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
Jul 23, 2022 • 27min
2047: How Tech is Transforming Finance Into a Strategic Business Function
Mike Whitmire is the co-founder and CEO of FloQast, a close management software company that helps rapidly growing companies, particularly pre-IPO and public companies, close their monthly financial books with greater accuracy and speed. Mike joins me on Tech Talks Daily to discuss how tech is revolutionising the finance function to make it a strategic business function and the role of automation in supporting forward-thinking CFO's. We also discuss upskilling in the finance function, continuous talent optimisation and how tech can help accountants achieve a better work-life balance at work.
Jul 22, 2022 • 49min
2046: The Advantages of Hybrid Cloud, SaaS Apps and Security
Many businesses are currently juggling two different worlds. We have the modern cloud infrastructure and Kubernetes. But on the flip side, there is 10-20-year-old legacy tech such as Oracle Solaris, old IBM and HP servers, etc. Elsewhere, business leaders are also challenged with managing security, the Cloud, and hybrid working. Anil Kumar from Citrix and Sharon Besser from GuardiCore join Neil Hughes in discussing the advantages that hybrid cloud and SAS apps can offer businesses. About Sharon Sharon Besser is an accomplished data and network security expert with a successful track record combining deep technical hands-on excellence with a market vision to incubate new solutions and develop next-generation technologies. Sharon was the CTO and co-founder of Publicom (acquired by Comsec), co-founder of Contondo (acquired by Bigtincan), co-founder of EyeOTee Inc., VP Technologies at Net Optics, (acquired by IXIA), VP of Products Strategy at Imperva, Director of security solutions at Check Point, Director of security products at Websense, through the acquisition of Port Authority Technologies. Sharon holds a BSc degree in Computer Science, Mathematics, and Geography from Bar Ilan University. About Anil As a Technical Marketing Manager at Citrix, Anil Kumar is responsible for Building and owning an Ecosystem of Networking, Security, and Cloud technology partners. He is also a subject matter expert on the Citrix cloud, networking and security products, and services. Anil is also responsible for developing and managing a test infrastructure in-house/on-prem and on Cloud for proof of concepts and for partner product verifications.
Jul 21, 2022 • 39min
2045: Gloat - The AI Talent Marketplace Creating an Agile Workforce
The challenges facing organizations today are timely, urgent, and complex. Business leaders must find new ways to manage hybrid work models, unleash diversity, equity and inclusion for all employees, and most importantly, understand the needs of talent and provide every individual with the opportunity to experience choice and growth across an organization. In January 2021, I spoke with Jeff Schwartz about Deloitte's Global Human Capital Trends Report. Jeff is an incredible subject matter expert and innovator who has had a front-row seat to the changes that have transformed and shaped the modern workplace. He's now the VP of Insights & Impact for Gloat, a pioneer of the internal talent marketplace. Trusted by some of the most respected brands in the world like Unilever, Nestlé, Seagate Technology, and Standard Chartered Bank, Gloat uses a two-sided platform that connects the talent within an organization to full-time roles, gigs, projects, mentorships, networking opportunities and more, enabling companies to democratize career development, unlock skills, and future-proof their workforces. I welcome Jeff back to the podcast to discuss how talent marketplaces are establishing a new category of HR technology and what forward-looking companies must do to succeed long-term as the world of work undergoes major shifts. We also discuss the benefits a talent marketplace provides to employees, managers and businesses as well as the future developments in this field.
Jul 20, 2022 • 30min
2044: NGrave ZERO - Cold-Wallet Crypto Storage
Ruben Merre is the CEO and Co-founder of NGRAVE, the creators of ZERO, a military-grade cold wallet with the highest security certification in the world. Ruben joins me on Tech Talks Daily to discuss the vulnerabilities digital asset holders face by using hot wallets that are connected to the internet as opposed to transferring their assets to cold wallets which are offline and therefore cannot be attacked. We talk about NGRAVE's $6 million seed round which saw investment from renowned DeFi and Web3 investors, including Woodstock Fund, Morningstar Ventures, DFG Group, Spark Digital Capital, and Mapleblock Capital. We also explore the growing problem of phishing and hacking scams, which have impacted users of Axie Infinity, OpenSea, and the Bored Ape Yacht Club.
Jul 19, 2022 • 26min
2043: TrustRadius - The Age of the Self-Serve Buyer is Here
Suppose you are thinking of purchasing a new laptop, TV, home appliance, car, or any big purchase. Where do you begin? For the most part, it probably reviews sites and YouTube videos that help you learn more about the pros and cons of each model. However, when we enter the workplace, we have those exact expectations, but we seldom do the same research before buying somehting. Vinay Bhagat is an entrepreneur passionate about improving the software buying process so professionals like HR teams can make better decisions for their organizations. Under Vinay's leadership, TrustRadius, has become the most trusted business technology review site, delivering over 386,000 reviews & ratings from 100% verified users. Vinay started TrustRadius after experiencing challenges when buying enterprise solutions at his last company. He shares his journey as an entrepreneur and insights into how buyers make buying decisions. We also explore the 2022 B2B Buying Disconnect report—a survey of 2,185 respondents that shows year-over-year trends in business technology buying and selling. The annual survey covers significant industry findings and further analysis and insights. Check out the report.
Jul 18, 2022 • 33min
2042: Exploring a Remote-Friendly Hybrid Collaboration Future With Tandem
Hybrid collaboration can be challenging. Remote teammates suffer from the "second-class citizen problem" - feeling excluded from spontaneous brainstorms, magic moments, and the creative energy of the office. Hybrid Spaces bridge the gap between remote and in-person teammates to make hybrid work the best of both worlds. Tandem is a virtual office that facilitates frictionless collaboration and allows distributed teams (such as Airbnb, Lyft, and Spotify) to feel connected, collaborate in real-time, and increase productivity. As the world struggles with redefining the way we work, I invited Tandem CEO and Co-Founder Rajiv Ayyangar to join me on Tech Tech Talks Daily to discuss what Techcrunch calls "remote-friendly hybrid collaboration". I learn more about how hybrid workers can teleport around the office, connect, and collaborate.
Jul 17, 2022 • 33min
2041: Jellysmack - The Tech Unicorn Leading the Creator Economy
Jellysmack is a global creator company founded in 2016 that detects and develops the world's most talented video creators through AI. Top creators with Jellysmack include PewDiePie, MrBeast, Bailey Sarian, Derek Deso, Karina Garcia, Charles & Alyssa Forever, and Brad Mondo. Jellysmack has also been named #1 Most Innovative Company in Video by Fast Company. The company optimizes and distributes content for over 500 leading individual video creators on Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok, and YouTube. It enables creators to grow their audiences, maximize earnings and generate more revenue opportunities. The company says the result is about 10 billion video views monthly, reaching 125 million people. In addition, its influencers have a combined 360 million followers. Jason Brown shares with me the story behind the company and the road to Series C funding from the SoftBank Vision Fund in May 2021, which catapulted the company to "unicorn" status. I also learn more about the tech that makes it all possible and why Jellysmack is a strategic partner across every aspect of the creator's journey and fully invests in a creator's long-term success.
Jul 16, 2022 • 24min
2040: SpotGamma and the Tech Behind Options Software and Market Analysis
Brent Kochuba is the Founder of SpotGamma, a financial insights company, which applies its proprietary methodology toward modeling index and equity options and then provides unique content to its subscribers. SpotGamma has thousands of members and has been featured in publications such as The Wall Street Journal and Bloomberg Markets. At SpotGamma, Brent oversees all of the product development and creative content. Prior to SpotGamma, Brent was most recently a portfolio manager with Seven North Capital Management where he focused on creating options-based investment strategies. Prior to that, he spent time as a derivatives broker at Wolverine Execution, Credit Suisse and Bank of America. Brent now lives with his wife and children in Easton, Connecticut. Brent holds a B.S. in Emerging Technologies from the University of Connecticut. Brent joins me on Tech Talks Daily to discuss why tech, stock, and options analysis work so well together. We also attempt to demystify the options market and empower investors at all levels.
Jul 15, 2022 • 24min
2039: How Meliá Hotels International is Driving Digital Transformation with Dynatrace
Meliá Hotels International anticipated an industry shift, with demand for travel hitting record levels following the pandemic. To accommodate this demand and deliver frictionless guest experiences, meeting guests on the mobile and online platforms on which they interact, Meliá Hotels accelerated its digital transformation by migrating its critical applications to the cloud. A cloud-native environment allowed Meliá the agility to release better digital functionality faster, enabling its guests to access more of its services via mobile and web platforms. I wanted to learn more about the importance of choosing the right support partner and how they leverage the Dynatrace platform's broad and deep observability and advanced AIOps capabilities to detect any anomalies in Meliá's infrastructure before they create issues for customer experiences. Christian Palomino joins me on Tech Talks Daily to discuss their digital transformation journey and how choosing the right partner enabled Meliá to ensure its digital services deliver the same quality experience as in-person interactions with hotel staff.
Jul 14, 2022 • 31min
2038: Zebra Technologies and the Flurry of SaaS Acquisitions
Can a Zebra change its stripes? Yes, if the rapid set of software acquisitions in the past few years by Zebra Technologies are anything to go by. It has catapulted Zebra firmly into the world of SaaS and injected some new 'magic' into their ubiquitous hardware portfolio, says David Lancefield, software solutions director at Zebra, who joined via the acquisition of AI-powered workforce management and planning company, Reflexis. Zebra's recent flurry of acquisitions include Adaptive Voice (machine vision software), Profitect (prescriptive analytics for retail), Reflexis (AI-powered workforce management and planning) and antuit.ai (AI demand forecast and inventory optimisation) – all aimed at complementing and enhancing their current software and hardware for frontline workers in retail, warehouse, manufacturing, and logistics, to name a few. With brands like Dixons Carphone UK, McDonald's UK and Coop Switzerland under their belt, Zebra helps retailers improve their inventory visibility, optimise costs to streamline shipment completion times, identify fraud, and manage workers and tasks in real-time. With the pandemic in the UK feeling more behind us and labour shortages and supply chain pressures in front, David Lancefield, software solutions director at Zebra, discusses why we're seeing the rise of vertical SaaS for specific industries like retail and logistics. We also explore how SaaS changes workplaces into ecosystems where people, inventory, hardware and software are connected.
