The Tech Leaders Podcast

‘Sales is not just an art form, it’s also a science’ is a belief that this week’s guest has built a successful career on. Along with his sleeves-up, hardworking approach to leadership, it becomes apparent why he has achieved success as a leader and mentor. Ben Dorks, CEO of Ideagen, joins Gareth to discuss his incredible journey from deciding that he wanted to pursue a career in sales aged just 14, to setting up a company with his brother and ultimately stepping into the role of CEO in 2018. In this episode, Ben uncovers the importance of building a transparent work culture that does NOT include a glass ceiling, being an authentic leader and ensuring that he avoids burnout to always be the best version of himself. Ben also candidly unpacks how he has helped evolve Ideagen into a market leader in the compliance solution world, and one of the UK’s most recent Tech Unicorns. With fascinating insights on the critical importance of delegation, and the necessity of always having good people around you, this episode uncovers the secrets of what it means to be a successful CEO. Time stamps What does good leadership mean to Ben? (02:00) Success in Sales (04:28) Early milestones (09:25) The Adventure of Acquisition (13:25) Advice to young entrepreneurs (17:45) Everyday AI (22:15) Becoming a CEO (26:05) The key to good delegation (28:17) The evolution of AI in the compliance world (31:33) Avoiding burnout (35:10) Productivity advice (36:16) *Book recommendations*  Hit Refresh by Satya Nadella  Hit Refresh: A Memoir by Microsoft’s CEO: Amazon.co.uk: Nadella, Satya: 9780008247652: Books / It’s Your Ship by Captain D. Michael Abrashoff It's Your Ship: Management Techniques from the Best Damn Ship in the Navy: Amazon.co.uk: Abrashoff, Captain D Michael, Author: 0352719502246: Books / The New Power Base Selling by Jim Holden The New Power Base Selling: Master The Politics, Create Unexpected Value and Higher Margins, and Outsmart the Competition: Amazon.co.uk: Holden, Jim, Kubacki, Ryan: 9781118206676: Books https://www.bedigitaluk.com/

“Let’s make tech fun again” is the mantra of this week’s trailblazing guest, Co-founder and CEO of Nothing, Carl Pei, as he embraces the innovative technology of the future and encourages us all to do the same. In the episode, Gareth and Carl discuss the influence that Steve Jobs and Apple had on Carl in his youth, and how being a little disillusioned with the pause on hardware innovation motivated him to dream of being a disruptor.   Carl is an advocate of leading by example and describes ‘leading a team to victory’ through being the best operator possible to motivate the continuous personal development and learning of your team. As the conversation moves towards the dynamic between human and machine, Carl looks forward to the Age of AI generating ‘just another set of tools’ to aid the human experience, not replace humans altogether.   Time stamps Carl’s take on good leadership (02:50) Fascination with the internet (07:45) Carl’s appreciation for design, especially Apple (14:00) OnePlus origins (15:00) Creating a tech hardware brand (19:00) Entrepreneurial advice (21:19) The next big technology evolution (25:00) Disruptive AI (30:30) Recalibrating the tech labour market (36:15) Carl’s advice to his younger self (40:30) *Book rec- Atmanun by Kapil Gutpa MD Atmamun: The Path To Achieving The Bliss Of The Himalayan Swamis. And The Freedom Of A Living God. eBook : Gupta MD, Kapil : Amazon.in: Books https://www.bedigitaluk.com/

Gone are the days of employee benefits that leave you feeling uninspired, as this week’s guest, Chieu Cao, co-founder of Perkbox and founder of Mintago, joins Gareth to discuss his role in establishing companies that are totally employee-centric. In the episode, Chieu credits his leadership success to the same ethos that drives his companies: being reactive to individualism, and to ‘listen first then make your statement’. The conversation focuses on the global challenges faced when developing a new product, from initially producing the ‘B2B version of Groupon’ to finding his niche in the employee benefits sector. Chieu and Gareth move on to an insightful conversation on how providing financial education in schools is paramount in creating the money-savy businesspeople of tomorrow, and how ChatGPT is already a game changer for the future. This week’s episode is all about the employee: whether that be a human, or an AI personal assistant, we’ve got it covered.  Timestamps What good leadership means to Chieu (01:5) Becoming a better communicator (03:30) Chieu’s backstory (05:10) Walking with the ‘ecommerce giants’ (08:15) Building the ‘B2B version of Groupon’ (10:50) The beginnings of Perkbox (12:10) Change management and growing pains (16:50) What is Mintago? (22:05) Improving financial education in schools (25:10) Is Chat GPT a game changer? (30:15) How will consumer trends change in Web3? (35:28) Chieu’s productivity tips (39:25) Advice to his 21-year-old self (45:15) *Book recommendation- The Almanac of Naval Ravikant: A Guide to Wealth and Happiness by Eric Jorgenson* The Almanack of Naval Ravikant: A Guide to Wealth and Happiness (Audio Download): Eric Jorgenson, Tim Ferriss, Vikas Adam, Author's Republic: Amazon.co.uk: Books   https://www.bedigitaluk.com/

‘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/