Not a Threat: Building the AI-First Future

Luke van der Waals: Mastering Supply Chain Resiliency

My guest today is Luke van der Waals. Luke manages the North American offshore supply chain for SLB, a multinational oil field services company. Previously, he led digital transformation across SLB's global planning and supply chain operations. His focus has been on using technology to drive real-world impact, streamlining operations, embedding sustainability, and rethinking how data and automation can be used to build more resilient, efficient systems. In his spare time, Luke produces the innovative AI on... Podcast, where he interviews AI-generated experts to explore complex questions across technology, business, and society. He shares insights from both his career and the creative process behind the show, reflecting on what each has taught him about the surprising capabilities and limitations of AI. So, please enjoy my conversation with Luke van der Waals. _____ Show Notes: [00:02:07] The Complexity of Supply Chains [00:06:27] Technology and Change Management [00:07:53] Misconceptions About Supply Chains [00:10:11] Energy and AI [00:11:44] AI's Impact on Legacy Systems [00:13:05] Understanding Drilling and AI [00:17:12] Challenges in AI Deployment [00:21:41] Human Judgment in AI [00:24:00] Leadership in AI-Powered Organizations [00:29:44] AI's Future Impact [00:31:41] Winners and Losers in an AI-Driven World [00:33:22] Creating AI Personas [00:37:02] Insights from producing the AI on... Podcast _____ Discover episodes, show notes, and more at notathreat.ai [https://notathreat.ai/] Twitter: @sdchappell [https://twitter.com/sdchappell] | @notathreatai [https://twitter.com/notathreatai] LinkedIn: Sam Chappell [https://www.linkedin.com/in/samuelchappell/] | Not a Threat [https://www.linkedin.com/company/notathreatai]

Kenon Chen: Innovating Real Estate Valuation Models

My guest today is Kenon Chen. Kenon leads strategy and growth at Clear Capital, a real estate analytics, data solutions, and valuation technology company. With a background in tech, he's grown to love the housing and real estate space, bringing an innovative outlook to product development and organizational growth. In our conversation, we delve into how Kenon translates technical language across the diverse spheres of product, sales, and marketing. We also explore the role of AI in talent development, effective deployment strategies to mitigate bias, and the skills required to lead in an AI-powered organization. This was a thoughtful and wide-ranging discussion, and a real pleasure to sit down with someone so grounded in both vision and execution. So please enjoy my conversation with Kenon Chen. _____ Show Notes: [00:00:46] Introduction [00:02:06] Building Confidence in Real Estate [00:03:35] Lessons from the Past [00:05:23] Translating Technical Language [00:06:52] AI in Talent Development [00:08:34] Deploying AI Effectively [00:12:50] Addressing Bias in AI Models [00:14:05] Recent AI Deployments [00:17:27] Skills for Working with AI [00:19:48] Leadership in an AI-Powered Organization [00:21:20] The Future of the Industry [00:24:20] Acquiring vs. Building [00:26:19] The Evolving Role of Strategy and Growth [00:28:22] Closing Thoughts _____ Discover episodes, show notes, and more at notathreat.ai [https://notathreat.ai/] Twitter: @sdchappell [https://twitter.com/sdchappell] | @notathreatai [https://twitter.com/notathreatai] LinkedIn: Sam Chappell [https://www.linkedin.com/in/samuelchappell/] | Not a Threat [https://www.linkedin.com/company/notathreatai]

Supriya Gupta: Surfacing Untapped Leadership Insight

My guest today is Supriya Gupta, the founder and CEO of an AI advisory studio. Supriya previously led AI-driven product innovation at companies like Credit Karma, Facebook, and IBM. Today she works with business leaders to help them harness AI for both efficiency and invention. Her first product, a personal executive ghostwriter called The Agent C, is emerging from stealth this month, and we discuss how it enables executives to increase their contributions to thought leadership content. Supriya also shares a practical framework for building context-aware products, explains why the cost of creation is collapsing, and makes the case for taste, not just technical sophistication, as the new competitive edge. Supriya's thinking is sharp, actionable, and grounded in real-world experimentation. So please enjoy my conversation with Supriya Gupta. _____ Show Notes: [00:00:24] Introduction [00:01:41] AI and Product Innovation [00:04:09] Context-Aware Products [00:06:23] Ethical Considerations in AI [00:09:12] Balancing Innovation and Safety [00:12:59] Building AI Systems [00:14:13] Experimentation with AI Tools [00:17:26] Building Executive Influence [00:21:06] Workflow and Under the Hood [00:24:46] Democratizing Thought Leadership [00:28:08] Importance of Digital Presence [00:28:57] Building Diverse Teams [00:32:41] Developing Empathy [00:35:16] Leadership in AI-Powered Organizations [00:38:39] Future of Organizational Structure [00:42:02] Reflecting on Legacy _____ Discover episodes, show notes, and more at notathreat.ai [https://notathreat.ai/] Twitter: @sdchappell [https://twitter.com/sdchappell] | @notathreatai [https://twitter.com/notathreatai] LinkedIn: Sam Chappell [https://www.linkedin.com/in/samuelchappell/] | Not a Threat [https://www.linkedin.com/company/notathreatai]

Milind Sawant: AI Deployment in the Healthcare Sector

My guest today is Milind Sawant, a leader in product innovation with 30 years of global R&D experience. At Siemens Healthineers, he founded the Center of Excellence for AI and Machine Learning, growing it to more than 200 cross-functional team members and achieving significant business impact. Milind shares a structured approach to AI deployment, covering common pitfalls, a problem-first adoption framework, and strategies for balancing speed and accuracy. We also discuss the evolving role of subject matter experts, overcoming resistance to change, and the future role of AI in healthcare. His insights are practical, experience-driven, and invaluable for anyone looking to adopt AI in their business. So, please enjoy my conversation with Milind Sawant. _____ Show Notes: [00:01:00] Introduction [00:01:32] Building an AI Center of Excellence: Breaking Silos and Driving Innovation [00:04:14] Avoiding Common Pitfalls in AI Deployment [00:06:05] Leveraging Subject Matter Experts for AI Success [00:08:11] Data Quality vs. Quantity: The Make-or-Break Factor for AI [00:10:28] Starting Small: The Key to AI Adoption Within an Organization [00:13:04] Speed vs. Accuracy: Finding the Right Balance in AI Implementation [00:14:20] Overcoming Internal Resistance to AI Adoption [00:16:27] Future-Proofing Your Career in an AI-Driven World [00:19:02] Making AI Accessible: Tools and Training for Mid-Career Professionals [00:24:15] AI Performance Standards: Why the Bar is Higher for Automation [00:28:01] Incremental Improvements vs. Big Leaps: How AI Gains Traction [00:29:58] How AI is Transforming Business and Patient Care [00:34:29] Regulating AI: Striking the Right Balance Between Innovation and Safety [00:36:04] How Business Leaders Can Effectively Deploy AI [00:38:07] Final Thoughts: AI is Easier to Learn Than You Think _____ Discover episodes, show notes, and more at notathreat.ai [https://notathreat.ai/] Twitter: @sdchappell [https://twitter.com/sdchappell] | @notathreatai [https://twitter.com/notathreatai] LinkedIn: Sam Chappell [https://www.linkedin.com/in/samuelchappell/] | Not a Threat [https://www.linkedin.com/company/notathreatai]

Joe Mazzone: AI Innovation in the Education Sector

My guest today is Joe Mazzone. Joe leads the product development for Coding Rooms, an interactive training platform owned by Wiley, the multinational academic publishing company. During our discussion, we explore how the team at Wiley is addressing the challenges, risks, and opportunities presented by AI. We also talk about how the education sector and the role of teachers are likely to evolve as the technology becomes ever more present in society. Joe is a thoughtful and passionate optimist, and this was an exciting peek into the future of education. So, please enjoy this conversation with Joe Mazzone.  _____ Show Notes: [00:01:00] Introduction [00:01:36] The Origins and Evolution of Coding Rooms [00:08:35] Pressing Challenges Within the Education Sector [00:10:58] Helping Students With Instant Feedback [00:17:15] Spotting When Students Cheat With Generative AI [00:21:53] The Potential of Personal AI Tutors [00:27:08] Overcoming AI Integration Challenges [00:30:26] Combatting the Issue of Prompt Hacking [00:33:28] General Purpose AI vs. AI With a Limited Knowledge Base [00:35:54] Internal AI Use Cases at Wiley [00:40:05] Policies and Systems for Managing AI Risks [00:42:58] Developing a Culture of AI Literacy [00:44:04] AI and the Future of Teaching [00:47:50] Entry Level Work in the Age of AI _____ Discover episodes, show notes, and more at notathreat.ai [https://notathreat.ai/] Twitter: @sdchappell [https://twitter.com/sdchappell] | @notathreatai [https://twitter.com/notathreatai] LinkedIn: Sam Chappell [https://www.linkedin.com/in/samuelchappell/] | Not a Threat [https://www.linkedin.com/company/notathreatai]