Conversations with key influencers in the UK’s digital transformation community. On season two of the Digital Leaders podcast, we sit down with some of the UK’s most proactive Digital Leaders as they share their views on the importance of digital leadership in an evolving digital workforce and economy. The time is now. The place is the Digital Leaders Podcast, and the future is digital!
Each episode features an in-depth conversation with a Digital Leader, highlighting how they got into the digital space, their passion for why they do what they do, the impact digital has had on their sector and their thoughts on what the digital future will look like in the next 5 – 10 years.
Episode One: Karen Dolva
[Listen time: 33 mins, 31 secs]
The Digital Leaders podcast is back for its second season. In the first episode of season two, we sit down with Karen Dolva, Co-Founder and CEO of No Isolation, Forbes Top 50 Women in Tech and winner of the EU commission prize for rising innovator.
Listen as Karen shares the series of events that led to her being a leading women in Tech and founder of her business, No Isolation. She talks about: tackling loneliness amongst the most vulnerable groups in society; her AV1 robot that connects sick children back into the classroom; and new ways to help older people fight loneliness. She explains the challenges of being an entrepreneur, her views on leadership and diversity and make sure you listen to the end, when Karen shares the one thing about her you least expected!
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Episode Two: Professor Mark Thompson
[Listen time: 41 mins, 10 secs]
On today’s show, we sit down with, Professor Mark Thompson, Strategy Director, Methods, and Professor in Digital Economy at the University of Exeter.
Listen as Mark shares how he got involved with changing the digital landscape in the public sector and governmental space, focusing on the importance of redesigning businesses models, culture and creating a model that delivers value in the age of the internet. He explains how emerging technology is the next big step in transforming public services.
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Episode Three: Gillian Docherty OBE
[Listen time: 35 mins, 48 secs]
On this episode of The Digital Leaders podcast, we sit down with Gillian Docherty, Digital Leader of the Year 2018 and one of the UK’s Top 10 influential people in Data.
Listen as Gillian shares what led her to a career in data, what Scotland is doing with data at a national level, how she became a leader in the industry and why it is important to democratise data. She explains why tackling unconscious bias in data is a must and why diversity of thought is the key.
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Episode Four: Jack Parsons
[Listen time: 35 mins, 12 secs]
On today’s podcast episode, we sit down with young entrepreneur Jack Parsons, CEO of Big Youth Group, Young Digital Leader 2017 and ‘The most connected young entrepreneur’ in Europe 2018.
Listen as Jack explains Big Youth Group’s mission to empower and change the odds for young people by building an ecosystem of opportunities, networks and mentors as well as his latest venture in New Zealand and his Digital Embassy project, a new place for young people to learn the digital skills businesses needs.
Jack also shares in explicit detail the very personal journey that has shaped him including touching on his upbringing and ongoing mental health issues despite his obvious business success. He shares what these experiences have taught him about mental health and the importance of those who support him.
Listen with caution: This episode contains frank discussions about depression, and suicide. If you’ve been affected by any of the topics in this episode, please talk to someone! There are some amazing resources and lovely people out there ready to help you. Here are some options:
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Episode Five: Linda O’Halloran
[Listen time: 35 mins, 44 secs]
On today’s show we sit down with Linda O’Halloran, Head of Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government Digital Collaboration Unit, #SmartLondon Board Member and founder of the NGO Thinking Development.
Listen as Linda shares her interesting journey into the London tech scene: from founding an NGO after Haiti’s 2010 earthquake; to working at MHCLG Digital Collaboration Unit – a programme that disrupts local government and re-energises local digital movements, helping authorities and local services overcome problems via common narratives.
Linda also talks about the importance of collaboration in all its forms, the unintended consequences of emerging tech and the lessons learned on coping in a high pressure digital transformation role.
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Episode Six: Alice Webb
[Listen time: 30 mins, 26 secs]
On the final podcast of Season 2, we sit down with Alice Webb, Director of BBC North and BBC Children’s and Education to talk leadership, the audience of the future, the role of the BBC in tackling online harm and improving children’s safety, hear about the new BBC App “OwnIT” and how to achieve a healthy and happy online life.
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