Innovantage Podcast

In this episode of the Innovantage Podcast, Max Golikov sits down with Denis Leysen — Co-Founder at noah., AI adoption strategist, and former enterprise consultant with deep roots in family entrepreneurship. Together, they dive into what it really takes to implement AI in real-world organizations — especially when you're bootstrapping, not burning VC cash.

Discover how to:

➡️ Build AI solutions that SMEs actually want (and can afford)

➡️ Bootstrap a startup in the enterprise space — without losing control or momentum ➡️ Navigate the hidden blockers of enterprise AI adoption

➡️ Learn from legacy: how Denis’s family consultancy journey shaped his leadership mindset

➡️ Embed a data culture across teams and lead sustainable transformation

Denis brings a grounded, practical lens to AI — not the hype, but the hands-on work of building, selling, and embedding innovation in companies that don’t have time (or budget) to waste. Whether you’re a founder, consultant, or digital leader inside a traditional business, this episode is full of real lessons from the frontlines.

Connect with Our Guest Denis Leysen –   / denis-leysen-a3956a85  

Connect with Max (Host) Max Golikov –   / maxim-golikov  

🎧 Listen Now:

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/19M3HKc...

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/pl/podcast...

Follow for More Insightful Episodes

Innovantage Podcast:   / innovantage-podcast  

Sigli:   / sigli  

Instagram:   / sigli.gang  

TikTok: @innovantage / @sigliofficial

AI is moving fast — but lasting impact comes from mindset, not just models. If you're building innovation from the ground up, this episode is essential listening.

In this episode of the Innovantage Podcast, host Max Golikov sits down with Adriana Grüschow — Industry Lead Business Development Manager at Zühlke Group and a seasoned expert in smart connected solutions, complex innovation, and sustainability in the industrial sector. Together, they explore what it really takes to bridge hardware with AI — and how IoT is reshaping not just products, but entire business models.

Discover how to:

➡️ Move beyond buzzwords and align AI with real-world business challenges

➡️ Navigate the shift from selling products to delivering services — and why this matters now more than ever

➡️ Scale IoT initiatives from proof of concept to profit-driving solutions

➡️ Understand the impact of the EU Data Act — and why data ownership is the next big frontier

➡️ Lead successful digital transformation in traditional industries Adriana brings rare clarity and cross-disciplinary insight — blending engineering expertise with business strategy to tackle the complex challenges of industrial innovation.

Whether you're building IoT products, leading transformation efforts, or just trying to separate the hype from the opportunity, this conversation is packed with actionable lessons. 🎙 Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and share!

Connect with Our Guest Adriana Grüschow – https://www.linkedin.com/in/adriana-grueschow/

Connect with Max (Host) Max Golikov – https://www.linkedin.com/in/maxim-golikov/

Follow for More Insightful Episodes

Innovantage Podcast: https://www.linkedin.com/company/innovantage-podcast/

Sigli: https://www.linkedin.com/company/sigli/

Instagram: https://instagram.com/sigli.gang

TikTok: @innovantage / @sigliofficial

Tech is changing. Business models are evolving.

If you're serious about leading innovation — this episode is a must-listen.

In this episode of the Innovantage Podcast, host Max Golikov sits down with Remco Janssen — founder of Silicon Canals, one of Europe’s leading tech media outlets, and a tireless advocate for European innovation, startups, and smart tech policy. Together, they unpack how Europe can tell its own story — and why now is a critical moment for startups to get strategic about media, policy, and AI.

Discover how to:

➡️ Avoid the most common PR mistakes startups make — and tell stories that actually get coverage

➡️ Think beyond the funding announcement and build long-term visibility in European media

➡️ Understand how regulation shapes trust — and why it doesn’t have to kill innovation

➡️ Navigate the role of AI in Europe’s economic future — from productivity to policymaking

➡️ Explore what trustworthy AI really means — and where Europe can lead globally

About the guest:

Remco brings a no-nonsense, clear-eyed view of where Europe stands today — and what it’ll take to build a more confident, competitive, and collaborative tech ecosystem across the continent. If you're building in Europe, scaling a startup, or just curious about how PR, policy, and AI intersect — this episode is packed with practical insights and bold perspectives.

🎙 Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and share!

Connect with Remco - https://www.linkedin.com/in/remcojanssen/ 

Connect with Max (Host) Max Golikov – https://www.linkedin.com/in/maxim-golikov/

🎧 Listen Now:

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/19M3HKc1pbeTkYcOeOkJc0?si=aab60a9ec2864ba2

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/pl/podcast/innovantage-podcast/id1749330437

Follow for More Insightful Episodes

Innovantage Podcast: https://www.linkedin.com/company/innovantage-podcast/

Sigli: https://www.linkedin.com/company/sigli/

Instagram: https://instagram.com/sigli.gang

TikTok: @innovantage / @sigliofficial

In this episode of the Innovantage Podcast, host Max Golikov is joined by Dominique De Cooman — Founder, CTO, and co-CEO of Dropsolid, a leading Digital Experience Company based in Ghent, Belgium. Get ready for an insightful conversation as Dominique takes us through the evolution of Digital Experience Platforms (DXPs) and how AI is shaping the future of digital ecosystems.

Discover how to:

➡️ Understand the shift from traditional CMSs to intelligent, AI-driven Digital Experience Platforms.

➡️ Harness AI for personalized content at scale and drive more effective engagement.

➡️ Integrate open-source solutions like Drupal to enhance flexibility and control in enterprise and government solutions.

➡️ Prepare for the future of AI agents, orchestration layers, and fully autonomous content workflows.

➡️ Navigate the complex balance between openness, sovereignty, and business agility in the digital world.

Dominique shares his incredible journey from leading software engineering projects to transforming Dropsolid into an AI-first digital product company. He dives deep into the challenges and opportunities of integrating AI into digital experiences, the importance of open-source sovereignty, and how future digital ecosystems will be shaped by intelligent agents and orchestration layers. If you're passionate about the future of AI, digital transformation, and how these technologies are revolutionizing digital experiences, this episode is packed with valuable insights that will help you stay ahead of the curve.

🎙 Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and share!

Connect with Our Guest Dominique De Cooman – https://www.linkedin.com/in/dominiquedecooman/

Connect with Max (Host) Max Golikov – https://www.linkedin.com/in/maxim-golikov/

🎧 Listen Now:

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/19M3HKc1pbeTkYcOeOkJc0?si=aab60a9ec2864ba2

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/pl/podcast/innovantage-podcast/id1749330437

Follow for More Insightful Episodes

Innovantage Podcast: https://www.linkedin.com/company/innovantage-podcast/

Sigli: https://www.linkedin.com/company/sigli/

Instagram: https://instagram.com/sigli.gang

TikTok: @innovantage / @sigliofficial

Embrace the future of digital experiences. Tune in now!

In this episode of the Innovantage Podcast, host Max Golikov sits down with Stijn Staes — Founder of Stappen met Stijn, trusted transformation counselor, and podcast host — for an eye-opening conversation on leadership, diversity, and the evolving partnership between humans and agentic AI. Whether you’re navigating your first leadership role or
driving transformation at scale, this episode is packed with practical insights and thought-provoking ideas to shape the future of work.

Discover how to:
➡️ Build truly diverse teams — and avoid the most common (and costly) mistakes organizations make.
➡️ Create psychological safety so every voice is heard, valued, and empowered to contribute.
➡️ Lead large-scale organizational change with minimal turnover and maximum trust. ➡️ Identify and nurture hidden talent within your teams, turning career development into a retention superpower.
➡️ Strike the right balance between human intuition and AI-driven insights, ensuring ethical and effective leadership in a tech-driven world.

Stijn shares hard-won lessons from his journey — from youth movement leadership and nursing to guiding executive teams through complex transformations. He reveals practical strategies for fostering psychological safety, building multicultural teams, and making technology serve both people and progress. You’ll also hear candid stories of resistance and resilience during major restructurings, along with Stijn’s take on the leadership trends that will define the next decade. If you’re ready to future-proof your leadership style and build organizations where diversity, ethics, and innovation thrive together, this episode is your next playbook. 🎙 Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and share!

Connect with Our Guest
Stijn Staes – https://www.linkedin.com/in/stijnstaes/

Connect with Max (Host)
Max Golikov – https://www.linkedin.com/in/maxim-gol...

🎧 Listen Now:

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/19M3HKc...
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/pl/podcast...

Follow for More Insightful Episodes

Innovantage Podcast: https://www.linkedin.com/company/inno...

Sigli: https://www.linkedin.com/company/sigli/

Instagram: https://instagram.com/sigli.gang

TikTok: @innovantage / @sigliofficial

Lead with empathy. Lead with vision. Lead with purpose. Tune in now!

In this episode of The Innovantage Podcast, host Max Golikov interviews Thiago de Faria, Senior Solutions Architect at AWS and a recognized Team Topologies expert, to discuss how organizations can modernize their architecture, scale engineering teams effectively, and implement AI strategies that actually work. Whether you're a CTO, software architect, DevOps lead, or tech-savvy founder, this episode offers actionable advice on how to transform your tech teams, workflows, and organizational design using proven frameworks like Team Topologies, cloud-native architecture, and grounded AI implementation.

Key Topics Covered

➡️ What is Team Topologies and why it's a game-changer for scaling tech teams.

➡️ How to modernize your cloud architecture to support agility and innovation.

➡️ Avoiding common mistakes in org design and AI adoption.

➡️ How cloud has evolved into a business enabler, not just infrastructure.

➡️ The role of psychological safety, storytelling, and curiosity in tech leadership.

➡️ How to integrate AI/ML meaningfully into enterprise systems.

About Our Guest
Thiago de Faria helps global organizations adopt cloud-native architectures and transform their engineering culture. He’s an advocate for kind, scalable tech teams, a former EMEA Startup Architect Leader, and an expert in bridging business outcomes with modern engineering practices.

Connect with Our Guest Thiago de Faria – https://www.linkedin.com/in/thiagoavadore/

Connect with Max (Host) Max Golikov – https://www.linkedin.com/in/maxim-golikov/

🎧 Listen Now & Transform Your Pitch Game

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/19M3HKc1pbeTkYcOeOkJc0?si=aab60a9ec2864ba2

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/pl/podcast/innovantage-podcast/id1749330437

Follow for More Insightful Episodes
Innovantage Podcast: https://www.linkedin.com/company/innovantage-podcast/

Sigli: https://www.linkedin.com/company/sigli/

Instagram: https://instagram.com/sigli.gang

TikTok: @innovantage / @sigliofficial

Modernize with purpose. Lead with empathy. Architect for agility. Tune in now!

In this episode of The Innovantage Podcast, host Max Golikov explores the science and art of pitching with Robin De Cock — Professor of Entrepreneurship at Antwerp Management School and author of Mastering the Pitch. Whether you're a startup founder, investor, or just want to level up your storytelling, this episode delivers powerful, research-backed advice to help you win hearts and minds in milliseconds.

Discover how to:

➡️ Make a lasting impression in just 150 milliseconds using proven persuasion techniques.

➡️ Use humor strategically (without crashing your credibility).

➡️ Build long-term relationships with investors across cultures and geographies.

➡️ Leverage AI tools to refine and future-proof your pitch — without losing the human touch.

➡️ Avoid the most common (and costly) pitching mistakes.

Robin shares unforgettable stories from the pitch trenches — including hilarious fails — and offers practical advice that anyone can apply right away. You’ll also get a sneak peek into his upcoming talks at Supernova and the official launch of Mastering the Pitch at AMS. If you're serious about mastering your pitch, this episode is your shortcut to standing out in a crowded investor landscape.

🎙 Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and share!


Connect with Our Guest Robin De Cock –

  / robin-de-cock-7137868  

Connect with Max (Host) Max Golikov –   / maxim-golikov  

🎧 Listen Now & Transform Your Pitch Game

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/19M3HKc...

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/pl/podcast...

Follow for More Insightful Episodes

Innovantage Podcast:   / innovantage-podcast  

Sigli:   / sigli  

Instagram:   / sigli.gang  

TikTok: @innovantage / @sigliofficial

In this episode of the Innovantage podcast, we explore how AI agents are reshaping sales and business strategy with Frank Sondors, founder of Salesforge. Frank is leading the charge in building AI-powered sales engines that don’t just automate — they outperform.

Why Listen?

In this episode, we unpack what AI agents actually are, how they differ from basic automation, and how companies can use them to create smarter, faster, and more personalized sales processes.

Key Insights from the Episode:

🔹 What AI agents are — and why they’re not just fancy chatbots

🔹 Where humans still beat AI (and where they don’t) 🔹 Personalization vs. automation — can we have both?

🔹 Buy vs. build — what’s smarter for AI in sales?

🔹 Salesforge’s playbook — how Frank’s team builds cutting-edge AI agents

🔹 Real risks — bias, trust, and cultural shifts in sales teams

🔹 Future trends — what AI in sales will look like in 5 years

Connect with Frank Sondors:

🔹 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/franksondors/

Watch, Listen & Follow:

🎧 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/19M3HKc1pbeTkYcOeOkJc0

🎧 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/pl/podcast/innovantage-podcast/id1749330437

Follow for More Insights:

🔹 Innovantage Podcast: https://www.linkedin.com/company/innovantage-podcast/

🔹 Sigli: https://www.linkedin.com/company/sigli/

🔹 Instagram: https://instagram.com/sigli.gang

🔹 TikTok: @sigliofficial & @innovantage

#AI #SalesAutomation #ArtificialIntelligence #BusinessStrategy #InnovantagePodcast #Sigli #Salesforge