Dec 19, 2025

The History of The Fintech Industry, Explained

a16z's David Haber and Plaid CEO Zach Perret chart the dramatic seasons of fintech, from the explosive VC-fueled boom of 2020-2021 to the deep freeze of 2022 and its current resurgence. They explore the transformative forces reshaping the industry today, including AI's dual role as both a primary tool for sophisticated fraud and the ultimate defense against it. The conversation also covers the rise of embedded finance, the renewed importance of deposits, and how incumbents are finally embracing external software, with Plaid's own journey serving as a microcosm of the industry's evolution.

Dec 15, 2025

CI/CD Evolution: From Pipelines to AI-Powered DevOps • Olaf Molenveld & Julian Wood • GOTO 2025

Olaf Molenveld (CircleCI) and Julian Wood (AWS) discuss the evolution of CI/CD practices. They draw parallels between managing production code and the 'factory' that produces it, covering optimization strategies, local vs. remote development, the rise of platform engineering, and how AI is reshaping DevOps by acting as both an expert system and a guarded collaborator.

Nov 20, 2025

Mental models for building products people love ft. Stewart Butterfield

Stewart Butterfield, co-founder of Slack and Flickr, shares the product frameworks and leadership principles that guided his success. He delves into concepts like "utility curves" for feature investment, the "owner's delusion" in product design, and why focusing on "comprehension" is often more important than reducing friction. He also introduces powerful mental models for organizational effectiveness, such as combating "hyper-realistic work-like activities" and applying Parkinson's Law to team growth.

Nov 20, 2025

Intuit CEO Sasan Goodarzi’s Grown-Up CEO Playbook

Intuit CEO Sasan Goodarzi discusses the operational playbook for reinventing a 40-year-old company, from its slow transition to SaaS to its early adoption of AI. He shares insights on winning the SMB market by treating small businesses like consumers, building effective channel partnerships, and developing a platform strategy. Goodarzi also details his leadership philosophy, emphasizing that grit and curiosity are more critical than raw talent.

Nov 14, 2025

From Hardware Hacker to CTO: Building Teams That Scale • Meri Williams & Charles Humble

Experienced CTO Meri Williams shares hard-won insights on scaling technology teams, moving from a reluctant manager to a seasoned leader. The discussion covers practical wisdom on avoiding the 'Google trap' of inappropriately copying big tech, the high-leverage impact of investing in onboarding, and the critical importance of diversity in building products that serve everyone.

Nov 13, 2025

The Way the Future Was • Kevlin Henney & James Lewis • GOTO 2025

Kevlin Henney and James Lewis explore the evolution of our vision of the future, contrasting the boundless optimism of the 20th century with today's more cynical outlook. They analyze the economic and technological forces, such as Jevons' Paradox and the power of connectivity, that have shaped our present reality and offer a hopeful perspective on how a better future could still emerge through gradual, cumulative change.