Technovation with Peter High (CIO, CTO, CDO, CXO Interviews)

Innovation isn’t slowing down, but in many enterprises it’s becoming invisible.

In this episode of Technovation, Peter High speaks with Sean Murphy, Founder and CEO of DemoHop, about why distributed work is trapping great ideas inside organizations and what CIOs can do to fix it. Sean explains how weak ties across enterprises have eroded, why peer-to-peer discovery beats status meetings, and how visibility is becoming the missing ingredient for scaling AI.

Key topics include:

Why innovation gets trapped in distributed organizations

How science fair–style demo days reduce duplication

The hidden role of weak ties in creativity and breakthrough

Making enterprise AI work visible and scalable

Building credibility for technology teams with business leaders

Innovation in healthcare doesn’t start with AI. It starts with operational stability.

In this episode of Technovation, Peter High speaks with Chad Wasserman, CIO of HCA Healthcare, about leading technology at massive scale while keeping patient care at the center. Wasserman explains why “operational quiet” is the foundation that makes AI, data, and digital transformation possible and how HCA balances innovation with reliability across thousands of sites of care.

Key topics include:

Why stability is a prerequisite for innovation

Treating IT as an extension of the care team

Scaling AI responsibly in clinical and engineering domains

Building data platforms to support generational change

Developing technologists through deep business immersion

What if the real driver of digital disruption isn’t technology, but unit economics?

In this episode of Technovation, Peter High speaks with Dan Gill, Chief Product Officer of Carvana, about how disciplined unit economics power one of the most ambitious e-commerce models in retail. Rather than leading with engineering for its own sake, Carvana focuses relentlessly on eliminating friction, capturing profit pools, and reinvesting those economics back into customer value.

Key highlights from the episode:

Vertical integration and competitive advantage

Deterministic, self-service digital experiences

Proprietary platforms vs. off-the-shelf tools

AI-human collaboration at scale

How can early-stage investors deliver repeatable, outsized returns—without chasing hype?

In this episode of Techoventure, Mark Fernandes, Managing Director at Sierra Ventures, shares the disciplined model behind one of the industry’s most consistent early-stage venture firms. Sierra’s strategy is designed for repeatable 3–5x returns by focusing on founder-market fit, tight portfolio construction, and tech-savvy sectors like AI, cloud, and cybersecurity.

Key insights include:

The four-part rubric Sierra uses to vet early-stage founders

Why fund size discipline is critical to long-term VC performance

How Sierra balances seed and Series A checks with portfolio theory

The power of “AI enablers” in healthcare, legal, and vertical SaaS

The 20-year evolution of Sierra’s CXO Board and its enterprise value

Is AI coming for your job—or just changing how you work?

In this episode, Wall Street Journal technology columnist Christopher Mims shares a grounded, deeply informed perspective on how AI is reshaping productivity, creativity, jobs, and knowledge work. From the pitfalls of overhyping generative AI to the rise of agentic systems and the enduring role of classic AI, Christopher unpacks what leaders need to know now. He also highlights how experts benefit most from AI, what happens when organizations anchor too heavily on AI tools, and why handwritten notes, walking meetings, and skepticism are critical in the AI age.

Key highlights from the episode:

Why experts extract more value from generative AI

How CEOs are freezing junior hiring while boosting senior productivity

Mims’ concept of “work slop” and how to avoid it

Why hallucinations are structural in AI and require human oversight

Tips for AI adoption that preserve creativity and context