

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

Feb 16, 2023 • 22min
2272: CEO of VanHack on the Tech Building a Diverse Workforce
In the fast-paced world of technology, the demand for talented developers and tech professionals has never been higher. With a massive shortage of tech talent in the market, companies are facing the challenge of attracting and retaining top tech professionals. However, Ilya Brotzky, founder and CEO of VanHack, has found a solution to this problem. VanHack is a fast-growing tech recruitment platform that helps over 1000 companies hire the best tech talent quickly. With a network of over 350,000 developers from 120 countries, VanHack has the largest diverse workforce of tech professionals. This platform also provides a team of 80+ employees in 13 countries, generating mid-seven figures in annual revenues. Born in Krasnoyarsk, Siberia, raised in Vancouver, Canada, and with a degree in business administration from Cornell University in the US, Ilya's journey to creating VanHack began in Rio de Janeiro. While working as a management trainee with Brazilian mining giant Vale S.A., he met software engineers who wanted to relocate to Canada but lacked English skills. This inspired him to start VanHack in 2015, providing English resumés and interview skills to help them get hired by companies seeking hard-to-find tech talent. Ilya has been featured in Fast Company, Forbes, and Time, and has helped raise over $100,000 for various charities in Africa and South America. In this podcast, we talk to Ilya about the current shortage of tech talent, the changes happening in the workspace and recruitment industry, and how remote hiring can help companies build a more diverse workplace. The current shortage of software developers and other tech talents is a problem faced by many companies. Ilya explains that this shortage is due to the rapid growth of technology, leading to an increased demand for tech professionals. Companies are struggling to find the right talent to meet their needs, and VanHack provides a solution to this problem. The workspace and recruitment industry are undergoing massive changes, and Ilya highlights the importance of these changes in the tech industry. With remote working becoming increasingly popular, companies have the opportunity to build a more diverse workplace, attracting top tech professionals from around the world. Finally, Ilya talks about how remote hiring can help tech companies build a more diverse workplace. Remote working provides companies with access to a larger pool of talent, enabling them to find the best candidate for the job, regardless of location. This also helps to break down geographical barriers, leading to a more inclusive and diverse workplace. I learn how VanHack is helping companies to overcome the challenge of attracting and retaining top tech talent, providing a solution to the current shortage of software developers and other tech professionals. With the changes happening in the workspace and recruitment industry, remote hiring is the key to building a more diverse workplace and finding the best tech talent from around the world.

5 snips
Feb 15, 2023 • 27min
2271: Yubico - YubiKey: Strong Authentication, Less Friction
Yubico, the company behind the YubiKey, is revolutionizing online security with its hardware-based security keys. These keys provide an extra layer of protection for your online accounts, making them less vulnerable to cyber threats such as phishing, man-in-the-middle (MitM) attacks, SIM swapping and account takeovers. The YubiKey is the world's first security key and protects over 4,000 organizations worldwide. The shift to remote work due to the pandemic has highlighted the need for better cybersecurity measures. According to Yubico's research, 42% of people feel more vulnerable to cyber threats while working from home, and 39% feel unsupported by IT. However, hardware-based security keys like the YubiKey provide a more secure solution while reducing friction at login. They meet the FIDO2 and WebAuthn standards, helping to pave the way for interoperability. Niall McConachie, Regional Director (UK & Ireland) at Yubico discusses the most common cyber threats people face and why not all security is equal. He emphasized that while one-time passcodes (OTPs) sent by SMS or mobile authentication apps are the most popular forms of two-factor authentication (2FA), they are still vulnerable to attacks. On the other hand, hardware-based security keys provide strong authentication and reduce the friction of logging in to multiple apps and accounts each day. Niall also discusses the future of secure, passwordless authentication. The evolving modern authentication ecosystem, with the help of hardware-based security keys, is paving the way for a future where passwords are no longer the primary form of authentication. This not only makes our online accounts more secure, but also reduces the hassle of remembering multiple passwords. Sponsored VPN Offer https://www.piavpn.com/techtalksdaily

Feb 14, 2023 • 29min
2270: Windscribe - How Yegor Sak Grew the VPN Company to 50 Million Users
Yegor Sak shares his journey of building Windscribe and the challenges he faced along the way. He explains how he was able to grow the company to more than 50 million active users, despite the intense competition in the VPN industry. Yegor highlights the importance of providing a high-quality product, excellent customer support, and focusing on the needs of the user. Yegor also discusses his approach to scaling the company with a small team. He believes in the power of remote work and investing in technology to automate processes. This has allowed him to build a global team and scale the company effectively. One of the key topics of discussion was the ongoing consolidation in the VPN industry and its impact on the consumer. Yegor believes that as larger companies gain more control, prices may increase and privacy may decrease. He also shares his decision to not terminate Russian access to Windscribe, as he believes that people in the country should have access to real news outside of the state media propaganda. In addition to his work with Windscribe, Yegor also discusses his other company, ControlD. This fully customizable DNS service allows users to block annoyances like malware, tracking, ads, and IoT telemetry, and unblock over 200 services through a network of servers in over 100 cities. All without any apps to install. Yegor Sak is a true visionary in the tech industry. With his passion for programming and commitment to providing a high-quality product, he has been able to build two successful companies, Windscribe and ControlD. His insights on scaling a company with a small team and the impact of consolidation in the VPN industry are valuable lessons for any entrepreneur.

Feb 13, 2023 • 26min
2269: Kyndryl - Private 5G Networking And The Future of Enterprise Adoption
Private wireless networks have become increasingly important in achieving networking success, with telecom providers and tech giants investing in new capabilities to drive private 5G adoption among enterprises. By 2030, it is estimated that over 150 million cellular devices will be connected to local private networks, a significant increase from 5 million by the end of 2022. The industry for private networks within enterprises is expected to grow to $109 billion. As industries adopt private 5G networks, enterprises must understand why this shift from traditional network infrastructure is so important and how they can adapt to achieve success. On The Tech Talks Daily Podcast, Darren Parkes, Country Practice Leader - Network & Edge at Kyndryl, shares his insights on this topic. Darren emphasizes the need for highly secured and reliable networks for enterprises that require high-security reliability. He also discusses the cost benefits of private networks, as it allows enterprises to better prioritize operational costs and remain agile with a faster application pace. 5G network technologies provide a higher level of security for enterprises due to the use of licensed spectrum and embedded security standards. As a result, private 5G, if implemented correctly, offers a more robust security posture and greater control over the network for enterprises. The implementation process for private networks involves understanding the spectrum to be used, matching it with the technology to be deployed, and connecting to local area networks, wide area networks, and the public cloud to transfer or analyze data. Darren also made predictions for the future, with private 5G serving as a "trigger" for the general use of Edge as a third landing zone for data beyond on-prem or cloud. This expansion of options for working with data highlights the importance of private networks as key enablers for advancement. Sponsored VPN Offer https://www.piavpn.com/techtalksdaily

Feb 12, 2023 • 17min
2268: The Future of Personalisation: Insights from Emarsys, an SAP company
In today's episode, we dive into the world of personalized customer experience with Meghann York, Global Head of Product Marketing at SAP Emarsys. Meghann takes us on a journey to understand how brands are leveraging AI-powered automation to provide highly relevant and personalized recommendations to their customers across multiple channels. One of the critical elements of the Emarsys platform is its ability to unify, cleanse and analyze first-party data. This data, which includes information from business applications, customer data, and commerce solutions, is used to build a rich profile of each customer. This information allows the platform to automate communications and provide personalized recommendations to customers. Meghann also shares her insights on the role of technology in customer obsession, retention, and loyalty. We also discuss insights gained from the Emarsys Customer Loyalty Index. Meghann shares what will drive customer loyalty in 2023 and beyond based on their findings. Listen in as Meghan provides valuable insights into personalized customer experience and how brands leverage AI-powered automation to provide highly relevant and personalized recommendations. She also highlights the importance of unifying first-party data and how it plays a critical role in building rich customer profiles and driving customer loyalty.

Feb 12, 2023 • 34min
2267: Leading the WordPress Revolution: Insights from DevriX CEO Mario Peshev
Mario Peshev is the CEO of DevriX, a global WordPress agency serving industries from publishing to fintech, healthcare, e-commerce, and more. Peshev focuses most of his time on running his business and leading distributed tech teams at DevriX of 50+ people crafting high-scale WordPress solutions optimized for revenue. Mario started with development as a hobby and built his first website in 1999. Since 2015, DevriX has consistently ranked among the top 20 WordPress consultancies worldwide, scaling world-known enterprise brands and high-traffic publishers with up to 900M monthly page views on top of WordPress. He also has over 10,000 hours of training and consulting activities for organizations such as CERN, Saudi Aramco, VMware, SAP, and many others, coaching business owners on growth strategy, technical architecture, marketing funnels, and digital presence. In addition to leading DevriX, Peshev also advises up-and-coming web developers and tech entrepreneurs, attracting over 2.5 million views to his transparent Quora discussions on his experience of entrepreneurship and IT work life, and he recently authored the book 126 Steps to Becoming a Successful Entrepreneur: The Entrepreneurship Fad and the Dark Side of Going Solo. Follow him on Twitter @no_fear_inc and connect on LinkedIn. Mario joins me on Tech Talks Daily to discuss some of the high-scale WordPress solutions that DevriX has developed for clients in various industries. He also shares his thoughts on the importance of digital transformation for businesses and how DevriX helps companies in this process. Finally, I learn more about his book 26 Steps to Becoming a Successful Entrepreneur: The Entrepreneurship Fad and the Dark Side of Going Solo.

Feb 11, 2023 • 24min
2266: Justdiggit - The Power of Technology in Restoring the Land
Justdiggit is a non-profit organization dedicated to regreening degraded land in Africa. The company works with local farmers to implement cost-effective, nature-based solutions to increase biodiversity and improve ecosystems. The ultimate goal is to capture more CO2 and help cool the planet. So far, the company has made significant progress in its mission. They have dug 200,000 water bunds and brought back 9.7 million trees. This has resulted in 300,000 hectares of land being regreened. The company aims to reach 350 million farmers by 2030, and they plan to make this a reality. One way Justdiggit achieves this goal is through its regreening app. Harnessing the growth and penetration of mobile technology in Africa, the app provides farmers with the tools and instructions they need to restore their own land. Once fully developed, the app will make everyone with a mobile phone an ambassador of regreening, helping to spread the message and reach more people. Justdiggit is also utilizing technology to track the progress and impact of their work. In partnership with Planet Labs, they are using daily earth data and high-res satellite imagery to evaluate their regreening projects. This allows them to understand the tangible change they are making to the land, including the amount of water retained and changes in biomass. Listen in to Sander de Haas as he shares the story behind this inspiring organization and how they are working with local farmers and using technology to track their progress, they are restoring degraded land and making the planet a greener place.

Feb 10, 2023 • 40min
2265: F5 - Breaking Free from Rigid Enterprise Architecture:
Everything is now digitized, and businesses are expected to be available 24/7. Unfortunately, in this digital-first world, traditional enterprise architectures have hindered businesses' ability to keep pace with changing needs and requirements. The rigid framework that governs how applications are developed, delivered, secured, and integrated limits businesses' ability to progress further into the digital era. This rigid framework was created before the widespread adoption of the internet and the era of digitization we find ourselves in today. It defines how data should be stored, accessed, and governed, and it constrains infrastructure to aging standards. It makes assumptions about applications and their interactions, and about the nature of their users. For CIOs and IT leaders to successfully navigate the second phase of digital transformation, they must first identify key technologies and capabilities critical to enabling businesses to progress into the third and final phase of digital transformation. To reach the third phase of transformation, businesses need a new enterprise architecture that enables them to adapt to changing needs and requirements across all key components: data, applications, infrastructure, and security. They must also add architectural concepts to address the growing dependence on telemetry and automation that is enabling business to become truly digital. This new architecture must be a digital enterprise architecture, designed to be efficient, scalable, secure, and able to adapt to changing needs. The digital enterprise architecture must include the ability to deliver applications in a distributed model that includes private and public clouds, data centers, and edge computing. It should also expand and scale digital operations by adopting site reliability engineering (SRE) operational practices to align technology with business outcomes. The architecture should take advantage of AI and analytics in both IT and lines of business by reimagining data architectures and governance to adapt to the convergence of operational technology (OT) and IT. Furthermore, it should operate securely at scale by incorporating security as a key component in every aspect of the digital business and embracing app delivery as a core disciplinary domain. Geng Lin, Executive Vice President and Chief Technology Officer at F5, joins me on today's edition of Tech Talks Daily. Listen in as we discuss all this and much more. Sponsored VPN Offer https://www.piavpn.com/techtalksdaily

Feb 9, 2023 • 33min
2264: Brightcove CEO on Rise of the "Producer Economy"
Marc DeBevoise, CEO of Brightcove, joins me in today's episode of Tech Talks Daily in a discussion about the rise of the future of streaming. As a seasoned executive with a wealth of experience in the streaming industry, Marc provides an in-depth look at what is driving the evolution of the creator economy into a producer economy. According to Marc, the rise of the producer economy is fueled by the growing number of creators and producers leveraging technology to produce high-quality content and reach new audiences. In addition, the producer economy is characterized by the democratization of content creation and distribution. For example, anyone with a smartphone and a creative idea can reach a global audience with their content. This is a massive shift from the old entertainment industry model, where a limited number of gatekeepers controlled what content was produced and how it was distributed. Marc also shares his thoughts on the current state of the streaming wars, which are shaping up to be the biggest battle for the future of entertainment. Marc's insights and experience in the video technology industry, along with his deep understanding of the evolution of the creator economy into the producer economy, provide us with a valuable glimpse into the future of streaming and the video technology industry. I highly recommend checking out the entire conversation with Marc DeBevoise on Tech Talks Daily.

Feb 8, 2023 • 28min
2263: Rackspace Technology - Cybersecurity and Cloud Trends
Rackspace Technology is a leader in the cloud technology services industry, offering end-to-end solutions for customers looking to modernize their technology environments. With a focus on the entire cloud journey, from design and build to operation, Rackspace provides support and guidance to businesses of all sizes in adopting innovative technologies and building new products. In this episode of the Tech Talks Daily Podcast, Jeff DeVerter, Chief Technology Evangelist at Rackspace, joins us to discuss the latest trends and advancements in the technology industry. With over 10 years of experience in the cloud-based services sector, Jeff offers valuable insights into the importance of cybersecurity, the difference between private and public clouds, and the technological trends across various industries. One of the key topics we discuss is the growing concern over cybersecurity and the increasing risk of cyberattacks due to the rise of hybrid work environments. Jeff highlights the importance of cloud implementation for enhancing cybersecurity measures across all business sectors. With more and more companies relying on remote work, the need for robust cybersecurity measures has become even more critical. We also delve into the latest tech spending trends, discussing where investments are likely to rise and fall this year. Jeff provides valuable insights into the factors driving these trends and the impact they will have on various industries. Finally, Jeff shares his thoughts on the current hiring trends in the technology industry, including the skills and experience that companies are looking for in new hires. He also provides advice for job seekers looking to break into the tech industry and grow their careers. Sponsored VPN Offer https://www.piavpn.com/techtalksdaily


