Technologist of the Month

AI, Ethics & Elections: Why Standards Matter More Than Ever In this snippet, Matthew Blakemore, CEO at AI Caramba!, opens up about a critical concern: AI being used the wrong way to influence politics. Driven by the need for stronger guardrails, Matthew stepped into the world of global policy and standards… ⚙️ Working with the British Standards Institute 🤝 Collaborating with experts like Julian Padget, Colin, and Jeremy 🌍 Helping shape the International Standards Organization’s AI data life cycle standards His mission? Ensuring AI empowers society, not manipulates it. Listen to the full podcast now- https://open.spotify.com/episode/3PdQNjvmQQw563kYVwAFhG?si=96rlhrLmT8GXFfIECc9VfQ #Outgrow #Podcast #MatthewBlakemore #AICaramba #AIEthics #AIStandards #ResponsibleAI #DataPrivacy #DigitalPolicy

🧪 AI and Science: The Next Wave of Discovery Martin Riedmiller, Research Scientist and Controls Team Lead, Google DeepMind AI is moving beyond pattern recognition and becoming a true partner in scientific discovery. From cognitive science to physics to drug design, we are entering a future where AI not only helps us understand the world but also uncovers insights that humans alone might miss. As we deepen our understanding of AI, these systems will accelerate research, generate new hypotheses, and reveal patterns across disciplines in ways that were previously unimaginable. Early signs of this shift are already emerging in multiple scientific fields. The future of science will be shaped by humans and AI working together not just using knowledge, but advancing it. Listen to the full podcast now- https://open.spotify.com/episode/3eMlUGFhoMgGl7EobQjnei?si=VtAwiLCDRXu12ktbpnMwcg #AIScience #CognitiveScience #AIResearch #FutureOfAI #DrugDiscovery #Physics #Biology #ScientificInnovation #GenerativeAI

🚀 Driving Scalable AI Adoption According to Hugo Hamad, Head of AI/GenAI Factory at AXA en France and former Director of AI at Decathlon, successfully scaling AI isn’t about luck, it’s about building the right enablers. From his journey at Decathlon to leading AI at AXA, he breaks it down into three essentials: 1️⃣ Industrial Mindset & Products 2️⃣ Business Ambassadors 3️⃣ Delivering User Experience. Don’t just ship ML models, pipelines, or dashboards. Walk with the business from Day 0 to design and deliver the experience users actually need. In short: scalable AI adoption comes from execution, advocacy, and experience, not just algorithms and data. 💡 🎧 Listen to the full podcast now- https://open.spotify.com/episode/2Ksp9FHTp4dzncknRg8aPB?si=gxfmjyktQDOB2YJ_yBoTJQ #AXA #AIAdoption #GenAI #ArtificialIntelligence #AIInnovation #DecathlonDigital #AI #BusinessTransformation #Leadership

Dr. Satyajit Wattamwar is a Data Science & Digital Expertise Leader with over 17 years of professional experience in enabling digital transformation across manufacturing, R&D, and innovation processes. He currently leads the development of in-house cloud AI platforms and data science technologies for cross-country, cross-functional business initiatives. His expertise spans predictive modeling, IoT analytics, advanced process control, and manufacturing analytics. On The Menu: Data scientist empowerment through AI-powered digital assistants Scaling digital solutions across 180+ global factories Industry 4.0 ROI measurement strategies and KPIs Digital twin technology revolutionizing manufacturing operations Quantum computing's potential impact on process optimization Explainable AI methodologies for industrial safety applications Supply chain optimization using predictive data science

🌟 Inclusion Starts With Awareness, Clear Goals, and Real Support According to Kamini Belday, Head of Global Payments, IBM Cloud, real progress begins when people understand their unconscious bias. Formal training helps people notice it and see how it shows up in real situations. That’s the first step. The next step is intention. In one of her past roles, Kamini helped drive a 30 percent representation goal at every level of the organisation. Clear metrics created visibility and accountability to promote, retain, and support women and minority talent. The third step is enabling growth. Through the women’s leadership programs she has chaired, Kamini focused on building executive presence, creating mentor relationships, and pairing high potential talent with senior leaders so they can see what their future could look like. Her message is straightforward: ✨ Train people to recognise bias 📊 Set measurable diversity goals 🤝 Invest in programs that help people grow Change happens when awareness, intention, and support come together. Listen to the full podcast, link in comments. Listen to the full podcast now- https://open.spotify.com/episode/2VNZi2NS9y5R8uNGLfGFAI?si=ff86521fdc7748e7 #WomenInLeadership #Inclusion #DiversityMatters #LeadershipDevelopment #Mentorship #WomenInTech #RepresentationMatters

🎙️ Building Better Products Together: Samuel Beek, Chief Product Officer, VEED At VEED, product is never built in a silo. Samuel Beek shares how engineering, product, and marketing work as a tight triangle, spotting trends, understanding what people are talking about, and turning emerging AI capabilities into real features users actually want. From daily conversations with the tech team to tracking market shifts, it is a constant loop of identifying what is possible and shaping it into something meaningful. A clear reminder that the best products are built when teams stay close, stay aware, and build with the user’s world in mind. Listen to the full podcast now- https://open.spotify.com/episode/1gvrdCCZnR9MDiXpNfGind?si=x5tEj1kbT6ePQBqzGj6F5w #VEED #ProductLeadership #CPO #AIProduct #UserExperience #SaaS #TechInnovation #BuildInPublic #ProductStrategy #Teamwork #Engineering #MarketingIntegration

🔐 Tokenization isn't just security, it's intelligence.For Brice van de Walle, Executive Vice President of Core Payments Europe at Mastercard, the future of fraud prevention lies in tokens that are uniquely bound to specific merchants and use cases. No more stolen card data being reused. No more fraudulent transactions across multiple merchants. Just secure, merchant-specific tokens that work where they're meant to, and nowhere else. 🛡️ Capture a token from your ride-sharing app? Try using it elsewhere. It won't work. That's the power of tokenization. ✨A smarter approach to payments. A safer experience for everyone. That's what next-gen fraud prevention looks like. 💳 Listen to the full podcast now- https://open.spotify.com/episode/7bZwpmFV8GaTQgwuHax7lS?si=8KYy5RvZQWiAilEIcUbVBw #Tokenization #PaymentSecurity #FraudPrevention #Fintech #DigitalPayments #CyberSecurity #PaymentInnovation #SecureCheckout #Mastercard

🌟 Mentorship Means Seeing Potential Before They See It Themselves According to Kamini Belday, Head of Global Payments, IBM Cloud, true leadership is about lifting others up. Early in her career, Kamini walked into rooms where few people looked like her or talked like her. The finance and tech world was overwhelmingly male-dominated. But leaders saw her potential and nominated her for roles she didn't think she was ready for. They recognized her skills and her ability to lead. That belief accelerated her career in ways she never imagined. Now, as a mentor at Money 20/20's Rise Up and Amplify program, Kamini feels a deep sense of responsibility: ✨ To help others see their own potential 💪 To advocate for women in male-dominated industries 🤝 To create the support system that once changed her trajectory 🚀 To prove that representation and advocacy are essential "It's not about making myself known as a mentor. It's about helping others see their potential, like how my mentors saw mine. That's the difference I want to make." When we lift others up, we don't just change careers. We change cultures. Listen to the full podcast now- https://open.spotify.com/episode/2VNZi2NS9y5R8uNGLfGFAI?si=3VXIU99URoitWMeg9ZLmzw #WomenInTech #Mentorship #Leadership #DiversityInFinance #Money2020 #RiseUpAndAmplify #WomenInFintech #RepresentationMatters #PayItForward

John Hearty leads AI Governance at Mastercard, ensuring that AI systems the company builds or buys are fair, transparent, and effective. He drives responsible AI adoption, engages regulators, and advances tools, training, and research to embed AI ethics across the organization. With a background in R&D and global payments infrastructure, John holds 40+ patents and serves on ISO AI standards committees. On The Menu: Trust as foundation: Mastercard's AI governance philosophy explained Evaluating AI systems for efficacy, fairness, and transparency Generative AI's transformative impact on marketing and creativity Building responsible AI solutions with external suppliers effectively The evolution from R&D to AI governance leadership The future of marketing in chatbot and agent-based systems Creating shared AI capabilities that elevate entire organizations

The Changing Economics of IoT 🌐 In this clip, Kai Hackbarth, Head of Product & Solutions at Bosch, talks about the ongoing consolidation in the IoT industry and why many businesses are rethinking their approach. He explains how high infrastructure costs in SaaS and PaaS models have made it challenging for companies to achieve profitability, even with large-scale data platforms. Kai also highlights a growing trend toward on-premise IoT deployments, as organizations look to better manage costs and retain greater control over their data and operations. His insights reveal how the IoT landscape is shifting from expansive cloud models to smarter, more sustainable hybrid approaches. Listen to the full episode- https://open.spotify.com/episode/3TFdc1Eer47xN9zBaXgdLf?si=nQjCKq08T_2o4thuFt97HQ #Bosch #IoT #SaaS #PaaS #DigitalTransformation #OnPremise #SmartTechnology #CloudComputing #DataManagement #BusinessStrategy #ConnectedSolutions #TechInnovation

Building a Compliant and Scalable FinTech Ecosystem 💡 Pavan Bachwal, VP and Head of Ericsson Financial Services at Ericsson, explains how Ericsson is empowering banks, fintechs, and OTT players in Europe with a stable, scalable, and compliant technology foundation. 🔐 With a strong focus on regulatory and security compliance, from PSD2 and GDPR to SWIFT integrations and PCI certifications, Ericsson ensures that its financial services platform meets the highest global standards. 🌍 By offering technology that evolves with the market, Pavan and his team enable customers across Europe and other developed regions to innovate confidently, stay compliant, and deliver seamless digital financial experiences. Listen to the full podcast now- https://open.spotify.com/episode/6FE62CeTuqGz8ycJxa8oMj?si=Li_isdcbS4eJQcbWtHWSWw&nd=1&dlsi=b735758707424656 #FinTech #DigitalTransformation #Compliance #RegTech #Innovation #BankingTechnology #APIs #FinancialServices #Security #Leadership #Ericsson #Europe

🎙️ Making AI Simple (Again): Samuel Beek, Chief Product Officer, VEED As VEED transitioned deeper into the AI space, some users felt overwhelmed by new features. Instead of ignoring that feedback, the team doubled down on simplicity, investing in better discovery and adding an AI agent you can literally talk to for edits. Because great products aren’t just powerful, they’re easy, intuitive, and human. A thoughtful reminder that innovation isn’t about adding more, it’s about making what’s already there feel effortless. Listen to the full podcast now- https://open.spotify.com/episode/1gvrdCCZnR9MDiXpNfGind?si=x5tEj1kbT6ePQBqzGj6F5w #VEED #ProductLeadership #CPO #AIUX #UserExperience #ProductDesign #SaaS #TechInnovation #BuildInPublic #AIFeatures #ProductStrategy

🎯 Data isn’t just important, it’s everything. For Rollo Goldstaub, Global Head of Sports Partnerships at TikTok, every decision in the sports sector must be backed by evidence, not opinion. 📊 From using data-driven insights to shape partnerships like TikTok’s upcoming collaboration with DAZN for the Club World Cup 🏆 to recognizing early adopters who embrace new trends first, Rollo highlights how real growth belongs to those who act fast and back it with facts. ⚡ TikTok’s research even shows one universal truth among all sports fans: match highlights reign supreme! ⚽🔥 Listen to the full podcast now- https://open.spotify.com/episode/1rBANIEuVZtJbV0YLrsyRm?si=AxmrqRViSeavIkXwiXjcHQ #SportsBusiness #TikTokSports #DataDriven #DigitalPartnerships #SportsMarketing #RolloGoldstaub #Innovation #FanEngagement #SocialMedia

⚙️ Optimizing Data for Better ROI and Efficiency 💡 Pavan Bachwal, VP and Head of Ericsson Financial Services at Ericsson, shares how data is a continuous journey of learning and improvement. His team constantly works to enhance how their APIs and features are used by customers, driving faster turnaround times and reducing the total cost of ownership. 📊 By studying how customers interact with different capabilities, Pavan and his team focus on improving performance, cutting operational costs, and boosting ROI. Every data insight contributes to smarter consultancy, quicker issue resolution, and more effective business execution, creating meaningful value for both Ericsson and its clients. Listen to the full podcast now-https://open.spotify.com/episode/6FE62CeTuqGz8ycJxa8oMj?si=Li_isdcbS4eJQcbWtHWSWw #DataDriven #DigitalTransformation #Analytics #BusinessEfficiency #Innovation #CustomerSuccess #APIs #ROI #Leadership #TechInsights #Ericsson #FinTech

Public + Private Innovation Will Shape the Future of Payments Eric Tak, Head of Division, Digital Euro Product Proposition, European Central Bank, emphasized that while crypto isn’t likely to take off in everyday retail payments yet, the bigger picture lies in the collaboration between the public and private sectors. The Digital Euro will provide a secure, stable platform for basic payments, a foundation on top of which licensed financial institutions and fintech players can build new services, user experiences, and value-added layers. In other words, the innovation isn’t replaced, it’s enabled. The Digital Euro sets the rails. The private sector drives the train. Listen to the full podcast now- https://bit.ly/4lk6zer #DigitalEuro #CentralBankDigitalCurrency #ECB #PaymentsInnovation #Fintech #FutureOfMoney #FinancialInfrastructure #PublicPrivatePartnership #EuropeFintech #CBDC

🎥 From Chat to Creation: Meeting Users Where They Already Are- Samuel Beek, Chief Product Officer, VEED When the ChatGPT Store launched, the team at VEED didn’t wait for perfect data or lengthy analysis. They built the bot as an experiment, something small, fast, and curious. And it took off. Constantly ranking in the top 10 ChatGPT apps, it proved that sometimes the smartest move isn’t over-optimizing, it’s shipping and seeing how real users respond. A seamless link from words → visuals. A reminder that: Creativity + Speed can unlock some of your most successful features. Listen to the full podcast now -https://open.spotify.com/episode/1gvrdCCZnR9MDiXpNfGind?si=x5tEj1kbT6ePQBqzGj6F5w #VEED #ProductLeadership #CPO #ChatGPTApps #AIProducts #BuildInPublic #ProductStrategy #UserExperience #VideoEditing #TechInnovation

🧠 Beyond Language Models: Why Reinforcement Learning Still Matters: Martin Riedmiller, Research Scientist & Controls Team Lead, Google DeepMindWhile large language models have taken center stage with their incredible capabilities, Martin reminds us of something crucial: true intelligence isn’t just about processing existing data, it’s about learning from experience.Reinforcement Learning (RL) is the field that helps systems:🌱 Learn behavior from raw interaction with the world🤝 Adapt autonomously rather than rely solely on pre-curated data🧩 Discover new strategies that even humans might not think to demonstrate🔄 Continuously evolve through trial, feedback, and iterationAs AI moves forward, scaling models is not enough; we need systems that can teach themselves.The future of AI lies in combining scale with self-learning, not just predicting, but behaving. Listen to the full podcast- https://open.spotify.com/episode/3eMlUGFhoMgGl7EobQjnei?si=ixNuMQekSFG4-QyYsfg2TQ #DeepMind #ReinforcementLearning #AIResearch #FutureOfAI #MachineLearning #AutonomousSystems #LLM #AIInnovation #GenerativeAI

Harish Sarma is an accomplished executive with extensive experience spanning technology, sports, media & entertainment, built on a foundation in investment banking. As VP of Business Development and Partnerships at Yahoo Mail, he focuses on growing key metrics through strategic partnerships and business development. On The Menu: Yahoo Mail's revolutionary Catchup feature for inbox management The shift from TikTok to Yahoo Mail leadership How consumer behavior changed content consumption forever Partnership strategies for explosive platform growth Interoperability across Gmail, Outlook, and Yahoo Mail Future of broadcasters and legacy media adaptation

☁️ Hybrid Cloud + AI = The Future of Modern Banking According to Kamini Belday, Head of Global Payments, IBM Cloud, hybrid cloud isn’t just a tech upgrade; it’s a transformation strategy. It allows banks to leap from legacy monolithic systems into flexible, microservice-based architectures while still maintaining compliance and control. With a hybrid cloud, financial institutions can: ✅ Leverage AI to deeply understand customer behavior 🎯 Offer personalized product recommendations and experiences 🔐 Enforce Zero Trust security, where every interaction is authenticated 📈 Scale innovation and growth without compromising stability 🏗️ Modernize at their own pace instead of ripping and replacing everything at once In short, Hybrid Cloud + AI is not optional for financial modernization; it’s the differentiator. Listen to the full podcast now- https://open.spotify.com/episode/2VNZi2NS9y5R8uNGLfGFAI?si=L6P44ZgnSwekBy5GyoZ5wg #AIinBanking #IBMCloud #FinancialInnovation #DigitalTransformation #PaymentsTech #BankingEcosystem #CloudStrategy #FutureOfFinance

🎯 Marketing Will Evolve Beyond Metrics, It’ll Be About Meaning Igor Mikhalev, Partner & Head of Emerging Technologies Strategy, EY-Parthenon, envisions a future where marketing ceases to exist as a standalone function, instead becoming an extension of the product experience itself, seamlessly integrated into people’s lives. He suggests a radical shift in how we measure success, moving away from GDP and profit-centric models toward impact-based metrics like well-being, trust, and community prosperity. In this future, marketing won’t just sell, it will build emotional connections and foster meaningful engagement. 🌍✨ Listen to the full podcast now- https://open.spotify.com/episode/0ZyPTphcrdbmar3PhmK8yB?si=rdGt-2XfTg2LLSYzrP6pQg #EYParthenon #MarketingEvolution #FutureOfWork #PurposeDrivenMarketing #BrandImpact #DigitalTransformation