Politely Pushy with Eric Chemi

So, you want to be a tech startup founder. Now what? Walter Thompson knows a thing or two about the journeys of successful–and not-so-successful– founders. As many know, securing investment is only part of the role.In this episode, Walter chats with Eric about his experience curating and creating content for digital publications and leading interviews with founders and investors. Walter’s latest project, hosting the Fund/Build/Scale podcast, pulls back the curtain of starting an AI company from the founder’s perspective to share the authentic stories and wisdom of those in the driver’s seat.Interested in learning the basic skills required to launch a startup, secure initial funding, and transform your idea into a sustainable business? Tune into Fund/Build/Scale wherever you listen to your podcasts or https://fundbuildscale.podbean.com/.

On this episode of Politely Pushy, Eric takes the dive with host of Tech Talks Daily, Neil C. Hughes.At 16 years old, Hughes imagined an exciting career as a radio host or a writer before leading into a career in IT. Finding a balance between technology and business, he sought to clarify the complexity of the evolution of technology for the masses. Neil eventually began his own path in writing, which precipitated the Tech Talks Daily podcast he records today.Tune in as Neil chats about his journey from IT to hosting 3,000 podcast episodes and counting. Plus, Neil shares his point of view on the current technology trends impacting the world. To learn more about Neil and listen to episodes of Tech Talks Daily, visit www.techblogwriter.co.uk

AI is the moment, and Michael Nuñez, editorial director at VentureBeat, unravels the tension between journalism and the business of technology in this episode of Politely Pushy.Inspired by the early development of large language models (LLM) and AI, Michael sought a way to break into the space. Enter VentureBeat. Michael’s regular conversations with engineers, builders, and doers who know this emerging technology best help him distill a wildly popular and important topic to the masses.Take the evolution of digital design tools, from Adobe to Canva to AI image generators, for example. Michael’s editorial edge comes by assessing trending stories about AI and digital design tools through an enterprise lens and gauging those findings for impact among readers. Listen in as Michael and Eric discuss how newsrooms integrate AI and define “newsworthy” in the new age of digital media. To read Michael’s latest editorial work, visit www.venturebeat.com/author/michael_nunez/.

In the age of tech disruption, who is responsible for leading a company through digital transformation? Isaac Sacolick, founder and president of StarCIO, identifies these leaders as “digital trailblazers.”In this Politely Pushy episode, Isaac quiets the buzz around generative AI advancement by comparing its hype cycle to the expansion of mobile technologies. Digital transformation paved the way for more organizations to adapt web content accurately to a mobile format. Outside of generative AI and the evolution of mobile applications, digital transformation remains integral to any organization’s forward momentum.Tune in as Isaac discusses the critical investments companies must make, such as appointing innovative leaders to enable experimental cultures, to stay competitive in a digital world.Isaac Sacolick is a bestselling author and contributing writer for www.cio.com specializing in guiding leaders on digital transformation. To read Isaac’s contributed content, visit https://www.cio.com/profile/isaac-sacolick/

Sustainability is arguably one of the largest threats facing humanity today.You may have heard the terms CSR and ESG thrown around increasingly in the past few years. CSR refers to “corporate social responsibility,” and ESG refers to “environmental, social, and corporate governance.” Both are critical to brands striving to capture consumer loyalty and set industry standards. Mega corporations, including Apple, Coca-Cola, and Disney, are steadfast in their carbon neutrality commitments. For Adidas and Walmart, their commitments lie in strengthening the community.On today’s episode, Michelle Crozier, former Global Head of ESG & CSR at ByteDance, chats about the importance of these programs and initiatives across industries. Michelle brings more than 20 years of experience transforming the social and technology impact, sustainability efforts, and corporate responsibility of leading brands.Curious to know the ethos that drives Michelle’s work? No matter what the cause, mission, or community is that drives your CSR or ESG program, it's all important to create a better, healthier world.

Imagine this: You’re at a physician appointment. In the background, innovative technology documents your conversation and creates accurate notes for your physician to reference later.Need a prescription? Ambient clinical intelligence (ACI) works alongside a generative AI program to deliver appropriate and available prescription treatments that match your insurance requirements, all without pulling the attention of your physician away from you.In today’s episode, Anthony Brooke, president of provider solutions and technology at DrFirst, highlights the positive impacts and areas of opportunity for generative AI in healthcare. DrFirst pioneers healthcare technology solutions to connect people at every touchpoint of care to improve patient outcomes.

The 2024 awards season is right around the corner, and winning is on the brain. If you’re preparing to submit for upcoming industry awards, there’s no one better to consult than PR industry veteran and awards secret weapon Betsy Quinn. Betsy has dedicated her career to zeroing in on the “why” behind the work. Her expertise in informing and directing brand strategy and messaging led her to establish the agency awards culture we know and appreciate today. Betsy’s ability to produce show-stopping award wins secured her path as Ketchum’s first Global Awards Director.   Tune into today’s episode as Betsy reveals her best practices for awards submissions and how you can build a winning mindset for your work.

And with that, the 2023 season comes to an end. But what’s the benefit of jumping into the new year without proper reflection of the past 365 days? Ken Jacobs returns to the Politely Pushy podcast to give a masterclass in leadership.In his conversation with Eric, Ken discusses the steps to lead through a downturn expertly – something many leaders have faced this year. The PR, communications, and marketing coach and consultant also shares his expert yet simple process for forging ahead to keep fear at bay and stay the course to meet business goals. Keep an eye out for the fifth season of Ken’s podcast, “Taking the Lead,” which begins airing in January 2024.

When Jonathan Evans, Founder of KinectAir, isn’t building software that charters Pilatus PC-12 aircraft on a KinectAir flight, he’s chatting with Eric on a new Politely Pushy episode.Jonathan dives into the novelty of regional air mobility and the niche KinectAir occupies in on-demand private charter: accessibility and decreased environmental impact. He also explains how a strong team behind the company’s flight experience, from concierge to software developers to FAA-certified operators to licensed pilots, provides the trustworthy and safe offering that passengers have been looking for.Dreaming of flying private? Get a bird’s-eye view from Jonathan of all that KinectAir has to offer plus the unveiling of an unreleased product that’s waiting in the wings.

Data privacy, ESG, AI? Laurence Evans of Reputation Leaders and Eric cover it all and more on today’s Politely Pushy episode! AI has veered its head once more, this time as a major ESG issue - I know, we’re as surprised as you are. According to Laurence, AI has proven to be more of an opportunity than a threat with limitless possibilities, but the question on everyone’s mind really is: What is AI really being used for? From driving workplace efficiency to creating job opportunities in the tech space, AI is dominating today’s digital revolutions and will continue to do so for decades to come. However, perception isn’t always what it seems when it comes to emerging tech, and Laurence has the numbers to prove it: • 48% of Americans see AI as more of a threat than an opportunity• Two-thirds of Americans believe American companies should be working to protect personal data• Social Media is seen as the fifth biggest threat to American securityTune in to learn more about Laurence’s survey findings and what they mean for how businesses today are shaping their internal strategies to maintain ESG standards - standards that continue to evolve with the rise of emerging technologies.