November 6, 2025: From loading backup tapes in a Phoenix data center to becoming a sought-after disaster recovery expert, Melissa Muñiz, Principal Consultant at Zion Resiliency, proves that curiosity and preparation trump luck every time. In this episode, she reveals how rigorous DR testing at HCA created teams so well-prepared that major outages were handled without her even knowing. Melissa shares hard-won lessons from manufacturing, retail, and healthcare about building true organizational resilience, plus the networking strategies that landed her consistent consulting contracts through a single LinkedIn message. Whether you're leading operations or considering entrepreneurship, Melissa's insights on staying hungry, building reputation, and embracing calculated risks offer a refreshing perspective on career growth.

Key Points:

• 03:52 Lessons from Full-Scale Recovery
• 08:40 Transitioning Across Industries
• 13:03 Building a Resilient Career and Network
• 17:15 Speed Round and Final Thoughts

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November 3, 2025: What are healthcare IT leaders really concerned about? Fresh from three 229 Project summits across the country, Bill Russell, Sarah Richardson, and Drex DeFord pull back the curtain on the most pressing conversations happening right now. From simplifying AI governance with a two-track vendor approach to rethinking hiring strategies for an agent-driven future, this episode captures the pulse of healthcare leadership in real time. Discover why some organizations are solving hundreds of problems while others struggle with their first five, and learn the one-word qualities leaders are seeking in their next hires to thrive in today's rapidly changing landscape.

Key Points:

• 04:24 AI Success Factors
• 09:57 Balancing Moonshots and Practical Solutions
• 14:37 Sourcing Strategy and Engagement
• 22:32 Building Organizational Culture
• 26:27 Leadership and Succession Planning

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October 30, 2025: After 25 years leading transformational change in healthcare IT, Erik Howell, VP and Head of Technology at Callen-Lorde Community Health Center, made an unconventional decision that most leaders only dream about: he took a sabbatical. Following major EHR implementations, enterprise PMO leadership, and scaling a Silicon Valley AI startup's delivery team, Erik stepped away to travel, reflect, and rediscover what truly mattered in his career. The result? A complete reframing of success, renewed energy, and a mission-driven role leading technology at an LGBTQ-focused community health center in New York City. Join as Erik shares the lessons from his intentional career pause and why stepping away might be the secret to stepping forward with clarity and purpose.

Key Points:

• 07:08 Erik's Pivot to a Silicon Valley Startup
• 12:46 Lessons from the Sabbatical
• 19:23 Finding the Right Career Fit
• 25:26 Speed Round and Final Thoughts

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Donate: Alex’s Lemonade Stand: Foundation for Childhood Cancer