Become A Pleasantly Persistent Piranha W/Devon J. Delano - #391 (46:55)
You've Been Heard, Friday, January 30th, 2026
Devon runs IT for a manufacturing company in Maine. Thirty years in the industry. Started coding BASIC on a TRS-80. And he's still fighting the same fight: getting IT a seat at the table before decisions get made, not after everything's broken.
The pattern is predictable. Production floor decides they need "Product Y." Nobody calls IT. Product Y shows up. Product Y doesn't work. Now the CEO is asking why IT can't fix it. Devon's response: "Who are you? You didn't sign the check. I don't have to listen to you."
We get into being a pleasantly persistent piranha, asking about ROI before talking integration, and why Devon predicts massive AI regret in eighteen months. Plus the uncomfortable truth about "failing upward" in IT leadership.
The biggest takeaway? Everyone has suggestions on how IT can run better. But IT is almost never asked how the other businesses can run better.