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Innovation and the Digital EnterpriseAuthor: DragonSpears
What does it take to keep your organization growing? Innovation and the Digital Enterprise is a podcast dedicated to providing insights and resources to executives and entrepreneurs focused on 10x growth for themselves and the organizations they lead. We interview leaders from early-stage start-ups to billion-dollar enterprises who have boots on the ground experience to distill their lessons from their victories and their failures. Learn how these leaders are organizing their teams, establishing a growth-minded culture, and leveraging new technologies such as DevOps and Cloud. Co-hosts Patrick Emmons of DragonSpears, and Shelli Nelson of Madison Industries, chat with guests such as Gene Kim of the DevOps Enterprise Summit, Mik Kersten of TaskTop, and Thomas South of Northern Trust, to uncover tips, tools, and insights gleaned from spearheading innovation initiatives. Listen Notes Language: en Genres: Business, Management, Technology Contact email: Get it Feed URL: Get it iTunes ID: Get it Trailer: |
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Communication and Culture Drive Business Outcomes with Sean McCormack
Episode 132
Thursday, 4 September, 2025
In this episode of Innovation and the Digital Enterprise, Patrick Emmons and Shelli Nelson welcome Sean McCormack, Chief Innovation Officer at First Student. They discuss his career that spans military intelligence, startups, global enterprises, and now tech-focused leadership in student transportation. Sean shares his unexpected entry into technology through the development of early online language learning systems in the military which later led to diverse experiences across industries.Today, at First Student, Sean has spearheaded digital transformation initiatives to modernize student transportation. He discusses the complexities of managing a large fleet, the challenges of tech integration, and highlights the use of AI in supporting recruiting and enhancing safety.Sean unpacks his leadership philosophy, emphasizing the need to understand the day-to-day, improve communication, and build strong, delivery-focused teams. He shares valuable lessons on driving innovation, managing change, and leading with empathy and effectiveness.(00:00) Introduction(01:46) Sean McCormack’s Career Journey(03:49) Impactful Experiences and Lessons Learned(05:58) Innovating at Harley Davidson(09:26) Transforming First Student with Technology(16:11) Implementing AI at First Student(22:40) Leadership and Communication Insights(28:43) Advice for Future Technologists and Leaders(32:45) Conclusion and Final ThoughtsSean McCormack is the Chief Innovation Officer at First Student, the largest provider of student transportation services in North America. Previously, he’s held leadership positions at Grainger, Harley-Davidson and ManpowerGroup. He earned his BA at the University of Texas at Austin, and his Executive MBA at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.If you'd like to receive new episodes as they're published, please subscribe to Innovation and the Digital Enterprise in Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. If you enjoyed this episode, please consider leaving a review in Apple Podcasts. It really helps others find the show.Podcast episode production by Dante32.
