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

Mojgan Lefebvre, Chief Technology and Operations Officer at Travelers, emphasizes integrating AI into overall business strategy, reducing onboarding from 2 hours to just 2 minutes. Pavan Verma, Chief Data and Information Officer at Cencora, shares insights on operationalizing AI to improve patient outcomes, including a poignant story about enhancing a child's vision. Glenn Remoreras, Chief Information Officer at Breakthru Beverage Group, discusses his AI summit for leadership education and how a product mindset is transforming sales strategies. Together, they illustrate AI as a key driver for enterprise transformation.

David Burns, CIO of GE Aerospace, discusses lessons learned from cloud outages and predictive maintenance for aircraft engines. Keith Sarbaugh, CDTO of Zoetis, shares insights on building an AI strategy focused on governance and enterprise adoption. Judith Apshago, CDO of Amtrak, emphasizes the importance of IT/OT convergence for reliability and deploying edge sensors for safety. Together, they explore challenges like third-party cyber risks, the role of AI in diagnostics, and the balance between innovation and governance in a digital-first world.

Daniel Marcu, Goldman Sachs AI leader who builds secure enterprise AI platforms. Prasanna Gopalakrishnan, ADP’s Chief Product & AI Officer who studies AI’s labor impacts and workforce products. Jennifer Charters, Lincoln Financial CIO focused on AI adoption and organizational change. They discuss AI agents reshaping team structure, CIO–CHRO partnerships for AI fluency, risks of shadow AI, habit and incentive-driven adoption, and embedding AI across workflows.

In this engaging discussion, Sal Campanier, Chief Digital and Information Officer at Cushman & Wakefield, and Diane Schwarz, Chief Information Officer at Smurfit WestRock, delve into the intricacies of the product operating model. They emphasize the importance of organizational readiness and the risks of fragmentation in teams. Sal highlights how transparent funding can build trust and drive revenue, while Diane points out the challenges when business maturity is lacking. Their insights on co-creation and aligning financial processes with agile methods offer valuable strategies for success.

What if the most defensible companies of the AI era aren’t the ones building the infrastructure—but the ones using it to rethink workflows? In this Technoventure episode, Peter High speaks with Jamie Montgomery, Founder and Managing Partner of March Capital, about why the firm is investing heavily in the AI application layer—not chips, not clouds, but the companies delivering real task-based outcomes. Key topics explored: Why workflow-based moats beat data moats in the new venture cycle How application-layer companies are scaling faster with leaner GTM The ripple effects of AI CapEx on the U.S. economy and tax base March Capital’s bets on open-source LLMs and scientific discovery Why Montgomery believes AI “bailed out” the U.S. and VC industry alike

What’s stopping AI from scaling across the enterprise? For Madhu Ramamurthy, CIO of Zurich North America, it’s not the technology. It’s the culture. In this episode, Madhu shares how he’s navigating the paradox of AI: a tool with unprecedented potential, surrounded by institutional resistance, unclear regulations, and cultural misalignment. He outlines Zurich’s approach to responsible AI deployment, organizational change, and ethical tech use. Key highlights include: How “organizational antibodies” can kill innovation before it scales The case for explainability and governance in AI development Why domain expertise is more valuable than tech fluency Building AI-native teams outside of legacy systems Madhu’s warning on digital flattery and sycophantic AI

What does it really take to scale AI across a global enterprise? In this episode, Jaime Montemayor, Chief Digital and Technology Officer at General Mills, shares the AI playbook behind the company’s digital transformation from foundational investments in cloud and data governance to business-led innovation across supply chain, e-commerce, and marketing. With 96% of General Mills’ supply chain data now clean and governed, Jaime’s team is shifting from predictive analytics to agentic architectures that enable scalable, AI-powered automation. Key insights include: Why cloud migration came before ERP modernization How trust and business integration drive AI adoption Building a connected data foundation to serve every segment Agentic AI use cases in supply chain and marketing Org design strategies to “lift and shift” innovation at scale

In this engaging discussion, Waco Bankston, CIO at NiSource, shares insights from his extensive experience leading a major technology transformation. He highlights the shift from viewing IT as a bottleneck to embracing it as a business accelerator. Waco outlines a comprehensive six-year roadmap to modernize legacy systems and instill a new culture of urgency and integrity. He delves into governance strategies for AI and cybersecurity and the importance of adapting lessons from other industries to enhance decision-making and integration post-acquisition.

Gautam Roy, the Chief Technology Officer of Unum, leads the charge in transforming the company’s digital landscape. He discusses shifting from traditional applications to value-based journeys, emphasizing a digital-first approach. Gautam highlights the role of AI and automation in enhancing efficiency and customer experiences. He shares insights on fostering a culture of innovation through hackathons and cross-functional teams, along with the importance of continuous learning and adapting talent strategies for the future.

Mike Hayes, a former Navy SEAL and Managing Director at Insight Partners, discusses the strategic advantage of having a clear mission in business. He emphasizes the importance of identity over roles, advising organizations to align their missions with leadership for elite performance. Mike shares lessons from SEAL training on constructive feedback and making effective decisions. He also reflects on the balance between ambition and purpose, underscoring humility as a key leadership quality. His insights are drawn from high-stakes experiences, making for a compelling conversation.