Shows / The Tech Trek
The Tech Trek
The Tech Trek is a podcast about how founders, operators, and technology leaders build and scale technology companies. Each episode explores the decisions behind building products, teams, and technical organizations, with conversations spanning engineering, AI, data, product, hiring, leadership, and growth. Guests share what they are building, what they are learning, and how they are navigating the challenges that come with turning technology into a successful company.
Episodes
The Tech TrekWhy AI Adoption Fails & How to Fix It
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…
The Tech TrekHow to Drive Gen AI Experimentation and Adoption
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…
The Tech TrekThe Engineering Leader’s Guide to Purpose-Driven Teams
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…
The Tech TrekThe CTO’s Guide to Special Projects & Emerging Tech
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…
The Tech TrekRethinking Deadlines: Building Happier, More Effective Engineering Teams
Join Amir Bormand in a captivating discussion with Anand Madhavan, VP of Engineering at Everlaw, as they explore innovative development models, the art of…
The Tech TrekHow Agentic AI is Transforming Enterprise Knowledge
In this episode, Amir Bormand welcomes Scott Persinger, CEO of Supercog AI, to discuss the rise of agentic AI and its applications in modern businesses. They…
The Tech TrekThe Founder’s Playbook: Ideas, Validation, Failure & Growth
In this episode, Amir Bormand chats with Jake Moshenko about his journey from engineer to founder, the challenges of identifying the right startup ideas, and…
The Tech TrekIntegrating Gen AI into Engineering
In this episode, Srini Rajagopal joins us to discuss how Generative AI (Gen AI) is transforming the engineering landscape. We explore the challenges of…
The Tech TrekSimplifying Data Governance
In this episode, Amir Bormand is joined by Jay Como to discuss how organizations can simplify data governance. Jay shares insights on shifting the perception…
The Tech TrekEngineering Excellence: Culture, Metrics, and Continuous Improvement
In this episode, Amir Bormand sits down with Ganesh Datta, Co-founder & CTO of Cortex, to dive deep into engineering excellence—what it means, how to measure…
The Tech TrekBringing Gen AI to Highly Secure Enterprises
Artificial intelligence is moving beyond proofs-of-concept and into real-world production—but how do you make it work in highly secure environments? In this…
The Tech TrekOperationalizing Gen AI
In this episode, we dive deep into getting the right results from Gen AI with Timm Peddie, an expert in operationalizing AI at scale. We discuss the common…
The Tech TrekBalancing Leadership and Execution: How to Thrive in Startup Engineering
In this episode, I sit down with Varun Madan, Head of Engineering at OneHouse, to discuss how startups must operate with slimmer margins—both in…
The Tech TrekExecution Over Titles: The Mindset That Drives Career Growth
In this episode, I sit down with Wade Bruce, CTO of Fetch, to explore his journey from engineer to CTO. We dive into what it takes to grow into a leadership…
The Tech TrekHow You Can Fund Your Startup Without Venture Capital
In this episode, Jeremy Whittington shares his journey of building a startup without relying on traditional venture capital. Instead, he leveraged alternative…
The Tech TrekEngineering Without Borders
In this episode, we dive into blurring engineering lines, full-stack engineering, and the evolving role of software engineers in a rapidly changing landscape…
The Tech TrekFounder Mode vs. Servant Leadership: Delegate or dive in?
In this episode, we dive into the evolving role of engineering leadership with Andy Elmhorst, VP of Engineering at Bolt. We explore the delicate balance…
The Tech TrekHow AI (LLMs) Are Revolutionizing Data Products
In this episode,Sasha Bartashnik shares her insights on howlarge language models (LLMs) are transforming the development ofdata products, making advanced…
The Tech TrekThe CTPO: The Future of Tech Leadership
In this episode, we dive into the evolution of theChief Product and Technology Officer (CPTO) model, the blending of traditional engineering and product roles…
The Tech TrekMastering Change: How to Drive Digital Adoption
In this episode, JD Williams joins Amir Bormand to dive into the critical role ofchange management in driving successful digital adoption. From leading with…
The Tech TrekFoundational Data Challenges and Leveraging AI for Growth
In this episode ofThe Tech Trek, Amir Bormand sits down with Stephen Harris, former Corporate Vice President of Global Data Science and Growth Analytics at…
The Tech TrekPivoting with Purpose: Navigating Startup Challenges
In this episode, Amir Bormand is joined by Marty Kausas, Co-founder and CEO of Pylon, a groundbreaking customer support platform for B2B companies. Marty…
The Tech TrekHiring Challenges for Founders
In this episode, Tanaz Mody shares insights on the hiring struggles founders face as they scale their companies. We explore how founders navigate the…
The Tech TrekFirst-Time Founders and Leadership Styles
In this insightful episode, James Evans dives into the unique challenges and growth opportunities for first-time founders. From building leadership styles to…
The Tech TrekHow a Lawyer Became a Tech CEO
In this inspiring episode, Amir Bormand chats with Matt Martin, Co-Founder of Clockwise. Matt shares his unique career trajectory, transitioning from being a…
The Tech TrekExploring Data Enablement
In this episode of The Tech Trek, Amir Bormand sits down with Scott Peachey, Director of Data Governance and Oversight at Bread Financial, to explore the…
The Tech TrekAI: Leveling the Playing Field in E-Commerce
In this episode, Amir Bormand is joined by Vinod Ramachandran, CEO and Co-Founder of Big Sur AI, and Arnaud Weber, Co-Founder and CTO, to discuss how AI is…
The Tech TrekCustomer-Centric Engineering
In this episode, Amir Bormand is joined by Jake Peters, co-founder, CTO, and CPO of Fora, a modern travel agency platform. Together, they delve into the art of…
The Tech TrekFrom Rural Roots to AI Founder
In this episode, Amir Bormand interviews Curtis Northcutt, CEO and Co-Founder of CleanLab. Curtis shares his inspiring journey from humble beginnings in rural…
The Tech TrekFrom QA to Engineering Leadership
In this episode of The Tech Trek, Amir Bormand sits down with Mayuresh Hajirnis, Director of Engineering at Altruist, to discuss his fascinating journey from…
The Tech TrekFrom Founder to Enterprise Leader: Transitioning Back
In this episode, host Amir Bormand interviews Jehangir Abdulla, Head of Back Office Development at Schoenfeld, to discuss his unique journey from being a…
The Tech TrekMapping Business to Data Strategy
In this episode, Amir sits down with Spencer Lourens, Chief Data Officer at CLA, to discuss the intersection of business strategy and data strategy. Spencer…
The Tech TrekThe Shift to Platform Engineering
In this podcast episode, Amir Bormand sits down with Jason Luce, CTO of Paperless Parts, to discuss the evolution from DevOps to platform engineering. They…
The Tech TrekNavigating Product and Technology Leadership
In this episode, Amir Bormand interviews Kevin Trilli, Chief Product and Technology Officer at Amount Financial, about balancing product and technology…
The Tech TrekReimagining Data Teams
In this engaging episode, Amir Bormand interviews Marko Vasiljevic, CTO at Ghost, about the evolving nature of data teams and how businesses can better…
The Tech TrekLeveraging Machine Learning for Healthcare Transparency
In this episode, Amir Bormand interviews Urvish Parikh, Co-Founder and CTO of Nirvana, to explore how machine learning is transforming the healthcare insurance…
The Tech TrekBuilding the Future of Advertising and Media
In this episode, Michael Hudes discusses the evolving landscape of advertising and media, focusing on how connected screens are reshaping consumer engagement…
The Tech TrekBuilding Better Products Through Customer-Driven Engineering
Guest: Andrew Bihl, Co-Founder & CTO at Numeric Overview: In this episode, Andrew Bihl discusses how engineering teams can better integrate customer feedback…
The Tech TrekNavigating Global Supply Chains with Data and Machine Learning
In this insightful episode, Amir Bormand speaks with Peter Swartz, Altana's Chief Science Officer and Co-Founder, about using data science and machine learning…
The Tech TrekExcelling in Data Strategy and Governance
In this episode, Greg Hahn, a data strategy and governance leader, shares deep insights on building a robust data strategy, navigating AI readiness, and the…
The Tech TrekNavigating Leadership Transitions – Hiring External Tech Leaders
,In this episode, Amir hosts Steve Van Lare, VP of Engineering at Anjuna Security, for an insightful discussion on hiring external technology leaders. They…
The Tech TrekGrounded Leadership in Data
In this episode, host Amir sits down with Amit Sahani, Global Head of Data at StoneX, to delve into data leadership's practical and strategic aspects. Amit…
The Tech TrekSW Engineering Career Growth: The I.C. and Manager Relationship
In this episode of The Tech Trek, host Amir sits down with Shawn Stewart, VP of Engineering at Apartment List, to unpack the complex dynamics between…
The Tech TrekLowering the Cost of Curiosity in Data
In this episode of The Tech Trek, Amir Bormand is joined by Neil Bhandar, VP of IT Enterprise Data Analytics and Innovation at Generac Power Systems, to…
The Tech TrekNavigating AI Governance
In this episode, Amir sits down with Jim Olsen, CTO of ModelOp, to explore the essential role of AI governance in today's organizations. Jim shares practical…
The Tech TrekEngineers as Innovators: Beyond Just Writing Code
In this episode of The Tech Trek, host Amir Bormand talks with Ken Kao, VP of Engineering at Rad AI, about the evolving role of engineers in driving business…
The Tech TrekRedefining Tech Debt: Conscious Decisions and Agile Engineering
Guest: Jordan Kaye, Head of Technology at Belvedere Trading Episode Summary: In this episode, Jordan Kaye redefines technical debt through a practical lens…
The Tech TrekBuilding Startup Resilience
Episode Overview: In this episode, Amir Bormand sits down with Amnon Mishor, CTO of Gynger, to discuss startup resilience, founder mindset, and navigating…
The Tech TrekLeveling Up: Engineering Leadership and Career Progression
Join us for a deep dive into career progression in tech with Anant Gupta, SVP of Engineering and Data Science at Included Health. This episode explores the…
The Tech TrekNavigating AI Models and Business Security
In this episode of The Tech Trek, host Amir Bormand sits down with Ron Williams, founder and CEO of Kindle, to explore the evolving world of AI models and…
The Tech TrekData-Driven Innovation and Empowering Engineers
In this episode, Amir Bormand speaks with John Coles, VP of Data Science and Analytics at ACV Auctions. They dive into what it means to lead with a data-first…
The Tech TrekTechnology and Business Engagement
In this insightful episode, Amir Bormand interviews Anil Choudary, CTO at Alliant Credit Union, about bridging the gap between technology and business…
The Tech TrekNavigating the CTO role
In this episode of The Tech Trek, host Amir Bormand chats with Dana Lawson, CTO at Netlify, about the complexities and nuances of stepping into a CTO role…
The Tech TrekExploring the Senior Engineering Role and Career Growth
In this engaging episode, Amir sits down with Utkarsh Sangi, Head of Engineering at EarnUp, to explore the intricacies of the senior engineering role and the…
The Tech TrekBalancing Scale and Tech Debt in Engineering
In this episode, Amir Bormand interviews Brian Young, Director of Engineering at Grindr, about navigating the complexities of scale and managing technical debt…
The Tech TrekRevolutionizing Patient Care: Meeting Patients Where They're At
In this insightful episode, Amir Bormand sits down with Naama Stauber Breckler, Co-Founder and CEO of Better Health, and Adam Breckler, Co-Founder and Head of…
The Tech TrekScaling Strategies and Navigating Exits
In this episode of The Tech Trek, Amir Bormand sits down with Dave McCann, CTO at Self Financial, to dive deep into scaling strategies and the art of…
The Tech TrekScaling Leadership: Building Effective Engineering Teams
In this episode, Amir Bormand is joined by Nadav Eiron, SVP of Cloud Engineering at Crusoe, to discuss the nuances of leadership, team dynamics, and scaling…
The Tech TrekHow to Build High-Performing Teams in Tech
In this episode of The Tech Trek, Amir Bormand sits down with Harshit Shah, CTO of Kyruus Health, to discuss cultivating high-performance engineering cultures…
The Tech TrekExploring the Role of Technology in Social Care
In this episode, Amir Bormand is joined by Mukta Nandwani, the CTO of Findhelp, to explore the critical role of technology in social care. Mukta shares…