In this episode Patrick and Shelli welcome Michael Pozzi, a tech leader with an expansive career across engineering, computer science, and finance. Currently, Michael is Senior Vice President of Technology Infrastructure at Ryan Specialty. We discuss Michael's leadership style, a philosophy characterized by humility and a team-centric approach. He shares his experiences of leading through uncertain times at the Chicago Mercantile Exchange, and highlights the ways he builds teams to foster empathy and collaboration. We chat about the evolving landscape of technology infrastructure, data volume, AI automation, and the dynamics of remote teams. Michael advocates for recognizing and nurturing talent within an organization, fostering an environment where employees can thrive and grow in alignment with their org’s mission.

(00:00) Welcome Michael Pozzi
(00:25) Michael’s Career Journey
(02:26) Role at Ryan Specialty
(03:07) Early Career and Pivot to Consulting
(05:01) Joining the Chicago Mercantile Exchange
(08:50) Transition to Infrastructure and Operations
(12:51) Leadership and Team Dynamics
(21:47) Recognizing the Need for Fresh Perspectives
(24:05) The Importance of Empathy in Team Dynamics
(29:06) Career Growth and Organizational Support
(34:48) Encouraging Internal Mobility and Learning
(40:10) Final Thoughts

Michael Pozzi is Senior Vice President of Technology Infrastructure at Ryan Specialty. Previously, over nearly 20 years, he held a series of director level positions at the CME Group, like Managing Director of Infrastructure & Operations, Executive Director of Systems Engineering, and Executive Director of Software Engineering. Before that he worked at Hewitt Associates and Accenture. He earned a Bachelors degree in Mechanical Engineering from Duke and Masters in Computer Science from DePaul.

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Podcast episode production by Dante32.