

Redefining AI: The Award Winning Tech Podcast
Lauren Hawker Zafer
Redefining AI is a Three-Time Award-Winning Tech Podcast. Join Lauren Hawker Zafer, Chief Operating Officer at Squirro and Stevie Silver Award–winning creator, for a bold, thought-provoking exploration of artificial intelligence. Celebrated as intellectually rigorous, globally relevant, and truly unique, the show examines how AI shapes us socially, psychologically, and even physiologically. Each episode brings together leading academics, authors, executives, and industry innovators for candid conversations that reveal what AI really means for our world!
Episodes
Mentioned books

Jan 15, 2025 • 2min
Spotlight One - Mastering AI Literacy - Greg Shove's Secrets to Leading the Future of Business
After winning the prestigious New York Digital Award in 2024, Redefining AI returns with an electrifying Season Four!
Join your host Lauren Hawker Zafer, on behalf of Squirro, the Enterprise Gen AI Platform, as we embark on another season of groundbreaking conversations.
Kicking off with a visionary guest, Greg Shove, we explore his incredible journey through startups, leadership roles at Apple and AOL, and his current mission as CEO of Section, an online business school revolutionizing AI literacy.
In the upcoming premiere episode, we cover:
The transformation and future of Section.
Why AI literacy is essential for today’s leaders.
The integration of AI in decision-making and its impact on workflows.
Balancing AI-driven insights with human intuition.
The future of AI in education and the ethical boundaries of its use.
Don’t miss out on the insights that could reshape your business strategy and leadership approach!
🔗 Subscribe now to stay ahead in the AI era and catch every episode of this award-winning series.
#techpodcast #ai #section

Dec 21, 2024 • 23min
Dr. Imanol Schlag - Pioneering the Future of AI - Language Models and the Swiss AI Initiative
Join host Lauren Hawker Zafer - Squirro CMO as she sits down with Dr. Imanol Schlag, a prominent researcher in the field of artificial intelligence and machine learning.
Currently serving as a Postdoctoral Researcher at the ETH Zurich, Dr. Schlag has made significant contributions to the development of advanced neural network architectures and reasoning models. His academic journey includes a PhD under the guidance of renowned AI pioneer Jürgen Schmidhuber at the Swiss AI Lab, where he explored innovative approaches to enhance machine learning capabilities.
Dr. Schlag's research focuses on the intersection of language models and quantitative reasoning, with several of his papers gaining recognition in top-tier conferences. He is known for his work on Linear Transformers and their applications in fast weight programming, which has generated substantial attention in the AI community.
Join us, as we dive into Dr. Schlag's insights on the future of AI, the challenges of developing trustworthy models, and his vision for the role of machine learning in Swiss society.
Whether you're an AI enthusiast or just curious about the latest advancements in technology, this conversation promises to be both enlightening and inspiring.
Don't forget to subscribe and share your favourite episodes with your friends!
#techpodcast #squirro #ai #transformation

Dec 17, 2024 • 2min
Spotlight Seventeen - Pioneering the Future of AI - Language Models and the Swiss AI Initiative
Season Three - Spotlight Seventeen
Our seventeenth spotlight of this season is a snippet of our upcoming episode: Pioneering the Future of AI - Language Models and the Swiss AI Initiative.
Join host Lauren Hawker Zafer - Squirro CMO as she sits down with Dr. Imanol Schlag, a prominent researcher in the field of artificial intelligence and machine learning.
Currently serving as a Postdoctoral Researcher at the ETH Zurich, Dr. Schlag has made significant contributions to the development of advanced neural network architectures and reasoning models. His academic journey includes a PhD under the guidance of renowned AI pioneer Jürgen Schmidhuber at the Swiss AI Lab, where he explored innovative approaches to enhance machine learning capabilities.
Dr. Schlag's research focuses on the intersection of language models and quantitative reasoning, with several of his papers gaining recognition in top-tier conferences. He is known for his work on Linear Transformers and their applications in fast weight programming, which has generated substantial attention in the AI community.
Join us, as we dive into Dr. Schlag's insights on the future of AI, the challenges of developing trustworthy models, and his vision for the role of machine learning in society.
Whether you're an AI enthusiast or just curious about the latest advancements in technology, this conversation promises to be both enlightening and inspiring.

Nov 24, 2024 • 21min
Andrew Amann - Building AI Ventures - Entrepreneurial Insights
Join host Lauren Hawker Zafer - Squirro's CMO as she sits down with Andrew Amann, the dynamic CEO and co-founder of NineTwoThree studio, a leading AI agency known for driving digital transformation and winning multiple awards.
In this episode, Lauren and Andrew unpack the secrets to building thriving tech businesses, the smartest ways to use AI tools for maximum efficiency, and the game-changing strategy of cultivating a community before launching a product.
Andrew shares candid stories from his 18 years of experience, including his rollercoaster journey through 14 startups, the importance of resilience during tough times, and key lessons from managing crises like the Ukraine war’s impact on his team. From practical tips on measuring ROI in AI projects to the essential phases of entrepreneurship, this episode is packed with wisdom for aspiring tech leaders and curious minds eager to learn about leveraging AI for growth.
If you’re passionate about technology, entrepreneurship, or the future of AI, this episode is a must-listen!
#squirro #techpodcast #ai

Nov 14, 2024 • 2min
Spotlight Sixteen - Building AI Ventures - Entrepreneurial Insights
Season Three - Spotlight Sixteen
Our sixteenth spotlight of this season is a snippet of our upcoming episode: Andrew Amann - Building AI Ventures - Entrepreneurial Insights.
Join host Lauren Hawker Zafer - Squirro CMO as she sits down with Andrew Amann, the dynamic CEO and co-founder of NineTwoThree studio, a leading AI agency known for driving digital transformation and winning multiple awards.
They unpack the secrets to building thriving tech businesses, the smartest ways to use AI tools for maximum efficiency, and the game-changing strategy of cultivating a community before launching a product.
Andrew shares candid stories from his 18 years of experience, including his rollercoaster journey through 14 startups, the importance of resilience during tough times, and key lessons from managing crises like the Ukraine war’s impact on his team. From practical tips on measuring ROI in AI projects to the essential phases of entrepreneurship, this episode is packed with wisdom for aspiring tech leaders and curious minds eager to learn about leveraging AI for growth.
If you’re passionate about technology, entrepreneurship, or the future of AI, this episode is a must-listen!
#squirro #techpodcast

Oct 14, 2024 • 27min
Dr. Mitesh Rao - Redefining Healthcare - Harnessing Data to Drive AI-Powered Change
In this episode Redefining Healthcare - Harnessing Data to Drive AI-Powered Change, Lauren Hawker Zafer engages with Dr. Mitesh Rao.
This unique conversation dives into the advancement of healthcare and the immense possibilities that lie ahead when we harness the power of AI and data to shape a common language of data across the US healthcare landscape.
Our show survives because of its community, don't forget to subscribe and share the show with your friends!
Who is Dr. Mitesh B. Rao?
Dr. Mitesh Rao, MD, MHS is the Founder and CEO of OMNY Health, a venture-backed company revolutionizing how healthcare organizations collaborate and advance science through the common language of data.
Encompassing timely and comprehensive real-world data from direct partnerships with IDNs, AMCs, specialty networks, and other providers across the US, OMNY Health's proprietary platform provides the foundation for stakeholders across the healthcare ecosystem to compliantly and efficiently share data and insights, as well as pursue broader data-driven partnerships.
Prior to founding OMNY Health, Dr. Rao developed a national reputation as a leader in healthcare safety.
A Board-Certified Emergency Medicine Physician and Assistant Professor of Emergency Medicine at Stanford, he most recently served as the Chief Patient Safety Officer for Stanford Healthcare where he led Patient Safety, Quality, and System Redesign for the Enterprise.
Dr. Rao also served as Director of the Center for Advancing Patient Safety at Northwestern Memorial Hospital, which focused on implementing new innovations in the fields of Patient Safety and Quality Improvement. Dr. Rao began his career as a Fellow in the Robert Wood Johnson Clinical Scholars Program at Yale University.
#ai #techpodcast #redefiningai #squirro

Oct 7, 2024 • 1min
Spotlight Fifteen - Redefining Healthcare - Harnessing Data to Drive AI-Powered Change
Season Three - Spotlight Fifteen
Our fifthteen spotlight of this season is a snippet of our upcoming episode: Dr. Mitesh Rao - Redefining Healthcare - Harnessing Data to Drive AI-Powered Change.
Join host Lauren Hawker Zafer and guest Dr. Mitesh B. Rao as they dive into healthcare and the immense possibilities that lie ahead when we harness the power of AI and data to shape the future of healthcare.
Our show survives because of its community, don't forget to subscribe and share the show with your friends.
Who is Dr. Mitesh B. Rao?
Dr. Mitesh Rao, MD, MHS is the Founder and CEO of OMNY Health, a venture-backed company revolutionizing how healthcare organizations collaborate and advance science through the common language of data.
Encompassing timely and comprehensive real-world data from direct partnerships with IDNs, AMCs, specialty networks, and other providers across the US, OMNY Health's proprietary platform provides the foundation for stakeholders across the healthcare ecosystem to compliantly and efficiently share data and insights, as well as pursue broader data-driven partnerships.
Prior to founding OMNY Health, Dr. Rao developed a national reputation as a leader in healthcare safety.
A Board-Certified Emergency Medicine Physician and Assistant Professor of Emergency Medicine at Stanford, he most recently served as the Chief Patient Safety Officer for Stanford Healthcare where he led Patient Safety, Quality, and System Redesign for the Enterprise.
Dr. Rao also served as Director of the Center for Advancing Patient Safety at Northwestern Memorial Hospital, which focused on implementing new innovations in the fields of Patient Safety and Quality Improvement.
Dr. Rao began his career as a Fellow in the Robert Wood Johnson Clinical Scholars Program at Yale University.
#ai #techpodcast #redefiningai #squirro

Sep 12, 2024 • 27min
Anders Indset - Activation, Progress and Technology - The Viking Code
In this episode Lauren Hawker Zafer engages with Anders Indset. This fascinating conversation between Anders and Lauren focuses on the intersection between humanity and technology.
As a recognized thinker in technology and leadership by Thinkers50, Indset shares his perspective on emerging trends that will significantly impact these fields in the coming decade.
This episode offers valuable insights for anyone interested in the intersection of culture, philosophy, and business innovation.
Our show survives because of its community, don't forget to subscribe and share the show with your friends.
Who is Anders Indset?
Internationally acclaimed keynote speaker and “Business Philosopher” Anders Indset—Norwegian-born author, deep-tech investor, and former elite athlete.Anders is a fifth-time Spiegel best-selling author, author of six international books, and has been recognized by Thinkers50 as one of the influential thinkers in the fields of technology and leadership in the years to come.
Anders has two decades of experience in working with multinational companies and is a sought-after guest lecturer at leading international business schools. Whether on big stages or in small groups, with his unconventional way of thinking and his inspiring and dynamic personality, he moves and activates people, and leads them beyond ‘the given’ and what they hold to be self-evident.
Anders’ work focuses on the dialogue between philosophy and business, which has boundless potential. Philosophy—“the art of being wrong”—supports the continuous improvement of business models, methods, and strategies by critically questioning basic economic assumptions and beliefs and uncovering core problems.
The unlimited openness of this approach to paradoxes, differences, and ambiguities harbors the potential from which innovative and sustainable entrepreneurial perspectives and solutions can emerge.
In his forthcoming book, The Viking Code (Wiley, September 2024) Anders reveals the secrets of Norwegian success in sports and beyond. By studying Norwegian success we can develop a new performance culture that is based on fun and positivity and deeply rooted in values. Anders Indset impressively shows what leaders in business and politics, as well as society as a whole, can learn from the Viking Code, and vividly illustrates how a new, value-based performance culture can become a reality.
#ai #techpodcast #redefiningai #squirro

Sep 3, 2024 • 2min
Spotlight Fourteen - Activation, Progress and Technology - The Viking Code
Season Three - Spotlight Fourteen
Our fourteenth spotlight of this season is a snippet of our upcoming episode: Anders Indset - Activation, Progress and Technology - The Viking Code.
Join host Lauren Hawker Zafer as she engages with Anders Indset. Anders and Lauren talk about the intersection between humanity and technology.
As a recognized thinker in technology and leadership by Thinkers50, Indset shares his perspective on emerging trends that will significantly impact these fields in the coming decade. This episode promises to offer valuable insights for anyone interested in the intersection of culture, philosophy, and business innovation.
Our show survives because of its community, don't forget to subscribe and share the show with your friends.
Who is Anders Indset?
Internationally acclaimed keynote speaker and “Business Philosopher” Anders Indset—Norwegian-born author, deep-tech investor, and former elite athlete.Anders is a fifth-time Spiegel best-selling author, author of six international books, and has been recognized by Thinkers50 as one of the influential thinkers in the fields of technology and leadership in the years to come.
Anders has two decades of experience in working with multinational companies and is a sought-after guest lecturer at leading international business schools. Whether on big stages or in small groups, with his unconventional way of thinking and his inspiring and dynamic personality, he moves and activates people, and leads them beyond ‘the given’ and what they hold to be self-evident.
Anders’ work focuses on the dialogue between philosophy and business, which has boundless potential. Philosophy—“the art of being wrong”—supports the continuous improvement of business models, methods, and strategies by critically questioning basic economic assumptions and beliefs and uncovering core problems.
The unlimited openness of this approach to paradoxes, differences, and ambiguities harbors the potential from which innovative and sustainable entrepreneurial perspectives and solutions can emerge.
In his forthcoming book, The Viking Code (Wiley, September 2024) Anders reveals the secrets of Norwegian success in sports and beyond. By studying Norwegian success we can develop a new performance culture that is based on fun and positivity and deeply rooted in values. Anders Indset impressively shows what leaders in business and politics, as well as society as a whole, can learn from the Viking Code, and vividly illustrates how a new, value-based performance culture can become a reality.
#ai #techpodcast #redefiningai #squirro

Aug 14, 2024 • 30min
Pedro Domingos - AI - 2040
In this episode, Pedro Domingos - AI - 2040 - Lauren Hawker Zafer is joined by Pedro Domingos.
This unique conversation explores AI's impact on politics, particularly in voter targeting and campaign strategies, and the concept of AI as a tool for enhancing collective intelligence.
Domingos, with over 200 technical publications and numerous accolades, shares insights on the future of AI, its challenges, and opportunities.
Who is Pedro Domingos?
Pedro Domingos is a renowned AI researcher, tech industry insider, and Professor Emeritus of Computer Science and Engineering at the University of Washington. He is the author of the best-selling book The Master Algorithm: How the Quest for the Ultimate Learning Machine Will Remake Our World (Basic Books, 2015), which has been translated into over twelve languages and sold over 300,000 copies.
He won the SIGKDD Innovation Award and the IJCAI John McCarthy Award, two of the highest honors in data science and AI. Domingos is Fellow of the AAAS and AAAI and received an NSF CAREER Award, a Sloan Fellowship, a Fulbright Scholarship, an IBM Faculty Award, several best paper awards, and other distinctions.
Pedro received an undergraduate degree (1988) and M.S. in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science (1992) from IST in Lisbon and an M.S. (1994) and Ph.D. (1997) in Information and Computer Science from the University of California at Irvine.
Pedro is the author/co-author of over 200 technical publications in machine learning, data science, and other areas. He’s a member of the editorial board of the Machine Learning journal, co-founder of the International Machine Learning Society, and past associate editor of JAIR.
He was the program co-chair of KDD-2003 and SRL-2009, and I've served on the program committees of AAAI, ICML, IJCAI, KDD, NIPS, SIGMOD, UAI, WWW, and others.
His work has been featured in the Wall Street Journal, Spectator, Scientific American, Wired, and elsewhere. Lastly, Domingos helped start the fields of statistical relational AI, data stream mining, adversarial learning, machine learning for information integration, and influence maximization in social networks. He lives in Seattle.
#ai #techpodcast #redefiningai #squirro


