Softwire TechTalks: Recent Episodes
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Welcome to Softwire TechTalks. We bring you industry insights, opinions, features and interviews impacting the tech industry. Follow us to never miss an episode!
As AI becomes part of courts, healthcare and other critical public services, how do we build systems that people can trust?In this episode of The Digital Lighthouse, Zoe Cunningham is joined by Alex Wolff, Public Sector Director at Softwire, who has spent more than 20 years helping government, NHS and healthcare organisations deliver complex digital transformation.Together, they explore why comparing AI to perfection is the wrong benchmark, how to balance automation with human judgement, and what responsible AI looks like in practice.You’ll hear about: Why AI should be compared with today’s systems, not an ideal world When mistakes are acceptable, and when they simply aren’t Why humans remain central to trustworthy AI Three practical principles for building safe AI systems* How AI could make public services more accessible, personalised and efficientWhether you’re working in government, healthcare or any organisation deploying AI in high-stakes environments, this episode offers practical lessons for building technology people can trust.
What happens when water companies stop competing on data?Melissa Tallack believes the biggest opportunities don’t come from solving problems alone. They come from sharing data, learning from other industries and building on what already works.In this episode of The Digital Lighthouse, Melissa joins Zoe Cunningham to discuss how the Stream initiative is helping water companies collaborate on open data, why breaking down silos creates value for everyone, and what the water sector can learn from rail, energy, health and beyond.Together they discuss: Why open data creates more value when industries collaborate. How Stream is transforming data sharing across the water sector. Breaking down organisational, industry and cross-sector silos. Why culture matters as much as technology. How citizen science could become one of the UK’s most valuable data sources. Why the best ideas often come from outside your own industry.
In this episode of The Digital Lighthouse, host Zoe Cunningham speaks with David Williams, a senior executive and non-executive director with more than 30 years’ experience in insurance.David previously worked at AXA Insurance UK, where he led work on connected and autonomous vehicles, including involvement in five government-backed consortia. He was also chair of the Association of British Insurers Motor Committee.Zoe and David explore the future and present of driverless vehicles, and the role insurance plays in helping new technology reach the road safely.David explains why many vehicles described as autonomous are still driver assistance systems, why insurance relies so heavily on data, and what happens when a new technology has no historic claims data to draw from.They also discuss the UK’s role in supporting autonomous vehicle development, how data and machine learning have changed insurance, and why driverless cars are designed to avoid accidents rather than make moral judgements about human life.DiscoverWhy driverless cars are closer than many people thinkWhat different levels of vehicle autonomy really meanWhy insurance is central to autonomous vehicle developmentHow data has transformed risk assessment in insuranceWhy the UK could be well placed to support autonomous vehicle innovationWhy the trolley problem is not the right way to think about driverless cars
Gaming, The Very Group, and most recently esure, where he led a multi-year transformation to replatform the business and build a modern, digital-first insurer.They explore what transformation really looks like in practice. While many organisations begin with clear plans and ambitious timelines, the reality is far messier. External events, legacy constraints, and constant change mean even the best plans rarely survive intact.Andy shares what made the esure transformation successful, why many programmes go awry before the final step, and what it really means to become “digital on the inside”.
L podcast.Zoe and Paul explore how leaders can create the conditions for better thinking, creativity, and innovation in a world shaped by constant change and emerging technologies.While organisations often say they value curiosity, critical thinking, and creativity, Paul explains why many fail to create the space needed for those qualities to thrive. Instead, speed and efficiency dominate, limiting long term innovation.Paul shares how leaders can focus on self awareness, purpose, and culture to drive better outcomes. They also discuss why context matters when introducing AI, why leadership behaviour shapes culture, and how small, consistent actions can transform both individuals and organisations.- Why organisations struggle to enable creativity and innovation- Why self awareness is the foundation of effective leadership- Why context shapes how employees respond to AI- How leaders can create space for better thinking- Why culture, leadership, and technology must be aligned- How small, consistent actions drive meaningful change
Host Zoe Cunningham speaks with Steve Burrows, a global product delivery and technology leader with more than 20 years of experience delivering digital platforms and transformation programmes across industries.Zoe and Steve explore how organisations can actually capture value from AI in complex environments. While excitement around generative AI is high, many initiatives struggle because they begin with the technology rather than the problem.Drawing on his experience across consulting, product development, and delivery, Steve explains why the most successful AI implementations start by understanding users and mapping workflows. Instead of replacing people, AI works best when it removes repetitive work and allows humans to focus on judgment, creativity, and decision-making.He also shares a practical way to think about AI: treat it like a highly motivated intern. Useful for many tasks, but still requiring oversight, guardrails, and human judgment.
Host Zoe Cunningham speaks with Macs Dickinson, Director of Engineering at LHV Bank on the challenge many technology leaders are facing as AI tools become embedded in everyday work. While generative AI can accelerate delivery, it can also create a hidden risk: knowledge debt. The loss of deep system understanding when teams rely too heavily on generated outputs. Drawing on his experience in highly regulated industries including banking and gambling, Macs explains why “fail fast” does not translate to environments where reliability and accountability are critical. He shares how his teams are adopting machine learning and AI agents safely, starting with narrow internal use cases, building strong guardrails, and ensuring engineers retain ownership of what they ship. Discover:Why AI can speed up delivery while increasing long term riskWhy regulated industries require a different mindset for AI adoptionHow machine learning models can be governed through monitoring and human reviewWhy generative AI is harder to test than traditional softwareHow starting small reduces risk and builds organisational learningWhy ownership and understanding still matter in AI assisted engineering
In this episode of The Digital Lighthouse, host Zoe Cunningham speaks with Jamie Dobson, founder of cloud consultancy Container Solutions and author of Visionaries, Rebels and Machines.Zoe and Jamie explore how technology really evolves. They discuss why innovation has never been a solo pursuit, why leadership and management matter as much as scientific breakthroughs, and why many of today’s debates around AI echo arguments that have played out before.Drawing on examples from Edison and Oppenheimer to Amazon and modern cloud platforms, Jamie explains why users, not inventors, ultimately determine how technologies succeed or fail. He also shares practical lessons for today’s technology leaders on building real cloud and AI capability, removing organisational bottlenecks, and navigating periods of rapid change.DiscoverWhy technological breakthroughs are built by teams, not lone geniusesWhy leadership and management are central to successful innovationHow cloud computing emerged by removing barriers for developersWhy users shape the future of technology more than its creatorsWhat past technology transitions can teach us about today’s AI momentWhy preparing for AI is fundamentally a people and capability challenge
Why do technology projects get so messy even when they start with clear plans and enthusiastic teams? And what can leaders do to navigate the chaos in the middle?In this episode, Zoe Cunningham speaks with Rachael Morgan, an experienced Head of Technology. She has worked in different industries from the NHS, betting and gaming, and is currently in finance. They explore the messy middle of tech delivery. Drawing on experience across the NHS, Sky Betting and Gaming, and now Flutter, Rachael explains why delivery challenges rarely come from the technology itself, but from people, process choices, and the complexity of real organisational ecosystems.Rachael shares practical insights from leading six global data engineering teams, including how to strike the right balance of process, how to understand and use individual strengths within a team, and why continuous communication is essential when navigating uncertainty.🔎 You’ll learn:• What the “messy middle” is and why every technology project encounters it• Why humans, not technology, are the real drivers of delivery success• How process frameworks help, hinder, and grow unintentionally over time• The risks of over-processing and under-processing in regulated environments• How leaders can use metrics and communication to spot real delivery risks early• Why understanding your team and understanding yourself sit at the core of effective leadership• How reflection helps leaders manage emotion, complexity, and decision making💡 Whether you lead engineering teams, manage digital projects, or work anywhere near technology delivery, this conversation offers practical and thoughtful guidance for handling complexity with confidence.⸻Timestamps00:00 – Introduction01:11 – Rachael’s career journey through NHS, gaming, and data leadership03:52 – What the “messy middle” means in tech delivery07:07 – Why technology is binary but delivery is human08:47 – Process frameworks, complexity, and making the right choices11:30 – How much process is “just enough”?14:18 – Learning from other leaders and industries20:01 – Is Agile the answer?21:18 – Humans are messy, and that is a strength23:56 – Understanding individuals and leadership at scale24:48 – How to tell normal problems from real project danger28:11 – Why leaders must understand themselves⸻🎧 Listen to The Digital Lighthouse:Spotify | Apple Podcasts | SoundCloud🔔 Subscribe for more conversations on leadership, innovation, and the human side of technology.If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe so you don’t miss upcoming interviews. We’d also appreciate a quick rating and review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Your feedback helps us continue improving the show.#TechLeadership #DigitalDelivery #EngineeringManagement #ProjectDelivery #RachaelMorgan #TheDigitalLighthouse #ZoeCunningham #FlutterEntertainment #MessyMiddle #Softwire
In this episode of The Digital Lighthouse, host Zoe Cunningham talks with Clare Sudbery — independent technical coach, consultant, and international speaker with over 25 years in software engineering. Clare has worked across healthcare, insurance, and travel, and now helps technical teams boost performance through clarity, alignment, and collaboration.Together they explore ensemble working — also known as mob programming or software teaming — and why it’s a powerful shift from solo coding to true collective problem-solving. Clare explains how ensemble working speeds up delivery, reduces risk, and builds stronger, kinder teams that learn faster and work better together.Discover:What ensemble working is and how it extends pair programmingWhy complex systems demand collaboration, not heroicsHow agile and XP principles shape ensemble practicesThe hidden costs of handoffs and meetings — and how to remove themWhy onboarding, training, and new features are ideal starting pointsHow kindness and fast feedback drive high performanceSee Clare live on 16 October at Outpace Conf Manchester → outpaceconf.com
What separates a good team from a truly great one? In this episode of The Digital Lighthouse, host Zoe Cunningham sits down with Sean Riches, founder and managing director of Erskine Nash Associates, to explore the science and psychology behind high-performing teams.With over 20 years’ experience in leadership, organisational psychology, and consultancy, Sean has worked with global giants like Vodafone, Oracle, Microsoft, and TCS. Through his CAB model — Clarity, Alignment, Behaviour — he helps leaders and teams move beyond competence to excellence.Together, Zoe and Sean unpack the real drivers of team effectiveness, from psychological safety to behavioural alignment, and share practical ways to measure and improve performance across thinking and feeling dimensions.In this episode, discover:The five key traits of high-performing teams (from Google’s Project Aristotle)How to measure both the cognitive and emotional sides of team effectivenessWhy clarity, alignment, and behaviour are the foundation of lasting performanceHow leaders can overcome fear, complexity, and disengagementReal-world techniques for assessing and improving team dynamicsIf you enjoy this episode, please follow The Digital Lighthouse and we'd appreciate a quick rating or review. Your feedback helps us continue bringing you expert insights on leadership, technology, and the future of work.
In this episode of The Digital Lighthouse, host Zoe Cunningham speaks with Catherine Stagg-Macey, executive coach, advisor, and host of the Unsaid At Work podcast. After more than 20 years in consulting and operations, Catherine has seen how traditional command-and-control leadership fails in fast-moving tech environments.Together they explore why authenticity and vulnerability are not weaknesses but core strengths for today’s technology leaders. Catherine shares how letting go of the illusion of control, acknowledging challenges, and treating teams like adults can transform culture, build trust, and unlock better performance—even in turbulent times.DiscoverHow to show vulnerability without oversharing: sharing “scars” rather than open woundsWhy authenticity builds stronger teams and reduces the burden on leaders Why “motivation” isn’t something leaders can inject, but a balance of clear direction and the right peopleThe difference between acknowledgement and toxic positivity—and why it mattersStrategies for motivating self-driven teams without micromanagementHow to handle difficult conversations when budgets tighten or uncertainty loomsPractical ways to co-create solutions with your team while retaining decision-making authorityIf you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe so you don’t miss an episode. We would also appreciate a few moments of your time to rate and review on Apple Podcasts and Spotify; we value all feedback from our listeners to deliver the best content and experience.
In this episode of The Digital Lighthouse - The Software Podcast, host Zoe Cunningham is joined by Ben Bilsland, a Partner and Head of Technology Industry at RSM UK, to dive into a wide-ranging conversation about the future of UK tech and macro trends shaping it.
In this episode of The Digital Lighthouse - The Software Podcast, host Zoe Cunningham is joined by Ann-Marie Gallacher, Chief Information Officer at NHS 24 Scotland, to explore how AI and digital transformation are revolutionizing healthcare delivery while maintaining clinical safety and patient care standards.
In this episode of The Digital Lighthouse - The Software Podcast, host Zoe Cunningham is joined by Simon Wardley, Owner of Swardley Maps, to share how business leaders can better navigate digital transformation through visual mapping techniques.
In this episode of The Digital Lighthouse,, host Zoe Cunningham is joined by Shaukat Ali Khan, Executive Chief Digital and Information Officer (CDIO) at NHS, to explore the future of digital healthcare, including the importance of leveraging AI in healthcare, balancing innovation with governance, and creating patient-centric digital transformations.
In this episode of The Digital Lighthouse, host Zoe Cunningham is joined by Kamales Lardi, CEO at Lardi & Partner Consulting, to discuss The Brain Code, how leaders can use neuroscience to break through resistance, foster trust, and build a truly human-centric approach to digital transformation.
In this episode of The Digital Lighthouse - The Softwire Podcast, host Zoe Cunningham is joined by Richard G Brown, Founding CTO and Advisor to the CEO at R3. Together, they explore the practical applications of enterprise blockchain, digital currencies, and confidential computing. From scaling high-performance tech teams to navigating emerging technologies, Richard shares invaluable insights on how businesses can evaluate and integrate blockchain solutions for maximum value.
In this episode of The Digital Lighthouse, host Zoe Cunningham is joined by Sasha Burgoyne, Head of Academy Operations, and Esme Chant, DE&I Lead at Softwire. Together, they discuss the importance of creating inclusive workplaces for employees with disabilities, sharing personal experiences and practical strategies for both employers and employees.
In this episode of The Digital Lighthouse, host Zoe Cunningham explores the challenges and opportunities for women career switchers in tech with Sasha Burgoyne and Esme Chant from Softwire.Join them as they discuss:Why women career switchers need additional support in techCreating supportive workplace environments for career switchersThe value career switchers bring to tech organisationsThe structure and benefits of the TechSwitch programAbout GuestsSasha Burgoyne is the co-founder of TechSwitch, an award-winning software development training programme for career switches looking to move into tech, as well as people looking to return to the workplace. She is also Head of Academy at Softwire which delivers training in DevOps and software development and has been part of Softwire’s DEI Working Group since its inception. Esme Chant is the D&I Lead and a People Advisor at Softwire. She has played a key role in enhancing inclusivity within the company by implementing practical solutions, such as neurodiversity awareness training, facilitating reasonable adjustments, and creating a D&I calendar to ensure that various identities are recognised and celebrated. Episode Highlights:[00:00:01] Introduction and welcome[00:00:32] Esme's background and DE&I role[00:00:48] Sasha's role in TechSwitch program[00:01:11] Discussion on supporting women career switchers[00:02:30] Overview of TechSwitch program[00:06:49] Career switchers' value in the workplace[00:08:38] Softwire's workplace support initiatives[00:10:42] LevelUp program details[00:16:11] How to prepare for TechSwitch[00:17:30] TechSwitch application processResources:TechSwitch- www.techswitch.co.ukSoftwire - https://www.softwire.com/Codecademy - https://www.codecademy.com/Code Wars - https://www.codewars.com/
In this episode of Softwire Tech Talks, host Zoe Cunningham is joined by Nick Bates, COO of CTO Craft, and Yemi Olegbaiye, Client Portfolio Director at Softwire. Together, they discuss the importance of building strong tech leadership communities, navigating digital transformation, and fostering meaningful connections in the technology sector.
It can sometimes feel like people are just born to network, schmooze and hold court. For others, it’s this big, forced, uncomfortable thing that they’d happily avoid forever - especially when some people dominate the room.It doesn’t have to be that way - nor should it be. Because, at its heart, networking is about connection and community. And everyone deserves the opportunity to get involved, get value, and feel part of something.In our latest episode, Helen Jackson (Principal Technical Consultant) and Laura Phillips (Delivery Director), share their experiences and provide sage advice on how you can rethink and reapproach networking:- Key ways to make networking more inclusive at events- How to apply the C-shape (Pac-Man technique)- Other ways to network outside of events- Top tips for being a better networker
User research is the linchpin behind the core services we rely on in every part of our lives.A fundamental part of the work is inclusive design (also known as universal design) to ensure all products and services work for everybody - regardless of age, ability or circumstance.In our latest episode of The Digital Lighthouse, Softwire’s Research Principal, Callum Bates, delves into all the moving pieces that ensure no stone is left unturned when creating exceptional experiences for everyone.
Modernising legacy software and infrastructure is hard. Really hard.Nobody wants to be lumbered in a clunky inefficient system. But “slaying the monolith” is easier said than done. Just ask Anthony Nolan. Increasingly hampered by its existing technology, the stem cell transplant charity was struggling to iterate and facing increasingly high levels of friction.So what do you do? Build a totally new piece of technology? Or rewire the existing system? Turns out, it’s a bit of both. In our latest episode, Softwire’s Ben Below details how the organisation successfully embarked on a modernisation journey.
In this episode of The Digital Lighthouse, Zoe Cunningham is joined by Monal Sangvhi, an experienced technology leader in investment banking technology, Adept a leading high-performing, cross-functional teams—most recently at Tray.ai—Monal shares her invaluable insights on how highly-regulated organisations can innovate safely.In this episode, Monal explains how:The importance of encouraging risk Giving teams the freedom to embrace innovation initiativesHow agility doesn’t mean “fragility”Practical approaches to organising your teams
In this episode of The Digital Lighthouse, Zoe Cunningham is joined by Glen McCracken, the Head of Data and Analytics at ION, a leading firm in automation solutions for the financial sector. With a rich background in corporate finance and applied statistics, Glen delves into the pivotal role of data analytics in shaping business strategies and enhancing operational efficiency. His unique perspective, born from years of experience and a passion for innovation, offers invaluable insights into harnessing technology for better decision-making.
In this enlightening episode of the Digital Lighthouse, we sit down with Denholm Hesse, Chief Data Officer at BDO. With a rich background spanning over a decade in data management, including pioneering roles at Deloitte and Prudential, Denholm brings unparalleled insights into leveraging data as a strategic asset. Our conversation dives into the evolving role of data governance, the innovative concept of a data marketplace, and the critical importance of data quality and trust in driving business efficiency. Join us as Denholm shares his visionary approach to harnessing data's potential in turbulent times, illuminating the path for businesses aiming to thrive in the information economy.
In this special episode of The Digital Lighthouse, we are thrilled to host Rajani Rao, a luminary in the tech industry and a staunch advocate for the role of women in technology. As a principal technologist at Aveva and director of Women Who Code, Rajani shares her inspiring journey and the transformative work her organization does to break barriers for women in tech. Through her story, we explore the importance of diversity for innovation, the power of challenging assumptions, and how Women Who Code is shaping the future of technology by empowering women with the skills and confidence to succeed. Join us as we celebrate the achievements and contributions of women in technology, and shine a light on the path to a more inclusive and innovative future.
In this episode of "The Digital Lighthouse," Zoe Cunningham welcomes Thomas Harris from MasterCard, delving into the transformative currents of digital innovation. Thomas shares the strategic intricacies of MasterCard's journey, and the broader impact on global markets, in a conversation that lights the way through the complex landscape of digital transformation, offering invaluable insights on navigating change with agility and foresight.
Back in 2008, Herb Kim founded the Thinking Digital conference series. Little did he know that 15 years on, the event would still be going, having established itself as a popular fixture in the north-east tech calendar.Herb joins Zoe Cunningham to talk about the importance of events, both for networking, and as powerful and serendipitous learning and development opportunities for anyone in the sector.The discussion then moves on to tech leadership, with Herb explaining why he believes putting yourself at risk of genuine personal failure is one of the best ways to learn critical leadership traits.
Using generative AI to improve CX and meet regulatory requirements in insuranceInsurance is a challenging market to be operating in these days. A perfect storm of the squeeze on household budgets, rising costs when handling claims, and new regulation, mean many insurers are struggling to stay afloat and remain competitive.Rashed Younas is the insurance practice lead at The Dot Collective, which helps organisations make smarter use of their data. During his chat with Zoe Cunningham, Rashed shares some of the ways he’s seeing forward-thinking insurers use their data intelligently, to navigate these choppy waters.From generative AI, to single view of the customer, he paints a (perhaps surprisingly) positive outlook for insurance companies.
Georgina Owens knows a thing or two about leading successful technology functions. Having held senior leadership roles in organisations across finance, telco and utilities, she now heads up the 300-person technology function at William Hill.In her chat with Zoe Cunningham, she reflects on how you can successfully oversee teams at this scale, while instilling a culture that fosters creativity and innovation. There’s also a revealing chat about many of the unseen jobs a CTO must do to succeed.
If you’re not using microservices already, you’ve probably heard people raving about how amazing they are. If you’re tempted to dip your toes in the water, then this podcast with independent tech consultant, author, and former FT technical director for engineering enablement, Sarah Wells, is a must-listen.During her chat with Zoe Cunningham, she talks about what organisations need to consider before diving into the microservices world (spoiler alert, it’s not just about tech), and the things you need to have in place before you take the plunge.The discussion also covers situations where microservices may actually not be the most appropriate way of building software.
In our latest episode, Zoe Cunningham is joined by Tom Riley, Delivery Principal at Softwire.Tom has overseen the successful delivery of numerous UK public sector digital projects, including the modernisation of the register to vote service, the cloud migration of the gender pay gap reporting service, and the replacement of the software underpinning the high-profile Feed-in-Tariff scheme.In this wide-ranging chat with Zoe, he shares insights on how to keep abreast of a diverse portfolio of projects, how to ensure teams stay up-to-speed with the latest GDS and industry best practices, and why he sometimes prefers old-fashioned pen-and-paper, and face-to-face communication, over their modern digital alternatives.Of course, no tech-related discussion at the moment would be complete without touching on artificial intelligence (AI), and Tom shares his thoughts on the opportunities and risks associated with AI in the unique context of government.
In our latest Digital Lighthouse episode, Sarah Hale, Senior Director of Engineering at Unity Technology joins Zoe Cunningham to talk gaming, career paths, and the importance of clarity when leading a team.Sarah reflects on how she’s needed to evolve as she’s worked her way up to an engineering leadership role, while still regularly drawing on the skills she learnt early in her career.This episode is a must-listen for anyone in a technical or engineering role thinking about where they’d like to go next in their careers, and for engineering leaders looking to learn from someone in a similar position.
In our latest Digital Lighthouse episode, Zoe Cunningham is joined by Joanna Smith, Interim CIO at University Hospitals Sussex. We dive deep into the world of healthcare technology with Joanna, a seasoned professional who has worked across various organisations. She shares her insights into the differences between the pharmaceutical industry and the NHS, shedding light on the challenges they face and the opportunities technology presents. Discover why embracing technology in healthcare is essential for improving patient care and operational efficiency, and learn about the exciting developments and innovations in the healthcare technology landscape that are transforming the way we receive medical care. Read the full transcript at: https://www.softwire.com/insights/transforming-nhs-technology-using-insights-from-pharma-to-create-new-opportunities-in-healthcare/
In our latest Digital Lighthouse episode, Zoe Cunningham is joined by Will Dixon, Professor of Digital Epidemiology at the University of Manchester.
Will discusses how digital health data sources create exciting opportunities, like using de-identified electronic health records to analyse large populations for medication safety and COVID risk factors during the pandemic. He also explores the risks and challenges of managing data from patients and the public via smartphones and wearable devices to gain a clearer understanding of health.
Don't miss his 'Cloudy with a Chance of Pain' research, where Will investigated the link between weather and arthritis pain using smartphones to collect data from over 13,000 participants. He is optimistic that integrating patient-generated data into the healthcare system will improve clinical outcomes and address vital health inquiries. Learn more by listening to the podcast or reading the full transcript at: https://www.softwire.com/insights/weather-and-arthritis-how-digital-health-data-is-transforming-healthcare-research/(opens in a new tab)
In our latest Digital Lighthouse episode, Zoe Cunningham is joined by Daniel Whitston, CTO of AutogenAI.The adoption of AI tools is on the rise, with a large number of them utilising the large-scale language model, GPT-3. While these models can solve difficult problems, they tend to be trained on a large corpus of the entire internet and may not capture an individual company’s voice or values. Daniel discusses how CTOs can embrace and use AI large language models in their company, and shares how AutogenAI is bringing AI-generated outputs closer to company needs. Read the transcript at: www.softwire.com/insights/daniel-whitston-cto-how-ive-embraced-ai-and-large-language-models
Zoe Cunningham is joined by Aya Stead, software developer at Softwire to talk about neurodiversity in her role. She shares the ways she developed to look after her mental health, in the hope it can help other software engineers too. View the full transcript at: https://www.softwire.com/insights/navigating-neurodiversity-how-can-software-developers-support-their-mental-health-in-the-workplace/
In our latest Digital Lighthouse episode, Zoe Cunningham is joined by Anne Currie, Community co-Chair of the Green Software Foundation. Anne shares her experience and talks about the key pressing climate issues for the tech industry right now, the best things that tech teams can do to reduce their impact on the planet, and what research is saying about how the digital age has changed. Learn more by listening to the podcast or reading the full transcript at: https://www.softwire.com/insights/greening-your-digital-infrastructure-strategies-for-sustainable-technology-teams
In a frank conversation with Kevlin Henney, packed with interesting anecdotes and thought-provoking suggestions, we discussed topics such as: Why most developers code for the past, our moral responsibility to think about future uses of our code, as well as how technology companies can weather tough economic times.Read the highlights summary here: www.softwire.com/insights/highlights-from-kevlin-henneys-techtalk-developers-have-a-moral-responsibility-to-code-for-the-future
In our latest Digital Lighthouse episode, Zoe Cunningham is joined by Jason Souloglou, founder and CEO of SeeChange Technologies, a world-leader in real-time AI powered recognition systems, with expertise in making complex, state of the art AI technology simple to deploy and scale.Jason speaks about how their AI technology services excel within the retail sector to support loss prevention and health and safety compliance, where AI can go in the future and how it can support positive social change.Read the transcript and find out more at: https://www.softwire.com/insights/seechange-harnessing-the-power-of-ai-to-drive-positive-social-change
Zoe Cunningham is joined by Sophia Lin, senior sales manager, and Sasha Burgoyne, head of academy operations at TechSwitch to talk about how people of all backgrounds can approach career changing into technology successfully. See the full transcript and more at: https://www.softwire.com/insights/what-routes-into-technology-are-available-for-female-and-diverse-career-changers
In our latest Digital Lighthouse episode, Zoe Cunningham is joined by Hywel Carver, founder of Skiller Whale. This organisation provides deep coaching for tech teams, believing that learning that is core to how an engineering team operates and should align with business priorities. In our conversation, Hywel discusses why Skiller Whale came about and how to make the most of any tech training for your team. Read the full transcript here: https://www.softwire.com/insights/skiller-whale-why-companies-need-a-different-strategy-for-training-their-developers/
As a CTO, how can you create your own community of peers? Even if you're working with your team leads and C-Level colleagues, you may still feel lonely at times.
CTO Craft’s community brings together technology leaders from across the world and its founder, Andy Skipper, shares how it all started and how to build your own network of peers. Transcript available at: https://www.softwire.com/insights/cto-craft-building-a-community-for-ctos-and-digital-leaders/
If you’re interested in seeing more from CTO Craft, check out their upcoming events: CTO Craft Con Winter 2022 virtual conference (https://conference.ctocraft.com/) and CTO Craft Bytes – Networks for Tech Leaders: Creating, Using and Nurturing, a London-based in-person event (https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/cto-craft-bytes-networks-for-tech-leaders-creating-using-and-nurturing-tickets-443383260267), this November.
In our latest Digital Lighthouse episode, Zoe Cunningham is joined by Jonny Britton, who is a co-founder and the CEO of LandTech. He discusses how LandTech started as a response to unclear and missing tools for property developers and self-builders to buy land. Jonny shares how the company is fulfilling its customers' needs and how technology has been the catalyst for supporting urban development. To find out more and access the transcript, visit: https://www.softwire.com/insights/landtech-how-technology-is-increasing-land-access-in-property-development
Joe Edwards, Technical Principal, and Daniel Waters, delivery principal at Softwire, share how to use DevOps to make your developers more productive. They discuss what they mean by productivity and DevOps, and why DevOps is particularly relevant for financial services.
To read the transcript, visit https://www.softwire.com/insights/how-to-use-devops-to-make-your-developers-more-productive
In our latest Digital Lighthouse episode, Zoe Cunningham is joined by Kim Nilsson and Ole Moeller-Nilsson, founders of PeripherAi. This startup is helping founders of small and medium-sized businesses to create a scalable, predictable and efficient sales function, by integrating the human knowledge and the data insights within. We take a sneak-peak behind the scenes at why this startup's mission is so important and what it's taking for this startup to grow during turbulent times.
See the full transcript and more at: https://www.softwire.com/insights/peripherai-the-ai-startup-turning-business-data-into-sales
In our latest TechTalks episode, Zoe Cunningham is joined by Kyla Guru and Molly Graton, co-founders of GirlCon. We explore the story behing Girlcon, a Chicago-based tech conference for female/non-binary high schoolers to promote diversity in STEM fields. Recently it was help at Google Chicago, before becoming a virtual global event in 2020. Transcript available at: www.softwire.com/insights/the-story-behind-girlcon-the-international-tech-conference-for-women
In our latest Digital Lighthouse episode, Zoe Cunningham is joined by Liv Wild, engineering director of technology reservation checkout at Expedia. We explore her role, the innovative changes happening at Expedia, how her team works and what leadership looks like for the future. Transcript available at: https://www.softwire.com/insights/how-expedia-is-creating-great-checkout-experiences-using-technology-leadership-and-innovation
In our latest Techtalks episode, Zoe Cunningham is joined by Elin Sjursen, Design Director, and Michael Trueman-Hall, Senior Service Designer at Softwire, to talk about Service Design. It's a term that is interpreted in so many ways by so many different people, and is closely linked to Design Thinking. Let's explore the full definition and understand why it's so important for companies to consider this as part of their planning. Read more and get subtitles from: https://www.softwire.com/insights/what-is-service-design-and-why-is-it-important/
Digital Lighthouse Jen Dallas (Softwire)
On this week's Digital Lighthouse, Zoe Cunningham is joined by Jen Dallas, Head of Digital UK and Ireland at RSA Insurance. Jen talks about the work she and her team have done to develop customer experiences across their platform. She explores the RSA's use of user testing, research and leadership to help create huge efficiency gains, and what has been valuable for the RSA's position in the financial services sector.
Jen Dallas is the Head of Digital at RSA Insurance, where her current focus is on delivering ecommerce growth and strategically aligned, customer-centric product developments. She has spent the past 15 years honing her skills in the travel and insurance sectors, using her expertise to solve business problems through digital solutions, driving online adoption.
In our latest #TechTalks episode, Zoe Cunningham is joined by Christie Wilson, software engineer at Google, to explore the importance of continuous delivery, how it started as continuous integration during the 90s, and how to use it now to improve your work.
PLUS... Visit our website to enter our competition below for a free copy of book: https://tinyurl.com/continuous-delivery-CD (ends 24/12/21)
Christie Wilson is a software engineer at Google, with over a decade of experience dealing with complex deployment environments and high-criticality systems. She is a frequent speaker on CI/CD at conferences including KubeCon, OSCON, QCon, and PyCon. At Google, she built internal productivity tooling for AppEngine, bootstrapped Knative, and created Tekton, a cloud-native CI/CD platform built on Kubernetes. She is the author of her new book, Grokking Continuous Delivery.
On this week's Digital Lighthouse, Zoe Cunningham is joined by Scott Ronan, Senior Director of Central Infrastructure at GXO. As the second special episode on digital leadership, Scott takes a deep dive into what it means to be a digital leader. Scott shines a spotlight on the importance of trusting, understanding, and giving autonomy to your teams, as well as predicting technology trends and working out how to build new technologies into your business strategy.
On this week's Digital Lighthouse, Zoe Cunningham is joined by Danny Attias, Chief Digital and Information Officer (CDIO) at Anthony Nolan. As the first special episode on digital leadership, Danny takes a deep dive into what it means to be a digital leader and gives some insight into how businesses can thrive in this competitive and constantly shifting digital landscape. From legacy infrastructure and data monoliths to seamless customer journey maps and continuous improvement platforms, Danny takes us through Anthony Nolan's digital transformation, where merging digital and business strategies has been at the forefront of their success.
On this week's Digital Lighthouse, Zoe Cunningham is joined by Kristian Merritt, Director of Digital Transformation at David Lloyd Clubs. Kristian discusses how David Lloyd Clubs has tackled the challenges of COVID and how their business and digital strategy had to dramatically transform to cater to customers remotely.
On this week's Digital Lighthouse, Zoe Cunningham is joined by Rebecca Kemp, Director of Customer Journey at Citizen's Advice.
On this episode of Digital Lighthouse, Zoe Cunningham is joined by Jessica Figueras, Tech Strategist and Chair of the National Childbirth Trust. Jessica discusses how the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted organisations that rely on person-to-person contact, and how technology has played a part in moving communities online.
On this episode of Digital Lighthouse, Zoe Cunningham is joined by Edafe Onerhime, previous Head of Data for Effective Development at the Department for International Development. Edafe discusses how the pandemic has impacted DfID as a department that operates on a global level, and how the need for different kinds of data has rapidly grown.
13 million people in the UK alone are affected by disabilities. It is essential that we think about, talk about, and implement accessibility in our designs as not to leave millions of users unable to use new technologies to their fullest. Zoe is joined by Softwire's Software Developer, Kat, and Technical Lead, Sam to talk about why digital accessibility is so important and what developers can do to make their systems more accessible.
Hosted by Zoe Cunningham with Katherine Langford and Sam Collard
On this episode, Zoe is joined by authors of Kubernetes Native Microservices with Quarkus and Microprofile, John Clingan and Ken Finnigan. Red Hat has developed Quarkus as a lightweight modern tool for cloud-native application development, improving app runtime speed and performance.
Hosted by Zoe Cunningham with John Clingan, Ken Finnigan and Olly Levett
Todays guests discuss Game Jam, an event where teams will design and develop a new game within a fixed period of time, usually restricted to specific themes. Zoe is joined by Softwire's Project Manager, Matt, and Senior Technical Leads, Harry and Michael to talk about what they love about Game Jams and how Softwire has gotten involved.
Hosted by Zoe Cunningham with Matt barnfield, Michael Kearns and Harry Cummings
Mobile and web development are becoming increasingly similar fields with cross-platform applications taking centre stage as the new standard for heightened user experience. Zoe is joined by Softwire's Software Developer, Philippa Hack, and Technical Lead, Sam Collard to discuss how mobile development has skyrocketed in the era of mobile applications and the introduction of iOS and Android platforms.
Hosted by Zoe Cunningham with Phillipa Hack and Sam Collard
More and more medical services can be delivered in a tech-enabled way, increasing access to medical attention and treatments. Zoe is joined by Softwire Tech Leads, Sarah Binney and Catalin Ursachi to discuss Softwire's work for Quro Medical, a South African start-up that provides a service to allow doctors to monitor their patients from home.
Hosted by Zoe Cunningham with Sarah Binney and Catalin Ursachi
This is our third #TechTalks episode on Cloud. In this episode, Zoe Cunningham talks about the top 10 stand out things we've found while we've been developing cloud platforms for our clients. Zoe is joined by Softwire Tech leads, Ben Below and Olly Levett, and DevOps Lead, Usman Iqbal.
Hosted by Zoe Cunningham with Usman Iqbal, Ben Below and Olly Levett
Jon has approached two of Softwires cloud experts, asking for their help in solving a coding challenge, to try and stop his 1-year-old daughter from tampering with their new home automation heating system. Zoe is joined by Head of Consulting and co-presenter for today's episode, Jon Artus. Both Zoe and Jon discuss Kubernetes and FaaS (Function as a Service) with Technical Lead, Olly Levett, and Senior Technical Consultant, Max Daniline.
Hosted by Zoe Cunningham & Jon Artus with Olly Levett & Max Daniline
Anti-Black racism is often seen as a U.S only issue, and that can get in the way of making lasting change against the ongoing systemic racism that Black people experience here in the UK as well. Zoe is joined by Business Development Manager, Helen Jeffers, and Head of Sales Yemi Olagbaiye to discuss what we can do to help break down systemic racism from an individual level to a business level.
Hosted by Zoe Cunningham with Helen Jeffers and Yemi Olagbaiye
"It takes 20 years to build a reputation and a few minutes of cyber-incident to ruin it" (CISO, Stéphane Nappo). Because of this, spending to combat cyber-crime is over $100 billion annually. In this episode, Zoe Cunningham shares some insight into the best practices for maintaining a high level of cyber security in your organisation. Zoe is joined by Softwire Senior Technical Leads, James Griffiths and David Edey.
Hosted by Zoe Cunningham with James Griffiths and David Edey
Using the Cloud can greatly enhance your business efficiency, however, it's worth noting that switching to the Cloud can also simply change the types of problems you face, rather than eliminating them entirely. In this episode, Zoe Cunningham shares some insight into the basics of why, when and how we should be using Cloud. Zoe is joined by Softwire Senior Consultant, Daniel Waters and DevOps Lead, Usman Iqbal.
Hosted by Zoe Cunningham with Usman Iqbal and Daniel Waters
In the UK, the gender pay gap is 16%, which means for every £1 a man earns, a woman will earn 84p. In this episode, Zoe Cunningham shares some insight into why it's important for businesses to report their pay gap data to the government for analysis. Zoe is joined by Softwire Senior Designer Claire Waterworth and Head of Sales Yemi Olagbaiye.
Hosted by Zoe Cunningham with Yemi Olagbaiye and Claire Waterworth
Knowing that you have data and can use it is one thing, but how do you get the best from it? In this episode, Zoe Cunningham shares some insight into how you should approach data before delving into using it for machine learning and other functions. Zoe is joined by Softwire Head of Consulting, Jon Artus, and Technical Lead, Rob Owen.
Hosted by Zoe Cunningham with Jonathon Artus and Robert Owen
"Good design is not about what medium you're working in, it's about thinking hard about what you want to do and what you have to work with before you start" (Susan Kare). In this episode, Zoe Cunningham shares some insight into design skills and techniques, and how developers can work best with designers. Zoe is joined by Softwire UX Designers, Jake Turner and Ariana Ocampo.
Hosted by Zoe Cunningham with Ariana Ocampo and Jake Turner
How can the private sector learn from digital processes and innovations that the government uses to help build better software that meets user needs? In this episode, Zoe Cunningham shares some insight into how the government technology landscape and changed over the years, and what we can learn from that. Zoe is joined by Softwire Senior Product Manager, Sona Hathi, and Delivery Manager, Tom Riley.
Hosted by Zoe Cunningham with Sona Hathi and Tom Riley
Managing your mental health can be more challenging when your working environment significantly changes. 60% of adults in the UK are now working from home and 8.4 million workers have been furloughed. The Mental Health Foundation discovered that 24% of office workers' mental health has suffered since COVID-19. In this episode, Zoe Cunningham discusses how companies can help support their employees manage their mental wellbeing. Zoe is joined by Softwire Tech Lead, Sarah Binney, HR Administrator, Esme Chant, and Software Developer, Marcus Gardiner.
Hosted by Zoe Cunningham with Sarah Binney, Esme Chant and Marcus Gardiner
"It's not enough to be busy, so are the ants. The question is what are we busy about?" (Henry David Thoreau) In this episode, Zoe Cunningham shares some insight into the importance of prioritization, in both what and how quickly, technical teams should be building products and services. Zoe is joined by Softwire Senior Project Manager, Adam Smith, and Senior Product Manager, Sona Hathi.
Hosted by Zoe Cunningham with Adam Smith and Sona Hathi
Building a strong community in the workplace is important for staff morale and collaborative work projects. In this episode, Zoe Cunningham is joined by Senior Software Developer, Sarah Binney, and Senior Technical Lead, Michael Kearns to talk about the puzzling community at Softwire.
Hosted by Zoe Cunningham with Sarah Binney and Michael Kearns
How do project specifications dictate when and how you use agile or waterfall workflows? In this episode, Zoe Cunningham is joined by Delivery Manager Tom Riley and Technical Consultant Harry Cummings, to discuss project management methodologies and the differences between agile and waterfall workflows.
Hosted by Zoe Cunningham with Tom Riley and Harry Cummings
The year 2000 saw the boom of 'dot-com' and the growing need for services in software development. In this episode, Zoe Cunningham is joined by the Founders of Softwire; Phil Marsden and Dan Shavick, to discuss how Softwire started and how we've got to where we are now.
Hosted by Zoe Cunningham with Phil Marsden and Dan Shavick
"Talent is distributed equally among society, but opportunity is not" (Leila Janah). In this episode, Zoe Cunningham is joined by Diversity Representative, Sasha Burgoyne; Developer, Lorraine Phillips, and Recruitment Officer, Matt Fairweather to discuss why diversity and inclusion are so important, and how businesses are seeing a clear financial return as a product of this.
Hosted by Zoe Cunningham with Sasha Burgoyne, Lorraine Phillips, and Matt Fairweather
"You can have data without information, but you can't have information without data" (Daniel Keys Moran). In this episode, Zoe Cunningham shares some insight into the best ways for businesses to use data to solve internal and sector challenges. Zoe is joined by Softwire Senior Consultant, Vasanthan Vidthyan, and DevOps Lead, Usman Iqbal.
Hosted by Zoe Cunningham with Vasanthan Vidthyan and Usman Iqbal
There's a lot more to CSR than choosing a flagship charity to support throughout the year. In this episode, Zoe Cunningham is joined by Softwire's CSR Officers, Alanna Gow, and Jake Turner to discuss the importance of educational outreach to increase diversity in the workplace amongst other CSR initiatives.
Hosted by Zoe Cunningham with Alanna Gow and Jake Turner
People are becoming more invested in making their homes environmentally sustainable and efficient. In this episode, Zoe Cunningham shares some insight into how tech can provide users with an awareness of their energy usage, by enhancing smart technologies. Zoe is joined by Head of Project Delivery, Chris Harris, and Project Manager, Jenny Mulholland.
Hosted by Zoe Cunningham with Chris Harris and Jenny Mulholland
Changing careers is often a daunting process, and rarely talked about. In this episode, Zoe Cunningham is joined by Software Developers, Lorraine Phillips, and Julian Ng to discuss what it's like changing careers to software development, and where to start.
Hosted by Zoe Cunningham with Lorraine Phillips and Julian Ng
Prototyping is essential for communicating your ideas, and generating stronger designs. In this episode Zoe Cunningham shares some insight into how prototyping can remove ambiguity and reduce risk. Zoe is joined by Softwire Tech Lead, Jamie Humphries, and UX Designer, Jake Turner.
Hosted by Zoe Cunningham with Jamie Humphries and Jake Turner
People are increasingly interacting with tools directly through their own portable devices, bringing usability to the forefront of developers work. In this episode Zoe Cunningham shares some insight into the importance of understanding not only the end user, but also how the software can reflect that users needs throughout the whole design process. Zoe is joined by Ruth Swift-Wood, Lead User Researcher, and Tim Harwood, head of Design and UX.
Hosted by Zoe Cunningham with Ruth Swiftwood and Tim Harwood
Research shows that 68% of IT projects fail due to poor project management. In this episode Zoe Cunningham shares some insight into the key factors for project success, and what to do when it all goes wrong. Zoe is joined by the general manager for the Softwire Manchester office, Tom Ward, and Softwire's Sales and Marketing director, Andy Smart.
Hosted by Zoe Cunningham with Andy Smart and Tom Ward
How we feel in the workplace has a huge impact on our performance and connectivity. In this episode, Zoe Cunningham explores this key issue with software developer, Marcus Gardiner. Marcus was a research fellow at the Winston Churchill Memorial Trust, his area of expertise covers creating effective workplace mental healthcare. His research work brought together the experience of over 40 global thought leaders in digital mental health.
Hosted by Zoe Cunningham.
With Marcus Gardiner
Produced by Nick Hilton for Podot.
If you have any thoughts or feedback on the series, email techtalks@softwire.com
In this episode, Softwire's head of sales Yemi Olagbaiye and head of data science Gareth Edwards discuss with Zoe Cunningham are the machines taking over?
Hosted by Zoe Cunningham with Yemi Olagbaiye and Gareth Edwards
On this week's episode of Softwire Techtalks, host Zoe Cunningham is joined by Gareth Johnson and James Griffiths to discuss how apprenticeship offers an alternative route for young people entering the tech sector. She also speaks to an apprentice currently on the scheme at Softwire.
Hosted by Zoe Cunningham.
With Gareth Johnson, James Griffiths and Tom Johnson.
Produced by Nick Hilton for Podot.
If you have any thoughts or feedback on the series, email techtalks@softwire.com
On this, the first episode of Softwire Techtalks hosted by Zoe Cunningham, Zoe is considering the issues surrounding getting more women into technology. She is joined to discuss this by Softwire's own Sasha Burgoyne and Sarah Binney.
Hosted by Zoe Cunningham.
With Sasha Burgoyne and Sarah Binney.
Produced by Nick Hilton for Podot.
If you have any thoughts or feedback on the series, email techtalks@softwire.com
In this new series, join host Zoe Cunningham as she explores the big issues facing the world of technology, from getting more women into coding to whether robots are going to take over the world!
This podcast is brought to you by Softwire.