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The High Point Networks Podcast

Technology is Complicated. This Podcast Isn't.

Technology can feel overwhelming — the jargon, the pace, the pressure to keep up. Get to the Point exists to change that. No fluff. No unnecessary jargon. Just practical takeaways around the technology decisions that matter, from a partner you can trust.

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What We're About

Real Talk. Real Tech.

We believe the best technology conversations happen when experts stop showing off and start being useful. Every episode of Get to the Point is built around one goal: to inspire conversations that dig into the deeper "why" behind our technology, making that technology feel less overwhelming and more human.

Cut Through the Noise

Every episode strips away the buzzwords to deliver clear, direct answers to the technology questions your business is actually asking.

Practical Takeaways

Walk away from every episode with insights you can actually apply — not theoretical frameworks, but real-world decisions that move your organization forward.

Latest Episode

Listen to Our Most Recent Episode Now

Leaders Worth Following: Curiosity, Confidence, & Cutting Through the Noise (with Scott Erkonen)
byHigh Point Networks

What separates a good leader from one people actually want to follow? 

Scott Erkonen, COO of Performance Bankers and former CIO at Great Western Bank and First Interstate Bank System, has spent more than two decades figuring that out. In this episode, Scott joins Andy and Brandi to talk about the leadership traits that matter most: raising your hand when you don't know something, building the kind of confidence that doesn't crumble under pressure, staying present in a world built to distract you, and keeping it simple when everything around you is telling you to make it more complicated.

Scott Erkonen is COO of Performance Bankers, Inc., the management company for the Farrar family. His career spans executive leadership at Great Western Bank and First Interstate Bank System, and service as a U.S. international representative to the ISO standards body.

0:00 – Introduction & welcome
 2:45 – Tell me something good
 4:54 – Raising your hand: curiosity as a leadership trait
 7:43 – Vulnerability, the Dunning-Kruger effect & psychological safety
 14:43 – Making mistakes — and building a culture where that's okay
 17:02 – The rule of three: how to get things done in the C-suite
 19:38 – Investing in yourself every day
 21:35 – Imposter syndrome and believing in yourself
 26:30 – Being present: focus as a leadership skill
 37:42 – Simple Wins: cutting through the noise in IT leadership
 41:30 – Question from the jar
 42:51 – Closing & where to find Scott

🗨️ Mentioned in this episode:  

“Why Simple Wins: Escape the Complexity Trap and Get to Work That Matters” by Lisa Bodell — goodreads.com/en/book/show/28695464-why-simple-wins 

The Eisenhower Matrix — https://www.eisenhower.me/eisenhower-matrix/ 

The Dunning-Kruger effect — https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/basics/dunning-kruger-effect

Connect with Scott: linkedin.com/in/scott-erkonen-49670a2 

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New episodes every other Wednesday.

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Get to the Point is produced by High Point Networks for informational purposes only. Guests include High Point Networks professionals as well as subject matter experts from across the industry, each speaking from their own experience and expertise. Content shared is intended as general information and should be evaluated within the context of your specific organization and circumstances. Views expressed by outside guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of High Point Networks or its affiliates. High Point Networks assumes no liability for decisions or actions taken based on content discussed in this podcast.

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Your Hosts

Meet the Stars of Get to the Point

CO-HOST • High Point Networks

Andy Middlemiss

Brings years of hands-on technology experience to every conversation, translating complex IT concepts into language that drives real business decisions.

CO-HOST • High Point Networks

Brandi Mentele

Brings a sharp perspective on how technology intersects with business strategy, helping audiences connect the dots between IT investments and organizational outcomes.

*Disclaimer: Get to the Point is produced by High Point Networks for informational purposes only. Guests include High Point Networks professionals as well as subject matter experts from across the industry, each speaking from their own experience and expertise. Content shared is intended as general information and should be evaluated within the context of your specific organization and circumstances. Views expressed by outside guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of High Point Networks or its affiliates. High Point Networks assumes no liability for decisions or actions taken based on content discussed in this podcast.