

Tech for Non-Techies
Sophia Matveeva
Tech for Non-Techies helps Business Leaders have great careers in the Digital Age, with episodes on innovation, digital transformation, start-ups and how technology is changing business.
Learn tech concepts, apply them to business strategy, and get practical advice on how to succeed as a Digital Leader today.
Learn how to work with tech clients, transition career, succeed in digital transformation and start a company as a non-technical founder.
Tech for Non-Techies is for:
- Leaders in corporates going through digital transformation
- Non-technical founders
- Professionals who want to transition into a career in tech
- Tech investors
Hosted by tech entrepreneur, executive coach and Chicago Booth MBA Sophia Matveeva.
Learn tech concepts, apply them to business strategy, and get practical advice on how to succeed as a Digital Leader today.
Learn how to work with tech clients, transition career, succeed in digital transformation and start a company as a non-technical founder.
Tech for Non-Techies is for:
- Leaders in corporates going through digital transformation
- Non-technical founders
- Professionals who want to transition into a career in tech
- Tech investors
Hosted by tech entrepreneur, executive coach and Chicago Booth MBA Sophia Matveeva.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Oct 25, 2023 • 45min
174. What stock market investors REALLY need to know about tech
Tech companies have changed the stock market and the economy. But, to be a Smart Money investor, what do you really need to know about tech? Listen to this interview with Richard Kramer to find out. Richard is a renowned stock market analyst and founder of Arete Research, an independent equity research firm, which works with over 250 global tech investors. In this episode you will learn: How tech companies have reshaped the stock market and why this matters The process Richard follows to decide which tech innovations to invest in What investors really need to know about tech to be Smart Money Why investment bank equity research is often biased (and in which direction) You can hear more from Richard on his Bubble Trouble podcast. Get the FREE course - 5 Tech Concepts Every Business Leader Needs To Know --- Join the Tech for Non-Techies membership and succeed in the Digital Age. Tech for Non-Techies clients Reach senior leadership positions in Big Tech firms Lead digital transformation in established businesses Create tech businesses as non-technical founders Pivot into careers in venture capital We love hearing from our readers and listeners. So if you have questions about the content or working with us, just get in touch on info@techfornontechies.co Say hi to Sophia on Twitter and follow her on LinkedIn. Following us on YouTube, Facebook, Instagram and TikTok will make you smarter.

Oct 18, 2023 • 16min
173. The biggest reason things go wrong in product teams
A great product attracts users, grows revenue and whets investor appetite. But what makes a great product? A good team and a smart process. Listen to this short episode to see what a good product management process looks like. You will learn: What specialists need to be involved in a product team The biggest reason why the products that get released are different to the product leader's vision How to lead developers as a non-technical innovator If you want a product users love, listen to this episode. FREE Masterclass 3 Tech Concepts EVERY Business Leader Needs To Know To Have a Great Career 24 October 2023, 12:00 pm EDT --- Join the Tech for Non-Techies membership and succeed in the Digital Age. Tech for Non-Techies clients Reach senior leadership positions in Big Tech firms Lead digital transformation in established businesses Create tech businesses as non-technical founders Pivot into careers in venture capital We love hearing from our readers and listeners. So if you have questions about the content or working with us, just get in touch on info@techfornontechies.co Say hi to Sophia on Twitter and follow her on LinkedIn. Following us on YouTube, Facebook, Instagram and TikTok will make you smarter.

Oct 11, 2023 • 16min
172. Q&A: how do I go from banking to fintech?
If you want to transition career from a traditional industry, or a stuffy company, to a fast growing business, this episode is for you. “The business strategies employed by highly successful start-ups and the career strategies employed by highly successful individuals are strikingly similar,” said Reid Hoffman, co-founder of LinkedIn in his book the Start-up of You. This episode will show you how to have an entrepreneurial approach to your career change. You will learn: What having an entrepreneurial approach to your career really means Steps to transitioning career: you can rarely jump from traditional to innovative in one go A key action that most people miss when changing careers Get the FREE course - 5 Tech Concepts Every Business Leader Needs To Know --- Join the Tech for Non-Techies membership and succeed in the Digital Age. Tech for Non-Techies clients Reach senior leadership positions in Big Tech firms Lead digital transformation in established businesses Create tech businesses as non-technical founders Pivot into careers in venture capital We love hearing from our readers and listeners. So if you have questions about the content or working with us, just get in touch on info@techfornontechies.co Say hi to Sophia on Twitter and follow her on LinkedIn. Following us on YouTube, Facebook, Instagram and TikTok will make you smarter.

Oct 4, 2023 • 47min
171. Deep tech investing vs standard venture capital
ChatGPT has popularized deep tech, but most people don't really know what it is or how it differs from standard software innovation. Don't be most people. This episode will demystify deep tech investing and show you why smart VCs never really take any technological risk (even in the most frontier tech industries). Learn from James Wang, Partner at Creative Ventures: How deep tech innovation differs from standard software Why investing in ChatGPT is more similar to investing in semi-conductors, than in companies like Slack The typical funding path for a new venture fund: where do they get the money to invest? What you really need to know about tech to be a deep tech investor Get the FREE course - 5 Tech Concepts Every Business Leader Needs To Know --- Join the Tech for Non-Techies membership and succeed in the Digital Age. Tech for Non-Techies clients Reach senior leadership positions in Big Tech firms Lead digital transformation in established businesses Create tech businesses as non-technical founders Pivot into careers in venture capital We love hearing from our readers and listeners. So if you have questions about the content or working with us, just get in touch on info@techfornontechies.co Say hi to Sophia on Twitter and follow her on LinkedIn. Following us on YouTube, Facebook, Instagram and TikTok will make you smarter.

Sep 27, 2023 • 42min
170. Advisory Boards: why join them & why have them
If you want to run a start-up, get to the top of a corporate, get headhunted for board roles or become a Smart Money investor, joining an advisory board is a smart move. But, for advisors, boards can can also become a time drain and a risk to your reputation. For founders, advisory boards can be a source of deals, funding and support, or a costly distraction. Listen to this episode to learn why joining a start-up advisory board can be one of the smartest career moves you could ever make, and avoid the "dumb advisor" trap. In this episode, you will learn: Advisor compensation: what to expect How to use a start-up advisory board position for your career goals How to be a great advisor to a start-up How smart founders pick advisors and work with them You will learn from Andi Govindia, CEO & Co-Founder of Riviter, and Sophia Matveeva, who sits on Riviter's advisory board. Andi previously appeared on this podcast in episode 62. How I used accelerators to build a tech business Get the FREE course - 5 Tech Concepts Every Business Leader Needs To Know --- Join the Tech for Non-Techies membership and succeed in the Digital Age. Tech for Non-Techies clients Reach senior leadership positions in Big Tech firms Lead digital transformation in established businesses Create tech businesses as non-technical founders Pivot into careers in venture capital We love hearing from our readers and listeners. So if you have questions about the content or working with us, just get in touch on info@techfornontechies.co Say hi to Sophia on Twitter and follow her on LinkedIn. Following us on YouTube, Facebook, Instagram and TikTok will make you smarter.

Sep 20, 2023 • 27min
169. The No. 1 Tech Concept for Business Leaders
Traditional industries, like banking, FMCG, and real estate have a fundamental difference to tech companies. If you do not understand this difference, or under-estimate it, you will not be able to thrive in digital transformation or work with tech start-ups. In this episode you will learn what this core difference is and why it matters through two case studies: the traditional business and the tech company. The concept you will learn in this episode is the underlying thesis behind: Design thinking Agile development Growth hacking This episode is the first lesson in the 5 day free tech course for Business Leaders: Get the FREE course - 5 Tech Concepts Every Business Leader Needs To Know --- Join the Tech for Non-Techies membership and succeed in the Digital Age. Tech for Non-Techies clients Reach senior leadership positions in Big Tech firms Lead digital transformation in established businesses Create tech businesses as non-technical founders Pivot into careers in venture capital We love hearing from our readers and listeners. So if you have questions about the content or working with us, just get in touch on info@techfornontechies.co Say hi to Sophia on Twitter and follow her on LinkedIn. Following us on YouTube, Facebook, Instagram and TikTok will make you smarter.

Sep 13, 2023 • 28min
168. 5 tech concepts every Business Leader needs to know
To succeed in the Digital Age, traditional business skills are no longer enough. Business Leaders need a new skillset: Digital Leadership. This doesn't mean learning to code or taking a Python course. (Thank God!) Instead, it means learning how to collaborate effectively with developers and data scientists, and aligning business goals with tech strategy. In this episode, Sophia Matveeva shares the top 5 tech concepts every Business Leader needs to know to thrive in the Digital Age. Listen to this episode if you are: a leader in a company going through digital transformation work on the business side of a tech company want to transition into a career in tech or tech investing want to work with tech sector clients Sophia Matveeva has lectured on technology & innovation at Oxford University, London Business School, Techstars and more. She has been published in the Harvard Business Review, the Financial Times, Forbes etc. To go further, sign up to the FREE 5 day course: FREE Course - 5 Tech Concepts Every Business Leader Needs To Know --- Join the Tech for Non-Techies membership and succeed in the Digital Age. Tech for Non-Techies clients Reach senior leadership positions in Big Tech firms Lead digital transformation in established businesses Create tech businesses as non-technical founders Pivot into careers in venture capital We love hearing from our readers and listeners. So if you have questions about the content or working with us, just get in touch on info@techfornontechies.co Say hi to Sophia on Twitter and follow her on LinkedIn. Following us on YouTube, Facebook, Instagram and TikTok will make you smarter.

Sep 6, 2023 • 15min
167. Four top tech books for Business Leaders
Listen to this episode to get Sophia Matveeva's recommendations to hone your digital mindset. In this episode, you'll hear the top lessons from each book and why they matter. The beginners' guide: Swipe to Unlock: The Insider’s Guide to Tech and Business Strategy Listen to this TFNT podcast interview with co-author Parth Detroja: 12 Introduction to Product Strategy To learn Design Thinking: Designing Your Life: How to Build a Well-Lived, Joyful Life Join Design Q4 to Finish Strong! to attend the Design Thinking workshop on Sunday 10 September 2023. Understand AI and how it changes business models: Competing in the Age of AI Strategy and Leadership When Algorithms and Networks Run the World Listen to Listen to this TFNT podcast interview with co-author Marco Iansiti: 9. The Business of AI with Harvard Business School Prof Marco Iansiti For founders & investors: The hard thing about hard things Watch this book summary on the TFNT YouTube channel: The Hard Thing About Hard Things: TFNT summary --- Join the Tech for Non-Techies membership and succeed in the Digital Age. Tech for Non-Techies clients Reach senior leadership positions in Big Tech firms Lead digital transformation in established businesses Create tech businesses as non-technical founders Pivot into careers in venture capital We love hearing from our readers and listeners. So if you have questions about the content or working with us, just get in touch on info@techfornontechies.co Say hi to Sophia on Twitter and follow her on LinkedIn. Following us on YouTube, Facebook, Instagram and TikTok will make you smarter.

Aug 30, 2023 • 40min
166. Introduction to cookies, tracking & online privacy
Is online tracking invasive? Or do cookies make our experience of the internet better? To answer this question, you need to understand how online tracking works and who makes money from it. In this episode, you'll learn from Keith Petri, CEO & Founder of Lockr, which helps consumers manage their data online. You will learn: What tracking cookies are The difference between first party, third party and zero party data Why you have so much more spam in your inbox today (and why it will get worse) Whether recent privacy regulation like GDPR really changed anything for consumers & businesses How Apple is using privacy issues to make money and change its business model --- Join the Tech for Non-Techies membership and succeed in the Digital Age. Tech for Non-Techies clients Reach senior leadership positions in Big Tech firms Lead digital transformation in established businesses Create tech businesses as non-technical founders Pivot into careers in venture capital We love hearing from our readers and listeners. So if you have questions about the content or working with us, just get in touch on info@techfornontechies.co Say hi to Sophia on Twitter and follow her on LinkedIn. Following us on YouTube, Facebook, Instagram and TikTok will make you smarter.

Aug 22, 2023 • 45min
165. AI hype vs lasting innovation with Jamie Cattell, Partner at IBM
How is generative AI different from standard AI? How can you tell lasting innovation from the hype? Listen to this episode to find out. You will learn from Jamie Cattell, Global Managing Partner, Enterprise Strategy at IBM Consulting. Before joining IMB, Jamie was a partner at McKinsey where he led McKinsey Digital. If you work in a corporate, sell to corporates or invest in public equities, this episode is for you. Listen to learn: The framework to differentiate between tech hype and lasting change Why smaller companies are more likely to be tech disruptors Which bank has made the largest AI investments and what it means for them What business leaders need to learn about AI to be effective --- Join the Tech for Non-Techies membership and succeed in the Digital Age. Tech for Non-Techies clients Reach senior leadership positions in Big Tech firms Lead digital transformation in established businesses Create tech businesses as non-technical founders Pivot into careers in venture capital We love hearing from our readers and listeners. So if you have questions about the content or working with us, just get in touch on info@techfornontechies.co Say hi to Sophia on Twitter and follow her on LinkedIn. Following us on YouTube, Facebook, Instagram and TikTok will make you smarter.