Disruptive Innovators

Building a Culture of Innovation in Healthcare with Sandra Powell-Elliott of Hackensack Meridian Health

Building a Culture of Innovation in Healthcare with Sandra Powell-Elliott of Hackensack Meridian Health

Sandra Powell-Elliott, Chief Innovation and Commercialization Officer at Hackensack Meridian Health, joins David Wright to discuss the intersection of innovation, AI, and commercialization in healthcare. With a background spanning administration, business strategy, and technology adoption, she shares insights on how health systems can embrace automation, foster an innovation-driven culture, and transform care delivery. Key Takeaways: (03:33) Diving into a problem…

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Enhancing Employee Learning Through AI with Farnaz Ronaghi of NovoEd

Enhancing Employee Learning Through AI with Farnaz Ronaghi of NovoEd

This week, David Wright is joined by Farnaz Ronaghi, Co-Founder and Chief Technology Officer at NovoEd, to discuss how AI transforms employee learning, the shift in enterprise SaaS and the key leadership lessons she has learned while scaling a company. They explore the role of curiosity in leadership, the challenges of growing a team and how enterprises are rethinking their…

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The Future of Cybersecurity and AI Collaboration with Claudionor Coelho Jr. of Zscaler

The Future of Cybersecurity and AI Collaboration with Claudionor Coelho Jr. of Zscaler

This week, David Wright is joined by Claudionor Coelho Jr., Chief AI Officer at Zscaler, the company running the largest cybersecurity cloud in the world. Together, they discuss the intersection of AI and cybersecurity, the accelerating pace of technological change and how organizations can prepare for an AI-driven future. Key Takeaways: (05:54) Lessons learned from early career failures and how…

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The Role of Empathy in Leadership with Pavan Pidugu of the US Department of Transportation

The Role of Empathy in Leadership with Pavan Pidugu of the US Department of Transportation

Pavan Pidugu, Chief Technology Officer of FMCSA at the US Department of Transportation, shares insights from his transformative career, which spans retail leadership and federal government innovation. As CTO, he leads initiatives that enhance safety and efficiency in the transportation industry, driving cultural and technological change. Key Takeaways: (02:31) The importance of fostering a startup culture within government roles. (09:41)…

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Overcoming Fear To Unlock Growth and Success with Cheryl Johnson of Betterworks

Overcoming Fear To Unlock Growth and Success with Cheryl Johnson of Betterworks

Cheryl Johnson, Chief Product and Technology Officer at Betterworks, joins David Wright to share her career journey and leadership lessons. Cheryl discusses embracing challenges, staying grounded and creating human-centered work cultures. She also shares pivotal career moments, including overcoming burnout, navigating startups and driving innovation with AI. Key Takeaways: (03:53) The value of showing up authentically as a leader. (09:40)…

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Creating Scalable Solutions for Modern Construction with Ryan Hale of Lithko Contracting

Creating Scalable Solutions for Modern Construction with Ryan Hale of Lithko Contracting

IRyan Hale, Chief Information Officer at Lithko Contracting, joins David Wright to discuss scaling a business while navigating digital transformation. Lithko, the nation’s second-largest concrete contractor, manages over 500 projects in 22 locations. Ryan reflects on his decade of leadership, sharing lessons on problem-solving, data-driven decision-making and embracing innovation. Key Takeaways: (02:26) Lithko’s projects span warehouses, hospitals and high-rises, fostering…

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Creating Low-Risk, High-Reward Strategies with Daniel Burrus of Burrus Research, Inc.

Creating Low-Risk, High-Reward Strategies with Daniel Burrus of Burrus Research, Inc.

In this episode, David Wright is joined by Daniel Burrus, a renowned futurist, author, and Founder and CEO of Burrus Research, Inc. a global research and consulting firm based in Wisconsin. Burrus shares his insights on anticipatory thinking, hard and soft trends, and how businesses can leverage these concepts to remain relevant and future-ready. Key Takeaways: (07:45) Thinking big, then…

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Building a Global IT Vision for Human Rights with Paul Smith of Amnesty International

Building a Global IT Vision for Human Rights with Paul Smith of Amnesty International

Paul Smith, Chief Information Officer of Amnesty International, shares his journey from a working-class background to becoming a leader in digital innovation at one of the world’s largest human rights organizations. With insights into resourcefulness, cybersecurity and global tech solutions, Paul offers a look into managing technology with purpose and resilience. Key Takeaways: (06:06) The importance of leveraging networks for…

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Scaling Digital Transformation in Rail with Ingo Paas of Green Cargo

Scaling Digital Transformation in Rail with Ingo Paas of Green Cargo

Ingo Paas, CIO and CDO of Green Cargo, shares insights into leading digital transformation within the rail cargo industry. Green Cargo was the winner of the 2023 IDC Future Enterprise Best in Future of Digital Infrastructure EMEA Award. Ingo has been at the forefront of leveraging AI to innovate and transform traditional industries, showcasing how digital infrastructure can support scalable…

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The Path to Innovation and AI Mastery with Mike Todasco of San Diego State University

The Path to Innovation and AI Mastery with Mike Todasco of San Diego State University

This week, David Wright is joined by Mike Todasco, Visiting Fellow at the James Silberrad Brown Center for Artificial Intelligence at San Diego State University. Mike shares his journey from accountant to leading innovation at PayPal and now, in his current work with AI at San Diego State University. They explore the power of AI tools in driving business effectiveness,…

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