CV Podcast
Why He Left a Successful Tech Sales Career to Start From Zero | Joel Robnett
In this episode of the Cowles Ventures Podcast, Blake sits down with Joel Robnett, Founding Partner at North by Northwest Technologies, to break down his path from law school plans and a first day of work on 9/11, through two decades in tech sales at companies like Data Domain and Nimble Storage before their acquisitions by EMC and HP, to co-founding his own company. We talk about: Why he walked away from a successful sales and management career to start something from zero What it actually felt like to make that jump, and the mindset shift from "what am I giving up" to "do I have what it takes" How North by Northwest Technologies helps mid-market, multi-site organizations navigate complex IT decisions The most common issue businesses run into when they ask for help, and why it's rarely just a tool problem AI fatigue, where AI is genuinely underrated versus overrated, and how it's already built into the tools companies use every day How leaders should think about governance, risk, and getting a team aligned around new technology Joel shares tactical insight into IT consulting, sales leadership, entrepreneurship, and where AI is actually moving the needle for businesses right now, along with the personal decision-making that led him to start his own company. If you're interested in entrepreneurship, IT services, technology consulting, AI adoption, or building a company in Spokane, this conversation is packed with practical insights. Subscribe for more conversations with founders, investors, and operators building the next generation of companies.
