580: In this interview, R “Ray” Wang, founder and chairman of Constellation Research, shares insights from his book on data-driven digital networks (DDDNs) and why he believes digital transformation alone is not enough for companies to survive. He explains how digita0l transformations need to extend beyond integrating new digital channels and include transformations in the business model, the monetization model, the technology, and the culture. We discuss the shifting ways investors are looking at their fundamentals in companies and how businesses must develop unusual ecosystems and joint ventures in order to compete with these emerging digital giants. When it comes to data, Ray believes third-party data collection isn’t sufficient and what is really driving the future is first-party data. He describes the five key elements of building a DDDN, how it is causing industries and the respective total addressable markets to drastically change, and how government regulation should be analyzed through a cost-benefit analysis of its effect on customer value. Finally, Ray provides a framework for how older companies can compete with DDDNs.
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564: In this interview, we discuss The Premonition and how the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention evolved into an organization ill equipped to manage a pandemic. Michael shares anecdotes from the interviews he conducted and how the problems that the pandemic wrought began long before the Trump Administration. We also discuss how he developed the stories for his book, what his career as an author is like between books and a variety of other topics.
557: In this interview, Mike Hayes, Chief Digital Transformation Officer of VMWare, discusses the increasingly blurred line between internal IT and the customer experience, VMware’s SaaS transformation, and Mike’s advice on how to effectively network. We also discuss lessons Mike learned serving in the White House, Mike’s experience at Bridgewater Associates and the importance of honest feedback loops, among a variety of other topics.
546: General Stanley McChrystal has decades of leadership experience. In this interview, we discuss the importance of adaptability and agility, and General MyChrystal’s view that nimbleness is a continuous journey. He notes that cross-functional collaboration is not automatic, and organizations must be deliberate in fostering trust in a distributed environment. To do this, he suggests that transparency, vulnerability, individual empowerment, and a common purpose are all critical ingredients. We also discuss the characteristics of a resilient organization and which lessons from the military he sees as most applicable to the business realm, among a variety of other topics.
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545: Metis Strategy president Peter High discusses his new book, Getting to Nimble. In this interview, Peter shares how he got to the title Getting to Nimble, why he decided to put people as his first principle, and the critical importance of change in any IT organization. He also discusses how data and analytics are rising up many organization’s priority lists, his take on the chief data officer role, and why competition has changed from company versus company to ecosystem versus ecosystem. He also shares the four sets of ecosystems he recommends partnering with, how many CIOs are moving beyond the CIO role, the growing trend of CIOs joining boards, among a variety of other topics.
544: Jeff Immelt, the former CEO of GE, spent over 15 years running one of the world’s largest companies. In this interview, Jeff discusses his experience growing up professionally at GE, Jeff’s relationship with his predecessor and legendary CEO, Jack Welch, and Jeff’s story ascending to the CEO role. We discuss why Jeff decided to write the book about his time at GE, two things Jeff would have done differently if he had the chance to do them over again, and the digital push Jeff made as CEO. Lastly, we discuss what Jeff misses most about his time at GE, Jeff’s views on the global economy going forward, Jeff’s advice to younger individuals at the beginning of their careers, among a variety of other topics.
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Among a variety of other topics.
In this interview, we discuss Kevin’s upbringing in rural Virginia and why he felt he had to leave his hometown to pursue opportunity, how people can have successful careers by using sophisticated technological tools without having to move to technology hubs like Silicon Valley, Kevin’s thoughts on improving technology knowledge and expertise, the importance of teaching kids technology, how COVID-19 will make distance learning and working more prevalent, how AI and ML can be used for positive benefit with healthcare applications, such as disease detection, why everyone must play a role in shaping technologies future, not just a select privileged few, Scott’s take on synthetic biology, among other topics.
440: In this interview, Gene Kim elaborates on each of the five ideals the book introduces, which are locality and simplicity, focus, flow, and joy, the improvement of daily work, psychological safety, and customer focus. For each one, he provides his definition, examples of it working and not working, and explains why it is important. We also discuss why the days of taylorism, project management, and people treating others as fungible and replaceable resources is coming to an end, why he writes his books as novels, among other topics.
