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PODCAST

The Tech Trek

The Tech Trek explores the intersection of People, Impact, and Technology — how engineering leaders build high-performing teams, deliver real outcomes, and shape the future of innovation. Hosted by Amir Bormand, founder of Elevano, the show features CTOs, VPs of Engineering, and technical leaders sharing candid insights on leadership, scaling, and building technology organizations that last. Each episode uncovers the decisions, lessons, and mindsets that separate good teams from great ones — and

technology

All Episodes

00:29:16

Scaling with Purpose in the AI + Robotics Era

The Tech Trek ·

2025/06/12

In this episode, Amir sits down with Anthony Jules, Co-Founder and CEO of Robust.AI, to explore how scaling lessons from the early days of Sapient translate into today’s rapidly evolving world of AI and robotics. Anthony shares stories from growing a company from 3 to 4,000 people, what scale teaches you about communication and change, and how being ruthlessly honest about your business creates strategic advantage. From the hype vs. reality of AI to how hardware can stabilize innovation in robotics,

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00:20:28

How AI CAN SAVE Public Education

The Tech Trek ·

2025/06/11

In this episode of The Tech Trek, Amir sits down with Joe Philleo, founder and CEO of Edio, an AI platform transforming K-12 education. Joe shares his journey from building websites in high school to writing a viral essay on Palantir that kickstarted his tech career. He dives into the critical role AI now plays in solving chronic absenteeism and driving measurable academic improvements. The conversation explores how tech is reshaping education—from device adoption post-pandemic to rethinking how we

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00:27:32

The Power of Personalization in Regulated Spaces

The Tech Trek ·

2025/06/10

In this episode of The Tech Trek, Amir sits down with Sus Misra, SVP of Data & Analytics at Solve(D) (IPG Health), to unpack what true precision targeting looks like in one of the most regulated industries: pharma. Sus explains how healthcare marketers uniquely leverage individual-level data to connect with professionals like doctors and oncologists—something unheard of in most sectors.But with great data comes great responsibility. Sus dives into the ethical, regulatory, and technical

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00:24:00

How Core Values Drive Real AI Impact

The Tech Trek ·

2025/06/05

In this episode of The Tech Trek, Brian Clifford, Chief Data Officer at Amica Insurance, shares how his team translates core company values—like exceptional customer service—into actionable AI and data strategies. We explore how Amica approaches pilots, vendor selection, internal adoption, and governance to scale AI effectively and responsibly.🔑 Key Takeaways:Value-Driven Data Strategy: Amica anchors its AI and data strategy in core values like customer service and employee engagement—not just tech

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00:28:42

You Can’t Bolt On AI and Win

The Tech Trek ·

2025/06/04

In this deep-dive episode, we explore what it truly means to be "AI-native" versus bolting AI onto existing products. Abhay Mitra, CTO of Nirvana Insurance, shares how his team is building industry-specific AI models to transform the $800B+ commercial insurance market, starting with trucking—one of the most complex and painful sectors in insurance.From telematics data platforms to fine-tuned underwriting models, discover why commercial insurance might be the perfect proving ground for AI

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00:27:38

AI Is Changing the Role of Software Engineers

The Tech Trek ·

2025/06/03

In this episode, we dive deep into the evolving relationship between engineering and product with Pranab Krishnan, CTO of Zeal - a payroll and payments platform for staffing companies. We explore how the traditional boundaries between engineering, product management, and customer interaction are dissolving, especially in the age of AI. Pranab shares insights on building a product-centric engineering culture, the concept of "shifting left," and how AI tools are reshaping the skills

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00:22:37

Innovation Isn’t a Buzzword—It’s a Culture

The Tech Trek ·

2025/05/29

In this episode of The Tech Trek, Vinayak Kumar shares how his team at Lynx strikes a practical balance between innovation and efficiency in the heavily regulated healthcare and finance space. He explains why innovation shouldn’t be forced, how to avoid the "tech in search of a problem" trap, and why pattern-driven execution helps startups scale faster without compromising flexibility.🔑 Key Takeaways:Innovation Should Be Embedded, Not MandatedInnovation at Lynx happens

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00:26:46

The Brutal Truth About Enterprise AI Adoption

The Tech Trek ·

2025/05/28

In this episode, Amir speaks with Ameya Brid, Global Director of Data & Analytics at Invista, about the maturation of GenAI conversations in the enterprise. They dive into the shift from hype to implementation, real-world challenges like data quality and change management, and how composable architecture is helping organizations adapt to rapid innovation cycles.🔑 Key TakeawaysFrom Hype to Value: GenAI conversations are moving beyond experimentation into outcome-driven initiatives—but most

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00:18:30

How AI Is Changing Science

The Tech Trek ·

2025/05/22

In this episode of The Tech Trek, Amir sits down with Andy Beam, CTO of Lila Sciences, to explore how AI is transforming the messy, serendipitous nature of scientific discovery into an engineered, scalable process. From automating lab work to accelerating the speed of breakthroughs, Andy explains why the future of science may be less about eureka moments and more about AI-driven iteration.🔑 Key Takeaways:Science as Engineering: AI enables science to move from a lucky break model to a systematic

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00:22:35

Why This Startup Hires Straight Out of College

The Tech Trek ·

2025/05/21

In this episode of The Tech Trek, Amir speaks with Alexander Schlager, founder and CEO of AIceberg, about how his company has tackled the AI talent shortage by partnering directly with universities. From building relationships with faculty to onboarding students into real-world R&D roles, Alex shares a unique, cost-effective strategy for hiring early-career tech talent and turning them into long-term contributors. It’s a compelling listen for anyone in emerging tech, hiring, or leadership.🔑 Key

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00:26:47

How Agentic AI Is Disrupting the Trades

The Tech Trek ·

2025/05/20

Wyatt Smith, CEO of UpSmith, joins Amir to unpack how agentic AI is transforming the skilled trades industry. From dispatch optimization to human-in-the-loop workflows, Wyatt shares a practical and visionary lens on how AI can solve deep productivity challenges, empower call centers, and proactively generate business opportunities. If you think AI only disrupts digital industries, this episode will make you think again.🔑 Key Takeaways:Agentic AI is unlocking productivity by automating repetitive

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00:31:34

Don’t Build the Wrong AI Product

The Tech Trek ·

2025/05/19

What separates a successful founder from the rest? In this episode, Harish Abbott—CEO and co-founder of Augment—breaks down how he repeatedly spots opportunity early, builds products customers actually want, and navigates the fast-moving world of AI without falling into the trap of chasing every shiny benchmark.We explore how Harish’s team shadowed 60 logistics operators before writing a single line of code, why storytelling is a founder's most underutilized superpower, and how to know when it’s

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00:26:11

Building AI Products? Start Here

The Tech Trek ·

2025/05/16

In this episode of The Tech Trek, Amir speaks with Patrick Leung, CTO of Faro Health, about what it takes to lead an engineering organization through a transformation to become an AI-first company. From redefining the product roadmap to managing cultural and technical shifts, Patrick shares practical insights on team structure, skill development, and delivering AI-enabled features in a regulated domain like clinical trials. This is a must-listen for tech leaders navigating similar transitions.🧠 Key

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00:22:05

She’s Building the Future of AI Conversations

The Tech Trek ·

2025/05/15

In this episode of The Tech Trek, Amir sits down with Sunita Verma, CTO at Character AI and former engineering leader at Google. Sunita shares how she’s transitioned from leading large-scale AI initiatives at Google to building novel experiences in a fast-paced startup environment. She dives into the mindset shift required to prioritize velocity over scale, how to lead AI-native product innovation, and what it means to be a female technical leader in today’s tech ecosystem.🔑 Key Takeaways:Shift in

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00:26:51

From HR to Tech CEO

The Tech Trek ·

2025/05/14

In this episode of The Tech Trek, Amir sits down with Emily Long, the CEO and co-founder of Edera, a deep tech startup focused on secure infrastructure. Emily shares her unconventional journey from HR leadership into the world of high-performance computing, infrastructure, and cybersecurity. Together, they explore the realities of leading a technical startup as a non-engineer, the underestimated value of soft skills in building scalable companies, and how trust, learning, and risk-taking shape

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00:25:57

AI vs AI: The Cybersecurity War

The Tech Trek ·

2025/05/13

Arlene Watson, a product and engineering leader in the cybersecurity space with experience at CrowdStrike, ServiceNow, and Tenable, joins the show to unpack the critical challenges facing cybersecurity teams today. We dive into breach realities, the need for proactive defenses, how automation is reshaping security operations, and why AI is both a threat and an essential tool. If you’re building, managing, or securing software in today’s threat landscape, this episode is for you.🔑 Key

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00:26:42

Education at the AI Crossroads

The Tech Trek ·

2025/05/12

In this episode, Amir sits down with David Marchick, Dean of the Kogod School of Business at American University, to explore how AI is transforming higher education. From early skepticism to full-scale integration, David shares how his faculty is embracing generative AI—not just as a tool, but as a cornerstone of future-ready learning. The conversation dives into what it means to prepare students for an AI-infused workplace, the ethical dilemmas that arise, and how this technology could either widen

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00:26:05

Why Tech Debt Isn’t the Enemy

The Tech Trek ·

2025/05/09

In this episode, Amir sits down with Brent Keator, an expert advisor at Primary Venture Partners, to unpack one of the most debated engineering challenges: tech debt versus reengineering. They explore how to define tech debt, when to refactor versus rebuild, the ROI of revisiting old code, and how AI is (and isn't) changing the equation. This is a must-listen for engineering leaders navigating complex technical decisions in fast-moving environments.🔑 Key Takeaways:Tech debt isn't always

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00:29:33

It’s Not the Idea, It’s the Execution

The Tech Trek ·

2025/05/08

In this episode, Amir Bormand sits down with Andy White, CEO of ClosingLock, to talk through his journey from PhD engineer to startup founder. Andy shares the aha moment that launched ClosingLock, a cybersecurity-focused platform protecting real estate transactions, and offers a transparent look at the early struggles of building trust in a skeptical industry. From pitching title companies with Chick-fil-A to learning an entirely new domain from scratch, this is a story about execution, humility,

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00:34:30

From Blame to Belonging in Engineering Teams

The Tech Trek ·

2025/05/07

In this episode of The Tech Trek, Amir Bormand talks with Jason Wells, Head of Engineering at BrowserBase, about building a high-performance culture rooted in trust, emotional intelligence, and psychological safety. Jason shares how his unconventional path—including a six-year break from tech—helped shape a management philosophy that puts human connection at the center of engineering leadership. From dismantling blame culture to fostering self-compassion and authentic feedback loops, Jason offers a

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