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.