Tech Whisperers: Inside the Playbooks of the Best Digital Leaders

This episode we’re shining the light on Kathy Kay, a leader whose name is synonymous with “building” — and she is a builder in every sense of the word. Kathy not only excels at developing high-performance teams, she extends that builder mindset across multiple areas in both her personal and professional lives.In a wide-ranging conversation, Kathy is sharing how she applies her philosophy of building to her current role as EVP & CIO at Principal Financial Group. We’ll explore her strengths in building courage, collaboration, community, innovation, and family as she lives out a leadership style that balances personal and professional success.Tune in to learn:How to simplify complex projects for your teamHow to ensure your team is aligned with the overall corporate strategyHow to maintain optimism and keep your team energizedKathy’s plans for using AI and cloud innovation to enable business growthKathy’s insights about the human impact of AIAnd more!Featuring submitted questions from:Dan Houston, Chairman & CEO (Ret.), Principal Financial GroupAnil Cheriyan, Board Member & 3x CIO, Tech Whisperers Guest Ep. 55Ryan Downing, CIO, Enterprise Business Solutions, Principal Financial GroupJen Hartsock, Chief Information & Digital Officer, CargillRajesh Arora, Chief Data & Analytics Officer, Principal Financial GroupLance Henning, Chief Executive Officer, Greater Des Moines Habitat for HumanityBrian Waller, President, Technology Association of IowaMackenzie Keogh, Kathy’s DaughterJackson Keogh, Kathy's 2-Year Old Grandson

Inducted in the CIO Hall of Fame in 2019, Zack Hicks is a leader who has left a major impact on the CIO profession through his relentless pursuit of innovation to drive new business outcomes. Having previously been the CEO of Toyota Connected and the Chief Digital Officer at Toyota Motor North America, Zack is now making his mark at Kimberly-Clark as their Chief Digital & Technology Officer.With a career that includes numerous “answer-the-call” moments, Zack knows what it takes for leaders to deliver major wins for their organizations. In this episode, we’re unpacking some of those key moments that have defined Zack’s career and set him apart as a true industry innovator and disruptor.Tune in to learn:What led Zack to join Kimberly-Clark after 26 years with ToyotaHow Zack approaches his role at Kimberly-ClarkHow Zack overcame a variety of challenges at Toyota early in his careerThe key to balancing people and technology amid the rise of AI The skills tech leaders need in order to build trust in a digital transformation journeyFeaturing submitted questions from:Brian Kursar, Group VP & Head of Enterprise AI, Toyota Motor North AmericaBarbara Cooper, Retired CIOGreg Beckwith, Director & Chief of Staff, Kimberly-ClarkTeresa Miquelarena, VP, Global Information & Digital Strategy, Kimberly-ClarkDeena Dayalan, Head of Digital Operations in Bangalore, Kimberly-Clark

While many CIOs are busy figuring out what the CIO’s role looks like today, our guest this week is already answering the question, “What does the CIO of tomorrow look like?” As EVP and Chief Information, Digital, and Corporate Strategy Officer at Tractor Supply Co., Rob Mills has been instrumental in driving the $14.6 billion retailer’s rapid growth, profitability, and world class customer experience. His influence and impact are expansive: He has a hand in P&L, serves on Tractor Supply’s executive committee, and also sits on numerous public and private boards.Join us as we talk tech, digital, and strategy with Rob and learn about:The evolution of the CIO’s roleHow to lead through digital transformationHow Tractor Supply handles customer experience and store supportHow tech leaders can balance speed and accuracyThe differences between empowerment and delegation and how to balance bothFeaturing submitted questions from:Mike Seals, Chief Digital Officer & SVP of Strategy, Hussman CorporationChris Colla, Chief Technology Officer, B&G FoodsHal Lawton, President & CEO, Tractor Supply Co.Joy Brown, SVP & CDO, Boston Medical Center, Board Director, Tractor Supply Co.Brandon Jacobson, VP of Corporate Strategy, Tractor Supply Co.

There are some Tech Whisperers who leave a legacy by investing their skills in just one or two companies across their career, and then there are those who leave their legacy by making their mark on several organizations throughout their career. As a whopping seven-time CIO and a three-time winner of the CIO100 Award, Mark Settle is a standout example of the latter. During his CIO journey, Mark somehow also made the time to publish two must-read books, Truth from the Valley, A Practical Primer on IT Management for the Next Decade and Truth from the Trenches: A Practical Guide to the Art of IT Management.As an expert truth teller, startup adviser, and advisory board member, Mark has mastered the art of helping teams and businesses cut through the fluff to focus on what matters most. In this episode, he’s sharing some of his secret sauce with us.Join us as we unpack Mark’s leadership playbook to learn:How to handle curveballs under pressureHow to effectively utilize discretionary bandwidthHow to navigate organizational politicsStrategies for a CIO’s first 90 daysThe key to becoming a Level 5 leaderFeaturing submitted questions from:Ralph Loura, Hall of Fame CIO & Chairman of the Board, SustainableIT.orgJulie Cullivan, Board Director, Former Chief Technology & People OfficerCarter Busse, CIO, WorkatoAlvina Antar, Advisor, Board Member, & Former CIO

You’re in for a special treat with this episode as we sit down with the GOAT, the greatest-of-all-time CIO, Robert B. Carter. Rob served as the CIO of FedEx for almost a quarter of a century, during which time he transformed IT strategy and led the company to unprecedented success, not to mention 27 straight CIO 100 Awards.In this episode, we’re delving into Rob’s extraordinary 24-year tenure at FedEx and exploring the essence of leadership, the importance of humility, the role of mentorship, and the challenges and milestones that have defined his remarkable career.Join us as we unpack Rob’s expansive digital leadership playbook to learn:How Rob kept himself energized at FedEx for such a long durationHow mentors impacted his careerWhat it takes to be a successful technology executiveHow effective leaders balance personal and professional priorities A peak into what Rob has planned next!Featuring submitted questions from:Charlie Feld, CEO & Founder, Feld Group InstituteRachel Harvey, Rob Carter’s Executive Assistant for 31 years Ken Spangler, Co-Founder, AdaptiveIONDottie Berry, Chief of Staff to Rob CarterMike Glenn, EVP Market Development & Corp Communications (ret.), FedExChris Winton, SVP HR, Comcast; Board Member, Methodist Le Bonheur Healthcare

As the leader of over 5,000 technologists, Monica Caldes, Global CIO at Liberty Mutual Insurance, has established herself as one of the top digital executives in the industry. She is one of those rare leaders that has figured out the secret formula for mixing boldness, courage, empathy, and kindness, making her a leader that people are eager to work under.In this episode, we are shining the light onto Monica’s story to uncover the “It Factor” that makes her such an incredible leader, and we’ve included some really cool surprises for Monica along the way!Join us as we unpack Monica’s digital leadership playbook to learn:How a strong CEO/CIO partnership creates new opportunities and enables fast transformationHow Monica develops future-ready cultures and teamsHow to effectively lead with thousands of team members under your authorityHow to properly apply adaptability in your leadershipHow to embrace and learn from major mistakesFeaturing submitted questions from:Jim MachPhee, COO at Liberty Mutual InsuranceJim Fowler, CTO at NationwideAndrew Palmer, SVP & CIO at Liberty Mutual InsuranceKyle Benton (We don’t want to spoil who this is!)

In this episode, we are shining the light on Dr. Janet Sherlock, a digital and retail executive who leads through her expertise in digital transformation, customer experience, omnichannel strategy, data, and AI and machine learning. Janet’s career spans companies such as ExxonMobile, British Petroleum, and, for the last seven years, Ralph Lauren, where she served as Chief Digital & Technology Officer, driving the company’s digital transformation strategy and leading their global e-commerce strategy. Join us as we unpack Janet’s digital leadership playbook to learn:How to lead your team through complex goals while remaining a leader people want to be aroundHow to maintain the CIO role’s core identity and purpose and demonstrate it to other executivesHow tech companies can balance strategy and organizational design Why she decided to pursue her EdD and how her research has impacted her career and perspectivesHow to use structure to enable resultsFeaturing submitted questions from:Karenann Terrell, Technology Advisor, Former Chief Digital & Technology OfficerAnil Cheriyan, Former CIO/CTOMichael Smith, Chief Information Officer at Estee LauderEarl Newsome, Chief Information Officer at Cummins Inc.Kim Saxton, Chief Executive Officer at TechPACT

There are leaders who know how to win big results, but don’t know how to win people, and then there are leaders who know how to win people, but don’t know how to win big results. NTT DATA North America CIO Barry Shurkey is one of those great leaders who knows how to win both in business and with his people. For this episode, we sat down with Barry at NTT DATA’s Innovation Center in Plano, Texas, to shine the light on his career journey and open up his tech leadership playbook so you can learn from the best.Tune in to learn about:Barry’s early jobs in publishing and hospitality influenced his careerHow to harness emotional intelligence as a leaderHow sharing the “ugly” news early can prevent problems and bring teams closer togetherHow Barry envisions the future of the CIO positionHow Barry has mentored and advocated for new leaders, particularly underrepresented individuals Featuring submitted questions from:Lori Shisler, VP of Global People at NTT Global SourcingRobert Dority, Vice President at NTT Data ServicesTom Levesque, (ret.) VP of Information Technology at NTT Data ServicesMeredith Vance, Senior VP, Treasurer at NTT Data,Lourdes Gipson, Senior Executive Director at Inspire Leadership NetworkKris Moser, Executive Assistant to the CIO at NTT DATA Data Services

There are two types of companies: Those that achieve incredible amounts of success only to crumble when they fail to keep up with the world around them, and those that achieve the same level of success but are also able to sustain it, through adaptability, forward thinking, and tenacity. The companies in this second group are the ones that consistently withstand supply chain disruptions, global health crises, economic disasters, and more.We’ve invited two great friends of the podcast, AdaptiveION Co-Founder Ken Spangler, and former Accenture managing director Steve Davis, Co-Founder of AdaptiveION, to help us understand how these thriving companies develop adaptive people, teams, and organizations to achieve that kind of staying power.Tune in to discover:The “industry proof points” that differentiate adaptive companies from the restHow organizational adaptability and agility differ from each otherThe five quotients of advanced adaptability for individuals and teamsKey characteristics of companies that will be successful 10 years from nowFeaturing submitted questions from:Robert Carter, EVP & CIO (ret), FedEx Information Services Christine Knackfuss-Nikolis, Chief Technology Officer, T-Systems International

Even among the best technology leaders, there are those who stand out. These are the “CIO Legends” who have not just led their organizations successfully but who have also made an impact that extends well beyond their individual career milestones and across the entire industry. We have featured some of these CIO Legends, including Charlie Feld, Larry Quinlan, Karenann Terrell, and Diana McKenzie, in previous episodes. Today, we are shining the light on Anil Cheriyan, another CIO Legend who has made a mark across multiple industries. Throughout his expansive career journey, Anil has only failed at one thing that we can think of — retirement. After his first retirement, he was called on to serve the federal government. After his second retirement, he took on a different role at Cognizant. Now, in his third retirement, he is driving strategy as a board member, advisor, and investor.In this episode, we are diving into some of Anil’s most important moments and a few of the character traits that have made him the CIO Legend we know today.Tune in to discover:How career experience as both a buyer and a seller in the services industry has influenced Anil’s leadership styleAnil’s leadership strategy that encourages people to step outside of their comfort zonesHow difficult moments have shaped Anil as a leaderHow to approach creating alignment with executive sponsors and maintaining that alignment with the teams that need to deliverHow masterful collaboration has enabled Anil’s career journeyThe role empathy has played in Anil’s personal and professional livesAnil’s strategy for building and investing in a strong network of leadership peersFeaturing submitted questions from:Monty Hamilton, CEO at SparqKathy Kay, EVP & Chief Information Officer at Principal Financial GroupDan Massey, Chief Enterprise Operations & Technology Officer at Region BankAmy Brady, Chief Information Officer at KeyBankElise Bockman, VP of Data at Sherwin-WilliamsScott Case, a three-time CIO