The Tech Leaders Podcast

In the UK, the housing market is a topic of conversation that’s on everyone’s lips right now. As soaring interest rates are making mortgages unobtainable for many, this has become a nation-wide crisis.  This week’s guest has designed a platform to remedy many of the issues caused by the outdated British mortgage process, as Arjan Verbeek, Co-Founder and CEO of Perenna, is revolutionising mortgages for the masses. Taking influence from Danish banking practices, Perenna offer users flexible fixed-rate mortgages which are fully protected from interest rate fluctuations.  Having worked in some of the most prominent banks across the globe, including Barclays and BNP Paribas, Arjan witnessed first-hand the financial problems within the housing market and set out to change them. Arjan’s entrepreneurial journey is marked by a desire to disrupt old systems and utilise tech for good. This episode is not to be missed! Time stamps What does good leadership mean to Arjan? (02:12) Arjan’s insight into the financial crisis of 2008 (08:20) Creating a challenger bank and securing a UK banking licence (12:20) What’s wrong with the UK’s mortgage market? (18:51) How Perenna makes mortgages accessible (22:28) Keeping a working culture cohesive (28:40) Technology trends that will innovate banking (33:57) Arjan’s tips for maintaining balance and productivity (40:28) Advice to his 21-year-old self (43:44) https://www.bedigitaluk.com/

This week’s guest is an extremely experienced entrepreneur, as after being a founder 15 times, Tim Levy, Founder and CEO of Twyn, has made waves in industries from insurance to entertainment. Tim joins Gareth to discuss his colourful career journey that has brought him most recently to the world of AI.After leaving his position as director at an insurance broker firm, Tim set his entrepreneurial sights on the bright lights of Hollywood and plunged into the waters of the entertainment industry. His first company Factor 8 Films helped finance, produce and distribute many iconic movies, including Jurassic World and Pirates Of The Caribbean 2 & 3. Now, Tim’s latest venture harnesses his experience in the entertainment industry and combines it with cutting-edge technology. Twyn is a platform that aims to ‘revolutionise digital interaction’ by creating digital twins of celebrities, whereby users can engage in conversation with them; starting with football legend, Lionel Messi. This conversation explores the interesting concept of authenticity in AI and is not to be missed!·       What does good leadership mean to Tim? (02:14)·       Making a drastic career change (06:02)·       Generating 10 billion dollars in the film industry (09:50)·       Tim’s investment strategy (14:50)·       Investing in sustainability to invest in the future (17:52)·       Tim’s top advice for investors and entrepreneurs (28:10)·       What is Twyn and how does it work? (35:09)·       Working with Lionel Messi (41:39)·       What excites Tim most about the future of AI (47:00)·       Tim’s advice to his 21-year-old self (50:38)https://www.bedigitaluk.com/

This week’s guest turned tragedy into tech innovation with a platform designed to transform the way we all deal with death. Sam Grice, CEO and Founder of Octopus Legacy (formerly Guardian Angel) has created a platform that manages all aspects surrounding death; from will creation to bereavement support. Sam was always destined from entrepreneurial success, as both his parents were keen entrepreneurs, and he put his hereditary expertise to the test with a food and supplement side hustle. However, it wasn’t until the tragic loss of his mum, did the full extent of Sam’s passion for innovation flourish with the creation of Guardian Angel (now Octopus Legacy). Being a key player in propelling the death-tech industry forward, Sam is a tech leader that is paving the way in an industry that affects each and every one of us. This episode covers an incredibly inspirational entrepreneurial journey and is not to be missed!Time stamps What does good leadership mean to Sam? (02:10) Early exposure to life as an entrepreneur (03:25) Starting out with a side hustle (06:00) The tragedy that shaped Sam’s tech career (08:18) Creating Guardian Angel (12:12) Overcoming the obstacles within death-tech (17:04) What is a founder’s ‘kryptonite’? (22:00) Acquisition by Octopus Group (29:12) The Future of Octopus Legacy (33:31) How Sam achieves balance (43:10) Advice to young founders (44:43) Book recommendation: Predictably Irrational: The Hidden Forces That Shape Our Decisions, Dr, Dan Ariely - Predictably Irrational: The Hidden Forces That Shape Our Decisions: Amazon.co.uk: Ariely, Dr Dan: 9780061854545: Bookshttps://www.bedigitaluk.com/

This week’s episode focuses on a groundbreaking piece of technology that aims to reshape the world as we know it, even putting supercomputers to shame. Simon Phillips, CTO at Oxford Quantum Circuits (OQC), joins Gareth to give us insight into the potentially groundbreaking world of Quantum Computing. Dropping out of school early, Simon’s tech career started in the video game industry, working on some legendary games such as Championship Manager. Simon has always gravitated towards innovative technology, which culminated in him joining OQC to explore the endless possibilities of quantum computing. The potential of quantum technology is not to be underestimated, as Simon explains that this technology can, and will, change the world. However, this conversation explores the importance of keeping a ‘human element’ within our engagement with technology; we should be absorbing technology into our lives, not being absorbed by it. Time stamps What does good leadership mean to Simon? (02:21) “High school drop-out” to computer game innovator (04:18) Developing Championship Manager (08:49) The beginning of quantum computing (13:50) The reality of quantum computing today (22:40) Real-world applications of quantum computing (27:19) The next phase of human-technology interactions (38:08) Simon’s stellar productivity advice (40:53) His advice to his younger self (42:50) *Book recommendation- Chip War: The Fight for the World’s Most Critical Technology, Chris Miller. Chip War: The Fight for the World's Most Critical Technology: Amazon.co.uk: Miller, Chris: 9781398504127: Books https://www.bedigitaluk.com/

This week’s guest is a self-proclaimed “consulting industry veteran”, and after being in the tech space for over 25 years, Kelly Manthey, Global CEO at Kin + Carta is a tech leader with a compelling story to tell.  After delving into the corporate world straight from university and securing a role as a consultant at Accenture, Kelly trained as an applications developer before her trajectory to the top. Following the mantra that “standing still is not a strategy”, her experience within both the corporate and start-up realms has ultimately shaped Kelly’s journey to Global CEO. In this episode, Kelly attributes her success as a leader to 3 main aspects: being a steward of the business, being a good ally, and being a futurist. This conversation uncovers not only her incredible journey as a technologist, but also Kelly’s stellar advice as a trail-blazing tech leader. This episode is a treasure trove of wisdom and practical advice.  Time stamps What does good leadership mean to Kelly? (02:00) The journey to becoming a consulting industry veteran (03:28) Lessons from joining Accenture as a graduate (05:54) Leaving the corporate world for success in a start-up (08:26) The role of a Global CEO (14:25) Benefits of being a B Corp? (19:00) The difference between British and US consulting firms (21:50) Are companies really embracing AI? (27:50) Kelly’s top productivity tips (38:08) Advice to her younger self (41:01) The future of the female CEO (42:43) https://www.bedigitaluk.com/

Anders Billesø Beck, VP of Strategy and Innovation at Universal Robots, shares his journey from elite swimmer to a key player in robotics. He explores the growing world of collaborative robots (cobots) aimed at seamless human integration. Anders discusses Denmark's rise as a tech hub and the essential role of generative AI in innovation. He emphasizes the importance of work-life balance for tech leaders and the need for industry-specific solutions rather than one-size-fits-all approaches. His insights reveal how robots can evolve labor, not replace it.

This week, Gareth is joined by a leader responsible for building one of the biggest software observability platforms across the globe. CTO of Dynatrace, Bernd Greifeneder, features on this episode to tell all about his role in developing the revolutionary platform which harnesses AI and automation for unified observability and security. Offering insight into the key milestones of Dynatrace’s evolution, including their decision to go for public investment and their role in developing and utilising AI, Bernd exemplifies his role as a key figure in the software space. The introduction of a Chief AI Officer emerges as a focal point in the conversation, as Gareth and Bernd discuss the future of AI at great lengths, highlighting the anticipation of future technology disrupting the corporate landscape. Believing that proactively driving change is the key differentiator between managers and leaders, Bernd’s hands-on role in building Dynatrace from the ground up illustrates his influence as an established tech leader.  Time stamps What good leadership means to Bernd (02:06) The early years of Dynatrace (06:28) The case for taking acquiring public investment (18:35) The 3 emerging types of AI (21:22) The rise of the Chief AI Officer (20:58) Bernd’s biggest cybersecurity concerns (27:35) Dynatrace’s revolutionary new tech (35:00) Achieving balance to battle burnout (40:37) Bernd’s advice to his 21-year-old self (43:40)  *Book recommendation: The One Minute Manager, Kenneth Blanchard and Spencer Johnson - The New One Minute Manager (The One Minute Manager): Amazon.co.uk: Blanchard, Kenneth, Johnson, Spencer: 9780008128043: Books https://www.bedigitaluk.com/

What does a house robbery and a cyber-attack have in common?  According to this week’s guest, Lianne Potter, Head of SecOps at Asda, it’s the people involved. On a mission to showcase the people-centric side of cybersecurity, Lianne is a trailblazing ‘Cyber Anthropologist’ and joins Gareth this week to discuss her journey to tech leadership. From wedding photography to anthropology and eventually cyber security, Lianne’s road to tech is a varied one. Not only is she a cybersecurity leader at one of the biggest supermarkets in the UK, she also hosts her own podcast which aims to bridge the gap between security and innovation. This week’s episode explores the world of cyber security through a human-centric lens, and focuses on the people behind the tech. If you’re interested in all-things cyber safety, this is the episode for you!  Time stamps What does good leadership mean to Lianne? (01:30) Lianne’s unconventional journey into tech (10:00) Combatting the digital divide (12:34) Switching careers in your 30’s (17:31) The current, most concerning cyber threats (24:00) What is Cyber Anthropology (25:22) Developing AnthroSecurist (29:18) AI and the democratisation of productivity (33:20) Lianne’s Compromising Positions (41:57) Advice to her 21- year-old self (44:40)   https://www.bedigitaluk.com/

“The purpose of SAP is to make the world run better— It’s designed to improve every business process”. This week, Gareth is joined by a leader from one of the biggest software companies on the planet, SAP. Renaud Heyd, CFO of the software powerhouse in the UK, tells us all about his 25 years working for SAP and how they’ve shaped him into the tech leader that he is today. Renaud joined SAP straight after completing his MSc in Finance, and for the last 25 years, hasn’t looked back since. He attributes his longevity at SAP to the ability to be his authentic self in a company that fosters growth and the ability to seize opportunities. With a customer base that generates 87% of total global commerce, Renaud’s role as CFO is no small task. This episode is overflowing with stellar leadership advice and expert insight into the journey to CFO, as Renaud’s workplace mantra of “you can either change roles or change the role itself” has resulted in his success at the 3rd largest software company worldwide. Time stamps What good leadership means to Renaud (02:20) The journey to CFO (04:02) Evolving the role of a CFO (09:09) The benefits of SAP cloud migration (14:35) SAP’s influence in developing nations (21:55) How ready are SAP customers for AI capability? (23:49) Renaud’s view on the future of AI (31:19) How to make it big in the finance industry (32:50) SAP’s new sustainable tech (38:44) Renaud’s advice to his 21-year-old self (42:52) https://www.bedigitaluk.com/

Once claiming to the US Senate that he could ‘take down the internet in 30 minutes’, this week’s guest gives us insight into the underbelly of the cyberworld. Chris Wysopal, founder and CTO of Veracode, tells us all about his experience as an ethical hacker and how he and his team at L0pht pioneered the way for cybersecurity. From taking an interest in the potential of cyber hacking at the start of the online era, to being a trailblazer in the discovery of IT vulnerability as a whole; Chris and his team were at the forefront of raising cyber risk awareness. Determined to battle the ‘bad guy image’ in cybersecurity, the L0pht team were on a mission to showcase the fallibility of big vendors, such as Microsoft, and evidence they need for effective security measures. Now, Chris’ colourful past shapes the security-led solutions of Veracode, a platform that detects flaws and vulnerabilities at every stage of the modern software development lifecycle. This interview is a deep dive into the depths of cyber security and is not to be missed!  Timestamps What does Good Leadership means to Chris? (02:20) Pioneering the start of cybersecurity (04:20) Starting a hacker collective (07:18) L0pht’s biggest cybersecurity breakthroughs (12:47) Challenging the US Senate with cyber risks  (18:00) Are governments doing enough to prevent cyber-attacks? (22:12) GenAI’s role in cybersecurity (32:00) An introduction to Veracode (34:24) Chris’ advice to his 21-year-old self (43:24)   https://www.bedigitaluk.com/