🎙️ Episode 27: Transformation Unplugged - Hard Truths, Big Wins & Bold MovesIn this special episode of Silicon Heartland Sessions, we bring you the unfiltered insights from Cloud Nirvana’s March 2025 conference in Columbus, featuring three powerhouse voices at the forefront of enterprise transformation: • Matt Randall, Head of AI & Robotics at Path Robotics • Marlene O’Neill, Director of Platform Enablement at Discover • Scott Lesinski, Senior Manager of Cloud Engineering at DiscoverTogether, we explore the real stories behind cloud adoption, AI readiness, and what it actually takes to lead large-scale transformation - inside startups and enterprises alike.🔥 From building adaptive AI robots that weld in the real world…🔥 To migrating 1,200+ apps and dismantling decades of legacy tech…🔥 To modernizing internal platforms at breakneck speed to prepare for AI…This episode is a raw, practical, and deeply human look at what happens when bold vision meets disciplined execution.💡 Key Takeaways:✅ “You can’t wait for motivation to strike - you build systems that drive action.” - Matt Randall✅ Real transformation means giving things up - control, habits, comfort - to gain agility and clarity.✅ AI-readiness isn’t about tools - it’s about simplifying architecture and focusing teams.✅ Technology doesn’t drive change. Behavior does. Habits, alignment, and trust are the levers.✅ Local talent is a differentiator - if you invest in it like the strategic asset it is.🙌 Special Thanks to Our Sponsors: • 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.🎧 Listen now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you tune in.This is transformation - unplugged.

🎙️ Episode 26: Don’t Stop Believin’ – Mick Miller’s Journey from Circus Tent to Cloud Engineering

What does a life in the circus have to do with building enterprise cloud systems and leading high-performing engineering teams? A lot more than you’d think. In this unforgettable episode, we sit down with Mick Miller, Senior Product Manager at KeyBank, whose journey into tech started with typewriters, trampolines, and a relentless drive to adapt and lead.

Mick brings a rare mix of passion, grit, humility, and wisdom, sharing lessons from the frontlines of both life and technology. From the early days of mainframes to pioneering modern DevOps culture, Mick’s reflections on leadership, burnout, agile evolution, team dynamics, and the power of truly being human will inspire technologists at every level.

⚠️ Warning: You may leave this episode with renewed hope and a desire to play Journey’s “Don’t Stop Believin’” at full volume.

🔑 Key Takeaways:

• On Leadership: “The number one thing is making sure people can have their best ideas.”

• On Burnout: “You can’t have great software without great ideas. And you can’t have great ideas if you’re constantly interrupted.”

• On Inspiration: Real leadership means being in the trenches - not just managing, but coding, listening, and protecting your team from unnecessary noise.

• On Transformation: Mick’s journey from circus rigging to modern cloud engineering is a case study in resilience, curiosity, and reinvention.

• On Constraints & Creativity: “Constraints aren’t limits - they’re focal points for innovation.”

🙏 Thanks to our sponsors for supporting community-led conversations that matter:

🙌 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 25: Hope Yin - Leading with Energy, Purpose, and PossibilityIn this inspiring episode of Silicon Heartland Sessions, we sit down with Hope Yin, Founder and Owner of Blueprint Coaching, to explore leadership at the intersection of personal growth, technology, and community impact.Hope shares her journey from aerospace engineering to executive leadership to launching her own coaching business - all guided by a deep commitment to energy alignment, authenticity, and empowering others. Drawing wisdom from works like Energy Leadership by Bruce D. Schneider, Lean In by Sheryl Sandberg, and How Women Rise by Sally Helgesen and Marshall Goldsmith, Hope reminds us that leadership isn’t about titles - it's about influence, intention, and creating a better future for everyone.Through stories of mentorship, resilience, ethical tech adoption, and her passion for increasing representation in leadership, Hope leaves us with a message that will stay with you long after the episode ends:"The best is yet to come, and we can be part of creating that future."Whether you’re navigating personal transformation, building your leadership legacy, or exploring how AI impacts our humanity, this episode offers wisdom, warmth, and practical inspiration.Key Takeaways:✅ Why energy alignment is essential for effective leadership✅ How to create sustainable success through daily wellness habits✅ Why representation matters - and how to support more women in leadership✅ The importance of leading with authenticity in a rapidly evolving world✅ How to think about ethical leadership in an era of AI and transformationSpecial Thanks to Our Sponsors:🙌 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.🎧 Available now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and all major platforms!

🎙️ 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 – Runnin' 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!