This episode features a detailed discussion with Akshay Swaminathan, a data scientist with significant contributions to health systems improvement, including 40 peer-reviewed publications and features in the New York Times. Currently an AI Researcher, medical student, and PhD candidate at Stanford University, Swaminathan discusses the potential of data science in healthcare, emphasizing the importance of delivering the right treatment to the right patient at the right time. The conversation covers domain specificity in data science, the trend of healthcare professionals engaging in data science, the importance of cross-functional teams, and the role of traditional IT and data science projects in healthcare. Swaminathan also introduces his book, 'Winning with Data Science,' designed to help non-technical domain experts collaborate effectively with data scientists. The episode highlights the potential obstacles to data-driven healthcare solutions, including data quality, biases, interoperability, and data sharing, and suggests starting with identifying key problems before applying data science solutions.

Highlights:

00:38 The Power of Data in Healthcare Delivery

02:03 The Unique Blend of Healthcare and Data Science Expertise

02:52 Cross-Functional Teams: A Trend in Healthcare Data Science

04:56 Empowering Domain Experts to Leverage Data Science

10:35 Case Study: Improving Crisis Response Times at Cerebral

13:30 The Future of AI in Healthcare: Automation and Co-Pilot Solutions

17:41 Challenges and Solutions for Data in Healthcare AI

24:09 Practical Advice for Leveraging Data in Healthcare

Guest:

.Akshay Swaminathan is a data scientist who works on strengthening health systems. He has more than forty peer-reviewed publications, and his work has been featured in the New York Times and STAT. Previously, he was a data scientist at Flatiron Health and Head of Data Science at Cerebral. He is currently an AI researcher and MD/PhD candidate at Stanford University.

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/akshay-swaminathan-68286b51

Book: https://cup.columbia.edu/book/winning-with-data-science/9780231206860

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Thank you so much for checking out this episode of The Tech Trek. We would appreciate it if you would take a minute to rate and review us on your favorite podcast player.

Want to learn more about us? Head over at https://www.elevano.com

Have questions or want to cover specific topics with our future guests?

Please message me at https://www.linkedin.com/in/amirbormand (Amir Bormand)

This podcast episode features an in-depth conversation with Zach LaValley, EVP of Engineering at RapidSOS, discussing the transition towards holistic awareness in public safety. The conversation touches on the challenges of disconnected data, the evolution from landlines to mobile and IoT devices, and the significance of consistent data across distributed systems. RapidSOS's role in moving data from devices to emergency services for better decision-making, the importance of location services, and the complexity of integrating multiple data points are highlighted. Additionally, the discussion explores the future of 911 services with AI, the impact of data privacy, and the technical challenges of creating reliable and speedy responses in emergencies. Zach also sheds light on the ongoing efforts to enhance the effectiveness of 911 call centers and emergency responses through advanced mapping, cloud-based systems, and partnerships with OS providers and device manufacturers. The episode concludes with thoughts on public adoption and the potential of AI to improve emergency services.

Highlights:

01:16 The Evolution of Emergency Response: From Landlines to Digital Ecosystems

03:30 Navigating the Complexities of 911 Call Centers and Data Routing

04:50 The Technical Backbone: Cloud Systems and Data Management

05:36 Enhancing 911 with Technology: Partnerships and Privacy Concerns

11:08 Engineering Challenges: Balancing Speed and Reliability

14:37 Testing and Deployment: Ensuring System Integrity

17:23 The Future of Emergency Services: AI and Public Perception

Guest:

A lifelong learner, Zach LaValley is passionate about helping companies achieve their strategic goals through technology. He has a proven ability to create and scale successful business solutions and is adept at managing medium to large organizations with a diverse technical skill set. Experienced in agile methodologies, Zach combines excellent communication skills with technical acumen, enabling him to deliver in fast-paced and ever-changing environments.

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

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Thank you so much for checking out this episode of The Tech Trek. We would appreciate it if you would take a minute to rate and review us on your favorite podcast player.

Want to learn more about us? Head over at https://www.elevano.com

Have questions or want to cover specific topics with our future guests?

Please message me at https://www.linkedin.com/in/amirbormand (Amir Bormand)

In this podcast episode, Harrison Tang, CEO and Co-founder of Spokeo, discusses Gen AI's role in data creation and the complexities of entity resolution. Spokeo is highlighted as a leading platform that organizes billions of records to resolve millions of entities for user verification. The conversation delves into the nature of identity in both the physical and digital worlds, the challenges of comparing vast amounts of data, and the criteria for establishing the truth within data sets. The discussion also covers the impact of generative AI on data creation, emphasizing the importance of data quality from inception and the evolving landscape of data privacy and security. The episode concludes with insights into the future of entity resolution technology and the ongoing need to discern truth in an era of increasing digital fabrication.

Highlights

02:01 The Complex World of Entity Resolution

03:28 Challenges in Data Processing and Entity Resolution

05:20 The Role of Generative AI in Data Creation

16:02 Navigating the Future of Data Verification and Privacy

Harrison Tang is a CEO, Co-Founder and President at Spokeo.

Harrison Tang is the founder and president of Spokeo, which he created in 2006 with a group of four friends from Stanford University. They envisioned a new way to approach social networks by providing an easy user interface to keep track of friends’ activities online. Since then, Spokeo

has grown into a leading people search engine, reconnecting individuals to others all across the United States.

As founder and president, Harrison is responsible for the overall direction and product strategy for the company. He leads the team focusing on building an easy-to-use system that can aggregate billions of records and return results within one second.

Harrison grew up in the Silicon Valley. He attended Stanford University and received his Bachelor’s degrees in Economics and Electrical Engineering and his Master’s in Electrical Engineering in 2005.

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

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Thank you so much for checking out this episode of The Tech Trek. We would appreciate it if you would take a minute to rate and review us on your favorite podcast player.

Want to learn more about us? Head over at https://www.elevano.com

Have questions or want to cover specific topics with our future guests?

Please message me at https://www.linkedin.com/in/amirbormand (Amir Bormand)

This podcast episode features Dr. Andrea Isoni, the Chief AI Officer at AI Technologies, discussing AI's current and future integration into everyday life and the corporate world. Isoni highlights how AI already serves as a co-pilot in many aspects of daily activities and how it is adopted across various industries like cybersecurity and manufacturing automation. He also touches on the media's impact on AI perception and the potential for more complex, integrated solutions. The conversation covers the importance of AI in enhancing efficiency and the critical role of Cybersecurity as AI adoption increases. Isoni emphasizes that while AI adoption in enterprises may be slower due to legacy systems and regulations, the consumer market quickly embraces AI tools. He also discusses the evolution of software development, predicting a shift towards more integration, customization, and assurance roles rather than traditional programming.

Highlights

02:06 The Current State of AI Adoption

03:26 AI in Everyday Life and Future Technologies

07:05 AI's Impact on Industries and Consumer Adoption

10:51 Evaluating ROI in AI Projects

14:49 Adoption Challenges and Trust in AI

26:32 The Future of AI, Cybersecurity, and Job Evolution

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Thank you so much for checking out this episode of The Tech Trek. We would appreciate it if you would take a minute to rate and review us on your favorite podcast player.

Want to learn more about us? Head over at https://www.elevano.com

Have questions or want to cover specific topics with our future guests?

Please message me at https://www.linkedin.com/in/amirbormand (Amir Bormand)

In this podcast episode, Amir Bormand speaks with Nir Kaldero, Chief Data and AI Officer at NEORIS, about AI adoption from a leadership viewpoint. They delve into prioritizing business drivers, evaluating pilot programs, and ensuring investments lead to desired outcomes. NEORIS's role as a digital accelerator in assisting enterprises with their AI journeys is highlighted, emphasizing the importance of blending AI for cost savings and growth. Nir introduces a 'speed to value' methodology focusing on sponsorship, ROI, business readiness, and technical feasibility to prioritize AI projects effectively. Common mistakes enterprises make in AI adoption are discussed, alongside the potential of generative AI to revolutionize fields like customer service and analytics. The conversation underlines the necessity of aligning AI initiatives with business strategy and securing top-down support to ensure success and meaningful impact.

Highlights

01:17 The Role of AI in Business: A Leadership Perspective

04:50 Prioritizing Business Drivers and Pilot Programs in AI

05:49 The Four Pillars of Successful AI Adoption

12:58 Real-world Challenges and Opportunities in AI Implementation

14:39 Generative AI: Mistakes to Avoid and Opportunities to Seize

25:33 The Importance of Business Strategy in AI Adoption

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Thank you so much for checking out this episode of The Tech Trek. We would appreciate it if you would take a minute to rate and review us on your favorite podcast player.

Want to learn more about us? Head over at https://www.elevano.com

Have questions or want to cover specific topics with our future guests?

Please message me at https://www.linkedin.com/in/amirbormand (Amir Bormand)

In this episode, Amir Bormand sits down with Shashank Tiwari, Co-founder and CEO of uno.ai, to explore how AI is shaping the cybersecurity industry. They dive into the massive skills gap, the role of AI co-pilots, and how security teams can leverage AI to increase efficiency while reducing burnout.

If you’re in tech, security, or AI, this episode unpacks the real-world applications of AI in cybersecurity, the challenges of adoption, and what the future holds for this evolving space.

🎯 Key Takeaways

⏱ Timestamped Highlights

🕒 [00:01:00] – What is uno.ai? Shashank explains their AI-powered cybersecurity co-pilot.

🕒 [00:03:30] – Why is hiring in cybersecurity so hard? The skills gap and industry challenges.

🕒 [00:06:45] – How AI can assist cybersecurity teams – from automation to decision support.

🕒 [00:10:00] – Challenges in adopting AI for security – trust, hallucinations, and enterprise fears.

🕒 [00:14:30] – Will AI change skill requirements in security? The evolving role of security professionals.

🕒 [00:18:00] – How CISOs evaluate AI security tools – proving value and securing AI systems.

🕒 [00:21:30] – The importance of UI/UX in AI adoption – how experience shapes effectiveness.

🕒 [00:24:00] – Future trends in AI-powered cybersecurity.

💡 Notable Quote

"AI is not here to replace cybersecurity professionals—it’s here to empower them by automating the mundane and letting humans focus on the critical." – Shashank Tiwari

📢 Connect with Shashank Tiwari

🔗 LinkedIn: Tshanky

🔗 Website: uno.ai

📧 Email: [email protected]

🎧 Enjoyed this episode?

💬 Share it with someone in cybersecurity or AI!

📩 Subscribe & leave a review – your feedback keeps us going!

In this podcast episode, Deepak Jose, a Data Analytics and AI Expert with experience in companies like Coca-Cola, ABB, Asurion, and Mars, discusses the importance of adopting a value-first mindset over a technology-first approach in leveraging data and analytics for decision-making. He emphasizes the need to invert the traditional pyramid approach by identifying key business problems and their value, thereby prioritizing business outcomes. Deepak shares insights on building adaptable and flexible data architectures that can support rapid experimentation and leverage new technologies like Generative AI (Gen AI), advocating for a future-proof and agile mindset in data analytics. He also underlines the significance of responsible AI usage, the need for a desirability, viability, and feasibility framework for prioritizing AI initiatives, and strategies for enhancing adoption and upscaling to maximize the benefits of AI tools. The conversation includes the concept of AI champions within organizations and concludes with Deepak sharing an inspirational quote from Mother Teresa, encouraging listeners to pursue their passions with great love.

Highlights

00:15 The Power of Data Analytics in Decision-Making

01:25 Inverting the Data Pyramid: A Value-First Approach

04:55 The Importance of Flexibility and Adaptability in Data Architecture

07:07 Navigating the Future with Generative AI

09:30 Building Solutions with a Business Problem-First Mindset

21:32 The Role of AI Champions in Business Transformation

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Thank you so much for checking out this episode of The Tech Trek. We would appreciate it if you would take a minute to rate and review us on your favorite podcast player. Want to learn more about us? Head over at https://www.elevano.comHave questions or want to cover specific topics with our future guests? Please message me at https://www.linkedin.com/in/amirbormand (Amir Bormand)

In this podcast episode, Amir Bormand and guest Santona Tuli, the Head of Data at Upsolver, discuss the complexities of modern data projects and the evolving strategies for data design focused on data lake houses. They explore Upsolver's role in simplifying data ingestion and transformation, the challenges of adapting to advanced data projects without the right infrastructure, and the shift towards more accessible and abstracted data tools. Additionally, they touch upon the importance of aligning tool adoption with business needs, the potential pitfalls of rushing into trendy technologies without clear objectives, and the future of data deployment solutions.

Highlights:

02:00 The Importance of Data Design Strategies

02:26 Challenges in Implementing Complex Data Projects

03:09 The Role of Data Infrastructure and Architecture

05:57 The Evolution of Data Projects and Infrastructure

06:33 The Inevitability of Adding More Data Projects

07:48 The Emergence of the Lakehouse Concept

08:38 The Journey to Cloud and Advanced Solutions

14:53 The Challenge of Modernizing Data Stack

20:29 The Role of Tools in Modern Data Stack

25:54 Risks of Pushing for Advanced Data Solutions
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Thank you so much for checking out this episode of The Tech Trek. We would appreciate it if you would take a minute to rate and review us on your favorite podcast player. Want to learn more about us? Head over at https://www.elevano.comHave questions or want to cover specific topics with our future guests? Please message me at https://www.linkedin.com/in/amirbormand (Amir Bormand)

This podcast episode features Vidya Eashwer, CTO at Forge, discussing the evolution and significance of treating data as core engineering within the tech industry. Highlighting the shift in perception towards data from a backend supportive role to a critical product element, Vidya shares insights from her career experiences, including her time at the New York Stock Exchange, to illustrate how data has become a foundational aspect of software engineering and product development. The conversation also covers the alignment of data engineering with software engineering best practices, the impact of AI on data strategy, and the importance of reliable, timely data for customer engagement and internal decision-making. Furthermore, Vidya discusses how the structure and positioning of data teams within an organization can enhance operational efficiency, product innovation, and customer satisfaction.

Highlights

00:10 Understanding Data as Core Engineering

00:48 Forge: A Global Private Securities Marketplace

01:11 The Evolution of Data in Engineering

03:55 Data: From Backend to Frontline in Customer Engagement

06:50 Aligning Data Engineering with Software Best Practices

08:07 The Role of Data in Product Management and Engineering

11:31 Data Integrity and Customer Engagement

15:39 Streamlining Operations with Data Engineering

18:15 Leveraging AI for Operational Efficiency and Innovation

Vidya Eashwer is the CTO of Forge. She has18+ years of experience creating and executing innovative fintech technology strategies. She's the former Head of Technology, Edge Systems, at Intercontinental Exchange and was the Managing Director of IT at the New York Stock Exchange, managing international teams.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/vidya-eashwer/

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Thank you so much for checking out this episode of The Tech Trek. We would appreciate it if you would take a minute to rate and review us on your favorite podcast player.Want to learn more about us? Head over at https://www.elevano.comHave questions or want to cover specific topics with our future guests?Please message me at https://www.linkedin.com/in/amirbormand (Amir Bormand)

In this podcast episode, Michel Tricot, CEO and Co-founder of Airbyte, discusses the nuances of startup culture, including the importance of company values, the difference between startup and corporate cultures, and strategies for hiring people who align with those values. Tricot shares insights on Airbyte’s approach to data movement, the company’s growth, and how they maintain and evolve their company culture as they scale. The conversation also covers the critical aspect of dealing with risk and uncertainty in a startup environment, the significance of being a 'CEO of your project,' and the role of feedback and company values in guiding behavior and decision-making.

Highlights

01:22 Diving into Startup Culture: Definitions and Distinctions

02:14 Evolving Company Values at Airbyte

03:43 The Hiring Process: Aligning with Company Values

07:08 Embracing Failure and Learning from It

08:41 Maintaining Culture and Values in a Growing Startup

11:45 Revisiting and Reinforcing Company Values Regularly

20:48 Advice for Startups on Establishing Company Values

Michel Tricot is the co-founder and CEO of Airbyte, the leading open-source data integration platform that allows replicating data from any APIs, databases & files to data warehouses, data lakes, and any other destinations. Currently, the Airbyte user community is more than 18,000 members and Airbyte has been deployed more than 140,000 times. Airbyte has more than 350 data connectors available for its data integration platform. That is more than any other competitor or platform and accomplished in the company’s 3 years history. The company raised over $180M from Accel, Altimeter, Benchmark, Coatue, and Y Combinator.

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

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Thank you so much for checking out this episode of The Tech Trek. We would appreciate it if you would take a minute to rate and review us on your favorite podcast player.
Want to learn more about us? Head over at https://www.elevano.comHave questions or want to cover specific topics with our future guests?Please message me at https://www.linkedin.com/in/amirbormand (Amir Bormand)