XTech: Recent Episodes
Fox Agency
XTech, curated and produced by Fox Agency. Listen in as host and technology expert Debbie Forster MBE is joined by some of the sharpest minds in their fields, who gather to explore the latest tech industry breakthroughs.
Tune in to a bi-weekly podcast full of inspiration and insight into the trends shaping our world.
"Accessibility is both proactive and defensive. It's how you know you're looking after your audience"
Accessibility is moving fast - new laws, new standards, new technologies. But John Abbott warns that chasing compliance scores or relying on automation alone is a dangerous trap. True progress comes from culture: building digital products that remove barriers and empower people.
John joins Debbie Forster MBE in this episode of the XTech podcast to talk about how Recite Me is helping organisations move from tick-box exercises to meaningful strategies. From the European Accessibility Act to AI-powered checkers, the conversation emphasises the importance of embedding accessibility into the way businesses design, build, and measure digital services.
Personalisation matters as much as compliance - and procurement is raising the bar. But the smartest organisations treat accessibility as a journey, not a destination.
"AI - it's not just the buzzword of the year. It's changing us as a society in how we work - and how the world works."
AI isn't magic, but a tool we control. How we choose to use it makes all the difference.
Sylvia joins Debbie Forster MBE in this episode of the XTech podcast to discuss how AI can solve real marketing challenges, from breaking down language barriers to delivering personalised experiences at scale.
Together, they explore the balance between automation and authenticity, and why understanding when to add the human touch matters most.
It's a conversation about staying intentional, staying in control, and building AI people can trust.
"People are trying to hold back the wave. The only thing you can really do is learn to ride it"
With every new hype cycle, the noise gets louder. But Adam Harding believes the best teams don't chase trends - they build filters.
In this episode of the XTech podcast, Adam joins Debbie Forster MBE to explore how Softcat is helping clients move from AI curiosity to AI clarity. From cultural alignment and clean data to decision principles that cut through the noise, it's about staying focused on what works.
The conversation dives into the thinking behind Softcat's first-ever acquisition, the role of creativity in a world driven by automation, and how to stay grounded in a time of exponential change.
Because building for the future isn't about doing more - it's about know what's worth doing.
"Imagine the worst headline you could read about your product - then build so it never happens."
As AI and automation reshape how we build software, security can longer be an afterthought. It's a way of thinking that needs to be embedded across teams, culture, and code.
James Hall believes resilient systems start with clear thinking, structured discovery, and engineering habits that stick. In this episode of the XTech Podcast, he joins Debbie Forster MBE to unpack what secure-by-design really means in practice.
From open source contributions and observability challenges in AI, to aviation-style checklists and "silly" side projects that teach serious skills, James shares how Parallax blends creativity with rigour to build products that scale safely.
He also issues a clear warning: businesses cutting junior developer roles in the name of AI efficiency may be setting themselves up for a major skills gap.
If your tech is built to last, your teams - and your users - will feel the difference.
"Agentic AI is the biggest thing since the mobile phone."
Enterprises are reimagining IT through the lens of agentic AI, elevating it from a back-office utility to a strategic enabler of productivity, experience and innovation.
Dennis Perpetua explains how the true power of AI lies, not in flashy tools, but in creating connected, intuitive digital environments that empower employees and eliminate friction.
From the shift from SLAs to XLAs, to building digital co-workers instead of chatbots, Dennis shares how Kyndryl is building on the legacy of IBM to help businesses make AI work for people - not the other way around.
He joins Debbie Forster MBE for a conversation that redefines what future-ready IT should really look like.
"Experience needs to be orchestrated for humans in the loop."
AI is shaking up traditional service models and pushing businesses to take a more holistic, value-driven approach.
Kalyan Kumar encourages enterprises to focus on orchestrating experiences, unlocking data value, and streamlining processes - rather than chasing every 'shiny new toy' in tech.
This approach is key to HCLSoftware's partnership with Ferrari, where mutual values drive transformative digital experiences.
Kalyan joins Debbie Forster MBE in this deep dive into how companies are evolving their tech strategies.
"We detect less than 1% of dirty money. That's a crazy statistic, isn't it?"
Dirty money is everywhere. Banks are in a race against time to find it, battling out-of-date systems and bureaucracy.
Eddie Vaughan, Vice President of Banking and Financial Services at Chorus Intelligence, is on a mission to fix that, with decades of experience in UK law enforcement and government. He joins Debbie Forster MBE for a fascinating dive into a murky world.
"You have to make sure you don't break the things that are actually driving value."
Scott Harkey has witnessed the acquisition process from both sides, and knows better than most how to make it work.
He joins Debbie Forster MBE to share critical lessons on the topic for both start-ups and enterprises, from the importance of recognising a winning formula to the enduring value of human connection.
"The customer isn't always right, but the customer gets to choose where they spend their money."
Transformation is an often used term these days in tech, but for Dave Hodsdon of Liberty Blume, it's his world.
He joins Debbie Forster MBE for a deep dive into the business of tech change. He explains why even disruption needs to be carefully planned and customer-centric, and gives us a helicopter view of the features of our working lives that are ripe for transformation.
"We're fooling ourselves if we think we know the future. We don't."
In 25 years with Data Art, Alexei Miller has learnt a thing or two about leadership - particularly in a tech arena where change is the only constant.
He joins Debbie Forster MBE for an enthralling conversation about modern leadership and its challenges. He explains the three very different stages of development for a software business, and shows us why honesty is the most important characteristic for a tech leader.
"It becomes really interesting to reassess how risk works and what the potential upsides and downsides are."
The growth curve for tech companies is fraught with risk. Knowing when to gamble - and not be bound by conventional thinking - can make all the difference.
Sanjay Lobo MBE joins Debbie Forster MBE for a fascinating conversation around risk-taking, doing good in business, and much more. From media law to launching the volunteering platform OnHand, he brings some sparkling insights on when not to take the safe option.
"Don't be frightened to understand what the life of a creative marketer is, because that will help you be a better technology advisor."
How do we get different business tribes like tech and creative to learn more from each other?
Sarah Thomas, Group CMO of Capgemini, makes it her mission to do just that. In this episode of the XTech podcast she talks with Debbie Forster MBE about why bringing the tech and creative worlds together is so important, and why AI has an increasingly powerful role to play, especially in larger organisations.
"In any circle when somebody doesn't look like you, it's harder to relate to them. You make presumptions, I do it, we all do it."
Inclusion - and its opposite - takes many forms. In the tech sector, it can be gender, background, ethnicity, and even where you base your company.
Sarah Tulip of Conquer Technology joins Debbie Forster MBE to highlight some of the many things the tech sector needs to improve to become more inclusive, from thinking outside of traditional tech hubs to promoting more women from within.
"Companies should automate where they can and use people where they should."
Paul Taylor
Chief Marketing Officer
SS&C Blue Prism
Intelligent automation offers extraordinary potential for your business - but many are still unsure how to use it.
Paul Taylor of SS&C Blue Prism joins Debbie Forster MBE to bring clarity to one of the hottest topics of our age. He explains why there is much work that should always be left to us humans, but some that is ripe for the efficiency and consistency that automation can bring.
"I really think we have reached a defining moment with AI that is fundamentally going to change everything."
When you're scaling up your sales approach, there's a risk of making the message too broad and impersonal. But our latest XTech podcast guest knows how to stay laser-focused, with confidence in the supporting tech - and the professionals involved.
Winnie Palmer of Seismic joins Debbie Forster MBE for an exciting look at her career path, and the challenges she has faced along the way to create effective marketing for so many disparate deal factors.
"We can shape how you want sound to exist in a space... It's really a case of having to unlearn what you thought you knew."
Reinventing the loudspeaker is one thing. Testing it out at a U2 gig in The Sphere in Vegas is another.
Natalia Szczepanczyk of Holoplot talks with Debbie Forster MBE about how their groundbreaking firm managed to change how we think about sound in large spaces, and what other startups can learn from their meteoric rise and approach to innovation.
"How do we empower the public to stand behind the arts and back many of the exciting cultural institutions that we have in a much more engaging way?"
Connecting museums with patrons is an age-old issue, but what role could technology play in bridging the gap?
Anh Nguyen, CEO and Co-Founder of Nimi Collectibles, talks with Debbie Forster MBE about the opportunities in digital art. Learn more about the approach and how it overcomes financial, engagement and diversity challenges to make art accessible to all.
"I think all of us are better if technology can be harnessed to be something which is a force for good...rather than building barriers and creating division."
Making communications more human may seem like a straightforward task, but finding the right people in the right place at the right time is the real challenge.
Chris Wade, Chief Marketing & Product Officer of Gamma, joins Debbie Forster MBE to discuss the fusion of communications with technology, the breakneck pace of progress, and developing 'comms with a conscience'.
"It's up to us, we have the moral responsibility to make sure technology is used correctly and to make sure it's representative."
We're in a changing workforce, where skills are becoming ever more specialised. But looking up the ladder can only take companies and employees so far.
Anna Brailsford, CEO of Code First Girls, shares new perspectives on employment that broaden horizons and maximise technology potential.
"The intuitive solution to a problem is not the right one, and you can prove it mathematically."
Chief Technology Officer Andy Sturrock delves into his role at the fast-paced Atom bank and explains how he helped to manage the transition from fintech to bank.
Tune into the latest episode of the XTech podcast to hear techniques designed to minimise siloes and promote efficiency that you can apply to your own business.
"If we're going to fix healthcare and fix it for good, patients need to be partners and not just end users."
A patient-first approach is key to evolving healthcare, and the sector might just be sitting on a goldmine of data that can take operations to the next level.
Ahmed Abdulla, the founder and CEO of Digipharm, shares his experience in healthcare technology and unveils his vision that re-imagines how care could be paid for.
"It's increasingly important that we see that fusion between the physical and digital online worlds. And we see that manifesting itself in many, many different ways."
An astounding ability to evolve with market needs has established Nokia as a global technology brand and household name. In this episode of the XTech podcast we delve into the history of Nokia with Jason Elliott, Head of Cross Portfolio Solutions and Ecosystem Marketing, and explore what's on the horizon - from the metaverse(s) to augmentation.
"I'm excited about the potential of AI…But I do feel I share this concern, the pace at which we're going, and I think with all large tech iterations, we need to go into them with our eyes fully open."
Beverley Eve and Chelsea Larson-Andrews are co-founders of TechMode. Having met at the Application Developers Alliance, the two forged a partnership as they hosted events across the US and Europe, working with leading tech brands and talented developers. They spun off these marketing capabilities into their own careers, and TechMode was born.
Beverley and Chelsea join Debbie Forster MBE on this episode of the XTech podcast. Among the topics under discussion are 5G acceleration; the potential of Open RAN, and the challenges of regulating artificial intelligence.
"If you are a business and you operate in a highly compliant sector, for example, financial services or healthcare, you really need to understand what the algorithms are doing."
The secret behind AI success is a lot more than 'plug and play'. In fact, the more you put in, the more you get out.
Dr Djamila Amimer, CEO and Founder of Mind Senses Global, shares her experience of helping businesses improve their decision making using AI. This podcast explains what companies should be thinking about when implementing these powerful tools, and how to maximise investment.
"Did we answer the problems that customers have and that the business has? This is the true metric of success."
For some, the digital age has opened up more questions than it answers.
Karl A L Smith, President and CIO of Agile World has a long history of guiding global leaders as they navigate the ever-changing tech landscape. When it comes to digital transformations, he's supported brands including Accenture, Tesco Bank and more. Karl now joins the XTech podcast to delve into the latest trends. Tune in to hear his thoughts on everything from big data to the metaverse - where should we prioritise investment?
"Anyone starting out today in the healthcare realm, you need to think about where the world is headed in the next five years, because technology has changed the landscape forever."
Yishel Khan has a wealth of experience in the tech world, with a strong background in software development and a major in Electrical, Electronics and Communications. Yishel now joins the XTech podcast to share how DOT Inc. is embracing the power of technology, data and AI to help diagnose and support patients with mental health conditions.
Listen as the Founder and CEO explains the origins of her idea, challenges she's faced along the way and the power of connected care, alongside host Debbie Forster MBE.
"We need to be truer to our values and our purposes, as organisations and as ecosystems, because the world will not get better if we're not."
Stuart Mills is VP of Trailhead & Ecosystems EMEA at Salesforce. With previous experience at companies which were still learning the Salesforce ropes, he made the move across the divide to help other companies embrace the technology. Earlier in his career Stuart was in the Navy as an engineer.
Stuart joins Debbie Forster MBE on this episode of the XTech podcast. They discuss people and technology being two sides of the same coin; the big lessons in leadership; and widening the net of knowledge so every student can feel like an innovator.
"I think that the contemporary leader is really a change agent. To be a change agent, you really need to be ambidextrous. You need to be able to see across the whole of organisations and understand how certain decisions have implications that ripple through the rest of the organisation."
Rachael Powell is Chief Customer Officer at Xero, she joined the cloud-based accounting software company as Chief People Officer in 2016. Her previous experience includes 10+ years of experience at IBM and a board position at a University of Technology in Australia.
Rachael connects with Debbie Forster MBE on the latest episode of the XTech podcast. They explore the positive impact of energising employees, the benefits of tech when reacting to the COVID pandemic and the importance of using data responsibly.
"Let's use technology to make the best use of somebody's time rather than the machines taking over the world and replacing individuals."
Dr Christine Bailey is an author, TEDx speaker and PKYC (Perpetual know your customer) expert. Her experience across marketing technology has earned her an array of awards including MarTech's number one woman in B2B Marketing and a feature in Onalytica's Who's Who in FinTech.
Christine joins Debbie Forster MBE on the latest episode of the XTech podcast to discuss personalisation vs privacy, harnessing data for good and the technological potential of using AI to enhance the world of work.
"What excites me about big data is that we can develop programmes, policies, prestiges and products that deliver individualised benefits"
Bill Schmarzo is Customer Advocate at Dell Technologies, an author, educator and practitioner with over 50 years of experience in tech. As the 'Dean of big data', there's no-one more qualified to talk us through how data got cool.
Bill joins Debbie Forster MBE on the latest episode of the XTech podcast to guide us through big data and explore the concept of codifying ethics to prevent the robotic uprising.
"We know that serving customers is the important thing, it's why we're here, it's constantly the focus of what we do"
Jason Maude, Chief Technology Advocate at Starling Bank, joins Debbie Forster MBE on the XTech podcast to explore the customer focus that has allowed Starling Bank to "make banking better".
Jason discusses the concept of accountability and explainability in the world of tech and tells us the next big challenges in FinTech.
"I love the opportunity to start talking to people who have great products, services, ideas and innovations."
Debbie Forster MBE is the co-founder and CEO of the Tech Talent Charter, she is an award-winning figure in the areas of diversity, tech and education and now... the host of the XTech Podcast.
Debbie joins Fox Agency Director, Ben Fox, on the premiere episode of the XTech podcast to discuss her incredible career in the industry, her strides towards equality and her hopes for the future of this new podcast venture.