IT Visionaries

Discover how to turn decades of data into a competitive edge, build lasting customer relationships beyond the first click, and apply AI in ways that truly drive impact. Joining us is Vineet Mahajan, CTO of US News & World Report, who shares how he’s led the 90-year-old brand through a sweeping digital transformation. From rearchitecting infrastructure to deploying semantic search, generative AI, and agentic tools, Vineet explains how his team is reimagining what a legacy institution can become—and what every tech leader can take from that journey.Key Moments:00:00 Meet Vineet Mahajan, CTO of US News & World Report04:45 How to Unlock the True Value of Your Data09:55 Why First-Party Data Is Key to Building Customer Relationships14:32 What Is Semantic Search and How Can Generative AI Improve UX?18:39 How to Overcome Data Cleaning and Structuring Challenges21:18 How to Evaluate Emerging Tech Trends (Like Agentic AI)25:43 How to Lead Change: Data Governance and Digital Transformation32:38 What’s Next for US News & World Report and the Future of AI-Driven Strategy -- Brightspot is the leading content management platform built for modern teams. Your content lifecycle - from ideation to archival - moves faster, handling any volume, variety, or velocity with ease. Unlike legacy platforms that demand heavy dev work and struggle with scale, Brightspot is user-friendly, endlessly customizable, and enterprise-ready. Think dynamic, modern experiences, shipped in minutes—not months. Trusted by some of the world’s leading tech organizations, Brightspot reduces total cost of ownership, boosts productivity, and gives you the governance, security, and performance your teams need. Visit brightspot.com/ITVisionaries to learn more.---This episode was produced by the team at Mission.org and brought to you by Brightspot.

In this discussion, Bryana Tucci, the Lead of the AWS Marketplace for the US Intelligence Community, shares her expertise on modernizing government tech procurement. She reveals how traditional systems can take up to two years to adapt, but innovative solutions are emerging. Bryana highlights the challenges posed by air-gapped environments and the transformative role of generative AI in national security. She explains what tech companies need to succeed in this space and how AWS is streamlining processes to make advanced tools more accessible for government agencies.

Ravi Singh, President and Chief Product Officer at Brightspot, shares his expertise in content management and AI. He delves into how organizations can tame content chaos and leverage AI for efficiency. Ravi highlights common pitfalls in AI adoption and emphasizes the importance of keeping creators central to digital strategy. He offers insights on building trust in CMS systems and discusses future trends in content management. Tune in for valuable tips on ensuring brand consistency while balancing automation and human creativity.

Meet Chris Brandt, the new host who brings a wealth of experience from startups to global enterprises. Discover the pressing challenges in technology, including the impacts of solar flares and the balance between innovation and human creativity. Explore how groundbreaking ideas often face skepticism before transforming industries, using fun anecdotes. The conversation also highlights personal hobbies like surfing and archery, illustrating how passions connect us beyond tech. Learn valuable lessons from startup journeys, emphasizing the importance of people and marketing for success.

Join Kevin McEvilly, CTO of Canvas Worldwide, Andrew Fox, CEO of Unista, and Mike Della Porta, founder of Della Porta Consulting, as they dive into the complex world of data-driven marketing. They question the over-reliance on analytics and highlight the critical role of human intuition in strategy creation. The discussion covers the challenges of diversity in tech, the necessity of effective data governance, and how adaptive collaboration can enhance decision-making. Tune in for insights that may change your approach to marketing!

In this engaging conversation, Andy Tay, Senior Managing Director and Cloud First Lead at Accenture, emphasizes the necessity of a robust digital core for AI readiness. He reveals how ethical AI practices can prevent common pitfalls and why nurturing human involvement is key to success. Andy discusses the importance of strategic partnerships for upgrading digital capabilities and enhancing customer engagement, using real-world examples from the fast food industry. His insights underscore that digital transformation is an ongoing journey, not a destination.

Janet Cinfio, Chief Information Officer at Acxiom, dives into the pivotal role of data in marketing intelligence and how it shapes consumer experiences. She emphasizes balancing personalized marketing with consumer privacy and the ethical management of data. Janet also discusses the innovative use of machine learning for real-time insights. A passionate advocate for diversity in STEM, she highlights the importance of encouraging young girls from underserved communities to pursue careers in technology, reinforcing that diversity fuels innovation.

Ahmad Bahai, the CTO of Texas Instruments, brings his expertise in semiconductor innovation to the conversation. He shares insights on the challenges of meeting rising technology demands and the vital need for disruptive innovation. Bahai stresses that human intuition plays an irreplaceable role in the innovation process, expertly balancing problem-solving with AI's limitations. Additionally, he discusses how talent acquisition and collaboration drive success, and highlights the importance of understanding customer needs to foster groundbreaking advancements.

In this engaging discussion, Tony Lambert, the CTO of TechSmith, shares insights on how his company stays ahead by prioritizing innovation driven by customer needs. He explores the evolution of screen capture technology, its growing importance in hybrid work, and how TechSmith’s unique culture fosters loyal engineers. Lambert envisions a future where video AI aids in skill education. The conversation also touches on the balance between user experience and enterprise requirements, along with the significance of advanced tools addressing security concerns.

Leslie Beavers, the acting Chief Information Officer for the Department of Defense, sheds light on the complexities of coordinating IT efforts in defending the nation. She delves into the critical challenges of interoperability and integration among various DoD branches. Topics include the necessity of organizational change to foster collaboration and enhance decision-making, the balance between commercial solutions and custom needs, and the importance of trust in effective technology strategies. A must-listen for anyone interested in military tech and innovation!