Innovation and the Digital Enterprise

DragonSpears
Innovation and the Digital Enterprise

What does it take to keep your organization growing? Innovation and the Digital Enterprise is a podcast dedicated to providing insights and resources to executives and entrepreneurs focused on 10x growth for themselves and the organizations they lead. We interview leaders from early-stage start-ups to billion-dollar enterprises who have boots on the ground experience to distill their lessons from their victories and their failures. Learn how these leaders are organizing their teams, establishing a growth-minded culture, and leveraging new technologies such as DevOps and Cloud. Co-hosts Patrick Emmons of DragonSpears, and Shelli Nelson of Madison Industries, chat with guests such as Gene Kim of the DevOps Enterprise Summit, Mik Kersten of TaskTop, and Thomas South of Northern Trust, to uncover tips, tools, and insights gleaned from spearheading innovation initiatives. Listen Notes

  1. Driving Data-Informed Growth in Financial Services with Michael Lambert

    HÁ 2 DIAS

    Driving Data-Informed Growth in Financial Services with Michael Lambert

    In this episode of Innovation and Digital Enterprise, we sit down with Michael Lambert, Chief Innovation Officer at Wintrust Financial. Michael discusses his role in driving innovation and technological advancements within Wintrust, focusing on the significant growth and transformation he has witnessed during his tenure. We chat about strategies for leveraging data to make informed decisions, and about the fundamental importance of building strong relationships to fostering a supportive workplace culture. Shelli, Patrick, and Michael discuss the role of AI and automation in the financial services sector and specifically the importance of AI oversight, governance, and human in the loop. Michael shares insights into the ways that Wintrust is able to maintain a community-focused approach while embracing forward-looking technological solutions, like AI. (00:24) Introducing Michael Lambert, Chief Innovation Officer(01:40) Michael's Role at Wintrust Financial(03:14) Technological Innovations at Wintrust(05:50) Maintaining Relationships Amidst Growth(08:46) Leadership and Change Management(13:46) The Role of AI and Automation(16:59) AI Dataset Analysis(20:25) Future of AI and Emerging Roles(26:35) Data Security and AI Training Michael Lambert is the Chief Innovation Officer at Wintrust Financial. Before stepping into his current role, Michael served as the Senior Vice President of IT Services and the Chief Technology Officer at Wintrust. In his early career, he served as Director of Operations at Open Solutions Group, and as Lead Data Proof Operator at Algonquin State Bank. Michael earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and Management from Penn Foster Group. If you'd like to receive new episodes as they're published, please subscribe to Innovation and the Digital Enterprise in Apple 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.

    29min
  2. Balancing Security, Trust, and Transformation with Deepak Kaimal

    5 DE DEZ.

    Balancing Security, Trust, and Transformation with Deepak Kaimal

    In this episode of the Innovation and the Digital Enterprise, Shelli and Patrick chat about industry advancements and leadership with Deepak Kaimal, Chief Technology Officer at COMPLY. He was previously CTO at Exostar, and held that role when this episode was recorded. Exostar, founded in 2000 by industry leaders like Boeing, Raytheon, and Lockheed Martin, provides secure collaboration and risk management solutions to the defense and life sciences sectors. Deepak shares his journey from an engineering student in Mumbai to becoming the CTO of this pivotal player in secure technology. We discuss Exostar's mission, the balance between secure collaboration and innovation, and trends in identity and access management. Deepak emphasizes the importance of curiosity, dealing with change, and leading teams in ways that foster a culture that balances trust, security, and innovation. (00:25) Meet Deepak Kaimal(02:49) Deepak's Early Education and Career Journey(07:05) The Founding and Mission of Exostar(10:40) Balancing Security and Innovation at Exostar(16:11) Trends in Identity and Access Management(18:17) Leadership and Technological (22:35) The Excitement of New Tech Advancements(29:13 Final Thoughts and Advice for Leaders Deepak Kaimal is currently the Chief Technology Officer at COMPLY, a compliance solution provider for global financial services firms. Previously, at Exostar, he oversaw the design, development, operations and evolution of The Exostar Platform. Prior to Exostar, Deepak served as CTO at ArrowStream and VP of Engineering at Flexera. Earlier in his career, Deepak held roles at Cars.com, JPMorgan Chase, Rolls-Royce, Capgemini, and Intiqua International.  He earned a degree in Engineering from the University of Mumbai. If you'd like to receive new episodes as they're published, please subscribe to Innovation and the Digital Enterprise in Apple 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.

    31min
  3. Manage Complexity, Maintain Quality: Hospitality Tech with Jeff Miller

    31 DE OUT.

    Manage Complexity, Maintain Quality: Hospitality Tech with Jeff Miller

    Today we talk with Jeff Miller, Chief Product Officer at Coates Group, about his extensive experience in retail and restaurant technology, emphasizing the role of digital transformation in enhancing customer and employee experiences across Quick Service Restaurants (QSRs). We explore the integration of digital and in-store experiences, the significance of mobile ordering and loyalty programs, along with the challenges of managing a complex partner ecosystem. Looking forward, Patrick, Shelli, and Jeff discuss AI-driven innovations, the transition from static to dynamic digital environments, and the physical and technological trends that are reshaping the industry. Jeff highlights the importance of scalable innovation, and goes deep on his commitment to balancing technological advancements, while maintaining essential human connections. (00:27) Meet Jeff Miller(01:21) Jeff's Role at Coates Group(03:51) From Construction Engineering to Tech Consulting(11:28) Innovations in the QSR Space(15:28) Global Growth and Customer Connection(15:41) Evolution of Menu Boards(16:17) Optimizing Customer Experience(17:54) Challenges in Restaurant Technology(19:29) Traditional vs. New QSRs(25:42) Future of Customer Interactions Jeff Miller is the Chief Product Officer at Coates Group, and former Vice President of Retail Technology at Foxtrot. He has more than a decade of expertise in the retail and restaurant technology space, specializing in creating modern in-store experiences that seamlessly integrate with digital technology to enhance customer experiences. Prior to his leadership roles, Jeff earned his Bachelor of Science in Engineering from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. If you'd like to receive new episodes as they're published, please subscribe to Innovation and the Digital Enterprise in Apple 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.

    29min
  4. Building Collaborative, User-Centered Product Teams with Kal Walkden

    17 DE OUT.

    Building Collaborative, User-Centered Product Teams with Kal Walkden

    On today’s show, we chat with Kal Walkden, the Vice President of Product Engineering at Double Good. Double Good’s virtual fundraising app connects teams with their supporters to help athletes, coaches, and students raise funds through popcorn sales. Focusing on seamless ease-of-use for both the fundraisers and their supporters, Double Good turns online snack sales into “uniforms, safety pads, cleats, calculators, test tubes, travel opportunities, and brand new experiences.” Kal's extensive expertise in product and technology leadership has been vital in advancing Double Good’s mission. He talks to Innovation and the Digital Enterprise about how Double Good's virtual platform flourished during the pandemic, a key pivot during a moment that challenged traditional in person fundraising.  Kal explains the significance of user-centered design, and the adoption of the Spotify engineering model to enhance his team’s efficiency. We talk hiring practices, core values, future growth strategies, and how Kal’s 25+ years of hands-on leadership has successfully shaped tech-driven organizations. (00:25) Meet Kal Walkden: VP of Product Engineering at Double Good(01:13) Double Good's Journey and Success(06:09) The Spotify Engineering Model(13:51) Implementing the Spotify Model at Double Good(19:38) Challenges and Future Goals Kal Walkden is the Vice President of Product Engineering at Double Good. His past roles include Chief Technology Officer at Paladin; Head of Engineering at HelloFresh; CTO at Lextegrity; CTO at ForeverCar. He currently serves as a mentor at Code Platoon. He holds a Bachelors in Computer Engineering and a Masters in Parallel and Distributed Computing both from Northwestern University.  If you'd like to receive new episodes as they're published, please subscribe to Innovation and the Digital Enterprise in Apple 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.

    27min
  5. How Local Content Creators are Reshaping Marketing with Emily Steele

    3 DE OUT.

    How Local Content Creators are Reshaping Marketing with Emily Steele

    “It’s marketing through people instead of at them,” says Emily Steele, CEO and Co-founder of Hummingbirds. In this episode of Innovation and the Digital Enterprise we talk with Emily about how Hummingbirds is leveraging hyperlocal content creators to drive brand awareness and sales. Emily shares her journey from running a local marketing agency to founding Hummingbirds, emphasizing the power of word-of-mouth marketing and community-driven content. She explains Hummingbirds’ unique approach of fostering relationships between local businesses and hyperlocal content creators, who serve as community-scale advocates for the brand. We discuss how in our oversaturated digital marketing landscape, Hummingbirds delivers meaningful, authentic, relationship-driven results. We close our conversation chatting about Emily’s future goals and plans for growth, and the challenge of scaling while maintaining that authenticity. (01:28) Emily Steele on the beginnings of Hummingbirds(02:36) The power of local influence(08:12) Scaling, Community Building and Exploring new verticals(11:51) The Hummingbirds community(16:52) Emily's journey to entrepreneurship(18:13) Building a successful brand and Achieving rapid growth(20:36) Strategies for success(24:38) Measuring impact and ROI(27:44) Exciting opportunities ahead(30:29) Fun facts about Hummingbirds Emily Steele is the CEO and Co-founder of Hummingbirds, a SaaS company helping brands connect to local customers through digital word-of-mouth marketing. Before launching Hummingbirds, Emily proved a passionate advocate for local Des Moines businesses as the owner of Love Local. She has a Bachelor's in business administration, from Drake University, and studied at Richmond, the American International University in London. When she’s not championing local business, she helps organize The Water Ride, an annual bike ride that raises funds for clean water efforts in Ghana. If you'd like to receive new episodes as they're published, please subscribe to Innovation and the Digital Enterprise in Apple 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.

    33min
  6. Continuous Learning and Sharing from Engineer to Executive with Ann Yeung

    19 DE SET.

    Continuous Learning and Sharing from Engineer to Executive with Ann Yeung

    Wouldn’t it be great if your boss had a user guide for achieving success under their leadership? Ann Yeung’s team at GEICO, where she serves as the Vice President of Engineering, Head of Enterprise Engineering, received one. In her “user guide,” Ann shares her expectations, values, and tools for successful collaboration that go well beyond pet peeves to establish communicative, empowered teams.  In this episode, Ann discusses her transition to GEICO and the critical role of managing corporate functions during transformation. She shares her journey from individual contributor to leader and how she applies the lessons she’s learned along the way. Ann offers how her perspective has changed over time, (ex. how experience is important but unique application to any particular scenario is key) and outlines how her leadership values match her personal values: integrity, transparency, and direct communication.  As a leader, Ann ensures that her approach includes two critical elements: understanding the problem from the lens of the business stakeholders and carving out time for reflection. Ann discusses welcoming feedback and challenging her teams with growth opportunities with intentional mentorship. She discusses how, as an engineer at heart, her love of data couples with empirical evidence to guide her decision making and the importance of responsible leadership.  (2:10) – Enterprise engineering at GEICO(4:22) – Playbook for success(8:46) – Transition to leadership(13:46) – “Ann Yeung User Guide”(20:47) – Building relationships and trust(23:34) – Opening the door to feedback(27:52) – Recovery (30:09) – Decision-making(32:06) – Empowering your team Ann Yeung is the Vice President of Engineering, Head of Enterprise Engineering at GEICO. Ann is a senior technology executive and business strategist with over twenty years of experience in various industries, including roles at Northwestern Mutual, Capital One, and US Foods. She is the Director of Women Who Code Chicago Network and serves on the Board of Directors for Chinese American Service League and STEM Forward. Ann earned a bachelor’s degree in computer science and mathematics from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. If you'd like to receive new episodes as they're published, please subscribe to Innovation and the Digital Enterprise in Apple 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.

    38min
  7. Leading a Global, Multi-Year, Cloud Transformation with Megan Williams

    5 DE SET.

    Leading a Global, Multi-Year, Cloud Transformation with Megan Williams

    Does the “I don’t know how we’re gonna do this?” feeling ever fade? In large-scale transformation, Megan Williams, VP of Global Technology Strategy and Transformation at TransUnion, doesn’t think so. Leading global, multi-year transformation programs continues to prompt the major questions: What is our vision? What is the approach? With over 20 years of experience, the initial intimidation remains, but Megan and her teams persist.  In this episode, Megan shares how guiding TransUnion’s transformation from on-premise data centers to the cloud has evolved over her four years from a “lift and shift” to a modernization transformation. Growing up in South Africa, Megan’s career has spanned three continents giving her an exceptional glimpse into the work cultures of different countries. Megan highlights the similarities (think: personalities) and differences (think: daily schedule) that she’s experienced and the importance of relating to teams across the globe.  Diving deeper into leadership, Megan discusses how her approach can be summed up as vulnerability and transparency. How can she make thousands feel like six people in a garage? She embraces public conversations and welcomes a challenging question. Megan offers a glimpse into her leadership style with a story of how her continued presence at a daily call had a surprising result and how adjustment is necessary when your intentions fall out of alignment with your impact. Megan shares how effective communication can lean on conversation and support from different ways of connecting. (01:40) – Joining TransUnion(05:05) – Journey to technology(10:52) – A career across three continents(15:00) – Large transformation programs(18:57) – Vulnerability and transparency(24:51) – “Overcommunication” Megan Williams is the VP of Global Technology Strategy and Transformation at TransUnion. She has over 20 years of experience spanning software development to leading global, multi-year transformations and implementing large, complex program delivery in fast-paced technical industries. Megan earned a bachelor’s degree in computer science and economics from the University of Witwatersrand in South Africa. If you'd like to receive new episodes as they're published, please subscribe to Innovation and the Digital Enterprise in Apple 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.

    31min
  8. AI, Analytics, and the Future of FinTech with Srikanth Geedipalli

    22 DE AGO.

    AI, Analytics, and the Future of FinTech with Srikanth Geedipalli

    Out of approximately 5,000 lending institutions nationwide, Srikanth Geedipalli and the team at Experian have developed relationships with 3,000 of them, and the list continues to grow. As Senior Vice President of AI Product Management and Commercialization, Srikanth is spearheading the productization and democratization of data.  In this episode, Srikanth explains how he promotes innovation at Experian, accounting for its size, role as a trusted brand, and regulated and compliance-oriented processes. He shares his career journey in three parts—banker, strategy executor, and AI and analytics executive—and how the positionalities create a full picture of the issues he’s trying to solve. Srikanth shares how Experian has embraced its rich data history in building analytic and AI ecosystems that have made these resources more affordable to clients beyond the big banks. As a leader, Srikanth endorses the “crawl, walk, run” method on the boldest visions. He shares how to balance focusing on niche solutions and a wider vision. Srikanth discusses how he encourages his team to move as quickly as possible and how rapid innovation can continue to push boundaries and work symbiotically with approval chains and compliance. In discussing artificial intelligence, Srikanth shares how he sees the future of AI, specifically gen AI, its rapidly approaching role in all products, an anticipated boom of gen AI agents, and how to embrace the transformative technology in your life and for the next generation. (03:30) – Journey to Experian(05:45) – Productizing and democratizing data(09:26) – Innovation in a large organization(12:58) – Engendering trust and confidence(15:57) – Having a big vision(17:13) – Client profile(19:44) – Inspiration (21:19) – Acting like a small business(24:33) – Team incentives(28:28) – Where is gen AI heading? (31:30) – Gen AI agents(33:32) – What should you do? Srikanth Geedipalli is the Senior Vice President of AI Product Management and Commercialization at Experian. Previously, he served as Head of US Strategy at BMO Financial Group, a strategy consultant for McKinsey & Company, and an analytics leader at Capital One. Srikanth earned an MS in Biomedical Engineering from Cornell University and an MBA from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business. If you'd like to receive new episodes as they're published, please subscribe to Innovation and the Digital Enterprise in Apple 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.

    38min
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Sobre

What does it take to keep your organization growing? Innovation and the Digital Enterprise is a podcast dedicated to providing insights and resources to executives and entrepreneurs focused on 10x growth for themselves and the organizations they lead. We interview leaders from early-stage start-ups to billion-dollar enterprises who have boots on the ground experience to distill their lessons from their victories and their failures. Learn how these leaders are organizing their teams, establishing a growth-minded culture, and leveraging new technologies such as DevOps and Cloud. Co-hosts Patrick Emmons of DragonSpears, and Shelli Nelson of Madison Industries, chat with guests such as Gene Kim of the DevOps Enterprise Summit, Mik Kersten of TaskTop, and Thomas South of Northern Trust, to uncover tips, tools, and insights gleaned from spearheading innovation initiatives. Listen Notes

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