CTO Wisdom with Liming Zhao | Beyond The Program

Welcome to CTO Wisdom, where we explore the journeys of technical leaders who have transitioned into executive roles. Today, guest host Eric Brooke sits down with Liming Zhao, a technology innovator transforming traditional industries.

In this episode, they cover:

• Liming’s journey from researcher to CTO, and the challenges along the way.
• The importance of staying current with emerging technologies.
• The need to delegate effectively to avoid bottlenecks and empower your team.
• How decision-making evolves as you rise to senior leadership, often with limited information.
• Embracing failure as a learning opportunity.
• The role of networking for mentorship and peer support.

About today’s guest: Liming Zhao, former CTO of Nomad Health and Compass, is a technology innovator transforming traditional industries. At Compass, he led the technology team and developed a comprehensive productivity suite for real estate agents, while at Nomad Health, he and his team created an AI-powered digital labor marketplace for healthcare professionals. With a Ph.D. in computer science and experience in supercomputing at D.E. Shaw Research, Liming applies his expertise to solve complex business challenges. He envisions a future where technological advancements optimize societal productivity, enabling humans to focus on their unique strengths while technology handles routine tasks efficiently.

About today’s host: Eric Brooke has a rich and varied leadership career - leading up to 21,000 people and Billions in revenue, throughout 14 countries. In their career, they have been an Executive six times (e.g. President, CEO, CMO, and CTO) and a Board member of multiple organisations. Eric has been a CTO of scaling startups from 0 to 120 engineers. As an adviser and mentor, they have helped multiple other startups scale both in Canada and the US. As well as supporting multiple startup incubators such as 1871 in Chicago and TechStars.

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Mission Transition: SkillBridge's Role in Civilian Careers | The Pair Program Ep51

In this episode, we sit down with two incredible guests - Cameron Watts and John Sokol - who bring a wealth of experience from both military service and the civilian workforce. Together, they dive into the SkillBridge program, which connects transitioning service members with internship opportunities in the civilian world, offering a direct pathway to employment.Tune in to learn about the unique challenges veterans face in corporate transitions, the importance of programs like SkillBridge, and actionable advice for veterans and companies alike.Whether you’re a veteran planning your next move or a company eager to hire talented veterans, this episode is packed with insights you don’t want to miss!

About Cameron Watts: Special Operations veteran and experienced leader in venture capital with a strong track record in driving growth and innovation. Currently focused on product development at an AI company, blending technical expertise with strategic insight to shape the future of the industry.

About John Sokol: John is a retired (20 years) Naval Officer who worked as a Naval Flight Officer during his time in service. At the end of his Naval career, he did a SkillBridge internship with STIHL, Inc working in their E-commerce department. At the completion of the internship, John started working at 2 Circle, Inc, which is a small veteran-owned company, where he works as a Senior Warfare Analyst and a Business Development Manager.

References:

https://skillbridge.osd.mil/

https://www.hiringourheroes.org/

How We Hatched: Michael Hauser, VP and Managing Partner of SAIC Ventures

Welcome to our most recent episode of How We Hatched! In this episode, you’ll hear from Michael Hauser, Vice President and Managing Partner of SAIC Ventures. SAIC leverages IT and digital engineering to solve the government’s most pressing challenges while strategically investing in national security and commercial dual-use startups.Tune in to discover:

• How SAIC accelerates go-to-market for startups and aligns them with federal customers
• The defense tech ecosystem and key verticals SAIC focuses on
• What makes SAIC a strategic investor, not just a financial backer
• Insights into their investment process, including the horizons and industries they target
• Michael's take on the top defense tech trends, plus a fun discussion about his worst fashion choice!

If you’re a founder aiming to make an impact in the federal space, this episode is a must-listen!