Tone from the Top

summerlireland

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Driving transformative change starts with tone from the top. Join host Summer as she interviews visionary leaders from companies shaping the future. In each episode, they share their inspiring journeys, stories of success, and the challenges they’ve faced along the way. Tune in to gain valuable insights on how impactful leadership drives meaningful change.

11/18/2024

Lessons from a CIO—Transforming Industries with AI and Automation

In this episode of Tone from the Top, we explore the extraordinary career of Kumud Kokal, whose journey includes transformative roles at Intuit, Airbnb, Stitch Fix, and Farmer’s Business Network (FBN), where he drove groundbreaking technology innovation and operational excellence. From re-imagining supply chain management with algorithms at Stitch Fix to developing “Norm,” the world’s first AI-powered agronomist, Kumud reveals how AI, machine learning, and generative AI are reshaping industries. He shares practical applications, such as automating onboarding processes, optimizing inventory management with machine learning algorithms, training AI-powered chatbots, and addressing challenges like combating misinformation and mitigating cybersecurity risks in the AI era. Join us as Kumud reflects on his career, offering insights into the balance of luck and hard work, the value of adaptability, and his vision for the future of technology and AI. Whether you’re an aspiring CIO or intrigued by the intersection of technology and business, this episode delivers inspiration and actionable takeaways.

1h 6m
10/29/2024

From Military to Nuclear Energy: An Unconventional Path to C-Suite

In this episode of Tone from the Top, I dive deep into the world of nuclear innovation with Malcolm Thompson, COO of Deep Fission. As a company transforming nuclear energy with small modular reactors (SMRs) one mile underground, Deep Fission is taking bold strides to make clean energy safer and more accessible. Mal walks us through their groundbreaking reactor technology, tackling the environmental, safety, and regulatory challenges that come with commercializing a new energy source, raising capital, and managing a complex supply chain. We also explore his unique journey from Green Beret to Harvard Business School, followed by a dynamic career in finance, in Investment Banking and Family Office, followed by executive leadership roles as CFO, CEO, and now COO. Throughout, Mal shares powerful leadership insights into building a trusted team, and leading through uncertainty. His humor, humility, and emphasis on caring for your team bring valuable lessons for leaders across industries. Tune in for a fascinating conversation on innovation, resilience, and how to drive big ideas forward with authenticity.

1h 18m
10/07/2024

Relationship Building: The Key to Career Success with Rachel Bell

In this episode of Tone from the Top, I sit down with Rachel Bell, former Head of Global Risk and Internal Audit at Airbnb, VP and Controller at Virgin America, and Managing Director at Protiviti. Rachel reflects on her diverse career, spanning consulting, the airline industry, and a global hospitality platform that’s transformed the way we travel. A central theme throughout our conversation is the power of building relationships. From an unforgettable dance party with Richard Branson to leading IPO readiness and year-one SOX compliance, Rachel shares how strong connections paved the way for success. She also dives into her transition into Controllership, where she led the merger between Virgin America and Alaska Airlines, and later spearheaded Global Risk at Airbnb during its IPO journey. Tune in for Rachel’s insights on leadership, career transitions, and the importance of relationship-building in driving transformational change.

1h 42m
09/03/2024

From Uber IPO to $1B AI Fundraise: Josh's Secrets to Success

In this episode of Tone from the Top, I sit down with Josh Waldron, the former Controller at Uber who played a pivotal role during their IPO. Now at ScaleAI, Josh shares his expertise on leading major financial transactions, including acquisitions and divestitures, and how he helped scale operations at Uber. Discover the key lessons Josh learned from implementing Oracle during Uber’s rapid growth, and how automation and cashflow management are driving ScaleAI’s success today. Whether you're navigating an IPO, scaling your business, or looking to optimize back-office operations through automation, this episode is packed with actionable insights for financial leaders and executives. Tune in to learn from Josh's experience, from Uber’s IPO journey to scaling operations at one of the fastest-growing tech companies in the AI space.

1h 43m
08/19/2024

Cyber Odyssey: From Hacking to Entrepreneurship

Learn about cybersecurity from the master himself, Matt Devost. I am honored to speak with Matt, who pioneered the cybersecurity industry when he was the first to hack his way onto an aircraft carrier. He revolutionized red teaming — to give an example of what this means, his team created money (yes, actual money) to deposit into their client's bank account, so they could then steal it, to prove where they had vulnerabilities. This even impressed Accenture, who bought his company and asked him to lead their global cyber defense practice. Matt is a serial entrepreneur, currently the CEO & Co-Founder of OODA, holds several board director and advisory positions, and is an active early-stage investor and founder of the Hack Factory start-up studio.

2h 25m
08/06/2024

Philippa Girling: Leading Change with Authenticity and Diversity

Listeners will gain valuable insights into building diverse, high-performing teams, to effectively manage change and risk while learning how to create inclusive environments that foster genuine connections.

1h 20m

6 Episodes

Creator

summerlireland
Years Active

2K
Episodes

6
Rating

Clean
Show Website

Tone from the Top

Tone from the Top

Episodes

Lessons from a CIO—Transforming Industries with AI and Automation

From Military to Nuclear Energy: An Unconventional Path to C-Suite

Relationship Building: The Key to Career Success with Rachel Bell

From Uber IPO to $1B AI Fundraise: Josh's Secrets to Success

Cyber Odyssey: From Hacking to Entrepreneurship

Philippa Girling: Leading Change with Authenticity and Diversity

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