One of the main reasons people are drawn to Austin is the emergence of the technology sector and the evolution of this city as a tech hub. From its humble beginnings to becoming a major player on the global tech stage, Austin's journey is one of strategic growth, community involvement, and a little bit of serendipity. That’s why we’ve invited Thom Singer, the CEO of the Austin Technology Council, to join us on episode two to share his insights into the city’s transformation.

For those who don’t know Thom, he has been the CEO of ATC since 2022 and has more than three decades of experience in the Austin tech community. He’s known as a renowned expert on networking, human connection, and the history of Austin’s tech industry. We’ve known him for more than 15 years now and appreciate him for being an elite mentor, business coach, successful podcaster, father and husband. He’s an incredible person who has played a part in this thriving tech scene and we want to explore that more with him today.

Discover the pivotal moments that shaped Austin's tech landscape, from the rise of Dell to the impact of South by Southwest. Learn more about the challenges and opportunities facing Austin's tech scene, the importance of community involvement, and Tom's personal experiences with stand-up comedy and mentorship.

Here’s some of what we discuss in this episode:

• Background on Thom and his journey from running a photography studio to becoming deeply entrenched in Austin’s tech scene.
• The ‘Dell effect’ and the other leaders who laid the groundwork.
• The significance of South by Southwest (SXSW) and it’s role in attracting innovators and entrepreneurs.
• The founding of Austin Technology Council and its role today.
• How does Austin stay Austin?

Learn more about ATC: https://www.austintechnologycouncil.org/
Connect with Thom: https://thomsinger.com/

Get in touch with Adam & Collective Advisors

Website: https://www.collectiveadvisors.com/

Request an appointment: https://www.collectiveadvisors.com/#contact

Call: 512-467-1923

Welcome to the first episode of the Austin Eras podcast powered by Collective Advisors. Adam Flagg hosts alongside producer and showrunner Mel Martin. Both are Austin residents who are tapped into the city.

Today we want to introduce you to the new show with some background on who we are and why we love the Live Music Capital of the World. To help tell our story, we’re sharing a few clips from an appearance Adam made on Jamie Hopkins’ former podcast, Framework.

We talked about our favorite memory of Austin, some of the positives and negatives, and where we think the city is headed in the future. Plus, we’ll tell you why we want this to be one of your go-to podcasts for conversation on Austin.

Here’s some of what we discuss in this episode:

• What’s behind the name of the show?
• What we love about Austin and why we chose to settle down here.
• The positives and negatives when you think about the current state of Austin.
• Adam’s first memory of Austin when he and his wife drove down from Illinois.
• Our goal for the podcast and why we think it will be worth listening to.

Get in touch with Adam & Collective Advisors

Website: https://www.collectiveadvisors.com/

Request an appointment: https://www.collectiveadvisors.com/#contact

Call: 512-467-1923