Meet the Head of AI @ Voice AI Startup, Software Engineers from Microsoft, DoorDash, and Chipotle on April 18th on Zoom 🎉
- Date
- 2024-04-18
- Host
- Headstarter Events
About this event
If you care about where AI is actually headed in products, teams, and careers, this conversation is worth your time. On Thursday, April 18 at 7:30 PM EDT, you’ll hear directly from leaders and engineers working across AI, software, and high-growth technology environments, including a Head of AI at a voice AI startup and software engineers from Microsoft, DoorDash, and Chipotle. This is the kind of event that helps you move past headlines and into practical insight. Instead of abstract talk about “the future of AI,” expect grounded perspectives on building real systems, navigating technical work inside different kinds of companies, and understanding how AI is shaping the day-to-day work of engineers and product-minded builders. About the Event This event brings together people working at the intersection of AI, software engineering, startups, and applied technology for a focused discussion on what it looks like to build in today’s market. The mix of backgrounds matters: you’re not just hearing one company’s point of view, but perspectives from a voice AI startup and large, recognizable technology-driven organizations. The format is designed to give attendees exposure to both technical career insight and industry perspective. Whether you’re trying to understand how AI teams operate, what software engineering looks like across company stages, or how to think about your own path into AI-related work, this session offers a concentrated way to learn from people doing the work now. Because the conversation includes engineers from companies with very different products and operating styles, you can expect nuance rather than a one-size-fits-all narrative. That makes the event especially useful if you’re comparing startup environments with larger companies, or trying to figure out where your own interests fit best. What to Expect Expect a discussion centered on real-world experience, not generic advice. The event will likely explore how AI and software teams approach product development, technical decision-making, collaboration, and execution in fast-moving environments. You can look forward to perspectives such as: What it means to lead AI work inside a voice AI startup How software engineers at established companies think about scale, reliability, and product impact Differences between building at a startup versus building inside larger organizations How AI is influencing engineering roles, priorities, and opportunities What hiring managers and teams may value in engineers who want to work closer to AI There’s also strong value in hearing how professionals from different companies describe their day-to-day work. That contrast helps attendees understand that “software engineering” and “AI work” can look very different depending on team structure, product maturity, customer needs, and speed of execution. If there is attendee interaction or a Q&A component, this is the kind of setting where thoughtful questions can lead to highly practical answers. Come ready to ask about technical growth, cross-functional work, startup tradeoffs, and the realities behind AI product development. Why Attend If you’re serious about building a career in AI, software, or startups, this event gives you access to signal from people with firsthand experience. You’re not just learning what sounds exciting on paper; you’re learning what these roles actually involve, what challenges teams face, and how engineers create impact across different contexts. This is especially valuable if you’ve been trying to answer questions like: Should I target startups or larger companies? How close do I need to be to machine learning to work in AI? What kinds of engineering skills remain durable as the industry changes? How do strong engineers position themselves in a market shaped by AI? You should attend if you want: Clearer insight into AI-related career paths A more realistic view of software engineering across company types Exposure to how technical leaders think about product and execution Better questions to ask about your own next step in tech A chance to learn from people working in roles many attendees aspire to reach The value here is not just inspiration. It’s context, comparison, and practical perspective you can use whether you’re job searching, exploring AI, evaluating startup opportunities, or simply trying to stay sharp in a changing industry. Practical Details Date: Thursday, April 18 Time: 7:30 PM EDT Location type: In person Even though the title references Zoom, the provided event details list the event as in person, so attendees should plan with that format in mind. If you’re considering attending, make sure to confirm any final access or venue information through the event page or organizer updates. This event is a strong fit for people who want a focused evening session with direct exposure to engineers and AI leadership from a range of companies. It’s likely to be most useful if you arrive with a few specific questions in mind and a clear sense of what you want to learn. If your interests span AI, tech, software, startups, and autonomy, this event sits right at that intersection. It offers a timely opportunity to hear how experienced professionals are thinking about the work, the industry, and the opportunities ahead.
Who should attend
This event is for people who want practical insight from engineers and AI leaders, especially if you’re trying to understand how AI and software careers really work across startups and larger companies. - You’re a **software engineer or developer** who wants to understand how AI is changing technical roles, team priorities, and product development. - You’re **exploring a move into AI** and want a clearer picture of where you can fit, even if you’re not coming from a pure machine learning background. - You’re a **student, new grad, or early-career technologist** looking for grounded career insight from professionals working at companies you recognize. - You’re deciding between **startup life and larger-company engineering**, and you want firsthand perspectives on the tradeoffs, pace, and scope of work. - You’re building in **tech, software, or autonomy-related spaces** and want to hear how experienced operators think about execution in real products. - You value events where the conversation is likely to be **specific, current, and professionally useful**, not broad motivation or surface-level trends. If you want sharper context for your next career move, better questions to ask, or a more realistic view of how AI work shows up in industry, you’ll likely get a lot out of this session.