In this fireside chat, we will explore Merve's journey from academia to industry, focusing on how interdisciplinary research can leverage AI to address real-world challenges. We’ll discuss the shift from academic research to industry practices on AI product development, emphasizing moving the focus from solely machine learning model creation to end-to-end system design. We will wrap up by reflecting on lessons learned on how to build a data-driven culture and create responsible and impactful AI solutions.