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Bytes, Bits & Brilliance: Career Insights and Inspiration

Courageous Daring Wonderful You, LLC

58 episodes

2 days ago

Send us a text The Customer Success Manager (CSM) role has emerged as a critical strategic business function in the technology industry, particularly within SaaS (Software-as-a-Service) companies. But what does a CSM actually do, and how can your existing professional experience launch you into this growing field? When I was laid off and started exploring options for my next role, a few people suggested customer success and I realized I'd heard about the role but didn't know much about it, wh...

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Self-Improvement

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Send us a text The Customer Success Manager (CSM) role has emerged as a critical strategic business function in the technology industry, particularly within SaaS (Software-as-a-Service) companies. But what does a CSM actually do, and how can your existing professional experience launch you into this growing field? When I was laid off and started exploring options for my next role, a few people suggested customer success and I realized I'd heard about the role but didn't know much about it, wh...

Show more...

Self-Improvement

Episodes (20/58)

Bytes, Bits & Brilliance: Career Insights and Inspiration

Strategic Skills Shift: Pivoting to Technical Account Manager and Advanced Customer Success Roles (AI-Audio Overview)

Send us a text The Customer Success Manager (CSM) role has emerged as a critical strategic business function in the technology industry, particularly within SaaS (Software-as-a-Service) companies. But what does a CSM actually do, and how can your existing professional experience launch you into this growing field? When I was laid off and started exploring options for my next role, a few people suggested customer success and I realized I'd heard about the role but didn't know much about it, wh...

1 week ago

16 minutes

Bytes, Bits & Brilliance: Career Insights and Inspiration

Empathy at Work: How Kindness is Rewiring the Workplace

Send us a text What does it really look like to lead with empathy in industries that reward output over openness? In this refreshingly honest episode, I share my personal journey from environments lacking compassion to intentionally creating micro-cultures of belonging, trust, and meaningful feedback. Drawing on the powerful McKinsey article, “It’s Cool to Be Kind: The Value of Empathy at Work,” I’ll break down actionable takeaways using the starburst method. Whether you’re ...

2 weeks ago

25 minutes

Bytes, Bits & Brilliance: Career Insights and Inspiration

Mentors, Soft Skills & Mindset: A Cybersecurity Story (Guest: Aaleyah Evans)

Send us a text Is leadership just for those in corner offices? Not so fast. Meet a Bahamian computer scientist, Aaleyah Evans, whose early career in cybersecurity and academia challenged every stereotype—proving that relatability, mentorship, and mistakes are the real fuel for future leaders. Listen in for honest stories about building confidence, tackling mistakes head-on, and the power of company-led mentorship to inspire the next wave of tech talent. If cybersecurity sounds a...

3 weeks ago

40 minutes

Bytes, Bits & Brilliance: Career Insights and Inspiration

The Alignment Revolution: Turning Layoffs and Setbacks into Opportunity (Guest: Jessica Cumming)

Send us a text What happens when your “perfect job” doesn’t fit? In this electrifying episode, meet a former tech pro, Jessica Cumming, who battled layoffs and glass ceilings—then flipped uncertainty into unstoppable growth. Hear how she turned misalignment at Dell into a launchpad for transformation, chose purpose over comfort, and built a coaching career grounded in bold action and realignment. We dive into the importance of: Taking time to truly reflect before transitioning careersBu...

4 weeks ago

47 minutes

Bytes, Bits & Brilliance: Career Insights and Inspiration

Breaking In Without Burning Out: One Woman’s Path Into Cybersecurity, One Connection at a Time (Guest: Sofi Rodriguez)

Send us a text What does it take to pivot from a 24-year career in caregiving to a thriving path in cybersecurity? In this inspiring episode, we sit down with a former nanny and caregiver, Diana Sofi Rodriguez, originally from Peru, who shares her remarkable journey of reinvention. She opens up about how skills like patience, organization, and empathy became powerful assets for a cybersecurity career and how faith and perseverance played a central role in her growth. From graduati...

1 month ago

40 minutes

Bytes, Bits & Brilliance: Career Insights and Inspiration

Cyber Thriver: Breaking Barriers, Building Networks & Uplifting Diversity in Cybersecurity (Guest: Geraldine Okon)

Send us a text What does it really take to thrive for two decades in cybersecurity—and to blaze a trail for others? In this episode of Bytes, Bits and Brilliance, I sit down with the powerhouse behind Cyber Thriver, Geraldine Okon, a 20-year cybersecurity pro who rose from computer operator to trusted mentor, connector, and entrepreneur. We dive deep into her unconventional journey—spanning financial services, a forklift company, and beyond—while unpacking the real roadblocks and hidd...

1 month ago

35 minutes

Bytes, Bits & Brilliance: Career Insights and Inspiration

Leading Through the Shift: Human-Centered AI in Tech Transformation

Send us a text This 20-minute episode dives into the transformative journey of tech leadership in the age of generative AI. Drawing from My personal reflections and insights from the Google Cloud Generative AI Leader training, it explores how leaders can navigate uncertainty, drive innovation, and empower teams through change. Whether you're a CTO, product manager, or engineering lead, this episode offers practical strategies and thought-provoking perspectives to help you lead wit...

1 month ago

27 minutes

Bytes, Bits & Brilliance: Career Insights and Inspiration

From Tech to Coaching: Boundaries, Balance, and Building Your Career with Intention (Guest: Dana Zellers)

Send us a text In this episode, we dive deep into what it really takes to thrive in tech and beyond. My guest, Dana Zellers, a former tech worker turned executive coach, joins me to unpack the lessons of work-life balance, the power of boundaries, and why intentional career planning is non-negotiable. Together, we explore coaching strategies, how to handle career crossroads, and the role mentors and managers play in our growth. We talk about giving yourself (and others) grace, why posit...

2 months ago

46 minutes

Bytes, Bits & Brilliance: Career Insights and Inspiration

🎙️ Beyond the Code: Redefining Success, Self-Advocacy & Joy in Tech (Guest: Sayantika Banik)

Send us a text What does it really mean to thrive in tech? In this episode, I sit down with Sayantika Banik, a founder and data scientist who calls herself a “mixed bag.” From building backend systems to serving on the Django Software Foundation’s Board of Directors, her journey is anything but ordinary. We dive into: The realities of burnout and the power of community supportWhy embracing your whole self—not just technical skills—mattersLessons in self-advocacy, resilience, and finding your ...

2 months ago

43 minutes

Bytes, Bits & Brilliance: Career Insights and Inspiration

The Impact of Standards: News, Facts, Figures and Fun (AI Voice)

Send us a text In this audio overview, we're covering the intersection of: The Impact of Standards (ANSI's Role): Understand how voluntary consensus standards, coordinated by organizations like the American National Standards Institute (ANSI), are literally everywhere, shaping innovation, improving safety and well-being, reducing costs, and enabling global trade.Common Weakness Enumeration (CWE): Explore this community-developed, free-to-use list of common software and hardware weakness types...

2 months ago

12 minutes

Bytes, Bits & Brilliance: Career Insights and Inspiration

Paying It Forward: Mentorship, Mission & Legacy with JT Taylor & Adam Roberts

Send us a text In the final part of this series, we zoom in on mentorship, representation, and legacy. The panelists share what grounds them, how they support the next generation, and what they hope for the future of tech—especially for underrepresented voices. It’s the call to action we all need. JT Taylor is a senior-level tech professional, entrepreneur, and coach with a sharp focus on DevOps, Scrum, and business development. With a career built on grit and giving back, he’s deeply p...

2 months ago

32 minutes

Bytes, Bits & Brilliance: Career Insights and Inspiration

Panel Episode Part 2: Strategy, Skills & Staying Future-Ready (Adam Roberts & JT Taylor)

Send us a text In Part 2 of the panel with Adam Roberts and JT Taylor, we talk about staying future-ready in an evolving tech world. The panel explores certifications vs. degrees, soft skills that matter, and how to stay ten steps ahead. It's strategy, insight, and real-world perspective from those who’ve lived it. Connect with us: Adam: Https://www.linkedin.com/in/adamdroberts/ JT: https://www.linkedin.com/josetaylor06 Dawn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dawnbutler1/ Support the show Hey, list...

3 months ago

34 minutes

Bytes, Bits & Brilliance: Career Insights and Inspiration

Panel Episode Part 1: Origins: How We Got Here & What We’ve Learned with JT Taylor & Adam Roberts

Send us a text Origins: How We Got Here & What We’ve Learned In Part 1 of this 3-part panel series, we go behind the titles and hear the real stories—how two leaders built their tech careers from the ground up, the lessons they learned the hard way, and how they’re now paving the way for the next generation. This episode covers origin stories, identity evolution, imposter syndrome, and making space to thrive. JT Taylor is a senior-level tech professional, entrepreneur, and coach wi...

3 months ago

31 minutes

Bytes, Bits & Brilliance: Career Insights and Inspiration

Financial Wisdom, Mentorship & Legacy in Tech: Charles Rush's Journey to Cybersecurity Leadership

Send us a text How does someone go from cable installations at Cisco Academy to founding a cybersecurity powerhouse? In this episode, I sit down with Charles Rush III, a Cybersecurity Founder and government contractor—CISSP, PMP, FSCE certified, and a proud Goldman Sachs 10KSB alum—who’s spent more than 20 years in tech redefining what success looks like. We dig deep into the realities behind financial freedom in IT, the critical need to “know the business of your business,” and w...

3 months ago

50 minutes

Bytes, Bits & Brilliance: Career Insights and Inspiration

From Tech Veteran to Limitless Leader: How One Bold Move Changed Everything (Guest: Uma Subramanian)

Send us a text What happens when you walk away from a high-powered tech career to chase your true calling? In this electrifying episode, I sit down with a former Microsoft leader, the powerhouse founder of Limitless Leaders, Uma Subramanian. Following her time at Microsoft, while working with a tech startup, Uma left it all behind after a jaw-dropping meeting with the startup CEO who crossed the line. Within weeks, she transformed that pivotal moment into a mission: helping tech p...

3 months ago

46 minutes

Bytes, Bits & Brilliance: Career Insights and Inspiration

Authentic Networking and Skills Differentiation in the AI Era (Guest: Thalia Brown)

Send us a text In Part 2 of our series with Thalia Brown, the founder of Authentic Discussion, we dive into the realities of recruitment and networking in today's competitive tech landscape. Thalia shares her journey with professional networking, authentic professional branding and the critical need for candidates to differentiate themselves. We explore strategies for standing out in a crowded job market, especially with the rise of AI and automation, emphasizing the importance of...

3 months ago

23 minutes

Bytes, Bits & Brilliance: Career Insights and Inspiration

Innovating Gender Equity: Closing Gaps in Tech Hiring and Career Growth (Guest Thalia Brown)

Send us a text In Part 1 of this two-part series, I sit down with Thalia Brown, the founder of Authentic Discussion—a pioneering learning platform using research-based tools, podcasts, virtual reality, and AI to tackle gender equity and workplace challenges in tech and cybersecurity. Drawing on years of experience as a diversity practitioner and recruiter, Thalia shares how her mission-driven business is helping candidates overcome imposter syndrome, anxiety, and emotional bias in hirin...

4 months ago

35 minutes

Bytes, Bits & Brilliance: Career Insights and Inspiration

Effective Change Management: Building Trust, Skills, and Lasting Impact (Guest: Shanayla Sweat)

Send us a text In Part 2 of our change management series, with my guest, Shanayla Sweat, we explore why performative change efforts often fall short and how genuine leadership commitment is key to lasting transformation. Shanayla highlights the critical role of soft skills in change management, emphasizing the need for leaders to truly listen and respond to employee needs like flexibility, autonomy, and better benefits. We also discuss the broader societal tensions between individ...

4 months ago

45 minutes

Bytes, Bits & Brilliance: Career Insights and Inspiration

Change Management in Tech: Real Talk on AI and Human-Centered Leadership (Guest: Shanayla Sweat)

Send us a text In Part 1 of this two-part series, we dive into the world of change management in technology and cybersecurity with Shanayla Sweat, who has journeyed from software quality assurance to leading organizational transitions. Discover why effective change management is crucial for successful tech adoption, how storytelling and authentic communication drive real change, and why human resistance is often overlooked in the rush toward AI and cloud-based solutions. We also unpack ...

4 months ago

30 minutes

Bytes, Bits & Brilliance: Career Insights and Inspiration

You're Not Lost, You're in Motion: Redefining What It Means to Thrive

Send us a text In this solo reflection, I share a powerful reframe on what it really means to thrive — especially when you're navigating transitions, uncertainty, or moments when clarity feels out of reach. Inspired by a recent PowerToFly session and the wisdom of Elizabeth Weingarten, this episode gently challenges the idea that thriving means having it all figured out. Instead, you’ll be invited to recognize the strength it takes to keep going — one step at a time — and to trust that motion...

4 months ago

20 minutes