

Tech Talks Daily
Neil C. Hughes
If every company is now a tech company and digital transformation is a journey rather than a destination, how do you keep up with the relentless pace of technological change?
Every day, Tech Talks Daily brings you insights from the brightest minds in tech, business, and innovation, breaking down complex ideas into clear, actionable takeaways.
Hosted by Neil C. Hughes, Tech Talks Daily explores how emerging technologies such as AI, cybersecurity, cloud computing, fintech, quantum computing, Web3, and more are shaping industries and solving real-world challenges in modern businesses.
Through candid conversations with industry leaders, CEOs, Fortune 500 executives, startup founders, and even the occasional celebrity, Tech Talks Daily uncovers the trends driving digital transformation and the strategies behind successful tech adoption. But this isn't just about buzzwords.
We go beyond the hype to demystify the biggest tech trends and determine their real-world impact. From cybersecurity and blockchain to AI sovereignty, robotics, and post-quantum cryptography, we explore the measurable difference these innovations can make.
Whether improving security, enhancing customer experiences, or driving business growth, we also investigate the ROI of cutting-edge tech projects, asking the tough questions about what works, what doesn't, and how businesses can maximize their investments.
Whether you're a business leader, IT professional, or simply curious about technology's role in our lives, you'll find engaging discussions that challenge perspectives, share diverse viewpoints, and spark new ideas.
New episodes are released daily, 365 days a year, breaking down complex ideas into clear, actionable takeaways around technology and the future of business.
Every day, Tech Talks Daily brings you insights from the brightest minds in tech, business, and innovation, breaking down complex ideas into clear, actionable takeaways.
Hosted by Neil C. Hughes, Tech Talks Daily explores how emerging technologies such as AI, cybersecurity, cloud computing, fintech, quantum computing, Web3, and more are shaping industries and solving real-world challenges in modern businesses.
Through candid conversations with industry leaders, CEOs, Fortune 500 executives, startup founders, and even the occasional celebrity, Tech Talks Daily uncovers the trends driving digital transformation and the strategies behind successful tech adoption. But this isn't just about buzzwords.
We go beyond the hype to demystify the biggest tech trends and determine their real-world impact. From cybersecurity and blockchain to AI sovereignty, robotics, and post-quantum cryptography, we explore the measurable difference these innovations can make.
Whether improving security, enhancing customer experiences, or driving business growth, we also investigate the ROI of cutting-edge tech projects, asking the tough questions about what works, what doesn't, and how businesses can maximize their investments.
Whether you're a business leader, IT professional, or simply curious about technology's role in our lives, you'll find engaging discussions that challenge perspectives, share diverse viewpoints, and spark new ideas.
New episodes are released daily, 365 days a year, breaking down complex ideas into clear, actionable takeaways around technology and the future of business.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Mar 12, 2023 • 24min
2300: Make Work Better With HR Tech: A Call to Action for HR and Business Leaders
Over the last few years, the way we work has changed dramatically. We have transitioned from working in an office to working from home at scale to hybrid working. While this transition was challenging at first, we now expect to work from any device, on any network, in any location at any time. So the big question now is, how can we make work better? How can we improve the future of work? In this episode of Tech Talk Daily Podcast, I am joined by Doug Dennerline, CEO and Chairman, and Jamie Aitken, VP of HR Transformation at Betterworks. as our special guests. Betterworks is a company that aims to help HR and business leaders make work better by providing innovative HR tech solutions. Doug and Jamie shed light on some of the most pressing HR tech trends shaping the future of work. They discuss employee-first work culture, new HR tech trends, pay transparency, quiet quitting and firing, and the role of tech in improving DEI. They also provide valuable insights and advice to business leaders on staying ahead of the curve and leveraging the latest HR tech trends to make work better. One of the key themes that emerges in our conversation is the importance of putting employees first. Doug and Jamie explain that an employee-first work culture is critical for building a motivated and engaged workforce. In today's hybrid working world, creating a culture that fosters collaboration, communication, and connection is more important than ever. HR tech solutions can play a vital role in facilitating this process. Another topic we explore in depth is the role of tech in improving DEI. As Doug and Jamie explain, HR tech solutions can help businesses identify and address bias in the hiring process, track diversity metrics, and provide training to help employees understand and embrace diversity. Toward the end of the podcast, we discuss the newly released book "Make Work Better" and who it is aimed at. The book is a collaboration between Doug and Jamie, providing insights into the trends shaping the future of work. They give us a sneak peek into what readers can expect from the book and share their favorite book or song that has inspired them. Overall, this episode is a must-listen for anyone interested in making work better and staying up-to-date with the latest HR tech trends. So tune in, sit back, and enjoy the ride as we explore how tech is shaping the future of work! Sponsored VPN Offer https://www.piavpn.com/techtalksdaily

Mar 11, 2023 • 21min
2299: The CEO Reshaping the Lettings Industry With Technology
In this episode of Tech Talks Daily, I am joined by William Reeve, a serial tech entrepreneur with an extensive track record of founding and chairing successful high-growth tech businesses. William shares his insights on why the rental sector has been overlooked by the tech industry for so long, despite impacting a significant percentage of homes in the UK. As CEO of Goodlord, a RentTech company, William discusses how he is using technology to revolutionize the rental experience for agents, landlords, and tenants. We explore the challenges faced by the lettings industry and the role that RentTech can play in addressing these issues. Join us as we discuss the potential of RentTech to reshape the world of renting and establish itself as a major player in the tech industry. Learn why the lettings industry desperately needs tech reform and how Goodlord is leading the charge to bring much-needed innovation to this important sector. William has extensive experience founding companies such as Fletcher Research (sold to Forrester Research), LOVEFILM (sold to Amazon), and Secret Escapes. He has also served as NED and/or Chair of various high-growth tech businesses, including Graze (sold to Carlyle), Nutmeg (sold to JP Morgan), True Knowledge (sold to Amazon), Media Ingenuity, and Zoopla. Sponsored VPN Offer https://www.piavpn.com/techtalksdaily

Mar 10, 2023 • 26min
2298: Virgin Voyages - Technology Takes to the Seas
Virgin Voyages is a cruise line that aims to offer a unique experience to the adult traveler. The company has also partnered with a Creative Collective, including some of the most sought-after interior designers, artists, and architects, to create a sleek, contemporary, and stylish look for the ships. Virgin Voyages offers city-like eating to sea with 20+ food choices onboard, with no traditional dining rules. The company has also banned single-use plastics on board its ships, including straws, bottled water, other beverage bottles, and food packaging. Virgin Voyages is committed to having one of the cleanest fleets at sea and has offset its direct climate change emissions by purchasing carbon offsets, making the brand the first cruise line to become carbon-neutral for its direct emissions footprint from its first day of commercial operation. But what does all this mean> Ultimately, Virgin Voyages is attempting to build a narrative that its ships will be cooler and edgier than what's currently on the market. But I want to learn more about the role of technology in delivering new experiences in the industry. At the X4 Summit in Utah, Tamara Pluviose, Director of Digital Strategy, at Virgin Voyages, shares her insights and how technology is transforming the cruising experience. Tamara owns the B2C, and B2B digital experiences at Virgin Voyages, and part of that is ownership of the strategies and tactics that help deliver more human brand experiences. Sponsored VPN Offer https://www.piavpn.com/techtalksdaily

Mar 10, 2023 • 29min
2297: The Dawn Of A New Marketing Normal: Fusing Human Expertise With AI Technology
The world of marketing is rapidly changing, and businesses need to adapt to stay ahead of the curve. With the rise of AI technology, a new marketing normal is emerging that bridges the gap between brands and their target audiences. AI is being used to analyze vast amounts of data and generate insights that can inform marketing strategies and make them more effective. By using AI, brands can create highly tailored content for their target audiences, which is crucial to building stronger relationships and driving business growth. In this Tech Talks Daily podcast episode, we delve deeper into this topic with Thomas "AI Nerd" Helfrich, CEO of InstantlyRelevant.com. As an expert in AI technology and marketing, Thomas brings a wealth of knowledge and experience, and is passionate about helping businesses build trust and relevance with their target audiences. Together, we explore how businesses can leverage technology, data, and experts to create meaningful content with a strategy and purpose. We discuss the challenges of creating content that resonates with target audiences and the importance of understanding your audience and using data to inform your content creation. We also dive into how AI can generate insights and identify new trends and opportunities, which can help brands create more compelling content that drives business growth. One key takeaway from our conversation is the power of combining a human and AI to create highly tailored, scalable, and effective content. While AI can analyze vast amounts of data and generate insights, humans bring empathy and creativity to the table. By working together, these two elements can create content that is both highly effective and tailored to the specific needs of target audiences. We also discuss the importance of having a strategic content plan, which is critical for any business looking to accelerate growth and amplify its brand. A strategic content plan can help companies to identify their goals, target audience, and key messaging and can provide a roadmap for creating and distributing content that resonates with their audience and drives business growth. Overall, this episode is a must-listen for anyone interested in staying ahead of the curve in the ever-evolving world of marketing. With insights from an expert in AI technology and marketing, you'll gain a deeper understanding of how to create meaningful content that has a strategy and purpose, and how to leverage technology and data to drive business growth. Tune in today to learn more! Sponsored VPN Offer https://www.piavpn.com/techtalksdaily

Mar 9, 2023 • 14min
2296: AMEX and The Tech Transforming CX in Financial Services
Did you know that last year, Qualtrics analyzed 2 billion conversations and 16 billion surveys? That's a lot of data on customer experiences. And this week, at the X4 Experience Management Summit in Salt Lake City, around 10,000 attendees are discussing how technology can turn a customer into a fanatic, an employee into an ambassador, and a product into an obsession. One of the companies speaking at the event is AMEX, and they are on a panel discussing how they are transforming financial services with XM. AMEX has set the bar high regarding customer service, and they continue to make world-class service a key differentiator. But how do they stay ahead of the game? CX is embedded in the culture at AMEX, and they have had a program since 2007. They are now looking at how they approach this from not just a transactional lens, but a journey-centric lens. At the heart of all this is the idea that technology can make businesses more human. Luis Angel-Lalanne from American Express shares how they transformed how customer sentiment is gathered to help improve their CX. Join us as we explore this fascinating topic in today's podcast. Sponsored VPN Offer https://www.piavpn.com/techtalksdaily

Mar 9, 2023 • 26min
2295: The Fine Art Marketplace on Solana Powering the Creator Economy
In this episode of the Tech Talks Daily Podcast, I am joined by Alex Fleseriu, the CEO of Exchange.Art, a fine arts marketplace on Solana. Alex shares with us the impressive growth Exchange.Art has experienced since launching in October 2021, with a consistent 20-60% growth despite other marketplaces dipping this year. Exchange.Art is a unique marketplace that is creator-focused, unlike its buyer-focused competitors. Alex explains how they have launched a Royalties Standard, giving NFT creators a chance to profit from secondary sales, and a Provenance Feature that shows the entire history of an NFT to prevent fraud. The goal of Exchange.Art is to have a platform that supports creators and gives them the tools to make a living off their work. Alex reveals that Exchange.Art has paid out $1.2 million in USD to creators in 2022, and grown to a community of 150,000 creators, with 7.3 million collectors and 22 million NFTs minted on the platform since launch. We also discuss NFTs as a form of investment and how they could outperform other asset classes amidst market turndowns. Furthermore, Alex shares his predictions for web3 and NFTs in 2023 and how Exchange.Art plans to navigate the changes in the industry. Lastly, we learn about the conferences Exchange.Art will be speaking in 2023. So, tune in to this exciting episode to learn more about Exchange.Art and its unique approach to the NFT marketplace. Sponsored VPN Offer https://www.piavpn.com/techtalksdaily

Mar 8, 2023 • 24min
2294: Qualtrics X4 With Brad Anderson - Making Business More Human With Tech
Qualtrics Experience Management (XM) is a software platform that helps brands continually assess the quality of their four core experiences—customers, employees, products, and brands. Last year, Qualtrics analyzed 2 billion conversations and 16 billion surveys. The Company's X4 event takes place in Salt Lake City this week, where around 10,000 attendees will be discussing how technology can you turn a customer into a fanatic, an employee into an ambassador, A product into an obsession, and create the write-home, tell-everyone-you-know kind of experiences we all love. But, most of all, how technology can make Business more human. I will report from the event, where there are three days of inspiring keynotes, breakthrough product sessions, live training with Qualtrics experts, and much more. There is so much going on with Keynotes, with some big names such as Ryan Reynolds to Martha Stewart and even music by the Killers. In today's episode, I sit down with Brad Anderson, President of Products and Engineering at Qualtrics, about his origin story and why he left Microsoft. But most importantly of all, we discuss the big themes at the X4 event and what excites him about leveraging technology to make business more human. Sponsored VPN Offer https://www.piavpn.com/techtalksdaily

Mar 8, 2023 • 25min
2293: Thales - The Importance of the Human Factor When Designing Technology
This episode delves into the often-overlooked human factor in cybersecurity with Amanda Widdowson, Head of Human Factors Capability at Thales. Businesses can invest significantly in cybersecurity infrastructure, but human error can undermine it. Amanda shares her extensive knowledge of human factors and ergonomics, highlighting the need to design policies that consider human factors rather than blaming people for poor security practices. We discuss the importance of adapting policies to compensate for human error and why companies need to fit procedures around the people they have rather than trying to change people. Amanda stresses that while awareness training is crucial, it's not enough. People will still make errors, and technology to prevent these errors is critical. Finally, we explore the additional challenges that have emerged over the past few years, including home information security. If you're a business owner or work in cybersecurity, you will want to take advantage of this insightful discussion on the human factor in cybersecurity. Sponsored VPN Offer https://www.piavpn.com/techtalksdaily

Mar 7, 2023 • 26min
2292: The Future of Cybersecurity with Malwarebytes CEO, Marcin Kleczynski
In this episode, we are joined by Marcin Kleczynski, the CEO and co-founder of Malwarebytes, a leading cybersecurity company. Marcin shares his insights on the cybersecurity workforce gap and its implications for cyberattacks in 2023. We also discuss the current economic climate and how the cybersecurity industry is weathering it, with the increasing need for better defenses against cyberattacks. One of the key talking points is the importance of Managed Service Providers for small-to-medium sized businesses. Marcin discusses MSPs' role in providing cost-effective and comprehensive cybersecurity solutions to these businesses. We also delve into entrepreneurship and Malwarebytes' journey from its creation to its current position as a leader in the industry. Finally, Marcin emphasizes the importance of positive leadership in business and investing in your people to build a strong culture. Additionally, we explore the strategic partnership between Exasol and TurinTech, and how it brings AI to customers. Finally, Marcin shares his thoughts on the growth potential of the cybersecurity industry and how companies can take advantage of this growth to build a more secure future. Join us as we discuss these critical topics and more with Marcin Kleczynski, a cybersecurity expert and successful entrepreneur. Sponsored VPN Offer https://www.piavpn.com/techtalksdaily

Mar 6, 2023 • 35min
2291: Deloitte - The Data-Driven Guide for Digital Transformation
Today, on the Tech Talks Daily Podcast, I am diving into the world of digital business transformation with Tim Bottke, senior Strategy Partner at Monitor Deloitte and Associate Professor for Strategy and Digital Transformation at SDA Bocconi business school. Years after companies spend millions of dollars on digital transformations, their investors often ask why there's no return on investment. It's not that digital transformations are a waste but that companies haven't designed them to maximize value. As a result, they overpay and get no payback. However, Digital Transformation Payday: Navigate the Hype, Lower the Risks, Increase Return on Investments, Tim's new book, delivers a provocative new perspective on digital business transformation. As businesses are faced with doing more with less, every tech project must face scrutiny on the value it offers. With this in mind, Tim shares a proven framework for defining any company's next digital transformation effort from end to end, ensuring maximum return on investment and value. In addition, Tim shares how to design digital transformations to maximize value, lower risk, and navigate the hype. Join us as we explore how to ensure a return on investment and value, no matter the scale of your business or industry. And get ready to buckle up tight for a deep dive into the world of digital transformation with Tim Bottke. Tim Bottke is a senior Strategy Partner at Monitor Deloitte and an Associate Professor for Strategy and Digital Transformation at SDA Bocconi, a Financial Times/Forbes/Bloomberg Businessweek Top-Five European business school. He has more than 22 years of top management consulting and (digital) transformation experience from two global strategy boutiques and Deloitte, working with clients in more than 20 countries. Sponsored VPN Offer https://www.piavpn.com/techtalksdaily


