The Smart IT Podcast

William D. Reed
  • 5.0 (1)
  • TECHNOLOGY
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

The Smart IT Podcast, where IT professionals can assemble and hear from each other, industry leaders, thought leaders, and those in adjacent fields to collaborate and learn from each other and explore what’s next for IT. The Smart IT Podcast explores what’s next for IT as it continues to find ways to get the important things done for our organizations. Preparing for the next decade, we need to think differently about how we approach our work to continue to thrive into the future. Smart IT is an approach, conceptual framework, and development model to getting the important things done by transforming the way traditional IT thinks, works, and leads. It supports the disruption of the status quo, simplifies the complex, reduces uncertainty, and improves risk mitigation. There has never been more pressure to deliver for our organizations; but I know IT is up to the challenge. That will require IT to lead by working smarter. Let’s do it together.

  1. 10/21/2025

    The Journey from Copywriting to Strategic Narrative

    On this episode of The Smart IT Podcast, I welcomed Shawn Rolph, founder of Copycat, to the show to talk about creativity, resilience, and adaptation in the face of technological disruption. How does one bounce back from the AI rush when it disrupts your business model? and then turn around the innovate on other ways to provide value to the market and harness that same tech to support the new approach. We explored his company's journey from copywriting to strategic narrative. Shawn shared his journey with music began after a childhood injury that shattered his elbow. Playing guitar became a form of physical therapy that later influenced his creativity and problem-solving as an entrepreneur. Music, he explained, had always been central to how he and his business partner brainstormed ideas and tackled challenges. He described founding Copycat in 2017 as a small copywriting venture that scaled into a full-service agency supporting large firms with writing talent and creative content. However, the introduction of ChatGPT in late 2022 fundamentally disrupted the business. Within three months of the announcement, Copycat lost half its runway as clients shifted to experimenting with AI-generated content. Shawn reflected that AI’s first major use case was communication, and that businesses quickly began reassessing the value of human-created writing. Rather than resist the change, Copycat pivoted. Shawn saw that AI would flood every marketing channel with content, amplifying noise and sameness. This insight led to the creation of Copycat’s Strategic Narrative Framework, a storytelling-driven approach that helps brands rediscover authentic voice, alignment, and differentiation. Drawing inspiration from Hollywood writing rooms and world-building, Shawn’s team began facilitating in-person workshops to help companies clarify their villains, heroes, and worldviews. Our conversation explored the “premium on slow” emerging in an AI-accelerated world, highlighting how genuine creativity, intentional storytelling, and human interaction would soon become more valuable than speed. Shawn emphasized that true innovation required reflection, alignment, and collaboration, not just automation. Copycat eventually used AI not to replace creativity but to amplify decision-making, automate workflows, and create space for deep narrative work, while maintaining a strict boundary against using AI for generative writing. Shawn concluded that storytelling could be taught through frameworks and that today’s founders must become both builders and storytellers. Copycat now operates both as a narrative agency and as a storytelling-as-a-service platform, helping founders and teams align around a unified message that connects authentically with customers. We closed the episode by highlighting Shawn’s ability to transform disruption into opportunity, reminding listeners that when challenges strike, creativity, collaboration, and purpose are the keys to building what’s next. #smartit #story #copy #narrative #ai Show notes: 🔹Link to this episode: https://youtu.be/QP-7QTlu96Q 🔹Shawn on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shawn-rolph/ 🔹Copycat: https://www.copycat.ink 🔹The Smart IT Podcast YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@thesmartitpodcast 🔹Captivate Website for all episodes: https://the-smart-it-podcast.captivate.fm/

    50 min

  2. 10/14/2025

    Smart IT | Leadership

    On this episode of The Smart IT Podcast, I welcomed Melissa Marks to the show to explore what leadership really means in today’s workplace. From employee engagement and culture to navigating layoffs, leading through adversity, and integrating AI responsibly, Melissa shared practical wisdom and human-centered strategies for building stronger organizations. 🔷 Smart IT - Leadership The conversation explored the idea that leadership is not about titles but about daily actions; whether parenting, caring for others, or stepping up in teams. Melissa described how remote work and Zoom created more equality by giving everyone a “front row seat,” allowing quieter voices to be heard. She stressed that leaders should foster unconditional love at work, supporting team members when they make mistakes rather than punishing them, because punitive cultures stifle growth and loyalty. We also discussed culture during adversity, such as economic downturns or layoffs. There is much that can be improved upon when it comes to the tendency of companies to abruptly reduce staff without transparency, leading to erosion of trust for those left behind. Melissa advocated for humane practices, early communication, and involving employees in problem-solving. She suggested that restructures often overlooked employee skills and innovative ideas that could save costs without losing talent. The conversation then shifted to AI in the workplace. Melissa, with her engineering and physics background, viewed AI as an exciting enhancement tool but not a replacement for human judgment, morality, or creativity. She noted that while AI could accelerate brainstorming and writing, it lacked the human accountability and ethical discernment needed in critical decisions. We both agreed that leaders must integrate AI thoughtfully, maintaining responsibility for outcomes rather than offloading it to technology. We closed with Melissa introducing her collaborative project, The ABCs of Leadership, a workbook guiding leaders through 26 behaviors to build high-performance, people-centered cultures. Leadership opportunities exist for everyone, regardless of title, and everyone is encouraged to embrace everyday chances to lead with vision and humanity. 🔑 Key Takeaways ✅ Why leadership is not about titles; it’s about daily actions, responsibility, and influence. ✅ How to align people with purpose, transforming disengaged employees into engaged contributors. ✅ The importance of unconditional love at work; supporting mistakes as learning opportunities rather than punishing them. ✅ Why culture and transparency matter most during adversity and layoffs, and how humane communication sustains trust. ✅ How to embrace AI as an enhancement tool while keeping humans accountable for ethics, creativity, and decision-making. ✅ Many disengaged employees are “persuadable” if leaders intentionally connect them to the organization's vision. Melissa also shared insights from her upcoming book, The ABCs of Leadership, a workbook designed to help teams build 10/10 cultures where people feel seen, valued, and empowered; with  cultures of engagement, accountability, and results. #SmartIT #Leadership #WorkplaceCulture  #AI #EmployeeEngagement Show notes: 🔹Link to this episode: https://youtu.be/ER8D8MBnr8Y 🔹Melissa on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/melissa-j-marks/ 🔹Team Excellence: https://tinapauluskrause.com/teamexcellence/ 🔹The Smart IT Podcast YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@thesmartitpodcast 🔹Captivate Website for all episodes: https://the-smart-it-podcast.captivate.fm/

    56 min

  3. 10/07/2025

    Smart IT Workspace Construct - Sellers Perspective

    On this episode of The Smart IT Podcast, I welcomed Keenan Coke to the show, where we explored the role of Business Development Representatives (BDRs) in modern sales and how they set the tone for customer relationships. 🔷 Smart IT Workspace Construct - Sellers Perspective (BDR View) Keenan revealed why the BDR position is about more than just cold calls. It’s about starting conversations, building trust, and connecting prospects with the right experts. BDRs bridge the gap between sales, support, and product teams, ensuring customer needs are heard and acted on. He described how BDRs built trust by creating warm introductions, ensuring prospects spoke with decision-makers, and filtering out poor fits. We talked about the importance of human connection in sales, noting that even in an AI-driven era, customers still preferred personal conversations over bots. He cautioned that communication breakdowns between teams could cost deals, while proactive outreach, follow-ups, and partnerships kept customers engaged. Emotional connection and consistent customer experience build long-term commitment. Keenan argued that loyalty depended on continuous engagement, fast responsiveness, and taking customer feedback seriously. Finally, he reflected on his own path into BDR work, explaining that he chose it deliberately to sharpen his communication skills. Anyone interested in sales did not need a degree or certification, just the ability and desire to communicate effectively, qualify prospects honestly, and help customers solve real problems. 🔑 Key Takeaways 🔹 How proper qualification and disqualification saves time and strengthens the pipeline 🔹 The importance of cross-team communication to prevent customer frustration 🔹 The role of early adopters and brand loyalty in long-term success 🔹 Why human connection still outperforms AI bots in building trust 🔹 Why strong communication skills matter more than degrees or certifications in sales If you’re in sales, product, or customer success; or just curious about how businesses grow through people-first connections, this episode is for you. 💡 “The BDR role is about setting the tone for a lasting relationship.” #SmartIT #sales #BDR Show notes: 🔹Link to this episode: https://youtu.be/i3rF3aTs7AA 🔹Keenan on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/keenan-coke/ 🔹The Smart IT Podcast YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@thesmartitpodcast 🔹Captivate Website for all episodes: https://the-smart-it-podcast.captivate.fm/

    1h 5m

  4. 09/30/2025

    Innerhive Demo - From Frustration to Action: Putting Tech to Work to Help People

    From Frustration to Action: Putting Tech to Work to Help People - Innerhive Demo On this episode of The Smart IT Podcast, I welcomed Crystal Gallo back to the show to walk me through the Innerhive solution. This is the full demo. https://lnkd.in/grVz8kk5 🔷 From Frustration to Action: Putting Tech to Work to Help People #SmartIT #innerhive #caregiving Production: Brilliant Beam Media Show notes: 🔹Link to this episode: https://lnkd.in/grVz8kk5 🔹Crystal on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/crystal-gallo/ 🔹Innerhive Website: https://www.innerhive.com/ 🔹Innerhive LinkedIn Page: https://www.linkedin.com/company/innerhive/ 🔹Try out Innerhive today. Use Promo Code for 3 months of premium access: BuildYourHive 🔹The Smart IT Podcast YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@thesmartitpodcast 🔹Captivate Website for all episodes: https://the-smart-it-podcast.captivate.fm/

    39 min

  5. 09/23/2025

    From Frustration to Action: Putting Tech to Work to Help People

    On this episode of The Smart IT Podcast, I welcomed Crystal Gallo to the show. She is the founder of Innerhive, whose mission is to end caregiver burnout. The solution was born from her personal experience navigating the overwhelming and emotional journey of caring for loved ones with medical issues. 🔷 From Frustration to Action: Putting Tech to Work to Help People We discussed the challenges faced by caregivers. Many people don’t even recognize themselves as caregivers, despite the fact they are taking on emotional, logistical, medical, and financial responsibilities. Crystal emphasized that caregiving is often invisible and stigmatized, especially in workplace settings. She talked about the need for collaboration, community engagement, and the emotional aspects of caregiving. She walked through the everyday chaos of trying to coordinate care, manage medical information, and communicate with family members. Crystal explained how Innerhive was designed to serve as a second brain for caregivers, using smart technology to: 🔹 Record and transcribe medical visits 🔹 Extract action items and follow-ups 🔹 Organize information across appointments, medications, and providers 🔹 Centralize community of support She highlighted how technology could be leveraged to make information digestible, shareable, and emotionally supportive, rather than overwhelming. We discussed the massive scale of the caregiving problem, with millions entering caregiver roles due to aging populations. Crystal called for a cultural and systemic shift, much like society previously embraced childcare support for working parents, to now include elder care. Innerhive has turned the painful experience of some many caregivers into a meaningful solution to support real people's needs. 🔑 Key Takeaways 🔹Real-world problems inspire innovative solutions 🔹Caregivers face significant challenges and burnout 🔹Communication and collaboration is key in caregiving situations 🔹The healthcare system has systemic issues that need addressing 🔹Building a supportive community is essential for caregivers 🔹Emotional support is crucial for caregivers' well-being 🔹Innerhive aims to simplify caregiving through providing a second brain #SmartIT #innerhive #caregiving #technology #healthcare #communitysupport #innovation #caregiverchallenges #emotionalsupport #Innerhive #peoplecentricity #peoplecentricinnovation Production | Brilliant Beam Media, Syya Yasotornrat Show notes: 🔹Link to this episode: https://youtu.be/MIRgxdO4IvM 🔹Crystal on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/crystal-gallo/ 🔹Innerhive Website: https://www.innerhive.com/ 🔹Innerhive LinkedIn Page: https://www.linkedin.com/company/innerhive/ 🔹Try out Innerhive today. Use Promo Code for 3 months of premium access: BuildYourHive 🔹The Smart IT Podcast YouTube Channel: a...

    1h 1m

  6. 09/09/2025

    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 #leadership Show 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/

    1h 1m

  7. 08/26/2025

    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 Experience The 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 #WorkspaceConstruct Production: Brilliant Beam Media | Syya Yasotornrat Show 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/

    49 min

  8. 08/19/2025

    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 #RiskQuantification Show 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/

    43 min
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About

The Smart IT Podcast, where IT professionals can assemble and hear from each other, industry leaders, thought leaders, and those in adjacent fields to collaborate and learn from each other and explore what’s next for IT. The Smart IT Podcast explores what’s next for IT as it continues to find ways to get the important things done for our organizations. Preparing for the next decade, we need to think differently about how we approach our work to continue to thrive into the future. Smart IT is an approach, conceptual framework, and development model to getting the important things done by transforming the way traditional IT thinks, works, and leads. It supports the disruption of the status quo, simplifies the complex, reduces uncertainty, and improves risk mitigation. There has never been more pressure to deliver for our organizations; but I know IT is up to the challenge. That will require IT to lead by working smarter. Let’s do it together.

Information

  • Creator
    William D. Reed
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2025
  • Episodes
    49
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2025 William D. Reed
  • Show Website
    The Smart IT Podcast