That Tech Pod

Today Kevin and Laura speak with Jennifer McIver, the Director of Legal Operations & Industry Insights at Wolters Kluwer about GenAI being just one of the tools in your tech toolbox. We discuss whether GenAI should be treated like predictive coding or MS365. Jen reminds us to remember the data and traditional AI tools. We talk enterprise legal management, spend software and legal analytics solution, e-signatures, legal prediction tools, case management tools, chatbots and e-Billing apps. We also hear Jen's divisive take on "tech she hates." This is a fun episode!

Jennifer McIver is an attorney turned legal technologist with extensive experience helping corporate legal departments improve operational efficiency, spend management, and collaboration with outside counsel through the use and adoption of technology. As Director, Legal Operations & Industry Insights at Wolters Kluwer, Jennifer represents ELM Solutions at industry events, develops thought-provoking content, and dives deep with LegalVIEW to surface valuable data insights about rates and other industry trends.

Laura and Kevin also chat about The Advocate Next Door, a new podcast from friends of the pod Kelby Ballena (our guest on pod 29 from 2021) and Margarita Rosa Arango. The Advocate Next Door is a podcast that covers genuine, in-person conversations with individuals from diverse backgrounds. Kelby and Margarita welcome guests who delve into their life and career journeys, exploring the passions and hobbies that drive them, and uncovering the stories behind their career choices. Each episode aims to reveal the personal side of professional paths, sharing inspiring tales of resilience, dedication, and the unique experiences that shape who they are today. They recently dropped their first 3 episodes. Check them out here.

Today Laura and Kevin chat with Levar Jackson, the Founder and CEO of Yogh Group, which works in partnership with Oregon State University to design sustainable technologies for the hospitality industry. They talk about sustainability being more than just resources — impacting economic, social, and environmental sectors. We hear about the amazing patented technologies for energy generation Yogh Group developed. We learn about the connection between sustainability and social impact and how that can be measured. We also learn of a trick to hack hotel A/C units. 

Yogh Group's technologies include the QuaiEnergy System for efficient electricity and AlgoHelix, an automated algae growth system designed to bring algae based products to all locations around the globe for sustainable food, beverages, beauty products, fuel and textiles. Yogh Group is also designing sustainable hotels, which include art museums, culinary institutes, and agricultural production — connecting co-supportive industries in one space.

Levar serves as President of NEWH New York, which provides international resources for scholarships, education, business development, and excellence recognition in areas of hospitality, food service, senior living, and related fields.

On today's pod, Kevin and Laura speak with Matt Van Itallie about code transparency and GenAI. We talk about the risks with human-only code, GenAI-originated code and blended code and the risks of each for GenAI developers. We discuss the Github class action lawsuit and CoPilot. Matt gives us some best practices and practical advise. We find out if Matt is an introvert or an extrovert and being tech curious. We also talk about Matt's ability to explain tech to non-tech audiences and why that's important. Matt also talks about the fun of creating Peepshi, a playful combination of marshmallow Peeps and sushi.

Matt Van Itallie is the Founder and CEO of Sema. He and his team have developed Comprehensive Codebase Scans, the most thorough and easily understandable assessment of a codebase and engineering organization. These scans are crucial for private equity and venture capital firms looking to make informed investment decisions. Sema has evaluated code within organizations that have a collective value of over $1 trillion. In 2023, Sema served 7 of the 9 largest global investors, along with market-leading strategic investors, private equity, and venture capital firms, providing them with critical insights. In addition, Sema is at the forefront of Generative AI Code Transparency, which measures how much code created by GenAI is in a codebase. They are the inventors behind the Generative AI Bill of Materials (GBOM), an essential resource for investors to understand and mitigate risks associated with AI-generated code.

Before founding Sema, Matt was a Private Equity operating executive and a management consultant at McKinsey. He graduated from Harvard Law School and has had some interesting adventures, like hiking a third of the Appalachian Trail and biking from Boston to Seattle.

Today Laura and Kevin have Bruce Randall on the pod. Bruce is a thought leader who delves into AI's impact on human enhancement and consciousness. Bruce is currently working on his book "The AI Human Paradox," examining AI's transformative potential and regulatory challenges. We talk about the ethical impacts of AI advancements, such as brain-computer interfaces and superhuman capabilities. Bruce advocates for balanced regulatory frameworks to ensure safe and ethical AI integration. We also discuss superhumans, super soldiers, and more. 

Bruce's expertise goes beyond technology and business; his personal journey includes meditation, Reiki, and exploring the deeper aspects of human potential. These experiences provide unique insights into the human mind, enriching his perspective on AI and its societal implications.

Today Kevin and Laura speak with Ajay Malik about all things AI. As the former Head of Architecture/Engineering of the Worldwide Corporate Network at Google, Ajay is a technologist, business futurist, and prolific inventor with about 100 patents pending/issued specializing in Artificial Intelligence, Wi-Fi networking, Quantum computing, and Real Time Location. We talk about generative AI versus classic AI. We discuss which is the best LLM. We chat about the difference between AI and super intelligence. We also discuss expensive tech toys and early holiday gift ideas. We also learn that you can only have up to 30K LinkedIn connections (because Ajay is maxed out!)
 
Ajay Malik is the CEO of SECO MIND USA LLC, a company that builds StudioX, world’s leading enterprise AI platform to accelerate incorporating AI in business. Ajay has also held executive leadership positions at Meru Networks, Hewlett-Packard, Cisco, and Motorola. He completed B.E in Computer Science & Technology from IIT, Roorkee, India. Ajay Malik's unique blend of creativity, leadership, and technical expertise promises an engaging and enlightening experience for all attendees.

Ajay Malik has founded and successfully sold multiple startups, led the exit of a public company, and has experience as a Section 16 officer. He has authored various books "RTLS for Dummies," "Augmented Reality for Dummies," "Artificial Intelligence for Wireless Networking," "First God, Then Man, Now AI - Generative AI".  

Today Laura and Kevin speak with Quinton Goddard, the Head of Solutions and  Sustainability for SquareTrade Europe. They chat about planned obsolescence and the right to repair, exploring how these issues impact both consumers and the environment. Quinton shares his expertise on how SquareTrade Europe is tackling sustainability, discussing the development of tools and processes and the broader implications for the insurance industry.  Quinton provides insights into how sustainability is being integrated into SquareTrade’s operations, ensuring that the company not only meets but exceeds its environmental responsibilities. They chat about Quinton's path from astronomer to the insurance sustainability guy, turning the Titanic, Jake from Statefarm, the Safelite jingle, and much more! 

Quinton Goddard is the Head of Solutions & Sustainability for SquareTrade Europe. Quinton oversees the development and implementation of the region's sustainability strategy. In this role, he spearheads the creation of tools and processes to measure annual emissions, set reduction targets, monitor progress, and integrate sustainability across all facets of SquareTrade Europe.

Today Kevin and Laura speak with Jake Moshenko, the co-founder of AuthZed, a leader in permissions systems as a service. We talk about what its like to work for both Amazon and Google. We chat about Amazon's trick firings/secret PIPs and Jake's iPhone app for the game Big 2. We also talk about the challenges of building and selling to developers, his cofounding of Quay and using the Zanzibar papers as a guide. Laura also rants about Disney adults and gives her most controversial take ever about Taylor Swift fans. Check this one out! 

With his extensive background in developer tooling and distributed systems, Jake Moshenko is an expert in creating robust authorization software. He is passionate about developer experience and scalable infrastructure. 

AuthZed was founded by 3 successful entrepreneurs with expertise in enterprise software, most recently as leaders at Red Hat. Jake and Joey met on the APIs team at Google in 2010. They went on to found Quay, where Jimmy joined as their first hire. Over the past decade, they’ve changed the landscape for building and deploying software.

Today Laura and Kevin speak with Daniel Gold, Principal in Forensics and the eDiscovery Managed Services Leader for BDO. We talk about his origin story from law to legal tech leader. We talk about Athenagy and AI's impact on the industry. We discuss the shrinking of the billable hour, differentiating true AI from traditional keyword searching and myths vs. reality in legal tech.

Daniel is the Principal in Forensics and the eDiscovery Managed Services Leader. He is the creator of BDO's Athenagy, the only patent pending business intelligence solution in the world that created a Common Data Model and data driven insights fueled by both RelativityOne and Microsoft Purview eDiscovery.

Daniel has over 20 years of experience in the legal space. As a practicing lawyer, Daniel quickly identified that by appropriately harnessing new forms of legal technology, both lawyers and legal professionals could be vastly more productive and effective. This realization led Daniel to the legal service provider space and with it, came years of success at consulting with some of the largest corporate law departments and law firms across the country. Daniel’s experience in e-discovery technical consulting, consultative selling, as well as leading a national operations team for an IT managed services company has enabled him to provide a  comprehensive approach to how legal professionals can leverage technology to create a collaborative and dynamic approach to e-discovery. Daniel’s passion for managed services has made him a known thought leader in e-discovery. 

Today Laura and Kevin speak with Simon Chen, the founder and CEO of Eight Black. We talk about the security and transportation industries. We talk about the Paris Olympics and its challenges. We also discuss the Trump shooting attempt and how the Secret Service responded. We get into tech's impact on security, ongoing cyber threats, Jason Bourne, the Taken movies and more!

Simon Chen, the founder and CEO of Eight Black, brings a wealth of experience and expertise to the security and transportation industries. Originally from Australia, Simon has lived in Colorado for the past eleven years. Prior to moving to the United States, he and his family were based in Singapore, giving him a rich international background. With over 20 years of consulting experience with technology companies across Asia Pacific and the US, Simon has held several senior management positions in large multinationals. Simon has a strong background in advanced driver training, having taught for 15 years at Australia’s largest and most respected Advanced Driver Training company. His motto, "safety before schedule," is evident in the impeccable safety standards of the Eight Black fleet. Additionally, Simon spent 8 years in the Australian military (Army), and he now leads Eight Black's Security and Executive Protection division, collaborating with some of the most talented security professionals in the world. Since founding Eight Black eight years ago with just one car, Simon has grown the business significantly while maintaining his passion for contributing to the ground transportation and security industries. Eight Black now provides bespoke security and transportation solutions worldwide, ensuring clients' journeys are secure, comfortable, and seamless, whether they are traveling from Africa to Paris or anywhere in between.

Today Kevin and Laura speak with Chris Bradbury a serial entrepreneur with an amazing life story. We focus on how to fail as an entrepreneur and how to get back in the game. Chris takes us through his numerous ventures from cutting grass, to building a video game, to selling cars, to selling drugs, to doing computer repair, to running an energy site, even being a politician and then to real estate and finally to contracting with the US Postal Service. Chris explains that mindset about failure matters most for whether an entrepreneur gets back to it or gives up. Chris is the living embodiment of the Rocky Balboa speech on taking your lumps and moving forward. This is a pod you don't want to miss!