Re-engineering Institutional Tech — Inclusion, Governance & Sustainable Impact | DisrupTV Ep. 82

In DisrupTV Episode 82, hosts R “Ray” Wang and Vala Afshar talk with:

  • Corey Snow, Senior Business Systems Analyst at Harvard University
  • Raechelle Clemmons, Chief Information Officer at Davidson College
  • Heather Clancy, Editorial Director at GreenBiz Group

The conversation centers on how institutions like universities are adapting to disruptive technologies, the role of diversity, equity & inclusion (DEI), governance and transparency, and how sustainability is becoming a core component in thinking about institutional technology and impact.

Key Takeaways

Institutions Need Tech That Balances Innovation with Responsibility
The episode emphasizes that while institutions (like universities) must adopt new technologies, they need to embed governance, ethics, and inclusive decision-making in how they do so. It’s not just about deploying tools, but about how changes affect stakeholders. 

Leadership & DEI in Institutional Tech Transformations
Raechelle Clemmons’s role highlights the importance of leadership in ensuring that technology transformations don't leave behind underrepresented groups. Inclusion, both in design and deployment, matters greatly in institutional contexts. 

Sustainability & Environmental Context as Part of the Tech Conversation
Heather Clancy brings in the perspective of sustainability: that environmental and social responsibility need to be part of technology planning in institutions—considering impact, not only cost or performance. 

Transparency, Accountability & Long-Term Impacts
There is a clear theme of needing transparency (about how systems are used, data is handled, inclusion is ensured), accountability to communities, and thinking in long horizons (not only about immediate benefits but about how systems scale, evolve, and affect future generations). 

Cross-Institution Sharing & Learning
Institutions can learn from each other: best practices in governance, ways to engage students/staff/community in tech decision making, and methods for measuring both tech performance and social/environmental outcomes.

Final Thoughts

  • Institutional settings (like universities) face a unique challenge: balancing tradition, regulation, and legacy systems with the demand for agility, innovation, inclusion, and sustainability. Success depends on leadership that recognizes and works across these tensions.
  • To navigate the future, institutions must do more than adopt new technology. They need to embed ethical governance, ensure inclusive design & participation, and plan with environmental and social impacts in mind.
  • Change leaders should focus on transparency (in governance, in data, in outcomes), accountability, and cross-institution collaboration to scale what works and avoid reinventing mistakes.
  • Sustainability is no longer “nice to have” in institutional tech; it's increasingly expected by stakeholders—students, faculty, funders, and society. Institutions that lead with responsibility and inclusion will likely build more trust, adapt more resiliently, and deliver more lasting impact.

Related Episodes

 

Business Research Themes

Future of Work, Tech Optimization

Roles

Chief Executive Officer, Chief People Officer, Chief Sustainability Officer