Soul of the CIO

What does it take to lead technology at one of the largest and most complex organizations in the world? In this episode of Soul of the CIO, former U.S. Department of Defense CIO Leslie Beavers shares what it was really like overseeing technology strategy, cybersecurity, and digital transformation at the Pentagon. From leading a $60 billion cybersecurity portfolio to driving zero trust adoption acr...

What happens when AI meets one of the world's most complex and high stakes industries? n this episode of Soul of the CIO, we sit down with Jason Luce, CTO of Paperless Parts, to explore how manufacturers are adopting AI, automation, and modern software while preserving the expertise that keeps supply chains moving. Jason shares why the future of AI in manufacturing is not about replacing people, b...

What can intelligence leaders teach today's CIOs about risk, innovation, and navigating uncertainty? In this episode of Soul of the CIO, former Principal Deputy Director of National Intelligence Sue Gordon shares lessons from a remarkable career spanning intelligence, cybersecurity, technology innovation, and national security. From helping launch In-Q-Tel to shaping cyber strategy at the highest...

In this episode of Soul of the CIO, Leidos CIO Alexandra Guenther shares how one of the world’s most complex technology organizations is transforming IT service delivery, digital employee experience, and enterprise AI at massive scale. From supporting 50,000 employees across global defense, cybersecurity, and critical infrastructure operations to reducing IT ticket volume through proactive self-he...

In this episode of Soul of the CIO, Dawn Fitzgerald shares why organizations are facing a true “adopt or perish” moment with artificial intelligence. Drawing on leadership roles at Schneider Electric, American Family Insurance, Homesite Insurance, and SharkNinja, as well as her work teaching at Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dawn explains how leaders can safely integrate AI into engineerin...

In this episode of Soul of the CIO, we sit down with entrepreneur and UNILAD co-founder Alex Partridge for a candid conversation about leadership, mental health, and the realities behind building high-growth digital businesses. Alex shares the untold story of how he built one of the world’s largest social media brands, only to be removed from his own company after signing a partnership agreement h...

In this episode of Soul of the CIO, Martin Gilliard, (Optierra, Ex-Meta, Barney’s, Microsoft) breaks down the future of retail and why physical stores are more important than ever. While many believe e-commerce has taken over, the reality is very different. Over 80% of transactions still happen in physical stores, and retailers are transforming those spaces into powerful data-driven engines. We ex...

In this episode of Soul of the CIO, we sit down with Trevor Gordon from Save the Children to explore how technology, data, and AI are transforming the future of humanitarian work. Trevor shares his journey from the private sector back into the nonprofit world—and how that full-circle moment shaped his perspective on leadership, innovation, and impact. From supporting frontline workers in high-risk...

In this episode of Soul of the CIO, we sit down with Cassie Kozyrkov, globally recognized AI leader, statistician, and former Chief Decision Scientist at Google. Known for founding the field of Decision Intelligence, Cassie has helped some of the world’s largest organizations harness artificial intelligence, data science, and machine learning to drive smarter business outcomes. Join us as we explo...

What does it really take to become a CIO? Not a straight path. Not a perfect résumé. And definitely not privilege. In this episode of Soul of the CIO, David Germain shares one of the most honest leadership journeys we’ve ever recorded — from growing up in an underprivileged household with illiterate parents and no safety net… to becoming a Chief Information Officer at just 27 years old. But this i...

What does it take to build a 30-year career across Nike, Mylan, and Estée Lauder — and still redefine success on your own terms? In this episode of Soul of the CIO, we sit down with former global CIO Michael Smith to explore his extraordinary journey from humanities major to technology leader at some of the world’s most iconic brands. From helping scale Nike from a $1B footwear company to a $25B g...

What really happened in the hours before Russia invaded Ukraine — and how close did cyber warfare come to shutting a country down? In this episode of Soul of the CIO, we sit down with Sarah Armstrong-Smith, former Microsoft cybersecurity leader, to unpack one of the most significant cyber events in modern history. Just 12 hours before the physical invasion of Ukraine, Microsoft detected 300 simult...

In this episode of Soul of the CIO, we are joined by Sharon Prior, Chief Information Officer at Heathrow Airport, for an in-depth conversation on technology leadership at one of the world’s most complex and high-profile organizations. Sharon shares her perspective on the evolving role of the CIO, leading digital transformation at scale, and balancing innovation with resilience in a mission-critica...

Michael Coates has had an extremely interesting work history and he's on Soul of the CIO to walk through it with us. From banks contracting him to hack their systems at just 21 to becoming the CISO of Twitter (before the banning of Trump), to now launching his own consultancy he knows security inside and out. He also offers his best advice on how individuals can keep their data safe.   Soul of the...

What does it take to break through the glass ceiling—and the paper ceiling—to become CIO of an iconic brand like Bentley Motors? In this episode of Soul of the CIO, host Tom welcomes Kirsty Mason, CIO of Bentley Motors, for a candid, deeply personal conversation about resilience, leadership, and carving an unconventional path to the top of IT. From growing up in pubs in Derbyshire to leaving schoo...

From comparing the modern CIO to a DJ who reads the room and sets the rhythm, to explaining why adoption matters more than installation, this wide-ranging conversation with Cummins CIO Earl Newsome explores what it truly means to lead technology in an era of continuous change. Earl dives into: Why the CIO’s role has evolved from “keeping the lights on” to shaping competitive advantage How AI will...

In this episode of Soul of the CIO, we sit down with Dan Anthony, CIO of FedNow at the U.S. Federal Reserve, to unpack the once-in-a-generation technology launch that’s transforming how money moves in America. FedNow is the nation’s instant payments infrastructure—processing billions of payments and trillions of dollars while operating 24/7/365 across nearly 10,000 banks. Dan shares how the Federa...

What does it really take to build a lasting career in technology? In this episode of Soul of the CIO, we explore the human story behind innovation with a technologist whose journey spans rural India, global enterprises like IBM, Microsoft, Amazon, and American Express, and multiple CTO roles. From growing up without electricity or running water to launching Office 365, building customer-obsessed s...

When people think of Etsy, they picture a crafty online marketplace, but as former CTO Rachana Kumar reveals it’s truly a big data company built on cutting-edge technology and a deep social mission. In this episode of Soul of the CIO, Rachana shares her incredible journey from growing up in a small town in southern India to leading technology at Etsy. She opens up about: The mindset shift required...

From selling radios in his dad’s Brooklyn shop to leading one of the world’s most iconic software companies, Bruce Chizen’s journey is a masterclass in resilience, honesty, and bold leadership. Hear never-before-told stories about: Working under Bill Gates’ relentless intensity Facing off with Steve Jobs during Apple’s comeback Learning leadership from Silicon Valley’s “Coach,” Bill Campbell Turni...

What does it take to go from managing IT under missile fire in Afghanistan to leading technology for one of the world’s most influential human rights organizations? In this episode of Soul of the CIO, Paul Smith, CIO of Amnesty International, sits down to share his remarkable career journey — from his early days supporting defense operations in active war zones to shaping Amnesty’s global tech str...

Rachel Wilson, Chief Data Officer at Morgan Stanley and former NSA Executive, joins Soul of the CIO. Known as the “Queen of the Hackers” during her time at the NSA, Rachel shares her journey from counterterrorism operations to leading cyber defense for one of the world’s largest financial institutions. She opens up about the pressure of protecting the London 2012 Olympics, the challenges of managi...

Discover the inspiring journey of Jason Conyard—from entering the workforce at 16 to leading global IT transformation as VMware’s CIO. In this candid conversation, Jason shares insights on leadership, digital transformation, and the evolving role of IT in today’s world. What’s in It for You Aspiring Leaders & CIOs: Learn how to navigate leadership roles, embrace career pivots, and build resili...

In this episode of Soul of the CIO, we sit down with Nina D’Amato, Chief Technology Strategist at Lenovo, to explore her remarkable journey from the U.S. Marine Corps to leading technology strategy in the public and private sectors. Nina shares how her commitment to service shaped her career and how those experiences compare to leadership in the corporate world. She also dives into how public sect...