E146: "My Technical Degree Is Basically Useless Now" with Naomie (Amzallag) Halioua

Naomie Amzallag Halioua spent years training to become a technical specialist - then watched AI make that specialization nearly worthless overnight. As co-founder and CEO of Cleo Labs, she's building an AI-powered product compliance company in a world where technical skill alone is no longer a moat. In this episode, she explains why she believes generalists - not specialists - will win the next decade, why human judgment is now the only real competitive advantage, and why Cleo walked away from a profitable product that nobody actually used. We also get into: • Why AI is quietly making deep technical training less valuable • The difference between using AI and thinking with it • How Cleo found a problem worth solving after abandoning one that wasn't • Building a company (and a family) without waiting for the "right" moment • What confidence actually requires - and where it comes from If you've ever wondered whether your hard-won expertise still matters, this conversation will change how you think about it. Connect with Naomie: https://www.linkedin.com/in/naomiehalioua/ Hosted by Zivi: https://www.linkedin.com/in/zivileeinikyte/ Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Naomie's Journey 02:03 Pregnancy and Fundraising: Naomie's Experience 04:15 Role Models and Inspiration for Women in Tech 05:34 Naomie's Background in Web3 and Community Building 08:12 Pivot from AI Education to Product Compliance 13:34 How Naomie Onboards Clients for Compliance 15:45 Human in the Loop as a Competitive Advantage 17:06 Risks and Perceptions of AI Usage 20:14 Evolving Workflows and Team Skills in AI Era 21:50 Hiring for Technical and Legal Expertise 23:35 Learning and Adapting to AI Tools 25:54 Bridging the Educational Gap in AI Skills 27:31 Community Building and Support for Women 31:21 Starting the Day with Positivity and Purpose 33:24 Final Thoughts: The Power of Now and Self-Bermission