While Per was stranded mid journey thanks to a cancelled flight, the team flew into Bologna, Italy – known as Motor Valley: the land where speed was born. We took the unique opportunity to get behind the doors of Ducati HQ, and the chance to speak with Federico Benassi, Ducati Corse Race IT Manager.

In this slightly different format, Federico enables us to dive into the world of motorcycle innovation and the relentless pursuit of speed. From the evolution of bikes through cutting-edge technology to the secrets behind building a winning team year after year, we learned more about the high stake’s environment of MotoGP and the challenges that come with always thinking about how to improve technology on and off the track.

Federico explains how he combined his love for bikes and technology into a dream career, offering insights and advice for anyone looking to follow in his footsteps. He also shares his thoughts on the role of AI at Ducati Corse - not as a job replacer, but as a tool to push the boundaries of what’s possible, faster than ever before. But does all this tech take away from the pure joy of riding? And what is it about Italians that fuels their passion for speed and success?

Special thanks to the Ducati team who allowed us to record this episode during a very busy week. Find out more about Lenovo’s partnership with Ducati Corse here: https://news.lenovo.com/tag/ducati/

In the very first episode of A Smart Perspective, host Per Overgaard travels to Bonn, Germany to meet Christian Klie, Business Owner of Future Cloud Infrastructure at T-Systems. Known by many as a mobile network provider, T-Systems is in fact a major player in global cloud innovation—and Christian brings a wealth of insight from the front lines of hybrid cloud transformation.

In a wide-ranging and candid conversation, Per and Christian discuss everything from the challenge of balancing data sovereignty with innovation, to who should be responsible for regulating AI in today’s fast-moving tech landscape. Christian shares how his own passion for technology began with learning to code - just so he could play the same games his friends were enjoying - and how that curiosity has carried him through a global career that’s included an MBA in Australia and early roles in cybersecurity consulting.

They explore what it really means to be a tech leader today, and why finding the right talent is just as critical as choosing the right tools. Christian calls it the “war for talent,” and says that at the heart of it, working in technology is being in the people business. He also shares why he believes data is the resource of the future and why trust in the systems that store and process it is more important than ever.

From leadership philosophy to cloud strategy, and from career reflections to thoughts on the future of AI, this episode sets the tone for the series with insight, energy, and real human perspective.

Introducing A Smart Perspective - a new podcast series from Lenovo that goes beyond the technology to explore the human stories, bold decisions, and leadership philosophies shaping digital transformation today.

Hosted by Per Overgaard, each episode features conversations with CIOs and IT leaders from some of the world’s most innovative companies. It’s about the why behind the what, and the people behind the progress.

Subscribe now and get ready for real stories, smart insights, and a fresh perspective on the future of IT. Full episodes launch every third Monday of the month.