Wired for Wonder

Mark Rigney is the Chief Executive Officer of Equitus Corporation, where he is responsible for business development, finance, and set the company's long-term vision and strategy. Mark has over 30 years of experience leading highly technical operations and large global business units across both commercial and government/DoD sectors to achieve excellent outcomes and P&L growth. He is known for his...

With more than 25 years of management and a decade-plus in the C-Suite, Don’s leadership career has primarily focused on organizations experiencing extraordinary change including both hyper-growth startups and complex turnarounds. His tenure includes building and scaling companies to 7, 8 and 9-figure operations including multiple C-level Exits and two successful turnarounds. Don holds an undergra...

In this episode of Wired for Wonder, Lori Kirkland speaks with Dan Swiniarski, president and COO of Wright Creative Branding, about the challenges and opportunities presented by AI in the workplace. They discuss the importance of integrating AI thoughtfully, the value of collaboration, and the need for leaders to adapt their mindsets in a rapidly changing environment. Dan shares insights on foster...

In this episode of Wired for Wonder, Lori Kirkland and Binnaz Cubukcu discuss the transformative impact of AI on the workplace, emphasizing the need for organizations to rethink their design and purpose. They explore the balance between technology and human emotions, the importance of emotional intelligence, critical thinking, and communication skills for future leaders, and the common struggles o...

Mike is a transformational leader with a visionary twist. His role is to exist to serve manufacturing organizations through expansion, transformation, and growth. Passionate about creating a clear path forward and then empowering teams to drive it, his focus is on keeping everyone aligned, moving at the right pace, and delivering real impact. Manufacturing is more than a job to Mike, it’s a craft,...

In this episode of Wired for Wonder, Lori Kirkland speaks with John Reites, CEO of Thread, about the intersection of technology and humanity in the future of work, particularly in the life sciences sector. They discuss the importance of practical AI, human-centered design, and the challenges faced in clinical research. John shares insights on leadership in the age of AI, emphasizing the need for a...

Sandy Ortez is a People Operations and Talent leader with a track record of building and scaling HR and recruiting teams across global organizations. She partners closely with CEOs and leadership teams to align people strategies with business goals, shaping culture and driving sustainable growth. Her passion lies in supporting employee development and creating meaningful, high-impact workplace exp...

In this episode of Wired for Wonder, Lori Kirkland speaks with Ren Akinse, Chief People Officer at Emerald, about the evolving landscape of the workplace, particularly the removal of college degree requirements for jobs. They discuss the importance of curiosity as a skill, the transformative role of AI in enhancing creativity and efficiency, and the need for leaders to adapt to rapid changes. Ren...

Praveen Mamidi is the Founder and CEO of a stealth-mode AI startup focused on transforming financial services through cutting-edge artificial intelligence. With over 19 years of engineering leadership across fintech giants like PayPal, eBay, and Synapse, Praveen specializes in machine learning, computer vision, and NLP to combat fraud and optimize enterprise operations. He’s known for building hig...

In this episode of Wired for Wonder, Lori Kirkland speaks with Omar Jamal, CEO of Atlas, about the future of work in the age of AI. They discuss the importance of purpose-driven leadership, self-awareness, and the role of AI as a productivity tool. Omar shares insights on creativity, the significance of culture in organizations, and the essential people skills leaders need to develop. The conversa...

In this episode of Wired for Wonder, Dr. Sabyasachi Saha, a neurosurgeon and CEO of an AI tech implementation company, discusses the transformative impact of AI on various industries, particularly healthcare and business. He emphasizes the importance of AI as a co-founder, the shifts in leadership required to integrate AI effectively, and the opportunities for enhancing quality of life through tec...

In this episode of Wired for Wonder, Lori Kirkland speaks with Kathleen Perley, a professor and AI advisor, about her journey from academia to entrepreneurship. They discuss the impact of AI on leadership, the importance of emotional intelligence, and how AI can be leveraged for personal growth and business transformation. Kathleen shares insights from her new book, 'AI Made Simple,' emphasizing t...

Luigi Lenguito is the founder and CEO at BforeAI, driving the company’s vision, strategy and sales. After recognizing the need for a shift in the cybersecurity paradigm — from a reactive to a preemptive approach - he decided to invest in applying behavioral predictive analytics to network data. And now, under his leadership, BforeAI is pioneering predictive security through its PreCrime solutions....

JOSHUA SCARPINO | D.SC Is the vice president of information security at TrustEngine. He leads the IT operations and security and compliance teams and is also responsible for developing and managing the organization’s responsible AI program. Scarpino is also the CEO and Founder of Assessed Intelligence, a cybersecurity and AI research consultancy firm. He has more than two decades of experience wor...

Ira Zlotowitz CREF Visionary | Industry Trailblazer | Community Leader Ira Zlotowitz is a trailblazer in commercial real estate financing (CREF), focused on solving a problem nearly every property owner faces: not knowing if they’re getting the best deal. As founder of GPARENCY, he launched the industry's first mortgage assurance model—guaranteeing the best financing without leaving your lender or...

Jenny Chan is a transformative Chief People Officer with over 25 years of experience driving global HR strategy, culture change, and organizational growth. Now leading talent initiatives at Arctera.io, she crafts environments where innovation, collaboration, and employee well-being thrive. Previously, Jenny spent nearly three decades at Accenture, where she held executive roles including Global HR...

Moisés Spíndola is a dynamic Learning and Development leader with over 14 years of experience designing impactful training, quality, and knowledge programs across global organizations. Currently at HealthPoint CHC, he’s previously led L&D strategy at Mercari, Booking.com, Xerox, and TTEC, consistently transforming early-stage teams into high-performing engines of growth. Fluent in Spanish, English...

Chad Woodford is a technology attorney, AI ethicist, and embodied philosopher with over 25 years of experience spanning software engineering, law, product management, and AI research. Currently an AI Product Counsel at Google, he advises on AI and cloud innovation while championing ethical frameworks at the intersection of technology and consciousness. Chad has counseled major tech companies like...

Alejandro Rivas-Micoud is a global entrepreneur and CEO with a track record of scaling startups, leading turnarounds, and driving multimillion-dollar joint ventures across the U.S., Europe, and Asia. As Founder and CEO of Userlytics, he built one of the world’s leading UX remote testing platforms, serving clients in over 51 countries. Alejandro previously led companies through IPO preparations, ac...

Chris McArdle is a proven Chief Revenue Officer and growth architect, specializing in scaling SaaS, AdTech, and MarTech companies. With a career spanning Fortune 500, private equity, and VC-backed firms, Chris consistently drives rapid global revenue expansion, operational excellence, and team performance. He has led transformative growth at Resonate, Smartly.io, and Neustar, building high-impact...

Ken Rice is a seasoned Chief Operating Officer and leadership coach with over two decades of expertise scaling franchise operations and driving innovation in the restaurant industry. Currently leading Pickleman’s Franchising’s national expansion, Ken leverages his deep operational experience and passion for hospitality excellence to position the brand as an emerging powerhouse. Previously, Ken hel...

Welcome to the next episode of the Wired for Wonder podcast!  In this episode of the Wired for Wonder podcast, Lori Kirkland speaks with Keith Rabkin, president of PandaDoc, about the future of work, self-leadership, and the importance of human-centric leadership in a rapidly changing corporate landscape. They discuss how AI can enhance personal and professional growth, the need for adaptability,...

Welcome to the Wired for Wonder podcast!  In this conversation, Lori Kirkland and Robert Buckley discuss the evolving landscape of leadership and human resources, emphasizing the importance of adaptability, learning, and a human-centric approach in the workplace. They explore how leaders can embrace uncertainty, the significance of questioning in leadership, and the need to prioritize people over...

Welcome to the Wired for Wonder podcast!  Meryl Eriksen is a compassionate leadership expert and purpose-driven strategist who nurtures leaders and organizations to cultivate growth, build confidence, foster connection, and inspire joy. A native of Skaneateles, New York, Meryl graduated from Cornell University’s School of Hotel Administration and was the first to complete its collaborative degree...

Welcome to the Wired for Wonder podcast!  In this conversation, Lori Kirkland and Maura Rivera discuss the transformative impact of AI on marketing and the workplace. They explore the fears surrounding AI, the importance of embracing technology, and the need for leaders to adapt their strategies. Maura shares insights on how AI can enhance productivity, the necessity of human skills in an AI-drive...