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.

Subscribe Listen in podnod RSS feed Show website

2,001 episodes
Updated Today

Episodes2001

Newest first

Jul 28, 2022 · 24 min
2052: How Cloud Computing Is Changing Everything with Alina Timofeeva
Have you heard? From angry Adele fans to broken robot vacuums, millions were hit by the suspension of services that use Cloud. Robot vacuums ceased sucking, WiFi cameras stopped watching, and eager Tinder daters were left unable to "swipe right" on their smartphone apps. These are just a few of the many recent news stories that highlight how Cloud technology is everywhere. Cloud is widely seen as helping deliver value to customers through innovation, improved resilience, and positive sustainability impact. But it also has its imperfections. Can Cloud fail us? Should you be investing in Cloud skills? And is it time to remediate Cloud? These are just a few areas I explore with today's guest. Alina Timofeeva is a multi-award-winning Principal at Oliver Wyman who helps major organisations adopt Cloud so they can deliver on their business ambitions in a safe and cost-effective way. She was recognized by 7 industry awards only in 2021, including Cloud Professional and Digital Leader. Outside of work Alina actively gives back to the community, through mentoring immigrants and women of diverse cultural and social backgrounds - so we can all look at our failure as an opportunity, instead of a setback. Her recent TEDxTalk "Fail but never give up" was watched by over 500 000 people and translated into 20 languages globally.
Jul 27, 2022 · 24 min
2051 Rapid 7 - How Cloud Misconfigurations Increase Security Risks
Over the last year, we have seen a rapid increase in the number of cyberattacks on cloud environments, with breaches having potentially disastrous consequences. The rise has even led to CISA releasing guidance and legislation on how to improve cloud security. However, the issue of securing cloud environments does not have to be as complex as it is sometimes made out to be. Far too many breaches result from organizations relaxing their security settings on cloud resources or simple cloud misconfigurations. Therefore, what extra security checks and training should organizations be implementing to reduce the risk of breach? Gadi Naor, VP of Software Engineering, Cloud Security at Rapid7 joins me today on Tech Talks Daily to discuss why cloud security does not need to be such a complex problem as once thought. In addition, we discuss which sectors are most vulnerable to cloud misconfigurations and how data breaches in the cloud can result in further attacks, for example, social engineering attacks. We also talk about how organizations have helped contribute to the rise in attacks, including relaxing security settings and deploying unencrypted instances on the cloud. Finally, discuss what organizations can do to ensure that cloud misconfigurations are resolved.
Jul 26, 2022 · 29 min
2050: Akamai - Build, Deliver, and Secure Digital Experiences.
Dr. Robert Blumofe (Bobby), EVP and CTO of Akamai Technologies, discusses where the bar has been set for digital transformation at the enterprise level and how organisations globally can keep pace with those setting the gold standard. We also discuss how those lagging in their digital journey can catch up without exposing their security infrastructures to risk. We talk about the pivotal role that Zero Trust plays in defending against increasing cyber-attacks in the new world of work. Finally, we explore why the centralised cybersecurity model underpinned by a centralised technology stack is no longer effective against cyber threats that increasingly originate from the edge of a network. Akamai is a cloud company that helps companies build, deliver, and secure digital experiences. The company has more than 8,000 employees worldwide and, in 2021, generated $3.5 billion globally. More than 50% of the Fortune 500 use Akamai's products and services, and its customers include the likes of Lufthansa, Airbnb, and Honda.
Jul 25, 2022 · 22 min
2049: VMware - Tom Kellermann, Head of Cybersecurity Strategy
Did you know there has been a fundamental restructuring of cybercrime cartels thanks to a booming dark web economy of scale? Powerful cybercriminal groups now operate like multinational corporations and are relied upon by traditional crime syndicates to carry out illegal activities such as extortion and money laundering. As a result, cybercrime cartels are more organized than ever before and often enjoy greater protection and resources from the nation-states that view them as national assets. A recent report from VMware found that 63% of financial institutions experienced an increase in destructive attacks, a 17% increase from last year. Destructive attacks are launched punitively to destroy, disrupt, or degrade victim systems by taking actions such as encrypting files, deleting data, destroying hard drives, terminating connections, or executing malicious code. Tom Kellermann, Head of Cybersecurity Strategy, joins me on Tech Talks Daily to discuss the findings in the report and share his insights. About Tom Kellermann Tom Kellermann is the Head of Cybersecurity Strategy for VMware Inc. Previously, Tom held the position of Chief Cybersecurity Officer for Carbon Black Inc. Before joining Carbon Black, Tom was the CEO and founder of Strategic Cyber Ventures. In 2020, he was appointed to the Cyber Investigations Advisory Board for the United States Secret Service. Additionally, on January 19, 2017, Tom was appointed the Wilson Center's Global Fellow for Cyber Policy. Tom previously held the positions of Chief Cybersecurity Officer for Trend Micro; Vice President of Security for Core Security and Deputy CISO for the World Bank Treasury. In 2008 Tom was appointed a commissioner on the Commission on Cyber Security for the 44th President of the United States. In 2003 he co-authored the Book "Electronic Safety and Soundness: Securing Finance in a New Age."
Jul 24, 2022 · 28 min
2048: Red Box - Why Voice Data is the Fuel for Business Change
Red Box, the AI voice software specialist, is enabling enterprise businesses to capture and unlock the power of their voice data to drive digital transformation, AI innovation, and compliance – all while giving their customers full ownership of their data. Voice data, both from internal communications and customer interactions, is commonly overlooked in informing an enterprise's decision-making. However, it is amongst the most powerful data sets a business can own! Pete Ellis, Red Box's Chief Product Office, talks about the many ways voice data is the fuel for change businesses need and provides a crucial foundation for digital transformation and AI deployments. We also discuss how data ownership is a key part in unlocking the benefits from AI and analytics tools, and how many businesses are losing out on this valuable asset because of things like paywalls and extra charges for exporting data.
Jul 23, 2022 · 26 min
2047: How Tech is Transforming Finance Into a Strategic Business Function
Mike Whitmire is the co-founder and CEO of FloQast, a close management software company that helps rapidly growing companies, particularly pre-IPO and public companies, close their monthly financial books with greater accuracy and speed. Mike joins me on Tech Talks Daily to discuss how tech is revolutionising the finance function to make it a strategic business function and the role of automation in supporting forward-thinking CFO's. We also discuss upskilling in the finance function, continuous talent optimisation and how tech can help accountants achieve a better work-life balance at work.
Jul 22, 2022 · 49 min
2046: The Advantages of Hybrid Cloud, SaaS Apps and Security
Many businesses are currently juggling two different worlds. We have the modern cloud infrastructure and Kubernetes. But on the flip side, there is 10-20-year-old legacy tech such as Oracle Solaris, old IBM and HP servers, etc. Elsewhere, business leaders are also challenged with managing security, the Cloud, and hybrid working. Anil Kumar from Citrix and Sharon Besser from GuardiCore join Neil Hughes in discussing the advantages that hybrid cloud and SAS apps can offer businesses. About Sharon Sharon Besser is an accomplished data and network security expert with a successful track record combining deep technical hands-on excellence with a market vision to incubate new solutions and develop next-generation technologies. Sharon was the CTO and co-founder of Publicom (acquired by Comsec), co-founder of Contondo (acquired by Bigtincan), co-founder of EyeOTee Inc., VP Technologies at Net Optics, (acquired by IXIA), VP of Products Strategy at Imperva, Director of security solutions at Check Point, Director of security products at Websense, through the acquisition of Port Authority Technologies. Sharon holds a BSc degree in Computer Science, Mathematics, and Geography from Bar Ilan University. About Anil As a Technical Marketing Manager at Citrix, Anil Kumar is responsible for Building and owning an Ecosystem of Networking, Security, and Cloud technology partners. He is also a subject matter expert on the Citrix cloud, networking and security products, and services. Anil is also responsible for developing and managing a test infrastructure in-house/on-prem and on Cloud for proof of concepts and for partner product verifications.
Jul 21, 2022 · 38 min
2045: Gloat - The AI Talent Marketplace Creating an Agile Workforce
The challenges facing organizations today are timely, urgent, and complex. Business leaders must find new ways to manage hybrid work models, unleash diversity, equity and inclusion for all employees, and most importantly, understand the needs of talent and provide every individual with the opportunity to experience choice and growth across an organization. In January 2021, I spoke with Jeff Schwartz about Deloitte's Global Human Capital Trends Report. Jeff is an incredible subject matter expert and innovator who has had a front-row seat to the changes that have transformed and shaped the modern workplace. He's now the VP of Insights & Impact for Gloat, a pioneer of the internal talent marketplace. Trusted by some of the most respected brands in the world like Unilever, Nestlé, Seagate Technology, and Standard Chartered Bank, Gloat uses a two-sided platform that connects the talent within an organization to full-time roles, gigs, projects, mentorships, networking opportunities and more, enabling companies to democratize career development, unlock skills, and future-proof their workforces. I welcome Jeff back to the podcast to discuss how talent marketplaces are establishing a new category of HR technology and what forward-looking companies must do to succeed long-term as the world of work undergoes major shifts. We also discuss the benefits a talent marketplace provides to employees, managers and businesses as well as the future developments in this field.
Jul 20, 2022 · 29 min
2044: NGrave ZERO - Cold-Wallet Crypto Storage
Ruben Merre is the CEO and Co-founder of NGRAVE, the creators of ZERO, a military-grade cold wallet with the highest security certification in the world. Ruben joins me on Tech Talks Daily to discuss the vulnerabilities digital asset holders face by using hot wallets that are connected to the internet as opposed to transferring their assets to cold wallets which are offline and therefore cannot be attacked. We talk about NGRAVE's $6 million seed round which saw investment from renowned DeFi and Web3 investors, including Woodstock Fund, Morningstar Ventures, DFG Group, Spark Digital Capital, and Mapleblock Capital. We also explore the growing problem of phishing and hacking scams, which have impacted users of Axie Infinity, OpenSea, and the Bored Ape Yacht Club.
Jul 19, 2022 · 26 min
2043: TrustRadius - The Age of the Self-Serve Buyer is Here
Suppose you are thinking of purchasing a new laptop, TV, home appliance, car, or any big purchase. Where do you begin? For the most part, it probably reviews sites and YouTube videos that help you learn more about the pros and cons of each model. However, when we enter the workplace, we have those exact expectations, but we seldom do the same research before buying somehting. Vinay Bhagat is an entrepreneur passionate about improving the software buying process so professionals like HR teams can make better decisions for their organizations. Under Vinay's leadership, TrustRadius, has become the most trusted business technology review site, delivering over 386,000 reviews & ratings from 100% verified users. Vinay started TrustRadius after experiencing challenges when buying enterprise solutions at his last company. He shares his journey as an entrepreneur and insights into how buyers make buying decisions. We also explore the 2022 B2B Buying Disconnect report—a survey of 2,185 respondents that shows year-over-year trends in business technology buying and selling. The annual survey covers significant industry findings and further analysis and insights. Check out the report.
Jul 18, 2022 · 32 min
2042: Exploring a Remote-Friendly Hybrid Collaboration Future With Tandem
Hybrid collaboration can be challenging. Remote teammates suffer from the "second-class citizen problem" - feeling excluded from spontaneous brainstorms, magic moments, and the creative energy of the office. Hybrid Spaces bridge the gap between remote and in-person teammates to make hybrid work the best of both worlds. Tandem is a virtual office that facilitates frictionless collaboration and allows distributed teams (such as Airbnb, Lyft, and Spotify) to feel connected, collaborate in real-time, and increase productivity. As the world struggles with redefining the way we work, I invited Tandem CEO and Co-Founder Rajiv Ayyangar to join me on Tech Tech Talks Daily to discuss what Techcrunch calls "remote-friendly hybrid collaboration". I learn more about how hybrid workers can teleport around the office, connect, and collaborate.
Jul 17, 2022 · 32 min
2041: Jellysmack - The Tech Unicorn Leading the Creator Economy
Jellysmack is a global creator company founded in 2016 that detects and develops the world's most talented video creators through AI. Top creators with Jellysmack include PewDiePie, MrBeast, Bailey Sarian, Derek Deso, Karina Garcia, Charles & Alyssa Forever, and Brad Mondo. Jellysmack has also been named #1 Most Innovative Company in Video by Fast Company. The company optimizes and distributes content for over 500 leading individual video creators on Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok, and YouTube. It enables creators to grow their audiences, maximize earnings and generate more revenue opportunities. The company says the result is about 10 billion video views monthly, reaching 125 million people. In addition, its influencers have a combined 360 million followers. Jason Brown shares with me the story behind the company and the road to Series C funding from the SoftBank Vision Fund in May 2021, which catapulted the company to "unicorn" status. I also learn more about the tech that makes it all possible and why Jellysmack is a strategic partner across every aspect of the creator's journey and fully invests in a creator's long-term success.
Jul 16, 2022 · 23 min
2040: SpotGamma and the Tech Behind Options Software and Market Analysis
Brent Kochuba is the Founder of SpotGamma, a financial insights company, which applies its proprietary methodology toward modeling index and equity options and then provides unique content to its subscribers. SpotGamma has thousands of members and has been featured in publications such as The Wall Street Journal and Bloomberg Markets. At SpotGamma, Brent oversees all of the product development and creative content. Prior to SpotGamma, Brent was most recently a portfolio manager with Seven North Capital Management where he focused on creating options-based investment strategies. Prior to that, he spent time as a derivatives broker at Wolverine Execution, Credit Suisse and Bank of America. Brent now lives with his wife and children in Easton, Connecticut. Brent holds a B.S. in Emerging Technologies from the University of Connecticut. Brent joins me on Tech Talks Daily to discuss why tech, stock, and options analysis work so well together. We also attempt to demystify the options market and empower investors at all levels.
Jul 15, 2022 · 23 min
2039: How Meliá Hotels International is Driving Digital Transformation with Dynatrace
Meliá Hotels International anticipated an industry shift, with demand for travel hitting record levels following the pandemic. To accommodate this demand and deliver frictionless guest experiences, meeting guests on the mobile and online platforms on which they interact, Meliá Hotels accelerated its digital transformation by migrating its critical applications to the cloud. A cloud-native environment allowed Meliá the agility to release better digital functionality faster, enabling its guests to access more of its services via mobile and web platforms. I wanted to learn more about the importance of choosing the right support partner and how they leverage the Dynatrace platform's broad and deep observability and advanced AIOps capabilities to detect any anomalies in Meliá's infrastructure before they create issues for customer experiences. Christian Palomino joins me on Tech Talks Daily to discuss their digital transformation journey and how choosing the right partner enabled Meliá to ensure its digital services deliver the same quality experience as in-person interactions with hotel staff.
Jul 14, 2022 · 31 min
2038: Zebra Technologies and the Flurry of SaaS Acquisitions
Can a Zebra change its stripes? Yes, if the rapid set of software acquisitions in the past few years by Zebra Technologies are anything to go by. It has catapulted Zebra firmly into the world of SaaS and injected some new 'magic' into their ubiquitous hardware portfolio, says David Lancefield, software solutions director at Zebra, who joined via the acquisition of AI-powered workforce management and planning company, Reflexis. Zebra's recent flurry of acquisitions include Adaptive Voice (machine vision software), Profitect (prescriptive analytics for retail), Reflexis (AI-powered workforce management and planning) and antuit.ai (AI demand forecast and inventory optimisation) – all aimed at complementing and enhancing their current software and hardware for frontline workers in retail, warehouse, manufacturing, and logistics, to name a few. With brands like Dixons Carphone UK, McDonald's UK and Coop Switzerland under their belt, Zebra helps retailers improve their inventory visibility, optimise costs to streamline shipment completion times, identify fraud, and manage workers and tasks in real-time. With the pandemic in the UK feeling more behind us and labour shortages and supply chain pressures in front, David Lancefield, software solutions director at Zebra, discusses why we're seeing the rise of vertical SaaS for specific industries like retail and logistics. We also explore how SaaS changes workplaces into ecosystems where people, inventory, hardware and software are connected.
Jul 13, 2022 · 29 min
2037: Polygon and Opera Discuss Layer 2 Integration in Crypto Browser
Opera, the company behind the popular multi-platform web browser, has fully integrated the Polygon Network into its lauded Crypto Browser Project. The integration will unlock unfiltered access to Polygon's vast array of more than 7,000 decentralized apps (dapps), including popular gaming dapps such as Decentraland, Sandbox, Aavegotchi, My Crypto Heroes and Atlantis World, and Decentral Games, among many others. Critically, the direct integration bypasses the need for users to transfer assets from Ethereum to Polygon — increasing the environmental benefits of using Polygon's solution. Bridge contracts alone account for about 70% of Polygon PoS gas usage. By circumventing the need to bridge assets, Opera users can dramatically reduce their carbon footprint. Susie Batt, Crypto Ecosystem lead at Opera, and Brian Trunzo, Metaverse Lead at Polygon Studios, join me in a discussion about accessing Web3 and crypto functionality technologies to create a trusted and unique way for everyday users to access the future web. I learn more about the future for both Opera and Polygon in the growing Web3 industry and how these two companies are working together.
Jul 12, 2022 · 17 min
2036: Tufin - Factors to Consider Before Relying on Cloud Native Solutions
It goes without saying that security has not developed at an equal rate to software innovations in the last few decades. This has led to Cloud-Native organically evolving security to be coherent with how software is made today. In addition, creating disposable layers of protection on certain scales of attack has prevented security bottlenecking and allowed eager users to implement cloud-native. Nevertheless, questions are being posed as to the consequences of relying on such solutions and whether they are reliable or adequate to deal with the risks in the current landscape. Thorsten Geissel from Tufin joins me on Tech Talks Daily in a discussion about Traditional vs Cloud Native applications and the biggest risks of relying on native cloud security solutions. We also discuss whether cloud native tools are strong enough and how collaboration can be maintained and amplified to break free from silos.
Jul 11, 2022 · 18 min
2035: Transforming ideas into NFTs With NFT Requests Marketplace
Creaticles is the first custom NFT request platform connecting businesses and individuals with creators ready to fulfill any occasion of custom NFTs. It enables users to engage in various contest modes to ensure your NFT request, whether a meme, logo, game, or web asset, is fulfilled to your expectations at a price you can afford. The platform allows anyone to source custom NFTs through 'Creaticles contests', using a Request for Proposal (RFP) model. Users submit an NFT idea request to the platform's roster of verified artists, who are remunerated for their work in ETH and other cryptocurrencies. Creaticles was also selected as one of eight of the most promising projects in CoinList's Seed batch for Fall 2021, out of a field of over 500 crypto projects, and recently announced a partnership with Fantom. Jonathan Chen joins me on Tech Talks Daily to share the story behind the company.
Jul 10, 2022 · 30 min
2034: The Tech Unifying Search, Feed, Ads, and Promotions for Marketplaces
Andrew Yates is the co-founder and CEO of Promoted.ai, a tech startup that helps marketplaces maximize conversions through optimizing for better search results as well as real-time personalization for new and anonymous users. Promoted.ai was part of the Y Combinator 2021 batch. Before starting Promoted.ai, Andrew worked at Pinterest and Facebook, where he led ads ranking, auction, and marketplace engineering and research teams. In today's episode Andrew shares how Promoted.ai plans to better match every buyer with a seller across all marketplaces on web or mobile. We also explore how ad engineering works behind the scenes and tips ad engineers can use to design great ad marketplaces. Finally, Andrew shares his experiences of getting Promoted.ai into Y Combinator and what the experience has been like. About Promoted Promoted is the only company to unify search, feed, ads, and promotions for top marketplaces like Outschool, Hipcamp, Teachers Pay Teachers, Snackpass, and other e-commerce unicorns. Promoted works by measuring everything in the marketplace using its real-time streaming data infrastructure. Then, Promoted maximizes conversions in search and feed through machine learning. Backed by Y Combinator, the company was founded by former ad engineers from Pinterest, Facebook, and Google.
Jul 9, 2022 · 20 min
2033: The CEO Empowering Tech Teams to Work from Anywhere
Rick Hammell, CEO, and founder at global HR Tech Firm Atlas, joins me on Tech Talks Daily. Rick is the author of "Getting Sh*t Done!: The Millennial CEO," so his productivity and exponential growth of his company should come as no surprise. We discuss the recent rebranding from elements Global Services and how they are helping to define the "work from anywhere" space. In today's conversation, we cover various topics from the labor shortage to tech employee retention and paying different salaries depending on where you live, for the same job. But at the heart of everything, we talk about the opportunities being unlocked by emerging technologies in the workplace.