From Canvas to Cloud: An Artist’s Blueprint for Tech Startup Success ft Ryan Massie

In this episode of the Future-Proofed Podcast, host Brent Muller dives into an inspiring founder story with Ryan Massie, President and Co-Owner of Syssero Inc. — a people-first consulting firm specializing in Workday solutions. Ryan shares how he transitioned from being a fine arts professor to building a multi-faceted consulting company that champions empathy, self-sufficiency, and long-term client success. Discover how Syssero is transforming how enterprise services are delivered, why AI should serve humans, not replace them, and how to build trust in a world of fear-based selling. From philosophy to frameworks, this is a lesson in scaling with heart.00:00 – Intro from Brent Muller01:00 – Ryan’s path from fine arts to tech03:00 – Leaving academia after becoming a dad05:00 – Discovering Workday and early industry insights07:00 – Partnering with Amber Lowry and starting Syssero09:00 – How Syssero’s client-first approach took shape11:00 – The 3 core differentiators of Syssero14:00 – Redefining managed services with empathy17:00 – Why helping clients become self-sufficient is the goal19:00 – The rise of AI and human creativity22:00 – Using AI as a sounding board and writing assistant28:00 – Funny road trip story: Amber vs. AI stamina32:00 – How AI will shift how we define productivity35:00 – Magic wand: eliminating fear-based sales tactics38:00 – How to connect with Syssero Inc.🔗 Connect with Ryan:🌐 Website: https://syssero.com/💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryan-massie-022591149/🔔  Enjoyed the episode? Don't forget to like, subscribe, and hit the notification bell so you never miss an update! 📌 Subscribe here: http://www.youtube.com/@FutureProofedPodcast📲 Follow me on social media: www.linkedin.com/in/brentmuller💬 Let me know your thoughts in the comments!#SysseroInc #RyanMassie #WorkdayConsulting #TechLeadership #FutureProofedPodcast #B2BGrowth #DigitalTransformation #AIInBusiness #HumanCenteredTech #LeadershipWithHearthttps://valeogrowth.com/