The Everything Feed - All Packet Pushers Pods LIU006: Stay Technical While Expanding Your Influence
Jan 15, 2026
Matt Starling, Senior Director of Product Marketing at Ekahau and co-founder of the Wi‑Fi Ninjas podcast, shares insights on navigating the tech world while expanding influence. He discusses his passion for Wi-Fi and the importance of solid connectivity in critical environments like hospitals. Matt contrasts simple home setups with complex systems and talks about the significance of hands-on experience and mentorship. He also explores the role of AI in design and emphasizes community involvement for growth, alongside practical tips for newcomers in the tech field.
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Unconventional Start Into Tech
- Matt started in tech without a university degree, beginning with a juice bar and then a tech training program that placed him into field service roles.
- He learned Wi‑Fi on the job, fixed retail devices, and moved into Wi‑Fi support where practical experience accelerated his growth.
Scale Is Where Wi‑Fi Gets Hard
- Wi‑Fi scales simply at small sizes but becomes complex and fragile at tens to thousands of access points.
- Keeping large networks healthy across years requires design, tools, and ongoing maintenance, not just initial deployment.
Measure Before You Modify
- Use measurement tools (surveys and heatmaps) to see invisible RF behavior before making changes.
- Rely on hardware scanners and visualization to find interferers and validate designs.