In this episode of the Factory Fireside podcast, Peter Inge sits down with Nicola Dorling to explore how the evolving landscape of data, AI, and agentic technologies is reshaping the role of technology leaders. Together, they unpack what the future CIO might look like in an era where AI agents are no longer hypothetical but embedded across the enterprise. Nicola shares her perspective on how leaders can adapt to these shifts, balancing governance, people, and innovation, while ensuring organisations extract real business value rather than becoming bogged down in experimentation.

The conversation ranges from strategic leadership to practical execution, offering candid insights into where companies often stumble and how to avoid the pitfalls of adopting emerging technologies too narrowly. With Nicola’s extensive experience and Peter’s focus on building scalable AI-driven models of delivery, the dialogue shines a light on the intersection of strategy, capability, and operating models. This episode is an essential listen for executives and practitioners navigating the fast-moving world of data and AI, seeking clarity on how to position themselves and their organisations for long-term success.