In this episode of the Next Level Podcast, I sit down with Rowan Stone, CEO of Sapien, to explore the future of AI, data, and human knowledge. Rowan shares his personal journey from heavy engineering in Scotland to diving headfirst into crypto and Web3 — and how those risks led him to pioneer a decentralized data foundry that empowers people across 100+ countries to monetize their expertise.

We talk about what it really means to hit reset on your career, the tension between risk and responsibility, and the courage it takes to leave comfort behind in pursuit of passion. Rowan opens up about the lessons he’s learned building startups, the challenges of earning trust in a crowded AI landscape, and why the quality of data — not just algorithms or compute — is the key to safe, useful, and impactful AI.

This conversation moves beyond the tech, touching on education, the creator economy, and what it means to shape a future where people aren’t left behind but are empowered to participate. If you’re curious about the intersection of leadership, innovation, and humanity’s role in AI, this episode will leave you inspired to take your next leap.

Show Notes

00:00 – Welcome back to the Next Level Podcast and intro to Rowan Stone, CEO of Sapien.
05:30 – Rowan’s journey from heavy engineering in Scotland to diving headfirst into crypto and building in Web3.
12:40 – Taking the leap: leaving comfort behind to pursue passion, risk vs. responsibility, and what drives career pivots.
20:15 – Building Sapien: why data quality is the missing piece in AI and how their decentralized data foundry empowers people worldwide.
32:00 – Leadership lessons from scaling startups, cold start challenges, and keeping teams aligned in a fast-moving space.
41:50 – Beyond the tech: how Sapien’s model could transform education, the creator economy, and global participation in AI.
55:10 – Advice for the next generation of leaders, and Rowan’s personal “Next Level.”
1:01:30 – Where to learn more about Sapien and how to get involved.

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