1151: Douglas Ferguson, Voltage Control: Beyond The Prototype
Release Date: 03/24/2020
3496: Why the LoopUp Startup Story Is a Masterclass in Leading Through Uncertainty
Tech Talks Daily
What happens when your entire market disappears overnight? That was the reality facing LoopUp when the pandemic transformed the way the world communicates. In this episode of Tech Talks Daily, I sit down with Steve Flavell, co-CEO of LoopUp, to talk about how his company turned disruption into a defining moment of reinvention. LoopUp began in 2003 with a mission to make conference calls less painful. For over a decade, the company grew steadily, even going public on the London Stock Exchange in 2016. But when Teams and Zoom became household names during the pandemic, LoopUp’s core business...
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3495: How Adebimpe Ibosiola is Bringing Clarity to Digital Transformation in Regulated Industries
Tech Talks Daily
What happens inside a transformation program when every decision must withstand scrutiny, every dependency carries weight, and every undocumented rule inside a legacy system can change the outcome of an entire initiative? That was the starting point for my conversation with , a specialist who has spent her career working in regulated industries where nothing is ever as simple as it looks on paper. In a space where leaders often feel pressure to modernize at speed, she argues that the real progress comes from slowing down long enough to understand the truth of the systems, people, and cultures...
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3494: The Fastest Way to Recover Endpoint Devices During an IT Outage
Tech Talks Daily
Why do entire organisations invest millions building resilient data centres yet leave their endpoints exposed to outages that can last days? That question kept coming back to me during my conversation with of IGEL at the , because it highlights a gap that most IT leaders still underestimate. James walked me through the reality he sees every day. Companies have high availability strategies for their servers, cloud platforms, and networks, yet the devices workers rely on remain the weakest point. When ransomware or system failure hits, the response often involves scrambling for spare laptops,...
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3493: Industrial AI in Action, Somya Kapoor on Digital Workers and ROI
Tech Talks Daily
What happens when a founder who built a billion dollar company during a global crisis steps into the centre of industrial AI and begins reshaping how entire organisations think and work? That question sat at the heart of my conversation with CEO of , recorded live on the show floor at Somya’s journey carries a level of grit and perspective that shines through every answer. She shared how surviving the Gulf War as a child shaped her instinct to take on the hardest problems in technology. That mindset not only guided her early career at SAP, ServiceNow, and other enterprise giants, it also...
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3492: How Mammoth Enterprise AI Browser Redefines Security at the Endpoint
Tech Talks Daily
Have you ever wondered what happens when the browser stops being a simple window to the web and starts becoming the control point for how AI touches every part of enterprise life? That was the starting point for my conversation with Michael Shieh, founder and CEO of Mammoth Cyber. What followed was a detailed look at why the browser is turning into the foundation of enterprise AI and why the shift is arriving faster than many expect. Michael shared why employees already spend most of their working lives inside a browser and how this makes it the natural place for AI to support decisions, speed...
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3491: From NHL Ice to Enterprise Data: Ataccama’s CEO on Building AI That Actually Works
Tech Talks Daily
What happens when a former NHL player who once faced Wayne Gretzky ends up running a global data company that sits at the center of the AI boom? That question kept coming back to me as I reconnected with , the CEO of seven years after our last conversation. So much has shifted in the world since then, yet the theme that shaped this discussion felt surprisingly grounded. None of the big promises of AI can take hold unless leaders can rely on the data sitting underneath every system they run. Mike brings a rare mix of stories and experience to this theme. His journey from the ice to the C...
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3490: How Zenoti Is Redefining Guest Experience With AI
Tech Talks Daily
What happens when a former Microsoft leader walks away from tech, immerses himself in personal wellbeing, and accidentally discovers one of the biggest blind spots in the global spa, salon, and wellness industry? That question sat with me as I spoke with , founder and CEO of who has shaped one of the most influential platforms powering beauty, wellness, and fitness operations in more than fifty countries. This conversation takes an interesting path. Sudheer began his career inside Microsoft during its high-growth era, then built and exited a successful enterprise software company, only to...
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3489: Tredence on Why Data Darwinism Will Shape the Next Wave of Enterprise AI
Tech Talks Daily
What happens when enterprise AI moves faster than the data foundations meant to support it? That question guided my conversation with , CTO and Co-Founder of who joined me while travelling between customer meetings on the US West Coast. Sumit has a clear view of what is coming next, and he believes we are entering a phase he calls data Darwinism. In his view, the next stage of AI advantage will not be won by the companies with the most models or the flashiest demos, but by those with the strongest data habits. Clean, governed, connected data is now the primary fuel for autonomous...
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3488: How Akeneo Sees the Future of Product Experience in an AI First Retail World
Tech Talks Daily
What happens when AI becomes the centre of how we shop, yet trust still determines whether any of it works? That question shaped my conversation with , CEO of , who joined me to unpack the latest consumer data on AI driven shopping experiences. Retail giants might be setting the pace, but the real story sits in how everyday shoppers feel about these new tools. Akeneo’s recent research caught my attention when it revealed that eighty four percent of consumers who acted on an AI recommendation were satisfied with the purchase. The appetite is clearly there, yet trust remains fragile,...
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3487: vFairs Explains the Next Chapter of Event Tech
Tech Talks Daily
What happens when events become the most human channel in a world increasingly shaped by AI? That thought set the tone for my conversation with , founder and CEO of who has spent years helping organisations design in-person, virtual, and hybrid experiences at a remarkable scale. With more than fifty thousand events delivered and over one hundred million attendees served, he has a front row view of how event technology is changing and why the next wave will look very different from what planners have relied on until now. Rather than fearing the impact of AI, Muhammad sees a...
info_outlineIn a time of uncertainty where we are all surrounded by hype, fear, and all things related to the Coronavirus pandemic and COVID-19 alerts, I want to bring in hope, optimism, and new solutions via this daily tech podcast. Today, I wanted to learn more about Design Sprints and how they can help teams unite even when working from home.
If you have ever found yourself asking, What are Design Sprints? Why are Design Sprints so valuable? When should teams conduct Design Sprints or just want a few tips for running a successful Design Sprint and what to do with the information after the Design Sprint is over, you are in a for a treat today.
Voltage Control was founded by Douglas Ferguson, an entrepreneur and technologist with over 20 years of experience. With his unique combination of expertise in technology, product strategy, and design thinking, Voltage Control offers trusted guidance to companies who want to jumpstart their product or project with an impactful innovation workshop. Austin-based Voltage Control designs and leads custom innovation workshops and Design Sprints, as developed by Google Ventures.
In addition to workshop facilitation, Voltage Control engages with organizations for Digital Transformation, Innovation Training, Corporate Summits, and Strategic Planning. Douglas is also the author of Beyond the Prototype, a new book that offers a six-step plan for companies struggling with the shift from discovery to launch.
Prior to Voltage Control, Douglas held CTO positions at numerous Austin startups, where he led product and engineering teams using agile, lean, and human-centered design principles. While CTO at Twyla, Douglas worked directly with Google Ventures running Design Sprints and now brings this experience and process to companies everywhere.
Douglas also recently published his first book, Beyond the Prototype, which offers a six-step plan for companies struggling with the shift from discovery to launch. Douglas is active in the Austin startup community where he serves on the board of several non-profits, mentors startups, and advises early-stage ventures. He spends his free time patching up modular synthesizers, playing guitar, and taking photographs. He graduated from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University.
Join me in learning from Douglas, who outlines everything companies need to know before, during, and after conducting a Design Sprint.