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You've Been Heard

You've Been Heard

by You've Been Heard

Latest episode
472- You Don't Want to Automate Chaos w/Chris Stierle

About this podcast

Having a seat at the table. Nice. Being heard? Nicer.

For decades, IT leaders have been the backbone of defensible business growth, solving problems that could cripple a business often before anyone noticed.

We know this world.
The late nights. The firefights.
The impossible deadlines that somehow got met.

IT Professionals don’t just fix.
They fortify.
They’re the frontline heroes fighting an improbable battle

thriving where others break,

armed with a resilience the strongest military leaders consider simply another day safeguarding the world.

When things get rough, you’re indispensable.
When everything’s humming like a well-oiled Tesla,
you’re the hidden engine of progress, often asked
to do the extraordinary.

And one of the toughest parts? Being hunted by short-term sales reps chasing quotas, pushing shiny solutions they “know” you need… but you know you don’t.

What if you could work with those who have sat in your seat, been precisely where you are? You can.

That’s right: We’ve been there.

Negotiating partnerships, being pitched by vendors across the table, and standing on the frontlines of IT.

That’s why we built a platform where IT leaders are amplified, not sidelined.
Not just “another platform.”
In fact, three in one.

A triple-threat to the industry norm.
Doing to IT what the iPhone did to the Blackberry
redefining the game (and expectations) forever.

And to be clear, we refuse to be part of
the “Hype Cycle” and inflated expectations.

Which is why we’ve perfected a proven model
that elevates you, the IT leader. Just ask our clients.

The first piece?
A podcast, not just a show.
A platform where IT pros share hard-earned truths, not corporate scripts.

The second piece?
A community where peers (real ones) have sophisticated conversations—without vendors lurking in the corner.

The final component?
An advisory with only one agenda: your performance and sanity, so you make smarter vetted choices without the sales circus.

Think of us as your backstage pass to whoever you need to meet to eliminate headaches and accelerate resolutions.

The kind of exclusive pass that gains you access to our ecosystem with $1.2 billion in buying power.

When we knock, the door’s already unlocked.

And here’s the kicker:
We make vendors fund your success.

What about vendor-neutrality?
If we were any more neutral, we’d be beige.

Our triple-threat model doesn’t just transform how we do business.
It transforms the impact you have on a
day-to-day basis and on a year-over-year basis.

It’s how you balance innovation with stability.
Where you not only have a seat at the table,
but get invited to speak.
And be listened to.

And there’s one final point that makes everything work:
We don’t disappear when you need us. Ever.
We stay. We escalate. We stand with you.

We are anti-spin. Anti-transactional. Pro-IT leader.
Your resilience is our resilience.

Because when IT leaders rise…
so does everything else.

Welcome to the platform.
Welcome to the movement.

Join the next wave of IT leadership.

Welcome to You’ve Been Heard.

*****DISCLAIMER***** All views, opinions, and statements made by guests on this show do not represent the beliefs of the host Phil Howard, or any entity whatsoever with which the show has been, is now, or will be affiliated. Any statements, views, random thoughts, or opinions expressed by the hosts and guests do not necessarily reflect the personal beliefs (could easily be misconstrued) and are not the official policy/position of our company, agency, podcast, and affiliated partners. Finally, because human beings are characteristically prone to flaws and mistakes, we warn all listeners to think critically for yourself and seek true knowledge before taking action upon anything.

Episodes

The newest 50 of 476 episodes

  • 472- You Don't Want to Automate Chaos w/Chris Stierle · 58 min · Episode 472Chris Stierle, Chief Information Officer at TemperPack, has not found a viable use case for agentic AI in business process automation, and he explains why repeatable work and…
  • 471- From Code Black to No Outages w/Shane Froebel · 1 h 27 min · Episode 471Shane Froebel, Chief Information Officer, joined a hospital as VP while it was losing its computer systems for four to six hours every week, and decided on his first day that…
  • 470- Being 100% Correct Isn't Enough w/Devon Simmons · 1 h 9 min · Episode 470Devon Simmons, an IT manager, learned that a solution can be technically correct in every aspect and still stall without a business case the C-suite can get behind. He thinks…
  • 469- Not Just the Break-Fix Guy w/Desi Rodriguez · 1 h 0 min · Episode 469Desi Rodriguez, Director of Information Technology at Tilson Homes, says the IT leaders who get ahead learn how every other department works, so they don't come in like a…
  • 468- It's Usually Our Fault w/Alexandre Quinze · 44 min · Episode 468Alexandre Quinze, former CIO for Latin America at Philips, says that when IT isn't heard, it's usually IT's own doing, and the way back starts with understanding the CFO's pains…
  • 467- Show Me the Riser Room w/Zack Miller · 1 h 4 min · Episode 467Zack Miller, Director, Global Infrastructure at Catalent, walks into every new network with one request: show me the riser room. He explains tech debt as a town full of potholes…
  • 466- Talk Business First, Then Tech w/Fletus Poston III · 55 min · Episode 466Fletus Poston III, Director of IT and Cybersecurity at 3D Systems, says IT and security leaders now have to be bilingual: talk business first, then introduce the tech. He shares…
  • 465- From Department of No to Department of Risk w/Jeff Posluns · 59 min · Episode 465Jeff Posluns, CIO of Traffic Tech, a logistics company with about 40 offices around the world, wants to be the Department of Risk: an unreasonable request goes to a risk…
  • 464- We Really Are Innovation Technology w/Jennifer Terrill · 48 min · Episode 464Jennifer Terrill, CIO of Sperber Landscape Companies, says IT often gets labeled as Mr. No and calls that a big myth, because IT really is innovation technology. She explains why…
  • 463- AI Will Fill the Gap w/Erich Gazaui · 55 min · Episode 463Erich Gazaui, Chief Information Officer at Papa, says AI makes it look as if typing and writing are the only skills you need, and when you leave a gap in a prompt or a design, AI…
  • 462- How Do We Get to Right? w/Christopher Childs · 1 h 10 min · Episode 462Christopher Childs, CIO of Evans Army Community Hospital, on why IT has to be in the business of healthcare and not the healthcare business, and why he tells leaders who text him…
  • 461- Just Because It's Old Doesn't Make It Wrong w/Jeremy Mayfield · 55 min · Episode 461Jeremy Mayfield, Director of IT at National Sugar Marketing Cooperative, took the company from a legacy on-premise ERP to a fully SaaS platform in under 12 months, against a…
  • 460- Seat at the Table, Still the IT Guy w/Brian Ledbetter · 58 min · Episode 460Veteran CIO and US Air Force veteran Brian Ledbetter on why IT leaders who earn a seat at the table can still be seen as the person who fixed the printer. He walks through the…
  • 459- Make the Approved Path Fast Enough w/Brandon Muncy · 45 min · Episode 459Everyone's using ChatGPT on their own to save 30 minutes a day, and nobody will wait six weeks for a review, so Brandon Muncy, Director of Information Technology at PepperPointe…
  • 458- Stop Turning the Light Off w/John Errington · 47 min · Episode 458John Errington, Director IT/IS at Pengate Handling Systems, tells his teams something they hate to hear: turning the light off every day is the thing to automate, and their time…
  • 457- Your IT Roadmap Needs a Top Five w/Teresa Duran · 1 h 11 min · Episode 457Technology leaders can contribute to business decisions when they understand what the company is trying to accomplish. Teresa Duran, chief information officer at Tree Top, joins…
  • 456- AI Still Needs Architects and Developers w/George Hicker · 52 min · Episode 456George Hicker, Vice President of Information Technology (IT) and Business Transformation at Ronnoco Beverage Solutions, joins Mike Kelley to explain what happens when AI lets…
  • 455- Influence Matters More Than Technology w/Jeff Hobbs · 40 min · Episode 455Jeff Hobbs, Director of IT at SV Labs Corporation, joins Mike Kelley to discuss the leadership skills that matter beyond technical expertise. Jeff explains how he uses Copilot to…
  • 454- Earn Your Seat Beyond Technology w/Scott Holleran · 36 min · Episode 454Scott Holleran, CIO of Altus Fire & Life Safety, joins Phil Howard to discuss what gives technology leaders real influence inside the business. Scott shares lessons from the Army…
  • 453- Make Approved AI Easier to Use w/Mason Herbel · 46 min · Episode 453Mason Herbel describes the shift from an AI startup to Parallel Systems, where the first questions were about governance and company data. Some employees already used AI. Others…
  • 452 -Make IT A Business Partner w/Jim Harden · 43 min · Episode 452Jim Harden began his IT career in the Marine Corps, building tactical data networks from commodity gear before moving into corporate technology and leadership. Now CIO at…
  • 451 -Your Value Is Bigger Than Your Code w/Peter Vardaro · 44 min · Episode 451Peter Vardaro started in biomedical equipment service, where unreliable connectivity and slow documentation often consumed more time than the repair itself. That frustration…
  • 450- Healthcare AI Needs a Reality Check w/Mikkel Finsen · 46 min · Episode 450Mikkel Finsen, Chief Technology Officer and CISO at Open Door Family Medical Center, explains why healthcare AI needs guardrails, human validation, and a clear patient-care…
  • 449- How CIOs Govern Change Without Blocking It w/Gabriel Chappell · 54 min · Episode 449Gabriel Chappell, Chief Information Officer at Fabricut, Inc., came in to help a wholesale distributor in the interior design space finish its move off an AS/400 ERP, and he had…
  • 448- The Examined Leader Retires the Old Playbook w/Rajvir Madan · 43 min · Episode 448Rajvir Madan, SVP and Chief Digital and Information Technology Officer at Arcutis Biotherapeutics, explains why experienced leaders must test old patterns against a new context…
  • 447- Learn the Business to Lead Technology w/ Dr. Michael Barr · 35 min · Episode 447Dr. Michael Barr has worked across military communications, infantry leadership, university teaching, research operations, and healthcare IT. In this conversation with Doug…
  • 446- Why IT Leaders Should Not Lead With No w/Bret Henning · 34 min · Episode 446Bret Henning started college as a music major and entered technology through a trade school and a computer operator job. He handled backups, printers, support, and disk drives…
  • 445- How CIOs Build Teams That Scale w/Brian Laird · 48 min · Episode 445Brian Laird's career has taken him through tech support, networking, security, software development, enterprise architecture, consulting, and the CIO seat. In this conversation…
  • 444 - The Leadership Shift That Makes IT Scale w/Demetrios Xarhoulakos · 46 min · Episode 444Demetrios Xarhoulakos began his career producing CAD drawings and became the person colleagues called when technology stopped cooperating. That curiosity eventually led him into…
  • 442- Listen, Understand, Execute: The IT Leadership Edge w/Farhan Zakir · 45 min · Episode 442Farhan Zakir's path into technology started far from a server room. After leaving medical school in Pakistan, he returned to Orlando, worked across hospitality roles, moved into…
  • 441- IT Leaders Need Storytelling Skills w/Matt Thomas · 37 min · Episode 441In Episode 441 of You've Been Heard, Michael Moore speaks with Matt Thomas, Director of IT and Marketing at Crabapple Roofing, about the communication skills that turn technical…
  • EP439- Stop Reporting Activity, Report Risk Reduced w/James Dunlap · 44 min · Episode 439In Episode 439 of You've Been Heard, Phil Howard speaks with James Dunlap about turning technology and security work into language executives understand. James draws on…
  • 438-Stop Waiting to Be Invited w/Bill Garcia · 43 min · Episode 438Bill Garcia explains why IT leaders lose credibility when they speak technology but cannot translate it into business outcomes. Drawing on a career in process redesign, ERP…
  • 435- Dirty Data Makes AI Worse w/Stephen Hightower · 38 min · Episode 435In Episode 435 of You've Been Heard, Doug Camin speaks with Stephen Hightower about a career that spans aerospace and defense, information security, quality engineering, private…
  • 434- AI Hype Needs A Business Case w/Tim McCrosson · 1 h 5 min · Episode 434In Episode 434 of You've Been Heard, Phil Howard speaks with Tim McCrosson about a career that moved from dot-com era web development into federal IT leadership, policy…
  • 433- AI Needs Use Cases, Not Hype w/Alex Vasilescu · 41 min · Episode 433In Episode 433 of You've Been Heard, Mike Kelley speaks with Alex Vasilescu about the path from service desk work to global IT service delivery leadership. Alex shares lessons…
  • 432- AI Should Not Speed Up Broken Work w/ Jesse Crane · 55 min · Episode 432Mike Kelley speaks with Jesse Crane, Vice President Information Technology at Argon Medical Devices. Jesse traces a career that started in finance and accounting, moved through…
  • 431- IT Is Your Revenue Protector w/ Kevin Neureuter · 33 min · Episode 431Kevin Neureuter, Jr. brings a supply-chain, public-sector, managed-services, and business-ownership perspective to IT leadership. In this episode, he talks with Michael Moore…
  • 431- IT Is Your Revenue Protector w/Kevin Neureuter · 33 min · Episode 431Kevin Neureuter, Jr., Director of IT at DiMarco Group, joins Michael Moore to explain why modern IT should be understood as revenue protection, not overhead.Kevin brings a…
  • 430- Stop Buying AI Projects Backwards w/Michael Baillargeon · 40 min · Episode 430Michael Baillargeon brings a telecom and contact-center lens to the AI strategy conversation. He argues that companies should stop treating AI like a SKU and start treating it…
  • 428- When IT Stops Being IT w/Luis Oliveira & Jose' Young · 55 min · Episode 428Jose Young, CTO at Beyond Air and founder of BrightPeak AI Solutions, and Luis Oliveira, Director at T4 Guidance Measurement, compare what carries across industries and what has…
  • 427- The Hidden cost of AI w/Cody Aldinger · 53 min · Episode 427Cody Aldinger is VP of IT at KLJ, managing technology for 30 offices across the US. He's learned that a huge part of his job isn't technology—it's sales. Convincing business…
  • 426- AI Breaks Faster Than Broken Processes w/Eric Brosius · 48 min · Episode 426Eric Brosius, Vice President of IT at Sun River Health, joins Mike Kelley to talk about the real pressure behind healthcare technology leadership. He shares how his team supports…
  • Security Is Just Business Risk · 54 min · Episode 425Edward Marchewka, CIO at Illinois Bone and Joint Institute, joins You've Been Heard for a practical conversation about board communication, cybersecurity leadership, and the gap…
  • All My Projects Are Your Projects · 33 min · Episode 424Dario Sarmiento started as a help desk fixer at one of the world's largest law firms during the dot-com boom. He thought his job was solving tech problems. Turns out, his real…
  • 423- There Is A Cost To Know Things w/Steve Goudreau · 31 min · Episode 423Steve Goudreau has been in IT leadership long enough to know the difference between being at the table and being heard. At his current role, he has a seat at the executive round…
  • 422- AI Needs Architecture Before Automation w/Robert Sheesley · 1 h 4 min · Episode 422Robert Sheesley explains why AI needs business architecture, capability maturity, intelligence architecture, and organizational change management before it can create durable…
  • 421- There Is No Zero-Fail Environment w/Drew Ludwick · 54 min · Episode 421Drew Ludwick brings military communications pressure, network engineering depth, and modern CIO judgment to a blunt lesson: technology will fail. The work is making sure the…
  • 420- Lead How Technology Gets Leveraged w/Bart Waress · 54 min · Episode 420Bart Waress has led IT across healthcare, telecom, banking, oil and gas, mining, data centers, and energy. His lesson is blunt: transformation sticks when IT listens first…
  • 419- Common Sense Over Theatrics w/Nick Feczko · 48 min · Episode 419Nick Feczko took the VP IT seat at DuBois Chemicals six months ago after walking away from an environment that ran on ego and politics. He came looking for a place where IT…

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