Frank Denneman

In this episode of 'When Shit Hits the Fan', Johan and Jeffrey welcome Frank Denneman, a distinguished engineer for AI at VMware/Broadcom. The conversation covers Frank's experiences, interests, and career journey, including his insights on technology, movies, and the importance of effective communication in engineering. The episode features rapid-fire questions, discussions about favorite films, and a deep dive into Frank's professional background. The conversation explores his journey from building Microsoft Exchange across multiple countries to his experiences with virtualization, working at VMware, and the challenges of startup life. It highlights his time at PernixData and the lessons learned from mistakes made throughout his career, including the importance of sharing knowledge and overcoming fears in public speaking. Chapters 00:00 Introduction and Guest Introduction 02:40 Frank's Background and Interests 06:41 Binaries and Quickfire Questions 11:01 Frank's Career Journey and Early Experiences 13:15 Building Microsoft Exchange Across Borders 16:45 The Virtualization Journey Begins 17:35 Transitioning to VMware and the Startup Experience 20:00 The Challenges of Startup Life 23:25 Innovations at Pernix Data 25:59 Lessons Learned from Mistakes 30:04 First Time on Stage: Overcoming Fear 31:27 The Thrill of Live Performance 34:17 Key Takeaways for First-Time Speakers 39:43 Lessons from Experience and Listening 41:54 The Importance of Preparation 42:53 Learning from Presentation Skills and Shark Tank Links: Frank Simrig account on instagram: https://www.instagram.com/roadtoimmersion/