
Austin Tech Connect: The Podcast For The Austin Technology Ecosystem, Business Leaders, and Tech Entrepreneurs!
Austin Tech Connect is the go to podcast for all things Technology in the Austin, Texas region. The show is hosted by the CEO of Austin Technology Council, Thom Singer. For over two years this show has highlighted local tech leaders who make a difference in the Austin tech ecosystem.
Each week Thom sits down with leaders in technology & business from the greater Austin area to explore success stories, business advice, and visions for the future of Austin Tech.
The Austin Technology Council has been bringing people together and serving the local tech ecosystem for over 32 years. If you are looking for the "Whose Who" of the Austin Technology Community, you need to be listening to the Austin Tech Connect Podcast.
The Austin Tech Community is vibrant ecosystem of companies, non-profits, universities, and government agencies that are committed to keeping Austin as a leading technology center. Over the past three decades the city of Austin, Texas has transformed from a college town that is the State Capital, into a fast growing tech center. Homegrown startups grow into international leaders, and many other companies have opened offices in Austin or moved their headquarters. The future of Austin is looking good and this podcast is the show that will expose you to the visionary thought leaders who are mapping out the path to tomorrow.
Latest episodes

Nov 12, 2024 • 32min
The AI Driven Leader with Geoff Woods
This week's episode we talk to author Geoff Woods, author of The AI Driven Leader: Harnessing AI To Make Smarter, Faster Decisions. In this interview we talk about the fast changes in AI and how leaders can use it to think strategically and make better decisions. Plus, in a live demonstration... we ask AI for insights on how the Austin Technology Council can keep expanding to meet the changing needs of Austin. About Geoff Woods Geoff Woods is the #1 international bestselling book, #1 international bestselling author of The AI-Driven Leader, host of the AI-Driven Leader podcast and the Founder of AI Leadership. As the former Chief Growth Officer of Jindal Steel & Power, his guidance helped their market cap grow from $750 million to over $12 billion in four years. He also co-founded the training and consulting company behind The ONE Thing, where he coached and advised companies with annual revenues from $10 million to $60 billion. About AI Leadership AI Leadership is transforming how executives use AI to gain a strategic edge. Founded by Geoff Woods, the company empowers leaders to elevate their strategic thinking, align technology with growth goals, and drive competitive advantage. AI Leadership offers consulting, executive training, and a proprietary AI tool that acts as a thought partner, guiding leaders in focusing on what matters most. The AI-Driven Leadership Collective, a curated network of forward-thinking executives, ensures leaders stay ahead in the rapidly evolving AI landscape. With a mission to equip executive teams worldwide, AI Leadership redefines leadership in an AI-driven world.

Nov 5, 2024 • 29min
Pop Up Birthday - Tech Companies Giving Back
This week on the podcast we talk with Kathi Haralson, the executive director of Pop-Up Birthday. This local charity serves kids of all ages in the forster care system by making sure they are celebrated on their birthdays. The non-profit is a favorite of many local tech companies who donate their time and money to support this cause. Kathi shares the history of the organization, the need in our community, and a variety of ways local tech companies help them in their mission. About Kathi Haralson: Kathi Haralson is the current ED of Pop-Up Birthday and before that was the Executive Director of the Eanes Education Foundation where she raised over $3 million each year and funded the salaries of over 200 teachers. Before becoming an ED, Kathi was the Development Director for Partnerships for Children and served as the President of The Junior League of Austin and started 2 programs, FIT and Kids Giving Back while purchasing the property for the League’s new headquarters. Committed to the community in which she works and lives, Kathi has volunteered with the Ronald McDonald House, Dell Children’s, Partnerships for Children, Tarrytown Methodist Church, AFP and Impact Austin. Kathi sits on the board of Helping Hand Home and was previously the chair of the HHH Crystal Ball. Kathi has 2 daughters, Kaitlee- a graduate of The University of Texas and Riley- a recent graduate of Washington and Lee University and an extremely supportive husband of 30 years, John Haralson. About Pop Up Birthday: Laila Scott, the founder of Pop-Up Birthday, is a mom of three boys and community volunteer. She decided to use her talents to celebrate children in foster care. Laila's guiding mission was to fill a child’s heart with joy during a time of crisis. In July 2014, she started Pop-Up Birthday by creating her first birthday in a box for a little girl who simply wished for a Frozen birthday party. The idea and joy multiplied, and today, Pop-Up Birthday has celebrated over 8,000 birthdays! Pop-Up Birthday continues to provide over 100 birthdays each month to children impacted by the foster care system in Central Texas. In the last 2 years, Pop-Up has seen growth in dollars raised, children served and volunteer experiences. Our mission is to provide joy, hope, and normalcy to children in foster care through a personalized birthday experience. Pop-Up Birthday believes that every child deserves to be celebrated!

Nov 1, 2024 • 48min
State of Funding For Growth Companies
This episode is the audio from the featured panel at the 2024 C-Suite Summit and Industry Think Tank. The discussion is about the state of funding for Small and Mid-Sized Tech Companies. The session was sponsored by MUFG. The panelists brought sharp perspectives from the world of Banking, VC, Law, and company points of views. Thanks to Andrew Cozewith (MUFG), Jenifer Smith Smith (Latham & Watkins), Linda Ginac (TalentGuard), and Andrew Vogeley (Sapphire Ventures) for their great insights shared in this panel. The Austin Technology Council's "C-Suite Summit and Industry Think Tank" took place on October 28th at St. Edward's University. Over 100 local leaders from the tech community participated in a half day of deep discussions about topics that matter to the future of the Austin tech ecosystem. If you are active in the Austin tech ecosystem...we invite you to plan now to attend the 2025 "C-Suite Summit" next year!!!

Oct 22, 2024 • 47min
Break Down Silos with Taylor Capito
This week on the Austin Tech Connect podcast is one of the most fun conversations you will find on any tech blog. Local entrepreneur Taylor Capito from GenRAIT joins host Thom Singer for a look at tech impacting humanity, innovation, mentors, inspiration, Star Trek, and the movie Flubber. Taylor is the perfect example of leaders who make a difference in our Austin tech ecosystem. She shares her story and her views of what makes Austin great. She also goes deep into ways to "Go Change It" if you see things that need attention. Taylor is a real "DOER".... and if you do not know here company, GenRAIT.... you should be getting to know all that she is doing to change the world. She is one who believes deeping in collaboration and thinks in tech, life, and Austin, we need to break down silos....and find ways to share and work together. About Taylor Capito: Taylor Capito is a passionate founder and CEO dedicated to revolutionizing the use of biological data to enhance health and longevity. With a background in cybersecurity, big data, and AI/Machine Learning, Taylor’s personal health journey inspired her to undertake the mission to transform the life sciences sector. She has significant experience as a leader in product-driven development practices, having led initiatives at Cisco and Palo Alto Networks. As the founder of GenRAIT, Taylor continues to innovate in the life sciences tech space, empowering researchers to leverage data for groundbreaking discoveries. About GenRAIT: GenRAIT stands at the vanguard of merging genomic research with cutting-edge AI technology, aiming to revolutionize personalized medicine. GenRAIT's platform, GenLab, allows researchers to leverage the vast, untapped potential of genomic data in their drug discovery and diagnostic research. At GenRAIT, we believe in the power of collaboration and want to partner with researchers to unlock the future of discovery. The goal: targeted, predictive modeling is possible in biology, and people live longer, healthier lives as a result.

Oct 8, 2024 • 36min
Dr James Truchard Shares His Wisdom
In this captivating episode of Austin Tech Connect, host Thom Singer sits down with Dr. James Truchard, founder and former CEO of National Instruments, one of Austin's greatest homegrown success stories. Dr. Truchard shares his journey from moonlighting Ph.D. student to tech industry pioneer, offering invaluable insights into building a sustainable company and fostering innovation. Listeners will be inspired by Dr. Truchard's tales of early entrepreneurship in Austin, his visionary approach to business strategy, and the critical role of community in nurturing a thriving tech ecosystem. He discusses the evolution of Austin's tech scene, from its humble beginnings to its current status as a global innovation hub, while also addressing the challenges that come with rapid growth. As a recent inductee into the Austin Tech Hall of Fame, Dr. Truchard reflects on the mentors who shaped his career and the importance of giving back to the community. The conversation takes an intriguing turn as he shares his current passion project: applying his problem-solving skills to Alzheimer's research. This episode is a must-listen for aspiring entrepreneurs, tech enthusiasts, and anyone interested in the past, present, and future of Austin's dynamic technology landscape. Tune in for a masterclass in vision, perseverance, and the power of community in building a successful tech career and company.

Sep 24, 2024 • 34min
Austin Tech Week 2024 with Jacqueline Hughes
In this conversation with Jacqueline Hughes, a human-centric event producer with over 13 years of experience, the vibrant evolution of Austin Tech Week is explored. She shares how the event fosters connections and collaboration among the tech community. The impact of COVID-19 on events and the importance of in-person networking are discussed, emphasizing opportunities for newcomers. Jacqueline also highlights the significance of community engagement and encourages support for grassroots initiatives to strengthen Austin's unique tech ecosystem.

Sep 17, 2024 • 42min
Brilliant Things Happen When Smart People Spend Time Together with Razat Gaurav
This week on Austin Tech Connect we are joined again by Razat Gaurav, CEo at Planview. In this conversation we hear about his experience in Austin the last 3 years, the growth of Planview, and his outlook for our tech community. Razat is also going to be the opening keynote speaker for the ATC "C-Suite Summit and Industry Think Tank" on October 28, 2024. While we do not talk about the summit in this interview, you can see from this conversation why the Austin Technology Council asked him to speak at the event. Be sure to share this episode with all your friends and subscribe to Austin Tech Connect.

Sep 10, 2024 • 31min
Doing Good with Karen Gordon
In episode 90 of "Austin Tech Connect", Thom Singer talks to Karen Gordon, CEO of Dynamics. Karen is a serial entrepreneur, who is passionate about helping people harness the power of differences to amplify outcome. About Karen Gordon Karen Gordon is the CEO of 5 Dynamics, a company that is focused on making the world a better place one relationship at a time. 5 Dynamics’ proprietary software, Simpli5, creates cultures fueled by self and interpersonal awareness to bolster productive collaboration, boost morale, accelerate timelines, and deliver better results. Most leaders tend to focus on what people do, instead of how they do it. In 3 minutes or less, Simpli5 determines how a person works through different phases of a project–ideation, alignment, planning and execution. Using these analyses, Simpli5 delivers customized development resources to leaders and their team members. Before launching 5 Dynamics in 2010, Karen led GTCI, a data and telecommunications company, to over 1100% growth, landing GTCI on the Inc. 500 list two years in a row. She is a former Ernst and Young Entrepreneur of the Year finalist and was included in the Dallas Top 25 businesses list. Louisiana Tech University named Karen its 2006 Alumnus of the Year in the College of Liberal Arts. Her thought leadership has been shared in Money Inc, Entrepreneur, The CEO Magazine, The Future of Everything, and many other publications. Her entrepreneurial spirit, love of learning, and commitment to excellence are attributes that she brings to all of her endeavors. Karen’s TEDx presentation on “The Myth of Difficult People” continues to be watched by thousands of people each year. As an author, educator and entrepreneur, she has over 25 years of experience leading organizations to reach their highest potential. She has created and managed many businesses ranging from a martial arts studio, to a telecommunications and data company, to an employee experience platform. She is currently in the process of developing a retreat space in the woods of Maine that will focus on leadership development programs. Karen splits her time between Austin, TX and Wilton, Maine. When in Maine, she can be found at her lakeside camp enjoying nature with a good book, a glass of wine and her faithful dogs, Winston and Jasmine. Karen has also served on multiple non-profit boards over the years that share her passions of helping children, animal welfare, and social justice. About Simpli5 Simpli5, powered by 5 Dynamics, unleashes human potential by blending psychology, neuroscience, and technology to help individuals and teams navigate complex social and professional dynamics with creativity, empathy, critical thinking, and confidence. Their innovative platform analyzes individual’s and team’s working styles by acknowledging their affinity for different phases of a project cycle, which empowers adjustments and corrections that lead to improved collaboration, personal satisfaction, and superior outcomes. Simpli5’s roots are grounded in the work of Mike Sturm, an educator, a social psychologist, and a learning diagnostician. Originally applied in educational settings, this model was quickly brought by working parents into business applications. Today, Simpli5 fosters cultures driven by employee and team effectiveness, self-awareness, and interpersonal understanding. It equips leaders and teams with the insights they need to adjust leadership styles, predict performance, and address organizational challenges throughout a project’s lifecycle. Their methodology is being utilized in diverse organizations and learning institutions, from Stanford and Harvard to LinkedIn, Sutter Health, UKG, and IDEO. The methodology can be applied any place where two or more people are working together on a shared outcome.

Sep 3, 2024 • 46min
Austin Hall of Fame Inductee Admiral Bobby Inman
This week we have a legend on the podcast - Admiral Bobby Inman. Admiral Inman was recently inducted into the Austin Tech Hall of Fame. He has living and working in the Austin tech scene for over 40 years and has been an investor and advisor to countless companies. His remarkable career spans both public service and private enterprise, leaving an indelible mark on our city's technological landscape. Born and raised in Texas, he graduated high school at age 15, received his BA from UT Austin at 19, and then joined the US Navy. The Admiral served with distinction in the U.S. Navy and the intelligence community, holding key positions such as Director of the National Security Agency and Deputy Director of the Central Intelligence Agency. The selection of Austin for the Microelectronics and Computer Technology Corporation (MCC) in 1982, led by Admiral Inman, was a huge boost to the future of our local tech community. This consortium of major computer and semiconductor manufacturers could have been headquartered anywhere, and we are grateful it brought Admiral Inman back to Austin. His leadership and vision have been instrumental in positioning Austin as a premier hub for technology and entrepreneurship. Admiral Inman's commitment to education, through his involvement with the University of Texas at Austin, has further enriched our community.

Aug 27, 2024 • 37min
Pattern Breakers with Mike Maples Jr.
In this episode of Austin Tech Connect, Thom Singer chats with Mike Maples Jr., the visionary founding partner of Floodgate and the author of the compelling new book Pattern Breakers: Why Some Startups Change the Future. The conversation dives deep into the mindset and strategies that differentiate the startups that truly disrupt industries from those that merely follow the rules. Mike shares his journey from his early entrepreneurial days in Austin to becoming one of the most respected venture capitalists in Silicon Valley, investing in radical startups at their earliest stages. We discuss the concept of "pattern breaking"—how startups that succeed against the odds often do so by challenging conventional wisdom and introducing ideas that are not only innovative but also non-consensus. Mike reveals the critical importance of timing and inflection points, explaining how recognizing and harnessing these moments can make or break a startup. He also shares personal anecdotes, including the unexpected success of Twitch, a company he invested in without fully understanding its potential at the time. Listeners will gain valuable insights into the unique challenges and rewards of investing in and building disruptive companies, as well as practical advice for entrepreneurs who aspire to be at the forefront of innovation. Whether you're a startup founder, an investor, or simply someone interested in the future of technology, this episode offers a wealth of knowledge and inspiration. Mike’s reflections on the importance of resilience, the role of storytelling in building a movement, and the necessity of embracing risk make this a conversation you won’t want to miss. About Mike Maples Jr Mike Maples is a co-founding Partner at Floodgate. He has been on the Forbes Midas List eight times in the last decade and was also named a “Rising Star” by FORTUNE and profiled by Harvard Business School for his lifetime contributions to entrepreneurship. Before becoming a full-time investor, Mike was involved as a founder and operating executive at back-to-back startup IPOs, including Tivoli Systems (IPO TIVS, acquired by IBM) and Motive (IPO MOTV, acquired by Alcatel-Lucent.) Some of Mike’s investments include Twitter, Twitch.tv, Clover Health, Okta, Outreach, Chegg, Demandforce, and Applied Intuition. Mike is known for coining the term “Thunder Lizards,” which is a metaphor derived from Godzilla that describes the tiny number of truly exceptional companies that are wildly disruptive capitalist mutations. Mike likes to think of himself as a hunter of the “atomic eggs” that beget these companies. Mike is the author of the National Bestselling book Pattern Breakers and host of the Pattern Breakers podcast, which shares startup lessons from the super performers.