Tech Talks

The criteria for choosing a cloud partner has fundamentally changed: AI is trumping all previous discussions. On today's podcast Google Cloud’s Chief Revenue Officer Matt Renner joins David to explain why the underlying technology is the real story in financial services. We explore why 90-95% of early generative AI proofs of concept failed, why compliance is the primary regulatory focus for ba...

David is joined by three FinTech leaders to unpack the urgent themes emerging at Money20/20 in Las Vegas.  Richard Winston (Slalom), Sonya Cléroux (Interpolitan Money) and Joseph Dormani (Thomson Reuters Ventures) discuss AI governance, tokenization, and the Gen Z imperative. The podcast delves into why building trust is central to AI adoption, requiring systems with consistent, reliable, and pred...

“Banking is 100% of the time business. You've got to get it right. It's got to be compliant and you have to have a sure delivery of movement of funds if that's the business that you're in.” On today's show David talks to Global Financial Services leader Richard Winston (Slalom Consulting) to unpack a shift at Money20/20 Las Vegas, where the biggest players now hunt for payment...

Today Openbrix founder Shahad Choudhury details his PropTech company's foundational pivot! Originally aiming to revolutionize the rental sector with blockchain, Openbrix abandoned the tech (and the fight against giants like Rightmove) to focus on the later stages of the tenant lifecycle. Shahad explains how this shift, coupled with a government-backed partnership, led to rapid growth (20,000 n...

In today's show I'm chatting to a founder, board member, mentor, and fellow podcaster! Kimberley Waldron, founder of Started (the FinTech brand and PR specialists), argues that poor communication, not technology failure, is the biggest threat to FinTech adoption. Together we unpack why the industry must shift focus from internal jargon to tangible end-user benefits. Kimberley explains that...

Co-founder of CyLon, Grace Cassy, reveals why Europe struggles to scale cyber talent and challenges the industry's focus on prevention. She discusses the human cost of complacency and what "bouncing back" looks like practically; from immutable backups to prioritizing critical systems. A vital conversation on moving from throwing up high walls to building true organizational resilienc...

Willem Ave, Square's Global Head of Product, joins host David Savage to discuss Square's evolution from a card reader to an ecosystem of banking and software. Together they unpack the strategy behind bringing advanced AI tools (like virtual CFOs and CMOs) to small, independent businesses helping drive economic empowerment. Willem explains how Square balances rapid feature growth with the commitmen...

On today's podcast Georgie Steele (CTO and Co-founder of Maven) discusses turning complex climate policy into actionable business intelligence. She reveals how Maiven navigates resistence/indifference towards sustainability by focusing on commercial ROI and adapting to shifting local regulations. Georgie also shares insights on fostering an 'AI-first' culture, enabling non-technical te...

Filmmaking is being democratised, with the barrier to entry lowered by affordable tech. Chris Elliott, co-founder of Sound & Colour Films, explores the high-stakes trade-off: how generative AI allows in-house teams to achieve more, but simultaneously threatens to cannibalise the professional creative industry. Ultimately, Chris argues that the enduring value lies not in the tools, but in the h...

In today's episode Adclear co-founder Joe Jordan reveals how AI is helping to automate compliance for regulated firms like PensionBee and Plum. He addresses the fundamental tension between marketing's push for speed and creativity and the crippling risks of regulatory investigations. With David he discusses how Adclear builds deep trust, manages internal risk tolerances, and why resilience...

Nicky Tozer (NetSuite SVP EMEA) joins us to discuss the "exciting evolution" of their platform and chat about how AI is moving from a vague promise to a purposeful, productivity engine. She reveals how concentrated use cases, like the autonomous close, deliver real, tangible benefits for growing businesses. As she chats to David, we also explore the challenge of adopting a single source...

Senior VP Brian Chess reveals NetSuite’s architectural bet with transparency in their AI: moving beyond quick wins to build trust into the core ERP system. We explore the leadership decision to enable external models (like ChatGPT/Claude) via the AI Connector Service. Brian also discusses the challenge of proving AI ROI to the CFO and why organizational experimentation is key in a rapidly evolving...

Cyrus Vantoch-Wood launched Insurgent to create investment-ready ventures in the regenerative space. He explains why the sustainable sector suffers from a lack of trust and political headwinds. For Cyrus, the only solution to the climate crisis is profit. He reveals how Insurgent applies "impact design" to ensure that businesses (even those operating in unusual verticals, like death) can meet the...

Founder Matthew Jones discusses Haven, a crypto security solution using continuous facial recognition to eliminate passwords and identifiers. Matthew explains how tackling the UK's staggering $3.8 billion crypto fraud requires taking away the data points fraudsters seek, because data is the "center of breach". This episode explores the tension between crypto anonymity and verified ownership, revea...

From a chance decision made while one co-founder was stuck cycling in Georgia, SimpleStudy was born. Founders Phillip Mckenna and Oisin Devoy (childhood friends from rural West Cork) share how they built an exam platform serving over 60 exams in countries from Brazil to Australia. They discuss rejecting B2B advice to focus on students, leveraging AI to scale, and how their contrasting skills as &q...

The decision for thousands of women to leave UK tech has a £3.5 billion price tag. This isn't a pipeline problem; it's a retention crisis. In this episode, we unpack the Lovelace Report to reveal why women are leaving—and it's not for the reasons you think. The full report can be found  here. Tech Talks is powered by Nash Squared, the leading global provider of technology and talent so...

What shapes a global tech leader? ARM's CCO Will Abbey shares his journey from Ghana to the UK and California. He discusses ARM's role in a fragmented world, the challenge of closing the AI skills gap, and how technology can deliver real impact in Africa. Tech Talks is powered by Nash Squared, the leading global provider of technology and talent solutions. Find out more about our solutions...

Veronica (founder of Valumia) is a seasoned entrepreneur who has returned to the startup world after a previous venture came to an end. In this candid conversation, she shares the untold story of her journey, from the emotional toll of being a founder to her new mission to expose sustainability risks like modern slavery, conflict, and biodiversity loss. This episode unpacks the hidden vulnerabilit...

“The 100% tariffs have poured fuel on an already raging fire… it’s put this whiplash effect into every sourcing manager and production team.” Kathleen Chan, CEO & Founder of Calico Global apparel supply chains are “very, very broken.” Kathleen Chan is out to fix them. As founder of Calico, she’s building an AI-driven “force multiplier” to bring resilience, speed, and clarity to one of the worl...

“LG Nova does not do hardware. This is new.” Sokwoo Rhee, EVP at LG Electronics EVP Sokwoo Rhee pulls back the curtain on LG Nova—the team building software, AI, and platform businesses in healthcare and clean tech, far beyond TVs and appliances. We dig into how a global brand bets on new ventures, tackles problems like chronic conditions and mental-health access in rural communities, and balances...

“80% of what we buy is already in our city, we just don’t have visibility.” Sacha Michaud, Co-founder of Glovo. David Savage sits down with Sacha to explore how Glovo is building hyper-local, multi-category marketplaces across 23 countries, challenging warehouse-centric e-commerce. We dig into the human decisions behind European scale, operating speed, and culture. What we cover: Why local-first c...

“Part of the reason I push so hard is imposter syndrome. If it went away, I might chill out, and I don’t want that.” Tanay Kothari, CEO & Co-founder of Wispr Flow What if speaking to your computer felt as natural as chatting with a friend? That’s the vision behind Wispr Flow, the voice AI rewriting 20 years of clunky dictation tools. In this episode, David Savage sits down with Tanay to explor...

“If you’re working to a cookie-cutter legal template, AI deserves to take your job.” Ryan Lisk, Founder of Hybrid Legal Ryan started Hybrid Legal at just 21 to make legal services plain-speaking, affordable, and human-centred for SMEs. Now, he’s confronting the sector’s biggest disruption: AI-drafted contracts. In this episode, David Savage and Ryan explore: Real cases where AI contracts went dang...

Are businesses really ready for AI, or just feeling the pressure to keep up? In this episode, Nixon Hire CIO John Whitlow delivers a clear-eyed reality check. He explains why many organisations, especially SMEs, are still stuck in the foothills of digital transformation, struggling with basics like poor data quality (where up to 80% of data is useless). We dig into: Why AI hype often outpaces digi...

Today's guest Miha Jagodic, co-founder and CEO of Bloq. It, recounts the journey of transforming his startup from its challenging "tuna can period" (a time characterized by extremely limited resources and relentless early development efforts) into one of Europe's hottest and fastest-growing companies. Bloq. It provides an end-to-end parcel locker solution, revolutionizing last-mi...