Profile: Josh Cartellone

Meet Josh Cartellone. Senior Manager, Technology Innovation at Accenture.

Name: Josh Cartellone

Job: Senior Manager, Technology Innovation at Accenture

City: Columbus

Hometown: Cleveland

Q: What is it that you do at Accenture? 
Accenture is a global technology and strategy consulting firm with over 500,000 people, so it is safe to say that we have the expertise to help our clients accomplish just about anything. 

I see this daily as I work inside of our Technology Innovation practice which focuses on incubating new and emerging technologies, gaining first-mover advantages, implementing continuous innovation, and transforming industries. Simply put, we are the R&D arm of Accenture and our goal is to solve complex business challenges (both new and old) with enabling technologies.

Q: What’s a problem that you are working to solve? 
I am responsible for closing the trust gap between customers and organizations. Throughout history, and certainly over the past decade, trust events have occurred more frequently and 6 out of 10 customers refuse to buy from brands they do not trust.  

Food recalls, vehicle recalls, personal data breaches, counterfeit products, fake news, fraud, etc. – customers have had a continuous stream of valid reasons to lack trust in organizations and this sentiment is being applied across industries. Fortunately, new technologies like blockchain exist to help brands tell their story and win in the customer trust battleground.

Q: What’s a lesson you’ve learned that has helped shaped your work? 
From a young age we are all taught the importance of teams, diversity, and valuing others. The same logic can be applied across organizations.

There are many reasons for organizations to form partnerships (i.e. leveraging a startup solution or meeting customer speed-to-market expectations) and as such this is happening now more than ever. Equally as important as the value unlocked by multi-party systems or network-based business models are the governance, legal, and operational frameworks required for success. While the value created from the collaboration is the north star, it is important to define the ecosystem roadmap and perform a party-by-party value assessment early in the journey. 

Q: What’s a trend in technology or innovation that you believe doesn’t get enough attention? 
Transparency. Generations Y and Z have grown-up experiencing the trust events (from question 2) and as such, 90% of millennials globally rate product attribute transparency as a very important issue for organizations to address. I believe the more transparent an organization is with their customers, the more loyal those customers will become to that organization.

Q: What’s one moonshot idea that could help make Ohio a world leader in technology and innovation? 
I would build a Product arm of the Columbus Partnership. The Partnership has an incredible list of member organizations which have been doing an amazing job of growing Columbus and surrounding region. Why not put a little energy towards solving some common problems (i.e. Amazon, Berkshire Hathaway, and J.P. Morgan coming together to form Haven and improve healthcare for their employees)? More talent + more investment = better results.

Q: What’s a recent book, podcast or news story that you found interesting? 
The Obstacle is the Way by Ryan Holiday. It’s a book of stories that illustrates how many historical people (Thomas Edison, Amelia Earhart, Dwight Eisenhower, Theodore Roosevelt, Steve Jobs, etc.) faced significant obstacles but made the choice to overcome those roadblocks as a part of their journey. The short lesson is to discipline yourself to see things for what they are (perception), take directed action, and push our tolerances (will).

Q: What's your favorite place in Ohio? 
There are certainly a lot of locations in Ohio that I love, but nothing beats being right at home with my wife (Emily) and kids (Shepherd, Sawyer, and Maeve).

Q: What makes Ohio special to you?  
Ohio has a very diverse set of offerings which are always best in class. We have the best amusement park (Cedar Point), the best zoo (Columbus), the best football team (Ohio State), the best cheeseburger (Swensons), and the list goes on. Ohioans have grit and are always striving to be the best version of themselves. From presidents to astronauts to founders of Fortune 500 companies, Ohioans continue to be an inspiration for all!    

Connect with Josh on LinkedIn.