IT Visionaries

Cybersecurity isn’t just about firewalls and passwords anymore. It’s an all-out battle where hackers run businesses with customer support desks, insider threats can be disguised as your newest hire, and artificial intelligence is both the weapon and the shield. In this special episode of IT Visionaries, host Chris Brandt switches roles and sits in the hot seat while Lacey Peace, host of Experts of Experience, interviews him about the three biggest cyber threats IT leaders must prepare for in 2025. From the rise of ransomware-as-a-service to North Korean nationals infiltrating U.S. companies, and AI reshaping the entire security landscape, Chris reveals what’s really happening behind the scenes of today’s most dangerous attacks. With stories from his career building high-security facilities — including an EMP-shielded data center buried under a mountain — Chris shares the lessons that every business leader needs to hear about resilience, recovery, and why it’s no longer a matter of “if” but “when.” Don’t miss this candid and eye-opening conversation. Watch the full episode now and learn how to protect your organization before it’s too late. Key Moments: 00:00: Lacey Peace Interviews Chris Brandt04:45 Cyber Extortion and Ransomware08:17 Supply Chain Attacks18:20 Creating an Isolated Recovery Environment20:08 Threat Number Two: IT Worker Attacks22:14 The Rise of Phishing Attacks27:26 The Evolution of Social Engineering30:19 The Role of AI in Cybersecurity33:01 Challenges in Reporting Cyber Incidents33:46 The Complexity of Cyber Incident Recovery34:45 The Role of Governments in Cybersecurity -- This episode of IT Visionaries is brought to you by Meter - the company building better networks. Businesses today are frustrated with outdated providers, rigid pricing, and fragmented tools. Meter changes that with a single integrated solution that covers everything wired, wireless, and even cellular networking. They design the hardware, write the firmware, build the software, and manage it all so your team doesn't have to.That means you get fast, secure, and scalable connectivity without the complexity of juggling multiple providers. Thanks to meter for sponsoring. Go to meter.com/itv to book a demo.---IT Visionaries is made by the team at Mission.org. Learn more about our media studio and network of podcasts at mission.org. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Balint Pasztor, CEO of Diffuse Drive and former robotics engineer at Bosch, tackles the intricate challenges of data scarcity in AI. He explains how synthetic data can revolutionize the training of autonomous systems, condensing years of data collection into mere hours. Balint dives into the significance of edge cases for safety, the workings of diffusion models for realistic data generation, and a unique three-step approach to optimize AI performance. His insights are essential for anyone interested in the future of robotics and autonomous technology.

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 -- This episode of IT Visionaries is brought to you by Meter - the company building better networks. Businesses today are frustrated with outdated providers, rigid pricing, and fragmented tools. Meter changes that with a single integrated solution that covers everything wired, wireless, and even cellular networking. They design the hardware, write the firmware, build the software, and manage it all so your team doesn't have to.That means you get fast, secure, and scalable connectivity without the complexity of juggling multiple providers. Thanks to meter for sponsoring. Go to meter.com/itv to book a demo.---IT Visionaries is made by the team at Mission.org. Learn more about our media studio and network of podcasts at mission.org. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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.