Build It Right: AI’s Cheat Code for Data & Engineering Success
How do you give your customers what they need to grow their business? And how do you build it, so it protects your data and enhances your AI capabilities? In this episode of “The STEMINISTS,” we sit down with Priya Idgunji, VP of Engineering for ONTAP at NetApp, to explore the pivotal role of translating customer needs into creating modern, customer-centric products. How should engineering leaders think about data infrastructure modernization and AI, in how their teams work and deliver to their customers?
Join us as Priya delves into the art of translating customer needs into technical specifications and the challenges of integrating new features into a mature product. She also shares how her teams leverage AI to automate repetitive tasks, enhance code quality, and accelerate innovation—freeing engineers to tackle more complex challenges.
Priya also paints an exciting vision for the future, where AI enables proactive, intelligent features like predictive system maintenance and adaptive scalability, reshaping the software development lifecycle and redefining customer experiences.
Whether you're an engineer, product manager, or tech enthusiast, this episode offers valuable insights into the intersection of engineering, AI, and customer-centric innovation.
Transform your data management experience:
https://www.netapp.com/ontap-data-management-software/
Connect with us!
https://www.linkedin.com/in/priya-idgunji/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/mekkacodes/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/phoebegoh/
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The Data-Driven Partnership Behind DreamWorks’ Animated Films
Ever wonder what it takes to bring the enchanting worlds of Shrek, Kung Fu Panda, and The Wild Robot to the big screen? Join hosts Phoebe Goh and Mekka Williams as they chat with Kate Swanborg, Senior Vice President of Technology Communications and Strategic Alliances at DreamWorks Animation, to uncover the cutting-edge tech and partnership that powers these iconic films and the excitement behind the latest release, The Bad Guys 2.
From generating over half a billion files per movie to perfecting layered animation processes like storyboarding, effects, and lighting, Kate reveals the intricate dance between imagination and technology. Discover how the long-standing partnership with NetApp has been instrumental in managing DreamWorks’ colossal data needs, freeing up their artists to work at the speed of creativity. For anyone curious about how tech fuels creativity or the behind-the-scenes innovation driving some of the most beloved animated franchises, this episode offers a front-row seat to the action.
🎧 Press play to explore the intersection of creativity and technology, and don’t forget to follow for more fascinating insights!
Learn more about the DreamWorks partnership:
https://www.netapp.com/partnerships/dreamworks/
Discover the power of unified end-to-end observability
https://www.netapp.com/data-infrastructure-insights/
Connect with us!
https://www.linkedin.com/in/kateswanborg/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/mekkacodes/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/phoebegoh/
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A Quick Guide to IT Modernization Success
Ready to challenge the status quo? The STEMINISTS podcast is pulling no punches this week, as hosts Phoebe Goh and Mekka Williams chat with NetApp’s own Banu Sundhar, a powerhouse in technical marketing, about what it really takes to modernize. Forget the pretty PowerPoints—Banu exposes why tackling just applications or infrastructure in isolation will leave your tech team stuck in the past.
With sharp insights and zero fluff, this episode digs into the nuts and bolts: Why do organizations throw their hats into the modernization ring? Can you honestly ditch your dusty legacy systems without losing sleep over your data? How do you wrangle cloud, on-prem, VMs, and containers without losing your mind—or your security posture?
Get the straight talk on going hybrid, where mixing cloud and on-prem isn’t just smart—it’s survival. Learn how to slash downtime, dodge classic migration blunders, and manage VMs and containers side by side. Banu doesn’t sugarcoat the truth about budgets, upskilling your people, or riding the relentless wave of tech evolution.
Packed with war stories, must-know resources, and unfiltered guidance for anyone with skin in the modernization game, this episode will arm you to face your next big transformation without blinking. Listen in—or be left in the digital dust.
CTA Links:
Join the NetApp Community:
https://community.netapp.com/
Innovate with data-driven modernization:
https://www.netapp.com/data-infrastructure-modernization/
LinkedIns:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/banusundhar/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/mekkacodes/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/phoebegoh/
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Partners in Profit: Dominate the Tech Industry through Killer Partnerships
How do you dominate the tech industry through killer partnerships? In this episode, Phoebe Goh and Mekka Williams get real with Jenni Flinders, SVP of Worldwide Partner Group at NetApp, to uncover the raw truth about what it takes to turn collaboration into cash and attract, grow and retain great Sales partners. Jenni is a powerhouse consistently ranked among the top channel sales leaders. She spills her secrets behind NetApp’s partner-driven success—where 86% of the company’s revenue comes from its carefully chosen allies.
Jenni doesn’t hold back as she breaks down what makes a partner program truly work: Keep it simple, stay ahead of the curve, and help partners stand out in a crowded market. From the game-changing 'Partners Sphere' program to co-selling strategies and no-BS feedback sessions, NetApp is rewriting the playbook on how to attract and retain top-tier partners.
But it doesn’t stop there. Jenni dishes on how NetApp equips its partners to crush it in emerging tech trends like AI, offering training, solution competencies, and the tools they need to deliver jaw-dropping results for their customers. If you’re ready to learn how to build partnerships that don’t just survive but thrive, this episode is your backstage pass.
Become a NetApp Partner:
https://www.netapp.com/partners/become-a-partner/
Connect with us!
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenniflinders/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/mekkacodes/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/phoebegoh/
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Is GenAI Outsmarting Us or Just Making Us Lazy?
Is AI turning our brains to mush? Hosts Phoebe Goh and Mekka Williams are joined by Karissa “KB” Breen, the sharp-tongued cybersecurity journalist behind the popular podcast, KBKast, for a no-holds-barred look at how AI is rewriting the rules of the game.
From the sneaky rise of unsanctioned “shadow AI” tools to the unnervingly convincing world of deepfakes, KB doesn’t shy away from calling out the dangers this tech brings to the table. Are we trading critical thinking for convenience? Losing control over data in the name of innovation? The risks are very real.
But it’s not all doom and gloom. KB fires back with the flip side of AI’s story, sharing how it’s supercharging threat detection and giving security teams the power to translate technical nightmares into executive decisions—with clarity and impact.
If you’re in the business of keeping data safe, leading the AI charge, or just want to know how far the rabbit hole goes, this episode delivers the raw, unfiltered truth you need to hear.
🎧 Hit play now for an edgy, eye-opening take on the future of cybersecurity. And don’t forget to follow, because this conversation is only the beginning.
Check out KB's Podcast:
https://open.spotify.com/show/7kg5SAfJF4O9NOq1aDc1eX?si=ebab318b21cd4ade
Learn how to power your AI:
https://www.netapp.com/artificial-intelligence/
Connect with us!
https://www.linkedin.com/in/karissabreen/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/mekkacodes/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/phoebegoh/
Tech visionaries Phoebe Goh and Mekka Williams bring their unique expertise to the microphone and expand the conversation around tech. They’ll bring fresh voices and often unheard perspectives you don’t want to miss. Ever wonder if you and your data are AI-ready? Cloud-ready? Is your business truly prepared for a ransomware attack? And is your data infrastructure intelligent and future-proof? Together, we’ll explore the latest trends and give you key insights that could change the way you do business.
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