Shows
Spark of AgesBuilding a Growth LM That Actually Gets Your Business/Position2 - Arena, Calibrate, LSTM ~ Spark of Ages Ep 39In this eye-opening conversation, join host Rajiv Parikh as he unveils Arena AI – their revolutionary platform that's transforming how marketing campaigns are planned, executed, and optimized. Sajjan Kanukolanu (VP of Global Operations) and Vikrant V.(CTO) walk us through how their team has embedded 20 years of marketing expertise into a system that combines project management, unified analytics, and AI agents that execute real marketing work.• Arena includes project management specifically designed for marketing workflows• The Calibrate interface provides unified dashboards pulling data from 130+ platforms• RPA technology connects even to custom platforms without APIs• AI co-pilot p...2025-06-0556 minSpark of AgesThe Agentic Revolution Transforming Go-to-Market/Chandar Pattabhiram - Workato, AI Agents, Onlyness ~ Spark of Ages Ep 38Chandar Pattabhiram, marketing maestro and Chief Go-to-Market Officer at Workato, shares his expertise on the agentic economy and the revolutionary impact of AI on go-to-market strategies.• The rise of AI agents brings productivity without pause, enabling organizations to shift from reactive to proactive approaches• Current AI implementation remains largely experimental and edge-focused rather than addressing core business processes• Workato's approach focuses on cross-functional processes versus siloed applications to prevent agent sprawl• Traditional go-to-market principles still apply – win more, win bigger, win faster – but AI provides unprecedented efficiency• Enterprise context is crucial for AI effectiveness...2025-05-231h 04
FP&A UnboxedThe FP&A Blueprint for Leaders to Build From Scratch in PE Spin-Offs with Gowthaman BalendraGet out of Excel Hell and enhance your financial analytics skills with our FREE Introduction to PowerBI for Financial Analysis: https://bit.ly/power-bi-financial-ananlysis-trainingIn this episode of the FP&A Unboxed Podcast, host Tejas Parikh speaks with Gowthaman Balendra, the Head of FP&A at Verian Group. With over 7 years of experience in senior finance roles, Gowthaman shares his journey from a senior finance manager to heading the FP&A function at a fast-paced, private equity-backed company.Gowthaman shares the key challenges he faced in the first 90 days of his new...2025-05-1955 min
FP&A UnboxedSoft Skills for FP&A Experts to Master Business Influence & Love Mondays with Ron MonteiroGet out of Excel Hell and enhance your financial analytics skills with our FREE Introduction to PowerBI for Financial Analysis: https://bit.ly/power-bi-financial-ananlysis-trainingIn this episode of the FP&A Unboxed Podcast, host Tejas Parikh from Akshar Business Consulting Ltd speaks with Ron Monteiro, CPA, CMA Speaker, Facilitator, and Coach at Clear Concept Inc., and Founder of KiCT and has over 15 years of experience in senior finance roles. He’s worked at Kraft Foods, Campbell Soup, and Kruger Products, moving from analyst to Director of FP&A and VP of Finance. Ron is also a coach, co...2025-05-1232 minSpark of AgesThe Contrarian Thinker of Digital Entertainment/Marc Hustvedt - YouTube, Mr. Beast, Creators ~ Spark of Ages Ep 37Marc Hustvedt shares insights from helping to scale Mr. Beast to 350 million YouTube subscribers and building a global creator brand, revealing the unique combination of traits that separates extraordinary creators from everyone else. Check out Contrarian Thinking and Codie Sanchez to learn more about Marc's current work helping people buy and grow small businesses.• Creator-led businesses eliminate the power imbalance found in traditional media• The most successful YouTube integrations feel natural and appeal to the global audience• Small, targeted audiences of 10,000 engaged followers can build lucrative businesses• The future of media belongs to individual creators...2025-05-091h 03
FP&A UnboxedThe Back Office is Broken: Daniel Paik on the $10M Fix Hiding in Plain SightGet out of Excel Hell and enhance your financial analytics skills with our FREE Introduction to PowerBI for Financial Analysis: https://bit.ly/power-bi-financial-ananlysis-trainingIn this episode of the FP&A Unboxed Podcast, host Tejas Parikh speaks with Daniel Paik, a former CFO and the founder of CuroWork. They discuss how back-office teams, including finance, can transform from cost centers into value creators, and how leveraging data and strategic initiatives can help drive business growth. Daniel shares insights from his career, highlighting the importance of understanding time management, automation, and the need for back-office teams to be...2025-04-2858 minSpark of AgesBootstrapping a Community Wildfire Response/Sandeep Parikh - Altadena, Crowdfund, EffinFunny ~ Spark of Ages Ep 36Sandeep Parikh shares his journey of resilience after being displaced by the LA wildfires, discussing how the disaster tested his strength as a father, husband, and creator while inspiring new approaches to filmmaking and community building.• Surviving the devastating LA wildfires that destroyed over 9,000 structures and left countless homes uninhabitable due to toxic contamination• Co-founding Eaton Fire Residents United to map toxin spread through affected neighborhoods when official support fell short• Maintaining creativity despite compounding challenges to Hollywood from pandemic, strikes, and now natural disasters• Pioneering crowdfunding success with culturally authentic projects like DesiQuest and the...2025-04-251h 25
FP&A UnboxedThe Four Pillars Every CFO Needs (and why FP&A is THE Growth Engine) with Steve RosvoldGet out of Excel Hell and enhance your financial analytics skills with our FREE Introduction to PowerBI for Financial Analysis: https://bit.ly/power-bi-financial-ananlysis-training_____________________________________________________In this episode of FP&A Unboxed Podcast, host Tejas Parikh talks with Steve Rosvold about how finance roles are changing and what skills finance professionals need to succeed today. They go over how FP&A is becoming more important in business decisions, what makes a great CFO, and how finance professionals can move beyond reporting numbers to influencing strategy.Steve Rosvold, the founder of CFO. University, shares lessons...2025-04-2152 minSpark of AgesThe Playbook for Courageous Marketing/Udi Ledergor - Gong, Super Bowl Commercial, Magic ~ Spark of Ages Ep 35Udi Ledergor, Gong's Chief Evangelist and former CMO, reveals how courageous marketing strategies helped propel Gong from startup to multi-billion dollar company status while redefining the B2B marketing playbook.• Creating bold B2B marketing that stands out requires courage and rejecting "boring practices" that yield ordinary results• The "punching above your weight" strategy helped Gong appear much larger than it was, allowing early access to enterprise customers• Gong's Super Bowl commercial hack: buying regional ads in tech hubs for under $350K instead of spending $20M on national spots• The 95-5 rule: most marketers only tar...2025-04-1153 minSpark of AgesModern Sales Skills For a Digital Buyer/Elay Cohen - SalesHood, Enteprise, Taylor Swift ~ Spark of Ages Ep 34Elay Cohen, CEO and co-founder of SalesHood, shares his journey from Salesforce to pioneering the sales enablement category through his AI-driven platform.• Built SalesHood to address the unmet need for scalable sales enablement solutions• Pioneered sales enablement at Salesforce, helping scale revenue from $300M to $3B• Created a direct connection between sales ramp time and company performance• Focus on leading indicators (meetings booked, pipeline created) vs lagging indicators (quota attainment)• Essential modern sales skills: curiosity, storytelling, communications, and effective meeting management• AI role-playing driving 231% more enablement activities with 45% fewer enablement staff• Digital sales...2025-03-211h 05Spark of AgesNetwork Like a Ninja (How to Grow Your Career)/Susan Hailey, Jean Kovacs, Shannon Lundgren - Jobs, Mentors, Old Boys Club ~ Spark of Ages Ep 33We share transformative insights on leveraging your network for career growth. Our guests Susan Hailey (CHRO @ Enable), Shannon Lundgren (Founder & CEO @Shannon's Circle) and Jean Kovacs ( share how to navigate personal branding effectively and develop meaningful connections that elevate your career potential.• Networking should focus on building relationships, not just asking for favors• Strategies to engage your network authentically without asking for jobs• The distinction between mentorship and sponsorship, emphasizing sponsorship importance• Tactics for making positive first impressions during networking events• The importance of giving more than you take in networkingDiscover t...2025-03-0753 minSpark of AgesHow Podcasting Leads to Growth/Simon Chou - Personal Branding, Community, Hot Sauce ~ Spark of Ages Ep 32Building a personal brand through podcasting can be a game changer for marketers looking to connect authentically with their audience. Simon Chou, host of @marketingonmars shares strategies for growing a podcast, engaging communities through unique events, and leveraging technology to streamline marketing efforts.• Insights on the current podcast landscape and listener demographics• The significance of consistency in podcasting• Steps to cultivate a powerful personal brand online• Importance of building community both digitally and in-person• The transformative role of AI in enhancing marketing strategiesEver wondered how the perfect blend of hot sauces and...2025-02-241h 04Spark of AgesThe Innovation Leap that's happening in India/Kumar Ganapathy ~ 3iPartners, Deep Tech, Impact - Spark of Ages Ep 31This episode with Kumar Ganapathy "dives" (yes we know AI loves this word) deep into the realm of deep tech in India, exploring impactful investment strategies and the entrepreneurial spirit necessary for success in this complex landscape. Listeners gain insights into the challenges faced by founders, the importance of resilience, and the unique opportunities that lie within the Indian market.• Introduction of Kumar, his background and 3i Partners• Explanation of deep tech and its significance• Investment strategies focusing on India as a starting point• Resilience as a key trait among successful entrepreneurs• Case studies of...2025-02-0857 minSpark of AgesHow the US Air Force will use AI/Jason Hansberger, Tim Henderson - Great Power Competition, HAWs, Kill-Chain ~ Spark of Ages Ep 30This episode explores how technology, specifically AI, is reshaping military strategy and national defense. Colonel Jason Hansberger and Author/Entrepreneur Tim Henderson discuss the implications of AI in warfare, the ethical considerations surrounding autonomous weapons, and the U.S. military's strategic innovations.• Examining the significant U.S. defense budget and global military expenditure • Understanding the new age of Great Power Competition• Addressing the role of AI and innovation in military operations • Discussing the ethical implications of autonomous capabilities • Highlighting DAF Stanford AI Studio’s mission and objectives • Exploring practical AI applications within current military co...2025-01-261h 12Spark of AgesDevising Investment Strategy for AI/Ashish Aggarwal, Akash Agarwal, Viral Tolat - 2024 vs 2025, IPO Market, Fake Companies ~ Spark of Ages Ep 29The episode explores the investment landscape in both public and private markets, focusing on technological opportunities and insights for 2025. Key discussions include the importance of resilience against market volatility, the impact of AI on innovation, and an outlook on the IPO market.• Highlights of recent economic performance and predictions for future growth • Role of AI and technology in shaping investment strategies • Discussion on the importance of preparing for black swan events • Diverging opinions on IPOs and their focus on early investor liquidity • Growing relevance of AI in venture capital decision-makingAI is reshapi...2025-01-131h 05Spark of AgesGTM Predictions for 2025 and Beyond/Jon Miller, Abhi Ingle, Michael Ni ~ Spark of Ages Ep 28The episode centers on the evolution of marketing in an AI-dominated landscape, discussing whether traditional marketing roles are becoming irrelevant as organizations shift towards more integrated structures. Key topics include the importance of brand, human relationships, and the challenges of relying on outdated metrics as the industry heads toward 2025. • Examining concerns around the relevance of marketing in the AI era • Discussing the blurred lines between marketing and sales roles • Reflecting on the need for a new definition and strategic role for marketing leaders • Identifying mistakes in current go-to-market strategies • Highlighting the significance of building brand...2024-12-2759 minSpark of AgesGTM = "Get The Money"/Bobby Napiltonia - Building a Marketplace, Distribution, Hershey ~ Spark of Ages Ep 27Welcome to another electrifying episode of the Spark of Ages podcast! Today, we sit down with the legendary Bobby Napoltonia, whose 36-year journey has forever shaped the tech landscape. From bringing sound to computers to democratizing the telecommunications industry, Bobby’s fingerprints are all over the tech we use daily. 🙌 Join Bobby and your hosts Rajiv and Sandeep Parikh as they chat about everything from building Salesforce's AppExchange to why his strategy isn't 'go to market' but 'get the money'.Find out how Bobby's visionary strategies have reshaped companies like Twilio and Salesforce, and why thinking outside the b...2024-12-071h 03Spark of AgesCreating Signal Not Noise/Melissa Rosenthal - The New PR, Driving In-Bound, Listicles ~ Spark of Ages Ep 26What if your company's marketing could transform into its own dynamic trade publication? Learn from Melissa Rosenthal, co-founder of Outlever, as she shares her innovative approach to modern marketing on the Spark of Ages podcast. With Melissa's deep insights, we challenge outdated marketing strategies and unveil how companies can thrive in an AI-driven world by streamlining their tech stacks and targeting meaningful growth. Her experience at ClickUp underscores the importance of consolidating marketing efforts into efficient, multi-functional platforms.Join us as we uncover Outlever's transformative tactics that help businesses reach new heights by focusing on inbound marketing...2024-11-231h 01Spark of AgesSecret Sauce of CMOs/Alice Crowder - Chicken Sandwich Wars, Segmentation, Hedonistic Index ~ Spark of Ages Ep 25Join Rajiv Parikh on the Spark of Ages podcast as he explores the secrets behind Krispy Krunchy Chicken's rise in the Chicken Sandwich Wars. With insights from Alice Crowder, the CMO who has transformed the brand's offerings into must-have menu items we'll learn about marketing innovation, and why KKC is a cut above the rest. Discover the secrets behind their mouth-watering chicken, growth strategy, and how Alice’s leadership is fueling a nationwide craze. Get a firsthand look at how strategic data use and innovative marketing have redefined roles in the fast-food sector, amidst technological evolution.Explore the u...2024-11-0852 minSpark of AgesThe Business of Play/Brian Litvack - LeagueApps, Youth Sports, The Anxious Generation ~ Spark of Ages Ep 24Join Rajiv Parikh on the Spark of Ages podcast as he chats with LeagueApps co-founder Brian Litvack who shares how technology can uplift youth sports organizations. Discover how League Apps has evolved from its humble beginnings to becoming a crucial tool for over 3,000 sports organizations, offering solutions for everything from scheduling to communication. Brian shares his passion for using technology to create positive experiences for millions of young athletes and their communities, highlighting the company's journey and vision for the future.We examine the nuances of youth sports with a focus on parental behavior and the pivotal...2024-10-291h 03Spark of AgesMaking Better Food from the Plant Up/Tony Martens - Alternative Meat, Texas, Superfoods ~ Spark of Ages Ep 23Can the future of our food systems be saved by a humble aquatic plant? Join us as we sit down with Tony Martens, co-founder of Plantible Foods, who believes it can. Plantible's innovative plant protein, Ruby, derived from the sustainable Lemna plant, may hold the key to revolutionizing agriculture and food production. Tony shines a spotlight on the pressing environmental issues of our current food systems, from greenhouse gas emissions to water consumption and biodiversity loss. Discover the fascinating journey of Rubisco protein, a nutritional powerhouse found in leafy greens, which Plantible has harnessed to outperform traditional a...2024-09-181h 01Spark of AgesGrowing a Growth Marketing Firm with AI/Rajiv Parikh - Conversions, Great Souls, Belichick ~ Spark of Ages Ep 22On this episode of Spark of Ages, we sit down with Rajiv Parikh, CEO of Position Squared, to do a mid-year review to uncover the daily grind and the high-stakes decisions behind leading an AI-driven growth marketing powerhouse. Rajiv offers a treasure trove of insights into the transformative power of AI, revealing how his company has formed a robust AI product development team, launched strategic initiatives, and tackled the challenges of fundraising to seize AI-driven opportunities.Next, we spotlight two compelling business success stories. How does a security company specializing in deception security boost their lead-to-close rates...2024-08-241h 03Spark of AgesMastering Silicon Valley Sales/Ankur Srivastava - Confidence, Curiosity, Cloud Marketplaces ~ Spark of Ages Ep 21Join us on the Spark of Ages podcast as we unlock the secrets behind Silicon Valley's sales success with our insightful guest, Ankur Srivastava. Ankur takes us through the transformative power of cloud computing and SaaS marketplaces, particularly Amazon Web Services (AWS), in fostering startup growth. Discover how AWS has enabled rapid innovation for technology companies worldwide and gain valuable tips on developing your sales skills through curiosity and a deep understanding of human behavior.Transitioning between cultures can be daunting, especially in a corporate setting. Ankur shares his personal journey from the hierarchical environment he grew...2024-08-111h 02Spark of AgesBuild a World Faster, Better, Cheaper/Banks Boutte - Kitbash3D, Gaming, Community Led Growth ~ Spark of Ages Ep 20Join us as we sit down with Banks Boutte, the visionary co-founder and co-CEO of KitBash3D, to uncover the secrets behind the booming gaming sector, now more influential than music, movies, and publishing combined. Banks offers an exclusive look into how 3D technology is revolutionizing various fields, from automotive to fashion, and breaks down the monumental shifts that have democratized content creation, making high-quality production accessible to all.Get ready to be inspired by KitBash3D's incredible journey since its 2016 inception. We explore how the company is transforming 3D asset creation and distribution, providing tools that...2024-07-2746 minSpark of AgesCracking the Code of Life/Ashwin Gopinath - Multiomics, Product Led Growth, Jonas Salk ~ Spark of Ages Ep 19Email us with any feedback for the show: spark@postion2.comFind more great content like this at: https://www.position2.com/If you like what you here, please drop us a comment!What if you could harness the power of AI to revolutionize drug safety? Join us as Dr. Ashwin Gopinath, MIT assistant professor and co-founder of Biostateai, shares his incredible journey from electrical engineering in India to the cutting edge of biotechnology. Discover how his startup is utilizing generative AI to transform drug safety and toxicity forecasting, and learn about the personal experiences...2024-07-131h 06Spark of AgesThe Purpose of Wealth/Scott Saslow - Family Offices, Impact Investing, Greta Thunberg ~ Spark of Ages Ep18Email us with any feedback for the show: spark@postion2.comFind more great content like this at: https://www.position2.com/If you like what you here, please drop us a comment!Episode Description:Ever think about coming up with a world changing idea that brings you and your family untold amounts of wealth? But after that, what do you do? Once you becoming a king, how do you manage your kingdom? Scott Saslow, the visionary founder and CEO of One World Investments joins us to discuss his new book, "Building a S...2024-06-291h 01Spark of AgesLast Thing You Think About Until You Don't Have It/Brian Sheng - Aquaria, Mexico, Sacrifice ~ Spark of Ages Ep17Email us with any feedback for the show: spark@postion2.comFind more great content like this at: https://www.position2.com/If you like what you here, please drop us a comment!Episode Description:Can atmospheric water generators be the answer to the global water crisis? Join us for an inspiring conversation with Brian Sheng, CEO and co-founder of Aquaria, as he takes us through his remarkable journey from a teenage VC to a trailblazer in water innovation. Discover how Brian’s experiences in China and California shaped his mission to tac...2024-06-1451 min
EdTech Startup ShowcaseAI and our sustained curiosity about the bright future of education with Priten Shah and Aatash ParikhIn this exciting and idea-packed episode, we catch up with Priten Shah and Aatash Parikh, two of our edtech founders who are also innovative thinkers on artificial intelligence and its potential for schools. Hear about:How do we understand what technologies are truly “AI?”What we’re still waiting to learn about what AI technologies can and will becomeWhat it means to become “AI literate”Helping to solve persistent problems in educationAppropriately embracing new technologies in schoolsHow are students responding to new AI tools in their classrooms?The most important advances schools should make with t...2024-06-0538 minSpark of AgesIf Data Is King, This Man Protects the Crown Jewels/Sanjay Poonen - Cohesity, RAG model, Servant ~ Spark of Ages Ep 16Email us with any feedback for the show: spark@postion2.comFind more great content like this at: https://www.position2.com/If you like what you here, please drop us a comment!Episode Description:Ever wondered how the titans of the tech industry navigate the intricacies of data management and transformative mergers? Strap in as I, Rajiv Parikh, engage with Sanjay Poonen, the visionary CEO of Cohesity, in a riveting discussion that spans from personal triumphs to the avant-garde of data security. Get a front-row seat to Sanjay's insights on the Cohesity-Veritas merger...2024-05-2458 min