Smart Cherrys Thoughts

Chatting with Chief Executive Officer(CEO) at Bridge Institute Mac McKenzie from United Kingdom- Simon “Mac” McKenzie – Chief Executive Officer, Bridge Institute, London, United Kingdom. I had the honor of speaking with Simon “Mac” McKenzie, the Chief Executive Officer of the Bridge Institute, on my podcast Smart Cherrys Thoughts.Mac is a visionary leader who brings together senior figures from government, business, and civil society through the Bridge Institute — a global, non-partisan organization committed to solving the world’s most pressing challenges in alignment with the UN Sustainable Development Goals. From conflict resolution and education reform to equality and climate action, his work focuses on creating real and lasting impact.With more than a decade of leadership at the Bridge Institute, Mac shared valuable insights on redefining leadership, fostering unlikely partnerships, and driving systemic change. A graduate of the University of Oxford with a Master’s in Engineering, Economics, and Management, he combines deep analytical thinking with empathy and collaboration.Outside of his professional life, Mac is an avid sportsman and mountaineer who believes the qualities found in sport — endurance, teamwork, and resilience — are the same values that build strong, impactful leaders.It was an inspiring conversation on Smart Cherrys Thoughts, exploring how collective leadership and compassion can truly shape a better world.Website- https://smartcherrysthoughts.com

Chatting with Senior Principal Solution Architect at Red Hat - Thomas Cameron Austin, Texas, United States- recently had the pleasure of interviewing Thomas Cameron on Smart Cherrys Thoughts. Thomas is a Senior Principal Specialist Solution Architect at Red Hat, based in Austin, Texas, and a true expert in cloud computing, open-source technologies, and enterprise solutions.In our conversation, Thomas shared insights from his current role, where he helps telecom customers automate processes using Ansible Automation Platform. Before this, he spent over four years at Amazon Web Services (AWS)as a Senior Technical Instructor, teaching everything from foundational cloud concepts to advanced AWS solutions and security best practices — and earning rave reviews from his students.Thomas also brings extensive experience from his earlier 13+ years at Red Hat, where he served in roles like Global Red Hat Enterprise Linux Evangelist, Global Solutions Architect Lead, and Chief Architect for Central US. He represented Red Hat at global conferences and tech events, sharing his knowledge on cloud, Linux, open-source, and enterprise architecture across 20+ countries.Thomas has a unique ability to make complex technologies easy to understand and to connect engineering teams, enterprise clients, and the open-source community.More Info- https://smartcherrysthoughts.com

🎙️ Podcast Guest: Jason Ragosta Writer | Director | Illustrator | Graphic Designer | Founder – Telling Visions Unlimited LLC I had the pleasure of speaking with Jason Ragosta, a talented storyteller from San Francisco, California. Jason’s work beautifully blends imagination, emotion, and technology. He’s the creative mind behind Telling Visions Unlimited LLC and has built an inspiring career as a writer, director, illustrator, and designer. Jason’s passion for storytelling shines through in his latest project, “GRIZZLY PEAK,” where he worked with an incredible cast including Danny Glover, Gigi Saul Guerrero, Spooky Madison, and Haley Bishop. The film, produced by Garbo Films and Telling Visions Unlimited, highlights Jason’s ability to combine strong narrative with stunning visuals and technical precision. A graduate of The Maryland Institute College of Art, Jason continues to push creative boundaries across commercial, episodic, and long-form storytelling. His vision and dedication make him a true inspiration for filmmakers and artists around the world. 🎧 Watch or listen to my full interview with Jason Ragosta below — we talk about his filmmaking journey, creative process, and the art of telling powerful visual stories.more info at https://smartcherrysthoughts.com

Chatting with Chief Executive Officer(CEO) at E-Z Microgrids - Eric Jeffrey Kaufman about Noah's Ark communities, Transhumanism from Austin, Texas, United States- Eric Jeffrey Kaufman – Sustainable Communities & TranshumanismEric Jeffrey Kaufman is a retired commercial real estate executive, climate adaptation advocate, and AI enthusiast. He is the Founder and Executive Director of The Natural Resilience Foundation, creating climate-resilient and sustainable communities worldwide.Eric has authored A Call to Action: How to Save Millions of Lives and The Awakening Trilogy, and has led major real estate and renewable energy projects exceeding $1B.In my podcast, he discusses Noah’s Ark Communities, transhumanism, and the future of sustainable human habitats.more info at https://smartcherrysthoughts.com

Chatting with Chief Technologist at Office of The CTO, CDW UK - Tim Russell. Who is with extensive experience across countries, sectors, and industries. A leader, coach, mentor, and inspirational speaker. Engages with the C-Suite to provide thought leadership and drive change.- I had the pleasure of speaking with Tim Russell, Chief Technologist for Modern Workspace at CDW UK&I, on my podcast. With over 30 years of experience across IT, from private banking to global telecoms, Tim is now shaping the future of workplace technology.Tim’s approach goes beyond just implementing tools—he helps organizations unlock the full potential of their teams by simplifying complex workspaces and showing how technology can truly empower every user. Whether addressing executives or mentoring STEM ambassadors, he emphasizes clarity, adaptability, and strategic foresight.During our conversation, Tim shared insights on adapting to emerging tech, driving productivity, and leading with purpose. His experience and vision make it clear that in today’s fast-moving landscape, it’s not enough to keep up—you need to pivot with intent and innovation.more info at https://smartcherrysthoughts.com