Disruptive Innovators: Champions of Digital Business - CIO & IT Leader Interviews, Digital Transformation, Digital Innovation Disruptive Innovations

This week, David Wright is joined by Dr. Soma Venkat, SVP & Chief Information Technology Officer of Cooper Standard, to discuss the transformative power of higher ideals in leadership, the importance of adaptability and the future of digital innovation in the automotive industry.

Key Takeaways:

(03:42) A mantra for career growth: having higher ideals and goals, focusing on service rather than power or money.
(07:53) Soma’s journey from India to becoming a global CIO.
(12:54) The value of lifelong learning and a student mindset.
(17:15) Soma talks about overcoming challenges using the analogy of a river.
(23:00) Soma shares a pivotal experience with Sarbanes-Oxley compliance and the importance of ethics.
(29:38) Cooper Standard’s digital transformation journey, including cloud and ERP consolidation.
(32:59) Soma explains "adopt now, optimize later" and AI's role in streamlining operations.
(39:59) Insights into the future of manufacturing, digital twins and blockchain in supply chains.


Resources Mentioned:

Dr. Soma Venkat -
https://www.linkedin.com/in/somavenkat/
Cooper Standard -
https://www.linkedin.com/company/cooper-standard-automotive/
Predictably Irrational by Dan Ariely -
https://www.amazon.com/Predictably-Irrational-Revised-Expanded-Decisions/dp/0061353248


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This week, David Wright talks with David Sylvan, Chief Strategy and Innovation Officer of University Hospitals, about healthcare innovation and digital health. David Sylvan shares insights from his varied career, his role in leading strategy and innovation, and the future of healthcare.

Key Takeaways:

(02:16) David Sylvan introduces his roles at University Hospitals and talks about the system's size and partnerships.
(03:28) The importance of listening more and talking less for good leadership.
(04:56) David Sylvan’s career journey from South Africa to healthcare innovation.
(10:14) The challenges of selling into healthcare and integrating new technologies.
(17:21) The value of diverse backgrounds in innovation teams and dealing with uncertainty.
(18:15) David Sylvan’s current book, “Why Not Better and Cheaper?” and its relevance to healthcare.
(20:31) Key projects at University Hospitals, including reducing real estate and using AI to improve patient and provider experiences.
(25:51) How digital scribes can improve doctor-patient interactions by cutting down on paperwork.
(28:02) Major challenges in healthcare, like financial sustainability, legislative risks and workforce burnout.
(30:54) David Sylvan’s vision for the future of healthcare, focusing on digital access and home-based care.


Resources Mentioned:

David Sylvan -
https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidsylvan/
University Hospitals -
https://www.linkedin.com/company/university-hospitals/
Why Not Better and Cheaper? by Robert and James Rabitzer -
https://www.amazon.com/Why-Not-Better-Cheaper-Healthcare/dp/0197603106


Thanks for listening to the Disruptive Innovators podcast. If you enjoyed this episode, hit the subscribe button and never miss another insightful conversation. And be sure to leave a review to help get the word out about the Champions of Digital Business.


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This week, David Wright is joined by Stephen Brobst, Chief Technology Officer of Ab Initio Software, to delve into his journey in technology, the importance of teamwork and the future of AI and data management.

Key Takeaways:

(02:26) Stephen’s role at Ab Initio, which is known for innovation and engineering.
(03:10) Smart people are important for success.
(04:18) A summer internship sparked Stephen’s interest in high-speed computing.
(09:41) Stephen values experiences and travel over possessions, advocating minimalism.
(12:29) Ab Initio’s culture of tackling complex problems.
(15:12) Adapting to the collaborative environment at MIT.
(17:47) The importance of team diversity for problem-solving.
(20:01) Transforming raw data into valuable products and transparency in AI.
(25:11) Democratizing data access and reducing technical debt.

Resources Mentioned:

Stephen Brobst -
https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephen-brobst/
Ab Initio Software -
https://www.linkedin.com/company/ab-initio/
“The Narrow Corridor” by Daron Acemoglu and James A. Robinson -
https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/555400/the-narrow-corridor-by-daron-acemoglu-and-james-a-robinson/


Thanks for listening to the Disruptive Innovators podcast. If you enjoyed this episode, hit the subscribe button and never miss another insightful conversation. And be sure to leave a review to help get the word out about the Champions of Digital Business.


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This week, David Wright is joined by Darlene Reina, Head of IT & Business Systems at Calendly, to discuss the evolving role of IT leadership and strategic alignment within fast-growing tech companies.

Key Takeaways:

(02:58) Darlene shares a piece of career advice and its significance to her career.
(04:00) From working at Apple and higher education to leading IT at Calendly.
(05:50 Communicate and engage with different audiences: The importance of storytelling in IT.
(09:00) Learning from failures and the critical role of alignment and stakeholder buy-in for successful IT management.
(16:00) Exploring the broader responsibilities and vision for IT within Calendly, including improving internal operations and system integrations.
(19:55) The impact of strategic IT management on company-wide alignment and operational efficiency during scale-up phases.
(27:01) Integration of large language models and AI within Calendly to streamline operations and enhance internal efficiencies.
(34:00) Reflections on the future of work and the role of AI in transforming organizational tasks and responsibilities.

Resources Mentioned:

Darlene Reina -
https://www.linkedin.com/in/darlenereina/
Calendly -
https://www.linkedin.com/company/calendly/
"Amp It Up" by Frank Slootman -
https://www.amazon.com/Amp-Unlocking-Hypergrowth-Expectations-Intensity/dp/1119836115
"Radical Candor" by Kim Scott -
https://rb.gy/jitz9o


Thanks for listening to the Disruptive Innovators podcast. If you enjoyed this episode, hit the subscribe button and never miss another insightful conversation. And be sure to leave a review to help get the word out about the Champions of Digital Business.


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This week, David Wright is joined by Jessica Kalinowski, VP of DevOps and Corporate IT for connectRN, to explore how embracing challenges and leveraging technology can enhance healthcare delivery and clinician support.

Key Takeaways:

(02:23) Jessica introduces her role and the mission of connectRN to improve work-life balance for clinicians.
(03:08) The importance of stepping out of your comfort zone to drive career transformation.
(06:37) How DevOps principles can be applied across different sectors of a business to foster significant change.
(11:31) Jessica shares a personal story of resilience and its impact on her professional approach to site reliability.
(19:04) Discussing influential leadership books and the impact of modern leadership styles in technology.
(21:02) Vision for connectRN’s culture of reliability and shared ownership to support clinicians.
(22:15) The challenges of meeting the demands of a changing healthcare industry post-COVID.
(35:39) Jessica's advice to her younger self on seizing opportunities and overcoming imposter syndrome.

Resources Mentioned:

Jessica Kalinowski -
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jessica-kalinowski-4159636b/
connectRN -
https://www.linkedin.com/company/connectrn/
Books by Bridgette Hyacinth on leadership -
https://brigettehyacinth.com/books/


Thanks for listening to the Disruptive Innovators podcast. If you enjoyed this episode, hit the subscribe button and never miss another insightful conversation. And be sure to leave a review to help get the word out about the Champions of Digital Business.


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This week, Huntzinger Partner and Executive Vice President Dr. William Reed, PhD is joined by Aaron Wootton, Chief Digital Officer of Huntzinger Management Group, to delve into the integration of AI and digital technologies in healthcare. They discuss the transformational role of these technologies in improving patient care and operational efficiency. 

Key Takeaways:

(03:40) Telemedicine and call centers as transformative healthcare technologies.
(04:19) Aaron reflects on 25 years in healthcare IT and its impact.
(05:50) Digital transformation with reference to the Kodak story.
(07:55) Challenges of digital consumer services in healthcare.
(09:30) AI solutions proposed for physician shortages.
(11:35) The critical role of chief digital officers in healthcare.
(18:44) Future FDA AI regulations and innovation.
(22:27) Data management's key role in healthcare outcomes.
(25:26) CIO guidance on digital transformation and governance.
(29:49) AI's predicted impact on clinical precision medicine.



Resources Mentioned:

Aaron Wootton, -
https://www.linkedin.com/in/aaron-wootton-60778b9a/
Huntzinger Management Group | LinkedIn -
https://www.linkedin.com/company/huntzinger-management-group/
Huntzinger Management Group | Website -
https://huntzingergroup.com/

Thanks for listening to the Disruptive Innovators podcast. If you enjoyed this episode, hit the subscribe button and never miss another insightful conversation. And be sure to leave a review to help get the word out about the Champions of Digital Business.


#DisruptiveInnovation #Innovation #DisruptiveTech #DigitalBusiness