Code To Cloud

Most organizations overlook the superpower hidden in their teams—translating technical language into business value. Keran McGuire, SVP of AI and Technology Platforms at Canadian Tire, reveals how mastering the art of communication can accelerate your career and solve the toughest tech challenges.

Host: Kevin Evans

n this episode, Keran shares her unconventional journey from startup innovation to leading AI initiatives at a household name. She dives into how challenging industry silos and embracing empathy through simple gestures—like breaking bread—can create unexpected breakthroughs. You'll discover her proven approach to navigating complex, highly regulated environments like finance, and how to turn communication barriers into opportunities for collaboration and success.We break down the importance of understanding the full-stack tech landscape—not just specialists, but versatile "ninjas" who can adapt across infrastructure, cloud, security, and AI.

Keran explains why the future belongs to those who can see the big picture without losing sight of the details. She emphasizes the value of humility, curiosity, and a genuine desire to understand others’ perspectives—key traits that transform team dynamics and drive innovation.The stakes are clear: organizations that fail to bridge the communication gap risk stagnation, lost opportunities, and unresolved crises.

Meanwhile, those who master empathy and versatile skills stand to unlock new levels of efficiency, resilience, and growth—especially as AI and cloud technologies accelerate change.If you’re a tech leader, aspiring professional, or someone passionate about making complex ideas accessible and impactful, this episode is your blueprint.

Keran’s practical wisdom on leadership, adaptability, and culture will inspire you to reframe challenges as pathways to progress—and remind you that the simplest act of understanding can be transformative.

Connect with Keran McGuire on LinkedIn to learn more about her work and advocacy for women in tech. Prepare to rethink your approach to technology and communication—because in today’s fast-changing digital landscape, the best skill you can develop is your ability to relate and translate.

Discover how cloud enablement, AI, and automation are transforming modern businesses. Join Kevin Evans and Jim Spignardo as they explore practical use cases, governance, and future trends in AI adoption.Key Topics:

The evolution of AI in enterprise cloud strategies over the past nine years

How Microsoft’s AI and Agent 365 improve visibility, security, and control

Practical use cases: from law firms to energy sector automation

Building effective AI centers of excellence across organizations

Common pitfalls, including misaligned use cases and over-engineering

The role of governance, data hygiene, and low-resistance solutions

Future outlook: autonomous workflows, agent maturity stages, and blending IoT with AI

When “State-of-the-Art” Backups Fail | Cybersecurity Lessons with Dom Vogel
Most organizations assume their backups, disaster recovery plans, and security controls will work during a cyberattack.

 

But what happens when those systems have never actually been tested?

 

In this episode of Code to Cloud — Firewall Fridays,  Host Kevin Evans sits down with cybersecurity expert Dom Vogel breaks down a real-world incident where a mid-sized construction company lost nearly $500,000 after discovering their “state-of-the-art” backup system failed when it mattered most.

 

This wasn’t caused by advanced ransomware or elite hackers.

 

It was caused by a common organizational mistake: trusting technology without validating it.

 

If you lead IT, manage risk, oversee finance, or run a business dependent on digital systems, this conversation explores the practical realities of cybersecurity, backup testing, and organizational resilience.

What You’ll Learn

Why modern backup systems still fail during ransomware incidents

The hidden risk behind untested disaster recovery plans

How cybersecurity myths create operational blind spots

Why continuous validation is replacing traditional security audits

How everyday devices and jailbroken streaming boxes become enterprise attack vectors

The shift from top-down cyber threats to bottom-up vulnerabilities

Leadership, governance, and accountability in cybersecurity decision-making

Practical ways organizations can strengthen cyber resilience today

Who Should Listen
This episode is designed for:

Business owners and executives

CFOs and risk leaders

IT directors and managed service providers

Cybersecurity professionals and CISOs

Organizations operating cloud, on-premise, or hybrid environments

Anyone responsible for business continuity, data protection, or cyber risk management will recognize challenges discussed in this conversation.

Why This Episode Matters
Cyber incidents rarely happen because organizations lack technology.

 

They happen because systems are assumed to work instead of being proven to work.

 

Dom Vogel explains why cybersecurity must evolve from compliance checklists and tool purchases toward continuous testing, systemic thinking, and organizational accountability.

 

Cyber resilience is not built during an incident — it is validated long before one occurs.

 

Cybersecurity Guide
Practical cybersecurity guidance for Canadian organizations:

 

Code To Cloud Guide

 

Subscribe to Code to Cloud
Code to Cloud explores real cybersecurity incidents, leadership decisions, risk management strategies, and lessons learned from the front lines of IT and security.

 

New episodes released regularly.

 

 

Chapters
00:00 Introduction — Code to Cloud & Firewall Fridays

01:20 The Myth of “State-of-the-Art” Backups

02:00 The $500K Backup Failure Case Study

05:15 Why Testing and Validation Matter

09:30 Cloud vs On-Prem Backup Reality

12:45 Leadership, Accountability & Cyber Risk

16:40 Fixing Organizational Security Culture

20:00 The Jailbroken “Super Box” Story

24:30 Hidden Hardware Security Risks

28:30 Key Cybersecurity Lessons & Wrap-Up

Join Kevin Evans & Kent Weare as they explore how Microsoft's Logic Apps integrate with AI-powered agents to automate complex business processes, connect legacy systems, and accelerate digital transformation. Perfect for professionals seeking to understand modern cloud-native automation.

 

What You'll Learn

What Logic Apps are and their core value in system integration

The evolution from middleware to cloud-native orchestration

How connectors enable seamless connection to diverse systems — SAP, mainframes, and SaaS solutions

The role of agentic development and AI models in automating decision-making

Practical use cases: Order-to-Cash, HR onboarding, and ServiceNow ticket audits

Deploying MCP servers and configuring connectors dynamically

Why scope narrowing leads to higher accuracy in AI-driven processes

Leveraging knowledge bases to enhance agent capabilities

The integration landscape: Using Foundry with Logic Apps for enterprise connectivity

What You'll Learn

What Logic Apps are and their core value in system integration

The evolution from middleware to cloud-native orchestration

How connectors enable seamless connection to diverse systems — SAP, mainframes, and SaaS solutions

The role of agentic development and AI models in automating decision-making

Practical use cases: Order-to-Cash, HR onboarding, and ServiceNow ticket audits

Deploying MCP servers and configuring connectors dynamically

Why scope narrowing leads to higher accuracy in AI-driven processes

Leveraging knowledge bases to enhance agent capabilities

The integration landscape: Using Foundry with Logic Apps for enterprise connectivity

What You'll Learn

What Logic Apps are and their core value in system integration

The evolution from middleware to cloud-native orchestration

How connectors enable seamless connection to diverse systems — SAP, mainframes, and SaaS solutions

The role of agentic development and AI models in automating decision-making

Practical use cases: Order-to-Cash, HR onboarding, and ServiceNow ticket audits

Deploying MCP servers and configuring connectors dynamically

Why scope narrowing leads to higher accuracy in AI-driven processes

Leveraging knowledge bases to enhance agent capabilities

The integration landscape: Using Foundry with Logic Apps for enterprise connectivity

Most tech careers aren’t linear—and yours doesn’t have to be either. Dr. Jason Bernard shares his unconventional journey from programming video games at age 11 to pioneering AI algorithms that could revolutionize biotech and urban planning.

In this eye-opening episode, Jason reveals how his diverse experiences—from military service to music composition—fuel groundbreaking research in process modeling and data science. You'll discover:

How early programming and limited hardware shaped his approach to elegant, resource-efficient algorithms

The real difference between machine learning, AI, and data analytics—and why understanding this distinction is key to future-proof skills

The fascinating world of modeling biological processes, like gene-expression for drought-resistant crops, using reverse engineering in data science

Why simplicity and human insight remain essential in an era dominated by neural networks and language models The future of data science careers in a rapidly evolving tech landscape and practical advice for new professionals

This episode is perfect for tech enthusiasts, data scientists, and students eager to learn how a curious mind can make an impact across industries—from agriculture to telecommunications—and why adaptability and a deep understanding of algorithms are the secret weapons for success. With over 18 years of research and real-world experience, Jason is an assistant professor at Athabasca University, known for pushing the boundaries of process modeling and optimization. His work on inferring computational models from real data has been called the “holy grail” by leading experts. If you're looking for inspiration on how to navigate a non-traditional tech path or want to understand the core principles behind cutting-edge AI research—this episode will change the way you see your career.

Hit play and unlock your potential today.

 

Host Kevin Evans