In this episode of Acceleration Economy Growth Swarm, John Siefert, Bob Evans, Tony Uphoff, and Scott Vaughan discuss key highlights and takeaways from the Cloud Wars Expo event.
Highlights
00:11 — John introduces the panel and previews the Cloud Wars Expo on-demand pass.
02:22 — Bob praises attendees, presenters, and partners for bringing enthusiasm to the Cloud Wars Expo debut event. Cloud is about more than technology; it’s a mindset centered around growth and discovering new possibilities for cloud customers.
04:06 — John cites the Fireside chat between Bob and Cirque du Soleil Vice President of Information Technology Philippe Lalumiere as one of his favorite live sessions. The entertainment franchise’s transformation in the wake of Covid-19 included several behind-the-scenes factors people tend not to think about, including sophisticated manufacturing, supply chain management, retail, HR, and e-commerce.
05:41 — Cirque du Soleil used the cloud to transition its business model from getting the most out of 2-3 hours a night with its customers to year-round personalized interactions.
06:55 — Scott discusses the ways in which cloud technology builds confidence and elicits necessary changes to business models in industries you wouldn’t expect, citing both Cirque du Soleil and Goya Foods as prime examples.
08:50 — John examines Goya Foods’ fireside chat and the universal application of the lessons Goya has learned in recent years as the business has worked to optimize its supply chain.
09:37 — At its core, Cloud Wars Expo is a business growth conference. Tony references the keynote talk on sustainability by Microsoft‘s Rosie Mastrandrea, as well as several sessions on data-driven culture as examples of the expo’s focus on practical, real-world solutions.
12:37 — Bob’s discussion with Oracle‘s Mike Sicilia outlined how the cloud is primed to reimagine entire industries and the healthcare category in particular.
13:42 — Doctors spending twice as much on paperwork as they do with patients is a problem in need of a cloud-based solution. At Cloud Wars Expo, Sicilia famously stated that resolving this issue was Oracle’s “moral obligation,” illustrating a radical new mindset among cloud vendors.
15:23 — Tony reviews keynote remarks from IBM‘s Howard Boville on brand awareness and his cautious advice not to find yourself “locked out of innovation.”
18:30 — Bob expands on the benefits of multi-cloud businesses and staying open to industry-specific solutions from different vendors.
20:21 — Scott talks about the importance of topics like brand and culture; two big concepts requiring strong leadership to be successful.
23:00 — The expo’s final main stage event featuring Chris Lochhead and Christian Anschuetz included the bold statement that the S&P 500 will either adapt to the rising era of digital natives or die. John recounts his experience leaving the final session of Cloud Wars Expo’s keynote programming.
24:55 — Bob emphasizes responding to evolving business landscapes while also recognizing eternal principles for success, including authentic leadership.
