Builders Wanted

In this episode of Builders Wanted, we’re joined by Ann Rich, Senior Director of Design at Adobe. Kailey and Ann dive into the intricate world of product design where empathy drives innovation. They discuss the challenges and strategies in leading design at scale, how Adobe builds trust in the era of generative AI, and the importance of cross-functional collaboration. Ann shares insights on inclusive design, co-innovation with customers, and the evolving role of designers in creating user-centric and technologically advanced solutions.-------------------Key Takeaways:Successful AI-era design requires deep technical understanding alongside creative craft—designers must know the models and technology behind their interfaces to bridge human needs with AI capabilities.Speed and adaptability are essential as market paradigms can shift between conception and launch, requiring experimentation, customer co-innovation, and iterative validation over traditional research cycles.Design leadership gains influence by grounding decisions in data and user needs rather than aesthetic opinion, transforming design into a strategic driver in executive and engineering conversations.-------------------“ [Design] is really changing from a two-way model of communication and interaction to a three-way or more discussion. That's really thinking about it being a human, the interface they're working on, and then all of the things happening behind the scenes. In order for someone to be successful with what you're designing, designers have to start understanding the technology behind it. Because in order to deliver on the use case, you actually have to understand the technology and it will change the interface.” – Ann Rich-------------------Episode Timestamps:‍*(01:50) - Ann’s mission at Adobe as a design leader‍*(08:15) - How trust factors into Adobe’s design process‍*(16:53) - Ann’s approach to inclusive design‍*(25:08) - What design teams should stop doing‍*(31:12) - A recent project that made a measurable difference for users‍*(39:06) - Ann’s advice for designers looking to elevate their voice-------------------Links:Read Ann’s Article How to Adapt Your Design Practice for the Age of Generative TechnologyConnect with Ann on LinkedInConnect with Kailey on LinkedInLearn more about Caspian Studios-------------------SponsorBuilders Wanted is brought to you by Twilio – the Customer Engagement Platform that helps builders turn real-time data into meaningful customer experiences. More than 320,000 businesses trust Twilio to transform signals into connections—and connections into revenue. Ready to build what’s next? Learn more at twilio.com. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In this episode of Builders Wanted, we’re joined by Michelle Suzuki, Chief Marketing Officer at Commerce. Kailey and Michelle delve into the impact of agentic commerce, the evolution of AI in customer engagement, and strategies for maintaining consistency and relevance in marketing. Michelle also shares insights on the challenges and opportunities in rebranding and driving data-driven marketing.-------------------Key Takeaways:Embracing change and leveraging data-driven insights are essential for marketers to stay relevant and effective in a rapidly evolving commerce landscape.The most successful marketing strategies combine creative brand-building with rigorous data analysis, ensuring that emotional connection and measurable outcomes drive growth.Truly understanding your audience and meeting them where they are enables organizations to deliver more personalized, impactful experiences.-------------------“ The front end and the back end, it's sort of like that brand and demand element is how do you make this holistic ecosystem that is really productive for the experience and really driving what that looks like as you put together your overall strategy.  It's so important to think holistically about what it is that you're meaning to deliver and incorporating all of those elements together so that there aren't jagged, hard edges between them. But it's all one entire ecosystem that presents something that is more comfortable and relative to what it is that the user is hoping to experience with you.” – Michelle Suzuki-------------------Episode Timestamps:‍*(01:56) - What being a builder means to Michelle ‍*(06:07) - The shift most critical for brands right now‍*(13:05) - Bridging the gap between data-driven and creative marketing‍*(27:30) - Lessons from rebranding‍*(33:04) - Building teams for speed and effectiveness‍*(35:13) - Quick hits-------------------Links:Connect with Michelle on LinkedInConnect with Kailey on LinkedInLearn more about Caspian Studios-------------------SponsorBuilders Wanted is brought to you by Twilio – the Customer Engagement Platform that helps builders turn real-time data into meaningful customer experiences. More than 320,000 businesses trust Twilio to transform signals into connections—and connections into revenue. Ready to build what’s next? Learn more at twilio.com. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In this special episode of Builders Wanted, recorded live from Twilio Transform in New York City, we’re joined by Rikki Singh, Twilio’s VP of R&D for Emerging Technologies. Rikki explores groundbreaking advancements in AI, security, and communications, touching on the evolution of technology and customer expectations as we approach 2026. The conversation delves into the role of AI in software engineering, the importance of trust and privacy by design, changes in customer engagement, and the future of agentic workflows.-------------------Key Takeaways:Building robust systems and prioritizing speed empowers organizations to drive innovation rapidly while maintaining high standards of quality.Reliable, well-structured data and clearly defined, measurable objectives are critical for achieving success in AI and analytics initiatives.The most impactful product enhancements stem from actively listening to customers, understanding their challenges, and reimagining features as needed.-------------------“ The fact that we want to give you contextual memory that is able to capture communication, that matters. Because that's where you're expressing your satisfaction, your happiness, your joys. So how do we take that and then use that to help you rather than microsegment you on demographics and target you? I think that's the positive pivot I hope we make as this technology allows for that.” – Rikki Singh-------------------Episode Timestamps:‍*(01:48) - What excites Rikki heading into 2026‍*(02:54) - What feels different about today compared to a year ago‍*(07:14) - Themes shaping the next 12 months for builders‍*(19:43) - What’s evolving fastest: the tech stack, the buyer, or the org chart?‍*(27:50) - What builders underestimate about AI and where it’s going‍*(43:36) - Quick hits-------------------Links:Connect with Rikki on LinkedInConnect with Kailey on LinkedInLearn more about Caspian Studios-------------------SponsorBuilders Wanted is brought to you by Twilio – the Customer Engagement Platform that helps builders turn real-time data into meaningful customer experiences. More than 320,000 businesses trust Twilio to transform signals into connections—and connections into revenue. Ready to build what’s next? Learn more at twilio.com. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In this episode of Builders Wanted, we’re joined by Sumeet Arora, Chief Product Officer at Teradata. Sumeet shares his insights on the importance of speed and innovation in the fields of data analytics and AI, emphasizing how Teradata delivers impactful business results by transforming complex data challenges into actionable solutions. The discussion dives into product leadership principles, the balance between speed and reliability, and the evolving landscape of analytics.-------------------Key Takeaways:Building strong systems and focusing on velocity enables organizations to innovate quickly without sacrificing quality.Trustworthy, well-modeled data and clear, measurable outcomes are essential for successful AI and analytics.The best product improvements come from listening to customers, obsessing over their problems, and being willing to rethink or remove features.-------------------“ I think it's equally important for people in my role to not just build a great product, but also build it fast. It has to be fast and excellent, both. And doing things faster in this era means that you have to also treat velocity as a product itself.  It's almost like setting up the right system and then great things come out.” – Sumeet Arora-------------------Episode Timestamps:‍*(02:06) - Defining the mission of a builder ‍*(03:12) - Velocity as a product ‍*(07:51) - The shift to invisible, frictionless analytics ‍*(23:04) - Lessons from product failures ‍*(34:28) - Quick hits-------------------Links:Connect with Sumeet on LinkedInConnect with Kailey on LinkedInLearn more about Caspian Studios-------------------SponsorBuilders Wanted is brought to you by Twilio – the Customer Engagement Platform that helps builders turn real-time data into meaningful customer experiences. More than 320,000 businesses trust Twilio to transform signals into connections—and connections into revenue. Ready to build what’s next? Learn more at twilio.com. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In this episode of Builders Wanted, we’re joined by Filip Verley, Chief Innovation Officer at Liminal. Filip sheds light on the challenges companies face with increasing fraud due to advances in generative AI and deepfakes, and the importance of balancing security with customer experience. The conversation covers practical strategies for unifying data across teams, leveraging behavioral signals, and investing in converged identity platforms.-------------------Key Takeaways: Digital fraud is rapidly evolving due to generative AI and deepfakes, making it harder for companies to distinguish between real and fake interactions.Unifying data and aligning company goals around trust and security is essential for effective fraud prevention.Balancing customer experience with security requires smart, context-aware friction and continuous monitoring.-------------------“ The best teams or organizations don't think in an either-or, it's the balance. They always are able to balance and they design these systems to adapt to what they need.  It's not just about reducing the fraud, it's making sure that users are protected without slowing them down. Smart friction.” – Filip Verley-------------------Episode Timestamps:‍*(01:52) - How generative AI and deepfakes are making fraud detection harder ‍*(04:07) - Insights from Liminal’s Seminal Report‍*(16:19) - Why behavioral intent is a game changer for fraud detection‍*(22:54) - The 4 layers of defense every company needs ‍*(25:52) - Where companies are investing for the biggest impact‍*(35:13) - Quick hits-------------------Links:Connect with Filip on LinkedInRead Liminal’s Seminal ReportConnect with Kailey on LinkedInLearn more about Caspian Studios-------------------SponsorBuilders Wanted is brought to you by Twilio – the Customer Engagement Platform that helps builders turn real-time data into meaningful customer experiences. More than 320,000 businesses trust Twilio to transform signals into connections—and connections into revenue. Ready to build what’s next? Learn more at twilio.com.  Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In this episode of Builders Wanted, we’re joined by Anne Marie O’Keefe, Chief Operating Officer of Inc. and Fast Company. Anne Marie discusses her approach to fostering creativity and operational excellence in a rapidly changing media landscape.  The conversation covers the balancing act between legacy and innovation, simplifying systems for better efficiency, and the critical role of listening to customers.-------------------Key Takeaways:Media brands should focus on constantly evolving products, touchpoints, and strategies rather than chasing industry trends or competitors.Reducing complexity in workflows and technology enables organizations to adapt faster and deliver more value.Effective leadership requires adapting management styles to different teams, celebrating small wins, and empowering people to do their best work.-------------------“ Simplification is transformative. I think a lot of times we read these amazing stories in Fast Company about innovators and we think, Oh, they took this really complicated problem and they solved it. And that leads us to believe that we need a lot of complexity in what we do. Stripping that complexity away really lets the team be creative and innovative where it matters most, where they can build something that has impact for the audience.” – Anne Marie O’Keefe-------------------Episode Timestamps:‍*(01:59) - What Anne Marie builds at Inc. and Fast Company ‍*(07:28) - Simplifying operations and driving innovation‍*(21:42) - Balancing editorial integrity and business growth‍*(34:21) - Quick hits-------------------Links:Connect with Anne Marie on LinkedInConnect with Kailey on LinkedInLearn more about Caspian Studios-------------------SponsorBuilders Wanted is brought to you by Twilio – the Customer Engagement Platform that helps builders turn real-time data into meaningful customer experiences. More than 320,000 businesses trust Twilio to transform signals into connections—and connections into revenue. Ready to build what’s next? Learn more at twilio.com. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In this episode of Builders Wanted, we’re joined by Kevin Stang, Chief of Staff to the President of the US Professional Products Division at L’Oréal. Kevin shares his unique perspective on aligning purpose with performance, leading high-powered teams, and fostering innovation in the beauty industry. He highlights the importance of investing in talent, the role of 360 marketers, and the real-world insights and adaptability required to stay ahead of trends.-------------------Key Takeaways:Building strong customer engagement requires a 360-degree approach: balancing B2B and B2C strategies, investing in talent, and fostering cross-functional collaboration.Data should be paired with direct insights from salons and stylists to drive innovation and effective marketing.Speed and adaptability are crucial to keep up with cultural trends, but maintaining authenticity is key to lasting success.------------------- “ What would happen if you had an individual send you a video, you get approval by mid-morning and you're in the content center by the afternoon shooting the content, and it's up within 48 hours? That is the type of speed and change that we've really made internally to help take that story that that storyteller is creating and try to remove all of those operation or hierarchical barriers that exist in very modern or traditional groupings and try to put that at the forefront to allow fast speed and reaction.” – Kevin Stang-------------------Episode Timestamps:‍*(02:12) - The importance of people and talent development at L’Oreal‍*(08:47) - Turning data into actionable insights through field immersion‍*(14:25) - How TikTok and YouTube are transforming stylist training and brand engagement‍*(17:17) - The “storyteller” role in keeping up with trends and authentic content creation‍*(22:43) - Empowering stylists authentically without over-prescription‍*(35:01) - Quick hits ‍-------------------‍Links:Connect with Kevin on LinkedInConnect with Kailey on LinkedInLearn more about Caspian Studios‍-------------------SponsorBuilders Wanted is brought to you by Twilio – the Customer Engagement Platform that helps builders turn real-time data into meaningful customer experiences. More than 320,000 businesses trust Twilio to transform signals into connections—and connections into revenue. Ready to build what’s next? Learn more at twilio.com. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In this episode of Builders Wanted, we’re joined by Sandeep Seth, Chief Growth Officer and President of Tapestry. Sandeep shares his mission to future-proof growth by transforming Tapestry into a brand growth engine. He explores the importance of consumer focus, continuous learning, and creating seamless experiences both online and offline.-------------------Key Takeaways:Strategies to future-proof growth by focusing on consumer insightsHow to balance authenticity and innovation for younger generationsThe seamless integration of physical and digital experiences-------------------“ The magic doesn't come from what [consumers] tell us. The magic comes from what they don't tell us. And how do you sense that tension that's kind of going on there? It's not easy, but a true insight is that unexpressed emotion or that unexpressed need and how the brand, in an authentic way, can fulfill that.” – Sandeep Seth-------------------Episode Timestamps:‍*(01:57) - Sandeep’s mission at Tapestry‍*(03:29 - Sandeep’s approach to growth and brand relevance‍*(12:02) - An exciting shift in consumer behavior‍*(21:09) - Gen Z, digital vs. physical, and evolving consumer behavior‍*(28:29) - Balancing near-term performance with long-term brand equity‍*(37:39) - Quick hits-------------------Links:Connect with Sandeep on LinkedInConnect with Kailey on LinkedInLearn more about Caspian Studios-------------------SponsorBuilders Wanted is brought to you by Twilio – the Customer Engagement Platform that helps builders turn real-time data into meaningful customer experiences. More than 320,000 businesses trust Twilio to transform signals into connections—and connections into revenue. Ready to build what’s next? Learn more at twilio.com. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In this episode of Builders Wanted, we’re joined by Jon Kennedy, Chief Technology Officer at Quickbase. John discusses how Quickbase is helping businesses innovate through its no-code platform, enabling users to build custom solutions swiftly. He shares insights into the challenges of scaling a global engineering team, the importance of fostering an empowering work culture, and the transformative potential of AI in low-code development.-------------------Key Takeaways:The importance of empowering non-technical users, or "citizen developers," through Quickbase's no-code platform.The critical balance between fostering rapid innovation and maintaining strong governance, security, and reliability standards.Effective leadership and organizational transformation rely heavily on listening and adaptability.-------------------“ It's very empowering, like, I solved this problem. And guess what? You built a computer application and you're not a computer programmer.  I think it's pretty empowering for somebody that is not a technologist to be able to solve a real world problem like that.” – Jon Kennedy-------------------Episode Timestamps:‍*(01:59) - How Quickbase is helping businesses solve complex problems‍*(09:08) - How customers are pushing the boundaries of what’s possible ‍*(11:04) - AI’s role in transforming the low-code space ‍*(16:01) - Navigating speed and stability at scale‍*(21:24) - Successes and challenges of integrating FastField into Quickbase‍*(28:23) - Quick hits-------------------Links:Connect with Jon on LinkedInConnect with Kailey on LinkedInLearn more about Caspian Studios-------------------SponsorBuilders Wanted is brought to you by Twilio – the Customer Engagement Platform that helps builders turn real-time data into meaningful customer experiences. More than 320,000 businesses trust Twilio to transform signals into connections—and connections into revenue. Ready to build what’s next? Learn more at twilio.com. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In this episode of Builders Wanted, we’re joined by Victoria Hornby, CEO of Mental Health Innovations. Victoria explores the intersection of empathy and technology in mental health support, the importance of accessibility, and the impact of leveraging digital platforms to build trust at scale. Learn more about the challenges and successes of adapting technology to create human connections and the continuous effort to innovate and reach marginalized communities.-------------------Key Takeaways:Technology can bridge gaps and make mental health support more accessible and effective.The importance of flexibility to pivot quickly in response to external factors while maintaining the quality of services.A data-driven approach helps tailor training for volunteers and adapt their methods to better meet the needs of specific user groups.-------------------“ We are using technology to connect a person who is struggling with another person who has decided and trained to help someone exactly in that moment.  There's a technical connection, and then that facilitates a human connection. And that means that we are able to provide that service and that connection at scale and 24 hours a day.” – Victoria Hornby-------------------Episode Timestamps:‍*(05:44) - What it means to “build trust” in the context of mental health‍*(09:50) - How Mental Health Innovations uses technology to expand access‍*(16:17) - How data helps MHI improve its services‍*(24:57) - The tradeoff between speed and stability ‍*(34:36) - A change or experiment that made a big difference at MHI‍*(37:20) - A shift in mental health or nonprofit tech Victoria is watching closely-------------------Links:Connect with Victoria on LinkedInConnect with Kailey on LinkedInLearn more about Caspian Studios-------------------SponsorBuilders Wanted is brought to you by Twilio – the Customer Engagement Platform that helps builders turn real-time data into meaningful customer experiences. More than 320,000 businesses trust Twilio to transform signals into connections—and connections into revenue. Ready to build what’s next? Learn more at twilio.com. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.