Most people think AI is about replacing jobs.

But in this conversation, Christopher Frankland introduces a different perspective: the rise of the “bionic agent”—using technology to make people more capable, not obsolete.

This episode is for leaders, operators, and professionals trying to understand how AI is actually showing up in real work today.

We cover:

• Why AI is shifting from automation to human augmentation
• The move from humans serving machines → machines serving humans
• The real risk of becoming too dependent on AI tools
• Why the Midwest is emerging as a powerful innovation corridor across insurtech, agtech, and climate tech

Christopher is also working on building a new Midwest-focused initiative to bring together innovators, operators, and thought leaders across the region through curated meetups and future events.

If you’re interested in being part of that community, this is one to pay attention to.

In this episode of Tech. Entrepreneurs. Nebraska., Shohina Sultonova visits with Archana Raghu, Quality Lead at Quantum Workplace, where she leads both traditional and AI quality, partnering with data science teams on AI evaluation and testing.

Her work focuses on building the systems and frameworks that make software reliable, fair, and trustworthy in production.

Everyone is focused on speed. Fewer are focused on responsibility.

Archana breaks down what it actually means to test AI in the real world and why failures don’t always show up loudly. Sometimes they show up quietly through bias, flawed data, and unreliable outputs that impact real people and real decisions.

We also talk about her passion beyond the workplace.

She is deeply committed to developing the next generation of tech talent through her work at the University of Nebraska Omaha, Girls Who Code, CodeCrush iSTEM, and mentoring students in the NSF-funded PRIME Scholars program and UNO tech seminar course.

In this episode:
• The difference between traditional and AI testing
• Why AI failures are harder to detect
• The gap between building fast and building responsibly
• What it takes to build trust in AI
• How students and professionals can stay relevant

If you care about where AI is going, this conversation will challenge how you think about quality, speed, and accountability.

What happens when you stop waiting for change and start building it?

In this episode, special guest host and Aksarben Foundation intern, Shohina Sultonova visits with Maura Abad, COO at Reliability Leadership Institute and Founder of Women in Reliability & Asset Management (WIRAM).

She started with 5 women in a room.
Today, that community includes 1,800+ women across the globe.

Through WIRAM, Maura was also an early supporter of the inaugural Nebraska Women in Tech Summit, contributing to efforts that continue to expand access and opportunity across Nebraska’s tech ecosystem.

In this conversation:

• How one question turned into a global workforce movement

• Why reliability and asset management are critical to safety, sustainability, and business success

• What it takes to build inclusive talent pipelines in technical industries

• The importance of developing both strengths and gaps

• Turning personal experiences into purpose through creativity

This episode is a reminder that workforce development moves when people take action.

🎧 Listen now and ask yourself: What am I building?

After the loss of her grandmother, Kim Goins saw firsthand how disruptive major life events can be for families and how difficult it can be to navigate legacy planning in the midst of grief.

That experience inspired her to begin building KIMTO, a platform designed to help families organize their health, wealth, and values into a single legacy operating system and better prepare future generations.

In this episode of the Nebraska Tech Collaborative TEN Podcast, Shonna Dorsey talks with Kim about the personal experience that led her into the startup world and how she began building the platform using AI tools despite not having a technical background. Kim recently received the LaunchLNK grant to support the continued development of KIMTO.

In this conversation, we discuss:

• The personal experience that inspired KIMTO
• How AI is lowering the barriers for new founders
• Why legacy planning goes beyond wills and trusts
• The connection between family health history and financial stability
• How preserving family businesses can strengthen local economies

Learn more or share your story at:
kimto.ai

In this episode of the TEN Podcast (Tech. Entrepreneurs. Nebraska.), Nebraska Tech Collaborative Executive Director Shonna Dorsey sits down with innovation leader Brian Ardinger to discuss the evolution of Nebraska’s startup ecosystem and the upcoming Inside Outside Innovation Summit 2026 (IO2026) on April 13, 2026 at the Sheldon Museum of Art. Learn more: https://www.theiosummit.com. NTC listeners can use code NTC100 for $100 off summit tickets.

Brian has played a key role in supporting startup growth across Nebraska. As the founder of NMotion, the state’s first startup accelerator, he helped early stage technology companies connect with mentors, investors, and corporate partners to accelerate their progress.

Today Brian serves as Director of Innovation at Nelnet, works with venture investments, and hosts the Inside Outside Innovation Podcast.

In this conversation, Shonna and Brian explore:

• The early days of Nebraska’s startup ecosystem
• How accelerators helped launch companies like CompanyCam
• Why collaboration between corporations and startups matters
• The role innovation plays inside established organizations
• What to expect at IO2026 – the Inside Outside Innovation Summit

The summit will take place April 13, 2026 in Lincoln at the Sheldon Museum of Art, bringing together founders, corporate innovators, investors, and ecosystem leaders to explore the art and science of innovation.

The event will feature keynote speakers, networking opportunities, and a Gallery of Innovation highlighting startups and innovation projects from across the region.

In this episode, Shonna sits down with Daragh Mahon, CIO and SVP at Werner Enterprises, and Kellee Mikuls, Executive Director of Ignite Nebraska, to discuss how employer and nonprofit partnerships are expanding access to high wage, high skill, high demand tech careers in Nebraska through formal training and pathways into great careers with great companies.

The conversation highlights:

• How Werner Enterprises and Ignite Nebraska are building practical pathways into tech for adult workers seeking meaningful career change
• Ignite Nebraska’s student selection focus on grit and fit, prioritizing resilience, work ethic, and employer alignment
• The powerful story of a former delivery driver who is now on a career path at Werner
• Why investing in adult learners strengthens Nebraska's families and communities
• How corporate investment and ecosystem collaboration drive long-term economic growth

This episode is about opportunity, mobility, and what happens when companies choose to invest in local talent.

If you care about workforce development, economic growth, or building Nebraska’s tech future, this is a conversation you will not want to miss.

In the first episode of 2026, Shonna Dorsey sits down with Jenna Smith, founder of ThinkFree Consulting and co-founder of The Commonwealth, for a candid conversation about disruption, innovation, and the future of work.

With more than 15 years of experience leading transformation inside organizations, Jenna shares why incremental growth and traditional long-range planning are being tested as the pace of change accelerates. Together, they explore how organizations can build the capacity to adapt by developing people who think critically, act with ownership, and innovate from within.

This episode covers:

• Why change today is compounding, not linear

• How organizations can encourage innovation without abandoning stability

• What established companies can learn from founders and startups

• The role of psychological safety and learning from failure

• How to identify and empower intrapreneurs inside existing teams

• Why understanding your “genius zone” matters as work continues to evolve

The conversation also connects directly to themes from the Nebraska Women in Tech Summit, particularly innovation within corporate environments and the skills leaders need to cultivate for what’s next.

This episode is especially relevant for executives, managers, entrepreneurs, and professionals navigating change across industries like banking, manufacturing, construction, and technology.

If you’re thinking about how to strengthen your organization’s ability to adapt and how to stay relevant as the future of work unfolds, this conversation offers timely insight and practical perspective.

In this episode of the TEN Podcast, Shonna Dorsey of the Aksarben Foundation and the Nebraska Tech Collaborative sits down with Tori Young of CRi, Managing Director at Client Resources Inc., for a candid conversation about what’s really happening in the tech talent market.

With more than 25 years in business and deep roots in Omaha, CRi has navigated multiple market cycles. Tori shares how long-term relationships, culture fit, and human judgment are becoming more—not less—important in an era of AI, automated hiring tools, and record applicant volume.

The conversation covers:

• Why tenure and trust still matter in tech staffing

• How AI is changing hiring and where it falls short

• What students and early-career professionals should focus on right now

• Why employers are rethinking remote work and returning to in-person collaboration

• The growing disconnect between applicants and automated hiring systems

• Why community involvement strengthens both talent pipelines and businesses

This is a practical, real-world discussion for employers, students, and tech professionals who want clarity without the hype.