Untold Studios: The First Cloud-Based Creative Studio
In this episode of AWS Executive Insights, Tanuja Randery, VP and Managing Director of EMEA for AWS interviews Darren O'Kelly, CEO of Untold Studios, a next-generation creative powerhouse that has earned BAFTA and Grammy nominations for its groundbreaking work across advertising, music, and film. The conversation explores O'Kelly's journey from traditional VFX production to co-founding an entirely cloud-based creative studio that launched in just six weeks, challenging industry conventions with projects ranging from Super Bowl commercials to Netflix's "The Crown." O'Kelly shares his leadership philosophy of combining "two-thirds experience and one-third naivety," discussing how this approach has enabled Untold Studios to build a culture of excellence that attracts global talent, including major artists like Adele, Billie Eilish, and Oasis. The discussion also delves into the impact of AI and emerging technologies on the creative industry, O'Kelly's commitment to mentorship and diversity, and his vision for the future of storytelling.
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Collective Defense: Securing AI Through Shared Intelligence
Learn how to balance AI innovation with risk management in this episode of AWS Executive Insights, featuring Adam Marré, CISO at Arctic Wolf. Drawing from his unique background spanning everything from the US Army, to video game design at Disney Interactive, to FBI cybercrime investigations, Marré shares his perspective on building next-generation security operations and navigating AI security controls in today's threat landscape. He offers advice for translating security risk into business language, managing third-party risk, and implementing AI-powered security operations without replacing human judgment. Marré also discusses the value of building more diverse security teams through programs like Tech-Moms. This conversation is essential listening for security leaders navigating the intersection of AI innovation, talent development, and enterprise risk management.
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The Disruptor's Playbook: Winning with Agentic AI
Dive into the "AI multiverse" with AWS Executives in Residence Jake Burns and Tom Soderstrom as they explore why some organizations are seeing massive productivity gains with agentic AI while others struggle to see value. Drawing from their extensive enterprise experience, they reveal how treating AI agents like human team members - with clear specifications, iterative feedback, and proper context - can unlock unprecedented productivity gains that far exceed the reported 30% improvements. Burns and Soderstrom share practical insights on creating a culture of experimentation, emphasizing why traditional ROI metrics may hinder innovation and why "return on attention" could be a better early indicator of success. From leveraging multi-agent systems to democratizing AI adoption through "centers of engagement," this episode offers essential guidance for leaders seeking to position their organizations on the right side of AI transformation. Don't miss these actionable strategies for winning in the age of agentic AI!Watch on AWS Executive Insights
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How Startup Culture Transforms Legacy Thinking
In this episode, we’re unpacking the remarkable cultural transformation of Guardian Life, a 165-year old insurance company that’s embracing startup thinking to drive innovation. Hear from Erin Culek, Head of Financial Protection and Retirement Solutions at Guardian, as she discusses how combining AI solutions with customer-centric innovation has dramatically improved the company’s service delivery, reducing four-week processes to near-instant results. Drawing from her experience leading both strategy and business operations, Culek shares how Guardian's "test and learn" culture combined with Amazon’s “two-pizza team” approach is accelerating digital transformation across the enterprise. From fostering a culture of experimentation to implementing transformative AI initiatives, this episode offers essential insights for leaders navigating legacy transformation. Don’t miss this inspiring conversation about turning institutional wisdom into competitive advantage through startup thinking.Watch on AWS Executive Insights
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The Evolution of Digital Trust: From Passwords to AI
Examine the evolving landscape of digital trust and identity security with Jacob DePriest, VP of Security and CISO at 1Password. Drawing from his diverse experience at the NSA, GitHub, and 1Password, DePriest shares best practices for managing shadow AI, implementing confidential computing, and addressing the emerging challenges of agentic AI. He emphasizes the critical balance between enabling innovation and maintaining robust security measures in an AI-driven world. From securing credentials with advanced authentication to navigating the complexities of AI governance, this episode examines how to build trust and security in an era where AI is reshaping digital identity management.
The Executive Insights podcast, brought to you by AWS (Amazon Web Services), features peer-to-peer conversations between business executives on innovating for growth, building resiliency, and shaping the future of their organizations.Learn more at AWS Executive Insights and follow us on LinkedIn. For video versions of these and other conversations, subscribe to our YouTube playlist.
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