Episodes
Published 03/20/24
Today, start-ups are seen as the hotbed of innovation and corporates are dismissed as laggards. But, when large companies innovate successfully, they have a huge impact. They have the resources and the built-in customer base to scale quickly. In this episode you will learn how corporate innovation differs from what happens in start-ups, and how to get corporate innovation right. You'll hear from Louis Gump, former head of CNN Mobile and former VP of mobile at The Weather Channel. Louis is...
Published 03/20/24
The Post Office scandal led to 900 wrongful convictions and four suicides. It is now known as the worst miscarriage of justice in British history. It happened because Post Office leadership did not know how to deal with glitchy software. In this episode, you’ll learn how not to repeat their mistakes. Listen to learn: What happened during the UK Post Office scandal The biggest wrong assumption Post Office management made The role of the board and company advisors: what should they have...
Published 03/13/24
If you want to work with tech clients and venture capitalists, you need to know how they think. This is how you become a great strategic advisor.  If that’s what you want to be, this podcast episode is for you. Listen to learn: The core difference between the lawyer and the tech innovator mindset How tech companies measure success and why this is different to traditional business Why we are still at the start of the tech opportunity, even in 2024! ---  To discuss a corporate training...
Published 03/06/24
There are plenty of articles about digital transformation. But big change can only be successful if the individuals in the organisation are also enthusiastic and knowledgeable about it. Structural change without individual change does not work. In this episode, you will learn how asset management CEO Musi Skosana approached digital transformation at his fund and what he did to hone his own digital mindset. In this episode, you will learn: Why the fund management industry needs...
Published 02/28/24
Large Language Models and Generative AI are going to have the biggest impact on word heavy industries. This means that the legal industry is on the brink of major changes. This will affect how lawyers work, what clients expect and the future profits of the industry. In this episode, you will learn from Damien Riehl: lawyer, musician, and software developer, who counts Elon Musk as a fan. His TED talk was viewed by 2 million people, he has litigated for JP Morgan and he has also copyrighted...
Published 02/21/24
Hype about generative AI is everywhere, but much simpler AI models have already changed entire industries.  By learning about how AI has already changed business, we can make predictions about what's next. In this episode you will learn key lessons from Competing in the Age of AI: Strategy and Leadership When Algorithms and Networks Run the World. You will learn: The two sides of any successful enterprise The difference between weak AI vs strong AI What an AI factory is  How AI has...
Published 02/14/24
10 years ago Silicon Valley venture capitalist Aileen Lee coined the term "unicorn" to describe a young company valued at over $1 billion.  Back in 2013, there were just 39 unicorns in the US, and Lee's team researched what they did and who ran them. This list informed much of how we thought of successful tech start-ups. The updated unicorn list has just come out and the differences are startling. There are now 523 companies on the unicorn list (a 14x increase!). Listen to this episode to...
Published 02/07/24
If you want to prepare for AI disruption, learn from the music industry. The music industry was the first to be dragged through digital disruption in the early 2000s. Fortunes were made, and lost, as CDs gave way to streaming.  Lessons from the music industry are perfect to help you understand how to adapt to today's AI revolution. In this episode, you will learn from Will Page, ex chief economist of Spotify and author of Tarzan Economics (Pivot in paperback). You will learn: What...
Published 01/31/24
The Design Thinking market is growing and Logitech's ex CEO Bracken Darrell credits it with increasing shareholder returns 10 times.  But, Design Lead Caoimhe Kelly believes Design Thinking doesn't fully encompass what a designer does. She says that to invent a new product or launch a venture, a 5 step design process from a business book isn't enough. Listen to this episode to learn: Why the designer skill set is most like the CEO skill set Why the Design Thinking process, as described...
Published 01/24/24
The Design Thinking market is predicted to grow 5x more than the US economy in 2024. This is because C Suite decision makers are choosing to buy design thinking and innovation services. Listen to this episode to learn how to make the most of this trend for your careeer, whether you're a corporate leader, a start-up founder, a strategic advisor or an investor. In this episode, you will learn: Why the Design Thinking market is growing Who the key Design Thinking market participants are...
Published 01/17/24
Digital transformation and AI are going to continue being a top priority for most CEOs this year. But, 70% of these expensive projects fail to meet their goals, according to McKinsey. Listen to this episode to learn what will continue hampering digital transformation efforts in 2024, and what you can do to succeed instead, both as a company and as an individual. Listen to this episode to learn: Two main reasons why most digital transformations fail  How to design your own curriculum to...
Published 01/10/24
We are still at the beginning of the AI revolution, but in 2024 some of the world's oldest and richest industries are going to get disrupted by it.  Listen to this episode to learn: The difference between Generative AI vs Large Language Models Why generative AI could get you sued Which industries generative AI and LLMs will disrupt in 2024 and why How to prepare for the LLM revolution in 2024 if you're an innovator, corporate leader or investor This is part 1 of the 2024 tech predictions...
Published 01/03/24
In this episode, you will get four suggestions for shows about Big Tech, AI,  billionaire founders and white collar criminals. Sophia Matveeva's top entertainment suggestions that will teach you: How Facebook was created What happens to founding teams when companies get successful How to convince powerful investors to fund you when you have nothing How social media companies work from the inside What happens when a robot develops consciousness Join our January program & get Early...
Published 12/27/23
Design methodologies help businesses make more money and build products users love. Learn how this works from industrial designer and YouTube star John Mauriello. In this episode you will learn: What industrial design is Why design thinking helps companies succeed What a user interview should be like (and why founders are really bad at them) Why technical founders tend to ignore the user of their product (to their detriment) Why digital designers are nicer people than industrial designers...
Published 12/20/23
The app economy is projected to grow 4x faster than the US economy. This means opportunities for innovators, investors and the professional services that support the app ecosystem. Listen to this episode to learn the fundamental differences between the Apple App Store and the Android ecosystems, so you can capture this multi-billion dollar opportunity. You will learn: Why privacy is a feature on Apple, but not on Android How apps make money on Apple vs on Android The core tech...
Published 12/13/23
“A brilliant solution to the wrong problem can be worse than no solution at all: solve the correct problem” - Don Norman.  Don Norman was Apple's first user experience architect and is revered for his expertise in design, usability engineering, and cognitive science.  Listen to this episode to learn the most important lessons from his best known book: Design of Everyday Things.  You will learn:  How to use the 5 why process to understand what the problem really is  Why human error...
Published 12/06/23
Here are Sophia Matveeva's top four podcast picks to help you learn how tech is changing business and the economy. This is a selection of the most jargon-free shows, where the hosts don't assume you've worked at AWS for a decade. ---  Join the Tech for Non-Techies membership and succeed in the Digital Age.  Tech for Non-Techies clients  Reach senior leadership positions in Big Tech firms Lead digital transformation in established businesses Create tech businesses as non-technical founders...
Published 11/29/23
Before the advent of the iPhone, Logitech was a boring but successful company, making $2 billion per year. They made functional but ugly computer mice at affordable prices. But when the world moved from PC to mobile, its revenues tanked and its future looked bleak. The board knew they had to make a radical change, and hired Bracken Darrell as its CEO. Darrell changed the entire ethos of the company from an engineering led firm to a design led firm.  Darrell was Logitech CEO for 10 years....
Published 11/22/23
A top MBA can be the best investment you make in your career. BUT most business schools haven't adapted to the Digital Age, despite pressure from employers & students. Listen to this episode if you have an MBA, are considering one, or work at a business school. You will learn: What's missing in most business school curricula Why transitioning into tech isn't easy after an MBA What tech employers value more than a top tier MBA What some business schools are already doing to adapt to...
Published 11/15/23
In just the first half of 2023, the Sweat with Kayla app recorded over $77 million in revenue. Without an engaged community, this success would not have been possible. A well managed community can help a business grow revenue, attract new customers and create a product that users love. Learn how smart tech companies embed communities into their business models in this short episode. Listen to learn: What community management is What the Content, Community, Commercialization model is and...
Published 11/08/23
Gamification helped Dropbox grow its user base by 3900% in 15 months. This is why Business Leaders must know what gamification engines are & how to use them. Listen to this episode to learn: What gamification is Why Duolingo must use gamification, but why for LinkedIn it's just a nice to have Case studies for how companies have used it to grow revenue, reduce churn and acquire new users Why a gamified community is an asset  Suggestions for how you can implement gamification at...
Published 11/01/23
Tech companies have changed the stock market and the economy. But, to be a Smart Money investor, what do you really need to know about tech? Listen to this interview with Richard Kramer to find out. Richard is a renowned stock market analyst and founder of Arete Research, an independent equity research firm, which works with over 250 global tech investors. In this episode you will learn: How tech companies have reshaped the stock market and why this matters The process Richard follows to...
Published 10/25/23
A great product attracts users, grows revenue and whets investor appetite. But what makes a great product? A good team and a smart process. Listen to this short episode to see what a good product management process looks like.  You will learn: What specialists need to be involved in a product team The biggest reason why the products that get released are different to the product leader's vision How to lead developers as a non-technical innovator If you want a product users love, listen...
Published 10/18/23
If you want to transition career from a traditional industry, or a stuffy company, to a fast growing business, this episode is for you.  “The business strategies employed by highly successful start-ups and the career strategies employed by highly successful individuals are strikingly similar,” said Reid Hoffman, co-founder of LinkedIn in his book the Start-up of You.  This episode will show you how to have an entrepreneurial approach to your career change. You will learn: What having...
Published 10/11/23