CEO Tech Live

What if the most valuable skill in technology is no longer writing code...but communicating what needs to be built? Bobby Honeycutt, VP of IT at Vixxo, believes artificial intelligence is fundamentally changing the future of software development, IT leadership, and the skills organizations need to succeed. Vixxo supports more than 3 million assets across 125,000 locations for major brands includin...

Mike Ryan, EVP and CIO of Wintrust Financial Corporation, has helped transform the bank’s technology strategy and software stack. Now, he’s tackling one of the biggest questions facing every technology leader: How do you separate real AI value from the hype? In this episode of CEO Tech Live , Mike joins host Ben Fanning to explore what organizations are getting right—and wrong—about AI, why govern...

Raj Chandrasekhar has spent his career leading technology at the highest levels. As Chief Technology and Innovation Officer at Consilio, he helps oversee AI and technology supporting more than 30,000 legal matters and 2 billion documents every year, where mistakes can carry enormous legal and financial consequences. But the leadership lesson that shaped him most had nothing to do with technology....

How do you inspire more than 1.1 million people to come together—not because they're paid to, but because they believe in a shared purpose? Rajneesh Gupta, Global Head of Products & Partnerships / Partner and Managing Director at AlixPartners, experienced exactly that while helping organize the World Culture Festival in Washington, D.C., where volunteers from around the world united to create...

Amjad Masad faced one of the hardest decisions of his career. Replit had grown too fast, AI adoption hadn't arrived as quickly as expected, and the company was running out of runway. After painful layoffs and a dramatic restructuring, many would have played it safe. Instead, Amjad doubled down. He and the team locked themselves in a "war room", bet the company on AI agents, and launched what becam...

What if the next major breakthrough in healthcare isn't a new drug, a new technology, or even AI? What if it's the data we already have? Darren Coleman, CIO of Envision Pharma Group , shares how healthcare's biggest challenge isn't a technology problem—it's a data problem. Healthcare generates more data than any industry on earth, yet only a fraction of it is being used to improve patient outcomes...

AI isn’t magic. Kevin Bates, Chief Data Officer at T. Rowe Price, made the clearest case I’ve heard for why so many companies are stuck with AI. Everyone wants the AI breakthrough. But Kevin says the real blocker is often much less exciting: fragmented data legacy systems unclear ownership poor data quality decades of complexity When ChatGPT first exploded, a lot of leaders thought AI might magica...

Tracy Galloway, Corporate Vice President and COO of Microsoft Americas, shares a powerful framework that every leader needs right now... ...how too keep your leadership impactful while technology moves faster than ever. This isn't AI hype. It's a real conversation about: • nonstop learning • proving AI ROI • tackling burnout • staying present with teams while everything changes Too many leaders ke...

In the middle of massive transformation, one question keeps surfacing in every boardroom: Are we behind on AI? Kelly Fisher, Chief Practice Partner at Wipfli, hears it from leaders every day. Her answer reframes the conversation: “AI isn’t replacing your expertise — it’s amplifying it.” She calls it " Amplified Expertise" — the idea that AI, when used intentionally, helps leaders and their teams m...

We live in a world overflowing with dashboards, KPIs, and reports. But here’s the hard truth: the numbers don’t always tell you the full story. Rich Brown, Business Transformation Director at LV=, shared a lesson every leader needs to hear: 👉 Early in his career, all the stats said a project was on track. 👉 But his gut told him something wasn’t right. 👉 He ignored it — and later wished he had....

From help desk to CIO. That’s the remarkable journey of Mike Ryan, Executive Vice President and Chief Information Officer at Wintrust Financial Corporation. In this episode, Mike reveals how he transformed his career from marketing to IT leadership, ultimately rising to the C-suite after nearly three decades at Wintrust. Along the way, he embraced risks, learned through failure, and carried forwar...

"With AI, you’re either shaping the future—or getting shaped by it." That’s the mindset driving Vijay Sankaran , Chief Digital & Information Officer at Johnson Controls, where he leads 2,500+ technologists building the smartest buildings on Earth . In this episode of CEO Tech Live , powered by Hexaware, Vijay shares how he’s: ⚡ Turning ERP nightmares into agile, value-driven transformation ⚡...

This Is What Integrity Looks Like. Ian Andrews, CIO of Liverpool Victoria, made a decision to protect a critical system. It went sideways. He could’ve passed the blame. Instead, he said: “That would be me.” He took the hit—and still took full accountability. No excuses. No deflection. In this powerful episode, Ian shares: -The painful moment that redefined his leadership. -How imposter syndrome sh...

Failure Forged Resilience... Paul Sheffield didn’t just survive that career-defining moment—he turned it into the foundation of his leadership philosophy. Today, he leads technology transformation for some of the most iconic brands on the planet—McDonald’s, Nike, Barclays—and credits one early error for shaping how he builds resilience, empathy, and execution at scale. In this conversation, he sha...

🚀 What happens when you’re asked to lead something you’ve never done before? Anjani Nandan didn’t plan to end up in cybersecurity—or in the U.S. at all. He started out selling watches in India. He actively avoided computer labs. He thought networking felt “too transactional.” Fast forward: Today, he’s the VP of Cybersecurity and IT Infrastructure at Worldpac, a Carlyle portfolio company, and the...

They handed him paper. He built the future. Kevin Bates, Ex0Chief Data Officer at Fannie Mae, started with binders and paperclips. Then he led the data transformation behind one of America’s most vital financial engines—helping deliver $17B in net income and reshaping the future of housing finance. This episode isn’t about technology. It’s about what happens when you stay the course, embrace chang...

They said no. I built yes. Craig Brown, Director of Banking Technology, EBRD, was told he wasn’t fit to sit a basic math exam. Today, he’s leading global banking tech for an institution investing €13B+ annually to transform economies—and lives. This episode isn’t about titles. It’s about what happens when you refuse to be defined by other people’s limits. 🔥 Leading through war zones 🌍 Reimaginin...

Purpose-Driven Digital Leadership Diana Lee Caplinger, KPMG's Managing Director of Systems of Action, faced pivotal moments that would forever change her perspective on leadership. As digital transformation reshaped organizations, she navigated the complexities of cloud adoption, team dynamics, and technology’s growing influence. But what happens when innovation clashes with culture, and leaders m...

Ready to lead with impact? Kal Majmundar, Chief Technology and Transformation Officer of Patelco Credit Union, shares game-changing insights for leaders eager to solve core issues and make a difference. Drawing from over three decades at top organizations like Visa and Mattel, Cal explains how to align innovation with financial wellness, especially for working families often underserved by traditi...

Ever wonder how cybersecurity leaders protect what matters most in healthcare? Nelly Nauman, Chief Information Security Officer at Parexel, joins Ben Fanning to share her journey from finance to biopharma and the critical role storytelling plays in safeguarding patient data. Discover how Nelly bridges the gap between technical teams and decision-makers, empowering her team with the skills to face...

The Forward-Thinking Leader Join Jonathan Shough, CIO of Parexel, as he unveils his groundbreaking leadership strategy designed to empower his team to think proactively and act decisively. Discover how this transformative approach reshapes communication styles, enhances email effectiveness, and drives remarkable results. Jonathan’s practical strategies not only elevate team dynamics but also foste...

The $300 Million Inspiration Join Jouk Pleiter, the visionary CEO and Founder of Backbase, as he unpacks the remarkable journey of transforming a developer software company into a $300 million powerhouse. With an audacious mission to reshape banking around customer engagement, Backbase is on track to double its size in just three years. Delve into his insights on overcoming legacy systems, embraci...

The Data Leader Data drives the world and Fannie Mae's Chief Data Officer, Kevin Bates has a vital message for ALL leaders. You see, it can make the difference between a thriving organization and one that flounders often comes down to leadership. BUT how much focus are you giving what makes a strong leadership vision for data, and how can it transform your company’s future? In this episode, you'll...

The Leadership Spark Lúcia Soares, Carlyle Group Partner and CIO of Head of Tech Transformation, reveals the "spark" that drives her leadership and that keeps her at the forefront of technology. This source of inspiration and success has guided her and her team through seismic shifts, from the rise of the internet and e-commerce to the digital revolution and the advent of generative AI. Lucia shar...

GET THE BEST FROM YOUR TEAM Amit Saxena, GM and VP of Automation Engine at ServiceNow, shares a powerful strategy to consistently get top performance from his teams. Leadership greatness isn't measured on results you get from a one-time sprint. It comes from consistent excellence every time in all interactions. That's where Amit's important message comes in for this very interview! ---- ServiceNow...