You've Been Heard

Having a seat at the table. Nice. Being heard? Nicer. For decades, IT leaders have been the backbone of defensible business growth, solving problems that could cripple a business often before anyone noticed. We know this world. The late nights. The firefights. The impossible deadlines that somehow got met. IT Professionals don’t just fix. They fortify. They’re the frontline heroes fighting an improbable battle thriving where others break, armed with a resilience the strongest military leaders consider simply another day safeguarding the world. When things get rough, you’re indispensable. When everything’s humming like a well-oiled Tesla, you’re the hidden engine of progress, often asked to do the extraordinary. And one of the toughest parts? Being hunted by short-term sales reps chasing quotas, pushing shiny solutions they “know” you need… but you know you don’t. What if you could work with those who have sat in your seat, been precisely where you are? You can. That’s right: We’ve been there. Negotiating partnerships, being pitched by vendors across the table, and standing on the frontlines of IT. That’s why we built a platform where IT leaders are amplified, not sidelined. Not just “another platform.” In fact, three in one. A triple-threat to the industry norm. Doing to IT what the iPhone did to the Blackberry redefining the game (and expectations) forever. And to be clear, we refuse to be part of the “Hype Cycle” and inflated expectations. Which is why we’ve perfected a proven model that elevates you, the IT leader. Just ask our clients. The first piece? A podcast, not just a show. A platform where IT pros share hard-earned truths, not corporate scripts. The second piece? A community where peers (real ones) have sophisticated conversations—without vendors lurking in the corner. The final component? An advisory with only one agenda: your performance and sanity, so you make smarter vetted choices without the sales circus. Think of us as your backstage pass to whoever you need to meet to eliminate headaches and accelerate resolutions. The kind of exclusive pass that gains you access to our ecosystem with $1.2 billion in buying power. When we knock, the door’s already unlocked. And here’s the kicker: We make vendors fund your success. What about vendor-neutrality? If we were any more neutral, we’d be beige. Our triple-threat model doesn’t just transform how we do business. It transforms the impact you have on a day-to-day basis and on a year-over-year basis. It’s how you balance innovation with stability. Where you not only have a seat at the table, but get invited to speak. And be listened to. And there’s one final point that makes everything work: We don’t disappear when you need us. Ever. We stay. We escalate. We stand with you. We are anti-spin. Anti-transactional. Pro-IT leader. Your resilience is our resilience. Because when IT leaders rise… so does everything else. Welcome to the platform. Welcome to the movement. Join the next wave of IT leadership. Welcome to You’ve Been Heard. *****DISCLAIMER***** All views, opinions, and statements made by guests on this show do not represent the beliefs of the host Phil Howard, or any entity whatsoever with which the show has been, is now, or will be affiliated. Any statements, views, random thoughts, or opinions expressed by the hosts and guests do not necessarily reflect the personal beliefs (could easily be misconstrued) and are not the official policy/position of our company, agency, podcast, and affiliated partners. Finally, because human beings are characteristically prone to flaws and mistakes, we warn all listeners to think critically for yourself and seek true knowledge before taking action upon anything.

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384- The Expert Blindspot That Cost Everything w/Bob Berbeco

Bob Berbeco is the Chief Information Officer at Mahaska Health, leading IT, data science, AI, cybersecurity, and informatics. He's been in healthcare technology for 27 years and holds a Six Sigma Black Belt.For most of that time, Bob operated the way many IT leaders do—shields up, knowledge expert, the guy who does all the talking.Then something shifted.When executives ask him something he doesn't know, the best answer isn't to fake it. It's four words: "I got the lead.""I may not have the answer. That's okay. I got the lead. I will run it to its endpoint, and I'll follow up to make sure it's done."That's all they need to know.In this episode, Bob breaks down his SBAR communication framework (Situation, Background, Assessment, Recommendation) that eliminates tech-speak. He shares how he presents 30-60-90 day roadmaps with SWOT analysis—then asks the question most IT leaders skip: "Is there a priority we should probably change?"We get into the label printer story. Nurses were hand-labeling surgical supplies. Printers across units were inconsistent with no standardization. One team member saw the problem, took ownership, talked to technical people, clinical people, providers, even people outside the organization—and got it done. Persistence won.Bob also unpacks why he hires for fire not credentials, how "what you permit, you promote" shapes culture, and why the beginner's mindset beats expertise every time.The biggest struggle for IT? Unlimited demand with limited resources. Bob's answer isn't to be the Department of No. It's to show executives what yes actually costs.

12-09