Leading with Empathy, Digital Insight & Guiding Principles | DisrupTV Ep. 182

On DisrupTV Episode 182, hosts R “Ray” Wang and Vala Afshar engage with three influential thought leaders:

  • Colleen Bérube – Chief Information Officer at Zendesk, leading with digital empathy and customer-first innovation.
  • Jon Reed – Co-founder of Diginomica, offering deep insights into enterprise technology, transformation, and digital strategy.
  • Dr. Mandeep Rai – Broadcast journalist, speaker, and author of The Values Compass, emphasizing values-driven leadership in complex environments.

Together, they explore how empathy in leadership, digital innovation, and guiding values shape next-generation customer experience and organizational resilience.

Key Takeaways

1. Empathy as a CIO Imperative – Colleen Bérube

Prioritizing digital empathy shifts technology leadership from systems-first to people-centric.

Driving modern CX transformation requires aligning strategy with genuine user insight.

2. Insights on Digital Transformation – Jon Reed

Understanding the changing enterprise tech landscape is critical to staying ahead.

Digital transformation isn't only about tools—it’s about evolving how decisions are guided by data and purpose.

3. The Power of Values in Leadership – Dr. Mandeep Rai

Values-based leadership (guided by the "Values Compass") provides clarity amid uncertainty.

Leaders anchored in purpose can navigate disruption with greater trust and impact.

Why It Matters

This episode highlights a powerful intersection: technological innovation meets human-centric leadership. Empathy, digital insight, and principled leadership become the bedrock of exceptional customer experiences, culture, and adaptability in fast-evolving markets.

Final Thoughts

Colleen Bérube models leadership where empathy and digital innovation reinforce customer trust.

Jon Reed underscores that understanding enterprise tech's evolution is pivotal to transformation.

Dr. Mandeep Rai champions values-driven leadership as the guiding force in times of complexity.

Together, they offer a blueprint for impactful leadership—one where empathy, sanity through technology, and values drive organizations forward in a truly human-centered way.

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Business Research Themes

Future of Work, Marketing Transformation, New C-Suite, Next-Generation Customer Experience, Tech Optimization

Roles

Chief Customer Officer, Chief Digital Officer, Chief Executive Officer, Chief Information Officer, Chief Marketing Officer, Chief People Officer