In this episode of Tech Legacies Podcast, Ashish Barve, Tech Executive at a variety of Fortune 500 companies including, McKesson, Ecolab, Honeywell and P&G, shares hard-won insights on the intersection of technology, business value, and leadership. From demand forecasting to AI expectations, Ashish pulls back the curtain on what it really takes to drive digital transformation across global organizations.

You’ll hear about:

-The real-world impact of improving forecasting by just 5%

-Why supply chain success is about people, not just products

-How AI can both empower and frustrate if expectations aren't aligned

-The importance of being “bilingual” in both business and technology

-What it means to build your personal brand as a tech leader

-Mentorship, peer support, and building trust across every level

If you're a tech leader navigating complexity, or building a team that does, this conversation is packed with lessons you don’t want to miss.

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Connect with Fanny Dunagan on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/fannydunagan/

Connect with Ashish Barve on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashishbarve/

Want to build your authority and brand as a tech leader? Subscribe to our newsletter for updates, a free branding guide and 1-hour training for tech professionals: https://techlegacies.ck.page/newsletter

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Timestamps:

00:00 – From the Shop Floor to CIO: Ashish Barve’s Global Tech Journey

01:03 – Starting on the Manufacturing Shop Floor and Entering IT

02:26 – Building Analytics Organizations at Honeywell and Ecolab

03:29 – Leading Digital Supply Chain at a Fortune 10 Company (McKesson)

04:42 – Why CIOs Must Be “Bilingual” in Business and Technology

05:55 – IT as a Value Driver: Revenue, Cost, and Capital Efficiency

06:10 – Why IT Has Become a Strategic Business Partner

07:12 – Common Business Challenges Across Sales, Finance, and Supply Chain

08:11 – The #1 Supply Chain Problem: Demand Forecasting and Demand Variability

09:30 – Why Productivity Gains Matter Most on the Shop Floor

10:05 – From Dashboards to Insights: The Evolution of Analytics Teams

11:16 – How...

What makes a university education relevant in a world where you can Google anything?

In this segment of Tech Legacies podcast, Gaurav Shekhar, Associate Dean at UT Dallas, explains the irreplaceable role of universities: not just to teach skills, but to develop independent thinkers who can solve tomorrow’s problems, even ones we haven’t even defined yet.

He also shares:

• Why corporate training and bootcamps can’t replace the big-picture thinking cultivated in universities
• How academic-industry partnerships with companies like Tableau and Alteryx build real-world readiness
• The power of gamified competitions to build confidence, teamwork, and industry-level problem-solving skills

Whether you're a student, educator, or lifelong learner, this conversation will change how you think about higher education and how it prepares future tech leaders.

What does it mean to teach and learn in an AI-first world?

In this thoughtful exchange, Gaurav Shekhar, Associate Dean at UT Dallas, explores how artificial intelligence is reshaping higher education, the future of work, and our understanding of what only humans can do. From AI’s historical roots to its sudden leap into mass adoption, he shares why we’re now in the “golden age of AI” and why embracing it responsibly is essential.

Topics include:

Why AI isn’t new… but it is newly accessible

How educators are rethinking AI use across different types of courses

The meaning of “responsible AI” in legal, social, and ethical terms

How AI is helping us rediscover the value of human connection

Watch this clip to hear how Gaurav is preparing students for a future shaped by AI but still powered by humanity.

What happens when a curious kid in New Delhi never puts his hand down?

Gaurav Shekhar, Associate Dean at UT Dallas, reflects on how growing up in India shaped his leadership style, his love of experimentation, and his passion for bridging academia with industry. In this episode of Tech Legacies Podcast, Gaurav shares personal stories of fearless curiosity, supportive teachers, and why he now walks into meetings without a pitch deck… and leaves with a mission.

You’ll hear:

• Why childhood encouragement matters more than we realize
• How to start powerful conversations with just one question
• The value of showing up without a script and leading with purpose

What if college is preparing you for something deeper than just technical skills?

In our interview series Tech Leaders Untold, Fanny Dunagan sits down with Gaurav Shekhar, Associate Dean at the University of Texas at Dallas. He shares what higher education really teaches and why confidence, independent thinking, and real-world connections matter more now than ever.

We dive into:

✅ The “confidence gap” no one talks about in school

✅ How universities can stay relevant in the age of AI

✅ The power of mentorship and bridging academia with industry

📌 Whether you're a student, mid-career professional, or industry leader, this episode will challenge your assumptions about education, talent, and the future of work.

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Connect with Fanny Dunagan on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/fannydunagan/

Connect with Gaurav Shekhar on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/gauravshekhar/

Want to build your authority and brand as a tech leader? Subscribe to our newsletter for updates, a free branding guide and 1-hour training for tech professionals: https://techlegacies.ck.page/newsletter

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What if education worked like your smartphone?

In this segment from Tech Leaders Untold, former 7-Eleven and Blockbuster CEO Jim Keyes lays out a bold, scalable plan to reimagine American education: an Education Operating System (EOS).

Just like Apple’s iOS unlocked a world of innovation, Jim argues that EOS could create universal access to high-quality learning tools, individualized education for every student, and real-time connections between students, teachers, and edtech providers; all while ensuring privacy, security, and interoperability.

You’ll hear:

• Why 13,000 different school systems create a broken, fragmented experience
• How a national EOS could level the playing field for every learner and educator
• What real personalized learning looks like in an AI-enabled classroom
• How EOS could bridge the digital divide and increase third-grade literacy nationwide
• Why Jim believes we need a modern-day JFK-style moonshot to make this happen

If you care about the future of education, AI in the classroom, or building a more equitable system for all, this conversation will inspire you.

Think 7-Eleven is just cheap snacks and Slurpees? Think again.

In this segment of Tech Legacies podcast, former 7-Eleven and Blockbuster CEO, Jim Keyes shares how 7-Eleven Japan quietly became one of the world’s most advanced retail operations… decades before data-driven retail became trendy.

Jim explains how, even in the 1990s, 7-Eleven Japan was using real-time data and logistics to deliver fresh food multiple times a day, manage precise inventory forecasts, and empower store managers to adapt based on real customer insights, not just algorithms.

More than just a story about innovation, it’s a lesson in how technology should enhance, not replace, human intelligence.

You’ll learn:

• How 7-Eleven Japan used data warehousing before it was cool
• Why logistics + local insight = retail magic
• What U.S. convenience stores still get wrong
• Why the future of retail blends AI with the eyes and ears of the people on the ground

If you're into retail innovation, leadership, or tech culture in Japan, this story will surprise and inspire you.

Everyone thinks Netflix killed Blockbuster. But former CEO Jim Keyes says the real story is very different.

In this TECH BYTE clip from Tech Leaders Untold, Jim reveals what really happened behind the scenes: how Blockbuster was actually ahead of its time in streaming, why a potential deal with Enron could have changed entertainment forever, and why Netflix’s $50 million offer wasn’t the sure bet history makes it out to be.

He also shares the lost story of Blockbuster's Total Access, a hybrid DVD-by-mail and in-store exchange model that beat Netflix’s convenience long before streaming took off.

What went wrong? Bandwidth. Timing. And the 2008 financial collapse that crushed the company’s transformation just as it began.

If you think you know the Blockbuster story, think again.

You’ll learn:

• Why Blockbuster’s tech strategy was years ahead of competitors
• The untold role of Enron and Movielink in early streaming
• Why Netflix wasn’t the obvious winner in 2000
• How timing and perception shaped one of the biggest myths in business