Disruptive Innovators: Champions of Digital Business - CIO & IT Leader Interviews, Digital Transformation, Digital Innovation

Translating Technology Into Business Value with Brad Sexton of Terrible's

Disruptive Innovators: Champions of Digital Business - CIO & IT Leader Interviews, Digital Transformation, Digital Innovation

Show Notes

A technologist who embraces business leadership, prioritizes humility over ego and learns to truly let go can drive lasting transformation.

Brad Sexton, Chief Information Officer of Terrible's, joins David Wright to talk about leadership, innovation and the realities of driving digital transformation in a diverse, fast-paced organization. Brad shares lessons learned from a career spanning government, hospitality and retail, offering practical insights on team empowerment and the importance of actionable data. The discussion covers how Terrible's deliberately different approach fuels growth, the challenges of integrating legacy systems and the value of learning from every member of the organization.

Key Takeaways:

(03:30) Listen to everyone and let good ideas lead. (13:42) Empathy and humility strengthen leadership effectiveness. (20:05) Leaders must learn to delegate and release control. (27:16) Broadening perspectives helps drive better decision-making. (29:59) Communication between technical and business teams is essential. (33:16) Timeless leadership principles remain highly relevant. (38:30) Leading innovation requires adaptability across business areas. (45:17) Data must be actionable to be useful. (53:04) Patience is a critical part of long-term success.

Resources Mentioned:

Brad Sexton https://www.linkedin.com/in/bradsexton1/

Terrible's | Link https://www.linkedin.com/company/terribles/

Terrible’s | Website http://www.terribles.com

Colin Powell’s 13 Rules of Leadership https://www.score.org/greaterphoenix/resource/blog-post/a-salute-colin-powells-13-rules-leadership

Thanks for listening to the “Disruptive Innovators” podcast. If you enjoyed this episode, hit the subscribe button and never miss another insightful conversation. And be sure to leave a review to help get the word out about the Champions of Digital Business.

#DisruptiveInnovation #Innovation #DisruptiveTech #DigitalBusiness

More from Disruptive Innovators: Champions of Digital Business - CIO & IT Leader Interviews, Digital Transformation, Digital Innovation

Oct 11, 2026

What does it take for new technology to stick inside a people-first business? David Wright speaks with Ankur Anand, Group CIO and Member of the Executive Council of Harvey Nash, about framing AI around real business problems and bringing people into every decision.

Sep 27, 2026

Luxury brands once sold themselves on product alone. Today, brand experience is the differentiator, and Chad Anderson, Head of Customer Care and Roadside Operations at Mercedes-Benz USA, sits at the center of that shift, turning service calls, dealership visits and customer data into a single view of loyalty.

Sep 13, 2026

Most patient experience data never becomes learning. It gets collected, filed, and forgotten, instead of turned into the improvement it was meant to drive. Claire Marshall, Founder of Improving Experiences Ltd, spent three decades inside the NHS closing that gap, and argues most organizations already have everything they need. They just aren't using it.

Aug 31, 2026

An executive carries a reputation built on credentials and results. David Wright talks with Tricia Gray, Chief Executive Officer of Aditus Partners, about what leadership actually requires, and turning personal loss into a legacy of storytelling and connection.

Aug 23, 2026

Boyden has spent decades building trust as the world's oldest executive search firm. Gary Pikul, its CTO, joins David Wright to break down the AI threat now testing that trust. He unpacks AI-driven impersonation scams in recruiting and the career risks that shaped his path to the C-suite. From a bike-riding analogy to a career-defining early mistake, Gary makes the case for why judgment, not just technology, is what will separate the firms that survive this shift from the ones that don't.

See all episodes →