How Papa's Fully Remote Model Enhances Senior Health and IT Security

The Cyber Business Podcast

In this episode…

Erich Gazaui discusses Papa's mission to combat the loneliness epidemic affecting senior citizens. With services offered nationwide, Papa leverages Medicare Advantage to provide companionship through its network of Pals, creating meaningful connections that improve seniors’ mental and physical health. Erich explains how the company operates remotely while maintaining a personal touch, ensuring that Pals and members have seamless access to their proprietary platform. Erich dives into the challenges and solutions of managing HIPAA compliance, emphasizing the importance of safeguarding sensitive information through rigorous internal processes and external consultations. He also shares the journey behind building Papa’s technology stack, combining proprietary systems with enterprise-grade solutions to ensure scalability and efficiency. Drawing from his own career path, Erich reflects on the non-linear journey to becoming a CIO, starting with his passion for technology through video games. He highlights the importance of mentorship and community, underscoring his commitment to fostering leadership through groups like Inspire, where CIOs can share challenges and solutions in a supportive, commercial-free environment. Finally, Erich provides actionable insights on creating a chat-first organizational culture, leveraging short, relevant training modules, and managing notifications to boost productivity. His experiences illustrate how IT leaders can drive innovation while maintaining a focus on mission and values.