Fireside with Founders & Leaders

In this podcast episode, Raphael discusses the exciting trends and opportunities in the space industry. He highlights the shift towards leveraging unique conditions in space, such as microgravity, to develop innovative technologies like growing human organ tissue. The conversation also touches on the increasing government support for the space sector, emphasizing its strategic importance, especial...

Summary: Krish, an investment partner at Harmonix Fund, delves into the world of venture capital investment strategies, emphasising the importance of technical domain know-how in sectors like healthcare, life sciences, and deep tech. He highlights the challenges faced by emerging manager funds in proving their concept and generating sustainable returns. Krish provides strategic advice on pitching...

In this episode, Louis, Head of Product Design at YLD, shares his journey from studying interior architecture to working in recruitment and eventually landing in the digital consultancy industry. He discusses how YLD helps clients with designing products, software engineering, and user-centric focused products. Tune in to learn about Louis's background and his insights into the industry. Timestamp...

In this episode, Mark shares his journey from being an entrepreneur in the fintech industry to starting up Las Olas, a unique investment fund. He talks about his experience raising capital, taking a company public, and transitioning to angel investing. Mark and his partner decided to professionalize their angel investing, leading to the creation of Las Olas. Tune in to learn more about Mark's entr...

Keith Bank, founder of KB Partners, shares his journey from real estate to venture capital over 28 years in the industry. Starting as an angel investor during the early days of the internet and cell phone technology, he saw a need for more venture capital in Chicago and the Midwest. Despite initial doubts, Keith took the leap into VC in 1996 and hasn't looked back. Tune in to hear about his transi...

In this episode, Neil Keegan, founder of Marlinspike, shares his journey from being a Naval officer to establishing a venture capital firm focused on aerospace and defense technology. He discusses his background, experiences, and the inspiration behind starting Marlinspike. Neil highlights the thrill of supporting bold founders using disruptive technology to revolutionize industries, exemplified b...

From mechanical engineering to CTO of Tickitto, Elie shares his journey into the tech space with Rupert. Despite starting in a different field, Elie's passion for programming led him to pivot his career. The discussion touches on challenges faced along the way and the rapid progression in Elie's career. Tune in to hear how Elie's determination and love for technology shaped his professional path....

In this episode, we speak to Will Turner, Co-Founder of tech wellness company GoJoe. Will discusses his background in law before co-founding a tech business. We talk about his journey from practising law to working with the British Olympic team, where their passion for sport and tech intersected. The conversation delves into the transition from a legal career to entrepreneurship, highlighting the...

Today on the podcast, we had Stewart Reynolds, the COO and co-founder of Shopblocks, a company that builds e-commerce platforms for businesses of all sizes. Stewart shared his journey into entrepreneurship, insights on their hiring process, adapting through investment rounds, and what's next for their business and e-commerce. Tune in for valuable information on hiring practices and business strate...

In this episode, Sunil shares his unique journey into product management, from starting as an intern to becoming the first product manager at Hubble. He delves into his experience setting up a table tennis league for companies like WeWork and Monzo, highlighting how these experiences led him to co-found Magic AI. Sunil's passion for table tennis shines through, showcasing his drive to excel both i...

In this episode, Christopher Brennan, Co-Founder at Overtone discusses his journey from being a journalist covering tech and data privacy issues in Europe to transitioning into building tech products like language models for content recommendation systems. Christopher shares insights from his experience working in journalism and academia, highlighting the shift from reporting on AI to actively dev...

In this week's episode we speak to Steve Dietz, VP of Product Management at HqO. Steve talks about how he's navigated multiple mergers & acquisitions in the business' that he's worked for, learning to trust your gut and some of the key principals to product success. [00:03:34] Falling in love with product management. [00:06:47] Building a business passion. [00:10:22] Path to product management...

In this episode we are joined by Neil Smith, Co-Founder of mens mental health app Mettle. We talk all about Neils journey from TV Production to running a tech buisness. As well as this we talk about the stigma behind mens mental health and what Neil and is team at Mettle are doing to break these barriers. https://www.linkedin.com/in/neil-smith-2a5ab64/ [00:04:00] Second mountain theory [00:06:36]...

In this episode, we talk to Scott Johnston, CPO at Code for America about his journey as a Product Leader. This one is jam-packed with stories that will inspire you to be at your best. From working with Google, getting fired by Sergey Brin (and re-hired) and surviving cancer, it really has got it all. https://www.linkedin.com/in/scottjohnston/ [00:03:23] Impact of product management on users. [00:...

This episode features an interview with Tom Holderness, the CTO of Addresscloud. Tom shares insights into his non-traditional journey from academia to entrepreneurship. He discusses his background in geography and geographic information science, highlighting his work in building the next generation of mapping technology. Stay tuned to gain wisdom and insight into the innovative work happening at A...

Exploring diverse career paths into product management, this episode delves into Wayne's journey from sales and operations at Philip Morris to consultancy and finally landing in the product realm. The conversation touches on the varying paths people take to enter product roles, emphasizing the absence of a traditional route compared to other professions. We cover all things data-related and how yo...

In this episode of Fireside with Founders and Leaders, Beth Moore, an executive leader specializing in UCD, UX, UI, CX, and research at Reach Partners, shares her 20 years of industry experience. Beth discusses her career journey, from knowing her career path at a young age to becoming a creative director. Tune in to gain insights into her mantras, hiring strategies, and valuable tips for building...

In this episode, we talk to Anish Joshi, Co-Founder at Design3 about all things AI, Web3 and the future of Design. We discuss; The Evolution of Design in the Digital Era The Intersection of Design and Sustainability The Impact of AI on Design Innovation Building a Design Think-Tank and Network Entrepreneurship in Design and Technology Web3 and Its Implications for Designers [00:01:30] Design in th...

In this episode, we welcome Tom Shurrock Product Director at Beamery We uncover Toms background in engineering and website development, as well as his "eggs"perience launching an iPhone app😉 . We delve deep into the world of a T-Shaped Product Manager and what this really means. Tom talks about the power of embracing collaboration and how you can too. We talk about the importance of hiring based...

In this episode of Fireside with Founders and Leaders, Mehmet Elicin, former Product Director at Bumble, shares insights from his experience working at companies like Amazon, TripAdvisor, and Getr. He discusses the keys to their success, his journey as a product leader, and his approach to building successful teams and products. Tune in to gain valuable insights from Mehmet's extensive background...

In this week's episode we speak to Dave Hornsby, Head of Product at Modyfi, a design platform that helps designers build and craft beautiful designs whilst collaborating. We explore Daves journey into product as well as looking at some of his time spent in media companies, including SnapChat and ITV. We talk about, the evolution of imaging platforms and how AI has helped advance platforms includin...

In this episode, we speak to Graham Paterson, Co-Founder of Jitty about how he and his co-founders are building a better way to get the homebuying service. We talk about; ✅ Building a Strong Network ✅ Graham's experience working in companies including Deliveroo & Wise ✅ Embracing Patience ✅ Deep Understanding of Problems ✅ The power of building digital products the right way So sit back w...

In this episode, we had the pleasure of being hosted at Twickenham Stadium by Jon Carman Head of Product for England Rugby we discussed his journey into product management and hiscurrent role as Head of Product at England Rugby. Jons focus has been on establishing the product function within the organisation, which is a new venture for England Rugby as they invest in digital transformation. Previo...

In this episode, Tessa, a former journalist, shares her unique journey into the world of product management. She discusses her career as a video journalist for Reuters and the valuable skills she acquired in the field. Tune in to learn about Tess's transition from journalism to tech, and how her background in storytelling has influenced her approach to product management.

In this episode of Fireside with Founders and Leaders, host Rupert interviews Alistair Preacher, co-founder and CPO of Unblock. Alistair shares his entrepreneurial journey from consultancy to the corporate world, working on both digital and physical products. The conversation then delves into the world of Web3 and blockchain, exploring its complexities and potential societal benefits. Tune in to u...