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

Описание: 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  

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📕 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 
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