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 growing

How talent practitioners can bridge the gap between leadership and employees

The shift from corporate careers to independent work and portfolio careers

How Silicon Valley's unique culture fosters rapid innovation

Why 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 path

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 byWizly and powered by its global community of professionals. Wizly is an AI-powered platform that helps experts organize, scale, and monetize their knowledge.

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.

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.