Key Topics Covered

• The evolution of network management: from manual monitoring to AI-driven orchestration
• Why performance degradation is a “soft failure”—and how to catch it before it escalates
• The growing importance of automation, blockchain, and decentralized systems
• The “technology debt” problem and why cutting corners always has a cost
• Advice for aspiring IT professionals and the critical need for communication skills
• Why consulting requires translating between tech teams and executives
• How lifelong learning and flexibility shape sustainable success in the IT world

Mentioned in This Episode

• Bell Canada – Enterprise-level performance management
• Blockchain & Web3 – Future infrastructure trends
• Technology debt – And how it compounds over time
• GitHub & modern coding practices – Why fundamentals still matter
• IEEE blockchain group in Toronto

Wisdom from Dr. Irene Katzela

• “Just because you can move fast doesn’t mean you should. Some things are worth the time.”
• “In network management, performance issues are failures—even if the system is still ‘working.’”
• “We’re not coding in 0s and 1s, but fundamentals still matter.”
• “Success isn’t fixed—it evolves with who you are and where you’re going.”

About Dr. Irene Katzela
Dr. Irene Katzela is a leading authority in network management and performance optimization, with a long-standing career in telecom, consulting, and IT leadership. As CTO of Dardellian and founder of her own firm, XEO for TAC, she brings deep expertise in both traditional systems and emerging technologies like AI, blockchain, and Web3. She is also a co-founder of a Toronto-based IEEE group focused on decentralized finance and blockchain.

Connect with Dr. Irene Katzela
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/irenekatzela/

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