Wharton Tech Toks

Wharton Tech Club
  • 5.0 (18)
  • TECHNOLOGY
  • UPDATED MONTHLY

Wharton Tech Toks (WTT) creates a space for bold, forward-looking tech discussions that enlighten and inspire. We feature executives, founders, investors, and professors from across the tech industry. We discuss interesting trends, analysis, strategies, and personal stories that are compelling to everyone from MBA students to senior executives. We want to dare to be bold, even if we’re wrong, to push our collective thinking. For inquiries, contact whartontechtoks@gmail.com

  1. Securing the Digital Front Door: Okta and the Future of Identity

    JAN 21

    Securing the Digital Front Door: Okta and the Future of Identity

    In this episode of Wharton Tech Toks, Kirk Hachigian (Wharton MBA '27) sits down with Julia Oberrotman (Wharton MBA '16), Senior Director of Corporate Strategy at Okta. Julia breaks down why identity security is about to get exponentially harder—and more critical—as AI agents start moving money, accessing sensitive data, and operating autonomously across systems. The conversation unpacks Okta's $6B Auth0 acquisition and explains how they're racing to secure AI from the moment it's built. Julia pulls back the curtain on what corporate strategy actually looks like at a high-growth company, offering candid advice for those navigating an AI-transformed world.

    42 min

  2. JAN 13

    Design That Delivers: Impact, Innovation, and Leadership

    In this episode of Wharton Tech Toks, host Debbie Cheng (WG’26) sits down with Carly Price (WEMBA ‘23), Senior Director of Customer & Partner Experience Design at ServiceNow and founder of Liv Labs, a women’s health startup. Carly shares what it takes to lead design at scale across industries from retail and finance to automotive and enterprise SaaS. She opens up about launching Liv Labs and balancing startup life with the Wharton WEMBA program, all while working full-time and raising a family. From building beta branches at JPMorgan Chase to integrating AI into UX at ServiceNow, Carly’s career is a masterclass in creative leadership, strategic thinking, and staying curious. Whether you're a designer, founder, or MBA navigating your next move, this episode is full of real talk, tactical insights, and inspiration.

    43 min
  3. Personalization at Scale: The Business of Marketing Technology

    12/12/2025

    Personalization at Scale: The Business of Marketing Technology

    In this episode of Wharton Tech Toks, Kirk Hachigian (Wharton MBA '27) sits down with Justin Hannah, Senior Director of Marketing Technology and Automation at FanDuel Sports Network. Justin shares his career journey from a 40-person ad tech startup to leading MarTech at Hulu and FanDuel, breaking down the complex world of marketing technology. The conversation explores how customer data platforms and CRM systems power modern marketing, the challenges of multi-touch attribution in a privacy-first world, and FanDuel's innovative approaches to measuring campaign ROI. Justin discusses transitioning from streaming entertainment to real-time sports, balancing aggressive personalization with responsible gaming, and where AI is actually delivering value versus hype in MarTech today.

    51 min
  4. Storytelling in Tech: Inside The Best One Yet

    12/02/2025

    Storytelling in Tech: Inside The Best One Yet

    In this episode of Wharton Tech Toks, host Gorav Menon (Wharton MBA ’27 and co-host of The Linen Suit & Plastic Tie) sits down with Nick Martell of The Best One Yet for a deep dive into how top creators use storytelling, branding, and smart content strategy to shape the future of tech and media. Gorav uncovers Nick’s journey from Robinhood to building an independent media brand, the launch of their new evergreen show The Best Idea Yet, and how podcasts build trust by balancing education, entertainment, and cultural relevance. They also explore where AI enhances creative work—and where it falls short. If you want a behind-the-scenes look at the evolution of podcasting and the future of business media, this is an episode you won’t want to miss.

    59 min
  5. Cybersecurity Training Gets Personal: The Dune Approach

    11/11/2025

    Cybersecurity Training Gets Personal: The Dune Approach

    In this episode of Wharton Tech Toks, Kirk Hachigian (Wharton MBA ‘27) sits down with David DellaPelle, CEO and Co-Founder of Dune Security, to discuss how Dune is modernizing security awareness training through a personalized, AI-driven approach. They explore how Dune moves beyond one-size-fits-all training, the evolving threat landscape, and the importance of integrations across the security stack. David also shares insights into his journey as a founder, advice on building and scaling a team, and his experience growing a cybersecurity company in NYC.

    34 min
  6. BetterBasket: Retail Tech and Lessons from YC and Uber

    11/04/2025

    BetterBasket: Retail Tech and Lessons from YC and Uber

    In this episode of Wharton Tech Toks, Debbie Cheng (Wharton MBA Class of 2026) sits down with Leon Zhang, Co-Founder and CEO of BetterBasket. Leon shares his journey from launching grocery delivery operations at Uber to co-founding BetterBasket, a YC-backed startup helping grocers use data to optimize pricing in the face of inflation, digital transformation, and legacy systems. Leon also opens up about his decision to take a leave of absence from Wharton to join Y Combinator’s Winter '24 cohort, what he's learned about hiring and building a startup culture, and why challenging the status quo is at the heart of entrepreneurship. Whether you're curious about retail tech, YC, or life as a founder-MBA, this one’s full of insights.

    38 min
  7. Beyond Chatbots: What It Takes to Build, Lead, and Learn in AI Product Management

    10/21/2025

    Beyond Chatbots: What It Takes to Build, Lead, and Learn in AI Product Management

    In this episode of Wharton Tech Toks, Debbie Cheng (Wharton MBA Class of 2026) sits down with Avanthika Ramesh, Senior Director of Product Management for Agentforce at Salesforce (Wharton MBA Class of 2025). They dive into Avanthika’s career journey from engineering at Berkeley to building AI-driven products at Salesforce, including her work on chatbots, Web3, and generative agents. Avanthika shares insights on what it takes to succeed in product management, how to lead cross-functional teams, and why she chose to pursue her MBA while continuing to work full-time. From evolving chatbots into intelligent AI agents to balancing corporate keynotes with Wharton coursework, her story is packed with lessons on leadership, learning, and navigating ambiguity.

    1h 3m
  8. Crux Climate: Supercharging Green Energy Financing

    07/29/2025

    Crux Climate: Supercharging Green Energy Financing

    In this episode, Julien Guiot sits down with Jim Alderson-Smith, Managing Director at Crux, to unpack how Crux is transforming capital markets for clean energy. They explore the company’s role in facilitating efficient financing through transferable tax credits and debt marketplaces, aiming to make clean energy funding more liquid and accessible. The conversation dives into the evolution of tax equity financing, Crux’s strategy for building a broad network of developers, corporates, and intermediaries, and how the platform reduces friction in traditionally complex financial transactions. Key themes include navigating political uncertainty in climate policy, driving inclusivity in deal sizes, and advice for MBAs looking to break into climate tech. Tune in for a deep dive into how fintech innovation is powering the clean energy transition in the U.S.

    29 min
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
18 Ratings

About

Wharton Tech Toks (WTT) creates a space for bold, forward-looking tech discussions that enlighten and inspire. We feature executives, founders, investors, and professors from across the tech industry. We discuss interesting trends, analysis, strategies, and personal stories that are compelling to everyone from MBA students to senior executives. We want to dare to be bold, even if we’re wrong, to push our collective thinking. For inquiries, contact whartontechtoks@gmail.com

Information

  • Creator
    Wharton Tech Club
  • Years Active
    2020 - 2026
  • Episodes
    117
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 396191
  • Show Website
    Wharton Tech Toks