The CTO Show with Mehmet Gonullu

In this special 500th episode of The CTO Show with Mehmet, we dive deep into the talent game behind startup scaling and private equity moves. Joining us is Justin Dixon, founder of Hire Tomorrow, who brings nearly two decades of recruiting experience—from Fortune 500s to early-stage startups and PE-backed ventures.We explore how AI is disrupting (and complicating) hiring, why job security at big companies is a myth, and how to evaluate a startup as if you were a VC—even when you’re just looking for your next role.🔑 Key Takeaways: • The shift from employee to founder mindset (and how Rich Dad Poor Dad started it all) • How startups can compete with Fortune 500s for top talent • Why private equity firms almost always replace the CFO post-acquisition • What startup job seekers should really evaluate (hint: think like a VC) • How AI is flooding hiring pipelines—and what that means for founders and recruiters • Why job security at big companies is often an illusion • How Justin uses AI as a “board of advisors” to sharpen his thinking • The underrated power of podcasting for network building and deal flow⸻🎓 What You’ll Learn: • Practical hiring insights for both founders and job seekers • How to vet a startup before joining—beyond the hype • Trends shaping AI’s role in recruitment (and its limitations) • The human side of recruiting that AI can’t automate👤 About the Guest:Founder of Hire Tomorrow, Justin Dixon brings a wealth of experience and passion to his business. With a career dedicated to the recruiting industry, Justin has effectively collaborated with companies of various sizes and across diverse industries, ranging from emerging startups to Fortune 500.  In January 2020, he transitioned from his role as Head of Recruiting for a Wealth Management firm to establish Hire Tomorrow, dedicated to assisting Private Equity firms and Startups in finding the Right Talent to drive their success. Our focus extends across C-level roles, Sales, Marketing, Finance, and Technology, ensuring a comprehensive approach to fulfilling our clients' staffing needs. https://www.hiretomorrow.com/https://www.linkedin.com/in/jmdixon15/Episode Highlights (Timestamps):00:00 – Introduction and Justin’s backstory02:00 – Quitting a stable job to launch a recruiting firm06:00 – Building financial freedom through entrepreneurship08:30 – Working with private equity firms post-acquisition13:00 – Why PE firms prioritize CFO replacements15:00 – How startups can win talent over big companies19:00 – What Justin looks for in a startup before recommending it23:00 – Startup job seekers need a VC mindset27:00 – How AI is disrupting hiring—and why it’s messy33:00 – Why candidate experience is broken37:00 – Limitations of AI interviews and hidden legal risks41:00 – Why recruiters (and salespeople) won’t be replaced43:00 – How podcasting builds network, not just visibility46:00 – Wrap-up and how to reach Justin

In this episode of The CTO Show with Mehmet, host Mehmet Gonullu sits down with Karan Jain, Founder and CEO of NayaOne, to explore the broken state of enterprise tech adoption — and what it takes to fix it.With over two decades of experience in financial services and technology, Karan is on a mission to eliminate the painful 12-month vendor procurement cycles that cripple innovation in large institutions. NayaOne offers a powerful, secure platform that connects enterprises with technology vendors and enables real-time evaluation using synthetic data, workflow tooling, and curated testbeds.From regulated environments like banking and healthcare to emerging innovation hubs in MENA, this conversation dives deep into how enterprises can move faster without compromising trust, compliance, or outcomes.💡 What You’ll Learn • Why most enterprises still take 6–12 months to validate a tech vendor • How NayaOne shortens this cycle to a few weeks with sandbox infrastructure and synthetic data • The role of AI urgency in transforming procurement culture • Why “measured” doesn’t have to mean “slow” in regulated industries • How enterprise buyers are beginning to embrace experimentation over perfection • Trends in enterprise AI use cases (contact centers, dev tooling, document workflows) • What MENA banks can learn from global innovation patterns — and where they’re leapfrogging⸻🔑 Key Takeaways • 🧪 Proof-of-concept purgatory is real — but solvable with the right tools and mindset • ⏱ Speed is a competitive advantage, even in highly regulated sectors • 🤖 AI adoption requires a cultural shift, not just tools • 🌍 MENA is a region full of top-down innovation energy and emerging early adopters • 🧠 Enterprises must start thinking like platforms — not just buyers👤 About Karan Jain • Founder & CEO of NayaOne • Former exec in banking, wealth, capital markets • Passionate about transforming enterprise-vendor relationships and building tech infrastructure that accelerates delivery • Actively working with banks, insurers, governments, and regulators globally — including in the MENA regionhttps://nayaone.com/https://www.linkedin.com/in/karanjainonline/⏱ Timestamps 00:00 – Intro01:30 – Karan’s journey from banking to NayaOne03:15 – The core problem: why vendor adoption is broken05:40 – Industries most affected: finance, health, legal, public sector07:10 – How NayaOne accelerates vendor evaluation with synthetic data10:30 – Vendor vs. enterprise adoption mindsets12:20 – Executives as the key stakeholders in tech adoption14:40 – Why AI has forced enterprises to move faster17:00 – NayaOne’s internal AI journey and infrastructure20:15 – Agentic AI: hype vs. real use cases23:45 – Why 70% of “AI agents” are just glorified automation26:10 – Real enterprise AI use cases today29:00 – The enterprise fear of missing out (FOMO)31:10 – Lessons from neobanks and BNPL players34:00 – The CVC use case: accelerating adoption within portfolios36:20 – Expansion and innovation patterns in MENA39:40 – Cultural nuance and early adopters in B2B41:00 – Crossing the chasm in the MENA startup ecosystem44:00 – Where to find Karan and learn more

In this episode, host Mehmet Gonullu welcomes back Dev Aditya, Co-Founder of OIAI by Otermans Institute, who returns nearly two years after his first appearance to share an extraordinary update: they’ve built an AI teacher that runs completely offline — even on a 2020 Android phone.From educating learners in refugee camps to scaling across 17 countries, Dev’s mission is clear: make AI-powered learning accessible to the 750 million people underserved by the internet and modern hardware.We explore the engineering breakthroughs, the philosophical pivots, and the global partnerships that are making it possible.🔑 Key Takeaways: • Why offline, voice-first AI is a game changer for education in low-connectivity areas • How Dev’s team runs 3D avatar-based AI on edge devices from 2020 — without cloud inference • The reason they pivoted away from enterprise clients to return to their impact-driven mission • Why running AI for the marginalized means solving for both connectivity and hardware bottlenecks • Their ambitious goal: upskill 750M people by 2030 • The launch of an SDK for other organizations to embed their AI teaching system • Upcoming partnerships with African governments and UN bodies⸻🎓 What You’ll Learn: • How to scale AI without relying on cloud infrastructure • What true digital inclusion looks like — beyond donations and broadband • The importance of philosophy and mission in product decisions • The future of immersive, voice-first learning experiences • How to build for constraint — and still scale globally👤 About the Guest:Dev Aditya is the co-founder of OIAI by Otermans Institute. He’s known for launching the world’s first public-facing AI teachers well before ChatGPT entered the scene. Dev’s work focuses on democratizing education through AI and edge computing, bringing scalable, impactful learning to the most underserved populations.https://www.linkedin.com/in/dev-adityaofficial/https://www.portfolio.oiedu.co.uk/00:00 – Welcome back, Dev Aditya & what’s changed since Episode 212  02:00 – From rural schools to refugee camps: The origin story  05:30 – Content vs. teacher: The real challenge in scaling learning  07:00 – The philosophical misstep and going back to the mission  09:40 – Monetizing impact: Lessons from enterprise and education  11:00 – Offline breakthrough: Running AI without internet  13:40 – Engineering feat: 3D avatar AI on Android 2020 phones  15:20 – Why bigger models don’t equal better outcomes  18:00 – Did open-source LLMs influence their vision?  21:00 – How they handle data, analytics & personalization offline  23:00 – No patents? Why they’re releasing an SDK instead  25:00 – The SEA Model: Skills, Efficiency, Accessibility  27:00 – Building voice-first digital experiences for the underserved  30:00 – VR + AI for marginalized learners? Already built  32:00 – Teaching entrepreneurship, not just STEM  34:30 – An AI teacher that remembers you  36:00 – What’s next: Kenya, Guinea-Bissau & São Tomé  38:00 – Final thoughts & how to get in touch with Dev

Raj Singh, VP of Product at Mozilla and a seasoned startup founder, joins The CTO Show with Mehmet to share a candid look into the evolution of building products—from the early days of AI to today’s GenAI-fueled solo founder wave. We dive into what vibe coding means, how big companies like Mozilla are tackling zero-to-one innovation, and why most startups fail—not because of the idea, but because the founders get tired.🚀 Key Takeaways • Most startups fail in the messy middle, not the beginning or end • AI is shifting us from “doing the work” to “instructing the machine” • Vibe coding is enabling faster product iteration—but it still needs human judgment • Large companies often struggle with zero-to-one because of talent structure, risk aversion, and short conviction windows • Solo founders can thrive—if they manage their energy and support systems⸻🎯 What You’ll Learn • How Raj defines product-market fit in the GenAI era • The new role of engineers and creators in the age of AI • How to build new products inside legacy organizations • When and how to pivot—without burning out • Why AI shouldn’t be the pitch—it should be the enabler👤 About the GuestRaj is the VP of Product at Mozilla, leading new 0 to 1 product initiatives. He joined Mozilla in 2022 via the acquisition of his startup, Pulse, which developed AI meeting summarization models.Previously, Raj has been a repeat consumer-focused startup founder. He was Co-Founder and CEO of Tempo AI, a smart calendar acquired by Salesforce in 2015. He also co-founded AllTheCooks, which became the largest recipe community on Android before its acquisition by Cookpad. Earlier in his career, he served as VP of Business Development at Skyfire, a mobile browser acquired by Opera. Prior to this, Raj co-founded and exited startups in the ringtone, live video and college dating categories.https://linktr.ee/mobilerajEpisode Highlights (Timestamps)00:00 – Intro and Raj’s journey from founder to Mozilla03:00 – Pattern recognition and founder gut-checks06:15 – Why most startups are stuck in the messy middle08:45 – Evolution of AI: from OpenCV to GenAI11:20 – Vibe coding and the shift in creative workflows13:40 – The 95% AI accuracy rule and human-in-the-loop design16:00 – AI’s impact on growth hacking and customer acquisition17:40 – Can solo founders really build unicorns?20:00 – Trillion-dollar ambitions vs. billion-dollar thinking21:30 – Building zero-to-one products inside Mozilla25:00 – Why large companies struggle with innovation29:00 – Culture, incentives, and the “conviction window”33:00 – Pivoting: when to stick, when to switch36:00 – The solo founder dilemma and founder loneliness41:00 – Consumer AI: solving problems vs. chasing hype44:00 – Final advice: execute your idea—don’t just think about it

In this episode of The CTO Show with Mehmet, we sit down with Jeremy Ames, Co-Founder and CEO of Guidant Financial, a company that has helped over 30,000 entrepreneurs fund their businesses using US retirement funds. Jeremy shares his unconventional path into entrepreneurship, the rise of Main Street innovation, and what truly holds people back from launching businesses.This is a masterclass in testing ideas, avoiding costly mistakes, and seeing opportunities where others don’t—plus a refreshing take on AI adoption in traditional businesses.💡 Key Takeaways • Why retirement funds can be a powerful startup capital source • The secret behind starting a business without quitting your job: “Side Projects” • Why validation before investment is non-negotiable • What entrepreneurs often overlook about financial modeling • The power of AI in traditional businesses and why it’s about culture, not just tools • Why “shiny object syndrome” kills more businesses than lack of capital • A personal story of failure—and what Jeremy learned from a loss-making franchise bet⸻📚 What You’ll Learn • How to reduce risk when starting a business • What investors and entrepreneurs can learn from 30,000+ business launches • How to blend tech savviness with service-based business models • How AI is being used at Guidant Financial to create bottom-up innovation • Why agency, ownership, and intention matter more than ever in today’s uncertain economy👤 About the GuestJeremy Ames is a serial entrepreneur and the Co-Founder & CEO of Guidant Financial, a leader in innovative business funding solutions. With over 20 years of experience, Jeremy has helped 30,000+ individuals leverage their retirement funds to start and grow businesses through programs like 401k Business Financing (ROBS). A firm believer in the power of entrepreneurship to create wealth and freedom, Jeremy’s career spans successes, failures, and invaluable lessons, including being recognized as the SBA’s Young Entrepreneur of the Year.http://www.guidantfinancial.com/https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeremyamesentrepreneur/https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeremyamesentrepreneur/Episode Highlights 00:00 – Intro & Jeremy’s background03:00 – The emotional story behind his first business06:00 – What keeps people from starting businesses09:30 – The “Side Project” framework13:00 – The viral cocoa bomb experiment16:30 – Cleaning trash bins = $4M business?19:00 – The engineer who bought a car repair shop22:00 – Guidant’s approach to AI adoption27:00 – AI’s role in business financing29:00 – The #1 mistake entrepreneurs make after launching33:00 – Coffee shop myths and financial realism36:00 – Research, customer interviews, and competitive edge40:00 – On the illusion of copying success44:00 – A personal failure: the massage franchise story47:00 – Final thoughts on agency, entrepreneurship, and ownership

In this episode, I sit down with Greg Marlin, the CTO of ZKcandy, to explore the evolving intersection of AI agents, blockchain infrastructure, NFTs, and the gaming world. We dive deep into how Greg is building seamless onboarding for Web3 gaming, how AI agents are redefining non-player characters and companions, and why encrypted AI agent NFTs might just be the future of user-owned digital experiences.Whether you’re a founder building in Web3, an investor watching the AI frontier, or just curious about where gaming is headed—this one’s packed with insights.💡 Key Takeaways • What AI agents actually are—and why they matter in gaming • The vision behind encrypted AI companion NFTs • How ZKcandy simplifies Web3 authentication and onboarding • Why composability and simplicity are keys to developer adoption • The role of blockchain in preserving ownership and memory in AI • Founder tips on staying resilient in a copycat-prone startup environment⸻🎧 What You’ll Learn • How AI agents will revolutionize NPCs and game companions • Why ERC-7662 is critical for privacy-first AI agents on-chain • Practical strategies for founders building in AI + gaming + blockchain • A preview of Raid Quest and ZKcandy’s upcoming game featuresAbout Greg MarlinGreg is a serial entrepreneur and technologist with a track record across SaaS, crypto, AI, and developer platforms. As the CTO of ZKCandy, a layer-2 blockchain built on the ZK Stack, he’s building tools that simplify Web3 onboarding for developers and gamers alike. Greg is also the author of ERC-7662, the emerging standard for encrypted AI agent NFTs.https://www.linkedin.com/in/gregmarlin/https://zkcandy.io/https://eips.ethereum.org/EIPS/eip-7662⏱️ Episode Highlights00:00 – Intro01:00 – Greg’s journey from SaaS to AI to blockchain04:00 – Breaking down what an AI agent actually is09:30 – How AI companions will reshape gaming experiences13:00 – AI in “raid” environments and social quests15:00 – Addressing hallucinations and unpredictability in AI20:00 – What ERC-7662 is and why it matters for AI NFTs26:00 – Who owns your AI? How blockchain can protect user memory28:00 – Developer experience: Plug-and-play SDKs for Web3 games32:00 – Advice for founders building at the intersection of AI and gaming36:30 – Final thoughts + where to find Greg

In this episode, Mehmet sits down with Mauro Battellini, co-founder of Black Unicorn PR, to break down why PR is no longer optional for startups—and how the rise of AI-powered search is changing what investors and customers see first.From fundraising strategy to media perception, Mauro explains how to build legitimacy, earn visibility, and outperform better-funded competitors—even if you’re not in Silicon Valley.Whether you’re a first-time founder or a repeat entrepreneur, this episode will shift how you think about storytelling, credibility, and why “earned media” may be your strongest asset in the AI era.🔑 Key Takeaways • When PR matters: The signals investors, regulators, and enterprise clients look for beyond the pitch deck • AI’s impact on perception: How tools like ChatGPT and Perplexity influence investor research and due diligence • Personal branding vs. thought leadership: Why founders must be discoverable—before the product is • PR in emerging markets: How startups from Central & Eastern Europe or MENA can play the global media game • Fundraising and credibility: How the right PR at the right time can shorten investor cycles⸻📚 What You’ll Learn • How to identify your startup’s PR timing based on traction and stakeholder needs • Why earned media is becoming more powerful than paid ads in the AI era • The difference between “spray & pray” and strategic media outreach • How journalists evaluate startups—and how founders can become go-to voices • Real-world examples of how PR directly impacted fundraising outcomes🧑‍💼 About Mauro BattelliniMauro is the co-founder of Black Unicorn PR, an agency laser-focused on early-stage tech startups. With a background in sales, market research, and e-commerce, Mauro brings a unique lens to PR that aligns brand perception with business outcomes. His mission: help founders from non-traditional ecosystems punch above their weight in global markets.https://www.blackunicornpr.com/https://www.linkedin.com/in/mauro-alexis-battellini/Episode Highlights & Timestamps00:00 – Intro and Mauro’s journey from sales to startup PR04:30 – Why Black Unicorn PR was founded to fix broken agency models06:45 – When founders should start thinking about PR10:15 – The mindset shift: PR isn’t about vanity—it’s about trust14:00 – Thought leadership vs. personal branding in founder visibility18:20 – Why emerging markets struggle with global media presence22:40 – How PR helped Lithuanian startups get into international coverage26:30 – What PR looks like during a fundraising round30:45 – AI’s disruption of SEO and search discovery33:10 – Why PR is becoming essential in the AI discovery layer36:00 – The rise of solo journalists, niche media, and credibility loops38:20 – Practical advice: what AI sees when someone Googles you42:00 – Why PR is your startup’s trust layer in the noisy digital world45:00 – Final tips: how to map stakeholders, focus outreach, and treat journalists like investors

In this episode of The CTO Show, Mehmet Gonullu sits down with Cosmin Ivan, CEO of Platinumlist, the leading event and ticketing platform in the MENA region. From selling tickets by hand to building a platform used for the biggest concerts and sporting events, Cosmin shares his 18-year journey and how Platinumlist became a trusted tech partner for global entertainment brands.They unpack the power of secure, scalable event tech, what it takes to expand across culturally diverse markets, and why trust, transparency, and customer experience drive long-term success.💡 What You’ll Learn • How Platinumlist evolved into MENA’s most trusted ticketing tech platform • The role of security, dynamic QR codes, and anti-scalping measures • Why a great user experience begins before the event • Strategies for scaling across culturally diverse countries • Cosmin’s leadership approach to change management and team building • The future of AI, blockchain, and Web3 in entertainment tech • Opportunities for startup founders in the MENA event ecosystem⸻🔑 Key Takeaways • Tech alone isn’t enough—simplicity and trust are critical. • 85% drop in ticket fraud after adopting dynamic QR and bank-grade encryption. • Customer experience is an end-to-end journey, not a single touchpoint. • The GCC’s mobility and transparency offer a unique opportunity for entertainment startups.👤 About the GuestCosmin Ivan is the CEO of Platinumlist, the region’s leading event discovery and ticketing platform. With nearly two decades in the industry, Cosmin helped grow the company from a scrappy 3-person operation to a regional tech powerhouse operating across the GCC. He’s an advocate for customer-centric design, ethical reselling, and event tech innovation.https://platinumlist.net/https://www.linkedin.com/in/cosmin-ivan-38546582/Episode Highlights00:00 – Intro and welcome02:00 – Cosmin’s journey from Europe to Platinumlist06:00 – Defining a great event experience10:00 – Leveraging tech to eliminate fraud and scalping15:00 – Behind the scenes: Dynamic QR and secure ticketing20:00 – Scaling Platinumlist across MENA25:00 – Leading change and adapting to regional nuances30:00 – The future of event tech: AI, Web3, crowd analytics36:00 – What’s next for Platinumlist39:00 – Advice for entertainment tech entrepreneurs in MENA42:00 – Final thoughts on leadership and team culture

In this episode of The CTO Show with Mehmet, we sit down with Eric Müller, Product Engineering Associate Director at Work & Co, to unpack the evolving intersection of AI adoption, digital security, and empathetic leadership.With a career that spans cybersecurity, product architecture, and agency collaboration, Eric shares how to lead engineering teams through complexity without losing the human touch—especially in today’s AI-driven landscape.Whether you’re a founder, CTO, product leader, or advisor, this conversation is packed with practical insights and leadership wisdom💡 What You’ll Learn • Why AI should augment, not replace, your dev team • The real risks of trusting LLM output blindly (including “slopjacking”) • How to balance speed and security in fast-paced product teams • The overlooked power of psychological safety in engineering culture • Why technical debt is just business debt—and how to manage it • Practical ways to communicate security to non-technical leaders • How to spot and mentor emerging engineering leaders⸻🔑 Key Takeaways • AI is not a silver bullet. Use it to accelerate boilerplate and QA, but keep human oversight for anything mission-critical. • Security must start early. You can’t patch it in the final sprint—bake it into your culture from day one. • Empathy wins. In client work and internal leadership, understanding before advising changes everything. • Trust your inner voice. As a leader, self-trust is a vital compass—don’t let indecision erode confidence.👤 About Eric MüllerEric Müller, is an Associate Director focusing on Product Engineering and Digital Security at Work & Co, part of Accenture Song, where leads engineering teams and supported automated processes to deliver high-quality digital products for the past decade. With over 20 years of experience in engineering and security, Eric has worked across various industries including banking, social media, B2B, retail, fashion, and online gaming. His extensive background includes significant roles at Wells Fargo Bank, Charles Schwab, Razorfish, and Mekanism, where he delivered award-winning projects for clients such as Microsoft, Business Wire, Anza, and Vibrant Planet. Eric fosters empathetic leadership and transparent communication to build resilient, high-performing tech teams.https://www.linkedin.com/in/ericmullersf/https://work.co/ Episode Highlights00:00 – Intro & Eric’s journey from Gen X hacker to engineering leader04:00 – AI adoption: Hype vs. Doomerism, and where the real value lies07:00 – Finding the sweet spot for GenAI in engineering10:00 – The tension between speed, usability, and secure code12:30 – LLM risks: hallucinations, outdated data, slopjacking15:30 – Explaining AI risk & security to non-technical executives18:00 – Making clients feel heard: the “make them writer” mindset22:00 – Coaching engineering teams through compromises and deadlines29:00 – Psychological safety and what leaders get wrong33:00 – Leading in a hybrid world: Slack, trust, and async culture38:00 – Spotting and mentoring the next generation of leaders41:00 – Why mentorship vs management books44:00 – Final advice: Trust yourself, and trust your team

In this episode, Mehmet Gonullu sits down with Mary Moore-Simmons, VP of Engineering at Keebo AI, to unpack what it really takes to scale high-performing engineering teams in today’s AI-powered environment. From DevOps and ML Ops to building team culture that lasts, Mary shares hard-won insights from over a decade in engineering leadership across startups and high-growth tech companies.This is a must-listen for founders, CTOs, and venture investors seeking clarity on where engineering, AI, and culture intersect.🔑 Key Takeaways • The shift from traditional DevOps to ML Ops and its impact on team structure • Why data engineering is no longer optional, even for product-focused engineers • How to balance velocity with sustainable engineering culture • The real difference between a CTO and a VP of Engineering • Why culture must be owned—and modeled—by the CEO to scale • How Mary mentors future leaders through transparency and structure⸻📘 What You’ll Learn • The traits Mary looks for when hiring for early-stage engineering teams • How to scope early features in a fast-moving startup environment • Strategies to shield your team from “firefighting” and maintain focus • The importance of infrastructure automation in the age of AI • Mary’s thoughts on whether company culture can truly scale👤 About the GuestMary Moore Simmons is the VP of Engineering at Keebo.ai, where she has been instrumental in shaping the company's innovative approach to data warehouse optimization. A seasoned engineering leader with 10+ years in software, her background includes Director of Engineering at Github and Zcash as well as VP of Engineering at AgentSync. She focuses on building high-performing teams that sustain a healthy culture and growth mindset. She is passionate about authentic and transparent leadership, and building a culture where people can bring their authentic selves to work, where DEIB is table stakes.https://www.linkedin.com/in/mmooresimmonshttp://keebo.ai/https://github.com/mmsthepizzathiefEpisode Highlights & Timestamps00:01 – Mary’s journey: from chemical engineer to VP of Engineering03:20 – What Keebo AI does and how they optimize Snowflake & Databricks05:10 – The evolving intersection of software and data engineering07:00 – Why Mary prioritizes hiring with data and ML experience08:30 – DevOps, ML Ops, and keeping engineers happy and efficient10:50 – The CTO vs VP of Engineering: What really separates the two13:30 – Balancing velocity vs long-term stability in startup engineering18:45 – How Mary shields her team from noise and burnout22:00 – The traits Mary looks for when hiring23:30 – Authentic and transparent leadership in practice25:30 – Does culture scale? What Mary has seen work28:30 – What goes wrong when companies scale too fast33:00 – Coaching future leaders and creating career ladders37:00 – Tools, books, and blog posts Mary recommends38:00 – AI, automation, and what tech excites Mary today40:00 – Where to connect with Mary