Why AI Fails: Book Launch Party and Fireside Chat with Author, Neil Morris

✨ WITI Presents: A Fireside Chat with Neil Morris + Book Launch Celebration ✨
Join us for a special evening with WITI as we celebrate one of Colorado’s own and a true leader in our tech community, Neil Morris.
We’re hosting an intimate fireside chat between our founder, Emily Cellar, and Neil Morris in support of his new book, Why AI Fails: The Leadership Discipline Behind the 5% Who Succeed, and turning it into a full book launch celebration with our community.
During this conversation, we’ll go beyond the hype of AI and dig into what actually makes it work:

• Leadership disciplines that separate success from failure in AI
• Building and empowering high-performing teams
• The power of networking before you need it
• Showing up as an ally and giving back to the community

Neil has been a phenomenal supporter of WITI over the years, a respected multi-time CIO, and someone Emily feels lucky to call both a friend and mentor. This is a chance to hear his insights up close in a relaxed, candid format.
🎉 Why you should come:

• Connect with an incredible community of leaders and builders
• Celebrate a local author on his book launch tour
• Walk away with practical, real-world leadership insights
• Meet new people, even if it’s your first WITI event

WITI isn't just for women and is open to anyone who supports women in underrepresented roles in technology. Our events are always FREE, thanks to our generous sponsors!
📍 Event Details:

• Hosted at Technologent’s beautiful new space in Denver
• F&B sponsored by Keepit (a truly unique backup and recovery for SaaS platforms)
• Book raffle giveaways throughout the evening

This event will fill up quickly, so register today and be part of the celebration. Bring a friend!
We'll be meeting on the first floor lounge.

About Neil Morris:
Neil is a transformational technology executive who bridges the gap between innovation and authentic leadership to drive sustainable business outcomes. Neil brings over two decades of experience leading digital transformation initiatives across aerospace, defense, telecommunications, and sustainable technology sectors.
Neil champions a human-centered approach to technology leadership. His philosophy centers on the belief that successful digital transformation requires cultural evolution alongside technical innovation—a perspective shaped by navigating complex M\&A integrations at Ball Aerospace and Maxar Technologies, where he led teams of 300+ professionals and managed budgets exceeding $80 million annually.
Neil's expertise spans enterprise architecture, cloud transformation, cybersecurity governance, and IT/OT convergence. He has architected solutions supporting millions of customers, consolidated data centers to achieve 77% reduction in deployment cycles, and delivered first-year savings exceeding $15 million through strategic technology initiatives. His leadership during the BAE Systems acquisition of Ball Aerospace exemplified his ability to maintain operational continuity while driving innovation during pivotal transitions.
What distinguishes Neil is his authentic leadership journey—rising to C-suite positions through non-traditional education paths while balancing family responsibilities, including special needs advocacy. This personal resilience informs his commitment to building inclusive, innovative organizations where diverse perspectives drive breakthrough solutions. He believes that the most effective technology leaders are those who embrace vulnerability, champion their teams, and recognize that sustainable success comes from aligning technological capabilities with human potential.
As an Orbie-nominated CIO and sought-after speaker, Neil shares insights on AI strategy implementation, building resilient IT organizations, and navigating career pivots in technology leadership. His mission extends beyond operational excellence to empowering the next generation of technology leaders to embrace both innovation and authenticity in their journey to the C-suite.
Neil holds a Master's in Information Systems Management and Bachelor's in Business Management from the University of Phoenix, proving that determination and continuous learning can overcome any perceived limitations. Based in the Denver metropolitan area, he continues to advocate for technology leaders who dare to lead differently.

WITI (Women in Technical Infrastructure) is a community built to connect, elevate, and support women in underrepresented technical roles, bringing together leaders and allies across IT, cybersecurity, and infrastructure. All are welcome, always.