Tales From The Sky Lounge

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Latest Episodes:

Ep24 Alan Gold—Sales, Marketing, and AI: How to Survive, Scale, and Avoid Stagnation Feb 12, 2025

Joining us today in the Sky Lounge is Alan Gold, a marketing and sales strategist with decades of experience in M&A, startups, and growth strategy. Alan has been on both sides of the table—helping companies scale, navigating acquisitions, and leading turnarounds. From being part of the launch team for Wi-Fi technology to working on speech recognition and AI-powered business tools, he’s seen how markets evolve and what it really takes to stay ahead.

We dive into:

M&A trends—why some companies are stuck while others are thriving
The hard truth about growth and why some businesses hit a ceiling
The real role of strategy in marketing (hint: it’s not just about SEO and PPC)
How AI is reshaping sales and marketing, and what’s next for the industry
Why most companies miss the mark when hiring sales leadership

Plus, Alan shares hilarious and wild travel stories, including a baboon with an attitude and getting detained in Colombia.

If you’re in startups, consulting, M&A, or just trying to grow a business, this one’s for you.

ABOUT OUR GUEST

Alan’s a veteran of the B2B marketing world, having been an executive in startups, international public companies, high-growth technology and services companies, leading marketing and sometimes both marketing and sales efforts.

Over my career, I have launched new technologies that are integral to our daily lives, repositioned companies to take advantage of new markets, and been involved in M&A activities on both sides of the process. I’ve worked in many different industries, including software, supply chain, medical and pharma, healthcare applications and services, as well as telecom and AI-driven planning software.

Socials

Contact

Email: alan.gold@techcxo.com
Phone: 978-886-1910

What is THE SKY LOUNGE?

Tales from the SkyLounge is a podcast where we take you on a journey through the world of business, consulting, and venture investing. In each episode, we gather in our virtual sky lounge, high above the hustle and bustle of the everyday world, to hear stories from the people who are shaping the future of these industries. From entrepreneurs who are disrupting the status quo, consultants who are helping companies solve their biggest challenges, and investors who are making bets on the next big thing.

ABOUT OUR HOST

Todd Merrill is an experienced software executive who typically assists clients as a fractional or interim CTO and CISO as a partner at TechCXO. He has served in a series of companies as a C-Level executive focused on leveraging the Cloud to bring SaaS offerings to market.

Subscribe and turn on notifications to listen to new episodes as they launch!

Follow Tales From The SkyLounge on Social Media

Learn more about TechCXO

Ep22 Antonio Pagano—Phishing, AI Scams, and the Ever-Intensifying Cybersecurity War Jan 29, 2025

Joining us today in the Sky Lounge is Antonio Pagano, founder of Wawandco and co-founder of Symbol Security. Todd and Antonio discuss cybersecurity’s human element, compliance, evolving phishing attacks, and AI’s role in scams. Antonio shares insights on real-world incidents, cyber insurance trends, and the dynamics of running a business with a remote co-founder. He also delves into the challenges and successes of entrepreneurship, emphasizing the balance between ambition and well-being, and how staying grounded fuels creativity and success.

ABOUT OUR GUEST

Antonio Pagano is a visionary entrepreneur from Barranquilla, Colombia, dedicated to making technology accessible. In 2013, he founded Wawandco, a software development company delivering efficient, high-quality solutions for US and European clients. His expertise spans web applications, mobile solutions, APIs, and UX.

Antonio co-founded Symbol Security, a SaaS company focused on cybersecurity awareness. By addressing human risk factors, Symbol Security helps organizations protect their assets. His innovation extends to tools like Releaso, leveraging AI for product communication, and Retabler, optimizing data workflows. Beyond business, Antonio is a devoted family man who enjoys sports, outdoor activities, and quality time with loved ones.

Contact:

Email: antonio@wawand.co | antonio@symbolsecurity.com

Socials

Twitter/X

What is THE SKY LOUNGE?

Tales from the Sky Lounge is a podcast that takes you through business, consulting, and venture investing, featuring stories from entrepreneurs, consultants, and investors shaping these industries.

ABOUT OUR HOST

Todd Merrill is an experienced software executive assisting clients as a fractional or interim CTO and CISO at TechCXO. A SaaS leader, Todd blends technical expertise with mentoring.

Subscribe and turn on notifications to listen to new episodes as they launch!

Follow Tales From The Sky Lounge on Social Media

Twitter/X

Instagram

Learn more about TechCXO

Production/Design: James Liebman
Music: Soundstripe/Cody Martin - Sunrise

Ep22 Bryan Dennstedt—2025 Trends: AI, Venture Capital, and the Future of Work! Jan 08, 2025

Today in the Sky Lounge, Bryan Dennstedt joins Todd Merrill as they bring their unique perspectives from years in business, technology, and investing for a deep dive into the trends that will shape 2025. From venture capital’s cautious return to the AI-driven reshaping of industries, this episode is a candid discussion about what’s next for tech, work, and investing. Everything from whether AI is going to hit speed bumps or keep climbing, blockchain’s role in authenticity in AI and the future of collaboration tools is on the table!

ABOUT OUR GUEST

Bryan Dennstedt is an accomplished Fractional CTO or Fractional CIO with TechCXO in Charlotte, North Carolina, where he has focused his efforts as a hands-on Fractional CTO and Interim CIO with numerous clients. He is an expert in mobile application development, healthcare integrations, and all aspects of telemedicine and has worked on over 40 engagements in a fractional capacity for the firm. His experience includes managing all information technology operations, from fractional CTO product development to Interim CIO large-scale technology migrations. Bryan works to ensure that his clients’ high-level Information Technology roadmaps are well-defined and then digs into the details to ensure that established metrics, accountability, and results are being delivered by the team he leads. Once a client is up and running with his methodologies, the Fractional CIO capacity can be leveraged in an ongoing model, and it can be ramped up to Part-Time CIO as needed throughout a project.

Contact:

What is THE SKY LOUNGE?

Tales from the Sky Lounge is a podcast where we take you on a journey through the world of business, consulting, and venture investing. In each episode, we gather in our virtual sky lounge, high above the hustle and bustle of the everyday world, to hear stories from the people who are shaping the future of these industries. From entrepreneurs who are disrupting the status quo, consultants who are helping companies solve their biggest challenges, and investors who are making bets on the next big thing.

ABOUT OUR HOST

Todd Merrill is an experienced software executive who typically assists clients as a fractional or interim CTO and CISO as a partner at TechCXO. With a history of leadership and innovation in SaaS product development, Todd combines technical expertise with a knack for mentoring.

Subscribe and turn on notifications to listen to new episodes as they launch!

Follow Tales From The Sky Lounge on Social Media

Learn more about TechCXO

Production/Design: James Liebman
Music: Soundstripe/Cody Martin - Sunrise

Travel: Perspectives, Peeves, Perks, Problematic Airports, Pro Tips, Profound Lessons and Priceless Stories Dec 30, 2024

This year has been a whirlwind of adventure, and as we gear up for an incredible 2025, we’re hitting pause to share something special—our favorite travel stories! From mind-boggling mishaps to inspiring lessons learned on the road, these tales are all about the joy, challenges, and magic of exploring the world while living in the world of business.

We’re so grateful to our amazing guests and YOU, our listeners, for making this journey unforgettable. Sit back, relax, and let these stories take you places. Here’s to another year of growth, adventure, and connection. See you in 2025!

What is THE SKY LOUNGE?

Tales from the Sky Lounge takes you on a journey through business, consulting, and venture investing, hearing stories from the entrepreneurs, consultants, and investors shaping these industries.

ABOUT OUR HOST

Todd Merrill is an experienced software executive who typically assists clients as a fractional or interim CTO and CiSO as a partner at TechCXO.

He has served in a series of companies as a C-Level executive focused on leveraging the Cloud to bring SaaS offerings to market. As an entrepreneur, turn-around expert, technology and product leader, and mentor, Todd has held full corporate P&L and product development responsibilities and directed diverse international teams of Engineering Managers, Mobile Architects, Developers, Dev Ops, QA, and Customer Success professionals.

Subscribe and turn on notifications to listen to new episodes as they launch!

Follow Tales From The SkyLounge on Social Media

Learn more about TechCXO

Production/Design: James Liebman
Music: Soundstripe/Cody Martin-Sunrise

Ep21 James Rozich— Sales, Marketing, Sumerians and Avoiding Founder's Disease! Dec 18, 2024

Joining us today in the Sky Lounge is Jim Rozich, founder of Wheels Up Sales and Marketing. Jim specializes in helping early-stage startups overcome the unglamorous yet essential challenges of building solid sales and marketing processes. From CRM implementation to crafting value-driven email campaigns, Jim shares practical insights that founders need to create traction and scale effectively.

In this episode, we explore the realities of early-stage startup sales, common pitfalls, and the art of developing scalable processes that work. Jim also shares his thoughts on the evolving venture investing landscape and why startups are becoming the “new bricks and mortar.” Plus, we dive into the tools and tactics that can help founders thrive, including the strategic use of CRMs, leveraging AI for marketing, and the critical importance of personalization in sales.

ABOUT OUR GUEST

With a dynamic career spanning two decades in sales and marketing, I’m Jim Rozich. As an industry veteran, I have consistently navigated the intricacies of bringing products and services to market - honing my expertise in crafting tailored strategies for CRM implementation, devising lead generation tactics, and refining messages that resonate with target audiences.

My genuine passion for business development and startups is what sets me apart. Embark on your journey with confidence, knowing that you have a trusted ally with a 20-year history of propelling businesses to new heights.

Socials

Contact info

Email: jim@wheelsupsales.com

What is THE SKYLOUNGE?

Tales from the SkyLounge is a podcast where we take you on a journey through the world of business, consulting, and venture investing. In each episode, we gather in our virtual sky lounge, high above the hustle and bustle of the everyday world, to hear stories from the people shaping these industries' future. From entrepreneurs who are disrupting the status quo, consultants who are helping companies solve their biggest challenges, and investors who are making bets on the next big thing.

ABOUT OUR HOST

Todd Merrill is an experienced software executive who typically assists clients as a fractional or interim CTO and CiSO as a partner at TechCXO.

Subscribe and turn on notifications to listen to new episodes as they launch!

Follow Tales From The SkyLounge on Social Media

Learn more about TechCXO

Production/Design: James Liebman
Music: Soundstripe/Cody Martin-Sunrise

Ep20 Adam Lehde — Family Values, Ukrainian Excellence: Creating the Ideal Workplace Nov 27, 2024

Today in the Sky Lounge, we’re joined by Adam Lehde, co-founder of Happen Technologies, to explore the art of building businesses across borders. Adam shares how he turned his initial doubts about outsourcing into a thriving hybrid business model that bridges Midwest strategy with Ukrainian tech talent.

We dive into Adam’s journey from a rocky internship to mastering mobile development, the resilience of Ukrainian developers amidst wartime, and why culture always matters in tech. Adam also reveals how personal priorities and work-life balance shaped his company’s values and offers insights into the ever-evolving remote work landscape.

And yes, you’ll want to hear why Ukraine’s tech scene is full of PhDs and rocket scientists—and what makes it an underestimated hub for startups and innovation.

ABOUT OUR GUEST

Prior to founding Happen Technologies, Adam spent his career building mobile apps and managing software projects for national brands, including Mazda, Hyundai, Anheuser-Busch, National Car Rental, and more.

He has a passion (maybe an obsession) for improving everything he encounters and looks for EVERY opportunity to make it better.

Socials

Contact info

Email: adam@happentechnologies.com

What is THE SKYLOUNGE?

Tales from the SkyLounge is a podcast where we take you on a journey through the world of business, consulting, and venture investing. In each episode, we gather in our virtual sky lounge, high above the hustle and bustle of the everyday world, to hear stories from the people shaping these industries' future. From entrepreneurs who are disrupting the status quo, consultants who are helping companies solve their biggest challenges, and investors who are making bets on the next big thing.

ABOUT OUR HOST

Todd Merrill is an experienced software executive who typically assists clients as a fractional or interim CTO and CiSO as a partner at TechCXO.

Subscribe and turn on notifications to listen to new episodes as they launch!

Follow Tales From The SkyLounge on Social Media

Learn more about TechCXO

Production/Design: James Liebman
Music: Soundstripe/Cody Martin-Sunrise

Ep 19 Kathryn O'Day —Triathlons, Startups, and Success: A Playbook for Entrepreneurs Oct 30, 2024

Joining us today in the Sky Lounge is Kathryn O'Day, entrepreneur and partner at Atlanta Ventures. Kathryn shares her journey of building multiple successful startups and being a major part of massive acquisitions. We dive deep into the parallels between endurance sports and entrepreneurship, uncovering how triathlon training taught her key lessons in consistency, grit, and pushing through difficult times.

Kathryn also reveals key insights into startup culture, highlights how Atlanta Ventures finds and molds startups to be their best selves and shares the value of being “positive, supportive, and self-starting”—qualities that shaped her experience at Pardot and beyond. We explore the importance of confidence, especially for women in tech, and discuss why being nice can be a superpower in business.

ABOUT OUR GUEST

Kathryn is a partner at Atlanta Ventures, where she empowers entrepreneurs to learn, build, and grow. She has been scaling Atlanta tech companies for over a decade as employee #9 at Pardot (acquired by Salesforce) and COO at Rigor (acquired by Splunk).

Kathryn lives in Atlanta with her husband and two sons. She is a 7x Ironman Triathlon Finisher, including two World Championships.

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kathrynoday/
Instagram: instagram.com/kathrynoday
Blog/Substack: kathrynoday.substack.com
Website: kathrynoday.com
Company: https://www.atlantaventures.com/

Join us for Office Hours (Open Q&A w/Atlanta Ventures Partners): https://www.atlantaventures.com/events

What is THE SKY LOUNGE?

Tales from the Sky Lounge takes you on a journey through business, consulting, and venture investing, hearing stories from the entrepreneurs, consultants, and investors shaping these industries.

ABOUT OUR HOST:

Todd Merrill is an experienced software executive who typically assists clients as a fractional or interim CTO and CiSO as a partner at TechCXO.

Subscribe and turn on notifications to listen to new episodes as they launch!
YouTube
Spotify
Apple
Amazon

Follow Tales From The SkyLounge on Social Media
X/Twitter
Instagram

Learn more about TechCXO

Production/Design: James Liebman
Music: Soundstripe/Cody Martin-Sunrise

Ep18 Ghazenfer Mansoor — A Born Entrepreneur Talks Startups, Product Blueprints, and Global Scaling Oct 16, 2024

In this episode, Ghazenfer Mansoor shares his journey from engineer to global entrepreneur. He dives into the entrepreneurial mindset needed to grow startups, develop smart products, and manage teams across multiple countries. Ghazenfer explains the challenges of building a multi-continent business and offers insights on product development blueprints, adapting post-COVID, and the importance of flexibility in business operations.

ABOUT OUR GUEST

Ghazenfer Mansoor, originally from Pakistan, relocated to the United States in 1999 and has since made his home in Virginia, near the Washington DC area. He lives there with his wife and three children.

Technology Rivers, a bespoke software development firm, excels in aiding businesses to craft innovative software products. Initially launched as a mobile app development company in 2015, it has progressively shifted its focus towards custom healthcare and AI solutions. Keeping pace with the latest technological advances, the company has recently concentrated its efforts on developing cutting-edge applications powered by Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, and Generative AI.

Socials

https://linkedin.com/in/gmansoor
https://x.com/gmansoor
https://x.com/techrivers
https://www.instagram.com/gmansoorus
https://www.instagram.com/techrivers

Contact info

Ghazenfer Mansoor
gmansoor@technologyrivers.com
(703) 444-0505 x 101

Ghazenfer’s Books/Webinar

The Top 8 Ways App Development Goes Wrong & How to Get Back on Track
Webinar: Preparing for AI in Healthcare
Coming Soon: 31 Proven Ways to Boost Your Mobile App's Reach

What is THE SKY LOUNGE?

Tales from the Sky Lounge takes you on a journey through business, consulting, and venture investing, hearing stories from the entrepreneurs, consultants, and investors shaping these industries.

ABOUT OUR HOST:

Todd Merrill is an experienced software executive who typically assists clients as a fractional or interim CTO and CiSO as a partner at TechCXO.

Learn more about and Contact Todd

Subscribe and turn on notifications to listen to new episodes as they launch!

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLfeCS-Varb4gu2uCwyRTXWWEdP676Huh6
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6jz6ubcaUZ20Xh8TXhwzEN
Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/tales-from-the-sky-lounge/id1730134658
Amazon: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/4ba289a5-0d33-4589-95c7-83416731a864/tales-from-the-sky-lounge

Follow Tales From The SkyLounge on Social Media

X/Twitter: https://x.com/TFTSkyLounge
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tftskylounge/

Learn more about TechCXO: https://www.techcxo.com/

Production/Design: James Liebman
Music: Soundstripe/Cody Martin-Sunrise

Ep17 - Kirby Winters — Scout Skills, Leadership Hacks, and Smart Security in the Age of AI Oct 02, 2024

Joining us in the Sky Lounge today is Kirby Winters—tech entrepreneur, cybersecurity expert, and partner at TechCXO. Kirby takes us through his journey from telecom to launching (and selling) his own business before diving back into consulting. He also shares some serious Eagle Scout leadership insights, breaks down the world of cybersecurity, and how AI is changing the game.

Chapters

[00:00] Introduction to Kirby Winters and His Journey
[03:04] Leadership Lessons from Scouting and Mentorship
[06:10] Navigating Career Paths: Technical vs. Management Roles
[09:03] The Entrepreneurial Leap: Starting a Business
[11:56] The Exit Strategy: Selling a Business
[14:59] The Importance of Cybersecurity in Business
[17:57] Social Media and Personal Security Concerns
[21:01] Scams and Vulnerabilities: Protecting Yourself
[23:56] The Role of Cyber Insurance in Business
[26:55] Understanding Cyber Breaches and Their Causes
[29:45] The Changing Landscape of Cybersecurity
[33:14] The Future of Data Centers and Cloud Services
[35:51] Compliance and Cybersecurity Regulations
[39:01] The Business Cycle and Cybersecurity Investments
[42:00] The Importance of Proactive Cybersecurity Measures
[44:57] Travel Stories and Personal Reflections
[47:57] Conclusion and Contact Information

ABOUT OUR GUEST

Kirby J. Winters is a leader in the cybersecurity and technology-based communications industry with extensive experience across multiple sectors. Since 2016, he has led the Information Security Practice at TechCXO, working with healthcare, banking, and Department of Defense clients. His leadership has delivered innovative solutions, including advanced Electronic Medical Record systems, AI-driven practice management, and wireless health monitoring tools.

Kirby has held executive positions across numerous industries. Kirby founded Winter Media in 2011, offering custom application development and information security services to clients like the US Navy, Department of Defense, and various healthcare organizations.

Socials/Web

TechCXO Profile
X/Twitter and Instagram—@kirbywinters
LinkedIn

What is THE SKYLOUNGE?

Tales from the SkyLounge is a podcast where we take you on a journey through the world of business, consulting, and venture investing.

ABOUT OUR HOST

Todd Merrill is an experienced software executive who typically assists clients as a fractional or interim CTO and CiSO as a partner at TechCXO.

Subscribe and turn on notifications to listen to new episodes as they launch!

Follow Tales From The SkyLounge on Social Media

Learn more about TechCXO

Ep16 - Rich Makover—Leadership, Resilience, and Sales Mastery Sep 18, 2024

In this episode, we sit with Rich Makover, a seasoned CRO and executive coach, to discuss how athletics prepared him for a career in sales leadership, his journey from CPA to sales, insights on resilience, mentorship, and the evolving sales landscape. Learn how strategic thinking, coaching, and leadership have shaped Rich's path to success at TechCXO.

Chapters

[00:00] Introduction and Background
[03:00] Resilience and Rejection in Sales
[08:03] Transitioning from Salesperson to Sales Leader
[11:28] Lead Generation Strategies and Channels
[14:29] The Changing Landscape of Sales
[18:31] Hiring and Developing Young Sales Talent
[20:23] Coaching and Supporting Sales Team Members
[26:56] The Importance of Diversity in Sales Teams
[33:00] Don't Pre-Assume
[34:06] Coaching at Different Stages of a Career
[38:59] The Power of Coaching
[45:06] Aligning Personal Values
[52:53] Transformative Coaching
[57:07] Getting in Touch with Rich Makover

ABOUT OUR GUEST

Rich Makover is a seasoned Fractional Chief Revenue Officer (CRO) and Executive Coach, with an extensive background in both athletics and business. Leveraging his experience as a D1 athlete at Penn State University and former executive at top companies like KPMG, Avon Products, and Citizen Watch Group, Rich specializes in driving significant growth and transformation for companies across various industries. He is passionate about giving back to the community that shaped him at Penn State by being a mentor for the Men's Lacrosse Team and being a part of the Teammates for Life program, as well as helping professionals, especially those going through business transitions, unlock their full potential through strategic leadership and coaching.

Socials

Contact info

Email: rich.makover@techcxo.com
Phone Number: (347) 216-5374

What is THE SKYLOUNGE?

ABOUT OUR HOST

Todd Merrill is an experienced software executive who typically assists clients as a fractional or interim CTO and CiSO as a partner at TechCXO.

Subscribe and turn on notifications to listen to new episodes as they launch!

Follow Tales From The SkyLounge on Social Media

Learn more about TechCXO

Production/Design: James Liebman
Music: Soundstripe/Cody Martin-Sunrise

Ep15 - IT Roundtable: Leadership and Cost Optimization in Challenging Times Sep 04, 2024

Today, we are joined in the Sky Lounge by IT experts Ian Findlay, David Johnston, and Paul King from TechCXO to explore the crucial role of IT leadership in today’s economic climate. They delve into technology health assessments, uncovering cost inefficiencies, and optimizing IT spend. From alternatives to VMware to cutting cloud costs, the panel offers actionable insights for businesses navigating economic downturns.

Key Topics:

The role of fractional CIOs and technology health assessments.
IT cost inefficiencies and optimization strategies.
VMware alternatives and cloud cost management.
Downsizing IT staff: risks and best practices.

Show Notes:

[00:00] Intro to the IT panel.
[03:15] Ian Findlay on fractional CIOs.
[07:45] David Johnston on IT health and cloud.
[12:30] Paul King on cost optimization.
[19:40] Impact of economic downturns.
[32:00] VMware alternatives.
[38:15] Downsizing IT staff.
[55:00] Final thoughts.

Connect with the Panelists:

What is THE SKYLOUNGE?
Tales from the SkyLounge is a podcast journey through business, consulting, and venture investing, featuring stories from industry leaders.

ABOUT OUR HOST:
Todd Merrill is an experienced software executive who typically assists clients as a fractional or interim CTO and CiSO as a partner at TechCXO.

Subscribe and follow:

Follow Us:

Learn more:
TechCXO

Production/Design:
James Liebman
Music: Soundstripe/Cody Martin-Sunrise

Ep 14 - AI Roundtable— Where Do We Stand and What’s Next? Aug 14, 2024

The Sky Lounge is packed today with our first Roundtable! Joining us are AI experts Nikolaos Vasiloglou, Joel Forman, and Kevin Carlson to dissect the latest in machine learning, generative AI, and the future of tech.

When is AI, AI?! When is it just a parrot? From practical applications to ethical quandaries, this is a deep dive into artificial intelligence past, present, and future!

ABOUT OUR GUESTS:

Nikolaos Vasiloglou is the VP of Research-ML at RelationalAI. He has spent his career on building ML software and leading data science projects in Retail, Online Advertising and Security.

He is a member of the ICLR/ICML/NeurIPS/UAI/MLconf/KGC/IEEE S&P community, having served as an author, reviewer, and organizer of Workshops and the main conference.

Nikolaos is leading the research and strategic initiatives at the intersection of Large Language Models and Knowledge Graphs for RelationalAI.

Nikolao's's LinkedIn

Kevin Carlson is a veteran technology executive with a unique combination of technology expertise and business acumen.

He has served as CTO and CISO for companies in various industries in North America and Europe.

Kevin was voted one of a global top 50 information security professionals by OnCon in 2021 and 2022.

As an executive coach, he focuses on developing leaders in technology and information security, leveraging 35 years of experience navigating challenges faced by those in technology-related roles.

Kevin's LinkedIn

Joel Forman leads the AI team’s development of machine learning tools that accelerate and improve engineering design. He has a decade of industry experience developing data analysis and machine learning tools that empower actionable decision making. He uses this experience to bring state of the art computer vision technology to help machines extract and understand aerial imagery and Lidar data making geospatial analysis more accessible to all.

Prior to joining AirWorks Joel worked as a Senior Research Scientist at Boston Fusion. Prior to that, Joel worked as a Managing Engineer at Exponent (a technical consulting firm). Joel earned his Ph.D. from the University of Michigan and is a professionally licensed control systems engineer.

Joel can be reached at joel@airworks.io or on LinkedIn. If you’re interested in trying AirWorks AI for yourself, drop him a line.

What is THE SKYLOUNGE?

Tales from the SkyLounge is a podcast where we take you on a journey through the world of business, consulting, and venture investing.

In each episode, we gather in our virtual sky lounge, high above the hustle and bustle of the everyday world, to hear stories from the people who are shaping the future of these industries.

From entrepreneurs who are disrupting the status quo, consultants who are helping companies solve their biggest challenges, and investors who are making bets on the next big thing.

Subscribe and turn on notifications to listen to new episodes as they launch!

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLfeCS-Varb4gu2uCwyRTXWWEdP676Huh6

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6jz6ubcaUZ20Xh8TXhwzEN

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/tales-from-the-sky-lounge/id1730134658

Amazon: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/4ba289a5-0d33-4589-95c7-83416731a864/tales-from-the-sky-lounge

Follow Tales From The SkyLounge on Social Media

X/Twitter: @TFTSkyLounge

TikTok: tiktok.com/tftskylounge

Instagram: @tftskylounge

Learn more about TechCXO: https://www.techcxo.com/

Ep 13 - Marc McCarthy— Mastering Market Entry from Either Side of the Pond Jul 24, 2024

Joining us in the Sky Lounge is Marc McCarthy, a seasoned business consultant helping UK companies expand into the US market.
Marc spills the beans (and tea) on the quirks of taking your business transatlantic—from cultural idiosyncrasies to navigating legal language mazes.
Discover why you need to get off Zoom and into the room where it happens! Marc offers practical advice for businesses looking to make their mark across the Atlantic.
ABOUT OUR GUEST:
Marc is a Fintech commercial executive who has helped SaaS companies with complex solutions overcome the challenges of expanding their global footprint, designed & implemented sales strategies to significantly grow their ARR and built lasting sales frameworks for growth.
Marc is based in London, England.
Website: proconsultiq.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marcmccarthy74/
What is THE SKYLOUNGE?
Tales from the SkyLounge is a podcast where we take you on a journey through the world of business, consulting, and venture investing.
In each episode, we gather in our virtual sky lounge, high above the hustle and bustle of the everyday world, to hear stories from the people who are shaping the future of these industries.
From entrepreneurs who are disrupting the status quo, consultants who are helping companies solve their biggest challenges, and investors who are making bets on the next big thing.
ABOUT OUR HOST:
Todd Merrill is an experienced software executive who typically assists clients as a fractional or interim CTO and CiSO as a partner at TechCXO.
He has served in a series of companies as a C-Level executive focused on leveraging the Cloud to bring SaaS offerings to market.
As an entrepreneur, turn-around expert, technology and product leader, and mentor, Todd has held full corporate P&L and product development responsibilities and directed diverse international teams of Engineering Managers, Mobile Architects, Developers, Dev Ops, QA, and Customer Success professionals.
Subscribe and turn on notifications to listen to new episodes as they launch!
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLfeCS-Varb4gu2uCwyRTXWWEdP676Huh6
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6jz6ubcaUZ20Xh8TXhwzEN
Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/tales-from-the-sky-lounge/id1730134658
Amazon: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/4ba289a5-0d33-4589-95c7-83416731a864/tales-from-the-sky-lounge
Follow Tales From The SkyLounge on Social Media
X/Twitter: @TFTSkyLounge
TikTok: tiktok.com/tftskylounge
Instagram: @tftskylounge
Learn more about TechCXO: https://www.techcxo.com/
Production/Design: James Liebman
Music: Soundstripe/Cody Martin-Sunrise

Ep12 - Katherine Hunter-Blyden: Tips on the Modern Marketing Landscape from a Seasoned Expert Jul 10, 2024

Joining us in the Sky Lounge is Katherine Hunter-Blyden, a seasoned marketing expert who has journeyed from insurance pricing to global marketing roles at Ford, and now serves as a fractional CMO.
Katherine shares her experiences, from the impact of mentorship and learning to take calculated risks, to the essentials of modern marketing in both large corporations and smaller startups.
Discover her strategies for branding, direct response marketing, and leveraging AI tools, while still finding time to travel around the globe just to volunteer at the Olympics!!
ABOUT OUR GUEST:
Katherine Hunter-Blyden is a marketing veteran with over 29 years of business experience.
She offers marketing services that give business owners, management teams and founders the strategies they need to find and keep the right customers at the right cost.
Katherine is based in Los Angeles.
Reach out to Katherine:
Sign up for her newsletter?
Contact info: katherine.hunterblyden@techcxo.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/katherinehunterblyden/
To find out more about Junior Achievement and how to get involved visit https://jausa.ja.org
What is THE SKYLOUNGE?
Tales from the SkyLounge is a podcast where we take you on a journey through the world of business, consulting, and venture investing.
In each episode, we gather in our virtual sky lounge, high above the hustle and bustle of the everyday world, to hear stories from the people who are shaping the future of these industries.
From entrepreneurs who are disrupting the status quo, consultants who are helping companies solve their biggest challenges, and investors who are making bets on the next big thing.
ABOUT OUR HOST:
Todd Merrill is an experienced software executive who typically assists clients as a fractional or interim CTO and CiSO as a partner at TechCXO.
He has served in a series of companies as a C-Level executive focused on leveraging the Cloud to bring SaaS offerings to market.
As an entrepreneur, turn-around expert, technology and product leader, and mentor, Todd has held full corporate P&L and product development responsibilities and directed diverse international teams of Engineering Managers, Mobile Architects, Developers, Dev Ops, QA, and Customer Success professionals.
Subscribe and turn on notifications to listen to new episodes as they launch!
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLfeCS-Varb4gu2uCwyRTXWWEdP676Huh6
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6jz6ubcaUZ20Xh8TXhwzEN
Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/tales-from-the-sky-lounge/id1730134658
Amazon: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/4ba289a5-0d33-4589-95c7-83416731a864/tales-from-the-sky-lounge
Follow Tales From The SkyLounge on Social Media
X/Twitter: @TFTSkyLounge
TikTok: tiktok.com/tftskylounge
Instagram: @tftskylounge
Learn more about TechCXO: https://www.techcxo.com/
Production/Design: James Liebman
Music: Soundstripe/Cody Martin-Sunrise

Ep 11 - Rob Reesor: Insights, Tips, Tricks and Wisdom from a Tech Veteran Jun 14, 2024

EPISODE DESCRIPTION:

It all started with stumbling into a computer science course at the University of Oregon and culminated in a decades-long tech career filled with success.

Rob Reesor reflects on his journey from pioneering early e-commerce to advancing AI, shares a ton of wisdom on how to lead a team and deliver promise to customers, and looks forward to sharing his expertise in new and exciting ways.

ABOUT OUR GUEST:

Rob Reesor is a newly semi-retired CTO and VPE with nearly four decades of startup and PE-backed software development and leadership experience.

Rob has both BSCS and MSCS degrees and has held software developer, architect, leader, director, VP, SVP, and CTO roles in both Silicon Valley and Austin Texas.

Rob retired in 2022 after fourteen years at Planview, Inc., then after five weeks of retirement, took on the CTO role at fintech firm Cforia.

After a successful sale of the company, Rob is semi-retired and available for fractional software executive leadership roles building/enhancing a team, their processes, their technology, and/or their scalability.

Rob can be contacted through his LinkedIn profile at https://www.linkedin.com/in/rob-reesor-908188/

What is THE SKYLOUNGE?

Tales from the SkyLounge is a podcast where we take you on a journey through the world of business, consulting, and venture investing.

In each episode, we gather in our virtual sky lounge, high above the hustle and bustle of the everyday world, to hear stories from the people who are shaping the future of these industries.

From entrepreneurs who are disrupting the status quo, consultants who are helping companies solve their biggest challenges, and investors who are making bets on the next big thing.

ABOUT OUR HOST:

Todd Merrill is an experienced software executive who typically assists clients as a fractional or interim CTO and CiSO as a partner at TechCXO.

He has served in a series of companies as a C-Level executive focused on leveraging the Cloud to bring SaaS offerings to market.

As an entrepreneur, turn-around expert, technology and product leader, and mentor, Todd has held full corporate P&L and product development responsibilities and directed diverse international teams of Engineering Managers, Mobile Architects, Developers, Dev Ops, QA, and Customer Success professionals.

Subscribe and turn on notifications to listen to new episodes as they launch! YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLfeCS-Varb4gu2uCwyRTXWWEdP676Huh6 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6jz6ubcaUZ20Xh8TXhwzEN Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/tales-from-the-sky-lounge/id1730134658 Amazon: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/4ba289a5-0d33-4589-95c7-83416731a864/tales-from-the-sky-lounge

Follow Tales From The SkyLounge on Social Media X/Twitter: @TFTSkyLounge TikTok: tiktok.com/tftskylounge Instagram: @tftskylounge

Learn more about TechCXO: https://www.techcxo.com/

Production/Design: James Liebman Music: Soundstripe/Cody Martin-Sunrise

Ep 10 - Chris Caparon: Hard-Won Lessons from a Long and Successful Tech Journey May 31, 2024

Today we’re joined by Chris Caparon, a seasoned entrepreneur and tech veteran.

Chris shares his journey from Michigan to sunny California, where he co-founded CForia Software and navigated the turbulent waters of tech business, venture capital and 20 years of highs and lows through every kind of crisis (un)imaginable.

Now that he’s exited out the other side, he shares some perspective and excellent lessons learned.

#EntrepreneurJourney #TechStartups #VentureCapital #BusinessConsulting #SuccessStories

ABOUT OUR GUEST:

Chris founded Cforia Software with his partner Dave McIntyre to build a software company that created a collaborative work environment for their employees and added value to our customers every single day. Cforia was a Fintech pioneer in accounts receivable automation software. After Cforia's 20+ year journey culminated this year with our sale to Highradius, they exited the business. Chris is currently retired but interested in “using my experience to help other entrepreneurs succeed with their companies and projects.”

During his tenure at Cforia, the company acquired over 250 companies world-wide who operated in over 110 countries. The platform managed over 450 Billion USD in yearly accounts receivable in 2023.

Total assets the platform managed exceeded 450 Billion USD in yearly accounts receivable.

Specialties: Business and technical knowledge applicable in a wide variety of industries.

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-caparon-a2b58/

What is THE SKYLOUNGE?

Tales from the SkyLounge is a podcast where we take you on a journey through the world of business, consulting, and venture investing.

In each episode, we gather in our virtual sky lounge, high above the hustle and bustle of the everyday world, to hear stories from the people who are shaping the future of these industries.

From entrepreneurs who are disrupting the status quo, consultants who are helping companies solve their biggest challenges, and investors who are making bets on the next big thing.

ABOUT OUR HOST:

Todd Merrill is an experienced software executive who typically assists clients as a fractional or interim CTO and CiSO as a partner at TechCXO.

He has served in a series of companies as a C-Level executive focused on leveraging the Cloud to bring SaaS offerings to market.

Subscribe and turn on notifications to listen to new episodes as they launch!

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLfeCS-Varb4gu2uCwyRTXWWEdP676Huh6

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6jz6ubcaUZ20Xh8TXhwzEN

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/tales-from-the-sky-lounge/id1730134658

Amazon: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/4ba289a5-0d33-4589-95c7-83416731a864/tales-from-the-sky-lounge

Follow Tales From The SkyLounge on Social Media

X/Twitter: @TFTSkyLounge

TikTok: tiktok.com/tftskylounge

Instagram: @tftskylounge

Learn more about TechCXO: https://www.techcxo.com/

Production/Design: James Liebman

Music: Soundstripe/Cody Martin-Sunrise

Ep 09 - Bart Foster: Grit Becomes Growth, the Path from Pain to Transformation May 10, 2024

Bart Foster visits the Sky Lounge to talk about how an unceremonious ouster from the thriving startup he founded led him on a transformative journey to living a life of intention and purpose.
He discusses founding BusinessOutside as a result, a venture that leverages nature to cultivate deeper connections and personal growth among leaders and teams, and the techniques he uses to get out of the mundane and into the “real” talk that makes real connections.
#nature #intentionalliving #businessculture #businessoutside #techcxo #futureofwork
ABOUT OUR GUEST:
Bart Foster is the founder and CEO of BusinessOutside®, a facilitation and training company focused on engaging, inspiring, and empowering individuals and teams to get Outside in nature, Outside their comfort zones, and Outside of outdated norms.
Bart is an entrepreneur and seasoned global executive who began his career at Kellogg’s and Novartis.
After climbing the corporate ladder and building a successful healthcare startup, Bart found his true calling as an advisor, speaker, and coach to executives throughout the world.
He lives in Boulder, Colorado, with his wife and two kids.
Most mornings, he can be found hiking the peaks above town, usually with someone in tow, discussing business, outside.
#BusinessOutside
IG: @Business_Outside
X: @Bart_Foster
www.BusinessOutside.com
www.Bart-Foster.com
#futureofwork
BusinessOutside Connection Questions:
PDF: https://static1.squarespace.com/static/658f0890ea656379d1a749a6/t/661d6b01042f2075f237fab4/1713203969458/BusinessOutside+Connection+Questions.pdf
URL (bottom of page): https://www.forumoutside.com/resources-and-tools
What is THE SKYLOUNGE?
Tales from the SkyLounge is a podcast where we take you on a journey through the world of business, consulting, and venture investing.
In each episode, we gather in our virtual sky lounge, high above the hustle and bustle of the everyday world, to hear stories from the people who are shaping the future of these industries.
From entrepreneurs who are disrupting the status quo, consultants who are helping companies solve their biggest challenges, and investors who are making bets on the next big thing.
ABOUT OUR HOST:
Todd Merrill is an experienced software executive who typically assists clients as a fractional or interim CTO and CiSO as a partner at TechCXO.
He has served in a series of companies as a C-Level executive focused on leveraging the Cloud to bring SaaS offerings to market.
As an entrepreneur, turn-around expert, technology and product leader, and mentor, Todd has held full corporate P&L and product development responsibilities and directed diverse international teams of Engineering Managers, Mobile Architects, Developers, Dev Ops, QA, and Customer Success professionals.
Subscribe and turn on notifications to listen to new episodes as they launch!
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLfeCS-Varb4gu2uCwyRTXWWEdP676Huh6
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6jz6ubcaUZ20Xh8TXhwzEN
Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/tales-from-the-sky-lounge/id1730134658
Amazon: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/4ba289a5-0d33-4589-95c7-83416731a864/tales-from-the-sky-lounge
Follow Tales From The SkyLounge on Social Media
X/Twitter: @TFTSkyLounge
TikTok: tiktok.com/tftskylounge
Instagram: @tftskylounge
Learn more about TechCXO: https://www.techcxo.com/
Production/Design: James Liebman
Music: Soundstripe/Cody Martin-Sunrise

Ep 08 - David Morczinek: Machine Learning at MIT to Entrepreneurial Growth and Fundraising Success. Apr 26, 2024

Joining us in the Sky Lounge today is David Morczinek, the innovative CEO of Airworks, a geospatial AI company. David shares his fascinating journey from aerospace engineer to leading a cutting-edge company. He delves into his academic and professional experiences, including his time at Airbus and his transformative years at MIT where he pursued an MBA. With Airworks, David is at the forefront of utilizing drone technology to transform aerial data into actionable business intelligence, offering compelling insights into how aerial data is shaping the future of business decisions.
#technology #ai #artificialintelligence #dronetechnology #aerospace #businessculture #mit #techcxo
ABOUT OUR GUEST:
David has worked in the aerospace industry for 10+ years. In the past, he led multiple teams at Airbus. As CEO, David is the driving force behind the development of AirWorks’ AI, with the goal of advancing the use of aerial intelligence across AEC. David holds an MBA from MIT Sloan School of Business and an MS in Aircraft Systems Engineering from the Technical University of Hamburg. In his free time, David enjoys traveling with his wife and two children.
David Morczinek
+1-857-990-1251
david@airworks.io
https://www.linkedin.com/in/morczinek/
What is THE SKYLOUNGE?
Tales from the SkyLounge is a podcast where we take you on a journey through the world of business, consulting, and venture investing. In each episode, we gather in our virtual sky lounge, high above the hustle and bustle of the everyday world, to hear stories from the people who are shaping the future of these industries. From entrepreneurs who are disrupting the status quo, consultants who are helping companies solve their biggest challenges, and investors who are making bets on the next big thing.
ABOUT OUR HOST:
Todd Merrill is an experienced software executive who typically assists clients as a fractional or interim CTO and CiSO as a partner at TechCXO.
He has served in a series of companies as a C-Level executive focused on leveraging the Cloud to bring SaaS offerings to market. As an entrepreneur, turn-around expert, technology and product leader, and mentor, Todd has held full corporate P&L and product development responsibilities and directed diverse international teams of Engineering Managers, Mobile Architects, Developers, Dev Ops, QA, and Customer Success professionals.
Subscribe and turn on notifications to listen to new episodes as they launch!
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLfeCS-Varb4gu2uCwyRTXWWEdP676Huh6
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6jz6ubcaUZ20Xh8TXhwzEN
Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/tales-from-the-sky-lounge/id1730134658
Amazon: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/4ba289a5-0d33-4589-95c7-83416731a864/tales-from-the-sky-lounge
Follow Tales From The SkyLounge on Social Media
X/Twitter: @TFTSkyLounge
Instagram: @tftskylounge
Learn more about TechCXO: https://www.techcxo.com/
Production/Design: James Liebman
Music: Soundstripe/Cody Martin-Sunrise

Ep 07 - Christy Johnson - Cultivating Resilience Through Adaptation, Partnership and Growth Apr 12, 2024

Todd chats with a true traveler, Christy Johnson from BIP Ventures. Her story is a testament to the idea that there's no one-size-fits-all path in entrepreneurship and venture capital as she shares her unconventional path from getting an IMBA (International MBA) in school to microloans in Costa Rica, steel manufacturing in Florida and eventually venture capital. She discusses the importance of culture, the challenges of remote work, and the power of being intentional in business practices and some holiday celebrations that are…NOT mandatory (hint: they are). ABOUT OUR GUEST: Christy Johnson has been a pivotal member of the BIP Capital platform team since its founding. She joined the firm initially as a member of the leadership team of BIP Wealth in 2008, then became the Chief Operating Officer (COO) of BIP Capital. In 2022, Christy became a General Partner and Chief Performance Officer (CPO) for BIP Ventures. As CPO, Christy provides comprehensive and tailored advisory support and resources that help the firm's portfolio companies grow further and faster. She partners with executive teams on talent acquisition, business practice improvements, market intelligence, leveraging growth opportunities, and assisting companies with preparation for exit or acquisition opportunities. During her tenure with BIP Wealth, Christy built the operational infrastructure for the new Investment Advisory firm. Her operational and management leadership helped lay the foundation for the firm's AUM growth from $35M to $440M in less than six years. As COO for BIP Capital, she built the internal operations for the firm and assisted portfolio companies with growth strategies, infrastructure building, and overall support. In 2016, Christy assumed the role of CEO of AchieveIt Online. Under her leadership, the company more than tripled in revenue, earned a spot on the Inc. 5000 Fastest-growing Companies list for five years running (2017-2021), and was named to the Inc. Best Workplaces in 2021. Christy earned an IMBA with a focus on International Business at the University of Denver and a B.S. in Marketing at the University of Colorado, Denver. She serves as the Chairperson for the AchieveIt Board of Directors. LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cjohnsonatlanta/ Email: cjohnson@bipventures.vc What is THE SKYLOUNGE? Tales from the SkyLounge is a podcast journey through the world of business, consulting, and venture investing. In each episode, we gather in our virtual sky lounge to hear stories from the people who are shaping the future of these industries, entrepreneurs disrupting the status quo, consultants helping companies solve their biggest challenges, and investors who are making bets on the next big thing. ABOUT OUR HOST: Todd Merrill is an experienced software executive who typically assists clients as a fractional or interim CTO and CiSO as a partner at TechCXO. He has served in a series of companies as a C-Level executive focused on leveraging the Cloud to bring SaaS offerings to market. As an entrepreneur, turn-around expert, technology and product leader, and mentor, Todd has held full corporate P&L and product development responsibilities and directed diverse international teams of Engineering Managers, Mobile Architects, Developers, Dev Ops, QA, and Customer Success professionals. Subscribe and turn on notifications to listen to new episodes as they launch! YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLfeCS-Varb4gu2uCwyRTXWWEdP676Huh6 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6jz6ubcaUZ20Xh8TXhwzEN Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/tales-from-the-sky-lounge/id1730134658 Amazon: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/4ba289a5-0d33-4589-95c7-83416731a864/tales-from-the-sky-lounge Follow Tales From The SkyLounge on Social Media X/Twitter: @TFTSkyLounge TikTok: tiktok.com/tftskylounge Learn more about TechCXO: https://www.techcxo.com/ Production/Design: James Liebman Music: Soundstripe/Cody Martin-Sunrise

Ep 06 - Mike Blake: A Journey Through Valuations, Ventures, Visions and Vodka Mar 28, 2024

Joining us in the Sky Lounge this week is the fascinating Mike Blake, founder of High Score Strategies. Dive into the world of business valuation and strategy consulting, and learn how Mike navigates multimillion-dollar valuation opportunities with the finesse of a recovering venture capitalist. Get a little bit nerdy as these two tech aficionados explore what it takes to make it big in the business world, how you can use gift cards to pay employees (note: you can’t!) and why the Russian mafia played a big part in Mike’s career trajectory. Don't miss this high-flying and globe-spanning episode! #TechTalk #VentureVibes #BusinessBrilliance #SkyLoungeStories #InvestingInsights ABOUT OUR GUEST: Mike Blake is a Founder of High Score Strategies, a business valuation and strategic advisory firm with offices near Atlanta, Georgia, and Lisbon, Portugal. Mike helps his clients achieve winning outcomes in their business valuation-related opportunities (such as buying or selling a company) and challenges (such as tax compliance or financial reporting.) With 25 years of experience in valuation advisory, venture capital, and investment banking, Mike mixes market experience and data analytics to make his clients exceptional decision-makers for their most consequential and irreversible business decisions. Subscribe to Mike’s YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@yourbusinessvalue LinkedIn Profile: / unblakeable Website: highscorestrategies.com What is THE SKYLOUNGE? Tales from the SkyLounge is a podcast where we take you on a journey through the world of business, consulting, and venture investing. In each episode, we gather in our virtual sky lounge, high above the hustle and bustle of the everyday world, to hear stories from the people who are shaping the future of these industries. From entrepreneurs who are disrupting the status quo, consultants who are helping companies solve their biggest challenges, and investors who are making bets on the next big thing. ABOUT OUR HOST: Todd Merrill is an experienced software executive who typically assists clients as a fractional or interim CTO and CiSO as a partner at TechCXO. He has served in a series of companies as a C-Level executive focused on leveraging the Cloud to bring SaaS offerings to market. As an entrepreneur, turn-around expert, technology and product leader, and mentor, Todd has held full corporate P&L and product development responsibilities and directed diverse international teams of Engineering Managers, Mobile Architects, Developers, Dev Ops, QA, and Customer Success professionals. Subscribe and turn on notifications to listen to new episodes as they launch! YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLfeCS-Varb4gu2uCwyRTXWWEdP676Huh6 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6jz6ubcaUZ20Xh8TXhwzEN Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/tales-from-the-sky-lounge/id1730134658 Amazon: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/4ba289a5-0d33-4589-95c7-83416731a864/tales-from-the-sky-lounge Follow Tales From The SkyLounge on Social Media X/Twitter: @TFTSkyLounge TikTok: tiktok.com/tftskylounge Learn more about TechCXO: https://www.techcxo.com/ Production/Design: James Liebman Music: Soundstripe/Cody Martin-Sunrise For more info visit techcxo.com

Ep 05 - Jay Kleinman: Winning Strategies From Gridiron Grit to Healthcare Innovation Mar 15, 2024

Joining us in the Sky Lounge today is Jay Kleinman, a seasoned healthcare business development and sales strategy expert with over 30 years of experience. Jay dives into his journey from playing football at Auburn University to launching and scaling ventures in the healthcare space. Discover the power of teamwork, the art of sales, and the impact of digital health on elder care. Learn why you should think twice before sending that cold email and how chicken and broccoli can bring a team together. ABOUT OUR GUEST: Jay Kleinman is a Texas-based Partner in TechCXO’s Revenue Growth practice. He supports clients as a fractional Chief Revenue Officer (CRO), Chief Commercial Officer/Chief Growth Officer (CCO, CGO), and Chief Sales Officer (CSO). Jay is a seasoned sales, strategy, and business development leader with over 30 years of experience in healthcare services (payor/provider), MedTech, insurance solutions, technology, SaaS, marketing/advertising, and analytics. Jay’s track record of success includes end-to-end sales processes where he’s secured multiyear, 7+ figure agreements. LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jaykleinman/ Email: jay.kleinman@techcxo.com What is THE SKYLOUNGE? Tales from the SkyLounge is a podcast where we take you on a journey through the world of business, consulting, and venture investing. In each episode, we gather in our virtual sky lounge, high above the hustle and bustle of the everyday world, to hear stories from the people who are shaping the future of these industries. From entrepreneurs who are disrupting the status quo, consultants who are helping companies solve their biggest challenges, and investors who are making bets on the next big thing. ABOUT OUR HOST: Todd Merrill is an experienced software executive who typically assists clients as a fractional or interim CTO and CiSO as a partner at TechCXO. He has served in a series of companies as a C-Level executive focused on leveraging the Cloud to bring SaaS offerings to market. As an entrepreneur, turn-around expert, technology and product leader, and mentor, Todd has held full corporate P&L and product development responsibilities and directed diverse international teams of Engineering Managers, Mobile Architects, Developers, Dev Ops, QA, and Customer Success professionals. Subscribe and turn on notifications to listen to new episodes as they launch! YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLfeCS-Varb4gu2uCwyRTXWWEdP676Huh6 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6jz6ubcaUZ20Xh8TXhwzEN Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/tales-from-the-sky-lounge/id1730134658 Amazon: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/4ba289a5-0d33-4589-95c7-83416731a864/tales-from-the-sky-lounge Follow Tales From The SkyLounge on Social Media X/Twitter: @TFTSkyLounge TikTok: tiktok.com/tftskylounge Learn more about TechCXO: https://www.techcxo.com/ Production/Design: James Liebman Music: Soundstripe/Cody Martin-Sunrise For more info visit techcxo.com

Ep 04 - Mark Flickinger: From Rowing to Venture Capital - Lessons in Teamwork and Growth Mar 01, 2024

Mark Flickinger, COO and GP of BIP Ventures shares insights into competitive drive in founders, The State of Startups in the Southeast, how #VentureCapital Funds operate and what it means to have a great team. We talk about “The SVB Hangover”, dry powder (not for napkins) and when to go slow. ABOUT OUR GUEST: Mark Flickinger -General Partner & COO / BIP Ventures Mark Flickinger joined BIP Ventures in 2015. In his role as General Partner and Chief Operating Officer, Mark oversees fundraising, investor relations, marketing/branding, talent acquisition, and acceleration. Before joining the firm, Mark held leadership roles for 4th Strand, a product performance consulting firm (acquired by Intertek in 2012). He oversaw project management, product development, HR/recruiting, operations, and sales. Mark's experience also includes Medarex, a biotech startup developing therapeutics for cancer and autoimmune diseases, as well as the oral care division of consumer products company Church & Dwight. Mark earned an MBA in General Management and Entrepreneurship from The University of North Carolina Kenan-Flagler Business School and a BSE in Mechanical Engineering from Princeton University. He was a member of the US National Rowing Team from 2001-2008. Mark serves on the board for Venture Atlanta, AchieveIt, and VoApps. He is an avid father, cyclist, runner, and skier, both downhill and water. LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-flickinger-24295538/ Contact info: mflickinger@bipventures.vc What is THE SKYLOUNGE? Tales from the SkyLounge is a podcast where we take you on a journey through the world of business, consulting, and venture investing. In each episode, we gather in our virtual sky lounge, high above the hustle and bustle of the everyday world, to hear stories from the people who are shaping the future of these industries. From entrepreneurs who are disrupting the status quo, consultants who are helping companies solve their biggest challenges, and investors who are making bets on the next big thing. ABOUT OUR HOST: Todd Merrill is an experienced software executive who typically assists clients as a fractional or interim CTO and CiSO as a partner at TechCXO. He has served in a series of companies as a C-Level executive focused on leveraging the Cloud to bring SaaS offerings to market. As an entrepreneur, turn-around expert, technology and product leader, and mentor, Todd has held full corporate P&L and product development responsibilities and directed diverse international teams of Engineering Managers, Mobile Architects, Developers, Dev Ops, QA, and Customer Success professionals. Subscribe and turn on notifications to listen to new episodes as they launch! YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLfeCS-Varb4gu2uCwyRTXWWEdP676Huh6 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6jz6ubcaUZ20Xh8TXhwzEN Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/tales-from-the-sky-lounge/id1730134658 Amazon: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/4ba289a5-0d33-4589-95c7-83416731a864/tales-from-the-sky-lounge Follow Tales From The SkyLounge on Social Media X/Twitter: @TFTSkyLounge TikTok: tiktok.com/tftskylounge Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tftskylounge/ Learn more about TechCXO: https://www.techcxo.com/ Production/Design: James Liebman Music: Soundstripe/Cody Martin-Sunrise

Ep 03 - Jan Heybroek - From Startup to Successful Exit - Lessons from a Healthcare Entrepreneur Feb 16, 2024

We all hear about the legendary founders who grow their business, become an overnight success over a few decades and sell out to Private Equity. Jan shares insights about that journey that made him an ‘Exited Entrepreneur’. Watch as Jan takes us through how to close an M&A deal including some powerful Dutch negotiating techniques. Stay with us to see why getting to First Base is fun and where the next Dr. House is going to come from. ABOUT OUR GUEST: Jan Heybroek -PARTNER - EXECUTIVE OPERATIONS; FRACTIONAL EXECUTIVE Jan Heybroek is a Partner in TechCXO’s Executive Operations practice. He is most frequently called on by investors, Boards and senior management teams with life sciences companies to assist as an interim and fractional Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Chief Operating Officer (COO) and Chief Revenue Officer (CRO). With more than 30 years of senior leadership, Jan is exceptional in applying his knowledge and strategic marketing and product experience within life sciences and biopharma. He is particularly adept in building out new solutions, optimizing existing products and overseeing product portfolios to deliver industry and category-leading returns. Jan is also a thought leader in the areas of entrepreneurship, organizational partnerships, licensing and market insights. Socials: https://www.linkedin.com/in/janheybroek/ Contact info jan.heybroek@techcxo.com , +1.404.384.9315 https://scheduler.zoom.us/janheybroek What is THE SKYLOUNGE? Tales from the SkyLounge is a podcast where we take you on a journey through the world of business, consulting, and venture investing. In each episode, we gather in our virtual sky lounge, high above the hustle and bustle of the everyday world, to hear stories from the people who are shaping the future of these industries. From entrepreneurs who are disrupting the status quo, consultants who are helping companies solve their biggest challenges, and investors who are making bets on the next big thing. ABOUT OUR HOST: Todd Merrill is an experienced software executive who typically assists clients as a fractional or interim CTO and CiSO as a partner at TechCXO. He has served in a series of companies as a C-Level executive focused on leveraging the Cloud to bring SaaS offerings to market. As an entrepreneur, turn-around expert, technology and product leader, and mentor, Todd has held full corporate P&L and product development responsibilities and directed diverse international teams of Engineering Managers, Mobile Architects, Developers, Dev Ops, QA, and Customer Success professionals. Subscribe and turn on notifications to listen to new episodes as they launch! YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLfeCS-Varb4gu2uCwyRTXWWEdP676Huh6 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6jz6ubcaUZ20Xh8TXhwzEN Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/tales-from-the-sky-lounge/id1730134658 Amazon: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/4ba289a5-0d33-4589-95c7-83416731a864/tales-from-the-sky-lounge Follow Tales From The SkyLounge on Social Media X/Twitter: @TFTSkyLounge TikTok: tiktok.com/tftskylounge Learn more about TechCXO: https://www.techcxo.com/ Production/Design: James Liebman Music: Soundstripe/Cody Martin-Sunrise

Ep 02 - Lewis Goldman: Mastering Marketing Evolution in the Digital Age Feb 16, 2024

We speak to a legendary NYC Marketer, Lewis Goldman who talks about being a pioneer in digital marketing. Lewis shares stories about recent trends in digital marketing and where we are going in the new AI/LLM era. Hear about what role social influencers play, what the future of influence marketing is and also When is it appropriate to knock over a convenience store. ABOUT OUR GUEST: Lewis Goldman - PARTNER – CHIEF GROWTH OFFICER, FRACTIONAL CMO, CRO The Consultant Who Scales Businesses Lewis Goldman is a TechCXO Partner in its New York office, and a marketing consultant specializing in scaling businesses rapidly through marketing, new products, new channels/partnerships, and leveraging customer data to cross sell and upsell existing customers. His focus on accelerating growth comes from extensive experience as a CMO and heading up growth, digital marketing, and E-Commerce efforts at companies ranging from Citigroup and MetLife to LinkedIn, Amazon, and LendKey. Customer Centric - Leveraging his experience in marketing, digital transformation, and data/analytics, Lewis specializes in leveraging a customer centric approach to innovation through using digital, data, and identifying new market opportunities to accelerate revenue growth. Beyond Marketing to help scale organizations - Lewis helps smaller entities scale their organizations and processes by using his experience building or reorganizing 10 different marketing/E-Commerce organizations ranging from startups to new businesses within Fortune 50 companies. What is THE SKYLOUNGE? Tales from the SkyLounge is a podcast where we take you on a journey through the world of business, consulting, and venture investing. In each episode, we gather in our virtual sky lounge, high above the hustle and bustle of the everyday world, to hear stories from the people who are shaping the future of these industries. From entrepreneurs who are disrupting the status quo, consultants who are helping companies solve their biggest challenges, and investors who are making bets on the next big thing. ABOUT OUR HOST: Todd Merrill is an experienced software executive who typically assists clients as a fractional or interim CTO and CiSO as a partner at TechCXO. He has served in a series of companies as a C-Level executive focused on leveraging the Cloud to bring SaaS offerings to market. As an entrepreneur, turn-around expert, technology and product leader, and mentor, Todd has held full corporate P&L and product development responsibilities and directed diverse international teams of Engineering Managers, Mobile Architects, Developers, Dev Ops, QA, and Customer Success professionals. Subscribe and turn on notifications to listen to new episodes as they launch! YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLfeCS-Varb4gu2uCwyRTXWWEdP676Huh6 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6jz6ubcaUZ20Xh8TXhwzEN Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/tales-from-the-sky-lounge/id1730134658 Amazon: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/4ba289a5-0d33-4589-95c7-83416731a864/tales-from-the-sky-lounge Follow Tales From The SkyLounge on Social Media X/Twitter: @TFTSkyLounge TikTok: tiktok.com/tftskylounge Learn more about TechCXO: https://www.techcxo.com/ Production/Design: James Liebman Music: Soundstripe/Cody Martin-Sunrise

Ep 01 - Maria Goldsholl: Building Authentic Leadership and Culture in Startups Feb 16, 2024

Todd starts off the series with a bang as he talks with his first guest, Maria Goldsholl, Managing Partner-Human Capital, about the mindset required to grow and learn from the tough times at any level, and what particular traits she looks for when evaluating a team or a leader. Watch till the end to learn what startup coffee and stinky fish have in common. ABOUT OUR GUEST: Maria Goldsholl, Managing Partner Human Capital Maria Goldsholl is a seasoned, energetic executive leader with an extensive background in organizational and talent development, culture management, developing HR infrastructure and building teams and operations. Her expertise has been cited and featured in Forbes HR council, The Wall Street Journal, Working Mother Magazine, Entrepreneur, Atlanta Journal-Constitution and other publications. Prior to joining TechCXO, she was the Chief People Officer for PokitDok, a venture backed high growth healthcare technology company, where she provided leadership and direction for human resources function and served as trusted advisor to CEO and executive team on people related issues. Maria was also responsible for providing thought leadership and execution of people initiatives, organizational development, recruitment and culture initiatives. In addition, she served as COO for Moms Corps, where she was responsible for managing the day-to-day activities of this first- to-market staffing and search company. She began as the first employee of company and helped grow the organization to $16 million business with franchises and offices nationwide. As the Director of Organizational Development for The Weather Channel, she was responsible for the company’s diversity efforts, succession planning and work/life programs. The company earned five “Employer of Choice” top rankings in the telecommunications industry. A native of New York, NY, Maria holds a bachelor’s degree in Psychology from the University of La Verne in Athens, Greece, and a master’s degree in Organizational Behavior from Brooklyn College in New York. What is THE SKYLOUNGE? Tales from the SkyLounge is a podcast where we take you on a journey through the world of business, consulting, and venture investing. In each episode, we gather in our virtual sky lounge, high above the hustle and bustle of the everyday world, to hear stories from the people who are shaping the future of these industries. From entrepreneurs who are disrupting the status quo, consultants who are helping companies solve their biggest challenges, and investors who are making bets on the next big thing. ABOUT OUR HOST: Todd Merrill is an experienced software executive who typically assists clients as a fractional or interim CTO and CiSO as a partner at TechCXO. He has served in a series of companies as a C-Level executive focused on leveraging the Cloud to bring SaaS offerings to market. As an entrepreneur, turn-around expert, technology and product leader, and mentor, Todd has held full corporate P&L and product development responsibilities and directed diverse international teams of Engineering Managers, Mobile Architects, Developers, Dev Ops, QA, and Customer Success professionals. Subscribe and turn on notifications to listen to new episodes as they launch! YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLfeCS-Varb4gu2uCwyRTXWWEdP676Huh6 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6jz6ubcaUZ20Xh8TXhwzEN Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/tales-from-the-sky-lounge/id1730134658 Amazon: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/4ba289a5-0d33-4589-95c7-83416731a864/tales-from-the-sky-lounge Follow Tales From The SkyLounge on Social Media X/Twitter: @TFTSkyLounge TikTok: tiktok.com/tftskylounge Learn more about TechCXO: https://www.techcxo.com/ Production/Design: James Liebman Music: Soundstripe/Cody Martin-Sunrise

Tales from the SkyLounge - Welcome to Tales from the SkyLounge! Feb 09, 2024

What is THE SKYLOUNGE? Tales from the SkyLounge is a podcast where we take you on a journey through the world of business, consulting, and venture investing. In each episode, we gather in our virtual sky lounge, high above the hustle and bustle of the everyday world, to hear stories from the people who are shaping the future of these industries. From entrepreneurs who are disrupting the status quo, consultants who are helping companies solve their biggest challenges, and investors who are making bets on the next big thing. ABOUT OUR HOST: Todd Merrill is an experienced software executive who typically assists clients as a fractional or interim CTO and CiSO as a partner at TechCXO. He has served in a series of companies as a C-Level executive focused on leveraging the Cloud to bring SaaS offerings to market. As an entrepreneur, turn-around expert, technology and product leader, and mentor, Todd has held full corporate P&L and product development responsibilities and directed diverse international teams of Engineering Managers, Mobile Architects, Developers, Dev Ops, QA, and Customer Success professionals.

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