David Wright is joined by Maruf Haider, Interim Chief Medical Information Officer for Digital and Virtual Health of Carilion Clinic, to discuss what it takes to lead digital health inside complex healthcare systems. Maruf shares how his background as a practicing physician shapes his leadership approach, why technology alone cannot fix systemic issues, and how trust, clarity, and adaptability determine whether digital initiatives succeed at scale.

Key Takeaways:

00:00 Introduction.

02:20 Leadership is where healthcare, technology, and people intersect.​

07:45 Hardest problems are often systemic, not purely clinical decisions.​

10:12 Clinical practice keeps innovation and leadership grounded in reality.​

11:09 Clarity on the problem builds trust and alignment.​

12:48 Authenticity and speaking up early strengthen leadership effectiveness.​

20:56 Transitions clarify identity, focus, and future direction.​

24:55 Parenting insights reframe behavior as communication in leadership.​

31:44 Vision centers on low-friction change and psychological safety.​

36:12 AI’s real differentiator will be trusted systems, not algorithms.

Resources Mentioned:

Maruf Haider

https://www.linkedin.com/in/xmarufhaiderx/

Carilion Clinic | LinkedIn

https://www.linkedin.com/company/carilion-clinic/

Carilion Clinic | Website

https://www.carilionclinic.org

“Good Inside” by Dr. Becky Kennedy

https://www.amazon.com/Good-Inside-Guide-Becoming-Parent/dp/B09PGMSBBN/

“The Creativity Code” by Marcus du Sautoy

https://www.amazon.com/Creativity-Code-Art-Innovation-Age/dp/0674988132

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This week, David Wright is joined by Jason Oliver, Chief Technology Officer of Western University. They explore what it really takes to lead digital transformation in higher education, with a focus on people, culture, trust and authenticity. Jason shares lessons from his global career, his move from the UK to Canada and why effective change management matters more than any single technology decision.

Key Takeaways:

00:00 Introduction.

03:00 Listening more and speaking less becomes a critical leadership skill as organizations scale.

05:41 Technology leaders must read the room and pivot in real time to build alignment and consensus.

07:02 Jason shares his unconventional career path into technology leadership and higher education.

10:50 Taking risks and saying yes to opportunities shapes long-term leadership growth.

13:27 Digital investments must align with business and institutional outcomes rather than IT priorities.

15:40 Change management sits at the core of successful digital transformation efforts.

17:49 CIOs must act as business leaders first, with technology as their portfolio.

20:49 Trust is built through transparency, authenticity and open dialogue, especially when things go off track.

30:53 Empowering teams with digital skills and governance creates stronger collaboration and shared ownership.

Resources Mentioned:

Jason Oliver

https://www.linkedin.com/in/jason-oliver-5682172/

Western University | LinkedIn

https://www.linkedin.com/school/westernuniversity/

Western University | Website

https://www.uwo.ca

Change Fluency by JQ Waller

https://www.changefluency.com

CIO Association of Canada

https://www.ciocan.ca

Thanks for listening to the “Disruptive Innovators” podcast. If you enjoyed this episode, hit the subscribe button and never miss another insightful conversation. And be sure to leave a review to help get the word out about the Champions of Digital Business.

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This week, David Wright is joined by Ryan Olsen, Chief Administrative Officer of Hoag Health System, to discuss what it takes to lead large healthcare organizations through complexity, constraint and change. Ryan shares lessons from turnaround leadership, physician alignment and organizational politics, and explains why trust, incentives and discipline matter more than technology alone. The episode also explores the realistic role of AI in healthcare, the pressures facing health systems today and the personal leadership lessons Ryan learned the hard way.

Key Takeaways:

00:00 Introduction.

04:16 Trust is foundational to driving effective organizational change.

07:00 Listening more than talking dramatically improves negotiations and relationships.

10:32 Strong physician partnerships underpin successful growth and operations.

12:04 Using the Stockdale Paradox to lead through brutal turnaround realities.

14:44 Difficult conversations, done compassionately, unlock meaningful organizational change.

17:48 Humility and self-awareness are essential antidotes to executive ego.

25:56 Hoag’s disciplined OKRs drive quality, growth and accountability.

33:36 AI will support, not replace, high-skill clinicians and surgeons.

36:24 Prioritizing mental and physical health makes you a better leader.

Resources Mentioned:

Ryan Olsen

https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryankolsen/

Hoag Health System | LinkedIn

https://www.linkedin.com/company/hoaghealthsystem/

Hoag Health System | Website

http://www.hoag.org

“Good to Great” by Jim Collins

https://www.jimcollins.com/article_topics/articles/good-to-great.html

“The Hardest Job in the World” by John Dickerson

https://www.amazon.com/Hardest-Job-World-American-Presidency/dp/1984854518

Thanks for listening to the “Disruptive Innovators” podcast. If you enjoyed this episode, hit the subscribe button and never miss another insightful conversation. And be sure to leave a review to help get the word out about the Champions of Digital Business.

#DisruptiveInnovation #DisruptiveTech #DigitalBusiness