Kurt Dusek is a technology advisor, tech startup entrepreneur, and systems architect with over 20 years of experience in tech leadership roles at prominent tech companies including GitLab and Appdome.  In this episode, Matt and Kurt discuss: Choosing the right tool for a job based on (1) your company's specific needs and (2) the overarching impact of technological change on your business Building vendor partnerships that extend beyond sales rooted in constant engagement to create a shared vision for success The necessity for companies to treat data with importance, including appointing a responsible leader for data architecture Anticipating 'good enough' thresholds in tech to stay prepared for transitions and ensure sustainable growth Constructing a robust technological architecture that addresses customer-focused metrics while catering  to internal operational metrics Chapters: (0:00) Introduction to technologist Kurt Dusek (0:57) Data technology in company scaling (2:23) Discussing vintage vehicles and restoration (5:28) Universal constants in the mercurial  technology landscape (5:45) Choosing the right tool for effective technology adoption (7:53) Preventing technology stack bloat in fast-growing companies (10:25) Strategic procurement for early-stage startups (12:05) Differentiating between vendors and partners in business growth (15:20) Leveraging quarterly calls for product development insights (17:05) Scaling costs of email service providers (18:56) Challenges and strategies of replacing core business technologies (19:58) Technology leadership for future business challenges (22:25) Strategic technology planning for scalable growth (24:56) Strategic growth planning and the importance of deliberateness (27:02) Business growth in strategic technology integration (30:59) Distinguishing the multifaceted roles in technology teams (34:03) Leadership and systems thinking in large-scale operations (36:20) Optimizing team roles for efficient cloud platform management (38:51) Specialists versus generalists in early stage companies (41:14) Navigating startup challenges with expertise and networks (42:29) Strategic integration of data-driven tools for startup growth (47:54) The complexity of trusting corporate data (51:08) Valuing data as a fundamental business asset (55:38) Comparing corporate data hygiene and personal health habits (56:33) Strategies for effective data management and utilization (1:01:22) Growth data and interconnected data platforms (1:01:27) Conclusion and closing remarks Link to Transcript