Between Fires and Futures: Real Conversations for Tech Leaders Navigating What’s Now—and What’s Next

Tonya Turrell

Between Fires and Futures is the podcast for modern tech leaders caught in the constant tension of today and tomorrow. It’s the space between daily firefights—cloud issues, AI hype, security breaches—and the visionary work of building scalable, resilient, future-ready organizations. Each week, we talk with the strategists, technologists, and innovators doing the real work of leading change. These are unfiltered conversations that expose the tradeoffs, wins, and lessons no one puts in the case studies. No spin. No fluff. Just pressure-tested leadership, real-world insight, and bold thinking. https://www.technologymatch.com/ 

에피소드

  1. 5일 전

    Power Is the New Currency: AI Adoption vs. Infrastructure Reality for CIOs with Joel St. Germain

    AI is moving faster than the infrastructure that powers it. While headlines focus on breakthrough models and business outcomes, CIOs and IT leaders are running into the real bottleneck: data centers, power capacity, and sourcing. In this episode, Tonya sits down with Joel St. Germain, founder of Global Consulting Group and CEO of DataCenters.com, the world’s largest marketplace connecting enterprises, hyperscalers, and investors to over 6,500 facilities worldwide. Tune in to hear: The hidden bottleneck shaping AI adoption: why power is now the limiting currency.The million-dollar mistakes CIOs make when sourcing data centers.Why traditional procurement cycles don’t work anymore in today’s seller’s market.How hyperscalers, edge data centers, and real estate investors are reshaping the future of infrastructure.The 12–24 month planning horizon every CIO must adopt to avoid being left behind.How sustainability, modular energy units, and hybrid power solutions are transforming data center strategy.Why board-level conversations about energy and infrastructure costs are critical to AI readiness.Episode resources: Website: www.datacenters.comCompany page: https://app.technologymatch.com/buyer/companies/be525b6a-b7be-41e2-8a8d-ad97db2922b9Co-Location: https://app.technologymatch.com/solutions/co-locationData Centers: https://app.technologymatch.com/solutions/data-centersInfrastructure-as-a-Service https://app.technologymatch.com/solutions/infrastructure-as-a-service

    47분

  2. 8월 13일

    Why Women Are Essential to Transforming IT Leadership in the Age of AI with Leslie Bonsett, April Armijo, Lara Mayes

    In this powerful and candid conversation, host Tonya Turrell sits down with three trailblazing women from GCG — Lara Mayes, April Armijo, and Leslie Bonsett — to explore how female leaders are reshaping the future of tech. Together, they unpack the shifts happening in leadership today, why traditional models are breaking down, and how empathy, adaptability, and emotional intelligence are becoming essential leadership skills in the age of AI. From navigating male-dominated boardrooms in the ’90s to mentoring the next generation of leaders, Lara, April, and Leslie share their personal journeys, hard-earned lessons, and the unique strengths women bring to the table — strengths that are now driving cultural and strategic change across the industry. They dive into: The evolution of tech leadership and why the old “command-and-control” style is no longer enoughHow women’s intuition, empathy, and ability to build genuine relationships create stronger teams and better resultsReal-life stories of overcoming bias, breaking through barriers, and earning respect in male-dominated spacesWhy curiosity, listening, and courage are essential leadership skills for both emerging and seasoned leadersHow AI is accelerating the need for human-first leadership — and the role women can play in setting ethical, people-centered standards for the futureActionable advice for both women leaders and male allies to create more inclusive, balanced, and effective workplacesWhy You’ll Love This Episode: If you’ve ever wondered how to lead authentically in fast-changing, high-pressure environments — or how to amplify the voices and impact of women in tech — this conversation is filled with real talk, inspiration, and strategies you can use right now. Whether you’re an aspiring leader, a seasoned executive, or a male ally who wants to support positive change, this episode will leave you motivated and hopeful about the future of leadership. Connect with our guests: Website: gcgcom.comEmail: smartsell@gcgcom.comLinkedIn: Lara Mayes | April Armijo | Leslie Bonsett

    1시간 9분

  3. 7월 14일

    From Firefighting to Forward Thinking – Automation for the Modern IT Leader with Chris Miller, Advizex

    Want to know what automation strategies are actually working for real enterprise teams? Automation may be one of the most overused buzzwords in IT—but it’s also one of the most underutilized solutions. In this episode, we sit down with Chris Miller, CTO of Advizex, whose journey from building an ISP at 19 to leading enterprise automation strategy has given him rare, hands-on perspective on what actually works. If you're stuck in firefighting mode but want to build a system that scales and sustains your team, this conversation is your roadmap. We break down what intelligent automation actually looks like in practice—far beyond the hype—and how IT leaders can prioritize, operationalize, and scale automation across complex systems. From reducing provisioning wait times to unlocking agentic AI in cross-departmental workflows, this episode is packed with actionable insights you can take back to your team immediately. Tune in to hear: Chris’s unique path from programming at age 6 to CTO, and how his early experiences shaped his systems-thinking mindsetWhere enterprise IT teams are feeling the most pressure—and how smart automation is relieving itWhy consistency may be more valuable than speed when it comes to automation ROIHigh-leverage use cases like self-healing systems, intelligent provisioning, and automated security responseThe biggest blockers to scaling automation—and how to avoid project stall-outWhat smart, scalable automation really looks like when it’s done rightHow agentic AI is changing the future of IT operations (and what early adopters are doing now)Chris’s lean value analysis method for choosing the right automation projects based on time, cost, and business impactHow to get leadership and IT buy-in without the overwhelmResources Mentioned: 🔍 Explore automation insights from Advizex: Search "Advizex automation" on TechnologyMatch.com 🤖 Reach out to Chris directly: CMiller@advizex.com

    44분

  4. 7월 7일

    The IT Leader Has Evolved – Are You Still Just a Technologist? with Jason Frame, Southern Nevada Health District

    Is your IT leadership evolving fast enough to meet the demands of today’s human-first, AI-driven future? In this episode, Tonya sits down with Jason Frame, CIO of the Southern Nevada Health District, to talk about what it truly means to lead IT in a post-COVID, AI-driven world. Jason brings decades of experience and a radically human-centered approach to IT leadership. From rethinking how we define value in IT, to implementing psychological safety and building cross-functional trust, Jason shares how modern CIOs must move beyond technology jargon and become experience-driven, empathetic leaders. Whether you’re facing resistance to change, struggling to influence beyond IT, or wondering how to help your team embrace AI without fear, this episode is packed with honest, actionable wisdom to help you lead through today’s chaos—and into tomorrow’s possibilities. Tune in to hear: Why the CIO role is no longer just technical—and what it’s becoming insteadThe power of putting employee and customer experience at the center of IT strategyHow Jason led a seamless shift from desk phones to Teams softphones—and what made it workCommon blind spots tech leaders still have about the future of their roleWhy “soft skills” are actually essential leadership toolsHow to speak the language of the business—and humans—not just techReal-world examples of psychological safety building stronger teamsHow to align AI and automation with human-first impactThe value of cross-departmental trust and how to build itJason’s advice for leaders who want to start evolving but don’t know where to beginConnect with Jason: Follow Jason Frame on LinkedIn

    41분

  5. 6월 30일

    The Cost of Complexity – How IT Leaders Can Rein in Cloud Spend without Killing Innovation with Martin Hauskrecht, Labyrinth Labs

    Is your cloud bill out of control—despite doing “all the right things”? You’re not alone. In this episode of Tonya sits down with Martin Hauskrecht, Head of Engineering at Labyrinth Labs and curator of the TLDR DevOps newsletter, to unpack the cloud cost dilemma. With over 1.25 million readers, Martin is a trusted voice in the DevOps space, known for designing scalable cloud infrastructures and cutting through complexity with actionable insights. Together, they explore why cloud costs are skyrocketing—even for companies with strong tech teams—and how IT leaders can reduce spend without stalling innovation. From Kubernetes realities to forgotten resources and architectural patterns that silently bleed budget, this conversation offers a tactical and mindset-driven approach to smarter cloud spending. Tune in to hear: Why cloud pricing models lead to overspending—even with skilled teamsThe most common hidden costs in AWS bills (spoiler: data transfer)Why Kubernetes isn’t the budget-breaker many think it isThe cultural and process gaps keeping teams stuck in wasteTools, techniques, and strategies for real-time cost visibilityWhy cost accountability should be embedded in engineering workflowsWhen it's time to adopt Kubernetes—and when to waitReal-life examples of 20–60% savings from better architecture decisionsMartin’s #1 suggestion for any IT leader reviewing their next cloud invoiceWhy the belief that “cloud has to be expensive” is holding leaders backResources Mentioned: TLDR DevOps NewsletterLabyrinth LabsTechnologyMatch.com (for partnership inquiries)Connect with Martin on LinkedIn

    34분

  6. 6월 24일

    IT Can’t Do it Alone – Solving the AI Adoption Gap with Steve Grosso & Danny Jones, Advizex

    Are your AI pilots technically successful—but still not going anywhere? You’re not alone. So what’s really holding back AI adoption in enterprise environments? In this episode of Between Fires and Futures, we sit down with AI transformation experts Danny Jones and Steve Grosso from Advizex to unpack one of the biggest challenges IT leaders are facing today: the AI buy-in gap. Spoiler—it’s not the technology. From stalled pilots to cross-functional resistance, this conversation is a masterclass on navigating the political, cultural, and strategic realities of enterprise AI. You’ll learn why smaller, low-risk sprints are key, how to secure cross-functional alignment, and what practical steps organizations can take to build scalable, ROI-driven AI solutions.  Tune in to hear: Why most AI pilots fail after the tech proves itselfThe #1 myth IT leaders need to stop repeatingThe “small bites” approach to derisk AI initiatives and build momentumHow to move from pilot to production without fizzling outThe real reason data quality can make or break your successA behind-the-scenes story about solving municipal water loss with AI—and where it went wrongWhy IT can’t operate as a silo anymore (and how to get other departments to lean in)The critical role of internal and external partner alignmentWhere AI is headed in the next 12–36 months (and how to prepare today)Resources Mentioned: Advizex AI Solutions on TechnologyMatch (search “Advizex AI”)Contact the team directly via ai@advizex.comConnect with Danny and Steve on LinkedIn

    43분

  7. 6월 5일

    The Tech Buying System Is Broken—Here’s What I’m Doing About It

    Ever wonder why tech buying feels broken—and what could actually fix it? In this episode, host Tonya Turrell, founder and CEO of TechnologyMatch.com, pulls back the curtain on the legacy lead generation system that’s failing tech leaders—and shares the bold vision behind the company she built to change it. Tonya recounts her journey from tech sales and marketing to launching an agency just weeks before the global pandemic, and how her frustration with sales-driven models inspired her to reimagine tech matchmaking from the ground up. If you're tired of cold calls, spammy vendors, and feeling like a target instead of a partner, this episode will resonate with you. Tune in to hear: The real problem with legacy lead generation and “demand creation”How Technology Match flips the script to prioritize IT buyers’ needs, privacy, and timingWhy the pandemic was a catalyst for a better way to serve tech leadersThe inspiration behind designing a Bumble-style, buyer-led marketplace for techTonya’s call to transform the industry through truth-based marketing and respectful connectionsLinks & Resources: 🔗 Learn more: TechnologyMatch.com 📧 Contact Tonya: tonya@technologymatch.com 💼 Connect on LinkedIn: Tonya Turrell

    21분

  8. 5월 16일

    AI at the Speed of Light: Allen Clingerman on Data, Infrastructure & the New Era of Tech Leadership

    In this premiere episode of Between Fires and Futures, host Tonya Turrell sits down with Dell Technologies’ Chief Technology Strategist, Allen Clingerman, to cut through the AI noise and get clear on what tech leaders actually need to know. With over 30 years of enterprise tech experience, Allen shares what’s really happening in the field—from major fires IT leaders are putting out daily to the critical infrastructure and mindset shifts required to lead through this next era of rapid AI adoption. They explore the practical use cases every org can start with, the biggest misconceptions holding teams back, and why speed—not perfection—is the new competitive advantage. Whether you’re a Fortune 50 CTO or a mid-sized IT director, this conversation is packed with the insights, frameworks, and real-world strategies you need to move from firefighting to future-building. Tune in to hear: The three biggest AI “fires” tech teams are facing—and how to solve themWhy AI is not just a tech problem but a business transformation driverThe #1 place every company (regardless of size) should start with AIWhat it really takes to move from pilot to production—and where most teams get stuckThe critical mindset shifts tech leaders must embrace now to stay aheadHow AI is transforming job roles (and why reskilling beats hiring)When to build AI solutions in-house vs. buy—plus a smart approach to ROIThe unexpected AI use cases that are revolutionizing retail, education, healthcare, and logisticsAllen’s rapid-fire take on what to build, what to ditch, and how to make real progressMentioned Tools & Resources: NVIDIA AI Enterprise & Build.NVIDIA.com for skill-building and experimentationHugging Face + LM Studio for open-source LLM trainingDell AI Factory for integrated AI infrastructure solutionsReady to go deeper? → Visit TechnologyMatch.com to explore Dell AI Factory solutions → Connect with Allen directly: allen.clingerman@dell.com

    45분
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Between Fires and Futures is the podcast for modern tech leaders caught in the constant tension of today and tomorrow. It’s the space between daily firefights—cloud issues, AI hype, security breaches—and the visionary work of building scalable, resilient, future-ready organizations. Each week, we talk with the strategists, technologists, and innovators doing the real work of leading change. These are unfiltered conversations that expose the tradeoffs, wins, and lessons no one puts in the case studies. No spin. No fluff. Just pressure-tested leadership, real-world insight, and bold thinking. https://www.technologymatch.com/ 

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