Tech for Non-Techies

If you think product development comes after business strategy, you're leaving money on the table and falling behind your competitors. Don't do that. In this episode, you'll learn why smart business leaders are using prototypes as a strategic weapon - so you can do it too. You'll learn: - Why your 50-page strategy doc is worth less than a tested napkin sketch - How your "small" idea might actually...

If you have an idea for an app or a tech business, you can now make a test product in just 15 minutes using AI tools. But, you have to know how to use them wisely, so you don't make pretty products that nobody wants. Listen to this episode to learn: - The sweet spot for using AI in product development (from drafting specs to analysing user feedback) - Which AI tools to use for prototyping right no...

Have you ever wondered about how to work with developers effectively without becoming one yourself? It all starts with five simple, non-technical questions. In this episode, you'll learn what you need to bring to the table for your developers to build a great tech stack.   Timestamps 00:00 Introduction  03:12 Understanding the Tech Stack 06:05 Bringing Value as a Non-Technical Person 08:50 Key Que...

You can get your dream job, your dream client or your ideal investor at a tech event. But, going to a tech conference can also be a spectacular waste of money. So how do you get the former and avoid the latter? Listen to this episode to find out.   Timestamps 00:00 Introduction 02:00 Why you should go to conference events 02:59 Conferences are a serious investment  04:18 Conference ROI rules 08:15...

How do you make something completely new? And does the process differ if you're in a tiny start-up or a tech giant like Google? Listen to this episode to find out. You will learn from Maria Fernandez Guajardo, Senior Director of Product Management for Gmail at Google.  You'll learn the framework behind what makes a good Minimum Viable Product, the process Big Tech companies use to bring new ideas...

If you want to understand how tech companies work from the inside, you need to know what product managers do. People who master this skillset go on to be successful entrepreneurs, run tech companies and become leading venture capitalists. Microsoft CEO Satay Nadella used to be a product manager, as did Ben Horowitz, the co-founder of A16S, the VC firm behind Facebook, Airbnb and Pinterest. In this...

If you want to make a successful product, or have a great career, what do you need to focus on today? Listen to this episode to find out.   Timestamps 00:00 Introduction  02:06 Product vs. Marketing Problems 03:00 Job Interview Example 05:11 Experience v Networking 06:41 Retention Metrics 08:30 Prioritizing Product over Marketing 10:13 Marketing for Success   For the transcript, go to: https://www...

Do you want to know how one of the world's largest fintech companies stays on top? Paypal's innovation strategy is actually simpler and cheaper than you probably think. Listen to this episode to learn how this $78 billion dollar business keeps coming up with new ideas, so you can steal their strategies for yourself. You will learn from  Mike Todasco , who led global innovation at Paypal and is now...

Have you ever wondered why some people find smart innovative solutions to problems, and others stay stuck? In this episode, you'll learn you a simple technique that innovators use to make new products and solve business challenges. And you can also use this methodology for any area of your life, so listen up! You'll learn about the 5 whys process, hear two case studies for how to use it, and get g...

How can you tell which innovations will last and what's just hype? Are we in a generative AI bubble? There is a methodology called the Hype Cycle that venture capitalists use to answer these questions. But is this methodology foolproof? Find out in today's episode.   Timestamps 00:00:00: Introduction 00:01:34: Innovative tech education. 00:02:34: Distinguishing between innovation and trends 00:03:...

Every time you see Login with Facebook or Pay with Paypal on an app, you're seeing a tech tool called an API. This tool allows companies to make millions of dollars, reach billions of people, and collect valuable data, if you use it strategically. Listen to this episode to learn what APIs are and how smart business strategists use them. This is a re-run of  episode 37  of this podcast.   Timestamp...

If we know that ChatGPT makes things up, when should we avoid Large Language Models?  Is generative AI really safe to use when it matters? Listen to this interview with  Dr Heidy Khlaaf  to find out. Dr Khlaaf is the Principal Research Scientist at the AI Now Institute focusing on the assessment and safety of AI within autonomous weapons systems. She previously worked at OpenAI and Microsoft, amon...

Burberry was the first luxury brand to get on Facebook.   By pivoting their image from fusty old raincoat maker to social media star, the brand appealed to millennials.   The share price rose 4x and the CEO became the highest paid chief executive on the London Stock Exchange!   Listen to this episode to learn when being seen as innovative is just as important as being innovative.   Timestamps 00:0...

If you want to be an innovator in the Digital Age, you must learn from those who came before you. Here are Sophia Matveeva's top 3 recommendations for what to listen to to get the best innovators lessons.   Timestamps 00:00  Introduction  02:04  Behaviors of Famous Innovators 04:21  Product Management Strategies 06:06  Emphasize Customer Focus  07:04  Final Thoughts   For the transcript, go to: ht...

10,000 flight cancellations, disruptions in the UK National Health Service, and the banking sector cast into turmoil. The CrowdStrike outage sent the entire world into disarray. In this episode of the Tech For Non-Techies podcast, host Sophia Matveeva imparts crucial knowledge on how to prevent IT crises and emphasizes the importance of understanding tech for business leaders.   Timestamps 00:00:0...

What happens when an acquirer asks to buy a start-up?  The journey between the offer letter and money in the bank is long, arduous, and can sometimes lead to less money in the bank than the founders expected. In this episode, you'll hear from serial entrepreneur Sam Oliver, about the hard lessons he learned when selling his last company. If you're a founder, a corporate innovator, or a start-up in...

"The success strategies for individuals and companies are remarkably similar," Reid Hoffman. You can apply product innovation and start-up principles to your own career.  This will help you assess where you are, and make a plan for what to do and what to learn next. If you want 2024 to be your best year yet professionally, listen to this episode. Timestamps: 00:01:20 - The Paths to Wealth for Empl...

To succeed, corporates and start-ups must innovate. Learn how to manage technology strategy as a Business Leader from MBA professor Alberto Galasso. Professor Galasso teaches Strategic Management and Technology Strategy at the University of Toronto's Rotman School of Management. He is the author of  The Management of Innovation: Managing and Creating Technology Capital   Timestamps: 02:18 Why  Tec...

Do you want to have tech companies and venture capitalists as your clients? This can be very  lucrative  and  interesting . If the answer is yes, listen to this episode.  This interview was originally aired on the  Rainmaking Podcast with Scott Love .   Timestamps 03:02 Why the Tech Industry is still young 06:10 Choosing Tech as a Niche 08:04 Consumer vs Enterprise Tech 13:54 Mindset Differences i...

If you want to have a GREAT CAREER in the Digital Age, just being good at your job isn't enough. Listen to this episode to learn the key skills every professional needs to thrive.  This episode is for founders and employees. In this episode, you will learn: How much to know about tech if you're not a technologist How to make opportunities come to you How to use this list to take the next step Time...

AI is a hot topic right now. The day that this episode comes out Nvidia, has surpassed Microsoft and Apple to become the most valuable publicly listed company in the world. But, when a technology receives this much hype, sensible people start losing their minds and placing it on a pedestal. This is why, learning how to approach AI strategically as a Business Leader is a must have career skill toda...

"I believe business model innovation is more disruptive than technical innovation," - Fred Wilson, Venture Capitalist. To understand how business models get transformed in the Digital Age, listen to this episode. You will learn: What the four core business models are The framework to use if you want to update a business model for the Digital Age Why Apple is a prime example of tech & business mode...

No code tools can help you build an app for just 1% of the cost that you would pay developers. Amazing! But how do you know which no code tools to use? Listen to this episode to find out. In this episode, you will learn: The four questions you need to answer to help you choose the right No Code tool  What to know about your user before you start building a tool Why you don't need to worry about sc...

No code tools have opened opportunities up for innovators, and especially for  non-technical founders . But, they have their limits, and not everybody thinks that they're a great idea. Listen to this episode to learn what the No Code revolution is and when No code tools are a must have, and when they should be avoided. In this episode you will learn : Why  successful wealthy corporates choose to u...

As generative AI shakes up industries, those who don't choose to innovate, won't survive. Let's learn from past disruptions.  Why did Sears lose their top spot as America's favourite retailer, but Hewlett Packard continue to make new products and grow? By understanding how corporates navigated technological change before, we can create a plan for the future.  This is part 2 in this mini series on ...