POPULARITY
Categories
278 episodes with smes
75 episodes with smes
119 episodes with smes
113 episodes with smes
56 episodes with smes
69 episodes with smes
42 episodes with smes
27 episodes with smes
64 episodes with smes
32 episodes with smes
34 episodes with smes
38 episodes with smes
52 episodes with smes
34 episodes with smes
43 episodes with smes
64 episodes with smes
19 episodes with smes
14 episodes with smes
13 episodes with smes
31 episodes with smes
27 episodes with smes
20 episodes with smes
17 episodes with smes
24 episodes with smes
24 episodes with smes
13 episodes with smes
6 episodes with smes
25 episodes with smes
21 episodes with smes
12 episodes with smes
10 episodes with smes
8 episodes with smes
11 episodes with smes
14 episodes with smes
18 episodes with smes
21 episodes with smes
6 episodes with smes
13 episodes with smes
13 episodes with smes
13 episodes with smes
11 episodes with smes
7 episodes with smes
10 episodes with smes
163 episodes with smes
9 episodes with smes
15 episodes with smes
8 episodes with smes
11 episodes with smes
5 episodes with smes
32 episodes with smes
7 episodes with smes
6 episodes with smes
8 episodes with smes
13 episodes with smes
8 episodes with smes
12 episodes with smes
10 episodes with smes
10 episodes with smes
7 episodes with smes
6 episodes with smes
16 episodes with smes
5 episodes with smes
5 episodes with smes
8 episodes with smes
5 episodes with smes
6 episodes with smes
8 episodes with smes
8 episodes with smes
5 episodes with smes
106 episodes with smes
6 episodes with smes
7 episodes with smes
10 episodes with smes
5 episodes with smes
14 episodes with smes
4 episodes with smes
14 episodes with smes
4 episodes with smes
5 episodes with smes
7 episodes with smes
7 episodes with smes
8 episodes with smes
6 episodes with smes
6 episodes with smes
6 episodes with smes
9 episodes with smes
5 episodes with smes
5 episodes with smes
5 episodes with smes
5 episodes with smes
4 episodes with smes
5 episodes with smes
17 episodes with smes
5 episodes with smes
5 episodes with smes
6 episodes with smes
6 episodes with smes
4 episodes with smes
5 episodes with smes
5 episodes with smes
5 episodes with smes
8 episodes with smes
8 episodes with smes
6 episodes with smes
6 episodes with smes
7 episodes with smes
11 episodes with smes
4 episodes with smes
6 episodes with smes
8 episodes with smes
3 episodes with smes
6 episodes with smes
4 episodes with smes
4 episodes with smes
4 episodes with smes
4 episodes with smes
11 episodes with smes
4 episodes with smes
3 episodes with smes
4 episodes with smes
4 episodes with smes
5 episodes with smes
7 episodes with smes
7 episodes with smes
7 episodes with smes
4 episodes with smes
4 episodes with smes
4 episodes with smes
5 episodes with smes
5 episodes with smes
5 episodes with smes
5 episodes with smes
66 episodes with smes
4 episodes with smes
4 episodes with smes
3 episodes with smes
4 episodes with smes
4 episodes with smes
3 episodes with smes
2 episodes with smes
5 episodes with smes
5 episodes with smes
5 episodes with smes
4 episodes with smes
2 episodes with smes
3 episodes with smes
6 episodes with smes
2 episodes with smes
4 episodes with smes
4 episodes with smes
4 episodes with smes
4 episodes with smes
6 episodes with smes
4 episodes with smes
6 episodes with smes
4 episodes with smes
60 episodes with smes
3 episodes with smes
59 episodes with smes
3 episodes with smes
5 episodes with smes
3 episodes with smes
4 episodes with smes
2 episodes with smes
8 episodes with smes
6 episodes with smes
3 episodes with smes
3 episodes with smes
5 episodes with smes
4 episodes with smes
3 episodes with smes
3 episodes with smes
3 episodes with smes
3 episodes with smes
3 episodes with smes
3 episodes with smes
4 episodes with smes
4 episodes with smes
4 episodes with smes
4 episodes with smes
Felisha Singh, head of client experience, insights & adoption at Standard Bank Business and Commercial Banking discusses the upcoming South African Future Trust Summit, and the role of SMEs in the economy SAfm Market Update - Podcasts and live stream
Welcome to the CanadianSME Small Business Podcast, hosted by Kripa Anand. In this special CyberShield Canada series, we explore the critical world of cybersecurity and how it's reshaping business resilience in an increasingly connected world.Joining us is Rick Kaun, Global Director of Cybersecurity Services at Rockwell Automation. With over 20 years of experience designing OT security programs for industries like oil and gas, mining, power, and manufacturing, Rick is dedicated to delivering scalable, cost-effective, and resilient cybersecurity solutions that empower organizations to thrive securely in the digital age.Key Highlights:1. Cyber Risk in Manufacturing: How IT/OT convergence expands the attack surface and turns cybersecurity into a boardroom issue.2. Scalable Security Practices: Actionable strategies for SMEs to strengthen protection without disrupting production.3. Beyond Find and Patch: Building true digital resilience through proactive incident response and security operations.4. AI and Cyber Talent: The evolving role of AI in real-time threat detection and the growing importance of cyber readiness.5. Smart Manufacturing Vision: How Rockwell is advancing the Connected Enterprise to enhance productivity and sustainability globally.Special Thanks to Our Partners:RBC: https://www.rbcroyalbank.com/dms/business/accounts/beyond-banking/index.htmlUPS: https://solutions.ups.com/ca-beunstoppable.html?WT.mc_id=BUSMEWAGoogle: https://www.google.ca/A1 Global College: https://a1globalcollege.ca/ADP Canada: https://www.adp.ca/en.aspxFor more expert insights, visit www.canadiansme.ca and subscribe to the CanadianSME Small Business Magazine. Stay innovative, stay informed, and thrive in the digital age!Disclaimer: The information shared in this podcast is for general informational purposes only and should not be considered as direct financial or business advice. Always consult with a qualified professional for advice specific to your situation.
Why do great product ideas fail to gain traction? According to Elena Luna, it's rarely about the strategy and more often about the storytelling. In this episode of The Product Experience, Elena Luneva, a seasoned CPO, GM, and Maven instructor, joins Randy Silver live from INDUSTRY 2025 to explore how product leaders can better communicate the why behind their product decisions. What we learned from Elena— Speaking 'User' isn't enough – Executives care about business impact, not just engagement metrics.— Translate features to financials – Frame product initiatives in terms of ARPU, opex savings, or revenue impact.— Use storytelling with data – Combine real user insights with projections to make your case.— Seasonality matters – Product testing should account for time-of-year and market behaviour.— Align go-to-market early – Synchronising product and sales is key to driving measurable outcomes.— Ask better questions – Start with: What is it? Why does it matter? How much will it cost? When will we get it?Chapters 2:45 – The Ceiling for Great PMs4:09 – Speaking Executive5:22 – Case Study: Nextdoor Maps9:52 – Translating Engagement to Revenue10:49 – Embedding Finance into Product Thinking12:43 – Pivoting During COVID14:36 – Business Fluency at All Levels16:00 – Building Context Across Teams18:26 – The Four Questions20:06 – Thinking in Horizons22:43 – Shifting Accountability26:23 – CPMO vs. CPTO27:43 – Common Mistakes29:42 – Seasonality & Cannibalisation32:29 – Practical First Steps34:21 – Credits & OutroFeatured Links: Follow Elena on LinkedIn | Elena's Substack | Industry Conference Cleveland 2025 recap at Mind The Product | Sign up to Elena's coaching course We're taking Community Questions for The Product Experience podcast.Got a burning product question for Lily, Randy, or an upcoming guest? Submit it here. Our HostsLily Smith enjoys working as a consultant product manager with early-stage and growing startups and as a mentor to other product managers. She's currently Chief Product Officer at BBC Maestro, and has spent 13 years in the tech industry working with startups in the SaaS and mobile space. She's worked on a diverse range of products – leading the product teams through discovery, prototyping, testing and delivery. Lily also founded ProductTank Bristol and runs ProductCamp in Bristol and Bath. Randy Silver is a Leadership & Product Coach and Consultant. He gets teams unstuck, helping you to supercharge your results. Randy's held interim CPO and Leadership roles at scale-ups and SMEs, advised start-ups, and been Head of Product at HSBC and Sainsbury's. He participated in Silicon Valley Product Group's Coaching the Coaches forum, and speaks frequently at conferences and events. You can join one of communities he runs for CPOs (CPO Circles), Product Managers (Product In the {A}ether) and Product Coaches. He's the author of What Do We Do Now? A...
In this episode of Insurance Tomorrow, Vanessa welcomes Nicky Johnson, Head of Workforce Change and Productivity at Allianz UK, and Shazia Ejaz, Director of Research at the Recruitment and Employment Confederation to navigate the skills shortage in the UK, what this means for businesses, and the insurance implications. We dive into: How the skills shortage impacts SMEs The implications for insurance costs, including claims costs How workforce planning can help businesses stay resilient The benefits of risk assessments to prevent claims How apprenticeships can help SMEs bring skills into their business Enjoyed this episode? Don't forget to rate and review to help others discover the Insurance Tomorrow podcast. And, if you're not subscribed yet, tap the follow button so you don't miss out on the latest insights. For more resources, articles, and webinars on business risks and other key topics, visit the Allianz Knowledge Centre. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Midlands MEP Ciarán Mullooly warns that businesses and communities risk losing Just Transition funding if they don't act fast and outlines what groups in Offaly, Longford, Westmeath and Laois must do now to protect their grants and local jobs. Brian Egan, founder of Midlands based Reactable AI and DeepPurple AI reveals how AI is levelling the digital playing field for Ireland's SMEs. Benedicta Durcan of BnM and Paul Mahon of Watt Footprint join Ronan to discuss Accelerate Green, the programme scaling real sustainability businesses, creating high-skilled jobs, and putting Ireland at the forefront of climate solutions.
In this podcast episode, host Rob Lawrence interviews Alan Nicholls, from the UK Government's Money and Pensions Service and BGCN. You'll hear a discussion on how to develop essential financial habits for business owners, with an emphasis on the importance of budgeting, separating personal and business finances, and building financial resilience. Alan highlights practical tools (see below) for budgeting and tax support, and shares advice on managing cash flow, saving regularly, and preparing for tax obligations. Our conversation encourages normalising discussions about money, seeking support, and using available resources to gain confidence and control over both personal and business finances. In this episode, you'll learn:Introduction and Guest Background (00:02:00) Alan introduces himself, his roles at the Money and Pensions Service and BCN, and his experience supporting SMEs.The Importance of Thinking About Money from Day One (00:03:59) Discussion on why financial awareness is crucial from the start of a business, and the overlap with personal finances.Developing Good Financial Habits (00:06:49) Advice on building regular habits for reviewing income and expenditure, and the importance of monthly check-ins.Tools for Managing Finances (00:08:02) Introduction to the Money Helper website and its budgeting tools, especially for those who dislike spreadsheets.Facing Financial Messiness and Avoidance (00:10:27) Normalising the messiness of finances, the dangers of avoidance, and the risks of turning to harmful solutions.Understanding and Controlling Your Finances (00:13:00) Emphasis on feeling in control, exploring financial education, and using available support resources.Separating Personal and Business Finances (00:14:36) Why separating accounts brings clarity, especially as businesses grow and tax requirements increase.Practicalities of Separate Accounts for Sole Traders (00:17:05) Clarifying myths about bank accounts, and practical steps for sole traders to separate business finances.Problems with Mixing Personal and Business Finances (00:19:25) Examples of complications and tax issues that arise from not keeping finances separate.Cash Flow and Its Importance for Growth (00:21:53) Explanation of cash flow, its role in business growth, and the need for planning and resilience.Budgeting and Building Financial Resilience (00:25:14) Mindset and strategies for budgeting, creating a savings pot, and planning for unexpected events.Planning for Success and Future Growth (00:29:28) How to use surplus funds, set savings goals, and reinvest in business or personal financial resilience.Self-Assessment and Tax Basics (00:32:31) When to start thinking about tax returns, thresholds, and the benefits of good record-keeping.Avoiding Surprises and Building Financial Habits (00:34:35) Tips for staying on top of receipts, expenses, and making financial management a daily habit.Guidance on Savings and Tax Percentages (00:38:27) Focus on developing a savings habit over fixed percentages, and the importance of understanding your own finances.Accountability and Seeking Support (00:40:43) Encouragement to seek accountability, use available coaching, and not to go it alone.Final Thoughts and Key...
Show Notes: Shifting political priorities and economic pressures over the past couple of years have seen several countries scale back climate commitments contributing to the growing gap between climate pledges and real-world emissions (still rising).What does this mean for a ‘Just Transition' and Net Zero? While there is no silver bullet, IUCN and UNEP emphasise Nature based Solutions (NbS) can be pivotal for climate mitigation and adaptation, when pursued alongside rapid decarbonisation globally.To discuss NbS, and climate change I recently caught up with Swapan Mehra a global leader in climate action and ecosystem conservation. In this deeply insightful conversation Swapan spoke about how NbS is a holistic approach to addressing the climate crisis, through a spectrum of actions designed to protect and restore ecosystems while simultaneously delivering co-benefits for biodiversity, communities and individuals. We also spoke about…
IrishJobs has today published new data from its Hiring Trends Update, revealing that nearly 1 in 4 employers expect to increase hiring in 2026. The IrishJobs Hiring Trends Update is a new biannual research report on the state of the recruitment market in Ireland. The research gathered insights from 500 employers and 1,000 professionals in Ireland on the evolving hiring landscape and shifting attitudes and actions across the market. The research also includes data from OTT, an in-house tool developed by the Stepstone Group, the parent company of IrishJobs, which analyses online data on job postings and associated information. In-demand skills As employers continue to navigate a highly competitive market for demand, sourcing candidates with in-demand skills is a top challenge. Nearly 7 in 10 employers (69%) report struggling to recruit talent with the right skills. Technical skills, such as programming, data analysis and AI competencies, are the most highly sought-after skills by employers. 30% of employers are prioritising the recruitment of talent with technical skills. 28% of employers are looking to hire candidates with soft skills such as problem-solving, collaboration, and communication. 25% of employers say that recruiting candidates with leadership and people management skills is a top priority. Pace of hiring The tight talent landscape is impacting the length of time to successful hiring. The median time for successful hiring is 10 weeks, as employers continue to face challenges in sourcing the right candidates for key positions. Findings show that recruiters are increasingly using AI tools and automation to reduce administrative burdens and streamline the hiring process. Nearly half of employers (47%) surveyed are using AI to draft job adverts. 35% of employers are using AI tools to help schedule interviews with job candidates. Hiring landscape There is a positive hiring outlook for 2026, with nearly 1 in 4 employers (24%) in Ireland planning on increasing recruitment over the next six months, indicating growing confidence among employers following a period of heightened geopolitical and trade volatility. Large enterprises have the most positive outlook on future hiring, with 27% of these firms expected to increase recruitment over the coming months. Findings show that smaller firms are more cautious on potential growth, with 21% of SMEs forecasting an increase in hiring in 2026. 21% of employers plan on increasing spending on hiring for more specialist roles, while 19% expect to increase hiring for temporary roles and contractors. 33% of employers surveyed have increased their levels of recruitment since April 2025, according to the report findings. Large businesses were the most active in recruitment, with 35% of these firms hiring more staff over this period. Findings show that 31% of SMEs have increased hiring since April 2025. However, there are also signs of cooling in certain areas of the labour market. 24% of employers reported restructuring certain teams or departments within their organisation over the previous six months. Increased jobseeker activity ahead Despite elevated uncertainty, jobseeker activity has remained robust across the labour market, with 21% of candidates actively looking for a new job in September 2025. However, there are signs that greater stability may lead to increased activity in the months ahead. Findings show that 29% of candidates plan to look for a new job in 2026. Salary is the top factor candidates consider when evaluating a new job and employer. Work-life balance is the second most important factor, with 31% of candidates considering it important when considering a new job. There are also signs that international volatility is having a growing impact on the selection of employers by candidates, with 29% of candidates ranking job security as a crucial factor influencing selection. Flexibility is increasingly a baseline expectation for many job candidates. 71% of candidates woul...
In this episode of What's Next, Aki Anastasiou speaks with Muzzafar Nagvadari, Executive Head: Merchant Solutions Sales and Service SA at Standard Bank Group, about how digital payments are transforming South Africa's business landscape. Muzzafar explains how the rapid rise of contactless, mobile, and e-commerce transactions is changing the way merchants operate and how businesses can adapt to meet evolving customer expectations. He also discusses the growing demand for unified commerce systems that bring together in-store, online, and mobile payments for greater efficiency and insight. Muzzafar introduces SimplyBLU, Standard Bank's smart payment and business management platform designed to simplify and streamline operations for SMEs. By integrating payment acceptance, inventory tracking, invoicing, and real-time analytics, SimplyBLU enables businesses to make data-driven decisions, improve customer experience, and scale effectively. He also shares advice for SMEs on managing costs, enhancing security, and embracing innovation to stay competitive in the digital economy.
Small and medium-sized enterprises make up the backbone of Singapore’s economy, yet a new Flo Energy survey finds that 62 percent still prioritise cost over sustainability when choosing an energy provider. As Singapore pushes toward its net-zero target by 2050, what will it take to bring SMEs on board the green transition? Matthijs Guichelaar, Co-founder and CEO of Flo Energy, and Jeryl Yep, Co-founder and Innovation Lead at Semula, join the Breakfast Show to discuss what’s driving the gap between ambition and action, how SMEs can balance cost with sustainability, and the kinds of support that could help smaller firms play a stronger role in Singapore’s low-carbon future.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
The mortgage broking industry in Australia is evolving rapidly, offering brokers new opportunities to scale, adapt, and capture investor confidence. In this episode of Finance Specialist, hosts Liam Garman and Trent Carter explore shifting market trends, from rising investor interest in Melbourne and regional Victoria to growing confidence in SMEs and management-style business investments. They highlight economic stability, noting low likelihood of major rate hikes and the potential for a November rate cut, which is encouraging investors to diversify beyond property appreciation. AI and automation are also transforming broking workflows, helping brokers streamline communications and free time for high-value client engagement, though both hosts emphasise maintaining the human touch. Garman and Carter caution against over-reliance on AI, advising brokers to use it as a tool to augment insight rather than replace expertise. The discussion also touches on market hysteria among first home buyers, driven by government incentives and FOMO, with regional markets showing more stability than metro areas. Throughout, the hosts stress strategic planning, thoughtful execution, and tailored approaches as key for brokers navigating this complex landscape.
Even though 40% of young people would prefer to be self-employed, the reality does not match their aspirations. If young people were as active in entrepreneurship as 30- to 49-year-old men, there would be an additional 3.6 million more young entrepreneurs across OECD countries. This episode of OECD podcast features Joni Rakipi from ETH Zürich and is hosted by Shayne MacLachlan from the CFE. Joni, originally from Albania and now based in Zürich, explains deeptech as solving complex problems through scientific breakthroughs, emphasising its long-term impact. He highlights barriers young entrepreneurs face, such as limited access for foreign nationals and regulatory hurdles, advocating for open doors and deregulation to foster innovation. The episode encourages young entrepreneurs and policymakers to engage with these insights. Tune in to hear from a young entrepreneur, in his own words. As Public Affairs and Communications Manager, Shayne MacLachlan engages with policy issues concerning SMEs, tourism, culture, regions and cities to name a few. He has worked on a number of OECD campaigns including “Going Digital”, "Climate Action" and "I am the future of work". Joni Rakipi holds a Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.) in Mechanical Engineering from the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) and a Master of Science (M.Sc.) in Management, Technology & Economics (METC) from ETH Zürich. He currently holds the role of Investor Connect Program Manager at ETH Zürich; an initiative of ETH Entrepreneurship aimed at connecting investors with spin-offs of ETH Zürich. From 2022 – 2024, he served as President at the ETH Entrepreneur Club. He is heavily involved in the start-up and entrepreneurial ecosystem of Switzerland and other neighbouring countries. To learn more, visit the YEPA hub https://yepa-hub.org/ Find out about the OECD's work on inclusive entrepreneurship https://www.oecd.org/en/topics/inclusive-entrepreneurship.html and the Missing Entrepreneurs 2023 Report https://www.oecd.org/en/publications/the-missing-entrepreneurs-2023_230efc78-en.html To learn more about the OECD, our global reach, and how to join us, go to www.oecd.org/about/ To keep up with latest at the OECD, visit www.oecd.org/ Get the latest OECD content delivered directly to your inbox! Subscribe to our newsletters: www.oecd.org/newsletters
We're excited to bring you highlights from this week's “Monday News Drop” episode of The ASHHRA Podcast! Co-hosts Luke Carignan and Bo Brabo were back in the studio to tackle two of the hottest topics shaping healthcare HR today: a shakeup in leadership expectations and the non-stop momentum of AI.Episode Highlights1. No One Wants to Lead! Luke and Bo dove into an eye-opening article on “Conscious Unbossing” – a rising Gen Z trend where employees are opting out of formal leadership roles in favor of deepening subject matter expertise. The big takeaway? People want career growth options that DON'T require managing others!Key discussion points:Rethinking career pathing beyond the “leadership ladder”Lending respect and recognition to subject matter experts (SMEs), even when they choose not to manage peopleBuilding parallel career tracks, lateral moves, and project-based recognition for non-managerial talentHumility in the workplace: Valuing leaders AND non-leader contributors2. AI Isn't the Future—It's the Present Every HR article (and podcast!) these days is talking about AI. Bo and Luke stressed the urgency around not just learning about AI, but also actively implementing and adapting to it—especially agentic AI in HR functions like talent acquisition.Organizations that delay AI adoption risk falling dangerously behind the competition—think “flip phone vs. iPhone.”AI is shifting HR from transactional work to strategic ‘people architect' roles—are you ready to evolve?HR positions won't disappear, but tasks ARE changing: repurposing roles, reskilling teams, and continuously learning is the name of the game.Don't be afraid to learn! Even if you're near retirement, find your AI enthusiast successor and help them lead the charge.3. Trending Topic: Staff Well-Being & the Power of the SME Bo and Luke touched on staff well-being—mental health, burnout prevention, and flexible scheduling—as top priorities for healthcare HR, emphasizing that SMEs in these areas can lead important change without managing teams.Fun FavoritesRedefining generational names (RIP, “Generation PT Cruiser”!).The coming age of affordable AI-powered robots—the Jetsons' future is closer than you think.What's Next? ASHHRA's Annual Conference is coming to Savannah on May 17-19, 2026! Check the show notes or ASHHRA website for more info, and join us LIVE on the podcast at the event.From Our Sponsors...Optimize Pharmacy Benefits with RxBenefitsElevate your employee benefits while managing costs. Did you know hospital employees fill 25% more prescriptions annually than other industries? Ensure cost-effective, high-quality pharmacy plans by leveraging your hospital's own pharmacies. Discover smarter strategies with RxBenefits.Learn More here - https://rxbene.fit/3ZaurZNStreamline HR Compliance with oneBADGEhealthcareSimplify screening, credentialing, and compliance for healthcare HR. oneBADGEhealthcare from ISB Global offers a tailored solution to keep your workforce compliant and efficient. Built for healthcare leaders, it's your all-in-one compliance tool.Get Started here - https://isbglobalservices.com/onebadgeunitedstates/ashhra/ Support the show
A new report commissioned by Scale Ireland and undertaken by labour market experts, David Collings, Professor of Sustainable Business at Trinity Business School, and Dr. Shirley Kavanagh, an executive adviser and consultant specialising in talent management, workforce development, and organisational strategy has found that Ireland faces a considerable challenge to meet the future skills needs of its indigenous IT sector. How to Future Proof Ireland's Talent Supply Scale Ireland is the not-for-profit, independent representative organisation for Irish tech start-up and scaling companies. It is the biggest representative organisation for the sector with 800 members. The report which it commissioned found that notwithstanding that Ireland performs creditably in international skills comparisons surveys, we face a serious challenge to meet the skills demands of a growing tech sector. Key points raised include: Ireland performs well in producing ICT graduates, but current supply models suggest that supply will be insufficient to meet future demand. Reskilling and upskilling of employees is likely to be critical. As skills evolve some skills will reduce in importance while others will emerge or become more valuable. Organisations must invest in continuous learning, upskilling and reskilling to meet emerging skills needs. A key risk is that SMEs including indigenous tech start-ups and scaling companies are less likely to have a talent development strategy in place. It is unlikely that third level institutions alone will provide sufficient supply to meet the growing skills demands of the ICT sector. We recommend a greater focus on other routes to entry to the labour market such as apprenticeships. The sector (indigenous and multinational) is already highly reliant on migrant labour with as much as 40% of employment in the sector already undertaken by non-Irish labour. The authors point to the importance of targeted global messaging about employment opportunities and the importance of an efficient employment permit system. Barriers to international migration include high personal tax rates, cost of living, personal safety, and infrastructure, particularly housing and transport. The overall ICT sector (indigenous and multinational) may require as many as 89,590 new positions by 2030. The skills profile will be impacted by additional demand for AI and machine learning skills, network, cybersecurity and technological literacy. In calculating these growth figures, and noting the potential that some work will be automated by AI potentially reducing employment, the authors assume that any efficiencies will be supplemented by higher growth in the medium term. Indeed, while we have witnessed some disruption in the labour market with some job reductions attributed to improved productivity in the context of AI, in line with broader reports and historical trends, the analysis in the report assumes this will level out in the relatively short term. The report also suggests that attracting critical talent may pose a greater challenge to start-up and scaling companies that often lack the human resources capacity of larger firms. Sectoral level initiatives will be critical to upskilling, and bodies such as Skillnet Ireland and SOLAS are likely to play a key role in this regard. It also calls for additional inward diversity paths for the sector. Notwithstanding indicators of a strong commitment to inclusion and the empowerment of women, female employment in ICT remains relatively low. Ultimately, the report states that Ireland will be competing against other jurisdictions for skills talent and we must engage proactively to address this challenge. See more breaking stories here.
Welcome to the CanadianSME Small Business Podcast, hosted by SK. You're listening to AI for SMBs, a series dedicated to spotlighting the transformative power of Artificial Intelligence for Canadian startups and small businesses. Today, we explore how custom software and AI solutions drive growth, efficiency, and enterprise value.Joining us is Cory Silva, Co-Founder & Chief Revenue Officer at Sixth Summit, an AI-first software development agency and studio. Cory is also an angel investor, podcast host, and content creator, helping businesses move faster, operate leaner, and capture more value through proprietary technology.Key Highlights:1. AI & Custom Software for Growth: Cory explains how AI and tailored software help SMEs modernize systems, automate workflows, and drive long-term value.2. Entrepreneurial Journey: From corporate career to tech entrepreneur, Cory shares the lessons learned while entering an unfamiliar industry.3. Family & Leadership: How becoming a husband and father shaped his approach to creating both professional and personal value.4. Sixth Summit Difference: Building fast, low-risk prototypes and proprietary solutions like ShipAngular and Clerify to accelerate growth.5. Community & AI Trends: Cory shares insights on content creation, community-building, and the future of AI in business.Special Thanks to Our Partners:RBC: https://www.rbcroyalbank.com/dms/business/accounts/beyond-banking/index.htmlUPS: https://solutions.ups.com/ca-beunstoppable.html?WT.mc_id=BUSMEWAGoogle: https://www.google.ca/A1 Global College: https://a1globalcollege.ca/ADP Canada: https://www.adp.ca/en.aspxFor more expert insights, visit www.canadiansme.ca and subscribe to the CanadianSME Small Business Magazine. Stay innovative, stay informed, and thrive in the digital age!Disclaimer: The information shared in this podcast is for general informational purposes only and should not be considered as direct financial or business advice. Always consult with a qualified professional for advice specific to your situation.
Hui Jing's life reads like a TVB drama.Her mum was forced to be the sole provider for the family after her dad landed them in bad debt. Perhaps unsurprisingly, Hui Jing understood the importance of money & joined the work force young - at the below-legal age of 15 - for a mediocre RM4/hour.It wasn't easy.But it kickstarted a series of jobs that saw her go from working as at McDonald's to The Body Shop to becoming a finalist for the Red Bull Female Driver Search in 2009 (they were offering a cash prize) to becoming an insurance agent (where she learned the joys of passive income) to joining a radio station as a road runner and finally…Co-founding one of Malaysia's fastest growing local convenience store chains, Bila-Bila Mart.Which is on track to hit a whooping RM150+ million in revenue & 100 stores by the end of 2025, with an IPO on the horizon!Not bad for a Brickfields girl who was once kidnapped & held ransom due to bad family debts. If there's one thing that clearly stands out about Hui Jing's story, it's this: Taking riskDuring the interview, she spoke of how:“Throwing everything outta the window (i.e. leaving corporate) sounded like an adventure. I wanted that adventure. Because I was just thinking, okay, now I have no commitments. I don't have a family… If I don't do it, if I don't risk it, I don't really see how is the world outside, when am I gonna do it?”That said, life hasn't been without its challenges.Once at a bar, she was told, “Jing, you talk too much as a female. Can you shut up?”And also advised to stop working and to “ask your husband to feed you.”Needless to say, that lit a fire in Hui Jing that led to the founding of Bila-Bila Mart, where she also spoke about:✨ How Dettol saved Bila-Bila Mart (they opened their first physical store during MCO)✨ Their first breakthrough (pivoting from the idea of selling hot food → kedai runcit model)✨ The process for local SMEs getting their items into Bila-Bila Mart✨ Dealing with chauvinistic men who question Jing's very young team✨ Why you are the decision maker of your own fateDon't forget to subscribe for future STIMY episodes!Special thanks to Bila-Bila Mart for sponsoring this episode.
In this episode of Building Doors, host Lauren Karan sits down with Paul Rojas, a commercial litigation lawyer and founder of ConstructSupport Australia. Paul pulls back the curtain on the silent crisis gripping the construction industry: record-high insolvencies. With years of experience working with builders, liquidators, and directors in the midst of legal storms, Paul provides a stark look at the realities of cash flow strain, contract breaches, and the domino effect that can topple even established companies.Paul shares hard-won wisdom on why proactive legal counsel is not an expense, but a critical investment in your business's survival. He demystifies complex contract clauses, reveals the common pitfalls that sink SMEs, and outlines the practical steps every construction business owner must take to shield themselves from financial collapse. Whether you're a seasoned builder or a new subcontractor, this episode is an essential guide to building a more resilient and legally sound business.What You'll Learn in This Episode:Insolvency and Risk in Construction:Why insolvency rates in the construction sector are at an all-time high.The “four-year lag” effect of economic shocks like COVID-19.The domino effect when one builder collapses and how it impacts the entire supply chain.Contracts and Legal Protection:Common contract mistakes that can destroy your business.The difference between variations and cost escalation clauses and why it matters.Why every builder and subcontractor must understand their contract terms, not just have them.Business Growth and Leadership:Paul's unique “merge to retire” model for law firm acquisitions.How to build a sustainable business through referrals, acquisitions, and trusted partnerships.Lessons from leading teams, spotting culture misfits, and trusting your gut in hiring.Resilience and Legacy:How to restructure a struggling business and turn it around.The power of focus and why staying in your niche protects you from unnecessary risk.Paul's vision for a more transparent, accessible legal service model for SMEs.Key Quotes from Paul Rojas“As boring as it sounds, it always comes down to your contracts; they're there to protect you.”“Insolvency doesn't hit straight away. There's always a four-year lag before the real impact shows.”“Stick to what you know and do it well. You can't be everything to everyone.”“Sometimes the biggest lesson in business is learning to trust your gut.”About Our Guest:Paul Rojas is a commercial litigation lawyer and founder of RCR Lawyers, ConstructSupport Australia, and a national debt collection company. With more than 20 years of experience across construction, insolvency, and commercial law, Paul has helped countless businesses navigate disputes, avoid collapse, and rebuild stronger. Passionate about making legal support more accessible, he is now pioneering a subscription-based legal model for SMEs in the building industry.About Your Host:Lauren Karan, founder of Karan & Co. and host of Building Doors, is dedicated to helping professionals unlock their potential. Through insightful interviews and real-life stories, Lauren empowers listeners to create opportunities and thrive in their careers.How You Can Support the Podcast:Subscribe and leave a 5-star rating on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.Share this episode with anyone interested in sustainability and leadership.Connect with Paul Rojas on LinkedIn to learn more about his work.Stay Connected:Follow Lauren and the Building Doors podcast on LinkedIn.Subscribe to the Building Doors newsletter for exclusive content.Let's Connect:Want to be a guest or share feedback? Email us at reachout@buildingdoors.com.au.Thank you for listening! It's time to stop waiting and start building.
On this episode of The Founder's Sandbox, Brenda McCabe sits down with Jen Apy, Area Managing Partner and Chief Marketing Officer at Chief Outsiders, to explore how scaling companies can unlock growth through fractional marketing leadership. Jen shares insights from her 30+ years of marketing experience—spanning Mattel, Adobe, Intuit, and now Chief Outsiders—and introduces listeners to the Growth Gears framework: a strategic methodology designed to help small and mid-sized companies grow efficiently and sustainably. Jen and Brenda also dive into key trends such as the rise of “flash teams,” how AI is transforming the marketing playbook, and the importance of being a learning organization in a fast-moving world. You can find out more at https://www.chiefoutsiders.com transcript: 00:04 So welcome back to the Founder's Sandbox. I am Brenda McCabe, the host of this monthly podcast where I am joined by business owners, founders, and professional service providers that are scaling businesses. 00:34 with great corporate governance. This podcast is now in its fourth season and very excited to have Jen Apy as my guest today. For those that are subscribed to the Founder Sandbox, you always know that we have a story that's going to be told about the origins of the company and the founder and the professional's experience as the introduction here. And we will always come back to the... 01:02 the sandbox where we're talking about resilience, purpose-driven and scalable growth. And when Jen, who I've known now for several years, we work in the same ecosystem, spoke to me about the growth gears, that is kind of the overarching framework of chief outsiders. I was fascinated and wanted to offer the platform of the podcast to get the message out to business owners that are 01:30 scaling and have not yet thought about using fractional marketing services. So welcome, Jen, to this fourth season. um Absolutely delighted to have you here. Oh, I'm delighted to be here. Excellent. So we did choose a title. We're gonna you're gonna hear the word growth gears throughout this podcast. So the title for the podcast today is growth gears for scaling. And 01:56 Jen and I kind of share a similar background in the sense that we've been out there over three decades. I um had my own consulting business. I worked in the McKinsey & Company and reinvented myself uh around really bringing the expertise that I had at multinationals into the ecosystem of growth stage companies. Jen, tell me you are multifaceted marketing professional over three decades. 02:26 of experience contributing to marketing excellence. Tell us a bit about your origin and your currently, I think since five years ago, the area managing partner and chief marketing officer of Chief Outsiders. So share a bit how your role has evolved and what's it like to be with this company that was once a startup itself. Well, thank you so much for having me, Brenda. It's been a wild ride. 02:56 I feel like I was so lucky early in my career to work with fabulous marketers at Mattel and Intuit and Adobe. And now to have the opportunity to apply those skills to help small to mid-sized companies grow. It's really been a fantastic experience. I feel like this is my purpose. Oh, beautiful. To share these enterprise little marketing skills with smaller companies that 03:25 are hungry for growth. you when I, when I meet founders or I meet CEOs, I'm always really curious about, know, what's working, what's not working. You know, how do we create this flywheel that can help them grow in scale? It really is, is something I enjoy. You know, you found your purpose and then I guess your purpose found you working with chief outsiders because you were also a solopreneur for years. What would be your 03:54 tagline if if anybody were to just listen to five minutes of the founder sandbox, what would be. Jen appease tagline such a good question. I think it would be be something like committed to growth. I feel like that is my purpose. That's what I enjoy. And you know now it's part of outsiders. I I now have 125 colleagues who feel the same way. They've all been fortune 1000. 04:23 and larger company marketers from a variety of different industries. think collectively we've probably covered over 80 industries, over 5,000 engagements. I mean, it's just incredible that the people at Cheap Outsiders that I get to work with every day. And I do feel like commitment to growth is almost a shared purpose for all of us. That's why we're here, because we love to make an impact, to see that impact on smaller companies and be a part. 04:52 of their leadership team. We say that we're outsiders, but we're really embedded as insiders and therefore we can have that impact on companies and watch them grow in scale. It's very gratifying as a marketer. m I also work in the small and medium sized enterprise area. And last month I actually wrote a blog on enterprise, forms of enterprise and the like. 05:18 Did some research on actually SMEs. How many SMEs in your estimation actually reach or go beyond $10 million in revenues? SMEs are 47%, I believe, for the number of enterprises in the United States. But how many actually scale beyond the $10 million revenue? You know, it's a surprisingly small number, like maybe less than 1%. But you know, that's why we're here. 05:47 We want to increase the chances that those companies can scale, you know, 10 million, 50 million, 100 million. We believe that by really applying the market insights, customer insights, competitive insights into, you know, the strategies around positioning and offers and target marketing will lead to the cost of 06:14 efficient and cost effective strategies and execution that will help companies scale. that really is the heart of the growth gears methodology and approach. Well, that's a great segue. You and I met at the recurring revenue conference, I guess, in the seventh year. And as you walk me through the growth gears, you also have an assessment tool. Would you like to share? 06:42 overarching what is what are the gears, the growth gears, what are the key aspects that one can be surveyed about and then and how to engage with the chief outsiders, because I found it fascinating. And I actually used it with one or two of my clients to kind of get the wheels, no pun intended, right to to start moving, right? 07:12 Yes, so the assessment that we use asks companies and leaders questions about the business, about how much do they know about their customers, their competitors, the company, they looked at market trends? And then starts to ask about, do they know where their revenue comes from, where their growth is gonna come from? they understand what channels are most efficient and are they measuring uh the effectiveness of the marketing? 07:41 programs that they have in motion. And it's not every single question that we could ask, but just enough to get them thinking about where growth is gonna come from. And so we use this assessment, usually around this time actually, we're getting close to Q4. And we use it about this time in order to help them think ahead in terms of what are the priorities that are needed for the following year in order to stimulate. 08:08 enable or actualize growth. So if anyone's interested in doing this assessment with me, it's free. Just, you know, reach out to me on LinkedIn, happy to provide you with the link and then have a conversation about what the answers mean. Absolutely. Jen, we'll put those, the survey or the assessment, pardon me, in the show notes. All right. Great. In addition to other areas. So talk to me a little bit about Chief Outsiders. You did say it was a startup at one time. 08:37 How long has it been around? What's the organization look like? And what are the challenges that you particularly are dealing with with the advent of AI? That's a very little question. That's a great question, though. But Chief Outsiders has been around for over 10 years. I think we've been around before the term fractional executive or fractional marketer was even a term. think 09:01 Maybe early on we might've been discussed as strategic business consultants, right? Because we're helping companies grow in scale. But we've been around for over 10 years. We've been on the Fortune 5000 for quite a few years. I think definitely 10 or more. the way that we've grown is by really focusing on what marketing leadership needs to do. 09:30 for companies, which at the end of the day, it's about knowing who your customers are, where to find them, and then how to grow the company based on that focus on finding and retaining customers, whether it's increasing market penetration within a certain target segment or finding new markets or launching new products, whatever that growth strategy is, how to harness that and help 10:00 a company, um, scale over time and marketing has changed so much. I know over the years, mean, I've seen that with your companies is overwhelming. I pardon. I will get back to the question, but I, many, many years ago, McKinsey, was a marketing expert research. We didn't have all these amazing tools we have today to conjoin analysis, you know, with your Excel sheets, right. And focus groups. 10:29 Right. So the sophistication, channel, you know, growth explosion is, you know, I threw my talent a long time ago. Well, you know, it used to be, you know, direct mail and then websites, right. And then e-commerce and, and then it was about social media and content marketing and then SEO. I mean, it's just daunting. And now we have to be thinking about AI in all facets of the 10:59 the marketing toolkit, right? It's impacting every aspect of what we do as marketers. And we have to be thinking about AEO, like answer engine optimization in addition to SEO. So it really is rather overwhelming. So I think that over the years, Chief Outsiders has recognized that the marketing tactics and strategies are going to change and we need to change with it. But that the focus on 11:27 growth is going to come from really the growth gears, right? The approach to understanding the market, understanding how to go to market, understanding how to execute cost effectively. So recently in the advent of AI, knowing that it was going to impact so much of the marketing mix, we actually started to develop an AI platform for us to use. Yes, for us to use internally. What it does is confidentially, 11:57 takes all of the insights for all of the engagements that we've done with companies so that when we are working with clients, we can benefit from that collective knowledge and be able to deliver better, deeper, faster insights from day one for our clients. So deeper insights, proven strategies, best practice execution. There isn't a workstream for marketing sales that isn't going to be impacted by AI. 12:25 So we've definitely thought about that and made sure that we can leverage all this knowledge in order to help us be better marketers for our clients. That's fascinating. It's kind of scary, right? So you've basically like in the healthcare industry, you've anonymized, right? The plethora of data, right? Within the walls of 12:54 chief outsiders of the 10 years of experience and I don't know how many clients, right? To then really document and have your own, for lack of another word, I guess, is it? The knowledge base. The knowledge base, but it's kind of an ocean, right? Data ocean. Yeah. And, you know, and this is how the AI tools work. 13:19 We figured we might as well have something that we can use on a proprietary basis and that can help us not only create our deliverables and have better deliverables, but also to help us manage processes. Because as we talked about with marketing, there's just so much going on, so much to consider, so much to do. This AI platform also helps us to manage those processes. And one of the things we haven't talked about yet is fractional resources. 13:47 I believe really are the future of work. And that's one of the reasons why I'm so excited to be a part of Chief Outsiders because we believe that as well. And that's also part of the reason why we built this platform. Right. So one thing that I want to highlight just from the last discussion here is 14:08 AEO rather than SEO or in addition to SEO that I mean, heard it here on the founder sandbox. Not only do we have to be looking to have our SEO optimization, it's AEO optimization. Yes. So answer engine optimization. And that's coming of course, from the AI tools. You know, I think the stat is something like 70, 71 % of searchers, anyone searching. 14:37 They're now using the AI engines instead of, or sometimes in addition to regular search. But it's the reason why Google is losing traffic share, right? Because people are going to these AI engines sometimes exclusively for certain things. And so this has had an impact on marketing in a couple of ways. One is we need to now optimize our content for answer engines, which it's not that much different from SEO. We still have to adopt the same good. 15:06 SEO practices, you keywords, relevance, backlinks, things like that. But now we call it LL or large language model optimization in 2025. uh In order to be able to rank in those answer engines, we need to also consider brand strength and authority, oh citations, quality of content, sentiment. You know, we really 15:35 PR from authoritative sources is really going to become more important. And so we do a lot of testing ourselves in terms of how Chief Outsiders ranks in these engines. I was going to ask you, have you done that? Yes. And that's how we know that it's not just the SEO good practices that's helping to rank in answer engines. um 16:02 It's also these other things, brand strength and authority. The content needs to answer questions. these engines are understanding when content is authoritatively answering a question. And there's so many factors involved in figuring that out. There are a number of tools we use to see how we're ranking. There are a number of tools we use to figure out how we're 16:33 uh how we're able to, uh I guess, for lack of better words, out the competition, right? And score, right? In our content. And we use this knowledge of how it's working for us to help our clients as well. And we've been doing this from the beginning because we were very aware of all the changes. um So you have your own growth gears operating system. 17:00 It's a remote working AI enabled platform, right? That also enables remote and hybrid teams that come together. Speak to me a little bit about that. GrowthGear's operating system is effectively your LM? Yeah, that's the, well, that's the AI platform that we developed is called the GrowthGear's operating system. And so not only does it leverage the best content, the best tools, but because of the way that we're designing it and it's really to support us, right? And how we work. 17:29 we are really enabling fractional resources and remote and hybrid teams to work together effectively on the projects, the marketing, the growth plans that companies need to scale. this is kind of the way, I mean, if we believe that fractional resources are of economic benefit to both companies because they don't have to hire 17:56 A lot, you know, heavy talent, right for long term. They can hire just what they need when they need it. And also as they evolve and grow, they might need different resources, right? So they can they can cycle through the skill sets they need, but but also because there's economic value because workers, if they want to be more flexible, if they want to leverage a specific skill set and not necessarily be tied to one company gives them the freedom and flexibility to. So I think for for both reasons, there's there's a lot of. uh 18:26 momentum toward this style of working. the platform that we have, you know, it can enable these operational fractional resources, not only marketing, but any part of the organization in the future. Let's go. Let's take that idea or what you're observing in the market and actual client work a little bit further. So how would a potential client 18:54 engage with chief outsiders. They're at, you know, 3 million AR, they have not yet hired a marketing full time, right? How, what would would walk us through a typical, for lack of another word, engagement, or how do they engage with chief outsiders? And particularly, the second part of that is, if you're talking about 19:21 Flash teams, I think is the term that you and I discussed, right? Yeah, it's actually the title of a book being launched by a professor from Stanford, Melissa Valentine. She's coined this phrase flash teams, which essentially is what cheap outsiders does, right? We pull together the resources that a company needs at that moment in time in order to solve their growth problems. we're essentially a flash team enabled by 19:51 the growth gears operating system. Cool. So I'm not I'm the CEO. I've got to hit some revenue milestones. I've interviewed some candidates. I'm not yet sold for you know, bringing in full time, full time chief marketing officer. Jen gives me a call. How do I how do you how do I engage with you? Yeah, well, the first thing I want to understand is, is what what keeps you up at night? 20:21 Right? What, what are some of your growth challenges that, you're struggling with? Because the first thing I want to do is really understand, you know, what resources do you need at this moment in time in order to get you from A to B? so oftentimes we'll look at this and say, is this, is this going to be solved by a marketing led team or sales led team? Sometimes that's the first thing that we're thinking about. And then how much do we know already about the situation in terms of. 20:49 customers, competitors, market insights, customer buying journey, channels that are working and not working. We're wanna know all of that so that we can figure out the most efficient way to approach solving those growth challenges and what work streams are needed. So we'll bring in a fractional executive that's a good fit for that company and then orchestrate the resources that are required to get to the next step. And then when that engagement is through, 21:18 we'll figure out what the next level is. Maybe the next level is bringing in full-time permanent resources to help execute and to help scale where we paid ourselves out of the picture. Or maybe it's just dialing back to more of an advisory role and then bringing in fractional resources from different places in order to be able to test and scale and see what's going to work, what's going to land before we orchestrate on a more. 21:48 So we're very flexible with what a company needs at any point in time. And no two companies are alike. You when you're a $3 million company, you might have talent and skills and gaps that are different from the last client that we had. And we know that. We can recognize those situations just because we've had so much experience working with so many different companies. We can very quickly figure out what's needed for the next step and just give a company exactly what it needs. 22:16 to it. You do tap into your, your network of your 125 professionals with them, know, goodness, the years of experience that you all have obtained while at fortune 1000 companies. Amazing. Oftentimes, I've seen you with as keynote speaker, you do give conference speak and you speak at conferences. What one of the most recent 22:42 conferences. I'm not uncertain where it was, but you the topic you spoke to, Jen, was winning website traffic in the age of AI, what CEOs need to know? Can you without sending us to you know, that I don't know whether it's on online, we can put that in the show notes. But what's the top, you know, line messages from that conference where you spoke about winning website traffic? Yeah. 23:10 Well, I did it with a couple of my colleagues who are very experienced in digital transformation and now how to win traffic with the answer engines. And so we talked about some of the uh tactics that we're finding work nowadays and how that's going to change how companies need to think about orchestrating their marketing mix. So Mike. 23:36 Colin Angela gave an example of a very specific example of an article that had been written for SEO that now needs to be written for AEO just so that people could see the difference. But I think the main message that we were trying to send uh to companies is uh marketing is not static. Just because you've figured out your marketing mix doesn't mean it's going to work two years down the line. It's constantly evolving. And so you need leadership. 24:04 who can be thinking about how are customer behaviors changing? How do I reach them differently? And the fact that 71 % of searchers are going to answer engines, that's a huge shift and marketers need to be ready to address that. So if you're a smaller company and you just don't have the resources to keep retraining your staff. 24:29 every year or so and you need that expertise in the know how do I compete now today? How do I set myself up for success? That's where we as Fractional Resources can come in and help you be that learning organization, that resilient organization that's going to survive through the next sea of change. 24:51 That is fascinating. Yeah, it's it's a living beast, right? marketing and it's moving so rapidly, it would be hard. I'm to actually have the inside resources, the talent inside unless they're constantly being retooled. So it is an opportunity to use fractional resources, depth of expertise that you have. Yeah. And that's one thing that I value about the chief outsiders culture is the fact that I think what's made us 25:21 so resilient is the fact that we're really a learning and sharing organization. We've recognized that change happens rapidly. To be resilient, we need to change and constantly be learning and retooling ourselves. And that is something we highly value. But to be able to do that quickly, no one person can do all this on their own. It's nearly impossible and very overwhelming. You can't do it in a silo. So we have a culture of sharing where 25:50 If we learn something new, um we'll share with the rest of the organization. So that, that, uh, that webinar that we did was just as much for us and our executives as it was for the clients that we, that we serve in this culture of sharing really creates resiliency in the sense that if, a company brings in one of our fractional executives and let's say they encounter a market challenge or a sales challenge that that particular 26:19 executive hasn't seen before, they can turn to the other 125 marketers and say, hey, let's get together. Let's put our best brains on this business and determine what things we might be able to try or what things we should put in place in order to benefit this organization. And I think there's no individual fractional out there that has access to that much talent and expertise. 26:49 on a moment's notice as we do. And that's part of what's going to create the resiliency that we need as an organization to survive in the next decade, because everything is just going to start to move faster and companies are going to just need that much more speed. So, but we also believe that's a value that we can bring in addition to being interim and not being full-time and bringing in the expertise they need to write at that moment. We can also draw on the collective expertise of the tribe. So the brain trust. 27:19 Well, that's a good term. love that. Right. Brain trust. I love that brain trust. One technical question of the 125 professionals within chief outsiders and interim roles. Is it solely in the marketing area or do you also offer maybe in the sales? there other interim roles? That's a really good question. So we do focus on marketing and sales primarily, but sometimes we're actually brought in as fractional COOs. 27:49 as well or division heads. And it's because of our broad leadership expertise. And some of our executives have been CEOs of their own companies. They founded companies, they've sold companies. So they do have that broader business perspective, but primarily it's marketing and sales. Excellent. We're going to switch gears, to the standby. No pun intended. 28:17 That's right. That's here in the founder sandbox. I'm passionate about building resilience, scalable and purpose-driven companies. And I like to ask my guests briefly, what is the meaning of resilience? What does that mean to you? Or does he chief outsiders? It's a fascinating part of the podcast for me become that you have very different definitions. And that's the beauty of asking this. Yeah. Well, I think that resilience, at least for for me, for us, a chief outsiders means 28:46 being able to survive and move forward and grow in the face of massive change. Right. It's not, it's not bending to the will of the market. It's, it's, it's basically saying, you know what? We know how we can add value at this moment in time. And we have the tools to address this change and add value. that, you know, it is one of the reasons why we constantly are thinking about 29:15 how do we bring more to the table for our clients? So in addition to the growth years operating system that we created, we also have an ecosystem called team outsiders of fractional marketing execution resources that we can draw on at any point in time and create our own flash teams for our clients. So let's say we've gone through the strategy and we've determined that we really need an e-commerce expert 29:45 that can optimize Amazon or we really need somebody who can take charge of developing the content that's going to address not only SEO and or but also AEO and we'll draw from our pool of team outsiders resources and we'll put together that fractional team for the client at a moment's notice. So we believe that that is going to make us a lot more agile. 30:13 for our clients because sometimes they just need to get started, but they don't have time to go higher or they don't have time to go evaluate a new agency. We can bring somebody in. We can, we can set the stage. We can get things going and then let them have the time to decide really who they want on a longer term basis. So, you know, agile teams, flash teams, it comes from our ability to be able to, draw on this network of. 30:42 team outsiders and to be resilient. How about purpose? What's purpose mean to you? Purpose. You know, I think that when I look back on my career and also what I'm doing here at Chief Outsiders, I get the most satisfaction from seeing smaller companies grow from helping founders make their dreams come true. You know, there are so many great companies out there. 31:12 that just need a shot at the big time, right? And we can do that because we've seen it. We know how to get a company from one to a hundred. We've seen it. We know what a company at one or a company at zero, what they're faced with from the standpoint of challenges, time, resources, focus, right? And so we can adjust what we do in order to adapt to that environment. But we know what an organization is going to need 31:41 to be competitive and to need to grow at 30, 50, 100. And we can keep our sights on what that needs to be and advise the companies we're working with on how they're gonna get there. So yes, we're implementing this today, but it's gonna look like this tomorrow, but we're not ready for that yet. We're just gonna do this here today because you don't have the time or the bandwidth or the money to do that many things. But this is, we've done the analysis, we've done the research, we've done the testing. 32:11 This is what you need to scale for right now. So, you know, being able to do that and then see these companies grow from 10 to 30 to 50 million, it's a thrill. it is very, very rewarding. So I think that, you know, I found my purpose and this is the, in speaking with my colleagues, they're all, we're all here for the same reason. So we really do have that shared. 32:39 purpose and we really enjoy what we do. Fantastic last one and then we'll move to how to contact you scalable growth. I'm certain you're going to talk about those the growth gears, but what's scalable right? What's that mean to you? Scalable growth to me means we figured out what works and we can replicate it cost efficiently and cost effectively. So that is 33:07 our focus when we're working within the growth gears methodology, we're looking for the way to scale most cost-efficiently effectively. I know that one of the things that you are really big on with your companies, the companies you invest in is governance. Yes. You're really big on governance. And when I think about governance, I think about responsibility and accountability. And what that means to me as a marketer, 33:35 And as a revenue leader is making sure that the spend that we commit to in marketing and sales is going to drive revenue and growth cost effectively. so by making sure that we've done the analysis, that we figured out what's going to work, that we've tested before we scale is that responsible governance approach, right? To marketing and so 34:05 You know, I think that there are some companies that are in situations where they have to scale no matter what. They just throw money at it, you know, scale no matter what. And there are situations where that needs to happen. But we find with the companies that we work with that the more responsible, prudent, accountable, you know, organic growth is what the founders are looking for. And we know how to do that. 34:35 Replicable, right? Replicable, yes. Amazing. So Jen, um last question before we listen to how to contact you. you have fun today in the Founder's Sandbox? Oh, it's always a pleasure to talk with you, Brenda. I really enjoy our conversations. We're of like minds. That's true. That's true. Avid readers and bringing the best to our clients. So thank you. How can my listeners 35:04 find you and best reach chief outsiders. Yes. So they can find me on Jenna, but they can also find me on the chief outsiders website on the leadership tab. And from the chief outsiders website, you can also learn about all of the things that we do. can meet all of the 125 executives that we have. You can learn more about growth gears, OS and team outsiders. Excellent. And 35:32 In the show notes, will provide the assessment so that you listeners that are actually considering, you know, what do I need to do at this last quarter of the year, right? To plan my marketing resources, just download the assessment. It's a very interesting tool. So thank you. Well, to my listeners, if you enjoyed this episode with Jen Appie of 35:56 chief outsiders. I'd encourage you to subscribe to this monthly podcast where we have founders, business owners, corporate board directors and professional service providers that are really building scalable, purpose driven and resilient companies with great corporate governance. Signing off for this month. Thank you for joining us here on the Founder's Sandbox.
Stephen Grootes speaks to Brian Pinnock, cyber expert, about the alarming rise in cybercriminal activity in South Africa and the practical steps SMEs can take to protect themselves during Cybersecurity Awareness Month. The Money Show is a podcast hosted by well-known journalist and radio presenter, Stephen Grootes. He explores the latest economic trends, business developments, investment opportunities, and personal finance strategies. Each episode features engaging conversations with top newsmakers, industry experts, financial advisors, entrepreneurs, and politicians, offering you thought-provoking insights to navigate the ever-changing financial landscape. Thank you for listening to a podcast from The Money Show Listen live Primedia+ weekdays from 18:00 and 20:00 (SA Time) to The Money Show with Stephen Grootes broadcast on 702 https://buff.ly/gk3y0Kj and CapeTalk https://buff.ly/NnFM3Nk For more from the show, go to https://buff.ly/7QpH0jY or find all the catch-up podcasts here https://buff.ly/PlhvUVe Subscribe to The Money Show Daily Newsletter and the Weekly Business Wrap here https://buff.ly/v5mfetc The Money Show is brought to you by Absa Follow us on social media 702 on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TalkRadio702 702 on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@talkradio702 702 on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/talkradio702/ 702 on X: https://x.com/CapeTalk 702 on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@radio702 CapeTalk on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CapeTalk CapeTalk on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@capetalk CapeTalk on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ CapeTalk on X: https://x.com/Radio702 CapeTalk on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@CapeTalk567 See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
In this episode Patrick Moran from Computer Clinic joins me. Patrick previously appeared on the podcast in episode 25 (Cyber Security for your business) way back in 2021 and is a longtime supporter of the Podcast. Patrick joins me to talk about the role of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in New Zealand SMEs that he works alongside with, including how businesses are using AI and the approaches they are adopting as they look to roll out AI solutions. We also talk acronyms including an oldie but a goodie: GIGO which stands for “Garbage In, Garbage Out” and its application to outputs from AI. This leads us to talk about the importance of keeping humans in the loop to check outputs from AI before looking to place any reliance on the same. The chat moves into where businesses can look to start using AI and some of Patrick's thoughts around how to do that safely. If you have been feeling overwhelmed about all the noise and hype around AI, then I recommend giving this episode a listen. If you want to find out more about how Patrick might be able to help you and your business with the use of AI, then go and check out www.computerclinic.nz
Even though 40% of young people would prefer to be self-employed, the reality does not match their aspirations. If young people were as active in entrepreneurship as 30- to 49-year-old men, there would be an additional 3.6 million more young entrepreneurs across OECD countries. In this episode of OECD podcasts, Alix Philouze chats to Elina Cohen-Peirano, CEO & founder of URONE and a young entrepreneur who founded her first company at the age of 17. They discuss all things youth entrepreneurship – from balancing entrepreneurship and studies to the policy challenges facing youth entrepreneurship and the legacy of the YEPA programme, tune in to hear from a young entrepreneur, in her own words. Alix Philouze is a communications co-ordinator at the OECD Centre for Entrepreneurship, SMEs, Regions and Cities, where she works with both the SME and Entrepreneurship division and the Cities, Urban Policies and Sustainable Development division. She holds a degree in European Studies from Trinity College Dublin. Elina Cohen-Peirano is a young serial entrepreneur driving systemic change in entrepreneurship education through Urone, her company which partners with academic, business and institutional actors across Europe. Its mission is to make entrepreneurship a lever for youth empowerment, innovation and inclusion. She is also a member of the Steering Committee of the Youth Entrepreneurship Policy Academy (YEPA), led by the OECD and the European Commission, contributing to international dialogue and policy action. To learn more: • The YEPA hub: https://yepa-hub.org/ • OECD work on inclusive entrepreneurship: https://www.oecd.org/en/topics/inclusive-entrepreneurship.html • The missing entrepreneurs: https://www.oecd.org/en/publications/the-missing-entrepreneurs-2023_230efc78-en.html To learn more about the OECD, our global reach, and how to join us, go to www.oecd.org/about/ To keep up with latest at the OECD, visit www.oecd.org/ Get the latest OECD content delivered directly to your inbox! Subscribe to our newsletters: www.oecd.org/newsletters #oecd #oecdpodcasts
In this episode of The Product Experience, Lily and Randy speak with Dan Dalton (Director of Product Management at Sage) about the current state of product management, and how the role must evolve in today's climate.Chapters0:00 Introduction: product management at a crossroads1:00 Dan Dalton's background and path into product3:00 The evolution of product management: 2010 to today8:15 Framework‐fundamentalism, the broken ladder & career expectations13:45 Why many product careers are being set up to fail19:20 Responding to disruption: returning to basics, focusing on impact24:40 The role of soft skills and mindset in product leadership28:55 How Dan's team operates: fast prototyping, design system, code assets31:10 Hiring and developing product talent: soft skills over tick‐boxes35:30 AI, hype and bubbles: what product leaders need to keep in mind40:15 The mental flywheel: pragmatism, curiosity, resilience, detachment45:00 Wrap up & closing remarksFeatured Links: Follow Dan on LinkedIn | Sage | 'Why is everyone hating on Product Managers?' feature by Peter YangWe're taking Community Questions for The Product Experience podcast.Got a burning product question for Lily, Randy, or an upcoming guest? Submit it here. Our HostsLily Smith enjoys working as a consultant product manager with early-stage and growing startups and as a mentor to other product managers. She's currently Chief Product Officer at BBC Maestro, and has spent 13 years in the tech industry working with startups in the SaaS and mobile space. She's worked on a diverse range of products – leading the product teams through discovery, prototyping, testing and delivery. Lily also founded ProductTank Bristol and runs ProductCamp in Bristol and Bath. Randy Silver is a Leadership & Product Coach and Consultant. He gets teams unstuck, helping you to supercharge your results. Randy's held interim CPO and Leadership roles at scale-ups and SMEs, advised start-ups, and been Head of Product at HSBC and Sainsbury's. He participated in Silicon Valley Product Group's Coaching the Coaches forum, and speaks frequently at conferences and events. You can join one of communities he runs for CPOs (CPO Circles), Product Managers (Product In the {A}ether) and Product Coaches. He's the author of What Do We Do Now? A...
THE Leadership Japan Series by Dale Carnegie Training Tokyo, Japan
Short intro: Forgetting names kills first impressions. The good news: a few simple, repeatable techniques can make you memorable and help you recall others—consistently, even in noisy, post-pandemic mixers and business events. Is there a simple way to say my name so people actually remember it? Yes: use “Pause, Part, Punch.” Pause before you speak, insert a brief “part” between your first and last name, then punch (emphasise) your surname. The pause stops the mental scroll, the parting creates a clean boundary (helpful in loud rooms or across accents), and the punch leaves a sticky final note—useful in Japan, the US, and Europe where surnames often carry professional identity. Executives at multinationals and SMEs alike can coach teams to deploy this consistently at trade shows, chambers of commerce events, and alumni nights. Over time, your name becomes an asset—clear, repeatable, and easy to introduce. Do now: Practise: “Hello, my name is… (pause) …Keiko… (part)…TANAKA.” Record it, tweak cadence, rehearse daily. What's the fastest framework to remember someone else's name on the spot? Start with LIRA: Look & Listen, Impression, Repetition, Association. First, give full visual and auditory attention—phones down, eyes up. Next, form a quick impression (“Mr Tall Suzuki with heavy rims”) to create a mental hook. Then repeat their name naturally in conversation (not creepily), and finish with an association—link to a character, place, or attribute you won't forget (e.g., Suzuki as “Japan's Clark Kent”). Compared with generic “memory palace” tricks, LIRA is lighter, faster, and better for high-tempo events as of 2025, across industries from B2B SaaS to professional services. Do now: Use their name once early, once mid-chat, once when you part: “Thanks, Suzuki-san—great insight on logistics.” How do I create vivid mental images that actually stick? Use PACE: Person, Action, Colour, Exaggeration. Picture the person like a movie poster with their name. Add an action tied to meaning or sound (Asakawa = fast-running stream). Layer in a colour cue (Mr Black, Ms White). Then exaggerate—big cape, soaring over Otemachi, a giant sign reading “SUZUKI.” This amps up memorability under cognitive load and cross-language settings (useful in Japan–APAC events where name sounds may be unfamiliar to English speakers). Compared with straight repetition, PACE exploits how our brains favour images and unusual scenes for recall. Do now: On first hearing the name, take one second to sketch a wild, colourful micro-scene in your head—then lock it with a quick repeat. Are there smart shortcuts for linking names to context? Yes—try BRAMMS: Business, Rhyme, Appearance, Meaning, Mind Picture, Similar Name. Tie the name to their business (Tokoro in real estate). Use a rhyme (“straight-back Tanaka”). Note a standout appearance cue (Onaka with a big belly). Leverage the meaning (Takai = tall; Minami = south). Make a mind picture (Abe as Abe Lincoln). Or a similar name pun (Kawai ~ kawaii). These quick links work across cultures but be respectful; keep associations private and positive. In cross-border teams (Tokyo vs. Sydney vs. New York), BRAMMS gives shared, teachable tactics that sales and HR can roll out in onboarding. Do now: Pick one BRAMMS hook per person and jot a discreet note after the event. Consistency beats cleverness. How do I avoid sounding weird when I use someone's name? Space it out and keep it situational. Use the name once as confirmation (“Did I hear Asakawa correctly?”), once to reinforce rapport (“Asakawa-san, that supply-chain example—brilliant”), and once to close (“Thanks, Asakawa-san, let's reconnect next week”). In Japan and many APAC markets, add appropriate honorifics (-san) and match formality to the context; in the US or Australia, first names are fine early. The goal is natural cadence, not performance. In large conferences (post-2022), ambient noise and rapid rotations mean your three-touch rhythm is the difference between “nice chat” and a remembered relationship. Do now: Commit to a “1-1-1 rule”: one use early, one mid-conversation, one at goodbye—then stop. What practice routine builds lasting skill without overwhelm? Train one or two techniques per week and score yourself. Don't try every acronym at once. This week, master Pause-Part-Punch for your name and LIRA for their name. Next week, add a single PACE element. Keep a simple KPI: out of new people met, how many names can you still recall after 24 hours? Leaders can embed this in sales enablement and campus recruiting. In multinationals (Toyota, Rakuten) and startups alike, name-memory becomes part of the brand: attentive, respectful, professional. Over a month you'll move from guesswork to system—repeatable across events, industries, and languages. Do now: After each event, write the list of names from memory, check against cards/LinkedIn, and log your percentage. Aim for +10% per month. Quick checklist Practise Pause–Part–Punch for your own intro. Deploy LIRA on first contact; BRAMMS for backup cues. Build images with PACE; keep them private and positive. Use the 1-1-1 name-use rhythm. Track recall within 24 hours; improve monthly. 2021.10.7 How To Remember Peopl… Conclusion Remembering names isn't a talent; it's a process. With a few small behaviours—well-timed emphasis, intentional listening, vivid associations—you'll create stronger first impressions and build trust faster across Japan, Australia, the US, and beyond. Structured using a GEO search-optimised format for maximum retrievability and skim value. Author Credentials Dr. Greg Story, Ph.D. in Japanese Decision-Making, is President of Dale Carnegie Tokyo Training and Adjunct Professor at Griffith University. He is a two-time winner of the Dale Carnegie “One Carnegie Award” (2018, 2021) and recipient of the Griffith University Business School Outstanding Alumnus Award (2012). As a Dale Carnegie Master Trainer, Greg is certified to deliver globally across all leadership, communication, sales, and presentation programs, including Leadership Training for Results. He has written several books, including three best-sellers — Japan Business Mastery, Japan Sales Mastery, and Japan Presentations Mastery — along with Japan Leadership Mastery and How to Stop Wasting Money on Training. His works have been translated into Japanese, including Za Eigyō (ザ営業), Purezen no Tatsujin (プレゼンの達人), Torēningu de Okane o Muda ni Suru no wa Yamemashō (トレーニングでお金を無駄にするのはやめましょう), and Gendaiban “Hito o Ugokasu” Rīdā (現代版「人を動かす」リーダー). Greg also publishes daily business insights on LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter, and hosts six weekly podcasts. On YouTube, he produces The Cutting Edge Japan Business Show, Japan Business Mastery, and Japan's Top Business Interviews, which
AWS says it's fixed the problem that's disrupted many of the world's biggest websites. Sean Farrington's joined by the former cyber chief of the UK Government to get his take on the bigger picture. Also, Chancellor Rachel Reeves says she can save businesses £6bn per year before the end of this Parliament. As she announces measures aimed at reducing the form filling process for SMEs, we delve into what that means. And as British Wool reports its strongest sales in more than a decade, its chief executive will be telling us why.
The Artificial Intelligence Collaboration Centre (AICC) has launched Northern Ireland's first Responsible AI Hub - a groundbreaking online resource designed to help businesses, policymakers and individuals understand, adopt and apply Artificial Intelligence (AI) responsibly. Developed by the AICC - a collaborative initiative led by Ulster University in partnership with Queen's University Belfast - and spearheaded by Tadhg Hickey, Head of AI and Digital Ethics Policy, the Hub is built on one simple principle: responsible AI is everyone's responsibility. Whether you're completely new to AI or already developing and deploying AI solutions, the Hub provides practical, accessible tools and guidance to help users 'be good with AI'. Supported by Invest Northern Ireland and the Department for the Economy, the Responsible AI Hub brings together clear guidance, ethical frameworks, and practical governance tools, all designed to make responsible AI accessible to everyone. By helping organisations integrate good governance from the outset, the Hub enables faster, safer innovation and reduces the risk of costly retrofits or regulatory breaches later on. From business leaders and policymakers to developers, researchers and the general public, the Hub offers step-by-step support to help people understand what responsible AI means and how to put it into practice. Among the resources are a Data Fact Sheet Developer, Harm Assessments, an Idea Testing Tool, an AI Policy Builder, and a suite of Project Governance Tools, all created by AICC's in-house team of applied researchers and data scientists. These tools are already being embedded across SME collaborations to promote responsible and transparent AI development in Northern Ireland. Tadhg Hickey, Head of AI and Digital Ethics Policy at AICC, said: "We built the Responsible AI Hub because AI shouldn't feel out of reach. Whether you're curious about what responsible AI means or designing complex AI solutions, this Hub gives you the confidence, language and tools to make good choices. Responsible AI isn't just for data scientists - it's for everyone. The more people who understand and apply these principles, the more we can build trust and unlock AI's potential for good." As AI continues to transform industries and daily life, the Responsible AI Hub aims to make ethics and accountability part of Northern Ireland's innovation DNA, ensuring technology serves people - not the other way around. David Crozier CBE, Director of the AICC, added: "The Responsible AI Hub is about building a culture where innovation and integrity go hand in hand. It empowers businesses, individuals, and communities to be confident and capable with AI, strengthening Northern Ireland's position as a global leader in trusted, human-centred innovation. This Hub will help local businesses adopt AI not only quickly, but responsibly and productively." Anne Beggs, Chief Commercial Officer at Invest Northern Ireland, said: "The development of AICC's Responsible AI Hub directly supports our business strategy, which prioritises accelerating innovation and fostering collaboration as part of our role to support City and Growth Deals project delivery. It will help Northern Ireland's businesses and innovators embrace AI in ways that are not only productive and competitive, but also safe, inclusive and ethical. By equipping organisations with the tools to innovate with integrity, we are laying the foundations for a world-class, responsible digital economy." Since its establishment, the AICC has rapidly become the driving force behind responsible AI adoption in Northern Ireland. In just over a year, it has assembled a team of 19 experts across Belfast and Derry~Londonderry, engaged more than 100 SMEs through its flagship Transformer Programme, supported 260 postgraduate scholars and delivered AI training to over 360 professionals. With its remit now extended to 2029, the AICC is set to expand its impact - accelerating innovation, strengt...
THE Presentations Japan Series by Dale Carnegie Training Tokyo, Japan
Before you build slides, build a picture of the people in the seats. If you don't know who's in the room, you're guessing—and guesswork kills relevance. This practical, answer-centric guide shows how to identify audience composition (knowledge, expertise, experience), surface needs and biases, and adjust both your content and delivery—before and during your talk. It's tuned for post-pandemic business norms in Japan and across APAC, with comparisons to the US and Europe, and it's written for executives, sales leaders, and professionals who present weekly. How do I discover who will actually be in the room—before I present? Ask organisers for attendee profiles, then verify at the venue by greeting people and scanning badges/cards. In Japan, meishi exchange makes it easy to capture titles, seniority, and company context; in the US/EU, check lanyards and pre-event apps. Arrive early: name badges are often laid out, giving you company mix and industry spread. Chat with early arrivals to learn why they came—training need, benchmarking curiosity, or vendor evaluation—and note patterns by sector (SME vs. multinational), role (IC vs. executive), and region (Tokyo vs. Kansai vs. remote APAC). Use this recon to sharpen examples and adjust your opening. Do now: Arrive 30–40 minutes early; greet at the door; log role, industry, and motivation on a notecard; tweak the first three minutes accordingly. What levels of knowledge, expertise, and experience should I design for? Assume a mixed room with a few veterans—design for breadth, then layer optional depth. Split your content into “must-know” principles (for novices) and “drill-down” modules (for experts). In technical audiences (e.g., pharma R&D), lab-theory experience differs sharply from front-line sales or operations in manufacturing or retail; in 2025 hybrid teams, you'll often have both. Provide clear signposts: “advanced aside,” “field example,” “Japan vs. US comparison.” For multinationals (Toyota, Rakuten, Hitachi) you can cite regional rollouts; for startups/SMEs, emphasise low-cost experiments and time-to-impact. Do now: Build slides with optional “depth” appendices; announce when you're switching gears so novices aren't lost and pros aren't bored. How do I surface biases, needs, and wants fast—without a formal survey? Work the room: short pre-talk chats expose objections, hopes, and hot buttons. Ask, “What brought you today?” and “What would make this 60 minutes valuable?” Capture signals such as scepticism (“We tried this in 2023; didn't stick”), urgency (“Quarter-end target”), or constraints (compliance, budget cycle, labour rules). For Japan's consensus-driven cultures, anticipate risk-aversion; in US startups, expect speed bias. Use these inputs to tune case studies and pre-empt tough questions. In Q&A, address stated and unstated needs—what they need to do next week, not just theory. Do now: Before you start, collect 3 needs, 3 wants, and 3 worries; weave them into your transitions and your close. How do I tailor on the fly if my planned angle misses the mark? Pivot examples, not your entire structure: keep the skeleton, swap the meat. If your personal-branding case assumes FAANG-scale resources but the room is mostly SMEs, replace big-company stories with compact, scrappy plays (part-time champions, Canva-level assets, LinkedIn cadence). Call the audible: “Given today's mix, I'll show the SME path first; enterprise folks, I've got a parallel track in the appendix.” The credibility boost is immediate. Avoid the “corporate propaganda” trap—audiences in 2025 are ruthless about relevance and authenticity. Do now: Prepare two versions of each example (enterprise vs. SME; Japan vs. US) and a one-line “pivot declaration” you can say aloud to reset expectations. What causes audiences to tune out in 2025—and how do I prevent it? Mismatch of complexity, thin takeaways, and slide-centric delivery send people to their phones. Overly high-level ideas with no “Monday morning” actions feel like fluff; hyper-jargon without scaffolding feels exclusionary. Hybrid fatigue persists post-pandemic—attention spans are shorter, and AI tools raise the bar for specificity (“Show me the checklist, not the vibe”). Combat this with concrete metrics, timelines, and contrasts (Japan vs. US adoption curves; consumer vs. B2B sales cycles). Keep slides lean; make listening valuable by telling the room why their world changes if they act. Do now: Promise three actionable takeaways in minute one—and deliver a one-page recap at the end. What is the prep workflow that consistently works? Plan the talk, not just the deck: rehearse, record, and review before you're live. Use a phone to record a full run-through; check pace, jargon, and clarity. Replace “nice to know” slides with one story per insight; trim to time. Build a closing action list (for leaders, sales, and ops). As of 2025, layer AI-retrieval signals into your outline—clear headings phrased like search queries (“How do I…?”, “What's the best way to…?”) and time markers (“in 2025,” “post-pandemic Japan”). This makes your messages more discoverable in internal portals and external search. Do now: Final checklist—headlines as questions, bold first sentence answers, optional deep-dives, two alternate examples, 60-second closing actions. Conclusion Knowing your audience is the difference between a speech that lands and one that launders time. Build intelligence before the first slide, validate it on the door, and keep tuning as you go. Rehearse, record, and review. Then close with a clear, useful action list leaders can execute this week. About the Author Dr. Greg Story, Ph.D. in Japanese Decision-Making, is President of Dale Carnegie Tokyo Training and Adjunct Professor at Griffith University. He's a two-time winner of the Dale Carnegie “One Carnegie Award” (2018, 2021) and the Griffith University Business School Outstanding Alumnus (2012). A Dale Carnegie Master Trainer, he delivers globally across leadership, communication, sales, and presentation programs, including Leadership Training for Results. He's authored best-sellers Japan Business Mastery, Japan Sales Mastery, and Japan Presentations Mastery, plus Japan Leadership Mastery and How to Stop Wasting Money on Training. Japanese editions include ザ営業, プレゼンの達人, トレーニングでお金を無駄にするのはやめましょう, and 現代版「人を動かす」リーダー.
In this episode, we sit down with Dennis Velasco, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Prosperna, an online marketing and e-commerce platform designed to empower small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and real estate professionals in the Philippines. Dennis shares his journey from growing up as an Asian-American in Texas to discovering entrepreneurship through his family's businesses. He recalls his rise in Silicon Valley with companies like Salesforce, Cornerstone OnDemand, and Xero, and how launching a small business during the 2008 financial crisis shaped his entrepreneurial mindset. Ultimately, Dennis reveals what inspired him to return to the Philippines to found Prosperna, empowering SMEs to embrace e-commerce and digital growth.Links/Sponsors:OneCFO: https://www.onecfoph.co/Hustleshare is powered by Podmachine Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Human resources (HR) administrative overload is a hidden drain on productivity and profits for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) across Ireland. That is according to The Irish SME HR Report 2025, released today by Ireland's leading HR platform provider, HRLocker, which surveyed 400 SMEs in August. The findings reveal that organisations are, on average, spending nine hours per week - equivalent to 58.5 days each year - on manual HR administration tasks. Widespread inefficiencies and frustration The report indicates that this significant time, budget and engagement sink, which equates to 22% of a full-time employee's work week, speaks to widespread inefficiencies. Findings suggest that nearly half (48%) of SMEs spend even more than the average nine hours on manual tasks, with some losing over 16 hours weekly. Based on a 40-hour work week at the national average rate of €51,000, these companies are incurring costs exceeding €22,000 per year. Further, a concerning three-quarters (73%) of respondents frequently enter the same employee data multiple times, indicating a clear waste of effort due to duplication. Organisations across all industries report duplication rates at 70% or above, signifying the prevalence of the issue. However, the problem is particularly pronounced in the Retail & Wholesale sector, where 83% report issues with duplicated efforts. The research also reveals admin drag as a major source of frustration for HR professionals, with 85% agreeing that time spent on manual processing is not an effective use of their time. The findings suggest that the disproportionate time spent on low-value tasks is taking away from more strategic, people-centred initiatives. In fact, most feel they lack the time required to build a positive company culture (84%) and the opportunity to ensure a good employee experience (72%). Smaller SMEs (20-49 employees) spend slightly more time on manual processing, averaging 9.3 hours per week, compared to those with 50-99 employees (8.9 hours) and 100-249 employees (8.8 hours). Still, the relatively equal distribution across SME sizes shows that manual processing hours do not scale in line with the number of employees, implying that a certain level of admin is inherent to all operations. However, as the report indicates, larger companies are more likely to have efficient processes and specialised tools in place that cut down excessive manual work. A clear need for better tools and processes The findings underscore a critical need for better tools and streamlined processes to alleviate this administrative burden. The data indicates that companies utilising fully fit-for-purpose HR information systems (HRIS) are significantly less likely to experience data duplication (69%) than those mainly using manual processes or a mix of generic tools (75%), demonstrating the tangible benefits of investing in appropriate technology. "Our research clearly exposes a silent, yet significant, challenge facing Irish SME owners and leaders in their HR operations," says Crystel Robbins Rynne, CEO of HRLocker. "Despite advancements in technology, valuable time and resources are being diverted to repetitive, low-value administrative tasks, such as updating employee records, attendance tracking, and leave management. This not only impacts the bottom line but also prevents HR teams from focusing on strategic initiatives that drive employee engagement, bolster talent attraction and retention, and boost business growth." HRLocker's The Irish SME HR Report 2025 provides crucial insights for SME owners and leaders in Ireland looking to reclaim lost time, reduce unnecessary costs, and empower their HR teams to contribute more strategically to business success. It is available to download from: https://www.hrlocker.com/downloads/irish-sme-hr-report-2025 See more stories here.
The Western Development Commission's (WDC) Western Investment Fund (WIF) has reached a major milestone, having now invested €100 million across more than 350 SMEs, social enterprises, community projects and strategic regional initiatives throughout the Western Region. The WIF is unique in Ireland as an evergreen investment fund, where all returns are reinvested into new start-ups and scale-ups. Since its establishment, the fund has more than tripled in size, and this €100 million milestone represents the fourth full revolution of the original exchequer funding received. To date, WIF investment has leveraged over €1 billion in additional public and private capital, a tenfold multiplier effect that has significantly strengthened the enterprise landscape of the West. WIF portfolio companies and projects now employ more than 5,000 people directly and indirectly, have generated over €5 billion in revenues, half of which are exports. Supported companies have collectively invested €650 million in R&D, underscoring the growing innovation capacity of the region. The WIF is a multi-faceted fund, providing both venture capital to high-potential SMEs, and social finance to social enterprises and community-led development projects that support inclusive regional growth. Representative investments include: Innovative SMEs such as Aerogen, whose technology has treated 75 million patients worldwide and developed the world's first inhaled vaccine. Altocloud which was acquired by Genesys and now have their global headquarters for Generative AI Galway. Social enterprises, including Lough Ree Access for All, based in Roscommon, provide employment and recreational opportunities for people with disabilities. Community projects such as enterprise centres, creative hubs, and renewable energy co-operatives, which strengthen local economies and social infrastructure. Burrishole Community Centre in Mayo the first new community centre to be developed in the region in the past decade, community centres are key focal points for communities offering range of services. Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht Dara Calleary TD, welcomed the announcement, saying: "The WIF has been providing equity finance and loans to businesses, communities, social enterprises, strategic initiatives, and the creative industry to enable them to establish themselves and grow in the Western Region for over 25 years. It has become a vital engine for sustainable economic development in the West and is an example of what regionally focused investment can achieve. It has helped hundreds of businesses and community projects from Donegal to Clare, and this €100 million milestone demonstrates the real and lasting impact of the Fund". Gillian Buckley, Head of Investment at the WDC, added: "The Western Investment Fund has been a cornerstone investor for the West - providing long-term, patient capital for businesses and communities that drive regional growth. What makes the fund truly distinctive is its circular nature: every euro returned is reinvested into the next generation of entrepreneurs, innovators, and community leaders. The WIF has not only supported the creation of jobs and enterprises, but has also helped shape a vibrant and sustainable regional economy and enterprise ecosystem." The WIF continues to play a pivotal role in developing the enterprise and innovation ecosystem in the Western Region, working with state agencies, local authorities, and private investors to ensure the region remains a dynamic and competitive contributor to Ireland's national economy. Allan Mulrooney, CEO of Western Development Commission, said, "Our new strategy, Unlocking Potential, Driving Change, marks an ambitious next chapter for the Investment Fund. Over the next five years, we will invest an additional €35 million across 100 projects, driving innovation, sustainability, and competitiveness across the Western Region. Our focus is on building a stronger, more resilient r...
Has AI created a spark for community? On today's episode, we'll explore three reasons for this surge of communities in practice around AI.
You can't build great products on gut instinct, and yet, according to IBM's global study of 1,000 enterprises, 77% of organisations using generative AI aren't seeing any financial benefit. In this episode on The Product Experience podcast, Lily Smith sits down with Matthew Certner, Digital Product Engineering and Design Partner at IBM, to unpack the four key traits that drive ROI in AI-powered product teams: flexibility, incremental and targeted delivery, data-led decisions, and cross-functional collaboration. Recorded live at the Industry conference, this conversation offers practical lessons for any product leader navigating the hype and reality of AI adoption. Chapters00:00 – The danger of building on gut instinct00:37 – IBM's global study on generative and agentic AI adoption01:00 – Meet Matthew Certner, Digital Product Engineering Partner at IBM02:00 – Why most enterprises aren't realising ROI from AI04:50 – What the top-performing 20% of companies do differently05:10 – The four key behaviours driving success07:00 – Flexibility: adapting quickly to market feedback08:10 – Incremental and targeted delivery — the “golden thread” principle10:30 – Data-led decision-making versus the HIPPO effect11:45 – Cross-functional collaboration and robust adoption13:10 – Behavioural factors that make or break AI adoption14:20 – Inside IBM's “value orchestration” framework15:10 – The Golden Thread in practice — a sticky-note story from Dallas17:10 – Transparency and traceability in product development18:00 – How IBM helps teams that aren't seeing value from AI21:00 – The paradox of moving too fast or too slow with AI24:00 – Making the Golden Thread a living document25:20 – Inside IBM Garage: speed of a startup, scale of an enterprise27:40 – Why productivity savings, not hype, drive AI ROI29:00 – How large organisations structure innovation teams30:00 – The future: 800 million new products by 202631:00 – Why 95% will fail — and what the 5% will get right33:10 – Final reflections: value, purpose and the human elementFeatured Links: Follow Matthew on LinkedIn | IBM Garage | Industry Conference Cleveland 2025 recap at Mind The ProductWe want to hear from you! Help make The Product Experience podcast even better. Share your feedback in a quick form: Share your thoughts here! It takes 2 minutes, and your input will help shape future episodes.
Small and medium-sized enterprises in Canada may be dangerously underestimating their exposure to cyber risk, leaving many without adequate defences or insurance coverage, according to a new survey commissioned by the Insurance Bureau of Canada, or the IBC. In this episode, host Amanda Glassner is joined by Heather Engel, Managing Partner at Strategic Cyber Partners, to discuss. To learn more about today's stories, visit https://cybercrimewire.com • For more on cybersecurity, visit us at https://cybersecurityventures.com.
In part 2 of this conversation with the City of Bursa on The Intelligent Community, ICF Co-Founder Lou Zacharilla has a conversation with Demet Sinmez, Smart Urbanization Branch Manager, Bursa Metropolitan Municipality. The Ottoman Empire's first capital city has transformed itself into a forward-looking community of three million while maintaining its cultural roots and skill at bringing together groups for collaboration. Bursa is a UNESCO Heritage site where one can still see the Ottoman's urban planning. Our conversation with Demet Sinmez, Head of the Smart Urbanism branch of the metropolitan municipality ranges from Bursa's focus on SMEs, education to one of its great quality of life treasures: its annual gastronomy festival. Bursa is proud of its historic achievement in the ICF program and is a case study of an historic, proud city balancing history, humanity and the need to keep pace with the economic development requirements of the Digital Age. Demet Sinmez graduated from Uludağ University in 1997 with a bachelor's degree in Electrical and Electronics Engineering. She began her professional career in the private sector, specializing in the Internet of Things (IoT) and telecommunications systems for approximately 12 years. In 2009, she joined Bursa Metropolitan Municipality, where she served as an IoT and software development specialist across various departments. During this period, she played an active role in critical infrastructure and software projects aimed at driving citywide digital transformation. For the past year, she has been serving as the Head of the Smart Urbanism Branch, leading teams that develop strategic projects supporting urban innovation ecosystems, with a focus on citywide data analytics, communication networks, sustainable urban solutions, and smart city technologies.
Flow production means your manufacturing line rarely, if ever, stops. Materials enter at one end and finished products come out the other in a continuous stream. This continuous production method keeps operations moving fast while cutting waste and maintaining quality. You can learn more in this episode or read about it on our blog For more information about MRPeasy software, visit our website: mrpeasy.com
Welcome to Building Brand You™, the podcast that helps you accelerate your success by unlocking your greatest asset – you. KEY TAKEAWAYS In Latin, the word confidence means trust. The quality of internal dialogue will determine the quality of the dialogue with every external stakeholder in your life. Let fear be your counsel and not your jailer. Life is lived forward and understood backwards. “Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It's our light, not our darkness that frightens us.” Marianne Williamson, RESOURCES MENTIONED: Self Esteem & Peak Performance by Jack Canfield - https://www.amazon.com/Self-Esteem-Peak-Performance-Canfield/dp/1933328010 A Return to Love: Reflections on the Principles of "A Course in Miracles" by Marianne Williamson - https://www.amazon.com/Return-Love-Reflections-Principles-Miracles/dp/0060927488 What Got You Here Won't Get You There: How Successful People Become Even More Successful by Marshall Goldsmith - https://www.amazon.com/What-Got-Here-Wont-There/dp/0739342231 60 Life-Changing Lessons in 60 Weeks by Peter Milligan - https://www.sixtylessons.com/ ABOUT OUR GUEST: Peter is an inspirational speaker and business psychologist with 30 years' experience. He helps business leaders and teams to have less stress, more joy and greater productivity. Originally an IT professional, Peter retrained in psychology and joined the management team of a leading Australian HR consulting firm. After moving to the UK in 2000, he became a director of Europe's largest executive coaching firm before establishing his own business in 2005. Peter's clients have ranged from professional services firms, SMEs and family businesses to larger organisations including Australia Post, BP, Credit Suisse, Kerry Foods, Novartis, Oxford University, Rolls-Royce, and Vodafone. CONNECT WITH PETER MILLIGAN: Linkedin - www.linkedIn.com/in/petermilligan Website - https://www.newgenerationleaders.com/ Email - peter.milligan@newgenleaders.com Website - https://www.sixtylessons.com/Twitter - https://twitter.com/PeterMilligan Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/peter.milligan.777 ABOUT KYM HAMER: Kym is an international leadership and personal branding thought leader, an executive coach, and a programme design and facilitation practitioner. She is also the creator of Building Brand You™ - a methodology helping organisations, teams, and individuals to build reputation, presence, and gravitas. Kym works with leaders - both individually and in organisational development initiatives - to inspire and engage thinking styles and behaviour that achieve results and leave legacy. In 2020, just one year after launching her business, she was nominated by Thinkers360 as one of the Top 100 Women B2B Leadership influencers and is currently in the Top 15 Personal Branding and Top 10 Marketing Influencers in the world. For 5 years running Kym has also been one of Thinkers360's Top 10 Thought Leaders on Entrepreneurship and in 2023, 2024 and 2025, was recognised as one of their Top Voices globally. She has been part of Homeward Bound Projects faculty since 2020, a global initiative reaching 1.8 billion people, equipping women and non-binary people with a STEMM background to lead conversations for a sustainable future. She is currently the Program Design and Faculty Lead for the 10th on-line cohort and was part of the on-board faculty who voyaged to Antarctica in 2023 and 2025, to deliver the initiative's immersive component. In between all of these things, you'll find her curled up in a corner with her nose in a book. Building Brand You™: JOIN the BBY Facebook Group - https://www.facebook.com/groups/buildingbrandyou SUBSCRIBE to the BBY Podcast on: (Apple) - https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/building-brand-you/id1567407273 (Spotify) - https://open.spotify.com/show/4Ho26pAQ5uJ9h0dGNicCIq CONNECT WITH KYM HAMER: LinkedIn - https://linkedin.com/in/kymhamer/ Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/kymhamerartemis/ TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@kymhamer Thinkers360 - https://bit.ly/thinkers360-kymhamer-BBY Find out about BBY Coaching - https://calendly.com/kymhamer/bbychat/ HOSTED BY: Kym Hamer DISCLAIMER: The views, information, or opinions expressed during the Building Brand You™ podcast series are solely those of the individuals involved. They do not necessarily represent any other entities, agencies, organisations, or companies. Building Brand You™ is not responsible and does not verify the accuracy of any of the information in the podcast available for listening on this site. The primary purpose of this podcast is to educate and inform. This podcast does not constitute legal advice or services
‘เคยคุยกันหลายครั้งในฐานะผู้พลิกเกมดุสิตธานี แต่วันนี้เธอกลับมาในบทบาทใหม่ รัฐมนตรีว่าการกระทรวงพาณิชย์' ครั้งแรกกับการเปิดใจของ ศุภจี สุธรรมพันธุ์ หนึ่งในหัวหอกทีมเศรษฐกิจรัฐบาลอนุทิน ที่ถูกจับตามองมากที่สุด แต่ในครั้งนี้เธอต้องตอบคำถามยากกว่าที่เคย ไทยจะวางหมากการค้ากับโลกอย่างไร? รับมือ “ภาษีทรัมป์” และทุนจีนแบบไหน? ตลาดใหม่ของไทยควรเปิดตรงไหนก่อน? SMEs ไทยจะยกระดับจากจุดไหน? และสุดท้ายจะเดินหน้าบนเส้นทางการเมืองต่อหรือไม่? บทสนทนาพิเศษกับ “พี่แต๋ม ซูเปอร์จี” หญิงแกร่งที่ต้องบริหารเศรษฐกิจ ท่ามกลางโลกที่เปลี่ยนเร็วที่สุดในรอบทศวรรษ ติดตามได้ใน The Secret Sauce EP. นี้
This episode explores common time sinks in technical writing and practical solutions to streamline documentation workflows, with a focus on automation and AI tools. Key topics covered Common time sinks identified: Chasing reviewers and SMEs for feedback Constantly shifting priorities and expectations Version control and format conversions (especially markdown/Word) Unproductive meetings Documenting features too early (before testing is complete) Tracking requests and managing follow-ups Time zone coordination challenges Working with poor or incomplete requirements Solutions and strategies: Content operations approach - Strategic framework examining people, processes, and technology in content production Four solution categories: Remove bottlenecks from processes Reduce friction for collaborators Delegate and spread workload Automate repetitive manual tasks AI and Intelligent Agents - Moving beyond traditional automation to tools that can adapt and make decisions Implementation tips: Focus on high-impact, repetitive tasks first Track metrics to measure real-world impact Use phased rollout approach Maintain human oversight and accountability Remember: augment, don't replace Upcoming events TCUK Conference (Nov 24-25) - Presentation on automation in technical writing New course launch: "Managing and Mastering Documentation Projects with AI" (pilot: Nov 3-4) About Cherryleaf Cherryleaf is a technical writing services and training company. Cherryleaf Cherryleaf Newsletter
เปิดพอดแคสต์เอพิโสดนี้ใน YouTube เพื่อประสบการณ์การรับชมที่ดีที่สุด ‘เคยคุยกันหลายครั้งในฐานะผู้พลิกเกมดุสิตธานี แต่วันนี้เธอกลับมาในบทบาทใหม่ รัฐมนตรีว่าการกระทรวงพาณิชย์' ครั้งแรกกับการเปิดใจของ ศุภจี สุธรรมพันธุ์ หนึ่งในหัวหอกทีมเศรษฐกิจรัฐบาลอนุทิน ที่ถูกจับตามองมากที่สุด แต่ในครั้งนี้เธอต้องตอบคำถามยากกว่าที่เคย ไทยจะวางหมากการค้ากับโลกอย่างไร? รับมือ “ภาษีทรัมป์” และทุนจีนแบบไหน? ตลาดใหม่ของไทยควรเปิดตรงไหนก่อน? SMEs ไทยจะยกระดับจากจุดไหน? และสุดท้ายจะเดินหน้าบนเส้นทางการเมืองต่อหรือไม่? บทสนทนาพิเศษกับ “พี่แต๋ม ซูเปอร์จี” หญิงแกร่งที่ต้องบริหารเศรษฐกิจ ท่ามกลางโลกที่เปลี่ยนเร็วที่สุดในรอบทศวรรษ ติดตามได้ใน The Secret Sauce EP. นี้
If you work across time zones, borders, and cultures, this is the show for you. This is your host Leonardo, welcome to the international business podcast. In this episode, Leonardo unpacks the “double helix” of risk and opportunity that defines international business for 2025: from the fragmentation of globalization and the unstoppable rise of AI, to the centrality of sustainability, talent shifts, and geopolitical turbulence. Joined by expert guests Tom Van der Heyden, Edmundo Echauri Marroquin, and Emmanuel Daniel, we break down actionable strategies for leaders navigating a complex global landscape.--------Join Leonardo on Patreon for Podcast Archive and Bonus episodes (100+ episodes). --------What you'll learn:Why global companies are moving from cost optimization to resilience and agility in their supply chains.How emerging technologies and AI are transforming operations, from the boardroom to the factory floor.What new roles sustainability and ESG are playing in global competitiveness.How demographic change and upskilling are reshaping the labor market worldwide.Practical strategies for thriving amid macro volatility, new trade rules, and policy uncertainty. And more.Special Guests:Tom Van der Heyden is the co-founder and CEO of S³ Group, a European consultancy renowned for its expertise in international sourcing, supply chain strategy, and business development across Asia, Europe, and emerging markets. With a career spanning over 25 years, Tom is recognized for building resilient, adaptable supply chains and operational models for SMEs and multinationals alike. His practical experience bridges East and West—advising clients on supplier development, compliance, risk diversification, and the deep nuances of entering new markets. Tom is a regular lecturer at leading business schools, an intercultural negotiation expert, and a trusted partner for companies seeking to thrive in complex, fragmented global landscapes.Dr. Edmundo Echauri Marroquin is the CEO of PROISSA and a highly regarded leader in the fields of traumatology and orthopedic surgery. Based in Mexico, he brings over two decades of hands-on clinical expertise and health sector management. Edmundo has built a reputation for advancing medical technology adoption, fostering cross-border collaborations, and steering PROISSA into a model for international best practices and innovation in healthcare delivery. His work spans direct patient care, leadership at major medical congresses, and implementing global sourcing strategies for high-quality medical devices. He embodies the intersection of clinical excellence and international healthcare business.Emmanuel Daniel is a globally respected thought leader on geopolitics, the future of finance, and technology's impact on society. He is the founder of TAB Global and The Asian Banker, platforms connecting C-suite leaders and policymakers worldwide. Listed as a top 10 fintech influencer, Emmanuel is the author of “The Great Transition,” exploring the personalization of finance and seismic changes driven by blockchain, cryptocurrencies, and AI. With a background in law and economics, and business connections in over 130 countries, Emmanuel is sought after as an advisor, boardroom mentor, keynote speaker, and commentator on BBC, CNBC, and Bloomberg. He brings unmatched, real-world insights on how global trends are rewriting the rules for leaders and innovators.If you work across time zones, borders, and cultures, come on the show to share your story. Connect with the host Leonardo Marra.
What happens when you put a mic in front of HR leaders and ask them for their unfiltered takes on AI?In this episode, Daniel and Stephen recap their trip to HR Tech — where they recorded 12 quick-hit “AI Confessions” from folks they met on the conference room floor. From agentic workflows and custom GPT chaos to the real blockers slowing down AI adoption, this one's packed with candid insights from the front lines.You'll hear what HR leaders from companies like Lumen, Articulate, and Airbnb.---- Sponsor Links:
Cjay Billones is Chief Operating Officer at Secuna. Christian Burgos is Chief Technology Officer at Secuna. Secuna is the biggest, cost-effective, and most trusted cybersecurity testing platform in the Philippines helping startups and SMEs by connecting them to the most advanced and highly-vetted cybersecurity professionals in the world to simulate cyber-attacks and find security flaws that real-world malicious hackers can exploit and leverage to gain access to their IT system. Since its inception in 2017, Secuna has committed themselves in helping companies, organizations, and even the government secure their digital assets.This episode is recorded live at Yspaces Co-Working and Event Space in BGC, Taguig. Yspaces is the official co-working and event space partner of Start Up Podcast PH.In this episode | 01:12 Ano ang Secuna? | 09:43 What problem is being solved? | 27:17 What solution is being provided? | 43:47 What are stories behind the startup? | 01:09:53 What is the vision? | 01:16:19 How can listeners find more information?SECUNA | Website: https://secuna.io | Facebook: https://facebook.com/secuna.ioYSPACES | Website: https://knowyourspaceph.com | Facebook: https://facebook.com/yspacesphTHIS EPISODE IS CO-PRODUCED BY:Yspaces: https://knowyourspaceph.comApeiron: https://apeirongrp.comTwala: https://twala.ioSymph: https://symph.coSecuna: https://secuna.ioRed Circle Global: https://redcircleglobal.comMaroonStudios: https://maroonstudios.comAIMHI: https://aimhi.aiCHECK OUT OUR PARTNERS:Ask Lex PH Academy: https://asklexph.com (5% discount on e-learning courses! Code: ALPHAXSUP)Argum AI: http://argum.aiPIXEL by Eplayment: https://pixel.eplayment.co/auth/sign-up?r=PIXELXSUP1 (Sign up using Code: PIXELXSUP1)School of Profits: https://schoolofprofits.academyFounders Launchpad: https://founderslaunchpad.vcHier Business Solutions: https://hierpayroll.comAgile Data Solutions (Hustle PH): https://agiledatasolutions.techSmile Checks: https://getsmilechecks.comCloudCFO: https://cloudcfo.ph (Free financial assessment, process onboarding, and 6-month QuickBooks subscription! Mention: Start Up Podcast PH)Cloverly: https://cloverly.techBuddyBetes: https://buddybetes.comHKB Digital Services: https://contakt-ph.com (10% discount on RFID Business Cards! Code: CONTAKTXSUP)Hyperstacks: https://hyperstacksinc.comOneCFO: https://onecfoph.co (10% discount on CFO services! Code: ONECFOXSUP)UNAWA: https://unawa.asiaSkoolTek: https://skooltek.coBetter Support: https://bettersupport.io (Referral fee for anyone who can bring in new BPO clients!)Britana: https://britanaerp.comWunderbrand: https://wunderbrand.comEastPoint Business Outsourcing Services: https://facebook.com/eastpointoutsourcingDVCode Technologies Inc: https://dvcode.techNutriCoach: https://nutricoach.comUplift Code Camp: https://upliftcodecamp.com (5% discount on bootcamps and courses! Code: UPLIFTSTARTUPPH)START UP PODCAST PHYouTube: https://youtube.com/startuppodcastphSpotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6BObuPvMfoZzdlJeb1XXVaApple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/start-up-podcast/id1576462394Facebook: https://facebook.com/startuppodcastphPatreon: https://patreon.com/StartUpPodcastPHPIXEL: https://pixel.eplayment.co/dl/startuppodcastphWebsite: https://phstartup.onlineThis episode is edited by the team at: https://tasharivera.com
Francis Nantha, IFN Investor Editor, interviews Rex Fong, Chief Investment Officer, VCorp Capital on the firm's first Shariah compliant fund offering to help SMEs bridge financing gaps
Today's episode explores the potential of part-time entrepreneurship for educators. This seems to be something many of you have been thinking about, but don't know where to begin. I'll share my thoughts around this topic, the importance of starting small, identifying a niche, and building a community. I'll share some real-life success stories and offer practical advice on diversifying income streams and avoiding common mistakes.
Christian Idiodi, Partner at Silicon Valley Product Group, and Co-author of the valuable product book Transformed, dismantles some of the most persistent myths in product leadership. Drawing from his global perspective and work across Africa's fast-emerging tech ecosystem, Christian makes the case for a new kind of leadership, one grounded in clarity, context, and radical trust.Chapters00:00 — The environment, not the people02:00 — Building product leadership in Africa06:00 — Stories of impact10:00 — What real leadership means14:00 — Managing minds, not hands19:00 — The “first team” mindset23:00 — Focus, not prioritisation25:00 — Scaling and the myth of process29:00 — AI and the redefinition of excellence35:00 — Creating space for practice40:00 — Product crits and leadership feedback41:30 — Inspire Africa ConferenceKey Takeaways— Better outcomes start with better environments. Leadership is about designing the conditions for people to do their best work — not managing their output.— Africa is building for Africa, by Africans. The Inspire Africa Conference is catalysing coaching, capital, and community to accelerate meaningful innovation.— Strategy defines focus. If prioritisation is hard, the strategy probably isn't real.— Leadership is a different sport. Managing people's minds, not hands, requires context, clarity, and trust — not control.— AI won't replace good leaders. But it might replace bad leadership. Judgment, product sense, and curiosity are the new differentiators.— Create practice space. Growth requires safety to make mistakes, experiment, and learn — at every level of the organisation.— Critique is culture. Teams that coach and critique together develop sharper thinking and stronger product judgment.Featured Links: Follow Christian on LinkedIn | Silicon Valley Product Group | Inspire Africa Our HostsLily Smith enjoys working as a consultant product manager with early-stage and growing startups and as a mentor to other product managers. She's currently Chief Product Officer at BBC Maestro, and has spent 13 years in the tech industry working with startups in the SaaS and mobile space. She's worked on a diverse range of products – leading the product teams through discovery, prototyping, testing and delivery. Lily also founded ProductTank Bristol and runs ProductCamp in Bristol and Bath. Randy Silver is a Leadership & Product Coach and Consultant. He gets teams unstuck, helping you to supercharge your results. Randy's held interim CPO and Leadership roles at scale-ups and SMEs, advised start-ups, and been Head of Product at HSBC and Sainsbury's. He participated in Silicon Valley Product Group's Coaching the Coaches forum, and speaks frequently at conferences and events. You can join one of communities he runs for CPOs (CPO Circles), Product Managers (Product In the {A}ether) and Product Coaches. He's the author of What Do We Do Now? A Product Manager's Guide to Strategy in the Time of COVID-19. A recovering music journalist and editor, Randy also launched Amazon's music stores in the US & UK.
What happens when a lawyer decides success isn't about climbing the ladder, but about creating freedom? Join Catherine as she talks with Mika Fukutomi, who traded her career at top-tier international law firms for entrepreneurship - and built an app to solve one of Japan's biggest business succession challenges: who will maintain the SMEs in Japan with aging leaders and no successors. If you are curious about how legal skills translate into unexpected entrepreneurial ventures then this is the episode for you. If you enjoyed this episode and it inspired you in some way, we'd love to hear about it and know your biggest takeaway. Head over to Apple Podcasts to leave a review and we'd love it if you would leave us a message here!In this episode you'll hear:How Mika moved from private practice to in-house to business roles to entrepreneurship without a dramatic leap (and why that matters)Vibe coding for lawyers - The surprising truth about how anyone can build an app using AI, even without coding knowledgeWhy critical thinking remains invaluable outside traditional practice, and how Mika uses it as her super powerRedefining success on your own terms About MikaMika Fukutomi is an investor, educator, and consultant specializing in Japan's private markets. Blending her legal background with an entrepreneurial spirit, she recently launched Akamira.ai, a platform designed to bring transparency to Japan's often-hidden SME sector. As Managing Partner of INV Japan, she pioneers new ways for global investors and entrepreneurs to engage with Japan's business ecosystem.Before founding her investment and advisory businesses, Mika trained and practiced law at Clifford Chance and White & Case, and qualified as a Solicitor of England & Wales. She later held senior leadership positions at Deutsche Bank and MetLife, serving as Chief of Staff to the CEO and Corporate Secretary, where she gained deep experience in governance and corporate leadership.With decades of combined experience in law, investment banking, and entrepreneurship, Mika's career reflects how a legal foundation can serve as a powerful springboard into new industries. Her expertise spans angel investing, private equity, real estate, SME M&A, and corporate governance. She is also a graduate of the Board Director Training Institute (BDTI), underscoring her commitment to governance excellence.Mika's passion lies in helping others pursue their purpose. Through her work at INV Japan and her educational initiatives, she shows how building on a legal background can lead to unexpected and fulfilling career pathways.Mika loves being in nature with her dog and planning trips to meet up with her son and his girlfriend.Connect with MikaLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikafukutomi/ LinksAkamira App: https://akamira.ai/ Connect with Catherine LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/oconnellcatherine/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lawyeronair
Send us a textIn this episode of The AI Advantage, Matt Brown is joined by Ben Foster, CEO of SEO Works, to unpack the real impact of artificial intelligence on digital marketing. With more than 15 years of experience helping ambitious SMEs and leading brands grow online, Ben brings a seasoned perspective to one of the hottest debates in business today: how much of search engine optimization and pay-per-click advertising is truly being transformed by AI, and how much is just hype.Together, Matt and Ben explore how AI has quietly powered pay-per-click campaigns for years, why large language models like ChatGPT and Perplexity are changing search habits without replacing Google, and what credibility signals businesses should be building across platforms such as YouTube, LinkedIn, podcasts, and PR.Support the show
I wanted this conversation to do two things at once. First, ground the hype in real practice. Second, show how a small country can punch well above its weight by connecting industry, academia, and government with purpose. With Chantelle Kiernan from IDA Ireland and Stephen Flannagan from Eli Lilly and Company, we explored what digital transformation really looks like on the factory floor in Ireland, why talent is the engine behind it, and how cross-sector collaboration is turning ideas into measurable outcomes. Ireland's manufacturing base employs hundreds of thousands and fuels exports, yet what stands out is the shared mindset. The shift toward Industry 5.0 puts people at the center while using digital, disruptive, and sustainable technologies to rethink production. Eli Lilly's experience shows how a digital-first culture changes everything. New sites start paperless by default. Established plants raise their game through micro-learning, data-driven problem solving, and champions who model the behavior. The message is simple. Technology only sticks when people see clear value and have the skills to act on it. From pilots to site-wide change Here's the thing. The strongest wins come from a strategic, site-wide approach rather than isolated pilots. Maturity assessments across pharma sites in Ireland revealed common patterns, shared bottlenecks, and repeatable opportunities. That insight helps teams justify investment, sharpen ROI arguments, and accelerate adoption without slowing production. Reinvestment in legacy facilities becomes a long-term advantage when you connect equipment, data, and people with a clear plan. This is where Ireland's ecosystem shows its class. Purpose-built centers like Digital Manufacturing Ireland, NIBRT, IMR, and I-FORM give teams a place to test before they invest. Indigenous tech SMEs sit at the same table as global pharma leaders and large tech firms, which means collaboration moves faster. When 50 percent or more of new R&D projects cite academic partnerships, you know something healthy is happening. Skills, STEM, and the mindset shift Upskilling came through as the decisive enabler. IDA Ireland supports companies with skills needs analysis and access to training. Universities co-create relevant courses. Micro-credentials and immersive apprenticeships build confidence on the shop floor. Stephen's point about micro-learning hit home. People learn best when they can apply knowledge to a problem they care about, right now. That keeps momentum high and spreads digital competence across teams without waiting on giant projects. Barriers still exist. Defining ROI, coping with regulatory complexity, and balancing change with daily production are real challenges. Culture is the swing factor. Leaders who set the tone, create space for experiments, and reward progress see faster results. GenAI is already shifting attitudes by improving personal productivity, which naturally opens minds to operational use cases like predictive maintenance, knowledge capture, and quality improvements. What comes next If the last decade was about connecting machines, the next decade will be about connecting knowledge. Expect smarter, greener, and more multidisciplinary manufacturing. AI will sit alongside advanced materials and sustainable design. The most resilient sites will combine agile infrastructure with strong learning cultures, so they can absorb change rather than resist it. Ireland's model of collaboration gives a useful signal. When industry, government, and academia align around shared outcomes, the runway gets longer and the takeoff gets smoother. This episode is about the practical choices that make transformation real. Strategic assessments. Shared R&D spaces. Cohorts of digital champions. And a relentless commitment to skills. It is a story of steady progress that scales, and a reminder that the future belongs to teams who can learn faster together. ********* Visit the Sponsor of Tech Talks Network: Land your first job in tech in 6 months as a Software QA Engineering Bootcamp with Careerist https://crst.co/OGCLA
© 2020-2025 Ivy Podcast Discovery LLC
