Innovation and the Digital Enterprise

A fresh spotlight is on clinical research on account of the COVID-19 pandemic. Katherine Vandebelt, Global Vice President of Innovation at Oracle, shares how she is innovating clinical research participation through inclusive, accessible, and human-centered practices.In this episode, Katherine highlights the challenges of recruitment and retention of clinical research participants. She reflects on the stress that arrives alongside health conditions, diagnoses, and deciding a treatment path. Katherine shares her people-oriented approach to innovation and acknowledges our aversion to change. (1:22) – Global VP of Innovation at Oracle(3:30) – Getting to know patients(5:28) – The impact of Bill C-22(8:50) – Reflecting the actual population(11:57) – Health advocates and connection(15:04) – Communication and knowledge-building(20:36) – Deciding focus areas of innovation(24:32) – Thinking about “when”(29:34) – Addressing changeKatherine Vandebelt is the Global Vice President of Innovation at Oracle. Katherine's niche is in pharmaceutical clinical development and transforming organizations to meet aggressive financial and operational goals. She is also the host of The Latest Dose podcast. Katherine earned a bachelor’s degree in pharmacology and physiology at the University of Toronto.If you'd like to receive new episodes as they're published, please subscribe to Innovation and the Digital Enterprise in Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts. If you enjoyed this episode, please consider leaving a review in Apple Podcasts. It really helps others find the show.Podcast episode production by Dante32.

Serving the United States does not have to be in uniform. Mike Seper, University Program Director of the National Security Innovation Network at Washington University in St. Louis, discusses how the problem-solving network NSIN embraces university-based innovators and entrepreneurs from all areas of study to bring their expertise into the service of our country. In this episode, Mike reflects on the importance of an inclusive and diverse innovation process while providing a glimpse into programs available to students and university members. He highlights select focus areas—energy needs, artificial intelligence, and drone technology—and exciting partnerships with HBCUs focusing on geospatial technologies. Mike shares how NSIN and student contributions can lead to future employment and foster a generation of problem solvers. (3:53) – National Security Innovation Network(6:23) – Defense Innovation Unit(8:07) – Current focus areas(11:23) – Soldier readiness with the Missouri Army National Guard(14:11) – Understanding the importance of the mission(18:15) – Emerge Accelerator and engaging university research(21:28) – Diversity and inclusion in the innovation process(24:41) – Students serving their country(26:20) – Innovation Entrepreneurship Center at Washington University in St. Louis(27:29) – How to get started(32:46) – ParticipationMike Seper is an entrepreneur and the University Program Director of the National Security Innovation Network at Washington University in St. Louis. He is a contributor for Entrepreneur Media and former site director of National Science Foundation I-Corps and lead instructor at Washington University. Mike earned a bachelor’s degree in entrepreneurial studies at the University of Hawaii at Manoa and an MBA at the University of Alaska Fairbanks.If you'd like to receive new episodes as they're published, please subscribe to Innovation and the Digital Enterprise in Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts. If you enjoyed this episode, please consider leaving a review in Apple Podcasts. It really helps others find the show.Podcast episode production by Dante32.

Extended reality has Jack King animated about innovation and the future of technology. As Chief Information Officer at the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, Jack sees the countless ways that augmented and virtual realities can accelerate learning and opportunities for the 39,000 members of AAOS.In this episode, Jack discusses motivation, connection, and encouraging employees to be participants in driving change. He speaks on company culture and his approach to communication, including daily huddles. While sharing his excitement over continuing technological innovations, such as haptic feedback, Jack reflects on lessons from his cross-industry career. (2:42) - CIO at AAOS(4:24) - The most important lesson from the C-suite(7:27) - Staying motivated(9:36) - Launching a mobile application(11:07) - Member-driven organizations(13:00) - Daily huddles(14:29) - "Take me out to the ball game" culture(15:38) - Enhanced communication strategy(19:30) - Extended realityJack King is Chief Information Officer at American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. Previously in his cross-industry career, Jack served as CTO of Broward Health and Northwest Community Healthcare, in addition to numerous IS and IT leadership positions. He held the position of Principal at Impact Advisors and served as the Chief Technology Officer and Acting Secretary of Innovation & Technology for the State of Illinois. Jack earned a BS in Business, Organizational Management from Trinity Christian College and an MBA from Olivet Nazarene University.If you'd like to receive new episodes as they're published, please subscribe to Innovation and the Digital Enterprise in Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts. If you enjoyed this episode, please consider leaving a review in Apple Podcasts. It really helps others find the show.Podcast episode production by Dante32.

In addition to hosting Innovation and the Digital Enterprise, Pat is also the founder of the Innovative Executives League, a group that connects visionary Chicago leaders. Earlier this year, the group held its first in-person Innovative Executives League Summit with an amazing slate of leaders sharing experiences and perspectives on innovation and leadership. Today’s episode pulls together highlights from three of the day’s presentations. First up, Gale Wilkinson, Founder and Managing Partner of VITALIZE Venture Capital, shares insights on today's trends in angel investing and venture capital. Next, Steve Rubinow, Director of the Institute for Professional Development at DePaul University’s Jarvis College of Computing and Digital Media, speaks to the increasing criticality of continuous learning. Finally, Ateet Adhikari, Chief Operating Officer of ShopRunner, talks about how teams innovate without losing focus.We hope you enjoy these highlights. Be sure to check out the next Summit coming up on November 3rd at the OLC Education & Conference Center in Rosemont IL. You won’t want to miss it, so get your tickets early!If you want to learn more about the Innovative Executives League, the events we host, or any of these innovative leaders, check out our LinkedIn page or visit our website for more information! (01:25) - Angel Investing & Venture Capital Overview with Gale Wilkinson, Founder and Managing Partner of VITALIZE Venture Capital(17:05) - Pre-K to Gray: the Increasing Criticality of Continuous Learning with Steve Rubinow, Director of the Institute for Professional Development at DePaul University’s Jarvis College of Computing and Digital Media(25:34) - Disruption Without Distraction: How to Innovate Without Losing Focus with Ateet Adhikari, Chief Operating Officer of ShopRunnerIf you'd like to receive new episodes as they're published, please subscribe to Innovation and the Digital Enterprise in Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. If you enjoyed this episode, please consider leaving a review on Apple Podcasts. It really helps others find the show.Podcast episode production by Dante32.

Seeking professional advice to advance your career? Patrick Dineen, Chief Information Officer at Nielsen, has the answer: solve bigger problems. As a leader in strategic planning and transformational thinking within several major companies over his career, Patrick is perfectly positioned to witness the incredible value of team members who seek out challenges and take advantage of big opportunities to contribute.In this episode, Patrick reflects on outside-in thinking and a growth mindset in the workplace. He shares insight into the value of building relationships and trust across companies. Patrick discusses his leadership style: influence over authority, a willingness to take the blame, and intentionality in seeking out ways to assist colleagues. Patrick illuminates the complex relationship of being present and planning for the future, and he expounds on the value of operating on a very familiar unit of time: one week. (1:30) – CIO at Nielsen(5:30) – Building relationships across an organization(9:00) – Obsoleting your own role(13:50) – The tyranny of growth(15:15) – Solve bigger problems(19:22) – Thinking weekly(23:40) – Influence, not authority(28:03) – Taking the blame(33:09) – Avoiding “watermelon status”(33:57) – Change managementPatrick Dineen is the Chief Information Officer at Nielsen. Previously, he served in leadership positions at CSG Systems, Harte Hanks, USADATA, Claritas, and Equifax. Patrick earned an MBA from NYU Stern School of Business and a B.S. in Industrial Engineering at Columbia University. If you'd like to receive new episodes as they're published, please subscribe to Innovation and the Digital Enterprise in Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. If you enjoyed this episode, please consider leaving a review in Apple Podcasts. It really helps others find the show.Podcast episode production by Dante32.

Not many people are willing to call up their competitors and dive into discussions on bettering the industry at large—choosing to see their competitors as partners. Sara Rossio, Chief Product Officer at G2, is curious about the ways transparency can build trust internally and how to embrace transparency and collaboration with customers, vendors, and across an industry.In this episode, Sara talks about how she approaches product management at G2, including utilizing artificial intelligence and people to moderate and validate reviews and personalizing data to meet a customer’s needs. She discusses her leadership style of providing frequent, direct, and actionable feedback, as well as the importance of supplying context. Sara illuminates the key to her success in product management and how companies can remain competitive: stay curious.(1:05) – Chief Product Officer at G2(4:04) – Transparency(8:19) – Inviting criticism(11:49) – Working with competitors(13:24) – Nokia(16:12) – The customer of tomorrow(17:21) – Biggest challenge: talent(22:27) – Frequent, direct, actionable feedback(25:33) – Tough conversations and a culture of kindness(27:59) – Staying curiousSara Rossio is the Chief Product Officer at G2, a digital marketplace for business software and services that boasts 1.7 million validated product reviews. Sara has worked in project management at PowerReviews, Gogo, Here (a Nokia company), NAVTEQ, and Eaton. She earned a BSBA in Marketing and International Business at Fisher College of Business at the Ohio State University. If you'd like to receive new episodes as they're published, please subscribe to Innovation and the Digital Enterprise in Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts. If you enjoyed this episode, please consider leaving a review in Apple Podcasts. It really helps others find the show.Podcast episode production by Dante32.

It is all about the people, the process, and the technology for Mike Kennedy, VP of Technology, Enablement, and Strategy at CDW and U.S. Army veteran. Whether analyzing processes, recruiting and retaining great employees, and implementing new technologies, Mike is invested in holistic transformation.In this episode, Mike Kennedy discusses the importance of “little i” innovation, motivating employees, and inclusion in decision-making. He shares insight into a VSOM approach and agile practices while diving into processes. Later in the episode, Mike reflects on hiring and training the right personnel, including military veterans, and connecting with talented people early in their careers.(2:00) – People, process, and technology(4:13) – Recruiting and retaining(6:19) – VSOM(8:50) – The nature of collaboration(9:36) – SaaS solutions(10:48) – “little i” innovation(14:27) – Agile practices(18:08) – Pushing down decision-making(20:46) – Investing in early careers(20:59) – Offering the right incentives(26:34) – Working with veteransMike Kennedy is the Vice President of Technology, Enablement, and Strategy at CDW. He holds an MBA from Gies College of Business at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and has led strategic and business planning at HERE Technologies and The Marketing Store. Mike served in the U.S. Army from 2000 to 2005 after receiving a bachelors degree from the United States Military Academy at West Point. If you'd like to receive new episodes as they're published, please subscribe to Innovation and the Digital Enterprise in Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts. If you enjoyed this episode, please consider leaving a review in Apple Podcasts. It really helps others find the show.Podcast episode production by Dante32.

Fred Lee, Chief Technology Officer at Amount, is skeptical of “culture fit.” In leading technology teams of various sizes and goals, he has welcomed team members who approach things differently, who embrace their unique perspectives, and witnessed their added value across organizations. In his cross-industry career, a fresh perspective has often served him well.In this episode, Fred shares insight into the shifting experience of banking and the industry’s digital innovations. He reflects on how he has approached new roles and how getting close to the customer is essential to understanding a company’s successes and failures. Fred illuminates the array of approaches to process and communication, and the importance of following through.  (1:05) – Amount(5:00) – Adapting to fit the customer(6:52) – Experience across industries(8:55) – Learning through customer proximity(11:01) – Identifying the problems(13:47) – Bringing in talent(17:03) – More process vs. less process(18:52) – Buy now, pay later (BNPL)(20:10) – Building a world-class team(25:51) – Managing a hybrid and remote workforceFred Lee is an experienced engineer and technology executive, currently serving as Chief Technology Officer at Amount. Previously, he served as CTO at Cars.com, Gamut, and Belly , as well as VP of Digital Architecture at Grainger. Fred received a bachelor's degree from Purdue University and a law degree from Loyola University Chicago.If you'd like to receive new episodes as they're published, please subscribe to Innovation and the Digital Enterprise in Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts. If you enjoyed this episode, please consider leaving a review in Apple Podcasts. It really helps others find the show.Podcast episode production by Dante32.

Edward Wagoner, CIO of JLL, acknowledges what many C-suite executives do not: leaders are human. In his 26 years at JLL, Edward has seen tremendous company growth—investment in data and proptech, the purchase of two AI companies, and a serious effort to recruit the highest-level data scientists—and he’s had to grow as well. In this episode, Edward talks about innovating the ways that we work together (in digital and physical space) and building environments that suit meaningful collaboration. He shares insight into JLL’s expansion and investments, including their focus on sustainability. Reflecting on his own journey, Edward discusses the essential role vulnerability holds in personal and professional growth and the obstacles he’s overcome to lead with authenticity.   (1:25) – Looking ahead at JLL(7:46) – Examining and improving carbon impact(11:19) – Bringing in the best of the best(14:58) – CIO community in Chicago(16:29) – Acceleration from COVID-19(18:16) – Examining the hybrid approach(24:22) – Soliciting feedback(29:48) – Ed’s journey(33:52) – “Do glass-breaking change on yourself”(37:30) – Working with difficult people(39:13) – The power of authenticityEdward Wagoner is the Chief Information Officer at JLL focusing on the intersection of the digital and physical workplace. He has worked in various capacities at JLL over his 26-year career in the company, and he holds a bachelor’s degree from Bob Jones University. In his personal and professional life, Edward operates under the principals of authenticity, vulnerability, and transparency.If you'd like to receive new episodes as they're published, please subscribe to Innovation and the Digital Enterprise in Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts. If you enjoyed this episode, please consider leaving a review in Apple Podcasts. It really helps others find the show.Podcast episode production by Dante32.

AeroPay founder Dan Muller embraced Chicago’s supportive entrepreneurial ecosystem to build his innovative payment processing business in 2017, and he is looking to return the favor. This week’s episode offers an insightful conversation about finding the resources and community needed to materialize an idea, the often-fraught scaling period of a company, and the importance of advocating for fellow entrepreneurs.Dan Muller is a product-first founder dedicated to rethinking the collection and distribution of payments, but he is equally committed to building community within his company and beyond. With Pat and Shelli, Dan discusses hiring philosophies at different points of company growth and getting real about how people are going to use your product and integrate it into their systems. A proponent of connecting with other founders, Dan speaks on how to embrace others’ insights and feedback while you create your own path.(00:31) – The mission of AeroPay(4:02) – Branding with authenticity(5:15) – Chicago’s entrepreneurial ecosystem(7:59) – Recruitment and hiring(10:21) – Specialization(13:28) – Employee endorsements for new hires(15:12) – Growing the business is everyone’s responsibility(16:50) – Money-movement innovation(19:52) – The influence of athletics on leadership(22:13) – Connecting with other founders(24:13) – Tools for getting started(26:00) - 1871 and support communitiesDan Muller is the founder of AeroPay, a patented payments process that enables “smart bank transfers” between business and their customers or other businesses. Prior to AeroPay, Dan held numerous positions at GPShopper, including Vice President of Product and Vice President of Software Engineering. He earned his bachelor’s degree in political science from Franklin & Marshall College.If you'd like to receive new episodes as they're published, please subscribe to Innovation and the Digital Enterprise in Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. If you enjoyed this episode, please consider leaving a review in Apple Podcasts. It really helps others find the show.Podcast episode production by Dante32.