TEN

Artificial intelligence is changing the way we work, learn, and solve problems—but what skills will matter most moving forward? In this episode of the TEN Podcast, Jason Coleman, Associate Vice Chancellor for Innovative and Learning-Centric Initiatives at the University of Nebraska at Omaha, discusses how higher education is adapting to prepare today's learners for tomorrow's workforce. Th...

The future workforce doesn't begin in high school, college, or on someone's first day of work. It starts much earlier. In this episode of the TEN Podcast, Kayla Kill shares why early exposure to STEM, coding, problem-solving, and career exploration can have a lasting impact on a student's future. After more than a decade as an elementary educator, Kayla developed a passion for creating...

Many people think science museums are just for kids. But the Kiewit Luminarium is building something much bigger. In this episode of the TEN Podcast, Annie Narzisi, Chief Advancement Officer at the Kiewit Luminarium, joins LaShonna Dorsey to discuss creating spaces that inspire curiosity, build community, and make STEM learning accessible for everyone. From interactive exhibits and STEM camps to a...

Many assume that if AI produces an answer quickly, it must be accurate and unbiased. But in this conversation, Anoop Mishra explains why fairness in AI is far more complex than most people realize and why measuring it may be one of the most important challenges facing organizations today. As an Applied AI and Responsible AI scientist, Anoop works at the intersection of technology, human behavior,...

Many organizations know they need to modernize. But knowing where to start—and who to trust—is often the hard part. In this episode of the TEN Podcast, Carla Liberty, Business Development Executive at YASH Technologies, joins LaShonna Dorsey to discuss digital transformation, emerging technology, community partnerships, and why relationships remain one of the most important drivers of business suc...

Most people think innovation in agriculture only happens inside large corporations or research labs. But in this conversation, Ankit Chandra shares what’s actually happening at the intersection of entrepreneurship, higher education, startups, and agriculture — and why Nebraska is positioned to become a major hub for ag innovation. This episode is for founders, students, educators, economic develop...

Artificial intelligence is changing the way we learn, work, and build careers. In this episode of the TEN Podcast, Shonna Dorsey sits down with Jason Coleman, Associate Vice Chancellor for the Division of Innovative and Learning-Centric Initiatives at the University of Nebraska at Omaha, to discuss how UNO is helping learners and organizations prepare for an AI-enabled future. The conversation exp...

Most people think youth development starts with programs. But in this conversation, Andrew Norman, Executive Director and Co-Founder of The Bay, shares why it really starts with belonging, trust, creativity, and access. Andrew leads a $3.8 million youth workforce and creative development organization serving thousands of young people each year across Omaha and Lincoln. Through skateboarding, music...

Most people think events are just about logistics, timelines, and keeping things organized. But in this conversation, Michela Lewis shares how events can actually shape connection, creativity, innovation, and community impact. Hosted by Shonna Dorsey, this episode explores what it means to create experiences that people actually remember and why thoughtful event design matters more than ever. This...

Most people think staying competitive in an AI-driven world means learning more tools. But in this conversation, Natalie Micale shares why the real edge isn’t technical. It’s human. After building and scaling Oh Hello Agency and navigating its acquisition, Natalie found herself burned out, overly reliant on AI, and disconnected from her creativity. What came next is what she’s building now through...

Most people think AI innovation is all about the technology. But in this conversation, Jessica Olsen shares why creativity, values, and curiosity may actually be the biggest differentiators in the future of AI. Jessica is a technology, data privacy, and AI compliance professional whose work sits at the intersection of innovation, ethics, and leadership. This episode is for professionals, leaders,...

Most people think you have to leave places like Nebraska to build a successful tech company. But in this conversation, Kirk Zeller, founder of the Silicon Prairie Center, shares what it actually looks like to build, grow, and even relocate companies here. Kirk’s path isn’t typical. He grew up in central Nebraska, spent years in Japan building his career in business and medical device startups, and...

Most people think mentorship is about giving advice. But in reality, it is just as much about listening, reflecting, and helping someone see themselves more clearly. In this episode of the TEN podcast, host Shonna Dorsey sits down with Sherry Hutcherson, Executive Vice President of Human Resources and National Strategic Partnerships at Bellevue University. Sherry brings decades of leadership exper...

Most companies are investing in employee experience. But for a lot of employees, it still feels confusing, disconnected, and harder than it should be. In this episode, Adriana Cisneros Basulto, Co-founder and CEO of  Maxwell , breaks down why that gap exists and what it actually takes to fix it. Adriana has seen this from both sides. As an employee, she experienced what it feels like when things w...

Most organizations have a strategic plan. But actually tracking progress against it and knowing what’s working and what’s not is where things start to break down. In this conversation, Taylor Korensky, CEO of VisionSync , shares how organizations are moving beyond scattered spreadsheets and disconnected updates to something much more clear, accountable, and actionable. This episode is for leaders,...

Most people think internships are just about gaining experience. But in this conversation, we get into what actually helps students move from school into real opportunities, especially in tech pathways. Guest host Shohina Sultonova, intern at the Aksarben Foundation and senior at the University of Nebraska Omaha, sits down with Andre Tan, Career Experiences Coordinator at Metropolitan Community Co...

Most people think AI is about replacing jobs. But in this conversation, Christopher Frankland introduces a different perspective: the rise of the “bionic agent” —using technology to make people more capable, not obsolete. This episode is for leaders, operators, and professionals trying to understand how AI is actually showing up in real work today. We cover: Why AI is shifting from automation to h...

In this episode of Tech. Entrepreneurs. Nebraska., Shohina Sultonova visits with Archana Raghu, Quality Lead at Quantum Workplace, where she leads both traditional and AI quality, partnering with data science teams on AI evaluation and testing. Her work focuses on building the systems and frameworks that make software reliable, fair, and trustworthy in production. Everyone is focused on speed. Few...

What happens when you stop waiting for change and start building it? In this episode, special guest host and Aksarben Foundation intern, Shohina Sultonova visits with Maura Abad, COO at Reliability Leadership Institute and Founder of Women in Reliability & Asset Management (WIRAM) . She started with 5 women in a room. Today, that community includes 1,800+ women across the globe. Through WIRAM,...

After the loss of her grandmother, Kim Goins saw firsthand how disruptive major life events can be for families and how difficult it can be to navigate legacy planning in the midst of grief. That experience inspired her to begin building  KIMTO , a platform designed to help families organize their health, wealth, and values into a single legacy operating system and better prepare future generation...

In this episode of the  TEN Podcast (Tech. Entrepreneurs. Nebraska.) , Nebraska Tech Collaborative Executive Director Shonna Dorsey sits down with innovation leader  Brian Ardinger  to discuss the evolution of Nebraska’s startup ecosystem and the upcoming  Inside Outside Innovation Summit 2026 (IO2026) on April 13, 2026 at the Sheldon Museum of Art . Learn more: https://www.theiosummit.com . NTC l...

In this episode, Shonna sits down with Daragh Mahon, CIO and SVP at Werner Enterprises, and Kellee Mikuls , Executive Director of Ignite Nebraska , to discuss how employer and nonprofit partnerships are expanding access to high wage, high skill, high demand tech careers in Nebraska through formal training and pathways into great careers with great companies. The conversation highlights: • How Wern...

In the first episode of 2026,  Shonna Dorsey  sits down with  Jenna Smith , founder of  ThinkFree Consulting  and co-founder of  The Commonwealth , for a candid conversation about disruption, innovation, and the future of work. With more than 15 years of experience leading transformation inside organizations, Jenna shares why incremental growth and traditional long-range planning are being tested...

In this episode of the TEN Podcast, Shonna Dorsey of the Aksarben Foundation and the Nebraska Tech Collaborative sits down  with Tori Young of CRi , Managing Director at Client Resources Inc., for a candid conversation about what’s really happening in the tech talent market. With more than 25 years in business and deep roots in Omaha, CRi has navigated multiple market cycles. Tori shares how long-...

Victor D. Patterson Sr. joins the TEN Podcast to share his journey and the ideas behind the cybersecurity and governance frameworks he has created, including DeepSecure™, Cerberus Shield™, and Adversarial GRC™. His work focuses on helping organizations strengthen their defenses against synthetic threats, deepfakes, and adversarial artificial intelligence. Victor’s story includes navigating signifi...