What does real innovation look like in 2026 — inside a 160-year-old state railway and a modern AI-first startup? We continue our series with BMI Executive Institute, sitting down with two guests from two different worlds to explore how innovation, AI adoption, and the future of work actually play out on the ground.
We cover the startup vs enterprise mindset, the project management triangle of speed, cost and quality, the EU AI Act, AI anxiety, and whether humans are still relevant when AI can do most of the work.
Our guests are Jonas Valuta and Vidas Vasiliauskas. Jonas, participant of the EMBA programme at BMI Executive Institute and the head of Asset management and Sales from Lithuanian Railways, one of the country's largest state-owned organisations, where modernising systems that have been running for over a century means navigating security, compliance, and change management at scale. Vidas is the CEO of Teamhood, a project management tool for teams that have outgrown simple software but don't need the full weight of enterprise platforms — and he is currently rebuilding it from the ground up with AI as the foundation, not a feature.
Introduction 0:00 Why Vidas calls himself a product creator 1:07 Running asset management at Lithuania's national railway 2:43 How big corporations actually approach innovation 4:22 How startups innovate when competition is global 8:30 Fewer stakeholders means your team moves faster 10:24 Balancing speed, cost and quality when building products 14:30 Is AI overhyped? 21:37 What the EU AI act means for businesses 32:23 Are humans still necessary when AI does the work 43:00 Why AI is giving everyone anxiety and FOMO 53:02 Where startups and big companies are headed with AI 56:36 Where to find Jonas and Vidas 1:03:20
More about the episode partners: www.bmiinstitute.com
Connect with Our Guests Jonad Valuta – https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonasvaluta/ Vidas Vasiliauskas – https://www.linkedin.com/in/vidasvasiliauskas/ 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://www.instagram.com/sigli.gang TikTok: @innovantage / @sigliofficial
Did something surprise you in this conversation? Drop a comment below — we read every single one. Subscribe so you don't miss the next episode of Innovantage Podcast.
Popular Podcasts
Hey Jonas!
Hey Jonas! The official Jonas Brothers podcast. Hosted by Kevin, Joe, and Nick Jonas. It’s the Jonas Brothers you know... musicians, actors, and well, yes, brothers. Now, they’re sharing another side of themselves in the playful, intimate, and irreverent way only they can. Spend time with the Jonas Brothers here and stay a little bit longer for deep conversations like never before.
Crime Junkie
Does hearing about a true crime case always leave you scouring the internet for the truth behind the story? Dive into your next mystery with Crime Junkie. Every Monday, join your host Ashley Flowers as she unravels all the details of infamous and underreported true crime cases with her best friend Brit Prawat. From cold cases to missing persons and heroes in our community who seek justice, Crime Junkie is your destination for theories and stories you won’t hear anywhere else. Whether you're a seasoned true crime enthusiast or new to the genre, you'll find yourself on the edge of your seat awaiting a new episode every Monday. If you can never get enough true crime... Congratulations, you’ve found your people. Follow to join a community of Crime Junkies! Crime Junkie is presented by Audiochuck Media Company.
Betrayal Weekly
Betrayal Weekly is back for a new season. Every Thursday, Betrayal Weekly shares first-hand accounts of broken trust, shocking deceptions, and the trail of destruction they leave behind. Hosted by Andrea Gunning, this weekly ongoing series digs into real-life stories of betrayal and the aftermath. From stories of double lives to dark discoveries, these are cautionary tales and accounts of resilience against all odds. From the producers of the critically acclaimed Betrayal series, Betrayal Weekly drops new episodes every Thursday. If you would like to share your story, you can reach out to the Betrayal Team by emailing them at betrayalpod@gmail.com and follow us on Instagram at @betrayalpod and @glasspodcasts. Please join our Substack for additional exclusive content, curated book recommendations, and community discussions. Sign up FREE by clicking this link Beyond Betrayal Substack. Join our community dedicated to truth, resilience, and healing. Your voice matters! Be a part of our Betrayal journey on Substack.