Making an Impact

Making an Impact with... Sarah Calder, Skanska Group

In the second bonus episode of the series, Wes Thurley and Sarah Calder, AI capability Manager at Skanska Group, discuss the transformative potential of artificial intelligence in the construction industry. They explore how AI can enhance efficiency, safety, and sustainability in construction processes, while addressing challenges such as data management, skills shortages, and cultural resistance to technology adoption. The conversation highlights the importance of leveraging data, building trust in AI tools, and fostering collaboration across global teams to drive innovation in construction.

Making an Impact with... Silvia Prieto, AWS

In this bonus episode of Making an Impact, Wes Thurley, Schneider Electric's European Real Estate Segment Leader, discusses the critical role of AI and machine learning in decarbonising commercial real estate with Silvia Prieto, Head of Generative AI and Machine Learning for Global Financial Services at Amazon Web Services.    They explore the challenges of data accessibility, the cultural shifts needed for technology adoption, and the potential for AI to enhance building management and sustainability efforts.    The conversation emphasises the urgency of addressing greenhouse gas emissions and the responsibility of the real estate sector in creating a sustainable future.

Making an Impact with... Marc Leckie, Tottenham Hotspur Foundation

In the final episode of our first season, Katie is joined by Marc Leckie, CEO of Tottenham Hotspur Foundation - an extra special finale, as it was recorded in the Schneider Electric suite at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. Marc takes Katie through what the foundation does, the importance of football clubs - like Spurs - having close ties with their associated charitable organisations, and how they work with the communities around them. Taking Katie through a few examples of the work and projects that the foundation undertake, Marc highlights the broad spectrum of causes they contribute to under their core pillars, including education and youth & community, before going on to explain how they're working to grow awareness of the foundation, and bridge the fans' emotional connection with the club to a cause that the charity address. With Tottenham Hotspur being named the greenest Premier League club five years running, Katie asks Marc to talk through how the green agenda is included within the foundation. Marc talks about the use of the club's kitchen garden - where the fruit and veg used to feed the men's, women's and academy players is grown - in educating young people about where their food comes from and how it's created. The pair discuss the importance of collaboration when providing the programs and courses the foundation offer, and how partnerships with companies, like Schneider Electric, are allowing them to grow and expand their offering. The conversation then moves to collaboration within the foundation's team, and Marc shares his views on how cognitive diversity is vital to innovation and challenging yourself as individuals and an organisation. Katie gets Marc to reflect on his career journey to date, before asking him the impact he'd like to leave on the world when he's gone.

Making an Impact with... Dan Drogman, Smart Spaces

In the penultimate episode of the season, Katie is joined by Smart Spaces Co-Founder and CEO, Dan Drogman. Dan starts by reflecting on the last two decades of his career - with Smart Spaces taking up the last 15 years of that time - and how his brother, Tom, gave him the spark to set up their own company after out-performing Dan on his first day of them working together. Katie asks Dan how he's seen the use of smart offices evolve during his time running Smart Spaces, allowing Dan to explain some of the features he and his team have developed and implemented into their offering, and the benefits they have to landlords and enterprise from an efficiency, sustainability, and conveniece perspective. The pair discuss the aging housing stock that London is home to, exploring how Smart Spaces investigate the specifics of each building - for example, how long an office takes to reach optimum temperature first thing in the morning - before sharing how much a new client could potentially save by implementing smart technology. Dan contemplates the potential of a "smart city", and how that would look to the every day person, while sharing his thoughts on technologies that are currently in place that make it more difficult for individuals to get on with their day, using parking apps as an example. He then goes on to share what he believes smart buildings could look like in the future, including the way that humans will interact with the technologies (including, potentially, installing microchips into a person's hand). As the episode comes to an end, Katie asks Dan what impact he'd like to have on the world, where he shares his ambitions for Smart Spaces, and a hope that it lives on long after he's gone.

Making an Impact with... Alessandro Di Trapani, Grub Club

The latest guest to join Katie in the studio is Grub Club's Co-Founder and CEO, Alessandro Di Trapani (known to his friends, including us, as Ale). Ale talks Katie through Grub Club's use of insect protein - from black soldier fly larvae - in dog food, and the sustainability impact they are trying to make on the pet food market, before going on to speak about the challenges he and his company face in communicating the benefits of using this food source as an alternative to traditional meat. Katie gets Ale to talk through the route he took to get into the position he's in today, including his background in finance and commodity trading, before studying at London Business School - where the idea behind Grub Club was formed. Ale explains how he and the company are aware that what Grub Club offer may shock potential customers at first, and how he uses the benefits of insect protein as the big selling point for the company; including sharing a story of one dog whose life was saved by switching to Grub Club food. He also explains why he doesn't knock other dietary choices owners make for their pets - comparing it to telling a parent how to feed their child. Finally, Katie dives into who Ale is a person, asking him to reflect on what impact he'd like to leave behind. -------- Grub Club products are available online at mygrubclub.com and Amazon. You can also find the range in 460 Pets at Home stores nationwide, Planet Organic in London, and a range of independent pet shops across the UK.