1 00:00:03,040 --> 00:00:07,039 Speaker 1: Hey everyone, Welcome to the Restless Ones. I'm Jonathan Strickland. 2 00:00:07,320 --> 00:00:10,719 Speaker 1: As always, my focus is on exploring the intersection of 3 00:00:10,720 --> 00:00:14,440 Speaker 1: technology and business by having conversations with the most forward 4 00:00:14,480 --> 00:00:19,200 Speaker 1: thinking leaders. Throughout my career, I've covered everything from massive 5 00:00:19,239 --> 00:00:24,319 Speaker 1: parallel processing to advanced robotics, but what truly inspires me 6 00:00:24,680 --> 00:00:31,360 Speaker 1: are the stories of innovation and transformation. Our guest today 7 00:00:31,400 --> 00:00:34,919 Speaker 1: is Mike Wonderush, chief Information Officer at Avontour, a company 8 00:00:35,120 --> 00:00:38,720 Speaker 1: that has as its mission we set science in motion 9 00:00:38,960 --> 00:00:42,360 Speaker 1: to create a better world. Avonteur is at the center 10 00:00:42,680 --> 00:00:46,160 Speaker 1: of the world of life sciences and applied materials industries. 11 00:00:46,400 --> 00:00:49,959 Speaker 1: The company traces its history back over a century when 12 00:00:50,000 --> 00:00:53,440 Speaker 1: a chemist in Pennsylvania founded a company dedicated to producing 13 00:00:53,520 --> 00:00:58,040 Speaker 1: high quality chemicals. A lot has happened since the JT. 14 00:00:58,280 --> 00:01:02,480 Speaker 1: Baker Chemical Company launched nineteen oh four, and today Avontour 15 00:01:02,680 --> 00:01:06,399 Speaker 1: is a global company with operations in more than thirty countries. 16 00:01:07,120 --> 00:01:11,399 Speaker 1: Mike Onedrash joined Avontour in twenty eighteen as CIO. He 17 00:01:11,480 --> 00:01:15,000 Speaker 1: takes an engineer's view of the world and sees technology 18 00:01:15,120 --> 00:01:18,440 Speaker 1: as a tool best used to solve real world problems. 19 00:01:18,840 --> 00:01:21,160 Speaker 1: I had the good fortune to sit down with Mike 20 00:01:21,400 --> 00:01:24,919 Speaker 1: to talk about his perspective on technology's role in modern 21 00:01:24,959 --> 00:01:28,600 Speaker 1: business and how connectivity can serve as the bedrock for 22 00:01:28,680 --> 00:01:32,280 Speaker 1: innovative solutions. But first I wanted to learn more about 23 00:01:32,360 --> 00:01:40,679 Speaker 1: Mike himself. Mike, allow me to welcome you to the 24 00:01:40,760 --> 00:01:42,800 Speaker 1: Restless Ones. Thank you so much for taking the time 25 00:01:42,840 --> 00:01:43,679 Speaker 1: to speak with us. 26 00:01:43,920 --> 00:01:46,679 Speaker 2: Thanks the invite. I've listened to a bunch of my 27 00:01:46,959 --> 00:01:49,320 Speaker 2: colleagues and peers, and it's always a great conversation. I'm 28 00:01:49,400 --> 00:01:50,320 Speaker 2: excited to be part of it. 29 00:01:50,880 --> 00:01:54,080 Speaker 1: Before I jump into all your work, I'm very curious 30 00:01:54,120 --> 00:01:57,520 Speaker 1: because you've had a career that has spanned multiple companies 31 00:01:57,560 --> 00:02:02,320 Speaker 1: in different job responsibilities. What first drew you to technology. 32 00:02:02,960 --> 00:02:07,680 Speaker 2: I probably got initially drawn to technology because of its 33 00:02:07,720 --> 00:02:10,919 Speaker 2: ability to solve problems. I love the kind of applied 34 00:02:10,960 --> 00:02:15,280 Speaker 2: creativity or the problem solving capabilities of technology, starting for 35 00:02:15,400 --> 00:02:18,200 Speaker 2: those a million years ago, like myself, the Apple logo. 36 00:02:18,480 --> 00:02:21,160 Speaker 2: That was the first creative thing that I thought, Hey, 37 00:02:21,160 --> 00:02:23,720 Speaker 2: this is kind of cool. And that's what continues to 38 00:02:24,160 --> 00:02:26,120 Speaker 2: have me fall in love with technology every day. Its 39 00:02:26,160 --> 00:02:29,680 Speaker 2: ability to really make an impact in a dynamic world. 40 00:02:30,160 --> 00:02:33,680 Speaker 1: I love that the engineer kind of view of the world. 41 00:02:33,720 --> 00:02:35,840 Speaker 1: I always say, the engineers view the world as a 42 00:02:35,880 --> 00:02:39,200 Speaker 1: series of problems that are just waiting to be solved, 43 00:02:39,360 --> 00:02:44,040 Speaker 1: and the technologically inclined one see the computer systems as 44 00:02:44,200 --> 00:02:48,480 Speaker 1: one of many tools to achieve those solutions. So let's 45 00:02:48,520 --> 00:02:50,400 Speaker 1: talk a little bit about your career path. 46 00:02:50,880 --> 00:02:53,840 Speaker 2: Yeah, I feel like I've been super fortunate to have 47 00:02:54,000 --> 00:02:57,720 Speaker 2: done some awesome rotations in a number of different industries. 48 00:02:57,960 --> 00:03:01,160 Speaker 2: So I started my own business a graduate school, we 49 00:03:01,160 --> 00:03:06,000 Speaker 2: were doing early days of artificial intelligence, so collision detection software. 50 00:03:06,040 --> 00:03:09,000 Speaker 2: We helped work with NASA and doing some design work 51 00:03:09,040 --> 00:03:12,040 Speaker 2: for the Space Shuttle with the Department Offense with John 52 00:03:12,040 --> 00:03:17,160 Speaker 2: Deere detractors on human simulation in ergonomic design, so what 53 00:03:17,240 --> 00:03:21,640 Speaker 2: a pilot would see from instrumentation and from their seat. 54 00:03:21,840 --> 00:03:24,000 Speaker 2: Sold that business after a number of years, went into 55 00:03:24,080 --> 00:03:28,000 Speaker 2: consulting because honestly, I couldn't comprehend not being the final 56 00:03:28,040 --> 00:03:30,440 Speaker 2: decision maker on everything. So I'd got to explore a 57 00:03:30,520 --> 00:03:34,280 Speaker 2: number of different industries and it just spurred my interest 58 00:03:34,320 --> 00:03:35,840 Speaker 2: in applied technologies. 59 00:03:36,320 --> 00:03:39,800 Speaker 1: Also out of curiosity. When you're chatting with someone just 60 00:03:40,040 --> 00:03:42,040 Speaker 1: casually and they say, so, what do you do for 61 00:03:42,080 --> 00:03:46,280 Speaker 1: a living? How do you boil down your job's responsibilities 62 00:03:46,280 --> 00:03:48,880 Speaker 1: in a way that the average person kind of grocks 63 00:03:48,920 --> 00:03:49,960 Speaker 1: what you're talking about. 64 00:03:50,640 --> 00:03:53,000 Speaker 2: Yeah, I think it's a fantastic question, even when my 65 00:03:53,080 --> 00:03:55,280 Speaker 2: kids say, so Dad, what do you really do? The 66 00:03:55,360 --> 00:03:57,600 Speaker 2: simple answer is, my job is to get rule blocks 67 00:03:57,600 --> 00:03:59,800 Speaker 2: out of the way for the really smart people in 68 00:03:59,840 --> 00:04:04,040 Speaker 2: a dinner party. My job is to look for new 69 00:04:04,080 --> 00:04:08,400 Speaker 2: and creative ways to leverage technology as a strategic asset 70 00:04:08,440 --> 00:04:13,360 Speaker 2: for the company. Whether that's customer facing opportunities, whether that's 71 00:04:13,440 --> 00:04:18,400 Speaker 2: internal collaboration, or whether that's supply chain efficiency. It's looking 72 00:04:18,440 --> 00:04:21,200 Speaker 2: at how we can leverage technology, which is really what 73 00:04:21,240 --> 00:04:24,440 Speaker 2: digitization is, right, It's how do I take advantage of 74 00:04:24,560 --> 00:04:29,040 Speaker 2: data and automate or ultimately integrate business processes most effectively 75 00:04:29,600 --> 00:04:31,480 Speaker 2: to be differentiated in our sector? 76 00:04:32,120 --> 00:04:35,560 Speaker 1: Excellent For those who aren't aware of what avontur does, 77 00:04:35,680 --> 00:04:39,200 Speaker 1: we're talking about like material science and chemistry, what role 78 00:04:39,800 --> 00:04:42,640 Speaker 1: does it play in this space? 79 00:04:43,320 --> 00:04:46,799 Speaker 2: I would say probably three areas come to mind. One 80 00:04:47,160 --> 00:04:51,600 Speaker 2: is how do we make research scientists more effective? How 81 00:04:51,600 --> 00:04:55,200 Speaker 2: do we take what they're doing and accelerate their ability 82 00:04:55,240 --> 00:05:00,120 Speaker 2: to bring novel science to everyday society. How do we 83 00:05:00,240 --> 00:05:05,320 Speaker 2: eliminate friction in their environment, whether it's product procurement, whether 84 00:05:05,400 --> 00:05:10,360 Speaker 2: it's labs traditionally have been very fragmented in their technology solutions, 85 00:05:10,720 --> 00:05:15,040 Speaker 2: so we play a significant role integrating labs from inventory management, 86 00:05:15,120 --> 00:05:21,239 Speaker 2: chemical management, precurrement management, equipment management, bio repository. So really 87 00:05:21,320 --> 00:05:25,760 Speaker 2: our role is working with large bioform of companies, working 88 00:05:25,800 --> 00:05:30,920 Speaker 2: with material science companies, working with semiconductor industry, and working 89 00:05:30,920 --> 00:05:34,560 Speaker 2: with their scientists co developing in many cases, but leveraging 90 00:05:34,600 --> 00:05:37,760 Speaker 2: technology to make them more efficient, bring science to the 91 00:05:37,760 --> 00:05:38,719 Speaker 2: table faster. 92 00:05:39,120 --> 00:05:42,680 Speaker 1: And I absolutely love that messaging. Here on the Restless Ones, 93 00:05:42,680 --> 00:05:45,320 Speaker 1: we talk a lot about connectivity because I really do 94 00:05:45,440 --> 00:05:48,000 Speaker 1: believe that that is the technology that is sort of 95 00:05:48,000 --> 00:05:51,360 Speaker 1: the foundation that enables all these others to exist beyond 96 00:05:51,480 --> 00:05:54,359 Speaker 1: just being a silo. Can you talk a bit about 97 00:05:54,720 --> 00:05:58,400 Speaker 1: how the company leverages connectivity in various ways. 98 00:05:58,960 --> 00:06:03,320 Speaker 2: Yeah. Absolutely. The notion of connectivity for us is how 99 00:06:03,360 --> 00:06:06,720 Speaker 2: can I integrate everything in a lab? How can I 100 00:06:06,880 --> 00:06:10,880 Speaker 2: enable scientists to work remotely or whether they're physically at 101 00:06:10,920 --> 00:06:13,760 Speaker 2: their lab bench or in front of experiments. How do 102 00:06:13,839 --> 00:06:18,280 Speaker 2: I enable my global base of nearly fifteen thousand associates 103 00:06:18,320 --> 00:06:22,320 Speaker 2: to be productive anywhere, anytime, whatever they're doing, whether it's 104 00:06:22,360 --> 00:06:28,360 Speaker 2: my commercial associates, my frontline distribution workers, my manufacturing associates 105 00:06:28,400 --> 00:06:31,600 Speaker 2: that are working twenty four by seven. So I view 106 00:06:31,920 --> 00:06:34,960 Speaker 2: ultimately connectivity being the number one most important thing. How 107 00:06:35,000 --> 00:06:38,560 Speaker 2: do I have what's done at one part of my 108 00:06:38,680 --> 00:06:43,000 Speaker 2: business be accessible, visible, and usable by other folks within 109 00:06:43,040 --> 00:06:47,039 Speaker 2: the organization. And I say organization broadly from customer to supplier, 110 00:06:47,240 --> 00:06:49,960 Speaker 2: because they're ultimately going to know the best way to 111 00:06:50,000 --> 00:06:52,560 Speaker 2: take advantage of that data or that piece of information 112 00:06:52,640 --> 00:06:55,440 Speaker 2: most effectively. I think that's when I think about the 113 00:06:55,520 --> 00:06:58,240 Speaker 2: connected enterprise, how I think about connectivity. 114 00:06:58,960 --> 00:07:02,440 Speaker 1: Mike, you are really hitting on things that I personally 115 00:07:02,480 --> 00:07:06,800 Speaker 1: find inspiring and exciting. Having this incredible connectivity that has 116 00:07:06,839 --> 00:07:09,680 Speaker 1: this high throughput, low latency so that we're able to 117 00:07:09,680 --> 00:07:12,280 Speaker 1: take advantage of that, you know, moment to moment. 118 00:07:12,560 --> 00:07:16,320 Speaker 2: I agree. I think the opportunity to be creative in 119 00:07:17,080 --> 00:07:21,160 Speaker 2: how you take advantage of all the different connected assets 120 00:07:21,160 --> 00:07:23,880 Speaker 2: out there, to me is incredibly exciting. You know, we 121 00:07:23,960 --> 00:07:26,920 Speaker 2: say it is simple, but we use augmented reality and 122 00:07:26,960 --> 00:07:31,360 Speaker 2: our distribution centers to help our warehouse associates optimize picks 123 00:07:31,360 --> 00:07:33,600 Speaker 2: so they bend over less or they know the right 124 00:07:33,640 --> 00:07:35,760 Speaker 2: pile to put a box on, so we create a 125 00:07:35,840 --> 00:07:38,720 Speaker 2: more stable palette, so we use it for safety purposes 126 00:07:39,240 --> 00:07:44,280 Speaker 2: all the way to in manufacturing lines, predictively understanding when 127 00:07:44,320 --> 00:07:48,120 Speaker 2: a line is operating suboptimally and sending someone there to 128 00:07:48,200 --> 00:07:51,640 Speaker 2: understand why, whether it's a mechanical issue or whether it's 129 00:07:51,640 --> 00:07:54,480 Speaker 2: a flow issue or material issue or something going on. 130 00:07:55,160 --> 00:07:58,320 Speaker 2: I think there's some real world tasks that we've seen 131 00:07:58,560 --> 00:08:03,680 Speaker 2: such significant benefit in IoT that sounds like this very 132 00:08:03,680 --> 00:08:06,600 Speaker 2: ethereal thing, but I think applying it to real world 133 00:08:06,600 --> 00:08:10,680 Speaker 2: activities I think is really making people's jobs more effective. 134 00:08:11,240 --> 00:08:13,920 Speaker 1: Mike, you're the first guest we've had on who has 135 00:08:14,080 --> 00:08:18,600 Speaker 1: talked about using augmented reality in a way to ensure 136 00:08:19,040 --> 00:08:22,680 Speaker 1: employee safety and quality of life improvements. I hope to 137 00:08:22,680 --> 00:08:26,040 Speaker 1: see as a trend throughout all industries, this idea of 138 00:08:26,440 --> 00:08:29,480 Speaker 1: leveraging the technology not just to improve efficiency, which obviously 139 00:08:29,520 --> 00:08:32,880 Speaker 1: is important that's a big business driver, but as an 140 00:08:32,920 --> 00:08:35,719 Speaker 1: actual way to improve the quality of life of the 141 00:08:35,760 --> 00:08:38,080 Speaker 1: people who are working for the organization. You're going to 142 00:08:38,120 --> 00:08:41,600 Speaker 1: attract the top talent that way, You're going to have 143 00:08:42,040 --> 00:08:46,200 Speaker 1: incredibly high performing, loyal members of your team. When the 144 00:08:46,320 --> 00:08:50,040 Speaker 1: organization shows that they are taking that time and effort 145 00:08:50,080 --> 00:08:52,880 Speaker 1: to consider what their day to day lives are. 146 00:08:53,679 --> 00:08:57,440 Speaker 2: I think sometimes we mystify things that don't need to 147 00:08:57,440 --> 00:09:00,280 Speaker 2: be that mystical and look for more practical ways of 148 00:09:00,400 --> 00:09:03,200 Speaker 2: utilizing them that is more broad. I think we generally 149 00:09:03,240 --> 00:09:07,280 Speaker 2: know AI has been around for twenty five years. It's 150 00:09:07,320 --> 00:09:10,440 Speaker 2: the ability to get access to the large language models 151 00:09:10,480 --> 00:09:14,000 Speaker 2: and the compute power that's allowing it to apply to 152 00:09:14,080 --> 00:09:16,360 Speaker 2: problems that maybe we haven't been as successful in the 153 00:09:16,400 --> 00:09:17,079 Speaker 2: past solving. 154 00:09:17,760 --> 00:09:22,000 Speaker 1: Yeah. I have one more question specifically about connectivity before 155 00:09:22,040 --> 00:09:25,880 Speaker 1: we move on, and that is how can wireless technologies 156 00:09:25,880 --> 00:09:29,679 Speaker 1: like five G impact the material science and manufacturing space. 157 00:09:30,400 --> 00:09:34,120 Speaker 2: I think the largest opportunity when we think about our 158 00:09:34,120 --> 00:09:38,320 Speaker 2: customer is the lab. I think the evolution of how 159 00:09:38,360 --> 00:09:40,679 Speaker 2: quickly can we take advantage of the data coming from 160 00:09:40,800 --> 00:09:45,160 Speaker 2: equipment in the lab into laboratory information management systems LIMB 161 00:09:45,200 --> 00:09:49,679 Speaker 2: systems to do correlation analysis. How can you accelerate trials data? 162 00:09:50,400 --> 00:09:54,520 Speaker 2: How can you do compound analysis? We produce very high 163 00:09:54,559 --> 00:09:59,120 Speaker 2: specification products to very narrow tolerances, so how can we 164 00:09:59,200 --> 00:10:01,599 Speaker 2: do that quicker? How can you identify which of the 165 00:10:01,679 --> 00:10:05,840 Speaker 2: raw materials are commodity and which have direct influence to 166 00:10:05,880 --> 00:10:09,680 Speaker 2: the specification of the output. So I look at what 167 00:10:09,720 --> 00:10:12,560 Speaker 2: conductivity can do for that and the ability in real 168 00:10:12,640 --> 00:10:17,800 Speaker 2: time to make those adjustments that will have a direct impact. 169 00:10:18,200 --> 00:10:20,800 Speaker 2: And then I think, secondly, it's your footprint. I think 170 00:10:21,080 --> 00:10:25,679 Speaker 2: you know having five G and these non tethered technologies 171 00:10:25,760 --> 00:10:29,440 Speaker 2: allow you to think pretty dynamically about what's the right 172 00:10:29,480 --> 00:10:33,040 Speaker 2: footprint for this capability, whether it's an office footprint, a 173 00:10:33,120 --> 00:10:37,480 Speaker 2: lab footprint, DC expansion, a pop up facility with a customer. 174 00:10:37,679 --> 00:10:40,200 Speaker 2: If suddenly you know, I'm call it BYO and bring 175 00:10:40,240 --> 00:10:43,360 Speaker 2: my own network, I just slap a five G spot up, 176 00:10:43,440 --> 00:10:45,360 Speaker 2: or I'm putting five G in every single one of 177 00:10:45,400 --> 00:10:49,760 Speaker 2: my devices laptops or mobile devices globally, and it's inherently 178 00:10:50,080 --> 00:11:00,160 Speaker 2: part of my extended network. That's a game changer. 179 00:11:00,880 --> 00:11:04,680 Speaker 1: I'm curious. Also, you mentioned earlier about how you view 180 00:11:05,240 --> 00:11:09,040 Speaker 1: the relationships with suppliers and with customers as all being 181 00:11:09,400 --> 00:11:12,040 Speaker 1: kind of an extension of the organization itself. Can you 182 00:11:12,120 --> 00:11:16,400 Speaker 1: talk a bit about how technology, including connectivity, how it 183 00:11:16,520 --> 00:11:20,640 Speaker 1: facilitates that level of collaboration with entities that are not 184 00:11:20,880 --> 00:11:22,760 Speaker 1: under the corporate umbrella directly. 185 00:11:23,520 --> 00:11:26,280 Speaker 2: Yeah, I think it's a fantastic question when I think 186 00:11:26,320 --> 00:11:30,160 Speaker 2: about it, ultimately, if you go back to customer centricity, 187 00:11:30,720 --> 00:11:34,760 Speaker 2: if our goal is to have at the scientist's fingers 188 00:11:35,040 --> 00:11:37,920 Speaker 2: the products they need when they need it, for the 189 00:11:37,960 --> 00:11:40,240 Speaker 2: purpose they need it, So how do I roll that 190 00:11:40,360 --> 00:11:41,960 Speaker 2: back to it's kind of we used to call it 191 00:11:42,120 --> 00:11:44,880 Speaker 2: just in time? So how do I have an extended 192 00:11:44,960 --> 00:11:47,520 Speaker 2: view of what I need to get out the door? 193 00:11:47,600 --> 00:11:49,680 Speaker 2: And if I need to know what has to be there, 194 00:11:50,120 --> 00:11:53,120 Speaker 2: how can I work with my suppliers on the most 195 00:11:53,160 --> 00:11:57,679 Speaker 2: efficient supply chain so they're not manufacturing huge volumes of 196 00:11:57,760 --> 00:12:01,000 Speaker 2: product that there is a demand for good for anyone. Right, 197 00:12:01,480 --> 00:12:04,720 Speaker 2: So when we look at it as an extended supply chain, 198 00:12:05,320 --> 00:12:08,800 Speaker 2: I can't be successful if my suppliers aren't reliable and successful, 199 00:12:09,160 --> 00:12:12,319 Speaker 2: and my customers can't be successful if I'm not successful 200 00:12:12,360 --> 00:12:15,560 Speaker 2: in providing what they need, maybe even before they know it, 201 00:12:15,559 --> 00:12:18,160 Speaker 2: Which is ultimately our goal is how do we do 202 00:12:18,240 --> 00:12:20,880 Speaker 2: a lot more in the predictive space, And we do 203 00:12:21,080 --> 00:12:23,360 Speaker 2: a fair bit of that today and looking at different 204 00:12:23,440 --> 00:12:24,560 Speaker 2: models to accelerate that. 205 00:12:25,200 --> 00:12:27,720 Speaker 1: Man, it kind of gets back into that convergence of 206 00:12:27,720 --> 00:12:30,440 Speaker 1: big data and data analysis where you're able to see 207 00:12:30,920 --> 00:12:34,120 Speaker 1: those potential trends before they have even been manifested to 208 00:12:34,160 --> 00:12:36,600 Speaker 1: a point that we would normally be aware of them. 209 00:12:36,960 --> 00:12:38,640 Speaker 1: Can you talk a little bit about sort of the 210 00:12:38,679 --> 00:12:42,800 Speaker 1: technological foundation for these labs and research centers, because for 211 00:12:42,880 --> 00:12:46,560 Speaker 1: someone who is unschooled in the ways of material science 212 00:12:46,559 --> 00:12:48,600 Speaker 1: and manufacturing and that sort of stuff, as I am, 213 00:12:49,120 --> 00:12:52,920 Speaker 1: my thoughts immediately go to the latest Marvel movie with 214 00:12:53,040 --> 00:12:55,120 Speaker 1: Tony Stark in a lab, I would love to hear 215 00:12:55,160 --> 00:12:59,199 Speaker 1: a little bit more about the technological underpinnings of these 216 00:12:59,240 --> 00:13:00,000 Speaker 1: research facilities. 217 00:13:00,880 --> 00:13:04,800 Speaker 2: So our goal is to provide customized solutions for a 218 00:13:04,840 --> 00:13:08,760 Speaker 2: lot of our customers that essentially pride an integrated digital 219 00:13:08,840 --> 00:13:11,840 Speaker 2: lab for them, and how do we take the waste 220 00:13:11,880 --> 00:13:14,120 Speaker 2: out of their process and allow them to do more 221 00:13:14,160 --> 00:13:19,000 Speaker 2: with science. So you talk about IoT solutions, smartshelf solutions. 222 00:13:19,440 --> 00:13:22,480 Speaker 2: We have thousands of associates that sit within our customer 223 00:13:22,600 --> 00:13:26,040 Speaker 2: sites that facilitate the type of research, whether it's helping 224 00:13:26,040 --> 00:13:29,000 Speaker 2: them with inventory, whether it's helping them with actual experiments, 225 00:13:29,040 --> 00:13:31,920 Speaker 2: et cetera. And the whole notion is how do I 226 00:13:31,960 --> 00:13:35,400 Speaker 2: have everything in a lab connected in real time so 227 00:13:35,440 --> 00:13:39,400 Speaker 2: it's perpetual experimentation, it's perpetual output and taking the data 228 00:13:39,880 --> 00:13:42,400 Speaker 2: and making that an input into the next part of 229 00:13:42,400 --> 00:13:46,120 Speaker 2: the process. So the underlying you know you mentioned connectivity 230 00:13:46,120 --> 00:13:49,640 Speaker 2: a number of times. Underlying connectivity is incredibly important, and 231 00:13:49,679 --> 00:13:55,880 Speaker 2: then ultimately stringing those different components together from equipment to inventory, 232 00:13:56,400 --> 00:13:59,400 Speaker 2: to analytics and ultimately to output. 233 00:14:00,000 --> 00:14:04,240 Speaker 1: Can you perhaps talk about some initiatives or projects that 234 00:14:04,360 --> 00:14:05,520 Speaker 1: kind of stand out to you. 235 00:14:06,320 --> 00:14:08,880 Speaker 2: Where I really get excited is we talk about e 236 00:14:08,920 --> 00:14:13,760 Speaker 2: commerce solutions and creating research platforms for scientists and then 237 00:14:13,800 --> 00:14:16,520 Speaker 2: linking that to how they work in the lab on 238 00:14:16,559 --> 00:14:19,320 Speaker 2: a day to day basis, working with our customers, looking 239 00:14:19,360 --> 00:14:22,280 Speaker 2: at their workflows, looking at what their research process is, 240 00:14:22,440 --> 00:14:26,080 Speaker 2: and being a scientific platform. And we're investing heavily in 241 00:14:26,080 --> 00:14:28,720 Speaker 2: that space. We think it's a space that we've got 242 00:14:28,760 --> 00:14:32,280 Speaker 2: strong capabilities, we think it's an area that will continue 243 00:14:32,320 --> 00:14:34,640 Speaker 2: to be a leader in, and we feel a strong 244 00:14:34,680 --> 00:14:37,480 Speaker 2: pull from our customers on hey, give us more. Hey, 245 00:14:37,640 --> 00:14:40,640 Speaker 2: you really are continuing to drive value for us as 246 00:14:40,680 --> 00:14:45,960 Speaker 2: a trusted supplier. Give us more automation, more capability, more visibility, 247 00:14:46,240 --> 00:14:48,960 Speaker 2: take more of what we're doing and help us accelerate 248 00:14:48,960 --> 00:14:51,680 Speaker 2: speed of science. When you look in your customer's eyes 249 00:14:51,720 --> 00:14:54,360 Speaker 2: every day and they're looking at you as an extended 250 00:14:54,400 --> 00:14:57,000 Speaker 2: part of their business. That's when you know that you're 251 00:14:57,000 --> 00:15:00,000 Speaker 2: doing something right and it's a true partnership. 252 00:15:00,000 --> 00:15:03,280 Speaker 1: An incredible metric for success. You've also been in the 253 00:15:03,360 --> 00:15:08,600 Speaker 1: leadership position when or shortly after an organization has acquired 254 00:15:08,680 --> 00:15:12,440 Speaker 1: other organizations, which involves obviously lots and lots of work 255 00:15:12,480 --> 00:15:15,080 Speaker 1: on the back end to integrate various systems. Can you 256 00:15:15,120 --> 00:15:18,440 Speaker 1: talk a little bit about some of the inherent challenges 257 00:15:18,480 --> 00:15:23,040 Speaker 1: that come along with trying to integrate different organizations that 258 00:15:23,080 --> 00:15:25,560 Speaker 1: are now part of your own into becoming part of 259 00:15:25,600 --> 00:15:29,640 Speaker 1: the overall operation, and what are some of the hurdles 260 00:15:29,640 --> 00:15:31,920 Speaker 1: that you typically face when that happens. 261 00:15:32,480 --> 00:15:34,400 Speaker 2: Yeah, I feel like a broken record. But data is 262 00:15:34,440 --> 00:15:36,840 Speaker 2: always the one that comes to mind first. I think 263 00:15:36,880 --> 00:15:40,840 Speaker 2: if you think about an acquisition, the ultimate outcome is 264 00:15:41,680 --> 00:15:45,520 Speaker 2: when I acquire a company, can one plus one equal three. 265 00:15:45,840 --> 00:15:49,080 Speaker 2: So I didn't buy it just to continue to get 266 00:15:49,080 --> 00:15:52,760 Speaker 2: the same results that we got before. So how do 267 00:15:52,840 --> 00:15:55,880 Speaker 2: I get access to the data? How can I leverage 268 00:15:55,880 --> 00:16:00,640 Speaker 2: the capabilities that I bought within this acquisition to compliment 269 00:16:00,840 --> 00:16:05,320 Speaker 2: the capabilities we had already. So the answer used to be, Okay, 270 00:16:05,360 --> 00:16:07,520 Speaker 2: give me twenty four months and then I'll have everyone 271 00:16:07,520 --> 00:16:09,240 Speaker 2: on the same platform and then I'll get you what 272 00:16:09,320 --> 00:16:12,080 Speaker 2: you need. Impatience sometimes is a good thing, and this 273 00:16:12,160 --> 00:16:15,480 Speaker 2: is where I think an expectation of how do I 274 00:16:15,560 --> 00:16:20,080 Speaker 2: get turned around the opportunities to find synergies between the company. 275 00:16:20,120 --> 00:16:22,400 Speaker 2: And when I see synergies, I don't mean cost takeout, 276 00:16:22,480 --> 00:16:26,040 Speaker 2: I mean how do I accelerate the joint benefit of 277 00:16:26,160 --> 00:16:28,360 Speaker 2: the two capability sets that have now come together. 278 00:16:29,000 --> 00:16:31,200 Speaker 1: Well, and Mike, you never have to worry about sounding 279 00:16:31,240 --> 00:16:33,400 Speaker 1: like a broken record when you're talking about data. It's 280 00:16:33,400 --> 00:16:37,280 Speaker 1: something that have gained a great appreciation for the power 281 00:16:37,400 --> 00:16:40,600 Speaker 1: of information over the last several years. But as we've 282 00:16:40,640 --> 00:16:43,840 Speaker 1: talked about like that has changed dramatically over the last 283 00:16:43,920 --> 00:16:48,160 Speaker 1: few years, where we've seen incredible improvements and leaps and 284 00:16:48,200 --> 00:16:51,520 Speaker 1: bounds in our ability to analyze data, and it has 285 00:16:51,920 --> 00:16:56,480 Speaker 1: proven again and again to be perhaps the most valuable 286 00:16:56,600 --> 00:16:57,920 Speaker 1: asset that's out there. 287 00:16:58,560 --> 00:17:01,040 Speaker 2: I'm a self professed data geek, so I think we 288 00:17:01,200 --> 00:17:05,280 Speaker 2: used to think about data as just being transactions, and 289 00:17:05,320 --> 00:17:09,080 Speaker 2: I think what big data has uncovered and then probably 290 00:17:09,280 --> 00:17:13,960 Speaker 2: AI is enabled, is the creative juices from everyone within 291 00:17:13,960 --> 00:17:17,720 Speaker 2: the organization. So it's not just an IT thing. Hey, 292 00:17:17,720 --> 00:17:20,280 Speaker 2: can you get me this report or can you format this? 293 00:17:20,440 --> 00:17:24,159 Speaker 2: It's you know, I've got a tremendous asset I'm sitting on, 294 00:17:24,320 --> 00:17:27,199 Speaker 2: which is data from across the organization plus all this 295 00:17:27,359 --> 00:17:32,000 Speaker 2: external data. Now I can really start solving problems or 296 00:17:32,080 --> 00:17:35,640 Speaker 2: coming up with perspectives or checking theories that I've never 297 00:17:35,680 --> 00:17:37,919 Speaker 2: been able to do before because either I didn't have 298 00:17:38,000 --> 00:17:40,600 Speaker 2: the data, I didn't have the compute power to do it. 299 00:17:40,680 --> 00:17:44,080 Speaker 2: I couldn't come up with relationships. And that's where I 300 00:17:44,080 --> 00:17:47,680 Speaker 2: think we're just scratching the surface today on what these 301 00:17:47,680 --> 00:17:51,280 Speaker 2: technologies are opening up, particularly with the large language models. 302 00:17:51,200 --> 00:17:53,159 Speaker 1: And sort of on the flip side of that, the 303 00:17:53,280 --> 00:17:56,359 Speaker 1: dark side, I would say, is that we've also seen 304 00:17:57,160 --> 00:18:01,240 Speaker 1: new threats to cybersecurity. I'm curious can you talk a 305 00:18:01,280 --> 00:18:05,240 Speaker 1: little bit about how the state of cybersecurity has changed 306 00:18:05,280 --> 00:18:07,359 Speaker 1: over the last few years. What are some of the 307 00:18:07,480 --> 00:18:11,600 Speaker 1: larger risks that you perceive out for business leaders, things 308 00:18:11,640 --> 00:18:13,400 Speaker 1: that people need to be aware of. 309 00:18:14,240 --> 00:18:17,840 Speaker 2: A couple things have forced that change. A handful of 310 00:18:17,880 --> 00:18:21,200 Speaker 2: years ago, we're looking to secure the four walls of 311 00:18:21,240 --> 00:18:24,600 Speaker 2: the building, right the physical infrastructure. If I kept my 312 00:18:24,720 --> 00:18:27,720 Speaker 2: four walls safe and everyone out, then I was safe 313 00:18:27,720 --> 00:18:31,240 Speaker 2: and secure. Well, I think the advent of cloud certainly 314 00:18:31,280 --> 00:18:34,199 Speaker 2: changed everything. So we've got data flying all over the 315 00:18:34,200 --> 00:18:37,879 Speaker 2: place now that I don't technically own, and then COVID 316 00:18:38,000 --> 00:18:41,600 Speaker 2: change where people are working. There is no four walls anymore. 317 00:18:42,119 --> 00:18:45,960 Speaker 2: Whether you're remote or you're hybrid, you're having people work 318 00:18:46,119 --> 00:18:49,400 Speaker 2: in locations you never could have imagined, you know, referencing 319 00:18:49,480 --> 00:18:51,000 Speaker 2: back to your five G com and they could be 320 00:18:51,560 --> 00:18:54,080 Speaker 2: out on the hills in the middle of the Rocky 321 00:18:54,119 --> 00:18:56,240 Speaker 2: Mountains and it'll look just like they're sitting in my 322 00:18:56,320 --> 00:18:59,720 Speaker 2: office just outside Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. So trying to secure all 323 00:18:59,760 --> 00:19:02,880 Speaker 2: that dynamically to the same level is a challenge every 324 00:19:02,920 --> 00:19:08,240 Speaker 2: single day. It's moved from securing a location to securing 325 00:19:08,240 --> 00:19:11,119 Speaker 2: a person and then ultimately to securing the asset, which 326 00:19:11,160 --> 00:19:13,720 Speaker 2: is how do I manage access to the data? And 327 00:19:14,040 --> 00:19:16,640 Speaker 2: that's the most specific thing that I know. I can't 328 00:19:16,640 --> 00:19:18,960 Speaker 2: control where people are, I can't control who's getting in 329 00:19:19,000 --> 00:19:21,760 Speaker 2: and out. I have an extended enterprise, so how do 330 00:19:21,800 --> 00:19:24,800 Speaker 2: I make sure that the data is secured? And then candidly, 331 00:19:24,880 --> 00:19:27,160 Speaker 2: I spend a lot of time with peers. We're all 332 00:19:27,200 --> 00:19:29,879 Speaker 2: fighting the same thing every day. We're all trying to 333 00:19:29,920 --> 00:19:32,520 Speaker 2: do the same things. That's why I love being a CIO. 334 00:19:32,680 --> 00:19:35,840 Speaker 2: The peer group, it's really a tight community. We get 335 00:19:35,840 --> 00:19:39,480 Speaker 2: together a lot, and everyone's really open about what works 336 00:19:39,480 --> 00:19:42,080 Speaker 2: and what doesn't. And there's not a single time, whether 337 00:19:42,119 --> 00:19:45,000 Speaker 2: it's a conversation or a conference or a forum, that 338 00:19:45,080 --> 00:19:47,600 Speaker 2: I get together and I don't leave with like twenty 339 00:19:47,640 --> 00:19:49,800 Speaker 2: five ideas. So there's not a day that goes by 340 00:19:49,840 --> 00:19:50,879 Speaker 2: that we're not focused on it. 341 00:19:51,400 --> 00:19:55,240 Speaker 1: I'm encouraged to hear that at this level of leadership, 342 00:19:55,280 --> 00:19:58,280 Speaker 1: you have leaders who speak with one another openly about 343 00:19:58,320 --> 00:20:02,080 Speaker 1: what's working and what's not working because as ultimately it 344 00:20:02,119 --> 00:20:05,640 Speaker 1: benefits everyone. This isn't an area where you're competing with 345 00:20:05,720 --> 00:20:09,480 Speaker 1: someone for a market share. This is where you're making 346 00:20:09,600 --> 00:20:13,920 Speaker 1: certain that everyone is protected as best they can be 347 00:20:14,000 --> 00:20:16,600 Speaker 1: based upon the risks and threats that exist at any 348 00:20:16,600 --> 00:20:21,280 Speaker 1: given time. I had a couple of questions I wanted 349 00:20:21,320 --> 00:20:29,160 Speaker 1: to ask Mike before I could let him go, What, 350 00:20:29,320 --> 00:20:33,960 Speaker 1: in your mind is the most misunderstood technology AI. 351 00:20:34,520 --> 00:20:38,520 Speaker 2: I think AI is a group of technologies and capabilities. 352 00:20:38,520 --> 00:20:41,200 Speaker 2: It's not in and of a thing, and I think 353 00:20:41,280 --> 00:20:46,399 Speaker 2: that lack of broad based understanding is causing some of 354 00:20:46,400 --> 00:20:50,280 Speaker 2: the fear based discussions out there. It's causing some of 355 00:20:50,280 --> 00:20:52,840 Speaker 2: the dialogue on what needs to be regulated and not. 356 00:20:53,119 --> 00:20:56,840 Speaker 2: And I think, similar to some of the other technologies 357 00:20:56,880 --> 00:21:00,560 Speaker 2: over the years, that the more we can demystify what 358 00:21:00,640 --> 00:21:04,080 Speaker 2: AI is, what it can do for positive as well 359 00:21:04,080 --> 00:21:06,920 Speaker 2: as for detriment as well. I think that's good for everyone. 360 00:21:07,040 --> 00:21:09,600 Speaker 2: So I think the being in the news is positive, 361 00:21:09,880 --> 00:21:12,280 Speaker 2: not getting out over our skis about things that it 362 00:21:12,359 --> 00:21:16,280 Speaker 2: can't do, but also not trying to say, well, if 363 00:21:16,280 --> 00:21:18,360 Speaker 2: you're not an it, you can't understand it. I think 364 00:21:18,359 --> 00:21:21,880 Speaker 2: that's a poor answer to what I think is going 365 00:21:21,920 --> 00:21:24,920 Speaker 2: to be a societal changing technology. 366 00:21:25,400 --> 00:21:29,000 Speaker 1: Excellent answer, next up, what's the best piece of advice 367 00:21:29,040 --> 00:21:29,920 Speaker 1: you've ever received? 368 00:21:30,560 --> 00:21:34,160 Speaker 2: Be authentic trying to pretend you have all the knowledge. 369 00:21:34,320 --> 00:21:37,359 Speaker 2: Everyone sees through it really quickly. But it also doesn't 370 00:21:37,520 --> 00:21:39,680 Speaker 2: pay enough respect to the talent you have in your team. 371 00:21:39,920 --> 00:21:43,720 Speaker 2: If you enable your team and be authentic about hey, 372 00:21:43,800 --> 00:21:46,000 Speaker 2: here's the problem I have, how can we go solve it. 373 00:21:46,320 --> 00:21:51,119 Speaker 2: I think people are drawn to sincerity and authenticity and 374 00:21:51,200 --> 00:21:54,320 Speaker 2: honesty and vulnerability. I had a boss a long time 375 00:21:54,359 --> 00:21:57,840 Speaker 2: ago say, people watch how you walk into the building 376 00:21:57,880 --> 00:22:00,600 Speaker 2: in the morning. If you're soul in a head down 377 00:22:00,720 --> 00:22:04,400 Speaker 2: and trudging. They're going to take that as Oh geez, 378 00:22:04,440 --> 00:22:07,199 Speaker 2: I wonder if something's wrong. I wonder if you know 379 00:22:07,240 --> 00:22:11,680 Speaker 2: I shouldn't approach him today versus Hey, listen, we all 380 00:22:12,119 --> 00:22:14,920 Speaker 2: have work lives, we all have business lives, and how 381 00:22:14,960 --> 00:22:17,280 Speaker 2: to be transparent on Okay, well, hey this is where 382 00:22:17,280 --> 00:22:20,280 Speaker 2: I'm struggling today, or it was a late night my 383 00:22:20,359 --> 00:22:23,520 Speaker 2: kid was in the hospital last night, or hey, we 384 00:22:23,600 --> 00:22:25,600 Speaker 2: went live with this program this weekend. It didn't go 385 00:22:25,600 --> 00:22:27,120 Speaker 2: as well as I thought it did. Here's what we're 386 00:22:27,119 --> 00:22:30,840 Speaker 2: doing about it. I think that level of transparency for 387 00:22:31,040 --> 00:22:34,680 Speaker 2: the team, in my experience, breaths an awful lot of 388 00:22:34,840 --> 00:22:37,240 Speaker 2: trust and an awful lot of we're going to rally 389 00:22:37,280 --> 00:22:39,440 Speaker 2: together to solve a problem, so be authentic. 390 00:22:40,119 --> 00:22:43,240 Speaker 1: I love that answer. It's distantly related to the young 391 00:22:43,280 --> 00:22:46,080 Speaker 1: philosophy I try to follow, which is that I try 392 00:22:46,160 --> 00:22:48,440 Speaker 1: to never assume I'm the smartest person in the room, 393 00:22:48,520 --> 00:22:51,239 Speaker 1: and so far it's been a pretty safe assumption. So 394 00:22:51,920 --> 00:22:53,960 Speaker 1: I just go with that. 395 00:22:53,960 --> 00:22:57,040 Speaker 2: That's great. Trust the people that you work with, right. 396 00:22:57,000 --> 00:23:00,000 Speaker 1: Yes, it doesn't hurt that I work with truly brilliant 397 00:23:00,080 --> 00:23:04,400 Speaker 1: people who constantly amaze me. So that definitely helps well. 398 00:23:04,440 --> 00:23:08,080 Speaker 1: And finally, this show is called The Restless Ones. What 399 00:23:08,119 --> 00:23:10,359 Speaker 1: does the term restless one mean to you? 400 00:23:11,080 --> 00:23:13,439 Speaker 2: To me? What jump to mind right away when I 401 00:23:13,440 --> 00:23:15,240 Speaker 2: heard the title? And I love the title, by the way, 402 00:23:15,800 --> 00:23:19,080 Speaker 2: is someone who's not satisfied? How do you continue to 403 00:23:19,160 --> 00:23:23,080 Speaker 2: be inquisitive? How do you continue to look for new 404 00:23:23,119 --> 00:23:27,399 Speaker 2: ways to better yourself or better the organization? How do 405 00:23:27,480 --> 00:23:30,800 Speaker 2: you look for ways to solve things that they have 406 00:23:30,920 --> 00:23:33,960 Speaker 2: been solved before? So I love that whole idea of 407 00:23:34,560 --> 00:23:37,520 Speaker 2: how do you not just settle? And that's the fun part. 408 00:23:37,520 --> 00:23:39,360 Speaker 2: That's why I love technology because it is the most 409 00:23:39,440 --> 00:23:42,200 Speaker 2: dynamic field out there. Maybe I'm a little biased because 410 00:23:42,240 --> 00:23:44,840 Speaker 2: it's the space I'm in, but I think, you know, 411 00:23:44,920 --> 00:23:47,560 Speaker 2: having this as a title for this space couldn't be 412 00:23:47,640 --> 00:23:48,160 Speaker 2: more perfect. 413 00:23:48,880 --> 00:23:52,280 Speaker 1: Mike, thank you so much for joining The Restless Ones. 414 00:23:52,400 --> 00:23:55,679 Speaker 1: It has been a real pleasure to have this conversation 415 00:23:56,040 --> 00:23:57,720 Speaker 1: and I really appreciate your time. 416 00:23:58,000 --> 00:24:00,800 Speaker 2: Yeah, thanks, Jonathan, you a fantastic job and you made 417 00:24:00,840 --> 00:24:01,800 Speaker 2: it easy, that's for sure. 418 00:24:07,240 --> 00:24:09,840 Speaker 1: Thanks again to Mike one Drash of Avontor for joining 419 00:24:09,840 --> 00:24:13,600 Speaker 1: the show. I think Mike really brought into perspective exactly 420 00:24:13,640 --> 00:24:17,320 Speaker 1: how crucial data is for the modern company. Data is 421 00:24:17,359 --> 00:24:19,800 Speaker 1: why can help you identify an issue before it becomes 422 00:24:19,800 --> 00:24:22,440 Speaker 1: a problem. It's what makes you aware of problems in 423 00:24:22,480 --> 00:24:24,400 Speaker 1: the first place and gives you a foothold for finding 424 00:24:24,440 --> 00:24:28,080 Speaker 1: a solution. And it's what helps you anticipate what comes 425 00:24:28,119 --> 00:24:31,240 Speaker 1: next before everyone else does, giving you the opportunity to 426 00:24:31,280 --> 00:24:34,280 Speaker 1: capitalize on it. And I know I say this a lot, 427 00:24:34,359 --> 00:24:39,000 Speaker 1: but it really is true. Connectivity is what enables organizations 428 00:24:39,000 --> 00:24:42,440 Speaker 1: to take advantage of that data. It's how we shepherd 429 00:24:42,560 --> 00:24:47,040 Speaker 1: information from the point of collection to analysis to innovating 430 00:24:47,040 --> 00:24:51,560 Speaker 1: solutions and new processes. With the era of untethered connectivity, 431 00:24:51,640 --> 00:24:54,760 Speaker 1: we're no longer constrained by cables. We can implement that 432 00:24:54,760 --> 00:24:59,439 Speaker 1: connectivity where it's needed, either temporarily or permanently, and the 433 00:24:59,480 --> 00:25:07,480 Speaker 1: benefits we see can be transformative. Again, thanks to Mike 434 00:25:07,520 --> 00:25:10,120 Speaker 1: for joining the program, and to all of you out there, 435 00:25:10,160 --> 00:25:12,919 Speaker 1: thank you for listening. We'll be having more conversations with 436 00:25:12,960 --> 00:25:15,679 Speaker 1: the leaders at the intersection of tech and business, so 437 00:25:15,880 --> 00:25:18,119 Speaker 1: be sure to come back for those and take some 438 00:25:18,200 --> 00:25:21,280 Speaker 1: time to look over our back catalog of interviews. Until 439 00:25:21,320 --> 00:25:23,440 Speaker 1: next time, I'm Jonathan Strickland.