The Elephant in the Room

Welcome to the Adopt Tech Elephant in the Room Podcast, where we explore innovative technologies and the people behind them. In this episode, we are joined by Hui Wu-Curtis, who, along with business partner Ron Petrie created SupportU, a woman, minority-owned company founded on the principle of doing the right thing for every customer.   SupportU is a BPO (Business Process Outsourcing) service specializing in contact center operations, customer service, technical support, sales, and back-office support. Their next-generation, cloud-based customer service delivery enables greater flexibility and efficiencies across client programs while ensuring the highest security and regulatory compliance levels.   Please join us as Hui Wu shares her story and what makes SupportU a BPO unlike any other; providing opportunities to an untapped diverse workforce, including minorities, women, LGBTQ, college students, single parents, military spouses, etc. They have created an environment where people feel safe to be themselves and are provided with mentoring, support, technology resources, affordable healthcare, and a solid career path to reach new levels of success. They, in turn, are an outstanding workforce that delivers amazing service to their clients.     Enjoy!     Please visit us on our website and LinkedIn, and join us each week as we ask the question: What giant tech stories inspire us today?

Dasha Tyshlek grew up in Kansas City, KS, knowing she wanted to become an entrepreneur, leading and organizing people to do innovative things.   Today Dasha serves as Director of Business Development and Micro-Ant, LLC, where they develop and manufacture custom antennas for land, maritime and aerospace applications operating within the Microwave Frequency Spectrum.    Dasha enjoys the challenging technologies her industry presents.  She is the eyes and ears of the organization, guiding the company to the right opportunities.   Join us as Dasha shares her journey and why she prefers excellence over perfection.   Please visit us on our website and LinkedIn, and join us each week as we ask the question: What giant tech stories inspire us today?

After witnessing the confusion that ensued after new technology systems were integrated into offices in the 90s, Lisa L. Levy saw an opportunity to establish effective processes that support employees and businesses grappling with evolving technology. She founded Lcubed, which helps companies align people, processes, and technology to utilize agility as a strategic advantage and acknowledges change is a business constant.   On our Podcast, Lisa shares with us her road to success and the obstacles she endured. Through grit and personal growth, she pulled pieces from those experiences to bring about transformation and now shares her wisdom with her clients, in her books, and on her own podcast.     Please feel free to visit us on our website and LinkedIn, and join us each week as we ask the question: What giant tech stories inspire us today?

Eva Kuehnert's career path has been challenging over the years, and that has been by her own doing. Starting in banking, Eva soon found she needed a change. She received her Master's Degree in Economics and landed a position at Google, where her tech career began. Eva flourished from hard work and a company environment that celebrated your ideas no matter how outrageous they seemed. "Nothing is impossible; put your heads together, leave ego out of the equation, and ideate," she says. But, after time, she felt it became too comfortable and decided to be "uncomfortable" and rechallenged herself.   Now, Eva is the new Head of Product @BrightFi and a Certified Integral Coach. She has served as Co-Managing Director at Girls in Tech-Phoenix, a global nonprofit organization focused on women's engagement, education, and empowerment in technology and entrepreneurship.   Please enjoy Carey's conversation with Eva as they talk about her career path and how she believes in a compassionate lead ship style, and how it brings out the best in people while taking care of their mental health and growth as a whole person.   Please feel free to visit us on our website and LinkedIn, and join us each week as we ask the question: What giant tech stories inspire us today?

Tammy Mcleod is CEO of Arizona’s Flinn Foundation, a ($300M) privately endowed nonprofit foundation dedicated to advancing biosciences, civic leadership, higher education, and the arts. As CEO, she oversees the bioscience strategic roadmap for the state of Arizona.   Please feel free to visit us on our website and LinkedIn, and join us each week as we ask the question: What giant tech stories inspire us today?

The age-old adage, "The world is owned by those who show up." could not be more accurate to describe the guest on today's show. You'll hear the story of a child of immigrants who maximized her opportunity by creating opportunities for others.   Jenny Poon is a serial entrepreneur and the founder of two resources that have changed the face of entrepreneurism: HUUB a city-wide virtual platform for entrepreneurs for on-demand training and access to experts available for free through the support of participating city's funding and Co-Hoots a purpose-driven coworking and entrepreneur center. Within a few years of launching Co-Hoots in 2009, Jenny was recognized globally for her impact. To this day, Co+Hoots is recognized among the top 10 coworking spaces in the world.   As the child of immigrants, Jenny saw firsthand the struggle her parents went through as small business owners. She was ultimately stunned by how successful her parents were in spite of these obstacles and could only imagine a different story, had they had the support they needed. It was through that experience combined with her talent to solve complicated problems that led Jenny to be one of the most important business leaders of our time, not just in Phoenix but in the world.   Please feel free to visit us on our website and LinkedIn, and join us each week as we ask the question: What giant tech stories inspire us today?

Shideh Doerr wears many hats including that of a wife, mother to three, strategist, matchmaker, business owner, and entrepreneur. A first-generation Persian American, she has spent her 25-year career serving others and bringing an entrepreneurial spirit to the healthcare industry; she has been an administrator and strategic planner for top consulting firms and became a co-owner of a medical device manufacturing company as well as a healthcare consulting company.   Shideh’s love for connecting with people and hearing their stories led her to leave the healthcare industry to adopt her current role as Co-Founder and Vice President of JabberYak. This technology-based company enables users to select seven personal interests that show who they are. Their seven interests are printed on unique T-shirts, Event Badges, Name Tags, or Office Name Plates and can be worn to meetings, events, at work, or displayed at the office. She knows how difficult it is to walk into a room full of strangers and look for ways to start a conversation.   Through Jabberyak’s technology, Doerr is excited to bring the gift of gab back to people by engaging them in meaningful conversation and creating lifetime connections.   Please feel free to visit us on our website and LinkedIn, and join us each week as we ask the question: What giant tech stories inspire us today?

1.1 billion people began this millennium hungry. This is the unsettling fact that started two brothers on a journey. What began as a college thesis is emerging to be one of the most groundbreaking technologies to impact farming, and global food production since the invention of the tractor. But that's not enough for our guest Sam Bertram, the co-founder of OnePointOne--a revolutionary vertical farming technology company. Sam and his brother John are on a mission to unleash the power of plants on human health. But health beyond nutrition. Using Robots, Artificial Intelligence (AI) and other tech, One Point One helps plants reach their full potential in an indoor-growing environment. Sam and John have raised $60 million so far, expanding from a demonstration farm in San Jose, California to establishing a foothold in Arizona to include an 80,000 sq ft building in Avondale. Please feel free to visit us on our website and LinkedIn, and join us each week as we ask the question: What giant tech stories inspire us today?

Dr. Timiebi Aganaba has a fascinating resume and an inspiring story that has brought her to where her life is today. She is an assistant professor in the School for the Future of Innovation in Society with a courtesy appointment at the Sandra Day O'Connor College of Law at Arizona State University. She is currently on the Advisory Board for the Space Generation Advisory Council supporting the United Nations. Timiebi served as Executive Director of the World Space Week Association, coordinating the global response to the UN 1999 declaration that World Space Week should be celebrated by all people across the globe, annually from October 4-10. Each year they choose a different theme, and in 2021 they celebrated Women In Space. An avid and passionate communicator, Timiebi has been featured in the Washington Post, New York Times, CNN, NPR, LA Times, the Telegraph and Business Insider amongst others! She hosted and produced the 12 episode Ladies do Launch podcast and has acted as an international moderator for high level events such as the Dubai Expo 2020. Please feel free to visit us on our website and LinkedIn, and join us each week as we ask the question: What giant tech stories inspire us today?

Francine Hardaway, Ph.D., is a Phoenix Icon. She is a rockstar entrepreneur and seasoned communications strategist. As co-founder of Stealthmode Partners, she brings people and companies together to help those starting a new business, while serving as a coach to those wishing to be their best entrepreneurs. She is a futurist who found her true calling and navigated an industry when she was often the only woman in the room. She's also an icon of economic development, entrepreneurship, and the start up community. As a result, she has been instrumental in the rapidly growing technology industry in the Phoenix market. Francine has an incredible portfolio fueled by her ability to face her fears, rely on her instinct, and lead with her heart. Please feel free to visit us on our website and LinkedIn, and join us each week as we ask the question: What giant tech stories inspire us today?

As the leader of Adopt Technologies, President, CEO, and Managing Partner Brett Helgeson talks about the intention behind the Elephant in the Room Podcast. We'll hear how celebrating Giant Tech Stories not often heard is in line with the core values of Adopt and what role Brett sees the company plays in the advancement of those working to make the world a better place through technology. Each week Brett (or one of his team members) will join us in the studio to provide a recap at the end of each of our podcasts. The idea is to make the connection between intention and action and to lift these kinds of incredible human beings into the spotlight. "We want our guests to tell us about their journey, their experiences in the technology field, how they got there, and what they had to overcome. By highlighting the opportunities in this ever-changing field, we hope to inspire others who may be waiting in the wings and apprehensive about their own ability to flourish. " --Brett H. Please feel free to visit us on our website and LinkedIn, and join us each week as we ask the question: What giant tech stories inspire us today?