The Software Leaders Uncensored Podcast

In this episode of Software Leaders Uncensored, host Steve Taplin interviews Leonard Niebo, a seasoned educator and CIO at The Citadel. They discuss Len's journey through education and technology, the unique challenges faced by CIOs in higher education, and the evolution of teaching technology. Len shares insights on the differences between military and public universities, current projects at...

In this episode of Software Leaders Uncensored, host Steve Taplin interviews Brett McLaughlin, a seasoned CTO and author, about his career journey, the evolution of technology communication, and the challenges faced by CTOs in today's landscape. Brett shares insights on the importance of networking, the role of a CTO in bridging technology and business, and the realities of company acquisition...

In this episode of Software Leaders Uncensored, host Steve Taplin speaks with Cydni Tetro, a dynamic executive with a rich background in technology and entrepreneurship. They discuss Cydni's career journey, the transformative impact of AI on product development, the importance of increasing female representation in tech, and the challenges of fundraising. Cydni emphasizes the need for creative...

In this episode of Software Leaders Uncensored, host Steve Taplin interviews Brad Buscher, a seasoned tech leader and multi-time CIO. They discuss Brad's career journey, the importance of building relationships in tech leadership, and the challenges of managing remote teams. Brad shares insights on navigating mergers and acquisitions, understanding AI, and the balance between in-house and cont...

In this episode of Software Leaders Uncensored, host Steve Taplin speaks with Rob Riggs, a seasoned tech entrepreneur and CTO. They discuss Rob's journey in the tech industry, the evolution of his company, and the challenges faced in software development today, particularly with the rise of AI. Rob shares insights on building effective teams, navigating time zone differences, and the importanc...

In this episode of Software Leaders Uncensored, host Steve Taplin engages with seasoned tech executive Andy Elmhorst, who shares insights from his extensive career in software development and leadership. They discuss the evolving role of the CTO, the necessity of hands-on technical leadership, and the growing demand for fractional CTOs in startups. The conversation also delves into the challenges...

In this episode of Software Leaders Uncensored, host Steve Taplin interviews Haeden Kolb, a young entrepreneur and the largest family-owned franchisee of Taco Bell. They discuss Hayden's journey from a self-taught web developer to a CIO, the challenges of managing technology in a franchise environment, and the innovative projects he's working on in the pharmacy sector. Hayden shares valuab...

In this episode of Software Leaders Uncensored, host Steve Taplin interviews Heidi Anderson, a seasoned tech leader with a remarkable career journey. Heidi shares her experiences from starting in technology at the IRS to becoming a two-time CIO and her insights on overcoming challenges as a female in a male-dominated industry. The conversation delves into the impact of AI in technology, the evolvi...

In this episode of Software Leaders Uncensored, host Steve Taplin speaks with Kelsey Ruger, Chief Product and Technology Officer at Hello Alice. They discuss Kelsey's journey into technology, the importance of user experience in software development, and the challenges faced by tech leaders in a rapidly changing market driven by AI. Kelsey shares insights on building agile teams, the dynamics...

In this episode of Software Leaders Uncensored, host Steve Taplin interviews Kevin Surace, a seasoned tech entrepreneur and CEO of AppVance. They discuss Kevin's extensive career in software development, the evolution of software testing, and the transformative role of AI in quality assurance. Kevin shares insights on managing engineering teams, the challenges of funding in the tech industry, and...

In this episode of Software Leaders Uncensored, host Steve Taplin interviews Kenny Mullican, CIO of Paragon Films. They discuss Kenny's career journey from software development to technology leadership, the role of technology in plastics manufacturing, and the challenges faced by CIOs today. Kenny shares insights on the importance of staying current with technology, the impact of AI, and offer...

In this episode of Software Leaders Uncensored, host Steve Taplin interviews Archith Sharma, CTO of Atom Tickets. They discuss Archith's career journey, the impact of COVID-19 on the entertainment industry, and how Atom Tickets differentiates itself in the market. The conversation also delves into the role of generative AI in engineering, building high-performing teams, and the challenges faced by...

In this conversation, Steve Taplin interviews Jeff DePascale, a seasoned CTO, who shares his journey from software development to leadership in the tech industry. They discuss the transformation of communication in automotive dealerships through AI, the challenges of managing a remote engineering team, and the importance of talent retention. Jeff emphasizes the need for a holistic approach to tech...

In this episode of Software Leaders Uncensored, host Steve Taplin speaks with Jason Thomas, CIO of CSK Legal, about his career journey and the evolving role of technology in the legal industry. They discuss the challenges of innovation in a traditionally conservative field, the opportunities presented by AI, and the importance of user feedback in technology adoption. Jason shares success stories o...

In this thoughtful and transparent episode of Software Leaders Uncensored, host Steve Taplin speaks with Bob Berbeco, CIO of Mahaska Health, about modernizing rural healthcare through smart data strategies, AI, and human-centered leadership. Bob shares how he reorganized IT to prioritize analytics and created a Snowflake-based architecture to unlock true AI potential. From data governance to build...

In this episode of Software Leaders Uncensored, Steve Taplin sits down with John Price, a former Special Forces soldier, U.S. Senate staffer, and Deloitte M&A leader, who is now building High Ground, a “government operating system” for navigating federal contracts. John explains why most founders misunderstand how to sell into the U.S. government, how his military and policy background shaped...

In this episode of Software Leaders Uncensored, host Steve Taplin interviews Don Allen, CIO and CISO of Moda Operandi. They discuss Don's diverse career journey, the unique challenges and opportunities in technology leadership, and the evolving role of AI in e-commerce. Don shares insights from his experience in private equity, the importance of collaboration between tech and business, and the...

In this episode of Software Leaders Uncensored, host Steve Taplin speaks with Jason Wilcox, a seasoned technology leader with a diverse background in engineering and software development. They discuss Jason's career journey, the current projects he's involved in, and the challenges of leading a global engineering team. The conversation delves into the importance of data governance, the impact of A...

In this inspiring episode of Software Leaders Uncensored, Steve Taplin speaks with Sherry Wu, CTO of University of Michigan Credit Union (UMCU), about building tech that drives loyalty, innovation, and impact. Sherry shares how her team transformed UMCU’s digital experience to rival big banks, integrated AI-powered chatbots, and launched real-time card issuance at Detroit Lions games. She also ope...

In this episode of Software Leaders Uncensored, host Steve Taplin interviews Mark Myers, a multifaceted leader in the tech industry. Mark shares his journey from humble beginnings to becoming the CEO of Neurodyne, a company focused on innovative health tech solutions. He discusses the challenges and triumphs of building a startup, the importance of understanding the market, and the unique tech sta...

In this episode of Software Leaders Uncensored, host Steve Taplin interviews Fawad FR Rashidi, CTO of Zest Dental Solutions. Fawad shares his unique journey from software engineering to becoming a CTO, emphasizing the importance of innovation and adaptability in the dental technology sector. He discusses the strategic transformations at Zest, including leveraging AI and e-commerce to enhance custo...

In this episode of Software Leaders Uncensored, host Steve Taplin interviews Fernando Higuera, a seasoned technology leader with a rich background in software engineering and product management. Fernando shares his journey from being a hands-on engineer to taking on multiple CTO roles, emphasizing the importance of human-centered innovation and the need for effective leadership in technology. He d...

In this episode of Software Leaders Uncensored, host Steve Taplin interviews Gavin Nicol, a seasoned technologist and CTO, who shares his extensive experience in the tech industry. They discuss the evolution of the web, the history of AI, and the innovations at Context Labs, where Nicol is currently CTO. Nicol emphasizes the importance of staying technical as a leader, the challenges of managing g...

In this episode of Software Leaders Uncensored, host Steve Taplin interviews Brian Guinn, a seasoned expert in technology and government contracting. Brian shares his journey from computer repair to becoming the CTO of a consulting firm focused on the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program. The conversation delves into the intricacies of the SBIR program, its benefits for tech entrepren...

In this episode of Software Leaders Uncensored, host Steve Taplin interviews Ryan Russett, a seasoned tech entrepreneur and CTO. Ryan shares his journey from a background in evolutionary biology to becoming a successful CTO, emphasizing the importance of execution over mere ideas. He discusses his current projects focused on AI and self-service solutions, as well as the challenges he faces in hiri...