Michel Valstar - Founder, Co-CEO & Chief Science Officer - BlueSkeye AI

In this episode we're talking to Matt Casella from Richtech Robotics. Matt shares his incredible perspective on the evolving role of robots in our world and his leadership approach in navigating this change. As a leader at RichTech Robotics, Matt is focused on bridging the gap between hospitality and technology, aiming to enhance human interactions through innovations like Adam, the robotic barista. He emphasizes the importance of balancing innovation with the core principles of hospitality and maintaining a human touch in customer experiences. Drawing from personal experiences and familial wisdom, Matt highlights the transformative power of authenticity and genuine connections in leadership. He offers profound insights into embracing true selves and navigating challenges with grace. Tune in to hear Matt's top leadership tips and reflections on the art of leading through the next phases of this industry.

In this episode of the Full Stack Leader Podcast, host Ryan engages in a thought-provoking conversation with Michel Valstar, the founder and co-CEO of BlueSkeye AI. Michel discusses the innovative work BlueSkeye is doing in medically relevant face and voice analysis, particularly their clinical trial for detecting depression. He also shares insights into the ethical considerations and technological advancements that drive their work, emphasizing their commitment to privacy by running analyses on users' mobile phones. Michel reflects on his academic journey and how it has shaped his entrepreneurial endeavors, providing a unique perspective on the intersection of AI technology and mental health.

In the latest edition of the Full Stack Leader, we talked to Wayne Hennessy-Barrett, CEO and founder of 4G Capital.Wayne discusses the FinTech landscape in Africa and elaborates on the problem of access to working capital for small businesses and the role of mobile money. He focuses on leveraging mobile technology to address fundamental financial challenges.In the conversation, Wayne talks about the importance of courage, emphasizing that it underlies virtues such as integrity, resilience, and trust, enabling leaders to make tough decisions and navigate the unknown.He highlights the significance of respecting others, customers, colleagues, and one's self - this fosters trust, recognition of universal values, and accountability within a team or organization.Another great point Wayne makes is the commitment to excellence, asserting that a conscious dedication to excellence is crucial for overcoming mediocrity and unlocking individual and collective potential.

In the latest edition of the Full Stack Leader, we talked to Austin Daniels, Senior Lead Product Manager at Method.Austin brings up the challenges of data privacy and innovation in healthcare, highlighting the need for a balance between secure data handling and enabling research and development. He also discusses the importance of personalized medicine and leveraging emerging technologies like AI for more effective care.Austin emphasizes the importance of active listening, recognizing that everyone brings unique insights and experiences. He suggests asking pointed questions to better understand and communicate with team members.In addition, Austin stresses the need for leaders to align their actions, words, and incentives to create a cohesive and trustworthy work environment. He also talks about the significance of being hands-on and occasionally taking on tasks to lead by example.

In the latest edition of the Full Stack Leader, we talked to Luisa Herrmann, Head of Product at Arch Systems.Luisa delves into the challenges faced by women in the tech industry, addressing unconscious bias and the need for diversity and inclusion. She emphasizes the importance of acknowledging and counteracting unconscious bias, especially for women and younger professionals in the field. Luisa also discusses the impact of AI and machine learning, highlighting the potential risks and the need for responsible development and regulation.Our conversation also touches upon the evolving role of product leaders in the age of AI, emphasizing the importance of understanding and effectively leveraging emerging technologies, a skill set that every tech leader tomorrow must have. Luisa talks about the importance of openness, receiving feedback, and embracing new ideas. She stresses the importance of actively listening and being receptive to input, cautioning against overconfidence in one's own knowledge.

In the latest edition of the Full Stack Leader, we talked to Carl Moberg, co-founder and CTO at Avassa.In the interview, Carl discusses the challenges of creating innovative technology in a new category. He emphasizes the importance of proper measurements and feedback to guide development decisions. In his experience, working on category making solutions requires bringing various parties together to ensure that they are building the right thing.Carl also elaborates on the concept of servant leadership, where a leader's primary role is to identify and eliminate obstacles for their team. He underscores the importance of sharing specific feedback and celebrates success, and advocates for leaders to openly admit their mistakes, fostering an environment of psychological safety and growth.

In the latest edition of the Full Stack Leader, we talked to Lauren Creedon, Head of Product at Goldcast, about planning and execution.Lauren talks about the significance of understanding the business’s operational plan, market dynamics, and user behavior seasonality. This knowledge is crucial for effective product launches. Lauren also advocates coaching teams to achieve significant outcomes within a quarter, emphasizing the need for structured planning and phased execution.In the interview, Lauren emphasizes the importance of understanding target markets, budgeting cycles, and competition in the AI product market, advocating for clear communication over technical jargon. She introduces the concepts of seasonality and roadmaps, stressing alignment with usage peaks and budgeting cycles for optimal impact.

On this week’s episode of the Full Stack Leader, we are talking to Valentine Wats at TechCrunch Disrupt 2023.Valentine is the CTO and a co-founder of Excelitte, a service that instantly converts your data in a spreadsheet to a web-based software database application, automatically encrypting your data, providing access to it only after 3-Factor authentication. Excelitte instantly encrypts your computer or cloud-based files of any format, ensuring that your files can’t be ‘ransomwared’, stolen, or lost.During our conversation, Valentine talks about cybersecurity, emphasizing the shift towards data protection in the era of remote work. He also advocates for a multi-layered approach to security, stressing the need to safeguard data in an age of unprecedented data generation and sharing.

In the latest edition of the Full Stack Leader, we talked to Orion Ohev, a Team Dynamics Coach.Orion emphasizes the importance of understanding intricate dynamics within teams, often rooted in unconscious and nervous system-level reactions. He believes in delving beneath surface-level issues to uncover the actual dynamics between team members. Orion also stresses the importance of recognizing the significance of diversity, equity, and inclusion and creating an environment where all perspectives and talents are valued.During the interview, Orion shares leadership tips that center on fundamental principles for effective management. He encourages leaders to bolster their team's capacity before presenting them with growth opportunities -this involves recognizing the team as an organism with a distinct operating rhythm and ensuring that its capacity aligns with the challenges provided.To contact Orion, visit his website or book a free consultation.

On this week’s episode of the Full Stack Leader, we are talking to David Erickson at TechCrunch Disrupt 2023. David is founder of CarrierX, a CPaaS (Communication Platform as a Service) and API provider with its own network that provides powerful tools to build enterprise-ready applications and services with Cloud-Based Voice, Video, and Messaging. During our conversation, David discusses his journey in the telecom industry, and touches on future trends, highlighting the need for improved security and fraud protection in the public switched telephone network (PSTN). He also talks about the innovations in caller identification for a more intimate and personalized communication experience.