In this episode of The CTO Show with Mehmet, I sit down with Alec Crawford, an AI and cybersecurity expert with decades of experience in financial institutions like Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley, and Deutsche Bank. Alec is now leading AI-driven cybersecurity solutions, focusing on AI Governance, Risk, Compliance, and Cybersecurity (AI GRCC).

We dive into:

🔹 How AI is reshaping cybersecurity—both defensively and offensively

🔹 The biggest vulnerabilities companies face in the AI era

🔹 Why traditional security approaches aren’t enough anymore

🔹 How businesses can balance AI adoption with compliance and governance

🔹 The rise of AI-powered cyber threats, including phishing, data breaches, and zero-day exploits

🔹 The role of AI agents in securing enterprises

🔹 Why regulators are behind and what businesses must do to stay compliant

This episode is packed with actionable insights for CISOs, CTOs, tech leaders, and entrepreneurs looking to navigate the fast-evolving cybersecurity landscape.

🎙️ About Alec Crawford

Alec Crawford founded and leads Artificial Intelligence Risk, Inc., which accelerates Gen AI adoption through a platform ensuring AI safety, security, and compliance. The company achieving the top rank for both Gen AI cybersecurity and regulatory compliance from Waters Technology in 2024. Alec, an AI, investing and risk management expert, shares insights through various media and has a rich history of leadership roles, including at Lord, Abbett & Co. LLC, where he managed global investment risks. His background spans prominent positions in financial services since 1988, including at Ziff Brothers Investments, Goldman Sachs, and Morgan Stanley. Alec holds a Computer Science degree from Harvard, where he specialized in artificial intelligence.

https://linkedin.com/in/aleccrawford

https://aicrisk.com/

🎯 Key Takeaways

✅ AI is both the biggest opportunity and the biggest threat in cybersecurity

✅ AI-driven cyberattacks—such as hyper-realistic phishing, deepfake fraud, and rapid zero-day exploits—are evolving faster than defenses

✅ Many companies are adopting AI without a clear security strategy, leading to data leaks and compliance risks

✅ Traditional cybersecurity models aren’t keeping up, and CISOs must embrace AI-driven defense mechanisms

✅ Organizations should focus on AI governance early to avoid massive compliance fines from GDPR, the EU AI Act, and emerging U.S. state regulations

✅ AI agents will automate threat detection and compliance monitoring, but adoption must be done securely

🎧 What You’ll Learn

🔹 How AI helps hackers launch more sophisticated cyberattacks

🔹 Why regulatory compliance for AI is still a gray area and what businesses need to do now

🔹 The future of AI in security—from AI-powered monitoring to real-time attack mitigation

🔹 What AI GRCC (Governance, Risk, Compliance, and Cybersecurity) means for organizations

🔹 Why cybersecurity needs to shift from reactive to proactive strategies

⏳ Episode Chapters (Timestamps for YouTube & Spotify)

00:00 - Intro & Welcome to Alec Crawford

02:00 - Alec’s Background: From Harvard Neural Networks to AI Security

05:30 - The Acceleration of AI & Cybersecurity Threats

08:45 - The Role of AI in Phishing & Data Breaches

12:15 - How Businesses Can Secure AI Adoption Without Breaking Compliance

15:30 - The Biggest Security Gaps in Enterprises Today

18:40 - AI in Governance & Regulatory Compliance

22:00 - Why Cybersecurity Teams Are Facing Alert Fatigue

26:15 - The Future of AI Agents in Cybersecurity

30:00 - AI-Powered Threat Detection & Ransomware Prevention

35:30 - The Next Evolution of AI in Security

40:00 - Final Thoughts & Where to Find Alec

In this episode, I sit down with John Cousins, a serial entrepreneur, investor, and educator, to discuss financial literacy, startup success, AI’s impact on learning, and the future of solopreneurship. With experience spanning MIT, IPOs, hedge funds, and AI-driven education, John shares powerful insights on navigating the world of business, investment, and entrepreneurship.

🔹 Key Takeaways from This Episode

✔️ The Power of Financial Literacy – Why schools fail to teach financial basics and how to take control of your money.

✔️ Startup Success – The traits that define successful entrepreneurs and why execution matters more than ideas.

✔️ Angel Investing & Hedge Funds – What John looks for in founders and how to evaluate great investments.

✔️ AI & Business Education – How AI is transforming the way we learn, create, and run businesses.

✔️ The Future of Solopreneurship – Why AI-powered one-person businesses are the future.

✔️ Building a Learning Habit – The secret behind writing 63 books and educating 30,000+ students.

✔️ Actionable Advice – How to take control of your finances, career, and entrepreneurial journey.

🔹 About John Cousins

John Cousins is an investor, tech founder, and bestselling author of Corporate Finance A$AP and over 60 other books.

John is the founder of MBA ASAP, which provides training to individuals, over 30,000 students in 165 countries, and corporations including Adidas, Apple, General Mills, Kaiser Permanente, Lyft, PayPal, Pinterest, Mercedes-Benz, and Volkswagen.

John has taught MBA students at universities worldwide.

Currently General Partner at Tetraktys Global, a quantitative hedge fund, he is an early investor in many successful tech companies and crypto protocols.

https://www.mba-asap.com/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/johncousinsiii/

🔹 Episode Highlights & Timestamps

⏳ [00:01] – John’s Background: From MIT and electronic music to entrepreneurship

⏳ [00:06] – Taking Companies Public: John’s experience with IPOs and running a hedge fund

⏳ [00:12] – The Financial Literacy Gap: Why schools don’t teach finance & how to learn it yourself

⏳ [00:17] – 30,000+ Students Across 167 Countries: How MBA ASAP is making business knowledge accessible

⏳ [00:22] – AI in Learning & Business: John’s AI-driven negotiation course and multi-language digital learning

⏳ [00:28] – Investment Strategies & Startup Traits: What investors look for in founders & businesses

⏳ [00:36] – Solopreneurship & AI Tools: How AI is enabling individuals to run entire companies

⏳ [00:42] – The Future of Work: AI agents, automation, and the rise of one-person empires

⏳ [00:48] – John’s Writing Process: How he has published 63 books and distilled complex ideas

AI is transforming healthcare at an unprecedented pace, from medical imaging advancements to the potential of robotic-assisted surgeries and predictive medicine. In this episode, Dr. Robert Toth, Founder of Thetat Tech AI, joins us to discuss how AI is revolutionizing radiology, diagnostics, and patient care, the ethical and regulatory challenges ahead, and what the future holds for AI-driven healthcare solutions.

🔑 Key Takeaways

✅ How AI is revolutionizing medical imaging – from X-rays and MRIs to 3D imaging and segmentation

✅ The role of AI in surgery – why fully autonomous robotic surgeons are still far away

✅ The impact of AI on healthcare workflows – improving documentation, diagnostics, and patient care

✅ Regulatory challenges – how FDA approvals and data privacy laws shape AI adoption

✅ Predictive medicine – how AI can forecast disease risks based on genetic and lifestyle data

✅ The future of patient data ownership – shifting from hospital control to consumer-driven models

🎯 What You’ll Learn

• Why AI in medical imaging is one of the most exciting areas of innovation

• How robot-assisted surgeries are evolving

• The challenges of AI adoption in healthcare, from regulatory hurdles to physician resistance

• How AI-driven predictive analytics could revolutionize preventative medicine

• What the future holds for wearables, medical IoT (M-IoT), and patient data control

🎙️ About Our Guest – Dr. Robert Toth

Dr. Robert Toth holds a Ph.D. in Biomedical Engineering with a focus on medical imaging AI. As the Founder of Thetatech AI, he has spent the last 11 years developing custom AI healthcare solutions, working with universities and medical device companies to push the boundaries of AI applications in healthcare.

https://thetatech.ai

https://www.linkedin.com/in/robtoth/

🎥 Episode Highlights (Timestamps)

⏳ [00:02:00] – Why Dr. Robert Toth chose biomedical engineering and AI

⏳ [00:05:00] – AI’s biggest impact today: automating paperwork, transcriptions, and medical summaries

⏳ [00:09:00] – Why fully autonomous robot surgeons are still far off

⏳ [00:12:00] – Breakthroughs in medical imaging AI and 3D models for diagnostics

⏳ [00:17:00] – How AI helps in medical research and drug discovery

⏳ [00:22:00] – The regulatory hurdles slowing AI adoption in healthcare

⏳ [00:27:00] – Future trends: VR in surgery, medical IoT, and predictive health analytics

⏳ [00:32:00] – How startups and entrepreneurs can break into the health AI space

⏳ [00:37:00] – What the future of AI-powered hospitals will look like

In this episode of The CTO Show with Mehmet, we dive deep into the future of finance with Agne Linge, Head of Growth at WeFi. Fresh from Davos, Agne shares insights into the latest trends in DeFi, AI-powered fintech, and the evolving global economy. We explore how blockchain and AI are reshaping banking, why traditional financial institutions are falling behind, and how decentralized finance is unlocking economic freedom worldwide.

🎯 Key Takeaways

✅ Why DeFi & AI are disrupting traditional banking models

✅ How blockchain enables financial freedom & inclusion

✅ The role of AI in fraud detection, KYC, and wealth management

✅ The impact of US crypto policies and Trump’s stance on blockchain

✅ The latest insights from Davos on finance, trade wars, and digital assets

📌 What You’ll Learn in This Episode

🔸 What makes DeFi superior to traditional banking?

🔸 How AI is being used in neobanks for security, automation, and compliance

🔸 How global regulations—including in the UAE—are shaping Web3 and crypto adoption

🔸 Will blockchain disrupt central banking and government spending transparency?

🔸 How financial institutions are preparing for the AI-powered banking future

🔹 About Agne Linge

Agne Linge serves as a head of growth and board member of WeFi, with a robust background in the crypto, DeFi, and fintech sectors. She brings over eight years of experience in the crypto industry, complemented by more than ten years in consulting, where she has honed her skills in advisory services, strategic planning, and business development.Her expertise spans blockchain technologies, including Layer 1s and Layer 2s, as well as centralized and decentralized exchanges and DeFi protocols.

With a solid foundation in traditional finance, Agne’s hands-on experience in crypto and DeFi positions her as a knowledgeable voice in the field. She is an active participant in the crypto community, with a vast network that fosters collaboration and innovation. A sought-after speaker, Agne regularly presents at major global conferences, including Devcon, ETH Denver, and ETH Barcelona. Her previous roles as a director at Binance and head of communications at DeGate further highlight her influential presence in the evolving landscape of digital finance.

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/agnelinge/

WeFi Website: https://www.wefi.co/

🎙 Episode Highlights & Timestamps

⏳ [00:01:00] – Agne Linge’s background in finance & crypto

⏳ [00:04:30] – The vision of WeFi: AI & blockchain in neobanking

⏳ [00:10:00] – Why crypto, AI, and blockchain are more than just buzzwords

⏳ [00:15:30] – Understanding DAOs: How decentralized governance works

⏳ [00:21:00] – Trump, Elon Musk & blockchain: The impact of US policies on DeFi

⏳ [00:27:45] – The role of AI in fraud detection, compliance, and risk management

⏳ [00:32:00] – The future of finance: How AI & DeFi will shape the global economy

⏳ [00:37:00] – Crypto regulation in the UAE & MENA: Why Dubai is the global Web3 hub

⏳ [00:40:30] – Final thoughts & Agne’s advice for embracing financial innovation

Struggling to scale your tech team? Not sure when to move beyond an agency and build in-house? In this episode, we dive deep into engineering team optimization, startup scaling challenges, and the future of AI in development with Vygandas Pliasas—a Fractional CTO and expert in engineering management.

🔍 What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

✅ When startups should transition from an agency to an in-house team

✅ The common traps founders fall into when working with external dev teams

✅ The step-by-step process for fixing tech bottlenecks and improving team efficiency

✅ How to scale remote engineering teams without chaos

✅ AI’s impact on development and how to integrate it into your tech strategy

✅ The biggest mistakes startups make when hiring developers

✅ The red flags that indicate it’s time for a change in your tech team

🎯 Key Takeaways:

📌 Miscommunication with agencies can slow progress—here’s how to fix it

📌 The right moment to build an in-house team and hire a Fractional CTO

📌 Scaling tech teams requires balancing technical leadership & business goals

📌 AI helps but doesn’t replace human decision-making—how to use it effectively

About Vygandas:

Vygandad is a seasoned Fractional CTO and software development executive with over 18 years of experience. He specializes in scaling startups, building dedicated remote teams, and driving technical innovation. With expertise in SaaS, e-commerce, and compliance-driven industries, he helps businesses align their technology with strategic goals, ensuring impactful, sustainable growth. From mentoring engineering leaders to streamlining operations, he empowers teams to deliver excellence while cutting costs and boosting performance.

https://www.cortip.com/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/vygandas/

⏱️ Episode Highlights & Timestamps:

00:00 - Welcome & intro to Vygandas Pliasas

02:30 - Why founders struggle with agency-based development

05:15 - How to know when to bring development in-house

08:40 - The challenges of scaling remote engineering teams

12:10 - Hiring & firing: How fast is too fast, how late is too late?

18:45 - AI in development: What works, what doesn’t

30:10 - The biggest startup tech mistakes and how to avoid them

38:45 - Final thoughts & where to find Vygandas online

“Reducing the amount of time to receive cash unlocks working capital and fuels business growth. AI is transforming this process like never before.” – Fabio Fleitas

In this episode of The CTO Show with Mehmet, we dive into the world of fintech and AI-driven financial operations with Fabio Fleitas, Co-Founder and CTO of Tesorio. Tesorio is revolutionizing cash flow automation, helping businesses collect payments faster and optimize financial operations with AI.

We discuss:

• The biggest pain points finance teams face in accounts receivable and cash collections

• How Tesorio uses AI to automate collections, predict payments, and improve cash flow

• The impact of AI and automation on financial operations

• The challenges of integrating fintech solutions with banking systems

• How startups and enterprises can leverage AI to streamline financial workflows

🚀 Key Takeaways

✅ AI is revolutionizing cash collections by automating invoices, follow-ups, and reconciliation

✅ Tesorio helps reduce payment delays by analyzing financial data and predicting when invoices will be paid

✅ Businesses lose millions in bad debt write-offs—AI-driven automation can significantly cut these losses

✅ Even enterprise finance teams remain understaffed, making automation essential for scalability

✅ The rise of AI agents and operators is making financial workflows more efficient than ever

🎯 What You’ll Learn

🔹 Why late payments are a major financial bottleneck for businesses

🔹 How AI-powered tools like Tesorio improve cash flow predictability

🔹 The importance of automating financial workflows to scale without increasing headcount

🔹 How neobanks and fintech innovations are changing the financial landscape

🔹 Insights into how AI is being used in fintech beyond generative models

🎙️ About Fabio Fleitas

Fabio Fleitas is the Co-Founder & CTO of Tesorio, a fintech platform transforming how businesses manage cash flow. He started the company while studying at the University of Pennsylvania and later went through Y Combinator in 2015. Over the past decade, he has led Tesorio’s evolution from a startup to a key player in AI-powered financial automation.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/fabiofleitas/

https://www.tesorio.com/

⏳ Episode Highlights (Timestamps)

📌 [00:02:00] – What is Tesorio? The problem it solves for finance teams

📌 [00:04:30] – Fabio’s startup journey: from university to Y Combinator

📌 [00:06:50] – The pain points in finance and why late payments are a major issue

📌 [00:10:00] – How Tesorio automates cash collections and integrates with financial systems

📌 [00:14:30] – Addressing objections: Why companies still need specialized fintech tools

📌 [00:18:00] – AI-powered automation: How businesses can reduce cash flow risks

📌 [00:21:00] – Banking and fintech evolution: What’s changed in the last decade

📌 [00:28:00] – AI’s growing role in predicting payments and automating financial decisions

📌 [00:33:00] – The future of AI in fintech and Fabio’s take on rapid AI advancements

📌 [00:45:00] – How AI agents can now fully automate invoice submissions

📌 [00:50:00] – Advice for fintech entrepreneurs: How to build impactful AI solutions

In this episode of The CTO Show with Mehmet, we dive deep into the evolving landscape of digital marketing with Merag Shahzad, a digital marketing expert and strategist. Merag shares insights on AI’s role in marketing, how brands can balance automation with authenticity, and the future trends shaping digital engagement.

We explore the must-have tools for marketers, discuss the overuse vs. underuse of AI, and break down how businesses—especially startups—can leverage marketing as a growth powerhouse.

🔥 Key Takeaways

✔️ AI’s Biggest Impact on Digital Marketing – How AI tools like ChatGPT, Jasper AI, and Synthesia are revolutionizing content creation.

✔️ Too Much AI vs. Not Enough – Where businesses are going wrong in AI adoption and how to strike the right balance.

✔️ Must-Have AI Tools for Marketers – Essential AI-driven tools for content creation, search optimization, and audience engagement.

✔️ The Role of Personal Branding – Why founders and executives should invest in building their personal brands online.

✔️ Influencer Marketing & B2B Trends – How Gen Z and the creator economy are shaping brand storytelling across platforms.

✔️ Platform-Specific Strategies – Understanding the unique culture and algorithm of platforms like LinkedIn, Instagram, and TikTok.

✔️ Marketing as a Growth Engine – Why startups should prioritize marketing from day one to scale effectively.

🎧 What You’ll Learn

🔹 How to integrate AI into your marketing strategy without losing authenticity

🔹 The difference between AI-powered efficiency and over-reliance on automation

🔹 Why storytelling and emotional connection are key to marketing success

🔹 How businesses can tailor their marketing for different digital platforms

🔹 Why consistency is the secret weapon in content marketing

👤 About Merag Shahzad

Merag Shahzad is a seasoned digital marketing expert specializing in AI-driven branding and content strategies. His agency helps businesses optimize their marketing strategies by leveraging AI tools while maintaining authenticity and engagement.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/immerag/

https://instagram.com/immerag/

https://www.tiktok.com/@immerag

📌 Episode Highlights

⏳ [00:01:00] – Introduction & Guest Background

⏳ [00:04:00] – The Evolution of AI in Digital Marketing

⏳ [00:10:00] – Must-Have AI Tools for Businesses & Creators

⏳ [00:16:00] – The Balance Between AI and Human Touch

⏳ [00:24:00] – The Power of Storytelling in Marketing Strategy

⏳ [00:30:00] – The Rise of Influencer Marketing & B2B Branding

⏳ [00:40:00] – Best Practices for Digital Marketing in 2025

⏳ [00:49:00] – How to Choose the Right Social Media Platform

In this episode, Mehmet sits down withDaniel Andor, a seasoned product designer and founder ofDurran, a product design studio specializing in early-stage tech startups. With 15 years of experience in UX and product design, Daniel shares his insights onlean product design,common startup mistakes, andhow to build products that truly engage users. If you’re a founder, product leader, or UX enthusiast, this episode is packed with actionable takeaways to improve your design approach and enhance user experience.

Key Takeaways

✅What is Lean Product Design? – Understanding how rapid iteration and user feedback can shape successful products.

✅Common UX Mistakes Startups Make – Why technical founders often struggle with product design and how to fix it.

✅How to Identify User Engagement Issues – Signs your product isn’t working and how to address high churn rates.

✅Empathy-Driven UX – Why understanding your users’ journey is critical for product success.

✅The Role of AI in UX Design – Can AI assist in product design, or is it still unreliable?

✅Metrics That Define Product Success – The key indicators that show your product is resonating with users.

✅Resources and Frameworks – Daniel’s go-to books and methodologies for UX and product design.

What You’ll Learn

🚀 How to validate design decisions before building costly features

🎯 The importance of onboarding and user journey mapping

🔄 How to leverage feedback loops to continuously refine your product

📊 The difference between good and bad UX design for SaaS startups

🤖 Can AI improve UX design? Where it works—and where it fails

About the Guest

Daniel Andor is the founder ofDurran, a product design studio that helps early-stage startups refine and launch their products. He has mentored founders at top accelerators likeTechstars, guiding them through the process of product-market fit, UX design, and customer engagement strategies.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/daniandor/

https://www.durran.co/

Episode Highlights

⏳ [00:01:00] – Daniel’s journey from graphic design to UX and product design

⏳ [00:04:00] – The importance of lean product design in early-stage startups

⏳ [00:06:30] – Why startups fail: The dangers of feature parity and lack of customer feedback

⏳ [00:10:00] – How to measure user engagement and detect churn signals

⏳ [00:14:00] – The role of empathy in UX and best practices for user onboarding

⏳ [00:19:30] – The lean startup approach: Building, testing, and iterating quickly

⏳ [00:22:00] – AI in UX: Can generative AI enhance product design?

⏳ [00:28:00] – Metrics for success: How to determine if your product is working

⏳ [00:32:00] – Daniel’s recommended books and frameworks for UX and product design