Jun 03, 2021 | 2 min read

The Future of Banking with Dean Haacker

By: Patrick Emmons

The Future of Banking with Dean Haacker

With complicated technological tools and processes, companies sometimes fill too many roles with specialists. Generalists are also needed to approach problems with outside-the-box solutions and a fresh set of eyes. Dean Haacker prides himself on being a generalist, a skill that has served him well over the years as he has guided global teams to reimagine the banking industry.

Dean joined Patrick and Shelli for a wide-ranging conversation about the importance of living at the corner of strategy and innovation. Check out the episode for insights from a multiple award-winning CTO/CIO.

  • (02:56) - The future of banking
  • (06:48) - Protecting our money and information
  • (09:34) - Brute force code-breaking
  • (11:36) - Success as a generalist
  • (15:01) - Orbie Awards
  • (21:32) - Highland Grove Partners
  • (23:23) - Innovation is hard

About Our Guest

Dean Haacker is a global technology executive and visionary leader that delivered more than $3 billion in business value for top companies in the high tech, consumer goods, and financial services sectors. An expert strategist, catalyst, and team builder who successfully executed large-scale programs, transformations, turnarounds, mergers, and operations excellence using Agile, ITIL, and Lean Six Sigma. He managed $300 million budgets, led global teams of 500 people, and negotiated strategic deals with global technology partners.

Dean serves on the board of SIM Chicago, is a founding member of the Chicago CIO Leadership Association, and a member of AITP Chicago. He won an ORBIE award in 2017 as CTO of The PrivateBank and was a finalist for the Chicago CIO of the Year Award in both 2018 and 2019. Dean is an advisor to emerging technology companies and previously served in global technology leadership roles at CIBC Bank, Nielsen, Motorola, and the Hewlett-Packard Company. Dean is a distinguished graduate of Arizona State University.

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About Patrick Emmons

If you can’t appreciate a good sports analogy, movie quote, or military reference, you may not want to work with him, but if you value honesty, integrity, and commitment to improvement, Patrick can certainly help take your business or your career to the next level. “Good enough,” is simply not in his vernacular. Pat’s passion is for relentlessly pushing himself and others to achieve full potential. Patrick Emmons is a graduate of St. Norbert College with a Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Science and Mathematics. Patrick co-founded Adage Technologies in 2001 and in 2015, founded DragonSpears as a spin-off dedicated to developing custom applications that improve speed, compliance and scalability of clients’ internal and customer-facing workflow processes. When he is not learning about new technology, running a better business, or becoming a stronger leader, he can be found coaching his kids’ (FIVE of them) baseball and lacrosse teams and praising his ever-so-patient wife for all her support.

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