Subject: Former CIOs on preparing for a thriving next chapter

Karenann Terrell and Diana McKenzie share advice, lessons learned

On a recent episode of the Tech Whisperers podcast, I sat down with Diana McKenzie and Karenann Terrell, two former technology executives who’ve transitioned to “Chapter 2” in their career journeys with the same success and dexterity that they demonstrated in their operational roles.


Today, Diana and Karenann are both involved with a range of executive advisory and board roles, from public and private board memberships to private equity work to investing, philanthropy, and more. In this bonus Q&A after the show, they spent some more time discussing their paths, their lessons learned, and their advice for charting the course to a fulfilling new phase in your professional and personal life.

Coming up on the podcast!


We have an incredible roster of technology executives lined up for the podcast over the next several months, taking you inside the playbooks and career journeys of some of the most highly regarded and accomplished digital leaders around.


Here’s a sampling of just a few of the guests who’ll be joining us in upcoming episodes:

  • Steve Bandrowzak, CEO, Xerox (former CIO/COO)

  • Sathish Muthukrishnan, Chief Information, Data, & Digital Officer, and Donna Hart, CISO, Ally Financial Inc.

  • Brian Shields, SVP, Chief Technology Officer/Information Technology, Boston Red Sox

  • Mona Bates, Chief Information Officer, Collins Aerospace

  • Brian Abrahamson, Associate Laboratory Director and Chief Digital Officer, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL)

  • Jamie Patel, Chief Technology Officer, American Century Investments

  • Anil Cheriyan, Board member, former CTO/CIO, PE/VC advisor, investor, digital AI cybersecurity leader

  • Barry Shurkey, Chief Information Officer, NTT DATA