Libsyn Directory

215: Exponential Expertise: Cultivating Talent for the Age of Technological Acceleration

Release Date: 02/18/2025

236: Fishing in Deeper Waters: U.S. Customer Acquisition by Design with Bill Kenney

Sophie Alcorn Podcast

Unlock the secrets to successfully navigating the intricate U.S. market with insights from Bill Kenney, a visionary entrepreneur who runs his business from a sailboat. Discover how Bill guides B2B and B2G companies through the complexities of U.S. policies on foreign investment, manufacturing, supply chains, and tariffs. With a focus on customer and industry density, Bill offers invaluable advice on targeting specific geographic areas and industry verticals, promising listeners a strategic approach to thriving in the competitive U.S. landscape. Since 2012, Bill and his team at MEET have...

235: Dreaming the Possible: Art, Technology, and the Diplomacy of Hope with Martin Rauchbauer

Sophie Alcorn Podcast

Austrian diplomat Martin Rauchbauer takes center stage in our latest episode, sharing his journey as a pioneer in tech diplomacy. Rauchbauer's career, rooted in the rich diplomatic traditions of Austria, has led him to bridge the gap between diplomacy and the ever-evolving tech world. Through his initiative, Open Austria, Martin has established vital connections between Austria and the bustling innovation hub of Silicon Valley, addressing challenges from creative diaspora dynamics to complex geopolitical landscapes. Martin Rauchbauer is an Austrian-born senior diplomat and recognized expert in...

234: Beyond the Pitch: Real Stories of Growth, Grit, and Game-Changing Deals with Krishna Mohan

Sophie Alcorn Podcast

Krishna Mohan, an influential entrepreneur known for his work with Fortune 500 companies, joins Sophie for a compelling exploration of entrepreneurship and business transformation. Krishna shares his journey from a corporate career to becoming a serial entrepreneur, detailing the challenges small business owners face, such as marketing and people skill gaps. He delves into the importance of understanding a founder's vision in mergers and acquisitions and reveals the untapped potential found within personal aspects of business evaluations. Krishna Mohan is an Award-Winning Serial entrepreneur,...

233: The High Cost of Holding It Together with Dr. Ardeshir Mehran

Sophie Alcorn Podcast

Distinguished psychologist and trauma therapist Dr. Ardeshir Mehran joins us to unravel the complex layers of mental health, particularly how depression subtly manifests among high achievers. We expose the hidden struggles behind a successful facade, where loneliness and a life "on hold" are often overlooked indicators of emotional distress. Drawing from his expertise, Dr. Mehran highlights alarming statistics, such as the profound loneliness reported by 50% of US-based CEOs, and sheds light on how physical symptoms can be an expression of deeper emotional issues, particularly in high-pressure...

232: Inside Global Class: Frameworks for Modern Market Expansion with Klaus Wehage

Sophie Alcorn Podcast

Klaus Wehage, the visionary co-author of "Global Class," shares his fascinating journey from a young MTV enthusiast to a key player in global business expansion. With captivating tales from his early days in Vietnam with Carlsberg, Klaus discusses how those experiences shaped his profound understanding of market discovery, cultural nuances, and the complexities of international business. Transitioning to Silicon Valley, he became the "Silicon Valley Ambassador," revolutionizing the Silicon Valley Forum and guiding founders in global entrepreneurship. Klaus's story is a testament to the power...

231: EB-2 NIW for Tech Founders: Is It Still Viable in 2025

Sophie Alcorn Podcast

In this episode, Sophie invites listeners to explore the intricacies of the EB2 National Interest Waiver (NIW) green card and how it can bolster a tech career in 2025. She provides expert insights, aiming to equip ambitious tech founders with the knowledge to successfully navigate this self-petition pathway. She also emphasizes the significance of holding advanced degrees or possessing exceptional abilities. The episode dives into the critical three-prong analysis from the Dhanasar case, which requires demonstrating substantial merit, national importance, and the benefits of waiving job offer...

230: Humanizing Sales in the Age of AI with Venki Pola

Sophie Alcorn Podcast

Venki Pola, co-founder and CTO of OneShot.ai, shares his incredible journey from a career at Salesforce to becoming an immigrant entrepreneur. After experiencing personal tragedy and navigating the complexities of the U.S. immigration system as an H-1B visa holder, Venki's story is one of resilience and determination. We explore the additional hurdles he faced while transferring his visa to his startup, managing responsibilities, and ensuring his status enabled him to chase his business dreams. His story is a testament to perseverance and the relentless pursuit of one's aspirations, against...

229: When Stress Speaks: Decoding the Body’s Language for Resilience with Matthew David Gardner

Sophie Alcorn Podcast

Facing a severe digestive shutdown can feel like an insurmountable mountain, but for Matthew David Gardner, the journey to health was transformative. After years of searching for a solution through both traditional and alternative medicine, he found hope through Gloria, a practitioner who introduced him to a unique method of energy testing and personalized nutrition. Within just 30 days, Matthew experienced remarkable improvements, regaining strength and vitality. Join us as we unravel his story and explore the unconventional approaches that restored his health and reshaped his perspective on...

228: Layoff Lessons: Reinvention After Setbacks with Roshni Chellani

Sophie Alcorn Podcast

Roshni Chalani, a brilliant wireless engineer turned career coach, captivates us with her inspiring journey from India to the United States, breaking free from conventional expectations like early marriage. Her story is filled with strategic brilliance, as she shares how she used financial logic to win her family's support for her education abroad. This episode offers a refreshing perspective on the power of persistence, strategic communication, and courage to shake off cultural norms and pursue one’s dreams. Roshni Chellani is a wireless engineer by day, a career coach, and a 24/7 content...

227: Why We Still Don’t Have Robot Butlers with Anshuman Kumar

Sophie Alcorn Podcast

Unlock the secrets behind the rapid evolution of robotics with Anshuman Kumar, head of hardware at Matic Robots, as we dissect what makes a robot more than just a machine. Discover how modern marvels, from everyday tools to cutting-edge autonomous vehicles, are reshaping our lives. Anshuman shares the technological breakthroughs that are fueling this transformation, revealing the vital roles that GPUs, AI, and a blend of mechanics, electronics, and algorithms play in creating robots capable of perceiving and interacting with their surroundings like never before. Anshuman Kumar is the Head of...

More Episodes

Dr. José-Marie Griffiths is the President of Dakota State University in Madison, South Dakota. She has spent her career in research, teaching, public service, corporate leadership, workforce and economic development, and higher education administration, with a special focus on working in STEM fields.

She has served in presidential appointments to the National Science Board, the U.S. President’s Information Technology Advisory Committee, and the U.S. National Commission on Libraries and Information Science. She was a member of the National Security Commission on Artificial Intelligence and is an expert advisor with the Special Commission on Special Projects (SCSP).

She participated in the White House Cyber Workforce and Education Summit, and 2023 Senate hearings on AI and Ag, research, and workforce.

She was named the 2024 USA Today Woman of the Year for South Dakota, one of 50 Influential Women in AI by InspiredMinds, and was inducted into the South Dakota Hall of Fame in 2023.

In this episode, you’ll hear about:

The importance of accountability and careful data set selection to combat AI bias.
Dakota State University's leadership in cyber defense and AI education.
The interplay between AI, cybersecurity, and the disruptive potential of quantum computing on encryption.
The STEM talent gap in the U.S. and the role of legal immigration in bolstering innovation.
Quantum technology's future applications and its impact on encryption systems.

Follow and Review:

We’d love for you to follow us if you haven’t yet. Click that purple '+' in the top right corner of your Apple Podcasts app. We’d love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it helps spread the word about the podcast.