In this conversation with Vlada Bortnik, CHT explores what it takes to build technology that is "metrics-informed, but values-driven." Vlada is CEO and Co-founder of Marco Polo, "the video chat app that brings you closer to the people who matter most without asking you to compromise on trust" (www.marcopolo.me/).

01:19 | Vlada shares life experiences that have impacted her work as an entrepreneur and technologist
05:33 | The "origin story" of Marco Polo
10:24 | Vlada discusses the nuances of building values-centered technology and workplaces
14:05 | How Marco Polo measures success beyond traditional metrics
18:23 | How startups and smaller companies can measure their impact, even when financially constrained
23:41 | How Marco Polo has secured investors and made the business case for humane technology
31:43 | Advice for aspiring humane technologists and entrepreneurs
35:15 | Audience Q&A begins – how Marco Polo grew without an ad-based model or paid advertising
38:30 | Marco Polo's key metrics and KPIs
41:30 | Why the app is called "Marco Polo"
43:18 | How to monitor a million-user app for abuse and misbehavior
50:30 | What Vlada would do differently if launching Marco Polo today
51:47 | What gets Vlada up in the morning, and what keeps her up at night

This live event took place on June 23, 2022 as part of our Foundations of Humane Technology course community event series. You can attend these events live by signing up for our free course at humanetech.com/course.

Kellen Klein is Course Manager at Center for Humane Technology and moderated the conversation.