From CIO to Innovation Architect: How Pandora Ovanessian Turns Technology Into Business Growth
What does it take to lead through constant change in technology and business? For Pandora Ovanessian, the answer starts with one core belief: technology should always create real business value. Throughout her career as a fractional CIO, CTO, and CIO, she has helped organizations navigate digital transformation by focusing on systems and innovation, as well […]
How Dave Fazio Became a Successful CIO by Putting Business Outcomes First
What makes a technology leader truly successful in a fast-changing business world? In this interview, Dave Fazio, CIO at Smith Douglas Homes, shares a leadership philosophy shaped by three decades in technology, business transformation, and executive decision-making. His perspective is refreshingly practical: real success in IT leadership does not come from technical skill alone. It […]
From Computer Science to Marketing Leadership: How Steve Erbentraut Built a Career by Taking the Road Less Traveled
In a business world shaped by digital transformation, artificial intelligence, and constant disruption, leadership growth no longer comes from staying in one lane. It comes from curiosity, courage, and the willingness to understand how technology connects to real business outcomes. That is exactly what makes Steve Erbentraut’s leadership journey so compelling. Now serving as VP […]
Divya Rathanlal on Leading Without a Blueprint: Curiosity, Trust and Emotional Steadiness in Action
What makes a great leader in technology today? According to Divya Rathanlal, Chief Information Officer at Austin Water, leadership today is not built in moments of comfort or certainty. It is forged in ambiguity, strengthened by trust, and revealed through the courage to step forward when the path is unclear. In a conversation with Josef […]
Why the Modern CTO Must Think Like a CEO: Mex Emini on Leadership, Resilience, and Building Business-Driven Tech Teams
What does it really take to succeed as a modern CTO? For Mex Emini, co-founder of DataFlair and former C-level technology executive, the answer is clear. Stop thinking like a technologist and start thinking like a business leader. “The CTO is not a technical role. It is a business role.” That belief defines Mex’s leadership […]
“Infectious Leadership”: CIO Garrett Olin on Trust, Curiosity, and Building High-Performance Teams
Technology moves too fast for leaders who want certainty before they act. The organizations that stay resilient are led by people who keep learning, who show up when it matters, and who build teams that don’t freeze when something breaks. Garrett Olin, CIO at Shasta Community Health Center and a seasoned technology executive across federal […]
Lead Without Fear: How CTO Pete DiFondi Is Redefining Technology Leadership in the Age of AI
Inside the mindset, financial discipline and bold optimism are shaping the future of innovation. Artificial intelligence is changing how companies operate, but Pete believes leadership itself does not need a reinvention. It needs a return to what works: caring deeply, finishing what you start, and leading with courage. In our Top Innovator conversation, Pete DiFondi, […]
“Be Careless on Purpose”: Mathias Guille on the Leadership Skill Most Executives Miss (and How AI Will Change Everything)
Mathias Guille, VP Cloud Platform at Broadpeak, has built his leadership career in the streaming and content delivery world, across Asia, Europe, and the United States. When asked what drove his growth, he doesn’t point to a master plan. He points to a mindset. He calls it being “careless.” Not reckless, not sloppy. Careless in […]
Daniel Lakier on the Hard Truth About Leadership: Sometimes the Kindest Move Is Letting Go
Most leadership advice flatters the ego—big wins, bold visions, unshakable confidence. Daniel Lakier offers a rarer truth: sometimes the most compassionate decision a leader makes is the one that hurts in the moment. As Chief Evangelist at Myriad360, Daniel didn’t learn this through theory. He knew it through responsibility—moments where the job wasn’t clearly defined, […]
Why Passion Still Wins: CTO Matthew Mead on Leadership, AI, and Building a Human-Centered Future
In a world where AI threatens to outpace human potential, Matthew Mead stands firmly on the side of what makes us irreplaceable: passion, empathy, and emotional intelligence. As the Chief Technology Officer at SPR, a tech consultancy known for crafting AI-powered solutions, Matt has carved out a leadership style that blends deep technical expertise with […]