From Spaghetti to Growth

What if everything you thought about AI was just the tip of the iceberg? In this powerful and provocative episode, futurist and technologist Peter Swain joins host Seema Alexander to unpack the real transformation AI is unleashing across business and society. From a jaw-dropping Monopoly analogy that reframes the post-normal world, to the rise of agentic ecosystems and solopreneur unicorns, this c...

A pioneer in the intersection of artificial intelligence and business intelligence, Cenk Sidar is the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Enquire AI. In today's discussion with Seema, Sidar emphasizes the indispensability of human experts despite AI's growing capabilities and explains the concept of 'last mile experts' in AI-driven workflows. The conversation also delves into Inquire AI's evolu...

Swathi Young is a formidable force in the technology industry. An adept leader with over 20 years of experience across organizations such as Amtrak, Sungard, GE, and Oracle, she is also a crusader on the forefront of change with regards to machine learning, AI and emerging technologies. The conversation delves into real-world use cases in healthcare, fintech, professional services, and public sect...

The AI CEO: Trust Issues — Building AI That Won't Break the Business | Jess Szmajda (Amazon, Axios, Capital One) Can you really trust AI? In this episode of The AI CEO Podcast, we sit down with Jess Szmajda—former CTO of Axios, General Manager at Amazon, and current VP of Engineering at Capital One—to explore how forward-thinking leaders can adopt AI safely without sacrificing security, privacy, o...

Angela Virtu joined Kogod's IT&A Department as a Professorial Lecturer in 2023. She has taught undergraduate and graduate courses covering topics such as introduction to technology, data analytics, machine learning, and coding. Prior to joining our faculty, she built AI & ML solutions that bridged theoretical advancements with their practical, ethical applications. She was able to drive business i...

Revolutionizing Legacy: How Stanley Black & Decker is Winning with AI with Matt Griffiths In this episode of the  AI CEO podcast , host Seema Alexander sits down with Matt Griffiths, VP of AI and Data at Stanley Black & Decker , to explore the current and future impact of AI on enterprise. Matt shares his journey from working with data on shop floors to leading the AI initiatives at Stanley Black...

📌Make sure to check out Virgent.ai  https://virgent.ai/ In the inaugural episode of the AI CEO Podcast, host Seema Alexander, co-founder and President of Vigent AI, speaks with Jesse Alton, CEO and partner at Virgent. We discuss the transformative role of AI in business, emphasizing the importance of AI literacy for leadership and employees, the need for responsible AI, and the opportunities AI b...

In this episode of the 'From Spaghetti to Growth' business podcast, host Seema Alexander interviews Adam Phillips, Managing Director at Techstars. They discuss the realities of seeking venture capital, building relationships with VCs, and the journey of transitioning from being a lawyer to a startup founder and eventually a key player at Techstars. Adam shares his personal experiences of growing u...

In this episode of the From Spaghetti to Growth business podcast, host Seema Alexander speaks with Haley Bryant, Principal of Hustle Fund. The conversation explores the dynamics of venture capital, strategies for scaling startups, and what it takes to achieve growth in competitive markets. Haley shares insights from her journey as an operator and investor, highlighting the importance of customer j...

In this episode, Seema interviews Marc Steren, Co-CEO and Co-Founder of University Startups. They discuss the challenges and triumphs of adopting emerging technologies before consumer readiness, emphasizing the need to get consumers to buy into a vision while solving immediate problems. Mark shares his entrepreneurial journey, beginning with a failed attempt to launch a mobile ticketing company, t...

📌Make sure to check out FinDigital https://www.builtbyfin.com/   In this episode of the 'From Spaghetti to Growth,' business podcast host Seema Alexander speaks with Marcus Finley, CEO of FinDigital, about the transformative potential of AI. They discuss strategies for leveraging AI in startup innovation, to enhance team capabilities, and create impactful tech products. The dialogue spans Marcus'...

  📌Make sure to check out UPACE https://rachel-koretsky.squarespace.com/   In this episode of 'From Spaghetti to Growth,' host Seema Alexander, president of Virgent AI and co-chair DC Startup Week, explores the entrepreneurial journey of Rachel Koretsky, the CEO of UpACE and co-chair of DC Startup Week. Rachel shares insights on how she grew her startup from zero to nearly 5 million users, discus...

In this special episode of the From Spaghetti to Growth podcast, host Seema Alexander recaps her transformative experience attending VeeCon 2024, a conference hosted by Gary Vaynerchuk. Seema shares her businewss insights and memorable moments from the event, which featured a diverse lineup of speakers including entrepreneurs, technologists, and entertainers. Key highlights include talks by Will G...

📌Make sure to check out Rasa (Indi via https://www.rasa.co/ In this episode of the From Spaghetti to Growth podcast, host Seema Alexander interviews Sahil and Rahul, co-founders of Rasa, a fast-casual Indian restaurant chain. They delve into their transition from corporate careers to entrepreneurship, fueled by their immigrant backgrounds and family influences. The discussion covers strategic cho...

📌Make sure to check out Yellowtail Tech https://yellowtail.tech/ In this episode of the FSG podcast, you'll dive into an insightful conversation with Jubee Leroy Vilceus, CEO of Yellowtail Tech, as he shares his journey of transforming a brick-and-mortar business into a thriving online platform. From overcoming imposter syndrome to redefining the company's offerings, Jubee's experiences offer val...

  📌Check out Wa'il's justice start-up Reyets out here: https://www.reyets.com/ 👉 In this episode In this episode of the From Spaghetti to Growth podcast, host Seema Alexander converses with Wa'il Ashshowwaf, a seasoned entrepreneur and ecosystem builder. The discussion revolves around the entrepreneurial journey, the importance of early customer acquisition, and building products that solve real...

📌Make sure to check out Breshna.io at https://breshna.io/ Mariam Nasrat on Breshna.io's Explosive Growth and Strategic Focus In this episode of the 'From Spaghetti to Growth' podcast, Seema interviews Mariam Nusrat, CEO of Breshna.io, continuing their conversation from a year ago. Mariam shares key insights behind Breshna's journey, transitioning from 37,000 to over 176,000 users creating more th...

Leverage AI In Your Business or Risk Becoming Obsolete w/ Jesse Alton of Virgent AI 📌Make sure to check out Virgent.ai https://virgent.ai/ In this episode of the 'From Spaghetti to Growth' podcast, host Seema Alexander and her co-founder and CEO of Virgent AI, Jesse Alton, explore the transformative power of AI in entrepreneurship and various industries. The discussion includes Sam Altman's predi...

In this episode of the 'From Spaghetti to Growth' podcast, host Seema Alexander is joined by Brandon Andrews, co-founder of Gauge.ai, Chief Product Officer; CEO, The Inexorable; and a Shark Tank casting director.  📌Gauge AI is a software + service platform that conducts mobile focus groups and market research with tastemakers and experts in key communities. Find out more: https://gauge.ai/   The...

📌Check out's Maha's upcoming book release "7 Rules of Self-Reliance". Pre-order her book on Amazon today. In this opening episode for Season 2, host Seema Alexander, president of Virgent AI, talks with Maha Abouelenein, CEO and founder of Digital & Savvy about how to build brands to disrupt markets and all things in between. Maha shares her journey from working in corporate roles at companies lik...

📌Today's guest on the From Spaghetti to Growth podcast is founder Pramod Raheja. Pramod is a trained pilot who now operates the emerging tech company  Airgility , which produces autonomous drones. In this insightful episode, we cover the important lessons Pramod took from his earlier aviation career into the world of entrepreneurship and what it takes to pivot into new and daring industries, even...

Listen in to a recent talk I did on How to Prepare Your Business for Growth in the Midst of the AI Revolution. Get ready to catapult your business into a future defined by artificial intelligence in this foundational workshop led by Seema Alexander, Founder of the Disruptive CEO Advisory, the creator of the UNIQUE Method™. This is an invitation to not just observe, but engage actively in the forth...

This week, I had the opportunity to speak with Lizzie Ens, an embodiment of determination and resilience that beautifully contrasts with her humble Amish origins. She is the trailblazing founder of 'UnDiet Yourself', a significant challenger in the health and wellness industry. As a board-certified nutritionist and personal trainer, Lizzie's comprehensive approach to wellness demystifies the path...

Fintech pioneer and seasoned entrepreneur Aditya Kurjekar shares his insights on building a successful business, emphasising the importance of a support system; making use of mentors, wherever you can find them; and having the courage to take calculated risk. Aditya makes the case that it's not necessary to leave your large company to pursue entrepreneurial ambitions, it's possible to do great thi...

"Everything is figureoutable. Trust that you can figure it out" Whatever business you have today is going to look different in six months, in a year. Get creative." Heidi DeCoux is a serial entrepreneur who's built four businesses with 50%+ profit margins, sold 3 of them, including a 7-figure exit, and has appeared in magazines and websites like Forbes.  She's become known as "The Optimizer" becau...