PODCAST · business
CIO Unscripted
by Niel Nickolaisen, Mike Linton
CIO Unscripted brings together CIOs, CTOs, and senior tech leaders for honest discussions about what it actually takes to lead in technology today. No scripted talking points, no polished case studies. Just candid stories from the trenches: the wins, the missteps, and the lessons learned along the way. Each episode digs into the topics that matter most to tech leaders, from building high-performing teams and navigating boardroom dynamics to evaluating emerging technologies, managing vendor relationships, and driving digital transformation that actually sticks. Whether you're a seasoned CIO, an aspiring tech leader, or somewhere in between, you'll walk away with practical insights you can apply on Monday morning. Tune in for straight talk on leadership, strategy, and the realities of modern IT.
Episodes
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Felix Quintana on Becoming a People Leader and Managing AI Agents
Being great at the technical work doesn’t automatically make you great at leading people. So what does? In this episode, Niel sits down with Felix Quintana to talk about moving from hands-on infrastructure work into people leadership, and what that shift might ask of technical leaders who are…
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Dean Sapp on AI's Speed Advantage in Cybersecurity and Legal Tech
Niel sits down with Dean Sapp, CISO at Filevine, to talk about how AI has changed both sides of the cybersecurity equation. Dean walks through how AI-driven exploit chaining is finding vulnerabilities that have sat undetected in major systems for decades, why purpose-built models and strict…
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Todd Thompson on Putting People First in the Age of AI
Niel Nickolaisen sits down with Todd Thompson, SVP of Technology at Extra Space Storage, for a conversation that spans more than 22 years of leading technology across JetBlue Airways, Starwood Hotels, Vivint, doTERRA, and LifeVantage. Todd walks through the framework that's carried him across…
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Sarah Teofilo on Leading IT From the Business Side
In this episode, Sarah talks through her unconventional route to the CIO seat at ARUP Laboratories, one of the largest reference labs in the country. She and host Niel Nickolaisen explore what it means to lead technologists without being the most technical person in the room, how ARUP is starting...
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Mary Wyderski on People-centric Leadership and Prioritizing AI
Mary's path into technology started with seven years as an accountant. On today's episode, she joins Niel to talk about how that finance background shaped her into a business-first technology leader, why she thinks building a great team is the most remarkable thing she's ever pulled off, and how...
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CIO Unscripted: Jeff Stott on Buy-In and the Replatform That Paid Off
Niel Nickolaisen sits down with Jeff Stott, CIO of Welltower and former CIO of Extra Space Storage, to talk about the technology bet that turned into one of the company's biggest advantages. Jeff spent several years leading a full replatform of Extra Space's systems, a project that ran well past...
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CIO Unscripted with Eric Hawley — Getting Invited Back
Niel Nickolaisen chats with Eric Hawley, CIO of Utah State University, for a conversation that covers a lot of ground. Eric shares how his career started by accident, and how nearly every opportunity since has come by invitation rather than application. The conversation touches on what it looks...
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CIO Unscripted: Niel Nickolaisen on Trust, Culture, and the Emotional Side of Change
Niel Nickolaisen once micromanaged his way to a perfect ERP rollout. On time, on budget, on scope. Then his handpicked team told him they never wanted to work with him again. In this episode of CIO Unscripted, Mike Linton sits down with Niel for a conversation about the hard lesson that came out…
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Lisa Gardner (CIO, MTC) on Leading Tech in High-Stakes Environments
In this episode of CIO Unscripted, Niel Nickolaisen and Mike Linton sit down with Lisa Gardner, CIO at MTC, to talk about what it actually takes to lead technology for an organization that runs Job Corps programs, correctional facilities, and detention centers, including several ICE facilities,...
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CIO Unscripted: BJ Vander Linden on Building Culture and Evolving as a Technology Leader
Niel Nickolaisen and Mike Linton sit down with BJ Vander Linden, CIO of the Larry H. Miller Group, for a wide-ranging conversation about what the technology leadership journey can actually look like. BJ shares how he stumbled into IT through call centers with no real plan, eventually working his...
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CIO Unscripted: Shawnna DelHierro on the Evolving CIO Role and Building High-Performing Teams
Niel Nickolaisen sits down with Shawnna DelHierro, a technology executive whose path into IT started in HR and supply chain and took her through companies like Toyota before landing her in a strategy and growth role at a SaaS-based AI company. She shares some thoughts on what it can look like to...
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CIO Unscripted: Niel Nickolaisen on Transformation and Building Trust
VLCM field CIO Niel Nickolaisen joins Mike Linton to talk leadership and transformation. From physics and the nuclear navy to running lean manufacturing at GE, Niel never planned on a tech career, until he walked into his CEO's office to quit and walked out as the new CIO. Across nine…
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ABOUT THIS SHOW
CIO Unscripted brings together CIOs, CTOs, and senior tech leaders for honest discussions about what it actually takes to lead in technology today. No scripted talking points, no polished case studies. Just candid stories from the trenches: the wins, the missteps, and the lessons learned along the way.
Each episode digs into the topics that matter most to tech leaders, from building high-performing teams and navigating boardroom dynamics to evaluating emerging technologies, managing vendor relationships, and driving digital transformation that actually sticks. Whether you're a seasoned CIO, an aspiring tech leader, or somewhere in between, you'll walk away with practical insights you can apply on Monday morning.
Tune in for straight talk on leadership, strategy, and the realities of modern IT.
HOSTED BY
Niel Nickolaisen, Mike Linton
CATEGORIES
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does CIO Unscripted have?
CIO Unscripted currently has 12 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is CIO Unscripted about?
CIO Unscripted brings together CIOs, CTOs, and senior tech leaders for honest discussions about what it actually takes to lead in technology today. No scripted talking points, no polished case studies. Just candid stories from the trenches: the wins, the missteps, and the lessons learned along the...
How often does CIO Unscripted release new episodes?
CIO Unscripted has 12 episodes. Check the episode list to see recent publication dates and frequency.
Where can I listen to CIO Unscripted?
You can listen to CIO Unscripted on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts CIO Unscripted?
CIO Unscripted is created and hosted by Niel Nickolaisen, Mike Linton.
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