On a Limb (Mechanical Orchard)

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In our inaugural episode, we welcome Professor Herb Krasner, Founder and former Chairman of the Software Quality Institute at the University of Texas.

Together, we delve into the concept of technical debt and the significant risks that poor-quality software presents to the global business landscape.

We explore the critical need to proactively address technical debt to prevent costly operational and reputational issues. Professor Krasner shares his insights on potential solutions that can help businesses avoid a crisis, offering valuable expertise on navigating this complex challenge.

Don’t miss this episode to gain a deeper understanding of technical debt and its far-reaching implications.

You can find more about Professor Krasner's work here https://www.it-cisq.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2022/11/CPSQ-Report-Nov-22-2.pdf

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Recent Mechanical Orchard research found that 71% of enterprise IT leaders find modernization stressful.

In this episode, we are joined by transformational technology leader and veteran CTO, Paul Gaffney, who shares his wisdom on how to find joy in modernization, even when the mountain looks too big to climb. 

We dive into:

• The root causes of joyless modernization
• Why Paul’s philosophy of 'having fun while delivering' is so important in the context of modernization
• What IT leaders can do to bring joy to modernization and what impact this might have on a personal and business level

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In this episode, we sit down with Peter Donald, Founder & Managing Director of Arena Advisory Group, a leading reputation management firm.

As former Assistant Police Commissioner at the New York Police Department (NYPD) and FBI Spokesperson, Peter has been on the front line of some of the world's most challenging and complex reputational issues. 

Sharing experience in both public and corporate sectors, Peter delves into the intricate dynamics of trust and reputation in today’s fast-evolving technology-driven landscape. He sheds light on how reputations can be tarnished in the blink of an eye and how trust can be built and sustained in an era where information moves faster than ever.

Peter shares insights on how companies can proactively manage their online presence, protect their brand from misinformation, and leverage transparency as a competitive advantage. 

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Margaret Exley, CBE, is the Chairman and Founder of SCT Consultants,  a management consultancy specialising in board evaluation and development. 

A highly sought-after change management expert, Margaret advises the most senior levels of business and central government on how to navigate risk, in pursuit of growth.

In this episode, Irene and Margaret delve into the evolving role of corporate boards and explore how they can enhance their effectiveness. Margaret shares her wisdom on how companies can adapt to rapid changes in the business environment so they are better equipped to handle increasingly complex operational and reputational challenges. 

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In this episode, Irene is joined by British politician Liam Byrne. Liam is a Labour MP for Birmingham Hodge Hill, a member of His Majesty's Privy Council, elected chair of the Global Parliamentary Network on the World Bank and IMF, and chair of the House of Commons Business and Trade Select Committee. He's also a former Gwillem Gibbon Research Fellow at Nuffield College Oxford, an honorary professor at the University of Birmingham and author of over 20 publications on economics, foreign policy and public service reform.

Liam and Irene discuss his background in public service and business, the current state of the UK economy, and the challenges of inequality and populism. Liam emphasizes the need for a modern supply-side economic strategy, addressing productivity issues, and the importance of innovation supported by government policy. 

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In this conversation, the celebrated retail analyst and ex-CTO, Paula Rosenblum, and Irene discuss the critical need for modernization in customer service systems across the global retail industry. 

They emphasize the importance of extensibility in solving the challenges posed by legacy systems, as well as how IT leadership can manage organizational inhibitors that hinder change. 

The discussion also highlights the significance of customer experience and effective change management strategies in navigating these obstacles. 

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In this episode, Irene sits down with world-renowned financial services transformation expert, Dr. Leda Glyptis.

With two decades of experience driving modernization in financial institutions, Leda unpacks the risks of resisting change and the critical need for banks to adapt in an increasingly dynamic landscape.

She explores the impact of regulation, the human factors that often derail transformation efforts, and the challenges of breaking free from the comfort of the status quo.

This insightful conversation is a must-listen for anyone navigating change in financial services.

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In this episode of On A Limb, host Irene Sandler chats to Logan Allin, founder and Managing Partner of global investment firm Fin Capital, about the critical state of America's financial IT systems and why he believes this is America's Great Infrastructure Challenge. 

They delve into the challenges of modernizing outdated banking systems, the catastrophic risks associated with legacy technology, and the potential impact of technical debt on financial institutions. 

Logan shares his views on the biggest mistakes banks make when attempting to modernize, the importance of aligned incentivization, and the critical need to move quickly.

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