Gou Rao is a serial entrepreneur and the co-founder of NeuBird, where he's building Hawkeye—an AI-powered site reliability engineer designed to identify, diagnose, and resolve IT infrastructure issues. He previously co-founded Portworx, which was acquired by Pure Storage for $370 million in 2020. In 2024, NeuBird raised a $22.5 million seed extension from M12, Microsoft’s venture arm, following a $22 million seed round led by Mayfield, Stepstone Group, and Prosperity7 Ventures. Gou holds a bachelor’s degree in Computer Engineering from Bangalore University and a master’s degree from the University of Pennsylvania.

In this conversation, we discuss:

• Gou Rao’s journey from late-night support calls to co-founding NeuBird and building Hawkeye, an AI-powered site reliability engineer.
• Why diagnosing IT issues is 99% of the problem—and how Hawkeye helps SREs move from noise to actionable insight in minutes.
• The shift from chatbots to agentic systems—and why reasoning, not just automation, is the next frontier for enterprise AI.
• How AI can reduce burnout by eliminating repetitive incident response tasks, freeing teams to focus on creativity and automation.
• The importance of transparency, explainability, and human oversight in deploying AI systems with agency.
• Gou’s reflections on entrepreneurship, including why “mistakes are an asset” and how jumping into the unknown can lead to your biggest breakthroughs.

Resources:

• Subscribe to the AI & The Future of Work Newsletter: https://aiandwork.beehiiv.com/subscribe
• Connect with Gou on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gouthamrao/
• AI fun fact article: https://www.hrdive.com/news/anthropic-report-AI-software-engineers-automation-augmentation/739833/
• On becoming an investor and discovering amazing companies: https://www.buzzsprout.com/520474/episodes/7446373

Ravi Malick is the Global CIO at Box, where he leads IT strategy, compliance, and customer advocacy for the enterprise content management platform. Before joining Box, he served as SVP & CIO at Vistra Corp., where he oversaw the integration of three major acquisitions that more than doubled the company’s size. Earlier in his career, he held leadership roles at Energy Future Holdings, including VP of Business Technology at TXU Energy. Ravi earned a BA in Political Science from Brown University and remains active in philanthropic efforts outside of work.

In this conversation, we discuss:

• Ravi Malick’s nonlinear path from investment banking and consulting to becoming Global CIO at Box—and how each chapter shaped his leadership style.
• What makes Box’s “people-first” culture stand out in Silicon Valley and why Ravi believes authenticity and inclusion are key to long-term success.
• The challenges of leading IT at a company with 3,000 tech-savvy employees—and how Ravi balances innovation with governance.
• How he’s approaching AI adoption internally, from quick wins to long-term strategy, while keeping a sharp focus on business outcomes.
• What the “agentic workforce” could mean for scalability, productivity, and the structure of tomorrow’s teams.
• How Ravi sees the future of work: multi-role careers, voice-first workflows, and AI-powered teams built around passion and outcomes.

Resources:

• Subscribe to the AI & The Future of Work Newsletter: https://aiandwork.beehiiv.com/subscribe
• Connect with Ravi on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ravimalick/
• AI fun fact article: https://www.engineering.com/rip-saas-long-live-ai-as-a-service/
• On how AI supports thousands of employees at a rapidly growing global company: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/parul-saini-ubers-global-head-of-enterprise-apps/id1476885647?i=1000599377300

Rafie Faruq is a serial entrepreneur and the co-founder of Genie, a platform launched in 2017 to make high-quality legal documents accessible through open-source tools.

Since then, Genie has served over 100,000 users across 120 jurisdictions and recently raised an $18M Series A from Google Ventures and Khosla Ventures. Rafie holds an MSc in Machine Learning, has advised the Law Policy Commission, contributed to the Law Society, and represented the Ministry of Justice on international trade missions.

He also teaches meditation and is a mentor to many seeking meaning and clarity in life.

In this conversation, we discuss:

• Rafie Faruq’s unconventional path from bond trader to AI entrepreneur and what drove him to apply machine learning to legal access.
  
  
• How his early research on generative models led to new ways of thinking about document creation and automation.
  
  
• Why he believes the current definition of intelligence is outdated—and what a more human-centered version could look like.
  
  
• The role of emotional intelligence, purpose, and social connection in a future shaped by automation.
  
  
• What it means to build a business rooted in spiritual principles—and how Rafie applies concepts like rhythm, balance, and nature to team building.
  
  
• His reflections on power, responsibility, and why founders should see themselves as stewards of broader societal change.

Resources:

• Subscribe to the AI & The Future of Work Newsletter: https://aiandwork.beehiiv.com/subscribe
• Connect with Rafie on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rfaruq/
• AI fun fact article: https://www.mixonline.com/blog/mix-blog-who-wrote-that-ai-and-copyright-law
• On Entrepreneurship in Emerging Markets: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/linda-rottenberg-endeavor-co-founder-and-ceo/id1476885647?i=1000517670973

To mark World Health Day, we’re revisiting powerful conversations with innovators using AI to improve healthcare access, reduce costs, and return empathy to the patient experience.

In this special compilation episode, you’ll hear from five leaders at the intersection of healthcare and emerging technologies—sharing how AI is already reshaping how we deliver care and what’s next for clinical innovation.

🎧 Featuring insights from:

🔹 Boe Hartman (Co-founder, Nomi Health) – Listen to the full conversation here: https://www.buzzsprout.com/520474/episodes/16185843

🔹 Punit Soni (Founder, Suki) – Listen to the full conversation here: https://www.buzzsprout.com/520474/episodes/16339101

🔹 Dr. Brigham Hyde (Co-founder, Atropos Health) & Dr. John Halamka (President, Mayo Clinic Platform) – Listen to the full conversation here: https://www.buzzsprout.com/520474/episodes/12797551

🔹 Dr. Shiv Rao (CEO, Abridge) – Listen to the full conversation here: https://www.buzzsprout.com/520474/episodes/12739445

🩺 Why It Matters:
AI is helping solve some of healthcare’s most pressing challenges—from clinician burnout and inefficient workflows to gaps in clinical data and access to care. But real transformation depends on how we design and deploy these tools—with responsibility, empathy, and transparency.

Resources

• Subscribe to the AI & The Future of Work Newsletter: https://aiandwork.beehiiv.com/subscribe
• Data Privacy Day Special Episode: AI, Deepfakes & The Future of Trust: https://www.buzzsprout.com/520474/episodes/16554098
• The Future of AI Ethics Special: Perspectives from Women Leaders in AI on Bias, Accountability & Trust: https://www.buzzsprout.com/520474/episodes/16733990

Dr. Craig Wheeler is Professor Emeritus of Astronomy at the University of Texas at Austin and a former department chair. He has published nearly 400 scientific papers, written books on supernovae, and authored two novels. A frequent speaker and award-winning educator, Dr. Wheeler has served on advisory committees for the NSF, NASA, and the National Research Council. His research explores topics from exploding stars and black holes to the technological future of humanity.

In this conversation, we discuss:

• How supernovae and black holes shaped Dr. Craig Wheeler’s career—and what they reveal about the universe’s expansion.
• The singularity debate: Will AI surpass human intelligence, and if so, what happens next?
• Machine consciousness vs. human intelligence—why the future of AI might be more alien than we expect.
• The rise of AI in leadership roles—could AI replace CEOs, and what does that mean for the future of work?
• The ethics of AI-driven decision-making, from hiring to autonomous weapons, and the challenges of regulation.
• Why exponential technological growth is inevitable—and how humanity can prepare for its accelerating impact.

Resources:

• Subscribe to the AI & The Future of Work Newsletter: https://aiandwork.beehiiv.com/subscribe
• Connect with J. Craig Wheeler on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/j-craig-wheeler-94024a97/
• AI fun fact article: https://www.popularmechanics.com/technology/robots/a63057078/when-the-singularity-will-happen/
• On AI Job Creation & Predictions for AI in the Enterprise: https://www.buzzsprout.com/520474/episodes/15873523

Dheeraj Pandey is a visionary entrepreneur and philanthropist best known for founding and leading Nutanix from its inception to becoming a publicly traded company valued at approximately $16.5 billion on NASDAQ. In 2020, he launched DevRev, an agentic AI company focused on unifying data to enhance customer experiences, securing over $100 million in funding from Khosla Ventures. Beyond his contributions to technology, Dheeraj co-founded Param Hansa with his wife, Swapna, to advance human life through science and technology. He holds a Computer Science and Engineering degree from IIT Kanpur and a master's in Computer Science from UT Austin.

In this conversation, we discuss:

• Why data is the backbone of AI and how DevRev is leveraging knowledge graphs to transform customer support and product management.
• The evolution of enterprise AI—why businesses must integrate AI with human workflows rather than replace them.
• The future of customer support—how DevRev combines real-time conversations with ticketing systems to improve response times and reduce inefficiencies.
• The ethical challenges of AI adoption—how bias, security, and machine reliability shape the future of AI-driven business operations.
• How DevRev raised over $100M, including an unconventional approach using blockchain and decentralized funding models.
• Dheeraj’s vision for AI’s next frontier—why the real challenge isn’t intelligence, but making AI work seamlessly with human decision-making.

Resources:

• Subscribe to the AI & The Future of Work Newsletter: https://aiandwork.beehiiv.com/subscribe
• Connect with Dheeraj Pandey on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dpandey
• AI fun fact article: https://hackernoon.com/next-time-you-hear-someone-say-ai-will-replace-call-center-agents-run
• On The Path To 500M+ YouTube views: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/301-william-osman-on-the-path-to-500m-youtube-views/id1476885647?i=1000668882327

How has the dynamic between employees and employers shifted over the past 18 months? And what does the future of work look like in a world defined by AI?

In this special live episode, recorded at Transform—the conference at the intersection of the People space and the tech industry—Dan Turchin sits down with Bryan Power, Head of People at Nextdoor.

Bryan took the stage at Transform to share insights on "The Power Shift: Navigating the New Employer-Employee Dynamic," where he explored how evolving expectations are reshaping the workforce.

Bryan has spent his career shaping workplace culture at some of the most iconic tech companies, including Google, Square, and Yahoo. Now, as the leader of People Operations at Nextdoor, he’s at the forefront of redefining work in an era of rapid change.

In this conversation, Bryan and Dan discuss topics such as:

• How the employee-employer relationship is evolving—why job loyalty is declining and what it means for the future of work.
• The rise of hybrid work and its impact on company culture—how Nextdoor navigates the balance between flexibility and connection.
• Why culture must be intentional—lessons from Google, Square, Yahoo, and Nextdoor on shaping a workplace where people thrive.
• The role of AI in HR and leadership—how AI is disrupting traditional people operations and what leaders must do to stay ahead.
• Bryan’s biggest leadership lessons—what he’s learned from building teams at some of the most influential tech companies.
• The future of HR in an AI-powered world—how the Chief People Officer role is shifting as AI and automation reshape the workplace.

Resources

• Subscribe to the AI & The Future of Work Newsletter: https://aiandwork.beehiiv.com/subscribe
• Connect with Bryan Power: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bryanpower/
• Learn more about Transform: https://transform.us/conference/

Scott Wharton is a visionary entrepreneur and CEO making waves in the solar industry as the leader of Tandem PV, where he’s developing solar cells that are about 30% more efficient than current market options. Previously, he spent eight years at Logitech as a general manager, revolutionizing how businesses use consumer tech for productivity and collaboration. Before that, he was the CEO of Vidtel, which was acquired by Fidelity Investments in 2013. A bold thinker and risk-taker, Scott is known for his leadership and innovation across industries. He holds an MBA from Yale and a bachelor’s degree from Binghamton University.

In this conversation, we discuss:

• How solar energy has become the cheapest and most scalable power source —and why most people haven’t caught up to this reality.
• The breakthrough potential of perovskite solar cells and why they’re set to replace silicon as the industry standard.
• Why the U.S. must invest in solar manufacturing – and how bringing production back from China strengthens energy security.
• The evolving synergy between solar and battery storage —how new advancements are making 24/7 renewable power a reality.
• Common myths about solar’s limitations and why concerns about cost, reliability, and land use no longer hold up.
• Scott’s journey from leading video conferencing at Logitech to revolutionizing the solar industry – and what motivated him to take on this challenge.

Resources:

• Subscribe to the AI & The Future of Work Newsletter: https://aiandwork.beehiiv.com/subscribe
• Connect with Scott Wharton on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/scottwharton/
• AI fun fact article: https://www.cnbc.com/2024/11/23/data-centers-powering-ai-could-use-more-electricity-than-entire-cities.html
• On how AI can be used to provide fact-based impartial answers to scientific questions: https://www.buzzsprout.com/520474/episodes/11574063