FRAMES OF TECH

Giorgio Ponticelli

FRAMES OF TECH: the podcast uncovering the real growth stories behind Europe’s (and beyond) most interesting startups, scale-ups. Too many tech podcasts focus on hype, valuations, or the same five big names. This show is different. Host Giorgio Ponticelli sits down with founders, operators and investors to explore: How great tech companies are really built. The culture, strategy, and people that drive growth Lessons from scaling, hiring, and leading teams across markets. Honest stories of challenges, growth and leadership. 🎧 Subscribe on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or YouTube 🌐 Learn more: framesoftech.com

Episodes

  1. Roland Butler: TheFuture of Product Management | AI | Soft Skills-Stakeholder Trust | FramesOfTech 3

    06/11/2025

    Roland Butler: TheFuture of Product Management | AI | Soft Skills-Stakeholder Trust | FramesOfTech 3

    Giorgio Ponticelli sits down with Roland Butler, Head of Product, Content Solutions at Zalando and former product leader at Just Eat, Bookatable, The Fork and VavaCars. Roland shares his candid perspective on how AI is reshaping product management, why relationships matter more than frameworks, and what it really takes to thrive as a product leader today. Roland explains how to balance top-down ambition with bottom-up feedback, why too many tasks kill prioritization, and why communication is the most underrated product skill. You'll learn: - How AI is changing the product role without replacing it - Why stakeholder trust and over-communication beat any tool or process - The balance between customer pain points and internal priorities - Why junior PMs need both soft and hard skills to succeed - The leadership principles that remain timeless across startups, scale-ups, and corporates Plus, Roland reveals his most practical advice for aspiring product managers: learn to work with others, adapt your communication, and not being afraid to take risks. If you are a Founder, Product Manager, or Operator navigating the impact of AI, this episode of Frames Of Tech is essential listening. Timestamps 00:00 Intro & welcome 01:05 Will AI replace product managers? Myths vs. reality 07:03 Balancing top-down ambition with bottom-up feedback 11:20 Why companies lose sight of customer pain points 13:20 Backlogs, prioritization & building stakeholder trust 18:00 Defending product decisions & over-communicating 20:30 No-meeting culture vs. real relationship building 23:20 Where AI really helps (and where it wastes time) 29:30 Leadership principles that never change 31:20 Startups vs. corporates: what truly makes the difference 35:20 Advice for aspiring product leaders: skills that matter

    41 min
  2. How AI is changing Consultancy | Founder vs Manager mode | Driving Cultural Change | Rik Van der Woerdt, CEO of ADC

    13/10/2025

    How AI is changing Consultancy | Founder vs Manager mode | Driving Cultural Change | Rik Van der Woerdt, CEO of ADC

    Rik van der Woerdt, Founder & CEO of Amsterdam Data Collective, joins Giorgio Ponticelli on Frames of Tech to discuss the future of AI consulting, building a purpose-driven company culture, and why adopting AI is about more than hype. You’ll learn: - How Rik built Amsterdam Data Collective into a leading AI consultancy - What founders must learn when moving from founder to manager mode - The impact of private equity on culture and growth - Why collective culture outperforms traditional partner models in consulting - Where AI is hype vs. where it’s already driving real results - How to recruit and develop AI talent - Why transitions fail and how leaders can get them right - The real role of consultants in the AI era - What advice students need for the AI-driven economy - Why languages and culture still matter in a world of instant translation ---------------------- ⏱️ Chapters 00:00 Intro & welcome 01:10 Rik’s background & founding Amsterdam Data Collective 01:54 Why start in data & AI back in 2017 04:50 Private equity acquisition, impact on culture & leadership 07:51 Founder mode vs. Manager mode 11:43 The Collective model vs. Partner model in consulting 14:25 Adapting culture & ownership for the new generation 17:19 Trends in AI adoption across industries 22:37 AI Hype vs Real Benefit 27:27 Will AI replace consultants? 29:45 Recruiting & developing AI talent 33:19 AI Implementation and Change vs Transition 38:09 Advice for students preparing for an AI future 40:34 The value of languages & culture in global business ---------------------- Watch the full video on Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/@Frames-Of-Tech

    40 min

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
2 Ratings

About

FRAMES OF TECH: the podcast uncovering the real growth stories behind Europe’s (and beyond) most interesting startups, scale-ups. Too many tech podcasts focus on hype, valuations, or the same five big names. This show is different. Host Giorgio Ponticelli sits down with founders, operators and investors to explore: How great tech companies are really built. The culture, strategy, and people that drive growth Lessons from scaling, hiring, and leading teams across markets. Honest stories of challenges, growth and leadership. 🎧 Subscribe on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or YouTube 🌐 Learn more: framesoftech.com