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

In today’s episode of Technovation, we feature a panel from our Metis Strategy Summit held on May 13, 2025 moderated by Peter High. The topic was Designing an AI-First Operating Model, and the executives who joined the discussion were Talal Butt, Chief Information Officer of Generac Power Systems; Ampily Vijay, Chief Digital & Technology Officer of CBRE Investment Management; and Chris Nardecchia, Chief Digital Officer of Rockwell Automation. Each shares frontline perspectives on embedding AI at scale from energy tech and industrial automation to real estate investment and operations. Together, they explore how enterprise leaders are shifting from isolated AI pilots to fully integrated operating models that prioritize data, talent, and measurable impact. From reshaping customer experiences and product ecosystems to building architecture for sustainable scale, this conversation delivers a playbook for moving beyond experimentation and into durable transformation. Topics include: Building connected digital platforms to unify products and services Restructuring decision-making through data-driven executive dashboards Establishing AI innovation funnels and prioritization frameworks Redesigning talent strategy to make AI part of everyone’s job

Kevin Doyle, Chief Digital Officer at Ecolab, joins Peter High to unpack how the company is scaling innovation through AI, IoT, and a modern data backbone. In this episode, Kevin shares how Ecolab Digital was formed to unify commercial product innovation, internal IT, and supply chain digitization. He describes the company’s use of agentic AI and generative tools to equip 28,000 field reps with insights, how digital twins and subscriptions drive monetization, and why MAP (Modern Analytics Platform) is central to value delivery. Key topics include: Empowering field teams with generative AI and IoT-backed insights Monetizing digital offerings through connected services and usage modeling Embedding factory AI and vision tech in supply chain operations Using third-party data (e.g., weather, Yelp) to tailor solutions Fostering a pod-style innovation culture with R&D and design integration

How do leading CIOs drive innovation, resilience, and trust amid volatility? In today’s episode of Technovation, we feature a panel from our Metis Strategy Summit held on May 13, 2025 moderated by Peter High. The topic was Cultivating Resilience and Trust in Uncertain Times and the executives who joined the discussion were Cindy Hoots, Chief Information Officer of AstraZeneca, Rahul Jalali, Chief Information Officer of Union Pacific, and Ather Williams III, Head of Strategy, Digital, Innovation, & Enterprise Payments at Wells Fargo. Each shares frontline perspectives on navigating disruption from economic uncertainty and shifting supply chains to generative AI and regulatory complexity. Together, they unpack how their organizations are leveraging digital platforms, data, and cross-functional leadership to respond to instability and build enduring trust with customers, regulators, and employees. Key topics include: Enterprise strategies for managing geopolitical risk and supply chain volatility AI governance, digital ethics, and human-in-the-loop practices Customer-centric IT operating models and adaptive transformation Talent, training, and leadership in a next-gen digital environment

How does a 174-year-old mutual insurance company stay ahead of the curve? In this episode of Technovation, Peter High speaks with Sears Merritt, Head of Enterprise Technology and Experience at MassMutual. Sears leads a $650M tech budget and a global team of 3,000, driving innovation in cybersecurity, data, and generative AI to deliver superior experiences for employees, advisors, and policyholders. Sears shares insights on MassMutual’s modernization journey from consolidating legacy systems to rolling out secure GenAI tools like Microsoft Copilot and GitHub Copilot. He also unveils the company’s strategic investments in virtual assistants, R&D partnerships, and a groundbreaking health and wellness platform that aligns longevity with economic value for policyholders. Topics include: Modernization via simplification Virtual assistants powering productivity and service AI trust, security, and governance principles Wellness tools that align with life insurance incentives Building an R&D function to future-proof tech strategy

 “Enterprise data platforms must evolve to express context to AI systems.” In this episode of Technovation, Peter High speaks with Louis Landry, Chief Technology Officer at Teradata, a $1.75B cloud analytics and AI data platform. Louis shares how Teradata is reshaping its core platform to meet the demands of the AI era through open, hybrid architectures, vector search integration, and mixed workload optimization. A 11-year veteran of the company, Louis reflects on Teradata’s evolution from centralized analytics to a hybrid, multi-cloud powerhouse, and what it means to support some of the world’s largest banks, airlines, and healthcare providers. He also offers insight into agentic AI, data-centric intelligence, and model-sharing futures.

“We don’t just deliver data—we deliver trust.” In this episode of Technovation, host Peter High speaks with Gary Kotovets, Chief Data & Analytics Officer at Dun & Bradstreet, a global leader in business decision-making data and analytics. Gary shares how he oversees the company’s end-to-end data strategy, from acquisition and normalization to advanced analytics and GenAI integration, serving a customer base that spans Fortune 500 giants to small businesses. Learn how Gary’s team fuels innovation through alternative data, builds trusted AI tools like ChatD&B, and partners directly with C-level clients to deliver decision-ready intelligence. Key insights from Gary: Why governance and trust are core to scalable AI How D&B integrates social media, merchant, and geospatial data into risk scoring The role of GenAI in entity resolution and customer engagement How D&B.AI Labs helps clients co-create GenAI solutions with enterprise-grade oversight

Seth Cohen, CIO of Procter & Gamble, previously held similar roles at PepsiCo and Reckitt Benckiser. He discusses P&G's innovative AI factory driving digital transformation and how data accessibility is prioritized over tech solutions. Seth explains the Pampers Club app's ability to merge consumer insights with supply chain data. He also highlights the imperative of upskilling the workforce for digital fluency and the role of agentic AI in redefining data dashboards, paving the way for a future-ready enterprise.

“Marketcraft isn’t left or right—it’s a method,” says Chris Hughes, co-founder of Facebook and author of Marketcrafters. In this episode, Hughes and host Peter High explore how governments have shaped U.S. markets over the past century. They discuss economic history, policy strategy, and the role of institutions like the Federal Reserve and RFC in stabilizing the economy. Key highlights include: Why the Fed is an overlooked example of successful marketcraft How the U.S. semiconductor industry was saved through coordinated policy The structural failure of U.S. healthcare markets Distinguishing industrial policy from broader economic strategy Hughes’s call for expert-driven, stable institutions in a volatile era

“If St. Jude doesn’t do it, who will?” That mission-driven mindset fuels innovation at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. In this episode of Technovation, host Peter High speaks with Keith Perry, Chief Information Officer of St. Jude, about how he is leveraging technology to enhance the patient journey and accelerate research into pediatric catastrophic diseases. Keith shares how his nearly decade-long tenure has driven transformation through a strategic six-year, $12.9B plan, including the implementation of Epic and Workday, GPU-enabled research infrastructure, and a concierge-style patient mobile app. He also explores the global impact of St. Jude’s outreach in under-resourced countries, the evolution of data science partnerships, and the future of AI and cybersecurity in healthcare. Key topics include: Delivering patient-centered care with a customized mobile app Aligning technology strategy with long-term institutional goals Partnering with data science leaders to scale research insights Elevating information security as a shared executive priority

Transforming healthcare through digital innovation and AI.In this episode, Peter High speaks with Onyeka Nchege, EVP and Chief Digital and Information Officer at Novant Health, a $10B healthcare network with over 900 locations across the southeastern United States. Onyeka shares how his team is building a future-ready digital infrastructure to scale operations, improve patient care, and expand access through cloud migration, predictive analytics, and artificial intelligence. He also highlights Novant Health’s Institute for Innovation and AI, explains how they embed responsible AI practices, and outlines the vision for the hospital of the future including virtual care, virtual nursing, and a data-driven approach to personalized healthcare. Onyeka also speaks to the culture he’s fostering within the IT organization, his lessons from five previous CIO roles, and how the right leadership bench powers transformation. Key topics include: Creating a $30B scalable health system through cloud and EMR strategy Building AI governance through the Institute for Innovation and AI Expanding virtual care: telestroke, virtual nursing, menopause clinics Fostering IT culture, mentorship, and leadership development at scale