The Tech Trek

This episode features Loic Houssier, Senior VP of Engineering at Productboard, discussing the journey and challenges of transitioning from mid-level management to top-tier executive roles within an organization. It covers essential aspects such as the roles and responsibilities at different management levels, from manager to VP, and the crucial skills needed for advancement, including delegation, decision-making, and influencing across teams. Additionally, the talk delves into Productboard's mission and functionality, emphasizing its utility for product managers in streamlining customer feedback, prioritization, and integration with execution tools. The conversation also highlights personal growth strategies for managers aspiring to executive positions, the importance of external networking and mentorship, and recognizing the often overlooked emotional and strategic complexities of climbing the corporate ladder. Highlights: 03:52 The Journey Up the Management Ladder: Challenges and Skills 05:41 Understanding the Roles: From Manager to Senior Manager 08:22 The Leap to Director: Managing Managers and Budgets 10:28 Ascending to VP: A Shift in Perspective and Responsibilities 14:36 Navigating the Transition: From IC to Manager and Beyond 20:10 The Importance of Delegation and Decision-Making in Leadership 28:49 Expanding Your Network: The Key to Navigating Management Isolation As the Senior Vice President of Engineering at Productboard, Loic Houssier leads a global team of engineers building the leading product management platform for remote teams. He has over 18 years of experience in engineering leadership and executive management across various industries and regions. LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/houssier/ ---- 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 podcast episode, Mo Villagran, Associate Director of Insights, Analytics, and Data at Cambrex and author of 'Data Insights Delivered', shares her insights on managing stakeholder expectations and delivering expected value in data analytics. She explains Cambrex's role as a global CDMO in the pharmaceutical industry and highlights the importance of customer service in technical fields. Mo asserts that the core of managing stakeholder expectations and delivering value lies in simple, effective communication and starting with manageable, scalable solutions. She emphasizes showing progress in real-time to stakeholders, the significance of qualitative feedback over quantitative KPIs, and the importance of prioritizing projects that directly impact the company's financial performance. The conversation also touches on the challenges of integrating new technologies and focusing on business outcomes over technological complexities. Highlights: 02:12 The Essence of Stakeholder Expectation Management 02:22 The Importance of Customer Service in Data Analytics 03:32 Balancing Technology and Business Outcomes 05:00 Defining and Delivering Value to Stakeholders 08:39 The Art of Negotiation and Setting Expectations 10:53 Choosing Simplicity Over Complexity in Solutions 17:38 Demonstrating Progress and Value in Real-Time 21:47 Measuring Success Beyond Quantitative Metrics Mo Villagran is a data concierge, an experienced business analytics veteran, is well-versed in data analytics and healthcare across sectors, including pharmaceutical manufacturing, fraud detection, insurance pricing, etc. In her current role, Mo established Cambrex's first business analytics program and now leads global cross-functional teams to deliver automated visualization and AI-enabled automation processes, providing actionable insights. Her goal is to deliver a world-class stakeholder experience in data analytics. LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mo-villagran/ ---- 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)

This podcast episode features Gregg Altschul, the Vice President of Technology at FanDuel. The discussion focuses on aligning personal, team, and company goals to reduce conflicts, enhance goal setting, and improve transparency across the board. Altschul shares insights on FanDuel's business operations, including its role as a leading online sportsbook and its iGaming division. He explains the top-down process of setting goals at FanDuel, highlighting the importance of ensuring that individual and team objectives support overarching company goals. Altschul discusses how he manages goal alignment within his organization, emphasizing the significance of transparency, understanding employees' personal growth goals, and the role of succession planning. He also touches on fostering a culture that supports employees' long-term career aspirations, even if those plans include leaving the company. The conversation delves into the importance of having a 'North Star'—a long-term goal or vision—to guide one's career development and the necessity of open communication between managers and their teams to achieve effective goal alignment. Highlights 01:12 The Importance of Goal Alignment 02:18 The Process of Setting Goals 03:38 Translating Goals to Different Levels 04:55 Maintaining Transparency in Goal Setting 06:50 Balancing Personal and Company Goals 09:11 Creating a Safe Space for Open Discussions 09:27 The Role of Trust in Goal Setting 11:14 The Shift in Employee Retention Perspective 17:37 The Importance of Long-Term Growth Goals 20:23 The Role of North Star Goals in Career Development ---- 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 podcast episode, Otkrist Gupta, VP of Research and Development at LendBuzz, talks about the process he utilizes to evaluate machine learning (ML) models and handle the ever-changing landscape of ML with his team. He also highlights the core role of ML in the creation of LendBuzz’s proprietary financial scoring model to assist individuals often underserved in the lending market and explains how continued innovation via in-house development of models has maintained the company's competitive advantage. Gupta provides insights into various projects his R&D team has worked on, from financial to computer vision models, and discusses the balance of research, development, and product delivery. He underscores the importance of having well-defined metrics, continuous model improvement, and keeping current with technology trends. Although not directly involved in measuring particular models' profit and loss impacts, Gupta notes that all team members indirectly contribute to the company’s overall performance. Highlights: 01:50 Understanding the Lendbuzz Business Model 03:37 Exploring the Role of Research and Development in Fintech 07:35 The Intersection of Machine Learning and Product Development 13:35 The Process of Building and Evaluating ML Models 19:49 The Impact of Machine Learning on Competitive Advantage 23:20 The Relationship Between Machine Learning and Profit & Loss ---- 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 welcomes Barb Wixom, Principal Research Scientist at MIT Sloan’s Center for Information Systems Research, to unpack what data monetization truly means and why most organizations misunderstand it. Barb shares insights from three decades of research and her new book, explaining the three real ways to convert data into financial value and the core capabilities companies need to do it right. This is a must-listen for anyone serious about turning data into measurable business impact rather than just buzzwords.Key Takeaways• There are only three ways to monetize data: improving internal processes, wrapping analytics around products or services, and selling informational solutions.• Success in data monetization starts with managing data as an asset, not just accumulating it.• Five core capabilities define maturity: data management, data platform, data science, customer understanding, and acceptable data use.• Companies should begin with internal improvements before moving to external monetization like data products or solutions.• Having “a lot of data” is irrelevant if it’s not usable, trusted, and aligned with strategy.Timestamped Highlights(01:17) Barb’s research journey from data warehousing to modern data monetization(03:30) Why no one agrees on what data monetization means—and why that matters(08:41) The three true paths to monetizing data: improving, wrapping, selling(14:46) The five core capabilities every organization needs before chasing advanced monetization(18:04) Why small startups can outperform big enterprises with fewer data assets(24:32) The “drinkable water” analogy for usable data(28:34) How to connect data, insight, action, and value realization(31:49) Why mastering the basics still determines success in GenAI and beyondA Thought That Sticks“It’s not about how much data you have. It’s about how smart you are with the data you have.” – Barb WixomPro TipsStart with improving internal processes using data analytics before moving to external data monetization. Build capabilities methodically and always evaluate acceptable data use as your organization scales.Call to ActionIf you enjoyed this episode, share it with a colleague who’s navigating data strategy. Subscribe and follow for more conversations that connect people, impact, and technology.

In this podcast episode, Naomi Yudanin, the Director of Medical Data at Munich Re, discusses the relevance of domain-specific data science expertise. She shares her journey, starting in biochemistry and molecular biology, transitioning into systems immunology, and eventually ending up in medical data and EHR product management. She emphasizes the importance of understanding the objective of generating insights from data and how clear business objectives and proper questions drive successful data analysis in healthcare. Beyond the typical technical questions, Naomi encourages stakeholders to think about the stories they want to tell with their data. She links them to the business value to derive actionable insights. She also touches on the perception of data quality in the healthcare industry and how the interpretation of analytics can result in different business outcomes. Highlights 01:42 Understanding the Role of Domain-Specific Knowledge in Data Science 03:33 The Value of Domain Expertise in Data Science 04:24 Challenges and Advantages of Having a Non-Technical Background 07:30 The Importance of Understanding the Data and its Relevance 10:14 The Gap between Business Outcomes and Technical Delivery 16:27 The Role of Data in Achieving Business Outcomes 19:29 The Importance of Telling the Right Story with Data Dr. Naomi Yudanin is currently the Director of Medical Data at Munich Re, a leading global provider of reinsurance, primary insurance and insurance-related risk solutions. Throughout her career, Naomi has integrated healthcare domain expertise with machine learning approaches to derive clinically relevant insights and provide actionable guidance for health product development and care delivery. Prior to joining Munich Re, Dr. Yudanin led enterprise-wide AI/ML development in several health tech startups, most recently as the Chief Data Scientist at Nanowear. Naomi obtained a PhD in Systems Immunology at Columbia University, where she received the Parker Graduate Award for innovative research, and completed a postdoctoral fellowship in computational genomics at Weill Cornell. The results of her research comprise multiple publications in high-impact journals, including Cell, Science, and Nature. Since transitioning to industry, Naomi has been awarded over $2 million in grants and co-authored two patents for AI/ML applications in healthcare. She continues to serve on the NIH study section for translational AI and as an advisor on several SBIR awards and regulatory committees focused on digital health. ---- 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)

The podcast features Suresh Martha, Head of Data-Driven Innovation and Analytics at EMD Serono, discussing extending technical impact, particularly in AI and Machine Learning. He gives insights into managing technological advances within a team, ensuring resources are utilized efficiently, and delivering capabilities to stakeholders. Martha also elaborates on the challenges of upskilling oneself to understand better and manage new technologies. Further, he explains strategies to evaluate new tools and technologies and ways to upscale resources and highlights the careful balance between exploration and delivery. Strategies to build roadmaps and adapt to emerging technologies and trends, such as generative AI, are also discussed alongside data security and privacy considerations. Highlights 01:03 Challenges of Leadership in Tech 01:54 Suresh's Role and Responsibilities at EMD Serono 03:25 Approach to New Technologies and Upskilling 05:37 Hiring for New Skills and Roles 11:04 Balancing Technical Skills and Leadership 17:22 Building a Roadmap for Data-Driven Innovation 17:45 Exploring Generative AI and Future Plans Guest: Suresh Martha is the Head of Data Driven Innovations & Analytics at EMD Serono (US), the healthcare business of Merck KGaA, in Darmstadt, Germany. He is a renowned information technology professional with over 18 years of experience in data warehousing and business intelligence (BI). He is a highly skilled, passionate professional with a proven track record of delivering sophisticated reporting and analytical solutions to stakeholders. He is a senior Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) member. He has participated as a judge for the Stevie Awards, the Globee Awards, the Smart India Hackathon 2022, and the Brandon Hall Excellence Awards. He is a co-mentor for small business owners at SCORE, acts as a Journal Peer Reviewer, and is a renowned speaker.  https://www.linkedin.com/in/suresh-martha-85209629/ ----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.comHave 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 podcast episode, Amir interviews John O'Toole, the Senior Director of Data Analytics at Tendo, a software-first company specializing in improving patient care journey. They discuss how Tendo uses data and analytics to improve patient care, help hospitals improve their rankings, and decrease the burden on healthcare providers. Integrating AI as a tool of assistance rather than a replacement in the healthcare industry is emphasized. John also highlights how Tendo creates a centralized, standardized patient data system to ease patient and provider processes. He sees future developments where patient-centric services become increasingly integrated and efficient. Highlights: 02:01 The Impact of Data on Patient Care 03:26 Innovative Approaches to Patient Care 04:26 The Challenges and Opportunities of Data in Healthcare 05:15 The Process of Evaluating and Utilizing Data 06:56 The Importance of Partnership in Data Analysis 16:28 The Future of AI in Healthcare 22:20 The Role of Tendo in Streamlining Patient Information Guest: John O'Toole is a healthcare industry expert with over 15 years of experience. Throughout his career, John has worked in various clinical areas, with the last eight years focused on Analytics. His data analysis, management skills, and expertise have led him to successfully manage enterprise analytics teams in the healthcare provider space. John holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Applied Psychology from the University of Illinois at Chicago and a Master of Arts degree in Health Systems Management from Rush University. In July 2023, John accepted a position as Senior Director of Analytics at Tendo, a health tech startup. https://www.linkedin.com/in/jotoole1/ ---- Thank you so much for checking out this episode of The Tech Trek, and 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.comHave questions or want to cover specific topics with our future guests?Please message me at https://www.linkedin.com/in/amirbormand (Amir Bormand)