The Tech Leaders Podcast

This week, in a TTLP first, we have a second guest from a company that’s already made waves on our podcast, KPMG. There’s no better guest to return to represent this powerhouse consultancy than Paul Henninger, UK Head of Connected Technology and Global of Digital Lighthouse.  Paul joins Gareth to discuss his journey (and return) to leadership within KPMG, as well as the key milestones that he reached along the way. From working on the groundbreaking development of machine learning for cancer diagnoses 15 years ago, Paul’s passion for automation has marked his career and driven him to be a leader in the space. This episode delves into the intricacies of AI adoption and what that means for big organisations like KPMG, as well as the wider labour market. If you’re interested in hearing about Paul’s journey to the top, be sure to tune in to hear his incredible AI insights! Time stamps What does good leadership mean to Paul? (01:37) Paul’s early involvement in machine learning and cancer detection (06:05) The big move from New York to London (08:20) Keeping with KPMG (14:40) AI and job displacement (18:25) Regional differences in AI adoption (27:43) What Paul fears most about AI (33:45) Paul’s advice to his 21-year-old self (39:25) How Paul stays productive (41:13) https://www.bedigitaluk.com/

This week, Helen Kelisky, MD at Google Cloud UKI joins Gareth to discuss her leadership journey; from securing a role in juggernaut IBM, marking her entry into the tech space, to joining the powerhouse that is Google Cloud as the Managing Director UKI.  A proud advocate for diversity in tech, Helen has been recognised on Computer Weekly’s Most Influential Women in Tech list for the last 6 years, exemplifying both her career successes and her external volunteering in organisations such as Women in Telecoms & Technology (WiTT). Helen gives us insight into her leadership success and how to manage a team in the most effective way possible, ensuring that ‘every day is a learning day’, even for leaders. This episode is a must-listen for anyone curious to know more about cloud computing or anyone in need of some stellar leadership advice— we’ve got you covered. Timestamps What does good leadership mean to Helen? (01:36) Inclusivity in tech (04:42) An introduction to Helen (07:22) Helen’s journey into tech (09:30) The workplace cultures of IBM, Salesforce and Google (13:15) What problems are Google Cloud trying to solve? (19:10) Helen’s productivity and work-life balance tips (29:26) Advice to her younger self (32:20) Helen’s charitable initiatives outside of work (33:44) *Book recommendations: Leadership and Self-Deception: Getting Out of the Box, Arbinger institute Leadership and Self-Deception: Getting... by Arbinger Institute (amazon.co.uk) / The Tipping Point, Malcom Gladwell The Tipping Point: How Little Things Can Make a Big Difference: Amazon.co.uk: Malcolm Gladwell: 9780349113463: Books / Factfulness: Ten Reasons We're Wrong About The World - And Why Things Are Better Than You Think, Hans Rosling & Ola Rosling & Anna Rosling Rönnlund Factfulness: Ten Reasons We're Wrong About... by Rosling, Hans (amazon.co.uk) https://www.bedigitaluk.com/

On this week’s episode, we delve into a topic that’s a bit closer to home for us at TTLP and bedigital: IT software and licensing. Combining bedigital’s expert software services and our TTLP mission statement to uncover the stories of the biggest names in tech, this week’s guest is a leader in the software management space. Phil Hames, MD at The Business Software Centre (TBSC), joins Gareth to discuss his entrepreneurial journey and how he’s riding the wave of the Software-as-a-Service evolution. Phil and his team at TBSC utilise their expertise to help customers optimise their software usage in a quick and cost-effective way, ensuring that companies make the most of their SaaS. With an innovative focus on cybersecurity within Microsoft 365, TBSC’s unique products and services mean that they’re leaders in the software management industry. Having been in this field since the 80s, Phil’s career has been shaped by the rise of SaaS and his career journey to forming TBSC has proven that he truly is an expert in the space. Want to smarten up your knowledge on SaaS? Then this is the perfect episode for you! Time stamps What does good leadership mean to Phil? (02:04)  Setting up a software company (02:46) The evolution of Software-as-a-Service (09:95) The future of SaaS (11:55) The cybersecurity threats that are slipping through the net (14:33) What is Shadow IT? (16:42) Starting out as an entrepreneur (20:08) What is Smarter SaaS? (24:04)  Phil’s outlook on AI (32:54) Advice to 21-year-old self (36:15)  Book recommendation- The Strangest Secret, Earl Nightingale  The Strangest Secret: Amazon.co.uk: Nightingale, Earl: 9781603865579: Books https://www.bedigitaluk.com/

At a time when we’re all looking for environmentally friendly yet efficient travel, the railway industry is booming with popularity and investment. Our tech leader this week, Milena Nikolic is at the forefront of this sector. As CTO at Trainline, she is leading the team at one of the largest companies operating in this area. Milena joins Gareth to discuss her journey towards becoming a tech leader; from competing in coding competitions in Serbia to securing an internship at tech giant Google. Despite never initially being drawn to a leadership position, after being a part of Google’s immense growth period, Milena noticed that any problems they were facing were due to people, not technology. This want to incite change in Google’s company culture led to her becoming an Engineering Manager before ultimately being promoted to Engineering Director within her 12 years at the tech giant. Now as the CTO of Trainline, Milena discusses her role in one of the largest sectors across the globe, ensuring that she drives her team through goal setting, trusting the process, and being able to take things one step at a time. Time stamps What does good leadership mean to Milena? (03:37) Climbing the ranks at Google (04:55) What Milena would change about her time at Google (08:37) Google’s innovation initiative (11:04) The key to successful delegation (12:55) Milena’s backstory (15:05) Transitioning to Trainline (17:40) Transforming Trainline with AI (26:00) What does a CTO do? (33:10) Preventing burnout (35:00) The progress of equality within the tech industry (36:35) Milena’s advice to her younger self (38:30) *Book recommendation: Lean In: Women, Work and the Will to Lead, by Cheryl Sandberg Lean In: Women, Work, and the Will to Lead: Amazon.co.uk: Sandberg, Sheryl: 9780753541647: Books https://www.bedigitaluk.com/

In this digital age of hyperconnectivity, ensuring your business is cyber-secure is crucial. That’s where this week’s guest comes in. Daniel Schiappa, Chief Product Officer at Arctic Wolf, joins Gareth to discuss his top tips for tech leadership and what’s happening right now in the cybersecurity space.  Warning that the AI arms race has turned into a nuclear arms race, Daniel gives advice on what we all should be concerned about regarding AI regulations and how smaller companies can defend themselves against security breaches. Daniel has experience working in some of the largest tech companies across the globe, including Oracle, Microsoft, and Sophos before ultimately joining the team at Arctic Wolf. With a passion for cybersecurity guiding his journey to CPO, Daniel tells us of his highlights; from working with tech geniuses like Bill Gates, to receiving a life-changing letter from the UK government stating that the western civilisation is dependent on the work of himself and his team. Daniel is an influential tech leader with an unusual leadership mantra originating from a galaxy far, far away. He believes that ‘“there’s a time to be Yoda and there’s a time to be Darth Vader”’, and this duality of encouragement and ruthless determination is what keeps him and his leadership team ahead of the game. What does good leadership mean to Daniel? (02:12) Daniel’s key career milestones (04:33) Working with Bill Gates (11:28) The greatest engineering highlight of his career (14:00) Daniel’s role at Arctic Wolf (16:00) The cyberthreats that keep Daniel up at night (21:10) How to avoid cyberthreats as a smaller company (26:21) What is quantum computing? (34:16) Why cybersecurity is the perfect career path in 2023 (35:50) Daniel’s advice to his 21-year-old self (39:50) *Book recommendation – The Leadership Pill: The Missing Ingredient in Motivating People Today, Ken Blanchard The Leadership Pill: The Missing Ingredient in Motivating People Today eBook : Blanchard, Kenneth, Muchnick, Marc: Amazon.co.uk: Books https://www.bedigitaluk.com/

When we think about the success of a business, we think about stats, popularity, and growth. But what about the employee? Our guest this week is focused on prioritising the people, as the Director of EMEA Solutions at Qualtrics, Sally Winston joins Gareth to discuss the exciting world of employee experience (EX).  With a background in psychology, Sally is passionate about ensuring her leadership is marked by empathy, as she believes that treating each employee as an individual is the key to a successful business, no matter how big the head count.  This conversation explores how the world of EX interacts with technology, and how both AI and psychometric systems can help us know more about ourselves and how we interact with our workspace.  Time stamps What good leadership means to Sally (02:20) How Sally started out (04:30) Employee experience vs. customer experience (11:00) The greatest difference between millennials and Gen Z in the workplace (14:39) How much do psychometric systems reveal about ourselves? (25:25) Qualtrics ‘TACOS’ values (29:04) AI and EX (32:27) How Qualtrics is embracing the age of AI (37:00) Sally’s advice to her younger self (41:25)  *Book recommendation: ‘So Good They Can’t Ignore You’ by Cal Newport So Good They Can't Ignore You: Amazon.co.uk: Newport, Cal: 9780349415864: Books *  https://www.bedigitaluk.com/

On this week’s episode, we delve into the dynamic world of e-commerce, as Gareth is joined by Aidan Corbett, the visionary CEO of e-commerce funding business, and Ireland’s 6th home-grown tech unicorn, Wayflyer. Establishing a successful venture in this rapidly growing sector is no easy task, that’s where Aidan and his team come in; to help e-commerce entrepreneurs get the kick-start they need. This episode is jam-packed full of advice from not only Aidan’s perspective as an investor, but also through his personal journey as a tech entrepreneur himself. We get the inside scoop on the best ways to launch your e-commerce venture, including whether an MBA is actually worth the time (and money), and if coding is still a useful skill in this age of AI. Finding ‘“what feels like work to everyone else but feels like play to you”’ is a piece of Aidan’s stellar advice and is testament to his trajectory to the top of tech leadership. He demonstrates how important it is to play to your strengths and know your niche to excel in the e-commerce ecosystem.  Time stamps What does good leadership mean to Aidan? (02:43) Entrepreneurial inspiration (05:38) Is studying an MBA worth it? (07:41) Can learning code still be useful? (11:28) Starting out at McKinsey & Company (14:33) Creating Conjura (20:20) The biggest e-commerce mistakes that companies make (24:55) How does Aidan assess potential investment opportunities (28:03) Why Dublin is an entrepreneurial hotspot (32:53) What social channel will make your start-up go viral? (35:50) How AI is going to disrupt the e-commerce industry (37:40) Aidan’s advice to his 21-year-old self (41:00)   https://www.bedigitaluk.com/

Do you feel like the world of Crypto is a bit… cryptic? Well, fear not, as Elke Karskens, UK Country Director at Coinbase, joins Gareth on this week’s episode to delve into this ‘digital alternative to Wall Street’ and discuss her role in one of the biggest businesses in the space.  Growing up in Amsterdam, Elke was raised to focus on the importance of the greater good, which ultimately guided her career path to join numerous tech giants and play a vital role in their worldwide influence. Professing that she still ‘bleeds blue’ to this day, Elke tells all about her 12 years at Facebook and how the innovation she experienced there spurred her on to join the ground-breaking world of cryptocurrency. This episode is jam-packed with aspirational advice on how to become a tech leader whilst setting boundaries and rejecting the ‘disease to please’, as Elke maintains that the secret to success is prioritising the things that matter most.   Time stamps What does good leadership mean to Elke? (02:02) Joining the TomTom trailblazers (08:14) Scaling-up Skype (10:12) Elke’s stand-out career milestones (14:30) The Cambridge Analytica scandal (17:08) Joining Coinbase (19:23) How defi can change finance (23:38) The FTX collapse (27:45) Elke’s secret to success (33:10) Is Coinbase going to utilise AI? (39:28) Advice to her 21-year-old self (40:38) https://www.bedigitaluk.com/

With climate change being the *hottest* topic of discussion at the moment, this week we’re delving into its effects on the business world, as Tommy Ricketts, Co-founder of BeZero Carbon, joins Gareth to give us the low-down on environmental economics. Tommy’s passion for both economy and ecology has shaped his entrepreneurial journey, ultimately leading to his creation of a service that transforms how businesses utilise carbon credits. BeZero Carbon offers an innovative solution to the lack of transparency in the current carbon credit system by rating and assessing the true emissions of corporations.  From an alternate career dream of creating a screenplay about football referees, to advice on maintaining cultural cohesion in the workplace, this candid yet captivating conversation covers all bases of Tommy’s journey so far.  The challenge to combat the carbon crisis is no small feat, so with companies like BeZero Carbon, businesses can hold themselves and each other accountable and turn intention into action to help stop climate change.  Time stamps What does good leadership mean to Tommy? (01:59) Leveraging economic history (04:44) A chance encounter and a life-changing text message (08:16) The culture difference between UK and US FinTechs (12:21) Being the Best (14:55) Cultivating the climate economy (16:50) Tommy’s screenplay side-hustle (19:05) What is BeZero Carbon’s value proposition? (28:30) Are big corporations guilty of greenwashing? (36:50) Which tech innovations is Tommy is most excited about (43:20) Tommy’s advice to his younger self (45:15) https://www.bedigitaluk.com/

Do you know the similarities between a Naval team and a successful tech team? According to this week’s guest, it’s having a “no bullshit” working culture. Gareth is joined by Dominic von Trotha Taylor, ex-CEO at PayPoint turned Chairman and CEO iov42 as they explore his journey from submarines to tech leadership, the impact of blockchain, the danger of AI and ChatGPT - the “Rubbish in, Rubbish out” conundrum.Dominic's success is testament to the power of diverse experiences. Growing up in West London, he was exposed to the world of commerce through his parents' antique dealing business in Portobello Road. Later, he ventured into the Navy, serving on submarines during the tense Cold War era, which instilled in him a no-nonsense leadership style with a direct purpose.Dominic recounts his early career struggles and his fortuitous call back from Vodafone, where he played a crucial role in setting up the German branch, at a time when Vodafone was pioneering telephony and SMS messaging.His subsequent journey as the former CEO of PayPoint revealed Dominic's innate ability to lead through the turbulent ever-changing landscape of the early Noughties, making PayPoint a trailblazer in the fintech space.What does good leadership mean to Dominic (02:15)Dominic’s tech voyage (04:35)Life and leadership on board a Royal Navy submarine (06:00)The fintech evolution (15:00)The dotcom boom and experiencing the Y2K issue (20:30)Why do people sell their businesses? (24:11)The benefits of working in a start-up company (28:30)What work is being done at iov42? (32:30)What is blockchain? (35:00)AI dangers of rubbish in, rubbish out (40:50)How to be more productive (44:00)Dominic’s advice to his 21-year-old-self (46:30)https://www.bedigitaluk.com/