The Tech Leaders Podcast

*Brought to you by bedigital*It’s finally here! We’re back and ready to delve deeper into the world of GenAI.Over one year on from our original AI Special Series, Gareth is joined once again by the brilliant Professor Kerensa Jennings to explore in greater detail how artificial intelligence is changing the world as we know it.There’s no better way to begin this series than with a guest who has played a crucial role in bringing new technology to the British public for over 40 years, Maggie Philbin OBE.From hosting iconic BBC shows such as Swap Shop and Tomorrow's World to founding TeenTech, a charity dedicated to inspiring young people to pursue careers in technology, Maggie remains a leading voice in tech innovation and continues to be a champion for the technology industry in the UK.Focusing on how GenAI can enhance the learning experiences of young people and inspire the next generation of tech leaders, this episode is full of amazing anecdotes, inspirational stories and stellar insight into the world of AI and technology innovation. Time stampsThe tech innovation that Maggie is most excited about (05:40)How Maggie joined the BBC and launched her broadcast career (07:24)Maggie’s first impressions of revolutionary tech in the 80’s (16:53)How did TeenTech begin? (21:38)How TeenTech changes lives (28:40)How Generative AI is impacting the education sector (34:48)Maggie’s predictions on the impact of AI on jobs (43:05)Advice to her younger self (49:34)If Maggie could have invented any piece of technology, what would it be? (51:04)The most outlandish ‘Tomorrow’s World’ invention (53:07)Kerensa’s experience with TeenTech (1:01:57)https://www.bedigitaluk.com/

 This week’s guest is part of a mission to transform how businesses access data to deliver better outcomes, as James Fisher, CSO @ Qlik joins Gareth to discuss all things analytics. From James’ corporate beginnings, to being an instrumental leader in Qlik’s mission to disrupt the business intelligence space, the conversation explores everything from AI to software spend. Describing Qlik as an “AI engine”, James’ expertise in the realm of artificial intelligence is highlighted through his advice to “invest in innovation while also investing in governance”, ensuring that AI safety should be a priority for all organisations. Time stamps What does good leadership mean to James? (02:20) Lessons learned from working at SAP (07:10) The key milestones in James’ early career (12:53) What drives the culture at Qlik? (18:45) The emergence of ‘Big Data’ (24:00) Predicting the next 5 years of innovation at Qlik (25:20) What CTOs need to know about AI in enterprise (27:50) How CIOs can cut their software spend (29:40) Driving corporate sustainability at Qlik (36:27) The ways James achieves work-life balance (44:40) Advice to his younger self (45;48)  *Book recommendation: Who Moved My Cheese? Spencer Johnson https://www.waterstones.com/book/who-moved-my-cheese/dr-spencer-johnson/9780091816971 https://www.bedigitaluk.com/

At TTLP, we’ve been fortunate to have numerous tech leaders from Google join us to offer stellar advice. This week’s guest, Cristina Pitarch, is no different. As the General Manager EMEA at Google Cloud Security, Cristina leads a team that is responsible for keeping not only one of the biggest technology companies in the world secure, but also their customer list containing some of the largest businesses in the world. From moving across the world to study at the University of California with very little English-speaking ability, Cristina took the plunge to move away from her law school background and enter the innovative world of technology. Joining Salesforce at the early stages meant that Cristina was able to climb the ranks quickly and become a driving force in the company’s expansion before moving to the technology powerhouse that is Google. This episode reveals the key aspects of Google’s Clouds security strategy, and why GCP should be the number one choice for CTOs from security standpoint. From an unlikely career trajectory to astute advice on how to prioritise security within a business, this episode is value packed!  Time stamps:What does good leadership mean to Cristina? (02:42) Cristina’s unconventional path into tech (04:21) The biggest cultural differences between studying in USA vs. Spain (06:36) Joining Salesforce in its growth phase (07:33) Harnessing innovation at Google (11:42) The core principles of Google Cloud’s Security strategy (21:57) Current cybersecurity trends (24:27) Why should CTO’s choose Google Cloud Platform? (31:52) Advice to women in tech in 2024 (32:22) How does Cristina achieve balance in her life? (43:37) https://www.bedigitaluk.com/

When you think of supermarkets, you probably think more about groceries than AI. This week’s guests are helping evolve Tesco into a technology-led organisation driving innovation in the highly competitive grocery space.Head of Product, Aji Bawo and Graduate Software Engineer, Naamua Dodoo join Gareth on this week’s episode of TTLP to discuss their experiences joining the biggest supermarket in the UK as a tech graduate. This episode explores the role of Tesco as an employer, the importance of diversity and inclusion within tech, and the key considerations for graduates looking to start a career in the industry. If you’re someone who’s looking to embark on a career in tech, or a technology leader considering hiring entry level talent, this episode provides incredible insight you won’t want to miss!Time stamps·       How both Naamua and Aji got into tech (03:00)·       What good leadership means to Aji (06:06)·       What Naamua looks for in a leader (07:45)·       The main technology skills graduates need to know (11:25)·       How graduate recruitment has changed at Tesco (23:14)·       Is the technology industry becoming more diverse? (33:00)·       How Tesco is leveraging AI (42:28)·       Will graduates be replaced by AI? (48:40)·       Naamua’s advice to new graduates (54:02)·       Aji’s advice to her younger self (54:54)Book recommendations: How Women Rise, Sally Helgesen amazon.co.uk/How-Women-Rise-Habits-Holding/dp/1847942253/ref=sr_1_1?crid=164GS4TGSBHLA&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.arPA90K8OERoOH18pbxgFCNT4yI7xZTObt3ShCkf4yOu6ELcJ9_kKmmjm7S_kgpOvsXCDOPCFPzbfr-YdkZhZaHw_DJ_TZO4PcQsS3xY_MOXtq_2JmFWNVx-dG_NFSuaIWoAwhR_BGIcsjfVw3rFUS9Mkw--cAxEbMyOTcPG7mk2RoNAZgF8-tHwlVniJh-9cvjjcHryqIuTIaaOU3cgDR2RMT6G2hVeuD7j8ebmGPU.W6MXP5nlQURJdUjCr0QLxNd5JFckjJeldjs5jPfAODE&dib_tag=se&keywords=how+women+rise&qid=1724776577&s=audible&sprefix=how+women+rise%2Caudible%2C81&sr=1-1-catcorrNice Girls Don’t Get The Corner Office, Lois. P. Frankel amazon.co.uk/Nice-Girls-Dont-Corner-Office/dp/1455558893/ref=sr_1_1?crid=S29EGCNUWI36&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.DemEIEROR7o2-ucu3AZavFTXXFmHMxi661IIVRmxnHFB62YF1dD7SlN2YWSoKOvvXwtAhch5D04a36vDqxRzq1MMtPd8GvebQyigSBvLAxy4VY1VcbQ3KHyuA0TS086l3VW--U4nz5AAMkU5SRxQ7VwXrHIkEyOZmqCHKGqjatBagmJZ4sAydkT3QnmijCu_2fRu3a-jN0eBwb4umq7oHNtl1BPe4xUCYr03WFqeMj8.88jZKu3vXEm-RCdDNXOJpx2Uc22lLhT9_c2zuzLUWR8&dib_tag=se&keywords=nice+girls+don%27t+get+the+corner+office&qid=1724776632&sprefix=nice+girls+%2Caps%2C76&sr=8-1https://www.bedigitaluk.com/

We’ve reached (and now surpassed) 100 episodes!To commemorate this milestone, we thought it’d be a great opportunity to recap on some of the best pieces of advice from our stellar guest list over the years. One of TTLP’s most iconic questions, ‘what advice would you give to your 21-year-old self?’, has encouraged our guests to deliver some incredible guidance on navigating the tech space and what it takes to make it as a tech leader. In this episode, we have compiled 14 of our favourite responses that offer advice from how to achieve work-life balance to ensuring you have one more cocktail— cheers to that! Time stamps:1)      Jamie Bartlett - fake it until you make it (04:16)2)      Priya Lakhani OBE - keep kindness and welcome challenge (09:00)3)      Quentyn Taylor - invest in legacy tech (12:20)4)      Helen Kelisky - fail fast and learn from it (16:30)5)      Rodger Werkhoven –  try fun tech (18:42)6)      Lisa Heneghan – be open to what you can do tomorrow (21:11)7)      Catriona Campbell – test and learn (25:00)8)      David Buttress – balance work life with home life (28:40)9)      Flavilla Fongang  - don’t wait to be recognised (34:13)10)   Tom O’Sullivan - get out of your own way (39:05)11)    Jazz Carlin OLY – never be afraid to ask questions (41:30)12)   Greg Jackson – follow the path least trodden (44:15)13)   Joe Baguley – don’t fit into other people’s moulds (45:58)14)   Emilia Molimpakis – 70% is good enough (50:17)https://www.bedigitaluk.com/

What better way to celebrate TTLP’s 100th episode milestone than by featuring a guest who’s responsible for the biggest tech publication in the UK. Editor in chief of Computer Weekly, Bryan Glick, is a tech leader who has had a unique vantage point when observing the changing technology landscape over his last 14 years whilst in this role.From starting out in tech sales to covering one of the biggest tech scandals in British history, Bryan’s career journey is unparalleled. Over the course of 15 years and 400 articles, Bryan and his team helped break the news of the Post Office Horizon scandal, which helped uncover both the systemic and technological issues within the institution.Gareth and Bryan cover everything from leadership advice to insight into how to make it on Computer Weekly’s prestigious UKTech50 list. This episode is jampacked with interesting anecdotes and insightful advice from Bryan, making it the perfect 100th TTLP episode!Time stamps·       What does good leadership mean to Bryan? (03:40)·       Accidentally falling into the tech space (06:35)·       Transitioning into tech journalism (09:48)·       Becoming Editor in chief at Computer Weekly (18:35)·       Breaking Computer Weekly’s biggest story (21:05)·       How the Post Office Horizon scandal got leaked (23:59)·       The role of investigative journalism in the tech industry (34:36)·       How Computer Weekly decide what to publish (38:32)·       Invention vs. innovation- what’s the difference? (43:48)·       How to make it on a Computer Weekly list (56:35)·       Bryan’s advice to his 21-year-old self (59:35)https://www.bedigitaluk.com/

This week’s guest was part of a vision to build a “software powerhouse” through innovating SaaS like never before. Sridhar Iyengar, MD Europe at Zoho Corporation, joined the company at the time it was founded, and over the last 28 years, has played a crucial part in its success.Navigating the scale-up phase through the dotcom boom, Sridhar’s journey within Zoho has been marked by the shift from telecoms to cloud computing, to more recently the advancement of AI. Throughout each technological shift, one thing has remained the same: Sridhar’s passion for innovating the software landscape.By helping create a platform that can scale up to meet the needs of a changing society, Sridhar is a leader who is driven by ensuring the sustainability of SaaS for the future. Time stamps What does good leadership mean to Sridhar? (02:02) Growing your career whilst growing a business (03:00) The impact of the dotcom boom (09:00) Accelerating growth in a changing technology landscape (10:50) The biggest differences between the European and Asian tech markets (14:04) Identifying your competitors (16:24) The effect of AI on SaaS (18:15) How Zoho is training employees for AI readiness (22:40) Achieving balance as a leader (31:10) *Book recommendation- The Culture Map, Erin Meyer https://www.amazon.co.uk/Culture-Map-Decoding-People-Cultures/dp/1610392760/ref=asc_df_1610392760?tag=bingshoppinga-21&linkCode=df0&hvadid=80401845130381&hvnetw=o&hvqmt=e&hvbmt=be&hvdev=c&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=&hvtargid=pla-4584001419460783&psc=1 https://www.bedigitaluk.com/

In the UK, the housing market is a topic of conversation that’s on everyone’s lips right now. As soaring interest rates are making mortgages unobtainable for many, this has become a nation-wide crisis.  This week’s guest has designed a platform to remedy many of the issues caused by the outdated British mortgage process, as Arjan Verbeek, Co-Founder and CEO of Perenna, is revolutionising mortgages for the masses. Taking influence from Danish banking practices, Perenna offer users flexible fixed-rate mortgages which are fully protected from interest rate fluctuations.  Having worked in some of the most prominent banks across the globe, including Barclays and BNP Paribas, Arjan witnessed first-hand the financial problems within the housing market and set out to change them. Arjan’s entrepreneurial journey is marked by a desire to disrupt old systems and utilise tech for good. This episode is not to be missed! Time stamps What does good leadership mean to Arjan? (02:12) Arjan’s insight into the financial crisis of 2008 (08:20) Creating a challenger bank and securing a UK banking licence (12:20) What’s wrong with the UK’s mortgage market? (18:51) How Perenna makes mortgages accessible (22:28) Keeping a working culture cohesive (28:40) Technology trends that will innovate banking (33:57) Arjan’s tips for maintaining balance and productivity (40:28) Advice to his 21-year-old self (43:44) https://www.bedigitaluk.com/

This week’s guest is an extremely experienced entrepreneur, as after being a founder 15 times, Tim Levy, Founder and CEO of Twyn, has made waves in industries from insurance to entertainment. Tim joins Gareth to discuss his colourful career journey that has brought him most recently to the world of AI.After leaving his position as director at an insurance broker firm, Tim set his entrepreneurial sights on the bright lights of Hollywood and plunged into the waters of the entertainment industry. His first company Factor 8 Films helped finance, produce and distribute many iconic movies, including Jurassic World and Pirates Of The Caribbean 2 & 3. Now, Tim’s latest venture harnesses his experience in the entertainment industry and combines it with cutting-edge technology. Twyn is a platform that aims to ‘revolutionise digital interaction’ by creating digital twins of celebrities, whereby users can engage in conversation with them; starting with football legend, Lionel Messi. This conversation explores the interesting concept of authenticity in AI and is not to be missed!·       What does good leadership mean to Tim? (02:14)·       Making a drastic career change (06:02)·       Generating 10 billion dollars in the film industry (09:50)·       Tim’s investment strategy (14:50)·       Investing in sustainability to invest in the future (17:52)·       Tim’s top advice for investors and entrepreneurs (28:10)·       What is Twyn and how does it work? (35:09)·       Working with Lionel Messi (41:39)·       What excites Tim most about the future of AI (47:00)·       Tim’s advice to his 21-year-old self (50:38)https://www.bedigitaluk.com/

This week’s guest turned tragedy into tech innovation with a platform designed to transform the way we all deal with death. Sam Grice, CEO and Founder of Octopus Legacy (formerly Guardian Angel) has created a platform that manages all aspects surrounding death; from will creation to bereavement support. Sam was always destined from entrepreneurial success, as both his parents were keen entrepreneurs, and he put his hereditary expertise to the test with a food and supplement side hustle. However, it wasn’t until the tragic loss of his mum, did the full extent of Sam’s passion for innovation flourish with the creation of Guardian Angel (now Octopus Legacy). Being a key player in propelling the death-tech industry forward, Sam is a tech leader that is paving the way in an industry that affects each and every one of us. This episode covers an incredibly inspirational entrepreneurial journey and is not to be missed!Time stamps What does good leadership mean to Sam? (02:10) Early exposure to life as an entrepreneur (03:25) Starting out with a side hustle (06:00) The tragedy that shaped Sam’s tech career (08:18) Creating Guardian Angel (12:12) Overcoming the obstacles within death-tech (17:04) What is a founder’s ‘kryptonite’? (22:00) Acquisition by Octopus Group (29:12) The Future of Octopus Legacy (33:31) How Sam achieves balance (43:10) Advice to young founders (44:43) Book recommendation: Predictably Irrational: The Hidden Forces That Shape Our Decisions, Dr, Dan Ariely - Predictably Irrational: The Hidden Forces That Shape Our Decisions: Amazon.co.uk: Ariely, Dr Dan: 9780061854545: Bookshttps://www.bedigitaluk.com/