Silicon Heartland Sessions

🎙️ 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 o...

In Episode 19 of Silicon Heartland Sessions 🎙️, we bring you the dynamic conversations and key insights from Cloud Nirvana's inaugural Cleveland conference. This special episode gathers industry leaders Jim Gehring , Founder & Principal Consultant at IT-Envision, Vijay Anand (VP of Artificial Intelligence at MRI Software), Mick Miller (Senior Product Manager at KeyBank), and Miro Humer (CI...

Episode 18: Wisdom, Leadership & the Future of IT with Angelo Mazzocco On this episode of Silicon Heartland Sessions, we welcome a true legend in the technology community - Angelo Mazzocco , often referred to as The Godfather of IT . With a career spanning CIO, CTO, CISO, COO, and even CEO, Angelo has shaped the industry, mentored countless leaders, and built a legacy of collaboration. Now, as...

Episode 17: Fixing Broken Software Development with Todd Kaufman On this episode of Silicon Heartland Sessions , we sit down with Todd Kaufman , President & CEO of Test Double , to explore why software development is still broken - and what we can do about it. Todd shares his career journey from product development to consulting, where he saw firsthand how many software projects run over budge...

Episode 16: The Future of Insurance & Serverless Innovation with Joe Emison On this episode of Silicon Heartland Sessions , we sit down with Joe Emison , Co-founder and CTO of Branch Insurance , to explore how technology is reshaping the insurance industry. Joe shares his unconventional career path from software developer to law school graduate, then back to tech entrepreneurship, ultimately c...

Episode 15: The Heartbeat of Ohio Tech with Chris Berry Join us as we kick off the new year with Chris Berry , President and CEO of OhioX , Ohio's nonprofit membership organization advocating for the state's technology and innovation sector. In this episode, Chris shares his vision for making Ohio a world leader in tech and innovation, the inspiration behind founding OhioX, and his passion...

Episode 14: Building Innovation and Empathy in Tech Leadership with Matt Randle In Episode 14, we sit down with Matt Randle , Director of Software Engineering, Infrastructure, and Platform Engineering at Path Robotics . From a humble start in IT to leading cutting-edge robotics initiatives, Matt’s journey is a testament to the power of curiosity, empathy, and perseverance. In this insightful conve...

Episode 13: Resilience, Leadership, and Authenticity with Connie Matthews Reynolds In this thought-provoking episode, we welcome Connie Matthews Reynolds, ISSA International Board Member and Founder & CEO of ReynCon, a cybersecurity consulting and training company. Connie shares her inspiring journey from managing retail operations to becoming a celebrated leader in the cybersecurity field. 🌟...

🎙️ Episode 12: Reflecting on 2024 and a Preview of What’s Ahead! Kick off the new year with a special Silicon Heartland Sessions episode celebrating the incredible conversations we had in 2024! This episode brings together highlights from visionary leaders like Ben Blanquera, Srini Koushik, Rehgan Bleile, Bart Murphy, Cindy Leavitt, and many others. Hear their perspectives on innovation, resilienc...

Episode 11: Building Startups, Embracing Challenges, and Shaping the Future with Rob Zwink In this episode of Silicon Heartland Sessions , we sit down with Rob Zwink , CTO and Co-Founder of Razi , to discuss the fascinating intersection of technology, entrepreneurship, and leadership. Rob shares his journey from enterprise technologist at JPMorgan to blockchain pioneer and now real estate tech inn...

Episode 10: Leadership, Resilience, and Embracing Change with Cindy Leavitt In this powerful episode of Silicon Heartland Sessions , Cindy Leavitt , former CIO and Vice President at The Ohio State University , shares her extraordinary journey from the tech industry to higher education, offering profound insights on leadership, adaptability, and the transformative power of self-reflection. Key high...

Episode 8: A Journey Through Resilience, Leadership, and Innovation with Dan Manges In this deeply insightful episode, Dan Manges , Co-Founder of RWX , shares his incredible journey through the tech startup ecosystem, from being the CTO of Braintree (acquired by PayPal) to co-founding Root Insurance, and now building innovative developer tools at RWX. Dan delves into the importance of resilience,...

Episode 9: Thanksgiving Reflections – Gratitude, Leadership, and Giving Back In this special Thanksgiving episode of Silicon Heartland Sessions , we pause to reflect on the incredible conversations we’ve shared with our inspiring guests and the lessons they’ve brought to the Silicon Heartland community. Thanksgiving is a time for gratitude, and this episode celebrates the spirit of giving back and...

Episode 7: Transforming Health and Building Resilience with Bryan Mundy and John Bishop In this special fitness-focused episode of Silicon Heartland Sessions , we welcome Bryan Mundy and John Bishop to share their inspiring journeys of health transformation, resilience, and discipline. From losing over 50 pounds to competing in bodybuilding shows, Bryan and John dive into the lessons they’ve learn...

Episode 6: Strategic Vision, Resilience, and Tech Leadership with Bart Murphy In this episode of Silicon Heartland Sessions , we’re joined by Bart Murphy , CTIO of OCLC , who shares his invaluable perspective on effective leadership in the tech world. Bart’s career is grounded in guiding principles that have helped him navigate complex challenges and drive meaningful innovation. From his “Work Sma...

Episode 5: Leadership, Technology, and the Pursuit of Progress with Murali Sundararajan In this episode of Silicon Heartland Sessions, we are joined by Murali Sundararajan , EVP and CIO of Victoria’s Secret . Murali shares his journey from aspiring lawyer in India to leading IT for a global brand. Known for his logical mindset and commitment to lifelong learning, Murali opens up about the pivotal...

Episode 4: Leadership, Innovation, and Responsible AI with Rehgan Bleile In this episode of Silicon Heartland Sessions , we’re joined by Rehgan Bleile , Co-Founder & CEO of AlignAI . Rehgan shares her inspiring journey from systems engineering to AI, reflecting on her role in shaping the field with a focus on responsible and ethical AI. She dives into her philosophy on leadership, her passion...

In this episode of Silicon Heartland Sessions, we sit down with Warner Moore, Founder of GammaForce.io and Tech Community Coalition, and a true leader in the tech and entrepreneurial ecosystem. Warner shares his unique journey through the IT world, emphasizing the importance of leadership, risk-taking, and the concept of lifelong learning. Warner offers candid insights into how taking calculated r...

Episode 2: AI, Leadership, and Lifelong Learning with Srini Koushik In this 90-minute episode of Silicon Heartland Sessions , Srini Koushik , President of AI and Sustainability at Rackspace , shares his profound insights on AI’s integration into business processes, leadership, and the relentless pursuit of learning. Srini emphasizes that AI—even with its challenges—is “good enough” to be embedded...

In our very first episode of Silicon Heartland Sessions , we sit down with Ben Blanquera , VP of Technology and Sustainability at Rackspace and a giant in the Silicon Heartland tech community. Ben shares invaluable insights on personal and professional development, the power of collaboration, and how to turn failures into opportunities. From leadership lessons to navigating the fast-changing tech...

Welcome to Silicon Heartland Sessions ! In this trailer episode, we introduce you to the podcast that goes beyond the usual tech talk. Get a sneak peek into authentic conversations with top tech leaders, as we explore personal growth, leadership lessons, career-defining moments, and the technologies shaping our future. Whether you’re a seasoned professional or just starting out, this podcast is yo...