3342: Qualys CEO On Risk, AI, And The Future Of Digital Defense
Release Date: 07/10/2025
3370: Vagaro is Helping Fitness and Wellness Brands Scale With AI Assistants
Tech Talks Daily
In this episode of Tech Talks Daily, I sat down with Fred Helou, founder and CEO of Vagaro, a platform reshaping how service-based businesses in the beauty, wellness, and fitness sectors operate in a digital world. What began as an idea sparked by a frustrating haircut booking experience during a business trip to Korea has evolved into a platform used by over 250,000 professionals worldwide. Fred walked me through his journey from developing the concept in 1999 to officially launching Vagaro in 2009 after being laid off during the financial crisis. Along the way, he navigated shifting...
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3369: Precisely Explains Why AI Fails Without Data Integrity
Tech Talks Daily
In today’s episode of Tech Talks Daily, I sat down with Andy Bell, Head of Data Product Management at Precisely, to explore a challenge that many organizations continue to underestimate: the role of data integrity in AI strategies. With only 12 percent of businesses expressing confidence in the quality of their AI data, it's clear that the rush to implement AI is often outpacing the readiness of the data that supports it. Andy and I unpack what happens when enterprises leap into generative or agentic AI without addressing foundational data issues. From hallucinations to bias to unreliable...
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3368: Nerdio Builds a Remote-First Unicorn Focused on Azure Optimization
Tech Talks Daily
In this episode of Tech Talks Daily, I sat down with Joseph Landes, co-founder and Chief Revenue Officer at Nerdio, to explore how one conversation at a Microsoft conference led to a billion-dollar cloud automation company. From his 23-year career at Microsoft to building a fully remote team now supporting over five million users, Joseph’s story blends strategic risk-taking with deep industry insight. We unpacked how Nerdio grew from a startup idea in 2018 to a company that just secured 500 million dollars in Series C funding. Joseph walked me through the early days of building the business...
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3367: CGS Reinvents Workplace Training With AI-Powered Role Play
Tech Talks Daily
The training room is changing, and it's not going back. In this episode, I sat down with Phil Friedman, the founder and CEO of CGS Inc., to explore how AI, avatars, and immersive simulations are rewriting the playbook on workplace training. With over four decades at the helm of CGS—a company he built from scratch after immigrating to the US—Phil brings a perspective shaped by both technological evolution and global business experience. The heart of our conversation centered on Cicero, CGS’s AI-driven platform that blends artificial intelligence with extended reality to create dynamic,...
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3366: Harvard Medical School: The Promise and Peril of CRISPR With Neal Baer
Tech Talks Daily
When we think about gene editing, the conversation often feels trapped between scientific journals and ethical debates too complex for public forums. In this episode, I spoke with Neal Baer, a rare voice who bridges both worlds. Known to many as an award-winning television showrunner for series like ER, Law & Order SVU, and Designated Survivor, Neal is also a Harvard-trained physician and co-director of the Media, Medicine, and Health program at Harvard Medical School. His latest project brings all of that experience together in a new collection of essays that explores the promise and...
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3365: BlackLine on Why AI Is Changing the Nature of Tech Leadership
Tech Talks Daily
In this episode of Tech Talks Daily, I welcomed back Sumit Johar, CIO at BlackLine, for a timely conversation about how AI is transforming finance operations from the inside out. When we last spoke earlier this year, AI was still in the early stages of enterprise experimentation. Just a few months later, everything has shifted. Sumit shared how AI has moved well beyond pilot programs and into a space where business leaders themselves are actively requesting implementations. What stood out in our conversation was how this change has reshaped the relationship between CIOs and CFOs. The...
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3364: MongoDB Simplifies AI Development With Integrated Vector Search
Tech Talks Daily
In this episode of Tech Talks Daily, I sat down with Boris Bialek, VP and Field CTO at MongoDB, for a conversation that moved well beyond databases. As AI continues to accelerate across sectors, MongoDB is positioning itself at the intersection of modern data architecture and intelligent application development. Boris shared how his team is simplifying AI adoption for enterprises, with a clear focus on real-world outcomes, developer productivity, and global inclusion. We began by exploring MongoDB’s recent acquisition of Voyage AI. This move extends MongoDB's native capabilities into vector...
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3363: ABB on Building a Smarter and More Resilient Power Grid
Tech Talks Daily
When we think about innovation in technology, power grids rarely enter the spotlight. Yet, they are the foundation for everything from artificial intelligence to electric vehicles and data centers. In this episode, I spoke with Adrian Guggisberg, President of the Smart Power Division at ABB, to unpack the evolving role of electrical power distribution in a world shifting rapidly toward digital infrastructure and clean energy. Adrian joined me from Zurich to share how ABB is helping grid operators navigate an increasingly complex landscape. With rising pressure from extreme weather, surging...
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3362: Inside LVT’s Mission to Deter Crime Before It Happens With Tech
Tech Talks Daily
In a digital-first world where cybersecurity often dominates headlines, the conversation around physical security can sometimes feel like an afterthought. But what if technology could bring a new level of intelligence, proactivity, and efficiency to protecting real-world environments? In this episode, I sat down with Ryan Porter, co-founder and CEO of LVT, to learn how his team is reshaping physical security through innovation rooted in both technology and field experience. What began in Ryan’s garage as a way to monitor construction projects through live video has evolved into a powerful...
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3361: Why AidKit Built a Tech Platform for Equitable Aid Distribution
Tech Talks Daily
In today’s episode of Tech Talks Daily, I connected with Brittany Christenson, CEO of AidKit, to explore how cutting-edge technology is being used not to disrupt markets or chase margins, but to deliver real, measurable social impact. AidKit is a public benefit corporation building infrastructure that helps vulnerable communities access aid quickly, securely, and with dignity. While many tech conversations orbit around scale and efficiency, Brittany brings a different kind of energy, one grounded in values, user empathy, and purpose-built innovation. She shared how AidKit’s journey began...
info_outlineWhat does it take to build a $100 billion cybersecurity company in today’s cloud-first, AI-infused world? And how do you balance relentless technological change with the practical realities of compliance, risk, and leadership? In this episode of Tech Talks Daily, I sit down with Sumedh Thakar, CEO of Qualys, during his visit to the UK for the company’s QSC conference. From starting out as one of Qualys’ first engineers to leading the company through a new era of risk-centric cybersecurity, Sumedh brings a unique blend of technical insight and lived experience.
We discuss why compliance remains such a challenge for enterprises, how the conversation is shifting from attack surfaces to risk surfaces, and why many businesses are overwhelmed by security signals but underwhelmed by strategic clarity. Sumedh shares his view on the growing importance of the Risk Operations Center (ROC) and how AI is complicating risk profiles in new and unpredictable ways. He also reflects on the future of cloud security and why the market remains wide open for innovation, even as it becomes more crowded.
Beyond the tech, Sumedh opens up about his personal journey from Pune to Silicon Valley, how a threatened farm purchase changed his life, and why leadership is ultimately a game of time, trust, and communication. He leaves us with a powerful book recommendation, Nonviolent Communication by Marshall Rosenberg, which he credits with transforming his leadership style and helping him build stronger relationships across the board.
Are we thinking about risk in the right way or simply throwing money at the latest acronyms? And how do you build a meaningful legacy in cybersecurity without losing sight of the human side?
Join the conversation and let me know what resonated with you most.