The Founder's Foyer with Aishwarya Ashok

The Founder's Foyer
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The Founder's Foyer with Aishwarya Ashok is full of hallway conversations—the space where early-stage founders, builders, and creators look for all the foundational concepts and support to grow their ideas into products. Follow this show for all things Product, Ideas, Growth.

  1. #64 How to Leverage Your Human Superpower with Improv ft. Jessia Hoffman (Founder, On Deck Workshops)

    FEB 4

    #64 How to Leverage Your Human Superpower with Improv ft. Jessia Hoffman (Founder, On Deck Workshops)

    What if the real competitive advantage in an AI-saturated workplace isn’t more tools, but how human it still feels to build things together? In a world where “vibe coding” and AI copilots can translate almost any instruction into code, the leverage shifts to how clearly people communicate, how bravely they improvise in uncertainty, and how much imagination they are willing to bring into the room.​Jessia Hoffman lives exactly at that intersection. As founder of On Deck Workshops and a Stanford instructor in applied improvisation, she’s spent years using improv, story, and play to help teams at companies like Google, Bloomberg, and Cisco become more connected, courageous, and creative. Her fully experiential sessions – connective games, shared rituals, and teachable moments – impactfully transform how people relate to risk, failure, creativity, and one another – which is exactly the humanness that AI can’t automate. We talk about: Why improv is actually a trainable skill, not a personality traitHow teams that fail together build stronger bonds and better products than teams that just “win”Why brainstorming fails in most companies (and how improv fixes it)The real meaning of “Yes, And” and how it unlocks thriving team cultureHow psychological safety is built in the body, not in slide decksWhy culture, not tools, is the real differentiator in an AI-saturated worldIf you’re a founder, manager, or builder navigating ambiguity, this episode will change how you think about communication, creativity, and leadership. To follow Jessia Hoffman, LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jessiahoffman/ Website: https://ondeckworkshops.com/ RESOURCES!- Want to talk to Jessia or ask her a question? Connect with her at: linkedin.com/in/jessiahoffman/- Could your team benefit from improv at your next offsite? Check out On Deck Workshops: ondeckworkshops.com- And for improv magic in your inbox, sign up for their (every-other-month) newsletter: https://mailchi.mp/598b8d6ac148/ondeckworkshops ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- About the host :         I’m Aishwarya, a product builder obsessed with turning raw ideas into real, working tools, especially with AI in the mix. Over the last 9+ years in SaaS, I’ve shipped zero-to-one products, scaled product marketing & GTM motions, and built across MarTech automation, real-time collaboration tools, and live event tech. Today, I work hands-on as an AI-first builder & forward-deployed PM/Engineer, working closely with AI models, agents, and orchestration systems to shape next-gen AI products. You can follow me here, LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aishwarya-ashok/ Twitter: https://x.com/aishashok14 My product memos: https://aishashok.com/ ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Timestamps: 00:00 - Trailer 01:09 - Intro 04:01 - What is improvisation, and how did you discover improv? 07:03 - From high school to starting On Deck: your journey 12:18 - Can improv be learned as a skill? The right mindset for beginners 21:34 - Is improv always a team activity? Can solo improv help personal growth? 29:17 - Tools & techniques used with teams at Google, Cisco, LinkedIn, etc. 37:25 - How improv naturally helps people loosen up and open up 41:25 - Do you use these tools in the first few minutes to make people feel at ease? 44:51 - Theatre & stand-up improv: practice vs reading the room 48:02 - Improv as a creative boundary to build on others’ ideas 01:02:05 - Parallels between improv and working with AI as a co-partner 01:06:10 - Tech is abundant, but creativity and execution still matter most 01:07:56 - Quick improv exercise: “Name three things” game 01:14:52 - Why human creativity is key to using AI effectively 01:17:08 - Outro

    1h 18m
  2. #63 Growth in 2026 - The REAL IMPACT of AI on Work, Startups, and Creators ft. Casey Winters

    JAN 26

    #63 Growth in 2026 - The REAL IMPACT of AI on Work, Startups, and Creators ft. Casey Winters

    AI is moving fast, faster than most of us expected. I went into this conversation thinking we’d talk about AI tools, models, and speed. But what it really became was a conversation about why so many of us still don’t build, even when AI feels easier than ever. In this episode, I spoke with Casey Winters, co-founder and CEO of Superme, someone who has spent years helping startups grow and guiding builders through the messy, uncertain parts of execution. What stood out to me wasn’t the tools. It was how differently he thinks about building. We spoke deeply about things I know many of us struggle with: Why most AI ideas never turn into real products The biggest mistake people make when building with AI Why overthinking kills momentum in the AI era How MVPs look different when execution becomes cheap Why curiosity matters more than clarity How to use AI as a thinking partner, not a shortcut What I appreciated most about this conversation is how honest it felt. Just a grounded perspective on what it means to build when things are uncertain, and why starting imperfectly matters more than waiting for clarity. If you’ve been sitting on ideas, feeling overwhelmed by how fast AI is moving, or unsure where to begin, this episode might help you reframe things. It definitely did for me. To follow Casey Winters, LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/caseywinters/ Website: https://www.caseyaccidental.com/ ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- About the host :         I’m Aishwarya, a product builder obsessed with turning raw ideas into real, working tools, especially with AI in the mix. Over the last 9+ years in SaaS, I’ve shipped zero-to-one products, scaled product marketing & GTM motions, and built across MarTech automation, real-time collaboration tools, and live event tech. Today, I work hands-on as an AI-first builder & forward-deployed PM/Engineer, working closely with AI models, agents, and orchestration systems to shape next-gen AI products. You can follow me here, LinkedIn: https: //www.linkedin.com/in/aishwarya-ashok/ Twitter: https: //x.com/aishashok14 My product memos: https://aishashok.com/ ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Timestamps: 00:00 - Trailer 01:08 - Intro 02:19 - How growth has evolved in AI-first companies 05:31 - Hype vs. compounding work in AI growth 08:04 - Speed, velocity, and rapid AI release cycles 10:58 - Why shipping AI features ≠ distribution 14:00 - Differentiation: apps vs. core AI model companies 27:40 - Pricing, monetization, and retention in AI 33:13 - LLM search, brand discovery, and growth budgets 41:07 - Community-led growth and discoverability 45:06 - SaaS vs. consumer distribution in an AI world 49:40 - Wrapper companies and fast replication 55:24 - Copying vs. owning execution and taste 57:09 - Superme: structuring human knowledge with AI 01:02:17 - Outro

    1h 3m
  3. #62 You’re Using AI the Wrong Way! A Google Labs PM Reveals Why ft. Jaclyn Konzelmann, Google Labs Product Lead

    JAN 9

    #62 You’re Using AI the Wrong Way! A Google Labs PM Reveals Why ft. Jaclyn Konzelmann, Google Labs Product Lead

    This episode stayed with me long after we hit stop. I went into this conversation thinking we’d talk about AI tools, models, and speed. But what it really became was a conversation about why so many of us still don’t build, even when AI makes things feel easier than ever. In this episode, I spoke with Jaclyn Konzelmann, a Product Manager at Google Labs, someone who spends her days working on AI experiments where nothing is fully clear, roadmaps keep shifting, and the only real way forward is to build and learn in public. What stood out to me wasn’t the tools.It was how differently she thinks about building. We spoke deeply about things I know many of us struggle with: Why most AI ideas never turn into real products The biggest mistake people make when building with AI Why overthinking kills momentum in the AI era How MVPs look different when execution becomes cheap Why curiosity matters more than clarity How to use AI as a thinking partner, not a shortcut She also shared how she actually uses AI in real life, across work, side projects, writing, and even parenting, not in a polished or perfect way, but in a very human one. We discussed real workflows using tools like Gemini, NotebookLM, Mixboard, and Opal, always coming back to the same question: are we actually building, or just consuming? What I appreciated most about this conversation is how honest it felt. No hype. No pressure to “catch up.” Just a grounded perspective on what it means to build when things are uncertain, and why starting imperfectly matters more than waiting for clarity. If you’ve been sitting on ideas, feeling overwhelmed by how fast AI is moving, or unsure where to begin, this episode might help you reframe things. It definitely did for me. To follow Jaclyn Konzelmann, do check here :  Jaclyn KonzelmannProduct Manager, Google Labs LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jaclynkonzelmann/X (Twitter): https://x.com/jacaluluBlog: https://blog.jaclynkonzelmann.com/ ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- About the host :         I’m Aishwarya, a product builder obsessed with turning raw ideas into real, working tools, especially with AI in the mix. Over the last 9+ years in SaaS, I’ve shipped zero-to-one products, scaled product marketing & GTM motions, and built across MarTech automation, real-time collaboration tools, and live event tech. Today, I work hands-on as an AI-first builder & forward-deployed PM/Engineer, working closely with AI models, agents, and orchestration systems to shape next-gen AI products. You can follow me here, LinkedIn: https: //www.linkedin.com/in/aishwarya-ashok/ Twitter: https: //x.com/aishashok14 My product memos: https://aishashok.com/ ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Timestamps:  00:00:00 – Trailer / Hook 00:01:00 – Intro 00:03:05 – AI newness in today’s world 00:05:00 – How she adopted and adapted to AI models 00:06:25 – Execution is cheap, creativity is the bottleneck 00:07:35 – Why people hesitate to start with AI 00:09:15 – How to break the fear and just begin 00:11:46 – Curiosity over clarity 00:15:09 – Side projects as a way to learn AI 00:17:48 – Starting with ideas, not tools 00:25:33 – Two important keys for building with AI 00:29:30 – Building in public & learning from users 00:32:40 – Mixboard: how real AI products evolve 00:36:00 – From MVP to features: learning from usage 00:39:20 – Using AI as a thinking partner 00:42:30 – Creativity, parenting & everyday AI use 00:45:50 – Opal, workflows & no-code AI building 00:49:10 – AI inside teams: roles are blurring 00:52:20 – The future of building with AI 00:55:10 – Staying curious without losing original thinking 00:58:30 – Final reflections: why starting matters 01:01:20 – Outro

    1h 2m
  4. #61 Will AI Take Our Jobs? ⚠️The Real Answer ft. Anjan Panneer Selvam, CPTO at Acolyte Health

    12/19/2025

    #61 Will AI Take Our Jobs? ⚠️The Real Answer ft. Anjan Panneer Selvam, CPTO at Acolyte Health

    Everyone is racing to “add AI” to their workflow. Very few are rethinking how work itself should feel in an AI-first world.In this episode of Founders’ Foyer, I sit down with Anjan Panneer Selvam, Chief Product & Technology Officer at Acolyte Health, to unpack what AI is actually changing inside modern product organisations.This isn’t a surface-level conversation about tools. We go deeper, into how product roles are being rewritten, not replaced, and how AI kills tasks, not careers.Anjan shares how his team uses AI to run product end-to-end: recording meetings, turning insights into decisions, and aligning teams through fast prototyping instead of long PRDs. He breaks down real workflows and leadership practices that help teams move faster ,without losing judgment.You’ll hear honest insights on: Why Product Manager, design, and engineering roles aren’t dying , they’re evolvingTreating AI as a teammate, not just a toolHow judgment becomes the most valuable skill in the AI eraBuilding with prototypes first, PRDs laterCommunal learning, micro-learning, and reducing AI fear inside teamsNew frictions AI creates: choice overload, false progress and decision fatigueIf you’re a product manager, founder, designer, engineer, or builder wondering how to stay relevant , this conversation will change how you think about work, leadership, and AI.This isn’t about being faster. It’s about being clearer. 00:00 – Trailer01:12 – Setting the context and purpose of the discussion02:48 – Is AI really replacing jobs? Understanding the fear07:25 – Fear of AI in Teams and introducing it to the team13:28 – Common doubts when people start using AI17:05 – How leaders should approach AI adoption19:35 – Understanding the content/production cycle28:20 – Why dynamic documents matter.33:04 – What Makes an Idea Strong36:45 – Comparing ideas across different domains39:23 – How AI helps reduce content and work pressure43:55 – Blending creativity and technology48:18 – Content Creation with AI54:38 – New ideas emerging through AI 01:03:50 – Key takeaways and closing thoughts

    1h 5m
  5. #60 Are you ready for the AI Era ? ft. Raiza Martin | The Founder's Foyer with Aishwarya Ashok

    12/06/2025

    #60 Are you ready for the AI Era ? ft. Raiza Martin | The Founder's Foyer with Aishwarya Ashok

    ⁠00:00⁠ – Trailer⁠01:10⁠ – Intro⁠04:15⁠ – Initial days of Raiza⁠07:00⁠ – Figuring out content⁠10:30⁠ – Why are people using the same prompt ?(Personalization issues)⁠12:31⁠ – Different aspects of AI⁠16:55⁠ – Voice AI & Huxe⁠20:00⁠ – Human interaction with AI⁠24:36⁠ – AI’s transformation in the podcast industry⁠28:55⁠ – Experience of building a product⁠33:00⁠ – Setting goals after creating a product⁠35:52⁠ – How to plan and build a product from scratch⁠38:55⁠ – How to rebuild, revise, and improve a product smoothly⁠41:33⁠ – The future and possibilities of AI as technology advances⁠44:16⁠ – The day after the product launch: What emotions did you go through?⁠48:30⁠ – How to view and interpret experiences.⁠50:00⁠ – Outro In this episode, we dive deep into the world of AI, content creation, and product-building, uncovering the real stories behind innovation, From the early days of Raiza Martin, Co-Founder of Huxe, journey to figuring out content strategies, this conversation explores how creators adapt in an era where AI outputs look repetitive, templated, and predictable, and what it truly takes to stand out.We also break down the different aspects of AI, including voice AI, humanlike AI behaviour, and how our daily interactions with AI are reshaping creativity. You’ll hear insightful takes on how AI is transforming podcasts, changing workflows, and pushing creators to think differently.Moving beyond tech, we talk about the emotional and practical side of building something from scratch Setting goals after creating a productHandling rebuilds and revisionsNavigating the day after a launchSeeing experiences through a new, meaningful lensWhether you're a creator, a startup founder, or someone curious about the future of AI, this episode gives you clarity, confidence, and a fresh perspective on what’s possible in a rapidly advancing world. To follow Raiza Martin, do check here : LinkedIn : https://www.linkedin.com/in/whatsaraiza/https://www.linkedin.com/in/whatsaraiza/Product Link : http://huxe.com--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------About the host : I’m Aishwarya, a product builder, obsessed with turning raw ideas into real, working tools, especially with AI in the mix. Over the last 9+ years in SaaS, I’ve shipped zero-to-one products, scaled product marketing & GTM motions, and built across Marketing Technology automation, real-time collaboration tools, and live event tech. Today, I work hands-on as an AI-first builder & forward-deployed PM/Engineer, working closely with AI models, agents, and orchestration systems to shape next-gen AI products.You can follow me here,LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aishwarya-ashok/Twitter: https://x.com/aishashok14My product memos: https://aishashok.com/

    51 min
  6. #59 We’re Not Vibe Coding: We’re Building Real AI Products ft. Nicholas Charriere, Founder & CEO of Mocha

    09/21/2025

    #59 We’re Not Vibe Coding: We’re Building Real AI Products ft. Nicholas Charriere, Founder & CEO of Mocha

    In this episode of The Founder’s Foyer with Aishwarya Ashok, join Nicholas Charriere, Founder & CEO of Mocha, and discover how Mocha is democratising product creation enabling anyone, regardless of coding experience, to build functional apps. Nicholas shares Mocha’s mission to empower the 99%, the transformative role of AI in app development, their unique vertically integrated approach, and the future of product building. You’ll also learn about Mocha’s viral launch, innovative marketing strategies, and insights into the evolving economics of AI tools. Timestamps:  00:00 – Intro 00:55 – Welcome to Founder’s Foyer 01:10 – Why Mocha Was Started and How It’s Useful for People 07:33 – How to Build a Product for an Audience Who Doesn’t Know How to Explain Things 12:05 – A Customer Who Built a Business with Mocha 18:50 – Why “Easy” Features Like Payments Are Harder Than They Look 27:56 – AI Unlocks New Ways to Help Small Businesses 31:20 – AI Pricing Is Broken, And It’s On Purpose

    50 min
  7. #58 Why should founders treat AI like a teammate? | Claire Vo, Founder of ChatPRD.ai

    09/04/2025

    #58 Why should founders treat AI like a teammate? | Claire Vo, Founder of ChatPRD.ai

    In this episode of The Founder's Foyers Podcast, Claire joins us to talk about building with AI, vibe coding, and the future of product creation. We cover everything from AI tools that speed up coding to why product fundamentals never change. Claire shares how solo founders, startups, and even large organisations can use AI to move faster and why ignoring AI could make you unemployable in just a couple of years. Highlights include: 1. What vibe coding really means for non-technical builders 2. Why AI-powered tools are changing how products are made 3. How leaders can push teams to adopt AI without fear 4. Claire’s take on employability in the next 24 months 5. Building in public, product intuition, and speed over perfection 6. Why “fast beats right” — and how AI makes fast easier This episode is full of practical insights, founder lessons, and future-facing advice for anyone building in tech today. 00:00 - Intro 01:08 – Welcome to The Founder's Foyer 04:10 – What actually is vibe coding 09:26 – Adaptation of AI with Product Managers & working people 11:08 – The difference between leading teams and building solo 13:38 – Why Claire pushed AI early in workplaces 17:53 – Exploring AI tools like Cursor and Devin 33:08 – Building in public and shaping AI products 46:28 – The future of small AI-powered teams 48:28 – Final thoughts and key takeaways

    46 min
  8. #57 Adaptability and Human Skills in the AI Era ft. Nita Singh Kaushal (Stanford & NSK Leadership)

    08/20/2025

    #57 Adaptability and Human Skills in the AI Era ft. Nita Singh Kaushal (Stanford & NSK Leadership)

    Nita Singh Kaushal, in conversation with host Aishwarya Ashok, explores how leaders and professionals can thrive in the age of AI. She emphasizes that adaptability and curiosity now matter more than fixed expertise, and that leadership is no longer about simply knowing—it’s about navigating uncertainty with clarity and vision. While AI can accelerate output and even draft brilliant plans, it is ultimately humans who build belief, create meaning, and inspire action. Nita highlights why the real edge lies in sensemaking, communication, and trust, and how storytelling and collaboration keep us grounded in a world flooded with instant output. At its core, this conversation is a reminder that the best leaders embrace curiosity over certainty and see AI not as competition, but as a powerful companion to human judgment and values. Timestamp 00:00 – Intro   01:12  -  Welcome to The Founder's Foyer Podcast  04:18 – From Knowing to Navigating: How Do We Adapt in the Age of AI?   16:43 – Why AI Can’t Replace Humans and How It Supports Leadership   29:35 – Who Are We Really Building Products For?   30:04 – Designing AI Products with Human Emotions in Mind   33:52 – Beyond Workflows: How AI Can Help People See Themselves Differently in Their Roles   41:54 – Challenges of Bringing AGI into Practice & Power Dynamics of AI   50:10 – AI as a Companion, Not a Crutch   55:00 – Final Takeaways

    56 min
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The Founder's Foyer with Aishwarya Ashok is full of hallway conversations—the space where early-stage founders, builders, and creators look for all the foundational concepts and support to grow their ideas into products. Follow this show for all things Product, Ideas, Growth.

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