Modern CTO

Yahoo was there in the earliest days of the internet, but what are they up to now? Today, we're talking to Lee Zen, CTO at Yahoo. We discuss Yahoo's continued relevance in the digital age, how they're leveraging AI and cloud technology to navigate the expanding digital wilderness, and why authenticity and transparency are crucial in tech leadership. Thanks to Fin for sponsoring this episode. To le...

ChatGPT is the single fastest growing product of all-time, and he was there to launch it. Today, we're talking to Zach Kass, former head of go-to-market at OpenAI. We discuss the story behind launching ChatGPT, how society can responsibly adopt AI, and why societal thresholds are crucial for the integration of new technologies. Thank you to Digital Ocean for sponsoring this episode. For simple clo...

AI-generated code is inescapable, and you can’t always trust it. So what do you do? Today, we're talking to Varun Badhwar, CEO of Endor Labs. We discuss how they're solving the developer productivity tax by making code more secure, why 90% of code comes from open source and the risks that entails, and how AI coding agents are introducing new security challenges in software development. All of this...

He talks to his dad every night… but his dad passed away eight years ago. Today, we're talking to Miles Spencer, Founder at Reflekta. We discuss how AI is enabling conversations with deceased loved ones, the emergence of the “Soul Tech" category in tech, and why preserving human stories is crucial for future generations. All of this right here, right now, on the Modern CTO Podcast!  Thank you to D...

Technology is moving faster than it ever has, so how do you actually scale? Today, we're talking to Robert Duffy, CTO at HealthEdge. We discuss how AI is changing traditional scaling strategies, why rapidly bootstrapping trust is crucial in merged organizations, and how assuming positive intent can transform leadership and team dynamics. All of this right here, right now, on the Modern CTO Podcast...

“I don’t trust you either, Steve.” He made a $400m mistake at Apple. Today, we're talking to Guy Kawasaki, Chief Evangelist at Canva and author of "Wiser Guy". We discuss his experiences working with Steve Jobs, how he navigated hearing loss and became a mission-driven leader, and why it's essential to approach life with humor and resilience in the face of challenges. All of this right here, right...

He spearheaded a new arm of Comcast to unprecedented success. Today, we're talking to Jeff Buzzelli, Regional SVP at Comcast. We discuss how Comcast Business grew from zero to $10 billion, why employee engagement is crucial for successful leadership, and how the company manages telecommunications during hurricane season in Florida. All of this right here, right now, on the Modern CTO Podcast!  To...

His biggest failure transformed him into a great leader. Today, we're talking to Arnie Katz, CPTO at GoFundMe. We discuss how GoFundMe is leveraging AI and LLMs to revolutionize fundraising, why understanding the psychology of asking for help is crucial in philanthropy, and how velocity is the key to success in tech innovation and leadership. Thank you to Digital Ocean for sponsoring this episode....

When you have to call 911, can you trust the operator to do their job? Today, we're talking to Denise Hemke, CPO at Neogov. We discuss how NeoGov is revolutionizing public sector software with AI-powered solutions, why building purpose-built products for government is crucial, and how gamification is transforming policy training for 911 operators. All of this right here, right now, on the Modern C...

Toshiba is changing everything about the way we check out at the grocery store. Today, we're talking to Robert Parsons, VP of Hardware Portfolio at Toshiba Global Commerce Solutions. We discuss why agility is your greatest business survival skill in retail technology, how modular systems are reshaping the future of checkout experiences, and why data-driven decision-making is crucial for technology...

The World Uncertainty Index is the highest it has ever been: we are in chaos. Today, we're talking to Rob Kalwarowsky, executive coach and TEDx speaker. We discuss how to capitalize on chaos in uncertain times, why self-leadership is crucial for navigating turbulence, and how understanding the concept of parts vs. self can transform your leadership approach.

This episode will hit you where it hurts, but leaders need to hear this. Today, we're talking to Nick Calver, VP of Financial Services at Palo Alto Networks. We discuss the importance of overcoming adversity in leadership, how understanding core values can guide career decisions, and why balancing work and family life is crucial for long-term success. All of this right here, right now, on the Mode...

Your toxic manager might be just what you need. Today, we're talking to Damon Lembi, CEO at LearnIt. We discuss how his worst coach made him into a great leader, why focusing on strengths is more effective than improving weaknesses, and how overcoming impostor syndrome can lead to business success. All of this right here, right now, on the Modern CTO Podcast!  Thank you to Digital Ocean for sponso...

THIS is why your AI project is failing: you have no vision. Today, we're talking to Greg Shewmaker, CEO at r. Potential. We discuss why many enterprise AI projects are failing to deliver returns, how AI is reshaping leadership and decision-making in large companies, and why it's crucial to develop a vision for AI that improves people's lives beyond just technological advancement. All of this right...

Why is AI resorting to blackmail 96% of the time? Today, we're talking to Jon Krohn, host of the Super Data Science podcast and co-founder of YCarrot. We discuss the difference between LLMs and Agentic AI, how businesses can leverage AI for better ROI, and why understanding AI misalignment is crucial for future implementations. All of this right here, right now, on the Modern CTO Podcast!  To lear...

They’re letting robots put catheters inside people?! Today, we're talking to David Fischel, CEO at Stereotaxis. We discuss the revolutionary impact of robotic surgery on minimally invasive procedures, how magnetic fields are used to control catheters with millimeter precision, and why the future of endovascular surgery lies in more accessible and versatile robotic systems. All of this right here,...

Today, we're talking to Jeetu Patel, President and CPO at Cisco. We discuss how Cisco is leading the charge in transforming AI infrastructure and security, why addressing the trust deficit in AI is crucial for widespread adoption, and how the unprecedented scale and speed of the AI revolution is reshaping the tech landscape. All of this right here, right now, on the Modern CTO Podcast! To learn mo...

Today, we're talking to Jody Bailey, CTO of Stack Overflow. We discuss how Stack Overflow is adapting to challenges posed by generative AI, why creating smaller communities within the platform is crucial for user engagement, and how Stack Overflow for Teams is evolving to become an essential part of the development pipeline for companies. All of this right here, right now, on the Modern CTO Podcas...

Today, we're talking to Mahesh Guruswamy, CPTO at Kickstarter. We discuss how to effectively deliver bad news in corporate settings, why CTOs can no longer be the "nice guy" in today's business environment, and how AI tools are reshaping both personal and professional life. All of this right here, right now, on the Modern CTO Podcast!  To learn more about Mahesh and pick up a copy of the bo

Today, we're talking to Etienne de Bruin, Founder of 7CTOs. We discuss why organizations need to operate in a "liquid" state between frozen and boiling, how complex adaptive systems impact technology leadership, and why financial savvy is becoming increasingly crucial for CTOs in the modern business landscape. Thanks to Fin for sponsoring this episode. To learn more about the #1 AI agent for custo...

Today, we're talking to Anurag Goel, Founder at Render. We discuss why it's essential to simplify cloud infrastructure in the age of AI, how developers are being impacted by the challenges of working with LLM APIs, and why it's more crucial than ever to focus on product development instead of managing complex cloud configurations. All of this right here, right now, on the Modern CTO Podcast!  To l...

Today, we're talking to Robert Duffy, CTO at HealthEdge. We discuss what CTOs are really saying about AI behind closed doors, how to scale AI initiatives across large organizations, and why balancing innovation with regulatory compliance is crucial in healthcare technology. All of this right here, right now, on the Modern CTO Podcast!  To learn more about HealthEdge, check out their website here

Today, we're talking to Gino Ferrand, Founder at Tecla. We discuss why it’s essential to remix talent in the age of AI, how junior developers are being impacted disproportionately by AI, and why it’s more crucial than ever to build instead of buy. All of this right here, right now, on the Modern CTO Podcast!  To learn more about Tecla, check out their website here. Check out Gino's newsletter, Red...

Today, we're talking to Fredrik Carlegren, VP & Head of Marketing & Communications, and Yeshai Bouskila, Executive Director Retail Innovation at Toshiba Global Commerce Solutions. We discuss the best ways to manage tech debt, why rigid systems block innovation, and how AI is impacting the technology of frictionless grocery stores. All of this right here, right now, on the Modern CTO Podcast!  To l...

Today, we're talking to Andrew Kiguel, CEO at Realbotix. We discuss the state of humanoid robotics, why robots could solve the loneliness epidemic, and what the world will look like when robots are obtainable by average people. Thanks to Fin for sponsoring this episode. To learn more about the #1 AI agent for customer support, go to fin.ai/cto