Wharton Tech Toks

Episodes

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  What's the Point of School? ft. CEO @ MasterClass (David Rogier) x Linen Suit & Plastic Tie #LSPTPod 24.09.2026 1h 3m

  How does storytelling inspire us to learn? What will the future of education look like? In collaboration with the Wharton Tech Toks Podcast, we chat with David Rogier, Founder and CEO of MasterClass. We break down exactly how storytelling inspires us to learn, and hear David's picture of the next version of executive/MBA education, and the general role of AI and humans in the future of education.This episode was hosted by Gorav Menon (WG'27) & Kevin Liu and done in collaboration with the Linen Suit & Plastic Tie (#LSPTPod), the podcast dedicated to unlocking the power of storytelling. Check them out wherever you get your #podcasts or @ LSPTPod.com
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  Storytelling in Tech: Inside Commerce AI 12.05.2026 58m

  In this episode of Wharton Tech Toks, host Gorav Menon (Wharton MBA ’27 and co-host of The Linen Suit & Plastic Tie) sits down with Lisa Yamner, Co-Founder & Chief Brands Officer at Daydream, for a deep dive into the future of AI-powered commerce and storytelling in fashion.Lisa shares her journey from helping launch Google’s first political advertising initiatives and building the tech giant’s fashion and luxury vertical, to co-founding THE YES and now Daydream, an AI-native shopping platform reimagining personalized discovery. Together, they explore how conversational AI is transforming retail, why fashion is fundamentally emotional, and how personalization can move beyond algorithms into genuine taste and identity.The conversation also dives into the tension between technology and creativity: Can AI actually enhance individuality instead of homogenizing culture? How do brands maintain storytelling and trust in an era of automation? And what happens when shopping starts to feel more like a conversation than a transaction?From luxury’s early skepticism of digital advertising to the rise of AI personal shoppers, this episode offers a fascinating look at how technology, storytelling, and human taste are colliding to shape the future of commerce.
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  AI Tech Toks: Building AI Systems That Work 28.04.2026 30m

  In this episode of Tech Talks, Mahima Singh interviews Siddharth Singh, a published AI researcher, engineer and MS Computer Science Candidate at Stony Brook University. Siddharth shares insights on bridging research and engineering in real-world AI systems. He highlights the fundamental difference between researchers and engineers—where researchers focus on truth and rigor, engineers focus on building reliable systems under real-world constraints—and emphasizes the importance of combining both mindsets to create impactful AI solutions.Siddharth discusses how to identify meaningful research problems, design robust evaluation frameworks, and navigate the transition from research to production. He explains that real-world AI systems must account for constraints like latency, compute, and unpredictable environments, making system design—not just model performance—critical. He also highlights common failure modes in AI, including distribution shifts, metric misalignment, and human behavior adaptation.In this conversation, Siddharth shares practical guidance for working across research, engineering, and product roles. He explains how strong product managers manage uncertainty, translate business problems into precise technical questions, and avoid premature assumptions. He also advises students to build technical literacy, understand the gap between research and deployment, and develop the ability to frame clear, actionable problems. The discussion concludes with insights on experimentation, iteration, and the critical role of human judgment in building reliable AI systems.
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  AI Tech Toks: What Comes Next in Finance 14.04.2026 51m

  In this episode of Tech Toks, Mahima Singh interviews Akshata Parab, Executive Director at Morgan Stanley, who shares her inspiring career journey, key inflection points, and the impact of AI on the financial services industry. Akshata discusses the importance of self-awareness, adaptability, and the role of AI in shaping competitive dynamics and long-term impacts in finance. She emphasizes the need for firms to integrate AI responsibly while maintaining human oversight. In this conversation, Akshata discusses the integration of AI tools in the workplace, emphasizing their role in enhancing efficiency and decision-making. She highlights the importance of defining clear objectives for AI integration, ensuring data quality, and prioritizing security. Akshata also shares insights on personal branding, the significance of developing both vertical and horizontal skills, and the essential skills for students and young professionals in a tech-driven world. The discussion concludes with rapid-fire insights on current AI trends and predictions for the future.
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  Behind the Scenes Special: Salesforce Tower 10.04.2026 5m

  Join Debbie Cheng (WG'26) and Avanthika Ramesh (Senior Director of Product Management for Agentforce at Salesforce and WG'25) for a special behind the scenes look at the Salesforce Tower and its office perks.
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  AI Tech Toks: Strategy, Cloud, and the Future of Work 07.04.2026 28m

  In this episode of Tech Talks, Mahima Singh interviews Sakshi Jain, Head of Go-To-Market Strategy for North America at AWS, who shares her career journey and perspectives on the impact of AI on the technology industry. Sakshi reflects on her path from Microsoft to McKinsey to Amazon, emphasizing intentional learning, adaptability, and cross-functional experience as key drivers of growth. She highlights how AI is reshaping cloud and enterprise strategy, pushing organizations to rethink how they build and compete. Sakshi discusses major industry shifts, including AI-driven infrastructure, rising productivity expectations, and increasing investment in AI. She explains that competitive advantage now depends on data, model performance, and the ability to embed AI into workflows. She also shares how she uses AI to enhance efficiency and decision-making, while emphasizing the importance of critical thinking. Sakshi advises students to build AI fluency and problem-solving skills. The discussion concludes with insights on agentic AI and a future where AI automates execution while humans focus on strategy.
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  The Rise of the Chief of Staff: Inside Tech's Most Versatile Role 17.02.2026 47m

  In this episode of Wharton Tech Toks, Kirk Hachigian (Wharton MBA ’27) sits down with Clara Ma, CEO and Founder of Ask a Chief of Staff to break down what the Chief of Staff role actually is – and isn’t. Clara shares why it’s become one of the most sought-after roles in tech, the core pillars of the role (culture, operations, and strategy), and how the job changes from Series A to later-stage. From her early days in recruiting to becoming Chief of Staff at AI unicorn Hugging Face, Clara shares how she navigated a non-linear career path to build a thriving community of Chief of Staffs. She offers candid advice on landing your first role, leveraging AI without losing your voice, and how to avoid burning out once you’re in the seat.
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  Securing the Digital Front Door: Okta and the Future of Identity 21.01.2026 42m

  In this episode of Wharton Tech Toks, Kirk Hachigian (Wharton MBA '27) sits down with Julia Oberrotman (Wharton MBA '16), Senior Director of Corporate Strategy at Okta. Julia breaks down why identity security is about to get exponentially harder—and more critical—as AI agents start moving money, accessing sensitive data, and operating autonomously across systems. The conversation unpacks Okta's $6B Auth0 acquisition and explains how they're racing to secure AI from the moment it's built.Julia pulls back the curtain on what corporate strategy actually looks like at a high-growth company, offering candid advice for those navigating an AI-transformed world.
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  Design That Delivers: Impact, Innovation, and Leadership 13.01.2026 42m

  In this episode of Wharton Tech Toks, host Debbie Cheng (WG’26) sits down with Carly Price (WEMBA ‘23), Senior Director of Customer & Partner Experience Design at ServiceNow and founder of Liv Labs, a women’s health startup.Carly shares what it takes to lead design at scale across industries from retail and finance to automotive and enterprise SaaS. She opens up about launching Liv Labs and balancing startup life with the Wharton WEMBA program, all while working full-time and raising a family.From building beta branches at JPMorgan Chase to integrating AI into UX at ServiceNow, Carly’s career is a masterclass in creative leadership, strategic thinking, and staying curious.Whether you're a designer, founder, or MBA navigating your next move, this episode is full of real talk, tactical insights, and inspiration.
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  Personalization at Scale: The Business of Marketing Technology 12.12.2025 50m

  In this episode of Wharton Tech Toks, Kirk Hachigian (Wharton MBA '27) sits down with Justin Hannah, Senior Director of Marketing Technology and Automation at FanDuel Sports Network. Justin shares his career journey from a 40-person ad tech startup to leading MarTech at Hulu and FanDuel, breaking down the complex world of marketing technology.The conversation explores how customer data platforms and CRM systems power modern marketing, the challenges of multi-touch attribution in a privacy-first world, and FanDuel's innovative approaches to measuring campaign ROI. Justin discusses transitioning from streaming entertainment to real-time sports, balancing aggressive personalization with responsible gaming, and where AI is actually delivering value versus hype in MarTech today.
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  Storytelling in Tech: Inside The Best One Yet 02.12.2025 59m

  In this episode of Wharton Tech Toks, host Gorav Menon (Wharton MBA ’27 and co-host of The Linen Suit & Plastic Tie) sits down with Nick Martell of The Best One Yet for a deep dive into how top creators use storytelling, branding, and smart content strategy to shape the future of tech and media. Gorav uncovers Nick’s journey from Robinhood to building an independent media brand, the launch of their new evergreen show The Best Idea Yet, and how podcasts build trust by balancing education, entertainment, and cultural relevance. They also explore where AI enhances creative work—and where it falls short. If you want a behind-the-scenes look at the evolution of podcasting and the future of business media, this is an episode you won’t want to miss.
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  Cybersecurity Training Gets Personal: The Dune Approach 11.11.2025 34m

  In this episode of Wharton Tech Toks, Kirk Hachigian (Wharton MBA ‘27) sits down with David DellaPelle, CEO and Co-Founder of Dune Security, to discuss how Dune is modernizing security awareness training through a personalized, AI-driven approach. They explore how Dune moves beyond one-size-fits-all training, the evolving threat landscape, and the importance of integrations across the security stack. David also shares insights into his journey as a founder, advice on building and scaling a team, and his experience growing a cybersecurity company in NYC.
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  BetterBasket: Retail Tech and Lessons from YC and Uber 04.11.2025 37m

  In this episode of Wharton Tech Toks, Debbie Cheng (Wharton MBA Class of 2026) sits down with Leon Zhang, Co-Founder and CEO of BetterBasket. Leon shares his journey from launching grocery delivery operations at Uber to co-founding BetterBasket, a YC-backed startup helping grocers use data to optimize pricing in the face of inflation, digital transformation, and legacy systems.Leon also opens up about his decision to take a leave of absence from Wharton to join Y Combinator’s Winter '24 cohort, what he's learned about hiring and building a startup culture, and why challenging the status quo is at the heart of entrepreneurship.Whether you're curious about retail tech, YC, or life as a founder-MBA, this one’s full of insights.
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  Beyond Chatbots: What It Takes to Build, Lead, and Learn in AI Product Management 21.10.2025 1h 2m

  In this episode of Wharton Tech Toks, Debbie Cheng (Wharton MBA Class of 2026) sits down with Avanthika Ramesh, Senior Director of Product Management for Agentforce at Salesforce (Wharton MBA Class of 2025). They dive into Avanthika’s career journey from engineering at Berkeley to building AI-driven products at Salesforce, including her work on chatbots, Web3, and generative agents.Avanthika shares insights on what it takes to succeed in product management, how to lead cross-functional teams, and why she chose to pursue her MBA while continuing to work full-time. From evolving chatbots into intelligent AI agents to balancing corporate keynotes with Wharton coursework, her story is packed with lessons on leadership, learning, and navigating ambiguity.
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  Crux Climate: Supercharging Green Energy Financing 29.07.2025 29m

  In this episode, Julien Guiot sits down with Jim Alderson-Smith, Managing Director at Crux, to unpack how Crux is transforming capital markets for clean energy. They explore the company’s role in facilitating efficient financing through transferable tax credits and debt marketplaces, aiming to make clean energy funding more liquid and accessible. The conversation dives into the evolution of tax equity financing, Crux’s strategy for building a broad network of developers, corporates, and intermediaries, and how the platform reduces friction in traditionally complex financial transactions. Key themes include navigating political uncertainty in climate policy, driving inclusivity in deal sizes, and advice for MBAs looking to break into climate tech. Tune in for a deep dive into how fintech innovation is powering the clean energy transition in the U.S.
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  Wispr Flow: Speech to Text Like Never Before 04.06.2025 32m

  In this episode Tanika Mehra interviews Tanay Kothari, Co-founder & CEO of Wispr Flow, an AI-powered voice-first productivity tool designed to help professionals communicate faster and more naturally. Wispr Flow is pioneering a screen-free, voice-first future where professionals can dictate messages, edit text with natural voice commands, and boost productivity 3x faster than typing. Backed by NEA, 8VC, and top AI leaders, Wispr Flow has raised $26M to redefine the way we interact with technology.
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  Medicine & Tech: EHRs, Healthcare IT, AI and more 20.05.2025 38m

  Join us for this episode with Dr. Craig Joseph, Chief Medical Officer at Nordic Global and co-author of Designing for Health. Craig shares his journey from practicing pediatrics to becoming a national thought leader in healthcare IT and clinical informatics. We dive into his experience with EHRs like Epic and Cerner, the challenges of designing tech doctors actually want to use, and where AI fits into the future of patient care.This is a great episode if you're exploring careers at the intersection of medicine and technology or curious about human-centered design in healthcare. If you enjoy the show, be sure to share it with a friend and leave a comment!
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  In the Engine Room: Working at the Epicenter of the AI Revolution 17.05.2025 46m

  Join us for this episode with Leigh Engel, Senior Product Manager for Enterprise AI at NVIDIA. Leigh’s journey spans media, consulting, and big tech firms like Apple and WPP before landing in product leadership at one of the world’s top AI companies. We explore her career pivots, how she balances innovation with user-centered design, and her take on evaluating AI models like GPT-4 and Llama for enterprise use. This is a great episode if you're curious about breaking into AI product management or understanding the future of generative AI in business. If you enjoy the episode, share it with a friend and leave us a comment!Please note: The views expressed in this episode are Leigh’s alone and do not reflect those of her employer, NVIDIA.
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  Credit Karma: Powering personal finance 15.05.2025 35m

  In this episode, Julien Guiot sits down with Ryan Graciano, Co-Founder and Head of Product at Credit Karma to discuss the story behind Credit Karma, exploring how the company disrupted personal finance by offering free credit scores and personalized financial insights. We dive into the challenges and opportunities of building trust in the finance sector, Credit Karma’s innovative approach to user-centric design, and their strategy for scaling a fintech business sustainably. Key questions include how to effectively balance user experience with data privacy and what future trends might shape personal financial management. Tune in for valuable insights into the evolution and future of fintech from one of the industry's pioneering companies.
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  Leading Digital Change at Gucci and Beyond: A Conversation with Francesca Migliori 08.05.2025 46m

  Francesca Migliori is a global digital and e-commerce executive with expertise in omnichannel strategies, CRM, and startup advisement. Join us in this exciting episode as Debbie Cheng (Wharton Class of 2026) and Francesca Migliori discuss her journey from Wharton to investment banking to leadership roles across various organizations including Gucci and Loro Piana. She shares riveting stories leading digital transformation initiatives that enhance customer engagement and market expansion, as well as her new adventure driving operational excellence and digital innovation in publishing as COO of Lost River Press.