In Conversation with David Morales, CIO | Western Governors University, Edu Unlocked Podcast

David Morales

Guest

David Morales serves as the Chief Information Officer and Senior Vice President of Technology at Western Governors University (WGU), where he leads all technology strategy and operations for the institution. With more than 19 years of experience as a software engineer and technology leader, he specializes in building scalable platforms, modernizing enterprise systems, and enabling innovation across large, complex organizations. David is deeply committed to solving real-world business challenges with the right technology while empowering teams to innovate and execute with excellence.
Before joining WGU, David spent over 12 years at Walmart, contributing to some of the company’s most transformative technology initiatives. He played a key role in developing Walmart’s private and public cloud offerings, leading Store Associate technology, and delivering major innovations—from robotics-based inventory scanning and next-generation labeling systems (including ESLs) to new Workforce Management ecosystems and advanced mobile applications supporting over one million associates. His work drove significant cost savings, improved operations, and enhanced item availability across thousands of stores.
David’s career also includes experience in NASA-focused Research & Development, litigation support, and technology consulting. His broad architectural expertise across software engineering, cloud, infrastructure, and operations is central to advancing WGU’s digital transformation and supporting the university’s mission of equitable, accessible, technology-enabled education.
Key Highlights:
1. Chief Information Officer & Senior Vice President of Technology, Western Governors University
2. 19+ years of experience in software engineering and technology leadership
3. Former Walmart technology leader driving cloud, retail innovation, and associate-focused solutions
4. Led development of mobile applications and systems supporting 1M+ store associates
5. Delivered major enterprise efficiencies through robotics, labeling systems, and Workforce Management innovations
6. Background includes NASA R&D, technology consulting, and enterprise systems design
7. Expertise across cloud platforms, software architecture, infrastructure, and operations
8. Leading WGU’s digital transformation with a focus on innovation, scalability, and student-centered solutions

Ashish Fernando

Host

Founder & CEO, EDMO
Ashish Fernando is the visionary founder and CEO of EDMO, a revolutionary educational technology platform that's transforming how people learn and grow. With over 15 years of experience in education and technology, Ashish has dedicated his career to making quality education accessible to learners worldwide. Before founding EDMO, Ashish held leadership positions at several prominent EdTech companies and worked as an educational consultant for Fortune 500 companies. He holds an MBA from Stanford Graduate School of Business and a Master's in Computer Science from MIT. Ashish is a frequent speaker at educational conferences and has been featured in publications such as EdTech Magazine, Learning & Development Today, and TechCrunch. He's passionate about the intersection of technology and human potential, believing that the right tools can unlock extraordinary learning outcomes for everyone. Under his leadership, EDMO has grown to serve over 100,000 learners globally and has partnerships with leading educational institutions and corporations. Ashish continues to drive innovation in personalized learning, adaptive assessment, and educational analytics.
Key Achievements:
1. Founded EDMO in 2019, now serving 100,000+ learners globally
2. Named 'EdTech Innovator of the Year' by Learning Technology Awards 2023
3. Featured speaker at Global Education Summit 2024
4. Published researcher in educational technology and learning analytics
5. Advisor to multiple EdTech startups and educational initiatives