In this insightful episode of HMG Executive Leadership Spotlight, Hunter Muller, founder and CEO of HMG Strategy, interviews Jay Ferro, EVP, Chief Information Technology and Product Officer at Clario. Jay reflects on his evolving role at Clario, where he started as CIO in early 2021 and subsequently took on the CTO and CPO roles. His remit now spans all of technology, AI, R&D, product, marketing, and corporate communications. He acknowledges the crucial support from his team and CEO, Chris Ficker, highlighting how the leadership and collaborative culture at Clario have enabled his role expansion.

Jay shares his thoughts on managing the expansive responsibilities that come with his role. He emphasizes the importance of hiring and retaining top talent, delegating effectively, and trusting his team. For him, building a high-performing team is the key to managing the pressure of overseeing diverse functions. He advises leaders to avoid micromanagement and instead focus on finding the right balance between leading and letting go.

A significant part of the discussion revolves around leadership and the importance of aligning with the CEO, the C-suite, and the board. Jay emphasizes the value of clear communication, setting a vision, and showing incremental value to maintain strong relationships with the board and other key stakeholders. He credits his success to the supportive leadership at Clario and the strong, trust-based relationships he has cultivated within the organization.

Jay also delves into the impact of generative AI (Gen AI) on Clario’s operations. Clario started in the AI business in 2018 and has been leaning heavily into Gen AI. Jay is excited about how Gen AI can augment the capabilities of Clario’s staff, improve efficiencies, and empower customers without compromising the human element. He stresses that Clario has always prioritized security, privacy, and regulatory compliance in its AI strategy. This careful approach has allowed the company to move quickly and responsibly in adopting AI technologies.

Economically, Jay notes that Clario is seeing significant benefits from AI in terms of accuracy, speed, and quality, which translates into economic advantages for both the company and its customers. He believes that empowering people to handle higher-level tasks by automating lower-level ones is key to driving these improvements.

As the conversation winds down, Jay offers advice on career development and networking. He advocates for building a personal brand through consistent delivery, execution, and relationship-building over time. He shares a personal anecdote about how his visibility and reputation in previous roles led to his current position at Clario.

Finally, Jay reflects on his long-standing partnership with HMG Strategy, praising its powerful network and the opportunities it has provided him. He encourages others to get involved with HMG, noting that sharing knowledge and engaging with the community will yield substantial benefits in return.

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