Episode #47 | Grant Ecker | AI, Architecture, and the Future of Specialization

In this episode of The Only Constant, Lasse Rindom speaks with Grant Ecker, a leader in enterprise architecture and founder of the Chief Architect Network. Their candid conversation explores the evolving role of architects in an AI-driven world and challenges some of the prevailing narratives around technology and change:

• Will specialization disappear as AI takes over more tasks, or will it become even more critical?
• Are humans shifting from the center of processes to the edge, and what does that mean for our roles?
• Why comparing AI to past shifts like electricity or cloud computing might miss the point
• The danger of “innovation theater” and how companies can avoid AI becoming just another buzzword
• How organizations can balance the pressure to “fail fast” with the need to protect critical processes

Do you want to know more about Grant Ecker? Grant Ecker has recently joined Ecolab as their Vice President of Enterprise Architecture, and he serves as the Founder and Chairman of the Chief Architect Network. Grant joins Ecolab after consulting as an Architecture Vice President at Walgreens. He recently served as the Vice President and Chief Enterprise Architect at Danaher, where he built their Architecture and Artificial Intelligence capabilities. Previously, Grant was the VP of Architecture at Walgreens Boots Alliance, and he held a similar role at Medtronic. Earlier in his career, Grant built EA’s operations at Lowe’s Home Improvement and grew into leadership at General Mills. Grant is a Certified Coach, received his MBA from the Carlson School of Management, his BSCS from Washington University in St. Louis and he holds various board advisory roles out of Chicago, Illinois. Chief architects are encouraged to join him in a non-profit, vendor-neutral and no cost peer collaboration at chiefachitectnetwork.com. Please connect with Grant at LinkedIn.com/in/GrantEcker and follow the network of his peers at linkedin.com/company/ChiefArchitect.