Podcasts about tech trek

Pritesh Patel, Director of AI at Fisher Phillips, joins The Tech Trek to unpack how AI is reshaping knowledge-based businesses and what that means for industries like law, consulting, and beyond. From shifting revenue models to practical adoption challenges, Pritesh shares how firms can embrace AI early, stay competitive, and unlock new opportunities. This episode is a roadmap for leaders who want to move from incremental efficiency to real transformation.Key Takeaways• AI is disrupting the traditional “revenue per person” model, pushing knowledge firms toward more outcome-driven approaches• Early adoption matters: experimenting now gives companies a competitive edge rather than playing catch-up later• Success in AI transformation starts with deeply understanding business outcomes, not just implementing new tools• Human expertise will remain essential, but AI will free professionals to focus on higher-level, creative problem-solving• Iteration speed is a critical advantage: nimble firms can innovate faster than larger, slower-moving competitorsTimestamped Highlights01:32 – Defining knowledge-based businesses and why AI is changing the game04:33 – How old business models are being disrupted by automation and new expectations08:55 – Translating technical expertise into outcomes that resonate with non-technical stakeholders14:23 – A framework for identifying high-impact opportunities before choosing a technology solution16:34 – Building an innovation engine through fast prototyping and iteration21:16 – The role of trust, validation, and regulation in the future of AI-powered knowledge workQuote of the Episode“You don't want to be in a situation where you're adapting late because of competition. If you start early, you can shape the future of your industry instead of reacting to it.” — Pritesh PatelPro Tips• Focus first on business outcomes, not technology. Identify the most impactful functions, then explore how AI can enhance them• Use prototyping to spark ideas and build momentum. A working demo creates buy-in faster than presentationsCall to ActionIf this conversation sparked ideas about how AI could reshape your business, share the episode with a colleague who would benefit. Subscribe to The Tech Trek for more conversations with leaders driving the future of technology, and connect with us on LinkedIn to continue the discussion.

Zach Lloyd, CEO and founder of Warp, joins The Tech Trek to unpack what it really takes to build tools that transform the developer experience. From rethinking the terminal to balancing product focus with user growth, Zach shares hard-earned lessons from scaling products that developers actually want to use. This is a conversation about building with empathy, understanding workflows, and making deliberate trade-offs that move the needle.Key Takeaways• Why deep focus on the developer workflow leads to products that stick• The importance of balancing big-picture vision with small, iterative improvements• How to make trade-offs between growth experiments and core product quality• Why some of the most powerful product ideas come from rethinking “old” tools• The role of design and speed in shaping developer adoptionTimestamped Highlights[03:15] The inspiration behind Warp and why the terminal needed rethinking[09:42] Balancing user requests with long-term product vision[14:10] How small quality-of-life improvements can have outsized impact[21:55] Deciding when to invest in growth versus core product work[28:30] Lessons from building for an audience of highly opinionated users[36:05] Why the future of dev tools will blend speed, design, and collaborationQuote of the Episode“The best products come from understanding the real workflow pain and then removing it in a way that feels almost invisible to the user.”Resources MentionedWarp: https://www.warp.devIf you enjoyed this conversation, follow The Tech Trek on your favorite podcast platform and connect with me on LinkedIn for more insights from the leaders shaping the future of technology.

Sek Chai, CTO and cofounder of Latent AI, joins The Tech Trek to talk about what it actually takes to get AI running on the edge. We explore the real-world constraints of power, compute, and hardware diversity, why an agent-assisted workflow can accelerate MLOps, and how to choose models that are good enough to ship. Sek also breaks down lessons from selling into the federal market and explains why a clear guiding principle beats chasing every shiny opportunity.Key TakeawaysEdge AI is a different game than the cloud. Power limits, hardware diversity, and deployment realities have to shape the design from day one.The best model is the smallest one that delivers the capability and latency you need. Bigger isn't always better.An AI agent that understands your data, model, and hardware personas can move teams from idea to deployment much faster.Whether you're selling to federal or commercial buyers, lead with capability, then meet security and compliance needs.A strong tenet should guide product direction and market focus more than raw market size.Timestamped Highlights00:30 Why edge optimization matters and what Latent AI does01:09 The messy reality of heterogeneity and power constraints in edge deployments02:54 Why most edge AI projects never ship and how an agent can change that05:03 Mapping MLOps personas and tailoring the workflow for each11:49 Selling to both federal and commercial buyers without losing focus15:55 Building a company around a tenet rather than chasing every marketQuote of the Episode“It's not the model that you're really chasing after. It's that capability.”Pro TipsDefine capability and constraints first—latency, frame rate, and power budget—then pick and optimize the model.Collect and use telemetry from experiments and deployments to guide model and hardware choices.If federal markets are in play, bake security and compliance into your early prototypes.Call to ActionEnjoyed this episode? Follow The Tech Trek, rate us on Apple or Spotify, and share it with someone working on an edge AI project.

Berit Hoffmann, CEO and co-founder of Korl, joins The Tech Trek to share her candid journey from big tech leader to late-stage startup founder. With a resume that includes Google, Dell, and Sisu, Berit could have landed any top role—but she chose the riskier path of building her own AI company while raising two kids and fundraising while seven months pregnant. In this episode, she opens up about the internal tug-of-war, the realities of balancing family and founder life, and how she's navigating the fast-moving, hype-driven world of AI. If you're a tech professional wondering when—or whether—to make your own leap, this one's for you.Key Takeaways:Experience doesn't remove fear—but it can sharpen your confidence in taking big risksAI founders must constantly recalibrate as models evolve and moats evaporateThe best startups fall in love with the problem, not the initial solutionYou don't have to wait for perfect timing—it might never comeExecution and clarity win over buzzwords in a crowded AI marketTimestamped Highlights:00:44 — What Korl actually does and why it's different from other AI presentation tools02:30 — Why Berit waited to found a startup and how early roles shaped her confidence07:03 — The hidden opportunity costs and fears of starting later in life11:38 — Her zero-to-one playbook: validate the problem deeply before writing a line of code15:50 — Fundraising in the age of AI hype and navigating the balance between clarity and buzz20:33 — How she processes new AI releases and adapts strategy without spinning out24:45 — What it was really like to raise VC funding while visibly pregnant30:11 — Her honest take on founder-parent balance: sometimes 80% has to be enoughQuote of the Episode:“There's still such a gap between what many AI tools promise and what they actually deliver. Closing that gap is all about execution—and that's where startups win.”Resources Mentioned:Koral: https://www.getkoral.comConnect with Berit on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/berithoffmann/Call to Action:Enjoyed the conversation? Follow The Tech Trek for more real stories from tech builders and startup leaders. Share this episode with someone who's debating their next leap—you never know what might spark them to go for it.

What if your phone didn't need to hold your data at all? In this episode of The Tech Trek, Amir sits down with Jared Shepard, CEO of Hypori, to explore how virtualization at the edge is transforming security, mobility, and data ownership. Jared breaks down Hypori's secure virtual mobile OS, originally built for the Department of Defense, and how it's now entering the enterprise and consumer spaces. From eliminating mobile device management to protecting sensitive data from AI exposure, this conversation is a wake-up call for any tech leader thinking about security at the edge.Key Takeaways:Hypori's virtual mobile OS allows users to access enterprise data securely without storing it on their device.Virtualization collapses the attack surface by removing the edge device as a security risk.U.S. enterprises prioritize convenience and security, while Europe pushes privacy due to GDPR—Hypori bridges both.AI will soon enhance Hypori's platform through predictive resource allocation and network optimization.The military's extreme security standards helped Hypori harden its platform far beyond typical commercial use cases.Timestamped Highlights:01:30 — What Hypori is and how it turns any device into a secure, data-less terminal05:30 — Real-world BYOD use cases, from consultants to GDPR-compliant European enterprises11:20 — How virtualization changes the AI risk equation and protects enterprise data from agentic threats15:50 — Why cybersecurity should stop blaming users and start simplifying their responsibilities18:45 — How virtualization shrinks the attack surface and simplifies network defense22:59 — What it's like building for the Department of Defense and how that shaped Hypori's productQuote of the Episode:“Maybe it doesn't have to be a company's fight versus your fight for whose data belongs on your phone. What if we could just take that problem away?”Resources Mentioned:Hypori: www.hypori.comCall to Action:If this episode got you rethinking your mobile security strategy, share it with your team or your CIO. Subscribe to The Tech Trek for more conversations at the intersection of leadership, innovation, and real-world security.

Feross Aboukhadijeh, founder and CEO of Socket, joins The Tech Trek to pull back the curtain on software supply chain security, why legacy tools are failing, and what it really takes to build trust into modern development. Feross explains how Socket is tackling vulnerabilities most vendors can't even detect and shares why they made a rare early-stage acquisition—and how it's reshaping their roadmap.Whether you're an engineering leader, security pro, or founder eyeing M&A moves, this episode offers sharp insights into product strategy, AI implications, and the real work behind the scenes.Key Takeaways:Socket proactively secures the software supply chain by detecting malicious code injections and not just known vulnerabilitiesLegacy tools rely on outdated databases and can't keep up with real-time threats or malicious actorsThe explosion of AI-generated code is expanding the attack surface and introducing new vectors like “slop squatting”Socket's acquisition of Kawana was driven by tight product fit, culture alignment, and shared technical DNA—not just business rationaleReachability analysis reduced Socket's security alert noise by 80 percent, boosting signal and developer trustTimestamped Highlights:01:00 — What Socket actually does and why open source dependency risk is a blind spot for most companies06:40 — Why most tools in this space haven't solved the real security problem—and how Socket is different11:50 — AI's unexpected impact on software security and the rise of hallucinated packages16:30 — Behind Socket's acquisition of Kawana and how academic research drove product synergy22:58 — How integrating the acquisition is evolving Socket's roadmap and deepening its technical edge25:00 — What Feross learned from the legal side of M&A and how his past experience at Yahoo helped shape this oneQuote of the Episode:“We care way more about first-party code than third-party code, even though it all runs in one app. That has to change.”Resources Mentioned:Socket: https://socket.devCall to Action:Enjoyed the episode? Follow The Tech Trek to catch conversations with the builders shaping the future. And if you're deep in security or scaling a dev team, check out socket.dev or reach out to Feross directly—he's happy to share lessons learned.

What does it take to deliver innovation at just the right moment? In this episode of The Tech Trek, Amir sits down with Eric Hoffert, CTO at Kargo and former video leader at Apple and Spotify, to unpack the art and science of innovation timing. From building QuickTime at Apple to launching video at Spotify a decade before the market caught up, Eric shares stories that blend conviction, timing, and deep tech insight. This episode is a must-listen for anyone thinking about where AI, video, and advertising are headed—and how to lead through the chaos.Key Takeaways:Innovation is a blend of vision, timing, and execution—being first doesn't matter if the world isn't ready.AI is shifting us from an attention economy to an intention economy, transforming how video content and advertising are personalized.The best tech products often emerge from the intersection of diverse disciplines, creative conviction, and platform thinking.Timing mistakes are common—even industry giants miss the mark by years—but conviction keeps the momentum alive.Future video experiences will be radically personal, possibly generated in real time based on your preferences.Timestamped Highlights:00:58 — What Kargo does and why art + technology is their core advantage02:04 — The behind-the-scenes story of inventing QuickTime at Apple12:50 — Why Spotify's video ambitions in 2011 were 15 years ahead of their time17:33 — Can advertising become seamless and actually helpful? The AI-powered opportunity22:23 — Scene-level targeting and privacy-preserving personalization in video26:49 — Eric's 3 keys to innovating at the right time: see around corners, surf the wave, move fastQuote of the Episode:“We're shifting from an attention economy to an intention economy—where you're in the driver's seat of what you watch, and how it's monetized.”Call to Action:If this conversation got you thinking about where tech is headed, share it with a fellow builder or product leader. Follow the show for more deep dives into the minds shaping tomorrow's tech—and drop a comment to let us know what resonated most.

What happens when UX design collides with generative AI? In this episode of The Tech Trek, Amir sits down with Mickey Alon, CEO and co-founder of Eucera, to explore how AI-first design is redefining SaaS product experiences. Mickey shares his vision for conversational UX, why menus are becoming obsolete, and how intelligent agents will soon become the most valuable “team member” in your product. If you build, lead, or design in tech—this one will get you thinking differently.Key Takeaways• Traditional UI can't keep up with modern feature sets—AI-first UX unlocks faster access to value• Conversational interfaces offer personalization and productivity that static workflows can't match• User expectations are evolving rapidly thanks to tools like ChatGPT—SaaS must catch up• AI-first design challenges product teams to rethink roadmaps, roles, and even user trust• Future UX will be hybrid: visual, prompt-driven, and increasingly agenticTimestamped Highlights03:12 — Why traditional menus break as SaaS features grow04:45 — The gap between AI-powered hype and true AI-first product experiences08:25 — How AI can personalize UX based on user skill level and intent17:50 — The need for audit trails and observability in AI-driven workflows21:30 — Will UX roles shrink or expand in the age of AI-first design?25:20 — What happens when every product is just an agent? Where do you differentiate?Quote of the Episode“The companies that will deliver AI-first experiences will outperform—because you're deploying the best person in the company, which is the agent, to assist any number of users in real time.”Call to ActionIf this episode made you rethink the future of product design, share it with a teammate or PM who needs to hear it. Subscribe to The Tech Trek for more smart conversations at the edge of tech, product, and leadership. And connect with Mickey Alon on LinkedIn if you want to dive deeper into AI-first UX.

What does it take to build startups that last and come back for more? In this episode, Amir sits down with Russ Fradin, serial founder, longtime investor, and now CEO of Larridn. With nearly 30 years of experience and billions raised across multiple ventures, Russ shares what he's learned about founding companies, hiring the right people, navigating pivots, and representing other people's money with integrity. This isn't a highlight reel. It's a grounded, real-world look at what actually makes a great founder.Key Takeaways• Great founders haven't changed. The barriers to entry have• The best ideas evolve constantly. Early-stage success is about the team• Founding with the right people creates longevity and joy in the journey• Angel investors are betting on judgment, not just ideas• Fulfillment comes from building with people you respect and admireTimestamped Highlights00:53 Why Russ and his co-founder launched Larridn to reimagine productivity in the age of AI03:48 Lessons from 29 years of company building, from pre-Netscape to today05:36 How the startup world has changed and what hasn't since the 90s12:06 What makes the journey worthwhile even when startups fail14:56 How Russ chose the right co-founders and why it still matters most17:52 Knowing which idea to chase and when to pivot with purpose21:24 What representing other people's money really means to him as a founder and angel investorQuote of the Episode“There's just nothing better you can do with your time than go to work every day trying to build something amazing with amazing people.”Pro TipsWhen choosing your next venture, ask: where do I have unfair advantage? It's not just about solving a big problem. It's about solving the one you're uniquely qualified to tackle.Call to ActionEnjoyed this episode? Share it with a founder or investor in your circle. Subscribe to The Tech Trek for more conversations with leaders who've done the work and are still doing it. Follow Amir on LinkedIn for more insights and episode drops.

What do founders get wrong when trying to build a startup? Jeff Gibson, CTO and co-founder at Kintsugi, joins the show to break down how he approaches building around real business problems—not flashy features. Drawing from pre-IPO roles at Atlassian and his journey scaling Kintsugi, Jeff shares why understanding cash flow, revenue mechanics, and operational bottlenecks is critical for building something that lasts. Whether you're a startup founder or tech leader, this one's full of sharp insights on building with purpose.Key Takeaways • Solving “boring” problems can be wildly valuable—if you understand where the money flows • Great businesses start with a clear grasp of what companies actually value, not just what users say they want • Pre-IPO cleanup reveals hidden complexity in compliance, revenue recognition, and internal tooling • Pivoting without a strong North Star leads to wasted cycles; solve for the cause, not just symptoms • Not every successful business needs to be venture scale—but it does need to be viable and focusedTimestamped Highlights 01:17 — What Kintsugi actually does, and why indirect tax is a massive hidden challenge 03:49 — The “pre-IPO cleanup” playbook and how it shaped Jeff's understanding of business systems 06:52 — Why chasing product-market fit is risky if you don't deeply understand the business problem 09:44 — Talking to 100 customers before writing a single line of code 12:57 — The opportunity in low-innovation, high-value spaces (think CRMs, billing, compliance) 16:44 — Niche wins: why a $10M business in a focused segment can be more valuable than chasing unicorn statusQuote of the Episode “You don't want to find a boring problem that's commoditized. You want a boring problem that's valuable.”Resources Mentioned • Kintsugi: https://www.kintsugi.comCall to Action If you found Jeff's insights helpful, follow The Tech Trek for more conversations with builders and leaders shaping the future of tech. Share this episode with a founder friend, and don't forget to subscribe wherever you listen. Want to keep the conversation going? Connect with Jeff on LinkedIn.

Ashok Srinivas, SVP of Engineering at Aledade, joins The Tech Trek to break down what it really means to have impact as an engineering leader. With experience at Microsoft, Snapchat, Indeed, Dropbox, and now Aledade, Ashok brings clarity on how to assess your value, earn trust, and align technical strategy to business outcomes. Whether you're leading at a scrappy startup or an enterprise giant, this conversation offers a grounded and practical lens on leading with purpose, adjusting your playbook, and knowing when to pivot.Key Takeaways• Your first 90 days as a leader should be about listening, learning the culture, and earning trust• Technical strategy only matters if it maps to business value—long-term bets need short-term execution• Engineering leadership changes based on company stage: wartime vs peacetime, scale vs speed• Culture and resilience matter more than expertise—especially in remote, high-change environments• Great leaders don't just bring the right tools—they know when to use them, and when to stay curiousTimestamped Highlights00:36 — What Aledade does and why healthcare impact is personal02:14 — From chip design to engineering leadership: Ashok's career journey04:09 — Matching your leadership style to company stage and market dynamics06:39 — Why trust-building matters more than early change-making10:24 — How Ashok evaluates engineering impact across people, product, and execution13:13 — The thrill of learning new business models—and why he keeps switching industries16:41 — Aligning OKRs with team performance while still shipping hands-on21:51 — The most underrated skill in engineering orgs: resilience in the face of ambiguityQuote of the Episode“Strategies change all the time. If your team isn't aligned through culture, they won't be ready to pivot—and that's what really holds you back.” — Ashok SrinivasResources Mentioned• Radical Candor by Kim ScottCall to ActionEnjoyed the episode? Share it with an engineering leader you respect. Then subscribe to The Tech Trek so you never miss conversations like this—real insights from people building the future.

Vijaye Raji, CEO and founder of Statsig, left two decades of success at Microsoft and Facebook to start from scratch—at age 41. In this episode of The Tech Trek, we unpack the mindset, planning, and trade-offs that come with becoming a first-time founder later in life. If you've ever wondered what it really takes to leave the safety of big tech to chase a startup dream, this one's for you.What You'll Learn• Why Vijaye treated the decision to become a founder separately from the idea for Statsig• How he de-risked the leap by financially preparing his family for the journey• The emotional rollercoaster of being a solo founder—and how he stays grounded• The biggest blind spots coming from big tech to startup life (hello, sales and SOX compliance)• How he thinks about pivoting, product strategy, and avoiding the “limping-along” trapTimestamps to Catch02:03 – Why he walked away from Meta and Microsoft04:32 – The real difference between “wanting to start a company” and knowing what to build06:17 – How he set a 10-year plan—and avoided the dangerous middle zone11:54 – What he didn't know until he had to do it himself: sales, marketing, compliance15:28 – How he structured support at home to take the leap without a co-founder21:40 – Tactical advice for future founders to build toward entrepreneurship intentionallyQuote of the Episode“Startup is not an individual affair—it's a family affair. It affects people around you in subtle ways, and some not so subtle.”Resources Mentioned• Statsig: https://www.statsig.com• Connect with Vijaye on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vijayePro Tip from VijayeIf you're planning to start a company in the next five years, structure your career today to pick up the missing skills: sales, marketing, financials, hiring, and firing. Be intentional about it.Enjoyed the episode?Follow The Tech Trek for more real conversations with startup builders, tech leaders, and product thinkers. Like, subscribe, and share this episode with someone who's thinking about taking the leap. And if you've got thoughts or feedback—drop a comment or connect on LinkedIn.

What if your data science team could drive business outcomes across products, not just models? In this episode, Hicham El-Hassani shares a tested blueprint for building data teams that are adaptable, retention-proof, and ready to ship.With 18 years of experience, Hicham has led high-impact data science orgs across insurance and software—and he's not afraid to challenge the standard playbook. He explains why most teams fail to scale, how generalist data scientists can outperform specialists, and what actually matters in model success (hint: it's not just the algorithm).Whether you're a technical leader, hiring manager, or data practitioner, this conversation is packed with insights on how to design for execution, avoid attrition, and get your models into production—fast.Key TakeawaysData science orgs need flexible, crew-style structures—not rigid vertical silosGeneralists thrive when given exposure, ownership, and tailored trainingFeature engineering and domain context often beat algorithm tuningExecution and documentation matter more than flashy toolsGenAI will boost productivity—but won't replace real data science judgmentTimestamped Highlights02:00 — Why rigid, specialized teams backfire in data orgs06:45 — The real value of domain knowledge and how to build it quickly11:50 — How data scientists can shape sales, pricing, and go-to-market strategy17:30 — A four-phase matrix to structure projects and reduce context switching23:00 — How AI tools are already speeding up DS workflows (and what's next)26:00 — One habit that separates scalable teams from forgettable onesQuote of the Episode"Cross-pollination is the best thing—when data scientists are exposed to different business problems, they evolve faster and stay longer."Call to ActionEnjoyed the conversation? Share this episode with someone building or managing a data team. And if you haven't yet, subscribe to The Tech Trek for more no-fluff insights from leaders building the future of tech.

What does the “long tail” of AI really look like in a highly regulated industry? In this episode, Dave Wollenberg, VP of Enterprise Data & Analytics at Scan, breaks it down. From cautious experimentation to enabling non-technical users to build AI-driven POCs, Dave shares a grounded, practical perspective on AI adoption inside a Medicare Advantage organization.You'll hear why the real transformation isn't just technical—it's cultural. We talk about how to shift employee mindsets, educate business teams, and unlock self-service analytics while staying compliant. If you're a tech or data leader trying to separate hype from real value, this one's for you.Key Takeaways:The long tail of AI means rethinking roles—not just automating tasksReal AI enablement starts with data quality, governance, and semantic clarityNon-technical employees can (and should) build AI proof-of-conceptsChange management will make or break your AI strategyIn regulated industries, open source and secure deployment models matterTimestamped Highlights:00:55 – What Scan Health Plan does and why AI matters in healthcare03:10 – From machine learning to generative AI: how use cases have evolved08:15 – Three types of business users and how to upskill them for AI12:40 – Shifting expectations: stakeholders want AI-powered insights, now15:20 – Why self-service BI still falls short without a solid data foundation18:35 – AI adoption isn't just IT's job—business users need to lead too22:15 – Navigating AI in regulated industries: risks, rules, and realitiesQuote of the Episode:“It's not as if there's a certain amount of work in the world, and if AI takes some, there's nothing left to do. When you make people more powerful, they add more value—and you want more of them, not fewer.”Pro Tips:Host internal hackathons to build excitement and break down resistanceUse sandbox environments to safely encourage experimentationDon't wait for technical users—give your business teams the tools to tryCall to Action:Like what you heard? Share this episode with someone exploring AI adoption in their org. Subscribe to The Tech Trek for more candid conversations with tech leaders on building, scaling, and leading through change.

What happens when you bring Silicon Valley tech thinking into an “unsexy” industry? Alex Jekowsky, Co-founder and CEO of Cents, shares how his vertically integrated platform is quietly transforming garment care—starting with laundromats. In this conversation, Alex breaks down what it takes to digitize an analog industry, earn operator trust, and build deep value with a lean team. If you've ever wondered what it really means to build vertical SaaS for SMBs, this is a masterclass.Key TakeawaysStart with digitization, not disruption—operators don't need revolution, they need visibility and options.Building for SMBs means listening first, innovating later. Reliability beats cleverness early on.A lean team can deliver better quality by being more deliberate, but it comes with execution risk.Cents' growth isn't about horizontal expansion—it's about going deeper with each customer.Clear alignment on mission—“garment care”—enables scale without complexity.Timestamped Highlights[01:50] – Why laundromats? The overlooked opportunity in an “unsexy” industry[06:30] – Digitize first, then provide optionality: Cents' real value proposition[09:40] – Why innovation is an earned right in SMB SaaS[12:50] – The tradeoffs and benefits of building vertically with a small team[16:40] – How Cents plans to grow deeper in garment care without chasing new verticals[21:50] – Culture, clarity, and staying anchored to the mission—how Cents keeps its edgeQuote of the Episode"Nobody works with you because you're innovative—they work with you because you work."Resources MentionedCents: https://www.trycents.comCall to ActionIf this episode changed how you think about vertical SaaS or SMB tech, share it with a founder or product leader who needs to hear it. And don't forget to follow The Tech Trek for more behind-the-scenes stories on building products that actually move industries forward.

How do you turn GenAI excitement into real enterprise value—without leaving people behind?In this episode, Amir talks with Mike Urban, Chief Technology Operations Officer at Best Egg, about the overlooked muscle every company needs to build: change management. Mike shares how his team is navigating the real-world complexity of bringing GenAI into production across a highly regulated fintech org—while aligning control and risk teams as unexpected champions of innovation.If you're trying to move fast without breaking trust, this conversation is packed with lessons.Key Takeaways:Change management isn't a framework—it's a living process, just like the changes you're navigating.GenAI adoption starts with personalized enablement, not just tooling. Everyone has a different “light switch.”Risk and control functions can be powerful allies in innovation, not blockers—if brought in early.Gamified onboarding and grassroots advocacy can shift perception and accelerate adoption.The real value of GenAI isn't replacement—it's amplification. Think "thought partner," not "automation engine."Timestamped Highlights:00:47 – What Best Egg does and who they serve in the fintech landscape01:46 – Why traditional change management often fails in tech orgs07:42 – The GenAI learning curve: why every employee needs their own light switch moment10:18 – Risk and control teams as enablers of innovation (not roadblocks)12:39 – A clever GenAI onboarding experiment with Best Egg's control team17:01 – Framing GenAI as a productivity co-pilot, not a job replacer22:33 – Why GenAI's constant evolution might actually make it easier to adoptQuote of the Episode:“Every person has their own GenAI light switch—and once it's on, it doesn't turn off.”Call to Action:If this episode sparked new ideas for how your team can embrace GenAI more effectively, share it with a colleague or drop us a review. And don't forget to subscribe so you never miss an episode of The Tech Trek. You can also connect with Mike Urban on LinkedIn to continue the conversation.

What happens when a data-driven founder leaves Big Tech to tackle a broken healthcare system?In this episode of The Tech Trek, Amir sits down with Tim Edgar, Co-founder and CTO at Venteur, to unpack how deep personal insight, emotional connection, and data all play a role in identifying real-world problems worth solving. From launching Bing under Satya Nadella to co-founding companies with his sister, Tim shares how his experience across startups and Microsoft shaped his approach to product, purpose, and people.This one is for builders, operators, and tech professionals who want to do more than just ship features—they want to build something meaningful.

In this episode of The Tech Trek, Amir sits down with Davy Li, Head of Engineering at Mesa, a startup redefining how homeowners earn rewards on everyday home expenses. Davy shares his personal journey from Big Tech to startup life, unpacks how he's built Mesa's engineering team from scratch, and offers a refreshingly candid look at what it means to be an effective leader in a small but growing organization.From defining cultural values to hiring without a brand name, Davy drops wisdom on leadership, team modeling, and giving engineers the freedom to thrive. If you're building or leading teams in tech—or planning to—this one's packed with insights you can act on today.

In this episode of The Tech Trek, Amir sits down with Reed McGinley-Stempel, co-founder and CEO of Stytch, to explore what it means for applications to be agent ready. With the rise of agentic AI—intelligent systems that can take actions on behalf of users—the landscape for SaaS and consumer-facing apps is rapidly evolving.Reed breaks down the core concepts around agent integration, including how apps must prepare to serve not just human users but also AI agents acting on their behalf. They discuss the key challenges companies face: earning user trust, managing consent and privacy, and building in human oversight to minimize costly mistakes.Using real-world examples like coding agents and calendar tools, Reed illustrates how agent adoption succeeds where there's low friction and built-in validation. He also dives into the double standard AI faces, and why even psychologically, humans might need a "human in the loop" long after AI is capable of operating on its own.If you're building applications or thinking about AI integrations, this is a forward-looking conversation you won't want to miss.

In this episode of The Tech Trek, Amir sits down with Matt Moore, CTO and co-founder of Chainguard, to explore the escalating importance of software supply chain security. From Chainguard's origin story at Google to the systemic risks enterprises face when consuming open source, Matt shares the lessons, best practices, and technical innovations that help make open source software safer and more reliable. The conversation also touches on AI's impact on the attack surface, mitigating threats with engineering rigor, and why avoiding long-lived credentials could be your best defense.

In this episode of The Tech Trek, Christina Garcia, SVP of Engineering at Echo Global Logistics, shares her insights on integrating AI not as a replacement but as a partner in business operations. We unpack how organizations can holistically rethink processes, overcome adoption hurdles, and empower innovators inside the company to co-create AI use cases. Christina also opens up about the unique leadership pressures this wave of transformation brings—and how she manages them.

In this episode of The Tech Trek, Amir sits down with Joe Philleo, founder and CEO of Edio, an AI platform transforming K-12 education. Joe shares his journey from building websites in high school to writing a viral essay on Palantir that kickstarted his tech career. He dives into the critical role AI now plays in solving chronic absenteeism and driving measurable academic improvements. The conversation explores how tech is reshaping education—from device adoption post-pandemic to rethinking how we measure and manage learning outcomes.

In this episode of The Tech Trek, Amir sits down with Sus Misra, SVP of Data & Analytics at Solve(D) (IPG Health), to unpack what true precision targeting looks like in one of the most regulated industries: pharma. Sus explains how healthcare marketers uniquely leverage individual-level data to connect with professionals like doctors and oncologists—something unheard of in most sectors.But with great data comes great responsibility. Sus dives into the ethical, regulatory, and technical challenges of working with sensitive healthcare data, from HIPAA compliance to new state-level restrictions that are reshaping how campaigns are executed. He also shares how machine learning and generative AI are beginning to help—but warns they'll never replace human governance.Whether you work in data, marketing, or product, this episode is a masterclass in what happens when cutting-edge tech meets hard regulatory walls.

In this episode of The Tech Trek, Brian Clifford, Chief Data Officer at Amica Insurance, shares how his team translates core company values—like exceptional customer service—into actionable AI and data strategies. We explore how Amica approaches pilots, vendor selection, internal adoption, and governance to scale AI effectively and responsibly.

In this episode of The Tech Trek, Vinayak Kumar shares how his team at Lynx strikes a practical balance between innovation and efficiency in the heavily regulated healthcare and finance space. He explains why innovation shouldn't be forced, how to avoid the "tech in search of a problem" trap, and why pattern-driven execution helps startups scale faster without compromising flexibility.

In this episode of The Tech Trek, Amir sits down with Andy Beam, CTO of Lila Sciences, to explore how AI is transforming the messy, serendipitous nature of scientific discovery into an engineered, scalable process. From automating lab work to accelerating the speed of breakthroughs, Andy explains why the future of science may be less about eureka moments and more about AI-driven iteration.

In this episode of The Tech Trek, Amir speaks with Alexander Schlager, founder and CEO of AIceberg, about how his company has tackled the AI talent shortage by partnering directly with universities. From building relationships with faculty to onboarding students into real-world R&D roles, Alex shares a unique, cost-effective strategy for hiring early-career tech talent and turning them into long-term contributors. It's a compelling listen for anyone in emerging tech, hiring, or leadership.

In this episode of The Tech Trek, Amir speaks with Patrick Leung, CTO of Faro Health, about what it takes to lead an engineering organization through a transformation to become an AI-first company. From redefining the product roadmap to managing cultural and technical shifts, Patrick shares practical insights on team structure, skill development, and delivering AI-enabled features in a regulated domain like clinical trials. This is a must-listen for tech leaders navigating similar transitions.

In this episode of The Tech Trek, Amir sits down with Sunita Verma, CTO at Character AI and former engineering leader at Google. Sunita shares how she's transitioned from leading large-scale AI initiatives at Google to building novel experiences in a fast-paced startup environment. She dives into the mindset shift required to prioritize velocity over scale, how to lead AI-native product innovation, and what it means to be a female technical leader in today's tech ecosystem.

In this episode of The Tech Trek, Amir sits down with Emily Long, the CEO and co-founder of Edera, a deep tech startup focused on secure infrastructure. Emily shares her unconventional journey from HR leadership into the world of high-performance computing, infrastructure, and cybersecurity. Together, they explore the realities of leading a technical startup as a non-engineer, the underestimated value of soft skills in building scalable companies, and how trust, learning, and risk-taking shape leadership at every stage.

In this episode of The Tech Trek, Amir Bormand talks with Jason Wells, Head of Engineering at BrowserBase, about building a high-performance culture rooted in trust, emotional intelligence, and psychological safety. Jason shares how his unconventional path—including a six-year break from tech—helped shape a management philosophy that puts human connection at the center of engineering leadership. From dismantling blame culture to fostering self-compassion and authentic feedback loops, Jason offers a powerful framework for anyone looking to lead modern tech teams more intentionally.

In this episode of The Tech Trek, Amir sits down with Clark Downum, CTO at Redox, to unpack the deeper dynamics between engineering, product, and business stakeholders. From tech debt and project delays to culture, communication gaps, and delivery trade-offs—this conversation is a candid exploration of how technical teams can drive impact without getting stuck in process perfection.Whether you're a tech leader or aspiring one, this episode offers a fresh lens on ownership, expectation-setting, and delivering what really matters.

In this episode of The Tech Trek, Daniel Whatley, co-founder and technical lead at Vividly, shares his journey launching a startup while still a student at MIT. From managing college life during COVID to navigating the CPG industry's digital transformation, Daniel reflects on what it meant to be the youngest in the room, how he grew into executive leadership, and what he wishes he'd known before co-founding a company. A candid look at growth, grit, and the impact of youth in a traditional space.

In this episode of The Tech Trek, Amir is joined by Jonathan Myron, VP of Engineering at Healthie, to dive into what it really takes to lead engineering teams inside startups. From aligning with founders' visions to building engineering cultures that thrive on autonomy and creativity, Jonathan shares hard-won lessons for engineers stepping into leadership. Whether you're building early-stage or scaling through growth, this episode delivers practical insights on driving value, developing team culture, and shaping your career path.

In this episode of The Tech Trek, Brendan Grove, CTO and co-founder at PrizeOut, shares how his non-traditional background shaped his leadership style and hiring philosophy. Brendan dives into how being curious, humble, and pattern-aware has helped him scale teams and solve complex problems. He also unpacks how hiring for core traits like learning velocity and ownership can outperform chasing resumes full of surface-level skills. We also discuss tech debt, decision-making frameworks, and the role of engineering excellence in business success.Whether you're a startup founder, engineering leader, or aspiring technologist, this episode is a reminder that greatness often lies beyond the obvious checklist.

In this episode of The Tech Trek, Amir sits down with Ronak Vyas, Co-Founder and CTO of Lead Bank, to explore how leadership principles remain constant even as the problems — and companies — change. Ronak shares lessons from leading at Yahoo, Square, and now founding a fintech bank, reflecting on how to adjust to new environments, make high-stakes decisions, and transition from engineering leader to startup founder. If you're a technology professional considering leadership or even starting your own venture, this episode is packed with real-world insights on navigating change, making smart decisions, and staying close to your craft.

In this episode of The Tech Trek, Amir chats with Rob Williams, co-founder and CTO at Read AI, about what it truly means to be an AI-native company. Rob shares how Read AI uses its own tools internally, how his small but mighty engineering team balances speed and structure, and the evolving role of AI in productivity workflows. Whether you're building AI products or trying to adopt them effectively, this conversation offers a unique peek behind the curtain of a startup navigating the future of work.

In this episode of The Tech Trek, Amir sits down with Abhi Sharma, CEO and Co-Founder of Relyance AI, to unpack the philosophy of "unreasonable hospitality"—a framework for building unforgettable customer and team experiences. From small gestures like a humidifier in the interview room to culture-embedded rituals, Abhi reveals how this principle fuels trust, retention, and performance at every level. If you're building teams or scaling a company, this one is packed with actionable insights.

In this episode of The Tech Trek, Amir sits down with Sasha Gainullin, CEO of Battleface, to explore how focusing on a small, underserved niche in the travel insurance industry unlocked global opportunity. Sasha shares how Battleface used in-house technology to revolutionize the outdated travel insurance model, expanding from serving adventure travelers to powering major partners through their service platform, Robin Assist. This is a conversation about focus, customer empathy, and tech-driven disruption—valuable for any founder or product leader.

In this episode, Amir Bormand sits down with Tony Speller, Division SVP of Technical Operations and Engineering at Comcast, to explore how AI is quietly but powerfully transforming the customer and employee experience at one of the world's largest media and technology companies. From self-healing network devices to predictive outage detection, Tony walks us through Comcast's internal innovation playbook—blending in-house AI solutions with strategic partnerships. Whether you're a technologist, operator, or just someone who's ever rebooted a modem, this episode peels back the curtain on what keeps the digital world running.

In this episode of The Tech Trek, I sit down with Artem Rodichev, Founder & CEO of Ex-Human, to explore the emerging world of empathetic generative AI. We discuss how today's LLMs fall short on emotional intelligence and how Ex-Human is building AI that can emotionally connect with users. Artem shares the vision behind their product Botify AI, its real-world applications—from gaming and education to mental health—and the crucial role of guardrails in ensuring safe, ethical AI development.

In this episode of The Tech Trek, Amir Bormand sits down with Shang Wang, Co-founder and CTO of CentML, to explore the dynamic landscape of open source AI technologies and how enterprises are rapidly adapting to this growing ecosystem. Shang offers expert insights into why open source solutions are becoming essential in AI development, the advantages in security and privacy, and how CentML strategically contributes to this evolution.

In this episode of The Tech Trek, Amir sits down with Andrew Levy, CEO and Co-founder of AirCover.ai, to explore how agentic AI is transforming the sales landscape. Andrew shares how AirCover builds real-time digital assistants that empower sales teams, the role of humans in AI-driven workflows, and how enterprises—both nimble and traditional—are adopting these tools to leap ahead. From change management to trust-building and the rise of “little language models,” this conversation unpacks what it really means to bring AI into the heart of go-to-market strategies.

Guest: Viraj Narayanan, CEO of Cornerstone AI

On this episode of The Tech Trek, we're diving deep into the intersection of engineering, product, and business thinking with Vineet Goel — Co-Founder and Chief Product & Technology Officer at Parafin, a fast-growing fintech startup powering small businesses on platforms like DoorDash, Amazon, and Walmart.We unpack what it really means to build a company where engineers are product thinkers, why bringing in product managers too early can backfire, and how AI is reshaping what it means to write code — and who's best positioned to thrive in this new world.Vineet shares how Parafin scaled with just two PMs to 25 engineers, why every engineer shadows customer support calls, and how GenAI might collapse the wall between product and engineering entirely.Whether you're an engineer, product leader, founder, or just curious where the future of tech orgs is headed — this conversation is packed with insights you won't want to miss.

In this episode, Carlos Peralta returns to The Tech Trek to dive deep into data culture in the wearable tech space, sharing how WHOOP turns petabytes of real-time biometric data into personalized, actionable insights. We explore the technical complexities behind data ingestion, transformation, and delivery, and how the mission-driven nature of WHOOP influences both their engineering decisions and company culture.

In this episode of The Tech Trek, Amir Bormand sits down with Max Mergenthaler-Canseco, CEO and co-founder of Nixla, to explore the nuanced reality behind startup success. A multi-time founder with experience as both CEO and CTO, Max shares hard-earned lessons from his entrepreneurial journey—including why theoretical knowledge often clashes with real-world execution, how to build a resilient startup team, and the underestimated danger of survivorship bias in startup lore.From balancing optimism with statistical failure rates to knowing when to focus on strengths over weaknesses, Max delivers practical wisdom for anyone navigating the startup grind. Whether you're a first-time founder or on your third venture, this conversation will leave you thinking differently about what it really takes to succeed in tech.

In this episode, I sit down with Jason Rogers, CEO & Co-Founder of Invary, to explore an unconventional approach to building a cybersecurity startup—leveraging a tech transfer agreement with the NSA. Jason shares his journey of launching a company around licensed technology, the benefits and challenges that come with it, and why runtime system integrity is becoming a crucial factor in modern security strategies.We also dive into how AI is changing the cybersecurity landscape, the importance of real-time security validation, and how companies can better protect their systems against evolving threats.Key Takeaways

In this episode, Amir sits down with Kaustav Das to discuss one of the most critical yet challenging aspects of analytics—asking the right questions. They explore how analytics leaders can better navigate conversations with stakeholders, ensuring they gather the correct requirements and deliver actionable insights. The conversation touches on the evolving role of analytics, the impact of generative AI in business intelligence, and how decision-making is shifting toward more conversational data engagement.Key TakeawaysThe Power of Asking the Right Questions: The quality of analytics is only as good as the questions being asked. Stakeholders' intent must be fully understood before diving into solutions.Balancing Speed with Thoughtfulness: Quoting Einstein, Kaustav highlights the importance of preparation: “If I were to chop a tree down in an hour, I would spend 55 minutes sharpening my blade.” Rushing to a solution without understanding the problem leads to inefficiencies.Technology vs. Process: Not all business challenges require a technology-driven solution. Often, simpler process optimizations can be more effective.Conversational Analytics & AI: Generative AI is shaping analytics by making data interactions more intuitive, but expertise in asking the right questions remains critical.Roadmapping for Success: The PTP (Present-To-Path) framework helps stakeholders clarify their goals, define a roadmap, and create an execution timeline for analytics projects.The Art vs. Science of Analytics: Analytics is more of an art than a science. Understanding business goals, managing multiple stakeholders, and iterative questioning are key to driving value.Timestamped Highlights[00:00] Introduction to the episode and guest, Kaustav Das.[01:08] Why asking the right questions is critical in analytics.[04:58] Do technologists jump to solutions too quickly?[06:01] The balance between planning and execution in a fast-paced environment.[07:28] The high failure rate of technology projects—why intent matters.[10:52] The five “whys” technique and getting to the core of business problems.[12:24] The future of analytics—can it become more conversational?[17:03] Measuring ROI in marketing and media analytics.[20:29] Where to connect with Kaustav Das.Quote of the Episode"If I were to chop a tree down in an hour, I would spend 55 minutes sharpening my blade." – Albert Einstein, referenced by Kaustav DasConnect with Kaustav DasLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kaustavanalytics/Enjoyed the episode?Share this with your network!Subscribe, rate, and review The Tech Trek on your favorite podcast platform.Connect with us on social media and let us know what you think!

What happens when you build a business around what you genuinely love? In this episode of The Tech Trek, Amir sits down with Michael Farb, CEO of Boatsetter — the Airbnb of boats — to unpack how passion can be a strategic advantage in tech entrepreneurship.Michael shares his journey of launching multiple businesses rooted in personal interests, from college sports to global philanthropy to now, outdoor water adventures. Together, they explore what it really takes to turn a personal obsession into a scalable business, how to identify real opportunities in your hobbies, and why solving a specific problem matters more than chasing a massive market.Whether you're dreaming about launching your own thing or leading product inside a startup, this conversation is packed with insights on product-market fit, customer discovery, and building teams who care as much as you do.