51 minDarcy Van Patten · October 30, 2026
She Started on Research Ships. Now She Leads 300+ IT Pros | Darcy Van Patten
Executive Director, Specialized Services and Digital Resources, University of Arizona
A podcast with Bob Hansen
Your guide to the summit of IT leadership.
Conversations with CIOs and technology executives about the human story behind the title — and a usable roadmap for people aiming at the C-suite.
Latest conversation
She Started on Research Ships. Now She Leads 300+ IT Pros | Darcy Van Patten
Darcy Van Patten · Executive Director, Specialized Services and Digital Resources, University of Arizona
Darcy Van Patten joins Bob Hansen to trace a non-linear path from oceanography and computer labs aboard research ships to executive IT leadership at the University of Arizona. The conversation examines strategic career pivots, mentors versus sponsors, respectful team culture and AI’s effect on technology work and hiring. Her advice for aspiring leaders connects hands-on experience, targeted relationships and dependable delivery with long-term employability.
YouTube · October 30, 2026 · 51 min
The human journey
Titles arrive late. The useful story is how a person actually got there — including the years that do not fit on a résumé.
The path to the C-suite
Mentorship, lateral moves, hard projects, and the difference between managing a queue and leading people.
Technology as a business conversation
AI, cybersecurity, and execution, spoken in the language of operators rather than vendors.
The archive
Recent conversations
51 min
1h 07mChris Caruso · October 27, 2026
The Hard Truth About IT Leadership Nobody Posts About | Retired PPG CIO
Retired Vice President & CIO, PPG Industries
50 minChris Driscoll · October 22, 2026
He Never Planned to Become a CIO: Career Growth, and Leadership | Chris Driscoll
Chief Information Officer, La Roche University
43 minKonrad Fellmann · October 22, 2026
Lead Under Pressure | Konrad Fellmann
CISO & VP, Global IT Infrastructure, Modine Manufacturing Company
56 minSara Wissmueller · October 16, 2026
AI Isn't Always The Answer | Sara Wissmueller
Chief Information Officer, Phillips Industries
The people
Leaders behind the titles
Darcy Van Patten
Executive Director, Specialized Services and Digital Resources
University of Arizona
Chris Caruso
Retired Vice President & CIO
PPG Industries
Chris Driscoll
Chief Information Officer
La Roche University
Konrad Fellmann
CISO & VP, Global IT Infrastructure
Modine Manufacturing Company
Sara Wissmueller
Chief Information Officer
Phillips Industries
Dan Romary
Chief Operating Officer
CERTIFY Health
Manish Khadiya
VP, IT Enterprise Architecture & Cybersecurity
DIRECTV
Andrew Kirkwood
VP of Technology
Shelby's Legendary Shawarma
From the conversation
“The best IT leaders are not always the most technical people in the room.”
Lyza Valenzo
“That's not a mentor. That's a manager.”
Amel Edmond
“I sucked at leadership at first.”
Fede Rodrigo
The host
Bob Hansen
Bob Hansen is the founder and host of The Technology Vanguard. He is a podcast host, technology consultant, and entrepreneur. The show launched in 2026 to interview IT executives for both the professional story of ascension and the personal, human story behind it.
About the showHow to listen
Keep the conversation.
Long-form episodes live on YouTube and Spotify. Short lessons travel on LinkedIn. The website is the canonical home for the guest, the takeaway, and the follow-on thinking.