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Delegate Effectively and Safely to AI - As an Expert Consultant or a Dutiful Intern

Convergence.fm

Release Date: 03/05/2025

Best of Convergence: Building Customer-Centric Teams: Josh Seiden on OKRs and Agile show art Best of Convergence: Building Customer-Centric Teams: Josh Seiden on OKRs and Agile

Convergence.fm

In this episode, Ashok sits down with , to explore key insights from Josh's latest book, "Who Does What by How Much." The conversation centers around using OKRs (Objectives and Key Results) to align teams and improve organizational outcomes. They examine the challenges many teams face when implementing frameworks like OKRs or Agile and emphasize the importance of understanding the "why" behind these systems. Josh also reflects on his early work, such as developing the Kensington Turbo Mouse and collaborating with Alan Cooper, widely known as the "Father of Visual Basic." Unlock the full...

info_outline Best of Convergence: How Generative AI and DORA Metrics Transform Software Development Teams with Derek Ferguson show art Best of Convergence: How Generative AI and DORA Metrics Transform Software Development Teams with Derek Ferguson

Convergence.fm

Derek Ferguson from The Fitch Group returns to share how his team of 600+ developers leverages generative AI tools like Amazon’s CodeWhisperer and implements DORA metrics to boost productivity and team health. In this second part of the conversation, he delves into the transformative impact of these tools and the innovative strategies driving adoption and success at scale. Listen to Derek’s experiences in introducing cutting-edge tools to a large organization, his lessons in fostering experimentation, and the surprising parallels between today’s AI adoption and the internet boom. From...

info_outline Best Of Convergence: Crafting Best Of Convergence: Crafting "Surprisingly Great" Developer Experiences with Kenneth Auchenberg

Convergence.fm

Great developer experience isn’t just about clean docs or helpful error messages—it’s about intentionally delighting your user at every step. In this episode of Convergence.fm, host Ashok Sivanand is joined by Kenneth Auchenberg—former product leader at Microsoft and Stripe—for a masterclass on what it really takes to design and scale developer-centric platforms. The Convergence.fm podcast team is taking a break in the month of August, but we’ll be back with new episodes in the fall. Until then, Ashok wants to share one of his favorite episodes. We’ll be back in September with a...

info_outline Best Of Convergence: How To Drive Product Development and Market Expansion with Ben Foster, Prodify show art Best Of Convergence: How To Drive Product Development and Market Expansion with Ben Foster, Prodify

Convergence.fm

As former Chief Product Officer at Whoop, Ben Foster had a front-row seat to one of the boldest product decisions in wearables: selling hardware as a subscription. In this encore episode, Ashok and Ben explore what it takes to align hardware, firmware, and software teams to create a seamless membership experience—and how that strategy set the stage for Whoop’s continued success, including the recent release of the Whoop 5. The Convergence.fm podcast team is taking a break in the month of August, but we’ll be back with new episodes in the fall. Until then, Ashok wants to share one of his...

info_outline Q&A: No One Understands Your Demo? Here’s WHY | TDD Isn’t Just for CODE — Use It Everywhere! show art Q&A: No One Understands Your Demo? Here’s WHY | TDD Isn’t Just for CODE — Use It Everywhere!

Convergence.fm

If you’ve ever wondered how to make test-driven development more than a coding technique, this episode is for you. Ashok Sivanand and producer Doug Branson answer listener and Reddit-sourced questions about building better product teams—covering everything from mindset shifts to hard truths about performance reviews and strategic alignment. Ashok connects TDD to the principles of Essentialism by Greg McKeown, revealing how teams can define success before they begin and cut through the noise of Slack and OKRs. Hear practical advice for first-time founders struggling to articulate value...

info_outline The Dangers of Vibe Coding Addiction and Single Points of Failure - Your Product Team Questions Answered! show art The Dangers of Vibe Coding Addiction and Single Points of Failure - Your Product Team Questions Answered!

Convergence.fm

What happens when your lead engineer leaves and takes the product knowledge with them? In this episode, Ashok Sivanand tackles some of the most pressing product and engineering questions straight from the community—including how to prevent panic-inducing knowledge loss, when founders should or shouldn’t vibe code, and how to choose between building full-service or self-serve platforms. Ashok is joined by producer Doug Branson for a first-ever audience Q&A format that covers real problems from real teams. From unit test-driven documentation to AI-assisted code exploration, this episode...

info_outline The Missing Link in Hybrid Teams? A Sense of Belonging.Why It’s More Strategic Than DEI show art The Missing Link in Hybrid Teams? A Sense of Belonging.Why It’s More Strategic Than DEI

Convergence.fm

Dan Berger led Social Tables through a $100M exit and now he’s focused on something even harder to build: belonging. In this vulnerable conversation, he shares what most leaders miss about culture, how his board almost ousted him due to a toxic exec hire, and why belonging should be treated as a leadership choice — not an HR initiative. He also unpacks why rituals matter, why alcohol doesn’t belong in team settings, and what founders can learn from AA meetings about structure, vulnerability, and connection. We also get into his latest venture, Assemble Hospitality Group, a new asset...

info_outline Authenticity by Design: Building Mental Health Tools That Actually Work with Seth Micarelli of Volo Health show art Authenticity by Design: Building Mental Health Tools That Actually Work with Seth Micarelli of Volo Health

Convergence.fm

AI can make therapy more accessible—but only if it's done right. In this episode, ex-Google and Amazon product leader Seth shares his journey from panic attacks to building Volo Health, an AI-powered tool for anxiety, depression, and addiction. He breaks down how most therapy tools get it wrong, what makes human-centered AI actually safe, and how product teams can reconnect with the humans they serve—even at scale. Seth opens up about leaving Silicon Valley, his personal journey with emotional healing, and the limits of traditional therapy. Along the way, we explore the ethics of AI in...

info_outline Startups Are Nailing Agentic Workflows — And Why Enterprises Aren’t show art Startups Are Nailing Agentic Workflows — And Why Enterprises Aren’t

Convergence.fm

Karthik Suresh has seen the software industry from all sides — high-frequency trading, Meta’s product teams, early-stage startup trenches, and now the frontier of AI agents. As co-founder of Double-O, he’s building a platform that helps non-technical teams automate complex business processes using AI agents described in plain English. In this episode, Karthik shares hard-won lessons about what it really takes to make agentic workflows work in production — and why most companies are still getting it wrong. We talk about the structural failures hiding inside most AI proof-of-concepts,...

info_outline Scaling Intelligently: What Intrapreneurs Can Teach Startup CEOs and Investors with Scott Jones, Realeyes show art Scaling Intelligently: What Intrapreneurs Can Teach Startup CEOs and Investors with Scott Jones, Realeyes

Convergence.fm

Some of the biggest product breakthroughs didn’t come from startups — they came from intrapreneurs. In this episode, we speak with Scott Jones, a career intrapreneur who has launched new lines of business at Lenovo, Hewlett Packard Enterprise, and Realeyes, a computer vision AI company serving some of the world’s most influential platforms. Scott shares a detailed, experience-backed look at what it takes to make innovation work inside companies that weren’t built for speed. He breaks down the mindset, team dynamics, and cultural rituals that allow new bets to thrive — and provides...

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More Episodes

Most people are barely scratching the surface of what generative AI can do. While some fear it will replace their jobs, others dismiss it as a passing trend—but both extremes miss the point.

In this episode, Ashok Sivanand breaks down the real opportunity AI presents: not as a replacement for human judgment, but as a powerful tool that can act as both a dutiful intern and an expert consultant.

Learn how to integrate AI into your daily work, from automating tedious tasks to sharpening your strategic thinking, all while staying in control.

Unlock the full potential of your product team with Integral's player coaches, experts in lean, human-centered design. Visit integral.io/convergence for a free Product Success Lab workshop to gain clarity and confidence in tackling any product design or engineering challenge.

Inside the episode...

  • Why so few people are using generative AI daily—and why that needs to change
  • The two key roles AI can play: the intern and the consultant
  • How AI can help professionals streamline research, analysis, and decision-making
  • Practical prompts and frameworks for getting the most out of AI tools
  • The dangers of "AI autopilot" and why staying in the driver's seat is critical
  • Security and privacy concerns: What every AI user should know
  • The best AI tools for different use cases—beyond just ChatGPT
  • How companies can encourage AI adoption without creating unnecessary friction

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