Technovation with Peter High (CIO, CTO, CDO, CXO Interviews) – Détails, épisodes et analyse

1045: AI is no longer a side experiment—it’s a core capability. But are your people, partnerships, and governance models ready for it?

In this special Metis Strategy Summit panel episode, three seasoned technology leaders explore what it really takes to build trust, scale talent, and lead responsibly in the age of AI:

• Paul Ballew, Chief Data & Analytics Officer, National Football League

• Lakshman Nathan, EVP & CIO, Paramount

• Mark Sherwood, EVP & CIO, Wolters Kluwer

Moderated by Peter High, the conversation dives into transformation through the lens of distributed governance, workforce readiness, and the human element behind every AI ambition.

Key themes from the panel include:

• How the NFL’s “One-to-One” fan engagement model blends personalization and privacy

• What happens when $2B in savings depends on department-level AI strategy (Paramount)

• Why “value realization” starts with your CFO and ends with trust (Wolters Kluwer)

• The limits of centralization—and why distributed innovation may win out

• How to balance Copilot rollouts with responsible AI guardrails

What happens when a former startup CEO brings performance management discipline into city government?

In this episode of Technovation, Peter High speaks with San José Mayor Matt Mahan about applying data-driven decision-making, KPIs, and accountability—practices familiar to tech leaders—to the public sector. Drawing from his experience running venture-backed startups, Mahan explains how focus, measurement, and feedback loops are reshaping how City Hall operates.

Key topics include:

• Applying startup-style performance management to government
• Using dashboards and metrics to improve accountability
• Prioritizing outcomes over activity
• Leveraging AI to improve city services at scale
• Building a workforce ready to use new technology responsibly

What does it really take to design for resilience in an AI-first world?

In this panel from the Metis Strategy Summit, Amtrak CDO Judith Apshago, GE Aerospace CIO David Burns, and Zoetis CDTO Keith Sarbaugh explore how resilient infrastructure is becoming the backbone of enterprise trust, uptime, and AI scalability.

Tune in to learn how these leaders are:

• Responding to cloud outages and software disruption in real time
• Building AI literacy, governance, and use-case portfolios at scale
• Extending cyber defense and IT support to vulnerable supply chain partners
• Using edge computing and sensors to enable predictive diagnostics
• Converging IT and OT teams to enhance infrastructure intelligence

How can AI revolutionize the $2B+ quick-service restaurant (QSR) industry? In this episode of Technovation, Wendy’s CIO Matt Spessard joins Peter High to reveal how the company is leveraging AI, automation, and digital transformation to enhance customer and crew experiences.

With 7,000+ locations worldwide, Wendy’s is redefining fast food with FreshAi, its AI-powered drive-thru assistant, developed in partnership with Google Cloud. Matt shares how this cutting-edge technology is boosting order accuracy, improving speed, and optimizing crew workflows. Plus, he discusses how Wendy’s revamped CRM, loyalty program, and mobile-first strategy led to 40% growth in digital revenue in 2024.

• FreshAi: The AI-powered drive-thru system redefining QSR efficiency.
• 40% Digital Growth: How Wendy’s revamped CRM and mobile experience is driving revenue.
• AI-Driven Innovation: Wendy’s framework for testing, iterating, and rejecting 6 out of 7 ideas.
• The Future of AI in QSR: Edge computing, spatial computing & what’s next for digital transformation.

MetLife is one of the world’s largest financial services companies, serving over 90 million customers globally. Leading its technology and operations division is Bill Pappas, who oversees AI strategy, cybersecurity, customer experience, and digital transformation across the company.

In this episode of Technovation, Bill Pappas joins host Peter High to discuss how MetLife is leveraging AI, automation, and technology to enhance customer experience, ensure security, and drive operational efficiency. He shares insights on managing a 38,000-person global team, the role of AI in financial services, and why customer-centric innovation is key to long-term success.

Key Topics:

• AI, Automation & Innovation – How MetLife is using AI to drive operational efficiency
• Cybersecurity & Risk Management – Protecting a $67B enterprise from digital threats
• Customer-Centric Digital Transformation – Why personalized, tech-enabled service is the future of insurance
• Leadership & Workforce Development – How to build an agile, innovative global team

Ingram Micro is no longer just a technology distributor—it’s becoming a platform company. In this episode of Technovation, Peter High welcomes Sanjib Sahoo, President of the Global Platform Group at Ingram Micro, to discuss the company’s digital transformation journey and how it is leveraging AI, data, and platform technology to revolutionize the B2B technology ecosystem.

Sanjib shares insights on the Xvantage platform, Ingram Micro’s push toward AI-powered automation, and how the company is connecting 1,500 OEMs with over 160,000 B2B partners. He also delves into agentic AI, the importance of mindset in AI adoption, and how leadership in the digital era requires balancing innovation with human collaboration.

Highlights:

• The shift from technology distribution to platform ecosystems
• AI-driven automation and agentic AI in B2B operations
• The Xvantage platform and its impact on channel partners and vendors
• Leadership philosophy: Why vulnerability and adaptability matter in digital transformation
• How Ingram Micro is shaping the future of B2B commerce

952: Regal Rexnord CDIO Tim Dickson joins Peter High to discuss how the $6B industrial manufacturing leader is driving digital transformation. Tim shares insights on leveraging AI, cloud, and e-commerce to enhance operations and customer experience. He also discusses the company’s generative AI initiatives, including chatbots for internal and customer interactions, and how Regal Rexnord is embracing data-driven innovation.

• AI & Digital Strategy: How Regal Rexnord is using AI to optimize operations
• E-Commerce & CX: The role of digital in enhancing customer experience
• Generative AI & Automation: The impact of AI-driven chatbots like RRXy and RRXGPT
• Leadership & Growth: Tim’s approach to building a digital-first culture

In this episode of Technovation, Peter High interviews Dan Caruso, founder of Zayo Group and Caruso Ventures. Dan, a pioneer in communications infrastructure, shares his journey from leading multi-billion dollar exits with MFS and Level 3 to his current investments in quantum and space technologies. He discusses insights from his new book Bandwidth: The Untold Story of Ambition, Deception, and Innovation That Shaped the Internet Age.

Key Highlights:

• The breakup of AT&T and how it created modern telecom.
• How fiber optics and broadband became the foundation of the internet.
• The boom-bust cycle of innovation and how it applies to AI and quantum today.
• Why quantum computing and space tech will reshape industries from cybersecurity to finance.
• How ambitious professionals can ride the next tech wave.

How do you build a modern, AI-powered financial services platform while keeping your workforce agile and innovative? On this episode of Technovation, Bread Financial CTO Allegra Driscoll joins Peter High on Technovation to discuss her leadership in technology modernization, cloud migration, and fintech innovation. She shares insights into Bread Financial’s shift to a product operating model, AI-driven transformation, and mainframe-to-cloud transition—all while leading a large-scale reskilling initiative.

Key Topics:

• AI-Driven Financial Services – Using AI and real-time analytics to enhance customer experiences.
• Cloud & DevSecOps – How Bread Financial is retiring mainframes and embracing public cloud for scalability.
• Workforce Reskilling & Agile Transformation – Investing in cloud & AI training while rethinking the way teams work.
• Diversity & Inclusion in Tech – Creating high-performing teams with diverse perspectives and problem-solving approaches.
• The Future of AI in Finance – How Bread Financial balances AI automation with human decision-making.

New York Life is embracing AI and data to enhance customer experience and business strategy. In this episode of Technovation, Don Vu, Chief Data & Analytics Officer, shares how he’s leading a transformation at the 180-year-old mutual insurance giant. Don discusses how AI and data modernization are reshaping insurance, the role of data in improving agent and customer interactions, and how New York Life is structuring its organization for agility and innovation. He also reflects on his career spanning Major League Baseball, Northwestern Mutual, and WeWork, and what excites him about AI’s future.

Highlights:

• How AI & data are driving New York Life’s customer and agent experience
• The four pillars of AI strategy: data foundation, insights, culture & experience
• The role of AI in transforming traditional industries
• Don’s reflections on the evolution of data leadership