1151: Douglas Ferguson, Voltage Control: Beyond The Prototype
Release Date: 03/24/2020
Cobalt Shares Hard Lessons From the State of Pen Testing Report
Tech Talks Daily
What happens when artificial intelligence starts accelerating cyberattacks faster than most organizations can test, fix, and respond? In this episode of Tech Talks Daily, I sat down with to unpack what real-world penetration testing data is revealing about the current state of enterprise security. With more than two decades in cybersecurity and a background that spans finance, engineering, product, and strategy, Sonali brings a grounded, operator-level view of where security teams are keeping up and where they are quietly falling behind. Our conversation centers on what happens when AI...
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LAMs (Large Action Models) and the Future of AI Ownership
Tech Talks Daily
What happens when AI stops talking and starts working, and who really owns the value it creates? In this episode of Tech Talks Daily, I’m joined by Sina Yamani, founder and CEO of Action Model, for a conversation that cuts straight to one of the biggest questions hanging over the future of artificial intelligence. As AI systems learn to see screens, click buttons, and complete tasks the way humans do, power and wealth are concentrating fast. Sina argues that this shift is happening far quicker than most people realize, and that the current ownership model leaves everyday users with...
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Pegasystems on Why Legacy Modernization Finally Has a Way Forward
Tech Talks Daily
What does it really take to remove decades of technical debt without breaking the systems that still keep the business running? In this episode of Tech Talks Daily, I sit down with Pegasystems leaders Dan Kasun, Head of Global Partner Ecosystem, and John Higgins, Chief of Client and Partner Success, to unpack why legacy modernization has reached a breaking point, and why AI is forcing enterprises to rethink how software is designed, sold, and delivered. Our conversation goes beyond surface-level AI promises and gets into the practical reality of transformation, partner economics, and what...
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UiPath and the Reality of Managing AI at Enterprise Scale
Tech Talks Daily
What does it really take to move AI from proof-of-concept to something that delivers value at scale? In this episode of Tech Talks Daily, I’m joined by Simon Pettit, Area Vice President for the UK and Ireland at UiPath, for a grounded conversation about what is actually happening inside enterprises as AI and automation move beyond experimentation. Simon brings a refreshingly practical perspective shaped by an unconventional career path that spans the Royal Navy, nearly two decades at NetApp, and more than seven years at UiPath. We talk about why the UK and Ireland remain a strategic region...
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3568: Getty Images: How Brands Can Avoid AI’s Sloppification of Visual Content
Tech Talks Daily
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3567: What a Chief Communications Officer Really Does and Why It Matters
Tech Talks Daily
What actually happens when a company loses control of its own voice in a world full of channels, platforms, and constant noise? In this episode of Tech Talks Daily, I sat down with Joshua Altman, founder of beltway.media, to unpack what corporate communication really means in 2026 and why it has quietly become one of the most misunderstood leadership functions inside modern organizations. Joshua describes his work as a fractional chief communications officer, a role that sits above individual campaigns, tools, or channels and focuses instead on perception, trust, and consistency across...
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3566: How Ergodic Predicts Complex Disruptions Before They Happen
Tech Talks Daily
What if your AI systems could explain why something will happen before it does, rather than simply reacting after the damage is done? In this episode of Tech Talks Daily, I sat down with Zubair Magrey, co-founder and CEO of Ergodic AI, to unpack a different way of thinking about artificial intelligence, one that focuses on understanding how complex systems actually behave. Zubair’s journey begins in aerospace engineering at Rolls-Royce, moves through a decade of large-scale enterprise AI programs at Accenture, and ultimately leads to building Ergodic, a company developing what he describes...
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3565: CKEditor and the Reality of Supporting Developers Across Every Tech Stack
Tech Talks Daily
What does it actually take to build trust with developers when your product sits quietly inside thousands of other products, often invisible to the people using it every day? In this episode of Tech Talks Daily, I sat down with Ondřej Chrastina, Developer Relations at CKEditor, to unpack a career shaped by hands-on experience, curiosity, and a deep respect for developer time. Ondřej’s story starts in QA and software testing, moves through development and platform work, and eventually lands in developer relations. What makes his perspective compelling is that none of these roles felt...
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3564: Why Banking Is the Ultimate Test for Responsible AI
Tech Talks Daily
If artificial intelligence is meant to earn trust anywhere, should banking be the place where it proves itself first? In this episode of Tech Talks Daily, I’m joined by Ravi Nemalikanti, Chief Product and Technology Officer at Abrigo, for a grounded conversation about what responsible AI actually looks like when the consequences are real. Abrigo works with more than 2,500 banks and credit unions across the United States, many of them community institutions where every decision affects local businesses, families, and entire regional economies. That reality makes this discussion feel...
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3563: Vijay Rajendran on Why Startup Advice Fails When Reality Kicks In
Tech Talks Daily
What really happens after the startup advice runs out and founders are left facing decisions no pitch deck ever prepared them for? In this episode of Tech Talks Daily, I sit down with Vijay Rajendran, a founder, venture capitalist, UC Berkeley instructor, and author of The Funding Framework, to discuss the realities of company building that rarely appear on social feeds or investor blogs. Vijay has spent years working alongside founders at the sharpest end of growth, from early fundraising conversations through to the personal and leadership shifts that scaling demands. That experience shapes...
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.