases. Vlad also discusses the challenges of data quality, the importance of embedding AI into business processes, and the evolving role of IT and product managers in AI-driven transformations. He wraps up by sharing practical insights and success stories from real-world AI implementations.

00:00 Episode Start

4:10 Overview of BCG's AI Report

10:10 The role of AI agents

18:10 Why good data matters for AI

26:35 Integrating AI into business processes

30:20 Building the right IT and business team for AI

36:37 How AI is shaping traditional IT transformation

39:47 Rethinking AI adoption

• Focus on core workflows: Identify and prioritize the workflows that directly impact your competitive advantage. AI leaders are targeting mission-critical processes to maximize efficiency and impact.
• Rethink the operating model: Implementing AI requires more than just adopting new technology—it demands a full overhaul of your operating model. This includes realigning employee incentives, adjusting meeting structures, and embedding AI deeply into your business operations for long-term success.
• Quality data is crucial: AI can only be as effective as the data it’s trained on. Take the time to clean up and review your data sources. Bad data will lead to bad insights, so ensuring your data is accurate and complete is key to success.
• Build the right teams: AI integration needs both business insight and technical know-how. Build cross-functional teams with business owners, IT, and data scientists—ideally led by a strong product manager or agile coach—to ensure your AI projects are a success.

“I'm seeing Gen AI over the last two years, just being this trigger or a catalyst to put a lot of these perennial and constant topics visibly on the table.”

BCG Report: Where’s the Value in AI?

In this episode, Markus Zirn and Sam Sena explore the intersection of IT identity archetypes, technology adoption, and organizational change management. They dive into Sam’s research on classifying employees into IT archetypes to improve system adoption, team dynamics, and address fears during tech transformations. Sam emphasizes the role of cultural identity, the human element, and leveraging influencers to drive successful IT projects. Sam wraps up by sharing real-world examples and practical strategies to align new technologies with organizational culture and effectively manage change.

Download the IT Identity (ITID) and Information Systems (IS) Adoption Summary of Findings here: https://bit.ly/ITIDSoF

00:00 Episode Start

03:56 Sam's career journey

06:08 Sam's research in a nutshell

13:05 Applying IT Identity Archetypes to Workato

18:46 Overcoming challenges and resistance to change

28:01Transforming IT and business collaboration

37:39 Real-world success stories

• Identify key influencers early: Engage technophiles or experts within your organization to act as ambassadors for new technology. Their enthusiasm and influence can help drive broader adoption and acceptance.
• Use behavioral data to drive adoption: Run simple surveys to assess your team’s readiness for change. Use this data to create more targeted enablement efforts that directly address specific readiness levels and concerns.
• Customize messaging and training: Leverage IT Identity Archetypes to personalize communication and training for different employee groups, ensuring your enablement strategies align with their unique motivations and needs.
• Build a collaborative IT-business culture: Foster open communication and teamwork between IT and business teams, encouraging joint problem-solving to drive successful technology adoption and seamless collaboration.

“Organizations can experience an increase in [tech] adoption by as much as 20 to 25 percent by making some small changes to their transformation programs.”

“The goal again is to get alignment. Once you do it once, once you do it twice, you're never going to go back because now you're really finding a way to cater the message, the value to the needs of the individuals. It becomes like a flywheel.”

In this episode, Markus Zirn and Tal Seraf explore the evolution of IT, emphasizing the shift from project-based to product-focused approaches for improved efficiency and customer satisfaction. Drawing on Tal’s extensive experience at tech giants like Microsoft, Amazon, Starbucks, Meta, and now Atlassian, he shares how his diverse career has shaped his leadership style. They delve into the critical role of customer-centricity, the power of data and GenAI to streamline operations and Atlassian’s ERP transformation with Workato. Tal also offers valuable insights for aspiring IT leaders looking to drive innovation and make a meaningful impact in their organizations.

00:00 Episode Start

02:30 Tal's journey and experience

05:45 Transitioning from project-minded to product-minded

10:45 Leveraging Atlassian products with GenAI

13:35 Atlassian's finance transformation with Workato

16:30 Balancing buy vs. build in IT

22:20 Tal's insights on the New Automation Mindset

27:30 Centralized vs. Federated IT Organization

31:20 Advice for aspiring IT leaders

• Embrace data literacy: Build expertise in data science fundamentals to understand data representation, interpret charts, and derive actionable insights. Leverage these skills to prioritize initiatives, enhance products, and foster data-driven decision-making within your organization.
• Harness AI for automation: Incorporate AI-driven analytics and automation tools into your IT workflows to optimize operations and eliminate manual, repetitive tasks. This approach can significantly boost productivity, leading to faster and more accurate results.
• Adopt a strategic IT framework: Transition from a project-centric to a product-oriented IT organization by embracing a long-term perspective. Gain a deep understanding of business challenges, prioritize innovations that deliver real value, and invest in areas that offer significant competitive advantage. Focus IT resources on strategic business priorities.
• Implement a flexible IT structure: Embrace both centralized and federated IT models tailored to your business requirements. Create specialized solutions for different departments while ensuring seamless integration and a cohesive customer experience. This adaptability enhances operational efficiency and responsiveness in your IT operations.

“I think there are great opportunities for everyone at this point, not just a younger me or my children, but all of us to think about how to become more data literate and how to use AI and some of the LLM capabilities today to solve problems that we all have had in a faster, more efficient manner.”

In this episode, Markus Zirn and Rajeev Khanna discuss how to navigate the common IT challenges faced by large organizations. Rajeev shares his extensive experience across various industries, including his leadership roles at Aon, Expedia, Asurion, and UBS. They examine the complexities of systems, the need for efficiency, cost management, and overcoming organizational friction. Rajeev highlights the critical role of change management, collaboration with business leaders, and effective communication in driving successful technology adoption. Additionally, they explore the transformative potential of generative AI in IT processes, emphasizing the importance of early experimentation and secure deployment.

00:00 Episode Start

02:45 Common IT Challenges

12:20 The role of the modern CIO

18:55 Strategies for IT and business fusion

22:40 Navigating change management

30:00 Key roles for success

35:40 How GenAI will impact business growth and tech adoption

• Get to know the business goals: Take the time to really understand the different functions and their priorities. This deeper insight helps you ensure that your tech solutions hit the mark and genuinely support what the business needs.
• Make change management a priority: Focus on creating a solid change management plan to help everyone get on board with new technologies. Keep communication clear and invite users to get involved early, so they can see the benefits firsthand and share their feedback.
• Empower your tech champions: Find those enthusiastic individuals in different departments who love technology. These champions can help spread the word about new tools, share their experiences, and encourage others to join in on the excitement of adopting new solutions.
• Find the best use cases for new tech: Collaborate closely with business units to discover where new technologies can make a real difference. By working together, you can identify impactful use cases and ensure that your tech investments truly benefit the organization.

“Technology leaders are not technology leaders. They’re business leaders first who happen to do technology. It's a subtle but important mind shift to say I'm here to serve the business.”

In this episode, Markus Zirn and Ravi Malick discuss the evolving landscape of IT leadership and the transformative power of AI. Ravi shares his journey from the energy sector to leading IT at Box, highlighting the importance of integrating business strategy with IT leadership. They explore the challenges of SaaS application sprawl and emphasize the critical need for a well-architected enterprise and data environment. Ravi also offers practical insights on managing technology investments and adopting a portfolio approach to application management.

00:00 Episode Start

02:29 Ravi's career journey and transition to Box

06:20 Evolution of the CIO role

14:10 Impacts of SaaS application sprawl

19:35 Strategies for managing application sprawl

29:45 Embracing composable architecture

36:15 Balancing custom development and packaged solutions

41:00 Impacts of AI on business applications

• Start with enterprise and data architecture: Bringing on an enterprise architect and a data architect early in your organization’s journey can really simplify things and help you scale effectively. Laying down these foundational pieces early on will make future integrations smoother and keep your organization agile as you grow.
• Simplify your application portfolio: Take the time to review all your current applications and see what they do, how much they cost, and who owns them. Identifying overlapping functions can help you prioritize which applications to consolidate or retire, saving you on administrative costs and streamlining your operations.
• Embrace composable architecture for flexibility: Combine your core applications with smaller, adaptable solutions using a composable approach. This will help you quickly respond to changing business needs while ensuring that essential functions are backed by reliable, long-term applications, enabling innovation and a competitive edge.
• Leverage GenAI to enhance processes: Use AI and generative AI to boost your business processes, whether it’s marketing campaigns, customer service, or internal workflows. Focus on building a flexible and secure system that can integrate AI capabilities throughout your organization, ensuring that your AI investments create real, measurable benefits.

“Teams that are aligned, businesses that are aligned and are in sync execute so much better and are so much more successful. I don't think it should be any different for technology.”

In this episode, Markus Zirn and Keyur Ajmera discuss the evolution of integration platforms and their growing importance in today's business landscape. They dive into the shift from traditional systems to innovative solutions like Workato, highlighting their impact on operational efficiency, automation, and data integrity. Keyur highlights the benefits of empowering business partners through federated IT models and utilizing low-code platforms to accelerate time to value and minimize project risk. Keyur wraps up by offering strategic insights for CIOs on building strong business partnerships to drive organizational success.

00:00 Episode Start

03:30 Importance of integration in modern IT

08:15 Efficiency driven by automation

11:40 Evolution of integration platforms

18:45 Navigating federated IT

23:25 RPA vs. integration

28:25 Choosing Workato for iCIMS

36:35 Organizing for success

40:05 Future plans at iCIMS

• Empower your people: Find tech-savvy folks in your business who are eager to learn. By letting them manage their own integrations and automation within a clear framework, you boost efficiency and create a sense of ownership. This teamwork can speed up project timelines.
• Leverage low-code platforms: Choose low-code platforms like Workato that let more team members, even those without coding skills, get involved in integration tasks. This makes integration easier and helps keep things moving smoothly.
• Prioritize risk management: Integration often comes at the end of the critical path in projects and is inherently risky due to its complexity and timing. Prioritize tools that minimize this risk that help you deliver faster with fewer errors, ensuring you hit your project deadlines.
• Take a collaborative approach: Be a helpful partner, not just a service provider. Keep communication open, empower your business leaders, and relinquish some control to foster a two-way trust. This approach can lead to better outcomes and help you secure a role in strategic decision-making.

“Empower and enable your business leaders to be successful. And the way you can do that, complete transparency, empowerment, not keeping control, but relinquishing it. Because then you become a trusted partner to them. And who would a business person bring to a conversation at the table? A trusted partner. That's who you want to be.”

In this episode, Markus Zirn and Yanni Charalambous explore the modern approach to factory automation through software-defined factories. Yanni shares insights on leveraging cloud technology, integrating digital twins for improved efficiency, and establishing their low-carbon ventures business unit. He highlights the challenges of cloud adoption, the significance of innovative technologies like carbon capture, and the vital role of strategic partnerships in driving innovation and modernization.

00:00 Episode Start

03:50 Yanni's work at Oxy

07:20 Innovative technologies and investments

09:55 Exploring software-defined plants and digital twins

16:30 Optimizing with a scale mindset

22:10 Cloud adoption journey at Oxy

28:20 Leveraging advanced technologies for future IT Innovations

32:25 Advice for successful cloud adoption

40:00 Economic impact of software-defined plant models

44:45 Future roadmap at Oxy

• Forge visionary partnerships: Collaborate with vendors and partners who align with and support your innovative vision. This alignment can streamline the adoption of new technologies and processes.
• Pinpoint a transformational cloud project: Identify a high-impact project that can justify your move to the cloud. This project should enhance capabilities and agility, helping to build a solid business case for cloud adoption and drive organizational change.
• Prioritize skill transformation: Focus on transforming your team’s skills to align with new technologies. Investing in their growth and development ensures faster, more efficient project execution and enhances their marketability.

“ Just the fact that you move to the cloud doesn't mean much to them unless you engage them from a data perspective. And show them how data now will unlock opportunities that otherwise are not there or they're extremely difficult to make happen.”

“I would advise anyone who hasn't yet embraced or engaged in this type of transformation to spend a lot of time engaging the people and making sure they understand the value proposition—what’s in it for them—in executing this. Along with finding that transformational project that inside the company that will really drive value and be visible as a value delivery.”

In this episode, Markus Zirn and Arthur Hu discuss Lenovo’s transformation from a hardware giant to an IT services leader, driven by AI and hybrid cloud technologies. Arthur shares insights on managing global supply chains during COVID-19, balancing centralized and federated IT governance, and the crucial role of cultural integration. He also emphasizes the importance of a customer-first approach and adopting a process-driven mindset to foster innovation.

00:00 Episode Start

04:00 Balancing IT leadership and customer perspective

04:55 Lenovo powers Lenovo: Internal innovations

09:05 Exploring IT process innovations and AI opportunities

14:30 How removing barriers can empower your teams

20:50 Supply chain resilience during COVID-19

26:35 Centralized vs. decentralized vs. federated IT governance

31:20 Cultural integration in global IT operations

37:25 Lessons from providing IT services

• Embrace Customer-Centric IT: It’s crucial for IT organizations to operate with the same level of accountability and service quality as if they could lose their internal “customers”—the business units—to external competition. This mindset will sharpen focus on meeting SLAs and enhancing end-user satisfaction.
• Leverage External Insights: Recognize that learning from external customers and other companies can provide invaluable insights. Embrace external benchmarks and customer feedback to continually improve and innovate within your IT operations. 
• Foster collaborative, cross-functional teams: Break down silos and encourage collaboration across roles. By focusing on the customer journey and integrating diverse expertise, you’ll drive better outcomes and a more cohesive team environment.
• Cultivate and evolve your company culture: Invest regularly in nurturing your organizational culture. Establish clear norms and create opportunities for team bonding to enhance coordination and reduce friction, especially in diverse, global teams.

“The most powerful insight that we now apply, and I try to bring to my work and also with customers, is how do we take things that are automated perhaps very deeply, but not very broadly? And how do we use the process mindset to get out of those and actually think how do we have a better whole? An analogy that we use is everyone is trying to build some kind of a highway. But unless you have that integrative either journey or experience that you're targeting, then you end up with this mishmash, the off-ramps might not be connected, things don't actually work together very well. And so it's important to have an overall plan and as well as being able and willing to maintain that.”

In this episode, Markus Zirn and Enver Cetin explore the game-changing potential of GenAI and digital twins in transforming business processes. They discuss how these technologies are reshaping customer interactions, automating decision-making, and redefining job roles. Enver shares real-world insights from Ciklum's Workato automation projects, emphasizing the importance of clear process mapping and embracing innovation to stay competitive. Throughout the conversation, Enver highlights how these advancements are revolutionizing both customer and employee experiences.

00:00 Episode Start

02:20 Workato automation projects at Ciklum

05:35 GenAI client use cases

12:15 Challenges in business process management

20:40 Introducing Workato Agentic and its impact on process management

29:50 Future of AI agents in business processes

33:50 Overcoming client resistance to LLM integration

39:40 GenAI's impact in reshaping business systems

44:35 What's next in AI and automation?

• Build a solid process foundation: Start with clear and well-structured business processes. Involve all relevant teams in mapping out these processes and address inefficiencies early. This groundwork will make it easier to use automation and AI effectively.
• Implement integration and automation tools: Leverage platforms like Workato to connect different systems and automate key tasks. Focus on improving data synchronization and streamlining activities such as HR onboarding or customer support to boost efficiency and accuracy.
• Utilize GenAI for better customer interactions: Implement GenAI to enhance customer service and automate complex decision-making. Tools like AI-driven chatbots and virtual assistants can improve customer interactions and help you gain valuable insights from your data.
• Adopt Digital Twin Technologies: Consider using digital twins and agentic AI models to manage and optimize your processes. These technologies simulate decision-making and adapt in real time, creating more personalized, efficient, and responsive systems.

“No matter how advanced your tools, your technologies are, the effectiveness of any project hinges on a clear, well-structured process foundation. So one of the biggest lessons is that understanding the fine details of business processes allows us to automate and optimize them effectively.”