Leaders In Tech

What does it really take to scale a global technology architecture completely on your own terms? In this deeply emotional and highly technical episode of the Leaders in Tech podcast, host David Mansilla is joined by real-time communications pioneer Jerod Venema, Founder and President of LiveSwitch. 🔑 Key Takeaways From This Episode: (1) Seizing the WebRTC Revolution: How Jerod aligned his archite...

What happens when a brilliant engineer or software developer builds a successful business, but realizes they don't actually know how to be a CEO? In this episode of the Leaders in Tech podcast, host David Mansilla interviews growth adviser Pete Steege to tackle the unique challenges faced by "Accidental CEOs." Pete spent decades in tech marketing before launching his own firm, B2B Clarity, right d...

Welcome back to another episode of Leaders in Tech ! In this episode, host David Mansilla sits down with Bill Phillips, the Chief Operating Officer (COO) and former Chief Information Officer (CIO) of University Health in San Antonio, Texas. Bill shares his highly inspiring personal story: how discovering he was colorblind shattered his early plans of becoming an electrician, and how that exact roa...

Welcome to another episode of the Leaders in Tech podcast! In this episode, host David Mansilla sits down with Nicholas Hien, the Chief Information Officer at Dollarama and Executive Vice President at Dollar City. Nick shares his fascinating, unconventional journey from studying operations management and logistics to unexpectedly steering the IT division of a massive, coast-to-coast retail corpora...

In a world where tech leaders jump ship every two years, Jake Blough (CTO of Service Express) has spent a quarter-century building a legacy from the ground up. Starting in a family auto shop and eventually entering Service Express in shipping and receiving, Jake’s journey is a masterclass in stewardship, grit, and technical innovation . Today, Jake oversees Supply Chain, Data Science, and R&D...

In this episode of the Leaders in Tech podcast, host David Mansilla sits down with Kin Lee-Yow, CIO of CAA Club Group. Kin oversees the technological backbone of an organization obsessed with member safety—from roadside assistance to complex insurance underwriting through CAA Insurance and Echelon Insurance. Kin shares his personal "immigrant success story," moving from the tropical climate of Mau...

In 1998, Miloš Topić arrived in the U.S. with two suitcases and zero English. Today, he is the VP and Chief Digital Officer at a major university, leading thousands. How do you close that gap? In this episode, we explore the "Refugee Grit" mindset—an unfair advantage that allows leaders to thrive in chaos and innovate when there is no roadmap. We’re breaking down a "golden nugget" from the Leaders...

In this episode of "Leaders in Tech," host David Mansilla sits down with Vivek Vaidya , General Partner at Superset , to pull back the curtain on the "Company Builder" model. Vivek shares his 25-year journey from surviving the .com crash to overseeing massive exits to Microsoft and Salesforce . If you are a founder or tech leader, this conversation is a masterclass in Founder-Market Fit , "clock s...

The world is changing at an exponential rate. By 2030, two billion jobs will be transformed or displaced. Are you prepared to bridge the gap between innovation and adoption, or will you fall into it? In this "Golden Nuggets" highlight, we’re extracting the high-level leadership blueprint from John Rathje, VP and CIO of Kent State University. John oversees the tech strategy for a top-tier R1 resear...

What does it take to lead through forty years of digital revolution? In this episode of Leaders in Tech, host David Mansilla sits down with technology consultant Adrian Smith to trace his journey from the "school of hard knocks" to the high-stakes world of global consulting. Adrian shares the incredible story of how he went from a summer job loading half-inch tapes to building the groundbreaking v...

In this episode of Leaders in Tech, host David Mansilla talks with Adrian Smith , the tech head (CIO) of the London business consulting firm AdSatis . Adrian, who has helped banks and financial companies for decades, shares a strong warning about modern technology: it's incredibly fast, but also surprisingly easy to break. Key Topics Discussed: The Power of Experience: Why managers who have seen y...

In this episode of Leaders in Tech , we sit down with George London , Chief Technology Officer at Upwave , to explore how data and science are transforming the world of brand advertising. From his early career at Bridgewater Associates to leading Upwave’s engineering and data teams, George shares how curiosity, adaptability, and people-centered leadership shaped his journey. Discover how Upwave br...

In this episode of Leaders in Tech with David Mansilla, we sit down with Jonathan Cook (JC), a pioneering technology leader with over 25 years of experience in cloud innovation, healthcare data platforms, and enterprise-scale system design. From his early days as a “coding cowboy” to becoming a visionary CTO, Jonathan shares how he bridges the gap between technology and business value, builds stro...

In this episode of the Leaders in Tech Podcast , host David Mansilla speaks with Arthur Phidd , a Chief Information Officer who is reshaping how organizations approach technology, innovation, and digital transformation. Arthur shares his journey from early beginnings in marketing and computer science to high-pressure roles on Wall Street, and now leading large-scale technology strategies that blen...

In this episode of Leaders in Tech, we sit down with Bashir Agboola, Vice President, CTO, and Associate CIO at the Hospital for Special Surgery. With over two decades of experience in technology and healthcare innovation, Bashir shares how he’s transforming patient care, building AI-ready platforms, and driving enterprise-level change across a national hospital system. From humble beginnings in Ni...

In this inspiring episode of the Leaders in Tech podcast, host David Mansilla sits down with Kempton Presley —CEO of AdhereHealth, Adjunct Professor at Vanderbilt, and a visionary leader in healthcare innovation. With over 20 years of experience transforming health systems through data, behavioral science, and strategy, Kempton shares timeless insights on leadership, personal growth, and the power...

In this Leaders in Tech episode, host David Mansilla sits down with Shane Pilcher , CIO, CISO, and transformational strategist in healthcare IT, to explore how purpose, passion, and leadership shape innovation in one of the most complex industries today. With over 20 years of executive experience, Shane has led enterprise digital transformation, advised boards, modernized hospital systems, and dev...

In today’s tech landscape, few leaders combine technical mastery and strategic vision like Jeff dePascale. A seasoned executive with extensive experience in SaaS platforms and emerging technologies like AI, machine learning, and augmented reality, Jeff has helped drive innovation across industries including healthcare, automotive, retail, and insurance. On this episode of the Leaders in Tech podca...

🎥 Navigating Digital Transformation: Leadership Insights from Sree Kancharla In this powerful episode of Leaders in Tech, David Mansilla sits down with Sreeveni Kancharla , an award-winning digital transformation thought leader recognized for driving enterprise innovation, securing successful IPOs, and enhancing customer and employee experiences. With expertise spanning startups to billion-dollar...

In the fast-paced world of modern business, the concept of leadership remains both an art and a science. When it comes to steering an organization the size of a floating city, the complexities can seem insurmountable. In a riveting episode of the Leaders in Tech podcast, we had the pleasure of sitting down with Patrick Manuel, a seasoned cruise ship industry executive whose 26-year journey offers...

In a world where technology shapes the future, Valerie and Codi Gharagouzloo stand out as pioneers, using their expertise to revolutionize healthcare. Through their company Imaginastics, they're leveraging quantum physics to enhance MRI capabilities, offering new hope for medical diagnostics. Their story, filled with perseverance, innovation, and faith, is a testament to what's possible when passi...

In this episode of the Leaders in Tech Podcast , host David Manilla sits down with Claus Torp Jensen, Chief Innovation Officer at Teladoc Health, to delve into the intersection of technology, leadership, and healthcare innovation. Claus shares his journey from a curious student in Denmark to a transformative leader in global healthcare. If you’re eager to learn about leadership strategies, navigat...

In a world increasingly driven by technology, effective leadership has never been more essential. The Leaders in Tech Podcast aims to uncover the wisdom of exceptional leaders who are using technology to create a better world. In this episode, we had the privilege of speaking with John Rathje, Vice President and CIO of Kent State University, a visionary leader with a remarkable journey in technolo...

In this episode of Leaders in Tech, host David Mansilla interviews Richard Billington, CTO of Netcall, to explore the cutting-edge advancements in customer engagement and intelligent automation. Richard delves into how Netcall’s innovative platforms empower businesses to meet the modern demands of digital transformation while creating a seamless experience for customers and employees alike. From h...

In a rapidly changing technological landscape, leaders who embrace innovation and remain adaptable are the driving forces behind groundbreaking advancements. In this insightful conversation, we delve into the mind of a seasoned tech leader and entrepreneur. From the challenges of leading startups to the transformative impact of artificial intelligence, we uncover lessons in leadership, innovation,...