AlchemistX: Innovators Inside

Tiffany is the Head of Product, Agile and DevOps Solutions at Atlassian and the former COO, CRO and member of the Board of Directors at NEA Security Startup for All Secure. She's a prolific investor and advisor to startups, and a veteran of Silicon Valley storage startups, Cohesity and Nutanix. Tiffany also has a computer systems engineering degree from Stanford, and an MBA from Berkeley's Haas School of Business.

Ian Bergman sits down with Hassan Jaferi, Sr. Director at Myant Ventures and veteran of IP, tech transfer, and startup acceleration, to unpack the realities of turning academic breakthroughs into thriving businesses.From his early career as a patent examiner to building and mentoring deep tech ventures through Toronto Innovation Acceleration Partners, Hassan shares the pivotal lessons he’s learned about bridging the gap between research and commercialization. He explains why most startups fail to define the real problem, the critical role of industry engagement, and how founders can avoid wasting years chasing the wrong market.Key insights include:Why 50% of academic spinouts struggle to identify a true problem to solveThe importance of engaging industry early—and speaking in the language of problems, not solutionsThree hard-won lessons from scaling Bitnobi, a data-sharing startup that was recently acquiredHow founders should think about grant funding, bootstrapping, and the right time to raise venture capitalWhy embedding entrepreneurial experience inside universities can make or break tech transfer successWhether you’re building a deep tech startup, working in corporate innovation, or navigating university tech transfer, this conversation delivers practical lessons on what it really takes to move research from the lab to the market.For full show notes and resources visit: https://www.alchemistaccelerator.com/podcasts

What does it really take to lead through constant disruption? Jim Stallings, Founder and CEO of PS27 Ventures, shares lessons from a career spanning the U.S. Marine Corps, senior leadership roles at IBM, and now early-stage investing. Jim breaks down how IBM turned Linux from free software into a multibillion-dollar business, why internal resistance is often the biggest blocker to innovation, and how leaders can use customers to force change. He also explains what he looks for in founders, why leadership matters more than a perfect plan, and how AI is collapsing product cycles from years to months.Topics & Timestamps📚 00:00 The Innovator’s Dilemma and why it still defines innovation today🗓️ 02:45 AI tools, gamification, and how platforms drive behavior🧠 13:08 The most critical skill for future leaders: iteration🪖 15:04 From the Naval Academy to IBM leadership💡 23:43 Turning Linux into a $7B business at IBM🛡️ 27:25 Using the voice of the customer to overcome internal resistance🏛️ 33:17 Why putting Linux on the mainframe changed everything🔬 37:15 Patents, invention timing, and winning before the sale🌍 41:06 Why emerging markets adopt innovation faster🧑‍💼 43:22 How PS27 Ventures evaluates founders and ideas⚡ 46:25 AI speed, Copilot, and shrinking innovation cycles🤖 50:49 What it really means to be AI-native🏆 56:06 Leadership vs planning and the investment that proved it📺🎧 Enjoying the conversation?Discover more stories of innovation and transformation at alchemistaccelerator.com/podcasts — and explore how today’s leaders are shaping the future.

Building an app is easy. Building an app people keep using is the hard part. In this episode, we sit down with Ghazenfer Mansoor, Founder and CEO of Technology Rivers and author of Beyond the Download. He breaks down why so many software and AI projects fail, how to design an MVP that is truly usable, and the “blueprint” process that helps teams plan the right foundation before writing code. We also talk about how AI is changing product development, why developers need to think like product engineers, and how teams can use AI tools to move faster without creating unscalable messes. Plus, Ghazenfer shares what he is seeing next in health tech, especially the rise of predictive, personalized care.Topics & Timestamps🚀 00:00 Intro to Ghazenfer, Technology Rivers, and building AI-driven products🍎 01:07 Rapid fire: disruption, food innovation, and longevity📚 05:24 Favorite book and the people skills founders still need💥 09:14 Failure as learning and why persistence wins🧠 11:12 From Pakistan to startups to building products that users want🧱 15:38 Why “build it and they will come” fails🏗️ 16:20 MVP that is usable, not a demo (the studio apartment metaphor)🧩 19:02 The Blueprint process: plan enough, then iterate fast📲 23:18 Beyond the Download: building mobile apps people remember❤️ 28:06 How to know if your app is remarkable (the dating profile test)🍏 30:13 Getting featured by Apple and what drives visibility🤖 34:12 How AI is changing software teams and product building⚡ 37:31 Using AI tools to create a POC in hours before a sales call🧑‍💻 39:43 Why developers must think like product engineers now🧭 43:14 Building an AI-forward culture, even with resistance🧪 47:32 Weekly AI learning rituals, goals, and tool budgets🏥 53:22 Health tech trends: prediction and personalized insights🔗 55:04 Where to find Ghazenfer and Technology Rivers📺🎧 Enjoying the conversation?Discover more stories of innovation and transformation at alchemistaccelerator.com/podcasts — and explore how today’s leaders are shaping the future.

Startups and corporates need each other. But most partnerships fall apart. In this episode, Ian Bergman talks with Noga Tal about what actually makes these relationships work. They break down why thinking big early is not hype, it is planning. How founders can back up a bold vision with data and steps. Why corporate bureaucracy kills momentum. How to align on the real why, set shared metrics, and define an exit plan that protects the relationship. They also dig into emerging markets, what AI changes, why AI creates more noise than ever, and how to keep the human element alive while moving fast.Topics & Timestamps🚀 00:00 Welcome and who is Noga Tal🧭 01:07 The accidental techie path from nonprofits to Microsoft🌍 04:17 Why founders should think global from day one🧱 05:33 The hidden product and ops decisions that block scale🎯 07:02 How to pitch big vision with real data and steps🤝 11:23 Why corporates and startups need each other but struggle to win together⚠️ 14:05 The real reasons partnerships fail, misalignment, speed, and unclear problems🧰 18:06 How to de risk collaboration with goals, checkpoints, and an exit strategy✅ 19:58 How to “fail with success” and keep the relationship intact🔁 21:26 The story of pivoting a massive partnership when nobody was happy🌐 26:26 Emerging markets and why new innovation models will matter more🤖 31:21 AI is changing partnerships and creating a flood of look alike startups🏎️ 33:20 Standing out with messaging, trust, and speed🧑‍🤝‍🧑 35:55 Keeping the human element as AI reshapes teams and work🩺 39:50 A real example of using AI to advocate for better healthcare outcomes📺🎧 Enjoying the conversation?Discover more stories of innovation and transformation at alchemistaccelerator.com/podcasts — and explore how today’s leaders are shaping the future.

In this episode, Marcelo Calbucci breaks down the innovation habits that shaped his career at Microsoft, Amazon, and across six startups. He explains why small, fast iterations beat big plans, how narrative driven strategy unlocks clarity, and why today’s founders should embrace niche, hyper specialized solutions. Marcelo also shares how Amazon’s PR FAQ framework can help any innovator inside a startup or a large company make better decisions, avoid wasted cycles, and build products that truly solve customer problems. We also dive into regional and global innovation, community as a catalyst, the future of AI, and the universal truths every builder should adopt.Topics & Timestamps🧠 00:00 Marcelo’s background in innovation and why tech pulled him in🚀 08:00 Why tech enables instant iteration and faster learning💸 11:20 How the VC model is shifting toward profitable smaller scale companies🌐 15:05 Why community accelerates innovation and how Marcelo builds founder circles📘 17:45 Inside Marcelo’s book and the PR FAQ framework📝 20:00 Universal truths of innovation and why they matter🏢 25:30 Why innovation is harder in big companies and how to make it work🧩 28:50 Simple definitions of innovation that actually matter🛠️ 31:40 How anyone can start using the PR FAQ method today🏛️ 36:00 How Amazon avoids consensus thinking and mediocrity✍️ 43:00 Why narrative combined with data is a superpower🏗️ 47:55 Where startup and corporate innovation should diverge📞 58:15 Marcelo’s experience at Hiya and lessons on scaling teams💡 1:15:12 Marcelo’s final advice start small and learn fast📺🎧 Enjoying the conversation?Discover more stories of innovation and transformation at alchemistaccelerator.com/podcasts — and explore how today’s leaders are shaping the future.

You can’t avoid pain, but you can choose which pain is worth it.In this episode of Innovators Inside, Hong Kong–raised entrepreneur and two-time TEDx speaker Yunsu Tang shares her journey from a stable corporate career in Hong Kong and Shanghai to rebuilding in London’s startup ecosystem. She unpacks imposter syndrome, why anxiety often comes from a lack of data points, and what she learned from hundreds of user interviews. Then she breaks down how her new company Syncro uses AI to turn information overload into actionable stakeholder intelligence—without losing sight of the deeply human need for real, imperfect connection.Topics & Timestamps🎯 00:00:00 Choosing your pain and intro to Yunsu & Syncro🌏 00:01:22 Growing up in rural Hong Kong and going global🎓 00:03:00 Leaving a top firm for LSE and entrepreneurship🧠 00:06:06 Imposter syndrome, emptiness, and mental health🔍 00:08:21 300+ interviews and what’s broken in career coaching⚙️ 00:13:44 What Syncro is and why stakeholder intelligence matters📡 00:17:25 Information overload, AI, and filtering real signal🧪 00:19:20 Biggest challenge: narrowing features and pivoting💬 00:25:14 Human needs, raw content, and connection in an AI world🔥 00:30:08 Resilience, survival mode, and finding joy in hard things🚀 00:33:56 What’s next for Syncro and upcoming milestones💡 00:35:19 Founder advice: you can’t avoid pain—so choose yours📺🎧 Enjoying the conversation?Discover more stories of innovation and transformation at alchemistaccelerator.com/podcasts — and explore how today’s leaders are shaping the future.

You hit the goals, earn the title, and build the career… yet something still feels off. In this episode of Innovators Inside, Ian Bergman sits down with Dr. Sharon Spano, PhD, to dig into why high achievers so often reach success and then suddenly feel empty, stuck, or disconnected. Sharon breaks down the stages of adult development, how unresolved trauma shows up in leadership, and why self-awareness is directly tied to creativity and innovation. They explore the tension between “founder mode” and collaborative leadership, the importance of somatic awareness for modern executives, and the habits leaders need to stay grounded as the pace of change accelerates. If you’re building what’s next and feel like something still isn’t lining up, this conversation offers a powerful reset.Topics & Timestamps🎯 00:00:00 Rethinking success for high-impact leaders👩‍👦 00:02:28 Sharon’s path from advocacy mom to leadership advisor🧱 00:06:12 The achiever stage and the emptiness of success🧭 00:09:01 Moving from “stuck” into deeper growth🏔 00:11:53 Consciousness as a mountain and center of gravity🧠 00:19:27 Why self-awareness matters for innovation👑 00:21:24 Founder syndrome, ego, and learning to listen⚙️ 00:28:05 Leadership in a fast, tech-driven world💥 00:33:43 Trauma, triggers, and anger at work🫁 00:35:22 Somatic awareness, breathwork, and calmer leadership🏃‍♂️ 00:37:05 Hustle culture, burnout, and what Europe gets right📵 00:40:25 Boundaries with tech, media, and modeling change for the next generation📺🎧 Enjoying the conversation?Discover more stories of innovation and transformation at alchemistaccelerator.com/podcasts — and explore how today’s leaders are shaping the future.

Season 7 of Innovators Inside kicks off with Sherwood “Woody” Neiss — entrepreneur, venture capitalist, architect of the JOBS Act, and author of Investomers. Woody walks through how investment crowdfunding went from an eight-bullet framework to a 485-page regulation that opened startup investing to everyday people. He and Ian dig into the rise of the “customer-investor,” why doctors, scientists, and operators are backing the tools they actually use, how crowdfunding is changing access to capital for women and minority founders, and why health tech and biotech are now leading the pack. They also explore how data, AI, and tighter feedback loops are creating new “signals” for VCs, what founders get wrong about valuation and communication, and why lean, disciplined fundraising is back.Topics & Timestamps👋 00:00 – Meet Sherwood “Woody” Neiss and the story behind the JOBS Act🧾 06:02 – Writing a new exemption: from Reg D to equity crowdfunding🏦 11:09 – Why crowdfunding is just a new way to do an old thing🚀 15:31 – Making the bull case for investment crowdfunding (beyond “last resort” money)👩🏽‍💼 18:56 – Democratizing capital: women and minority founders at 50% of raises🧬 20:36 – Why health tech, life sciences, and biotech are suddenly #1 in crowdfunding📖 22:45 – Inside INVESTOMERS: a manifesto on early-stage finance and Web3/AI🌍 24:09 – Building crowdfunding ecosystems in 43 countries with the World Bank🤖 27:17 – AI everywhere: from animated Sasquatch to drones in agriculture📈 33:17 – D3VC and Capital Pulse: using data and ML to find the best deals⚠️ 36:42 – The two biggest reasons crowdfunding raises fail📉 38:13 – Great tech, no customers: hard lessons from a failed portfolio company🔁 40:09 – Tighter loops: customer feedback, investment, and product iteration📺🎧 Enjoying the conversation?Discover more stories of innovation and transformation at alchemistaccelerator.com/podcasts — and explore how today’s leaders are shaping the future.

In this episode of the AlchemistX Innovators Inside Podcast, Ian Bergman sits down with Tiya Gordon, co-founder & CEO of It’s Electric, to unpack a deceptively simple approach to urban EV charging: power curbside chargers from the buildings they sit beside. Tiya shares how “shallow tech” beats heavy infrastructure, why cities and property owners say yes, and how this model accelerates electrification without trenching streets or tapping new utility feeds.We cover:“Left of the boom”: designing for climate resilience before the crisisThe behind-the-meter model (240V/40A) and two-day installsFree-to-city, revenue-share for buildings, and amenity upsideShifting EV load to overnight to balance grids (vs. daytime destination charging)Serving 40M street-parkers and rideshare drivers (NYC’s Green Rides)Beating legacy players, winning Boston, and first curbside installs in SF & DetroitDesign-thinking as a founder superpower outside “energy/power” pedigreesThe used-EV wave and what falling prices mean for adoptionIf urban electrification is on your roadmap—or you just want a playbook for practical innovation at scale—don’t miss this conversation with Tiya Gordon.For full show notes and resources visit: https://www.alchemistaccelerator.com/podcasts

Ian Bergman sits down with entrepreneur and author Alistair Croll, Founder of Fwd50 a to unpack ideas from his new book Just Evil Enough: The Subversive Marketing Handbook. They explore why product-market fit is no longer enough, how product-market-medium fit wins today, and why legitimacy—not features—decides who gets chosen in crowded markets.Croll shares a builder-friendly approach to go-to-market: crafting “zero-day” marketing moves, spotting weak signals, and exploiting asymmetries competitors can’t or won’t match. From Dropbox’s built-in virality to IKEA’s customer-assembled value chain and Taylor Swift’s “Taylor’s Version” legitimacy hack, Ian and Alistair map the playbook for standing out when anyone can “vibe-code” a product.You’ll hear a timely framework for the era of a million tiny horses (niche winners), the shift from an attention economy to an outcome economy, and a clear ethical line—Don’t Actually Be Evil—for running bold, subversive campaigns without crossing into fraud or harm.TakeawaysThink in mediums: Aim for product-market-medium fit; platforms have norms, mechanics, and governance you must design for.Compete on legitimacy: Make your offer incomparable so you’re chosen, not just compared.Hunt weak signals: Look for early indicators that, if true, unlock outsized advantage.Exploit asymmetry: Build plays rivals can’t respond to without breaking their own model.Disrupt the value chain: Merge, split, reorder, or reassign steps (à la IKEA, Talk) to create a new reason to choose you.Ship zero-day GTM: Treat distribution like product—engineer referral, incentives, and narrative into the build.Stay ethical: Subversive ≠ sinister. Set rules like “don’t assume consent” and “don’t commit fraud.”If this conversation sparks ideas, check out Just Evil Enough, and explore more resources at justevilenough.com. Subscribe and share with the innovation agitators on your team.For full show notes and resources visit: https://www.alchemistaccelerator.com/podcasts

In this episode of the AlchemistX Innovators Inside Podcast, Ian Bergman sits down with Maura O’Neill to explore her bold mission with The Decade Project: reshaping U.S. entrepreneurship so that it reflects the full racial, ethnic, and gender makeup of the nation.Maura unpacks the economic and social potential of inclusive entrepreneurship — from unlocking trillions in GDP growth to empowering millions of new business owners. She shares the four pillars driving this transformation: access to capital, knowledge, connections, and belief — and reveals how innovation in financial instruments, mindset, and mentorship can spark systemic change.Drawing lessons from her time in both the public and private sectors, Maura reflects on what it takes to drive large-scale innovation inside complex systems, why diversity and dissent fuel better solutions, and how optimism and urgency can turn impossible goals into reality.Key Takeaways:The four levers to close the entrepreneurship equity gapWhy innovation in capital and funding models is overdueHow to balance audacity with structure when leading changeThe power of being “more curious than certain” in leadership and innovationWhat entrepreneurs and policymakers can learn from USAID’s transformation journeyA masterclass in purpose-driven innovation and the belief that ordinary people are capable of extraordinary things.🎧 Listen now to discover how Maura and The Decade Project are turning one of America’s biggest challenges into its next great opportunity.For full show notes and resources visit: https://www.alchemistaccelerator.com/podcasts

In this episode of the AlchemistX Innovators Inside Podcast, Ian Bergman sits down with Ron Green, Co-Founder and CTO of KUNGFU.AI, to explore the evolution of artificial intelligence and what it means for business leaders today.Ron shares his 30-year journey in AI, from the early days of neural networks in the 90s to today’s frontier of reasoning models and reinforcement learning. He explains why we’re still at “day zero” of the AI revolution, the misconceptions that trip up companies, and the principles every leader should follow to unlock AI’s true ROI.Key takeaways include:Why “don’t reinvent the wheel” is the #1 rule for AI initiatives.How proprietary data—not raw technology—creates competitive advantage.The risks of deploying AI too quickly and how to mitigate them with safeguards.Why stakeholder alignment is the biggest predictor of AI project success.How to prepare your organization today for domain-specific, next-generation AI breakthroughs.Whether you’re a C-suite executive under pressure to “do something with AI” or a leader looking for sustainable advantage, this conversation is packed with clear lessons on how to move cautiously, deliberately, and with impact.For full show notes and resources visit: https://www.alchemistaccelerator.com/podcasts

In this episode of the AlchemistX Innovators Inside Podcast, Ian Bergman welcomes back Robyn Bolton, author of Unlocking Innovation: A Leader’s Guide to Turning Bold Ideas into Tangible Results. Robyn explains why innovation consistently stalls in large organizations—and why the issue isn’t a shortage of ideas but a leadership challenge.Together, Ian and Robyn break down the ABCs of innovation—Architecture, Behavior, and Culture—and how leaders can align them to create lasting impact. They explore the risks and realities of leading innovation, why “stealth mode” kills momentum, and how to show meaningful value before the dollars show up.You’ll learn:- Why innovation fails without clear leadership ownership.- How leaders can align personal risk tolerance with organizational goals.- The importance of telling a value story from day one—not waiting for financial ROI.- Why innovation isn’t a recipe—and how to design for experimentation and learning.- How to thrive on the three-year clock that most corporate innovators face.This is a must-listen for leaders who want to stop treating innovation as a side project and start turning bold ideas into tangible results.For full show notes and resources visit: https://www.alchemistaccelerator.com/podcasts

In this episode of the AlchemistX Innovators Inside Podcast, Ian Bergman sits down with John Rossman, Keynote Speaker & Advisor—former Amazon leader and author of Big Bet Leadership—to break down the operating system senior executives need to win transformational bets. From T‑Mobile’s Un‑carrier playbook to Amazon’s working‑backwards method, John explains why most corporate transformations stall—and how to build the second playbook that actually ships change.They dig into the three habits of “big bet” leaders—create clarity, maintain velocity, and accelerate risk & value—plus practical tools like narrative docs, DRIs/single‑threaded leadership, and the “Continue, Kill, Pivot (or Confusion)” decision cadence. John also shares why cost‑model innovation must pair with customer value, what it means to be an “active skeptic,” and the first step any leader should take tomorrow morning.You’ll learn:Why the hyper‑digital era demands a different leadership OSHow to frame a Big Bet Vector: name the problem and the future stateThe three habits: create clarity, maintain velocity, accelerate risk & valueHow to use writing & debate (not slides) to kill groupthink and analysis paralysisThe role of a senior DRI/single‑threaded leader in de‑risking innovationA clean governance loop: Continue, Kill, or Pivot—avoid “confusion”Why cost‑model innovation + 10x customer value drives real adoptionA simple starting move: write 3–5 hard problems in one paragraph eachFor John’s book and frameworks visit https://www.alchemistaccelerator.com/podcasts.

In this episode of the AlchemistX Innovators Inside Podcast, Ian Bergman welcomes Matt Brady, Strategy & Growth Advisor at Innosight, to uncover how venture studios are reshaping the way corporations and universities launch disruptive startups. Dive into a masterclass on strategic innovation as Matt shares his winding journey from aerospace consulting at Booz Allen to pioneering the venture studio model for Fortune 500s. You’ll learn practical frameworks and real-world tactics to:Frame the right problems: Discover why rigorous problem selection and diligence underpin every successful startup venture.Set expectations: Learn how to align timelines, ROI metrics, and stakeholder incentives to avoid the “innovation team pendulum.”Map corporate pathways: Explore the “Sherpa” approach to navigating procurement, legal, and compliance so your venture avoids common roadblocks.Leverage strategic advantages: See how combining deep analytical rigor, experienced founders, and powerful partner networks creates “advantaged startups.”Drive real impact: Hear the inspiring case study of Gold Health—an opioid-crisis solution born from a partnership with UNC and Buncombe County, already saving lives across North Carolina.Whether you’re an innovation leader, intrapreneur, or aspiring founder, this episode delivers actionable insights on building, partnering, and scaling ventures inside large organizations.🔔 Subscribe on Apple Podcasts and Spotify so you never miss an insider’s guide to crafting the future of corporate innovation.For more episodes and resources, visit https://www.alchemistaccelerator.com/podcasts.

In this episode of the AlchemistX Innovators Inside Podcast, Ian Bergman gets philosophical with Ciara Peter, Senior Vice President of Product at Robin, to explore how AI and hybrid work are reshaping the future of innovation. Ciara draws on 18 years in B2B SaaS and her product leadership at Robin to unpack:Redefining Product Management: Why the PM’s real job is strategic customer research and long-term ownership, not just feature delivery.Automating Busywork: How AI assistants can free teams from routine tasks—saving thousands of days of wasted effort—and surface the real problems to solve.Human Connection as a Competitive Edge: The case for intentional in-office days, serendipitous encounters, and why the “busywork” that builds empathy still matters.Designing the Ideal Hybrid Playbook: Introducing Robin’s collaboration score, space-booking automations, and data-driven policies that balance employee sentiment and workspace analytics.Measuring Success: Key KPIs—from adoption and retention to task funnels—that reveal whether new features truly land and deliver value.Tune in to discover actionable takeaways on harnessing AI to automate the mundane, crafting spaces that foster real human interaction, and leading product innovation in a world where technology accelerates teamwork—but only human insight sparks true transformation.For more episodes and resources, visit https://www.alchemistaccelerator.com/podcasts.

In this episode of the AlchemistX Innovators Inside Podcast, Ian Bergman sits down with Celia Wanderley, Chief Innovation Officer and Head of AI at Bits In Glass, to unpack the mindset, methods, and guardrails that power today’s most effective innovation. Together, they explore how to stay ahead in a world of constant AI breakthroughs and turn proof-of-concepts into production-ready solutions. You’ll discover:How to prevent knowledge overload by weaving continuous, bite-sized learning into your workflow.Why treating innovation as a portfolio of experiments beats betting everything on a single project.What guardrails and data governance frameworks ensure you can take calculated risks—without exposing your organization to runaway liability.Tune in for actionable insights on bridging the gap between hype and reality, leveraging cutting-edge research in days not months, and building an innovation engine that delivers lasting business impact.For more episodes and resources, visit https://www.alchemistaccelerator.com/podcasts.

In this episode of the AlchemistX Innovators Inside Podcast, Ian Bergman sits down with Danny Brickman, CEO and co-founder of Oasis Security, to explore the rapidly growing threat of non-human identities in enterprise systems.As AI agents, machine workflows, and digital tools proliferate, companies are facing a new kind of cybersecurity challenge—one that traditional identity and access management systems were never built to handle. Danny draws from his background in elite Israeli cyber defense units and startup innovation to explain why non-human identities are multiplying, how they’re being exploited, and what organizations must do to secure them.This episode is packed with insights on:Why more than 80% of cyberattacks today are identity-basedHow startups can outmaneuver legacy giants in fast-moving marketsThe emotional and operational costs of failure in securityWhat "philosophical differentiation" means in cybersecurity innovationWhy trust, like in autonomous cars and AI tools, takes time—but is everythingDanny also reflects on the culture of innovation, the importance of failure, and what surfing taught him about leadership.Whether you're a security leader, startup founder, or just trying to stay ahead of the curve, this conversation will shift how you think about identity in the AI era.For more episodes and resources, visit https://www.alchemistaccelerator.com/podcasts.

In this episode of the AlchemistX Innovators Inside Podcast, Ian Bergman sits down with Conrad Wade—Director of Strategy & Innovation at Moody’s—to unpack the real‑world playbook behind turning Fortune 500 scale into startup‑speed creativity. Conrad reveals why every one of Moody’s 14,000 employees is now considered a “prompt engineer,” and how that mindset shift is helping the 115‑year‑old firm stay ahead of generative AI, quantum computing, and whatever comes next.Listen to learn:The first domino of innovation – mapping a “day‑in‑the‑life” of your users before writing a single line of code.Why friction is your friend – and how to channel cross‑functional tension into market‑ready ideas.Execution > ideas – the simple change‑management moves that turn big concepts into bottom‑line results.Startups as radar – Conrad’s method for scouting early‑stage founders to spot horizon‑three threats (now collapsing to six months!).Leadership’s role – what happens when the C‑suite declares, “You’re all innovators,” and means it.Future‑proofing with tech – from gen‑AI enablement to the looming impact of quantum on credit‑risk modeling.Whether you’re fighting ivory‑tower thinking, launching an internal AI initiative, or hunting for your company’s next competitive moat, this conversation is packed with tactics you can use Monday morning.Connect with Conrad on LinkedIn and send your questions to innovators@alchemistaccelerator.com for a chance to be featured in a future episode.For more episodes and resources, visit https://www.alchemistaccelerator.com/podcasts.