IT in the D

On this podcast, we often talk about getting started in the IT field by applying for help desk gigs, and we talk to C-suite and business owners, but this week, we’re filling in the middle of the story. Brad Woessner (you’ll recognize him from our meetups!) joins us to talk about his IT career and what it’s like to crew the help desk.

In this episode Bob and Randy ‘welcome Mike Kennedy, Founder and Chief Security Officer at Ostra Security, and Mel Kolinski, Sales and Channel Chief at Ostra. They dive into an open discussion about cybersecurity, highlighting the issues with transparency and honesty in the industry. Mike shares his experiences of starting Ostra and his motivations behind it, emphasizing the need for honest relationships and better security practices. The conversation also touches on the impact of AI on security, the problems of selling fear, uncertainty, and doubt (FUD), and the importance of a community-driven approach to improve cybersecurity standards. The episode wraps up with insights into the Truth in Cyber initiative, advocating for more ethical practices in cybersecurity.

This is part 4 of a 4-part series. Randy and I were recently invited to podcast on the floor of the 2025 Cyber Winter Wonderland at the beautiful Madison Loft. My guest host of the day was host of the Great Security Debate, Brian Schneble. Enjoy the listen, and THANK YOU to CXO Forum for partnering with us to podcast at your event! Part 1 Steve Monato and Ken Sowinski of UWM Part 1’s discussion focuses on the evolving role of AI within organizations, touching on AI use cases, data security, and the necessity for clean, organized data for effective AI modeling. The panelists emphasize the shift from understanding AI to implementing and deriving business value from it. They also discuss the importance of communication between IT and business units to promote effective AI adoption, the impact of automation on employee tasks, and the future role of AI in sectors like mortgage processing. The conversation explores the balance between AI-driven automation and human oversight to ensure efficiency and address challenges associated with new AI tools. Part 2 Eric Olmstead Palo Alto Networks and Jonathan Gough of Pellera Part 2 is a discussion of the evolution and current trends in IT security and technology integration. Pellera Technologies provides a detailed overview of their global operations, focusing on AI, data cloud, and cybersecurity solutions. The discussion covers Palo Alto Networks’ advancements in security, including the integration of AI in their security platforms and the concept of Zero Trust, emphasizing its continued relevance. The conversation also explores the complexities of AI implementation, the challenges of non-human identities (NHIs), and the importance of robust security measures in a rapidly evolving tech landscape. Both companies highlight the need for innovation and vigilance in managing current and emerging security threats. Part 3 Brandon Allen and Pete Sheldon of Prophet Security Part 3 focuses on the challenges faced by Security Operations Centers (SOCs) amid a growing volume of alerts and the role of AI and machine learning in addressing these challenges. Profit Security is utilizing AI-driven platforms to enhance alert investigation and reduce false positives, allowing analysts to focus on more critical issues. The conversation delves into topics like the evolution from traditional machine learning to modern AI, the importance of context and reasoning in alert processing, and the continuous need for human oversight and expert feedback in AI systems. Additionally, the discussion touches on industry-specific issues such as the energy costs associated with running AI and compute centers, the adaptability of AI to new threat vectors, and the potential for AI to improve operational efficiency within organizations. Part 4 Björn Olson of Pellera and Henry Samson of Palo Alto Networks. Part 4 covers the evolving landscape of technology and security. The discussion covers the prevalent issues in the automotive and manufacturing industries, including underutilization of tools, data protection challenges, and the impact of technological advancements on security practices. The conversation also touches on the importance of understanding customer needs, the necessity of solving real problems, and the need to plan for future challenges like quantum computing. The roundtable aims to provide insights into balancing sales with genuine problem-solving and advancing security measures while managing financial constraints.

This is part 3 of a 4-part series. Randy and I were recently invited to podcast on the floor of the 2025 Cyber Winter Wonderland at the beautiful Madison Loft. My guest host of the day was host of the Great Security Debate, Brian Schneble. Enjoy the listen, and THANK YOU to CXO Forum for partnering with us to podcast at your event! Part 1 Steve Monato and Ken Sowinski of UWM Part 1’s discussion focuses on the evolving role of AI within organizations, touching on AI use cases, data security, and the necessity for clean, organized data for effective AI modeling. The panelists emphasize the shift from understanding AI to implementing and deriving business value from it. They also discuss the importance of communication between IT and business units to promote effective AI adoption, the impact of automation on employee tasks, and the future role of AI in sectors like mortgage processing. The conversation explores the balance between AI-driven automation and human oversight to ensure efficiency and address challenges associated with new AI tools. Part 2 Eric Olmstead Palo Alto Networks and Jonathan Gough of Pellera Part 2 is a discussion of the evolution and current trends in IT security and technology integration. Pellera Technologies provides a detailed overview of their global operations, focusing on AI, data cloud, and cybersecurity solutions. The discussion covers Palo Alto Networks’ advancements in security, including the integration of AI in their security platforms and the concept of Zero Trust, emphasizing its continued relevance. The conversation also explores the complexities of AI implementation, the challenges of non-human identities (NHIs), and the importance of robust security measures in a rapidly evolving tech landscape. Both companies highlight the need for innovation and vigilance in managing current and emerging security threats. Part 3 Brandon Allen and Pete Sheldon of Prophet Security Part 3 focuses on the challenges faced by Security Operations Centers (SOCs) amid a growing volume of alerts and the role of AI and machine learning in addressing these challenges. Profit Security is utilizing AI-driven platforms to enhance alert investigation and reduce false positives, allowing analysts to focus on more critical issues. The conversation delves into topics like the evolution from traditional machine learning to modern AI, the importance of context and reasoning in alert processing, and the continuous need for human oversight and expert feedback in AI systems. Additionally, the discussion touches on industry-specific issues such as the energy costs associated with running AI and compute centers, the adaptability of AI to new threat vectors, and the potential for AI to improve operational efficiency within organizations. Part 4 Björn Olson of Pellera and Henry Samson of Palo Alto Networks. Part 4 covers the evolving landscape of technology and security. The discussion covers the prevalent issues in the automotive and manufacturing industries, including underutilization of tools, data protection challenges, and the impact of technological advancements on security practices. The conversation also touches on the importance of understanding customer needs, the necessity of solving real problems, and the need to plan for future challenges like quantum computing. The roundtable aims to provide insights into balancing sales with genuine problem-solving and advancing security measures while managing financial constraints.

This is part 2 of a 4-part series. Randy and I were recently invited to podcast on the floor of the 2025 Cyber Winter Wonderland at the beautiful Madison Loft. My guest host of the day was host of the Great Security Debate, Brian Schneble. Enjoy the listen, and THANK YOU to CXO Forum for partnering with us to podcast at your event! Part 1 Steve Monato and Ken Sowinski of UWM Part 1’s discussion focuses on the evolving role of AI within organizations, touching on AI use cases, data security, and the necessity for clean, organized data for effective AI modeling. The panelists emphasize the shift from understanding AI to implementing and deriving business value from it. They also discuss the importance of communication between IT and business units to promote effective AI adoption, the impact of automation on employee tasks, and the future role of AI in sectors like mortgage processing. The conversation explores the balance between AI-driven automation and human oversight to ensure efficiency and address challenges associated with new AI tools. Part 2 Eric Olmstead Palo Alto Networks and Jonathan Gough of Pellera Part 2 is a discussion of the evolution and current trends in IT security and technology integration. Pellera Technologies provides a detailed overview of their global operations, focusing on AI, data cloud, and cybersecurity solutions. The discussion covers Palo Alto Networks’ advancements in security, including the integration of AI in their security platforms and the concept of Zero Trust, emphasizing its continued relevance. The conversation also explores the complexities of AI implementation, the challenges of non-human identities (NHIs), and the importance of robust security measures in a rapidly evolving tech landscape. Both companies highlight the need for innovation and vigilance in managing current and emerging security threats. Part 3 Brandon Allen and Pete Sheldon of Prophet Security Part 3 focuses on the challenges faced by Security Operations Centers (SOCs) amid a growing volume of alerts and the role of AI and machine learning in addressing these challenges. Profit Security is utilizing AI-driven platforms to enhance alert investigation and reduce false positives, allowing analysts to focus on more critical issues. The conversation delves into topics like the evolution from traditional machine learning to modern AI, the importance of context and reasoning in alert processing, and the continuous need for human oversight and expert feedback in AI systems. Additionally, the discussion touches on industry-specific issues such as the energy costs associated with running AI and compute centers, the adaptability of AI to new threat vectors, and the potential for AI to improve operational efficiency within organizations. Part 4 Björn Olson of Pellera and Henry Samson of Palo Alto Networks. Part 4 covers the evolving landscape of technology and security. The discussion covers the prevalent issues in the automotive and manufacturing industries, including underutilization of tools, data protection challenges, and the impact of technological advancements on security practices. The conversation also touches on the importance of understanding customer needs, the necessity of solving real problems, and the need to plan for future challenges like quantum computing. The roundtable aims to provide insights into balancing sales with genuine problem-solving and advancing security measures while managing financial constraints.

This is part 1 of a 4-part series. Randy and I were recently invited to podcast on the floor of the 2025 Cyber Winter Wonderland at the beautiful Madison Loft. My guest host of the day was host of the Great Security Debate, Brian Schneble. Enjoy the listen, and THANK YOU to CXO Forum for partnering with us to podcast at your event! Part 1 Steve Monato and Ken Sowinski of UWM Part 1’s discussion focuses on the evolving role of AI within organizations, touching on AI use cases, data security, and the necessity for clean, organized data for effective AI modeling. The panelists emphasize the shift from understanding AI to implementing and deriving business value from it. They also discuss the importance of communication between IT and business units to promote effective AI adoption, the impact of automation on employee tasks, and the future role of AI in sectors like mortgage processing. The conversation explores the balance between AI-driven automation and human oversight to ensure efficiency and address challenges associated with new AI tools. Part 2 Eric Olmstead Palo Alto Networks and Jonathan Gough of Pellera Part 2 is a discussion of the evolution and current trends in IT security and technology integration. Pellera Technologies provides a detailed overview of their global operations, focusing on AI, data cloud, and cybersecurity solutions. The discussion covers Palo Alto Networks’ advancements in security, including the integration of AI in their security platforms and the concept of Zero Trust, emphasizing its continued relevance. The conversation also explores the complexities of AI implementation, the challenges of non-human identities (NHIs), and the importance of robust security measures in a rapidly evolving tech landscape. Both companies highlight the need for innovation and vigilance in managing current and emerging security threats. Part 3 Brandon Allen and Pete Sheldon of Prophet Security Part 3 focuses on the challenges faced by Security Operations Centers (SOCs) amid a growing volume of alerts and the role of AI and machine learning in addressing these challenges. Profit Security is utilizing AI-driven platforms to enhance alert investigation and reduce false positives, allowing analysts to focus on more critical issues. The conversation delves into topics like the evolution from traditional machine learning to modern AI, the importance of context and reasoning in alert processing, and the continuous need for human oversight and expert feedback in AI systems. Additionally, the discussion touches on industry-specific issues such as the energy costs associated with running AI and compute centers, the adaptability of AI to new threat vectors, and the potential for AI to improve operational efficiency within organizations. Part 4 Björn Olson of Pellera and Henry Samson of Palo Alto Networks. Part 4 covers the evolving landscape of technology and security. The discussion covers the prevalent issues in the automotive and manufacturing industries, including underutilization of tools, data protection challenges, and the impact of technological advancements on security practices. The conversation also touches on the importance of understanding customer needs, the necessity of solving real problems, and the need to plan for future challenges like quantum computing. The roundtable aims to provide insights into balancing sales with genuine problem-solving and advancing security measures while managing financial constraints.

Brian Schneble of The Great Security Debate podcast is back! We dive into a heated discussion about the recent protests against new data centers in Michigan. Topics cover various aspects such as the environmental impact, energy consumption, and the differences between data centers and compute centers. We also touch on the challenges of modern infrastructure and the complexities behind high energy demands.

This week, we explore the future of AI in education with guests Suzy Siegle, President and CEO of Walsh College, and Dr. Dave Schippers, the Chief Academic Officer/Provost. The conversation covers the introduction of new articial intelligence and machine learning degree programs, and the significance of practical, hands-on education. They discuss the importance of networking, the impact of AI on various industries, and the concept of AI digital twins in academia. The discussion also touches on the evolving role of AI in automotive and other traditionally structured sectors.

Bob and Randy welcome Cathy Shim, Managing Director at Vaco Staffing, to discuss the evolving job market, recruitment challenges, and strategies for job seekers. They cover topics like the importance of networking, the diminishing returns of applying through job boards like LinkedIn, and the increasing demand for skills in data and AI. Cathy shares her expert insights on how to differentiate yourself in a crowded job market, the importance of continuous learning, and effective interviewing techniques. Additionally, they touch upon the inefficacy of AI-generated resumes and the current state of entry-level job certifications. Whether you’re a new graduate or a seasoned professional, this episode provides valuable advice on securing the job you want in today’s competitive landscape.

Jeff Marraccini is back and he brought Daniel Ayala with him. Jeff is a former VP and CISO, and Daniel is one of the hosts of Great Security Debate podcast. Jeff shares his journey from IT infrastructure to a CISO role, discussing the challenges of securing software and the importance of continuous adaptation. The conversation then shifts into the evolving landscape of AI, the potential pitfalls of zero trust and data governance, and the implications of regulation on VPN usage. The episode wraps up with a look at the critical role of open source software in the IT industry, highlighting its benefits and the security risks it poses.

Aaron Wilkerson, the founder of Data in the D, is back (previous episode). The conversation covers a wide range of topics including Aaron’s recent Data in the D conference, the intricacies of organizing such an event, and the challenges and opportunities surrounding AI. The discussion also touches on the dynamics of Detroit’s tech and data community, the importance of fostering connections within the industry, and insights into balancing modernization with business fundamentals. Listeners are also invited to monthly meetups for networking and professional growth.

Scott Smith is back this week for another AI discussion (previously). He talks with Bob and Randy about the evolution and current state of artificial intelligence. They revisit the changes since AI, particularly ChatGPT, first started gaining attention. Scott Smith, an AI expert, discusses how AI is transforming industries, from productivity enhancements to creative pursuits like art and software development. The conversation continues withthe importance of integrating AI intentionally, designing human-centered AI systems, and fostering adaptability within organizations. Scott also shares his personal journey into stand-up comedy, blending his tech expertise with humor. See Scott

In this episode Bob and Randy welcome back Erik Wille, who recently became CTO of Cabinetworks Group. Known for his roles in the CXO Exchange and The Great Security Debate podcast, Erik shares insights on his transition from CSO to CTO, the changing nature of IT roles, AI advancements, and managing enterprise technology. The discussion covers AI’s rapid growth, its impact on decision-making and security, and the balancing act between technology modernization and maintaining resilience. Erik also offers advice for newcomers looking to break into the IT field, emphasizing the importance of passion, networking, and continuous learning.

This week, Bob and Randy were joined by guest Tim Burke from The Burke Group. They discuss Tim’s extensive career history, from his early tech roles to his current consulting work. The conversation covers a variety of topics, including the challenges and opportunities presented by AI in manufacturing, the evolution of IT and cloud technologies, and emerging innovations like digital price labels in retail and manufacturing. The episode also explores the history and technological advancements in the automotive industry, Tim’s transition to starting his own business, and various discussions on applying technology effectively in business processes.

In this episode, Bob and Randy are joined by Philippe Lehoux, the CEO of Missive, a shared email inbox tool for small and medium businesses. The discussion dives into the innovative features of Missive, which combines email and internal team chat functionalities into a single powerful platform. Philippe shares the origin story, the vision behind Missive, and its unique capabilities such as integration with multiple APIs, advanced collaboration features, and AI-driven responses. They also explore the challenges of switching from traditional email clients and the future roadmap focused on AI enhancements. Listeners are treated to insights on improving team communication and productivity, with Philippe emphasizing Missive’s role in providing sanity to business operators dealing with communication sprawl.

This week, Bob and Randy are joined by Julia Arpag, the CEO and Founder of Aligned Recruitment. They dive into the nuances of the tech recruitment industry, discussing insights on job searching, the importance of networking, and the impact of AI on resumes. Julie emphasizes the significance of direct networking over traditional job applications and shares effective strategies for building connections on platforms like LinkedIn. The conversation also touches on challenges faced by mid-level employees and the evolving landscape of tech recruitment in a post-COVID world.

This week, Bob and Randy were joined by Jay Aho, director of Marketing Technology and eCommerce at Pet Supplies Plus. eCommerce isn’t something talked about a lot on this show, so lots of questions were asked. We discussed an upcoming app, what it’s like to manage inventory, and how to market to customers. Plus, Jay founded Motor City Scholars, a non-profit that helps Detroit-area youths with the costs associated with attending college or university.

This week, Bob and Randy are joined by Terry Bean (Try Bean). We discuss his history with networking, TEDx Detroit, and coaching, emphasizing the importance of building relationships through better communication skills. We also get into the evolution of social media and content creation. Of course, we also digress into discussions of food & pizza joints, nostalgia, and Star Wars.

Jason David (JD) from Gym Force returns! This time, he brought Ayesha Qureshi from Q Line Media to discuss the future of Gym Force. JD shares with Bob and Randy his journey in the startup community, his experiences with funding and venture capital, and the challenges of building a brand. Ayesha—who serves on the Gym Force advisory board—discusses her role in advising startups and the importance of branding and marketing strategy. The conversation also touches on the unique dynamics of the Detroit startup ecosystem and JD’s upcoming plans to seek investment in Silicon Valley.

Back this week is  Scott Wiemels, CEO of Digital Transformation Agency 24G. He was last on Episode 404 “Podcast Not Found”. Scott joins Bob and Randy to detail an evolving landscape of AI technology. Scott shares insights on his company’s shift from augmented reality to AI and how innovative applications are transforming industries. They delve into AI’s impact on workflows, from filmmaking and scriptwriting to sales and market research. The conversation also touches on the history of BBS systems, the energy consumption of AI data centers, and the future possibilities in AI-driven creativity and productivity.