In this episode, Rob Ocel sits down with Gant Laborde, CIO at Infinite Red, to explore Gant's journey in the tech industry, his transition into leadership, and his role as a Chief Innovation Officer. Gant shares insights into the challenges and rewards of innovation within a company, how to manage upward and downward effectively, and the importance of trust in leadership. They also discuss the evolving landscape of AI, the significance of experimentation, and the courage needed to make bold decisions. Chapters 1. Introduction and Opening Remarks - 00:00 2. Gant's Background and Journey in Tech - 02:05 3. Transitioning to Leadership at Infinite Red - 05:08 4. Defining Innovation at an Agency - 07:28 5. The Role of AI in React Native - 09:39 6. Navigating the Hype and Troughs of Technology - 11:35 7. The Challenges of Middle Management - 15:12 8. Building Trust and Managing Upwards - 16:25 9. Empowering Teams and Passing the Torch - 19:40 10. Developing Courage and Taking Risks - 22:30 11. Why Leadership is Worth It - 30:28 12. Final Thoughts and Wrap-Up - 31:53 Follow Gant Laborde on Social Media Twitter: https://x.com/GantLaborde Github: https://github.com/GantMan Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gant-laborde/ Mastodon: https://mastodon.social/@gantlaborde