The CHRO Is the New CTO: Leading in the AI Era

The CHRO Is the New CTO: Leading in the AI Era

Author: Brave Software March 11, 2026 Duration: 19:17

 Elise Neel, Global Head of Strategy & Strategic Partnerships at Panasonic Go, shares lessons from leading innovation within large legacy companies and the cultural challenges of driving transformation. She explains how organizations should rethink AI governance and talent, and why roles like the CHRO may become central in the AI era.

Key Takeaways:

  • Why leaders must move from simply using AI tools to actively collaborating with them to drive meaningful transformation

  • How access to AI is leveling the playing field, making critical thinking the key differentiator for talent

  • Ways that non-technical professionals can quickly become powerful contributors with the right AI tools and training

  • Why the CHRO role may become one of the most influential positions as organizations integrate AI agents into their workforce

  • How AI could transform product ownership and customer support through intelligent systems that predict maintenance, optimize usage, and improve the overall customer experience

Guest Bio:
Elise Neel is the Global Head of Strategy & Strategic Partnerships for Panasonic Go, driving business transformation through AI to expand AI-enabled software, hardware, and solutions to 30% of Panasonic's sales by 2035.

Previously, Elise was SVP of New Business Innovation at Verizon, where she built a portfolio of nine investment ventures spanning location technology, drones, robotics, and energy transformation while ushering in the 5G era. She also served as CEO of MapQuest and held leadership roles at PlaceIQ, comScore, and InsightExpress.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

About this Show:

The Brave Technologist is here to shed light on the opportunities and challenges of emerging tech. To make it digestible, less scary, and more approachable for all!

Join us as we embark on a mission to demystify artificial intelligence, challenge the status quo, and empower everyday people to embrace the digital revolution. Whether you're a tech enthusiast, a curious mind, or an industry professional, this podcast invites you to join the conversation and explore the future of AI together.

The Brave Technologist Podcast is hosted by Luke Mulks, VP Business Operations at Brave Software—makers of the privacy-respecting Brave browser and Search engine, and now powering AI everywhere with the Brave Search API.

Music by: Ari Dvorin

Produced by: Sam Laliberte

 


Hosted by Brave Software, The Brave Technologist is a series for anyone curious about the real human impact of our digital evolution. It moves past the surface-level buzzwords to ask how technologies like AI, machine learning, and Web3 actually affect everyday decisions, privacy, and the fabric of society. The conversations here are grounded and thoughtful, prioritizing the user's perspective in a landscape often dominated by abstract visions of disruption. You'll hear from builders, thinkers, and technologists who are shaping these tools, discussing not just what is possible, but what is responsible and meaningful. This podcast sits at the intersection of technology, business, and marketing, examining how these forces converge to shape our collective future. It’s for listeners who want to understand the "why" and "for whom" behind the code, offering a nuanced take that is often missing from tech commentary. Tune in for a deeper, more inclusive dialogue about the systems that are redesigning our world.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

The Brave Technologist
Podcast Episodes
Operation Pineapple Express Used Signal to Evacuate Afghan Allies [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 39:52
Scott Mann, Ret. U.S. Army Green Beret and Founder of Task Force Pineapple, shares his journey from a Special Forces soldier to a storyteller and actor. He detailed his time as a Green Beret who helped form Task Force Pi…
Decentralizing Your Digital Identity With Unstoppable Domains [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 32:03
Sandy Carter, COO and Head of GTM at Unstoppable Domains, discusses the potential of on-chain and digitized identities, including real-world examples that highlight shortcomings of current systems. She also reveals detai…
Privacy & Parenting: Your Child's Digital Footprint [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 28:38
Debbie Reynolds, Chief Data Privacy Officer and host of "The Data Diva Talks Privacy" podcast, discusses the challenges parents face in protecting their children online, and simple habits users can adopt to take back con…
Building Community in Virtual Social Worlds [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 30:59
Yemel Jardi, Co-Founder & Executive Director of the Decentraland Foundation, discusses the evolution of Decentraland from an experimental project to a thriving virtual social world. We also discuss the challenges and opp…
Community-Owned Media: How Coinage Is Reshaping the Creator Economy [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 32:27
Zack Guzman, founder of Trustless Media and host of Coinage, shares how he's using Web3 technology to transform the relationship between creators and their audiences through a community ownership model. He shares the inn…