Tech Whisperers: Inside the Playbooks of the Best Digital Leaders

Leadership accomplishments are always significant, but when put in the grander context of a leader’s journey, that significance can increase dramatically. How does someone find the inspiration and motivation to become a global leader in digital and transformational leadership having come from a small town in India, where he was raised by his mother? Sanjib Sahoo, Executive Vice President and Global Chief Digital Officer at Ingram Micro, joins our show to share insights from his career journey, how he took hold of his life to build a successful career, and how his team’s work at Ingram Micro is transforming the way people engage with technology. In this episode, we discuss: How experience-driven organizations should think about digitization and personalization How Sanjib led the development of XVantage, Ingram Micro’s new integration platform and digital operating model, from vision to reality in only 15 months Building trust with senior executives before trying to drive business transformation How Vision, Convocation, Credibility, Communication, and Compassion all work together in transformational leadership The importance of continued learning and growth for digital and technology leaders More information about Sanjib and today’s topics: LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sanjibsahoodigital/ Company Website: https://corp.ingrammicro.com/ About XVantage: https://media.ingrammicro.com/

The military is often regarded as the best leadership development organization in the world, and for good reason. Discipline, focus, accountability, execution, planning, vision, and more are vital components of any successful military member, and they translate into civilian life in profound ways. Digital leaders need to simultaneously understand the grand vision and what their team is seeing from their boots-on-the-ground perspective. Like military leaders, they also need to be able to support their teams, execute under pressure, and make the tough calls when necessary. In honor of Veteran’s Day, we bring together three powerhouse CIOs and military veterans: Mike Goodwin, CIO of PetSmart and former Army officer Woody Groton, CIO of Draper and Brigade Commander for the Army National Guard DiAnna Thimjon, CxO mentor, four-time CTO/CIO, and former Army officer In this episode, these IT leaders share how their military experience has shaped their careers and discuss the skills tomorrow’s digital leaders need in order to get ahead. Join us as we explore: How military leadership experience can inform civilian leadership The importance of supporting team members by asking for input and providing logistical support The importance of reacting well and executing plans well, even if they aren’t perfect How veterans contribute to the workforce Maintaining a “complete-the-mission mindset” while also avoiding burnout Balancing leadership soft skills and teachability with technical skill expertise

What does it mean to be a trailblazing CIO in one of the biggest and most celebrated sports organizations in America, the National Football League (NFL)? How can a digital leader leave their mark in such a complex organization with countless moving parts to manage every day? Michelle McKenna, Founder & CEO of the Michelle McKenna Collaborative, served as the first-ever CIO for the NFL and its first female C-suite executive. She went on to achieve a number of other “firsts” during 10 seasons with the organization before she stepped away in April of 2022. In addition to driving digital transformation and launching new businesses, Michelle led the league through the 2020 virtual draft and the 2020 season during a global pandemic. She spearheaded the implementation of new technologies and processes that have led to better experiences for players, coaches, refs and fans alike. Michelle knows what it takes to think differently about the possibilities of technology and how to create a powerful legacy of digital leadership. Join us as we discuss: How Michelle laid out a 10-year plan during her interview process How to shape the role you’re interviewing for before you’re hired Why all tech projects are really about the human experience Why digital leaders need the curiosity and courage to move out of their comfort zones How Michelle led her team through complex production and operational challenges Some of the unique moments Michelle experienced while working on the field How Michelle led the charge to replace sideline printers for play information with digital tablets  More information about Michelle and today’s topics: LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michelle-mckenna-194472a/ Company Website: https://www.mckennacollaborative.com/

As businesses embrace more digital technology and tools to drive revenue and transform their operations, CEOs are expecting their tech leaders to step up to a new role: transformation leader. This elevation in the organization requires not just a technology leadership mindset but also a business leadership mindset.To make that transition successfully, it takes a true visionary, someone who is dialed in to what the business needs and proactively anticipates and guides innovation rather than waiting around for marching orders. It takes the ability to lead with grace, empathy, and confidence even while under extreme pressure to perform. Rich Gilbert, Aflac’s Chief Transformation Officer, is the embodiment of this kind of executive.While Rich’s career journey has spanned technology leadership roles at a number of major companies, he’s now not only responsible for the digital services organization at Aflac but also its largest P&L. In this episode, recorded at the CIO 100 Symposium & Awards, he draws on his experience to share how to break through glass walls, create business value as a digital executive, and lead through an inspiring vision.Join us as we discuss:How to develop and cast a grand vision and inspire your team to embrace itThe importance of iteration and starting from the right place when tackling goalsRich’s secret sauce for leading with grace even while under extreme pressureThe story behind Aflac’s famous mascot, the Aflac Duck More information about Rich and today’s topics:LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/richlgilbert/Company Website: https://www.aflac.com/

The best digital leaders know how to build loyalty within their teams by extending trust, leading with intentionality, and always seeking constructive feedback so they can grow. Without these elements, leaders risk a major disconnect between how they lead their teams and how their teams operate — which can damage productivity and, ultimately, business outcomes.Our guest this week is Sabina Ewing, Global CIO and VP of Business & Technology for Abbott, a Fortune 86 company and a global leader in the healthcare industry. Sabina is acutely aware of the fact that when you’re responsible for leading such a massive organization, intentionality is a prerequisite. It’s how she artfully juggles the seemingly unmanageable demands placed upon a global CIO while nurturing and balancing high EQ and IQ.Join us as we discuss:The importance of managing your personal brand by continuously soliciting feedback, leading with intentionality, creating impact, and refining your executionWhy you should honor the legacy of your organization and how to carry it on through your leadershipHow V.I.C. Initiatives can help aspiring tech leaders advance in their careersThe need for creating loyalty and building trust within your teamMore information about Sabina and today’s topics:LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sabina-ewing/ Company Website: https://www.abbott.com/ 

We are back for part 2 of our two-part episode with Ralph Loura, recorded onsite at The CIO 100 Awards held at the Terranea Resort in Rancho Palos Verdes, CA.Ralph is the SVP CIO at Lumentum and has worked at companies like HP, Cisco Systems, and Clorox, and he serves as an advisory board member for several more. In part 1, we unpacked how Ralph approaches truth-telling and storytelling for effective communication. In part 2 we’re exploring Ralph’s career journey more closely and digging in to the importance of mindset, getting out of your comfort zone, and Ralph’s path toward more sustainable tech standards and processes.While you can listen to Part 2 without having heard Part 1, we highly encourage you to listen to both parts.Join us in part 2 as we discuss:Why leaders need to have a steadfast mindset and a preparedness strategy to confront and overcome volatility and uncertainty with calm confidenceHow to move out of your comfort zone without losing trust or confidence from your teamWhy Ralph joined LumentumHow to prioritize sustainability as a tech leader and influence positive change More information about Ralph and today’s topics:LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ralphloura/Company Website: https://www.lumentum.comOther Relevant Links: https://sustainableit.org, https://genesysworks.org/

We had an incredible opportunity to sit down in person with Ralph Loura, the SVP CIO at Lumentum, for a special two-part conversation at The CIO 100 Awards in Rancho Palos Verdes, CA. Ralph’s leadership journey encompasses some of the most well-known technology and consumer products companies around. Along the way, he’s been recognized time and again as an inspiring, transformational CIO whose innovative approaches create real business value. But that’s not all there is to Ralph Loura. He also plays a few other vital “roles” for his team: the Chief Truth Telling Officer, Chief Storytelling Officer, Chief Motivation Officer, and the Chief Sustainability Officer. In part one, we open up Ralph’s playbook to unpack his superpowers of truth-telling and storytelling, and how he cuts through the noise to communicate effectively and with clarity. In part two, we explore how Ralph motivates his teams as well as his work to improve sustainability in the tech industry. Join us for part 1 as we discuss: How to earn a “seat at the table” in significant conversations and meetings How to take inspiration from multiple sources to focus on solving problems in unique ways How leaders become more effective when they get out of the mix and widen their perspective. Why leaders need to cut through the noise with clear communication so their team can unite around a clear mission in order to collaborate and innovate The importance of research, preparation, and “the meeting before the meeting” when making big decisions More information about Ralph Loura and today’s topics: LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ralphloura/ Company Website: https://www.lumentum.com

While most companies share some standard ways of operating, it’s that unique sliver in approach that truly differentiate the great companies from the mediocre ones. At Discover Financial Services, CIO and Executive VP Amir Arooni is spearheading those differentiators.Amir is a strong believer in the importance of empowering people to do great work and developing them to be the kind of innovative anticipators who will continually create greater and more differentiated value for customers. He leads with a philosophy that we can deliver powerful business results through a combination of process agility, technology, and talented people. In this episode, we unpack Amir’s playbook to learn: How to win internal stakeholder support for the vision How to build a true appreciation for the current state organization as a new CIO How to keep the customer at the heart of all company operations How Amir’s Drive for Small workforce strategy led to a 6x increase in productivity More information about Amir and today’s topics: LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amirarooni/ Company Website: https://www.discover.com/

The best leaders across all industries are leading their people with HEART: humility, empathy, adaptability, resiliency, and transparency. They are balancing organizational goals with the needs of their teams, delivering consistent results along the way. For a tech leader like Kristie Grinnell, it’s a work of art to not only develop those qualities, but also balance them with the often rigorous demands of the tech world – Kristie has always been up to the challenge. Kristie is the SVP and CIO at DXC Technology and is an award-winning executive with over 20 years of experience driving change in public and privately held professional services companies. Through our conversation, Kristie opens up her playbook to share how she leads her teams with HEART. Join us as we discuss: How Kristie embodies each part of the HEART acronym in her leadership approach The importance of accountability and the need to have the hard conversations How Kristie inspires a culture of collaboration within her team How to build a strong and agile team with a great culture Why building trust needs to precede transparency More information about Kristie and today’s topics: LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristiegrinnell/  Company Website: https://dxc.com/us/en 

Larry Quinlan is a Hall of Fame CIO who is widely regarded as one the most successful and impactful leaders to ever take on the role. As the Global Chief Information Officer at Deloitte, one of the world’s largest professional services firms, Larry oversaw over 10,000 IT professionals across 175 countries for over 11 years and drove impressive revenue for some of Deloitte’s larger clientele. He now provides technology professionals and C-suite executives the benefit of his leadership experience and wisdom as a mentor, a strategic advisor to private equity, and a member of 13 boards of directors. How do you unpack the playbook and multiple superpowers of someone like Larry? You bring in the reinforcements! We invited a number of individuals whose lives Larry has impacted, both personally and professionally, to contribute to this interview. As each guest poses a thoughtful question, we gain more insight into what makes Larry Quinlan so special and how current technology leaders can apply the experience he has gained to make a real difference in the organizations they lead. Join us as we discuss: How to effectively lead an organization through economic turmoil and uncertainty Why tension can be good for organizations How to guide constructive dialogue to help your team discover the right answers Why a passion for people is the foundation for successful leadership What SCUBA diving and technology leadership have in common How to maintain balance between your professional and personal lives as a technology leader  More information about Larry and today’s topics: LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/larryquinlan/