Sometimes the best conversations happen when you turn up the heat.
That’s the idea behind The Hot Seat, a video series from CloudFest and MSP GLOBAL, supported by WebPros. The format is pretty simple: two industry leaders, a plate of increasingly-spicy chicken wings, and a conversation that goes well beyond the usual talking points.
Think of it as part industry interview, part endurance challenge.
As the sauces get hotter, the discussions often get more candid. This is what both CloudFest and MSP GLOBAL have always been about: people, community, shared experiences, and a willingness to embrace what’s new, exciting, and occasionally uncomfortable.
We don’t just do this for fun: whether you’re building Cloud infrastructure or growing an MSP, success isn’t just about technology. It’s about relationships, curiosity, and having the confidence to explore what comes next.
And sometimes it helps to do that with your eyes watering and hot sauce running down your chin.
Oh, and we also do it for fun.
Dom Taylor faces the heat
The first guest to brave the Hot Seat is Dom Taylor, CTO of hosting.com and a familiar face to many in the hosting and Cloud community.
Dom is known for his sharp and unique views on technology and infrastructure, making him the perfect person to kick off a series designed to turn up the temperature. Joining CloudFest CEO Christian Jaeger, he tackles a range of topics while working his way through a lineup of hot sauces that gradually move from pleasantly warm to genuinely volcanic.
Between bites—and occasional moments of visible regret—Dom shares his thoughts on the foundations of successful hosting businesses, the technologies that continue to matter regardless of market trends, and the opportunities emerging from artificial intelligence.
Check it out for yourself (and a big thank-you to WebPros for supporting this episode—learn more about their solutions here).
Three Hot Takes from Dom Taylor
1. The fundamentals still matter
The hosting industry loves shiny new technology, but Dom argues that successful businesses are still built on the same core foundations: reliable infrastructure, strong operations, and a relentless focus on customers.
New tools can create advantages, but only when the basics are already in place.
2. AI works best when it solves real problems
Rather than chasing AI for its own sake, hosting.com is focused on practical applications that help its teams work smarter.
Dom discusses how language-analysis capabilities are being used internally, highlighting a growing trend across the industry: AI delivers the greatest value when it supports people rather than simply replacing existing processes.
3. Community remains a competitive advantage
Technology changes quickly, but good relationships endure.
One of Dom’s key observations is that the hosting industry’s collaborative culture continues to be one of its greatest strengths. Events like CloudFest and MSP GLOBAL create opportunities for partnerships, friendships, and knowledge sharing that just can’t be replicated in a Zoom window.
In a rapidly changing market, those connections remain as valuable as ever.
Join the Community
CloudFest remains the world’s largest gathering of internet infrastructure professionals, bringing together the people who build, manage, and power the Cloud.
MSP GLOBAL applies that same community-first spirit to the managed services industry, creating a space where MSPs, vendors, and channel leaders can learn, connect, and grow.
MSP GLOBAL 2026 takes place October 21-22 at PortAventura near Barcelona, bringing together the brightest minds in managed services for two days of insights, networking, and opportunities.
Tickets are available now, and registration is free for MSPs, MSSPs, resellers, systems integrators, and enterprise IT managers. Use the code CFHOTSEAT here.
And if the Hot Seat proves anything, it’s that the best conversations happen when great people come together, challenge ideas, share experiences, and aren’t afraid to add a little spice.
