Work is no longer a place. It’s a system—and right now, that system is under strain. In this episode of Scouting for Growth, Sabine VanderLinden is joined by Jeff Abbott, former CEO of Ivanti, to unpack what the future of work really looks like through the lens of data, security, leadership, and employee experience. Drawing on insights from Ivanti’s 2024 Everywhere Work Report, Jeff offers a candid view of the distributed work reality—one where leadership optimism and employee experience don’t always align. At a macro level, Jeff believes we are living through one of the most important transitions in modern business. Platforms like Salesforce and Workday transformed sales, marketing, and HR—but CIOs and CISOs never received an equivalent platform. Ivanti’s mission, he explains, is to close that gap by unifying IT, security, and employee experience. Get this right, and it becomes the foundation of economic productivity for decades. Get it wrong, and friction compounds everywhere. One of the most striking findings from the report exposes a dangerous disconnect: Over 90% of leaders believe employees have the tools they need to be productive. Yet only 57% of employees agree—citing poor access, fragmented systems, and weak digital experience. This gap matters. Not just for productivity—but for retention, engagement, and trust. Jeff argues that leadership teams must become far more intentional about listening. In an “everywhere work” world, the old cues are gone. You can’t feel the pulse of the organisation by walking the floor. Surveying employees, understanding how different work modes are experienced, and leading remotely with empathy are no longer optional—they are core leadership capabilities. The episode also dives deep into Digital Employee Experience (DEX)—and why it’s often misunderstood. While executives see its value, IT teams are frequently unconvinced. Why? Because they don’t always experience the benefits themselves. Jeff is clear: if DEX is to deliver on its promise, IT must be the first beneficiary, not just the enabler. Security is the other unavoidable pillar. Cyber threats are no longer sporadic—they are persistent, coordinated, and relentless. Jeff stresses that “winging it” is not an option. CIOs and CISOs must lock arms, creating shared visibility across the enterprise where IT, security, and experience converge into one operating model. Listeners will walk away with practical insight on: Why the future of work is a platform problem, not a policy problem How leadership blind spots emerge in remote and hybrid environments Why DEX adoption must start with IT teams themselves How security, productivity, and experience are now inseparable 🎧 If you’re a CIO, CISO, executive, or board member navigating distributed work at scale, this episode is essential listening. Because the future of work won’t be decided by where people sit— but by how well the system supporting them actually works.