Learn from MISTAKES with AI | Tech Transformation | Innovation | Cloud | DevSecOps

Are you struggling to demonstrate the business value of technology?

With over 25 years of experience driving innovation and architecting complex systems, I've seen fantastic technology fail because it did not adequately address the user needs of the people it was built to serve.

I specialize in creating clarity amidst complexity - bridging the gap between technology capabilities and business priorities. My superpower is quickly grasping the heart of ambiguous problems and rallying teams to deliver solutions that create measurable value.

If you are a technology or business leader tired of:

❌ Chasing the latest hype while struggling to justify budgets

❌ Translating technobabble for skeptical executives

❌ Watching projects derailed by misaligned priorities

I can help you cut through the noise to build innovation strategies and technology roadmaps that move the needle for your organization and fully leverage AI and automation.

My approach combines systems thinking, design practices, and technical fluency to:

🎯 Uncover the root causes of business problems

🎯 Rapidly validate solution ideas

🎯 Deliver technology that users love

🎯 Continually optimize to drive outcomes

I've applied this formula to industry leaders like PepsiCo and helped clients build and integrate critical IoT, cloud, data, DevOps, and AI capabilities. 

Let's connect for a discovery call to explore if my expertise can help unlock value in your technology investments.

Daniel Lemire

You want a real AI mistake story?

I set up Claude Code on my new NVIDIA Jetson AGX Thor. Hit an issue immediately. In retrospect it probably not smart to run a coding agent on the same machine that's also running a local model. 

Ok, let’s try again and keep ‘em separated.

Got everything running. OpenAI Codex + GPT-5.2 as the main agent, Anthropic sub-agents for the heavy lifting. I tell Claude explicitly: "Use these agents for this project. Always refer to it by this name."

Claude says: great.

Time passes. I check in.

"How's that project going?"

"Oh, I haven't been working on that."

No alarm. No flag. No warning.

"Alright, let's get moving on it."

"Will do." 

Then proceeds to use GPT-5.2 !! (not the Anthropic agents I specified.)

What happened next? We exhausted the Codex tokens. And then everything broke. I had asked for a fallback to the local model but that wasn’t configured with a large enough context window to work with OpenClaw. 

This is the part nobody talks about when they say "just tell the AI what you want."

Context windows drift. Agents forget. Token budgets run dry in the background while you think work is happening.

I found a way to turn this into an asset. But first I had to live through the mistake.

That's the beauty of AI MISTAKES. Right?

Go make some.

ServiceNow AI Consultant | AI MISTAKES | Transformation | DevOps

GPT-5.3 instant. Gemini 3.1 Flash Lite. (That's just today)

Every week, we get a new capability. 

Skills. Agents. Interfaces. Apps.

Here's the problem: People often don't really know what to do with it all.

Model choice is a thing, as are all the other new things that arrive apace.

But if your team can't turn that choice into value, you're just adding complexity.

I see this constantly in enterprise AI: Companies and their knowledgeable experts obsess over which model to use rather than asking what problem they're trying to solve. 

Especially when it comes to advanced AI models, we all want the latest, the most accurate, the fastest, the cheapest...

The real problem is neglecting to define success.

The best AI strategy isn't about the model. 

It's about:
→ Knowing your use case
→ Picking the right tool for the job
→ Shipping something that works
→ Iterating based on real feedback

Stop optimizing for choice. Start optimizing for impact.

We are no longer talking about just an AI chatbot, or even an AI agent. 

This is the help I've been excited about Generative AI making real.

For years, people have been talking about AI as a tool – something you use, something you prompt. What we’re building at  ServiceNow is different – where AI is a true teammate working alongside you. 

We’re launching two new agentic innovations: ServiceNow EmployeeWorks, and near and dear to my heart (and team), ServiceNow Autonomous Workforce! 🚀  

With ServiceNow Autonomous Workforce, AI specialists are augmenting human teams by actually executing jobs – coordinating across systems, making decisions, acting with precision. Because ServiceNow combines AI intelligence with workflow orchestration, AI specialists can interpret a request, decide the right action using business context, and execute autonomously across systems with governance built in.

It’s a new class of digital workforce designed to earn trust every step of the way. Built on our AI Platform. Grounded in our Knowledge Graph. Orchestrated through Workflow Data Fabric. Governed by AI Control Tower.

We’re just getting started! Kudos to everyone on my amazing team who has been working behind the scenes to bring this to life for our customers. Julie Black Greg George Simon Fauvel Amanda Joslin  

Check out my video with Bhavin Shah below and learn more: https://lnkd.in/d56whgXh

Not AI hype. 

Not AI in theory. 

AI you can actually use. 

Register now and let's get to work. 

Seriously. I'll see you there, come on, let's go!

https://lnkd.in/gTj6hDXf

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You've seen it, you visit a website that gives you that great new chatbot experience, and it tells you what to do. 

What you probably haven't see is AI that does it.

Does what?

Expense reports.

Drafting emails.

Handling service desk tickets.

It's not just a platform. It works! 

Let's put AI to work, so you can focus.

Join us live on February 26 to see it in action. https://lnkd.in/gkhd-GGi

The future isn't waiting for your permission to arrive.

Right now, AI is rewriting the rules of work, creativity, and problem-solving at a pace that makes yesterday's innovations feel ancient. 

Some people are paralyzed by the speed of change.
Some are trusting AI blindly, copying and pasting their way to mediocrity.
Others are sitting on the sidelines, hoping it all goes away.

Here's the thing about transformation:
It doesn't care if you're ready.

It's not all good though, so the only way to know is start. 

You need to get started. 

Think about it this way:
→ Every breakthrough started with someone willing to experiment
→ Every innovation came from learning what didn't work
→ Every expert was once a beginner who kept going

MISTAKES aren't just acceptable in this new world.
They're the curriculum.

When you learn to work WITH AI instead of being replaced BY it, something shifts.

You stop being a passenger.
You become a pilot.

The world needs people who can think critically about AI, use it responsibly, and create real value.

What's one AI experiment you've been hesitant to try? 

What's holding you back?

How can I help?

REST is great. 

CRUD is essential.  

But neither of these things means you’ll come away with a functioning app that is easy to use while also data-model compliant 
with governance enabled. 

Build Agent solves this.

For those evaluating vibe coding on ServiceNow: I ran the same app through five approaches and documented everything.

Three paths used Claude Opus from outside the platform. Namely, raw REST API calls, REST to build a workspace, and the ServiceNow SDK with its Fluent API. Two used ServiceNow Build Agent from within. Same brief, a Travel Request app.

Every approach created the data model in minutes. The UI is the hard part.

REST took 2 hours and 4 failed iterations to land on a working UI. The workspace attempt never finished. The SDK deployed the entire backend from a single prompt in 18 minutes and its Workspace Fluent API successfully created a native workspace, something REST couldn't achieve at all. But the custom UI page and dashboard still couldn't reach parity with Build Agent despite multiple iterations.

Build Agent delivered a working custom UI from one prompt in 20 minutes. A full workspace with dashboard, charts, business rules, Polaris, mobile-ready, upgrade-safe. All within five prompts, under 15 minutes.

The AI models are equally capable. The variable is where the agent operates. Build Agent is fastest for interactive building. The SDK is the path for teams who need Git, CI/CD, and promotion pipelines. Both are platform-native. Both sidestep the friction that REST hits.

Full comparison, iteration artefacts, and every limitation documented, see comments for the GitHub repo in case you want to reproduce this.

The Cumaean Sibyl wrote her prophecies on oak leaves and let the wind decide how they landed. Most of us speak in vibes now.

Ghermay A.

Co-Chair FOSS4G-NA 2025 | CEO/CMO & Founder | HubSpot Customer Advisory Board Member | Innovation & Growth Strategist | IT & Geospatial Consultant | Advisor & Lecturer

I’m a mission-driven technology and product strategy executive with 30 years of experience leading enterprise-scale innovation across government, critical infrastructure, commercial industries, and global organizations. 

My career has spanned software engineering, geospatial systems, data science, cloud modernization, and full-life-cycle product development—always focused on improving decision-making, resilience, and operational performance.

Before founding New Light Technologies (NLT), I worked across space, defense, academia, and engineering as a developer, analyst, instructor, and consultant during the early expansion of the Internet. Those experiences shaped my belief that technology should serve people, accelerate progress, and strengthen communities.

As CEO and Founder of NLT, I’ve built the company into a high-performing GIS, IT, Analytics, and Data Science provider supporting Federal, State, and Local Government; international organizations; commercial enterprises; and nonprofits. I lead with a blend of product strategy, business development, and deep technical fluency—helping customers modernize systems, adopt emerging technologies, and execute complex programs. I guide teams across engineering, analytics, cloud, and geospatial domains to deliver secure, scalable, mission-oriented solutions.

My background includes a Bachelor’s and Master’s from the University of Maryland, Harvard Business School executive education in Disruptive Innovation, and current Ph.D. studies in Earth Systems and Geoinformation Sciences at George Mason University. I hold CSM and GISP certifications and frequently serve as a lecturer, advisor, and speaker in the technology and geospatial communities.I’m passionate about innovation, product evolution, and sustainable growth. 

Whether advising leadership teams, co-chairing FOSS4G-NA 2025, or supporting HubSpot as a Customer Advisory Board member, my goal is to help organizations unlock value, enhance operational clarity, and transform data into impact.If you’re building technology, scaling teams, or navigating digital or geospatial transformation, I always welcome a conversation.

Founder and CEO of New Light Technologies, Inc. (NLT)

I'm proud to have been part of the #FedGeoDay planning committee over the last few years. It's been an honor to see firsthand the incredible volunteers who pour their time and energy into making this event happen year after year. Their dedication to the federal geospatial community is truly inspiring.

This year's FedGeoDay 2026 is shaping up to be another great one:

📅 April 22-23, 2026
📍 US Census Bureau, Suitland, MD
🎯 Theme: "Building Ecosystems for Supporting Federal Data Stewardship"

New this year — the program expands to two full days, with speakers and content on day two! The full schedule will be announced soon.

🎟️ Registration is now open! Reserve your spot here: https://lnkd.in/efrYNKEE

🤝 Sponsorship opportunities for #FedGeoDay 2026 are available! Promote your products and services, network with Federal users, and support the open source and open data communities. We offer multiple tiers that fit any budget. Click for more info: https://lnkd.in/eQD8vYGt

Hope to see you there!

#FedGeoDay #FedGeoDay2026 #Geospatial #OpenData #OpenSource #FederalGIS #GIS

Product Strategy & Innovation Leader | Founder & CEO | AI & Data Science Product Developer | Geospatial SME | Designing and Scaling Intelligent Systems

If you think managing your personal cloud is a challenge, try building an ecosystem for federal data stewardship. It takes more than just a few servers: it takes a dedicated community of practitioners (and a lot of coffee).

We are excited that #FedGeoDay 2026 returns this April 22–23 at the U.S. Census Bureau Headquarters. This year’s theme, "Building Ecosystems for Supporting Federal Data Stewardship," is at the core of what we do every day.

What started as a modest gathering is now the premier event for federal geospatial intelligence. Having served on the planning committee for years, I’ve seen this community turn raw data into mission-critical insights for disaster response and national security.

We are honored to feature keynote speaker Denice Ross, whose work leveraging data for the public good is truly inspirational. Whether you’re a GIS professional or a program manager modernizing your agency, there is a place for you in this ecosystem.

Register now at www.fedgeo.us and visit FedGeoDay for more exciting information!

Learn more on our history with #FedGeoDay on our blog
https://lnkd.in/eEWDhvhW

#GeoDevSecOps #DataSciences #CloudComputing #AI #FedGeoDay #DataStewardship #PublicSector

🔁 Reposting with gratitude to everyone who made this possible...

Twenty-five years. That milestone belongs to every person who has been part of the New Light Technologies journey — and to the extraordinary region that has been our home base from day one.

The #DMV and the broader Mid-Atlantic corridor is one of the most vibrant, capable, and mission-driven regions in the world — and NLT has had the privilege of growing alongside it. From Washington, DC and Bethesda to Silver Spring, Rockville, and College Park in Maryland. From Arlington, Alexandria, Tysons, Reston, and Fairfax in Virginia. Up the I-95 corridor through Baltimore, Annapolis, and Frederick — and south through Fredericksburg, Richmond, and beyond. This is our community. This is our talent base. This is home.

And it is only fitting that our very #firstcustomer — the organization that believed in us before we had a track record — was the DC Government  #GIS Program in the The Office of the Chief Technology Officer, Government of the District of Columbia at the ❤️  of the #DMV

Twenty-five years later, that relationship remains one of our most valued and enduring partnerships. It is genuinely rare in this industry for a customer relationship to span a full quarter century, and we do not take that lightly. We are deeply honored to continue supporting OCTO as we step into our next chapter together.

For 25 years, New Light Technologies has delivered mission-critical geospatial analytics, cloud modernization, AI/ML, and technology proructs, services and staffing, and cybersecurity solutions to the public sector, commercial and international organizations— and none of it would have been possible without:
Our customers and agency partners — whose trust and collaboration have driven every innovation we've delivered.

Our teaming and industry partners — whose expertise and commitment have made us a stronger, more capable organization.
Our team members — past and present — who are, without question, the heart of everything NLT has achieved. Your talent, dedication, and passion for public service is what makes this company worth celebrating.

Thank you to to the #OCTO team currently lead by Stephen N Miller and the executive team and the many talented current and past team members too many to name right here for now for the incredible journey.

Here's to the next 25 years of service, partnership, and impact. 🙏🏾

Ghermay Araya

Celebrating a quarter-century of mission-critical impact.

New Light Technologies is proud to mark a major milestone: 25 years of continuous service and partnership with the District of Columbia Government. Since our inception, we have been dedicated to providing the DC Government with integrated consulting services across Science, Technology, and Mission support to help solve the District's most complex challenges.

This milestone reflects 25 years of experience in geospatial analytics, cloud modernization, and mission-oriented engineering. We are honored to continue our partnership with the DC Government, delivering the agility and expertise required to navigate a rapidly changing world and serve the residents of our nation’s capital.

We remain committed to this legacy of service and innovation. Learn more about our comprehensive government support services at NewLightTechnologies.com.

#GeoDevSecOps #DataSciences #CloudComputing #AI #DCGov #PublicSector #Innovation

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