Connect with Brittinie Wick
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brittinie...
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dr.brittini...
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?...
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@WomenServeToo

In this episode of The Vector Podcast, Christian Perez sits down with Brittinie Wick — US Air Force veteran, Doctor of Physical Therapy, and founder of the ‪@WomenServeToo‬ podcast. Brittinie shares how her childhood sparked her path to military service, what the transition to civilian life really looks like when your identity has been built around the mission, and why mental health remains one of the most critical and underserved issues facing veterans today. The conversation covers the growing role of AI in military operations, the unique challenges women veterans face in gaining recognition for their service, and why Brittinie believes standards should never be lowered regardless of gender. They also dig into how social media is driving polarization, why open and honest conversations are more important than ever, and what it means to find purpose after the uniform comes off.

Whether you're a veteran navigating your own transition or someone looking to understand the realities of military service, this is a must-watch.

Main Takeaways
1. Women veterans occupy a space that is both powerful and overlooked. Their contributions to national defense are substantial, yet the recognition and support systems available to them remain disproportionately inadequate.

2. AI is reshaping the battlefield in ways we are only beginning to comprehend. From logistics to decision-making, artificial intelligence is becoming an embedded element of modern military operations, raising profound questions about the future of warfare.

Connect with A'Yana Leonard

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ayanaleonardtexas/

In this episode of The Vector Podcast, host Christian Perez sits down with A'Yana Leonard—U.S. Army veteran, former Director of Marketing and Digital Strategy, and self-taught technologist exploring AI, cloud systems, and even FPGA hardware.

A'Yana's path into tech didn't follow the traditional blueprint. No CS degree straight out of high school. No linear career ladder. Instead, she moved from tech support to sales to marketing leadership, teaching herself cloud services and AI along the way. Her driving question throughout: What if this could be better?

That mindset—rooted in her military experience where you often have to make something out of nothing—shaped how she approaches technology, business problems, and even personal challenges. A'Yana shares the story behind Mom Hive, an AI tool she built to support her daughter who has autism, and discusses what companies consistently get wrong about artificial intelligence.

This conversation is for veterans early in their tech journey, anyone curious about AI's role in marketing, or those who need a reminder that ambition and resourcefulness can outpace credentials.

• A'Yana's military-to-tech transition and unconventional career path
• The "what if this could be better" mindset and where it comes from
• AI as a tool, not a magic solution—and what businesses get wrong
• The history of AI (hint: it didn't start with ChatGPT)
• Building custom AI solutions for small businesses
• Mom Hive: A'Yana's personal AI project for her daughter with autism
• The future of AI, developers vs. researchers, and quantum computing's potential
• Why veterans already have the skills tech companies need
• "You already did the hard part"—advice for transitioning service members

• AI isn't new—it's been studied since the 1950s. What's new is accessibility.
• AI should be customized to your business, not copied from someone else's playbook.
• The tech industry may shift toward more researchers and fewer traditional developers.
• Quantum computing could unlock breakthroughs in medicine and beyond.
• Veterans don't start from zero—military service builds problem-solving, adaptability, and grit.
• Continuous learning isn't optional in tech. Stay curious, stay competitive.

Daniel Gaina Social Media Accounts: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/danielgaina/ YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@UCUWhBmG99Iy9nH3hGRu--og

EPISODE SUMMARY

In this episode of the Vector Podcast, host Christian Perez engages in an in-depth conversation with Daniel Gaina, Senior Cloud Engineer and AWS Community Builder, to explore the intersection of technical expertise, leadership, and the evolving role of artificial intelligence in modern cloud engineering. Daniel shares his compelling journey from a non-technical background to earning AWS's prestigious Golden Jacket certification; a distinction requiring mastery across 12+ AWS specializations. The discussion examines the critical importance of certifications as foundational knowledge tools, the irreplaceable value of community engagement, and the human-centered leadership skills that distinguish exceptional technologists from merely competent ones. As AI and agentic systems reshape the technology landscape, Perez and Gaina emphasize that sustained success in tech demands not just technical proficiency, but emotional intelligence, accountability, and the capacity for meaningful human connection.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

- Non-Traditional Pathways Work: Technical excellence doesn't require a traditional CS degree; certifications, self-study, and community involvement provide viable alternative routes to expertise.

- Certifications Bridge Knowledge Gaps: AWS certifications offer both theoretical grounding and hands-on practice, serving as accelerators for career advancement.

- Tech Requires Lifelong Learning: The field evolves continuously; success demands a growth mindset and commitment to perpetual skill development.

- Community is Competitive Advantage: Active community participation accelerates learning, builds networks, and establishes credibility in the tech ecosystem.

- Soft Skills Differentiate Leaders: In an increasingly automated world, interpersonal skills, emotional intelligence, and leadership capabilities become the true competitive differentiators.

- AI Augments Rather Than Replaces: While AI optimizes processes and reduces operational friction, it cannot replicate human accountability, judgment, or meaningful connection.

- Production Reality Differs from Demos: Deployable, reliable systems require fallback mechanisms, human-in-the-loop oversight, and rigorous reliability engineering—not just compelling prototypes.

- Human Responsibility Remains Central: As systems grow more autonomous, the human stakeholder's willingness to assume accountability for outcomes becomes increasingly valuable.

- 2026 Will Bring Agentic Maturation: Expect proliferation of specialized AI agents and speech-to-speech systems, but significant ROI optimization still needed across the industry. - People-Centric Tech Leadership: The industry's greatest need isn't more technical capability—it's leaders who understand that technology ultimately serves human needs and growth.