New Episodes Biweekly
The Convergence Podcast
Deconstructing core principles from renowned experts to harness AI and cloud to build the best products and product teams
Stop Installing Copilot: The Real Way to Lead an AI Transformation in ANY Business
Learn how a garbage collection company saved millions by adopting AI without a tech team or a massive budget. This episode deconstructs how traditional businesses can bypass expensive $100k software contracts by using local devices and open-source models to generate massive ROI safely and quickly. W...
Turning Trash into Tech: The Garbage Company Using AI to Save Millions with Ryan Collins
Ryan Collins calls himself a garbage man, but he's also the Managing Director at Tahoe Truckee Sierra Disposal (TTSD), a third-generation waste collection and recycling company in Northern California. After a stint in Silicon Valley, he came back to join the family business and walked into a world s...
Building Global Culture for Purpose and Profit: Lessons from Scaling Twitter with Maya Hari
In this episode, Ashok is joined by Maya Hari, global executive, board member, and now co-founder of Genie Health. Maya has led teams across Twitter, Google, Samsung, and other global companies, and now sits on the boards of public enterprises like Saint-Gobain. What makes her perspective rare isn't...
Top 5 Mistakes Leaders Make in AI & Data Strategy, And How to Fix Them with David Cohen
Leaders are under pressure to "do something with AI," but many end up making the same preventable mistakes that derail their data strategy before it starts. In this episode, Ashok sits down with David Cohen, founder of Superposition Strategy, to run a live workshop identifying the top five strategic...
De-risking AI-enabled Business Models with Lean Thinking
In this episode, Ashok shares a story from a long established services company with a big vision for transformation. The leadership team set their sights on launching a new AI enabled membership business. The original plan involved technology, acquisitions, and a long wait before revenue or even a c...
Preparing Your Company for AI: Cultural Values and Principles You NEED Before You Make Big Changes
Learn the best culture secrets from top tech companies! Guest Farhan Thawar of Shopify shares powerful principles—from "Responsibility vs. Accountability" to "Subtraction"—that CEOs in any industry can use to build elite teams. You've heard the AI hype, but what about the culture that builds it or i...
How Shopify Stays on the Bleeding Edge: AI, Culture, and Operating Like You'll Be Relevant in 20 Years (with Head of Engineering, Farhan Thawar)
In this episode of Convergence.fm, Ashok Sivanand sits down with Farhan Thawar, Head of Engineering at Shopify, to go behind the scenes of how Shopify not only keeps pace with rapid change but leads it. The discussion explores how Shopify became one of the first platforms to allow merchants to sell ...
Your AI Vibe Coding Side Project: Hobby or High-Growth Business? (5 Tests)
AI-powered "vibe coding" makes it easier than ever to turn your imagination into a working app, but are you building a fun hobby or a viable business? The line is blurring, and many creators are confusing the joy of building with the traction needed for a real startup. This episode provides a framew...
AI Strategy That Actually Works: From Startup to Spotify to Search Fund with Tommy Högström
AI strategist Tommy Högström, who has guided giants like Spotify, H&M, and McDonald's, reveals the truth about implementing AI, scaling product teams, and the entrepreneurial journey. From founding his own AI consultancy in Sweden to leading financial forecasting at Spotify and now launching a s...

Ashok Sivanand
I've created this podcast to enable your products and teams
I’ve worked with brands like Pivotal Labs, Ford, Airstream, Honda, Rocket Mortgage, Loblaw’s and General Motors doing product management, business development, sales engineering, software engineering, and everything in between.
In that time, I’ve connected with really intelligent and insightful product leaders. I’ll be speaking with them to bring you insights and inspiration to build better teams, and better products to delight your customers.
