​Off the Record: Firsthand Conversations for Entrepreneurs Navigating AI

​Short Description / Summary: The pace of change in AI is overwhelming, even for those living it daily. Staying competitive requires direct, honest access to the practitioners actively building, deploying, and wrestling with these technologies.

​Join TiE Silicon Valley for Off the Record, a recurring series for entrepreneurs featuring candid, behind-the-scenes conversations with front-line practitioners—product leaders, engineering heads, founders, and enterprise operators. Rather than polished keynote speeches or corporate marketing, this series offers frank, practical insights on what is actually changing, what works, and how to navigate it.

​Event Details:

• ​Date: Wednesday, September 23, 2026

• ​Time: 5:30 PM – 7:30 PM PDT

• ​Location: TiE Silicon Valley Office, Palo Alto | Hybrid via Live Video Conference

• ​Curators: Smita Hashim & Shivani Govil

​What to Expect: In each session, top practitioners share the unvarnished realities of their front-line AI transformations:

• ​Real-World Iterations: Moving past pitch decks and marketing to discuss what actually works and where teams got burned.

• ​Operational Hard Truths: Honest discussions on what strategies to double down on, what to abandon, and where the pitfalls lie.

• ​Practical Insights: Deep, candid conversations focused on actionable lessons rather than high-level hype.

​Featured Speakers & Moderator:

• ​Mu Han — Chief Development Officer at Zoom:
  Mu Han brings extensive experience in technology, product development, and scaling innovation at a global technology company. As Chief Development Officer at Zoom, she offers a firsthand perspective on navigating AI transformation, building technology at scale, and responding to the rapidly evolving enterprise landscape.

• ​Allen Hutchison — Founder of Vycari & Former Distinguished Engineer at Google DeepMind:
  Allen Hutchison is the founder of Vycari and recently served as a Distinguished Engineer at Google DeepMind. During his 21 years at Google, he worked at the forefront of technology and innovation, bringing deep experience in building and scaling transformative technologies. His perspective spans the evolution of AI, large-scale technology development, and the challenges and opportunities facing companies and entrepreneurs navigating the rapidly changing AI landscape.

• ​Smita Hashim (Moderator & Curator) Smita Hashim is a strategic advisor and investor, and former Chief Product Officer at Zoom, where she led products across the platform. Earlier she spent sixteen years at Google and two stints at Microsoft. She curates Off the Record and is moderating this session.

• ​Shivani Govil (Curator) — Sr. Advisor, McKinsey & Co.
  Shivani is currently a Sr. Advisor at McKinsey. Prior to this, she has held CPO and senior leadership roles at Google, CCC and SAP.

​Agenda / Schedule:

• ​5:30 PM – 6:00 PM: Doors Open for Networking & Informal Mingling

• ​6:00 PM – 6:45 PM: Moderated Conversation (Featured Speakers + Moderator)

• ​6:45 PM – 7:15 PM: Open Q&A (In-person & Interactive Remote)

• ​7:15 PM – 7:30 PM: Post-session Networking

​Registration Note: In-person seats at the TiE Silicon Valley office in Palo Alto are limited. Remote participants will join by live video and have access to interactive Q&A.