In this episode of Dear Tech, we sit down with Lori Crooks, Founder and CEO of Cadra, a cybersecurity consultancy on a mission to make compliance approachable for businesses of all sizes. Lori brings over 20 years of experience in IT auditing, security frameworks, and technical documentation — but her journey didn’t start in tech. We dive into her path from finance to IT auditing, what inspired her to leave the corporate world, and the unexpected challenges of entrepreneurship.

We explore:

• Why she walked away from corporate life and how she built Cadra from the ground up
• What makes cybersecurity compliance so misunderstood (and often neglected)
• Surprising gaps in how small businesses think about IT and security
• The importance of making technical work human and understandable
• FedRAMP, NIST, CMMC, and the real-world impact of regulatory frameworks
• What AI means for cybersecurity compliance — and what’s coming next
• The human side of leadership, working remote, and managing a values-driven team
• Her mentorship philosophy, favorite client wins, and… the time she met a hard drive that had been shot with a bullet

Plus, we talk dogs, Harry Potter houses, and why “you are good enough” is the sticky note she’d leave for her past self — and maybe for all of us.

🎧 Listen now and don’t forget to follow the show.

🔗 Learn more about Lori’s work: www.cadra.com

📲 Connect with Lori on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lori-crooks

Dan Hafner never set out to be an entrepreneur, but his winding path through teaching aspirations, software QA, and remote work led him to create Dapper No-Code — a company that helps founders build and launch software without writing code. In this episode, we explore how Dan turned a personal fitness app idea into a full-fledged business, what most people get wrong about no-code, and how white-labeling platforms can fuel your launch.

We also talk about wine making (yes, really), podcasting, dogs, and the future of AI-powered development.

• Why Dan pivoted from helpdesk support to founding a no-code company
• The difference between “having an idea” and building a business
• What people misunderstand about no-code tools in 2025
• Dan’s process for validating app ideas (hint: it started at Planet Fitness)
• The role of white labeling in scaling Dapper No-Code
• How Dan's "Fast Track" offering takes apps from idea to launch in 90 days
• Where AI is supercharging app creation—and where it’s falling short
• The evolution of podcasting and how Dan's show Tech Bytes became a key growth lever
• Dan’s episode with Alex Sanfilippo
• Dan’s journey into winemaking, how he does it at home, and what flavors he’s experimenting with
• The surprising impact of mentorship and what Dan teaches the next generation of no-code developers
• Big thoughts on saturation, technical debt, and what enterprise adoption of no-code could look like

• Dapper No-Code
• Bubble
• Zapier
• PodMatch
• Dan’s episode with Alex Sanfilippo
• Atomic Habits by James Clear
• High Performance Habits by Brendon Burchard
• Backendless

• Favorite quote: “Done is better than perfect.”
• Most gifted book: High Performance Habits
• Favorite investment: “Continually investing in myself”
• Best thing he’s been gifted: A bartered coaching program
• Billboard message: “Your focus determines your reality.”
• Something he changed his mind on recently: The idea of contentment vs constant hustle

• Dan brews wine in his basement — his latest batch? Peach.
• He has three dogs, including a golden retriever-aussie mix with blue eyes
• Shubho and Dan swap stories on podcasting, dogs, and why “apps aren’t the business”

• Dapper No-Code Website
• Dan’s LinkedIn
• Dear Tech on Instagram
• Dear Tech on LinkedIn
• Dear Tech Website

We’re back, and we’re doing something special. In this episode, we’re looking back at the moments that defined Season One of Dear Tech. This isn’t just a highlight reel — it’s a celebration of the honesty, the vulnerability, and the power of real talk in a tech world that often forgets the human behind the resume.

From navigating job searches and negotiating comp, to burnout, layoffs, pivots, and everything in between. Season One held space for the full spectrum of what it means to build a career today.

🎧 In this episode, you’ll hear:

• 🔥 Unfiltered takes on the interview process and hiring realities

• 💼 Real-life negotiation strategies (and what not to do)

• 🧠 Insights on company culture, internal equity, and employee experience

• 💬 Stories of career pivots, risk-taking, and reclaiming control

• 💡 Tangible advice from people who’ve lived the ups and downs of tech

🙏 A huge thank you to our featured guests:

Sanjit, Elle, Dev, and Tahmid. Thank you for your brilliance, your stories, and your honesty.

And to my amazing co-host Francesca, this season wouldn’t have been what it was without you.

Whether you’ve been riding with us since day one or this is your first listen, this episode is for you. Let’s take a moment to reflect on everything Season One gave us, and everything still to come

📲 Connect with us:

📸 Instagram: @deartechpodcast

🔗 LinkedIn: Dear Tech Podcast

🌐 Website & Links: linktr.ee/thedeartechpodcast

🎧 Listen wherever you get your podcasts — and don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and share if this one resonated. 💛

In this episode of Dear Tech, Shubho sits down with Taylor, co-founder of Ambient, to explore his journey through startups, AI, and the importance of mental fitness. Taylor shares insights from his experiences in event tech, pivoting businesses in the face of adversity, and how his passion for sailing has shaped his leadership approach. Whether you're a startup founder, a tech enthusiast, or someone looking to improve resilience and adaptability, this episode has something for you.

• How Taylor discovered sailing and its impact on his personal growth.
• The endurance, teamwork, and adaptability required for offshore racing.
• The connection between sailing and startup leadership—navigating changing conditions, team dynamics, and goal setting.

• The origin of Ambient from a pre-pandemic startup focused on live events.
• Pivoting to virtual event networking during COVID-19.
• Identifying the shift in remote work trends and transitioning towards AI-powered workflow automation.
• How Ambient supports chiefs of staff, founders, and operations leaders with AI-driven insights.

• Differentiating Ambient by focusing on a specific persona: the Chief of Staff.
• Understanding the balance between AI capabilities, user expectations, and reliability.
• How AI is reshaping the SaaS industry and pricing models.

• Taylor’s journey from a temporary contract at a tech company to becoming a startup co-founder.
• The importance of curiosity, ownership, and building a strong network.
• How non-technical professionals can successfully transition into tech roles.

• Understanding psychological flexibility and its role in decision-making and resilience.
• The connection between physical and mental fitness in high-pressure environments.
• Taylor’s personal strategies for preventing burnout, including sailing, breathwork, and slowing down.
• The importance of modeling work-life balance as a leader.

• Balancing flexibility with in-person collaboration.
• Why remote work benefits some roles but not others.
• The impact of company culture on remote and hybrid work success.

Best advice ever received?

• "Slow down." Taking a breath and avoiding knee-jerk reactions helps in high-pressure situations.

Best investment?

• Teaching others how to sail—it’s about passing on knowledge and building relationships.

Best gift ever received?

• A love for music, instilled by his father.

One message for a billboard?

• "Just breathe."

Most recommended book?

• The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho.

• Scaling Ambient and continuing to develop AI-driven solutions for operations leaders.
• Upcoming sailing races, including the Aegean 600 in Greece.

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/taylorsmac/

Check out Ambient:

• Website: https://www.ambient.us/

Taylor’s journey is a testament to adaptability, resilience, and curiosity. From pivoting startups to embracing AI and championing mental fitness, his insights offer valuable lessons for anyone navigating the tech world.

Tune in to Dear Tech for more conversations at the intersection of technology, leadership, and personal growth.

• Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube
• Follow us on LinkedIn and Instagram @DearTechPodcast

Until next time, stay curious and keep building!

Fran and Shubho speak with Tahmid about is journey from dead end job all the way to leading a team in a IT environment. They start with Tahmid's weight loss which was the spring board to him changing his life and taking on new challenges, the biggest of which was Technology.

Fran and Shubho have an in depth conversation with Dev about his journey from student in India to Product Manager in the United States. They discuss the navigating the transition of going to school in the US after studying in India and then securing an internship; and from internship to securing a full-time job.

00:00 - Intro

00:20 - Kicking off - how do Sanjit and Shubho know each other

05:16 - the love of tech is generational

8:35 - Sanjit is not a coder

11:42 - what Sanjit does today

12:58 - What got Sanjit to where he is today (motivation & Path)

17:42 - Working at a start up vs working at a large enterprise

20:28 - Motivations going into the MBA program

23:31 - Coming from tech, who would you recommend and MBA program to, who would you dissuade?

28:45 - Education vs Work experience when looking to hire

33:30 - Deep dive into Sanjit's time consulting

39:20 - Sanjit's thoughts on being a Startup founder one day

43:06 - How Sanjit views work and career to his Identity as a person

50:03 - Whats Sanjit's work life balance like right now? (hobbies)

56:07 - Chief of Staff network

58:50 - The value of networking

01:02:50 - How to plan for a job in consulting

1:09:56 - Work experience before getting an MBA

01:13:17 - What would 15 year old Sanjit think of where you are and your journey?

01:14:39 - Dear Tech FAQs

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This production may contain views and opinions which are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of any other author, agency, organization, employer or company.

Elle Anderson Joins our host Fran & Shubho to give the perspective of Human Resources on the Great Resignation in tech and the current market and the changes since then. The Great resignation being the topic of Elle's Masters thesis we are able to get an in depth perspective of what was happening at that time; getting perspectives of both HR and the exiting employees.

00:20 - Welcome

01:55 - What is LinkedIn

07:43 - Utilization from a company perspective

08:07 - How is LinkedIn best utilized?

14:48 - Candidate Profiles

15:01 - Profile Picture

22:29 - LinkedIn Headline

29:40 - How much detail do you put into your work history?

33:23 - What experience can you add to your profile besides work experience?

35:46 - Remove dates from education!!!

38:18 - Certifications on LinkedIn

40:11 - Engagement on the platfrom

43:13 - Use LinkedIn to educate yourself

44:20 - Shubho might be a linkedIn snob lol

49:45 - Shubho's rant - advice on what not to do when making a sales call

51:49 - Three templates of reaching out to people on LinkedIn.

52:34 - (Template 1) Candidates looking for jobs

56:40 - (Template 2) Sales people trying to get new business

59:21 - (Template 3) Recruiters reaching out to candidates.

01:01:47 - Fran's take

01:19:10 - How companies can best utilize and leverage the LinkedIn Platform

01:14:28 - If you have nothing nice to say dont say anything at all

01:18:33 - Wrap up

Fran and Shubho discuss compensation negotiation from the perspectives of the candidate, employer, and the (current) employee. They dive into what can be expected during negotiations and how to improve over all negotiation tactics.

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00:20 - Welcome

01:27 - how does Shubho Negotiate  

01:44 - book recommendation 

Never Split the Difference, by Chris Voss

09:43 - How does Fran negotiate

17:38 - Negotiating with recruiters 

25:05 - talking to multiple companies/multiple 

28:40 - What good tools and resources when going into a negotiation?

33:27 - the recruiter can be your ally

37:11 - Closed mouths don’t get fed

47:15 - Negotiating inside your current company

49:56 - Negotiating Severance?!

52:58 - Take your time signing paperwork

54:56 - Negotiate from a position of strength

56:43 - What should companies be mindful of when extending offers? 

01:06:43 - Shubho’s two’s pieces of advice

01:10:56 - Frans take 

01:12:09 - Wrapping up