Tech Me Seriously!

June An: Turning Community and Relationships into Business Growth

In this episode of Tech Me Seriously, Sarah Tenisi [https://www.linkedin.com/in/stenisi/], CEO of TenisiTech [https://tenisitech.com/] and host of the show, sits down with June An [https://www.linkedin.com/in/june-an-349558162/] to explore how community-driven culture, relationship-based sales, and operational discipline differentiate TenisiTech in a competitive managed services market. June shares how TenisiTech evolved from a family-run startup into a 35-person professional IT services company without losing its personal connection. The conversation examines how blending a family mindset with enterprise-level efficiency creates stronger employee engagement, higher client trust, and long-term retention. They discuss how TenisiTech’s San Diego North County business community grew from 600 to nearly 1,000 local executives, reinforcing trust-based networking and relationship selling. June explains how authentic, consultative sales—rather than product-driven pitches—results in sustainable growth, stronger referrals, and deeper client loyalty. The episode also dives into strategic IT planning for small and mid-sized businesses, including staged infrastructure upgrades, cloud migration, cybersecurity accountability, compliance support, and license consolidation that can uncover significant cost savings. Sarah and June outline how proactive IT management replaces break-fix cycles and improves operational scalability. AI adoption is another key theme. June shares how TenisiTech integrates AI tools to automate repetitive tasks—such as ticket categorization and CRM workflows—while protecting the human relationships that clients value most. The conversation emphasizes that AI should enhance service efficiency, not replace personal engagement. Throughout the discussion, Sarah and June highlight how leadership alignment, continuous improvement, operational transparency, and responsive local support drive measurable client outcomes. In this episode, you’ll learn: * How community building strengthens company culture and client trust * Why relationship-based MSP sales outperform rigid product-driven models * How staged IT modernization reduces technical debt and supports scalability * The financial impact of software license consolidation and proactive IT strategy * How AI can improve operational efficiency without sacrificing human connection * Why accountability and ownership improve cybersecurity and compliance outcomes This episode offers a practical look at how culture, strategy, and disciplined operations create long-term success in managed IT services.

Shehara Wooten: Designing Financial Freedom for Sustainable Success

In this episode of Tech Me Seriously, Sarah Tenisi [https://www.linkedin.com/in/stenisi/], CEO of TenisiTech [https://tenisitech.com/] and host of the show, sits down with Shehara Wooten, CFP®, fee-only financial advisor and founder of Your Story Financial, to discuss strategic financial planning, funded sabbaticals, and building long-term wealth without burnout. Shehara shares how her background as an electrical and computer engineer led her to financial planning, where she now helps high-earning professionals design fully funded sabbaticals, strengthen cash flow strategy, and align their money with purpose. The conversation explores how financial burnout affects career performance, why traditional retirement planning often misses the bigger picture, and how intentional life design creates sustainable success. Together, they break down the mechanics of sabbatical planning, including building a sabbatical fund, calculating runway, and protecting long-term wealth while taking extended time off. Shehara also explains the importance of working with a fee-only fiduciary financial advisor to ensure unbiased, commission-free advice. The discussion expands to career transitions, wealth-building for professionals, financial wellness in the workplace, and how employers can reduce burnout through smarter financial education and flexible policies. In this episode, you’ll learn: * How to plan and fund a sabbatical without compromising retirement goals * The difference between fee-only financial planning and commission-based advice * How high earners can move from financial success to financial freedom * Practical strategies for cash flow management and wealth building * Why career breaks can increase long-term productivity and leadership capacity If you are a tech professional, executive, or high achiever looking to reduce financial stress, build generational wealth, or design a career that includes intentional rest, this episode offers practical financial strategy and long-term planning insights you can implement immediately. Connect with Shehara Wooten [https://www.linkedin.com/in/shehara/] Your Story Financial, LLC [https://www.yourstoryfinancial.com/]

Bryan Bansbach: Smart AI Starts with Strong Automation

In this episode of Tech Me Seriously, Sarah Tenisi, CEO of TenisiTech [https://tenisitech.com/], sits down with Bryan Bansbach [https://www.linkedin.com/in/bbansbach/], Director of Infrastructure Operations at TenisiTech, to unpack what smart AI adoption really looks like inside modern IT teams. Bryan shares why the most successful organizations start with strong automation and clear goals before bringing AI into the mix, and how skipping these steps leads to wasted effort, security risk, and overwhelmed employees. Sarah and Bryan dive into early AI wins like automated ticket categorization and faster knowledge retrieval, along with the very real limits of letting AI make decisions on critical systems. They also highlight why data hygiene, vendor vetting, and tight access controls matter more than ever as tools like Microsoft Copilot gain deep visibility across company environments. 🎧 Listen for practical insight on building a secure, intentional AI strategy that improves workflows, reduces cognitive load, and helps your teams thrive without compromising stability or trust.

Jossie Haines: Smart AI Adoption That Builds Effective High-Impact Teams

In this episode of Tech Me Seriously, Sarah Tenisi, CEO of TenisiTech [https://tenisitech.com/], sits down with Jossie Haines, Executive & Leadership Coach and Fractional Engineering Leader with 25 years at Apple, Tile, Zynga, and American Express. Jossie shares why many companies are overspending on AI without seeing real ROI, and how vague mandates, poor guidance, and early misuse lead to buggy code, security risks, and wasted productivity. She and Sarah dig into the human side of adoption, including research showing how unconscious bias impacts women and older engineers who openly use AI, and why leaders must create clear use cases, model healthy AI habits, and integrate tools intentionally rather than reactively. They also break down the hidden dangers of shadow AI, the importance of engineering oversight, and how custom GPTs and strategic coaching can help leaders amplify their impact without sacrificing quality or safety. 🎧 Listen for practical insight on aligning AI to real business problems, reducing risk, and empowering teams with thoughtful, human-centered leadership. 👉 Connect with Jossie Haines [https://www.linkedin.com/in/jossiemann] 🌐 jossiehaines.com [https://jossiehaines.com/]  📺 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@jossiehaines [https://www.youtube.com/@jossiehaines] 📘 Free Guide: 4 AI Workflows Every Tech Leader Should Automate https://jossiehaines.com/ai-workflows-engineering-leaders/ [https://jossiehaines.com/ai-workflows-engineering-leaders/]

Carlo Cacciatore: Managing the J Curve - Leading Through Technology Change

In Part 2 of Sarah Tenisi and Carlo Cacciatore [https://www.linkedin.com/in/carlo-cacciatore-11891078/]’s conversation, the discussion turns from IT service delivery to the human side of technology implementation: the J curve. The J curve captures the emotional and productivity dip teams experience when adopting new systems. Sarah and Carlo unpack why this happens, what it means for leadership, and how organizations can navigate through the low point to achieve lasting transformation. They explore: * How different teams experience the J curve during major tech rollouts * Strategies for change management, communication, and training * The importance of leadership engagement and storytelling with data * Managing Shadow IT and tool sprawl across modern workplaces * Balancing simplicity, AI integration, and compliance in today’s SaaS ecosystem From emotional readiness to practical execution, this episode offers a blueprint for IT leaders aiming to guide their organizations through the complexities of change and come out stronger on the other side.