Tech and Soul by Colt

Women have been behind some of the most groundbreaking advancements in science, technology, engineering and mathematics - so why aren't there more in STEM fields today?It's a huge question with answers delving into workplace culture, inspiring future generations, and allyship. To break down the steps to creating a more equitable STEM sector, we sit down with Global Head of DEI Rachel Collins, and COO Buddy Bayer, to explore historical biases, the challenges women face today, and how we break though those barriers.In this episode:Long-standing stereotypes and systemic challenges that have prevented women from entering and advancing in STEM fieldsThe critical role of allyship in driving meaningful changeHow emerging technologies like AI, quantum computing, and startup ecosystems are creating new opportunities for women to excel in STEM careersInclusive leadership, how leaders can create career paths that celebrate individual talents regardless of genderRachel Collinshttps://www.linkedin.com/in/rachel-collins-66962a11Buddy Bayerhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/buddybayer/Colt Technology Serviceshttps://www.colt.net/https://www.linkedin.com/company/colt-technology-services/https://www.instagram.com/colttechnologyservices/

The future of work is being shaped by cutting-edge technology, but how are the traditional models in the telecom industry shifting, and what does that actually mean for us here at Colt?In this episode of Tech & Soul, Blanca welcomes Colt's VP of Infrastructure and Connectivity Solutions, Peter Coppens to dive deep into one of 2025's biggest tech trends - Network as a Service (NaaS).We look at how self-service models are shaping the future, who'll benefit most from NaaS, and whether it spells the end of assisted service models…In this episode:Simple analogies to help us understand Network as a Service (NaaS)Differentiating the types of customers who'll benefit from new networking productsWhether self-service and assisted service models will coexist in the future of the telecom industryHow NaaS will impact the day-to-day of customers benefiting from agility, cost savings, and competitive advantagesPeter Coppenshttps://www.linkedin.com/in/peter-coppens-99360b/Colt Technology Serviceshttps://www.colt.net/https://www.linkedin.com/company/colt-technology-services/https://www.instagram.com/colttechnologyservices/

Humans are creatures of habit, latching onto brands that we can't seem to part with - but what drives this emotional pull toward brands, the product, or its purpose? This episode of Tech & Soul hones in on the relationship between brand loyalty and the influence of technology companies, and who better to shed light on the power of brand than Colt's Chief Marketing & Comms Officer, Mark Beeden! Join us to get behind the brands front-of-mind this festive season, and figure out just why we're so attached to them… In this episode: The influence of technology companies on customers' brand loyalty Nostalgia and tribalism swaying our attachment to brands Creating value beyond your products The value of heritage and authenticity AI's growing use in all aspects of marketing Mark Beeden https://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-beeden-a7263343/ Colt Technology Services https://www.colt.net/

From environmental sustainability, to ethical business practices, CSR impacts society in many ways, but who truly holds the power to make a difference?  Tech & Soul this week explores where we should find the igniting spark that changes the world, speaking with two such Colt catalysts - Sustainability Champion Sally Lands, and Sustainability Specialist Marta Trzaska! Join us as we dive into how CSR expectations intersect with recruitment, and whether involvement should be mandated… In this episode: Defining CSR in simple terms and the broader context of ESG  The power of employee-driven CSR initiatives  How companies can foster engagement with CSR CSR programs' impact on employee motivation, loyalty, and sense of purpose Mandatory vs. voluntary CSR, and the dangers of a prescriptive approach Marta Trzaska: https://www.linkedin.com/in/martatrzaska/ Sally Lands: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sally-lands1/ Colt Technology Services: https://www.colt.net/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/colt-technology-services/ https://www.instagram.com/colttechnologyservices/

Tech & Soul is back! Are you ready to join us for another series tackling the big questions? What better way to kick off the series than with one of the biggest guests of all - our very own Keri Gilder is here to answer once and for all, are CEOs born, or are they made? We dive into genomes, psychopathy, sports psychology, neurodivergence, confidence, and all the other wonderful attributes that make a leader… In this episode: The presence of a genome common among leaders Continual problem-solving Next generation attitudes to social media, and how that impacts leadership traits Awareness of neurodivergence in the modern workplace Keri Gilder: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kerigilder/ Matt Partridge: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthew-partridge-8403a224/ Colt Technology Services: https://www.colt.net/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/colt-technology-services/ https://www.instagram.com/colttechnologyservices/

Across 10 fabulous episodes, we've explored the very heart of society's technological advancements, and how they've changed humanity at its core. Now, at the end of Series 1, it's time for Matt Partridge and Blanca Perez-Ordoyo Fernandez to take centre stage, share their interpretation on the series' biggest revelations, and take us through the very best that Tech & Soul has had to offer. In this episode: The most profound moments featured throughout the series What's made each guest such a valuable addition to the podcast Learnings on human nature and humanity Insights around where technology is likely to take us in the future Blanca Perez-Ordoyo Fernandez: https://www.linkedin.com/in/blanca-perezordoyo/ Matt Partridge: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthew-partridge-8403a224/ Colt Bike Ride 2024: https://www.colt.net/go/coltbikeride2024/ Colt Sustainability Report: https://www.colt.net/why-colt/esg/ Colt Technology Services: https://www.colt.net/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/colt-technology-services/ https://www.instagram.com/colttechnologyservices/

We're now taking in more information daily than a 15th century child would see in a lifetime - have our brains caught up yet? Learning is a lifelong journey, so when it comes to using technology to teach ourselves new skills, we need to be mindful of how it's used, something that John Ambrose considers a complex area. John is our Talent and Learning Director at Colt, and joins Blanca Perez-Ordoyo Fernandez to explore the pros and cons of tech on cognitive development, and how to maximise your learning potential! In this episode: The impact of technology on cognitive functions and attention span How technology has democratised information, but not fully Techniques to maximise your learning potential and productivity Traditional learning methods vs modern, tech-enabled learning Colt Technology Services https://www.colt.net/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/colt-technology-services/ https://www.instagram.com/colttechnologyservices/ John Ambrose https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnwambrose/

In a world of societal pressures and cultural expectations, there's no more important time in history than now to be your true self… With June being Pride Month, a celebration of embracing ourselves for who we are, it's a perfect time to explore how we can make it easier in the tech space to present our authentic character every day. Joining Matt Partridge to deep dive into this big question are Susanne Hogan, Global Lead of Disability Accessibility Network, and Lee Israel, Global Lead for Pride Matters at Colt. In this episode: Authenticity and self-expression in the workplace Creating inclusive networks for all The role of comms platforms in building community & connection AI's potential role in enhancing education and providing alternative perspectives Susanne and Lee's advice on embracing one's true self Lee Israel: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lee-israel-9611a319/ Susanne Hogan: https://www.linkedin.com/in/susanne-hogan-9693291ab/ Colt Technology Services: https://www.colt.net/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/colt-technology-services/ https://www.instagram.com/colttechnologyservices/

In daily life, resilience is useful, but in business… it's essential. Any business navigates challenges and setbacks, which is why Joshua Adams' expertise as Colt's Resilience Specialist makes him the perfect guest on this week's Tech & Soul! Tune in to hear Joshua join host Blanca Pérez-Ordoyo Fernández to break down the secret sauce to navigating disruptions, crises and risk events, whether in your own life or in a trailblazing business. In this episode: Where resilience plays a role across our personal and professional lives alike How businesses maintain robust resilience strategies Best practice for managing a crisis Remote resilience - how to maintain resilience with hybrid/remote teams Blanca Perez-Ordoyo Fernandez: https://www.linkedin.com/in/blanca-perezordoyo/ Joshua Adams: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshuaadams22/ Colt Technology Services: https://www.colt.net/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/colt-technology-services/ https://www.instagram.com/colttechnologyservices/

Impostor syndrome in the tech-driven, social media age is rife, but it needn't be such a burden upon us. It's a sometimes overpowering challenge for many of us, but when flipped on its head, it can open doors and unlock opportunities… Joining Matthew Partridge this week on Tech & Soul, Life Coach and Mums in Marketing Founder Claire Ferreira and Colt's very own Werner Kladnik break down the rise of impostor syndrome, and how to overcome it in the modern working world. In this episode: How social media sites contribute to impostor syndrome The power of curiosity that opens doors Tips for engaging in a healthy relationship with tech Goal-setting strategies How to overcome a fear of failure Claire Ferreira: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/claire-ferreira-mumsinmarketing/⁠ Werner Kladnik: https://www.linkedin.com/in/werner-kladnik-23166b28/⁠ Colt Technology Services: https://www.colt.net/⁠ ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/colt-technology-services/⁠ ⁠https://www.instagram.com/colttechnologyservices/⁠

Technology has the power to make sweeping cultural change, but can it make a tangible impact on gender equality in the tech industry and beyond? International Women's Day marks a perfect time to look at resolving shocking figures, like only 5% of tech leadership positions being held by women. Join us as we dive into this BIG question with host Blanca Perez-Ordoyo Fernandez, and guests Abby Taylor & Simone Whitfield. In this episode: The current state of gender equality in the tech industry Challenges that women face in technology The role of tech in making an impact on gender equality Removing inherent bias from AI systems Blanca Perez-Ordoyo Fernandez https://www.linkedin.com/in/blanca-perezordoyo/ Abby Taylor https://www.linkedin.com/in/abby-taylor-604845115/ Simone Whitfield https://www.linkedin.com/in/simonewhitfield/ Colt Technology Services https://www.colt.net/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/colt-technology-services/ https://www.instagram.com/colttechnologyservices/

Care and connection are at the heart of the customer experience, and around this Valentine's Day is a perfect time to question companies on matters of the heart - namely, do they care about customers? Joining Tech & Soul host Alex Hartig to discuss the imperative value of customer care, and how it might look in an AI-enabled future, is Colt's Global Director of Customer Experience Optimisation, Noah Roychowdhury. In this episode: What customer care means in action How we can learn from great and bad examples of customer care Whether companies are improving on a global scale, or if standards are slipping The human cost of automating and digitising customer relationships

‘New Year, New Me' - an often touted phrase, but does a new year's resolution actually bring the best out of you, and how does tech flip that equation on its head? It's a delight to host Colt's Kirk Hastings (Network Architect) and Elena Friedrich (Global Early Careers Advisor), as they speak with Blanca Perez-Ordoyo Fernandez (Customer Program Manager) about the virtues of goal-setting and how tech can help us achieve them. In this episode: Do resolutions actually work, or are they more pressure than productivity? Mindset tricks to help you achieve your goals How Elena and Kirk use technology to fulfil their annual aspirations

With climate change and the environment a seemingly colossal challenge, is technology more a part of the problem, or the solution? Sustainability in the technology sector is a hot topic, and staying atop the ESG strategy embedded within Colt is our VP of ESG, Kelsey Hopkinson. Her background gives her a fascinating, unique perspective on how tech finds its place in a green future, as we delve into the big questions with Kelsey on this week's Tech & Soul… In this episode: Experiences in the social housing sector that demonstrated the early impact of ESG Backing up environmental claims with evidence to eradicate greenwashing Is standardisation essential to creating more global change? Tech as both the problem and the solution The overreliance on technology to solve climate change

The Covid pandemic was a uniquely shared experience for so many of us, but has it made the world a more introverted place? Mulling over the changing business dynamic in the wake of 2020, and how it'll impact our ways of working in years to come, we tackle this on episode 2 of Tech & Soul. Join us as we speak with the fantastic Deanne Raseta and Megha Kohli, with some insightful additions from some of our wonderful Colties. In this episode: Common problems with overlooking employees' input in the remote work conversation The pandemic's differing effect on social behaviours Networking post-pandemic, and the balance of in-person vs remote events The need to re-learn work-life balance

Welcome to the series premiere of Tech & Soul, kickstarting a podcast exploring the exhilarating possibilities when technology meets humanity. There are a great number of misconceptions and surface-level conversations about AI, but today we want to go deeper. Our host, Matt Partridge is joined by the perfect man for the job - VP Innovation at Colt, Mirko Voltolini. Join us as we dive into whether we should consider AI a friend or foe, the infrastructure that's holding it back, and the growing challenges with data and security. In this episode, we cover: Challenging the definition and capability of AI The dangers of placing inherent trust in artificial intelligence Innovating the network beneath essential, live-saving AI systems Low latency data movement for critical processes The growing emphasis on data security

Hello and welcome to the Tech & Soul podcast, where we explore the intricate relationship between technology and humanity. This is for the Colties, the soul searchers and those who want to geek out, learn from others and take in new perspectives. We explore themes like sustainability, human behaviour, accessibility and resilience. We skip over the boring questions and get straight to the juicy bits; Should we really fear AI? Can technology ever really be green? Think of this as your virtual hangout with our curious Colties. A space to ponder, future gaze and share ideas.