Tech Talks Daily

Neil C. Hughes

If every company is now a tech company and digital transformation is a journey rather than a destination, how do you keep up with the relentless pace of technological change?

Every day, Tech Talks Daily brings you insights from the brightest minds in tech, business, and innovation, breaking down complex ideas into clear, actionable takeaways.

Hosted by Neil C. Hughes, Tech Talks Daily explores how emerging technologies such as AI, cybersecurity, cloud computing, fintech, quantum computing, Web3, and more are shaping industries and solving real-world challenges in modern businesses.

Through candid conversations with industry leaders, CEOs, Fortune 500 executives, startup founders, and even the occasional celebrity, Tech Talks Daily uncovers the trends driving digital transformation and the strategies behind successful tech adoption. But this isn't just about buzzwords.

We go beyond the hype to demystify the biggest tech trends and determine their real-world impact. From cybersecurity and blockchain to AI sovereignty, robotics, and post-quantum cryptography, we explore the measurable difference these innovations can make.

Whether improving security, enhancing customer experiences, or driving business growth, we also investigate the ROI of cutting-edge tech projects, asking the tough questions about what works, what doesn't, and how businesses can maximize their investments.

Whether you're a business leader, IT professional, or simply curious about technology's role in our lives, you'll find engaging discussions that challenge perspectives, share diverse viewpoints, and spark new ideas.

New episodes are released daily, 365 days a year, breaking down complex ideas into clear, actionable takeaways around technology and the future of business.

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Aug 18, 2021 · 38 min
1690: Technology and Customer Experience Design
Jesus Ramirez is a mission-driven leader, an innovator, and a humble, life-long learner. In his career, he has helped build and lead several technology-driven products, teams, and companies in the education, healthcare, and labor industries. He is VP of Strategy & Innovation at Tallwave, where he helps companies create exceptional customer experiences. Recently, Tallwave surveyed 1000+ individuals aged 24-65+ about their perceptions, behaviors, and customer experiences before and during the pandemic. The data revealed that consumers want a choice for how they can interact with a brand, making retail hybrid experiences more critical than ever. The report highlights the most influential components of customer experience, satisfaction, and loyalty and how organizations can transform experiences for a digital-first, hybrid, and hyper-personalized world. In addition, we discuss how the digital shifts we have experienced over the past year have affected consumer behaviors and tech adoption and how brands can enhance their hybrid customer experiences.
Aug 17, 2021 · 21 min
1689: Growth Gorilla - Fintech Digital Marketing
Shameer Sachdev is the founder of Growth Gorilla -- a growth marketing agency focused on helping fintech, proptech and financial services firms go apesh!t and smash through their growth marketing goals. Originally launching his career in financial services, as an equity broker, Shameer has worked for big brands like Alexander David and Barclays Wealth. Shameer then moved on to focus more on client acquisition and eventually became Marketing Director at a well-known online trading platform provider. While working with marketing agencies as a client, Shameer couldn't help but notice their flaws. Most marketing agencies simply didn't understand how things worked inside financial service companies. Equipped with a background in financial services and technology, Shameer struck out on his own -- advising courageous fintech, proptech and financial services firms on how to accelerate their growth.
Aug 16, 2021 · 23 min
1688: Technology and the Future of Storytelling
HELO creates moving experiences that connect brands with their consumers by bringing together the best in creative strategy, storytelling, production, and event design. They've worked with top brands to include Amazon Studios, Hulu, Comcast, Budlight, and Santander. In just our three years, they have won 13 Cannes Lions including Gold Lions in Promo & Activation, Production, Entertainment, and Cyber, an AICP Gold for Production, and were named MOST NEXT in the AICP NEXT Awards, recognizing the most innovative, forward-thinking work in the industry. With their willingness to tackle even the trickiest productions, AdAge named us a Production Company Standout. They have built a reputation by pulling off the 'not-been-done-before' things, and we wouldn't want it any other way For example, they recreated the 1862 World's Fair for the launch of one of Amazon Studio's most ambitious original films - AERONAUTS. Brendan Kiernan joins me on the podcast to talk about the challenges and future of storytelling. We also discuss how technology and media consumption is continuously changing and how organizations can keep up.
Aug 15, 2021 · 40 min
1687: R-Zero Biosafety Technology and Sustainable Sanitization
At the end of every episode, I always ask the listeners to share their stories and offer an open invitation to join me on the Tech Talks Daily Podcast. After receiving an email from Grant Morgan, I invited him on Tech Talks Daily to discuss tech's role in achieving must-have sustainable sanitization. For years, the biosafety landscape has been dominated by lumbering, archaic giants, but their time at the top of the food chain may be about to end. While companies like Clorox and Ecolab continue to focus on harmful, inefficient chemical disinfectants, R-Zero envisions a new era of hi-tech public safety strategies. Grant shares his plans to use IoT-enabled hardware, smart sensors, software, and machine learning to crack open a $200B+ market. Antibiotic soaps and sanitizers are driving a deadly new wave of antibiotic-resistant infections. Harsh chemical disinfectants can create hazardous environments for staff and employees, and their overuse is already harming wildlife around the world. Let's face it — the status quo is not sustainable. Grant discusses the urgent need for environmentally-friendly disinfection, and talk about the advances in technology that are finally making it possible.
Aug 14, 2021 · 22 min
1686: Axway - Is Your Business Leading Or Lagging With APIs?
The average enterprise has two to three API management vendors and plans to adopt more soon. However, 40% of organizations have three or more API management vendors, and most don't intend to consolidate to a single vendor throughout the enterprise. Thus, complexity is growing, but it can be an opportunity. API Ecosystem complexity, if unmanaged, is slowing down enterprises. Don't try to simplify your complexity. Master it and control it, it happens for good reasons, but you will not go fast if you leave it alone. The task then is to keep, even boost, the agility that autonomous business units create with their own particular applications and API ecosystems amid the tech sprawl that they also perpetuate. Teams need creativity and flexibility, so it's essential to have a centralized governance system while at the same time offering developer teams autonomy so they can work in the languages and platforms that make sense to them. Jana Frejova shares how at Axway, they recognize that companies want the freedom to use different API vendors for different solutions. Still, they also need the freedom to manage all of those APIs as they see fit – and to be able to freely access all of their data without it being locked into silos.
Aug 13, 2021 · 36 min
1685: iProov - Authentication Tech for Online Identity Verification.
iProov is a small British biometric authentication company that is currently working with the NHS to provide secure login for the NHS Digital app. They are also working with the Home Office for the EU Settlement Scheme and with a range of other high-profile international customers who deploy their technology, including the US Department for Homeland Security, the Singapore government, the Australian government, and the Eurostar. However, most recently, the company has very much been at the centre of a lot of nationwide debate around the introduction of Covid status certificates and the interoperability of vaccine passports internationally. This is due to the fact that in January this year, iProov announced plans to develop technology for vaccine certificates, having received a grant from Innovate UK to fund the pilot project. Andrew Bud CBE is the Founder and CEO of face biometrics firm iProov. He is also the Chair of the Mobile Ecosystem Forum (MEF), the global trade association of the mobile content and applications industry. I invited him on the podcast o talk about the role that biometrics will play in a post-Covid world in wide a range of industries. We also discuss how Covid status certificates will be integrated into public life and the developing conversation around their use.
Aug 12, 2021 · 36 min
1684: Advanced Human Imaging - Measurement Intelligence.
Advanced Human Imaging has developed and patented a proprietary dimensioning technology that enables its users to check, track, and assess their dimensions using only a smartphone privately and accurately. Building off success in apparel and fitness, AHI is now redefining how the smartphone is used for insurance assessments, remote medical consultation, and timely interventions of chronic disease and oncology. The technology is a smartphone-based biometric software. They are a B2B company partnering with digital health (diagnostic and remote monitoring), fitness and apparel companies across the globe. They have recently announced a spat of partnerships to integrate their biometric software into their partner's platforms. The company has also partnered with Triage Technologies to develop Derma AI, an advanced system to identify dermatological conditions capable of accurately classifying skin conditions from an image captured on a standard smartphone camera and processed by deep neural networks. Using the largest proprietary database of its kind in the world, the AI analytics engine can classify 588 common or rare skin conditions in 133 categories – including all categories of skin cancers. Vlado Bosonac shares the story behind Advanced Human Imaging and his grand vision for the company.
Aug 11, 2021 · 30 min
1683: Otter.ai - The Story Behind AI Transcription
With more companies adapting to a hybrid work model, business leaders are looking for the best ways to create an engaging and productive environment for employees in the office and at home. Sam Liang built his company and product, Otter.ai, to develop solutions for this very challenge. Otter.ai is a tech tool that takes live meeting conversations and turns them into highly accurate, collaborative meeting notes, all in real-time. It has transcribed 100 million+ meetings and 3 billion+ minutes and works with Dropbox, IBM, UCLA and more. Sam joins me on the Tech Talks Daily podcast and shares why he believes it is essential to adopt speech and natural language processing AI technologies. We discuss how it can develop an understanding of ever-changing physical and contextual environments and human-to-human interactions. Sam also discusses the best solutions that leaders should take into account when adapting their businesses to the new hybrid work model.
Aug 10, 2021 · 19 min
1682: Goodyear's Tire Intelligence Technology, Goodyear SightLine,
When thinking about Goodyear, you probably think of tyers. But if you take a peek behind the curtain, you will find the recent launch of SightLine. It's a suite of intelligent tire solutions that use AI and sensors to help fleet managers and drivers predict breakdowns, minimize downtime and monitor tire pressure and wear for safer and more cost-efficient mobility – think of it as a Fitbit for tires. Erin Spring, Senior Director of New Ventures, at Goodyear joins me on the Tech Talks Daily Podcast to talk about the recent launch of SightLine and the importance of sustainability and tires. We also discuss the future of mobility and how SightLine is helping enable seamless, safe, and reliable mobility for all vehicles starting with cargo vans serving the field service, construction, and last-mile delivery industries.
Aug 9, 2021 · 20 min
1681: ex-Googler, Ryan Gurney Joins YL Ventures as CISO-in-Residence
After several years of serving on YL Ventures' Venture Advisory Board among 100 global CISOs and cybersecurity executives from Fortune 100 and high-growth companies, Ryan Gurney is now looking to take a more active role in fostering the success of early-stage startups as a full-time CISO-in-Residence. He brings the experience of holding leading security roles in both startups and global enterprises to provide Israeli cybersecurity entrepreneurs with unparalleled guidance on achieving product-market fit and customer success. Ryan is also the Former Chief Security Officer (CSO) at Looker, a business intelligence software and big data analytics platform acquired by Google for $2.6B, now part of the Google Cloud Platform. Prior to the acquisition, Gurney served as Looker's CSO, leading security and compliance and helping Google and Looker integrate and centralize key security processes post-acquisition. Previously, he also led all security functions at Zendesk in his role as VP of Information Security, where he played a key role in the company's successful IPO. Additionally, he held security leadership roles at Engine Yard, eBay and PwC. Ryan shares his story and career in tech. We talk about supply chain management and explore where customer and company data is going, who administers it, how it's protected, and what it costs. We also discuss IP protection, API security, and much more.
Aug 8, 2021 · 46 min
1680: The Startup Turning Social Creators Into Movie Stars
Creator+ is a new film studio and streaming platform for digital-first storytellers. The company was co-founded in 2021 by Benjamin Grubbs and Jonathan Shambroom, and is backed by PETRA Group and Freestyle Capital, along with prominent creators, technology founders, and entertainment industry executives. Built from the ground up with the community and better economics in mind, the studio team (based in Culver City) has more than 100 films under their belt. It also includes prominent industry execs: Adam Wescott (Head of Content Studio), Ben O'Keefe (Head of Diversity and Impact), Nick Phillips (Head of Production), McKenna Marshall (Director of Development). Unlike ad-supported or subscription-based models, the whole idea is to allow more creative control through an end-to-end platform that provides everything passionate storytellers need to take IP to feature-length films - from financing and production to marketing and distribution. Benjamin Grubbs joins me on the Tech Talks Daily podcast to share his ambitious vision to build an entire ecosystem for creative talent where they have more ownership of their audience.
Aug 7, 2021 · 38 min
1679: Building a Business Platform through Data Modernization
Tomorrow's business applications will be built differently than they are today. The rise of AI-enhanced business logic and data as a product will enable business analysts and users to create new models and roll out business/domain products. Anup Nair, SVP and CTO of Mphasis Digital, joins me on the Tech Talks Daily podcast in a conversation about building a business platform through data modernization. We discuss low-code/no-code solutions and how ecosystems will have hundreds, if not thousands, of self-learning and ever-growing models. Every business is currently navigating uncharted digital waters. We explore building new ecosystems and what the apps of tomorrow will look like. About Mphasis Mphasis applies next-generation technology to help enterprises transform businesses globally. Customer centricity is foundational to Mphasis and is reflected in the Mphasis' Front2Back™ Transformation approach. Front2Back™ uses the exponential power of cloud and cognitive to provide hyper-personalized (C=X2C2TM=1) digital experience to clients and their end customers. In addition, Mphasis' Service Transformation approach helps 'shrink the core' through the application of digital technologies across legacy environments within an enterprise, enabling businesses to stay ahead in a changing world. Mphasis' core reference architectures and tools, speed and innovation with domain expertise and specialization are key to building strong relationships with marquee clients.
Aug 6, 2021 · 18 min
1678: Insurtech - How Technology is Transforming Insurance
Anthony Mayer the VP of Engineering, GetSafe, moved from Silicon Valley to the very rural part of Germany, famous for its vineyards rather than tech and startup hubs. But his mission is to drive disruption in the insurance industry was just getting started. Here in 2021, he leads a team of 20 engineers from more than ten different nations who are all challenged to rethink the role of insurance in a digital-first world. Through the GetSafe app, they bring insurance to the smartphones of over 200,000 users. The technological platform creates speed and flexibility in one of the slowest and most inflexible businesses in the world. I learn more about Anthony's journey and how InsureTech enables users to cancel insurance policies daily, change details or report claims via an app. We also discuss how the technological platform is their foundation to expand quickly, analyze countless data points and adjust the entire insurance experience for their users. With $53 US million in funding, Getsafe is one of Europe's top 10 funded insurance startups, operating in Germany and the UK.
Aug 5, 2021 · 39 min
1677: The Role of Data Analytics Technology in Data Driven Policing
An analysis of Freedom of Information responses obtained by data leader, Qlik found 80% of UK police constabularies used data analytics to support their response to the Covid-19 pandemic. The development of data analytics use cases accelerated as forces across the UK relied on data to help them respond to the changing crime landscape during periods of lockdown. Those constabularies that introduced dedicated analytics dashboards and applications to manage their pandemic response built them to support crime forecasting (63%) and geo-map crime (58%). Many police forces also used data to monitor and track the impact of Covid-19 within their constabulary. For example, over three-quarters of respondents who created new analytics dashboards monitored cases amongst employees (83%) and identified which employees were isolating (79%). However, it also revealed critical areas of opportunity where constabularies can expand their use of analytics to support even better outcomes in policing real-time decision-making, data-sharing, Upskilling police forces in data predictive analytics and forecasting. I invited Adam Mayer from Qlik and Will White from the Avon and Somerset Police to learn more about how they are working together to leverage data analytics technology and explore the new world of data-driven policing. I learn how data was integral for managing changing crime demand at Avon and Somerset during the pandemic. We discuss how Qlik dashboards helped to monitor breach reports and fixed penalty notices issued, as well as locations of enforcement activity. We also talk about how Avon and Somerset quickly understood and adapted to the new and emerging risks of policing the pandemic. Behind the scenes, Qlik dashboards enabled teams to achieve data democratization, empowering the workforce to make informed decisions based on the same information. As a result, all staff made consistent decisions that kept the community safe and staff protected.
Aug 4, 2021 · 22 min
1676: T-Mobile Scam Shield – How to Block Scam & Unwanted Calls
I don't have to tell you all that scams and robocalls are a hot topic and threat to consumers. Unfortunately, as scammers get more sophisticated, so does the technology used to prevent them. With call centers now open again globally and robocall volume returning to pre-pandemic levels, I wanted to learn more about what T-Mobile is doing in the fight to keep consumers protected. It's been just over one year since T-Mobile launched Scam Shield, a suite of advanced scam-fighting tools, and the company just shared news about successfully using Rich Call Data and continuing to lead the charge toward more advancements when it comes to protecting consumers. T-Mobile's Grant Castle, Vice President, Engineering Services & Quality Assurance, explains the recent STIR/SHAKEN deadline and its impact on everyday consumers in a language that everyone can understand. In addition, we discuss what T-Mobile and other wireless providers are doing to help fight scammers today. Grant also shares his insights on current consumer perceptions. We also talk about how Number Verification provided by STIR/SHAKEN, coupled with free Caller ID provided by T-Mobile Scam Shield, ensures that the calls they receive are authenticated as coming from the phone number displayed in Caller ID and have not been spoofed. This makes Caller ID even stronger in the fight against scams and robocalls, and with Scam Shield, all T-Mobile, Metro by T-Mobile, and Sprint brand individuals, families, and small businesses get free Caller ID.
Aug 3, 2021 · 17 min
1675: Doceree: Healthcare Precision Marketing
Harshit Jain MD is the Founder and Global CEO of Doceree, the first global network of physician-only platforms for programmatic marketing. With Doceree, he aims to address the acute problem of the rising cost of healthcare by bringing in efficiency and effectiveness in marketing to physicians by pharma brands on digital platforms with methodical use of data and creativity. As a healthcare innovator, he drives health transformation across the globe, delivering life-changing, creative and sustainable ideas. Recognized as Elite 2020 Disrupter Award by premier global PM360 Magazine for his venture, Harshit has addressed some of the biggest health challenges – Immunization, Vitamin D deficiency, Diabetes by creatively and innovatively using data. In his over 13 years of professional journey, he weaved together his domain expertise of medicine and his marketing acumen to come up with out-of-the-box ideas and campaigns in the healthcare space. An accomplished speaker Harshit played a key role in making India win the first ever Black Pencil – the highest honor at D&AD Awards through the Immunity Charm campaign, a brainchild of his. Today, I learn more about the idea behind the start-up and physician-only platforms for programmatic marketing. We also discuss how physician marketing and the role of technology in this space.
Aug 2, 2021 · 25 min
1674: Coupa - Environment, Social and Corporate Governance (ESG)
Coupa Software (NASDAQ:COUP) is the cloud platform for business spend management (BSM). Coupa has a reputation for empowering companies around the world with the visibility and control they need to spend smarter and safer. But I wanted to learn more about how Coupa is helping businesses to use technology to make more ethical spending decisions. Donna Wilczek, Coupa's SVP of Product Strategy and Innovation discusses the launch of eight new features that put Environment, Social and Corporate Governance (ESG) right at the forefront of crucial business investment and spending decisions – hopefully inspiring businesses to operate much more sustainably and with a far greater sense of social purpose in future. Despite the tremendous pressure on businesses to implement and execute ESG initiatives, most struggle to get started, make programs actionable, and measure them. Coupa's technology is focused on helping businesses better manage their spending and achieve social impact goals, turning what is often rhetoric and intention into measurable actions. Companies such as IKEA, AXA, Procter and Gamble, and Nike are all using Coupa's software to improve and measure their ESG initiatives. More than $2.6 trillion worth of business spending has passed through Coupa's platform, which shows the scale of how much money could be redirected to diverse and sustainable suppliers. We discuss why technology is so important for companies looking to spend more ethically and the difference that spending more with ethical and diverse suppliers can make. I learn how Coupa's software works - and how companies use it to improve their sustainability and diversity efforts.
Aug 1, 2021 · 24 min
1673: SIA - Meet Skynet, a Decentralized Internet for a Free Future
Today's guest is David Vorick, the Co-Founder and Lead Developer of Sia, a decentralized cloud storage network that ultimately allows its users to have more control over their data. With the launch of Skynet, Nebulous's focus shifted from building the leading decentralized data storage platform to enabling a user-controlled, truly decentralized internet. As they embrace the rich legacy and the solid foundation of Sia and assimilate their new mission, I learn more about how their brand is evolving. We discuss the future of data ownership, the perils of everything being owned by corporations. We explore how blockchain and other decentralized technologies can give back control over our own lives. We discuss how this extends not only into users but also into creators and publishers as well. I learn more about their mission to build a future where people are no longer vulnerable to the arbitrary de-platforming decisions of megacorps and random advertisers.
Jul 31, 2021 · 27 min
1672: Talking AI, 5G, Edge Evolutions With Wind River CTO Paul Miller
Paul Miller is the Chief Technology Officer at Wind River, a global leader in delivering software for intelligent connected systems. With nearly three decades of telecommunications and advanced technology leadership at both large companies and successful startups, he is currently focused on Wind River's edge virtualization and AI solutions, including Wind River's market-leading 5G cloud offering based on StarlingX. Prior to joining Wind River, he was the Chief Technology Officer of GENBAND. He has led the architecture and development of various switching, IMS, IP media, call control, and web applications solutions employed by multiple tier-one operators worldwide. His last eight years have been focused on OpenStack, SDN, and NFV automation technology, including operation of a multi-site, multi-cloud infrastructure, multiple Tier one CSP VNF deployments, and a significant NFV patent history. Paul's contributions throughout his career have enabled many communications service providers worldwide to create new revenue streams while dramatically reducing operating costs. In today's episode, we explore 5G applications and use cases beyond telecom and how they can enable new revenue streams for operators. We also discuss disruption around cloud-native networks and what businesses should be thinking about when building intelligent systems in the era of 5G and AI.
Jul 30, 2021 · 16 min
1671: Ericom - ZTEdge, Zero Trust Cloud Solution for MSEs & SMBs
Ericom Software recently announced the release of ZTEdge, an all-in-one zero trust cloud security platform designed specifically for midsize enterprises, a market underserved yet highly vulnerable to cyberattacks. Ericom's CSO, Chase Cunningham joins me on the Tech Talks Daily Podcast to discusses the market, positioning, and why this product is an industry-first for midsize enterprises. Large enterprises have accelerated their adoption of zero-trust security in response to the increased levels of cyberattacks experienced during the pandemic. Equally vulnerable, midsized enterprises and small businesses have the same need for zero-trust security protection. Still, existing solutions are too complex, too expensive, and too resource-intensive for many of them to adopt. ZTEdge provides a solution that is right-sized for the needs of this market. It offers a comprehensive solution that reduces cyber risk, cuts complexity, and improves performance, all at price points dramatically lower than competitive offerings. We explore the following key areas: Identifying Users and Authenticating Devices: connects the right people and devices to the right apps and resources by using password-based or passwordless authorization and multi-factor authentication. Secure Web and Internet Access: protect users as they interact with the web and email by leveraging URL filtering, anti-virus scanning, anti-phishing protection, remote browser isolation (RBI), and more. Secure Remote Private Application Access: provides a simple way to connect remote workers with private cloud or on-premises applications, using Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA) capabilities. SaaS Application Access Control: offers dedicated ZTEdge tenant IP addresses allowing organizations to enforce IP-based access policies to secure apps like Office 365 or Salesforce, thereby eliminating credential theft risks. Network Protection and Monitoring: segments and monitors networks using machine learning-powered micro-segmentation and granular network traffic analysis – stopping threats from spreading. User-Branch-Internet Connectivity: integrated SD-WAN capabilities allow an organization to securely connect users and offices and securely route branch traffic directly to the ZTEdge cloud and internet, eliminating the need to backhaul branch traffic over costly MPLS circuits.