Tech for Non-Techies

Would you rather listen to a song by an artist you already love? Or an unknown artist and try something new?  Most people want a combination of the familiar and the new. In social media terms, this is the  social graph vs the interest graph . The social graph refers to  content from your friends , and the interest graph refers to  content based on your interests .  Tech firms based on content cons...

If you have an idea for an app or a tech business, but no tech skills to build it, this episode is for you. You will hear from Natalie Kaminski, founder of Jet Rockets , whose development company works specifically with non-technical founders. In this episode, you will learn: what insights non-technical founders have that tech founders often don't how a travel agent built a tech company when Covid...

Design Thinking, first developed at Stanford, is the strength behind tech companies like Airbnb and Snap. Great design was the foundation of Apple and Steve Jobs's obsession. Design Thinking is a methodology for making decisions, and knowing when to pivot and when to preserve. You can design your work life as an employee or a business owner. Design thinking is for people like you, whether you rece...

The online gaming market is HUGE. Revenue in the online games market is projected to reach US $26.1 billion in 2023. Games developers have also had to solve some of the toughest problems in tech. And yet, the gaming sector does not receive as much attention in the press as other sectors like fintech and ad tech. Listen to this episode to learn rare insights from the gaming industry and how they ap...

Product makers know how to make a product. But technologists do not know whom the product is for and what their aim is. When it comes to working with the tech product team,  a business leader's job is to represent the user and their needs. Listen to this episode to hear  three key insights  business leaders must bring technologists to make great products. This episode is for people who need to buy...

An MBA from a top school can be a great investment. But most business schools have not updated their curricula for the Digital Age and the new world of work.  Listen to this episode to hear what Sophia Matveeva loved about her MBA and the two vital skillsets her business school didn't teach.

Why do some people struggle to be valued for their skillset while others have opportunities coming to them?  Most jobs do not get advertised. VCs turn down most of the start-ups that pitch to them. And yet, recruiters work to track down candidates and investors hustle to get on the best founders' cap tables. Why does this happen? To find out, listen to this week's episode. Come this FREE mastercla...

Having a digital skillset isn't enough. You must be SEEN as a Digital Leader & KNOWN for your expertise. Listen to this podcast episode if you want opportunities to come to you.  You will learn: How headhunters and conference organizers look for candidates and speakers Why your LinkedIn profile needs to speak to two audiences simultaneously (and what they are) Two changes you can make today to mak...

Humans invent technology and then technology changes humans. It was ever thus. The biggest technological trend today is artificial intelligence. if you want to be an insightful leader in the Digital Age, you do need to understand what AI is doing to us, so you can reap the benefits and minimise the costs. In this episode you will learn from Dr Tomas Chamorro-Premuzic, author of  I, Human: AI, Auto...

Some technologies lose businesses money and put off their customers. So why do businesses use them? The technical term is shiny object syndrome! We waste money and make bad decisions when we forget that technology is a tool, not an end in itself. The role of a true Digital Leader is to discern when tech creates value and when it doesn't. This podcast episode will help you do that.  You will learn:...

Successful professionals need to mix their domain expertise with meta skills to thrive. These transferable skills apply to any industry. Without them, the way to the C Suite is closed. Listen to this short episode to learn what they are and how to get them. Join the Tech for Non-Techies membership and lead in the Digital Age .  Tech for Non-Techies clients  Reach senior  leadership positions in Bi...

Dr Marilyn Sandor is the founder of GoodCheckUp , a telehealth app that gives you dental care whenever, wherever. But her success story came out of a crisis: when Covid struck, she had to shut down her dental clinic, thus losing her income and leaving her patients in the lurch. Not one to sit still, Dr Sandor created a telehealth app to treat her patients remotely. Her patients loved it, and today...

Apps and algorithms are like bathroom redesigns and subway station refurbishments. Over budget and over deadline. Listen to this episode to learn why this happens and what to do about it.  Listen to  119. Why smart leaders expect the unexpected from software updates for more on this topic. ----- If you like learning about how tech products and profits get made, you'll like our newsletter. It's fun...

Most products brought to market fail. Tech Entrepreneur Ash Maurya says this is " not because we can't complete what we set out to build, but because we waste time, money, and effort building the wrong product. " Maurya is the author of  Running Lean: Iterate from Plan A to a Plan that works , and creator of the Business Model Canvas. Listen to this episode for three core lessons all innovators ne...

The metaverse hasn't yet gone mainstream, but it is already changing changing how we work and play. For some companies, the metaverse is their digital transformation , which makes understanding it a key Digital Leadership skill today. Listen to this short episode to hear the most sensible explanation of where the metaverse matters today. ----- Watch more FREE LESSONS on the  Tech for Non-Techies Y...

If you are not a developer or a data scientist, you don't know what you don't know about  tech. This is a very uncomfortable feeling, especially for high achievers, who were trained to believe that success meant knowing everything. Listen to this episode for five tips on how to make the right decisions about tech as a business leader in a world of digital unknown unknowns. ----- If you like learni...

To have a thriving career in the Digital Age, traditional business skills are not enough. But taking tech course after tech course isn't helpful either. Follow this three step framework to transform your career: Learn to  speak tech Get involved  with the right projects Tell the world  about whom you have become Get the   Speak Tech Guide  -  FREE guide  to the top 10 concepts all business leaders...

What kind of doorbell do you use? A buzzer? A door knocker or a Ring smart doorbell system? Right now, you can see all three inventions in use: one that has been around for millennia, and another that was created just 20 years ago. This shows the wide gap between tech invention and its wide-scale adaption. While the Ring doorbell system is now well known, some people still prefer to use a door kno...

Digital Transformation is going to continue being a huge force in business, but the way it's being done is changing. People, not tech tools, are the new priority. Listen to this episode to learn how to make the most of this opportunity. Learning notes from this episode: Global digital transformation spending is forecast to reach $3.4 trillion by 2026 , from around 1.6 trillion today, according to...

Despite the many press releases touting Silicon Valley's diversity efforts, the majority of funding from this innovation will still go to white males in 2023.  While this reality is not what many of us want, it is an opportunity for investors and innovators to capture overlooked user markets.  Learning notes from this episode: A product is a solution to a problem a human is experiencing.  Innovato...

The biggest gains and innovations will come from digital technologies in healthcare in 2023. Big Tech firms have already entered healthcare, with Amazon buying One Medical and launching Amazon Clinic in 2022. But, healthcare tech innovation is happening across the board: from start-ups to hospital systems. Learning notes from this episode: As Big Tech firms' valuations have fallen, they have becom...

At this time of year, many ambitious professionals sign up to education programmes to take their career to the next level. Here's a guide on how to choose the right course for you and make the most of it once you've signed up. How to choose the right online course for you: Familiarise yourself with the instructor's work and point of view Invest your time and energy before you invest your money. If...

If you're feeling guilty about switching on yet another streaming series, here are three shows you can watch to learn about tech in your downtime: General Magic  - tells the tale of how a great vision and an epic failure changed the lives of billions. It is a documentary about the people and the technologies that led to the creation of the iPhone. Silicon Valley  by HBO – comedy series about a sta...

This December, Microsoft (founded in 1975) took a 4% stake in the London Stock Exchange (founded in 1698). As part of this deal, the LSE will spend at least $2.8 billion on Microsoft's cloud related services in the next 10 years. Big Tech and finance have been getting closer and closer in recent years. The CME has a deal with Google, AWS has a deal with Nasdaq, and almost all banks and insurers no...

Joining the advisory board of a promising tech start-up will teach you vital skills, build your network and transform your professional brand. It is a great way to reshape your career, while still working in your current role. Here is how to do it: Remember the  difference between boards of directors and advisory boards.  The former have fiduciary responsibility and the ability to hire / fire the...