The CTO Show with Mehmet Gonullu

Mehmet Gonullu
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Broadcasting from Dubai, The CTO Show with Mehmet explores the latest trends in technology, startups, and venture funding. Host Mehmet Gonullu leads insightful discussions with thought leaders, innovators, and entrepreneurs from diverse industries. From emerging technologies to startup investment strategies, the show provides a balanced view on navigating the evolving landscape of business and tech, helping listeners understand their profound impact on our world. mehmet@yassiventures.com

  1. 1 小時前

    #540 From Burnout to Breakthroughs: Christina Richardson on Founder Resilience and High Performance

    In this powerful conversation, Christina Richardson — serial founder, resilience researcher, and founder of Foundology — joins Mehmet to unpack the real psychological journey of entrepreneurship. Christina shares the story behind her 2 AM wake-up call that wasn’t a heart attack but a full nervous system collapse. That moment led her to study over 400 founders, uncover patterns of burnout, and build a framework that helps founders perform at their best without destroying themselves. We dive deep into the myths of hustle culture, the neuroscience of performance, the four pillars of resilience, the importance of early warning signs, and why founders must learn to scale themselves as fast as they scale their startups. This episode is essential listening for anyone building under pressure. ⸻ 👤 About Christina Richardson Christina Richardson is the founder of Foundology, a global resilience platform helping founders navigate stress, uncertainty, and the emotional demands of building a company. Through evidence-backed founder circles, community support, and tools like the upcoming Founder Fuel Gauge, Foundology equips founders with what most startup ecosystems overlook: human performance. Christina is also an Associate Professor at University College London, where she teaches founder development, leadership, and performance psychology. As a serial entrepreneur with a small exit and a very real burnout story, her work sits at the intersection of research, resilience, and lived experience. ⸻ 💡 Key Takeaways • Why hustle culture and “9-9-6” thinking are biologically flawed • What really causes burnout, panic attacks, and chronic overwhelm • The emotional burden founders carry — team, family, investors, expectations • Why founders stop performing well long before they burn out • The four pillars of founder resilience: • Why loneliness is a silent performance killer • How to scale your leadership as the company scales • Why equanimity is the most underrated founder skill • How AI helps founders — and how it also fuels unhealthy pressure • Why human connection will remain irreplaceable in the AI era ⸻ 🎧 What You’ll Learn • How to spot the first early-warning signs of burnout • How to build a daily rhythm that supports clarity and flow • Why recovery is as important as output • How to replace guilt-driven work habits with resilient thinking • Why founders perform better with structured peer circles • How to avoid the trap of meddling as your team grows • How ecosystems and investors can support founders — the right way ⸻ ⏱️ Episode Highlights (Timestamps) 00:00 – Introduction and Christina’s story   02:00 – The 2 AM “heart attack” that changed everything 05:00 – The symptoms founders ignore: irritability, migraines, digestion issues 07:00 – The myth of the grind and the danger of ecosystem bravado 08:30 – Your brain under stress: the science of performance and recovery 11:00 – What the 400-founder resilience study revealed 13:00 – The four pillars of resilience 17:00 – The rise of founder circles and why they work 20:00 – Loneliness as a toxic performance blocker 22:00 – How founders can scale themselves alongside the company 25:00 – Leadership at scale: equanimity and coaching mindset 28:00 – The fine line between support and pressure from investors 34:00 – Why some people cross the entrepreneurial chasm and others don’t 38:00 – How AI helps and hurts founders 41:00 – Why human connection will always matter 42:00 – What’s next for Foundology 43:00 – Where to find Christina and Foundology ⸻ 🔗 Resources Mentioned • Foundology – Supporting Founder Resilience https://foundology.org • Founder Fuel Gauge (Early Access) https://foundology.org/founder-fuel • Join the Founder Fuel Community (Free) https://foundology.org/community • Christina Richardson on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/christinarichardson13/

    45 分鐘

  2. 2 天前

    #539 Why 70% of Digital Transformations Fail — And How to Fix Them with Tory Bjorklund

    Digital transformation isn’t about technology — it’s about leadership, culture, and execution. In this episode, veteran CTO and transformation expert Tory Bjorklund joins Mehmet to debunk hype-driven transformation, explain why most initiatives fail, and share his proven framework for executing technology-driven change that sticks. Whether you’re scaling a startup or modernizing a large enterprise, this conversation brings clarity and practical wisdom to one of the most misunderstood journeys in tech. ⸻ 👤 About the Guest Tory Bjorklund is a serial entrepreneur, CTO, and transformation advisor with decades of experience leading large-scale technology and organizational change across manufacturing, fintech, and enterprise software. He is currently building Victoria Fide, focused on helping organizations succeed with transformational change, and is the author of The Digital Transformation Guidebook. ⸻ 🔑 Key Takeaways • Digital transformation fails when technology leads instead of business goals • Why “go-live” is the beginning, not the finish line • The role of leadership and communication in successful transformation • AI reality check: where companies are going wrong • How to reset a failing transformation before it’s too late • Why ERP and enterprise tools remain underutilized • Building a culture that embraces change, not fears it ⸻ 📘 What You’ll Learn • A 3-stage framework for transformation: Prepare → Execute → Sustain • How to align executive teams and technology leaders • Why transformation is continuous, not a project • Practical steps for avoiding costly technology mistakes • How to think about AI beyond the hype cycle ⸻ 🧠 Episode Highlights 0:00 — Intro 1:20 — Tory’s journey across tech, manufacturing & consulting 4:30 — Tech push vs business pull: who drives innovation? 7:05 — Why 70% of digital transformations fail 10:40 — How to course-correct a failing initiative 14:20 — Defining success and ROI from day one 18:30 — The Prepare → Execute → Sustain model 22:40 — Who should own transformation inside the company 26:00 — AI reality: personal productivity vs enterprise value 32:00 — Why ERP & existing tools are still underutilized 37:20 — Industrial AI & the real disruption 39:40 — About Tory’s book 42:00 — Closing thoughts ⸻ 🔗 Resources Mentioned • Victoria Fide – https://victoriafide.com • Tory’s upcoming book: The Digital Transformation Guidebook • Connect with Tory on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/torybjorklund/

    43 分鐘

  3. 4 天前

    #538 Process Intelligence & AI: Liam O’Neil on Building Smarter, Scalable Organizations

    In this episode, we sit down with Liam O’Neil, Managing Director at BPMD, to explore how modern organizations can use process intelligence, AI, and change design to build scalable, resilient systems. We go deep into process mining, task mining, the future of process teams, breaking organizational silos, and how AI is reshaping enterprise transformation. Whether you’re a CTO, operator, or founder, this episode demystifies what “process” really means in the AI era — and why it’s more strategic than ever. ⸻ 👤 About Liam O’Neil Liam O’Neil is the Managing Director of BPMD, helping companies transform how they operate through process intelligence, workflow design, automation, and AI-driven change. He has led transformation programs across industries, guiding teams through ERP shifts, hyperautomation, and data-driven operational design. ⸻ 🔑 Key Takeaways • Why process ≠ bureaucracy — and how to reframe it • Moving from siloed teams to connected “change maker functions” • Process mining vs task mining (and when to use each) • AI’s role in accelerating process intelligence & automation • Why CTOs must partner with process functions to drive value • How to spot early signs of underperforming transformation programs • Where process teams sit in modern org structures • Innovation vs stability — and when not to automate • Using upstream fixes to unlock downstream efficiency • The real reason RPA stalled — and what AI does differently ⸻ 🎧 What You’ll Learn • The evolution of process work in the AI age • Real-world examples of process intelligence saving time & cost • How to structure process teams for speed, not bureaucracy • Tools and frameworks shaping enterprise workflow (Signavio, Celonis, SAP, etc.) • How generative & agentic AI is changing execution and adoption • Why culture, communication, and accountability still matter most ⸻ 🕒 Episode Highlights Timestamp Topic 00:00 Welcome & guest intro 01:20 Liam’s journey into process & automation 03:10 Why smart teams get stuck in silos 04:50 Fixing upstream issues to remove downstream pain 06:10 Why process has a “bureaucracy problem” 09:00 How modern process teams look today 11:50 Process mining vs task mining — explained simply 15:20 Real enterprise examples & outcomes 17:10 Where AI accelerates process work 20:00 Why change dies without ownership & communication 24:15 Balancing innovation vs experience 27:00 Capability modeling for tech investment decisions 29:00 Signals CTOs should watch for in transformation 32:40 Where to start tomorrow if you lead technology 34:30 The next evolution of process with AI 38:00 RPA vs AI — why adoption looks different 41:20 Closing thoughts & where to find Liam 🔗 Resources Mentioned • Liam’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/l-oneill/ • Liam’s company: http://bpm-d.com/ • Celonis • WalkMe / digital adoption platforms • LeanIX / enterprise architecture • RPA vs next-gen AI workflows

    43 分鐘

  4. 6 天前

    #537 AI, People, and Performance: Sriniketh Chakravarthi on Building Future-Ready Teams

    In this episode, Apexon CEO Sriniketh Chakravarthi joins us to unpack what it really takes to build and scale a global technology services company in the era of AI and automation. We explore the intersection of technology, culture, and execution — and why the future belongs to leaders who can combine deep tech understanding with human-centric leadership. From scaling teams to embracing Agentic AI, Sriniketh brings a grounded, operator-first perspective shaped by experience across strategy, M&A, and hands-on execution in some of the world’s most dynamic tech environments. 👤 About Sriniketh Sriniketh Chakravarthi CEO, Apexon A seasoned technology leader with a background in financial services, strategy, and digital engineering, Sriniketh has led Apexon’s transformation into a next-gen digital engineering partner focused on AI, digital experience, and data-powered innovation. Backed by Goldman Sachs and Everstone Capital, Apexon operates across the US, UK, India, and Mexico with a mission to improve human life through digital transformation. 🔑 Key Takeaways • Culture is the No.1 driver of sustainable performance at scale • Execution is a leadership discipline — not a buzzword • AI will transform services, but humans remain the multiplier • Entrepreneurial DNA must be protected even in large orgs • Services firms must evolve into AI orchestration partners • The next era belongs to companies combining talent, tooling, and trust • Change management in AI era is harder than the tech work itself 🎓 What You Will Learn • How to build a culture that scales with growth • Why AI will reshape the technology services industry • What “agentic AI” really means for enterprises • Lessons on leadership, humility, and talent development • How to balance investor expectations with people-first leadership • Why operators must stay hands-on and continuously learn • Strategies to upskill teams for AI-first work environments 📌 Episode Highlights Time Topic 00:00 Intro & welcome 01:00 Sriniketh’s journey: strategy → operating → CEO 04:00 Leadership pillars: culture, execution, strategy 08:30 Team mindset & the importance of low-ego talent 10:20 Tech as a force for good — real healthcare impact stories 14:30 Keeping entrepreneurship alive in a 5,000+ person org 17:40 Merging multiple companies into one culture & mission 21:00 Talent in the AI era: young engineers & reskilling 26:00 Balancing investors and people — sports team analogy 32:00 The future of services in the age of AI & agents 38:00 AgentThrive: scaling AI in enterprise environments 46:00 Human + AI collaboration and the next workforce frontier 52:00 Advice for entrepreneurs building future-ready teams 57:00 Closing thoughts & where to connect 🔗 Resources Mentioned • Apexon Website: https://www.apexon.com/ • Sriniketh LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/srinikethchakravarthi/ • “Execution: The Discipline of Getting Things Done” — Ram Charan

    1 小時

  5. 11月4日

    #536 AI, AR & the Built World: Brian Corcodilos on Building Tomorrow’s Real Estate

    In this episode, Mehmet sits down with Brian Corcodilos, CEO of Designblendz, to explore how technology is transforming the built environment — from 3D visualization and digital twins to the future of AR-powered real estate. Brian shares his journey from pro-gamer to architect-founder, scaling a design studio from a college dorm room to a 30-person innovation-driven firm. We dive deep into the intersection of architecture, virtual worlds, AI, AR, and how emerging technologies are reshaping how we design, sell, and experience real estate. If you care about AI, real estate, and the future of human-centric design, this episode is a must-listen. ⸻ About Brian Corcodilos Brian Corcodilos is the Founder & CEO of Designblendz, a Philadelphia-based architecture and visualization studio specializing in BIM, photorealistic 3D, drone-based digital environments, and immersive design. A former competitive gamer turned architect-operator, Brian combines technical skill with creative vision to help developers, municipalities, and brands design smarter and sell faster in a virtual-first world. ⸻ ✅ Key Takeaways • The connection between gaming, virtual worlds, and architecture • Why AR — not VR — will win mass adoption • How AI is reshaping architecture & 3D visualization workflows • The future of virtual real estate and augmented built spaces • Why blockchain will matter again — and where • Scaling a service business through culture, delegation, and trust • What traditional industries get wrong about tech adoption Episode Highlights 00:00 Intro 01:20 From pro-gamer to architect-founder 04:15 When 3D visualization became a business advantage 08:32 How AI is upending the design pipeline 12:40 The real value behind photoreal rendering 17:45 AR vs. VR — why VR flopped and AR will dominate 23:18 AI assistants, workflows, and replacing admin work 29:10 Deepfakes, blockchain, and proof-of-reality 33:40 The future of virtual real estate & urban space 42:10 Founder lessons — scaling, culture, letting go 49:15 M&A as a growth strategy in architecture 53:40 Closing thoughts + where to follow Brian Resources Mentioned • Designblendz — www.designblendz.com • Brian’s LinkedIn — https://www.linkedin.com/in/bcorcodilos/

    55 分鐘

  6. 11月1日

    #535 Inside Tech Investigations & Cyber Legal Battles With IT Expert & Arbitrator Ahmed Bahgat

    In this episode of The CTO Show with Mehmet, we sit down with Ahmed Bahgat, a leading IT expert, digital forensics specialist, and court-appointed arbitrator who has handled 600+ cyber and technology-related cases across the UAE, GCC, and Canada. From cyber breaches and data leaks to AI deployment disputes and cryptocurrency investigations, Ahmed shares real-world insights into modern digital crime — and how organizations should protect themselves before it’s too late. Whether you’re a founder, executive, or tech leader, this episode will give you a rare insider perspective on the legal, technical, and business complexities shaping cybersecurity and AI in today’s digital economy. ⸻ 👤 About Ahmed Bahgat Ahmed Bahgat is an IT expert, digital forensics specialist, and arbitrator with over 20 years of experience across oil & gas, banking, retail, and government sectors. He is certified in blockchain, AI, and IT service management, and serves as a registered expert in federal courts across the UAE, Bahrain, and beyond. He has led IT across 18 countries and has been assigned to 600+ cyber and tech disputes, covering: • Cyber fraud & data theft • AI implementation conflicts • Cryptocurrency cases • Internal data abuse & insider threats • Digital forensics & evidence analysis ⸻ 🔑 Key Takeaways ✅ The rise of cyber disputes and AI legal cases in the UAE & beyond ✅ How digital forensics works in real investigations ✅ What executives MUST know before signing tech contracts ✅ Why “we’re too small to be hacked” is dangerous thinking ✅ How poor data governance and access control lead to legal liability ✅ The growing trend of private AI models for government & enterprises ✅ Real examples of data leakage and fraud incidents ✅ Steps every company should take to build digital readiness ⸻ 📚 What You Will Learn • How cybercrime and digital evidence are handled legally • Key mistakes companies make with data & cybersecurity • Why proactive cyber policies save companies millions • What founders should know about AI risk & compliance • How to protect your business from internal & external threats 🕒 Episode Timestamps 00:00 – Intro 01:00 – Ahmed’s journey from engineer to cyber arbitrator 04:00 – Why hands-on tech experience matters in legal cases 06:00 – The reality of cybercrime and tech disputes in the region 08:30 – Why companies ignore security until disaster strikes 11:00 – Digital forensic tools and processes explained 14:30 – Mapping digital evidence to UAE federal cyber law 17:00 – Common enterprise security gaps (and why they fail) 20:00 – Insider threats and financial fraud case examples 22:00 – Cryptocurrency, AI & social media disputes on the rise 24:00 – Private AI vs public AI — what companies should know 27:00 – Final advice for business leaders & tech teams 🔗 Resources Mentioned • UAE Federal Cybercrime Law (Law No. 34 of 2021) • Digital forensics tools: FTK, Wireshark, UFED • Local cyber agencies (Dubai Police Cyber Dept., etc.) ⸻ 🤝 Connect With Ahmed Bahgat 🔗 LinkedIn: — https://www.linkedin.com/in/bahgatexpert/

    29 分鐘

  7. 10月30日

    #534 The $5B Tax-Free Travel Tech Opportunity: Ameer Jumahboy on Digitizing Tourist Spending

    Tourism is becoming a strategic economic engine for cities like Dubai, Singapore, Riyadh, and Milan. But one massive gap has been untouched: tax-free shopping. Every year, billions in VAT refunds leave local economies instead of being reinvested into retail and travel ecosystems. Ameer Jumahboy, Co-Founder & CEO of Utu, is changing that. He shares: • How digital tax-free systems work under the hood • Why airports are the next major retail battleground • How AI and data will transform travel spending behavior • Lessons from building with a second-generation founder and global retail pioneer (his father) This is a deep dive into a misunderstood, under-innovated, $5B opportunity. ⸻ 👤 About Ameer Jumahboy Ameer Jumahboy is the Co-Founder & CEO of Utu, a travel-fintech platform reimagining tax-free shopping. From Singapore to Dubai and Europe, Utu modernizes VAT refunds by turning them into instant retail value — boosting tourism spend and upgrading traveler experience. His co-founder is his father — the industry veteran who built two global tax-free giants (Global Blue & Planet). Together, they are scaling a third-generation travel retail model across continents. ⸻ 🔑 Key Takeaways • The tax-free refund system is a massive under-innovated fintech layer • Digitization unlocks new value for travelers, governments, and retailers • Airports are evolving into data-first, conversion-driven retail hubs • Middle East destinations are redefining tourism infrastructure • Legacy industries need youthful vision + institutional experience ⸻ 🎧 What You’ll Learn • How tax-free systems actually work — and why digital matters • Role of AI in travel retail personalization & spend prediction • Expansion strategy across GCC, Europe, and global hubs • How to build a business with family — and win • The psychology of travel spending and loyalty mechanics ⸻ 🧭 Episode Highlights • (01:30) Ameer’s journey & building with his father • (05:00) The problem with legacy tax-free systems • (09:15) Product-market fit after multiple iterations • (12:50) Stakeholders in tax-free innovation • (18:20) Why GCC is primed for travel tech leadership • (23:10) Cracking the UAE retail ecosystem through Gold Souk • (27:40) Data, AI, and the next evolution of airport retail • (34:10) Competition, first-mover advantage & innovation culture • (39:00) Vision: a global travel-commerce layer ⸻ 🔗 Resources Mentioned • Utu — https://utu.global/ • Global Blue & Planet (industry context) Ameer’s Linkedin Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ameerjumabhoy/

    44 分鐘

  8. 10月28日

    #533 From Code to AI Teammates: How Artur Rivilis Is Reimagining Logistics and the Future of Work

    In this episode, Mehmet sits down with Art Rivilis, CTO of Augment, to explore how AI is moving beyond copilots and into the era of AI teammates — intelligent agents that think, act, and collaborate like humans. Art shares his journey from immigrant engineer to CTO, the lessons learned through two major acquisitions (Shopify and Flexport), and what it really takes to lead engineering teams through hypergrowth and M&A. From redefining logistics through AI to tackling the hard problems of workflow automation and prompt design, this conversation unpacks how today’s CTOs can build systems — and teams — that scale with intelligence, not just speed. ⸻ 👤 About the Guest Art Rivilis is the Chief Technology Officer at Augment, a pioneering AI company building intelligent teammates for the logistics and freight industry. With 20 years of experience in engineering and product leadership, Art has held pivotal roles at VMware, Flixster, Symphony, Deliver (acquired by Shopify), and Flexport. His expertise spans distributed systems, startup scaling, and AI-driven automation. ⸻ 🚀 Key Takeaways • From Code to Leadership: How a lifelong engineer transitions from building software to building teams. • Leading Through Acquisitions: Lessons from being acquired twice and integrating engineering cultures. • Beyond Copilots: Why the next wave of AI isn’t about assistance, but collaboration. • AI in Logistics: How Augment is using agentic AI to revolutionize freight and supply chain operations. • Prompting for Precision: Why writing great prompts may be the hardest skill in the age of AI. • Scaling Teams, Scaling Trust: The organizational inflection points at 100+ engineers — and how to maintain clarity and culture. ⸻ 🎓 What You’ll Learn • What it takes to lead a startup through two acquisitions and come out stronger. • How AI teammates differ from copilots — and why that matters for the future of work. • The real-world challenges of integrating AI into legacy industries like logistics. • Why prompt engineering and human context remain essential in building reliable AI systems. • How CTOs can prepare for the agentic AI revolution — where systems act, not just assist. ⸻ 🕒 Episode Highlights (Timestamps for YouTube & Spotify) 00:00 – Intro & what to expect in this episode 02:00 – Art’s early passion for tech and first steps as an engineer 09:00 – From engineer to leader: why he became a CTO 17:00 – The challenges of being on the “acquired” side of M&A 25:00 – Integrating engineering teams and maintaining trust 33:00 – The 100-person rule: when to scale and when to delegate 37:00 – What Augment is building and why logistics is ripe for AI 45:00 – How the logistics industry is responding to AI adoption 53:00 – Can agentic AI transform other verticals? 57:00 – The next frontier: prompts, reasoning, and superintelligence 1:04:00 – Final reflections and where to find Art ⸻ 🔗 Resources Mentioned • Augment – Official Website: https://www.goaugment.com/ • The Innovator’s Dilemma by Clayton Christensen • Art Rivilis on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/arturrivilis/

    1 小時 9 分鐘
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簡介

Broadcasting from Dubai, The CTO Show with Mehmet explores the latest trends in technology, startups, and venture funding. Host Mehmet Gonullu leads insightful discussions with thought leaders, innovators, and entrepreneurs from diverse industries. From emerging technologies to startup investment strategies, the show provides a balanced view on navigating the evolving landscape of business and tech, helping listeners understand their profound impact on our world. mehmet@yassiventures.com

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