Cxotalk: Leadership, Innovation, Disruption

Most enterprises aren't ready for agentic AI, but ChristianKleinerman, Snowflake's EVP of Product, shares practical advice on what it takes to succeed: data readiness, governance, AI economics, and workforcestrategy.In this episode of CXOTalk, Kleinerman draws on 25 years ofenterprise technology experience to give leaders a realistic roadmap for AI adoption. He explains how to evaluate AI vendors in hours instead of months, which use cases deliver measurable ROI today, and how to build the data foundation that makes AI agents effective.

Can a digital replica of your heart save your life? In CXOTalk episode 902, Michael Krigsman talks with Dr. Joe Alexander, Director of the Medical and Health Informatics Lab at NTT Research, to explore the revolutionary world of Bio-Digital Twins.Discover how researchers are using mathematical modeling to build "computational replicas" of the human cardiovascular system. Dr. Alexander explains how these digital twins can predict heart failure, automate critical care in the ICU through closed-loop intervention systems, and pave the way for a future where personalized medicine is accessible to everyone.We dive deep into the science of treating the heart as an electrical circuit, the ethics of AI in medicine, and the "moonshot" goal of eliminating cardiovascular disease..

How do you turn a 150-year-old industrial giant into an agile, AI-first organization?=======Please support our sponsor Emeritus:Explore executive education programs from Emeritus, in collaboration with top universities: https://cxotalk.partner.emeritus.org/=======For Hexion CEO Michael Lefenfeld, the answer isn't just about technology, but about culture, safety, and rethinking value. In episode 901 of CXOTalk, Lefenfeld details his strategy for integrating AI across every level of a billion-dollar manufacturing enterprise, from the R&D lab to the factory floor.Michael Krigsman and Michael Lefenfeld discuss the practical realities of moving beyond "pilot purgatory." They dive into how to manage workforce anxiety (the "carrot vs. stick" approach), leverage Private Equity for long-term innovation, and maintain strict safety guardrails while moving fast.If you are a leader navigating the complexities of digital transformation, this interview offers a concrete roadmap for driving growth without sacrificing you

Microsoft invested $13 billion in OpenAI. Amazon poured billions into Anthropic. The AI oligopoly is here. Lord Tim Clement-Jones and Lord Chris Holmes, architects of UK AI policy, reveal what business leaders must know about Big Tech's grip on AI - from vendor lock-in risks to circular funding patterns signaling bubble collapse.

Is your organization stuck in AI pilot purgatory? CIO strategic advisor Tim Crawford reveals how enterprise AI is fundamentally transforming the CIO role, and why the decisions you make today will determine which IT leaders succeed tomorrow.=======Please support our sponsor Emeritus: Explore executive education programs from Emeritus, in collaboration with top universities: https://cxotalk.partner.emeritus.org/=======In CXOTalk episode 898, Tim breaks down the massive multi-dimensional impact AI is having on CIOs: from daily operations and decision-making to board-level relationships and business transformation. You'll discover why efficiency gains are just the beginning, and how strategic CIOs are leveraging AI to drive real business outcomes—not just run technology projects.

Please support our sponsor Emeritus:Explore executive education programs from Emeritus, in collaboration with top universities:https://cxotalk.partner.emeritus.org/=======Will Grannis, Chief Technology Officer of Google Cloud, explains Google's vision for agentic AI and multimodel LLMs, including these key topics on CXOTalk #897:-- The latest AI news from Google-- Why "AI as judge" determines whether your agent deployment scales or stalls-- How regulated industries have an unexpected advantage in agent adoption-- The hidden organizational rules that break agent workflows-- Why generic AI models alone provide zero competitive differentiation-- How multimodal AI changes customer support from chat to visual problem-solving-- The evaluation architecture behind successful agent deployments-- Why CEOs must participate directly in AI experimentation

Is your AI built on quicksand? Learn how bad data, poisoned datasets, and deep fakes threaten your AI systems, and what to do about it.In this episode of CXOTalk (#896), AI luminaries Dr. David Bray and Dr. Anthony Scriffignano reveal the hidden dangers lurking in your AI foundations. They share practical strategies for building trustworthy AI systems and escaping the "AI quicksand" that traps countless organizations.

AI luminary and former Group CEO of Technology at Accenture, author Paul Daugherty, offers a hard-hitting take on enterprise AI and consumer-grade artificial intelligence on CXOTalk episode 895.He examines what's working, where companies stall with their AI transformation, and what new technology trends leaders should monitor. Peer into the future of AI and see the importance of responsible AI development.

How did Salesforce build a $200B company by declaring war on "software"? Branding expert Laura Ries (author of "Strategic Enemy") reveals why the world's best brands choose strategic enemies to dominate their markets.Laura explains the counterintuitive positioning strategy behind iconic brands like Tesla, Chick-fil-A, and White Claw. Learn why opposition creates clarity, how visual hammers make brands unforgettable, and why line extensions destroy established brands.KEY TOPICS:The strategic enemy frameworkVisual hammers that build brand memoryWhy line extensions fail (Bud Light case study)How to respond to market disruptorsPersonal branding for executives

In cybersecurity, identity has become the primary attack vector. We explore identity in CXOTalk 892, with the CEO of RSA Security, Rohit Ghai, who explains how stolen credentials, social engineering, and AI-enabled impersonation break defenses. And what boards, CISOs, and executives must do now.What you’ll learn:-- Why credential theft remains the #1 initial access vector and what “phishing resistant” MFA actually requires-- How attackers bypass MFA via help desk social engineering and voice impersonation, and how to stop it-- Managing identity across the joiner–mover–leaver lifecycle to close high-risk gaps-- The “assume breach” mindset: zero trust, least privilege, and blast radius reduction-- The CISO’s evolving mandate: business vs. technology, board communication, and risk quantification-- AI in cyber: sword, shield, and attack surface, and the changing economics of attack vs. defense-- Ransomware beyond backups: data theft, response playbooks, and legal/PR readinessWho should watch:Board members, CEOs,

Too often, AI breaks in the wild. Why? CXOTalk 890 dissects the adversarial economy with Steven C. Daffron (fintech private equity leader) and Anthony Scriffignano (distinguished data scientist), hosted by Michael Krigsman. Discover the challenges of **ai implementation** and the strategies needed to navigate the **future of work** in an AI-driven world. Stay informed with expert insights on CXOTalk. What you’ll learn:How AI enables and masks adversarial behaviorMisaligned incentives, data/model drift, and biasGovernance vs. regulation; resilient metrics and KPIsInvestor/CFO implications and talent/education needs 

Learn how a unified Zoho platform and centralized data reduce app sprawl, speed decisions, and improve customer experience. The discussion provides a practical playbook for leaders seeking fewer apps, stronger data integrity, and clear ROI.#Zoho #CXOTalk #TechLeadership #DataAnalytics #DigitalTransformation 

Is AI coming for your job? Boston Consulting Group's Global Lead for People and Organization, David Martin, reveals the truth about workforce disruption, survival strategies, reskilling, and the future of work.With only 20% of employees effectively using AI tools despite 80% expressing excitement, discover why adoption is failing and what leaders must do differently.

When AI systems hallucinate, run amok, or fail catastrophically, the consequences for enterprises can be devastating. In this must-watch CXOTalk episode, discover how to anticipate and prevent AI failures before they escalate into crises.Join host Michael Krigsman as he explores critical AI risk management strategies with two leading experts:• Lord Tim Clement-Jones - Member of the House of Lords, Co-Chair of UK Parliament's AI Group• Dr. David A. Bray - Chair of the Accelerator at Stimson Center, Former FCC CIOWhat you'll learn:✓ Why AI behaves unpredictably despite explicit programming✓ How to implement "pattern of life" monitoring for AI systems✓ The hidden dangers of anthropomorphizing AI✓ Essential board-level governance structures for AI deployment✓ Real-world AI failure examples and their business impact✓ Strategies for building appropriate skepticism while leveraging AI benefitsKey ideas include treating AI as "alien interactions" rather than human-like intelligence, the convergence of AI ri

Art Hu, Global CIO at Lenovo, shares proven strategies for implementing AI at scale in one of the world's largest technology companies. Learn how to navigate uncertainty, build organizational agility, and drive real business value from AI investments.In this episode, you'll learn:Why "no regret" AI investments beat waiting for perfect solutions • How to transform fear of job loss into workforce empowerment • The framework Lenovo uses to evaluate AI opportunities across every business function • Why pull-based learning environments outperform top-down AI mandates • How software engineers are expanding beyond code to become business architectsKey insights covered:✓ Agility as competitive advantage: Accept that AI technologies chosen today won't remain cutting-edge in six months. Build organizational agility instead of seeking guaranteed outcomes.✓ Reframe the AI conversation: AI automates specific tasks within jobs, not entire positions. Leaders must help teams decompose roles and reconstr

Zendesk CEO Tom Eggemeyer joins Michael Krigsman to discuss the impact of AI CX on customer expectations. They explore real-world lessons from the Zendesk AI journey, including what has worked and what hasn't. Learn how customer service is being reshaped by ChatGPT and artificial intelligence and machine learning.Key Topics Covered:The shift from traditional chatbots to reasoning AI agentsWhy Zendesk only gets paid when AI successfully resolves issuesHow AI is more accurate (and sometimes more empathetic) than humansThe surprising ways AI is changing customer service metricsReal-world examples of AI successes and failuresThe future of work in an AI-dominated landscape

What does it take to keep global financial markets stable during extreme volatility and AI-driven trading? Chris Isaacson, Chief Operating Officer of Cboe Global Markets, the world's largest options market exchange, reveals the high-stakes playbook for building resilient systems, people, and processes that handle over a trillion messages a day without failure.In CXOTalk episode 885, we go behind the scenes of one of the world's largest exchange operators to learn how they prepare for and manage market crises. Chris shares concrete strategies and the leadership mindset required to operate in an environment where nanoseconds and trillions of dollars are on the line.Topics Discussed:Building Holistic Resilience: The framework of "resilient people, processes, and platforms."Preparing for Volatility: The "2X rule" for engineering systems to handle extreme scenarios.Managing AI Risk: How to control AI-driven trading by focusing on effects, not intent.Leadership Under Fire: The critical i

The generative AI revolution has created an insatiable demand for efficient, powerful computing. How is a key industry leader like AMD navigating this critical inflection point?In CXOTalk episode 884, Michael Krigsman sits down with Mark Papermaster, CTO and Executive Vice President of AMD, to explore the future of AI infrastructure. Discover AMD's strategy for winning in the AI era, which hinges on a tight integration of hardware and software, a commitment to open ecosystems, and a relentless focus on energy efficiency.Mark shares invaluable insights for technology leaders on the rise of hybrid AI, the future of tailored language models, and the leadership practices required to foster innovation and agility in this fast-paced environment. ===+

AI expert Nate B. Jones joins Michael Krigsman on CXOTalk episode 883 to discuss prompting strategies and how they impact the performance of large language models (LLMs). Learn how to use ChatGPT to generate better results and understand the importance of AI prompt engineering. Discover effective methods to improve AI productivity using proper prompting techniques.