Podcast
Technovation with Peter High (CIO, CTO, CDO, CXO Interviews)
Hosted by Metis Strategy · EN
Twice-weekly conversations with top executives and thought leaders at the intersection of business, technology, and innovation. Each episode of Technovation explores the technology trends that are transforming business, and the leaders driving digital change inside their organizations. Produced by Metis Strategy and hosted by firm President Peter High, Technovation is the premier podcast for IT and technology professionals with the largest collection of interviews with elite CIOs, CTOs, and CDOs.
47episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
Gary Sorrentino on How Zoom Is Moving AI from Conversation to Completion
2w ago00:27:40Tap to summarizeZoom became synonymous with video meetings, but its next chapter is about delivering business outcomes through AI. In this episode of Technovation, Peter High speaks with Gary Sorrentino, Global CIO of Zoom, about the company’s evolution from a video conferencing platform to an enterprise AI platform designed to move organizations “from conversation to completion.” Drawing on nearly five decades in technology leadership, Gary explains why CIOs should prioritize integrated AI platforms over disconnected point solutions, how better data drives better AI outcomes, and why the future of work is about enabling effective collaboration wherever work happens. He also shares his perspective on AI agents, deepfake detection, usage-based AI, and the leadership skills technology executives will need as human and digital workforces increasingly operate together. This episode is presented by Mailtrap — Modern Email Delivery for developer & product teams. Learn more at mailtrap.io
Transcribe →David Epstein: How Constraints Drive Innovation, Creativity, and Better Leaders
3w ago00:48:49Tap to summarizeWhat if the key to breakthrough innovation isn’t more freedom—but better constraints? In this episode of Technovation, Peter High speaks with bestselling author David Epstein about the surprising ideas behind his newest book, Inside the Box: How Constraints Make Us Better. Drawing on examples from Apple, Pixar, Bell Labs, General Magic, Bach, Dr. Seuss, and scientific research, David explains why carefully designed constraints often produce more creativity, better decisions, and stronger leadership than unlimited choice. Listeners will also learn: Why our brains default to the “path of least resistance” How constraints fuel innovation across business, science, and the arts What General Magic teaches today’s AI leaders Why hypothesis-driven thinking produces better outcomes How leaders can create boundaries that encourage creativity without stifling it This episode is presented by Mailtrap — Modern Email Delivery for developer & product teams. Learn more at mailtrap.io
Transcribe →Priceline CTO Sejal Amin on Building AI-Powered Travel
3w ago00:35:59Tap to summarizeAI is transforming travel, but according to Priceline CTO Sejal Amin, technology alone isn’t enough. The real competitive advantage comes from redesigning how organizations work. In this episode of Technovation, Peter High speaks with Sejal about leading technology strategy at one of the world’s largest online travel platforms. They explore how Priceline built Penny, its fully agentic AI travel assistant, why preference data is becoming more valuable than behavioral data alone, and how product operating models are accelerating innovation across engineering teams. You’ll also hear why Sejal believes developer productivity and engineering performance are fundamentally different, how AI is reshaping software development, and why the future of agentic AI depends as much on customer trust as technical capability. Key topics include: Building Priceline’s AI-powered travel assistant, Penny Moving from functional silos to product ownership Using preference data to create personalized customer experiences Improving developer experience through AI and platform engineering Why organizational architecture determines AI success Whether you’re leading AI initiatives, modernizing engineering organizations, or building customer-centric digital platforms, this conversation offers practical insights for technology executives navigating rapid change. This episode is presented by Mailtrap — Modern Email Delivery for developer & product teams. Learn more at mailtrap.io
Transcribe →Tamar Yehoshua on Building AI with Enterprise Context at Atlassian
4w ago00:36:24Tap to summarizeWhat gives one enterprise an AI advantage over another? According to Atlassian Chief Product & AI Officer Tamar Yehoshua, it’s not simply access to the latest models, it’s the depth of enterprise context. In this episode of Technovation, Tamar joins Peter High to discuss how Atlassian is leveraging decades of workflow history through its Teamwork Graph to power AI across Jira, Confluence, and Rovo. She explains why enterprise context is becoming the defining ingredient for AI success, how software must now be designed for both humans and AI agents, and why leadership judgment becomes even more valuable as AI accelerates software development. Tamar also shares Atlassian’s approach to AI Builder Weeks, measuring AI productivity, building open agent ecosystems, and helping customers realize measurable business value from AI investments. This episode is presented by Mailtrap — Modern Email Delivery for developer & product teams. Learn more at mailtrap.io
Transcribe →
Avi Eyal on Why Great Founders Still Matter Most in the Age of AI
4w ago00:57:23Tap to summarizeArtificial intelligence may be transforming how companies are built, but Avi Eyal believes the fundamentals of identifying exceptional founders haven’t changed. In this episode of Technoventure, Peter High sits down with Avi Eyal, Co-Founder and Managing Partner of Entrée Capital, to discuss what separates enduring companies from the rest. Drawing on years of experience investing in early-stage technology companies, Avi shares how his firm’s investment philosophy continues to prioritize people, timing, technology, and market opportunity—even as AI reshapes startups, enterprise software, and the future of work. They also explore how venture firms evaluate founders, why smaller AI-enabled teams are becoming the norm, the promise of vertical AI, how enterprise technology is evolving, and why Avi believes quantum computing could arrive sooner than many expect. Whether you’re a founder, technology executive, investor, or innovation leader, this conversation offers a thoughtful perspective on navigating one of the biggest technology shifts in decades. In this episode: Why exceptional founders remain the biggest differentiator Entrée Capital’s Four Ts investment framework How AI is changing startups and enterprise software The future of agentic workforces Why quantum computing may be closer than many expect
Transcribe →Jim Peko on Building the Future of Professional Services at Grant Thornton
4w ago00:39:54Tap to summarizeProfessional services is undergoing its biggest transformation in decades, and AI is only part of the story. In this episode of Technovation, Peter High speaks with Jim Peko, CEO of Grant Thornton Advisors LLC, about how the firm is redefining the professional services model through private equity, platform consolidation, strategic acquisitions, and a $1 billion technology investment. Jim explains why incremental change is no longer enough, why data will become the true competitive differentiator, and how firms can balance innovation with the trust that clients expect. You’ll also hear Jim’s perspective on AI governance, agentic AI, the future of talent, evolving pricing models, and why professional services firms must rethink their operating model to remain competitive in an era of rapid technological change. This episode is presented by Celonis — Give AI the context it needs. Learn more at celonis.com/technovation
Transcribe →
The Complexity Problem: Gus Shahin on Simplifying the Enterprise for AI
Jun 2900:29:23Tap to summarizeMost companies don’t have a technology problem. They have a complexity problem. In this episode of Technovation, Peter High speaks with Gus Shahin, EVP of Business Technology and Operations at NetApp, about consolidating IT, operations, global security, and enterprise process under a single leader. Shahin joined NetApp in 2024 after 24-plus years at Flex, where he served as CIO and led global supply chain. He argues that transformation stalls on change management, not technology, and that the real goal of enterprise AI is not a handful of pilots but an AI-first culture. Key Highlights: Why consolidating four functions under one leader beats siloed CIO, CDO, and CTO roles How NetApp launched 29 AI projects and deliberately killed 11 to 12 mid-year Why the shift to inferencing makes storage performance the new bottleneck How “fail fast” became a transformation lever, not a slogan Where buy-versus-build is shifting, and the hidden cost of building your own This episode is presented by Celonis — Give AI the context it needs. Learn more at celonis.com/technovation
Transcribe →How Jack Henry Uses AI and Data Science to Transform Community Banking
Jun 2500:45:01Tap to summarizeWhat happens when a technology provider can see patterns across 244 million account holders and thousands of financial institutions? In this episode of Technovation, Peter High speaks with Keith Fulton, Chief Data Officer at Jack Henry, about how data science and AI are transforming community banking. Keith explains how Jack Henry is leveraging industry-scale data to help banks reduce fraud, predict customer churn, identify hidden revenue opportunities, and prepare for an agentic AI future. He also shares how the company is democratizing innovation through citizen development, AI adoption programs, and enterprise-grade governance for employee-built applications. Key Highlights: Building the data foundation required for agentic AI Using consortium-scale data to uncover insights individual banks cannot see Predicting customer churn and identifying hidden commercial customers Applying AI to fraud prevention and customer protection Scaling innovation through AI adoption and citizen development This episode is presented by Celonis — Give AI the context it needs. Learn more at celonis.com/technovation
Transcribe →How SailPoint’s CIO Is Securing AI Agents, Machine Identities, and Enterprise
Jun 2200:29:38Tap to summarizeAs AI agents gain access to enterprise systems, identity security is becoming the control layer for responsible AI adoption. In this episode of Technovation, Peter High speaks with Sree Kancharla, CIO of SailPoint, about how identity governance is evolving from managing human access to securing machine identities, AI agents, and autonomous workflows. Sree discusses SailPoint’s role as “Customer Zero,” the growing challenge of shadow AI, the importance of governance that enables innovation, and how organizations can balance productivity gains with responsible risk management. He also shares his perspective on persona-based AI experiences, human-led agents, and the workforce implications of AI for the next generation of technology professionals. Key topics include: Why AI agents require a new approach to identity security How SailPoint manages shadow AI across the enterprise The role of Customer Zero in driving product innovation Moving from human-in-the-loop to human-led agents Preparing future technology talent in an AI-driven world This episode is presented by Celonis — Give AI the context it needs. Learn more at celonis.com/technovation
Transcribe →
Stephen Ward on Why Great Cybersecurity Leaders Think Beyond Technology
Jun 1900:59:40Tap to summarizeCybersecurity leadership isn’t ultimately about technology, it’s about judgment, influence, and the ability to lead through uncertainty. In this episode of Technovation, Peter High speaks with Stephen Ward, cybersecurity executive, investor, and former security leader at several large enterprises. Stephen reflects on his unconventional journey from government service to corporate cybersecurity leadership and ultimately technology investing. Along the way, he shares lessons on building security organizations, navigating risk, developing executive influence, and preparing for a future increasingly shaped by AI. Key discussion topics include: The transition from cybersecurity operator to executive leader Building trust while transforming security organizations Lessons learned from leading large-scale security programs Why leadership skills matter as much as technical expertise The evolving relationship between AI and cybersecurity What separates enduring technology companies from the rest
Transcribe →