Behind the Growth

In this episode of Behind the Growth, Imran Mian speaks with Shalu Bains, Chief Information and Analytics Officer at Trillium Health Partners, about the vital role of technology and analytics in modern healthcare. Shalu shares how her non-clinical background enables her to drive impactful change through data-driven solutions, emphasizing the importance of understanding client needs and supporting...

In this episode of Behind the Growth, host Imran Mian speaks with Saby Waraich, CIO and CISO at Clackamas Community College, about transformative leadership and the evolving role of technology in education. Saby shares his unique leadership framework, CARES (Communicate, Adapt, Relationships, Empathy, Stay Calm), which emphasizes compassion and adaptability in navigating organizational change. He...

In this episode of Behind the Growth, Holly Heglin, Head of AI Product & Strategy at Layer 6 AI discusses AI innovation and operational transformation with host Imran Mian. A seasoned leader in AI strategy and governance, Holly dives into the critical challenges of scaling AI solutions in heavily regulated environments like banking, balancing the need for innovation with stringent governance....

In this episode of Behind the Growth, Dr. Brian Gardner, Interim CIO for the City of Dallas, discusses cybersecurity and the unique challenges of managing a diverse IT department in the public sector. Drawing from his transition from forensic accounting to IT leadership with host Imran Mian, he details his passion for information security and public service, highlighting the importance of balancin...

Julie Lane, Global Head of Ways of Working in Financial Services at AWS, joins host Imran Mian on Behind the Growth to discuss the evolution of financial services. Julie shares insights from her 20-year career, focusing on digital transformation. She notes the shift from branch-first to digital-first banking and the rise of mobile engagement.  Julie discusses the complexities of regulations, legac...

In this episode of Behind the Growth, Davood Shamsi, Executive Director at JPMorganChase, shares his journey from academia to industry in the field of AI and machine learning.  Davood discusses the importance of understanding business problems before applying AI solutions. He emphasizes the need to dig deep into the core issues, often uncovering better solutions than initially proposed. He also hi...

On this episode of Behind the Growth, host Imran Mian speaks with José Ignacio Sordo Galarza, Founder & Managing Director of CIO Eureka, about his career and insights on bridging the gap between IT and core business functions.  José emphasizes that IT professionals often need to better articulate the value of their work in a language understandable to business leaders. He shares his experience...

In this episode of Behind the Growth, host Imran Mian engages in an insightful discussion with Ujjwal Goel, Senior Director at Loblaw Companies Limited. Their conversation delves into the crucial role of data strategy within the realm of artificial intelligence and machine learning.  Ujjwal underscores the critical importance of a robust data strategy for organizations aiming to harness the full p...

In this episode of Behind the Growth, host Mudassar Malik speaks with Robert Strickland, founder and managing director of M37 Ventures, about the evolving landscape of technology, leadership, and innovation. With decades of experience leading technology initiatives across major industries, Strickland shares his insights on how businesses can balance innovation with stability in an ever-changing ma...

Correction at 3:48: Realtor.com was the #1 real-estate website in the USA and Canada at the time. _______ In this episode of Behind the Growth , Imran Mian celebrates Christian Rohrer, VP of Design at TD Bank, to explore the evolution of user experience (UX) design and its broader impact on the tech industry. Christian reflects on his journey from tech support engineer to leading design teams, emp...

In this episode of Behind the Growth, host Mudassar Malik interviews Amit Sharma, Vice President of SMB Product and Services at TELUS, about his career transition from IT to product management. Amit provides a detailed look into his strategic process and elaborates on the decision to pursue an MBA to gain new skills and formally transition into a business-focused role. Amit emphasizes that while h...

In this episode of Behind the Growth, Imran Mian sits down with Andree Gosselin O'Meara, VP of Customer Support at ecobee, to explore her career journey and the transformative projects she has led. Andree shares her experience in customer service, starting from her early days at Xerox to her current role at ecobee, where she has been instrumental in driving digital transformation and enhancin...

In this episode of Behind the Growth, host Imran Mian celebrates Gurvinder Gill, Chief Information and Security Officer at the Toronto Parking Authority. Gurvinder recounts his 22-year career journey, detailing his roles at Longo's, Credit Valley Hospital, and Canada Health Infoway, where he led significant digital transformations. He then dives into his current role, focusing on mobility sol...

In this episode of Behind the Growth, host Mudassar Malik interviews Vivek Menon, VP, Head of DFS Technology at CIBC. The conversation begins with Vivek recounting his early days and the experiences that laid the foundation for his career and professional outlook. Over the last two decades, Vivek has worked on both sides; Technology and Business, and this experience has helped him develop into a c...

In this episode of Behind the Growth , host Imran Mian sits down with Anna Hannem, VP of Data and AI Risk at Scotiabank. Anna takes us through her impressive career journey, starting from her early days as a customer service representative and transitioning into project management and data governance roles. She delves into how her unique background in behavioural psychology and project management...

In this episode of Behind the Growth, host Imran Mian interviews Fatih Nayebi, Vice President of Data and AI at the ALDO Group. Fatih shares his journey from a technology enthusiast in his childhood to leading AI-driven projects in the retail industry. He highlights his early fascination with computers and AI, and how this passion led him to pursue advanced studies and a career in machine learning...

In this episode of Behind the Growth, host Imran Mian celebrates Zeeshan Syed, VP Operations Transformation, Data & Automation at RBC. Zeeshan shares his journey from a software engineer in oil and gas to a key player in banking. He emphasizes the importance of continuous learning and adapting to new roles, which has driven his 15-year career at RBC.  The conversation steers towards Zeeshan’s...

In this episode of Behind the Growth, host Imran Mian interviews Edgar Núñez, Chief Data Officer at Coca-Cola FEMSA. Edgar details his transition from the supply chain finance department at P&G to a leading role in data analytics. He shares how his electronics engineering background helped him tackle data reliability issues and drive automation. Edgar recounts the challenges of integrating bus...

In this episode of Behind the Growth, host Imran Mian sits down with Zain Abbas, AI and machine-learning expert and Director of Data Science at Sun Life. Zain shares his journey from academia to the financial sector, highlighting key turning points and challenges, such as transitioning from academia to industry and adapting to the Canadian job market. He emphasizes the importance of stepping out o...

In this episode of Behind the Growth, host Imran Mian interviews Simon Tremblay-Larouche, VP of Strategy and Innovation at Sandoz Canada. Simon shares his diverse career journey, beginning as a national junior tennis player and transitioning into engineering before moving into strategic roles across various industries, including banking, insurance, telecom, and pharma. He highlights the importance...

In this episode of Behind the Growth, host Imran Mian sits down with Kathryn Hume, VP of Digital Channels Technology at RBC. Kathryn shares her unique career path, blending math, literature, and philosophy, leading her into the field of AI and technology. She discusses the importance of pairing technical knowledge with deep business understanding to apply machine learning effectively. Kathryn high...

In this episode of Behind the Growth, Mudassar Malik hosts Inanc Cakiroglu, Director of AI and Analytics Practices at mobileLIVE. Inanc shares his insights on first-principle thinking, a method of breaking down complex problems into basic elements to find innovative solutions, and emphasizes the importance of starting with simple, clear problems and building up from there.  Inanc discusses his ear...

In this episode of Behind the Growth, host Imran Mian interviews Nitesh Soni, Global AI Solutions Leader at Sanofi. Nitesh sketches the diverse scope of his role as a data science practitioner, and how it enables him to navigate machine learning and AI in driving pharmaceuticals. He also talks about the significance of building a diverse team to meet consumer requirements on a global scale, ensuri...

In this episode of Behind the Growth, host Imran Mian interviews Suhanniyah Carpenter, Director of Consumer Banking, Technology Lead at Royal Bank of Canada as she traces her transition from a computer science major to a director. She talks about the tussle between work and starting a family in the minds of young women in the corporate world, and suggests that the latter works out if you maintain...

This episode of Behind the Growth covers the story and insights of Mahima Poddar, Group Head of Personal Banking at Equitable Bank. In conversation with host Imran Mian, Mahima traces her corporate journey that led her to EQ Bank’s digital platform, and eventually to the leadership seat of Personal Banking at the Bank. She considers networking and diverse reading to be the hallmark of creativity,...