floating questions

In this episode, we sit down with Sean Chen - a former data scientist at Google and one of the first AI product managers at Walmart/Sam’s Club - to unpack his whirlwind journey through tech and startups. 

Sean reveals how VC pressure can steer or stall your vision, and how he and his co-founder built “Shelfer,” a voice-driven inventory app for SMB retailers, in just two days on London’s shop floors. We also break down the most realistic agent-AI use cases (of course, how could we miss the buzzword), dive into authentic content creation (and handle criticism like a game), and explore why scrappiness often trumps perfectionism. 

Tune in for a candid conversation about hustling, pivoting, and staying true to yourself in the fast-moving world of entrepreneurship.

From a hacker's perspective, what are some of the most overlooked - yet critical - problems in tech?

In this episode, Clarence Chio shares his journey from giving DEFCON talks on adversarial AI before it was cool, to building two startups at the intersection of risk management and AI. We dive into his experiences hacking alongside white, red, and black hats in an abandoned warehouse near the Kremlin, to the quiet evolution of vendor management, and how the meaning of "work" is evolving as tech modularizes knowledge and labor.

Clarence also reflects on what it takes to scale companies without letting ego lead, why a little delusion might be necessary for persistence, and why letting go can be the hardest - and most essential - leadership lesson.

If you've ever wondered where hacking, humility, and the future of work collide, this conversation is for you.

Floating Questions welcomes Ashish Ranjan Jha - former AI lead at Revolut, author of Fight Fraud with Machine Learning, and now founder of Nativ.

In this episode, we trace Ashish’s journey across three continents and a range of roles - from customizing LSTMs for interpretability before it was cool, to scaling fraud and identity verification AI systems at Revolut, to founding Nativ, a startup helping businesses go global through seamless localization. You’ll also hear some unexpected gems - from catching fraud rings to validating early product ideas in manga .

We also explore immigration challenges, the hurdles of building in agri-tech, and Ashish’s philosophy of making just enough plans while staying tuned in to his inner voice.

Floating Questions welcomes Matt LeMay, a product leader, musician, and author of two books: Impact First Product Teams and Product Management in Practice. With experience at Spotify, Mailchimp, Bitly, and beyond, Matt shares his thoughts on navigating ethical dilemmas in big tech, driving real impact in product teams, and the essential traits of a great product manager.

Beyond work, we dive into his love for music, how therapy shaped his leadership, and the experiences that have shaped his approach to product management. Join us for a candid conversation on personal growth, career evolution, and finding balance in an ever-changing world.

Check out his latest book - Impact First Product Teams HERE

Floating Questions welcomes Nivedita Gaur, whose extraordinary journey spans from India's Space Applications Centre to shaping the future of augmented reality (AR) as a Silicon Architect at Meta, where she contributed to the cutting-edge Orion AR glasses.

In this episode, we delve into not only her remarkable achievements but also her passion for empowering women to forge their own paths. Nivedita also shares moving stories of her family's support, the generational friction she navigated, and the pivotal encouragement of male allies - from her father’s fight against tradition, to a stranger’s nudge toward space college, and her partner’s unwavering support of her dreams.

Through her lens, we explore the delicate dance of separating from family, standing firmly on our own, and reconnecting stronger than ever.

Tune in for a rich conversation about ambition, resilience, and the quiet power of empathy that binds it all together.

What is even fairness in AI? Is there such a thing as too much diversity in AI output? Should AI reflect the world as it is, or the world we wish it to be? 

In this episode of Floating Questions, Brian Hsu, a Senior Responsible AI Engineer at LinkedIn, takes us into the heart of responsible AI, sharing his journey from grad school stardom to the trenches of building fair and impactful machine learning systems with interesting tales. We also delve into why Brian chose to forgo a PhD at top-tier institutions like Stanford, and his reflections on the type of talents of AI needed in practice. This conversation is part technical, part philosophical, and wholly human. Tune in and decide for yourself: how can we really program ethics into the machines of tomorrow?

In this episode of Floating Questions, we sit down with Amine Bennouna, a postdoctoral researcher at MIT and soon-to-be professor at the Kellogg School of Management. We explore his childhood in Morocco and how competing in the International Mathematical Olympiad inspired him to co-found Math&Maroc, an NGO dedicated to unlocking the scientific potential of Moroccan youth, one equation at a time. 

Amine also delves into his research focus area in artificial intelligence (AI), discussing the challenges of interpretability and robustness in data-driven decisions, and how to navigate uncertain and unstable environments with smarter algorithms. 

Beyond academia, we discuss the cultural warmth and community spirit of Morocco, his motivations for becoming a professor, and the teaching principles he operates by to make learning accessible and empower students to believe in their potential.

In this episode of Floating Questions, we sit down with Daniel Kofman, a serial entrepreneur who co-founded a solar panel company and started a defense technology startup recently, with a lifelong fascination for defense technology - rooted in his mother’s passion for martial arts. 

Daniel shares insights on the largest challenges in solar deployment, his ethical approach to choosing the defense technology he works on, tales from securing funding, and methods for identifying trustworthy investors. Together, we explore the intriguing inconsistencies and consistencies in all of us: the push and pull between seeking certainty and unpredictability, risk and safety, and how, in any given moment, a person’s values often reflect across all areas of their life.

Tune in for an exploration of ethics, innovation, and the dualities we all navigate, with Daniel’s unique perspective as our guide.

A special note: today (release date) is my mom's birthday, and sending her all my best wishes.

In this episode of Floating Questions, we sit down with Shane Weisberg, an MIT graduate, hiking in the woods and dabbling in creative writing. Our conversation delves into Shane’s passion for sci-fi and fantasy, his thoughts on emotional vulnerability in sharing his work. We also touch on the classic debate of separating the art from the artist.

On a different note, Shane shares why he initially joined Major League Baseball (MLB) and what ultimately led him to leave the world of sports analytics. From there, we explore the complexity of climate policy, with Shane offering insights from his work in environmental consulting for the U.S. government. We discuss the assumptions behind policy models, the real-world challenges of implementing change, and the delicate balance between politics, economics, and the future of climate action.

Tune in for an eclectic discussion that blends creativity, baseball, environmental policy, and the quest for meaning in both personal and professional realms.

Dive into our debut episode of "Floating Questions" where we explore the intersections of data science, social enterprise, and personal history with Tristan Aubert. 

From his early years moving across continents to spearheading data initiatives in Kenya’s largest forestry social enterprise, Tristan shares how his diverse background and passion for mission-oriented work shape his approach to technology and environmentalism. Discover the challenges and triumphs of integrating data science with real-world impacts, and how personal experiences can define professional paths. 

Join us on this enlightening journey, and don’t forget to subscribe if you enjoy floating with us!