25: Leading people-focused tech transformations: Insights from Marathon Petroleum Corporation Commercial IT Leader, Justin Schwartz

Nov 14, 2025

20:46

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Episode notes

Justin Schwartz, commercial IT leader at Marathon Petroleum, shares how his team is bringing people and technology together to drive meaningful change across the business. He highlights that understanding the needs of different users, from field staff to traders, is key to shaping effective solutions—and emphasizes the importance of starting with the real business problem rather than simply chasing new technology.

Justin explains how field experiments with AI agents are helping his team learn in real time and improve performance, all while keeping humans at the center of innovation. He encourages leaders navigating rapid transformation to build an inclusive culture, engage teams early, and manage change with transparency and curiosity. Justin also notes that the pace of technology is only increasing, and that actively absorbing information and quickly adopting new ways of working is essential for long-term success.

In this episode, you'll learn:

Why engaging your people first, pinpointing real business challenges and designing solutions with clear value are crucial for leading successful transformation

Ways to accelerate progress by making experimentation a habit, learning alongside your teams and quickly applying new insights

Strategies to build a resilient team that is equipped to handle rapid transformation together

Key highlights:

[00:00] Introduction

[01:00] Zone defense: Four kids under 12

[02:00] Justin's path to Marathon

[02:40] The scope of Marathon

[03:30] Transformation throughout Justin's career

[04:50] Doing "transformation" right

[06:00] Justin's favorite transformation

[07:50] Fostering culture during transformation

[10:10] Experimenting with AI agents