Latest / Cristy M. Diaz Podcast Conversations from the Heart / Heart to Heart l A Vision for Miami: Tech, AI, Modern Families & the Rise of Emerge Americas with Melissa Medina

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Heart to Heart l A Vision for Miami: Tech, AI, Modern Families & the Rise of Emerge Americas with Melissa Medina · Cristy M. Diaz Podcast Conversations from the Heart

0:00
Heartto-Heart podcast. Before Miami's
0:02
tech boom, before the headlines, there
0:04
were people building quietly. There were
0:07
women taking risks. Today's guest is one
0:10
of those women. Melissa Medina did not
0:12
walk into a ready-made ecosystem. She
0:15
helped build it. Co-founding Emerge
0:17
Americas at a time when people
0:19
questioned why a tech company would even
0:21
choose Miami. But this conversation is
0:24
not just about tech. It's about taking
0:26
risk before there is proof. It's about
0:28
motherhood, divorce, rebuilding, and
0:31
creating peace in a modern family. It's
0:33
about what happens when chaos, whether
0:35
in business or life, becomes fuel. This
0:37
is a conversation about vision before
0:39
validation. Let's get into it and
0:41
welcome Melissa Medina.
1:07
Hi everybody and welcome to the
1:09
heartto-he heart podcast. I'm Christy
1:11
Diaz and today I am with Melissa Medina
1:14
and we're going to talk about before
1:17
Miami was on the map as a tech boom.
1:20
Before we were the IT place to be, there
1:23
was pioneers le leaving the foundation
1:26
on the floor for what would become
1:28
Miami's tech boom, as I like to say. And
1:32
one of those women are here today and
1:34
her name is Melissa Medina. Hi there,
1:35
Mel. How are you?
1:36
>> Hi. I'm good, Chrissy. Thank you. I'm
1:38
really excited to chat with you today.
1:40
>> It's wonderful to have you here. Not a
1:42
lot of people know that you were laying
1:45
the foundation for this Miami tech boom
1:48
long before it was a trend.
1:51
>> Thank you. There were a lot of us kind
1:53
of really championing Miami as a tech
1:55
hub for a long time and now seeing all
1:58
the elements kind of coming together is
2:00
really exciting. But there was a lot of
2:02
people working hard, rolling up their
2:04
sleeves for a long time.
2:05
>> And you were definitely one of those
2:06
people. And you were silent about it,
2:08
which you should not be. You deserve
2:10
just as much credit as the next.
2:12
>> Thank you.
2:13
>> I am blown away by all the hats that you
2:16
wear and I don't know how you do it. So,
2:20
>> a village. That's the truth. That's the
2:22
secret.
2:22
>> It definitely takes a village. I want to
2:25
go back and take me back to that before
2:27
Miami was considered the tech hub that
2:29
it's become.
2:30
>> Miami is the newest
2:34
>> tech boom of the day. I'd like to say
2:37
were growing at such a rapid speed. But
2:40
there was a time
2:42
>> where that wasn't even a thought in
2:44
anybody's head. You would think Silicon
2:46
Valley and California. You'd think maybe
2:48
New York
2:50
>> Boston.
2:51
>> You knew it was Miami before it was
2:53
Miami. So tell me more about that.
2:56
I think, you know, there were a couple
2:59
reasons why
3:01
there were a lot of us that believed
3:03
Miami could be a thriving tech hub. Um,
3:07
most of the reason actually stemmed from
3:09
a place of frustration.
3:11
>> Okay.
3:12
>> And that was having worked in a
3:14
technology company that my father
3:16
founded and built called Terramark
3:19
Worldwide, which is an IT infrastructure
3:21
cloud computing company headquartered
3:23
here in Miami. But it was global, right?
3:27
It was very difficult at the time
3:30
evangelizing Miami as a tech hub,
3:32
understandably. So, we would travel the
3:34
world selling our products and services
3:36
and we were always asked, "Why are you
3:38
headquartered in Miami? There is no tech
3:40
in Miami." And that really built up a
3:43
lot of frustration with us because we're
3:45
from here. You know, I have a very
3:47
similar story to a lot of us that were
3:49
born and raised here, right? My parents
3:50
are both Cuban,
3:52
left communism for the American dream,
3:55
and we not only, in my opinion, landed
3:58
in the best country in the world, but we
4:00
ended up here in Miami. And that's like
4:03
in our DNA. And we didn't want to leave
4:06
Miami. So that frustration coupled with
4:09
passion for this community is truthfully
4:13
what drove us to say no we want to share
4:16
the narrative that we believe which is
4:18
that we can become a thriving tech hub.
4:21
But to kind of answer your question we
4:23
weren't a thriving tech hub. So the the
4:25
frustration stemmed from data and facts.
4:29
I mean we didn't have this you know uh
4:32
boom of tech companies here. We didn't
4:34
have all the investors here. So that
4:36
took time to build and that was sort of
4:39
our job. We wanted to share the
4:41
narrative and attract more talent,
4:44
attract more companies and that's really
4:47
the idea of Emerge. That's why we
4:48
launched Emerged.
4:49
>> Yes. And we're going to get all into
4:50
that because you have a big week ahead
4:52
of you.
4:53
>> Yes.
4:53
>> With a lot of people to
4:55
>> 12th edition of Emerge America is this
4:58
week.
4:58
>> Congratulations. What a feat. back when
5:01
you would start traveling to conferences
5:03
and people would ask you why Miami. How
5:06
would you sell our city to them?
5:09
>> When when are we talking though? Because
5:10
it depends the year.
5:12
>> Okay, let's talk like
5:13
>> 2012, 2013.
5:15
>> Oh wow. Yeah, that was the beginning.
5:17
>> Yes.
5:17
>> So 2012 was when we incorporated Emerge
5:21
Americas and the idea was we're going to
5:24
do everything we can to help foster a
5:27
thriving tech ecosystem here. And there
5:30
were multiple ideas under this like
5:31
large ambitious mission. The first one
5:35
was to create a convening and to attract
5:38
what we consider are the stakeholders
5:41
that make up a thriving ecosystem. Who
5:43
are those entrepreneurs, investors,
5:46
global tech execs, government, academia,
5:49
all under one roof. When we were
5:51
pitching people to come to that first
5:53
edition Yeah.
5:54
>> of Emerge, we had so much push back.
5:57
again, understandably, but why would you
6:00
do that in Miami? So, we had a lot of
6:02
work to do. What what would we say? We
6:05
would say, you know, it's it's a
6:08
favorable uh tax economy, which still to
6:11
this day, it's a great place to live,
6:15
work, play, and
6:18
just kind of believe us that it's worth
6:21
at least trying to, you know, be part of
6:24
this ecosystem. And it was almost like
6:27
they had to believe in us before even
6:28
realizing that there was this other
6:31
backbone behind the tech ecosystem. Even
6:34
then, a lot of convincing. Let's let's
6:37
leave it there. A lot of convincing and
6:39
a lot of push back.
6:40
>> At what point did you enter a room and
6:42
say, "I'm headquartered in Miami." And
6:44
there was that, "Oh my god, that's
6:46
amazing." Not, "Are you crazy?"
6:49
>> So, it's funny. Our I would say our aha
6:54
biggest year was actually 2019. So if
6:57
we're talking pre-COVID now, right?
6:59
>> 2019,
7:01
which we're now essentially 5 years into
7:04
emerge because we opened our doors in
7:06
May of 2014. It took us two years to
7:08
build that first one was our absolute
7:12
best year. And I don't mean that just in
7:14
numbers. I mean just how the narrative
7:17
had begun changing. how you know the
7:20
data was also changing and it was like
7:24
this perfect storm of elements were kind
7:26
of coming together but still we weren't
7:30
in the global media lens there was still
7:34
a lot of convincing to do but definitely
7:36
2019 for us internally was wow things
7:38
are really changing
7:41
never ever did we expect what happened
7:44
in 2020
7:45
>> sure
7:45
>> which is a little bit ironic because
7:49
2020 of course the global pandemic no
7:52
one wants to go through that again that
7:54
was the strangest time period awful for
7:58
you know the world I don't think um we
8:02
have even truly filtered what that
8:04
global pandemic did to us right as as
8:07
not only as a nation but worldwide but
8:10
there were
8:12
silver linings for our state and
8:15
specifically for South Florida and
8:17
specifically particularly in the tech
8:19
ecosystem that is that are undeniable.
8:22
There is a precoid and a postcoid
8:26
sort of metrics for the tech ecosystem.
8:29
So pre-COVID 2019 we felt really excited
8:34
2020 you know everything crashes because
8:37
of the pandemic and then late 2020 into
8:40
early 2021
8:42
there was just this frenzy almost of
8:47
people moving to Florida maybe
8:50
temporarily
8:52
because it was open for business because
8:54
you could be outdoors all because of the
8:57
pandemic and I think people really
8:59
started realizing
9:01
this the the beautiful life you can live
9:04
here and sort of like the secret was out
9:06
like what what you and I knew about
9:09
>> living and working here all of a sudden
9:12
>> so many more people realized it and then
9:14
it just created this in snowball effect
9:17
and
9:19
>> Twitter x trend and virality
9:23
>> that you know I think catapulted us into
9:26
this J curve effect that even us and I
9:29
say us collectively I don't mean just us
9:31
emerged because there was a lot of
9:32
organizations working to build the tech
9:34
e ecosystem here I don't I I don't think
9:37
any of us could have imagined or ever
9:41
realized
9:43
this type of momentum
9:45
>> right
9:45
>> happen that happening that fast
9:48
>> because of co
9:50
>> co just I think put the technological
9:53
world at warp speed
9:56
>> and I feel like people are still trying
9:58
to catch up.
9:59
>> Yeah, absolutely. I think it also
10:03
it did something really interesting
10:05
specifically in the tech world that then
10:08
permeated into all these other verticals
10:10
which is precoid
10:14
most industries were not open to virtual
10:17
meetings. We're not open to a hybrid
10:21
model. We're not open to remote workers.
10:24
>> Right.
10:25
>> Co changed that landscape completely.
10:28
>> Absolutely. And now, not only in the
10:30
tech world, you know, so many more
10:32
industries are now open to having a
10:34
remote workforce and to allowing their
10:37
employees to choose where they want to
10:39
live. And that's always been sort of our
10:43
motto hasn't been it's Miami or bus,
10:46
like you have to live in Miami, you have
10:48
to live in South Florida. For us, it's
10:50
always been we want Miami and South
10:52
Florida to be in the conversation. We
10:55
want entrepreneurs to have a choice
10:57
beyond
10:59
Silicon Valley, Boston, Austin, New
11:01
York. If those are the cities for them,
11:03
great. But I, you know, I'm here to say
11:05
that South Florida should absolutely be
11:08
in that conversation and should be
11:09
considered. That was like always our
11:11
sort of train of thought. And now it is,
11:14
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of the Heartful Living community. Now,
11:37
back to the conversation. Well, take us
11:40
back to that moment where you booked the
11:43
Miami Beach Convention Center before you
11:46
had the proof, right? That's bold. What
11:49
was going through your mind in that
11:50
moment?
11:52
>> I have to credit um my father for that
11:55
because
11:56
he's always taught me and my brother to
12:00
think big, to take risks. And we had no
12:05
idea in that first edition how many
12:08
people would come,
12:11
if it would be successful or not, if
12:13
we'd do it annually, if we'd ever do it
12:14
again. But we thought big from the
12:18
beginning and we said, if this is going
12:19
to be successful when we want the home
12:22
base to be the same every year because I
12:24
think it it creates like a stickiness to
12:27
it. and we had this wild dream of
12:31
filling the entire convention center at
12:32
some point. So, we said, you know, if
12:34
we're going to go for it, let's go for
12:36
it. So, we booked the convention center
12:38
since 2014 and we've been there ever
12:40
since. And every year it grows and
12:42
thankfully is this wood, knock on wood,
12:45
you know, it paid off.
12:46
>> Your goal that initial year was 2,000 to
12:49
3,000 attendees and you ended up with
12:51
5,000 attendees. Yes, we uh basically
12:55
doubled our expectation for that year 1
12:58
which was huge for us and we did realize
13:02
then a few things. One, we were filling
13:05
a void in the market I think more than
13:08
we even realized because at the time
13:11
there was no tech convening anywhere
13:14
near us. And then obviously seeing the
13:17
numbers
13:19
basically almost double from what we
13:21
expected even with all the push back. We
13:24
said, "Oh no, we're definitely doing
13:25
this annually." That was, you know, that
13:27
was sort of the the point of saying,
13:30
"This is going to be not only are we
13:31
going to do this annually, but we're
13:32
going to grow the team. This is going to
13:34
be a year-round effort." It helped us
13:36
shape the model that we are today, which
13:38
is the conference is like one piece of
13:40
what we do. But
13:41
>> sure, it's one pillar as you once told
13:44
me. It's just but it's a major
13:46
foundational pillar.
13:47
>> Yeah, absolutely. And it is sort of the
13:50
physical representation of what we're
13:52
doing year round. It's the one time a
13:54
year that we have critical mass here in
13:56
our community under tech innovation
13:59
entrepreneurship and we do a lot of
14:01
marketing around it of course. So it is
14:04
what we're very much well known for. But
14:06
important to note that we are a full
14:08
team year-round effort accelerator
14:10
programs and we probably host another 30
14:13
or 40 convenings throughout the year.
14:15
Also incredible
14:16
>> but definitely the global tech
14:17
conference is the flagship event let's
14:20
say of the year.
14:22
>> Melissa, can you fill the blank in for
14:25
somebody who's listening to the first to
14:27
us for the first time and does not know
14:29
what Emerge is? Emerge is
14:33
Emerge Americas is an organization whose
14:36
mission is to help create and at this
14:40
point now sustain a thriving tech
14:42
ecosystem in South Florida. How we do
14:46
that is through a multi-pronged
14:47
approach, including a global tech
14:50
conference that's happening this week at
14:52
the Miami Beach Convention Center where
14:54
we bring together over 20,000
14:56
entrepreneurs, investors, global tech
14:58
execs from around the world, interactive
15:00
exhibit space, lots of stages, thought
15:03
leaders for our attendees to be inspired
15:06
by. And then we also host three
15:09
different accelerator programs
15:10
throughout the year cuz our
15:14
our goal is for entrepreneurs to be able
15:17
to scale. And one of the ways to do that
15:21
is for us to create these programmatic
15:22
efforts where we connect entrepreneurs
15:24
with investors with the tools to help
15:26
their companies scale. And that is sort
15:29
of very much the heart and soul of of
15:31
the work that we do. But our core
15:34
remains very much the same. anything we
15:35
could possibly do to continue to grow
15:38
the tech ecosystem here.
15:39
>> And how many people are we expecting
15:41
this year?
15:42
>> I think we're going to cross over 22,000
15:45
this year. So
15:46
>> So I should go with my walking shoes.
15:48
>> Yes. And you'll see if you track your
15:51
your um steps throughout these next few
15:54
days at the Kajin Center. It's it's
15:56
incredible how many miles you will walk
15:58
into in two days.
15:59
>> I am so excited. This is my first year
16:01
attending and I can't wait.
16:03
>> Welcome to the club. I am so excited. I
16:06
want to know
16:06
>> first of many.
16:07
>> First of first of many. Absolutely. But
16:10
you got to tell me what can I not miss
16:12
this year?
16:13
>> Mhm.
16:14
>> Well, you definitely do not want to miss
16:16
the networking events.
16:18
>> Okay.
16:18
>> Okay. So, Thursday night, April 23rd
16:22
coming up, we take over Lincoln Road and
16:26
we host a block party there. And it's of
16:31
course on an iconic,
16:33
you know, street in Miami Beach. It's
16:35
also walking distance from the Miami
16:36
Beach Convention Center. Any passholder
16:38
for emerge, so any type of passholder
16:40
can enjoy this networking event and live
16:43
music. It's a great way to
16:48
showcase our city, but at the same time
16:51
network, create business connections in,
16:55
you know, an iconic part of the city. So
16:58
that's one. So the networking events for
16:59
sure
17:01
depending on you know uh your interests
17:04
because there are a lot of verticals
17:06
that we focus on at emerge. There's
17:08
fintech, there's health tech, there's
17:11
national security, so anything around
17:12
dual use and defense technology. And the
17:15
fourth one I have a feeling you'll
17:16
probably be very interested in which is
17:17
deep tech. Anything that has to do with
17:19
AI. So, I think you're going to want to
17:22
stick around to that deep tech AI stage
17:25
and learn a lot about the different AI
17:27
platforms that are revolutionizing
17:30
across multiple verticals. I have a
17:32
feeling you're going to like that,
17:33
Christie.
17:34
>> I have a feeling that that's where I'm
17:35
going to be the whole time.
17:36
>> Yes, I know where to find you.
17:37
>> Yeah, you'll know where to find me. Um,
17:39
if I get lost, I'm gonna have to like
17:40
ping you.
17:42
>> But I'm so excited to attend everything
17:45
and just get a feel for what it is to be
17:47
at Emerge. and also at the same time
17:50
meet so many people from all over the
17:53
world because we're not just locals
17:55
attending this event.
17:56
>> No, no, no. We host it here but it's a
17:58
global event and we have over 60
18:00
countries that are represented amongst
18:01
our attendees. So, it's definitely a
18:03
global platform and I think that's one
18:06
of the
18:07
benefits of being there and attending is
18:10
that over a couple days you're going to
18:12
meet people from around the world. And
18:14
for companies that exhibit and attend,
18:16
they find that as one of the um benefits
18:20
as well because, you know, you don't
18:22
have to hop across all these different
18:24
countries to meet people. We're we're
18:27
literally bringing everyone together
18:28
under one roof. So, that's definitely
18:30
one of the advantages for sure.
18:32
>> I'm so excited. I can't wait. I'm going
18:34
with my husband. I'll be recording live
18:37
uh from Emerge and it's just it's going
18:39
to be a great time. I'm really looking
18:41
forward to it. Please tell me you go on
18:43
vacation at the end of
18:45
>> That's such a good question. So, um,
18:48
believe it or not, the week after for us
18:51
as a team, it's very important for us
18:53
together to get together, sorry, and
18:55
debrief when we have everything top of
18:57
mind, right? And of course, at the end
18:58
of the day, it is a live event and so
19:00
there are a lot of moving pieces and
19:02
each of us as a team are kind of
19:04
tracking, you know, were there some
19:07
challenges, what were the highs, etc. So
19:10
we get together as a team that following
19:12
week even though everyone almost cannot
19:15
move but we make it very very casual. We
19:18
all get together. It's important to get
19:19
together when everything is top of mind.
19:21
>> Sure.
19:21
>> But yes, the following week the entire
19:24
team is fully off and can you know
19:27
either just stay in bed all day or go on
19:29
vacation
19:31
>> and kind of recoup because it's not only
19:32
the physical aspect of it. Um, but
19:36
there's a lot of emotion that goes into
19:38
>> absolutely
19:39
>> building something like this. The
19:41
logistics behind it. I have thankfully
19:43
an incredible team. Everyone puts 150%
19:46
into it. And there's anxiety involved,
19:49
all of it. And then all of a sudden, you
19:51
know, you need to take some time to
19:53
recover both physically and emotionally.
19:56
And we're super aware of that.
19:58
>> If someone's getting excited just by
20:00
hearing our conversation right now, is
20:02
there still a possibility for them to
20:03
attend? Yes, absolutely. You can go
20:06
online and purchase passes emerge.com
20:10
and you can also purchase a day pass for
20:12
the second day day of also.
20:14
>> Okay, great.
20:16
>> I want you to jump back to the AI, which
20:19
is probably where I'm going to be
20:20
spending the most amount of my time
20:22
because
20:22
>> it's a hot topic.
20:24
>> It's and I think it's top of mind for
20:25
everybody right now.
20:27
>> And if it isn't, here's my
20:29
>> Please.
20:30
>> Yeah. Yeah. If it's not a horse's mouth,
20:32
>> if it is not top of mind, it it needs to
20:34
be.
20:35
>> Okay?
20:35
>> Doesn't matter how big or small your
20:37
company is. Doesn't matter what industry
20:39
you're in. This is
20:43
as big, if not bigger, than when we were
20:46
introduced to to the internet. That's
20:48
how transformational
20:50
AI is. And so, if you're not thinking
20:52
about it, here's my commercial. Think
20:54
about it now.
20:55
>> Okay?
20:56
>> Get on top of it. Look at the platform.
20:57
Study them. which ones could affect your
21:00
business, how can you streamline
21:01
different processes? How can you make
21:03
things more efficient?
21:05
Because if you're not thinking about it,
21:08
your competitors are.
21:10
>> Absolutely.
21:10
>> That's just the truth.
21:12
>> What are your thoughts as a mom with AI
21:14
in the schools?
21:15
>> Yeah. So, yeah, I have five kids and
21:20
well aware of the challenges that
21:23
technology bring. For example, social
21:25
media, etc. you know, I have my the the
21:28
positive and the negatives. So, I'm not
21:30
just the cheerleader for technology, but
21:35
they also aren't going away. So, to in
21:39
my opinion, to uh not expose your
21:43
children to it at all
21:47
is not my methodology because at some
21:52
point they are going to be exposed to
21:54
it. Sure.
21:55
>> So talking to them about it, being very
21:57
transparent and honest of
22:00
these are the to-dos, these are the not
22:02
to-dos.
22:03
>> Sure.
22:04
>> Are important. So a lot of conversation.
22:06
How I feel about AI is that
22:09
schools are already using AI in many in
22:13
many many many
22:15
not only universities but you know prep
22:18
schools, elementary schools, teachers
22:21
are realizing that there is efficiencies
22:23
using AI.
22:26
Now do I understand the push back around
22:30
AI is
22:32
you know writing everything for example
22:35
for my child yes I I think there has to
22:37
be some sort of balance
22:40
you know I have English teachers in my
22:42
kids school that have told me they're
22:45
teaching students how to prompt
22:48
>> what to prompt
22:50
>> but at the same time when it comes to
22:52
writing the essays or typing them out
22:55
they are having them do it all in class
22:58
so that they don't have that
23:01
pressure to just put it into chat GPT or
23:05
any of the other AI platforms.
23:08
>> Absolutely. It's a difficult balance
23:10
right now, but the conversations need to
23:13
be had. And I think the schools who
23:16
have, you know, their presidents, their
23:18
headmasters, head of schools, whatever
23:20
the title may be, that are learning
23:23
about this and thinking about the best
23:25
way to, you know, implement AI into
23:29
their systems are ahead of the game.
23:32
Again, cuz AI is not going away.
23:35
>> No. you know,
23:36
>> you're going to have to embrace it one
23:38
way or another, but you still need to
23:39
know how to think for yourself. I think
23:41
the critical thinking
23:42
>> critical thinking is key.
23:44
>> Absolutely. Writing, you know, the
23:46
writing skills. And yes, I'm the first
23:47
one to say it it it's going to get more
23:50
difficult. Sure.
23:51
>> Because it does a lot of the thinking
23:52
for you, right?
23:54
>> I mean, do you use it at all for
23:56
prompting or typing emails? Of course.
23:59
Me, too. And spell check.
24:01
>> Saves time. You know, you prompt it a
24:04
couple bullet points and it spits out
24:06
this beautifully written exactly,
24:08
>> you know, couple paragraphs and then you
24:09
make it your own.
24:10
>> Yeah.
24:10
>> And I think that's the important part
24:12
too where our kids have to realize that
24:14
it's not just copy and paste. It's not
24:17
always right.
24:18
>> Correct.
24:18
>> You have to check what's the information
24:21
that's given to you. You want your own
24:23
voice in there, too.
24:25
>> But it is a whole new skill that we did
24:27
not
24:28
>> have growing up. And so even as adults,
24:31
we need to learn how to use it properly.
24:33
>> Hey my friends, it's Christy from
24:35
Heartful Living. I wanted to share
24:37
something special for my friend, the
24:38
olive oil hunter, TJ Robinson. He runs
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today, please go to my website,
24:57
heartfulliving.com, and sign up. It's a
25:00
taste of what the club is all about and
25:01
the perfect way to bring intentional
25:03
heartful living right to your table.
25:06
So, there has to be a big difference in
25:08
AI, I assume, when you're using it for
25:11
personal consumption as opposed to a
25:13
business or a company.
25:15
>> Which apps are the ones that business
25:17
owners should be thinking about using
25:20
instead of just Gemini, ChatGBT? Yeah.
25:23
and the ones that we all have just
25:25
skimmed through now.
25:26
>> Well, there's so many Christy and it
25:29
it's really going to be dependent on
25:31
your company on the vertical. So, I
25:34
don't want to um you know give too many
25:40
plugs for different platforms because
25:41
it's really going to be dependent. But
25:42
what I can say is the ones you mentioned
25:44
for example chat GPT right open AI there
25:47
are professional layers to those that I
25:50
think a lot of people are
25:51
underutilizing. So you can pay
25:53
subscription-wise
25:55
a very nominal amount every month
25:58
>> and your entire team now is working off
26:01
the same HIM sheet as opposed to let's
26:04
say we work in the same company. You
26:05
know Christy is using OpenAI or chatbt
26:08
both for work and personal reasons and
26:12
you're it's only tracking your stuff and
26:14
then I'm using it Melissa's using it
26:16
also but we're not connected. So there
26:20
is a professional subscription and now
26:23
Christy and Melissa
26:26
our information is actually being
26:27
aggregated on how it's being used
26:30
professionally right under let's say you
26:32
worked for Emerge under the Emerge
26:33
umbrella which is really cool. So our
26:36
company has that and all of our um team
26:40
>> that's fascinating
26:41
>> works off of this professional
26:42
subscription and now it starts thinking
26:45
as Emerge Americas how every single one
26:49
of our team members is using it how
26:51
every single one of our team members uh
26:54
how it's prompting the language we're
26:56
using.
26:57
>> Fascinating.
26:57
>> Yeah. And that's I mean it's pretty
26:59
simple. This is not, you know, there's a
27:02
lot more layers to this, but even
27:04
something as simple as that, a lot of
27:06
teams are not leveraging or taking
27:08
advantage of and people are using it
27:09
anyways is the thing.
27:10
>> Sure. So, what happens to a company that
27:13
ignores AI in today's world?
27:16
>> I don't think they're going to be around
27:19
that long. That's just the truth because
27:21
I, like I said earlier, your competitors
27:23
are looking at AI. And this is not to
27:25
say,
27:28
you know, you have to use AI across all
27:31
of your processes at work,
27:33
>> but you really do need to assess where
27:36
AI can make can give you a competitive
27:39
advantage, where AI can make your
27:41
processes more efficient.
27:44
And I think if you're not looking at
27:46
that, and I'm I mean any business,
27:48
>> sure,
27:49
>> I do think like red flag, red flag, you
27:52
you need to start looking at it. And
27:53
again, I'm not saying change all your
27:55
processes and immediately, you know,
27:58
convert everything to an AI AI model,
28:01
but any company, any size, from a
28:04
startup to a Fortune 500, etc., needs to
28:08
look at the different AI platforms and
28:10
how they can work in their company.
28:12
>> Sure. And what responsibility do tech
28:15
leaders have in shaping the ethical
28:17
innovation?
28:19
>> I think a lot.
28:21
And I don't think it's talked about
28:23
enough. That's why I said earlier too
28:26
that I think about it as a mom, right?
28:30
Right. With my kids, it I can't just be
28:33
a tech cheerleader, right? There has to
28:36
be the ethical conversations behind it,
28:41
the challenges that they pose as well.
28:44
And I think that's the the neat part
28:46
about
28:48
uh the conference that you'll experience
28:49
this week, Christie, because we don't
28:52
shy away from having those difficult
28:54
conversations also cuz we need we're a
28:57
platform. We're bringing all these
28:59
decision makers together and we want to
29:01
have these difficult conversations and
29:03
it can't just be, you know, AI is going
29:06
to change the world positively in every
29:10
aspect. No, we need to say what are the
29:12
ethical implications here? What are the
29:15
the challenges? People talk about the
29:17
deep fakes and how AI can it can quite
29:22
literally take our voice from this
29:23
podcast and now all of a sudden, you
29:26
know, Mel and Christy are talking about
29:27
something else that we didn't talk about
29:29
here.
29:30
>> How do we decipher what's real and
29:32
what's not? Those are all real
29:35
challenges,
29:36
>> right? that I am sure that there are
29:40
going to be fixes for because I'm very
29:41
much the glasses half full and usually
29:45
challenges breed a lot more opportunity
29:49
and so you're going to see a lot of
29:50
founders and companies kind of bubbling
29:53
up addressing these challenges but we
29:55
need to talk about them.
29:57
>> Yeah. And that's part of Heartful
29:58
Living's mission, which is opening the
30:00
door to these
30:02
>> difficult conversations and sharing them
30:05
because if we don't open the door and
30:07
let that conversation in,
30:09
>> we're just going to continue, as we say
30:12
in Spanish,
30:14
you know,
30:15
>> covering it up because eventually the
30:17
sun's going to come up.
30:18
>> Absolutely.
30:19
>> And we're going to have to discuss it.
30:21
>> Um, so I'm so glad that the conference
30:23
has
30:24
>> Yeah.
30:24
>> those conversations coming. totally not
30:26
shy about having the hard conversations
30:28
and we should.
30:28
>> Yeah. And speaking of shy conversations,
30:32
you are a mother of five
30:34
>> and you have a big, beautiful, modern
30:37
blended family.
30:38
>> A thank you.
30:39
>> And one of the things that people have
30:41
come up to me to say is you need to have
30:44
Melissa Medina come and explain to us
30:48
how she makes it work with her modern
30:51
family.
30:53
It's something that I think you have
30:56
>> just nailed.
30:58
>> It appears like you guys have nailed it.
31:00
You're doing it right. The the heart and
31:02
the intention is there.
31:04
>> Thank you.
31:05
>> You're listening to the Heart-to-Heart
31:06
podcast with Christy Diaz for Heartful
31:08
Living, where stories, connection, and
31:10
intention guide everything we do.
31:12
Interested in partnering with us? We're
31:14
always open to collaborations that align
31:16
with intention, creativity, and
31:18
community. If you feel your brand is a
31:20
match, we'd love to connect and explore
31:22
what we can create together. And now
31:24
back to listening.
31:26
>> Can you share with those who don't know
31:28
you what it is I'm talking about?
31:30
>> Yeah, of course. And um so funny,
31:34
Christy, cuz I I get asked this a lot in
31:37
private all the time. It's probably the
31:41
topic that I am like my DMs,
31:46
people I don't know ask me about the
31:49
most, which is crazy, right? Um, but
31:52
it's something that publicly I don't
31:55
think anyone's really ever asked me
31:57
about. So, um, I'm a little I am a
32:00
little shy about it, but I am I'm
32:02
thankful that you asked the question.
32:05
Um, so yeah, for those that don't know
32:08
me, um, I was married. So I'm divorced,
32:12
remarried. Uh, I have five kids, four of
32:15
whom I had with my first husband, and
32:18
then remarried and had a little girl
32:20
with my current husband. My ex-husband
32:23
also got remarried and has a little
32:24
girl. Um, so alto together it's six of
32:27
them. I gave birth to five. And then my
32:30
ex-husband and his wife had a little
32:32
girl who is adorable. and we adore. And
32:37
I think the reason that people reach out
32:39
all the time is because they
32:43
can't believe that we
32:46
kind of work so well together. And for
32:49
us, and I say us collectively because I
32:52
think everyone has to be on the same
32:54
page, which is my husband, my
32:56
ex-husband, his wife, we all put the
33:00
kids first. Like, it's just an abundance
33:02
of love for these children. I mean, my
33:04
my daughter with my husband and my
33:08
ex-husband's
33:10
daughter, you know, literally love each
33:12
other like sisters.
33:14
>> And, you know, even for, you know, the
33:17
my five, there's no these are this is my
33:21
half sibling. Like, these are your
33:22
siblings.
33:24
And I I give credit really to all the
33:27
adults in this
33:28
>> absolutely
33:29
>> um sort of puzzle and equation because
33:32
we put them first is the reason I don't
33:36
talk about it that much either is
33:37
because it's not as if any of us are
33:39
advocates for divorce.
33:41
>> Sure. you know, and I think that's kind
33:43
of the
33:44
the fine line, you know, when you're
33:47
expressing like, hey, we made it work.
33:51
And I love and adore our family so much.
33:56
The modern blend, all of it. You know, I
33:59
I think as a as a husband or wife going
34:02
through a divorce, one of your biggest
34:04
fears is who your partner or your former
34:08
partner might end up with. How how will
34:09
they be with your children,
34:11
>> right?
34:11
>> And I just feel so fortunate, you know,
34:14
um my ex-husband's wife is beautiful
34:17
inside and inside and out. Loves loves
34:19
loves my children. Um I adore her
34:22
daughter. It's just, you know, I I feel
34:24
very lucky for the people that um are
34:27
involved, but at the same time, again,
34:30
we're not advocating divorce. It's just
34:33
an unfortunate part of our story
34:36
>> story and reality is that and I don't
34:38
know if the data still remains, but
34:40
pretty sure that over 50% of marriages
34:42
end in divorce. And it's sad, nobody
34:44
gets married, least in our, you know, in
34:47
our scenario, we didn't get married to
34:48
get divorced. You know, I don't think
34:50
anyone sets out to get divorced. So
34:52
that's our story. Uh how we do it is
34:55
just a lot of extra love. Um open door
34:57
policies. We're, you know, we're we're
35:03
doing everything we can to make sure
35:05
we're putting our kids first.
35:06
>> And I'm sure it hasn't always been easy,
35:09
you know.
35:10
>> No,
35:10
>> I'm sure it takes a lot of work.
35:13
>> Absolutely takes a lot of work. Time
35:15
obviously is always on your side, right?
35:18
the more time that passes, um, the
35:22
easier it gets. And, you know, I think
35:24
fortunate for us, you know, we each
35:28
found an amazing partner in life and and
35:33
I acknowledge that, you know, right?
35:35
>> And we're happy for each other, like,
35:37
you know, and you think it's just like
35:39
simple,
35:40
>> you know, we're happy for each other.
35:42
Our kids now have extra layer of love,
35:46
>> right? And I also I think it's also
35:49
important to acknowledge like the
35:51
extended family because
35:54
>> the acceptance that
35:56
>> my in-laws you know of
36:00
you know four kids all of a sudden
36:01
coming into the family. Absolutely.
36:03
>> And on the other side as well and we
36:05
just I think we were just very fortunate
36:07
that
36:08
>> everyone really kind of supported us.
36:10
And
36:11
>> that's amazing. It's my hope and my wish
36:13
for every divorce with children
36:17
>> to come to a place of harmony like you
36:20
guys have found.
36:21
>> Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Yeah.
36:22
>> What would you say to the woman who's in
36:24
the thick of the divorce and just can't
36:26
see that possibility of peace right now?
36:31
>> I feel for you. Um I think it's a very
36:34
very difficult time. feels hopeless, I'm
36:37
sure, at times, but there is a light at
36:40
the end of the tunnel. If they have
36:43
children, I would say that's the focus,
36:46
right? Uh it's easy to allow a lot of
36:50
noise into your mind and have you either
36:54
upset or kind of digress into a place of
36:57
of animosity or, you know, this is not
37:01
the way you anticipated things to
37:03
happen.
37:04
>> Sure.
37:05
And I know it's easier said than done,
37:07
you know, um but time time really does
37:10
heal a lot. A lot.
37:12
>> Yeah.
37:13
>> How does motherhood change the way you
37:15
lead your business today
37:17
>> with that troop?
37:19
>> Yeah. So much. Um I think motherhood or
37:23
parenthood
37:24
changes the way you think about
37:26
everything in life, right? There's a
37:28
before and after motherhood.
37:31
um you know what are what am I focusing
37:33
my time on what am I building is it
37:36
worth it is it impactful
37:39
how could it how is it affecting them
37:41
potentially so many questions go into my
37:44
mind as I'm building an organization and
37:48
a company I involve them as much as I
37:50
can as as well so they hopefully
37:53
understand you know what their mom is
37:55
working on and their opinions mean a lot
38:00
to me. So, I actually asked them a lot
38:02
of questions like, "Who do you want to
38:03
see? Who would inspire you? And what
38:06
kind of topics do you want to hear?" And
38:08
you know, my oldest is already a
38:09
freshman in college. He's 18 years old.
38:12
>> Don't tell people that.
38:13
>> Yes.
38:15
So, you know, what are the emerging
38:17
technologies he wants to learn about
38:19
him, right? Of course. Like, they know a
38:20
lot more than we do. I promise.
38:22
>> Absolutely. I couldn't agree more. What
38:24
fuels you more, vision, challenge, or
38:26
impact?
38:31
challenge probably.
38:32
>> Yeah,
38:33
>> I love that.
38:34
>> Yeah.
38:34
>> Yeah, I could see that.
38:35
>> Yeah.
38:36
>> When you doubt yourself, what brings you
38:37
back to center?
38:40
>> For sure. My children,
38:41
>> right?
38:42
>> Yeah. It's perspective. You know, there
38:44
there are a lot of things that get into
38:46
my mind that could
38:50
distract me or get me overwhelmed. And
38:53
then I think about really Melissa,
38:55
you're driving yourself crazy over XYZ
38:59
issue when you know here you have
39:03
healthy amazing family, children, etc.
39:07
So that's kind of my why that brings me
39:09
back. But it's easy I think in the rat
39:12
race of
39:14
personal and professional life like
39:15
getting distracted is really easy. I'm
39:18
sure you
39:18
>> especially in today's world.
39:19
>> Yeah, exactly.
39:20
>> I agree. So, if chaos is inevitable in
39:23
both life and business, Melissa, what
39:25
have you learned about what comes after
39:27
it?
39:29
>> I'm still in the chaos.
39:31
>> You're still in the chaos. I like that.
39:33
It's a challenge.
39:34
>> Still in the chaos. Um, yeah,
39:37
definitely. Chaos is my middle name.
39:40
>> Finish this sentence as we close,
39:42
Melissa.
39:43
>> Okay.
39:43
>> The future belongs to
39:46
>> the next generation.
39:49
That's it. The future belongs to the
39:52
next gen. And
39:55
again, whether it's
39:57
your children, our children, or our
40:00
children's children, thinking about the
40:02
next generation is something that is top
40:05
of mind for me every day.
40:08
>> Melissa, I can't think of a better way
40:10
to close than with that statement you
40:12
just made. I am so excited for this
40:15
week.
40:15
>> Yes. I'll see you there.
40:17
>> Wear sneakers. I'm telling you.
40:19
>> Will it look bad with what I'm wearing
40:20
right now?
40:21
>> No, absolutely not. You'll
40:23
>> If you're listening and you're
40:24
interested in attending,
40:25
>> wear sneakers.
40:26
>> Wear sneakers. Buy your ticket at
40:28
>> emergeameas.com.
40:29
>> Okay. We look forward to it.
40:31
>> I'll see you there. Yeah.
40:32
>> Melissa Medina, thank you so much for
40:34
>> Thank you for the opportunity. It was so
40:35
fun.
40:35
>> I know how busy you are this week.
40:37
>> No, not for this.
40:38
>> Thank you for being here.
40:39
>> This is an awesome opportunity. Thank
40:40
you for having me.
40:41
>> Thank you. That is all the time we have
40:43
for everybody. Thank you for joining us
40:44
today. Bye
40:45
>> bye.
41:09
Nat.