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13 Feb 2022
S4 Episode 2: Mark Sweeney from Citrix on Hybrid Learning and Remote Working
00:32:59
We've learned much about how to work remotely over the last 2 years, but how will these changes impact the education sector? To answer this I invited Mark Sweeney, who is the Regional Vice President for Citrix in the UK & Ireland onto this episode of the podcast.
Mark has over 25 years of experience in business innovation, and a key focus has been innovation within the technical professional services field.
He has researched how automating professional services engagements through artificial intelligence and robotic process automation could modernise the consulting business.
In his current role at Citrix, his primary focus is working with customers on delivering consistent employee experience, as well as awareness to the concept of hybrid learning within the higher education vertical.
Mark believes that much like evolutionary designs for the workplace, campus-based learning could be the place for collaboration and practical work while formal teaching could be delivered virtually.
On this episode we covered:
What Citrix does today
Citrix Hybrid Learning study results
What is "Blended Learning"?
The evolution of the classroom
What has the pandemic taught us about how to work & learn remotely?
How do we enable educators to use the technologies that supports remote learning?
Has higher education changed forever as a result of Covid?
What investment do we need to effectively deploy remote learning solutions?
Why IT staff will become more critical for blended learning
Tele-teaching in 1994
The need for "Zoom Rooms"
How to best engage the online learners as well as those in the room
Gamifying the virtual experience
Should students pay less for virtual education?
What is the role of the campus going forward?
Up-skilling educators on new remote learning technologies
Preparing students for the hybrid world of wor
Citrix Company culture survey findings
Asynchronous vs Synchronous remote working & learning experiences
Are candidates seeking roles that support remote working?
Maintaining fairness for employees choosing to be remote
Avoiding "Location bias"
The issue of "presenteeism" - favouring output vs attendance
Mark's biggest Covid-19 learnings
How Mark has changed as a manager due to Covid
The need for a consistent experience when we move between home & office
Actionable Advice to prepare for a hybrid world of work and learning
S4 Episode 3: Space-Based Solar Power live recording
00:57:20
This special episode of the podcast was recorded live in front of an audience in February 2022 as one of a number of popular events run by the Institution of Engineers Australia UK Chapter. It features a panel of experts discussing a very interesting subject that of space-based solar power.
I was joined on stage by
Martin Soltau Co-Chair Space Energy Initiative & Space Business Lead at Frazer-Nash Consultancy
Dr Alice Bunn CEO Institution of Mechanical Engineers
Sam Adlen Chief Strategy Officer, Satellite Applications Catapult and
Ali Stickings Space Strategy lead at Fraser Nash Consultancy
You will also hear remarks from Mark Garnier, MP for Wyre Forest who is Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Space, and Chair of The Space Energy Initiative Advisory Board as well as Nick Wayth Chief Executive at The Energy Institute.
To provide some context around this episode and the topic, we all accept that fossil fuels are not a sustainable form of energy, and renewable energy such as solar and wind have issues when it is cloudy or calm.
This event was part of The Institution of Engineers Australia UK Chapter's monthly “Spring Forward” hybrid lecture series to look at a potential new form of energy – Space-Based Solar Power.
The concept is not new – it was first mooted by Isaac Asimov as science fiction in the 1940s, and in 1968, Dr Peter Glaser of Arthur D. Little introduced the concept of using microwaves for power transmission from geosynchronous orbit to an Earth-based rectifying antenna.
Since then, technology has advanced on several fronts to remove some technological and economic barriers to practical full-scale implementation.
Issues covered in this episode include:
How Space-Based power actually works
The opportunity for generating power from space
How to overcome challenges in commercialising this technology
How space-based solar power contributes to the net-zero debate
The future of space-based solar power generation
How Space solar power gives Governments options
Solar power vs Nuclear Fusion
What will the solution cost?
The regulatory risks
The role of Government
The security concerns
Who regulates the space segment
The spin-off benefits
What are other countries doing?
The UK-Australia Space Bridge
The Space Energy Initiative
The job creation opportunities
Nick Wayth Chief Executive at Energy Institute comments
Audience question: How can the UK maintain a lead in this area?
Audience question: What is happening in Australia?
Audience question: What can go wrong?
Mar
Thanks for listening to Digitally Curious. You can buy the book that showcases these episodes at curious.click/order
Your Host is Actionable Futurist® Andrew Grill
For more on Andrew - what he speaks about and recent talks, please visit ActionableFuturist.com
S4 Episode 4: Michael Kaczmarek Former VP Products @ Neustar on the Domain Name System
00:37:16
When we think about the components that go together to make the internet work we probably think of browsers and IP addresses but there is one critical component that brings it together - the Domain Name System or DNS. It's the reason behind when you type cnn.com you end up on the right website.
The design of DNS is more than 30 years old, but still is a critical point of the internet today.
In October 2021, a misconfiguration error caused Facebook to disappear from the internet for nearly 7 hours.
To understand the notion of DNS better, we spoke with Michael Kaczmarek who is the former VP of Product Management at Neustar Security Solutions.
Michael directed the research efforts into distributed denial of service attacks and DNS trends for Neustar working closely with the cross-functional team to publish insights on changes in the cybersecurity landscape.
Prior to joining Neustar, Michael was with Verisign for more than 18 years where he served in various capacities including VP of product management and marketing.
Prior to Verisign, he was a systems engineering manager for Lockheed Martin in charge of their Solid Rocket Motor Disposition in Russia Program.
Michael is a Ponemon Fellow and holds a Bachelor of Science in aerospace engineering from the University of Maryland and a Master of Engineering in environmental engineering from Johns Hopkins University.
In this wide-ranging discussion, we looked at
How Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attacks are on the rise
How AI can be used to detect cyber threats
What the Internet 3.0 might look like
What the Facebook 2021 outage tells us about DNS
What to look for in a DNS provider
Why every business owner should care about DNS
The top3 cybersecurity trends
New threats such as API security
Analysis of a real DNS hack
Why Cybersecurity needs to concern every board
Three top cybersecurity tips
If you are truly digitally curious, then you will want to listen to this episode in full.
S4 Episode 5: Helena Nimmo from Endava on Digital Acceleration
00:38:46
We hear a lot about digital transformation, and my guest Helena Nimmo thinks this term is outdated and should be replaced with digital acceleration.
She argues that Digital Transformation suggests that you have a blank canvas and that is rarely true, she prefers to talk about Digital Acceleration and building on what you already have.
Helena knows a lot about this subject as the Chief Information Officer for Endava, a public technology company that is reimagining the relationship between people and technology.
Helena joined Endava in 2019 and has been in the technology industry for over 20 years. A native of Finland, she started her career at Finnish technology giant Nokia in the logistics division before joining Symbian software and moving to London in 1999. She also worked in senior roles in publishing with Euro Monitor and Thomson Reuters.
Helena thinks that data is what makes technology relevant, and prefers the term “digital acceleration” to that of “digital transformation”.
In this episode we discussed:
How a CIO needs to manage “Shadow IT” in an organisation
How the pandemic exposed issues of digital breakage
The extra tools a CIO needs to support a distributed workforce
Why boards should be taking cybersecurity more seriously
The industries that have more rapidly adopted digital acceleration projects
Helena’s views on digital literacy
Her key learnings as a manager during the pandemic
How to stay up to date with all the new technologies and platforms that are appearing
S4 Episode 6: Muhi Majzoub from OpenText on the future of information management & cloud
00:29:13
How does a university project to index the entire Oxford English Dictionary become one of the world’s largest information management companies with revenues of over $3Bn?
To find out I spoke with Muhi Majzoub, Executive Vice President & Chief Product Officer of OpenText who leads the product development and strategy for the company as well as their transition to the cloud.
Muhi has over 30 years of experience in technology, including 10 years at OpenText, and 16 years at Oracle as VP for Engineering and Application Development. Muhi is coming to us today from California.
S4 Episode 7: Phil Sorsky from CommScope on the future of 5G and fast broadband
00:42:25
“During the pandemic, Broadband has saved economic collapse and the health system collapse” says Phil Sorsky, Senior Vice president of Worldwide Sales at CommScope.
When you think about it, one of the unsung heroes of the last 2 years has been technologies that kept us connected to our families and our work.
With the lines between “home” and “office” increasingly blurred due to the rise of remote working, access to reliable connectivity is crucial so that local economies and communities can truly thrive.
In the latest episode of The Actionable Futurist Podcast, we explore the future of 5G and fibre technologies and what we can expect around the corner.
We also looked at what can be done to narrow the digital divide, especially since we’re now relying on online services even more as a result of the pandemic.
Phil has more than 20 years of telecommunications industry experience, having worked for Juniper Networks, Adobe Systems, Cisco Systems and AT&T, and he is a graduate of the University of Birmingham in the UK.
In this episode we also discussed
Narrowing the digital divide
How 5G can solve the "last mile" problem?
The state of 5G in the UK
The rise of "community fibre"
Will every home be connected to fibre in the UK in 10 years?
How Covid accelerated high-speed broadband adoption
Would a National Broadband Network concept work in the UK?
Why Fibre is the answer for faster broadband
The societal benefits of faster broadband
How broadband has saved lives and economic collapse during the pandemic
Cybercrime post-pandemic
Will we see more 5G use cases?
The uses of 5G with IoT
Femtocells to help mobile coverage
New innovations to drive new services
What new developments have come out of the pandemic?
S4 Episode 8: Wayne Snyder from Blue Yonder on the future of The Retail Supply Chain
00:46:56
What really goes on behind the scenes to ensure you get the things you order on-line or in person? To find out more, I spoke with Wayne Snyder, Vice President of Retail Strategy for EMEA at Blue Yonder.
Wayne has worked in retail for more than 20 years and is a recognised expert in planning and supply chain operations.
Wayne argues that with recent advances in technology, we’ve opened a digital window to the consumer, allowing us to go online, and see real-time availability of products in stores.
Because we’re making any flaws in the supply chain very visible to the consumer, the need to solve issues becomes even more important, because as consumers we are fickle, and will go anywhere that can help us best.
Wayne makes a point that there is an even greater challenge for retailers to make sure the supply chain is not only delighting but exceeding the expectations of customers.
We covered many topics related to retail and the supply chain including:
Covid's impact on the supply chain
The 2021 Fuel Crisis
The retail industry's impact from the pandemic
Key lessons for retail from the pandemic
Is there a need for open data in retail?
Navigating retail data
The role of regulation in the retail space
Sharing data
Intermediaries sharing high-level trends
The change in consumer behaviour due to the pandemic
Will consumers shop closer to where they live vs where they work?
The move to online shopping as the default
Why stores are still dominant
Differentiating between store and online popularity
What part does technology play in the supply chain?
Why Excel shouldn't be running your supply chain
The importance of IoT for the supply chain
The Golden Quarter & Christmas in Retail
The 2022 challenges for retailers?
Building resilience into the supply chain
The need for data literacy
M&S example of digital enablement
The use of real-time control towers in retail
The move from when things happened to why things happened
What's the future for supply chain technology
The impact of Christmas on the supply chain
Why the supply chain will be holistic, connected & real-time
Opening the digital window to the consumer
The need for the supply chain to exceed customer expectations
US Retailer inventory accuracy example
Exception based reporting focusing on what's important
The role Blue Yonder plays to help with supply chain fluctuations
The need for shorter technology deployment cycles
Should consumers care about what goes on behind the scenes?
S4 Episode 9: Nick Abrahams from Norton Rose Fulbright on Web3, NFTs, Crypro, DAO and DeFi
00:46:04
If you've ever wanted a Masterclass in Web3, NFTs, Cryptocurrency, Decentralized Autonomous Organizations (DAO) and Decentralised Finance (DeFi) then this 45-minute podcast is for you!
I was fortunate to be able to convince Nick Abrahams, the Global Co-leader of Digital Transformation Practice at leading law firm Norton Rose Fulbright to come on the show and give us a very informative, no-nonsense look at some of the hottest topics in technology at the moment.
Nick is the founder of the successful online legal site, LawPath (90,000+ users) and he created the world's first AI-enabled privacy chatbot, Parker. He also has a thriving career as a keynote speaker on future trends and innovation.. He is the author of the best selling Kindle books "Big Data, Big Responsibilities" and "Digital Disruption in Australia".
He is on the boards of ASX-listed software company Integrated Research ($500M); the global genomics research leader, the Garvan Foundation; the Vodafone Foundation; and the Sydney Film Festival.
We had a whirlwind tour around Web3 and the many umbrella topics.
I started by asking him for some quick definitions of
Web3
Metaverse
NFT
Cryptocurrency
Blockchain
DeFi
DAO
We then delved into each in more detail including
Why is Web3 so important?
Establishing ownership with Web3
A 3-dimensional experience of the web
How big could the Metaverse become?
What does the Metaverse mean for corporates?
Companies embracing the Metaverse
Why is Facebook/Meta scared about the Metaverse?
Are we being brainwashed by Facebook's view of the Metaverse?
Things for brands to consider before they jump into the Metaverse
Tokens as a new asset class
The concept of Tokenomics
Legal implications for the Metaverse
The "MetaBirkin" that upset Hermès
How the legal industry is coming up to speed
We spent some time on the different types of NFTs
Flex Club NFTs
Art NFTs
Collectable NFTs
Twinning NFTs
Gaming NFTs
Branded NFTs
We finished our discussion looking at
How can corporates best manage NFTs?
Cybersecurity concerns around NFTs
What is the future of blockchain, bitcoin and distributed ledger technologies?
What's the hottest thing in crypto at the moment?
The future of DeFi - a parallel banking system
Decentralised Autonomous Organizations (DAO)
Staying up to date with all these concepts
If you work In a corporate, or for a brand and someone has asked “should we be in Web3/Crypto/Blockchain or have an NFT” then this podcast is for you.
If you’ve heard all these terms and thought aloud “I wish there was one place I could go for a no-nonsense view” then this podcast is for you.
S4 Episode 10: Aaron Goldman from Mediaocean on TikTok
00:41:20
TikTok now has a billion users, so what makes it stand out from Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, and Twitter?
To answer this I spoke with Aaron Goldman, Chief Marketing Officer of MediaOcean, a mission-critical platform for omnichannel advertising that connects brands, agencies, media, technology, and data.
Aaron has been in the Marketing industry for over 20 years, including CMO roles at 4C, and Kenshoo, a leading enterprise marketing software company.
Aaron was awarded the LinkedIn B2B thought leader of the year in 2020, and is also the author of “Everything I Know about Marketing I Learned from Google” .
When he’s not busy Googling himself, Aaron is spending time with his wife and children, and spoke with me from Chicago.
Aaron has a deep understanding not just what what makes TikTok so different to other social media platforms, but also how brands should approach this new medium.
We covered a lot of ground including
What is TikTok?
Why is TikTok so engaging?
What is the secret to TikTok’s success?
Viewing creators as partners
Do brands have a place on TikTok?
The growth potential for TikTok
Comparing Facebook vs Instagram vs Snap vs TikTok
How easy is it to copy the TikTok format?
Understanding the mindset of the user on each platform
Where does TikTok fit into the media landscape?
Why TikTok is the most akin to TV
The strategic approach to TikTok for brands
Measuring the impact of creators on TikTok
The social commerce opportunity for brands on TikTok
When does entertainment become shopping?
What is the future of advertising?
The value exchange and the value of our own data
The opportunity for TikTok to start afresh
Aaron’s experiment to sell his own data on eBay
The rise of digital agents that work for us
AdTech and the role Mediaocean plays
Mediaocean’s partnership with TikTok
What will advertising on social networks look like in 5 year’s time?
Aaron’s virtual watercooler
The move to a hybrid working mode
Turning hybrid working into a competitive advantage
Educating children about the healthy use of social media
3 Actionable things to do today to better understand TikTok
S4 Episode 11: James Walker from Rightly on GDPR and consumer data rights
00:46:47
May 25th 2022, marks four years since the General Data Protection Regulation, more commonly known as GDPR came into effect in the UK and the EU. The GDPR's primary aim is to enhance individuals' control and rights over their personal data and simplify international businesses' regulatory environment. Four years on, though, are consumers adequately protected?
I spoke with James Walker, CEO of Consumer Privacy champion, Rightly, to better answer this question.
James is a consumer rights advocate and entrepreneur. He founded and grew Resolver, a free, independent resolution service with 18 million unique visitors a year that has solved six billion pounds worth of issues and is the largest independent resolution service in Europe.
James has advised Government, Regulators and Ombudsmen on consumer rights and how to deliver better customer services.
He is on the Board of the Dispute Ombudsman, a Consumer Expert to The Office of Road and Rail, a Non-Executive Director to Consumer Scotland, a co-founder and Non- Executive Director to The Collaboration Network and an advisor to Life Ledger.
We covered a number of relevant and practical topics including:
What is Rightly?
What does Rightly do?
What has been the reaction from advertising companies?
What is GDPR & what's happened since its launch in 2018?
What changes are required to GDPR to make it work as intended?
What is my digital footprint, and how far does it extend?
How does Rightly work?
Can you check if companies have replied to your removal request?
The Right.ly business model
Brokering a fair value exchange for our personal data
Brand’s obsession with data
The need for transparency and openness
Open Bankings' influence on open data
The role of regulators
Staying safe online
Why breached data has a half-life
Right.ly consumer research results
What's next for Right.ly?
Advice for the UK's Information Commissioner's Office
The notion of the Polluter pays model
Three things to do today to start controlling our data
S4 Episode 12: Charlotte Gregson from Malt on the role of expert freelance platforms
00:35:45
For many the interim model of working is not new, where senior, experienced staff are brought into a firm before a permanent role is filled. With work moving towards a more distributed model, and access to talent being widened beyond the city centres, will a hybrid workforce model, utilising freelance and permanent staff emerge?
To answer this question and more, I spoke with Charlotte Gregson, PhD the Country Head UK of Malt, a marketplace for independent management consultants and industry experts.
Charlotte is a former consultant with a career that didn’t take a conventional path. After an academic career culminating with a PhD in Chemistry at Imperial College, her mind for molecules exposed a love for leadership after a stint in healthcare consulting.
When she moved to consultancy Eden McCallum to build independent consultant teams, Charlotte began to recognise the potential the professional gig economy could bring for companies and their employees.
We discussed a range of topics to do with the hybrid working model including:
What does COMATCH do?
How COMATCH compares to Fiverr and Upwork
How traditional consulting firms are embracing experienced freelancers
How does a talent on-demand platform work?
What sort of experts and consultants use COMATCH
What's the future for "Exec" Gig Workers?
Is "The Great Resignation" real?
Managing the consulting "bench"
Tips for working with a distributed workforce
Emerging tools to help distributed teams
Using COMATCH StyleMatch technology to match consultants to jobs
Using AI to match clients with consultants
Are clients developing a self-service mindset to source talent?
How COMATCH drives innovation
A view of the freelance world in 12-24 months
Challenges of being a tech leader
The impact of the freelance model on traditional consulting firms
Attracting quality freelancers to the COMATCH platform
The rise of the "The Third place"
The COMATCH business model
The differences across international markets
The resistance to adopting a hybrid workforce model
The need for talent transformation
Advice for companies looking to integrate freelance talent into key roles
Dealing with issues around due diligence, IP, security and confidentiality
The future of flexible working?
3 actionable things to consider when setting a hybrid workforce strategy
S4 Episode 13: Stephanie Buscemi from Confluent on the future of real-time data and marketing
00:40:39
If you had the chance to speak with the former CMO of Salesforce about the future of Marketing what would you ask them? I had the chance to do just that on this episode of the Actionable Futurist Podcast, speaking with Stephanie Bushcemi who is currently the CMO of Confluent.
She was previously EVP and CMO of Salesforce and held the same role at IHS Markit, and also spent a number of years at SAP heading their Marketing functions.
We recorded the episode live at the Kafka Summit in London and spoke about a range of topics related to Confluent, and the platform Kafka that came out of LinkedIn, as well as hearing her thoughts on where marketing and events are headed in 2022 and beyond.
Stephanie is a strong advocate for real-time data, especially when it comes to marketing campaigns.
She was previously EVP and CMO of Salesforce, and held the same role at IHS Markit, and also spent a number of years at SAP heading their Marketing functions.
Prior to SAP, Stephanie was at Hyperion, acquired by Oracle, where she spent nearly a decade, in various marketing leadership positions building the performance management category and Hyperion's presence within.
An example used at the Kafka summit we were both attending was:
“When you cross the road you prefer to use real-time data to make a decision that the road is clear or would you use data that is 5 minutes old?”
We discussed a broad range of topics including:
How Confluent came out of LinkedIn
The birth of Project Kafka
The need for real-time streaming data
The role of Confluent
Data in Motion is the future
Why Stephanie became a Marketer
Stephanie's experience as Salesforce CMO
Why Stephanie moved from Salesforce to Confluent
The similarities between Confluent and Salesforce as category creators
Working on the Confluent IPO
Tips for writing an IPO S1
Advice for companies considering an IPO
Does going public change how you go to market?
The importance of open data
How do you build a business on free, open-source software?
Adapting to marketing in a post-pandemic world
The need for marketers to be more data-savvy
Getting out of the 4 walls of marketing
What "customer 360" really is
The value of communities
The importance of influencers and advocacy in B2B marketing
What the future of marketing looks like
The likely mix between virtual and in-person selling
Lessons learned as a Manager during the pandemic
Three actionable tips for marketing in 2022 and beyond
S4 Episode 14: Heather Kernahan from Hotwire PR on the future of PR and communications
00:31:46
Public relations is no longer just about sending press releases - increasingly PR has become integrated with sales and marketing functions and relies upon practitioners having a solid grasp of data.
To find out more about the future of PR and communications, I spoke with Heather Kernahan, the Global CEO of Communications company Hotwire.
Heather has spent her career immersed in technology and moved over to Hotwire from Eastwick Communications after its acquisition in 2016.
Prior to this, she was at Autodesk, where she focused on integrated brand communications and led the development of the company’s first sustainability report.
Heather says she “builds outrageously successful teams, companies and brands”, and is the author of an upcoming book UNSTUCKABLE, to be published in 2022.
We recorded this episode live and in person at Hotwire’s London office.
Hotwire has a concept called "Behaving famously" - which means purposely going out and making connections with people; It’s an expectation of everyone that works at Hotwire, no matter the role - you need to behave famously.
We discussed a number of topics related to communications and PR including:
How PR has changed during Heather's career
The most effective campaign over the last 12 months
How dynamic can communications be?
The need for data literacy in PR
The role of PR in revenue generation
Selling more "shirts and shoes"
Account-based Marketing (ABM)
PR reps as business people
The role of PR in remote selling
The importance of your digital first impression
Diversity and inclusion in modern communications practices
The Hotwire Into Tech initiative
Evolving the agency
Hotwire's team "Behaving famously"
Content that cuts through the noise
Coaching Executives around thought leadership
Are print and broadcast still important in the comms mix?
Meeting the needs of a 24-hour news cycle
Branded content opportunities
Heather's upcoming Book - "Unstuckable"
The one key message from the book
The importance of Podcasts in the PR mix
Using LinkedIn for promotion & recruitment
Lessons from the pandemic
The role of data in the PR company of the future
Quickfire round
3 Actionable tips for using communication in your business
S4 Episode 15: Chris Waiting from The Conversation on the future of trusted media sources
00:37:36
In a world full of misinformation, which media sources can you trust?
Enter The Conversation, an independent source of news analysis and informed comment written by academic experts, working with professional journalists who help share their knowledge with the world and deliver truthful stories that anyone can read and understand.
To learn more about this unique resource, I spoke with Chris Waiting, Chief Executive Officer of The Conversation UK.
Chris previously held senior management positions at the BBC and more recently at the Associated Press. He holds an MA from the University of Cambridge and an MBA from the London Business School.
We discussed a number of important topics including:
How The Conversation democratises knowledge
Conversation's roots in Australia
How The Conversation addresses the decline in media trust
How The Conversation differs from mainstream media
The Future of Journalism in the age of misinformation
S4 Episode 16: Umang Patel from Microsoft and Dr Simon Wallace from Nuance on the future of healthcare
00:45:11
I've always been fascinated by how technology can improve healthcare, and over the years at my keynote talks, audiences have asked me for my view of what's next.
Finally, I managed to grab two leading figures on this subject: Dr Simon Wallace, Chief Clinical Information Officer at Nuance Communications, and Umang Patel, Chief Clinical Information Officer at Microsoft to help explain this important topic.
Simon is a GP & public health doctor providing consultancy services to healthcare organisations. He has 20 years of commercial experience modernising & improving the delivery of healthcare.
Previously he was at Hutchison 3G, AXA, GSK & Worldcare UK.
Umang has worked across commercial and public sectors in healthcare both from payor and provider perspectives and was an early employee at Babylon Health, commercial leader at Aviva, and a NHS Leadership Academy Fellow and practising clinician at Frimley Health.
They are both passionate clinicians and have a deep understanding of how healthcare will be improved with the use of the latest technologies.
I managed to ask many of my "What's the future of healthcare" questions I've wanted to ask for a while, and also confirmed some of my futurist predictions.
In this wide-ranging chat, we covered:
The Nuance & Microsoft Alliance
Nuance & conversational AI
Future health plans from Microsoft
Can technology restore the NHS to full health?
Open data vs patient privacy
The power of AI in transforming healthcare
What we've learned from the pandemic about driving innovation
The success of the NHS app
Importing fitness data into health systems
The untapped power of speech & AI in healthcare
What does the Healthcare Professional of the future look like?
What does the Hospital of the future look like?
The promise of a "digital pill"
Using voice to establish patient wellbeing
Simon's & Umang's proudest projects
3 Actionable things to better understand the benefits of digital health solutions
S4 Episode 17: Christina Kosmowski from LogicMonitor on the future of customer success
00:28:16
What does playing soccer in your youth have to do with being the CEO of a high-growth tech company? If you’re Christina Kosmowski from LogicMonitor then it has everything to do with how to coach a team for success. Christiana was an early employee at Salesforce where she helped to develop their customer success program, and later did the same at Slack.
Her Twitter bio describes her as a customer-obsessed CEO changing the very role of IT with customers at the centre. She is a Wife, Mother, Engineer, STEM advocate, and Soccer lover.
As CEO of LogicMonitor, Christina is responsible for accelerating the company’s hypergrowth and delivering on its brand promise of helping C-level executives and their teams thrive through transformation.
Prior to assuming the role of CEO, Christina served as LogicMonitor’s President, leading go-to-market strategy, R&D, customer success and operations.
Christina came to LogicMonitor from Slack, where she spent four years building and leading Customer Success and Enterprise Go To Market Teams and also spent 15 years at Salesforce, where she oversaw functions including renewals, consulting, support and customer success.
This is s a fascinating episode to peek inside the workings of a successful Software as a Service company and understand how they delight customers.
In this episode we covered:
The difference between customer success and customer service
The difference with a Software as a Service business
Biggest learnings from Customer Success teams at Slack and Salesforce
Becoming a customer-obsessed CEO
Sharing insights across clients by connecting them
Collaborating with clients
Christina’s authentic personal brand
Lessons from the pandemic
The “where is Christina” channel in Slack
Adapting management styles due to the pandemic
Analysing customer losses
How Christina’s engineering training has helped her career
What Christina said “yes” to multiple opportunities
Advice for secondary school students
The influence of soccer on leading teams
Why human relationships should be an industry priority
Christina’s Personal “board of advisors”
Selecting mentors
The best piece of business advice ever given
Innovation at Logic Monitor
Best practices to develop a customer success program
S4 Episode 18: Sanjay Srivastava Chief Digital Officer at Genpact on their partnership with the Envision Racing Team and the future of electric vehicles
00:47:00
High-growth, high-performance companies need to do extraordinary things to remain competitive. I recently had the opportunity to see how leading professional services firm Genpact is leveraging their sponsorship of the Envision Formula E Racing team in ways beyond what they imagined when they teamed up in 2018.
I was invited to Silverstone, the home of British Racing to view first-hand the Envision Racing cars, as well as speak to one of the team drivers, Robin Frijns as well as Team principal, Sylvain Fillipi, and understand how Genpact’s partnership is giving the team a competitive advantage.
Owned by leading digital energy company Envision Group, Envision Racing is one of the founding and leading outfits in the FIA Formula E World Championship
As we will hear in my 2-part podcast series, the championship is more than just a racing series, it's a battle for the future. Formula E cars, powered by pure electricity, are paving the way for the cars of tomorrow.
Genpact is a principal partner of the team, and as we will hear from Genpact’s Chief Digital Officer, Sanjay Srivastava, their partnership goes way beyond their logo on the cars.
Genpact powers many of the solutions to analyse the reams of data from the car after each race and provide actionable insights to tune the car for peak performance under race conditions.
Sanjay explains in the first podcast: “Not only have we helped deliver performance on the racetrack, not only have we helped with the race against climate change, we've actually taken these learnings and applied it to a real business.”
My discussion with Sanjay was wide-ranging and covered many topics around data, analytics, and how the learnings from the racetrack are making it into their customer engagements in a meaningful way.
This podcast is timely, ahead of the London 2022 E-Prix to be held this weekend at ExCeL London – home of the world's first indoor/outdoor circuit where I will be a guest of Genpact to record a second podcast with Shibu Nambiar, their Chief Operating Officer.
S4 Episode 19: Karen Jacobsen - the GPS Girl on her serendipitous role as the original Australian voice of Siri
00:39:55
Our guest is world-famous and while you may not heard of her, you may have heard her voice!
Aussie-born and now back in Australia, Karen Jacobsen’s speaking voice is in over 1 Billion GPS units and smartphones worldwide giving directions.
From a single voice-over booking, she created her empowerment brand “The GPS Girl”, teaching the five directions for “recalculating" in business and life.
An award-winning Singer and Songwriter, Karen's musical career highlights include sharing the bill with Norah Jones, Neil Sedaka and Christopher Cross and singing the national anthem at major sporting events including 80,000 people at the Giants Stadium for the New York Jets.
A TEDx speaker, Karen has enjoyed wide media coverage including the NBC Today Show, ABC World News Tonight, the CBS Early Show, The New York Times, NY Daily News, Glamour magazine, being named one of People Magazine's Most Intriguing People and she hosted her own web series "Navigating New York with The GPSGirl".
Karen's voice is in demand in the studio as a Voice-Over artist recording customised voice systems and advertising campaigns and in-person as an entertainer and speaker for Corporate events around the globe.
S4 Episode 20: Tiger Tyagarajan - The former CEO of Genpact on being a lifelong learner
00:35:08
We know that technology is rapidly changing and it seems heard to keep up sometimes. We’re told that we need to become lifelong learners and this is hard for most of us that lead busy lives, but how does the Former CEO of a 100,000 person company valued at over $4Bn keep constantly learning?
This is a question I posed to Tiger Tyagarajan, Former CEO of leading professional services company Genpact on the latest episode of the Actionable Futurist® Podcast.
He is one of the industry leaders who pioneered a new global business model and transformed a division of General Electric (GE Capital International Services) into Genpact, a global professional services firm delivering digital transformation solutions for clients.
Genpact has more than 100,000 employees and annual revenues of $4 billion USD as of December 31, 2021. Tiger was appointed as Genpact’s chief executive officer in 2011 after serving as chief operating officer.
I was a guest of Genpact at the London E-Prix held last weekend at EcCeL London as they sponsor the Envision Racing Team.
As I learned in part 1 of the series when I interviewed Chief Digital Officer, Sanjay Srivastava this sponsorship goes way beyond having the logo on the car.
Tiger explains in his episode how the partnership came about, and learnings to date.
We also explored a range of other areas in our 35 minute chat including:
How has Genpact changed in the 22 years Tiger has been there
The story behind Tiger's name
Tips for being a lifelong learner
Using podcasts to facilitate continuous learning
Re-skilling and upskilling at Genpact
Empathetic Leadership
Building leaders in a remote environment
The Future of work - People. Place. Purpose
The importance of purpose
How the Envision Racing Team partnership came about
Using AI within Genpact to help clients
Key learnings from the Envision Racing Partnership
Learnings from the other Envision Racing sponsors
Key learnings from the pandemic
What Tiger looks for in new employees & jobs of the future
Tiger's involvement in Catalyst & the importance of diversity and inclusion
Three actionable things to become a lifelong learner
I’ve enjoyed getting up and close with the Formula-E cars, and also seeing how they are literally defining the future of electric vehicles, from energy management, battery design, power., braking, regeneration and overall awareness that there is a path to sustainable transportation.
Thanks to Judith Schunke - head of Genpact Marketing EMEA and also their CMO, Stacy Simpson for making the day so enjoyable, and Liam Rawson and the team at The Hoffman Agency.
S4 Episode 21: Euan Moir from Shell Recharge Solutions on the future of EV charging
00:31:20
In keeping with the renewable energy theme, and on the back of my 2 part series on the Genpact Envision Racing partnership, this podcast features Shell Recharge solutions.
We will hear from Euan Moir about how they are expanding their electric vehicle recharge network across the country into homes and offices, but also look into the future, when national electricity grids will be able to deliver as well as receive energy from electric vehicle batteries.
S4 Episode 22: Richard Hopkins from IBM on the future of Quantum Computing
00:39:35
Quantum physics has already changed our lives, thanks to the invention of the laser and the transistor, both products of quantum theory. Almost every electronic device we use today is an example of quantum physics in action.
I believe we may now be on the brink of a second quantum revolution as we attempt to harness even more of the power of the quantum world.
Quantum computing will impact many sectors, including healthcare, energy, finance, security, and entertainment. However, significant practical challenges must be overcome before this level of large-scale impact is achievable.
One of the companies at the forefront of this revolution is IBM.
To better understand Quantum Computing, its advantages and its uses, I spoke with Richard Hopkins, an expert in this field.
Richard is an IBM Distinguished Engineer and Fellow of the UK's Royal Academy of Engineering. He was also the nineteenth President of IBM's Academy of Technology. Richard became President after 25 years of field experience as an IT Architect.
We covered everything from Quantum 101 right through to how Quantum might help solve some of the world's biggest challenges - a fascinating episode for anyone who has heard of Quantum and wondered - just what is it?
We also covered:
What is Quantum Computing?
How does a Quantum Computer work?
When did IBM’s involvement in Quantum start?
What is “Quantum Advantage”?
The era of “batch computing” is here again
When would you need to use a Quantum Computer vs a standard computer?
The limitations of Quantum Computers
Edge computing and Quantum
Working together as an industry
Richard’s journey to working in Quantum
Becoming “digitally curious”
The future Quantum jobs
Non-technical roles in Quantum
Sectors that can benefit most from Quantum
The IBM Quantum network
IBM’s Quantum roadmap
AI and Quantum
The risk of Quantum and encryption
The need to be “cryptographically agile”
The good uses of Quantum Computing
Three actionable actions to better understand the promise of Quantum
S4 Episode 23: Author Byron Reese on his latest book: Stories, Dice, and Rocks That Think.
00:31:21
As a Futurist I get to explore new inventions and track the progress of all kinds of technologies. But how did we get so smart to be able to dream all of these things up? Until I interviewed Byron about his new book Stories, Dice, and Rocks That Think: How Humans Learned to See the Future — and Shape it I hadn’t given this any thought.
It is a fascinating read and looks at what makes the human mind so unique and also explores the three leaps in our history that made us who we are—and will change how you think about our future.
Clearly, we humans are radically different from the other creatures on this planet. But why?
Byron argues that we owe our special status to our ability to imagine the future and recall the past, escaping the perpetual present that all other living creatures are trapped in.
Envisioning human history as the development of a societal superorganism he names Agora, Reese shows us how this escape enabled us to share knowledge on an unprecedented scale, to predict—and eventually master—the future.
Thoughtful, witty, and compulsively readable, Reese unravels our history as an intelligent species in three acts:
Act I: Ancient humans undergo “the awakening,” developing the cognitive ability to mentally time-travel using language
Act II: In 17th century France, probability theory is born—a science for seeing into the future that we used to build the modern world
Act III: Beginning with the invention of the computer chip, humanity creates machines to gaze into the future with even more precision, overcoming the limits of our brain
The book is a fresh new look at the history and destiny of humanity, you will come away from Stories, Dice, and Rocks that Think with a new understanding of what they are—not just another animal, but a creature with a mastery of time itself.
S4 Episode 24: International Human Rights Lawyer, Author and Speaker Susie Alegre on the Freedom to Think
00:47:30
As an international lawyer, author and speaker, Susie has worked on some of the most challenging legal and political issues of our time including human rights and security, combating corruption in the developing world, protecting human rights at borders, the human rights impact of climate change on small island states, privacy, cybersecurity, disinformation, data protection and neurotech.
Her experience includes both judicial, and oversight roles in the UK and internationally.
She has particular expertise on tech ethics and neuroscience through the lens of human rights, bringing both legal skills and a background in philosophy to the key ethical questions of our time.
S4 Episode 25: Cybersecurity expert Samantha Humphries from Exabeam
00:42:40
My guest is cybersecurity expert Samantha Humphries. She has over 21 years of experience in cyber security, and during this time has held a plethora of titles, one of her favourites being Global Threat Response Manager.
Sam has defined strategies for multiple security products and technologies, helped hundreds of organisations of all shapes, sizes, and geographies recover and learn from cyberattacks, and trained anyone who’ll listen to security concepts and solutions.
In her current role, she heads up marketing and security strategy for Exabeam in EMEA.
She authors articles for various security publications, speaks frequently at industry events and enjoys mentoring new practitioners and speakers.
Sam also volunteers at community events, including BSides, The Diana Initiative, and Defcon Blue Team Village.
We discussed all things cybersecurity, password security, privacy screens, the future of cybersecurity, diversity and inclusion, and the skills gap in Cybersecurity.
S4 Episode 26: Sustainability Expert Trevor Hutchings from Gemserv
00:32:02
Environmental sustainability is often seen as just minimising the impact on a company’s business model. Environmental expert Trevor Hutchings from Gemserv argues that companies need to strive to become net-positive, giving back more than they take out.
Trevor is Director of Strategy and Communications at Gemserv and spent much of his early career in the UK civil service, working in a number of government departments and with the European Commission in Brussels, including positions at the Department of Energy and Climate Change where he was responsible for major programs on energy efficiency and the low carbon economy.
He went on to join the World Wildlife Fund, the global conservation charity, where he was Director of Advocacy, working to improve public policy on the environment.
As well as his role at Gemserv, Trevor is chair of the Green Purposes Company set up by the Government to safeguard the green mission of the UK’s Green Investment Bank.
He is also a Fellow at the Institute of Environmental Management and Assessment.
We spoke about a topic that has been in the news lately - that of the “right of repair” of technical devices and the whole notion of sustainability.
We also spoke about how companies can realistically move towards net zero, or even net positive.
S5 Episode 1: Sophia Matveeva CEO & founder of Tech For Non-Techies
00:38:27
New Year, New Season! Welcome to Season 5 of the Actionable Futurist Podcast.
To kick off the new season, I interviewed Sophia Matveeva CEO & founder of Tech For Non-Techies.
Sophia argues that you don’t have to be a tech expert to found, run or work in a technology company at senior levels.
Tech For Non-Techies is an education company and consultancy. Sophia has contributed to the Financial Times, The Guardian, and Forbes on entrepreneurship and technology, and hosts the top-rated Tech for Non-Techies podcast.
Tech for Non-Techies teaches non-technical professionals how to Speak Tech and succeed in the Digital Age through corporate & individual training programs.
As a non-technical founder, Sophia has co-created apps and algorithms that have been used by thousands, won App of the Day by Mashable, and was featured by Inc, the BBC, and more.
She has also guest lectured at the University of Chicago, London Business School, and Oxford University, and led the Blackstone x Techstars accelerator at the University of Texas at El Paso.
Sophia is a start-up mentor at the Chicago Booth Polsky Center of Entrepreneurship, and has advised leading accelerators including Chicago Booth’s New Venture Challenge and the Microsoft x London College of Fashion incubator.
She holds an MBA from Chicago Booth and a BSc (Hons) in Politics from Bristol. She speaks English, Russian and French. Sophia also sits on the Board of the University of Chicago’s Alumni in the UK.
We covered a number of issues related to being “Digitally Curious™” such as
starting a tech company without a technical background
the need for digital literacy among senior leaders
why it's important to build a bridge between technical and non-technical people?
what it means to be a “digital collaborator”?
These issues and more will be covered in Andrew's upcoming book, to be published by Wiley later in 2023.
S5 Episode 2: Dr Lynn Gribble on the opportunities for Generative AI in Education
00:44:56
Generative Artificial Intelligence or Generative AI - is a relatively new term that is being mentioned a lot when it comes to AI chat engines such as ChatGPT and AI-generated art from platforms such as Midjourney.
One of the industries that is most intrigued by this technology is the education sector.
Plagiarism has been a problem for years, but now a tool like ChatGPT can write a whole assignment in seconds, what does this mean for the sector?
To find out more, I invited back Dr Lynn Gribble, Associate Professor at University of New South Wales in Sydney, who has appeared on the podcast twice before - back in Season 1 to talk about the Future of People Management and in Season 2, spoke about Thriving in Uncertainty during the height of the Covid-19 pandemic.
She’s back for Season 5 to talk about the impact of Generative AI tools such as AI on education – something I know Lynn and her peers have been debating since the ChatGPT was launched late in 2022.
Lynn joined UNSW after a long corporate career in Learning and Development as well as Human Resources.
Holding Masters qualifications in both Education with a focus on aligning personal and organisational values and Labour Law and Relations, Lynn’s PhD looked at the effects of retrenchment on humans.
We spoke about a number of issues related to Generative AI and education:
The issues around plagiarism, ethics and integrity when it comes to using Generative AI in an education setting
How industries outside of education might use this new AI technology
How are universities coping with the introduction of these tools into the mix
How Generative AI has the opportunity to provide equality for those that struggle with literacy
Lynn's 3 actionable tips for better understanding the power of Generative AI
S5 Episode 3: Thomas Bedenk from Endava on the opportunities for Extended Reality and the Metaverse
00:31:37
The topics of Extended Reality (XR) and The Metaverse are becoming more and more popular. Once the sole domain of gamers, we are now seeing a range of corporate examples for XR, which are building interest in what's next for the space.
To find out more, and understand what types of scenarios are right for these new platforms, I spoke with Thomas Bedenk from Endava.
Thomas has over 25 years of experience in digital productions, focusing on Strategy, XR, and UX to support digital transformation across various industries.
Past XR projects he led span from product design and training to marketing applications for internationally known brands.
Thomas is a frequent speaker at international conferences, an advisor for start-ups, and a fixture at industry associations and events.
His love for digital creation started when he was playing Pac-Man against his twin brother on the Atari 800XL, leading Thomas to develop his first own video game in 1996.
We covered a number of topics including:
The biggest challenge or opportunity in the XR space and what should businesses be doing to prepare for this?
How the Metaverse has evolved
How XR could be used for hybrid working
The foundation of successful VR: Presence : Agency : Social
When VR is suitable - when something is Dangerous, Impossible, Counter-intuitive, or Expensive
S5 Episode 4: Andie Wood from Workiva on Sustainable Finance
00:36:18
Finance, meet Sustainability. On this episode of the podcast, I spoke with Andromeda (Andie) Wood who is Vice President for Regulatory Strategy for Workiva.
She is an expert in the role of technology in corporate reporting, taxonomy design and data modelling, and holds a wealth of knowledge and deep understanding of the impact of EU and UK regulation on global firms, particularly in the areas of corporate transparency and ESG.
There is an undeniable global shift towards greater standardisation in reporting ESG initiatives across markets.
As it stands, corporate reporting comprises the financial statements and management reports of companies, including non-financial and corporate governance statements, as well as country-by-country reporting.
Under the new directive, reports would also include sustainability information.
While new standards consolidate several diverse formats previously used for reporting on ESG progress, Andie explains why transforming standards will cultivate a more hygienic reporting culture that will champion ESG results.
We covered a lot of ground in this podcast, such as:
Push for improvement: These new standards address a worrying lack of clarity on how to report on sustainability, including information on methodology requirements, to more accurately highlight failure points
Future-proof ESG reporting: They will help businesses to mitigate challenges and prepare for the unknown by implementing processes that establish flexibility and control
Acknowledging that ESG plays a direct role in top-line growth: New standards establish critical business success factors, highlighting the role of ESG and encouraging businesses to integrate it into the overall business strategy
Moving towards international comparability: An incremental, but mindful, transition towards transparent reporting will help to build up a rich history of reporting across regions which investors can use to better judge business progress, both individually and competitively
This was an interesting podcast and introduced me to the link between finance and sustainability.
S5 Episode 5: James Butland from Airwallex on the Future of Finance
00:25:40
What’s the future of finance?
To answer this question I spoke with James Butland, Vice President of Financial Partnerships, EMEA for Airwallex.
Airwallex was founded by four friends, Jack Zhang, Max Li, Lucy Liu, and Xijing Dai, in Melbourne, Australia in 2015 and was inspired by real-life experiences.
Out of their love for good coffee, engineering-banking friends Jack Zhang and Max Li started Tukk & Co, a café in Melbourne.
As small business owners, they recognised first-hand the impact of high foreign exchange (FX) fees and banking costs on their profit margins, and sought out to build a better solution for businesses operating cross-border, improving on the constraints of the current global financial system.
Specifically they wanted to solve the pain points surrounding cross-border transactions and empower businesses of all sizes to operate anywhere, anytime.
What's the future of the financial services industry?
The financial services industry is undergoing a radical transformation, partly through the forces demanded by regulation, as well as the needs of consumers and small and large enterprises.
New Banking-as-a-Service (BaaS) platforms can help to drive improved customer experience and business growth, and also could be the key to unlocking the future of the financial services industry.
Increasingly companies are now investing in incorporating financial products and services into their core business models.
To meet this rising demand for embedded finance, traditional financial institutions and challengers are increasingly offering BaaS options.
But where do you start?
James answers these questions and more, including how new banking platforms can empower a “talent anywhere” strategy for a reimagined workforce, allowing the best people to be hired no matter where they live, even if a company doesn’t have a physical presence in that country.
S5 Episode 6: Katie Burke from Accenture on their Life Trends 2023 Report
00:40:41
“Permacrisis” was the 2022 Collins Dictionary word of the year, and this year, people are seeking ways to adapt in an uncertain world.
Accenture identified five emerging trends that will alter the power dynamic between brands and customers in the coming 12 months and beyond:
1: Permacrisis and human adaptability
2: What’s next for loyalty?
3: The importance of work intangibles
4: AI is now in people’s hands for creativity
5: Digital wallets: a question of adoption
This year, people are seeking ways to adapt in an uncertain world.
Emerging technologies are giving control to the people, with never-before-seen outcomes for businesses and individuals.
Artificial intelligence lets people express their natural creativity, Web3 offers the chance to help shape the brands they love, and tokenization may soon hand them full control over their personal data.
How will brands build trust and leverage new technologies for growth?
Building on the 15-year legacy of Fjord Trends, this report—Accenture Life Trends 2023—has the same inspiring content. This year's report is rooted in life centricity and examines the ways in which people are adapting their lives and making use of emerging technology to meet their changing needs.
To examine the report in greater detail, we spoke to Katie Burke, Accenture Song’s Metaverse Continuum Global Content & Offering Lead, working with clients around the globe on their entry into the next wave of the internet.
Sitting within Accenture Song’s innovation and thought leadership practice, she currently serves as the lead content writer for the annual Life Trends report, as well as leading Accenture Song’s ground-up innovation program, that explores technologies that are signalling on the future of humanity, future of interactions, and future of brands.
Katie’s career has been at the intersection of humans, innovation, and creativity. She has created three metaverse experiences for Accenture since the start of the pandemic and has created two thriving digital communities, which is one of the key attributes of Web3.
S5 Episode 7: Maya Moufarek - Founder and Full Stack CMO at MarketingCube
00:28:02
We’ve heard of “full-stack Engineers”, but what is a Full Stack CMO? To find out I spoke with Maya Moufarek, CEO of strategic growth consultancy Marketing Cube for the latest Actionable Futurist Podcast.
Maya has over 15 years in the tech and direct-to-consumer industries with roles at Google, Amex, Cisco and LG and she is passionate about working with ambitious entrepreneurs and purpose-driven CEOs to deliver truly sustainable growth.
She says she is proud to be multicultural and multilingual, having had the pleasure of living and working in Moscow, Paris, Amsterdam, New York City, San Francisco and here in London.
We covered a lot of issues related to marketing in start-up companies, including:
What it means to be a "Full-stack CMO”
Understanding the human psyche to be a good marketer
The secret to building sustainable & profitable growth plans
The one common mistake that start-up CEOs make
The specific characteristics of high-growth companies
S5 Episode 8: Mark Pinsent from The Hoffman Agency on Remote Working and the art of Storytelling
01:04:17
Remote working as an option for the modern workforce is here to stay - so what advice would someone who's been working remotely for years have for others?
To answer this question, I spoke with Mark Pinsent, Managing Director, Europe for The Hoffman Agency - a leading Technology PR company.
Mark graduated in 1992 with a degree in Information and Computing Science but his creative streak saw him enter the world of marketing and communications.
He says he’s spent 28 happy years developing and delivering campaigns for B2B and B2C brands in the UK and internationally.
In the second half of the podcast, from the 36:44 mark, we spoke about the art of storytelling and how PR can help organisations tell a great story.
Mark is coming to us today from his “location agnostic” office in France.
The episode is a long one, just over an hour, but worth listening to every minute.
We recorded this back in June 2022, when things were stating to return to normal. Thankfully in March 2023, things seem much more open.
S5 Episode 9: Shahid Ahmed from NTT on the opportunities for Private 5G networks
00:35:15
5G networks are all about speed and capacity, so private 5G networks are just a closed version of the same - right? Think again. Private wireless networks are on the rise, and to find out more, I spoke with Shahid Ahmed, Group EVP of New Ventures and Innovation at NTT, on the latest Actionable Futurist Podcast.
He is responsible for driving new digital experiences, offerings and technologies that create growth and transform people’s lives and companies and brings over 25 years of experience leading large services businesses with a focus on business transformation.
In this show, we looked at several issues, including:
• The difference between public and private 5G networks • The strengths of WiFi vs Private 5G • The opportunity for edge computing and 5G services • How NTT drives innovation • The power of a distributed workforce
5G private networks won’t replace WiFi but will deliver new services in locations and industries requiring increased security and control.
NTT surveyed 200 CIOs within the industrial manufacturing and automotive sectors, and they cited that the reason for deploying private 5G networks was not because of latency and speed but because of the inherent need for security and control.
S5 Episode 10: John Phillips from Zuora on the subscription economy
00:39:52
I’ve been guilty of quoting the phrase “The subscription Economy” many times over the last few years without really knowing who coined it - its origins are actually with Tien Tzuo, CEO of Zuora.
To explain more, I was joined by John Smith Phillips, Senior Vice President of SVP Sales & General Manager, EMEA at Zuora on the latest Actionable Futurist Podcast.
We looked at how subscription services might adapt in the future and looked at how John and his clients are currently moving towards a recurring revenue model.
Zuora has helped businesses in all industries transition to subscription models, working with businesses from the Guardian to Schneider Electric.
As John mentions, when you have a recurring revenue model and platform, you can actually see how your customers are consuming the service - and make changes or better versions of the existing product.
This is a fascinating chat about something many of us take for granted.
S5 Episode 11: Hannah Greenwood from Cascãd on the future of leadership and the champion mindset
00:45:55
What traits does the leader of the future need to survive? To answer this question, I spoke to Hannah Greenwood, an international Leadership Speaker, Coach and Writer who works with individuals and global teams to facilitate creative enquiry and implement change.
She founded Cascãd over 19 years ago and specialises in developing the "Champion Mindset" - the alchemic combination of innovative thinking and positive energy.
Cascãd’s Champion Mindset has helped individuals and companies achieve extraordinary things by harnessing the potential of true change.
Hannah is an Associate at London Business School and was formerly Head of Counselling Courses at the Metanoia Training Institute for Psychotherapy and an Adjunct Professor at HULT International Business School teaching the MBA Leadership Module.
She combines her leadership, teaching and therapeutic expertise to enable individuals to engage with their passion and to achieve excellence in their chosen field.
We covered so many things related to the future of leadership, including:
• What is a champion mindset, and why do we need one? • The difference between working one-on-one and working with a team. • The issue of presenteeism • Encouraging leaders to create teams that others want to join • Creating modern leaders • Transformational inner change
She also recommended an excellent book during the quickfire round, so you must listen to the end.
We last spoke to Susie on the podcast in 2022, before the Generative AI tool ChatGPT had been released, so in this show, Susie provided an update on her views on ChatGPT and AI in general.
We looked at the current trends in AI, and Susie provided some advice for the big tech companies about how they take the next steps with these powerful tools.
In a recent interview, she said: “If artificial intelligence doesn’t know the answer, it simply makes up plausible response, but it automates the prejudices of our societies and delivers them with the confidence of a crypto salesman”.
She asks the question we're all asking - Chat GPT: What is it for?
To end the podcast, she provided three actionable tips on how to best use Generative AI tools:
1. think about why you're using it instead of using your own brain or your own time
2. Don't believe a word it says; double check possibly through Google or maybe go to a library
3. Play with it. But don't trust it.
This show provides a fascinating update to our previous podcast and is very timely.
More on Susie can be found on her website. You can purchase her book here. Listen to our first podcast here.
Thanks for listening to Digitally Curious. You can buy the book that showcases these episodes at curious.click/order
Your Host is Actionable Futurist® Andrew Grill
For more on Andrew - what he speaks about and recent talks, please visit ActionableFuturist.com
S5 Episode 13: Heather Dawe from UST on Generative AI
00:26:42
We’ve heard so much over the last few months about Generative AI and in particular, ChatGPT, so what does it all mean for companies, and what’s coming next?
To answer these questions and more, I spoke with Heather Dawe, UK Head of Data at UST. She is is a well-known Data Leader with over 20 years of experience working across the industry.
Heather has worked at a senior level as a Statistician and Data Scientist within government, the wider public sector and industry.
With expertise in the health, retail, telecommunications, insurance and finance domains, Heather seeks to problem-solve and innovate with real-world challenges, within large organisations, academia, start-ups and incubators.
She also pioneered the development of multi-disciplinary data science teams within the UK public sector.
Heather is passionate about helping others to develop their skills and expertise. She is an advocate for democratising AI as well as achieving greater diversity in those who develop it.
We covered a range of important topics in the field of Generative AI including:
Defining AI and Machine Learning
Where Generative AI fits in the AI family
What the “GPT” in ChatGPT means
How ChatGPT actually works
Chat GPT3 vs ChatGPT4
Is ChatGPT a step-change moment for AI?
Are we expecting too much from AI?
Do we need a pause on AI developments?
How can we regulate new AI platforms?
How Heather has been using ChatGPT
Does ChatGPT have a political bias?
The power of Generative AI for company data
How Cybercriminals could be using Generative AI
Heather’s work with clients at UST
Generative AI predictions in 1, 3 and 5 years
Three actionable things to better understand AI systems
S5 Episode 14: Gaurav Rao from AtScale on Ethical AI
00:35:54
AI Ethics isn’t just something we should be aware of - it is a movement according to Gaurav Rao from AtScale. Gaurav says “To me AI Ethics is a movement. and the reason why I define it as a movement is I think it has two distinct parts. There's technical frameworks that are continuing to evolve, and there's societal best practices, and both of these are put in conjunction to drive the responsible use of AI.
Gaurav is EVP & GM of Machine Learning and AI at AtScale and has been working in the AI space for a long time, and he really knows this topic.
This episode is a really interesting one, as it peels away the layers of AI and ethics and challenges you to think about how your internal processes are structured to support the ethical use of AI.
Bad decisions made by AI may have a limited impact when it comes to song choices, but when reviewing who might get a home loan or health insurance, it could have far-reaching societal implications.
Gaurav argues that the issue of AI Ethics goes beyond the risk and legal departments and is something that your marketing and sales teams should be looking at now.
As always, the Actionable Futurist Podcast show also provides actionable advice you can put into place today and next week.
We discussed a range of issues related to AI and ethics including:
Ethical considerations when developing AI systems and models
The implications of bad decisions when AI is involved
The role of regulation and AI ethics
The ethical challenges Governments face with AI
How can we trust AI systems
Involving the Chief Risk Officer in AI discussions
Where to go to learn more about ethics AI issues
Many of my clients have set up AI working groups to share best practices across departments because AI is now no longer the domain of the tech teams, it is permeating every area of every company.
With AI in the news on a daily basis, you need to consider the ethical use of AI in your business, so set aside 35 minutes this week and listen to this episode.
S5 Episode 15: Stephanie Antonian on AI's love letter to humanity
00:57:08
We all know that ethics are important in AI, but beyond doing the right thing, are we actually focusing on the things that matter with the current AI tools?
While ChatGPT can write you an analysis of a Shakespeare play to help you pass the semester, should AI be used for more pressing world problems - and are we building AI on the wrong paradigm?
AI Ethicist Stephanie Antonian thinks so. I first met Stephanie at a recent Cadastra event around e-commerce, and over networking drinks, we debated these points about AI.
Having worked for Accenture, Google, DeepMind and GoogleX, she has been thinking about the role of AI in humanity for some time.
She has written a series of essays, the latest one titled: “On Generative AI: Denying the Necessary Limits of Knowledge” and asks the question: What if uncertainty was the secret to advancing knowledge?
Her thinking sparked my curiosity, so a few weeks ago, I packed my portable podcast recorder and we went for a 90-minute walk around London’s Regent’s Park to discuss these issues and more.
We covered a lot of ground (literally around 4 kilometres) and one phrase that captivated me was "AI is a love letter to humanity".
We explore this and much more in this fascinating episode including:
How Stephanie got started in AI Ethics
Stephanie's experience with AI
The biggest issue in AI Ethics at the moment
Dealing with algorithmic bias
The issue with AI regulation
Highlights of working for Google, Deep Mind and X
Advice for graduates working in tech
How can AI be used for good?
Dealing with the hype around Generative AI and ChatGPT
Humanity’s problem of fact vs fiction
The problem with ChatGPT
Open-sourcing the truth to train AI
Should AI development be halted?
Stephanie’s essays
Love and AI
The role of empathy in AI
The link between AI and self-worth
The hysteria in the AI industry
Are we building AI on the wrong paradigm?
The opportunity for AI
The need for ethics and integrity in AI
Where will the next phase of positive innovation come from?
AI’s love letter to humanity
Will AI take our jobs?
How does AI compare to previous innovations?
Are you worried about AI?
Three actionable tips to better understanding AI opportunities & threats
S5 Episode 16: Mark McCrindle on Generational Impact, and AI’s impact on the future of work
00:37:44
Baby Boomers, Generation X, Gen Y, Millennials, Gen Z and now Gen Alpha. Is it right to define whole generations with a letter, and are we all that different?
How can understanding generational differences pave the way for a successful future in the workforce, and how will Generative AI impact different generations?
To answer these questions and more, I spoke with Social Researcher Mark McCrindle, who has spent his career examining each generation and how technology and societal issues affect each type.
In this far-ranging discussion, we also covered:
Putting labels on generations
How technology impacts each generation
Technology adoption across the generations
Encouraging older generations to become digitally curious
Generational Impact on Workforce Dynamics
The Generations and the future of work
The impact of hybrid working in each generation.
Hybrid Work, Employee Experience
Where does wellness fit into the modern workplace?
The importance of “employee experience”
Future Employment Culture and Impact
The need for re-skilling the workforce
The impact of Generative AI on the workforce
Enterprise GPT impacts
Advice for leaders to attract and retain talent
What is the future of work and how do we get there?
Three actionable tips to better understand the changing workforce
If you want to understand how technology is likely to affect each generation and what is the future of work, then this episode is for you.
Join us as we discuss the generational impact of technology on society and the workplace with Mark McCrindle, founder and principal of McCrindle Research. Prepare to uncover insights into how generational labels define us, and the crucial role they play in shaping workforce dynamics.
We'll delve into the importance of bridging the gap between young and experienced employees, as well as the future of hybrid work and the significance of employee experience in retaining top talent. Learn how bringing together diverse generations within the workplace creates a level playing field, fosters understanding, and ultimately prepares organizations for the challenges ahead.
Mark shares his wisdom on the importance of fostering organizational culture and investing in training and development to attract, retain, and empower the best talent.
Don't miss this engaging conversation with Mark McCrindle, where we uncover the mysteries of generational impact, technology, and the future of work in a world of Generative AI. More on Mark Mark on LinkedIn McCrindle Research
Thanks for listening to Digitally Curious. You can buy the book that showcases these episodes at curious.click/order
Your Host is Actionable Futurist® Andrew Grill
For more on Andrew - what he speaks about and recent talks, please visit ActionableFuturist.com
S5 Episode 17: Journey to the Future: How 5G Technology is Changing Rail Networks with Nokia
00:24:42
When you settle into your seat on your next rail journey, see if you notice small towers dotted along the journey right next to the track. These are GSM-R base stations - a private GSM network for rail operators.
Launched in the UK around 2007, the technology is based on the GSM mobile standard, and GSM-R suppliers have committed to support this system until 2030.
So what’s the future of rail communications? Enter the Future Railway Mobile Communication System (FRMCS) using the latest 5G technologies.
To learn more about the opportunity for this new mode of operation, I spoke with Jochen Apel, Global Vice President of Digital Industries at Nokia, on the latest Actionable Futurist Podcast.
We explored the exciting world of 5G technology for rail networks and its potential for transforming the rail industry.
We also discussed the unique benefits of upgrading from the existing GSMR system to a 5G-based system, such as faster data speeds, a larger ecosystem of vendors, and more data to support critical operations, automation, and asset management.
Jochen also sheds light on the potential of the Future Rail Mobile Communication System (FRMCS) as a global standard.
We dive into the trials being run by Nokia with customers and SNCF, SBB, and Deutsche Bahn, and discuss the transition process for rail operators moving to FRMCS systems.
Don't miss this enlightening episode as we uncover the advantages of 5G technology integration for rail networks and learn what smart rail operators can do now to prepare for this imminent change.
We covered topics such as:
What is the future of Rail?
The Future Rail Mobile Communication System (FRMCS)
What is holding back the move to FRMCS
Unique benefits of the Nokia approach
The opportunity for FRMCS to become a global standard
5G's use in Rail Networks
New services unlocked by FRMCS
Transitioning to new FRMCS services
What should smart rail operators be doing to prepare?
What does a forward-looking rail operator look like?
Three actionable things to better understand the needs of modern transportation networks
S5 Episode 18: AI in Marketing - Debunking Myths and Exploring Opportunities with Isabel Perry of DEPT
00:39:25
How will AI shape the future of marketing and advertising? Join us for a thought-provoking discussion with our guest, Isabel Perry, VP of Emerging Technology at DEPT, as we explore the role of AI and its impact on various industries.
Isabel shares valuable insights on how her background in architecture has prepared her for the challenges of working with cutting-edge technology and how DEPT's unique approach helps brands stay ahead of the competition throughout their digital customer journey.
We dive deep into the myths and opportunities surrounding AI, augmented reality's potential societal impacts, and recall's power in AI-driven conversation management. Listen as Isabel discusses the ethical issues related to AI and content creation, the need for industry bodies to assist regulators, and the potential of AI to provide equal advantages for everyone.
Finally, we examine the future of AI in marketing and how individuals and businesses can stay updated with the latest technology. Discover the skills needed for the advertising and marketing intern of the future and the potential of AI tools in streamlining the creative process.
Join us for this enlightening conversation with Isabel Perry that covers everything from AI ethics to the future of marketing.
S5 Episode 19: Unlocking Generative AI's Potential: Ethics, Creativity, and Impact - recorded LIVE at London Tech Week
00:44:17
What if you could unlock the full potential of Generative AI and its impact on your life and company? Get ready for a fascinating fireside chat recorded live in front of an audience at the offices of leading international law firm RPC during London Tech Week.
The Actionable Futurist Andrew Grill was interviewed on stage by Helen Armstrong, a Partner in RPC’s IP and technology disputes team.
The discussion examined the risks, issues, and ethics surrounding this powerful technology and the roles played by giants like OpenAI, Google, and Facebook in this rapidly evolving space.
This episode also covers the current applications and trends of generative AI in the retail and consumer sectors and how it's already making a mark on our daily lives.
As we navigate the complex world of AI regulation, Andrew shared his insights on explainability, transparency, trust within AI systems, and the implications of the UK Government's white paper on AI.
The episode also touched on the challenges of IP rights, GDPR, ongoing AI model training, and the importance of auditing systems to prevent bias.
Don't miss this thought-provoking conversation as we uncover the incredible potential of generative AI, its ability to unleash creativity, and the crucial need for ethical use of this game-changing technology.
We covered a lot of ground in this episode, including:
Generative AI and Its Impact
Chat GPT’s definition of a futurist
What is Generative AI?
Why AI is so popular now
The risks of using Generative AI
Why ChatGPT so confidently provides incorrect answers
How ChatGPT actually works
ChatGPT data sources
Is ChatGPT that useful?
The “magnet of mediocrity”
Where is Generative AI being used?
The “enthusiastic always-on intern”
The need for critical thinkers
The responsible use of AI
Challenges and Considerations for Generative AI
The AI black box problem
The challenges for regulation around AI
Can we trust AI?
Regulation areas for AI
Government response to AI regulation
Are you involving your risk department around AI?
Recruitment considerations for AI teams
The future of Generative AI
Enterprise AI Implementation
EnterpriseGPT challenges
Will AI provide us with more free time to be creative?
Actionable items for tomorrow
Your two tribes and the opportunity for a hackathon
Why AI comes at a cost
Is your data “AI ready”?
Will AI replace human creativity?
Adobe’s AI products
Accenture’s use of AI generated imagery in a report
Generative AI will drive more creativity
Audience questions included
Who is responsible for ensuring AI training data is valid
Will AI disrupt or strengthen the economy?
The environmental impacts of Generative AI
The difference between human emotional intellig
Thanks for listening to Digitally Curious. You can buy the book that showcases these episodes at curious.click/order
Your Host is Actionable Futurist® Andrew Grill
For more on Andrew - what he speaks about and recent talks, please visit ActionableFuturist.com
S5 Episode 21: The Ethics and Implications of Data Privacy in the Digital World with Anton Christodoulou from Imagination
00:24:51
In the race to dominate Al we have seen our data privacy, democracy, and even our human rights impacted.
To understand what brands and consumers need to do to fight back, I spoke with Anton Christodoulou, Group Chief Technology Officer at leading experiential design company, Imagination and co-founder of the new Trust 3.0 initiative.
The Trust 3.0 initiative is a Data Privacy Advocacy Group convening the brightest minds in privacy, AI, and technology to champion responsible innovation for a safer society.
I’m proud to say that I’m also a part of this timely initiative.
Anton is responsible for overseeing Imagination's global technology strategy, project and service delivery execution; to deliver immersive, engaging and measurable experiences to clients including Mastercard, Ford, Major League Baseball, Jaguar Land Rover and Shell.
I started our discussion by asking Anton more about Trust 3.0 and why it has been set up.
This episode looks at its implications on data privacy for consumers and businesses and offers a deep dive into the necessity of transparency, security, and fair exchange of value in handling customer data.
We also discuss how businesses can leverage this to promote trust and security.
S5 Episode 20: Unraveling the Future of Self-Sovereign Identity with Marie Wallace from Accenture
00:38:10
Consumers are beginning to understand that their personal data has real value, but it is still held in the hands of big technology companies. The promise of consumers managing and owning their own data will become a reality thanks to decentralised or self-sovereign identity (SSI).
To delve into this topic, I'm delighted to welcome onto the podcast Marie Wallace, Digital Identity Lead at Accenture.
Marie and I both had the chance to work together at IBM and I've always enjoyed our discussions about analytics and data, and this conversation explains SSI in a very accessible way.
Self-Sovereign Identity, or decentralized identity, is a model where individuals have full control over their personal data.
During the episode, Marie debunked the common myth that implementing this model necessitates a blockchain, and we looked at the concept of "streaming trust".
We also looked at Marie's instrumental role in projects like IBM's Digital Health Pass and New York's Excelsior Pass during the pandemic.
A fascinating part of the discussion revolved around the concept of verifiable data, and the potential of AI in offering personalised career advice, primed with our own personal data.
We also examined how companies might interact with customers to provide incentives for releasing individual data and how LinkedIn is starting to verify profiles to allow individuals to have more control over the data they own.
This episode also looked at the integral role of trust networks, the need for secure digital wallets, and the exciting prospects of verifiable data.
We also covered topics such as
The concept of "streaming trust" & how SSI works
Sovereign identity & worker onboarding
Trusting the trust provider
The need for secure, trusted digital wallets
Using SSI to validate my LinkedIn profile
Exploring the Concept of Verifiable Data
Empowering consumers with their own data
The role of AI with SSI & personal data
SSI drivers: risk, cost, fraud reduction
Where do I store my SSI data?
The Philosophy of Self-Sovereign Identity
Examples where SSI is working already
Self-Sovereign Identity and AI Explorations
Embedding trust with the supply chain
AI uses in SSI
Empowering Individuals with Self-Sovereign Identity
Who needs to drive SSI adoption?
The biggest challenge in SSI
What are the steps to take to control my own data?
Being more data literate and caring about your identity and online safety
Three actionable steps to manage your own identity
S5 Episode 22: Navigating the World of General Artificial Intelligence with Peter Voss from Aigo.ai
00:19:03
Can machines really think like humans? What is the future of General Artificial Intelligence (GAI) when machines more closely resemble human behaviour than ever before?
In this episode, Peter unveils his journey into the realm of General Artificial Intelligence (GAI) and his vision of machines possessing the ability to think, learn, and reason like humans. We look at the intricacies of General AI and how it sets itself apart from narrow AI.
The episode also looks at how companies are tackling the immense challenges associated with crafting machines with general intelligence - from understanding the significance of concept formation in artificial general intelligence to discussing the role of quantum computing and resources in AI development.
Peter also provided his views on the potential of machines developing empathy and the role of AI in ethical and moral debates, and answers the questions I've always wanted to ask - can AI feel empathy and love?
Finally, we take a peek into the future as Peter shares how Aigo.ai is harnessing the power of conversational AI to revolutionize personalised experiences.
Peter Voss is the world's foremost authority in Artificial General Intelligence. He coined the term 'AGI' in 2001 and published a book on Artificial General Intelligence in 2002.
He is a Serial AI entrepreneur, technology innovator who has for the past 20 years been dedicated to advancing Artificial General Intelligence. Peter Voss' careers include being an entrepreneur, engineer and scientist.
His experience includes founding and growing a technology company from zero to a 400-person IPO. For the past 20 years, his focus has been on developing AGI (artificial general intelligence). In 2008 Peter founded Smart Action Company, which offers the only call automation solution powered by an AGI engine.
He is now CEO & Chief Scientist at Aigo.ai Inc., which is developing and selling increasingly advanced AGI systems for large enterprise customers. Peter also has a keen interest in the inter-relationship between philosophy, psychology, ethics, futurism, and computer science.
Thanks for listening to Digitally Curious. You can buy the book that showcases these episodes at curious.click/order
Your Host is Actionable Futurist® Andrew Grill
For more on Andrew - what he speaks about and recent talks, please visit ActionableFuturist.com
S5 Episode 23: Shaping the Future of Enterprise-Grade AI with Umesh Sachdev of Uniphore
00:45:04
Imagine a world where AI seamlessly integrates into your daily workflows, driving productivity gains, efficiency increases, and automation.
AI and in particular Generative AI is all over the media, and now companies are looking at how they should be introducing AI into the enterprise.
While Generative AI platforms such as ChatGPT have been trained on publicly available data, they may not be suitable for always-on and mission-critical systems. So what’s the opportunity for enterprise-grade AI?
To answer this question, I’m delighted to have on this episode Umesh Sachdev, CEO of Uniphore, an Enterprise-class, AI-native company that has set out to transform businesses delivering compelling and engaging customer and employee experiences.
As we navigate the exciting yet challenging landscape of AI, we discuss potential pitfalls along the way. Umesh candidly shares insights into vital areas like regulation, data security, and total cost of ownership.
We dive into how regulation is necessary, including guardrails for AI ensuring ethical use of public data, and protecting against biases and inappropriate use.
Umesh also provided three actionable steps to ready your business for the AI revolution.
S5 Episode 24: Transforming the Legal Industry: The Role and Impact of AI with Jaeger Glucina from Luminance
00:27:23
The world of law is not immune to the sweeping changes brought about by technological advancements, specifically the advent of Artificial Intelligence. In a fascinating discussion with Jaeger Glucina, Chief of Staff at Luminance, we delve into how AI is reshaping the legal industry and creating new possibilities for efficiency and accuracy in legal processes.
Built on a proprietary legal Large Language Model (LLM), Luminance uses next-generation AI to automate the generation, negotiation and analysis of contracts. Developed by world-leading AI experts and validated by leading lawyers, Luminance’s specialist ‘legal-grade’ AI is a trusted co-pilot for any legal team.
From taking a first pass review of any contract under negotiation, to a first-of-its-kind AI chatbot for redrafting clauses on-the-fly and an intelligent contract repository for granular insight into any contractual landscape, Luminance brings AI to every touchpoint a lawyer has with their documents.
A key area of focus in this conversation is the revolutionary role of AI in contract drafting and reviewing. Luminance is leading the way by using a combination of generative and analytical AI to improve accuracy and efficiency in these areas. This technology allows for the identification of risk elements in contracts and the generation of drafts with simple prompts.
As Jaeger highlights, this is a significant shift from traditional legal processes and has the potential to greatly improve the working lives of lawyers and legal professionals.
One of the fascinating aspects of AI's integration into the legal sector is its potential to redefine traditional business models. A significant shift is taking place in how lawyers bill for their services. AI is introducing opportunities for automation, leading to a drastic reduction in time spent on certain tasks. This change is influencing the billing model in the legal industry, moving away from hourly billing towards value-based pricing.
As the legal industry continues to embrace AI, there's a growing need for digital literacy among legal professionals. The integration of AI into legal processes requires a workforce that understands and can effectively utilize these new tools.
Jaeger underscores the importance of equipping legal professionals with the necessary digital skills to harness the full potential of AI in their work.
S5 Episode 25: The Future of Multicloud Technology: A Deep Dive with Steve Young of Dell Technologies
00:43:40
On this episode of the Actionable Futurist Podcast, I had an in-depth conversation with Steve Young, UK SVP & Managing Director for Dell Technologies, on why it is now critical that CEOs, CIOs, CFOs and CISOs play a role in driving a well-planned multicloud strategy for their businesses.
In recent years, cloud technology has proliferated. However, many are realising that not all workloads and applications are suited to a single public cloud environment. Or, in fact, a public cloud environment at all.. As such, going 'multi-cloud' has been implemented unintentionally rather than strategically.
The need for a multi-cloud approach is now more urgent as companies are deploying more complicated applications and services, so this Podcast is timely and important for business leaders in any organisation to hear.
The discussion made me realise that multi-cloud strategy is not just about the tech world – and as Steve highlights, it has significant implications for various industries, including financial services and FMCG
In the podcast, we discussed how a financial services organisation has efficiently utilised multi-cloud for cost and efficiency using ground-to-cloud and cloud-to-ground approaches.
We also explored Dell Technologies' vision and differentiation in the multi-cloud space and how they focus on enabling customers to consume public cloud-style services irrespective of where their data and applications sit.
Dell Technologies is helping to bridge the gap in the market for multi-cloud skilled talent. Artificial Intelligence also impacts the multi-cloud environment, and we talked about how AI will function in a multi-cloud world.
It’s fair to say that multi-cloud environments offer numerous benefits, from increased flexibility and agility to improved cyber resilience; however, the journey towards effective multi-cloud adoption is filled with challenges.
We examined in detail how each member of the C-suite can benefit from a multi-cloud approach.
More and more, CEOs understand the importance of technology in driving business innovation and growth. Embracing a multi-cloud strategy allows CEOs to get their organisations on the front foot of digital transformation.
Steve explained how organisations can successfully navigate the multi-cloud maze through strategic planning, business understanding, and the right technological support.
We also spoke about the Dell Technologies Forum on November 28th in London that I'm attending, the premier conference for technology enthusiasts and business leaders looking to drive innovation and growth. You can sign up for a free pass at futurist.click/dell-forum
S1 Episode 5: The Future of Digital Transformation with Tiffany St James
00:33:17
In Episode 5 we speak with Digital Strategist Tiffany St James and answer the question “What’s the Future of … Digital Transformation?”
Tiffany is the former Head of Public Participation for the UK Government and an Executive Director of the British Interactive Media Association.
She embeds digital and social media capability into national and international organisations and governments, and speaks worldwide on social media, digital strategy, women in tech and tech innovation.
We discussed a range of topics relevant to companies of any size including:
Digital Transformation in the UK Government
What would you do differently?
Digital Transformation with people
How do you transform a large corporate?
Changing the physical interior of a business
Being "digitally curious"
Instilling play into corporate education
Developing your problem solving muscle
Using escape rooms to aid problem solving
"Corporate adventuring" to find out information
Running a "corporate fire drill"
Use Corporate Venturing to solve problems
The Two Tribes in every organisation
Organising a Hackathon
Be careful not to over-serve young leaders
What can the board teach young people?
Hackathons to create cultural change
Digital Diversity
Digital Maturity
The digital talent crisis
Getting people studying the right subjects
Get involved with local schools & unis
Studying a 2nd language - coding
Learning how to learn
What is Employee Experience (EX)?
Wellness in corporates - a fresh look
Quantified Workers
More productive employees take breaks together
Women in innovation
Diversity of Thought
Three things for next week
Thanks for listening to Digitally Curious. You can buy the book that showcases these episodes at curious.click/order
Your Host is Actionable Futurist® Andrew Grill
For more on Andrew - what he speaks about and recent talks, please visit ActionableFuturist.com
S6 Episode 1: The new Y2K? Quantum computing and the threat of Q-Day in 2030 with Chris Johnson from Nokia
00:21:02
Twenty-four years ago, the world prepared for the risk of a global meltdown due to the "Y2K bug" - the potential for computer errors related to the formatting and storage of calendar data for dates in and after the year 2000. The issue at the time was many programs represented four-digit years with only the final two digits, making the year 2000 indistinguishable from 1900.
Because many computer systems could not correctly distinguish dates, this had the potential to bring down worldwide infrastructures for computer-reliant industries.
Thanks to the awareness of this as early as 1985, many systems could be modified in time, and the impact of the Y2K issue was minimal.
However, a new threat is looming with the advent of Quantum computing. These mega-powerful computers will potentially be able to decrypt current-day encryption by 2030, with some cybersecurity experts suggesting it could even be as soon as next year.
What does this mean for businesses and consumers? Any currently encrypted data could be stored until such a time that quantum computers can decrypt it, exposing our most important secrets and personal information to bad actors and hackers.
Are you prepared for the quantum threat? In this first episode for season six, we discuss the risks and opportunities of quantum computing with Chris Johnson, Senior VP and Global Head of Enterprise at Nokia.
Chris explains how quantum computing will exponentially increase data volumes and processing power, potentially allowing encrypted data from today to be decrypted in the future. He stresses the importance of preparing networks and systems now to be "quantum safe."
We also explore the positive uses of quantum, such as accelerating research and optimizing complex systems, and Chris shares examples of how quantum could speed up vaccine development and financial analysis.
Tune in to learn what Nokia is doing in the quantum space, how edge and cloud computing will work with quantum and three actionable steps you can take today to future-proof against quantum threats.
It's a fascinating look at an emerging technology with worldwide implications.
About Chris
Chris is Senior Vice President and Global Head of Enterprise at Nokia.
A veteran sales and business leader, Chris focuses on delivering critical network solutions for the world's most essential industries. He is a passionate champion of industrial digitalization for enterprises and government organizations, with a deep understanding of how innovative and intuitive digital technologies can bring resilience, productivity, efficiency and sustainability to any operation.
Drawing on his experience defining business strategies, developing teams, executing initiatives and driving profitable growth, Chris helps Nokia Enterprise customers harness the exponential potential of networks to unlock new business models and build capacity for long-term success.
S6 Episode 2: Celebrating Facebook's 20th Anniversary: Facebook @ 20 with Jason Mander from GWI
00:33:36
In this episode, we’re casting our minds back to 2004, when NASA landed the Spirit rover on Mars; the last episode of Friends aired; George W Bush was re-elected US president, and the number one hits were LMC’s Take Me To The Clouds Above in the UK and Hey Ya! By Outkast in the US.
Over at Harvard University, computer science student Mark Zuckerberg is coding in his dorm room. Lately, he’s been nurturing a reputation as a minor enfant terrible on campus after creating the shortlived site FaceMash, which allowed students to rate each other’s hotness.
Today, Wednesday, 4th February, he’s about to push “publish” on TheFacebook, which would later become simply Facebook.
So what does Facebook look like at 20, and what can we learn from this social networking phenomenon?
To help me answer this and more, I’m joined by Jason Mander, Chief Research Officer at leading global consumer research platform GWI, to dive into their vast research platform and take a deep dive on Facebook at 20.
Here are the key statistics Jason mentioned on the podcast, extracted from the GWI platform.
75% of people in the UK use Facebook monthly, 66% use it weekly, and 50% use it daily
Boomer Facebook usage has increased 20% over the last decade, with around 66% of boomers currently using it
Gen Z and student Facebook usage has decreased compared to 10-20 years ago, though around 66% of Gen Z still use it
Half of 13-14 year olds are on Facebook, despite declining usage among younger generations
TikTok, Instagram and Snapchat are the most popular platforms among children
Meta owns Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp and Messenger – the top 4 platforms in the UK
15% of UK residents purchase secondhand items online weekly
Around 50% of Brits use eBay for selling items, 25% use Facebook Marketplace, and smaller percentages use sites like Gumtree
Three quarters of Millennials and Gen X in the UK use Facebook, with stable usage over the last 10 years
Instagram ranks as the 4th most used social media platform in the UK, used by around 60% of people
Facebook Messenger ranks 3rd for pure messaging platforms in the UK
iMessage overtakes Messenger among younger Gen Z
96% of Gen Z in the UK use at least one Meta platform like Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp
Boomers’ Facebook usage is up 20% in the last decade
S6 Episode 3: Living in the moment - the opportunity for 5G Standalone with Nicki Lyons from Vodafone UK
00:19:30
In this episode, we look at a report I wrote in partnership with Vodafone UK to examine how 5G Standalone (5G SA) could transform UK over the next 5-7 years.
To talk more about the findings, I spoke with Nicki Lyons, Vodafone UK's Chief Corporate Affairs & Sustainability Officer.
We’ll see the end of Video Assisted Referee (VAR) and poor off-side decision-making thanks to smart ball tech, pitch sensors and player wearables enabled by 5G Standalone (5G SA) – meaning more time is devoted to the beautiful game and less time on disputes.
Connected clothing will mean trainers will ‘talk’ to each other and collate style and sustainability-inspired looks from other feet on the street, powering your very own AI-powered style guide – enabling fashionistas to discover styles and express themselves in new ways.
Working with Vodafone, in a new report, leading futurist Andrew Grill predicts how 5G SA could transform the things the UK loves most in the next five-to-seven years – from retail and sports to gaming and entertainment.
The report supports the growing need for 5G SA infrastructure in the UK, as the proposed Vodafone and Three merger paves the way for UK 5G SA leadership with a pledge to invest £11 billion and reach over 99% of the UK population with 5G SA by 2034.
More on Nicki Lyons
Nicki became Director of Corporate Affairs and Sustainability in October 2021. She’s responsible for external communications, government and regulatory affairs, and sustainable business. Before this, she worked in senior roles at Walgreen Boots Alliance, Unilever, PepsiCo, in UK government and in international development.
S6 Episode 4: The opportunity for Enterprise AI with Darshan Chandarana and Julia Howes from PWC
00:45:30
This podcast episode features an interview with Darshan Chandarana and Julia Howes from PwC about opportunities in enterprise AI.
They discussed AI adoption across industries, with financial services and retail leading the way, and Darshan emphasised the importance of responsible AI and understanding societal impacts.
Julia discussed the challenges of AI adoption like determining value and data privacy issues.
Julia gave examples where Microsoft's Copilot AI is helping non-native English speakers and explains how the future of work with AI could involve remote working and creativity hubs.
Emerging technologies like augmented reality are also discussed, and our guests encourage experimenting with AI, embracing change, and coordinating cross-functional teams to unlock value from enterprise AI.
We also discussed:
Industries benefiting the most from Gen AI
Responsible AI in practice
Getting started with AI
Why GenAI needs an intelligent approach to adoption
PWCs own tool - ChatPWC
What are customers asking about Generative AI?
What are AI Co-Pilots?
AI Strategy and Execution Challenges
The need for an AI Council to help co-ordinate activities
What do clients need to look out for with AI projects?
S1 Episode 6: The Future of Employee Communication with Ethan McCarty
00:31:41
In Episode 6 we speak with the CEO of Integral Communications Group Ethan McCarty and answer the question “What’s the Future of … Employee Communication?”
A former journalist, Ethan joined IBM in early 2000 to manage the web presence for IBM’s $6 billion a year research division, he also co-authored their groundbreaking blogging guidelines, launched IBM’s intranet podcasting platform and worked on IBM’s award-winning annual report to shareholders.
He is now the CEO of Integral Communications Group, a consulting firm specializing in employee activation, as well as a masters-level lecturer on digital media and employee communications for Columbia University.
We spoke to Ethan from New York where he lives and works.
We discussed a range of topics relevant to companies of any size including:
Why Ethan started an employee activation company
Internal vs External communications
Harnessing your external network
Employee Advocacy beyond: "Please retweet this"
How do you measure employee engagement?
Helping attract new talent to the firm
Using communication as a recruitment tool
How do you "activate" employees?
Stop "interruption messaging"
Culture and purpose
Personal brand vs company brand
Renting your brand to an organisation
Eminence vs advocacy
Showing up with your network
Design your value proposition to be network permeable
Getting your digital tools ready
What 3 things can you do next week to start an employee engagement program?
1. Start talking with employees
2. Reinspect the measures of our work
3. Inspect your practice of iteration
The Agile Manifesto
Thanks for listening to Digitally Curious. You can buy the book that showcases these episodes at curious.click/order
Your Host is Actionable Futurist® Andrew Grill
For more on Andrew - what he speaks about and recent talks, please visit ActionableFuturist.com
S6 Episode 5: The next frontier for AI – introducing the AI PC – powered by Intel
00:56:12
This episode is sponsored by Intel.
There are some exciting new developments in AI, and we're at the beginning of a truly transformative era, thanks largely to innovations led by companies such as Intel.
Intel's recent advancements in AI technology, particularly Intel vPro PCs powered by Intel Core Ultra processors, are setting a new benchmark for what professional devices can do.
With a strategic shift towards local AI processing, Intel is mitigating the traditional reliance on cloud services, which cuts costs and significantly boosts data privacy and processing speeds.
I spoke with Robert Hallock, Intel's Vice President and General Manager, Client AI & Technical Marketing, to learn more about what Intel is doing with AI.
Robert believes the integration of AI capabilities directly into PCs will drive the most significant change in personal computing in 20 years.
A significant development enabling this shift is Intel's new Core Ultra processor. It is designed to optimise AI software performance by efficiently splitting tasks between the CPU, GPU, and a new component – the Neural Processing Unit or NPU.
This will allow AI PCs to provide enhanced experiences with marketing & content creation, productivity assistance, and privacy controls, all powered by on-device AI.
Intel and Microsoft have co-defined the definition of AI PC. It is a PC with a dedicated copilot key, and it brings new AI experiences in productivity, creativity, and security through a combination of the CPU, GPU, and the new NPU from Intel.
In this episode, Robert and I looked at the business case for the AI PC.
The ability to perform traditionally processor-intensive AI tasks locally will benefit knowledge workers who aren't always connected and need to prioritise data security.
A key benefit of an AI PC powered by the Intel Core Ultra processor will be the improved capacity for AI powered threat detection offered by Intel Threat Detection Technology within the Intel vPro platform.
It's now becoming clear that organisations must adopt AI capabilities to remain competitive, as classic corporate software rapidly adopts AI and disadvantages non-adopters.
Whether you're a business leader looking to harness the power of AI for competitive advantage or an IT Professional keen to understand the vision for AI integration in personal computing, this episode is for you.
You can find out more about Intel's vision for AI PCs Built for Business at
Thanks for listening to Digitally Curious. You can buy the book that showcases these episodes at curious.click/order
Your Host is Actionable Futurist® Andrew Grill
For more on Andrew - what he speaks about and recent talks, please visit ActionableFuturist.com
S6 Episode 6: Exploring the Intersection of Emerging Technologies and Critical Thinking with Arvind Ravishunkar from Wipro
00:44:55
How can emerging technologies and critical thinking shape the future of business? Join us on Digitally Curious as we sit down with Arvind Ravishunkar, General Manager of Think Tank and Tech Strategy at Wipro.
Arvind offers an inside look at the groundbreaking projects at Wipro's innovation lab, Lab45, and discusses how the lab is pioneering new business models and sustainable practices. Discover how their Think Tank's new podcast, Unpacked, aims to make complex technical topics accessible, and why understanding technology at a fundamental level is crucial for modern business leaders.
Imagine a workplace where debate and critical thinking are not only encouraged but essential. Arvind explains the transformative power of monthly debates within their think tank, designed to challenge team members to see all sides of an issue, backed by data and evidence.
These debates sharpen minds and foster adaptability, preparing the team to navigate an unpredictable business landscape. He shares how knowledge-sharing sessions and a culture open to change are vital for fostering innovation and staying ahead.
The future of AI is here, and it's reshaping industries at an unprecedented pace. Arvind delves into the implications of AI integration, from Apple's latest partnerships to the broader trends in AI adoption. He underscores the importance of data quality and strategy in successful AI projects and shares his journey towards cultivating digital curiosity in his team.
Explore the far-reaching impacts of AI on job markets, the evolving role of educational institutions, and the necessity for responsible AI practices. Tune in for an episode rich with insights into the evolving landscape of technology and business leadership.
S1 Episode 8: The Future of People Management with Dr Lynn Gribble
00:28:43
In Episode 8 we speak with Dr. Lynn Gribble, who is one of Australia’s founding coaches, an accidental academic and an award-winning author and university lecturer.
She’s known as a digital innovator for her work in technology-enabled academia and she calls herself a “pragmatic futurist coach”. She also helps people to “future proof” their careers in an ever-evolving workplace.
We spoke with Lynn from Sydney, Australia where she lives and works.
We discussed a range of topics relevant to companies of any size including:
The future of work is about relationships
Do people want to be managed in the digital age?
Managing the circumstances not the people
Soft vs disciplinary skills
We need people to connect people
What we can't teach AI to do is make a human connection
People are the only truly sustainable competitive advantage
What is the future of work?
People need to be agile and take ownership of their skills development
Flexibility is the key in the gig economy
The serviced office of the future
The one piece of technology that will drive fundamental change
The digital agent
Home robots are the hardest workers
The receptionist of the future
The stigma of retrenchment
Managing Millennials
What ice skating can teach you
What organisations get wrong
If you punish risk you will get no innovation
Are we addressing ethics in business?
The link between risk and ethics
What 3 things can you do next week?
1. Build relationships not networks
2. Take a small risk & do something new
3. How can I be kinder & more connected to colleagues?
Thanks for listening to Digitally Curious. You can buy the book that showcases these episodes at curious.click/order
Your Host is Actionable Futurist® Andrew Grill
For more on Andrew - what he speaks about and recent talks, please visit ActionableFuturist.com
S6 Episode 7: Integrating AI into Small Business and Tech Leadership with Carla Rodríguez from Intel
00:36:00
How can insights from managing a winery help shape the future of AI technology at Intel? Carla Rodríguez bridges both worlds. When I asked Robert Hallock at Intel who I should invite next onto the podcast – his response was instant - Carla Rodríguez, who runs Intel’s client software ecosystem.
“Razor sharp … just so smart, so capable” was his description, so I just had to invite her onto the show. Carla is no ordinary big tech company exec. She served in the Peace Corps in Romania and worked her way through the ranks of Intel, joining in the finance area to become VP of one of the most important and innovative parts of the company.
In between these roles, she has also found time to help run a winery business with her husband, which gives her a unique perspective on the issues facing companies of all sizes.
Her role at Intel is to work closely with the developer ecosystem. With the recent launch of their AI PC program, which utilises the Intel vPro platform powered by Intel Core Pro processors, we’re seeing AI rise to become mainstream and a must-have tool in the workplace, driving innovation and productivity.
In our discussion, Carla explains how running a boutique winery in Oregon’s Willamette Valley with her Husband gives her a unique perspective on the challenges and rewards of running a small business, insights that she brings back to her role at Intel.
You’ll also learn about:
AI: Moving from Niche to Mainstream
AI has now reached a tipping point where it is becoming mainstream and Intel is at the forefront of this revolution with their AI PC platform, integrating CPU, GPU, and the new Neural Processing Unit (NPU) to handle complex AI tasks efficiently.
Empowering Developers with AIPC
Intel's AIPC Developer Program is a crucial initiative aimed at supporting developers in harnessing the power of the NPU. By providing hands-on labs and development kits, Intel is enabling developers to experiment and create groundbreaking applications.
The Immediate Impact on Businesses
For small and medium enterprises (SMEs), the benefits of adopting AIPC are immediate. Carla emphasised that the time to invest in AIPC is now, as it offers enhanced productivity, security, and innovative capabilities.
Future of Work: Embracing AI
The future of work will be significantly shaped by AI, with tools that enhance productivity and free up time for more strategic tasks. As Carla pointed out, AI is like having an always-on intern, ready to assist with various tasks, making us more efficient and effective in our roles.
S6 Episode 8: Harnessing AI and Technology for Nonprofit Innovation with Jacek Siadkowski from Tech to the Rescue
00:36:59
In this episode, we delve into the transformative power of AI and technology in the nonprofit sector with Jacek Siadkowsk, co-founder and CEO of Tech to the Rescue.
Our discussion explores how tech innovations are revolutionizing nonprofit operations, from enhancing efficiency and service delivery to driving social good through scalable solutions. Jacek's journey from running a digital agency to spearheading a global movement offers valuable insights into the mission and impact of Tech to the Rescue.
The episode kicks off with an exploration of how AI and automation are making significant strides in the nonprofit sector. Jacek highlights the role of Tech to the Rescue in bridging the gap between tech companies and nonprofits by facilitating pro bono collaborations.
These partnerships enable nonprofits to leverage advanced technologies to solve real-world problems, thereby amplifying their impact. The conversation underscores the critical role of AI in enhancing efficiency, fundraising, and service delivery for nonprofits, while also addressing the challenges of ensuring accurate and reliable AI applications.
A fascinating case study discussed in the episode is Bikara Udara's voter empowerment platform in Indonesia. This innovative tool is changing the political landscape by helping citizens elect candidates prioritising quality of life. The broader implications of such technology extend to various social issues like health, climate, and education.
Jacek also highlights exciting partnerships with tech giants like Google.org and AWS, which are propelling the AI for Changemakers program to support nonprofits globally.
Jacek's ambitious plans for Tech to the Rescue include facilitating tech services worth $1 billion by 2030 and popularizing the culture of tech for good.
This episode is a must-listen for anyone interested in harnessing technology to drive social good. From the transformative role of AI and automation in nonprofits to the ethical considerations of responsible AI development, the discussion offers valuable insights and inspiration.
S6 Episode 9: Using AI-generated hosts to review my book Digitally Curious
00:15:10
Many will know that I’ve just published my new book, Digitally Curious: Your Guide to Navigating the Future of AI and All Things Tech, which is now available worldwide.
The reception has been overwhelmingly positive, and I believe it is a book that will help many people better understand the technology surrounding us.
I’ve already been interviewed on several podcasts about the book, and you can find links to these below.
I wanted to showcase the book on the podcast, but it would be strange for me to interview myself.
I always strive to present the latest thinking in my keynotes, and as part of my research, I wanted to try out the new Google product Notebook LM, which stands for Notebook Language Model.
S6 Episode 10: Navigating the AI Revolution in Finance with Chris Juneau from SAP Concur
00:36:05
In today's rapidly evolving business landscape, the role of the CFO is undergoing a transformative shift. As highlighted in a recent discussion on the Digitally Curious podcast with Chris Juneau, Head of Market Strategy for SAP Concur, CFOs are increasingly turning to AI to drive strategic growth and innovation.
Many of you may already be using SAP Concur without realising it. When you book a trip, submit your expenses, or you use the brilliant traveller app Tripit, you’re using SAP Concur services.
I spoke with Chris about a couple of recent reports from SAP Concur, one which looks at how CFOs are embracing AI, and another about how to measure and maximise the returns from AI.
Key Insights from the CFO Insights Report:
Rising Investment in AI: Despite 58% of CFOs admitting limited understanding of AI, investment in AI technologies has surged from 15% to 51% since 2023. This reflects a growing recognition of AI's potential to revolutionise financial processes.
AI Applications in Finance: CFOs are leveraging AI for various applications, including journaling and bookkeeping (65%), financial planning (59%), and risk scenario planning (53%). These technologies are not only enhancing efficiency but also enabling more strategic decision-making.
Bridging the Knowledge Gap: Education is key. SAP Concur is committed to educating financial leaders on AI applications, helping them ask the right questions and implement AI responsibly within their organisations.
AI adoption is not just about cost reduction; it's about unlocking productivity gains and fostering innovation. By automating mundane tasks, CFOs can focus on strategic initiatives that drive business growth.
So what can you do next?
Educate and Empower: Continuously educate your teams on AI's potential and collaborate with technology partners to harness its full capabilities.
Collaborate Across Functions: Partner with HR and IT leaders to ensure a holistic approach to digital transformation.
Challenge the Status Quo: Always seek better ways to optimise business processes and drive strategic outcomes – start exploring your existing platforms and see if they can be enhanced by AI.
Join us in exploring how AI is reshaping the role of the CFO and driving businesses towards a more innovative future.
Have you ever wondered how digital curiosity can shape your career? This episode promises to unravel that and more as we uncover the behind-the-scenes story of "Digitally Curious" and how Andrew's early experiments with technology and over 100 podcast interviews fueled its content.
The episode examines groundbreaking technologies such as quantum computing and self-sovereign identity, discussing their imminent and profound impact on businesses.
We also tackle the looming "Q-Day", and the need for organisations to prepare for a new era where quantum computers will challenge current data security measures.
Find out how Andrew's experience speaking to corporate audiences as the Actionable Futurist, where he leaves them with five things to do next, spawned the "Curious Five", which is included at the end of every chapter, making it practical and actionable.
Carolanne asks how AI can transform everyday workflows like never before, acting as an "always-on intern" to revolutionise business operations.
Watch as the tables are turned, and the interviewer becomes the interviewee!
S1 Episode 9: The Future of Open Banking with James Varga
00:29:09
In Episode 9 we speak with James Varga, who co-founded The ID Co in 2011 with a mission to create convenience allowing consumers to sign up to new products and services in seconds.
He is active in a number of local and global efforts to help people do more online, including the Fintech Delivery Panel, the Open Banking Excellence where he is Co-founder and Trust In Digital Life.
As one of the first to call for Open Banking in the UK, James has a wealth of experience in this space. Having previously built a personal finance management and aggregation service, he has a unique perspective that highlights the importance of customer convenience in the overall success and adoption of Open Banking.
Among other things we discussed:
What is Open Banking?
Applications for Open Banking
The identity challenges
Matching the right person to the right product
GDPR and Open Banking
Data ownership is key
2018 - the year of regulated disruption
Giving the consumer back control
Why has Open Banking been slow to take off?
Is Open Banking good for banks?
The real opportunity for Open Banking
What's the Open Banking silver bullet?
Account aggregation is just the start
Using data for customer onboarding
Consumer behavioural change
The balance between convenience and reward
Banks are bad at using data
Being a B2C Fintech isn't easy
Monzo's IFTTT integration
Consumer data ownership is key
We need to give consumers an incentive to use Open Banking
S1 Episode 10: The Future of Data with Lauren Walker
00:36:27
In Episode 10 of the Actionable Futurist® Podcast we speak with Lauren Walker, who at the time of recording was the Chief Operating & Data Officer in EMEA for leading agency Dentsu Aegis. She is now Managing Director at Accenture Interactive.
Lauren joined Dentsu in 2017 from IBM and lead a team of more than 600 people across operations, market research, social science, digital and data science, and engineering. In May 2021 she moved to be Managing Director at Accenture Interactive.
Prior to these roles, she spent a decade at IBM with a raft of senior roles - most recently head of data strategy partnerships for Europe.
Lauren was also director of competitive strategy at Choicepoint, now part of LexisNexis, and spent two years as a special advisor to the Director of the White House in Washington DC.
In this fascinating podcast, we covered the world of data and looked at what's next.
Disclaimer: Lauren's comments are her own and not that of her previous or current employer.
S1 Episode 11: The Future of your digital afterlife with Dr Elaine Kasket
00:33:52
In this episode we speak with Dr Elaine Kasket who tells stories about the impact of the digital age on how we live and how we die, and helps others write and speak powerfully about what matters to them.
She is the author of a fascinating book on the subject “All the Ghosts in the Machine” which I had the pleasure of reading ahead of our recording.
In this podcast, you will also learn
· The ethics and privacy of family letters · The laws of data ownership · The deceased's right to privacy · Why you need a digital will · The need for a Facebook Legacy Contact · The legal issues around legacy contacts · Your digital afterlife on other platforms · Context collapse and personal brand · Eulogy for a digital stranger · The DeathTech space · Are you ready for your own digital afterlife? · 3 tips to get your digital life in order
Thanks for listening to Digitally Curious. You can buy the book that showcases these episodes at curious.click/order
Your Host is Actionable Futurist® Andrew Grill
For more on Andrew - what he speaks about and recent talks, please visit ActionableFuturist.com
S1 Episode 12: The Future of Retail with Julian Fisher
00:28:49
With the rise and rise of online shopping can the high street survive? To answer this question and others on the future of retail I asked Julian Fisher, CEO of Retail platform Jisp for his expert views.
Julian has enjoyed a varied background in technology, payments and new media, and in 1994 he launched the UK’s first internet exhibition.
Since then his work has remained inexorably linked to the internet and improving sales, payment and issues with compliance together with information solutions for a wide and diverse group of blue-chip companies.
In this episode we discussed:
Can the high street be saved from the threat of Amazon?
The High street vs the internet
What can high street retailers do to prevent extinction?
The last Blockbuster on the planet
Sainsbury's and Argos
The John Lewis online strategy
The problem with showrooming
Meeting consumer demands in-store
John Lewis in-store iPhones
The Apple retail experience
Removing the pay-desk
The John Lewis Partnership model
RetailTainment - Retail + Entertainment
Today at Apple - why it works so well
Why a helpful store assistant will make you buy more
How to double transaction revenue
How delivery services are disrupting restaurants
The delivery channel is not important - it's all business
The dark kitchen concept
The latest retail innovations
Using retail data to create better experiences
What will the high street look like in 5-10 years?
The role of cash in retail
How mobile is key for retail
The future retail mix
Three practical tips for retailers
Talk to your staff and customers
Be bold & innovative & fail fast
Make your customers the focus
Thanks for listening to Digitally Curious. You can buy the book that showcases these episodes at curious.click/order
Your Host is Actionable Futurist® Andrew Grill
For more on Andrew - what he speaks about and recent talks, please visit ActionableFuturist.com
S1 Episode 13: The Future of Content Marketing with Eric Fulwiler
00:20:54
Great content that cuts through the noise is key in a disrupted B2B world. In this episode of the podcast, I spoke with Eric Fulwiler who recently joined 11:FS - a financial services transformation company as CMO, overseeing their media and marketing teams across the group.
He spent the last 10 years in digital advertising agencies, most recently as UK Managing Director for US-based VaynerMedia - a creative, media, and production agency.
Before agency life, and as a side hustle along the way, he’s worked on and advised numerous start-ups. He’s a frequent speaker and contributor on the state and future of marketing, brand strategy, and digital media.
We discussed a range of topics including:
What does the 11 stand for in 11:FS?
What does 11FS do?
Are you a consultancy or a tech company
Digital banking is only 1% finished - what's left to do?
How do you differ from the big 4?
Disruptive consulting - disrupting the disruptors
Using podcasts to attract clients and share knowledge
The quality of the content depends on the intent
The Rise of UK Fintech movie
Handling growth vs innovation
Where do the existing banks have an opportunity to change?
Will the challengers get scale before the incumbents get innovation?
Fintech innovation
Natwest Bank's innovation journey
What are your largest challenges as a CMO?
The promise of Open Banking
3 things for next week around content marketing
Put value at the top of the pyramid
Be iterative and reactive
You need to drive business results
Thanks for listening to Digitally Curious. You can buy the book that showcases these episodes at curious.click/order
Your Host is Actionable Futurist® Andrew Grill
For more on Andrew - what he speaks about and recent talks, please visit ActionableFuturist.com
S1 Episode 14: The Future of Cryptocurrency with Jeremy Epstein
00:27:06
Cryptocurrency and especially bitcoin has been one of the most over-hyped technologies this decade. To better understand the opportunity for cryptocurrencies and blockchain, I spoke with Jeremy Epstein, CEO of Never Stop Marketing, who has 20 years of international marketing experience.
Most recently, Jeremy was VP, Marketing at Sprinklr which grew from a $20 million valuation and 30 people to $1.8 billion valuation and 1400 people in 4 years.
Today, Jeremy is a highly sought-after marketing advisor in the crypto/blockchain industry and has worked with some of the leading and most innovative projects including OpenBazaar, Zcash, and DCorp.
He's spent the last 4 years deeply understanding the world of crypto and blockchain and his insights in this episode should help you better understand what lies ahead for this much discussed technology,
In this episode we covered:
What interested you about cryptocurrencies?
Why is cryptocurrency so misunderstood?
Why crypto represents the next evolution of the internet
The value transfer revolution
Re-engineering Blockchain in 2019?
Is Blockchain always the best solution?
The open public blockchain
Helping the 2Bn unbanked people
Creating a global trust layer
Stakeholder capitalism
The problem with bitcoin - humans are greedy
What does it feel like to own crypto?
Facebook's crypto ambition - Libra
The rise of surveillance capitalism
The problem with Facebook launching Libra
How holding bitcoin increases its value
Participatory capital
Who is responsible for promoting the benefits of crypto?
Blockchain can help with insurance policies
Rapid insurance payments using smart contracts
Sending donations using bitcoin
Three things for next week
1. Read the bitcoin whitepaper 2. Buy some bitcoin 3. Send someone some bitcoin
Thanks for listening to Digitally Curious. You can buy the book that showcases these episodes at curious.click/order
Your Host is Actionable Futurist® Andrew Grill
For more on Andrew - what he speaks about and recent talks, please visit ActionableFuturist.com
S1 Episode 15: The Future of Disruptive Thinking with Nicole Yershon
00:34:23
Do you think disruptively? In this episode we spoke with self-described "Rough Diamond", Nicole Yershon about what it means to think like a disruptor and how disruption can be turned into an advantage.
Nicole is not new to disruption. When Nicole joined Ogilvy in 2000 she was given the simple brief of “bringing the agency into the 21st century”.
She achieved this by building relationships with third party suppliers and embracing new technologies that saw Ogilvy digitise some 10,000 tapes of adverts dating back to the 1950s.
Nicole later went on to be the founding partner of Ogilvy’s London Digital Innovation Lab – the dedicated Innovation unit of Ogilvy & Mather Group where she worked with brands such as Amex, IBM, BP, Selfridges, Unilever, BA and Wetherspoons. She’s also famous for her “black book” of leading suppliers.
In 2016 she founded the NY Collective with a mind to remove the traditionally opaque practices of consulting and marketing agencies.
We spoke about topics such as:
• Turning disruption into an advantage • Why we need disruptors in any business • The prayers, players and stayers • The Ogilvy Lab Rats and Lab days • Measuring the impact of disruption • Can disruptors be made or are they born? • How a “black book” of suppliers became a community • 3 Things for next week • Be curious • Get outside your comfort zone • Be authentic
Thanks for listening to Digitally Curious. You can buy the book that showcases these episodes at curious.click/order
Your Host is Actionable Futurist® Andrew Grill
For more on Andrew - what he speaks about and recent talks, please visit ActionableFuturist.com
S2 Episode 1: The Future of Cyber Security with Nick Coleman from IBM
00:38:38
When the World Economic Forum decides that cybersecurity is one of the top global risks alongside climate change, extreme weather and natural disasters you know it's serious. Their recent report on the top global risks identified cyber threats as something that has the capacity to disrupt society on a massive scale.
This episode features Nick Coleman who at the time of recording was IBM’s Global Head of Cyber Security Risk where he specialised in evaluating risks from cyber adversaries, digital transformation and regulation.
He has recently taken up the role of Chief Security Officer for Vocalink, a Mastercard company.
Before joining IBM he served as The UK Government’s National Reviewer of Security, and authored “The Coleman Report” for the UK Parliament. Nick holds an MBA with distinction, and is a Fellow and Chair of Digital at the Institution of Engineering & Technology.
He regularly advises boards around the world on digital leadership, and how to manage risk that results from traditional and emerging business models, and how to create trust and resilience.
We spoke about topics such as:
Where are we at in 2020 with cybersecurity?
The WEF has designated cyber as a global risk
The average data breach takes 279 days to fix
Spotting patterns to help detect attacks
Do consumers care enough about cyber security?
Should executives and the board be cyber aware?
Getting business schools interested in cyber security
How ready are you for a crisis?
Running cyber fire drills
Using AI to prevent attacks
Hyperpersonalised attacks
The employee as part of the 'last mile' of security
Removing the friction from cybersecurity
Cloud security and GDPR
The 5 stages of responding to an attack
Addressing the cybersecurity skills gap
Cyber role models
What can small companies do to get ready?
Three things to do this week
1. Think about what is critical 2. Think about what "good" looks like 3. Who do you call when something bad happens?
Thanks for listening to Digitally Curious. You can buy the book that showcases these episodes at curious.click/order
Your Host is Actionable Futurist® Andrew Grill
For more on Andrew - what he speaks about and recent talks, please visit ActionableFuturist.com
S2 Episode 2: The future of Podcasting with Minter Dial
00:24:10
With Podcasting now becoming mainstream, what is the future of this medium? To answer this question I spoke with one of the original B2B podcasters, Minter Dial who has produced a weekly show since 2010 with over 350 episodes to date.
I first met Minter in 2012 and have been a guest on his show twice before.
Minter first appeared on Series 1, episode 2 of the podcast to speak about Ethics and AI, so we were delighted to have him back as a veteran Podcaster to provide some excellent insights into how he got into podcasting, and why you should (or should not) start one and podcasts he listens to.
We covered a number of topics, including:
What got you into podcasting?
Has Podcasting replaced Blogging?
Don’t launch a podcast without a purpose
Think about why you’re doing a podcast
Will Podcasters become the new influencers?
What can brands be doing with Podcasts?
How do you produce a weekly show?
Do you have a favourite guest?
How do you find great guests?
What should Podcasters avoid?
What was the last Podcast you listened to?
Making sense with Sam Harris Podcast
What is the intellectual dark web
How do you discover new podcasts?
What 3 things should companies consider when starting to Podcast?
Internal Podcasts for internal comms
Why keep your Podcast internal?
Who should I interview next and why?
Three things for next week
1. Get the right equipment 2. Levelator audio software 3. Listen to other podcasts
S2 Episode 3: The Future of The Internet of Things with Ron Rock from Microshare
00:37:21
The Internet of Things or IoT is probably the most-hyped technology behind blockchain - but what does it really mean and what are the uses of the technology.
Actionable Futurist® Andrew Grill spoke with the CEO and co-founder of Microshare, Ron Rock - one of the pioneers of IoT.
In this wide-ranging chat, we looked at what IoT is, why it has been misunderstood and how is can be best used in a corporate environment.
If you've ever wondered what IoT is then this is the podcast for you.
We also covered:
So what is the Internet of Things?
The Sensor as a service company
Digital Twinning
The idea of good data
What sort of data can you collect with IoT?
Facilities Management and IoT
Wellness in the workplace
Data > insights from IoT
IoT real-time data can drive SLAs
How cloud computing is driving IoT adoption
Low Power Wide Area Networks
IoT doesn't need to involve IT
Customers buy business solutions, not IoT
The 4 drivers of IoT success
The LoRa Alliance
The management challenge of sensors at scale
Wafer-thin margins help IoT
Millennials expect a different work environment
Carbon dioxide sensors help wellness
Sustainability + ESG + IoT
Asset tracking and IoT
New innovations for IoT
Wearables: sensors in clothes
Who owns my data?
Multi-party data ownership
The data value exchange
Three things for this week
1. look at the wireless IoT devices available 2. Try out wearable devices 3. Start thinking about the positive uses of data
Thanks for listening to Digitally Curious. You can buy the book that showcases these episodes at curious.click/order
Your Host is Actionable Futurist® Andrew Grill
For more on Andrew - what he speaks about and recent talks, please visit ActionableFuturist.com
In this episode, Paul discussed the 5 reasons to trust 5G.
1. No harmful electromagnetic fields 2. 5G is more secure than 4G 3. 5G will spur economic growth 4. 5G will produce less carbon than 4G 5. 5G increases trust in digital systems
We also spoke about:
What is 5G and how is it better than 4G?
5G as a platform for transformation
Connected cars don't need 5G
Robotics and 5G
Telemedicine and 5G
Factories and 5G
IoT and 5G
The positive social impacts of 5G
The 5G use cases in 2020
Manufacturing and 5G
The advantages of 5G over WiFi
5G security
Autonomous cars connected by 5G
Autonomous cars only roads
The most often asked question about Huawei
The most often asked question about 5G
3 Things for next week
1. Ask your operator to deploy 5G 2. Buy a 5G phone 3. Turn off 2G and 3G networks
Thanks for listening to Digitally Curious. You can buy the book that showcases these episodes at curious.click/order
Your Host is Actionable Futurist® Andrew Grill
For more on Andrew - what he speaks about and recent talks, please visit ActionableFuturist.com
S2 Episode 5: The Future of Professional Relationships with Andy Lopata
00:41:31
So networking is all about going to events, collecting cards and connecting on LinkedIn right? Think again! Any Lopata provides some incredible advice about how to move beyond simple "networking" and develop strong professional relationships.
S2 Episode 6: Thriving in a time of uncertainty with Dr Lynn Gribble
00:24:54
In this time of extreme uncertainty, what can we do to to thrive and overcome an unprecedented time in our personal and business life?
Dr Lynn Gribble based her PhD on the psychological underpinnings of the effects of retrenchment - that is thriving in uncertainty. We asked her back onto the show to look at some practical tips we can use during this uncertain time.
Lynn last appeared on Season 1, Episode 8 of the show to look at the future of people management.
On this special episode of the podcast we covered:
How do we deal with uncertainty and thrive in an uncertain time?
Practical advice on how to set up to work effectively from home
- set up your physical space properly
- create a routine you can replicate anywhere
- create virtual 'social hours' for your work colleagues
How we will be measured on outputs not time taken to get the work done
Tips for managers working with home-based teams
Tips for calming the wired worried state
Tools to help working online and from home
Things can you can do TODAY to help with anxiety around the current environment
S2 Episode 7: Advice for running a company or working in one during Covid-19
00:33:48
In this special edition of the Actionable Futurist® Podcast, we spoke with Dan Ziv, CEO of Touchnote, a digital company that is providing a creative way for personal communication which I think we’d all agree is needed even more during this very challenging 2020.
Dan runs a small company of 50 people, and we looked at how his company runs remotely, how he runs a company remotely and how his staff have responded to the challenges presented by the lockdown.
We also covered a range of topics relevant for employers of any size as well as employees such as:
Dealing with your team during lockdown
Changes in consumer behaviour during Covid-19
Why consumers want more meaningful ways to communicate
Changes in strategy post Covid-19
Disruption as a result of Covid-19
Business models now and in the future
Communicating and motivating staff during lockdown
Why efficiency and productivity is higher than ever
The need for the team to take breaks while at home
Redefining the work-home boundaries
Using a "clock-in / clock-out" system while remote
The "red cord" process to deal with major issues
Adapting agile processes when working remotely
Where agile does not work for remote teams
Key learnings with remote teams - smaller is better
What does the future of work look like?
Will working away from home become the norm?
Adapting your current work from home policies
The 3 types of employees and how to accommodate them
Employees who want a clear separation between home and work
Employees who are fine with the work from home life balance
Employees who need flexibility depending on their life stage
Offering a menu of options for employees
In 12 month's time we will see the future of work really evolve?
How working from home changes your perspective as a manager
Getting work done as a CEO during Covid-19
Setting your own boundaries as a CEO
When work and home are the same place you need to force boundaries
Empathising with your team during lockdown
A global downturn will change business priorities
Benefit of hindsight - preparing for Covid-19
3 things you can do this week
Hoard cash
Ensure your key employees are comfortable and secure
Work hard on mental and physical health
This was a really eye-opening episode to record and I know you will find many practical tips in the episode. Why not listen while out exercising during lockdown?
Thanks for listening to Digitally Curious. You can buy the book that showcases these episodes at curious.click/order
Your Host is Actionable Futurist® Andrew Grill
For more on Andrew - what he speaks about and recent talks, please visit ActionableFuturist.com
S2 Episode 8: The Future of Podcasting with Podnews Editor James Cridland
00:48:03
On this episode, we spoke with James Cridland, Editor of leading podcast news site Podnews.
Podcasting is on the rise, with 96,500 new podcasts in May 2020 alone. In this episode we discussed a number of topics related to podcasting, including:
S2 Episode 9: Jeremy Thompson - Executive VP Huawei UK
00:35:01
Today's guest is Jeremy Thompson, who is Executive Vice President of Huawei UK, and oversees the development of Huawei's UK businesses.
Jeremy joined Huawei UK in 2012 as deputy managing director with specific responsibility for carrier strategy, business change, and key customers. Prior to Huawei, Jeremy worked for 20 years in senior management roles, including product leadership and telecoms joint venture development for BT group in the UK and other parts of Europe, including Spain and the Nordics.
Jeremy's also previously worked in the USA and the UK for an IBM software company and consulting businesses.
We spoke at length about Huawei's reaction to the recent UK Government decision to force UK mobile operators to remove all Huawei 5G equipment by 2027.
We also addressed a number of other issues:
How early generations (1G, 2G, 3G etc) helped form the current 5G standards
The inherent benefits of 5G for the UK and beyond
How Jeremy has been leading Huawei through the current crisis
How Huawei has embraced the Covid-19 lockdown
What is next for Huawei in the UK
How the telecoms industry will evolve towards 6G
How standards are important to drive innovation
How the current US-China trade war is bad for innovation
Thanks for listening to Digitally Curious. You can buy the book that showcases these episodes at curious.click/order
Your Host is Actionable Futurist® Andrew Grill
For more on Andrew - what he speaks about and recent talks, please visit ActionableFuturist.com
S3 Episode 1: Tom Morley original drummer & founder member of Scritti Politti - the Rockstar Activator
00:43:48
Today's guest is the founding member and drummer from 1980s pop sensation Scritti Politti - Tom Morley.
We had a fascinating discussion about how Tom moved from being a bonafide rockstar to become a "Rockstar Activator", motivating audiences and driving teamwork at events around the world through the use of music, instruments and a healthy dose of fun.
Tom's journey to corporate speaker is a great story in itself and helps set the scene for the 43-minute episode.
For the last 20 years, Tom has been using his unique blend of storytelling and percussion to get teams focused and motivated and break down silos.
Fast forward to 2020 and like most people, his business was massively disrupted.
All of his USPs were gone overnight- rhythm, harmony, the safety of performing behind closed doors.
Instead of "going off and writing a book for 12 months", Tom looked at the objectives behind his events: energise, connect, get outside your comfort zone, and do something unusual
Tom explains why his events work - he brings out the "wild twin" inside all of us.
We also discussed how Tom moved his business online, and how the first event we worked together on - The Podcast Festival on May 28th 2020 was a catalyst to shift gears in his online performance.
There are also a number of gems in this episode and only a real rockstar could name drop David Bowie!
S3 Episode 2: Gabriel Luna-Ostaseki on distributed working
00:34:24
Braintrust is the new model for how work gets done, says founder and Chief Revenue Officer Gabriel Luna-Ostaseki on this episode of the podcast.
Braintrust is the first user-controlled talent network that connects organisations with highly skilled tech talent.
In this fascinating discussion, we covered topics such as:
Why the way we work is outdated and what needs to be done to fix it
How the old hierarchical model is breaking down and the need for companies to flex and bend and be very, very agile
How Braintrust allows people to do work they love on their own terms
How companies can now access reliable and highly vetted talent
How Braintrust differs from other sites such as Fiverr and Doordash
The new market for highly skilled independent workers
How the way in which work happens will increasingly become networked versus work happening in the traditional command and control hierarchy
Gabriel argues that the move to distributed work has been going on for 10 years but it just got accelerated by a decade in the last few months.
One of the most interesting parts of our discussion centred around how to best manage people when they are distributed, and how companies and managers need to move to asynchronous communication. He argues that this is one of the things that a lot of big corporates have had difficulty doing, they basically moved out of their offices, but then they just kept all the same meeting structure.
With “people are just sitting on zooms for 10 hours a day”, meaning they actually don't get the benefits of distributed work when you're synchronous but distributed. He says that moving spoken to written communication unlocks a global talent pool, versus people having to be within your two hour time zone.
He sees this as a huge unlock, especially if you're if you are talent constrained, if you're trying to find the best technical talent in the world, if you can now expand to a global footprint, that's huge unlock for large corporations.
Another key topic centred around an HBR article that suggests introverts are better at managing remote worker than extroverts. Managers that are more like introverts that are really successful in remote environments that are empathetic, and that are focused on attention to detail, really clear communication, and, more servant leadership, where they're focused on helping their people to succeed.
If you’re interested in the future of work, and how distributed teams, backed by a distributed culture will be the ones to succeed post-pandemic then this podcast is a must-listen.
S3 Episode 3: Sue Walter former CEO of family members club, Maggie and Rose
00:48:31
In this episode, we spoke to Sue Walter who is the former CEO of Maggie and Rose, London's first and best-loved family members club.
Sue is no stranger to Member’s clubs, having been the CEO of the Hospital Club where we met back in 2011.
The Hospital Club was a club for creatives and was founded by Microsoft Co-Founder Paul Allen and Dave Stewart from the Eurythmics. It opened in 2004 and sadly closed in 2020.
Sue has had a diverse and interesting career having started in HR with the Metropolitan Police before being the HR Director at the Royal Opera House, worked for Universal Music, and joined the Hospital Club for the first time in 2002. She’s also worked in the Education sector and was Group CEO of the Coppa Club before joining Maggie and Rose at the end of 2019.
Sue is an amazing and inspirational leader and we had a lot to talk about including:
The Maggie and Rose concept
Adapting to the pandemic
Developing a digital platform in 4 days
Using the learnings from the pandemic
Rapid product development by knowing your audience
How the Maggie & Rose staff adapted to the changes?
How junior members respond
Options for keeping the digital offering post-pandemic
Sue's choose to challenge for International Women's Day (her answer will surprise you)
The roles mentors have played in Sue's career
Microsoft Co-Founder Paul Allen's influence
Do women make better leaders and better boardroom decisions?
Diversity of thought and the 2 tribes
Why Sue believes we need men at the table to solve gender equality
S3 Episode 4: Bret Greenstein on Evolutionary Artificial Intelligence
00:38:32
In this episode, we spoke to Bret Greenstein who at the time of recording was Global Head of AI & Analytics for consulting firm Cognizant. He now leads PwC's US AI, Data and Analytics Strategy and Alliances. He has an additional role leading Generative AI for the firm.
Bret has worked for over 25 years helping clients to transform through the adoption of new technologies, including Generative AI, Data, Internet of Things, and Cloud, to deliver new business models and new ways of working.
He joined PwC from Cognizant where he was the SVP and Global Head of AI and Analytics. Prior to that he worked in IBM as a P&L leader for multiple software and services brands, and he was the CIO for IBM's Growth Markets based in China.
In this wide-ranging discussion, we uncovered new uses for AI, around the notion of "Evolutionary AI".
We also discussed how AI can help governments and countries prepare for the next COVID-19 pandemic, and Cognizant's involvement with XPRIZE to launch the Pandemic Response Challenge, a competition to create AI systems that can help societies reopen safely in the wake of COVID-19.
Cognizant’s work was based on data from Oxford and John Hopkins and provided data-centric strategies for governments that want to support healthcare professionals in the fight against future pandemics.
We also covered:
The difference between Artificial Intelligence, Artificial General Intelligence and Evolutionary Artificial Intelligence
Bret's view on General AI and how far we are away from it in practice
The importance of ethics and AI, and conscious bias
What more can be done in schools to prepare students for a world dominated by AI?
What Governments be doing to implement the sorts of solutions uncovered in the challenge to help our societies get back to a pre-Covid world
The notion of "data credits" to encourage data sharing to solve broader problems
How AI augments people’s decisions and finds meaning from the noise
The suggestion that data and access to data should be an asset on a company balance sheet
How AI can be used to develop better predictions for a range of business problems
Some practical advice on what you can be doing to better understand the power of AI and in particular Evolutionary AI
Bret's vi
Thanks for listening to Digitally Curious. You can buy the book that showcases these episodes at curious.click/order
Your Host is Actionable Futurist® Andrew Grill
For more on Andrew - what he speaks about and recent talks, please visit ActionableFuturist.com
S3 Episode 5: Mark Schaefer on Cumulative Advantage
00:38:26
On this episode of the Actionable Futurist® podcast, we spoke with Mark Schaefer, someone I’ve known for nearly a decade. We first met in 2012 after he published the best selling book “Return on Influence” while I was the CEO of influencer platform Kred.
He’s also the author of the world's best-selling book on Twitter, The Tao of Twitter, as well as a raft of other books such as The Content Code about content marketing and “KNOWN” a book on personal branding. I was also fortunate to be featured in his “book “Marketing Rebellion" - an Amazon best-seller.
Filled with motivating ideas and fascinating case studies, Cumulative Advantage is an indispensable and practical source of inspiration for every person with a dream that’s ready to take flight.
We had a fascinating discussion that I know you will enjoy.
Topics covered included:
The genesis of influencer marketing
How we can all gain a cumulative advantage
Why it's time for marketers to be humble
The opportunity for TikTok
How serendipity can play a huge role in your life and career
Mark's view on the demographics for each social network
How social media will fracture
How we now live in a world of infinite media
Harnessing the era of unintended consequences for marketers
S3 Episode 6: Steve Cadigan on embracing the aftershocks of COVID-19 to create a better model of working
00:41:26
On this episode of the Actionable Futurist® podcast, we spoke with Steve Cadigan who has been at the forefront of global talent strategy and company culture for the past 30 years.
He is most famous for scaling Linkedin from 400 to 4,000 in just 3 and a half years.
Steve also led the development of LinkedIn’s legendary company culture and was at the helm of the Talent function for its period of the highest growth and through their IPO.
He’s worked in 5 different industries and 3 different countries, and his focus today is to help leaders and organizations build winning talent solutions to compete in an increasingly complex digital economy.
S3 Episode 7: Raj Samani from Rapid7 on Cybersecurity risks
00:35:36
We know that cybersecurity presents a huge risk to us both personally and professionally, but what can we do to stay safe? To answer this question I spoke with cybersecurity expert Raj Samani, who at the time of recording was Chief Scientist at McAfee, and is now at Rapid7 on the Actionable Futurist Podcast®.
As an international cybercrime expert, Raj has assisted multiple law enforcement agencies in cybercrime cases, and is a special advisor to the European Cybercrime Centre and is on the advisory councils for Infosecurity Europe and Infosecurity Magazine.
Cybersecurity threats now have the potential to completely cripple companies and complete supply chains and my discussion with Raj is accessible to audiences of all types, and contains advice for a board of directors, right down to students considering their career options.
In this wide-ranging discussion, we covered topics including:
Cybercrime in a pandemic world
How cybercrime has evolved
How supply chains are now a target
The Log4j vulnerability and what it means
Are boards taking cyber threats seriously?
Making the board uncomfortable about the risks
Contextualising why cybersecurity matters
Can AI help fight cybercrime?
Actionable advice to keep safe
How much security do you need?
The industries most at risk
Nation-states running social media campaigns
What the FireEye acquisition means for McAfee
Criminals now have R&D departments
IoT and APIs as the next threat areas?
Children's toys are getting hacked
Putting security at the heart of design
Bletchley Park's role in cybersecurity
The hot roles in cybersecurity
Top 3 cybersecurity trends
Do companies need a dedicated Chief Security Officer?
3 things to do today to stay safe
Raj provides us with actionable and practical advice on what to do this week to reduce your exposure.
Make 2022 the year you lean forward and take cybersecurity seriously.
S3 Episode 8: Mezzo-Soprano Deborah Humble - from Wagner to Wine
00:36:38
As a special holiday edition of the podcast, and the final episode of this current series, I’m joined by Internationally acclaimed Mezzo-Soprano Deborah Humble.
She is highly regarded for her Wagner roles and has performed in opera houses around the world including Paris, London, Sydney and Hamburg.
She’s also been a friend of mine for over 35 years.
Born in Bangor, Wales, Deborah grew up in Adelaide, Australia. She received her musical and vocal training first at the Elder Conservatory of the University of Adelaide and later at the University of Melbourne.
Deborah was a member of the Young Artist Program of the Victoria State Opera, and in 2002 became a principal artist with Opera Australia at the Sydney Opera House. She was also the winner at the beginning of her career of the prestigious Dame Joan Sutherland Scholarship in 2004, and the following year, she became a Principal Mezzo with the State Opera of Hamburg.
In 2008 she was a finalist of the International Wagner Competition of the Seattle Opera.
In 2009 she was included in the Who’s Who of Australian Women.
Since 2010 she has been a freelance artist and she has performed over 60 operatic roles worldwide.
In 2016, after 25 years living in Europe, Deborah returned to live in Sydney, and today she's coming to us from Brycefield estate in the Hunter Valley where she lives with her Partner Dr Bruce Caldwell.
Like many performers, Deborah has had to adapt to multiple cancellations and changes brought about by the global pandemic.
In this podcast, Deborah looks back on her 25-year career as a Mezzo-Soprano and also looks at how she has adapted by becoming a winemaker, created a show channelling Julia Child and a look behind the scenes at how Operas are made and what can go wrong, alongside a look at how different cultures respond to Opera.
In this fascinating chat, we covered literally Wagner to Wine:
S4 Episode 1: Tom Smith CEO of GWI on the future of Market Research
00:37:37
To understand the future of the market research industry, my guest is Tom Smith, Founder and CEO of GWI. Having spent several years working agency side, he recognised a growing demand for global data to better understand the complex online market, coupling the world's largest ongoing study on the digital consumer with powerful analytics. GWI is now the leading provider of digital consumer insights to the global marketing industry.
My favourite section of the podcast was where Tom said
"People think data is the new oil, and we’re all sitting on this very valuable commodity. The better comparison is that data is like sand. Until you do something with the information, it lacks real value. It’s the processing it's the presentation, it’s the aggregation and millions of people’s data aggregated at scale is a highly valuable product."
Tom argues that the market research industry has utterly failed the needs of its consumers in today's global marketplace - this is a bold statement and something Tom addresses in detail in this episode.
In this episode, we look at:
Why Tom started GWI
The changing needs of the market research industry
How traditional market research methods have evolved
What problems GWI solves
How Ad blockers, GDPR and other regulations have changed collection methodology
S1 Episode 1: The Future of Communication with Martin Brooks
00:39:09
In the 1st episode of the Actionable Futurist® Podcast, we spoke with Impacttologist Martin Brooks and answered the question “What’s the Future of Communication?”.
In this show we covered a range of topics:
What is an Impacttologist and who would hire one?
What levers can you pull to make you a better communicator and maximise your impact?
How we communicate in a world without face-to-face communication (eg messaging apps, Skype etc)?
Tips to become a better presenter
Tips to communicate more effectively in conference calls
How persuaders are irreplaceable and how those with these skills will transcend the threats from AI
3 Suggestions for next week
What’s been the greatest technology threat/opportunity for your business?
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