The Next Tier

Beyond Belonging: Championing the Next Generation of Women and Leaders in the AI-Driven Workforce

In Episode 2 of The Next Tier, Robert Bouchard sits down with Heather Rocker [https://www.linkedin.com/in/hsrocker/], CEO of Women in Technology (WIT) [https://www.mywit.org/], to explore what it truly means to lead with purpose in today’s rapidly evolving workforce. With a career spanning Amazon’s Alexa AI team, nonprofit executive leadership, and decades of community impact, Heather shares how AI literacy, sponsorship, and intentional leadership are shaping the future of work, especially for women in tech. This conversation goes beyond titles and accolades to unpack the real challenges facing organizations today: losing women at mid-career, misaligned digital-first strategies, poor change adoption, and underutilized talent. Heather explains why nearly 50% of women leave technology roles by age 35, what leaders are getting wrong about AI adoption, and how sponsorship, not mentorship, is the missing lever in building sustainable leadership pipelines. From responsible AI governance and data integrity to curiosity-driven leadership and the power of authentic relationships, this episode delivers practical insight for executives, hiring leaders, and technologists navigating transformation at scale. Heather also shares why visibility matters, how lattice careers outperform ladders, and why clarity of purpose is essential to reaching your “next tier". You won't want to miss this. Subscribe to us on Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/show/1AAo5t1uuRveCkaMd2PVBs?si=fc1625626cba4129], or wherever you get your podcasts.

The Relentless Pursuer, Part 2 | Ft. Jennifer Baker, CIO, Arvest Bank

The conversation continues... and it gets even more honest. In Part 2 of our inaugural episode, Jennifer Baker, CIO at Arvest Bank, and cohosts Betsy Robinson & Robert Bouchard pick up right where they left off, diving deeper into one of the most urgent questions facing organizations today: why are we losing talented women in the middle of their tech careers — and what are we actually going to do about it? Jen doesn't just name the problem. She dissects it. From return-to-office policies and social battery to multi-generational leadership and the difference between public and private recognition, this conversation goes beyond the surface-level talking points and into the real, uncomfortable work of building environments where people, and especially women, actually stay and thrive. They also get into what it means to ask for help the right way, and the one simple sentence that makes you 37% more likely to get it. And yes, it wraps up with walk-up songs, emoji preferences, and a few laughs. Because great leadership conversations don't have to be all business. In this episode: * Why return-to-office mandates may be accelerating the mid-career exodus of women * The introvert's social battery and what it really costs to be "on" all day * How to give recognition that actually lands across five generations of employees * The art of asking for help and why four words change everything * Jen's final piece of advice for anyone trying to reach their own next tier This one is worth sharing, especially if you're an aspiring leader who wants to do better, or a woman in tech who has ever felt like the support just wasn't there. No matter where you are in your journey, Jen's insights can help you reach the next tier of your career.

The Relentless Pursuer, Part 1 | Ft. Jennifer Baker, CIO, Arvest Bank

What does it really take to move to the next tier — in your career, your team, and your organization? In our inaugural episode, cohosts Betsy Robinson and Robert Bouchard sit down with Jennifer Baker, Chief Information Officer at Arvest Bank and board member of Women in Technology, for an honest conversation about leadership, growth, and what it means to show up with intention. Jen has spent her career solving business problems through technology, not the other way around. Under her strategic leadership, top 50 banks have experienced comprehensive transformations, including a $3 billion net new increase in revenue. She's been recognized as one of the top three Women of Impact in AI & Tech by Rotary International, DEI Tech Leader of the Year by the Technology Association of Georgia, and a CIO of the Year finalist for the Orbie Awards. But titles and accolades aren't what this conversation is about. Jen opens up about being a self-described introvert in the C-suite, why over-preparation is her superpower, and the advice from an early mentor that rewired how she thinks about leadership presence. She and Betsy also dig into one of the most urgent and undertalked issues in the industry: the alarming rate at which talented women are leaving the workforce at the mid-career level — before they ever reach the C-suite — and what organizations, leaders, and individuals can do about it right now. In this episode: * Why Jen never set out to be a CIO and what she was actually chasing * The introvert's guide to showing up bigger than your instincts * What a $3B revenue transformation actually looks like from the inside * Why we're losing women in the middle and what it will cost us if we don't act * The elevator metaphor that has stuck with Betsy for years Whether you're early in your career, leading a team, or somewhere in between, this episode will give you something to think about.

Closing The Mid-Career Gap: How You Can Support Women in Tech

Organizations are losing an alarming number of talented women in technology - mostly in the middle tier of leadership.Managers, senior managers, directors, and senior directors — women are stepping away long before they reach the C‑suite, most before age 35. Jennifer Baker, CIO of Arvest Bank, explores why this happens and what leaders can do about it. It’s not a pipeline problem. It’s not a skills gap. It’s not a lack of education. The issue is support — or the lack of it. Drawing on her own relentless pursuit of progress, Jennifer challenges leaders to examine where gaps in support appear, from early education to the day‑to‑day experiences of women moving through career stages. She emphasizes that when women don’t see others rolling up their sleeves beside them, they’re less likely to stay. But when support is intentional, visible, and consistent, it influences every stage of the leadership lifecycle. This conversation is a call to action for anyone who wants to build stronger teams, retain high‑potential talent, and create workplaces where women can lead, thrive, and advance. If you are a leader, a mentor, or an organization committed to real change, check out this trailer for The Next Tier podcast, and subscribe for insights on how great organizations are actually built.

The Next Tier Teaser Trailer

What qualities instantly build trust in any professional environment? For Jennifer Baker, CIO of Arvest Bank, the answer was clear: radical candor and true urgency. Jennifer shares why one of the most mature things a leader or teammate can say is: “I don’t know, but I’ll find out.” She explains how honesty, follow‑through, and accountability create instant credibility, while failing to follow up can damage trust. She also highlights how, especially in the technology space, not everything is urgent… but some things absolutely are. When production outages or customer‑impacting issues occur, urgency and ownership matter. Whether you work in tech, lead teams, or want to improve your professional communication, this clip offers simple but powerful principles that help you stand out and earn trust quickly. Tune into this teaser trailer for The Next Tier. A podcast that throws leadership theory out the window, bringing you candid conversations with executives, founders, and industry leaders about how they build teams, navigate complexity, and make high-stakes hiring and leadership choices. Get ready to reach the next tier!