The esynergy Podcast

What does it take to modernise legacy technology, scale teams, and embed security at the heart of product development — all while navigating growth and regulation? In this episode of The esynergy Podcast, Grant Ongers, Head of Security Practice, speaks with Ravneet Shah, CTO of Allica Bank, about her journey from Lead Developer to CTO and the realities of building secure, scalable technology in a fast-growing fintech. Ravneet shares how Allica Bank improved legacy systems, built a modern technology stack, and upskilled growing teams — while ensuring security is designed in from the start through continuous collaboration, awareness, and threat modelling. Key topics covered: • Transitioning from Lead Developer to CTO during rapid growth • Modernising legacy technology and building a new tech stack • Embedding security by design through awareness and threat modelling • Upskilling teams while maintaining regulatory and technical discipline • Why technology should be treated as a strategic partner, not a cost centre This episode is essential listening for CTOs, security leaders, engineering managers, and fintech leaders navigating scale, regulation, and secure digital transformation.  Available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, and YouTube. 

How do you adopt AI in a highly regulated environment —without losing the human touch? In this episode of The esynergy Podcast, Paul Shiu speaks with Mike Downing, CIO of WPA Healthcare, about WPA’s evolving AI journey, from early experimentation to today’s use of generative AI and intelligent agents.They explore how organisations can build AI capability responsibly, balance automation with human interaction, and use AI to remove bottlenecks and improve outcomes — particularly in customer service and back-office operations.Key topics covered:WPA’s journey from early AI adoption to generative AI and agentsEmbedding AI into processes, not just pilotsBalancing automation with human-led customer experiencesGovernance, skills, and building AI capability in-housePractical advice for leaders starting their AI journeyThis episode is essential listening for CIOs, digital leaders, and healthcare and public-sector organisations exploring practical, responsible AI adoption.Available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, and YouTube.

Simon Wardley, a strategy researcher and creator of Wardley Maps, shares insights on navigating complexity in leadership. He discusses the importance of situational awareness and mapping to make informed decisions amid rapid changes. The origins of Wardley Mapping, AI's evolution, and common strategic mistakes are highlighted. Simon emphasizes the value of understanding user needs before adopting new technologies and advocates for using mapping in conflict resolution. He suggests games as innovative tools for enhancing strategic thinking.

How do you tackle transformation when your platform, processes, and commercial pressures all need to evolve at once? In this episode of The esynergy Podcast, Andy Bold (Head of Cloud & Platform Engineering, esynergy) speaks with Lee Provoost (CTO, Flagstone) about leading a major replatforming and migration programme — and the realities behind delivering large-scale change.Key topics covered:• Understanding the difference between commercial debt and technical debt• Breaking down large initiatives into manageable, low-risk phases• Managing bespoke legacy complexity during replatforming• Securing executive alignment and maintaining strong team dynamics• Lessons in resilience, agility, and personal well-being during transformationThis episode is essential listening for CTOs, engineering leaders, digital strategists, and anyone navigating complex system modernisation, organisational debt, or high-stakes technology delivery.Available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, andYouTube.

How do you make decisions when your data isn’t certain?In this episode of The esynergy Podcast, Neil McIvor (Head of Data for Public Services, esynergy) speaks with Simon McLellan (Head of Data Engagement, Met Office) about how the Met Office transforms weather forecasts — inherently uncertain — into actionable insights for organisations and the public.Key topics covered:• Managing uncertainty in weather and business data• Turning forecasts into practical, decision-ready insights• Data sharing vs. data exchange: what leaders need to know• Making data accessible and understandable through storytelling• Lessons in purposeful data governance and stakeholder-focused decision-makingThis episode is essential listening for data leaders, technologists, business innovators, and anyone interested in data-driven decision making, forecasting, and practical insights from real-world data challenges.Available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, and YouTube.

In this week's episode, we welcome Julia Bardmesser, CEO of Data4Real LLC. With over 20 years of experience in delivering cross-platform solutions in the financial services industry, Julia is renowned for her expertise in maximizing value from data, digital transformation, cloud computing, and AI. She has also been recognized as a Global Data Power Woman. Join us as we explore the challenges of data transformation amidst the AI hype and discuss the critical importance of fostering a strong data culture and aligning data strategies to unlock the full potential of data assets and drive business impact.

Join us this week as we welcome Dave Wilson, a Payments & Technology Transformation Consultant with 23 years of experience in the payments industry. In this episode, David shares his insights on what makes a good engineer and leader, emphasizing the importance of continuous learning, delivering value to customers, and incorporating ethics and empathy into engineering. We also explore AI, discussing why engineering teams need the right tools and whether AI is replacing or augmenting engineers. Finally, David shares his experiences leading an AWS cloud migration and successfully implementing two payment gateways.

In this week's episode, we welcome Joerg Guenther, President and CTO of Exafluence, to discuss digital and cultural transformation. We begin by exploring the essential role of culture in successful transformation projects, with Joerg sharing his global implementation experiences and highlighting the importance of psychological safety in fostering innovation. In the second part of the episode, we delve into AI, focusing on its responsible development and the significance of data management and integrity.

This week, we welcome Daniëlle Bourgondiën, Product Owner of Data Platforms at PGGM Investments. Daniëlle shares her personal data journey, highlighting the crucial role of data accuracy and the importance of advocating for her team. Join us as we explore the challenges of data management, ownership, and governance, and tune in to discover how federated governance can prevent data silos and ensure consistency within your organization.

Tim Howard, Deputy Director, Major Projects, Cross-Cutting Technical Services at The Department for Environment Food & Rural Affairs (DEFRA), joins us this week. In this episode, Tim talks us through his extensive experience of working in the public sector and the evolving parity between the private sector. Get ready to explore the challenges of digital delivery within DEFRA, including how to navigate budget constraints and balance centralization with the autonomy of DEFRA's 35 public bodies. Don’t miss out on learning how to innovate within public sector constraints, including policy development considerations and keeping pace with technological advancements to respond to ever-evolving societal needs.