ETMA Tech Talk Podcast

Hyperion Highlights the Benefits of Attending ETMA Conference April 2026 in Clearwater

Enterprise technology leaders discuss why the ETMA Conference in Clearwater, Florida April 8–10, 2026 is one of the most effective conferences to build channel partnerships and learn practical AI implementation strategies. ETMA Conference Preview: Networking That Actually Works + Real-World AI Lessons (with Hyperion Partners) Joe Basili ETMA Managing Director talks with Yvonne Patterson and Mary Dougan of Hyperion Partners about the benefits of attending the upcoming ETMA Conference in Clearwater, Florida April 8–10. This is a conference for people working on their company rather than just in their company register https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/ETMAClearwater [https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/ETMAClearwater] The discussion focuses on factors and design of the conference to accelerate sales channel alliance partnerships: a structured program designed for networking, breakout sessions that enable best-practice sharing, and an intimate setting compared with larger conferences. They discuss benefits from thought leadership conference sessions: Artificial Intelligence as a major industry topic, emphasizing practical uses for efficiency and automation and the value of sharing both successes and failures. They highlight attendee direct revenue opportunities with ETMA conference attendees average 2.9 new partnerships per event. Speed to market gained at conferences with partnership alignment in two days that could take months to create independently. They explain Hyperion Partner’s advocacy and monetization strategy for TEM/MTS partners, including bridging gaps between carriers, agents, and sub-agents and why carriers prefer working through a primary agent. They close with advice to bring business cards, use the Swapcard conference application to schedule meetings early, and share contact details. Register for the April 2026 Conference https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/ETMAClearwater [https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/ETMAClearwater] Learn more about the conference: https://etma.org/conferences/ [https://etma.org/conferences/] 🎥 Preview Clearwater experience: https://youtu.be/Qc5nvqZNtfw [https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__youtu.be_Qc5nvqZNtfw&d=DwMFaQ&c=euGZstcaTDllvimEN8b7jXrwqOf-v5A_CdpgnVfiiMM&r=3PnYF88KMSDrnpPgEGF8jWR7BOISu8FFBAiwvfBBwl0&m=H072KBf1MsJtRWq4w4Gf_7w9nSILUlHXXalqGtlykcnk31SHmuwZlrvWmZro4V6v&s=rPk94jT4Jk-A7_PX4aHWoLAHm67HSsbuM9czvFFNvyA&e=]  #ETMASmoothSailingApril8-10⛵Clearwater Fl  https://youtu.be/007aQjXbSrA [https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__youtu.be_007aQjXbSrA&d=DwMFaQ&c=euGZstcaTDllvimEN8b7jXrwqOf-v5A_CdpgnVfiiMM&r=3PnYF88KMSDrnpPgEGF8jWR7BOISu8FFBAiwvfBBwl0&m=H072KBf1MsJtRWq4w4Gf_7w9nSILUlHXXalqGtlykcnk31SHmuwZlrvWmZro4V6v&s=98XysvRgb3-Gb2NqBV4OcRSRFbct6tfS7BNDtEGK_aQ&e=]

How I Doubled an Unsolicited Buyout Offer Before Exiting | M&A Preview – ETMA Conference

How I Doubled an Unsolicited Buyout Offer Before Exiting | M&A Preview – ETMA Conference Clearwater An unsolicited acquisition offer can cost you millions if you handle it wrong. Buyers arrive with experience, advisors, and leverage. Most founders go through this once. The difference between accepting the first number and running a structured process can dramatically increase valuation, improve terms, and insure a good fit. In this short clip, we break down: • How to respond to a surprise offer. • Why competitive tension matters. • How a disciplined response can materially increase the results. • Why how you exit is critical. This is one of the sessions at the ETMA Conference April 8-10. Register 👉 https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/ETMAClearwater [https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/ETMAClearwater] This conference is for leaders working on their business, not just inside it. The conference theme is: The AI Mandate: Transform before you’re transformed. Will you lead the transformation or be roadkill? AI is disrupting every business. The question is NOT whether AI is exciting or scary. The question is whether you will lead the transformation or react to it. Learn use cases you can apply to your business immediately. Conference focus areas include Mergers & Acquisitions, Artificial Intelligence; Managed Mobility; Cybersecurity; FinOps; TEM; ITFM; IoT; ITAD, Cloud; Utility Management, full technology lifecycle, Channel Sales and more. Register 👉 https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/ETMAClearwater [https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/ETMAClearwater] 🎥 Preview Clearwater experience: https://youtu.be/007aQjXbSrA [https://youtu.be/007aQjXbSrA] and https://youtu.be/Qc5nvqZNtfw [https://youtu.be/Qc5nvqZNtfw]

From Junk Drawers to Global Impact with Kyle Wainwright, CEO of Refreshed Tech ETMA Tech Talk

From Junk Drawers to Global Impact with Kyle Wainwright, CEO of Refreshed Tech ETMA Tech Talk   Each year, billions of mobile devices reach end of life. Many never make it back to an enterprise system of record. They sit in junk drawers. They disappear with remote employees. Or they are discarded improperly. The environmental and financial implications matter: ·      Smartphones and other e-waste contain hazardous substances, including lead, mercury, cadmium, and brominated flame retardants, which can contaminate soil, water, and air if improperly disposed. (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Extended_producer_responsibility?utm_source=chatgpt.com [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Extended_producer_responsibility?utm_source=chatgpt.com] ) ·      Recycling 1 million phones can recover significant amounts of valuable materials, (https://samrinc.com/blog/cell-phone-recycling-statistics/?utm_source=chatgpt.com [https://samrinc.com/blog/cell-phone-recycling-statistics/?utm_source=chatgpt.com]) including: * 35,000 lbs of copper * 772 lbs of silver * 75 lbs of gold * 33 lbs of palladium * * These recovered materials offset mining and reduce environmental impact. ·      Despite the huge value in recoverable materials, globally less than one quarter of e-waste is recycled, meaning much of the $91 billion in raw material value in waste is lost rather than reclaimed. (https://emew.com/blog/global-e-waste-statistics?utm_source=chatgpt.com [https://emew.com/blog/global-e-waste-statistics?utm_source=chatgpt.com]) ·      Approximately 5.3 billion mobile phones were expected to become waste in a single year, highlighting the massive volume of devices reaching end of life. (https://weee-forum.org/ws_news/of-16-billion-mobile-phones-possessed-worldwide-5-3-billion-will-become-waste-in-2022/?utm_source=chatgpt.com [https://weee-forum.org/ws_news/of-16-billion-mobile-phones-possessed-worldwide-5-3-billion-will-become-waste-in-2022/?utm_source=chatgpt.com] From ITAD to Full Lifecycle Thinking Real value emerges when organizations understand and manage the entire device lifecycle, from sourcing and deployment through refresh, buyback, refurbishment, and resale. The company now operates out of a 105,000‑square‑foot facility in Ashley, Indiana, with the capacity to process more than 50,000 devices per month. But scale is not the differentiator. Visibility and transparency are the real differentiators. Solving the Remote Workforce Blind Spot Historically, end‑of‑life devices traveled a slow and error‑prone path. Employees shipped devices back to headquarters. IT teams logged serial numbers manually. Finance waited weeks or months for reconciliation. Refreshed Tech enables direct‑to‑facility returns. Asset visibility is restored. Pricing is transparent. Time to value shrinks from months to weeks. For enterprises managing thousands of distributed workers, this shift can unlock financial gains. Kyle shared how Refreshed Tech uses automation and AI to reduce friction and rebuild trust: * Real‑time pricing intelligence replaces static spreadsheets. * Image‑based device grading improves accuracy and accountability. * Automated serial capture eliminates manual errors. Sustainability as a Business Discipline Sustainability often lies in corporate messaging. At Refreshed Tech, it shows up in operations. Kyle’s perspective is every device reused extends the life of finite resources. Every device recycled properly reduces environmental harm. Why This Conversation Matters Now OEM prices continue to rise. Budgets remain constrained. Regulatory scrutiny is increasing. At the same time, enterprises are holding devices longer, often without understanding how quickly value erodes. The leaders who perform best in this environment will be the ones who understand the full device lifecycle and act on it intentionally. 🎥 YouTube https://youtu.be/C1LAfZrAQz0 [https://youtu.be/C1LAfZrAQz0] 🎧 Podcast • Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/39v180fktYhRSbcq3hk9rn [https://open.spotify.com/show/39v180fktYhRSbcq3hk9rn] • Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/etma-tech-talk-podcast/id1822837171 [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/etma-tech-talk-podcast/id1822837171]  • iHeartRadio: https://www.iheart.com/podcast/269-etma-tech-talk-podcast-282837991/ [https://www.iheart.com/podcast/269-etma-tech-talk-podcast-282837991/] Connect: Refreshed Tech https://refreshedtech.com [https://refreshedtech.com/] Contact Refreshed Tech https://refreshedtech.com/contact-us [https://refreshedtech.com/contact-us]  Brought to you by: https://www.etma.org [https://www.etma.org/]

Navigate Mobile Security Threats with Paul Troisi CEO of Troy Mobility ETMA Tech Talk

Navigate Mobile Security Threats with Paul Troisi CEO of Troy Mobility ETMA Tech Talk Podcast Enterprise mobility security rarely collapses in a single moment. It weakens over time. One device slips outside policy. Smartphones receive less security and controls than corporate laptops. On this ETMA Tech Talk Podcast, Paul Troisi joins host Joe Basili to discuss how mobile devices became the most underestimated risk inside most organizations, even as they sit at the center of daily work. The discussion stays practical, occasionally uncomfortable, and firmly rooted in experience earned across hundreds of deployments. The Most Used Endpoint in the Enterprise Gets the Least Attention Mobile devices touch nearly every enterprise system that matters: Email, collaboration platforms, CRM, financial applications, HR systems, cloud services and more. Many organizations continue to secure smartphones differently than laptops. Enterprises invest in endpoint detection, VPNs, identity controls, and layered defenses for traditional endpoints. Smartphones often operate with limited visibility, fragmented controls, and inconsistent enforcement. From a threat actor’s perspective, the weakest point in the environment is obvious. This is why Paul emphasizes device parity. If mobile devices access the same corporate data and cloud services as laptops, they should be governed and protected at the same level. Not similar. The same. What Mature Mobility Programs Actually Look Like The strongest mobility programs are disciplined and predictable. Across more than 1,500 mobile security implementations, Troy Mobility has seen the same traits in high-performing environments. Clear lifecycle management. Identity enforcement that holds up under pressure. AI Has Shifted the Threat Curve Threat actors use AI to personalize phishing, smishing, and executive impersonation attacks with increasing precision. Mobile devices are an attractive entry point because controls are often weaker and behavioral signals are harder to monitor. Messages look routine. Requests sound credible. Timing feels deliberate. These attacks bypass legacy controls by blending into normal behavior. Paul sees organizations struggle not because they ignore security, but because existing tools were not designed for this level of personalization. Why Cost Arguments Miss the Point Security conversations often stall around budget. Paul challenges this thinking. The cost of platforms is visible and measurable. The cost of a mobile-driven breach is not. Reputational damage, regulatory exposure, executive accountability, and operational disruption rarely appear on procurement spreadsheets until the damage is done. Price still matters. Fit matters more. BYOD Is No Longer the Real Debate Modern mobile platforms enforce strict privacy boundaries regardless of ownership. MDM tools cannot read personal photos, messages, or call logs. That misconception persists and continues to slow adoption. A Founder’s Perspective Shaped by Timing Paul’s entry into mobility security started during the 2008 recession. No funding. No customers. Four young children at home. Paul credits his success to constant learning. Why This Conversation Matters Now Enterprise mobility sits at the intersection of security, finance, operations, and productivity. For leaders responsible for technology management, cybersecurity, FinOps, procurement, and enterprise risk, the conversation is worth the time. 🎥 YouTube https://youtu.be/vK8hR9CIuoA 🎧 Podcast * Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/39v180fktYhRSbcq3hk9rn [https://open.spotify.com/show/39v180fktYhRSbcq3hk9rn] * Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/etma-tech-talk-podcast/id1822837171 [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/etma-tech-talk-podcast/id1822837171] * iHeartRadio: https://www.iheart.com/podcast/269-etma-tech-talk-podcast-282837991/ [https://www.iheart.com/podcast/269-etma-tech-talk-podcast-282837991/] Connect: linkedin [data:image/png;base64,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] Paul Troisi  linkedin.com/in/paul-troisi [https://www.linkedin.com/in/paul-troisi]        Troy Mobility https://www.troymobility.com 📣 Brought to you by: https://www.etma.org [https://www.etma.org/]

80 Percent of AI Initiatives Fail. How Hyperadaptive Enterprises Get It Right ETMA Tech Talk

80% of AI Initiatives Fail. Here Is Why Hyperadaptive Enterprises Don’t. Enterprise leaders spend heavily on AI, yet most organizations struggle to convert AI Implementations into sustained business impact. In this episode of ETMA Tech Talk, Melissa Reeve, author of Hyperadaptive: Rewiring the Organization to Become an AI-Native Enterprise, explains why. Drawing on enterprise research and real-world implementation work, she makes the case that AI failure rarely comes down to the model or the tool. It comes down to how the organization is wired. According to research from the RAND Corporation, 80 percent of AI initiatives fail to meet expectations because systems that govern decisions, learning, funding, and execution were not designed for an AI environment that changes every three to six months. AI Is Not Static Software. Treating It Like One Guarantees Friction. AI is not a tool you implement and learn once. It is an exponentially evolving capability. Reeve argues that enterprises need to stop thinking about AI training as a “one and done” event and treat it as ongoing. Without that approach, organizations will fail. A small group of power users will push ahead. A large group uses AI lightly for email and summaries. A large portion opts out. Productivity fragments instead of compounding. The Hidden Cost No One Budgets For: Human Infrastructure Most AI budgets focus on tools. Licenses, cloud usage, and vendors. What gets underfunded is the infrastructure that supports the humans expected to use those tools. Reeve draws a parallel to the rise of the PC. When computers entered the enterprise, companies did not simply hand them out. Help desks, IT support, security practices, and usage standards were provided with the technology. Why AI Use Cases Stall Before They Scale: The FOCUS Framework Reeve uses the FOCUS framework to prioritize AI initiatives. FOCUS stands for: Fit Does the use case align directly with organizational strategy? Organizational pull Will people actually use it, or will it sit unused once the novelty fades? Capabilities Does the organization have the skills to build and support it today? Underlying data Is the data foundation strong enough for the use-case to work reliably? Success metrics Can value be demonstrated in terms the business recognizes? The framework helps leaders focus investment on areas where outcomes can be proven.          Governance That Moves at the Speed of AI Standing councils that meet quarterly cannot keep pace with models that evolve monthly. Static policy documents buried on an intranet do not help employees make real-time decisions. Governance that is embedded inside the AI tools employees use. Policies that update continuously. Guidance delivered in context. ROI, FinOps Pressure, and the J-Curve Reality CFOs and FinOps leaders face immediate pressure to justify AI spend. Reeve describes AI ROI as a J-curve. There is often a short-term dip as people learn, workflows change, and processes are rewired. Output volume is not the same as business impact. The shift that matters is from measuring activity to measuring outcomes. Learning Loops as a Competitive Advantage Reeve describes an AI learning flywheel built around four stages: spark, spread, scale, and sustain. The Skills Leaders Need More Than Ever Curiosity fuels exploration and keeps leaders engaged as tools evolve. Critical thinking ensures AI outputs are challenged, contextualized, and improved rather than blindly accepted. AI elevates capability. It does not replace judgment. Explore Melissa Reeve’s work, assessments, and enterprise research. Connect with Melissa Reeve https://www.linkedin.com/in/melissamreeve  Connect with https://hyperadaptive.solutions 💼 Where Do You Stand with Your AI Foundation https://hyperadaptive.solutions/discover [https://hyperadaptive.solutions/discover] 📣 Brought to you by: https://etma.org