EPISODE · Jan 23, 2026 · 1 MIN
Don’t Do AI for the Sake of AI | Shibani Sanan, CTO, Ladder
from Mala's Podcast · host Mala Ramakrishnan
Shibani Sanan, veteran engineering leader and CTO, shares a grounded take on how leaders should approach AI without losing focus on the business.In this clip, Shibani explains why small and mid-sized companies can’t afford to chase AI trends blindly. With limited bandwidth, revenue goals, and product roadmaps to manage, AI must earn its place. It should strengthen the company’s mission, unlock real use cases, or create leverage that didn’t exist before.Her principle is simple.Don’t do AI for the sake of AI.Do it only when it meaningfully moves the product and the business forward.________________________________________________About Shibani SananShibani Sanan is a versatile engineering leader with 25+ years of experience building scalable, high-impact products across fintech and digital advertising. She combines deep technical expertise with strong product intuition and is known for building high-performing teams in complex, fast-moving environments.She is currently Chief Technology Officer at Ladder, and previously served as Head of Engineering at Plaid. Prior to that, Shibani spent nearly 16 years at Google, including as Vice President of Engineering, where she led global teams building large-scale advertising platforms and AI-driven products.Shibani believes in creating environments that empower individuals, encourage cross-functional collaboration, and prioritize engineering excellence over hype. 🔗 Connect with Shibani Sanan on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shibanisanan/________________________________________________About the EventThe AI Innovators Forum is a monthly gathering that brings together 300+ founders, executives, product leaders, engineers, and operators shaping the future of AI in the real world.Each forum blends sharp executive perspectives with hands-on building. Live demos, practical frameworks, and candid conversations on what it actually takes to ship, scale, and govern AI inside modern organizations.👉 Want to pitch, speak, or join a future forum?Apply here: https://forms.gle/mUNH1f8H5ED3pBJe9👉 Stay in the loop for future events:https://lu.ma/founderscreative📩 Contact: [email protected] or [email protected]#FoundersCreative #AILeadership #FutureOfWork #AIProduct #ExecutiveAI
What this episode covers
Shibani Sanan, veteran engineering leader and CTO, shares a grounded take on how leaders should approach AI without losing focus on the business.In this clip, Shibani explains why small and mid-sized companies can’t afford to chase AI trends blindly. With limited bandwidth, revenue goals, and product roadmaps to manage, AI must earn its place. It should strengthen the company’s mission, unlock real use cases, or create leverage that didn’t exist before.Her principle is simple.Don’t do AI for the sake of AI.Do it only when it meaningfully moves the product and the business forward.________________________________________________About Shibani SananShibani Sanan is a versatile engineering leader with 25+ years of experience building scalable, high-impact products across fintech and digital advertising. She combines deep technical expertise with strong product intuition and is known for building high-performing teams in complex, fast-moving environments.She is currently Chief Technology Officer at Ladder, and previously served as Head of Engineering at Plaid. Prior to that, Shibani spent nearly 16 years at Google, including as Vice President of Engineering, where she led global teams building large-scale advertising platforms and AI-driven products.Shibani believes in creating environments that empower individuals, encourage cross-functional collaboration, and prioritize engineering excellence over hype. 🔗 Connect with Shibani Sanan on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shibanisanan/________________________________________________About the EventThe AI Innovators Forum is a monthly gathering that brings together 300+ founders, executives, product leaders, engineers, and operators shaping the future of AI in the real world.Each forum blends sharp executive perspectives with hands-on building. Live demos, practical frameworks, and candid conversations on what it actually takes to ship, scale, and govern AI inside modern organizations.👉 Want to pitch, speak, or join a future forum?Apply here: https://forms.gle/mUNH1f8H5ED3pBJe9👉 Stay in the loop for future events:https://lu.ma/founderscreative📩 Contact: [email protected] or [email protected]#FoundersCreative #AILeadership #FutureOfWork #AIProduct #ExecutiveAI
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Don’t Do AI for the Sake of AI | Shibani Sanan, CTO, Ladder
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