Tech Me Seriously!

In this episode of 'Tech Me Seriously,' Sarah Tenisi, CEO of Tenisi Tech, has a candid conversation with Den Jones, the Chief Security Officer at Banyan Security. The episode dives deep into common cybersecurity myths, discussing real-world examples and practical advice for how to better secure organizations. Den shares his extensive experience from working at major Silicon Valley enterprises like Cisco and Adobe, providing insights on the most effective security measures, the pitfalls of outdated strategies, and the importance of simplifying and automating security processes. 00:00 Introduction to Tech Me Seriously 00:32 Meet Den Jones: Chief Security Officer at Banyan Security 01:42 Cybersecurity Myths: Let's Bust Some Shit 02:25 The Reality of Cyber Breaches 05:21 Common Cybersecurity Vulnerabilities 14:54 The Importance of Patching and Configuration 26:31 Governance vs. Security: The Real Deal 29:05 HR Training and Governance 29:38 Phishing Simulations and Tools 31:23 Vendor Risk and Email Security 32:34 Governance and Compliance Challenges 33:50 Least Privilege and Access Management 38:25 Career Journey and IT Evolution 49:40 Security Myths and Best Practices 53:13 Conclusion and Future Topics The 3 Main Takeaways: (1) Breaches often occur due to simple lapses like weak passwords and poor configuration, not highly sophisticated hacks, with phishing attacks being a common vector.  (2) Tools like vulnerability management systems and risk registries are often outdated and less effective compared to consistent patching and robust configuration management.  (3) Governance and compliance do not necessarily equate to adequate security; organizations need to implement practical and automated solutions like MFA, regular patching, and identity management to truly safeguard their assets.

Building Compassionate Tech Cultures with April Wenzel On this episode of Tech Me Seriously, host Sarah Tanisi, CEO of Tenisi Tech, engages in a compelling conversation with April Wenzel, international keynote speaker and founder of Compassionate Coding. They explore the significance of integrating emotional intelligence and compassion in tech, tackling misconceptions, industry burnout, and how open-mindedness towards compassionate practices can revolutionize the workplace. April shares her founder's journey, emphasizing the importance of addressing both self-compassion and compassion for colleagues, users, and society. The conversation also touches on generational shifts, the impact of AI, and the essential steps for leaders to foster a compassionate work culture. 00:00 Introduction to Tech Me Seriously 00:28 Meet April Wenzel: Founder of Compassionate Coding 02:27 The Concept of Compassionate Coding 03:50 The Importance of Self-Compassion in Tech 06:45 Challenges and Changes in the Tech Industry 17:59 The Role of Compassion in AI Development 22:50 April Wenzel's Founder Story 29:16 The Evolution of Compassion in the Workplace 30:18 The Rise of Compassionate Job Descriptions 31:11 Balancing Accountability with Love 32:16 Realizing the Impact of Compassionate Leadership 33:45 The Importance of Meaning and Connection at Work 34:45 Navigating Negative Reactions and Hierarchies 38:05 Starting the Journey Towards Workplace Compassion 50:00 Avoiding Compassion Fatigue 52:57 Final Thoughts and Reflections

In this episode of "Tech Me Seriously," host Sarah Tenisi, CEO of TenisiTech, welcomes Julia Tunstall, co-founder of A Bar Above, a company dedicated to making craft cocktail skills  and high-end barware accessible to everyone. Julia and Sarah discuss Julia's transition from a career in project and data management at life sciences companies to co-founding A Bar Above. Julia shares her passion for cocktails and how she and her husband created a successful business that blends online cocktail education with the sale of premium barware. They explore how Julia's team has integrated AI into their business processes, using tools like ChatGPT and MidJourney. Julia describes various practical applications of AI, from generating images for blog posts to assisting in drafting emails. The conversation includes insights into alleviating team members' fears about AI taking over jobs and encouraging them to experiment with these technologies. Julia highlights their innovative approach, including the creation of AI avatars dubbed "Abe" and "Abby," which they use to better understand and engage with their customer base. The discussion also touches on the growing trend of mocktails and their importance in the current market. The episode wraps up with practical advice on how businesses can get started with AI and the importance of being cautious about data privacy and the impact of AI on different industries.

In this compelling episode of "Tech Me Seriously," Sarah Tenisi, CEO of TenisiTech, dives into the world of Intellectual Property (IP) with guest expert Stephen Robertson. As founder of Metis Partners, Stephen brings over two decades of experience in helping businesses recognize, protect, and leverage their IP assets. Together, they unravel the complexities of intellectual property, offering invaluable insights into its role in driving business growth, securing competitive advantages, and preparing for future scalability. What is Intellectual Property (IP)? Stephen explains that IP encompasses not just patents and copyrights but also brands, trade secrets, software, and crucial data. These intangible assets are often undervalued but are key differentiators and value drivers for businesses.  How can service companies discover and leverage their IP? Contrary to common belief, service businesses possess IP too. Stephen demystifies the notion, showing how service-based models can identify and protect their unique processes, customer relationships, and even their brand as IP.  Why is understanding and protecting IP from the start important? From securing a competitive edge to enhancing valuation for investments or exits, early IP recognition and protection are crucial for sustainable business success.  How does IP influence fundraising and exits? Stephen shares that well-managed IP can significantly influence a company's valuation, affecting fundraising efforts and increasing exit multiples. Three Biggest Takeaways:  1. IP is More Than Patents: Intellectual Property extends beyond patents and copyrights, encompassing all unique aspects of a business that provide a competitive edge, such as customer relationships, proprietary software, and brand identity.  2. Early Protection is Key: The early identification and protection of IP assets are critical in safeguarding a company's unique value, enhancing its market position, and securing higher valuations for investments and exits.  3. IP as a Strategic Asset: IP should be viewed as a strategic asset, integral to a company's growth and scalability plans. Proper management and leveraging of IP rights can open new avenues for revenue generation and market dominance. Stephen's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephen-robertson-496659/

Angela Amoroso: Championing Ballet and the Arts for Our Kids’ Education In this episode, Sarah Tenisi speaks with Angela Amoroso, Founder of Scripps Performing Arts Academy, established in 1987. Her goal is to provide a creative nurturing environment that instills self-confidence, self-esteem, and teamwork without sacrificing the core values of dance as an art form. Listen in as Angela discusses why integrating art into the core curriculum, into K-12 education, is more important than ever. In a world of AI, she believes that it’s time to put the A back into STEM—that a STEAM education is the way of the future. She refers to a study by NASA which aimed to measure creative genius in school-aged children, demonstrated to decline drastically through the years, from 95% at the age of five all the way down to 2% by the age of 31. The performing arts, particularly ballet, can potentially curb these numbers if made a consistent part of a child’s core curriculum. To this end, she gives her thoughts on maintaining creative genius from childhood to adulthood, and how the skills learned through the performing arts easily carry over into leadership roles. She explains how parents and teachers alike can work together to change mainstream education, to effectively “sell” an arts-focused curriculum that puts students first. What You’ll Learn in This Episode: ●      [01:52] Why it’s so important to integrate art into the core curriculum ●      [06:37] How the NASA study measured creative genius in children ●      [11:34] Building a community of performing arts students ●      [17:01] The importance of having compassion for your little performer ●      [20:12] How Angela chose her career path ●      [24:09] About the Scripps program, Experience the Good ●      [26:36] Four ways Angela’s work has transformed the lives of students ●      [30:25] Incorporating community-based performance into everyday life ●      [31:53] Getting art programs back into education ●      [37:58] How parents can get involved Key quotes: ●      “The best way to combat artificial intelligence is to become more human.” ●      "Strong mind, strong body. Strong body, strong mind." Resources: ●      Angela Amoroso on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/angela-amoroso-58231749/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/angela-amoroso-58231749/] ●      Scripps Performing Arts Academy Website: https://scrippsperformingartsacademy.com/ [https://scrippsperformingartsacademy.com/] ●      Scripps Performing Arts YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@ScrippsPerformingArts/videos [https://www.youtube.com/@ScrippsPerformingArts/videos]