The New Rules for Growth: Gokul Rajaram on Finding Real Value in the AI Landscape
Gokul Rajaram, a renowned product leader and investor—shares his insights on the evolving AI landscape, startup success strategies, and the future of product management. Hosted by Amit Fulay, VP of Product at Microsoft, this conversation covers how AI is shifting from model training to enterprise adoption, why founders must master hiring and fundraising, and the key ingredients to building a scalable company.Gokul dives deep into what makes a startup’s AI moat defensible, how to articulate risk to investors, and the importance of product-led growth in today’s market. Whether you're a founder, investor, or product leader, this episode is packed with tactical advice on navigating AI disruption, hiring top talent, and leveraging storytelling for startup success.What You Will Learn:✅ The biggest shifts in AI and startup funding✅ How to build a defensible moat in AI✅ Why hiring and team credibility matter more than ever✅ The role of narrative in securing funding✅ How AI startups should focus on enterprise adoption over model training✅ The evolving role of product managers in the AI eraEpisode Highlights:[04:12] – Scale vs. efficiency: How DeepSeek reshaped AI[08:45] – AI startups don’t need massive capital, they need better tools[12:00] – The real moat in AI: Private data & complex workflows[19:02] – Why great founders deeply understand customer pain points[21:53] – If you’re not aiming for 10x growth, you’re already behind[30:06] – Founders must spend 20-30% of their time hiring[26:54] – The evolution of product managers: Why prototyping is essential[35:54] – "Get on the rocket ship—figure out your seat later."💡 Enjoyed this episode? Don’t forget to subscribe to The Wize Ones on your favorite podcast platform for more insights from top knowledge professionals. If you would like to continue the conversation with either of our guests, you can chat with their Wizly Knowledge Twins.Gokul Rajaram- https://askwizly.ai/gokul-rajaramAmit Fulay-https://askwizly.ai/amit-fulayThe Wize Ones podcast features industry pioneers sharing transformative insights on AI-enabled work, future-proof business strategies, and unlocking the full potential of your knowledge. We learn from the best and understand market shifts and trends as they are happening.What truly sets us apart? The conversation doesn't end when the episode does. Through Wizly's ecosystem, you can continue engaging with our guests via their AI Knowledge Twins and other knowledge assets—intelligent digital extensions that provide their expertise on-demand. Unlike traditional business podcasts, we don't just discuss ideas—we make expertise accessible.Imagine having 24/7 access to the minds that are reshaping industries. That's The Wize Ones experience—where knowledge transcends time constraints and becomes truly limitless.Powered by Wizly (askwizly.ai) : Become Limitlesshttps://askwizly.ai/
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39:52
Breaking Up with Traditional Work: A Global Perspective on the Now of Work with Aki Taha
Aki Taha, a former Google, Uber, and Netflix talent expert turned founder of Talent Stories. Aki through his conversations with Samir Khadepaun, Founder of Wizly, shares his insights on how the future of work is evolving, why traditional hiring models are breaking, and how leaders can attract and retain top talent in a decentralized world.💡 Enjoyed this episode?Don’t forget to subscribe to The Wize Ones on your favorite podcast platform for more insights from top operators, VCs, and founders. If you found value, leave us a review—it helps us reach more listeners like you!What You Will Learn:Why the gap between business needs and employee expectations is growingHow talent practitioners can bridge the gap between leadership and employeesThe shift from corporate careers to independent work and portfolio careersHow Silicon Valley's unique culture fosters rapid innovationWhy clarity and flexibility are the future of hiring.Highlights:[05:23] The personal story that led Aki into talent strategy[08:43] The biggest tension between business leaders and employees.[14:20] Why startups struggle with scaling culture[19:06] The difference between founders who value talent and those who don’t[26:31] How companies evolve and what happens when they don’t[33:46] The biggest shifts in how people are working today[44:50] How to embrace career uncertainty and take control of your pathThe Wize Ones podcast features leading operators, subject matter experts, VCs, and founders interviewing each other to reveal insights into how they built and scaled their products, software, and ideas. We speak to the top 5% of people in the world of GTM to get first-hand insights, case studies, and real-life examples of what worked and what didn't.This podcast is produced byWizly and powered by its global community of professionals. Wizly is an AI-powered platform that helps experts organize, scale, and monetize their knowledge.
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49:47
The CMO of Silicon Valley: Lessons from Apple's former Marketing Chief Satjiv Chahil
Satjiv Chahil, a Silicon Valley icon who led transformative marketing campaigns at Apple, HP, and Palm. Satjiv shares invaluable insights on balancing innovation with stability, avoiding arrogance, and driving global impact through partnerships. Learn about the making of the iconic "I'm a PC" campaign, the future of AI in addressing the digital divide, and why partnerships always trump sponsorships in creating lasting value.
💡 Enjoyed this episode?
Don’t forget to subscribe to The Wize Ones on your favorite podcast platform for more insights from top operators, VCs, and founders. If you found value, leave us a review—it helps us reach more listeners like you!
What You Will Learn:
How to lead transformative marketing campaigns that resonate globally
The balance between innovation and maintaining revenue streams
The importance of partnerships over sponsorships for amplifying marketing efforts
How AI can drive global equality and bridge the digital divide
Key leadership lessons from decades in Silicon Valley
Highlights:
[02:10] Avoiding Organizational Arrogance
[06:45] Guiding Principles for Transformative Leadership
[10:12] Recognizing Future Needs in Technology
[14:20] Lessons from the "I'm a PC" Campaign
[18:48] Leveraging Partnerships Over Sponsorships
[22:35] A Global Mindset in Marketing
[26:10] AI’s Role in Addressing the Digital Divide
[31:50] Leadership Insights for Startups
[37:20] Closing the Digital Divide in India
[42:15] Driving Social and Technological Impact
The Wize Ones podcast features leading operators, subject matter experts, VCs, and founders interviewing each other to reveal insights into how they built and scaled their products, software, and ideas. We speak to the top 5% of people in the world of GTM to get first-hand insights, case studies, and real-life examples of what worked and what didn't.
This podcast is produced by Wizly and powered by its global community of professionals. Wizly is an AI-powered platform that helps experts organize, scale, and monetize their knowledge.
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50:27
The 20% Rule for B2B Marketing Success with Rob Karel
Rob Karel, Senior Vice President of Marketing at Precisely, shares over two decades of B2B tech marketing expertise. Rob delves into the evolution of marketing, the art of storytelling, and how startups can effectively balance brand awareness with performance marketing. He explains why understanding your ideal customer profile (ICP) is critical for success and highlights the importance of validating your messaging through customer feedback. Rob also discusses structuring marketing teams, the pitfalls of category creation, and the ultimate metric for marketing success—conversion quality.
💡 Enjoyed this episode?
Don’t forget to subscribe to The Wize Ones on your favorite podcast platform for more insights from top operators, VCs, and founders. If you found value, leave us a review—it helps us reach more listeners like you!
What You Will Learn:
How to balance brand awareness and performance marketing for maximum ROI
The art of storytelling in B2B marketing and its impact on long sales cycles
Why startups should focus on their ideal customer profile early
The importance of customer feedback in refining messaging
Key principles for structuring marketing teams at different growth stages
Highlights:
[08:14] Why good messaging starts with understanding your audience
[12:35] Storytelling in B2B: Simplifying the complex
[20:20] The synergy between brand awareness and demand generation
[24:50] Why competition validates category creation
[33:15] Wise advice: “If you’re not wrong 20% of the time, you’re not trying hard enough.”
The Wize Ones PodcastThe Wize Ones podcast features leading operators, subject matter experts, VCs, and founders interviewing each other to reveal insights into how they built and scaled their products, software, and ideas. We speak to the top 5% of people in the world of GTM to get first-hand insights, case studies, and real-life examples of what worked and what didn't.
This podcast is produced by Wizly and powered by its global community of professionals. Wizly is an AI-powered platform that helps experts organize, scale, and monetize their knowledge.
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34:06
AI for Business: Turning Hype into Real Results with Andreas Welsch
Andreas Welsch, a globally recognized AI leader and advisor, shares his insights on how businesses can turn AI hype into real outcomes. As the Founder of Intelligence Briefing and a former global leader at SAP, Andreas has guided Fortune 500 companies in leveraging AI to drive measurable results. Learn how to align AI with business goals, start small to scale effectively, and empower teams to achieve more through technology.
💡 Enjoyed this episode?
Don’t forget to subscribe to The Wize Ones on your favorite podcast platform for more insights from top operators, VCs, and founders. If you found value, leave us a review—it helps us reach more listeners like you!
What You Will Learn:
Why AI is a tool for empowerment, not replacement
How to align AI strategies with measurable business outcomes
The importance of starting small and scaling thoughtfully
Generative AI’s potential and how to use it effectively
Key traits of businesses leading in AI adoption
Highlights:
[01:12] AI as a tool to amplify human potential
[02:45] Aligning AI with clear business goals
[06:10] Driving collaboration between AI and human creativity
[15:40] Generative AI’s game-changing opportunities
[25:15] The future of AI as an enabler in business processes
The Wize Ones PodcastThe Wize Ones podcast features leading operators, subject matter experts, VCs, and founders interviewing each other to reveal insights into how they built and scaled their products, software, and ideas. We speak to the top 5% of people in the world of GTM to get first-hand insights, case studies, and real-life examples of what worked and what didn't.
This podcast is produced by Wizly and powered by its global community of professionals. Wizly is an AI-powered platform that helps experts organize, scale, and monetize their knowledge.
The Wize Ones podcast has leading operators, subject matter experts, VCs, and founders interview each other to reveal insights into how they built and scaled their products, software, and ideas to bring them to life. We speak to the top 5% of people in the world of GTM to get first-hand insights, case-studies, and real-life examples of what worked, and what blew up.
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