Leaders In Tech

What does it really take to scale a global technology architecture completely on your own terms? In this deeply emotional and highly technical episode of the Leaders in Tech podcast, host David Mansilla is joined by real-time communications pioneer Jerod Venema, Founder and President of LiveSwitch.

🔑 Key Takeaways From This Episode:

(1) Seizing the WebRTC Revolution: How Jerod aligned his architecture with Google and Firefox’s b...

In a world where tech leaders jump ship every two years, Jake Blough (CTO of Service Express) has spent a quarter-century building a legacy from the ground up. Starting in a family auto shop and eventually entering Service Express in shipping and receiving, Jake’s journey is a masterclass in stewardship, grit, and technical innovation.

Today, Jake oversees Supply Chain, Data Science, and R&D for a global leader in datacente...

In this episode of the Leaders in Tech podcast, host David Mansilla sits down with Kin Lee-Yow, CIO of CAA Club Group. Kin oversees the technological backbone of an organization obsessed with member safety—from roadside assistance to complex insurance underwriting through CAA Insurance and Echelon Insurance.

Kin shares his personal "immigrant success story," moving from the tropical climate of Mauritius to the University of...

In 1998, Miloš Topić arrived in the U.S. with two suitcases and zero English. Today, he is the VP and Chief Digital Officer at a major university, leading thousands. How do you close that gap?

In this episode, we explore the "Refugee Grit" mindset—an unfair advantage that allows leaders to thrive in chaos and innovate when there is no roadmap. We’re breaking down a "golden nugget" from the Leaders in Tech podcast that reveals th...

In this episode of "Leaders in Tech," host David Mansilla sits down with Vivek Vaidya, General Partner at Superset, to pull back the curtain on the "Company Builder" model. Vivek shares his 25-year journey from surviving the .com crash to overseeing massive exits to Microsoft and Salesforce.

If you are a founder or tech leader, this conversation is a masterclass in Founder-Market Fit, "clock speed," and the grit required to turn...

The world is changing at an exponential rate. By 2030, two billion jobs will be transformed or displaced. Are you prepared to bridge the gap between innovation and adoption, or will you fall into it?

In this "Golden Nuggets" highlight, we’re extracting the high-level leadership blueprint from John Rathje, VP and CIO of Kent State University. John oversees the tech strategy for a top-tier R1 research powerhouse—the same place tha...

What does it take to lead through forty years of digital revolution? In this episode of Leaders in Tech, host David Mansilla sits down with technology consultant Adrian Smith to trace his journey from the "school of hard knocks" to the high-stakes world of global consulting.

Adrian shares the incredible story of how he went from a summer job loading half-inch tapes to building the groundbreaking videotex systems that powered the...

In this episode of Leaders in Tech, host David Mansilla talks with Adrian Smith, the tech head (CIO) of the London business consulting firm AdSatis. Adrian, who has helped banks and financial companies for decades, shares a strong warning about modern technology: it's incredibly fast, but also surprisingly easy to break.

Key Topics Discussed:

• The Power of Experience: Why managers who have seen years of booms and crashes are c...

In this episode of Leaders in Tech, we sit down with George London, Chief Technology Officer at Upwave, to explore how data and science are transforming the world of brand advertising. From his early career at Bridgewater Associates to leading Upwave’s engineering and data teams, George shares how curiosity, adaptability, and people-centered leadership shaped his journey.

Discover how Upwave brings “science to the top of the funnel”...

In this episode of Leaders in Tech with David Mansilla, we sit down with Jonathan Cook (JC), a pioneering technology leader with over 25 years of experience in cloud innovation, healthcare data platforms, and enterprise-scale system design.

From his early days as a “coding cowboy” to becoming a visionary CTO, Jonathan shares how he bridges the gap between technology and business value, builds strong cultures, and leads teams through...

In this episode of the Leaders in Tech Podcast, host David Mansilla speaks with Arthur Phidd, a Chief Information Officer who is reshaping how organizations approach technology, innovation, and digital transformation.

Arthur shares his journey from early beginnings in marketing and computer science to high-pressure roles on Wall Street, and now leading large-scale technology strategies that blend security, innovation, and data-drive...

In this episode of Leaders in Tech, we sit down with Bashir Agboola, Vice President, CTO, and Associate CIO at the Hospital for Special Surgery. With over two decades of experience in technology and healthcare innovation, Bashir shares how he’s transforming patient care, building AI-ready platforms, and driving enterprise-level change across a national hospital system.

From humble beginnings in Nigeria to leading cutting-edge digita...

In this inspiring episode of the Leaders in Tech podcast, host David Mansilla sits down with Kempton Presley—CEO of AdhereHealth, Adjunct Professor at Vanderbilt, and a visionary leader in healthcare innovation. With over 20 years of experience transforming health systems through data, behavioral science, and strategy, Kempton shares timeless insights on leadership, personal growth, and the power of stewarding time wisely.

🔥 Wh...

In this Leaders in Tech episode, host David Mansilla sits down with Shane Pilcher, CIO, CISO, and transformational strategist in healthcare IT, to explore how purpose, passion, and leadership shape innovation in one of the most complex industries today.

With over 20 years of executive experience, Shane has led enterprise digital transformation, advised boards, modernized hospital systems, and developed high-performing teams that dri...

In today’s tech landscape, few leaders combine technical mastery and strategic vision like Jeff dePascale. A seasoned executive with extensive experience in SaaS platforms and emerging technologies like AI, machine learning, and augmented reality, Jeff has helped drive innovation across industries including healthcare, automotive, retail, and insurance.

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