Tech for Non-Techies

The Design Thinking market is growing and Logitech's ex CEO Bracken Darrell credits it with increasing shareholder returns 10 times.  But, Design Lead  Caoimhe Kelly  believes Design Thinking doesn't fully encompass what a designer does. She says that  to invent a new product or launch a venture, a 5 step design process from a business book isn't enough. Listen to this episode to learn: Why the  d...

The Design Thinking market is predicted to grow 5x more than the US economy in 2024. This is because C Suite decision makers are choosing to buy design thinking and innovation services. Listen to this episode to learn how to make the most of this trend for your careeer, whether you're a corporate leader, a start-up founder, a strategic advisor or an investor. In this episode, you will learn: Why t...

Digital transformation and AI are going to continue being a top priority for most CEOs this year. But, 70% of these expensive projects fail to meet their goals, according to McKinsey. Listen to this episode to learn what will continue hampering digital transformation efforts in 2024, and what you can do to succeed instead, both as a company and as an individual. Listen to this episode to learn: Tw...

We are still at the beginning of the AI revolution, but in 2024 some of the world's oldest and richest industries are going to get disrupted by it.  Listen to this episode to learn: The difference between  Generative AI vs Large Language Models Why generative AI could  get you sued Which industries  generative AI and LLMs will disrupt in 2024 and why How to prepare for the LLM revolution  in 2024...

In this episode, you will get four suggestions for shows about Big Tech, AI,  billionaire founders and white collar criminals. Sophia Matveeva's  top entertainment suggestions  that will teach you: How Facebook was created What happens to founding teams when companies get successful How to convince powerful investors to fund you when you have nothing How social media companies work from the inside...

Design methodologies help businesses make more money and build products users love. Learn how this works from industrial designer and YouTube star John Mauriello. In this episode you will learn: What  industrial design  is Why  design thinking  helps companies succeed What a  user interview  should be like (and why founders are really bad at them) Why  technical founders tend to ignore the user  o...

The app economy is projected to grow 4x faster than the US economy. This means opportunities for innovators, investors and the professional services that support the app ecosystem. Listen to this episode to learn the fundamental  differences between the Apple App Store and the Android ecosystems , so you can capture this multi-billion dollar opportunity. You will learn: Why  privacy is a feature o...

" A brilliant solution to the wrong problem can be worse than no solution at all: solve the correct problem " - Don Norman.  Don Norman was Apple's first user experience architect and is revered for his expertise in design, usability engineering, and cognitive science.  Listen to this episode to learn the most important lessons from his best known book:  Design of Everyday Things .  You will learn...

Here are Sophia Matveeva's top four podcast picks to help you learn how tech is changing business and the economy. This is a selection of the most jargon-free shows, where the hosts don't assume you've worked at AWS for a decade. ---  Join the Tech for Non-Techies membership and succeed in the Digital Age .  Tech for Non-Techies clients  Reach senior  leadership positions in Big Tech  firms Lead d...

Before the advent of the iPhone, Logitech was a boring but successful company, making $2 billion per year. They made functional but ugly computer mice at affordable prices. But when the world moved from PC to mobile, its revenues tanked and its future looked bleak. The board knew they had to make a radical change, and hired Bracken Darrell as its CEO. Darrell changed the entire ethos of the compan...

A top MBA can be the best investment you make in your career. BUT most business schools haven't adapted to the Digital Age, despite pressure from employers & students. Listen to this episode if you have an MBA, are considering one, or work at a business school. You will learn: What's missing  in most business school curricula Why  transitioning into tech isn't easy  after an MBA What tech employer...

In just the first half of 2023, the Sweat with Kayla app recorded over $77 million in revenue. Without an engaged community, this success would not have been possible. A well managed community can help a business grow revenue, attract new customers and create a product that users love. Learn how smart tech companies embed communities into their business models in this short episode. Listen to lear...

Gamification helped Dropbox grow its user base by 3900% in 15 months. This is why Business Leaders must know what gamification engines are & how to use them. Listen to this episode to learn: What gamification is Why  Duolingo must use  gamification, but why for  LinkedIn it's just a nice to have Case studies  for how companies have used it to grow revenue, reduce churn and acquire new users Why a...

Tech companies have changed the stock market and the economy. But, to be a Smart Money investor, what do you really need to know about tech? Listen to this interview with Richard Kramer to find out. Richard is a renowned stock market analyst and founder of Arete Research, an independent equity research firm, which works with over 250 global tech investors. In this episode you will learn: How tech...

A great product attracts users, grows revenue and whets investor appetite. But what makes a great product? A good team and a smart process. Listen to this short episode to see what a  good product management process  looks like.  You will learn: What  specialists  need to be involved in a product team The biggest reason why the  products that get released are different to the product leader's visi...

If you want to transition career from a traditional industry, or a stuffy company, to a fast growing business, this episode is for you.  "The business strategies employed by highly successful start-ups and the career strategies employed by highly successful individuals are strikingly similar,"  said Reid Hoffman, co-founder of LinkedIn in his book the  Start-up of You .  This episode will show you...

ChatGPT has popularized deep tech, but most people don't really know what it is or how it differs from standard software innovation. Don't be most people.  This episode will demystify deep tech investing and show you why smart VCs never really take any technological risk (even in the most frontier tech industries). Learn from  James Wang , Partner at Creative Ventures: How  deep tech innovation di...

If you want to run a start-up, get to the top of a corporate, get headhunted for board roles or become a Smart Money investor, joining an advisory board is a smart move. But, for advisors, boards can can also become a time drain and a risk to your reputation.  For founders, advisory boards can be a source of deals, funding and support, or a costly distraction. Listen to this episode to learn why j...

Traditional industries, like banking, FMCG, and real estate have a fundamental difference to tech companies. If you do not understand this difference, or under-estimate it, you will not be able to thrive in digital transformation or work with tech start-ups. In this episode you will learn what this core difference is and why it matters through two case studies: the traditional business and the tec...

To succeed in the Digital Age, traditional business skills are no longer enough. Business Leaders need a new skillset: Digital Leadership. This doesn't mean learning to code or taking a Python course. (Thank God!) Instead, it means learning how to collaborate effectively with developers and data scientists, and aligning business goals with tech strategy. In this episode, Sophia Matveeva shares the...

Listen to this episode to get Sophia Matveeva's recommendations to hone your digital mindset. In this episode, you'll hear the top lessons from each book and why they matter. The beginners ' guide:  Swipe to Unlock: The Insider's Guide to Tech and Business Strategy Listen to this TFNT podcast interview with co-author Parth Detroja:  12 Introduction to Product Strategy To learn Design Thinking :  D...

Is online tracking invasive? Or do cookies make our experience of the internet better? To answer this question, you need to understand how online tracking works and who makes money from it. In this episode, you'll learn from  Keith Petri , CEO & Founder of Lockr, which helps consumers manage their data online. You will learn: What  tracking cookies  are The difference between first party, third pa...

How is generative AI different from standard AI? How can you tell lasting innovation from the hype?  Listen to this episode to find out. You will learn from  Jamie Cattell , Global Managing Partner, Enterprise Strategy at IBM Consulting. Before joining IMB, Jamie was a partner at McKinsey where he led McKinsey Digital. If you work in a corporate, sell to corporates or invest in public equities, th...

"You can design your work life as an employee or a business owner. Design thinking is for people like you, whether you receive the paycheck or sign the paycheck,"  Bill Burnett, Stanford School of Design. In this episode you will learn how to use Design Thinking to make decisions and move towards your goals.  Listen to learn: How Sophia used prototyping to  decide whether to move to New York City...

When should you innovate and when should you honour tradition?  The luxury industry answers this question all the time.  Luxury businesses like Louis Vuitton have been around since the 1800s, but have found a way to thrive in the Digital Age. In this episode, you will learn how they've done it so you can apply their lessons to yourself. You will learn: Two key questions  to ask to weigh up when to...