Fractional CIO | IT Strategy for High-Stakes M&A | Faster M&A, Smoother Exits | De-risking IT & unlocking value | Author

Most technology integrations miss their synergy targets. Not because the technology is wrong, but because the right leadership wasn't in place early enough.

That's where I come in.

I'm an Interim / Fractional CIO specialising in Transformation & Resilience. I work with CEOs and boards of multi-site, acquisition-led businesses, typically PE-backed, 500–10,000 employees, to turn technology from a source of risk into a source of value.

When integration timelines slip, cyber posture is unclear, or the estate has grown faster than the team can manage, I step in to stabilise delivery, simplify complexity, and build a roadmap the board can trust.
Recent engagement:

VetPartners (BC Partners-backed, £1B revenue, 14,000 staff, 9 countries). Built the Group IT Strategy from scratch. Created acquisition integration blueprints. Accelerated new practice onboarding by 30%. Simultaneously ran IT operations for 540 UK practices.

Career outcomes:

£700M+ M&A technology integration across the platform and bolt-on acquisitions
£15M+ annual EBITDA contribution through operational excellence and cost optimisation
Technology leadership across automotive retail, consumer goods, and veterinary services

Clients call me when:

→ Integration is off-track, and synergies are at risk
→ The board wants cyber confidence before exit, audit, or due diligence
→ Technology is a red flag in the data room
→ They need senior leadership fast—without permanent headcount

I also serve as NED (Digital & Technology) at Age UK, and I've published on AI governance, IT leadership, and board-level technology strategy.

Available for select interim and fractional mandates.

Let's talk: DJ@Starkhorn.co.uk

Daniel J. Jacobs

The AI didn’t fail. It did exactly what we asked, just not what we meant.
We built an agent that ran flawlessly… until everything around it started quietly breaking.

 If you're leading AI deployments or planning to, this reflection might save you some heartache.

👇 Read it here: Reflections on Agentic AI, Human Trust, and the Space 

Between Promise and Reality

What’s the most surprising thing you’ve learned deploying AI in the real world?

Interim / Fractional CIO (Transformation & Resilience) | Board-level clarity on Technology (Risk • Cost • Delivery) | Multi-site & acquisition-led businesses | M&A integration • Cyber resilience • Operating model

View newsletter: Digital Disruption Digest

The system did what we asked. It just didn’t do what we meant, and we didn’t realise the difference until something subtle broke. Reflections on Agent

Open article: The AI didn’t fail. It did exactly what we asked — just not what we meant. by Daniel J. Jacobs • 7 min read

The AI didn’t fail. It did exactly what we asked — just not what we meant.

“We won’t fix the legacy stack, it’s too complex and too expensive. Let’s add AI and show progress.”

That move can create a short-term win.

The short-term gain

➡️ Nicer dashboards and “insight” layers
➡️ A quick story for the board: “We’re doing AI”
➡️ Lower upfront disruption than a proper rebuild
➡️ Faster cycle times in a few workflows (support, sales ops, reporting)

It feels like momentum because some metrics will move.

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐥𝐨𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐫-𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐦 𝐜𝐨𝐬𝐭 (𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐪𝐮𝐢𝐞𝐭𝐥𝐲 𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐛𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐟𝐢𝐭)

If the core systems are brittle, AI becomes a high-gloss layer sitting on low-trust data and fragile processes.

You end up with:

➡️ Automation of mess (you scale inconsistency, not performance)
➡️ Rising change cost (each “quick win” increases architectural debt)
➡️ Hidden operational risk (every new model relies on unstable integrations)
➡️ A strategy trap (it looks modern, so the real modernisation never happens)
➡️ AI outputs nobody trusts (because the underlying data is wrong or incomplete)

AI on broken foundations doesn’t transform the business; it amplifies whatever the business already is.

𝐀 𝐂𝐄𝐎-𝐥𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐥 𝐰𝐚𝐲 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐤 𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐢𝐭

Don’t ask, “Where can we deploy AI?”

Ask, “Where do we have clean ownership, stable data, and a repeatable process so AI can compound value instead of compounding risk?”

𝐑𝐮𝐥𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐮𝐦𝐛:

If a process can’t be measured, governed, and explained without AI… Adding AI won’t fix it. It will just make it faster and harder to debug.

𝐐𝐮𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧: Where in your business is AI used to modernise, and what would fixing the foundation unlock instead?

Kicking off 2026 with renewed energy and big goals, but what I’m hearing from leadership teams isn’t “new year, new me”.

It’s urgency.

After months of planning in 2025, 2026 is shaping up as the year of decisive execution. The “nice-to-have” transformation work is becoming “must-have” modernisation, and the question has changed:

𝐍𝐨𝐭: “Should we modernise?”
𝐁𝐮𝐭: “How fast can we move without breaking what already works?”

The companies that win this year will treat technology as a strategic lever, not a support function:

➔ IT optimisation as a weapon, not a cost centre
➔ M&A integration as value creation, not operational admin
➔ Cybersecurity as business enablement, not just risk management

If 2026 is the year you’re aiming to reduce complexity, strengthen resilience, or become acquisition-ready, I’m happy to compare notes.

What’s your biggest technology challenge heading into 2026?

#ITStrategy #DigitalTransformation #Cybersecurity #BusinessGrowth #2026Goals

New IT strategy question for 2026:
How fast can you change your mind—without breaking the business?

That confession will sound familiar to anyone who has watched organisations cycle through enthusiasm and quiet disappointment. Project NANDA’s prelimi

Open article: New IT strategy question for 2026:
How fast can you change your mind—without breaking the business? by Daniel J. Jacobs • 7 min read

70% of digital transformations fall short. It's not because the technology fails, but rather because the operating model remains unchanged. (McKinsey/BCG)

After years spent guiding transformations and saving millions across PE-backed businesses, one truth is impossible to ignore:

“Technology rarely breaks a transformation.
Behaviour, capability, and ownership do.”

Because if the organisation doesn’t change how it works, the tooling becomes nothing more than expensive wallpaper.

Here’s how this destroys EBITDA:

𝟏. 𝐁𝐞𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐢𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐚𝐥 𝐅𝐚𝐢𝐥𝐮𝐫𝐞

If leaders don’t change how they work, new systems become old habits wrapped in a new interface.

Commercial impact:
→ £300k–£700k in unrealised value for a mid-market portfolio company.

𝟐. 𝐋𝐚𝐜𝐤 𝐨𝐟 𝐂𝐚𝐩𝐚𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲

You can’t scale with a workforce that doesn’t believe in the new system—or lacks the skills to use it.

The hard truth:

- 60% of work can be automated
- 70% of teams fear the capability gap
- 80% of leaders mistake resistance for stubbornness (instead of upskilling)

Commercial impact:
→ 10–15% rise in operating costs (often £500k+ annually)

𝟑. 𝐙𝐞𝐫𝐨 𝐎𝐰𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩

When nobody owns decisions, transformations collapse under their own weight:

- No clear accountabilities
- No single owner for platforms
- No clarity on “who delivers what, by when”

Commercial impact:
→ £5M–£10M wiped off the exit valuation due to poor execution discipline

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐫𝐮𝐥𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐮𝐦𝐛:

Spend your first 30 days on:
✓ Shifting behaviour
✓ Upskilling teams and rebuilding capability
✓ Establishing clear ownership and decision rights

When behaviour, capability, and ownership move in tandem, PE-backed companies typically see a 1–4% annual improvement in EBITDA.

Because successful transformations were never about technology —
They’re about disciplined execution.

Repost ♻️ if you’re tired of seeing transformations fail for the same avoidable reasons.

P.S. CIOs, which mistake (1–3) do you see most often in the field?

Early in my career, I measured myself by how much I was needed.

Every escalation that landed on my desk felt like proof I was valuable.
Every decision that required my sign-off confirmed I was essential.

Then I took two weeks off. And the wheels came off.

Not because my team wasn’t capable.
Because I’d built a system that required me to function. I’d confused being needed with being effective.

That was a hard lesson. And it shows up fast in boardrooms and due diligence.

When investors assess a business, they’re not only looking at EBITDA.
They’re quietly asking: what happens if this person leaves?

If the honest answer is “things slow down” or “decisions stall”, that risk gets priced in, even if performance looks fine today.

The harsh reality for technology leaders is that being indispensable isn’t a sign of strength; it's a sign of vulnerability masked as importance.

The shift that changed how I lead:

𝐒𝐭𝐨𝐩 𝐚𝐬𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠, “How do we perform when I’m here?”
𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐭 𝐚𝐬𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠, “How do we perform when I’m not?”

Design decision rights so choices don’t bottleneck.
Build operating rhythms that run without you in the room.
Create clarity so your team doesn’t need to check with you; they already know.

That’s operational maturity: not a leader holding things together, but a system that doesn’t need holding.

What’s one thing you’ve deliberately built to work without you?

PE firms don’t buy technology.
They buy better EBITDA.

This is the non-negotiable truth of Private Equity.

Most CIOs still believe PE wants:
• New platforms
• AI implementation
• Modern tech stacks
• Big transformation programmes

This is “technology theatre”.

After delivering £1.5M in savings across multiple PE-backed businesses in 10+ countries, one pattern is consistent: 𝐏𝐄 𝐨𝐧𝐥𝐲 𝐛𝐮𝐲𝐬 𝐨𝐮𝐭𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐬.

Here's the brutal truth. PE partners aren't interested in shiny tech. They need commercial clarity.

They priorities:

𝟏. 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐠𝐢𝐧 𝐞𝐱𝐩𝐚𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧:
Reducing operational cost through vendor optimisation, licence rationalisation, and system consolidation.

𝟐: 𝐑𝐢𝐬𝐤 𝐫𝐞𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧:
Eliminating technical and vendor debt (including the £500k penalties and £3M true-ups we routinely uncover) that can erode exit value.

𝟑. 𝐀 𝐒𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐫 𝐄𝐱𝐢𝐭 𝐒𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲:
Building a simple, scalable platform that guarantees growth. Allows the next buyer to pay a higher multiple (as seen in the 10x outcome achieved for one of our clients).

This requires the CIO to become the Chief Value Officer.

Every transformational decision (from renewing a Salesforce contract to integrating a new acquisition) must be tied around its direct commercial outcome— otherwise it's noise.

P.S. What is the single biggest "tech for optics" investment you’ve seen that failed to deliver a measurable EBITDA-level return? Comment ↓

AI in growth planning has moved from experiment to operating system. Five evidence-backed patterns, and what actually changes in your next planning cycle

The shift isn't about faster spreadsheets. It's about fundamentally rethinking how organisations sense, decide, and adapt. Something quiet but profoun

Open article: 5 Ways AI Is Reshaping Growth Planning in 2026 by Daniel J. Jacobs • 5 min read

5 Ways AI Is Reshaping Growth Planning in 2026

Your M&A integration strategy should do one thing above all: protect EBITDA.

Most integrations fail because leaders start with systems rather than commercial reality.

They obsess over:
- Buying new tools
- Implementing platforms
- Rebuilding CRMs
- Chasing “transformation theatre.”
- Forcing teams to adapt before they’re ready

And the consequences are predictable.
Here’s how EBITDA leaks when leaders ignore commercial reality:

𝟏. 𝐒𝐥𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫 𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬:
Misaligned teams delay integration by 30–60 days, resulting in £500k+ in EBITDA leakage.

𝟐. 𝐄𝐱𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐝 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐬:
Each delay increases deal costs by 10–15%, often adding £500k–£1M in extra operating spend.

𝟑. 𝐒𝐡𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐞𝐱𝐢𝐭 𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐠𝐢𝐧𝐬:
A 60–90-day delay can reduce valuation by 0.5x–1.2x EBITA multiples, wiping £5M–£12M from the exit story of a mid-market portfolio company.

And once EBITDA leaks, you almost never get it back.

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐭𝐫𝐮𝐭𝐡 𝐢𝐬:
Protecting EBITDA is unrelated to technology.

It begins with stabilising people, contracts, and processes in the first 90 days (long before systems are touched).

Because if teams aren’t aligned, contracts aren’t secured, and processes aren’t controlled, the exit clock is already ticking. Every month of delay permanently erodes value.

This is why the best CIOs ruthlessly remove duplication, noise, and complexity.
They lead with clarity, disciplined sequencing, and clean commercial execution.

The result?

𝐂𝐮𝐭𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 £𝟐𝟓𝟎𝐤–£𝟓𝟎𝟎𝐤 𝐢𝐧 𝐞𝐱𝐜𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐜𝐨𝐬𝐭 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐟𝐢𝐫𝐬𝐭 𝟗𝟎 𝐝𝐚𝐲𝐬 (as we’ve seen repeatedly across multiple PE-backed businesses).

Commercial stability comes first.
Systems come last.

Repost ♻️ if you’re tired of watching the same integration failures repeated across the industry.

P.S. What’s the most expensive integration mistake you’ve seen CIOs make? Comment below ↓

Alt text for the Image: M&A Integration Strategy Fix

Most execs don’t realise it… 
Every time employees use public AI tools for sensitive work, they could be training their competitors’ systems.

After Samsung’s $100M wake-up call, and seeing similar risks across industries. I built a framework to help leaders turn AI governance into a competitive edge.

Read more here: https://lnkd.in/eDRYMFFt

Helen Yu

CEO @Tigon Advisory Corp. | Host of CXO Spice | Board Director |Top 50 Women in Tech | AI, Cybersecurity, FinTech, Insurance, Industry40, Growth Acceleration

As the founder and CEO of Tigon Advisory, I help tech companies of all sizes multiply their growth opportunities by leveraging AI, cybersecurity, IoT, supply chain, and customer experience. With over a decade of technology industry experience, I offer CXO-as-a-service and guidance to organizations through digital transformation, strategic planning, enterprise risk management, go-to-market optimization, and influencer marketing.

I have worked with enterprise clients such as SAP, IBM, Salesforce and Microsoft, as well as B2B SaaS, Fintech, Insuretech, and Martech startups. I also serve as an independent board director and a venture capital advisor, where I bring a unique perspective on technology thought leadership, cybersecurity risk management, go-to-market strategy, and customer experience. I am a certified cybersecurity expert from MIT Sloan School of Management, an MBA from Loyola University of Chicago, and a respected industry thought leader, a Wall Street Journal best selling author, a keynote speaker, and a host of CXO Spice podcast. I am passionate about empowering and mentoring the next generation of technology leaders, especially women and minorities.

Director Board of Directors

CEC is a security service integrator with focus markets in manufacturing, healthcare, SLED and Corporate Campus.  Customers with complicated organizations and physical plants rely on CEC as extensions of their teams in making strategic investment and management decisions related to their technology and infrastructure. I serve as Culture and Compensation Committee Chair. 

Is your data infrastructure ready for the robotics era?

At #CES, I reconnected with Spencer Huang, Product Lead for Robotics at NVIDIA to get an update on Cosmos and GR00T.

His statement resonated with me: the companies winning in robotics have stopped waiting for perfect models. They're capturing data NOW.

Three insights that changed how I think about this space:
✅ The data problem is here 2026 will see a massive influx of real-world robotic data. But Spencer warns: "It's very easy to generate lots of data that's not useful." Winners will build pipelines to curate and synthesize quality data.
✅ Hybrid tasks = biggest opportunity The sweet spot are tasks too complex for traditional robots but not complex enough to need general AI. This is where companies can deploy TODAY.
✅ Dual simulation unlocks scale Cosmos provides diversity through natural language. Omniverse delivers physical precision. Together, they solve what seemed impossible: infinite scenarios with accurate physics.

Spencer's key insight: "If you want to leverage the technologies coming out in a year or two, capturing that data today is extremely crucial."

The inflection point for Robotics is here. What's your move?
Full insights: https://lnkd.in/gUMawp8m

#Robotics #AI #PhysicalAI #Manufacturing #Innovation

To stay current with the latest trends in #Technology and #Innovation, Subscribe to 👉 #CXOSpiceNewsletter here https://lnkd.in/gy2RJ9xg 
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"It's completely infeasible in the robotics space to assume one company can solve this, because we have to represent the entire world. It's not just t

Open article: The Future of Physical AI: Key Insights from NVIDIA's Robotics Product Lead at CES by Helen Yu • 5 min read

The Future of Physical AI: Key Insights from NVIDIA's Robotics Product Lead at CES

What does it take to build a career in tech while staying true to who you are?

Standing on stage at the Acumatica Summit Women In Tech Lunch, in front of 700 incredible women and men, was a moment I’ll always treasure. The energy in that room was electric; a powerful reminder that none of us are navigating this journey alone.

I had the privilege of joining two meaningful conversations:
✅ Women in Tech Lunch Panel
Moderated by JJ DiGeronimo, with Lori Seal, CEO of Blytheco, and Loni Unser, Driver at Kellymoss Inc, we explored authenticity, non-traditional paths, and building confidence in spaces where women are still underrepresented. One thing was clear: there’s no single path to success—only the one that’s true to you.
✅ Fireside Chat: Confessions of Success
Alongside JJ DiGeronimo, Shary Dye, CPA of Acumatica and Stephanie Valenti of BILL, we talked candidly about the reality behind success - the failures, self-doubt, resilience, and the power of mentorship.

What stayed with me most were the conversations after the stage lights dimmed stories shared, connections made, and a collective desire for more spaces like this. Moments like these remind me why this work matters and why it’s so important to pay forward the support we’ve received.

Our stories matter. Our voices matter. And together, we’re shaping a more inclusive future in tech.

I created a short video capturing some of these incredible women; on and off stage; because moments like this deserve to be seen and shared.

I also want to extend my heartfelt appreciation to Irina Barber, Ph.D. and Martha Lucia Groulx for making this possible. Your leadership, intention, and commitment to creating spaces like this are what turn conversations into real impact.

Now let’s keep this going.

If this conversation resonated with you, don’t let it end here; share your story, mentor someone who’s just starting out, and help create spaces where more voices are heard.

Because when we show up for each other, we don’t just change careers; we change the future of tech. 💙

#WomenInTech #AcumaticaSummit #Leadership #Tech #Career #Growth

To stay current with the latest trends in #Technology and #Innovation, Subscribe to 👉 #CXOSpiceNewsletter here https://lnkd.in/gy2RJ9xg 
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The ChatGPT Moment for #Robotics Is Here.

Jensen Huang, CEO of NVIDIA delivered one of the most significant keynotes at CES, and the message is clear: physical AI breakthroughs are unlocking entirely new applications.

Just as ChatGPT transformed how we interact with AI through language, we're now witnessing a parallel revolution in the physical world. 

Huang predicts this could become the largest technology industry the world has ever seen, driven by three key pillars: agentic AI, self-driving cars, and humanoid robots.

Here are Key Announcements:
✅ NVIDIA Cosmos - A world foundation model platform trained on 20 million hours of real-world robotics and driving videos, enabling developers to create realistic simulations for testing autonomous systems
✅ Drive AV Stack - Mercedez Benz CLA achieved the highest Euro NCAP safety score in 2025, with urban driving capabilities rolling out via OTA updates in just over a year
✅ Isaac Robotics Platform - Open frameworks including Groot 1.6 with Cosmos Reason integration, enabling generalist-specialist robots that combine broad knowledge with deep expertise
✅Jetson Thor T4-1000 - Delivering 1,200 teraflops of AI compute at just 40-70 watts, making advanced robotics accessible at scale

The shift is already happening. Hundreds of billions in VC funding and trillions in R&D budgets are transitioning from classical computing methods to AI. Companies from Boston Dynamics to LEM Surgical AG are building on this platform to transform everything from manufacturing to healthcare.

Stay tuned for my conversation wtih Spencer Huang to get the latest update on Cosmos and GR00T. 

We're moving from AI that perceives and generates to AI that perceives, reasons, plans, and acts in the physical world. The future isn't just thinking machines; it's machines that can navigate our reality safely and intelligently.

What applications of physical AI are you most excited about? 

#CES2025 #PhysicalAI #Robotics #AutonomousVehicles #AI #Innovation #NVIDIAPartner

To stay current with the latest trends in #Technology and #Innovation,
Subscribe to 👉 #CXOSpiceNewsletter here https://lnkd.in/gy2RJ9xg
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What better way to kick off the new year than “Everybody” at Sphere with robots? 🤖🎶

The Backstreet Boys’ performance at Sphere was a reminder that when music, immersive tech, and robotics collide, the future feels very present. High energy, iconic sound, and yes… robots stealing the show.

That momentum carries straight into #CES this week, where I’ll be diving deeper into what’s next through interviews on:
✅ Robotics (Cosmos and GR00T Year One)
✅ Smarter AI for Enterprises
✅ Intelligent Product Lifecycle

From the stage to the show floor, innovation is setting the rhythm for 2026.
Stay tuned as the future of AI, robotics, and intelligent systems takes center stage.

#CES2026 #Robotics #AI #Enterprises #Engineering #HNY

To stay current with the latest trends in #Technology and #Innovation,
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What happens when Physical AI moves from demos to real-world deployment at scale, in motion, and in the operating room?

The NVIDIA Physical AI Showcase at CES had answers everywhere.
This short video captures some of the most memorable moments.

My favorite highlights:
✅ Miroki by Enchanted Tools
A familiar face from NVIDIA GTC last year - this social, general-purpose robot is designed to support patients through care, restorative, and cognitive assistance, making human-centered robotics tangible.
✅ Reachy Mini by Reachy.ai + NVIDIA DGX Spark
I got hands-on creating a stylized image with Reachy Mini, powered by NVIDIA DGX Spark. A fun, experimental process even though the result looked more like Shrek than me 😄.
✅ TRINITY – will.i.am’s one-seat EV concept
Focused on situational awareness, TRINITY lets drivers talk to AI about traffic and surroundings in real time, processing vision locally to understand the physical world beyond a map.
✅ LEM Surgical: From Innovation to Standard of Care
Already FDA 510(k) cleared and in routine clinical use, the Dynamis system shows how NVIDIA Physical AI is advancing robotic surgery toward greater autonomy and perception.
✅ AGIBOT at Scale
AGIBOT has shipped its 5,000th humanoid robot, now deployed across hospitality, manufacturing, logistics, security, and education; proof that humanoids are moving beyond prototypes.
✅ Reconnecting with Spencer Huang (NVIDIA Robotics)
A great conversation on what Physical AI enables next and how it’s moving from research to real-world impact. Stay tuned for the upcoming CXO Spice newsletter where I will be sharing more about our conversation.

Physical AI is no longer a glimpse of the future; it’s unfolding now across healthcare, mobility, and humanoid robotics.

To stay current with the latest trends in #Technology and #Innovation,
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Are you tuning in to the Cisco AI Summit next Tuesday?

On February 3rd, Cisco Chair & CEO Chuck Robbins and President & Chief Product Officer Jeetu Patel are hosting a full day of live, candid conversations with the people building the AI economy. 

It's candid discussions with:
• Sam Altman at OpenAI on frontier models
• Jensen Huang at NVIDIA on AI infrastructure
• Fei-Fei Li at World Labs on spatial intelligence
• Mike Krieger at Anthropic, Dylan Field at Figma, Aaron Levie at Box, Matt Garman at Amazon Web Services (AWS) 

I'll be dialing in for "The AI Factory: Infrastructure for Intelligence" (7:30–8 p.m. PT); a conversation between Jensen Huang and Chuck Robbins on open models, next-gen accelerated computing, and building AI factories designed to manufacture intelligence at planetary scale.

February 3, 2026 | 9 AM – 8 PM PST. Free. No registration needed. Link to join: https://lnkd.in/gCP_5TYq

Check out the full agenda and drop in for whatever sessions interest you most. Follow along with #CiscoAISummit and I would love to hear your takeaways.

To stay current with the latest trends in #Technology and #Innovation, subscribe to #CXOSpiceNewsletter 👉 https://lnkd.in/gy2RJ9xg
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Is your #ERP helping you scale or holding you back?

At Acumatica Summit this week, I spoke with Nick Novy, CEO of Korpack, about growth, ERP, and what it takes for mid-sized companies to create value at speed.

Korpack’s growth journey from startup to multi-location contract packing leader mirrors what I see daily: companies don’t need more technology, they need better visibility, flexibility, and decision velocity.

We talked BI, customer transparency, AI, and why legacy systems limit scale long before leaders realize it. 

If you’re a mid-sized leader navigating growth and tech change, this 6-minute conversation is worth your time.

👉 Watch our conversation here: https://lnkd.in/gPB8JXNS

#CloudERP #Acumatica #Manufacturing #Innovation #SMB 

To stay current with the latest trends in #Technology and #Innovation, Subscribe to 👉 #CXOSpiceNewsletter here https://lnkd.in/gy2RJ9xg 
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At Acumatica Summit in Seattle, I had the opportunity to speak with Nick Novy, CEO of Korpack, about their growth journey, technology decisions, and w

Open article: What Mid-Sized Company Leaders Can Learn from Korpack’s Growth Story by Helen Yu • 3 min read

What Mid-Sized Company Leaders Can Learn from Korpack’s Growth Story

What if your #ERP not only reports the past but also predicts what's next?

That question anchored John Case's keynote at Acumatica Summit, backed by real scale:
✅ $500B in transactions processed
✅ 60M product shipments
✅ 280,000 daily users
✅ 1M AI-powered business objects processed monthly

But here's what struck me most: Acumatica has built something rare in the ERP world. It’s a thriving partner ecosystem with zero channel conflict, powered by their VAR model and consumption-based pricing.

And the heart of the keynote was customer impact and community.
✅ A window manufacturer used Acumatica's "digital replica" to uncover exactly where margins were slipping (broken materials, slower machines, expedited shipping) with end-to-end visibility and no guesswork.
✅ Smart Storm (2026 Customer of the Year) doubled revenue to $200M, scaled from 2 to 7 branches, launched new product lines, and maintained 90% user adoption by treating ERP as a marathon and empowering internal champions.

The summit's message resonated: When you build for performance, the possibilities are endless. This is about turning potential into impact today.

Join us for the Women in Tech Lunch Panel & Fireside Chat today. I met an incredible group of leaders during rehearsal yesterday and look forward to continuing the conversation with JJ DiGeronimo, Loni Unser, Lori Seal and Stephanie Valenti.

🎥 30-second highlight from Monday's Acumatica Summit keynote plus moment from my interview with John Case, CEO of Acumatica.

#AcumaticaSummit #CloudERP #WomenInTech #AI 

To stay current with the latest trends in #Technology and #Innovation, Subscribe to 👉 #CXOSpiceNewsletter here https://lnkd.in/gy2RJ9xg 
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What does 'durability over speed' require from boards and executive teams in practice?

What is emerging at Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week - ADSW is a view of leadership grounded in clarity and long-term alignment. Progress at scale is being discussed as something enabled by governance, consistency, and disciplined decision-making, rather than driven by momentum or messaging.

Partnerships are being framed as deliberate and earned, built on trust, shared values, and continuity over time. That framing will resonate with boards and executive teams operating in complex environments, where durability matters more than speed.

This perspective was articulated by Dr. Sultan Al Jaber during the opening ceremony and sits within a broader UAE emphasis on long-term alignment. Values are being positioned as a practical guide for how investments are assessed, how partners are chosen, and how progress is measured, with attention focused on systems that can hold over decades.

#ADSW2025 #Sustainability #ESG #CorporateGovernance #ClimateAction
To stay current with the latest trends in #Technology and #Innovation,
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What separates AI leaders from followers in financial services?

I'm pleased to share my perspective as quoted in sixth annual NVIDIA State of AI in Financial Services report: 89% of financial institutions report AI is increasing revenue while decreasing costs, and 65% are now actively deploying AI.

Here's my perspective on what matters:
"Open-source models are fundamentally changing the competitive dynamics in financial AI. The real value capture happens when institutions fine-tune these models on their proprietary transaction data, customer interaction histories and market intelligence, creating AI capabilities that competitors cannot replicate."

The institutions winning in AI are treating proprietary data as a strategic advantage. With 84% prioritizing open-source models and 42% exploring agentic AI, we're witnessing the foundation of competitive differentiation being built right now.

Download NVIDIA’s "State of AI in Financial Services: 2026 Trends" report to see where the industry is heading and how leaders are capturing value: https://nvda.ws/3ZqjDoW

#FinancialServices #AI #Innovation #CFO #CIO

To stay current with the latest trends in #Technology and #Innovation, Subscribe to 👉 #CXOSpiceNewsletter here https://lnkd.in/gy2RJ9xg 
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Are you keeping up with AI infrastructure as it rapidly evolves?

Mark your calendar for NVIDIA AI Infrastructure Certification and get a comprehensive look at NVIDIA’s AI infrastructure certification portfolio across associate and professional levels. It is designed for network engineers, DevOps and MLOps professionals, data center specialists, technical leaders, and early career technologists looking to validate their skills, stay competitive, and prepare for what’s next in the AI ecosystem.

What you will learn:
✅ What’s new with NVIDIA Certification and how it aligns with AI infrastructure, networking, and operations
✅ Which exam is right for you or your team and why
✅ Practical exam prep strategies, sample questions, and study guidance
✅ A preview of the hands-on professional exams launching in 2026
✅ Live Q and A with certification experts

Bonus for attendees: Receive an exclusive 50% off exam discount code

January 29 | Two live sessions, one hour each:
EMEA and APAC: 9 a.m. CET | 1:30 p.m. IST | 4 p.m. SGT
Americas and LATAM: 9 a.m. PT | 2 p.m. BRT

Featuring experts from NVIDIA and Computacenter, including Marco Alves, Gary F., and Brad Christian.

👉 Register now to secure your spot:
https://lnkd.in/giE55_pi

#NVIDIA #AIInfrastructure #AICertification #DevOps #MLOps #Networking #DataCenter #CareerGrowth #FutureSkills

To stay current with the latest trends in #Technology and #Innovation, Subscribe to 👉 #CXOSpiceNewsletter here https://lnkd.in/gy2RJ9xg 
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When 75% of your customer data is out of reach—how do you fix that?

I recently hosted John Picinich, Director of Product Management at Progress Software on CXO Spice, and the first step for fixing fractured data foundations he shared resonated with me: "Once governance is standardized, you can layer automation, managed file transfer, APIs, and AI data feeds much more easily because everything becomes more scalable and secure by default."

Here's what keeps me up at night:
Financial institutions are pouring millions into AI, fraud prevention, and customer experience initiatives. Yet most are building on quicksand and fragmented systems limiting them to only accessing 25% of their own customer data.

The institutions winning today understand three things:
✅ Data fragmentation is a competitive liability
✅ You can't retrofit security; it must be built into the foundation
✅ Governance comes before AI, automation, or any other shiny object

John shared something that resonates with what I see across industries: "The human element is the weakest link."
Consistent policies. Centralized governance. Standardized frameworks.
That’s the difference between scaling confidently and collapsing under your own complexity.  Check out the Highmark Federal Credit Union transformation story.

Watch CXO Spice where John and I explore practical strategies for secure data movement, responsible AI implementation, and building the infrastructure that determines whether you'll lead or lag in the next decade: https://lnkd.in/gPq8B8Tg

#DataStrategy #FinancialServices #CyberSecurity #DigitalTransformation #AI

To stay current with the latest trends in #Technology and #Innovation, Subscribe to 👉 #CXOSpiceNewsletter here https://lnkd.in/gy2RJ9xg 
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”Once governance is standardized, you can layer automation, managed file transfer, APIs, and AI data feeds much more easily because everything becomes

Open article: The Data Strategy Imperative for Financial Institutions by Helen Yu • 6 min read

The Data Strategy Imperative for Financial Institutions

When a cyberattack hits, will your board lead or scramble?
✅ The average data breach now costs $4.88M globally and $9.3M in the U.S.
✅ 99% of ransomware attacks target backups, with recovery taking 24 days on average.
✅ 75% of security leaders say AI-powered attacks are already having a major impact.

This threat landscape is active and accelerating today.

AI and quantum computing are reshaping the threat landscape faster than most organizations can adapt. Building higher walls won’t save you when attackers scale faster, smarter, and cheaper.

Cybersecurity is no longer just a CISO issue; it’s a boardroom mandate.

Leading organizations are changing the playbook:
✅ From preventing everything → to managing acceptable risk
✅ From defense-first → to rapid response and recovery
✅ From cost center → to strategic business enabler

Read more from my blog: Is your board of directors truly leading on cyber readiness?
👉 https://lnkd.in/gMYj4TvD

Tune in Tuesday for the release of the 2026 Outlook for Identity Management Report to learn how boards and security leaders can stay ahead of the threat curve.

The convergence is underway and board preparedness will separate leaders from laggards.

#Cybersecurity #RiskManagement #BoardDirectors #CEOs 

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What if #robots could learn to manipulate objects the same way AI learns to predict the future?

NVIDIA just made this a reality with #CosmosPolicy and the results are remarkable.

Watch it in action:
✅ Long-horizon contact-rich tasks: folding shirts through complex multi-step sequences
✅ Natural language following: "put purple eggplant on plate" with flawless execution
✅ High-precision manipulation: putting candy in a Ziploc bag with delicate control

Instead of adding separate action modules like traditional approaches, Cosmos Policy directly encodes robot actions and future states into the Cosmos Predict2 world foundation model itself. No architectural add-ons. Just one unified model that understands how actions shape reality.

That’s state-of-the-art performance on LIBERO and RoboCasa benchmarks.
This is the shift from rigid programming to robots that genuinely understand physical manipulation.

NVIDIA is launching the Cosmos Cookoff hackathon (Jan 29 – Feb 26) where teams can compete to push the boundaries of physical AI.
The prizes:
$5,000 cash prize
NVIDIA DGX Spark™
GeForce RTX™ 5090 GPUs
$11K total value

Learn more here: https://lnkd.in/gjW7X-wF

The future of robotics goes beyond better hardware and extends to models that understand how the physical world responds to action.

#CosmosPolicy #Robotics #Hackathon #CosmosCookoff #Developers #Engineering

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What happens when your first Acumatica Summit turns into a masterclass in community?

It started with the little things: flowers, a fruit stand, Starbucks coffee. Then came the conversations, generosity, and people who truly showed up.

When my laptop charger broke, Monika Skibeness saved the day (twice!), and Shary Dye, CPA came through with a charger to power the final evening. That’s  community.

I was honored to speak at the WiT luncheon, connecting with an incredible group of women and men who are driving meaningful change across the ecosystem. Thank you Irina Barber, Ph.D. JJ DiGeronimo Loni Unser and Lori Seal.

A personal highlight was finally meeting Sanket Akerkar, now COO and President of Acumatica. I hosted Sanket on CXO Spice last year when he was CRO, so celebrating his well-deserved promotion in person felt full circle.

And because the best conferences don’t end with the last session, time on the dance floor with Marcia Kennedy and Kimberly Roma, and celebrating with Irina Barber, Ph.D. and Aliya Rakimgulova, was a reminder that real connections often happen after hours.

Meeting Acumatica founder Mikhail Shchelkonogov was truly special. Hearing firsthand how he started the company and navigated its growth added depth and meaning to everything Acumatica represents today.

🎥 I captured some of these moments in a 50 second video below.

My interviews with Paul Tedford, CEO of WM Synergy, and John Case, CEO of Acumatica will be released next week. Stay tuned.

Grateful for an unforgettable first Summit.

#AcumaticaSummit #Leadership #WomenInTech #ERP #Community

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What does 3,500 people, a snowstorm, and cloud ERP innovation have in common? ❄️

I’m in Seattle for my first Acumatica Summit, where the focus is clear: business results today driven by people and powered by Community.

This 18-second video was captured at SEA Airport and tonight’s welcome reception, offering a quick glimpse of the journey here and the momentum building as partners get ready to showcase their solutions despite travel disruptions from the snowstorm.

Looking forward to the opening keynote and conversations with John Case, CEO of Acumatica, Nick Novy, CEO of Korpack, an Acumatica customer and Paul Tedford, CEO of WM Synergy, an Acumatica partner.

Let’s get started—building the future of business together.

👉 To get the latest updates from the Acumatica Summit, subscribe to
#CXOSpiceNewsletter: https://lnkd.in/gy2RJ9xg or #CXOSpiceYouTube: https://lnkd.in/gnMc-Vpj

#AcumaticaSummit #CloudERP #AI #Seattle

Are you losing talent because your systems look like they're from 2005?

At last week's Acumatica Summit, Paul Tedford, CEO of WM Synergy, shared a sobering reality: One of his manufacturing prospects is bleeding young talent because workers refuse to learn outdated technology.

Sound familiar?

After guiding 2,000+ companies through ERP modernization, Paul's seen the same pattern:
🔴 30% of the manufacturing workforce is 55+ (the "gray tsunami")
🔴 Manufacturing is now the #1 target for ransomware
🔴 Companies start with technology and work backward (big mistake)

The companies that succeed do three things differently.
I break down Paul's framework in my latest newsletter including the hidden critical success factor most companies overlook.

Read the full insights from this week’s #CXOSpice newsletter or
Watch our conversation: https://lnkd.in/gTQKGfA9

#CloudERP #DigitalTransformation #AcumaticaSummit #AI #Manufacturing 

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"I was talking to one of our prospects in Connecticut who runs a manufacturing company. He said one of the biggest reasons they're looking at new soft

Open article: Is Your Mid-Sized Company Ready for Modern ERP? Key Insights from the Acumatica Summit by Helen Yu • 6 min read

Is Your Mid-Sized Company Ready for Modern ERP? Key Insights from the Acumatica Summit

Are aerial robots quietly redefining how solar assets are maintained?

Drone-based cleaning is moving beyond novelty and into practical use. Instead of ground robots or rooftop crews, lightweight drones can now clear dust and sand from panels without contact; an important advantage for large solar farms where access is difficult and soiling losses add up fast.

What stands out is the operating model:
✅ Inspection and cleaning in a single pass
✅ No scaffolding or full-array shutdowns
✅ Far lower water use than conventional methods

This reframes cleaning from a periodic task into an ongoing maintenance process. It’s a subtle shift, but one that could compound into meaningful efficiency gains at scale.

It is still early, but this is a case where robotics fits the problem unusually well.

#Robotics #Solar #Drone #Innovation

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