What's common to business-minded women and the black magic of media producers?

Our Guests:

Kristaps Petersons - Media Producer & Business Consultant, by working with big corporate names in more than 20 countries, Kristaps has shaped his own methods to help clients achieve their business goals. He's a part-time tutor at Stanford and Michigan State Universities teaching Modern Presentation Techniques course for Master's students. Kristaps runs his own pan-Baltic business & entrepreneurship podcast "Median Report" and producers dozens more.

Elza Priede - Novatore CEO, builds personal and career growth networks. Together with her team, she has created a digital platform that helps women in business grow, connect, and lead with confidence. With expertise in leadership development and mentoring, and a background in business education management at Riga Business School, she guides professionals to accelerate their careers and step into top roles. Elza is passionate about using technology to strengthen the leadership pipeline in the Baltics and fuel innovation and economic growth.

#media #empowerwomen #interview #podcast #technology #latvian

In this episode, you'll hear about the harsh reality in the highly regulated low-caliber ammunition business, and the contradictory wild wild west of building naval war drones!

Beāte Krauze-Čebotare - CEO of AMMUNITY, small caliber ammunition manufacturer in Latvia - is an experienced leader with a strong track record in the banking and logistics sectors. Currently focused on expanding her company’s presence in Latvia’s and international defense markets in response to evolving geopolitical challenges.

Mr Jānis Garisons is the Chief Executive Officer at the unmanned vehicle company NEWT21 and Chairman of the supervisory board at the “State Real Estate” company.

Mr Garisons was the State Secretary of the Ministry of Defense of the Republic of Latvia for almost nine years (August 2015–January 2024) and was leading the MoD in the challenging times of enlargement of the Armed forces. Among many other responsibilities he led the efforts to establish a framework for the defense industry and defense R&D system in Latvia. Before taking up this post, Mr Garisons was the Undersecretary of State–Policy Director. He has worked in different positions at the Ministry of Defence since September 2005.

#defense #interview #podcast #technology #latvian

In this episode, you'll hear basically a Change Management 101 for Digitalization projects!

Eriks Eglitis - "I have gathered both technical IT skills and business acumen. I have been individual contributor, led teams and organisations. Industries background covers Construction, Finance, Professional Services (IT, Consulting), Public Administration (Economics, Defence, Support/Development Organisations), Retail, Transportation and Warehousing, Utilities (Electricity, Heat, Postal, Telecommunications), and NGOs. I am strong believer in life-long learning and empowering people. "

Ivars Miezis - "I have held various management roles for 22 years, including 18 years in direct IT management. I have experience in establishing processes and organisational units from the ground up when a company is starting operations or undergoing significant change. A large part of my experience involves improving project management approaches and managing project portfolios. I also participate in business development projects and oversee their implementation."

#edtech #interview #podcast #technology #latvian #university

In this conversation, you'll hear from experienced executives about tech opportunities in logistics, 5G networks, artificial intelligence and so much more!

Kārlis Vilciņš - "I am leading a combined team of 5G private network business and IT development professionals, We deliver full-cycle IT project implementations, AI-powered systems, and 5G private network solutions. My main focus is on solving the real business challenges where the business case is alive. I believe that any business initiative wil succeed only when creating added value for both clients and the company, ensuring a true win-win."

Pēteris Lauriņš has more than 20 years experience of IT projects, service, people and Senior management. He has worked as CTO/Management Board Member at Government Owned National Logistics Organization and @Insurtech industry for EU/US clients. Experienced project and program manager. Worked 1.5 years on international assignment in Germany and 2.5 years in Middle East, Oman.

#logistics #interview #podcast #technology #latvian #business

In this conversation, you'll hear from C-level executives of Latvian IT consultancy and product companies - what's common and how they differ. Has the Artifical Intelligence changed their business in any way?

Mārtiņš Popelis is a seasoned entrepreneur and product leader in the audio software space. Over the past decade, he has been leading the product team at Sonarworks, developing industry-leading software solutions improving sound quality for both music creators and listeners. Sonarworks’ creator products are now used in over 200,000 studios worldwide and have earned multiple tech awards for their innovation. Additionally, its consumer-facing technology has been integrated with leading consumer audio products, further expanding the company’s global reach. With the rise of AI, Sonarworks is excited to explore possibilities that unlock new potentials for music creators, positioning the company at the forefront of music tech innovation.

Andris Gangis has been building software for 15 years. He loves to run Product Discovery workshops to translate business needs into tangible software solutions. His daily work is primarily in management, but he still programs to maintain focus on development.

#founder #interview #podcast #technology #latvian #clevel

Together we'll dig into the deep-tech world and options of all kinds of funding for small and niche businesses.

Egita Aizsilniece-Ibema is based in Brussels. She is an advisor on Innovations, technologies, research, and startups from Latvia for the EU programmes and initiatives, trained in Circularity thinking and tools.

Alise Pīka-Ozola serves as the Industry Liaison Officer for Latvia at CERN and also holds the position of Head of the Latvian Innovation and Technology Office in CERN, Geneva. After graduating from the University of Glasgow with a degree in Political Science, Alise joined the Investment and Development Agency of Latvia in 2012. She subsequently assumed leading roles within the Latvian representative offices in the UK and the Netherlands, focusing on bilateral investment and export promotion. From 2020 to 2023, she served as the Economic Policy Adviser to the President of Latvia. Currently, Alise works on supporting innovative companies to facilitate their participation in CERN procurement and R&D projects, as well as connecting them with opportunities in European Big Science market.

#startup #venture #founder #interview #podcast #deeptech #cern #eufunding

Pasaule pēc 5 gadiem pēc Rolanda Legzdiņa domām. About Rolands Legzdiņš: Experienced senior executive with over 20 years in the regulated financial industry, specializing in corporate governance, stakeholder management, and business development. Known for driving results, reliability, and fostering supportive, collaborative work environments. Proven track record in transforming business models, enhancing customer attraction strategies, and leading digitalization initiatives. Key leadership roles include Chairman of the Management Board at AS Expobank and Director of Corporate Business Development, with significant achievements in M&A transactions and developing substantial investment portfolios. His educational background includes an Executive MBA from Riga Business School and an MBA from the University at Buffalo, emphasizing advanced skills in business administration and strategic management. Expertise spans investor relations, capital raising, and process digitalization, aimed at boosting efficiency, transparency, and shareholder value. #banking #interview #podcast #future

The world after 5 years by Sergejs Blaževičs. Write in the comments what you think! Sergejs is Transforming Your Business With the Power of AI. #agile #interview #podcast #future

The world after 5 years by Viktoriia Kovero. Write in the comments what you think! Victoria about herself: Except for building my personal career by taking an active part in the IT development process, I regularly consult businesses on new technologies and trends, help perform Agile transformations as an Independent contractor. #agile #interview #podcast #future

The world after 5 years by Vladimirs Ivanovs. Write in the comments what you think! Vladimirs Ivanovs, Optimus Prime of the agiletransformer.com team. He has three decades of experience working with different Scandinavian, European and Latvian companies. He also lived in Azerbaijan and Georgia for a few years, where he helped British Petroleum start the agile transformation by coaching and training senior leaders and teams. His passions include visualization, as well as his moustache. #agile #interview #podcast #future

The world after 5 years by Shyam Sreevalsan.

Write in the comments what you think!Shyam Sreevalsan is a technical product manager with a special focus on machine learning, observability and all things open source. The practical and pragmatic applications of AI, ML and data analysis to solve real world problems is his core area of interest. He works at Netdata, democratizing observability - one metric at a time.

#startup #venture #founder #interview #podcast

The world after 5 years by Filipe Berti. Write in the comments what you think! Filipe about himself: I’m a Team Coach, based in Helsinki, Finland, originally from São Paulo, Brasil. My backgrounds are in Computer Engineering and Agile. Through more than 15 years of career, I could work as software developer, project manager, network and cloud infrastructure engineer, scrum master and agile coach. I love the intersection of people, software engineering and business. When not working, I enjoy most of my time being out in nature with my iggy, Italo, or practicing Capoeira and Tai Chi Chuan. I’m passionate by jazz, samba, books and arts. #startup #venture #founder #interview #podcast

The world after 5 years by Pawel Piwosz. Write in the comments what you think! DevOps Institute Ambassador. CD.Foundation Ambassador. AWS Community Builder. Engineer, leader, mentor, speaker. My focus is on CALMS. I am building better understanding of DevOps as driver for the organization. I am devoted to Serverless and CI/CD. I authored the framework for design the CI/CD: https://www.cicd.run/ Host of Last Week In IT and DevOps In Agile Way podcasts, and DevOps In Agile Way Youtube channel. #startup #venture #founder #interview #podcast

I’ve trained over 8,000 cloud-native professionals and built a thriving global community dedicated to advancing skills in this space.
My mission? To empower cloud-native enthusiasts to connect, grow, and succeed together.
I help cloud-native professionals expand their expertise, connect with like-minded individuals, and take their skills to the next level through hands-on training, community support, and real-world insights.
I’m the founder of the Cloud Native Club, where we’re breaking down barriers and bringing together cloud-native learners and professionals worldwide. Whether you’re just getting started or deepening your expertise, the Cloud Native Club supports your journey.
My Portfolio:
→ I founded the Cloud Native Club, a growing global community of cloud-native professionals
→ I train individuals on cloud-native technologies, helping them advance in their careers
→ I host a YouTube series where leaders in the cloud-native space share their stories and insights
→ I advocate for hands-on learning and community-driven growth in the cloud-native ecosystem
My Results:
→ 90+ community members in the Cloud Native Club
→ 8,000+ people trained in cloud-native technologies
→ Active YouTube series showcasing leaders and experts in the cloud-native space
→ Building a community-driven platform for growth and continuous learning
If you’re passionate about cloud-native technologies and want to be part of a growing community:
→ GO HERE: https://community.thecloudnativeclub.co.uk
If you want to explore 1:1 coaching or consulting, book a meeting with me:
→ GO HERE: https://cal.com/swade1987
Connect with me:
→ Twitter: @swade1987 | @cloudnativeclub
→ YouTube: Cloud Native Club

Madara and Roberts will tell you how to sell AI, what's new in EU regulations, and how do they keep the pace in this rapidly changing world of AI!

⭐ Madara Mančinska - as the Head of Sales at Tilde, I am dedicated to driving growth and exploring the transformative potential of Language Technologies and AI. With a robust background as a banking professional and extensive experience in FinTech, I bring a unique blend of expertise in banking products, strategic management, and international business development. Leveraging innovative language solutions to create impactful changes and enhance communication across industries. Making impact beyond words.

⭐ Dr. Sc. eng. Roberts Kadiķis is a Computer Vision and Artificial Intelligence researcher at EDI (has worked there since 2011). His work spans diverse domains, from Intelligent Transportation Systems and biomedicine to self-driving cars, drones, and Industry 4.0. Currently, his research focuses on synthetic training data, generative AI, and computationally efficient perception models. At EDI, Roberts leads the Robotics and Machine Perception laboratory and chairs the Scientific Council. Beyond his academic pursuits, he is the CTO of Ascent Lumina, a startup developing object detection for drones, and a machine learning engineer at Blossom Reads, which leverages generative AI to create personalized books for children.

#tilde #edi #ai #artificialintelligence #interview #podcast

Episode #9 - Armands Liseks is a business person with a bit of technical experience, in particular Data Science. 10+ years in Fintech, leading Business Development in Open Banking SaaS companies Nordigen and Kontomatik, both successfully exited. Currently leading no-code SaaS loan management system company inGain.

He will talk about his startup experience, how to handle the board, and what makes a good leader.

#startup #board #founder #interview #podcast

Episode #8 - Marta is a Venture Capital Consultant with more than 10 years of experience; Gravity HUB (investor embassy) partner and Enter VC partner.

In the episode, she will share her suggestions on how to be a smart founder, a good investor, and eventually a human being.

#startup #venture #founder #interview #podcast

Episode #7 - Edgars will share his thoughts on how to be a great CTO and grow your tech business.

Edgars Kohs is a tech aficionado, swiftly mastered programming and system architectures, catalyzing his journey to co-found a pioneering BNPL venture. As its CTO, he drives technological innovations with a sharp focus on optimization. Renowned for his analytical prowess and visionary problem-solving approach, Edgars is a trusted advisor in fintech, with a robust background in certifications and a passion for architecture.

#CTO #interview #podcast

Episode #6 - Andris will tell you what you didn't know about coaching.

Andris Aispurs - with over 15 years of experience in the IT industry, including 8 years as an IT project manager, Andris is a seasoned professional. Currently, he serves as an efficiency leader and internal coach at Tet company. Andris played a vital role in the core team for a Digital transformation project. His expertise lies in scaling agile practices using frameworks like Scrum, Kanban, SAFe, Nexus, and LESS. Andris is also pursuing professional coaching and mentorship, further developing his skills and assisting others in their growth. Obtaining the Professional Certified Coach (PCC) certification adds credibility to his ability to guide individuals towards reaching their full potential.

Janis Koselevs is an IT professional with over 20 years of experience. He is passionate about business web solution development and has a strong focus on frontend, UX and business goals. Started his career as self taught freelancer, worked for local small and medium media agencies until joined international IT & consulting corporation, where he has spent more than 12 years in multiple roles, including business unit lead. He has been trained by some amazing local and international coaches in various topics including UX, Design Thinking, leadership, and business management. He is doing occasional podcast, occasional talks, occasional consulting for non profits and educational institutions, and teaching kids with special needs some programming using LEGO educational systems. In addition to his work in IT, Janis has also dipped his toes in selling real estate, being a model in ads, DJ-ing, and stand-up comedy. His hobbies include occasional photography, tinkering with electronics, newest (or weirdest software), leatherworking, and working on his project car. He believes that it's better to smile in his 1999 Mazda MX-5 (Miata) project car than to cry in public transport. Considers himself to be shy and introvert person, but nobody believes him :)!