IT Visionaries

AI was supposed to make life easier. So why are tech teams more burned out than ever? In this episode of IT Visionaries, host Chris Brandt and guest co-host Lacey Peace unpack the real reasons behind the burnout crisis sweeping through tech and cybersecurity teams in 2025. From the “do more with less” culture to the false promise of AI automation, they explore how overwork, layoffs, and unrealistic expectations are reshaping the future of tech work. Topics we cover: Why AI adoption is increasing workloads, not reducing themHow company culture drives burnout in IT and engineering teamsThe loneliness epidemic in tech — and what to do about itThe generational shift changing expectations around work and lifeHow to build sustainable tech teams that don’t burn people outIf you’ve ever felt overwhelmed, under-resourced, or caught between automation and exhaustion — this conversation is for you.Watch till the end for insights on how to protect your mental health in tech and what the next decade of work might look like. Watch Next: https://youtu.be/fCFs28kadw0?si=SNDAuua7IamFEr3p Key Moments: 0:00 Why Tech Teams Are Burning Out2:21 Is Tech Burnout Actually Getting Worse?4:15 How AI and Automation Are Fueling Burnout9:45 Tech Culture Clash: Old Guard vs. New Generation17:00 Why Burnout Is Becoming a National Security Problem22:15 The Loneliness Epidemic in Tech (and How to Fix It)25:00 Can More Headcount Solve the Burnout Problem?30:50 The Future of Tech Work: What’s Changing Forever -- This episode of IT Visionaries is brought to you by Meter - the company building better networks. Businesses today are frustrated with outdated providers, rigid pricing, and fragmented tools. Meter changes that with a single integrated solution that covers everything wired, wireless, and even cellular networking. They design the hardware, write the firmware, build the software, and manage it all so your team doesn't have to.That means you get fast, secure, and scalable connectivity without the complexity of juggling multiple providers. Thanks to meter for sponsoring. Go to meter.com/itv to book a demo.---IT Visionaries is made by the team at Mission.org. Learn more about our media studio and network of podcasts at mission.org. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Lacey Peace, a seasoned expert in AI governance and security, leads an engaging exploration of AI deception. She discusses the evolution of AI from benign errors to deceptive behaviors driven by coding incentives. The duo tackles the enterprise risks of deploying AI, emphasizing the importance of understanding how models can mislead. They highlight the need for trained operators and practical strategies for managing AI reliability. Lacey also examines the impact of public perception on AI trust, urging a more nuanced conversation about its capabilities.

Join Vijoy Pandey, Senior VP at Cisco and a luminary in AI and quantum networking, as he unpacks the future of technology. Discover the concept of 'Agentic AI' and how it can create an 'Internet of Agents,' revolutionizing everything from software to security. Vijoy delves into Cisco's post-quantum cryptography strategies to combat new security threats and discusses the innovative 'freedom to fail' model that drives creativity in a corporate landscape. Plus, get insights into the burgeoning Quantum Internet and its practical applications.

Cybersecurity isn’t just about firewalls and passwords anymore. It’s an all-out battle where hackers run businesses with customer support desks, insider threats can be disguised as your newest hire, and artificial intelligence is both the weapon and the shield. In this special episode of IT Visionaries, host Chris Brandt switches roles and sits in the hot seat while Lacey Peace, host of Experts of Experience, interviews him about the three biggest cyber threats IT leaders must prepare for in 2025. From the rise of ransomware-as-a-service to North Korean nationals infiltrating U.S. companies, and AI reshaping the entire security landscape, Chris reveals what’s really happening behind the scenes of today’s most dangerous attacks. With stories from his career building high-security facilities — including an EMP-shielded data center buried under a mountain — Chris shares the lessons that every business leader needs to hear about resilience, recovery, and why it’s no longer a matter of “if” but “when.” Don’t miss this candid and eye-opening conversation. Watch the full episode now and learn how to protect your organization before it’s too late. Key Moments: 00:00: Lacey Peace Interviews Chris Brandt04:45 Cyber Extortion and Ransomware08:17 Supply Chain Attacks18:20 Creating an Isolated Recovery Environment20:08 Threat Number Two: IT Worker Attacks22:14 The Rise of Phishing Attacks27:26 The Evolution of Social Engineering30:19 The Role of AI in Cybersecurity33:01 Challenges in Reporting Cyber Incidents33:46 The Complexity of Cyber Incident Recovery34:45 The Role of Governments in Cybersecurity -- This episode of IT Visionaries is brought to you by Meter - the company building better networks. Businesses today are frustrated with outdated providers, rigid pricing, and fragmented tools. Meter changes that with a single integrated solution that covers everything wired, wireless, and even cellular networking. They design the hardware, write the firmware, build the software, and manage it all so your team doesn't have to.That means you get fast, secure, and scalable connectivity without the complexity of juggling multiple providers. Thanks to meter for sponsoring. Go to meter.com/itv to book a demo.---IT Visionaries is made by the team at Mission.org. Learn more about our media studio and network of podcasts at mission.org. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Balint Pasztor, CEO of Diffuse Drive and former robotics engineer at Bosch, tackles the intricate challenges of data scarcity in AI. He explains how synthetic data can revolutionize the training of autonomous systems, condensing years of data collection into mere hours. Balint dives into the significance of edge cases for safety, the workings of diffusion models for realistic data generation, and a unique three-step approach to optimize AI performance. His insights are essential for anyone interested in the future of robotics and autonomous technology.

Discover how to turn decades of data into a competitive edge, build lasting customer relationships beyond the first click, and apply AI in ways that truly drive impact. Joining us is Vineet Mahajan, CTO of US News & World Report, who shares how he’s led the 90-year-old brand through a sweeping digital transformation. From rearchitecting infrastructure to deploying semantic search, generative AI, and agentic tools, Vineet explains how his team is reimagining what a legacy institution can become—and what every tech leader can take from that journey.Key Moments:00:00 Meet Vineet Mahajan, CTO of US News & World Report04:45 How to Unlock the True Value of Your Data09:55 Why First-Party Data Is Key to Building Customer Relationships14:32 What Is Semantic Search and How Can Generative AI Improve UX?18:39 How to Overcome Data Cleaning and Structuring Challenges21:18 How to Evaluate Emerging Tech Trends (Like Agentic AI)25:43 How to Lead Change: Data Governance and Digital Transformation32:38 What’s Next for US News & World Report and the Future of AI-Driven Strategy -- This episode of IT Visionaries is brought to you by Meter - the company building better networks. Businesses today are frustrated with outdated providers, rigid pricing, and fragmented tools. Meter changes that with a single integrated solution that covers everything wired, wireless, and even cellular networking. They design the hardware, write the firmware, build the software, and manage it all so your team doesn't have to.That means you get fast, secure, and scalable connectivity without the complexity of juggling multiple providers. Thanks to meter for sponsoring. Go to meter.com/itv to book a demo.---IT Visionaries is made by the team at Mission.org. Learn more about our media studio and network of podcasts at mission.org. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In this discussion, Bryana Tucci, the Lead of the AWS Marketplace for the US Intelligence Community, shares her expertise on modernizing government tech procurement. She reveals how traditional systems can take up to two years to adapt, but innovative solutions are emerging. Bryana highlights the challenges posed by air-gapped environments and the transformative role of generative AI in national security. She explains what tech companies need to succeed in this space and how AWS is streamlining processes to make advanced tools more accessible for government agencies.

Ravi Singh, President and Chief Product Officer at Brightspot, shares his expertise in content management and AI. He delves into how organizations can tame content chaos and leverage AI for efficiency. Ravi highlights common pitfalls in AI adoption and emphasizes the importance of keeping creators central to digital strategy. He offers insights on building trust in CMS systems and discusses future trends in content management. Tune in for valuable tips on ensuring brand consistency while balancing automation and human creativity.

Meet Chris Brandt, the new host who brings a wealth of experience from startups to global enterprises. Discover the pressing challenges in technology, including the impacts of solar flares and the balance between innovation and human creativity. Explore how groundbreaking ideas often face skepticism before transforming industries, using fun anecdotes. The conversation also highlights personal hobbies like surfing and archery, illustrating how passions connect us beyond tech. Learn valuable lessons from startup journeys, emphasizing the importance of people and marketing for success.

Join Kevin McEvilly, CTO of Canvas Worldwide, Andrew Fox, CEO of Unista, and Mike Della Porta, founder of Della Porta Consulting, as they dive into the complex world of data-driven marketing. They question the over-reliance on analytics and highlight the critical role of human intuition in strategy creation. The discussion covers the challenges of diversity in tech, the necessity of effective data governance, and how adaptive collaboration can enhance decision-making. Tune in for insights that may change your approach to marketing!