Guest: Shawn Villaron, Vice President of Customer and Strategic Initiatives, Office Product Group at Microsoft | Former VP & GM of PowerPoint | Bay Area Site Leader | Executive Sponsor of HOLA

In this episode, we sit down with Shawn Villaron, a 29-year veteran at Microsoft who has helped shape some of the company’s most widely used products and strategies. Now serving as Vice President of Customer and Strategic Initiatives in the Office Product Group, Shawn partners with Microsoft’s most important customers to better understand their needs around AI, workplace modernization, and productivity—insights that directly shape the future of Microsoft Office.

Previously, Shawn was Vice President & General Manager for PowerPoint, where he led teams across multiple platforms—Windows, Mac, Web, iPad, Android, and iOS—reimagining how billions of people create and deliver stories. He also serves as Engineering Site Leader for Microsoft Bay Area, working across commercial, consumer, hardware, and AI platforms, while championing diversity and inclusion as executive sponsor of HOLA (Hispanic & Latinx Organization of Leaders in Action).

Shawn brings a rare perspective: spending nearly three decades at a single company, driving innovation from the inside, and now exploring how AI and agents are reshaping the way we work, create, and build businesses.

• The positives and challenges of building an entire career at one company in the fast-moving tech world.
• How PowerPoint and Office are being reimagined for the AI storytelling era.
• Practical ways companies can encourage employees to use AI responsibly and effectively.
• How leaders can use AI to boost both creativity and productivity within teams.
• When employees might be using too much AI—or not enough.
• What it means to become an “AI Agent Boss” and how agents can give startups enterprise-level capabilities.
• Whether the concept of the one-person unicorn is realistic, and what’s still missing.
• How recent graduates can stand out in an AI-driven job market.
• The emerging technologies Microsoft’s Bay Area teams are most excited about right now.
• One piece of advice Shawn would give to founders and technologists building the next generation of workplace tools.

• What are the upsides and downsides of staying at one company for nearly three decades?
• How is Microsoft rethinking storytelling with AI in PowerPoint and Office?
• How can leaders balance productivity and creativity when adopting AI tools?
• What role will AI Agents play in empowering both startups and enterprises?
• Are we truly heading toward the era of the one-person unicorn?
• What advice would you give to graduates entering an AI-powered job market?
• Which emerging technologies are your Bay Area teams most focused on right now?

Shawn Villaron is Vice President of Customer and Strategic Initiatives in the Microsoft Office Product Group, where he drives strategy by working closely with top customers to shape the future of AI and productivity. Previously, he served as Vice President & GM of PowerPoint, guiding the product across every platform and ensuring seamless experiences for millions of users. He also serves as Engineering Site Leader for Microsoft Bay Area and as executive sponsor of HOLA, advancing diversity and inclusion at Microsoft.

• LinkedIn: Shawn Villaron | LinkedIn
• Microsoft Bay Area Blog: Microsoft Bay Area Blog
• Microsoft Work Trend Index: The 2025 Annual Work Trend Index: The Frontier Firm is Born

The views expressed on this podcast are for informational purposes only and do not constitute financial or legal advice. Please consult with a professional for guidance on your specific situation. The opinions shared are my own and do not necessarily reflect the views of Finalis Inc. or Finalis Securities LLC, Member FINRA/SIPC.

Guest: Pankaj Patel, Founder and CEO of Nile | Former EVP and Chief Development Officer at Cisco | Partner at JC2 Ventures | Senior Advisor at March Capital

In this episode, we sit down with Pankaj Patel, one of the most influential leaders in enterprise technology. As the former engineering head of Cisco’s $38 billion portfolio with a $6 billion R&D budget, and now the founder and CEO of Nile, Pankaj brings unparalleled insight into the future of networking, AI, and enterprise security.

Pankaj shares lessons from building and leading global engineering organizations, the principles he applied to acquisitions and innovation at scale, and why he believes simplicity and security must define the next era of enterprise technology. We also explore how Nile is disrupting the status quo, delivering secure and simple networking as a service, and why Pankaj considers this company the fulfillment of an “unfulfilled mission” in his career.

Whether you’re a technology executive, founder, or investor, this conversation offers invaluable perspective on how to navigate complexity, embrace AI, and prepare for the enterprise networks of the future.

• Leadership at scale: What it was like managing 29,000 engineers and a $6 billion R&D budget at Cisco.
• Acquisition strategy: How Pankaj evaluated companies for acquisition and integration.
• The AI reality check: Why many legacy companies are calling themselves AI-first, and whether the claims hold up.
• Simplicity in enterprise tech: Why products have historically been built around complexity, and why simplifying networks is both challenging and essential.
• Security reimagined: What truly makes a system secure, why humans are often the weakest link, and how AI will transform security.
• The “unfulfilled mission”: Why Pankaj launched Nile and how the company is disrupting the networking industry.
• Future of enterprise tech: How networking, AI, and security are converging to reshape the next decade.
• Investor perspective: What Pankaj looks for in founders and startups as a board member, advisor, and venture partner.

• What principles guided your allocation of Cisco’s $6 billion R&D budget?
• What criteria did you use when acquiring companies, and how did you evaluate integration risk?
• Why has enterprise tech often thrived on complexity, and how is Nile changing that?
• How do you see AI shaping the future of networking and security?
• What advice would you give to enterprises overwhelmed by legacy systems?
• What was the “unfulfilled mission” that led you to launch Nile?
• How has your leadership style evolved from managing tens of thousands at Cisco to leading a focused startup team?
• What do you look for in founders when joining boards or investing?
• How will the convergence of networking, AI, and security define the next 5–10 years?

Pankaj Patel is the Founder and CEO of Nile, where he is reimagining the future of networking by delivering secure, simple, and customer-obsessed services. Previously, he served as Executive Vice President and Chief Development Officer at Cisco, overseeing the company’s $38 billion product portfolio. He is also a Partner and Chief Strategy Officer at JC2 Ventures, a Senior Advisor at March Capital, and serves on the boards of several leading technology startups.

• LinkedIn: Pankaj Patel
• Nile: https://nilesecure.com

The views expressed in this podcast are for informational purposes only and do not constitute financial, legal, or investment advice. Please consult with a qualified professional regarding your specific situation.

The views expressed are those of the guest and host and do not necessarily reflect the views of Finalis Inc. or Finalis Securities LLC, Member FINRA/SIPC.

#ai #cybersecurity #nilesecure #siliconvalley #podcast

Join us for an insightful conversation with Taylor Brandt, a Partner at Headline, where we dive into the world of venture capital and B2B software. Taylor specializes in vertical SaaS, B2B marketplaces, and commerce infrastructure as a Partner in Headline’s

In this episode, we explore Taylor's unique perspective, shaped by her background in marketing and analytics engineering:

We cover key topics for founders and aspiring VCs, including:

• Fundraising Misconceptions: What is a common mistake founders make when pitching to VCs, especially regarding their focus on senior partners?
• Founder Traits: What underrated qualities does Taylor look for in strong founders of B2B companies?
• Breaking into VC: Taylor shares her advice for those without a “traditional” resume and reveals her own path into the industry.
• Assessing Risk: How does she evaluate the adoption risk of investing in infrastructure and logistics companies?
• The Future of Tech: We get Taylor's take on the next big opportunities in vertical SaaS and B2B marketplaces, and what signals she's tracking.
• AI Adoption: A discussion on how AI is being adopted in businesses, particularly when it doesn't require a change in existing processes.
• Athlete & Founder Mindset: Exploring the correlation Taylor sees between being an athlete and a successful founder or VC.

Disclaimer: The views expressed on this podcast are for informational purposes only and not financial or legal advice. Consult with a professional for your specific situation. The views expressed are my own and do not necessarily reflect the views of Finalis Inc. or Finalis Securities LLC, Member FINRA/SIPC.

Connect with Taylor Brandt:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/taylor-brandt-89415250/
• Headline Website: https://headline.com/

#VentureCapital

#FounderAdvice

#TechInvesting

#SaaSTech

#StartupFunding

#VC