Jim Heaton

Early in my career, a mentor called me a change agent. That idea, combined with cross-cultural experience from Europe to Asia to the US, fundamentally shaped my leadership style. Leadership is deeply personal and rooted in creating the right environment for people to grow. I believe great leaders unlock potential, encourage bold thinking, and keep the human at the center of innovation to keep the world moving.  In this interview, I talk about all these topics and more. Take a look.

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The automotive industry is undergoing significant disruption and change. As one CEO pointed out “the industry is going to change more in the next 5 years than the past 100 years”. Part of this transformation is a shift in the long-held industry orthodoxy that automobile companies build cars and update features and functions. Today, and into the future, automobile companies are now in the mobility arena. Mobility services include the products, technologies, services, and experiences that enable people and goods to move more freely. This disruptive change is not going to follow a smooth curve from the past to the future. Google and others are hard at work on driverless vehicles. Tesla is changing what’s possible in electrification. The big telecoms are working to connect cars to the internet of things and make automobiles an integral part of smart cities. In the meantime, Uber, Lyft, and Didi have upset the longstanding orthodoxy of car ownership. In addition, ‘mini-mobility’ players like Bird are offering rentable scooters and bikes are becoming a popular part of our urban landscape for short trips and in densely populated areas where automobiles and parking are too cumbersome. Industry incumbents aren’t going to win by holding onto old mental and business models from a bygone industrial age, where innovation was confined to new features and functions on the car. Together, these new players are changing the scope, scale, and speed of change at an exponential rate. The chart below shows the digital giants, incumbents, and technology entrepreneurs for the mobility arena.

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In this three-part series, we take a closer look at the rapid growth of emerging automotive markets, focusing on the cybersecurity trends and challenges that matter most to OEMs and suppliers operating in these regions. Post 1 of 3: Automotive Cybersecurity Organizational Readiness - CSMS, Processes, and Ongoing Cybersecurity Training Building a solid organizational foundation for cybersecurity is no longer a choice; it’s a necessity in today’s rapidly evolving automotive industry. As vehicles and systems become more interconnected, new cybersecurity risks are introduced throughout the entire product lifecycle. A robust Cybersecurity Management System (CSMS), anchored in established standards, is essential to proactively prioritize and manage risks from concept development through aftersales service. Cybersecurity success also depends heavily on people. Regular, role-specific training empowers engineers, managers, and decision-makers to understand their cybersecurity responsibilities and stay current with best practices. Assigning clear roles and responsibilities, fostering collaboration, conducting routine audits, and embedding cybersecurity activities early into development (“shift-left” mindset) all contribute to an organization’s ability to identify and mitigate weaknesses and vulnerabilities more cost-effectively. It is important to note that sustainable risk management emerges when governance, process clarity, workforce readiness, and early cybersecurity integration become part of everyday operations. If your organization is seeking to establish or enhance CSMS, develop comprehensive development processes with built-in cybersecurity activities, or improve cybersecurity training, please reach out to IAV for tailored support. #Cybersecurity #CSMS #Processes #Training #IAV www.iav.com

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I always learn something new from Brenda Bown — this time, it’s about how AI agents are transforming how enterprises solve problems. As SAP's Chief Marketing Officer for Enterprise AI, Brenda highlights a powerful strategy: "The use of AI agents that span departments and systems to solve end-to-end problems. An agent independently handles complex, multi-step processes to produce a measurable outcome." If you’re looking to become an enterprise AI frontrunner, this is a must-read: https://imsap.co/6043fWbxD

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Today, at TechXchange 2025, IBM (IBM) “unveiled new and upcoming product capabilities designed to help enterprises move beyond AI experimentation and unlock productivity gains across development, operations and business workflows. TechXchange serves as a launchpad for IBM’s latest advancements in agentic AI, hybrid cloud, quantum computing and intelligent infrastructure. Generative AI has the potential to add trillions in economic value in the coming years. Yet, many organizations face barriers to adoption – ranging from fragmented hybrid environments to gaps in data quality and AI readiness. IBM’s latest announcements address these challenges with products built for production readiness, real-time governance and seamless integration across hybrid cloud ecosystems.”

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Thrilled to be joined by Jose Reyes, Executive Director of NPower Michigan, in a dynamic conversation with Earl Newsome, CIO of Cummins Inc., as they explore the evolving IT landscape in Michigan. They covered the transformative roles of mobility and artificial intelligence, and what’s needed to build a sustainable tech talent pipeline that supports the sector now and into the future. From workforce development and equitable access to education, to the power of public-private partnerships, this session will highlight actionable strategies to ensure Michigan remains a leader in tech-driven innovation. #Tech #AI #ThoughtLeadership #CIOInnovation #CISO #CIO #GenAI #AgenticAI #Cybersecurity #Networking #CareerAscent #Transformation

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