Open Source CXO: The Tech Leader's Podcast

In this episode of Open Source CXO , host Don Blackburn & Robert Kehoe sits down with Rob McElroy and Andie Ewing of Unbound, an international nonprofit working in 17 countries and serving more than 280,000 families. The conversation begins with an overview of Unbound’s mission to eliminate poverty through direct sponsorship, empowering families with resources and accountability to create last...

In this episode of Open Source CXO, we sit down with Arturo Pino, CTO of HIX Corporation, for a deep dive into the evolving role of technology in American manufacturing. Arturo brings a unique perspective, combining mechanical engineering expertise with advanced computer science training, to shed light on the critical tech challenges that small to midsize manufacturers are facing today. From workf...

In this episode of Open Source CXO: The Tech Leader's Podcast, we sit down with Arturo Pino, Chief Technology Officer at HIX Corporation, to explore the transformative role of open-source technology in the manufacturing sector. Arturo shares his journey from mechanical engineering to leading technological innovation, highlighting how open-source solutions are driving efficiency and adaptability in...

In this episode of the Open Source CXO podcast, we sit down with Adam Caylor, the Chief Technology Officer (CTO) at Ottawa University. Adam shares insights into the unique challenges and strategies involved in leading IT for a nonprofit educational institution. With over eight years at Ottawa University, Adam has overseen significant projects like the establishment of multiple campuses and the dep...

In this episode of Open Source CXO, Alex Savenok, CEO and CTO of Rig, joins the conversation to discuss his evolution from an intern at HSBC to leading innovative tech startups. Alex dives deep into his journey, highlighting the challenges and rewards of building and scaling a tech company. He shares his experiences with Vertigo, a social music platform, where he navigated the complex world of mus...

Join Alex Savenok, CEO and CTO of Rig, on this week’s episode of Open Source CXO. Dive into the world of SaaS innovation as Alex shares his journey from being a tech leader to spearheading a startup focused on solving inefficiencies in the trucking industry. Rig offers a unique marketplace solution for emergency breakdowns in the trucking space, connecting truck drivers with skilled mechanics in r...

Ad Astra’s very own Geoff Vandegrift is back for our 20th episode of Open Source CXO. Geoff shares his journey from being a developer to leading Ad Astra’s technology initiatives and then shifts gears to stir the “WFH” pot. He dives into the evolving dynamics of work environments, emphasizing the data-backed benefits and challenges of working from home versus in-office collaboration. Geoff highlig...

Episode Summary: Join Geoff Vandegrift, Chief Technology Officer at Ad Astra, on this week's episode of Open Source CXO. We’re examining the evolving landscape of technology leadership as Geoff shares his journey and experiences from different companies, culminating in his current role at Ad Astra. With Ad Astra's mission being ‘to graduate more students faster,’ Geoff and his team provide higher...

Cbass is back for another episode of Open Source CXO, but this time we’re digging into data points and metrics that matter! Sebastian shares his experiences and strategies for effective team management as he follows a very objective, data-based approach. From his journey at Aware3 to his current role at Nelnet, Sebastian provides a deep dive into the metrics that matter, such as deployment frequen...

Join Sebastian Kline, Vice President of Engineering at Nelnet, on this week's episode of Open Source CXO, hosted by Robert Kehoe and Don Blackburn. Explore the dynamic landscape of engineering leadership as Sebastian shares insights from his journey from Aware3 to Nelnet, beginning from a small startup to integration with a larger corporation. Sebastian breaks down the evolution of his team from d...

The AI conversations just weren’t ready to end! John Keddy from LazarusAI is back for another exciting episode of Open Source CXO. This week’s episode provides a deeper look at how foundational AI technologies are crafted and the pivotal role they play in shaping business practices. John dives into the operational aspects of Lazarus AI, discussing how they utilize advanced AI models to enhance dat...

Join John Keddy from Lazarus AI on this week's episode of Open Source CXO. Dive into the innovative world of AI technologies as John discusses Lazarus AI's role in developing foundational AI systems, including large and small language models, and their applications in heavily regulated industries like insurance. John provides a detailed look into the everyday applications of AI at Lazarus AI, expl...

Join Welsh Harris, Co-Founder and CTO of Ascendco Health, on this week’s episode of Open Source CXO with hosts Rob and Don to get an insider's view of the software and technological frameworks revolutionizing the healthcare and surgery sectors across the nation. Discover how Ascendco uses cutting-edge tools like Domo for business intelligence and integrates strategically with major electronic medi...

Nick Ide from Ascend Learning is back for another episode of Open Source CXO! This week, we're pivoting to discuss a variety of topics, including the challenges and strategies of leading a global team, authentic methods of measuring success beyond typical KPIs, fostering effective communication, and prioritizing quality over quantity in hiring. Drawing once again from his diverse experiences, Nick...

Don and Rob sit down with Nick Ide, VP of Software Engineering at Ascend Learning, to explore crucial aspects of workplace culture and team productivity in the tech industry. This technical trio breaks down the common misconceptions about workplace culture, strategies for cultivating positive environments, considerations for scaling teams while preserving culture, and more. Drawing from his dual p...

The conversations from our previous episode kept on rolling, so Jim Poteet is back on Open Source CXO. In this episode, we dive deep into strategies for navigating organizational change and securing stakeholder buy-in, exploring everything from 6 AM company tailgates to blogging throughout the COVID lockdowns. Jim also emphasizes the significance of hiring for passion and dedication, as well as th...

We kick off our first double-digit episode by sitting down with Jim Poteet, a senior leader at Oracle Health, to discuss the intricacies of overseeing international development teams and overcoming some of the cultural barriers that inevitably arise. With an extensive, 13-year history at Cerner before its acquisition by Oracle, Poteet shares his journey through the evolving tech landscape, highlig...

Being an introvert is NOT a barrier to being in leadership - and we’re sitting down with Shahzad Zafar, CTO of Trualta, to discuss why. Shahzad discusses his journey over the years to become a leading figure in the tech industry, highlighting the transitions, challenges, and lessons learned along the way He shares his insights on navigating the complexities of remote work, the intricacies of leadi...

We’re breaking down some of the major differences & similarities of startup and enterprise environments when in the technology industry. Shahzad Zafar joins Don and Rob as he recounts his role in growing the development teams at Cerner, Rx Savings Solutions, and now Trualta.  This episode explores the nuances of building and scaling teams in a rapidly evolving industry, fostering a cultur...

We’re diving into the art of cultivating a strong team culture within remote/hybrid technology teams. Our guest, Ben Kittrell - VP of Engineering at Homebase.ai, discusses the company's journey following its acquisition by Quext. He shares insights on leading a distributed team, the importance of maintaining discipline, and fostering connections in a remote setting.  This conversation sheds l...

We’re exploring the journey of Ben Kittrell and the acquisition of his company, Homebase.ai , a smart building technology firm. Ben offers an insider's perspective on the complexities and strategies involved in tech mergers and acquisitions. The discussion covers the challenges of integrating different technology stacks, managing team dynamics during and after the transition, and the critical role...

As we shift gears, Vance enlightens us to all that SOC 2 compliance has to offer in the name of organization-wide security. He explains the comprehensive scope of SOC 2, covering both software and hardware aspects, and elaborates on the critical levels of compliance, particularly focusing on Type 1 and Type 2 audits. Boasting over 20 years of technical leadership across esteemed organizations like...

Are you a leader or a servant leader? Understanding this distinction can redefine your organizational approach. Join us as we chat with Vance Collins from Flight Schedule Pro and dive into the essential principles of servant leadership. Discover how to seamlessly integrate them into both your personal leadership style and your organization's culture. Boasting over 20 years of technical leadership...

We’re sitting down with Fullscale.io Founder, CEO, and CIO, Matt Watson to discuss the age old question: How should you manage your company’s development work? Is building an internal team the best route, or is outsourcing to an agency more effective? We’re taking the time to examine the advantages and pitfalls of each option. Bringing over two decades of experience in the technology industry and...

Welcome back to Open Source CXO: The Tech Leader’s Podcast! We continue our conversation with Phil Merrell, CIO of PromptCare Companies, he sheds light on the use cases & benefits of robotic process automation (RPA). In other words - bots. Phil brings a wealth of knowledge from his time at Blue Cross Blue Shield and other healthcare organizations, providing a fascinating glimpse into this dyna...