Rob Zelinka on legacy systems
From CIO Rob Zelinka on AI, Resilient Leadership & Building a Legacy That Outlasts You · · The Software Leaders Uncensored Podcast
“Those systems that we depend on, we rely on to drive an experience were never built for today's modern world. They were built for yesterday's world — they weren't even built for the internet, Steve.”
On , Rob Zelinka, Vice President & Chief Information Officer at Jack Henry & Associates, Inc, spoke about legacy systems during CIO Rob Zelinka on AI, Resilient Leadership & Building a Legacy That Outlasts You on The Software Leaders Uncensored Podcast.
About Rob Zelinka
Rob Zelinka, Vice President and Chief Information Officer at Jack Henry & Associates, has been discussing the rapid pace of technological change and the importance of embracing artificial intelligence. In multiple interviews in 2024 and 2025, Zelinka stated that AI is "moving faster than any technology that I have seen in my 30 plus year career" and advised others to "embrace it, use it, but trust and verify it." He has also spoken about the need for governance around AI, noting that companies must "come up with governance for how they're going to manage the use of AI technology." Zelinka has emphasized that while technology is a differentiator, it is not a replacement for people, and that the human element remains critical, particularly in client-facing roles. Zelinka has also discussed his leadership philosophy, which he described as "servant leadership," and his focus on building high-performance teams. He has said that his goal is "to be a good human and make a positive difference in as many people's lives as I can." In a 2025 interview, he stated that "the more problems and obstacles you move out of your way, the more money you make," and that failure is a natural part of growth. He has also commented on the challenges facing CIOs, noting that the average lifespan in the role is around 18 months, calling it "almost an impossible job."