Blazing Trails

Today, technology is an integral part of the sports landscape. In fact, it’s become so ingrained in American sports that data and algorithms are part of pretty much every broadcast and in every locker room.

Technology is now used to predict win probability, analyze launch angles of home runs, and track shot charts of NBA superstars. But technology isn’t just used to build a better viewing experience. It is also being dropped into the hands of coaches to do things like perfect a runner's stride and track every moment from the beginning of a sprint to the final lunge across the finish line.

On this episode of Blazing Trails, we feature a conversation from the IT Visionaries podcast with guest Johnathan Lee. Johnathan is the director of sports performance technology for the Olympic technology group at Intel, and today, he talks about how his department worked to enhance 3D tracking technology ahead of the 2021 Olympic games in Tokyo. Plus, he dives into the countless other applications for these types of algorithms and data.

If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe to IT Visionaries wherever you get your podcasts!

In 2007, Khali Sweeney was on a mission - he had a vision for a unique youth program that combined education with boxing. Today, that vision has come to life in the form of Downtown Boxing Gym in Detroit. But the startup process wasn’t always smooth sailing (it never is), and a lot of lessons were hard learned.

Today, Khali joins the podcast, along with Executive Director of Downtown Boxing Gym, Jessica Hauser, to discuss how companies can build successful partnerships with non-profits. He and Jessica touch on the importance of building a team early on, why shared mission is vital when pursuing partnerships with businesses, and the different ways businesses and nonprofits can work together to leave a lasting impact on those in need.

Brittani Marie, Lead Brand Editor at Salesforce, and Shane Snow, founder of Contently, discuss how their time working together at Contently taught them important lessons about inclusion and diversity. They talk about Shane’s dream team framework, why Brittani values “team agreements,” and why it’s okay as a leader to not always have all the answers. Plus, they explain how to have honest conversations about diversity in the workplace, and what it means to look for micro opportunities to be inclusive.

A decade ago, trusting a brand meant trusting the quality, consistency, and delivery of their service or product. While that still rings true today, now trust between consumer and company relies heavily on a new pillar: trusting that the brand is protecting your data.

With data leaks, breaches, and hacks becoming increasingly more sophisticated, who better to invite on than Taher Elgamal, known as the “father of SSL” -- the encryption that makes the websites we visit secure. Taher joins the show for a discussion about the past, present, and future of cybersecurity. He talks about his background in the industry, why stopping ransomware requires a game of catch up, and what should be top of mind for CIOs and CTOs today.

“We are in this together.” That’s the key message Ana Navarro and Dr. Geeta Nayyar want to send in today’s episode.

Ana is an American political strategist who appears regularly on CNN, Telemundo, and The View and Dr. G, Chief Medical Officer at Salesforce. They joined Producer Rachel Levin to discuss the impact of the COVID-19 crisis worldwide, the role private and public partnerships can play in helping deliver vaccines to countries in need, and what individuals can do to help. Plus, they talk about the future of telehealth and what employers should consider when thinking about bringing employees back to work.

How do you lead with compassion and create a company culture where people feel valued?

Joining us to help answer these questions and more is Ania Smith, CEO of TaskRabbit. Ania talks with host Hayley Nelson, Vice President of Content Marketing at Salesforce, about what it means to be a compassionate leader. They discuss the future of work, what flexible work means for organizations, and how to define and celebrate company values. Plus, Ania shares her personal story as a leader, how she learned to lead with empathy, and what she does to maintain work-life balance.

No one knows the Salesforce Platform like co-founder Parker Harris. For 22 years it’s been his focus. On this episode, Harris shares his thoughts on the evolution of the Salesforce platform over the last two decades, his vision for the future, and why he always celebrates the moment when a customer removes code from their Salesforce implementation.

If this past year has taught us anything, it’s a lesson in embracing patience, finding gratitude, and building resiliency. So who better to call on for advice than a four-time Olympian?

Joining us on this episode of Blazing Trails is Chaunté Lowe, an Olympic high jumper, bronze medalist, and world champion. From facing competition on the field to battling breast cancer off it, Chaunté knows a thing or two about overcoming adversity. In today’s conversation, she shares her story, the mindsets and thought patterns she leans on to push through stressful times, and how we can all work to create more inclusive environments for each other.

So tune in for your daily dose of inspiration and positivity, brought to by the amazing Chaunté Lowe.

“The bottom line is it’s time to be decisive… we have to actually disrupt ourselves. We have to literally disrupt the idea of personal ownership of vehicles.”

According to Jim Farley, the CEO of Ford Motor Company, the automotive industry is due for a shake-up. Jim recently joined host Monica Langley on an episode of The Inflection Point to share his personal journey as well as his vision for the future. They discuss Jim’s passion for cars, what brought him to Ford, and how the automotive industry is going green. Plus, Jim grants us a behind-the-scenes look at the latest electric vehicles from Ford.

“The bottom line is it’s time to be decisive… we have to actually disrupt ourselves. We have to literally disrupt the idea of personal ownership of vehicles.”

According to Jim Farley, the CEO of Ford Motor Company, the automotive industry is due for a shake-up. Jim recently joined host Monica Langley on an episode of The Inflection Point to share his personal journey as well as his vision for the future. They discuss Jim’s passion for cars, what brought him to Ford, and how the automotive industry is going green. Plus, Jim grants us a behind-the-scenes look at the latest electric vehicles from Ford.