The Tech Leaders Podcast

Write up  Self-driving cars: coming soon to a road near you!  That’s right, on the fourth instalment of our AI series, Gareth and Kerensa are joined by a pioneer in the autonomous driving space, Co-Founder and CEO of Wayve, Alex Kendall, to discuss all things AI automation.  After securing a scholarship from Cambridge University, leaving behind his home in New Zealand to travel to Europe for the first time, Alex’s drive (excuse the pun) to revolutionise the transportation game saw him building drones in Silicon Valley before ultimately co-founding his British-born start-up, Wayve.  This episode explores Wayve’s ground-breaking venture of using AI to create fully autonomous vehicles; from partnering with Ocado and Asda for robotic grocery deliveries, to replacing carparks with eco-friendly ‘greenparks’. “The Age of Autonomy is on its way”, so let’s all ride the ‘Wayve’ and embrace it!  Time stamps  What excites Alex most about the AI revolution? (01:56)  The early days of AI (07:56)  The University of Cambridge as a hub for young entrepreneurs (09:17)  Designing drones in Silicon Valley (13:25)  What is autonomous driving? (16:06)  Partnering with Ocado and Asda (19:41)  Inside Wayve’s AI (22:36)  Are human drivers going to be replaced? (26:36)  The UK’s standing in the AI rankings (34:01)  Alex’s AI fears (45:26)  Advice to his 21-year-old self (48:00)  What’s next for Wayve? (51:11)  https://www.bedigitaluk.com/

“AI will not replace you, a person using AI will” is the revolutionary philosophy from OpenAI’s Independent Creative Director, and third guest in the TTLP AI series, Rodger Werkhoven. In our most provocative interview yet, Rodger, Gareth and Kerensa discuss the true impact that AI is having on today’s society, as we get a behind-the-scenes glimpse into the early stages of development within the AI powerhouse that is OpenAI. Having joined OpenAI to work on their DALLE-2 launch, Rodger discusses how this mind-bending creative software went from test-tool to trailblazer and how it’s now changed the game for artists worldwide. However, as is testament to his catchphrase, humans aren’t lost in Rodger’s AI prophecy, as he describes how we all need to learn to utilise AI to our advantage, in whatever form that may be. This incredibly insightful, yet slightly ominous, interview is a must-listen if you’re interested in the future of AI but also what it means for us in the present. As Rodger says, “Pandora’s box is open” and now we must wait to see what it truly holds inside… Time stamps What excites Rodger most about the AI revolution? (01:48) Rodger’s creative process (03:49) AI artists: fact or fake? (08:25) Rodger’s OpenAI opportunity (14:35) Inside OpenAI (16:00) DALL-E’s innovation journey (24:05) Should ChatGPT be banned? (26:35) Artists vs. AI (30:35) AI’s impact on the labour market (33:51) An anti-AI advantage (40:05) Can AI be self-aware? (52:00) Rodger’s advice to future AI creatives (56:15) https://www.bedigitaluk.com/

Scared about robots taking over the world? Worried that AI aliens will destroy humankind as we know it?  Fear not! This week’s guest, Catriona Campbell, CTIO at EY, is a human-computer interaction expert, and she’s here to explain how we can co-exist in perfect harmony. In the second instalment of our AI series, Gareth, Kerensa, and Catriona discuss how the democratisation of AI has the capability to yield more value for humans than perhaps we realise.   Embracing change and disrupting the status quo isn’t something that’s new to Catriona, as being told that she was ‘“too young and too female”’ as a young entrepreneur sparked a desire to revolutionise the tech space— and wow, has she done it!  From driving Barclays’ online banking application, to being a part of Tony Blair’s taskforce team for inclusive government to ultimately setting up Ernst and Young’s pioneering Neuro-Diverse Centre of Excellence, Catriona Campbell is a true tech trailblazer.   Time stamps  What excites Catriona most about the AI revolution? (02:30)  Merging creatives with technologists (05:50)  Ernst and Young’s first female CTIO (06:42)  Leading Barclays’ first online banking service at 24yo (09:47)  “Too young and too female” for an investment (12:53)  Dot com boom to AI boom (14:30)  Tony Blairs Taskforce (16:10)  How do we regulate AI? (18:00)  Advice for businesses on AI adoption (22:15)  Catriona’s book ‘AI by Design’ (30:28)  Capturing neuro-diverse talent (37:10)  Catriona’s take on what jobs will be affected by AI (39:50)  AI in Education (44:25)  Catriona’s advice to young entrepreneurs (45:15)  https://www.bedigitaluk.com/

The AI revolution is here. Are you ready for it? What better way to kick of our brand-new AI series than with a guest who’s on a mission to change the world and *spoiler alert* she’s already doing it. Gareth and Kerensa are joined by Priya Lakhani, philanthropic entrepreneur and CEO of CENTURY Tech, the AI-powered educational tool that is changing the game in schools and colleges across the globe.   Priya’s captivating story of her quest to make systemic change, due to witnessing inequality first-hand on numerous occasions, pairs well with her passion for AI accessibility, as she works to bridge the barriers between AI and HI. As CENTURY prides itself on personalised pathways to give each student a bespoke educational journey, this episode largely focuses on how AI can be harnessed by humans to break down barriers and improve broken aspects of society.   From abandoning a successful career as a barrister, to setting up a cooking-sauce start up, through to discovering the endless possibilities of AI; this mind-blowing conversation demonstrates how becoming a successful tech leader in the age of AI is invariably about ensuring that fundamental human values remain the same.    Time stamps What excites Priya most about the AI revolution? (02:45) The dawn of a new CENTURY (Tech) (05:25) From courtroom to computer (12:20) Priya’s saucy venture (17:05) The 2 emotions of entrepreneurs (21:00) Fighting female in the tech space (23:30) Priya’s publishing project (27:20) The rapid growth of ChatGPT (30:00) The relationship between AI and HI (35:00) How regulation chases innovation (42:45) Battling bias in AI (47:35) Priya’s advice to her 21-year-old self (53:10)  *Book recommendation- Inadequate: The system failing our teachers and your children, Priya Lakhani Inadequate: The system failing our teachers and your children: Amazon.co.uk: Priya Lakhani: 9781912906222: Books https://www.bedigitaluk.com/

‘Sales is not just an art form, it’s also a science’ is a belief that this week’s guest has built a successful career on. Along with his sleeves-up, hardworking approach to leadership, it becomes apparent why he has achieved success as a leader and mentor. Ben Dorks, CEO of Ideagen, joins Gareth to discuss his incredible journey from deciding that he wanted to pursue a career in sales aged just 14, to setting up a company with his brother and ultimately stepping into the role of CEO in 2018. In this episode, Ben uncovers the importance of building a transparent work culture that does NOT include a glass ceiling, being an authentic leader and ensuring that he avoids burnout to always be the best version of himself. Ben also candidly unpacks how he has helped evolve Ideagen into a market leader in the compliance solution world, and one of the UK’s most recent Tech Unicorns. With fascinating insights on the critical importance of delegation, and the necessity of always having good people around you, this episode uncovers the secrets of what it means to be a successful CEO. Time stamps What does good leadership mean to Ben? (02:00) Success in Sales (04:28) Early milestones (09:25) The Adventure of Acquisition (13:25) Advice to young entrepreneurs (17:45) Everyday AI (22:15) Becoming a CEO (26:05) The key to good delegation (28:17) The evolution of AI in the compliance world (31:33) Avoiding burnout (35:10) Productivity advice (36:16) *Book recommendations*  Hit Refresh by Satya Nadella  Hit Refresh: A Memoir by Microsoft’s CEO: Amazon.co.uk: Nadella, Satya: 9780008247652: Books / It’s Your Ship by Captain D. Michael Abrashoff It's Your Ship: Management Techniques from the Best Damn Ship in the Navy: Amazon.co.uk: Abrashoff, Captain D Michael, Author: 0352719502246: Books / The New Power Base Selling by Jim Holden The New Power Base Selling: Master The Politics, Create Unexpected Value and Higher Margins, and Outsmart the Competition: Amazon.co.uk: Holden, Jim, Kubacki, Ryan: 9781118206676: Books https://www.bedigitaluk.com/

“Let’s make tech fun again” is the mantra of this week’s trailblazing guest, Co-founder and CEO of Nothing, Carl Pei, as he embraces the innovative technology of the future and encourages us all to do the same. In the episode, Gareth and Carl discuss the influence that Steve Jobs and Apple had on Carl in his youth, and how being a little disillusioned with the pause on hardware innovation motivated him to dream of being a disruptor.   Carl is an advocate of leading by example and describes ‘leading a team to victory’ through being the best operator possible to motivate the continuous personal development and learning of your team. As the conversation moves towards the dynamic between human and machine, Carl looks forward to the Age of AI generating ‘just another set of tools’ to aid the human experience, not replace humans altogether.   Time stamps Carl’s take on good leadership (02:50) Fascination with the internet (07:45) Carl’s appreciation for design, especially Apple (14:00) OnePlus origins (15:00) Creating a tech hardware brand (19:00) Entrepreneurial advice (21:19) The next big technology evolution (25:00) Disruptive AI (30:30) Recalibrating the tech labour market (36:15) Carl’s advice to his younger self (40:30) *Book rec- Atmanun by Kapil Gutpa MD Atmamun: The Path To Achieving The Bliss Of The Himalayan Swamis. And The Freedom Of A Living God. eBook : Gupta MD, Kapil : Amazon.in: Books https://www.bedigitaluk.com/

Gone are the days of employee benefits that leave you feeling uninspired, as this week’s guest, Chieu Cao, co-founder of Perkbox and founder of Mintago, joins Gareth to discuss his role in establishing companies that are totally employee-centric. In the episode, Chieu credits his leadership success to the same ethos that drives his companies: being reactive to individualism, and to ‘listen first then make your statement’. The conversation focuses on the global challenges faced when developing a new product, from initially producing the ‘B2B version of Groupon’ to finding his niche in the employee benefits sector. Chieu and Gareth move on to an insightful conversation on how providing financial education in schools is paramount in creating the money-savy businesspeople of tomorrow, and how ChatGPT is already a game changer for the future. This week’s episode is all about the employee: whether that be a human, or an AI personal assistant, we’ve got it covered.  Timestamps What good leadership means to Chieu (01:5) Becoming a better communicator (03:30) Chieu’s backstory (05:10) Walking with the ‘ecommerce giants’ (08:15) Building the ‘B2B version of Groupon’ (10:50) The beginnings of Perkbox (12:10) Change management and growing pains (16:50) What is Mintago? (22:05) Improving financial education in schools (25:10) Is Chat GPT a game changer? (30:15) How will consumer trends change in Web3? (35:28) Chieu’s productivity tips (39:25) Advice to his 21-year-old self (45:15) *Book recommendation- The Almanac of Naval Ravikant: A Guide to Wealth and Happiness by Eric Jorgenson* The Almanack of Naval Ravikant: A Guide to Wealth and Happiness (Audio Download): Eric Jorgenson, Tim Ferriss, Vikas Adam, Author's Republic: Amazon.co.uk: Books   https://www.bedigitaluk.com/

‘Wars don’t mean guns, they mean keyboards’ is the standout phrase from this week’s episode of The Tech Leaders Podcast with cybersecurity expert and CISO of Whistic, Jake Bernardes. In the episode, both Gareth and Jake discuss the IT vulnerabilities that exist in the public sector, as well as the necessary precautions needed to avoid debilitating cyber-attacks and data breaches. The conversation highlights the importance of user understanding and ‘opening your eyes to the value of your data’ to ensure optimum security. Alongside cyber-safety, Jake describes how AI is another keen interest of his, as he and Gareth discuss the likelihood of an ‘AI Arms Race’ between search engine giant, Google, and revolutionary newcomer, Chat GPT. However, despite acknowledging the omnipresence of artificial intelligence in society, Jake notes that the key to good leadership ultimately lies within pure human interaction: as he stresses the importance of being ‘in the middle of your team’ to share success and shield from failure.  Time stamps What good leadership means to Jake – (01:50) Career overview - (2:30) Missionary work and learning humility (05:35) Retaining ‘natural obsessiveness’ (07:50) From Corporate to Start-up (08:55) Key career milestones (12:14) Whistic and the Vendor Risk space (13:45) The biggest cyber security threats (18:25) Growing risk of Cyber Wars (21:50) ‘Did you Chat GPT that?’ (26:40) Ethical hacking (30:05) The skills gap (33:20)  Exciting tech innovations (35:30) Verifying things at the source (38:25) Keeping fit to keep you focused (43:52) A coffee meeting with Alexander Hamilton and Elon Musk (44:28) ‘Don’t be afraid to trust your gut’ (46:34)  * BOOK RECOMMENDATION: ‘Man’s Search for Meaning’ - Viktor E. Frankl  Man's Search For Meaning By Viktor E Frankl | Used | 9781844132393 | World of Books (wob.com) https://www.bedigitaluk.com/

On this week’s episode, Gareth is joined by Welsh entrepreneur and businessman David Buttress to discuss his journey from disrupting the takeaway industry— by co-founding the pioneering UK tech giant Just Eat in 2006— to becoming an investor and taking on the mantle of chairman at his local Welsh rugby region, The Dragons. David speaks candidly about the formative years of his career at Coca-Cola, meeting his co-founder, Jesper Buch, and the early days of Just Eat.The conversation expands on the ups and downs of creating an entirely new category in the technology space, and David’s role in leading one of the most valuable tech firms in the UK. This episode goes beyond the ‘typical success’ story and delves into the struggles and failures that David and his team faced on their path to success, providing valuable insights for those looking to start or grow a business.Time stamps·       David’s 3 factors of good leadership (02:30)·       David’s formative years (06:15)·       Mother knows best! (08:05)·       Starting out at Coca Cola (09:30)·       Jesper, energy drinks and the beginnings of Just Eat UK (12:00)·       Hangry consumers (20:00)·       Offline marketing (27:00)·       Scaling David’s formula for success (28:10)·       ‘Run fast grab land’ (32:12)·       Hungry habits (39:00)·       Authenticity in the workplace (40:45)·       Leaving Just Eat UK (46:30)·       An independent Wales (53:43)·       David as the Cost-of-Living Tsar (58:05)·       Leading the Dragons (1:02:00)·       David’s advice to his 21-year-old self (1:08:30)https://www.bedigitaluk.com/

From entering the tech space in his early teens with a keen interest in all things IT, to becoming the Global Head of Engineering and Transformation at Vodafone, Felipe Canedo joins Gareth to recall his journey to success in one of the biggest telecom companies in the world. On this week’s episode, Felipe discusses his role in transforming Vodafone into a fully-fledged ‘tech company’, as well as promoting an effective leadership style that centres around ‘moving people together to achieve a common goal’. The conversation shifts between candid reflections on Felipe’s former life in Brazil, to a discussion on the world of AI and how software such as Chat GPT should be considered ‘a partner, not a replacement’ to workers. When reminiscing over his career journey, Felipe concludes by offering sagely guidance to his younger self, advising young people to ‘believe in your dreams and chase them as soon as you get the chance’.   Time Stamps What good leadership means to Felipe (01:33) Felipe’s tech origins (02:40) Moving to the UK (04:17) What is a Global Head of Engineering? (05:10) Creating a global community of developers (06:00) What Felipe misses about Brazil (09:30) How does the British tech industry compare to the Brazilian tech industry? (11:05) How to answer your own questions and find your own solutions (13:49) Becoming a senior manager (15:09) Coding at home (16:23) How ChatGPT is changing the game (17:01) The ways that AI will change telecoms (20:10) The ‘gloomy side’ of AI (25:00) What is 5G? (26:06) How Vodafone has changed as a result of the pandemic (34:21) Navigating online meetings (38:37) Felipe’s advice to his 21-year-old self (40:20) Outside of work interests (43:40) *Book recommendation- ‘Machine, Platform, Crowd’ Andrew McAfee and Erik Brynjolfsson- Machine, Platform, Crowd – Harnessing Our Digital Future: Amazon.co.uk: Mcafee, Andrew, Brynjolfsson, Erik: 9780393356069: Books* *Disclaimer: the views expressed in this episode are Felipe’s own personal views and not necessarily those of Vodafone* https://www.bedigitaluk.com/