Shows
Paul and Paul PodcastEpisode 19 - Automating Migrations and ModernizationsDiscover how Agentic AI is transforming the cloud migration and modernization journey. In this episode, Paul and Paul sit down with AWS leader Bob Kellogg to explore AWS Transform—a groundbreaking AI-driven service that automates assessments, accelerates VMware migrations, modernizes .NET apps, and even refactors mainframes. Learn how human-in-the-loop AI tools like Q Developer are reshaping development speed, reducing risk, and redefining what’s possible in the move to the cloud.!You can find Bob on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/robertbkellogg/As always, let us know if you have ideas for future epis...
2025-10-2020 minPaul and Paul PodcastEpisode 18 - Product Innovation FrameworkIn this episode, AWS leader Sachin Shetti reveals how the Product Innovation Framework helps companies envision, build, and scale breakthrough products. From executive visioning to GenAI accelerators and global success stories, discover how enterprises transform bold ideas into customer impact. Whether you’re driving digital transformation or chasing innovation velocity, this conversation offers practical insights and inspiration to fuel your own journey.You can find Sachin on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/sachingshetti/The blog case study referenced: https://aws.amazon.com/solutions/case-studies/capital-one-all-in-on-aws/As always, let us know if you have id...
2025-09-2114 minPaul and Paul PodcastEpisode 17 - AI Augmented WorkforceThere's a lot of talk of AI replacing jobs in the future, but in reality, it's a new technological tool that people will need to know how to work with and ensure they have the right skills to do so, in order to be successful.AWS Director of North America CSMs, Blake Chism joined us to discuss skills and strategies for people to be successful in an AI augmented workforce, and things CSMs are doing to help our customers navigate this new landscape.Bottom Line: AI isn't about replacing humans - it's about amplifying our uniquely...
2025-09-0229 minPaul and Paul PodcastEpisode 16 - Sustainability and Responsible GenAIDive into the cutting-edge intersection of sustainability and custom silicon in cloud computing with the Paul & Paul Podcast. Join hosts Paul Papasavvas and Paul Varnedoe as they welcome Ron Hayman, a Senior Leader in AWS Customer Solutions. Discover how AWS's innovative chips like Graviton, Trainium, and Inferentia are revolutionizing energy efficiency and performance. Learn about sustainability OF, IN, and THROUGH the cloud, and how companies are leveraging these technologies to reduce costs and carbon footprints. Don't miss this insightful exploration of the future of sustainable computing!And you can also read Ron’s blog on how you ca...
2025-06-0919 minPaul and Paul PodcastEpisode 15 - Cultivating InnovationDive into Amazon's innovation playbook with Amanda Henke, a senior AWS leader, as she reveals the four key pillars that drive Amazon's culture of invention: Culture, Mechanisms, Architecture, and Organization. Learn how Amazon transforms bold ideas into reality through customer obsession, calculated risk-taking, and the 'Working Backwards Framework.' Discover practical insights on fostering innovation, from two-way door decisions to learning from failures, and understand why speed matters in today's business landscape.You can find Amanda on LinkedIn at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amanda-leigh-henke-b12380a/As always, let us know if you have ideas for future...
2025-04-1821 minPaul and Paul PodcastEpisode 14 - Analytics on AWSHello Paul and Paul listeners and welcome to the first episode of 2025! Today we will dive into the world of data analytics with AWS expert Lesong Chang, a Principal Specialist in Data and Analytics, to discuss what it truly means to be data-driven and why it's crucial for business success. We uncover common analytics use cases, challenges in implementing data strategies, and insights on how Gen AI is shaping the field. Whether you're a data novice or a seasoned professional, this episode offers valuable perspectives on leveraging analytics to drive innovation and gain a competitive edge in today's data-rich...
2025-01-0726 minPaul and Paul PodcastEpisode 13 - HackathonsWe are joined by our colleague, Stephen Knox, to chat about Hackathons. You may think these are something for coders, engineers, or other deeply technical people. However, senior level managers and executives can benefit from them. And in this episode, we go over the value that a Hackathon can provide to your organization, what they’re about, and how to go about getting one set up.
You can find Stephen on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephen-knox-148a801/
As always, let us know if you have ideas for future episodes, and what you’d like to h...
2024-10-1912 minPaul and Paul PodcastEpisode 12 - SAP on AWSToday we have another AWS colleague, Tushar Srivastava, here to discuss how AWS customers running SAP are modernizing their environment by moving to the cloud. For companies running SAP to manage accounting, operations, purchasing, or HR systems, we help explain the advantages of modernizing their ERP environment. Some of the key benefits include ways to reduce cost, improve performance, increase security and reliability, expand data insights, and help staff productivity and retention.
You can find Tushar on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/tushars/
As always, let us know if you have ideas for future episodes...
2024-08-1123 minPaul and Paul PodcastEpisode 11 - SaaS on AWSSoftware as a Service on AWS offers companies an opportunity to expand their business to new avenues and revenue streams. In this episode, we were joined by Raj Menon, Sr. Leader of Customer Solutions for Enterprise Customers, to talk about ways customers can leverage the AWS Marketplace, AWS Partner Network, and programs like the AWS SaaS Factory, to accelerate developing their SaaS solution and take advantage of the vast AWS network of Partners and Marketplace customers to grow their business.
Some of the resources we discussed on the show:
SaaS on AWS: https://aws.amazon.com/saas
AW...
2024-05-2618 min
ATL Career JourneyEpisode 58 - Alan Swan and Maria Babilon, Province Data SolutionsMy guests for Episode 58 is Alan Swan and Maria Babilon from Province Data Solutions. Alan is the Managing Partner and Maria is a Partner at PDS and they've joined me today to talk about the fascinating world of Artificial Intelligence. We discussed the differences between Traditional AI and Generative AI and how each are solving real world problems. Alan reviewed the background on market demand and the importance of good data to help drive these models. Maria discussed the impact these technologies have on career transitions and brought up some useful tactics in getting trained both inside and outside...
2024-05-0241 minATL Career JourneyEpisode 57 - Robert Lescano, Retired Amazon and Microsoft ExecutiveMy guest for Episode 57 is Robert Lescano, who I worked with at Amazon Web Services. He was the East Area Director in the AWS ProServe consulting division. He had a long and successful career in technology and was fortunate to retire in 2023 to travel and enjoy quality time with his family. We talked about his experience growing up in Peru and the challenges he faced once he moved to the US. Robert also talked about his role in leading male allyship in his organizations and the value of diversity in the workforce. He also shared some great advice about t...
2024-04-291h 04Paul and Paul PodcastEpisode 10 - AWS Migration Acceleration Program (MAP)AWS Migration Acceleration Program helps customers offset the cost of migrating to the cloud and accelerating their business outcomes. We cover some of the benefits, prerequisites, and common questions around how MAP works. While it’s not a fully comprehensive deep dive on the topic, we wanted to address some of the common questions we hear from customers and partners, as they explore MAP and how it can help drive migration success.
As always, let us know if you have ideas for future episodes, and what you’d like to hear us talk about!
Paul Papasavvas - https://www.lin...
2024-04-1915 minPaul and Paul PodcastEpisode 9 - Executive Insights and Keys to SuccessOur guest today is one of our AWS CSM leaders, Sree Ratnasinghe, and she joins us to share her experiences working with our customers. We discussed several themes that customers struggle with and how our teams leverage AWS Mechanisms to address these challenges. Sree also outlines some keys to a successful cloud journey and touches on the value of a diverse workforce as well as empowering women in the technology field.
You can find Sree on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/sreeanand
As always, let us know if you have ideas for future episodes, and...
2024-03-1124 min
Minerva MeetsTech Adoption in the WorkplaceMy guest Paul Varnedoe and I explore how tech adoption is reshaping the workplace. We discuss the impact of automation, AI, and digital tools on the way we work. We also discuss the skills needed for future jobs and how to leverage technology to find work-life-balance.
********
Visit our online home at Minerva Consulting Inc to learn more about working with us.
Contact us at letstalk@minervaconsultinginc.com.
Find Minerva on LinkedIn.
Learn more about the host, Sonal Chandler.
Learn more about our guest Paul Varnedoe.
Listen to...
2024-02-1439 minPaul and Paul PodcastEpisode 8 - Transforming Business with the Product Operating Model: A Mindset ShiftOur guest today is one of our CSM colleagues, Rohit Chaudhari, and he joins us to discuss the Product Operating Model. If your company is struggling with bringing products to market faster and scaling more effectively, then incorporating a Product Operating Model could be the solution. We talked with Rohit about some of the key points including:
1/ Demystifying the Product Operating Model and the value of the Product Manager role
2/ How the Product Operating Model creates speed and efficiency for businesses at scale
3/ The intersection of the Product Operating Model with Agile and Cloud Adoption, and
4/ How to...
2024-02-0525 minPaul and Paul PodcastEpisode 7 - Security Postcards from the EdgeHart Rossman, VP of Security and Infrastructure of AWS Global Services, joined us to share what he’s hearing from conversations he has with our customers’ CISOs and other security leaders.
CISOs have an ever changing landscape to worry about in ensuring their enterprise’s security posture is sound, and Hart had some great insights about what is on top of their minds these days, along with how to address some of their concerns.
We covered:
1/ security and cost optimization,
2/ incident response preparedness,
3/ application security best practices, and
4/ security considerations with GenAI and CodeWhisperer.
You can also f...
2023-12-2829 minPaul and Paul PodcastEpisode 6 - Cloud Financial ManagementWe had a terrific conversation with Chris Hennesey, who is an Enterprise Financial Strategist for AWS, talking about the challenges many enterprises face in managing their costs and structuring their operations to most effectively leverage what the Cloud has to offer.
When people hear “Cloud Financial Management,” they may think of accounting or finance centric processes. However, with the cloud, almost all areas of IT, finance, and business operations contribute to sound financial practices.
Chris shared his insights gained from helping hundreds of customers, expanding on the challenges they face, and some of the strategies and considerations ente...
2023-11-0139 minPaul and Paul PodcastEpisode 5 - Accelerating Cloud TransformationsOur episode today focuses on how AWS customers can accelerate their cloud migrations by leveraging the Experience Based Acceleration mechanism. Today’s esteemed guest is Mainu Kalita, AWS Global EBA Leader, and she shares her wealth of EBA experience in our conversation. We deep dive into:
1/Reasons why customers use EBAs,
2/What benefits get delivered, and
3/How to plan and execute an effective EBA party.
EBAs are a great way to remove migration blockers and it's no surprise why these have become so popular with our customers!
You can reach Mainu on LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in...
2023-10-1535 minPaul and Paul PodcastEpisode 4 - Cloud Mature EnterprisesWe had a fun conversation with our colleague Sino Yousef, discussing what it means to be a cloud mature enterprise, and some of the key practices that these organizations follow in order to be successful.
We dove in on
1/ Leadership Imperative - Senior leadership attention and advocacy
2/ Agile Execution - Avoiding Analysis Paralysis - Fail Fast
3/ IT Operations & Skills Enablement
4/ Measuring Success - Continual Improvement - Cloud Center of Excellence
Sino's blog on the topic: https://aws.amazon.com/blogs/mt/how-cloud-mature-enterprises-succeed/
You can also reach Sino on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sino-yousef/
As always...
2023-08-2821 minPaul and Paul PodcastEpisode 3 - Tracking the Effectiveness of Cloud AdoptionToday we have a special guest in the studio to help us talk about measuring success in the cloud! Nurani Parasuraman is a fellow CSM in our organization and is the author of the AWS blog post “Tracking the Effectiveness of Cloud Adoption”. We got a chance to speak with him about some challenges that organizations may have when measuring success with their cloud journey. These challenges include -
1/How the cloud approach is different than on-prem,
2/How working is different in the cloud, and
3/Determining what KPIs will work best for your organization.
Nurani’s blog on the top...
2023-07-2924 minPaul and Paul PodcastEpisode 2 - Considerations When Moving to the CloudToday we discuss things you should plan for in a cloud migration. What are some of the considerations you need to think about in order to meet your goals, and to avoid common pitfalls and challenges. The areas we focus on are:
1/ Meeting cost objectives
2/ Setting up your organization to successfully operate in the cloud more efficiently, and
3/ Properly plan for setting up your security posture
There's a lot of useful information for customers who are in the early stages of cloud adoption, and anyone who is in the business of helping enterprises to plan for and...
2023-06-2630 minPaul and Paul PodcastEpisode 1 - Introduction and CSM OverviewWelcome to the inaugural episode of the Paul and Paul podcast where we talk about all things AWS related! In this episode, we discuss the reasons for creating this show and our roles as Customer Solutions Managers. We also review the value of the CSM and highlight some of the Amazon Leadership Principles and Mechanisms we utilize to help our customers accelerate their cloud journey. We close out with a preview of some topics that we will deep dive in future episodes.
Let us know if you have ideas for future episodes, and what you’d like to hear us ta...
2023-05-3023 minATL Career JourneyEpisode 56 - Stacy Borocz - Owner, etuHOMEMy guest for Episode 56 is Stacy Borocz , who is the owner of etuHOME. She has an incredible story about courage and perseverance from her start in New York to college at UGA and ultimately owning her current business. She always demonstrated creativity and a passion for the arts. In addition, Stacy loves to travel and that not only created inspiration through her college years but later provided a platform for etuHOME. Her career has taken her through several industries but I love the fact that Stacy never shied away for a challenge or the opportunity to learn new things. Some...
2022-01-091h 00ATL Career JourneyEpisode 55 - Jacqui Chew, Innovation Enthusiast, TEDxMy guest for the 55th episode of the ATL Career Journey podcast is Jacqui Chew, who is known as an innovation enthusiast and has been a successful presence in the Atlanta start up community. She has more than two decades of experience delivering creative, data-driven strategies for venture-backed, high-growth companies. Jacqui is also a TEDx Licensee, active mentor, and board member of several organizations. Her career journey started in Singapore, landed in Hawaii for school and a start in the music business, then found her way to Atlanta and the growing technology industry. Jacqui shared some keys to success, incl...
2021-08-231h 07ATL Career JourneyEpisode 54 - Amanda Anderson, Owner and Executive Producer, Circa Twenty Four PicturesMy guest for this episode of the ATL Career Journey podcast is Amanda Anderson, who is the owner and executive producer at Circa Twenty Four Pictures. I first met Amanda when she was in IT recruiting and she had already explored a couple of careers. She started out wanted to be a doctor, wound up working as a researcher and then realized she missed social interactions that are core to her personality. She wound up working in the staffing industry that led her to Atlanta and then pivoted to start a production company with her husband. She has always been...
2021-08-161h 12ATL Career JourneyEpisode 53 - Laura Hunnicutt, User Experience Lead, EYMy guest for Episode 53 of the ATL Career Journey podcast is Laura Hunnicutt, who is a User Experience Lead at EY. I met Laura at Manheim but we also spent time at Delta Air Lines. We talked about how her college experience as well as trip through Europe changed her perspective on life. We also talked about what user experience actually is and how she got her start. Along with being a great human being, Laura is great at what she does and I was happy to have her share her experiences!You can learn more about Laur...
2021-08-091h 10ATL Career JourneyEpisode 52- Jackie Hoffman, Founder and Managing Director, CMB AssociatesMy guest for Episode 52 of the ATL Career Journey podcast is Jackie Hoffman, who is the Founder and Managing Director of CMB Associates. I worked with Jackie at Manheim on some projects in their digital space and saw her work ethic and customer focus in action. She took a couple of different paths before her corporate life took shape and now she's leveraging those experiences as a small business owner. Jackie shared some of her keys to success that include knowing your strengths, recognizing your weaknesses, and trusting your instincts. She also credits being flexible, taking action, and embracing chan...
2021-08-021h 12ATL Career JourneyEpisode 51 - Steven Julian, Financial Advisor, Radio HostMy guest for Episode 51 of the ATL Career Journey podcast is Steven Julian, who is an Independent Financial Advisor as well as a Radio and Podcast Host. I met Steven through a mutual friend and he gave me some great advice when I started this podcast. Steven's career journey has several chapters and he walked me through the ups and downs to get where his is today. We also discussed some valuable career advice, including the importance of mentors, honoring commitments, and knowing the value of hard work. I learned a lot from this episode and hope you enjoy it!
2021-07-261h 25ATL Career JourneyEpisode 50 - Missy Pitcher, President, CMIT SolutionsWelcome to the 50th episode of the ATL Career Journey podcast! Today's guest is Missy Pitcher, who is Co-Owner and President of CMIT Solutions of Atlanta Northeast. I've worked with Missy twice in my career at EarthLink and at Equifax and we both got started early in the project management arena. Her original dream was to be a lawyer but her career went through a few iterations before she settled in corporate life. Missy ultimately wanted to be a business owner and she and her husband made that dream a reality a few years ago. Some of her keys to su...
2021-07-191h 10ATL Career JourneyEpisode 49 - Daniel Guelzo, Regional Recruiting Director, OptomiMy guest for Episode 49 of the ATL Career Journey podcast is Daniel Guelzo, who is the Regional Recruiting Director at Optomi. I met Daniel at a networking event and was very impressed with his knowledge of the recruiting industry as well as his knowledge of social media networking. He hosts the recurring "What's Your Plan B" networking event and is always willing to share his knowledge and genuinely cares about helping people succeed. Daniel has taken an interesting journey to get where he is today. Starting from a crossroads in college, he took some "walkabout" time, then joined the mili...
2021-07-121h 06ATL Career JourneyEpisode 48 - Jonathan Salkoff, Business Solutions, ServiceMaxWelcome to Episode 48 of the ATL Career Journey podcast. Today's guest is Jonathan Salkoff, who is responsible for Business Solutions at ServiceMax. I've known Jonathan for over 25 years since we worked together at Sprint. Jonathan is smart, hardworking, customer focused, and a great servant leader. He's a Naval Academy grad / military veteran, podcaster, and has recently gotten into voice-over work for audiobooks and corporate projects. We discussed the importance of networking, taking jobs for the right reasons, and live your life without regrets!You can learn more about Jonathan on LinkedIn.
2021-07-051h 15ATL Career JourneyEpisode 47 - Doug Isenberg, Founder, GigaLawMy guest for Episode 47 of the ATL Career Journey podcast is Doug Isenberg, who is the founder of the GigaLaw Firm. Doug and I worked together at the International Olympic Committee when we were part of Meridian Management. He was one of the few people there that really understood technology and the potential legal implications that the internet could pose. I always found Doug to be incredibly smart, humble, hardworking, and insightful. He had a great way of breaking down complex situations into simpler concepts to understand. Some of Doug's advice for young professionals is to focus more on your...
2021-06-281h 01ATL Career JourneyEpisode 46 - Chris Day, VP Operations, ADPMy guest for Episode 46 of the ATL Career Journey podcast is Chris Day, who is VP of Operations at ADP. Chris and I met while we were at Equifax and led software development teams in their Commercial division. We helped bring several groups into the work of agile development and really enjoyed working with him. Chris is smart, hardworking, and is willing to go the extra mile to get the job done. Some of his tips for success include taking risks, being confident, speaking up, and adapting to change. You can learn more about Chris on LinkedIn.
2021-06-2142 minATL Career JourneyEpisode 45 - Kelly Vogel, Product Manager, RaliMy guest for Episode 45 of the ATL Career Journey podcast is Kelly Vogel, who is a Product Manager at Rali. I first met Kelly when I was at Manheim and we worked together in their online division. I found Kelly to be smart, collaborative, and extremely customer focused. We took different paths into our Product Management careers and Kelly was generous enough to share her journey. She shared her tips for success that include taking risks, obtaining mentors, deliver high quality work, and growing your network. I enjoyed catching up with Kelly and hope you enjoy our conversation as well...
2021-06-1456 minATL Career JourneyEpisode 44 - Jed Fearon, Director of Content Marketing, ProviDynWelcome to Episode 44 of the ATL Career Journey podcast. Today's guest is Jed Fearon, who is a Director of Content Marketing at ProviDyn. I met Jed when I was working with the International Olympic Committee and his company sold us managed IT services to help run our online applications. In addition to being smart, driven, creative, Jed understands the value of a sales partnership with his customer. We discussed the pros and cons of changing jobs and how the power of your network can increase the potential for new opportunities.You can learn more about Jed on Lin...
2021-06-131h 07ATL Career JourneyEpisode 43 - Lauren Feldhaus, Senior Scrum Master, Agile CoachWelcome to Episode 43 of the ATL Career Journey podcast. Today's guest is Lauren Feldhaus, who is happily retired now but was previously a Senior Scrum Master and Agile Coach. Lauren and I worked together at Assurant to help transform their software development team to embrace agile and lean principles. She is a tireless worker, understands the big picture between the business and IT, and truly cares about her customers and teams. Lauren shared some of her insights for creating great agile teams. You can learn more about Lauren on LinkedIn.
2021-05-0947 minATL Career JourneyEpisode 42 - Nicole Siokis, Partner, Chief Operating Officer, TechCXOToday's guest is Nicole Siokis, who is Partner and Chief Operating Officer at TechCXO. I first met Nicole when we worked together at Sprint and she was one of our amazing military veterans that Sprint hired. I remember her having such a great work ethic, very motivated, highly customer focused, and demonstrated servant leadership. Her career progressed in telecom before pivoting to focus on executive recruiting. She eventually became owner and operator of Mom Corps Atlanta before joining TechCXO in her current role. Nicole shared some of her best practices for success that includes the importance of networking, leveraging her m...
2021-05-0353 minATL Career JourneyEpisode 41 - Tom Fucci, Division Captain, Palm Beach County Fire RescueWelcome to Episode 41 of the ATL Career Journey podcast. Today's guest is Tom Fucci, who is the Division Captain at Palm Beach County Fire Rescue. Tom and I grew up in Fort Lauderdale and I've made him an honorary member of the ATL podcast community. He started his career in law enforcement and eventually pivoted to fire rescue and investigation. We talked about the paths that led him to each of these careers, his experience working with the Miccosukee Indian Tribe, and how his love of solving puzzles led him to excel in fire investigation. It was great to catch...
2021-04-2659 minATL Career JourneyEpisode 40 - Angela Nation, Chief Executive Officer, Silver Hammer SystemsWelcome to this episode of the Atlanta Career Journey podcast. Today's guest is Angela Nation, who is Chief Executive Officer at Silver Hammer Systems. I first met Angela when she was an executive in the talent acquisition industry and always found her to be smart, dedicated, hardworking, and very customer focused. Her career in the recruiting and technology community eventually led to launching her current cybersecurity firm. Angela and I talked about the importance of networking, active learning, and travel can help identify opportunities when least expected.You can learn more about Angela on LinkedIn or her com...
2021-04-1957 minATL Career JourneyEpisode 39 - Anne Game, Managing Director, Head of Atlanta Market, North Highland ConsultingMy guest for Episode 39 of the ATL Career Journey podcast is Anne Game, who is the Managing Director and Head of the Atlanta Market at North Highland Consulting. Anne is incredibly smart, she's a strategic thinker, and understands business at every level. She's delivered amazing results at North Highland and I truly enjoyed my time working with her. In this episode, Anne talks about the importance of mentors, leveraging your intuition, and not being afraid to ask for help. She also provided some great advice for college students in their post-graduate careers.You can learn more about Anne...
2021-04-1555 minATL Career JourneyEpisode 38 - Molly Mazzolini, Partner, Director of Brand Integration, Infinite ScaleThis 38th episode of the ATL Career Journey podcast is Molly Mazzolini, who is a Partner and Brand Integration Director at Infinite Scale sports marketing and design firm. Molly and I met when we were working in brand management for the US and International Olympic Committees. I found her to be smart, engaging, humble, customer focused, and just a lot of fun to work with. She taught me a lot about sports marketing and brand management and went on from the USOC to help start up Infinite Scale. She's done some amazing things in the sports world and one of the...
2021-04-1252 minATL Career JourneyEpisode 38 - Molly Mazzolini, Partner, Director of Brand Integration, Infinite ScaleThis 38th episode of the ATL Career Journey podcast is Molly Mazzolini, who is a Partner and Brand Integration Director at Infinite Scale sports marketing and design firm. Molly and I met when we were working in brand management for the US and International Olympic Committees. I found her to be smart, engaging, humble, customer focused, and just a lot of fun to work with. She taught me a lot about sports marketing and brand management and went on from the USOC to help start up Infinite Scale. She's done some amazing things in the sports world and one of t...
2021-04-1252 minATL Career JourneyEpisode 37 - Svein Romstad, VP of Sales and Leasing, Loudermilk CompaniesMy guest for the 37th episode of the ATL Career Journey podcast is Svein Romstad, who is the Vice President of Sales and Leasing for the Loudermilk Companies. My friendship with Svein dates back to 1997 when we both worked at Meridian Management. I was brand new to the Olympic Movement and Svein was an Olympic veteran who had been a coach for the US Luge team as well as the Secretary General of the Luge Federation. Svein was gracious enough to educate me about sponsorships, activation, and how much work it takes to put together the Olympic Games. He's...
2021-02-1543 minATL Career JourneyEpisode 36 - John Verret, Regional Director, Matrix ResourcesMy guest for the 36th episode of the ATL Career Journey podcast is John Verret, who is the Regional Director for Matrix Resources. John and I have known each other for over 10 years and I've found him to be an excellent sourcing partner regardless of the industry or job type. We have collaborated a lot over the years while he's been a Matrix and he's been a great partner, friend, and genuine human being. John and I discussed the importance of networking, communication, and dealing with failure as a part of career progression. We also talked about some important...
2021-02-081h 04ATL Career JourneyEpisode 35 - Dr. Dale Lawson, Emergency Medicine Physician, Phoebe Sumter Medical CenterMy guest for Episode 35 of the ATL Career Journey podcast is Dr. Dale Lawson, who is an emergency medicine physician at Phoebe Sumter Medical Center based in Americus, Georgia. I've had the privilege of knowing Dale for over 30 years and is one of the most amazing humans that I know! We met at Georgia Tech through the Alpha Kappa Psi business fraternity and I saw back then how multi-faceted she is. Incredibly smart, tireless worker, great athlete, excellent wife and mother, and just a genuinely good person. In 1988, Dale became the only the second female driver selected to drive...
2021-01-311h 08ATL Career JourneyEpisode 34 - Laura J. Downey, Executive Editor, WebMDMy guest for Episode 34 is Laura J. Downey, who is the Executive Editor at WebMD. Laura and I connected on LinkedIn and I found her career journey fascinating. She is a very successful journalist whose career moved up the ranks in print magazines, transitioned to be a professor at her alma mater, and is now overseeing all facets of content for WebMD Magazine. Some of Laura’s keys to success have been to recognize and take opportunities as they present themselves and push yourself to be your best. We discussed her passion for mentoring and giving back to the co...
2021-01-271h 16
ATL Career JourneyEpisode 33 - Kevin Donovan, Development Director, POWER 10 Capital CampaignsMy guest for Episode 33 of the ATL Career Journey is Kevin Donovan, who is currently the Development Director for POWER 10 Capital Campaigns. I initially met Kevin through my wife Julia during Delta's 1996 Olympic Games sponsorship efforts. He's worked in corporate America, been an Olympic consultant, and also a successful writer. Kevin talked about his early career in sales and how it prepared him for marketing and Olympic bids. He outlines some of his keys to success including patience, hard work, and being open to new challenges. You can learn more about Kevin on LinkedIn or his personal...
2020-12-171h 17
ATL Career JourneyEpisode 32 - Scott Margulis, Senior Systems Engineer, SAICMy guest for Episode 32 of the Atlanta Career Journey podcast is Scott Margulis, who is a Senior Systems Engineer at SAIC. I've known Scott since we were in middle school and have kept in touch for over 40 years! As a career Navy veteran, he initially followed his passion for flying and became a Naval Aviator. After a decade of flying, Scott decided to pivot and focus on computer science and cyber security. He leveraged educational opportunities while in the military to obtain two graduate degrees. Scott's keys to success include vision, setting small goals, and be willing to take...
2020-12-1451 min
ATL Career JourneyEpisode 31 - Scott Wollam, Owner, Wollmoor PropertiesMy guest for Episode 31 of the ATL Career Journey podcast is Scott Wollam, who is the owner of Wollmoor Properties. I've known Scott for most of my life and consider him to be more of a family member but also a great friend. Both of our dads became friends in the late 1950's in Ft Lauderdale and the rest, as they say, is history. Scott has led a very interesting journey from the west coast of Florida to Yale University to corporate life and then ultimately a small business owner. We talked about the challenges of starting a business...
2020-11-3054 min
ATL Career JourneyEpisode 30 - Kacie Lett Gordon, Connector, Problem SolverMy guest for Episode 30 is Kacie Lett Gordon, who is happily taking time off right now! I met Kacie when she led the strategy team at Three Five Two, which is an innovation and growth firm. Kacie's LinkedIn bio describes herself as a connector and problem solver and I can't agree more. She's smart, professional, a great servant leader, and can read the room as well as anyone. I was lucky enough to have her interview me for one of their Off the Record events and today I have the privilege to interview her in return! She just launched...
2020-11-261h 00
ATL Career JourneyEpisode 29 - Trenton Carson, Owner/President, TC ProductionsMy guest for Episode 29 is Trenton Carson, who is the Owner/President of TC Productions. I met Trenton last year at a Buckhead Business Association event and struck up a conversation. We talked about his journey from studying film production in college to working for others to starting his own business. We discussed the importance of networking, being aware of your strengths, and finding mentors. We also talked about some important social issues and how to be an ally for change. I really enjoyed my conversation with Trenton and hope you do too!You can learn more...
2020-11-231h 13
ATL Career JourneyEpisode 28 - James Ray, Managing Director, Dragonfly Growth PartnersMy guest for Episode 28 is James Ray, who is Managing Director, Dragonfly Growth Partners. James and I worked together at Manheim in their online services division. I valued his professionalism, business ethics, and the ability to think strategically while maintaining focus on the customer. He always kept his cool in high pressure situations and am eager to hear how he cultivated that demeanor throughout this career. We talked about the importance of life lessons, learning from failures, and being honest with yourself. James has excelled in multiple industries from startup to enterprise level organizations and I was glad to...
2020-11-1648 min
ATL Career JourneyEpisode 27 – Steve Woodcock, Principal Partner, SOF-ONEMy guest for Episode 27 is Steve Woodcock, who is a Principal Partner at SOF-ONE. Steve and I worked together at Sprint over 20 years ago when he just retired from the Navy. He immediately made a big impression on the team with his calm demeanor, leadership, and can-do attitude. He talked about his initial career phase in the financial services industry but something led him down a different path to serve our country. Steve talked about his transition back into the private sector, the advantages of large versus small companies, and what his new venture is focused on. We also...
2020-11-051h 05
ATL Career JourneyEpisode 26 – Jessica Cohen, Senior Customer Success Manager, SlackWelcome to Episode 26 of the ATL Career Journey. My guest is Jessica Cohen, Senior Customer Success Manager at Slack. I worked with Jessica at Macys and was always impressed with her analytical approach to solving complex problems. We shared a common passion for technology solutions and she has worked for some great companies to help customers work smarter. She also started off her path studying geology with a dream of working for NASA. As life offered up alternate opportunities, Jessica turned her focus to organizational behavior and customer experience. We talked about the valuable lessons of living overseas as...
2020-11-021h 21
ATL Career JourneyEpisode 25 – Bonny Block, Co-Founder, WrippleMy guest for Episode 25 is Bonny Block, who is the Co-Founder of Wripple. Bonny is passionate about the new path forward and helping clients, talent and agencies alike with digital marketing and experience solutions. Wripple is the answer to bringing more transparency and efficiency to a broken industry model … and she’s determined to make sure you know it. Bonny has employed her deep expertise in the digital space to get to the heart of innovative, results-driven solutions for her clients. As such, she not only leads client relationships, account strategy and growth, she also mentors a team of prof...
2020-10-2849 min
ATL Career JourneyEpisode 24 – Rob Phillips, Enterprise Solutions Architect, AtlassianMy guest for Episode 24 is Rob Phillips, who is an Enterprise Solutions Architect at Atlassian. Rob has been passionate about Agile Development and Business Agility since we met at Equifax. We both have Georgia Tech backgrounds and he's taken on some interesting roles with agile since Equifax. Rob is a rare Georgia native and we talked about growing up in this football-passionate state, his path to Georgia Tech, and the value of enjoying your college experience. His journey took him from a co-op student to consulting before landing in the financial services industry. Rob discusses his best practices for...
2020-10-2557 min
ATL Career JourneyEpisode 23 – Kevin Abel, ConsultantMy guest for Episode 23 is Kevin Abel, who is a consultant as well as a former candidate for the United States Congress. I've known Kevin for over 20 years and have enjoyed collaborating with him on technology ideas to solve business problems. Kevin is smart, has a gift for strategic vision, he definitely has a bias for action, and has always been willing to give back to the community. He shared his journey from growing up in South Africa to moving to Dallas, Texas and how he wound up in Atlanta. He's always had an entrepreneurial spirit and explained how...
2020-10-2241 min
ATL Career JourneyEpisode 22 – Garry Capers, General Manager, Cloud Solutions, Deluxe CorporationMy guest for Episode 22 is Garry Capers, who is General Manager of Cloud Solutions at Deluxe Corporation. I met Garry at Equifax when we worked together in their commercial division of the company. Garry has had a very successful career, first as a consultant and then made the transition to industry work. I have always been impressed with Garry's intelligence, analytical decision making, and his ability to stay calm in high pressure situations. He shared some of his steps to success, including knowing your strengths, being patience, and then taking action when the situation presents itself. We also talked...
2020-10-191h 01
ATL Career JourneyEpisode 21 – Paulette Corbin, Executive Director, ChapterTwoToday's guest is Paulette Corbin, who is the Founder of Corbin Executive Coaching and Executive Director of ChapterTwo. She's had an extraordinary career in the airline and executive coaching industries. Paulette first got her start at Delta Air Lines and worked her way up from in-flight to reservation sales to ultimately starting up Delta Express (the airline within an airline). She has always been passionate about customer experience and that has been a key driver to her success. Paulette shares how communication, honesty, and creative problem solving can resolve even complex issues. We also talked about the importance of...
2020-10-151h 01
ATL Career JourneyEpisode 20 – Danny Presten, Chief Methodologist, Digital.aiMy latest guest is Danny Presten, Chief Methodologist for Digital.ai (formerly CollabNet VersionOne). I originally met Danny at Equifax but our paths were similar through both Georgia Tech and Cox Enterprises. Danny is one of the most positive and energetic people that I know. He walked me through his journey from working in non-profit, healthcare and supply chain to his current role as a Chief Agile Methodologist. Danny picked up some valuable lessons on change management and how to apply those to software development and business agility. We discussed our experiences in implementing agile methodologies into an organization an...
2020-10-1253 min
ATL Career JourneyEpisode 19 - Debi Creasman, Senior AE, Client Engagement, Strive ConsultingToday's guest is Debi Creasman, who is responsible for Client Engagement at Strive Consulting. I've known Debi for a few years now and she's impressed me with her experience in the consulting industry and her tremendous work ethic. She's fearless, hardworking, multi-lingual, and has a great ability to connect with professionals at all levels. Debi shares some insights into her success, including the power of being curious, building your professional network, and how working for a startup can expedite your career growth. We also discussed her life lessons of living abroad and how that experience provides incredible perspective, both...
2020-10-0855 min
ATL Career JourneyEpisode 18 - Carlos Duralde, Lead Mobile Game Designer, BBTVThis week's guest is Carlos Duralde, Lead Mobile Game Designer at BroadbandTV. I first met Carlos when we worked together at ShopVisible in Atlanta. We both graduated from Georgia Tech but what I found most interesting about him was that he was already developing video games as a side hobby. Since that time, Carlos relocated to Vancouver, British Columbia and has transformed his hobby into a full time profession. He shares some of his insights into being successful in the video game landscape and what influences drove his passion into a career. I found my conversation with Carlos fascinating...
2020-10-061h 11
ATL Career JourneyEpisode 17 - Pam Askerneese Henry, Owner, Pam's Magic CauldronMy guest today is Pam Askerneese Henry, Owner of Pam's Magic Cauldron. Pam and I are connected through my wife Julia's network and found her career story fascinating. She always had a passion for the culinary arts but started her journey as a teacher in California. Pam found a way to blend her talent for cooking while still in education but found a way to culinary school and ultimately starting her own catering business. She shares how combining her love for learning, asking the right questions, networking, and taking action gave her the recipe for success. We also touched...
2020-10-011h 22
ATL Career JourneyEpisode 16 - Fibia Gee, Co-Founder and CEO, Found ProfessionalsToday's guest is Fibia Gee, Co-Founder and CEO of Found Professionals. I met Fibia through some mutual friends from PM Technologies and we discovered a shared interest in travel and culture. She has gone on to do some great things in the staffing industry and created her own recruiting firm. Fibia has always been an entrepreneur at heart and it was great to hear about her journey from Romania to starting her own boutique recruiting firm. Hard work, saying yes to opportunities, and acting on your dreams were keys to getting where she is today.You can...
2020-09-2846 min
ATL Career JourneyEpisode 15 - Alex Fraser, General Manager, PivetMy guest this week is Alex Fraser, General Manager of Pivet, which is part of Cox Automotive Mobility Group. I first met Alex at Manheim when we worked together in their online division and he's just an all-around great human being. He's always had a passion for the automotive industry but his servant leadership is what stands out to me. There is never a job too big or too small for him to lead or support. He approaches every day with intelligence, creativity, and a true bias for action. In this episode, Alex talks about the importance of taking...
2020-09-241h 00
ATL Career JourneyEpisode 14 - Lori Winters, Founder and CEO, ThreadMy guest for this episode is Lori Winters, who is the Founder and CEO of Thread. I first met her at Concert about 25 years ago and Lori has been a great friend over the years. She's become a successful business owner and I've always admired her intelligence, strong work ethic, and competitiveness. Lori shared her experience of starting out in a large manufacturing company which helped her develop management skills and the importance of a great company culture. We talked about the importance of being flexible, taking risks, servant leadership, and not being afraid to take risks early in you...
2020-09-211h 12
ATL Career JourneyEpisode 13 - Doug Norwood, Director of Enterprise Sales, YextMy guest today is Doug Norwood, who is Director of Enterprise Sales at Yext. I first met Doug at ShopVisible and was always impressed with his ability to see the business side of software development. He always keeps the customer in mind throughout the life cycle of a product and truly understands that sales is about building and maintaining relationships. I admire his character, work ethic, and ability to connect with every level of the business. Doug shared some of his keys to success that include being flexible, adaptable, and always be willing to learn. We also talked a lot a...
2020-09-1741 min
ATL Career JourneyEpisode 12 - Dean Keener, Sr. Vice President, Business Development, LakePoint SportsDean has been a great friend over the years and has had an interesting sports career before taking his talents to the business world. He is currently Sr. Vice President, Business Development at LakePoint Sports, which serves over 30 sports year-round as the premier youth sports destination in the country. Learn more about Dean as he explains how his coaching success transferred into the business world. Certain behaviors such as self-discipline, adaptability, and humility can be applied successfully in almost any environment.You can learn more about Dean on LinkedIn or his company LakePoint Sports.
2020-09-1450 min
ATL Career JourneyEpisode 11 - Will Devlin, Vice President, MessageGearsThis week's guest is Will Devlin, Vice President of MessageGears. Will and I worked together at a small eCommerce company called ShopVisible. He was instrumental in getting our clients set up with an online strategy, marketing plan, and best practices. He has since moved into the world of email marketing and has demonstrated his leadership in that industry. He offered up some great advice about knowing your strengths and being open to new opportunities. We both highly value integrity and character and his strategy for embracing your current path can be applied to all of us. I always learn someth...
2020-08-2751 min
ATL Career JourneyEpisode 10 - Cindy Peterson, Consulting PartnerThis week's guest is Cindy Peterson, who is a Leadership and Business Agility Consultant at Peerless Partners. She and I worked together at Macy's Technology and she was one of the best managers that I've had in my career. She has that rare ability to see the big picture as well as dig into the details and make data-driven decisions. I enjoyed hearing about the underrated benefits of world travel and following a non-linear path in your life. We discussed the advantages of passion versus curiosity and how to determine what culture works best for each of us. Y...
2020-08-241h 03
ATL Career JourneyEpisode 09 - Cooper Shattuck, Legal ConsultantCooper has led an amazing life over the 40 years that I've known him. Since our time at Georgia Tech, Cooper has been an active learner at every phase of his life. From private attorney to legal consultant, he has been successful through every professional transition. On this episode, Cooper shares his experiences and strategies as well as the mindset needed to recognize new opportunities when they may not be obvious. We also discuss the power of identifying and leveraging your strengths and how that can elevate your personal life and professional career. You can learn more about Coope...
2020-08-2446 min
ATL Career JourneyEpisode 08 - Dorothea Bozicolona-Volpe, Marketing Strategist, Personal BrandingDorothea is a fascinating person and truly a citizen of the world. Born in New York City to French and Italian parents. Her Father’s passing caused her family to move to Europe where she became somewhat of a nomad. She has lived in Italy, France, Germany, Japan, Sweden, The Netherlands and the United Kingdom. She studied neuro-linguistic pathology and artificial intelligence to become a hostage negotiator. It is no wonder her journey has taken her from polyglot global law enforcement strategist to working with Fortune 500 brands in her own strategic digital & social media marketing firm. Dorothea has served as a...
2020-08-1350 min
ATL Career JourneyEpisode 07 - Terrence Burns, Olympic Bid ConsultantTerrence has always been one of my favorite people to work with. He has charted an amazing journey in the Olympic world as both a marketer and a bid committee consultant. Sharp, driven, and a quick wit have been his trademarks and was demonstrated on this episode. Terrence talks about his spending his early career at Delta Air Lines and how hard work and attention to detail set him up for success with the Olympic movement. His ability to define "why" cities should host the Games was a huge shift from the past and paved the way for many succ...
2020-08-1050 min
ATL Career JourneyEpisode 06 - Sugra Naqvi, Sales LeaderSugra has been a constant presence on the Atlanta technology landscape and I'm glad to call her my friend. I first met her at a Women in Technology (WIT) event and always admired her work ethic and bias for action. I've watched Sugra move from business development to business owner to her current role as a senior sales executive. She has managed her career transitions with professionalism and a "can-do" attitude. On this week's podcast, Sugra shares her work experience as well as successful strategies for charting your own career path. I really enjoyed chatting with Sugra and hope you l...
2020-07-2033 min
ATL Career JourneyEpisode 05 - Vicki Reyzelman, Strategic Engagement ManagerVicki is an amazing technology leader and is currently a strategic engagement manager at Akamai. I worked with Vicki almost 15 years ago at EarthLink when we helped build out municipal wireless networks for various cities. She has that rare combination of deep technical knowledge with keen business sense. I enjoyed hearing about her life journey starting in Uzbekistan to her present location in Atlanta. She walked me through her progression from programmer right out of college to online product manager to strategic leader. Vicki also shared some of her secrets to success, including continual learning, being bold in trying...
2020-06-1535 min
ATL Career JourneyEpisode 04 - Judy Romano, CFO and Transformation LeaderJudy is an accomplished financial executive who has demonstrated her abilities to adapt and thrive. I worked with her at Equifax and was always impressed with her leadership and ability to connect with her team. She was kind enough to sit down with me to share some of here tools for success. Visualization, believe in yourself, learn from your mistakes, and adapt quickly. Judy is also a master at leveraging social media and building her personal brand. She has always enjoyed paying it forward and creating opportunities for others. I enjoyed our talk and hope you do as well!
2020-06-1025 min
ATL Career JourneyEpisode 03 - Tonya Haswell, Film Set Designer and Graphic ArtistThis week's guest is Tonya Haswell. In addition to being Mike's better half, I have actually known her longer than Mike. Although her formal training and early work experience was in graphic design, she has made a big impression in the local film industry doing set design. Her career journey has been a fascinating one and I really enjoyed talking with her about it. I hope you enjoy it as well!You can learn more about Tonya on IMDB, Tannery Row Artist Colony, or Instagram.
2020-06-011h 06
ATL Career JourneyEpisode 02 - Mike Haswell, Insurance Executive and Financial CounselorMy guest this week is Mike Haswell, who is an executive from the insurance industry. Mike and I have known each other since our college days at Georgia Tech and we've maintained our friendship for over thirty years. I respect him a great deal both personally and professionally. He has been a leader in the insurance industry and I really enjoyed our conversation as the inaugural guest on ATL Career Journey. I hope you enjoy!You can learn more about Mike on LinkedIn or at Storing Treasures.
2020-06-0136 min
ATL Career JourneyEpisode 01 - Welcome from Paul VarnedoeAre you not sure what your next steps are beyond high school or college? Have you started your career but are thinking about a potential change? If so, then welcome to the ATL Career Journey podcast! I'm Paul Varnedoe and I started this podcast to help Atlanta-based individuals connect with successful professionals and learn practical mentoring advice. Whether you are college, military, or trade school bound, this podcast will help share life lessons and experience that can help you succeed in your personal career journey. I hope you enjoy it and would love to hear your feedback! Yo...
2020-05-3102 min