The Lucent Perspective: Recent Episodes
Rebecca Hastings
In The Lucent Perspective, host Rebecca Hastings interviews executives and leaders from the tech sector to learn about their successes, most valuable lessons learned, challenges, solutions and insights. Rebecca is an executive headhunter who has built leadership teams and helped technology companies rapidly scale. If you're looking to learn about startup and scale-up technology companies and hear from some of the most entrepreneurial and innovative leaders, join Rebecca Hastings and guests on The Lucent Perspective.
Jamie Graves, a technology leader and entrepreneur with over 15 years of experience, shares his journey from founding ZoneFox to his current role as an advisor and consultant in the tech industry. With a strong background in cybersecurity and AI, Jamie offers valuable insights on product management, leadership, and the evolving landscape of technology.
Key topics covered:
- The evolution of AI in B2B environments
- Product management challenges and best practices
- Lessons learned from founding and selling a tech startup
- Transitioning to advisory and board roles
- The impact of AI on cybersecurity
Episode Highlights:
[00:58] Jamie's background and recent experiences in various tech sectors
[03:21] Key lessons learned from developing ZoneFox
[05:47] The importance of documentation and preparation when selling a company
[08:47] Strategies for achieving product-market fit
[12:24] The role of AI in augmenting human capabilities in cybersecurity
[16:46] Challenges in translating technical capabilities into business value
[21:41] The evolution of product management roles as companies scale
[25:54] Exciting applications of AI in cybersecurity
[32:18] Advice for CEOs and leaders preparing for company exits
[37:12] Transitioning to advisory and non-executive roles
[41:37] Leveraging board expertise and improving communication
[48:09] The potential impact of AI on board roles and decision-making
[54:53] Tips for managing a portfolio career and staying current in tech
About Jamie Graves
Jamie Graves is a technology leader and entrepreneur with over 15 years of experience bringing cutting-edge products to market. He founded ZoneFox, an award-winning AI product and cybersecurity company that was acquired by Fortinet in 2018. Jamie has extensive experience in all stages of starting, building, growing, and selling technology businesses.
- Connect with Jamie on LinkedIn
Rebecca Hastings, Founder and Director at The Lucent Group
Connect on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hastingsrebecca/
Would you like to be a guest? Book a time to speak with Rebecca: https://calendly.com/rebeccahastings/discovery-call
The Lucent Group Ltd website - https://www.thelucentgroup.co.uk/
The Lucent Perspective website - https://thelucentperspective.com/
Rebecca has extensive talent and executive search experience supporting digital and technology businesses through complex changes and fast-paced scale-up periods. She works with businesses advising on C-level, technical, sales and commercial appointments, workforce planning, strategic talent management, recruitment processes and associated technology and employer brand development.
Gavin Cowie, an experienced VP of Engineering and CTO, shares his insights on successfully onboarding senior tech leaders, scaling engineering teams, and navigating cultural differences between US and UK tech scenes. With extensive experience in AI, data science, and cybersecurity companies, Gavin offers valuable perspectives for tech leaders facing the challenges of rapid growth and changing work environments.
Key topics covered:
- Comprehensive onboarding strategies for senior tech leaders
- Evolution of engineering leadership as companies scale
- Cultural differences between US and UK tech scenes
- Challenges and opportunities in post-pandemic work environments
- The impact of AI and emerging technologies on the future of work
Episode Highlights:
[00:56] Introduction to Gavin Cowie's background and expertise
[02:26] The evolution of engineering leadership from seed stage to Series C and beyond
[05:06] The importance of "giving away your Legos" as companies scale
[10:28] Crucial elements of onboarding for senior tech leaders
[14:51] The value of understanding a company's history of change
[22:00] Strategies for building key relationships when starting a new role
[25:31] Cultural integration and alignment as an overlooked aspect of onboarding
[32:34] Tips for onboarding engineers effectively
[37:12] Navigating cultural differences between US and UK tech scenes
[42:55] Top challenges for tech leaders in post-pandemic work environments
[46:16] The impact of AI and emerging technologies on the future of work
About Gavin Cowie
Gavin Cowie is a highly experienced VP of Engineering and CTO who has worked in AI and data science companies including Alluvium (acquired by Augury), Rent the Runway, and Siacom. With a career spanning both the US and UK tech scenes, Gavin brings unique insights into scaling engineering teams and navigating cultural differences in global tech environments.
- Connect with Gavin on LinkedIn
Rebecca Hastings, Founder and Director at The Lucent Group
Connect on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hastingsrebecca/
Would you like to be a guest? Book a time to speak with Rebecca: https://calendly.com/rebeccahastings/discovery-call
The Lucent Group Ltd website - https://www.thelucentgroup.co.uk/
The Lucent Perspective website - https://thelucentperspective.com/
Rebecca has extensive talent and executive search experience supporting digital and technology businesses through complex changes and fast-paced scale-up periods. She works with businesses advising on C-level, technical, sales and commercial appointments, workforce planning, strategic talent management, recruitment processes and associated technology and employer brand development.
Keith McFarlane, CTO of Globality, shares his expertise on leveraging AI in procurement, scaling AI-driven platforms, and maintaining strong company culture in a hybrid work environment. With extensive experience in building and operating the world's first AI-driven autonomous sourcing platform, Keith offers valuable insights for tech leaders navigating the rapidly evolving AI landscape.
Key topics covered:
- The evolution of AI in procurement and its impact on efficiency
- Technical challenges and solutions in scaling AI-driven platforms
- Strategies for maintaining company culture in hybrid work environments
- The importance of governance and learning in AI implementation
- Future trends in AI and procurement
Episode Highlights:
[00:41] The crucial role of talent in applying AI effectively
[02:23] The evolution of technology and its impact on procurement
[05:32] Globality's approach to AI implementation since its founding
[07:56] The value of having a robust data science team
[13:19] Balancing AI implementation with practical business value
[14:51] Key AI technologies and tools used by Globality
[18:49] Technical challenges in scaling an AI-driven platform
[22:07] The importance of security and reliability in high-value transactions
[23:56] The growing importance of governance in AI implementation
[28:50] Evaluating and integrating new AI tools into workflows
[32:38] Maintaining company culture across multiple locations and time zones
[39:33] The impact of AI on procurement efficiency and CFO decision-making
[41:47] Advice for tech leaders in scaling AI businesses
About Keith McFarlane
Keith McFarlane is the CTO of Globality, responsible for building and operating the world's first AI-driven autonomous sourcing platform. With extensive experience in the tech industry, Keith leads Globality's efforts in leveraging AI to revolutionize procurement processes and drive efficiency for businesses worldwide.
- Connect with Keith on LinkedIn
- Globality's website: globality.com
Rebecca Hastings, Founder and Director at The Lucent Group
Connect on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hastingsrebecca/
Would you like to be a guest? Book a time to speak with Rebecca: https://calendly.com/rebeccahastings/discovery-call
The Lucent Group Ltd website - https://www.thelucentgroup.co.uk/
The Lucent Perspective website - https://thelucentperspective.com/
Rebecca has extensive talent and executive search experience supporting digital and technology businesses through complex changes and fast-paced scale-up periods. She works with businesses advising on C-level, technical, sales and commercial appointments, workforce planning, strategic talent management, recruitment processes and associated technology and employer brand development.
Daniel Codd, seasoned sales leader, shares insights on AI innovations in sales, strategies for expanding into new markets, maximizing growth from existing customers, and building effective sales teams. With extensive experience in AI and SaaS sales, Daniel offers valuable advice for founders and sales leaders navigating the rapidly evolving tech landscape.
Key topics covered:
- Promising AI innovations in sales and marketing
- Strategies for expanding into new markets (UK vs. US)
- Maximizing growth from existing customers
- Building and structuring effective sales teams
- Assessing product-market fit from a sales perspective
- Converting free users to paid customers
- Key metrics for sustainable growth
Episode Highlights:
[00:41] The importance of intent data in targeting the right prospects
[03:48] Focusing on quality leads rather than quantity for founders
[07:56] The value of having a robust sales process before implementing AI tools
[12:56] Differences in expanding to the UK versus the US market
[16:31] The role of partner networks in successful expansion
[20:35] Avoiding common pitfalls when promoting AEs to sales leadership roles
[25:15] Key qualities CEOs should look for in senior sales leaders
[28:24] The importance of cultural fit and managing change in sales leadership
[36:45] Strategies for maximizing growth from existing customers
[42:34] Challenges in selling high-ticket AI solutions
[47:55] The importance of asking questions and preparation in sales meetings
[54:28] Tips for effective sales pitches and establishing rapport quickly
[55:14] Advice for sales leaders looking to expand their sales presence
About Daniel Codd
Daniel Codd is a seasoned sales leader with extensive experience in AI and SaaS sales. He has a proven track record of managing and delivering multimillion-pound deals and high-performing teams for tech startups and established companies. Daniel has served as the global head of sales at Hedgehog Lab and the head of global sales at TopCoder.
- Connect with Daniel on LinkedIn
Rebecca Hastings, Founder and Director at The Lucent Group
Connect on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hastingsrebecca/
Would you like to be a guest? Book a time to speak with Rebecca: https://calendly.com/rebeccahastings/discovery-call
The Lucent Group Ltd website - https://www.thelucentgroup.co.uk/
The Lucent Perspective website - https://thelucentperspective.com/
Rebecca has extensive talent and executive search experience supporting digital and technology businesses through complex changes and fast-paced scale-up periods. She works with businesses advising on C-level, technical, sales and commercial appointments, workforce planning, strategic talent management, recruitment processes and associated technology and employer brand development.
Jothy Rosenberg, a serial entrepreneur with nine startups and multiple successful exits, shares his valuable insights on startup leadership, fundraising, and building resilient teams. With over 35 years of experience in the tech industry, Jothy offers extensive knowledge for aspiring entrepreneurs and seasoned business leaders.
Key topics covered:
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Critical factors for building and scaling a successful startup
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Strategies for effective fundraising at different startup stages
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The role of resilience and optimism in entrepreneurship
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Building strong founding teams and fostering great company culture
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Common pitfalls to avoid when dealing with investors and co-founders
Episode Highlights:
[02:46] Finding a great market for your startup
[05:53] Jothy's experience with pivoting and his SSL certificate company's success
[10:23] Challenges of raising money at different startup stages
[15:09] Approaches to fundraising for seed rounds and Series A
[20:01] The crucial role of communication in building strong company culture
[25:06] Key traits of successful entrepreneurs: optimism and resilience
[30:54] Choosing co-founders and building complementary founding teams
[38:26] Jothy's experience raising a bridge round from 83 individual angel investors
[48:10] Maintaining professional boundaries with investors
About Jothy Rosenberg
Jothy Rosenberg is a serial entrepreneur who has founded and led nine startups over 35 years, with several successful exits including two for over $100 million. He holds a PhD in Mathematics from UC Berkeley and an executive MBA from Stanford. Jothy is also the author of multiple books, including his upcoming "Tech Startup Toolkit: How to Launch Strong and Exit Big." In addition to his entrepreneurial pursuits, Jothy is the founder of the "Who Says I Can't" foundation, which helps kids with disabilities get involved in sports.
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Jothy on LinkedIn
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Jothy's website: jothyrosenberg.com
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Email: jothy@jothyrosenberg.com
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"Who Says I Can't" foundation: whosaysicant.org
Rebecca Hastings, Founder and Director at The Lucent Group
Connect on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hastingsrebecca/
Would you like to be a guest? Book a time to speak with Rebecca: https://calendly.com/rebeccahastings/discovery-call
The Lucent Group Ltd website - https://www.thelucentgroup.co.uk/
The Lucent Perspective website - https://thelucentperspective.com/
Rebecca has extensive talent and executive search experience supporting digital and technology businesses through complex changes and fast-paced scale-up periods. She works with businesses advising on C-level, technical, sales and commercial appointments, workforce planning, strategic talent management, recruitment processes and associated technology and employer brand development.
Artificial intelligence is rapidly transforming businesses across industries, but successfully implementing AI requires careful planning and execution. In this episode, I'm joined by Oliver King-Smith, Founder of smartR.ai and a trailblazing inventor and entrepreneur revolutionizing AI applications. With over 25 years of experience developing cutting-edge tech to address real-world challenges, Oliver shares his expert insights on how companies can effectively adopt AI.
You will hear key insights on:
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Common misconceptions about AI among C-suite executives
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Best practices for implementing AI securely and ethically
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Potential risks of relying on big tech companies for AI services
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How to prepare your workforce for the shifts brought by AI adoption
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Emerging roles and skills that will be valuable in the AI industry
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Key factors to consider when evaluating AI solutions
Episode Highlights
[02:46] Common misconceptions about AI vs. algorithms among executives
[05:53] Best practices for implementing AI securely and protecting data
[10:23] Potential risks of relying on big tech companies for AI services
[15:09] How to prepare your existing workforce for AI-driven changes
[20:01] Emerging roles like data curators and AI ethics professionals
[25:06] Critical skills for AI careers - debugging, engineering mindset, adaptability
[30:54] Key factors for C-suite to consider when evaluating AI solutions
[38:26] Advice for companies starting their AI implementation journey
[48:10] How companies can ensure their data remains secure with AI
[52:18] Final takeaways and recommendations for C-suite executives
About Oliver King-Smith
Oliver King-Smith is a trailblazing inventor and entrepreneur revolutionizing healthcare technology, sensors and artificial intelligence. As the founder of smartR.ai, he is pioneering innovative AI applications to drive societal change. Oliver holds a PhD in Mathematics from UC Berkeley and an executive MBA from Stanford. He has founded multiple companies, holds several patents, and brings extensive expertise in data visualization, statistics, machine vision, robotics and AI.
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Oliver on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/oliverkingsmith
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smartR.ai website: smartr.ai
Rebecca Hastings, Founder and Director at The Lucent Group
Connect on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hastingsrebecca/
Would you like to be a guest? Book a time to speak with Rebecca: https://calendly.com/rebeccahastings/discovery-call
The Lucent Group Ltd website - https://www.thelucentgroup.co.uk/
The Lucent Perspective website - https://thelucentperspective.com/
Rebecca has extensive talent and executive search experience supporting digital and technology businesses through complex changes and fast-paced scale-up periods. She works with businesses advising on C-level, technical, sales and commercial appointments, workforce planning, strategic talent management, recruitment processes and associated technology and employer brand development.
AI is transforming the way companies innovate and serve customers. But deploying AI effectively requires careful planning and a product mindset. In this episode, Angus Allan, of xDesign and former startup founder, shares his playbook for leveraging AI to create competitive advantages.
You will hear key insights on:
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Finding the pragmatic middle ground amidst AI hype cycles
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Determining if your company is a net consumer or producer of AI innovation
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Applying product thinking to solve real customer problems with AI
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How Money Saving Expert launched a chatbot in just 6 weeks
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Building an "AI moat" by using proprietary data to enhance AI capabilities
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Intrapreneur vs entrepreneur mindsets and how companies can leverage these
Episode Highlights
[01:34] Why adopting AI effectively requires finding a pragmatic middle ground between hype and pessimism
[02:58] How AI accessibility makes it easier to get started but harder to differentiate your business
[09:19] Why product thinking is key to solving real customer problems with AI (not just using AI for its own sake)
[13:35] How Money Saving Expert launched a chatbot in just 6 weeks using an agile process, safety measures, and trusted data sources
[23:50] Why building an "AI moat" using your unique data is crucial for creating competitive advantage with AI
[31:17] How intrapreneurs can successfully champion AI innovation by securing executive support and establishing risk frameworks
About Angus Allan
Angus Allan is a product leader and former founder with global experience across AI, financial services, and product management in start-ups, scale-ups, and enterprises. Currently a Senior Product Manager at xDesign, Angus combines his passion for AI and product strategy to deliver innovative solutions. He advocates for building responsible AI products that solve real customer problems and helped launch the award-winning MoneySavingExpert Chatbot. Angus regularly consults on AI product discovery, ideation, and implementation, co-organizes Product Tank Edinburgh, serves as Non-Executive Director at Rock Trust, and writes about AI and Product Management at AIAngus.com.
• Angus on LinkedIn
• Angus' AI Product Management newsletter
Rebecca Hastings, Founder and Director at The Lucent Group
Connect on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hastingsrebecca/
Would you like to be a guest? Book a time to speak with Rebecca: https://calendly.com/rebeccahastings/discovery-call
The Lucent Group Ltd website - https://www.thelucentgroup.co.uk/
The Lucent Perspective website - https://thelucentperspective.com/
Rebecca has extensive talent and executive search experience supporting digital and technology businesses through complex changes and fast-paced scale-up periods. She works with businesses advising on C-level, technical, sales and commercial appointments, workforce planning, strategic talent management, recruitment processes and associated technology and employer brand development.
Hiring, training, and motivating winning sales teams is critical for startup success but can be daunting for founders. In this episode, I am delighted to be joined by Lee Anderson, Director of Sales Scotland and Ireland at Microlise. With over 18 years of experience driving growth across diverse sectors and scaling the sales team from 5 to 35 employees as the co-founder and Head of Sales & Partnerships at telematics startup Coastr, Lee shares his proven playbook for building revenue machines.
You will hear key insights on:
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Most important traits to look for in early sales hires
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Benefits of having a commercial co-founder
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When to hire your first salesperson
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How to effectively onboard and train new sales hires
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Key differences between sales and partnership roles
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Data and metrics to gauge the success of your sales team
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Habits and mindsets that separate top sales performers
Episode Highlights
[01:46] Most important traits to look for in early sales hires - resilience, adaptability, self-motivation
[04:54] Benefits of having a commercial co-founder - passion, deep product knowledge, ability to nail value prop
[06:47] When to bring on your first salesperson if you don't have one as a co-founder
[12:04] Tips for onboarding salespeople - set expectations, define goals/KPIs, provide comprehensive training
[14:00] The art of uncovering objections in the sales process
[25:06] Key differences between sales and partnerships roles in terms of focus and approach
[30:54] Communicating with and coaching new sales hires in the first 6 months
[36:40] Metrics and KPIs to gauge the success of your sales team - revenue, pipeline, velocity, conversion rates
[42:01] Habits and mindsets of top sales performers - goal-oriented, resilient, adaptable, accountable
About Lee Anderson
Lee Anderson is a strategic sales leader with over 18 years of experience driving growth and profitability across diverse sectors in the UK and Middle East/Dubai. Currently, he serves as the Director of Sales for Scotland & Ireland at Microlise. Previously, Lee was the co-founder and Head of Sales & Partnerships at Coastr, a telematics startup, where he scaled the sales team from 5 to 35 employees. He also served in the British Army and holds a Higher National Diploma in Mechanical Engineering.
- Lee on LinkedIn
Rebecca Hastings, Founder and Director at The Lucent Group
Connect on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hastingsrebecca/
Would you like to be a guest? Book a time to speak with Rebecca: https://calendly.com/rebeccahastings/discovery-call
The Lucent Group Ltd website - https://www.thelucentgroup.co.uk/
The Lucent Perspective website - https://thelucentperspective.com/
Rebecca has extensive talent and executive search experience supporting digital and technology businesses through complex changes and fast-paced scale-up periods. She works with businesses advising on C-level, technical, sales and commercial appointments, workforce planning, strategic talent management, recruitment processes and associated technology and employer brand development.
In this episode, we have an engaging conversation with Peter Proud, the CEO and founder of Forrit, an AI-driven Azure-native CMS. Peter shares his insights on lessons learned from his career at Microsoft, founding a startup, cultivating a positive company culture, and the power of apprenticeships.
Episode Highlights:
[1:26] - Most useful experiences from working at Microsoft before founding Forrit
[3:24] - Key lessons taken from Microsoft beyond treating staff well
[5:58] - How Peter's time at Microsoft helped prepare him for entrepreneurship
[9:03] - The biggest early challenges with starting Forrit
[12:23] - Top tips for someone transitioning from a big corporate to founding a startup
[15:04] - Why apprenticeships are so important to Peter and how they add value to businesses
[20:11] - How Forrit's team and business has evolved over time
[21:25] - Key factors for a tech business to consider when setting up an apprenticeship scheme
[26:58] - Peter's philosophy on creating a positive company culture beyond learning
[31:09] - Benefits of face-to-face interaction at work, even in a hybrid environment
[35:17] - Top tips for fostering humility in yourself and other leaders
[38:54] - How and why Peter got involved in mentoring and supporting other startup entrepreneurs
[42:02] - Advice on pricing models and not overcomplicating them while appreciating complexities
[44:20] - Best piece of advice for someone considering entrepreneurship as a career
[45:55] - How people should evaluate new career opportunities that come their way
Throughout the discussion, Peter provides actionable advice for aspiring entrepreneurs and those looking to build high-performing teams. He emphasizes the importance of learning, building relationships, resilience, and leveraging experience at each stage of one's career.
Peter also shares how Forrit has benefited from implementing a robust apprenticeship program, creating a culture of continuous learning, and maintaining face-to-face interaction even in a hybrid work environment. He provides guidance on keeping pricing models simple yet effective and supporting other entrepreneurs through mentorship.
About Peter Proud
Peter Proud is the CEO and founder of Forrit, an AI-driven Azure-native CMS. He is also a board member of the Homeless World Cup and a visiting professor and entrepreneur in residence at the University of Strathclyde. Prior to founding Forrit, Peter was the Digital Sales Strategy Lead for Western Europe at Microsoft.
- Forrit website: https://www.forrit.com/
- Peter on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/peter-proud-frse-84a292/
Rebecca Hastings, Founder and Director at The Lucent Group
Connect on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hastingsrebecca/
Would you like to be a guest? Book a time to speak with Rebecca: https://calendly.com/rebeccahastings/discovery-call
The Lucent Group Ltd website - https://www.thelucentgroup.co.uk/
The Lucent Perspective website - https://thelucentperspective.com/
Rebecca has extensive talent and executive search experience supporting digital and technology businesses through complex changes and fast-paced scale-up periods. She works with businesses advising on C-level, technical, sales and commercial appointments, workforce planning, strategic talent management, recruitment processes and associated technology and employer brand development.
In this episode, host Rebecca Hastings has an engaging conversation with Aly Madhavji, the managing partner at Blockchain Founders Fund based in Singapore. Aly shares his insights on what investors look for in founders, pitches, teams, and ongoing relationships. He also provides invaluable advice on making follow-on rounds easier and offers top tips and predictions around the web3 space.
Episode Highlights:
[2:37] - How Aly's background shaped his worldview and drew him to blockchain technology
[4:54] - Practical applications and use cases of blockchain that Aly's fund has invested in
[8:37] - The importance of digital ownership enabled by NFTs as we spend more time in the digital world
[12:16] - Exciting areas in the web3 space that Blockchain Founders Fund is investing in
[15:41] - Common missteps startup founders make and how to avoid them
[17:53] - Tips for founders to nail their pitches and explain their startups effectively
[21:08] - Best practices for founders to keep investors engaged with regular updates
[24:31] - Balancing long-term vision with day-to-day execution and getting things done
[27:39] - Experimentation as a crucial element at all stages and how to approach it
[30:41] - Attributes Aly looks for in founding teams beyond business aspects
[35:00] - Assessing the strength of technical teams, especially in the blockchain space
[38:13] - How founders can best work with and leverage their investors
[40:26] - Aly's top predictions for the blockchain sector over the next few years
Throughout the discussion, Aly provides actionable advice for founders in the web3 space on pitching, engaging investors, building strong teams, and executing effectively. He emphasizes the transformative potential of blockchain technology across industries and highlights promising areas like decentralized infrastructure, real-world assets, and multi-chain interoperability.
Aly also shares how Blockchain Founders Fund evaluates founding teams, assesses technical strength, and supports its portfolio companies. Founders can reach out to Aly and his team to discuss their projects and potential collaboration.
About Aly Madhavji
Aly Madhavji is the Managing Partner at Blockchain Founders Fund, a Singapore-based early-stage VC fund investing in top-tier blockchain startups globally. He is a Senior Blockchain Fellow at INSEAD and serves as a consultant to the UN on emerging technologies. Aly has been a successful tech entrepreneur and is widely recognized as a thought leader in the blockchain space.
- Blockchain Founders Fund website: https://blockchainff.com/
- Aly on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alymadhavji/
- Aly on Twitter: https://twitter.com/Aly_Madhavji
Rebecca Hastings, Founder and Director at The Lucent Group
Connect on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hastingsrebecca/
Would you like to be a guest? Book a time to speak with Rebecca: https://calendly.com/rebeccahastings/discovery-call
The Lucent Group Ltd website - https://www.thelucentgroup.co.uk/
The Lucent Perspective website - https://thelucentperspective.com/
Rebecca has extensive talent and executive search experience supporting digital and technology businesses through complex changes and fast-paced scale-up periods. She works with businesses advising on C-level, technical, sales and commercial appointments, workforce planning, strategic talent management, recruitment processes and associated technology and employer brand development.
In this episode, host Rebecca Hastings has an enlightening discussion with Andrew Bartlow, a former CHRO and now advisor who helps tech startups develop their people functions. Andrew shares his wisdom on leading startups through predictable growing pains, optimizing talent and culture for growth, communicating vision effectively, progressing one's career, and founders letting go of control.
Episode Highlights:
[0:58] - The current funding environment for startups and the focus on revenue
[2:23] - Key people challenges startups face when scaling up
[3:28] - Adapting approaches to the capital efficiency environment
[5:08] - The shift back to prioritizing finance leadership over HR
[14:26] - The "crisis of autonomy" startups face around 100 employees
[17:38] - Applying lessons learned to startup growth, while customizing for your context
[20:55] - Clearly communicating strategic priorities using a simple framework
[25:11] - Life stage differences matter more than generational differences
[32:56] - Having an employment value proposition to attract candidates
[37:52] - Factors US investors consider when evaluating UK/European startups
[47:08] - Enabling employees to advance throughout growth stages
[51:23] - Raising your external professional profile to open opportunities
Throughout the discussion, Andrew offers practical tips for startups to succeed through predictable growing pains by staying laser focused on vision and priorities, understanding team needs, clearly communicating strategy, developing strong employment value propositions to attract talent, and supporting founders to transition leadership effectively as the organization scales.
He emphasizes learning from other startups while customizing approaches for your context, leveraging networks and platforms to raise profiles, and keeping perspective on what motivates candidates in this environment.
About Andrew Bartlow
Andrew Bartlow is an experienced HR leader who has served as CHRO at multiple high-growth companies. He founded Series B Consulting and helps organizations design processes to support rapid scaling. Bartlow recently published the book "Scaling for Success: People Priorities for High Growth Organizations" and also co-founded People Leader Accelerator, an executive development program for HR professionals. He provides mentoring and advises PE firms, startups, and founders on strategic talent and organizational matters.
- Andrew on LinkedIn
Rebecca Hastings, Founder and Director at The Lucent Group
Connect on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hastingsrebecca/
Would you like to be a guest? Book a time to speak with Rebecca: https://calendly.com/rebeccahastings/discovery-call
The Lucent Group Ltd website - https://www.thelucentgroup.co.uk/
The Lucent Perspective website - https://thelucentperspective.com/
Rebecca has extensive talent and executive search experience supporting digital and technology businesses through complex changes and fast-paced scale-up periods. She works with businesses advising on C-level, technical, sales and commercial appointments, workforce planning, strategic talent management, recruitment processes and associated technology and employer brand development.
In this bonus episode of the Lucent Perspective, we are sharing a recent LinkedIn Live Webinar, joined by Andrew Bardsley, Founder of JackHR. Andrew Bardsley and Rebecca Hastings discuss how to build retention into hiring and how to empower managers so they can retain top talent. We cover issues such as how Gen Z are approaching things differently, how managers can spot burnout and how you can have the right conversations to keep your team engaged and productive.
We address the challenges managers face in initiating these discussions and introduce the concept of "courageous conversations" encompassing topics like constructive feedback. We also discuss how you can support managers in developing the necessary skills, frameworks, and confidence to navigate these conversations effectively, ultimately improving employee well-being and engagement in the workplace.
Episode Highlights:
[00:04:11] Increased turnover in tech.
[00:06:00] The true cost of turnover.
[00:10:33] Reasons for people looking to leave.
[00:13:20] Conflict avoidance in younger generations.
[00:19:15] Building retention in hiring.
[00:23:26] Assessing job satisfaction.
[00:27:02] Enhancing the candidate experience.
[00:29:04] People leave managers.
[00:34:07] Caring conversations.
[00:38:07] Managers supporting career conversations.
[00:41:35] Lack of courageous conversations.
[00:45:32] Bad jobs and leaving managers.
Managers play a vital role in recognizing early signs of mental health issues, physical health problems, and burnout within their teams, placing a strong emphasis on the significance of "caring conversations." The acknowledgment that managers may lack confidence and support in addressing these sensitive topics underscores the challenges they face. Introducing the concept of "courageous conversations," which includes managing up, providing constructive feedback, and performance management, highlights the struggles managers may encounter in these discussions, potentially leading to communication breakdowns.
To address these challenges, there is a clear suggestion to support managers in developing skills, frameworks, and effective questioning techniques for engaging in conversations about mental health and well-being. The ultimate goal is to enhance managers' abilities to navigate these difficult discussions, thereby fostering improved employee retention, engagement, and overall well-being in the workplace.
Emphasizing the importance of open dialogue with the workforce is a key aspect of identifying skill gaps in coaching, career development, courage, and care.
About Andrew:
- Andrew Bardsley on LinkedIn
Rebecca Hastings, Founder and Director at The Lucent Group
Connect on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hastingsrebecca/
Would you like to be a guest? Book a time to speak with Rebecca: https://calendly.com/rebeccahastings/discovery-call
The Lucent Group Ltd website - https://www.thelucentgroup.co.uk/
The Lucent Perspective website - https://thelucentperspective.com/
Rebecca has extensive talent and executive search experience supporting digital and technology businesses through complex changes and fast-paced scale-up periods. She works with businesses advising on C-level, technical, sales and commercial appointments, workforce planning, strategic talent management, recruitment processes and associated technology and employer brand development.
In this episode, host Rebecca Hastings has an enlightening discussion with serial entrepreneur and business advisor Russell Dalgleish. Russell shares his wisdom on entrepreneurship, networking, international business, purpose-driven leadership, and more.
Episode Highlights:
[0:41] - The mindset required for startup success
[1:42] - Staying focused on your purpose and mission
[3:41] - Clarifying your mission from the start
[10:22] - Using LinkedIn to reach potential customers
[16:09] - Leveraging global business networks
[27:58] - Building an impactful board of directors
[32:25] - Accelerating progress on climate change
[37:25] - Leaving a legacy and being remembered
Russell emphasizes the importance of staying focused on your core purpose as an entrepreneur. He outlines how to leverage LinkedIn for sales and provides examples of the Scottish Business Network facilitating international expansion.
On building an effective board, Russell stresses choosing the right Chairperson and actively engaging members. He also shares insights from driving progress on net zero emissions and climate action.
Throughout the discussion, Russell offers practical tips for entrepreneurs to succeed by clarifying their mission, fostering meaningful relationships, and keeping their legacy in mind.
About Russell Dalgleish
Russell Dalgleish is a prominent Scottish entrepreneur and business advisor with decades of experience founding, scaling, and advising high-growth tech companies globally.
He is currently the Founding Chair of Scottish Business Network, the Founding Managing Partner at Exolta Capital Partners, and a board member of several organizations. Russell hosts conferences worldwide and regularly shares his perspectives on leadership, investment, and entrepreneurship.
- Russell on LinkedIn
Rebecca Hastings, Founder and Director at The Lucent Group
Connect on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hastingsrebecca/
Would you like to be a guest? Book a time to speak with Rebecca: https://calendly.com/rebeccahastings/discovery-call
The Lucent Group Ltd website - https://www.thelucentgroup.co.uk/
The Lucent Perspective website - https://thelucentperspective.com/
Rebecca has extensive talent and executive search experience supporting digital and technology businesses through complex changes and fast-paced scale-up periods. She works with businesses advising on C-level, technical, sales and commercial appointments, workforce planning, strategic talent management, recruitment processes and associated technology and employer brand development.
In this episode, host Rebecca Hastings conducts an insightful interview with returning guest Gary Crawford, Chief Innovation Officer at Waracle. They dive deeper into a timely issue: how the rise of AI is transforming software development teams and processes.
Gary, who previously joined us in Episode 5 on how enterprise companies can leverage AI, provides an insider's view on the latest developments. As an experienced technology leader helping companies scale, he offers a unique perspective on what's changing in this fast-moving domain.
Episode Highlights:
[00:41] Effective AI integrates sensitively into systems.
[02:09] AI enabling creative applications.
[05:59] Subtly integrating AI into existing products.
[10:21] Safe and thoughtful AI integration.
[18:20] Decentralizing decision-making.
[25:31] Planning vital but agile approach still key.
[33:24] Strategic, creative, experimental thinking.
[41:29] Psychologically safe environments.
[46:24] Key developer interview questions.
Gary emphasizes the need to integrate AI subtly into existing systems while decentralizing decision-making closer to products and users. Teams must think strategically about "what and why" to build, while still moving fast and experimenting.
As this conversation makes clear, leveraging AI to its full potential requires a combination of creative thinking and technological integration. Gary provides actionable advice to guide companies making this transition to realize results:
- Leaders must create psychologically safe environments that allow for failure and experimentation with new ideas.
- Development teams should embrace strategic, creative, and experimental thinking focused on "what and why" they are building.
- Decision-making and control should be decentralized, moving AI closer to products and end users.
With these perspectives in mind, companies can thoughtfully evolve their teams and processes to tap into the promise of AI-enabled software.
About Gary Crawford
Gary Crawford is an executive coach and consultant who works with leadership teams to understand the impact of exponential technologies like AI on their business. He currently serves as Chief Innovation Officer at Waracle, advising on vision, strategy, use cases, risks, impacts, and implications of emerging technologies.
- Gary Crawford on LinkedIn
Rebecca Hastings, Founder and Director at The Lucent Group
Connect on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hastingsrebecca/
Would you like to be a guest? Book a time to speak with Rebecca: https://calendly.com/rebeccahastings/discovery-call
The Lucent Group Ltd website - https://www.thelucentgroup.co.uk/
The Lucent Perspective website - https://thelucentperspective.com/
Rebecca has extensive talent and executive search experience supporting digital and technology businesses through complex changes and fast-paced scale-up periods. She works with businesses advising on C-level, technical, sales and commercial appointments, workforce planning, strategic talent management, recruitment processes and associated technology and employer brand development.
In this episode of The Lucent Perspective, host Rebecca Hastings interviews John Cushing, an award-winning founder and CEO with extensive experience in building and scaling data-driven digital companies. John shares his insights on understanding the context of company performance, the importance of diversity and inclusion, and his passion for supporting female entrepreneurship. With a track record of successful exits and a commitment to advocacy, John offers valuable perspectives on leadership and growth in the tech sector.
Episode Highlights:
[00:00:41] Understanding company context and impact.
[00:04:45] Private companies and data challenges.
[00:09:30] The Gender Index.
[00:11:20] Female founders and raising capital.
[00:19:38] Business growth in Northern Ireland.
[00:21:29] Diversity and idea evaluation.
[00:28:10] Gender pay gap and sales.
[00:33:34] Barriers in entrepreneurship.
[00:37:31] Define your applicable universe.
[00:45:31] Gen AI and career paths.
John emphasized a pivotal theme—understanding context when evaluating a company's performance. He passionately argued against making swift judgments based on isolated incidents, asserting the need to consider the broader picture.
John's illustrative example brought this point to life, showcasing a company that, despite doubling its emissions, created 500 new jobs. He argued against hastily labeling the company as "bad" based solely on emissions, emphasizing the shortsightedness of such assessments. This case underscored the dynamic nature of companies, with John highlighting the constant changes, high rates of liquidation, and administration, reinforcing the importance of contextual understanding in evaluating performance.
The discussion delved into the psychology of founders, with John expressing curiosity about the motivations that set successful entrepreneurs apart. While he didn't offer a definitive answer, he suggested that common drivers may manifest differently in individuals.
In conclusion, John's insights encourage a nuanced perspective on evaluating company performance, urging industry professionals to look beyond isolated incidents.
About John Cushing:
John Cushing is an award-winning CEO and founder who has spent 18 years building fast growth, data driven digital companies in the UK; he was recognized as one of the "top 10 Innovative CEO's of 2021," represents Silicon Valley Bank on their Growth Stage Advisory Panel, and is a passionate advocate for female entrepreneurship.
- John Cushing on LinkedIn
Rebecca Hastings, Founder and Director at The Lucent Group
Connect on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hastingsrebecca/
Would you like to be a guest? Book a time to speak with Rebecca: https://calendly.com/rebeccahastings/discovery-call
The Lucent Group Ltd website - https://www.thelucentgroup.co.uk/
The Lucent Perspective website - https://thelucentperspective.com/
Rebecca has extensive talent and executive search experience supporting digital and technology businesses through complex changes and fast-paced scale-up periods. She works with businesses advising on C-level, technical, sales and commercial appointments, workforce planning, strategic talent management, recruitment processes and associated technology and employer brand development.
In this episode of The Lucent Perspective, I was joined by Kate McMillan, the head of service technology at Fortinet. Kate shares her experiences in building a community platform for Fortinet users and the impact it has had on their business. With different support options scattered across various platforms, Kate explains how the need for a centralized hub became apparent. As Fortinet grew through acquisitions, the company required a more scalable solution to meet the evolving demands of their customers.
Episode Highlights:
[00:00:41] Building a community platform.
[00:04:03] Customer self-service and cost-effectiveness.
[00:09:48] Getting team members on board.
[00:12:51] Understanding customer needs and feedback.
[00:16:51] Additional insights on customers.
[00:21:48] AI and communities evolving.
[00:23:11] Tips for setting up a community.
[00:28:14] Scale of support operations.
[00:31:39] Repetitive queries and self-serve model.
Tech Communities: Evolving Customer Support
Customers demand enhanced online experiences and efficient tech interactions, pushing communities to evolve. Staying relevant means adapting to tech advancements, meeting higher expectations, and responding to changing preferences like AI use. Creating videos or documents for repetitive info sharing is a valuable practice, saving time and resources, especially for startups. This scalable approach efficiently disseminates knowledge, reducing the need for extensive support.
Communities, acting as centralized platforms, serve as one-stop shops for showcasing products and providing resources. Customers access videos, webinars, knowledge articles, and engage in forum discussions within these platforms. This consolidation makes it convenient for customers to access and utilize resources related to a product or service. Leveraging communities for self-serve support is highlighted as more efficient and scalable than traditional phone-based support, particularly advantageous for businesses in rapid growth stages. Offering various resources and support options in one place enhances product adoption and provides a valuable platform for customers to access the information they need.
About Kate McMillan
Kate McMillan is an experienced business leader and process improvement specialist with over 10 years of experience. She has held various leadership roles at companies like Fortinet, ZoneFox, and Akamai focused on improving customer experience through business analysis, training, and process optimization.
- Kate McMillan on LinkedIn
Rebecca Hastings, Founder and Director at The Lucent Group
Connect on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hastingsrebecca/
Would you like to be a guest? Book a time to speak with Rebecca: https://calendly.com/rebeccahastings/discovery-call
The Lucent Group Ltd website - https://www.thelucentgroup.co.uk/
The Lucent Perspective website - https://thelucentperspective.com/
Rebecca has extensive talent and executive search experience supporting digital and technology businesses through complex changes and fast-paced scale-up periods. She works with businesses advising on C-level, technical, sales and commercial appointments, workforce planning, strategic talent management, recruitment processes and associated technology and employer brand development.
In this episode of The Lucent Perspective, Rachel Curtis, the CEO of Inicio, shares her insights on AI, FinTech startups, and the challenges of leading a fast-growing business and raising investment. She discusses her journey from the corporate world to entrepreneurship and how it was a more accidental path for her.
Episode Highlights:
[00:02:01] Conversational AI in banking.
[00:04:21] Corporate expertise in fintech.
[00:07:35] Mental health and financial struggles.
[00:12:31] Raising investment as a female founder.
[00:15:08] The value of accelerators.
[00:19:08] Scaling with strategic partnerships.
[00:22:41] Building a strong board.
[00:26:48] Ethical considerations in development.
[00:30:04] AI in fintech safety.
[00:34:08] AI transforming financial services.
[00:37:20] The psychology behind AI.
Revolutionizing Financial Assistance
Rachel, during her work in affordability processes, identified a significant barrier where people in debt fear judgment, hindering them from seeking assistance. To address this, Inicio developed Budgie, a conversational AI-powered virtual agent that guides users through affordability assessments without judgment. By leveraging data from credit agencies and open banking, Budgie streamlines the process, resulting in a 30-35% increase in customer engagement.
Budgie's impact is twofold: it offers customers a non-judgmental experience, easing fears and improving approachability, while organizations benefit from enhanced efficiency and ethical collection practices. Rachel emphasizes the importance of aligning purpose with commercial success in leadership. Her journey from traditional banking to fintech underscores how passion and industry expertise can drive success, emphasizing the potential for individuals to make a lasting impact in any field when driven by passion and expertise.
About Rachel Curtis
Rachel Curtis is an experienced financial services leader with over 20 years in banking. She was a founding executive at Cambridge & Counties Bank, leading marketing, savings, customers and operations. Achieved 98% customer satisfaction within 13 months of launch. Currently CEO of Inicio AI and Non-Executive Director at Loughborough Building Society, chairing Remuneration Committee.
- Rachel Curtis on LinkedIn
Rebecca Hastings, Founder and Director at The Lucent Group
Connect on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hastingsrebecca/
Would you like to be a guest? Book a time to speak with Rebecca: https://calendly.com/rebeccahastings/discovery-call
The Lucent Group Ltd website - https://www.thelucentgroup.co.uk/
The Lucent Perspective website - https://thelucentperspective.com/
Rebecca has extensive talent and executive search experience supporting digital and technology businesses through complex changes and fast-paced scale-up periods. She works with businesses advising on C-level, technical, sales and commercial appointments, workforce planning, strategic talent management, recruitment processes and associated technology and employer brand development.
In this episode, I was joined by Vincent Cano, Chief People Officer at Agicap, a fast-growing fintech company based in Paris. We discussed lessons learned from failed attempts at rolling out global HR policies, balancing consistency with local needs when expanding internationally, determining critical roles to add during rapid growth, and more.
Episode Highlights:
2:22 - Need to customize policies to different local norms and cultures
6:07 - Get local buy-in when translating HR policies across regions
8:25 - Think long term, stay close to local markets, get the right leaders when expanding internationally
15:54 - Organizational design flexibility critical even if aligned to business goals
18:47 - Bring in HR specialists only when scale and needs are clear
27:34 - Build HR function around key employee lifecycle touchpoints
Vincent and I discuss lessons learned from failed attempts at rolling out global HR policies without properly adapting them to local contexts and cultures. Vincent emphasizes the need to get local buy-in, understand political and cultural nuances, and find the right local leadership when expanding globally.
We also talk about determining critical roles to add as organizations scale, while maintaining flexibility in organizational design. Even if structure is aligned to business goals, things change quickly during hypergrowth periods so agility is key. Vincent covers building out the HR function and specializations like learning & development only when there is enough clarity on needs and resources to support it. A key framework he discusses is structuring people operations around vital employee lifecycle touchpoints - effective talent acquisition, smooth onboarding, impactful development, and proactive retention.
One of the best pieces of advice Vincent gives in this episode is that when expanding internationally, companies need to think long term, stay closely connected to local markets even after launch, and ensure the right local leaders are in place to drive success.
About Vincent Cano:Vincent Cano is currently the Chief People Officer at Agicap, a fast-growing FinTech providing cash flow management solutions to SMEs across Europe. He has international experience leading people operations and HR functions during rapid scaling and growth stages at both startups and mature global companies.
Rebecca Hastings, Founder and Director at The Lucent Group
Connect on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hastingsrebecca/
Would you like to be a guest? Book a time to speak with Rebecca: https://calendly.com/rebeccahastings/discovery-call
The Lucent Group Ltd website - https://www.thelucentgroup.co.uk/
The Lucent Perspective website - https://thelucentperspective.com/
Rebecca has extensive talent and executive search experience supporting digital and technology businesses through complex changes and fast-paced scale-up periods. She works with businesses advising on C-level, technical, sales and commercial appointments, workforce planning, strategic talent management, recruitment processes and associated technology and employer brand development.
In this episode, we're joined by Jess Igoe, Chief People Officer at Amici. Jess shares her expertise in building highly effective engineering teams, hiring salespeople, developing career ladders, getting the culture right, and more.
0:41 - The importance of hiring self-motivated engineers
3:15 - Sales recruiting requires more planning and consistency
5:17 - Using psychometric assessments in the hiring process
9:47 - The power of probing questions in interviews
15:00 - Rebuilding company culture after redundancies
20:47 - Incorporating soft skills into career ladders
26:44 - Routinely communicating and updating career ladders
31:34 - Founders must model desired company values
35:00 - Adapting culture initiatives when challenges arise
40:27 - Boosting engagement in hybrid work environments
45:09 - Handling the transition back to on-site work
51:28 - Jess's key advice - know yourself, communicate your values, demonstrate them
I spoke with Jess Igoe, a seasoned Chief People Officer, about hiring self-motivated engineers and building successful sales teams. Jess emphasized the importance of finding passionate individuals who thrive in a fast-paced environment and recommended a structured recruitment process with tailored interview questions. She also advised conducting comprehensive reference checks and incorporating psychometric testing.
Jess stressed the need for effective communication and compassion during times of layoffs or redundancies, encouraging managers to motivate and support their teams. In terms of career advancement, Jess warned against promoting based solely on job titles and encouraged creating career ladders using real workplace competencies.
Jess recommended self-reflection and executive coaching for individuals transitioning to leadership roles and emphasized the importance of understanding all aspects of the business. To foster a desired culture, Jess suggested visibly celebrating company values and keeping motivational initiatives going during challenging times. She advised bringing in dedicated HR professionals as the business scales and adjusting location flexibility in a hybrid working environment.
Jess's ultimate advice was to know yourself, exemplify expected behaviors, and transparently communicate the vision from day one to retain top talent and cultivate an inclusive culture.
Rebecca Hastings, Founder and Director at The Lucent Group
Connect on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hastingsrebecca/
Would you like to be a guest? Book a time to speak with Rebecca: https://calendly.com/rebeccahastings/discovery-call
The Lucent Group Ltd website - https://www.thelucentgroup.co.uk/
The Lucent Perspective website - https://thelucentperspective.com/
Rebecca has extensive talent and executive search experience supporting digital and technology businesses through complex changes and fast-paced scale-up periods. She works with businesses advising on C-level, technical, sales and commercial appointments, workforce planning, strategic talent management, recruitment processes and associated technology and employer brand development.
In this episode, I am very fortunate to have Neil Bruce to discuss the growth marketing and key trends impacting the success of marketing in tech companies. Neil, who has experience in both in-house and agency roles, shares valuable insights on the in-house agency dynamic.
Episode Highlights:
[00:02:10] Growth marketing strategies.
[00:05:37] The creation of growth teams.
[00:08:07] Retention and customer optimization.
[00:20:36] Leveraging network effects.
[00:24:13] AI-driven personalization and recommendations.
[00:33:22] Targeted advertising based on data.
[00:38:15] Using data for customer value.
[00:52:02] Building diverse teams.
[01:01:28] Empowering team members to grow.
[01:08:26] Time management techniques.
Data's Crucial Role in Marketing
In today's digital world, data is marketing's lifeblood, essential for understanding customer behavior, spotting trends, and seizing opportunities. Lack of data insights can cost revenue and customer satisfaction.
AI's Transformative Impact
AI is reshaping the marketing landscape, offering a wealth of opportunities and challenges. AI-driven personalization is enhancing customer engagement, with tailored product recommendations taking center stage. Predictive analytics, powered by AI, provides a deeper understanding of customer behavior and trends, facilitating data-driven decision-making. Chatbots, AI-powered virtual assistants, are revolutionizing customer interactions and content creation.
About Neil Bruce
Neil Bruce is an experienced digital marketing leader with over 15 years in the industry. He has worked with major global brands across 30+ markets. Neil has particular expertise in mobile marketing, having served as Head of Mobile for digital agency Mindshare in the UK for 5 years. There, he led mobile strategy and innovation, helping brands optimize campaigns through partnerships with Apple, Google, Facebook, Amazon, and more. Neil has also held senior roles at ironSource and GoDaddy. He is skilled in areas like growth marketing, startups, leadership, and digital strategy.
- Neil on LinkedIn
Related Podcasts You Might Enjoy
- The Role of AI and Data Technology in Solving Business Problems, with Duncan Hart of DeepMiner
Rebecca Hastings, Founder and Director at The Lucent Group
Connect on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hastingsrebecca/
Would you like to be a guest? Book a time to speak with Rebecca: https://calendly.com/rebeccahastings/discovery-call
The Lucent Group Ltd website - https://www.thelucentgroup.co.uk/
The Lucent Perspective website - https://thelucentperspective.com/
Rebecca has extensive talent and executive search experience supporting digital and technology businesses through complex changes and fast-paced scale-up periods. She works with businesses advising on C-level, technical, sales and commercial appointments, workforce planning, strategic talent management, recruitment processes and associated technology and employer brand development.
In the ever-evolving world of business and leadership, one thing stands out as the ultimate game-changer: culture. If you've ever wondered what sets successful companies apart from the rest, our latest podcast episode dives deep into the transformative power of culture and its role in scaling up and thriving in today's competitive landscape. Our guest speaker makes it clear – it's all about 'culture, culture, and culture.'
I am very fortunate to be joined by Richard Doherty, a distinguished expert in the industry. Richard emphasizes that without a robust culture, an enterprise's aspirations and desired outcomes remain elusive. He contends that the individuals within an organization are its lifeblood, and their presence alone is insufficient. Instead, he underscores the necessity of empathetic leadership, driven by purpose, capable of galvanizing the entire organization, ensuring unwavering alignment with the established culture.
Episode Outline and Highlights
[00:00:48] The culture of collective transformation.
[00:06:13] Having a growth mindset.
[00:09:04] Humility and customer-centricity.
[00:19:36] Leaders learning from other leaders.
[00:22:10] Developing talent at the leadership level.
[00:30:41] Daily video communication for teams.
[00:35:44] Three important pieces of advice: culture, culture, and culture.
[00:39:10] Successful transformations.
Culture is the linchpin for success in transformation efforts, as emphasized by Richard Doherty in this podcast. He underscores the significance of empathetic leadership and a collective culture over a superhero culture. Structured conversations play a vital role in effective learning, requiring planning, agendas, clear goals, and inclusivity. A growth mindset is crucial for revenue, productivity, and innovation, not just for leaders but throughout the organization, achieved through learning opportunities and fostering innovation.
About Richard Doherty
Richard Doherty is a seasoned professional with a remarkable 15-year career dedicated to driving business and technology transformation within the realms of Financial Services, Investment Banking, Exchanges, and Fintech. He excels at aligning large-scale IT and digital initiatives with client strategies, consistently achieving impactful results.
- Richard on LinkedIn
Related Podcasts You Might Enjoy
- Achieving True Culture Success While Scaling and Transforming, Insights from Amabel Grant
Rebecca Hastings, Founder and Director at The Lucent Group
Connect on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hastingsrebecca/
Would you like to be a guest? Book a time to speak with Rebecca: https://calendly.com/rebeccahastings/discovery-call
The Lucent Group Ltd website - https://www.thelucentgroup.co.uk/
The Lucent Perspective website - https://thelucentperspective.com/
Rebecca has extensive talent and executive search experience supporting digital and technology businesses through complex changes and fast-paced scale-up periods. She works with businesses advising on C-level, technical, sales and commercial appointments, workforce planning, strategic talent management, recruitment processes and associated technology and employer brand development.
The convergence of technologies like AI, Blockchain, VR, and Metaverse will reshape society and the future of work. How are you preparing your business and your workforce to adapt and leverage AI to your advantage?
Episode Outline and Highlights
- [01:28] Exploring AI's Impact on Society and the Future of Work.
- [04:32] Equipping the Workforce for AI Adaptation.
- [09:11] Theo's Vision of the Future for Businesses and Technology.
- [15:36] Addressing Bias Risks and Ethical AI Implementation.
- [19:41] The Regulatory Landscape's Influence on AI in Tech.
- [25:01] Nurturing Critical Skills in Your Team.
- [29:58] Debunking Misconceptions and Discussing the Future of the Metaverse.
- [34:42] Theo's Unique Perspective as an Anti-Futurist.
- [37:03] Insights on AI-Induced Doom-Mongering.
- [39:30] Theo's Approach to Staying Informed in His Field.
About Theo Priestly
Theo has over two decades working across various industries and held exec roles in software companies focusing on product management and marketing. He also bootstrapped and raised funding for personal ventures, mentored startups within top accelerators, wrote a book on the future, and did everything else in between.
Theo has appeared on many podcasts, written over 300 articles across publications including Forbes, WIRED, HuffPost, and VentureBeat, and given keynote talks across the world. He has been featured on multiple thought leaders and influencer lists in the past on topics relating to virtual reality, artificial intelligence, and emerging technologies and continues to write articles that get people talking.
- Theo on LinkedIn
- The Future Starts Now book by Theo Priestly
Related Podcasts You Might Enjoy
- How Can Enterprise Companies Leverage AI? With Gary Crawford
Would you like to be a guest?
Book a time to speak with Rebecca: https://calendly.com/rebeccahastings/discovery-call
Rebecca Hastings, Founder and Director at The Lucent Group
Connect on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hastingsrebecca/
Would you like to be a guest? Book a time to speak with Rebecca: https://calendly.com/rebeccahastings/discovery-call
The Lucent Group Ltd website - https://www.thelucentgroup.co.uk/
The Lucent Perspective website - https://thelucentperspective.com/
Rebecca has extensive talent and executive search experience supporting digital and technology businesses through complex changes and fast-paced scale-up periods. She works with businesses advising on C-level, technical, sales and commercial appointments, workforce planning, strategic talent management, recruitment processes and associated technology and employer brand development.
Climate change is a global crisis that affects everyone, regardless of location or industry. In this episode, you will hear how Snugg, a fintech based in the UK is playing a significant role in contributing to net-zero initiatives. My special guest is Robin Peters, Snugg’s Co-Founder and CEO. Robin revealed the idea behind their astonishing platform and how they make it easy for both consumers and other businesses to overcome the barriers to energy efficiency.
Episode Outline and Highlights
- [01:38] How Robin came up with the idea of simplifying home energy efficiency which led to the foundation of Snugg.
- [06:04] Robin discusses long-term mortgages and other solutions that can help drive energy efficiency and home improvement initiatives.
- [08:45] The global market potential for energy efficiency solutions and the significant amount of investment needed to address this issue.
- [10:53] Simplifying solutions and presenting consumer data in a simpler way for consumers.
- [14:33] The B2B side of Snugg.
- [18:54] Challenges and opportunities in the supply chain for improving homes and implementing net-zero energy efficiency initiatives.
- [23:27] Talent-related challenges that Robin faced in their startup.
- [26:29] Building a psychologically safe working environment.
- [27:39] Tips on building and scaling by hiring the right people.
- [35:57] Transitioning from the corporate business to the startup world.
- [39:56] Leveraging transferable skills and where to look if someone is interested in engaging in climate tech.
Related Podcasts You Might Enjoy
- Startup to Acquisition: Scaling and Disrupting Online Marketplaces to Millions of Users, with Shirish Nadkarni
Would you like to be a guest?
Book a time to speak with Rebecca: https://calendly.com/rebeccahastings/discovery-call
Rebecca Hastings, Founder and Director at The Lucent Group
Connect on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hastingsrebecca/
Rebecca has extensive talent and executive search experience supporting digital and technology businesses through complex changes and fast-paced scale-up periods. She works with businesses advising on C-level, technical, sales, and commercial appointments, workforce planning, strategic talent management, recruitment processes and associated technology, and employer brand development.
Rebecca Hastings, Founder and Director at The Lucent Group
Connect on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hastingsrebecca/
Would you like to be a guest? Book a time to speak with Rebecca: https://calendly.com/rebeccahastings/discovery-call
The Lucent Group Ltd website - https://www.thelucentgroup.co.uk/
The Lucent Perspective website - https://thelucentperspective.com/
Rebecca has extensive talent and executive search experience supporting digital and technology businesses through complex changes and fast-paced scale-up periods. She works with businesses advising on C-level, technical, sales and commercial appointments, workforce planning, strategic talent management, recruitment processes and associated technology and employer brand development.
I am thrilled to be joined by the brilliant tech entrepreneur and visionary, Shirish Nadkarni! With a career spanning decades, Shirish has left an indelible mark on the tech industry, contributing to the success of iconic products like MSN, Blackberry, and Rosetta Stone.
Shirish co-founded Livemocha, a language-learning platform that rapidly garnered 15 million users across 200 countries. His wealth of experience in launching, scaling, and even exiting tech businesses is nothing short of awe-inspiring.
In this episode, we'll dive deep into Shirish's remarkable journey, uncovering the strategies and insights that propelled him to success. From overcoming the intricacies of marketplace dynamics to the art of retaining end-users and even his thoughts on the future of tech disruption, Shirish will leave you inspired and informed.
Episode Outline and Highlights
● [01:41] Shirish’s Perspective on Jumpstarting a Marketplace
● [07:54] Discussing Marketplaces Evolving into Monopolies
● [12:48] AI's Disruptive Influence on Established Marketplaces
● [15:00] The Potential Challenge to Market Monopolies by Social Networks
● [18:08] Transitioning from Founder/CEO to a Senior Employee
● [21:30] Going from Startup to Acquisition: Shirish’s Key Success Factors
● [26:10] Recognizing the Value of End-User Retention
● [28:47] The Impact of Immigration on Successful Startup Formation
How to Engage End-Users and Successfully Jumpstart a Tech Marketplace
Shirish’s astonishing career contains a series of achievements that impact millions of lives today. As I think about his career, I am fascinated by the number of products that he has been involved in which I used: Hotmail, the Blackberry, and Rosetta Stone which he sold one of his businesses. He co-founded Livemocha, a language learning platform, in 2007. They rapidly grew their users and client base to 15 million in 200 countries. I wanted to get Shirish’s insights on how they were able to gain traction in increasing their users and jumpstarting a marketplace. I was also keen to know his thoughts on jumpstarting a marketplace and how to overcome the chicken-and-egg issue of buyers and sellers.
Below are some of my takeaways:
● Focus on a specific category or geography
● Focus on the supply side of the equation first
● Local is the key to going global
● The best PR is word of mouth - so focus on your product’s value
Rebecca Hastings, Founder and Director at The Lucent Group
Connect on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hastingsrebecca/
Would you like to be a guest? Book a time to speak with Rebecca: https://calendly.com/rebeccahastings/discovery-call
The Lucent Group Ltd website - https://www.thelucentgroup.co.uk/
The Lucent Perspective website - https://thelucentperspective.com/
Rebecca has extensive talent and executive search experience supporting digital and technology businesses through complex changes and fast-paced scale-up periods. She works with businesses advising on C-level, technical, sales and commercial appointments, workforce planning, strategic talent management, recruitment processes and associated technology and employer brand development.
The trend of community-based business models in the tech sector is driven by the recognition that empowered and engaged users can propel a business to new heights. As technology continues to evolve, these models will likely become even more integral to business strategies, shaping how tech products and services are developed, marketed, and embraced by users.
My special guest, Taavi Kotka, shares his insight on how their platform can enable your business to engage with your community. Taavi is the Co-Founder and CEO of the equity platform Koos and the former CIO of the Estonian Government.
In this episode, Tavi provides insights into leveraging communities, digital governance, and equity models to drive business growth while emphasizing the importance of engaging people around purpose.
Episode Highlights
- [01:31] The future of tech companies - how strong communities will be the ‘beating heart’ of every successful business.
- [10:17] Discussion on the emerging challenges of digital governance.
- [15:38] Taavi discusses the idea behind Koos and their billion-dollar give-back goal.
- [19:59] How marketplaces use Koos for businesses to incentivize their suppliers and get meaningful feedback.
- [21:44] Taavi’s insights on how they rapidly grew their client base.
- [25:06] Top leadership tips to ensure success for your team.
- [27:40] Setting up the HK Unicorn Squad, providing knowledge and skills in technology as hobby education only for girls.
- [35:36] Wrap up - looking into the future of community-based startups.
Links
- Taavi on LinkedIn
- Koos website link
- HK Unicorn Squad website link
Rebecca Hastings, Founder and Director at The Lucent Group
Connect on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hastingsrebecca/
Would you like to be a guest? Book a time to speak with Rebecca: https://calendly.com/rebeccahastings/discovery-call
The Lucent Group Ltd website - https://www.thelucentgroup.co.uk/
The Lucent Perspective website - https://thelucentperspective.com/
Rebecca has extensive talent and executive search experience supporting digital and technology businesses through complex changes and fast-paced scale-up periods. She works with businesses advising on C-level, technical, sales and commercial appointments, workforce planning, strategic talent management, recruitment processes and associated technology and employer brand development.
Not all tech companies may find it easy to transition to a fully remote work setup. Challenges regarding infrastructure, security, collaboration, and technology can stop some business leaders from adopting a remote-first culture.
On the other hand, many tech companies have successfully embraced remote work and reaped its benefits, such as access to a broader talent pool, reduced office costs, and improved employee satisfaction. DirectID, a global fintech founded in Edinburgh, Scotland, is one outstanding example. James Varga and Laura Tejada, Head of Employee Experience and People Strategy, share with us their journey of transitioning to a remote-first culture and what tangible positive impact they have gained since.
Episode Outline and Highlights
- [01:50] The remote working journey - James shared their transition to becoming remote-first as a company.
- [03:38] Laura explains her role as Head of Employee Experience.
- [04:30] Why settle to be remote-first after the pandemic?
- [06:47] Personalize the experience for each employee and what it looks like.
- [08:40] What are the 7 Truths of Flexibility?
- [10:08] Why incentives should also be inclusive.
- [12:30] Tech stacks for managing your team’s collaboration and structured communication.
- [15:45] Creating opportunities for your team members to engage with one another in a remote setup.
- [21:19] Make a clear development plan for your people.
- [24:53] Discussion on OKRs and embedding a mindset and culture of achievement.
- [30:02] How the truths of flexibility should impact your way of working.
- [33:55] Why Direct ID did not pursue adopting a 4-day work week.
- [37:17] Tangible benefits that DirectID realized upon going remote first.
- [42:33] What is next in employee experience for DirectID?
Rebecca Hastings, Founder and Director at The Lucent Group
Connect on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hastingsrebecca/
Would you like to be a guest? Book a time to speak with Rebecca: https://calendly.com/rebeccahastings/discovery-call
The Lucent Group Ltd website - https://www.thelucentgroup.co.uk/
The Lucent Perspective website - https://thelucentperspective.com/
Rebecca has extensive talent and executive search experience supporting digital and technology businesses through complex changes and fast-paced scale-up periods. She works with businesses advising on C-level, technical, sales and commercial appointments, workforce planning, strategic talent management, recruitment processes and associated technology and employer brand development.
“If you want to be a great place to work and you want people to come to work with you… Then really being able to demonstrate that you care about social value as a strategy in your DNA. That really matters to people.”
Our special guest in this episode, Amabel Grant, shared her insights on how to become a great place to work by delivering on social value goals. I am really excited to share this episode with our listeners as Amabel shares insights on the following areas:
- How to become a great place to work, and how doing so will positively impact your clients and employees.
- Focus on social value - what it really means and how to balance it with commerciality.
- The growing importance of ESG in procurement
- Important core focuses when scaling your business.
Amabel is the CEO of Bloom Procurement Services which is the leading public sector fully managed marketplace for professional services.
Episode Outline and Highlights
- [01:40] Top tips for developing a positive working culture and employee experience.
- [03:40] Amabel shares their trademark behaviors and how they chose them.
- [07:28] The working culture’s direct impact on business.
- [09:15] How Bloom consistently embeds the trademark behaviors within their team.
- [12:55] Fostering a consistent work culture for startups.
- [19:15] Amabel discusses what the private sector can learn from the public sector.
- [22:01] Discussion on Social Value and how it aligns with commerciality.
- [24:26] How businesses are being assessed under ESG (Environmental Social Governance) credentials.
- [28:58] Core focuses when scaling a business.
Rebecca Hastings, Founder and Director at The Lucent Group
Connect on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hastingsrebecca/
Would you like to be a guest? Book a time to speak with Rebecca: https://calendly.com/rebeccahastings/discovery-call
The Lucent Group Ltd website - https://www.thelucentgroup.co.uk/
The Lucent Perspective website - https://thelucentperspective.com/
Rebecca has extensive talent and executive search experience supporting digital and technology businesses through complex changes and fast-paced scale-up periods. She works with businesses advising on C-level, technical, sales and commercial appointments, workforce planning, strategic talent management, recruitment processes and associated technology and employer brand development.
Episode Outline and Highlights
As a tech company founder or CEO, how many resources would you invest in the learning and development of your existing talents? Successful companies understand that investing in their teams' learning and development can lead to increased productivity, employee satisfaction, talent retention, and, ultimately, long-term business success.
I am delighted to share this episode with my special guest, Loral Quinn, as we cover the value of providing learning avenues for your talents. Loral is the CEO of CodeClan, a not-for-profit digital skills academy based in Edinburgh, Scotland.
Loral and I discussed how their organization set up intensive learning boot camps to transform people’s careers and address the digital skill gap in Scotland. We also talked about how investing in upskilling of your team members can increase retention, promote gender equality, and bring a positive overall result for your organization.
- [02:48] Loral shares how CodeClan is transforming people’s careers.
- [05:09] How CodeClan engages within their industry.
- [07:31] Describing the impact - how CodeClan bridges the digital skills gap.
- [10:30] What inspired Loral to join CodeClan?
- [13:22] Biggest barriers to attracting more women in the tech sector.
- [20:13] What is the “On-Demand Program?”
- [27:34] How to retain your talents: an approach that goes beyond salaries.
- [32:00] How to reach CodeClan, especially if you are thinking about shifting careers.
Rebecca Hastings, Founder and Director at The Lucent Group
Connect on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hastingsrebecca/
Would you like to be a guest? Book a time to speak with Rebecca: https://calendly.com/rebeccahastings/discovery-call
The Lucent Group Ltd website - https://www.thelucentgroup.co.uk/
The Lucent Perspective website - https://thelucentperspective.com/
Rebecca has extensive talent and executive search experience supporting digital and technology businesses through complex changes and fast-paced scale-up periods. She works with businesses advising on C-level, technical, sales and commercial appointments, workforce planning, strategic talent management, recruitment processes and associated technology and employer brand development.
Regardless of your industry, having a talented and motivated sales force can greatly impact the overall success and growth of a company. A good sales team is vital for revenue generation, customer acquisition and retention, market insights, and competitive advantage.
In this episode, I am delighted to have Dr.Yekemi Otaru, an award-winning entrepreneur and co-founder at Doqaru. Yekemi is a published B2B social media author who inspires her audience to achieve great things through her significant online presence.
Yekemi and I discussed key topics on how sales leaders adapt to digital competencies, critical things to consider when hiring and onboarding salespeople for your team, and how to set your sales team up for success. Doqaru recently published an insightful report on sales skills in the UK SMEs market, which you can download for free on the Doqaru website.
If you are in the process of building your sales team, Yekemi’s insights are essential listening.
Episode Outline and Highlights
- [01:11] The Sales Skills Report for UK SMEs - Yekemi discusses the recent report
they released. - [03:45] Why do sales leaders need to adapt to digital skills and competencies?
- [05:51] What is it about sales skills that Yekemi finds fascinating?
- [11:01] Key things uncovered: walkthrough on findings on their recent report.
- [16:06] What you need to know when onboarding and training sales professionals.
- [23:35] Top tips on investing for the development of your sales team.
- [25:42] Overcoming the challenge of invalidating opportunities.
- [31:48] How sales management is different from sales, and what is expected from a sales manager.
- [32:55] Yekemi shares her thoughts on standing out on LinkedIn.
- [36:47] The top three things sales leaders need to look out for to maximize their revenue.
Rebecca Hastings, Founder and Director at The Lucent Group
Connect on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hastingsrebecca/
Would you like to be a guest? Book a time to speak with Rebecca: https://calendly.com/rebeccahastings/discovery-call
The Lucent Group Ltd website - https://www.thelucentgroup.co.uk/
The Lucent Perspective website - https://thelucentperspective.com/
Rebecca has extensive talent and executive search experience supporting digital and technology businesses through complex changes and fast-paced scale-up periods. She works with businesses advising on C-level, technical, sales and commercial appointments, workforce planning, strategic talent management, recruitment processes and associated technology and employer brand development.
Darren is an accomplished CMO that has worked with Fintech and Gaming. Companies he has worked with include Yahoo, Sony Playstation, 4Finance, and most recently LendingCrowd. He has worked with both B2B and B2C sectors and has helped drive record growth for those businesses.
We discuss:
- How do you get the best out of your marketing team for startups and scale-ups?
- The key lessons he learned from high-growth tech businesses
- Moving from B2B to B2C
Episode Outline and Highlights
- [01:48] Darren walks us through his marketing career.
- [04:27] Biggest marketing similarities across different industries that Darren has worked on.
- [07:46] Increasing revenue for 4Finance through marketing.
- [13:02] Top tips in building and managing globally present teams.
- [15:07] Key learnings from B2B to B2C marketing segments.
- [19:55] Dealing with the unique marketing challenges of startups and scale-ups.
- [23:00] Culture and values play a big role in your employer branding.
- [26:00] Should marketing recruitment seat with the talent acquisition or marketing department?
- [33:00] Darren shares insights on what startup CEOs should look at in terms of Marketing KPIs
- [36:00] Top three things indicating you are getting value from marketing.
- [38:11] Getting the best out of CEO and CMO working relationships.
Rebecca Hastings, Founder and Director at The Lucent Group
Connect on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hastingsrebecca/
Would you like to be a guest? Book a time to speak with Rebecca: https://calendly.com/rebeccahastings/discovery-call
The Lucent Group Ltd website - https://www.thelucentgroup.co.uk/
The Lucent Perspective website - https://thelucentperspective.com/
Rebecca has extensive talent and executive search experience supporting digital and technology businesses through complex changes and fast-paced scale-up periods. She works with businesses advising on C-level, technical, sales and commercial appointments, workforce planning, strategic talent management, recruitment processes and associated technology and employer brand development.
Are you looking at scaling your business through acquisitions? My special guest, Richard Quinn, is here to share strong insights about this subject. Richard has worked on seven acquisitions with a combined transaction value of $400m in a 3-year period.
Some critical topics that Richard and I covered in this episode are:
- When scaling through acquisition is the best option
- Challenges and focus areas when scaling your company
- What to look for in a company that you may acquire
- What could be holding your company from scaling
- Leadership qualities that you must cultivate now to scale your business
Richard is the Managing Director of Hahei Consulting Ltd. He was the Chief Operating Officer of Kpler, a fast-growing data analytics business of the commodity markets and has worked for Trustpilot and Wood MacKenzie.
Episode Outline and Highlights
- [02:10] Richard’s journey to the C-suite role.
- [03:26] Key focus areas when scaling a company.
- [08:41] Case Study - scaling up Trustpilot.
- [13:58] What you need to focus on when scaling.
- [17:00] Insights on mergers and acquisition - when is acquisition key?
- [21:00] What are the things you should be looking for in a company that you might potentially acquire?
- [24:30] How to proceed with a smooth integration during mergers and acquisitions.
- [33:27] Insights on restructuring the leadership team.
- [39:40] Trust building, clarity, and setting of expectations.
- [49:15] What could be stopping companies from scaling?
- [57:09] Leadership qualities for someone who looks into scaling and acquiring.
About Richard Quinn
Richard Quin is an accomplished professional with a diverse and impressive career in the tech and analytics industry. As the COO of Kpler, he was responsible for leading critical functions across the business to ensure smooth operations and continuous improvements. Prior to that, Richard served as Chief of Staff for Trustpilot a customer review platform in which he contributed to strategic transformations of the business leading to growth ahead of their London listing in 2021. Richard's expertise in scaling operations and driving business growth has made him a sought-after advisor and consultant.
- Richard on LinkedIn
Rebecca Hastings, Founder and Director at The Lucent Group
Connect on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hastingsrebecca/
Would you like to be a guest? Book a time to speak with Rebecca: https://calendly.com/rebeccahastings/discovery-call
The Lucent Group Ltd website - https://www.thelucentgroup.co.uk/
The Lucent Perspective website - https://thelucentperspective.com/
Rebecca has extensive talent and executive search experience supporting digital and technology businesses through complex changes and fast-paced scale-up periods. She works with businesses advising on C-level, technical, sales and commercial appointments, workforce planning, strategic talent management, recruitment processes and associated technology and employer brand development.
In this episode, I am delighted to be joined by Csilla Zsigri. You will enjoy hearing Csilla's insights on the evolving landscape of Distributed Ledger Technology (DLT) and blockchain, as well as her role as the Chief Strategy Officer with BTP, a company that helps other companies solve challenges with digital provenance.
Csillia and I discussed the importance of digital provenance and gave case studies of how BTP is helping companies and industries in this field. We also explored Csilla's views on work-life balance, sports, and the value of failing and learning from it.
Episode Outline and Highlights
- [01:33] What does a Chief Strategy Officer do?
- [03:12] Csilla’s journey into the blockchain world - from an industry analyst to a startup.
- [06:46] The evolution of the DLT ecosystem.
- [08:26] What are the biggest opportunities for companies in blockchain to achieve value?
- [11:54] What is digital provenance?
- [16:36] Understanding the value of digital provenance.
- [19:00] Biggest applications in the areas of AI & IoT.
- [22:58] How Csilla fits competitive sports alongside work.
- [24:00] Why work-life balance and sports can benefit your professional mindset.
- [27:00] Embracing the value of failing and learning.
Csilla Zsigri
Csilia is the Chief Strategy Officer at BTP, a digital provenance company, with a mission to make assets trustworthy. She is also a global blockchain ambassador and has spoken at numerous conferences on blockchain and its application. Csilla created and curates the DLT landscape, an open-source market segmentation initiative.
- Csilla on LinkedIn
- BTP website link
- Hyperledger DLT Landscape
Rebecca Hastings, Founder and Director at The Lucent Group
Connect on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hastingsrebecca/
Would you like to be a guest? Book a time to speak with Rebecca: https://calendly.com/rebeccahastings/discovery-call
The Lucent Group Ltd website - https://www.thelucentgroup.co.uk/
The Lucent Perspective website - https://thelucentperspective.com/
Rebecca has extensive talent and executive search experience supporting digital and technology businesses through complex changes and fast-paced scale-up periods. She works with businesses advising on C-level, technical, sales and commercial appointments, workforce planning, strategic talent management, recruitment processes and associated technology and employer brand development.
Starting and scaling your tech business in the current market environment can be complicated, but having the right leaders to advise and guide you can make scaling up less challenging. In this episode, I am delighted to be joined by Martin Threakall, an experienced CEO, COO, investor, board advisor, and founder. I have had the pleasure of working with Martin several times, and I am excited to share his insights regarding scaling tech businesses and startups.
You will hear critical scaling topics such as:
- When is the right time to hire a COO?
- When is the right time to expand overseas?
- How to build trust in a fast-scaling environment?
- Top tips for founders when scaling their business.
Episode Outline and Highlights
[01:41] Martin's career and background.
[05:52] When should you get a COO?
[11:33] Actions that Martin took when scaling businesses.
[14:00] How to give meaningful feedback to your team.
[18:15] What advice would Martin give to founders who wish to scale their companies quickly?
[24:06] Exploring the international markets - Martin reveals his key learnings.
[29:29] At what point in a company's journey should you build a talent acquisition function?
[34:40] What are the common failures or challenge points for scaling companies that Martin has observed?
[38:00] How to build trust in a fast-scaling environment.
[44:30] Addressing the growing burn-out issue within the tech sector.
[47:30] Working as an advisor on board discussions – What works in the boardroom?
[55:50] Fintech growth opportunities in the upcoming years.
[58:30] What would be the most impactful piece of advice that Martin received?
About Martin Threakall
Martin is a delivery-focused executive leader with extensive experience in startup and scaleup businesses, including starting and growing a business from scratch as a co-founder.
His particular experience and expertise are within Financial Services and Technology, specifically in the Payments and Open Banking domain. He is also an Angel investor in multiple businesses, with a particular interest in sports/health business and those with an environmental or social focus. Outside of work, Martin enjoys spending time with family and is a keen distance runner.
● Martin on LinkedIn
Rebecca Hastings, Founder and Director at The Lucent Group
Connect on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hastingsrebecca/
Would you like to be a guest? Book a time to speak with Rebecca: https://calendly.com/rebeccahastings/discovery-call
The Lucent Group Ltd website - https://www.thelucentgroup.co.uk/
The Lucent Perspective website - https://thelucentperspective.com/
Rebecca is the Founder and Director of The Lucent Group. She has extensive talent acquisition and executive search experience supporting digital and technology businesses through complex changes and fast-paced scale-up periods. She works with businesses advising on C-level, technical and commercial appointments, workforce planning, strategic talent management, recruitment processes and associated technology and employer brand development.
Artificial Intelligence has become a buzzword in today's business world, offering enterprise companies opportunities to transform their operations and redefine success. However, integrating AI into existing products, services, and operating models is challenging. In this episode, we will hear insights from my special guest, Gary Crawford, Chief Innovation Officer of Waracle, on how enterprise companies can leverage AI and what they should consider when adopting it. Gary is a globally experienced leader with the privilege of leading technology, innovation, and business transformation for world-renowned brands. You will hear us discuss some of the emerging AI trends businesses should look for and the steps organizations should take to stay ahead of the curve.
Episode Outline and Highlights
[01:09] What does a Chief Innovation Officer do?
[05:05] How working with Thoughtworks and AKQA influenced Gary's career
[08:47] How economic downturns result in innovation as an inflection point
[11:49] What AI improvement and development means to society
[13:51] Gary talks about "post-traumatic growth."
[15:15] How can enterprise companies leverage AI?
[21:03] Beyond ChatGPT 4, what other things should we have on the radar for AI in the workplace?
[27:41] Ethical considerations on AI adoption
[35:47] What steps should businesses take now to stay ahead of the curve?
[39:11] AI and VR in the healthcare space
How Can Enterprise Companies Leverage AI?Artificial Intelligence is now seen as a promising innovation that can transform the workplace and a game changer in defining success for enterprise companies. How can organizations leverage AI? Gary shared his insights on this matter as a Chief Innovation Officer. He said, "AI is a technology, but we need to find ways of integrating it into products, services, operating models, and society." He added, "The biggest challenge in the AI space has less to do with technology, but more with human behaviour."
So, what mindset should business leaders have in leveraging AI? Gary stated it well, "This is less about how you can take AI and put it into your existing business and more about how we reimagine business based on the capabilities that AI brings to the table."
About Gary CrawfordA globally experienced leader, Gary has had the privilege of leading technology, innovation, and business transformation for some of the world's best-known global brands. He's at home at the sharp end of digital disruption in traditional industries. He is currently the Chief Innovation Officer of Waracle Ltd and a regular speaker at conferences on digital transformations and AI.
Rebecca Hastings, Founder and Director at The Lucent Group
Connect on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hastingsrebecca/
Would you like to be a guest? Book a time to speak with Rebecca: https://calendly.com/rebeccahastings/discovery-call
The Lucent Group Ltd website - https://www.thelucentgroup.co.uk/
The Lucent Perspective website - https://thelucentperspective.com/
Rebecca is the Founder and Director of The Lucent Group. She has extensive talent acquisition and executive search experience supporting digital and technology businesses through complex changes and fast-paced scale-up periods. She works with businesses advising on C-level, technical and commercial appointments, workforce planning, strategic talent management, recruitment processes and associated technology and employer brand development.
What does it take to build an effective marketing and product team? Sophie Moule from Pi Datametrics, shares her experience and insights on bringing together these departments to work seamlessly together and drive success. Before heading the Product and Marketing Team of Pi, Sophie had a solid core foundation in marketing. Hear how this strength played out in developing products with the customer in mind.
Episode Outline and Highlights
- [01:27] Sophie shares her career in marketing and how it laid the foundation for her current role in products.
- [05:30] Skills that Sophie carried forward from her marketing career.
- [06:55] Transitioning from marketing to a product role.
- [10:42] Bringing together a team of product and customer advisory boards.
- [16:30] The value of having clarity of your customer base to maximize your existing product.
- [21:44] Sophie reveals growth factors for Pi Datametrics.
- [24:33] Sources in enhancing knowledge for product development roles.
- [26:45] What circumstances are ideal for product and marketing to sit under one leader?
- [28:30] How to build confidence when transitioning from marketing to product regarding technicality?
- [33:03] What benefits can an organization get from having a leader with a marketing background lead product development?
The Significance of Having a Customer-Driven Roadmap
A key topic we covered is the importance of creating a customer-driven roadmap for creating a marketing framework and product development. Sophie shared her insights on what led to them creating a customer advisory board alongside their internal product advisory board.
How to Transition from Marketing to Product
If you are in a marketing role and looking to transition into a role in product development, what can you do to build your confidence in transitioning smoothly?
About Sophie Moule
Sophie Moule is the Head of Product and Marketing for Pi Datametrics, a global digital data intelligence company based in the UK. Before her current role, Sophie has core experience in marketing, including 10 years of experience in Performance Marketing across both B2B and B2C and 7 years of driving Product Marketing strategies in a growing SaaS business.
Resources Mentioned
- Good to Great: Why Some Companies Make the Leap and Others Don't
- EMPOWERED: Ordinary People, Extraordinary Products
- Inspired: How to Create Tech Products Customers Love
Rebecca Hastings, Founder and Director at The Lucent Group
Connect on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hastingsrebecca/
Would you like to be a guest? Book a time to speak with Rebecca: https://calendly.com/rebeccahastings/discovery-call
The Lucent Group Ltd website - https://www.thelucentgroup.co.uk/
The Lucent Perspective website - https://thelucentperspective.com/
Rebecca is the Founder and Director of The Lucent Group. She has extensive talent acquisition and executive search experience supporting digital and technology businesses through complex changes and fast-paced scale-up periods. She works with businesses advising on C-level, technical and commercial appointments, workforce planning, strategic talent management, recruitment processes and associated technology and employer brand development.
Making the Leap: How to Transition from Corporate to Start-up, with Stuart BellMy special guest, Stuart Bell, CTO of Bloom Procurement Services, shares his own experience on overcoming that challenge. Stuart's career highlights include successfully shifting from working in big corporate tech and financial entities to becoming self-employed and working in the start-up world. He recognizes that this is not an easy jump and advises people to do their homework and be well-prepared for the challenges of making this transition.
Some of the key topics we covered are:
● What should you closely look at when engaging in the tech start-up world?
● How do you build an effective working culture for your team?
● What tools are proven to be effective collaborative platforms for a remote team?
● How do you design social value contributions for your company?
All these, and more, are in this episode of The Lucent Perspective.
Episode Outline and Highlights
[00:00:43] Stuart's career journey in becoming a CTO.
[03:40] Shifting from big corporate businesses to start-ups - Stuart shares his experience.
[09:30] Working as CTO in Bloom Procurements.
[14:02] How Bloom contributes to social value by design.
[17:54] Stuart shares the project and team they are building.
[22:30] How Bloom's values fit in the culture of their engineering team.
[27:38] Top tips for establishing a healthy working culture within your team.
[30:00] Effective collaboration tools.
[33:30] Practice meeting up periodically when working as remote teams.
[34:16] Tech development that we should be closely monitoring.
[39:37] Transitioning from a corporate setup to start-ups - Stuart reveals best practices and tips.
[43:50] What to look for in talents when setting up a team for start-ups.
● Stuart on LinkedIn
● Bloom Procurement website link
Rebecca Hastings, Founder and Director at The Lucent Group
Connect on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hastingsrebecca/
Would you like to be a guest? Book a time to speak with Rebecca: https://calendly.com/rebeccahastings/discovery-call
The Lucent Group Ltd website - https://www.thelucentgroup.co.uk/
Rebecca is the Founder and Director of The Lucent Group. She has extensive talent acquisition and executive search experience supporting digital and technology businesses through complex changes and fast-paced scale-up periods. She works with businesses advising on C-level, technical and commercial appointments, workforce planning, strategic talent management, recruitment processes and associated technology and employer brand development. She has led and built successful teams, led numerous C-level, VP, Director and Head-of searches, and designed and implemented outsourced recruitment solutions. In 2019 she helped a FinTech client secure a place in LinkedIn’s Top 25 Start-ups in the UK. Rebecca is a member of the REC (MREC), a qualified career coach, Certified Interviewer (CI), and has professional qualifications in FinTech, HR, Leadership, Digital Marketing, Diversity, Unconscious Bias, and Talent Management.
Data has become a powerful tool for business owners and leaders to solve problems and grow their organizations. That is why my special guest, Duncan Hart, loves data so much that it led him to co-found DeepMiner, a tech company revolutionizing how business leaders make educated and informed decisions to support their business growth and focus on the leads that offer the greatest chance of success
Rebecca Hastings, Founder and Director at The Lucent Group
Connect on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hastingsrebecca/
Would you like to be a guest? Book a time to speak with Rebecca: https://calendly.com/rebeccahastings/discovery-call
The Lucent Group Ltd website - https://www.thelucentgroup.co.uk/
Rebecca is the Founder and Director of The Lucent Group. She has extensive talent acquisition and executive search experience supporting digital and technology businesses through complex changes and fast-paced scale-up periods. She works with businesses advising on C-level, technical and commercial appointments, workforce planning, strategic talent management, recruitment processes and associated technology and employer brand development. She has led and built successful teams, led numerous C-level, VP, Director and Head-of searches, and designed and implemented outsourced recruitment solutions. In 2019 she helped a FinTech client secure a place in LinkedIn’s Top 25 Start-ups in the UK. Rebecca is a member of the REC (MREC), a qualified career coach, Certified Interviewer (CI), and has professional qualifications in FinTech, HR, Leadership, Digital Marketing, Diversity, Unconscious Bias, and Talent Management.
How to Scale a Startup, Build Value, and Strategize Exit, with Matt Little
For a technology startup to successfully scale, build value, and successfully exit, there are critical key factors that business owners and leaders should keep in mind. I am honoured to have a very special guest on the first episode of the Lucent Perspective Podcast - Matt Little.
Matt is an experienced founder and founding team member who has been through 5 exits (co-leading two, advising on a further two, and technical lead on another),and he now helps companies to scale faster and better. I have had the opportunity of working with Matt to place critical roles when scaling their business.
In this episode, Matt shares his insights on the following critical areas:
- Growing a team rapidly
- The difference between being effective and efficient
- CTO, CPO, and CPTO roles.
- When to plan and strategize your Exit.
- Essential qualities that a leader should have.
Resources and People Mentioned
- Book recommendation: Escaping the Build Trap: How Effective Product Management Creates Real Value
About Matt Little
In the past 20 years, Matt has led product and technology divisions, and teams in start-ups, scale-ups, and global multi-nationals, Matt is an experienced CPTO, CTO, VP of Engineering, and VP of Product.
Matt now works with company boards as an advisor or CPTO/CTO to build their value and achieve successful exit readiness.
- https://www.linkedin.com/in/matt-little-blueocean/
- https://www.blueoceaninsight.com/
Connect with Rebecca Hastings
https://www.linkedin.com/in/hastingsrebecca/
https://calendly.com/rebeccahastings/discovery-call
https://www.thelucentgroup.co.uk
https://www.thelucentperspective.com/
Rebecca Hastings, Founder and Director at The Lucent Group
Connect on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hastingsrebecca/
Would you like to be a guest? Book a time to speak with Rebecca: https://calendly.com/rebeccahastings/discovery-call
The Lucent Group Ltd website - https://www.thelucentgroup.co.uk/
Rebecca is the Founder and Director of The Lucent Group. She has extensive talent acquisition and executive search experience supporting digital and technology businesses through complex changes and fast-paced scale-up periods. She works with businesses advising on C-level, technical and commercial appointments, workforce planning, strategic talent management, recruitment processes and associated technology and employer brand development. She has led and built successful teams, led numerous C-level, VP, Director and Head-of searches, and designed and implemented outsourced recruitment solutions. In 2019 she helped a FinTech client secure a place in LinkedIn’s Top 25 Start-ups in the UK. Rebecca is a member of the REC (MREC), a qualified career coach, Certified Interviewer (CI), and has professional qualifications in FinTech, HR, Leadership, Digital Marketing, Diversity, Unconscious Bias, and Talent Management.
Host Rebecca Hastings introduces The Lucent Perspective.
Rebecca Hastings has been working with executives in the tech sector and helped successful companies build their leadership teams and scale. On The Lucent Perspective, Rebecca interviews some of the most entrepreneurial and innovative leaders from tech to learn about their successes and uncover the most valuable lessons they’ve learned. Get a snapshot of the first few episodes here.
Rebecca Hastings, Founder and Director at The Lucent Group
Connect on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hastingsrebecca/
Would you like to be a guest? Book a time to speak with Rebecca: https://calendly.com/rebeccahastings/discovery-call
The Lucent Group Ltd website - https://www.thelucentgroup.co.uk/
Rebecca is the Founder and Director of The Lucent Group. She has extensive talent acquisition and executive search experience supporting digital and technology businesses through complex changes and fast-paced scale-up periods. She works with businesses advising on C-level, technical and commercial appointments, workforce planning, strategic talent management, recruitment processes and associated technology and employer brand development. She has led and built successful teams, led numerous C-level, VP, Director and Head-of searches, and designed and implemented outsourced recruitment solutions. In 2019 she helped a FinTech client secure a place in LinkedIn’s Top 25 Start-ups in the UK. Rebecca is a member of the REC (MREC), a qualified career coach, Certified Interviewer (CI), and has professional qualifications in FinTech, HR, Leadership, Digital Marketing, Diversity, Unconscious Bias, and Talent Management.