CXO Challenge Series – Episode #1.

How should I think about technology disruption?

We asked a series of leaders how they’re tackling the big, the ugly, and the common challenges facing businesses today. Here, XPO Logistics’ MD UK&I, Dan Myers, shares his approach for managing the pace of technological change.

Technology disruption gets talked about like it’s something new. It isn’t.

“All through human history, change has been the one constant.” What’s changed, as Dan Myers sees it, is the pace and the predictability. Some change is incremental. Some is sudden, uncomfortable, and hard to see coming.

But the real issue isn’t the technology itself. “It’s about attitude.”

Be curious

The businesses that manage disruption best aren’t always the most innovative. They’re the most open, curious, and willing to challenge what’s already working. Kodak is a clear example, “the inventor of the first digital camera,” that still chose to protect its existing model.

For Dan, the starting point is simple: “I think the first part is to be curious.” Not chasing technology for its own sake but understanding what it can do and where it provides genuine value.

That requires a mindset change. “We try lots of different things, and not everything works.” The benefit lies in being able to move swiftly – test, learn, pivot, or stop. Because in the end, “life is one long lesson.”

Successful leaders aren’t those with all the answers. They’re the ones who remain open enough to discover them.