Cathy and Lee are on leave this month, and August is Greatest Hits time on TechMagic as we pull out some special episodes from our vault. In this Greatest Hits episode of TechMagic, hosts Cathy Hackl and Lee Kebler explore cutting-edge innovations, from AI agents to Meta’s fashion-forward Ray-Ban smart glasses. Special guest Melissa Medina, CEO of eMerge Americas, discusses South Florida’s rise as a global tech hub and previews their upcoming conference featuring industry leaders like Palmer Luckey and Daymond John. The hosts also dive into gaming news from GDC, NVIDIA’s latest advancements, and the evolution of "vibe coding" in software development. Packed with industry insights and engaging discussions, this episode is a must-listen for tech enthusiasts, developers, and innovation leaders alike.
Come for the Tech, stay for the Magic!
Melissa Medina Bio
Melissa Medina Jiménez is the co-founder, CEO, and President of eMerge Americas, a venture-backed platform transforming Miami into a global tech hub. Under her leadership, the annual eMerge Americas conference has grown to attract 20,000+ attendees from over 50 countries. A University of Florida graduate, Melissa also studied at ESADE in Barcelona. She is a partner at Medina Ventures and leads the Medina Family Foundation. Passionate about innovation and community impact, she champions Miami’s tech growth while raising her five children.
Melissa Medina on LinkedIn
eMerge Americas Website
Key Discussion Topics:
- 00:00 Welcome to Tech Magic with Cathy Hackl & Lee Kebler
- 02:09 The Hidden Musical Talents of Tech Leaders - Lee's Harmonica Journey
- 06:55 Inside DC's Tech Scene: AI Summit & Chip Diplomacy Discussions
- 13:14 The Global AI Race: Who Will Be #3 After US and China?
- 19:35 South by Southwest 2024: Music Takes Center Stage
- 31:02 Gaming Industry Updates: GDC Preview & Nintendo Switch News
- 38:37 Meta's Fashion Future: Partnership with Coperni for Smart Glasses
- 43:25 The Rise of AI Agents: From Simple Tasks to Complex Automation
- 53:54 The Evolution of Coding: From Machine Language to AI-Assisted Development
- 1:00:19 Special Interview: Melissa Medina on Miami's Tech Transformation
- 1:11:53 Key Takeaways & Looking Ahead to Future Tech Developments
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