The CTO Show with Mehmet Gonullu

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

In this episode of The CTO Show with Mehmet, we welcome Karthik Suresh, co-founder of Ignition, an AI product success platform. Karthik shares his remarkable journey from Wall Street’s high-frequency trading to product management roles at Facebook, and ultimately to co-founding Ignition. He discusses the pivotal moments that led him to focus on product management and startup growth, highlighting the differences between working in large corporations and startups. Karthik explains the market gap that Ignition addresses, particularly in the go-to-market process and product launches. The conversation delves into the importance of understanding user needs and differentiating between must-have and nice-to-have features. Karthik emphasizes the role of a product manager in balancing user-centric design with business objectives and identifies common bottlenecks in product launches, offering strategies to overcome them. He also shares insights on the impact of AI on software and product development, the future potential of AI in various industries like healthcare and finance, and the intersection of AI and blockchain technology. Karthik sheds light on common misconceptions about startup growth and venture funding, stressing the reality of founding a company. He provides valuable advice on when to seek venture capital, the importance of having a clear product launch strategy, and understanding the target market. Karthik underscores the significance of risk-taking and following one’s passion, offering tips for those starting their careers in product management or looking to launch their own ventures. As the episode concludes, Karthik shares his final thoughts and advice for listeners, along with information on how to connect with him and learn more about Ignition. More about Karthik: Karthik Suresh is the Co-Founder of Ignition, the first Go-to-Market Ops Platform which ensures every product launch or feature release drives revenue impact, via tighter alignment with GTM teams. Karthik is a product and a technology leader with experience as a founder, an early startup hire, and a key player in defining product strategy, and finding a market fit. He has extensive experience building products in consumer and enterprise domains across early-stage and established companies like Meta. https://www.haveignition.com https://www.linkedin.com/in/karthiksureshlbs https://x.com/KarthikSuresh 01:07 Karthik Suresh's Background 02:18 Transitioning Between Roles 02:54 Startup vs. Large Company Dynamics 06:31 Founding Ignition: The Story and Vision 09:00 Product Management Insights 13:52 B2B vs. B2C Product Strategies 17:30 Building Zero to One Companies 23:48 AI and Emerging Technologies 26:37 Startup Growth and Venture Funding 38:11 Product Launch Challenges 43:14 Final Advice and Closing Remarks

In this episode of The CTO Show with Mehmet, we welcome Ben Johnson, the CEO of Particle41. Ben shares his journey from being a paperboy to becoming a serial technical co-founder and leader of a technology services company. He discusses the concept of T-shaped teams, emphasizing the importance of combining deep technical expertise with broad soft skills for enhanced productivity and collaboration. Ben talks about the challenges of transitioning from a developer to a CEO and the necessity of developing essential soft skills. He shares strategies for building efficient tech teams, focusing on setting clear goals, embracing agile methodologies, and fostering a mission-oriented mindset. The conversation delves into bootstrapping and building market fit for startups. Ben explains the difference between tech-enabled services and SaaS products and highlights key factors to consider when starting a SaaS company. He also shares productivity hacks for entrepreneurs, such as scheduling focused work blocks and minimizing distractions. Ben addresses the importance of keeping up with emerging technologies, discussing how AI is transforming customer service and development workflows. He advises entrepreneurs to focus on quality and make stage-appropriate decisions to avoid unnecessary tech stack changes. To close, Ben debunks common misconceptions in tech entrepreneurship and encourages entrepreneurs to focus on their core strengths and gradually expand their offerings. More about Ben: Benjamin Johnson is a serial technical co-founder with a track record of success and hands-on open-source programming experience. He has a wide range of being both a board-level advisor and founder but also an in-depth understanding of how things work. Through his 20+ years as a software developer and leader, he has gained extensive experience with remotely distributed development teams and business hacks. Benjamin is the CEO & Founder of Particle41, a dev firm founded by industry veterans that aims to help companies accelerate their initiatives through Software Development, DevOps, and Data Science. With a constant focus on results and ways to improve, Benjamin is having fun building highly scalable and highly secure applications. https://particle41.com https://www.linkedin.com/in/benjaminrjohnson 01:03 Ben Johnson's Journey 03:16 Transitioning from Developer to CEO 05:35 Building Effective Tech Teams 09:37 Strategies for SaaS Success 22:47 Productivity Hacks for Entrepreneurs 26:15 Keeping Up with Tech Trends 38:46 Misconceptions in Tech Entrepreneurship 42:22 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

In this episode of The CTO Show with Mehmet, we are joined by Blake Burch, co-founder and CEO of Shipyard, a modern data operations platform. Blake starts by introducing himself and explaining how his background in marketing led him to teach himself SQL and Python to overcome the repetitive tasks he faced. This journey sparked the creation of Shipyard, which simplifies data workflows by allowing users to move data end-to-end either through low-code methods or by writing custom code. Blake shares how his experiences at PMG, where he worked with brands like OpenTable and Sephora, highlighted the challenges of data management and automation. He talks about the necessity of building a tool like Shipyard to templatize solutions, reducing the reliance on complex and unwieldy Excel formulas and manual data handling. By creating reusable templates, Shipyard allows businesses to automate data processes, leading to more efficient operations and better use of data. The conversation delves into the role of AI in data operations. Blake explains how AI can assist in generating code and automating tasks, which can significantly enhance productivity. He shares his experience of using AI tools like ChatGPT to write code and how this has influenced the development of Shipyard’s features. Mehmet and Blake discuss the potential for AI to act as a coding assistant, helping users to automate and optimize data workflows without needing extensive programming knowledge. Blake also touches on the importance of integrating with other data platforms, such as Databricks, to enhance interoperability and provide high-level observability into data processes. He emphasizes the need for businesses to focus on specific use cases and actionable data to avoid being overwhelmed by the sheer volume of available information. By prioritizing business needs and using tools like Shipyard, companies can transform their data from a burden into a valuable asset. The episode concludes with Blake offering advice to those starting their journey in data science or entrepreneurship. He stresses the importance of focusing on solving real business problems with data rather than getting bogged down by technical details. Blake also highlights the significance of partnerships and integrations in scaling a business and providing comprehensive solutions to customers. For more information about Shipyard and to stay updated on the latest in data operations, listeners are encouraged to visit Shipyard’s website and subscribe to their newsletter, All Hands on Data. Blake Burch is the co-founder and CEO of Shipyard, a low-code orchestration platform that helps data teams launch, monitor, and share data workflows. Previously, he was Head of Data for PMG, where he led end-to-end data strategy and solutions for brands like OpenTable, Travelocity, Sephora, and Gap Inc., scaling performance through algorithms and automation. https://allhandsondata.substack.com/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/blakeburch/ 01:00 Blake Burch's Background and Journey 01:43 Transition from Marketing to Technology 02:08 Challenges and Learning SQL and Python 04:23 Birth of Shipyard 05:06 Scaling and Use Cases of Shipyard 08:54 AI and Automation in Shipyard 14:22 Data Management and Best Practices 19:41 Future of AI and Data Teams 29:26 Balancing Technical and Leadership Roles 31:16 Partnerships and Integrations 34:31 Future Plans for Shipyard 36:26 Advice for Aspiring Data Professionals 37:44 Conclusion and Farewell

In this episode, Mehmet Gonullu welcomes Roshan Shah, an accomplished entrepreneur and investor, to discuss his extensive experience in Bitcoin mining, real estate investments, and strategic growth in the digital currency space. Roshan shares his journey, insights, and advice on making smart investments in the evolving world of cryptocurrency and beyond. Key Topics Discussed: 1. Roshan’s Background and Ventures: • Overview of Roshan’s professional journey, including his roles in commercial real estate brokerage, real estate investment, medical aesthetics and wellness, and Bitcoin mining through Decimal Digital Currency. 2. Inspiration and Market Gap: • Roshan’s initial interest in cryptocurrency, inspired by his partner’s Ethereum mining setup and the potential he saw in the future of digital currency. • The gap in the market that Decimal Digital Currency aimed to fill, focusing on efficiency and risk mitigation. 3. Bitcoin Mining with S21 Machines: • Technical details about the S21 machines used by Decimal Digital Currency and their advantages in terms of power consumption and efficiency. • The importance of risk mitigation and downside protection in Bitcoin mining investments. 4. Expansion and Geographical Growth: • Plans for expanding Bitcoin mining operations into new markets and the shift towards vertical integration to control mining sites and reduce reliance on third-party hosting providers. 5. Separately Managed Accounts (SMA): • Explanation of the SMA product offered by Decimal Digital Currency, allowing investors to own Bitcoin mining machines and benefit from the mining process without the complexities of direct investment in public equities or ETFs. • The benefits of SMAs in reducing volatility and offering higher returns compared to traditional investment vehicles. 6. Real Estate and Blockchain Synergies: • The intersection of Roshan’s real estate expertise with blockchain technology, including tokenization of assets and improvements in real estate processes through blockchain. • Structuring deals for data centers and leveraging real estate deal-making skills in the crypto space. 7. Adoption and Market Sentiment: • Current trends in the adoption of cryptocurrency by major asset management companies like Fidelity and BlackRock. • The generational shift in perception and acceptance of digital currency, with a focus on future mainstream adoption. 8. Investment Strategies and Diversification: • Roshan’s approach to balancing different investment strategies across real estate, private equity, and venture capital. • The importance of diversifying revenue streams and building a resilient investment portfolio. 9. Pivotal Moments and Lessons Learned: • The impact of COVID-19 on Roshan’s investment strategy and the realization of the need for diversified income sources. • The role of risk-taking and stepping out of comfort zones in achieving investment success. Conclusion: Roshan Shah offers valuable insights into the world of Bitcoin mining and strategic investments, emphasizing the importance of risk management, diversification, and forward-thinking approaches. His experiences highlight the potential of cryptocurrency and blockchain technology in shaping the future of finance and real estate.  Email Roshan Shah: roshan@decimalgroup.io • General Inquiries: info@decimalgroup.io 01:06 Roshan Shah's Background and Ventures 01:59 Inspiration Behind Decimal Digital Currency 04:08 Technical Aspects of Bitcoin Mining 07:15 Expansion Plans and Market Strategy 09:11 Separately Managed Accounts (SMA) Explained 16:01 Intersection of Real Estate and Blockchain 18:16 Future Innovations and AI in Bitcoin Mining 20:07 Adoption and Acceptance of Cryptocurrencies 26:04 Balancing Diverse Investment Strategies 30:01 Pivotal Moments and Lessons from COVID 34:31 Final Advice and Closing Remarks

In this episode, Mehmet sits down with Alexander Ponomarev, the COO of Syrve in the Middle East, to discuss the transformative role of technology in the restaurant industry. Alexander shares his journey from IT and hardware technology to food tech, emphasizing the integration of AI and automation in enhancing restaurant operations. The conversation covers key trends, challenges, and the future outlook for technology adoption in the F&B sector, particularly in the MENA region. Key Topics Discussed: 1. Introduction to Alexander Ponomarev: • Background in IT and food tech • Experience in automating hospitality enterprises 2. The Journey into Food Tech: • Transition from hardware technology to restaurant automation • The fusion of passion for technology and the food industry 3. Technological Innovations in the F&B Sector: • Overview of Syrve’s all-in-one, cloud-based restaurant management system • Application of AI and automation in restaurant operations 4. Challenges and Solutions: • Overcoming resistance to new technologies in an established industry • Importance of data-driven decision-making in enhancing efficiency 5. Impact on Customer Experience: • How technology improves service speed, accuracy, and overall dining experience • The role of AI in forecasting and resource management 6. Trends and Future Outlook: • Adoption of technology in the MENA region • Emerging trends like AI-driven operations and digital payment systems 7. Advice for Restaurant Owners and F&B Entrepreneurs: • Embracing technology to scale operations and enhance efficiency • Balancing traditional hospitality with modern technological solutions 8. Alexander’s Vision for the Future: • The evolving landscape of the restaurant industry • The importance of continuous innovation and adaptation Resources and Links: • Syrve Official Website • Follow Syrve on Instagram: @syrve 01:16 Alexander's Background and Role at Syrve 03:15 Journey into the F&B Industry 09:29 Challenges in Implementing New Technologies 14:36 Syrve's All-in-One Cloud-Based Solution 22:52 Integrations and Flexibility in Technology 32:03 Menu Engineering and Item Efficiency 33:35 Data-Driven Decision Making in Restaurants 34:06 Operational Software vs. Traditional Methods 35:49 Technology's Role in Enhancing Efficiency 40:23 Adoption of Technology in the MENA Region 43:07 AI and Future Trends in F&B 46:26 Advice for Scaling F&B Businesses