🎙️ Episode 24: Purpose, Possibility & the Power of Mentorship - Disha Patel, Digital Technology & Innovation Lead at AmgenIn this heartfelt and empowering episode of Silicon Heartland Sessions, we sit down with Disha Patel, the Digital Technology & Innovation Site Lead at Amgen Ohio, to explore how purpose-driven leadership, resilience, and mentorship are transforming the tech landscape - especially in healthcare and biotech.Disha’s personal journey - from global career pivots to leading a greenfield digital initiative in Ohio - highlights what it truly means to lead with authenticity and courage in a fast-paced world.💡 Key Takeaways:✅ How to align your career with your gifts and passions - and why purpose is your most powerful compass.✅ The importance of saying no and setting boundaries in order to say yes to what really matters.✅ What it means to lead collaboratively and build a culture where others feel safe to take risks.✅ How Amgen is leveraging technology and AI to reshape biotech - and save lives.✅ Why mentorship matters more than ever, and how reverse mentorship is creating meaningful transformation.✅ Disha’s personal habits for staying grounded, centered, and fully present in both work and life.💬 "You're never too late to find your purpose in life... but it takes reflection, curiosity, and a willingness to step out of your comfort zone." - Disha PatelWhether you're navigating imposter syndrome, seeking balance in a high-stakes role, or just looking for inspiration from a powerful leader in tech, this episode offers the kind of wisdom that sticks with you.🎧 Listen now and discover why Disha is one of the most inspiring voices in Ohio’s technology and healthcare community.🙏 Special thanks to our amazing sponsors for supporting this episode:🙌 Rackspace Technology - We advise, design, build, and manage solutions across multicloud, applications, data, and security.🙌 Varonis - The leader in data security and insider threat detection.🙌 Trace3 - AI to help your business run, grow, and transform.🙌 Sigma Computing - Business intelligence built for the cloud. Live, collaborative analytics for data-driven teams.

🎙️ Episode 23: Michael Farrar – Running Down a Dream in the Public SectorIn this episode, we sit down with Michael Farrar, CIO for the City of Westerville, who shares an incredibly human and inspiring journey of leadership, resilience, and transformation in the public sector.In this powerful conversation, Michael shares what it means to lead with heart and humility while navigating rapid technological change in the public sector. You’ll hear how a childhood theme song (“Running Down a Dream” by Tom Petty) became a lifelong anthem for chasing goals, pushing through challenges, and never giving up.💡 What You’ll Learn:✅ How Michael built a successful career by saying “yes” to the jobs no one wanted✅ The discipline it takes to lead a tech organization while being present as a father, husband, and community mentor✅ How the City of Westerville is innovating with AI and smart city tech - without sacrificing trust or ethical responsibility✅ Why building relationships and community is the true legacy of a great leaderHis insights are authentic, unfiltered, and deeply human - and his advice is just as relevant for CTOs and software engineers as it is for city managers and startup founders.🎧 Tune in for a conversation that blends technology, leadership, and a bold reminder to “stay curious” and “keep moving forward” - no matter what.🙏 Huge thanks to our 2025 sponsors who make this podcast possible:🙌 Rackspace Technology – We advise, design, build, and manage solutions across the multicloud, applications, data, and security.🙌 Varonis – A pioneer in data security and analytics, providing a platform to manage, analyze, and secure enterprise data against insider threats and cyberattacks.🙌 Trace3 – AI to help your business run, grow, and transform.🙌 Sigma Computing – Next-generation cloud analytics and BI with a spreadsheet interface, enabling teams to analyze live data at scale.🎧 Tune in now: https://www.cloudnirvana.org/podcast

🎙 Episode 22 – Generative AI Adoption & Roadmaps: Insights from Cloud Nirvana ColumbusThis special episode of Silicon Heartland Sessions features the incredible speakers from the December 2024 Cloud Nirvana Columbus conference. These thought leaders are at the forefront of enterprise AI and came together to share how they’re adopting generative AI across industries—turning strategy into execution at scale.

You’ll hear insights from:✅ Murali Sundararajan, EVP/CIO, Victoria’s Secret✅ Swathi Jillella, Generative AI Technology Enablement Lead, Nationwide Insurance✅ Cam Avent, Senior Director of Analytics, Union Square Hospitality✅ Michael Chorey, Senior Product Manager of AI & Innovation, Wendy’sTogether, we explore real-world enterprise adoption of generative AI; from hyper-personalization and associate enablement to agent-driven automation, governance frameworks, and the evolving build vs. buy landscape!What You’ll Learn:💡 How hyper-personalization delivers value without compromising trust💡 Why AI agents are reshaping the customer experience in insurance, retail, and hospitality💡 Lessons from building “Fresh AI” in-house at Wendy’s💡 Nationwide’s approach to human-in-the-loop AI💡 The role of data quality, analytics storytelling, and governance in scaling AI💡 How to get started with AI - boldly, responsibly, and with measurable impact💡 Why rational innovation, collaboration, and curiosity are key to long-term successWhether you’re an enterprise leader, data scientist, or simply curious about what’s next in tech, this episode is filled with authentic insights, bold ideas, an`d practical lessons from those building the future of AI today.🎙️ A huge THANK YOU to our sponsors for making this episode possible!🙌 Rackspace Technology – We advise, design, build, and manage solutions across the multicloud, applications, data, and security.🙌 Varonis – A pioneer in data security and analytics, providing a platform to manage, analyze, and secure enterprise data against insider threats and cyberattacks.🙌 Trace3 – AI to help your business run, grow, and transform.🙌 Sigma Computing – Next-generation cloud analytics and business intelligence with a spreadsheet interface, enabling teams to analyze live data at scale.🎧 Tune in now to hear where enterprise AI is headed - from the leaders driving the movement.

🎙️ Episode 21: Tonjia Coverdale – Leadership, Legacy & The Future of AIIn this episode of Silicon Heartland Sessions, we sit down with Dr. Tonjia Coverdale, Senior Vice President and Chief Strategy Officer for Operations and Technology at Associated Bank. A visionary leader with nearly three decades of experience in technology and business transformation, Tonjia shares deep insights on leadership, AI, and building an authentic legacy.✨ Key Takeaways from This Episode:✅ Life-Work Flow, Not Work-Life Balance – How reframing priorities leads to sustainable success.✅ Leading with Empathy – Why seeing the whole person creates high-performing, inspired teams.✅ AI & The Future of Work – How AI is expanding opportunities and reshaping industries.✅ Data Without Context Is Empty – The importance of strategic data foundations for AI adoption.✅ Know Yourself, Lead with Purpose – Why defining your core values is the foundation for confidence and success.💡 One of our favorite takeaways from Tonjia:💬 “You are not your job. You are not your title. You are who you choose to be. When you embrace that, your light shines the brightest.” ✨🎙️ A huge THANK YOU to our sponsors for making this episode possible!🙌 Rackspace Technology – We advise, design, build, and manage solutions across the multicloud, applications, data, and security.🙌 Varonis – A pioneer in data security and analytics, providing a platform to manage, analyze, and secure enterprise data against insider threats and cyberattacks.🙌 Trace3 – AI to help your business run, grow, and transform.🙌 Sigma Computing – Next-generation cloud analytics and business intelligence with a spreadsheet interface, enabling teams to analyze live data at scale.

🎙️ A huge THANK YOU to our sponsors for making this episode possible!

🙌 Rackspace Technology – We advise, design, build, and manage solutions across the multicloud, applications, data, and security.

🙌 Varonis – A pioneer in data security and analytics, providing a platform to manage, analyze, and secure enterprise data against insider threats and cyberattacks.

🙌 Trace3 – AI to help your business run, grow, and transform.

🙌 Sigma Computing – Next-generation cloud analytics and business intelligence with a spreadsheet interface, enabling teams to analyze live data at scale.

🎧 Tune in, get inspired, and join the conversation shaping the future of the Silicon Heartland!

🎙️ Episode 20: Doug McCullough – Leadership, Legacy & Equitable Tech CareersIn this milestone 20th episode of Silicon Heartland Sessions, we sit down with Doug McCullough, CEO of Color Coded Labs, to explore the transformative power of leadership, legacy, and equitable tech career pathways.As a leader dedicated to bridging the diversity gap in technology, Doug shares how Color Coded Labs is on a mission to skill 10,000 underrepresented tech workers by 2040. He also reflects on his fascinating journey - from a musician trained at Berklee College of Music to a visionary tech leader shaping the future of inclusion and innovation.✨ Key Insights from This Episode:✅ The Intersection of Leadership & Legacy – How Doug defines impact, measures success, and fosters inclusive growth in the tech industry.✅ Creativity & Technology – Why creative thinking is a competitive advantage in problem-solving and career growth.✅ The Power of Diverse Teams – How friction, disagreement, and different perspectives fuel innovation.✅ AI, Automation & the Future of Work – Why AI skills are essential for overcoming artificial friction points in hiring and career advancement.✅ Stoic & Jungian Philosophy in Leadership – How Doug applies deep philosophical frameworks to decision-making, resilience, and personal growth.Doug’s insights are powerful, refreshing, and packed with real-world applications for anyone looking to advance their career, build a lasting impact, and navigate the evolving tech landscape.🎙️ A huge THANK YOU to our sponsors for making this episode possible!

🙌 Rackspace Technology – We advise, design, build, and manage solutions across the multicloud, applications, data, and security.

🙌 Varonis – A pioneer in data security and analytics, providing a platform to manage, analyze, and secure enterprise data against insider threats and cyberattacks.

🙌 Trace3 – AI to help your business run, grow, and transform.

🙌 Sigma Computing – Next-generation cloud analytics and business intelligence with a spreadsheet interface, enabling teams to analyze live data at scale.

🎧 Tune in, get inspired, and join the conversation shaping the future of the Silicon Heartland!

In Episode 19 of Silicon Heartland Sessions 🎙️, we bring you the dynamic conversations and key insights from Cloud Nirvana's inaugural Cleveland conference. This special episode gathers industry leaders Jim Gehring, Founder & Principal Consultant at IT-Envision, Vijay Anand (VP of Artificial Intelligence at MRI Software), Mick Miller (Senior Product Manager at KeyBank), and Miro Humer (CIO at Case Western Reserve University), who explore the transformative impact of AI and cloud technologies across real estate, finance, and higher education.

✨ Key insights include:

✅ MRI Software's AI-first strategy, highlighting their suite of 25 AI-powered real estate products, responsible AI frameworks, and global scalability.

✅ KeyBank's infrastructure as code approach, leveraging Terraform and Ansible to ensure compliance, automate security processes, and optimize financial sector operations.

✅ Case Western Reserve University's innovative ai.case.edu platform, offering secure access to over 1,800 AI models, and practical strategies for integrating AI into student learning and academic research.

Join host Sean and these visionary leaders as they delve into practical strategies for AI adoption, real-world applications, and the future of automation and infrastructure. Discover compelling debates on the trustworthiness of AI, balancing technology with human oversight, and how collaborative communities accelerate innovation.

🎙️ A huge THANK YOU to our sponsors for making this episode possible!

🙌 Rackspace Technology – We advise, design, build, and manage solutions across the multicloud, applications, data, and security.

🙌 Varonis – A pioneer in data security and analytics, providing a platform to manage, analyze, and secure enterprise data against insider threats and cyberattacks.

🙌 Trace3 – AI to help your business run, grow, and transform.

🙌 Sigma Computing – Next-generation cloud analytics and business intelligence with a spreadsheet interface, enabling teams to analyze live data at scale.

🎧 Tune in, get inspired, and join the conversation shaping the future of the Silicon Heartland!

Episode 18: Wisdom, Leadership & the Future of IT with Angelo MazzoccoOn this episode of Silicon Heartland Sessions, we welcome a true legend in the technology community - AngeloMazzocco, often referred to as The Godfather of IT. With a career spanning CIO, CTO, CISO, COO, and even CEO, Angelo has shaped the industry, mentored countless leaders, and built a legacy of collaboration.Now, as he transitions into a new phase of his career, Angelo reflects on:

• His unconventional career journey, from growing up in Western Pennsylvania to leading some of the region’s top organizations
• The origins of the CIO Forum, and how it transformed Columbus into a hub for IT leadership and collaboration
• Making career decisions with purpose, balancing passion, business impact, and personal fulfillment
• The future of IT leadership, how AI, cloud computing, and cybersecurity are reshaping the role of technology leaders

Angelo also shares invaluable lessons on leadership, mentorship, and community building, offering insights for aspiring tech leaders, business executives, and entrepreneurs alike.Special Thanks to Our Sponsors:

💡 ⁠Rackspace Technology⁠ – We advise, design, build, and manage solutions across the multicloud, applications, data, and security.

💡 ⁠Trace3⁠ – AI to help your business run, grow, and transform.

💡 ⁠Gravity IT Resources⁠ – Consulting expertise and IT talent that powers digital transformation. 🎧 Available now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and all major platforms!

Episode 17: Fixing Broken Software Development with Todd Kaufman

On this episode of Silicon Heartland Sessions, we sit down with Todd Kaufman, President & CEO of Test Double, to explore why software development is still broken - and what we can do about it.

Todd shares his career journey from product development to consulting, where he saw firsthand how many software projects run over budget, miss critical features, or deliver solutions nobody actually needs. Frustrated by ineffective, one-size-fits-all approaches, Todd co-founded Test Double, a 100% employee-owned, remote-first consultancy that embeds top-tier developers into teams to solve real-world problems.

We discuss:

• The root causes of broken software projects - and how to fix them
• Autonomy, mastery, and purpose - how these principles shape great teams
• Why leadership means letting go - and how Todd learned to trust his team
• The role of AI in software development - opportunities and ethical concerns

Whether you're a software engineer, tech leader, or entrepreneur, this episode is packed with insights on leadership, technology, and building a better future for software development.

Special Thanks to Our Sponsors:

💡 Rackspace Technology – We advise, design, build, and manage solutions across the multicloud, applications, data, and security.
💡 Trace3 – AI to help your business run, grow, and transform.
💡 Gravity IT Resources – Consulting expertise and IT talent that powers digital transformation.

🎧 Available now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and all major platforms!