🎙️ 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 mean for the future of work?

Our panelists share honest, unfiltered insights about:

✅ Why startups are moving at the speed of curiosity while enterprises balance innovation with risk

✅ The rise of vibe coding and what it means for prototyping, security, and product quality

✅ How AI is shifting skill sets - and why critical thinking and human connection still matter most

✅ Where AI is delivering real value across the SDLC, and where caution is still required

🔥 Startup Leaders:

• Nate Lusher – Founder & Principal Consultant, Renew Work

• Nilanjan Raychaudhuri – Founder, Tublian

• Tushar Kulkarni – CEO & Founder, Big Kitty Labs

• Ray Bohac – CEO & Co-Founder, Spearfish

🔥 Enterprise Leaders:

• Justin Wilkins – Field CTO, Varonis

• James Schumacher – Enterprise Architect, Honda

“If you really want to use AI, you have to use it every single day. You have to practice every single day.” – James Schumacher, Honda

Whether you’re scaling a startup or transforming an enterprise, this episode is full of practical advice, real-world lessons, and fresh perspectives on what it takes to build - and lead - in this era of AI-powered change.

🙌 Special Thanks to Our Sponsors:

• Rackspace Technology – We advise, design, build, and manage solutions across multicloud, applications, data, and security.

• Varonis – The leader in data security and insider threat detection.

• Trace3 – AI to help your business run, grow, and transform.

• Sigma Computing – Business intelligence built for the cloud. Live, collaborative analytics for data-driven teams.

  
  

🎧 Available now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and wherever you listen.

🎙️ Episode 29: Michael Fulton - Building Legacy through Architecture, Leadership & CommunityIn 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 blend of strategic thinking and human connection. From teaching future technologists to leading enterprise transformation, he shares how architecture, mentorship, and innovation intersect to create lasting impact.We dive into:✅ The moment he realized enterprise architecture was his calling✅ Why a shared vision is the foundation for any successful transformation✅ The importance of building context alongside content in tech careers✅ How leadership is about what you guide - not how you control✅ Why Tech Community Nexus exists to help leaders grow, find their way, and elevate others“You’re not on the journey alone. It’s always better to go together.” - Michael FultonWhether you’re a rising technologist or a seasoned executive, this episode will challenge and encourage you to lead with clarity, build with purpose, and stay rooted in what matters most.🔑 Key Takeaways: • Discipline and context - not hours - create sustainable impact • Great leaders focus on what and empower others to define how • EA is about simplifying complexity, not adding to it • Community isn’t a luxury - it’s how we keep up with change • Legacy is crafted one conversation, one insight, one relationship at a time🙌 Special Thanks to Our Sponsors: • Rackspace Technology - We advise, design, build, and manage solutions across multicloud, applications, data, and security. • Varonis - The leader in data security and insider threat detection. • Trace3 - AI to help your business run, grow, and transform. • Sigma Computing - Business intelligence built for the cloud. Live, collaborative analytics for data-driven teams.🎧 Now streaming on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and all major platforms.

🎙️ 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 and humanity, vision and reality.From growing up in India to leading global teams, Alfred shares his deeply personal journey of unlearning corporate habits, launching a successful consultancy, and cultivating a culture of trust, empowerment, and clarity.We explore:✅ The three T’s of his company’s DNA: Target, Technique, and Team✅ Why he left a stable corporate job to chase something more meaningful✅ What it means to empower others to fail safely and lead boldly✅ How a mindset of curiosity, gratitude, and storytelling fuels lasting impact✅ The book that changed his leadership philosophy: The New Kingmakers✅ What enterprises can learn from the startup world - and vice versaWhether you’re a founder, a builder, or a technologist navigating your own path, this episode is packed with wisdom on people-first leadership, responsible AI adoption, and staying true to what matters most.🔑 Key Takeaways: • “If you’re building transformation without involving people, you’re not transforming anything.” • “You miss 100% of the opportunities you don’t ask for - so ask.” • “Disrupt yourself before the world does.” • “The most underrated leadership trait? Gratitude.”🙌 Special Thanks to Our Sponsors: • Rackspace Technology – We advise, design, build, and manage solutions across multicloud, applications, data, and security. • Varonis – The leader in data security and insider threat detection. • Trace3 – AI to help your business run, grow, and transform. • Sigma Computing – Business intelligence built for the cloud. Live, collaborative analytics for data-driven teams.🎧 Listen now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you tune in!