🎙️ 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!

🎙️ 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 Platform Enablement at Discover • Scott Lesinski, Senior Manager of Cloud Engineering at DiscoverTogether, we explore the real stories behind cloud adoption, AI readiness, and what it actually takes to lead large-scale transformation - inside startups and enterprises alike.🔥 From building adaptive AI robots that weld in the real world…🔥 To migrating 1,200+ apps and dismantling decades of legacy tech…🔥 To modernizing internal platforms at breakneck speed to prepare for AI…This episode is a raw, practical, and deeply human look at what happens when bold vision meets disciplined execution.💡 Key Takeaways:✅ “You can’t wait for motivation to strike - you build systems that drive action.” - Matt Randall✅ Real transformation means giving things up - control, habits, comfort - to gain agility and clarity.✅ AI-readiness isn’t about tools - it’s about simplifying architecture and focusing teams.✅ Technology doesn’t drive change. Behavior does. Habits, alignment, and trust are the levers.✅ Local talent is a differentiator - if you invest in it like the strategic asset it is.🙌 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.This is transformation - unplugged.

🎙️ 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, trampolines, and a relentless drive to adapt and lead.

Mick brings a rare mix of passion, grit, humility, and wisdom, sharing lessons from the frontlines of both life and technology. From the early days of mainframes to pioneering modern DevOps culture, Mick’s reflections on leadership, burnout, agile evolution, team dynamics, and the power of truly being human will inspire technologists at every level.

⚠️ Warning: You may leave this episode with renewed hope and a desire to play Journey’s “Don’t Stop Believin’” at full volume.

🔑 Key Takeaways:

• On Leadership: “The number one thing is making sure people can have their best ideas.”

• On Burnout: “You can’t have great software without great ideas. And you can’t have great ideas if you’re constantly interrupted.”

• On Inspiration: Real leadership means being in the trenches - not just managing, but coding, listening, and protecting your team from unnecessary noise.

• On Transformation: Mick’s journey from circus rigging to modern cloud engineering is a case study in resilience, curiosity, and reinvention.

• On Constraints & Creativity: “Constraints aren’t limits - they’re focal points for innovation.”

🙏 Thanks to our sponsors for supporting community-led conversations that matter:

🙌 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.

Episode 25: Hope Yin - Leading with Energy, Purpose, and PossibilityIn 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 business - all guided by a deep commitment to energy alignment, authenticity, and empowering others. Drawing wisdom from works like Energy Leadership by Bruce D. Schneider, Lean In by Sheryl Sandberg, and How Women Rise by Sally Helgesen and Marshall Goldsmith, Hope reminds us that leadership isn’t about titles - it's about influence, intention, and creating a better future for everyone.Through stories of mentorship, resilience, ethical tech adoption, and her passion for increasing representation in leadership, Hope leaves us with a message that will stay with you long after the episode ends:"The best is yet to come, and we can be part of creating that future."Whether you’re navigating personal transformation, building your leadership legacy, or exploring how AI impacts our humanity, this episode offers wisdom, warmth, and practical inspiration.Key Takeaways:✅ Why energy alignment is essential for effective leadership✅ How to create sustainable success through daily wellness habits✅ Why representation matters - and how to support more women in leadership✅ The importance of leading with authenticity in a rapidly evolving world✅ How to think about ethical leadership in an era of AI and transformationSpecial 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 all major platforms!

🎙️ 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 landscape - especially in healthcare and biotech.Disha’s personal journey - from global career pivots to leading a greenfield digital initiative in Ohio - highlights what it truly means to lead with authenticity and courage in a fast-paced world.💡 Key Takeaways:✅ How to align your career with your gifts and passions - and why purpose is your most powerful compass.✅ The importance of saying no and setting boundaries in order to say yes to what really matters.✅ What it means to lead collaboratively and build a culture where others feel safe to take risks.✅ How Amgen is leveraging technology and AI to reshape biotech - and save lives.✅ Why mentorship matters more than ever, and how reverse mentorship is creating meaningful transformation.✅ Disha’s personal habits for staying grounded, centered, and fully present in both work and life.💬 "You're never too late to find your purpose in life... but it takes reflection, curiosity, and a willingness to step out of your comfort zone." - Disha PatelWhether you're navigating imposter syndrome, seeking balance in a high-stakes role, or just looking for inspiration from a powerful leader in tech, this episode offers the kind of wisdom that sticks with you.🎧 Listen now and discover why Disha is one of the most inspiring voices in Ohio’s technology and healthcare community.🙏 Special thanks to our amazing sponsors for supporting this episode:🙌 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.

🎙️ Episode 23: Michael Farrar – Runnin' Down a Dream in the Public SectorIn 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 technological change in the public sector. You’ll hear how a childhood theme song (“Running Down a Dream” by Tom Petty) became a lifelong anthem for chasing goals, pushing through challenges, and never giving up.💡 What You’ll Learn:✅ How Michael built a successful career by saying “yes” to the jobs no one wanted✅ The discipline it takes to lead a tech organization while being present as a father, husband, and community mentor✅ How the City of Westerville is innovating with AI and smart city tech - without sacrificing trust or ethical responsibility✅ Why building relationships and community is the true legacy of a great leaderHis insights are authentic, unfiltered, and deeply human - and his advice is just as relevant for CTOs and software engineers as it is for city managers and startup founders.🎧 Tune in for a conversation that blends technology, leadership, and a bold reminder to “stay curious” and “keep moving forward” - no matter what.🙏 Huge thanks to our 2025 sponsors who make this podcast possible:🙌 Rackspace Technology – We advise, design, build, and manage solutions across the multicloud, applications, data, and security.🙌 Varonis – A pioneer in data security and analytics, providing a platform to manage, analyze, and secure enterprise data against insider threats and cyberattacks.🙌 Trace3 – AI to help your business run, grow, and transform.🙌 Sigma Computing – Next-generation cloud analytics and BI with a spreadsheet interface, enabling teams to analyze live data at scale.🎧 Tune in now: https://www.cloudnirvana.org/podcast