Silicon Valley Girl: AI, Tech and Career Growth

Alex Mashrabov grew Higgsfield AI to $200M ARR in 9 months — faster than Slack, Zoom, or Dropbox. In this episode, he shares the exact AI startup playbook: $0 to first dollar in 30 days, $1M ARR in 90. In this episode he shares the exact playbook: how to go from $0 to your first dollar by day 30, and $1M ARR by day 90. This conversation is for anyone who wants to start something but keeps thinking it's too late.We cover:What he'd do if he had to start from zero todayThe ideal AI founding team (and why you only need 2 people)How Higgsfield found product-market fitWhy they ship product releases 6 days a weekFunding strategy for AI startupsHow small teams build big companies in the age of AI🎧 More from the Silicon Valley Girl: Newsletter:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://siliconvalleygirl.beehiiv.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/siliconvalleygirl/ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@SiliconValleyGirl⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠linkedin.com/in/marinamogilko⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Reid Hoffman co-founded LinkedIn, was an early investor in OpenAI, and has backed more AI companies than most people can name. In this episode he says we're only 5% into the AI revolution — and explains exactly what the next 95% means for your career, your business, and your income.Topics covered:Why we're only 5% into the AI boom — and what's actually comingAI basics every non-technical person needs to know right nowRole-based prompting: the technique that changes how you think with AIThe fastest way to double your income in 2026 (with a 9-to-5)The $300B SaaS crash: why AI is breaking the software business modelWill we lose jobs to AI in 2 years? The honest answerWhy small businesses might actually beat big companies in the AI eraWhat markets will explode in the AI eraOne thing to do before February 2027 to not fall behind📌 Follow newsletter and grab FREE 300+ post ideas to stand out on Linkedin: https://siliconvalleygirl.beehiiv.com/reid-hoffman-300post-ideas🎧 More from the Silicon Valley Girl: Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/siliconvalleygirl/ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@SiliconValleyGirl⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠linkedin.com/in/marinamogilko⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

In this episode of Silicon Valley Girl, Marina Mogilko sits down with Ryan Roslansky, CEO of LinkedIn and Executive Vice President at Microsoft. Ryan has access to the world's definitive labor market data—and what it shows about AI and jobs isn't what you're hearing in the headlines.Topics covered:​Why 50% of college graduates are unemployed/underemployed (and what's actually broken)​The 1.3 million new AI jobs most people don't know exist​The 3 hottest jobs for the next 5 years: Data Annotator, Data Center roles, Forward Deployed Engineer​The 5 C's framework: Curiosity, Courage, Creativity, Compassion, Communication​Why skills will change 70% by 2030 and what to do about it now📌 Follow newsletter and grab FREE 300+ post ideas to stand out on Linkedin https://siliconvalleygirl.beehiiv.com/300-post-ideas-for-linkedinMore from the Silicon Valley Girl: Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/siliconvalleygirl/ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@SiliconValleyGirl⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠linkedin.com/in/marinamogilko⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

In this episode of Silicon Valley Girl, Marina Mogilko sits down with Yoshua Bengio, one of the godfathers of AI and winner of the Turing Award. As a pioneer who helped create the deep learning systems that power today's AI revolution, Yoshua now dedicates his work to understanding—and preventing—the catastrophic risks AI could pose to humanity.Yoshua explains why we have roughly 5 years before AI reaches human-level capabilities, what "AI misalignment" actually means, and why machines are already learning goals we never intended them to have. He shares the simulation where AI blackmailed an engineer to avoid being shut down, breaks down why most jobs could be automated within a decade, and offers concrete advice on how to prepare.More from the Silicon Valley Girl: Newsletter:⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://siliconvalleygirl.beehiiv.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/siliconvalleygirl/ ⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@SiliconValleyGirl⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠linkedin.com/in/marinamogilko⁠⁠⁠⁠

In this episode of Silicon Valley Girl, Marina Mogilko sits down with Conor Grennan, Chief AI Architect at NYU Stern School of Business and founder of AI Mindset.Conor works with Fortune 500 companies and teaches thousands of business leaders how to actually work with AI—not just use it like Google. His core insight: most people aren't behind on AI because of tools, they're behind because of behavior.They break down why using AI like a search engine wastes most of its potential, how to transfer your AI memory across platforms in minutes (ChatGPT → Claude → Gemini), and what really makes candidates stand out as entry-level roles rapidly change. Conor also shares the exact frameworks he teaches at NYU for reinventing work processes with AI—and why becoming an "entrepreneur inside your organization" is the best career move you can make right now.Topics covered:Why 99% of people use AI wrong (and how to fix it)The exact query to transfer your ChatGPT memory to Claude or GeminiHow to stand out in job interviews when AI eliminates 30% of entry-level rolesWhy you should reinvent your team's process, not just your own workThe difference between "power users" and people who just ask AI questionsWhy the best time to be an entrepreneur is right nowHow to use AI without losing critical thinking skillsWhat universities will look like in 10 years (they're not going away)More from the Silicon Valley Girl: Newsletter:⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://siliconvalleygirl.beehiiv.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/siliconvalleygirl/ ⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@SiliconValleyGirl⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠linkedin.com/in/marinamogilko⁠⁠⁠⁠

In this episode of Silicon Valley Girl, Marina Mogilko sits down with Arsen Tomsky, founder and CEO of inDrive - a $1B+ ride-sharing platform with 60 million active users that he built from Yakutsk, one of the coldest cities on Earth.Arsen shares his wild journey from a stuttering software engineer to global entrepreneur, revealing how he turned a taxi price protest on social media into a billion-dollar company that's taking on monopolies worldwide. He breaks down how to scale a global business on a shoestring budget, why childhood struggles can become your superpower, and the philosophy that completely transformed his life and company.They also get into what it's like competing against tech giants like Uber, how to fly under the radar while growing fast, and why mission-driven companies are going to dominate in the AI era.More from the Silicon Valley Girl: Newsletter:⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://siliconvalleygirl.beehiiv.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/siliconvalleygirl/ ⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@SiliconValleyGirl⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠linkedin.com/in/marinamogilko⁠⁠⁠⁠

In this episode of Silicon Valley Girl, Marina Mogilko sits down with Yamini Rangan, CEO of HubSpot—a $30 billion company powering millions of businesses worldwide.Yamini shares her journey from arriving in the U.S. with $200 to leading one of the most powerful tech companies in the world. She breaks down the 3 skills companies are hiring for in the AI era, why past success can block future growth, and the "5 Whys" framework that helped her become CEO and lead HubSpot through COVID and a founder transition.We also dive into navigating career uncertainty, knowing when to reset your career, and making decisions under pressure.Topics covered:The 3 skills that matter in the AI eraThe "5 Whys" decision-making frameworkHow to know when it's time for a career resetNavigating career switches and uncertaintyLeading through crisis and unexpected changeWhy your past might be limiting your futureMore from the Silicon Valley Girl: Newsletter:⁠⁠⁠ https://siliconvalleygirl.beehiiv.com/⁠⁠⁠Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/siliconvalleygirl/ ⁠⁠⁠YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@SiliconValleyGirl⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠linkedin.com/in/marinamogilko⁠⁠⁠

In this episode of Silicon Valley Girl, Marina Mogilko sits down with Oscar Höglund, CEO and co-founder of Epidemic Sound, the $1.4B music platform powering more than 3 billion daily views worldwide.Oscar shares the frameworks behind scaling a global company, including how to truly understand value chains, why AI should be used to democratize professional tools, and why the “Three Whys” analysis matters more than rushing into AI products. He also breaks down what founders often get wrong when building with AI and how to think long term while scaling fast.More from the Silicon Valley Girl: Newsletter:⁠⁠⁠ https://siliconvalleygirl.beehiiv.com/⁠⁠⁠Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/siliconvalleygirl/ ⁠⁠⁠YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@SiliconValleyGirl⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠linkedin.com/in/marinamogilko⁠⁠

Young Zhao is the CEO of OpusClip, one of the fastest-growing AI tools with 50M users and a $215M valuation.In this episode of Silicon Valley Girl, Marina Mogilko talks with Young about how he built a profitable AI startup after multiple failed attempts. They break down a realistic 2026 playbook for founders — how to find a problem worth solving, when to pivot, how to get your first users, and how to think about pricing and unit economics early.A practical conversation for founders, solopreneurs, and anyone serious about building an AI startup that actually makes money.

In this episode of Silicon Valley Girl, Marina Mogilko sits down with Mel Robbins — bestselling author ("Let Them," "The 5 Second Rule"), entrepreneur, and host of The Mel Robbins Podcast, one of the top podcasts in the world (recently nominated for a Golden Globe).Mel breaks down why anxiety happens, how to separate yourself from the alarm going off in your body, and why that restless feeling might actually be telling you something important about your life. She shares her journey from $800K in debt to building a media empire, and explains why your timeline doesn't have to match anyone else's.We also dive into dealing with FOMO, managing mom guilt, knowing when to say no, and why jealousy is just blocked ambition. Plus, Mel introduces her new protein company, Pure Genius, and explains why protein isn't just for the gym—it's for focus, energy, and life.Topics covered:How to stop nighttime anxiety and racing thoughtsWhy "I have anxiety" vs "I feel anxious" mattersThe friction exercise to figure out what you actually wantHow to use jealousy as a roadmap for your goalsSetting boundaries and protecting your time as an entrepreneurCheck out Mel Robbins' bestselling book "The Let Them Theory" here: https://www.melrobbins.com/book/the-let-them-theory/More from the Silicon Valley Girl: Newsletter:⁠⁠ https://siliconvalleygirl.beehiiv.com/⁠⁠Instagram: ⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/siliconvalleygirl/ ⁠⁠YouTube: ⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@SiliconValleyGirl⁠⁠LinkedIn: ⁠⁠linkedin.com/in/marinamogilko⁠⁠

The future of driving is closer than you think. I sat down with Mary Barra, CEO of General Motors, who’s behind the latest breakthroughs in autonomous cars — including the new “eyes-off” system that lets you stop watching the road. I saw how AI will soon plan your routes, learn your habits, and even take your car to service on its own. This is the technology that will completely change how we move, work, and live.Links: Follow my Newsletter:⁠⁠ https://siliconvalleygirl.beehiiv.com/⁠⁠My Instagram: ⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/siliconvalleygirl/ ⁠⁠YouTube: ⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@SiliconValleyGirl⁠⁠LinkedIn: ⁠⁠linkedin.com/in/marinamogilko⁠⁠X: ⁠⁠https://x.com/siliconvalleymm⁠

In this episode of Silicon Valley Girl, Marina Mogilko sits down with Mustafa Suleyman, CEO of Microsoft AI and co-founder of DeepMind, to explore how AI is reshaping the future of work, education, and everyday life.Mustafa has spent the last decade building the systems that sparked the modern AI revolution. Today, he’s leading Microsoft AI and shaping how billions of people will interact with intelligent agents in the coming years. From the race toward AGI to the rise of AI assistants that remember everything, Mustafa offers a rare inside look at where the next decade is heading.He shares why routine work is disappearing, what jobs will matter most, whether children will even need college, and how superintelligent systems could change the rhythm of a normal day. This conversation is a clear, grounded roadmap to the future — and to the skills we’ll all need to stay ahead.🔗 Follow Mustafa on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mustafasuleymanaiLinks: Follow my Newsletter:⁠ https://siliconvalleygirl.beehiiv.com/⁠My Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/siliconvalleygirl/ ⁠YouTube: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/@SiliconValleyGirl⁠LinkedIn: ⁠linkedin.com/in/marinamogilko⁠X: ⁠https://x.com/siliconvalleymm⁠

In this episode of Silicon Valley Girl, Marina Mogilko sits down with Dr. Priscilla Chan, co-founder and co-CEO of the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative, to explore how AI is reshaping the future of medicine.Together with Mark Zuckerberg, they’ve committed 99% of their wealth to building Biohubs and developing the world’s first virtual cell models — AI systems that can simulate life at the cellular level. This breakthrough technology could accelerate drug discovery, reduce clinical trial risks, and make personalized medicine a reality.Priscilla shares the moment in the clinic that changed her view of medicine forever, what it means to combine frontier science with frontier AI, and how she’s helping shift healthcare from treatment to prevention.Links: Follow my Newsletter: https://siliconvalleygirl.beehiiv.com/My Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/siliconvalleygirl/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@SiliconValleyGirlLinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/marinamogilkoX: https://x.com/siliconvalleymm

What makes AI recommend one business - and ignore another? In this interview, Robby Stein, VP of Product for Google Search, breaks down how AI now decides what gets discovered, ranked, and recommended - and what founders, creators, and marketers can do to stay visible in the new era of search. Links: Follow my Newsletter:⁠ https://siliconvalleygirl.beehiiv.com/⁠My Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/siliconvalleygirl/ ⁠YouTube: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/@SiliconValleyGirl⁠LinkedIn: ⁠linkedin.com/in/marinamogilko⁠X: ⁠https://x.com/siliconvalleymm⁠

In this interview, Daniel Priestley, UK Entrepreneur of the Year and founder of multiple multi-million dollar businesses, shares his no-nonsense take on the future of work in the AI age. He breaks down why AI will likely wipe out wages in the next 5 years, replacing repetitive jobs that can be automated. Daniel reveals how entrepreneurs can leverage AI to stay ahead, protect their careers, and thrive in an era where jobs are disappearing. From building AI-driven businesses to adapting to a new economy, he shares the strategies you need to succeed while others get left behind.Links: Follow my Newsletter:⁠ https://siliconvalleygirl.beehiiv.com/⁠Companies & Products: ⁠https://Marinamogilko.co⁠Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/siliconvalleygirl/ ⁠YouTube: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/@SiliconValleyGirl⁠LinkedIn: ⁠linkedin.com/in/marinamogilko⁠X: ⁠https://x.com/siliconvalleymm⁠

In this interview, Mati Staniszewski, CEO & co-founder of @ElevenLabs, unpacks the future of voice AI—from real sales/support voice agents that speak any language in your voice, to a voice marketplace already paying creators millions, to the safeguards we’ll need as agents start calling… other agents. We dig into practical playbooks, real costs, the tools to use, and where the next $10k-a-month opportunities are hiding for solo entrepreneurs and SMBs.Links: Follow my Newsletter:⁠⁠⁠ https://siliconvalleygirl.beehiiv.com/⁠⁠⁠Companies & Products: ⁠⁠⁠https://Marinamogilko.co⁠⁠⁠Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/siliconvalleygirl/ ⁠⁠⁠YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@SiliconValleyGirl⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠linkedin.com/in/marinamogilko⁠⁠⁠X: ⁠⁠⁠https://x.com/siliconvalleymm⁠⁠⁠

In this episode of Silicon Valley Girl with Marina Mogilko features an interview with Aravind Srinivas, co-founder and CEO of Perplexity AI, exploring how artificial intelligence is transforming careers, education, and decision-making, while shifting power from corporations to individuals.Founded in 2022, Perplexity has grown at remarkable speed - by 2025, the company reached a valuation of $20 billion, underscoring its role as one of the most influential players in the AI landscape.Links: Follow my Newsletter:⁠⁠ https://siliconvalleygirl.beehiiv.com/⁠⁠Companies & Products: ⁠⁠https://Marinamogilko.co⁠⁠Instagram: ⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/siliconvalleygirl/ ⁠⁠YouTube: ⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@SiliconValleyGirl⁠⁠LinkedIn: ⁠⁠linkedin.com/in/marinamogilko⁠⁠X: ⁠⁠https://x.com/siliconvalleymm⁠⁠

In this episode of Silicon Valley Girl, Marina Mogilko sits down with Mike Krieger, co-founder of Instagram and CPO at Anthropic, to discuss how artificial intelligence is reshaping entrepreneurship and work itself.Mike's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mikeyk/ Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikekrieger/Links: Follow my Newsletter:⁠⁠ https://siliconvalleygirl.beehiiv.com/⁠⁠Companies & Products: ⁠⁠https://Marinamogilko.co⁠⁠Instagram: ⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/siliconvalleygirl/ ⁠⁠YouTube: ⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@SiliconValleyGirl⁠⁠LinkedIn: ⁠⁠linkedin.com/in/marinamogilko⁠⁠X: ⁠⁠https://x.com/siliconvalleymm⁠⁠

What will happen to jobs in the age of AI? Jesse Zhang, co-founder of $1.5B startup Decagon, joins me to talk about how AI agents are changing the future of work. We dive into which roles are disappearing, which new ones are being created, and the skills you need to stay competitive. Jesse also shares his journey of building one of the fastest-growing AI companies in Silicon Valley, advice for new founders, and what the next generation of entrepreneurs should know about starting in AI.

Amjad Masad, the founder and CEO of Replit, sits down with Marina Mogilko to discuss how AI is revolutionizing the future of business and how solopreneurs can now build a $1B company in just a few years.If you’ve ever wondered how to launch your own AI-powered business, what vibe coding really means, or how AI is changing the rules of entrepreneurship, this episode is for you!Links: Follow my Newsletter:⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://siliconvalleygirl.beehiiv.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠Companies & Products: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://Marinamogilko.co⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/siliconvalleygirl/ ⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@SiliconValleyGirl⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠linkedin.com/in/marinamogilko⁠⁠⁠⁠X: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://x.com/siliconvalleymm⁠⁠⁠⁠