Connect The Dots
Connect The Dots
nine dots
This podcast explores the path to success and the dots that are connected along the way. We are curious about the stories of successful people and the journey that took them from A to here. Hosted by Geoffrey Klein, our aim is to share these stories in the hope that you will learn from them to help others...connect the dots.
S7E9: Siya Raj Purohit | Accessible Education
How to prompt ChatGPT to “think like a Nobel laureate” for strategy breakthroughs. Real-world use cases from K-12 classrooms to Georgia Tech’s online master’s. A 40-year horizon mindset removes early-career anxiety. Actionable teacher tips and resources for lesson planning, grading, and personalized tutoring. Connect with Siya on LinkedIn. OpenAI Academy free courses for educators Engineering America book by Siya Raj Purohit Book mentioned: 7 Rules of Power Emoji: Connect with Geoffrey: Connect with Geoffrey on LinkedIn E-mail Geoffrey Keynote Speaker nine dots Instagram The Content Beast (book) Sponsored by the AIQ newsletter for snackable AI content for the busy professional.
Sep 17, 2025
33 min
S7E8: Tesäen “T” Chavis | Take Up Space
On this episode, Geoffrey chats with Tesäen “T” Chavis, Product Manager, Music Promotion and Gen AI Video at YouTube, who shares how generative video tools are empowering artists—and why she measures success by kindness and naps. From starting college at 15 to leading zero-to-one products (focusing on building something unique and valuable, rather than copying current solutions) at YouTube, T Chavis has always chased possibilities. In this powerful conversation, T details her journey through pharma comms, data-driven marketing at L’Oréal, and product roles at Spotify and Uber before landing at YouTube to revolutionize music promotion with generative AI video. T explains how creators can treat AI as a “sous-chef,” speeding post-production and unlocking visuals never seen before, while still valuing human craft. She also opens up about imposter syndrome, advocating for yourself in boardrooms, and redefining success around mental health, inclusion, and—yes—epic naps. T shares: How Unlock AI video workflows you can try today—no prompt engineering PhD required. The inside story of building zero-to-one products at tech giants like Google, Spotify, and Uber. How to combat imposter syndrome To Redefine success around peace, kindness, and sustainable creativity. By episode’s end, you’ll have practical tips for leveling up your AI literacy and a fresh perspective on purposeful innovation. T is passionate about harnessing emerging tech to empower artists, as she champions diversity, inclusion, global travel, karaoke, and the restorative power of a good nap. Resources & Links Connect with T on LinkedIn Google One AI Plans (Ultra & Pro) – try Gemini & more free for 30 days Flow – T’s favorite Gen AI video playground Book mentioned: The Courage to Be Disliked Favorite Emoji: Connect with Geoffrey: Connect with Geoffrey on LinkedIn E-mail Geoffrey Keynote Speaker nine dots Instagram The Content Beast (book)...
Sep 10, 2025
46 min
S7E7: Brandon Krakowsky | Yes Always Opens a Door
What effective AI education looks like in practice—projects, scaffolding, and tools you can use today. A playbook for experiential learning with real stakeholders and real data. A no-fluff starter kit for AI literacy—from prompts to “vibe coding.” Career advice that balances craft, curiosity, and family without chasing titles. Resources & Links Connect with Brandon on LinkedIn Wharton AI & Analytics Initiative Podcast: Learn the Technology with Brandon Krakowsky Book/Magazine: Rolling Stone Connect with Geoffrey on LinkedIn E-mail Geoffrey Keynote Speaker nine dots Instagram The Content Beast (book) Sponsored by the AIQ newsletter for snackable AI content for the busy professional. Music produced by Sam Miller. Enjoyed the episode? Subscribe to Connect the Dots and leave a quick review—it helps more listeners connect their own dots with AI insights!
Sep 3, 2025
40 min
S7E6: Dasanj Aberdeen | Lean Into Yourself
On this episode of Connect the Dots, host Geoffrey Klein sits down with Dasanj Aberdeen, Director of Artificial Intelligence & Innovation at KPMG and an adjunct professor at Temple University. A polymath consultant, creator, and mentor, she has spent 10+ years guiding Fortune 100 companies in digital transformation—launching AI, low-code, IoT, and cloud solutions that accelerate value creation and enrich customer experiences. Her people-first leadership style champions democratized knowledge and diverse, high-performing teams. Growing up in Grenada, Dasanj’s early love of art and building things sparked a multidisciplinary journey through Wharton, accounting, consulting, and ultimately AI leadership. Dasanj shares: Why technology success is really about people. How creativity informs product design. Practical ways anyone—AI-shy or expert—can start experimenting today. Listeners will hear candid insights on mentoring, defining personal success, and preparing for the next wave of workplace transformation—all delivered with Dasanj’s trademark curiosity and optimism. Resources & Links Connect with Dasanj on LinkedIn KPMG AI & Innovation insights Book mentioned: The Obstacle Is the Way by Ryan Holiday Connect with Geoffrey: Connect with Geoffrey on LinkedIn E-mail Geoffrey Keynote Speaker nine dots Instagram The Content Beast (book) Sponsored by the AIQ newsletter for snackable AI content for the busy professional. Music produced by Sam Miller. Enjoyed the episode? Subscribe to Connect the Dots and leave a quick review—it helps more listeners connect their own dots with AI insights!
Aug 27, 2025
43 min
S7E5: Eva Dong | Engineering Impact
In this episode, Geoffrey sits down with Eva Dong, Lead of AI Value Realization at Google Cloud, where she helps enterprise clients define success metrics, calculate costs, and maximize ROI for AI projects. With over a decade of leadership experience at McKinsey & Co, Visa, and as an AI entrepreneur, Eva bridges deep technical expertise with a keen focus on business impact. She is passionate about enabling professionals to thrive in an AI-powered world and is an active voice in the global AI community. She unpacks the importance of defining success metrics, bridging technical expertise with business impact, and cultivating AI literacy at scale. The conversation also dives into future trends, from personalized AI assistants to global AI adoption, and offers actionable advice for leaders navigating the evolving AI landscape. Resources & Links Connect with Eva on LinkedIn. Google AI Connect with Geoffrey: Connect with Geoffrey on LinkedIn E-mail Geoffrey Keynote Speaker nine dots Instagram The Content Beast (book) Sponsored by the AIQ newsletter for snackable AI content for the busy professional. Music produced by Sam Miller. Enjoyed the episode? Subscribe to Connect the Dots and leave a quick review—it helps more listeners connect their own dots with AI insights!
Aug 20, 2025
39 min
S7E4: Jason Druss |  The Colors of Human-Tech Stories
In this episode, Geoffrey sits down with Jason Druss, a Senior Product Marketing Manager at Adobe, helping shape Premiere Pro and After Effects for professionals from films to YouTube. A former colorist and demo artist, he blends storyteller instincts with deep customer empathy to turn real-world needs into clear product narratives. Jason Russ shares how assistive AI, customer obsession, and crisp communication save time and elevate the creative flow of video storytelling from idea to impact. Jason expresses how creatives can harness assistive AI without losing the heart of the story. Jason traces his path from color grading suites to shaping pro-video tools used by millions, explains his “turn noise into a razor-sharp signal” approach to strategy, and highlights the busy-work AI can remove so editors spend more time creating. You’ll hear practical examples (transcription, text-based editing, smart search) and mindset shifts for anyone looking to raise their AI video literacy. Along the way: gratitude, customer empathy, and why “comparison is the thief of joy.” Resources & Links Connect with Jason on LinkedIn. Adobe Premiere Pro — pro video editing:https://www.adobe.com/products/premiere.html?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=show-notes&utm_campaign=s7e4 Adobe After Effects — motion design: https://www.adobe.com/products/aftereffects.html?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=show-notes&utm_campaign=s7e4 The Art of Asking by Amanda Palmer: https://amandapalmer.net/theartofasking/?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=show-notes&utm_campaign=s7e4 Frame.io — video review & approval: https://www.frame.io/?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=show-notes&utm_campaign=s7e4 Miro — collaborative whiteboards: https://miro.com/?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=show-notes&utm_campaign=s7e4 Connect with Geoffrey: Connect with Geoffrey on LinkedIn E-mail Geoffrey Keynote Speaker nine dots Instagram The Content Beast (book) Sponsored by the AIQ newsletter for snackable AI content for the busy professional. Music produced by Sam...
Aug 13, 2025
34 min
S7E3: Alex Brunori |  Lucid Creativity
In this episode, Geoffrey chats with Alex Brunori, Vice President of Brand & Brand Experience at G42, one of the world’s leading AI companies. Formerly Google’s Head of Creative for the Middle East, Africa & Turkey, the Rome-born polymath is a Cannes-winning executive creative director, TEDx speaker, rock musician, lucid-dreaming teacher and generative-AI artist reshaping how technology and creativity collide. In this energizing conversation, Geoffrey and Alex explore the fertile intersection of artificial intelligence, human imagination, and mindfulness. From his early days programming calculators in Rome to leading brand experience at AI powerhouse G42 in Abu Dhabi, Alex shares how curiosity, meditation, and lucid dreaming supercharge his idea flow. He explains why Midjourney is his favorite creative partner, why Europe risks falling behind in AI adoption, and how the UAE’s visionary leadership is building a “happy AI island.” Alex also reflects on sacrifices, success, music’s primal power, and the coming era of natural-language movie making. Whether you’re a marketer, technologist, or lifelong learner, you’ll walk away inspired to embrace AI, deepen your humanity—and keep asking why. Resources & Links Connect with Alex on LinkedIn. Midjourney image generator — explore the tool Alex swears by (https://www.midjourney.com/?utm_source=podcast) Gödel, Escher, Bach by Douglas Hofstadter — the book that rewired Alex’s thinking (https://bookshop.org/books/355995?utm_source=podcast) G42 — learn more about the AI powerhouse driving innovation in Abu Dhabi (https://www.g42.ai/?utm_source=podcast) UAE Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence — discover the world-first government role (https://ai.gov.ae/?utm_source=podcast) Connect with Geoffrey: Connect with Geoffrey on LinkedIn E-mail Geoffrey Keynote Speaker nine dots Instagram The Content Beast (book) Sponsored by the AIQ newsletter for snackable AI content for the busy professional. Music produced by Sam Miller. Enjoyed the episode? Subscribe to Connect the Dots and leave a quick review—it helps more listeners connect their own dots with AI insights!
Aug 6, 2025
51 min
S7E2: Talisha Padgett |  Leading with Empathy
In this episode, host Geoffrey Klein sits down with Talisha Padgett, GM of Marketing Technology Platforms & AI at Microsoft, where she leads global MarTech strategy and the Gen AI Center of Excellence. Previously she modernized tech stacks at Comcast, Under Armour, and Marriott. Talisha is also the co-founder of Empathy Coaching, helping professionals cultivate confidence, wellness, and emotionally intelligent leadership. In this energizing conversation, Talisha unpacks how generative AI is reshaping the marketer’s toolkit. Talisha traces her journey from early print campaigns to building Microsoft’s Gen AI Center of Excellence, shares hard-won lessons on change management, and explains why embracing AI is critical for brands. Listeners will hear candid stories about overcoming imposter syndrome, creating psychologically safe teams, and the power of curiosity-driven careers. You’ll leave with practical tactics to harness AI responsibly while keeping humanity at the core of every customer experience. Resources & Links Connect with Talisha on LinkedIn. Explore Empathy Coaching Empathy Coaching’s Instagram Connect with Geoffrey: Connect with Geoffrey on LinkedIn E-mail Geoffrey Keynote Speaker nine dots Instagram The Content Beast (book) Sponsored by the AIQ newsletter for snackable AI content for the busy professional. Music produced by Sam Miller. Enjoyed the episode? Subscribe to Connect the Dots and leave a quick review—it helps more listeners connect their own dots with AI insights!
Jul 30, 2025
40 min
S7E1: Mike Kaput |  Storytelling Around Technology
About This Episode: Marketing AI Institute’s Chief Content Officer reveals how storytelling skills unlock opportunity in an intelligent-tech world. Journalist-turned-marketer Mike Kaput is a globally recognized marketing-AI expert, author, and speaker. As Chief Content Officer at Marketing AI Institute, he helps top companies understand and adopt artificial intelligence. Kaput also co-hosts The Artificial Intelligence Show podcast and co-authored the book Marketing Artificial Intelligence. Mike joins host Geoffrey Klein to trace his path from writing for English-language magazines in Cairo to steering content at the Marketing AI Institute. Kaput explains why ChatGPT felt like a “made-for-me moment,” how he keeps pace with break-neck innovation, and why English—not code—is the new interface for technology. Along the way he shares pragmatic tips for building AI literacy, doubling down on personal strengths, and maintaining human connection amid automation. Whether you’re an executive, creator, or lifelong learner, this conversation shows how to connect the dots between curiosity, career growth, and responsible AI adoption. Resources & Links Connect with Mike on LinkedIn Marketing AI Institute The Artificial Intelligence Show MAICON Conference (Oct 2025) Intro to AI free course AI Literacy Project manifesto Marketing Artificial Intelligence (book) Connect with nine dots Connect with Geoffrey on LinkedIn E-mail Geoffrey Keynote Speaker nine dots Instagram The Content Beast (book) Sponsored by the AIQ newsletter for snackable AI content for the busy professionals. Music produced by Sam Miller. Enjoyed the episode? Subscribe to Connect the Dots and leave a quick review—it helps more listeners connect their own dots with AI insights!
Jul 23, 2025
32 min
S6E10: (Bonus) Mike Gabler | Serve Those Who Serve Us
About This Episode: In this episode we go on an adventure with the one and only Gabler aka the Ali-Gabler, the heart valve specialist and most recent winner of the reality TV show Survivor. From growing up and wanting to be an international business man, Gabler appreciates the positive role models from family, teachers, and coaches who believed in him. After watching a surgery, which he describes as the closest thing to magic, he was fascinated by how elegant and meaningful it was and became a heart valve specialist working as part of incredible teams of medical professionals. As a longtime fan, competing in Survivor was a thrill – one that came with intense challenges, from dehydration, hunger and bug bites on your bug bites. Gabler describes his time on the show as a season of beautiful people that despite the competition brought them all together and created lifelong friends. Gabler encourages anyone who wants to do it – to go for it – though be prepared for the hardship – physical, emotional and intellectual. A Doors fan and checklist guy, Gabler believes in writing down your goals, and being dedicated to achieve them.  He made the remarkable decision to donate his winnings from Survivor to veteran charities to serve those who serve us. Book recommendation: Man’s Search for Meaning by Viktor Frankl Connect with Gabler Gabler Twitter Gabler IG Gabler Cameo Special Operations Warrior Fund Veterans Exploring Treatment Solutions Connect with nine dots E-mail Geoffrey nine dots media Twitter Instagram LinkedIn Facebook
Feb 15, 2023
45 min
Load more