Brand in the Making by ThinkTank Thought Leadership

Dan Mikita, founder of Devs Operative, joins us to discuss how enterprises can make AI practical and cost-efficient. From Kubernetes optimization to Intel’s surprising take on Nvidia’s dominance, Dan explains how local enterprises can build scalable AI platforms in-house—without breaking their data centers or budgets.

Chapters:
(00:00) Welcome & Dan’s Journey into Tech
(04:20) From Enterprise Software to Founding Devs Operative
(09:15) Understanding Kubernetes and Large-Scale Efficiency
(15:40) Why Most AI Projects Fail to Reach Production
(22:25) Intel vs Nvidia: The Real ROI in AI Chips
(29:10) Running AI Models In-House for Security and Speed
(35:45) Optimizing GPU Usage in Enterprise Data Centers
(41:20) AI for the Midwest: Scaling Without Overbuilding
(47:30) Where to Find Dan & Devs Operative Online

Creators and Guests

Host
Jonathan Tasman
Jonathan Tasman is a high-performance growth marketer, content strategist, and founder of the Side Quest Book Club podcast. As Director of Growth Marketing at City Innovations, he builds and operationalizes full-stack content engines across multiple brands, driving traction for startups, corporate ventures, and thought leaders. Jonathan also leads strategic initiatives for ThinkTank, Traction Lab, and Beacon Services, while producing weekly podcast content and managing audience growth systems for clients. By day, he scales early-stage ventures. By night, he ships content, builds frameworks, and reads speculative fiction with a mic in hand.

What is Brand in the Making by ThinkTank Thought Leadership?

Behind every brand is a person.
We share their unheard stories as their journeys unfold.

Brand in the Making is a raw, unscripted podcast featuring founders, creators, and thought leaders who are building something meaningful. These are the voices you haven’t heard yet—captured in real time, before the headlines.

Each episode takes you inside the process: the sparks, the setbacks, and the strategies that shape personal brands and breakout businesses.

If you're curious about what it takes to build a brand that matters, this is your front-row seat.

Presented by ThinkTank Thought Leadership — the content engine for ambitious leaders.