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© 2026 The Catalyst by Softchoice
Description
A documentary-style podcast about how IT leaders tackle high-stakes transformations.
Each episode weaves together real voices, expert insights, and compelling narratives that reveal universal challenges and practical wisdom.
Season 7: "Small Teams, Big Dreams" explores the human stories behind IT transformations—from AI adoption experiments to burnout crises, from toxic job markets to infrastructure decisions that matter. These aren't polished case studies. These are authentic accounts from IT professionals navigating the same impossible gaps between expectations and resources that you face every day.
From Softchoice, a World Wide Technology company.
101 Episodes
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Everyone's chasing AI. Meanwhile, most organizations are wasting 25-30% of their software budget on tools nobody uses. In this episode, we meet James Malek, Senior VP of IT Infrastructure at Lexitas, who inherited chaos—45 acquisitions in five years, no structured IT department, and a hodgepodge of contracts everywhere. Instead of chasing the next shiny thing, James took a different approach: foundation first. What his team discovered when they finally got visibility into their software estat...
AI is transforming education—but not evenly, and not easily. In this episode of The Catalyst, we step inside classrooms, school boards, and districts, navigating the AI revolution with tight budgets, limited staff, and high stakes for students. From fears around cheating and data privacy to confusion over licensing and unused tools already paid for, this conversation reveals what AI adoption really looks like in public education. Featuring educators, IT leaders, and policy thinkers on the fro...
Enterprise expectations. Startup-sized teams. And zero margin for failure. Across museums, national parks, retail stores, and nonprofit organizations, mid-market IT leaders are being asked to do more than ever—with fewer people, tighter budgets, and growing complexity. Most burn out. Some figure it out. In this episode, The Catalyst brings together two leaders navigating that reality from different sides of the work: Scott Gagon, Network Security Engineer, Event NetworkTariq Chaudhri, VP of T...
When mid-market IT leaders call about AI, most ask the wrong question. Instead of “What problem are we solving?” they jump straight to “Which LLM should we use?” — a mindset that helps explain why 95% of AI pilots fail to deliver measurable business returns. In this episode, two of Softchoice’s leading AI experts — Sean Larkin, AI Principal Architect, and Ron Espinosa, Director, Google Cloud Category — break down why technology-first thinking derails AI initiatives before they start. From mar...
937 applications. 42 interviews. 80 days. That's what it took one experienced data scientist to land a job in 2025—and he's one of the lucky ones. In this episode of The Catalyst, we follow two tech professionals through what they call "the worst job market ever." Emily, a software developer with 10 years of experience and a degree from University of Waterloo's prestigious computer science program, gets laid off on a Tuesday and was interviewing the next day. Santiago, a data scientist and fo...
Every night, IT professionals across the country go home and cry. They work until 10PM unpaid. They become "the guy" their entire organization depends on. They stay in toxic jobs because they feel guilty, or because people are counting on them, or because they simply can't imagine leaving. In this episode of The Catalyst by Softchoice, we follow two IT professionals through their burnout journeys. Sean stayed at a behavioral health nonprofit for years, supporting 1500 users with just two tech...
What if the best employee AI adoption strategy is one most companies refuse to try? While business leaders rush to mandate AI from the top down, Softchoice discovered something counterintuitive: the most successful transformations happen when you let people experiment on their own terms. (Safely!) This episode takes you inside Softchoice's organic approach to AI adoption—from a VP who started experimenting with AI nine months before ChatGPT launched, to an engineering team that went from skep...
The rise of AI isn’t just about smarter machines—it’s about reshaping the way we work, create, and innovate. In the season finale of The Catalyst by Softchoice, Heather Haskin sits down with Gil Press, senior contributor at Forbes, to trace the modern history of AI. From the early breakthroughs in deep learning to the rise of generative AI, Press explores the key moments that shaped the AI industry and where the technology is headed next. Featuring: Gil Press, Senior Contrib...
The future of tech isn’t just about speed and innovation—it’s about who gets a seat at the table. In this episode of The Catalyst by Softchoice, Rachel Skaff, AWS Managing Director of America’s Channel and Partner Sales, joins Heather Haskin to explore how Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) are driving innovation in tech. From her unconventional path into the industry to leading DEI initiatives at Amazon, Skaff shares insights on fostering inclusivity and ensuring AI developm...
The future of business is a conversation. In this episode of The Catalyst by Softchoice, Heather Haskin and Craig McQueen, Vice President of AI Solutions at Softchoice, dive into how conversational AI is reshaping industries and redefining success. From smarter customer support to groundbreaking innovations, discover why this technology is more than just talk—it’s a game-changer. With real-world examples and insights into overcoming challenges, this episode is your ultimate guide to na...
What if your company could leverage AI to not only increase productivity but also improve your mental well-being? What if the secret to transforming your workplace culture and achieving extraordinary results lay in the smallest, most intentional changes? In this episode of The Catalyst by Softchoice, host Heather Haskin sits down with 1-Degree/Shift founders Suchitra Davies-Webb and Nick Foster to explore how small, intentional shifts in leadership can drive transformative change in wor...
A lot of charities are just trying to keep the lights on. They don’t have resources for tech infrastructure and training. That’s where Softchoice’s Charity Accelerator Program comes in. In this episode of The Catalyst by Softchoice, host Heather Haskin dives into the transformative power of technology for small charities with Joseph Byer and Jill Crowley, co-chairs of Softchoice’s Charity Accelerator Program (CAP). Discover how this groundbreaking initiative helps nonprofits over...
What if your company could leverage AI to not only increase productivity but also improve your mental well-being? In this episode of The Catalyst, Heather Haskin speaks with Anna Baird, Chief Customer Officer for Generative AI Go-to-Market at Google, about the crucial human element in AI implementation. They discuss how to leverage AI to enhance, not undermine, the employee experience, fostering psychological safety and well-being. Learn how to navigate the challenges of AI integ...
It’s one thing to hear about the speeds and feeds of a technology – and quite another to get a real human voice, to shine a light on the real value these tools can offer us. In this episode, host Heather Haskin delves into the practical applications of Microsoft Copilot with Cole Pascua, Senior Microsoft Modern Work Specialist at SoftChoice. Cole provides a firsthand account of Softchoice's Copilot journey, sharing both their successes and challenges in implementing and integrati...
Quantum computing promises to be one of the most disruptive technologies of our time. But it also brings the risk of unparalleled cybersecurity threats. In this episode of The Catalyst by Softchoice, we delve into the world of quantum computing and its implications for cybersecurity. Dr. Vito Nozza, Principal of Security at Softchoice Design Studio and a PhD in cybersecurity, joins us to discuss the exciting potential of quantum computing while highlighting the significant cybersecurity...
In this special episode, host Heather Haskin dives deep into the world of AI-driven digital transformation with Rekha Narang, Director of Partner Technology at Microsoft. Rekha provides an inside look at the evolution of Microsoft Copilot, a tool that has transformed how organizations work, collaborate, and deliver results. They explore Copilot’s journey from its launch in November 2023 to its game-changing impact today, as well as the crucial role diversity, inclusion, and partnerships...
Is your business ready for the end of Windows 10, or are you risking being left behind in the next wave of digital transformation? In this episode, host Aaron Brooks is joined by industry experts Cameron Allen from Intel, Kirk Sinclair from Microsoft, and Bryan Rusche from Softchoice for a roundtable discussion on now to navigate the shift to Windows 11. The panel delves into the strategic importance of upgrading, addressing security, hardware readiness, and the impact of AI. Th...
In this episode, co-hosts Aaron Brooks and Heather Haskin take a break from the constant buzz around generative AI and ChatGPT to explore what else is shaping the future of IT. From cybersecurity threats in the age of quantum computing to the rising expectation for businesses to become content creators, this mid-season check-in dives into the trends and insights flying under the AI radar. Don’t miss this candid conversation that uncovers some of the key issues transforming the tech world in 2...
What's it like being at the helm of a security operation that safeguards thousands of businesses worldwide, with new cyber threats emerging every single day? In this episode, host Heather Haskin meets with Raja Patel, Chief Product Officer at Sophos, to uncover the strategies that keep one of the world’s leading cybersecurity companies ahead in an ever-evolving digital landscape. As cyber threats become more sophisticated and relentless, Patel shares his unique approach to building res...
What if the key to becoming a more dynamic and effective leader lies not in boardrooms or business school – but on the improv stage? In this episode, host Aaron Brooks and guest Stephanie Malek, Corporate Director and Production Manager at Bad Dog Theatre, delve into how the unexpected world of improvisation holds transformative lessons for business and IT leaders. Tune in to learn how to bring the spontaneity and creativity of improv into your leadership style, helping you navigate the...
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