Lessons and insights from Microsoft’s journey to GenAI for enterprises
Future of Tech
Welcome back to Future of Tech! In this special season, Avishai sits down with some of the leading thinkers in Generative AI. In this episode, he is joined by Charles Lamanna, Corporate Vice President, Business Apps & Platforms at Microsoft. He and Avishai discuss what Microsoft is doing to educate their workforce about Gen AI, the impacts of Gen AI on large enterprises like Microsoft, and what he sees coming down the pipeline. Key Takeaways: Charles is an AI optimist. Charles says he focuses on the fact that the majority of Gen AI use cases are human-directed. He...
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From Amateurs to World Cup, Intel AI is Poised to Benefit Athletes at Every Level with Jonathan Lee
Future of Tech
This week, lace up your boots and be sure to stretch, because we have an exciting new Future of Tech to share with you! Avishai had a chance to sit down with Jonathan Lee, the Senior Director of Sports Performance Technology for Intel. If you never connected Intel and sports technology before, you certainly will after this conversation. In this lively conversation, Jonathan dives deep into how Intel’s AI is benefiting all facets of sports, from player performance to fan experience, and even advanced athlete scouting in underserved areas. Throughout the episode, he shares countless ways...
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How Civil Engineering Can Guide The Future of Telecommunications with Mark Potter, CIO, Optus
Future of Tech
We can be so passionate about tech that we can get caught up in its concepts and capabilities. But what is at the core of all technology? Our guest today, Mark Potter, the Chief Information Officer at Optus, says “that great technology is a result of people.” Mark’s fascinating career evolved from studying civil engineering to eventually working in the banking and telecommunications industries. The throughline for him has always been a desire to come up with solutions to challenges. Tune in for more of Mark’s story and learn how he keeps perspective on what he values the most. Enjoy...
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No-Code Automation Workplace – Go fast and simple With Chris Byers, CEO of Formstack
Future of Tech
Intro: On this episode of Future of Tech, we speak to Chris Byers, CEO of Formstack. In 2010, Chris stepped in to lead Formstack as CEO for six months. Twelve years later, Chris has not only remained CEO, but the company has grown to 220 employees around the world and recently started fundraising at a billion dollar valuation. In this conversation, Chris discusses Formstack’s focus on intuitive, easy-to-use, no-code solutions. Plus we dive into Chris’s experiences and lessons learned as a CEO, as well as his advice for new CEOs. Enjoy this conversation. Main Takeaways: Evolution of...
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Pioneering Solutions to Big Problems With Andrew Feldman, Co-founder and CEO of Cerebras Systems
Future of Tech
What does it take to solve an intimidating problem that many feel is unsolvable? Andrew Feldman, Co-founder and CEO of Cerebras Systems, can tell you, because he and his team engineered an unprecedented technological breakthrough. They set out to build a new class of computer system to accelerate Artificial Intelligence work. In the end, they built the fastest AI accelerator, based on the largest processor in the industry. Tune in to hear his story, his thoughts on building and selling companies, and his career advice for aspiring founders. Enjoy this episode. Main...
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Promoting Financial Wellness Now and Into Your Future with Kristina Wallender, Chief Experience Officer of Human Interest
Future of Tech
, Chief Experience Officer of , discusses tackling the retirement crisis in the United States, where a vast majority of people will be unable to afford the life that they envision after work. She dives into how our psychological biases can negatively impact our decisions about long-term investing and how Human Interest works to combat those biases. Intro: How can technology be used as a lever to improve people’s lives at scale? On this episode of Future of Tech, we speak to Krisina Wallender, Chief Experience Officer of Human Interest, a company focused on...
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The Future of the Unicorn CFO, Ronit Maor, Earnix
Future of Tech
Intro: How should businesses properly utilize a CFO? Today’s guest is , the Chief Financial Officer at the insurance and banking software provider . With nearly two decades of CFO experience, she is the perfect person to talk to about the intricacies of the CFO position, and how it has changed over the years. On this episode of Future of Tech, Ronit explains how in successful businesses, the role of the CFO stretches far beyond mere budget management and into other essential strategic aspects within the company. She also gives new CEOs some valuable advice about hiring a...
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The Future of Sports Media with Asaf Peled, Founder and CEO of Minute Media
Future of Tech
Intro: The odds of an entrepreneurial venture succeeding are, statistically speaking, not stacked in the founder’s favor. This is something that Asaf Peled, Founder and CEO of Minute Media, was well aware of when he left his career as a tech investor to found his own tech startup. Today, Minute Media owns 6 major media brands, is considered the third largest online sports publisher in the world, and serves over 350 million fans. On the podcast today, Asaf dives into the work that he does at Minute Media and the evolution of the company. He also shares his personal...
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Addressing the Challenges of IoT Security, Nadir Izrael, CTO and Co-Founder, Armis Security
Future of Tech
Cybersecurity has become increasingly complicated with the rise of the Internet of Things. How do we protect critical data as it transfers from 1st party to 3rd party devices and services? What are the challenges of modern-day cybersecurity? How can they be addressed? On this episode of Future in Tech, Nadir Izrael, Co-Founder and Chief Technology Officer of Armis, discusses how their platform helps enterprises mitigate risks within the current threat landscape. He also shares his experiences as a founder, some of the tougher moments throughout the journey and his advice for aspiring...
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The Future of Software Evaluation, Godard Abel, CEO, G2
Future of Tech
Intro: Business leaders can reasonably feel overwhelmed, at times, with the volume of software solutions in the world that may or may not be helpful to their companies. On this episode of Future of Tech, Godard Abel, the Co-founder and CEO of G2, explains how G2 has created a marketplace where business leaders can check out useful software reviews. Godard also shares lessons he learned along his entrepreneurial path, including learning a practice to increase his consciousness and to allow himself to feel and process his emotions. Enjoy this episode! Main Takeaways: ...
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Main Takeaways:
- Giving Back to Other Entrepreneurs and to Country: A passion for service can be a very strong motivation. Gigi explains that he is driven by a desire to help entrepreneurs. He also refers to his passion for supporting Israel and its economy. He believes that “Israeli high tech is the new Zionism.” In both cases, Gigi is passionate about giving back.
- Local Leaders Versus Global Leaders: Gigi draws a distinction between companies that are focused on becoming a local leader, in a particular country, for instance, and those with the intention of becoming a worldwide leader. From an investment perspective, he reveals that NFX is focused on supporting those businesses that are striving for global leadership.
- Different Patterns for Success: When trying to discover unicorns, there can be a reasonable tendency to look for particular patterns. Gigi suggests that the path for success can be very different, however. He points to the Facebook model of moving very quickly even if something is not perfect as opposed to the Instagram model of waiting until everything is just right before releasing something. It’s inarguable that both companies had success yet their approaches were fundamentally different.
Advice for Future Unicorns: The path to becoming a unicorn for a founder is not easy. There is an intensity to the work that one cannot avoid. Gigi describes how working a lot is necessary for success but that it can take a toll on personal commitments. He suggests that founders must surround themselves with supportive people.