Ep. 28: Doug Saunders, CIO at Arctic Glacier, Coaching Culture, Trust, and High-Speed Execution

Doug Saunders, CIO at Arctic Glacier, joins host Cesar Jimenez to break down what IT leadership looks like inside a private equity-backed business and why strong CIOs stay fluent in the P&L, not just the tech stack. Doug shares how a nontraditional background shaped his approach to hiring, why he prioritizes communication and learning over perfect credentials, and how leaders build high-trust teams through transparency, accountability, and collaboration. He also connects lessons from sports and coaching to business execution, from staying calm under pressure to focusing on the process instead of the outcome. Doug closes with a forward-looking take on AI, how it will reshape workflows and even challenge the traditional SaaS licensing model, and what early-career technologists can do to stand out in a crowded market.