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Prices climb, promises hold, and the rules keep shifting—so how do we still deliver value? We bring together a tariff and compliance leader, a logistics operator, an e-commerce veteran, and an AI strategist to decode a market where volatility is normal and optionality wins.

The discussion starts with the real pain points: retaliatory tariffs that wreck forecasts, currency swings that distort landed costs, and audit-ready compliance that separates resilient operators from the rest. Then we follow the ripple through the supply chain—fuel spikes, chokepoint surcharges, and labor strain pushing shippers to regionalize, slow down where it saves money, and invest in visibility from factory to shelf.

On the e-commerce front, customer acquisition costs rise and privacy rules tighten while shoppers expect both value and speed. We explore data as a strategic asset: how a strong product information backbone drives discovery, reduces returns, enables cross-border readiness, and lets B2B deliver consumer-grade experiences.

Finally, we get candid about AI. It’s not a magic bullet, but when used with care, it becomes the connective tissue—powering demand sensing, delay alerts, dynamic routing, governance monitoring, and smarter catalog operations. We share why AI POCs fail, how to design for measurable ROI, and where human judgment must stay in the loop.

By the end, you’ll have a clear playbook: treat compliance as competitive, build redundancy into sourcing and routing, clean and structure your data for speed, and deploy AI where the signal is strong and the stakes are high. We close with a call for price transparency and a fresh look at the customer journey—because trust and clarity still convert, even when costs rise.

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The story starts with a name and a camera, then crosses continents, kitchens, and boardrooms. Meet chef-turned-CMO Mariko Amekodommo — a career spanning broadcast journalism, Los Angeles supper clubs, and fractional marketing leadership for AI-driven companies across Vietnam, India, and now Prague. What unites it all is a relentless focus on audience—how people feel, what they need, and why every message must meet the moment.

Mariko shares how she built a culinary brand on timeless marketing fundamentals: direct outreach, clear positioning, and experiences crafted for emotion and memory. She contrasts the control of private dining with the chaos of consulting—where founders often chase virality, ignore channel–audience fit, or let ego override evidence. You’ll hear the cautionary fintech tale of the “10 million users in 30 days” promise, the Gangnam-style launch that never matched its buyers, and the reset that came from facing the real cost of attention. Her advice for early-stage CEOs is refreshingly direct: hire for your blind spots, listen, document trade-offs, and let data guide your next move.

We also dive into AI’s right role. As a CMO, she leans on it for research, analytics, and lead gen. As a host, she protects the human layer—story, presence, connection—that audiences crave after days behind screens. From robot kitchens in China to EU vs. US AI policy, Mariko argues for automating what accelerates and preserving what differentiates. Her global playbook is blunt: spend time in the market or work with locals. The standout case? North and West Africa, where TikTok exceeded expectations and a “chicken influencer” became the face of financial inclusion—proof that local truth beats HQ assumptions every time.

Come for the wild career turns; stay for the practical framework: start with the audience, align tactics to outcomes, respect culture, and keep ego out of the way. If it resonates, follow the show, share it with a founder who needs a reality check, and leave a quick review to help more curious builders find us.

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A packed hackathon, pizza boxes, and a room full of devs trading ideas—that’s where our conversation with Code & Coffee leaders Israel Santana and Charles Inwald begins. From there, we dive into what really moves a developer’s career forward today: community that shortens feedback loops, AI that accelerates but doesn’t replace judgment, and small public signals—talks, workshops, shipped demos—that compound into real opportunities.

We trace Izzy’s pivot from law to software and Charles’s evolution from attendee to program builder, then zoom out to the big questions: Can AI debug the bugs it creates? How do we keep creativity human when models remix what they’re fed? And what does a lean team augmented by agents look like when legacy systems still demand careful integration? Along the way, we get candid about disruption—entry-level roles tightening, senior expectations shifting—and lay out a practical playbook: build projects you can show, publish your learning journey, teach to uncover both your gaps and your communication skills, and network where people can vouch for you.

Ethics and diversity aren’t afterthoughts here. We discuss rotating venues to widen access, clear welcomes for every skill level, and a firm stance on privacy: collect less, anonymize by default, and never paste user PII into prompts without explicit consent. We push back on the claim that “you don’t need to know how to code,” making the case that security, reliability, and accountability still rest with humans—even when LLMs help draft the first version.

If you’re searching for momentum in a noisy market, this conversation offers direction—and an open door: codeandcoffee.org has chapters across the U.S. Bring your bugs, your ideas, and your curiosity.

If this resonated, follow, share with a friend, and leave a review. What topic should we tackle next?

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Boardrooms don’t have to look like a scene from a courtroom drama. Alex sits down with Breen Sullivan—former big-law IP attorney turned startup general counsel and founder of The Fourth Effect—to unpack why so many startups avoid boards, how that hesitation quietly limits growth, and what it takes to design advisory and governing structures that actually move revenue, fundraising, and product forward. Breen shares hard‑won lessons from scaling companies, why community and marketplaces weren’t enough to place candidates, and how the real bottleneck sits inside the startup: unclear incentives, no framework, and a semantic fear of the word “board.”

We go deep on the difference between advisory and fiduciary roles, how to compensate and vest advisors against measurable outcomes, and why timing and fit matter as much as resumes. Breen reveals at least 20 advisor archetypes—from the ICP door‑opener to the capital strategist—and shows how the right mix can unlock pilots, close enterprise deals, shorten compliance paths, and prevent avoidable failures. Then we explore AI’s role beyond simple “matching.” The Fourth Effect is building an AI-driven layer that models each startup’s needs, encodes soft skills and leadership styles, and uses agentic workflows to keep relationships aligned, productive, and accountable.

Global expansion gets practical, too. We talk about entering adjacent markets, navigating investor norms, and when to use structures like a Delaware flip. The throughline is simple: create the seats, define the outcomes, align incentives, and let technology accelerate the human work of trust and execution. If you’ve ever wondered how to turn advisors from nice‑to‑have into a compounding advantage, this conversation is your new blueprint.

If this resonated, follow and subscribe for more candid, tactical conversations—and share this with a founder who needs to hear it today. Your review helps more builders find the show.

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Dive into the complex relationship between artificial intelligence and heavily regulated industries with our expert panel representing government, healthcare, energy, insurance, and telecommunications sectors. This compelling roundtable explores how AI is fundamentally transforming traditional operational models while navigating the unique constraints of regulated environments.

Our distinguished guests reveal startling realities about our AI readiness. For instance, did you know it takes utilities up to six years to power a single AI data center? With extreme weather events already straining our energy infrastructure, experts warn we could face widespread grid failures by 2030 if we don't address AI's massive energy requirements through proactive legislation and strategic planning.

The conversation goes beyond infrastructure challenges to examine AI's role in augmenting rather than replacing human capabilities. Government implementations are already saving federal employees billions of hours by automating routine tasks, while healthcare applications are freeing clinicians from documentation burdens to focus on patient care. Yet these advancements raise critical questions about ethical implementation and maintaining human oversight.

The panel delves into the concept of "explainable AI" – ensuring algorithms can articulate their decision-making logic – and the importance of "human-on-the-loop" models where technology never operates without supervision. As one panelist provocatively asks: "Who holds the kill switch – humans or machines?"

Throughout the discussion emerges a central theme: successful AI implementation in regulated environments demands balancing technological advancement with human-centered design. By keeping customers at the core of development processes and implementing proper security frameworks, organizations can harness AI's transformative potential while preserving the human elements that ultimately matter most.

Join our conversation exploring the intersection of innovation, regulation, and humanity as we navigate the rapidly evolving landscape of artificial intelligence across society's most critical sectors.

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What happens when specialized human expertise meets artificial intelligence? That's the fascinating question at the heart of my conversation with Alex Khomyakov, founder of Productera and expert in the knowledge economy.

For years, expert networks have connected investors and researchers with subject matter specialists who possess real-time insights not yet captured in public sources. While AI and search engines can tell you what happened yesterday, these networks connect you with people who know what's happening now. The distinction is crucial for those making million-dollar investment decisions.

But beneath the polished surface of these premium services lies a surprising reality: an operational infrastructure still heavily dependent on manual processes, spreadsheets, and institutional memory. As Alex reveals, approximately 80% of labor in expert networks happens behind the scenes, managing everything from expert sourcing and compliance to scheduling and transcription.

This is where AI enters the picture—not as a replacement for human expertise but as a powerful augmentation tool. AI promises to transform expert networks by improving matchmaking between clients and experts, breaking down language barriers through real-time translation, and offering scheduling flexibility across time zones. These innovations could democratize access to specialized knowledge globally, making expertise available regardless of language or location.

For tech entrepreneurs and product developers, the opportunity lies not in creating flashy front-end solutions but in addressing the operational challenges beneath the surface. Alex wisely notes, "The value of investment insight is proportional to how fast you can get it." Those who can leverage AI to increase speed and efficiency while maintaining the human element will define the future of this industry.

Ready to learn more about how AI and human expertise are converging to create new possibilities in the knowledge economy? Listen to our conversation for insights that might change your thoughts about accessing specialized knowledge in the AI era.

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What separates successful leaders from fulfilled ones? According to recovering Wall Street executive Marla Bace, it’s not another mindset hack—it’s getting real about what coaching is (and isn't) in a world addicted to “high-ticket offers” and quick-fix transformations.

In this sharp, refreshingly unfiltered conversation, Marla gets brutally honest about how coaching has evolved since 2020—and why so many high-achievers are still quietly miserable. With a career spanning finance, media, and marketing, she’s been in the boardrooms, survived the buzzwords, and now helps leaders stop performing and start transforming.

She shares the quiet strategies behind powerful leaders—like how to read a room before anyone speaks, or what to do when ego floods the table (hint: don’t match the energy—redirect it).

This isn’t your HR lunch-n-learn. It’s a thoughtful dive into the leadership skills that don’t show up in annual reviews.

From decoding generational tension to integrating AI without turning into a chatbot in heels, this episode is packed with real strategies for leaders who’ve outgrown superficial advice.

If your job looks impressive on LinkedIn but leaves you empty by Friday, this one’s for you. As Marla puts it: sometimes the real power move isn't “how do I get there?”—it's “who the hell can help me figure this out?”

About Marla Bace:

Marla Bace is a certified business and leadership coach with over 30 years of experience driving real results. A former award-winning CMO and CXO, she offers real-world coaching and proven growth strategies for accomplished professionals and business owners who don’t have time to waste.

Her career proves that emotional intelligence and executive strategy aren’t just buzzwords but the foundation of lasting success. Marla knows what it takes to grow influence, drive measurable results, and make confident, values-aligned decisions. She cuts through the noise with clarity, accountability, and a deep commitment to putting humanity at the heart of business success.

Known for her bold authenticity and no-fluff approach, Marla combines emotional intelligence with strategic execution to help clients elevate their presence, align their actions, and lead with impact. Whether guiding a mid-career professional toward a promotion or helping a business owner build a scalable path forward, Marla delivers practical insights that create lasting change.

At the core of her coaching is this belief: Authentic leadership isn’t a buzzword—it’s the competitive edge. Marla helps leaders lead with truth, integrity, and purpose.

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What drives an accomplished physicist with expertise in international banking to pivot toward healthcare, finance, and other science investments? For Konstantin Shvvarts, of Nordvik Investments, the answer is refreshingly straightforward: profitability. In this revealing conversation, Shvarts explains how declining bank valuations following the 2008 financial crisis prompted him to shift his focus to more promising sectors, including fintech, wellness technology, and artificial intelligence.

Shvarts offers a nuanced perspective on portfolio diversification that challenges conventional wisdom. While acknowledging the importance of stability for traditional investors, he suggests that younger, more active investors might benefit from concentrating their investments in areas they thoroughly understand. Drawing from his own experience leveraging dual expertise in physics and finance, Shvarts shares how this approach led him to successful investments in payment solutions before expanding into health technology platforms like EatBeat.

The conversation takes a fascinating turn as it explores global innovation trends. Shvarts maintains that, despite increasing global tensions, the United States and China remain the primary centers for technological advancement, particularly in the field of artificial intelligence. He expresses concern that Europe, including Estonia, once a pioneer in e-government, has lost momentum as political attention shifts from fostering innovation to addressing security concerns. Looking ahead, he envisions a fragmented global marketplace divided into distinct trade zones, yet remains firmly committed to investing in Western markets despite the turbulence.

Perhaps most revealing are Shvarts's investment boundaries. Despite acknowledging the explosive growth and profit potential in military technology driven by ongoing conflicts, he avoids this sector. Similarly, he steers clear of Chinese investments due to concerns over transparency and intellectual property risks. These principles underscore a thoughtful approach to global investing that balances opportunity with personal ethics and risk assessment.

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