Building Autonomous Innovation with Data, Human-Centered AI, and Visual Insight | DisrupTV Ep. 189

In DisrupTV Episode 189, hosts R “Ray” Wang and Vala Afshar engage with three thought leaders redefining innovation in technology and storytelling:

  • Julia Bardmesser, SVP and Head of Data, Architecture & Salesforce Development at Voya Financial, on how data platforms enable resilient and scalable operations.
  • William Davidow, author of The Autonomous Revolution, on how autonomous systems will reshape industries and strategic thinking.
  • Heather Willems, founder and visual strategist, on the power of graphic facilitation to distill complex ideas into impactful visuals.

Key Takeaways

  • Data as Innovation Infrastructure: Julia underscores that deep investments in data architecture are not just technical—they fuel agility, insight, and resilience in enterprises.
  • Autonomy as Strategic Imperative: Davidow argues that autonomous technologies—AI, automation, intelligent agents—are not trends, but fundamental models for future operations.
  • Visual Storytelling Drives Clarity: Heather shows how translating strategy into visuals enables alignment, retention, and meaning across teams and stakeholders.

Final Thoughts

Episode 189 reveals that innovation lies at the convergence of technology and clarity. Julia demonstrates that enterprise resilience is built on strong data foundations. Davidow reminds us that autonomy is becoming the de facto architecture of modern systems—not just optional, but transformational. Heather connects both through visuals that make change interpretable and actionable.

Together, their insights form a triad of future-focused strategy: build systems that are smart, data that is foundational, and stories that unite.

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