The STEMINISTS Podcast

Enterprise software is no longer just built for people; it’s being engineered for digital brains that never sleep. 

On this episode of The STEMINISTS Podcast, Phoebe Goh and Mekka Williams invite Christina Storm, Chief Design Officer at NetApp, to spill the secrets of UX design in an AI-powered world. Get ready for a peak into designing slick experiences not just for humans, but also for their silicon-smart sidekicks. Christina touches on everything from clunky dashboards to chatty bots. Because in the age of AI, “user” covers a lot more than just you and me. 

What you can expect to learn: 

The not-so-subtle art of building enterprise UX that actually gets work done (no, you can’t just “make it pretty”). 

Why AI agents don’t just want a seat at the table—they want the user manual, the keys, and your WiFi password. 

What went down behind the scenes of NetApp’s AI-powered doc bot. 

The surprising truth: Bad data means dumb robots. 

Why even the smartest users can freeze up when it’s prompt time. AI still hasn’t figured out how to read minds (yet). 

Christina’s latest obsession: letting an AI-powered water sensor psychoanalyze her plumbing habits with uncanny accuracy. 

Whether you geek out over enterprise tech, obsess about UX, or just want to know if robots will ever get good taste, this episode is stacked with sharp insights and clever digs. If you’ve ever wondered how designers keep their cool and their jobs when their “users” might be carbon-based or code-based, this is the conversation you can’t afford to miss. 

Hit play and join the clever crowd. Then share and drop us a review so even more brains (organic or algorithmic) can find The STEMINISTS Podcast. 

#TheSteministsPodcast #EnterpriseUX #AI #UserExperience #NetApp #DataDesign #AIAgents #Automation 

 

For 

Learn how to accelerate enterprise AI with confidence.

 

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What happens when your customers arrive with their AI sidekicks? It’s not just about pleasing humans, now you must impress their digital plus-ones, too. 

On this episode, Phoebe Goh and Mekka Williams dive straight into the future of customer success: AI-powered, customer-focused, and set to disrupt. They welcome Amy Welsh, Chief of Staff for Worldwide Customer Support at NetApp, who shares practical strategies for using AI to build trust, boost confidence, and deliver customer experiences both humans and bots will rave about. 

Forget what you know about customer support – break-fix is out. Amy reveals how tech leaders deploy sharp, predictive AI solutions that spot problems before they start. From bots that tame ticket chaos to troubleshooting guides with more personality than your group chat, hear how to nail the balance between smart automation and that irreplaceable spark of human genius. 

Here’s what matters most: 

Defining customer success and trust in an AI-first environment 

Using a single intelligence fabric to guarantee accurate data and fast resolutions 

Finding the perfect balance between high-value human touch and AI efficiency 

Hit play to level up your support game and keep both humans and AIs happy. Follow, share with your tech-savvy friends, and catch The STEMINISTS Podcast wherever you listen.  

 

For more on powerful customer success tools, check out ActiveIQ at netapp.com

 

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What happens when AI’s insatiable hunger for data slams into a global hardware drought? 

This week, Phoebe Goh and Mekka Williams go straight to the source with Michelle Blint, the powerhouse behind US State and Local Education sales at NetApp. Michelle takes us into the chaos of the global memory shortage and spells out exactly how AI’s turbo-charged demands are blitzing supply chains from every angle.  

Find out why clinging to outdated CapEx models is a fast-track to technical debt and how flipping to Storage-as-a-Service gives you the upper hand. Forget buying a bloated five-gallon glass just to fill a cup; pay for what you use and flex when you need it most. Oh, and if you crave a wild side of personal news, make sure you stick around to hear about Michelle’s newest, four-legged family member. 

Don’t get steamrolled by the hype! Tap that play button and jump ahead of the pack. Download, like, and share The STEMINISTS Podcast if you’re ready for tech that doesn’t pull punches. 

 

Learn more about Storage as service with NetApp Keystone

 

Check out this blog on taking the best step forward to operationalizing your AI

 

Interested in your own four-legged bestie, check out the National Newfoundland Rescue. 

 

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What happens when nations want complete control over their artificial intelligence? With regions like the UAE committing billions to build AI gigafactories, the push for localized, independent technology is transforming the global landscape. 

Welcome back to The STEMINISTS podcast! In this episode, hosts Phoebe Goh and Mekka Williams sit down with Avril Cody, Senior Manager for Solutions Engineering at NetApp, to unpack the complex world of AI sovereignty. We explore how countries and organizations are striving to govern their own AI systems to align with local laws, cultural values, and economic interests. 

In this episode, we discuss: 

The true meaning of AI sovereignty and why geopolitical competition is driving it. 

The steep financial and infrastructure challenges involved in building sovereign AI environments. 

How emerging neoclouds and sovereign clouds challenge traditional centralized cloud models. 

Why effective data governance must act as the foundation for any sovereign infrastructure. 

 

If this episode sparks new ideas, please like, share, download, and leave a review.  

 

Here is how you can learn more: 

Data sovereignty: A guide for modern business leaders

Whats next for data sovereignty in a shifting geopolitical landscape? 

 

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Open source and AI are moving fast, so how can we scale these technologies without breaking things? 

In this episode of The STEMINISTS Podcast, Phoebe Goh and Mekka Williams sit down with Amanda Katona, Director of Developer and Open Source Engagement at NetApp and a 2026 OpenSearch Ambassador. Together, they explore the massive shift happening right now at the intersection of AI and open source, and why community-driven innovation is critical for the future of enterprise technology. 

Listen to how organizations can navigate complex data infrastructure, strict security needs, and the rising demand for reliable AI applications. You will also learn how the open source community is drafting new governance policies to manage AI-assisted code safely and effectively. 

Key takeaways from our conversation: 

The latest trends in open source AI, including the fast-growing Agentic AI Foundation and the Model Context Protocol. 

How OpenSearch powers rapid product discovery, vector search, and intelligent observability. 

The biggest friction points enterprises face when taking open source projects from pilot to production. 

Why managed open source solutions help teams hit strict SLAs, lower costs, and keep developers focused on solving hard problems rather than managing infrastructure. 

Common misconceptions about losing control of your technology roadmap when you embrace open source. 

Whether you write code or manage enterprise IT, this conversation offers a clear look at the future of AI. 

Resources mentioned in this episode: 

Learn more about NetApp Instaclustr's commitment to open source  

Check out the Exploring AI Playlist on YouTube 

If you enjoyed this conversation, please share, download and leave a review for The STEMINISTS Podcast wherever you listen to your favorite shows! 

 

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