Signal to Noise
In a world overloaded with information, great leaders separate the signal, the most critical insights that drive success, from the noise of distractions and uncertainty. Signal to Noise by Riviera Partners is the podcast for tech executives, innovators, talent leaders, and investors who need to make meaningful moves, whether in moments of crisis, clarity, or opportunity. In each episode, we sit down with respected leaders to unpack the defining decisions of their careers. Our guests share powerful lessons from the first 100 days of high-stakes roles, bold organizational shifts, and pivotal bets on people, product, and strategy. Whether you're navigating a career-defining transition or simply looking for a sharper perspective, this show delivers the clarity, context, and confidence to help you make your next big move.
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The Year In AI: What We Got Right and What Went Wrong in 2025
January 6, 2026 • 13 MIN
It’s time to tie a neat little bow on 2025 and we’re doing it with a special, Best of AI edition of the Signal to Noise Podcast. In this one, we ask the question “What if the biggest opportunity in AI is actually having the right leadership and people in place to seize it?” Tune in for the perfect recap of 2025’s AI highlights as we explore why CEO commitment to AI strategy is non-negotiable, how the doubling of AI task capacity every seven months creates unprecedented competitive advantage and the critical role human creativity plays alongside intelligent systems. From healthcare breakthroughs to consumer trust, hear from industry leaders on how to build the infrastructure, governance and mindset your organization needs to stay ahead. Turns out the real differentiator will always be the people wielding these tools.
2025 Highlights: The Real Playbook for AI Adoption in the Enterprise
December 23, 2025 • 22 MIN
In this special Best of the Year Highlights episode of the Signal to Noise Podcast, we bring together the most insightful, thought-provoking, and future-defining conversations we’ve had with leaders shaping the AI transformation across the enterprise. From Datadog to Sonos, Nebula to General Motors, our guests have lived the operational reality of AI at scale. They’ve seen what breaks, what unlocks commercial value, and what organizations must change before AI delivers the outcomes boards are demanding.
He Scaled BlackBerry to $20B. Then He Rebuilt Sonos from the Inside Out.
December 9, 2025 • 39 MIN
Here’s a question that should make every tech CEO uncomfortable: What if the single biggest competitive advantage your company can build costs nothing and requires the opposite of what you’re currently doing? In this episode of the Signal to Noise Podcast, host Josh Narva is joined by Patrick Spence, former CEO of Sonos, for a masterclass in leadership, recruiting, and organizational clarity. Patrick shares battle-tested insights on hiring with intention, building trusted advisor relationships in recruiting, and why clarity fuels innovation.
Why 95% of AI Projects Fail and How to be the 5% with Jon Krohn
November 25, 2025 • 57 MIN
As AI capabilities are doubling every seven months, organizations face a pivotal challenge: How do you successfully implement AI when 95% of projects fail? In this episode of the Signal to Noise Podcast, host Michael Newcomer is joined by Jon Krohn, Co-Founder and CEO of Y Carrot, to share groundbreaking insights on the evolving landscape of AI and data science.
Rethinking Trust in the GenAI Era with Mahi Sethuraman
November 18, 2025 • 30 MIN
How do leaders navigate the delicate balance between rapid innovation and maintaining consumer trust? This question sits at the heart of a fascinating conversation between Mahi Sethuraman, the Vice President of Consumer Engineering at Credit Acceptance, and Kyle Langworthy, Partner and Head of AI, ML, and Data Practice at Riviera Partners. In this episode of the Signal to Noise Podcast, Mahi shares insights about the transformative journey from traditional banking to AI-powered financial services.
How AI Is Cutting Healthcare Product Timelines in Half with Megan Rothney
October 28, 2025 • 39 MIN
The intersection of healthcare and AI represents one of the most promising frontiers in medical innovation. But how do we balance rapid technological advancement with patient safety? This question lies at the heart of a fascinating conversation between Eóin O'Toole and Megan Rothney, the Vice President of Product at PictorLabs. In this episode of the Signal to Noise Podcast, Megan dives deep into how AI is revolutionizing medical diagnostics, compressing development timelines, and democratizing access to quality healthcare.
The Secret to Scaling Teams from 37 to 1000 Engineers with Ameya Kanitkar
October 14, 2025 • 36 MIN
What separates good engineers from exceptional leaders? According to Ameya Kanitkar, Co-founder and CTO of Larridin, it’s the ability to scale beyond individual contributions to build teams that create lasting impact. It’s an insight he learned during Groupon’s meteoric rise from 37 to 1000 engineers. In this episode of the Signal to Noise Podcast, Ameya joins Eóin O'Toole, a Managing Partner at Riviera Partners, to dive into scaling engineering teams, the reality of AI adoption in enterprises, and the delicate balance between processes and productivity.
Why Only 2% of Companies Are Ready to Win at AI with Bill Murphy
September 30, 2025 • 24 MIN
Here’s a shocking truth: only 2% of companies are genuinely AI-ready. What separates these leaders from the pack, and how can organizations bridge this critical gap? In this episode of the Signal to Noise Podcast, host Adam Zellner is joined by Bill Murphy, Managing Partner at Cresting Wave, to share what makes organizations truly AI-ready and how leadership can drive successful AI transformation.
How Toufic Boubez Built 5 Startups Without Taking the Top Seat
September 16, 2025 • 36 MIN
Every modern company is, at its core, a technology company, and the founder's job is evolving just as fast as the tech they build. Few people have navigated this better than Toufic Boubez. A five-time founder and seasoned tech leader, Toufic has done it all: from two-person startups to tech giants like Splunk and IBM. In this episode of Signal to Noise Podcast, Toufic joins Eóin O'Toole, a Managing Partner at Riviera Partners, to share insights about building successful tech companies and making critical leadership decisions in today's AI-driven landscape.
Why Security Leaders Must Think Like Tech CEOs with Emilio Escobar
September 2, 2025 • 35 MIN
As every company evolves into a technology company, the role of security leadership is undergoing a dramatic transformation. Few understand this evolution better than Emilio Escobar, Chief Information Security Officer at Datadog. In this episode of Signal to Noise Podcast, Emilio joins host Sean Cleary to share what it really takes to lead security at hyperscale.
Behind the Fail Whale, GM, and Apple: Unfiltered Leadership Lessons from Mike Abbott
August 19, 2025 • 38 MIN
Exceptional tech leadership requires mastering both organizational transformation and sustainable scaling while maintaining empathy and cultural awareness. In this episode of Signal to Noise Podcast, host Ali Behnam is joined by Mike Abbott, Co-Founder of Open Athena, to unpack what real tech leadership looks like when the stakes are sky-high.
Trailer
August 18, 2025 • 1 MIN
In a world overloaded with information, great leaders separate the signal, the most critical insights that drive success, from the noise of distractions and uncertainty. Signal to Noise by Riviera Partners is the podcast for tech executives, innovators, talent leaders, and investors who need to make meaningful moves, whether in moments of crisis, clarity, or opportunity. In each episode, we sit down with respected leaders to unpack the defining decisions of their careers. Our guests share powerful lessons from the first 100 days of high-stakes roles, bold organizational shifts, and pivotal bets on people, product, and strategy. Whether you're navigating a career-defining transition or simply looking for a sharper perspective, this show delivers the clarity, context, and confidence to help you make your next big move.
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