The Bridgecast with Scott Kinka

Latest Episodes:

Enterprise Network Infrastructure: What Every IT Leader Should Know Apr 02, 2025

Show notes

What if networking were as simple and seamless as electricity?
Scott Kinka sits down with Meter CEO and co-founder Anil Varanasi to talk about how Meter is revolutionizing connectivity—offering end-to-end networking with custom-built hardware, software, and simple pricing by square footage.
They dive into Anil’s startup journey, their bold partnership with Microsoft, and how AI, leadership, and customer obsession are shaping the future of infrastructure.
Meter provides internet infrastructure for businesses. Headquartered in San Francisco, it was founded in 2015 to build enterprise-grade networks that are faster, more accessible, and more secure. Its full-stack approach combines hardware, software, and operations so that any company can seamlessly run on a reliable and modern network. Meter believes the internet is a fundamental utility that businesses should be able to turn on as easily as water and electricity.
Topics discussed in this episode
● Anil’s entrepreneurial journey, including early startup challenges and self-funding before raising capital.
● The problems with networking and what Meter does differently.
● Meter’s unique pricing and utility-based model.
● The partnership with Microsoft.
● Short and long-term perspectives on AI and the future.
About Anil Varanasi
Anil Varanasi is the CEO of Meter, a company that provides internet infrastructure for businesses. He co-founded the company with his brother, Sunil, in 2015. Meter’s full-stack approach combines hardware, software, and operations to provide enterprise-grade networks that are faster, more accessible, and more secure to customers across industries including Brex, Higher Ground Education, Stord, and Tishman Speyer. Anil is also a member of the board of The Roots of Progress, a nonprofit dedicated to establishing a new philosophy of progress for the 21st century. He graduated from George Mason University with degrees in both economics and computer networking.
Contact Anil
Web. http://www.meter.com
LinkedIn (Business). https://www.linkedin.com/company/meter-com/
LinkedIn (Personal). https://www.linkedin.com/in/anilcv/
Twitter. https://x.com/meterThe Bridgecast is handcrafted by our friends over at: fame.so

Giving Back Through Tech: The Mission of Tech4Change Mar 18, 2025

Show notes

In this episode of the Bridgecast, host Scott Kinka sits down with Jasmina Mueller and Brad Dupree to discuss the charitable organization Tech4Change. This organization brings together technology leaders to raise funds for various grassroots charities.

During their discussion, they explore the mission behind Tech4Change and the fundraising strategies used, sharing impactful stories from their events. The conversation emphasizes the importance of community engagement and the potential for technology professionals to make a difference through charitable work.

Tech4Change is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization composed of technology suppliers and channel partners who dedicate time and resources to aid grassroots charities across the U.S. Since its inception in 2014, Tech4Change has raised more than $1.25 million for local grassroots charities that are often overlooked and underfunded. Through event-based fundraising, Tech4Change provides game-changing donations that go directly to the cause rather than administrative costs.

Topics discussed in this episode:

· Background on Tech4Change

· The types of charities supported by Tech4Change

· How Tech4Change does their fundraising

· Milestones Tech4Change has achieved

- How being a 100% volunteer-run organization maximizes direct impact.

- Notable contributions made by Tech4Change

Previous Granite Episodes

Using AI at Scale with Adam Weiner of Granite - https://bridgepointetechnologies.com/podcast-episodes/ai-at-scale/

The Bridge Podcast with Mark Palmer of Granite - https://bridgepointetechnologies.com/podcast-episodes/the-bridge-podcast-mark-palmer-granite/

About Tech4Change

In the tech channel, we work hard, play hard and, for the most part, earn a good living. Some of us donate time, but more often than not, we write a check to a charity and move on. While those one-off donations help, what could we do if we work together to raise money for a cause? It turns out that we can do a lot! Over the past nine years, we’ve raised more than $1.25 million for grassroots organizations through Tech4Change.

In 2023 and beyond, we plan to make a bigger impact with more fundraising events in partnership with industry publishers, event organizers, technology distributors and other organizations that support community-based charitable groups.

Tech4Change is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization composed of technology suppliers and channel partners that dedicate time and resources to aid grassroots charities across the U.S. Since our inception in 2014, we’ve raised more than $1.25 million for local grassroots charities that are often overlooked and underfunded. Through event-based fundraising, Tech4Change provides game-changing donations that go directly to the cause rather than administrative costs.

Web. https://tech4change.org/

LinkedIn. https://www.linkedin.com/company/telecom-for-change/

Donate. https://bit.ly/3Fo2DJn

About Brad Dupee

President

Head of National Channel Sales, Granite

I am the Head of National Channel Sales and Development at Granite, a leading provider of managed network services and solutions for large multi-location businesses. In this role, I lead the strategy and execution of the national B2B partner program, which accounts for approximately 25% of the company's revenue and 50% of the company's new revenue. With more than 25 years of channel sales experience, I have built and managed global alliances, integrations, and ecosystems with technology leaders, system integrators, resellers, VARs, agents, and managed service providers across various industries and markets.
I am also passionate about leveraging technology for social impact and innovation. I serve as the President of Tech4Change, a nonprofit organization that supports grassroots charities across the U.S. with technology solutions and fundraising that has raised over $1.25 million for local causes since 2014.
As a technology entrepreneur, I have founded and co-founded four start-ups and three corporate ventures, raising capital and developing go-to-market strategies for SaaS, PaaS, API, and cloud applications. I thrive on creating value, building relationships, and solving problems with a collaborative and entrepreneurial mindset.

LinkedIn. https://www.linkedin.com/in/dupee/

About Jasmina Muller

Vice President

Chief Ecosystem Officer, Titan Cloud Storage, Inc

Leadership Executive: Dynamic and award-winning channel partner sales leader with over 25 years of experience driving revenue growth, building high-performing teams, and delivering exceptional partner program results in the software and telecom industries. Recognized for developing innovative channel strategies that surpass targets and foster sustainable partnerships. Known for driving operational excellence, cultivating trust, and delivering measurable outcomes.
I have achieved significant industry recognition, including 2023 and 2022 Channel Chief awards, 2022 Circle of Excellence Honoree, and multiple Channel Futures DE&I honoree awards. I support organizations that give back to the community and promote DEI efforts, volunteering my time with board seats on Tech4Change, The Alliance of Channel Women, AchieveUnite and a founding member of the Los Angeles flagship location of Chief. My motto is: "Sell the Problem you solve, not the product!"

LinkedIn. https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasminamuller/

The Bridgecast is handcrafted by our friends over at: fame.so

The Future of Communication with Dialpad’s Mike Kane Mar 04, 2025

Show notes

Can AI make business communication smarter and sales more human?
Scott Kinka and Mike Kane from Dialpad break down the future of AI-driven conversations, tech partnerships, and the power of emotional intelligence in sales.
They cover Dialpad’s AI-driven growth, the role of emotional intelligence in sales, and how AI is reshaping customer interactions, security, and global tech partnerships.
Tune in for insights on leveraging AI for smarter, more effective communication.

Dialpad is the leading AI-Powered Customer Intelligence Platform that completely transforms how the world works with one beautiful workspace that seamlessly combines the most advanced AI Contact Center, AI Sales, AI Voice, and Ai Meetings with AI Messaging. Over 30,000 innovative brands and millions of people use Dialpad to unlock productivity, collaboration, and customer satisfaction with real-time Ai insights.

Topics discussed in this episode on the future of communication:

· How AI is transforming customer communications, but focusing on specific use cases is essential.

· The case for private LLMs for businesses and why the customization of AI models is essential.

· Use cases for AI in the sales process to enhance productivity and coaching.

· Why emotional intelligence is a key strength for sales leaders, aiding in understanding customer needs.

· The importance of adapting to different cultural contexts in business.

Previous Dialpad episodes

The Bridgecast Live: Reimagining the Customer and Employee Relationship (Part Two)

The Bridgecast Live: Reimagining the Customer and Employee Relationship (Part One)

Is this How the World Will End or How Smarter Business Begins?  A Practical Discussion about AI (Part 2)

Is this How the World Will End or How Smarter Business Begins?  A Practical Discussion about AI (Part 1)

BOOK: Amp It Up: Leading for Hypergrowth by Raising Expectations, Increasing Urgency, and Elevating Intensity 1st Edition by Frank Slootman

About Mike Kane

Mike Kane is SVP of Global Channel Sales at Dialpad and has built the organization's channel team from the group up since joining in 2017. Bringing more than two decades of experience in channel and sales to his role, Mike evolved Dialpad into a channel-first company and has maintained the channel as a leading revenue driver for the company. Mike is responsible for all channel go-to-market strategy, enablement, qualified pipeline and revenues across North America, EMEA and APAC. Prior to Dialpad, Mike was the catalyst for the implementation of the channel model in Silicon Valley at large, educating about and driving channel model adoption for companies like DocuSign, Okta, and Box.

Contact Mike

LinkedIn. https://www.linkedin.com/in/mike-kane22/

Web. https://www.dialpad.com/

The Bridgecast is handcrafted by our friends over at: fame.so

2024 Year End Recap - Part Two Feb 18, 2025

Show notes

Sometimes, we think that new tech can solve old problems. For instance, can AI help employees be better at processes that don't exist?

This is just one of the questions we tackle on this episode of The Bridgecast.

In this conclusion to The Bridgecast’s 2024 Year-End series, Scott and Gene discuss key industry trends, reflections on the past year, and predictions for the future.

The conversation highlights AI adoption challenges, the importance of human oversight in AI-driven processes, and the evolving nature of IT strategy.

Topics discussed in this episode:

• How IT budgets are increasing, but organizations must focus on efficiency in non-investment areas to balance spending.
Human oversight is critical in AI processes to guide decision-making and ensure ethical and accurate outcomes.
Why imagination and creativity remain uniquely human qualities.
How demonstrating ROI in small, measurable AI projects can build executive confidence.
Why leadership involves humility and recognizing the contributions of all team members to success.

About Scott Kinka

This is a SPECIAL EDITION of the Bridgecast with Scott Kinka. Over the last 12 months and 25 episodes, Scott has gotten the opportunity to ask some of the best minds in technology a plethora of questions, including “what is your favorite app” and “what book is on your nightstand?”. In addition, he’s gotten some shameless predictions from all of these interviews.

Well, on this episode, we get to ask the same questions of Scott.

Producer Gene Volpe asks Scott all of the tough questions and has him look back on his favorite moments from our episodes so far. This one was an ode to 2024 while looking forward to 2025. We hope that you enjoy this interesting look into the Chief Strategy Officer of Bridgepointe Technologies and tech evangelist, Scott Kinka.

Contact Scott

Web. https://www.thebridgecast.net/

LinkedIn. https://www.linkedin.com/in/scottkinka/

The Bridgecast is handcrafted by our friends over at: fame.so

2024 Year End Recap - Part One Feb 10, 2025

Show notes

According to Sun Tzu, energy without strategy is chaos. This sentiment has never been more appropriate today, particularly concerning IT strategy and discussions around AI.

In this year-end episode of The Bridgecast, Scott reflects on a monumental year for Bridgepointe Technologies and the broader IT industry. The conversation explores key themes that dominated the year, including AI governance and its impact on business strategy, the evolving role of IT leaders, and lessons from C-suite executives featured on the podcast.

Topics discussed in this episode:

· Why AI governance and regulation are essential to prevent PR disasters.

· How IT leaders must anticipate objections and prepare for questions.

· Why cybersecurity is most vulnerable at the human level.

· Why generative AI can only deliver value if informed by accurate, clean data.

· How IT’s role has evolved post-pandemic.

· Why historical frameworks are still relevant for navigating modern tech adoption and strategy.

Why collaboration tools like Microsoft Copilot bring immense potential but require careful planning.

ABOUT OUR HOST SCOTT KINKA

This is a SPECIAL EDITION of the Bridge Podcast with Scott Kinka. Over the last 12 months and 30+ episodes, Scott has gotten the opportunity to ask some of the best minds in technology a plethora of questions, including “what is your favorite app” and “what book is on your nightstand?”. In addition, he’s gotten some shameless predictions from all of these interviews.

Well, on this episode, we get to ask the same questions of Scott.

Producer Gene Volpe gets the opportunity to ask Scott all of the tough questions and have Scott dig back on his favorite moments from our episodes so far.

This one was an ode to 2023 while looking forward to 2024. We hope that you enjoy this interesting look into the Chief Strategy Officer of Bridgepointe Technologies and tech evangelist, Scott Kinka.

CONTACT SCOTT

Web.

LinkedIn.

The Bridgecast is handcrafted by our friends over at: fame.so

ESPN’s CX Transformation: Using AI to Enhance Fan Support with Doug Kramon Jan 20, 2025

Show notes

Sports are a profoundly human experience—emotional, visceral, and passionately followed. While AI won’t replace athletes anytime soon, it’s increasingly shaping how fans engage with their favorite teams.

In this episode of The Bridgecast, Scott Kinka sits down with Doug Kramon, Head of Customer Care and Fan Support at ESPN, to explore the evolving role of AI in sports customer experience. They discuss how generative AI plays a role in CX transformation and fan support, the power of emotional connections in customer care, and the challenges of balancing automation with human-centric service.

Doug also shares insights on leadership, the impact of big data on AI-driven insights, and the importance of curiosity and storytelling in professional growth.

Tune in for a fascinating look at the intersection of sports, technology, and fan engagement.

ESPN is the leading multiplatform sports entertainment brand that features seven U.S. television networks, the leading sports app, direct-to-consumer ESPN+, leading social and digital platforms, ESPN.com, ESPN Audio, endeavors on every continent worldwide, and more.

Topics covered in this episode:

• Why understanding different fan needs is crucial for effective support.
• How generative AI can support CX transformation but not replace human interaction.
• Why the evolution of customer experience is driven by technology.
• How AI can handle routine tasks, freeing humans from complex interactions.
• Why building relationships with partners is key to success in customer care.
• How the sports fan’s story is central to enhancing their experience.
• Why curiosity and storytelling are vital for continuous learning.
• How summarization tools can save agents valuable time and significantly enhance customer service efficiency.
• Why big data is essential for actionable AI insights.
• How catharsis scoring helps identify customer sentiment changes.
• Why generative AI must be integrated with existing tech stacks.
• Why bundle confusion in streaming services remains a challenge.
• How work-life balance is crucial for employee satisfaction and open communication fosters a healthy workplace culture.

ESPN Customer Experience (CX) Case Study
https://bridgepointetechnologies.com/espn/?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=show-notes&utm_campaign=the-bridgecast-with-scott-kinka-ep68

About Douglas Kramon

Douglas Kramon leads Customer Care and Fan Support at ESPN. This includes a fan base of tens of millions of rabid sports content consumers! He oversees all fan support initiatives at ESPN, focusing on the fans in the stands, suits in the suites and everything in between. He provides consumers of ESPN content the tools to experience an exceptional journey in their ESPN fandom!

Contact Douglas

LinkedIn. https://www.linkedin.com/in/douglaskramon/

Web. http://espn.com

The Bridgecast is handcrafted by our friends over at: fame.so

Refining Your 2025 AI Strategy with RapidScale’s Duane Barnes Jan 07, 2025

Show notes

A new year often means resolutions and plans for your business. And for 2025, one of those plans is likely focused on literally and figuratively getting your arms around your AI strategy.

Making effective use of AI in 2025 means rewinding one whole hype cycle to the early 2020s to big data. That's the last big story we were all talking about. Organization, accuracy, availability, and, of course, security of your data are the essential building blocks for you to build a language model that is serviceable and accurate for your business. It's the core of your AI strategy.

In this episode of The Bridge, Scott interviews Duane Barnes, president of RapidScale. RapidScale is owned by Cox (yes, that Cox), and we understand why Duane believes that nine out of every ten of you are not prepared for AI — but you can be! It won't take a massive budget, nor will it be a multi-year project, but it will take understanding where you are.

During the conversation, they explore RapidScale’s mission to simplify IT for businesses, the current state of AI in the hype cycle, and the challenges companies face in leveraging AI effectively. Duane shares insights on customer engagement, real-world AI applications, and the importance of having a clear strategy when implementing AI tools like Co-Pilot.

They also delve into the critical aspects of AI governance, the importance of data management and having quality data, strategic approaches to AI adoption, and with the risks associated with AI usage in businesses, emphasizing the need for proper governance policies and the potential consequences of data leaks.

RapidScale is the managed cloud partner that turns technology into your biggest competitive advantage. Their comprehensive portfolio of private and public cloud solutions is tailored to your needs and backed by one of the deepest benches of certified experts in the industry. They make innovation easy by bringing you the latest solutions to keep your technology platforms responsive and delivering the consistent results your business deserves.

Topics discussed in this episode on AI strategy:

· Duane’s journey into technology.

· Why AI is still in the hype cycle, with many companies exploring its potential.

· Why AI adoption requires a cultural shift within organizations and data organization is crucial for leveraging AI effectively.

· How can real-world AI applications significantly improve efficiency, and why is prompt engineering essential for practical AI tool usage?

· Why data privacy is crucial when using AI applications and the risks when data management is neglected in AI strategies - the importance of data accuracy cannot be overstated.

· How starting small with AI projects can lead to success.

· Why do companies need to connect AI tools to their existing data for maximum benefit?

· Internal policies are necessary to protect sensitive data when using AI. Businesses often lack governance steps for AI.

· The impact of AI tools on employees and customers - many employees use AI tools without understanding the risks, and most customers lack a fully formed idea for AI implementation.

Why governance policies should be more than just compliance.

About Duane Barnes

Duane Barnes is an accomplished senior executive with a distinguished career spanning over two decades in the cloud and managed services business. He currently holds the position of President of RapidScale, a Cox Business Company, encompassing the acquisitions of RapidScale and Logicworks.

Having joined RapidScale in 2016 as head of the Solutions Engineering group, Mr. Barnes swiftly rose through the ranks, demonstrating exceptional leadership and strategic acumen. His tenure saw him assume pivotal roles such as Senior Vice President of Technology and interim Chief Technology Officer, before eventually being appointed Chief Operating Officer in June 2020. Subsequently, he assumed his current role as President, where he directs a multifaceted portfolio encompassing Operations, Technology, Product Management, Cybersecurity, Sales, Marketing, and Finance.

Mr. Barnes' extensive expertise extends across diverse domains within IT, with a particular emphasis on enterprise data centers and managed cloud services. Prior to his tenure at RapidScale, he held key leadership positions at organizations such as Intelisys, Open-Xchange, Windstream, and The Walt Disney Company, building a solid foundation in complex technology solutions and managed services projects. His breadth of knowledge encompasses private and public cloud computing, cybersecurity, and professional services.

Complementing his wealth of experience, Mr. Barnes holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Communications from the University of Phoenix. His unwavering commitment to excellence and proven track record make him a highly respected leader in the field of technology and business management.

Contact Duane

LinkedIn. https://www.linkedin.com/in/duanebarnes/

Web. https://rapidscale.net/about/leadership#duane-barnes

Twitter/X. https://x.com/duanebarnes

The Bridgecast is handcrafted by our friends over at: fame.so

The Bridgecast Live: Reimagining the Customer and Employee Relationship - Part Two Dec 11, 2024

Show notes

How is AI transforming IT leadership?

AI solves no problems by itself. But with the proper workflows and systems around it, it drives real-world ROI. Rather than replacing humans, it can enable the next level of cross-functional collaboration.

The panel explored AI's role in transforming business processes and IT leadership in part two of the 2024 Bridgepoint Tech Summit episode of The Bridgecast.

The discussion focuses on AI’s potential to enhance human performance, streamline workflows, and enable cross-functional collaboration within organizations. The panel emphasizes that effective AI adoption requires alignment across stakeholders and robust governance policies to mitigate risks like bias and inaccuracy.

Our discussion panel included:

· Nick Slater, Chief Revenue Officer, Dialpad

· Milind Pansare, Vice President of Product Marketing, Observe AI

· Shawn O’Connell, Vice President of Global AI Sales, Talkdesk

· Kristy Thomas, Senior Vice President of Global Channels and Alliances, Vonage

Topics discussed in this episode:

· Why AI should enhance human performance rather than replace it.

· How companies must align cross-functional stakeholders to drive successful AI adoption.

· Why governance and readiness are crucial before implementing AI solutions.

· How AI-driven tools can streamline workflows and improve employee productivity.

· Why knowledge repositories and accurate data are essential for effective AI integration.

· Why personalization and human interaction remain critical for customer satisfaction.

How industry-specific AI applications are gaining traction, with contact centers being a major area of focus.

2024 Live at Tech Summit's Episode Links:

2024 Tech Summit Live Episode Part I

2023 Live at Tech Summit's Episode Links:

2023 Tech Summit Live Episode Part I

2023 Tech Summit Live Episode Part 2

ABOUT THE PANEL

Nick Slater, Dialpad CRO

I am an experienced sales and operations leader with a track record of delivering consistent revenue growth, exceeding targets, improving sales productivity and developing top-tier technology sales and support teams. I have built several global teams from ideation to scale that have sold and supported hundreds of millions of dollars in ongoing revenues.
My previous sales and operations teams built the strategy, charter and infrastructure to take an organization from ~$25M in annual revenues to over $800M in 9 years. We effectively scaled a 100 employee “startup” business unit to a 1,500 employee global leader in the space.
I have a servant leadership philosophy revolving around hiring incredibly passionate, determined and intelligent individuals and providing them with the guidance, resources and autonomy to showcase their abilities most effectively. This has resulted in some of the lowest employee attrition and highest employee trust and engagement scores in my organizations.

Web. https://www.dialpad.com/

LinkedIn. https://www.linkedin.com/in/nick-slater-41113a10/

Shawn O'Connell, Talkdesk Vice President Global AI Sales

Innovative Leader in AI Sales Shawn O'Connell is a distinguished sales executive with extensive experience in AI and technology. As the Vice President of Global AI Sales at Talkdesk, he leads worldwide sales strategies for the Ascend AI Platform. Previously, as SVP of North America Sales at Yellow.ai, Shawn was the driver behind significantly expanded market presence. At Celonis, he played a key role in scaling the Western US HiTech vertical. His tenure at Salesforce was marked by consistent revenue growth and market expansion across Enterprise and Strategic Accounts. Shawn has also excelled in roles at BMC Software, Trace3, and EMC Corporation, building high-performing teams and delivering exceptional results. Shawn is renowned for his strategic vision and commitment to innovation and growth in the technology industry

Web. http://www.talkdesk.com

LinkedIn. https://www.linkedin.com/in/shawn-o-connell-17a27a32/

Milind Pansare, Observe.AI Vice President Product Marketing

Milind Pansare has led marketing and software engineering teams at startups and Silicon Valley icons for 30 years. When not immersed in tech, he grows grapes, makes wine, and prays for snow.

Web. https://www.observe.ai/

LinkedIn. https://www.linkedin.com/in/milindpansare/

Kristy Thomas, Vonage Senior VP of Global Channel and Alliances

With an unwavering passion for technology and telecommunications, Kristy Thomas is a seasoned expert in driving organizational success. Equipped with extensive knowledge and experience, she empowers businesses to navigate the dynamic technology landscape with confidence.

🚀 Future-Ready Solutions: As a forward-thinking strategist, Kristy is dedicated to helping businesses leverage cutting-edge technologies for operational efficiencies and agility gains. She possesses an innate ability to identify opportunities that drive growth and foster innovation.

💼 Customer-Centric Approach: With a relentless focus on customer experience, Kristy ensures that organizations gain a competitive edge by delivering exceptional service. She understands the power of building strong customer relationships and guides companies in creating meaningful connections.

🔧 Operational Excellence: Armed with her expertise in operations management, Kristy streamlines processes, enhances productivity, and optimizes performance. Her insights enable organizations to adapt swiftly to market changes while maximizing their resources. ✨ Transforming Possibilities into Reality: Known for her visionary mindset, Kristy excels at translating complex technologies into tangible business solutions. She empowers teams to embrace change, embrace innovation, and stay ahead of the curve in this fast-paced digital era.

Web. https://www.vonage.com/

LinkedIn. https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristy-thomas-bb004a29/

The Bridgecast is handcrafted by our friends over at: fame.so

The Bridgecast Live: Reimagining the Customer and Employee Relationship (Part One) Dec 03, 2024

Show notes

Is your business experiencing AI fatigue?

Right now, AI is all anyone is talking about…but too many conversations are about tech and innovation when they should be about getting measurable outcomes.

In this live episode of The Bridgecast, recorded at the Bridgepointe Tech Summit 2024, we sat down with thought leaders from Dialpad, Observe AI, Talkdesk, and Vonage so they could share some timely insights on how companies are cutting through the AI hype and making it work.

We talk about how AI is transforming customer and employee experiences with some real-life success stories, practical applications and ROI-driven use cases. Plus, this conversation dives into the AI hype cycle and the challenges of AI fatigue.

Topics discussed in this episode:

• Why AI adoption must be tied to clear ROI metrics to overcome fatigue and skepticism.
• Customer experience (CX) is often the entry point for businesses starting their AI journey.
• Why companies should prioritize readiness assessments to identify meaningful use cases for AI.
• How employee experience enhancements, such as automating routine tasks, provide significant ROI.
• Why effective AI implementation requires aligning tools across platforms like Salesforce.
• Why is generative AI’s role in transcription, data insights, and automation pivotal for efficiency?
• How storytelling around ROI is essential to gaining buy-in from stakeholders.

2023 Live at Tech Summit's Episode Links:

2023 Tech Summit Live Episode Part I
https://bridgepointetechnologies.com/artificial-intelligence-debate/

2023 Tech Summit Live Episode Part 2
https://bridgepointetechnologies.com/questions-about-artificial-intelligence/

ABOUT THE PANEL

Nick Slater, Dialpad CRO

Web. https://www.dialpad.com/

LinkedIn. https://www.linkedin.com/in/nick-slater-41113a10/

Shawn O'Connell, Talkdesk Vice President Global AI Sales

Web. http://www.talkdesk.com

LinkedIn. https://www.linkedin.com/in/shawn-o-connell-17a27a32/

Milind Pansare, Observe.AI Vice President Product Marketing

Milind Pansare has led marketing and software engineering teams at startups and Silicon Valley icons for 30 years. When not immersed in tech, he grows grapes, makes wine, and prays for snow.

Web. https://www.observe.ai/

LinkedIn. https://www.linkedin.com/in/milindpansare/

Kristy Thomas, Vonage Senior VP of Global Channel and Alliances

Web. https://www.vonage.com/

LinkedIn. https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristy-thomas-bb004a29/

The Bridgecast is handcrafted by our friends over at: fame.so

Building Your Personal Brand in the Era of Virtual Meetings with Zoom’s Patrick Kelley Oct 29, 2024

Show notes

There are five generations in the workforce today, and every one speaks, communicates, and collaborates differently. You have to meet them all where they are—generally in their homes behind screens.

While your personal brand used to be based on how you interacted with people in the real world, now, what happens on screen is your brand, and you need to invest in it.

In this episode of The Bridgecast, Scott interviews Patrick Kelley, Distinguished Architect at Zoom, who shares insights on optimizing online meetings and video conferencing.

Patrick — also known as The Tattooed Nerd — discusses his background in technology, his role at Zoom, and the importance of audio and video quality in virtual communication. He’s an expert on the tools you likely use daily to communicate with peers, customers, and prospects. He provides practical tips for improving meeting etiquette, lighting, and background setup, emphasizing the need for both employees and employers to invest in quality equipment.

Zoom helps people stay connected so they can get more done together. They set out on a mission to make video communications frictionless and secure by building the world’s best video product for the enterprise, but they didn’t stop there. With products like AI Companion, Team Chat, Contact Center, Phone, Events, Rooms, Webinar, Contact Center, and more, they bring innovation to a wide variety of customers, from the conference room to the classroom, from doctor’s offices to financial institutions to government agencies, from global brands to small businesses.

Topics discussed in this episode:

· Why practice and preparation are essential for effective communication.

· Why preparation is key to successful presentations.

· Why employers should invest in quality equipment for employees.

· How every generation communicates differently in the workplace, and we need to adapt to each style.

· Why audio quality is the most important aspect of video calls.

· How lighting can significantly enhance video quality.

· How personal backgrounds can reflect individual brands in meetings.

o Why virtual backgrounds can detract from personal branding.

· How a good camera can make a significant difference in video quality.

· Why Investing in a decent microphone is affordable and impactful.

· Leadership lessons Patrick has learned along the way.

· Future predictions regarding AI.

About Patrick Kelley

Chief Technology Evangelist, Top 50 UCaaS Influencer, Published Author, Distinguished Architect, Public Speaker, Story Teller, Content Creator, Marketer, Sales Enablement Leader, and Donut Lover.

I help lead competitive enablement discussions with our customers.

Lead content creator

Sales Enablement Leader

Pre-Sales Engineer Lead

Public Speaker

Master of Ceremonies

Strategic Integration Leader

Technology Storyteller

Master of Webinars

The guy that answers the question “So who can lead this effort perfectly?”

Contact Patrick

Youtube. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAi8mVZlMS_9Mk2_R41VZWw

LinkedIn. https://www.linkedin.com/in/patrick-kelley-zoom/

Twitter. https://x.com/pkelley27

The Bridgecast is handcrafted by our friends over at: fame.so

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Previous Dialpad episodes

The Bridgecast Live: Reimagining the Customer and Employee Relationship (Part Two)

The Bridgecast Live: Reimagining the Customer and Employee Relationship (Part One)

Is this How the World Will End or How Smarter Business Begins?  A Practical Discussion about AI (Part 2)

Is this How the World Will End or How Smarter Business Begins?  A Practical Discussion about AI (Part 1)

BOOK: Amp It Up: Leading for Hypergrowth by Raising Expectations, Increasing Urgency, and Elevating Intensity 1st Edition by Frank Slootman

Topics covered in this episode:

ESPN Customer Experience (CX) Case Study
https://bridgepointetechnologies.com/espn/?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=show-notes&utm_campaign=the-bridgecast-with-scott-kinka-ep68

2024 Live at Tech Summit's Episode Links:

2023 Live at Tech Summit's Episode Links:

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Previous Dialpad episodes

The Bridgecast Live: Reimagining the Customer and Employee Relationship (Part Two)

The Bridgecast Live: Reimagining the Customer and Employee Relationship (Part One)

Is this How the World Will End or How Smarter Business Begins? A Practical Discussion about AI (Part 2)

Is this How the World Will End or How Smarter Business Begins? A Practical Discussion about AI (Part 1)

BOOK: Amp It Up: Leading for Hypergrowth by Raising Expectations, Increasing Urgency, and Elevating Intensity 1st Edition by Frank Slootman

Topics covered in this episode:

ESPN Customer Experience (CX) Case Studyhttps://bridgepointetechnologies.com/espn/?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=show-notes&utm_campaign=the-bridgecast-with-scott-kinka-ep68

2024 Live at Tech Summit's Episode Links:

2023 Live at Tech Summit's Episode Links:

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Is this How the World Will End or How Smarter Business Begins?  A Practical Discussion about AI (Part 2)

Is this How the World Will End or How Smarter Business Begins?  A Practical Discussion about AI (Part 1)

ESPN Customer Experience (CX) Case Study
https://bridgepointetechnologies.com/espn/?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=show-notes&utm_campaign=the-bridgecast-with-scott-kinka-ep68