The Tech Leaders Podcast

If you’re looking for a truly authentic insight into entrepreneurship, look no further than this week’s episode. Gareth is joined by Tom O’Sullivan, ex-army veteran and founder of software development company Animus Bytes, and the pair candidly discuss Tom’s journey from battlefield to business meeting.  Tom’s leadership journey began in Helmand Province, where he was stationed during his time in the military and led a team of 90 soldiers. After his departure, his interest in risk and security lead him to the realm of cybersecurity and the technology space. At Animus Bytes, Tom and his team are currently working on an application called Migrant Watch, where vulnerable people at sea can be detected and rescued using AI, machine learning and NLP technology.   From walking away from his own business that was no longer serving him, to realising his passions and starting over with Animus Bytes, Tom’s tech journey is emblematic of the trials and tribulations that are faced by founders everywhere. This episode is jampacked with stellar leadership advice, meditation tips and all-round interesting anecdotes— it’s not to be missed! Timestamps  * What does good leadership mean to Tom? (02:26)  * Lessons learned from Tom’s time in the army (05:20)  * Mindful meditation (09:15)  * Starting a cybersecurity start-up (17:02)  * Facing failure as a founder (22:57)  * What is Animus Bytes? (27:45)  * How Animus Bytes is combatting the migration problem (30:35)  * The similarities between AI and nuclear weapons (45:18)  * Tom’s advice to his pre-military self (53:25)  https://www.bedigitaluk.com/ [https://www.bedigitaluk.com/]

Join us this week on The Tech Leaders Podcast, as Gareth sits down with Joseph Connor, Chairman of Agentic AI specialist, CarefulAI and Professor at UCL and formerly Director of AI innovation at NHS England. Joseph talks about his allegiance to the NHS, his love of Stoicism, and his experiences building AI agents for businesses.  On this episode Joseph and Gareth discuss why innovation is difficult in the public sector, how AI can help with effective ITAM and compliance, and how to make sure everyone benefits from Agentic AI. Time Stamps:  * Good leadership and Joseph’s early days (2:30)  * Lessons learned and musings on Stoicism (7:19)  * Allegiance to the NHS (11:10)  * Careful AI (15:20)  * What is Agentic AI? (23:48)  * Maintaining control of AI Agents (30:44)  * Always read the terms and conditions (35:55)  * Concerns around the next five years of AI (40:10)  * AI in education (49:10)  * Conclusions (53:48)  Access CriticalAIonAI podcast mentioned in the show here - https://www.carefulai.com/accelerating-safe-ai-providers.html [https://eur03.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.carefulai.com%2Faccelerating-safe-ai-providers.html&data=05%7C02%7Camy.stephenson%40bedigitaluk.com%7C9895d2f9f8384c65297908dd9469d078%7C51f9406d66d04426a792018a390037ae%7C1%7C0%7C638829904390869139%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=YSXbgTKb6cR2w0E7YE0bmK%2BGIluJOmJiqHD5QSeCqxI%3D&reserved=0] https://www.bedigitaluk.com/ [https://www.bedigitaluk.com/]

“I had a team of me…and that was it!”  Join us this week on The Tech Leaders Podcast, where Gareth Davies sits down with Darren Desmond, CISO at the AA, to discuss how AI will change the Cyber Security arms race, why it’s a strange time for CISOs, and how he was the most un-military recruit his training Sergeant had ever seen…  Time stamps: * What makes effective leadership in tech? (2:32) *  Starting from scratch: "I had a team of me... and that was it!" (4:20) *  Lessons from the Army and Atomic Weapons Establishment (6:20) *  The Betfair culture shock: "Decisions made on the hoof" (15:20) *  The key cybersecurity threat: Why ransomware remains a top concern (16:50) *  How asset management strengthens cybersecurity (18:10) *  CISO advice: Why asset management is critical for security (22:17) *  The CyberSec arms race: How AI will change the game (24:58) *  Why security is a team effort, not a standalone activity (26:00) *  Ransomware evolution: "The risk of AI-driven attacks" (36:45) *  AI in cybersecurity: The future, risks, and opportunities (40:20) *  Career advice: "Pick a goal and work towards it" (45:06) https://www.bedigitaluk.com/ [https://www.bedigitaluk.com/]

Join us this week on The Tech Leaders Podcast, where Gareth Davies sits down with Arun “Rak” Ramchandran, President and Global Head of Consulting and GenAI at Hexaware, on the day they launched a multi-Billion Dollar IPO in India. They discuss the Indian economic boom of the ‘90s, and why Gen AI is different to previous tech revolutions.  Time stamps:  * Hexaware’s Big Day: The IPO Launch (2:25) * US vs. India: Where to List the IPO? (3:57) * Leadership Philosophy: “Do It for Fun” (6:15) * Rak’s Early Career Journey: Meandering, Horizontal and Vertical (7:51) * The Indian Economic Boom (10:51) * From Infosys to Virtusa: Regrets and Learnings (13:12) * Leadership Lessons from Infosys Founder, N.R. Narayana Murthy (15:54) * Why Rak Chose Hexaware (19:56) * How Gen AI Differs from Previous Tech Revolutions (24:04) * AI’s Ability to Consider Alternatives Humans Can’t (28:50) * Will AI Displace White-Collar Workers? (31:10) * Gen AI’s Impact on the SaaS Industry (33:47)  https://www.bedigitaluk.com/ [https://www.bedigitaluk.com/]

Join us this week on The Tech Leaders Podcast, where Gareth Davies sits down with Andre Durand, Founder and CEO of Ping Identity, to discuss how early-stage entrepreneurs form a blood pact with their colleagues, what it’s like to found a company in an industry that doesn’t exist, the million dollar deep-fake risk, and why life is like a hockey stick…  Time stamps: * Lessons from Andre’s First Two Exits (8:18)  * The True Goal of an Entrepreneur (10:00)  * Balancing Work and Life in a Startup (11:42)  * Day One at Ping: The Journey Begins (15:58)  * The Evolution of Identity & Access Management (IAM) (23:29)  * The Future Without Passwords? (27:11)  * The Rise of New Biometrics (28:51)  * Fundraising Tips for Entrepreneurs (32:25)  * How AI & Deepfakes Challenge IAM Security (35:19)  * AI, Fear & Excitement: “Intelligence Defines the Hierarchy” (38:26)  * Advice to 21-Year-Old Andre (40:49)  Book recommendation: “Good & Great by Choice”: Jim Collins  https://www.bedigitaluk.com/ [https://www.bedigitaluk.com/]