Tech Whisperers: Inside the Playbooks of the Best Digital Leaders

Phillip Dundas, Chief Technology Officer at AlTi Global, is the kind of leader who injects optimism, conviction, and a deep commitment to trust into everything he does. Over the course of his career leading technology at complex financial institutions, Phil has learned that sustainable transformation starts with strong foundations, trusted data, genuine relationships, and people who understand how their work connects to the bigger picture. Whether he’s leading a technology organization or pedaling 3,500 miles across the country with his family, his approach is grounded in staying focused on the destination while remaining willing to change the route along the way.
In this episode, we are unpacking the leadership lessons behind Phil’s “eyes up, chin up” mindset, including how to build trust, balance conviction with adaptability, invest in people and relationships, and do the unglamorous foundational work that makes innovation and AI impact possible.
Connect with Phil: https://www.linkedin.com/in/phillipdundas/
Check out AlTi Global: https://alti-global.com/
Tune in for Phil’s expert advice, including:
Why great leaders are intentional about the energy they bring to their teams
How to build trust with your people, your clients, and your data
Why getting the foundations right is critical to achieving AI and innovation outcomes
How to balance conviction with the humility to change course
Why relationships are the real infrastructure that organizations run on
How leaders can identify and develop potential that people may not see in themselves

Featuring submitted questions from:
Andrea Markstrom, Global CIO, Crowell & Moring
Kevin Moran, President & COO, AlTi Global
Sudhir Khanna, Managing Director, Global Head of Enterprise Technology, Lord, Abbett & Co. LLC
Masha Dundas, Phil’s Wife, Cross Country Bike Partner, CIO (Chief Inspirational Officer)
Rob Field, Global CIO, Adler Advisors
Brooke Dundas, Phil’s Daughter

With AI turning the traditional leadership playbook on its head, many leaders are finding themselves stuck in cycles of pilots, experimentation, and uncertainty. Marianne Johnson, EVP & Chief Product Officer at Cox Automotive, is one of the select few who are already creating real business impact, rewriting the playbook and redefining what’s possible in the process. In this episode of Tech Whisperers, we’re shining a light on Marianne’s enterprise leadership story, which involves orchestrating one of the largest business transformations in the industry, grounded in the conviction that AI starts and ends with people.
Marianne shares how Cox Automotive moved from “data first, AI enabled” to “AI first, data differentiated,” and the corporate jet conversation that helped launch its agentic AI strategy two years ago. Among other things, she also opens up about surviving an F5 tornado as a baby, the grandmother who taught her that “everything is figure-out-able,” and the young man in Kenya whose life she helped change.
Connect with Marianne: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mariannemcpeakjohnson/
Cox Automotive: https://www.coxautoinc.com/
Tune in for insights from Marianne’s enterprise leadership playbook, including:
Why the leadership job is shifting from being the best explorer to being the cartographer
Her philosophy of “start with crazy and work backwards”
How Cox Automotive moved from “data first, AI enabled” to “AI first, data differentiated”
Why every business needs a “control plane” for agentic AI
How she builds relationships “all the way down” an organization
Why leadership is a team sport
Balancing high standards with high care

Featuring submitted questions from:
Barry McCarthy, President & CEO, Deluxe
Chris Dillon, VP, Infrastructure & Operations Platforms, Cox Automotive Inc.
Elaine Baker, EVP, Global Operations & Financial Protection, Global Payments Inc.
Shawna Easley, Senior Director, Product Management, Cox Automotive Inc.
Mitch Gersten, CIO, Cox Automotive Inc.
Keith Ferrazzi, NYT Best-Selling Author, Founder of Ferrazzi Greenlight

While many leaders spend their careers trying to avoid uncertainty, GE Aerospace CIO David Burns has built his by embracing it. After more than 25 years leading through transformation, disruption, and some of the biggest moments in modern business and technology, David has developed a leadership philosophy rooted in continuous learning, developing people, and helping teams thrive when the path ahead is anything but clear.
In this episode of Tech Whisperers, we are shining the light on David’s journey and exploring what it takes to lead through turbulence, build high-performing teams, create a culture of continuous improvement, and use AI to accelerate both innovation and business outcomes.
Connect with David: http://linkedin.com/in/david-andrew-burns
GE Aerospace: https://www.geaerospace.com/
Tune in for David’s expert insights, including:
How GE's leadership culture develops confident, adaptable technology leaders
What it means to be both an exceptional operator and an innovative CIO in the age of AI
How continuous learning helps leaders separate meaningful signals from constant noise
Why coaching, trust, and authentic relationships are essential to building high-performing teams
How GE Aerospace is using AI to accelerate customer value and continuous improvement
Practical leadership lessons for navigating uncertainty with confidence and clarity

Featuring submitted questions from:
Alf Cherry, CIO, Commercial Engines & Services, GE Aerospace
Monica Caldas, Global CIO, Liberty Mutual Insurance, Episode 59 Guest
Dinakar Deshmukh, VP, Data Science & Analytics, GE Aerospace
James Ross, Chief Digital Technology Officer, Phillips 66
Ehren Powell, Chief Digital Officer,
Jim Fowler, Chief Technology & Product Officer, Lumen Technologies

Jane Connell began her career without a college degree and no pre-determined path to executive leadership. Yet through grit, curiosity, authenticity, and an unwavering belief that leadership is ultimately about people, she has built one of the most respected careers in technology. In this episode, we are shining the light on Jane’s remarkable journey ahead of her induction into the CIO Hall of Fame.
Through a diverse group of Mystery Questioners who help us answer the question “What Would Jane Do?” Jane is sharing the leadership philosophies, career-defining moments, and deeply personal lessons that shaped her four-decade legacy at organizations like Johnson & Johnson, State Street Bank, and Verizon.
Connect with Jane: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jane-connell-b2377544/
Verizon: https://www.verizon.com/
Tune in for leadership wisdom from Jane, including:
How her grit and curiosity formed the foundation for her leadership journey
How authentic leadership and vulnerability became her greatest superpowers
How to drive meaningful innovation by immersing yourself in the business
Her First 100 Days Playbook for navigating complexity and building trust inside large organizations
How to overcome resistance and lead transformation without creating enemies
How AI is reshaping work, and why leaders must shift from org structures to workforce structures
Why women are falling out of technology, and why Jane believes AI can become an equalizer

Featuring submitted questions from:
Ahmed Khan, Associate Director, Application Development, Verizon
Velamur Sudharshan, SVP, Technology, Strategy & Architecture, Global Infrastructure & Security, Verizon
Avi Arora, Senior Director, Strategy & Transformation, Verizon
Geeta Mahindroo VP Corporate Systems, Verizon
Tom Connell, Jane’s Husband
Tyler Connell, Jane’s Son