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How do you turn AI from an experiment into a capability that transforms an entire organization? In this episode of Soul of the CIO, we sit down with Deepika Adusumilli, former Chief Data Officer at BT, to explore what it really takes to implement AI at scale. Drawing on her experience leading data and AI transformation at one of the UK's largest telecommunications companies, Deepika explains why successful AI adoption goes far beyond choosing the right technology. It requires trusted data, clear strategy, rapid experimentation, measurable outcomes, and above all, the right culture. Subscribe for more conversations with the world's leading CIOs, CTOs, CISOs, and technology executives on Soul of the CIO: https://www.youtube.com/@SouloftheCIO Download your free copy of Gartner's DEX Magic Quadrant here Book your ticket for Nexthink Experience 2026 (October 5–7, ⁠JW Marriott Grande Lakes ⁠Orlando, Florida) today

AI isn’t just another technology upgrade. It’s a fundamental change in how organizations operate. In this episode of Soul of the CIO, we sit down with Dr. Mike Horton, Director of the Center for Applied AI Maturity at Northeastern University and former Chief AI Officer and Chief Data Officer at the U.S. Department of Transportation, to explore why so many organizations are approaching AI the wrong way. Mike argues that AI adoption isn’t about buying the latest tools and expecting productivity to follow. Successful transformation requires organizations to rethink their people, processes, infrastructure, and mission while building the trust employees need to actually embrace AI. Drawing on decades of experience across government, technology, academia, and the military, Mike explains why organizations should focus on enhancing human capabilities rather than replacing them, why AI pilots struggle to scale, and why leaders need to look beyond traditional ROI toward what he calls "return on mission." We also discuss the realities of AI transformation inside the U.S. federal government, the dangers of technology hype, the importance of human-centric AI, and what previous technological revolutions can teach today’s leaders about navigating the AI era. Subscribe for more conversations with the world's leading CIOs, CTOs, CISOs, and technology executives on Soul of the CIO.\ https://www.youtube.com/@SouloftheCIO Download your free copy of Gartner's DEX Magic Quadrant here Book your ticket for Nexthink Experience 2026 (October 5–7, ⁠JW Marriott Grande Lakes ⁠Orlando, Florida) today

What separates great technology leaders from everyone else? According to Allen Hill, it starts with resisting the urge to solve problems before fully understanding them. In this episode of Soul of the CIO, Allen Hill shares the remarkable journey that took him from a childhood of hardship to a distinguished career spanning the U.S. Air Force, Verizon, federal government leadership, and the private sector. Along the way, he reveals the leadership principles that shaped his success, how organizations can adopt AI responsibly, and why Digital Employee Experience is becoming essential for every modern enterprise. Subscribe for more conversations with the world's leading CIOs, CTOs, CISOs, and technology executives on Soul of the CIO.\ https://www.youtube.com/@SouloftheCIO Download your free copy of Gartner's DEX Magic Quadrant here Book your ticket for Nexthink Experience 2026 (October 5–7, ⁠JW Marriott Grande Lakes ⁠Orlando, Florida) today

Discover how technology is transforming emergency response with Michelle, CIO of the San Francisco Department of Emergency Management. In this episode of Soul of the CIO, Michelle shares how one of the nation's busiest emergency management organizations is modernizing 911, adopting AI responsibly, improving disaster response, and leading digital transformation across city government. From managing San Francisco's COVID response to preparing for earthquakes, wildfires, floods, and major public events, Michelle explains what it takes to build resilient technology systems where reliability can mean the difference between life and death. She also discusses the future of cloud based emergency services, AI assisted dispatch, public sector innovation, and what the next generation of CIO leadership looks like. Subscribe for more conversations with the world's leading CIOs, CTOs, CISOs, and technology executives on Soul of the CIO.\ https://www.youtube.com/@SouloftheCIO

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 across allied nations, Leslie offers a rare look inside the decisions that shape national security. The conversation explores leadership under pressure, modernizing legacy infrastructure, building interoperable systems with international allies, and why cooperation is often a bigger challenge than the technology itself. Soul of the CIO is Sponsored by Nexthink, the leader in digital employee experience. Learn more: nexthink.com  Subscribe for more conversations with the leaders shaping the future of IT and technology.  Find the full in-studio video version on YouTube @SouloftheCIO

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, but empowering them with better insights, streamlined workflows, and greater transparency. From aerospace supply chains and digital transformation to process mapping and change management, this conversation offers practical lessons for technology leaders navigating AI adoption at scale. Soul of the CIO is Sponsored by Nexthink, the leader in digital employee experience. Learn more: nexthink.com  Subscribe for more conversations with the leaders shaping the future of IT and technology.  Find the full in-studio video version on YouTube @SouloftheCIO

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 levels of government, Sue offers a unique perspective on how leaders can balance innovation with governance in an increasingly complex world. The conversation explores the challenges of competing with authoritarian nations, the evolving relationship between government and the private sector, the future of AI and quantum computing, and why resilience matters more than perfection when managing risk. Sue also reflects on her experience serving in the intelligence community, working through major geopolitical challenges, and leading organizations through periods of rapid change. Soul of the CIO is Sponsored by Nexthink, the leader in digital employee experience. Learn more: nexthink.com  Subscribe for more conversations with the leaders shaping the future of IT and technology.  Find the full in-studio video version on YouTube @SouloftheCIO

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-healing systems, Alexandra breaks down what it takes to modernize technology inside highly regulated environments. The conversation explores digital employee experience (DEX), AI transformation, predictive analytics, enterprise data strategy, and how CIOs can use technology to unlock productivity and innovation. Soul of the CIO is Sponsored by Nexthink, the leader in digital employee experience. Learn more: nexthink.com  Subscribe for more conversations with the leaders shaping the future of IT and technology.  Find the full in-studio video version on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@SouloftheCIO/videos

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 engineering, marketing, finance, HR, and every part of the business. She discusses why software engineers often hide their use of tools like OpenAI’s ChatGPT, Google’s Gemini, and Anthropic’s Claude, and how that creates security, privacy, and governance risks. Dawn outlines a practical framework for enterprise AI adoption: mandate usage, provide secure tools, train teams, establish guardrails, and reward experimentation. Soul of the CIO is Sponsored by Nexthink, the leader in digital employee experience. Learn more: nexthink.com  Subscribe for more conversations with the leaders shaping the future of IT and technology.  Find the full in-studio video version on YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/@SouloftheCIO)

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 he instinctively didn’t trust. What followed was a five-year legal battle, a deeply personal mental health crisis, and ultimately, a hard-fought victory to reclaim what he had built. This episode goes beyond entrepreneurship. It explores the intersection of anxiety, ADHD, leadership, and performance, and how understanding your own mind can be the difference between burnout and breakthrough. Soul of the CIO is Sponsored by Nexthink, the leader in digital employee experience. Learn more: nexthink.com  Subscribe for more conversations with the leaders shaping the future of IT and technology.  Find the full in-studio video version on YouTube.

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 explore how modern retail brands are no longer just selling products. Instead, they are leveraging data, personalization, and omnichannel strategies to create better customer experiences, drive higher profits, and compete in a rapidly changing market. Soul of the CIO is Sponsored by Nexthink, the leader in digital employee experience. Learn more: nexthink.com  Subscribe for more conversations with the leaders shaping the future of IT and technology.  Find the full in-studio video version on YouTube.

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 environments to managing complex global IT infrastructure, he offers a behind-the-scenes look at what it takes to deliver technology at scale for good. Soul of the CIO is Sponsored by Nexthink, the leader in digital employee experience. Learn more: nexthink.com  Subscribe for more conversations with the leaders shaping the future of IT and technology.  Find the full in-studio video version on YouTube.

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 explore how CIOs and technology executives can move beyond hype and turn AI strategy into measurable impact. Cassie shares practical insights on building data-driven cultures, improving executive decision-making, managing AI risk, and leading digital transformation with confidence. Soul of the CIO is Sponsored by Nexthink, the leader in digital employee experience. Learn more: nexthink.com  Subscribe for more conversations with the leaders shaping the future of IT and technology.  Find the full in-studio video version on YouTube.

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 isn’t a “success story.” It’s a story about resilience, rejection, confidence, and redefining what winning actually means. David opens up about: Growing up without money, connections, or a roadmap Being told to “get a trade” just to survive Accidentally falling into tech as a computer operator Grinding through years of night exams and sacrifice Becoming a CIO before 30 Navigating bias, identity, and leadership pressure Why he stepped away from executive life to focus on purpose, family, and impact And the surprising life lesson he learned from a taxi driver about success This conversation goes deeper than career advice — it’s about character, curiosity, and building a life you actually want. If you’re early in your IT career, aiming for the C-suite, or questioning what success really looks like… this one will stay with you. Soul of the CIO is Sponsored by Nexthink, the leader in digital employee experience. Learn more: nexthink.com  Subscribe for more conversations with the leaders shaping the future of IT and technology.  Find the full in-studio video version on YouTube.

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 global powerhouse, to leading digital transformation at Estée Lauder, Michael shares lessons on leadership, authenticity, and building trust at scale. We dive into: How Nike’s culture of trust accelerated decision-making and innovation The power of being a “T-shaped” leader in technology Building global e-commerce strategy from the ground up Using AI and digital platforms to drive consumer experience in beauty Why he stepped away from a dream CIO role to attend his son’s wrestling season What true success means after decades in the C-suite Michael also discusses his passion for impact — from investing in Northern Irish football club Carrick Rangers to founding TechPACT, a coalition of CIOs focused on expanding access to technology careers. This conversation is about more than digital transformation. It’s about legacy, leadership, and making a meaningful difference — in business and beyond. If you're a CIO, IT leader, aspiring technologist, or interested in digital strategy, executive leadership, or AI innovation, this episode is packed with insights you won’t want to miss. Subscribe for more conversations with global technology leaders. Learn how digital leaders are shaping the future of enterprise. Soul of the CIO is Sponsored by Nexthink, the leader in digital employee experience. Learn more: nexthink.com  Subscribe for more conversations with the leaders shaping the future of IT and technology.  Find the full in-studio video version on YouTube.