Welcome to Symplicity Conversations, the podcast where we explore the intersection of business, culture, community, and technology to empower you with the insights you need to thrive.
Being Data Storytellers and Problem Solvers | Drew Adomaitis and Jon Manser
In this episode, we pull back the curtain on Symplicity Communications and explore the vital roles of our team members who are transforming complex data into actionable insights. Join us as we dive into a conversation with John Mansar, our Senior Data Insights Analyst, and Drew Adomaitis, our Platform Developer, who share their journeys and the impact of their work.
We discuss turning scattered data and business problems into useful dashboards, platform features, and workflow improvements and share how they collaborate, what makes data useful, and why understanding the real problem matters more than jumping straight to a technical solution.
Chapters
00:00 Meet the people turning data and ideas into useful tools
03:03 How sports stats and election maps led Jon into analytics
06:38 Drew’s path from teenage coding to platform development
10:09 Creating roles around business needs and customer impact
13:12 What a typical day looks like for analytics and development
16:12 Connecting systems to reveal project revenue and performance
18:20 Define the data and process before designing a dashboard
20:23 Choosing meaningful metrics and preparing data for AI
23:12 A 1,500-technician visualization finds patterns in field operations
28:40 From vague pain point to prototype, build, and launch
31:34 Why an existing Odoo app beat building an intranet from scratch
33:24 Quick picks, future AI possibilities, and what makes the work rewarding
41:53 Let employees describe the problem, then collaborate on the solution
27 Oct 2026
Brilliance Summit Series - How to Overcome Challenges and Embrace Failure | Kathleen Vogelsang
Kathleen Vogelsang joins us for a Symplicity Conversation, where she shares her inspiring journey from first-generation college student to successful investment leader, emphasizing resilience, leadership, and purpose. This episode highlights the importance of taking risks, embracing failure, and giving back. Kathy shares her insights for women pursuing their own paths to brilliance, and we discuss the Brilliance Awards and the upcoming Brilliance Summit on November 5th.
Key Topics
Kathleen Vogelsang's journey from first-generation college student to CIO
The importance of resilience and risk-taking in leadership
Lessons learned from building a billion-dollar endowment
The role of mentorship and soft skills in leadership
Balancing personal sacrifices with professional success
The significance of giving back and community involvement
Overcoming challenges and embracing failure as growth
The impact of health and personal experiences on leadership perspective
Chapters
00:00 Introduction to Kathleen Vogelsang's Journey
02:13 Winning the Woman of the Year Award and Its Significance
03:56 The Role of Humility and Gratitude in Success
06:08 Lessons from Building a Billion-Dollar Endowment
08:04 The Importance of Soft Skills and Experience in Leadership
09:55 Balancing Sacrifices and Achievements in Education
12:05 Leadership, Resilience, and Building a Strong Team
14:00 Reflecting on Success and the Power of Stopping to Celebrate
16:06 Handling Personal Challenges and Their Impact on Perspective
18:07 The Value of Mentorship and Supporting Other Women
19:48 The Importance of Health and Living Life Fully
21:58 Taking Risks and Embracing Career Pivots
24:07 The Role of Purpose and Giving Back in Leadership
26:07 Advocating for Organ Donation and Heart Health Awareness
27:51 The Power of Light and Sharing Brilliance with Others
30:05 Final Thoughts: Success is Not a Single Path
20 Oct 2026
Brilliance Summit Series - Solving Problems with a Simple Conversation | Latrice Trice and Kirsten Pipp
In this episode, we explore the journeys of two remarkable women, Latricia Trice of LTrice Marketing and Consulting and Kirsten Pipp of Bloom Social, as they share their experiences with community building, vulnerability, and creating impact. Discover how their stories and insights can inspire you to lift others and foster authentic connections.
Key Topics
The significance of community and vulnerability in leadership
How the gift of lift can transform communities and careers
The importance of authenticity and vulnerability in social media
Stories of overcoming challenges and turning personal experiences into community support
The role of intentional relationships and connections in personal and professional growth
Chapters
00:00 Introduction to the series and guests
01:27 Recognition at the West Michigan Woman Brilliance Awards
03:01 The meaning of impact and recognition
04:22 The ripple effect of community and impact
08:49 Latricia's journey as a connector and the gift of lift
13:03 The philosophy of using influence to elevate others
18:10 The creation of Black Women Connect and community needs
22:09 Kirsten's story of vulnerability and creating Bloom Social
26:22 Turning personal challenges into community support
30:45 The importance of authenticity and vulnerability in social media
34:29 What makes a community and fostering belonging
37:40 The value of being uncomfortable for growth
42:14 The reality of social media and authentic storytelling
45:51 The energy and impact of the Brilliance Summit
46:47 What does brilliance mean to you?
Who has been a guest on Symplicity Conversations
Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.
Elizabeth Goede
Bana Qashu
Jim Glackin
Alexis Bertholf
Erick Stewart
Reach and audience
Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.
YouTube views
50,537
Score snapshot 15 Sept 2025
Apple Podcasts (US)
5.0 / 5
2 ratings
Spotify
4.2 / 5
5 ratings
Podcast Authority Score: 68 / 100
A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.
Quality
94
Social presence
0
YouTube
72
Engagement
32
Contact Symplicity Conversations
Guest appearances
Books guests
Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.
Questions about Symplicity Conversations
Who hosts Symplicity Conversations?
Catherine Ripley and Doug Seites host the show. Published by Catherine Ripley.
How often do new episodes come out?
The show publishes weekly, based on its RSS feed.
Does Symplicity Conversations take guests?
Yes. Guests have been identified in episode analyses.
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