CNBC Technology Executive Council: Rocket Software’s Darlene Williams on Innovation in Uncertain Times

Darlene Williams, Chief Information Officer at Rocket Software, recently joined CNBC’s Technology Executive Council for a panel discussion on business resiliency in the face of global uncertainty. The event, hosted by CNBC’s Jon Fortt, featured technology leaders from across industries, including Glen Allison of Tractor Supply and Joe Atkinson of PwC.

Together, they explored how organizations are focusing on what they can control. Here’s how Rocket Software is helping customers modernize confidently.

Mainframes and Stability in a Shifting Market

Setting the tone, Fortt highlighted timely challenges for CIOs: rising tariffs, volatile supply chains and disparate earnings reports. With the current economic uncertainty, Fortt opened the conversation by asking how Rocket Software is supporting its customers.

“Mainframes keep planes in the air, trains running, and 90% of all credit card transactions are handled on the mainframe,” Williams said. “The mainframe is the cornerstone of IT infrastructure.”

As a trusted global leader in modernization and IT solutions, Rocket Software delivers long-term certainty in a constantly shifting market and supports organizations at every stage of their modernization journey.  

Innovation That Delivers Business Value

Fortt then asked how companies prioritize investments given budget constraints and competitive pressure to drive results. Williams made the case that innovation isn’t optional; it’s imperative.

“Our customers need innovation, no matter what the marketplace is doing, no matter what the noise is,” she said.

At Rocket Software, innovation is built into the company’s culture. Williams shared a memorable moment from Rocket.Build, an internal competition that invites Rocketeers, customers and partners to co-create innovative solutions. One standout project used Rocket’s Mobius solution—which enables AI-driven document analysis—decreasing contract review time by 80% within Rocket’s own legal team.

“We drink our own champagne, and it’s even better when we can share it with our customers,” Williams said.

This idea of scalable, impactful innovation echoed throughout the panel. Atkinson emphasized that companies are in a “race for productivity,” with AI as the engine for streamlining workflows. The broader trend here is that companies across industries are turning to AI for automation and improving decision-making and responsiveness. It’s a theme that aligns closely with Rocket’s focus on delivering innovation that drives measurable results.

Modernization with Cybersecurity at the Forefront

As the conversation turned toward security, Fortt asked how companies can modernize without opening themselves to risk. “At this scale of change, this pace of emerging technology, we must keep security in mind,” Williams said.

She pointed to Rocket Software’s 2024 acquisition of Application Modernization and Connectivity (AMC) business of OpenText, formerly part of Micro Focus, which expanded the company’s ability to serve customers across mainframe, hybrid, and cloud environments. This flexibility is especially critical for customers in highly regulated industries like banking and healthcare.

Whether customers are moving to the cloud or staying on the mainframe, Rocket meets them where they are, delivering modernization without compromising compliance. 

“Compliance matters,” said Williams. “AI is great, but since 2023, cyberattacks using AI have doubled.”

Culture as a Competitive Advantage

To wrap up the discussion, Fortt asked what each leader feels most in control of during uncertain times. For Williams, the answer was clear.

“Our culture, to me, is our differentiator: Empathy, Humanity, Trust, and Love,” she said. “Our employees' growth mindset drives the innovation that fuels modernization.”

She emphasized that continuous modernization is not just a goal; it’s essential to business.

“Modernization is evergreen and continuous, no matter what’s happening around us,” Williams said.

Learn more about how Rocket Software helps organizations modernize without disruption.