The Tech Leaders Podcast

‘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/

This week’s guest is on a mission to bring the workforce out of the lull of solitary remote working and back into positive, people-centric workspaces all around the UK. Lucy Minton, co-founder and COO of the disruptive workspace design and management provider, Kitt, joins Gareth on this week’s episode to discuss the case for going back to the office. Amongst other things, they reflect on how organic relationships and creative innovation are often born from collaborative working and are crucial in any organisation.  In the episode, Lucy describes her personal experience pursuing growth building a culture within a start-up environment, and how important it is to ‘craft your own future’ despite setbacks that you may face. We also get insight into Lucy’s ‘workplace forecast’ as she remarks how ‘transactional’ business relationships are a thing of the past, and that the candid, spontaneous interactions— the ones that are made through person-to-person connections— are what pave the way for a ‘magical’ future workplace.   Time stamps What good leadership means to Lucy (02:12) Grabbing opportunities with both hands (03:30) ‘Just cracking on’ (05:47) From rule follower to rule breaker (06:43) Making an impact (13:11) ‘Craft your own future’ (14:35) The beginnings of Kitt (17:15) Breaking away from transactional business relationships (17:40) How the pandemic influenced Kitt (21:55) Criticisms of remote working (25:00) Spontaneity in the office (28:17) Resisting the comfortability of being at home (32:30) Lucy’s workplace forecast (34:00) Life imitates offices (36:10) Ruthless prioritisation (41:00) ‘Failure is OK’ (44:12) Improving the education system for the business world (44:50)  *Book recommendation- The Five Dysfunctions of a Team- Patrick Lencioni* https://www.bedigitaluk.com/

From making waves at the 2016 Rio Olympics, to turning the tide and embarking on a career in tech, Jazz Carlin joins Gareth on this week’s episode of The Tech Leaders Podcast to discuss her transition from Olympic athlete to a Woman in Tech. Jazz explains how leading by example is key to leadership both inside and outside of the pool, as implementing an ‘open-door policy’ is paramount in maintaining an effective career as a mentor.   In recalling her turbulent path to Olympic success, Jazz Carlin articulates how ‘the biggest disappointments can lead to your biggest triumphs’ and that maintaining curiosity is one of the most important aspects of career progression. Having retired from professional swimming in 2019, Jazz talks about the daunting prospect of entering the jobs market at the age of 28, and how her experience as a professional athlete has helped her flourish in the world of business.  ·       What good leadership means to Jazz (02:10)·       Who is Jazz Carlin? (04:10)·       Being in control of your dreams (07:05)·       ‘The biggest disappointments can lead you onto your biggest triumphs’(08:40)·       Swim with Jazz (08:57)·       ‘Focus on the process’ (10:56)·       Becoming a professional athlete (12:00)·       The Olympic Shift (18:05)·       How to thrive in a pressured environment (21:35)·       ‘Have confidence in the here and now’ (27:10)·       Life in the Olympic Village (28:00)·       Hanging up the goggles (29:50)·       Adapting to a new career venture (36:00)·       Keeping her toes in the water with Swim Wales (39:00)·       How to keep the momentum going (42:57) *Book recommendations*- The Chimp Paradox- Prof. Steve Peters- Feel the Fear and Do It Anyway- Susan Jeffers  https://www.bedigitaluk.com/

Co-Founder of the ‘Google Maps of the internet’, Mohit Lad joins Gareth on this week’s episode of The Tech Leaders Podcast to discuss his rise to success; from taking his first ever career-defining aeroplane ride at the age of 22, to co-founding the award-winning internet surveillance company, ThousandEyes. In describing what good leadership means to him, Mohit discusses why empathy is a skill that is crucial in achieving a successful, people-orientated business, and how ‘focusing on the fundamentals’ can make all the difference.  Accessibility is a theme that permeates through Gareth and Mohit’s conversation, as we learn how it’s vital in both a technical and personal sense. ThousandEye’s capability to access and display previously unknown information to companies regarding their web traffic is key to its incredible success, but also, Mohit Lad regards the importance of accessibility in another sense: by ensuring that we stay accessible to those around us.  What makes a ‘good leader’ – 01:35 Mohit’s humble beginnings- 03:50 The road to entrepreneurial success never did run smoothly…- 07:30 Lessons learned on Mohit’s journey- 16:30 What is ThousandEyes?- 18:30 The exciting accessibility of the internet- 20:49 The key to keeping your product current- 24:53 Connected cars and the technological advancement of transport – 30:31 Cisco’s acquisition of ThousandEyes- 31:48 ‘This journey doesn’t come without a tax’- The importance of maintaining familial relationships- 35:11 Advice to young entrepreneurs- 38:11 Mohit’s advice to his ‘twenty-something’ year-old self- 40:28 Mohit’s top productivity advice- 43:38 ‘Get yourself out of meetings that you don’t need to be in’- 44:30 Mohit’s book recommendation- The Hard Thing About Hard Things: Building A Business When There Are No Easy Answers by Ben Horowitz- 45:24 https://www.bedigitaluk.com/

On this week’s episode of The Tech Leader’s podcast, Gareth is joined by Adrian Condon, the CTO of B-Secur, a company that creates cutting-edge, heart health technology that is used in some of our favourite tech wearables. In this episode, the topic of discussion centres around how technology can be used to understand the human body, exemplified by the life-saving heart rate variability monitors that Condon himself has helped create.  In understanding our connection to machinery, we also find out how our stress levels mirror that of a car in first gear, and how to avoid a subsequent tech-induced burnout. However, at a time where there is frequent talk about ‘cyborgs’ replacing the organic human body, Adrian Condon discusses how technology should be used as a way of ‘aiding humans, not replacing them’. 02:16 – What does good leadership mean to Adrian?04:00 – What did Adrian want to be when he grew up?05:14 – Where B-Secur started08:20 – Information we can receive from ECG signals 10:20 – Where this technology is going in terms of clinical usage 11:30 – What does HRV (heart rate variability) mean?15:00 - Stress in relation to cardiovascular disease16:33 - Next wave of heart problems and “Athletes Heart”21:30 – Lifestyle impact of these wearable technologies23:40 – Is implantable technology the future?26:10 – Sports performance and how this technology assists athletes.29:40 – Alcohol, drinking and seeing the changes in HRV32:00 – What is Adrian most excited about in the world in terms of technology innovation?36:00 – How does Adrian stay healthy working in this field? 40:00 – Adrian’s productivity advice41:00 – If Adrian could have a coffee with anyone in the world, who would it be?41:54 – What advice would you give to your 21-year-old self?43:10 - Encouraging start-ups and teaching schools about tech and moneyhttps://www.bedigitaluk.com/

Jamie Bartlett was inspired to start using social media as a research tool in order to understand the workings of extremist groups. The author, journalist and presenter of The Missing Cryptoqueen podcast is an expert in research and technology. Jamie describes how his interest in people and their habits lead him to the world of think tanks. We also learn how social media is increasingly being used to collect data, and his thoughts on how that world should be regulated. Jamie also has some great humble advice on what makes a good leader, and for those just starting out in their careers. Twitter: @JamieJBartlett Jamie's new book: The Missing Cryptoqueen - https://amzn.eu/d/ave7et31:42 What does good leadership mean to Jamie?3:06 The leader Jamie looked up to 4:51 Jamie’s approach to presenting8:58 Why there’s courage in asking "stupid" questions 11:17 What did Jamie want to be when he grew up?13:00 How Jamie ended up at Oxford University 13:50 Figuring out what to do after education  15:03 How extremism inspired Jamie’s research career19:16 Setting up one of the first social media research hubs22:51 How is the internet influencing democracy?28:20 Regulating conspiracies on social media29:35  Teaching media literacy to help navigate technology33:05 Why to add ‘googling’ as a skill on your CV 36:55 How Jamie discovered the story of the Missing Cryptoqueen41:55 Jamie outside of work 43:15 What advice would you give to your 21-year-old self?46:30 The books that inspire Jamiehttps://www.bedigitaluk.com/

Matillion founder Matthew Scullion started his hugely successful tech-entrepreneurial journey in his late teens, co-founding and growing a tech services and software business.Following a successful exit, and years in the upper echelons of tech companies, Matthew couldn’t shake the urge to delve back into the world of start-ups and business. After a pep-talk from his wife, he formed Matillion in 2011. 11 years later, the company is one of the fastest growing enterprise technology firms in the UK.Matthew talks to Gareth about growing his current and previous companies, as well as moving from consultancy into the world of software. He gives great advice on how to secure investors, as well as reminding future and current entrepreneurs that integrity should stay at the forefront of all we do.The Five Dysfunctions of a Team by Patrick Lencioni is Matthew’s book recommendation. LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthewscullion/Twitter: @MatthewScullion01:30 - What does good leadership mean to Matthew?04:00 - Entrepreneurialism from age 1709:30 - Working for a larger organisation11:30 - Missing the energy of a start-up14:00 - Moving from services to software16:40 - The nudge that made Matthew start a new business19:30 - Advise to founders on venture capital25:00 - Matillion branches into middleware32:30 - Manchester and the UK as a UK Tech Hub36:00 - What excites Matthew in the world of tech innovation?41:00 - Advice for Matthew’s 21-year-old self43:30 - Content that inspires Matthewhttps://www.bedigitaluk.com/

Having forged her way in a male-dominated world, KPMG's Lisa Heneghan explains to us how a fully diverse workforce makes for better business.  Inspired to take a role in tech by her father, Lisa’s career path to Chief Digital Officer at KPMG UK has seen her navigate from Y2K to the COVID-19 pandemic.  Lisa shares with Gareth some great advice about leadership, networking and work-life balance.  1:40 What does good leadership mean to Lisa? 2:28 Where were the female role models?4:11 How Lisa’s dad inspired her 6’18 Lisa’s career milestones7:20 Taking a step into the consultancy world9:21 Saving the world from Y2K 12:11 Changes in management consultancy 14:00 The only woman in the room 19:30 Finding and maintaining a neurodiverse workforce 21:20 The future of working from home 25:30 What excites you about the future of technology? 29:00 Advice for 21-year-old Lisa 37:15 That books that inspire Lisahttps://www.bedigitaluk.com/