Biz Bytes: Recent Episodes

The IT Psychiatrist

Give your people the tools they need to do their job, and then let them do it. We sit down with thought leaders to explore why this is the most important element of being in business, and why the tools aren't always technology! Enable your people with the right tools and they will drive your business forward! Join us in a fun and honest conversation that has no jargon.

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Getting caught in the strategic "messy middle" is a common struggle for Kiwi businesses – that uncomfortable space between having great ideas and actually realizing their value. Rob Erskine and Tony Rutherford, founders of Copper Fox consultancy, bring decades of commercial experience to this candid conversation about why so many business strategies ultimately collect dust.

The pair highlight several critical failures in strategic implementation: strategies that exist only in owners' heads, "drawer documents" created once every few years but never revisited, and the fundamental lack of execution planning – the missing "how" and "who" components that translate vision into action. With 97% of New Zealand businesses employing fewer than 20 people, many simply lack the bandwidth to simultaneously handle daily operations and strategic initiatives.

"Quite often strategies ask the question 'what do we want to do?' But sometimes the failing is 'how are we going to do that?'" Rob explains, pinpointing a key reason so many well-intentioned plans never materialize. Tony adds that relying solely on compliance-focused accountants rather than forward-looking commercial advisors further compounds the problem.

The conversation delves into the unique challenges facing New Zealand's business landscape – from our "batch, beamer, and boat" lifestyle mindset to the limitations of scale in a country of just 5 million people. For ambitious companies, looking beyond our shores becomes necessary, but brings additional complexities in navigating international markets and regulatory environments.

Perhaps most revealing is the discussion around risk management, with both consultants noting that while business owners intuitively understand their risks, they rarely formalize or systematically monitor them until crises emerge. This reactive approach leaves companies vulnerable, especially during economic downturns.

Ready to move your business strategy beyond the whiteboard? Rob and Tony's practical advice – building integrated teams with necessary expertise, assigning clear ownership of initiatives, and maintaining realistic resource planning – provides a roadmap for turning strategic vision into tangible business outcomes.

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The whiteboard mirage represents the grand illusion in business where brilliant strategies developed during off-site meetings evaporate once teams return to their desks. I explore the critical gap between strategy as a concept and strategy as an operational reality, providing actionable frameworks to ensure your strategic vision translates into Monday morning execution.

• Distinguishing between strategy (the thinking) and plans (the tick list of outputs)
• The 5D framework: Define, Discover, Design, Develop, Deliver
• Why skipping the "messy middle" stages causes strategy implementation to fail
• The three R's of strategy execution: Reality, Rhythm, Responsibility
• Case study of successful IoT implementation in manufacturing through proper strategic execution
• The reality test: Can you explain your strategy to a new hire in under two minutes?
• Treating strategy as a daily practice rather than a special occasion

Take your current strategy and run it through the reality test. If you can't explain it to a new hire in under two minutes, if team members don't know exactly what to do differently tomorrow, or if you can't measure progress next week (not next quarter), it's time to turn that whiteboard wisdom into workplace reality.

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What happens when you stop treating technology as a cost centre and start viewing it as a strategic enabler for your organisation? Anna Campbell, Chief Support Services Officer at Whakarongarau Aotearoa (New Zealand's telehealth services), provides compelling answers in this thought-provoking conversation about breaking down traditional silos.

Anna's unique portfolio encompasses technology, data, people, marketing, and Māori services development – creating a powerful integration point that puts service users at the heart of operations. Rather than maintaining artificial boundaries between departments, this structure focuses everyone on a shared mission: delivering essential 24-7 health and wellbeing support across New Zealand, helping one in four Kiwis access care when they need it most.

The conversation explores how organisations can shift from viewing technology initiatives as budget items to seeing them as strategic solutions for real pain points. "Keep your mission critical and strategically aligned," Anna advises, emphasising the importance of measuring impact and articulating value in terms that matter to the broader organisation.

Particularly valuable is Anna's insight into responsible AI implementation. Starting with clear ethical principles, Whakarongarau Aotearoa has developed governance frameworks that prioritise privacy, transparency, and data sovereignty. From internal efficiency tools to clinical note summarisation, their AI applications follow the guiding principle of "nothing about us without us" – ensuring that technology enhances rather than replaces human connections.

For leaders navigating technological transformation, Anna offers practical wisdom: understand both the capabilities and limitations of tools like generative AI; focus on reimagining work rather than merely automating existing processes; and remember that change management requires acknowledging what's not changing alongside what is. By meeting people where they're at and maintaining trust throughout the journey, organisations can harness technology to deliver truly human-centred services.

Ready to transform how your organisation approaches technology? Listen now for insights that bridge the gap between technical possibilities and meaningful organisational impact.

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What happens when two podcast hosts named Anthony—one Australian, one Kiwi—discover they both run shows called "Biz Bytes"? Magic, that's what. This special crossover episode dives deep into communication as the fundamental cornerstone of business success.

Drawing from Anthony Pearl's extensive background in broadcast journalism and talk radio, we explore why truly effective communication extends far beyond simply delivering a message. The conversation uncovers why the same announcement might be heard completely differently by various team members—one person hearing opportunity while another hears threat in the exact same words.

Through fascinating parallels between sports commentary, podcasting techniques, and business leadership, we unpack the critical elements that make communication stick. Why do radio commentators describe the action in such detail while TV presenters focus more on analysis? The answer reveals profound insights about how we must adapt our communication style to different mediums, audiences, and contexts.

The most compelling revelation? Stories transmit meaning far more effectively than facts alone. From ancient tales that have persisted for centuries to modern business narratives, storytelling creates connection and comprehension unlike any other communication tool. We explore how today's leaders can leverage this innate human tendency to process information through narrative.

Technology now offers unprecedented opportunities for real-time feedback and engagement. From simple QR codes to sophisticated polling platforms, today's communicators have powerful tools to gauge whether their messages are landing as intended—provided they're willing to listen to the responses.

If you're struggling to get your message across, feeling misunderstood by your team, or simply wanting to become a more effective communicator, this conversation offers practical insights you can implement immediately. Remember: if communication isn't listed as a core deliverable in every role in your organization, you may be overlooking the most fundamental skill for business success.

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Ever wonder what happens when a biotech innovator throws out the traditional organizational playbook? Moderna has made waves by merging their IT and HR departments into a unified "Digital People Organization" — a move that's both fascinating and potentially transformative.

This isn't just administrative reshuffling. It's a strategic response to AI becoming the connective tissue throughout Moderna's operations. From drug discovery to employee onboarding, artificial intelligence permeates their business, blurring traditional boundaries between technology and human capital management. Their extensive partnership with OpenAI has enabled them to deploy advanced systems across scientific innovation and back-office processes alike.

What makes this experiment particularly intriguing is the leadership behind it. Tracy Franklin, Moderna's Chief People and Digital Technology Officer, brings a rare combination of traditional HR expertise and deep technical acumen. This unique profile enables her to bridge cultural and operational differences that might sink similar efforts elsewhere. Coupled with Moderna's mature AI integration and adaptable culture, they've created the perfect conditions for this bold organizational redesign.

Should your company follow suit? Proceed with caution. Moderna's approach works because of their specific context — exceptional AI maturity, the right leadership talent, and a culture built for rapid technological adoption. For most organizations, the value lies not in structural mergers but in fostering meaningful collaboration between IT and HR functions. Success comes not from blindly copying others but from understanding your unique organizational needs and implementing solutions that truly address them.

Join us next week for a special conversation about the power of communication with our guest expert. Have you experienced major organizational restructuring in your workplace? We'd love to hear your stories and insights!

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The Magic Bullet Myth: Why Your New Tech Investment Might Be Doomed

We’ve all heard the promise: "This new software will solve everything!" But behind most failed system implementations is a fundamental misunderstanding of what drives successful change. In this eye-opening Mythbuster, we unpack why technology alone is never enough.

A successful system change relies on a three-legged stool: people, process, and technology. Focus only on the tech, and that stool will topple. Your new system means nothing if your team doesn't embrace it or if it's built on flawed processes.

Ready to break free from the technology myth? Tune in to the full episode to learn how to create lasting change, and Download your free checklist from the Target State Consulting website to help you evaluate your next system change before you commit a single dollar.

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We've got some changes for biz bytes - more content, more regulalry. Here's a snippet of what I've got in mind.

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Have you ever wondered why some businesses thrive while others with similar products merely survive? The secret often lies not in what they do, but how they think about what they do.

Dom Bish joins me for a fascinating deep dive into the critical difference between strategy and planning—a distinction that could transform your business approach. With five years at the helm of Bolster Risk Management and over a decade in financial services, Dom brings practical wisdom about creating genuine business value.

We unpack the concept of finding your unique "business sandpit" where you can outperform competitors. As Dom explains, "The blue ocean is where you want to be. Where's that sweet spot?" With approximately 590,000 small businesses in New Zealand competing across limited industries, carving out your distinctive space is more crucial than ever.

The conversation takes surprising turns, revealing how businesses often misunderstand what industry they're actually in. McDonald's isn't just in fast food—at the corporate level, they're fundamentally in real estate. This kind of strategic clarity changes everything about how you position and grow your business.

Perhaps most valuable is Dom's framework for thinking about your business as an investment asset. Just as property investors buy, add value, protect their asset, extract income, and eventually exit—business owners should apply this same strategic thinking to their most valuable asset. Yet many fail to plan their exit strategy until it's too late to maximize value.

Whether you're a solopreneur or leading a growing company, this episode will challenge you to elevate your thinking from day-to-day planning to genuine strategic analysis. As Dom powerfully states, "Strategy is not a plan. A plan is not a strategy." Understanding this difference could be your competitive edge.

Ready to transform how you think about your business? Listen now, and discover why the best time to start thinking strategically is today.

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Discover the future of HR through the lens of AI innovation with Annie Johnson, co-founder and chief product officer of Humaneer. Annie takes us on her incredible journey from a traditional HR role to spearheading AI-driven solutions that are reshaping how organizations operate. She uncovers the concept of purpose-led design, aligning technology with company values to create ethical and effective AI systems. Annie doesn't shy away from the tough topics either—addressing fears around AI, job displacement, and transparency, while offering practical strategies to mitigate these concerns.

As we continue, the conversation highlights the complexity of media's role in shaping public perception, particularly through fear-based narratives and information overload. By comparing industry-specific insights to mainstream media's sensationalism, we explore the balance needed to stay informed. With a keen eye on governmental and regulatory challenges, we delve into the importance of clear guidelines for privacy and security in this digital era. Annie shares how startups like Humaneer make strides in fostering an AI ecosystem that prioritizes safety and productivity.

Our discussion also reflects on the broader implications of technological advancements on job evolution, emphasizing the need for a thoughtful integration of AI that augments rather than replaces human roles. By examining historical shifts in job markets, we advocate for a strategic approach that aligns with organizational goals and enhances the human element in work. Join us as we celebrate the innovative spirit of New Zealand, where Annie and her team are making remarkable progress in crafting AI solutions for the HR industry. This episode is packed with insights, strategies, and a hopeful outlook on the collaborative future of AI in the workplace.

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In this episode, I'm joined by Melissa Crawford, a visionary leader who bridges the gap between technology and human psychology. Melissa shares her insights on the future of work, the power of strategic foresight, and the importance of human-centered technology.

We'll explore topics like:

The impact of AI on the workplace
The future of remote work and hybrid models
The importance of human-centered design in technology

So, tune in to hear how we can harness the power of technology while keeping our humanity intact.

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In this episode, we’re joined by Tim Warren, an expert in luxury, innovation, and entrepreneurship. Tim takes us on a journey through the world of high-end cars, particularly the Rolls-Royce Spectre, and reveals how the lessons from this luxury brand can be applied to businesses of all sizes.

We’ll explore topics like:

The importance of customer experience
The power of specialization
The role of technology in business
The value of simplicity in design and processes

So, buckle up and join us as we unpack these insights and more.

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In this engaging episode, Ant McMahon is joined by Asa Cox where they explore the critical transition from AI experimentation to full-scale production.

They explore the hurdles businesses face, such as privacy, security, and governance issues, and the necessity of integrating AI into existing data systems.

As AI reshapes organizational structures, the conversation touches on the evolving roles and responsibilities within AI-driven organizations, including the potential emergence of new roles like Chief AI Officer.

Transition from AI Experimentation to Production:
- Moving beyond standalone AI tools to integrating them into business processes.
- Overcoming challenges like privacy, security, and governance issues.
Challenges in AI Adoption:
- Addressing privacy and security concerns.
- Ensuring data quality and integration with existing systems.
- Shifting focus from proving AI’s functionality to demonstrating its business value.
Customer Experience and AI Implementation:
- Enhancing customer communication and service through AI.
- Balancing automation with maintaining customer trust.
Change Management and Communication:
- Effective strategies for managing change and addressing employee concerns.
- Communicating the benefits and impacts of AI adoption clearly.
Evolving Roles and Responsibilities:
- Reshaping organizational structures and job roles.
- Potential emergence of new roles like Chief AI Officer.
Practical Advice for Businesses:
- Finding the right partners and experts.
- Pushing for concrete commitments from tech vendors.
- Leveraging collective expertise through collaborative efforts, especially for New Zealand businesses.

This episode is a must-listen for anyone looking to navigate the complexities of AI adoption and drive meaningful change within their organization.

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In this episode, I'm joined by Ben Reid, author of “Fast Forward Aotearoa", his latest book which explores How Exponential Technology is Defining the Future of New Zealand… and What We Can Do About It.”

During our discussion we delve into the rapid pace of technological acceleration and its profound impact on New Zealand. Ben shares the motivation behind his book, highlighting the growing gap between global tech centers and New Zealand, and the urgent need for the country to catch up. We explore the concept of techno-optimism and its implications for New Zealand’s future, balancing this optimism against the realities of climate change and geopolitical instability.

Our conversation covers a range of critical topics, including the potential societal impact of AI, the future of work, and the importance of skills development and education in the AI era. Ben discusses the challenges of increasing energy consumption due to AI and computing demands, and the need for sustainable energy solutions.

We also examine New Zealand’s technological strategy and sovereignty, emphasizing the importance of developing a broader objective function beyond GDP and considering environmental and social externalities in business and national strategies. Ben provides insights into the potential for decentralised and open-source technologies to rebuild capability and maintain technological sovereignty.

Additionally, we discuss the role of data centres and infrastructure in New Zealand, the balance between relying on hyperscalers and maintaining local control, and the government’s role in building its own data centre for sovereignty.

Join us as we unpack these critical topics and consider the future of New Zealand in the age of AI. Lets get on with the episode!

As outlined in our previous episode, productivity is one of three key levers in generating business success so it’s vital we take it seriously.

One of the driving factors of sub-par productivity is waste. Waste can be found in both doing or spending too much – inefficiencies and duplication; or not doing enough – untapped or underutilised potential.

TIMWOOD Model: A productivity model identifying waste in organizations, crucial for business success.
Five Key Areas: Combines TIMWOOD and DOWNTIME into five areas to evaluate performance and identify improvements.
High-Level Questions: Provides questions to assess transport, inventory, defects, skills, and overprocessing in your organization.
Unique Solutions: Emphasizes that solutions are specific to each organization, with future blogs to discuss examples.

Optimise Costs, Revenue, and Efficiency to drive positive change that sticks.

In today's episode we focusing on three key areas.

First, the core business levers: managing costs, growing revenue, and improving efficiency.

Second, digital transformation: it’s not just about new tech, but how it can reduce costs, increase revenue, and boost efficiency.

Lastly, strategic considerations for tech projects: we’ll look at metrics, motives, and mindset.

Let’s get started!

Digital transformation can open many doors – giving you an exciting pathway towards innovation, growth, customer and staff fulfilment, and that sought-after competitive edge. But like most things in business and life, risks lurk in the background.

Don’t let this put you off continuing to develop and adapt though – when you have a robust digital roadmap in place you mitigate the potential risks before jumping in.

2 years on and we're 58 hours deep with over 60 hours of great chats.

Thanks for listening this far!

We're back, Feb 2022 with whole new interviews, and hot takes from previous guests.

If you're listening to this, you know where to find us!

Do you find yourself in a state of decision paralysis because you feel you don't have all the data you need?

Did you consider that by the time you have all the data, it might be too late?

Especially if the data is coming from the wrong sources.

Consider this: have you got enough data to make a decision you can live with.

In this episode, I speak with Bruno Pešec about why speed of decision making is often more important than quality and why indecision is still a decision.

About the guest

Bruno Pešec helps business leaders innovate profitably. He is the rare innovator who can claim that he's worked on a regulation-defying freight train and an award-winning board game. In addition to his corporate experience with brands like DNV, DNB, and Kongsberg Group, Bruno runs a community of entrepreneurs of several thousand members. He is currently undertaking a doctorate in organisational change, with a specific focus on the issues with innovation in large enterprises.

The last 18 months have been notable for their volatility.

Opinions have become currency, not always based on fact.

We've seen that we're not that great at predicting the future and, as a result, are never fully prepared - that just makes things more uncertain and leads to more opinions.

How can you separate fact from opinion?

First, remember that you control your perceptions and the energy that you bring to a situation.

Then, remember that everyone sees things differently.

Finally, ask yourself this: What are you prepared to do to prove that your opinion is wrong?

In today's episode, I chat with Marcel Daane about how to stay sane in a volatile world

About my guest
Marcel Daane is an award-winning executive coach and author of two book who operates out of Singapore. He specializes in helping professionals maximize their way of being in how they connect with themselves and others for more effective leadership and performance using a combination of Neuroscience, Mindfulness, and Somatic Awareness.

Marcel's books include HeadStrong Performance - coverhing how to improve mental performance under pressure - and Five Energies of Horrible Bosses, which is a book about how to use Energy Projection to improve connectedness with others

When Joe Santana ran a recent survey on AI tools, 63% of HR professionals who responded thought that introduction of AI would make the organisation more balanced.

But will it?

Or could AI make a company less diverse if it’s not delivered correctly?

In this episode, I talk with Joe about the potential impact of AI on diversity, equity, and inclusion. We discuss how it could affect an organisation’s ability to secure and retain the best talent in the world and consider how it could create a system that is infinitely a gamble.

About the guest
Joe Santana is Chairman of the CDO PowerCircle, an association of diversity, equity, and inclusion leaders serving well-known companies that collectively generate close to three-quarters of a trillion dollars and employ close to a million people around the globe.

Joe is also the host of the ERG PowerTalk podcast, which you'll find at https://linktr.ee/Joesan58

As an entrepreneur, you know what it takes to get things done: finding a need and filling it, building a business from the ground up to do so. Unfortunately, for many entrepreneurs, their work becomes their life. When people talk about work-life balance you nod along and agree that it’s important, but then turn around and throw yourself back in. You might dream of a 3-month walk-about, or of climbing that mountain, but how on earth are you going to fit that in when there’s always another fire to put out, another emergency that needs to be resolved.

In this episode I talk with Michael Nelson, Author of Goals That Matter – The Deceptively Simple System to Achieve Every Dream, about how to avoid looking back on your life thinking “I wish I had spent more time doing…"

Michael is an entrepreneur, author, ultra-marathoner, and real estate investor. Having created a system to achieve his goals, Michael started sharing it with clients and friends who found a great deal of success with their goals. Having led hundreds of people through his goal-setting system, he decided to write a book to share it even further. Michael’s book is a must-read for every person who desires to take their life to the next level.

Despite what we'll tell you, technology isn't the fastest-changing industry.

That honour goes to Cyber Security.

As we see new advances in technology we also need to keep up with protecting and securing the devices and systems we use. While the cyber security industry has been able to adapt as they go, the universities have also joined the fight and are now training the next wave of cyber security specialists.

Through this course, students learn how to put themselves in the shoes of the attacker, and the customer. Because you can't guarantee an attack will never happen, you just need to make it as difficult as possible to be successful.

In today's episode, I catch up with Sam Glanfield to find out why she chose a major in Cyber Security, what the course covers, and what the future might hold.

About the Guest

Sam is a 3rd-year university student studying towards a Bachelor of Engineering with a major in Cyber Security. When she's not learning how to identify and manage cyber threats, Sam is putting everything into practice as part of Kiwirail's cyber security team.

Heard of Low Code or No Code?

A No-Code development platform provides the ability to create application software through a graphical user interface instead of traditional hand-coded computer programming.

Used properly, it gives companies the freedom to try things out without the cost.

Even though it is perfect for prototyping, No-Code still carries some risks.

In this episode, I head back to Denmark to talk with Kasper Pederson and find out more.

About the guest:
Kasper, Founder of Tempus Serva, manages and implements custom-tailored systems for external customers. With a vision to Democratise Digitalisation, Kasper has the view that no climb is too steep as he takes No-Code to new heights.

The IT Psychiatrist
Good technology doesn’t grow on trees - you need a plan to get you there

What do the All Blacks, prenuptials and onboarding new clients all have in common?

Culture.

Businesses that want to start a successful relationship with a new client need to set expectations at the start.

It doesn't hurt to approach it like a prenuptial agreement.

And that's where the All Blacks bring inspiration. While they have a strong strategy. They also have a values-based culture that dictates no one is bigger than the team.

In today's episode, I talk with Scott Anderson, possibly Omaha's biggest rugby fan about the value of onboarding, how to avoid making mistakes, and why you need to be prepared to walk away. We do talk a bit of rugby too.

About the guest:

Scott Anderson is the founder and CEO of Double Dare, an executive coaching and consulting practice that dares entrepreneurs and executives to fully live their unique talent, passion and purpose. In his spare time, he's also a big rugby fan.

How are you going to manage it if the relationship breaks down? It's not necessarily something you consider when entering into a new business arrangement. Definitely something you need to think about if you want to avoid a lengthy and costly process when things don't go right.

In today's episode, I talked with Gerard Doolin, Managing Director of Be Amorgos, about contract management, dispute resolution, and what to consider when it all goes wrong.

About the Guest
With over three decades of experience in the legal and IT sector, Gerard is an accredited mediator, an expert in dispute resolution.

From 2019 he has led a software industry initiative to design and promote early-stage preventative dispute resolution processes for conflict id Software and Services projects to unlock, resolve and reset them and ensure outcomes are successful.

Digital has opened up a whole new world of possibilities.

When new projects are being explored, who represents the needs of your culture?

You... or is it a token effort?

Regardless of what benefits technology brings, each culture needs to be responsible for their own journey through the digital age and to beyond to ensure they get all the benefits.

In this episode I catch up with John Shortland, of Nga Puhi and Tainui descent, to discuss what happens when culture collides with technology.

About the guest
Based in Tolaga Bay on New Zealand's East Coast, John is a Full-stack .NET Developer with diverse knowledge and skills across various vertical markets. He specialises in developing robust, scalable, and most importantly – reliable solutions using the latest strategies, methodologies, and technologies.

And, more importantly, John is a strong believer that Maori must be responsible for guiding their own journey in technology.

Your business is taking off, you're hiring more people to meet the growing demand. The decisions you make now could have long consequences if you get them wrong.

Hiring is costly, but attrition is expensive.

If you get the hiring right from the start, the better it is for your business.

So how do you ensure that you hire the right people?

You hire people who match your values of course.

In today's episode, I talk with Vic Jack about the power of values-based recruitment.

About my guest:
Vic is the Principle Consultant at Maslow Limited, a People and Culture Agency that supports creative and tech industries with a value based recruitment model.

Vic's aim is to assist her clients and help them to provide flexible work opportunities for talented individuals.

Over the last few years, companies have focussed on the concept of wholeness at the office, where we bring all the elements of who we are to work — our passions and strengths, our side projects and relationships, our partners and kids.

Let’s say we’re ready to bring our whole selves to work; the next step is making sure our workplace supports this mindset. It’s the proverbial “which comes first” dilemma - a supportive workplace or our own desire to be ourselves wherever we are.

In this episode, I talk with Te Omeka Morehu about how he balances Culture in the office with Office culture.

About the guest:
By day he dabbles in cloud and infrastructure solutions, he laughs, he listens and plays the guitar in the office. By night he is a Husband, Father of 4 and doer of things around the house. He enjoys challenging himself physically in multiple disciplines, connecting with whanau at his marae and consistent learning. His big hairy audacious goal... is to enjoy life whilst living it.

From guitars to cultural awareness, Te Omeka shares his views in an open and honest discussion.

Did you hear the one about the company that launched a product, went global, and sold for millions of dollars?

Yes, everyone has heard that story.

They make it all sound so easy, but the truth is they will have had some solid advice throughout the journey.

People to help them get their house in order at every stage of the business lifecycle. Stage like:

Getting the business started and ensuring you have good agreements in place to protect your cofounders
Making sure the right IP structures are in place.
Commercialising your product
And, most importantly, scaling and funding.

Because you never know when capital may come knocking - and you don't want anything to get in the way of getting the best valuation possible.

From tech to tax, loyalty to Legal, good advisors help you do everything at the right time.

In the latest episode of Biz Bytes, I talk with Edwin Lim and Sarah-Jane Lawson from Legal Firm Hudson Gavin Martin that specialises in tech, media and IP law about the commercial realities of tech.

Ed, a partner at HGM, lives and breathes tech. From an early age he’s been pulling apart and putting together computers and gadgets. He is in a unique position where he can leverage his qualifications and experience to provide technical, commercial and legal advice to clients on tech and other matters. Ed has the coveted CTO role at HGM where he continues to pull apart and put together all things tech.

Sarah-Jane, Special Counsel for HGM, has extensive experience in corporate and commercial law, including business sales and purchases, restructuring, joint ventures, capital raising, shareholder agreements and a range of commercial agreements. Prior to joining HGM in 2013, she has in-house experience acting as legal counsel for Coca-Cola Amatil.

Is it possible that blockchain solutions are starting to reach what gartner refers to as the slope of enlightenment?

Their practical uses in supply chain management are becoming more evident.

And then there's smart contracts, which give the ability to track ownership of an asset and create generational wealth.

The changes we're starting to see are what's being referred to as Web 3.0, and today I talk with Dr Justin Goldston to find out more.

Dr. Justin Goldston is a Professor of Project and Supply Chain Management at Penn State University where his research is focused on blending the practices of supply chain management, emerging technologies, and sustainability to create positive global change.

A research facility affiliate at the Center for the Business of Sustainability at the Smeal College of Business at Penn State, D. Goldston is also as an active contributing faculty member to The Sustainability Institute at Penn State. Outside of the institution, Goldston is an Executive on the International Supply Chain Education Alliance's (ISCEA’s) International Standards Board (IISB) and is the author of the forthcoming book AI for Good: Achieving Sustainability Through Citizen Science and Organizational Citizenship.

2020 was a good year to be a technology support partner.

Not from a profit perspective (ok, it didn't hurt that)

The events of 2020 raised the value of a good support partner and what they bring to an organisation.

Like the ability to get your business running in a remote model, and keeping you there

Or the reduction of risk by getting you on to more modern platforms

It all takes skills, tools, and the right level of understanding of your business.

In this episode I talk with Michael Nelson, President of Sacramento-based Managed Service Provider TLC Tech about his experiences through Covid 19.

As the President and Founder of a Managed Service Provider, Michael discusses how his company was able to help companies transform into a remote workforce as businesses rushed to adjust to lockdowns across the country, and how this affected his own company as well as the IT/MSP industry.

So you're thinking of selling your products offshore.

You've set up local distribution channels, got the manufacturing sorted, and your website is ready to go.

What about tax?

The indirect tax, like GST and VAT.

Or the more complex, like the split between a state and a federal tax system.

As your business changes and grows, Tax can become more complicated.

So which is why it's important to get good tax advice, early.

In this episode I catch up with international tax expert Morgan Hardy from i-Tax solutions to find out more

Morgan Hardy established ITS to help New Zealand exporters sell NZ goods and services to the world. Morgan has been working in the tax field for over 20 years with experience from both practice and commercial roles with multinational consultancies and companies. Combining a strong commercial focus with solid global tax understanding his experience includes:

International tax including transfer pricing and cross border transactions
M&A
Resolving audits and tax disputes across Europe, Asia and the US (state and federal)
Tax planning
Tax compliance management

"There's an app for that"

so goes the joke when any manual task comes up.

And you've heard the one about how Automation and Robots will take our jobs.

Or Chatbots are more efficient than people.

And how to replace your accountant with booking keeping software.

Yeah, right.

Technology is a great enabler, but it's not a true replacement for people. Especially when it comes to high-value activities that involve complex decisions.

Because Automation isn't the same as Expertise

There are some things technology can't do. For everything else, there's People.

In this episode, I talk with Irene Bennetts about how people are still an important part of your business

Irene Bennetts is an award-winning bookkeeping and virtual assistance expert who has successfully developed solutions across key areas for growth-driven entrepreneurs and businesses to focus on their goals, rather than their financial administration.

Founder of Admin Army, which offers progressive services in bookkeeping, accounting, business administration and virtual assistance, Irene has led her team to employ the most effective combination of personal connection and modern technological automation. Her clients have access to the most agile, proactive business services.

Irene was named as one of the Practice Ignition Top 50 Women in Accounting 2019 and was the only New Zealander to be recognised with this prestigious accolade. Admin Army was also the 2019 Institute of Certified NZ Bookkeepers Bookkeeping Business of the Year.

Put your phone down for a minute...

Now how long could you leave it?

A few minutes?
A few hours?
A few days...

Or are you already getting FOMO?

Putting your phone down is the challenge that Phone Free day (March 19) puts to us as part of the growing movement for empowering people to use technology in a smarter and more purposeful way.

All in an effort to reduce technostress and improve digital wellbeing.

In today's episode, I talk with Taino Bendz, the driving force behind NZ's phone-free day to find out more.

Taino has spent 10 years working in the corporate technology sector and is passionate about using innovations to support people and enable us to live happier and healthier lives. For many of us, however, digital technology such as smartphones are a source of stress, disturbed sleep, distraction, and can even come between relationships (have you heard the term ´phubbing´?). To empower people and promote balanced device usage, Taino founded the non-profit Phone Free Day as a challenge and catalyst for change, as well as the business PhoneSmart where he runs workshops and presentations. He had a Phone Free wedding ceremony back in 2014 and the guests loved it (yes there was a photographer!).

To find out more about phone-free day, visit www.phonefreeday.org

What do the TV series Band of Brothers and the movie Saving Private Ryan have in common with decision making in business?

They both highlight the value of communication, training and teamwork to achieve an outcome.

And they show it in the most VUCA of situations

That's volatile, uncertain, complex, and ambiguous.

In today's episode I catch up with Military Buff and Engineer Travis "Grizzly" Jacobs about why rigidly following the process can lead to big mistakes.

Travis Grizzly is a Colorado-based product engineer. In 16 years of product development, he's come to realise there are 3 things that make a successful product"

Desirability: Does The Customer want it?
Feasibility: Can we build it?
Viability: Can we sustain it & make money?

The strategy he focuses on is to fail fast, fail cheap, fail small. By using small, cheap & fast experiments we can determine if this product is something the customer wants.

In other words, first fire bullets, then cannonballs.

We're all familiar with the saying "when you have a hammer, everything looks like a nail".

But what about this one:

*Every hammer needs a human.

In hands, it's a tool.

Without hands, it's a lump of metal.*
And it's true, tools add a lot of value, but people are at the heart of everything we do.

In this episode of Biz Bytes, I talk with Bruno Cignacco about why a business should be customer-oriented, emotional based, and put expectations at the forefront of everything

Dr Bruno Roque Cignacco (PhD) is an international business consultant, international speaker and business coach. For over 20 years, he has advised and trained hundreds of companies on international trade activities and international marketing. He is a university lecturer. He is a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (HEA - UK). He is also the author of business and personal development books published in different languages. His new book is titled THE ART OF COMPASSIONATE BUSINESS. MAIN PRINCIPLES TO THE HUMAN-ORIENTED ENTERPRISE (2019, Routledge) His websites are www.humanorientedenterprise.com and www.brunocignacco.com

Automation through virtual assistants allows for better Customer Service, Enhanced experience, and customer communications at scale.

Sounds good for business, but where do you start?

A good place is always to define the problem you have and then work your way back from there.

Deploy it in the real world and make changes as you go.

And above all meet your customer expectations

In this episode, I link up with Estonia to talk bots with Indrek Vainu

Indrek runs AlphaBlues, an AI company automating customer experience through chat. He is an experienced entrepreneur having previously managed a 70-person machine learning company. Indrek holds a degree from Harvard University and is a frequent speaker at technology events.

SaaS.

You've no doubt seen it around.

Software as a Service

You probably use it in your business.

But have you heard of Deep Tech?

That's something new, isn't it...

In this episode, I talk with Simon Small about the difference between SaaS and Deeptech, and
What makes a SaaS Business stand out.

Simon Small who you probably have never heard of, he told me to say that, has been very quiet in New Zealand since about 1999. He went on a 15 year OE.

He returned and lay very low in Queenstown but now he is back and making noise again. His past spans many careers; from theatre (writing, producing) to TV (directing, producing) to Property Development, to Corporate Governance (Software-as-a-Service with Diligent) to AI (Natural Language Generation with Arria NLG).

Recently, he’s found a new passion in helping Founder/CEOs of Deep Tech and SaaS Businesses go big. He wants all of New Zealand’s SaaS & Deep Tech companies to be performing in the top 1% of companies worldwide.

Thanks for being part of the conversation through 2020. Season 2 will go live on Feb 2, 2021.

Bing!

You've got mail!

Bing!

Text message from your friend

Bing!

Cat Picture on Facebook

Bing!

LinkedIn connection request.

All distractions, that have all increased with the introduction of multiple forms of technology.

And with each distraction comes another hit to productivity, more time you won't get back, another backflip missed on the trampoline.

The more we digitise our lives, the more important it is that we start to unplug.

So why don't we?

Is it fear of missing out. Fear of not being reachable. Or something else?

When was the last time you sat down to consciously think about how you wanted to interact with technology

In this episode I talk with Tracey Hancock about the importance of unplugging, the drivers behind why we don't, why we can't reflect our patterns on others and how going cold turkey is not the answer.

About Tracey

Combining over 20 years of experience in planning, leadership roles at all levels, mindset coaching and her own personal journey, Tracey helps her clients to design the life then want to live. Helping gain greater clarity about what they really want, and feel confident to make decisions and take action that's right for them, Tracey's mission is to help people stop feeling caught up in busyness, or lost and unsure.

Because it's your life, and Tracey thinks it’s time to do something about it.

From B-school through the big leagues, the business world often places value on logic and analysis. But on creativity? Not so much. And this is a recipe for disaster.

What gets the ball rolling when we’re feeling stuck in our careers? Why is my company not growing or reaching higher levels of profitability? What’s the difference between a workable plan and a stroke of genius?

The answer is creativity—and it’s the missing ingredient for far too many of us who feel we’re not reaching our creative potential (or doubt we have it in the first place)

Creativity isn’t a “nice to have” leadership trait. It’s the key to success in every workplace and all industries. Anyone can be creative —even if you don’t think you’re a “creative” person

In this episode I talk with Nir Bashan, author of The Creator Mindset, about how creativity benefits business and what leaders can do to foster it.

From working with Hollywood and music stars like Woody Harrelson and Rod Stewart, Nir discovered something that may shock you: These creative superstars aren't all that different from you or I! It's just that they have mastered a method of repeatable and predictable creativity -- a type of creativity that anyone can learn. And it turns out that's the same type of creativity can be used in businesses and careers everywhere!

Nir has taught thousands of leaders and individuals around the globe how to harness the power of creativity to improve profitability, increase sales, boost customer service and ultimately create more meaning in their work. Working with clients such as AT&T, Microsoft, Ace Hardware, NFL Network and EA Sports, Nir has spent the last two decades working on a formula to codify creativity for business. That formula is found in 'The Creator Mindset', a book which has been translated into two languages and released worldwide by McGraw/Hill business in August of 2020.

The Creator Mindset Book — NIR BASHAN Managing Director, Public Speaker and Author. Creativity can be learned by anyone. Come in and find out how.

Take people with a need. Find people with an ability. Put them together. Solve a problem

That's how Pera Barrett describes the function of Shoebox Christmas. A cause for good that he is responsible for in New Zealand to ensure that all children have a little something under the Christmas Tree.

On reflection, we also realise that it describes the role of a Digital Product Owner.

That's Pera's day job.

But it's not where he started out.

When he left school, Pera was off to be a marine biologist.

And then he found his passion - making things better for people.

In today's episode, Pera shares the journey that took him from counting barnacles on beaches to digital leadership and why it's important to show people what you can do.

In a very personal conversation, Pera reinforces what Norie Ape and Hylton Stunnenberg-Southon covered off in earlier episodes - any one can learn to code, but some skills are linked to your attitude.

Father, Rapper, Wrapper, Podcast Host, Digital Leader, Pera Barrett has a long list of accomplishments that all have one thing in common: making things better for people!

When he's not working 9-5 as a Digital Product Owner at BNZ Digital and busy with family, Pera coordinates the Shoebox Christmas Project and Stationary Starter pack - two causes for good that Pera is passionate about.

If that's not enough to keep him busy, he also raps under the stage name Percieve (spelt incorrectly intentionally). Then there's his podcast - Paperback Guerrillas for mana enhancing kōrero.

All things which led to Pera be named New Zealand Local Hero of The Year for 2019

It's just some of the many things that make Pera such an awesome guest with an amazing story to tell

In 1969 The Dedikation, a 4 piece band from Upper Hutt, reached number 2 on the New Zealand charts with a cover of the song "Wait for me Mary-Anne".

The band later released a self titled album before splitting in 1970.

Like so many other songs, Wait for me Mary-Anne could have disappeared over time - remembered only by band members and their family, and friends

And then Spotify came along

The song was loaded into the subscription based music player and is now available to listen anywhere, any time, by anyone.

Spotify is just one example of the "as a Service" (aaS) model that is prevalent.

Software aaS (SaaS) is a model many businesses use where software is licensed on a subscription basis and is centrally hosted. It is sometimes referred to as "on-demand software" and is usually what people refer to when they say "the Cloud"

Highly configurable, SaaS solutions allow customers to subscribe to the services they need, when then need them.

The also allow providers to innovate faster, push features out as soon as they are ready, and keep the software at the leading edge.

This evergreen approach is a big change from the way software used to role out - who remembers the 13 discs required to install Windows 95!

SaaS is just one of many consumption models that have been disrupted over time as new technology is introduced and evolves.

In this episode, I talk with Tom Lucker about how to provide better customer experience in the age of SaaS

About Tom
Tom moved to New Zealand from the UK seven years ago and started working in the tech industry is 2015.

He has worked with a number of notable Kiwi businesses across a number of industries who have invested in SaaS Technology and are always seeking to provide improved levels of services for their customers, partners and employees.

The insights from these engagements with these businesses has been and is a constant evolution that has only been accelerated by world events like the COVID-19 pandemic.

Tom strives to ensure that he is adding value at every step of the way in his relationships with his customers

Interested in listening to the song?

If you want to check out the full version of Wait for Me Mary-Anne you can find it on Youtube or Spotify

How do you raise no hassle venture capital?

Simple

Provide a customer experience that delights your customer, encourages them to come back and spend more.

And tell their friends about it.

To do that you need to have build your platform on good Customer Experience.

The dice are stacked against you though.

Everyone wants to delight their customer. You're not just attracting, you're competing.

No-one is doing a transaction for the sake of it so target your customer at the point that is valuable to them. Not to you.

Make offers that show you know the customer needs.

And most importantly, ensure your technology is not disjointed by linking your CX strategy into your technology one.

It's the only way you'll ensure good return on investment.

And grow your venture capital.

In this episode, I talk with Brenton Webber about how to drive customer experience

About Brenton
The founder of CX agency Half Time Orange, Brenton aims to improve the lives of people inside and outside organisations by designing and implementing practical CX strategies and systems that work.

He uses insights to provide bespoke solutions for companies to transform their culture, engage with customers, and grow their business.

Brenton is also the host of the Half Time Orange podcast.

In the last decade New Zealand experienced almost every event that could have negative impacts on business.

Natural Disasters
Pandemics
Damage to Core Infrastructure

And the story is not done yet

It will be an ongoing series of disruptions

But our customers are adapting. CoVid-19 saw a rapid increase in online transactions, a trend we will see continue.

The result of this is that everyone needs to have an online presence, even if it's just click and collect

As companies shift more and more towards a digital and online world, the need to have plenty of tools to protect them has never been greater.

One of those tools is Cyber Insurance.

Traditionally it's been seen as something for tech businesses only. But stats show that in the modern age, businesses are more likely to have a cyber event than a business liability event.

Because anyone can be a target.

As business continue to adopt more reliance on IT systems, cyber insurance is now something that is necessary for anyone who uses the internet to deal with customers

In this episode I talk with Brian Kragner about what cyber insurance is and why it's important to any business.

About Brian

Brian is a commercial insurance broker with over 15 years of experience. Working with clients from a wide range of businesses, Brian focusses on working closely with owners who are still actively involved in the operation of the business because they’re personally invested in it.

He works closely with them to get the best out of their cover.

Brian's passionate about helping people understand insurance better, so they get what they need and have confidence that they all they need to do is worry about running their business well, because someone has their back!

In a modern cloud world, is there value in having a Managed Service Partner to support your IT environment?

You can buy licences on a credit card
Setup accounts at the click of a button
Put all your data in a safe location.

Yeah... But...

Have you configured it correctly? Is it as secure as it could be? And who do you call when it goes wrong?

As businesses shift more services to the cloud the need to work with a trusted partner has never been stronger.

Someone who can get it working the way it needs to be, secure your digital borders, keep your lights on and support your staff.

All in a cost effective way

Today I talk with Richie Jenkins about the value of an MSP in a cloud world

Richie is the Waikato General Manager for New Zealand MSP The Instillery. A Business leader with a passion for digital enablement, Richie is driven to ensure that his customers get the best capability and service and are powered up for today, and the future.

The increasing automation and technical capability of the finance industry has not only provided efficiencies in enabling a multibillion dollar economy to grow, it has also evolved unintended consequences resulting in opportunities for misjudgement, misconduct and misuse.

Government regulatory oversight is designed to contain and manage this through reducing the risk of company failure and potential failures of the global monetary system, as well as to protect customers and their money from fraud or unethical conduct.

Having regulation to protect everyone from ‘bad’ or unconsciously unethical behaviour has to be a good thing, however the realities of implementing regulation is complex, expensive to retrofit, and rarely done ‘by design’ in New Zealand. It’s rapidly changing and difficult to get right in evolving business environments, and when it goes wrong it is very, very expensive.

With the pace of change Technology has to be the answer for this to be more effective in order that companies of all sizes and budgets can meet the rapid increase in regulation with efficient automated solutions that enable us to ethically protect the industry, ourselves, staff and customers.

About Janet
Janet has over 20 years of experience managing diverse technology teams and delivering change in the Financial sector, Technology and Regulatory. Originally from the UK, Janet moved to Singapore with Barclays Capital in 2006 managing teams and expanding the Global Software Development Centre to then 5 years later, evolve and transition it further to lower cost global locations.

Since moving to New Zealand in 2013 Janet has been focussed on Regulatory change projects and becoming passionate about compliance by design, working on some of the key legislative changes for New Zealand, FMCA, CLR, CCCFA, AML, GDPR and Conduct, and is increasingly frustrated with the acceptance of largely manual approaches and the lack of opportunity to digitize compliance and keep up with Financial technology advances.

To address her frustration Janet has engaged with the Tech Futures Lab here in Auckland, juggling work by embarking on a part-time Master of Technological Futures journey to see what a different form of Regulatory Change might look like for the future, be that near or distant.

Janet is involved in (and managed) Women in IT, Diversity groups, Graduate programmes including Shadowtech, as well as being a mentor and forming communities of practice for project management and Agile ways of working.

We're communicating more than we ever have. The world is getting smaller by the day.

All because of Technology.

Technology is changing the way we think, lead, and make decisions.

And it's no longer for techy people. Anyone with the right skills can take part.

So the mindset and culture we foster have around technology needs to change.

We need to increase our adaptability quotient (AQ) so we can adapt, grow, learn, and get better.

Accepting that most of the decisions we make are reversible. If it doesn't work, then stop and try something different.

And we especially need to rethink security - just because we haven't had a breach, doesn't mean we won't.

Because our strongest asset, and weakest link are the same thing:

People

In this episode I talk with Hilary Walton about organisational culture in a digital age and why it's important that we change the way we talk about tech.

About the Guest

Hilary Walton is the Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) of the Kordia Group, responsible for the overall security position of Kordia in both Australia and New Zealand.

She is an Information and Technology and digital business transformation leader, and has a diverse background in organisational psychology and risk management.

She also has significant experience from offshore roles, having worked for Mi5 in London, and the London 2012 Olympics and Paralympic Games leading the Information Security programme.

Outside of work, Hilary is a ‘YouTuber’ and podcast producer. She is a passionate sharer of ‘Digital Culture ideas’ on social media, because she believes that being ‘digital’ requires a new set of behaviours and ways of working for people to learn and adopt.

Technology challenges are not isolated to one business (or country), they are global. Everyone is facing the same challenges in their own way.

And there are so many solutions, practices, and frameworks available that it can be hard to know what to adopt.

While the problems facing businesses aren't unique, there is a golden rule to consider - If you adopt everyone else's best practices, you will be an average business.

The way Spotify solve their problems is not always going to work for a bank, so you should find what works for you

To successfully change you need to start testing different models, which is where prototyping is valuable.

And rapid prototyping is even better

But most important is to ensure you give you customers the tools they need.

In this episode I talk to Justin Gregory about the challenges of digital transformation in an international context.

About Justin

Justin has over a decade in leadership positions with one of the foremost banks in South Africa. Having led teams for the bank’s award-winning digital business through to their industry-leading commercial division. He has a keen eye on how technology and digital solutions can overhaul and supplement behaviours while driving business needs and simplifying experiences for customers.

Justin has a deep interest in disruptive and innovative tech, aligned with a pragmatic approach to technology reinvention and integration. This has allowed Justin to partner with and deploy these technologies within the bank. Understanding how digital and cultural change has enabled the business to grow and adapt to shifting markets and possible threats have been key pillars of Justin's career history.

Technology is one of the fastest changing industries in history. In the last decade we've seen new language, new standards, and new ways of working.

For those who work in the industry the result is that we can't just sit on the skills we've learned and expect to stay at the top of our game.

If you step out of the industry it won't take long before you're rusty.

Employers and recruiters are very aware of this and are always looking for people who are developing themselves.

To avoid the rust you must keep the machine oiled.

That career gap on your CV isn't harmful, but it will help if you spent some time upskilling yourself.

And if you're still in a job, seek out what skills you will need to solve tomorrows problems today.

So take charge of your own destiny! Make yourself more valuable to the market by adding necessary skills.

In this episode I talk to Chloe Piper about why Pivoting is not just for business, and the value a good recruiter brings to the table.

About Chloe

What do fitness and recruitment have in common? Helping people to become the best version of themselves. Having the right job is as important as having a healthy body and mind.

That's the philosophy that Chloe has used over her 10 years recruitment experience, both internally and externally, and both overseas and locally. Established in Christchurch for the past 9 years, Chloe is now an adopted kiwi and combines her passion for technology and recruitment through her own business, XO recruitment

Start with the Heart.

Friedmanism is dead. The idea that companies need to value profit above all else is giving way to the concept of values based organisation.

Ensuring the values of your business are aligned to those of the people you've hired.

The thing with values is that they aren't just about what's said, they are about action.

If they aren't lived then they are just a statement.

This is even more important in a VUCA world

Volatile, Uncertain, Complex, Ambiguous

To survive you need to be agile and resilient (but you don't need to pivot).

And the only way to do that successfully is to have the right people.

In this episode I talk with Dr Cherry Vu and Rob England about value driven organisations and why you should put staff first.

About Cherry and Rob

Dr Cherry Vu and Rob England are Teal Unicorn, partners in work and life, dedicated to Make Work Better: better results, better lives, better society.

Their focus is management, and how the new ways of working and managing can unlock advancement to better work.

They work mostly in NZ and Vietnam - consulting, coaching, and training. In Vietnam they focus at the executive level, and in New Zealand they work mainly within IT, always improving organisational performance and life.

Together they wrote the book "The agile Manager (small a)". They offer online and onsite learning in new ways of thinking, working, managing, org change, IT, consulting, and selling.

Are we in the age of the startup?

Driven by a desire to be more independent and make our own choices, people are starting to take control and we are seeing new businesses emerge every day.

While 20 years ago it was individuals wanting to start a business, we now have teams who understand the ideas behind an MVP, how to do a side hustle.

Success stories are everywhere.

From Mark Zuckerberg to Uber, Elon Musk to Air BNB

And more locally

Xero
Rocket labs

But for every success story, there are plenty that don't make it.

New Zealand has a product market fit of one quarter of one percent.

Or the equivalent of about 15 start-ups a year actually nailing it in to their market.

The risks are still the same and yet businesses are emerging every day, what's changed?

How much of a role does Luck have to play in it

And how to make sure you get the market fit?

In this episode I talk with Andy Hamilton about what it takes to be a successful business.

Andy is a Director of Ahi Innovation a consulting and investment company.

About Andy:

He's got plenty of experience investing in companies – Icehouse Ventures, Blue Frog Breakfast, digital human company UneeQ, solar company Lightforce Solar, innovation agency Indigo, and Manaaki, an SME business support forum.

Andy has also advised plenty of companies, United Machinists, Tatou (agricultural worker career platform), Auxilio Pharmaceuticals and a Small Business Advisor to the Minister for Small Business, Stuart Nash

His specialities include pattern matching, navigating the path forward for business owners and founders, networks, connections, governance & securing investment.

When is a good time to look at the services and products you offer?

Right now.

Now is a the best time to look back and see what worked for you and figure out how to leverage that

Or what didn't go so well, so you can stop it.

Remember that some of our best known brands originated in a crisis.

But where do you start?

What problems have you identified in your business? Look for the daily chaos - the things that are constantly resulting in you fighting fires.
What do you want your target state to look like? And how far ahead can you see?
Have you taken the time to map out what's working well?

Unless you've done these 3 things you may find it challenging to move forward.

In this episode I catch up with Rob Bull from the Brick by Brick podcast to talk about business improvement, and business survivability

About Rob

You have built a good business, some would even describe it as great. Because of this you have got big plans. There is just one problem - how to move towards this vision, and bring the team along while they are keeping the ‘business as usual’ jobs under control.

Rob can help with that.

Rob's focus is enabling your people, taking your teams from average to awesome and watching teams achieve things that they never thought was possible. And he loves to play with LEGO!

Rob helps with Lean Implementation Programmes, Lego Serious Play Sessions, Workshops and Operational Excellence Reviews

Imagine a world where complex problems can be solved in minutes instead of years.

The good it would do - forecasting how to respond to extreme events, and preparing the legislation to deal with it.

The bad it would do - uncrackable encryption cyphers become vulnerable, causing issues for security

Thanks to Quantum computing, it's not something we need to imagine! Quantum computing ushers in a whole new world of possibilities.

A world where computational equations are no longer +1, they are to the power of!

The problems they can solve are endless, and it's with in reach of even the smallest companies

And then there's the possibility of irrefutable evidence, supported by distributed ledger, and the changes that can enable in society.

Can the two emerging technologies work together to transform the way we think, plan, and do?

In this episode I talk with Sean Muller about the opportunities behind Quantum Computing and Distributed Ledger.

About Sean

Sean has 26 Years of experience in helping companies use technology to achieve outcomes.

For the last 6 years he has been helping companies disrupt internally using innovative technologies implemented within existing enterprises to help drive digital transformations.

The modern workplace has evolved over the last few decades. Supported by technology we have seen the decline of fixed office space, the rise of flexi-desking, and then the rush towards remote working.

Those that are successful at this have learned that:

Every business is unique, you can't emulate your way to success
Technology plays a part, but it is not the be all and end all
Managers must balance visibility with flexibility - presenteeism isn't productivity
We need to create the right space for people, and then enable them to use it
If you aren't sure what's going to work, pilot it.

Because the way we work is a combination of Workplace, Technology, and People.

Success comes when we combine that with Trust, Accountability and Choice,

Which is why in todays climate companies need to build an everyplace working strategy, not just a workplace strategy.

Today I talk with Jo Monaghan about workplace strategy.

About Jo:

Jo Monaghan, workplace strategist and designer, is the founder of ‘The Flow Company’ whose mission is to ”build wellbeing into workplace strategy and design”.

Committed to creating sustainable workplace environments that connect and inspire, The Flow Company puts people at the heart of everything they do. Their purpose is to create environments that elevate people’s wellbeing by focusing on People first, then Place.

She is currently working with a number of clients on their everyplace working strategies, as our recent experiences show it’s not all about the office anymore but more about Choice, Flexibility and Trust.

These are exciting times as Jo explore's new models for how and where people work that align with business strategies and goals she is excited to be leading that exploration.

In the last episode I sat down with Norie Ape to discuss ideas on how to increase diversity in the technology industry. In this episode I catch-up with Hylton Stunnenberg-Southon to continue the conversation.

An experienced digital leader Hylton takes the view that anyone can code, as long as we ensure they have the opportunity to do it.

She challenges society to level the playing fields, especially at school and asks the question "Do we need have specific teachers for technology, or do we need to better equip the ones we have?

Because different cultures place value on different things, we discuss:

The need to get more mentors around the industry.
How to make sure we take into account cultural commitments and values such as Faith and Family.
Why we should be hiring for soft skills, not just academic skills

We also raise the challenge to be talking about the different jobs available in the tech space, not just development opportunities.

About Hylton

Born in the USA to a Samoan mother and Dutch father, Hylton has lived in Samoa, Fiji, Australia, NZ and spent her summers in The Netherlands in the first 9 years of her life, you could say that travel is normal to her! It is no surprise therefore that with Hylton’s diverse background she would be passionate about issues such as gaps that exist in the technology industry now; especially culturally. Hylton has played the role of a mentor both within her workplace and over the years through groups focusing on mentoring school kids of Maori or Pacific decent who are interested in exploring careers within the Technology/Digital industry.

An abstract dream engineer passionate about increasing the number of Pasifika Women in Tech

That's the LinkedIn tagline of today's guest, Norie Ape. Together we discuss some of the reasons behind why only 2% of New Zealand's technology industry is classed as Pasifika or Maori - despite those cultures making up 25% of the population.

And the numbers get smaller when you add other diversity layers.

So how do we solve this?

Norie provides a simple view:

Provide people with a pathway, and connect them with the opportunities. And remove the perception that you need to be a certain person with a certain skill

In a wide ranging conversation, we cover:

The value of Cultural Intelligence (CQ) in your organisation
Why having the same crew solving problems will always result in the same outcomes.
How, by virtue of having different thought processes, the conversation goes in a different path

We also look at some big ideas:

What role models do we have?
Why does the industry prescribe a particular degree?
How do we change the perception of tech to be more than just development?

Because if we want the products and services across the country to be reflective of society, then we need better representation

About Norie:

Norie, a Samoan digital product owner from the Mighty Auckland, is a passionate Blues supporter with experience within the government and private sector. What she loves about her role is the continuous engagement between tech teams & business teams to iteratively design, test, develop, implement and measure the success of customer centered products and services. When she's not refining her list of places to brunch in Wellington City or trying to promote and increase the number of Pasifika People and Pasifika Women in the technology sector, you can usually find her testing out in workshops or office corners ways to open up technical and process designs to be more innovative by encouraging diverse thought patterns and processes OR sharing stories of how she went from Case Manager @ Work & Income with an Honors Degree in Foreign Policy to a Digital Product Owner. In short she likes hearing, sharing and experiencing awesome stories and life experiences to help unravel narly problems.

The last few decades have seen the emergence of the social enterprise.

Businesses that create profit to deliver on pupose and leave a sustained impact

For New Zealand this means companies like Eat My Lunch, Kilmarnock, and Ecostore. These are companies who don't see profit as a dirty word, but as a way to do good things

Constantly looking for tools to help them out but, unlike charities, these companies are not as constrained by budgets.

And that's where technology companies need to show how to connect what they offer with impact and purpose.

They need to provide solutions that are scalable and grow with the business.

Showing how they can solve problems

And above all, answer "what's in it for me"

It's as much about values as it is value.

Because people are motivated when it's clear that you are driven by more than just profit

In this episode I talk with Sheridan Jamieson about Social Enterprise and how technology firms could look to support them.

About my guest:

Sheridan lives a dual life as an independent consultant for his company, Seedling Consulting, and as Head of Operations at One Percent Collective. This experience combined with his time spent in the financial services sector mean he’s got a wide-ranging view of what ‘being in business’ means. Sheridan is passionate about social enterprise and grass-roots charity and wants to help purposeful and impact-led businesses to thrive.

DevOps.

Its more than just the sum of it's parts - Development and Operations

It's a software development approach that ensures that the people writing code are now responsible for the outcome of the design, not just throwing it over the fence to be someone else's problem.

In a world where IT and the business they serve are increasingly aligned in their strategic goals, DevOps is becoming a way to ensure that software development is now a product and not just an activity.

It's removes bottle necks from your delivery cycle in order to deliver faster outcomes for your customer, better.

But where do traditional technology roles and practices fit? What do you do with the technology you already have?

And how to you combine activities which are fluid with practices that are seen as bureaucratic?

In this episode I talk with Jakob Diness, my first international guest, about DevOps and why you should treat technology like cattle, not a pet.

About JakobBased in Denmark,Jakob is a Digital Business Consultant.

He is an IT Infrastructure Library (ITIL) Expert certified trainer having been teaching ITIL courses for several years.

As a consultant with BusinessNow his focus is advising large and medium-sized companies on their digital journey and transformation with ServiceNow as the central platform. Linkages to previous episodes:Ep 14. If you can't give certainty through change, give clarity - Christy Law

Books we reference:

The Agile Manager: Dr Cherry Vu and Robert England
A Seat at The Table: Mark Schwartz
From Project to Product: Mik Kersten
The DevOps Handbook: Gene Kim, John Willis, Patrick Debois, Jez Humble

And if you want to know more about the Phoenix Project, talk with Jacob Diness or James Gander at https://www.gander.co.nz/

Are you in the business of selling?

How do most of your sales conversations go? Mostly good. Or mostly Bad?

Why is that?

Sure, you've got all the tools you need - A CRM, a lead management funnel, beautiful PowerPoint presentations,

But tools are only one thing. Sales is built on one simple factor.

Trust.

What actions do you take to build trust with your audience?

Are you talking to all the people you need to to make the sale?

Are you solving customer problems, helping them see "what's in it for me"

Or are you spending most of the conversation selling the message as to why your product is the best?

In today's episode I chat with Alex McNaughten about techniques that make an effective salesman.

About Alex

Alex is the the founder of Sales Leaders where he looks to address the Sales Capability Gap, helping ambitious companies and sales professionals (primarily in the technology space) solve more problems globally, through effective selling!

Alex is passionate about the science of selling and accelerating the impact companies in the Southern Hemisphere make both locally and on the global stage! His motto is Be Positive - Confidence is Contagious!

That system your business has been using for 20 years... how good is it?

Sure, it might be working, but is it working well? And does it allow you to run your business in the most effective, efficient, and economic manner?

Technology has evolved to the point we can do what we want from anywhere in the world, but many still don’t invest to enable that

Just like how we change our cars to suit our lifestyle, or our cell phones to get the better model, businesses should be upgrading their tech to ensure it is fit for purpose - it is no longer possible just to make do,.

The technology is there, how businesses choose to use it will differentiate them from their competitors.

We've seen the evidence of this through recent events- those companies which had moved to modern systems were able to recover faster.

Those that are still on legacy systems didn't.

My guest today is Sam Mitchell, and together we talk about upgrading and maintenance of technology and the impact it has on your business.

What does KFC running out of chicken have in common with how companies respond to a pandemic?

Both rely on a business continuity plan to recover

Whether it's a pandemic, a natural disaster, or something that could impact your reputation, a business continuity plan (BCP) will show you what steps you need to take, who you need to engage, the messages you need send, and how you will recover your business.

Because in the digital age, the world is watching, and how you respond will impact your reputation

Today I talk with Laura Toplis about BCP.

We explore:

What elements should be considered
Why a Business Impact Analysis is crucial
The need to keep your BCP up to date

And we discuss recent examples of where companies have handled a crisis well, and where they haven't

About Laura:
Laura Toplis was the Business Continuity Coordinator for the New Zealand Ambulance Service and has developed a product from her experiences called BCP Builder – an Online Business Continuity Plan Template.

BCP Builder helps small and medium sized businesses quickly design and build their own unique ISO22301-compliant business continuity plan, to be better prepared when disruption strikes to respond rapidly and recover confidently.

Electric ferries.

What's the first thing that popped into your head?

Perhaps it was limited range
Boats running around with a long extension cable
Or significant downtime while the boat recharged
Or more expensive boats?

How about this though:

Quieter journeys
Less operational pollution
Fewer boats needed to meet the same demand
No downtime while boats recharge
A fleet that is dynamically managed to suit passenger demand

A different viewpoint right?

That last one is particularly relevant - despite a significant population increase, Auckland has only recently got back to the levels of public transport utilisation that we saw in the 1950s

But some of our infrastructure is in need of an upgrade, and the answer is electric ferries

Because Public transport is no longer for people who don't have a car

And it doesn't just benefit Auckland

My guest today is Michael Eaglen. Together we talk about the techonological advances that make electric ferries not only possible, but the right choice.

Michael Eaglen is co-founder of EV Maritime, a New Zealand maritime technology business focused on a zero emission and low emission future for the inshore commercial maritime industry.

Electrification and hybridisation is the fastest-growing sector in the global maritime industry and EV Maritime has found the niche in which to deploy New Zealand’s best specialised expertise. EV Maritime takes the best of world-leading New Zealand talent, spanning America’s Cup designers, internationally-respected structural and electrical engineers, multi-award-winning boat builders and pioneering propulsion innovators and focuses their collective efforts on decarbonising the harbour cities of the world.

Their first project is electric fast ferries: they have developed ferries which can fully electrify the whole of the Auckland Transport fleet and, they believe, cement a vast global export opportunity perfectly-suited to the best strengths of the New Zealand marine industry.

If there is one thing that we can bank on, it's that Change is constnat

And we also know that people will react in different ways to change. Uncertainty, confusion, and the age old question of "What's in it for me?" will play a role in how each person reacts to change.

Which is why the messages you send around change are importnat

You need to respect boundaries, and be aware that the things we say (and sometimes the things we don't) will matter.

And it's never the big things that catch you out, it's often the small things and if you get it wrong it is very hard to walk it back.

So how to you get this right - especially when trying to deal with competing outcomes?

Focusing on the outcomes you are trying to achieve, even when they might be in competition with each other, is a critical step

Elimating Jargon is also important, keep the message clear, concise, and void of any confusion.

But what does a SCARF have to do with change?

My guest today is a good friend and former colleague, Christy Law.

Once upon a time Christy wanted to be an Astronaut. And like Apollo 13, she knows that in change, it’s not the big things that you need to watch out for, but the little things - or the things that seem little - that turn into the big surprises. An experienced change leader, Christy is a go-to for her pragmatic approach and her passion for building the next generation of changelings.

In today's episode we discuss the approachs to good change .

Pivoting has been hotly discussed during Covid-19. If you Google: “Should I pivot because of Covid-19?” you’ll get over 84 million results.

But not every change counts as a pivot.

A pivot is a proactive strategy shift based on planning, preparation and market research with the focus on achieving business sustainability and growth. Done well, the benefits of a pivot can be long-lasting and transformational. But the decision to pivot should not be taken lightly – they can be difficult to pull-off.

Pivoting indicates a change in direction, not an add-on or tweak. It’s not something that was already planned down the track and brought forward (that’s acceleration) or a short-term band-aid to sustain your business through a difficult period (that’s disaster recovery or business continuity).

To be successful you have to have something to aim for, and that is why it's important you have to identify the problem you need to solve. If you don't have your problem clear then transformation is a wobbly path.

If you are transforming but haven't figured out the problem you're trying to solve you have no market. and if you have no market, you can't scale

So what do you do if your company is working well and solving a traditional problem, but enough pain points exist to solve new problems?

That's when a pivot might be practical.

My Guest today is Raechel Ford, co-founder of ilume, a New Zealand born leadership development company expanding into leadership development software.

We talk about the journey her business has been on, the people that have helped her, and just how technology is enabling the business

What if you had the ability to build a test environment to help you identify where and how your business needs to change.

Something which allowed you to model the business and identify:

Who was doing what
Which systems they were using
How information impacted their output.

And then provided the most important things for you to focus on?

With a digital twin for your organisation, that's exactly what you can have.

A digital twin provides a representative model of how your business operates which means you can interact with the model and guide better decision making.

Because gut based decisions don't drive better outcomes

In today's episode, I talk with Neil Calvert about digital Twins.

About my gust:
Neil Calvert is the CEO and Co-Inventor of the LINQ platform at LINQ Ltd. LINQ is an infonomics enabled Digital Twin platform, helping business leaders and their advisors who are loosing sleep over the stress of authorising change they do not understand, to gain the knowledge needed to make evidence-based decisions faster than ever before and effectively communicate the impact on people, systems and finances to everyone in the business. With a background in spatial information, helping organisations create increased value utilising the information asset has seen Neil’s career evolve from mapping the globe to mapping the organisation. Based in Wellington, New Zealand, Neil enables companies and partners around the world to accelerate their digital transformation using the Digital Twin of the Organisation. Outside of work, Neil is a keen cook and practises Shaolin Kempo and Tai Chi.

While it's possible for any company to transform, the adoption of new technology doesn't constitute digital transformation.

And it's not a big bang deliverable.

Nor is it something that you can copy from other organisations - each transformation journey is personal.

Transformation is a series of iterative change that a business undertakes in order to shift their model.

And it has nothing to do with technology - that is only the enabler, not the outcome.

Transformation is a goal, not a deliverable.

Afterall, you don't make a butterfly by sticking wings on a caterpillar.

So how do you deliver successful transformation?

Where should the CIO sit during change?
How do you communicate to different audiences
And how do you know you're done?

In today's episode, I talk with Owen McCall about digital transformation

About Owen

While a qualified accountant Owen has worked with and in technology for all of his career. He is a passionate believer in the power of technology to not only fundamentally transform how we live, work, and play but also to deliver tremendous value to organisations. With that in mind, the premise of all of Owen's work is that organisations should only invest in technology because they believe it will make their business better. This however is easier said than done. Through his work Owen continually witnesses organisations struggling to deliver value from their IT investments. Wondering why this is, Owen has dedicated high career to understanding this phenomenon and supporting organisations to improve the value they receive from their IT investments.

Owen is the author of High-Performance IT, a collection of short stories and unique IP that provides insights into IT leadership and delivering on the promise of technology. A qualified accountant, Owen was a partner in Deloitte Consulting for over 5 years and led Deloitte’s Australasian outsourcing business before returning to New Zealand to take up the position of CIO of The Warehouse Group. He's regular blogger and contributor to CIO and iStart publications, event speaker and judge of industry awards including CIO 100 and the NZ Hi Tech Awards.

The technology industry has built a reputation of being direct and to the point, and while this works for some things it is not always successful - particularly when trying to sell the benefits of what we are trying to do to multiple audiences - from customer to front line staff, and from employee to executive

We are all communicators, but communication doesn't come naturally to all of us. This can cause a simple message to be completely lost in translation as the person selling it fails to understand their audience... if they've correctly defined their audience.

One of the tricks to good communication is to stand in the shoes of the person who will receive the message and ask yourself "what is the one most important action I need them to take away from this?"

But it's more than just that:

You need to be clear, consistent, remove confusion, and make no assumptions about what your audience understands.

So where is the best place to start?

My guest today is Eithne Sweeney

Eithne and her technical husband Myles run Wires Uncrossed - a communications consultancy that gives technical experts confidence to connect with each other and their customers.

Over the past 12 years, Eithne has worked alongside technical specialists in some of New Zealand's largest companies, equipping them with the skills and structures to foster effective communication. Originally from Ireland, she had previously spent over five years working for large multinational organizations in China, where she helped teams overcome the barriers of language, culture and distance to build strong connections.
She is passionate about removing the communication barriers that exist between subject matter experts and the generalists who work with them to achieve common goals. She lives for the magic moments where better soft skills lead to clarity, cooperation and collaboration.

There is no doubt that technology is one of the key differences between now and previous global pandemics

It's helped us:

Stay informed
Be productive
Be entertained

Compare that to the 1918 flu - information sharing was limited to the radio or print media.

Today we can all get an alert on our phone at the same time.

And technology is ever changing, there is always an evolution and with it comes the next big thing.

But what is that?

It's hard to predict because it depends on a range of factors.

Like the company, the customer experience, or use case.

And the current climate accelerated everything

What analysts were predicting would emerge in 5 years is emerging now.

Companies are faced with two choices:

Cut costs, contract, and survive. Or take this as an opportunity to thrive.

Which one will you be?

In this episode, I take some time with Eduard Liebenberger to explore this more

About my guest

Who is Eduard? He describes himself as having been a bit all over the show over the past 15 years, leaving Austria to live in Wellington, then moving back across the world to Frankfurt, hanging out in the Mediterranean for a while on the Rock of Gibraltar before coming back home to Christchurch. One thing however has never changed: exploring and finding real-world applications for emerging technologies.

Since returning to New Zealand Eduard has joined Jade Software as their CTO and the AI Forum NZ as a member of the Executive Council. He's been active in the public, using everything in his toolbox to make AI and other emerging technologies more approachable and interesting to the wider public.

Skill vs Knowledge. What's the difference, and what does it matter to your tech team?

Having the right roles, and the right people in them, is very important to the success of your business.

Did you know that there is a framework that can help you?

In this episode we explore all this, and more!

About the guest:
My guest today is Daniel Merriott, an experinced IT consultant who's 20 years includes a variety of roles - from the BBC to NZ where Daniel works with clients large and small to enable digital transformation and to build a modern view of digital capability for forward looking organisations using tools like SFIA – the Skills Framework for the Information Age.

Daniel helps organisations understand digital skills, through skills assessment for IT professionals, team design and transformation planning – a role that uniquely combines Daniel’s passions in technology, people and business change.

In his current capacity Daniel is the Managing Director at Partner Consulting and the Director of Digital Capability at IT Professionals NZ.

Artificial Intelligence will take our job!

Won't it?

Well...

The truth is more diverse than that.

It won't take our jobs, but it might become our boss.

In this episode Tim Warren and I explore what is meant by AI, what you need to do to incorporate it into your business, and go into some of the challenges we are facing.

About the guestTim Warren is CEO and Co-Founder of Ambit - the conversational AI platform powering many of New Zealand's leading Digital employees such as with Vector, Glassons and Noel Leeming.

He's a former developer and has also worked in Finance sector with Goldman Sachs and JBWere. He's also an investor in a range of early stage tech companies.

Successful businesses require a purpose and a vision. They need to have publicly stated values, and hire people that align to those.

But how do you create a vision?

And how do you link your purpose to it.

What is mean by values?

And what is the difference between a competency and skill?

This is where Organisational Development is critical to your success!

About my guest:
This episode I talk with Angela Waddell - a mum, yoga teacher and business owner at Sprout NZ! Angela is passionate about supporting other business owners in their success through people. With Sprout she provides businesses with clarity, leadership coaching, hiring external talent and growing existing talent.

Angela helps businesses plan, find and grow. Angela loves most about Sprout that they are disrupting current thinking around recruitment and HR with tailor made solutions specifically for New Zealand small and medium enterprises.

Privacy enables us to create boundaries and protect ourselves from unwarranted interference in our lives, allowing us to negotiate who we are and how we want to interact with the world around us.

The right to privacy is a fundamental human right articulated in all of the major international and regional human rights instruments

But what does that mean?

What should companies be doing to ensure personal privacy?

And what do the changing regulations, include the NZ Privacy act, actualy mean?

About the guest
My guest today is Emma Pond, Director of Simply Privacy

Emma has worked as a privacy professional for over years, both in the public and private sector - including time at the Offce of the Privacy Commissioner. Emma is now a director of Simply Privacy Ltd, which provides pragmatic, sensible and useful advice and training to help organisations get privacy right.

A former lawyer, Emma is also a trained mediator, an International Association of Privacy Professionals Knowledge Net Chair, and obviously, a big privacy nerd.

Visit www.simplyprivacy.co.nz for more information

Note: In this episode we reference the changes to the Privacy act as coming in on November 1. This has now been confirmed as December 1, 2020

You lead a team. One day you leave the office and tell everyone "see you tomorrow".

But overnight the world changes, and you find that you all won't be working together for a significant period.

But they're still looking for you to leadership.

My guest today has experienced this not once, but twice in his career.

The first was in 2013 when a major earthquake resulted in the corporate office where he was based being uninhabitable for a significant period

The second was in 2016 when it happened again, this time with the building condemed.

In both instances, teams went from being co-located to distributed across a city.

About the Speaker
My guest is Aaron Toatelegese, a technology professional with over 20 years experience and most recently the Chief Technology Officer at Bank of New Zealand for the last 7 years.

A strong believer that ‘people AND leadership’ are the key ingredient to managing a crisis.

During his tenure he has experienced numerous technology incidents, led Technology teams during the GFC and been part of the Earthquake Response teams during the Christchurch and Kaikoura earthquakes.

We talk about how to lead a team circumstances mean that they are now working remotely

NoteMy career in technology started at BNZ and I spent most of it working indirectly for Aaron, but had the pleasure to work alongside him a number of incidents.

We do make a few references to those times in this episode, hence the "we" throughout.

To reduce the risk presented by the spread of Covid-19, companies have asked their employees to work remotely.

While many of us already works from home at least part of the time, the new policies leave whole teamss — and their managers — working separate from each other for the first time with no certainty as to how long for.

There is plenty of advice on how to work remotely, but how do you lead in this situation?

You trust your team, but how do you keep across what they are doing without micromanaging?
You want to be approachable, but how you maintain an open door policy without burning yourself out
There is information coming from everywhere, how can you ensure they aen't
What about the team member who's main source of social contact is the office
And above all, how do you make sure that they stop!

About the Speaker
My guest today is Gail Page from positive pathways. An expert in addressing conflict in the business, Gail helps leaders and teams to build healthier workplace relationships. This leads to psychological safety becoming part of a company’s DNA and paves the way to realising the individual and collective potential of the team and the business.

In this episode we explore how to lead remote teams in a crisis

NoteThis episode was recorded on March 23. We make reference to events related to the Coronavirus based on what was happening at that time. The situation is fluid and has changed significantly since then, please refer to accredited medical and news sites for the most recent updates.

Your business wants to move faster, and do more with what you've got. You're aiming to best place to work, while making sure that you're growing.

Do your customers love you?

What about what your competitors are doing? Are you trying to be at the top of your game?

What ever you do, customer experience is key.

This episode I talk with Paul Scott for his views on how Technology enables Customer Experience

About the Speaker

Paul is a leader with 20 years global experience who works with companies to ensure that at all times they are putting their customer first and using technology to enable them.

NOTEThis episode was recorded on March 12. We make reference to events related to the Coronavirus based on what was happening at that time. The situation is fluid and has changed significantly since then, please refer to accredited medical and news sites for the most recent updates.

You are hired to be strategic, but spend most of your time on operational issues. You are expected to innovate but you are also the steward of risk mitigation and cost containment. You are expected to deliver revolutionary new business growth but are managed as a cost centre. IT can make or break a company, but why do CIOs rarely have a seat at the top table?

This episode I talk with Paul Littlefair about his views on the function of a CIO.

About the Speaker

Paul Littlefair was recently the CIO of Livestock Improvement Corporation (LIC), a dairy-farmer owned agri-tech co-operative. Under Paul's guidance, LIC embarked on a significant modernization of its legacy systems, moving a billion cow records into the cloud, to deliver superior digital experiences to NZ Dairy Farmers. To achieve this Littlefair reshaped his team and delivery processes to align with agile, cloud native technologies. He is ranked #2 in the NZ CIO50 and was awarded NZ CIO of the Year 2019.

Other stuff:
For key points from this episode, and bonus content, make sure you check out the blog that accompanies it.

Bonus! To donate to Ryan Ashton's Bike for Kids mission, visit https://bikesforkids2020.everydayhero.com/nz/ryan-the-lion

An introduction to the Biz Bytes podcast, where each month I will interview business owners and tech leaders to provide analysis on how technology continues to transform and impact business.

The first podcast will be ready by the end of February 202 and my guest will be Paul Littlefair, NZ CIO of the year in 2019. We look at the role technology will play in business over the coming decade.

Subscribe today!