The Disruptor Podcast

In this episode of The Cloud Collective Podcast, host John Kundtz interviews Robert Erickson, a cloud computing pioneer and VP of Strategy and Growth at Kyndryl.

We start by unpacking why less than a third of crucial workloads have transitioned to the public cloud. Then, delve into the art of balancing public cloud environments with traditional on-premises data centers.

Robert offers advice around best practices for getting started and insights on potential pitfalls and how to steer clear of them on your digital transformation journey.

Key Discussion Points:

• Strategic Balance Insights: Understanding the strategic balance between public cloud and private data centers
• Navigating the Cloud Migration Challenge: Avoiding an overemphasis on technology without defined business outcomes
• Strategic Balance Insights: Starting small with low-risk cloud projects before complex mission-critical ones
• Learning from the Field:  Learning from real-world examples of effective digital transformations
• Collaborative Strategies: Working with experts to develop a tailored cloud adoption strategy
• Balancing Act:  Balancing public cloud benefits (agility, innovation) with private cloud strengths (control, security)

Deep Dive Opportunities:

• Connect with Robert on LinkedIn for more insights and updates on enterprise cloud computing.
• Read the recent Wall Street Journal article “The Cloud Isn’t The Answer to All IT Problems—At Least for Now” (By Steven Rosenbush, 2023), highlighting how less than 30% of mission-critical workloads are currently in the public cloud.
• Check out Robert’s upcoming blog posts expanding on optimizing cloud and data centers.

Thank you for joining us on the Cloud Collective Podcast, where we bring clarity and actionable insights to the forefront of cloud management. 

Don’t forget to subscribe and share this episode with peers interested in mastering the cloud management landscape.

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Got a disruptive story to share?  We’re scouting for remarkable podcast guests. 

Thank you for being an integral part of our journey. 

Together, let’s redefine the status quo!

In this Throwback Thursday edition of The Disruptor podcast, co-hosts Jan Almasy and John Kundtz interview Ashley Welch, co-founder of Somersault Innovation and author of “Naked Sales.”

They discuss how design thinking can transform traditional sales techniques by building empathy, uncovering insights, and accelerating revenue growth.

Ashley explains how she helps sales teams move from pushing products to co-creating solutions tailored for each customer.

Quotes:

“Design Thinking Tools in the Hands of Sales Professionals is like putting Miracle-Gro on plants.” The iterative process helps you discover customer needs.

“When the buyer's process and the seller's process align, you are actually both working towards the same goal.” Remove friction by understanding motives.

“Stop playing the forecast game.” Obsess over customers, not projections, to drive organic business growth.   

Key Points Discussed:

• The fundamentals of integrating design thinking into sales.
• Techniques to foster deeper customer relationships.
• The importance of empathy in understanding customer needs.
• Real-world examples of successful design-thinking applications in sales. 
• Future trends in sales strategies and customer engagement. 

Dive Deeper:

Check out her book, NAKED SALES: How Design Thinking Reveals Customer Motives and Drives Revenue, and how it helps teach the client about big-picture visions found through baby steps.

Connect directly with Ashley Welch on LinkedIn to continue the conversation and share your experiences or questions about Design Thinking and Sales.

Read our Meium.com Story, “How to Get from Empathy to Transformation,” and learn about the five-step process that Nicholas Jayanty and John co-created to help build a trusting relationship with their buyers during the early stages of the sales process.

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Got a disruptive story to share?  We’re scouting for remarkable podcast guests. 

Thank you for being an integral part of our journey. 

Together, let’s redefine the status quo!

In this episode of the Cloud Collective Podcast, host John Kundtz interviews Sreeni Maheshwaram, a FinOps Certified practitioner and patent holder. They discuss valuable advice for companies starting a FinOps journey, focusing on common tagging pitfalls and mistakes.

With his extensive experience in IT and cloud architecture, Srini shares his expert insights on the role of tagging in cost management and resource allocation. 

The discussion covers:

• Introduction to FinOps and its relevance in modern cloud infrastructure. 
• The three phases of FinOps: Informed, Optimized, and Operating. 
• The critical role of tagging in achieving financial accountability and visibility in cloud operations. 
• Common pitfalls and best practices in developing a robust tagging strategy. 
• The impact of tagging on cost allocation and optimization.
• Real-world scenarios illustrate the benefits of strategic tagging. 
• Future trends and advice for organizations embarking on their FinOps journey.

Key Take Aways:  

• Understand the fundamental role of tagging in cloud financial management. 
• Learn how to avoid common mistakes in tagging strategy.
• Gain insights into integrating tagging with overall FinOps practices for optimal resource utilization and cost savings.

Dive Deeper:

Embark on a journey with us as we emphasize the critical 'shift left' mentality, integrating cost management and compliance into the development lifecycle.

Explore the FinOps Framework at FinOps.org for a comprehensive understanding of various maturity stages.

Head to the Bridge for industry-leading FinOps insights: Kyndryl's Bridge.

Connect with Srini directly on LinkedIn to continue the conversation and share your experiences or questions about FinOps.

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Collaborate with The Disruptor and connect with John Kundtz.

Got a disruptive story to share?  We’re scouting for remarkable podcast guests. 

Thank you for being an integral part of our journey. 

Together, let’s redefine the status quo!

Conflict is inevitable in business, but with the right skills, leaders can turn discord into collaboration.

 In this episode of The Disruptor Podcast, host John Kundtz engages with leadership expert Andrew Netschay.

Together, they delve deep into the essence of converting business conflicts into opportunities for collaboration. Drawing inspiration from his martial arts background, Netschay offers an alternative and refreshing lens on leadership, suggesting a paradigm shift in how confrontations should be approached and handled in the business milieu.

Key Discussion Points:

• Martial Arts Meets Business: Grasping how martial arts tactics can be seamlessly translated to address corporate conflicts.
• The Power of Self-awareness: Emphasizing its pivotal role in nurturing confident leaders.
• An Underemphasized Aspect: The indispensable influence of self-worth and core beliefs in leadership and adept conflict management.
• Standing Out: The art of adeptly managing challenges and conflicts that most tend to evade.
• Building Resilience: Arming oneself with the right tools and mindset to face high-stakes conversations head-on.

Deep Dive Opportunities:

LinkedIn: Engage directly with Andrew Netschay for in-depth insights into Leadership Development.

WarmSteel.com: Delve into leadership workshops and top-tier executive coaching programs crafted by Netschay himself. 

For executives on the hunt for transformative strategies or individuals with a thirst to amplify their leadership acumen, this episode of The Disruptor Podcast is a treasure trove of insights. 

Embark on a journey that promises to reshape your perspective on conflict resolution and leadership growth.

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Stay Updated: Don’t miss out on further insights.

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Collaborate with The Disruptor and connect with John Kundtz.

Got a disruptive story to share?  We’re scouting for remarkable podcast guests. 

Thank you for being an integral part of our journey. 

Together, let’s redefine the status quo!

In this episode of "The Cloud Collective Podcast," host Shalini Manjunath speaks with Faith Taylor, a renowned expert in global sustainability and ESG. They delve deep into effective strategies for businesses embarking on their ESG journey.

Key Highlights from the Discussion:

Understanding ESG: A robust ESG performance indicates that a business is ethically driven and dedicated to fostering positive change.

ESG Challenges: Companies often grapple with gathering precise organizational data, integrating ESG with their primary business model, and staying updated with new regulations.

Initiating ESG: Start by defining your scope, setting boundaries, and pinpointing material impacts. Gather foundational data for tracking progress. Being aware of regulatory mandates and investor preferences can sharpen your program's focus.

ESG's Influence on Business: Faith underscores how a company's ESG standing increasingly correlates with its financial value and organizational culture. Intangible assets like branding, intellectual property, and skilled workforce constitute over 90% of market worth - domains directly influenced by ESG initiatives.

This enlightening conversation presents a comprehensive guide to kickstarting an ESG initiative.

Tune in for actionable advice on enhancing your business's ESG efficacy.

Want to Dive Deeper?

Connect with Faith Taylor on LinkedIn for insights on crafting impactful ESG and Sustainability programs.

Explore Kyndryl's corporate citizenship report for an in-depth look at their purpose, values, and actions, as emphasized by Faith.

I strongly suggest visiting Project Drawdown.org. It showcases 100 actionable solutions available for implementation.

Lastly, don't miss out on "The Bridge." The Green Guild recently introduced their Carbon Assessment and Sustainability Advisor Services there.

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Spread the Word: Valuable insights are best when shared. Share this episode with peers who may benefit from it if you find it insightful.

Your Feedback Matters: How did this episode resonate with you? Share your thoughts, insights, or questions. Your engagement enriches our community.

Stay Updated: Don’t miss out on further insights.

Subscribe: You can listen to our podcast, read our blog posts on Substack, and watch our YouTube channel.

Collaborate with The Disruptor and connect with John Kundtz.

Got a disruptive story to share?  We’re scouting for remarkable podcast guests. 

Thank you for being an integral part of our journey. 

Together, let’s redefine the status quo!

Throwback Thursday edition of The Disruptor podcast

Meet David Kundtz: From the streets of Cleveland to the Catholic churches of Idaho and further south in Cali, Colombia, David's journey is an intriguing tapestry of challenges and change. Once a family psychotherapist for over two decades, David now relishes his retired life. But his passion? Writing, especially on mindfulness and mental health.

Disruption in the Modern Era: As we navigate the tumultuous 2020s, it's clear: disruption is the name of the game. Are you the one shaking things up like Netflix? Or are you being sidelined like Blockbuster? Everyone's facing change – but how are you coping?

Episode Spotlight – The Art of Stopping: Jan and John delve into David's latest masterpiece, which focuses on the transformative power of "stopping" in our chaotic lives.

Key Takeaways:

1. The Essence of Stopping: Stopping is more than just a pause - it's purposefully doing nothing to become more self-aware and remember what matters. 
2. Journey to Discovery: David discovered the power of stopping during a pivotal month alone on the Northern California coast, reflecting on his life and future. 
3. Stopping's Many Shades: There are "still points" (brief moments of quiet), "stopovers" (a day or weekend of reflection), and intensive "grinding halts" (weeks of alone time).
4. David's Personal Stop: David shares an intimate story of his month-long grinding halt on the coast that changed his path. 
5. Promoting Pause for Entrepreneurs: Pausing to stop and reflect helps ensure you are headed in the right direction.

Quotes:

"Stopping is doing nothing as much as possible for a moment or a month in order to wake up and remember who you are and what you want." - David Kundtz

"If you don't disconnect, it's often tragic. Because if you miss the most important thing in your life, then what's the use?" - David Kundtz

Tune in and discover how to navigate and thrive in this disruptive era with the power of reflection and stillness.

To learn more about David and his writings or sign up for his biweekly inspirational newsletter, visit https://davidkundtz.com/

To buy the most recent book, visit The Art of Stopping: 

Comments or Questions? Send us a text

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Got a disruptive story to share?  We’re scouting for remarkable podcast guests. 

Thank you for being an integral part of our journey. 

Together, let’s redefine the status quo!

Welcome to this special Throwback Thursday edition of The Disruptor podcast. 

In this remixed episode, originally aired on The Apex Podcast in November 2021, hosts Jan and John explore their family histories to uncover the ancestral origin of John's great-grandfather.

A couple of ago, Jan and John made an intriguing discovery - their families both hail from towns just 35 km apart in what is today Slovakia. Jan’s roots hail from Košice. John grew up hearing that his great-grandfather, Theodor Kundtz, emigrated from Metzenseifen to the United States in 1873, claiming to be Hungarian but speaking German.

The only problem is that Metzenseifen can't be located on a current map.

To help solve this ethnic mystery, Jan and John interview their guest, David Kundtz, Theodor's grandson.

David grew up near Cleveland before heading out West in the 1960s as a Catholic priest. He spent over 20 years ministering in Idaho and Colombia, South America. After leaving the ministry, David became a family psychotherapist in Berkeley, California, for over 20 years until retiring.

He is also a prolific author. His most recent book, The Art of Stopping: How to Be Still When You Have to Keep Going, will be featured in an upcoming TBT remix episode.

In this episode, Jan, John, and David discuss and compare three generations of culture, traditions, travel experiences, family lore, and their common ethnic confusion.

Does the mystery town turn out to be Metzenseifen, Mecenzéf, or Medzev?

Tune in to find out!

Learn more about David Kundtz and his work at davidkundtz.com. Stay tuned for our next TBT remix episode featuring David's book,  The Art of Stopping: How to Be Still When You Have to Keep Going. 

Thanks for listening!

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Collaborate with The Disruptor and connect with John Kundtz.

Got a disruptive story to share?  We’re scouting for remarkable podcast guests. 

Thank you for being an integral part of our journey. 

Together, let’s redefine the status quo!

In this episode of The Cloud Collective Podcast, host John Kundtz interviews distinguished engineer Greg Pruett on the emerging topic of sovereign clouds. They discuss what sovereign clouds are, why they've become crucial for companies today, common mistakes to avoid when implementing them, and advice for getting started on the right foot.

 As we delve into Greg's personal and professional interest in Sovereign Clouds, we'll uncover the potential pitfalls and mistakes that businesses often encounter while venturing into Sovereign Cloud solutions.

Greg's experience shines through, providing listeners with a clear roadmap toward understanding and implementing Sovereign Clouds.

Whether you're a novice in the cloud computing world or an experienced IT professional, this enlightening discussion promises to enhance your understanding of Sovereign Clouds and their growing significance in businesses today.

Tune in for an insightful journey into the future of cloud computing!

Key Takeaways:

Sovereign clouds provide a new architecture to improve data privacy, control, and locality to meet regulatory compliance across borders. 

• Mistake #1 is not thoroughly understanding the complex data privacy and sovereignty regulations that differ across countries.
• Mistake #2 is overlooking the people and processes needed to properly control restricted data access based on location and other requirements. 
• Consult experts to assess your data privacy and security posture across locations rather than trying to solve it all internally. Rethink cloud strategy to optimize for distributed data needs.
• Sovereign clouds are critical, not just nice-to-have, for mastering compliance, securing data, and combating cyber threats in today's digital business environment.

What to Learn More: 

Learn more about designing effective sovereign cloud solutions by connecting with Greg Pruett on LinkedIn and checking out his in-depth blog article:  “The Sovereign Cloud: Data Is King”

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Collaborate with The Disruptor and connect with John Kundtz.

Got a disruptive story to share?  We’re scouting for remarkable podcast guests. 

Thank you for being an integral part of our journey. 

Together, let’s redefine the status quo!

Are you tired of cloud costs spiraling out of control?

Do you want to unlock the full value of FinOps?

In this episode of The Cloud Collective, the host of The Disruptor Podcast, John Kundtz, chats with FinOps guru Kathryn Lin to explore the typical challenges companies navigate when embarking on their FinOps journey.

In this enlightening discussion, Katherine shares her impressive journey from acquiring her MBA at USC, specializing in technology commercialization, to working with Kyndryl and IBM.

She also delves into the importance of maximizing savings from overspending and making the most of every dollar spent on cloud services. Take advantage of this treasure trove of insights - perfect for anyone navigating the FinOps journey or grappling with managing cloud costs.

The Highlight Reel:

Top 3 Mistakes Made by IT Finance Managers:

1. Cost-Driven Thinking: Overemphasizing cost savings and overlooking the dual potentials of efficiency and agility. 
2. Tech Over Strategy: Getting lured by tools and technology while sidelining the paramount importance of people, processes, and governance. FinOps isn't a tool—it's a transformation.
3. Overambitious Beginnings: Diving too deep, too soon. Embrace the 'crawl, walk, run' principle: start with a small pilot and scale as you learn.

Key Takeaways: 

1. Transparency in cloud expenditure is pivotal for aligning costs with business objectives. A culture of "shift left" empowers engineers, fueling both cost optimization and innovation.
2. Achieving FinOps success hinges on executive support—it's all about stakeholder buy-in and seamless data access. 
3. FinOps transcends mere cost-cutting—it's about maximizing value from every dollar spent. 

Dive Deeper: 

1. Explore the FinOps Framework at FinOps.org for a comprehensive understanding of various maturity stages
2. Head to the Bridge for industry-leading FinOps insights: Kyndryl's Bridge 
3. Connect with Kathryn Lin directly on LinkedIn 

Comments or Questions? Send us a text

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Spread the Word: Valuable insights are best when shared. Share this episode with peers who may benefit from it if you find it insightful.

Your Feedback Matters: How did this episode resonate with you? Share your thoughts, insights, or questions. Your engagement enriches our community.

Stay Updated: Don’t miss out on further insights.

Subscribe: You can listen to our podcast, read our blog posts on Substack, and watch our YouTube channel.

Collaborate with The Disruptor and connect with John Kundtz.

Got a disruptive story to share?  We’re scouting for remarkable podcast guests. 

Thank you for being an integral part of our journey. 

Together, let’s redefine the status quo!

Are you looking to amplify your professional influence and connections on LinkedIn?

In this episode, we sit down with the Disruptor himself as he shares his wealth of knowledge on becoming a thought leader in your industry.

Gain practical insights and actionable strategies for leveraging LinkedIn to drive sales success.

Key Takeaways:

1. Improved credibility and thought leadership: A complete, optimized profile demonstrates your expertise and establishes you as a credible thought leader.

2. More engagement and discussions: Tactics like using compelling headlines, inserting calls to action, responding to comments quickly, and using rich media boost engagement on your posts. This sparks more discussions with your network.

3. Expanded opportunities: With greater visibility, credibility, and connections, you're more likely to attract exciting opportunities, leads, and valuable relationships.

4. Enhanced personal brand and professional image: These various optimization tips let you craft a cohesive personal brand across your profile and content. T

Dive Deeper:

Connect with John on LinkedIn to continue the discussion.

Check out John's 3-part series on optimizing your LinkedIn presence:

Part 1: Revamp Your LinkedIn Profile
Part 2: Crafting Impactful LinkedIn Content
Part 3: Amplify Your Influence

Don’t forget to check out your Social Selling Index: See how successful you are at using your LinkedIn account and engaging with others.

Comments or Questions? Send us a text

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Engage, Share, and Connect!

Spread the Word: Valuable insights are best when shared. Share this episode with peers who may benefit from it if you find it insightful.

Your Feedback Matters: How did this episode resonate with you? Share your thoughts, insights, or questions. Your engagement enriches our community.

Stay Updated: Don’t miss out on further insights.

Subscribe: You can listen to our podcast, read our blog posts on Substack, and watch our YouTube channel.

Collaborate with The Disruptor and connect with John Kundtz.

Got a disruptive story to share?  We’re scouting for remarkable podcast guests. 

Thank you for being an integral part of our journey. 

Together, let’s redefine the status quo!