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The AI Reality Check: Digital Foundations Still Matter In this candid Tech Talks conversation, fractional and now permanent CIO John Whitlow offers a pragmatic reality check on AI implementation in the business world. While external pressure drives many organizations to "do something AI", John reveals that a significant number, particularly SMEs, are still in the "foothills" of their digital transformation journey, wrestling with foundational issues like poor data quality, where 80% of data can be useless. He argues that AI follows past technology shifts, with many organizations not yet prepared for large-scale implementations, despite the rapid early adoption sparked by tools like ChatGPT.  John also unpacks the paradox of a massive jump in demand for AI skills versus a lack of organizational training, emphasizing the need for a joined-up AI strategy across an entire organization, not just IT. He stresses the critical role of leadership in fostering diversity, equity, and inclusion (DE&I) for high-performing teams, drawing from his own recruitment practices. The discussion further touches on the ongoing "rebound" in hybrid working models and the commercial realities driving—or delaying—sustainability initiatives in businesses. Ultimately, John Whitlow's insights make sense of complex tech realities by revealing the human decisions, trade-offs, and fundamental challenges that truly shape the future of business IT. Tech Talks Podcast  Tech Talks is a podcast that probes the minds of tech leaders, hosted by Technology Evangelist David Savage. Each week, the show releases three episodes with new guests, covering the latest tech news, exploring new products and cultural transformations that drive the tech industry. Founded in 2015 Tech Talks has published over 650 episodes and attracts over 18,500 streams a month from a global audience. The podcast offers insights and ideas from leading technologists on culture, innovation, finance, growth, sustainability, and more, providing a platform for the c-suite, founders, and senior figures to hear from others facing similar challenges and tap into a wider community. Find out more about Tech Talks here.

From 'Tuna Can Period' Scarcity to Hypergrowth: Bloq.It's Miha Jagodic on Building Green Logistics with Pragmatic Strategy Today's guest Miha Jagodic, co-founder and CEO of Bloq.It, recounts the journey of transforming his startup from its challenging "tuna can period" (a time characterized by extremely limited resources and relentless early development efforts) into one of Europe's hottest and fastest-growing companies. Bloq.It provides an end-to-end parcel locker solution, revolutionizing last-mile delivery by offering a convenient and cost-effective alternative to home delivery, which is particularly crucial for the booming e-commerce and second-hand marketplaces like Vinted and eBay. Miha emphasizes that this infrastructure significantly reduces CO2 emissions and courier miles, making the "green tech" aspect a vital and impactful part of their story. Jagodic offers candid reflections on his personal evolution as a founder, moving from an initial "rookie" stage to a CEO leading a team of 350 people, a shift that has seen his role become more managerial yet strategically hands-on. He shares valuable advice for fellow entrepreneurs, stressing the importance of maintaining focus and consistency, directly addressing problems with his "pregnancy test" concept rather than letting them fester, and adopting a pragmatic approach to fundraising. This pragmatic approach means securing investment not out of dire need, but when it is convenient and practical to negotiate favorable terms. The discussion also explores the dynamics of the Portuguese tech ecosystem, the rising prominence and "superior" business practices of Eastern European tech hubs, and the evolving questions faced by hyper-growth startups from investors. So take a deep dive with us into the human decisions and real impact behind scaling a successful tech business, and "Make Tech Make Sense". Tech Talks Podcast  Tech Talks is a podcast that probes the minds of tech leaders, hosted by Technology Evangelist David Savage. Each week, the show releases three episodes with new guests, covering the latest tech news, exploring new products and cultural transformations that drive the tech industry. Founded in 2015 Tech Talks has published over 650 episodes and attracts over 18,500 streams a month from a global audience. The podcast offers insights and ideas from leading technologists on culture, innovation, finance, growth, sustainability, and more, providing a platform for the c-suite, founders, and senior figures to hear from others facing similar challenges and tap into a wider community. Find out more about Tech Talks here.

Revolutionising Indie Film: Christopher Lombardi's Vision for Generative AI in "Princess Halle and the Jester" In this episode, host David Savage chats with Christopher Lombardi, a filmmaker and practicing doctor, about his groundbreaking work on "Princess Halle and the Jester (director's cut)." This film is described as the first fully generative AI-enhanced indie feature film. Lombardi explains how generative AI was leveraged not to create entire narratives from scratch, but to significantly enhance the film's environments, expand its scope, add digital crowds, and make the animation of digital creatures more fluid. This innovative hybrid approach allowed Lombardi to achieve a grander cinematic vision on an independent budget of around $150,000, for a film that would traditionally cost $40-50 million. He discusses the opportunity this technology presents for indie filmmakers to tell bigger stories previously constrained by budget, while emphasising the continued importance of human-driven storytelling and creative input. The director's cut of "Princess Halle and the Jester" is expected to stream on Amazon Prime around October 1st. Tech Talks Podcast  Tech Talks is a podcast that probes the minds of tech leaders, hosted by Technology Evangelist David Savage. Each week, the show releases three episodes with new guests, covering the latest tech news, exploring new products and cultural transformations that drive the tech industry. Founded in 2015 Tech Talks has published over 650 episodes and attracts over 18,500 streams a month from a global audience. The podcast offers insights and ideas from leading technologists on culture, innovation, finance, growth, sustainability, and more, providing a platform for the c-suite, founders, and senior figures to hear from others facing similar challenges and tap into a wider community. Find out more about Tech Talks here.

On Wednesday, 3rd September, Peter Kyle MP, the Technology Secretary, called on industry to match the UK Government’s ambition on AI in a speech at Mansion House. His message was clear, Britain is open for investment, and he wants AI companies to call the UK home. Before his speech, Peter Kyle sat down with Nash Squared’s Technology Evangelist, David Savage, for an interview now featured in our Tech Talks podcast. Their conversation focused on what AI investment really means and who stands to benefit. Decentralised growth at the heart of AI investment Since Labour took office, the UK has attracted a record £44 billion in AI and technology investment. A key focus of this strategy is ensuring growth reaches all parts of the country, not just London. Major projects include multi-billion-pound investments in data centres and national supercomputers in Edinburgh and Exeter, with a goal to increase sovereign compute capacity 20-fold by 2030. However, our own 2025 Nash Squared/Harvey Nash Digital Leadership Report (DLR) shows that while AI investment is accelerating, larger organisations are more likely to see returns due to their scale and resources. Peter Kyle’s focus on decentralising investment and doubling AI companies outside of London is designed to change that, ensuring talent and opportunity are spread more evenly across the UK, reducing the need for people to leave their regions for London or Silicon Valley. Democratising AI skills for a creative workforce Peter Kyle noted that the skills barrier to using AI is changing. The future isn’t about coding expertise, but about creativity and effective prompting. The DLR supports this shift, with 65% of digital leaders saying they’d now choose an AI-enabled developer with two years’ experience over a five-year veteran without AI skills, a huge change in hiring priorities. While technology has often been criticised for deepening social and economic divides, Kyle stressed that proficiency in prompt usage can be gained in as little as 2.5 hours of training, making it accessible to people from all backgrounds, including areas of deprivation. And with the DLR highlighting a lack of action on AI upskilling in many organisations, this ambition is an encouraging sign. A “Goldilocks moment” in AI governance and innovation The UK is pursuing what Kyle described as a “light touch, but assertive” approach to AI regulation, encouraging innovation while keeping people safe, without overly prescriptive laws that risk slowing progress. The AI Security Institute, working alongside Frontier Labs, monitors risks before deployment, while sector regulators assess AI’s impact in their industries. This balanced approach has even been described by Jensen Huang, Founder and CEO of NVIDIA, as a “Goldilocks moment” for Britain. The DLR adds context, with 40% of digital leaders worried about the misuse of Generative AI, such as staff transferring sensitive documents into chatbots or acting on biased data. Kyle’s strategy aims to build trust while maintaining a pro-innovation environment. AI as a personal and societal equaliser Kyle shared his own experience of learning with Dyslexia, explaining how AI tools have supported his learning style and boosted his potential. He believes AI could “level up” opportunities, particularly for students in state schools and deprived areas, challenging the idea that privilege must be bought through expensive education. The DLR strengthens AI’s wide-reaching impact, describing it as an “everywhere” technology that’s already driving productivity and reshaping how businesses operate. While it doesn’t directly address educational equity, our research shows AI’s potential to upskill existing teams and free developers to take on more complex, creative challenges, which is closely aligned with Kyle’s vision of AI empowering individuals and expanding opportunity. Listen to the full conversation now on Tech Talks to hear Peter Kyle MP and David Savage explore the UK’s AI ambitions in depth.

Britain's £44 Billion AI Future: Is Everyone Included? Secretary of State Peter Kyle MP discusses Britain's record £44 billion AI investment, detailing a strategic vision to ensure the technology revolution empowers all parts of the country through infrastructure, widespread skills training, and a balanced approach to regulation, aiming for an inclusive 'Goldilocks moment' where creativity is the only limit. Cold-open quote: "I think people who think they can buy privilege in our society are in for a shock when AI is harnessed for the benefit of every young person equally right through the country.   Tech Talks Podcast  Tech Talks is a podcast that probes the minds of tech leaders, hosted by Technology Evangelist David Savage. Each week, the show releases three episodes with new guests, covering the latest tech news, exploring new products and cultural transformations that drive the tech industry. Founded in 2015 Tech Talks has published over 650 episodes and attracts over 18,500 streams a month from a global audience. The podcast offers insights and ideas from leading technologists on culture, innovation, finance, growth, sustainability, and more, providing a platform for the c-suite, founders, and senior figures to hear from others facing similar challenges and tap into a wider community. Find out more about Tech Talks here.

AI is becoming central to organisations’ digital transformation, and cybersecurity is no exception. In this article for Computer Weekly, Peter Birch, director of technology and digital executive search at Harvey Nash, and Mo Gaibee, associate consultant, highlight how AI is transforming cyber teams and operations. According to the 2025 Nash Squared/Harvey Nash Digital Leadership Report, 90% of businesses are now piloting or implementing AI, a significant jump from 59% in 2023, while 29% of technology leaders report their organisation has suffered a major cyber attack in the past two years, the highest level since 2019. AI is increasingly embedded in security operations, helping SOC analysts, threat hunters, and penetration testers detect, prioritise, and respond to threats more efficiently. The article explores the resulting war for cyber talent, with AI skills becoming a key differentiator for recruitment, as well as retention challenges for organisations under pressure to protect against evolving threats. Peter and Mo also examine the hybrid future of cybersecurity, where AI tools enhance, but do not replace, the expertise of human teams, making AI proficiency a critical requirement for cyber leaders and professionals. Read the full article on Computer Weekly.

The CapCut for Music: Overtune's Blueprint for Creative Control Host David Savage sits down with Overtune founder Sigi Arnason and investor Nick Gatfield to explore the democratization of music creation. Discover how Overtune aims to be the "CapCut for Music," empowering aspiring artists and content creators to produce and release high-quality music in minutes, even without technical expertise. The discussion unpacks the platform's assistive AI features, emphasizing user control and creative involvement over full automation, much like adding an "egg" to a cake mix to ensure personal input. This episode delves into the "human decisions" behind making music accessible to the 90% of people who previously couldn't translate their ideas into sound, showcasing a new workflow that prioritizes genuine creative expression. Tech Talks Podcast  Tech Talks is a podcast that probes the minds of tech leaders, hosted by Technology Evangelist David Savage. Each week, the show releases three episodes with new guests, covering the latest tech news, exploring new products and cultural transformations that drive the tech industry. Founded in 2015 Tech Talks has published over 650 episodes and attracts over 18,500 streams a month from a global audience. The podcast offers insights and ideas from leading technologists on culture, innovation, finance, growth, sustainability, and more, providing a platform for the c-suite, founders, and senior figures to hear from others facing similar challenges and tap into a wider community. Find out more about Tech Talks here.

I Used to Change My Accent: Why Emotional Intelligence is Tech's New Power Skill The tech industry often celebrates speed and disruption. But what happens when that pace overlooks the human element? Christina Lewis, a leader who navigated from higher education to scaling giants like Deliveroo and Bolt, shares a deeply personal truth: her initial instinct to change her Midlands accent to "fit in" to the London tech scene. This moment of personal adaptation forged her belief in the power of emotional intelligence (EQ). In this episode, we explore why EQ is now indispensable for everything from retaining female talent and building inclusive cultures to making critical decisions with real-world impact. As AI reshapes our workplaces, Christina argues that our most human skills—empathy, active listening, and understanding nuance—are tech's next great advantage. Join us as we challenge assumptions about leadership and reveal how leaning into our full, authentic selves makes tech truly make sense.   Tech Talks Podcast  Tech Talks is a podcast that probes the minds of tech leaders, hosted by Technology Evangelist David Savage. Each week, the show releases three episodes with new guests, covering the latest tech news, exploring new products and cultural transformations that drive the tech industry. Founded in 2015 Tech Talks has published over 650 episodes and attracts over 18,500 streams a month from a global audience. The podcast offers insights and ideas from leading technologists on culture, innovation, finance, growth, sustainability, and more, providing a platform for the c-suite, founders, and senior figures to hear from others facing similar challenges and tap into a wider community. Find out more about Tech Talks here.

AI's Real Challenge: Why Friction Points Trump 'Transformation' Strategy Organizations are under immense pressure to adopt AI, yet many are missing the mark. In this episode, Daemon's Chief Growth Officer Kyle Hauptfleisch cuts through the buzzwords, revealing why the relentless evolution of AI demands a shift from nebulous "AI strategies" to a laser focus on business friction points. He explains how boards are underestimating the blistering pace of change, the critical shift for humans from "instrument players" to "conductors" in the AI loop, and the often-overlooked process constraints that truly derail value creation.This description opens with an organizational tension (pressure vs. missing the mark), immediately introducing the core challenge. It then unpacks the strategic stakes, emphasizing the human-centred and substantive insights from the conversation without rehashing generic points.     Tech Talks Podcast  Tech Talks is a podcast that probes the minds of tech leaders, hosted by Technology Evangelist David Savage. Each week, the show releases three episodes with new guests, covering the latest tech news, exploring new products and cultural transformations that drive the tech industry. Founded in 2015 Tech Talks has published over 650 episodes and attracts over 18,500 streams a month from a global audience. The podcast offers insights and ideas from leading technologists on culture, innovation, finance, growth, sustainability, and more, providing a platform for the c-suite, founders, and senior figures to hear from others facing similar challenges and tap into a wider community. Find out more about Tech Talks here.