Building Trust, Texas Style: Merco Podcast Highlights
Hear highlights from JJ Davis on the Merco podcast about Dell’s Texas roots, building trust and fueling global impact.
By Tom Kane
Topics in this article:Leadership
Key takeaways
- Trust powers Dell’s approach to innovation and responsible AI, from strategy to customer delivery.
- Texas roots shape a global perspective that prioritizes real outcomes for people and communities.
- Responsible AI at Dell centers on ethics, transparency and workforce readiness so organizations can adopt AI with confidence.
In Texas, we believe in straight talk and rolling up our sleeves. At Dell, those values guide how we build, partner and deliver—with trust at the heart of it.
Last week, JJ Davis, our Senior Vice President for North America Public and Policy Marketing, joined the Merco podcast to discuss Dell’s recent recognition as Texas’s No. 2 most reputable company and Michael Dell’s recognition as the top business leader in the state.
That acknowledgment reflects what we value most—earning trust and driving positive change at home and around the world. Read more about the recognition in our post on driving innovation and impact across Texas and see Merco’s Most Reputable Companies in Texas ranking.
JJ and host Yndira Marin explored resilience, reputation and the real impact of technology. Here are some highlights from the conversation:
Trust at the core of innovation
At Dell, trust is foundational. As JJ shared, AI’s promise only matters if it’s responsible, transparent and focused on solving real problems for real people.
For JJ, trust starts with the basics: “Treat people the way you want to be treated, and if you make a commitment, keep that commitment. These are the same lessons many of us learned in kindergarten, and they absolutely apply in business today.”
Our teams combine leading technology with practical insight and hands-on partnership. We help organizations overcome roadblocks with trusted advice that targets their goals. Every relationship is a conversation. Every solution is a collaboration.
Trust also means showing measurable outcomes. One example: the City of Amarillo’s “Emma” AI assistant, built with Dell’s AI Factory and services, now handles hundreds of inquiries daily with high approval ratings and projected cost savings.
Local roots, global impact
JJ also shared how our Texas heritage shapes how we build for the world. “Dell is really an anchor here in Austin, Texas, where we were founded more than 40 years ago. As I mentioned, Michael Dell started our company in his University of Texas dorm room and quickly democratized technology and revolutionized the PC industry. We’ve done the same with servers, core infrastructure and now AI.”
Austin’s innovation ecosystem, powered by a major university in UT Austin and a deep pool of technical talent, creates a strong pipeline for ideas and impact. The region has become a hub for startups and scale-ups.
While Texas is home, our impact is global. Whether modernizing a small business in Houston or enabling breakthroughs in healthcare across Asia, we take a boots-on-the-ground approach in every region we serve. As JJ highlights, “Progress isn’t one-size-fits-all.” It’s about making innovation accessible everywhere and creating value for communities near and far.
Leading responsibly in the AI era
Our business is evolving fast with AI, but our values remain steady. JJ and Yndira discussed how Dell leads with responsibility and transparency, empowering customers to adopt AI with confidence.
Across the company, we are committed to building AI skills and preparing our workforce for the future. By fostering continuous learning, we enable innovation that is grounded in ethics and integrity.
As John Roese, Dell’s CTO and CAIO, puts it: “Understand what makes your company unique and use AI to amplify those strengths. Strategic application of AI drives faster, more impactful results.”
At Dell, responsible AI starts with clear principles, strong governance, and robust security, ensuring we help customers achieve their goals ethically.
Looking ahead with confidence
Our vision is clear: responsible AI that delivers practical results. By prioritizing trust and collaboration, we make innovation accessible and useful for everyone.
The Merco podcast offers a look at how our legacy, people and vision shape the future of technology. As JJ put it, “For Dell, technology is always about people—uplifting businesses, communities and individuals to turn challenges into progress, and progress into shared success.”
We are committed to earning trust every day by delivering AI solutions that are ethical, transparent, and focused on real results. Through collaboration and an unwavering dedication to customer value, we help organizations thrive in an AI-driven world.
To hear more on trust, innovation and responsible AI, listen to the Merco podcast.
