Intro: Broadcasting live from the Georgia Technology Summit 2025 at the Woodruff Arts Center. This is Business RadioX. And now here’s your host.

Lee Kantor: Lee Kantor here broadcasting live from Georgia Technology Summit 2025. So excited to be talking to my next guest, John Wilson with Spelman College. Welcome, John.

John Wilson: Thank you. I’m glad to be here.

Lee Kantor: Well, um, tell the folks, uh, what’s your role at Spelman?

John Wilson: Um, for about the last five and a half years, I have been the vice president of technology services and chief information officer at Spelman College.

Lee Kantor: So what does that job entail at a university?

John Wilson: So, uh, what? We’re a college. Um, so I basically oversee all technical operations. Everything from cybersecurity. We provide the network, enterprise applications, um, desktop support, all the computer things that you would expect.

Lee Kantor: So what’s your backstory? How did you get involved in this line of work?

John Wilson: Um, I’ve been in higher ed it for about 26 years. Um, I actually started off as a sales person in the private sector. I worked for, uh, Xerox Corporation and Johnson and Johnson. Um, I studied information technology as an undergrad. And then when I had a chance to, uh, go to Polaroid Corporation, um, I started getting into digital imaging and really started going down the IT path that way. Uh, started at Emory University here in Atlanta as a project manager, managing technical IT projects, and, uh, went from there to Georgia Tech and from Georgia Tech to Spelman.

Lee Kantor: So now, um, pretty much every guest we’ve had today has been talking about AI. How does AI fit into your world?

John Wilson: You know, I is very important to, uh, Spelman College and as well as the higher ed space in general. Um, we have the responsibility of ensuring that our students are prepared to go out into the world and compete, uh, for, uh, jobs that will afford them the lifestyle that they want. And I is a skill that you just have to have these days. And it’s going to be more so going forward. So we are in the process of identifying how to bring AI to campus in a way that is, um, safe, responsible, cost effective and adds value to what we do.

Lee Kantor: Now, are you using AI in your work?

John Wilson: I do, um, we have AI that’s embedded in several of our cybersecurity products. Um, it helps us so that we don’t have to manually crawl through logs and identify trends. The software is very helpful in that regard. Uh, we also use it for training. Um, some of the training platforms that are out there are very effective and save us a lot of time, quite honestly. Uh, so we’re using it there. And of course, of course, I use it in my own personal workflow for drafting documents and writing emails, etc..

Lee Kantor: Is it used at all like from a, um, kind of a client services client support manner that, um, a student could use it to help, you know, maybe answer a question or a prospective student.

John Wilson: That is a great question. And that is exactly what we’re working on now. Um, as we know, artificial intelligence requires, um, access to clean, relevant, curated data. And so we’re in the process now of creating our enterprise data store. Um, that will be the back end for our artificial intelligence capability.

Lee Kantor: So any advice for others out there in a similar situation, like how do you go about kind of creating that clean, curated data that the AI needs in order to serve up the right answers when the people ask the right questions.

John Wilson: Yeah. You know, there’s a there’s a bunch of different ways, um, to do it. The approach that that we’re going to take is using some sort of enterprise repository, and that will be populated by legacy systems. So as the data comes out of the legacy system and into the repository, it will be reviewed for accuracy and make sure that it’s harmonized as it goes in. Um, but, you know, there are AI models that actually go against transactional databases or legacy databases. Um, and so that’s an option as well. But I just appreciate the flexibility that comes with having your own, um, data lake, if you will, or Data Lake House.

Lee Kantor: Is there a place for capturing maybe knowledge from alumni and students where where they get it, you know, kind of answer questions out of their own mouth based on their own experiences.

John Wilson: Yeah. Yeah, absolutely. You know, that’s that’s part of our ambitious goal with artificial intelligence is we want to start off as sort of a 24 over seven contact center where students can ask questions about classes and registration and financial aid and those types of things. But we’d also like to build it to the point where it has it contains all of our corporate memory, if you will, and prospects, students and alumni could ask it just about anything, but that’s down the road a bit. But that is the vision.

Lee Kantor: So is that something that it their technology is available today to make that dream come true, or is it something that it’s still in that no one’s figured that out?

John Wilson: No. I you know, I think I think the technology is definitely available. Um, but we have to we have to get the expertise. Um, and it’s a bit of a journey, you know, that’s something that we’d like to potentially manage ourselves. And we just need to, um, start to build that skill set in-house. And that’s why I put it on the roadmap. You know, it’s a few years down the road. We just have to build that skill set.

Lee Kantor: So how do you, um, attack an event like the Georgia Technology Summit? What are you hoping to get out of it?

John Wilson: Um, well, you know, I’m on the board of tag, and so it’s been a great experience for me to come out and just meet vendors. Um, talk to folks in our societies. Uh, meet with my peers. Um, you know, as a technology focused, um, meeting in the state of Georgia, it’s just a tremendous opportunity to meet people from other industries. Um, share ideas, hear how they’re tackling some of the same problems. So it’s something that I look forward to. I’ve participated. I think this is my fifth year in a row, and, um, I really look forward to it and enjoy being here.

Lee Kantor: Now, how would you recommend a young person who’s, um, maybe a potential a Spelman College, uh, student attack, an organization like tag? Like, how would you recommend they, um, get involved and and what areas do you think would bear the most fruit?

John Wilson: You know, that’s a great question. Um, the good thing about tag is we have so many different societies that cover everything from machine learning, artificial intelligence, fintech, uh, you name it, there’s something out there for everyone. So I would just encourage, if you’re interested, to go to tag Online.com, I believe it is uh or org. Org um, and look at the societies and find something that interests you. Um, I believe that the times and locations are listed as well. And just just go and start meeting people and talking to people. And if you think it’s a good fit, then feel free to join tag and take advantage of all that tag has to offer.

Lee Kantor: Now, as, um, do students of Spelman, do they kind of get the heads up about tag like that, or is that something that they’re encouraged to join and be part of.

John Wilson: It is it is. And last year or year before last, we had a pretty good the contingency of students that actually came to us. Um, Georgia Technology Summit, uh, you know, it’s kind of hard with students. They have a lot going on. Um, but I certainly make an effort to make them aware, um, as well as, uh, certain faculty advisers are aware so that they can help, uh, promote the message as well. So, yeah, we definitely want to get our students involved, uh, and get them out as much as possible. It’s just a matter of them finding the time and making the commitment to come.

Lee Kantor: Right. Because the connections are here where they’re going to get their next job is probably in this room right now.

John Wilson: You know, that’s that’s a very true statement. Um, I think these days it’s becoming more and more about networking and really having an opportunity to showcase your skills and your personality. And the best way to do that is really through a face to face meeting.

Lee Kantor: And joining an organization like this, volunteering, taking leadership roles demonstrate what you bring to the table because it’s a competitive, uh, workforce right now.

John Wilson: It really it really, really is. And, um, I think employers like to see folks who take initiative because quite honestly, um, all things being equal, everybody’s smart and ambitious. Um, but I think where you can differentiate yourself is to take the initiative to come out, shake hands, introduce yourself, start to share your narrative. And that’s going to leave an impression.

Lee Kantor: Right? Relationships matter.

John Wilson: Absolutely.

Lee Kantor: So if somebody wants to learn more about Spelman, what’s the website there?

John Wilson: Uh, Spelman 1lspelman.edu. And, uh, there’s a wealth of information on the website. Uh, I would encourage any prospective or anybody who’s interested in coming to go and check it out.

Lee Kantor: Well, John, thank you so much for sharing your story today. You’re doing such important work and we appreciate you.

John Wilson: Thank you for having me. I enjoyed it.

Lee Kantor: All right. This is Lee Kantor back in with you at Georgia Technology Summit 2025.