The Tech Trek

In this episode, Amir interviews Kunal Agarwal, the co-founder and CEO of Unravel Data. They discuss purpose-built AI and how Unravel Data leverages AI in their platform. They also explore the symbiotic relationship between AI-driven products and engineering teams. Kunal explains that Unravel Data is a data observability and FinOps platform data engineering teams use to ensure data applications run smoothly and efficiently. They also discuss the importance of scaling data operations and managing costs in a rapidly growing data landscape. This episode highlights AI's role in improving engineers' lives and optimizing data operations.

Highlights:

[00:01:25] Purpose-built AI for data. 

[00:05:39] Shift to narrow AI solutions. 

[00:09:54] Automating repetitive tasks. 

[00:12:09] Data engineers' time-consuming tasks. 

[00:17:33] Automated testing and checks. 

[00:19:43] Why is this thing so expensive? 

[00:24:44] Understanding unit cost and optimization. 

[00:27:57] Optimization opportunities with AI.

Guest

Kunal Agarwal is CEO and Co-founder of Unravel Data, a data observability and FinOps platform that utilizes purpose-built AI to enable large enterprises to deliver on the promise of data-driven products and insights with speed, scale, and cost efficiency.

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

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Thank you so much for checking out this episode of The Tech Trek, and 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, host Amir welcomes Sue Nallapeta, the CTO of Trusted Health, to discuss the implementation of AI in products and the importance of data quality. They emphasize the need for a solid framework and data structure before integrating AI solutions. Sue shares examples of how AI can bring value to customers and improve business outcomes. They also explore how Trusted Health, a marketplace connecting nurses with jobs, incorporates AI into their operations. Tune in to gain insights into leveraging AI effectively in your product.

Highlights

[00:02:27] Leveraging AI in healthcare. 

[00:03:51] Nurses uploading their resumes. 

[00:08:12] Data governance and AI. 

[00:12:35] Complexity of nursing recruitment. 

[00:16:46] AI's presence in every workflow. 

[00:19:30] Technology trends and industry evolution. 

[00:24:43] Understanding nursing complexities. 

[00:26:10] Nursing complexities.

Sushma (Sue) Nallapeta is the Chief Technology Officer at Trusted Health, where she leads a team of more than 100 engineers who are building the leading career marketplace for healthcare professionals. Sue has more than 15 years of experience leading engineering teams across various consumer-facing businesses and marketplaces, including Apartment List, Zoosk (acquired by Spark Networks), and Kodak Gallery (acquired by Shutterfly).

linkedin.com/in/sushmanallapeta

twitter.com/sushmars

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Thank you so much for checking out this episode of The Tech Trek, and 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, Hari Kodakalla, the Head of Data Analytics at Frost Bank, joins the podcast to discuss responsible AI and the challenges of last-mile adoption. They explore topics such as regulatory protection from a customer perspective, the composition of an effective AI team, and the ongoing importance of human involvement in AI processes. The conversation delves into the impact of AI and machine learning in various areas, including deepfake videos and content issues. The concept of responsible AI is explored, highlighting the need for ethical and accountable use of AI technology.

Highlights

[00:00:56] Responsible AI explained. 

[00:04:20] The governance aspect of AI implementation. 

[00:11:56] Trust and transparency in AI. 

[00:14:48] Responsible AI implementation. 

[00:19:51] Responsible AI in corporate environments. 

[00:22:39] The impact of the cloud on cybersecurity. 

[00:26:45] Responsible AI in an AI-driven world.

Hari Kodakalla is the Head of Data and Analytics at Frost Bank, with over 27 years of experience in various industries. Hari is a visionary leader in the field of data-driven transformation. He has a track record of leveraging technology to drive impactful change and has held executive positions in innovative technology companies specializing in big data and analytics.

Thank you so much for checking out this episode of The Tech Trek, and 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 interviews Fady Matar, the VP of Engineering at Spotter, about his approach to being a super hands-on engineering leader. Fadi shares his views on how he relates to his team, avoids being a bottleneck, and understands the work at a deep level. They discuss the pros and cons of different engineering management styles and how being hands-on can benefit a team. Fadi also provides insight into the size and organization of his team at Spotter, highlighting their exciting product and the need for scalability. Tune in to learn more about Fadi's super-involved approach to engineering leadership.

Highlights:

[00:00:19] Being a super involved engineering leader. 

[00:06:52] Choosing the right vertical. 

[00:09:38] Sustainability in team growth. 

[00:12:40] Avoiding being a bottleneck.

[00:16:17] Managers understanding code and standards. 

[00:20:25] Engineering culture and data. 

[00:27:29] Startups as jazz bands. 

[00:31:52] Defining product specifications.

[00:32:10] Product specifications and frameworks.

As Spotter's VP of Software Engineering, Fady Matar is spearheading the development of AI-focused tools for creators. Known for his curiosity and enthusiasm, he has a rich background in Open Source Frameworks like vertx.io, quarkus.io, and hibernate.org. Fady is committed to pushing the boundaries of AI and software engineering. With the goal of becoming a transformative figure in the AI field, Fady is dedicated to integrating AI advancements with software engineering best practices. Outside of tech, he is a professional musician, proficient in classical, flamenco, and jazz guitar.

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

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Thank you so much for checking out this episode of The Tech Trek, and 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, Phil Freo, the VP of Product and Engineering at Close, discusses his journey from being a founding engineer to the VP of Engineering. Phil has been with Close for almost 12 years and has witnessed the company's growth firsthand. We delve into topics like retention, what mattered in the early days, and what Phil is focused on now. Tune in to gain insights into the evolution of a startup and the importance of staying committed to a company's mission.

Highlights

[00:00:52] Longevity at Close. 

[00:06:45] The job keeps changing. 

[00:08:03] Evolving skill sets. 

[00:13:38] Retention and opportunity for growth.

[00:15:02] Remote work and company culture. 

[00:20:42] Over-documentation in remote work. 

[00:23:00] VC-backed growth vs. steady growth. 

[00:27:10] Progress and happiness.

Guest:

Phil Freo is a founding team member and VP of Product and Engineering at Close.com, a profitable SaaS CRM for startups & SMBs. Phil helped build, launch, and grow Close from the beginning and now leads the 50-person Product, Design, and Engineering org there. Previously, Phil led Product/Engineering for two years at Quizlet, building study tools that help millions of students learn, and also interned at Google. Phil spent several years in Silicon Valley before returning to Florida and focusing on scaling remote teams.

Connect with Phil:

https://twitter.com/philfreo

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Thank you so much for checking out this episode of The Tech Trek, and 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, Chintan Shah, VP of Engineering at Collective, discusses the application of AI in business outcomes and how it benefits consumers. The focus is on Collective's product, which caters to consultants and contractors who run their small businesses. Chintan explains the advantages of representing their work as a business and touches on tax laws and liability. Tune in to learn more about the role of generative AI in improving the consumer experience.

Highlights:

[00:00:38] Collective benefiting consumers using AI. 

[00:05:33] Subjective interpretation in accounting. 

[00:10:58] Co-pilot model and generative AI. 

[00:13:09] Bookkeeper's comprehensive view of books. 

[00:18:05] Quarterly tax estimates and cash flow. 

[00:24:04] Giving time back to businesses. 

[00:26:14] Applying assistance to end users.

Guest:

Chintan Shah, as Collective’s VP of Engineering, brings over 20 years of technology experience to build software products that maximize the value for customers. He has led globally distributed engineering teams at companies like Nextdoor, Uber, Netflix, and Apple and at startups like Zencoder and Justin.tv (Twitch) before his tenure at Collective. Chintan’s team at Netflix created Conductor workflow engine.

He has an MS in Cryptography and likes to learn new computer languages in his spare time.

LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/chintan

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Thank you so much for checking out this episode of The Tech Trek, and 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, host Amir interviews Jeff DeVerter, Chief Technology Evangelist at Rackspace, about the key factors that can impact the success of an AI project. They discuss the importance of data quality, enterprise adoption, and organizational structure in driving successful AI implementation. Jeff provides valuable insights and feedback in these areas, highlighting the need for a new approach to AI in the enterprise. This episode offers valuable insights for anyone looking to navigate the challenges and achieve success in AI projects.

Highlights:

[00:02:31] AI in personal lives. 

[00:03:33] Companies' real-time interaction needs. 

[00:07:05] Intelligent Co-Pilot for the Enterprise 

[00:11:10] AI's impact on IT. 

[00:15:10] First steps in AI adoption.

[00:18:02] LLMs as ongoing AI projects. 

[00:21:01] Identifying impactful opportunities. 

[00:25:45] Hallucination in AI models. 

[00:28:09] The importance of source data. 

[00:32:00] AI and cybersecurity misconceptions.

Jeff DeVerter is the chief technology evangelist at Rackspace Technology, an end-to-end, multi-cloud technology services provider.

He has 25 years of experience in IT and technology and has worked at Rackspace Technology for over 10 years. Jeff is a proven strategic leader who has helped insurers create and execute against multi-year digital transformation strategies. During his time at Rackspace Technology, Jeff has launched and managed many of the products and services that Rackspace Technology offers, as well as supporting merger and acquisition activities to enhance those offerings.

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

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Thank you so much for checking out this episode of The Tech Trek, and 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, Mir Ali, the Head of Digital Engineering at the Kraft Heinz Company, joins the show to discuss the enterprise-wide adoption of Gen AI (generative AI). They delve into topics such as platform evaluation, ROI, legal and regulatory considerations, and maturity planning. The conversation focuses on how enterprises can adopt Gen AI, including selecting the right platform, developing a strategy, and justifying its costs. This episode offers valuable insights into the practical application of Gen AI in the business world.

Highlights:

[00:02:40] Use cases in CPG. 

[00:05:43] AI strategy  

[00:08:19] AI strategy for Kraft Hines. 

[00:14:10] Building AI literacy. 

[00:16:27] Pilot success metrics. 

[00:19:05] Evaluating AI's revenue opportunities. 

[00:23:39] Co-pilot integration into daily life.

Guest:

Mir Ali is the Head of Digital Engineering at Kraft Heinz (KHC). He leads a team of product, data, and platform engineers who are responsible for developing and managing the company's digital products and platforms. He has more than 20 years of experience in technology, working in various roles and sectors, including aviation, consulting, automotive, and financial services.

His current role focuses on building a robust platform that supports KHC’s growth strategies, improves analytics-driven decision-making, and aligns the vision across stakeholders, including IT, business, and external partners.

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

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Thank you so much for checking out this episode of The Tech Trek, and 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, I speak with Jyri Engestrom, an investor and partner at YesVC, about angel vesting. Jyri shares his insights on how to get into angel investing and how it can benefit your career as a founder or executive. We discuss the popularity of angel investing and the platforms that allow investors to deploy small tickets into companies. Jyri emphasizes the importance of building a diversified portfolio, even if you're running your own company. Tune in to learn more about the world of angel investing.

Disclaimer: The content shared on this podcast should not be considered as legal, financial, or any other type of advice. We encourage you to seek guidance from qualified professionals and conduct your own research before making any investment decisions.

Highlights:

[00:00:40] Angel investing and career benefits. 

[00:04:00] Investing in startups for equity. 

[00:09:09] Investing too much in startups. 

[00:12:30] Skipping angel investing vintages. 

[00:17:10] Angel investing ticket size. 

[00:20:04] Legal protection when investing. 

[00:24:19] The value of angel investors. 

[00:28:05] Private investments and angel investors. 

[00:34:37] Cultivating relationships as an investor. 

[00:37:06] Investing in competitors for success.

Guest:

Jyri Engeström co-founded Jaiku, a mobile social network acquired by Google, and Ditto, a recommendations app acquired by Groupon. He is an early investor in Unity (NYSE:U), Oura, Iceye and many other companies. Before co-founding Yes VC with Caterina, he was on the investing team at True Ventures (early investors in Peloton, Ring, WordPress and others).

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

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Thank you so much for checking out this episode of The Tech Trek, and 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 interviews Pete Hunt, the CEO of Dagster Labs. They discuss the open-source nature of Dagster, a product that helps businesses with data orchestration. They explore the product's benefits, the challenges in the data orchestration market, and why Dagster Labs decided to open-source their product. Pete shares his background in open source and the importance of data pipelines in making sense of messy data. Tune in to learn more about how Dagster is revolutionizing the data industry.

Highlights:

[00:01:02] Building with data in businesses. 

[00:04:08] Data hygiene in organizations. 

[00:08:09] Building multi-tenancy from day one. 

[00:14:14] Data pipeline unpredictability. 

[00:18:00] Open source mentality. 

[00:21:10] Open source led business models. 

[00:23:05] Open source pricing strategy.

Guest:

Pete joined Dagster Labs as Head of Engineering in early 2022 and took over the reins as CEO in November of that year. Pete was previously co-founder and CEO of Smyte, an anti-abuse provider that Twitter acquired. Before this, Pete led Instagram’s web team, built Instagram’s business analytics products, and helped to open-source Facebook’s React.js.

Connect with Pete:

https://twitter.com/floydophone 

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