The Smart IT Podcast

• The Future of IT Operating Models

  On this episode of The Smart IT Podcast, I welcomed Jared Webb to the show for an discussion on the future of IT operating models. We reflected on how different companies, even those of similar size and industry, approached IT strategy in unique ways, shaped by leadership style, risk appetite, and business goals.We explored how many IT teams had shifted from building large in-house teams to adopting more agile, partner-driven models as technology cycles accelerated. Jared emphasized that IT leaders needed to first understand the business, balance risk, and work closely with stakeholders to identify efficiencies and create value.We discussed the importance of trust between IT and business leaders, noting that far too many organizations struggled because executives made technology decisions without IT’s full input. IT should proactively bring forward improvement ideas, using clear storytelling to secure buy-in. He highlighted how strategic thinking was often undermined by the expectation for IT leaders to remain deeply tactical.The conversation also explored vendor management and the critical role of value-added resellers and partners. Jared stressed the need for diligence, warning that outsourcing without oversight could lead to poor service. He described how trusted sales relationships often outweighed technology features in purchasing decisions.We turned to development strategies, weighing in-house versus outsourced approaches. Jared noted that advances in AI had made small, skilled teams far more capable, shifting the balance toward building internally where possible. Still, he cautioned that businesses often undervalued experienced IT staff, leading to risks from “brain drain” and over-reliance on junior talent or quick fixes.Finally, we examined broader cultural challenges: short-termism in business, the risk of ignoring institutional knowledge, and the need for IT to demonstrate value in long-term competitiveness. We agreed that trust, communication, and relationship-building were the cornerstones of effective IT leadership. IT leaders must pair technical expertise with strong human skills, preparing for a future where they may oversee both people and automated systems.A much needed conversations in these uncertain times for everyone to review their operating model and adapt it as needed to maintain pace with their organizations growing needs.Production: Brilliant Beam Media | Syya Yasotornrat#SmartIT #IT #technology #operatingmodel #businessstrategy #vendorrelationships #riskmanagement #leadershipShow notes:Link to episode: https://youtu.be/9uO8ceIWeOo🔹Link to this episode: https://youtu.be/9uO8ceIWeOo🔹Jared on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jaredlwebb/🔹The Smart IT Podcast YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@thesmartitpodcast🔹Captivate Website for all episodes: https://the-smart-it-podcast.captivate.fm/

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• Workspace Construct Discussion | Improving the Buyer/Seller Experience

  In this episode of The Smart IT Podcast, I welcomed Lindsey Morrison, MBA and Katherine R. Dollar to the show to unpack the changing dynamics of the buyer–seller experience for IT. The discussion highlighted how traditional marketing tactics had left buyers fatigued and often defensive in follow up situations.🔷 Workspace Construct Discussion | Improving the Buyer/Seller ExperienceThe real foundation of success lay in relationships and trust. On the seller's side, marketing and sales too often failed to collaborate closely enough. The discussion stressed the need for better alignment, data-driven prospect targeting, and geographical and persona nuance in campaigns.The conversation explored creative ways companies had captured attention and emphasized that differentiation mattered more than ever in crowded markets. The guests warned that slashed marketing budgets and turnover in sales reps often broke trust with customers, making consistency and sales enablement essential.My guests also noted a shift in marketing. While thought leadership would always be vital, the next frontier combined education with entertainment, appealing to younger, tech-native buyers. From puppies at booths to race car events to immersive experiences that educate, marketing teams need to continue to explore ways to connect with prospects.The episode closed with the reminder that integrity and creativity never go out of style, and lasting business growth depended on building genuine, long-term relationships.🔑 Key Takeaways🔹 Traditional tactics have left many buyers fatigued.🔹 Success started with relationships and trust.🔹 Sales and marketing alignment was critical, especially when using data and geographic and persona nuance.🔹 Creative engagement worked, with fresh and entertaining approaches.🔹 The future of marketing mixed education with entertainment to reach tech-native buyers.🔹 On the seller's side, a growing trend for smaller companies to leverage fractional CMOs/CROs expertise to address limited budgets.🔹 Integrity, creativity, and long-term relationships remained the winning formula for sellers.#SmartIT #Marketing #Sales #WorkspaceConstructProduction: Brilliant Beam Media | Syya YasotornratShow notes:🔹Link to this episode: https://youtu.be/Nd70D7XDTbQ🔹Lindsey on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lbutcher/🔹Katherine on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/katherinedollar/🔹The Smart IT Podcast YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@thesmartitpodcast🔹Captivate Website for all episodes: https://the-smart-it-podcast.captivate.fm/

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• Improving our Risk Management Programs with Quantification

  On this episode of The Smart IT Podcast, I welcomed Mike Woodward to the show to discuss the growing pressures on IT leaders to manage complex cyber risks with limited budgets and resources. They are facing more threats, false positives, vendor noise, and budget constraints.We explored how Cyber Risk Quantification (CRQ) can shift cybersecurity conversations from vague threat warnings to clear, dollar-based business cases, helping organizations prioritize investments, compete for funding, and align with enterprise risk management. Our discussion covered practical ways to validate CRQ tools, avoid overreacting to improbable "maximum loss" scenarios, maintain accurate asset inventories, get a handle on shadow IT, and address legacy system vulnerabilities. Mike emphasized that effective risk management often comes from strategic thinking and process improvements, not just buying new tools. IT leaders who quantify, prioritize, and align risk with business goals earn greater trust and deliver stronger outcomes.Key Takeaways:🔹 Cyber Risk Quantification (CRQ) – Can transform the way technology leaders secure resources, prioritize investments, and align with business goals. Turns vague threats into measurable financial exposure and ROI cases.🔹 Cost to Value – Cybersecurity is often seen as a cost center. CRQ reframes security investments in terms of measurable risk reduction and ROI.🔹 Prioritize Strategically – Focus on high-probability, high-impact risks, not rare “maximum loss” scenarios.🔹 Tool Validation – Test CRQ tools with known scenarios for credible results.🔹 Process Before Purchase – Often, policy changes and operational improvements deliver more impact than the latest “shiny” tool.🔹 Know Your Environment – Accurate, up-to-date asset inventories are critical; adversaries should never know your infrastructure better than you do. In addition, accurate inventories help address shadow IT and legacy system risks.🔹 Boardroom Alignment – Speak the language of dollars and risk trade-offs to secure funding. CRQ aligns cybersecurity with enterprise risk management, enabling better budget justification and smarter trade-offs.🔹 Strategic Leadership – Shift from reactive technical fixes to proactive, enterprise-level risk management.Production: Brilliant Beam Media | Syya Yasotornrat#SmartIT #CyberSecurity #RiskManagement #CISO #ITLeadership #RiskQuantificationShow notes:Link to this episode: https://youtu.be/WN534OAdvmsMike on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikewoodward/The Smart IT Podcast YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@thesmartitpodcastCaptivate Website for all episodes: https://the-smart-it-podcast.captivate.fm/

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• The World of Remote Work

  On this episode of The Smart IT Podcast, I welcomed Christopher Reed, Field CTO for the Americas at Omnissa, to the show. We explored the evolving landscape of remote work in 2025 and beyond. We delved into the challenges and opportunities of “Anywhere, Anytime” computing, where IT must secure and support productivity across diverse environments. We discussed the critical need for flexible, secure, and AI-driven IT architectures that accommodate remote work, improve digital experience, and manage third-party access, all while reducing user friction and scaling governance. The episode blended visionary thinking with practical advice for IT leaders navigating the complex demands of modern end-user computing.The Future of Remote Work Isn’t Remote Anymore. It’s Everywhere! We unpacked what it really takes to support a workforce that works from anywhere, anytime, on any device. Hint: It’s not just about VPNs and Zoom calls anymore. Remote work is here to stay, with a large percentage of employment roles offering remote flexibility.🔑 Key TakeawaysStrategic Role of IT: CIOs must tie remote work, digital experience, and scalable AI architecture into the business strategy. This is not a niche function but core to competitive advantage.From Help Desk to Experience Desk: Support must evolve into proactive, AI-enabled digital experience management that anticipates and resolves issues like poor Wi-Fi or app slowdowns before users complain.Composable IT: Virtual desktop infrastructure (VDI) and contextual app delivery allow IT to offer tailored user experiences based on location, device, and task.Governance at Scale: Managing access for contractors and third parties requires clear “start of authority,” identity federation, and API governance. IT must define and enforce secure pathways into systems.User Friction and Productivity: IT should strive to reduce unnecessary user friction while increasing security, ideally using biometric, passwordless, or certificate-based methods.Context-Aware Delivery: Applications should be delivered based on contextual signals (who, where, what device, bandwidth, etc.) rather than user decision-making.Next-Gen Interfaces & Autonomy: Wearables, spatial computing, and voice interfaces will expand the ways users interact with IT systems. The future is autonomous, context-aware, and scalable.Architecting for Scale: The real Achilles heel for IT is data architecture. Traditional systems can’t scale to support billions of signals from millions of endpoints. IT needs to address this challenge.Security in a Remote World: IT must secure unmanaged devices and unsecured networks (e.g., home, coffee shop), shifting from legacy conditional access. Get ready for continuous authentication and agentic AI.#SmartIT #DigitalWorkplace #RemoteWork #EndUserComputing #AIOps #Cybersecurity #ITLeadership #DigitalExperience #VDI #WorkFromAnywhereLink to this episode: https://youtu.be/bvErLcXPHOQProduction: @Brilliant Beam Media @Syya YasotornratShow notes:Link to this episode: https://youtu.be/bvErLcXPHOQChristopher on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christopherreed2/Omnissa: https://www.omnissa.com/

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• The Future of Software Development

  On this episode of the Smart IT Podcast, I welcomed Eknauth Persaud from Ayoka Systems to the show to chat about the future of software development. We explored the evolving landscape of software development, the impact and role of AI, and the human experience of using technology. Eknauth shared a forward-looking perspective on how technology should enhance human relationships and user experiences. We discussed developers shifting roles, and the need to reimagine both technology and human roles to deliver better, more meaningful outcomes. We talked about the difference between automation for cost savings versus innovation for growth. We explored real world examples from healthcare and retail.Eknauth explained the DCM model (Discern, Construct, Manage) as a foundational framework for building more intentional, human-centered solutions. It is a timeless framework that can be used in help building useful technology solutions, emphasizing that the declining cost of software development can help bring the focus back to discerning user intent.🔑 Key Takeaways- DCM Model: The Discern → Construct → Manage cycle. With AI and automation lowering development costs, discernment (intent and purpose) becomes even more critical. - DCM model: → Discern the intent → Construct with purpose → Manage for lasting value- Commander's Intent: Originating from military strategy, this concept stresses the importance of understanding the higher purpose behind initiatives to avoid misalignment in outcomes. Technologist can leverage this in their efforts to maintain alignment with their organizations.- Human-Centered Technology: - The best tech enhances human relationships. - Tech shouldn't create friction; it should make experiences (like dining, shopping, healthcare) smoother and more personal. Tech as a tool to reduce friction, not add to it. - Businesses should reimagine job roles (e.g., cashiers as experience enhancers).- AI's Role: - It's not a replacement but an augmentation tool. - Helps surface better questions, not just provide answers. - Useful for complex tasks like analyzing contracts or medical trends, with human judgment for effectiveness.- Reimagining the Developer Role: - Future developers must be curious, business-savvy, and human-focused. - How developers must shift toward systems thinking and business empathy - Coding becomes a tool for prototyping and understanding user needs. - Entry-level roles may diminish, but demand for sophisticated, systems-thinking developers will grow.- A/B Testing Human Experience vs. Tech Efficiency: - Organizations should experiment with AI-first models vs. human-centric models to find optimal balance. - Physical presence, like receptionists and frontline workers, may still be preferred in certain industries.- Rethinking Maintenance as Management: - Focus not just on keeping systems running, but on continuously adding value and improving user experience.#smartIT #AI #SoftwareDevelopment #HumanCenteredDesign #Leadership #Innovation #ITStrategy #DigitalTransformationLink to this episode: https://youtu.be/jhq6OOkajZsProduction: @Brilliant Beam Media @Syya YasotornratShow notes:- Link to this episode: https://youtu.be/jhq6OOkajZs- Eknauth on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/eknauth/- Ayoka Systems: https://ayokasystems.com/- Get out of Jail Software (Rent My Software): https://rentmysoftware.com/- The Mouse Software: https://themousesoftware.com/use-cases/

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