Innovation at the Intersection: Bryan Gathagan on Tech, Finance & Animal Health

Key Takeaways

From COBOL to Quantum: A CTO-CFO’s Guide to Practical Innovation

What does it look like when one person leads both tech and finance in a data-driven industry like animal health? In this episode of The Innovator’s Playbook, Brian Gathagan—CTO and CFO at Animalytix—shares his journey from university IT labs and COBOL programming to driving business and tech strategy at scale. With 30+ years of experience across banking, pharma, IT consulting, and market intelligence, Brian’s story is a blueprint for grounded, business-first innovation.

The Early Shift: Why Tech Alone Won’t Get You a Seat at the Table

“We’re not here to build IT empires. We’re here to solve what the business actually needs.”

Brian sees the word “innovation” overused and misunderstood. For him, innovation is right-sized execution – choosing the tech and approach that match a company’s stage, budget, and market need. He became known among startup founders and CEOs as the CTO who wouldn’t overbuild. That discipline drove real ROI.

Choosing the Right Tech (Not the Shiniest One)

“If you don’t understand the business, you’ll always be invited late.”

Brian’s turning point came when he realized that deep tech expertise wasn’t enough. So he earned his MBA while working full time, unlocking new roles in finance and strategy. That dual fluency gave him lasting influence and made him a rare bridge between IT execution and executive decision-making.

Quantum Isn’t a Buzzword—It’s a Stack Breaker

“I could cut 2.5 days of data processing to under an hour.”

Forget AI for a second. Brian is betting on quantum computing to radically transform the scale and speed of analytics. In a world where weekly reports take days to generate, quantum’s potential to flip the equation is massive. He breaks it down in simple, business-relevant terms.

Innovation in Animal Health: When Science Meets Market Timing

“An old molecule in a new application became a billion-dollar product.”

Drawing from experience at Intervet and Merck Animal Health, Brian explains how pharma innovation often stems from repurposing compounds. But innovation isn’t just about the lab, it’s also about market context, timing, and the right regulatory path. That’s where strategy meets science.

AI in Clinics: The Real Impact Starts at the Frontline

“Veterinarians don’t need more tools—they need time.”

Brian points to ambient AI note-taking and clinical documentation tools that are already reducing burnout and improving accuracy. While enterprise-level AI is still evolving, the ground-level benefits in veterinary practices are immediate and meaningful.

Let Engineers Focus on the Why—Not Just the Code

“AI won’t replace developers. But it’ll expose the ones who don’t think in systems.”

From maintaining legacy COBOL systems to exploring GenAI, Brian believes AI will eliminate busywork, not engineers. The shift? Engineers who understand business context and think architecturally will thrive. The rest will need to level up or step aside.

Innovation Culture: Fail Smart, Stay Curious, Stay Aligned

“Innovation isn’t about getting it perfect. It’s about moving the needle.”

Brian encourages leaders to take risks, but with accountability. At Animalytix, that looks like belt-loop innovation: push boundaries, but stay tethered to the mission. He also emphasizes buy-in across the org, ensuring every team member understands the business, not just their function.

Listen on your Favorite Platform