At Ambit Solutions, we get to meet a lot of really cool people. From government agencies to hospitals to schools and beyond, our work connects us with so many different fields. And while the missions of these organizations vary, they all share one big thing in common: they need to communicate—internally and with the people they serve. That means they still rely on phone systems, intercom systems, and the networks that keep those systems running.
Behind those networks is almost always someone with a title like IT Director, Director of Technology, or Chief Technology Officer. For our services to work well, we always work closely with these leaders. Over the past 20 years, we’ve met some extraordinary IT Directors—people who not only keep technology running but serve their communities in meaningful, impactful ways.
These are people we’ve loved getting to know. They’ve challenged us, helped us grow, and made us a better company. Their feedback has shaped how we build and deliver our solutions, and their insights have taught us lessons we could never have learned from a manual.
So we thought—why not capture those conversations?
“If we have a kid that’s hacked my network… after that kid gets in trouble, I’m standing outside the door waiting to say, ‘Hey, would you like to do this for real?'”
— Patrick Robinson, IT Director, Jones County Schools (MS)
Why We Started the Podcast
Our desire with The IT Director’s Playbook is twofold. First, selfishly, we want to keep learning from these incredible leaders so we can serve them better. But we also want to share that value with other IT Directors, technology leaders, and even people outside the profession. We realized there wasn’t a dedicated platform for this unique community in the podcast space. So, we decided to build one.
This is a place where IT Directors can share their stories, strategies, and lessons learned—whether that’s navigating a major technology shift, building a rock-solid team, or finding creative ways to support students and staff. Our hope is that The IT Director’s Playbook becomes a hub where tech leaders can learn from one another and feel seen in the important work they do.
“I’ve learned so much more from making mistakes in this journey than I ever did from just knowing.”
— Todd Sanderson, Marshall County Schools
It’s All About the People
A theme that’s come up again and again is that the best IT leaders see themselves not just as technology managers, but as people leaders.
“It’s all about the people. It’s one thing I tell my team and I stress to them that we’re in the people business. We’re here because the students and the teachers need us.”
— Anthony Kingston, Williamson County Schools
We’re Just Getting Started
We’re at the beginning of this journey, but it’s already been a blast. Each episode reminds us of why we started Ambit Solutions in the first place—to serve people well and help them communicate better. And to the amazing IT Directors out there giving their all every day—we see you, and we want to say thank you.
If you’re an IT Director and would like to be a guest, we’d love to hear from you! Fill out our guest application form here.
