Welcome back to another episode of Is That How It Happened? — the podcast where we uncover the real stories behind technology, transformation, and the people driving innovation forward.

Today, I’m thrilled to be joined by Dave Russell, Vice President of Enterprise Strategies at Veeam Software. With decades of experience shaping the data protection industry, Dave brings a wealth of insight from both the analyst and engineering sides of enterprise IT.

From backup and recovery to modern ransomware defense, Dave has been at the forefront of helping organizations keep their data resilient in a world full of threats. In this episode, we dig into what businesses are doing right — and wrong — when it comes to securing their digital assets, the evolving role of cloud and hybrid environments, and where the future of enterprise data strategy is headed.

Whether you're a tech leader, a backup admin, or just curious about the critical systems that keep the digital world running — you’re going to want to hear what Dave has to say.

🔗 Check out more episodes at www.isthathowithappened.com

Let’s get into it.

Welcome back to Is That How It Happened? — the podcast where we uncover the real stories behind the people shaping tech.

Today’s guest is Melissa Palmer — a powerhouse technologist, content creator, and VMware Certified Design Expert. With a career that’s spanned engineering, technical marketing, product strategy, and even the Office of the CTO, Melissa has helped tackle some of the toughest problems in modern IT — from ransomware threats to cloud and data center design.

But today, we’re zooming in on a different kind of challenge: certification prep. Melissa breaks down how she approaches high-stakes certs like the VCDX, how she stays focused under pressure, and what anyone pursuing advanced IT credentials needs to know.

Whether you’re an aspiring architect, security pro, or just someone who loves a good tech origin story — this one’s for you.

Let’s dive in with Melissa Palmer.

🎧 Listen now at www.isthathowithappened.com

Welcome back to another episode of “Is That How It Happened?” — the show where we dig into the stories behind the people, the paths, and the pivotal moments that shape careers and lives.

Today, I’m excited to welcome Fadel Hamed, Senior Vice President of Customer Success at Cloudian. With decades of experience leading customer-focused teams in the tech space, Fadel brings a unique blend of strategic insight, operational excellence, and human-centered leadership.

In this conversation, we dive into the core of what customer success really means — not just in theory, but in practice. Fadel shares his journey from the early days of his career to becoming a trusted voice in enterprise technology, and the lessons he's learned about building lasting relationships, scaling global teams, and navigating the ever-evolving demands of customers in the data-driven world.

Whether you’re in tech, leadership, or just curious how great customer experiences are crafted and maintained — you’re going to want to hear this.

Let’s get into it.