Practical First Steps: Experiment and Democratize AI

In this episode of The New Automation Mindset, Markus Zirn speaks with Helena Nimmo, CIO of IFS, about the next wave of enterprise transformation. With three decades of experience leading IT across diverse industries, Helena reflects on the evolution of digital transformation from internet and SaaS to today’s AI-powered platforms. The conversation unpacks how AI is redefining workflows, organizational design, and even workplace culture. From AI agents as coworkers to rethinking process outcomes, this episode offers a strategic perspective for IT leaders preparing for AI transformation.

—

Guest Bio

Helena brings a wealth of expertise to the technology sector, with a career spanning over three decades across international markets. Her approach integrates technology as a catalyst for business enhancement, focusing on transformative strategies that bolster both revenue and profitability.

As CIO of IFS, Helena engages CIOs and tech leaders to help them with their strategic transformation journeys, as well as drives the effective application of technology within IFS to deliver better products and services to customers. 

Helena's professional narrative includes pivotal roles where she has crafted technology and data blueprints, pioneered new revenue channels within the tech space, and devised comprehensive compliance strategies. Her leadership has been instrumental in orchestrating company-wide transformations, developing core technology infrastructures, and implementing robust security measures.

—

Guest Quote

"We still have it in our language: IT, and the business. The reality is IT is the business. There are no businesses in the world effectively anymore that can operate without IT, and it's disappointing that we’ve ingrained this division so deeply in our thinking." – Helena Nimmo

—

Time Stamps  

00:00 Episode Start

02:15 Helena's big learnings over her career

05:55 Technology is not soley software

12:20 IT and business functions need to find harmony

16:05 What will AI transformation look like?

19:35 The human side of AI

25:20 How to prepare your organization for Agentic AI

32:25 Take your first step to AI transformation today

35:25 Where Gen AI can have the most impact on your enteprise

41:35 Final thoughts

—

Episode Key Takeaways

• IT is no longer a support function: Organizations must move past the outdated language of “IT and the business.” Success with AI requires fully integrated, cross-functional thinking where technology and business outcomes are inseparable.
• Treat AI as a platform, not a collection of tools: Generative AI isn’t just another productivity tool. CIOs must architect enterprise-wide platforms that enable safe experimentation, scale adoption, and embed AI into workflows across the business.
• Knowledge sharing is key to agentic success: AI agents can’t operate effectively in siloed organizations. To unlock their full value, enterprises must surface institutional knowledge, foster collaboration, and overcome information hoarding.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.