Tech Unplugged

Decoding the AI Agent PM: Defining a New Category in Product Management

AI is no longer just a feature layer; it has become the product, the teammate, and, in some cases, the operator. But what does this shift mean for the people defining these products? In this episode of Tech Unplugged, we sit down with Amit Pasupathy, Senior AI Product Manager at Decagon, a company recently valued at $4.5 billion that is redefining customer experience through AI-powered concierge agents. Amit shares his transition from a Data Scientist at Freenome to an "Agent PM" at Scale AI and Decagon, exploring the technical and cultural nuances of building autonomous agents at scale. We dive into: * Defining the AI Agent: Why "resolving" an issue is the critical differentiator between a true agent and a standard chatbot. * The "Agent PM" Role: How product management is evolving into a "forward-deployed" role that requires building alongside engineers and customers. * Multilingual Complexity: Navigating the "hair-whitening" challenges of international deployments, from GDPR compliance to the linguistic nuances between Norwegian and Danish. * The Future of Work: Why your future AI agent will be your "colleague" rather than just a tool, and how role requirements are shifting from execution to auditing. * Career Tactics: Why the "standard MBA path" to PM is changing and why building real-world, impactful projects is the new credible signal. Timestamps * (00:00) Intro: AI as the Product * (01:53) Amit’s Journey: From Stanford Math to Columbia MBA * (03:52) Agentic AI vs. Chatbots: Defining the "Resolution" Layer * (06:40) The Complexity of Multilingual Voice Agents * (09:30) Case Study: Deploying Multi-Language Support for Fintech * (11:58) Defining the "Agent PM": Forward-Deployed Leadership * (15:15) The Scale AI Transition: Navigating Layoffs and Career Resilience * (18:25) Is Technical Fluency Required? The Rise of "Vibe Coding" * (21:05) Building with Impact: Advice for Aspiring PMs * (23:10) Hiring at Decagon: The 3 P's (Product, Performance, Partnership * (25:40) MBA Experience: CBS vs. LBS and the Big City Life "An AI Agent isn't just about providing information. It's about resolution. Can it actually resolve the customer's issue in the most human way possible?" — Amit Pasupathy Guest: Amit Pasupathy Host: Lanre Adeoye

Leading from the Founder’s Office: Why the Chief of Staff is the Ultimate Post-MBA Role

In the fast-paced world of tech unicorns and high-growth startups, the Chief of Staff (CoS) is often described as the "force multiplier" for founders and CEOs. Yet, it remains one of the most misunderstood roles in business. In this episode of Tech Unplugged, we sit down with Kathryn Larin (MBA '21), the Chief of Staff at Marshmallow. Kathryn shares her "full circle" journey, from founding and hosting the Ride It Out podcast as an LBS student to becoming a key strategic partner to the C-suite at one of the UK’s leading Insurtechs. We explore: * The Career Pivot: How Kathryn moved from the structured world of investment banking into the entrepreneurial sphere. * Defining the Role: The spectrum of the CoS role, from "Strategic Proxy" to operational leader, and how it changes from Seed stage to Series C. * Rank vs. Authority: A fascinating look at military leadership principles applied to tech - how a CoS builds trust and authority without formal "rank". * The AI Evolution: Why AI will automate the analytical "grunt work," making the CoS role more human-centric and relationship-driven than ever before. * The First 90 Days: Tactical advice for MBAs entering the role, including Kathryn’s personal "Operating Manual" for working with CEOs. Chapter Timestamps (00:00) Intro: The Chief of Staff as a Force Multiplier (01:53) Kathryn’s Journey: From Banking to the LBS MBA (03:40) The "Ride It Out" Podcast: Lessons in Adaptability (07:20) What does a Chief of Staff actually do? (09:30) The "Glue" of the Organization: Cross-functional Leadership (11:34) Rank vs. Authority: Building Trust in a Startup (14:50) The Future of the Role: Will AI replace the CoS? (18:25) Positioning yourself for a CoS role post-MBA (21:05) The First 90 Days: Kathryn’s "Operating Manual" (24:15) The Chief of Staff Guide & MBA Research Fellowship Key Takeaways & Mentions * Kathryn’s Tools: Granola [https://www.granola.ai/?utm_source=google&utm_medium=search_cpc&utm_campaign=brand_uk&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=23163563498&gbraid=0AAAABBDtJ3Cp_cbKsBxOdWzSOBKlAJda4&gclid=CjwKCAiA-__MBhAKEiwASBmsBOXUHas1CtNyE54ZuzaQ00piU87N0fR0wla0rYSHOH7kQmlLgY5OzBoCJsgQAvD_BwE] (for note-taking) and ChatGPT [https://chatgpt.com/]/Claude (for high-stakes communication and EQ). [https://claude.ai/login] * Recommended Reading: The First 90 Days [https://www.amazon.co.uk/First-Days-Updated-Expanded-Strategies/dp/1422188612] by Michael D. Watkins. Opportunity for Students Kathryn is looking for an MBA Research Fellow to help co-author her upcoming Chief of Staff Guide. If you're interested in working on this guide, apply here: https://forms.gle/snU27oZamo6kKRqh9 [https://url.uk.m.mimecastprotect.com/s/Rx7JCEZ8Ks332VYVsNfLH7bVZZ?domain=clubs.london.edu] Host: Lanre Adeoye Guest: Kathryn Larin Editor: Lanre Adeoye Crew: Ridhi Bhatnagar | Lena Markovic | Richa Aggarwal | Carlota Apolonia

The Future of EdTech: How AI, Precision Education, and Micro-Schools are Redefining Learning

Episode Summary: Is the classroom as we know it dead? With the arrival of Generative AI and the lasting impact of the pandemic, the education sector is undergoing its most radical transformation in a century. In this special collaboration between the London Business School Tech Club and the Education Club, we are joined by Alex Sarlin and Ben Kornell, hosts of the industry-leading podcast EdTech Insiders. Together, we unpack how technology is shifting education from a "factory model" to "precision learning," where the student takes the driver’s seat and the teacher becomes a coach. Whether you are a founder looking for "Blue Ocean" opportunities or an MBA student navigating the current VC drought, this episode provides a masterclass on the trends defining the next decade of learning. What We Dive Into: * The Post-Pandemic Shift: How the industry moved from Covid-era survival to the "ChatGPT Revolution". * Precision Education: Shifting from top-down standardized testing to personalized, data-driven learning roadmaps. * The Teacher’s Evolution: Moving from the "Sage on the Stage" to the "Guide on the Side" as AI automates mundane administrative tasks. * Global Leapfrogging: Why the Global South may bypass traditional infrastructure directly into AI-enabled education, similar to the mobile phone revolution. * Founder Reality Check: Why simple quiz generators are a "red ocean" and where the real gaps—like automated simulations and special pedagogies—actually lie. * MBA Career Paths: Navigating edtech fellowships and the skills needed to bridge the gap between formal education and employer needs. Resources: * EdTech Insiders [https://www.google.com/url?sa=E&q=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.edtechinsiders.ai%2F]: The global community, podcast, and newsletter for edtech professionals. * Generative AI Use Case Database: [https://www.edtechinsiders.ai] A comprehensive database of over 300 AI tools categorized into 60 education use cases. * Design Tech High School (DTEK) [https://www.designtechhighschool.org]: A pioneering school on the Oracle campus where students drive their own projects and products. * Owl Ventures EdTech MBA Fellowship [https://www.owlvc.com]: A specialized fellowship program for business students to enter the edtech space. * European EdTech Map: [https://www.edtecheurope.org/news/edtech-map-relaunch] A directory of hundreds of edtech companies across Europe, from the Nordics to Poland. * Coursera for Campuses: [https://www.coursera.org/campus] A platform helping universities integrate industry certificates into formal degrees. * NotebookLM (Google) [https://notebooklm.google]: Noted for its "astounding" podcast feature for educational synthesis. Featured AI & Learning Tools * Build Your Own AI: Explore Google AI Studio [https://aistudio.google.com/prompts/new_chat] to start creating personalized learning tools. * The Future of Interviews: See the HeyGen Interactive Avatar [[https://labs.heygen.com/guest/interactive-avatar/ryan-hoover](https://labs.heygen.com/guest/interactive-avatar/ryan-hoover)] in action—a glimpse into automated, video-based coaching. * AI Social Experiments: Read the MIT Tech Review [https://www.technologyreview.com/2024/11/27/1107377/a-minecraft-town-of-ai-characters-made-friends-invented-jobs-and-spread-religion/] on how AI characters are evolving in digital worlds, redefining social-emotional learning. * Precision Discovery: Check out Novodia [https://www.novodia.co/] for a look at next-gen AI-driven educational platforms. Chapter Markers (Timestamps): [0:00] Intro: The Future of Classrooms and Tech Unplugged. [2:45] The Origin of EdTech Insiders. [7:15] Precision Education: Beyond Cognitive Training. [12:30] The Role of Parents and the "Burning Platform" for Teachers. [19:00] Innovation in the Global South: The AI Leapfrog Moment. [28:40] Entrepreneurship: Avoiding Saturated AI Markets. [35:10] The VC Drought and Raising Capital in the AI Era. [42:15] MBA Careers: How to Break into EdTech. Guest Bios: Alex Sarlin is an edtech veteran with expertise in higher education, workforce development, and product design. Ben Kornell is a K-12 expert focused on growth, strategy, and investment within the education ecosystem. Together, they host EdTech Insiders, the world's largest global edtech community.Credits: Host: Aritra Sutradhar Guests: Alex Sarlin and Ben Kornell Editors: Aritra Sutradhar | Lanre Adeoye Crew: Ridhi Bhatnagar | Lena Markovic | Richa Aggarwal | Carlota Apolonia

How to Achieve the Triple Jump: Meredith Estren’s LBS to Uber Journey

In the MBA world, the "Triple Jump" is the ultimate career maneuver: changing your geography, your industry, and your function all at once. In our debut episode of Tech Unplugged, we sit down with Meredith Estren (MBA 2016), CEO and Founder of Albertine, who successfully navigated this high-stakes pivot. Meredith takes us through her transition from consulting in the U.S. and Asia to leading driver operations at Uber in London, and finally launching her own tech-enabled luxury service. In this episode, we break down: * The Strategic Reset: How to use the MBA as a "buffer" to pivot from structured consulting to the "beautiful chaos" of startups. * The Reality of Ops: Why moving into tech often means trading PowerPoints for "laundry on the floor" and operational grit. * Scaling at Uber: Navigating big data, competing with rivals like Bolt, and finding the human story behind the algorithms. * Building the "Minimum Lovable Product": Meredith’s advice on creating products that users don't just use, but actually love. Credits: Host: Charlie Palmer Guest: Meredith Estrin Editors: Lanre Adeoye | Shreyas Parbat Crew: Aritra Sutradhar | Ridhi Bhatnagar | Lena Markovic | Richa Aggarwal | Carlota Apolonia

Tech Unplugged - Teaser

Welcome to Tech Unplugged - your front-row seat to real stories from across the tech world. This is your sneak peek: candid conversations with people who’ve lived, built, or pivoted through tech. No fluff. No buzzwords. Just insight that hits. Plug in and follow along for more!