Information is everywhere. For businesses, information is everything. The roles of CIOs, CTOs and other transformative leaders have evolved to impact all areas of business, from employee experience and digital labor to product development and the customer experience.
Hosted by Ann Funai, CIO and VP of Business Platforms Transformation at IBM, Transformers the podcast takes you behind the scenes and screens of these transformative leaders, exploring their real-world challenges, inspiring lessons, and best practices. From personal transformations to the transformative influences around them, Ann and her guests explore what it is to be transformers. Tune in every other Wednesday at 7am EST.
Information is everywhere. For businesses, information is everything. The roles of CIOs, CTOs and other transformative leaders have evolved to impact all areas of business, from employee experience and digital labor to product development and the customer experience.
Hosted by Ann Funai, CIO and VP of Business Platforms Transformation at IBM, Transformers the podcast takes you behind the scenes and screens of these transformative leaders, exploring their real-world challenges, inspiring lessons, and best practices. From personal transformations to the transformative influences around them, Ann and her guests explore what it is to be transformers. Tune in every other Wednesday at 7am EST.
In this episode of Transformers, Ann Funai sits down with Mark Polyak, Chief Product & Technology Officer at MINT.ai, to explore how multimodal AI and intelligent automation are reshaping the future of work, marketing and human innovation.
Drawing from his background in counterterrorism and real-time data systems, Mark shares how data integrity, transparency and human oversight are essential to successful AI implementation. The conversation explores the shift to prescriptive analytics, the rise of agentic AI and how multimodal systems are driving workflow automation, a creative production boom, and business ROI.
Chapters
00:00 – From conflict zones to campaigns: Using data to get closer to truth
04:52 – Why data integrity matters: Guardrails, transparency and trust in AI systems
06:35 – Beyond descriptive: Unlocking prescriptive analytics for smarter business decisions
12:34 – Adapt or stagnate: The rise of multimodal AI and intelligent automation
15:33 – AI and the workforce: How technology is reshaping labor trends
21:20 – 3 ways AI is changing marketing: Automation, creativity and ROI
25:00 – Most AI solutions are failing: The role of trusted partners in driving real results
28:55 – The ‘glue’ role: Why business translators are essential to success with AI
31:44 – Responsible innovation in action: Building multiagentic AI with guardrails
36:20 – Spotting AI hype: How to tell real value from empty promises
39:55 – Team of Teams: Leadership lessons from high-security environments
The opinions expressed in this podcast are solely those of the participants and do not necessarily reflect the views of IBM or any other organization or entity.
Tax is a business game changer. Yes, really.
What happens when tax meets cutting-edge technology like AI? Transformation.
In this episode of Transformers, host Ann Funai is joined by Martin Fiore, EY Americas Vice Chair – Tax, and Kanthi Morrissey, IBM’s Chief Tax Officer, to explore how AI, automation and strategic partnerships are revolutionizing tax and reshaping business operations.
Whether you're a CIO, CFO, tech strategist or business leader, this conversation will reshape how you think about tax, data and the future of enterprise transformation.
Chapters
00:00 — Tax touches everything; it needs a tech transformation, too.
05:58 — Transformation optimism: The balance of human talent and AI augmentation
10:17 — Data, process, then AI: Getting full value from transformation takes time
13:48 — Getting from proof-of-concept to commercially viable solutions
16:48 — Prioritize partnerships: Use your ecosystem for future success
18:58 — EQ, IQ, AQ and the broad skillsets that leaders want from the future workforce
25:29 — Learn every day and go where your purpose resides.
The opinions expressed in this podcast are solely those of the participants and do not necessarily reflect the views of IBM or any other organization or entity.
Ann Funai welcomes Miha Kralj, CTO of IBM Consulting’s Microsoft practice, to explore how AI is reshaping enterprise technology. From digital workers and agentic AI to shifting talent pipelines and evolving software roles, this episode dives into the future of work and the skills needed to thrive.
Miha shares insights from his experience at IBM, Microsoft, AWS and Accenture, highlighting how progressive companies are deploying AI agents to handle tasks like testing, documentation and code fixes—while traditional enterprises struggle to keep pace.
They also discuss the rise of low-code/no-code tools, the changing definition of software engineering, and the growing need for resilient systems and cross-functional talent. Whether you're a business leader, technologist or strategist, this episode offers a candid look at what’s next in enterprise transformation.
00:00 – Meet Miha Kralj, CTO of the Microsoft practice for IBM Consulting
04:25 – Strategic and system integration partners
05:34 – “Faster”: The business f-word impacting every innovation, organization and skilled workforce baseline
11:40 – AI tools and adoption: Exploring start-up expectations and enterprise reluctance
13:39 – Transforming mindsets around system architecture resiliency
15:57 – Smarter business trends around AI
18:44 – Today’s critical skills in software engineering and product development
21:55 – IT academia, entry-level skills and the rise of the Universalist employee
30:55 – Over-hyped speed and over-estimated technologies
The opinions expressed in this podcast are solely those of the participants and do not necessarily reflect the views of IBM or any other organization or entity.
Cyber threats aren’t a matter of “if”—they’re a matter of “when.” In this episode of Transformers, Ann Funai sits down with Mike Gowen, Chief Revenue Officer at Celerity, to explore how sales, cybersecurity and AI are converging—and what executives must do to stay ahead.
With over 25 years in tech sales, Mike shares how executive conversations have shifted from product education to strategic enablement. He breaks down the shift toward operational resilience, the urgency of quantum readiness, and the real risks of poor AI implementation.
Mike’s leadership insights—shaped by his experience in team sports—offer a fresh take on adaptability, teamwork and transformation. Whether you're a CRO, CIO or business leader, this episode delivers actionable strategies and relatable stories to help you navigate tech-driven change.
Chapters
00:00 – Rapid fire kick-off: Meet Mike Gowen
01:20 – The evolution of sales, technology, cyber and the C-Suite roles that drive the business
03:30 – Protection to recovery: Preparing customers for inevitable cyber threats
09:05 – Evaluating technology from table stakes to Quantum
11:15 – Intersecting IT and operations to deliver value
14:20 – AI: Real ways to use it for value, real missteps you must avoid
18:44 – Common myths around cyber and AI
20:18 – Partnerships, privacy and a multidiscipline approach to cyber
26:55 – Developing high-performing teams with a coach’s mindset
The opinions expressed in this podcast are solely those of the participants and do not necessarily reflect the views of IBM or any other organization or entity.
In this powerful episode of Transformers, Ann Funai sits down with Dr. Michelle Barry, PhD, CEO and co-founder of CTI LifeHealth to explore how her team is revolutionizing healthcare for underserved communities across the globe. From rural Africa to rural Alabama, Michelle shares how CTI’s modular digital health ecosystem bridges the gap between lifestyle and clinical care starting with the patient, not the institution.
With a background in sociocultural and medical anthropology, Michelle brings a unique lens to innovation and transformation, emphasizing cultural responsiveness, data sovereignty and the importance of listening loudly. This episode is a must-listen for anyone passionate about health equity, AI tech for good and the future of global wellness.
Chapters
00:00 — Cold open question
00:57 — Meet Michelle Barry and CTI Life Health, a digital health ecosystem
01:52 — Built in Africa, by Africa, for Africa: A patient-first view of digital healthcare
03:38 — Listening loudly: Designing responsive tech for a cultural fit
07:04 — Building trust and individual agency in the face of resistance to AI
10:00 — Empowering patients with data ownership and sovereignty
12:28 — Designing for the edges: Scaling healthcare with empathy for all
16:03 — Bridging institutional and community health at a solutions level
25:48 — Body hacking and improving whole-person wellness
28:45 — Bridging gaps to the basics: Indigenous wisdom, community connectivity and leapfrogging legacy systems for best-in-class tech in emerging countries
31:25 — Partnerships Over Competition: Building Ecosystems
34:33 — Healing through creativity
The opinions expressed in this podcast are solely those of the participants and do not necessarily reflect the views of IBM or any other organization or entity.
In this special episode of Transformers, we flip the script on host Ann Funai, CIO and VP of Business Platform Transformation at IBM, as she becomes the guest of her own show. Interviewed by show producer Amanda Downie, Ann shares what keeps her up at night—and what gets her out of bed in the morning.
Through a candid, funny and deeply human conversation, Ann reflects on leadership, transformation, psychological safety and the power of assuming positive intent. From “speeding tickets” in innovation to rogue curls and pineapple pizza, this episode offers a rare behind-the-scenes look at the mindset of a modern enterprise leader.
Chapters
00:00 – What keeps Ann up at night, and what motivates her every day?
03:18 – Prioritization, psychological safety and learning from work-place speeding tickets
08:05 – Future leaders listen up: What is the CIO role really like? And what advice would Ann give her younger self?
12:20 – Authenticity can stay; buzzwords and rogue curls need to go
17:43 – Data storytelling, cognitive bias and drawing out unexpected insights
24:12 – Honest conversations and hysterical analogies: Go-to advice for bringing calm to the chaos
28:24 – Time for rapid fire questions!
35:14 – Final reflections
The opinions expressed in this podcast are solely those of the participants and do not necessarily reflect the views of IBM or any other organization or entity.
In this episode of Transformers, Ann Funai sits down with Barbra Sainsurin, GCMO of Anthropologie Group, to explore the fast-paced world of B2C marketing—from real-time insights and AI tools to building cross-functional trust and cultural relevance. From her days at Under Armour to leading transformation at Anthropologie, Barbra shares how she combines data, curiosity and heart to drive purposeful change. With warmth, vulnerability and an unapologetically customer-obsessed mindset, Barbra reveals what it takes to lead with impact and thrive in modern retail.
Chapters
00:00 – Barbra Sainsurin on her leadership style
02:25 – B2C vs B2B: 3 key marketing transformation differences
08:35 – Why cross-functional insights drive marketing success
12:30 – Translating marketing for stakeholders
15:20 – Ditch the jargon: Embrace curiosity in communication
19:47 – What it means to be a tech-savvy marketer: The evolution of data-driven marketing
27:04 – Buy vs. Build: Scaling omnichannel experiences
30:22 – 3 keys to building high-impact marketing teams
The opinions expressed in this podcast are solely those of the participants and do not necessarily reflect the views of IBM or any other organization or entity.
What happens when a tech leader trades private equity and pro sports for public service? In this episode of Transformers, Frank Sweeney, CIO of the Arizona Department of Child Safety, shares how his unconventional career path led him to one of the most purpose-driven roles in government.
Frank discusses how his team is using AI not to replace humans—but to empower them. From reducing administrative burden for field workers to improving outcomes for families and children, Frank explains how ethical, human-centered AI is transforming child welfare in Arizona.
Whether you're a CIO, CTO, or tech strategist, this episode offers a powerful look at how emerging technologies can serve people—not just processes.
00:01 An unconventional path towards a purpose-driven career
05:54 The “big three” responsibilities of a (public sector) CIO
08:52 AI as a tool—not a solution—to support purpose-driven work
12:05 Balancing innovative solutions with risk management and compliance
15:25 AI can't replace our instincts: Why you still need humans in the loop
18:54 Maintaining data privacy and security when in the field
21:41 How technology can help caregivers reduce stress and avoid burnout
24:10 Leading a purpose-driven life
The opinions expressed in this podcast are solely those of the participants and do not necessarily reflect the views of IBM or any other organization or entity.
What does it really take to transform a legacy institution into a digital-first, human-centered enterprise? Drawing from decades of experience, Amala Duggirala, Head of Digital Data and Technology at USAA, breaks down the four dimensions of transformation—technology, product, business value and culture—and shares how to scale innovation without losing sight of compliance, quality or people.
0:01 – Get to know Amala Duggirala
2:12 – The four types of transformation
7:34 – Move like a startup, scale like an E(nterprise)
12:35 – Want to win with AI? Get your foundations right.
16:25 – How USAA delivers on the full spectrum of financial needs
19:06 – Transformation lessons from around the world
22:30 – Turning point of a transformation: Words vs. actions
The opinions expressed in this podcast are solely those of the participants and do not necessarily reflect the views of IBM or any other organization or entity.
How is private equity–backed FalconStor reinventing itself in the age of AI? Ann sits down with CEO Todd Brooks and CTO Ron Morita to explore the company’s evolution beyond legacy hardware, its embrace of artificial intelligence, and how it’s driving growth through cutting-edge technology and human ingenuity.
0:01 – The hybrid cloud world
1:53 – How FalconStor transformed to survive
4:42 – The CTO role: Partnerships, products and roadmaps to success
8:57 – CEOs and CTOs working together
11:13 – A handbook for partnerships
16:45 – Bridging hardware, software and the hybrid cloud worlds
21:45 – Infusing AI for sales and customer support
29:46 – What drives you and your decision-making?
The opinions expressed in this podcast are solely those of the participants and do not necessarily reflect the views of IBM or any other organization or entity.
In this riveting Season 2 opener, host Ann Funai dives deep into a comprehensive discussion with David Tan, CTO of CrushBank. They traverse the evolution of tech roles and Tan's strategic approach to AI model selection. The conversation also encompasses the crucial importance of comprehending the data fueling AI and shifting perspectives on AI capabilities beyond the hype. Drawing from shared experiences in IT, they share and demonstrate practical techniques for effectively communicating complex tech to non-technical audiences.
0:01 – Get to know David Tan and his role as CTO at CrushBank
1:31 – Approach to internal and external transformation
2:20 – How to choose the right AI model
5:06 – The case for small models
7:31 – Customized vs open source models
8:49 – Common pitfalls in AI transformation
10:11 – Transforming mindsets and understanding AI impact
13:46 – Shared backgrounds and the evolution of CIO and CTO roles
20:00 – Effectively communicating complex tech to non-tech audiences
23:28 – The magic is in the data, not AI
The opinions expressed in this podcast are solely those of the participants and do not necessarily reflect the views of IBM or any other organization or entity.
Join Ann as she reflects on the first season of Transformers by highlighting six recurring lessons from CIOs and CTOs on business and tech transformations.
00:01 – Intro
00:16 – Transformation is inevitable
01:42 – Key transformation drivers: Culture, mindset, trust
03:07 – Trust means transparency and communication
4:29 – The AI hype is real, but so is its potential
6:59 – Learn to embrace the process
8:16 – Consider the human element throughout transformation
9:13 – Get to know the CIO
The opinions expressed in this podcast are solely those of the participants and do not necessarily reflect the views of IBM or any other organization or entity.
Navigating transformation traps with Nonie Sethi, Partner, BCG. Why do so many transformations fail, and how can we change it? With all the technology and data at our fingertips, most business transformations still feel like death by a thousand tiny cuts. Too many fail to flourish, even when the main culprits are entirely within the enterprise’s ability to navigate. In this episode, Ann talks with Nonie Sethi, Partner at BCG, who has made an art of using technology and data to help teams drive successful business transformations even in the most tenuous of circumstances.
1:00—Meet Nonie Sethi
3:00—Nonie's career transformation from Microsoft to BCG
5:05—Three steps to business transformation
7:08—How do you capture value creation?
8:19—What are the business transformation trends?
13:19—Three reasons business transformations fail
15:30—“Communication coupled with data is crucial to success”
20:45—What can management consulting firms do better?
23:35—How do you bring AI into business transformations?
27:50—Failing fast to win faster
The opinions expressed in this podcast are solely those of the participants and do not necessarily reflect the views of IBM or any other organization or entity.
Three keys to business transformation with Benni Blau, CPIO, SAP. Transforming your workforce takes more than big speeches and fancy slide decks. Successful transformations come from the right alignment of people, technology and process. Dr. Benni Blau, Chief Process & Information Officer of SAP, talks about how he approaches process and IT strategy, the critical elements of transformation, and why partnerships matter now more than ever.
0:47 - Meet Benni Blau
1:57 - Cloud transformation and the evolution of the CIO
3:35 - The rate and pace of transformation
5:23 - Putting people and processes at the forefront of transformation
9:00 - New demands on CIOs and the power of partnerships
11:57 - The value management mindset
14:47 - People, AI and the Jevons paradox
16:57 - Dealing with application sprawl
21:35 - Non-digital downtime
The opinions expressed in this podcast are solely those of the participants and do not necessarily reflect the views of IBM or any other organization or entity.
Healthy tech with Sarah Hatchett, Cleveland Clinic. The stakes are uniquely high for CIOs in healthcare. From inherent risks and information blockers to the demand for new technology and world class patient care, the stakes for a CIO can, quite literally, be life or death. Sarah Hatchett, SVP & CIO at the Cleveland Clinic, unpacks what it takes to balance patient care, data privacy, automation and AI trends, and the demand for technology advancements in healthcare.
2:15 - Personal brands and authenticity in the workplace
5:40 - Unique challenges for CIOs in healthcare
7:22 - Balancing patient care, tech advancements and risk
11:18 - Information blockers: A tradeoff between risk and service
13:58 - The power of an openly shared mission
17:35 - AI trends in healthcare
23:07 - Skills to bet on now and for the future
28:31 - Lessons from failures
The opinions expressed in this podcast are solely those of the participants and do not necessarily reflect the views of IBM or any other organization or entity.
Your tech strategy as a force multiplier. Realizing the full potential of your organization demands healthy tech habits. Eric Wood - software engineer, former Under Armour guru, current CTO of Cordance, and hardcore weightlifter - talks with Ann about transformation strategies, customizing solutions with AI and achieving goals thanks to an athlete's mindset.
0:38 - Professional arcs and the community you build
2:39 - Bringing the athlete mindset to work
5:12 - Progressive overload: What athletes know about successful transformations
9:07 - Transformations at large-scale companies vs private equity owned companies
15:36 - AI, data and the solutions clients actually need
24:17 - AI customizations: when to say yes and when to say no
26:26 - Water cooler lessons and bringing your whole self to work
The opinions expressed in this podcast are solely those of the participants and do not necessarily reflect the views of IBM or any other organization or entity.
The Transformation Venn Diagram: Strategy, Implement, Operate. When it comes to transformation, Shakespeare’s rule of three rings true. There are three parts of a transformer’s Venn diagram that seem consistent across technologies and industries: Strategy, implement, operate.
In this episode of Transformers, two guests from Deloitte Consulting - Jag Bandla and Ayo Odusote – discuss how this synergy of strategy, technology and skills helps enterprise clients achieve business transformation goals. Hear their thoughts on the latest trends – from what’s new to what’s constant – and what it all means at a human level.
The opinions expressed in this podcast are solely those of the participants and do not necessarily reflect the views of IBM or any other organization or entity.
Partners, priorities and the art of the possible. A CIO is the new client zero in the technology transformation for their company. They play a part in everything from procurement and development to sales and customer service, blending business and technology expertise. Juan Perez, CIO at Salesforce, talks about this new reality, the future of work with AI agents, AI governance and risk management, and how alignment with trusted partners is crucial for making AI successful.
The opinions expressed in this podcast are solely those of the participants and do not necessarily reflect the views of IBM or any other organization or entity.
CIO & CTO: A match made in nerd heaven. When CIOs and CTOs join forces, it's mostly for good. But how do these roles change when working with a startup instead of a large enterprise? And what does the evolution of AI mean for the next generation of technology? Eric Hexter, CTO of Aliya joins the show to chat who's the bigger nerd, CIO or CTO?
The opinions expressed in this podcast are solely those of the participants and do not necessarily reflect the views of IBM or any other organization or entity.
A CTO's 2025 wishlist. From open source for all to more eyes on AI tools to getting his parents to understand what he does for a living, Chris Aniszczyk, CTO of CNCF, shares his hopes for 2025.
The opinions expressed in this podcast are solely those of the participants and do not necessarily reflect the views of IBM or any other organization or entity.