Silicon Heartland Sessions

🎙️ Episode 45: From Curiosity to CEO - Rehgan Bleile’s Journey Into AIIn this episode of Silicon Heartland Sessions, we sit down with Rehgan Bleile, CEO and visionary leader who turned early curiosity about technology into a career at the forefront of artificial intelligence. Rehgan pulls back the curtain on the leaps, pivots, and human insights that powered her rise - from her first encounters wi...

🎙️ Episode 44: Live from Cloud Nirvana Cleveland - Tech Meets Humanity Recorded live at Cloud Nirvana Cleveland, this powerful panel dives deep into the intersection of emerging technology and the human experience. Moderated by Sean Erikson, this vibrant discussion features a dynamic lineup of leaders: John Paganini , CEO @ CrewTracker Software Aud Jucaitis , SVP, NextGen Enterprise Transformation...

🎙️ Episode 43: Live from Cloud Nirvana Columbus - Tech Meets HumanityRecorded live at the Cloud Nirvana conference in Columbus on September 3, 2025, this special episode brings together an extraordinary panel of leaders to explore how AI can elevate - not replace - human potential. Our guests include: • Robin Barbacane, Global Chief Talent Development Officer, Rackspace Technology • Manisha Mahawa...

🎙️ Episode 42: Remote, Resilient, Real - The Culture That Actually WorksIn this episode, Warner Moore shares how his remote-first companies stay connected and intentional - not through office mandates, but through values, empathy, and smart rituals. From virtual lunch-and-learns to people-first decision making, Warner shows that great remote cultures aren’t an accident - they’re designed.💬 “It’s...

🎙️ Episode 41: Resilient Leadership in the Real WorldIn today’s episode, Warner Moore gets real about what leadership actually looks like - especially when things get messy. From navigating high-pressure situations to fostering psychological safety, Warner shares the lessons he’s learned leading technical teams, founding companies, and building communities. If you’ve ever wondered how strong cultu...

🎙️ Episode 40: Is It Risky…or Just New? In this episode, Warner Moore challenges the way we think about risk, privilege, and what it really means to take a leap. Drawing from his own entrepreneurial path and deep experience in technology, Warner breaks down how perceived risk is often a matter of perspective - and why the most meaningful opportunities require us to rethink what’s truly risky.💬 “W...

🎙️ Episode 39: Give First - Building a Career on Relationships In this episode, Warner Moore shares how generosity, authenticity, and a strong sense of community have shaped his leadership journey. Drawing on lessons from Dale Carnegie and the Columbus tech ecosystem, Warner breaks down why the “give first” mindset isn’t just good karma - it’s a career strategy. One that builds trust, drives impac...

🎙️ Episode 38 : Gotta Find a Way - The Entrepreneur’s Mindset In this episode, Warner Moore , founder of Gamma Force and a longtime leader in the Midwest tech scene, shares how a rebellious spirit and a love of early internet culture sparked his unconventional path into entrepreneurship. From teaching himself distributed systems in the days of IRC to building values-driven companies, Warner opens...

🎙️ Episode 37: Miro Humer - Leading with Empathy, Failing Forward, and Creating Space for Innovation In this episode of Silicon Heartland Sessions , we sit down with Miro Humer, CIO of Case Western Reserve University , for a powerful and human-centered conversation about leadership, innovation, and the evolving role of technology in higher education. Miro shares his journey from the private sector...

🎙️ Episode 36: Never Get Comfortable - Srini Koushik’s Advice for Aspiring Tech Leaders What does it really take to grow as a leader in today’s fast-changing world of technology? For Srini Koushik, President of Technology and Sustainability at Rackspace Technology , the answer is clear: never get comfortable .In Episode 36 of Silicon Heartland Sessions , Srini shares his personal playbook for lead...

🎙️ Episode 35: AI and Ethics - Why Srini Trusts the Tech, Not Always the People Artificial intelligence is transforming our world - but are we thinking enough about the consequences ? In Episode 35 of Silicon Heartland Sessions , Srini Koushik , President of Technology and Sustainability at Rackspace Technology , shares a candid and thought-provoking take on the ethical challenges of AI. From the...

🎙️ Episode 34: Bold Decisions, Big Impact - Srini Koushik on Leadership Under Pressure In this episode, we’re joined by Srini Koushik , President of Technology and Sustainability at Rackspace Technology , who takes us inside the mind of a leader in high-stakes environments. You’ll hear about the moment he said no to a CEO’s request, the leadership lessons he learned from Steve Jobs , and why he be...

🎙️ Episode 33: From Curiosity to CTO - Srini Koushik’s 39-Year Journey in Tech How do you stay relevant in an industry that reinvents itself every few years? For Srini Koushik , President AI and Sustainability at Rackspace Technology , the answer is simple: Never stop learning. In this episode of Silicon Heartland Sessions, Srini takes us through his 39-year career - from his early days as a devel...

🎙️ Episode 32: Tushar Kulkarni - From Curiosity to CEO: Building with Heart in the Age of AI In this inspiring episode of Silicon Heartland Sessions, we sit down with Tushar Kulkarni , Founder & CEO of Big Kitty Labs , to explore the winding road from relentless curiosity to startup success. Tushar opens up about the early days of entrepreneurship - from maxing out credit cards and draining sa...

🎙️ Episode 31: Scott Shafer - Servant Leadership, Security, and Staying True to What Matters In this episode of Silicon Heartland Sessions , we sit down with Scott Shafer , Director of Sales Engineering at Varonis , for a conversation that goes far beyond technology. Scott shares an honest, deeply personal look at what it really means to lead in cybersecurity, an industry that never sleeps—and how...

🎙️ Episode 30: Live from Cloud Nirvana Columbus - Startups vs. Enterprise in the Age of AI In this special milestone episode of Silicon Heartland Sessions , we recorded live on stage at the Cloud Nirvana Columbus Conference , bringing together an incredible panel of leaders from startups and enterprises to explore one question: How is AI transforming the way we build software - and what does that...

🎙️ Episode 29: Michael Fulton - Building Legacy through Architecture, Leadership & Community In this episode of Silicon Heartland Sessions , we sit down with Michael Fulton - Enterprise Architect at Koch , Adjunct Faculty at The Ohio State University , and Co-Founder of Tech Community Nexus - to explore a life and career shaped by influence, service, and intention. Michael’s story is a rare bl...

🎙️ Episode 28: Alfred Gracias - Building Bridges, Leading with Gratitude, and Disrupting with HeartIn this inspiring episode of Silicon Heartland Sessions , we sit down with Alfred Gracias , Founder & CEO of Digital T3 , whose career spans continents, technologies, and transformations. Alfred isn’t just building applications - he’s building bridges between startups and enterprises, technology...

🎙️ 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 P...

🎙️ 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...

Episode 25: Hope Yin - Leading with Energy, Purpose, and Possibility In 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 bu...

🎙️ 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 landscap...

🎙️ Episode 23: Michael Farrar – Runnin' Down a Dream in the Public Sector In 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 te...

🎙 Episode 22 – Generative AI Adoption & Roadmaps: Insights from Cloud Nirvana Columbus This 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 execu...

🎙️ 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 leaders...