Episode #47 Inside the Frankenstack: Sean Nihill on Streamlining Systems for Scale

In this episode of The Queen of Automation, I sat down with Sean Nihill of Resourceive to get deep into one of my favorite rabbit holes: the chaotic, messy, and totally fixable intersection of tech strategy, automation, AI, and cybersecurity. From the very beginning, we called out the truth so many business owners ignore, technology is only good when it actually works. And when it doesn't, it's usually because someone threw tools at a problem without a real strategy.

Sean and I bonded over our shared background in tech and our love for helping businesses, whether SMBs or enterprise, get their systems streamlined and secure. He emphasized the importance of acting as a strategic tech advisor, not just pushing a one-size-fits-all solution. That resonated hard. We dug into cybersecurity hygiene for companies big and small, why two-factor authentication isn't the enemy (it’s your armor, people!), and the hidden costs of data vulnerabilities that too many founders ignore until it's too late.

Then came the real meat: automation and AI. I got to share why over-automation is a real thing and how it can strip your brand of the human touch that actually creates customer loyalty. I brought up one of my core beliefs, automations should make your life easier and your customers' experience smoother, not robotic. Sean and I both agreed that overcomplicating your tech stack doesn’t just cost money, it kills momentum and clarity. We called out the common trap of duct-taping 20+ tools together with Zapier and hoping it all holds. Spoiler: it doesn’t. We also talked about when to buy tech versus build it, and why having a strategy from day one will save you from tech debt and team headaches later.

This conversation was honest, punchy, and full of real talk about the operational black holes companies fall into, and how to pull yourself out of them with the right support. I loved Sean’s grounded, human-first approach to solving IT and infrastructure problems. He’s not just talking tech, he’s building partnerships, and it shows.

Connect with Sean Nihill on LinkedIn and visit resourceive.com to learn how his team helps businesses align tech strategy with real-world growth.