The Future Of The Future

Everyone is talking about AI, but buying the latest tools isn't the same as transforming a business. So what does digital transformation actually look like in the age of AI? Where should leaders start, what mistakes should they avoid, and what will separate the companies that thrive from the ones that get left behind?To help us answer those questions, I'm joined by Marcelo SanMartin, a technology and business transformation executive who's spent his career helping organizations navigate major shifts. We dive into what AI means beyond the hype, how it's reshaping strategy, leadership, and the workforce, and what practical steps CEOs can take today to create real business value. 

Today's AI can write, code, and reason, but what happens when it leaves the screen and starts interacting with the real world? That's where physical AI comes in, and it could be the next major leap in technology. In this episode, I'm joined by Anuj Gupta, founder and CEO of SimForge, to explore how simulation is becoming the foundation for training intelligent machines. We dive into what physical AI really means, why this moment is different, the challenges of building at the intersection of AI and robotics, and Anuj's own journey from moving to the US to building a deep-tech startup from the ground up. Let's get into it.  

Today's AI can write code, build prototypes, and launch products faster than ever before. But if building has become easy, figuring out what's actually worth building has become the real competitive advantage. Today's guest has spent more than 15 years building products at Meta, Reuters, TuneCore, and high-growth startups, and now helps founders avoid the biggest mistake in AI: creating products nobody actually wants to pay for. She's the creator of the AI Founder Playbook, where she teaches entrepreneurs to think like product leaders before they think like AI builders.

This is not just another episode; this is our 200th episode. Time flies! When I started this show, back in March of 2023, I never really thought that far into the future, nor did I visualize getting here.  Today I want to do more of the talking myself, but I also want to bring our dear Anabella Gonzalez, Ani, to the forefront, so she can interview me. Ani usually stays in the background, but she helps me put everything together, publish the episodes, and even find some of the best guests we've had on the show. In short, she makes my life easier. Enjoy her interview and my answers!

Artificial intelligence isn't just changing how we build software, it's changing how companies operate. From AI employees working alongside humans to the mental models leaders need to unlearn, this episode explores what it really takes to thrive in an AI-first world. My guest is Bogdan Snisar, an engineering leader at Solea AI who has spent more than a decade building software, with previous engineering leadership roles at companies like Revolut and Wix. He's also been on the founder's journey himself, launching multiple startups before joining one of the fastest-growing AI ventures. That combination of operator, engineer, and founder gives him a uniquely practical perspective on product, AI, and what separates great technology from great businesses. Enjoy!

Why do so many transformation programs fail, even when they have executive support, talented teams, and plenty of investment?  In this episode, I sit down with Sridhar Ravilla—fractional executive, transformation leader, and author of Transformation That Lands and Humans At Scale—to explore the gap between strategy and execution.  We discuss what it really takes to deliver lasting change, how organizations can approach AI transformation without losing sight of the human element, and what leaders should be doing right now to navigate uncertainty and drive meaningful outcomes. Enjoy!

Today’s episode goes beyond the AI hype and into the hard questions most companies are still avoiding. Swathi Young has built her career at the intersection of product, strategy, and technology—from federal systems to fast-moving startups—and now sits at the forefront of ethical AI leadership. In this conversation, we unpack what “ethical AI” actually means in practice, how organizations can operationalize it beyond buzzwords, and whether governments and enterprises are truly keeping pace with innovation. We’ll also dive into bias, regulation, the shifting role of engineers in an AI-first world, and what it really takes to build responsibly in a landscape that’s moving faster than ever. If you care about where AI is going—and who’s accountable for how it gets there—this one’s for you. Enjoy!  

In a world where AI has made it easier than ever to ship products, the real question is no longer can you build, but what are you actually building, and why does it matter? Today’s guest, Rohan Verma, is tackling that question head-on as the creator of SurfSense, an open-source, privacy-focused research agent designed for builders who want more than just flashy demos.  In this episode, we go deep into the moment that made SurfSense inevitable, and why Rohan believed he was the right person to build it. We unpack what truly separates real builders from the noise, how constraints shape better products, and how to develop the kind of judgment that tells you what not to build. Enjoy!

AI is creating a new kind of pressure inside mid market companies. The urgency to move fast is real, but so is the risk of getting it wrong. Without the right leadership in place, many organizations are stuck between experimentation and execution, unsure how to scale AI responsibly while still capturing its value. That is exactly where today’s conversation lives. How do you bridge that gap between ambition and capability without hiring a full time executive too early or too late? Jeff Roberts is right in the middle of this problem. As Founder and CEO of Innovation Vista and a five time CIO, he has spent years stepping into companies at critical moments, helping them align IT strategy with business outcomes and avoid the traps that cause most AI initiatives to fail. He brings a front row view into what actually works when companies try to move from interest in AI to real impact.

AI is rewriting the rules of software development — but the real question isn’t whether AI can write code. It’s whether we actually understand the consequences. From companies rushing to replace engineers with AI, to the murky question of responsibility when AI-generated code fails, the industry is entering a moment where technical capability is moving faster than governance, accountability, and even common sense. That’s why this conversation with Martin Miller is so timely. Martin is a veteran technology executive and CTO who has spent more than two decades leading engineering teams and building AI-driven systems across startups and global companies, including roles in AI/ML operations, enterprise architecture, and cloud platforms.  He’s been on the front lines of how software actually gets built at scale — which makes him the perfect person to unpack the hype, the risks, and the real future of human + AI collaboration in engineering.

From a small town in England to the boardrooms of major U.S. media companies, Carl Johnson’s story is about betting on growth before the path is clear. In this episode, we dive into the pivotal moments that shaped his career, the lessons learned inside organizations like Sony and Fox, and why saying “yes” to uncertainty became one of his greatest advantages. We also explore leadership, failure, creative risk-taking, and how great leaders shape the energy of every room they walk into. If you’ve ever wondered how careers really evolve — through leaps, mistakes, and unexpected opportunities — this conversation is for you.

Today’s guest is someone building what feels like science fiction — except it’s already happening in operating rooms today. Mark Greget is the founder and CEO of NuEyes, a company pushing the boundaries of augmented reality and smart glasses technology, from helping people with low vision regain independence to developing AR surgical systems like NuLoupes that are changing how doctors operate. In this episode, we’ll talk about the future of AR glasses, why traditional surgical tools haven’t evolved fast enough, what it takes to build wearable technology that works in real-world clinical environments, and where smart glasses could take humanity over the next 10 to 20 years. If you’ve ever wondered what happens when AI, augmented reality, and human vision start to merge together — this conversation is for you.

Today's conversation addresses one of the biggest questions facing the technology industry: Is AI changing how software gets built, and is it truly changing what it means to be a great engineer? As development accelerates and expectations soar, what's genuine transformation, and what's just hype? To explore that, I'm joined by Cameo Doran, a technology executive and engineering leader who has spent years building high-performing software teams and helping organizations navigate change. In this episode, we'll unpack how AI is reshaping software development, the skills engineers will need to thrive, why leadership matters more than ever, and what the future of software teams might look like over the next decade. Enjoy!

The transition from individual contributor to leader is one of the most underestimated shifts in a career. One day, your success is defined by your own output; the next, it’s measured by how well others perform, grow, and navigate challenges. It raises tough, often unspoken questions: How do you let go of control? How do you lead people who used to be your peers? How do you balance results with empathy? And what does “good leadership” even look like when you’re in the middle of figuring it out? In this episode, we explore that transition in depth, the identity shift, the hidden pressures, and the moments that shape how leaders think and act over time. To do that, we’re joined by Jovan Brown, a technology leader with over a decade of experience driving quality engineering and leading teams in complex environments. Jovan brings a grounded, real-world perspective on what it actually takes to grow into leadership, covering his mistakes, surprises, and the evolution of his leadership style. If you’re stepping into leadership, or already in it and questioning your approach, this conversation will give you a candid, experience-driven lens on what the role really demands. Enjoy!

Payments used to be invisible infrastructure. Today, they’ve become the front door of the customer experience, shaping how businesses sell, get paid, and ultimately survive.  From clunky, single-channel transactions to seamless, omnichannel journeys and embedded finance, the shift isn’t just technological, it’s a complete rethink of how money moves through a business. In this episode, I’m joined by Robert Wesley, someone who’s had a front-row seat to that transformation. From scaling payments at GoDaddy/Poynt to building partnerships across the ecosystem, Robert understands both the complexity behind the scenes and the reality on the ground for small businesses.  This is a conversation about what the industry is building, and what SMBs actually need. Enjoy!

Technology leadership is changing fast. Companies are under pressure to scale, adopt AI, modernize their systems, and make smarter technology decisions, often without the budget or need for a full-time executive. That's where the rise of the fractional CTO and CIO comes in. In this episode, we're joined by George Alexandrou, a technology leader who has sat in both the CIO and CTO seat and now helps organizations navigate complex technology challenges as a fractional executive. Whether you're a founder, executive, or aspiring technology leader, this conversation is packed with practical insights on leading through complexity and building technology that drives results.

For years, software was treated as a support function, something you built after strategy was decided. But that model is breaking. Today, the companies that win are the ones where building is the strategy. Where the ability to rapidly design, test, and ship products defines not just execution, but direction. And now, with AI, that shift is accelerating. If software used to be constrained by time, cost, and talent, those constraints are collapsing. So new questions emerge: If we can build anything faster than ever, what actually matters? What becomes scarce? And how do organizations need to rethink how they operate when creation itself is no longer the bottleneck? That’s exactly what we’re unpacking today, from the changing role of engineers, to whether product, design, and engineering are finally converging, to whether frameworks like Agile still make sense in a world of near-instant iteration. To help us navigate this, we’re joined by Brian Fletcher, an experienced technology leader who has spent more than two decades building digital products across agencies, and now, as a co-founder and fractional CTO, helping companies rethink how they build and scale technology teams in an AI-first world.  Brian has a unique vantage point at the intersection of engineering, product, and business strategy, and today, he helps organizations move from “building software” to truly becoming software-driven businesses.

AgTech loves scale. But agriculture runs on small, family farms. In this episode, I sit down with Jean Francois Cloutier to unpack the massive disconnect between cutting-edge technology and the reality on the ground. If nearly 90% of farms in North America are small or family-run, why are they still overlooked, and what’s broken in the way we build for them? From the “invisible frictions” of daily ranch life to the real stakes for food security, we explore what happens if these operators remain under-digitized, and where AI, robotics, and fintech can actually make a difference. Most importantly, we get into what good technology really looks like for small farmers, and how JF is building with them, not just for them, but also shaped by his own family’s ranching story and a vision for the next generation.

Today’s conversation goes beyond just how long we live, and dives into how well we live. We’re exploring the powerful idea of healthspan vs. lifespan, not just adding years to life, but adding life to those years. While lifespan measures total years lived, healthspan focuses on the years we remain healthy, active, and free from chronic disease. To unpack this, I’m joined by John Linss, founder of CoreSpeed Health, who’s working at the intersection of science, supplements, and real-world outcomes. In this episode, we’ll get into how John defines healthspan, and why he believes it matters more than simply living longer. We’ll explore what sparked his mission, the problem he’s solving with CoreSpeed Health, and his take on what’s broken in today’s wellness industry. Enjoy!

AI is forcing companies to rethink not just their tools, but their entire operating model. What does it actually mean to rebuild a company around AI, not as an add-on, but as the core? And if AI agents become part of the workforce, how do you design systems where humans and machines truly collaborate? In this episode, we go deep into the idea of “refounding” companies in the age of AI, and what an agentic way of working looks like in practice, day-to-day, decision-by-decision. To guide us, I’m joined by Sid Bharath, someone who’s been at the forefront of helping companies rethink how they operate in an AI-first world. From treating AI agents as employees to redesigning workflows and unlocking real ROI, Sid brings both the strategic lens and the practical playbook on what it takes to build the next generation of companies. Enjoy!

The path into tech is rarely linear, but what happens when you embrace that chaos instead of fighting it? From career pivots and creative detours to endurance sports and relentless experimentation, what are the real moments that shape a founder’s mindset, and what actually prepares you to build in an AI-driven world? Today’s guest, Deepak Shukla, is the embodiment of that unconventional journey. From his early days at Deloitte to rapping, traveling the world, and eventually building multiple companies under Pearl Lemon and LemStudio, Deepak has continuously reinvented himself. Along the way, he’s run marathons, competed in Ironmans, recorded over 150 rap songs, and built a philosophy around resilience, creativity, and execution. In this episode, we unpack the turning points that pushed him into tech, how he’s evolving the way SaaS gets built, and why the future belongs to those willing to experiment, endure, and adapt. Enjoy!

We’re living through a moment that feels bigger than just another tech cycle. From mobile to cloud to AI, each wave has changed not only what we build, but how we think, create, and interact with machines. But are we now crossing a deeper threshold, a true “Digital Renaissance”?  One where interfaces disappear, systems collaborate with us, and the very identity of builders begins to shift. That raises big questions: Are we still “using tools,” or starting to work alongside them? What does it mean to design in a world where AI is a co-creator? And as roles blur, who are the new builders emerging in this landscape, and what do they actually do? To explore this, I’m joined by Lee Williams, Founder and CTO at Edelleye Digital, someone who has spent years building technology not just to function, but to feel something. His career spans over two decades of digital innovation, working across large-scale environments and transformative moments in digital media, mobile, and emerging technologies, giving him a front-row seat to how each wave reshapes both products and people. Enjoy!  

AI is forcing leaders to rethink everything—from technology strategy and organizational design to governance, risk, and the future of engineering talent. Today, I'm joined by Timothy Serewicz, a veteran technology executive, CTO, and AI strategist who has spent decades building engineering organizations, leading complex technology initiatives, and helping executives translate technical complexity into business decisions. Drawing on experience that spans enterprise technology, open source, infrastructure, and board-level advisory work, Timothy brings a practical perspective on what it really takes to lead in the age of AI. In this conversation, we'll explore the biggest risks executives face when adopting AI, where smaller and on-premise models may outperform frontier systems, why many technical leaders fall into the player-coach trap, and what engineers need to do today to remain indispensable over the next decade. If you're interested in the intersection of leadership, technology strategy, and AI, you're going to enjoy this one.

In today’s episode, we explore what it really takes to build a meaningful career in tech—one that goes beyond code and into impact. My guest is Matthew Moran, a seasoned IT strategist and executive, author, and career development expert, whose work has shaped how professionals think about long-term success in technology.  Today, we will dive into his Concept Over Process methodology, unpacking how starting from business objectives can completely reshape the solutions you build. Along the way, we also get personal, talking about work life balance, creative outlets like music, and how those experiences influence leadership and problem solving. This is a conversation about thinking bigger, working smarter, and building a career with intention. Enjoy!

Engineering is changing fast, and with it, the definition of what it means to lead. Today, the path from individual contributor to engineering leader isn’t linear, and it raises big questions: How do you shift from writing code to leading people? What separates a great engineer from a great leader? And in a world increasingly shaped by AI, what does it really mean to build—, not just use, these new tools? As AI becomes more embedded in how products are developed, engineers are being pulled closer to data, models, and entirely new ways of thinking. So how should teams adopt AI effectively? What are the common pitfalls? And looking ahead, which skills will actually matter most in the next decade? To explore these questions, we’re joined by Pat Clarke, an engineering leader with over 17 years of experience in tech, currently at Lumen Learning, where he’s been at the forefront of building and scaling engineering teams. Pat brings a practical, hands-on perspective on leadership, AI adoption, and how engineers can evolve to stay relevant in a rapidly changing landscape.

AI is changing how software gets built, but is it actually making engineering teams more productive, or just creating new bottlenecks? In this episode, I'm joined by Matthieu McClintock, founder of ChaosMonkey, a company tackling one of the biggest unanswered questions in tech today: how do we measure the real impact of AI on software engineering?  From code generation and developer productivity to review cycles, delivery speed, and engineering ROI, Matt helps organizations separate AI hype from measurable outcomes. We dive into what he's learning from the data, the future of software development, and why his most controversial views on AI might challenge what many leaders believe today.

Hotels are facing a growing challenge that many guests never see: the rise of vaping and cannabis use inside hotel properties. As smoking habits evolve, cannabis laws change, and guest expectations shift, traditional no-smoking policies are becoming harder to enforce. The result is a new operational problem that affects everything from housekeeping and maintenance to guest satisfaction and brand reputation. Joining me today is Mike Linton, CRO and General Counsel at Rest, a company helping hotels tackle this challenge with technology designed specifically for the realities of modern hospitality. We'll explore what's happening inside hotels today, why existing approaches are falling short, how Rest is solving the problem, and where hospitality, guest behavior, and cannabis policy are headed over the next decade.

What happens when you take a centuries-old industry like fine wine and spirits; and rebuild it for the digital age? In this episode, we sit down with Scott Manning to unpack the story behind BAXUS, a platform reimagining how people buy, own, and trade collectible bottles.  We’ll dive into the origin story, the mechanics of how it all works, the challenges of bridging physical and digital worlds, and why spirits might be one of the most interesting emerging asset classes today. And yes... we’ll also find out what’s in Scott’s personal collection.

The US used to be the unquestioned leader of the industrialized world. It stood at the forefront of hard, deep technology—the kind that creates real, physical breakthroughs, reshapes industries, strengthens national security, and pushes society forward. But is that still true today? If not, what happened? And more importantly, what needs to change for the US to reclaim its position as the global leader in deep tech innovation? Joining me today to answer these questions is Jeff Crusey, General Partner at IceNine, an investment firm focused on the next generation of industrial, aerospace, defense, and frontier technologies. Jeff has spent years investing in founders tackling some of the hardest technical and industrial problems of our time, with a strong focus on rebuilding critical capabilities and supporting technologies that have long-term strategic importance for the future of the United States. In this conversation, we’ll explore reindustrialization, the future of aerospace and defense, the impact of AI hype on deep tech investing, and the skills that will define the next generation of builders and innovators. Stay tuned for an exciting and incredibly relevant conversation.

Today’s guest has spent over four decades at the intersection of technology, strategy, and scale. From McKinsey to the boardroom to building companies himself, Barry Libert has seen wave after wave of innovation, and more importantly, he’s learned how to tell what actually lasts. In this episode, we go beyond the hype of AI to explore the quiet revolution happening beneath the surface, where real-time data, platforms, and infrastructure are quietly reshaping how businesses operate and win. We talk about the early decisions that shape billion-dollar outcomes, how to spot durable AI opportunities before they’re obvious, and the subtle signals that separate companies that scale… from those that stall. If you care about building the future of AI, not just talking about it, this one’s for you.

AI is at an inflection point: everyone’s talking about it, but very few are turning it into real, measurable business value.  Why do some companies break through while others stay stuck in experimentation?  As agents and orchestration redefine how software is built, what does this shift actually mean for engineers on the ground? To unpack this, I’m joined by Alon Bochman, someone who’s been working in AI long before the current hype cycle. Alon is a fractional AI executive who helps enterprises and startups turn AI from buzzword into business value.  He’s led AI transformations that saved tens of millions and unlocked new revenue streams, including scaling an AI consulting practice to over $1B in just four years and growing portfolios from thousands to tens of millions annually. He’s co-founded and exited a startup to Thomson Reuters, helped GenAI companies secure funding, and worked hands-on as a CTO-for-hire. With that mix of deep history and hands-on execution, Alon is the perfect person to explore what’s actually changed in AI, why some companies win, how engineering is evolving, and what bets are worth making right now. Enjoy!

For decades, healthcare treated patients like passengers in a system they didn’t control—long waits, limited transparency, and very little choice. But that model is starting to crack. Today, we’re exploring what happens when healthcare starts treating patients more like consumers—people who expect clarity, convenience, and real agency over their care. What role does technology play in making that possible? How far can AI go in transforming the patient experience? And where does the idea of “consumer healthcare” run into the messy reality of life-and-death decisions? To unpack all of that, I’m joined by Josh Marquart, a healthcare and technology executive who has spent years working with providers, health systems, and digital health platforms to rethink how care is delivered and experienced. Josh brings a deep perspective on how policy, technology, and patient expectations are colliding—and where healthcare is headed next.

Today on The Future Of The Future, I’m joined by Charles Griffith, a technologist who helped build part of the early foundation behind Amazon's logistics infrastructure. Retail logistics is being pushed to its limits. Customers expect everything faster, supply chains are more fragile than ever, and the systems that move goods around the world are under enormous pressure to become smarter, faster, and more resilient. Today, we’ll explore how technology has transformed the logistics landscape—from the early architectures that made modern fulfillment possible to the emerging technologies reshaping how goods are tracked, moved, and delivered. We’ll also dig into why data, collaboration, and new leadership mindsets will determine which retailers survive the next decade and which fall behind. Enjoy!

Every year, universities produce groundbreaking research, new algorithms, new hardware, new scientific breakthroughs. But turning those ideas into real products that solve real problems in the world is a completely different challenge. There’s often what people call the “valley of death” between a promising proof of concept in the lab and a scalable, commercially viable technology. Crossing that gap requires not just technical brilliance, but a deep understanding of customers, markets, and the realities of building a company. Today’s guest has spent his career right at that intersection. Dr. Seth Hollar is the co-founder and Chief Technology Officer of WISER Systems, a company developing advanced real-time location and tracking technology using ultra-wideband radio systems to help industries track assets with extreme precision. He’s been the primary inventor behind key innovations in the company’s technology and has helped build a growing portfolio of patents in real-time localization systems. Before building WISER, Seth worked across some of the most demanding environments in engineering—from aerospace work at Lockheed Martin on space exploration missions, to research in MEMS and nanotechnology as a fellow at Toshiba, and later shaping the next generation of founders as Associate Director of the Engineering Entrepreneurs Program at North Carolina State University. With degrees from MIT and a PhD from UC Berkeley, he has spent decades thinking about how deep technical innovation actually makes its way from research labs into real-world impact. In this conversation, we’re going to talk about that journey—what it takes to translate academic research into real companies, the mindset shift from scientist to founder, and how deep-tech innovators can bridge the long road between breakthrough ideas and scalable products.

Technology often gets framed as a tool for profit, scale, and disruption. But another powerful story is unfolding in the digital world—one where technology becomes a force for social good. Today’s episode explores that intersection: how thoughtful digital strategy can help mission-driven organizations amplify their impact, reach more people, and ultimately change lives. Nonprofits and charities often operate with limited resources, yet they face increasingly complex digital challenges—from building effective websites to communicating their mission, raising donations, and engaging communities online. When the digital foundation is right, it can multiply an organization’s impact. When it’s not, even the most meaningful missions can struggle to reach the audiences that need them most. That’s exactly where today’s guest has dedicated much of his career. David Pisarek is the founder and CEO of Wow Digital, a digital agency focused exclusively on helping nonprofits, charities, and mission-driven organizations succeed online. With roots in web development going back to the early days of the internet in the 1990s, David has spent decades building expertise across web design, UX, digital marketing, and strategic planning. Over the years, he’s led hundreds of digital projects for organizations in healthcare, education, and the nonprofit sector, helping them modernize their digital presence and better serve their communities.  Today we’re going to talk about technology for social good, leadership and entrepreneurship in the digital space, and what it takes to help mission-driven organizations thrive in an increasingly digital world.

This episode is about happiness. What is happiness? When, how, and why do we feel happy or unhappy? We are taught that the "right" career, the "right" marriage, and the "right" faith are the blueprints for a joyful life.  Yet, for many, the reality is a persistent and gnawing sense that even after checking most of the proverbial boxes, something is still missing. So why do we keep doubling down on the scripts that fail to deliver on the promise of happiness? Today, I have the privilege of interviewing Craig Robinson, C-suite executive, professor, advisor, and most importantly, author of the newly released book, *The Happiness Reboot*.  Rather than offering a “get happy quick” formula, his book provides simple yet effective frameworks to replace your deepest-held convictions with a spirit of curiosity. For those who have tried to do everything “right” but still feel happiness eluding them, this episode, and the book behind it, might be the first step on your new path. Enjoy!

Welcome to another episode of The Future of the Future. Today we’re exploring the journey from engineer to founder—and what it takes to turn years of technical experience into a company solving meaningful problems. My guest is Kamil Mansuri, a technologist and entrepreneur who has worked at companies like Comcast, Take-Two Interactive, and Vapor IO, building systems at scale before eventually launching his own startup. In this conversation, we talk about how Kamil first got into technology, the formative experiences that shaped his career, and the technical and leadership skills he developed along the way. We also dive into the origin story of Telepath—the problem it aims to solve, the challenges of building it, and what it takes to lead a team and create a strong culture as a founder. Finally, we reflect on the lessons from his journey and the advice he’d give to aspiring tech founders who want to build impactful products. Enjoy!

The role of the CFO has changed dramatically. Today, it’s no longer just about financial reporting or managing risk,  it’s about strategy, leadership, and helping organizations make better decisions in complex, fast-moving environments. CFOs are expected to be true business partners, talent developers, and increasingly, coaches within their organizations. At the same time, leadership itself is evolving. Skills like influence, communication, and people development are becoming just as critical as technical expertise. And now, with AI reshaping how work gets done, finance leaders are being challenged to rethink how teams operate, how decisions are made, and what effective leadership really looks like going forward. To unpack all of this, I’m joined by Natalia Castellucci. Natalia has built her career from early roles in finance all the way to the CFO seat, where she’s operated at the intersection of strategy, leadership, and organizational development. Along the way, she developed a strong focus on coaching, working closely with leaders and teams to help them grow, stay motivated, and perform at their best. In this conversation, we’ll explore what makes a CFO a strategic asset today, the skills finance leaders must cultivate, the leadership lessons Natalia has learned throughout her career, her transition into coaching, and how she sees AI influencing the future of work, leadership, and finance.

Artificial intelligence is everywhere, but most companies still don’t really understand what it means to implement it. My guest today, Rich McGhee, argues that AI actually operates across three distinct layers: productivity, automation, and innovation, and that confusing these layers is one of the biggest mistakes organizations are making right now. In this episode, we talk about the future balance between humans and machines in the workplace, what the “man vs. machine ratio” might look like by 2030, and why AI could reshape not just businesses, but entire economies, especially as aging societies face workforce shortages. Enjoy!

Outbound sales is one of those areas of tech where everyone wants results, but very few teams get it right. Today’s guest is John Karsant, a sales operator and entrepreneur who’s spent years deep in the trenches of B2B outbound, pipeline creation, and sales development. John is the founder of LevelUp Leads, an SDR and outbound sales company helping startups and growth-stage teams build predictable pipeline without burning out their internal sales orgs. In a world where inboxes are crowded, buyers are more skeptical than ever, and AI is changing how outreach is done, LevelUp Leads is tackling a very real problem: how do you run outbound in a way that actually works, consistently, ethically, and at scale? In this episode, we’ll talk about John’s path into sales and tech, what pushed him to start LevelUp Leads, the mistakes companies keep making with SDRs and outbound, and how he thinks about the future of sales development in an increasingly automated world. Let’s dive in.

Today’s conversation is about outbound, but not the kind you usually hear about. My guest is Toan Dang, someone who’s spent nearly two decades in outbound sales, not just running plays, but surviving them. Long before outbound became a discipline full of tools, dashboards, and frameworks, Toan learned it the hard way: through pressure, uncertainty, and the need to make judgment calls when there was no playbook to lean on. In an era where sales teams have more data than ever, more signals, more activity metrics, and more automation, outbound somehow feels harder—not easier. And Toan has a sharp perspective on why. He argues that the real bottleneck in modern sales isn’t effort or messaging, but decision-making. Knowing what to do matters far less than knowing when to do it, and when not to. Toan is also a surfer, so we’ll explore the parallels between outbound and the ocean... patience, timing, reading signals, and the discipline of knowing when to paddle hard and when to wait. This isn’t an episode about doing more outbound. It’s about doing it with better judgment. Enjoy!

Today, I’m joined by Lynn Cheramie, a seasoned technology and cybersecurity leader with decades of experience operating at the intersection of strategy, risk, and people. Over the course of his career, Lynn has held senior leadership roles where the stakes are high and the margin for error is slim, in environments that demand not just technical excellence, but clarity of thought, strong values, and real leadership.  His journey offers a front-row seat into what it actually takes to lead teams, make hard decisions, and stay grounded in moments of uncertainty. In this conversation, we explore Lynn’s professional path and the key milestones that shaped him as a leader, why leadership matters more than ever today, and what truly defines a good leader beyond titles and frameworks. We also dig into the idea of whether leadership can be taught, the role belief systems play in guiding leaders through complexity, and whether we’re facing a broader leadership crisis in modern organizations. Enjoy!

Today’s episode is about something that sounds simple but is incredibly hard to scale: building high-performing teams without compromising kindness.  In a world obsessed with speed, metrics, and technical excellence, we’re exploring a different competitive edge, the power of nice people, strong culture, and values-driven leadership. Our guest today is Mahesh Paolini Subramanya, a seasoned technology leader with a track record of building and scaling engineering organizations across global environments. His trajectory spans major leadership milestones, he has delivered results and shaped cultures where collaboration, trust, and high standards coexist. If you care about leadership, scaling teams, hiring right, and building organizations where performance and kindness reinforce each other, this episode is for you.

Today’s guest is Yevgeny Khessin, CEO and founder at DIMO, a Company that is helping reshape one of the most entrenched industries in the world: automotive. Yevgeny's journey spans software, blockchain infrastructure, and building products in emerging tech ecosystems, but what makes his work stand out is the ambition behind it. DIMO isn’t just another connected-car platform. It’s a decentralized mobility network designed to give drivers ownership of their vehicle data, something traditionally controlled by OEMs and legacy telematics providers. At a time when data sovereignty, privacy, and interoperability are becoming defining themes of the digital economy, Yevgeny is applying those principles to the physical world, starting with cars.  In this episode, we’ll explore Yevgeny’s path into tech, what led him to build in mobility, and how decentralized networks could fundamentally change the relationship between people, their vehicles, and the data they generate.

Today, we’re diving into one of the most powerful and underestimated forces reshaping our world: the Silver Tsunami, the rise of the Silver Economy, and the role of technology in an aging society.  As populations around the globe grow older, the social, economic, and technological implications are profound. This isn’t just a demographic shift, it’s a transformation that will redefine healthcare, work, innovation, and how we design products and services for the future. To help us unpack this, I’m joined by Christopher Kunney, a global digital health leader, AgeTech advocate, and speaker whose work sits at the intersection of aging, innovation, and impact. Christopher has been a vocal thought leader on the Silver Tsunami and the opportunities within the Silver Economy, and his deeply personal TEDx Talk has inspired many to rethink how we approach longevity, healthcare, and human-centered technology. This will be a conversation about longevity, opportunity, responsibility, and designing a future that works for all ages. Enjoy!

Today’s guest sits right at the intersection of creativity, communication, and what it really means to be human at work. Victoria Flynn has built her career in marketing and communications, helping brands find their voice, tell better stories, and connect in ways that actually resonate. 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.

Today’s guest is Tom Lenoble, a leader whose career spans Fortune 500 giants, fast-moving startups, and some of the most human, high-pressure environments you can imagine. 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!

APIs are one of the most fundamental building blocks of modern software. They’re how products talk to each other, how teams move fast, and how developers avoid reinventing the wheel every time they ship something new. For years, APIs have been the quiet infrastructure layer that makes scale, integration, and reuse possible. 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!

If Scrum was designed today from scratch, in a world of autonomous agents, large language models, and software written at the speed of thought, would it look any different? 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!

Today’s episode is a special one. 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!