Tech Talks Daily

In this episode of Tech Talks Daily, I welcomed back Sumit Johar, CIO at BlackLine, for a timely conversation about how AI is transforming finance operations from the inside out. When we last spoke earlier this year, AI was still in the early stages of enterprise experimentation. Just a few months later, everything has shifted. Sumit shared how AI has moved well beyond pilot programs and into a space where business leaders themselves are actively requesting implementations. What stood out in our conversation was how this change has reshaped the relationship between CIOs and CFOs. The skepticism is fading, and a stronger sense of collaboration is emerging as both sides work together to drive transformation, align strategies, and reimagine outcomes. We explored the growing need for CIOs to be “multilingual”—not in the linguistic sense, but in their ability to navigate both technology and business. It’s no longer enough to speak in code or technical jargon. CIOs must understand finance workflows, end-to-end processes, and the operational pressures CFOs face every day. This alignment is critical when evaluating how and where to deploy AI. Sumit also unpacked some of the core challenges around AI integration, including data quality, long-term sustainability, security, and ethical use. Unlike previous SaaS waves, AI adoption carries more complex risk vectors. Demos might impress, but real-world deployments demand rigorous controls, responsible governance, and the right culture. The conversation covered the ongoing build versus buy dilemma, why it’s context-specific, and how BlackLine approaches those decisions with long-term scalability in mind. Sumit also shared how internal councils and cross-functional collaboration have helped guide AI strategy across the organization. If you’re leading digital transformation or building the next phase of AI integration in your finance or IT teams, this episode offers clear, experience-driven insights. What’s your organization doing to prepare for AI not as a concept, but as a day-to-day operational reality?

Join Boris Bialek, VP and Field CTO at MongoDB, as he delves into the world of AI adoption for enterprises. He explains how MongoDB's recent acquisition of Voyage AI streamlines AI integration, transforming 18 disconnected tools into a unified API. Boris passionately discusses financial inclusion, highlighting how AI can provide alternative credit scoring for the unbanked, using examples from PicPay, M-Pesa, and Proxtera. Discover how AI is not just a technology, but a tool for unlocking new opportunities for underserved communities globally.

Adrian Guggisberg, President of the Smart Power Division at ABB, discusses the urgent need for modernization in power grids. He emphasizes how traditional models are challenged by rising demands and extreme weather. Adrian highlights ABB's role in enhancing resilience through smart, decentralized systems that support microgrids. He dives into recent outages that expose vulnerabilities and explains how innovative technologies can transform energy distribution. The conversation underscores collaboration between public and private sectors as essential for a sustainable power future.

Join Ryan Porter, co-founder and CEO of LVT (Live View Technologies), as he shares his journey from monitoring construction sites in his garage to pioneering proactive security solutions. Discover how LVT's mobile security units, equipped with advanced AI and technology, actively deter crime rather than just react to it. Ryan discusses real-world impacts, like a 10% crime reduction in specific cities, and the role of continuous learning and collaboration in advancing public safety. This enlightening conversation redefines how technology can reshape our approach to security.

Brittany Christenson, CEO of AidKit, leads a public benefit corporation dedicated to enhancing equitable aid distribution through innovative technology. She shares insights on transforming aid access into a dignified experience, combining user-centric design with robust fraud prevention. Brittany discusses the balance between growth and social values, revealing how AidKit evolved from a nonprofit during the pandemic to a certified B Corp. With a focus on trust and transparency, she highlights the role of community feedback in creating an impactful tech platform for vulnerable populations.

In this engaging discussion, Raju Malhotra, Chief Product and Technology Officer at Certinia, dives into the transformative power of AI in professional services. He explains how predictive, generative, and agentic AI are revolutionizing business operations and enhancing workflows. Raju stresses the importance of focusing on customer outcomes rather than just features, highlighting Certinia's commitment to improving margins and project delivery. He also shares insights on balancing automation with human involvement for effective resource management.

Amanda Hamilton, former CEO and current Patron and Director of the National Association of Licensed Paralegals (NALP), champions the critical role of paralegals in providing affordable legal support. She highlights the drastic changes in the legal landscape since the 2013 legal aid cuts and how paralegals stepped up to fill the gap. The conversation touches on the balance of technology and human expertise in law, the importance of transparency, and the need for standardization in the profession to enhance public trust and access to justice.

What if the average UK tech worker could reclaim almost an entire workday each week without extra hours simply by harnessing AI tools like ChatGPT and robotic process automation more effectively? In this episode, I sit down with Oliver Latham from Pearson’s Enterprise Learning and Skills division, to unpack research revealing how intelligent automation frees tech professionals from repetitive tasks and opens space for creative strategic collaboration. Instead of fuelling fears of mass job losses, the data reveals a more optimistic human‑centred view of how AI will reshape roles, reshuffling responsibilities rather than replacing people. Oliver and I discuss which tasks are most ripe for automation, for example code refactoring to backup procedures, and how that shift could alleviate the UK’s tech skills shortage by letting workers focus on high impact projects. We weigh potential challenges too and note that organisations will need to rethink job design, invest in upskilling power skills such as communication and learning agility and build a culture of continuous development. As we look ahead we explore how large language models and robotic process automation differ in their impact across roles, why learning cultures must evolve to deliver micro learning at the point of need alongside robust credentials and how teams can reorganise around a new division of labour that includes both human and AI agents. Oliver offers practical advice for tech leaders wondering where to start and how to maintain agility as change accelerates. If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed by AI hype or are curious how automation could give you back precious hours each week, this conversation offers fresh perspectives on AI’s real value in tech. How would you redesign your job if you had an extra day each week, what would you stop doing and what would you start? 

What if the biggest leap forward for small businesses wasn’t about selling more, but reclaiming time? In this episode of Tech Talks Daily, I sit down with John Waldmann, CEO and co-founder of Homebase, to unpack how AI isn’t just a Silicon Valley toy for large enterprises but a lifeline for the millions of small businesses keeping local economies afloat. John explains how Homebase’s newly launched AI Assistants are transforming everyday operations, automating hiring, scheduling, and admin tasks that once drained hours from already stretched owners and managers. But this is more than a tech play. John shares why he’s spent his career championing small business owners, and how Homebase is designed with them, not just for them. We explore how generative AI and real-time personalization are lowering the barrier of entry to entrepreneurship, and why small businesses might actually be outpacing the big players in adopting AI with creativity and speed. From the realities of running a restaurant to designing software that respects the nuances of hourly work, John’s perspective offers a refreshing reminder that the goal of AI isn’t to replace people. It is to give them more space to do what makes their business special. Could AI finally tilt the playing field in favour of small businesses? And are we doing enough to ensure that human-first values stay at the centre of this technological shift? Listen in, then let us know how you see AI transforming the small business landscape in your world.

What if the key to global access to high-quality education isn't policy reform or private investment, but open source software? In this episode of Tech Talks Daily, I sit down with Scott Anderberg, CEO of Moodle, to explore how one of the world’s most widely used learning platforms is quietly transforming education in ways that extend far beyond the classroom. Scott’s journey is anything but linear. From helpdesk support in Denver to leading online education efforts across the US, UK, and Australia, his international experience has shaped a clear mission: to make education more accessible, more inclusive, and more creative. His role at Moodle aligns perfectly with that goal. We discuss what open source really means in the context of education and why it continues to be misunderstood. Scott explains how Moodle’s global community of developers and educators contributes everything from security-tested code to deeply localised customisations that enable learning to happen anywhere, even in places without electricity. Projects like MoodleBox and the Inventorium for at-risk students in Australia reveal the power of local innovation when built on flexible, open platforms. Scott also outlines Moodle’s measured approach to AI, focusing on what delivers actual value. Rather than embedding generative tools for novelty, they’ve released an AI subsystem that allows the community to experiment and share what works. This model not only encourages innovation but also respects the diverse regulatory, cultural, and economic environments their users operate within. Throughout the conversation, we explore the myths that often discourage adoption of open source solutions. Security, support, and scalability are frequently raised, but Scott shows how Moodle’s global ecosystem consistently challenges those assumptions. Innovation doesn’t have to be proprietary or top-down. In fact, when communities co-create solutions, the results are often more resilient and more relevant. We close with a powerful reflection on the importance of diversity in both tech and education. While some organisations are becoming hesitant to talk about inclusion, Scott argues that now is the time to stand firm. Education is about connection, and you cannot truly connect people if only a narrow group is included in the conversation. Open platforms like Moodle make it possible to include everyone, not just in theory but in practice. So can open source help us rebuild education in a way that is genuinely inclusive and globally relevant? Or are there still barriers that need to be broken? I’d love to hear your thoughts. What role should open platforms play in shaping the next chapter of learning?