AI Beyond Hype: Scaling Global Tech Teams with Humanity - Duri Chitayat | Ep 95

Cut through the AI hype! Duri Chitayat, a CTO who has scaled global engineering teams across 27 countries, reveals what it *really* takes to build high-performing, AI-powered solutions while keeping humanity and trust intact.From building a homegrown ERP to leading AI transformations in AdTech, MedTech, and Finance, Duri shares battle-tested strategies for navigating the "messy middle" where culture, strategy, and technology collide. Discover his secrets to achieving 90%+ team retention, fostering purpose-driven work, and making data a first-class citizen. Learn how to identify truly AI-native solutions, understand underrated technologies, and effectively communicate technical trade-offs to non-technical executives.In this episode, you’ll discover:· Duri's journey from a homegrown ERP to leading global tech transformations.· The most critical process for maintaining code quality and alignment in distributed teams (it's not technical!).· What an "AI-native" solution truly looks like beyond the hype, with real-world examples.· Underhyped AI technologies poised to be game-changers in the next 2-3 years (beyond LLMs).· Navigating the "messy middle" where culture, strategy, and technology collide.· Duri's first move as CTO when facing organizational collisions: empathize and shadow.· Secrets to 90%+ team retention: purpose, flexibility, and autonomy beyond compensation.· The unique architectural challenge of treating data as a product (Data Mesh).· How to effectively communicate technical trade-offs to executives and investors.· Duri's personal definition of innovation: challenging basic assumptions.This is a must-listen for founders, executives, engineers, and anyone building products in a rapidly evolving technological landscape.Connect With Duri Chitayat:· LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/durichitayat/· Blog: https://durichitayat.net/Chapters:00:00 Welcome Duri Chitayat: AI, Global Teams & Scaling with Humanity01:06 Journey from Homegrown ERP: Learning People & Process Over Tech04:38 Critical Process for Global Team Quality: Hiring the Right People06:18 AI Beyond Hype: Technical Architecture of AI-Native Solutions09:49 Underhyped AI Tech & Game Changers for Next 2-3 Years12:04 Navigating the "Messy Middle": Culture, Strategy & Tech Collisions16:31 90%+ Team Retention Secrets: Purpose, Flexibility & Autonomy20:22 Architectural Problem Unique to Domains: Data as a Product (Data Mesh)24:02 Communicating Technical Trade-Offs to Non-Technical Executives27:01 Innovation Defined: Unsetting Basic Assumptions & New Tools29:26 Connect with Duri Chitayat