In this episode of The CTO Podcast, Etienne engages with AI experts, Ksenia Palke (Director AI: Airspace), Lena Skliarova-Mordvinova (Co-Founder & CTO: Good Face Project) and Sharon Zhang (Co-Founder & CTO: Personal AI) to discuss the current state and future of AI in technology organizations. The conversation covers the different AI stacks being used, the evolution of AI technologies, the societal impact of AI, and the challenges faced by CTOs in implementing AI solutions. The guests share their personal journeys in AI, highlight the importance of human oversight, and provide valuable advice for CTOs looking to leverage AI effectively in their organizations.

Time Stamps

00:00 - Introduction to AI in Production02:58 - AI Stacks and Tools in Use05:50 - AI’s Evolution and Its Impact11:50 - The Rise of Large Language Models (LLMs)17:59 - Challenges in AI Development24:09 - AI’s Philosophical and Ethical Implications30:13 - Building AI for Business: Practical Advice35:38 - Final Thoughts on AI Development40:20 - The Future of AGI and Its Potential Dangers47:04 - Impact of AI on Language and Communication53:46 - The Role of AI in Education and Child Development58:21 - AI in the Workplace: Communication and Productivity1:04:54 - Human Evolution in the Age of AI

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Contact Etienne: Website / YouTube / LinkedIn / X / Instagram / The CTO Podcast WebsiteContact Lena: Website /LinkedInContact Ksenia: Website /LinkedInContact Sharon: Website /LinkedIn

In this episode of The CTO Podcast, Etienne interviews Ryan Kari, CTO of MagCanica, a company in the torque sensor space. They discuss the role of torque sensors in Formula One racing and other motorsports, as well as their use in hybrid engines. They also touch on the challenges of delegating invention in a hardware company and the importance of communication between software and hardware teams. Ryan also shares his approach to CTOing the organization, which involves exploring new ideas and shining a light on different areas of the business.

00:00 Introduction and Sponsor Message

00:40 Interview with Ryan Kari, CTO of MagCanica

03:06 The Role of Torque Sensors in Motorsports

08:42 Sending Torque and Other Data Digitally

12:48 Balance of Performance in Racing

18:01 Formula One as a Technology Testing Ground

29:08 CTOing the Organization and Delegating Invention

39:21 Exploring New Ideas and Using AI Tools

46:28 Conclusion and Closing Remarks

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Contact Etienne: Website / YouTube / LinkedIn / X / Instagram / The CTO Podcast WebsiteContact Ryan: Website /LinkedIn

In this conversation, Etienne interviews Kathy Keating, a fractional CTO and executive coach. They discuss topics such as finding joy in work, dealing with disagreement and rejection, and the importance of operationalizing processes in growing companies. Kathy emphasizes the need for alignment on the problems worth solving and the value of creating a consistent operational cadence. They also touch on the importance of being a systems thinker and the benefits of writing and documenting ideas and processes.

Etienne and Kathy discuss the importance of documentation, decision-making, and operationalizing processes in the role of a CTO. They emphasize the need for clear communication, alignment, and trust within an organization. They also highlight the value of incremental changes and continuous improvement in addressing complex problems. The conversation touches on the relevance of CTO Levels in understanding common challenges faced by CTOs at different levels of experience. Overall, the discussion emphasizes the importance of effective leadership and the role of processes in driving growth and success.

Time Stamps

00:00 - Introduction and Finding Joy in Work

06:27 - Dealing with Disagreement and Rejection

09:15 - Operationalizing Processes for Growing Companies

13:00 - The Importance of Alignment and Systems Thinking

19:10 - The Benefits of Writing and Documenting

29:56 - Introduction and the Importance of Documentation

35:37 - Operationalizing Processes for Business Growth

42:51 - The Value of Incremental Changes and Continuous Improvement

50:58 - Understanding Common Challenges with CTO Levels

53:20 - Effective Leadership: Communication, Alignment, and Decision-Making

We have 200+ CTOs in peer groups: Quick Testimonials Video

Contact Etienne: Website / YouTube / LinkedIn / X / Instagram / The CTO Podcast WebsiteContact Kathy: Website /LinkedIn

Aliza Carpio (Director of Product Management Data Platform at JLL Technologies) discusses with Etienne open source communities, codes of conduct, and the relationship between product management and engineering. She emphasizes the importance of open source as a team sport and the benefits of collaboration and problem-solving in the open source community.

Aliza also highlights the value of open source for businesses, including cost savings and access to tried and true solutions. She emphasizes the need for clear communication and inclusive documentation in open source projects, as well as the importance of psychological safety in remote work environments. In this conversation, Aliza and Etienne discuss the importance of communication and collaboration between product managers and engineers as well as emphasizing the need for product managers to understand the 'why' behind their products and for engineers to understand the customer problem.

They also highlight the value of experimentation and failure in the product development process. The conversation concludes with a discussion on the potential impact of language models like ChatGPT on communication and trust.

Time Stamps

00:00 - Introduction and Overview

00:40 - Aliza’s Background and Role in Product Management

06:47 - The Value of Open Source for Businesses

13:31 - Creating Safety and Inclusivity in Open Source Communities

25:11 - The Importance of Reflection and Intentional Connection

29:38 - Invitation to Join 7CTOs Growth Program

31:20 - The Importance of Understanding the 'Why' in Product Management

36:08 - The Role of Engineers in Understanding the Customer Problem

39:46 - The Value of Experimentation and Failure in Product Development

44:32 - Creating a Culture of Experimentation and Discovery

51:53 - The Potential Impact of Language Models on Communication and Trust

58:55 - Effective Communication and Collaboration in Product Development

We have 200+ CTOs in peer groups: Quick Testimonials Video

Contact Etienne: Website / YouTube / LinkedIn / X / Instagram / The CTO Podcast WebsiteContact Aliza: Website /LinkedIn

In this conversation, Etienne interviews Maria Flynn, the Founder and CEO of AmbioLogix, about her new book Make Opportunity Happen. They discuss the importance of carving your own path as an entrepreneur, the challenges faced by early-stage entrepreneurs, and the methods and templates outlined in the book to help entrepreneurs navigate their journey. They also touch on topics such as team dynamics, perseverance, and the role of mindset in entrepreneurship.

Maria, the author of Make Opportunity Happen: How to Build a Culture of Innovation in Your Organization, discusses her experience as the CEO of Orbis Biosciences and shares insights on leadership and building successful teams. She emphasizes the importance of staying the course and not getting caught up in frenzy pivots.

Maria also highlights the significance of having a clear vision and setting goals to drive progress. She discusses the role of the CEO and CTO in a tech company and the importance of mutual respect and communication between the two. Maria provides valuable advice for founders and shares her thoughts on accountability and appreciation in a team.

Time Stamps

00:00 - Introduction and Background

03:06 - Carving Your Own Path as an Entrepreneur

09:40 - Methods and Templates for Success

13:59 - The Importance of Team Dynamics, Perseverance, and Mindset

37:31 - The Role of the CEO and CTO

38:25 - Knowing Where You Want to Go

46:29 - The People and Business Aspect of the CTO Role

47:56 - The Importance of Different Skill Sets and Personalities

53:47 - Accountability and Appreciation in Building a Strong Team

We have 200+ CTOs in peer groups: Quick Testimonials Video

Contact Etienne: Website / YouTube / LinkedIn / X / Instagram / The CTO Podcast WebsiteContact Maria: Website /LinkedInMaria's Book: Make Opportunity Happen: How to Build a Culture of Innovation in Your Organization

In this conversation, Etienne and Dave reminisce about their early experiences with computers and programming. They discuss the different computer models they had, the challenges of typing in code from magazines, and the evolution of technology. They then shift the conversation to their roles as VP of Engineering and CTO, and the differences between the two positions. They talk about the importance of product management and design in software development, and the value of delivering in small batches. They also discuss the concept of lean software development and the economic mindset behind it. The conversation explores the conundrum of developers being resistant to working on new features and instead over-engineering existing ones. The fear of the unknown and the comfort of familiarity play a role in this resistance. The conversation also delves into the importance of prototyping and experimentation in the development process. The concept of failure and its relationship to learning and psychological safety is discussed. The impact of different communication mediums, such as texting and video calls, on team culture and effectiveness is explored. The conversation concludes with a discussion on measuring team productivity and effectiveness through inputs, outputs, outcomes, and impact.

Time Stamps

00:00 - Reminiscing about Early Computers and Programming

13:16 - The Differences Between VP of Engineering and CTO

24:23 - Delivering in Small Batches for Faster Feedback

26:47 - Embracing the Economic Mindset in Lean Software Development

35:50 - Developers' Resistance to New Features

38:10 - Prototyping and Experimentation

44:33 - Failure and Learning

51:20 - Impact of Communication Mediums

01:04:53 - Measuring Team Productivity and Effectiveness

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We have 200+ CTOs in peer groups: Quick Testimonials Video

Contact Etienne: Website / YouTube / LinkedIn / X / Instagram / The CTO Podcast WebsiteContact Dave: LinkedIn / Website

Ksenia Palke, Director of AI at Airspace, discusses the use of AI in time-critical shipments. Airspace builds tech for fast automated solutions in shipping critical items such as organs, medical devices, and industrial parts. The goal is to remove unnecessary manual steps and optimize the delivery process. Ksenia explains how AI is used to predict delivery times, optimize routes, and automate interactions with drivers and customers. She also discusses the use of large language models (LLMs) in their AI initiatives and the importance of prompt engineering and ragging. Ksenia emphasizes the need for context-specific training and the ongoing comparison of different LLMs. In this conversation, Etienne and Ksenia discuss the implementation of language models (LLMs) in business and the importance of being specific and intentional in their use. They emphasize the need for a clear strategy and goals when using LLMs, rather than chasing the latest and greatest technology. They also highlight the importance of having a human in the loop to validate and manage LLM outputs. The conversation explores the limitations of LLMs and the potential for future advancements. Overall, the conversation provides practical advice for founders and CTOs on how to approach AI projects and make the most of LLMs.

Time Stamps00:00 Introduction and Overview02:12 Automation and Optimization in Time-Critical Shipments09:22 Using LLMs to Automate Interactions14:05 The Importance of Prompt Engineering and Ragging in LLM Training24:14 Bottlenecks and Challenges in LLM Development29:29 Being Specific and Intentional with LLMs35:04 The Importance of Performance over Novelty39:18 The Role of Human Validation44:29 Avoiding the Hype and Focusing on Practical Applications53:26 Understanding the Limitations of LLMs57:47 Embracing Advancements in LLM Technology

We have 200+ CTOs in peer groups: Quick Testimonials Video

Contact Etienne: Website / YouTube / LinkedIn / X / Instagram / The CTO Podcast WebsiteContact Ksenia: LinkedIn / Website