Wharton Tech Toks

In this episode of Wharton Tech Toks, Kirk Hachigian (Wharton MBA ‘27) sits down with David DellaPelle, CEO and Co-Founder of Dune Security, to discuss how Dune is modernizing security awareness training through a personalized, AI-driven approach. They explore how Dune moves beyond one-size-fits-all training, the evolving threat landscape, and the importance of integrations across the security stack. David also shares insights into his journey as a founder, advice on building and scaling a team, and his experience growing a cybersecurity company in NYC.

In this episode of Wharton Tech Toks, Debbie Cheng (Wharton MBA Class of 2026) sits down with Leon Zhang, Co-Founder and CEO of BetterBasket. Leon shares his journey from launching grocery delivery operations at Uber to co-founding BetterBasket, a YC-backed startup helping grocers use data to optimize pricing in the face of inflation, digital transformation, and legacy systems.Leon also opens up about his decision to take a leave of absence from Wharton to join Y Combinator’s Winter '24 cohort, what he's learned about hiring and building a startup culture, and why challenging the status quo is at the heart of entrepreneurship.Whether you're curious about retail tech, YC, or life as a founder-MBA, this one’s full of insights.

In this episode of Wharton Tech Toks, Debbie Cheng (Wharton MBA Class of 2026) sits down with Avanthika Ramesh, Senior Director of Product Management for Agentforce at Salesforce (Wharton MBA Class of 2025). They dive into Avanthika’s career journey from engineering at Berkeley to building AI-driven products at Salesforce, including her work on chatbots, Web3, and generative agents.Avanthika shares insights on what it takes to succeed in product management, how to lead cross-functional teams, and why she chose to pursue her MBA while continuing to work full-time. From evolving chatbots into intelligent AI agents to balancing corporate keynotes with Wharton coursework, her story is packed with lessons on leadership, learning, and navigating ambiguity.

In this episode, Julien Guiot sits down with Jim Alderson-Smith, Managing Director at Crux, to unpack how Crux is transforming capital markets for clean energy. They explore the company’s role in facilitating efficient financing through transferable tax credits and debt marketplaces, aiming to make clean energy funding more liquid and accessible. The conversation dives into the evolution of tax equity financing, Crux’s strategy for building a broad network of developers, corporates, and intermediaries, and how the platform reduces friction in traditionally complex financial transactions. Key themes include navigating political uncertainty in climate policy, driving inclusivity in deal sizes, and advice for MBAs looking to break into climate tech. Tune in for a deep dive into how fintech innovation is powering the clean energy transition in the U.S.

Tanay Kothari, Co-founder & CEO of Wispr Flow, discusses his vision for a screen-free, voice-first future aimed at enhancing professional productivity. He shares insights on the challenges of integrating voice technology, the importance of user feedback, and innovative marketing strategies. Tanay also delves into effective fundraising strategies for startups, emphasizing the role of preparation and mindset. The conversation touches on fostering independence within teams and the evolving tech landscape, including the rise of personalized management and the significance of adaptability in engineering.

Join us for this episode with Dr. Craig Joseph, Chief Medical Officer at Nordic Global and co-author of Designing for Health. Craig shares his journey from practicing pediatrics to becoming a national thought leader in healthcare IT and clinical informatics. We dive into his experience with EHRs like Epic and Cerner, the challenges of designing tech doctors actually want to use, and where AI fits into the future of patient care.This is a great episode if you're exploring careers at the intersection of medicine and technology or curious about human-centered design in healthcare. If you enjoy the show, be sure to share it with a friend and leave a comment!

Join us for this episode with Leigh Engel, Senior Product Manager for Enterprise AI at NVIDIA. Leigh’s journey spans media, consulting, and big tech firms like Apple and WPP before landing in product leadership at one of the world’s top AI companies. We explore her career pivots, how she balances innovation with user-centered design, and her take on evaluating AI models like GPT-4 and Llama for enterprise use. This is a great episode if you're curious about breaking into AI product management or understanding the future of generative AI in business. If you enjoy the episode, share it with a friend and leave us a comment!Please note: The views expressed in this episode are Leigh’s alone and do not reflect those of her employer, NVIDIA.

In this episode, Julien Guiot sits down with Ryan Graciano, Co-Founder and Head of Product at Credit Karma to discuss the story behind Credit Karma, exploring how the company disrupted personal finance by offering free credit scores and personalized financial insights. We dive into the challenges and opportunities of building trust in the finance sector, Credit Karma’s innovative approach to user-centric design, and their strategy for scaling a fintech business sustainably. Key questions include how to effectively balance user experience with data privacy and what future trends might shape personal financial management. Tune in for valuable insights into the evolution and future of fintech from one of the industry's pioneering companies.

Francesca Migliori is a global digital and e-commerce executive with expertise in omnichannel strategies, CRM, and startup advisement. Join us in this exciting episode as Debbie Cheng (Wharton Class of 2026) and Francesca Migliori discuss her journey from Wharton to investment banking to leadership roles across various organizations including Gucci and Loro Piana. She shares riveting stories leading digital transformation initiatives that enhance customer engagement and market expansion, as well as her new adventure driving operational excellence and digital innovation in publishing as COO of Lost River Press.

Join us for this episode with Elizabeth Pemmerl, Chief Revenue Officer at GitHub. Elizabeth shares her journey from early roles in marketing and PR to leading revenue strategy at one of the world’s most influential developer platforms. We discuss her decade-long rise through GitHub, how the company is leveraging AI, and what it takes to lead with both ambition and balance. This is a must-listen if you’re curious about breaking into tech leadership, scaling within an org, or understanding how AI is shaping enterprise strategy. If you enjoy the show, share it with a friend and drop us a comment!