The Operations Room: A Podcast for COO’s

47. What are the priorities for COO's in 2024? Part 2

The Operations Room: A Podcast for COO’s

Show Notes

In this episode we discuss: The Future COO in Tech Companies. We are joined by Tony Olvet and Andrea Siviero from IDC. We chat about the following: How do COOs navigate the evolving landscape of digital transformation while ensuring organisational stability? What are the key priorities for COOs in 2024, and how do they drive strategic thinking beyond technology? What role do COOs play as the connective tissue of organisations, orchestrating digital initiatives and driving innovation? How can COOs transition from being protectors of the organisation to digital disruptors, driving new revenue models and ESG initiatives? What skills are essential for CEOs and COOs to thrive in today's digital age, and how do they communicate the future state of the organisation effectively?

References: https://ca.linkedin.com/in/tonyolvet https://it.linkedin.com/in/sivieroand

Biography: Tony Olvet, Group Vice President at IDC, leads global research on the intersection of business transformation and digital investments. With extensive experience advising organizations worldwide, Tony provides fact-based insights to inform technology strategy and digital business decisions. A sought-after speaker, he delivers keynote presentations at conferences and virtual events. Based in Toronto, Canada, Tony holds degrees from the University of Waterloo and the University of Toronto. Andrea Siviero leads IDC's European Digital Business and Future of Work Research group, providing insights to drive purposeful technology adoption. He also co-leads IDC's Worldwide MacroTech Research program, analyzing the impact of key macroeconomic factors on the digital landscape. With extensive experience in strategy and go-to-market projects, Andrea advises IT players on building forward-looking digital strategies. He holds a joint PhD in mathematics and is fluent in English, French, and Italian. To learn more about Beth and Brandon or to find out about sponsorship opportunities click here. Summary: Cricket and personal life, including death and ex-fiance. 0:00 Bethany shares her struggles with grief after an unexpected death of a teenager, while Brandon listens and offers support. Bethany and Brandon discuss their past relationship and reasons for reconnecting. Career changes, life lessons, and tech CEO priorities. 3:08 Bethany and Brandon M discuss their experiences working with Tony Elvet at IDC. Brandon M reflects on his decision to leave London and return to Toronto, and how it impacted his career. Brandon M shared his experiences as a tech CEO with a research report, discussing new priorities and future orientation. Bethany asked Brandon about his insights on CEO priorities, which were included in the report, with little fundamental change observed. CEO role, digital transformation, and AI adoption in businesses. 7:13 Brandon M: CEO role in 2024: partnering with finance leaders, making investment bets. Bethany: High performance culture: how to make it happen, translate into business. Brandon M: Digital transformation is not always transformative, but AI is a real transformation for all companies. Bethany: AI is the top priority for businesses in the next 5 years, but digital transformation has been on agendas for years without being transformative. CEO qualities and skills, with a focus on storytelling and operational abilities. 12:25 Bethany shares her thoughts on the qualities of a successful CEO, mentioning the importance of both vision and execution. Bethany and Brandon discuss the contrasting views on the path to becoming a CEO, with some arguing that it's more common for CEOs to come from within the company. Bethany and Brandon discuss the importance of storytelling in business, with Brandon highlighting the founder's ability to communicate the company's vision and mission in a compelling way. Brandon recognizes his own limitations in storytelling and acknowledges that there's a time and place for different types of leaders, including those with strong communi

More from The Operations Room: A Podcast for COO’s

Mar 19, 2026

In this episode we discuss: AI Native Ops, How Brex Rebuilt Operations. We are joined by Camilla Matias, COO at Brex. Love The Operations Room? Please support us by rating and reviewing it here. We chat about the following: What actually breaks first when a company scales: people, process, or structure—and how do you know? How do you build operational rigour without killing speed and culture in a fast-growing business? What does “good onboarding” really look like beyond just paperwork and checklists? When tools or systems fail—how do you know if it’s the software or your implementation? What’s the difference between building processes for today vs. building systems that scale for the next 12–24 months?

Mar 12, 2026

In this episode we discuss: Puzzle setting, not goal setting. We are joined by Radhika Dutt, Author, Speaker, Consultant. Love The Operations Room? Please support us by rating and reviewing it here. We chat about the following with Radhika Dutt: What if traditional goal setting is actually limiting innovation rather than driving it? How might teams think differently if they framed challenges as “puzzles” instead of targets to hit? Are OKRs pushing organisations toward short-term optimisation instead of real problem-solving? How can leaders create space for curiosity and exploration in environments obsessed with metrics? What would change inside your company if teams focused on solving the right problem rather than just hitting the next KPI?

Mar 5, 2026

In this episode we discuss: The BizzOps Anti-Playbook. We are joined by Vessela Clewley, Strategy & Biz Ops Executive. Love The Operations Room? Please support us by rating and reviewing it here. We chat about the following with Vessela Clewley: What does it really take to step into leadership for the first time — and why do so many people underestimate the shift? How do you build confidence as a leader when you don’t yet feel “ready”? What’s the difference between managing tasks and truly leading people? How can organisations better support first-time managers before they burn out? What unspoken pressures do women in leadership roles carry — and how can we address them more openly?

Feb 26, 2026

In this episode we discuss: Collaborative AI for revenue teams. We are joined by Mylo Portas, CEO of Choras. Love The Operations Room? Please support us by rating and reviewing it here. We chat about the following with Donna McCurley: What actually makes a podcast commercially sustainable — beyond downloads and vanity metrics? How do you build creative systems that scale without killing originality? What does it really take to grow an independent podcast network in today’s crowded market? Where do most founders misunderstand the operational complexity of media businesses? Is podcasting still early… or are we already in the consolidation phase?

Feb 19, 2026

In this episode we discuss: How to really use AI in your GTM team. We are joined by Donna McCurley, Creator of the AI Sales Operating System™ (AiSOS). Love The Operations Room? Please support us by rating and reviewing it here. We chat about the following with Donna McCurley: Who should actually “own” AI inside your GTM function — and what happens if nobody does? What does real AI governance look like in practice — beyond policies and buzzwords? Are AI agents creating hidden shadow systems inside your organisation? Why are most AI rollouts in sales failing to drive measurable revenue impact? How do you move from AI experimentation to a true AI sales operating system?

See all episodes →