Episodes
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The AI Impact: Transforming Tech Roles and the Future of Work | The Pair Program Ep54
In this episode, we dive deep into the transformative power of AI in the workforce with two thought leaders shaping the future of tech talent: Dr. Diana Gehlhaus, Director for Economy at the Special Competitive Studies Project, and Angela Cough, Special Advisor to the Department of Defense’s Chief Digital and Artificial Intelligence Officer.
Together, they explore:
The evolution of tech roles as AI continues to redefine industries.The ripple effects of AI on hiring practices and workforce education.Key skill sets and industries poised for growth as AI evolves.How organizations can prepare for critical shifts in education and upskilling.Dr. Gehlhaus and Cough bring their rich backgrounds in policy, defense, and innovation to discuss how AI is reshaping what it means to be "tech talent" and the opportunities it presents for professionals across various sectors.
Whether you're a tech leader, educator, or job seeker, this episode will inspire you to rethink how we approach the workforce in the age of AI.
About Diana Gehlhaus: Dr. Diana Gehlhaus is a Director for Economy at the Special Competitive Studies Project. She is also an adjunct policy researcher at the RAND Corporation. Diana was previously a senior advisor in the U.S. Department of Defense Chief Digital and Artificial Intelligence Office (DoD CDAO), as well as a research fellow at Georgetown University’s Center for Security and Emerging Technology (CSET).
About Angela Cough: Angela Cough serves as Special Advisor to the Department of Defense’s Chief Digital and Artificial Intelligence Officer (CDAO). She leads the Digital Talent Management Division, driving innovation and advancing the DoD’s data, analytics, and AI workforce. Previously, Angela spearheaded the AI and Data Accelerator Initiative (ADA), enhancing digital capabilities across the Department and promoting data literacy. Her experience includes serving as Deputy Director of Defense Digital Services, managing counter-small unmanned product development, and contributing to NATO C-sUAS policy. With over 20 years of experience in startups and small businesses, Angela is also an entrepreneur, investor, and holds a black belt in the Martial Art of Tang Soo.
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Building and Scaling Customer Success Teams: A Startup’s Playbook | The Pair Program Ep53
In this episode, we sit down with Romaine Buck, VP of Customer Success at Articulate, and Toni Ann Careccio, Chief Customer Officer at PortPro, to explore the evolving role of Customer Success (CS) in startups and beyond. Both Romaine and Toni bring a wealth of experience in building and scaling CS teams that drive real value for customers and businesses alike.
They discuss:
The impact of Customer Success: How CS helps companies uncover the “why” behind customer needsKey differences between customer success and customer service teams, and why this newer discipline has become essential in techThe role that CS teams play, including managing renewals, upselling, and building strong customer relationshipsFostering a culture of continuous learning and adaptability within CS teamsWhere Romaine and Toni see this field heading for startups and beyondIf you’re scaling a startup, leading a CS team, or just curious about how Customer Success drives business impact, this episode is packed with actionable insights and strategies.
About Romaine Buck: Romaine is the VP of Customer Success at Articulate - an e-learning software company for creating workplace training. Before Articulate, Romaine was the Director of CS at Sprout Social and led CS for the central region of LinkedIn’s Sales Solutions product. Romaine transitioned into Customer Success after a sales career at LinkedIn and Monster.com. Prior to saas, Romaine also had careers in property management and journalism.
About Toni Ann Careccio: Toni is the Chief Customer Officer and Board Member at PortPro, a technology company with deep expertise in the global drayage industry. She has built an expert team of drayage and customer success experts to ensure that PortPro’s clients are taken care of from the minute they join the company by carefully listening to their needs and addressing their concerns. Before her role at PortPro, Toni worked as an Associate at Edison Partners where she was responsible for sourcing and evaluating investment opportunities in the Enterprise Solutions sector. Prior to this she co-founded and served as Chief Operating Officer for Axle Technologies, a robust ELD and Fleet Management Solution for trucking companies in the US and Mexico.
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Episodes manquant?
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In this episode of How We Hatched, host Tim Winkler sits down with Matt Theurer, Co-Founder & CEO of HyperSpectral.ai, to explore Matt’s entrepreneurial journey and his groundbreaking work in AI-driven spectral technology. Matt’s career has been marked by a series of bold ventures, from his early days at NIH to leading successful tech companies, including the sale of Virtustream to EMC for $1.2 billion. Today, Matt shares how HyperSpectral.ai is revolutionizing areas such as food safety, human health, and secure supply chains by combining AI with spectral data.
They delve into:
- Matt’s journey from a curious engineering student to pioneering entrepreneur.
- His venture with Virtustream, including the pursuit of raising venture capital.
- The origins of HyperSpectral.ai and the many use cases of their technology
- Interest from DARPA in solving secure supply chain issues and expanding HyperSpectral’s applications in government
Join us as Matt shares insights into balancing family, ambition, and the relentless pursuit of innovation in spectral technology.
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Unlocking Value in the Federal Market: A Conversation with Deep Water Point & Associates | The Pair Program Ep52
In this episode, we dive into the complex world of federal market consulting with Greg Buckis and Meghan DiAndrea, leaders at Deep Water Point & Associates. Deep Water is known for blending government and industry expertise, offering clients tailored guidance to navigate the intricacies of the federal space. Greg and Meghan share insights into their unique business model and the values that drive their work. Whether it's helping clients write winning proposals or guiding them through acquisitions, Deep Water is all about empowering growth and delivering results.
They discuss:
Deep Water’s innovative business model and their talent-first approach.How Deep Water leverages a consultant-heavy model to drive growth.The types of projects they undertake, from government-wide contracts to transaction advisory.The qualities they look for in consultants and the unique backgrounds they attract.Industry trends and emerging opportunities in the government sector.Tune in for an engaging conversation on how Deep Water Point & Associates is shaping the future of federal consulting!
About Meghan DiAndrea: Consultant with more than a decade of government contracting experience specializing in corporate operations. She is a proven leader focused on driving enterprise organizational performance and translating business strategy into powerful people strategy. Since joining Deep Water Point and Associates she has advised on and led client engagements across the federal business lifecycle with primary focus on pre- and post-merger integration.
About Greg Buckis: Greg is the CFO at Deep Water Point & Associates and has held senior financial roles in various GOV CON businesses to include public company corporat controllers and private company CFO. He also was at Nasdaq helping them go public. Much of his career has involved change management, business transformation and Mergers and Acquisitions.
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CTO Wisdom with Liming Zhao | Beyond The Program
Welcome to CTO Wisdom, where we explore the journeys of technical leaders who have transitioned into executive roles. Today, guest host Eric Brooke sits down with Liming Zhao, a technology innovator transforming traditional industries.
In this episode, they cover:
Liming’s journey from researcher to CTO, and the challenges along the way.The importance of staying current with emerging technologies.The need to delegate effectively to avoid bottlenecks and empower your team.How decision-making evolves as you rise to senior leadership, often with limited information.Embracing failure as a learning opportunity.The role of networking for mentorship and peer support.About today’s guest: Liming Zhao, former CTO of Nomad Health and Compass, is a technology innovator transforming traditional industries. At Compass, he led the technology team and developed a comprehensive productivity suite for real estate agents, while at Nomad Health, he and his team created an AI-powered digital labor marketplace for healthcare professionals. With a Ph.D. in computer science and experience in supercomputing at D.E. Shaw Research, Liming applies his expertise to solve complex business challenges. He envisions a future where technological advancements optimize societal productivity, enabling humans to focus on their unique strengths while technology handles routine tasks efficiently.
About today’s host: Eric Brooke has a rich and varied leadership career - leading up to 21,000 people and Billions in revenue, throughout 14 countries. In their career, they have been an Executive six times (e.g. President, CEO, CMO, and CTO) and a Board member of multiple organisations. Eric has been a CTO of scaling startups from 0 to 120 engineers. As an adviser and mentor, they have helped multiple other startups scale both in Canada and the US. As well as supporting multiple startup incubators such as 1871 in Chicago and TechStars.
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Mission Transition: SkillBridge's Role in Civilian Careers | The Pair Program Ep51
In this episode, we sit down with two incredible guests - Cameron Watts and John Sokol - who bring a wealth of experience from both military service and the civilian workforce. Together, they dive into the SkillBridge program, which connects transitioning service members with internship opportunities in the civilian world, offering a direct pathway to employment.Tune in to learn about the unique challenges veterans face in corporate transitions, the importance of programs like SkillBridge, and actionable advice for veterans and companies alike.Whether you’re a veteran planning your next move or a company eager to hire talented veterans, this episode is packed with insights you don’t want to miss!
About Cameron Watts: Special Operations veteran and experienced leader in venture capital with a strong track record in driving growth and innovation. Currently focused on product development at an AI company, blending technical expertise with strategic insight to shape the future of the industry.
About John Sokol: John is a retired (20 years) Naval Officer who worked as a Naval Flight Officer during his time in service. At the end of his Naval career, he did a SkillBridge internship with STIHL, Inc working in their E-commerce department. At the completion of the internship, John started working at 2 Circle, Inc, which is a small veteran-owned company, where he works as a Senior Warfare Analyst and a Business Development Manager.
References:
https://skillbridge.osd.mil/
https://www.hiringourheroes.org/
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How We Hatched: Michael Hauser, VP and Managing Partner of SAIC Ventures
Welcome to our most recent episode of How We Hatched! In this episode, you’ll hear from Michael Hauser, Vice President and Managing Partner of SAIC Ventures. SAIC leverages IT and digital engineering to solve the government’s most pressing challenges while strategically investing in national security and commercial dual-use startups.Tune in to discover:
How SAIC accelerates go-to-market for startups and aligns them with federal customersThe defense tech ecosystem and key verticals SAIC focuses onWhat makes SAIC a strategic investor, not just a financial backerInsights into their investment process, including the horizons and industries they targetMichael's take on the top defense tech trends, plus a fun discussion about his worst fashion choice!If you’re a founder aiming to make an impact in the federal space, this episode is a must-listen!
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Navigating Defense Innovation: Collaborative Piloting with the U.S. Navy & Startups | The Pair Program Ep50
In this compelling episode, we delve into the evolving landscape of defense technology and innovation with three experts leading the charge.
Join us as we speak with Justin Fanelli, Acting CTO for the Department of Navy and Technical Director of PEO Digital; Katie Wildman, Senior Business and Technology Strategist at PEO Digital and Enterprise Services; and Colin Gounden, CEO of VIA.
Together, they explore the critical intersection of defense missions and technological advancements, and how collaboration between the Navy and startups is driving significant progress.In this episode, you’ll discover:
How the Department of the Navy’s mission is closely linked with advancements in technology and the need for ongoing innovation.The Navy’s collaboration with startups: Hear from Colin Gounden on how VIA aligns with the Navy’s mission and the importance of integrating commercial tech solutions within defense operations.How the Navy employs structured piloting and challenges to scale and evaluate new technologies.Insights on where commercial companies can identify opportunities to work with the Navy, and tips for contributing to defense innovation.About Justin Fanelli: Justin is the Acting CTO for the Dept of Navy and the Technical Director (TD) of PEO Digital. As CTO, his office is laser focused on measurably improving technology-driven mission outcomes within the Dept of Navy. As TD, his Program Executive Office is expediting the performant, secure transformation of enterprise information technology infrastructure. He currently serves as an Advisor for Advanced Research Project Agency – Health (ARPA-H), the NIST AI Safety Institute and various S&T advisory boards. Outside of the office, he currently teaches graduate courses at Georgetown University. Justin has lectured at a dozen other universities including Harvard, Dartmouth and Penn. He advises on innovation and recently gave a TED talk on innovation adoption.
About Katie Wildman: Katie Wildman is a Senior Business and Technology Strategist supporting Program Executive Office Digital and Enterprise Services (PEO DES) at the Department of Navy (DON). She manages the PEO DES pilot program, accelerating adoption of modern technology and business processes at the DON. When not at work, she loves to run, travel, and volunteer at hospice facilities with her therapy dog, Maisey!
About Colin Gounden: As VIA’s CEO, Colin Gounden has led VIA’s Web3 technology roadmap and secured several of the world’s leading energy companies and the U.S. Department of Defense as customers. Colin is a Harvard University graduate with two previous successful startup exits and is a co-inventor on multiple VIA patents.
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Navigating the Clouds: Decoding FedRAMP with LaunchDarkly and Schellman | The Pair Program Ep49
In this episode of The Pair Program, we dive deep into the complexities of FedRAMP with two industry veterans who have navigated the process firsthand. Sara Mazer, Federal CTO at LaunchDarkly, and Nick Rundhaug, Managing Director at Schellman, join us to shed light on the FedRAMP authorization journey and offer valuable insights for companies seeking to achieve this prestigious certification.
FedRAMP, the Federal Risk and Authorization Management Program, is a critical framework managed by the GSA’s Program Management Office that ensures cloud services meet stringent security requirements before working with the government. LaunchDarkly’s successful FedRAMP authorization is a testament to their commitment to security and compliance, and Sara Mazer, who led the charge from start to finish, shares her experience and the challenges faced along the way.
In this episode, Sara and Nick discuss:
What FedRAMP is and why it's crucial for Cloud companies working with the government.LaunchDarkly’s journey through the FedRAMP process and Sara’s role as the first technical team member.Insights into Schellman’s role as a Third-Party Assessment Organization (3PAO) and their partnership with LaunchDarkly.Tips and advice for companies aiming to achieve FedRAMP certification, including common misconceptions and the importance of preparation.Strategies for successful FedRAMP navigation, including the need for agency sponsors and leveraging readiness assessments.Tune in to gain a comprehensive understanding of FedRAMP, learn from the experts, and discover practical advice to help your organization achieve cloud security certification.
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Revolutionizing Clinical Trials: A Technological Leap Forward | The Pair Program Ep48
In this compelling episode of The Pair Program, we dive into the intersection of cutting-edge technology and clinical research with two distinguished guests: Dr. Lawrence Cheskin, a pioneer in obesity research, and Harsha Rajasimha, the innovative founder of Jeeva Clinical Trials. Join us as we explore how their unique expertise is transforming the landscape of clinical trials and healthcare.
Dr. Cheskin, a Professor at George Mason University and former Director of Clinical Research at the Global Obesity Prevention Center, shares his extensive experience in combating obesity through rigorous clinical investigation and public health initiatives. His work in mHealth and behavioral interventions has significantly advanced obesity treatment and self-management.
Harsha Rajasimha, CEO of Jeeva Clinical Trials, brings a fresh perspective to clinical trial execution with his company’s modern platform designed to streamline trials and enhance efficiency. Inspired by a personal tragedy involving a rare genetic disease, Harsha’s mission is to provide universal access to clinical trials, making a profound impact on both rare and common diseases.In this episode, we discuss:
The journey from startup inception to practical healthcare solutions.How Harsha’s personal experiences shaped his mission and the development of Jeeva Clinical Trials.Dr. Cheskin’s commitment to obesity research and the intersection of his work with modern technology.The collaboration between Harsha and Lawrence to drive innovation in clinical trials.The challenges and strategies in integrating new technology into clinical settings and reaching target markets.Tune in to hear how these leaders are working together to revolutionize clinical trials and make a significant impact on healthcare.
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Driving Innovation: The Partnership Between Champ and W.R. Berkley | The Pair Program Ep47
In this episode, we hear from two guests: Shane Bigelow and Mike Nannizzi. Shane is the CEO of Champ, a Cleveland-based technology company that is changing the way that vehicle titles are created, managed, and transferred in the United States.
Mike runs the venture arm for W.R. Berkley with a specialty in early stage technology companies.
They discuss:
The inspiring story behind Champ and the critical problems they’re solving in the vehicle title industry.W.R. Berkley's role in supporting Champ's mission.Insights into early-stage technology investments.The challenges of bringing innovation into the federal space.The future of government-collaborative technology solutions.Whether you're interested in entrepreneurship, government technology, or strategic partnerships in tech, tune in to get practical insights from industry leaders at the forefront of innovation!
About Shane Bigelow: Shane McRann Bigelow is CEO of Champ Titles, a Cleveland-based technology company that is changing the way that vehicle titles are created, managed, and transferred in the United States. Prior to Champ Titles, Bigelow was a Senior Vice President and Managing Director at Bernstein, where he managed a part of that firm’s U.S. business and sat on the firm’s Responsible Investment Committee that focused on the United Nation’s Principles for Responsible Investment; Environmental, Social and Governance Issues (ESG); and Socially Responsible Investment matters. There, Shane developed a highly informed view of how emerging technologies can help society through reducing the costs of government, which informs the business at Champ Titles today.
About Michael Nannizzi: Mike runs the venture arm for WR Berkley with a specialty in early stage technology companies. Mike primarily focuses on companies within the fintech space, and his investments typically involve both a financial position and role in the respective companies' Board of Directors. Mike lives in Larchmont New York with his wife Kathy, children Sasha, Natalie, and Max, and dogs, Fergie and Malibu.
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How We Hatched: Will Wilson, Co-Founder of Antithesis
Dive into the entrepreneurial journey of Will Wilson, Co-Founder of Antithesis, in this episode of "How We Hatched."
Host, Tim Winkler, interviews Will about:
HIs journey into technology, including his inspiration to start his own company and the mentor who inspired him to take the leap.His career path to becoming the founder of Antithesis, including his time spent at Apple and Google.The problems Antithesis is solving and the impact they’re making in the tech industry.The decision to operate Antithesis in stealth mode for 5 years and the team’s experience transitioning out of stealth mode.The advantages and disadvantages of staying in stealth mode, including access to investors and capital without public exposure.About Will Wilson: Will Wilson is a former mathematician who switched to software because it seemed easier. He built distributed databases at FoundationDB, Apple, and Google. Along the way, he realized that computers are actually the enemy, and founded Antithesis to put them in their place.
Check out Antithesis: https://antithesis.com/
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The Rise of Fractional Tech Leadership: Perspectives from Industry Experts | The Pair Program Ep46
In this insightful episode, we dive into the evolving landscape of fractional tech leadership with two seasoned experts, Dan Maccarone and Matt Walnock. As co-founder of Charming Robot, Dan brings a wealth of experience as a fractional Chief Product Officer, while Matt, with nine years of mentoring and coaching cloud companies, offers invaluable insights as a fractional Chief Technology Officer.
Join us as we explore the nuances of fractional tech leadership roles, from aligning engineering and product with business objectives to integrating with teams and establishing trust. Our guests provide valuable perspectives on the market for fractional roles, the difference between fractional leaders and consultants, and the ideal stage of company seeking such expertise.Whether you're considering stepping into a fractional tech leadership role or seeking to understand its impact on organizational success, this episode offers practical advice and valuable insights from industry leaders at the forefront of innovation.
About Dan Maccarone: Dan is the co-founder of Charming Robot, a product design company based in NYC. For the past twenty years, he has been helping startups and media companies shape their online product strategy, including Foursquare, Rent The Runway, Jetsetter, The Block, Blade and Skift. His experience also includes television, music and print media, and he has worked with Late Night with Jimmy Fallon, Gawker, Saturday Night Live, Universal Music and The Wall Street Journal. One of his most noted projects was creating the original strategy and user experience for Hulu. Prior to Charming Robot, Dan co-founded the design agency Hard Candy Shell.
About Matt Walnock: As a consulting technologist with 28 years in the tech industry, Matt has spent the last 9 years mentoring, coaching, and leading early-stage and scaling cloud companies. His focus is on empowering teams, offering personalized guidance to navigate challenges in technology development. His experience includes roles as CTO, VP of Engineering, and Software Architect at companies like Microsoft, Parature, MCI/Verizon Business, and IBM, where he’s earned seven patents. Matt has a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science from Penn State University. He is the co-founder of Longitude 77, a company on a mission to elevate technology teams and optimize their strategic vision and engineering processes.
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Valor in the Workforce: Unlocking Veteran Talent with Headlamp | The Pair Program Ep45
Join us for an inspiring episode as we shine a spotlight on the crucial role of veterans in the workforce and the innovative solutions driving their successful transition into civilian life. Our guests, Steve Chang, founder of Headlamp, and Jeremy Hitchcock, co-founder of a venture firm backing Headlamp, share their insights and experiences in leveraging veteran talent to solve pressing challenges in the tech industry and beyond.
From Steve's personal journey as a former army recruiter turned startup founder to Jeremy's commitment to supporting Headlamp's mission, this episode explores the untapped potential of veterans and the imperative of optimizing their skillsets for the benefit of both businesses and national security.
Discover how Headlamp's cutting-edge technology is accelerating veteran transition and fostering partnerships with companies eager to harness the unique capabilities of this valuable talent pool. Whether you're passionate about veteran empowerment or interested in the impact of mission-driven startups, this episode offers valuable insights into the intersection of talent, innovation, and social impact.
About Steve Chang. A distinguished former special forces officer and the founder of Headlamp. Steve’s team at Headlamp is on a mission to rebuild the backbone of American business, with veterans.
About Jeremy Hitchcock. Jeremy Hitchcock is a co-founder/partner of New North Ventures, an early stage venture fund investing at the intersection of national security and innovation. He was previously a co-founder of Dyn, an Internet infrastructure company acquired by Oracle and Minim, and IoT cybersecurity company.
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CTO Wisdom with Mike Grushin | Beyond the Program
Welcome to CTO Wisdom. In this series, we interview technical leaders who have stepped into executive positions.
Today’s guest host, Eric Brooke, speaks with Mike Grushin, Co-founder and CTO at Next League.
About today’s guest: Formerly a founding partner of OMNIGON and Chief Product Officer at InfrontX, Mike is a co-founder and CTO at Next League. He leads the global Technology team, working with partners to analyze their challenges and opportunities while designing the technical solutions to achieve their business objectives. Mike has extensive experience in executive-level positions, including COO, where he oversaw company operations, and CTO, where he was responsible for developing and managing technology and product services. Mike played a critical role in the commercialization of InfrontX products and services.
In addition to his role at Next League, Mike is also a co-founder of ProFolios.ai, a SaaS Platform that empowers students and seasoned professionals to create “a professional presence that they are proud to share”. Mike and his wife are grateful parents to their 3 sons and live in Boca Raton, FL.
About today’s host: Eric Brooke has a rich and varied leadership career - leading up to 21,000 people and Billions in revenue, throughout 14 countries. In their career, they have been an Executive six times (e.g. President, CEO, CMO, and CTO) and a Board member of multiple organisations. Eric has been a CTO of scaling startups from 0 to 120 engineers. As an adviser and mentor, they have helped multiple other startups scale both in Canada and the US. As well as supporting multiple startup incubators such as 1871 in Chicago and TechStars.
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Overcoming the Valley of Death: Startup Solutions in Government Tech | The Pair Program Ep44
Join us for an insightful exploration into the intricate landscape of government technology modernization, as we delve into the daunting valley of death faced by startups in the defense sector.
Our guests, Warren Katz and Col Aneel Alvares, bring unparalleled expertise and firsthand experience in overcoming the regulatory, bureaucratic, and scalability hurdles that often impede innovation in government operations.
They offer invaluable insights into the funding gap, product-market fit challenges, and the transformative potential of government reform. From navigating long sales cycles to addressing scalability and integration issues, this episode paints a comprehensive picture of the current state of affairs and highlights the critical need for a healthier ecosystem for small businesses in government tech.
About Aneel Alvares. Col Aneel "Cramden" Alvares helps lead engagement with the DoD and is the Boston Lead at the Defense Innovation Unit. His military background includes experience as a B-1 pilot, terminal attack controller, and operational test and evaluation leader, with service in both Iraq and Afghanistan. In his current role, he leads a team that frames new projects by leveraging commercial sector technologies to address priority DoD problems, while also working to engage the greater Boston and east coast innovation ecosystems.
About Warren Katz. Warren is currently Chairman of The Board of The Alliance for Commercial Technology in Government. Previously, Warren was the Managing Director for Techstars’ Air Force Accelerator, helping AFWERX and the US Air Force become more attractive customers to startup companies. He is an angel investor and mentor to dozens of dual-use companies and was formerly the CEO of MAK Technologies. With Bachelor’s in both Mechanical and Electrical Engineering from MIT, Warren possesses deep technical and business acumen, with specific expertise in barriers to doing business with the government.
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CTO Wisdom with Alexis Smirnov | Beyond the Program
Welcome to CTO Wisdom. In this series, we interview technical leaders who have stepped into executive positions.
Today’s guest host, Eric Brooke, speaks with Alexis Smirnov. Alexis is the CTO of Dialogue, Canada's premier virtual healthcare and wellness platform, providing affordable, on-demand access to quality care.
In today’s episode, they discuss:
A career starting on a programmable calculator, to Russian Space Research Institute to Microsoft to Co-founding two tech companiesWorking in HealthTech and the Purpose it can give youImportance of promoting yourself into new rolesImportance of building relationships through your careerHow you grow in your career and the importance of selling Vision and working with others to create the actions to achieve itAs a co-founder how important to recognize when you hit a wall, or when your work as IC is less important than the co-ordination of othersHow much of your focus at C-suite is on the growing of a healthy and sustainable businessAbout today’s guest: Over his three decades in the software industry, Alexis has used transformational technologies to build products and services at startups and Fortune 100 companies. In 2016, he co-founded and is serving as the CTO of Dialogue, Canada's premier virtual healthcare and wellness platform, providing affordable, on-demand access to quality care. Before Dialogue, he led the design and development of the social analytics system, built an award-winning semantic search engine, and incubated a platform for conversational apps. Alexis has co-founded Pi Corp, a pioneering cloud startup and successfully sold it to EMC. An active member of Montreal's technology startup community, Alexis holds several software patents.
About today’s host: Eric Brooke has a rich and varied leadership career - leading up to 21,000 people and Billions in revenue, throughout 14 countries. In their career, they have been an Executive six times (e.g. President, CEO, CMO, and CTO) and a Board member of multiple organisations. Eric has been a CTO of scaling startups from 0 to 120 engineers. As an adviser and mentor, they have helped multiple other startups scale both in Canada and the US. As well as supporting multiple startup incubators such as 1871 in Chicago and TechStars.
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Frontline Innovators: Transforming Defense Technology with AFWERX and Second Front Systems | The Pair Program Ep43
In this enlightening episode, we explore the groundbreaking work of Second Front Systems and AFWERX – both organizations that are driving technological advancements for our nation's warfighters. Join our guests, Donald 'Chee' Gansberg and Enrique Oti, as they share their remarkable journeys and insights at the intersection of software innovation and national security.
Chee, a former special operations forward air controller turned software evangelist at AFWERX, and Enrique, Chief Strategy Officer at Second Front Systems and retired Air Force Colonel, provide unparalleled perspectives on government tech modernization and the challenges of navigating the federal acquisition process. They delve into the mission of AFWERX to foster internal innovation within the Air Force and Second Front
Systems' quest to bridge the gap between cutting-edge technology and government utilization.
From overcoming bureaucratic barriers to building trust with the government, this episode offers invaluable insights for
anyone passionate about defense tech innovation and the transformative power of collaboration between startups and government agencies. Tune in to discover how these visionary leaders are reshaping the future of defense technology.
About Donald ‘Chee’ Gansberger:
Chee Gansberger was a computer programmer in the IndyCar series and the Silicon Valley who decided one day in September, 2001, that he'd rather jump out of airplanes and blow things up. After years as a special operations forward air controller including numerous deployments as a front-line operator, he ended up first in traditional acquisitions and then in the innovation scene. After helping usher in modern software reform while part of DIUx he then moved to AFWERX, as a software evangelist trying to bring innovative use of software to the warfighter.
About Enrique Oti:
Enrique Oti is the Chief Strategy Officer of Second Front Systems (2F), where he fast-tracks government access to disruptive, commercially-proven software-as-a-service (SaaS) applications for national security missions. Prior to joining 2F, Enrique had a 23-year career in the United States Air Force, during which he served in multiple assignments as a cyber warfare officer and China Foreign Area Officer. Enrique commanded an intelligence support squadron in Korea, and was a co-founder of the Defense Innovation Unit in Silicon Valley. He co-founded the Kessel Run software development program, and in his final assignment served as the Kessel Run commander, retiring as a Colonel. Enrique earned a BS in History from the U.S. Air Force Academy, an MS in Strategic Intelligence from the Joint Military Intelligence College, and an MA in International Relations from Zhejiang University in China, where he studied as an Olmsted Scholar.
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CTO Wisdom with Sushma Nallapeta | Beyond the Program
Welcome to CTO Wisdom. In this series, we interview technical leaders who have stepped into executive positions.
Today’s guest host, Eric Brooke, speaks with Sushma Nallapeta, CTO of Trusted Health.
About today’s guest: As CTO of Trusted Health, Sue Nallapeta leads an organization of over 100 technologists, reimagining healthcare staffing with a core mission of helping people find care. With a background in Computer Science, Sue has over a decade of experience across various consumer facing businesses, marketplaces and enterprise software. She has navigated the landscapes of both public companies and startups, weathering numerous acquisitions on both ends of the spectrum. She has built highly performant, vastly scalable engineering systems that have touched millions of customers and led product and technology innovations that have contributed to top line company growth.
About today’s host: Eric Brooke has a rich and varied leadership career - leading up to 21,000 people and Billions in revenue, throughout 14 countries. In their career, they have been an Executive six times (e.g. President, CEO, CMO, and CTO) and a Board member of multiple organisations. Eric has been a CTO of scaling startups from 0 to 120 engineers. As an adviser and mentor, they have helped multiple other startups scale both in Canada and the US. As well as supporting multiple startup incubators such as 1871 in Chicago and TechStars.
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