From Dial-Up to AI: Lessons for Leaders to Stay Current or Get Left Behind

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Engineer Your Success

Dr. James Bryant

229 episodes

3 days ago

Expert interviews and leadership insights for engineering leaders and technical professionals who want to thrive at work and at home. Hosted by Dr. James Bryant, PhD, PE, this podcast equips you with practical strategies to strengthen leadership, communication, and emotional intelligence so you can lead with clarity and confidence. Each week features conversations with engineering leaders and industry experts—plus occasional solo insights—to help you build stronger teams, make better decisions, and design a career and life that work on your terms. Topics include: leadership development for engineers and technical professionals | effective communication and influence | work-life integration and avoiding burnout | delegation, decision-making, and team building | leading with emotional intelligence under pressure | mentorship, coaching, and professional growth. New episodes every Tuesday.

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From Dial-Up to AI: Lessons for Leaders to Stay Current or Get Left Behind

Engineer Your Success

13 minutes 16 seconds

4 months ago

From Dial-Up to AI: Lessons for Leaders to Stay Current or Get Left Behind

Episode Description

Technology has transformed dramatically over the past 30 years — from dial-up connections and floppy disks to AI tools that can rewrite how we work. The lesson is clear: leaders who don’t stay current risk getting left behind.

In this episode of Engineer Your Success, Dr. James Bryant sits down with Nathan Whittacre, CEO of Stimulus Technologies and author of The CEO’s Digital Survival Guide. Since 1995, Nathan has been helping businesses adapt to every major tech wave. He shares stories from his early days sending emails through university mainframes, to guiding companies through today’s AI-driven workplace.

Together, James and Nathan explore:

Lessons learned from three decades of tech evolution — and how they apply today

Why leaders must focus on ROI before adopting new technology

How process-mapping prevents wasted effort and failed implementations

The growing importance of cybersecurity and compliance for every business

Practical ways engineering leaders can leverage AI as a tool, not just hype

Whether you’re leading a small team or a whole organization, this conversation will help you see how technology can serve as an asset — if you stay intentional, strategic, and current.

Episode Timestamps

01:00 – Meet Nathan Whittacre– From founding Stimulus Technologies in high school to leading through today’s AI-powered workplace

04:00 – Lessons from 30 Years of Tech – How the industry evolved from Windows 95 to AI and what leaders can learn

06:00 – ROI Over Hype – Why leaders must set baselines and ask “why” before adopting new tech

09:30 – Process Mapping in Action – The “wasted reports” story and how to avoid automating the wrong work

12:30 – Writing The CEO’s Digital Survival Guide – Why leaders need trusted guides for technology decisions

18:00 – Cybersecurity & Compliance – The next big threats and how structure strengthens organizations

21:00 – Key Takeaway – Stay current with technology, or risk getting left behind

Connect with Nathan Whittacre

LinkedIn: Nathan Whittacre | Website: https://www.stimulustech.com/

Resources

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