1151: Douglas Ferguson, Voltage Control: Beyond The Prototype
Release Date: 03/24/2020
Inside Ricoh’s Research On Workflow Friction And Document Chaos
Tech Talks Daily
Why are employees still drowning in administrative work despite years of digital transformation, new software platforms, and constant promises that technology will make work easier? In this episode of Tech Talks Daily, I explore that question with Jason Spry from Ricoh Europe. What begins as a discussion about a new Ricoh research report quickly turns into a much broader conversation about how modern workplaces actually operate day to day. The findings are striking. Employees across Europe are losing an average of 15 hours every week to routine administrative tasks. That is time spent...
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From NASA Engineer To Drata CEO: Adam Markowitz On Building Trust In The AI Age
Tech Talks Daily
How do you build trust in a business environment where security reviews, compliance demands, and vendor risk checks can slow everything down just when companies are trying to move faster? In this episode, I sit down with Adam Markowitz, CEO and co-founder of Drata, to talk about why trust has become one of the most important business conversations in tech. Adam brings a fascinating perspective to the table. Before building Drata, he worked on NASA’s space shuttle program, and today he leads a company that has grown rapidly by helping organizations rethink compliance, governance, risk, and...
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Natterbox And The Future Of Voice AI In Customer Experience
Tech Talks Daily
What happens when the most frustrating part of customer service, waiting on hold, repeating yourself, and fighting your way through endless phone menus, finally starts to disappear? In this episode, I sit down with Neil Hammerton, CEO and co-founder of Natterbox, to talk about how AI is reshaping customer experience in ways that feel practical rather than theatrical. We begin with a conversation about the gap between what customers have tolerated for years and what they expect now. Whether it is a bank that still puts you through layers of outdated IVR menus or a service team that...
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Pendo CEO Todd Olson On How AI Is Redefining The Product-Led Organization
Tech Talks Daily
How do you turn trillions of user interactions into meaningful decisions without drowning in data? In this episode of Tech Talks Daily, I sit down with Todd Olson, co-founder and CEO of Pendo, to talk about the future of product-led organizations and why AI is reshaping how software companies grow, build, and compete. Pendo tracks trillions of product usage events to help organizations understand how customers actually interact with their software. That level of data sounds powerful, but it also raises a challenge many teams face today. How do you turn massive data sets into clear signals that...
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Genesys Agentic Virtual Agent Powered by LAMs for Enterprise CX
Tech Talks Daily
Have you ever contacted customer support with a simple request, only to find yourself trapped in a loop of scripted chatbot responses that never actually solve the problem? It’s an experience many of us know all too well. AI has made customer service more conversational over the last few years, yet there is still a gap between answering a question and actually resolving an issue. That gap is exactly where today’s conversation begins. In this episode of Tech Talks Daily, I spoke with Mike Szilagyi, SVP and General Manager of Product Management at Genesys Cloud, about a new chapter in...
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Inside o9 Solutions And The AI Systems Powering Modern Supply Chains
Tech Talks Daily
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How Gensler Is Designing Data Centers For A Faster AI Future
Tech Talks Daily
What does it take to design a data center for a world where the technology inside it may change several times before the building even opens? In this episode of Tech Talks Daily, I sit down with Jackson Metcalf, Principal at Gensler, to talk about how AI is forcing a complete rethink of data center design. Jackson has spent nearly two decades working on critical facilities, and in our conversation he explains how the shift from traditional cloud workloads to dense AI environments is changing everything from building form and cooling strategy to long-term infrastructure planning. What struck me...
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How Xanadu Is Building Photonic Quantum Computers And Preparing For A $3.1B Public Debut
Tech Talks Daily
How close are we to the moment when quantum computing moves from scientific curiosity to real-world infrastructure? In today’s episode of Tech Talks Daily, I speak with Christian Weedbrook, Founder and CEO of Xanadu, a company pushing the boundaries of what quantum computers might soon achieve. Xanadu has taken an unconventional route in the race to build practical quantum systems. Instead of relying on electronic approaches used by many others in the field, the company builds quantum computers using photonics, effectively computing with particles of light. Christian explains why this...
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How Scale Computing Is Powering The Next Wave Of Edge Infrastructure
Tech Talks Daily
How should businesses rethink infrastructure when applications, data, and users are increasingly spread across thousands of locations? In this episode of Tech Talks Daily, I sit down with Mark Cree, President and Chief Operating Officer at Scale Computing, to talk about why the future of enterprise infrastructure is moving closer to where data is actually created. This conversation was recorded following the 66th edition of The IT Press Tour, where some of the most interesting conversations in enterprise infrastructure centered on what happens when businesses move away from oversized,...
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Inside Wrike’s Research On Shadow AI And The Future Of Work
Tech Talks Daily
How can companies invest heavily in AI and still struggle to see meaningful returns? In this episode of Tech Talks Daily, I sit down with Thomas Scott, CEO of Wrike, to unpack a growing tension many organizations are facing right now. Artificial intelligence adoption is accelerating rapidly across the workplace, yet the structures needed to support it are struggling to keep pace. Wrike’s latest research into the “Age of Connected Intelligence” reveals that more than 80 percent of employees are already using AI at work. Yet fewer than half have received any formal training,...
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.