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Bradley Enneking, the CIO of Heartland Financial, also known as HTLF, leads with a vision for seamless integration and innovation. HTLF, a $20 billion regional bank spanning 11 states, has grown through the acquisition of 36 banks over the past two decades. Bradley has been instrumental in unifying technology and processes under a single operating structure, driving innovation in IT infrastructure, data governance, and digital transformation. In this episode, Bradley shares his insights on managing large-scale consolidations, the evolving role of AI in banking, and empowering IT teams for success.
Here’s a glimpse of what you’ll learn:
- The story behind HTLF’s acquisition of 36 banks and their consolidation into 11 brands
- The critical role of process standardization in technology transformations
- Key strategies for gaining executive buy-in for IT initiatives
- How to effectively communicate technical concepts to the C-Suite
- Bradley’s leadership philosophy on empowering teams and fostering innovation
- Insights into the practical applications and limitations of AI in banking
- The importance of leveraging AI hype cycles for long-term technological gains
In this episode…
Bradley Enneking discusses the monumental task of consolidating 36 acquired banks into a unified operating company under the HTLF brand. He shares how standardizing processes across 11 distinct brands was the most challenging yet rewarding aspect of the transformation. While unifying technology was relatively straightforward, Bradley emphasizes that change management and aligning processes were key to success.
Drawing from his extensive experience, Bradley provides actionable advice on gaining executive buy-in for IT projects. He highlights the importance of focusing on the “why” behind initiatives, using analogies and storytelling to bridge the gap between technical teams and non-technical leadership. His approach fosters collaboration and ensures alignment with business goals, creating a cohesive and motivated team.
On the topic of AI, Bradley offers a pragmatic perspective. He describes HTLF’s exploration of generative AI and machine learning, focusing on practical applications like predictive analytics, data governance, and natural language processing. Bradley advises using the current AI hype cycle to build foundational technologies and warns against seeing AI as a universal solution. Instead, he views AI as a tool to enhance efficiency and decision-making in regulated industries like banking.
Bradley also shares his leadership philosophy, emphasizing empowerment and accountability. By encouraging team members to take ownership of their roles, he fosters innovation and career growth while building a culture of trust and collaboration.
Resources mentioned in this episode:
Matthew Connor on LinkedInCyberLynx
Bradley Enneking on LinkedIn
Heartland Financial (HTLF) Website
Salesforce Website
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