The CTO Show with Mehmet Gonullu

In this episode of “The CTO Show with Mehmet,” we are joined by Dr. Michael Proksch, Chief Scientist at AccelerEd, who shares his extensive journey from academia to the industry, focusing on AI and value creation. Dr. Proksch discusses his background in economics and how it led him to work with organizations across the globe in the fields of data and AI. He emphasizes the importance of understanding the multiplicative relationship between various factors such as technology, data, business, and psychology in creating value within an organization. Dr. Proksch delves into his experiences in consulting and working with big companies like Aetna CVS and AI unicorns, highlighting the common challenges faced in achieving value creation. He explains that many organizations fail because they operate in silos where departments do not communicate effectively, and he stresses the need for integrated efforts across all critical areas to truly create value. According to Dr. Proksch, the real breakthrough comes when different departments start talking to each other and work together towards a common goal. In discussing his book “The Secrets of AI Value Creation,” co-authored with Nisha Paliwal and Dr. Wilhlem Bielert, Dr. Proksch elaborates on the holistic framework they present for achieving value in AI. He shares that the book is a culmination of insights from various industry experts and AI achievers who have successfully implemented AI to drive business value. The conversation also touches on the common pitfalls organizations face when adopting new technologies and the importance of aligning technological advancements with business objectives and employee incentives. More about Michael: Michael Proksch is an accomplished Expert and Leader, who has had the privilege of working with numerous Fortune 500 organizations throughout his career. He possesses extensive industry experience in creating business value with Data and AI, offering innovative and unique solutions to various industries and organizations across Europe, Asia, and the US. However, his broad knowledge encompassing business, analytics, technology, and psychology has not only earned him recognition as a sought-after industry expert but also as a respected thought leader in the field. His insightful perspectives and extensive experience have made him a sought-after speaker at conferences and events, where he shares his expertise. https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelproksch/ https://aivaluesecrets.com/ 01:19 Dr. Michael Proksch's Background 02:34 The Importance of Value Creation 03:14 Challenges in Value Creation 04:12 Multiplicative Relationship in Value Creation 04:52 Dr. Proksch's Career Journey 05:21 Writing the Book on AI Value Creation 06:37 Industry Contributions to the Book 07:31 Current Work and Projects 08:39 The Future of AI and Value Creation 11:39 Communication in Organizations 21:29 Defining Value in Business 31:48 Reflecting on Change Management 32:43 AI Strategy and Value Creation 33:40 Industry Use Cases and Competitive Edge 36:35 Adopting New Technologies 39:19 The Disruption Debate 49:20 Future of AI and Job Transformation 59:33 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

In this episode of “The CTO Show with Mehmet,” Mehmet welcomes Luis Garcia, co-founder and president of PETE. PETE, which stands for Personalized Education, Training, and Enrichment, provides AI-powered learning tools for workforce development. Luis shares his journey from being a programmer to taking on various roles in project management, product management, and general management, eventually leading to his current role at PETE. He also discusses his significant achievement of launching an online university that grew to serve 12,000 students and employed 1,000 people, generating $180 million in yearly revenue. The conversation dives into the common challenges faced by organizations in workforce training. Luis explains how companies often lack the resources to create effective training materials and how traditional solutions, such as hiring third-party companies or relying on internal experts, can be costly and inefficient. He introduces PETE’s innovative approach of using AI to automate the creation of training materials and assessments, making the process more efficient and cost-effective. Luis elaborates on the benefits of using AI in training, highlighting how it reduces the burden on internal experts, speeds up the creation of training materials, and improves the evaluation of learners. He provides real-world examples of how AI can enhance onboarding processes and continuous training, and discusses the potential for AI to adapt training programs to keep up with rapidly changing skill requirements. From a business perspective, Luis outlines the immediate and long-term ROI of AI-powered training solutions. He explains how reducing the time experts spend on training and speeding up the onboarding process can deliver immediate ROI, while improved employee retention through better and more relevant training offers long-term benefits. He provides real-world examples to demonstrate these tangible benefits. The conversation shifts to the investor perspective on AI, where Luis discusses the importance of being AI-native rather than AI-sprinkled. He shares his experience with investors, noting their informed skepticism and decision-making process when evaluating AI applications. About Luis: Luis Garcia is a seasoned international executive with over 25 years of experience in technology, digital media, and education. He specializes in driving new ventures and products to rapid growth by building effective teams that harness innovation, technology, and creativity to solve complex problems. He is the president of PETE, an Orlando-based tech startup that offers a suite of cost-effective and customizable solutions that enable organizations to deliver personalized workforce learning at scale. The PETE team is dedicated to harnessing the power of AI to help organizations of all sizes optimize their training initiatives, spanning from onboarding to regulatory compliance, product knowledge, technical skills, and more, without hiring additional training resources. https://www.pete.com/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/luisegarcia/ 01:10 Luis Garcia's Background and PETE Overview 04:08 Challenges in Workforce Learning and AI Solutions 09:21 The Role of AI in Training and Education 20:38 Investor Interest in AI and Future Trends 27:36 Luis Garcia's Motivation and Advice for Entrepreneurs 34:26 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

In this episode of the CTO Show with Mehmet, we are joined by Isar Bhattacharjee, an expert in people and organizational psychology. Isar discusses his journey and why he chose to focus on startups, especially those in rapid growth stages. He explains the evolution of HR from traditional roles to performance-focused approaches and introduces the concept of organizational debt, comparing it to technical debt. Isar highlights common challenges startups face as they scale, such as assigning inflated titles without clear roles. He stresses the importance of thoughtful career progression and the difficulties modern managers face in flatter organizations. The conversation also explores the increasing trend of solopreneurs and micro-companies, driven by advancements in AI and low-code tools. Isar shares practical interventions he has used to improve communication in startups, such as randomized seating to enhance cross-functional interactions. He advises founders to focus on doing fewer things exceptionally well rather than spreading resources too thin. About Isar: As the founder of Uncover Consulting, I am passionate about rethinking how work works by applying psychology tools and techniques in businesses.  For start-ups and scale-ups, it’s hard for the people side of your business to scale at the same pace as your user growth or your tech stack. This can lead to increasing amounts of “people debt” building up, which can be difficult to pay down - resulting in companies trying a wide range of interventions which can be both expensive and ineffective. Uncover is an organisational psychology consulting service which uses techniques from research psychology and applies them to businesses to identify and solve the underlying people problems your company faces. The aim is to bring new research methods and evidence-backed interventions into the world of business. You can read more about our work at https://www.uncover.business/learn-more and my thoughts on the world of work at https://uncover.substack.com/ 01:03 Isar's Background and Expertise 01:33 Why Focus on Startups? 05:02 Evolution of People Functions in Startups 10:08 Understanding Organizational Debt 21:46 Challenges Modern Managers Face 26:47 The Rise of Solopreneurs and Micro Companies 37:28 Interesting Case Studies and Experiments 45:45 Final Advice and Closing Remarks

In this episode of the CTO Show with Mehmet, we are joined by Jafar Shunnar, co-founder of TAP, a groundbreaking career acceleration platform based in Palestine. Jafar delves into his inspiring journey and the mission of TAP to bridge the job gap for high-potential youth in Palestine and Jordan by connecting them with global startups. He sheds light on the unique challenges faced by educated youth in the MENA region and how TAP addresses both talent readiness and company needs. Jafar highlights the importance of a long-term vision and patience in entrepreneurship, sharing insights on building genuine relationships and networks crucial for job seekers. The discussion also explores the evolving landscape of remote work, the integration of technology in education, and effective strategies for staying relevant in a rapidly changing job market. Discover Jafar’s valuable perspectives on the future of work in the MENA region, the critical role of flexibility and innovation in attracting top talent, and the significance of embracing technological advancements. This episode is a must-listen for anyone interested in education, career development, and entrepreneurship in the MENA region. Tune in to gain insights on: • Bridging job gaps for youth in Palestine and Jordan • The impact of TAP’s career acceleration platform • Challenges and opportunities in the MENA job market • Strategies for building genuine professional relationships • The future of remote work and education technology • Key entrepreneurial lessons for long-term success More about Jafar and TAP: Jafar is a Palestinian entrepreneur with a passion for social impact and youth empowerment. Through TAP, a startup he co-founded, he strives to empower Arab youth to work at global organizations, remotely. TAP is a Dutch-Palestinian edtech and career acceleration platform designed to unlock remote job opportunities for high-potential tech talent in Palestine and other underserved markets in MENA. We are a social impact startup on a mission to create more equity, diversity, and accessibility in tech.  https://www.tapcareers.io/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/jafar-shunnar/ 01:16 Jafar's Background and TAP Overview 01:43 Identifying the Job Market Gap 04:45 Challenges Faced by Educated Youth 08:54 Strategies for Skill Development 13:27 The Role of Technology in Job Hunting 18:04 Networking and Building Genuine Relationships 35:31 The Future of Remote Work 42:11 Advice for Aspiring Entrepreneurs 44:38 Conclusion and Farewell

In this episode of “The CTO Show with Mehmet,” we are joined by Arnaud Lucas, the CTO of Wanderu, a small startup focused on e-commerce solutions for ground transportation in North America. Arnaud, originally from France, shares his extensive experience in the tech industry, having worked with both startups and large companies like Iron Mountain, TripAdvisor, and Wayfair before returning to the startup world. Arnaud discusses his career journey and the factors that led him to become a CTO. He emphasizes the importance of solving customer problems and how his passion for travel has influenced his career choices. Arnaud highlights the significance of aligning technology with business objectives and shares his approach to promoting ownership and transparency within his team. He mentions the book “Extreme Ownership” and how its principles have helped him foster a culture of accountability and cross-functional collaboration. Throughout the conversation, Arnaud delves into the role of data-driven decision-making in startups. He explains how collecting both qualitative and quantitative data is crucial for validating business ideas and ensuring that the team is on the right track. Arnaud also shares his insights on balancing innovation and risk-taking while maintaining a stable and reliable technology infrastructure. He stresses the importance of taking calculated risks and revisiting projects to optimize and refine them after initial implementation. As the conversation progresses, Arnaud discusses the importance of team dynamics and hiring strategies. He advises against both overstaffing and understaffing, emphasizing the need to strike the right balance to empower team members effectively. He also talks about the value of diversity in the workplace and how it leads to better ideas and outcomes. Towards the end of the episode, Arnaud shares his approach to staying up-to-date with the latest tech trends. He mentions subscribing to newsletters, reading industry articles, and leveraging insights from his team. He highlights the importance of experimenting with new technologies and using frameworks like a tech radar to evaluate and adopt them effectively. Finally, Arnaud offers words of wisdom for aspiring tech leaders, emphasizing the importance of being data-driven, fostering a supportive and inclusive culture, and empowering team members to take ownership of their work. He encourages leaders to align their teams with the company’s overall vision and mission while providing the necessary support and resources. More about Arnaud: “As the Chief Technology Officer at Wanderu, I oversee the technology vision, strategy and execution for the leading ground transportation search platform in North America and beyond. Just like me, Wanderu is a company that values and promotes diversity, founded by first generation immigrants With over two decades of experience harnessing technology to drive business outcomes, I am a seasoned leader with expertise in spearheading large-scale transformations and steering organizational turnarounds across diverse industries, from startups to established enterprises. https://www.linkedin.com/in/lucasarn https://www.wanderu.com/ 01:06 Arnaud's Background and Career Journey 01:56 Passion for Travel and Customer Focus 02:58 Path to Becoming a CTO 05:46 Aligning Technology with Business Objectives 06:35 Promoting Ownership and Transparency 15:57 Balancing Innovation and Stability 20:54 Challenges in the Ground Transportation Market 24:20 Startup Challenges and Advice 33:19 Staying Updated with Tech Trends 37:23 Final Thoughts and Words of Wisdom 43:43 Conclusion and Farewell

In this episode of “The CTO Show with Mehmet,” host Mehmet Gonullu welcomes leadership development expert Thom Dennis. With over 40 years of experience, Thom shares his journey from serving in the Royal Marines to becoming a pioneer in leadership development and the founder of Serenity in Leadership. Thom discusses the concept of conscious leadership, emphasizing the importance of self-awareness, understanding personal beliefs and values, and taking responsibility for one’s actions in today’s complex business world. Thom elaborates on the challenges of cultural transformation within organizations, highlighting that effective change requires a long-term commitment of at least three years. He stresses the importance of consistent leadership to maintain cultural change initiatives and discusses how leadership behavior directly impacts organizational culture. Thom also shares insights into the differences in organizational culture across various sectors such as energy, banking, technology, and pharmaceuticals, and the impact of regional cultural nuances on leadership and organizational behavior. The conversation delves into conflict resolution techniques, where Thom emphasizes the need for creating a safe space for open communication, establishing common objectives, and fostering mutual understanding. He provides practical examples of resolving high-stakes conflicts in multinational teams. Additionally, Thom discusses the key elements of successful strategic planning retreats and workshops, stressing the importance of thorough preparation, clear objectives, and follow-up to ensure productive outcomes. Thom also addresses the societal trends affecting leadership today, including mental health, physical wellbeing, and diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). He reflects on the impact of the pandemic on work practices and employee expectations and the challenges of managing diverse and inclusive workplaces in different cultural contexts. For emerging leaders, Thom offers valuable advice on the importance of reflection, presence, building community, and leveraging the strength of diverse perspectives to adapt to societal changes and future challenges. More about Thom: Thom Dennis is well known for his expertise in creating transformational change and is a sought-after advisor on a spectrum of leadership, diversity, inclusion and justice issues. Over the last 30 years he has been a coach and confidant to executives of many organisations, facilitated pivotal meetings setting strategy, purpose and vision, and devised and led culture change programs bringing lasting value. He has developed the skills of senior management in leadership, conflict resolution, communication and customer service and enabled change in many corporations in the US, South America, Europe, Africa, India and the Far East. Thom is the CEO of Serenity in Leadership Ltd, the premier culture remodelling, change and leadership specialists. He is an international speaker, voice over actor and Amazon #1 published author and has been featured on both BBC TV News and radio and as a thought leader in over 100 articles in industry leading publications in just the last year alone. https://www.serenityinleadership.com/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/thomdennis 01:05 Thom Dennis: Leadership Journey 03:42 Conscious Leadership Explained 09:06 Challenges in Cultural Transformation 13:50 Sector and Regional Differences in Leadership 22:53 Conflict Resolution Techniques 27:34 Effective Strategic Planning Retreats 34:41 Societal Trends Impacting Leadership 40:55 Final Advice for Future Leaders 44:16 Closing Remarks and Contact Information

In this episode of The CTO Show with Mehmet, guest Will Pemble, founder of PageLeap and Web.com, shares his journey from founding successful tech companies to re-entering the web hosting industry with PageLeap. Will discusses how his experiences led to the creation of PageLeap, a platform aiming to outperform current competitors in the crowded landing page market by focusing on superior speed, precise SEO optimization, and user-centric design. He explains the importance of building systems with scalability in mind, the evolution from physical servers to cloud computing, and how AI is leveraged to enhance content management and accessibility. Will also touches on lessons learned from his exit from Web.com and the inherent challenges for serial entrepreneurs in navigating mergers and new ventures. More about Will: Founder of PageLeap, home to the fastest landing pages online.  Founder of web.com, among the first and largest web hosts on earth. https://www.linkedin.com/in/willpemble/ 01:16 Will Pemble's Background and Career Journey 02:52 The Birth of PageLeap 05:01 Challenges in the Landing Page Market 15:20 SEO and Its Importance 20:46 AI Integration in PageLeap 25:48 Scaling and System Design 28:38 Building PageLeap with Scalability in Mind 30:15 The Evolution from Physical Servers to Cloud 31:29 The Reality of Cloud Services 35:35 The Story of Exiting Web.com 41:14 Challenges and Traits for Successful Founders 42:05 The Birth of GoalBoss and PageLeap 49:28 Final Thoughts and Contact Information

In this episode of “The CTO Show with Mehmet,” we delve into the fascinating world of unstructured data and its impact on the future of AI with Kirk Marple, the founder and CEO of Graphlit. With over 30 years of experience in software development, Kirk shares his journey from Microsoft to founding his own company and the vision behind Graphlit. Discover how unstructured data can unlock valuable insights for businesses and the role of knowledge graphs in enhancing AI applications. Kirk explains the significance of unstructured data and how it offers valuable insights often overlooked by organizations. He delves into the role of knowledge graphs in enhancing AI capabilities and improving data workflows. Kirk outlines the stages of workflow automation, highlighting the benefits and efficiencies it brings to businesses. They discuss current trends in AI, particularly those linked to unstructured data, and the exciting developments in multimodal models. Kirk shares key lessons from his experience in bringing tech products to market and offers advice for aspiring tech founders, emphasizing the importance of marketing and building an audience. More about Kirk, FOUNDER & CEO AT GRAPHLIT Former Microsoft, General Motors, and STATS leader, Kirk Marple is the CEO and Founder of Graphlit. Graphlit provides a serverless, cloud-native platform for automating unstructured data workflows, including data ingestion, knowledge extraction, LLM conversations, semantic search, and alerting. Graphlit has raised over $4M in seed funding. https://www.linkedin.com/in/kirkmarple https://www.graphlit.com 01:08 Kirk Marple's Journey and Founding GRAPHLIT 01:48 Identifying Market Gaps and Vision for GRAPHLIT 04:03 Understanding Unstructured Data 05:51 Knowledge Graphs and AI Applications 10:49 Automation in Workflows 14:13 Vertical Use Cases and Industry Impact 19:27 Trends in AI and Unstructured Data 23:08 Challenges and Strategies for Tech Startups 27:38 Balancing Technical and Business Roles 30:34 Final Thoughts and Closing Remarks

In this episode of The CTO Show with Mehmet, we sit down with Sonia Couto, a two-time tech founder from Toronto, Canada. Sonia shares her incredible journey from working in accounting and operations to becoming a successful entrepreneur in the tech industry. She discusses the pivotal moments in her career, the importance of resilience and authenticity in leadership, and how she turned challenges into opportunities. Key Topics Discussed: 1. Sonia’s Background and Journey: • Sonia’s early life in Portugal and move to Canada. • Her initial career in accounting and operations. • The accidental entry into the tech industry and her rise to a tech founder. 2. Entrepreneurial Challenges and Insights: • Overcoming personal and professional challenges. • The importance of building a Minimum Viable Product (MVP). • Key strategies for startup success and market validation. 3. Leadership and Authenticity: • The role of authenticity in effective leadership. • Balancing personal vulnerability and professional strength. • How Sonia’s experience with breast cancer reshaped her leadership approach. 4. Navigating the Tech Industry: • Current trends and future opportunities in tech. • The impact of AI on various industries and its potential for innovation. • Advice for aspiring entrepreneurs and tech founders. 5. Giving Back to the Community: • Sonia’s podcast “Tenacity with Sonia C.” and its mission. • Mentorship and supporting the next generation of entrepreneurs. • Involvement in programs encouraging women in tech and coding. About Sonia: Sonia C is a two-time tech startup founder, renowned for her remarkable journey in the tech industry for two decades. A breast cancer survivor, Sonia's resilience transcends her personal life into her professional world, where she has successfully navigated and thrived in a male-dominated field. Her experience in overcoming adversity, coupled with her passion for innovation and diversity in tech, makes her a beacon of inspiration. Sonia's insights on leadership, overcoming challenges, and driving change in the tech landscape are not just thought-provoking; they are empowering. She's here to share her story of tenacity, offering valuable lessons for anyone looking to make their mark in the tech world. https://soniacouto.com/podcast https://www.linkedin.com/in/soniacouto 01:02 Sonia's Background and Journey 02:23 Entering the Tech Industry 03:32 Challenges and Risks for Founders 07:48 Importance of MVP and Market Testing 14:32 Evaluating Product Success and Pivoting 21:21 Building Resilience as an Entrepreneur 25:13 Finding a Mentor: Key Qualities and Challenges 25:52 Overcoming Personal Challenges: A Story of Resilience 26:48 The Importance of Delegation and Teamwork 28:16 Balancing Work and Life: Personal Insights 29:44 Authentic Leadership: Embracing Vulnerability 32:44 Future Trends in Tech Startups 33:57 The Role of AI in Shaping Industries 40:06 The Evolution of Jobs and Work 43:17 About the Tenacity Podcast 47:03 Final Thoughts and Words of Wisdom

In this episode of The CTO Show with Mehmet, Matt Swalley, co-founder and Chief Business Officer of Omneky, joins us to explore the transformative power of AI in marketing. Matt shares his journey from a 13-year tenure at AT&T, leading sales teams and corporate strategy, to co-founding Omneky, an AI-powered marketing platform. He discusses how Omneky leverages data and generative AI to create personalized and scalable advertisements, addressing the challenges posed by today’s fragmented and fast-paced digital environment. Matt explains the importance of integrating AI with human creativity to enhance the effectiveness of marketing campaigns, and how this approach can significantly shorten the creative cycle. Matt also provides insights into the evolving sales landscape, emphasizing the shift from outbound to inbound strategies and the unique advantages that startups have in adopting new technologies. He shares his thoughts on the future of AI in customer interactions, including the potential use of AI avatars to personalize customer experiences. Throughout the conversation, Matt highlights the importance of rapid iteration and multivariate creative testing to stay ahead in the competitive marketing space. Tune in to gain valuable insights on how AI is revolutionizing marketing and sales, and learn practical tips on leveraging these technologies to drive performance and innovation. More about Matt: Matt Swalley is Co-Founder and Chief Business Officer of Omneky, an AI marketing technology platform that generates and optimizes personalized ad creatives at scale. Powered by Omneky’s proprietary generative AI algorithms and other generative AI technologies, Omneky’s platform empowers customers to analyze performance data and design preferences of customer’s target audiences and generate and manage thousands of AI-generated ads designed to drive conversions for each product and customer profile. https://www.linkedin.com/in/matt-swalley-59249533 https://www.omneky.com/ 01:09 Meet Matt Swalley: Co-Founder of Omneky 01:44 The Journey to Omneky 04:04 The Power of Data in AI Marketing 08:39 Generative AI in Advertising 14:47 The Evolution of Sales with AI 19:27 Challenges and Opportunities for Startups 21:49 Integrating AI Across Business Functions 24:52 The Future of AI in Sales and Marketing 28:32 From Corporate to Startup: Lessons Learned 34:41 Final Thoughts and Farewell