Manuel Martinez hosts the Career Downloads podcast where he interviews a different guest each episode to learn about their individual and diverse backgrounds, job history, and techniques they use to manage their career. So plug in and download the knowledge.
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The Career Built on Course Corrections with Ruben Sarino | Ep053
Episode 53
Tuesday, December 30, 2025 • Duration 01:15:48
Episode Information
Show NotesWhat happens when you stop planning your career and start asking better questions?Ruben Sarino didn’t set out to co-found an AI security company. The path from military kid bouncing between six countries to RiskHorizon AI co-founder included selling car parts, packaging California honey, working Apple retail, cold calling at CrowdStrike, and several stops in between.None of it was planned. All of it mattered.What You’ll LearnGrowing up in Japan showed Ruben what technology could do when it actually worked. Tapping cards to ride trains and buy things felt seamless. Visiting developing countries showed him the same problems without the same solutions. That contrast planted a seed: technology should solve real problems for real people.But Ruben didn’t study computer science. He studied business. His first exposure to entrepreneurship came through a car parts manufacturer where he learned the difference between pushing products and solving problems. Then came a honey business he fell into by chance, where terrible packaging met great product. Apple retail taught him how great companies operate. CrowdStrike as an SDR gave him front-row seats to hypergrowth and mentors who showed him what came next.Each stop built skills that transferred to the next one.Key InsightsOn Getting Started: “If you know too much, you will never start.” Ruben talks about the danger of over-researching and why ignorance sometimes helps you take the first step.On Career Direction: His annual self-check-in doesn’t ask “what do I want to do?” It asks “how do I want to feel next year?” From there, he works backward to figure out what needs to change.On Problem-Solving: Whether it’s car parts, cybersecurity, or AI, Ruben looks for the underlying problem before building solutions. Not everything needs AI. Some things just need better execution.On Mentorship: The CrowdStrike account executives who took time to show him what happened after the handoff shaped his trajectory. He didn’t formally ask them to be mentors – he asked good questions and stayed curious.On Risk: Being comfortable with change helps, but it’s not required. What matters is believing you can course correct if things don’t work out the way you planned.About Ruben SarinoRuben Sarino is co-founder of RiskHorizon AI. His career spans car parts manufacturing, honey business, Apple retail, cybersecurity sales at CrowdStrike, workforce intelligence startups, and healthcare technology. He’s comfortable with change, believes in transferable skills, and thinks most people overthink their next move.Connect with Ruben on LinkedIn:Subscribe to Career DownloadsNew episodes drop every week featuring tech leaders, CIOs, and professionals sharing their career journeys and the lessons they learned along the way.Website: https://careerdownloads.comLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/career-downloadsYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@careerdownloadsTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@careerdownloadsInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/careerdownloadsFaceBook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Career-Downloads/61561144531249
TranscriptionManuel Martinez: Welcome everyone, my name is Manuel Martinez, and this is another episode of Career Downloads, where each episode I basically hit the refresh button, bring on a different guest, to learn more about their background and their experiences, to really help uncover any actionable advice that you can use as you’re managing your own career. So I’m excited for today’s episode. I have with me Ruben Sarino, and him and I met at a networking event. We got to talking, just learning about kind of what he’s doing. He was asking me what I was doing. You know, we connected on LinkedIn, got to know each other, our backgrounds. And I think he has a lot to offer, and there should be a lot of good stories, a lot of good information that people can use, you know, whether you’re just starting out or you’ve been in the fi...
From Geology Research to Cybersecurity Leadership: Aakin Patel | Ep052
Episode 52
Tuesday, December 23, 2025 • Duration 01:08:02
Episode Information
Show NotesSometimes the best careers are the ones you never planned.
Aakin Patel went to school for geology. He spent years studying plate tectonics and doing computational modeling. The plan was academia.
But grad school revealed something important. The academic life he imagined wasn’t the reality he wanted.
So he pivoted. He took his Unix skills from graduate research and landed a job as a system administrator. Just temporary. Just while he figured out his next move.
That temporary job turned into a 20+ year career in technology and cybersecurity.
In This Episode:
Aakin shares his journey from geology to becoming a cybersecurity consultant who advises governments and organizations on strategic implementation.
He talks about working at Brookhaven National Labs, dealing with the unique security challenges of international scientific research, and building cybersecurity programs before the field had its current name.
The conversation digs into the skills that matter most: problem-solving, communication, and the ability to bridge technical and business worlds. Aakin explains why being able to “dumb things down” is actually proof you understand something deeply, and why teaching others became crucial to his leadership success.
You’ll also hear about the day his boss literally put him on a plane to management training, why he initially hated it, and how that moment changed his career trajectory.
Key Takeaways:
– Career pivots don’t have to be permanent disasters—they can become opportunities
– Problem-solving skills transfer across completely different fields
– Being the bridge between technical and business teams is a superpower
– Learning to communicate complex ideas simply is a leadership essential
– Technical burnout is real, and strategic roles can be the answer
– Teaching others tests whether you truly understand something
– Your ability to build and lead teams matters more than any single technical skill
– Reputation and relationships open more doors than resumes
About Aakin Patel:
Aakin Patel is a cybersecurity consultant specializing in strategic implementation for governments and organizations. His background includes geology and geophysics research, Unix system administration, and cybersecurity leadership at national laboratories. He’s built security teams from scratch and helped organizations implement security programs at strategic levels. His mixed background gives him a unique ability to translate between technical complexity and business needs.
TranscriptionManuel Martinez: Welcome everyone, my name is Manuel Martinez, and this is another episode of Career Downloads, where each episode I basically hit the refresh button and bring on a different guest to learn more about their background and their experiences, to help uncover any actionable advice that you can use as you’re managing your own career. So for today’s episode, I’m very excited. I have with me Aakin Patel, and he is a consultant in the cybersecurity space. We’ve had some conversations about, you know, some of the things he’s done earlier on, how he kind of got into, you know, this field, and just the things that he’s done along the way. So I’m interested to kind of get to know him and how he managed his career a little bit more. And with that, I’ll go ahead and introduce Aakin. I appreciate you coming on, Aakin.
Aakin Patel: Thank you, it’s good to be here.
Manuel Martinez: So one of the things that I kind of start with all the guests is if you don’t mind telling me just a little bit about where you grew up, and then eventually kind of what led you either into the technology field, some people, you know, they fall into it later on. So maybe you started in a different career field. So again, just kind of a little bit of that background about yourself.
Aakin Patel: Oh, yeah, so I grew up in the Northeast US in the New York, New Jersey area.
Communication Over Technical Skills: Simon Robert’s Journey from Age 7 to MSP Owner | Ep051
Episode 51
Tuesday, December 16, 2025 • Duration 01:23:44
Episode Information
Show NotesFrom Age 7 to MSP Owner: Simon Robert’s IT Journey
Simon Robert’s IT career started earlier than most, at just 7 years old, he was already fixing computers his father brought home. Now, as President of Novbox in Las Vegas, Simon runs a managed service provider that helps businesses stay secure and operational.
In this episode, Simon shares the honest reality of running an IT business. He talks about the stress of being a “one-man army” for years, why admitting “I don’t know” actually builds more trust than pretending to be an expert, and how communication saves client relationships when things go wrong.
Episode Highlights:
Starting Young
Simon began his IT journey at age 7, disassembling and repairing broken computers his father brought home. This early hands-on experience gave him confidence and skills that would shape his entire career.
The One-Man Army Problem
For 10 years, Simon ran his business alone. He describes the impossible stress of choosing between multiple emergency calls happening simultaneously and why having a business partner changed everything.
Honest Communication Wins
When clients leave or when something goes wrong, Simon picks up the phone immediately. He shares why confronting problems early, even at 7pm, prevents bigger issues the next morning.
Break/Fix vs MSP Model
Simon explains the fundamental difference between being an IT firefighter and providing managed services. The MSP model eliminates billing drama and gives clients peace of mind.
IT Specialization Reality
Just because someone works “in IT” doesn’t mean they do everything. Simon uses the electrician vs plumber analogy to explain why IT professionals specialize and why that’s perfectly okay.
The Vegas Tech Community
After moving from Quebec to Las Vegas years ago, Simon has been actively building connections in the local tech community. He believes in turning LinkedIn connections into real friendships.
Key Takeaways:
1. Admitting “I don’t know” and asking for help builds more trust than pretending to be an expert in everything
2. Communication is priority #1 – confront problems immediately instead of avoiding them
3. Having a business partner or team prevents burnout and enables business growth
4. The MSP model provides stability for both provider and client compared to break/fix
5. Building genuine relationships, both online and in person, creates lasting professional networks
6. Know your strengths and confidently refer out what you don’t do well
7. When clients leave, call them to understand why instead of hiding from the conversation
About Simon Robert:
Simon Robert is the President of Novbox, an IT managed service provider in Las Vegas. With over 30 years of experience starting from age 7, Simon specializes in helping businesses maintain secure and reliable IT infrastructure through managed services.
Listen to learn how honest communication, genuine relationships, and knowing when to ask for help can transform your career – whether you’re running your own business or working in corporate IT.
TranscriptionManuel Martinez: Welcome everyone, my name is Manuel Martinez and this is another episode of Career Downloads. Where each episode I basically hit the refresh button, bring on a different guest to learn more about their experiences and their background, to really try and uncover any actionable advice that you can use as you’re managing your own career. So I’m excited for today’s episode, I have with me Simon Robert. And this is a very interesting story, so him and I actually connected on LinkedIn, we actually met in person, you know, just in an informal setting, got to know each other, to know about each other a little bit more about his career. And he has kind of established his own business. So again, this is going to be something different than all of the other traditional ones where you kno...
Conflict Resolution for Tech Careers with Yvette Durazo | Ep050
Episode 50
Tuesday, December 9, 2025 • Duration 01:17:23
Episode Information
Show NotesTechnical skills land you the job. People skills determine everything that comes next.
Yvette Durazo brings conflict resolution expertise to Silicon Valley tech companies. As a professional mediator and coach, she helps technical professionals navigate the transition into leadership roles. She teaches at universities and works with companies to build conflict intelligence throughout their organizations.
This episode tackles a gap most bootcamps and certifications ignore. You can master Python, ace the PM certification, and still struggle when team dynamics turn difficult. Yvette explains why project managers need influence skills nobody warned them about, how unresolved conflict creates measurable health costs, and why companies should budget for these skillsets differently.
Episode Highlights:
Manuel and Yvette discuss the inevitable shift from technical work to people management. Most engineers and developers focus on hard skills early in their careers. Then they move into project management or team leadership and discover a new challenge: working with people they don’t directly supervise.
Yvette shares her experience teaching conflict resolution in project management certificate programs. The programs teach scheduling, budgeting, and timeline management. They rarely prepare students for influencing stakeholders across the organization. That gap creates real problems when projects involve multiple departments.
The conversation moves into conflict health. Yvette describes how prolonged workplace stress affects cortisone levels, cognitive function, and physical wellbeing. Employees operating in constant fight-or-flight mode can’t access creativity or innovation. Companies lose productivity and face increased absenteeism.
You’ll hear why Yvette advocates for moving conflict resolution training from learning and development budgets into risk management. The training gets cut first when budgets tighten if leadership sees it as optional development. Treating it as risk mitigation changes the conversation.
The episode closes with Yvette’s perspective on “bringing your whole self to work.” She suggests companies would benefit more from supporting employees to bring their healthy selves to work instead.
Key Takeaways:
– Technical expertise alone won’t carry you through leadership transitions
– Project management inherently requires influence skills across reporting lines
– Workplace conflict creates measurable physical and mental health impacts
– Fight-or-flight responses eliminate creativity and productivity
– Conflict resolution belongs in risk management, not just Learning and Development
– Companies benefit from employees bringing their healthy selves to work
About This Week’s Guest:
Yvette Durazo works as a professional mediator and coach in Silicon Valley. She specializes in helping tech leaders develop conflict intelligence. Her work includes teaching university courses, coaching individual leaders, and facilitating organizational conflict resolution. She’s the author of “Conflict Intelligence Quotient.”
Resources Mentioned:
Book: “Conflict Intelligence Quotient” by Yvette Durazo
Subscribe to Career Downloads:
Get weekly career advice from tech leaders managing their own career journeys. Available on all podcast platforms.
#CareerDownloads #ConflictResolution #TechLeadership #CareerDevelopment
TranscriptionManuel Martinez: Welcome everyone. My name is Manuel Martinez, and this is another episode of Career Downloads. For each episode, I basically hit the refresh button, bring on a different guest, to learn more about their background and their experiences, to really uncover actionable advice that you can use as you’re managing your own career. I’m excited for today’s episode, because I have with me Yvette Durazo. And she’s not what you would consider your tech… Your typical tech worker.
From Small Town North Carolina to Leading Tech for 2.3 Million People with Bob Leek | Ep049
Episode 49
Tuesday, December 2, 2025 • Duration 01:13:52
Episode Information
Show Notes
What happens when you combine curiosity, willingness to take chances, and genuine interest in people? You get Bob Leek’s career story – a journey from a small town in North Carolina to becoming CIO of Clark County, Nevada.
Bob didn’t start with a master plan. He got an accounting degree, landed in retail finance, and complained about IT systems so much they moved him to technology. His path through retail (Egghead), pet healthcare (Banfield), Kaiser Permanente, and public sector roles taught him that relationships matter more than transactions, and that saying yes to opportunities often matters more than having all the credentials.
Now leading technology for one of America’s largest counties – serving 2.3 million residents and 40 million annual visitors – Bob brings an approachable leadership style that breaks down the intimidation factor many feel around executive titles. He’s proof that you don’t need to have it all figured out from day one.
EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS:
Bob shares how growing up in Mount Airy, North Carolina (Andy Griffith’s hometown) shaped his values around community and connection. His entry into technology came from an accounting degree and working in finance at Egghead, where he complained about IT systems so much they moved him to the technology department.
The conversation covers his progression through retail technology, pet healthcare (Banfield), Kaiser Permanente, and Multnomah County before making the jump to Clark County. Bob explains what it means to manage technology infrastructure for millions of people while maintaining his commitment to accessibility and relationship-building.
You’ll hear about his philosophy on networking (hint: it’s not about collecting business cards), why he asks questions without worrying about looking uninformed, and how curiosity has been his career accelerator. Bob also opens up about being a “professional extrovert and social introvert” and what that means for how he shows up in his role.
KEY TAKEAWAYS:
Complaining about problems can lead to opportunities if you’re willing to help fix them
Asking questions, even ones you think might sound basic, accelerates your learning
Real networking is about genuine curiosity, not transactional exchanges
Saying yes to opportunities matters more than waiting until you feel fully prepared
Building relationships with people across industries creates career momentum
Leadership roles don’t have to be intimidating – accessibility builds stronger teams
ABOUT THE GUEST:
Bob Leek is the Chief Information Officer for Clark County, Nevada. His career began with an accounting degree and moved through retail technology (Egghead), pet healthcare (Banfield), Kaiser Permanente, and public sector leadership at Multnomah County. Bob’s approachable style and commitment to community-building have made him a respected figure in technology leadership.
CONNECT WITH BOB:
Find Bob on LinkedIn or reach out through Clark County official channels. He genuinely means it when he says to come say hi at events.
SUBSCRIBE & CONNECT:
Career Downloads brings you conversations with technology leaders and professionals to help you manage your career with more success. Subscribe on your favorite podcast platform or watch full episodes on YouTube.
Join our community on the social platforms:
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FaceBook https://www.facebook.com/people/Career-Downloads/61561144531249
TranscriptionManuel: Welcome everyone, my name is Manuel Martinez and this is another episode of Career Downloads. For each episode, I basically hit the refresh button and bring on a different guest to learn more about their background and their experiences,
From Ukraine to Tech Sales Consultant with Vika Nevmyvakova | Ep048
Episode 48
Tuesday, November 25, 2025 • Duration 01:23:47
Episode Information
Show Notes
Episode Summary:
Vika Nevmyvakova’s career path looks nothing like she planned.
She arrived in the US from Ukraine at 20 with law school dreams. No resources to make it happen. No network. No connections.
She took whatever jobs paid bills. Call centers. Customer service. The work most people see as stepping stones, she turned into skill-building.
That’s where she discovered she loved talking to people and solving problems. More importantly, she was good at it.
Today she consults with pre-funding stage startups on sales operations. She helps technical founders who built genius products but struggle to sell them.
Her career philosophy is simple: take shots you’re not ready for. Apply when you meet 60% of requirements. Ask questions that might sound stupid. Build expertise through curiosity.
This conversation unpacks her immigration journey, multiple career pivots, working through language barriers, and why she tells everyone to stop waiting until they feel prepared.
What You’ll Discover:
Her path from Ukraine to US tech sales consulting
Why call center work taught skills law school wouldn’t
Sales consulting for early-stage startups and what founders actually need
How curiosity became her biggest competitive advantage
The confidence gap: men apply at 60%, women wait for 100%
Real talk about working with an accent and language barriers
Her interview preparation tactics using YouTube
How to articulate value versus just listing product features
Why following through on commitments builds credibility faster than anything else
The “what’s the worst that can happen” mindset that changed her career
Key Takeaways:
Your career doesn’t need to follow the plan you made at 20. Vika’s path from law school aspirations to tech sales happened through a series of sideways moves. Customer service work taught communication skills and problem-solving under pressure that translated directly to sales.
Curiosity beats credentials. She built her expertise by sitting through engineering demos, joining product calls, and asking endless questions. When she talks to customers, she can articulate value in ways others can’t because she did the work to deeply understand the business.
The confidence gap is real and costly. Men typically apply when they meet 60% of job requirements. Women wait for 100%. The difference? Men who apply get hired. If you don’t take the shot, you already have a no.
Following through separates average from excellent. Tell someone you’ll look something up and actually do it. Your credibility lives or dies on this one habit.
Guest Bio:
Vika Nevmyvakova is a Sales Consultant working with pre-funding stage startups. She helps technical founders develop sales strategies, implement CRM systems, and translate complex features into clear customer value. Born in Ukraine, she moved to the US at 20, pivoted from law aspirations to technology, and built her career by staying relentlessly curious and taking shots before feeling ready.
Resources Mentioned:
YouTube for interview preparation and skill development
Mock interview practice
CRM systems for startups
Prospecting platforms for early-stage companies
Listen to the full episode to hear Vika’s complete story and get her unfiltered advice on making career moves before you feel prepared.
Subscribe to Career Downloads: New episodes every week featuring technology leaders sharing real career lessons.
#CareerDownloads #SalesConsulting #CareerChange #TechCareers #StartupLife #ImmigrantStory
TranscriptionManuel Martinez: Welcome everyone, my name is Manuel Martinez, and again, this is another episode of Career Downloads. Where each episode I basically hit the refresh button, bring on a different guest to learn more about their background and their experiences, to help you uncover any actionable advice that you can use as you’re managing your own career.
Breaking Into Tech Without a Degree: From Middle School Admin to Chief of Staff with Jazmin Diaz | Ep047
Episode 47
Tuesday, September 9, 2025 • Duration
Episode Information
Show NotesJazmin Diaz’s career story dismantles the myth that you need perfect credentials to succeed in technology. Her path from middle school administrative assistant to Chief of Staff at a cybersecurity company demonstrates how curiosity, authenticity, and strategic relationship-building can accelerate professional growth.Episode Highlights:Jazmin shares her unique background growing up between two cultures – born in California, raised in Mexico until age nine, then returning to relearn English and navigate American educational systems. This experience shaped her ability to connect with others facing similar challenges, particularly at-risk students during her time working in education.The conversation reveals practical strategies for career transitions, including how she researched transferable skills, leveraged informational interviews, and ultimately secured her first tech role through networking rather than traditional applications. Her willingness to start as a receptionist – despite years of experience – proved essential for getting her foot in the door.Key Takeaways:Networking authentically means building relationships without immediate agendaBeing uncomfortable signals growth opportunities worth pursuingSelf-advocacy requires data and strategic timing, not just confidenceStarting at entry level in a new industry can fast-track learning and advancementSalary negotiation extends beyond base pay to stock options, bonuses, and benefitsVulnerability and authenticity create stronger professional connections than perfectionResources Mentioned:Book: “Ignite Your Growth” by Jazmin Diaz (English)Book: “Enciende Tu Crecimiento” by Jazmin Diaz (Spanish)Flourish Learning and DevelopmentConnect with Our Guest: Jazmin Diaz is available for speaking engagements, workshops, and coaching through Flourish Learning and Development. Her book is available in both English and Spanish editions.About Career Downloads: Each episode features professionals sharing real experiences, setbacks, and breakthroughs to help you manage your own career with greater success. Host Manuel Martinez brings conversations that go beyond surface-level advice to uncover actionable insights you can apply immediately.
TranscriptionManuel Martinez: Welcome everyone, my name is Manuel Martinez and this is another episode of Career Downloads where each episode I basically hit the refresh button, bring on a different guest to learn more about their background and their experiences, to really uncover how they’ve managed their career over time with the ultimate goal to help you uncover any actionable advice that you can use as you’re managing your own career. So I’m really excited for today’s episode. This has really been eight, almost nine months in the making. So for those of you who are aware, back in December, I had Cynthia Hara on and a mutual contact of my current guest and Cynthia’s kind of got in contact with me, put me in contact with Jazmin Diaz is who I have on. We’ve had a number of conversations since that time trying to work out, so she’s not local to Las Vegas, just trying to find out logistically how this would work out. And I’m really excited because apart from the alignment of what she’s currently doing, what she’s done, kind of what the podcast is, in between that time, she has also become an author and she’s written a book, both in English and in Spanish, again, around career and professional development and personal development. So I’m really excited and this is gonna be a great one. So with that, I will go ahead and introduce Jazmin Diaz.
Jazmin Diaz: Thank you so much for having me, Manny. Really glad to be here with you finally.
Manuel Martinez: Finally, right. I mean, it’s interesting that when Sal kind of put us in contact, it took us a little while. We’d look back and it’s almost nine months that this has gone on and I think it happened at this moment for a reason, right?
From Migration to Innovation: Leading Tech at Harry Reid Airport with Rishma Khimji | Ep046
Episode 46
Tuesday, September 2, 2025 • Duration 01:26:35
Episode Information
Show Notes
Episode Highlights:
Join host Manuel Martinez for an inspiring conversation with Rishma Khimji, the pioneering CIO of Harry Reid International Airport. Her story begins with constant movement – nine cities across two countries – and leads to managing technology systems that serve millions of travelers annually.
Rishma’s career trajectory breaks conventional wisdom about climbing corporate ladders. Starting as a junior programmer debugging code for IBM, she discovered her true calling lay in making technology invisible to end users. Her public sector experience spans water utilities, police departments, and now aviation – each role teaching her how technology should serve humanity, not the other way around.
Key Takeaways:
Embrace Your Migration Story: Constant change teaches adaptability and opens doors you never imagined
Failure Equals Course Correction: Build backup plans (A, B, and C) because your primary approach won’t always work
Technology Should Be Invisible: The best systems are the ones passengers never think about
Community Amplifies Success: Surround yourself with people who champion your growth
Apply at 50% Qualification: Stop waiting until you’re 100% ready – most learning happens on the job
AI as Augmented Influence: Use technology to enhance your capabilities, not replace your humanity
Resources Mentioned:
“Smart Brevity” book referenced by Manuel
Airport common-use technology systems
RFID baggage tracking implementation
Public sector technology transformation strategies
About Rishma Khimji:
Rishma serves as Chief Information Officer for the Clark County Department of Aviation, managing technology operations for Harry Reid International Airport and four general aviation facilities. Her leadership spans over 25 years in technology, with experience transforming operations across utilities, law enforcement, and aviation sectors. She’s recognized for her innovative approaches to making technology serve community needs.
Connect with Our Guest:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rishmakhimji/
Next Steps: Ready to accelerate your tech career? Subscribe to Career Downloads for weekly episodes featuring leaders who’ve navigated unconventional paths to success. Each conversation delivers actionable insights you can implement immediately.
Transcription
Manuel: Welcome everyone, my name is Manuel Martinez and this is another episode of Career Downloads. Where each episode I basically hit the refresh button, bring on a different guest to learn more about their experiences and their background, to really help uncover any actionable advice that you can use as you’re managing your own career. So I’m excited for today’s guest. I have with me Rishma Khimji and I have crossed paths with her close up, I’ve come close to crossing paths with her a few times. She’s worked on the public sector and when I used to work at VMware, covering public sector. So that’s kind of when I first became aware of her. I’ve seen a lot of what she’s done since that time. So I’m really excited to kind of get to know more about her and how she’s kind of continued to navigate her career. So with that, I’ll introduce Rishma.
Rishma: Hi.
Manuel: Hi, I appreciate you coming on and again, being willing to share your experiences.
Rishma: No, absolutely, happy to be here. So, I know we haven’t always crossed paths face to face but there’s always been an intersection of acquaintances for us. And so I’m very excited to be here because those friends that have already been on this podcast have spoken very highly of you and so I feel very honored to be here. So thank you.
Manuel: Thank you, I appreciate that. So if you don’t mind kind of telling people a little bit more about what your current role is and kind of some of the responsibilities that you have to manage.
Rishma: Sure, so I’m the first chief information technology officer for the Harry Reid I...
From Self-Taught Web Developer to Healthcare CIO with Angie Cosca | Ep045
Episode 45
Tuesday, August 26, 2025 • Duration 01:18:29
Episode Information
Show NotesEpisode OverviewAngie Cosca’s career journey challenges every assumption about traditional tech career paths. Starting with no formal computer science education, she taught herself HTML using Notepad, worked her way up through help desk support, and eventually became CIO of a major healthcare organization – all while staying with the same company for 23 years.Her story demonstrates the power of curiosity, relationship-building, and continuous learning in creating a successful technology career.Key TakeawaysOn Career Development:Formal education isn’t required for tech success, but continuous learning is non-negotiableTaking on responsibilities beyond your job description opens unexpected opportunitiesBuilding relationships across the organization matters as much as technical skillsOn Leadership:Understanding business workflows and pain points enables better technology solutionsCollaborative hiring processes involving other departments improve team dynamicsSecond opinions and diverse perspectives strengthen decision-makingOn Healthcare IT:Technology professionals in healthcare indirectly save lives by ensuring reliable systemsVendor relationships should be partnerships, not just transactionsAI implementation requires careful change management to avoid employee fearGuest BackgroundAngie Cosca serves as Chief Information Officer at Steinberg Diagnostic Medical Imaging (SDMI), where she oversees IT infrastructure, compliance, and security for 12 locations serving 550+ employees. The organization processes approximately 500,000 diagnostic studies annually, including MRIs, CTs, X-rays, and ultrasounds.Beyond her corporate role, Angie is President of ISSA Las Vegas and dedicates extensive time to mentoring through IT Works, a 16-week intensive program helping disadvantaged students transition into technology careers.Resources MentionedIT Works: 16-week intensive IT program for disadvantaged studentsISSA Las Vegas: Information Systems Security Association chapterPACS: Picture Archival Communication System for medical imagingUNLV Negotiation Course: Referenced for professional developmentEpisode HighlightsThe Power of Curiosity: How asking “why” and observing workflows leads to better solutionsVendor Partnership Strategy: Building relationships beyond transactional interactionsMentorship Impact: The long-term relationships formed through programs like IT WorksHealthcare Technology: Understanding the life-saving implications of reliable IT systemsConnect with AngieLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/angeline-cosca/ISSA Las Vegas: https://www.lvissa.org/
TranscriptionManuel Martinez: Welcome everyone. My name is Manuel Martinez, and this is another episode of Career Downloads. Where each episode, I basically hit the refresh button and bring on a different guest to learn more about their background and their experiences, to really help uncover any actionable advice that you can use as you’re managing your own career. I’m excited for today’s episode because I have with me Angie Cosca, and she is a CIO here in, for the medical industry within Las Vegas. So again, I’m very excited to kind of understand her journey, where she kind of started and eventually how she ended up in her role. So with that, I’ll introduce Angie. Hi Angie.
Angie Cosca: Hi, thank you for having me, Manuel.
Manuel Martinez: I appreciate you coming on and being open to kind of sharing your experiences.
Angie Cosca: I’m excited.
Manuel Martinez: So if you don’t mind, can you just kind of tell us what your current role is and just some of the roles and responsibilities that you fulfill on a daily basis for the most part?
Angie Cosca: Sure. So I am currently the Chief Information Officer for Steinberg Diagnostic Medical Imaging. For some of the audiences that know what this is, it’s a radiology center. We have 12 locations here, and we handle about half a million studies a year.
From Academic Overachiever to Tech Executive with Dr. Doreen Galli | Ep044
Episode 44
Tuesday, August 19, 2025 • Duration 01:18:13
Episode Information
Show NotesIn this episode, Manuel Martinez interviews Dr. Doreen Galli, Chief of Research at TBW Advisors, about her remarkable career journey through the technology industry. Dr. Galli shares candid insights about her path from academic overachiever to holding senior executive roles at companies like IBM, Microsoft, AT&T, and DHL.Guest Background: Dr. Doreen Galli is currently Chief of Research at TBW Advisors, a media company and industry analyst firm. She has held CIO and CTO positions at Fortune 10 companies and was a platform architect for Microsoft Azure. Her career spans operations, consulting, and advisory roles across multiple industries including telecommunications, logistics, and cloud computing.Episode Highlights:Dr. Galli opens up about completing a triple major in college while being an All-American athlete and working multiple tutoring jobs. She explains how she convinced her registrar to allow course overloads by presenting a detailed plan and backup strategies.The conversation covers her time as the first postdoc at IBM’s Center for Advanced Studies, where she worked alongside technology legends like Paul Larson (father of SQL) and learned to navigate complex technical integrations under extreme pressure.She shares practical strategies for time management, including Benjamin Franklin’s time blocking method that she still uses today. Dr. Galli explains how scheduling everything – including relaxation time – creates more flexibility rather than rigidity.The discussion reveals the realities of working in technology, including how to handle the inevitable layoffs and reorganizations that come with change management roles. Dr. Galli emphasizes that business decisions aren’t personal and shares strategies for protecting your professional brand.Key Takeaways:Don’t accept other people’s limitations on your capabilities“Who knows what you know” matters more than who you knowMake requests easy for people to approve by doing the planning work upfrontMaintain interests outside of work to balance the ups and downs of corporate lifeInfluence comes from listening and understanding different perspectives on the same problemResources Mentioned:Benjamin Franklin’s time blocking methodologyThe movie “Short Circuit” as inspiration for continuous learningThe importance of having non-work activities for emotional balanceThis episode offers valuable insights for anyone looking to advance their technology career, handle workplace challenges professionally, or develop stronger leadership and communication skills.
TranscriptionManuel Martinez: Welcome everyone, my name is Manuel Martinez and this is another episode of Career Downloads. Where each episode I basically hit the refresh button, bring on a different guest to really learn more about their career and the way that they’ve been able to manage it over time, to really uncover any lessons or ideas that you can use as you’re managing your own career. So for today’s episode, I’m pretty excited. I have with me Dr. Doreen Galli. We met at Toastmasters and the conversation has gone well. She had talked a little bit about some of the work that she has done, looked at her profile on LinkedIn. It’s very extensive. We’ve had some conversations since then. There’s no way we’re gonna be able to cover everything she’s done, but there are gonna be a lot of key lessons just in the short time that we’ve talked that I think are gonna be really insightful and important to cover. So with that, I’ll go ahead and introduce Dr. Doreen.
Doreen Galli: Hi, nice to see you. How are you doing?
Manuel Martinez: I’m doing fantastic. Thanks for asking. How about yourself?
Doreen Galli: Good, thanks for having me. Looking forward, hope it’ll help some people.
Manuel Martinez: And that’s ultimately the goal. So if you don’t mind, just as we get started, if you can just tell us what your current role is and just a summary of the roles and re...
