The Tech Leaders Podcast

Join us this week on the Tech Leaders Podcast, where Gareth talks to Ajay Chakravarthy, Chief AI Officer at Thales. Ajay shares practical insights on leadership, deploying AI in constrained environments, human oversight, measuring returns, and preparing workers for change. What happens when AI decisions have real-world consequences? From AI-enabled drones in Ukraine to the future of autonomous military systems, Ajay explores AI in high-stakes environments. Drawing on his work across defence, policing and government, he discusses frugal AI, AI-supported decision-making, and why transparency, ethics and human oversight are essential when the stakes are high. Timestamps: AI use cases in defence and government (12:30) Why the UK has fewer globally recognized AI frontier-model companies (16: 03) Frugal AI systems (18:34) The future of AI (21:05) AI in the defence sector (23:20) AI autonomy and agentic systems (27:15) AlphaFold and biology (35:00) Battlefield Technology & AI in warfare (37:40) How Thales uses AI (44:40) What worries & excites Ajay most? (53:20) https://www.bedigitaluk.com/

Seven years after becoming the first-ever guest on The Tech Leaders Podcast , Dr Daniel Hulme returns to share his thinking on how AI has evolved, where it’s heading, and what organisations should be focusing on now. As Global Chief AI Officer at WPP and founder of Satalia, Daniel has spent nearly three decades building AI systems and exploring some of the biggest questions around intelligence, consciousness and safe machine behaviour. In this episode, we unpack why many businesses are approaching AI in the wrong way, why chasing quick wins can be a trap, and where AI could have the biggest impact, from supply chains and marketing optimisation to governance and agent testing. Daniel also shares how WPP is using AI as a creative superpower, including a model trained on its own creative expertise to generate award-worthy ideas and help teams think bigger. Timestamps: Satalia Take over by WPP (11:45) Will AI kill agencies or make the best ones stronger? (16:28) Inside WPP: Creative, Production, Media & Enterprise (20:30) What advice would you give to entrepreneurs to put foundations in place to grow their brand using AI technology? (21: 45) AI Controls and Governance (24:10) Multi Agent Reasoning (29:35) What will the biggest societal impact of AI be within the next 5 years? (32:47) Is AI conscious? (38:56) https://www.bedigitaluk.com/

Join us this week for The Tech Leaders Podcast, where Gareth sits down with Mike Fitzgerald, Founder of Senttr. Mike shares lessons on managing AI estates, evolving consulting practices, and the skills needed for the future workforce. On this episode, Mike and Gareth discuss the importance of governance, privacy and security when deploying hundreds or thousands of AI agents, strategies for managing enterprise AI costs and ensuring predictable licensing models, and what the future holds for AI pricing models, and the evolving MSP ecosystem. Personal journey: From Ireland to founding Senttr (04:58) The problem with Software Licensing (12:03) Building Businesses Around Unsolved Problems (15:21) AI Governance Challenges (26:27) Cost Management of Enterprise AI (30:19) Will AI Take Our Jobs? (39:11) The Evolution of IT Consulting (45:39) Advice to a 21-Year-Old Self (50:04) https://www.bedigitaluk.com/

Join us this week for a Tech Leaders Podcast Special, where Gareth sits down with Barry Pilling, Principal ITAM Consultant and VMware Specialist at bedigital to discuss the latest developments in the ongoing Tesco VS Broadcom court case. On this episode, Gareth and Barry discuss updates to the case, Broadcom’s wider business strategy, and the possible impact on future customer-vendor relationships across the industry. Timestamps: Trial date set, and Tesco’s amended claim (1:32) Is Broadcom market dominant? (5:10) Trial timetable and legal strategies (9:31) The Broadcom business model (13:41) The broader impact on customer/vendor relationships (16:08) Broadcom’s 1 year offer, and Computacenter’s involvement (21:04) Key takeaways (25:37) https://www.bedigitaluk.com/

Join us this week for a Tech Leaders Podcast Special, where Gareth sits down with John Abel, MD, Office of the CTO, and Alex Rutter, EMEA MD for AI, fresh from the Google Cloud Summit in London. On this episode Gareth, John and Alex discuss how organisations can effectively deploy Agents, future skills the workforce will need to use Agentic AI, and how to simulate a virtual board meeting. Timestamps: John Abel Introduction (1:25) Agentic AI Adoption and Data Readiness (3:39) Future Skills – John’s take (12:09) How to move beyond “Pilot Mode” (15:50) Alex Rutter Introduction (19:16) The Integrated Google Tech Stack (22:50) AI Automation vs Human Oversight (27:55) Is Agentic AI Adoption Maturing? (30:48) Future Skills – Alex’s take (35:48) Data Quality (38:35) The UK’s AI Position (41:01) https://www.bedigitaluk.com/

Join us this week for The Tech Leaders’ Podcast, where Gareth sits down with Nicola Mendelsohn, Head of Global Business Group at Meta, at Meta Conversations 2026 in the historic Methodist Central Hall in the heart of Westminster. Nicola talks about the new WhatsApp for Business, the technical challenges around it, the importance of data safeguarding and the role of Meta’s Chief Privacy Officer. On this episode Nicola and Gareth discuss the challenges around Enterprise AI adoption and governance, and her advice to UK businesses. Timestamps: Introduction (1:58) Meta and Enterprise Messaging (4:30) Technical Challenges (14:51) Data Safeguarding and the Chief Privacy Officer (17:52) Enterprise AI Adoption and Governance (18:50) Advice for UK Businesses (26:55) https://www.bedigitaluk.com/

Join us this week for The Tech Leaders’ Podcast, where Gareth sits down with Jane Mustoe, Senior Technical Director and Head of Innovation Labs at Tesco. Jane talks about her love of transformative technologies, and how Tesco are actively applying them. On this episode, Jane and Gareth discuss drones, robotics, staff less stores, and how AI will augment, not replace humans. Timestamps: Introduction and the Credit Crunch (2:25) Tesco Innovation Labs: Magic Tills and Digital Assistants (17:58) Innovation Culture and Digital Twins (23:10) AI Applications: Robotics, Dynamic Pricing and Waste Reduction (30:53) AI Usage, Governance and Hiring (38:50) The Future of Tech, and Advice for 21-year-old Jane (47:45) https://www.bedigitaluk.com/

Join us this week for The Tech Leaders’ Podcast, where Gareth sits down with Cathy Mauzaize, President of EMEA at ServiceNow. Cathy talks about her journey to ServiceNow via some of the biggest tech companies in the world, unpicking the hype and reality around AI Agents, and why the Middle East is embracing modern tech faster that Europe. On this episode Cathy and Gareth discuss how companies survive in a modern, global economy, how AI will impact human learning, and a nugget of advice from Microsoft CEO, Satya Nadella. Timestamps: Introduction and early days (2:07) Legacy Tech and the Middle East (13:00) Priorities for Enterprise (21:55) AI Agents: Hype and Reality (25:48) AI and Human Learning (32:05) Commercial Impacts of AI (38:00) ITAM and AI Agents (45:43) Advice for 21-year-old Cathy (49:20) https://www.bedigitaluk.com/

This episode of The Tech Leaders Podcast takes a different format from our usual leadership interviews. The recent acquisition of VMware by Broadcom has sent significant ripples through the enterprise IT landscape. As one of the most widely deployed infrastructure platforms in the world, VMware sits at the heart of many global technology estates. The commercial changes that have followed the acquisition have prompted widespread discussion across the market. The ongoing court case involving Tesco and Broadcom has brought those issues into sharp focus. What may appear to be a contractual dispute raises much broader questions around platform dependency, vendor discretion and how resilient enterprise IT contracts are when ownership changes hands. In this special episode, Gareth Davies is joined by licensing specialist Barry Pilling to unpack the case, explore the latest developments, and discuss what it could mean for enterprise software licensing and commercial governance going forward. For CIOs, technology leaders and procurement teams responsible for major vendor relationships, this conversation looks at the wider implications, and the questions organisations should be asking right now. Timestamps: Introduction and Barry’s Background (2:04) VMWare and the Broadcom Acquisition (5:00) The Rise of Virtualisation (8:50) The Tesco Dispute Background (12:38) Organisations Exposure to Licensing Risk (22:45) Other Broadcom Cases (29:22) Death of the Middleman? (37:51) Potential Consequences and Advice for VMWare Customers (41:49) Recent Developments (47:30) https://www.bedigitaluk.com/

Join us this week for The Tech Leaders’ Podcast, where Gareth sits down with Rob Morris, Co-CEO UK and Ireland at Siemens Mobility. Rob talks about his journey to the Railways via mining, power stations and London 2012, how Siemens are managing a £340M investment, and the challenges of maintaining and upgrading the oldest rail network in the world. On this episode Rob and Gareth discuss digitising the railways, how AI will be employed on trains, and how in another life Rob could have been an architect. Timestamps: Introduction and Good Leadership (2:11) From Delivery to Senior Management (7:58) Siemens and the Railways (12:00) Digitising the Rail Network, and Building the Elizabeth Line (18:30) Technology on the Railways (32:15) Advice for 21-year-old Rob (41:20) https://www.bedigitaluk.com/

Join us this week for The Tech Leaders’ Podcast, where Gareth sits down with Tim Cadogan, CEO at GoFundMe. Tim talks about how GoFundMe are leveraging AI to help fundraisers, joining GoFundMe at the start of the Covid19 pandemic, and why founding a start-up is like working for two or three different companies. On this episode Tim and Gareth discuss disaster fundraising, tips for fundraisers, and how a boy from Dorset found himself in California. Timestamps: Introduction and Good Leadership (1:58) Dorset to California, and the early days of SEO (5:10) OpenX (15:10) Joining GoFundMe at the start of the Pandemic (18:58) Why GoFundMe works (22:46) Disaster Fundraising (26:45) Technology Challenges Scaling GoFundMe (34:35) AI and Fundraising (39:18) Advice for 21-year-old Tim (49:40) Tips for Fundraisers (53:20) https://www.bedigitaluk.com/

Join us this week for The Tech Leaders’ Podcast, where Gareth sits down with Paul Goodhew, Partner - EY Global Assurance Innovation & Emerging Technology Leader. Paul talks about EY’s $1 Billion investment in Agentic AI, their long term AI integration strategy, and why many organisations are building their own versions of ChatGPT. On this episode Paul and Gareth discuss guiding principles for good AI governance, the evolving regulatory landscape, and whether the education system is keeping up. Timestamps: Introduction and Good Leadership (1:57) Early tech interests, and the journey to EY (5:00) AI and Auditing (11:30) Global Audit Consistency, Agentic AI and EYQ (16:25) Long Term AI Integration Strategy (22:28) AI Guardrails (26:10) Good Governance (29:55) Is Education keeping up? (31:44) AI Disruption (35:20) Regulatory Landscape (38:00) AI Hopes and Fears (40:00) Advice for 21-year-old Paul (43:46) https://www.bedigitaluk.com/

Join us this week for The Tech Leaders Podcast, where Gareth sits down with Rupy Malizia, Chief Operating and Transformation Officer, HSBC Innovation Banking. Rupy talks about transitioning Silicon Valley Bank UK into HSBC, the cultural differences between small and large businesses, and the impact AI will have on organisations of all sizes. On this episode, Rupy and Gareth discuss whether Agentic AI is ready, what can be done to support female entrepreneurs, and if Quantum Computing might be closer than we think… Timestamps (estimated): Good leadership and early years (2:30) Joining Silicon Valley Bank and the ensuing turmoil (6:00) The SVB UK acquisition and the transition (back) to HSBC (12:35) The AI impact on organisations large and small (21:00) HSBC Innovation and New Tech (31:15) Female entrepreneurship (38:00) Emerging Tech and Skills (42:45) Advice to 21-year-old Rupy and Entrepreneurs (46:30) https://www.bedigitaluk.com/

Join us this week for The Tech Leaders Podcast, where Gareth sits down with Kate Hayward, UK Managing Director at Xero. Kate talks about how AI can make life easier for small business owners, the new skills the next generation of accountants will need, and how organisations can manage maternity leave for the benefit of everyone. On this episode, Kate and Gareth discuss how gymnastics breeds discipline, why Britons are generally lacking in financial literacy, and the three things Kate looks for when starting a new job. Timestamps: Good Leadership and Early Career (1:45) Xero – The "Gangly Teenager Phase" (9:00) Career or Family, or Both… (13:00) Discipline and Gymnastics (20:30) Financial Literacy and Entrepreneurship (24:20) Xero and AI (31:35) New Skills for Accountants (42:30) Tips to stay Organised, and Advice for 21-year-old Kate (45:45) Hopes and Fears for Future of AI (48:00) https://www.bedigitaluk.com/

Join us this week for The Tech Leaders Podcast, where Gareth sits down with Cindy Turner, Chief Product Officer at Worldpay. Cindy talks about Worldpay’s current priorities, the trade offs between structure and agility, and how Stablecoins can help make international payments quicker and easier. On this episode, Cindy and Gareth discuss the benefits of pushing ownership down to your team, launching Apple Pay back in 2014, and why we might all have our own personal shopping agent in our pockets sooner than you think… Timestamps: Good Leadership and Early Career (1:51) Corporates, Start-Ups and Scale (12:24) Worldpay Priorities (16:16) International Payments and Stablecoin (22:50) Agentic Commerce (28:56) AI Ethics and Governance (37:17) Advice for 21-year-old Cindy (45:31) https://www.bedigitaluk.com/

This week on The Tech Leaders Podcast, Gareth sits down with Author, BBC / ITV Presenter, and AI Agony Aunt Lara Lewington. They discuss how AI will revolutionise personalised medicine, its impact on wearable health trackers, and what “Health-span” really means. Join us to hear Lara talk about fist bumping card machines, wireless urine monitoring, and being invited to the Moon by a Japanese billionaire… Timestamps: Intro and Good Leadership (2:26) Breaking into TV – Celebrity interviews and Gadget reviews (5:00) Presenting Click, and being invited to the Moon (10:28) Intro to Health-span: Brian Johnson and 103-year-old Mildred (15:22) AI and Personalised Medicine (21:12) Wearables, Trackables and AI (27:09) The AI Agony Aunt (40:48) Editing “Hacking Humanity” (44:17) Health-span in depth (46:58) Hopes and fears for Gen AI, and advice to 19-year-old Lara (54:58) You can find details of Lara's book here: BOOK | Lara Lewington https://www.bedigitaluk.com/

Join us this week for The Tech Leaders Podcast, where Gareth sits down with Chris Moore, European President at Veeva Systems. Chris talks about the impact AI will have on software development and data security, how technology has transformed the life sciences industry, and the long-term implications of Covid on drug development. On this episode, Chris and Gareth discuss how Chris helped make Veeva Europe more European, the importance of understanding the opportunities and threats associated with new technologies, and why the Y2K bug was a beautiful anti-climax. Timestamps: ICI, Kinesis and PWC (3:40) IBM, EY and living abroad (10:28) Making Veeva Europe more European (17:30) The impact of Covid on drug development (29:05) The evolution of the CIO (33:00) AI: Hopes, fears and the impact on software development and pharma (36:33) Advice for 21-year-old Chris (51:46) https://www.bedigitaluk.com/

Join us this week for The Tech Leaders Podcast, where Gareth sits down with Stuart Whayman, President of Corporate Markets at Elsevier, a part of RELX Group. They discuss how AI is revolutionising Research and Development, Elsevier-Reed’s shift from hardware to digital, and what the Red Arrows can teach us about leadership. Stuart also talks about how AI can augment rather than replace humans, why an LLM is not a truth model, and delves into some of the fascinating projects for the Elsevier Foundation Challenge – https://elsevierfoundation.org/chemistry-for-climate-action-challenge/. Timestamps: Good Leadership, the Red Arrows, and studying at Oxford (2:12) The Hardware to Digital Shift (10:15) The Evolution of Data (17:10) AI in Research and Development (21:30) Will AI Augment or Replace (32:38) AI Safety and Regulation (36:45) The Future, Advice for 21-year-old Stuart, and the Elsevier Foundation Challenge (40:17) https://www.bedigitaluk.com/

Join us this week for The Tech Leaders Podcast, where Gareth sits down with Renata Vincoletto, CISO at Civica. After facing a deeply shocking setback, Renata chose resilience over resentment. Inspired by her mentor, she pushed forward, rising through the ranks to ultimately lead cybersecurity strategy for Civica, working on high-stakes government and public sector IT programmes. On this episode, Gareth and Renata discuss why good ITAM is crucial for Cybersecurity, the recent breaches at The Co-op and Marks & Spencer’s, and why geeks are more accepted in the UK than in Brazil. Timestamps: Good Leadership, why a Career in IT, and moving from Brazil to the UK (2:02) Lesson learned at Microsoft (7:50) The Marks and Spencer’s and Co-op Cyber Security breaches (12:50) The importance of ITAM to Cyber Security (16:10) Is there a Cyber Security skills shortage? (24:30) Women in Cyber Security (30:24) The AI risks to Cyber Security (41.05) Advice to 21-year-old Renata (51:08) https://www.bedigitaluk.com/

Join us this week for The Tech Leaders Podcast, where Gareth sits down with Dr. Nicola Hodson, Chair at IBM UK and Ireland. Dr. Hodson talks about how to manage transformations in complex organisations, how UK Enterprises are adopting AI, and why Quantum computing might be coming sooner than you think. On this episode, Gareth and Dr. Hodson discuss why authenticity is underrated, the evolution of AI regulations, the importance of Polymaths, and how Concorde and a copy of the Encyclopaedia Brittanica inspired her to begin the journey which would lead to IBM. Timestamps: Good leadership, Concorde and the Encyclopaedia Brittanica (2:40) How to drive change in large organisations (9:36) Polymaths (13:50) IBM and Quantum computing (20:00) ITAM Evolution and Hybrid Cloud Management (26:50) Enterprise adoption of Agentic AI (31:10) AI and Graduate jobs (36:40) AI Regulation (41:08) Advice for young IT professionals, and 21-year-old Nicola (43:30) https://www.bedigitaluk.com/