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

How do you build a modern, AI-powered financial services platform while keeping your workforce agile and innovative? On this episode of Technovation, Bread Financial CTO Allegra Driscoll joins Peter High on Technovation to discuss her leadership in technology modernization, cloud migration, and fintech innovation. She shares insights into Bread Financial’s shift to a product operating model, AI-driven transformation, and mainframe-to-cloud transition—all while leading a large-scale reskilling initiative. Key Topics: AI-Driven Financial Services – Using AI and real-time analytics to enhance customer experiences. Cloud & DevSecOps – How Bread Financial is retiring mainframes and embracing public cloud for scalability. Workforce Reskilling & Agile Transformation – Investing in cloud & AI training while rethinking the way teams work. Diversity & Inclusion in Tech – Creating high-performing teams with diverse perspectives and problem-solving approaches. The Future of AI in Finance – How Bread Financial balances AI automation with human decision-making.

New York Life is embracing AI and data to enhance customer experience and business strategy. In this episode of Technovation, Don Vu, Chief Data & Analytics Officer, shares how he’s leading a transformation at the 180-year-old mutual insurance giant. Don discusses how AI and data modernization are reshaping insurance, the role of data in improving agent and customer interactions, and how New York Life is structuring its organization for agility and innovation. He also reflects on his career spanning Major League Baseball, Northwestern Mutual, and WeWork, and what excites him about AI’s future. Highlights: How AI & data are driving New York Life’s customer and agent experience The four pillars of AI strategy: data foundation, insights, culture & experience The role of AI in transforming traditional industries Don’s reflections on the evolution of data leadership

How does the world’s largest logistics real estate company stay ahead of rapid growth and disruption? Prologis CTO Sineesh Keshav joins Peter High to discuss how the global logistics real estate leader is leveraging AI, automation, and proprietary data to drive efficiency, sustainability, and business expansion. Sineesh shares insights into Prologis’ rapid growth, $220 billion in assets under management, and its transition into energy, EV charging, and smart buildings. He also explains the company’s 100% cloud-based strategy, how AI is embedded into decision-making, and the role of data-driven innovation in scaling global logistics operations. Key Topics: AI & Automation in Logistics – How Prologis is embedding AI into decision-making. Scaling Growth with Data – Leveraging proprietary data to drive operational efficiency. Energy & Sustainability – Becoming the 2nd largest solar producer in the U.S. Tech-Driven Expansion – Why M&A strategy and digital transformation are critical to Prologis’ success.

How can technology leaders leverage innovation ecosystems to drive meaningful business transformation? In this episode of Technovation, Steven Norton moderates a discussion with Medtronic CIO Rashmi Kumar and Berkadia CIIO Damu Bashyam on how they are tapping into hyperautomation, AI, and startup partnerships to expand their innovation ecosystems and accelerate growth. Rashmi shares how Medtronic is building an innovation ecosystem through its Hyperautomation Center of Excellence, enabling AI-driven decision-making, automation, and operational efficiencies that enhance healthcare delivery. Damu explains how Berkadia’s Startup Accelerator Program fosters an ecosystem of fintech and proptech innovators, driving competitive advantage and industry-wide transformation. Learn how leading technology executives are creating and nurturing innovation ecosystems by integrating cutting-edge technology, fostering cross-functional collaboration, and leveraging external partnerships to fuel continuous innovation.

Comerica Bank COO Megan Crespi joins Peter High to discuss the bank’s digital transformation strategy, AI adoption, and customer-centric innovation. Megan shares insights on Comerica’s cloud migration journey, investments in AI-powered risk management, and how the bank is modernizing operations to enhance customer experience. She also delves into cybersecurity strategies for the quantum computing era and lessons from her leadership roles at Ally Bank and General Motors. Highlights: Digital Transformation at Comerica: Moving 80% of applications to the cloud and modernizing banking infrastructure. AI in Banking: How AI and analytics are enhancing customer insights, security, and operations. Cybersecurity & Quantum Computing: Preparing for next-gen security threats. Customer-Centric Innovation: Improving digital banking, payments, and self-service experiences.

In a panel from last year’s Metis Strategy Summit, Royal Caribbean’s CIO Martha Poulter and Avis Budget Group’s Chief Digital and Innovation Officer Ravi Simhambhatla share how they’re harnessing AI to transform customer experiences and operations. During the discussion, these executives explore how AI-driven personalization boosts conversions, the role of predictive models in operational efficiency, and the importance of blending digital and physical realities. From improving asset utilization to reducing waste and empowering employees, discover how these industry leaders are shaping the future of travel and hospitality. Highlights include: AI-powered vacation planning at Royal Caribbean: Simplifying complex customer journeys. Avis Budget Group’s innovative use of predictive AI models to optimize fleet utilization. Operational excellence: Transforming food waste and sustainability challenges into data solutions. The intersection of technology and customer satisfaction in travel and hospitality.”

Unisys CTO Dwayne Allen joins Technovation to discuss how he is leading AI-driven innovation and shaping the future of IT services. Dwayne shares insights into Unisys’s transformation from hardware to IT solutions, the democratization of digital acumen, and how the company’s AI training program has driven adoption across 13,000 employees. He also highlights the promise of generative AI, ethical use policies, and emerging technologies like quantum computing. Tune in to learn how Dwayne’s strategic leadership is driving Unisys forward and empowering clients globally. Highlights include: CTO Role Evolution: Discussion on CTO 3.0, focusing on AI practices, solution development, and client collaboration. AI Strategy: Details of Unisys’s AI training program and its integration into internal and client solutions. Customer Collaboration: Insights into leveraging client partnerships to enhance solutions and strategy. Generative AI & Ethical Guidelines: Highlights of AI use cases, Unisys’s AI acceptable use policy, and future integration. Board Membership: Reflections on serving as a board member and its influence on his operational role.

Onsemi CIO Neeraj Vijay joins Technovation to discuss the company’s transformation journey, driven by a unique digital thread framework. Neeraj shares insights on leveraging intelligent power and sensing technologies for industries like automotive and life sciences, achieving carbon neutrality by 2040, and fostering cultural adaptability in IT leadership. Learn how Onsemi integrates AI and digital innovation to lead in the semiconductor space. Highlights include: Digital Threads: Explanation of the framework and seven defined threads, such as idea-to-market and silica-to-chip. AI in Action: Use of large language models for customer engagement and support optimization. Cultural Shifts: Emphasis on flexibility, change readiness, and breaking down silos in IT leadership.

In this episode of Technovation, host Peter High interviews Kai Boysan, CEO of Flix North America, to explore how Flix is modernizing intercity travel. Learn about Flix’s strategic acquisition of Greyhound, its use of AI for optimizing operations, and its mission to provide sustainable, affordable travel to over 1,600 destinations. Discover how Flix employs AI to forecast demand, optimize pricing, and improve customer engagement through seamless technology integration. Kai also discusses the company’s innovative approach to partnerships and the adaptability needed to succeed across diverse global markets. Highlights include: Greyhound Acquisition: Merging legacy and innovation for transformation. AI-Driven Operations: Forecasting demand and optimizing efficiency. Customer-Facing Technology: Enhancing satisfaction with real-time updates. Sustainability Focus: Promoting greener travel alternatives. Leadership Insights: Structuring teams for innovation and growth.

Fifth Third Bancorp CIO Jude Schramm shares how he has spearheaded a comprehensive digital transformation over the past seven years, positioning the bank for growth, resilience, and innovation. Jude discusses the modernization of IT infrastructure, the integration of AI tools for employees and customers, and the bank’s strategic fintech acquisitions, such as Rise Money, to advance in embedded finance. He also delves into the evolution of customer experience, emphasizing a blend of human and digital interactions to meet modern banking needs. Additionally, Jude reflects on lessons from his tenure at GE, including the importance of leadership development and applying Lean Six Sigma principles to technology and business processes. Highlights include: Modernization and Resilience: Jude explains how Fifth Third upgraded its infrastructure, migrated to cloud-based systems, and established a robust foundation for scalability. AI for Transformation: The discussion explores the four pillars of AI at Fifth Third: for employees, engineers, business processes, and customers. Customer Experience Evolution: How the bank enhanced its mobile app, enabling 500+ updates in 2024 and creating seamless digital banking experiences. Talent Development: Strategies for building an engineering-centric IT workforce, including reskilling programs and partnerships for nontraditional hires. Fintech Acquisitions: Insights into how acquisitions like Rise Money and Provide have accelerated the bank’s entry into embedded finance and healthcare verticals. Governance and Innovation: The balance between adopting generative AI and ensuring regulatory compliance in a banking context. Lessons from GE: Jude reflects on the leadership training and Six Sigma practices that shaped his approach to problem-solving and innovation.