Doug Rabold, North America XLA Institute Evangelist and long-time Disney enthusiast, discusses his career pivot from Sales to IT and how experience management is reshaping IT Service Management. He shares insights on shifting Service Desks from reactive to proactive support, delivering exceptional experiences, and the growing impact of XLAs in North America. Doug also previews the future of experience management and its role in elevating IT leadership in 2025.

XLA Institute https://www.linkedin.com/company/xla-institute/

Doug Rabold is a committed CX and ITSM Leader who has led high-performing global teams of up to 350 resources and managed a portfolio of contracts exceeding $60M annual revenue. He is an acknowledged Customer Experience and Employee Experience expert who focuses on developing talent to deliver exceptional support.

Doug attended University of Illinois, holds numerous certifications and is a Certified Instructor. He has extensive public speaking experience, is a frequent podcast guest, and a contributing author to several publications. Doug is the XLA Institute North America Evangelist, Past-Chairman of the HDI Board of Directors, sits on the ITAM Forum Strategic Advisory Council and AOTMP Advisory Council.

Doug was named 2021 AOTMP IT Management Professional of the Year, was a finalist for 2021 HDI Best Service and Support Manager and was selected as People’s Choice Winner for 2018 HDI Manager of the Year. He was named an HDI Top 25 ITSM Thought Leader 2022-24. Doug was selected by Customer Experience Magazine as a Top 25 CXMStar Influencer in 2023-24. He was a 2023 Top 50 CX Influencer by CX Network, AOTMP University Influencer, and MattsenKumar CX Thought Leader. He was recently named a 2024 ICMI Top 25 CX Thought Leader

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HDI Local Chapters is an all volunteer not-for-profit that brings Technical Support professionals together to connect, share and discuss common challenges, and learn from industry innovators and each other --- https://www.hdilocalchapters.org

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Bytes and Banter Podcast Team

Creative Producer/Host: Rocky McGuire - https://www.linkedin.com/in/rockymcguire/

Executive Producer: Terri Oropeza - https://www.linkedin.com/in/toropeza/

Associate Producer: Colleen Rush - https://www.linkedin.com/in/colleen-rush-3603241/

Associate Producer - Daniel Guinto - https://www.linkedin.com/in/daniel-guinto-7b723630/

Technical Producer: Dustin Canter - https://www.linkedin.com/in/dustincanter/

Podcast Operating System: https://www.PodTechs.com

Post-Production: https://www.PodTechs.com

Lisa Duerre is the CEO & Co-Founder of RLD Group, a Collective of Leadership Development Coaching and Consulting Experts helping Tech Companies take culture transformation out of the clouds, banish burnout, and drive bottom-line results by co-creating Strengths-Based Leadership Development Solutions.

RLD Group is a WBENC Certified (WBE, WSOB) Leadership Consulting Firm with expertise in HR strategy and organizational design, developing leadership pipelines, talent retention, burnout prevention, and team performance in the complex hybrid-work world for Leaders in Tech.

Lisa spent 20+ years in Silicon Valley as a top-level executive inside Fortune 500 tech companies. Now, she leverages her corporate experience and gift of facilitation and leadership development to help organizations to put the heart of the human back in Tech and create the FIRM Leaders of tomorrow. Lisa’s insights have been featured by leading NBC, CBS, ABC, The Wall Street Journal, Forbes, Entrepreneur, WomLead Magazine, FeedSpot, Thrive Global, Authority Magazine, Romper, The Mercury News, and more.

Lisa is also the host of Ctrl+Alt+Delete with Lisa Duerre™ Podcast, rated in the top 10 Podcasts on Technical Leadership by FeedSpot - a gold mine of no-nonsense conversations between Lisa and top leadership experts & business executives across all industries to equip leaders in tech with practical tools to help them thrive at work and in life.

Lisa is actively raising awareness for Lipedema as she discusses her journey of discovering that she’s been living with this disease, a misunderstood and underdiagnosed condition affecting as many as 1 in 11 women.

When she’s not living the busy CEO life of leading RLD Group or paving the way for leaders in tech, Lisa loves exploring her home area of Portland, Oregon with her co-founder & husband, Randy, their daughter Emily, and their fun-loving Cavapoo, Yogi.

Media Kit: https://rldgroupllc.com/media-kit-lisa-duerre

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HDI Local Chapters is an all volunteer not-for-profit that brings Technical Support professionals together to connect, share and discuss common challenges, and learn from industry innovators and each other --- https://www.hdilocalchapters.org

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Bytes and Banter Podcast Team

Creative Producer/Host: Rocky McGuire - https://www.linkedin.com/in/rockymcguire/

Executive Producer: Terri Oropeza - https://www.linkedin.com/in/toropeza/

Associate Producer: Colleen Rush - https://www.linkedin.com/in/colleen-rush-3603241/

Associate Producer - Daniel Guinto - https://www.linkedin.com/in/daniel-guinto-7b723630/

Technical Producer: Dustin Canter - https://www.linkedin.com/in/dustincanter/

Podcast Operating System: https://www.PodTechs.com

Post-Production: https://www.PodTechs.com

Visit Splashtop Website - https://www.splashtop.com/home

Stephen Ng is an accomplished professional with extensive experience in building and leading high-performing organizations across Service Delivery, Support, Call Centers, Technical Support Escalations, and Critical Account Management. He has a strong background in managing technical support operations domestically and internationally, leveraging existing resources and driving transformative changes to reduce costs, enhance revenue, and meet targeted margin goals.

Stephen is a results-oriented, process-driven leader known for developing actionable plans that meet service delivery performance commitments, ensure customer satisfaction, and contribute to overall company success.

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HDI Local Chapters is an all volunteer not-for-profit that brings Technical Support professionals together to connect, share and discuss common challenges, and learn from industry innovators and each other --- https://www.hdilocalchapters.org

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Bytes and Banter Podcast Team

Creative Producer/Host: Rocky McGuire - https://www.linkedin.com/in/rockymcguire/

Executive Producer: Terri Oropeza - https://www.linkedin.com/in/toropeza/

Associate Producer: Colleen Rush - https://www.linkedin.com/in/colleen-rush-3603241/

Associate Producer - Daniel Guinto - https://www.linkedin.com/in/daniel-guinto-7b723630/

Technical Producer: Dustin Canter - https://www.linkedin.com/in/dustincanter/

Podcast Operating System: https://www.PodTechs.com

Post-Production: https://www.PodTechs.com

In episode 11, Nicole Sims from Robert Half helps us unpack the 2025 Salary Guide and the latest trends shaping the tech industry. We discuss the “Great Stay” phenomenon, strategies employers use to attract and retain talent, and the growing demand for skills like AI, machine learning, and cybersecurity. Nicole highlights the value of upskilling, flexible staffing solutions, and timely hiring decisions to address skill gaps. She also shares insights from the Robert Half eBook, “Building Future-Forward Tech Teams,” and encourages professionals to prioritize progress over perfection Tune in for practical advice and a deep dive into the evolving world of tech hiring and retention.

Get the insights that are helping technology employers and job seekers make smarter salary decisions.

https://www.roberthalf.com/us/en/insights/salary-guide/technology?utm_source=alliance&utm_medium=external-link&utm_campaign=v2_all_thought-leadership_salary-guide-2025_rht&utm_content=hdi-sg25-website-article-teaser

Nicole Sims is the Senior Regional Director for Robert Half, the world’s first and largest specialized talent solutions and consulting firm. In this role, she oversees operations for the company’s technology talent solutions across the greater Dallas region. With over 18 years of industry experience, Nicole is considered a hiring expert and frequently shares insights on the trends affecting the employment market and the workplace.

Nicole is actively involved in several tech industry-focused organizations. She serves as the Vice President of Membership for the DFW Help Desk Institute (HDI) chapter and is also a member of Tech Titans.

A strong believer in community service, Nicole leads her team to participate in Robert Half’s community impact initiatives, partnering with local nonprofits such as Genesis Women’s Shelter of Dallas and the North Texas SPCA.

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HDI Local Chapters is an all volunteer not-for-profit that brings Technical Support professionals together to connect, share and discuss common challenges, and learn from industry innovators and each other --- https://www.hdilocalchapters.org

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Bytes and Banter Podcast Team

Creative Producer/Host: Rocky McGuire - https://www.linkedin.com/in/rockymcguire/

Executive Producer: Terri Oropeza - https://www.linkedin.com/in/toropeza/

Associate Producer: Colleen Rush - https://www.linkedin.com/in/colleen-rush-3603241/

Associate Producer - Daniel Guinto - https://www.linkedin.com/in/daniel-guinto-7b723630/

Technical Producer: Dustin Canter - https://www.linkedin.com/in/dustincanter/

Podcast Operating System: https://www.PodTechs.com

Post-Production: https://www.PodTechs.com

In Episode 10 of Bytes and Banter, Tim Lawes shares his career journey from selling Yellow Pages to working in the world of enterprise AI. Tim reflects on his experiences in IT service management, including a military contract and managing a service desk, and emphasizes the importance of empathy and building strong relationships in sales. He also talks about his transition to Symphony.AI and the impact of innovative technology on his career. Tune in for a conversation about personal growth, adaptability, and the role of relationships in business success.

https://www.symphonyai.com/

Tim is Sr. Director of Sales at SymphonyAI. He has been in the ITSM industry for 15+ years having worked on Implementation, post-sales & pre-sales teams.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/tim-lawes-81273110b/

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HDI Local Chapters is an all volunteer not-for-profit that brings Technical Support professionals together to connect, share and discuss common challenges, and learn from industry innovators and each other --- https://www.hdilocalchapters.org

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Bytes and Banter Podcast Team

Creative Producer/Host: Rocky McGuire - https://www.linkedin.com/in/rockymcguire/

Executive Producer: Terri Oropeza - https://www.linkedin.com/in/toropeza/

Associate Producer: Collen Rush - https://www.linkedin.com/in/colleen-rush-3603241/

Technical Producer: Dustin Canter - https://www.linkedin.com/in/dustincanter/

Podcast Operating System: https://www.PodTechs.com

Post-Production: https://www.PodTechs.com

In this episode host Rocky McGuire sits down with Daniel Thomas, Principal Analyst at Informa Tech, to explore the latest findings from the HDI State of Tech Support report. We dive into the key trends shaping the future of tech support, from hybrid work challenges to the skills that matter most for today’s IT professionals. Discover how AI is enhancing—not replacing—human roles, and how the shift from SLAs to XLAs is putting customer experience at the forefront. Tune in for a deep dive into how continuous learning, customer-centricity, and business alignment are evolving in today’s IT landscape.

Request Your Free Research Report Now: "The State of Technical Support in 2024"

https://hdi-resources.thinkhdi.com/free/w_hdia66/

Guest Biography: Daniel Thomas is Principal Analyst of Enterprise IT at Informa Tech, producing thought leadership content for the HDI and ICMI communities. He has more than a decade of experience researching and writing on the most critical topics of interest for the technology sector, including cybersecurity, AI, data analytics, risk and privacy, networking and digital security policies. He previously served as a Senior Analyst for CyberRisk Alliance and as the Director of Research for GovExec Media in Washington, D.C

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HDI Local Chapters is an all volunteer not-for-profit that brings Technical Support professionals together to connect, share and discuss common challenges, and learn from industry innovators and each other --- https://www.hdilocalchapters.org

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Bytes and Banter Podcast Team

Creative Producer/Host: Rocky McGuire - https://www.linkedin.com/in/rockymcguire/

Executive Producer: Terri Oropeza - https://www.linkedin.com/in/toropeza/

Associate Producer: Colleen Rush - https://www.linkedin.com/in/colleen-rush-3603241/

Associate Producer - Daniel Guinto - https://www.linkedin.com/in/daniel-guinto-7b723630/

Technical Producer: Dustin Canter - https://www.linkedin.com/in/dustincanter/

Podcast Operating System: https://www.PodTechs.com

Post-Production: https://www.PodTechs.com

Your Career Toolkit: Job Search Strategies from Robert Half

CTA: Job Search Landscape 2024: Planning Your Next Career Move https://www.roberthalf.com/us/en/insights/job-market-outlook?utm_source=alliance&utm_medium=external-link&utm_campaign=v2_all_thought-leadership_all_rht&utm_content=2024-q3-hdi-podcast

When was the last time you truly reflected on your career? Whether you’re actively looking for a new job or are planning to take that step in the near future, this podcast episode will address the current labor market, workers’ reasons for seeking a new role and how to know when it’s time to make a change. It also offers tips for landing a new job and resources to help you get the most out of your job search.

About Doug Bell

With 8 years of experience in the recruiting space, Doug currently leads the technology recruiting efforts for Robert Half in the Raleigh-Durham, North Carolina market. As lead recruiter for the Infrastructure & Operations team, he focuses on sourcing top talent for a variety of positions, including help desk analysts, project managers, systems administrators, systems engineers, security engineers, security analysts, network administrators, network engineers, IT directors, solutions consultants, cloud engineers, and DevOps engineers, among others. Doug is the secretary for the Triangle chapter of HDI.

Outside of work, Doug enjoys playing soccer and basketball, visiting the beach, and spending time with his wife and their Bracco Italiano puppy, Ødegaard.

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HDI Local Chapters is an all volunteer not-for-profit that brings Technical Support professionals together to connect, share and discuss common challenges, and learn from industry innovators and each other --- https://www.hdilocalchapters.org

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Bytes and Banter Podcast Team

Creative Producer/Host: Rocky McGuire - https://www.linkedin.com/in/rockymcguire/

Executive Producer: Terri Oropeza - https://www.linkedin.com/in/toropeza/

Associate Producer: Colleen Rush - https://www.linkedin.com/in/colleen-rush-3603241/

Associate Producer - Daniel Guinto - https://www.linkedin.com/in/daniel-guinto-7b723630/

Technical Producer: Dustin Canter - https://www.linkedin.com/in/dustincanter/

Podcast Operating System: https://www.PodTechs.com

Post-Production: https://www.PodTechs.com

Dan Turchin is the CEO and Founder of PeopleReign, the leading AI platform for IT and HR employee service automation. He is a member of the Forbes Technology Council and has hosted over 300 episodes of the popular “AI and the Future of Work” podcast which has a community of more than a million listeners.

Prior to PeopleReign, Dan was the CEO of AIOps leader InsightFinder. Previously, he co-founded Astound, an AI-first enterprise platform for HR and IT, and was Vice President of Product at DevOps leader BigPanda, Chief Product Officer at security analytics company AccelOps (now Fortinet), and a Senior Director of Product Strategy at ServiceNow.

He also served as a founding board member at Rhomobile prior to its acquisition by Motorola and currently serves on the board of Auger, the open source automated machine learning framework.

In 2000, Dan co-founded Aeroprise and served as CEO until it was acquired in 2010 by BMC Software. He is an active angel investor and startup advisor with a portfolio of over 30 companies.

Dan's passionate about building great teams that build great products that solve hard problems that change lives. He’s a big fan of Asimov, Dr. Seuss, youth soccer, adventure sports, and Tynker.

Dan has BS and BA degrees from Stanford University. Follow him on https://x.com/dturchin

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HDI Local Chapters is an all volunteer not-for-profit that brings Technical Support professionals together to connect, share and discuss common challenges, and learn from industry innovators and each other --- https://www.hdilocalchapters.org

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Bytes and Banter Podcast Team

Creative Producer/Host: Rocky McGuire - https://www.linkedin.com/in/rockymcguire/

Executive Producer: Terri Oropeza - https://www.linkedin.com/in/toropeza/

Associate Producer: Collen Rush - https://www.linkedin.com/in/colleen-rush-3603241/

Technical Producer: Dustin Canter - https://www.linkedin.com/in/dustincanter/

Podcast Operating System: https://www.PodTechs.com

Post-Production: https://www.PodTechs.com