IT Visionaries

Latest Episodes:

LoRa vs 5G: Why Cities Like Calgary are Opting for One over the Other Aug 27, 2020

Show notes

Alistair Fulton has always considered himself a mechanic. After all, his job as the Vice President and General Manager of Semtech’s Wireless and Sensing Business is to utilize the tools provided to him in his toolbox and give customers the appropriate solution. The only difference is his toolkit helps millions of people across the world stay connected through a variety of different technologies. Fulton joins IT Visionaries to provide a referendum on the state of the IoT, and he discusses why the biggest challenges facing his community are themselves, and why LoRa (or Long-Range wireless solutions) and 5G are no longer seen as competitors, but allies.

Key Takeaways

Handy Dandy Toolkit: One of the most common mistakes made collectively by the IoT community is that they don’t fully appreciate that each tool — or form of technology — is another part of the toolkit
Tough Choice: One major issue surrounding IoT is the number of vendors that offer end-to-end solutions that don’t operate under a single ecosystem. According to Fulton, the IoT space is littered with failed use cases where companies can’t work together because the systems are not compatible.
Same Team: There is a misconception that LoRa and 5G can’t work together, but in reality the two systems commonly work together to achieve different goals.

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IT Visionaries is brought to you by the Salesforce Customer 360 Platform - the #1 cloud platform for digital transformation of every experience. Build connected experiences, empower every employee, and deliver continuous innovation - with the customer at the center of everything you do. Learn more at salesforce.com/platform

This episode of IT Visionaries is brought to you by Meter - the company building better networks. Businesses today are frustrated with outdated providers, rigid pricing, and fragmented tools. Meter changes that with a single integrated solution that covers everything wired, wireless, and even cellular networking. They design the hardware, write the firmware, build the software, and manage it all so your team doesn't have to.

That means you get fast, secure, and scalable connectivity without the complexity of juggling multiple providers. Thanks to meter for sponsoring. Go to meter.com/itv to book a demo.
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IT Visionaries is made by the team at Mission.org. Learn more about our media studio and network of podcasts at mission.org.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Funding Change: Why Clean Energy Ventures Are No Longer Uninvestable Aug 25, 2020

Show notes

Venture capital funding for clean energy technology companies has declined in recent years, but one new fund is looking to buck that trend. Dan Goldman is the Co-Founder & Managing Director of Clean Energy Ventures, and he is trying to be a catalyst, and change the narrative by providing those companies with the resources they need to make long-lasting positive impacts. Dan joined IT Visionaries to discuss the process Clean Energy Ventures goes through when selecting new companies. And he explains what differentiates Clean Energy Ventures from other VCs and looks into his crystal ball at the future of the clean energy industry.

Key Takeaways

Lack of Funding: There are not enough companies funding clean energy technologies. If you want to advance climate change solutions, successful and profitable companies need to begin investing in the space. Dan dives into the strategies his company is utilizing to fund these ventures

A Proven Formula: There is less risk to investing in clean energy than people think. In the past it has been proven that clean energy technology companies that are well-supported perform better and actually produce highly-scalable technologies.
Demystify the ROI: If an investor does not understand how he or she will see a return on investment, there is no chance that they will put money into a venture. To secure funding, especially in the clean energy space, it’s critical to explain clearly how those funds will be turned into goods, service, or impact that will lead to a return.

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That means you get fast, secure, and scalable connectivity without the complexity of juggling multiple providers. Thanks to meter for sponsoring. Go to meter.com/itv to book a demo.
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IT Visionaries is made by the team at Mission.org. Learn more about our media studio and network of podcasts at mission.org.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Accelerating Change with Elemental’s CEO Dawn Lippert Aug 20, 2020

Show notes

Business incubators or accelerators have helped launch some of the greatest companies of our time and one is hoping to fund the next unicorn looking to save our world. Dawn Lippert is the CEO of Elemental Excelerator, a company investing big money in the hopes of a better tomorrow. Dawn joined IT Visionaries to discuss the work her company is doing in places like Hawaii, California and Asia.And she underscores the importance of investing in communities and why we cannot afford to stop funding a solution for climate change.

Key Takeaways

Move the needle: In order to push the needle forward with climate change, you have to work across three key areas — technology, policy and communities where you can succeed and grow
All in the Community: Focus on the communities you are investing in. In order to have a full understanding of what technologies are needed and how they can best be utilized and scaled, you have to build relationships with those communities
Keep the Momentum Going: The climate change industry cannot afford to take a year off when it comes to funding. There is a strong need to continue to invest in these companies in order to prevent the stunting of technology growth

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That means you get fast, secure, and scalable connectivity without the complexity of juggling multiple providers. Thanks to meter for sponsoring. Go to meter.com/itv to book a demo.
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IT Visionaries is made by the team at Mission.org. Learn more about our media studio and network of podcasts at mission.org.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The Importance of Recognizing and Empowering the CISO Aug 18, 2020

Show notes

Dan Blum is an internationally recognized expert in security and privacy, he is also the author of the book Rational Cybersecurity for Business. On this episode of IT Visionaries, Dan has an honest and thoughtful conversation on why the role of the Chief Information Security Officer is often buried within IT departments, the importance of buy-in among leadership and why zero-trust is often not the best answer in every use case.

Key Takeaways

The role of the Chief Information Security Officer is often buried within IT departments and therefore isn’t receiving the resources that they may need. Dan explains how the role can be elevated
It’s common for zero-trust philosophies to be implemented, but they are often not the best path to take in every scenario
There is no streamlined one-size-fits-all approach to risk management — you need to understand your technology, company and the risks associated with each and make the best decision possible

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That means you get fast, secure, and scalable connectivity without the complexity of juggling multiple providers. Thanks to meter for sponsoring. Go to meter.com/itv to book a demo.
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IT Visionaries is made by the team at Mission.org. Learn more about our media studio and network of podcasts at mission.org.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Tailor Made: How Savitude is Revolutionizing Fashion with A.I. Aug 13, 2020

Show notes

For many, the idea of walking into a store and finding new clothes that actually fit is non-existent. The designs are either too bulky, or the lengths of the sleeves and pants are too long. Frustrated, many leave and do their shopping online instead. Except the experience isn’t much better there. Savitude co-founders Nick Clayton and Camilla Olson are on a mission to help turn the situation around. The idea behind the company is a radical one: to recreate a designer’s brain by using code. Nick and Camilla joined IT Visionaries to discuss what that means and how they are using A.I. and machine learning to find clothes for everybody.

3 Key Takeaways

Too many clothes are made for body types that aren’t realistic because designers typically only design for one or two body types
Thanks to a backlog of data and through the use of A.I., Savitude utilizes nine different body types, and predicts how clothes will fit for customers
One-in-six online clothing purchasing ends up being returned due to fit, which means there is a huge opportunity to offer a better, more frictionless experience using technology

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That means you get fast, secure, and scalable connectivity without the complexity of juggling multiple providers. Thanks to meter for sponsoring. Go to meter.com/itv to book a demo.
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IT Visionaries is made by the team at Mission.org. Learn more about our media studio and network of podcasts at mission.org.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Cloning Your Closers with the CEO of Chorus.ai, Jim Benton Aug 11, 2020

Show notes

For years, customers have been frustrated with the sales process due to the breakdown in communication that happens when multiple people are involved. But what if that process was streamlined? Imagine a world where a sales representative, regardless of experience with an account, could pick-up where the previous person left off? That’s the world Jim Benton and Chorus.ai are working to create. Jim joined IT Visionaries to discuss the problem, the solution and why technology-empowered reps are the future of the sales industry.

3 Key Takeaways

Sales should not be technology-enabled, technology needs to enable the representative
Conversational intelligence is closing the gaps in the sales process to prevent breakdowns in the conversation, while also enabling best practices
Due to the pandemic, more coaching and teaching is happening than ever before

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That means you get fast, secure, and scalable connectivity without the complexity of juggling multiple providers. Thanks to meter for sponsoring. Go to meter.com/itv to book a demo.
---

IT Visionaries is made by the team at Mission.org. Learn more about our media studio and network of podcasts at mission.org.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Fighting the Stigma of Mental Health with A.I. and Machine Learning Aug 06, 2020

Show notes

In the midst of a global pandemic, when social interactions are limited and many of us only have access to basic necessities that are deemed essential, more and more individuals are pivoting to online therapy to deal with anxiety, depression, and overall strife. Roni Frank, the Co-founder of Talkspace, joined IT Visionaries to discuss how their app is filling an important gap in the healthcare industry and how technology is providing people the help they need at scale.

Key Takeaways:

There are three key barriers preventing people from receiving healthcare services: cost, convenience and stigma

Machine learning and A.I. are revolutionizing the healthcare industry to deliver better care at scale

Text messages and quick, efficient conversations are more effective than video conferences

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That means you get fast, secure, and scalable connectivity without the complexity of juggling multiple providers. Thanks to meter for sponsoring. Go to meter.com/itv to book a demo.
---

IT Visionaries is made by the team at Mission.org. Learn more about our media studio and network of podcasts at mission.org.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Working To Streamline Authentication in Online Marketplaces Aug 04, 2020

Show notes

As more-and-more of people work from home and restrict their trips out of the home, eCommerce companies continue to be the ones reaping the benefits. One of those companies is The RealReal, a consignment giant with a focus on bringing luxury brands to everyone. Josh Schlanger, the Head of DevOps and Product Support at The RealReal, joined IT Visionaries to discuss how eCommerce sites operate, how The RealReal is working to sift out fake products, and why he thinks jobs will make a more permanent shift toward remote work moving forward.

Key Takeaways

Real or fake? Historically, the authentication of consigned products has mostly been done by humans. That’s changing, and Josh explains exactly how.
To go remote, or not to go remote. Until COVID-19 hit, The RealReal managed a hybrid model of part-remote, part-in-office. Josh shares the pros and cons of that model, and his recommendations to managers. (Pro tip: Don’t forget to set personal and professional boundaries.)
Is your infrastructure ready to weather the storm? The RealReal operates exclusively on the cloud, infrastructure that Josh and his engineering team are constantly improving. He touches on some of the things your systems should be prepared to handle, including why it’s so important to have a team able to make short-notice pivots.

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That means you get fast, secure, and scalable connectivity without the complexity of juggling multiple providers. Thanks to meter for sponsoring. Go to meter.com/itv to book a demo.
---

IT Visionaries is made by the team at Mission.org. Learn more about our media studio and network of podcasts at mission.org.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Leading Through A Crisis with GitHub’s CTO Jason Warner Jul 30, 2020

Show notes

At the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, companies around the world were asking the same question: How do I mobilize my workforce and give them the tools and skills they need to work from home? GitHub employs more than 1,000 employees, all of whom work remotely. So we invited their CTO, Jason Warner, back to the program to discuss how he advised companies on adapting to their new normal. And he gave some best practices he’s learned about leading through a crisis, and explained why GitHub is one step closer to achieving its mission.

Key Takeaways

In many cases, once a company and its leaders became comfortable with remote environments, they begin to embrace it
It’s important to be transparent and honest with your employees during a crisis — they are struggling and need to be given the truth of the situation in order to realistically set expectations
GitHub’s mission is to make sure every developer has access to its software, and as the company continues to expand its reach, it is getting closer and closer to achieving that goal

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That means you get fast, secure, and scalable connectivity without the complexity of juggling multiple providers. Thanks to meter for sponsoring. Go to meter.com/itv to book a demo.
---

IT Visionaries is made by the team at Mission.org. Learn more about our media studio and network of podcasts at mission.org.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The New Way of Buying and Selling Your Home with Opendoor’s CTO Ian Wong Jul 28, 2020

Show notes

The process of buying and selling a home is one of the most strenuous and frustrating out there. Imagine this: You find a home and make an offer, but that home already has multiple bids so, after a long bidding war, you finally get the home of your dreams. But now after a clean inspection, the appraisal falls through and you ask yourself, ‘Why is this so frustrating? Ian Wong and Opendoor asked that same question. And on this episode of IT Visionaries, Ian discusses how his team built one of the biggest disruptors to the real estate market, and he gives some of the secret sauce to the science behind the Opendoor technology.

3 Key Takeaways

Opendoor uses both structured and unstructured data to help price their homes
The home buying process is stressful and Opendoor is streamlining the process
The real estate industry has not been disrupted because of the lack of frequency in the home-buying process

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That means you get fast, secure, and scalable connectivity without the complexity of juggling multiple providers. Thanks to meter for sponsoring. Go to meter.com/itv to book a demo.
---

IT Visionaries is made by the team at Mission.org. Learn more about our media studio and network of podcasts at mission.org.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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