The Tech Leaders Podcast

Do you feel like the world of Crypto is a bit… cryptic? Well, fear not, as Elke Karskens, UK Country Director at Coinbase, joins Gareth on this week’s episode to delve into this ‘digital alternative to Wall Street’ and discuss her role in one of the biggest businesses in the space.  Growing up in Amsterdam, Elke was raised to focus on the importance of the greater good, which ultimately guided her career path to join numerous tech giants and play a vital role in their worldwide influence. Professing that she still ‘bleeds blue’ to this day, Elke tells all about her 12 years at Facebook and how the innovation she experienced there spurred her on to join the ground-breaking world of cryptocurrency. This episode is jam-packed with aspirational advice on how to become a tech leader whilst setting boundaries and rejecting the ‘disease to please’, as Elke maintains that the secret to success is prioritising the things that matter most.   Time stamps What does good leadership mean to Elke? (02:02) Joining the TomTom trailblazers (08:14) Scaling-up Skype (10:12) Elke’s stand-out career milestones (14:30) The Cambridge Analytica scandal (17:08) Joining Coinbase (19:23) How defi can change finance (23:38) The FTX collapse (27:45) Elke’s secret to success (33:10) Is Coinbase going to utilise AI? (39:28) Advice to her 21-year-old self (40:38) https://www.bedigitaluk.com/

With climate change being the *hottest* topic of discussion at the moment, this week we’re delving into its effects on the business world, as Tommy Ricketts, Co-founder of BeZero Carbon, joins Gareth to give us the low-down on environmental economics. Tommy’s passion for both economy and ecology has shaped his entrepreneurial journey, ultimately leading to his creation of a service that transforms how businesses utilise carbon credits. BeZero Carbon offers an innovative solution to the lack of transparency in the current carbon credit system by rating and assessing the true emissions of corporations.  From an alternate career dream of creating a screenplay about football referees, to advice on maintaining cultural cohesion in the workplace, this candid yet captivating conversation covers all bases of Tommy’s journey so far.  The challenge to combat the carbon crisis is no small feat, so with companies like BeZero Carbon, businesses can hold themselves and each other accountable and turn intention into action to help stop climate change.  Time stamps What does good leadership mean to Tommy? (01:59) Leveraging economic history (04:44) A chance encounter and a life-changing text message (08:16) The culture difference between UK and US FinTechs (12:21) Being the Best (14:55) Cultivating the climate economy (16:50) Tommy’s screenplay side-hustle (19:05) What is BeZero Carbon’s value proposition? (28:30) Are big corporations guilty of greenwashing? (36:50) Which tech innovations is Tommy is most excited about (43:20) Tommy’s advice to his younger self (45:15) https://www.bedigitaluk.com/

Do you know the similarities between a Naval team and a successful tech team? According to this week’s guest, it’s having a “no bullshit” working culture. Gareth is joined by Dominic von Trotha Taylor, ex-CEO at PayPoint turned Chairman and CEO iov42 as they explore his journey from submarines to tech leadership, the impact of blockchain, the danger of AI and ChatGPT - the “Rubbish in, Rubbish out” conundrum.Dominic's success is testament to the power of diverse experiences. Growing up in West London, he was exposed to the world of commerce through his parents' antique dealing business in Portobello Road. Later, he ventured into the Navy, serving on submarines during the tense Cold War era, which instilled in him a no-nonsense leadership style with a direct purpose.Dominic recounts his early career struggles and his fortuitous call back from Vodafone, where he played a crucial role in setting up the German branch, at a time when Vodafone was pioneering telephony and SMS messaging.His subsequent journey as the former CEO of PayPoint revealed Dominic's innate ability to lead through the turbulent ever-changing landscape of the early Noughties, making PayPoint a trailblazer in the fintech space.What does good leadership mean to Dominic (02:15)Dominic’s tech voyage (04:35)Life and leadership on board a Royal Navy submarine (06:00)The fintech evolution (15:00)The dotcom boom and experiencing the Y2K issue (20:30)Why do people sell their businesses? (24:11)The benefits of working in a start-up company (28:30)What work is being done at iov42? (32:30)What is blockchain? (35:00)AI dangers of rubbish in, rubbish out (40:50)How to be more productive (44:00)Dominic’s advice to his 21-year-old-self (46:30)https://www.bedigitaluk.com/

If you’re looking for a snapshot of the latest in cybersecurity, then you’re in luck! In this week’s episode, Gareth is joined by Quentyn Taylor, Senior Director Information Security and Global Response at Canon, where the pair zoom in on all-things cyber safety.  Being an established expert in the information security space, Quentyn rode the ‘dot com’ wave of the early noughties before ultimately landing a role in the photography manufacturing powerhouse that is Canon. From here, he’s become a renowned figure in the cyber space, not only from his seat in the office but also from his gadget-tastic YouTube channel (which you can check out here: (4) Quentyn Taylor - YouTube). The conversation covers everything from the Dark Web and security scandals to AI and moving away from ‘the age of reality’. Quentyn gives us a behind-the-scenes glimpse into what really keeps CISO’s up at night and what we can all do to ensure we stay safe in this ever-changing online space. Time stamps What does good leadership mean to Quentyn? (03:45) Surviving the Dot Com Bubble Burst (11:10) The evolution of cybersecurity threats (15:30) Deep diving into the Dark Web (19:00) What are CISO’s worried about today? (22:22) The SolarWinds scandal (24:40) What type of company is Canon? (27:38) How Canon is utilising AI (29:50) Can AI be hacked? (36:40) How to keep your online passwords safe (50:25) Quentyn’s advice to his 21-year-old self (54:40) https://www.bedigitaluk.com/

In this thought-provoking episode, host Gareth Davies delves deep into the world of mental health diagnostics with Emilia Molimpakis, the visionary CEO of thymia; an online platform transforming the landscape of mental well-being using a powerful combination of gamification, AI, and neuro-linguistics. Drawing on her lifelong fascination with neuroscience, Emilia shares her compelling insights on the critical role empathy plays in effective leadership and emphasises the need for ethical guidelines in the realms of technology and healthcare. Throughout the interview, Emilia fearlessly addresses the inadequacies of our current mental health support system, shedding light on the alarming reality that countless individuals slip through the cracks due to its inherent failures. She also discusses the bureaucracy that is ultimately preventing the NHS from adopting technological advancements within mental health diagnostics. Reflecting on her entrepreneurial journey, Emilia imparts her most valuable lesson learned: the importance of staying true to one's vision and not succumbing to the allure of easy money. By steadfastly holding onto their goals, entrepreneurs can build impactful solutions that align with their core mission and values. Wrapping up the episode, Emilia offers heartfelt advice to individuals facing mental health struggles. Encouraging them not to lose hope, she emphasises the significance of making their voices heard. Timestamps  What does good leadership mean to Emilia (03:00)  What did Emilia want to be when she grew up (05:00)  How much does language shape our reality? (06:50)  Academic ambition (09:15)  The correlation between video games and brain function (12:00)  Emilia’s personal experience with mental health tragedy (13:00)  NHS vs. tech modernity (18:05)  Experience with Entrepreneur First (20:30)  Biggest lessons learnt (24:20)  How Thymia works (29:15)  How effective are current mental health diagnoses? (39:00)  Bureaucracy in the NHS (42:40)  Emilia’s advice to those struggling with their mental health (47:30)  Advice to her 21-year-old self (50:00)  What is Emilia most excited about in the AI revolution (52:00)  Emilia’s productivity advice (56:10) https://www.bedigitaluk.com/

Do we need to worry about extinction from AI?! After 4 jam-packed conversations with some of the biggest thought leaders in the AI space, what better way to conclude our epic series than with someone who can give us the low-down on all things AI ethics. Sara El-Hanfy, Head of AI and Machine Learning at Innovate UK joins Gareth and Kerensa to conclude our A-list line up and discuss the importance of handling AI with care.  From entering the tech space through an unconventional route (proving that it’s possible to study a STEM subject at university even without an A-Level in Maths!), Sara has been on a quest to ensure both AI accessibility and safety for businesses nationwide. Being an Advisory Board Member for UK Parliament on the complexities of AI adoption, Sara offers her expert opinion on the ethics of AI tools like ChatGPT and tells us the major AI risks we should all be aware of. This final episode is the perfect conclusion to our TTLP AI Series. After numerous conversations about all of the exciting prospects AI is awarding us, Sara reminds that we must approach this unprecedented technology with a degree of caution. As this series comes to an end, one thing remains certain: even AI experts cannot predict what the future holds.  Time stamps What excites Sara most about the AI revolution? (02:04) What is Innovate UK? (06:00) A day in the life of Sara (07:41) The BridgeAI programme (09:34) Is AI going to overrun your business? (16:45) Breaking tradition to get into tech (19:40) Is using ChatGPT cheating? (28:53) Investing in entrepreneurs (34:47) Is the UK government scared of AI? (39:10) Sara’s favourite AI tool (41:00) Advice to her 21-year-old self (42:29) Kerensa’s favourite moment of the AI series (41:10) https://www.bedigitaluk.com/

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/