As a communications strategist, I live for a great story. I recently had the distinct pleasure of hearing five incredible ones during a special CRN Women of the Channel podcast. The conversation with Zebra’s 2025 honorees brought to life a theme I see playing out across the tech industry: we achieve so much more together. Our relentless pursuit of innovation finds its greatest expression through the power of our leading ecosystem, a truth our guests illustrated with powerful real-world examples.

It was a privilege to welcome back former NFL linebacker, entrepreneur, and philanthropist Brandon Copeland to our latest episode of Chalk Talk. While many know him for his impressive 10-year career in the league, it’s his profound impact off the field that truly defines him as a leader. In our conversation, Brandon shared the powerful story behind his foundation, Beyond the Basics, which he co-founded with his wife, Taylor. It was born from a desire to be a "beacon of light" and a realization that one-off visits aren’t enough to change a child’s environment. This commitment is powerfully embodied in their flagship "December to Remember" event, where each year, Brandon and his NFL colleagues host shopping sprees for children who believe they are attending a community service event to help others.

As business leaders, we constantly look for ways to streamline operations, empower teams, and deliver better results. If you’ve ever wondered how AI could make your frontline team’s workday smoother, more efficient, and maybe even a little less stressful, the Frontline AI Summit offered some exciting answers.Hosted by Zebra Technologies, this event brought together some of the sharpest minds in the industry to talk about how AI is already transforming operations and what’s next.

Welcome back to Conversations with a CNIO In this second episode, host Kassaundra McKnight-Young delves into the crucial topic of workplace safety and violence. Our special guest, Chad Salahshour, CEO of 911 Cellular and a valued channel partner, shares valuable insights on how organizations can leverage innovative technology to improve safety in healthcare settings. From the importance of mobile panic buttons to integrating systems for effective emergency responses, this episode is packed with practical tips and actionable solutions.

Hello, everyone! I’m Kassaundra McKnight-Young, Zebra Technologies’ Chief Nursing Informatics Officer (CNIO), and I’m thrilled to introduce Conversations with a CNIO, a podcast dedicated to exploring the intersection of healthcare and technology. With my experience as a nurse and passion for problem-solving through innovation, I’m excited to use this platform to connect with you and dive into the issues shaping the future of care delivery. 

In the fast-paced world of technological innovation, government contractors find themselves at the forefront of a digital transformation imperative. As these organizations strive to meet strict audit requirements and manage vast inventories of government property, modern RFID technology emerges as a beacon of efficiency and accuracy. Recently, I had the privilege of discussing this transformative impact alongside Therese Van Ryne, Senior Director of External Communications at Zebra, and Pete Collins, President and CEO of A2B Tracking Solutions, on the Zebra podcast. Here’s how RFID is reshaping the landscape for government contractors.

As the NFL gears up for its 106th season, fans and players alike are buzzing with anticipation. With the release of the 2025 NFL schedule, the upcoming season promises to be one of the most exciting yet with great matchups and a global reach. Zebra Technologies is proud to be a part of it by fueling the NFL’s NextGen Stats, providing teams and fans with detailed insights into the game through our player tracking technology.

Do we need to shift to more “practical education” programs to ensure students are prepared for what they’ll encounter, and need to do, in the real world? 

Hint: it has to do with “holes,” and not the cool kind. 

When you realize your heart is somewhere else, do you just keep pushing forward? Or do you immediately stop what you’re doing and find a better fit? Former NFL Pro Julius Thomas found himself asking these questions at the age of 26. His answer might surprise you.

Automatic touch sensing and glove/water/stylus mode switching may not seem like a big deal to you. But it is for people who must constantly switch between these modes to do their jobs.   

I sat down with a DC operator and a Wi-Fi solution architect to understand why it often feels like such a struggle to get system settings just right (no matter how much technical investigation and adjustment occurs.) 

You need more than the “stakeholders” involved from day one because buy-in starts – but doesn’t end – at the top of your healthcare organization. This is whose opinion and support matters most.

Warehouses, factories, and other supply chain facilities have become host to some intense competition and big prizes lately. Who would have thought? (Apparently, the people who understand how to modify behavior and started building gamification apps.) Tune in to hear how and why gamification works, especially on the frontline.

Is friction friend or foe in retail? Most would argue the latter. But after talking to Rack Room Shoes’ CIO Brian Minnix recently, Zebra Retail Industry Principal Jim Musco believes friction isn't as bad as some might believe. Think about it: If you're a retailer, what motivates you to modernize your stores more than friction (or the cost of friction)? Not much, right? And what happens when you uncover dozens of friction points in your stores? You start committing a lot of resources to extinguish them.  The result?  Store operations run more smoothly because associates end up with the tools they need to better manage inventory, fulfill orders, assist customers, and more.  So, don't write off friction as the enemy too quickly. But do listen to how Brian worked fast (for the retail world) to rid his stores of friction in this 20-minute chat with Jim.  Then learn more about the Rack Room story (that you don't normally see in the media) here. 

Is enough being done to protect the health and safety of football players and other contact sport athletes at all levels of their game? Cognitive scientist (and former NFL tight end) Julius Thomas provided his professional opinion in a recent episode of Chalk Talk. See if you agree with his perspective and advice then check out this additional commentary about what pro football players experience on the field. (Constant car crash-type impacts?!)

Kristen Ludwig is taking a different approach to customer experience design, advocating for technology customers and end-users of all abilities to have representation in business decisions and are fully supported in their work. See if this might also work for you, then learn more about Kristen and Laura (the host) here.

Are you a military service member or veteran? Don’t let your current or past affiliations define who you are or who you want to be. And don’t let your career history define your current self-worth, say these two U.S. Marines-turned-Zebras.  Hear why it's a mistake to make your military experience part of your identity.

According to one retail industry observer (and nearly every shopper), the answer is “yes!” Find out which conveniences matter most, though. It may not be the ones you think. 

Bob Bova, President and CEO of AccuspeechMobile, sits down with Andre Luecht, Global Strategy Lead for Transport, Logistics, and Warehouse at Zebra, to provide his honest take on why you may be struggling with your voice technology. Bob also shares some additional thoughts on the issue in this blog post.