Running IT Like a Growth Engine with Chidi Alams of Just Born, Inc.

CIO Classified

This episode features Chidi Alams, CIO of Just Born — the company behind candy classics like Peeps, Mike and Ike, and Hot Tamales.

Chidi shares how his team is using AI, automation, and smarter data systems to modernize operations, strengthen supply chain resilience, and double the business impact of technology. It’s a conversation about what it really means to run IT like a growth engine — not just keeping the lights on, but driving strategy, efficiency, and innovation.

Plus, much more:

• Chidi’s take on “physical AI” in manufacturing
• How the CIO role is evolving into a more strategic leadership position
• Why a values-driven tech culture might be the secret to long-term success

Whether you’re a CIO, IT leader, or simply curious about how AI and data are reshaping business, this episode delivers grounded, real-world insights.

About the Guest:
Chidi Alams, CIO at Just Born, Inc., is a transformation executive with a proven track record of leading strategic initiatives that drive operational excellence, organic growth, and digital innovation. His experience includes both Fortune 500 and private equity-backed companies.

Timestamps:
02:10 Transitioning Between Industries
03:26 Role and Responsibilities of a CIO
06:05 Business Transformation and Strategy
08:12 Managing Peak Seasons and Supply Chain
14:26 Leveraging Data and AI
21:20 Talent Acquisition and Company Culture
27:51 Future of Technology and CIO Role

Guest Highlights:

“ A lot of how we ran the business, even during the peak season, was a tremendous amount of tribal knowledge. We can't scale based on tribal knowledge, right? So having data systems, particularly as we bring in new people into the organization, helps us to be more predictive and meet demand during peak season.”

“ CIOs have to become more business centric.  When you look at what's happening in large enterprises, you're seeing a fragmentation of technology leadership.  I do believe that there will be a convergence at some point.”

“ I'm extremely interested and have been tracking what I think is a very important trend, not just in CPG but in retail and any consumer space — even pharma — and that is how can we leverage large language models that are trained for CPG to help drive product innovation. It’s already happening.”

Get Connected:

• Chidi Alams on LinkedIn
• Yousuf Kahn on LinkedIn
• Ian Faison on LinkedIn

Hungry for more tech talk? Check out past episodes at ciopod.com:

• Ep 61 - What Manufacturing Can Teach You About Scaling Enterprise AI
• Ep 60 - Why the Smartest CIOs Are Becoming Business Strategists
• Ep 59 - CIO Leadership in AI Security and Innovation

Learn more about Caspian Studios: caspianstudios.com

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