Disruptive Innovators

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)…

Read more

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)…

Read more

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…

Read more

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…

Read more