Technovation with Peter High (CIO, CTO, CDO, CXO Interviews)

Atilla Tinic, the Chief Information Officer of Qualcomm, discusses transforming AI from pilots to scalable platforms. He emphasizes the importance of unified data governance for AI success and how Qualcomm is creating an internal AI marketplace for developers. Tinic also highlights the rise of AI agents, the cybersecurity challenges posed by these technologies, and how AI can enhance security measures. He shares insights on advanced computing, robotics, and the future of 6G, all while maintaining a focus on collaboration and interoperability within the tech ecosystem.

What does it actually take to move AI from experimentation to enterprise-wide impact? In this episode of Technovation, Peter High speaks with Leigh-Ann Russell, Chief Information Officer and Global Head of Engineering at Bank of New York (BNY), about how one of the world’s most systemically important financial institutions is operationalizing AI at scale. Leigh-Ann shares how BNY trained 99% of its 50,000-person workforce on AI, moved beyond pilots into deep enablement, and empowered employees across technical and non-technical roles to build AI agents that drive real productivity gains. Key topics discussed include: Training nearly the entire workforce to become AI-literate Moving from AI pilots to enterprise-wide enablement Empowering employees to build and deploy AI agents Reducing cognitive load while improving speed and resilience Leading AI adoption through hands-on executive behavior

Mark Bloom, Global CIO at Arthur J. Gallagher, discusses the transformative power of mindset in scaling enterprise AI. He shares insights on how eliminating 800+ data silos improved data quality and propelled AI adoption. Bloom reveals the importance of crowdsourcing use cases from employees, emphasizing cultural alignment over flashy tools. He also highlights the shift from focusing solely on efficiency gains to harnessing AI for revenue generation. With a unique perspective as both a CIO and board member, he reflects on the future of AI in the workforce.

Rakesh Loonkar, a seasoned entrepreneur and venture investor in the cybersecurity space, discusses the unexpected drivers of cybersecurity investment. He reveals that compliance often leads spending more than actual threats. Rakesh highlights the importance of evaluating risks and founder mindsets while preparing for platform shifts, such as AI and cloud technologies. He emphasizes the need for operator skills on boards over financial expertise to boost decision-making, and shares insights into what makes a strong venture investor in the tech landscape.

Mojgan Lefebvre, Chief Technology and Operations Officer at Travelers, emphasizes integrating AI into overall business strategy, reducing onboarding from 2 hours to just 2 minutes. Pavan Verma, Chief Data and Information Officer at Cencora, shares insights on operationalizing AI to improve patient outcomes, including a poignant story about enhancing a child's vision. Glenn Remoreras, Chief Information Officer at Breakthru Beverage Group, discusses his AI summit for leadership education and how a product mindset is transforming sales strategies. Together, they illustrate AI as a key driver for enterprise transformation.

David Burns, CIO of GE Aerospace, discusses lessons learned from cloud outages and predictive maintenance for aircraft engines. Keith Sarbaugh, CDTO of Zoetis, shares insights on building an AI strategy focused on governance and enterprise adoption. Judith Apshago, CDO of Amtrak, emphasizes the importance of IT/OT convergence for reliability and deploying edge sensors for safety. Together, they explore challenges like third-party cyber risks, the role of AI in diagnostics, and the balance between innovation and governance in a digital-first world.

1036: What does it mean to manage a digital workforce? In this episode of Technovation, we feature a panel from our most recent Metis Strategy Summit where three top executives explore how AI is reshaping work, both automating tasks, and changing the nature of management itself. Peter High speaks with: Jennifer Charters, Chief Information Officer at Lincoln Financial Prasanna Gopalakrishnan, Chief Product & AI Officer at ADP Daniel Marcu, Global Head of AI Engineering at Goldman Sachs Together, they discuss: Why AI agents require new thinking about team structure and oversight How CIOs and CHROs must partner to build enterprise AI fluency The risks of shadow AI and the need for secure platforms How habit loops and performance incentives impact AI adoption What it takes to balance innovation speed with organizational readiness

In this engaging discussion, Sal Campanier, Chief Digital and Information Officer at Cushman & Wakefield, and Diane Schwarz, Chief Information Officer at Smurfit WestRock, delve into the intricacies of the product operating model. They emphasize the importance of organizational readiness and the risks of fragmentation in teams. Sal highlights how transparent funding can build trust and drive revenue, while Diane points out the challenges when business maturity is lacking. Their insights on co-creation and aligning financial processes with agile methods offer valuable strategies for success.

What if the most defensible companies of the AI era aren’t the ones building the infrastructure—but the ones using it to rethink workflows? In this Technoventure episode, Peter High speaks with Jamie Montgomery, Founder and Managing Partner of March Capital, about why the firm is investing heavily in the AI application layer—not chips, not clouds, but the companies delivering real task-based outcomes. Key topics explored: Why workflow-based moats beat data moats in the new venture cycle How application-layer companies are scaling faster with leaner GTM The ripple effects of AI CapEx on the U.S. economy and tax base March Capital’s bets on open-source LLMs and scientific discovery Why Montgomery believes AI “bailed out” the U.S. and VC industry alike

What’s stopping AI from scaling across the enterprise? For Madhu Ramamurthy, CIO of Zurich North America, it’s not the technology. It’s the culture. In this episode, Madhu shares how he’s navigating the paradox of AI: a tool with unprecedented potential, surrounded by institutional resistance, unclear regulations, and cultural misalignment. He outlines Zurich’s approach to responsible AI deployment, organizational change, and ethical tech use. Key highlights include: How “organizational antibodies” can kill innovation before it scales The case for explainability and governance in AI development Why domain expertise is more valuable than tech fluency Building AI-native teams outside of legacy systems Madhu’s warning on digital flattery and sycophantic AI