Shows / Tech Talks
Tech Talks
Welcome to Tech Talks (A Podcast about Technology Leaders and Leadership). We explore the stories behind the most recognisable names in industry and the startups you’re yet to hear from. The innovation, cultural transformation and investment stories driving technology with host David Savage. If you’re interested in the latest ideas on AI, data, cyber-security this is the show for you. Follow and join the conversation. Tech Talks is powered by Harvey Nash, the leading global provider of…
Episodes
Tech TalksComputer Says No! zally is Turning How You Hold Your Phone into the Ultimate Password
zally’s Elliott Fullerton is turning how you hold your phone into the ultimate password. We explore how continuous authentication uses behaviour, not…
Tech TalksThe Truth About Digital Trust: Why Banks Are Terrified and Passports Can't Save Us
The internet’s trust systems are breaking down, and companies are terrified to admit it. Bots aren't just spamming platforms; they're draining Spotify fees and…
Tech TalksWhy the CEO *MUST* Be the Chief AI Officer
Is AI just about deploying agents, or does it require a fundamental leadership shift? In this episode, Ascendion CEO Karthik Krishnamurthy explains why the…
Tech TalksFrom Swift to Stablecoins: The Payment Decision Saving Small Businesses
When we hear "unbanked," we usually think of individuals. But what about unbanked businesses? Meryem Habibi, CRO at Bitpace, reveals how small companies in…
Tech TalksFrom European Sun to Texas Steel: The Pragmatic Math Behind E-Fuels
Anthony Wang (Co-Founder of ETFuels) initially thought Spain’s sunshine made it the perfect home for his startup. He was wrong. The CTO reveals why his startup…
Tech TalksThe Truth About Siloed Healthcare: Missing Answers, Misinformation, and the Tech Trying to Fix It
What happens when doctors only look at a fraction of your symptoms? And how much trust should you place in technology to give you sound advice?David Savage…
Tech TalksThe Real Threat to Early Careers isn’t Automation, it’s a Lack of Cash
Venture capital has a diversity problem, but talking about it won't fix it. In this episode, David sits down with Anu Adebajo, the new CEO of Newton Venture…
Tech TalksThe 'Agent Boss' Trap: Will Surface-Level Knowledge Mean the Human Handbrake Doesn't Work?
We might soon be ‘agent bosses’. But if we only skim-read AI’s work, then the human handbrake might already be broken. As we trade deep expertise for…
Tech TalksWe Meet the Entrepreneur Who is Making You Look Up
Digital experiences today are often isolating, but what if technology could bring us together in the physical world? In this episode, David speaks to Janet…
Tech TalksFrom Influencer to Founder: Rebuilding the Creator Economy with Purpose
After fleeing the war in Ukraine, Vita Shafinska had to rebuild her 200,000-strong digital community from scratch. Now, with over 620,000 UK followers, she’s…
Tech TalksIf You Forget the "Three Ps", You're Making a Cyber Criminals Job Easy
AI and deepfakes are dominating the security conversation, but what is actually causing breaches?David recently talked to Ed Williams, VP of EMEA Consulting at…
Tech TalksWhat Is Shadow L&D? Why Your Employees Are Building AI In Secret
AI is scaling rapidly, but human skills are struggling to keep up. As a result, frustrated employees are taking learning into their own hands, giving rise to…
Tech TalksWhy the ‘Strava for Women’ Pivoted to Basic Safety First
Former four-time British Champion pistol shooter Anna Rehfisch realised early in her athletic career that sports programming, nutrition, and coaching were…
Tech TalksThe Hiring Shift: Why Critical Thinking Beats Experience in the AI Era
As AI reshapes the workplace, how do you prepare non-technical teams for the future? David Savage sits down with Malgorzata Perfeniuk, Chief People Officer at…
Tech TalksIs AI Breaking Recruitment and Harming the Talent Pool?Is AI Breaking Recruitment and Harming the Talent Pool?
AI is changing how we work, but what is it doing to how we hire? Josh Nesbitt, CTO at Genio, reveals the human cost of the AI-native developer boom. As we…
Tech TalksThe Launch Decision That Sparked Cease-and-Desist Letters: Regulating a $95B Industry
Medical aesthetics is a $95 billion industry, yet it remains shockingly under-regulated. Shirin Krall, founder of MARBL, set out to change this by building an…
Tech TalksInside the Seismic Legal Fight That Just Rewrote the Rules for AI
Not every decision that shapes the future of technology happens in a coding sprint. Some unfold slowly, over years and years, and end up in the highest…
Tech TalksJob For Life? Why You Need To Learn 40 New Skills Every Four Years
For 200 years, a university diploma was enough to launch a 40-year career. Today, employers demand 40 new skills every four years. Anthony Salcito, Coursera VP…
Tech TalksThe Truth About AI Strategy: Why Boardroom Disagreement Guarantees Failure
Many traditional enterprises mistakenly believe that simply adopting cloud tools internally means they have a working AI strategy. In reality, true AI…
Tech TalksThe Assumption That Broke COVID Testing (And Why We Need Synthetic Humans)
When the UK government rolled out COVID home testing, experts assumed 70-80% of people would return the kits. The reality? Only 30% did. So why do leaders…
Tech TalksWhy We Cloned Our Dad’s Receptionist: The Story Behind Linda AI
From Goldman Sachs traders to health-tech founders, sisters India and Portia O’Connor are proving that in the age of AI, specificity is everything. They…
Tech TalksThe Horizontal Specialist: How to Escape the Vertical Career Ladder
We are taught to be vertical specialists: stay in your lane, climb the ladder, and fit into a box. But Casey Woo, founder of the Operators Guild, argues that…
Tech TalksAgentic AI: What Happens When The Tools Stop Asking For Permission?
We’ve accepted AI as a copilot, but Channing Ferrer (Chief Revenue Officer and CEO of the Americas at Brevo) argues we are rapidly approaching the era where…
Tech TalksIn The Middle Of The Ozempic Gold Rush Habitual Refused the “Easy” Revenue: We Find Out Why
GLP-1 medications like Ozempic and Mounjaro have changed the world, but they aren't a silver bullet. Napala Pratini, co-founder of Habitual, joins David to…
Tech TalksBeth Paretta Shares The Next Step in Formula E's Silent Revolution
The "silent" revolution is getting louder, and faster. Beth Paretta, VP of Sporting at Formula E, joins David Savage to reveal the Gen 4 car. A monster hitting…
Tech TalksSubscription Fatigue Shouldn't Be Part of Your Fitness Journey
Matt Austin and Ryan Lovelock left the Bank of England to solve a modern problem: subscription fatigue. In this episode, the SPORTL co-founders reveal why they…
Tech TalksWe Forgot the Basics of Cyber Hygiene: NordVPN's Human Firewall Warning
NordVPN CTO Marijus Briedis argues that while the tech world sprints toward AI, we have forgotten the basics of cyber hygiene. He reveals why the "human…
Tech TalksFrom Consultant to Builder: Sadia Dhorat's "Sink or Swim" Moment and the Lessons She's Learnt
Today we speak to Sadia Dhorat, an entrepreneur who swapped the safety-net of consulting career for the gritty reality of New York’s health tech scene during…
Tech TalksDiscover How Dirt is Actually the World’s Best Carbon Capture Technology
We spend billions on climate tech, yet we know more about space than the soil beneath our feet. Robin Saluoks (CEO, eAgronom) reveals why dirt is actually the…
Tech TalksArvra is Keeping Human Connection Rooted at the Heart of Digital Wellness
On today's show we're diving into wellness and mental health. We are told AI is the future of healthcare, but can algorithms truly handle mental health?…
Tech TalksIs a Digital ID a Good or Bad Thing For You?
Why do we hesitate to use government digital IDs but happily hand over our data to social media giants? Jarek Sygitowicz, co-founder of Authologic, joins David…
Tech TalksTech Is Helping People Embrace The Cold: Brass Monkey Founder Dan Talks Us Through His Icy Journey
Danyl Bosomworth didn’t set out to be a tech founder; he just wanted a better ice bath. In this episode, the Brass Monkey founder reveals how a "scratch your…
Tech TalksWhat Do 70 Million Patents Tell Us About Technology and AI?
We often measure AI innovation by press releases, but what does the hard data say? In today's show David sits down with Ed White (Clarivate) to analyze the…
Tech TalksThe Environmental Mismatch: Modern Tech is Breaking Our Nervous Systems
We are living in an era of "environmental mismatch". Our bodies have evolved over millions of years, and they are now fighting (or running from) 'tigers' in a…
Tech TalksNo A-Levels, No Degree: How Curiosity Built a Multi-Million Pound Startup
On today's edition of 'Tech Talks' David talks to Vincent Cook, the founder of Cyb3r Operations, to talk about a critical blind spot in cybersecurity…
Tech TalksThe Decision to Digitize The Beano: Comixit! are Building Additive, Not Addictive, Tech
With childrens' literacy (in the United Kingdom) in crisis, Michael Nakan CEO of Comixit! is using technology to fight back. Today he joins David to discuss…
Tech TalksIs Your Workplace Forcing People Out? Rethinking Human Data in the AI Era
In an era of rapid AI transformation, Kasia Hayward argues that the secret to success is actually moving slower. Drawing on twenty years of experience with…
Tech TalksThe Need For A Human Conductor: Why Airship Won’t Let AI Fly Solo
On today's episode of 'Tech Talks' Airship’s Mike Herrick joins David Savage to discuss the evolution of mobile engagement through AI agents. We discover how…
Tech TalksYou Might As Well Phone Santa Claus: Why Your SOS Button is a Hollow Promise
Today's podcast shows how technology can be used to tackle societal issues creatively in different parts of the world to the UK or the USA. In Africa (and many…
Tech TalksWhy Build a High-Performance Engine If You Don't Know the Destination?
2025 was promised as the year of AI ROI, yet many organisations remain stuck in "pilot purgatory." Woodson Martin, CEO of OutSystems, joins host David Savage…
Tech TalksHappy New Year! We Present a Panel From Money20/20
Initially posted on Convera's podcast, today's show is a discussion lead by David with Sudipto Das (Convera), Nilesh Dusane (AWS), and Shawnna DelHierro (Sound…
Tech TalksOur 2025 Wrap-up: Fighting "Inshitification" and the Pivot to Real-World Impact
It's our second-last episode of the year, and the last is New Year's Eve, so this is a 2025 wrap-up!David has picked out some of his favourite moments from the…
Tech TalksThe Speed Paradox: Why AI Agents Demand More Responsibility, Not Less
On today's podcast David is joined by Scott Weller, CTO and founder of EnFi. We're asking why 95% of AI projects fail? Scott talks to David about the ongoing…
Tech TalksBrands Are Vanishing Into Thin Air: Thankfully For Your CMO, GeoSurge Have A Solution
On today's podcast David is sitting down with Francisco Vigo, CEO (and cofounder) of GeoSurge, a start-up who have just emerged from stealth to tackle a crisis…
Tech TalksThe Social Universe Built by Two Invites: Byio is Rewriting the Rules of Growth and Social Media
On today's show you're going to get to hear about the next social media craze before before anyone else, and get your chance to 'lock in'.Raye Easterly…
Tech TalksIs it time that technologists took a Hippocratic Oath?
On today’s Tech Talks episode, David sits down with Hedgehog Lab CTO Joe Thompson, who argues that tech is finally maturing, moving beyond optimising for…
Tech TalksThe Decision That Ended AI Hype: Why This Founder Only Focuses on Measurable ROI
Today's guest is Synthflow AI's CEO and co-founder Hakob Astabatsyan. He reveals how his company built real-time conversational voice AI for customer support…
Tech TalksFrom CEO to 'Beckie': How Beckie Taylor Hit Reset To Find Her Voice in Tech
On today's show Beckie Taylor unpacks her pivotal, perhaps even dark, journey of identity after stepping away from Tech Returners. She opens up about the…
Tech TalksDebt, Stigma, and the Funding Gap Holding UK SMEs Back
On today's podcast Juice Co-founder Katherine Chan tells us the true cost of the UK’s £22bn funding gap. It's not just capital, it's confidence. 56% of small…
Tech TalksThe App That Can End Fake Profiles And Revenge Porn
On today's podcast we're looking at how to prevent someone stealing your photos and posting them without your permission. Centralized content moderation is…
Tech TalksRoblox, Regulation, and Why Kids Are Still Lying About Their Age
The internet wasn't built for kids, but it doesn't mean it shouldn't be an environment they thrive in. Kate O'Loughlin, CEO of Super Awesome, explains how…
Tech TalksHow Did Lissele Spot a Gap to Serve the Underserved Global Market, Aged Just 23?
In today’s Tech Talks episode David explores how compliance and AI are cleaning up global payments.Lissele Pratt (Forbes 30 Under 30 honoree) founded…
Tech TalksBeyond Paychecks: Gen Z's Unprecedented Power to Redefine Corporate Values
Today's guest is Forbes Under 30 recipient Avanti Sharma. Avanti has been on 'Tech Talks' twice before, aged 11, and 17. Now she's back to argue that Gen Z…
Tech TalksCybersecurity is the Most Challenging Obstacle: The SDV Race Between Safety and Speed.
Is your car in danger of being hacked? Today’s guest is Thomas Cardon (QNX), and he joins David Savage to unpack the realities of the Software-Defined Vehicle…
Tech TalksScaling Europe’s Fastest Growing Travel Company Without Talking About Travel
Today David is talking to Fabio Bin (the WeRoad Co-founder and CMO), who reveals how Europe's fastest-growing travel startup achieved $100M revenue by ignoring…
Tech TalksThe Tech That Went Sh*tty: Twitter's First Employee on the Right to Exit and Open Protocols
Today we have a real treat for you! Rabble Evan Henshaw-Plath, Twitter’s first employee, reveals the chaotic, hackathon origins of the platform. He details how…
Tech TalksThe $300 Trillion Question: Can You Buy a Home Without a Bank?
Buying a house is really, really hard. It took our host David 15 years of renting until he was in a position to get on the career ladder. It's a huge…
Tech TalksInvestment Based on Code? Why AI is the Assistant, Not a Decision-Maker, in Inclusive VC
Today David is join by Michael Tefula (of Ada Ventures) to discuss how we can power inclusion in venture capital, and how proprietary technology fits into the…
Tech TalksIs An Algorithm Silencing Progressive Voices? That And More From The Floor Of Web Summit Lisbon
Recording on Tuesday (Day One) of Web Summit 2025, David Savage talks to leaders about what truly matters on the ground. Louise Thomas shares her successful…
Tech TalksMeet Two Teenage Leaders Who Will Restore Your Faith in Humanity (We Aren't Kidding)!
Today's show features a conversation recording at Web Summit with two future (and present) leaders : Raya Mardani and Aarav Sharma. They are 15 and 16…