What It Really Takes to Lead in a Startup with Oliver Brown, VP at Wire - ORRJO Unscripted #7

Tech, AI & Leading Through Change with Ross Wilson, Vidatec CEO - ORRJO Unscripted #10

Our season finale! From hating school to leading one of Scotland’s most respected digital product companies. In this episode of ORRJO Unscripted, we sit down with Ross Wilson, CEO of Vidatec, a company building digital experiences, mobile apps, and AI-led platforms for global brands like Heineken, St James’s Place, TUI, Couch to 5K, and more. Ross walks us through an incredible journey, from being uninspired at school, to discovering a love for business, to spending 17 years at Insights before stepping into tech leadership and eventually acquiring Vidatec in a management buyout. Across the episode, Ross shares a refreshingly honest perspective on: 🚀 Leadership & Scaling * The reality of running a tech business , from the highs of growth to the burnout moments * Why leaders must slow down in order to scale faster * Creating space for his team to think, challenge, own decisions and grow * The real pressure of driving innovation while keeping the business steady 🤖 AI, Digital Transformation & Strategy * Why most companies adopt AI for the wrong reasons * How to find the real use cases before throwing tools at problems * The importance of “playfulness” when experimenting with new technology * Governance and the cultural shift required for successful AI adoption 📱 Vidatec’s Mission & The Future * The lessons learned from building behaviour-changing apps like Couch to 5K * How Vidatec integrates research, UX, AI and behavioural psychology * The launch of their new employee-experience platform * Why he believes Scotland has untapped entrepreneurial potential 💬 Personal Journey & Mindset * Handling the stress of an eight-month MBO * Why changing environment (even working abroad) has become vital for clarity * The truth about late nights, uncertainty, and the parts of leadership no one sees * Why there’s no perfect time to start a business If you’re into tech, AI, leadership, product development, or Scottish scale-up stories, his is a standout episode packed with wisdom, honesty, and big lessons.

Good Leadership Isn’t About Titles... ORRJO Unscripted #9

Empathy. Accountability. Consistency. Three words that define how Gary Rosier-Taylor, VP of EMEA Fleet Sales at Descartes Systems Group, approaches leadership. In this episode of ORRJO Unscripted, Gary sits down to share the lessons he’s learned from years leading large, high-performing sales teams across Europe, and why the best leaders don’t just manage people, they develop them. From handling pressure to building trust, Gary opens up about the realities of leadership in a modern sales environment. He explains how empathy and accountability work hand-in-hand, and why listening, coaching, and setting clear expectations are the foundations of a strong team culture. We dive into: * How to create a sales culture built on trust and shared responsibility * The difference between being a manager and being a leader * Why listening is a competitive advantage in leadership * How to navigate growth, setbacks, and tough conversations * The mindset shifts that separate average teams from high-performing ones It’s an honest, grounded conversation about leadership that actually works,not theory, but practice. If you lead people, sell for a living, or aspire to move into leadership, this episode is packed with practical lessons you can apply straight away.

Built In, Not Bought In – Paul Nolan on Leadership That Actually Sticks - ORRJO Unscripted #8

What separates a good leader from a great one? It’s not charisma. It’s not title. It’s not shouting louder. It’s being built in, not just bought in. In this episode of ORRJO Unscripted, we’re joined by Paul Nolan, founder and director of Penguin Learning - a behavioural training company working with brands like Virgin, Taylor Wimpey, Ralph Lauren, and NHS. Paul’s trained over 12,000 professionals, delivered thousands of DISC assessments, and spent 14+ years helping companies build better leaders and more emotionally intelligent teams. But Paul’s story didn’t start in boardrooms. It started behind the till at AllSports. And Orange. And then Virgin Media. A self-confessed “grafter from a military family,” Paul walked away from the comfort of corporate life to start his own business in 2008, right as the economy crashed- and he’s been learning the hard truths of leadership ever since. In this episode, Paul shares: * The real early struggles of starting a business with zero backup * Why new managers so often fail (and what companies get wrong) * His go-to tools for navigating difficult conversations and people management * The difference between “bought-in” and “built-in” leadership * How DISC assessments help shape more self-aware teams * Why practical communication skills matter more than theory * The downside of corporate politics, and why he left it behind for good * How to approach mentorship, mindset, and continuous development in a busy world Whether you're a startup founder, new manager, L&D professional, or just someone who values honest leadership advice — this episode is packed with battle-tested takeaways and brilliant storytelling.

What It Really Takes to Lead in a Startup with Oliver Brown, VP at Wire - ORRJO Unscripted #7

Startups. Scaling. Scrappiness. And staying sane while doing it.  In this episode of ORRJO Unscripted, we sit down with Oliver Brown, VP of Commercial at Wire — the secure collaboration platform used by governments, enterprises, and organisations that actually care about privacy.  Oliver’s career has been built in the trenches of startup life. From early sales roles to global leadership positions, he’s helped multiple fast-growth SaaS companies scale up (and not always smoothly).  We chat about:  * What it’s really like leading commercial at a global SaaS company * The pain points and realities of early-stage sales and GTM * Startup culture, leadership challenges, and hiring mistakes * Why product, sales and marketing alignment is everything * How to stay grounded when investor pressure is high and the market's brutal If you work in tech, sales, or startups — or you're just curious about the grit behind the growth — this one’s packed with lessons.

Inside the World of LIV Golf: Liam Ackerman on Sales, Global Fans & Growing the Game - ORRJO Unscripted #6

In this episode of ORRJO Unscripted, we sit down with Liam Ackerman, Director of Sales at LIV Golf, to unpack how his time in the military shaped his leadership style, and how he went on to lead global ticketing and hospitality for one of the most talked-about brands in modern sport.  We get into:  * The mindset shift from army life to commercial sport * How LIV Golf is approaching growth, fan experience, and hospitality differently * What it takes to build a ticketing strategy across continents * The power of structure, pressure, and adaptability in leadership * Lessons learned from fast-moving, high-stakes roles Whether you’re in business, sport, leadership—or just curious about life behind the LIV Golf brand—this one’s full of insight, honesty and sharp takeaways.