Wharton Tech Toks

In this episode, Steph Kim chats with Oscar Höglund, Co-Founder and CEO of Epidemic Sound, the leading platform for world-class music and sound effects for brands and creators, with an expansive catalog seen and heard over 2.5 billion times a day worldwide. They discuss Epidemic Sound's innovative subscription-based model that simplifies music licensing and offers transparency and simplicity for both musicians and creators. Oscar opens up about his CEO role that has evolved from obsessing over ideas and product-market fit to focusing on scale. He emphasizes the importance of balancing paranoia and ambition in entrepreneurship.

Join Daniel Berkovits, the VP of Strategy of Via, to talk about how Via is digitizing the historically analog world of public transit to improve the experience of riders around the world.

Camille Van Horne, Director of Product Management at Instacart and a Stanford MBA grad, shares her insights on the grocery delivery giant's evolution. She discusses the launch of Instacart Platform, emphasizing in-store innovations like caper carts and electronic shelf labels. Camille also reveals how Instacart is leveraging AI for personalized experiences and fulfillment solutions while partnering with grocers. Her perspective on product management highlights the importance of emotional intelligence and long-term vision in navigating the complexities of grocery retail.

Benjamin Orthlieb, VP of Corporate Development at LinkedIn, dives deep into the world of corporate strategy. He discusses the critical build vs. buy decision-making framework and how corporate development shapes LinkedIn's strategy. Orthlieb emphasizes the importance of cultural fit during acquisitions and shares insights on Gen AI and emerging tech trends. He also provides advice on navigating careers in tech and the significance of concise communication. Finally, he highlights the qualities that make founders stand out in angel investing.

In this episode, we're joined by Mike Collett, founder and managing partner of Promus Ventures, a VC firm focused on deep tech. We explore the evolving world of robotics, discussing everything from robotics-as-a-service to AI integration. Mike shares insights from his over two decades in venture capital on how robotics is transforming industries and impacting investors. Tune in to gain a unique perspective on where the technology is headed and how it's reshaping our world.

In today’s episode we are joined by Elisha Jacobs, Senior Associate at RedBlue Capital. Elisha helps unpack the complexities of venture capital within the mobility sector. Discover the future of transportation through investments in groundbreaking technologies and models that could redefine how we move goods and people around the globe. For anyone interested in the mobility sector, this episode serves as a great overview of the sector.

“We think about ways where we can combine human insight together with ML models that are able to think about the world around them and really expand the scope of what humans can do.” In this episode, Emma is joined by Vijay Karunamurthy, Field CTO at Scale AI, a company at the heart of the AI revolution. This episode focuses on the integral processes of AI testing and evaluation, highlighting the importance of ethical frameworks in the development of AI. Vijay shares examples from his work, illustrating the practical applications of these processes in ensuring AI technologies are both effective and responsible. A great listen for those interested in the intersection of AI, ethics, and practical applications!

"The biggest mistake we can make is saying space is only separate industry. Space crosses absolutely everything we do nowadays." In this episode we are joined by Melissa Quinn, General Manager of Seradata, a Slingshot Aerospace company. We discuss the pivotal role of data in ensuring space safety, sustainability, and the vital collaboration across global space markets. Melissa also sheds light on the emerging challenges and opportunities within the space insurance sector, the integration of AI in space data management, and the pressing need for diverse talents in this rapidly evolving industry.

"Today it's become easier to build a product and harder to get distribution and awareness... think distribution much more than your product." In this episode, Cynthia and Sophie interview Sean Regan, former Global Head of Product Marketing at Atlassian and serial entrepreneur, for a deep dive into the growth story of Atlassian and insights into how to 10x a product. Sean also provides valuable advice about career development and navigating the AI landscape, as well as his bets on the changes that this new wave of technological innovation is going to bring to the world.

In this episode, join ⁠Stephanie Kim⁠ as she chats with ⁠Laura (Gentile) Danforth⁠, Director of Global Partnerships at ⁠Discord⁠. They discuss the evolving role of developers in the Discord ecosystem, exciting new developer monetization opportunities, the integration of AI in Discord apps, and more. Laura also provides insights into her dynamic career that spans across roles in finance, product, strategy, and partnerships, and offers advice for those looking to break into the tech industry.