Usually the president answers the questions. This time he asks them.

IEEE TEMS Radio launches a new format - the Reverse Podcast - where IEEE TEMS President Dr. Sudeendra Koushik turns the microphone around and interviews the volunteers who make the Society work. In this inaugural installment, he sits down with three senior practitioners who came to TEMS after building careers in industry first.

Jaya Kandaswamy (IEEE DFW, Region 5) works at the intersection of the IEEE Standards Association and TEMS - a published author and SA working committee member focused on how AI gets adopted safely.

Harshavardhan Peddireddy (IEEE Central Tennessee and Cincinnati Sections, Region 3) is a Platform Architect at Meijer Inc. with 18+ years in enterprise data, AI governance, and privacy engineering. IEEE Senior Member, Ph.D. scholar, and reviewer for IEEE, Springer Nature, and Wiley.

Nirdesh Pachoriya (IEEE Fort Worth, Region 4) brings close to 19 years in performance engineering and software quality, contributing as reviewer, session chair, and conference coordinator while exploring how AI-assisted tooling is reshaping engineering practice.

The questions are deceptively simple, and the answers are anything but. What actually pulled each of them into IEEE - and into TEMS specifically? What did they expect when they raised their hand, and what did they actually get? A common thread emerges: none of them came for a title. They came to share what they knew — and stayed because of the rooms it put them in.

Dr. Koushik does more than moderate. As the conversation unfolds, he maps each story onto the wider set of opportunities inside IEEE TEMS - the committees, programs, and communities most members never discover because nobody told them where to look. The result is part oral history, part practical roadmap for anyone wondering how to move from paying dues to actually belonging.

Essential listening for members considering a volunteer role, mid-career engineers and managers weighing where to invest time outside work, chapter and section leaders focused on recruitment and retention, and anyone curious what a technical society looks like from the inside.

Want to be featured in a future Reverse Podcast? IEEE TEMS volunteers can self-nominate here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfT9oZh5BZQcDcKI2IGIf5X81gyA5BQ8dSHZImf_eU24JjSdw/viewform

Host / Producer: Madhusudan Bangalore Nagaraja, IEEE Senior Member, Technical Delivery Manager, eSystems Inc. | PMI Infinity Advisory Committee Contributor | Irving, Texas, USA
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/madhusudannagaraja/

IEEE TEMS Radio - Engaging Conversations in Education, Engineering, Management and Technology.

Produced by: IEEE Technology and Engineering Management Society
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IEEE TEMS Radio — Engaging Conversations in Education, Engineering, Management and Technology.

Produced by: IEEE Technology and Engineering Management Society
Please write to us at [email protected] to share your feedback.

Stephen Ibaraki has been building at the intersection of AI and global impact since before most people had heard the term. He built his first AI-enabled computer in 1965. He co-created the networked AI medical database that took a Canadian industry to 80% global market share — all under NDA. He spent over a year working weekly with ITU leadership before the UN ITU AI for Good Global Summit launched in 2017, bringing in speakers, sponsors, and funding largely from his own network. He advises a community of 38,000 CEOs representing $22 million employees across 150 countries. And more than 90% of what he does today, you will never read about.

In this episode, host Madhusudan Bangalore Nagaraja sits down with Stephen — Chairman of REDDS Capital, Founder of AI for Good, IEEE TEMS board member, and IEEE Systems Council Industry Ambassador — for a candid conversation on what it actually takes to close the gap between AI adoption and real-world impact.

They cover:

— Why 88% of organizations use AI but fewer than 40% show a measurable result — and the specific leadership failure at the root of that gap, drawn from Stephen's experience at a private summit of 38,000 CEOs in Sydney
— The structured, step-by-step process that separates organizations getting quantifiable AI results from those stuck in pilot theater
— What builders and innovators should stop doing (overcomplicating what they can't control) and start doing (Cognitorial thinking — free, combinatorial idea generation — and reading on the edge daily)
— Why 2026 is the year CEOs must personally use AI every day, shorten their planning cycles to 90-day windows, and think in 10x innovation terms
— Human in the loop as the irreducible governance floor — and why responsible AI frameworks from IEEE, UNESCO, and Microsoft all converge on the same principle
— The S11: Stephen's framework of 11 converging technologies to monitor between now and 2028 — from Zetta-scale computing and 6G to quantum utility, autonomous AI scientists, biomedical rejuvenation, and the energy flywheel that underpins all of it
— The one action every engineering manager should take this week: read on the edge — IEEE Spectrum, ACM news, and the outlier signals that most leaders miss

Connect with Stephen Ibaraki:
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/sibaraki
Twitter / X: @sibaraki
IEEE Systems Council Interview Series: ieeesystemscouncil.org/education/tech-vision-interviews-stephen-ibaraki

Connect with your host Madhusudan Bangalore Nagaraja:
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/madhusudannagaraja
IEEE Senior Member, Technical Delivery Manager, eSystems Inc. | PMI Infinity Advisory Committee | Researcher, Agentic AI Systems | Irving, Texas, USA 

IEEE TEMS Radio — Engaging Conversations in Education, Engineering, Management and Technology.

Produced by: IEEE Technology and Engineering Management Society
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Dr. Wynand Lambrechts is an IEEE Senior Member, Principal Electronics Engineer at INCOMAR Aerospace and Defence Systems, and Senior Research Associate at the University of Johannesburg. A Ph.D. graduate in Electronic Engineering from the University of Pretoria, he is the lead author of internationally published books on Moore's Law and millimeter-wave technologies (CRC Press, Springer) and co-authored the IEEE Spectrum commentary "The Challenges and Upsides of Using AI in Scientific Writing" - the centrepiece of this podcast's conversation.

Dr. Lambrechts draws on his semiconductor engineering career to argue that large language models represent a categorically different disruption from prior digital transitions: not faster tools for access, but systems that can substitute the act of intellectual formulation itself. He makes a compelling case for Augmented AI - where human judgment and machine capability collaborate - over AI as a replacement for critical thinking, and likens the arms race between generative models and detection tools to electronic warfare, where goalposts shift faster than policy can follow.

Drawing on South Africa's higher education context, he offers a Global South perspective on navigating AI ethics under resource constraints. The episode closes with a direct challenge to the next generation: in a world where AI can draft your manuscript, what does career ownership truly mean - and if an AI produces a groundbreaking discovery from human data, who owns the intellectual credit?

This episode is essential listening for academic researchers, doctoral students, technology managers, editors, policymakers, and anyone navigating responsible innovation in an AI-accelerated world. 

Link to the co-authored IEEE Spectrum commentary: The Challenges and Upsides of Using AI in Scientific Writing — IEEE Spectrum (Feb 2025)

Guest LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wynand-lambrechts-77b20a25/

Host: Madhusudan Bangalore Nagaraja, IEEE Senior Member, Technical Delivery Manager, eSystems Inc. | PMI Infinity Advisory Committee Contributor | Researcher, Agentic AI Systems | Irving, Texas, USA 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/madhusudannagaraja/

IEEE TEMS Radio — Engaging Conversations in Education, Engineering, Management and Technology.

Produced by: IEEE Technology and Engineering Management Society
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Celia Desmond is President of World Class – Telecommunications, providing telecommunications management training. Celia established and ran the PMO for Echologics. Her team managed all proposals, contracts and project management processes, She has lectured internationally on programs for success in
today’s changing environment. As Director at Stentor Resource Center Inc., she was instrumental in establishing governance, culture and service/product development processes. At Bell Canada, Celia provided strategic direction to corporate planners, ran technology/service trials, standardized equipment, and
supported large business clients.

Celia was 2016-1017 IEEE Division III Director. She has held numerous IEEE positions including, Secretary, IEEE VP – Technical Activities, ComSoc President, IEEE Canada President, VP Technology and Engineering Management Society and Project Director for ComSoc’s Wireless Engineering Certification. Celia holds MSc. Engineering,  B.Sc. Mathematics & Psychology, Ontario Teaching Certificate and PMP certification. Celia has taught kindergarten, high school, and at 5 universities. She is author of 2 Project Management books.

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/celia-desmond-b92117/

Summary:
In this insightful episode of the IEEE Thames podcast, host Jeff Perry sits down with Celia Desmond, a seasoned telecommunications management expert whose career journey spans from teaching kindergarten to leading complex engineering initiatives at Bell Canada. Celia shares her experiences navigating diverse professional roles, offering strategies for managing large-scale projects and transitioning between industry and research environments. Her reflections underscore the vital role of personal initiative, adaptability, and continuous learning in career advancement.

Listeners will gain practical guidance on building a career beyond technical expertise—exploring how to cultivate leadership skills, create meaningful professional networks, and thrive in both small and large organizations. Whether you're early in your engineering journey or a seasoned professional, this episode provides valuable lessons on career ownership, project management, and the evolving demands of technology-driven roles.

Jeff's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeffcperry/

IEEE TEMS Radio — Engaging Conversations in Education, Engineering, Management and Technology.

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The podcast features Dr. Saurabh Sinha, a professor and executive dean at the University of Canterbury, New Zealand, discussing the role of augmented AI (A2I) in shaping the future of technology, particularly in telecommunications and beyond. Dr. Sinha begins by sharing his experience with the IEEE Technology Prediction Reports from 2022 and 2023, where he observed a shift in AI's impact. Initially seen as a standalone technology, AI has now become integral to various domains, both technological and non-technological.

He explains how A2I differs from traditional AI by emphasizing the need to focus on human and societal aspects alongside technological advancements. This approach aligns with the concept of the Fifth Industrial Revolution, where AI is not just about efficiency and speed but also about inclusivity and ethics.

Dr. Sinha delves into the role of A2I in telecommunications, particularly with the advent of 5G and 6G. He highlights the importance of integrating AI with ethics and societal values to ensure technology is inclusive and beneficial to all. He also touches on the ethical implications of AI and how A2I could help address biases and other challenges in the development of AI systems.

The conversation also explores the role of AI in everyday life, the impact of large language models (LLMs), and the importance of ethically aligned design in shaping AI's future. Dr. Sinha advocates for a balanced approach, where AI serves humanity's broader goals, including achieving the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals.

In closing, he reflects on IEEE's shift in focus towards "advancing technology for humanity" and expresses hope for a future where technology and human values are intertwined to create a better world.

Link to the Original Paper: S. Sinha, J. W. Lambrechts, A. Bimana and A. Ashipala, "Augmented Artificial Intelligence in 5G, 6G, and Beyond: A Quantum Leap," in IEEE Computer, vol. 58, no. 1, pp. 24-32, Jan. 2025, doi: 10.1109/MC.2024.3445532

IEEE TEMS Radio — Engaging Conversations in Education, Engineering, Management and Technology.

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In this episode, the host of TEMS Radio, Manju Iyer is in a conversation with Jeff Perry, a leadership and career expert known for helping individuals, teams, and organizations unlock their potential in all facets of life. Given his background in engineering, business, and leadership, he specializes in working with engineering and technical professionals, but the principles he shares are universal.

Jeff is the author of the bestselling book, The Intentional Engineer: A Guide to a Purpose-Driven Life and Career for Engineers and Technical Professionals as well as the new book The Intentional Career Guide to Professional Networking.

Jeff received a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from Brigham Young University, and a Master of Business Administration from the University of Washington. 

A sought-after teacher and speaker, Jeff is happily married to Robin. Together they have four children, and live in beautiful Pullman, Washington.

IEEE TEMS Radio — Engaging Conversations in Education, Engineering, Management and Technology.

Produced by: IEEE Technology and Engineering Management Society
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The podcast episode with Tathagat Varma, a senior leader in the technology industry, covers a wide range of topics related to his professional experiences, leadership in innovation, and the role of AI in business. 

Tathagat begins by discussing his unique experience in Antarctica, where he spent 16 months as part of an Indian science expedition. He explains how this experience shaped his approach to leadership and problem-solving, particularly the importance of innovation within constraints, which was critical in such a resource-limited environment.

He then delves into the difference between creativity and innovation, emphasizing that innovation is about channeling creative ideas to solve real-world problems within specific constraints. He shares how this principle applies to both the Antarctic expedition and corporate environments.

On the subject of AI, Tathagat discusses his PhD research, focusing on how businesses can effectively adopt AI technologies. He warns against adopting AI simply because it’s trendy and advocates for aligning AI initiatives with strategic business goals. He also touches on ethical considerations, such as bias and hallucinations in AI systems, and emphasizes the importance of human intervention to ensure AI's safe and ethical use.

He introduces the concept of "cognitive collaboration," where humans work alongside intelligent non-human agents, and foresees this as a major shift in the future of work. Tathagat concludes by sharing his vision for the intersection of technology and work, predicting that AI will play a significant role in decision-making processes and that organizations must adapt to work effectively with AI-driven tools.

The conversation wraps up with reflections on how companies can prepare for these changes and the importance of education and regulation to ensure the responsible use of AI.

IEEE TEMS Radio — Engaging Conversations in Education, Engineering, Management and Technology.

Produced by: IEEE Technology and Engineering Management Society
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In this episode of Time's Radio, Manju interviews Donald Lobo, the founder of Project Tech for Dev, a social enterprise that brings technology to nonprofits. Donald shares his journey from Yahoo to founding Project Tech for Dev, emphasizing the importance of technology as an enabler for NGOs. He discusses the vision and mission of Tech for Dev, highlighting the ecosystem-building approach to support NGOs effectively. Donald also delves into the impact of AI in the social sector, emphasizing the need for technology awareness while cautioning against overreliance on AI to solve complex social issues. The episode concludes with insights on volunteering in the social sector and transitioning to nonprofit work, stressing the importance of understanding NGO challenges and adding value to the organization.

IEEE TEMS Radio — Engaging Conversations in Education, Engineering, Management and Technology.

Produced by: IEEE Technology and Engineering Management Society
Please write to us at [email protected] to share your feedback.

Visualization to Prompt Discussion and Promote Debate in Meetings

In this podcast Joe Sarkis a member of the TEMS Education Committee speaks with author Clive Kerr on his study and recent publication titled “Visualizing Portfolios: Prompt Discussions and Provoke Debates in Management Meetings” which appears in a forthcoming issues of IEEE Engineering Management Review. Clive Kerr speaks about his experiences with visualization and how it emerged from his roadmapping work. How senior executives prefer better visualizations and how these visualizations can be improved so that senior and strategic managers can more fully engage with some complex resource allocation topics related to managing portfolios of projects. Lessons for manages are clearly delineated based on the research and experiences.

Clive Kerr

Senior Research Associate, Cambridge University

IEEE TEMS Radio — Engaging Conversations in Education, Engineering, Management and Technology.

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Understanding Interpersonal Trust for Organizational Leaders

In this podcast Joe Sarkis a member of the TEMS Education Committee speaks with author JD Caddell on his study and recent publication titled ““The Dynamics of Trust: Path Dependence in Interpersonal Trust” which appears in Volume 51, Issue 3 of IEEE Engineering Management Review. Major Caddell speaks on three major findings related to his study including: (1) How initial assessments matter; (2) Promote trust building behaviors; and (3) Prioritize team development. He discusses surprises and challenges from his study as well.

JD Caddell

Major U.S. Army, Ph.D Candidate, Stevens Institute of Technology

IEEE TEMS Radio — Engaging Conversations in Education, Engineering, Management and Technology.

Produced by: IEEE Technology and Engineering Management Society
Please write to us at [email protected] to share your feedback.