In this episode of Tech Me Seriously, Sarah Tenisi, CEO of TenisiTech and host of the show, sits down with Shehara Wooten, CFP®, fee-only financial advisor and founder of Your Story Financial, to discuss strategic financial planning, funded sabbaticals, and building long-term wealth without burnout.

Shehara shares how her background as an electrical and computer engineer led her to financial planning, where she now helps high-earning professionals design fully funded sabbaticals, strengthen cash flow strategy, and align their money with purpose. The conversation explores how financial burnout affects career performance, why traditional retirement planning often misses the bigger picture, and how intentional life design creates sustainable success.

Together, they break down the mechanics of sabbatical planning, including building a sabbatical fund, calculating runway, and protecting long-term wealth while taking extended time off. Shehara also explains the importance of working with a fee-only fiduciary financial advisor to ensure unbiased, commission-free advice.

The discussion expands to career transitions, wealth-building for professionals, financial wellness in the workplace, and how employers can reduce burnout through smarter financial education and flexible policies.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• How to plan and fund a sabbatical without compromising retirement goals
• The difference between fee-only financial planning and commission-based advice
• How high earners can move from financial success to financial freedom
• Practical strategies for cash flow management and wealth building
• Why career breaks can increase long-term productivity and leadership capacity

If you are a tech professional, executive, or high achiever looking to reduce financial stress, build generational wealth, or design a career that includes intentional rest, this episode offers practical financial strategy and long-term planning insights you can implement immediately.

Connect with Shehara Wooten

Your Story Financial, LLC

In this episode of Tech Me Seriously, Sarah Tenisi, CEO of TenisiTech, sits down with Bryan Bansbach, Director of Infrastructure Operations at TenisiTech, to unpack what smart AI adoption really looks like inside modern IT teams. Bryan shares why the most successful organizations start with strong automation and clear goals before bringing AI into the mix, and how skipping these steps leads to wasted effort, security risk, and overwhelmed employees.

Sarah and Bryan dive into early AI wins like automated ticket categorization and faster knowledge retrieval, along with the very real limits of letting AI make decisions on critical systems. They also highlight why data hygiene, vendor vetting, and tight access controls matter more than ever as tools like Microsoft Copilot gain deep visibility across company environments.

🎧 Listen for practical insight on building a secure, intentional AI strategy that improves workflows, reduces cognitive load, and helps your teams thrive without compromising stability or trust.

In this episode of Tech Me Seriously, Sarah Tenisi, CEO of TenisiTech, sits down with Jossie Haines, Executive & Leadership Coach and Fractional Engineering Leader with 25 years at Apple, Tile, Zynga, and American Express. Jossie shares why many companies are overspending on AI without seeing real ROI, and how vague mandates, poor guidance, and early misuse lead to buggy code, security risks, and wasted productivity.

She and Sarah dig into the human side of adoption, including research showing how unconscious bias impacts women and older engineers who openly use AI, and why leaders must create clear use cases, model healthy AI habits, and integrate tools intentionally rather than reactively.

They also break down the hidden dangers of shadow AI, the importance of engineering oversight, and how custom GPTs and strategic coaching can help leaders amplify their impact without sacrificing quality or safety.

🎧 Listen for practical insight on aligning AI to real business problems, reducing risk, and empowering teams with thoughtful, human-centered leadership.

👉 Connect with Jossie Haines
🌐 jossiehaines.com

📺 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@jossiehaines

📘 Free Guide: 4 AI Workflows Every Tech Leader Should Automate
https://jossiehaines.com/ai-workflows-engineering-leaders/

In Part 2 of Sarah Tenisi and Carlo Cacciatore’s conversation, the discussion turns from IT service delivery to the human side of technology implementation: the J curve.

The J curve captures the emotional and productivity dip teams experience when adopting new systems. Sarah and Carlo unpack why this happens, what it means for leadership, and how organizations can navigate through the low point to achieve lasting transformation.

They explore:

• How different teams experience the J curve during major tech rollouts
• Strategies for change management, communication, and training
• The importance of leadership engagement and storytelling with data
• Managing Shadow IT and tool sprawl across modern workplaces
• Balancing simplicity, AI integration, and compliance in today’s SaaS ecosystem

From emotional readiness to practical execution, this episode offers a blueprint for IT leaders aiming to guide their organizations through the complexities of change and come out stronger on the other side.

Not all IT services are created equal, and the consequences can affect your business more than you realize. In this episode of Tech Me Seriously, Sarah Tenisi sits down with Carlo Cacciatore, VP of Operations at TenisiTech, to explore the realities of IT service delivery, pricing, and industry maturity.

Unlike regulated professions such as electricians or accountants, managed service providers (MSPs) don’t require licenses to operate. That means anyone, even “cousin Joe”, can handle sensitive business data, leading to wide gaps in service quality.

Carlo and Sarah cover:

• Comprehensive IT service scope: from cloud security to identity protection and workflow automation
• How pricing varies based on infrastructure complexity, compliance requirements, and business type
• Hidden IT costs and the importance of audits for cost optimization
• Key factors when evaluating MSP partners: service clarity, team expertise, and regional support
• Equipment lifecycle planning and staged replacement strategies for predictable budgeting

Whether you manage IT in-house or partner with an MSP, this conversation highlights the operational and strategic decisions that drive successful technology outcomes.

👉 Stay tuned for Part 2, where Sarah and Carlo dive into the “J curve” of IT projects and share strategies to help teams navigate implementation challenges.

In this episode of Tech Me Seriously, Sarah Tenisi, CEO of TenisiTech and host of the show, sits down with Misty Phillip—author, speaker, and COO of TrilogyWorks—to explore how women can lead with purpose, boldness, and resilience across every season of life.

Misty shares the strategic framework she’s developed over years of experience in publishing, podcasting, entrepreneurship, and now the cybersecurity and AI space. Together, she and Sarah discuss how small, intentional decisions can compound into powerful influence, whether at home, in business, or in ministry.

They dive into the evolution of women’s leadership, redefining influence beyond social media, and the importance of adapting your focus as life transitions. Misty also shares how she’s helping clients navigate AI disruption, cybersecurity challenges, and tech infrastructure, all while staying grounded in faith and purpose.

🎧 Listen for insight on leading through transitions, building authentic communities, and sparking lasting influence, one season at a time.

👉 Connect with Misty Phillip
📚 MistyPhillip.com
🔒 TrilogyWorks.com

In this episode of Tech Me Seriously, Sarah Tenisi, CEO of TenisiTech and host of the show, talks with Kathy Sebuck, an award-winning communicator, strategic advisor, and founder of Marchitecture, about how modern leaders can create sustainable, high-performing teams without sacrificing well-being.

Kathy introduces the Connected Balance™ Experience (CBE)—a leadership framework grounded in neuroscience, heart coherence, and energy management. Drawing on over 25 years of leadership experience at companies such as Microsoft, SAP, AWS, and Citrix, she shares how performance can thrive when leaders prioritize internal alignment over external validation.

Together, Sarah and Kathy explore what it means to “be the leader you never had” and how emotional regulation, clarity, and core values alignment can transform both culture and business outcomes.

🧠 You’ll learn:

• How heart rate variability and nervous system regulation enhance leadership performance
• Why burnout in tech is a systemic issue, not a personal failing
• The connection between trust, retention, and community-building
• Practical ways to build calm, focused teams (even during disruption)
• How to shift from “busy culture” to purposeful leadership

Whether you’re a founder, fractional leader, or aspiring exec, this episode is packed with real-world insights, science-backed strategies, and a refreshing reminder: it’s not about doing more, it’s about doing what matters.

🔗 Connect with Kathy Sebuck:

Website: www.marchitecture.tech
LinkedIn: Kathy Sebuck
Company LinkedIn: Marchitecture
Book: Waves of Change

⏱️ Timestamps:

00:00 – Introduction to Tech Me Seriously
00:29 – Meet Kathy Sebuck: Strategic Communicator, Athlete, and Leadership Advisor
01:30 – Connected Balance™: Integrating Heart, Mind, and Body in Decision-Making
05:14 – Using Heart Rate Variability to Enhance Performance and Reduce Stress
07:40 – Workaholism vs. Self-Worth: Rethinking Leadership from the Inside Out
11:09 – Why Tech Rewards Burnout: Historical Context and Structural Challenges
12:12 – Generational Differences: Gen Z, Balance, and the Effort Conversation
23:22 – Growth Mindset Reframed: From Risk Tolerance to Curiosity
30:33 – Leadership Impact: Turnover, Retention, and Manager Relationships
32:39 – Building Trust: Weekly One-on-Ones and Personal Check-Ins
33:47 – The Cost of Turnover vs. Retention
36:00 – From “Good Place to Work” to Community-Centered Culture
45:15 – Core Values Workshop: Personal Development for Strategic Leaders
50:02 – Nature as a Leadership Tool: One Hour Outdoors Per Day
53:37 – “Be the Leader You Never Had”: Bringing It All Together

In this episode of Tech Me Seriously, Sarah Tenisi, CEO of TenisiTech and host of the show, interviews Devin C. Hughes, speaker, author, and culture strategist, who’s worked with clients ranging from Disney to the Department of Defense. Known for his TED-worthy humor and no-fluff delivery, Devin helps leaders build thriving, people-first cultures where trust, retention, and performance go hand in hand.

Together, Sarah and Devin explore how gratitude, emotional intelligence, and mindset shifts can transform workplace dynamics. They dig into the practical ways leaders can promote well-being, normalize taking time off, and create meaningful connections on their teams. Drawing from positive psychology and organizational research, Devin shares tools and real-life stories that show how kindness and clarity can drive serious business outcomes.

🎧 Listen for actionable strategies on building a culture of gratitude, boosting engagement, and creating workplaces where people—and profits—grow together.

👉 Connect with Devin:
Website: www.devinchughes.com
LinkedIn: Devin C. Hughes
Company: Devin C. Hughes Enterprises, LLC

Timestamps:
00:00 Introduction to Tech Me Seriously
00:29 Meet Devin C. Hughes: Speaker, Author, and Workplace Culture Expert
01:31 The Importance of Gratitude at Work
03:06 Changing Workplace Norms and Culture
04:28 The Role of Leadership in Promoting Work-Life Balance
07:40 Devin's Journey and Passion for Workplace Culture
17:03 Embedding Wellness into Work Routines
25:31 The Importance of Celebrating Small Wins
27:38 The Power of Positive Affirmations
29:23 Assuming Positive Intent in Relationships
31:40 Creating a Culture of Connection
33:58 Addressing Workforce Engagement Challenges
36:42 The Role of Leaders in Fostering Engagement
46:21 Implementing a Gratitude Challenge
48:18 Personal Practices for Positivity