Tech for Non-Techies

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The number of non-technical founders running billion-dollar companies increased four times between 2013 and 2023. Not because the technology got easier — though it did.

But because investors finally figured out that the person who can sell, build relationships and spot a market opportunity is often more valuable than the person who can write the code.

This episode was originally recorded for Tech Talks Daily with Neil Hughes.

Sophia joined Neil to talk about why this shift happened, what it means for founders and business leaders today, and exactly where to start if you have an idea and no technical background.

Listen to learn:

Why the number of non-technical founders running unicorns quadrupled in a decade — and what investors are actually looking for now
Where AI genuinely helps non-technical founders build faster — and where it will quietly destroy your product if you let it
The iceberg problem: why what you can't see in your product is the thing most likely to sink it
How to work with developers when you have no idea what they're doing — including the mistakes Sophia made with her first team
How to build technology fluency as a business leader without becoming a developer or faking it

This episode is for you if:

You have a business idea and keep telling yourself you can't build it because you're not technical
You are working with a technical team and feel out of your depth
You want to understand where AI genuinely helps — and where to be sceptical

Book a free consulting session with Sophia: https://calendly.com/sophia-matveeva/sample-consulting-session-2026

Timestamps:

00:00 – Why non-technical founders are winning big
02:09 – Introducing Sophia Matveeva
04:10 – Sophia's year in Bahrain and beyond
10:13 – Why now is the best time to be a non-technical founder
15:19 – Using AI to test your idea before building
20:41 – What investors really want from founders
24:49 – Common mistakes with technical teams
31:30 – Building tech fluency without learning to code
36:48 – Your first actionable step this week

Free AI Mini-Workshop for Non-Technical Founders:

Learn how to go from idea to a tested product using AI — in under 30 minutes.

Get free access here: https://www.techfornontechies.co/aiclass Follow and Review:

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Transcript: https://www.techfornontechies.co/blog/315-what-non-technical-founders-need-to-know-before-building-with-ai

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Many non-technical founders don't lose money in one big mistake — they lose it in four small stuck points that all feel completely reasonable at the time.

In this episode, Sophia walks through the four questions that reveal exactly where you're getting stuck, why it's a knowledge gap and not a personal failing, and what to actually do about each one.

Plus: Tech for Non-Technical Founders — Sophia's flagship course — is on a flash sale until Thursday night at midnight. Full details inside the episode.

In this episode:

Why briefing a developer is a skill nobody ever taught you — and how to spot the gap in your own brief
Why "AI vs. hire a team vs. find a co-founder" is the wrong question entirely
How to tell if you're leading your own product development, or just funding it
The six stages every product goes through — and why most founders can only name two

Plus: Tech for Non-Technical Founders — Sophia's flagship self-study course — is on a flash sale until Thursday night at midnight!

You'll get a pre-recorded version of the framework behind our $4,000 1:1 coaching program — plus a 1:1 strategy session with Sophia, for $497.

Taught at Oxford University, Techstars, and London Business School — this is your chance to get the same thinking, without the four-figure price tag.

Enroll here before midnight on Thursday 30 July ET: https://www.techfornontechies.co/flash-sale-tech-for-non-technical-founders

Timestamps:

00:00 – 4 signs you're losing money as a founder
02:19 – Flash sale: Tech for Non-Technical Founders course
04:34 – Diagnostic #1: The developer briefing problem
06:58 – Diagnostic #2: AI vs. team vs. co-founder
09:12 – Diagnostic #3: Losing control in technical meetings
11:30 – Diagnostic #4: The 6 stages from idea to scale
13:48 – Why these gaps aren't your fault
16:10 – Recap: the 4 diagnostic questions
18:28 – Student success story and course details

Follow and Review:

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Transcript: https://www.techfornontechies.co/blog/314-4-ways-non-technical-founders-get-stuck

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What is Nvidia actually worth?

You could look at their factories, their hardware, their staff. But their most valuable assets — the patents, the processes, the institutional knowledge — don't appear anywhere on their balance sheet.

And Nvidia is not an exception.

Research from Stanford and Chicago Booth, covering 21,000 M&A transactions worth $15 trillion, shows that intangible assets now account for over half the total value of acquired companies.

Customer data alone totals over $1.1 trillion!

Here's what this means for you:

the most valuable things your organisation owns are probably invisible too — and if you're not actively investing in them, they are quietly decaying.

Listen to this episode to learn:

Why the standard ways of measuring company value are systematically misleading us
What the research actually shows — and why it should change how you think about your own organisation
Why intangible assets decay if you don't actively invest in them
What corporate leaders should be asking about their brand, customer data and institutional knowledge right now
Why founders who ignore intangible assets while building their product are making an expensive mistake

This episode is for you if:

You are a corporate leader trying to make the case for investing in brand, data or customer insight
You are a founder who wants to build something that is genuinely hard to replicate
You want to understand where real value is created in the age of AI

Book a free consulting session with Sophia: https://calendly.com/sophia-matveeva/sample-consulting-session-2026

Read the full Chicago Booth Review article here: https://www.chicagobooth.edu/review/nvidias-most-valuable-asset-is-not-on-its-balance-sheet

Timestamps * 00:00 – The hidden asset behind NVIDIA's valuation * 02:15 – Chicago Booth's research on intangible assets * 04:35 – Why 70% of companies are undervalued * 06:50 – NVIDIA's real moat: patents no one sees * 09:15 – Fixing your company's intangible assets * 11:35 – Free consulting session offer * 13:55 – Key takeaways for founders and investors

Follow and Review:

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Transcript: https://www.techfornontechies.co/blog/313-nvidia-s-most-valuable-asset-is-not-on-its-balance-sheet

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If building products isn't your competitive advantage anymore, then what is?

Listen to this episode to find out.

AI means that everyone can now build (and everyone can copy).

So to succeed today, you need something un-copyable.

Listen to this episode to learn:

Why speed to build is now the entry ticket, not the prize
What genuinely cannot be copied with AI — and why that is where your real advantage lives
Real examples of companies that won not because of their technology, but because of what they had that nobody else could replicate
What this means if you are a founder with none of those assets yet
Why large organisations have the most uncopyable advantages — and why they are the slowest to use them

This episode is for you if:

You are building a product and want to understand what will actually protect it
You are a corporate leader trying to figure out where your real innovation opportunity lies
You are a founder who needs to think beyond the product itself

Book a free consulting session with Sophia: https://calendly.com/sophia-matveeva/new-meeting-1

Timestamps:

00:00 – Why AI has killed the old competitive advantage
02:20 – Preview: lessons from Sophia's corporate AI workshop
04:40 – The real threat AI poses to your business
06:58 – Nike Run Club: how brand beats better tech
09:19 – Bloomberg Terminal and Peloton: data and community as moats
11:43 – 5 uncopyable assets every business needs
14:01 – Why big companies innovate too slowly
16:28 – How founders build brand and distribution from zero

Follow and Review:

We'd love for you to follow us if you haven't yet. Click that purple '+' in the top right corner of your Apple Podcasts app. We'd love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select "Ratings and Reviews" and "Write a Review" then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it helps spread the word about the podcast. Listen to our podcast on:

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Transcript: https://www.techfornontechies.co/blog/312-how-competitive-advantage-changed-in-the-age-of-AI

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You can hit your financial goal and destroy your business.

You can be surrounded by fans, but none of them become customers.

This is demoralising, and it happens when you're measuring the wrong thing.

In this episode, you'll learn one of the most important concepts in product management — the North Star metric — and how to apply it to your product, your venture and your career.

This is the concept that tells you not just whether you hit a number, but whether you're actually winning.

This episode is for you if:

You're building a product and want to make sure you're focused on the right thing
You have a big career goal and want a sharper way to track real progress
You keep hitting targets but feel like you're not actually getting anywhere

Book a free consulting session with Sophia: https://calendly.com/sophia-matveeva/new-meeting-1

Timestamps:

0:00 – Why you may be measuring the wrong success metric
00:30 – Podcast intro: Tech for Non-Technical Founders
01:52 – Free consulting sessions
03:20 – New course on product thinking and AI innovation
04:40 – What is a North Star metric?
06:36 – Revenue vs retention in a language learning app
10:25 – Why retention is the real growth metric
14:38 – How to apply North Star metrics to your career or venture
16:00 – How Sophia Matveeva grew Tech for Non-Techies
17:55 – External stages as a personal North Star metric
19:50 – Set better goals for the second half of 2026
20:47 – Free session reminder and episode close

Follow and Review:

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Transcript: https://www.techfornontechies.co/blog/311-the-one-metric-that-tells-you-if-you-re-really-winning

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You can be invisible with brilliant ideas. Or you can be everywhere with nothing worth saying. Neither works.

In the age of AI, the barrier to building things has collapsed. The tools exist. The access exists. Which means the differentiator is no longer whether you can build — it's whether you know what to build, and whether people trust you to build it.

That's product thinking. And that's personal brand. And they are not two separate skills. They are two sides of the same thing.

In this episode:

Why product thinking is no longer just for founders and product managers — and what it actually means to create something valuable
Why personal brand without substance gets you nowhere — and what substance actually looks like
Why the most ambitious professionals need both — and how to start building them deliberately
How my clients are combining both to get promoted, get published and get discovered by the right people

This episode is for you if:

You have good ideas but the right people don't know it
You're visible in your industry but not sure you have the frameworks to back it up
You're a founder or senior leader who wants opportunities to come to you rather than chase them

Book a free consulting session with Sophia: https://calendly.com/sophia-matveeva/new-meeting-1

Timestamps:

00:00 - Introduction: The invisible professional and the overexposed one
02:20 - Free gift: A one-on-one consulting session with Sophia
03:10 - The show's evolution: Product thinking meets personal branding
06:58 - Why product thinking is now a non-negotiable career skill
09:18 - You need to think of yourself as the product
11:33 - How personal branding built a $300,000 government contract
13:00 - Client story 1: A product manager going on international trips with the CEO
15:20 - Client story 2: A consultant heading to the Harvard Business Review
16:17 - Client story 3: A fintech founder building credibility ahead of fundraising
18:27 - Why strategic personal branding is not LinkedIn likes and followers
21:00 - Summary: Why product thinking + personal brand = unstoppable
23:02 - Closing and how to book your free session

Follow and Review:

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Transcript: https://www.techfornontechies.co/blog/310-product-thinking-and-personal-brand-why-you-need-both-to-win

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Most corporate leaders say they want innovation. What they actually reward is the opposite.

And then one day — usually the moment someone gets promoted to the top — the rules change.

Suddenly you need vision, ideas, creativity. Nobody told you that was coming. Nobody taught you how.

Founders know this feeling from day one. The pressure to create something new, with limited resources, no roadmap, and no safety net.

The skill that gets both of these people through that moment has a name. It's called product thinking. And if you haven't heard of it — you're almost certainly already doing it. You just don't know it yet.

In this episode:

Why innovation was never everyone's job inside corporations — and what changes when you reach the top
What product thinking actually is and why it's now a non-negotiable skill
Why founders and senior executives are solving the same problem from different directions

If this resonates and you want to bring this thinking into your organisation, book a call here https://calendly.com/sophia-matveeva/new-meeting

Timestamps:

00:00 - Introduction: The wall every ambitious person hits
02:21 - Personal updates: Becoming a mother and entrepreneur
04:40 - Why corporate leaders and investors are tuning in
06:10 - The dirty secret: Senior leaders are suddenly asked to innovate with no training
09:25 - Why founders are the ultimate product thinkers
10:40 - What is product thinking and why it matters now
13:00 - Teaching lawyers to think like product managers
14:11 - Product thinking is what the CEO actually does
16:31 - Who this show is really for and what you'll learn

Free AI Mini-Workshop for Non-Technical Founders:

Learn how to go from idea to a tested product using AI — in under 30 minutes.

Get free access here: https://www.techfornontechies.co/aiclass Follow and Review:

We'd love for you to follow us if you haven't yet. Click that purple '+' in the top right corner of your Apple Podcasts app. We'd love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select "Ratings and Reviews" and "Write a Review" then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it helps spread the word about the podcast. Listen to our podcast on:

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Transcript: https://www.techfornontechies.co/blog/309-what-successful-founders-and-senior-executives-have-in-common

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Your core business is doing well. Maybe it's doing really well. But you also know that if you don't innovate in the next 5-10 years, you'll be irrelevant.

So you want to invest in the next thing. But how much? How do you do it without either recklessly spending or being so conservative that you never actually build anything?

This is the innovator's dilemma. And it's not just a startup problem — it's a corporate problem.

David Wells was the CFO at Netflix for nearly 15 years. He joined when they were a fledgling DVD-by-mail company with 400,000 customers. He didn't solve the innovation problem with reckless spending. He solved it with financial guardrails.

Key takeaways:

Guardrails, not gates: Netflix didn't say "spend whatever you want." They set boundaries like maintaining operating margin growth and never going into consolidated net loss. This let them innovate aggressively within discipline.
You need three types of people: Financial modelers (business thinking), data scientists (insight), and technical teams (execution). Missing one type is why most innovation projects fail.
The CFO's real job: Not to hold the company back, but to ensure you can survive hard times. It's constant scenario planning between growth and sustainability.
Risk tolerance changes: Risk-taking gets harder the deeper you get into life (debt, family, obligations). There's a sweet spot for taking big bets.
Data matters more than coding: Non-technical people should understand data fundamentals and insight, not learn to code.

Book a call with us if you want to grow your revenue or your margins with new innovative approaches: https://calendly.com/sophia-matveeva/new-meeting

Timestamps:

00:00 - Introduction: Balancing innovation and financial discipline at Netflix
02:45 - Why David studied public policy alongside his MBA
04:45 - Joining Netflix as a DVD-by-mail company in 2004
07:03 - Choosing Netflix over consulting and the dot-com aftermath
09:30 - Advice for people considering startup risk over a stable job
11:49 - Why "tech" understanding matters even in finance roles
14:12 - Data science vs software engineering: Which matters more?
18:50 - Demystifying algorithms: They're not as scary as the name implies
19:50 - The triumvirate: FP&A, data science, and engineering teams
21:17 - How Netflix valued content deals using data
23:42 - Building an anti-fraud team across 120 countries
25:00 - The innovator's dilemma: How much should you spend on the next big thing?
26:07 - Netflix's growth boundaries: Operating margin and no consolidated net loss
28:33 - Applying the innovator's dilemma to traditional companies
30:54 - Advice for bankers trying to break into fintech
33:17 - Why founders want to see you use the product, not a PowerPoint deck

Free AI Mini-Workshop for Non-Technical Founders:

Learn how to go from idea to a tested product using AI — in under 30 minutes.

Get free access here: https://www.techfornontechies.co/aiclass Follow and Review:

We'd love for you to follow us if you haven't yet. Click that purple '+' in the top right corner of your Apple Podcasts app. We'd love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select "Ratings and Reviews" and "Write a Review" then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it helps spread the word about the podcast. Listen to our podcast on:

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Transcript: https://www.techfornontechies.co/blog/308-how-to-innovate-without-blowing-up-your-business-with-netflix-s-ex-cfo

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You're paying for developer time. But you can't evaluate the work yourself. So you're left wondering — are they actually building, or just going through the motions?

Most founders figure this out the hard way. In this episode, we break down the framework that lets you lead technical teams without being technical — and why trying to implement it alone often fails.

Key takeaways:

The invisible accountability trap: Why hours-driven management doesn't work (and why output-driven does).
The Monday morning meeting: The exact structure that keeps developers accountable without micromanaging.
Prioritization as a business skill: How to make tradeoffs — understanding that building feature X means NOT building feature Y.
Technical oversight: Why having a senior engineer validating your developers' work prevents expensive mistakes — and how we act as that advisor for you.

The implementation gap

Knowing this framework and actually implementing it with your team are two different things. Without someone technical validating your developers' estimates, you won't know if they're being realistic.

Without someone who's done this before, you won't know how to troubleshoot when things go wrong.

Lead your team with confidence

If you want to set up this system properly — or fix it if you're already struggling — book a call with us.

Our CTO will validate your developers' estimates. Sophia will help you run the meetings.

We'll help you avoid the expensive mistakes along the way.

Book a call: https://calendly.com/sophia-matveeva/new-meeting

Timestamps:

00:00 - Introduction: How to manage a technical team without being technical
02:34 - Output-driven vs input-driven management
04:51 - How to run your Monday morning developer meeting
07:13 - Come with sketches and designs, not just words
09:27 - Real example: The video feature trade-off
11:50 - Why junior developers won't tell you about trade-offs
13:30 - Building your prioritization framework
14:11 - What is a sprint and how to use it
17:30 - How to know if developer estimates are reasonable
20:30 - Summary and closing

Free AI Mini-Workshop for Non-Technical Founders:

Learn how to go from idea to a tested product using AI — in under 30 minutes.

Get free access here: https://www.techfornontechies.co/aiclass Follow and Review:

We'd love for you to follow us if you haven't yet. Click that purple '+' in the top right corner of your Apple Podcasts app. We'd love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select "Ratings and Reviews" and "Write a Review" then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it helps spread the word about the podcast. Listen to our podcast on:

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Transcript: https://www.techfornontechies.co/blog/307-how-to-lead-a-development-team-when-you-are-not-technical

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If you have a working product - well done. This truly is a major milestone.

BUT maintaining commercial control of what you've created might be challenging.

In this episode, we contrast two founders: Founder 1, who has a no-code prototype ready to scale, and Founder 2, who let an outside agency manage her hosting and was hit with a $4,000 bill just to try and claw back her own data. We break down why legal ownership on paper means nothing without operational control of your code and servers.

Key takeaways: * The illusion of progress: Why a functioning app doesn't automatically mean you own a secure business asset. * Prevention vs. cure: How to use the prototype phase to lock down your infrastructure before hiring developers. * The $4,000 gate fee: The hidden financial liabilities of letting an external agency manage your cloud accounts. * The 3-point audit: Crucial steps to verify who controls your GitHub, cloud servers, and documentation.

Secure your tech asset

Don't wait for a surprise bill to find out who holds the keys to your technology.

If you want an independent review of your prototype or current development setup, book a Technical Diagnostic with us. We don't sell development hours; we give you an unbiased evaluation of what you control, what needs fixing, and what it should realistically cost.

Book a call to find out how this would work for your business: https://calendly.com/sophia-matveeva/new-meeting Timestamps: * 00:00 - Introduction: When you don't actually control your own tech * 04:00 - Founder 1: Built a working prototype, now what? * 06:00 - Why a technical diagnostic must come before hiring developers * 09:14 - Founder 2: Real product, real users, but a dangerous hidden problem * 11:37 - The $4,000 wake-up call: Legal ownership vs operational control * 14:01 - The GitHub analogy: Why admin passwords matter * 16:12 - Three things every non-technical founder must audit right now * 18:32 - When compliance laws kick in and why this becomes urgent * 20:52 - Closing and resources

Free AI Mini-Workshop for Non-Technical Founders:

Learn how to go from idea to a tested product using AI — in under 30 minutes.

Get free access here: https://www.techfornontechies.co/aiclass Follow and Review:

We'd love for you to follow us if you haven't yet. Click that purple '+' in the top right corner of your Apple Podcasts app. We'd love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select "Ratings and Reviews" and "Write a Review" then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it helps spread the word about the podcast. Listen to our podcast on:

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Transcript: https://www.techfornontechies.co/blog/306-from-prototype-to-product-the-infrastructure-trap-non-technical-leaders-miss

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Most founders start with the best intentions.

And then somewhere along the way — without noticing — the company they've built becomes something they're ashamed of.

Not because they're bad people. But because nobody taught them how to prevent it.

Eric Ries wrote The Lean Startup — the book that changed how Silicon Valley thinks about building companies.

His new book, Incorruptible, tackles the question that comes next: how do you build a company that makes money without destroying the thing that made it worth building in the first place?

In this episode, Sophia Matveeva speaks with Eric about the practical techniques any founder can use today — no revolution in how business works required.

Listen to learn:

Why investors are not your bosses — and what happens when you treat them like they are
How the most successful mission-driven companies are structured so they cannot make money any other way except by achieving their mission
Why doing the right thing by your customers and employees is often the highest ROI decision you can make — just not on a short-term spreadsheet

Eric also shares the story of a Texas grocery store that told customers to take their shopping home for free during an ice storm — and what that decision reveals about what it actually means to build with integrity.

Resource mentioned in this episode: The Lean Startup by Eric Ries — covered on episode 111 Lessons from the Lean Start-Up by Eric Reis

Ready to build your tech venture the right way?

Book a call: https://calendly.com/sophia-matveeva/new-meeting

Timestamps:

00:00 - Introduction: The ice storm story - When HEB gave away groceries
02:53 - How every founder starts with good intentions but ends up somewhere else
05:05 - Mission-driven vs mission-hopeful: What actually counts
08:18 - Costco's governance fortress and violating "best practices"
10:55 - Long-term vs short-term: Maximizing human flourishing
14:04 - Why business founders have a bad reputation
17:41 - Investors are not your bosses - The fundamental mistake
21:52 - The AI insurance startup hiding their nonprofit foundation
25:08 - The HEB ice storm story: When doing right pays off
28:45 - Closing and resources

Free AI Mini-Workshop for Non-Technical Founders:

Learn how to go from idea to a tested product using AI — in under 30 minutes.

Get free access here: https://www.techfornontechies.co/aiclass

Follow and Review:

We'd love for you to follow us if you haven't yet. Click that purple '+' in the top right corner of your Apple Podcasts app. We'd love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select "Ratings and Reviews" and "Write a Review" then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it helps spread the word about the podcast.

Listen to our podcast on: * Apple

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Transcript: https://www.techfornontechies.co/blog/305-how-to-build-a-company-you-re-proud-of-with-eric-ries

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Can you build a B2C app to 6 million users with no advertising?

Colin Hodge did it when he co-founded Bang with Friends — a dating app that went viral purely through word of mouth — because he understood the psychology of his users so precisely that they couldn't help but share it.

In this episode, Sophia Matveeva speaks with Colin Hodge — entrepreneur, growth expert, and author who has scaled businesses to over 100 million users.

He co-founded a viral dating app, served as Chief Growth Officer for 17Live, Asia's leading live-streaming app, and re-acquired his own startup after selling it, growing it into a top 5 US dating app.

But this episode is not really about dating apps.

It is about the one thing that separates products that grow from products that stagnate: understanding your users deeply enough to build something they cannot stop sharing.

You'll learn:

The overnight pivot that took a failing startup to a million users in three months
Three practical techniques for getting inside the mind of your user, even if you are nothing like them
Why the best user interviews feel like anthropology rather than sales
Why critiquing your own product before user interviews makes you a dramatically better listener

Timestamps:

00:00 - Introduction: How Bang with Friends went from zero to 1 million users
04:51 - How a bad date launched Colin's biggest business success
08:48 - The pivot: From friends of friends to "Who has a crush on me?"
11:07 - Reaching 1 million users in 3 months with zero ad spend
14:36 - Lessons for boring businesses from a scandalous dating app
18:35 - Three methods to understand users who aren't like you
20:59 - Method 1: The method acting technique - Live your user's life
22:50 - Method 2: Build detailed personas beyond demographics
26:55 - Method 3: User research as an anthropologist, not a salesperson
27:52 - How to suppress your founder instinct and actually listen

Free AI Mini-Workshop for Non-Technical Founders:

Learn how to go from idea to a tested product using AI — in under 30 minutes.

Get free access here: techfornontechies.co/aiclass

Follow and Review:

We'd love for you to follow us if you haven't yet. Click that purple '+' in the top right corner of your Apple Podcasts app. We'd love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select "Ratings and Reviews" and "Write a Review" then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it helps spread the word about the podcast.

Listen to our podcast on: * Apple

Spotify
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Transcript: https://www.techfornontechies.co/blog/304-how-one-founder-went-from-zero-to-6-million-users-with-no-ad-spend

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A security agency tested 5,000 apps built with Lovable, Replit, Base44 and Netlify. Every single one had vulnerabilities — including apps that were live, charging customers, and handling personal data.

Sophia Matveeva is joined by Rags Vadali — former Google engineer, Meta product lead who launched Instagram filters to 600 million people, and CEO of AI startup Floto — for an honest expert conversation about what AI tools can and cannot do for your product right now.

You'll learn:

Why a product can look finished while being fundamentally unsafe
What VCs now do when they see a vibe-coded product
Why Apple is rejecting AI-built apps from the App Store
When to call in developers in the age of AI (and why what they do for you has changed)

This is not an episode about why AI tools are bad.

It is about knowing where the line is — so you can use them on the right side of it.

Resource mentioned in this episode:

Wired: Thousands of Vibe-Coded Apps Expose Corporate and Personal Data on the Open Web

Ready to build your tech product the right way?

Book a call: https://calendly.com/sophia-matveeva/new-meeting

div]:bg-bg-000/50 [&_pre>div]:border-0.5 [&_pre>div]:border-border-400 [&_.ignore-pre-bg>div]:bg-transparent [&_.standard-markdown_:is(p,blockquote,h1,h2,h3,h4,h5,h6)]:pl-2 [&_.standard-markdown_:is(p,blockquote,ul,ol,h1,h2,h3,h4,h5,h6)]:pr-8 [&_.progressive-markdown_:is(p,blockquote,h1,h2,h3,h4,h5,h6)]:pl-2 [&_.progressive-markdown_:is(p,blockquote,ul,ol,h1,h2,h3,h4,h5,h6)]:pr-8"> _*]:min-w-0 gap-3 standard-markdown"> Timestamps:

00:00 - Introduction: VC walks away from vibe-coded startup
02:36 - Security breach: 5,000 AI-built apps had vulnerabilities
05:00 - The iceberg problem: What's hidden below the surface
08:35 - Every single app had security issues exposed
11:09 - Who gets sued: The platforms or the founders?
13:09 - VCs rejecting vibe-coded apps during due diligence
15:29 - Apple cracking down on AI-generated apps
18:21 - The maintenance nightmare: Adding features breaks everything
24:46 - What kind of engineer you actually need now
29:53 - Building isn't the constraint anymore - sales and marketing are
34:35 - Engineers' role is now strategic, not operational

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Transcript: https://www.techfornontechies.co/blog/303-before-you-build-with-ai-what-every-non-technical-founder-needs-to-know

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The internet is full of people telling non-technical founders which AI tool to use to build their product. Lovable. Claude Code. Cursor. The list grows every week.

But the tool is almost never the real problem.

In this episode, Sophia Matveeva cuts through the noise to help you figure out exactly where you are in your founder journey — and what you actually need to do next. Because the move that will save you time, money and momentum depends entirely on your stage, not your tools.

You'll learn:

Why "which AI tool should I use?" is almost always the wrong first question — and what to ask instead
The three types of non-technical founders, how to identify which one you are, and the mistake each one is making right now
Why Snapchat and Airbnb — despite having unlimited budgets — still test obsessively, and what that means for you
When AI tools hit their limit and you need professional developers

Whether you have an idea you haven't acted on yet, something you've built with AI that's gone as far as it can go, or a product that isn't growing — this episode will tell you exactly what to do next.

Mentioned in this episode: Lenny's podcast - Snapchat CEO: Why distribution has become the most important moat | Evan Spiegel

BOOK A CALL with our team to figure out your next move as a non-technical founder

https://calendly.com/sophia-matveeva/new-meeting

Timestamps:

00:00 - Introduction: The real problem isn't tools, it's knowing where you are
03:40 - Type 1: The Idea Stage Founder - You have a validation problem
05:05 - Why validation determines your tech stack and build approach
07:30 - Type 2: The Stuck Builder - When AI tools hit their limit
09:48 - Why you still need professional developers
12:10 - Type 3: The Stalled Founder - Testing never stops
14:32 - The security risk of handling data without developers
16:00 - Summary: Three types of founders and what each needs next

Free AI Mini-Workshop for Non-Technical Founders

Learn how to go from idea to a tested product using AI — in under 30 minutes.

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Transcript: https://www.techfornontechies.co/blog/302-stop-asking-which-ai-tool-to-use-ask-this-instead

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Whether you're starting a tech venture or investing in one, you need to understand how to spot the next tech investment trend.

Why?

Because if your venture or your portfolio is riding the wave of a genuinely transformative technology, you have a structural advantage. If it isn't, you're pushing uphill.

And here is the good news: you do not need a computer science degree to do this!

In this episode, Sophia Matveeva speaks with Igor Pejic — an expert on tech-driven shifts and investing — about the framework that lets any intelligent person spot transformative technology waves before they go mainstream.

Igor is an award-winning author whose previous books earned him the Independent Press Award and a finalist place at the Bracken Bower Prize — awarded by McKinsey and the Financial Times.

His work has appeared in the New York Times, Forbes and Bloomberg. He has advised Fortune 100 companies and held senior positions in banking and payments.

His new book is out in May: Tech Money: A Guide to the New Game of Technology Investing is out this spring.

Listen to learn:

Why the metaverse failed while AI succeeded — and the signals that told you this years in advance
How McKinsey predicted natural language AI wouldn't arrive until the 2040s — and what that tells us about relying on expert opinion
The four non-technical indicators you can track right now to spot the next transformative technology
Whether the AI bubble is coming — and how it compares to the dot-com era
Why being too deep in the technical details can actually make you a worse technology investor

Timestamps:

00:00 - Introduction: Why non-experts can catch tech waves
03:53 - Why the metaverse failed and Gen AI succeeded
06:07 - The adoption problem: $100 billion for 900 daily users
09:30 - Catching tech trends early: The technology adoption lifecycle
12:10 - How much tech knowledge do you really need?
16:31 - Finding the sweet spot: Risk vs reward in tech investing
19:20 - The AI bubble: Comparing to the dot-com era
23:12 - Why this time is different: Big tech vs dot-com startups
25:41 - Using investment frameworks for founding decisions
27:04 - Closing and resources

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Transcript: https://www.techfornontechies.co/blog/how-to-catch-the-next-tech-investment-wave

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Six years of building a global business teaches you things no business school will.

What actually drives revenue. What wastes your time.

What you wish someone had told you before you started.

In this episode, Sophia Matveeva shares the six lessons that have shaped how she built Tech for Non-Techies — trusted by Oxford University, Microsoft, Techstars and the Royal Bank of Canada — without external funding, without a PR agency, and without a technical background.

You'll learn:

Why fundraising and bootstrapping are both hard — and how to choose which hard is right for you
Why your personal brand builds business faster than your company brand
How to diversify revenue without losing focus
Why human judgement is the scarcest resource in the age of AI
That mind management is not a luxury — it is infrastructure
Why paying experts is one of the best business decisions you will ever make

Sophia also shares the evening she was convinced her business was unsolvable, why she has no regrets about bootstrapping her second company, and what a billionaire founder and a Facebook marketing expert taught her about building for the long term.

Timestamps:

00:00 - Introduction: Six lessons from six years in business
02:46 - Lesson 1: Raising money vs getting customers - Choose your hard
07:28 - Lesson 2: Build your personal brand before your company brand
12:08 - Lesson 3: Diversify your revenue, but stay focused
14:29 - Lesson 4: AI is a game changer, but human judgment makes it valuable
16:48 - Lesson 5: Mind management is not optional
19:05 - Lesson 6: Pay experts to compress your learning curve
21:26 - Summary and closing

Free Live Masterclass — 27 April 2026

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👉 Save your spot: https://www.techfornontechies.co/stand-out-masterclass

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Listen to Tech for Non-Techies on: * Apple * Spotify * YouTube * Audible * Pandora

Transcript: https://www.techfornontechies.co/blog/300-6-lessons-from-6-years-of-tech-for-non-techies

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This episode comes from Sophia's recent appearance on Scott Ritzheimer's Start, Scale and Succeed podcast — and it's one of the clearest walkthroughs of the Tech for Non-Techies methodology she has ever given on another show.

If you have a great idea but no technical background, this is where to start.

You'll learn:

Why coding skills matter less than you think — especially in the age of AI
How to build a five to seven screen test version of your product without a developer or a designer
Why you only need five users to uncover 85% of the problems in your product — and how to find the right five
What to do when your idea doesn't validate — and why that outcome is still a win

Sophia also shares the story of a student who discovered her venture wouldn't work in six weeks for $2,000 — saving herself hundreds of thousands of dollars and months of wasted effort.

And she also shares why entrepreneurship never really gets easier — even after an IPO.

Timestamps:

00:00 - Introduction: Even IPO founders struggle
02:26 - Is coding really the first thing to worry about?
05:17 - Where to start: Creating a test product with AI
08:51 - Defining your target customer through the problem
11:21 - Building in the AI age: Five to seven screens
14:19 - What happens when users don't like it?
17:25 - The biggest secret: Entrepreneurship is always hard
20:41 - Closing and resources

Free AI Mini-Workshop for Non-Technical Founders

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Transcript: https://www.techfornontechies.co/blog/299-you-don-t-have-to-know-how-to-code-to-start-a-tech-company-with-sophia-matveeva

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The gaming industry generates more revenue than music and film combined. It is the birthplace of innovations now used across entertainment, advertising, and AI.

It is a fantastic sector for non-technical founders to flourish.

And most business leaders know almost nothing about it.

In this episode, Sophia Matveeva speaks with Jen Glennon, editor at Polygon, one of the leading publications covering the games industry, for an accessible and surprising introduction to a sector that is reshaping technology and culture.

Listen to learn:

How gaming became the world's largest entertainment sector, with projected revenues of $564 billion in 2026
Why Fortnite makes $6 billion a year from a free game — and what that model means for every business thinking about digital monetisation
Why Mark Zuckerberg's metaverse missed what gaming had already built —— and why that's a lesson in understanding markets before you enter them
What the Hollywood studio model tells us about how gaming companies are built, funded, and acquired

Timestamps:

00:00 - Introduction: The high-risk, high-reward nature of gaming
02:52 - Why the gaming industry is so huge
04:45 - Who actually plays games? Demographics revealed
06:08 - Gaming as innovator: AI and creative tech
08:02 - Innovations from gaming: Unreal Engine and visual effects
09:12 - Paths to founding gaming companies
12:19 - Funding models: Kickstarter vs venture capital
14:19 - The exit strategy: Getting acquired
16:03 - Geographic hubs: California, Japan, and emerging markets
18:00 - Revenue models: Micro-transactions and whales
19:47 - Mark Zuckerberg and the metaverse: Lessons from gaming
21:36 - Closing and resources

Free AI Mini-Workshop for Non-Technical Founders

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Get free access here: techfornontechies.co/aiclass

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Transcript: https://www.techfornontechies.co/blog/inside-the-gaming-industry-what-every-business-leader-should-know

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Giving away 10% of your company before you have a product might seem like a reasonable price for mentorship and introductions.

But do the math at exit, and you get a very different story.

In this episode, Sophia Matveeva talks to Melanie Nabar, growth equity investor at Volition Capital, about what the fundraising journey actually looks like from the investor side — and what founders need to understand before they enter it.

You'll learn:

Why the equity you give away at the very beginning is the most expensive equity you'll ever part with
The difference between seed, venture capital, growth equity and private equity — and which is right for you
Why a founder owning only 5% of their own business is a red flag for serious investors
How to stress-test an investor relationship before you're locked in
Why companies are staying private longer — and what that means for your exit strategy
The due diligence questions founders rarely think to ask

Sophia also shares her own experience joining a corporate accelerator — and why she wishes she'd had this conversation first.

Timestamps:

00:00 - Introduction: The equity trap of accelerators
03:22 - Are all accelerators created equal?
08:23 - Why VCs care about founder dilution
15:10 - Fundraising stages: Friends and family to IPO
24:55 - Why companies stay private longer
28:21 - Building investor relationships over time
32:03 - Stress testing investor relationships during diligence
37:41 - Why growth equity is the sweet spot
41:44 - Closing

Free AI Mini-Workshop for Non-Technical Founders

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Get free access here: techfornontechies.co/aiclass

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Transcript: https://www.techfornontechies.co/blog/the-fundraising-mistakes-that-haunt-founders-for-years

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If you've ever nodded along while someone talked about coding — secretly having no idea what they actually meant — this episode is for you.

This is one of our most listened to episodes, and it's easy to see why.

Before you can work effectively with developers, evaluate tech products, or make smart decisions about technology in your business, you need a clear mental model of what coding actually is.

Not a vague one. A real one.

In this episode, Sophia Matveeva breaks it down from first principles — no jargon, no assumed knowledge, no embarrassment.

You'll learn:

What technology really means, from ancient Egypt to the iPhone
What coding is and why developers need programming languages to talk to computers
Why you don't need to learn to code — but do need to understand what coders do
How to become an effective collaborator with technical people so you can co-create better products

Timestamps _*]:min-w-0 gap-3"> * 00:00 - Introduction: Understanding what coding really is * 02:58 - Why non-technical people struggle with coding terminology * 05:25 - Defining data: The shopping list example * 07:50 - Defining technology: From papyrus to smartphones * 10:08 - The taxi driver analogy: How coding works * 12:34 - Programming languages explained * 15:01 - Machine language and binary code * 17:25 - Why you don't need to learn to code * 19:42 - Closing

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Transcript: https://www.techfornontechies.co/blog/what-is-coding-really-a-non-techies-guide

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Your time, energy and capital are all scarce resources. Each has an opportunity cost.

And yet many founders make decisions about their ventures based on excitement rather than evidence — committing all three without ever asking the question a smart investor would ask first: is this actually worth it?

In this episode, Sophia Matveeva shares the investor framework she uses with her founder clients — one that reframes every build, hire, and fundraise decision as a capital allocation choice.

You'll learn:

Why you are the largest investor in your own venture — and what that means for how you make decisions
The four questions every smart investor asks before committing capital, and how to apply them to your own idea
How to speak to external investors with genuine conviction rather than desperation
Why the founders who succeed aren't the most talented — they're the most rigorous

Whether you're sitting on an idea you're excited about or one you're quietly starting to question, this episode will change how you think.

Timestamps * 00:00 - Introduction: You are your venture's biggest investor * 02:36 - Typical fundraising journey and runway planning * 04:43 - Four key questions for capital allocation * 07:05 - Risk assessment: Business, emotional, and personal risks * 09:17 - Approaching investors with conviction * 11:36 - Action steps and closing

Free AI Mini-Workshop for Non-Technical Founders

Learn how to go from idea to a tested product using AI — in under 30 minutes.

Get free access here: techfornontechies.co/aiclass

Follow and Review:

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Full transcript: https://www.techfornontechies.co/blog/you-are-your-biggest-investor-think-like-one

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In the 20th century, financial literacy was essential.

In the 21st century, it's product development.

AI has made building faster and cheaper—which means more bad bets are being made at higher speed.

The bottleneck isn't "Can I build this?" It's "Should I build this? Will anyone pay?"

In this episode, Sophia Matveeva shares the story of a business owner who validated her idea and decided NOT to pursue it—which saved her $98,000 and 6-12 months, while gaining a skillset she'll use forever.

You'll learn:

Why product development skills matter MORE in the AI age
What this skillset gives you
How to know what to build before you build it
Why this is your competitive advantage as a non-technical leader

Essential for founders, corporate innovators, and strategic decision-makers.

For more career & tech lessons, subscribe to Tech for Non-Techies on: * Apple * Spotify * YouTube * Amazon Podcasts * Stitcher * Pandora

TIMESTAMPS

00:00 - Introduction: Why knowing what NOT to build is the real skill
02:00 - Case study: The student who chose not to pursue her idea
04:08 - Finding out quickly vs. slowly: $2,000 in 6 weeks vs. $100,000 in a year
06:26 - The shift from execution to judgment in the age of AI
08:44 - Product development as your unfair advantage
11:11 - Five core product development skills explained
13:32 - Two types of founders in the age of AI
15:59 - Action steps: What to do with your idea right now
17:46 - Program information and closing

FULL TRANSCRIPT: https://www.techfornontechies.co/blog/product-development-is-the-new-business-literacy

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You can build the best product in the market and still lose to a mediocre competitor.

This isn't reverse psychology—it's how markets actually work.

In this episode, Sophia Matveeva breaks down why superior products lose to inferior ones, and what you can do about it.

You'll learn:

Why ecosystem lock-in makes incumbents nearly impossible to beat
The "good enough" trap (and why being 20% better isn't enough)
How VHS beat Betamax and Salesforce beat better CRMs
Why distribution matters more than product quality
The unfair advantage question you must answer before you build
Whether enterprise sales is even the right game for you to play

If you're building a tech product and wondering why traction is harder than you expected, this episode explains what's actually standing in your way—and how to navigate it.

Essential listening for non-technical founders targeting enterprise customers.

For more career & tech lessons, subscribe to Tech for Non-Techies on: * Apple * Spotify * YouTube * Amazon Podcasts * Stitcher * Pandora

TIMESTAMPS

00:00 - Introduction: Why better products lose to mediocre competitors
02:14 - Ecosystem lock-in: The Salesforce and BMW example
04:30 - Why 20% better isn't enough: The switching cost barrier
06:46 - Catalyzing events: When incumbents are vulnerable (Zoom and Slack examples)
08:08 - Strategy 1: Understanding investor perspective on enterprise sales
09:10 - Strategies 2–4: Sales, unfair advantage, and choosing your market
11:28 - Strategy 5: Enterprise timelines and runway reality
12:16 - Create a new category instead of competing directly (HubSpot example)
13:39 - Action steps and closing

FULL TRANSCRIPT: https://www.techfornontechies.co/blog/why-the-best-products-dont-always-win

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How do you start a marketplace when you have no customers? Or a dating app with no users?

This is the classic chicken-and-egg problem every platform faces: you need both sides to attract either side.

In this episode, I break down six proven methods successful platforms used to solve this problem, including:

How Amazon converted from a pipeline business to a platform
Airbnb's controversial (but effective) Craigslist strategy
Why dating apps create fake profiles in the early days
How Facebook started with just 500 Harvard students
The $100M offer Joe Rogan received to switch platforms

You'll learn exactly how to get your first users when you're starting from zero.

This episode is part of a series on platform businesses. Listen to the full series:

Episode 90: What makes platform businesses so successful
Episode 92: How to get people to be nice to each other on your platform
Episode 93: Lessons from the Netflix C Suite
Episode 94: Learning effects: why getting more users isn't the only key to success

Resources mentioned:

Platform Revolution: How Networked Markets Are Transforming the Economy - And How to Make Them Work for You (Book)
Full transcript: https://www.techfornontechies.co/blog/292-how-to-launch-a-platform-when-you-ve-got-no-users-rerun

Platform Revolution: How Networked Markets Are Transforming the Economy―and How to Make Them Work for You

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A beautiful logo won't save your startup.

If you treat go-to-market as a slick website and a rebrand, you're already behind.

Here's the thing. In tech, marketing isn't a department. It's product strategy. From day one.

In this episode, Sophia Matveeva breaks down the seven pillars of go-to-market strategy that every non-technical founder needs to understand before writing a single line of code.

No jargon. No "spray and pray" ads. No fantasy launch parties.

In this episode, you will hear:

Why your "pretty logo" won't save a bad go-to-market — and what actually drives early traction
How to define your exact target customer so you stop building for everyone and start selling to someone
The hidden cost of customer acquisition — and how to avoid burning 40% of your budget on ads
Why your first 10 customers matter more than your first 1,000 — and how to land them without a flashy launch event

Resources from this Episode

Free AI Mini-Workshop for Non-Technical Founders

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Episode Credits

If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Emerald City Productions. They helped me grow and produce the podcast you are listening to right now. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com Let them know we sent you.

For the full transcript, go to https://www.techfornontechies.co/blog/291-go-to-market-strategy-what-to-do-before-you-launch

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AI isn't just coming from Silicon Valley anymore.

A growing number of startups — and companies like Airbnb — are turning to Chinese open-source AI models instead of US-based APIs. Not because it's trendy. Because it's cheaper, more flexible, and often good enough.

In this episode, Sophia Matveeva speaks with Alex Hern, AI correspondent at The Economist, about what's driving this shift.

They break down how DeepSeek disrupted the market, why constraints fueled smarter engineering, and what founders can realistically try today if they want more AI options without more spend.

Alex Hern is The Economist's AI Writer, focusing on the science and technology of artificial intelligence. Before joining the paper, he covered technology for 11 years at The Guardian, where he was the UK technology editor.

In this episode, you will hear:

Why relying on US AI APIs may be quietly limiting your product and your margins
How Chinese open-source models let founders experiment, customize, and ship faster without runaway costs
The real reason DeepSeek shocked Silicon Valley — and what it reveals about building under constraints
What you can realistically try today if you want AI leverage without an AI-sized budget

Free AI Mini-Workshop for Non-Technical Founders

Learn how to go from idea to a tested product using AI — in under 30 minutes.

Get free access here: techfornontechies.co/aiclass

Follow and Review:

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Episode Credits

If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Emerald City Productions. They helped me grow and produce the podcast you are listening to right now. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com Let them know we sent you.

For the full transcript, go to https://www.techfornontechies.co/blog/290-why-airbnb-switched-from-openai-to-chinese-ai-and-what-it-means-for-your-budget

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Costs dropped 90%. Funding got 10x harder.

It's now much cheaper to build an AI product than it was two years ago — and far harder to convince investors your product has a moat.

In this episode, Sophia Matveeva breaks down the four investing shifts shaping who gets funded, who doesn't, and why.

You'll learn why vertical AI is winning, B2B beats consumer, acquisitions are replacing IPOs, and deal terms are getting riskier for founders.

If you're building a tech product or considering raising capital, this episode will help you see what investors actually care about—before it's too late.

In this episode, you will hear:

Why it's 90% cheaper to build AI — and still harder than ever to get funded
How "AI for everyone" quietly kills your defensibility with investors
The hidden reason B2B startups keep winning while consumer apps struggle to survive
What today's deal terms can cost you at exit if you don't understand them now

Resources from this Episode

Tech for Non-Techies episode: 213. How NOT to sell your company
YouTube: APIs for Non-Techies

Free AI Mini-Workshop for Non-Technical Founders

Learn how to go from idea to a tested product using AI — in under 30 minutes.

Get free access here: techfornontechies.co/aiclass

Follow and Review:

We'd love for you to follow us if you haven't yet. Click that purple '+' in the top right corner of your Apple Podcasts app. We'd love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select "Ratings and Reviews" and "Write a Review" then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it helps spread the word about the podcast.

Episode Credits

If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Emerald City Productions. They helped me grow and produce the podcast you are listening to right now. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com Let them know we sent you.

For the full transcript, go to https://www.techfornontechies.co/blog/289-the-ai-paradox-and-3-other-trends-shaping-tech-investing-in-2026

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Starting a tech company sounds exciting: autonomy, upside, the chance to build something meaningful.

The reality is tougher.

Startups demand constant decision-making with incomplete information, emotional resilience, financial sacrifice, and the ability to withstand rejection from investors, customers, and even family.

In this episode, Sophia Matveeva delivers a clear-eyed reality check on tech entrepreneurship.

She breaks down why the path isn't right for most people, what founders underestimate, and the traits that actually predict long-term success.

In this episode, you will hear:

Why building a tech startup is far more brutal than most founders admit
How to know if you're genuinely built for uncertainty, rejection, and pressure
The hidden lifestyle tradeoffs that make many founders quit too early
How to decide if tech entrepreneurship is your path — or a costly mistake

Resources from this Episode

Free AI Mini-Workshop for Non-Technical Founders

Learn how to go from idea to a tested product using AI — in under 30 minutes.

Get free access here: techfornontechies.co/aiclass

Follow and Review:

We'd love for you to follow us if you haven't yet. Click that purple '+' in the top right corner of your Apple Podcasts app. We'd love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select "Ratings and Reviews" and "Write a Review" then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it helps spread the word about the podcast.

Episode Credits

If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Emerald City Productions. They helped me grow and produce the podcast you are listening to right now. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com Let them know we sent you.

For the full transcript, go to https://www.techfornontechies.co/blog/288-why-you-shouldn-t-become-a-tech-founder

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If you're thinking about joining Tech for Non-Technical Founders, this episode is for you.

In this episode, I walk you through exactly what you'll be doing for the next 6 weeks—and where your app, platform, or marketplace will be by the end of February.

When you listen to this episode, you will learn:

What "going from 0 to 1" actually means for your tech venture
The million-dollar skill most founders skip (and why it costs them $100K+)
Why talking to real users is harder than learning to code — and more important
How the 1:1 coaching works with me and Rags Vadali (Instagram filters, YouTube Partner Program)
The ROI math: why $2K now saves you $20K+ later

Enrollment closes Tuesday, January 20 at midnight ET.

Only 10 spots available.

Join Tech for Non-Technical Founders: techfornontechies.co/offer

Or book a call if you have questions.

This January only: Get 1:1 product coaching from Rags Vadali—the product leader who launched Instagram filters to 600 million people and the YouTube Partner program.

This is mentorship you'd normally only get at top accelerators like Techstars (for 6% of your equity) or at a top MBA program like Chicago Booth ($180K tuition).

You get it for $2,000.

If you're ready to stop thinking and start building, this is how you do it.

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It is harder to raise funding as a non-technical founder as a non-technical one.

Some of this is silly stigma, but some of it is reasonable risk awareness.

Investors aren't worried that you can't code.

They are worried you'll burn through their money because you don't know how to get a tech product made - and they don't want you to learn on their dime.

I get that.

In this episode, I break down why non-technical founders face more skepticism in fundraising — and what actually changes the conversation.

In this episode, you will hear:

Why investors don't care if you can code — and what they're actually judging instead
How non-technical founders accidentally burn $100k+ before product-market fit (and how to avoid it)
The fastest way to turn investor skepticism into confidence without pretending to be technical
What a credible product and hiring plan looks like when you're asking for someone else's money

Resources from this Episode

FREE class: How to raise capital as a non-technical founder.

Join this class to learn:

The system I used to raise $1 million from investors
Mistakes non-technical founders make when fundraising & how to avoid them
Key points you must include in your investment pitch if you're a non-technical founder

Sign up here: https://www.techfornontechies.co/capital

Follow and Review:

We'd love for you to follow us if you haven't yet. Click that purple '+' in the top right corner of your Apple Podcasts app. We'd love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select "Ratings and Reviews" and "Write a Review" then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it helps spread the word about the podcast.

Episode Credits

If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Emerald City Productions. They helped me grow and produce the podcast you are listening to right now. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com Let them know we sent you.

For the full transcript, go to https://www.techfornontechies.co/blog/287-why-investors-fund-non-technical-founders-and-why-they-don-t

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Even billion-dollar teams start simple first.

Rags Vadali's team at Meta gave small businesses in Brazil two phones—one red, one blue—and spent two months tracking every customer message in a spreadsheet.

No fancy tech. No code. Just analog data collection.

That experiment validated what became a $5 billion product.

In this episode, Rags explains why the hardest part of building a tech product has nothing to do with technology—and why non-technical founders who understand this have a massive advantage in 2026.

What you'll learn:

Why Meta validated billion-dollar products with spreadsheets before writing code
The difference between what to build (your job) and how to build it (AI's job)
Why talking to customers beats "figuring it out" behind your computer
Why 2026 is the best time in history for non-technical founders to start

If you're ready to stop overthinking and start building, this episode will show you exactly where to begin.

P.S. This January, Rags is joining Tech for Non-Technical Founders as a guest instructor.

If you want 1:1 coaching from someone who has launched products to 600 million people, enrollment opens January 13th. Details at the end of the episode.

Resources from this Episode

FREE class: From Business Owner to Tech Founder, without the $100,000 developer disaster

Join this class to learn:

The 2-step framework to go from idea to scalable tech product
Why smart business owners waste $100k+ on their first tech venture—and how to avoid it
When AI helps vs. when it destroys products (and your ROI)

Sign up here: https://www.techfornontechies.co/january

Follow and Review:

We'd love for you to follow us if you haven't yet. Click that purple '+' in the top right corner of your Apple Podcasts app. We'd love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select "Ratings and Reviews" and "Write a Review" then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it helps spread the word about the podcast.

Episode Credits

If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Emerald City Productions. They helped me grow and produce the podcast you are listening to right now. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com Let them know we sent you.

For the full transcript, go to https://www.techfornontechies.co/blog/286-lessons-from-meta-and-google-for-non-technical-founders-in-2026

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Most people assume turning an idea into revenue takes years. Turns out, that belief slows more projects down than tech ever does.

In just seven months, Noor Alderazi, founder of Tamam Technologies, went from idea to a live product with paying customers.

No technical background. No bloated development team. No guesswork.

This episode of Tech for Non-Techies breaks down what actually made the speed possible.

Using AI to prototype before spending real money.
Starting with a painfully specific B2B problem.
Letting customers—not opinions—decide what got built.

Sophia walks through how Noor treated tech as a business tool, not a science experiment, and why that approach helped her secure $65,000 in equity-free funding along the way.

If you're sitting on an idea and wondering what "doing it right" really looks like, this is the playbook.

In this episode, you will hear:

AI used for rapid prototyping without locking into the wrong build
A niche B2B pain point that made early revenue easier, not harder
The cost of building too soon and how to avoid it
What helped Tamam Technologies secure $65,000 in equity-free funding

Resources from this Episode

FREE class: From Business Owner to Tech Founder, without the $100,000 developer disaster

Join this class to learn:

The 2-step framework to go from idea to scalable tech product
Why smart business owners waste $100k+ on their first tech venture—and how to avoid it
When AI helps vs. when it destroys products (and your ROI)

Sign up here: https://www.techfornontechies.co/january

Follow and Review:

We'd love for you to follow us if you haven't yet. Click that purple '+' in the top right corner of your Apple Podcasts app. We'd love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select "Ratings and Reviews" and "Write a Review" then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it helps spread the word about the podcast.

Episode Credits

If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Emerald City Productions. They helped me grow and produce the podcast you are listening to right now. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com Let them know we sent you.

For the full transcript, go to https://www.techfornontechies.co/blog/285-from-idea-to-revenue-in-7-months-how-this-non-technical-founder-did-it

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Most people think the upside of building a tech company comes after success.

Turns out, a lot changes long before that.

The moment you start building something technical, your professional gravity shifts. Doors open. Conversations change. People listen differently.

Some offer to pay you for your expertise.

In this episode of Tech for Non-Techies, Sophia breaks down the benefits that show up early — before scale, exits, or headlines.

Not hype. Not hustle culture. Just the quiet upgrades that compound over time.

This episode is for experienced operators and business leaders who sense a gap in their market and are wondering whether it's worth acting on.

In this episode, you will hear:

Why building a tech product instantly reframes how others see your judgment and credibility
The CEO-level skills you develop early and why they raise your earning ceiling
How becoming "harder to bullshit" saves time, money, and bad decisions
The social and professional compounding effect most people never see coming

Resources from this Episode

FREE class: From Business Owner to Tech Founder, without the $100,000 developer disaster

Join this class to learn:

The 2-step framework to go from idea to scalable tech product
Why smart business owners waste $100k+ on their first tech venture—and how to avoid it
When AI helps vs. when it destroys products (and your ROI)

Sign up here: https://www.techfornontechies.co/january

Follow and Review:

We'd love for you to follow us if you haven't yet. Click that purple '+' in the top right corner of your Apple Podcasts app. We'd love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select "Ratings and Reviews" and "Write a Review" then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it helps spread the word about the podcast.

Episode Credits

If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Emerald City Productions. They helped me grow and produce the podcast you are listening to right now. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com Let them know we sent you.

For the full transcript, go to https://www.techfornontechies.co/blog/284-the-unexpected-upside-of-becoming-a-tech-founder-before-you-ever-succeed

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You've built a successful business before. So why does tech feel harder than it should?

Here's the uncomfortable truth. The instincts that made you successful offline can quietly sabotage you when you build tech or add AI.

In this episode of Tech for Non-Techies, Sophia breaks down the four traps she sees again and again among high-performing business owners. Not beginner mistakes. Smart, expensive ones.

You'll learn why working harder often backfires, why "moving fast" can burn cash, and why delegation without product leadership creates chaos. Plus, what to do instead of learning to code or wasting six figures.

This is about thinking clearly, sequencing correctly, and using your strengths without letting them turn into blind spots.

In this episode, you will hear:

Why doing "hard things" in tech often leads to burnout — not progress
The quiet reason speed destroys value before a product is validated
What happens when developers build their vision instead of yours
The hidden cost of following tech advice that wasn't made for business leaders

Resources from this Episode

FREE class: From Business Owner to Tech Founder, without the $100,000 developer disaster

Join this class to learn:

The 2-step framework to go from idea to scalable tech product
Why smart business owners waste $100k+ on their first tech venture—and how to avoid it
When AI helps vs. when it destroys products (and your ROI)

Sign up here: https://www.techfornontechies.co/january

Follow and Review:

We'd love for you to follow us if you haven't yet. Click that purple '+' in the top right corner of your Apple Podcasts app. We'd love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select "Ratings and Reviews" and "Write a Review" then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it helps spread the word about the podcast.

Episode Credits

If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Emerald City Productions. They helped me grow and produce the podcast you are listening to right now. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com Let them know we sent you.

For the full transcript, go to https://www.techfornontechies.co/blog/283-why-successful-business-owners-fail-at-tech

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Most people dive into tools, stacks, and AI hacks the moment a new idea lands.

Sadly, that's the fastest way to burn cash and momentum.

Here's the thing: before you touch a single line of tech, you need to master the skillset the best companies in the world return to again and again — the skillset that actually creates traction.

In this episode of Tech for Non-Techies, Sophia breaks down the five core product-innovation skills every modern business leader must build long before worrying about Bubble, React, or any new AI tool.

You'll hear real examples, simple frameworks, and the mindset shift that separates people who waste months building the wrong thing from those who get paying customers fast.

In this episode, you will hear:

The hidden trap that makes smart people obsess over tech too early
How a simple prototype and five honest conversations can save months of work
What separates useful user feedback from polite lies
The habit innovative companies like Amazon repeat long after they scale

Resources from this Episode

Free AI Mini-Workshop for Non-Technical Founders

Learn how to go from idea to a tested product using AI — in under 30 minutes.

Get free access here: techfornontechies.co/aiclass

Check out the Tech for Non-Technical Founders program

https://www.techfornontechies.co/tech-for-non-technical-founders

Follow and Review:

We'd love for you to follow us if you haven't yet. Click that purple '+' in the top right corner of your Apple Podcasts app. We'd love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select "Ratings and Reviews" and "Write a Review" then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it helps spread the word about the podcast.

Episode Credits

If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Emerald City Productions. They helped me grow and produce the podcast you are listening to right now. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com Let them know we sent you.

For the full transcript, go to https://www.techfornontechies.co/blog/282-5-skills-to-master-before-you-worry-about-tech

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People often think a technical partner will solve their product problems overnight.

Sadly, it rarely works that way.

Before you hand over equity to someone who can write code, you need to know what you're actually giving up.

In this episode of Tech for Non-Techies, Sophia lays out the five risks that quietly derail teams when they rush into technical partnerships.

You'll learn how to protect your ownership, lead product confidently without coding, and build enough traction to attract the right technical partner — on your terms.

In this episode, you will hear:

The equity mistake that quietly sinks early-stage teams
Why "someone who codes" is not the same as a true technical partner
The traction-building moves that attract high-caliber tech talent
The one skill non-technical leaders must build before sharing ownership

Resources from this Episode

Free AI Mini-Workshop for Non-Technical Founders

Learn how to go from idea to a tested product using AI — in under 30 minutes.

Get free access here: techfornontechies.co/aiclass

Follow and Review:

We'd love for you to follow us if you haven't yet. Click that purple '+' in the top right corner of your Apple Podcasts app. We'd love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select "Ratings and Reviews" and "Write a Review" then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it helps spread the word about the podcast.

Episode Credits

If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Emerald City Productions. They helped me grow and produce the podcast you are listening to right now. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com Let them know we sent you.

For the full transcript, go to https://www.techfornontechies.co/blog/281-before-you-bring-on-a-technical-co-founder-listen-to-this

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A popular debate is "build vs buy."

Sadly, that's the wrong question.

Here's the thing: shiny features and clever dashboards don't matter if you're solving the wrong problem. And picking the wrong path—custom tech when you don't need it, or off-the-shelf when it can't support your ambitions—can cost you six figures and months of lost momentum.

In this episode of Tech for Non-Techies, Sophia walks you through a simple four-question scorecard to cut through the noise and make the right choice for your business.

No jargon. No hype. Just a clear decision-making framework grounded in real founder behavior, operational limits, and what actually differentiates a tech venture today.

In this episode, you will hear:

The hidden trap founders fall into when they start with the solution instead of the problem
When "good enough" off-the-shelf tools beat custom builds hands-down
The scorecard Sophia uses to judge whether tech can become your competitive moat
How to avoid blowing six figures on custom software you never needed

Resources from this Episode

Free AI Mini-Workshop for Non-Technical Founders

Learn how to go from idea to a tested product using AI — in under 30 minutes.

Get free access here: techfornontechies.co/aiclass

Follow and Review:

We'd love for you to follow us if you haven't yet. Click that purple '+' in the top right corner of your Apple Podcasts app. We'd love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select "Ratings and Reviews" and "Write a Review" then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it helps spread the word about the podcast.

Episode Credits

If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Emerald City Productions. They helped me grow and produce the podcast you are listening to right now. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com Let them know we sent you.

For the full transcript, go to https://www.techfornontechies.co/blog/280-the-build-vs-buy-framework-when-off-the-shelf-wins-and-when-custom-tech-is-worth-it

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Founders assume that if they just hire "good developers," the product will magically take shape.

Sadly, that's rarely what happens.

Too many non-technical founders burn through $50K … $80K … even $100K, only to end up with half-baked code and zero users. Not because they're careless but because they skip the unsexy, zero-glamour work that actually protects their budget.

In this episode of Tech for Non-Techies, Sophia Matveeva breaks down the real reason this problem keeps happening and what to do if you're already deep in the mess.

In this episode, you will hear:

The hidden trap that causes founders to waste $50K–$100K before they even realise it
Why skipping design validation guarantees confusion, rework, and blown budgets
What to salvage from a broken build and what to ruthlessly cut
The one mindset shift that stops perfectionism from quietly killing your product

Resources from this Episode

Free AI Mini-Workshop for Non-Technical Founders

Learn how to go from idea to a tested product using AI — in under 30 minutes.

Get free access here: techfornontechies.co/aiclass

Follow and Review:

We'd love for you to follow us if you haven't yet. Click that purple '+' in the top right corner of your Apple Podcasts app. We'd love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select "Ratings and Reviews" and "Write a Review" then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it helps spread the word about the podcast.

Episode Credits

If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Emerald City Productions. They helped me grow and produce the podcast you are listening to right now. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com Let them know we sent you.

For the full transcript, go to https://www.techfornontechies.co/blog/279-what-to-do-if-you-ve-already-spent-100k-on-developers-and-have-nothing-to-show-for-it.

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Many founders think their product's success can be measured in downloads or revenue.

But here's the truth: those are business outcomes, not product goals.

In this encore episode, Sophia breaks down the one success metric that every non-technical founder must understand before leading a tech team or pitching investors.

By the end, you'll know how to lead with clarity, ask sharper questions, and track the metric that matters most — without writing a single line of code.

In this episode, you will hear:

The one metric that separates product success from business success
Why Airbnb's "nights booked" and Facebook's "daily active users" tell investors everything they need to know
The mistake most non-technical founders make when they tell teams to "make more money"
How to connect product goals to business results without confusing your developers

Resources from this Episode

Free AI Mini-Workshop for Non-Technical Founders

Learn how to go from idea to a tested product using AI — in under 30 minutes.

Get free access here: techfornontechies.co/aiclass

Follow and Review:

We'd love for you to follow us if you haven't yet. Click that purple '+' in the top right corner of your Apple Podcasts app. We'd love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select "Ratings and Reviews" and "Write a Review" then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it helps spread the word about the podcast.

Episode Credits

If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Emerald City Productions. They helped me grow and produce the podcast you are listening to right now. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com Let them know we sent you.

For the full transcript, go to https://www.techfornontechies.co/blog/278-the-one-success-metric-every-non-technical-founder-must-know-encore

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Every founder is looking for ways to save time and money.

And right now, AI promises both.

But here's the catch: while AI can write code, it can't think through your product's logic, security, or scalability. The result? A shiny prototype that collapses under real-world use.

In this episode of Tech for Non-Techies, Sophia Matveeva interviews Natalie Kaminski, CEO of JetRockets, with a knack for bridging the gap between non-tech founders and the digital world. With experience spanning multiple countries and roles she brings a hands-on approach to turning ideas into real, successful products.

At JetRockets, she leads a global team focused on building high-quality Ruby on Rails platforms that align perfectly with business goals.

Sophia and Natalie unpack the limits of AI in product development, why "AI-native" platforms often fail at the fundamentals, and what happens when shortcuts lead to security nightmares.

In this episode, you will hear:

When to use AI for fast prototyping and when to bring in engineers
The "toilet in the living room" test for spotting bad product architecture
Why great developers are more valuable than ever in the AI era
The red flags that signal a product quote is too cheap to trust

Free AI Mini-Workshop for Non-Technical Founders

Learn how to go from idea to a tested product using AI — in under 30 minutes. Get free access here: techfornontechies.co/aiclass

Resources from this Episode

Growth Through Innovation

If your organisation wants to drive revenue through innovation, book a call with us here.

Our workshops and innovation strategies have helped Constellation Brands, the Royal Bank of Canada and Oxford University.

Follow and Review:

We'd love for you to follow us if you haven't yet. Click that purple '+' in the top right corner of your Apple Podcasts app. We'd love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select "Ratings and Reviews" and "Write a Review" then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it helps spread the word about the podcast.

Episode Credits

If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Emerald City Productions. They helped me grow and produce the podcast you are listening to right now. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com Let them know we sent you.

For the full transcript, go to https://www.techfornontechies.co/blog/277-why-you-shouldn-t-use-ai-to-build-your-product

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How many founders think AI is about faster automation?

What if the real opportunity lies in reimagining how entire systems work?

Sophia Matveeva sits down with Sangeet Paul Choudary, best-selling author of Platform Revolution and Re/Shuffle: Who Wins When AI Restacks the Knowledge Economy, to explore how AI isn't just speeding up workflows.

It's rewriting the rules of business models.

From TikTok's behavior-driven growth to Shein's algorithmic supply chain, Sangeet explains how AI coordination is quietly reshaping industries.

You'll learn why being a "second mover" might now be an advantage, and how to design your company around AI's strengths instead of bolting it on as a tool.

In this episode, you will hear:

The difference between using AI for automation and building an AI-first business
How Shein's real-time supply chain sensing outpaces Nike's legacy model
Why "first mover advantage" is outdated in the age of AI
The simple framework Sangeet uses to identify what won't change—no matter how fast tech evolves

Free AI Mini-Workshop for Non-Technical Founders

Learn how to go from idea to a tested product using AI — in under 30 minutes.

Get free access here: techfornontechies.co/aiclass

Resources from this Episode

Book: Reshuffle: Who wins when AI restacks the knowledge economy https://amzn.to/4n7NgF2

Podcast: listen to the platform series on Tech for Non-Techies:

Tech for Non-Techies episode 90: What makes platform businesses SO successful https://www.techfornontechies.co/blog/platforms-episode
Tech for Non-Techies episode 91. How to launch a platform when you've got no users https://www.techfornontechies.co/blog/chicken
Tech for Non-Techies episode 92. How to get people to be nice to each other on your platform https://www.techfornontechies.co/blog/how-to-get-people-to-be-nice-to-each-other-on-your-platform
Tech for Non-Techies episode 94. Learning effects: why getting more users isn't the only key to success https://www.techfornontechies.co/blog/learning-effects-why-getting-more-users-isnt-the-only-key-to-success

Follow and Review:

We'd love for you to follow us if you haven't yet. Click that purple '+' in the top right corner of your Apple Podcasts app. We'd love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select "Ratings and Reviews" and "Write a Review" then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it helps spread the word about the podcast.

Episode Credits

If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Emerald City Productions. They helped me grow and produce the podcast you are listening to right now. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com Let them know we sent you.

For the full transcript, go to https://www.techfornontechies.co/blog/276-how-ai-is-reshuffling-the-rules-of-business

View Details

What separates founders who make it from those who stall out?

After spending two days surrounded by billion-dollar CEOs and investors at JP Morgan's Tech Investor Conference in London, Sophia Matveeva discovered that the conversations happening in those rooms reveal far more than market gossip.

They hold the blueprint for building resilient, fundable tech companies.

Whether you're preparing to fundraise, expand internationally, or simply sharpen your strategy, this episode gives you a rare look at how top leaders think and how you can apply those insights to your own company's next move.

In this episode, you will hear:

Why AI adoption has shifted from hype to hard-nosed cost-cutting and how that affects startup strategy
How to lead investors with confidence by defining your own market story
What separates founders from hired executives when pitching and performing under pressure
The mindset principle that football legend Thierry Henry shared that every founder should apply

Resources from this Episode

Free AI Mini-Workshop for Non-Technical Founders

Learn how to go from idea to a tested product using AI — in under 30 minutes.

Get free access here: techfornontechies.co/aiclass

Follow and Review:

We'd love for you to follow us if you haven't yet. Click that purple '+' in the top right corner of your Apple Podcasts app. We'd love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select "Ratings and Reviews" and "Write a Review" then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it helps spread the word about the podcast.

Episode Credits

If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Emerald City Productions. They helped me grow and produce the podcast you are listening to right now. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com Let them know we sent you.

For the full transcript, go to https://www.techfornontechies.co/blog/275-5-founder-lessons-from-the-jp-morgan-tech-conference

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Many startups collapse not because the idea fails, but because the pressure gets unbearable.

Sadly, it's not strategy or funding that takes them out. It's the grind, the chaos, and the sheer mental weight of building something new.

In this episode, Sophia Matveeva shares three mindset shifts that every non-technical founder needs to survive the rollercoaster.

From moving past imposter syndrome to staying calm when launches stall, these are practical tools to help you think strategically when everyone else panics.

Listen in and learn how to turn pressure into your unfair advantage.

In this episode, you will hear:

How to flip imposter syndrome into your founder superpower
Why panic kills good decisions — and the simple reset that keeps you strategic
The hidden advantage of owning what you don't know
How to turn flops into fuel for innovation instead of founder burnout

Resources from this Episode

Free AI Mini-Workshop for Non-Technical Founders

Learn how to go from idea to a tested product using AI — in under 30 minutes.

Get free access here: techfornontechies.co/aiclass

Follow and Review:

We'd love for you to follow us if you haven't yet. Click that purple '+' in the top right corner of your Apple Podcasts app. We'd love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select "Ratings and Reviews" and "Write a Review" then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it helps spread the word about the podcast.

Episode Credits

If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Emerald City Productions. They helped me grow and produce the podcast you are listening to right now. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com Let them know we sent you.

For the full transcript, go to https://www.techfornontechies.co/blog/274-the-non-technical-founder-mindset-how-to-lead-when-you-can-t-code

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Founders love the idea of skipping engineers and letting AI code their dream app.

Sadly, that dream falls apart fast.

AI can write code, but it also hallucinates, breaks in production, and leaves you with messes you can’t fix if you're not a coder.

What looks like a shortcut turns into a costly detour.

In this episode, Sophia Matveeva shows you where AI really helps founders—and where it doesn’t.

You’ll learn how to use AI to design prototypes, validate features, and impress investors without blowing thousands on guesswork. And you’ll hear why scaling, security, and serious launches still require pros.

In this episode, you will hear:

Why AI won’t replace developers — and what it actually does well for founders
How to turn an idea into a prototype that impresses users and investors
The hidden risks of “vibe coding” every non-technical founder should know
When to call in engineers, and how to avoid wasting money before you do

Resources from this Episode

Free AI Mini-Workshop for Non-Technical Founders

Learn how to go from idea to a tested product using AI — in under 30 minutes.

Get free access here: techfornontechies.co/aiclass

Follow and Review:

We’d love for you to follow us if you haven’t yet. Click that purple '+' in the top right corner of your Apple Podcasts app. We’d love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it helps spread the word about the podcast.

Episode Credits

If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Emerald City Productions. They helped me grow and produce the podcast you are listening to right now. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com Let them know we sent you.

For the full transcript, go to https://www.techfornontechies.co/blog/273-what-ai-can-and-can-t-do-for-non-technical-founders

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For years, non-technical founders were second class citizens in tech.

Not anymore.

In this episode, Sophia Matveeva shares five reasons why today is the best time in history to start a tech venture without being a coder — and why, in some cases, non-technical founders actually have the advantage.

You’ll learn:

Why investors are backing non-technical founders more than ever
How AI and no-code slash startup costs from $35,000 to $20
Why niche markets are exploding — and how to spot them
How global talent and cheaper tools make launching safer and faster
Why distribution — not code — decides which products win

This episode will leave you inspired and equipped to take your next step as a founder — even if you can’t write a single line of code.

🎧 Listen now and see why this is your moment.

Free AI Mini-Workshop for Non-Technical Founders

Learn how to go from idea to a tested product using AI — in under 30 minutes, plus get a downloadable framework.

Get free access here: techfornontechies.co/aiclass

Follow and Review:

We’d love for you to follow us if you haven’t yet. Click that purple '+' in the top right corner of your Apple Podcasts app. We’d love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it helps spread the word about the podcast.

Episode Credits

If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Emerald City Productions. They helped me grow and produce the podcast you are listening to right now. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com Let them know we sent you.

For the full transcript, go to https://www.techfornontechies.co/blog/272-why-this-is-the-best-time-to-be-a-non-technical-founder

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Can you really lead a tech company if you’re not technical yourself?

David Windley has done exactly that.

He’s the former CHRO at Yahoo, held senior HR roles at Microsoft, Intuit, and Activision, scaled a startup from under $1M to $50M as CEO, and now leads HootRecruit — a recruiting tech company.

David has spent his career at the intersection of people, technology, and leadership.

Listen to this episode to learn:

How non-technical founders blow it when hiring their first developers
Why a startup CTO is nothing like a corporate CTO
The “Windley Rule” — why engineers must make sure you understand, not the other way around

If you’ve ever felt shut out of the tech conversation because you don’t code, this episode will show you how to step up as a leader.

Resources from this Episode

Tech for Non-Technical Founders course https://www.techfornontechies.co/tech-for-non-technical-founders

Growth Through Innovation

If your organisation wants to drive revenue through innovation, book a call with us here.

Our workshops and innovation strategies have helped Constellation Brands, the Royal Bank of Canada and Oxford University.

Follow and Review:

We’d love for you to follow us if you haven’t yet. Click that purple '+' in the top right corner of your Apple Podcasts app. We’d love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it helps spread the word about the podcast.

Episode Credits

If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Emerald City Productions. They helped me grow and produce the podcast you are listening to right now. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com Let them know we sent you.

For the full transcript, go to https://www.techfornontechies.co/blog/271-what-big-tech-taught-me-about-leading-without-code

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Most people think you need to be a Silicon Valley insider — or have millions in funding — to start a tech venture.

That’s just not true.

In this episode, Sophia Matveeva shares the journeys of four Tech for Non-Techies alumni who built products and startups without writing a single line of code. You’ll learn:

How a dentist turned lockdown frustration into a healthtech app (and how you can spot opportunities in your own field).
Why a fund manager realised he didn’t need to code — and the mindset shift that freed him to start building.
How a CFO uses tech knowledge to make smarter investment decisions (lessons every business leader can apply).
The simple framework a banker used to launch her startup on the side, while keeping her day job.

You’ll hear directly from Tech for Non-Techies alumni Dr. Marilyn Sandor, Musi Skosana, Gustavo Juarez, and Zahra Almahoozi — and walk away with practical takeaways you can use to move your own idea forward.

If you’ve ever caught yourself thinking “someone like me couldn’t do that,” this episode is proof that you can.

Resources from this Episode

FREE class: Build a Startup WITHOUT Learning to Code

https://www.techfornontechies.co/freeclass

Tech for Non-Technical Founders course: https://www.techfornontechies.co/tech-for-non-technical-founders

Growth Through Innovation

If your organisation wants to drive revenue through innovation, book a call with us here.

Our workshops and innovation strategies have helped Constellation Brands, the Royal Bank of Canada and Oxford University.

Follow and Review:

We’d love for you to follow us if you haven’t yet. Click that purple '+' in the top right corner of your Apple Podcasts app. We’d love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it helps spread the word about the podcast.

Episode Credits

If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Emerald City Productions. They helped me grow and produce the podcast you are listening to right now. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com Let them know we sent you.

For the full transcript, go to https://www.techfornontechies.co/blog/270-real-people-real-startups-lessons-from-our-alumni

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Most founders think you need to be technical to build a billion-dollar company.

But some of the world’s biggest tech giants were started by people who never wrote a single line of code.

In this episode, Sophia Matveeva unpacks the journeys of four non-technical founders who rewrote the rules of business.

In this episode, you will hear:

How Steve Jobs proved that design instincts can beat coding skills
Why Jack Ma’s 30 job rejections became his unfair advantage in building Alibaba
The broke rent payment that sparked Airbnb’s $80B global empire
What Katrina Lake’s Stitch Fix IPO teaches about trusting customers over investors

Resources from this Episode

https://www.techfornontechies.co/blog/how-companies-really-use-ai

FREE CLASS:

Build a Startup WITHOUT Learning to Code

https://www.techfornontechies.co/freeclass

Growth Through Innovation

If your organisation wants to drive revenue through innovation, book a call with us here.

Our workshops and innovation strategies have helped Constellation Brands, the Royal Bank of Canada and Oxford University.

Follow and Review:

We’d love for you to follow us if you haven’t yet. Click that purple '+' in the top right corner of your Apple Podcasts app. We’d love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it helps spread the word about the podcast.

Episode Credits

If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Emerald City Productions. They helped me grow and produce the podcast you are listening to right now. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com Let them know we sent you.

For the full transcript, go to https://www.techfornontechies.co/blog/269-4-non-technical-founders-who-built-billion-dollar-tech-empires

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Most founders think securing investors will solve all their problems.

But fundraising often creates a new set of challenges—misaligned expectations, endless reporting requests, and pressure that pulls focus from building the business.

The truth is, raising capital isn’t just about money.

It’s about relationships, trust, and knowing when to push back.

In this episode, you’ll learn from Jeffrey Fidelman, founder and managing director of Fidelman & Company, which is on Inc.’s list of America’s fastest-growing companies.

Jeffrey has worked at Morgan Stanley, been a partner at a venture fund, and now advises early and mid-stage companies on growth and fundraising strategy.

He shares what founders should realistically expect from investors, how to set boundaries without burning bridges, and why today’s tools—like AI and no-code—make it possible to show traction before raising a single dollar

In this episode, you will hear:

Why some investors secretly derail startups — and how to spot them early
The hidden risk of over-delivering for your investors (and how to say no)
How no-code and AI tools can replace your first $250K in funding
The newsletter strategy smart founders use to turn interest into investment

Resources from this Episode

Free class: Build a startup without learning to code https://www.techfornontechies.co/freeclass

Fidelman & Co https://fidelmanco.com/

Supercommunicators: How to Unlock the Secret Language of Connection https://amzn.to/3HPMHRG

Financial Times: Being an angel investor is tougher than it looks https://on.ft.com/4oDoQFD

Growth Through Innovation

If your organisation wants to drive revenue through innovation, book a call with us here.

Our workshops and innovation strategies have helped Constellation Brands, the Royal Bank of Canada and Oxford University.

Follow and Review:

We’d love for you to follow us if you haven’t yet. Click that purple '+' in the top right corner of your Apple Podcasts app. We’d love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it helps spread the word about the podcast.

Episode Credits

If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Emerald City Productions. They helped me grow and produce the podcast you are listening to right now. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com Let them know we sent you.

For the full transcript, go to https://www.techfornontechies.co/blog/268-how-to-align-founders-and-investors-before-things-go-wrong

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Most non-technical founders dream of building a game-changing tech product—without learning to code.

But bridging the gap between vision and execution? That takes more than just a good idea.

In this episode, Sophia Matveeva breaks down 7 essential lessons from the rise and fall of BlackBerry, a tech company that revolutionized communication, then lost it all.

You’ll learn why great engineers aren’t enough, how clueless sales pitches kill trust, and why falling in love with your invention might be your biggest risk.

Whether you’re planning your first app or scaling your second startup, this episode is packed with real talk and timeless wisdom, straight from a founder who’s been there.

In this episode, you will hear:

How BlackBerry went from world-domination to irrelevance — and what every non-technical founder can learn from its rise and fall
Why mutual respect and tech fluency between business leaders and engineers is non-negotiable
How poor communication between sales and technical teams can sink even the best products
The hidden risk of falling in love with your invention — and how to avoid it

FREE class: Build a Startup WITHOUT Learning to Code

https://www.techfornontechies.co/freeclass

Follow and Review:

We’d love for you to follow us if you haven’t yet. Click that purple '+' in the top right corner of your Apple Podcasts app. We’d love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it helps spread the word about the podcast.

Episode Credits

If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Emerald City Productions. They helped me grow and produce the podcast you are listening to right now. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com Let them know we sent you.

For the full transcript, go to https://www.techfornontechies.co/blog/267-7-startup-lessons-from-blackberry-s-rise-and-fall

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Most founders dream of creating a product so good it sells itself.

That’s the promise of product-led growth: customers discover, share, and adopt your product with little to no sales effort.

Sadly that's rarely the reality.

In the early stages, almost every founder has to do the hard, unglamorous work of founder-led growth: building trust, making offers and facing rejection.

In this episode, you will learn from Vijay Rajendran, author of The Funding Framework: Secure Startup Funding With Confidence.

Vijay previously led portfolio value at 500 Global, a venture capital firm with $2.7 billion under management, where he supported startups in more than 80 countries.

Vijay has helped hundreds of founders grow, scale, and raise capital.

Listen to learn:

The difference between founder-led and product-led growth — and when each approach works best.
How design partnerships and pilots can win your first customers (and even get them to fund product development).
Why “influence” is a better mindset than “sales” — and how listening to customers creates trust.
Stories from Airbnb to enterprise startups that reveal what growth really looks like behind the scenes.

Whether you’re launching your first product, leading innovation inside a corporate, or backing founders as an investor, this episode is for you.

Resources mentioned in this episode:

Influence: The Psychology of Persuasion, Robert Cialdini
Never Split the Difference: Negotiating as if Your Life Depended on It, Chris Voss

Chapters

05:24 — The seductive dream of product-led growth (and why it rarely works early on)

07:52 — Design partnerships: how customers can fund your product

13:39 — The Airbnb toilet photos story: why every founder must talk to customers

18:55 — Stop pitching, start listening: turning sales into influence

23:23 — Empathy and persuasion: the human skills behind tech success

28:48 — When to move from founder-led growth to a professional sales team

FREE Course: 5 Tech Concepts Every Business Leader Needs To Know https://www.techfornontechies.co/freecourse Growth Through Innovation If your organisation wants to drive revenue through innovation, book a call with us here.

Our workshops and innovation strategies have helped Constellation Brands, the Royal Bank of Canada and Oxford University.

For the full transcript, go to https://www.techfornontechies.co/blog/266-founder-led-vs-product-led-growth-how-to-pick-the-right-path-for-your-startup

Influence, New and Expanded: The Psychology of Persuasion

Never Split the Difference: Negotiating As If Your Life Depended On It

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If you’re a non-technical founder building your first product, this episode is for you.

In today’s lesson, Robyn Exton shares the real story of how she went from branding agency employee to founder of a global tech company — without writing a line of code.

She didn’t raise millions on day one. She learned by doing, made all the early-stage mistakes, and got her first users with vodka shots in nightclubs.

Now, her app has millions of users and she’s been through Y Combinator.

Robyn is the founder of HER, the dating app for queer women.

Listen to this episode to learn:

How to build a tech product without knowing how to code
What to do when your first version fails
The difference between product design and graphic design (and why it matters)
How to work with developers when you don’t speak tech

Whether you’re dreaming up your first MVP or struggling through version two, this is your honest guide to building in the dark — and making it work.

Chapters

00:00 — Vodka shots for downloads: the hustle begins

03:10 — From branding job to building a tech product

10:30 — The wake-up call: “You’re doing too many things”

14:00 — Fake research, failed MVP, and what she learned

27:20 — How a non-technical founder led a dev team

33:45 — Hiring a CTO, letting go of ego, and building trust

45:35 — Raising $1M before YC — and why she joined anyway

51:10 — Final audience Q&A: churn, product, and user feedback

FREE Course: 5 Tech Concepts Every Business Leader Needs To Know https://www.techfornontechies.co/freecourse Growth Through Innovation If your organisation wants to drive revenue through innovation, book a call with us here.

Our workshops and innovation strategies have helped Constellation Brands, the Royal Bank of Canada and Oxford University.

For the full transcript, go to: https://www.techfornontechies.co/blog/265-from-vodka-shots-to-y-combinator-how-a-non-technical-founder-built-a-global-tech-company

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If you’re the kind of leader who is “on” all the time — even on vacation — this episode is for you.

In today’s lesson, Sophia Matveeva shares a practical, honest approach to taking time off without pretending you’ll fully unplug.

Because when you're in charge, not checking work emails is often a pipe dream.

Listen to this episode to learn:

Why inner peace isn’t realistic for early-stage founders
How to structure your break without lying to yourself
The one rule you must follow if you get a great idea mid-vacation
Why learning to trust your team now will set you up to scale
How to use downtime to spot blind spots and reset your strategy

Whether you’re heading to the beach or just trying to unplug for a weekend, this is your guide to making rest work for your ambitious brain.

Chapters

00:00 — The founder brain that never stops 01:50 — You don’t need inner peace, you need creativity 04:52 — Structure your vacation like a pro 07:15 — What to do when inspiration strikes on holiday 09:35 — Smart founders use vacations to train their teams

FREE Course: 5 Tech Concepts Every Business Leader Needs To Know https://www.techfornontechies.co/freecourse Growth Through Innovation If your organisation wants to drive revenue through innovation, book a call with us here.

Our workshops and innovation strategies have helped Constellation Brands, the Royal Bank of Canada and Oxford University.

For the full transcript, go to https://www.techfornontechies.co/blog/264-the-vacation-strategy-for-people-who-can-t-switch-off

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Why do so many software teams feel busy — but deliver so little value?

Fractional tech leader Thanos Diacakis shares why shipping more features doesn’t always mean progress.

Drawing on 25+ years in software — from startups to scaling JUMP Bikes at Uber — he explains how to escape the trap of over-planning, feature overload, and technical debt.

Listen to learn:

Why planning more often leads to less progress
What non-technical leaders need to ask their tech teams
How to find your team’s bottleneck (and why that changes over time)
The 4 stages of becoming a high-velocity software team

If you’re a founder, product leader, or innovation exec frustrated by slow progress, this episode will give you the mindset and tools to course-correct.

Follow Thanos Diacakis on LinkedIn and on his website.

Chapters

02:01 — Stop planning, start shipping

06:16 — Software isn’t construction: you can’t forecast innovation

09:58 — The 4 stages of high-velocity teams

13:56 — Spot the bottleneck, fix the system

20:11 — How business and tech teams can actually work together

FREE Course: 5 Tech Concepts Every Business Leader Needs To Know https://www.techfornontechies.co/freecourse Growth Through Innovation If your organisation wants to drive revenue through innovation, book a call with us here.

Our workshops and innovation strategies have helped Constellation Brands, the Royal Bank of Canada and Oxford University.

For the full transcript, go here: https://www.techfornontechies.co/blog/263-the-feature-factory-trap-when-output-doesnt-equal-progress

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Most startup CEOs think they’re the visionary.

But in today’s episode, you’ll learn why the CEO is often the single biggest threat to team productivity — and how to avoid becoming one.

Based on a real conversation with a seasoned CTO and a sales leader who’ve scaled startups to exit, this episode dives into the blind spots that trip up even well-meaning founders.

Whether you’re a CEO, part of a startup team, or investing in one — this lesson will help you lead smarter, build better, and waste less time.

Listen to learn:

Why startup CEOs are more dangerous than corporate CEOs (and it’s not about ego)
What “Seagull CEO Syndrome” does to your roadmap and morale
How developer paralysis destroys velocity — and how to fix it
What smart founders, teams, and investors can do to keep priorities on track

Lesson mentioned in this episode:

Why MVPs are Always Late, Why That's Okay, and What to do About It

Chapters

00:00 — The Real Threat: Why Startup CEOs Kill Productivity

02:10 — Power Without Process: How CEO Impulses Go Unchecked

04:30 — Seagull Syndrome: How CEOs Derail Roadmaps

09:15 — Nothing to Do? Why Bored CEOs Delay MVPs

14:10 — Bottlenecks in Human Form: When CEOs Bypass Their Own Leaders

Growth Through Innovation If your organisation wants to drive revenue through innovation, book a call with us here.

Our workshops and innovation strategies have helped Constellation Brands, the Royal Bank of Canada and Oxford University.

For the full transcript, go to https://www.techfornontechies.co/blog/262-why-the-startup-ceo-is-the-biggest-risk-to-their-own-team

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Some CEOs are already replacing engineers and junior staff with large language models.

But what if the real risk isn’t that AI replaces your team — it’s that it doesn’t, and you’re left without a talent pipeline?

In this episode, Sophia Matveeva breaks down:

Why cutting junior hiring today could sabotage your company in 3–5 years
What IBM’s CEO gets right that others get very wrong
How the hype around “AI-first” companies is creating poor decision-making
What the S-curve of innovation tells us about the real pace of AI progress
And why thinking long-term — not just cutting costs this quarter — is a strategic advantage

Whether you’re a government leader, innovation executive, or non-technical founder, this episode will help you make smarter, more resilient decisions in the age of AI.

Fortune: IBM’s CEO says ‘the first thing you can automate is a repetitive, white-collar job,’ but he’s not cutting workers: ‘I’ll get more’

Chapters

00:00 — The Real Risk Isn’t AI — It’s What Happens When It Doesn’t Work

02:45 — What CEOs Are Saying: Duolingo, Klarna… and IBM’s Contrarian View

06:30 — The Junior Job Crunch: Accountancy’s Mistake Repeats in Tech

09:15 — The S-Curve Explained: Why AI Progress Is Slowing

14:10 — Your Strategic Takeaways: What Smart Leaders Are Doing Now

Growth Through Innovation If your organisation wants to drive revenue through innovation, book a call with us here.

Our workshops and innovation strategies have helped Constellation Brands, the Royal Bank of Canada and Oxford University.

For the full transcript, go here: https://www.techfornontechies.co/blog/AI-wont-kill-jobs-but-short-term-thinking-will

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What does it really take to lead in tech without a technical degree?

In this episode, Jennifer Byrne, former CTO of Microsoft US, shares how she built a top-tier tech career starting with a psychology degree — and why understanding context, not code, is your key to success.

You’ll learn:

How Jennifer transitioned from nonprofit work to tech leadership
The difference between digital fluency and context (and why it matters)
What cloud computing really is — minus the jargon
How Microsoft handled global trust issues post-Snowden
What CTOs actually do at big companies (hint: it’s not coding)

Whether you’re a founder, investor, or business leader, this episode will help you think more strategically about tech — and your role in it.

Chapters

00:00 – Why this episode still matters

02:30 – Jennifer’s path from psychology to tech

08:55 – Cybersecurity and the WikiLeaks era

14:40 – What cloud computing really is

25:25 – Digital context vs. fluency explained

35:45 – What a CTO actually does in big tech

Growth Through Innovation If your organisation wants to drive revenue through innovation, book a call with us here.

Our workshops and innovation strategies have helped Constellation Brands, the Royal Bank of Canada and Oxford University.

For the full transcript, go to https://www.techfornontechies.co/blog/260-how-non-techies-succeed-in-tech-lessons-from-microsoft-s-cto

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Think advertising is just TikTok, Instagram, or TV? Think again.

At Cannes Lions, a major industry summit, Big Tech set the agenda for what’s next in AI, branding, and attention. This is your insider's summary.

In this episode, you will learn:

How offline spaces are powering smart digital brands
What AI personas are, and how to use them to test product and brand ideas faster (and cheaper)
Why most agencies are missing half the audience — and what that means if you’re building a mass-market product

If you’re building or marketing a tech product — whether you’re in a startup or a large org — this episode gives you a real-world edge, minus the fluff.

Chapters

FREE COURSE:

5 Tech Concepts Every Business Leader Needs To Know

Growth Through Innovation If your organisation wants to drive revenue through innovation, book a call with us here.

Our workshops and innovation strategies have helped Constellation Brands, the Royal Bank of Canada and Oxford University.

For the full transcript go to https://www.techfornontechies.co/blog/259-big-tech-ai-and-the-future-of-attention-what-you-missed-in-cannes

View Details

Most founders dive straight into building — features, user flows, no-code tools — before they’ve nailed the strategy that actually drives traction: brand.

In this episode, Sophia Matveeva shares why brand must come before product, especially for non-technical founders building tech-enabled businesses.

You’ll learn the four brand foundations every founder needs — whether you’re launching a new venture or scaling an existing one:

Clarity — Who you serve and why you exist
Story — What problem you solve and what’s at stake
Trust Signals — How to build credibility before or beyond your user base
Voice — How to speak to your market without jargon

Sophia also shares examples from Uber, Goldman Sachs, and her own company, Tech for Non-Techies, which is trusted by governments and Fortune 500s to teach non-technical leaders how to succeed in the digital economy.

If you want customers, talent, and investors to take your venture seriously — and you’re not building brand strategically — this episode is for you.

Chapters

00:00 – Code vs Brand 01:11 – Logos Are Not Brands 02:37 – Why Trust Matters More Than Features 04:37 – Non-Technical Founders’ Common Mistake: Features Before Brand 09:38 – Investors Back Missions, Not Apps 11:40 – Think Like an Investor 12:30 – 4 Brand Foundations Before Product 18:13 – What’s Next: Cannes Lions Insights

Episodes to help you build your personal brand:

1. Advisory Boards: why join them & why have them
1. How to get headhunted

For the full transcript, go to: https://www.techfornontechies.co/blog/258-why-you-need-a-brand-before-you-need-an-app

FREE COURSE:

5 Tech Concepts Every Business Leader Needs To Know

Growth Through Innovation If your organisation wants to drive revenue through innovation, book a call with us here.

Our workshops and innovation strategies have helped Constellation Brands, the Royal Bank of Canada and Oxford University.

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Analysis paralysis is BORING. And it doesn't get you results.

Most founders think they fail because of the market, the product, or the pitch.

But the real killer is a slow mindset.

In this episode, Sophia Matveeva shows you why bad work beats perfect ideas — and how shifting your mindset can be the difference between building real momentum and watching your venture die.

You will learn:

Why perfectionism feels smart but keeps you stuck
How no-code tools tempt you to tinker instead of launch
Why top founders move fast and embrace imperfection
How to build momentum before you’re ready — with real-world examples and a challenge for you to do today

Chapters

00:00 The Mindset Shift for Non-Technical Founders 03:07 The Importance of Speed Over Perfection 05:53 Accepting Imperfection in Innovation 09:02 Consequences of a Slow Mindset 11:47 Taking Action Before You're Ready

FREE COURSE:

5 Tech Concepts Every Business Leader Needs To Know

Growth Through Innovation If your organisation wants to drive revenue through innovation, book a call with us here.

Our workshops and innovation strategies have helped Constellation Brands, the Royal Bank of Canada and Oxford University.

For the full transcript, go to https://www.techfornontechies.co/blog/257-why-bad-work-wins

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If you’re building a tech product but don’t have a technical background, this episode will save you months of wasted time and thousands in unnecessary spend.

In this re-release of one of our most popular early episodes, Tech for Non-Techies founder Sophia Matveeva shares the 5 biggest mistakes non-technical founders make — and how to avoid them.

Whether you’re a founder, a corporate innovator, or leading a new digital venture, these lessons will help you lead product teams effectively and build better tech businesses.

You will learn: * Why hiring a developer first is a mistake — and who to bring in instead * The crucial difference between product metrics and business metrics (and how to use both wisely) * How Facebook and WhatsApp built great products by focusing on engagement before monetisation * What non-technical leaders must know about giving clear, measurable instructions to product teams * What success looks like in the early stages — and why early growth shouldn’t be the goal

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Non-Technical Founders' Challenges 02:26 The Importance of User Experience Design 10:36 Understanding Product vs. Business Metrics 16:21 Setting Clear Goals for Product Teams 20:13 Embracing Flexibility in Product Development 24:32 The Journey of Product Improvement Over Growth

FREE COURSE:

5 Tech Concepts Every Business Leader Needs To Know

Growth Through Innovation If your organisation wants to drive revenue through innovation, book a call with us here.

Our workshops and innovation strategies have helped Constellation Brands, the Royal Bank of Canada and Oxford University.

Listen to Tech for Non-Techies on: * Apple * Spotify * YouTube * Amazon Podcasts * Stitcher * Pandora

For the episode transcript, go here: https://www.techfornontechies.co/blog/256-top-mistakes-non-technical-founders-make-how-to-avoid-them

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From accelerators to corporate venture capital, most startup support structures fail to deliver. Investor and entrepreneur Andrew Ackerman explains why — and what founders and corporates should do instead.

With over 70 investments and hundreds of founders mentored, Andrew brings rare perspective from both sides of the table. Andrew is a serial entrepreneur who has founded two companies, led an accelerator, and now advises startups, VCs and corporates.

He’s also the author of The Entrepreneur's Odyssey — a novel-style guide to what startup life really feels like.

You will learn:

Why most accelerators fail: Discover how many support programs offer flashy promises without delivering tangible outcomes like revenue or pilot deals.
Rethinking venture capital: Understand why fundraising is often pursued for validation rather than strategic fit — and why most startups don’t necessarily need VC money.
Corporate innovation pitfalls: Learn how misaligned incentives and internal politics transform innovation programs into mere theatre rather than engines of growth.
The value of tailored support: Find out how startups can benefit from support structures designed as platforms that evolve with their specific stage and needs.
What to do instead: Get practical insights on structuring your support programs, whether you’re a founder, a corporate team, or an investor.

Chapters 00:00 The Illusion of Tech Startups 02:43 Understanding Startup Support Systems 06:48 Challenges in Corporate Innovation 10:05 The Value of Accelerators 16:58 The Glamour of Fundraising 22:12 The Reality of Startup Life FREE COURSE:

5 Tech Concepts Every Business Leader Needs To Know

Growth Through Innovation If your organisation wants to drive revenue through innovation, book a call with us here.

Our workshops and innovation strategies have helped Constellation Brands, the Royal Bank of Canada and Oxford University.

--- For the full transcript, go to https://www.techfornontechies.co/blog/What-most-startup-support-gets-wrong-and-how-to-fix-It

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What does it really take to build a tech ecosystem that endures — beyond PR launches and startup grants?

In this episode, Sophia Matveeva shares hard-won insights from working with governments, corporates, and investors on the frontlines of global digital transformation.

Whether you’re funding innovation, designing policy, or building a product yourself, this is a must-listen.

You’ll learn what most ecosystem builders overlook, why non-technical founders are a critical (and underutilised) asset, and how trusted advisors — from lawyers to auditors — can unintentionally become blockers to progress.

Most importantly, you’ll hear how to fix it.

You will learn:

Why traditional approaches to building tech ecosystems often fall short
The critical role of non-technical founders in sustainable innovation
Why advisors, lawyers, and accountants can be innovation blockers — and what to do about it
The underestimated influence of government in market creation
Four key traits shared by enduring tech ecosystems

Why Most Ecosystems Don’t Last * Short-lived programs: Many government-funded accelerators or hubs launch with fanfare but dissolve within 2–5 years due to lack of traction or measurable ROI. * Startup survival rates: Globally, over 90% of startups fail. If an ecosystem is judged by the success of its startups, the system often doesn’t perform well. * Dependence on external funding: Many ecosystems are grant-reliant and don’t create self-sustaining capital or talent flywheels. * No enduring institutions: Unlike Silicon Valley (Stanford, Sand Hill Road, Google), most ecosystems don’t produce lasting institutions that regenerate innovation cycles.

Chapters 00:00 Building Sustainable Tech Ecosystems 10:13 The Role of Non-Technical Founders 16:54 The Importance of Tech Fluency

If you’re shaping innovation strategy — let’s talk.

Tech for Non-Techies works with governments, economic development agencies, and public–private partnerships to design innovation ecosystems that endure.

Book a call here or email info@techfornontechies.co

--- Listen to Tech for Non-Techies on: * Apple * Spotify * YouTube * Amazon Podcasts * Stitcher * Pandora

For the full transcript, go to https://www.techfornontechies.co/blog/254-how-to-build-a-tech-ecosystem-that-lasts

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Want to become a better tech innovator while you sit on a beach?

In this episode, Sophia Matveeva shares four podcast episodes you can learn from through osmosis—and enjoy every minute of it.

You will learn:

Why Netflix’s original CEO got fired by his co-founder—and what that says about startup leadership transitions
The founder Warren Buffett said was more scary than a grisly bear
How the New York Times nearly collapsed and reinvented itself in the Digital Age
Why building a stellar career takes longer than you think—and why that’s okay

These episodes aren’t just entertaining—they’re strategy lessons in disguise.

Timestamps:

01:18 Podcast Recommendations for Tech Innovators 05:36 The Story of Rose Blumkin 08:57 The New York Times Company Case Study 12:47 The Long Game in Professional Development

Growth Through Innovation

If your organisation wants to drive revenue through innovation, book a call with us here.

Our workshops and innovation strategies have helped Constellation Brands, the Royal Bank of Canada and Oxford University.

For the episode transcript, go to: https://www.techfornontechies.co/blog/4-Podcasts-That-Will-Make-You-Smarter-This-Summer

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Phil Knight spotted better running shoes in Japan — and turned that insight into Nike, one of the world’s biggest brands.

In this episode, you'll learn how thinking internationally sparks breakthrough ideas — and how to build a global edge into your career and business.

This episode is for you if you:

Want to lead innovation, not just follow trends
Are building products or businesses with global ambition
Know you need a global perspective but aren't sure where to start

Timestamps

00:00 The essence of global leadership 06:07 Learning from Global Innovations 11:50 How to get an International Perspective 18:04 Action steps you can take now

Growth Through Innovation

If your organisation wants to drive revenue through innovation, book a call with us here.

Our workshops and innovation strategies have helped Constellation Brands, the Royal Bank of Canada and Oxford University.

To get the full transcript for this episode, go here: https://www.techfornontechies.co/blog/-go-from-local-player-to-global-tech-leader

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Is today's AI hype cycle just dot-com boom 2.0?

In this episode, host Sophia Matveeva talks with David G. Ewing, who lived through the original tech bubble (literally in a closet in Palo Alto!) about the striking parallels between then and now.

Listen to learn lessons from dot-com history to navigate today's AI boom.

Listen to learn: * Why the "more things change, the more they stay the same" when it comes to tech hype cycles * The surprising success factor that determined which dot-com companies survived (and what it means for AI) * A powerful career strategy that helps you thrive amid tech disruption * Why measuring AI's impact requires looking beyond traditional ROI metrics

For the transcript, go to: https://www.techfornontechies.co/blog/251-lessons-from-the-dot-com-era-for-today-s-ai-hype

Timestamps

00:00 Introduction

01:00 The Wild West of Tech: Lessons from the Dot-Com Era

10:02 Navigating the AI Hype

19:53 Building Infrastructure for Success in AI

29:45 The Hydra vs. Phoenix Analogy

About Our Guest David G. Ewing is the founder of Content Lion, a next-generation AI centralisation and enterprise content management system. He brings decades of technology experience and a pragmatic approach to digital transformation.

Resources Mentioned * David's blog: davidgewing.com * David's podcast: Content Kingdom * David's company: contentlion.com * Book recommendation: "What I Learned Losing a Million Dollars" * For thinking about risk and Black Swan events: Nassim Taleb's "The Black Swan"

Connect with Tech for Non-Techies Visit techfornontechies.co to learn more about our courses, community, and resources designed specifically for non-technical founders, corporate innovators, and professionals navigating the digital world.

For more career & tech lessons, subscribe to Tech for Non-Techies on:

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The more technology you put into your product, the worse it can get.

In this episode, Sophia Matveeva talks with Zahra Almahoozi, founder of DARB and recent graduate of the Tech for Non-Technical Founders program in Bahrain.

Discover how Zahra's "less is more" approach helped her build a startup that addresses real user needs without overwhelming them with features.

This episode is for you if you:

Are building a digital product and wondering what to include
Want to create something users will actually adopt (instead of ignore)
Are looking to validate your concept with minimal investment

You will learn: 1. Why starting with WhatsApp groups or Google Forms can be more effective than complex technology 2. The three things every non-technical innovator must know to communicate effectively with developers 3. How documenting requirements can save you thousands in development costs

You can connect with Zahra Almahoozi on LinkedIn or follow Darb on Instagram

Timestamps

00:00 Introduction

03:10 The Journey of a Non-Technical Founder

06:01 Lessons from the Tech for Non-Technical Founders Program

08:54 Understanding User Behavior

11:48 The Value of Networking in Tech

15:09 Advice for Aspiring Tech Entrepreneurs

17:04 Future Plans

For the transcript, go to: https://www.techfornontechies.co/blog/250-less-tech-more-value-why-simpler-digital-products-win

For more career & tech lessons, subscribe to Tech for Non-Techies on:

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FREE COURSE:

5 Tech Concepts Every Business Leader Needs To Know

Growth Through Innovation If your organisation wants to drive revenue through innovation, book a call with us here.

Our workshops and innovation strategies have helped Constellation Brands, the Royal Bank of Canada and Oxford University.

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Some companies waste millions on AI initiatives while others use it to gain serious market advantage.

In this episode, you'll learn the seven insights Sophia Matveeva, our CEO, got from The Economist's Business Innovation Summit and what they mean for your AI strategy.

This episode is for you if you:

Are a leader considering AI investments but want to avoid chasing vanity metrics
Need to justify AI projects to your CFO or board with realistic ROI expectations (!!!)
Want to address "shadow IT" - when employees use unauthorised AI tools with company data
Are responsible for upskilling your team in the age of AI

For the transcript, go to: https://www.techfornontechies.co/blog/249-ai-hype-vs-reality-what-smart-business-leaders-are-actually-doing

Timestamps

00:00 Introduction to AI and Market Dynamics

03:11 Key Insights from the Economist Business Innovation Summit

05:58 The Importance of Speed in AI Implementation

08:51 Understanding Shadow IT and Its Implications

12:12 The Role of Boards in AI Adoption

14:58 Training and Upskilling for the AI Age

16:24 The Impact of DeepSeek on Global Innovation

For more career & tech lessons, subscribe to Tech for Non-Techies on:

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FREE COURSE:

5 Tech Concepts Every Business Leader Needs To Know

Growth Through Innovation If your organisation wants to drive revenue through innovation, book a call with us here.

Our workshops and innovation strategies have helped Constellation Brands, the Royal Bank of Canada and Oxford University.

View Details

Analysis paralysis is BORING. And it doesn't get you results.

Most founders think they fail because of the market, the product, or the pitch.

But the real killer is a slow mindset.

In this episode, Sophia Matveeva shows you why bad work beats perfect ideas — and how shifting your mindset can be the difference between building real momentum and watching your venture die.

You will learn:

Why perfectionism feels smart but keeps you stuck
How no-code tools tempt you to tinker instead of launch
Why top founders move fast and embrace imperfection
How to build momentum before you’re ready — with real-world examples and a challenge for you to do today

Chapters

00:00 The Mindset Shift for Non-Technical Founders 03:07 The Importance of Speed Over Perfection 05:53 Accepting Imperfection in Innovation 09:02 Consequences of a Slow Mindset 11:47 Taking Action Before You're Ready

FREE COURSE:

5 Tech Concepts Every Business Leader Needs To Know

Growth Through Innovation If your organisation wants to drive revenue through innovation, book a call with us here.

Our workshops and innovation strategies have helped Constellation Brands, the Royal Bank of Canada and Oxford University.

Listen to Tech for Non-Techies on: * Apple * Spotify * YouTube * Amazon Podcasts * Stitcher * Pandora

For the full transcript, go to https://www.techfornontechies.co/blog/257-why-bad-work-wins

View Details

Here are the listener questions Sophia Matveeva answers in this episode:

What should I be asking in product meetings if I don’t have a technical background?
I’m leading a digital transformation initiative, but my tech team keeps telling me things take longer than expected. Should I push back? How?
How do I know if I need a technical co-founder, or if I can build my product with an agency or no-code tools?

Resources mentioned in this episode:

FREE download: Anonymous Survey on the Tech–Business Divide
YouTube: How to Work with Developers: A Guide for Non-Technical Leaders

Timestamps

00:00 Introduction

02:29 Navigating Product Meetings Without Technical Background

06:15 Managing Digital Transformation Timelines

10:56 Technical Co-Founder or Agency?

For the transcript, go to: https://www.techfornontechies.co/blog/248-q-a-episode-how-to-keep-tech-teams-on-track-without-micromanaging

For more career & tech lessons, subscribe to Tech for Non-Techies on:

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FREE COURSE:

5 Tech Concepts Every Business Leader Needs To Know

Growth Through Innovation If your organisation wants to drive revenue through innovation, book a call with us here.

Our workshops and innovation strategies have helped Constellation Brands, the Royal Bank of Canada and Oxford University.

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Companies invest millions in tech projects every day. Some deliver remarkable returns while others crash and burn, wasting fortunes and careers.

The deciding factor? Rarely the technology itself—it's the disconnect between technical implementation and business objectives.

In this episode, you'll learn a proven system for bridging this expensive gap.

You will see how to diagnose misalignment, quantify its impact, and implement frameworks that create genuine understanding between technical and business teams.

You'll get lessons you can use at work today.

This episode is for you if you:

Want make sure you get the best ROI on your tech innovation projects
Need to become the translator who can align technical realities with business goals
Work in tech and are tired of business stakeholders changing requirements every week

For the transcript, go to: https://www.techfornontechies.co/blog/247-million-dollar-misunderstandings-how-to-fix-tech-business-disconnect

Timestamps

00:00 Introduction 00:56 Digital Transformation Failures 02:50 Tech and Business Misalignment 06:09 Diagnosing the Disconnect 09:03 Importance of Communication 11:59 Creating a Collaborative Culture 15:11 Taking Action on Survey Results Resources mentioned in this episode:

Harvard Business Review: Coding Isn’t a Necessary Leadership Skill — But Digital Literacy Is
FREE download: Anonymous Survey on the Tech–Business Divide

For more career & tech lessons, subscribe to Tech for Non-Techies on:

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FREE COURSE:

5 Tech Concepts Every Business Leader Needs To Know

Growth Through Innovation If your organisation wants to drive revenue through innovation, book a call with us here.

Our workshops and innovation strategies have helped Constellation Brands, the Royal Bank of Canada and Oxford University.

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Some "Heads of Innovation" are glorified event planners while others transform entire businesses.

In this episode, you'll learn how to identify which type of innovation leader you're dealing with and what that means for your career or business.

This episode is for you if you:

Want to pursue a career in corporate innovation
Are a founder pitching to corporate innovation departments
Are an executive designing innovation roles for your company
Need to collaborate with innovation teams but aren't sure of their actual authority
Are an investor evaluating a company's innovation claims

You'll learn which innovation roles are career dead-ends, which ones lead to the C-suite, and how to quickly identify who has real decision-making power versus who's just organising hackathons with no implementation authority.

Resources mentioned in this episode:

Podcast: 96. How to innovate at a corporate: lessons from Apple and Intel
FREE GUIDE: Innovate, but how? The Pragmatist's guide to growth

For the transcript, go to: https://www.techfornontechies.co/blog/246-5-types-of-innovation-leaders-from-nonsense-to-c-suite

Timestamps

00:50 Innovation Roles

02:58 Five Types of Innovation Leaders

05:45 Innovation Theater Director

09:05 Innovation Community Manager

11:57 Corporate Entrepreneur

14:52 R&D Leader

17:50 Transforming Businesses

For more career & tech lessons, subscribe to Tech for Non-Techies on:

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FREE COURSE:

5 Tech Concepts Every Business Leader Needs To Know

Growth Through Innovation If your organisation wants to drive revenue through innovation, book a call with us here.

Our workshops and innovation strategies have helped Constellation Brands, the Royal Bank of Canada and Oxford University.

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Start-up failure is never pleasant, but did you know you can actually make more money and be more successful as a result?

In this candid, no-nonsense episode, you'll learn exactly what to do when your venture doesn't make it.

This episode is for you if you:

Run a company
Are thinking of starting one
Are thinking of joining one
Are in the midst of a startup struggle and considering options
Are working at a startup and worried about its trajectory

You'll learn why panic is unnecessary, how your startup experience makes you uniquely qualified for lucrative jobs, and why investors often prefer founders with failure experience.

If you want your questions to be answered on this show, email info@techfornontechies.co

Timestamps 00:00 Introduction 00:56: Embracing Startup Failure 03:00 Lessons from Startup Struggles 05:51 Experience in Failure 09:06 Leveraging Failure 12:13 Building a Network and Personal Brand 15:07 Navigating the Aftermath For the transcript, go to: https://www.techfornontechies.co/blog/what-to-do-if-your-start-up-fails For more career & tech lessons, subscribe to Tech for Non-Techies on:

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FREE COURSE:

5 Tech Concepts Every Business Leader Needs To Know

Growth Through Innovation If your organisation wants to drive revenue through innovation, book a call with us here.

Our workshops and innovation strategies have helped Constellation Brands, the Royal Bank of Canada and Oxford University.

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If you're a non-technical founder or corporate innovator, you've likely heard the myth: venture capital is exclusively for bankers or coders.

Promise Phelon shatters this misconception completely.

In this episode, Promise shares how she used her experience as a non-technical founder to become a successful venture capitalist - without writing a single line of code or spending years in investment banking.

Listen to learn:

Why business acumen and customer understanding are more valuable than technical skills
How "product CEOs" often have advantages over purely technical founders
Practical paths into venture capital for non-technical professionals
Why more founders are specifically seeking investors with operational experience
How to use your industry expertise to find investment opportunities others miss

If you're curious about a career in venture, this episode is for you.

Timestamps

00:00 Introduction

01:02 Harnessing Technology for Leadership

03:00 Journey from Operator to Investor

05:52 Debunking VC Myths

09:13 Technical vs. Product CEOs

11:59 The Path to Venture Capital

14:52 Relationships in VC

18:07 Building a Unique Investment Perspective

20:58 The Ethics of Startup Experience for VC

23:52 Empowering Non-Technical Founders

26:46 The Value of Operator VCs

For the transcript, go to: https://www.techfornontechies.co/blog/244-the-non-techie-s-path-to-vc

Learn more from Promise Phelon at the Growth Warrior YouTube channel.

For more career & tech lessons, subscribe to Tech for Non-Techies on:

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FREE COURSE:

5 Tech Concepts Every Business Leader Needs To Know

Growth Through Innovation If your organisation wants to drive revenue through innovation, book a call with us here.

Our workshops and innovation strategies have helped Constellation Brands, the Royal Bank of Canada and Oxford University.

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If you're a non-technical founder or leader, you might find developers frustrating to work with.

(They also think the same thing about you)

Developers resist quick changes, seem annoyed by status meetings, and always want the most expensive equipment.

That's not because they are prima donnas.

This episode will explain why developers work so differently from other professionals, and show you how to create communication systems that work for both business and technical teams.

Listen to learn:

Why a "5-minute change" actually costs 2 hours of developer time
The hidden costs of cheap equipment that hurt your bottom line
How to structure meetings to maximise development speed
Practical communication strategies that get results

Resources mentioned in this episode:

https://paulgraham.com/makersschedule.html

Timestamps

00:00 Introduction 001:10 Developer Mindsets 02:55 The Importance of Sprints 06:10 Managing Developer Interruptions 09:04 The Maker vs. Manager Schedule 11:59 Hiring and Equipment Considerations 14:50 Effective Communication 18:05 Developer Productivity 21:00 Conclusion For the transcript, go to: https://www.techfornontechies.co/blog/243-how-to-work-with-developers-a-guide-for-non-technical-leaders For more career & tech lessons, subscribe to Tech for Non-Techies on:

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FREE COURSE:

5 Tech Concepts Every Business Leader Needs To Know

Growth Through Innovation If your organisation wants to drive revenue through innovation, book a call with us here.

Our workshops and innovation strategies have helped Constellation Brands, the Royal Bank of Canada and Oxford University.

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What’s good for Big Tech isn’t always good for Little Tech, and vice versa.

In this episode, we’re breaking down the key differences between these two worlds and what they mean for you.

Listen to learn:

Which Big Tech lessons don't apply in Little Tech and vice versa.
The unique advantages (and pitfalls) of working in Big Tech vs Little Tech.
How to position yourself (or your company) for success in either world.
What the future holds for Big Tech, Little Tech, and the leaders who bridge the gap.

Whether you're planning your next career move, building a business or investing in tech, this episode is for you.

For the transcript, go to: https://www.techfornontechies.co/blog/big-tech-vs-little-tech

Timestamps

00:00 Introduction 00:36 Understanding Big Tech vs. Little Tech 06:12 Key Differences in Strategies and Mindsets 11:54 Navigating Career Choices in Tech 15:35 Platform Dependency Risks 20:05 Risks and Opportunities for Founders For more career & tech lessons, subscribe to Tech for Non-Techies on:

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FREE COURSE:

5 Tech Concepts Every Business Leader Needs To Know

Growth Through Innovation If your organisation wants to drive revenue through innovation, book a call with us here.

Our workshops and innovation strategies have helped Constellation Brands, the Royal Bank of Canada and Oxford University.

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Have you noticed how some people seem to know exactly the right person to call when they need something? That's not luck - it's strategic networking.

If you're an innovator with ambition, you need to build your network strategically. This episode will help you plan whom you need, why you need them and how to find them.

Listen to learn:

The 8 categories of professionals you need in your network if you want to build something new
The types of developers to have in your network and how to connect with them
Why you need both VCs and public market investors for different perspectives - even if you're not raising money
How to surround yourself with highly successful people who expand your sense of what's possible
Real examples of finding your tribe of ambitious innovators who are actually doing things, not just talking

Whether you're starting a tech company, driving innovation in a corporate role, or exploring new opportunities, you'll learn how to build the right relationships that will nourish you for the long term.

Timestamps

00:00 Introduction 03:01 Developers in Your Network 05:52 The Investor Perspective 09:13 Vision Expanders 12:00 Regulators in Innovation 14:48 Finding Your Tribe of Outliers 19:11 Leveraging Industry Veterans 23:04 Media Allies 25:58 Academic Connections 29:49 Conclusion For the transcript, go to: https://www.techfornontechies.co/blog/the-8-types-of-people-you-need-in-your-network For more career & tech lessons, subscribe to Tech for Non-Techies on:

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FREE COURSE:

5 Tech Concepts Every Business Leader Needs To Know

Growth Through Innovation If your organisation wants to drive revenue through innovation, book a call with us here.

Our workshops and innovation strategies have helped Constellation Brands, the Royal Bank of Canada and Oxford University.

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DeepSeek is a new AI that's 44 times cheaper than ChatGPT and completely open-source.

While tech blogs obsess over the technical specs, there's a bigger story for non-technical innovators that no one else is talking about.

In this episode, you'll discover the hidden opportunities DeepSeek creates for founders and innovators who don't code.

Listen to learn:

How to build genuine expertise around DeepSeek while others are still figuring it out (time sensitive)
Smart ways to work with developers who are excited about DeepSeek
Why DeepSeek's affordability means you can test your ideas without breaking the bank
Practical steps to build custom AI solutions without needing a PhD

Whether you're a founder tired of paying premium prices for AI, a corporate innovator looking to stand out, or an entrepreneur wanting to experiment with AI, this episode shows you exactly what to do with DeepSeek right now.

Learn why the real DeepSeek opportunity isn't in the code - it's in how you use it to get ahead while everyone else is still talking tech specs.

Resources mentioned in this episode:

1. How to Use AI in Product Development: A Non-Techies Guide
1. Why All Businesses Depend on Open-Source Software

For the transccript, go to: https://www.techfornontechies.co/blog/240-what-non-technical-innovators-need-to-do-about-deepseek

Timestamps

00:00 Introduction

02:59 DeepSeek vs. Other LLMs

06:14 Opportunities for Non-Technical Innovators

09:05 Open Source Advantages

11:56 Engaging with the Developer Community

15:14 Global Innovation with DeepSeek

For more career & tech lessons, subscribe to Tech for Non-Techies on:

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5 Tech Concepts Every Business Leader Needs To Know

Growth Through Innovation If your organisation wants to drive revenue through innovation, book a call with us here.

Our workshops and innovation strategies have helped Constellation Brands, the Royal Bank of Canada and Oxford University.

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Do you really need a co-founder? There's intense pressure in the startup world to find co-founders, but the data tells a surprising story.

MIT research shows that solo founders are actually more than twice as likely to succeed compared to teams, while Harvard research reveals that 65% of high-potential startups fail due to co-founder conflict.

In this episode, you'll learn how to make the right decision about co-founders for your business, based on data rather than pressure.

Listen to learn:

Why the "you must have a co-founder" narrative persists despite evidence showing solo founders often succeed
What successful solo founders like Jeff Bezos, Sara Blakely, and Mailchimp founder Ben Chestnut did differently
How to evaluate if you really need a co-founder for your specific business
A practical framework for finding and testing potential co-founders if you decide you want one

Whether you're a founder feeling pressured to find a co-founder, or an investor evaluating solo vs. co-founded companies, this episode will transform how you think about startup leadership and team building.

Learn why it's better to be a successful single parent than stuck in a toxic marriage when it comes to your business.

Resources mentioned in this episode:

MIT Sloan: 2 founders are not always better than 1
The Founder's Dilemmas: Anticipating and Avoiding the Pitfalls That Can Sink a Startup, by Harvard Business School professor Noam Wasserman

For the transcript, go to: https://www.techfornontechies.co/blog/do-you-really-need-a-co-founder

Timestamps

00:00 Introduction

03:06 The Co-Founder Relationship

06:00 Risks of Rushing into Co-Founding

08:52 Data-Driven Insights

12:12 Conflict and Co-Founders

15:08 When Co-Founders Make Sense

18:05 Evaluating Potential Co-Founders

20:58 Alternatives to Co-Founders

23:47 Testing Before Commitment

27:09 Focus on Success, Not Pressure

For more career & tech lessons, subscribe to Tech for Non-Techies on: * Apple * Spotify * YouTube * Amazon Podcasts * Stitcher * Pandora

FREE Course: 5 Tech Concepts Every Business Leader Needs To Know Growth Through Innovation If your organisation wants to drive revenue through innovation, book a call with us here.

Our workshops and innovation strategies have helped Constellation Brands, the Royal Bank of Canada and Oxford University.

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Want to know how Apple turns technical features into stories that make people line up around the block for new products?

In this episode you will learn the 3 step product storytelling framework that transforms complex features into benefits users love.

Every successful tech company has mastered the art of product storytelling, so if you want your innovations to succeed, you need this skill too.

Listen to learn:

The 3-part framework behind every great product story
Why product storytelling is more important than investor pitching
Why talking about amazing tech pushes users away
Simple ways to practice better product storytelling today

Whether you're a founder trying to get users to love your product or a corporate innovator, this episode will transform how you communicate your product's value to your most important audience: your customers.

Timestamps

00:00 Introduction

01:20 Product Storytelling

04:32 Duolingo: A Case Study

06:54 Spotify's Storytelling Framework

09:16 Features vs. Benefits

12:43 Implementing Product Storytelling

17:02 Conclusion

For the transcript, go to: https://www.techfornontechies.co/blog/the-secret-to-user-growth-turn-features-into-stories

For more career & tech lessons, subscribe to Tech for Non-Techies on: * Apple * Spotify * YouTube * Amazon Podcasts * Stitcher * Pandora

FREE Course: 5 Tech Concepts Every Business Leader Needs To Know Growth Through Innovation If your organisation wants to drive revenue through innovation, book a call with us here.

Our workshops and innovation strategies have helped Constellation Brands, the Royal Bank of Canada and Oxford University.

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Cryptocurrency is becoming a bigger financial and political force in our world, especially after Donald Trump's return to the White House.

This is why smart people who want to have an impact in the world need to learn about it.

But, learning about crypto is difficult, because the loudest voices are devout crypto evangelists and hardcore libertarians.

This episode is different.

We do not want you to trade crypto, we want you to be educated about what it is and why it matters.

In this episode, you will learn from Stephanie Ramezan, CEO & Co-Founder of the Crypto Collective and former CEO of Gemini UK, the regulated cryptocurrency exchange set up by the Winklevoss twins.

Listen to learn:

What cryptocurrency is
Why big companies are getting involved in it
What stablecoins and memecoins are
Where to find good career opportunities in the crypto space (and what to avoid)

Timestamps

00:00 The Importance of Understanding Cryptocurrency

02:48 The Crypto Landscape

06:08 Cryptocurrency Basics

08:53 Crypto Transactions

11:46 Role of Stablecoins in Finance

15:01 Shitcoins and Meme Coins

18:13 Impact of Quantum Computing on Crypto

21:02 Stephanie's Journey into Crypto

23:50 Crypto Job Market

27:01 Evaluating Crypto Companies

30:12 Conclusion and Resources

For the transcript, go to: https://www.techfornontechies.co/blog/237-introduction-to-crypto-for-smart-beginners

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FREE GUIDE: The Pragmatist’s Guide To Innovation (in business & in life)

by Sophia Matveeva, supported by researchers from The University of Chicago

Growth Through Innovation If your organisation wants to drive revenue through innovation, book a call with us here.

Our workshops and innovation strategies have helped Constellation Brands, the Royal Bank of Canada and Oxford University.

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What does it mean to evolve your career in the Digital Age?

Meet Janina Conboye, a Financial Times journalist who added data skills to her storytelling talent. This episode is a masterclass in smart career transitions.

Listen to learn:

What data journalism actually is and why top news organisations are investing in it
How to think strategically about your career evolution
Why the "creative vs technical" divide is holding people back
How to use AI tools like ChatGPT to help you learn new skills
The reality of career transitions - from the tears to the triumphs

Timestamps

00:00 Introduction

03:06 Understanding Data Journalism

05:49 Intersection of Traditional and Data Journalism

09:00 Data for Storytelling

12:12 Data Skills

15:07 The Future of Journalism and Data

17:51 Data Journalism for Readers

21:03 Transitioning Careers

23:49 Long-Term Investments in Career Development

For the transcript, go to: https://www.techfornontechies.co/blog/236-combining-creativity-with-data-inside-the-future-of-journalism-at-the-ft

For more career & tech lessons, subscribe to Tech for Non-Techies on: * Apple * Spotify * YouTube * Amazon Podcasts * Stitcher * Pandora

FREE GUIDE: The Pragmatist’s Guide To Innovation (in business & in life)

by Sophia Matveeva, supported by researchers from The University of Chicago

Growth Through Innovation If your organisation wants to drive revenue through innovation, book a call with us here.

Our workshops and innovation strategies have helped Constellation Brands, the Royal Bank of Canada and Oxford University.

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In a recent interview, Jeff Bezos shared that big leaders must "identify the big ideas, enforce tough execution, and grow the next generation of leaders."

In this episode, I'll show you exactly how to apply that CEO-level thinking to your own career in 2025.

You will learn:

The four-step methodology to annual planning that works
How simple plans get big results
How develop and manage your relationships to have your best year yet
Why your mum might want you to get a real job even when you're a successful innovator

For the transcript, go to: https://www.techfornontechies.co/blog/235-plan-your-2025-like-a-ceo-the-jeff-bezos-approach-2

Timestamps

02:43 – Part 1: Find Your Big Idea

05:07 – Questions to Help Define Your Big Idea

07:26 – Part 2: Turn Your Big Idea into Action

09:50 – Build Your Power Circle

12:10 – Managing Personal and Professional Relationships

14:36 – Part 4: Success Metrics & the Pareto Principle

16:56 – Recap of the Four Phases of Planning

19:15 – Free Course for Digital Leaders

For more career & tech lessons, subscribe to Tech for Non-Techies on: * Apple * Spotify * YouTube * Amazon Podcasts * Stitcher * Pandora

FREE COURSE: 5 Tech Concepts Every Business Leader Needs To Know

Growth Through Innovation If your organisation wants to drive revenue through innovation, book a call with us here.

Our workshops and innovation strategies have helped Constellation Brands, the Royal Bank of Canada and Oxford University.

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Do you think year-end reviews are just about listing what you did?

Think again.

In this episode, you'll learn how to assess your year like a CEO - because whether you're a founder, innovator or investor, you're running the company of YOU.

Most people focus on activities - meetings attended, features shipped, deals analysed. But real leaders focus on impact and power dynamics.

Listen to this episode to learn:

How to evaluate what you actually transformed in 2024
Why being busy with innovation initiatives isn't the same as real change
How to tell if you're hiding in product development instead of facing the market
How to shift power dynamics in your favour
Why your team is bigger than you think (even if you work alone)

Part 1 of a special 2-part series on becoming the CEO your career deserves.

Resource mentioned in this episode:

Tech for Non-Techies: 221. How Paypal innovates

For the transcript, go to: https://www.techfornontechies.co/blog/2024-reflections-are-you-the-ceo-your-career-deserves

Timestamps

01:58 Reflecting on the Year as the CEO of Your Life

04:20 Question 1: What Have You Transformed This Year?

06:42 Founders: Did You Focus on Customer Traction or Product Development?

09:09 Question 2: Have You Used AI to Solve Real Problems?

11:30 Question 3: Have You Shifted the Power Dynamic in Your Favour?

13:51 Question 4: Who Was on Your Team This Year?

16:00 Recap of the Four Questions

For more career & tech lessons, subscribe to Tech for Non-Techies on: * Apple * Spotify * YouTube * Amazon Podcasts * Stitcher * Pandora

FREE GUIDE: The Pragmatist’s Guide To Innovation (in business & in life)

by Sophia Matveeva, supported by researchers from The University of Chicago

Growth Through Innovation If your organisation wants to drive revenue through innovation, book a call with us here.

Our workshops and innovation strategies have helped Constellation Brands, the Royal Bank of Canada and Oxford University.

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Think AI is just about adding chatbots to your business?

Think again.

In 2024, AI has completely transformed who can build tech companies and how they're funded - but there's also dangerous hype that's already landing companies in legal trouble.

We're in what economists call 'The Middle Times of AI' - a messy period where massive opportunity meets massive hype.

Some founders are building million-dollar businesses with lean teams, while others are getting fined by the SEC for false AI claims.

Listen to this episode to learn:

Why prototypes that once cost $32,000 can now be built for free
How the SEC is cracking down on fake AI companies
Why technical co-founders are no longer essential for tech startups
How to spot real AI opportunities in the middle of the hype
Why new tech hubs are emerging far from Silicon Valley

Whether you're a founder saving thousands on development, a corporate innovator testing ideas without permission, or an investor avoiding AI washing, this episode will help you navigate the reality of AI in 2024.

Resources mentioned in this episode:

Tech for Non-Techies episode 155. How generative AI is changing business and the economy
Legal Drive: SEC fines companies $400,000 for false AI claims

For the transcript, go to: https://www.techfornontechies.co/blog/233-how-ai-changed-tech-entrepreneurship-and-investing-in-2024-and-what-s-to-come

Timestamps

02:42 AI’s Role in Product Development

05:05 The Middle Times of AI

07:26 Revolutionary Opportunities in AI

09:47 Jack Ma’s Prediction on AI

12:10 AI’s Impact on Start-up Teams

14:24 Global Opportunities in Tech

16:49 The Dangers of AI Hype

19:15 How AI Will Transform Start-ups

21:40 Actionable Steps for Founders and Investors

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FREE GUIDE: The Pragmatist’s Guide To Innovation (in business & in life)

by Sophia Matveeva, supported by researchers from The University of Chicago

Growth Through Innovation If your organisation wants to drive revenue through innovation, book a call with us here.

Our workshops and innovation strategies have helped Constellation Brands, the Royal Bank of Canada and Oxford University.

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Think Silicon Valley was built by brilliant founders and venture capital? Think again.

Governments have been the secret force behind every major tech breakthrough - and understanding this could be crucial for your success, whether you are an innovator or an investor.

Economist Mariana Mazzucato 's groundbreaking book "The Entrepreneurial State" shows an often ignored truth: from the iPhone to GPS, the biggest innovations in tech came from government funding, because early stage innovation is too risky for venture capital.

Listen to this episode to learn:

Why every technology in your iPhone started with government funding
What a "regulatory sandbox" is and why it matters for innovation
Why the "lone genius founder" myth is dangerous for investors
How to spot government support that could give your company an edge
Case studies from Silicon Valley, Singapore and Bahrain

Whether you're a policymaker, founder, or investor, this episode will change how you think about innovation - and might just change where you choose to build your next venture.

For the transcript, go to: https://www.techfornontechies.co/blog/232-why-governments-are-tech-s-most-powerful-and-overlooked-innovators

Timestamps

00:00 Introduction

01:20 Government in Tech Innovation

05:40 The iPhone: A Case Study in Government Funding

07:30 Government Laying the Foundation

09:00 Italian Renaissance Case Study

10:26 Government as a Patron of Innovation

17:00 Lessons from Singapore and Bahrain

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FREE GUIDE: The Pragmatist’s Guide To Innovation (in business & in life)

by Sophia Matveeva, supported by researchers from The University of Chicago

Growth Through Innovation If your organisation wants to drive revenue through innovation, book a call with us here.

Our workshops and innovation strategies have helped Constellation Brands, the Royal Bank of Canada and Oxford University.

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Every time a founder with a hardware idea comes to me for advice, I tell them they're choosing one of the toughest paths in tech.

But sometimes, that path leads to trillion-dollar success stories.

In this episode you'll learn from three stories of hardware innovation: Apple, Tesla and Nvidia.

Apple had to spend $175 million to fix an iPhone problem that couldn't be solved with a software update. Tesla had to rip robots out of its automated factory.

Meanwhile, Nvidia turned from a gaming company into a $3.3 trillion AI powerhouse.

Why do some hardware companies become global giants while others crash and burn? Listen to this episode to find out.

You will learn:

Why physical problems need physical solutions (and why that's so expensive)
How Tesla's 'production hell' reveals the true cost of hardware innovation
The real reason VCs are scared of hardware startups (and when they're wrong)
Why combining hardware with AI might be worth the risk

This episode is essential for anyone building, investing in, or curious about hardware innovation.

Timestamps

00:00 Introduction

01:14 Hardware vs. Software

03:05 Apple's Story

06:00 Tesla's Story

09:00 The Value of Successful Hardware Companies

11:30 Why Nvidia is Important

13:49 Lessons for Founders and Investors in Hardware

For the transcript, go to: https://www.techfornontechies.co/blog/231-why-hardware-is-hard-and-when-it-s-worth-it-lessons-from-apple-tesla-nvidia

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FREE GUIDE: The Pragmatist’s Guide To Innovation (in business & in life)

by Sophia Matveeva, supported by researchers from The University of Chicago

Growth Through Innovation If your organisation wants to drive revenue through innovation, book a call with us here.

Our workshops and innovation strategies have helped Constellation Brands, the Royal Bank of Canada and Oxford University.

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Why do some companies nail digital transformation while others just waste millions?

In this episode you'll learn from two very different case studies: Starbucks and Lego.

The founder of Starbucks, the company that pioneered mobile ordering, is now saying they went too far with tech. Meanwhile, LEGO transformed from a wooden toy maker into a digital powerhouse without losing its magic.

Why did one succeed and the other fail? Listen to this episode to find out.

You'll learn:

Why having great tech stats doesn't mean you're winning (just ask Starbucks)
How LEGO got digital right by being boring first
The real reason most transformations fail (spoiler: it's not about the technology)
Why "going digital" without a soul is like getting plastic surgery to fix your personality

This episode is a must listen for corporate leaders planning their digital strategy, founders building tech companies, and investors who want to spot the next LEGO, not the next digital disaster.

Timestamps

00:00 Introduction

01:30 The Digital Transformation Dilemma

03:08 Starbucks: A Case Study in Digital Overreach

05:56 Lego: Embracing Digital to Enhance Core Values

09:47 Avoiding Common Pitfalls in Digital Transformation

15:46 Practical Steps for Successful Digital Transformation

For the transcript, go to: https://www.techfornontechies.co/blog/230-starbucks-vs-lego-a-tale-of-two-digital-transformations

Sources used to make this episode:

MIT: Transforming the LEGO Group for the Digital Economy
McKinsey: Common pitfalls in transformations: A conversation with Jon Garcia
GeekWire: As Starbucks slumps, Howard Schultz says coffee giant should 'reinvent' mobile ordering

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FREE GUIDE: The Pragmatist’s Guide To Innovation (in business & in life)

by Sophia Matveeva, supported by researchers from The University of Chicago

Growth Through Innovation If your organisation wants to drive revenue through innovation, book a call with us here.

Our workshops and innovation strategies have helped Constellation Brands, the Royal Bank of Canada and Oxford University.

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Listen to learn:

How smart innovators test ideas before burning $50,000+ on development.
The common tech traps that trip up even experienced leaders.
Practical ways to avoid expensive development mistakes.
Real stories from innovators who saved thousands by pivoting early.

Timestamps

00:00 Introduction

01:11 Avoiding Expensive Mistakes

02:53 Lesson 1: The Build Everything Now Trap

06:11 Lesson 2: Marketing Before Testing

09:02 Lesson 3: Expensive Website Pitfall

11:53 Lesson 4: Wrong Assumptions Cost

For the transcript, go to: https://www.techfornontechies.co/blog/229-the-50-000-dollar-mistakes-these-founders-almost-made-and-how-they-avoided-them

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FREE GUIDE: The Pragmatist’s Guide To Innovation (in business & in life)

by Sophia Matveeva, supported by researchers from The University of Chicago

Growth Through Innovation If your organisation wants to drive revenue through innovation, book a call with us here.

Our workshops and innovation strategies have helped Constellation Brands, the Royal Bank of Canada and Oxford University.

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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 be a golden goose in disguise
The real reason PowerPoint presentations don't get funding (spoiler: they're boring)
Why waiting for the perfect strategy is like waiting to get in shape before going to the gym 🤷‍♀️

Perfect for corporate innovators who are tired of death by PowerPoint and non-technical founders who think they need to write War and Peace before building anything.

Warning: This episode contains dangerous levels of common sense and might cause sudden urges to actually build something.

Timestamps

00:00 Introduction

01:07 Prototyping as a Strategic Weapon

02:47 Importance of User Feedback

06:08 Investment Risk and Prototyping

09:03 Prototypes in Marketing and Team Building

For the transcript, go to: https://www.techfornontechies.co/blog/228-why-smart-leaders-prototype-first-strategise-later

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FREE GUIDE: The Pragmatist’s Guide To Innovation (in business & in life)

by Sophia Matveeva, supported by researchers from The University of Chicago

Growth Through Innovation If your organisation wants to drive revenue through innovation, book a call with us here.

Our workshops and innovation strategies have helped Constellation Brands, the Royal Bank of Canada and Oxford University.

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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 now
A step-by-step process to validate your ideas faster using AI
Common pitfalls to avoid (because AI won't save a half-baked idea!)

Timestamps

00:00 Introduction

03:13 AI in Product Management

06:05 Creating Prototypes with AI

08:55 Testing Prototypes

12:08 Strategic Thinking Before Using AI

15:03 Practical Homework and Implementation

For the transcript, go to: https://www.techfornontechies.co/blog/227-how-to-use-ai-in-product-development-a-non-techies-guide

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FREE GUIDE: The Pragmatist’s Guide To Innovation (in business & in life)

by Sophia Matveeva, supported by researchers from The University of Chicago

Growth Through Innovation If your organisation wants to drive revenue through innovation, book a call with us here.

Our workshops and innovation strategies have helped Constellation Brands, the Royal Bank of Canada and Oxford University.

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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 Questions for Developers

10:45 Importance of Innovation in Tech

For the transcript, go to: https://www.techfornontechies.co/blog/226-tech-stacks-made-simple-what-non-technical-innovators-should-and-shouldn-t-do

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FREE GUIDE: The Pragmatist’s Guide To Innovation (in business & in life)

by Sophia Matveeva, supported by researchers from The University of Chicago

Growth Through Innovation If your organisation wants to drive revenue through innovation, book a call with us here.

Our workshops and innovation strategies have helped Constellation Brands, the Royal Bank of Canada and Oxford University.

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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 What to do at the conference

13:18 Conclusion

For the transcript, go to: https://www.techfornontechies.co/blog/225-how-to-get-roi-from-a-tech-conference

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FREE GUIDE: The Pragmatist’s Guide To Innovation (in business & in life)

by Sophia Matveeva, supported by researchers from The University of Chicago

Growth Through Innovation If your organisation wants to drive revenue through innovation, book a call with us here.

Our workshops and innovation strategies have helped Constellation Brands, the Royal Bank of Canada and Oxford University.

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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 to life and the differences between start-up and corporate innovation.

Maria's book, Sail to Scale: Steer Your Startup Clear of Mistakes from Launch to Exit, is available now.

For the transcript, go to: https://www.techfornontechies.co/blog/mvps-milkshakes-innovating-at-google

Timestamps

00:00 Introduction

02:52 Understanding Jobs to Be Done

06:00 Psychological Aspect of Product Design

08:56 MVP Features

12:10 Generative AI in Product Development

14:54 Corporate Innovation

18:02 Building Momentum

20:50 Similarities Between Startups and Corporations

24:10 Becoming a Corporate Innovator

27:00 Experience in Entrepreneurship

29:52 Writing a Book for Entrepreneurs

FREE GUIDE: The Pragmatist’s Guide To Innovation (in business & in life)

by Sophia Matveeva, supported by researchers from The University of Chicago

Growth Through Innovation If your organisation wants to drive revenue through innovation, book a call with us here.

Our workshops and innovation strategies have helped Constellation Brands, the Royal Bank of Canada and Oxford University.

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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 episode, you will learn from Andrew Plato, serial entrepreneur and author of The Founder's User Manual: Practical Strategies for the Startup Leader.

For the transcript, go to: https://www.techfornontechies.co/blog/223-product-management-from-start-up-to-grown-up

Timestamps 00:00 Understanding Product Management

02:46 The Role of Founders in Product Management

05:50 Navigating Team Dynamics

09:11 The CEO vs. Founder Dilemma

13:52 Founder Vision

18:03 Lessons for Early Stage Entrepreneurs

22:13 Sales Skills

24:55 Learning from Failure

29:59 Practical Strategies for Startup Success

FREE GUIDE: The Pragmatist’s Guide To Innovation (in business & in life)

by Sophia Matveeva, supported by researchers from The University of Chicago

Growth Through Innovation If your organisation wants to drive revenue through innovation, book a call with us here.

Our workshops and innovation strategies have helped Constellation Brands, the Royal Bank of Canada and Oxford University.

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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.techfornontechies.co/blog/222-product-vs-marketing-problems

FREE GUIDE: The Pragmatist’s Guide To Innovation (in business & in life)

by Sophia Matveeva, supported by researchers from The University of Chicago

Growth Through Innovation If your organisation wants to drive revenue through innovation, book a call with us here.

Our workshops and innovation strategies have helped Constellation Brands, the Royal Bank of Canada and Oxford University.

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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 a visiting fellow studying AI at the Sand Diego State University.

Timestamps:

00:00 Innovation on a Budget

02:55 Constraints in Innovation

05:47 Creative Resource Management

08:56 Building a Culture of Innovation

12:14 Measurement of Innovation

15:08 Levels of Innovation

17:49 Defining a Culture of Innovation

20:52 Success Metrics in Innovation

24:01 Current Trends in Innovation

26:50 Resources for Aspiring Innovators

For the transcript, go to - https://www.techfornontechies.co/blog/221-how-paypal-innovates

FREE GUIDE: The Pragmatist’s Guide To Innovation (in business & in life) by Sophia Matveeva, supported by researchers from The University of Chicago

Growth Through Innovation If your organisation wants to drive revenue through innovation, book a call with us here.

Our workshops and innovation strategies have helped Constellation Brands, the Royal Bank of Canada and Oxford University.

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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 guidelines for how to get started.

Timestamps

00:00 Introduction

02:46 Five Whys Methodology

06:05 Applying the Five Whys: Bakery Example

08:51 Applying the Five Whys: App Development Example

12:01 Effective Use of the Five Whys

13:53 Conclusion

For the transcript, go to: https://www.techfornontechies.co/blog/220-how-5-simple-questions-can-solve-your-toughest-problems

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Growth Through Innovation If your organisation wants to drive revenue through innovation, book a call with us here.

Our workshops and innovation strategies have helped Constellation Brands, the Royal Bank of Canada and Oxford University.

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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

00:03:35: Time as a valuable asset

00:04:39: The Hype Cycle

00:09:42: Five phases of the Hype Cycle

00:13:15: Hype Cycle’s accuracy

00:15:41: Evaluating technology beyond the hype

00:18:47: Conclusion

For the transcript, go to: https://www.techfornontechies.co/blog/the-hype-cycle-vcs-use-it-but-should-they

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Growth Through Innovation If your organisation wants to drive revenue through innovation, book a call with us here.

Our workshops and innovation strategies have helped Constellation Brands, the Royal Bank of Canada and Oxford University.

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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.

Timestamps

00:00 Introduction and Podcast Review

04:19 APIs: The Interwoven Web of Software

08:38 Connecting Products and Services

09:36 Leveraging Code Snippets

12:02 The Importance of APIs

For the transcript, go to: https://www.techfornontechies.co/blog/why-uber-uses-google-maps-introduction-to-api

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Growth Through Innovation If your organisation wants to drive revenue through innovation, book a call with us here.

Our workshops and innovation strategies have helped Constellation Brands, the Royal Bank of Canada and Oxford University.

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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, amongst others.

Timestamps

00:00 Introduction

06:32 The Problem-First Approach to AI

14:20 Limitations of Large Language Models

20:49 Augmenting Human Knowledge with AI

23:37 AI Systems Gone Wrong

28:22 AI in Safety Critical Systems

33:47 Questioning Technological Determinism

38:19 AI in Defense

For the transcript, go to: https://www.techfornontechies.co/blog/217-when-not-to-use-ai-in-business-and-warfare

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Growth Through Innovation If your organisation wants to drive revenue through innovation, book a call with us here.

Our workshops and innovation strategies have helped Constellation Brands, the Royal Bank of Canada and Oxford University.

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Burberry underwent a strategic transformation, embracing digital innovation. This ended up quadrupling their share price.

This is a prime example of why public perception of innovation is just as important as innovation.

Listen to this episode to learn more!

Timestamps

00:00:00 - Introduction

00:01:26 - The power of perception

00:02:32 - Burberry's radical transformation

00:03:32 - Burberry's digital innovation

00:05:42 - Aligning brand perception with strategic innovation.

00:07:35 - Branding and Public perception

00:09:30 - Innovation strategies

00:10:29 - Public innovation as a strategic business tool

00:12:21 - Conclusion

For the transcript, go to: https://www.techfornontechies.co/blog/public-vs-private-innovation

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Do you want to succeed in the Digital Age?

Check out the Digital Leadership Coaching Program Say hi to Sophia on Twitter and follow her on LinkedIn.

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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: https://www.techfornontechies.co/blog/3-ways-to-learn-from-innovators For more career & tech lessons, subscribe to Tech for Non-Techies on:

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Do you want to succeed in the Digital Age?

Check out the Digital Leadership Coaching Program Say hi to Sophia on Twitter and follow her on LinkedIn.

Following us on YouTube, Facebook, Instagram and TikTok will make you smarter

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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

00:00:00 Introduction

00:02:21 Severity of the CrowdStrike outage

00:03:22 Overview of the CrowdStrike Incident

00:04:23 Implications of Software Malfunctions

00:06:30 Importance of IT Risk Management

00:08:34 Software Testing and Quality Assurance

00:11:27 Aligning Engineering and Business Objectives

00:13:23 Relationship-Building between Tech and Business Teams

To learn about the Post Office disaster,

https://www.techfornontechies.co/blog/lessons-from-the-post-office-scandal

For the transcript, go to: https://www.techfornontechies.co/blog/business-leaders-lessons-from-the-global-it-outage

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Do you want to succeed in the Digital Age?

Check out the Digital Leadership Coaching Program Say hi to Sophia on Twitter and follow her on LinkedIn.

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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 investor, this episode is for you.

Timestamps:

00:01:25 - Misconceptions Surrounding Startup Exits

00:02:58 - Creation and Growth of Property Technology Limited

00:04:35 - Challenges of Product-Market Fit

00:07:29 - Importance of Aligning Product with Revenue Generation for Customers

00:08:30 - Adversity Faced During the COVID-19 Pandemic

00:11:11 - Unexpected Boom in the Property Market Post-COVID

00:14:31 - Complex Nature of the Sale Process

00:17:26 - Challenges Encountered During the Earnout Period

00:22:32 - Importance of Thorough Contract Review and Negotiation

00:27:10 - Advice for Founders and Innovators on Approaching Potential Exits

For more career & tech lessons, subscribe to Tech for Non-Techies on:

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Do you want to succeed in the Digital Age?

Check out the Digital Leadership Coaching Program Say hi to Sophia on Twitter and follow her on LinkedIn.

Following us on YouTube, Facebook, Instagram and TikTok will make you smarter

For the transcript, go to: https://www.techfornontechies.co/blog/how-to-do-your-mid-year-review

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"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 Employees and Entrepreneurs: Steve Balmer just surpassed Bill Gates in wealth.

00:03:28 - Applying Startup Lessons to Your Career

00:04:20 - Actions for Career Transitioning

00:05:10 - Real Action vs. Busy Work

00:06:00 - Prototyping and Market Testing

00:07:43 - Avoiding Analysis Paralysis

00:08:41 - Planning for the Next Six Months

00:09:31 - Analysing Personal Skill Sets

00:11:15 - Improving Market Position and Visibility

For more career & tech lessons, subscribe to Tech for Non-Techies on:

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Do you want to succeed in the Digital Age?

Check out the Digital Leadership Coaching Program Say hi to Sophia on Twitter and follow her on LinkedIn.

Following us on YouTube, Facebook, Instagram and TikTok will make you smarter

For the transcript, go to: https://www.techfornontechies.co/blog/how-to-do-your-mid-year-review

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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 Technology Strategy is important for Business Leaders

04:13 The Relationship Between Technology and Innovation

07:59 Tips for Becoming More Innovative

12:40 Case Study: CT Scanner Industry Crisis

15:04 Strategies for Addressing the Crisis

20:07 Balancing Technological Advancements and Value Creation

23:26 The Role of Intellectual Property and Data

27:43 Collaborative Approach to Innovation

31:37 Identifying Innovative Companies

35:21 Enhancing Personal Innovation Capabilities

For more career & tech lessons, subscribe to Tech for Non-Techies on:

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FREE COURSE 5 Tech Concepts Every Business Leader Needs To Know

Say hi to Sophia on LinkedIn.

Following us on YouTube, Facebook, Instagram and TikTok will make you smarter.

For the transcript, go to: https://www.techfornontechies.co/blog/technology-strategy-for-business-leaders

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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 in Selling to Tech Clients 14:53 Importance of Relationships and Experience 22:59 Action Step: Get Involved in Tech Accelerators 24:17 Action Step: Add Value as a Mentor or Advisor 27:35 About Tech for Non-Techies For more free career & tech lessons, subcribe to Tech for Non-Techies on

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To discuss a corporate training program for your organisation, book a consultation call here. Happy clients include The Royal Bank of Scotland, Oxford University and Constellation Brands.

For the transcript, go to: https://www.techfornontechies.co/blog/rainmaking-show-how-to-get-tech-clients-in-professional-services

We love hearing from our readers and listeners. So if you have questions about the content or working with us, just get in touch on info@techfornontechies.co

Say hi to Sophia on Twitter and follow her on LinkedIn.

Following us on Facebook, Instagram and TikTok will make you smarter.

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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

Timestamps:

03:08 Developing Your Primary Skill Set and Unique Insight 05:03 Speaking Tech: Collaborating with Tech Colleagues 06:59 Using AI to Improve Productivity 08:22 Mastering Personal Branding for Career Success 10:18 Managing Your Mind: Overcoming Challenges in the Digital Age Do you want to succeed in the Digital Age?

Check out the Digital Leadership Coaching Program For more free career & tech lessons, subcribe to Tech for Non-Techies on

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For the transcript, go to: https://www.techfornontechies.co/blog/top-5-career-skills-for-the-digital-age

We love hearing from our readers and listeners. So if you have questions about the content or working with us, just get in touch on info@techfornontechies.co

Say hi to Sophia on Twitter and follow her on LinkedIn.

Following us on Facebook, Instagram and TikTok will make you smarter.

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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 today.

Listen to this episode to learn:

The dangers to organisations and careers when a technology gets overhyped
How to approach AI transformation in your organisation
When AI enhances jobs and when it replaces humans

You will learn from David de Cremer, Dean of the D’Amore-McKim School of Business at Northeastern university and the founder and director of the Centre on AI Technology for Humankind at the National University of Singapore Business School.

David is the author of The AI-savvy leader: 9 ways to take back control and make AI work

--

To discuss a corporate training program for your organisation, book a consultation call here. Happy clients include The Royal Bank of Scotland, Oxford University and Constellation Brands.

We love hearing from our readers and listeners. So if you have questions about the content or working with us, just get in touch on info@techfornontechies.co

Say hi to Sophia on Twitter and follow her on LinkedIn.

Following us on YouTube, Facebook, Instagram and TikTok will make you smarter.

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"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 model innovation

--

To discuss a corporate training program for your organisation, book a consultation call here. Happy clients include The Royal Bank of Scotland, Oxford University and Constellation Brands.

We love hearing from our readers and listeners. So if you have questions about the content or working with us, just get in touch on info@techfornontechies.co

Say hi to Sophia on Twitter and follow her on LinkedIn.

Following us on YouTube, Facebook, Instagram and TikTok will make you smarter.

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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 scale from the start

--

To discuss a corporate training program for your organisation, book a consultation call here. Happy clients include The Royal Bank of Scotland, Oxford University and Constellation Brands.

We love hearing from our readers and listeners. So if you have questions about the content or working with us, just get in touch on info@techfornontechies.co

Say hi to Sophia on Twitter and follow her on LinkedIn.

Following us on YouTube, Facebook, Instagram and TikTok will make you smarter.

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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 use No Code tools instead of building custom software
When a start-up founder should use No Code tools, and when to avoid them
What No Code tools to use to build an app or an e-learning business
Why investors are wary of No Code tools

Listen here on Apple Listen here on Spotify --

To discuss a corporate training program for your organisation, book a consultation call here. Happy clients include The Royal Bank of Scotland, Oxford University and Constellation Brands.

We love hearing from our readers and listeners. So if you have questions about the content or working with us, just get in touch on info@techfornontechies.co

Say hi to Sophia on Twitter and follow her on LinkedIn.

Following us on YouTube, Facebook, Instagram and TikTok will make you smarter.

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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 The Innovator's Dilemma: When New Technologies Cause Great Firms to Fail by Clayton M. Christensen.

Listen to this episode to learn:

Why corporate leaders choose to ignore new opportunities and what to do about it
What is reasonable to expect of an innovation unit (and what isn't)
When tolerating failure is appropriate and when it's unacceptable

FREE GUIDE:

Innovate but how? the pragmatist's guide to growth (in business & in life)

To discuss a corporate training program for your organisation, book a consultation call here. Happy clients include The Royal Bank of Scotland, Oxford University and Constellation Brands.

We love hearing from our readers and listeners. So if you have questions about the content or working with us, just get in touch on info@techfornontechies.co

Say hi to Sophia on Twitter and follow her on LinkedIn.

Following us on YouTube, Facebook, Instagram and TikTok will make you smarter.

The Innovator's Dilemma: When New Technologies Cause Great Firms to Fail (Management of Innovation and Change)

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Why did successful companies like Kodak and Blockbuster miss the digital revolution?

Listen to this episode to learn why corporates ignore threats posed by start-ups until its too late.

In this episode, you will learn key lessons from The Innovator's Dilemma: When New Technologies Cause Great Firms to Fail by Clayton M. Christensen.

Christensen coined the term "disruptive innovation" and The Innovator's Dilemma is seen as the "a holy book for entrepreneurs in Silicon Valley," according to Business Week.

Listen to this episode to learn:

Why the same skills that companies use to become successful can ultimately destroy them
Why listening to your customers isn't always a good idea
Why start-ups with low quality products and no money beat large rich corporates

This is part 1 in this mini series on The Innovator's Dilemma.

Tune in next week to cover part 2: how corporates can succeed in the face of technological change (and how not get sucker-punched by a start-up).

FREE GUIDE:

Innovate but how? the pragmatist's guide to growth (in business & in life)

To discuss a corporate training program for your organisation, book a consultation call here. Happy clients include The Royal Bank of Scotland, Oxford University and Constellation Brands.

We love hearing from our readers and listeners. So if you have questions about the content or working with us, just get in touch on info@techfornontechies.co

Say hi to Sophia on Twitter and follow her on LinkedIn.

Following us on YouTube, Facebook, Instagram and TikTok will make you smarter.

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There is a gap between when a technology gets invented, and its wide adaption.

In this gap, is exactly where the best opportunities lie.

Listen to this episode to learn why we are in the time of opportunity, and how to make the most of it.

You will learn:

What the path that electricity took from invention to adaption can teach us about digital transformation today
Why companies still have terrible chatbots, while ChatGPT was the most popular app of all time
Three steps to make the most of today's opportunity

Podcast episodes mentioned in this episode:

1. How companies really use AI
1. Business reality doesn’t match AI hype (yet)
1. How generative AI is changing business and the economy

FREE Course: 5 Tech Concepts Every Business Leader Needs To Know ---

To discuss a corporate training program for your organisation, book a consultation call here. Happy clients include Blackstone x Techstars Launchpad, Oxford University and Constellation Brands.

We love hearing from our readers and listeners. So if you have questions about the content or working with us, just get in touch on info@techfornontechies.co

Say hi to Sophia on Twitter and follow her on LinkedIn.

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Today, less than 10% of Fortune 500 companies are considered to be tech companies.

We are still at the beginning of the tech opportunity.

You don’t have to be a technologist to benefit from this rising tide.

If you work in professional services and wondering which client niche to pick, the tech sector is a very good bet.

There will be new companies being formed and bought, stock market IPOs and licensing deals to be made.

As the tech sector grows, innovators and their investors will need to work with lawyers, bankers and accountants.

They will chose those who understand the industry.

If you want that to be you, listen to this episode and come to our free class for lawyers.

In this episode, you will learn from Daniel Glazer, Managing Partner of Wilson Sonsini's London office.

Wilson Sonsini specialises in advising tech companies and venture capitalists, and has its origins in Silicon Valley.

In this episode you will learn:

The difference between a lawyer and a strategic advisor
What lawyers need to know about tech to advise tech clients
What kind of help lawyers offer start-ups as they grow
Differences between the US and UK legal systems

FREE Class: Get Tech Clients! Introduction to Tech for Lawyers ---

To discuss a corporate training program for your organisation, book a consultation call here. Happy clients include Blackstone x Techstars Launchpad, Oxford University and Constellation Brands.

We love hearing from our readers and listeners. So if you have questions about the content or working with us, just get in touch on info@techfornontechies.co

Say hi to Sophia on Twitter and follow her on LinkedIn.

Following us on YouTube, Facebook, Instagram and TikTok will make you smarter.

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Five years ago, I was selling tickets to my classes for $20 on Eventbrite, and today, my company works with governments, corporates and successful leaders around the world.

I have taught my course at London Business School, Oxford and Techstars and written for the Harvard Business Review.

On this anniversary episode, I’m going to share how I built Tech for Non-Techies, and the entrepreneurial lessons I learnt along the way.

Listen to learn:

How TFNT went from $20 ticket sales to six figure corporate contracts
What to do now if you want to build a venture
How to scale without investor funding
The difference between success and failure that you won't learn at business school

Resources mentioned in this episode: * Episode 100. My story: ambition, tech and the camel incident

To discuss a corporate training program for your organisation, book a consultation call here. Happy clients include Blackstone x Techstars Launchpad, Oxford University and Constellation Brands.

We love hearing from our readers and listeners. So if you have questions about the content or working with us, just get in touch on info@techfornontechies.co

Say hi to Sophia on Twitter and follow her on LinkedIn.

Following us on YouTube, Facebook, Instagram and TikTok will make you smarter.

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In this episode, you will learn what leadership means in the Digital Age, and 3 things you can do to become a Digital Leader today.

Listen to learn:

Why being a leader isn't just being a visionary
What it means to lead in the Digital Age
How to learn about the frontier trends in your industry

Resources mentioned in this episode:

Choosing Leadership: Revised and Expanded: How to Create a Better Future by Building Your Courage, Capacity, and Wisdom

FREE Course 5 Tech Concepts Every Business Leader Needs To Know

To discuss a corporate training program for your organisation, book a consultation call here. Happy clients include Blackstone x Techstars Launchpad, Oxford University and Constellation Brands.

We love hearing from our readers and listeners. So if you have questions about the content or working with us, just get in touch on info@techfornontechies.co

Say hi to Sophia on Twitter and follow her on LinkedIn.

Following us on YouTube, Facebook, Instagram and TikTok will make you smarter.

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Cybersecurity risk is a business risk. If there is a data leak, customers and investors aren't going to be happy.

But, as more and more of our services are online, cybersecurity problems are now just part of business life.

In this episode, you will hear a pragmatic approach for how to think about cybersecurity, and what you can do to increase it at your organisation today.

You will learn from Dr. Josiah Dykstra, who spent 19 years at the National Security Agency (NSA). Today, Dr Dykstra is the Director of Strategic Initiatives at Trail of Bits.

Listen to this episode to learn:

What cybersecurity is
How to think about cybersecurity risk
Why you don't need to change your password as often as you think
Easy ways to prevent a data leak

To discuss a corporate training program for your organisation, book a consultation call here. Happy clients include Blackstone x Techstars Launchpad, Oxford University and Constellation Brands.

We love hearing from our readers and listeners. So if you have questions about the content or working with us, just get in touch on info@techfornontechies.co

Say hi to Sophia on Twitter and follow her on LinkedIn.

Following us on YouTube, Facebook, Instagram and TikTok will make you smarter.

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While most of us agree that innovation is a “good thing,” we don’t actually agree on what it is, or how to do it.

Listen to this episode to understand what innovation really is, and why you're already an effective innovator.

In this episode, you will learn:

The two things every company must focus on
What innovation is
Six pathways to innovation
How to apply innovation strategies to business and to your personal life

This episode is the first chapter in the report by Tech for Non-Techies and University of Chicago researchers called

Innovate but how? The pragmatist’s guide to growth

To discuss a corporate training program for your organisation, book a consultation call here. Happy clients include Blackstone x Techstars Launchpad, Oxford University and Constellation Brands.

We love hearing from our readers and listeners. So if you have questions about the content or working with us, just get in touch on info@techfornontechies.co

Say hi to Sophia on Twitter and follow her on LinkedIn.

Following us on YouTube, Facebook, Instagram and TikTok will make you smarter.

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Did you know that 90% of the internet depends on free licenses from open source software?

But what happens when those licenses stop being free?

Listen to this episode to find out.

You will learn from Paula Paul, Founder and Distinguished Engineer at Greyshore, who also serves also serves on the board of the OpenJS Foundation

Key takeaways:

Open source refers to software distribution with a specific kind of license that allows others to view and use the code.
90% of commercial software products are built on open source software.
Open source projects are motivated by building community and creating differentiation.
Understanding open source and its dependencies is crucial for business leaders and investors.

To discuss a corporate training program for your organisation, book a consultation call here. Happy clients include Blackstone x Techstars Launchpad, Oxford University and Constellation Brands.

We love hearing from our readers and listeners. So if you have questions about the content or working with us, just get in touch on info@techfornontechies.co

Say hi to Sophia on Twitter and follow her on LinkedIn.

Following us on YouTube, Facebook, Instagram and TikTok will make you smarter.

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Today, start-ups are seen as the hotbed of innovation and corporates are dismissed as laggards.

But, when large companies innovate successfully, they have a huge impact.

They have the resources and the built-in customer base to scale quickly.

In this episode you will learn how corporate innovation differs from what happens in start-ups, and how to get corporate innovation right.

You'll hear from Louis Gump, former head of CNN Mobile and former VP of mobile at The Weather Channel. Louis is the author of author of the book The Inside Innovator: A Practical Guide to Intrapreneurship.

Listen to this episode to learn:

The character traits you need to have to be a successful intrapreneur vs a founder
How to approach innovation when times are tough (when revenues are shrinking, should you invest in risky projects?)
Why companies like Google create so many successful founders

FREE GUIDE: Innovate but how? the pragmatist's guide to growth (in business & in life)

To discuss a corporate training program for your organisation, book a consultation call here. Happy clients include Blackstone x Techstars Launchpad, Oxford University and Constellation Brands.

We love hearing from our readers and listeners. So if you have questions about the content or working with us, just get in touch on info@techfornontechies.co

Say hi to Sophia on Twitter and follow her on LinkedIn.

Following us on YouTube, Facebook, Instagram and TikTok will make you smarter.

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The Post Office scandal led to 900 wrongful convictions and four suicides.

It is now known as the worst miscarriage of justice in British history.

It happened because Post Office leadership did not know how to deal with glitchy software.

In this episode, you’ll learn how not to repeat their mistakes.

Listen to learn:

What happened during the UK Post Office scandal
The biggest wrong assumption Post Office management made
The role of the board and company advisors: what should they have done?
What to expect when buying software services: either as a government or a founder

To discuss a corporate training program for your organisation, book a consultation call here. Happy clients include Blackstone x Techstars Launchpad, Oxford University and Constellation Brands.

We love hearing from our readers and listeners. So if you have questions about the content or working with us, just get in touch on info@techfornontechies.co

Say hi to Sophia on Twitter and follow her on LinkedIn.

Following us on YouTube, Facebook, Instagram and TikTok will make you smarter.

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If you want to work with tech clients and venture capitalists, you need to know how they think.

This is how you become a great strategic advisor.

If that’s what you want to be, this podcast episode is for you.

Listen to learn:

The core difference between the lawyer and the tech innovator mindset
How tech companies measure success and why this is different to traditional business
Why we are still at the start of the tech opportunity, even in 2024!

To discuss a corporate training program for your organisation, book a consultation call here. Happy clients include Blackstone x Techstars Launchpad, Oxford University and Constellation Brands.

We love hearing from our readers and listeners. So if you have questions about the content or working with us, just get in touch on info@techfornontechies.co

Say hi to Sophia on Twitter and follow her on LinkedIn.

Following us on YouTube, Facebook, Instagram and TikTok will make you smarter.

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There are plenty of articles about digital transformation.

But big change can only be successful if the individuals in the organisation are also enthusiastic and knowledgeable about it.

Structural change without individual change does not work.

In this episode, you will learn how asset management CEO Musi Skosana approached digital transformation at his fund and what he did to hone his own digital mindset.

In this episode, you will learn:

Why the fund management industry needs digitisation
The biggest difference between the fund management mindset and the digital one
Why Musi Skosana became a Tech for Non-Techies client

We love hearing from our readers and listeners. So if you have questions about the content or working with us, just get in touch on info@techfornontechies.co

Say hi to Sophia on Twitter and follow her on LinkedIn.

Following us on YouTube, Facebook, Instagram and TikTok will make you smarter.

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Large Language Models and Generative AI are going to have the biggest impact on word heavy industries.

This means that the legal industry is on the brink of major changes. This will affect how lawyers work, what clients expect and the future profits of the industry.

In this episode, you will learn from Damien Riehl: lawyer, musician, and software developer, who counts Elon Musk as a fan.

His TED talk was viewed by 2 million people, he has litigated for JP Morgan and he has also copyrighted every melody in the world.

Listen to this episode to learn:

How using generative AI can help lawyers increase profit margins while charging clients less
How what's happening in the legal industry will repeat on other professional services
Why ChatGPT and other generative AI tools make things up
Practical tips for how to get started with generative AI

FREE training Get Tech Clients! Introduction to Tech for Lawyers ---

We love hearing from our readers and listeners. So if you have questions about the content or working with us, just get in touch on info@techfornontechies.co

Say hi to Sophia on Twitter and follow her on LinkedIn.

Following us on YouTube, Facebook, Instagram and TikTok will make you smarter.

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Hype about generative AI is everywhere, but much simpler AI models have already changed entire industries.

By learning about how AI has already changed business, we can make predictions about what's next.

In this episode you will learn key lessons from Competing in the Age of AI: Strategy and Leadership When Algorithms and Networks Run the World.

You will learn:

The two sides of any successful enterprise
The difference between weak AI vs strong AI
What an AI factory is
How AI has already changed companies from the inside, with examples from Ant Financial (fintech) and Ocado (supermarket)

Resources mentioned in this episode:

Tech for Non-Techies podcast episode 9. The Business of AI with Harvard Business School Prof Marco Iansiti
Tech for Non-Techies podcast episode 170. Advisory Boards: why join them & why have them

FREE training Get Tech Clients! Introduction to Tech for Lawyers

We love hearing from our readers and listeners. So if you have questions about the content or working with us, just get in touch on info@techfornontechies.co

Say hi to Sophia on Twitter and follow her on LinkedIn.

Following us on YouTube, Facebook, Instagram and TikTok will make you smarter.

Competing in the Age of AI: Strategy and Leadership When Algorithms and Networks Run the World

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10 years ago Silicon Valley venture capitalist Aileen Lee coined the term "unicorn" to describe a young company valued at over $1 billion.

Back in 2013, there were just 39 unicorns in the US, and Lee's team researched what they did and who ran them. This list informed much of how we thought of successful tech start-ups.

The updated unicorn list has just come out and the differences are startling.

There are now 523 companies on the unicorn list (a 14x increase!).

Listen to this episode to learn:

What most unicorn companies do today and who runs them
Why there are more non-technical founders running unicorns than ever before
What this change means for the tech ecosystem
How to make the most of it for founders, investors and the professionals services firms who work with them

Resources mentioned in this episode:

Cowboy Ventures: Welcome Back to the Unicorn Club, 10 Years Later
Tech for Non-Techies podcast: 142. From dentist to tech founder

Take the course:

Tech for Non-Technical Founders Listen here on Apple Listen here on Spotify ---

We love hearing from our readers and listeners. So if you have questions about the content or working with us, just get in touch on info@techfornontechies.co

Say hi to Sophia on Twitter and follow her on LinkedIn.

Following us on YouTube, Facebook, Instagram and TikTok will make you smarter.

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If you want to prepare for AI disruption, learn from the music industry.

The music industry was the first to be dragged through digital disruption in the early 2000s. Fortunes were made, and lost, as CDs gave way to streaming.

Lessons from the music industry are perfect to help you understand how to adapt to today's AI revolution.

In this episode, you will learn from Will Page, ex chief economist of Spotify and author of Tarzan Economics (Pivot in paperback).

You will learn:

What the music industry did wrong to combat streaming, and what we can learn from it today
How to tell if a product is really successful (it's not just whether people buy it)
Which industries are going to be the first to be disrupted by AI
How to succeed in the age of AI as a non-technical business leader

FREE Guide Top 10 Tech Concepts All Business Leaders Need To Know

We love hearing from our readers and listeners. So if you have questions about the content or working with us, just get in touch on info@techfornontechies.co

Say hi to Sophia on Twitter and follow her on LinkedIn.

Following us on YouTube, Facebook, Instagram and TikTok will make you smarter.

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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 designer skill set is most like the CEO skill set
Why the Design Thinking process, as described in business books, isn't enough to understand what designers really do
How to balance competing demands: what to do when customers, investors, and sales teams all want different things

Join our January program & have your best year yet:

Design for Growth Resources mentioned in this episode:

McKinsey: Are you asking enough from your design leaders?

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 digital transformation in established businesses * Create tech businesses as non-technical founders * Pivot into careers in venture capital

We love hearing from our readers and listeners. So if you have questions about the content or working with us, just get in touch on info@techfornontechies.co

Say hi to Sophia on Twitter and follow her on LinkedIn.

Following us on YouTube, Facebook, Instagram and TikTok will make you smarter.

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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 the Design Thinking market is growing
Who the key Design Thinking market participants are (clue: it's not just designers)
Why leaders are hiring more designers and innovation agencies
Three steps to make the popularity of Design Thinking work for you

This is part 3 of the 2024 tech predictions mini-series.

Join our January program & have your best year yet:

Design for Growth Resources mentioned in this episode:

Market Research Guru: Design Thinking industry research report

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 digital transformation in established businesses * Create tech businesses as non-technical founders * Pivot into careers in venture capital

We love hearing from our readers and listeners. So if you have questions about the content or working with us, just get in touch on info@techfornontechies.co

Say hi to Sophia on Twitter and follow her on LinkedIn.

Following us on YouTube, Facebook, Instagram and TikTok will make you smarter.

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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:

Two main reasons why most digital transformations fail
How to design your own curriculum to succeed as a Digital Leader
Three steps to demystify tech for you or your organisation

This is part 2 of the 2024 tech predictions mini-series.

Join our January program & have your best year yet:

Design for Growth Resources mentioned in this episode:

McKinsey: Eight CEO Priorities for 2024

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 digital transformation in established businesses * Create tech businesses as non-technical founders * Pivot into careers in venture capital

We love hearing from our readers and listeners. So if you have questions about the content or working with us, just get in touch on info@techfornontechies.co

Say hi to Sophia on Twitter and follow her on LinkedIn.

Following us on YouTube, Facebook, Instagram and TikTok will make you smarter.

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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 if you're an innovator, corporate leader or investor

This is part 1 of the 2024 tech predictions mini-series.

Join our January program & have your best year yet:

Design for Growth Resources mentioned in this episode:

Algolia: Large language models (LLMs) vs generative AI: what’s the difference?

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 digital transformation in established businesses * Create tech businesses as non-technical founders * Pivot into careers in venture capital

We love hearing from our readers and listeners. So if you have questions about the content or working with us, just get in touch on info@techfornontechies.co

Say hi to Sophia on Twitter and follow her on LinkedIn.

Following us on YouTube, Facebook, Instagram and TikTok will make you smarter.

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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
What happens when a robot develops consciousness

Join our January program & get Early Bird pricing:

Design for Growth ---

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 digital transformation in established businesses * Create tech businesses as non-technical founders * Pivot into careers in venture capital

We love hearing from our readers and listeners. So if you have questions about the content or working with us, just get in touch on info@techfornontechies.co

Say hi to Sophia on Twitter and follow her on LinkedIn.

Following us on YouTube, Facebook, Instagram and TikTok will make you smarter.

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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 of their product (to their detriment)
Why digital designers are nicer people than industrial designers

Check out Design Theory, John Mauriello's popular YouTube channel.

Join our January program & get Early Bird pricing:

Design for Growth ---

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 digital transformation in established businesses * Create tech businesses as non-technical founders * Pivot into careers in venture capital

We love hearing from our readers and listeners. So if you have questions about the content or working with us, just get in touch on info@techfornontechies.co

Say hi to Sophia on Twitter and follow her on LinkedIn.

Following us on YouTube, Facebook, Instagram and TikTok will make you smarter.

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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 on Apple, but not on Android
How apps make money on Apple vs on Android
The core tech differences between Apple and Android ecosystems and how that impacts business models
How to decide where to release your app

Join our January program & get Early Bird pricing:

Design for Growth ---

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 digital transformation in established businesses * Create tech businesses as non-technical founders * Pivot into careers in venture capital

We love hearing from our readers and listeners. So if you have questions about the content or working with us, just get in touch on info@techfornontechies.co

Say hi to Sophia on Twitter and follow her on LinkedIn.

Following us on YouTube, Facebook, Instagram and TikTok will make you smarter.

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“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:

How to use the 5 why process to understand what the problem really is
Why human error doesn’t really exist
Why marketing and product development can be warring factions

Join our January workshop & get Early Bird pricing:

Design 2024 to be Your Best Year Yet ---

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 digital transformation in established businesses * Create tech businesses as non-technical founders * Pivot into careers in venture capital

We love hearing from our readers and listeners. So if you have questions about the content or working with us, just get in touch on info@techfornontechies.co

Say hi to Sophia on Twitter and follow her on LinkedIn.

Following us on YouTube, Facebook, Instagram and TikTok will make you smarter.

The Design of Everyday Things: Revised and Expanded Edition

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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 digital transformation in established businesses * Create tech businesses as non-technical founders * Pivot into careers in venture capital

We love hearing from our readers and listeners. So if you have questions about the content or working with us, just get in touch on info@techfornontechies.co

Say hi to Sophia on Twitter and follow her on LinkedIn.

Following us on YouTube, Facebook, Instagram and TikTok will make you smarter.

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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 company from an engineering led firm to a design led firm.

Darrell was Logitech CEO for 10 years. Under his leadership, Logitech expanded into more than 20 new product categories, more than doubled revenue, and achieved a 10x increase in market capitalization.

Listen to this episode to learn:

What Bracken Darrell did to turn around Logitech's fortunes
Where he cut spending and where he increased it
Which key hire helped him turn Logitech around
How design thinking changed the entire company from the inside

Join our January workshop & get Early Bird pricing:

Design 2024 to be Your Best Year Yet Resources mentioned in this episode:

The Storied Future podcast: The CEO who's designing the future
Fast Company: Logitech Quadrupled Its Profits–With One Big Design Idea
CRM.org: How Logitech Designed a New Future for Themselves

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 digital transformation in established businesses * Create tech businesses as non-technical founders * Pivot into careers in venture capital

We love hearing from our readers and listeners. So if you have questions about the content or working with us, just get in touch on info@techfornontechies.co

Say hi to Sophia on Twitter and follow her on LinkedIn.

Following us on YouTube, Facebook, Instagram and TikTok will make you smarter.

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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 employers value more than a top tier MBA
What some business schools are already doing to adapt to the Digital Age

Get the masterclass:

How to transition into a career in tech ---

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 digital transformation in established businesses * Create tech businesses as non-technical founders * Pivot into careers in venture capital

We love hearing from our readers and listeners. So if you have questions about the content or working with us, just get in touch on info@techfornontechies.co

Say hi to Sophia on Twitter and follow her on LinkedIn.

Following us on YouTube, Facebook, Instagram and TikTok will make you smarter.

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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 learn:

What community management is
What the Content, Community, Commercialization model is and why VCs love it
Two case studies of how tech businesses have used community management to grow
Why community management is a great way into the tech sector for non-techies
When to ignore community metrics

Get the masterclass:

How to transition into a career in tech

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 digital transformation in established businesses * Create tech businesses as non-technical founders * Pivot into careers in venture capital

We love hearing from our readers and listeners. So if you have questions about the content or working with us, just get in touch on info@techfornontechies.co

Say hi to Sophia on Twitter and follow her on LinkedIn.

Following us on YouTube, Facebook, Instagram and TikTok will make you smarter.

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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 gamified community is an asset
Suggestions for how you can implement gamification at work without any tech

Get the FREE course - 5 Tech Concepts Every Business Leader Needs To Know ---

Resources mentioned in this episode: * Tech for Non-Techies episode 59. What on Earth is growth hacking? * Prescient & Strategic Intelligence: Gamification market report

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 digital transformation in established businesses * Create tech businesses as non-technical founders * Pivot into careers in venture capital

We love hearing from our readers and listeners. So if you have questions about the content or working with us, just get in touch on info@techfornontechies.co

Say hi to Sophia on Twitter and follow her on LinkedIn.

Following us on YouTube, Facebook, Instagram and TikTok will make you smarter.

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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 companies have reshaped the stock market and why this matters
The process Richard follows to decide which tech innovations to invest in
What investors really need to know about tech to be Smart Money
Why investment bank equity research is often biased (and in which direction)

You can hear more from Richard on his Bubble Trouble podcast.

Get the FREE course - 5 Tech Concepts Every Business Leader Needs To Know ---

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 digital transformation in established businesses * Create tech businesses as non-technical founders * Pivot into careers in venture capital

We love hearing from our readers and listeners. So if you have questions about the content or working with us, just get in touch on info@techfornontechies.co

Say hi to Sophia on Twitter and follow her on LinkedIn.

Following us on YouTube, Facebook, Instagram and TikTok will make you smarter.

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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 vision
How to lead developers as a non-technical innovator

If you want a product users love, listen to this episode.

FREE Masterclass

3 Tech Concepts EVERY Business Leader Needs To Know To Have a Great Career 24 October 2023, 12:00 pm EDT

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 digital transformation in established businesses * Create tech businesses as non-technical founders * Pivot into careers in venture capital

We love hearing from our readers and listeners. So if you have questions about the content or working with us, just get in touch on info@techfornontechies.co

Say hi to Sophia on Twitter and follow her on LinkedIn.

Following us on YouTube, Facebook, Instagram and TikTok will make you smarter.

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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 how to have an entrepreneurial approach to your career change.

You will learn:

What having an entrepreneurial approach to your career really means
Steps to transitioning career: you can rarely jump from traditional to innovative in one go
A key action that most people miss when changing careers

Get the FREE course - 5 Tech Concepts Every Business Leader Needs To Know ---

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 digital transformation in established businesses * Create tech businesses as non-technical founders * Pivot into careers in venture capital

We love hearing from our readers and listeners. So if you have questions about the content or working with us, just get in touch on info@techfornontechies.co

Say hi to Sophia on Twitter and follow her on LinkedIn.

Following us on YouTube, Facebook, Instagram and TikTok will make you smarter.

The Start-up of You: Adapt to the Future, Invest in Yourself, and Transform Your Career (2022)

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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 differs from standard software
Why investing in ChatGPT is more similar to investing in semi-conductors, than in companies like Slack
The typical funding path for a new venture fund: where do they get the money to invest?
What you really need to know about tech to be a deep tech investor

Get the FREE course - 5 Tech Concepts Every Business Leader Needs To Know ---

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 digital transformation in established businesses * Create tech businesses as non-technical founders * Pivot into careers in venture capital

We love hearing from our readers and listeners. So if you have questions about the content or working with us, just get in touch on info@techfornontechies.co

Say hi to Sophia on Twitter and follow her on LinkedIn.

Following us on YouTube, Facebook, Instagram and TikTok will make you smarter.

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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 joining a start-up advisory board can be one of the smartest career moves you could ever make, and avoid the "dumb advisor" trap.

In this episode, you will learn:

Advisor compensation: what to expect
How to use a start-up advisory board position for your career goals
How to be a great advisor to a start-up
How smart founders pick advisors and work with them

You will learn from Andi Govindia, CEO & Co-Founder of Riviter, and Sophia Matveeva, who sits on Riviter's advisory board.

Andi previously appeared on this podcast in episode 62. How I used accelerators to build a tech business

Get the FREE course - 5 Tech Concepts Every Business Leader Needs To Know ---

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 digital transformation in established businesses * Create tech businesses as non-technical founders * Pivot into careers in venture capital

We love hearing from our readers and listeners. So if you have questions about the content or working with us, just get in touch on info@techfornontechies.co

Say hi to Sophia on Twitter and follow her on LinkedIn.

Following us on YouTube, Facebook, Instagram and TikTok will make you smarter.

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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 tech company.

The concept you will learn in this episode is the underlying thesis behind:

Design thinking
Agile development
Growth hacking

This episode is the first lesson in the 5 day free tech course for Business Leaders:

Get the FREE course - 5 Tech Concepts Every Business Leader Needs To Know ---

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 digital transformation in established businesses * Create tech businesses as non-technical founders * Pivot into careers in venture capital

We love hearing from our readers and listeners. So if you have questions about the content or working with us, just get in touch on info@techfornontechies.co

Say hi to Sophia on Twitter and follow her on LinkedIn.

Following us on YouTube, Facebook, Instagram and TikTok will make you smarter.

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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 top 5 tech concepts every Business Leader needs to know to thrive in the Digital Age.

Listen to this episode if you are:

a leader in a company going through digital transformation
work on the business side of a tech company
want to transition into a career in tech or tech investing
want to work with tech sector clients

To go further, sign up to the FREE 5 day course:

Register here - Digital Mindset Essentials for Business Leaders ---

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 digital transformation in established businesses * Create tech businesses as non-technical founders * Pivot into careers in venture capital

We love hearing from our readers and listeners. So if you have questions about the content or working with us, just get in touch on info@techfornontechies.co

Say hi to Sophia on Twitter and follow her on LinkedIn.

Following us on YouTube, Facebook, Instagram and TikTok will make you smarter.

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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 it matters.

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: Designing Your Life: How to Build a Well-Lived, Joyful Life
- Join Design Q4 to Finish Strong! to attend the Design Thinking workshop on Sunday 10 September 2023.
Understand AI and how it changes business models: Competing in the Age of AI Strategy and Leadership When Algorithms and Networks Run the World
- Listen to Listen to this TFNT podcast interview with co-author Marco Iansiti: 9. The Business of AI with Harvard Business School Prof Marco Iansiti
For founders & investors: The hard thing about hard things
- Watch this book summary on the TFNT YouTube channel: The Hard Thing About Hard Things: TFNT summary

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 digital transformation in established businesses * Create tech businesses as non-technical founders * Pivot into careers in venture capital

We love hearing from our readers and listeners. So if you have questions about the content or working with us, just get in touch on info@techfornontechies.co

Say hi to Sophia on Twitter and follow her on LinkedIn.

Following us on YouTube, Facebook, Instagram and TikTok will make you smarter.

The Hard Thing About Hard Things: Building a Business When There Are No Easy Answers

Designing Your Life: How to Build a Well-Lived, Joyful Life

Swipe to Unlock: The Primer on Technology and Business Strategy (Fast Forward Your Product Career: The Two Books Required to Land Any PM Job)

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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 party and zero party data
Why you have so much more spam in your inbox today (and why it will get worse)
Whether recent privacy regulation like GDPR really changed anything for consumers & businesses
How Apple is using privacy issues to make money and change its business model

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 digital transformation in established businesses * Create tech businesses as non-technical founders * Pivot into careers in venture capital

We love hearing from our readers and listeners. So if you have questions about the content or working with us, just get in touch on info@techfornontechies.co

Say hi to Sophia on Twitter and follow her on LinkedIn.

Following us on YouTube, Facebook, Instagram and TikTok will make you smarter.

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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, this episode is for you.

Listen to learn:

The framework to differentiate between tech hype and lasting change
Why smaller companies are more likely to be tech disruptors
Which bank has made the largest AI investments and what it means for them
What business leaders need to learn about AI to be effective

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 digital transformation in established businesses * Create tech businesses as non-technical founders * Pivot into careers in venture capital

We love hearing from our readers and listeners. So if you have questions about the content or working with us, just get in touch on info@techfornontechies.co

Say hi to Sophia on Twitter and follow her on LinkedIn.

Following us on YouTube, Facebook, Instagram and TikTok will make you smarter.

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"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 from London
How corporates use Design Thinking to decide whether to acquire start-ups
How Design Thinking can help you test a career transition

Join Design Q4 to Finish Strong and get 50% off with the code PODCAST here. This program is free for Tech for Non-Techies members. To join our membership and get access to all of our courses and monthly sessions, sign up here.

Watch the Design Thinking Masterclass on YouTube. It will be available until midnight EDT on 20 August 2023.

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 digital transformation in established businesses * Create tech businesses as non-technical founders * Pivot into careers in venture capital

We love hearing from our readers and listeners. So if you have questions about the content or working with us, just get in touch on info@techfornontechies.co

Say hi to Sophia on Twitter and follow her on LinkedIn.

Following us on YouTube, Facebook, Instagram and TikTok will make you smarter.

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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 innovate
How Burberry quadrupled its share price with digital transformation
Which industry keeps growing despite recession fears

Resources mentioned in this episode

Innovate but How? The Pragmatist's Guide to Growth
Luxury Goods Global Market forecast

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 digital transformation in established businesses * Create tech businesses as non-technical founders * Pivot into careers in venture capital

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We love hearing from our readers and listeners. So if you have questions about the content or working with us, just get in touch on info@techfornontechies.co

Say hi to Sophia on Twitter and follow her on LinkedIn.

Following us on YouTube, Facebook, Instagram and TikTok will make you smarter.

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Avinash Godkhindi went from banking to leading Zaggle, a fintech company, towards an IPO.

This episode is perfect for founders, fintech investors and business leaders who want to transition into tech.

In this episode you will learn:

What business leaders need to know about tech to thrive in fintech
How the recent drop in tech start-up valuations changed what investors look for
Whether success lies inworking in your strengths or improving in your weaknesses

Join How to Become a Smart Start-Up Advisor on 9 August. You will learn:

How to choose promising start-ups to advise
How to get picked for Advisory Board roles
How to be a good Advisor
How to use the Advisor position to further your career

We love hearing from our readers and listeners. So if you have questions about the content or working with us, just get in touch on info@techfornontechies.co

Say hi to Sophia on Twitter and follow her on LinkedIn.

Following us on YouTube, Facebook, Instagram and TikTok will make you smarter.

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Smart dedicated professionals are great at creating value. This episode will help you capture it.

Digital transformation and innovation projects are very likely to balloon beyond their original scope, leaving those leading them with more work, but the same compensation.

This is why, this episode is especially useful for digital transformation and innovation leaders.

In this episode you will learn:

The typical mistake professionals make when asking for a pay rise
How to show the value your work has created
How to make sure that the value you've created matters to your boss

To join the Digital Leadership Executive Coaching program, apply here. ---

We love hearing from our readers and listeners. So if you have questions about the content or working with us, just get in touch on info@techfornontechies.co

Say hi to Sophia on Twitter and follow her on LinkedIn.

Following us on YouTube, Facebook, Instagram and TikTok will make you smarter.

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It's impossible to have a successful business career in the Digital Age without being data literate, says Prof JeAnna Abbott. This does not mean that you have to learn to code, but you do have to understand how to work with a data scientist and include analytics in your organisation.

In this episode, you will hear from JeAnna Abbott, Professor of Artificial Intelligence, Data Science and Analytics at Texas A&M Mays College of Business. JeAnna began her career as a Law professor at the University of Houston, where she still teaches.

She transitioned career into the digital space, after completing an advanced degree on data science and analytics.

This makes JeAnna one of the world's most educated experts on how AI can and should be regulated. JeAnna holds degrees from the University of Houston, Texas A&M University, University of Chicago, Wharton, and Harvard University.

In this episode you will learn:

What data science is
How a baseball team used data science to grow revenues
What synthetic data is and why some people love it, while others hate it
How this professor uses ChatGPT and her advice for MBAs
What skills business leaders need in the digital age
The discussion about how AI is used in healthcare today, with Dr Marilyn Sandor (guest on episode 146: From Dentist to Tech Founder)

Professor Abbott is an executive coaching client at Tech for Non-Techies.

To join the Digital Leadership Executive Coaching program, apply here.

We love hearing from our readers and listeners. So if you have questions about the content or working with us, just get in touch on info@techfornontechies.co

Say hi to Sophia on Twitter and follow her on LinkedIn.

Following us on YouTube, Facebook, Instagram and TikTok will make you smarter.

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Technology has disrupted power dynamics, and led otherwise smart and rational people to suspend disbelief, lose control and destroy value.

To have a truly successful career, you need to understand power dynamics: when to hold on to control and when to cede it.

In this episode, you will hear:

How power dynamics affect equity splits for non-technical founders
What happened when a traditional corporate ceded too much control to agile consultants
The power balance investors must strike to become Smart Money

Come to Sophia Matveeva's next FREE class:

Power in the Digital Age, 12 July 2023

You will learn

How tech changed power dynamics in business
What it takes to become & stay powerful in the Digital Age
Examples of how people have used these dynamics to succeed
What one key step to take towards a powerful career

We love hearing from our readers and listeners. So if you have questions about the content or working with us, just get in touch on info@techfornontechies.co

Say hi to Sophia on Twitter and follow her on LinkedIn.

Following us on YouTube, Facebook, Instagram and TikTok will make you smarter.

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Listen to this Office Hours session with Sophia Matveeva MBA. Questions covered in this episode:

Should I do an MBA or a Computer Science degree?
What's the difference between Product Management roles in deep tech vs standard businesses?
What tech trends are the ones to watch right now?
How do you transition into tech after 18 years in the automotive industry?

Come to Sophia Matveeva's next FREE class:

Power in the Digital Age, 12 July 2023

You will learn

How tech changed power dynamics in business
What it takes to become & stay powerful in the Digital Age
Examples of how people have used these dynamics to succeed
What one key step to take towards a powerful career

We love hearing from our readers and listeners. So if you have questions about the content or working with us, just get in touch on info@techfornontechies.co

Say hi to Sophia on Twitter and follow her on LinkedIn.

Following us on YouTube, Facebook, Instagram and TikTok will make you smarter.

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Tech and advertising are intertwined: ads is where Big Tech makes most of its money. Learn about the biggest trends in tech from the Cannes Lions Festival of Creativity.

You'll hear about developments and trends at Twitter, Meta and TikTok, as well as see what overhyped tech is behind us and what is yet to come.

In this episode you will learn:

Where consumer trends start now and how to spot them
Which types of AI advertisers, media and brands are most excited about
Which tech player is shrinking and which one is growing
Why the ad industry is the world's most tech savvy

To learn about how AI is used in consumer trend forecasting, check out Riviter (full disclosure: Sophia Matveeva is on the Advisory Board).

Come to Sophia Matveeva's next FREE class:

Power in the Digital Age, 28 June 2023

You will learn

How tech changed power dynamics in business
What it takes to become & stay powerful in the Digital Age
Examples of how people have used these dynamics to succeed
What one key step to take towards a powerful career

We love hearing from our readers and listeners. So if you have questions about the content or working with us, just get in touch on info@techfornontechies.co

Say hi to Sophia on Twitter and follow her on LinkedIn.

Following us on YouTube, Facebook, Instagram and TikTok will make you smarter.

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According to McKinsey, 70% of digital transformations fail to meet their goals. And yet, these multi-million dollar projects remain a priority for every major CEO.

In this episode, you'll learn from Matthew Domo about why these projects fail and what to focus on to make them succeed. (Clue: it's not the tech).

Matt is one of the founders of Amazon Web Services and a pioneer in the cloud computing space.
He has created nine cutting-edge cloud products and seven e-commerce website solutions,
generating significant revenue streams for Amazon, Microsoft, and Rackspace.

Matt was recognized by USA Today as one of theTop 9 Most Exciting Entrepreneurs of 2021. Today, Matt is CEO of FifthVantage, a digital transformation consultancy.

In this episode you will learn:

Why digital transformations fail and what to focus on to make them succeed
What cloud computing is and why it's important
How cloud computing was invented at Amazon

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Come to Sophia Matveeva's next FREE class:

Power in the Digital Age, 28 June 2023

You will learn

How tech changed power dynamics in business
What it takes to become & stay powerful in the Digital Age
Examples of how people have used these dynamics to succeed
What one key step to take towards a powerful career

We love hearing from our readers and listeners. So if you have questions about the content or working with us, just get in touch on info@techfornontechies.co

Say hi to Sophia on Twitter and follow her on LinkedIn.

Following us on YouTube, Facebook, Instagram and TikTok will make you smarter.

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ChatGPT reached 100 million users in just 2 months after launch, and generative AI has already changed how many professionals do their jobs today. But, how has it already changed business and how will it impact the economy?

In this episode, you will hear from Professor Avi Goldfarb, co-author of Power and Prediction: The Disruptive Economics of Artificial Intelligence.

In this episode, you will learn:

which industries have already been completely changed by AI
how to think about using AI in your work (and when not to pass it off as your own work)
about three waves of technological change: point solutions, applications solutions and systems solutions
why one University of Chicago professor said Sophia Matveeva was a new technology

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Apply for Sophia Matveeva's 1:1 Coaching Program

Power in the Digital Age We love hearing from our readers and listeners. So if you have questions about the content or working with us, just get in touch on info@techfornontechies.co

Say hi to Sophia on Twitter and follow her on LinkedIn.

Following us on YouTube, Facebook, Instagram and TikTok will make you smarter.

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There is no template for pricing apps or Software as a Service products, because each product is always a solution to a problem. Some problems are more important than others, and some are harder to solve.

But, you can use frameworks to decide what price to launch and how to iterate.

In this episode you will learn:

What questions to answer to decide the starting price for your product
Why your ultimate vision for the company is the first step to deciding your price
Why traditional business practices do not apply to tech product pricing

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Apply for Sophia Matveeva's 1:1 Coaching Proram

Power in the Digital Age We love hearing from our readers and listeners. So if you have questions about the content or working with us, just get in touch on info@techfornontechies.co

Say hi to Sophia on Twitter and follow her on LinkedIn.

Following us on YouTube, Facebook, Instagram and TikTok will make you smarter.

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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 consumption, like Meta, Netflix and Spotify have been grappling with this tension for years, and constantly tweaking their algorithms to adjust for familiarity vs discovery.

This debate is a great example of how non-technical professionals get involved in AI development.

If you want to play a role in the AI revolution, but do not have a technical background, this podcast episode is for you.

You will learn:

The origins of the social graph and how it changed consumer behavior
How the interest graph disrupted Big Tech
The role business leaders, psychologists and marketers play in algorithm development

If you have questions about anything you've heard on the podcast

Join FREE Office Hours with Sophia Matveeva MBA 14 June 2023

Ask Sophia Matveeva your questions on:

Product innovation
Entrepreneurship
Career growth
Digital Transformation

Sign up here.

----- Join the Tech for Non-Techies membership and lead in the Digital Age. Tech for Non-Techies clients * Reach senior leadership positions in Big Tech firms * Lead digital transformation in established businesses * Create tech businesses as non-technical founders * Pivot into careers in venture capital

We love hearing from our readers and listeners. So if you have questions about the content or working with us, just get in touch on info@techfornontechies.co

Say hi to Sophia on Twitter and follow her on LinkedIn.

Following us on YouTube, Facebook, Instagram and TikTok will make you smarter.

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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 shut her business down
how to get the best ROI from working with outsourced development firms
how to show traction to investors even at the early stages when you have no marketing budget

If you want to dive deeper, get Sophia's ebook: The Non-Technical Founder's Guide To Hiring: How To Hire Your Product Team And Go from Idea To App

Join the Tech for Non-Techies membership and lead in the Digital Age. Tech for Non-Techies clients * Reach senior leadership positions in Big Tech firms * Lead digital transformation in established businesses * Create tech businesses as non-technical founders * Pivot into careers in venture capital

We love hearing from our readers and listeners. So if you have questions about the content or working with us, just get in touch on info@techfornontechies.co

Say hi to Sophia on Twitter and follow her on LinkedIn & Instagram.

Following us on YouTube, Facebook and TikTok will make you smarter.

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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 receive the paycheck or sign the paycheck.

Listen to this episode to learn:

The four steps of Design Thinking that all designers and product makers use
How to apply design methodologies to career and business decisions
An exercise to help you choose the right next step when you're overwhelmed by choice

Come to our next workshop!

Design Thinking for Career & Venture Growth You will learn:

Design thinking methodologies
When to pivot and when to persevere
Exercises to apply design thinking to career and venture growth

Join the Tech for Non-Techies membership and lead in the Digital Age. Tech for Non-Techies clients * Reach senior leadership positions in Big Tech firms * Lead digital transformation in established businesses * Create tech businesses as non-technical founders * Pivot into careers in venture capital

We love hearing from our readers and listeners. So if you have questions about the content or working with us, just get in touch on info@techfornontechies.co

Say hi to Sophia on Twitter and follow her on LinkedIn & Instagram.

Following us on YouTube, Facebook and TikTok will make you smarter.

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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 apply to innovation and digital transformation in all businesses.

You will learn from Dave Moore, Chief Innovation Officer at Growth Acceleration Partners, who spent years working at Electronic Arts, makers of the FIFA Games series, Sims and many more.

In this episode, you will learn:

What gamification really is and why it works to engage users and drive revenues.
Who has to be involved to make a successful team. There is plenty of opportunity for non-technical professionals to thrive here.
How game developer teams are rewarded and why this makes them successful.
Which hard technical problems game developers have had to solve. Super useful knowledge if your business faces them too.

To learn more about gaming, Dave Moore recommended this book:

Blood, Sweat, and Pixels: The Triumphant, Turbulent Stories Behind How Video Games Are Made

Come to our next workshop!

Design Thinking for Career & Venture Growth You will learn:

Design thinking methodologies
When to pivot and when to persevere
Exercises to apply design thinking to career and venture growth

Join the Tech for Non-Techies membership and lead in the Digital Age. Tech for Non-Techies clients * Reach senior leadership positions in Big Tech firms * Lead digital transformation in established businesses * Create tech businesses as non-technical founders * Pivot into careers in venture capital

We love hearing from our readers and listeners. So if you have questions about the content or working with us, just get in touch on info@techfornontechies.co

Say hi to Sophia on Twitter and follow her on LinkedIn & Instagram.

Following us on YouTube, Facebook and TikTok will make you smarter.

Blood, Sweat, and Pixels: The Triumphant, Turbulent Stories Behind How Video Games Are Made

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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 tech tools and make their own: founders, buyers and investors.

FREE GUIDE: Speak Tech * Get the top 10 tech concepts every business leader needs to know * Connect tech tools to business strategy

Get your guide here

Join the Tech for Non-Techies membership and lead in the Digital Age. Tech for Non-Techies clients * Reach senior leadership positions in Big Tech firms * Lead digital transformation in established businesses * Create tech businesses as non-technical founders * Pivot into careers in venture capital

We love hearing from our readers and listeners. So if you have questions about the content or working with us, just get in touch on info@techfornontechies.co

Say hi to Sophia on Twitter and follow her on LinkedIn & Instagram.

Following us on YouTube, Facebook and TikTok will make you smarter.

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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.

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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 masterclass:

Stand out: How to make opportunities come to you You will learn how to:

Stand out as a Digital Leader
Get found by recruiters, investors and the hottest start-ups
Make the power dynamic work for you
Hear case studies from founders, top execs and investors

Join the Tech for Non-Techies membership and lead in the Digital Age. Tech for Non-Techies clients * Reach senior leadership positions in Big Tech firms * Lead digital transformation in established businesses * Create tech businesses as non-technical founders * Pivot into careers in venture capital

We love hearing from our readers and listeners. So if you have questions about the content or working with us, just get in touch on info@techfornontechies.co

Say hi to Sophia on Twitter and follow her on LinkedIn & Instagram.

Following us on YouTube, Facebook and TikTok will make you smarter.

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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 make opportunities come to you

Join Be SEEN as a Digital Leader on 16 April

You will learn:

What executive recruiters look for on LinkedIn today
Simple hacks to update your personal brand as a Digital Leader
Strategies specifically aimed to highlight digital innovation skills

Apply here.

Join the Tech for Non-Techies membership and lead in the Digital Age. Tech for Non-Techies clients * Reach senior leadership positions in Big Tech firms * Lead digital transformation in established businesses * Create tech businesses as non-technical founders * Pivot into careers in venture capital

We love hearing from our readers and listeners. So if you have questions about the content or working with us, just get in touch on info@techfornontechies.co

Say hi to Sophia on Twitter and follow her on LinkedIn & Instagram.

Following us on YouTube, Facebook and TikTok will make you smarter.

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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, Automation, and the Quest to Reclaim What Makes Us Unique.

You will learn:

How AI is making us more predictable and dull
What to do to use AI to be creative instead
How to make generative AI tools like ChatGPT work for you instead of against you

Join the Tech for Non-Techies membership and lead in the Digital Age. Tech for Non-Techies clients * Reach senior leadership positions in Big Tech firms * Lead digital transformation in established businesses * Create tech businesses as non-technical founders * Pivot into careers in venture capital

We love hearing from our readers and listeners. So if you have questions about the content or working with us, just get in touch on info@techfornontechies.co

Say hi to Sophia on Twitter and follow her on LinkedIn & Instagram.

Following us on YouTube, Facebook and TikTok will make you smarter.

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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:

A key question to ask when considering a new technology
A case study of when tech loses bars and restaurants money

Demystify Digital - tech masterclass for business leaders -----

Join the Tech for Non-Techies membership and lead in the Digital Age. Tech for Non-Techies clients * Reach senior leadership positions in Big Tech firms * Lead digital transformation in established businesses * Create tech businesses as non-technical founders * Pivot into careers in venture capital

We love hearing from our readers and listeners. So if you have questions about the content or working with us, just get in touch on info@techfornontechies.co

Say hi to Sophia on Twitter and follow her on LinkedIn & Instagram.

Following us on YouTube, Facebook and TikTok will make you smarter.

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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 Big Tech firms * Lead digital transformation in established businesses * Create tech businesses as non-technical founders * Pivot into careers in venture capital

We love hearing from our readers and listeners. So if you have questions about the content or working with us, just get in touch on info@techfornontechies.co

Say hi to Sophia on Twitter and follow her on LinkedIn & Instagram.

Following us on YouTube and TikTok will make you smarter.

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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 GoodCheckUp helps dentists around the US treat patients and generate incomes.

Dr Sandor had to learn to speak tech, so she could be an effective leader and collaborate with her tech team. But, she spends most of her time thinking about the user, not the technology. This is why people want to use her product.

This is a great episode for:

founders
corporate innovators
product managers
tech investors

If you’re inspired by Dr Sandor’s success and want to build a tech venture as a non-technical founder, you need the Tech for Non-Technical Founders course in our membership.

If you like learning about how tech products and profits get made, you'll like our newsletter.

It's funny too. Sign up here.

Tech for Non-Techies clients * Reach senior leadership positions in Big Tech firms * Lead digital transformation in established businesses * Create tech businesses as non-technical founders * Pivot into careers in venture capital

If you want to have a great career in the Digital Age, then APPLY FOR A CONSULTATION CALL.

What happens when you apply for a consultation call:

Sophia and her team will look through your application. If they genuinely think Sophia could help you, you will get a link to her calendar..
You will have a 20 – 30 minute call to discuss your goals and see if you are a good fit for each other.
If we establish that Tech for Non-Techies courses + coaching could help you and believe we would enjoy working together, we will discuss a relevant approach to suit you.
The aim of the call is not to sell you on anything that is not right for you. We both win if you get results, but we both lose if you don’t.

We love hearing from our readers and listeners. So if you have questions about the content or working with us, just get in touch on info@techfornontechies.co

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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 funny too. Sign up here.

Tech for Non-Techies clients * Reach senior leadership positions in Big Tech firms * Lead digital transformation in established businesses * Create tech businesses as non-technical founders * Pivot into careers in venture capital

If you want to have a great career in the Digital Age, then APPLY FOR A CONSULTATION CALL.

What happens when you apply for a consultation call:

Sophia and her team will look through your application. If they genuinely think Sophia could help you, you will get a link to her calendar..
You will have a 20 – 30 minute call to discuss your goals and see if you are a good fit for each other.
If we establish that Tech for Non-Techies courses + coaching could help you and believe we would enjoy working together, we will discuss a relevant approach to suit you.
The aim of the call is not to sell you on anything that is not right for you. We both win if you get results, but we both lose if you don’t.

We love hearing from our readers and listeners. So if you have questions about the content or working with us, just get in touch on info@techfornontechies.co

Say hi to Sophia on Twitter and follow her on LinkedIn & Instagram.

Following us on YouTube and TikTok will make you smarter.

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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 need to know to build businesses and products in a world of uncertainty.

The most important thing to remember is that businesses are living creatures that are co-created with their customers.

This is the same of tech products: apps, sites and algorithms get released, then people use them, the product makers analyse behaviour and then make a better version.

This is why Maurya says (and I agree) that writing a business plan is a form of waste.

It takes a long time to do and is usually an exercise in imagination. It is better to create a Lean Model Canvas and iterate your business plan as you would your product - with feedback from your users.

Watch the full lesson on the Tech for Non-Techies YouTube channel: Running Lean Book Review: Tech for Non-Techies Book Club.

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Sophia and her team will look through your application. If they genuinely think Sophia could help you, you will get a link to her calendar..
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If we establish that Tech for Non-Techies courses + coaching could help you and believe we would enjoy working together, we will discuss a relevant approach to suit you.
The aim of the call is not to sell you on anything that is not right for you. We both win if you get results, but we both lose if you don’t.

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Running Lean: Iterate from Plan A to a Plan That Works (Lean Series)

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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 YouTube channel. -----

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What happens when you apply for a consultation call:

Sophia and her team will look through your application. If they genuinely think Sophia could help you, you will get a link to her calendar..
You will have a 20 – 30 minute call to discuss your goals and see if you are a good fit for each other.
If we establish that Tech for Non-Techies courses + coaching could help you and believe we would enjoy working together, we will discuss a relevant approach to suit you.
The aim of the call is not to sell you on anything that is not right for you. We both win if you get results, but we both lose if you don’t.

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(Photo by Uriel Soberanes on Unsplash)

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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.

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Tech for Non-Techies clients * Reach senior leadership positions in Big Tech firms * Lead digital transformation in established businesses * Create tech businesses as non-technical founders * Pivot into careers in venture capital

If you want to have a great career in the Digital Age, then APPLY FOR A CONSULTATION CALL.

What happens when you apply for a consultation call:

Sophia and her team will look through your application. If they genuinely think Sophia could help you, you will get a link to her calendar..
You will have a 20 – 30 minute call to discuss your goals and see if you are a good fit for each other.
If we establish that Tech for Non-Techies courses + coaching could help you and believe we would enjoy working together, we will discuss a relevant approach to suit you.
The aim of the call is not to sell you on anything that is not right for you. We both win if you get results, but we both lose if you don’t.

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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 need to know.

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Tech for Non-Techies clients * Reach senior leadership positions in Big Tech firms * Lead digital transformation in established businesses * Create tech businesses as non-technical founders * Pivot into careers in venture capital

If you want to have a great career in the Digital Age, then APPLY FOR A CONSULTATION CALL.

What happens when you apply for a consultation call:

Sophia and her team will look through your application. If they genuinely think Sophia could help you, you will get a link to her calendar..
You will have a 20 – 30 minute call to discuss your goals and see if you are a good fit for each other.
If we establish that Tech for Non-Techies courses + coaching could help you and believe we would enjoy working together, we will discuss a relevant approach to suit you.
The aim of the call is not to sell you on anything that is not right for you. We both win if you get results, but we both lose if you don’t.

We love hearing from our readers and listeners. So if you have questions about the content or working with us, just get in touch on info@techfornontechies.co

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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 knocker – a system that was developed before Biblical times.

This gap between a product or an idea existing, and its wide scale adaption, is where the biggest opportunities lie.

Listen to this episode to learn how to capture them, as a corporate leader, founder or investor.

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Plan your year like a Digital Leader workshop

Live online: 5 February 2023, 11 am EST / 4 pm GMT

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What happens when you apply for a consultation call:

Sophia and her team will look through your application. If they genuinely think Sophia could help you, you will get a link to her calendar..
You will have a 20 – 30 minute call to discuss your goals and see if you are a good fit for each other.
If we establish that Tech for Non-Techies courses + coaching could help you and believe we would enjoy working together, we will discuss a relevant approach to suit you.
The aim of the call is not to sell you on anything that is not right for you. We both win if you get results, but we both lose if you don’t.

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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 Statista,
- This high growth means opportunity for corporate leaders, entrepreneurs and investors.
When companies first attempted digital transformation efforts, the emphasis was on implementing new tools.
- These transformation efforts were usually led by the Chief Technology Officer or Chief Innovation Officer, with the rest of the organisation often able to ignore this change.
While some of these efforts were successful, a lot of money was wasted. McKinsey estimates that 70% of digital transformation programmes fail to meet their goals.
This is why, digital transformation efforts in 2023 and beyond will focus on putting people first, and tools second.
- By first educating the entire workforce and updating traditional business thinking to digital mindsets, organisations will be able to reap the benefits of the tools they implement.
Because Digital Transformation 2.0 is people first, tools second, there is demand for a new type of employee: a person who speaks tech and speaks business.
- People with this dual business and tech skillset of are the people who are going to lead in the Digital Age.

Apply for the

Plan your year like a Digital Leader workshop

5 February 2023, 11 am EST / 4 pm GMT

Resources mentioned in this episode:

Episode130. Lessons for Digital Leaders from the London Stock Exchange - Microsoft deal
Episode 96. How to innovate at a corporate: lessons from Apple and Intel
McKinsey: Perspectives on transformation
Statista: Spending on digital transformation technologies and services worldwide

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What happens when you apply for a consultation call:

Sophia and her team will look through your application. If they genuinely think Sophia could help you, you will get a link to her calendar..
You will have a 20 – 30 minute call to discuss your goals and see if you are a good fit for each other.
If we establish that Tech for Non-Techies courses + coaching could help you and believe we would enjoy working together, we will discuss a relevant approach to suit you.
The aim of the call is not to sell you on anything that is not right for you. We both win if you get results, but we both lose if you don’t.

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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. Innovators make solutions for problems they are familiar with, which means that homogeneity in founders means homogeneity in products.
- This means there is more competition amongst products that solve problems experienced by male founders, such as laundry services and food delivery apps, than in other niches, such as female healthcare.
- While funding will be harder to get for products not aimed at the white male market, competition in these sectors will also often be lower. Ultimately, this means big untapped opportunities.
Companies ran by founders who are not white males are often undervalued.
- This is an opportunity for investors to get lower risk for higher return, as angels, VCs and corporate investors.
These are not market dynamics that we want, however it is the world we live in today. By focussing on finding opportunities, Digital Leaders are more likely to win in the long run.

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What happens when you apply for a consultation call:

Sophia and her team will look through your application. If they genuinely think Sophia could help you, you will get a link to her calendar..
You will have a 20 – 30 minute call to discuss your goals and see if you are a good fit for each other.
If we establish that Tech for Non-Techies courses + coaching could help you and believe we would enjoy working together, we will discuss a relevant approach to suit you.
The aim of the call is not to sell you on anything that is not right for you. We both win if you get results, but we both lose if you don’t.

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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 become less attractive places for people to work. This means that working at a promising health tech start-up is now a much more tempting option for talented managers and engineers at Meta and Alphabet.
- All things being equal, most smart experienced people would rather contribute to saving lives rather than driving attention on a social media feed.
The gap between innovation and adaption is narrowing in healthcare. Many startups with innovative technologies that have been around for years are seeing an increase in demand, as hospital systems go digital and and more doctors use digital tech tools.

How to benefit from this trend for Digital Leaders

If you already work in a Big Tech firm, start working on a healthcare project. Even if that particular project does not work out, it will be an important area of growth for the company and a useful experience.
If you are an investor, but have no experience in healthcare, this is an area to explore but don't throw money at it if you don't have context. Good deals come from a good network, so build your network among innovators and investors in the space first, as a foundation to investing.
If you have nothing to do with healthcare in your career, you can learn about design and innovation as a Beta tester for a new product. Giving feedback as a Beta tester to designers and product managers is a great way to see how products get invented from the inside. It is also a free and low effort way to learn.

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What happens when you apply for a consultation call:

Sophia and her team will look through your application. If they genuinely think Sophia could help you, you will get a link to her calendar..
You will have a 20 – 30 minute call to discuss your goals and see if you are a good fit for each other.
If we establish that Tech for Non-Techies courses + coaching could help you and believe we would enjoy working together, we will discuss a relevant approach to suit you.
The aim of the call is not to sell you on anything that is not right for you. We both win if you get results, but we both lose if you don’t.

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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 the instructor has a podcast, listen to it. If they have written articles, read them.
See who the instructor’s community of students is and see if they inspire you.
Be aware of the pricing: if it seems too good to be true, it often is.
Take courses that have case studies because we learn best from stories.

To get the most out of a course:

Set aside a regular time in your week as your class time, as if you were going to a real university lecture.
When you are taking the course, regularly ask yourself: what insight did I get from this?
- By doing this, you take responsibility for your own learning and results.
Do what the instructor tells you to do. You paid for their expertise, so use it!

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What happens when you apply for a consultation call:

Sophia and her team will look through your application. If they genuinely think Sophia could help you, you will get a link to her calendar..
You will have a 20 – 30 minute call to discuss your goals and see if you are a good fit for each other.
If we establish that Tech for Non-Techies courses + coaching could help you and believe we would enjoy working together, we will discuss a relevant approach to suit you.
The aim of the call is not to sell you on anything that is not right for you. We both win if you get results, but we both lose if you don’t.

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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 start-up called Pied Piper and its founding team. Painfully close to the chaotic reality of running a start-up. Fun and useful for those who want to start a tech venture or invest in one.
How will businesses use the metaverse? YouTube documentary by The Economist. The documentary is one of the very few things that both question the hype around the metaverse, while also showing its promise.

The documentary features interviews with Matthew Ball, author of the excellent The Metaverse: And How It Will Revolutionize Everything.

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Sophia and her team will look through your application. If they genuinely think Sophia could help you, you will get a link to her calendar..
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If we establish that Tech for Non-Techies courses + coaching could help you and believe we would enjoy working together, we will discuss a relevant approach to suit you.
The aim of the call is not to sell you on anything that is not right for you. We both win if you get results, but we both lose if you don’t.

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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 now use big tech’s cloud services.

This is a sign of things to come for all industries, and carries lessons for Digital Leaders.

Lessons for Digital Leaders:

The senior management of the London Stock Exchange today has to have a different skill set to what it had 10 years ago, because digital technologies are now an integral part of the business.
- The same logic either already applies or will soon apply to other industries. If you want to have a future proof career, you need to learn to Speak Tech and collaborate with your technical colleagues.
- This is a case study of Big Tech strategic partnerships: cloud providers are taking stakes in businesses that need lots of data storage and data processing.
- Other industries also need to store and process lots of data, such as media and healthcare. What other industries share similar characteristics? How could strategic partnerships with cloud providers help companies in these sectors thrive?
- Answer these questions in a post on LinkedIn and share it with your network. In order to really elevate yourself into digital leadership, you need to learn to speak tech AND make sure that people know about your new skillset.
- You can learn how to do both in our Digital Leadership program.
- This latest deal by the London Stock Exchange, a 300 year old company, shows that to be a successful business, you have to keep reinventing.
- You can thrive as a Digital Leader in every industry, but not in every company.
- Are you in an organisation where you can be a digital leader? If the organisation is not adapting and the senior leadership isn’t open to change, then it is time to change course.
- Listen to 125. Introduction to Cloud Computing for Non-Techies to learn the basics of what cloud computing is and why it matters.

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Sophia and her team will look through your application. If they genuinely think Sophia could help you, you will get a link to her calendar..
You will have a 20 – 30 minute call to discuss your goals and see if you are a good fit for each other.
If we establish that Tech for Non-Techies courses + coaching could help you and believe we would enjoy working together, we will discuss a relevant approach to suit you.
The aim of the call is not to sell you on anything that is not right for you. We both win if you get results, but we both lose if you don’t.

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(Photo by Klaudia Piaskowska Unsplash)

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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 CEO. The latter do not.
Work out what the start-up needs and give it to them, before asking for an advisory board position. For example, if they need introductions to potential customers, make the introductions.
- Have the conversation about formally joining the advisory board only after you have proven your value to a start-up founder.
Be aware of the company’s stage: tech start-ups rarely need in depth financial analysis but do need introductions and help with operations. Don’t offer advice based on your experience. Offer advice based on the start-up needs.
Do not view this as a way to get rich via advisory options. Some start-ups have option schemes for advisors, others do not. The aim of being an advisor is for you to learn, network and transform your career, not to strike it rich from their options. (Obviously, if that happens, that is a welcome bonus, but should not be your aim).
Once you are on a start-up board, be helpful, be humble and be kind. The start-up founder is likely to be over-worked, underpaid and very stressed. Offer them advice that they can genuinely use, pick up the burden when you can and do not use this as opportunity to show off how smart you are.
Update your LinkedIn profile and professional bio. Telling the world that you are actively involved in tech innovation will help you get found for other exciting opportunities.
For more, listen to episode 31. How To Transition Into Venture Capital (interview with Nilesh Trivedi)

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Sophia and her team will look through your application. If they genuinely think Sophia could help you, you will get a link to her calendar..
You will have a 20 – 30 minute call to discuss your goals and see if you are a good fit for each other.
If we establish that Tech for Non-Techies courses + coaching could help you and believe we would enjoy working together, we will discuss a relevant approach to suit you.
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There is plenty of hype about AI, but most organisations are still using old precesses to make decisions.

We are in the Between Times: "after AI's clear promise and before its transformational impact," as described in the book Power and Prediction: the disruptive economics of Artificial Intelligence.

In this episode, Professor Joshua Gans, one of the book's co-authors explains why organisations are not yet adapting the full power of AI and what will happen when they do.

Learning notes from this episode:

Artificial Intelligence is a prediction machine, which supports decision making.
Today businesses often use AI for one or two processes, but most decisions are still made by humans. Technology first companies and start-ups often have more AI-based decision making, because they do not have to replace legacy processes.
Business leaders should not accept AI as just a black box. In fact, Professor Gans argues that business brains might be better equipped to question AI and its benefits, than the engineers who build the algorithms.
Here are three questions business leaders should ask to understand an AI system:
- What is this AI predicting?
- How will that prediction affect decision making?
- What is the decision maker's tolerance for errors?

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Sophia and her team will look through your application. If they genuinely think Sophia could help you, you will get a link to her calendar..
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The aim of the call is not to sell you on anything that is not right for you. We both win if you get results, but we both lose if you don’t.

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(Photo credit: Joshua Gans photographed by JOHN HRYNIUK PHOTOGRAPHY)

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Why do you keep checking your phone, even when you’re trying not to? It's because the apps on your phone use the Hook Model. described by Nir Eyal in his book Hooked: How to Build Habit-Forming Products.

To learn how apps like Instagram, LinkedIn and Vivino keep us coming back to our screens, listen to this episode.

Learning notes from this episode:

Habits are behaviours done with little or no conscious thought
If your product becomes a habit, people will use it more. You will spend less on advertising and make more money.
The greatest return on investment generally comes from increasing the product's ease of use.
- If you want to improve a product, first look at the design: where you can make it more simple to use. E.g. can you require less information from users when they first sign up?
The Hook model consists of 4 steps
1. Trigger: you get a notification that someone commented on your post
2. Action: you open LinkedIn / Instagram to see the comment
3. Variable Reward: you find out what the comment was and by whom. Depending on these factors, you might feel happy, sad, excited, disappointed
4. Investment: you make another post – this is an investment of your time and energy, and you keep coming back for more.

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What happens when you apply for a consultation call:

Sophia and her team will look through your application. If they genuinely think Sophia could help you, you will get a link to her calendar..
You will have a 20 – 30 minute call to discuss your goals and see if you are a good fit for each other.
If we establish that Tech for Non-Techies courses + coaching could help you and believe we would enjoy working together, we will discuss a relevant approach to suit you.
The aim of the call is not to sell you on anything that is not right for you. We both win if you get results, but we both lose if you don’t.

We love hearing from our readers and listeners. So if you have questions about the content or working with us, just get in touch on info@techfornontechies.co

Say hi to Sophia on Twitter and follow her on LinkedIn.

Following us on Facebook, Instagram and TikTok will make you smarter.

Hooked: How to Build Habit-Forming Products

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Playing the long game is making use of the opportunities you have in front of you today, while keeping your eye on the future. Listen to this episode for three things you can do to become a digital leader, even as tech companies shrink.

Join our next FREE Masterclass on 30 November 2022, 12 pm EST / 5 pm GMT

How to Become a Digital Leader You will learn:

The top mistake non-technical leaders make when it comes to tech
Leadership case studies from Netflix & Microsoft
How to go from traditional business manager to Digital Leader

SIGN UP HERE

Listen here on Apple Podcasts Listen here on Spotify -----

If you like learning about how tech products and profits get made, you'll like our newsletter.

It's funny too. Sign up here.

Tech for Non-Techies clients * Reach senior leadership positions in Big Tech firms * Lead digital transformation in established businesses * Create tech businesses as non-technical founders * Pivot into careers in venture capital

If you want to have a great career in the Digital Age, then APPLY FOR A CONSULTATION CALL.

What happens when you apply for a consultation call:

Sophia and her team will look through your application. If they genuinely think Sophia could help you, you will get a link to her calendar..
You will have a 20 – 30 minute call to discuss your goals and see if you are a good fit for each other.
If we establish that Tech for Non-Techies courses + coaching could help you and believe we would enjoy working together, we will discuss a relevant approach to suit you.
The aim of the call is not to sell you on anything that is not right for you. We both win if you get results, but we both lose if you don’t.

We love hearing from our readers and listeners. So if you have questions about the content or working with us, just get in touch on info@techfornontechies.co

Say hi to Sophia on Twitter and follow her on LinkedIn.

Following us on Facebook, Instagram and TikTok will make you smarter.

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Cloud computing powers most of the digital services you use today. Listen to this podcast episode to learn what it is and why it matters.

Learning notes from this episode:

The cloud computing is expecting huge growth: the total cloud computing market is estimated to be reach $1,614 by 2030 from $545 billion in 2022, according to Precedence Research.
Before the advent of cloud computing, technology companies would have had to have their own servers to store data and run computations. Having your own servers is very expensive because you have to pay to
- keep them secure
- keep them cool
- keep them running 24 /7 and pay high electricity costs
- have a space to keep them
- maintain them with the help of a specialist
Cloud computing means that companies do not have to buy and maintain their own servers. Instead, they can just rent space on another company's servers.
- You can just pay for what you use and expand as you grow.

This is a picture of servers ran by a cloud computing company. Before cloud computing, businesses would have had to have own these things and maintain them at their own premises - a huge cost and a headache.

Amazon launched cloud computing as a service in 2006, and remains the biggest player in the market today. It counts Netflix, Disney, the UK Ministry of Justice, Kellogs, Guardian News and Media, and the European Space Agency as its customers.
Cloud computing is relevant to every industry: if you are storing data and using it to make decisions, you need to know about cloud computing.
The advent of cloud computing drove down the risk of innovation and spurred the creation of start-ups and the VCs funding them. Without cloud computing digital innovation was only available to those who could pay and maintain servers.
The three biggest players in the cloud computing market are: Microsoft Azure, Google Cloud and IBM Cloud.

(Source: Statista)

Join our next FREE Masterclass on 30 November 2022, 12 pm EST / 5 pm GMT

How to Become a Digital Leader You will learn:

The top mistake non-technical leaders make when it comes to tech
Leadership case studies from Netflix & Microsoft
How to go from traditional business manager to Digital Leader

SIGN UP HERE

Listen here on Apple Podcasts Listen here on Spotify -----

If you like learning about how tech products and profits get made, you'll like our newsletter.

It's funny too. Sign up here.

Tech for Non-Techies clients * Reach senior leadership positions in Big Tech firms * Lead digital transformation in established businesses * Create tech businesses as non-technical founders * Pivot into careers in venture capital

If you want to have a great career in the Digital Age, then APPLY FOR A CONSULTATION CALL.

What happens when you apply for a consultation call:

Sophia and her team will look through your application. If they genuinely think Sophia could help you, you will get a link to her calendar..
You will have a 20 – 30 minute call to discuss your goals and see if you are a good fit for each other.
If we establish that Tech for Non-Techies courses + coaching could help you and believe we would enjoy working together, we will discuss a relevant approach to suit you.
The aim of the call is not to sell you on anything that is not right for you. We both win if you get results, but we both lose if you don’t.

We love hearing from our readers and listeners. So if you have questions about the content or working with us, just get in touch on info@techfornontechies.co

Say hi to Sophia on Twitter and follow her on LinkedIn.

Following us on Facebook, Instagram and TikTok will make you smarter.

View Details

Cloud computing powers most of the digital services you use today. Listen to this podcast episode to learn what it is and why it matters.

Learning notes from this episode:

The cloud computing is expecting huge growth: the total cloud computing market is estimated to be reach $1,614 by 2030 from $545 billion in 2022, according to Precedence Research.
Before the advent of cloud computing, technology companies would have had to have their own servers to store data and run computations. Having your own servers is very expensive because you have to pay to
- keep them secure
- keep them cool
- keep them running 24 /7 and pay high electricity costs
- have a space to keep them
- maintain them with the help of a specialist
Cloud computing means that companies do not have to buy and maintain their own servers. Instead, they can just rent space on another company's servers.
- You can just pay for what you use and expand as you grow.

This is a picture of servers ran by a cloud computing company. Before cloud computing, businesses would have had to have own these things and maintain them at their own premises - a huge cost and a headache.

Amazon launched cloud computing as a service in 2006, and remains the biggest player in the market today. It counts Netflix, Disney, the UK Ministry of Justice, Kellogs, Guardian News and Media, and the European Space Agency as its customers.
Cloud computing is relevant to every industry: if you are storing data and using it to make decisions, you need to know about cloud computing.
The advent of cloud computing drove down the risk of innovation and spurred the creation of start-ups and the VCs funding them. Without cloud computing digital innovation was only available to those who could pay and maintain servers.
The three biggest players in the cloud computing market are: Microsoft Azure, Google Cloud and IBM Cloud.

(Source: Statista)

Join our next FREE Masterclass on 30 November 2022, 12 pm EST / 5 pm GMT

How to Become a Digital Leader You will learn:

The top mistake non-technical leaders make when it comes to tech
Leadership case studies from Netflix & Microsoft
How to go from traditional business manager to Digital Leader

SIGN UP HERE

Listen here on Apple Podcasts Listen here on Spotify -----

If you like learning about how tech products and profits get made, you'll like our newsletter.

It's funny too. Sign up here.

Tech for Non-Techies clients * Reach senior leadership positions in Big Tech firms * Lead digital transformation in established businesses * Create tech businesses as non-technical founders * Pivot into careers in venture capital

If you want to have a great career in the Digital Age, then APPLY FOR A CONSULTATION CALL.

What happens when you apply for a consultation call:

Sophia and her team will look through your application. If they genuinely think Sophia could help you, you will get a link to her calendar..
You will have a 20 – 30 minute call to discuss your goals and see if you are a good fit for each other.
If we establish that Tech for Non-Techies courses + coaching could help you and believe we would enjoy working together, we will discuss a relevant approach to suit you.
The aim of the call is not to sell you on anything that is not right for you. We both win if you get results, but we both lose if you don’t.

We love hearing from our readers and listeners. So if you have questions about the content or working with us, just get in touch on info@techfornontechies.co

Say hi to Sophia on Twitter and follow her on LinkedIn.

Following us on Facebook, Instagram and TikTok will make you smarter.

View Details

To lead in the Digital Age, you need a network of developer friends. They can help you understand the latest tech trends and decipher jargon.

But to build the right network, you need to act intentionally. Don’t just hunt down anybody who has ever taken a python course.

There are two types of developers: managers and specialists.

All developers start off as coders, but as they progress in their careers, they come to a fork in the road. Some decide to specialise deeper in a particular aspect of technology, whereas others go the management route.

Engineering managers lead teams of engineers, and rarely write code themselves.

In fact, a Chief Technology Officer is unlikely to have written any code for quite some time. Their task is to manage the team, and to work with non-technical teams to align technology strategy to business needs.

Engineers on the management route must take business courses to progress in their careers.

Just as the non-techies need to speak tech, the techies need to speak business.

Because engineers who want to get to the C Suite also need to learn from the business side, your relationships are an equal value exchange.

Build these relationships with mutual respect, and the confidence that you are both bringing something to the table.

Join our next FREE Masterclass on 30 November 2022, 12 pm EST / 5 pm GMT

How to Become a Digital Leader You will learn:

The top mistake non-technical leaders make when it comes to tech
Leadership case studies from Netflix & Microsoft
How to go from traditional business manager to Digital Leader

SIGN UP HERE

Listen here on Apple Podcasts Listen here on Spotify -----

If you like learning about how tech products and profits get made, you'll like our newsletter.

It's funny too. Sign up here.

Tech for Non-Techies clients * Reach senior leadership positions in Big Tech firms * Lead digital transformation in established businesses * Create tech businesses as non-technical founders * Pivot into careers in venture capital

If you want to have a great career in the Digital Age, then APPLY FOR A CONSULTATION CALL.

What happens when you apply for a consultation call:

Sophia and her team will look through your application. If they genuinely think Sophia could help you, you will get a link to her calendar..
You will have a 20 – 30 minute call to discuss your goals and see if you are a good fit for each other.
If we establish that Tech for Non-Techies courses + coaching could help you and believe we would enjoy working together, we will discuss a relevant approach to suit you.
The aim of the call is not to sell you on anything that is not right for you. We both win if you get results, but we both lose if you don’t.