Episode 74: Sean Maraj on AI Driven Marketing, Technical Leadership, and Building a Career Through Experimentation

Episode 74: Sean Maraj on AI Driven Marketing, Technical Leadership, and Building a Career Through Experimentation

In this episode of Next in Line, Karina Jimenez sits down with Sean Maraj, Chief Marketing Officer and technology-driven business leader, for a conversation on the changing world of marketing, AI, leadership, and career growth. Sean shares how his nontraditional path took him from engineering and IT into sales, marketing, executive leadership, and AI strategy. He breaks down why modern marketing leaders need to understand technology, how AI is reshaping teams and workflows, and why leaders must stay curious, keep experimenting, and empower their people with the right tools. The conversation also explores stepping away from a traditional CMO role, building more freedom and impact through consulting, the importance of personal brand, and how sales, marketing, product, and IT teams can work better together instead of operating in silos. Sean also offers advice for the next generation entering the workforce, encouraging them to find what makes them happy, build real skills, seek mentorship, network intentionally, and create value even before the perfect opportunity appears.

Episode 73: Darryl Maraj, Chief Strategy Officer at Workato, on AI Strategy, Business Transformation and Creating Capacity for Growth

In Episode 73 of Next In Line, Cesar Jimenez sits down with Darryl Maraj, Chief Strategy Officer at Workato, for a powerful conversation about technology leadership, business strategy, AI adoption and the importance of bringing people along through transformation. Darryl shares his journey from studying marketing and finance to building a career in technology, leading global technology initiatives and ultimately becoming Chief Strategy Officer at Workato. He explains why technology strategy must be directly connected to business strategy and how leaders can translate complex technical challenges into clear business outcomes. Throughout the episode, Darryl breaks down his “run, grow and transform” framework, shares a real-world example of using generative AI to process tens of thousands of aviation sales emails and explains how companies can move beyond AI experimentation toward scalable, production-ready business value. Cesar and Darryl also discuss the difference between management and leadership, treating trust as currency, creating safe environments for failure, mentoring the next generation and using AI as a thought partner rather than viewing it solely as a replacement for human talent. This episode is filled with practical lessons for aspiring technology professionals, first-time CIOs, entrepreneurs and leaders working to navigate the rapidly changing AI landscape.

Episode 72: Robyn Doughtie, CIO: Leading Government Technology, Developing Future Talent, and Driving Innovation with Purpose

In this episode of Next In Line, Cesar Jimenez sits down with Robyn Doughtie, an award-winning CIO and technology leader responsible for supporting a complex government organization serving nearly one million residents. Robyn shares her journey from growing up in a small Oklahoma town and discovering an early interest in computers to beginning her career as a junior programmer and eventually becoming a CIO. She opens up about the unexpected timing of her leadership opportunity, interviewing for the role shortly after maternity leave, and the lessons she learned while navigating one of the most memorable promotion processes ever shared on the podcast. The conversation explores the scale and complexity of government technology, including cybersecurity, infrastructure, digital public services, emergency response, customer experience, and the responsibility of managing taxpayer-funded innovation. Robyn also explains how she structures her leadership team, balances modernization with risk, and approaches emerging AI opportunities while establishing responsible guardrails for its use. A major focus of the episode is Robyn’s commitment to developing the next generation of technology professionals. Each summer, her organization welcomes more than 30 interns who gain hands-on experience across cybersecurity, application development, networking, GIS, project management, desktop support, and other critical areas of IT. Robyn and Cesar also discuss the importance of curiosity, consistency, integrity, mentorship, networking, and the intangible qualities that separate strong professionals from great leaders.

Episode 71: Sumana Nallapati on Human-Led AI, Public Sector Innovation, and Leading as a CAIO, CDO, and Technologist with a Nuclear Physics Mind

Episode 71 of Next In Line features Suman Nallapati , Chief Artificial Intelligence and Information Officer for the City and County of Denver. Sumana shares her journey from nuclear physics and ERP programming to becoming one of the leading voices in public sector technology and AI. She and Cesar dive into what responsible AI adoption really looks like, why data and governance matter, how Denver is using AI to improve resident services, and why leaders must balance innovation with ethics, accountability, and human impact. This conversation also explores the evolving role of the CIO, the future of human and AI blended workforces, the importance of starting small with AI pilots, and the mindset young professionals need to build meaningful, stable careers in a rapidly changing world. A powerful episode on leadership, public service, curiosity, hard work, and using technology to create real outcomes for people.

Episode 70: Roderick Harris, Senior Director, Leading Transformation, Managing Change, and Knowing When It’s Time to Move Forward

In this episode of Next In Line, Cesar Jimenez sits down with Roderick Harris, a Senior Director with more than 20 years of experience leading IT transformation and helping complex healthcare organizations move from strategy to execution. Roderick shares his journey from hands-on technology work to project management, governance, change leadership, and enterprise transformation. The conversation explores why change management is often underestimated, how organizations can overcome resistance, and why true transformation requires more than simply introducing new tools or upgrading systems. Cesar and Roderick also discuss the growing impact of AI on healthcare, governance, operating models, and workforce strategy. Roderick explains why AI is not solely an IT issue but an organization-wide challenge that requires literacy, leadership, guardrails, and a focus on the “vital few” priorities that meaningfully move the business forward. Beyond technology, Roderick opens up about leadership, failure, mentorship, executive presence, career growth, and the importance of recognizing when your influence has run its course. His perspective is grounded, honest, and deeply practical, from learning how to fail fast and building trust with teams to confidently stepping into rooms where you belong. This episode is a powerful conversation about transformation from the operator’s seat and a reminder that real leadership is built on empathy, integrity, relationships, and helping others reach the next level.