Episodes
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Today, I’m thrilled to have Eddie Heffernan join us.
Eddie has built a remarkable career in tech, bridging the gaps between strategy, development, and executive leadership.
Recently, he made an exciting transition to a Fractional CTO role, a path that's gaining traction in the modern tech ecosystem.In this episode, we’ll dive into Eddie’s journey—how his experiences shaped his leadership style, what a Fractional CTO brings to the table, and how this role can drive innovation and growth for businesses.
We’ll also explore the growing demand for flexible tech leadership in today’s fast-paced world and hear Eddie’s vision for the future of tech-enabled organizations.Enjoy!
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What is a fractional CTO?
Most importantly, WHO, is a fractional CTO?
Can anyone become one? or, do you need a certain seniority, a certain career and exposure to different experiences?Today, I’m thrilled to welcome Eric Hunsberger, a seasoned tech leader who has recently embraced the dynamic and impactful role of a fractional CTO.
With a rich career spanning various leadership positions in technology, Eric brings a unique perspective on navigating the evolving demands of modern businesses while empowering teams to achieve their potential.In this episode, we’ll dive into Eric’s journey—what inspired his transition to a fractional role, the defining moments that shaped his leadership style, and how his diverse experiences inform his approach today. We’ll also explore the unique value a fractional CTO brings to an organization, the challenges of leading in a non-traditional capacity, and his advice for tech professionals aspiring to follow a similar path.
Plus, we’ll get a glimpse into the human side of leadership as Eric shares what keeps him energized when he’s not working.Enjoy!
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Missing episodes?
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Politics exist everywhere.
Politics at work can be exhausting. They can turn a place toxic, create health issues, and hamper productivity.
There is a better way.
We all know there is a better way... but, what happens if we play nice when others don't?
If I become the nice guy at work, will this have a negative impact on my career?
Join me as I interview Brad Wilson, a senior leader in HR with more than 20 years of experience, to talk about his story, his thoughts on doing good work, and why this matters so much to him.
We'll talk about practical tips to leverage goodness at work, with real life positive outcomes.
Enjoy!
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Today, we’re diving into the topic of Leadership in Technology.
Our guest, Jonathan Kash, is a seasoned technology leader with a remarkable track record of creating high-performing teams and fostering cultures that prioritize authenticity and excellence.
Jonathan has had very good bosses and not so good bosses. He learned almost as much by watching leaders act, than by being a leader himself.
Leadership matters to Jonathan. It matters so much, he is writing a book about it, about his experience, and practical advice on how to be a better leader.
In this episode, we’ll talk about what it takes to lead in today’s fast-paced, tech-driven world. From Jonathan’s personal journey to his advice on building authentic connections, we’ll explore how leaders can foster high-performance cultures while remaining true to their values.
I know you will enjoy this conversation as much as myself.
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Today’s episode is an inspiring journey into the world of creativity, adaptability, and what it means to thrive as a modern polymath in technology.
Joining me is the multi-talented Sam Hopkins—a true generalist who has made waves in tech, language preservation, music, and even as a trivia champion on Jeopardy.
Sam’s unique career path blends disciplines like sociology, philosophy, and music, demonstrating the incredible power of interdisciplinary thinking in solving complex problems and fostering innovation.
In this episode, we’ll explore how Sam’s ADHD has driven his diverse learning journey, how his love for connection and creativity shapes his work, and why being a generalist is a superpower in today’s fast-evolving tech landscape.
From the lessons he’s learned as a DJ and language learner to his thoughts on ethics in tech and advice for aspiring generalists, Sam’s story is a testament to the power of curiosity and versatility.
So, tune in as we uncover the fascinating intersections of technology, humanity, and creativity with Sam Hopkins!
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Do you work in tech?
How many women work in your team? How many women are in leadership roles in your company?
Do you think about diversity or what it means to be a woman in tech? Do you worry about it?
If you are worried, do you take any steps to change anything?
I find the least I can do... is listen.
And this is what I will do today, in this episode. I will interview Jennifer Larson, an executive in the tech industry with over 20 years of experience, so SHE can tell us about her journey in tech, why diversity matters, why education is so important, and where do we go from here.Enjoy!
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Psychological safety is a key ingredient for high performing teams.
You've heard about it multiple times. You've read about it. And maybe, if you were lucky enough, you worked in great teams where psychological safety was a reality.
But, what is it? How do we define it? How do we foster this sense of safety in a team? How do we safeguard this safety over time?
Today, I will interview Jared Olhoft, a technology executive with over 20 years of experience driving organizational success and leading high performing teams. We will talk about his background in the technology industry, and why psychological safety is so important for him as a leader, and how to enable it.
Enjoy!
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In today’s episode, we’re diving into the transformative role of data and AI in modern business with none other than Mike Burke—a seasoned tech leader whose insights on data culture and innovation are reshaping how companies operate in a digital age. Mike brings a wealth of experience in data-driven strategy and leadership, making him the perfect guest to explore the ever-evolving landscape of technology.
We’ll unpack the essentials of building a strong data culture, examine the role of data-driven decision-making in organizational growth, and discuss the critical skills leaders need to navigate the rapid pace of tech advancements. Mike will also share his vision on where AI and big data are heading, along with some of the emerging tools and trends he believes will define the future.
Whether you’re a tech enthusiast, business leader, or just curious about the future, this conversation is packed with insights you won’t want to miss.
Enjoy! -
I spent 10 years of my life leading Procurement and Vendor Management teams.
I loved the job. You get to learn something new every day. If you lead procurement for a large organization, you are dealing with various different needs and therefore industries and suppliers. From real estate to office supplies, from SaaS to Staff Augmentation, from Cloud Hosting to Cyber Security, from Translation Services to Event Planning… you name it.
The biggest challenge for any procurement organization? to really understand the need of your internal stakeholder, and therefore product or service that best suits such need.
Easier said than done. Procurement teams are typically understaffed and overworked and need to jump from one deal to the next in lightspeed context switching. And you are dealing with suppliers and vendors that sell the same thing over and over and over, so you are under-trained compared to vendors and sometimes you don’t even know what questions matter most to decide what solution to choose.
Enter Teem, an AI-powered supplier sourcing platform for procurement teams, that automates supplier research, RFXs, and consolidation insights for technology sourcing and procurement teams.
An esteemed friend and colleague from the Procurement world introduced me to Ben Mappen, CEO and Cofounder of Teem, and I am glad he made the connection. Prior to Teem, Ben cofounded Armory, a DevOps platform that raised over $80M in VC funding and exited last year. Ben has led and scaled Sales, Customer Success, and Product teams to drive growth and innovation.
So this became a conversation around the future of work for Procurement teams, but also about Ben’s past and future as an entrepreneur and startup founder.
Many lessons here about these topics.
Enjoy!
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The world of product management in technology companies is fascinating.
A product leader is arguably the most strategic role at a tech company.
What are we building and why? Where are we going? What does our roadmap look like?
Product Leaders need to tune in to the business they support, the customers they serve, the market and industry they are in, and the trends shaping its future.
And then they need to orchestrate various moving pieces to deliver value, in time, to real customers, paying customers.
Today, we are going to dive deep into the world of Andrew (Drew) Mechkoff-Nolte, Chief Product Officer at ThirdHome, and the specific market he caters for: a Luxury Brand market.
How do things work with these types of affluent customers? What are the do's and don'ts in the world of luxury?
Are you as intrigued as I am?
Enjoy! -
Today, we’re talking about AI—a field surrounded by a lot of hype.
While AI promises to revolutionize industries, the truth is many projects fail to deliver real results.
That's why it’s so important to focus on initiatives that can actually make an impact.
But, how do you do that? How do you choose the right projects? How does AI fit into them? How do you measure success?To answer these questions, and many more, I will interview John Sukup, Founder of Expected X and an expert in driving AI-powered success.
In this episode, we’ll explore how John navigates beyond the hype to create meaningful AI solutions that deliver results. We'll dive into his journey, the challenges he’s faced, and what it takes to make AI work in the real world.
If you want to understand how AI can be leveraged for real change, you won't want to miss this conversation. -
Do you have a strong network?
Would you say you are part of a community? Do you feel a sense of belonging?
When was the last time you tried to enter into, or build, a new community?
Was it hard? Or is this something that comes easy to you?
In my own personal experience, getting into, or building a new community, is not easy. And sometimes, business can make it harder, or, more interesting.
That's our topic for today. With an interesting twist. Building a community across borders. Yes... building a community in a foreign country, with a foreign language, and foreign customs and cultural codes.
You don't want to miss this one! Our guest, Joe Teo, builds communities for a living. He is an immigrant himself, so he knows a thing or two about adapting to new environments.
Let's hear more about his story!
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I've been doing business development for over 5 years now.
You know what my biggest fear is? An empty calendar.
The absence of meetings.
Every person in sales knows this. You need meetings. You need people in front of you. Then you can work your magic.
Getting those meetings? Not that easy.
Enter the SALES DEVELOPMENT REPRESENTATIVE, the SDR. Their only job is to prospect clients, generate leads, and take them to meetings.
It's a hard business to be in I tell you. But the best SDRs? Oh they have FUN. Every new day is an opportunity to uncover new opportunities.
How do you assemble a team of great SDRs? How do you get the best of them?
Those are some of the questions I will ask today, to my amazing guest, Gabe Lullo... an experienced leader in the space, who, let me just tell you a few numbers... has trained over 8,000 salespeople across diverse businesses and, during his tenure in Alleyoop, he has personally hired and managed more than 1,500 SDRs...
Enjoy!
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The amount of data that gets uploaded on social media on a daily basis is mind numbing.
Numbers are beyond comprehension. Millions and millions of photos, videos, comments, blogs, interviews... you name it.
Everyone is fighting for attention. Craving for humans to focus on their latest creation. Trying to understand algorithms and make sense of why certain content goes viral and some don't.
So many questions. So many experts out there. What should we trust? is there a secret formula? a method?
Today, we're diving deep into the world of online marketing and content consumption with none other than Ted Harrison, the founder and CEO of neuemotion.
Ted's work at Neuemotion has revolutionized the way brands connect with audiences by applying neuroscience to understand how humans engage with content in the digital age.
I think we are in good hands. So sit tight, and enjoy the ride.
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Today, we have a special guest, Stive Suarez, a visionary tech leader at Xseed, with a wealth of experience driving innovation and software development across global markets.
Stive has been instrumental in shaping Xseed’s growth, particularly focusing on harnessing the immense talent pool in Latin America (LATAM).
In this episode, we’ll dive into Stive’s unique insights on why LATAM is emerging as a Tech Talent Hub; what it means to be a tech leader in the ever-evolving software development landscape, and Stive’s personal journey towards leadership.
Enjoy!
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Today we’re diving deep into the past, present, and future of cryptocurrency with none other than Riccardo Spagni, better known as "fluffypony." Riccardo has been a pivotal figure in the crypto world, particularly for his work with Monero, one of the leading privacy-focused cryptocurrencies.
In this episode, we’ll explore Riccardo's journey from the early days of Monero to his current projects. We’ll discuss why privacy became such an essential part of his mission and why it remains critical in today’s ever-increasingly digital world. We’ll also look at what’s working in the crypto space, what isn’t, and how governments around the world are grappling with crypto regulations.
We’ll touch on the hot topics of stablecoins and CBDCs, and Riccardo will share his thoughts on the challenges of achieving true decentralization at scale. Of course, we'll also explore what exciting innovations are on the horizon for blockchain technology.
So, whether you’re a crypto enthusiast or just curious about the future of decentralized finance, this episode promises a wealth of insights from one of the industry’s most influential voices. Let’s dive in!
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Happy Customers - Happy Life.
In this day and age, customer experience is everything. Delight customers, and they will come back, again and again, and advocate for your product or services.
Mess up your customer experience... Well, you might not live to tell the story.
But how do we get this right? How do we stand from the rest? How do we ensure our customer's experience is the best? How do we build communities? How does technology impact our efforts?
I think we have just the perfect guest to answer these questions. Christina Garnett, is a fractional chief customer officer and advisor, with a special talent for boosting customer satisfaction and fostering brand loyalty. From Fortune 500 companies, to small businesses, she's been there, done that.
Buckle up and enjoy the ride! get ready for 30 minutes of pure valuable content and advice.
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Today, we’re diving into the world of tech account management.
Our guest, Ryan McKesson, a seasoned professional who has carved out a successful career in this unique space. Ryan brings a wealth of experience in managing client relationships within the tech industry, where the intersection of technology and human connection is key.
How do you build relationships as an account manager? How do you build trust? How do you connect with your customers?
These are some of the questions we will answer today.
We’ll explore Ryan's journey, from what sparked his interest in technology and account management to the critical skills and challenges he’s faced along the way. We’ll also dive into how advancements like automation and AI might reshape the role of account managers in the future. Plus, we’ll learn a bit about how Ryan unwinds outside of the tech world.
Enjoy!
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Today, we’re honored to have Emille Bryant, a visionary entrepreneur, coach, and author, whose work centers around the Japanese concept of Ikigai—finding purpose and meaning in life; as a guest in our show.
Emille has built a business around this philosophy, helping people and organizations discover their true calling and align their efforts with their passions.
In a world where entrepreneurs are often pulled in a million directions, Emille believes that discovering your Ikigai is crucial for long-term success and personal fulfillment.
We’ll dive into how he’s applied this concept to his own business and why it’s more important than ever for business owners today.Enjoy!
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Today, we’re diving deep into the journey of junior software developers in today’s rapidly evolving tech landscape.
We’re joined by Andrea Correa (Andy), a software developer who started not too long ago as a junior herself.
This episode is close to my heart. I personally hired Andy a few years ago, but not as a software developer... her story, how she got started with us and where she is today? That's the topic for today.Together, we'll explore what it means to break into the Tech industry, how the rise of AI is shifting the game, and what challenges newcomers face in the job market.
Is it harder than ever to land that first gig?, or do new technologies present fresh opportunities? Let's find out!
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