When most people hear “networking,” they think of either blinking boxes in a closet or awkward conversations over bad coffee. In this episode of What is IT?, Doug sits down with Jim Kennedy III, CIO of Trinity Church NYC, to unpack why networking is actually one of the most human parts of IT.

Jim brings networking down to earth. He explains how the invisible systems that keep Wi-Fi, video calls, and entire communities connected behave a lot like people do. Trust matters. Communication matters. And when things break, relationships are often what fix them fastest.

From managing technology across 27 properties in Lower Manhattan to building strong, loyal teams with almost no turnover, Jim shows that great networking is not just about cables and protocols. It is about building connections that last, whether those connections run through fiber or through people.

This episode is a reminder that the networks holding our world together are only as strong as the humans behind them.

Technology powers our world — but people power technology. What is IT? explores the human side of IT through honest, engaging conversations with the people who build, protect, and improve the systems we all depend on.

For decades, IT has been the most misunderstood department in business. Is it the team that fixes your laptop? The group that blocks your favorite websites? The mysterious people who vanish into that closet full of blinking lights?In this premiere episode of What is IT?, host Douglas Wood sits down with two IT veterans — Susan Harwood and Kevin Hollister — to take on technology’s biggest branding problem: nobody really knows what IT does, or why it matters as much as it does.Together, they explore why IT still struggles to define itself, how that misunderstanding holds organizations back, and what it really means to work in a profession that powers everything but rarely gets the spotlight. From the boardroom to the help desk, they share real stories, sharp insights, and a few laughs about what happens when technology meets humanity.If you’ve ever rolled your eyes at an IT acronym, waited too long for a password reset, or wondered why “the IT guy” is always a little too calm during a crisis, this episode’s for you.Because IT isn’t just about fixing what’s broken—it’s about building the digital backbone of modern life.