The Tech Trek

In this episode, we dive into the evolution of XOps with Jai Prakash, exploring how a 100-year-old company like Pella Corporation is leveraging DataOps, MLOps, and AI to drive manufacturing innovation. Jai shares how Pella is integrating advanced analytics and AI-driven processes into their operations, creating efficiencies in assembly lines, data management, and workforce upskilling.Whether you're in tech, manufacturing, or data engineering, this episode offers key insights into digital transformation, automation, and upskilling teams for the future.🔑 Key TakeawaysInnovation in Legacy Industries: Even a century-old company like Pella is disrupting its own processes with AI, automation, and XOps.XOps is More Than Just DevOps: Moving from DataOps to MLOps to AIOps is a structured, multi-year process that requires cultural and technical shifts.AI in Manufacturing: From sensor-based quality control to AI-driven assembly line training, technology is reshaping how products are built.Upskilling is Key: As automation increases, companies must train employees for future tech roles rather than just hiring externally.Building a Center of Excellence: A shared services model helps streamline data operations and governance, ensuring efficient implementation of AI and analytics.🕒 Timestamped Highlights⏳ [00:00] – Introduction to Jai Prakash and Pella Corporation⏳ [01:30] – Why does a window manufacturer need XOps?⏳ [04:00] – How AI and analytics improve manufacturing efficiency⏳ [08:30] – The risk of disruption: Learning from Tesla and other industries⏳ [10:00] – Pella’s XOps journey: From DevOps to AI-driven operations⏳ [12:00] – The role of DataOps in managing multi-modal manufacturing data⏳ [15:00] – Upskilling employees for the future of AI and automation⏳ [18:00] – The challenge of implementing innovation in a legacy company⏳ [20:00] – Where Pella’s XOps strategy is headed in the next 3-5 years💡 Quote from the Episode"We want everyone to be an ambassador of the art of possible. Upskilling is not just an option—it’s a necessity for companies to stay ahead." – Jai Prakash🔗 Connect with Jai Prakash💼 LinkedIn: Jai Prakash on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jaiprakashd/📢 Enjoyed the episode? Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and leave a comment!

In this episode, Amir Bormand chats with Sarah Guidry, Head of Analytics and Data Science at LendingTree, about the intricacies of organizing work in data science. They explore frameworks for structuring work, stakeholder expectations, balancing quick wins with long-term goals, and how data teams can create space for innovation while delivering high-value results. If you’ve ever struggled with project prioritization, stakeholder buy-in, or maintaining agility in an ever-evolving data landscape, this episode is a must-listen.Key Takeaways: Start with the End in Mind: Planning ahead ensures work is structured effectively and aligns with business needs. Stakeholder Alignment is Critical: Managing expectations and keeping stakeholders engaged prevents them from going rogue with their own makeshift solutions. Empower Business Users: Giving stakeholders access to structured, small data enables them to answer straightforward questions independently. Iterative Delivery Builds Trust: Regular updates help prevent surprises and align data insights with business needs in real-time. Don’t Plan to 100% Capacity: Leaving buffer time allows teams to handle ad-hoc requests without disrupting long-term priorities. R&D is Vital for Innovation: Dedicated time for exploration—like "Focus Fridays" and hackathons—fuels creativity and keeps the team ahead of the curve. Prioritization Frameworks Work: Implementing a "Must Do / Should Do" list creates clarity and helps balance workload distribution.Timestamped Highlights: [00:00:00] Introduction to Sarah Guidry and LendingTree’s role in financial services. [00:02:00] What does it mean to organize work in data science? [00:04:00] The challenge of stakeholder expectations and delivering value. [00:06:00] The evolution of business intelligence and enabling self-service for stakeholders. [00:08:00] Why analytics is like investigative journalism—constant iteration is key. [00:10:00] Setting expectations upfront to buy time and align priorities. [00:12:00] Balancing speed with sustainability—delivering quick wins without technical debt. [00:15:00] Avoiding surprises—how to maintain proactive communication with stakeholders. [00:18:00] Managing work effectively through prioritization meetings. [00:20:00] Creating space for R&D: Focus Fridays, hackathons, and experimentation. [00:23:00] Using a “Must Do / Should Do” framework for clear prioritization. [00:24:00] How Sarah's team integrates learning and innovation into their workflow. [00:25:00] Closing thoughts and where to reach Sarah Guidry for further discussion.Quote of the Episode:"Analytics is investigative journalism—you don’t always know what you’re looking for, but through exploration and iteration, you uncover the most valuable insights." – Sarah GuidryConnect with Sarah Guidry:📩 LinkedIn: Sarah Guidry💡 Enjoyed the episode?📢 Share it with a colleague who might find it valuable!🎧 Subscribe, leave a review, and let us know your thoughts.

In this episode, Amir chats with Samir Kumar, Co-Founder and General Partner at Touring Capital, about platform shifts in technology and the role of AI in future advancements. Samir shares Touring Capital’s investment philosophy, focusing on series B investments in software-centric companies. He discusses the competitive dynamics between startups and tech giants in the AI space, challenges and opportunities in building AI-driven business models, and the future impact of technologies like the metaverse and blockchain. Highlights: - 02:53 Platform Shifts in Technology - 06:22 AI and the Role of Incumbents - 10:30 Opportunities and Challenges for Startups - 18:34 Narrow Focus and Industry-Specific AI - 25:06 Outcome-Based Pricing and Monetization Guest: Samir Kumar is co-founder and General Partner at Touring Capital. Before co-founding Touring, Samir was a Managing Partner at M12 (Microsoft’s Venture Fund), where he led investment activities in horizontal/vertical AI, deep tech, and hardware-enabled software companies. Samir’s notable investments include Applied Intuition, Psi Quantum, Wandelbots, Syntiant, D-Matrix, Regrow, and Netradyne. Samir previously held senior product and strategic business development roles at Qualcomm, Samsung, and Microsoft. He developed a strong passion for AI after delving deep into neural networks a decade ago; this ultimately paved the way for him to become a venture investor. Samir is a graduate of Cornell University. LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/samirkum/ ---- Thank you so much for checking out this episode of The Tech Trek. We would appreciate it if you would take a minute to rate and review us on your favorite podcast player. Want to learn more about us? Head over at https://www.elevano.com Have questions or want to cover specific topics with our future guests? Please message me at https://www.linkedin.com/in/amirbormand (Amir Bormand)

In this episode, Amir sits down with Sergei Azernikov to discuss how AI and generative AI (GenAI) are transforming the dental industry. Glidewell Dental, a leader in dental lab products, has been at the forefront of AI innovation—leveraging advanced machine learning models to automate design, improve precision, and reduce dental restoration times from weeks to mere hours. Sergei shares how technology has revolutionized not just the manufacturing process but also patient experiences, business efficiency, and the future of dentistry.Key Takeaways:AI’s Unexpected Role in Dentistry – From manual craftsmanship to AI-driven automation, the dental industry has undergone a massive shift.How Generative AI is Reshaping Dental Restoration – Glidewell Dental uses GANs (Generative Adversarial Networks) to create perfectly fitting crowns and implants with minimal human intervention.From 2 Weeks to 2 Hours – AI-powered digital scanning and cloud-based design enable same-day dental restorations, eliminating long wait times.The Cloud as a Game-Changer – AWS and cloud computing enable rapid AI model training, seamless data storage, and scalable machine learning applications.AI’s Business Impact – AI has tripled production efficiency, allowing Glidewell Dental to scale without increasing workforce size.Timestamped Highlights:[00:01:00] - Introducing Sergei Azernikov & Glidewell Dental[00:03:00] - The early adoption of AI in dentistry—why it made sense[00:05:00] - AI vs. human technicians: A competition in identifying teeth[00:07:00] - How Glidewell’s generative AI models automate crown design[00:10:00] - The digital transformation of dental care: Faster, better-fitting restorations[00:14:00] - Overcoming data challenges: Storing and structuring 3D dental scans for AI training[00:18:00] - How cloud computing (AWS) supercharged AI adoption[00:20:00] - AI’s impact on business: 3X increase in efficiency[00:22:00] - AI innovation beyond dentistry—what other industries can learnQuote from the Episode:"We electrified it, now we’re going to cognize it. AI isn’t just about automation—it’s about introducing intelligence into digital processes to make dentistry smarter, faster, and better for patients." – Sergei AzernikovConnect with Sergei Azernikov:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sergeiazernikov/Enjoyed the episode?Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and share this episode with someone exploring AI applications in their industry! Drop your thoughts in the comments and let us know what you’d like to hear next.

Beth Falder, AVP of Data Management and Analytics at Nuvance Health, joins Amir to unpack a challenge every tech leader is facing right now: how to stay grounded while everything around you accelerates. From navigating the hype around GenAI to dealing with the slow, foundational work of governance and data cleanup, Beth shares how she chooses where to place bets—and what to ignore. This episode is especially valuable for anyone in tech or data leadership trying to make smart decisions amid pressure, noise, and FOMO.What You’ll LearnWhy governance isn’t a slowdown—it’s a survival tacticHow to prioritize technical investments when vendors are flooding your inboxWhat data debt looks like in healthcare, and why it's finally being addressedWhere GenAI adds real value now—and where it's still too riskyWhy low-risk back office use cases are the best starting point in healthcareConversation Highlights[02:10] GenAI meets governance: why clinicians are excited—and why Beth is cautious[05:45] Vendor noise is deafening: how to stay focused when everyone’s pitching magic[08:15] “Data debt” is real: why poor structuring from years ago is now haunting teams[14:05] Budgeting in the age of AI: how to plan for a future that changes monthly[17:15] The clinical vs. back office dilemma: where GenAI should not go (yet)[20:30] Real opportunities in clinical notes—and how big cloud providers are helpingQuote of the Episode“It’s exciting. It’s great to see this much engagement. I haven’t been this important for a while. But we can’t do it all. That’s the frustrating part of the whole conversation.”Pro Tips from BethStart with governance—it builds the credibility needed to push forward new initiativesFocus on tools or platforms that solve multiple problems across departmentsLeverage vendor innovation selectively, especially when tackling data technical debtDon’t underestimate the value of peer networks in understanding the shifting AI landscapeChoose GenAI use cases with patient safety in mind—back office is the best launchpadEnjoyed this episode?Subscribe to the show and share it with someone leading data or AI strategy in healthcare. And if you’ve got a favorite GenAI use case—or a cautionary tale—drop us a note or find Amir on LinkedIn.

In this episode, Amir talks with Nathan Fabian, Managing Director and Head of Talent at WestCap, about the essential qualities of great leaders. They explore the complexities of hiring leadership, assessing unique attributes, and balancing speed with thoroughness in the recruitment process. Nathan shares WestCap's approach, focusing on five key attributes—principles, curiosity, decisiveness, team management, and vision—that predict leadership success. They also discuss culture fit, leveraging networks, and building and retaining a diverse, high-performing leadership team. Highlights: 01:48 Defining Leadership and Key Attributes 03:12 The Five Archetypes of Founders 05:37 Assessing Leadership Attributes 12:37 Balancing Speed and Thoroughness in Hiring 16:39 Onboarding and Integrating New Leaders 18:57 Hiring for Now vs. Future Potential 21:13 Focusing on Strengths vs. Weaknesses Nathan's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nathanfabian/ --- Thank you so much for checking out this episode of The Tech Trek. We would appreciate it if you would take a minute to rate and review us on your favorite podcast player. Want to learn more about us? Head over at https://www.elevano.com Have questions or want to cover specific topics with our future guests? Please message me at https://www.linkedin.com/in/amirbormand (Amir Bormand)

In this episode, Chris Morgan, VP of Data Science at Lincoln Financial Group, dives into the evolving landscape of data culture. He discusses the impact of generative AI (Gen AI) on data practices, managing tech debt, and aligning stakeholder expectations. Chris emphasizes the importance of data governance, quality, literacy, and sharing strategies and analogies for fostering a robust data culture. He also addresses balancing immediate delivery with long-term vision in data management within a large, traditional organization. Highlights: 01:08 Defining Data Culture 03:17 The Importance of Stakeholder Engagement 10:05 Balancing Technical Debt and Emerging Trends 16:31 Managing Expectations with Gen AI Guest: Chris Morgan has always been passionate about numbers and data, finding Statistics as the ideal application of math. He excels at the intersection of data and strategy, leading teams to provide clear, actionable insights. Chris combines technical expertise, business acumen, and strong communication skills to align data science capabilities with organizational goals. Outside of work, he enjoys traveling, playing Euchre, outdoor activities, and addressing the issue of texting and driving. LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/morganchristopher/ --- Thank you so much for checking out this episode of The Tech Trek. We would appreciate it if you would take a minute to rate and review us on your favorite podcast player. Want to learn more about us? Head over at https://www.elevano.com Have questions or want to cover specific topics with our future guests? Please message me at https://www.linkedin.com/in/amirbormand (Amir Bormand)

In this episode, Amir chats with Brajesh Jha, SVP and Global Business Leader of Data Tech and AI at Genpact, about scaling Generative AI (Gen AI). They explore what 'Gen AI at scale' means, drawing parallels with past technological waves like computerization and robotic process automation. Topics include the importance of data quality, strategic and technological considerations, and reimagining business models to leverage AI effectively. Brajesh shares Genpact's transformation journey and practical advice for harnessing Gen AI's power, emphasizing a strategic, data-driven, AI-first mindset. Highlights: - 01:21 Understanding Gen AI at Scale - 02:14 Historical Context of Technological Evolution - 05:09 Challenges and Opportunities with Gen AI - 05:48 Apple Intelligence and Data Utilization - 12:10 Strategic Considerations for Gen AI - 15:23 Importance of Data Quality - 18:31 Steps for Successful Gen AI Implementation - 23:38 Future of Gen AI in Business Guest: Brajesh Jha is a Senior Executive with over two decades of experience in professional services at multi-billion-dollar technology companies. Currently, he leads Genpact's Technology, Media, and Entertainment vertical, managing global business operations that deploy Analytics, Artificial Intelligence, and Intelligent Automation capabilities. He also drives co-innovation with various micro-segments, including studios, cable providers, publishers, entertainment companies, and advertising agencies, to build new operating models and enhance customer experiences. LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brajeshjha --- Thank you so much for checking out this episode of The Tech Trek. We would appreciate it if you would take a minute to rate and review us on your favorite podcast player. Want to learn more about us? Head over at https://www.elevano.com Have questions or want to cover specific topics with our future guests? Please message me at https://www.linkedin.com/in/amirbormand (Amir Bormand)

JD Hannick, an Executive Advisor, discusses consumer data transformation, AI in CPG, and the importance of first-party data. They explore private equity firms using data for growth and the future role of generative AI in enhancing customer experiences.

In this podcast episode, Amir welcomes Arjun Bansal, CEO of Log10, to discuss the ongoing challenges and solutions surrounding Large Language Model (LLM) accuracy. Arjun recounts his unique journey from computational neuroscience to founding AI-focused companies. They delve into the concept of 'hallucinations' in AI, the black box nature of LLMs, and the critical need for accurate AI systems in various domains. Arjun explains how Log10 provides a platform to measure and improve LLM accuracy and shares insights on the future of AI applications, including the transition from narrow to general AI and the importance of balancing proprietary and open-source models. The discussion also touches on strategies enterprises can adopt to mitigate hallucination risks and enhance accuracy in AI deployments. Highlights 00:47 Arjun Bansal's Background and Log10 Overview 04:45 Understanding LLM Hallucinations 09:58 Challenges and Solutions in LLM Accuracy 16:02 Future of AI and Practical Implementations Arjun Bansal is an entrepreneur and AI expert focused on understanding and building intelligent systems. He is currently CEO & co-founder of Log10.io, a platform for measuring and improving the accuracy of LLM applications and agents. Arjun previously co-founded Nervana Systems (acq. Intel) and XOKind (AI agents for travel). Arjun's career spans research in brain-machine interfaces, building AI processors, and AI sidekicks. https://www.linkedin.com/in/arjunbansal/ https://arjunbansal.substack.com/ ---- Thank you so much for checking out this episode of The Tech Trek. We would appreciate it if you would take a minute to rate and review us on your favorite podcast player. Want to learn more about us? Head over at https://www.elevano.com Have questions or want to cover specific topics with our future guests? Please message me at https://www.linkedin.com/in/amirbormand (Amir Bormand)