Builders by Proxify

Explore the fascinating career journey of Noelia Almanza from medicine to tech leadership via law, in a conversation that focuses on uncovering insights on organizational resilience, decision-making, and the future of AI in engineering. Noelia is now the Chief Studio Officer at Paradox Interactive, and was working as Head of Engineering & QA at King/Candy Crush Saga at the time of filming this episode.
Chapters
(00:00) Introduction and Guest Background
(01:07) Noelia’s Unique Career Path
(02:00) Early Leadership and Healthcare Experience
(03:58) Transition to Tech and Innovation
(08:11) Mindset Shift from Medicine to Engineering
(09:52) Leadership Style and Governance
(12:30) Decision-Making in Hybrid and Remote Teams
(14:51) Scaling and High Performance in Gaming
(19:26) Risk Management and Reliability
(21:39) Building Resilient Organizations
(24:08) Performance Management Mistakes
(26:31) Designing Motivating Performance Systems
(29:50) Impact of AI on Engineering and Hiring
(33:10) Engagement Beyond Perks
(35:13) Hiring in Competitive Markets
(37:39) Future of AI in Engineering
(43:40) Emerging Trends and Technologies
(44:46) Final Thoughts and Advice

In this episode of Builders, host Lee Haynes speaks with Yogesh Malik, Co-Founder of Bytelens: AI for observability, Tech Investor and Advisor, about his extensive journey from India to becoming a key player in global telecom transformations. Yogesh shares valuable leadership lessons, the importance of balancing innovation with reliability, and the role of emerging technologies like AI and 5G in shaping the future of telecom. He emphasizes the need for a culture of continuous transformation and the evolving role of telecom as an essential utility in modern society.
Chapters
(00:00) Yogesh Malik’s Journey in Telecom
(05:18) Leadership Lessons in Telecom Transformation
(08:42) Balancing Innovation and Reliability
(10:34) The Role of AI and 5G in Telecom
(13:58) Building a Culture of Continuous Transformation
(17:09) The Future of Telecom and Digital Natives
(20:02) Telecom as an Essential Utility
(23:38) ByteLens: Addressing Telecom Challenges
(29:54) Inspiring Teams Through Change
(32:06) Preparing for the Future of Telecom
(39:27) Common Leadership Philosophy
(43:36) Exciting Future of Telecom and AI

In this conversation, Galina Ester Shubina, VP of AI at Tripledot Studios, shares her insights on the evolving landscape of AI and machine learning, the importance of diversity in tech, and the challenges organizations face in adopting these technologies. She discusses the hype surrounding generative AI, the risks of over-investing in speculative initiatives, and the critical role of technologists in leadership positions.
Chapters
(00:00) Introduction to AI and Leadership
(02:56) The Evolution of AI and Machine Learning
(05:57) Diversity in Tech and Its Importance
(09:08) Adoption of AI in Organizations
(12:12) Understanding Generative AI and Its Limitations
(14:48) Evaluating AI Investments
(17:58) Connecting AI Strategy to Business Outcomes
(21:02) The Role of Technologists in Leadership
(23:48) Navigating AI Project Failures
(27:06) The Future of AI in Gaming
(29:53) Advice for Aspiring AI Leaders

In this episode of Builders, host Lee Haynes speaks with Florian Westerdahl, Global Head of IT at Vitrolife Group, about his extensive career in technology and leadership across various industries, including retail and MedTech. They discuss the importance of adaptability in organizations, the challenges of digital transformation, and the critical need for alignment between technology and business leadership.
Chapters
(00:00) Introduction to Florian Westerdahl and His Journey
(04:46) Transitioning from Retail to MedTech: A New Perspective
(11:47) The Role of Leadership in Digital Transformation
(20:02) Understanding AI and Its Impact on Business
(29:55) Bridging the Gap: Tech and Business Alignment
(36:02) The Importance of Adaptability in Modern Organizations
(44:00) Mindset Shifts for Future Digital Leaders

In this episode of Builders, host Lee Haynes speaks with Khizar Naeem, Product Lead at Deel, about the evolving landscape of product management, particularly in the context of AI and customer insights. The conversation explores the differences between conventional product management and the messy realities of high-growth companies, the rise of senior individual contributors, and the essential skills for aspiring product managers in an AI-driven world.
Chapters
(00:00) Introduction to Product Management and AI
(01:15) Khizar’s Journey into Product Management
(06:01) The Importance of Customer Insights
(12:28) Common Mistakes in User Feedback Interpretation
(16:54) Conventional vs. Real-World Product Management
(20:52) Transitioning from Theory to Practice in Product Management
(22:30) AI’s Impact on Product Management
(27:05) Skills for Aspiring Product Managers
(30:46) The Rise of Senior Individual Contributors
(34:19) Leadership Dynamics in Product Teams
(38:43) Qualities of Great Product Teams
(43:07) Assessing Engineers in the Age of AI
(44:51) Cultivating Empathy in Product Teams
(48:30) The Future of Product Management (edited) 

In this episode of Builders, Rocío Bachmaier, CEO of Atlan AI, discusses the evolving landscape of AI and its impact on competitive advantage. She highlights the paradox of AI making it easier to build while eroding traditional business moats. Rocio emphasizes the importance of defensibility, velocity, and integration in the age of AI, and shares insights on how companies can navigate the challenges of AI integration and build for the long term.

Chapters

(00:00) Introduction to AI and Competitive Advantage
(05:45)  The Death of Traditional Moats
(11:05)  Identifying Eroding Advantages
(18:19)  Velocity and Integration in AI
(24:41)  Future Sources of Uniqueness
(31:53)  Practical Hurdles in AI Integration
(39:39)  Building Lasting Systems vs. Products
(45:29)  Conclusion and Future Outlook

In this episode of Builders, host Lee Haynes sits down with Vilhelm von Ehrenheim, co-founder and Chief AI Officer at QA.tech, to unpack how Agentic AI is reshaping software development and quality assurance. Vilhelm shares his path from theoretical physics to real-world AI, and explains why successful enterprise AI requires clear ownership, measurable goals, and strong engineering foundations. Together, they explore how AI agents can automate testing, elevate developer tooling, and shift QA roles toward more strategic, technical work—while keeping expectations grounded amid the AGI hype.

Chapters

(00:00) Introduction to Agentic AI and QA Tech
(01:08) Vilhelm’s Journey into AI
(06:17) Understanding Agentic AI
(12:54) Real-World Applications of Agentic AI
(19:22) AI Enablement in Software Development
(25:27) The Future of QA with AI
(29:31) The Evolving Capabilities of AI Agents
(32:23) Challenges in Enterprise AI Adoption
(39:49) Checklist for AI Readiness in Enterprises
(44:14) Shifting Hiring Practices in the AI Era
(52:28) The Future of Agentic AI and Cautionary Insights

In this episode of Builders, Lee Haynes speaks with Ana Isabel Casado Gómez, Head of Operations, Data and AI at SumUp. They discuss Ana’s career journey, the evolution of data challenges, and the role of AI in enhancing operational efficiency. Ana shares insights on building data teams, hiring challenges, and the importance of curiosity in candidates. The conversation also covers the differences in data approaches between product and operations, measuring AI success, and the future trends in AI and data.

Chapters

(00:00) Introduction to Data and AI in Operations
(01:16) Ana’s Journey into Data and AI
(05:54) The Evolution of Data Challenges
(06:11) Overview of SumUp and Its Operations
(10:02) Building a Centralized Data Team
(11:27 AI Initiatives in Customer Support
(16:27) Hiring Challenges in AI and Data Teams
(19:11) Assessing Curiosity in Candidates
(22:58) Differences in Data Approaches: Product vs Operations
(26:53) Measuring AI Success in Operations
(30:41) Stakeholder Engagement in AI Projects
(34:45) Maintaining Relevance in AI Solutions
(37:33) Self-Service Analytics and Data Literacy
(42:08) Understanding Complexity in AI Development
(44:20) Future Opportunities and Limitations of AI
(48:45) Trends in AI and Data for the Future

In this episode, Karin Håkansson, Head of Data at Adapteo Group, discusses her extensive experience in data management and the unique challenges faced in the modular construction industry. She emphasizes the importance of data in driving sustainability, fostering collaboration across teams, and the need for effective hiring practices in data roles. Håkansson also highlights the significance of integrating data with business strategies and the evolving landscape of AI in data management. The conversation concludes with insights on building a data-driven organization and the future of data management.

Chapters:

(00:00) Introduction to Data Management and Adapteo Group
(02:00) The Role of Data in Modular Construction
(06:10) Sustainability and Data Tracking
(10:04) Challenges in Data Management
(14:02) Fostering Collaboration Across Teams
(17:57) Hiring and Developing Data Talent
(22:10) The Importance of Business Language in Data
(25:51) AI and Data Management Challenges
(30:02) Future Trends in Data Management and AI
(34:00) Building a Data-Driven Organization

In this episode of Builders, Lee Haynes speaks with Alexandre Paternoster, at the time of filming this episode the Senior Manager in the Digital Strategy Group at KPMG Netherlands, and currently the Data & AI Platform Lead in the Data & Analytics department at Van Oord. They discuss the evolution of AI as a continuation of digital transformation rather than a revolution, the importance of listening and understanding stakeholder challenges in digital strategy, and the role of culture in successful transformations. 

Chapters

(00:00) Introduction to Digital Transformation and AI

(00:57) Alexander's Journey into Digital Strategy

(02:50) Day-to-Day in Digital Strategy

(04:25) Leadership Lessons in Digital Transformation

(05:53) Common Roadblocks in Digital Transformation

(07:50) Driving Clarity and Velocity in Organizations

(09:15) The Role of Culture in Digital Transformation

(10:43) Building Effective Teams for Transformation

(13:23) Essential Skills for Transformation Roles

(15:27) AI: Evolution vs. Revolution

(16:47) Guiding Companies in AI Adoption

(18:50) Real-World Examples of AI Impact

(20:11) Understanding AI Hype and Misinterpretation

(21:48) Human-Centered AI Approach

(23:50) AI in Decision-Making Processes

(25:31) The Future of AI Workflows

(27:20) Balancing Innovation and Risk in AI

(29:02) AI Maturity Across Organizations

(31:44) Generational Differences in AI Adoption

(33:29) Exciting Developments in AI Tools

(35:37) The Future of Human Interaction in Digital Organizations

(39:30) Current Projects and Future Aspirations

(40:57) Closing Thoughts on Digital Transformation