Shows
The IT/OT Insider Podcast - Pioneers & PathfindersThe $50K use case matters – Zev Arnold on Scaling, Context and AIWhen Zev Arnold joined us on the podcast, he brought with him the kind of energy and clarity you rarely get from someone working at the intersection of industry, data, and transformation. As a principal director at Accenture’s Industry X, Zev has spent years working with oil & gas, utilities, mining, and life sciences companies—not just helping them digitize, but helping them make that digitization mean something operationally. “I help engineers and operators use data to improve the way they work,” he said, and that theme stayed with us throughout the conversation.Context is King (But only if...2025-08-0534 min
The IT/OT Insider Podcast - Pioneers & PathfindersOT Cybersecurity 101 with Danielle Jablanski📣 Have you already considered joining our ITOT.Academy ? We tell stories. We focus on concepts, not tools.On frameworks, not features.👉 Check out our podcast to learn more !If you’re still thinking of OT cybersecurity as “just” another IT checklist item, it’s time to rethink the whole game. In this episode of the IT/OT Insider podcast, David is joined by Danielle Jablanski — cybersecurity strategist, OT advocate, and all-around force in the industrial cyber world — for a grounded conversation on what cybersecurity in industrial systems really means, why it’s not a product or checklist, and how to approach...2025-07-2242 min
The IT/OT Insider Podcast - Pioneers & PathfindersTech to the Back – A Conversation with Raf Swinnen on Lean, Culture, and Digital DisciplineIn this episode of the IT/OT Insider Podcast, we welcome someone who doesn’t come from cloud platforms, data infrastructure, or connectivity layers. Instead, he brings something equally vital: operational wisdom.Raf Swinnen has spent his career inside factories. From Procter & Gamble to Kellogg's, and later Danone, Raf worked at the intersection of operations and transformation, guiding teams through continuous improvement and later, digital initiatives.What makes his perspective especially valuable? It’s grounded in Lean thinking. Not as a buzzword, but as a real discipline. One that requires a sharp understanding of processes, a re...2025-07-1443 min
The IT/OT Insider Podcast - Pioneers & PathfindersOpen Source in Industrial Applications with Alexander Krüger📣 Quick note before we dive into all things open source: In our last episode, we announced the launch of the ITOT.Academy: a live on-line learning experience for professionals navigating the complex world of IT/OT collaboration. Our early bird seats are filling up fast. If you’re serious about gaining practical skills (not just theory), now’s the time to secure your spot. Don’t wait too long, the first cohorts start on August 29 and September 5 (each cohort consists of six 2 hour sessions and you receive all recordings). 👉 Full training program and registration...2025-06-2532 min
The IT/OT Insider Podcast - Pioneers & PathfindersWe’re launching the ITOT.Academy (and we can’t wait to get started)Discover the program and claim your seat here: https://itot.academy 🎙️ In this special episode of the IT/OT Insider Podcast, David and Willem officially announce the launch of the ITOT.Academy!After years of conversations with IT/OT professionals, consultants, and technology vendors, one thing became clear: there’s a huge need for practical, vendor-neutral education to help people work together across IT and OT boundaries.The ITOT.Academy is designed to fill that gap.What you’ll learn in this episode:Why we created the AcademyWho it's for: OT te...2025-06-1716 min
The IT/OT Insider Podcast - Pioneers & PathfindersBuilding industrial IoT that works (and scales) with Olivier Bloch & Ryan KershawIt is episode 31 and we’re finally tackling a topic that somehow hadn’t made the spotlight yet: IoT. And we couldn’t have asked for two better guests to help us dive into it: Olivier Bloch and Ryan Kershaw.This is not your usual shiny, buzzword-heavy conversation about the Internet of Things. Olivier and Ryan bring decades of hands-on experience from both sides of the IT/OT divide: Olivier from embedded systems, developer tooling, and cloud platforms, Ryan from the shop floor, instrumentation, and operational systems. Together, they’re building bridges where others see walls.IoT 10...2025-05-1345 min
The IT/OT Insider Podcast - Pioneers & PathfindersThe power of Industry 3.0 with Nikki GonzalesToday, we have the pleasure of speaking with Nikki Gonzales, Director of Business Development at Weintek USA, co-founder of the Automation Ladies podcast, and co-organizer of OT SCADA CON—a conference focused on the gritty, real-world challenges of industrial automation.Unlike many of our guests who often come from cloud-first, data-driven digitalization backgrounds, Nikki brings a refreshing and much-needed OT floor-level perspective. Her world is HMI screens, SCADA systems, manufacturers, machine builders, and the hard truths about where industry transformation actually stands today.What’s an HMI and Why Does It Matter?In Nikk...2025-05-0638 min
The IT/OT Insider Podcast - Pioneers & PathfindersMES Matters with Matt BarberWelcome to another episode of the IT/OT Insider Podcast. Today, we’re diving into the world of Manufacturing Execution Systems (MES) and Manufacturing Operations Management (MOM) with Matt Barber, VP & GM MES at Infor. With over 15 years of experience, Matt has helped companies worldwide implement MES solutions, and he’s now on a mission to educate the world about MES through his website, MESMatters.com .MES is a topic that sparks a lot of debate, confusion, and, in many cases, hesitation. Where does it fit in a manufacturing tech stack? How does it relate to ERP, Plan...2025-04-2932 min
The IT/OT Insider Podcast - Pioneers & PathfindersUnbundling the Enterprise - A Conversation with Stephen Fishman & Matt McLartyIn this episode of the IT/OT Insider Podcast, where we’re taking a short detour from our usual deep dives into industrial things to explore something broader-but equally vital: how enterprises evolve.We’re joined by Stephen Fishman and Matt McLarty, authors of the book Unbundling the Enterprise, published by IT Revolution. Stephen is North America Field CTO at Boomi, and Matt is the company’s Global CTO. But more importantly for this conversation-they’re long-time collaborators with a shared passion for modularity, APIs, and systems thinking.We’ll talk about the power of preparatio...2025-04-2238 min
The IT/OT Insider Podcast - Pioneers & PathfindersConnecting People, Parts and Processes with Tego’s Tim ButlerWelcome to another episode of the IT/OT Insider Podcast. Today, we’re diving into visibility, traceability, and real-time analytics with Tim Butler, CEO and founder of Tego.For the last 20 years, Tego has been specializing in tracking and managing critical assets in industries like aerospace, pharmaceuticals, and energy. The company designed the world’s first rugged, high-memory passive UHF RFID chip, helping companies like Airbus and Boeing digitize lifecycle maintenance on their aircraft.It’s a fascinating topic—how do you keep track of assets that move across the world every day? How do you embe...2025-04-1536 min
The IT/OT Insider Podcast - Pioneers & PathfindersIndustrial DataOps #12 with HiveMQ – Dominik Obermaier on MQTT, UNS and Massive ScaleWelcome to the final episode of our special Industrial DataOps podcast series. And what better way to close out the series than with Dominik Obermaier, CEO and co-founder of HiveMQ—one of the most recognized names when it comes to MQTT and Unified Namespace (UNS).Dominik has been at the heart of the MQTT story from the very beginning—contributing to the specification, building the company from the ground up, and helping some of the world’s largest manufacturers, energy providers, and logistics companies reimagine how they move and use industrial data.Every Company is Becomi...2025-03-3143 min
The IT/OT Insider Podcast - Pioneers & PathfindersIndustrial DataOps #11 with AVEVA – Clemens & Roberto on Unlocking the Value of Industrial DataWelcome to Episode 11! As we get closer to Hannover Messe 2025, we’re also approaching the final episodes of this podcast series. Today we have two fantastic guests from AVEVA: Roberto Serrano Hernández, Technology Evangelist for the CONNECT industrial intelligence platform, and Clemens Schönlein, Technology Evangelist for AI and Analytics.Together, they bring a unique mix of deep technical insight, real-world project experience, and a passion for making industrial data usable, actionable, and valuable.We cover a lot in this episode: from the evolution of AVEVA's CONNECT industrial intelligence platform, to real-world use...2025-03-2833 min
The IT/OT Insider Podcast - Pioneers & PathfindersIndustrial DataOps #10 with Celebal Technologies - Anupam Gupta on ERP, AI, and Lake Houses in ManufacturingWelcome to Episode 10 of the IT/OT Insider Podcast. Today, we're pleased to feature Anupam Gupta, Co-Founder & President North Americas at Celebal Technologies, to discuss how enterprise systems, AI, and modern data architectures are converging in manufacturing.Celebal Technologies is a key partner of SAP, Microsoft, and Databricks, specializing in bridging traditional enterprise IT systems with modern cloud data and AI innovations. Unlike many of our past guests who come from a manufacturing-first perspective, Celebal Technologies approaches the challenge from the enterprise side—starting with ERP and extending into industrial data, AI, and automation.Anupam's jo...2025-03-2635 min
The IT/OT Insider Podcast - Pioneers & PathfindersIndustrial DataOps #9 with Databricks - David Rogers on scaling AIWelcome to Episode 9 in our Special DataOps series. We’re getting closer to Hannover Messe, and thus also the end of this series. We still have some great episodes ahead of us, with AVEVA, HiveMQ and Celebal Technologies joining us in the days to come (and don’t worry, this is not the end of our podcasts, many other great stories are already recorded and will be aired in April!)In this episode, we’re joined by David Rogers, Senior Solutions Architect at Databricks, to explore how AI, data governance, and cloud-scale analytics are reshaping manufacturing.Davi...2025-03-2335 min
The IT/OT Insider Podcast - Pioneers & PathfindersIndustrial DataOps #8 with InfluxData - Evan Kaplan on how Developer-Led Innovation is Reshaping Industrial DataWelcome to Episode 8 of the IT/OT Insider Podcast. Today, we’re diving into real-time data, edge processing, and AI-driven analytics with Evan Kaplan, CEO of InfluxData.InfluxDB is one of the most well-known time-series databases, used by developers, industrial companies, and cloud platforms to manage high-volume data streams. With 1.3 million open-source users and partners like Siemens, Bosch, and Honeywell, it’s a major player in the Industrial DataOps ecosystem.Evan brings a unique perspective—coming from a background in networking, cybersecurity, and venture capital, he understands both the business and technical challenges of scaling indust...2025-03-2039 min
The IT/OT Insider Podcast - Pioneers & PathfindersIndustrial DataOps #7 with Rhize - Geoff Nunan on Why Data Modeling in Manufacturing isn’t optionalWelcome back to the IT/OT Insider Podcast. In this episode, we dive deep into industrial data modeling, manufacturing execution systems (MES), and the rise of headless data platforms with Geoff Nunan, CTO and co-founder of Rhize.Geoff has been working in industrial automation and manufacturing information systems for over 30 years. His experience spans multiple industries, from mining and pharmaceuticals to food & beverage. But what really drove him to start Rhize was a frustration many in the industry will recognize:"MES solutions are either too rigid or too custom-built. We needed a third option—something fl...2025-03-1741 min
The IT/OT Insider Podcast - Pioneers & PathfindersIndustrial DataOps #6 with Splunk - Joel Jacob on the road from Cyber Security to Sensor DataWelcome to Episode 6 of our Industrial DataOps podcast series. Today, we’re diving into a conversation with Joel Jacob, Principal Product Manager at Splunk, about the company’s growing focus on OT, its approach to industrial data analytics, and how it fits into the broader ecosystem of industrial platforms.Splunk is a name that’s well known in IT and cybersecurity circles, but its role in industrial environments is less understood. Now, as part of Cisco, Splunk is positioning itself at the intersection of IT observability, security, and industrial data analytics. This episode is all about understanding what t...2025-03-1334 min
The IT/OT Insider Podcast - Pioneers & PathfindersIndustrial DataOps #5 with Litmus - John Younes on Scaling Industrial DataOpsWelcome to another episode of the IT/OT Insider Podcast. In this special series on Industrial DataOps, we’re diving into the world of real-time industrial data, edge computing, and scaling digital transformation. Our guest today is John Younes, Co-founder and COO of Litmus, a company that has been at the forefront of industrial data platforms for the past 10 years.Litmus is a name that keeps popping up when we talk about bridging OT and IT, democratizing industrial data, and making edge computing scalable. But what does that actually mean in practice? And how does Litmus help ma...2025-03-1037 min
The IT/OT Insider Podcast - Pioneers & PathfindersIndustrial DataOps #4 with HighByte - Aron Semle on the Future of Unified DataWelcome to Episode 4 of our special podcast series on Industrial DataOps. Today, we’re joined by Aron Semle, CTO at HighByte, to discuss how contextualized industrial data, Unified Namespace (UNS), and Edge AI are transforming IT/OT collaboration.Aron has spent over 15 years working in industrial connectivity, starting his career at Kepware (later acquired by PTC) before joining HighByte in 2020. With a deep understanding of industrial data integration, he shares insights on why DataOps matters, what makes or breaks a data strategy, and how organizations can scale their industrial data initiatives.Thanks for reading Th...2025-03-0641 min
The IT/OT Insider Podcast - Pioneers & PathfindersIndustrial DataOps #3 with TwinThread - Andrew Waycott on scaling AI in ManufacturingWelcome to Episode 3 of our special podcast series on Industrial DataOps. Today, we’re excited to sit down with Andrew Waycott, President and Co-founder of TwinThread, to explore how AI and Digital Twins can transform manufacturing operations.Andrew has been working with industrial data for over 30 years, from building MES and historian solutions to developing real-time AI-driven optimization at TwinThread. In this episode, we discuss the state of industrial data, the role of AI, and why closed-loop automation is the future of AI in manufacturing.Subscribe to support our work and receive the other ep...2025-03-0344 min
The IT/OT Insider Podcast - Pioneers & PathfindersIndustrial DataOps #2 with Crosser - Martin Thunman about The Power of Industrial Data in MotionWelcome to Episode 2 of our special podcast series on Industrial Data. Today, we’re joined by Martin Thunman, CEO and co-founder of Crosser. Together with David and Willem, we dive deep into Industrial DataOps, IT/OT integration, and how real-time processing is shaping the future of manufacturing.Subscribe today to support our work and receive the next episodes as well!What is Crosser?Crosser is a next-generation integration platform built specifically for industrial environments. It acts as the intelligent layer between OT, IT, cloud, and SaaS applications. As Martin puts it:...2025-02-2733 min
The IT/OT Insider Podcast - Pioneers & PathfindersIndustrial DataOps #1 with David & Willem - Deep dive into our capability map, data management and moreIn the first episode (see video above), David and Willem take you behind the scenes of their Industrial Data Platform Capability Map—a structured way to understand how organizations can truly leverage their industrial data. David talks about the role of a platform and which capabilities are needed to build it. He also focuses on the role of Data Management and how that is linked to building a Unified Namespace.Explore all 12 episodes here, on YouTube or on Spotify!NEW! We just launched our ITOT.Academy. Learn the language and architecture of IT and OT...2025-02-2443 min
The IT/OT Insider Podcast - Pioneers & PathfindersInspiring the Next Generation for Manufacturing Careers with Mike NagerManufacturing has long been the backbone of global economies, yet the industry often remains hidden in plain sight, tucked away in industrial parks and misunderstood by the public. In this episode David was joined by Mike Nager.Mike Nager is a passionate advocate for Smart Manufacturing, with a career that began in electrical engineering, where he worked closely with manufacturers to automate and optimize their production processes. Over time, he visited hundreds of plants—ranging from automotive and pharmaceuticals to paper mills and tire factories—each with its own unique challenges and stories. From the carbon-black-coated environments of t...2024-12-1739 min
The IT/OT Insider Podcast - Pioneers & PathfindersComputer Vision, AI in Quality Control & Ethics with Wilhelm KleinThis episode was one of our most engaging yet on the topic of AI. David sat down with Dr. Wilhelm Klein, an expert in Automated Quality Control and holder of a PhD in Ethics. As the co-founder and CEO of Zetamotion, Wilhelm brings a mix of hands-on experience and deep understanding of the ethical questions surrounding technology.Over the hour, we covered a lot of ground—how AI has evolved, its role in manufacturing, and the challenges of scaling systems from Proof of Concept (PoC) to full production. Wilhelm explained how computer vision is changing quality control. We...2024-12-1155 min
The IT/OT Insider Podcast - Pioneers & PathfindersAutomate the Automation Engineer with Davy DemeyerIn this episode of the IT OT Insider podcast, host David interviews Davy Demeyer, an expert in industrial automation. Davy shares his extensive background in automation engineering, discussing the challenges faced in programming PLCs and the divide between IT and OT. He emphasizes the need for modern software development practices, such as DevOps and DesignOps, to improve automation workflows. Davy also explores the potential of generative AI in automation engineering and introduces the Society of Automation and Software Engineers, a community focused on combining automation and software principles. The conversation highlights the importance of evolving engineering practices to meet...2024-11-2739 min
The IT/OT Insider Podcast - Pioneers & PathfindersJonathan Weiss on the state of Manufacturing in the US and the impact of AIWelcome back to the IT/OT Insider Podcast, where we dig into the nuances of digital transformation and Industry 4.0. Today we welcome Jon “The Factory Guy” Weiss on the podcast! With a career that spans global leadership roles at GE Digital, Software AG, and Amazon, Jon now operates as an Industry 4.0 expert. His diverse experience gives him a unique perspective on how technology impacts the manufacturing landscape.The State of Manufacturing TodayKicking off the conversation, Jon reflects on a familiar theme: the manufacturing world is under strain, juggling aging infrastructure with a dwindling workforce. Labo...2024-11-1444 min
The IT/OT Insider Podcast - Pioneers & PathfindersHow to start as an OT Manager with Gregory GrauwelsWelcome to the 10th episode ( 🎉) of The IT/OT Insider Podcast! David talks with Gregory Grauwels, who is the current Group OT Manager at Cloetta, a confectionery company in Europe. With years of experience in both industrial automation and digital transformation, Gregory has an impressive track record in OT management. In this podcast, he shares his insights and advice for those aspiring to start a career as an OT manager. Amongst other things, we talked about Doing things step by step, about Land and Expand and about Open architectures.Gregory's Journey to OT ManagementGregory’s pat...2024-10-2257 min
The IT/OT Insider Podcast - Pioneers & PathfindersIdea to Shop Floor: IIoT & Household Appliances at Electrolux with Klaas DobbelaereIn this new podcast David had an insightful conversation with Klaas Dobbelaere, IIoT Connectivity Director at Electrolux (also known in some markets under their brands AEG or Frigidaire). Klaas shared valuable insights into the world of Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) and how Electrolux is embracing IT/OT convergence to drive digital transformation in its manufacturing operations. Thanks for reading The IT/OT Insider! Subscribe for free and get all new postsThe Electrolux Transformation JourneyKlaas started by highlighting Electrolux's digital transformation efforts across its global footprint. As a leading h...2024-09-2427 min
The IT/OT Insider Podcast - Pioneers & PathfindersBram Van Genabet joins The IT/OT InsiderTo kick off the second season of IT/OT Insider, we’re diving into the world of Digital Transformation, MES and change management with Bram Van Genabet. With a career that spans from refining oil at ExxonMobil over chocolate production at Barry Callebaut (Director of Digital Innovation) to his current role as independent consultant at La Lorraine Bakery Group (Director of Digital Strategy), Bram brings a wealth of experience and a fresh perspective on industrial digital transformation.You really want to listen to this one.. we have a very cool announcement which we are sharing 😀...2024-09-0637 min
The IT/OT Insider Podcast - Pioneers & PathfindersIdea to Shop Floor: IT/OT Data Governance at Bekaert with Sophie Van NevelAfter nearly a year of delving into the intricacies of IT/OT convergence, it's time to shift gears and step into the real world where theory meets practice. Introducing our new series, "Idea to Shop Floor: How companies are figuring out IT/OT Convergence," where we'll be showcasing real-life case studies from companies that are at the forefront of digital transformation. These stories will highlight the challenges, triumphs, and lessons learned from businesses that are successfully (or not) integrating IT and OT, providing invaluable insights and inspiration for your own journey. In this podcast David talks to S...2024-06-2532 min
The IT/OT Insider Podcast - Pioneers & PathfindersData-as-a-Service in Water & Wastewater with Dr. Amir Cahn, CEO SWAN ForumWelcome back to the IT/OT Insider Podcast, Today, we have a special guest, Dr. Amir Cahn, CEO of the Smart Water Networks Forum (SWAN). Dr. Cahn brings a wealth of knowledge and experience in leveraging data-driven technologies to transform water, wastewater and stormwater networks worldwide. The SWAN (Smart Water Networks) Forum is a global hub for industry experts, innovators, and thought leaders dedicated to the digital transformation of the water sector. SWAN's mission is to accelerate the adoption of data-driven solutions to improve the efficiency, sustainability, and resilience of water networks worldwide. They unites a diverse r...2024-06-1835 min
The IT/OT Insider Podcast - Pioneers & PathfindersDigital and AI in Pharma: Insights from Toni Manzano, CSO at AizonIn this episode of the IT/OT Insider podcast, David sat down with Toni Manzano, a veteran in the pharmaceutical industry and co-founder and Chief Scientific Officer at Aizon. We delve into how IT/OT convergence concepts can be applied to the pharmaceutical industry, an area where precision, regulation, and innovation intersect in complex ways. Thank you all for all the positive feedback we received. Please subscribe to our blog if you haven't done this so far. We really like to make an impact, so sharing is always highly appreciated. Finally, we are always on the lookout f...2024-05-1439 min
The IT/OT Insider Podcast - Pioneers & PathfindersBehind the (podcast) scenes: David and WillemWelcome to a special episode of the IT/OT Insider Podcast! Today is the first time we, David and Willem, are interviewing each other instead of hosting a guest. As co-authors of this blog and both working in the field of industrial digitalization, we thought it would be fun to share our own stories. In this episode, we'll delve into our backgrounds, our journeys in IT and OT, and our joint presentation at the Enterprise Technology Leadership Summit Europe last week. This conference was organized by IT Revolution, who published many of our favorite books including The P...2024-05-0726 min
The IT/OT Insider Podcast - Pioneers & PathfindersBridging Data between OT and IT: A Conversation on Data Management with Jan MeskensIn this latest episode of the IT/OT Insider podcast, David welcomed Jan Meskens, a seasoned data consultant with a rich background in data management and academia. The discussion provided deep insights into the evolving landscape of industrial data management, emphasizing the critical need for bridging the gap between Information Technology (IT) and Operational Technology (OT) to leverage the full potential of data in Industry 4.0.User-Centric Data Management“In the world of data, usability is often an afterthought”Jan, who started his career in user experience design before transitioning into data consultancy, shared his...2024-04-2941 min
The IT/OT Insider Podcast - Pioneers & PathfindersUnpacking Digitalization and Sustainability with Mike Hughes, Zone President at Schneider ElectricIn the heart of the digital revolution, companies across the globe are recognizing the need to adapt and transform. The industrial sector is no exception. David had the privilege of speaking with Mike Hughes, Zone President at Schneider Electric for the Nordics and Baltic region, who has been at the forefront of this transformation. With years of experience and a career that spans various regions, including the UK and Ireland, Mike shared valuable insights on the evolving landscape of digitalization in manufacturing.Thanks for reading (and now also listening to) The IT/OT Insider! Subscribe for...2024-04-1724 min
The IT/OT Insider Podcast - Pioneers & PathfindersBridging the Data Value Gap: A Conversation on IT/OT Data Integration with Databricks' Shiv TrisalWelcome to today’s episode, where we dive deep into the world of IT/OT convergence with Shiv Trisal, the global manufacturing, transportation, and energy market leader at Databricks. Join us as we explore the transformative power of data across industries and discuss the future of industrial digital transformation.Timestamps:[00:00] Meet Shiv Trisal[00:33] Databricks Explained[01:36] IT vs. OT Data[02:31] Shiv's Journey[05:26] Industry Comparisons[05:34] Greenfield vs. Brownfield[10:16] Jargon Challenges[10:20] Bridging Gaps[17:41] Data Convergence[22:56] Cloud Transformation[29:32] Episode Wr...2024-04-1130 min