Technovation with Peter High (CIO, CTO, CDO, CXO Interviews)

Kelly Services is transforming the way enterprises approach staffing through AI-powered innovation, scalable tech, and smart acquisitions. In this episode of Technovation, Peter High speaks with Sean Perry, Chief Information Officer of Kelly Services, a $4.3B staffing and professional services company. Sean shares how he’s driving modernization across IT, integrating recent acquisitions like Motion Recruitment, and developing innovative AI tools to deliver enterprise-wide value. From launching a custom AI assistant (GRACE) to implementing a modern tech stack across legacy systems, Sean reveals how Kelly is reshaping its digital future while improving candidate and client experiences. He also draws lessons from his time at Amazon and Robert Half to rethink internal products with a customer-first mindset. Key themes include: Scalable AI deployment through internal platform GRACE Integrating acquired tech stacks post-M&A Applying Amazon-style product thinking to IT Future-ready strategies for AI in staffing tech

In today’s episode of Technovation, we feature a fireside chat from our Metis Strategy Summit, held on May 13, 2025, and moderated by Peter High. The guest is Justin Wexler, General Partner at WndrCo, a venture capital firm focused on scaling AI and enterprise innovation. In this candid conversation, Justin offers a behind-the-scenes look at how WndrCo identifies, mentors, and scales AI startups into enterprise-ready solutions. With deep involvement in companies like Writer and Netomi, he explores what separates proof-of-concept from production-grade success—and what enterprise CIOs can do to help startups land and expand. Topics include: Bridging the startup-enterprise gap through curated CIO ecosystems Designing AI pilots that deliver measurable ROI from day one Building internal champions to accelerate deployment Evaluating causal AI and agentic workflows in marketing and CX How WndrCo supports founders beyond capital—through storytelling, hiring, and scaling

How does a $48B tech distributor reinvent itself as a platform company? In this episode, Peter High speaks with Dham Pathervellai, Chief Technology Officer of Ingram Micro, a global distributor and technology platform connecting 2500+ vendors with 160,000 customers in 200+ countries. Dham unpacks the company’s evolution from a traditional distributor to a platform-first enterprise. Dham shares his perspective on building Ingram’s digital backbone, leading enterprise architecture, and scaling a global technology team. He also outlines how Ingram’s data mesh, intelligent data assistant, and “come as you are” integration strategy are helping to drive customer value, fuel innovation, and power AI transformation. Key insights include: The cultural shift needed for platform transformation How enterprise architecture became the “tip of the spear” Driving revenue with data-driven automation Preparing for an AI-enabled workforce

Chris Nardecchia, Chief Digital Officer of Rockwell Automation, discusses embedding AI in industrial automation, highlighting the future of digital twins and autonomous robots. Talal Butt from Generac Power Systems shares insights on creating a cohesive residential energy ecosystem using AI, addressing mega trends like climate change. Ampily Vijay of CBRE Investment Management dives into AI's role in hyper-personalization for asset management. Together, they provide a strategic playbook for moving from isolated AI projects to comprehensive operational models.

Kevin Doyle, Chief Digital Officer at Ecolab, joins Peter High to unpack how the company is scaling innovation through AI, IoT, and a modern data backbone. In this episode, Kevin shares how Ecolab Digital was formed to unify commercial product innovation, internal IT, and supply chain digitization. He describes the company’s use of agentic AI and generative tools to equip 28,000 field reps with insights, how digital twins and subscriptions drive monetization, and why MAP (Modern Analytics Platform) is central to value delivery. Key topics include: Empowering field teams with generative AI and IoT-backed insights Monetizing digital offerings through connected services and usage modeling Embedding factory AI and vision tech in supply chain operations Using third-party data (e.g., weather, Yelp) to tailor solutions Fostering a pod-style innovation culture with R&D and design integration

How do leading CIOs drive innovation, resilience, and trust amid volatility? In today’s episode of Technovation, we feature a panel from our Metis Strategy Summit held on May 13, 2025 moderated by Peter High. The topic was Cultivating Resilience and Trust in Uncertain Times and the executives who joined the discussion were Cindy Hoots, Chief Information Officer of AstraZeneca, Rahul Jalali, Chief Information Officer of Union Pacific, and Ather Williams III, Head of Strategy, Digital, Innovation, & Enterprise Payments at Wells Fargo. Each shares frontline perspectives on navigating disruption from economic uncertainty and shifting supply chains to generative AI and regulatory complexity. Together, they unpack how their organizations are leveraging digital platforms, data, and cross-functional leadership to respond to instability and build enduring trust with customers, regulators, and employees. Key topics include: Enterprise strategies for managing geopolitical risk and supply chain volatility AI governance, digital ethics, and human-in-the-loop practices Customer-centric IT operating models and adaptive transformation Talent, training, and leadership in a next-gen digital environment

How does a 174-year-old mutual insurance company stay ahead of the curve? In this episode of Technovation, Peter High speaks with Sears Merritt, Head of Enterprise Technology and Experience at MassMutual. Sears leads a $650M tech budget and a global team of 3,000, driving innovation in cybersecurity, data, and generative AI to deliver superior experiences for employees, advisors, and policyholders. Sears shares insights on MassMutual’s modernization journey from consolidating legacy systems to rolling out secure GenAI tools like Microsoft Copilot and GitHub Copilot. He also unveils the company’s strategic investments in virtual assistants, R&D partnerships, and a groundbreaking health and wellness platform that aligns longevity with economic value for policyholders. Topics include: Modernization via simplification Virtual assistants powering productivity and service AI trust, security, and governance principles Wellness tools that align with life insurance incentives Building an R&D function to future-proof tech strategy

 “Enterprise data platforms must evolve to express context to AI systems.” In this episode of Technovation, Peter High speaks with Louis Landry, Chief Technology Officer at Teradata, a $1.75B cloud analytics and AI data platform. Louis shares how Teradata is reshaping its core platform to meet the demands of the AI era through open, hybrid architectures, vector search integration, and mixed workload optimization. A 11-year veteran of the company, Louis reflects on Teradata’s evolution from centralized analytics to a hybrid, multi-cloud powerhouse, and what it means to support some of the world’s largest banks, airlines, and healthcare providers. He also offers insight into agentic AI, data-centric intelligence, and model-sharing futures.

“We don’t just deliver data—we deliver trust.” In this episode of Technovation, host Peter High speaks with Gary Kotovets, Chief Data & Analytics Officer at Dun & Bradstreet, a global leader in business decision-making data and analytics. Gary shares how he oversees the company’s end-to-end data strategy, from acquisition and normalization to advanced analytics and GenAI integration, serving a customer base that spans Fortune 500 giants to small businesses. Learn how Gary’s team fuels innovation through alternative data, builds trusted AI tools like ChatD&B, and partners directly with C-level clients to deliver decision-ready intelligence. Key insights from Gary: Why governance and trust are core to scalable AI How D&B integrates social media, merchant, and geospatial data into risk scoring The role of GenAI in entity resolution and customer engagement How D&B.AI Labs helps clients co-create GenAI solutions with enterprise-grade oversight

Seth Cohen, CIO of Procter & Gamble, previously held similar roles at PepsiCo and Reckitt Benckiser. He discusses P&G's innovative AI factory driving digital transformation and how data accessibility is prioritized over tech solutions. Seth explains the Pampers Club app's ability to merge consumer insights with supply chain data. He also highlights the imperative of upskilling the workforce for digital fluency and the role of agentic AI in redefining data dashboards, paving the way for a future-ready enterprise.