Wharton Tech Toks

The Rise of the Chief of Staff: Inside Tech's Most Versatile Role

In this episode of Wharton Tech Toks, Kirk Hachigian (Wharton MBA ’27) sits down with Clara Ma, CEO and Founder of Ask a Chief of Staff to break down what the Chief of Staff role actually is – and isn’t. Clara shares why it’s become one of the most sought-after roles in tech, the core pillars of the role (culture, operations, and strategy), and how the job changes from Series A to later-stage. From her early days in recruiting to becoming Chief of Staff at AI unicorn Hugging Face, Clara shares how she navigated a non-linear career path to build a thriving community of Chief of Staffs. She offers candid advice on landing your first role, leveraging AI without losing your voice, and how to avoid burning out once you’re in the seat.

Securing the Digital Front Door: Okta and the Future of Identity

In this episode of Wharton Tech Toks, Kirk Hachigian (Wharton MBA '27) sits down with Julia Oberrotman (Wharton MBA '16), Senior Director of Corporate Strategy at Okta. Julia breaks down why identity security is about to get exponentially harder—and more critical—as AI agents start moving money, accessing sensitive data, and operating autonomously across systems. The conversation unpacks Okta's $6B Auth0 acquisition and explains how they're racing to secure AI from the moment it's built.Julia pulls back the curtain on what corporate strategy actually looks like at a high-growth company, offering candid advice for those navigating an AI-transformed world.

Design That Delivers: Impact, Innovation, and Leadership

In this episode of Wharton Tech Toks, host Debbie Cheng (WG’26) sits down with Carly Price (WEMBA ‘23), Senior Director of Customer & Partner Experience Design at ServiceNow and founder of Liv Labs, a women’s health startup.Carly shares what it takes to lead design at scale across industries from retail and finance to automotive and enterprise SaaS. She opens up about launching Liv Labs and balancing startup life with the Wharton WEMBA program, all while working full-time and raising a family.From building beta branches at JPMorgan Chase to integrating AI into UX at ServiceNow, Carly’s career is a masterclass in creative leadership, strategic thinking, and staying curious.Whether you're a designer, founder, or MBA navigating your next move, this episode is full of real talk, tactical insights, and inspiration.

Personalization at Scale: The Business of Marketing Technology

In this episode of Wharton Tech Toks, Kirk Hachigian (Wharton MBA '27) sits down with Justin Hannah, Senior Director of Marketing Technology and Automation at FanDuel Sports Network. Justin shares his career journey from a 40-person ad tech startup to leading MarTech at Hulu and FanDuel, breaking down the complex world of marketing technology.The conversation explores how customer data platforms and CRM systems power modern marketing, the challenges of multi-touch attribution in a privacy-first world, and FanDuel's innovative approaches to measuring campaign ROI. Justin discusses transitioning from streaming entertainment to real-time sports, balancing aggressive personalization with responsible gaming, and where AI is actually delivering value versus hype in MarTech today.

Storytelling in Tech: Inside The Best One Yet

In this episode of Wharton Tech Toks, host Gorav Menon (Wharton MBA ’27 and co-host of The Linen Suit & Plastic Tie) sits down with Nick Martell of The Best One Yet for a deep dive into how top creators use storytelling, branding, and smart content strategy to shape the future of tech and media. Gorav uncovers Nick’s journey from Robinhood to building an independent media brand, the launch of their new evergreen show The Best Idea Yet, and how podcasts build trust by balancing education, entertainment, and cultural relevance. They also explore where AI enhances creative work—and where it falls short. If you want a behind-the-scenes look at the evolution of podcasting and the future of business media, this is an episode you won’t want to miss.