Full Tech Ahead

Amanda Razani
  • 5.0 (1)
  • TECHNOLOGY

On this podcast, I sit down with business leaders, researchers and executives to explore innovative technology solutions and products, whether they’re transforming industries today or still in development. But we go far beyond the tech itself. From real-world use cases and business implementation journeys to cybersecurity challenges and future trends, we uncover what’s shaping the digital landscape.We also dive into topics that matter to every tech professional: Work/life balance, business communication, education and training. Think of it as your one-stop shop for meaningful technology discussions that inspire and inform.

  1. Automate Finance End-to-End

    5D AGO

    Automate Finance End-to-End

    In this episode of "Full Tech Ahead," host Amanda Razani speaks with Prashanth Saradesai, Head of AI for Wiss, about how accounting and finance organizations can successfully implement artificial intelligence.  Saradesai shares insights from evaluating over 200 AI vendors, noting that many finance teams hesitate to adopt AI because they struggle to prove a clear Return on Investment (ROI). He explains that treating AI as an isolated "point solution" (e.g., merely extracting invoice data) is ineffective; instead, organizations must automate end-to-end workflows to see real value.  Furthermore, he emphasizes that in the strict finance sector, "good enough" is unacceptable, making human-in-the-loop processes essential to mitigate AI hallucinations.  Finally, he advises companies to refine their internal processes, build strong data foundations, and prioritize change management to ensure a successful AI adoption. Key Quotes:  "In finance, 'good enough' is not an answer. You can't say, 'hey, my finances are good enough.' Even one number doesn't work; it flows through your financial reporting." "If leadership has the vision of bringing AI to the organization, but if you are not bringing everybody in the organization... there won't be any value." "Start investing in AI from the perspective of using it for your end-to-end workflow... being AI native, thinking from a standpoint of making all your employees AI fluent, are the North Stars." Takeaways: Focus on End-to-End Workflows: Using AI for a single task like invoice extraction won't drive significant ROI. AI should be implemented to handle the entire workflow—from extraction and matching to approvals, posting entries, and reconciliation. Fix Processes and Data First: The biggest mistake companies make is starting with the technology. Organizations must first clearly define their internal processes, clear bottlenecks, and build a solid, well-organized data foundation before deploying AI. Prioritize Change Management: An AI initiative will fail if the vision stays only at the executive level. Training employees on both the advantages and the limitations (like hallucinations) of AI is crucial for successful, company-wide adoption. Capture Decision "Context": As the industry moves toward autonomous AI agents capable of "computer use," the organizations that will succeed are those building "context graphs"—documenting not just their raw data, but the specific reasons and context behind their past business decisions. Find Amanda Razani on LinkedIn.  https://www.linkedin.com/in/amanda-razani-990a7233/ Follow the FTA LinkedIn Page: https://www.linkedin.com/company/full-tech-ahead/ Visit the FTA website: https://fulltechahead.com/ Check out the Substack Channel: https://fulltechahead.substack.com/

    20 min
  2. Unlock Safe AI Growth

    APR 23

    Unlock Safe AI Growth

    In this episode of "Full Tech Ahead," host Amanda Razani interviews Javed Hasan, CEO and Co-Founder of Lineaje. They discuss the critical importance of software supply chain security, emphasizing that 95% of modern software risks come from open-source ingestion. Hasan introduces Lineaje's new product, "UnifAI," which is designed to make AI applications secure by design. He highlights a major industry blind spot: AI has become incredibly easy to build, but it is often not safe to run. UnifAI solves this by helping CISOs discover their AI inventory, derive the correct security policies, and autonomously apply those policies in both low-code and high-code environments. The conversation also explores complex emerging threats such as runtime code generation, "reasoning compromise," and the growing danger of Shadow AI. Key Quotes "95% of the risk in modern software is ingested by using open source. So we make open source safe to use by companies." "AI has become easy to build, but AI is not safe to run. So what UnifAI does, it makes the AI applications secure by design." "Use AI to improve productivity safely." Takeaways Automate AI Security Policies: CISOs and developers are overwhelmed by rapidly changing AI regulations. Solutions like Unify streamline this by discovering all AI assets and autonomously applying the correct security policies directly into the development workflow, eliminating the need for manual rule-reading. Beware of "Reasoning Compromise": Hackers are finding new ways to exploit AI without using explicitly bad prompts. By manipulating the context or the "reasoning" of an LLM (e.g., claiming the CEO ordered an action), attackers can bypass built-in controls and extract sensitive data. The Threat of Shadow AI and Autonomous Code: Unauthorized AI tools or rogue agents (Shadow AI) can perform deep, unauthorized actions like sending emails or extracting credentials. Furthermore, AI agents writing code at runtime without human oversight represent a massive new security challenge that traditional policies cannot catch. The Shift to "Security for AI": We are moving past just using AI to make existing security tasks faster ("AI for security"). The industry must now focus on an entirely new domain—"Security for AI"—to protect the newly established AI-centric software infrastructure. Find Amanda Razani on LinkedIn.  https://www.linkedin.com/in/amanda-razani-990a7233/ Follow the FTA LinkedIn Page: https://www.linkedin.com/company/full-tech-ahead/ Visit the FTA website: https://fulltechahead.com/ Check out the Substack Channel: https://fulltechahead.substack.com/

    12 min

  3. APR 16

    Off-Grid Data Centers

    In this episode of "Full Tech Ahead," host Amanda Razani interviews Reza Azizian, CEO of Ferveret.  They discuss the company's innovative liquid cooling technology for data centers and AI factories, which is inspired by nuclear reactor cooling.  Azizian highlights a recent benchmarking study conducted with UCLA, revealing that Ferveret's adaptive cooling solution delivers 35% more compute power from the same power envelope compared to traditional methods. Furthermore, the discussion emphasizes sustainability; while a typical 100MW data center consumes the equivalent of 4,500 Olympic swimming pools of water annually, Ferveret’s closed-loop system consumes essentially zero water.  This technological breakthrough aims to make the "AI revolution" environmentally sustainable and enables the deployment of off-grid data centers in hot, arid regions. Key Quotes "We developed liquid cooling technologies for data centers and AI factories, which is inspired by nuclear reactor cooling." "...in a 100 megawatt datacenter, that can translate into almost 230 million of more revenue per year, which is quite significant." "A typical 100 megawatt data center can consume up to 4500 Olympic swimming pools of water per year for cooling... our solution basically works with a closed loop. So the water consumption is basically almost zero." "We are here to help to make the AI revolution sustainable." Takeaways Massive Efficiency Gains: A recent UCLA study proved that Ferveret's cooling solution provides 15% more compute at the server level and a total of 35% more compute at the facility level using the exact same power contract. Zero Water Waste: Traditional data centers rely on evaporative cooling, wasting massive amounts of water. Ferveret utilizes a sealed, closed-loop system that doesn't evaporate water, drastically reducing the environmental footprint. Unlocking New Locations: Because the system operates efficiently without consuming water, it allows companies to build data centers in drought-prone, highly regulated areas (like Arizona or Nevada). Off-Grid Potential: The efficiency of this cooling technology makes it financially and operationally viable to pair data centers entirely with solar power, creating truly sustainable, off-the-grid facilities. Find Amanda Razani on LinkedIn.  https://www.linkedin.com/in/amanda-razani-990a7233/ Follow the FTA LinkedIn Page: https://www.linkedin.com/company/full-tech-ahead/ Visit the FTA website: https://fulltechahead.com/ Check out the Substack Channel: https://fulltechahead.substack.com/

    14 min

  4. APR 9

    How to Help Your AI Team

    In this episode of "Full Tech Ahead," Amanda Razani interviews Mery Zadeh, SVP of AI Governance and Risk Consulting at Lumenova AI. The conversation centers on the complexities of building AI governance teams and navigating the "three-language problem" where technical, regulatory, and business teams struggle to communicate.  Zadeh advises companies to stop searching for "unicorn" candidates who possess all these skills and instead focus on cross-training and rotation programs. Furthermore, as AI evolves from Generative AI to Agentic AI (systems that take independent actions), she emphasizes the critical need to shift from annual audits to real-time, continuous monitoring.  Ultimately, she notes that the most successful AI governance frameworks are practical ones that developers actually use, rather than theoretically perfect models. Key Quotes "We're turning AI risk to possibilities.""We should stop looking for a Unicorn... start on career paths, start on education.""You can't govern what you can't see." Takeaways Solve the "Three-Language Problem": Effective AI governance requires fluency in business, technology, and compliance. Instead of hunting for an impossible candidate who knows it all, organizations should implement rotation programs (e.g., auditors spending time with tech teams) to cross-train their current workforce.Integrate Teams Across the AI Lifecycle: From the initial business intake and legal risk assessment to the developer build phase, cross-functional teams must collaborate continuously to ensure the AI system is technically sound, compliant, and fit for its intended use.Shift to Continuous Monitoring: As the industry moves toward Agentic AI—where AI agents execute tasks like booking or canceling meetings—traditional annual audits are obsolete. Organizations must implement real-time monitoring and strict permission controls to catch and correct issues immediately. Prioritize Practical Governance: The most effective AI governance isn't a flawless, overly complex policy; it's a practical framework with clear controls and evaluations that developers understand, see value in, and actually follow.Find Amanda Razani on LinkedIn.  https://www.linkedin.com/in/amanda-razani-990a7233/ Follow the FTA LinkedIn Page: https://www.linkedin.com/company/full-tech-ahead/ Visit the FTA website: https://fulltechahead.com/ Check out the Substack Channel: https://fulltechahead.substack.com/

    14 min

  5. APR 4

    The End of SEO?

    In this episode of "Full Tech Ahead," Amanda Razani interviews Ryan Johnson, CPO of CallRail, about how Artificial Intelligence can benefit small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs). Johnson explains CallRail's evolution into a conversation intelligence platform and advises business owners to use AI to solve long-standing "legacy problems"—such as managing after-hours calls or handling peak call volumes—rather than inventing new problems to solve.  He emphasizes the importance of starting small, setting realistic expectations, and securing leadership buy-in to avoid the high failure rate of AI projects. Finally, the discussion touches on the future of AI, including the rise of agentic AI and its potential impact on search engines and SEO. Key Quotes "Where can AI solve the gaps that you've probably had for many, many years?" "The most important thing about AI is it's not this like light switch that this happens. You actually have to invest time into it from a lot of different angles." "Start small, start somewhere, don't be afraid of it and, and just learn." Takeaways Target Legacy Problems: AI is highly effective at filling gaps in daily operations, such as handling peak-hour calls, answering queries after traditional business hours, and conducting initial lead qualification. Start Small and Be Realistic: Avoid overwhelming implementations. Begin with a narrow, focused use case to get comfortable. Set realistic expectations, as AI is not magic and often requires fine-tuning to achieve high accuracy. Leadership Buy-in is Crucial: To avoid the common pitfall of AI project failures, businesses must define clear, measurable goals and ensure full support from the executive team and business owners before implementation. The Future is Agentic AI: The next major evolution will involve AI agents communicating with one another to execute complex tasks, which will likely redefine consumer search experiences and the future of SEO. Find Amanda Razani on LinkedIn.  https://www.linkedin.com/in/amanda-razani-990a7233/ Follow the FTA LinkedIn Page: https://www.linkedin.com/company/full-tech-ahead/ Visit the FTA website: https://fulltechahead.com/ Check out the Substack Channel: https://fulltechahead.substack.com/

    16 min

  6. 12/30/2025

    AI-Powered Software: Speed, Security Risks and Solutions for Modern Development

    Join us as we welcome Karen Cohen, VP of Product Management at Apiiro, who shares her expertise on securing enterprise software in the age of AI. Discover how Apiiro helps companies innovate rapidly while maintaining robust risk controls, and hear groundbreaking research findings on how AI is transforming coding practices—improving velocity yet introducing new security challenges. Karen reveals practical advice for leaders, the importance of automated guardrails, and her vision for the future of AI-driven development. Don’t miss this insightful conversation packed with real-world strategies for thriving in today's tech landscape!  Summary Karen Cohen, VP of Product Management at Apiiro, discussed their application security posture management platform, which helps large enterprises analyze code, cut through noise, and prevent risks with automated guardrails. A recent research report revealed that AI-assisted coding increased velocity by four times but also introduced risks ten times higher, with new types of vulnerabilities like privilege escalation and exposed secrets. Cohen emphasized the need for better inventory, standards, and automated governance. She envisioned future AI agents as platforms with specialized plugins for various security needs, tailored to specific company contexts.  Key Quotes: "Velocity gets about four times faster with AI, but unfortunately, it also introduces ten times the risk.""The types of risks that AI introduces are very different—it's not just about syntax errors anymore, but privilege escalation and exposed secrets.""You need automated guardrails and governance to safely scale AI innovation in your company.""If you don't know what you're securing, you can't protect your crown jewels—inventory is critical.""The future of AI in software development lies in specialized plugins: each an expert in its field, fine-tuning results for unique company contexts." Takeaways: AI dramatically accelerates software development but brings significant new security risks.Enterprises struggle to manage the evolving attack surface as AI introduces more complex vulnerabilities.Automated detection and governance are necessary to keep up with the scale and pace of AI-generated code.Effective AI integration starts with knowing your assets and implementing company-wide security standards.The next wave in AI development will see customizable, context-aware agents and plugins driving safer, smarter coding practices.Links/Resource Website:  https://apiiro.com/  LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/karenzellnercohen/?originalSubdomain=nl   Podcast: Full Tech Ahead — Hosted by Amanda Razani   Find Amanda Razani on LinkedIn.  https://www.linkedin.com/in/amanda-razani-990a7233/ Follow the FTA LinkedIn Page: https://www.linkedin.com/company/full-tech-ahead/ Visit the FTA website: https://fulltechahead.com/ Check out the Substack Channel: https://fulltechahead.substack.com/

    17 min

  7. 12/23/2025

    Unlocking Trust: How AI is Revolutionizing Finance with Data, Security, and Accountability

    In this episode, host Amanda Razani sits down with Jeremy Ung, Chief Technology Officer of Black Line, to explore how AI is transforming the financial world. Jeremy shares insights from his work leading innovation in finance automation, delving into critical topics like building trustworthy AI, ensuring data quality, and setting solid audit trails to foster confidence in AI-driven systems. Discover practical advice for financial leaders on embracing change, training both humans and AI agents, and setting your organization up for safe and impactful AI adoption in a rapidly evolving digital landscape.   Summary Jeremy Ung, CTO of Black Line, discussed the importance of AI in finance and the trust barriers it faces. He emphasized the critical role of data quality, noting that Black Line's Studio 360 product curates and structures data for AI models. Ung highlighted the need for auditability in AI systems, ensuring transparency and reliability. He advised financial leaders to establish clear processes and change management strategies for AI adoption. Ung also stressed the importance of leveraging existing organizational playbooks and investing in training to integrate AI effectively, aiming for a seamless collaboration between humans and AI agents.   Key Quotes: "Data is at the heart of all AI models—if you don’t have the right data, AI can’t produce the right answers.""One of the things is auditability around AI—being able to explain not just to the user, but to an auditor, how outcomes were reached.""Trustworthy AI means actions are recorded, agents have clear permissions and roles, and you can audit it just like another human.""Think about onboarding AI agents the same way you’d onboard a new college graduate at your company.""The change is happening and it’s exciting and scary at the same time, but the way to control your destiny is by leveraging the data you have."  Takeaways: High-quality, centralized data is fundamental to building effective and reliable AI in finance.Auditability and transparency are essential for establishing stakeholder trust in AI systems.AI agents should operate with the same oversight, roles, and controls as human employees.Successful AI adoption requires both structured onboarding for AI and comprehensive change management for staff.Clear organizational playbooks and investment in learning ensure safe and substantial value from AI integration.  Timestamps: 0:00 Introduction & Guest Background0:35 Black Line’s Role in Finance Automation1:02 AI in Finance—Opportunities & Trust Barriers2:04 The Importance of Data Quality for Reliable AI3:39 Developing Safeguards and Auditability in AI5:21 Creating Trustworthy AI with Audit Trails7:23 Advice for Financial Leaders on AI Adoption9:32 Laying a Foundation for Change Management9:39 Key Takeaways & Future of AI in Finance10:27 Closing Remarks & Audience Engagement  Links/Resource Website:  https://www.blackline.com/  LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeremyung/   Podcast: Full Tech Ahead — Hosted by Amanda Razani   Find Amanda Razani on LinkedIn.  https://www.linkedin.com/in/amanda-razani-990a7233/ Follow the FTA LinkedIn Page: https://www.linkedin.com/company/full-tech-ahead/ Visit the FTA website: https://fulltechahead.com/ Check out the Substack Channel: https://fulltechahead.substack.com/

    11 min

  8. 12/18/2025

    Generative Autonomy Unleashed: Imagry’s Mapless AI Revolution in Autonomous Vehicles with Eran Ofir

    Join us as we sit down with Eran Ofir, CEO of Imagry, to explore the future of transportation powered by cutting-edge, mapless AI technology. Discover how Eran and his team are transforming autonomous vehicles with generative autonomy, driving real-world change in fleets worldwide, overcoming regulatory hurdles, lowering costs, and paving the way for safer, smarter roads. Get ready for an eye-opening journey into the next era of mobility with insights from a true industry leader! Summary Eran Ofir, CEO of Imagry, discussed the company's generative autonomy technology for autonomous vehicles. Imagry's software, Cortex, uses AI for perception, motion planning, and control, avoiding HD maps and relying solely on cameras. The company has been operating autonomous vehicles since 2019 in various countries and recently expanded into autonomous buses, addressing a 20% global shortage of bus drivers. Imagry's technology enables driverless buses at a cost of $70,000 per vehicle, a third of the industry average. The company also plans to deploy 50 Robo shuttles in Riga, Latvia. Regulatory challenges and public acceptance are significant hurdles for widespread adoption. Key Quotes: “We do generative autonomy, which means we do autonomous driving for physical AI—making machines move on the road as humans do.”“Our technology is built to act like a human: seeing, understanding, and acting—all powered by AI, with no dependence on HD maps or LiDAR.”“Regulation is currently the main factor that is facing the industry; every country has its own framework, and the process is long and rigorous.”“Our system responds to events happening on the road in under 100 milliseconds—at least three times faster than even the best human drivers.”“It will take a decade until we'll see mass volumes of everyday vehicles with full autonomous capabilities, but we're paving the way today.” Takeaways: Imagry's AI-driven, mapless approach is redefining how autonomous vehicles perceive and navigate real-world environments.Generative autonomy allows vehicles to continuously learn and adapt without relying on HD maps or sensor fusion.Regulatory and safety standards remain significant challenges for autonomous vehicle deployment across different countries.Imagry has become a leader in autonomous bus technology, addressing global driver shortages and expanding into new markets.Widespread adoption of fully autonomous vehicles is expected to take at least a decade, with public acceptance and regulation as key factors. Timestamps: 0:00 Introduction & Guest Background0:47 Imagry’s Mission & Generative Autonomy Explained2:45 Why Traditional Autonomous Driving Fell Short5:31 AI Inspiration and Human-Like Decision-Making7:35 Advances in Edge Computing Unlocking Progress8:53 Imagry’s Vision-Only, Mapless Approach12:26 Global Deployment & The Autonomous Bus Revolution15:00 Cost, Fleet Integration, and Robo Shuttle Rollout18:18 Regulation & Rigorous Safety Testing22:29 Public Acceptance and Proving Superior Safety25:00 The Decade Ahead for Autonomous Vehicles28:09 Closing Thoughts & Future of Mobility Links/Resource Find Amanda Razani on LinkedIn.  https://www.linkedin.com/in/amanda-razani-990a7233/ Follow the FTA LinkedIn Page: https://www.linkedin.com/company/full-tech-ahead/ Visit the FTA website: https://fulltechahead.com/ Check out the Substack Channel: https://fulltechahead.substack.com/

    29 min
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About

On this podcast, I sit down with business leaders, researchers and executives to explore innovative technology solutions and products, whether they’re transforming industries today or still in development. But we go far beyond the tech itself. From real-world use cases and business implementation journeys to cybersecurity challenges and future trends, we uncover what’s shaping the digital landscape.We also dive into topics that matter to every tech professional: Work/life balance, business communication, education and training. Think of it as your one-stop shop for meaningful technology discussions that inspire and inform.

Information

  • Creator
    Amanda Razani
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    43
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Full Tech Ahead
  • Show Website
    Full Tech Ahead