In this episode of Sloanies Talking with Sloanies, host Christopher Reichert, MOT ’04, speaks with Adela Jamal, SFMBA ’22, and Sebastian Barriga, SFMBA ’22, co-founders of MileMark Capital, about their journey from diverse global careers to launching an applied AI-focused venture fund. They reflect on how their time at MIT Sloan—particularly during the transitional post-pandemic period—brought them together through shared values, complementary backgrounds, and a mutual commitment to meaningful innovation. Their story highlights the importance of authenticity, long-term relationship-building, and the often-overlooked reality that reputations are built long before founders formally step into the spotlight.

The conversation also explores MileMark’s investment philosophy, centered on “applied AI”—specialized, domain-driven applications of artificial intelligence that deliver tangible business value. Rather than chasing broad, capital-intensive models, the firm focuses on founders with deep expertise and strong networks, emphasizing people as the key driver of success. Looking ahead, Jamal and Barriga express optimism about AI’s global impact, predicting increased accessibility, productivity, and innovation across industries. Ultimately, they underscore that while technology evolves rapidly, trust, human judgment, and purpose-driven leadership remain at the core of building enduring ventures.

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In this Sloanies Talking with Sloanies podcast, host Christopher Reichert, MOT ’04, interviews Nelson Repenning, PhD ’96, (School of Management Distinguished Professor of System Dynamics and Organization Studies) about his 2025 book There's Got to Be a Better Way, co-authored with Donald Kieffer (Senior Lecturer, System Dynamics). A system dynamics expert who started at MIT as a PhD candidate at 23 and now directs the MIT Leadership Center, Repenning's research probes why organizations ignore proven tools, from lean methods to safety protocols in industries like oil and gas. The book's thesis: static plans (strategies, budgets) clash with rapid change, spawning "firefighting" via ad-hoc fixes that stifles long-term productivity.

Repenning tackles buy-in hurdles for invisible wins, like safety where "nobody gets credit for defects that never happened," especially in high-risk sectors with delayed feedback. For middle managers, he champions "dynamic work design"—tackling small, quick experiments on pain points to yield fast results and organic spread, as seen in Harley-Davidson's backlog fixes and the Broad Institute's 2020 COVID pivot, favoring iterative problem-solving over rigid control.

He stresses cultural tools like the "human chain" for face-to-face ambiguity resolution amid email overload, linking it to return-to-office trends for mentorship. Reflecting on his 1990s spark questioning tool adoption, Repenning notes system dynamics' mainstream rise at Sloan amid AI's black boxes. Advice for students: embrace MIT's low-structure entrepreneurialism and diverse programs expanded his mindset beyond technical expertise to create meaningful societal impact.

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In this episode of Sloanies Talking with Sloanies, host Christopher Reichert, MOT ’04, interviews Dr. Sreenivas Koka, EMBA ’13, about how his multicultural upbringing and MIT Sloan experience transformed his approach to dentistry and leadership, emphasizing empathy and value-based care.

Starting his academic journey at 19 at the University of Michigan’s School of Dentistry, Koka earned multiple degrees, held roles like Chair of Dental Specialties at the Mayo Clinic and Dean at the University of Mississippi’s School of Dentistry, and founded the Koka Dental Clinic.

After being let go from his deanship, he co-founded Executive Leadership Enterprises to focus on developing first- and second-time supervisors, while continuing to serve underserved communities, such as providing dental care to Mississippi prison inmates.

Koka defines success as living a purpose-driven life, a perspective shaped by Sloan’s courses on strategy and innovation, which expanded his mindset beyond technical expertise to create meaningful societal impact.

Support the show

Thanks for listening! Find more episodes on the Sloanies Talking with Sloanies website.

Learn more about MIT Sloan Alumni on Facebook, LinkedIn, X, Instagram, and Threads.

To support this show, or if you have an idea for a topic or a guest you think we should feature, drop us a note at sloanalumni@mit.edu

© MIT SLOAN SCHOOL OF MANAGEMENT