Episodes

In this episode of The CTO Show with Mehmet, I sit down with Jeff Greenfield, CEO of Provalytics, to unpack one of the biggest shifts in marketing: moving from click-based attribution to AI-driven attention analytics. From the death of cookies to the rise of connected TV, podcasts, and non-click channels, Jeff explains how marketers, CFOs, and entrepreneurs alike can avoid wasting ad spend, uncover the real ROI of campaigns, and navigate a marketing world where “less wrong” beats the illus...

In this episode of The CTO Show with Mehmet, we dive into the future of management with Jack Skeels, CEO of Agency Agile and author of Unmanaged. Jack shares why traditional command-and-control structures are outdated, how hidden dysfunctions cripple organizations, and what it takes to unlock true productivity in the age of AI. We explore why overmanagement is slowing teams down, the warning signs leaders should watch for, and how AI can either reinforce bad habits—or transform organizatio...

In this episode of The CTO Show with Mehmet, Angela Thomas shares her extraordinary journey from growing up in East Germany to building award-winning businesses, reinventing her career, and now helping entrepreneurs scale in Dubai. We dive into the misconceptions about scaling, the role of authenticity, why reinvention is critical, and why Dubai has become a global hub for entrepreneurs. Key Takeaways • Why authenticity is a non-negotiable asset when scaling a business • The differen...

In this episode of The CTO Show with Mehmet, I sit down with Rob Matzkin, a serial entrepreneur, investor, and connector who has built and exited multiple companies and now advises startups on scaling, fundraising, and execution. Rob shares the hard truths of entrepreneurship — why execution beats hype every time, what founders get wrong about investor readiness, and how AI is reshaping startup moats. We also dive into founder burnout, the myth of overnight success, and the importance of b...

In this episode of The CTO Show with Mehmet, I sit down with Tomas Navickas, Co-Founder and CTO of myTU, a digital-first financial institution known for running an entire bank on less than €1,000/month in cloud costs. We explore how efficiency, AI, and smart architecture are redefining the future of digital banking and fintech. Tomas shares how myTU built efficiency into its DNA, why fraud prevention requires more than rules, and how APIs and AI are reshaping payments. This conversation is...

In this episode of The CTO Show with Mehmet, I sit down with Soha Ashrafian, co-founder of Temis and a fearless serial entrepreneur who turned early challenges into a global track record of business building. From launching her first startup at 21 in Iran—against social resistance and financial restrictions—to building ventures across Dubai, Soha’s journey is a powerful lesson in resilience, creativity, and the true drivers of business success. We dive deep into why distribution and execut...

In this episode of The CTO Show with Mehmet, I sit down with Jon Sabes, Founder & CEO of Longevity FP, serial entrepreneur, and author of Healthy Wealthy Longevity. We explore how the intersection of health, wealth, and technology is reshaping our future. From the basics of extending healthspan to the economic implications of an aging population, Jon shares practical wisdom and groundbreaking insights for entrepreneurs, investors, and anyone interested in living longer — and better. 📌 Key ...

In this episode of The CTO Show with Mehmet, Derrick Girard shares his remarkable journey from financial services advisor to tech founder — despite having no technical background. Derrick opens up about scaling his company without a traditional sales team, surviving multiple lawsuits, and ultimately selling his business. His story is one of grit, resilience, and what he calls the FIO (Figure It Out) mindset — a framework every founder and leader can adopt to overcome obstacles and drive success....

In this episode of The CTO Show with Mehmet, I sit down with Rob Duffy, CTO of HealthEdge, to unpack how healthcare—one of the last industries to modernize—is finally undergoing a deep digital transformation. Rob shares how his journey through companies like Amazon, Kindle, Time Inc., and Expedia prepared him for leading one of the most complex transitions in technology: taking healthcare systems from legacy mainframes to cloud-native platforms. We discuss the hype vs. reality of AI, what ...

In this episode of The CTO Show with Mehmet, I sit down with Leandro Cartelli, CEO of Lana Talent, to explore how Latin America is emerging as one of the most strategic regions for global hiring. From Argentina to the world, Lean shares insights from 15+ years in talent acquisition—helping startups and SMBs build cost-effective, high-performing remote teams. We discuss why the “right hire” is evolving in the age of AI, the real cost of bad hiring decisions, and how Latin American talent is...

In this episode of The CTO Show with Mehmet, we dive into the future of education and technology with Greg Banks, a veteran teacher, school administrator, researcher, and author. Greg brings over 20 years of experience in K-12 education and chemistry teaching, along with a deep perspective on how AI is reshaping classrooms. From the early days of clickers and smart boards to today’s AI-powered tools, Greg explains what works, what doesn’t, and what founders building in EdTech must keep in ...

In this episode of The CTO Show with Mehmet, I sit down with Rob Kalwarowsky — executive coach, TEDx speaker, and author of Capitalizing on Chaos. Rob shares his powerful personal journey from MIT-trained engineer to leadership coach, opening up about toxic leadership, mental health struggles, and how he transformed adversity into a framework for resilient leadership. We explore what chaos really means for today’s founders and tech leaders, and how to turn uncertainty into an opportunity t...

In this episode of The CTO Show with Mehmet, I sit down with Alistair Gordon, founder of Expertunity and author of Master Expert. Alistair has spent decades helping organizations unlock the hidden potential of their technical experts by transforming them into influential leaders. We dive into why technical skills alone are no longer enough, how “enterprise skills” drive innovation, and why overlooking experts in leadership development is one of the costliest mistakes organizations make. ...

In this episode of The CTO Show with Mehmet, I sit down with Corey Hart, Senior Director of Growth at Mentavi Health. Corey shares his journey from the entertainment industry to scaling telehealth and mental health startups, his lessons from driving 800% growth in behavioral health, and how AI-driven personalization (“B2Me”) is reshaping healthcare marketing and patient care. We also dive into the Midwest startup ecosystem, the importance of community building through Startup Grind, and wh...

In this episode of The CTO Show with Mehmet, I’m joined by Elipaz Tanzman, Co-Founder and CEO of Cygnostic. Elipaz brings a wealth of experience from his early career as a cybersecurity officer in the Navy to leading innovative solutions in application, AI/ML, and cloud security. We explore how organizations can break the long-standing tension between R&D and security teams, building a partnership that allows products to ship quickly without compromising on safety — even in the rapidly evo...

What if our education system is training students for jobs that no longer exist? In this eye-opening conversation, bestselling author, film producer, and former venture capitalist Ted Dintersmith shares why decades of math education have missed the mark — and what we must teach instead to prepare for the AI-driven future. From his years in venture capital spotting disruptive innovation to his current mission as an education reformer, Ted reveals why rote memorization and high-stakes testin...

In this episode of The CTO Show with Mehmet, I sit down with Lars Maaløe, Co-Founder and CTO of Corti.ai, to explore how AI is transforming healthcare. From explainability and compliance to building scalable AI infrastructure, Lars shares his journey from researching generative models to delivering life-changing technology for clinicians and patients worldwide. We unpack the challenges of deploying AI in one of the most highly regulated industries, the importance of trust in AI-assisted decisio...

In this episode of The CTO Show with Mehmet, we dive deep with Ron Green, CTO of Kungfu.ai, a veteran AI engineer and serial entrepreneur who’s built 9 startups and deployed 120+ enterprise-grade AI systems. Ron shares how to go beyond AI hype, build custom AI that works, and unlock real ROI using the data you already have. 💡 What You’ll Learn • Why bottom-up AI initiatives often outperform boardroom mandates • How to build production-grade AI using your enterprise’s proprietary data ...

In this episode of The CTO Show with Mehmet, we dive deep into the future of venture capital with Cyril Shtabtsovsky, founder of AlphaSemantic and a practicing VC. Cyril shares how his data-driven platform helps venture firms source, score, and connect with high-potential startups — using proprietary algorithms and machine learning to augment traditional VC workflows. From the role of AI in deal sourcing to venture arbitrage between US and MENA, this conversation blends tech, strategy, and...

In this episode of The CTO Show with Mehmet, we sit down with Glen Cameron, founder and CEO of Bonded, to explore how technology can validate the most human thing we have: relationships. From immigration barriers to identity verification in a deepfake world, Glen unpacks the inspiration behind Bonded — a startup building proof-of-relationship infrastructure for the AI age. 🎯 Key Takeaways • The problem with traditional identity: it’s static and individual • Immigration systems still ...

In this special 500th episode of The CTO Show with Mehmet, we dive deep into the talent game behind startup scaling and private equity moves. Joining us is Justin Dixon, founder of Hire Tomorrow, who brings nearly two decades of recruiting experience—from Fortune 500s to early-stage startups and PE-backed ventures. We explore how AI is disrupting (and complicating) hiring, why job security at big companies is a myth, and how to evaluate a startup as if you were a VC—even when you’re just l...

In this episode of The CTO Show with Mehmet, host Mehmet Gonullu sits down with Karan Jain, Founder and CEO of NayaOne, to explore the broken state of enterprise tech adoption — and what it takes to fix it. With over two decades of experience in financial services and technology, Karan is on a mission to eliminate the painful 12-month vendor procurement cycles that cripple innovation in large institutions. NayaOne offers a powerful, secure platform that connects enterprises with technology...

In this episode, host Mehmet Gonullu welcomes back Dev Aditya, Co-Founder of OIAI by Otermans Institute, who returns nearly two years after his first appearance to share an extraordinary update: they’ve built an AI teacher that runs completely offline — even on a 2020 Android phone. From educating learners in refugee camps to scaling across 17 countries, Dev’s mission is clear: make AI-powered learning accessible to the 750 million people underserved by the internet and modern hardware. ...

Raj Singh, VP of Product at Mozilla and a seasoned startup founder, joins The CTO Show with Mehmet to share a candid look into the evolution of building products—from the early days of AI to today’s GenAI-fueled solo founder wave. We dive into what vibe coding means, how big companies like Mozilla are tackling zero-to-one innovation, and why most startups fail—not because of the idea, but because the founders get tired. 🚀 Key Takeaways • Most startups fail in the messy middle, not the begi...