The Next Big Question

In this episode, Vice President of Data Amit Sethi of Momentive talks about the interaction between data strategy and the technology tools that empower it. Sethi talks about the history of analytics-related tech and how it’s changed from a limiting factor to an accelerant. He also discusses how to execute a data strategy in this rapidly changing environment.

IT Leader Ross Ballendine of Calfrac Well Services joins the podcast this time to discuss the future of IT and its relationship to the business. Ross shares his views on the value of technology in business enablement, the expectations of speed and agility post-Covid, and how to create close alignment with the business.

On the podcast this week, Global CIO of Petcare at Mars Miao Song joins us to discuss the evolution of the CIO role. She shares her definition of the role, her thoughts on the ideal state of the role for the business, and the three areas CIOs should focus on today. Listen to her thoughts on how CIOs can drive digital transformation and serve as chief innovation officer.

This week, CIO Guy Mason of Bourne Leisure joins the podcast to share what private equity can teach us about creating a path to technology value. With his private equity experience, Mason discusses his approach to evaluating technology in the M&A process and what other businesses can learn about removing complexity to increase the speed of change. Learn why Mason says “the agile will survive” on The Next Big Question.

In this episode, we ask CIO Rob Zelinka of Jack Henry & Associates why change management is so hard for large organizations. We discuss change fatigue, the unrelenting pace of change, and how we are all working in technology-driven and data-driven organizations today. Rob shares how communication and transparency can help business leaders crack the change management code.

It may seem obvious to place people at the center of your business strategy, but getting it right requires a long-term commitment and a sustaining culture. Anne Marie Richard and James Dudek of UC Berkeley embraced this commitment as they undertook a long term IT transformation. In this episode, Anne Marie and James share a case study in bringing together loosely organized teams, navigating a staff reduction and maintaining a persistent focus on the humanity of their workforce. 

This week on the podcast, Vice President and CISO Meredith Harper of Lilly joins us to discuss creating and supporting diverse and inclusive teams and how to move the needle on the diversity dialogue. Meredith discusses her approach to fostering an environment that embraces a full range of unique perspectives -- from race and gender to diversity of experiences, education and training -- and what it takes for leaders to commit to a diverse workforce. 

On this episode, Corporate VP and Global CISO Marc Varner of YUM! Brands joins the podcast to talk about how security can keep up with innovation in a company. Marc discusses how security leaders can embrace risk and help facilitate innovation. Learn why he says it's important to run to the enterprise security risks, instead of being defensive, on The Next Big Question.

This week, Kelly Ann Doherty of Mr. Cooper joins us on The Next Big Question to discuss cultural transformation. As Chief People & Communications Officer of the mortgage company, Kelly Ann shares her experience in transforming the name, company values, communications, and culture. She shares her insights on why patience is crucial and what results they have realized as a result of their transformation. 

This week on The Next Big Question, we are joined by Tom South, Executive Vice President, and Chief Information Officer at Northern Trust. Tom shares insights on how organizations can generate trust through vulnerability, authenticity, and expertise. We discuss the challenges in creating meaningful digital experiences and interactions that reflect those qualities and how a financial services organization like his can innovate by offering hybrid experiences that are both personal and digital.