Innovation Heroes

How a Teacher Turned Gaming Into New Jersey's Newest Varsity Activity Oct 30, 2025

What happens when IT leaders have to choose between safety and innovation? In New Jersey, one teacher proved that the biggest obstacles to transformation often come from inside our own departments.

Chris Aviles started Garden State eSports during COVID with borrowed laptops and a spreadsheet. Today, it's the largest scholastic eSports league in the country, serving 12,000 students across 400+ schools—and it just became New Jersey's first new varsity activity in 20 years.

In this episode, you'll discover:

How eSports went from basement hobby to legitimate varsity activity with scholarships and college recruiting

Why IT departments are now the biggest barrier to program launches (and how to overcome security concerns safely)

The student success stories that prove inclusive competition changes lives

How schools are turning gaming computers into dual-purpose STEM labs that drive attendance and grades

Chris Aviles, Founder of Garden State eSports, joins host Ed McNamara along with SHI's Jeff Prudente to reveal how this movement is opening doors for students who never participated in school activities before—including 25% with IEPs or autism spectrum diagnoses.

Guest: Chris Aviles, Founder & Executive Director, Garden State eSports
Also Featuring: Jeff Prudente, Mobility Manager, SHI International

Learn more: shi.com/esports

#eSports #EdTech #Innovation #DigitalTransformation #STEMEducation #InclusiveEducation #SchoolTechnology #GamingForGood

Show Notes & Resources

Organizations & Programs:

Garden State eSports - New Jersey's official scholastic eSports league

SHI eSports Solutions - Equipment, infrastructure, and program support

Interstate Scholastic eSports Alliance - National network spanning 20+ states
Contact: esports@shi.com

Resources for Schools:

Garden State eSports Varsity Certification Program

SHI eSports IT Infrastructure Guide

Equipment recommendations and setup best practices

Network security guidance for school IT departments

Timeline:

00:01:00 - Introduction to eSports growth and impact

00:02:00 - Jeff Prudente on early days of NJ eSports partnership with SHI

00:08:00 - Chris Aviles' origin story and COVID catalyst

00:13:00 - How eSports became a varsity activity (not sport)

00:16:00 - Biggest misconceptions: IT departments as unexpected barriers

00:21:00 - What it's like to attend an eSports championship event

00:26:00 - The critical role of teacher-coaches

00:32:00 - Student success stories: Tyler Sims and Jack's journeys

00:40:00 - How to launch a program in your school

Guest Bios: Chris Aviles is a 17-year teaching veteran and founder of Garden State eSports, which has grown from 100 schools during COVID to become the largest scholastic eSports league in the United States. Under his leadership, New Jersey became the first state to recognize eSports as an official varsity activity.

Jeff Prudente is SHI International's Mobility Manager for Intel and Windows devices. A lifelong gamer and former competitive Halo player, Jeff helped pioneer SHI's eSports education initiative and has been instrumental in bringing programs to school districts nationwide—from 5-computer setups to hundred-workstation arenas.

The $25M Zoom Call: How Deepfakes Are Rewriting the Rules of Trust, Featuring KnowBe4's Erich Kron Oct 16, 2025

A Hong Kong employee sits through what seems like a routine video call with colleagues and the CFO. Everything looks normal. Then comes the urgent wire transfer request. $25 million later, the horrifying truth emerges: every face on that call was fake, generated by AI.

This Cybersecurity Awareness Month, host Ed McNamara sits down with Erich Kron, Security Awareness Advocate at KnowBe4, to unpack one of the most sophisticated cyber heists in history. We'll explore how cybercriminals have industrialized deception, the psychology behind why we fall for these scams, and what organizations can do to fight back against the rise of "Cybercrime Inc."

Key Takeaways:

How attackers used "scripted movie" techniques to pull off a $25M deepfake heist
Why cybercrime now operates like big business—complete with HR departments and profit-sharing models
The psychology of System 1 vs System 2 thinking and how emotions drive us into making mistakes
AI-powered defense tools that are helping organizations stay ahead of deepfake threats

Guest: Erich Kron, Security Awareness Advocate, KnowBe4
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This episode is brought to you by KnowBe4. Ready to move beyond cybersecurity awareness to actually reducing human risk? Visit shi.com/partners/knowbe4 to learn how AI is transforming human risk management.

#Cybersecurity #Deepfakes #HumanRisk #AI #SocialEngineering #InnovationHeroes
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Show Notes & Resources

Learn More About Erich Kron

$25 Million Deepfake Zoom Scam - News Coverage

Additional Context

KnowBe4's work on Human Risk Management: shi.com/partners/knowbe4

Zero Day, Zero Warning: Inside the Discovery That Could Have Crippled the Internet Oct 02, 2025

Twelve years. That's how long a vulnerability sat in sudo—the command powering every Linux system—waiting for the wrong hands. When Stratascale researchers Rich Mirch and Quentin Rhoads-Herrera discovered not one, but two zero-day vulnerabilities in sudo, millions of systems worldwide were at risk.

Go behind the scenes of a discovery that could have changed everything—but didn't, thanks to ethical research and responsible disclosure. Learn how a 12-year-old vulnerability went undetected in one of the world's most scrutinized open-source projects, why human curiosity still outpaces automated security tools, and the methodology behind discovering critical flaws in mature, battle-tested software.

Guests: Rich Mirch, Principal Security Researcher, Stratascale; Quentin Rhoads-Herrera, VP of Security Services, Stratascale

Stratascale is a wholly owned subsidiary of SHI International, delivering cutting-edge cybersecurity research and managed security services.

Show Notes & Resources

Read our blog announcing the vulnerabilities: https://www.stratascale.com/vulnerability-alert-CVE-2025-32462-sudo-host
CVE Details: • CVE-2025-32462 - The 12-year sudo vulnerability • CVE-2025-32463 - The more severe chroot vulnerability

Key Timestamps: • [02:07] - Rich's discovery approach: assuming vulnerabilities exist • [08:03] - Quinton's validation process and initial disbelief • [13:31] - The "double take" moment of confirming the discovery • [21:21] - Dynamic vs. static testing methodology • [29:03] - Why offensive security research matters • [34:44] - Career advice for aspiring cybersecurity professionals

Learn More: When you need expert guidance on cybersecurity solutions and frameworks, trust SHI's Field CISOs and security experts. We help identify critical gaps, consolidate security platforms, and integrate AI into your cybersecurity practices. Learn more at https://www.shi.com/solutions/cybersecurity

The Last Swimmer in the Pool: Deaflympian Brooke Thompson on Adaptive Tech Sep 18, 2025

More than 80% of disabilities are invisible, yet too often technology and workplace systems overlook these needs. In this episode, Rutgers swimmer and Deaflympian Brooke Thompson shares her inspiring journey—from Michigan lakes to the global stage—powered by adaptive technology and relentless advocacy.

Through her story, we uncover the bigger message for IT and business leaders: accessibility is not a "nice to have" or a compliance checkbox. It's about proactively listening, asking, and equipping people with the tools they need to thrive.

In this episode, you'll learn:

How adaptive technologies like cochlear implants, closed captioning, and visual strobes create equal playing fields
Why up to 74% of workplace accommodation requests get denied—and how to fix it
Practical "quick wins" IT leaders can implement for better accessibility
The business case for inclusive technology beyond compliance
How invisible disabilities impact millions of workers and students daily

Guest: Brooke Thompson is a Division I swimmer at Rutgers University, two-time Deaflympian, and SHI spokesperson. Born deaf, she competes at the highest level with the support of adaptive technologies and serves as an advocate for accessibility in sports, education, and the workplace.

Subscribe and Connect: Innovation Heroes is part of SHI Media. Find more episodes and IT leadership resources at blog.shi.com. Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts and follow us on YouTube @SHICorporation.

#Accessibility #InclusiveTechnology #WorkplaceInclusion #AdaptiveTech #ITLeadership #Deaflympics #SHI

Innovation Heroes – Season 7: Real Voices, Real Risks, Real Answers Sep 16, 2025

SHI's Innovation Heroes is back. After hitting #1 on the Apple Technology charts, Season 7 brings twelve no-fluff episodes on the real risks and real answers facing IT leaders today—from cybercrime that runs like a Fortune 500 to the power of accessibility in tech.

It's a new season— with a clear mission: Bringing you conversations that cut through the noise and give IT leaders what they actually need: clarity, courage, and practical insight.

Season 7 dives into the stories behind today’s biggest technology challenges: cybercrime operating like Fortune 500 companies, AI vulnerabilities hiding in plain sight, and the transformative power of accessibility in IT. From deepfakes to Deaflympians, this season brings you voices from the frontlines—security experts, innovators, and unlikely pioneers—sharing what’s really at stake and how to navigate it.

Twelve episodes. Zero fluff. Just the kind of conversations that save you time, sharpen your thinking, and make you better at your job.

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Follow now, wherever you get your podcasts or at SHI.com/heroes

Watch full video episodes on our YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@SHICorporation/podcasts

Brought to you by SHI: From seamless hardware and software procurement solutions to licensing advisory, data center configuration, ITAM, and AI services, SHI has all your IT needs covered.

The New Rules of Virtualization: Insights for Navigating Change Apr 04, 2025

What should you really do about your VMware environment?

Since Broadcom’s acquisition, virtualization strategy has become a hot topic on the minds of CIOs and infrastructure leaders. In this episode, we sit down with Cody Hosterman, Senior Director of Product Management – Cloud at Pure Storage, who speaks with hundreds of IT execs every year through high-level briefings and customer strategy sessions.

Cody shares the pulse of the market—what he’s hearing, what’s changed, and what successful organizations are doing differently. From pricing shocks and new bundling models to internal confusion around hybrid roadmaps, many IT leaders are feeling pressure to act.

But Cody’s advice is clear: take a breath, assess what you have, and optimize before you overhaul. You’ll walk away with a smarter lens on what really matters right now—how to stay strategic, avoid costly missteps, and prepare your org for whatever’s next.

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This episode is brought to you Pure Storage.
Pure Storage’s hybrid cloud solutions seamlessly integrate on-premise and multi-cloud environments. With AI driven automation, security, and high performance, you can easily move, replicate, and protect your data. Learn more at shi.com/partners/pure-storage

How to Drive Microsoft Copilot Adoption & ROI: Our Experts Discuss Mar 21, 2025

AI is here and IT leaders are under pressure to make it work—fast. But adoption doesn’t happen overnight, and organizations need a clear strategy to drive ROI from Microsoft Copilot.

In this episode of Innovation Heroes, host Ed McNamara sits down with three of SHI's Microsoft experts—Carrie Randolph (Public Sector Strategist), Michael Heath (Power Platform Solutions Engineer), and Dominick Raimato (Microsoft MVP & Sr. Solutions Architect).

They share practical, field-tested insights on how businesses, governments, and educators are integrating Copilot into their workflows.

They’ll also cover key challenges IT leaders face, from change management to governance, and break down proven strategies to accelerate adoption, improve security, and maximize impact.

Whether you’re in the early stages of deployment or looking to scale Copilot across your organization, this episode will help you move from exploration to execution.
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This episode is sponsored by Microsoft Copilot.

Drawing on 35 years of experience supporting some of the most complex Microsoft environments in the industry, SHI can help you bring the full power of Microsoft Copilot to your organization.

Learn about our Microsoft Copilot Enablement Workshop: https://blog.shi.com/digital-workplace/take-full-advantage-of-microsoft-copilot-with-shis-m365-enablement-workshop/

From Startup to Global Leader: 35 Years of SHI Feb 28, 2025

What if the company you worked for went bankrupt overnight—only for a bold new leader to step in and turn it into a multi-billion-dollar powerhouse?

That’s exactly what happened to SHI’s first employee, Melissa Graham.

In this special episode of Innovation Heroes, we’re celebrating the 35th anniversary of SHI. Melissa, the company's very first employee, shares stories about co-founder and CEO, Thai Lee and dives into SHI’s incredible journey from scrappy upstart to global IT giant.

Tune in to hear stories of resilience, innovation, and the pivotal moments that shaped SHI’s success.

Featuring: Melissa Graham, SHI’s Senior Vice President of the Global Organization and company’s very first employee.

DeepSeek: An AI triumph? Or a dicey security risk? Feb 14, 2025

Last month, no one had heard of DeepSeek. But then it racked up a stunning 16 million downloads in just 18 days — nearly double ChatGPT’s initial adoption.

The China-based AI model has certainly captured the attention of both investors and technologists. But while some see it as the future of AI, others are raising red flags over its origins and potential security risks.

In this episode of Innovation Heroes, we explore what makes DeepSeek unique, how it compares to existing AI models, and the startling data privacy concerns for businesses and governments worldwide.

Should you dive in? Or swim in shallower waters?

Featuring:

Jack Hogan, Vice President of Advanced Growth Technologies at SHI, leading initiatives in AI, cybersecurity, and emerging technologies.

Lee Ziliak, Field Chief Technology Officer and Managing Director of Architecture at SHI.

Jordan Mauriello, Chief Strategy Officer and Head of Stratascale.

Finding the competitive edge: how data and AI elevate your game Jan 31, 2025

How are data and AI revolutionizing teams—whether on the field or in the boardroom?

In this episode of Innovation Heroes, Casey Murphy, goalkeeper for the North Carolina Courage and the U.S. Women’s National Team, and Founder and Director of Operations of AP2T, Mike Olim, dive into the cutting-edge tech reshaping elite sports.

From wearables to AI-driven insights, discover how these tools optimize performance and help give you an edge over the competition.

Featuring: Casey Murphy, goalkeeper for the North Carolina Courage and the U.S. Women’s National Team, and Mike Olim, Founder and Director of Operations of AP2T.

On-device AI: Revolutionizing efficiency, security, and personalization Jan 17, 2025

What if the future of AI didn’t live in the cloud, but right in the palm of your hand?

In this episode of Innovation Heroes, host Ed McNamara uncovers the revolution of on-device AI with Qualcomm's Mike Belcher, Director of North American Commercial Channels.

Discover how this cutting-edge technology is reshaping industries, slashing costs, helping the environment and redefining what’s possible in personalization, efficiency, and security.

Featuring: Mike Belcher, Qualcomm’s Director of North American Commercial Channels

Happy Holidays from Innovation Heroes Dec 24, 2024

It's been an incredible year of captivating stories and thought provoking discussions. We're taking a short break over the holidays to recharge, plan, and gear up for even more exciting episodes in the new year.

So mark your calendar, stay subscribed, and keep an ear out for our return. Until then, take care, enjoy the holiday season, and thank you for making this year truly unforgettable.

From SHI and the Innovation Heroes team, keep innovating and we'll see you in 2025.

Elizabeth Bieniek’s unexpected journey building Webex Hologram Dec 06, 2024

It’s good to identify a problem. But’s it’s even better to find a solution.

We speak with Elizabeth Bieniek, an innovation consultant and a former Cisco strategist who spearheaded the creation of Webex Hologram – the first real-time, photorealistic holographic tool to transform business collaboration.

Elizabeth shares her journey from a strategic partnerships role to leading the development of revolutionary technology. Learn how a seemingly simple disagreement transformed into a pivotal moment, igniting a quest to redefine remote collaboration.

Listen to the full episode below or wherever you get your podcasts.

Featuring: Elizabeth is the author of "Cake on Tuesday: 25 Lessons to Unlock Corporate Innovation.”

AI: Enhancing employee satisfaction at work Nov 22, 2024

AI is stealing jobs. But that’s not the whole story. In this episode of Innovation Heroes, we explore the often-overlooked benefits of AI in the workplace.

While AI is automating tasks and changing job roles, it's also empowering employees, boosting creativity, learning, and unlocking their untapped potential. We speak with Geoff Wright, Global Solutions Owner at Mondelēz International, a global snack food brand leveraging AI to improve their employee experience.

Listen to the full episode below or wherever you get your podcasts.

Featuring: Geoff Wright, Global Solutions Owner at Mondelēz International

XDR; the brain of the cyber security nervous system Nov 08, 2024

When bad actors get more sophisticated, cybersecurity professionals only have one choice: Innovation.

In this episode of Innovation Heroes, we explore the rapidly changing cybersecurity landscape with Brianna Farro, Cisco's Security Director of XDR Product Management. Briana explains why traditional siloed security approaches are insufficient in today's complex threat environment and how extended detection response, or XDR, provides a more comprehensive solution.

We delve into the key capabilities of XDR, including its ability to correlate data from multiple sources, prioritize critical threats, and automate responses. Briana shares real-world examples of XDR's success and advocates for Cisco's open and hybrid XDR approach. Discover how XDR can help your organization improve its security posture and stay ahead of the curve.

Featuring: Briana Farro, Cisco Security Director of XDR Product Management

Smart cities in action: How Cary, NC is pioneering municipal innovation Oct 25, 2024

What happens when a small town in North Carolina embraces cutting-edge technology to become a leader in smart city innovation? In this episode, host Ed McNamara is joined by SHI’s Senior Vice President of Public Sector Sales, Denise Collison, and special guest Dan Ault, Assistant Town Manager and Chief Innovation Officer for Cary, North Carolina.

Together, they dive into the challenges and successes of digital transformation in local government. Ault shares insights on pioneering smart city initiatives, securing critical infrastructure, and improving citizen engagement, while Collison adds her expertise on navigating the unique complexities of public sector technology adoption.

Through this conversation, listeners get a glimpse of how municipalities like Cary are leveraging technology to create more connected, efficient, and secure communities. From the use of sensors to mitigate stormwater risks to the implementation of a groundbreaking 311 system, Ault’s work exemplifies the future of digital government.

Listen to the full episode below or wherever you get your podcasts.

Featuring: Dan Ault, Assistant Town Manager and Chief Innovation Officer of the Town of Cary, North Carolina and Denise Collison, Senior Vice-President of Public Sector Sales at SHI

The AI breakthrough in breast cancer detection Oct 11, 2024

What if the key to detecting cancer earlier—and saving thousands of lives—lies in AI? Host Ed McNamara explores how Kheiron Medical is making that a reality. Joined by Peter Kecskemethy, CEO and co-founder, and Sarah Kerruish, Chief Strategy Officer, they delve into the groundbreaking technology behind Mia® – Kheiron’s AI-powered tool that is revolutionizing breast cancer detection by detecting what the human eye might miss.

Named one of the biggest medical breakthroughs of 2023, Mia® is proving its potential in real-world clinical settings, boosting breast cancer detection rates and offering hope to thousands of women. Peter and Sarah share the challenges, triumphs, and future of AI in healthcare, offering a glimpse into how technology is reshaping cancer diagnostics and changing lives.

Listen to the full episode below or wherever you get your podcasts.

Featuring: Peter Kecskemethy, CEO and co-founder of Kheiron Medical, and Sarah Kerruish, Chief Strategy Officer.

Mastering AI and zero trust with Chris Louie and Brian Deitch of Zscaler Sep 27, 2024

As AI continues to dominate conversations around digital transformation, its implications for cybersecurity are becoming impossible to ignore. In this latest episode of Innovation Heroes, we dive into the dynamic world of AI and cybersecurity with two expert guests, Chris Louie, Customer Success Architect, and Brian Deitch, Chief Technology Evangelist at Zscaler.

As leaders in cloud security and popular podcasters of the show PEBCAK, Louie and Deitch break down the critical intersections between artificial intelligence and Zero Trust security. They share practical insights into how AI is transforming threat detection and response, and explore the evolving use cases of AI in business.

Join us as we discuss both the opportunities and threats posed by AI and how businesses can protect themselves in an increasingly digital world.

Listen to the full episode below or wherever you get your podcasts.

Featuring: Brian Deitch, Chief Technology Evangelist at Zscaler and Chris Louie, Customer Success Architect at Zscaler.

Turning failure into future innovation Sep 13, 2024

How can failure fuel future success? To answer this question, Ed McNamara meets with two remarkable guests: Michael Stern, the former General Counsel at General Magic and CEO of Spellbound Productions and Veronica Miles, COO of General Magic Workshops. The conversation revolves around one of Silicon Valley’s most iconic "failures"—General Magic—a company that was far ahead of its time and whose work laid the foundation for much of the technology we use every day.

Together, Miles and Stern reflect on General Magic's legacy, the revolutionary innovations it brought forth, and the valuable lessons it offers to the next generation of innovators.

Featuring: Michael Stern, formally General Counsel at General Magic and executive producer of the General Magic film, and Veronica Miles, COO of General Magic Workshops

SHI's Innovation Heroes is a podcast exploring the people and businesses driving change in our drastically disrupted world.

Industry 4.0 in space: exploring the final frontier of innovation Aug 30, 2024

Welcome to Season 6 of Innovation Heroes. On this episode,Ed McNamara is joined by SHI Field CTO Dave Gruver to explore the transformative power of Industry 4.0 technologies across various sectors—including healthcare, retail, and manufacturing.

But that's not all––we're setting our sights even higher, looking at how these advancements are propelling us into space. With insights from Intel’s Stacey Shulman, VP of Health, Education, and Consumer Industries, this episode delves into how space innovation is poised to revolutionize the business landscape.

Discover the challenges, opportunities, and future trends of Industry 4.0 and how businesses can prepare to thrive in this new era. Tune in now to learn how SHI is helping businesses solve what's next, both on Earth and beyond.

Listen to the full episode below or wherever you get your podcasts.

Featuring: Dave Gruver, SHI Field CTO and Stacey Shulman, VP Health, Education and Consumer Industries, NEX Group at Intel

SHI's Innovation Heroes is a podcast exploring the people and businesses driving change in our drastically disrupted world.

Innovation Heroes returns with season 6 Aug 23, 2024

Innovation Heroes is back, bringing with it an exciting new format and a roster of elite guests. Hosted by Ed McNamara, Season 6 is here to help business leaders solve what’s next.

Each episode explores groundbreaking innovations across industries, from advances in healthcare and cybersecurity to the latest developments in AI and even outerspace IT. Innovation Heroes continues to shine a spotlight on the IT professionals driving transformational change in an ever-evolving world.

Don’t miss the debut of Season 6 next week. Be sure to like and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts to stay ahead of the curve.

Storage Warriors: Resiliency at the Intersection of Access and Security Jan 25, 2024

In 2019, the City of New Orleans was hit by a cyberattack and came to a halt. Within hours, thousands of servers, virtual machines, and computers were shut down. They were told by the National Guard that they needed to build a completely new infrastructure.

This week, we discuss the unsung heroes in data storage, those defending against cybersecurity attacks, building new infrastructure, and supporting AI innovation. Andrew Miller, Lead Principal Technologist of the Americas, Pure Storage, outlines how they were able to replace the entire storage footprint in New Orleans. He outlines the conversations he has with customers about resiliency, what he calls the intersection of disaster recovery and security.

We also explore the changing landscape of storage and cloud in 2024, and the current trends in threats like ransomware. Miller provides tips for data protection, developing security frameworks, and getting buy-in for security spend.

Featured Guest:

Andrew Miller, Lead Principal Technologist of the Americas, Pure Storage

Read his blog

Hear Andrew on the Pure Report Podcast

Join Andrew’s monthly Coffee Break webinar

Find his socials

This episode is brought to you by Pure Storage. Turn bottlenecks into breakthroughs with Pure’s modern data experience. Talk to an expert today and learn more at shi.com/brands/pure-storage.

Innovation Heroes is an SHI podcast. New episodes are now available on YouTube and all major podcast platforms. Visit https://blog.shi.com/podcasts/.

How Design Thinking Drives Innovation Jan 12, 2024

Design-led companies such as Apple, Starbucks, and Airbnb outperform the S&P 500 index by 219%. The question is why?

Today’s guest Paul Stonick -- VP of SCADpro, the Savannah College of Art and Design’s in-house design studio -- says he has the answer.

Paul says this human-centered approach to problem solving unleashes creativity in any organization. Design can solve everything, says Stonick. On the episode, he dives into how to create real change within an organization by developing a culture of test and learn. He outlines the five steps of design thinking and stresses the importance of mapping design back to investment strategies, this being the best way to break through corporate obstructionism.

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This episode is brought to you by We Got Your Mac, a new podcast from SHI, exploring the benefits and challenges of large-scale Mac adoption across the enterprise. Check out We Got Your Mac wherever you get podcasts or go to wegotyourmac.com for all the episodes, plus free bonus resources and content.

Innovation Heroes is an SHI podcast. New episodes are now available on YouTube and all major podcast platforms. Visit https://blog.shi.com/podcasts/.

Bonus Episode: Want to innovate? Listen to We Got Your Mac Dec 14, 2023

We’re taking December off – but don't worry, we’ll be back in January with all new episodes of Innovation Heroes. Happy holidays!

On today’s bonus episode: Ed chats with Victoria Barber, Senior Director of Strategic Insights at SHI, about her new podcast We Got Your Mac – and why it’s time business leaders take a closer look at Mac.

To put it simply: If you want to innovate, you need to give your people choice. It doesn't hurt that Mac comes with tons of business benefits, including boosting efficiency and your employer value proposition.

For business leaders facing “the Mac question,” this podcast is for you. Discover new episodes every two weeks, now streaming at WeGotYourMac.com – or wherever you get your podcasts.

We Got Your Mac:

Listen now to full episodes: https://link.chtbl.com/WGYM_IHbonusep

Get bonus resources and more information: wegotyourmac.com https://experience.shi.com/wegotyourmac

Addicted to Your Health: How Video Game Techniques Built Digital Personalities Nov 09, 2023

Charles “Chuck” Rinker wants people to be as addicted to their own health as some are to video games. He should know – he was the director behind EA Sports’ NCAA/Madden series. Now, as CEO and Founder of PRSONAS by nuMedia Innovations Inc, he’s bringing digital personalities to industries, such as the healthcare sector.

Rinker discusses his career trajectory, starting out in cattle farming and then going on to Black Ops military simulation work. But his career pivoted after he and his wife battled three bouts of cancer between them.

PRSONAS’s digital assistants can do tasks such as wayfinding, answering questions, and taking surveys, freeing up the time of healthcare workers and aiding in clinical trial recruitment. Rinker discusses how the technology was developed, with early advice from a Disney Imagineering SVP on avoiding the uncanny valley effect. Rinker outlines how they use GenAI, as well as the roles of UX and CX, and how the technology is being used now in an array of sectors, including airports, banks, and commercial markets.

This episode is brought to you by We Got Your Mac, a new podcast from SHI, exploring the benefits and challenges of large-scale Mac adoption across the enterprise. Find We Got Your Mac wherever you get podcasts or go to wegotyourmac.com for all the episodes, plus free bonus resources and content.

Innovation Heroes is an SHI podcast. New episodes are now available on YouTube and all major podcast platforms. Visit https://blog.shi.com/podcasts/.

The Barcode Creator on Changing Our Supply Chain Forever Oct 26, 2023

It was fairly recent history when supermarket food items had to be manually restamped each time the price increased, with clerks running up and down the aisles to do inventory. Paul McEnroe, creator of the barcode, remembers searching for cans with lower price tags from the back of the shelf when shopping for his mother.

Now, barcodes are all around us, scanned ten billion times a day. On today’s episode, we dive into the fascinating story of its creation and the decades of innovation that changed retail and manufacturing around the world.

In the 1960s, McEnroe hired seven engineers considered “harder to manage" for a start-up-like project at IBM to tackle applications at the periphery of computers. The team created the first commercial application of laser technology, the barcode scanner, and the magnetic code for Stock Keeping Unit (SKU) marking. McEnroe outlines how this technology vastly increased supermarket efficiency, despite initial pushback including picket lines at stores and new state laws. He also discusses the QR code, which he sees as an extension of the barcode.

This episode is brought to you by SHI’s new generative AI briefings.

Uncover your road map to innovation with a series of briefings and workshops designed by our technology experts. Contact your Account Executive or visit shi.com to learn more.

Innovation Heroes is an SHI podcast. New episodes are now available on Youtube and all major podcast platforms. Visit https://blog.shi.com/podcasts/

Granny’s Brand No More: Kenmore CEO Revitalizes 100-Year-Old Company Oct 12, 2023

You may think of Kenmore as your grandmother's brand. It’s true – the name first appeared on sewing machines in 1913. But the brand has been revitalized by their current CEO Sri Solur. In just 18 months, he’s doubled licensing revenue and scaled to thousands of new locations and online. This week, he talks about how he's brought innovation to this 100-year old company by using software development principles and agile business methods, from his background in wearable technology and robotics.

Kenmore previously sold everyday appliances, such as fridges, washing machines, and vacuums, exclusively at Sears department stores, but went through a tipping point when Sears declared bankruptcy. Just 18 months ago, it was nearly impossible to find Kenmore products on shelves. Now they’re in more than 5200 locations, including Target.

Solur shares the techniques he brought from the technical world to Kenmore, including leaning in on quality and speed of operations. He also talks about his advice to other legacy companies for appealing to younger generations, including through energy security and decarbonization initiatives.

Innovation Heroes is an SHI podcast. New episodes are now available on YouTube and all major podcast platforms. Visit https://blog.shi.com/podcasts/.

Cyber Warriors: From the Dark Web to the Frontlines Sep 28, 2023

They’re protecting the US energy grid, monitoring the dark web, and even getting shot at in Ukraine. Threat intelligence agencies are taking down bad actors daily in the world of cybersecurity. This week, Ed talks to Joe Marshall, Senior Security Strategist at Cisco Talos Intelligence Group, one of the largest of its kind in the world.

History-making cybersecurity events are happening in Ukraine and Marshall has been on the ground there twice, maintaining critical infrastructure. He discusses the potential for threats against critical US infrastructure, the evolution of cybersecurity, and emerging trends to be aware of.

This episode is brought to you by Cisco. Anticipate, act, and simplify with the Cisco Secure Firewall. To learn more, call your SHI Account Executive or go to shiciscosecurity.com

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Innovation Heroes is an SHI podcast. New episodes are now available on Youtube and all major podcast platforms. Visit https://blog.shi.com/podcasts/

GenAI in the Enterprise: Myths, Mistakes and Methods for Success Sep 18, 2023

The buzz around Generative AI is growing louder. But what's the reality behind the hype?

It can be difficult to know when and how to start – and what the consequences might be. In this episode, we are bringing you real-world advice for AI implementation. Ed is joined by John Byron Hanby IV, Founder & CEO of Iternal Technologies, and Allen Clingerman, Chief Technology Strategist at Dell, to discuss practical methodologies for launching GenAI in the business. We'll cover the benefits of doing it right, as well as common misconceptions and mistakes.

This episode is brought to you by Dell Generative AI Solutions.

Generate higher quality results and faster time-to-value with a powerful, full-stack solution from Dell Technologies and NVIDIA.

Visit Dell.com/AI to get started.

Unsung Heroes: Celebrating the Public Sector CIO Aug 31, 2023

Public sector IT heroes support more than 3000 county governments across the USA. Without them, we wouldn’t have daily necessities like public utilities, roadways, law enforcement, or secure elections. But these small and mighty teams are up against budget restrictions, unfunded government mandates, cyber-attacks, talent shortages... the list goes on.

On today’s episode, Ed talks with Micah Hassinger, Director of IT in Passaic County, NJ, about how he is leading efforts to modernize the county's IT systems and infrastructure, while making the most fiscally responsible decisions. There are no taxpayer dollars set aside for failure, says Hassinger. And he says it’s difficult to attract top talent in government roles, with a lot of the skills never used in public sector IT.
How does this unsung hero make it all work? Listen to find out.

Innovation Heroes is a SHI podcast. New episodes are now available on Youtube and all major podcast platforms. Visit https://blog.shi.com/podcasts/

The GenAI Security Dilemma: Friend or Foe? Aug 17, 2023

With the proliferation of generative AI, new forms of threats have been unleashed, presenting novel challenges for cybersecurity experts. However, amidst this uncertainty, there is a glimmer of hope. Can AI itself be the key to fortifying our defences and shaping the future of cybersecurity strategies?

On today's episode, host Ed McNamara meets with Michael Wilcox, Vice President of the Office of the CISO at Stratascale. Wilcox sheds light on the fascinating convergence of AI and cybersecurity, uncovering the potential challenges and opportunities that lie ahead in this rapidly evolving domain. Together, they explore how intelligent systems can be safeguarded, identify the menacing threats posed by generative AI, and investigate whether AI itself can be instrumental in shaping robust cybersecurity strategies.

Innovation Heroes is a production of SHI. Find out how we can help your business Solve what’s next with our stress-free, scalable solutions that you – and your people – will love. Visit shi.com/s olvewhatsnext to learn more.

How to Defeat the Data Capacity Crisis Jul 27, 2023

The thing humanity consumes the most is water. The second is data, and that’s growing at an alarming rate, says Tom Frazier, CEO of Redivider. On today’s episode, Ed talks with Frazier about how Redivider is shifting how data centers are built and operated as data needs continue to explode.

Traditionally, it can take up to three years and a quarter of a billion dollars to build mega data centers. Redivider is creating data centers using prefabricated modular parts that can go live in 30 days. On the show, Frazier talks about opportunity zones, such as using the heat generated to create community greenhouses. To combat noise pollution, immersion cooling technology can be built into the facility. Centers can also run on hydrogen, a green energy source, he says. Additionally, Frazier talks about the lack of construction workforce, how data centers impact water usage, and other concerns for the future of sustainable data storage.

Innovation Heroes is an SHI podcast. New episodes are now available on Youtube and all major podcast platforms. Visit https://blog.shi.com/podcasts/

Why You Need a Chief of AI: Intel’s Stacey Shulman Jul 13, 2023

We delve into the world of General Artificial Intelligence (GenAI) with returning guest, Stacey Shulman, a tech industry veteran and vice president at Intel. We explore the powerful transformations GenAI is bringing to healthcare and retail sectors, highlighting some truly inspiring use cases that showcase the potential of this groundbreaking technology.
But this episode isn't just about the "what" of GenAI, we also navigate the "how". Stacey offers invaluable insights into the practical considerations business leaders need to take into account to successfully implement AI within their organizations. From her experiences at Intel and collaborations with industry influencers like will.i.am, she provides actionable advice for harnessing the power of AI.

The PR Firm That Disrupted Itself with AI Jun 29, 2023

What if instead of being disrupted, you became the disruptor?

In the first episode of Season 5, we hear from Greg Matusky, the President and Founder of GregoryFCA. Matusky discusses his journey of embracing Generative AI in his PR firm, transforming their operations and culture. He shares how the advent of ChatGPT has revolutionized his firm's processes, and his vision of progressing from an age of information to an age of wisdom and intelligence. Tune in to learn about Matusky's insights on AI's role in public relations and how he's fostering a culture of innovation within his team.

Featuring: Greg Matusky, President and Founder of GregoryFCA

Innovation Heroes is an SHI podcast. New episodes are now available on Youtube and all major podcast platforms. Visit https://blog.shi.com/podcasts/

Solving What’s Next: Innovation Heroes Season 5 Trailer Jun 15, 2023

SHI's Innovation Heroes is back with our most ambitious season ever. We'll unravel 12 inspiring stories from the disruptive front lines, diving into topics such as the revolutionary potential (and risks) of Generative AI and groundbreaking advancements in sustainable IT, all while shining a light on the unsung technology heroes.

We're also delivering a whole new way to experience the conversation. For the first time, we're introducing an all-new video podcast format, enabling you to watch us on YouTube, while still offering audio episodes for your morning jog or commute. Starting June 29, join us as we navigate this intricate world of technology, helping you "Solve What's Next" one major trend at a time.

Best of Innovation Heroes: The Hype is Real Jun 01, 2023

When you work in the technology industry, the “next big thing” is always just around the corner. But how do we spot when something is truly transformational, or if it’s just an over-hyped gimmick? It's a question we often ponder on this show, where we meet individuals at the cutting edge of emerging technologies like blockchain, Web 3 and NFTs. On today’s bonus episode, we’re revisiting the best conversations we've had with start up founders, visionaries and all-around paradigm shifters. And we'll explore why they think the big new technology they represent is truly ground-breaking– and not just a bunch of buzz.

This episode featured conversations with:

Costa Kladianos, Vice President, Innovation and Technology at Canlan Sports: https://shiinnovationheroes.podbean.com/e/wtf-are-nfts/
Barr von Oehsen, Associate Vice President of the Office of Advanced Research Computing at Rutgers University: https://shiinnovationheroes.podbean.com/e/the-real-superheroes-behind-a-supercomputer/
Medha Parlikar, CTO and Co-Founder at CasperLabs: https://shiinnovationheroes.podbean.com/e/blockchain-101-everything-the-enterprise-needs-to-know/
Mark Miller, co-founder and CEO of Labelcoin: https://shiinnovationheroes.podbean.com/e/turning-up-the-volume-on-a-new-blockchain-use-case/

Best of Innovation Heroes: Robots to the Rescue May 18, 2023

With all the doom and gloom about AI, we ask: Are robots and AI the key to unlocking a brighter future for humanity? This new Best of compilation delves into the extraordinary ways these technologies are revolutionizing our world. Featuring discussions about crimefighting robots, social robotics and AI’s real-life applications in the creative industries, IT and our workplace. Prepare to be inspired as we explore the limitless possibilities that robots and AI hold in shaping a better tomorrow for all.

This episode features our conversations with:

William Santana Li, Knightscope’s Chairman and CEO: Listen to full episode
Will Ramey, Sr. Director, Global Head of Developer Programs at NVIDIA: Listen to full episode
Frauke Zeller and Lauren Dwyer, two leading social robotics scientists at Toronto Metropolitan University: Listen to full episode
Ruslan Khamidullin, Co-founder and Chief Technology Officer at Filmustage: Listen to full episode
Sonny Hudson, Collaboration Specialist of Partners at Cisco, Adan Jardine, Assitant Professor in the Department of Linguistics at Rutgers University and Matthew Stone, Professor and Chair of the Computer Science Department at Rutgers New Brunswick: Listen to full episode

Best of Innovation Heroes: The Amazing Power of Experience May 04, 2023

From spending hours a day on video calls, to curbside shopping for just about anything, we've gone through a seismic shift in the way we work, communicate and connect with each other.

And while sometimes change is difficult, every one of these ground-breaking developments has a hero behind it. Which is exactly what we’re talking about on today’s bonus episode of Innovation Heroes. We’ve gone through the last four seasons, to collect the best conversations we’ve had about the user experience – and the people and businesses helping to innovate it.

From AI-powered hotels, to augmented reality in the workplace, the way we interact with technology has changed for good. How businesses are taking advantage of these changes? Well, that remains an open question.

This episode features our conversations with:

Jaron Lanier, inventor of the Nintendo Powerglove and Microsoft Team’s Together Mode: Link to the full episode
Stacey Shulman, Vice President IoT (Internet of Things) at Intel: Link to the full episode
Michael Beneville, Chief Creative Officer at AREA15: Link to the full episode
Grant Barth, Founder of ThenWhat: Link to the full episode

SHI’s Innovation Heroes will return with new episodes for Season 5, in the summer of 2023.

Best of Innovation Heroes: Tech Saves the World Apr 21, 2023

On this show, we get to meet a lot of heroes – people and businesses who are making the world a safer, smarter and better place to live. And as we get ready for Season 5, we’ve put together highlights from a few of our favorite conversations with these un-caped crusaders. From fixing our broken healthcare systems with AI, to battling climate change from space, listen now to our most inspiring and heroic episode, ever.

This episode featured our conversations with:

John Cooley, Chief of Products at Nanoramic Laboratories: Listen to full episode
Andy Lapsa, Co-founder of STOKE Space Technologies: Listen to full episode
Alexandra Pavliuc, Oxford University doctoral researcher: Listen to full episode
Stacey Shulman, Intel’s Vice President of IoT and GM of Health, Life Science and Emerging Technologies: Listen to full episode

Innovation Heroes will return for Season 5, launching summer 2023.

Turning Up the Volume on a New Blockchain Use Case Feb 22, 2023

It’s hard enough to earn a living as a musician. Throw in a multi-year pandemic, and it became even harder. But what if you could earn your future revenue – today? In this episode, Ed sits down with the co-founder and CEO of Labelcoin, Mark Miller, to discuss how his startup has become the Robinhood for the music industry by stamping out artistic poverty through blockchain technology.

Featuring guest Mark Miller, co-founder and CEO of Labelcoin.

Esports and the Future of Learning with SHI’s Dr. Katrina Adkins Feb 09, 2023

If you think esports is only for leisure, think again. There is a revolution going on in the world of esports and educational technology, and it’s transforming how students learn. Ed sits down with SHI’s Senior Director of Education Solutions, Dr. Katrina Adkins to learn about how her team is strategizing, testing, and building the latest K-12 tech spaces for future innovators. They discuss the need for esports in education, and the demand for more innovative learning spaces to provide students with the technological solutions they need to learn in a hybrid model.

Featuring guest Dr. Katrina Adkins, Senior Director of Education Solutions at SHI.

How to Revolutionize The Film Industry with AI Jan 26, 2023

You’ve heard about artificial intelligence in customer service, cars and even crime-fighting robots – but what about filmmaking? In this episode, Ed sits down with Ruslan Khamidullin, co-founder and Chief Technology Officer at Filmustage – the company revolutionizing the movie business by automating the time-intensive and costly phases of pre-production through AI.

Visit www.filmustage.com and use code INNOVATIONHEROES30 for 30% off any plan.

Featuring guest Ruslan Khamidullin, co-founder and Chief Technology Officer at Filmustage. 

The EV Battery Technology That Could Change Everything Jan 12, 2023

Co-founded in 2009, Nanoramic Laboratories developed the groundbreaking Neocarbonix electrode technology that is transforming the future of li-ion energy storage. Ed sits down with Nanoramic’s co-founder and Chief of Products, John Cooley, to find out how he and his team are creating more efficient and more powerful li-ion batteries to help solve today’s most pressing challenges related to energy storage and reducing our carbon footprint.

Featuring guest John Cooley, Chief of Products at Nanoramic Laboratories.

How The Commodore 64 Revolutionized Gaming Dec 15, 2022

This year marks the 40th anniversary of the Commodore 64 – an 8-bit home computer released in 1982 that sold close to 17 million units by the time it was discontinued in 1994. The history of the Commodore 64 is intrinsically linked to the developers of this technology who helped to revolutionize the gaming industry. Ed sits down with Professor of Digital Media Heritage, Melanie Swalwell, to discuss the people and technology that made digital gaming history, why it’s worth preserving and why we have so much nostalgia for it.

Featuring guest Melanie Swalwell, Professor of Digital Media Heritage at Swinburne University of Technology in Australia.

Will These Crime-Fighting Robots Save America? Dec 01, 2022

Knightscope Inc. is a global leader in developing autonomous security capabilities – and they’re right on track to disrupt the $500 billion security industry. Ed meets with Knightscope’s chairman and CEO, William Santana Li, to find out how his company plans on fighting crime and keeping citizens safe 365 days of the year with AI-powered robots.

Featuring guest William Santana Li, Chairman and CEO of Knightscope Inc. 

Rethinking the Supply Chain: Meet Fulcrum’s Sunny Han Nov 17, 2022

There is not a single person or business who hasn’t been impacted by the supply chain crisis. And while the pandemic may have exacerbated it, questions remain: what are some of the root causes of supply chain issues? And how we can begin to solve them? Ed meets with Sunny Han, founder and CEO of ERP platform Fulcrum, to get the ins and outs of how the supply chain works, and how Sunny’s business is innovating new ways to tackle supply chain problems within the manufacturing industry.

Featuring guest Sunny Han, Founder and CEO of Fulcrum

Why Businesses Need Experiential Marketing with Grant Barth Nov 03, 2022

A champion for helping brands to thrive in the 21st century – and in the wake of a global pandemic that saw thousands of brick-and-mortar retailers shut down for months – Grant Barth helps brands to develop the creative strategies and solutions needed to create engagement, build brand equity and increase shareholder value.  Ed meets with Grant to discuss his groundbreaking “theatre methodology” and why creating in-person brand experiences is the key to helping businesses thrive in the 21st century.

Featuring guest Grant Barth, Global Brand President of ThenWhat

The Heroic Rise of the CISO – Featuring Stratascale’s Michael Wilcox Oct 20, 2022

It’s hard work out there for the Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) – but someone has to do it. For Cybersecurity Awareness Month, Ed invites back Michael Wilcox, Vice President of the Office of the CISO at Stratscale, to learn about the benefits and barriers to hiring a top-level security leader. Together, they unpack why it’s so hard to find and keep a good CISO, outline solutions to enhance your security posture and highlight why having a heroic, strategy-driven CISO is vital to your business success.

Featuring guest Michael Wilcox, Vice President of the Office of the CISO at Stratascale.

How to Solve the Labor Crisis with Intel’s Stacey Shulman Oct 06, 2022

Welcome back to season four of Innovation Heroes! In this episode, Ed unpacks the challenges posed by a growing labor shortage with one of his all-time favorite guests, Stacey Shulman, Intel’s Vice President of Health, Education and Consumer Industries. Stacey explains how transformational businesses need to start leveraging technology to hyperautomate the repetitive tasks that get in the way of more meaningful work, so that organizations can focus on solving the problems that matter most to their customers.

Featuring guest Stacey Shulman, Vice President of Health, Education and Consumer Industries at Intel.

This episode of Innovation Heroes is brought to you by Intel vPro, An Intel Evo Design. To learn more visit: https://www.shi.com/brands/intel/client-solutions/vpro-platform.

Season 4 Has Arrived: More Heroes, More Innovation! Sep 29, 2022

We're back!

Ed McNamara returns to host the fourth season of Innovation Heroes – a chart-topping podcast brought to you by SHI, one of the world’s biggest technology solutions providers.

Starting October 6, 2022, we'll introduce you to 10 more unsung heroes radically changing the way we live and work. From C-Suite executives to startup visionaries, our guests will give you the advice and inspiration you need to tackle the major challenges facing transformational businesses.

Tune in every two weeks to see what the future looks like – and to make sure you’re up to date on the latest and greatest stories driving technological innovation.

Don't forget to subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts.

For more on SHI, visit SHI.com

Blockchain 101 - Everything the Enterprise Needs to Know Mar 03, 2022

Blockchain is generating lots of hype as the future of enterprise technology. But, like the dot-com boom before it, the promise is so extravagant that some of us are feeling skeptical – and maybe just a tad confused.

Medha Parlikar, CTO and Co-Founder at CasperLabs, takes us beyond the buzz to explore the true potential of blockchain in the enterprise, and the real, practical concerns facing business leaders. From patents, human resources, supply chain, identity management, and security, blockchain has already started to radically change multiple industries. And we’re just getting started.

Featuring Medha Parlikar, CTO and Co-Founder at CasperLabs

This episode of Innovation Heroes is sponsored by the LastPass Identity Management Security solution and the new GoTo IT tools making IT easy. Visit LastPass.com and goto.com to learn more.

How Hyfe is Using Acoustic Epidemiology to Transform the Healthcare System Feb 17, 2022

It’s easy to forget that most of us have amazing technology at our fingertips at nearly all times: our smartphones. Whether you use your phone to listen to this very podcast, to stay connected, or for entertainment, there’s huge potential that still stands to be unlocked in these devices. For instance, with the right motivation driving us forward, we can use them to start fixing our broken, out-of-date healthcare systems.

That’s the mission at Hyfe - to make it possible for anyone with a smartphone to receive instant and accurate diagnostic support. Backed by “the world’s most sophisticated acoustic AI”, the Hyfe app is used daily by researchers, medical professionals as well as thousands of regular people all over the world to identify coughs and other sonic-based symptoms in real time.

Host Ed McNamara sits down with Iulian Circo, co-founder of Hyfe. They talk about how this "Shazam for coughs” has the potential to figure out the best way for chronic cough sufferers and temporary cold fighters to get better – and how this shift towards personalized, data-rich, and equitable healthcare is ultimately helping to make the whole system a lot more useful and modern.

Featuring guest Iulian Circo, co-founder of Hyfe.

This episode of Innovation Heroes is sponsored by the recruitment team at SHI. Visit SHI.com/careers to learn more.

AREA 15: The Portal to the Paradigm Shifting Hybrid Customer Experience Revolution Feb 03, 2022

The future of creative innovation is changing – rapidly. In our new hybrid world, we need to be thinking about how to integrate digital and physical experiences effectively, as well as what customers actually want today, and in the future, too. These are some of the big questions that AREA 15 is trying to solve – and judging from the rave reviews they’ve been getting, it’s safe to say that they’re succeeding. Touted as “an immersive playground, all rolled into a vast and vibrant space,” AREA 15 is a tech wonderland just a stone’s throw from the infamous Las Vegas Strip.

Host Ed McNamara sits down with Michael Beneville, the Chief Creative Officer at AREA15. They discuss the major paradigm shift unfolding in the guest experience space: one that’s striving to give consumers more agency. They’ll also shed a guiding light on what not just mere spectatorship, but true tech-driven participation can look like.

Featuring guest Michael Beneville, Chief Creative Officer at AREA15 and Founder and CEO of Beneville Studios.

This episode of Innovation Heroes is sponsored by the new SHI. Visit SHI.com/newlight to learn more.

Getting STOKE-d About Saving the World with Commercially Viable Space Flight Jan 20, 2022

It's a new year, but we’re still facing a lot of our old 2021 problems: the global climate is changing fast, we continue to run low on chips thanks to supply chain shortages, and the population of the planet continues to boom, making for more hungry mouths to feed. It might just be time to look to the stars for some solutions – and by the stars, we mean low-cost, on-demand, designed-to-fly-daily rockets. Creating sustainable and commercialized space flight could not only solve our short-term problems of how to get satellites into orbit more cheaply and efficiently – they could completely change our lives here on Earth.

Host Ed McNamara sits down with Andy Lapsa, Co-Founder of STOKE Space Technologies Inc. Andy’s spent the last decade working at Blue Origin, where he directed the BE-3 and BE-3U Engines projects and served as development test lead for the BE-4. Now, he’s starting his own space flight venture with the mission of making a completely reusable second stage rocket. Andy says the next 5-10 years of space tech development is going to have huge implications for our future; so, it’s going to be crucially important that we make the final frontier accessible, affordable, and sustainable – and that we figure out how to do it as soon as possible.

Featuring guest Andy Lapsa, Co-Founder at STOKE Space Technologies, Inc.

This episode of Innovation Heroes is brought to you by Autodesk. Visit SHI.com/Autodesk to learn more.

Fighting Disinformation to Make the Internet a Better Place Jan 06, 2022

The Internet can be a hotbed for some of the worst aspects of digital society, but there’s lessons to be learned from the data we create in these unsavoury interactions. Network Visualization is an advanced analytic technique that can be used to turn the vast, intimidating mountain of our social data into stunning pictures of online communities. This kind of analysis can help us do a better job of parsing out the truth from the rest of the background noise, and maybe even show us the tools we need to help make the Internet a more hopeful place again.

Host Ed McNamara sits down with Alexandra Pavliuc, a doctoral researcher who’s using this kind of network visualization to make sense of the bigger picture. Examining everything from tweets by state-run political accounts to targeted sexism propagated by trolls, she says that this kind of analysis could be the first step in figuring out how to make the Internet a safer and more equitable place for all - and how to help both individual users and the leaders of these networks figure out what it means to do their part.

Featuring guest Alexandra Pavliuc, Doctoral Researcher at the Oxford Internet Institute.

This episode of Innovation Heroes is brought to you by Women in SHI. Visit SHI.com/WiSH to learn more.

The Real Superheroes Behind a Supercomputer Dec 09, 2021

The team running Rutgers University’s supercomputer cluster has been busier than ever since the start of the pandemic. Today, they’re supporting the advanced computing needs for over 350 projects for hundreds of users all around the globe. From Dentistry to Astronomy, the work they support is truly changing the world – and sheds light on the real potential of today’s most powerful computing machines. But the real heroes are the IT staff, who not only maneuvered through the massive boom of pandemic demands, but continue to help make high resource computing accessible – and equitable – for a vibrant and varied research community.

Host Ed McNamara sits down for the last episode of 2021 with an expert from the Office of Advanced Research Computing, who’s fighting to give credit to the unsung heroes behind this amazing tech – because innovation is nothing without communication and a focus on equality.

Featuring guest Barr von Oehsen, Associate Vice President of the Office of Advanced Research Computing at Rutgers University.

This episode of Innovation Heroes is brought to you by the Samsung Galaxy Book. Visit SHI.com/SamsungMobility to learn more.

The Semiconductor Shortage: How Sustainability Will Save the Day Nov 24, 2021

It’s American Thanksgiving tomorrow... a time to reflect on everything that’s happened in the last year. For the Innovation Heroes podcast team, that means thinking about the semiconductor shortage that’s been generating headlines – and with good reason. These little chips are in pretty much every electronic device you can think of, and there’s just not enough of them to go around. But COVID-19 isn’t the only reason we’re experiencing shortages; really, it’s just the last domino to fall in a cascade that’s spanned the last decade of technological development. But regardless of the true cause of the shortages, we need answers as to how exactly we’re going to get ourselves out of this mess. Host Ed McNamara sits down with two experts who say we have to start making the best of what we have, and finding ways to make sustainable maintenance make economic sense. Because the fate of not just the supply chain, but the world as we know it, depends on it. Featuring guests Sumit Puri, CEO & Co-Founder at Liqid, and Camberley Bates, Managing Director & Analyst at Evaluator Group.

This episode of Innovation Heroes is brought to you by Intel’s Evo vPro platform. Visit SHI.com/Intel to learn more.

The Hitchiking Robot’s Guide to the Universe Nov 11, 2021

Hitchhiking robots were just the beginning. Ed meets with Dr. Frauke Zeller and Lauren Dwyer, two leading social robotics scientists at X University in Toronto. Together, they go over the inspiring and viral story of hitchBot and all the amazing work Dr. Zeller and her team have been up to ever since. They discuss the latest and near-term use cases of robots in society and uncover a series of fascinating insights. From building the perfect robo-companion, to fundamentally altering our industries and what it means to be human, you will never look at your Roomba the same way again.

Featuring: Dr. Frauke Zeller, Associate Professor and Director of The Creative School Catalyst & CCK at X University and Lauren Dwyer, Doctoral Candidate in Communication and Culture, Technology in Practice at X University.

This episode of Innovation Heroes is brought to you by HP Inc Notebooks on the Intel Evo platform. Visit SHI.com/HP to learn more.

The Power of Passion in IT: Intel’s Stacey Shulman Returns Oct 28, 2021

Intel’s Stacey Shulman returns to talk about the one thing every innovation hero needs right now: More passion! After more than a year of the pandemic blues, Stacey talks with Ed about the projects she’s working on and explores the power of making tech more fun, meaningful, and human. From healthcare to retail, not only will it lead to better outcomes for the people you work with – it actually creates more profits, too. Stacey is Intel’s Vice President Internet of Things Group and GM Health, Life Sciences and Emerging Technologies. 

This episode of Innovation Heroes is brought to you by Lenovo Intelligent Computing. Learn more at SHI.com/Lenovo. 

The Real Supply Chain Crisis: Ransomware Oct 14, 2021

It’s the spookiest time of the year – Cybersecurity Awareness Month! For the Season 3 premier, host Ed McNamara explores the rising threat of ransomware supply chain attacks, the future of security and what conversations you need to be having, right now, to avoid being the next target. Featuring resident security expert, Michael Wilcox, the field Chief Information Security Officer at Stratascale. Discover more research and thought leadership from Michael and Stratascale at Stratascale.com/Insights.

This episode of Innovation Heroes is brought to you by Windows Autopilot. Unbox, log in, and take off with Window’s Autopilot today. Visit SHI.com/WindowsAutopilot for more info.

Innovation Heroes Season 3: Welcome to the Golden Age Sep 30, 2021

SHI's Innovation Heroes is back for a third season of exploring the people and businesses giving us hope in a drastically disrupted world. With new host Ed McNamara at the helm, we’re breaking ground - and stories - in even more unprecedented ways. In the last year of the show, we’ve explored huge innovations that are helping us to stay afloat and start down the road to recovery: technology to transition us to the hybrid working world, AI that developed the COVID-19 vaccines, how the father of VR, Jaron Lanier, is making virtual meetings more human...and that’s just to name a few.

This season, we’re looking forward with hope and finding the hero stories that will define our industries and society in the years to come. Featuring amazing returning guests like Stratascale’s Michael Wilcox and Intel’s Stacey Shulman, as well as new voices from universities, businesses, and maybe even some robots, Season 3 premieres October 14th with new episodes every two weeks after that. Be our hero – like and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts. You won’t want to miss it!

Innovation Heroes is an original podcast from SHI and Pilgrim Content.

For more on SHI, visit SHI.com.

WTF are NFTs? Jul 29, 2021

Peter is joined by Costa Kladianos. Costa is the Vice President, Innovation and Technology at Canlan Sports and an expert on NFTs (Non-fungible tokens). NFTs have been causing a buzz in mainstream media recently. Peter and Costa discuss how they are fundamentally transforming the Internet in terms of creative ownership and distribution, from art to baseball cards and music. Are NFTs just for the avant-garde, or will they become the economic foundation of the Internet’s next generation?  

This episode is brought to you by The Hub, the new central resource for insight, thought leadership, and news from SHI. Visit blog.shi.com to learn more.

Canada’s Cutest Delivery Robot featuring Tiny Mile’s Omar Elawi Jul 15, 2021

On this episode of Innovation Heroes, Peter is joined by Omar Elawi of Tiny Mile Robotics, a company in Canada that is making robots mainstream with what they dub “Canada’s cutest delivery robot”, Geoffrey. They discuss real life use cases of robotics, both in present day and looking to the future. Plus, we go on a journey exploring the wide and wonderful world of robots across industries and use cases. This episode of Innovation Heroes is brought to you by SHI Esports. If you're in the education industry and want to bring Esports to your student body, visit shi.com/esports to learn more.

Deep Learning and AI Demystified with NVIDIA’s Will Ramey Jul 01, 2021

The concept of AI we are fed through pop culture makes it out to be something far more mystical than reality — but that’s not to say there isn’t lots of magic going on. In this episode, Peter sits down with Sr. Director, Global Head of Developer Programs at NVIDIA Will Ramey to debunk some of the myths surrounding AI and deep learning technologies, and explore the current and future applications of this exciting tech.

This episode of Innovation Heroes is brought to you by NVIDIA and its groundbreaking RTX technology. Visit shi.com/nvidia today to give your team the fastest, most powerful computing tools on the market. LINKS IN THE EPISODE developer.nvidia.com

Hackers, the pandemic and good hygiene with Stratascale’s Michael Wilcox Jun 17, 2021

The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated workplace modernization. Unfortunately, it has also left businesses exposed to more cybersecurity risk than ever. During the first three months of the pandemic, the FBI reported cyber attacks had quadrupled. On today’s episode, Peter sits down with Michael Wilcox, Stratascale’s Field Chief Information Security Officer. They discuss the increased importance of good cyber hygiene and how individuals and corporations can keep themselves safe in the age of the pandemic.
Discover how SHI and Stratascale can help. Visit SHI.com or Stratascale.com to get started

The ABCs of Teaching AI to Talk Jun 03, 2021

In today’s episode, Peter is joined by Sonny Hudson, Collaboration Specialist of Partners at Cisco to discuss the ground-breaking work being done on the new Cisco Webex and how it’s changing the way we interact with each other and our work. Plus, Peter meets up with two linguistics professors from Rutgers University to find out how artificial intelligence is being used to help machines “talk” — and just how long it will be until AI can compete with human language acquisition. The implications for the future of tech, business and society are massive.

This episode is brought to you by Cisco Webex. Visit SHI.com/Cisco to learn more.

Who needs a Holodeck when you’ve got THIS!? May 20, 2021

Peter is joined by Microsoft's Director of Mixed Reality Strategic Partnerships, Eric Kamont, one of the first people Microsoft hired to run business development on the HoloLens headset and platform six years ago. Since then, mixed reality has advanced leaps and bounds and today there is no shortage of powerful new use cases as we grapple with the pandemic. Discover how MR is becoming a key tool across industries like medicine, space and communications.

This episode is sponsored by Microsoft Azure. Visit SHI.com/MicrosoftAzure to learn more

All Roads Lead to Electric with Keegan Tully May 06, 2021

Our current transportation system isn’t sustainable. Threats of climate change, stuttered fuel production and more contribute to the growing need to reimagine our standards – globally. Yet, there are major challenges to rebuilding this infrastructure. Peter is joined by Keegan Tully, Director of Business Development at Ontario Power Generation, the largest energy creator in Ontario, and General Manager of the Ivy Charging Network, a company leading the way in the shift to electric vehicles. From cost, to implementation, to creating solutions for those known in the industry as "garage orphans,” Keegan breaks down the challenges and reflects on the solutions innovators like The Ivy Charging Network are working on behind the scenes.

This episode is brought to you by PureStorage. Visit shi.com/pure to learn more.

Democratizing the Cloud with Google’s Omar Dajani May 06, 2021

The cloud has become fundamental in scaling business, and not getting left behind in our modern world. And while the democratization of cloud was well underway before the pandemic, that shift is being accelerated exponentially. On today's episode of Innovation Heroes, Peter is joined by Google public cloud expert, Omar Dajani. They reflect on what open source and increasing access to cloud means for business leaders. They discuss the emergence of new cloud strategies, the results they are driving (cloud tech played a key role in development of the COVID-19 vaccines), and what the future holds. They also dig into the news around open source and hybrid cloud, and share some inspiring stories of innovation heroes using cloud to drive change.

This episode of Innovation Heroes is brought to you by Android Enterprise Essentials. Visit SHI.com/AndroidEnterprise to learn more.

Vaccines were just the beginning: Intel’s Stacey Shulman talks AI healthcare revolution Apr 08, 2021

The urgency brought on by COVID-19 sparked revolutionary changes in the healthcare industry -- and they’re going to change the way we fight diseases and elevate care, long after the pandemic. In this episode, Peter Bean is once again joined by Stacey Shulman, Intel’s Vice President of the Internet of Things Group and General Manager of Health, Life Science and Emerging Technologies. Together, they explore the impacts COVID-19 has had on driving progress, why collaboration was the secret ingredient, and what the future has in store for this new era of AI-driven healthcare.

This episode of Innovation Heroes is brought to you by Intel vPro® Platform 11th Gen

Client Devices, delivering the highest performance and most comprehensive hardware based security.Learn more at shi.com/intel

Beyond the virtual happy hour: There has to be a better way Mar 25, 2021

We’ve seen countless examples of how innovation is helping us all stay connected and productive in this new remote everything world. But there are a few things business and IT leaders are still struggling to get right – like building a vibrant, meaningful workplace culture at distance. There has to be a better way than the virtual happy hour, right?

To find out, Peter Bean meets with Wavy co-founder and CEO, Shawn Hewat. Since the start of the pandemic, she’s been on a mission to build meaningful, engaging experiences at a distance that promote healthy and purposeful office culture – and better business as a result.

Plus: Peter shares his favorite pranks you can pull on your colleagues – at distance – for April Fools.

This episode of Innovation Heroes is brought to you by Windows 10 Pro devices, powered by the Intel vPro platform. It’s time to rise to the challenge with modern devices, so we can all go forward together. Visit SHI.com/RiseToTheChallenge to learn more

Innovation to the Rescue! Mar 11, 2021

Welcome to Season 2 of SHI's Innovation Heroes — a podcast exploring the people and businesses giving us hope in a drastically disrupted world. In Season 1, we saw entire industries transform in the face of COVID-19. Now, as our world continues to evolve at an unprecedented rate, host Peter Bean will be looking to the future, exploring stories of hope, perseverance and achievement. New episodes coming every two weeks starting March 25, featuring the unsung heroes of the digital world, such as Intel’s VP of IoT Stacey Shulman, Google public cloud evangelist Omar Dajani and Wavy co-founder Shawn Hewat.

Ben Chodor and the Human Side of Virtual Events Dec 17, 2020

Ben Chodor is an entrepreneur, innovator and pioneer of social video, digital health and interactive, streaming content. As President of Intrado Digital Media, Ben leads the organization in expanding best-in-class solutions for more than 12,000 global customers with their mission-critical communications. He is also the author of the new book, “Transitioning to Virtual and Hybrid Events: How to Create, Adapt, and Market an Engaging Online Experience.”

He met up with Peter to discuss the upheaval taking place in the billion-dollar corporate events industry -- and what the future holds for online, physical and virtual events. The bottom line: Virtual events are here to stay. But organizers will need to throw out the old playbook and start with a fresh, human-first perspective if they want to be successful during and after the pandemic.

SHI’s Innovation Heroes will return in 2021. Subscribe now to be the first to hear our Season 2 trailer.

Jaron Lanier and The Social Dilemma (Enterprise Edition) Dec 10, 2020

Jaron Lanier is a musician, computer scientist and renowned technology philosopher who has enjoyed a colourful career in art and technology. He is the author of “Ten Arguments for Deleting Your Social Media Accounts Right Now.” As one of the forefathers of virtual reality, he is also the inventor of the Nintendo Powerglove and Microsoft Team’s Together Mode. He was recently featured in Netflix’s The Social Dilemma, exploring the dangerous impacts of social media on our daily lives.

On today’s episode of Innovation Heroes, Peter and Jaron explore how social media’s dark side is creeping into the enterprise, the future of virtual reality and Jaron’s work with Microsoft through-out the COVID-19 pandemic, including Microsoft’s Together Mode.

You can learn more about Jaron at http://www.jaronlanier.com/

The Long Awaited Death of Cubicles Nov 26, 2020

Has the rapid shift to remote working brought on the end of the cubicle? Or was it just the much-needed kick in the ribs we needed to reinvent and reimagine the legacy office? For business leaders, maintaining employee productivity and business continuity are just the beginning. What about all that money they’ve spent on high-tech conference rooms and office real estate? How will they onboard new employees and positively embrace “Digital by Default” cultures, as we dance on the graves of boardroom meetings and water cooler chats? On today’s episode of Innovation Heroes, Peter Bean chats with Sam Kennedy, Chief Product Evangelist at Poly and Jared Kaplan, Global Head of Technology at Teneo, about the future of the modern workplace and how technology can help us get there.

Are you reinventing your modern workplace experience? See how SHI can help: SHI.com/digitalworkplace

Cisco’s COVID-19 Response: Welcome to the People First era Nov 11, 2020

When a global, life-altering event like COVID-19 hits, it sparks change -- even for the world’s largest businesses. Just ask Cisco, the iconic networking and enterprise collaboration solutions maker. When this crisis began, people were looking to the IT industry to provide solutions. And although tech tools are important, today’s guest Michelle Chiantera, VP of Growth Marketing, Americas at Cisco, understands the importance of driving a solutions-oriented business in a much more human way. Who are the companies we stick with and turn to when times get tough? They aren’t necessarily the ones doubling down on their marketing tactics. They’re the ones who are showing us they can help, and letting us know that’s what they’re here to do.

See how SHI and Cisco can help you transform your business: https://www.shi.com/Cisco

Hotels of the Future: Making Travel and Tourism Safer with Innovation Oct 29, 2020

A few months before the pandemic hit, Intel helped create The Sinclair, easily one of the coolest, most futuristic hotels you’ve ever seen. Now, nine months into lockdowns, we’re being encouraged to stay home and stay safe, resulting in empty hotels and great uncertainty for the tourism and travel industries.

On today’s episode of SHI’s Innovation Heroes, Peter interviews Stacey Shulman, Vice President IoT (Internet of Things) at Intel. Together, they discuss the changes the tourism industry is making to keep guests safe and how hotels like The Sinclair might reveal the technological path forward to keeping the industry alive.

Connect with the Innovation Heroes at SHI to transform your business: https://www.shi.com/

To see photos of The Sinclair’s operator, Farukh Aslam, visit https://blog.shi.com.

The No Ivy League: The New Post-Secondary Experience in the Age of COVID-19 Oct 14, 2020

The global pandemic forced educational institutions around the world to switch to online and hybrid learning in a matter of weeks -- making our schools more reliant on digital transformation than ever before. What followed was a crash course in adopting modern technologies and building up new, robust infrastructures to transform learning. But, what impact will this new model have on our students, particularly those in post-secondary institutions, as we shape the leaders of tomorrow? On the premiere episode of Innovation Heroes, host Peter Bean chats with Nina Angelo, VP of Product Marketing at Top Hat, about the future of higher education and what innovation heroes are doing to support change in a drastically disrupted world.

Connect with the Innovation Heroes at SHI to transform your business: https://www.shi.com/

Learn more about Top Hat’s education software and active learning app at https://tophat.com/

Welcome to Innovation Heroes Sep 24, 2020

Welcome to SHI's Innovation Heroes — a podcast exploring the people and businesses driving change in our drastically disrupted world with your host, Peter Bean. This season, we’re chatting with IT leaders who tell their stories of technological transformation across industry in a post-pandemic era. Tune in on October 15th to hear incredible conversations with guests from Microsoft, Intel, Top Hat and more.

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