Episodes

In this episode, Mehmet sits down with Harish Chandramowli, Head of AI at Good Day Software, to explore how AI is reshaping the future of fashion, retail, and e-commerce operations. Harish shares his journey from cybersecurity engineering at Bloomberg and cloud security at MongoDB to building fashion-specific AI tools that solve real operational pain points around data chaos, messy workflows, and inventory waste. This is a deep dive into verticalized AI, workflow automation, agentic ...

In this episode, Mehmet sits down with VC and author Ben Wiener to unpack one of the most practical, founder-friendly pitching frameworks in the startup world today. Ben is the creator of the HEART Framework and the author of the bestselling business fable Fever Pitch. He breaks down why most pitches fail, how investors actually think, and how founders can use storytelling to turn curiosity into conviction. This episode goes deep into the psychology of pitching, investor behavior, AI start...

In this powerful conversation, Wesley Eugene, SVP North America at HIT Global, joins Mehmet to explore a new framework for technology leadership. They go deep into human centered design, why digital transformations fail, how AI forces us to rethink what it means to work, and why empathy is now a competitive advantage. Wesley draws from years of experience in digital transformation, design thinking, and ITIL modernization. He shares the hidden gaps in traditional IT practices, the philosoph...

In this episode, Luv Kapur joins Mehmet to break down how composability is reshaping modern engineering. Luv is an engineering leader at Bit, working across their open source and enterprise platforms, and one of the earliest advocates for modular, reusable software as a way to unlock scale. They explore why composability matters, how modular systems speed up delivery, and the cultural shift required inside engineering teams. Luv also shares real results from enterprise adoption, including ...

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. W...

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 journ...

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 strateg...

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 str...

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...

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...

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...

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...

In this episode, Mehmet Gonullu sits down with Carina Negreanu, CTO of Robin AI, to explore how artificial intelligence is reshaping the legal industry. From her roots in physics and machine learning to leading one of the most innovative legal tech companies, Carina shares how Robin AI is using AI to simplify contracts, enhance trust, and improve lawyer productivity. The conversation dives deep into the intersection of AI, law, and human judgment, discussing the challenges of accuracy, bia...

In this episode of The CTO Show with Mehmet, we sit down with Mark Vange, founder of Autom8ly and former CTO at Electronic Arts, to explore what he calls “cooperative AI.” Mark shares how decades of experience in gaming, enterprise software, and automation shaped his belief that the true power of AI lies not in replacing humans but in partnering with them. From building video games at 13 to running global tech teams at EA and now leading AI-driven automation across industries, Mark explain...

In this episode of The CTO Show with Mehmet, host Mehmet Gonullu sits down with Pete Steege, Founder of B2B Clarity and author of Radical Clarity. Pete helps “accidental CEOs” — technical experts who suddenly find themselves leading companies — move from chaos to focus by simplifying what matters most. They explore how meaning, empathy, and intentional leadership drive business growth, why founders must rediscover their true story, and how doing less can unlock exponential results. ⸻...

In this episode, Mehmet sits down with Federico Ramallo, founder of Density Labs and Prevetted AI, to explore how technology, culture, and human connection intersect in building world-class engineering teams. From managing nearshore teams in Mexico to scaling engineering partnerships for U.S. startups, Federico shares the secrets behind a 6-year average retention rate, and why trust, ownership, and transparent communication are the real differentiators. They also dive into how AI is ...

In this episode of The CTO Show with Mehmet, host Mehmet Gonullu sits down with Eckhard Jann — former commercial pilot, safety manager, author of Error One, and host of the Error One podcast — to explore how lessons from aviation safety can transform leadership, culture, and decision-making in startups. Drawing from 30 years in the cockpit and years of investigating human error, Eckhard unpacks why mistakes are inevitable but manageable, how psychological safety shapes resilient teams, and...

In this episode, Mehmet sits down with Sebastian Gierlinger, VP of Engineering at Storyblok, to explore what it really takes to build software and teams that stand the test of time. From composable architectures to developer-first design, Sebastian shares practical wisdom for engineering leaders navigating complexity, scalability, and AI adoption. The conversation moves beyond code—into mindset, balance, and how curiosity fuels sustainable innovation in a fast-changing world. ⸻ ...

In this episode of The CTO Show with Mehmet, we dive into the digital transformation wave reshaping businesses in the UAE and beyond. Mehmet sits down with Moosa Alavi, Founder & CEO of Techbot ERP, to explore how cloud-based ERP solutions are empowering small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to automate operations, make smarter decisions, and embrace the future of AI-driven business. From his 25-year journey in the signage industry to founding a leading ERP implementation company, Moos...

In this episode of The CTO Show with Mehmet, we dive into one of the most pressing questions of our time: Can privacy survive in the age of AI surveillance? Joining Mehmet is Kee Jefferys, Co-Founder of Session, a decentralized, privacy-first messaging platform built on blockchain technology. Kee breaks down how Session protects users from metadata tracking, how it differs from mainstream encrypted messengers, and why the future of secure communication depends on decentralization and design —...

In this episode of The CTO Show with Mehmet, host Mehmet Gonullu welcomes Marco Benítez, Founder & CEO of Rook, a data infrastructure company powering the next generation of preventive healthcare. From martial arts discipline to building one of the most promising health data platforms in the world, Marco shares his entrepreneurial journey, the evolution of wearables, and how clean data and AI are redefining human health. ⸻ 👤 About the Guest Marco Benítez is a biomedical enginee...

In this episode of The CTO Show with Mehmet, I sit down with Steve and Melissa Fultz — founders of The Fultz Group, authors of Family Business Facelift, and consultants helping family businesses unlock hidden revenue and embrace digital transformation. From uncovering inefficiencies worth hundreds of thousands to guiding owners through AI adoption, Steve and Melissa share practical strategies for future-proofing businesses while keeping the human touch at the core. Whether you’re a f...

In this episode of The CTO Show with Mehmet, I sit down with Lori Crooks, CEO of Cadra, to explore the evolving world of compliance and cybersecurity. From FedRAMP and SOC 2 to the latest AI regulations, Lori breaks down why compliance matters, where companies often go wrong, and how startups can use compliance as a competitive advantage. We also dive into Lori’s entrepreneurial journey as a solo founder in a male-dominated industry, her lessons learned in building Cadra, and her advice fo...

In this episode of The CTO Show with Mehmet, I’m joined by Chad Link, Co-Founder & CEO of Swyvvl, and Rob Brower, Co-Founder & CTO. Together, they share their journey of building Swyvvl — a PropTech startup that’s reimagining how real estate transactions are done by shifting power back to buyers, sellers, and agents. We dive into how Chad’s 18 years in real estate brokerages revealed systemic inefficiencies, how Rob turned that vision into a scalable platform, and why disrupting a legacy i...