Weathering the Storm: Finding Agency in a World of Global Upheaval

Beyond Chatbots: How Policy-Bound AI is Rewriting the Rules of Lending Tamara Lane

In this episode of Risky Business, host Bryan Hattingh and co-host Jonathan Shaw sit down with Tamara Lane, CEO and founder of the New York-based fintech company Empower. Transitioning from a high-profile career as an Emmy Award-winning investigative journalist and financial news anchor, Lane shares her journey into the tech startup ecosystem. The conversation digs deep into the limitations of current generative AI, contrasting basic prompt-bound chatbots with Empower's proprietary, "policy-bound" AI agents. By helping lenders automate manual workloads and safely analyze unconventional data, Lane explains how her platform is successfully expanding credit access for the underbanked while driving massive operational efficiencies for banks. Find more at https://riskybusiness6.wordpress.com/ or https://www.cycan.co.za/

The View from the Summit: Shifting Perspectives to Overcome Corporate Obstacles

In Episode 24 of the Risky Business podcast, host Bryan Hattingh and co-host/sound engineer Jonathan Shaw sit down with business leader Louis Castens to explore what it takes to navigate high-stakes corporate environments. The discussion centres around the evolution of modern leadership, focusing on how executives can maintain agility and cultivate a "thrival" mindset when facing industry challenges. Castens shares personal insights into balancing organisational growth with the cultural health of a team, emphasising that a business's true resilience lies in its human connections and authentic communication. By looking closely at how leaders manage risk, humility, and strategic pivots, the trio provides an actionable roadmap for staying grounded while steering enterprises through economic uncertainty. Find more at https://riskybusiness6.wordpress.com/ or https://www.cycan.co.za/

Love and Leadership: The Cycan Story of Purpose-Driven Partnership

In this heartfelt episode of Risky Business, regular host Bryan Hattingh steps into the guest seat alongside his wife and business partner, Zee Hattingh, and their head of customer experience, Nuru Adams. With sound engineer Jonathan Shaw taking the lead as guest host, the conversation moves from the technical world of business leadership into the personal realm of "couples in business". The trio explores the 44-year journey of the Hattinghs, revealing how their shared values specifically the mission to "sustainably enrich" the lives of everyone they meet have transformed Cycan from a specialised recruitment firm into a global leadership and coaching powerhouse.  Find more at https://riskybusiness6.wordpress.com/ or https://www.cycan.co.za/

The Global Corporate Jungle: Leadership, Mergers, and the Tortoise Mindset with Michael Franklin

In this episode of Risky Business, host Bryan Hattingh sits down with international business leader Michael Franklin to trace his expansive career across multiple continents and industries. From his early days leaving South Africa in the 1980s to leading major acquisitions and diverse business units globally, Franklin shares a wealth of knowledge on the evolution of leadership. The discussion centers on the importance of agility, the "entrepreneurial" mindset within large corporate structures, and the unique opportunities found in the wake of corporate mergers. By examining both successes and the necessity of "failing forward," Hattingh and Franklin provide a masterclass in staying resilient and keeping one’s "head out of the shell" to spot the next big break. Find more at https://riskybusiness6.wordpress.com/ or https://www.cycan.co.za/

Navigating Global Leadership and the Fintech Frontier with Steve Mallaby

In this episode of Risky Business, host Bryan Hattingh is joined by Steve Mallaby, the Chief Commercial Officer of the international fintech organization MyFanPark. The conversation explores the complexities of leading global teams across diverse cultures, from the fast-paced markets of the UK and US to the emerging landscapes of Africa. Mallaby shares insights on the necessity of "confident humility"—the ability for leaders to surround themselves with people smarter than themselves and admit when they don't have all the answers. They delve into the shifting nature of work, the importance of purpose over profit, and the technical and cultural agility required to succeed in the modern fintech industry. Find more at https://riskybusiness6.wordpress.com/ or https://www.cycan.co.za/