Season 3: Episode 2

Identity Matters with Ethan Mollick, The Wharton School Professor and Author of Co-Intelligence

In this episode of Identity Matters, SailPoint CEO Mark McClain sits down with Ethan Mollick, a professor at the Wharton School and a leading expert on AI and innovation, to decode the hype and the reality of AI’s impact on the future of work. Ethan shares his perspective on how individuals and organizations are grappling with this technological shift, offering a fresh take on the opportunities and challenges ahead.

Mark and Ethan unpack the seemingly contradictory nature of AI’s evolution—both the massive, rapid transformations and the slower, more subtle shifts happening simultaneously. They explore the common misconceptions leaders have about AI, what it takes to move beyond surface-level understanding, and how to foster a culture of intelligent experimentation within an organization.

Tune in for a thought-provoking discussion on how to think differently about AI, the most valuable resources for staying informed in a rapidly changing landscape, and the critical questions leaders should be asking.

Featured speakers
Mark McClain
Mark McClainCEO and FounderSailPoint

In his role as CEO and Founder of SailPoint, Mark brings almost 35 years of experience in technology. Under Mark's direction, SailPoint has become the leader in identity security for the modern enterprise with over 2K employees worldwide, operating in 37 countries. In 2022, SailPoint was acquired by Thoma Bravo, a leading software investment firm, in an all-cash transaction valued at approximately $6.9 billion. Mark directs and drives the overall vision and strategy for SailPoint, which is underpinned by his passion for building top-performing teams, creating a collaborative and innovative work environment, and focusing continuously on the needs of customers.

Ethan MollickProfessor and AuthorThe Wharton School

Ethan Mollick is the Ralph J. Roberts Distinguished Faculty Scholar, Rowan Fellow, and Associate Professor at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, where he studies the effects of artificial intelligence on work, entrepreneurship, and education. His academic research has been published in leading journals, and his work on AI is widely applied, leading him to be named one of TIME Magazine’s Most Influential People in Artificial Intelligence. Ethan also writes to a wider audience about AI, including in his book, Co-Intelligence, which was a New York Times bestseller and a best book of the year from The Economist and Financial Times.

He has focused on the ways in which AI and simulations can transform classroom education, leading to him being named MBA Professor of the Year in Poets and Quants. In addition to his research and teaching, Ethan is the Co-Director of the Generative AI Labs at Wharton, which build prototypes and conduct research to discover how AI can help humans thrive while mitigating risks. Prior to his time in academia, Ethan co-founded a startup company, and he advises numerous organizations.

Mollick received his PhD and MBA from MIT’s Sloan School of Management and his bachelor’s degree from Harvard University.

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Date: April 22, 2026Duration: 29 min, 42 sec
AI & machine learning

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