Water is fundamental to our existence, but only a tiny fraction of fresh water on Earth is available to sustain life. How can we become better stewards of this precious resource? In this episode, Susan speaks with Jairo Trad, CEO & Co-Founder of Kilimo, a climate tech company based in Argentina, about how he and his team are using data, AI, and cloud technologies to help farmers optimize water use to promote a sustainable future. They discuss what it looks like to earn the trust of and design for farmers working in harsh conditions and remote locations, the role of empathy in product and software development, and how a combination of data, AI and what Jairo calls “common people magic” is helping Kilimo and customers move the needle on one of the world’s most significant challenges.
Air Date: May 27, 2025
Chapters:
00:16 – 04:25 Introduction
04:25 – 06:06 Jairo Trad’s background and journey
06:06 – 08:36 Empathy in product development
08:36 – 16:32 Building trust with farmers and the challenges implementing new technology
16:32 – 25:23 Kilimo’s technology and data collection approach
25:23 – 29:11 Future of Kilimo and water management
29:11 – 31:55 Advice for leaders
31:55 – 34:05 Conclusion and key takeaways
Show notes:
Guest: Jairo Trad, CEO and Co-founder at Kilimo https://msft.it/6052SkI1E
Host: Susan Etlinger on LinkedIn: https://msft.it/6053SkI11
Hear more from Kilimo in Cloud Cultures: Chile: https://msft.it/6054SkI1G
Learn how Kilimo uses Azure AI to help farmers lower water usage: https://msft.it/6055SkI1H
Learn more about Microsoft Azure: https://msft.it/6056SkI1y
Executive insights on cloud and AI innovation: https://msft.it/6057SkI1J
Discover and follow other Microsoft podcasts: https://msft.it/6058SkI1K
The Leading the Shift podcast is a place for experts to share their insights and opinions. As students of the future of technology, Microsoft values inputs from a diverse set of voices. That said, the opinions and findings of our guests are their own and they may not necessarily reflect Microsoft’s own research or positions.
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About the Leading the Shift podcast:
The AI platform shift brings immense opportunity, but the road to success isn’t always clear. On Leading the Shift, we talk with leaders in organizations of all kinds about how they’re using data, AI, and cloud technologies to deliver meaningful, trustworthy innovation to their teams, customers, and communities. Guests share how the platform shift is affecting everything from data strategy and customer relationships to organizational structure and culture, to their own lives and career journeys. Join us for conversations about navigating the era of AI, tackling new challenges, and advice for getting started.
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