In this episode, John and Dani welcome tech leader and entrepreneur Scott Smeester to explore the importance of trusted insight and peer support among chief information officers (CIOs) and chief technology officers (CTOs). Scott shares how his mastermind group helps tech executives move beyond isolation and grow as strategic business leaders. From startup failures to leadership insights, this is a candid, funny, and illuminating conversation that bridges tech and parking in unexpected ways.

Today’s guest is Scott Smeester, the CEO of CIO Mastermind and a self-described “geek with executive tendencies.” 

Join Scott and your hosts Dani Crain and John D. Conway as they get into:

(8:03) Breaking Down CIOs and CTOs

* The roles of CIOs and CTOs and their differences in leadership scope.

* Why many CIOs struggle with communication and executive alignment.

(33:49) Tech Trends & Industry Crossover

* How AI, edge computing, and digital customer experiences are impacting various industries.

* Why collaboration across industries is a key opportunity.

(42:50) Scott’s Entrepreneurial Backstory

* Scott recounts the rise and fall of Talus, his startup that nearly made it to Wall Street.

* The origin of CIO Mastermind.

Thanks to our sponsors for supporting this show: 

* Laney Solutions: leaders in the recruiting talent for the parking industry: https://www.laneysolutions.com/ 

* SpotHero: Parking made easy, wherever you go: https://spothero.com/ 

* Parking Revenue Recovery Services (PRRS): bringing you a new standard in parking compliance: https://www.parkingprrs.com/ 

* LAZ Parking: making a difference, one car at a time: https://www.lazparking.com/ 

* Asura Technologies: an automated license plate recognition (ALPR) and video analytics company: https://asuratechnologies.com/ 

* Parking Whisperer: https://parkingwhisperer.com/ 

Thanks to Scott Smeester for being on the show. 

Connect with Scott on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/scottsmeester

Learn more about CIO Mastermind: https://www.ciomastermind.com/ 

Connect with the hosts:

* http://www.parkingtalk.com 

* Dani Crain: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dani-crain-3754a3178/ 

* John D. Conway: https://www.linkedin.com/in/john-d-conway-b55a7025/ 

* [email protected]

Subscribe, like, and follow: 

* Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/44KScHB 

* Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3rKBJVn 

* YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ParkingTalkwithDaniJohn-hb9ku 

* LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/parkingtalk-com/ 

* X/Twitter: https://x.com/parkingtlk 

This episode was produced by Story On Media: https://www.successwithstories.com.