In this episode, Jillian Kaplan speaks with long-time tech leader and marketer Sandro Tavares about his journey from disassembling toys to leading teams that drive telecom innovation. Sandro shares how his engineering roots, passion for learning, and love for storytelling shaped a career that blends technology and creativity—and how he helps others unlock their own innovative thinking.

The conversation dives into how to build high-performing teams that challenge the status quo, the need for situational leadership, and the growing impact of Agentic AI—a new class of intelligent systems that act autonomously. Sandro also raises critical points about the future of AI literacy in education and what it means for the next generation of workers.

Key Takeaways:

• True innovation requires curiosity, communication, and a willingness to question the status quo
• Great leaders don’t just innovate—they create environments that unlock innovation in others
• Agentic AI represents the next leap beyond GenAI—where smart agents act without human prompts
• The rise of autonomous systems will reshape how we work, lead, and learn
• We must rethink education now to prepare students for AI-native careers

Quotable Moment:

“If you’re not curious anymore, you’re basically getting to the end of your life.” – Sandro Tavares