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PODCAST

The Tech Trek

The Tech Trek explores how engineering leaders build teams that deliver real outcomes. The show looks at the connection between people, impact, and technology, and how that relationship is changing fast with data and AI now at the center of every product and company. Hosted by Amir Bormand, founder of Elevano, the show features CTOs, VPs of Engineering, heads of data, and technical leaders who have built and scaled teams in high pressure environments. They share the decisions that shaped their

technology

All Episodes

00:24:05

Unlocking Sales Productivity with Agentic AI

The Tech Trek ·

2025/04/08

In this episode of The Tech Trek, Amir sits down with Andrew Levy, CEO and Co-founder of AirCover.ai, to explore how agentic AI is transforming the sales landscape. Andrew shares how AirCover builds real-time digital assistants that empower sales teams, the role of humans in AI-driven workflows, and how enterprises—both nimble and traditional—are adopting these tools to leap ahead. From change management to trust-building and the rise of “little language models,” this conversation unpacks what it

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00:24:44

Improving & Automating Healthcare Data Quality

The Tech Trek ·

2025/04/04

Guest: Viraj Narayanan, CEO of Cornerstone AI🔑 Key TakeawaysHealthcare data is messy by default. It's generated by countless sources with different standards—think EMRs, Apple Watches, and pharmacy systems—making research data fragmented and hard to use.AI can clean up the mess. Cornerstone AI applies automation to standardize and improve the fidelity of clinical research data, significantly cutting down manual effort.Productivity > Replacement. Rather than replacing jobs, AI is helping PhDs

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00:23:18

Startup Playbook: Building Product-First Teams with...

The Tech Trek ·

2025/04/03

On this episode of The Tech Trek, we're diving deep into the intersection of engineering, product, and business thinking with Vineet Goel — Co-Founder and Chief Product & Technology Officer at Parafin, a fast-growing fintech startup powering small businesses on platforms like DoorDash, Amazon, and Walmart.We unpack what it really means to build a company where engineers are product thinkers, why bringing in product managers too early can backfire, and how AI is reshaping what it means to

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00:22:59

How to Build an Effective Onboarding Plan

The Tech Trek ·

2025/04/02

In this episode, Amir sits down with Meg Henry, Head of People & Talent at Companyon Ventures, to unpack a critical—yet often overlooked—aspect of growing technical teams: onboarding.Engineering leaders spend weeks hiring top talent, only to fumble the first 90 days. Meg shares a tactical, startup-friendly approach to onboarding that actually helps new hires ramp faster, become productive sooner, and stick around longer. If you’ve ever onboarded a dev by tossing them a laptop and saying

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00:21:59

Data Culture: Building the Data Engine Driving WHOOP

The Tech Trek ·

2025/04/01

In this episode, Carlos Peralta returns to The Tech Trek to dive deep into data culture in the wearable tech space, sharing how WHOOP turns petabytes of real-time biometric data into personalized, actionable insights. We explore the technical complexities behind data ingestion, transformation, and delivery, and how the mission-driven nature of WHOOP influences both their engineering decisions and company culture.🔑 Key TakeawaysWearable tech = real-time big data: WHOOP processes petabytes of

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00:25:35

Founder’s Playbook: Startup Lessons for the Long Game

The Tech Trek ·

2025/03/31

In this episode of The Tech Trek, Amir Bormand sits down with Max Mergenthaler-Canseco, CEO and co-founder of Nixla, to explore the nuanced reality behind startup success. A multi-time founder with experience as both CEO and CTO, Max shares hard-earned lessons from his entrepreneurial journey—including why theoretical knowledge often clashes with real-world execution, how to build a resilient startup team, and the underestimated danger of survivorship bias in startup lore.From balancing optimism

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00:25:02

Building a Cybersecurity Startup with NSA Tech

The Tech Trek ·

2025/03/28

In this episode, I sit down with Jason Rogers, CEO & Co-Founder of Invary, to explore an unconventional approach to building a cybersecurity startup—leveraging a tech transfer agreement with the NSA. Jason shares his journey of launching a company around licensed technology, the benefits and challenges that come with it, and why runtime system integrity is becoming a crucial factor in modern security strategies.We also dive into how AI is changing the cybersecurity landscape, the importance of

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00:21:37

From Data to Decisions: Why the Right Questions Matter

The Tech Trek ·

2025/03/27

In this episode, Amir sits down with Kaustav Das to discuss one of the most critical yet challenging aspects of analytics—asking the right questions. They explore how analytics leaders can better navigate conversations with stakeholders, ensuring they gather the correct requirements and deliver actionable insights. The conversation touches on the evolving role of analytics, the impact of generative AI in business intelligence, and how decision-making is shifting toward more conversational data

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00:25:57

Founder’s Playbook: Turning Passion into Product

The Tech Trek ·

2025/03/26

What happens when you build a business around what you genuinely love? In this episode of The Tech Trek, Amir sits down with Michael Farb, CEO of Boatsetter — the Airbnb of boats — to unpack how passion can be a strategic advantage in tech entrepreneurship.Michael shares his journey of launching multiple businesses rooted in personal interests, from college sports to global philanthropy to now, outdoor water adventures. Together, they explore what it really takes to turn a personal obsession into a

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00:27:40

Driving B2B AI Innovation

The Tech Trek ·

2025/03/25

In this episode, Zachary Hanif, VP of AI, ML, and Data at Twilio, joins Amir to talk about the engine behind B2B AI innovation. From selecting the right tools to navigating the shift from POCs to production, Zachary offers an insider's look at how enterprises can thoughtfully and effectively integrate AI.We unpack:The danger of "boiling the ocean" with AIWhy chatbots aren’t always the right starting pointWhat makes an AI POC actually valuableAnd why UX in the age of AI needs systems

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00:27:14

A CEO’s Guide: Aligning Business & Engineering Teams

The Tech Trek ·

2025/03/24

In this episode, Amir chats with Bobby Touran, the non-technical CEO and co-founder of Rainbow, an insurance tech company that thrives on strong engineering culture. They dive deep into how non-technical founders can effectively collaborate with technical teams, foster a hybrid office culture, and ensure that engineers are closely aligned with business objectives. Bobby shares how Rainbow maintains a tight feedback loop, how returning to in-office work has shaped their growth, and why AI isn’t

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00:23:50

The Leadership Blueprint: Building High-Performing...

The Tech Trek ·

2025/03/21

In this episode, Vijay Sankararaman breaks down how to intentionally build a low-churn, high-impact team culture. Whether you’re a tech leader, manager, or individual contributor aiming to level up your leadership skills, Vijay shares tangible lessons and frameworks to keep your team motivated, productive, and resilient—without sacrificing authenticity.📚 Lessons & Leadership TakeawaysLesson 1: Crafting Vision That Sticks"Am I valued?" — the question every team member subconsciously

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00:20:39

Tech Leader’s Guide: Building Data Products

The Tech Trek ·

2025/03/20

In this episode, Amir sits down with Santhosh Kumar, Head of Data at Trepp, to unpack the evolving world of Data as a Product. Data is no longer just a support function—it’s becoming a core business driver. Santhosh shares how data teams are embracing a product-oriented approach, aligning closely with business goals while mirroring software engineering practices.If you’ve ever wondered:How data can be treated like a shippable productWhat mindset shifts data teams needAnd how collaboration between

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00:22:47

From Finance to Founding a Tech Startup

The Tech Trek ·

2025/03/19

In this episode, Amir sits down with Trevor Lee, Co-founder and CEO of Myko AI, to unpack his unconventional leap from the finance world to building a cutting-edge tech company. Trevor shares how he navigated leaving a comfortable corporate job, using an MBA to break into tech, and the iterative process of finding product-market fit, including pivotal moments and lessons learned while bootstrapping and scaling his business.🔥 Key Takeaways:Trust Your Gut & Bet on Yourself: Trevor realized early

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00:24:53

How to Be an Effective CTO: A Guide to Balancing...

The Tech Trek ·

2025/03/18

In this episode, Amir is joined by Sachin Nene to explore what it really takes to thrive as a modern CTO. Sachin shares actionable strategies for balancing vision and execution, managing relationships with CEOs and fellow executives, and staying relatable and credible with engineering teams. They dive deep into the challenges of expectation management, engineering metrics, and how AI tools like LLMs are reshaping the future of engineering leadership.Whether you're already in a leadership role or

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00:23:56

Why AI Adoption Fails & How to Fix It

The Tech Trek ·

2025/03/17

In this episode of The Tech Trek, Amir Bormand sits down with Nirmal Ranganathan, CTO, Global Public Cloud at Rackspace, to dissect one of the hottest and most crucial topics in today’s tech landscape—trust in AI applications. They explore how enterprises can drive adoption of AI solutions, what key factors are needed to foster trust, and why guardrails, security, and change management play a pivotal role. Whether you're a developer, tech leader, or AI enthusiast, this episode dives deep into

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00:29:59

How to Drive Gen AI Experimentation and Adoption

The Tech Trek ·

2025/03/14

In this episode, we dive into the real-world experimentation of Generative AI (Gen AI) with Naveed Asem. Naveed shares his hands-on experience in identifying, testing, and scaling AI-driven solutions. We discuss how organizations should approach experimentation, set success metrics, manage stakeholders, and navigate governance challenges.If your company is exploring Gen AI or struggling with moving AI pilots to production, this episode is packed with insights to help you move forward.Key Takeaways🔹

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00:28:44

The Engineering Leader’s Guide to Purpose-Driven Teams

The Tech Trek ·

2025/03/13

In this episode, Amir Bormand sits down with Jeremy Goldsmith, VP of Engineering at Branch, to explore leading with purpose and how it impacts engineering teams. Jeremy shares his philosophy on leadership, the psychology behind motivation, and how connecting individual contributions to a larger purpose can unlock potential and drive performance.This conversation is a must-listen for engineering leaders, tech managers, and individual contributors who want to cultivate a stronger sense of purpose in

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00:21:45

The CTO’s Guide to Special Projects & Emerging Tech

The Tech Trek ·

2025/03/12

In this episode, I sit down with Nate Sullivan, the CTO at Academia.edu, to discuss technology strategy and special projects. Nate shares insights on identifying and prioritizing emerging technologies, balancing innovation with business needs, and collaborating with product teams to drive impactful technical advancements.Key TakeawaysThe Role of a CTO in Special ProjectsNate focuses on exploring technologies a few quarters ahead while aligning them with business strategy.Balancing Exploration with

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00:27:06

Rethinking Deadlines: Building Happier, More...

The Tech Trek ·

2025/03/11

Join Amir Bormand in a captivating discussion with Anand Madhavan, VP of Engineering at Everlaw, as they explore innovative development models, the art of integrating into new company cultures, and why Everlaw prioritizes quality code over strict deadlines. Anand reveals how Everlaw's unconventional engineering practices cultivate a sustainable, high-quality development environment focused on long-term success.Key Takeaways:Embracing a Unique Development Model:Everlaw's "no

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