But Victoria isn’t just a go to market expert, she’s also a stand-up comedian, and that combination makes her perspective especially interesting in a world increasingly shaped by AI, automation, and templated communication. In this conversation, we’ll explore her professional journey and the milestones that shaped her path, how comedy influences the way she thinks about storytelling and authenticity, and why humor can be a powerful tool not just for marketing, but for navigating uncertainty and pressure.

If you’re interested in marketing, storytelling, creativity, or how to stay human in an increasingly automated world, this is a conversation you’ll want to hear.

Tom has led global customer care and service organizations at companies like Walmart, Palm, and Facebook. 

But long before boardrooms and global teams, his career started in hospitals, hotels, and restaurants. Those early experiences didn’t just shape how he thinks about customer service; they shaped how he thinks about leadership, empathy, and what it really means to serve people.

He’s the author of a powerful book on growth and leadership - My Life in Business Suits, Hospital gGowns, and High Heels- he is the founder of Taranga Enterprises, and the CEO of the Academy for Coaching Excellence, where he works with leaders around the world to move from survival mode to bold, purpose-driven action.

Along the way, Tom has built and led teams across cultures and continents, navigated moments of massive professional change, and faced life-threatening health challenges that profoundly reshaped his definition of resilience.

In this conversation, we’ll explore the pivotal moments that shaped Tom’s leadership philosophy, what truly effective customer care organizations get right, what he learned inside Facebook during a defining period of growth, and how storytelling, performance, and lived experience have influenced his ability to connect with people at every level. We’ll also dig into his deep commitment to philanthropy and mentorship, and what responsibilities leaders have beyond the walls of their organizations.

This episode is about leadership as a mindset, growth as a human journey, and impact that goes far beyond metrics.

Enjoy!

Now AI is putting real pressure on that layer. As more applications become AI-enabled, expectations around speed, flexibility, and abstraction are changing. Developers don’t just need endpoints anymore, they need composable, reliable building blocks that work seamlessly with AI systems, automate complexity, and still give them control. The way APIs are built, discovered, and consumed is starting to shift.

To explore that shift, I’m joined by Samuel Kaluvuri, CEO & Chief Architect at ApyHub. Samuel has over 15 years of experience building and scaling developer platforms, and at ApyHub he’s focused on making APIs more accessible, reusable, and developer-friendly in a world that’s rapidly becoming AI-first.

In this conversation, we talk about the evolution of APIs, how AI is changing what developers need from platforms like ApyHub, the decision to open-source Voiden, what it means to bootstrap a developer marketplace, and what really matters when leading and scaling technical teams today.

Enjoy!

There’s a provocative idea emerging right now: that Scrum was always, in a way, an AI protocol.

 A system built on empiricism, rapid feedback loops, small batch sizes, and adaptive planning,  principles that align almost perfectly with how intelligent systems learn and improve. 

And now, as we move from purely human teams to hybrid human-AI teams, that idea isn’t theoretical anymore. It’s being built.

Today we’re exploring what might be the next major evolution in software development: Scrum in the age of AI,    and what happens when AI becomes not just a tool, but a teammate.

There is no better person to lead this conversation than Jeff Sutherland.

Jeff is the co-creator of Scrum, one of the original signatories of the Agile Manifesto, and the founder of Scrum Inc.. 

His work has transformed how millions of teams build software, and increasingly, how organizations operate far beyond tech. He’s also the author of the bestselling book Scrum: The Art of Doing Twice the Work in Half the Time, which helped bring Scrum principles into the mainstream.

Before all of that, Jeff was a fighter pilot, a West Point graduate, and a technologist who has consistently operated at the intersection of discipline, experimentation, and innovation.

Now, with his work on ScrumAI, he’s once again pushing the boundaries ,  asking what happens when AI participates directly in backlog refinement, sprint planning, estimation, and delivery.

 What does velocity mean in a world where part of the team is non-human? How do we preserve accountability, creativity, and team cohesion in hybrid environments? And what does this mean for the future of the software engineer?

Stay tuned to learn the answers. 

Enjoy!

It’s not often that you get to sit down with someone who has operated at the highest levels of public-sector technology, advised global organizations on the future of innovation, and brought that experience into the classroom and onto the page as a professor and author. That’s why it’s truly an honor to welcome Jonathan Reichental to the show.

Jonathan served as CIO for the City of Palo Alto, right in the heart of Silicon Valley, where he helped transform how a city can use technology to better serve its residents, from open data initiatives to digital services that made government more accessible, transparent, and responsive. Since then, through his advisory work and founding Human Future, he’s continued to help cities, governments, and organizations think more boldly, and more practically, about how emerging technologies can improve real lives.

What makes Jonathan’s perspective so powerful is the unique combination he brings: hands-on experience inside government, deep roots in the tech industry, and the reflective lens of a professor and author who studies leadership, innovation, and the future of cities. He doesn’t just talk about what’s possible, he understands what’s workable.

In this conversation, we’re exploring a critical question:
How can cities and governments actually use technology to serve people better?

Enjoy!

Matias is an entrepreneur, investor, and ecosystem builder. He is the Founder of 401, a Miami-based platform investing in bold ideas and venture funds, accelerating high-potential startups, and connecting Latin America with the U.S. through a strong cross-border community of founders, investors, and operators. 

His work is all about connecting ecosystems, building bridges, and unlocking opportunities,  especially between Latin America and the U.S., whether that’s through mentorship, investment, community programming, or hands-on operational leadership.

In this episode, we’ll dive into Matias’s journey: what he’s doing today, the reasons he believes Latin American founders should think globally, especially toward the U.S., and whether there’s truly something special about the bond between these regions.

Today’s guest sits right at the intersection of media, technology, and strategy. Allison McHenry is a seasoned media and tech leader who has spent her career helping news organizations navigate digital transformation, audience strategy, and the hard business questions that come with building sustainable, mission-driven media in a fragmented world.

In this conversation we will talk about how people are actually consuming news today and how distribution strategies are being rethought from the ground up, through the lens of Allison's story and experience as a Technology and Product Leader in this space. 

This is a thoughtful, honest conversation about the future of news, and what it will take to build media organizations that truly serve people in the years ahead.

In this conversation, we unpack what really changes for a CTO the moment private equity enters the picture: the shift in expectations, the compressed timelines for value creation, and the strategic mistakes that can quietly derail even strong technical leaders. Bobby shares what PE-backed CTOs often underestimate,  and what the best ones do differently when the pressure is on.

We also dig into how AI is reshaping the CTO role in very real ways. Not the hype, but how it actually changes where a CTO spends their time, which teams feel the impact most, and where productivity gains are truly showing up versus being oversold.

And finally, we get into people leadership, specifically the hard realities of leading distributed and outsourced engineering teams across cultures and geographies. Bobby offers a grounded take on what great leadership looks like today when teams may never share the same room, but standards still can’t slip.

If you’re a CTO, a technical leader, or anyone navigating scale under pressure, this one’s for you.

Bobby, thank you so much for being here!

Noureddine Oirkha is a Strategy & Transformation Director at Deloitte, where he works with large, complex organizations on some of their most ambitious, and most risky, initiatives: digital transformations, global ERP implementations, and enterprise-wide change programs. This is the kind of work where decisions ripple across thousands of people, dozens of systems, and years of execution.

In this conversation, we will unpack what digital transformation really means when you strip away the marketing language, why so many large ERP and transformation programs struggle or fail, and why process, discipline, and fundamentals matter just as much as vision and outcomes. 

If you’ve ever wondered why transformation is so hard, why it fails so often, or how to do it with more honesty and rigor, this is a conversation you won’t want to miss.

In this conversation, we go beyond titles and talk about the inflection points that shaped Rupen’s career, how mindset plays a role in navigating uncertainty, and what it’s really like to lead teams through constant technological disruption. We’ll dive deep into AI, how Rupen sees it transforming the tech industry over the next decade, how he’s applying it in practice at Bluescape, and what concepts like “Industry 5.0” mean when theory meets reality.

We’ll also explore what this rapid pace of change means for education, careers, and personal growth, and why human qualities still matter deeply in an AI-driven world. And to round things out, we’ll step away from the keyboard and talk about how Rupen recharges, stays inspired, and keeps perspective outside of tech.

Enjoy!

These are the kinds of questions and topics we’ll be exploring today with our guest, Mitch Kosowski.

Mitch is an experienced engineering leader who has lived this journey firsthand, from individual contributor to team lead and now executive leadership.

He’s deeply thoughtful about what effective leadership actually looks like in practice, how engineers can grow into influence without abandoning their technical roots, and how intentional networking and personal branding can accelerate career growth.

Enjoy!

Franco is an engineer and entrepreneur from Argentina who has built his career at the intersection of technology, product, and scale. Alongside his co-founder, Jérémy Goillot, he’s growing a truly global company with teams in Buenos Aires, Miami, and Paris, and an ambitious expansion into the U.S. market.

In this episode, we’ll explore Franco’s journey and the milestones that shaped him, the founding story of The Mobile-First Company, and why they chose a horizontal, general-purpose platform over a vertical approach. We’ll also talk about building a cross-border founding partnership, leveraging LATAM talent, scaling globally, what drives Franco, and how he disconnects outside of work.

Enjoy!

He’s built search systems from the ground up and now helps companies understand how they’re discovered by AI, not humans. 

We’ll talk about AI retrieval, startup lessons, and what founders are getting wrong about visibility today. 

Let’s dive in.

In this episode, we’ll talk about how Mo is using AI in his own work, how it’s changing the way teams build software, and what engineers should be excited, or cautious, about as AI becomes part of everyday development. We’ll explore how quickly ideas can now turn into prototypes, whether the AI hype is real or overblown, and how the role of the software engineer is evolving.

And of course, we’ll get to know Mo beyond work, what he’s experimenting with and what he enjoys outside of tech.

Enjoy!

Simone is a founder, builder, and global thinker whose work spans branding, marketing, human capital, and now, through his latest venture, HumanaQ, the future of how organizations understand and empower their people.

His journey has taken him across industries and across borders, shaping a unique perspective on what it really takes to create companies that are both meaningful and sustainable.

In this conversation, we  will dig into the origins of HumanaQ, the milestones that shaped Simone's career, and the lessons he’s learned about balancing passion and skill with financial sustainability.

It’s a conversation about culture, vision, discipline, and what it means to build with intention in a world that’s constantly changing.

Simone, thank you so much for being here!

Relationships Matter.

The way we get along... with coworkers, clients, etc, matters. We want to have fun and thrive in our own unique ways.

Well, today's guest is a living testament of this mantra.

Mickeli Bedore is a relationship builder. He is amazing at it!

And I want you to hear his story, what he does for a living, and HOW he does it.

Enjoy!

Victoria has built a truly international career, working across multiple countries and industries, from fintech and Web3 to SaaS and major global brands.

In our conversation, we’ll explore her story: how she got started in marketing, how living around the world shaped her perspective, and how she balances creativity and strategy in her work.

We’ll also talk about AI and how it’s transforming marketing, how she uses it in her day-to-day, and why many people still aren’t leveraging it to its full potential. And of course, we’ll talk about the future of the industry and her advice for young professionals.

Stay tuned, and enjoy the ride.

But Bruce also brings something rare to the tech world — a lifelong practice of meditation and energy awareness. As a Reiki Master and author of the upcoming book The AI Human Paradox, he explores how consciousness, intelligence, and technology are converging in ways that could redefine what it means to be human.

In this conversation, we’ll dive into the next leap in intelligence — where AI meets quantum computing, where cybersecurity must adapt to an entirely new threat landscape, and where brain–computer interfaces challenge our sense of identity.

Bruce shares why awareness may be the most important leadership skill of the 21st century — and how we can stay grounded, ethical, and human in an era of accelerating change.

So settle in — this is not just a discussion about technology. It’s a conversation about consciousness, responsibility, and the future we’re all building together.

Des is the author of Think Your Way to the Top: Like a Boss!, a year-long leadership journey designed for ambitious entrepreneurs and corporate leaders who want to think clearer, lead stronger, and scale smarter.  He’s also the founder of Thinking Academy, an initiative created to reshape how leaders learn, grow, and, most importantly, think about thinking itself.

In today’s conversation, we’ll explore how Des came to see mindset as the true differentiator in leadership success, the pivotal moments that shaped his leadership journey, and how he’s helping the next generation of leaders think better, lead better, and live better.

Enjoy!

Enjoy!

We reflect more on what success is, what makes us happy.

On this podcast, I get to interview a lot of people that I admire. Today's guest, Dan O'Sullivan, is no exception. 

Dan has an impressive career in Sales. He is a passionate Leader that cares deeply about the growth of his team. He knows his success is directly related to the success of his people.

Dan is a surfer. He loves the ocean. Talk to him about waves, and he won't stop smiling. 

He has surfed all over the world, but he has a special type of connection with the West African Coast region, where he is working with the NGO "Provide the slide" to help young people get into surfing and enjoy all the benefits and new perspectives in life that this sport provides.

This is an episode about joy, giving, and surfing. This is the story of Dan O'Sullivan.

Enjoy!

Our guest is Dean T. Barker, author of Advance: How to Move Your Business Forward with Design Strategy. The book blends the best of design strategy with actionable insights, providing a robust framework of knowledge, process, and tools for design leadership.

Dean’s expertise is extensive: he is one of the rare User Experience (UX) professionals who has been a successful consultant and led a large UX organization in a Fortune 100 company. His career spans over two decades in the design and development of software products.

In our conversation, we will explore Dean’s experience and his story in the technology industry, his philosophy and methodology for design strategy and the reasons why this is so close to his heart.

Whether you are new to the field or have decades of experience, you will find inspiration and valuable frameworks in this episode that will help make you indispensable to your organization.

How do we feel about it? and why?

What is a magician? Maybe most importantly, who is a magician? How does a person become a magician and why?

This is the story of Daniel K, a talented Magician from the small and remote country of Uruguay. And The only Uruguayan magician who made it to the historic Hollywood Magic Castle. 

How do you go from small performances for your family, in a remote 3 million people country, to Hollywood?

Stay tuned, and enjoy the ride.

From leading transformative growth at IBM and AWS to now serving as COO of Unstoppable Domains, Sandy has consistently been at the forefront of shaping how enterprises and consumers embrace emerging technologies.

Recognized as one of the most influential women in Web3 and a passionate advocate for digital identity, she’s not only an accomplished executive but also an author of multiple influential books, including her latest, AI First, Human Always. Sandy brings a unique perspective on how culture, leadership, and “innovation superpowers” can empower organizations to thrive in disruptive times.

In this conversation, we’ll explore her career journey, the convergence of AI and Web3, the cultural challenges of digital transformation, and the lessons she’s learned bringing both traditional and forward-looking brands into the future of decentralized technology.

After conducting over 30,000 interviews and navigating her own journey through burnout, Laura has distilled powerful insights into how we can redefine success, not just by achieving more, but by aligning with who we truly are.

In this conversation, we’ll explore what it means to step away from performance-based living, how to balance ambition with inner peace, and the practical tools Laura shares to help us all shine brighter in life and work.

In this conversation, we’ll explore Joe’s career journey and the milestones that brought him to his current role. We’ll dig into how his team is already using AI in their work, the changes AI is driving in software development today, and what the future might look like in the next few years. We’ll also talk about the biggest opportunities and risks AI introduces for developers and engineering teams, the evolving skillsets needed to succeed, and how culture plays a role in adapting to this new era.

And finally, Joe will share his perspective on what it takes to thrive in a leadership role like his. Whether you’re a developer, a team lead, or just curious about where software is headed, this is a conversation packed with insights you won’t want to miss.

What skills are needed to succeed? How can you get the most of your team members, no matter where they are located? How can you give them the most, and make them feel valued and integrated?

These are some of the questions we will talk about today, with my guest John "Ten" Dougherty.

We will also talk about his personal journey in technology, how he started leading teams, and what are the biggest joys and challenges that come with the role. And maybe, just maybe, we will get to know the reason behind his nickname "Ten".
 

Tune in, and enjoy the ride.

My guest is Quentin Reul, a leader in AI ethics and governance, and an active contributor to the IEEE working group on AI Ethics Oversight. Quentin has spent years helping organizations unlock the potential of data and AI while keeping responsibility, transparency, and trust at the core.

In this conversation, we’ll unpack some of the most urgent headlines in generative AI—from models resorting to manipulation and unsafe outputs, to the governance gaps that make these risks possible. Quentin will help us cut through the noise, explaining in plain language why these systems behave the way they do, what Responsible AI really means in practice, and how companies can start embedding ethical principles before—not after—something goes wrong.

We’ll also explore the debates shaping the future of AI: additive vs. subtractive approaches to governance, the promise of hybrid neuro-symbolic systems, and the processes leaders often overlook in their rush to innovate. And finally, we’ll look ahead—what guardrails and cultural shifts will be needed to ensure AI remains not just powerful, but also sustainable and trusted?

So, whether you’re an AI builder, policymaker, or just someone trying to make sense of the headlines, this episode will give you both a framework and a forward-looking perspective.

Let’s dive in with Quentin Reul.

In this conversation, we’ll explore how Alex transformed Zendrop’s product team into a metric-driven, high-velocity unit, his perspective on how AI will reshape fulfillment and global commerce, and the future of product operations in an increasingly remote, AI-assisted world. We’ll also dive into his unique background in physics and economics, and how those disciplines influence his approach to product leadership and strategy.

Beyond work, Alex is a big advocate for personal well-being and balance in leadership, so we’ll discuss how leaders can sustain creativity, health, and decision-making in an era where AI takes over more of the operational load.

Alex has a fascinating mix of rigor, vision, and humanity, and I’m excited to get into it. Let’s dive in.

This is the story of Hilario Canessa, an experienced Chief Executive Officer with a demonstrated history of working in the intersection of technology and design.

Hilario is the CEO & Founder of Studio 4D - an innovation company focused on immersive digital environments for Urbanism & Masterplanning, Industrial Training, Media & Entertainment. 

In this episode, we will talk about Architecture, the intersection between rationality and creativity, immersive digital experiences, AI, Music, Rugby, and so much more.

Stay tuned and enjoy the ride.

My guest, John Kammer, began his career in cybersecurity, protecting data, privacy, and trust in the digital world. But his path took an unexpected turn: into the deeply human, deeply personal realm of grief. 

Now, as a grief support innovator, John is pioneering the use of AI to create tools that honor loss, respect vulnerability, and provide comfort without shortcuts, surveillance, or exploitation.

In this episode, we’ll explore how John’s background in security informs his approach to protecting people at their most vulnerable moments, how AI can play a role in grief without ever replacing human empathy, and how lived experience shapes the technology he built. 

We’ll also talk about trust, impact, and his vision for a future where technology supports healing in the most ethical and compassionate ways possible.

This is a conversation about innovation, vulnerability, and the ways we can design technology that serves the human soul. Let’s dive in.

Armin brings a unique perspective at the intersection of cutting-edge technologies like AI and Extended Reality (XR), and currently leads innovation at Ultimate Dimension, a company revolutionizing renovation estimating with advanced tech solutions. 

We’ll explore his journey, his insights on the evolving tech landscape, and how AI and XR are reshaping industries, including the world of construction estimates and beyond.

Enjoy!

In this episode, we explore Farz current work and what’s motivating him as a founder today. We talk about his transition from big tech to entrepreneurship, the hype versus reality around AI, and the sustainability of VC-subsidized business models.

Farz brings a thoughtful, grounded perspective to topics like the future of work, how AI is reshaping software development, and what technical founders often get wrong early on.

Stick around; this one’s packed with insight.

From how we solve problems to how we teach our children, AI’s influence is not just reshaping our jobs; it’s reshaping our minds.

Today, we’re joined by Dr. Ashwin Mehta, an AI Strategist and Organizational Futurist who explores the deep and often overlooked impact of AI on human cognition.

With decades of experience guiding industries through technological change, Dr. Mehta helps us understand the silent trade-offs of cognitive offloading, the skills we must urgently preserve, and how we can strike a balance between the efficiency of machines and the intuition of the human mind.

This is a conversation about the future of our thoughts, and the future of ourselves.

Enjoy!

Whether you're a scrappy nonprofit or a fast-moving startup, the challenges of adopting AI go way beyond just plugging into ChatGPT. 

Today, we’re diving into what it really takes to bring generative AI into both nonprofit and for-profit organizations: the obstacles, the opportunities, and the practical steps leaders can take to move forward.

To help us unpack all of that, I'm joined by Dr. Stephen Huff, someone who’s been working at the intersection of technology, strategy, and education for years. 

He advises businesses and nonprofits alike on how to make AI work for them, and he brings a really grounded, no-nonsense perspective to the conversation. 

Enjoy!

Most HR leaders spent most of their career in HR.

At Xseed, we are trying something new. 

We are a software development company after all. So why not try someone with a background in software development?

This is the story of Diego Castro. From QA Automation Lead, to People Manager.

Why? When? How?

Stay tuned to learn more.

Enjoy!

What does it mean to run Operations?

What are the keys to success?
How do you keep up with all the moving pieces?

These are some of the questions I will be asking to our very own Agustina Suarez, Operations Manager at Xseed Solutions.

Mind you, I am as biased as it gets. Because I have the privilege of working with Agus daily, and I know what she is capable of. She is the reason I can go on vacations and simply forget about work. Need I say more?

But,  I will let you learn more on your own, and I promise I will stick to asking questions only.

Enjoy!!!

Stanfield is the founder and force behind DigSouth, the premier tech summit and media platform showcasing what's next in technology, business, and culture across the South. From launching the first editions of DigSouth to bringing major tech leaders to Charleston, Stanfield has built something bigger than just an event—he’s helped shape a regional movement.

In this conversation, we unpack his journey: how he got started in the tech world, what inspired him to create DigSouth, and how the landscape has evolved—especially through the COVID era. We’ll dive into his playbook for attracting big names to Charleston, his perspective on networking in a digital-first world, and what he sees coming next for the Southeast’s innovation economy.

And of course, we’ll take a step back to learn more about the person behind it all—his lessons as an entrepreneur, his vision for the future, and what keeps him grounded when he’s not working.

If you’re curious about building communities, driving innovation outside of Silicon Valley, or just want to hear a great story from someone at the intersection of tech, media, and the South—this one’s for you.

Let 's get into it.

I am not an engineer myself, but I work with engineers daily, and I've interviewed quite a few technology leaders to learn more about their story and their path in this industry.

I always learn something new. Most stories are not a simple straight line. There is a beginning, a spark, there's lots of hard work, there are opportunities and paths taken, decisions, there are mentors, there are lessons learned, discoveries by chance and preparation alike.

Today, we will dive deep into the story of Jeff Bridwell, a seasoned technologist and software engineering leader with over three decades of experience building systems and leading high-performing teams across fintech, ecommerce, and supply chain. Jeff is not only passionate about the craft of engineering, but also about growing people, fostering clarity, and making systems work for real-world impact.

In this episode, we explore Jeff’s journey into tech, his leadership philosophy, what he values in team members and how to foster high performing teams, how technology has evolved since he got started, and what he sees coming next. We’ll also touch on what keeps him grounded outside of work.

Whether you’re an engineer, a leader, or just someone thinking about the future of tech and teams, this conversation is packed with practical insights and thoughtful reflections.

Enjoy!

Joining me is Dante Vono, a seasoned leader in the CX/UX space with a unique background that bridges business strategy, design thinking, and emerging technologies. With a career that spans pivotal roles in both consulting and in-house innovation teams, Dante has spent years helping companies rethink how they engage with customers, from first interaction to long-term loyalty.

In this episode, we’ll talk about:
- what CX and UX actually mean in practice, 

- why they’re more critical than ever, 

- how the field has evolved over the past two decades, and where it’s headed next. 

Dante will also share personal milestones from his career journey, offer advice to those breaking into the field, and, on a lighter note, what he enjoys when he’s not shaping the future of digital experiences.

Enjoy!

Building the right culture, so the right people want to stay and contribute, is key to success.

Easier said than done in today's world of remote work and uncertainty.

What are the keys to understanding and building the culture you need?

Joining me today, is Alice Yoo LeClair, Senior Vice President and Head of Talent, Culture & Performance at Ascendion — a global leader in digital engineering and talent orchestration.

Alice has spearheaded Ascendion’s efforts in aligning human capital strategy with business goals, ultimately transforming the way organizations build and scale digital products. 

She leads thousands of people working remotely across the world.  

In our conversation today, we’ll explore:

1. Ascendion’s mission—how they help enterprises tackle digital transformation and talent challenges.
   
    
2. Alice’s journey—her career path, leadership philosophy, and what energizes her in this work.
   
    
3. Alice’s thoughts on building strong, inclusive tech cultures—especially in remote and hybrid environments.
   
    

Whether you care about DEI, remote work, or human-centered leadership in tech—this episode is you.

Enjoy!

Late into his twenties, he made a pivotal decision. He gave it all up, and found a way to enrol in Berklee, to study music and follow his passion.

How did a successful and young Uruguayan entrepreneur pivot from Business and Entrepreneurship into Music?

How did his background help him and inform the way he thought and go about playing or composing music?

This is the story of Nacho Gonzalez Nappa, an award winning film and video game music composer. 

Nacho is a very, very talented musician. But I would venture to say he is also a great philosopher and a humanist.

In a world where technology advances drastically by the minute, and the cost and time to “create” new things is reduced to mind numbing levels, Nacho’s call for doubling down on our own aesthetic lens, our very own point of view of the world and the magic within, is refreshing, compelling, and timely.

I could listen to this one a million times, and always find new golden nuggets. Go for it. Enjoy.

Joining me is Ali Sichel, founder of Fox Talent Solutions, a company that’s not just filling roles, but helping organizations build smarter, more strategic hiring engines. 

Ali’s journey through the world of recruitment is as inspiring as it is insightful. 

She’s helped shape teams at high-growth startups and understands both the art and the science of connecting companies with the right people.

In this episode, we’ll explore:

• Ali’s path into the recruiting world, and the pivotal moments that shaped her approach
• Why she founded Fox Talent Solutions, and what gap in the market she saw
• How her team blends customized search with internal tooling to empower clients
• The trends shaping the future of hiring, from AI and automation to cultural shifts in how people view work
• And what she sees on the horizon for both recruiters and the organizations they support

Whether you're building a team, navigating the job market, or just curious about how the recruiting landscape is evolving; this episode is packed with wisdom and forward-looking insights.

Let’s jump in. Here’s my conversation with Ali Sichel.

Joining me is Inaas Arabi, the Chief Operating Officer at Block, a fast-growing property management company that's not just managing real estate assets—but reimagining the systems behind them. From centralizing complex operations to integrating AI-driven solutions, Inaas is helping transform how property management works at scale, and how it feels to those who depend on it.

In this conversation, we’ll unpack:

• How Block is redefining what operational excellence looks like in real estate
• Why the industry has lagged in tech adoption—and what’s changing now
• The future of ERPs, AI, smart buildings, and even VR in housing
• And why human connection still matters most, even in a tech-powered world

We’ll also talk about Inaas’s personal journey—from building systems and leading change, to how he stays inspired outside the office.

This episode is for anyone fascinated by the convergence of technology, operations, and real human impact. Whether you're in PropTech, managing properties, or just curious about where your rent check is heading—this one’s for you.

Let’s get into it. Here’s my conversation with Inaas Arabi.

Today, we're joined by Kevin Henrikson—a technologist, entrepreneur, and pilot. 

From co-founding Acompli, which was acquired by Microsoft and became Outlook Mobile, to leading engineering teams at Microsoft and Instacart, Kevin has been at the forefront of building and scaling impactful technology. 

In this conversation, we'll unpack Kevin's journey through startups and big tech, discuss the importance of systems in scaling teams, examine the evolving landscape of AI and the future of work, and uncover how his experience as a pilot informs his approach to leadership and innovation.

Enjoy!

You’ve probably heard about generative models, language agents, and enterprise AI stacks—but what about the bakery, the logistics firm, or the family-run manufacturer? Why are these businesses so often left out of the AI revolution? And more importantly, what can be done about it?

Our guest is Justin Massa, a seasoned technologist, product thinker, and founder who’s now laser-focused on bridging the gap between cutting-edge AI and the everyday companies that need it most.

Justin is the founder of Midwest Quality Consulting, where he advises SMBs on how to thrive with generative AI. 

He also publishes the newsletter AI for SMBs, sharing insights and practical guidance for small businesses looking to leverage AI technologies .

In this episode, Justin will unpack the gap between what AI can do and what most SMBs are actually using it for— and share his vision for democratizing access to powerful tools, rethinking design roles in the age of AI, and training the next generation of AI-native leaders.

Let’s get into it.

Now, even within those who acknowledge it, some people do something about it, and some people mostly sit back as expectators.

I have to be honest, I worry about climate change. But I don't do much about it.

My guest though... he decided he really, really wanted to have an impact to make things better.

Meet Craig Allen. An executive director with more than 30 years of experience. He is a senior Leader, with an impressive track record as a Finance leader, having worked as a CFO in a fair share of companies.

He could have simply stayed in this track. But, something happened, and at a time of his life when few others would dare to change course, he became an entrepreneur and co-founder, and made his mission to recycle waste and turn it into energy, therefore enabling a circular economy.

How? when? why?

Stay tuned, to learn the answer to these, and many more questions.

In this episode, we'll delve into the realm of cell replacement therapy, a groundbreaking approach in regenerative medicine that involves replacing damaged or dysfunctional cells with healthy ones. This therapeutic strategy holds immense potential for treating various diseases, including certain types of cancer and degenerative disorders.

We'll explore the latest advancements, ethical considerations, and the future trajectory of this promising field.

Join us as we uncover the transformative possibilities of cell replacement therapy with Carter Cliff, whose leadership at Papillon Therapeutics is at the forefront of these medical innovations.

An AI revolution is underway.

It's hard to keep up, new models pop up every day. 

Many significant players and thought leaders in the industry claim AGI (in its many different definitions) is right around the corner.

The job market has already changed. In the tech industry alone, traditional job postings are at its lowest since 2018. New jobs are emerging, and AI has been widely adopted to increase the productivity of traditional tech roles.

Where are we going from here? Are we ready? Do we even know what "being ready" means?

I am going deep into these questions with my guest today, Jason Grey.

Let me tell you, Jason has been coding for the last 40 years. He's seen and lived through various cycles of technology evolution, but he's never been as excited, or scared, or both at the same time, as today. 

Enjoy!

I know, we keep hearing about it, every single day.

But, let's be real here. It's happening. It's really happening.

Things ARE changing. So, the best thing we can do is to talk about it, learn about it, adapt, and evolve.

So, with that in mind, I will interview Hunter Powers,  a visionary and experienced technology executive with more than 20 years of experience in technology and more than 10 years in leadership roles.

 Hunter lives and breathes AI, and specializes in steering Artificial Intelligence (AI)/ Machine Learning (ML) driven solutions for world-renowned companies. 

He also has a very interesting and fun podcast on all things AI, called, They Might Be Self Aware.

Interested already? me too.

Let's dive into it!

2025 has been, so far, a very interesting year, to put it mildly.

The word that comes to mind is - uncertainty.

What will happen to the Economy? If things keep escalating, what will be the effect of a global trade war? How will the job market be affected by further advancement in AI?

CEOs are trying to stay tuned to the right signals, to prepare for whatever is coming. But It's really hard to keep up. 

My guest today, Phil Rosen, is a brilliant journalist with an impressive career covering markets and investment. He founded and leads Opening Bell Daily, an independent financial media company that delivers data-driven, original reporting on Wall Street — at no cost to readers. Before turning 25, he had already published two books both of which became #1 Amazon Bestsellers across multiple categories. And he's lived and worked in many places around the world, in almost all continents.

Tune in to listen to his story, thoughts on the economy, and what it takes to become and remain a successful journalist in today's world.

Heroes leveraging technology to work from wherever they please in the world.

For some trades, especially in tech, all you need is a good laptop and a solid internet connection, and you are set.

The location can be irrelevant.

But... What is a Digital Nomad? How does it really work? How does it feel to be a digital nomad? What's up with all the return to office mandates? Is remote work ever going away?

Today, I have the pleasure to interview Taiga Gamell, a true Digital Nomad, who spends his year in at least 4 countries and 3 different continents.

Taiga is a cofounder at Gildre, an international membership community for innovators and builders to elevate their entrepreneurial potential. He has a special talent to build connections and he wants to help others do the same, you can quickly feel this just by spending 10 minutes on the phone with him.

Enjoy!

Founders and VCs.

That's our topic for today, and let me tell you, we have a one of a kind guest.

I love his content, follow him on LinkedIn, devour his newsletter, and laugh at his jokes...

My guest today knows the VC world in and out, and he sure knows how to help founders navigate it, but also have his community laugh, and reflect about it, through the amazing content he is constantly putting out, on Linkedin, in his newsletter, and so many other places.

Ladies and Gentleman, Jack Kuveke.

Enjoy!

From entertainment, to business, to staying up to date with news, social media platforms permeate every aspect of our lives.

More than half of young people want to become influencers and would choose that as an occupation if possible.

But, what does it mean? What is an influencer? How do you become one? What does it take? What does it feel like?

Personal and company brands are more intertwined than ever. 

Even if you don't make a living out of being an influencer, chances are you still need to work on your online personal brand, because it's now a part of your job.

Today, I will interview Claire Barthelemy, chief of staff at Professional Capital Management, to talk about her story, her early days as an influencer, her experience and views on the marketing industry, and what it means to build an online presence in today's world.

Enjoy!

Only 10% of tech startups survive in the long run...

But the biggest hurdle is going from 0 to 1.

Especially on the technology side.

What do you build and how? How do you keep the cash flowing to survive that early stage?

How do you build your team?

It's hard!

My guest today, Shawn Coe, has more than 25 years of experience in the tech industry, and he has built a career helping companies scale in early stages and build a viable business. From engineer, to product manager, to CTO, to Advisor, he's been there, done that, and he is here today to share his story and help us answer important questions on how to get your business started.

Enjoy!

It's one thing to be leading a team of 5 to 10 people. And a completely different thing, when your team grows to hundreds...

The game changes all of a sudden. But maybe, you still want to have that startup culture of high performance and innovation, the respect for the individuality of each of your team members, the autonomy they need to thrive...

So how do you do that when teams grow and you have a bigger pressure for structure and processes?

Today, I will interview Wade Bruce, to answer these and many more questions. With over 15 years of experience in the Tech Industry, Wade is the CTO at Fetch Rewards, a Leading Rewards App in America that has experienced tremendous growth in the last years.

Wade started as an individual contributor at Fetch, and quickly grew through the ranks to become the Technology Leader he is today.

Want to learn how he did it and what did it take? Stay tuned, and enjoy the ride.

There are many risks. Geopolitical Factors, Natural Disasters, Supply Chain Bottlenecks and Disruptions... you name it.

But technology has the promise to make this industry better.

AI and Blockchain, amongst other technologies, have the power to improve supply chains and make them more adaptable and resilient.

Heard this before? Wondering how it is different now? Where? Who are the most important players in this space? What's coming next? What is the future of logistics?

Join me, to learn the answer to these and many more questions, as I interview Joe Taylor, a logistics and tech innovator, a CTO with 20 years of experience in the space, a cofounder still in stealth mode, who has made his mission to radically improve the way logistics work around the world. 

Enjoy!

And I wonder. How are your new year's resolutions coming along?

Did you make any resolutions? If so, were you dreaming big or keeping it safe?

Are you trying new things? Are you trying new, scary things? challenging things?

Are you miserably failing at any of those?

My guest will be happy if so.

Let me clarify, she will be happy about you embracing your fears and learning something new from it and growing from there. That's her mantra. Harnessing fear to ignite opportunity. 

Fueled by her own experiences of confronting fears and embracing vulnerability, and the career she was able to build for herself, Sabrina embarked on a mission to inspire others to do the same. From workshops to global conferences, Sabrina has spoken to some of the largest names in tech. Her message is clear: true greatness lies on the other side of fear. 

With a behavioral psychology background, business, and litigation, she’s helped individuals and organizations view strategy and technology enablement differently. She is a passionate, energetic, and fun individual to be around.

Stay tuned and enjoy this very insightful episode!

For too long, agreements between service providers and buyers have been mostly used as risk allocation tools.

We spend too much time on clauses like indemnification or limitation of liability, and too little time on scope of services, expected results, and guarantees for buyers and vendors alike.

My guest, Zach Beegal, has built a career engineering value driven agreements' that focuses on aligning incentives between partners. 

From his days as a senior consultant at Deloitte, to his entrepreneurship journey, this has been his focus and north star.

But, how do you put these nice words about incentives alignment into practice? you might ask yourself. 

Well, stay tuned to learn the answer to this and many more questions, as we dive deep into Zach's past, present and future, in today's episode of The Future Of The Future Podcast.

It all starts there. If you want to survive as a business, you need revenue.

There are many teams and factors that impact Revenue. Sales, Marketing, Customer Service and Success, and many others. And all of these teams have different groups within.

They should be aligned, and working well together, towards a shared goal, right?

Well... you'll be surprised...

Today, we will look under the hood of RevOps, with none other than Jen Igartua, CEO of Go Nimbly, a well known and successful RevOps Consultancy.

What is wrong today with RevOps? How can we fix it? Why does it matter? What's Jen's story, and what does she do when she is not fixing the world of RevOps?

Stay tuned to learn more about these, and many more questions.

Enjoy!

Leaders are everywhere, and they have an impact on people's lives.

There are no perfect recipes. Leaders have different styles. Leaders have good things, and bad things.

I guess that is the reason why there is so much content on the topic. So many books, videos, podcasts...

I've personally done more than a few episodes on Leadership, especially in the technology world. But I never, ever, get tired of it. Because each person I interview has their own unique Style.

Today, I will interview Josh Sheppard, a seasoned CTO with over 25 years of experience in the tech industry. 

We will talk about his take on leadership. What values matter and why. The fine balance between how much responsibility we can take on as individuals, and our well being, and much more.

Enjoy!

It's 6 am in the morning. I'm in a car with two friends, looking for a good spot to surf.

One of them is a scientist. A proper scientist with a PHD and all. He lived in San Francisco, Paris and other places. He recently came back to Uruguay, our home country, to lead a lab at the Pasteur Institute.

He works with viruses. So we start talking about the latest virus fad, the coronavirus, or COVID.

Will it reach Uruguay? The bird flu didn't get big here... will this one?

His face and his tone get serious now. It might. This one is strong. And he is actually working on a novel idea. He wants to develop a type of homegrown test that can be used to track the virus domestically without needed help from other countries. It might get nasty, he says...

Fast forward just two weeks from that moment, and the first coronavirus is detected in Uruguay. And we started testing like crazy. Using the test developed by my friend and his colleagues.

Fast forward a year from then. And Uruguay is one of the few countries in the world that has managed to keep the virus at bay (in relative comparison to other places). We can still meet friends and go surfing. And vaccines will be coming soon.

Today, I have the immense pleasure to interview my friend, Gonzalo Moratorio. He is a Scientist and University Professor at the Institut Pasteur de Montevideo. He has more than 15 years of experience, including postdoctoral training at the Institut Pasteur Paris, and he has made, and continues to make, valuable contributions to viral evolution and applied virology. 

Let’s talk about his story, viruses, vaccines, and more, much more.
 

Enjoy!

Orayah is a women-led boutique agency with a distributed team across North America, specializing in strategy, brand development, creative content, martech, social media, and product marketing. Their mission is to provide bespoke marketing and branding services tailored to the unique needs of companies across the U.S. and Canada.

In today's discussion, we'll explore the journey of founding Orayah, delve into the personal milestones that shaped their perspectives on sales and marketing alignment, and examine the challenges and solutions in bridging the gap between these critical business functions.

We'll also discuss the role of technology, structured strategies, and data-driven decision-making in achieving alignment, and gain insights into the future of sales and marketing in an era of rapid technological advancement.

Join us as we uncover the story behind Orayah and gain valuable insights into creating a unified strategy that harmonizes sales and marketing efforts for business success.

In this episode, we’ll dive into Eddie’s journey—how his experiences shaped his leadership style, what a Fractional CTO brings to the table, and how this role can drive innovation and growth for businesses.

We’ll also explore the growing demand for flexible tech leadership in today’s fast-paced world and hear Eddie’s vision for the future of tech-enabled organizations. 

Enjoy!

Today, I’m thrilled to welcome Eric Hunsberger, a seasoned tech leader who has recently embraced the dynamic and impactful role of a fractional CTO.

With a rich career spanning various leadership positions in technology, Eric brings a unique perspective on navigating the evolving demands of modern businesses while empowering teams to achieve their potential.

In this episode, we’ll dive into Eric’s journey—what inspired his transition to a fractional role, the defining moments that shaped his leadership style, and how his diverse experiences inform his approach today. We’ll also explore the unique value a fractional CTO brings to an organization, the challenges of leading in a non-traditional capacity, and his advice for tech professionals aspiring to follow a similar path.

Plus, we’ll get a glimpse into the human side of leadership as Eric shares what keeps him energized when he’s not working. 

Enjoy!

Politics at work can be exhausting. They can turn a place toxic, create health issues, and hamper productivity.

There is a better way.

We all know there is a better way... but, what happens if we play nice when others don't? 

If I become the nice guy at work, will this have a negative impact on my career?

Join me as I interview Brad Wilson, a senior leader in HR with more than 20 years of experience, to talk about his story, his thoughts on doing good work, and why this matters so much to him.

We'll talk about practical tips to leverage goodness at work, with real life positive outcomes.

Enjoy!

Our guest, Jonathan Kash, is a seasoned technology leader with a remarkable track record of creating high-performing teams and fostering cultures that prioritize authenticity and excellence.

Jonathan has had very good bosses and not so good bosses. He learned almost as much by watching leaders act, than by being a leader himself.

Leadership matters to Jonathan. It matters so much, he is writing a book about it, about his experience, and practical advice on how to be a better leader.

In this episode, we’ll talk about what it takes to lead in today’s fast-paced, tech-driven world. From Jonathan’s personal journey to his advice on building authentic connections, we’ll explore how leaders can foster high-performance cultures while remaining true to their values.

 

I know you will enjoy this conversation as much as myself.

Joining me is the multi-talented Sam Hopkins—a true generalist who has made waves in tech, language preservation, music, and even as a trivia champion on Jeopardy. 

Sam’s unique career path blends disciplines like sociology, philosophy, and music, demonstrating the incredible power of interdisciplinary thinking in solving complex problems and fostering innovation.

In this episode, we’ll explore how Sam’s ADHD has driven his diverse learning journey, how his love for connection and creativity shapes his work, and why being a generalist is a superpower in today’s fast-evolving tech landscape. 

From the lessons he’s learned as a DJ and language learner to his thoughts on ethics in tech and advice for aspiring generalists, Sam’s story is a testament to the power of curiosity and versatility.

So, tune in as we uncover the fascinating intersections of technology, humanity, and creativity with Sam Hopkins!

How many women work in your team? How many women are in leadership roles in your company?

Do you think about diversity or what it means to be a woman in tech? Do you worry about it?

If you are worried, do you take any steps to change anything?

I find the least I can do... is listen.
And this is what I will do today, in this episode. I will interview Jennifer Larson, an executive in the tech industry with over 20 years of experience, so SHE can tell us about her journey in tech,  why diversity matters, why education is so important, and where do we go from here.

Enjoy!

You've heard about it multiple times. You've read about it. And maybe, if you were lucky enough, you worked in great teams where psychological safety was a reality.

But, what is it? How do we define it? How do we foster this sense of safety in a team? How do we safeguard this safety over time?

Today, I will interview Jared Olhoft, a technology executive with over 20 years of experience driving organizational success and leading high performing teams. We will talk about his background in the technology industry, and why psychological safety is so important for him as a leader, and how to enable it.

Enjoy!

We’ll unpack the essentials of building a strong data culture, examine the role of data-driven decision-making in organizational growth, and discuss the critical skills leaders need to navigate the rapid pace of tech advancements. Mike will also share his vision on where AI and big data are heading, along with some of the emerging tools and trends he believes will define the future.

Whether you’re a tech enthusiast, business leader, or just curious about the future, this conversation is packed with insights you won’t want to miss.

Enjoy!

I loved the job. You get to learn something new every day. If you lead procurement for a large organization, you are dealing with various different needs and therefore industries and suppliers. From real estate to office supplies, from SaaS to Staff Augmentation, from Cloud Hosting to Cyber Security, from Translation Services to Event Planning… you name it.

The biggest challenge for any procurement organization? to really understand the need of your internal stakeholder, and therefore product or service that best suits such need.

Easier said than done. Procurement teams are typically understaffed and overworked and need to jump from one deal to the next in lightspeed context switching. And you are dealing with suppliers and vendors that sell the same thing over and over and over, so you are under-trained compared to vendors and sometimes you don’t even know what questions matter most to decide what solution to choose.

Enter Teem, an AI-powered supplier sourcing platform for procurement teams, that automates supplier research, RFXs, and consolidation insights for technology sourcing and procurement teams. 

An esteemed friend and colleague from the Procurement world introduced me to Ben Mappen, CEO and Cofounder of Teem, and I am glad he made the connection. Prior to Teem, Ben cofounded Armory, a DevOps platform that raised over $80M in VC funding and exited last year. Ben has led and scaled Sales, Customer Success, and Product teams to drive growth and innovation.

So this became a conversation around the future of work for Procurement teams, but also about Ben’s past and future as an entrepreneur and startup founder.

Many lessons here about these topics.

Enjoy!

A product leader is arguably the most strategic role at a tech company.

What are we building and why? Where are we going? What does our roadmap look like?

Product Leaders need to tune in to the business they support, the customers they serve, the market and industry they are in, and the trends shaping its future.

And then they need to orchestrate various moving pieces to deliver value, in time, to real customers, paying customers.

Today, we are going to dive deep into the world of Andrew (Drew) Mechkoff-Nolte, Chief Product Officer at ThirdHome, and the specific market he caters for: a Luxury Brand market.

How do things work with these types of affluent customers? What are the do's and don'ts in the world of luxury?

Are you as intrigued as I am?

Enjoy!

To answer these questions, and many more, I will interview John Sukup, Founder of Expected X and an expert in driving AI-powered success.

In this episode, we’ll explore how John navigates beyond the hype to create meaningful AI solutions that deliver results. We'll dive into his journey, the challenges he’s faced, and what it takes to make AI work in the real world.

If you want to understand how AI can be leveraged for real change, you won't want to miss this conversation.

Would you say you are part of a community? Do you feel a sense of belonging?

When was the last time you tried to enter into, or build, a new community?

Was it hard? Or is this something that comes easy to you?

In my own personal experience, getting into, or building a new community, is not easy. And sometimes, business can make it harder, or, more interesting.

That's our topic for today. With an interesting twist. Building a community across borders. Yes... building a community in a foreign country, with a foreign language, and foreign customs and cultural codes.

You don't want to miss this one! Our guest, Joe Teo, builds communities for a living. He is an immigrant himself, so he knows a thing or two about adapting to new environments. 

Let's hear more about his story!

You know what my biggest fear is? An empty calendar.

The absence of meetings.

Every person in sales knows this. You need meetings. You need people in front of you. Then you can work your magic.

Getting those meetings? Not that easy.

Enter the SALES DEVELOPMENT REPRESENTATIVE, the SDR. Their only job is to prospect clients, generate leads, and take them to meetings.

It's a hard business to be in I tell you. But the best SDRs? Oh they have FUN. Every new day is an opportunity to uncover new opportunities.

How do you assemble a team of great SDRs? How do you get the best of them?

Those are some of the questions I will ask today, to my amazing guest, Gabe Lullo... an experienced leader in the space, who, let me just tell you a few numbers... has trained over 8,000 salespeople across diverse businesses and, during his tenure in Alleyoop, he has personally hired and managed more than 1,500 SDRs...

Enjoy!

Numbers are beyond comprehension. Millions and millions of photos, videos, comments, blogs, interviews... you name it.

Everyone is fighting for attention. Craving for humans to focus on their latest creation. Trying to understand algorithms and make sense of why certain content goes viral and some don't. 

So many questions. So many experts out there. What should we trust? is there a secret formula? a method?

Today, we're diving deep into the world of online marketing and content consumption with none other than Ted Harrison, the founder and CEO of neuemotion. 

Ted's work at Neuemotion has revolutionized the way brands connect with audiences by applying neuroscience to understand how humans engage with content in the digital age.  

I think we are in good hands. So sit tight, and enjoy the ride.

Stive has been instrumental in shaping Xseed’s growth, particularly focusing on harnessing the immense talent pool in Latin America (LATAM).

In this episode, we’ll dive into Stive’s unique insights on why LATAM is emerging as a Tech Talent Hub; what it means to be a tech leader in the ever-evolving software development landscape, and Stive’s personal journey towards leadership.

Enjoy!

In this episode, we’ll explore Riccardo's journey from the early days of Monero to his current projects. We’ll discuss why privacy became such an essential part of his mission and why it remains critical in today’s ever-increasingly digital world. We’ll also look at what’s working in the crypto space, what isn’t, and how governments around the world are grappling with crypto regulations.

We’ll touch on the hot topics of stablecoins and CBDCs, and Riccardo will share his thoughts on the challenges of achieving true decentralization at scale. Of course, we'll also explore what exciting innovations are on the horizon for blockchain technology.

So, whether you’re a crypto enthusiast or just curious about the future of decentralized finance, this episode promises a wealth of insights from one of the industry’s most influential voices. Let’s dive in!

In this day and age, customer experience is everything. Delight customers, and they will come back, again and again, and advocate for your product or services.

Mess up your customer experience... Well, you might not live to tell the story.

But how do we get this right? How do we stand from the rest? How do we ensure our customer's experience is the best? How do we build communities? How does technology impact our efforts?

I think we have just the perfect guest to answer these questions.  Christina Garnett, is a fractional chief customer officer and advisor, with a special talent for boosting customer satisfaction and fostering brand loyalty. From Fortune 500 companies, to small businesses, she's been there, done that.

Buckle up and enjoy the ride! get ready for 30 minutes of pure valuable content and advice.

Our guest, Ryan McKesson, a seasoned professional who has carved out a successful career in this unique space. Ryan brings a wealth of experience in managing client relationships within the tech industry, where the intersection of technology and human connection is key.

How do you build relationships as an account manager? How do you build trust? How do you connect with your customers?

These are some of the questions we will answer today.

We’ll explore Ryan's journey, from what sparked his interest in technology and account management to the critical skills and challenges he’s faced along the way. We’ll also dive into how advancements like automation and AI might reshape the role of account managers in the future. Plus, we’ll learn a bit about how Ryan unwinds outside of the tech world.  

Enjoy!

Enjoy!

We’re joined by Andrea Correa (Andy), a software developer who started not too long ago as a junior herself.

This episode is close to my heart. I personally hired Andy a few years ago, but not as a software developer... her story, how she got started with us and where she is today? That's the topic for today.

Together, we'll explore what it means to break into the Tech industry, how the rise of AI is shifting the game, and what challenges newcomers face in the job market. 

Is it harder than ever to land that first gig?, or do new technologies present fresh opportunities? Let's find out!

Companies in developed countries with higher costs of living, have been contracting  external providers to carry out internal business processes for decades now.

At first, the benefits were plain and simple, cost reduction through labor arbitrage.

But with the ever growing need for talented engineers in the tech industry, the reasons to look for outsourcing staffing partners multiplied. It's no longer just about cost, but expanding the talent pool and leveraging a global workforce.

Easier said than done. How do you find the right people? Where? How do you hire them? How do you keep them engaged? What cultural and regulatory aspects should you keep in mind when dealing with people from different places around the world?

Our guest, Dylan Serota, has been dealing with these challenges for many years now. What started as a need to find bright engineers that could augment his team in San Francisco, became a life-quest to build a company that would provide the best global talent to customers with the exact same need.

I can't go any further, or else, I will spoil the story and the valuable lessons we can learn from it. Let's dive deep into the world of outsourcing, enjoy!

That job you are looking for? That promotion you are seeking? That business you want to explore as an entrepreneur? 

An online presence, and a strong network, will accelerate all of your dreams.

But how? You might be an introvert and just wondering, wait this is not for me!..., I can't change my personality...

Or, you might have trouble understanding how to filter what to say or not when you are online. Or, how do I get started? or How do I keep going?

Well, I couldn't ask for a better guest to talk about this topic. Today, I will interview Patrick Kelley, a Chief Technology Evangelist and Distinguished Architect, an influencer in his own right, an amazing public speaker with a massive audience, who constantly shares tips about building your own brand and why this is so important nowadays.

I am excited, I know we will learn many valuable lessons in this episode.

Enjoy!

In this episode, we explore Awen's personal journey and professional story. We'll start by discussing her current role and how she navigated her career to get here. Awen shares insights into her definition of AI, contrasting it with common interpretations and misconceptions. She also provides a firsthand look at practical AI applications she has encountered.

We delve into the differing AI strategies of the US and China, examining the unique strengths and challenges each country faces. Awen offers her perspective on who is currently leading the AI race and where she believes the technology is headed in the coming years. Additionally, we discuss the potential impact of AI on the future of work and how individuals can prepare for these changes.

Join us as we uncover Awen Yuan's fascinating experiences and gain valuable insights into the dynamic world of AI and its global implications. Don't miss this episode packed with expert knowledge and forward-thinking perspectives!

Well, maybe not exactly? but it is hard! and if you have led startups and businesses, you know.

You can get hit from so many different directions.

It’s an emotional rollercoaster, day in and day out.

So how do you stay focused in the world of entrepreneurship? How do you navigate through ups and lows? Where do you learn this stuff? Who do you turn to when in trouble?

These are some of the questions we talked about with Mike Carlo this episode.

Mike has over 30 years of experience leading, founding, and operating businesses at various levels. From pwc, to XanderPay, and everything in between, he’s learned valuable lessons along the way, and he wants to share those with you.

Enjoy!

Our guest today is Mike Zani, CEO of The Predictive Index and the best-selling author of the book - The Science of Dream Teams. Mike is a leading authority on talent optimization and has dedicated his career to transforming how people and companies approach talent management. His expertise and forward-thinking approach make him the perfect person to help us navigate the complex and exciting landscape of the future of work.

In this episode, we'll explore how the world of work has changed from the time Mike started his career to today, and what the future holds. We'll discuss the major forces driving these changes, including technology, the rise of hybrid and remote work, and the growing gig economy. We'll also delve into the impacts of AI and automation, the critical skills needed for the future job market, and how educational institutions must adapt to these changes.

Additionally, we'll touch on the philosophical aspects of work, such as its meaning and how it relates to our sense of purpose, especially in a future where we may work less. Finally, Mike will share his advice for business leaders looking to navigate these uncertainties and opportunities, and give us a glimpse into his life outside of work.

Enjoy!

AI has the potential to revolutionize the pharma sector in profound ways. On one hand, it promises to streamline drug discovery, reduce development costs, and personalize medicine to an unprecedented degree. Imagine a world where new treatments are developed faster and more efficiently, tailored precisely to the genetic makeup of individual patients. On the other hand, the integration of AI also brings challenges. Concerns about data privacy, the ethical use of AI in decision-making, and the potential for exacerbating inequalities in healthcare access are significant issues that need addressing.

These are some of the topics I discussed with Tony Benedict, a Senior Executive with more than 20 years of experience in the industry. Tony is a private company Board Director and Board Advisor who specializes in improving top and bottom-line revenue across multiple industries. 

In this episode, we’ll discuss the current trends in the industry, including rising operational complexity, increasing risk, and shifting capability requirements. We'll explore how AI is both a disruptive force and a beacon of innovation, capable of reshaping the future of pharmaceuticals for better or for worse. 

Join us as we unpack the opportunities and threats AI brings to the world of medicine.

Experience helps! it helps a lot. But most of the time, the onboarding process for these jobs is not adequate for the type of pressure and complexity you will deal with when talking to real people. Your training happens, most of the time, on the job. And you can build the wrong habits if you don’t have the right feedback mechanisms in place.

So how do you leverage technology to train customer-facing teams? What works well? what doesn’t? Why is this important?

Join me as I talk about these questions and many more with Mark Hughes Co-Founder & CEO at Solidroad. 

Mark was previously a founder & CEO at Gradguide, Director at Chargify & Sales at Intercom. TCD BESS Alumni 2017. With Solidroad, he is helping sales & CX reps to practice realistic conversations (voice, chat & email) with AI prospects and customers and get personalized performance feedback.

Enjoy!

You need to be top of mind to attract new customers. But, how can you stand out from the noise? Who are you targeting? What are you telling them? when? where, and how are you talking to them? 

Today, we will talk about Digital Marketing. Our guest, Dr. Jonathan Snow, will guide us through the most important concepts in this world, and his personal story in the field.

Like many personal stories, this one is not a straight line succession of events. 

Jonathan has a very interesting background that blends two entirely different skill sets: digital marketing and dentistry. He is the Co-Founder and Chief Innovation Officer of Avenue Z,  a marketing and communications firm breaking traditional boundaries between marketing, advertising and PR. From the Wall Street Journal to TikTok, PR to social and search, Avenue Z creates narratives that drive commerce, connections, and conversion, across all channels.

How much of it is intuition? How do you see what’s coming? How much of it is data? What type of data and kpis matter?

Tune in to learn the answers to these and many more questions, and enjoy!

In this episode, we will delve into the evolution of remote work in the software sector, its impact on companies and employees, and the best practices for thriving in a remote environment.

We'll discuss the competitive edge that remote work offers to companies and how it is reshaping the industry. Whether you're a software developer, a manager, or someone interested in the future of work, this episode is packed with insights you won't want to miss.

Our guest, Nathan Grebowiec, has been leading remote teams for more than 20 years. Before remote was a thing, before covid, before return to office mandates... He was, and continues to be, a successful leader of remote teams.

Enjoy!

In today's episode, Aaron shares his journey into the world of product management, detailing how he navigated his career to become a leader in CX. He discusses the significant hurdles he's overcome, the importance of customer experience in his role, and the methods he uses to stay connected with customers and understand their needs.

Aaron also provides valuable insights into the evolving discipline of product management, especially in the context of emerging technologies like generative AI. We explore the skills necessary for excelling in CX and product management, and Aaron offers practical advice for anyone aspiring to enter this dynamic field.

Whether you're a seasoned product manager, a budding CX enthusiast, or just curious about the future of product management, this episode is packed with actionable insights and inspiring stories. So sit back, relax, and join us as we dive into the future of product management with Aaron Videtto.

According to the United Nations, to avoid the worst impacts, global CO2 emissions need to be reduced by almost half by 2030 and reach net-zero by 2050. 

Green energy generation is an important part of the strategy. But fossil fuel consumption will not go away, not in time. 

That is why we need innovative solutions like carbon capture to act as a palliative remedy, buying us crucial time while we transition to more sustainable energy sources.

Today, we have a special guest, Léopold Dobelle, a leading figure in climate technology and the mind behind Mitico, a company that plays a pivotal role in the global efforts to combat climate change, offering a range of services that span the entire carbon capture value chain.

In this episode, we'll discuss the current state of climate affairs, the critical role of reducing CO2 emissions, and how technologies like carbon capture can bridge the gap as we strive for a sustainable future. Join us as Léopold Dobelle shares his insights and the journey of his team in making a tangible impact on climate mitigation.

In an age where information is power, the battlefields have shifted from physical terrains to digital ones.

Information warfare, the strategic use of information to gain an advantage over adversaries, has become a critical aspect of national security and corporate defense. From disinformation campaigns to cyber espionage, the tactics and technologies involved are as sophisticated as they are pervasive.

Real life becomes larger than fiction. And as we dive into our conversations on this topic, it feels as if we are in a movie theater, enjoying a thriller with international spies.

Our guest, Mihai Claudiu Barloiu, is an expert in the field of information security and warfare. His passion for political science and history, his drive to understand the present and the geopolitical forces shaping every conflict on earth, make him the perfect guide for our journey. Mihai brings a wealth of knowledge and experience, having dedicated his career to understanding and combating the complexities of modern cyber threats. 

What is information warfare? What are some real life examples and what is the impact of this type of warfare? What challenges are victim nations facing when dealing with this type of warfare? How can we be better equipped to deal with these threats?

Join me on this amazing episode, to learn about this fascinating topic and how technology is impacting its present and future. 

When we use facial recognition to unlock them, when we scan documents or read a QR, when we get a spotlight video showing a curated summary of pictures (e.g. here is your son with you 4 years ago)... That is computer vision. 

When doctors use AI to analyze medical images, or sports commentators get thorough and in time analysis and stats of a sports game, or self-driving cars maneuver on the streets… That is computer vision. 

But how does it work? What impact does it have today? How is AI impacting the field? What changed in recent years, beyond the augmented hype around AI? What works well, and what doesn’t? Why? What is the potential for the future?

These are some of the questions I asked Vladimir Iglovikov, as I interviewed him for episode 62 of The Future Of The Future podcast. 

Vladimir is the Founder and CEO at Albumentations.AI, an open-source library with 60k daily downloads, adopted by top Computer Vision companies & Kaggle competition winners. He was a ML Engineer at Lyft,  where he led Deep Learning model development & integration for Self-Driving & Ride Sharing. He is also a Kaggle Grandmaster with Multiple ML competition wins, and an Author with 20+ publications in Deep Learning for Medical, Satellite, Street View, and Natural Images.  

He is definitely an expert on the field, and he is very good at making the complex sound simpler. I learned tons from this episode! And I am sure you also learn from it.

Things are moving fast! so buckle up and enjoy the ride.

The way we create music, record it, mix it, and share it with others, continues to change as technology advances.

But changes were never as drastic as what we see today with generative AI. We live in a time where AI can assist us, not only in mixing and production processes, but also in the creative act of coming up with a new song. In 2023 we were already able to ask AI to create lyrics instantly; and now we can ask AI to create entire songs through prompts...

Change is so fast, we don’t even know how we are supposed to feel about it. Can AI generated music elicit the same feelings that human made music does? Is AI going to displace musicians, or create new opportunities? Is everyone going to start creating music with AI and stop listening to music made by real musicians? How do musicians create music and how much were they already leveraging technology to do so? What is the creative act and when does creativeness stop and plagiarism begin? How are these AI models training themselves? 

These are just some of the questions that I asked my friend Daniel Rowland in an amazing conversation about Technology and Creativity, AI in the Music Industry.

I could not have thought of a better guest for this episode. Daniel is a music producer, tech executive, and educator. He holds both a B.S and M.F.A. in Music Technology, and is currently Head of Strategy and Partnerships at LANDR, co-founder of Audiotool, and longtime instructor at MTSU. For nearly a decade, his primary focus has been on the empowerment of music creators via ethical AI powered tools and accessible design, sharing that message on dozens of panels and podcasts.

He has been in the industry for decades. He helped grow LANDR to 5 million users, refining their industry-leading creator tools platform, AI mastering engine, plugins and services. As a creative, he produced the music for an Oscar-winning Pixar film (“Piper”); and mixed and mastered multiplatinum/Grammy-nominated projects for artists as varied as Nine Inch Nails, Seal, Jhene Aiko, Phillip Glass, Gwen Stefani, Gayle, Gucci Mane, David Foster, Jason Derulo, Burna Boy, Nina Simone, YG, and Flo Rida, along with dozens of film and game soundtracks for Star Wars, Marvel, Disney, John Wick, The Sandbox, and others. Including projects with actors Benedict Cumberbatch (The Simpsons), Jeremy Renner, and Steve Martin (Only Murders In The Building).

And… on top of that? and most importantly? He is an amazing human being. A fun, passionate and down to earth person, who was nice enough to sit with me for an hour to talk about technology and music and answer whatever question I had in mind.

I am very proud of this episode. 

Listen to it! Learn, and enjoy.

From the very first moment he sat in front of a drum kit, everything just felt right. And when he started putting more complex beats together, like the time he nailed his first syncopated rock beat? Ahh… MAGIC.

He could have followed his family’s steps and worked in the farming or construction industry, but life had something else in store for him. 

He studied hard, and no less than two years after he started playing, he was already touring with bands, flipping drum kits on ebay, and teaching drums himself.

And it was one of the students, in a casual conversation about uploading videos on the internet for a bass drum pedal technique, that prompted him to launch into a business venture on videos for learning drums, when internet was still barely a thing and social media didn’t exist and you could not upload videos for free on YouTube…

Those videos eventually evolved to what we now know as Drumeo, arguably the world’s best and biggest community and e-learning platform for drummers. 

Drumeo then evolved into Musora, which consolidates new instrument verticals such as Pianote, Guitareo, and Singeo, and has more than 95,000 active students worldwide.  

So how did a drummer and his friends build such an enterprise? Where did Jared learn about business, media production and e-learning?

Listen to this episode, learn, get inspired and enjoy. We also talked about technology and education, and the potential impact AI will have on these fields, specifically as it relates to music, and why and where the human element matters most.

Many people out there claim to love their job. Few are as genuine about it as Jared. You can see it in his face. You can see it in the people that surround him.

Investors are now looking for very clear evidence of product-market fit and sustainable growth.

Showing this type of evidence is easier said than done. So I had a very insightful conversation with my friend Jessica Deckinger, on the topic of product development, raising funds, and achieving sustainable growth.

Jessica is an Operating Partner at Clearhaven Partners, a  dedicated software and technology-focused private equity firm based in Boston. She is also the CEO at Mint Marketing and sits on the board of various other tech companies.

She is a senior executive with more than 25 years of experience across integrated brand marketing, product, digital strategy, insights and analytics, finance and operations.

She is been there,done that, and now she helps other companies get further and succeed.

What does it take to succeed today in Tech? How can a startup find and show evidence of product market fit and sustainable growth? What are investors looking for? How can startups improve the customer journey? 

These are only some of the topics we talked about during this episode.

If you are in startup land, you can’t miss this one.

Enjoy!

Fast forward to today, and he became a Seasoned engineering leader with over 15 years of experience. He has led teams of developers as a tech executive, architected and deployed applications in the mortgage origination industry, founded, coded, and launched several start-up website companies, and learned practically every task under the sun in the tech industry.

Most importantly, he has a human centric approach to everything he does. Building products. Building relationships. Leading teams.

This is a story of growth mindset, resilience, and empathy.

Enjoy!

With over 15 years of experience in providing technology and operations rescue services to small- and medium-sized businesses, Jayant is now the CTO/COO of SURREAL Events, a first-of-its-kind platform that creates digital twins for physical venues and custom metaworlds for brand engagement.

I like to call Jayant “The Fixer”. His mission is to help businesses transform their challenges into opportunities, and he has a proven track record of saving businesses from the edge of failure. He helped clients like American Express, JP Morgan Chase, US Bank, and Fiserv engineer their critical systems, and now he applies the same high level of expertise to create SURREAL metaworlds for smaller businesses.

We talked about Leadership in the technology industry, skills required to succeed, and the latest trends and the impact they will have on the future of work.

I hope you can enjoy this episode as much as I did!

He excels in operations. He really is a Tamer of Chaos and a Seeker of Simplicity. Most importantly, he is a generous human being with a very high emotional intelligence. He knows how to connect with people and get the best of them for the right reasons. If you work with Ben, you want to do the right things, because you feel that’s the right thing to do.

In this episode, we talked about his experience in Real Estate, the highs, the lows, and everything in between. We talked about operations. People, Processes, Technology. What matters most? Why?

Enjoy!

Listen, learn, and enjoy. We all have a long way to go to focus on the right things to get the best results possible, and we can all start by knowing how we really use our time.

Enjoy! and, reach out if you want to be a part of the show 🙂

Scott Leese is one of them.

Or, let’s be more clear about it. Scott Leese is a HERO amongst them.

Why? Because he is good at what he does and he shares so much valuable content.

But also, and most importantly, because he is so original and creative about it.

Do yourself a favor: follow him on Linkedin. His CV is too big for me to do a snippet here. Let’s just say he has consistently crushed sales targets at every company he ever worked at, helping them grow and eventually nail successful exits, and he is now a Leading Voice and Thought Leader in Sales Consulting. 

Oh, and, by the way, he is running the best micro conferences out there, mixing work and personal life like very few people in the world.

I mean, SURF & SALES??? Taking people to Costa Rica for a week of Sales Coaching and Networking and Surf Lessons in arguably one of the best places to surf in Central America?

Do you get it now? Yes, Hero is the word we want to use.

So… Scott and I talked about Sales, how to succeed in sales, the future of sales, and the future of networking, and why EVERYBODY should pay more attention to networking, now, and forever. We talked about his personal story and how he got to where he is, and how everyone has a story to tell, if you create the right environment for them to share it.

Go ahead, enjoy, you can thank me later.

He is still a waterman and he enjoys surfing and traveling all across the world. He doesn’t train as hard nowadays, but there are many lessons he applies on a daily basis to his business. Especially when it comes to perspective on hard work, input and output, resilience and determination.

I  had an amazing conversation with Mitch. We talked about entrepreneurship, life, and flow... Lots and lots about flow and how and where to find it. 

Every time I listen to this episode I feel like picking up the conversation again.

Enjoy!!!

Being a Pastor is like being a CEO, only it’s harder. 

There are budgets. Websites. Receivables and Payables.

There are no Sunday’s off. There is hiring and firing… and the people you fire? chances are they are part of your congregation, and you get to see them, and their families, every Sunday.

In this episode, I interviewed my friend B.J. Hillabush,  to learn the story of his incredible jump from Pastor to Product Leader. 

BJ is an accomplished product and career coach, and his journey is a testament to the power of vision, versatility, and the deep impact of nurturing both innovation and storytelling.

Listen to this episode and learn more about what it really means to be a pastor, and how we can learn more about how to deal with challenges in the IT industry, from BJ’s hard learned and earned lessons in life.

So at age 16, Mitchell Meyer set out to reshape and elevate the education landscape. Blast Off Tutoring became a leading district-wide peer tutoring platform across the U.S., democratizing access to quality education and fostering community-driven learning experiences. 

Mitchell is in College now. He is a Founder and CEO, yet he still finds time to advance as a student and learn from peers and professors alike. And he likes it that way. 

In this episode, we talked about what it means to be an entrepreneur so early in life, how younger generations approach work and entrepreneurship, the educational system and the value of tutoring, and many other topics.

I enjoyed our conversation and I got inspired by his energy and drive. I know you will enjoy this as well.

 

Then she got married and moved to New York, and became a stay at home mom for 17 years.

But suddenly, things changed, and she needed to go back to the job market. Tough job for a single Mom with a 17 years work hiatus trying to make her way back to the Bay area, to get a leadership sales job at a tech company.

Oh yeah, she definitely found success. She excelled at various leadership roles in sales in top tech companies in the bay area, and eventually became a founder and CEO. But if you want to hear the full story, just hit play and listen to it.

It’s the challenges that make us stronger. And it’s the sales profession where survivors thrive and excel. Because they are resilient, they can adapt, and they know how to ignite their inner passion to achieve objectives, whatever they might be.

I am very thankful to Elizabeth Andrew, for being a guest at my show, and sharing so much about her story.  

Go for it!

With the rise of AI and automation possibilities, companies are thinking twice about outsourcing business or support functions offshore.

Lift and shift is out of fashion, and out of touch with the current tech scenario.

So how do you add value to outsourcing? How do you become an innovation partner to your customers? In the specific world of BPO and customer service support, how do you leverage agents in the best place and way possible?

I interviewed Craig Crisler, founder and CEO of Support Ninja, to find out the answers to these questions.

Craig has over 20 years of experience in operational excellence and modern people management. He founded his first company at age 15, and he went on to become a serial entrepreneur founding 12 more companies with 4 successful exits. He is obsessed about leveraging technology to assist, enable and empower agents to do more meaningful tasks that provide more value to their customers. He will recommend ways to do work that might seem counterintuitive, because he might be automating work previously completed by his agents. But he is not concerned about the number of seats he is filling for each client, he wants to provide value, for customers and for his agents.

Craig is a proud parent, loving husband, and trusted business leader. He leaves and breathes an empathy-informed mindset, and I savored every bit of our conversation. 

Enjoy!

Surrounding yourself with people you can trust is key to any endeavor. I loved hearing my friend talk about his story, and why this is so important.

I hope you can listen to this episode, and I trust you will enjoy it as much as I did.

I’ve known Nake for a while now, we worked together in the past, I work with him now, and I enjoy his friendship. And I met his cousin Yosef, when we all got together for dinner in San Francisco, a city Yosef has called home for the last 10 years of his life. 

We got together to enjoy a superb chinese food dinner. A few hours (and various green shots) later, it was clear, 100% clear to me, that I wanted to get them together for a podcast episode, and just talk about life.

So that’s really what we did. The excuse? talk about what it means to build a career in tech in the US as a first generation American. The result? A fun, honest, informal and real conversation abound random topics ranging from tech, to moving around in the US and in the world, to the best way to cook Afghan rice, to the ideal all time soccer team, and much more.

It’s a very random conversation, but those are the ones I enjoy the most.

Listen, have fun, and enjoy.

I interviewed my friend Andy Choi, to learn more about the non-profit industry. What’s working and what’s not working well? How can we bridge the gap between nonprofits and individuals seeking to make a difference in the world?.

Andy  is the Founder and CEO of Do Good Points, a digital platform that’s working to do just that. Bridging the gap between non profits, and individuals that want to be as efficient as possible at doing good.

An entrepreneur at heart, Andy started his first business at 14 painting address numbers on sidewalk curbs for homeowners across the Bay Area. Within the first two years, the business was operating in three cities, with 21 employees. Since then, he’s led multiple ventures including two separate retail food & beverage businesses, an international eco-manufacturing company, multiple e-commerce lines, and an international business development consultancy.

Before starting Do Good Points, he worked at a global market research company, partnering with top blue-chip brands in travel, retail, and digital marketing industries on customer loyalty, affiliate marketing, market research, programmatic marketing, and monetization.

Andy is an optimizer. He wants to improve the way non-profits go about their business, to maximize their impact, and solve big problems that affect our world like hunger, homelessness and education.

He has a passionate and clear message, and he got ME thinking. What am I doing today? Am I doing any good? How can I get started? How can I make giving an aspect of my daily life?

Listen to this episode, and you’ll learn it’s easier than you think. You can thank me afterwards.

Enjoy!

Rob Petrozzo has 15 years of experience as a digital designer, experience lead, creative director, and product specialist. He has worked with a broad spectrum of content in a variety of industries including music, publishing, and bio-technology. His most recent position allowed him to contribute hands-on to the growth of an industry leading hardware/software startup, and was the precursor to the founding of his newest venture, Rally Rd.

His mind is always on, and you can notice that just by the way he talks and connects concepts and experiences, with unparalleled energy and passion.

How do you stay dialed in as a Product Leader? How can you predict what’s coming next? How do you execute on ideas? When and how do you listen to user feedback? How do you navigate back and forth from analog to digital and how do you know when to choose each one? How do you get insights from younger generations? What role does your city play into how you are able to stay dialed in?

These are just some of the questions Rob answered during our 40 minute conversation.

Listen to this episode, you’ll get more energy and ideas from it than you can imagine.

Enjoy!

These are my colleagues and friends. I could spend hours just listening to them talk about their trades. So much passion, so much knowledge they want to share.

 

We talked about technology trends, leadership, growing in your profession, and so much more.

Our participants are:

- Aarón González - Product Design Lead at Xseed. 

- Stiven Suarez - Technical Lead at Xseed.

- Nicolás García - Software Architect at Xseed.

- Diego Castro - QA Automation Lead at Xseed.

I hope you can learn and enjoy as much as I did! 

Hunter is the Founder and CEO of ISA, a collective of entrepreneurs and engineers who believe that all energy should be inherently sustainable, affordable, and decentralized. Hunter is focused on the re-imagination of how we power our world, and the commercialization of breakthrough clean technology. 

Are we closer to nuclear fusion than we think? Listen, and embark on a never ending learning path.

So much to learn from this episode, I hope you can enjoy it as much as I did!

The era of remote work is not making them any better.

The way layoffs are being communicated seems to deteriorate by the minute, with grim stories of badly coordinated zoom meetings, improvised messaging by leaders, and immediate and clumsy access removal for remote workers.

Is there a better way?

Sara Seabourne says yes, definitely yes. And she has been talking about “compassionate layoffs” for a while.

I asked her to be a part of the show, and I am glad she said yes. 

Sara is a People and Culture Executive who has worked in global HR and leadership roles in the tech industry for over 15 years. She has a proven track record of leading successful leadership, diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging initiatives (DEIB).

She’s done multiple layoffs and she was affected by a few herself. She knows how to communicate better, how to provide time and support to those affected, so that everyone can get on their feet as soon as possible.

In this episode, we’ll talk about what it means to be an HR Leader, how she got there, and how we can elevate the HR function by listening to hard learned lessons from leaders that have walked the talk, like her, and how she is now helping other Leaders through her Fractional People Executive role at Cascade People Partners.

You can’t miss this one. And you’ll love Sara’s energy and clear message.

Enjoy!

Aaron is a Real estate investment and operations executive with extensive experience in investment management, capital markets, asset management, portfolio management, brokerage, construction management, and property management in the single-family and multi-family asset classes. He has a proven track record of innovation through the use of data and technology as well as building and leading top-performing teams within the institutional single family rental (SFR) space.

I worked with Aaron in the past, and I learned tons from him back then. But  I learned even more as I got to interview him for this episode.

Enjoy!

There are, however, different ways to go about this.

The good way involves a lot of transparency. Real transparency and context, so everyone knows what we are doing and why.

What are the Company Goals? How does the Company make money? Why is it important to build A instead of B, or vice versa?

My friend Lee Zukor, has built great products, teams, and companies over his 25+ years of experience in Product. He is passionate about solving big, complicated problems in creative new ways. And he has done these things at very large public companies and at very small private ones (including his own startup), in industries that include eCommerce, retail, SaaS, payments, food, youth sports, healthcare, and publishing. 

His key to success? building and supporting high-performing teams that are aligned, empowered, focused, and given the context they need to do their best work. Wherever he is, Lee will lead with trust and transparency. 

And we are lucky enough to have him in our show, so we can learn more about his super powers, through a very relaxed and honest conversation about what it means to be a Product Manager and how to be great at it.

If Product matters to you, invest the time and enjoy. The ROI is well worth it.

It can get dizzy.

How do you go from 3 people to 10? What about 10 to 50? And 100? 

Have you seen what happens when you try to do this in a matter of months?

Anyone can hire a bunch of people and throw them together in a room or a slack channel. But how do you make sure you build and sustain the right engineering culture?

What values matter? How do you make sure everyone shares the same values? How do you maintain these as you grow and new people join the team?

These are some of the questions I asked Soumya Sengupta, a good friend of mine, when we got together to record episode 36. With 20+ years of experience, Soumya has forged a path as a technology leader, seamlessly blending hands-on software development and the successful management of diverse products across organizations of all sizes. His professional journey encompasses an array of roles and responsibilities, including hands-on development, software architecture, leadership, remote team management, and mentorship.

He's been there, done that. And now he is ready to share his experience with all of us.

Enjoy! very clear message, lots of learning opportunities.

Scope WILL change, and with changing scope, there are changes in schedule and cost.

And changes in schedule and cost can make stakeholders (specially customers) anxious.

What is Sales promising to the customer? What do developers think they can achieve? Where is the truth? How can we get creative to keep everyone happy? Who talks to the different stakeholders involved in the project? How do you set up expectations and manage them afterwards?

Welcome to the job of an Engineering Manager… (aka, Technical Project/Program Manager)

My friend Amanda Oldakowski has over 10 years of experience as an Engineering Manager and she has seen the good, the bad and the ugly truth of what it really means, and what it really takes, to be successful in this type of role.

We talked about her experience, her story and how she got into tech, and her views on the future of the profession.

Listen and enjoy! lots of fun anecdotes and lots to learn from her experience. The real deal!

From enterprise to web, to mobile, to blockchain, to VR and AR, to AI.

Staying up to date is hard. 

If you are buying technology, or customized development, knowing what partner to choose is a difficult and impactful decision.

If you are selling software development and related services, staying up to date with the latest technologies and understanding when to leverage each of them, is not only difficult, but vital to serve your customers the right way.

So I sat down with Jordan Gurrieri, CEO at BlueLabel, a digital transformation agency, to learn more about his path as a leader, his vision, and the lessons he learned along the way, as he grew his company from a mobile app dev shop, to a digital product agency, and now to a transformational and innovation partner.

Adaptability, relearning, and adopting new skills with sound results, are key to success in this industry. Jordan and I talked about to get these right, what it means to be a CEO at a software company, the keys to success, how to find and attract talent, the hard choices, the loneliness at the top and how to deal with it, and many more topics.

I strongly recommend listening to this episode. There are golden nuggets of advice everywhere. And Jordan is not only a very experienced leader with a very clear message to convey on each of the topics we talked about, but also an amazing and fun person to be around with.

Enjoy!

Never in our lives did we have access to so many people and so much information.

But this interconnected era brings new risks of its own. False news spread and become contagious in a matter of minutes. Discrimination and violent speech have impacts in real life people. It can become scary…

Some people, though, make a living by trying to prevent the spread of threats in this era of information disorder. One of them is my friend Ross Meyer, who works as a CTO at the Network Contagion Research Institute (NCRI), a leading expert organization in identifying and forecasting the threat and spread of misinformation and disinformation across social media platforms.

With degrees in Electrical, Computer Science, and Nuclear Engineering and a specialty in UASs and mobile platforms, Ross is a brilliant hyper-productive professional, super passionate about his craft and what he does at NCRI. He is a fun person to be around, he knows how to bring down the most complex topics to layman terms if needed, and, somehow he finds time during his hectic days to play some drums and rehearse with his band to get ready for weekend gigs.

I learned a lot through our conversation. And I am now more devoted than ever to curate the way I consume information on the web, and especially the way I share information and how I educate my kids on these topics.

I am sure you will enjoy this conversation, go for it!

Anna Maria Kowalik is a Sr VP - Director of Business Development at Inland Green Capital LLC (“IGC”), an environmental finance and investment company that provides capital for Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) project initiatives nationwide. She is responsible for the business development of PACE initiatives through the marketing, education and implementation of this next generation sustainability financing option. 

Ms. Kowalik possesses almost 25 years of experience in the commercial real estate and property management industries, including with a former Inland REIT where she last oversaw a portfolio of over 30 retail properties consisting of 3.4 million square feet with more than 500 tenants, and budgets close to a quarter billion dollars. 

Anna and I talked about sustainability and technology in Real Estate, family, relationships, food, Italy and the US, recipes… you name it.

She is an amazing professional, but most importantly, a wonderful person to have a conversation with, someone who clearly understands how to build lasting relationships.

I hope you can enjoy this episode as much as I did!

How many stakeholders do you have to keep in mind when planning that new zoning for a commercial area in a downtown residential area? How do you allocate a budget with so many competing priorities?

The extreme competency in diplomacy, careful planning and relationship management that is required for urban planning, is very much applicable to product management.

What feature should we build next? Do we ask the development team to work on it right away? or do we work on the stability of the system and that growing tech debt first? What is sales asking for? What are customers saying? What do customers really need?

I talked to my very good friend David Strathy-Miller to find out the answers to these questions.

David is a Senior Product Manager at Centerbase. Like many Product Managers, he didn’t set out to become one early in his career. Far from it… But he was certainly getting ready for it. He has a Master of City and Regional Planning, he loves diplomacy and international relationships, traveled to almost all continents in the world, worked as an Ops Manager for a long time at a Default Asset Management company, and he was one of the first to transition to a Product Role when the concept was implemented there.

He is a thoughtful, compassionate friend. I worked with him for more than 7 years at Altisource, and he has become my favorite travel guide, and a strategic counselor for work and life advice.

I am sure you will enjoy this episode. Go for it!

Currently the Chief Technology Officer (CTO) at Bosscat, Paul has been instrumental in elevating the company's award-winning technology and products to unparalleled levels. He has spearheaded transformations in how homeowners and real estate professionals navigate the world of online repairs, renovations, and related services.

Before his tenure at Bosscat, he founded Silbo, a startup in the gig economy space. Under his leadership, it scaled to become the largest gig economy platform for sports officiating in North America.

Take the time, listen, learn and enjoy!

Scott is a Proptech Leader, who started out in the media business but later transitioned to RE where he led the Zillow Offers initiative at Zillow Group. He was recruited to move to Dubai in early 2022 where he was able to work with over 40+ nationalities, getting a new perspective on how to coach, lead, support, and address a team. Today, he is responsible for building the US operation for rennie, a Canadian based real estate company.

He is passionate about telling stories through his writing, be it LinkedIn, Patreon, Medium, and/or the next book he is always ready to start.

Scott and I talked about the definition of success, how to be great at sales, how to build teams, how to deal with change management, where proptech is going, and ongoing learning.

I enjoyed this conversation very much, and I am sure you will enjoy it as well.

Go for it!

How do you manage individuals to get the best results?

Should you even focus on individuals? or the systems where they operate?

I talked to Francisco Trindade, Engineering Director at Braze, to learn more about the answers to these questions and his personal story.

Francisco started out as a Computer Engineer in Porto Alegre, Brazil, and he had an amazing career in different parts of the world. From founding a company while he was still completing his masters studies, to moving to London at age 25 to work for Thoughtworks, to leading large teams of engineers in NYC.

Francisco is passionate about management in the Software Industry. He believes software teams are systems, and creating an optimal system can enable individuals within the system to function optimally, to grow and to enjoy what they do at work. His focus is always on the team as a whole, and he believes methodologies need to be looked at from a flexible perspective, like a toolbox that is available for the engineering manager, so that the best tools can be utilized depending on the team and the context (the company, the technology, the customers, etc).

Do you lead software engineering teams? Do you work with software engineering teams? 

If you do, don’t miss this one. I am sure you will enjoy it.

I know you will enjoy this one. Listen, learn, apply, repeat.

Or maybe… if they had experience waiting tables? What can MBAs learn from waiters? What type of empathy and people reading skills can you pick up as a waiter? What makes up a good salesperson anyhow?

I talked to Jazon Rozenblat, a sales professional with over 20 years of experience in high-growth technology startups, to learn more about these questions and his personal story, the future of work, and many other topics.

He is a first generation American, with Argentinian roots, who grew up in NYC and then Miami, surrounded by latin music stars like Gloria Stefan (though he had no idea who she really was at that time).

Jason is an extroverted introvert, who values empathy and stoicism as traits that he believes will make you successful, not only in sales, but in so many other aspects of life.

I hope you can enjoy this episode as much as I did, lots of fun anecdotes and golden nuggets of advice in it.

1. What is your role today? How do you use AI? 

2. What is your assessment of reality versus hype? 

3. Where is AI going from here? 

My coworkers are:

Andy Correa: A  software developer and advanced computer engineering student, specializing in all things JavaScript, deeply immersed in the world of PERN and MERN stacks. 

 

Diego Cortés: Data Engineer. Passionate about data with almost 15 years of experience in Data Architecture, Data Engineering and Data Analysis.

Carlos Jimenez: Systems engineer with 5 years of experience in data science and AI, with focus in NLP applications, he's passionate about the world of AI and LLMs.

Diego Martinez: Operations Research Analyst, Data Scientist (DS), and Machine Learning (ML) Ops Lead with more than 15 years of experience.

Join me as I talk to these brilliant professionals, to learn more about AI and its practical application in the real world.

Enjoy!

I interviewed my friend Anthony Hewson, a voice over artist with more than 10 years of experience in the industry (and many more as a creative copywriter before that), to answer these questions and learn more about his story. He is a twelve-times One Voice voiceover awards finalist and a finalist for best male voiceover performance at the VOX Awards in both 2021 and 2022.

I enjoyed our conversation and could spend hours listening to Anthony, his stories, and simply the quality and cadence of his voice.

Enjoy!

People come from different backgrounds, share different cultural traits and connect at different time zones… plus you can’t really see them working, and you can only do so many video calls every day. 

Are distributed teams better or worse than co-located teams? How do you find the right people? How do you communicate with them and set up objectives? How do you learn if they are happy or not? How do you motivate them?

These are some of the questions I asked when I interviewed Nick Halm, an amazing Tech Leader with almost 20 years of experience in the industry, who has led various distributed teams over the past and knows exactly how to leverage the international talent pool and the diversity that comes with it, to build amazing products.

If you are in IT, and if you lead distributed teams or are curious about it, this is a must listen.

I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.

36 years later, he is still in the industry, but his job looks very different.

He has a Consulting Firm and he helps Companies in the Real Estate Industry build, expand or improve their Title Insurance Practice, while he leverages cutting edge technology to improve the process for all stakeholders through automation powered by RPA or AI, or other available techniques.

How did he transform over time? How did he embrace new technologies? What drives him? Where is he going?

Join me as I interview Tim to learn more about these questions and his personal story.

I hope you enjoy this one as much as I did.

But for 20 years, he just thought about it.

Then he created a prototype. And he started playing the game with other people. Feedback flowed, and all the moving pieces started falling together.

Why is prototyping so important for the creative process? How do you start? How fast do you iterate? When do you stop iterating?

Are board games still a thing? Is everyone so hooked to screens that they rarely get together to play with physical cards? or not really?

I talked to Andrew Innes, the inventor of Anomia, a board game that sold over a million copies in the last years and has been translated to a dozen languages around the world, to learn about his story and the answers to these questions.

If you are a creative person but you have a hard time bringing your ideas to life, this is a must listen!

Enjoy.

Well, ideally, they all try to make the complex simple. They are all experts in explaining products, in a simple, yet effective and compelling way…

Let’s get real. Product marketing is hard.

How do you stand out from so many other products out there?

How do you create content that is helpful, usable, actionable and specific, all at once?

How broad do you go? What buyer personas do you target? Do you talk about benefits? features? everything? nothing?

I interviewed Anthony Pierri, to learn more about these questions. He is a partner at Fletch PMM, where he helps early stage founders position their products and translate that to website messaging. 

He and his partner have worked with over 60 startups already, iterating and improving their product marketing model as they go, and sharing amazing content in linkedin and their website along the way.

If you want to learn more about product marketing, don’t miss this one!

Enjoy!

I interviewed my good friend Mirko Consolascio, to learn the answers to these questions, through his personal story. 

He is what I like to call a Global Citizen. 

Born in Switzerland, he relocated 13 times in his life, and visited over 40 countries in his career. He is an accomplished executive with an impressive track record in the banking and financial services sector, and a sports enthusiast with an unparalleled need for speed and adrenaline.

Enjoy!

All of the sudden, an opportunity knocks on your door. An acquisition opportunity.

You start a due diligence. And you get asked about assets. More specifically, about artifacts. Architecture type diagrams.

Do you have them? Can you produce them in time? or is all of this in someone’s head?

Do prospect buyers care about people, or artifacts? or is it both?

Join me as I interview Brad Beiermann, an experienced Software Architect and CTO with over 20 years of experience in the industry, to talk about Software Architecture, Artifacts, and most importantly, its impact in your ability to get deals through the finish line.

AR overlays digital information on real-world elements. AR keeps the real world central but enhances it with other digital details, layering new strata of perception, and supplementing your reality or environment. 

Getting AR right is a massive challenge. Especially the hardware.

But the way the media talks about AR only creates more confusion about where this technology is, and where it can go next.

So I sat down with David Bonelli, to talk about what AR really is, what its applications are today, what challenges exist, and where it is going from here.

David is a  Subject Matter Expert with regards to (brace yourself): Mechanical, Optomechanical, System Level Architecture, Nano-Projectors, and Display Technology for AR Head Mounted Displays(HMD), Near-eye Displays (NED), and HUD. He is the CEO of Pulsar, a Network of Augmented Reality and Optics Engineering Experts - consulting to bring products to life and projects to fruition, and has consulted for projects ranging from AR for pilots training, to workspace visualization, to Real Estate design visualization and many more.

He loves his craft, he is equal parts a scientist and an artist, and he shared very valuable knowledge during our interview.

Learn where AR is, beyond the hype.

Enjoy

You are your boss. You create the rules. You decide your working schedule.

Too good to be true?

Not really… not today. The amount of solopreneurs in the world keeps growing and technology enables connectivity and empowers productivity like never before.

I interviewed Chris Roche to talk about his story as a Solopreneur and how he is shifting towards larger scale entrepreneurship. 

He got connected from his camper somewhere in Florida, while he was getting ready to travel up north. He has no office, hires people all over the world, and leads Catalyst Consulting, a growth focused demand generation company he founded as a solopreneur, that continues to scale and push the boundaries of his wildest dreams.

Join me as I interview Chris, to learn more about what it means to be a Solopreneur, how he got there, and what comes next.

This will make them more employable. It will also help devs command higher salaries, that will only grow as they continue to accumulate experience and become better specialists.

Sounds familiar?

This seems to be a common theme for developers. 

Open up any job req online and you will see requests for X amount of years of experience (usually more than 5) in such and such language and framework (even if the language has only been around for so long…).

Talk to hiring managers and you will often hear concerns about lack of experience with X version of a language or framework, with no mention of the candidate’s ability to adapt and evolve.

Well… Oshri Cohen is here to tell us this is wrong. This is the biggest problem in our industry. He will also tell us why this happens, what are the consequences of this problem, how to fix it, and what are his thoughts for the future of the Software Developer profession.

He is a Rockstar Fractional CTO and influencer at LinkedIn, with over 20 years of experience in the industry, and a knack for very honest, funny, out-there opinion type posts that only get funnier once you are able to meet him directly and interact with him.

I laughed, I thought and I learned a lot, as Interviewed him for this episode.

Go for it. Enjoy!

Complex operations involve large teams, many moving pieces, and lots of customers relying on you, externally, and internally.

Managing time, setting up goals and ensuring the flow of information, keeping track of all your teams,  putting down fires, managing stress, managing customer expectations…

It can be a lot.

Yet, great operations leaders manage to not only survive, but they excel at these high pressure work environments, and know how to alleviate pressure for their teams, and put things into perspective.

Joe Aurilia is one of the great. He is an Operations Executive at a cybersecurity company, and manages 270 people across 7 different countries, leading various functions in his ever expanding role. He built his US team from scratch and interviewed 500 people in a period of just a few months, all the while keeping existing operations under control.

I interviewed him to talk about what it takes to run complex operations. I learned very valuable lessons that I am certain you can learn them as well.

💡 Discover more about Joe’s background, speaking engagements, and advisory work at joeaurilia.com

I got into business development, and then, an unexpected LinkedIn conversation with Bill turned into an opportunity. Before I knew it, I was working directly with Bill at one of his new tech companies. I spent almost two years there, and I learned tons about business and sales.

Bill continues to be a larger than life figure to me. But now, I also know that he is a true gentleman, and a passionate leader who is willing to spend the time to coach his people so they understand their role in achieving his vision. I also know he is a tireless serial entrepreneur that has a unique approach to solving problems.

I had a wonderful conversation with Bill, about entrepreneurship, problem solving, work ethics and so much more. I hope you enjoy this episode as much as I did.

Could more data mean more money? Could more data mean more profit? But how?

Beyond the hype and the buzzwords, truly understanding the data you possess and utilizing it effectively requires a strategic approach.

My friends Tony Aug and Joe Ackert are experts in crafting digital strategies to solve hard problems and help companies accelerate growth and increase their profitability. They are also the coolest outdoor enthusiasts I’ve met.

I interviewed them to discuss the challenges and opportunities that more data can present, the role of AI in leveraging data, and how companies can conquer their own data to build better strategies.
 

Join me to learn this and more, as I interview Joe and Tony, in episode 11 of the Future of the Future podcast.