Tech Me Seriously!

April Wensel: Building Compassionate Tech Cultures

Building Compassionate Tech Cultures with April Wenzel On this episode of Tech Me Seriously, host Sarah Tanisi, CEO of Tenisi Tech, engages in a compelling conversation with April Wenzel, international keynote speaker and founder of Compassionate Coding. They explore the significance of integrating emotional intelligence and compassion in tech, tackling misconceptions, industry burnout, and how open-mindedness towards compassionate practices can revolutionize the workplace. April shares her...

Julia Tunstall: Cocktails, Mocktails and Getting Started With AI!

In this episode of "Tech Me Seriously," host Sarah Tenisi, CEO of TenisiTech, welcomes Julia Tunstall, co-founder of A Bar Above, a company dedicated to making craft cocktail skills  and high-end barware accessible to everyone. Julia and Sarah discuss Julia's transition from a career in project and data management at life sciences companies to co-founding A Bar Above. Julia shares her passion for cocktails and how she and her husband created a successful business that blends online cocktail ...

Stephen Robertson: What's My IP?

In this compelling episode of "Tech Me Seriously," Sarah Tenisi, CEO of TenisiTech, dives into the world of Intellectual Property (IP) with guest expert Stephen Robertson. As founder of Metis Partners, Stephen brings over two decades of experience in helping businesses recognize, protect, and leverage their IP assets. Together, they unravel the complexities of intellectual property, offering invaluable insights into its role in driving business growth, securing competitive advantages, and pr...

Angela Amoroso: Championing Ballet and the Arts for Our Kids Education

Angela Amoroso: Championing Ballet and the Arts for Our Kids’ Education In this episode, Sarah Tenisi speaks with Angela Amoroso, Founder of Scripps Performing Arts Academy, established in 1987. Her goal is to provide a creative nurturing environment that instills self-confidence, self-esteem, and teamwork without sacrificing the core values of dance as an art form. Listen in as Angela discusses why integrating art into the core curriculum, into K-12 education, is more important than ever...

Nicholas Muy: No Need to Feel Insecure Anymore!

In this episode, Sarah Tenisi speaks with Nicholas Muy, Head of Partnerships at Scrut Automation for North America and the EU. Nick has held a variety of high-impact roles at SaaS companies, many of which are familiar household names. Through his passion for cybersecurity and compliance, he helps companies manage risk and earn trust with their clients by helping them understand and implement great security and compliance practices. Listen in as Nick discusses the challenges of balancing se...

Matt Homann: Let's Not Have a Meeting About a Meeting!

In this episode - Sarah chats with Matt Homann. Matt is the Founder of Filament, and inventor of Thinksgiving and is passionate about helping people think, meet and learn together better.  Are your meetings feeling lackluster and unproductive? It's time to shake things up and transform your gatherings into dynamic, engaging experiences that leave participants inspired and motivated. In this fast-paced world, effective meetings are essential for driving progress and fostering collaboration. ...

Sridhar Sunkara: Understanding & Embracing AI to Evolve in Business

The Emergence and Take Off of AI in Business and How it Relates to Digital Transformation Journey Artificial Intelligence (AI) is transforming the business landscape, revolutionizing the way organizations operate, and making their operations more efficient, effective, and profitable. AI-driven applications and solutions are becoming increasingly commonplace, and their ability to process vast amounts of data and deliver insights in real time is helping businesses make better-informed decisio...

Shawn Flynn: The Importance of IT in the Context of M&A

In this episode, Sarah Tenisi speaks with Shawn Flynn, a Principal at a mid-market investment bank among several specialties, focusing on Mergers & Acquisitions of middle-market companies, with revenue between $10-$250 million. Shawn kicked off his career by founding, scaling, and successfully scaling a company in Beijing, China. He is also host of The Silicon Valley Podcast where he speaks to founders on a variety of topics such as building a unicorn company, raising funding, and technolog...

Shahrzad Nooravi: A Powerful Culture Starts With You!

In this episode, Sarah Tenisi speaks with Dr. Shahrzad Nooravi, author of A Powerful Culture Starts With You. She is an organizational psychologist and Master Certified Coach (MCC) who helps organizations cultivate thriving workplaces from the inside-out. Dr. Nooravi is the Founder and CEO of Strategy Meets Performance, a business consulting firm that partners with leaders of mid-sized to Fortune 500 organizations to help them create engaging, innovative, and productive cultures. Listen in...

Ted White: Niche Recruiting in the MSP Space

In this episode, Sarah Tenisi speaks with Ted White, CEO at Vertical Talent Solutions, a recruiting firm focused on finding great technical talent for MSPs (Managed Service Providers). Listen in as Ted dives deep into technical recruiting and what makes finding great IT talent for MSPs different from finding individual IT talent for companies. He discusses the value of hiring a generalist as compared to specialists due to the multifaceted nature of the MSP space. He talks about the traits ...

Robert Cardillo: Location Science, Digital Safety and the Ethics of AI

In this episode, Sarah Tenisi speaks with Robert Cardillo, Chairman of the Board at Planet Federal. He was also the sixth Director of United States Geospatial Intelligence Foundation (USGIF), and was a Distinguished Fellow at Saint Louis University. Listen in as Robert discusses how location science and location confidence is ultimately in service of helping people have more productive and fulfilling days. He offers his thoughts on how much is too much when it comes to exposing your kids t...

Kaitlyn Allen: A Stitch in Time Saves The Planet!

In this episode, Sarah Tenisi speaks with Kaitlyn Allen, an expert in helping companies make strategic business-appropriate decisions regarding sustainability and energy transition. She sold her company, Global Affairs Associates, to ClimeCo last year. In addition to working in the ESG consulting space, Kaitlyn is also the Founder of MendIt, a digital marketplace for clothing repair and recycling, connecting existing businesses and consumers. Listen in as Kaitlyn discusses the idea that bu...

Joanie Connell: The Evolution of Remote Work: Culture Through Communication

Joanie Connell: The Evolution of Remote Work In this episode, Sarah Tenisi speaks with Dr. Joanie B. Connell, President of Flexible Work Solutions and development expert focused on career and leadership consulting. Her mission is to help technical experts transform into leaders comfortable with managing people and through emotionally-charged situations. She is the author of the two books Consulting to Technical Leaders, Teams, and Organizations: Building Leadership in STEM Environments and...

Angela Masching: Understanding Corporate Governance

In this episode, Sarah Tenisi speaks with Angela Masching. Her expertise lies in building scalable, successful, sellable businesses, with a particular passion for high-growth organizations and transformative global impact. Angela has held various corporate governance roles and has a wealth of experience on what it takes to make a company successful. Listen in as Angela unpacks the idea that everyone has a boss, no matter one’s role in an organization. She discusses the four major stakehold...

Craig Weber: Transform Your Life and Work with the Art of Conversational Capacity

In this episode, Sarah Tenisi speaks with Craig Weber, author of Conversational Capacity and Influence in Action. He is on a mission to create more healthy, engaged, and adaptive organizations. Craig’s books provide concrete actions you can take to transform your company, and even your personal relationships. Listen in as Craig shares the keys to building up your conversational capacity and ability to produce psychological safety in the workplace. He discusses the evolution of managerial s...

Anne Bisagno: The Importance of DEI in Building a Prosperous Business

In this episode, Sarah Tenisi speaks with Anne Bisagno, CEO at Xantrion, a managed cybersecurity and IT support firm tailored to mid-sized businesses based in the Bay Area. Xantrion has been consistently named as one of the top managed cybersecurity service providers, and as one of the best places to work in the Bay Area. Listen in as Anne speaks on her motivation behind developing a diversity, equity, and inclusion practice at Xantrion as she reflects on America’s long and ongoing path to...

Anne Bisagno: The Importance of DEI in Building a Prosperous 100 Person IT Services Company

In this episode, Sarah Tenisi speaks with Anne Bisagno, CEO at Xantrion, a managed cybersecurity and IT support firm tailored to mid-sized businesses based in the Bay Area. Xantrion has been consistently named as one of the top managed cybersecurity service providers, and as one of the best places to work in the Bay Area. Listen in as Anne speaks on her motivation behind developing a diversity, equity, and inclusion practice at Xantrion as she reflects on America’s long and ongoing path to...

Maria Dion: From Scarcity to Sufficiency - Understanding What's Enough!

In this episode, Sarah Tenisi speaks with Maria Dion, who has a long career in project management of the built environment. Ten years ago, in an effort to develop a better relationship with money, she read The Soul of Money by Lynne Twist, and then participated in a workshop digging more into those concepts. Those experiences led her to coach on transforming mindsets from scarcity to sufficiency. To learn more about this work, go to Maria’s website, www.mariadion.com. Listen in as Maria ...

Maritza Diaz: Between Perception and Reality, Lies Opportunity!

In this episode, Sarah Tenisi speaks with Maritza Diaz, founder of ITJuana, which enables companies in California to create technology centers of excellence in Tijuana. She is also on the Board of Directors for the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco and sits on the Forbes Technology Council. Listen in as Maritza unpacks her initiative to build the Biomed tech valley in Tijuana and why more discussions need to be had on the cross-border economy. She contends that the area covering San Di...

Emily Perry: Can Artificial Intelligence Replace the Writing Process?

In this episode, Sarah Tenisi speaks with Emily Perry, PhD. She is the Senior Education Program Manager at QuillBot, a company focused on developing state-of-the-art AI-based writing and research tools to make writing painless. Emily goes in-depth into how AI is transforming educational writing. She and Sarah kick off the episode defining what AI is (and isn’t) and addressing AI skepticism before dedicating the latter part of the conversation on how QuillBot is making writing “painless” and...

Susan Schwartz: The Journey From Expert to Leader

In this episode, Sarah Tenisi speaks with Susan Schwartz, Founder and Leadership & Management Coach at The River Birch Group. She spent her early career working as a project manager on large technical projects. Today she focuses on transforming professional experts into excellent leaders. Her book, Creating a Greater Whole, discusses this process in detail. What You’ll Learn in This Episode: ●      [01:58] Why aspiring leaders should never overlook the “soft and squishy” skills ●      [04...

Christine Dyer: The Power of Unconditional Positive Regard

In this episode, Sarah Tenisi speaks with Christina Dyer, CEO of Christina Dyer International, an executive leadership and coaching company. She is also the Founder of Noble Adventures, a leadership retreat and adventure company. What You’ll Learn in This Episode: ●      [01:26] What is “unconditional positive regard”? ●      [09:30] Why “participation trophies” aren’t necessarily a bad thing ●      [10:58] How does unconditional positive regard help businesses heal the world? ●      [1...

Christina Dyer: The Power of Unconditional Positive Regard

In this episode, Sarah Tenisi speaks with Christina Dyer, CEO of Christina Dyer International, an executive leadership and coaching company. She is also the Founder of Noble Adventures, a leadership retreat and adventure company. What You’ll Learn in This Episode: ●      [01:26] What is “unconditional positive regard”? ●      [09:30] Why “participation trophies” aren’t necessarily a bad thing ●      [10:58] How does unconditional positive regard help businesses heal the world? ●      [1...

Alex Goldfayn: Pick Up The Phone and Sell!

Alex Goldfayn: Pick Up the Phone and Sell! In this episode, Sarah Tenisi speaks with Alex Goldfayn, a Wall Street Journal bestselling author, and CEO of The Revenue Growth Consultancy. His specialty is motivating sales teams, executives, and owners to take action and quickly increase revenue. On September 22, 2021, he released his newest book Pick Up The Phone and Sell: How Proactive Calls to Customers and Prospects Can Double Your Sales. What You’ll Learn in This Episode: ●      [02:12] ...

Michelle Wagner: Mental Health Services Made Accessible

In this episode, Sarah Tenisi speaks with Michelle Wagner, the CEO of MindStrong, a telehealth company focused on providing mental health services using traditional methodologies combined with newer technologies like predictive analytics and Artificial Intelligence.  Sarah and Michelle chat about the history of mental health and how it has evolved to people now speaking openly about it, and how technology has helped reach out to several patients seeking help with their mental illnesses, wit...

JM Ryerson: Let's Go Win: The Keys to Living Your Best Life

In this episode, Sarah Tenisi speaks with JM Ryerson, Co-founder and CEO of Let’s Go Win, a professional training and coaching organization focused on helping people develop the mindset to allow them to succeed. JM is the author of Let's Go Win: The Keys To Living Your Best Life (2020) which outlines the tools that he uses to bring about this success. What You’ll Learn in This Episode: ●      [01:30] Why JM wrote his book ●      [03:46] Allowing your kids to skin their knees ●      [05:1...

Vitale Buford: The Important Journey from Perfectionism to Excellence

In this episode, Sarah Tenisi speaks with Vitale Buford, an executive coach, speaker, and the author of Addicted to Perfect: A Journey Out of the Grips of Adderall. Listen in as Vitale shares how she helps organizations lead with imperfection.  What You’ll Learn in This Episode: ●      [01:33] Defining “perfectionism” and why we outsource our self-worth ●      [02:44] The difference between “perfectionism” and “excellence” ●      [07:00] How much excellence is “enough”? ●      [08:44] H...

Nita Singh Kaushal: Mentoring Young Women to be Leaders of the Future

Anna Straus: Creating an Employee Recognition and Appreciation Platform

In this episode, Sarah Tenisi speaks with Anna Straus, the CEO of Sparck, an AI platform that helps companies recognize, gauge, and retain employees. What You’ll Learn in This Episode: ●      [01:12] The definition of “employee engagement”, “employee recognition” ●      [02:44] The evolution of employee engagement and recognition ●      [04:49] The importance of emotional intelligence for managers ●      [08:02] How authentic leaders influence their team ●      [10:21] Differences in d...

Vanessa Allen: Succeed in Marketing by Offering Value, Information, Help and Community.

In this episode, Sarah Tenisi speaks with Vanessa Allen, Director of Demand Generation at RevCult and Principal Consultant at Allen Associates. She is a growth marketing expert and brand builder who has successfully created multi-channel and online integrated marketing programs. She is known for her industry experience in SaaS technology, sports and active lifestyle, travel, gifts, home and hard goods. What You’ll Learn in This Episode: ●      [01:12] What was marketing 10-15 years ago and...

Hernani Alves: How to Fall in Love with Accountability

In this episode, Sarah Tenisi speaks with Hernani Alves, a public speaker and the Founder and Chief Motivation Officer at Balanced IQ Leadership. He serves leaders to help make the most complex business skill awesomely simple, by helping their teams fall in love with accountability to maximize workplace culture. What You’ll Learn in This Episode: ●      [01:19] How Hernani’s work was impacted by COVID-19 ●      [03:35] The origin of the name “Hernani” ●      [04:40] Is enthusiasm innate ...

Tracy Jackson: How to Handle Difficult Conversations at Work

In this episode, Sarah Tenisi speaks with Tracy Jackson, a SHRM-certified HR executive with decades of executive leadership experience working in large organizations in the retail and banking space. As the founder of HR E-Z, Inc., Tracy recognizes a company’s most valuable assets are employees, and helps companies develop HR practices supporting the success and culture of the organization. She is also a speaker who helps people have uncomfortable conversations around diversity, inclusion, an...

Deanna Kosaraju: The Global Tech Women Community

In this episode, Sarah Tenisi speaks with Deanna Kosaraju, founder of Global Tech Women, an online community with over 16,000 members. The network offers resources, inspiring role models, mentoring, and community-building in every corner of the world. Deanna herself has a long history of working in technology and developing communities for women across the globe. What You’ll Learn in This Episode: ●      [01:20] Deanna’s thoughts on the historic inauguration of VP Kamala Harris ●      [02...

Jill Stelfox: Leading with Offense & the Return of Kindness at Work

This week, Sarah Tenisi (CEO of Tenisi Tech) chats with Jill Stelfox , the CEO of Panzura in Silicon Valley.  Panzura is the fabric that transforms cloud storage into a high-performance global file system. The conversation ranges from listening with curiosity, trusting intuition, going on the offense and being kind to one another at work! 0:17- Introduction 1.32- Working with Zebra Technology, Location Solutions and player tracking in the NFL 4:42- How the project  changed the way broadca...

Marilou McFarlane: Sports Technology and Democratizing Access for All.

Welcome to this episode of Tech Me Seriously with Sarah Tenisi  -  candid conversations with women exploring their passion for what they do. Our guest in today’s episode is Marilou Macfarlane who is the founder of women in sports technology, nonprofit organization focused on driving opportunities for women in sports technology.   Episode Highlight and show notes 1; 12- What is sports technology? 2:17- Sports performance and fan engagement in eSports 3:16- Breaking down the broad umbrella...

Antonia Mora: Why User Experience Defines the Success of a Product

Antonia Mora: Why User Experience Defines the Success of a Product In this episode, Sarah Tenisi speaks with Antonia Mora, Sr. UX Program Manager at Google Cloud Platform. She has spent her career working within big program management organizations at some of the largest well-known software companies in the world such as Adobe, in addition to Google. What You’ll Learn in This Episode: ●      [01:26] The difference between “program management” and “project management” ●      [02:36] What ...

Stefy Bau: How eSports is Changing the World

In this episode, Sarah Tenisi speaks with Stefy Bau, a seven-time women’s Italian Women's Motocross Champion, the only woman to hold a male professional motocross license from 2000 to 2007, the first woman to be featured in two video games (Supercross 2000 and Freakstyle), and the woman invited to compete against male pro motocross racers in Japan. Now, Stefy is at the forefront of the booming eSports industry. She is the Co-Founder and CEO at InIt Esports and InIt Sports as well as an advi...

Stefy Bau: How eSports is Changing The World

Sarah and Motocross champ -turned eSports entrepreneur Stefy Bau discuss the evolution and impact of the eSports indusry in today's world.

Val Langmuir - IT Should Be Invisible

Val Langmuir: IT Should Be Invisible In this episode, Sarah Tenisi speaks with Val Langmuir, Director of IT at large nonprofit based in San Francisco. Val describes IT specialists as the people who “work on the plumbing” that allows your device (specifically its computer system) to function securely and productively. Sarah agrees, saying that it is the job of the IT practitioner to “make IT invisible”; however, this opens up a whole world of misconceptions regarding what IT really is and h...

Kristi Royse: Leadership Secrets

Kristi Royse: Leadership Secrets In this episode, Sarah Tenisi speaks with Kristi Royse, founder and CEO at KLR Consulting. She is a leadership development consultant for a wide variety of well-known companies, including Workplace by Facebook and Rodan + Fields. A great leadership team, according to Kristi, is defined by vulnerability and passion. Every individual on the team—especially during these challenging times—needs to be willing to be willing to ask the important questions and be o...

E0: Hello World, Meet Sarah