Innovating Beyond IT: Data Strategies for Modern Universities

On this episode of Digital Squared, Tom is talking to Dr. Harold Schmitz. Harold has had an incredible career spanning academia, industry, and venture capital, with a focus on food science, nutrition, and innovation. He spent 25 years at Mars Incorporated, including as their Chief Science Officer, where he led groundbreaking research on cocoa and chocolate. Now Harold is a co-founding partner at The March Group, a venture capital firm investing in food tech startups. He's also a Senior Scholar at UC Davis, working to bridge the gap between industry and academia. Harold brings a wealth of knowledge about the food industry, emerging technologies, and how to drive meaningful innovation. 

On this episode of Digital Squared, Tom is talking to Luis Vargas, a tech industry veteran with a fascinating journey from his upbringing in Mexico to being on the cutting edge of AI. Luis talks about his 15 years at Microsoft, where he played a key role in the company's AI strategy and their partnership with open AI. Now as a co-founder and CTO of his own startup, Evolver, he's at the forefront of applying AI technologies to real world business challenges. We talk about Luis's career path, delve into Microsoft's lesser known early work in AI and discuss his unique insights into both the technical and human aspects of this transformative technology. 

On this episode of Digital Squared, Tom is talking to Julia Alexander, a pioneering leader in online education and master innovator in our industry. Julia is the Co-Founder of ExecOnline, a groundbreaking platform now recognized as one of the top EdTech companies globally. Julia provides us amazing insights on future-ready leadership, cultivating creativity and curiosity and adapting to rapid technological change. She offers a compelling vision for how we can navigate the evolving landscape of work and learning in our increasingly connected world.

On this episode of Digital Squared: From the Archives, we're revisiting a 2020 conversation with Dr. John Halamka from Mayo Clinic. He is currently president of the Mayo Clinic Platform, a digital initiative that brings together solution developers, data partners and healthcare service providers to transform healthcare.Together, Tom and Dr. Halamka discuss AI in patient care, ethical use of data and his 1% rule for making a huge impact.

On this episode of Digital Squared, Tom is talking to Dr. Jules White, a Professor of Computer Science and Special Advisor to the Chancellor on Generative AI at Vanderbilt University. Dr. White is at the forefront of integrating artificial intelligence into higher education, leading initiatives to democratize AI access across campus and developing popular courses on prompt engineering. With his unique blend of technical expertise and visionary thinking, Dr. White offers invaluable insights into how AI is reshaping education, careers, and society at large.

On this episode of Digital Squared, Tom is talking to Jeremy Schifeling, founder of The Job Insiders, which provides career technology training for hundreds of top universities and business schools around the world. He started his career as a kindergarten teacher but found his true calling in technology and innovation, where he went to work at companies like LinkedIn, Google and Khan Academy before venturing out on his own as a career coach and entrepreneur. His passion and focus is on helping people tap into the power of LinkedIn and ChatGPT, which he’s written about in several best-selling books. You can check out his latest career and AI hacks on LinkedIn. 

On this episode of Digital Squared: From the Archives, we're revisiting a 2021 conversation with Lev Gonick, the Chief Information Officer at Arizona State University (ASU) and one of the most respected CIOs in Higher Education. He is an educator, technologist, and smart city architect. Together, Tom and Lev discuss ASU’s unique approach to high-quality education at scale and applied research for public benefit, in support of ASU's surrounding communities.  He also outlines several key areas where ASU’s combination of creativity and innovation bring benefit to higher education and its stakeholders. 

On this episode of Digital Squared, Tom is talking to Phil Komarny, Chief Innovation Officer at Maryville University and Founder/CEO of LifeTrek. They explore how Maryville is reimagining the role of IT in higher education by eliminating traditional silos and prioritizing the data strategy. They also discuss the revolutionary impact of AI and data on educational structures and processes, highlighting innovative projects like the Life Graph and automated transcript processing.

On this episode of Digital Squared, Tom is talking to Trent Johnson, Chief Strategy Officer at Cie, a venture studio that serves as an innovation lab and accelerator. Trent is a seasoned entrepreneur and venture studio expert and he shares so many valuable insights on the ever-evolving landscape of digital transformation and AI. Together we discuss the journey of building startups, the pivotal role of venture studios, and the critical concept of de-risking new ventures.

On this episode of Digital Squared, Tom is talking to Dr. Mike Kurisu, Founder and Director of the Measured Wellness Clinic and Chief Health Officer at Ziva Health. Together they discuss his journey into the field of integrated medicine and his role in championing a new model for patient care based on wearables and the analysis of continuous data. Dr. Kurisu envisions a different doctor-patient relationship, powered by AI, informed through data, and enabled by a high engagement model.