#34 Todd Cowles | High School Dropout to Data & AI Architect скачать в хорошем качестве

#34 Todd Cowles | High School Dropout to Data & AI Architect

Some stories punch through the noise because they’re honest, messy, and hopeful. Todd Cowles grew up with absentee parents, learned hustle the hard way, and nearly derailed himself with bad friends and worse choices. Then a rival reached out, a mentor stepped in, and a new path opened. Service, leadership, and the painstaking work of building his own self worth. A single pivot sent Todd to college, into the Air Force, and eventually into the tech industry where he became a Data and AI Architect, and he now helps major corporate brands generate real outcomes fast. We talk about the inflection points that matter: volunteering under a United Way leader who modeled service, a chance to attend college that unlocked a love of learning, and battlefield nights in Baghdad that left scars and clarity. Todd shares candidly about PTSD, faith, and the practice of reparenting: learning to speak to your younger self with patience and strength. The conversation moves from street‑level survival to practical tools anyone can use to change their arc. On the tech side, Todd breaks down how a help desk job became a springboard to VMware, Splunk, SPSS, and Apache Spark, and why Databricks turned into a platform for impact. He details how AI serves as a force multiplier—compressing end‑to‑end data, ML, and app delivery from months to days. We explore why core skills like public speaking matter more than ever, and how AI has drastically decreased delivery times. This episode is a blueprint for midlife reinvention and professional growth: choose friends wisely, take the next courageous step, consult yourself out of a job, and be ready to reinvent every few years. If you’ve ever felt behind or boxed in, Todd’s story is inspiring. Where to Find Todd Cowles:   / todd-cowles-40217a37   _____________________________________  📕 Chapters:  00:00 Introduction 01:20 Todd Cowles’ Bio 04:46 Military Service & Tech Industry 06:29 Alcoholic Father & Broken Home 09:00 Entrepreneurial Spirit From Childhood 10:17 An Early Start With Drugs 11:25 Little Debbie Snack Cake Heist 15:29 Relationship With His Parents 18:21 Selling Drugs as a Spokesman for DARE 21:20 A Loving Family Steps In 27:16 Serendipity in Mentors 34:47 Having Courage to Accept Opportunities 37:00 In the Company of Exceptional People 38:18 Hard Lessons from Iraq 43:38 God is With You 47:01 Breaking Generational Curses 53:33 Learning to Love Others 58:58 Tech Industry & AI 01:06:48 Starting at Databricks 01:13:04 Skills & Tactics for the Tech Industry 01:22:07 Where to Find Todd Cowles 01:22:49 Closing Thoughts  _____________________________________  📫 Where to Contact Us:  Web: https://clutteredpath.com/  Patreon:   / clutteredpath    Email: feedback@clutteredpath.com  Send us a Text: https://shorturl.at/43DHg   _____________________________________  🔥 Follow Us on Social Media:  Instagram:   / clutteredpath   Facebook: https://shorturl.at/IpjqO X: https://x.com/clutt3rdpath TikTok: https://shorturl.at/ofIFw