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Tech World Human Skills

Ben Pearce

Ben Pearce interviews thought leaders in the tech world to learn from their success. In each episode we focus on a topic our guest has learnt about, failed at, course corrected and ultimately succeeded with. We can stand on the shoulders of giants and benefit from their insight.

The Tech World Human Skills podcast is a masterclass on building the leadership, professional and human skills that are essential to thrive in the tech world.

If you're in Pre-Sales, Consulting, Engineering, Customer Success, Architecture, Tech Leadership or any other tech discipline come and join the party.

New episodes every 2 weeks. Listen to The Tech World Humans Skills podcast wherever you listen to your podcast or watch on YouTube. Check out www.techworldhumanskills.com for more details.

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July 22 · 44 min
How Leaders Overcome Resistance To Disruptive Technology | Matt Quinn
Change management often fails for one simple reason: nobody diagnosed why people are actually resisting before throwing more training and communication at the problem. Matt Quinn, SVP of Sales and Go to Market at IFS Industrial Intelligence, joins the show to unpack how leaders diffuse resistance to disruptive technology, using the ADKAR framework (awareness, desire, knowledge, ability, reinforcement) as a lens for figuring out where a change effort is actually stalling. The conversation covers why leadership style has to shift depending on how competent someone is at a specific task, not their general reputation, and why pairing a vision led leader with a detail oriented "bad cop" tends to make change stick where either style alone would not. The episode also digs into a part of the AI conversation that gets less airtime: the 70 percent of the global workforce who do not sit at a desk. Quinn talks about what it takes to bring AI into industrial settings like production lines and field service, where the disruption looks very different from the desk based AI tools most tech media covers. He and Ben also talk about reward structures, the risk of mandating change without addressing the fear underneath it, and why looking before you leap beats jumping straight to a training rollout. Matt Quinn is SVP of Sales and Go to Market at IFS Industrial Intelligence, where he works on embedding AI into established ERP and field management systems. He previously worked at Oracle and Microsoft and has founded startups of his own, giving him a view of change management from both the big tech and founder side of the table. He is only a few months into the role, but the questions he is wrestling with are not new to him. He talks about the ADKAR framework he leans on repeatedly, the difference between coaching a beginner and coaching someone who has just been made a beginner again, and why he deliberately built his own leadership team around people who think nothing like him. Show notes: Listen and subscribe: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1yU6AcoCLySqE1wGn80HOT?si=649d8f8c3d8b47a3 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/tech-world-human-skills/id1674003078 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@techworldhumanskills/podcasts Newsletter and archive: https://www.techworldhumanskills.com Connect with Ben: https://www.linkedin.com/in/benpthoughts Technical Storytelling for Individuals: https://www.elevatedyou.live/individuals Technical Storytelling for Organisations: https://www.elevatedyou.live/organisations Connect With Matt Quinn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mattquinn-aistrategy/
July 8 · 41 min
How To Stand Out In A Competitive Tech Job Market | Dr Kyle Elliott
A tough job market rewards the people who can say, in one sentence, why they, and not the other thousand applicants, should get the role. This episode turns into a live coaching session. Dr. Kyle Elliott, a tech career and executive coach, walks Ben through the exercise he uses with senior leaders across Silicon Valley: gathering feedback from people who knew you as a child and people who know you now, then finding the overlap. That overlap, in Kyle's language, is your fabulousness, the specific and provable things that set you apart from everyone else with a similar background. The episode moves from theory into practice quickly. Kyle coaches Ben live, drawing out how Ben's own friends describe him, then pressing for the proof behind each trait: not just positive, but the specific week a deal fell through and Ben kept going anyway. That gap between a personality trait and a concrete story is where resumes and LinkedIn profiles usually fall flat, a problem Sales Engineers, Technical Consultants, and Customer Success leaders run into constantly once a market tightens. The conversation also covers the part of hiring nobody agrees on right now: how much AI is actually reading resumes, and how much a candidate should let AI write theirs. Kyle's answer, drawn from clients inside Google, Amazon, and other large tech companies, cuts against the assumption that bots decide everything. He also unpacks his cake and frosting framework for balancing the qualifications a role demands against the individuality that gets someone remembered, and how to talk about weaknesses in an interview without hiding them or handing the interviewer a reason to say no. Dr. Kyle Elliott, is a tech career coach and executive coach at CaffeinatedKyle.com, working with senior managers, executives, and job seekers across Silicon Valley and the wider tech industry. He is a member of the invitation-only Forbes Coaches Council and a consultant with the Myers-Briggs Company, and his coaching has been featured in Business Insider, Fortune, and the Harvard Business Review. Show notes footer: Listen and subscribe: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1yU6AcoCLySqE1wGn80HOT?si=649d8f8c3d8b47a3 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/tech-world-human-skills/id1674003078 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@techworldhumanskills/podcasts Newsletter and archive: https://www.techworldhumanskills.com Connect with Ben: https://www.linkedin.com/in/benpthoughts Technical Storytelling for Individuals: https://www.elevatedyou.live/individuals Technical Storytelling for Organisations: https://www.elevatedyou.live/organisations Dr Kyle Elliott: https://caffeinatedkyle.com/freebies/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kylecromerelliott/
June 24 · 46 min
Four Human Skills Every Sales Engineer Needs | Ron Whitson
This episode is the second of two conversations with Ron Whitson, and it picks up where part one left off. Ron returns to walk through the remaining four of his seven timeless behaviors for presales and solutions consulting professionals: show empathy, have a conversation, practice humility, and tell a story. Each behavior sounds intuitive on paper. Ron's job, and he does it well, is to show exactly how technical people get each one wrong in practice. The empathy conversation goes further than the standard put-yourself-in-the-customer's-shoes framing. Ron draws a clear distinction between being in service to your audience and being focused on your own performance, and flags a specific mistake that catches a lot of experienced practitioners: when someone shares something and you jump in with "the same thing happened to me," you think you're building rapport. You're actually discounting them. The humility section is one of the most candid stretches of either episode. Ron talks openly about the early-career arrogance that came with knowing every piece of software on the market, and the slower realisation that telling an audience "I don't know, let me find out" can do more for your credibility than pretending you have every answer. On storytelling, the conversation gets concrete. Ron argues for plain language over technical vocabulary, and makes the point with a tight example: one company presented storage capacity as 300 gigabytes an hour. Another described the same capability as 40 hours of content. Only one of those stays in the room after you leave. Ben adds his own angle on the Aristotle trifecta of credibility, logic, and emotional connection, and there is a brief, genuinely useful argument about English mustard. Ron Whitson is Senior Director of Solutions Consulting at Thomson Reuters and author of A Friendly Human in Presales, a practical guide built from 28 years in the field. A signed copy and free audiobook codes are available at timelessbehaviors.com. Connect with Ron on LinkedIn. Show notes footer: Listen and subscribe: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1yU6AcoCLySqE1wGn80HOT?si=649d8f8c3d8b47a3 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/tech-world-human-skills/id1674003078 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@techworldhumanskills/podcasts Newsletter and archive: https://www.techworldhumanskills.com Connect with Ben: https://www.linkedin.com/in/benpthoughts Technical Storytelling for Individuals: https://www.elevatedyou.live/individuals Technical Storytelling for Organisations: https://www.elevatedyou.live/organisations Ron Links https://timelessbehaviors.com/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/ronwhitsonse/
June 10 · 35 min
How To Structure a Technical Presentation People Will Remember
Most technical professionals can fill a presentation with content. The harder problem is deciding what belongs, what order it goes in, and how to stop the audience forgetting everything before they walk out the door. In this solo episode, Ben unpacks two frameworks he comes back to every time he coaches someone through a high-stakes presentation. One is AOREN, a five-question template that acts as a North Star before a single slide gets built. The other is his go-to presentation structure, which maps the whole session from opening to close. AOREN stands for Audience, Objective, Remembered, Emotion, Next Steps. Ben walks through each element in detail: who is in the room and what they care about, how to hold two objectives in mind at once (yours and theirs), why narrowing down to three key messages before you start designing dramatically sharpens everything that follows, how to build emotional connection into content that is often dry and data-heavy, and how to be deliberate about what the audience should do the moment the session ends. He draws on recent coaching work with a head of data presenting an AI strategy to senior leaders, a professional navigating a difficult budget conversation, and a consultant pitching to government officials in developing countries. The same framework applies in all of them. The second half covers the go-to structure: a distinct beginning, three key theme sections that correspond directly to the Remembered section of AOREN, and a deliberate ending. Ben breaks down what actually goes inside each of those sections. The opening framework runs from breathe-and-smile through a hook, a clear statement of benefit, and the key messages upfront, before the audience has had a chance to zone out. The closing framework runs from a verbal signal that the session is ending through to a clean next-step ask. He also explains why building in the key messages at the start is not giving away the punchline: it is the only reliable way to make sure the people who matter hear them at least once. Listen and subscribe: Spotify: https://lnkd.in/eUGUEB7s Apple Podcasts: https://lnkd.in/eMHTNE-3 YouTube: https://lnkd.in/esq9jDs2 Newsletter and archive: https://www.techworldhumanskills.com Connect with Ben: https://www.linkedin.com/in/benpthoughts Blog Articles: AOREN - https://www.elevatedyou.live/blog/tslAOREN Content Flow - https://www.elevatedyou.live/blog/contentflow Beginning - https://www.elevatedyou.live/blog/presentation-opening-win-the-audience-in-60-seconds-elevated-you Ending - https://www.elevatedyou.live/blog/endingpresentationstrongly
May 27 · 42 min
How To Earn More And Move Up In Technology | Jeremy Burns
This episode looks at why career growth in technology rarely happens by accident, and what people working in tech can actually do to take control of their own progression. Ben sits down with Jeremy Burns, VP of Platform Engineering at Hawke and author of Earn More Move Up, to dig into the mechanics that decide who gets promoted, who gets paid more, and who quietly stalls. The conversation centres on a simple hierarchy that Jeremy uses for almost every career decision: customer, company, team, self. Reverse that order and your career suffers. Get it the right way round and the rewards follow naturally because you are creating real value for the business. They also unpack the unwritten contract every employment relationship lives inside, the difference between endorsing and adjusting feedback, and why pay rises and promotions are a lagging indicator of work you did six to nine months ago. Jeremy explains why walking into a performance review with a beautiful self-pitch document is almost always too late, and what to do instead. Ben adds the leadership view from his time managing budgets at Microsoft, including the moment a manager sits down with their final pot of cash and realises someone has been quietly invisible all year. The final section is about knowing when to leave. Jeremy uses the boat metaphor to talk about staying, accepting your boat, or moving on. Ben shares the eighteen months of planning that sat behind his decision to leave Microsoft and start Elevated You. The throughline is the same idea Jeremy returns to throughout: be first to your own rescue. About the guest: Jeremy Burns is VP of Platform Engineering at Hawke, host of the Build Your Edge podcast, and author of Earn More Move Up. He started in marketing, taught himself to code, and worked through development and management into senior technology leadership over a long career. His view sits at the rare intersection of having been on both sides of the performance review table. Listen and subscribe: Spotify: https://lnkd.in/eUGUEB7s Apple Podcasts: https://lnkd.in/eMHTNE-3 YouTube: https://lnkd.in/esq9jDs2 Newsletter and archive: https://www.techworldhumanskills.com Connect with Ben: https://www.linkedin.com/in/benpthoughts Connect with Jeremy: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeremyburns/
May 13 · 38 min
Three Human Skills Every Sales Engineer Needs | Ron Whitson
Buyers in a serious software evaluation sit through between eight and thirteen vendor demos, and most of them blur into the same slick performance, so the sales engineer who actually gets remembered is the one who shows up as a real human. This episode digs into the three timeless behaviours that Ron Whitson has spent twenty-eight years in pre-sales learning the hard way: be authentic, listen actively, and leave an impression. The conversation works through each one in turn, what gets in the way of doing it well, and the small habits that move the dial. On authenticity, Ron makes the case that imitating someone else's demo always reads as fake, and that in a market saturated with AI-generated polish, the slightly boring real version of you is more valuable than a perfect performance. On active listening, he separates listening to understand from listening to respond, and explains why putting the phone down and resisting the urge to jump in is harder than it sounds, especially for technical experts who already know where the question is going. On leaving an impression, he frames the audience reality clearly: when a buyer has watched a dozen presentations in a week, the differentiator is rarely the product, it is whether they liked you and whether the solution was simple enough to explain to a colleague. It also questions the lazy assumption that being audience-centric means becoming whatever the room wants you to be. Ron argues that you can adapt to the situation while staying anchored to a consistent set of values, and that giving yourself permission to say "I have not had that question before, let me come back to you" is itself an authentic move. Useful for Sales Engineers and Solution Consultants who are tired of polishing the same deck, and for leaders who keep getting feedback that their team's calls all sound the same. About the guest. Ron Whitson is Senior Director of Solution Consulting at Thomson Reuters and the author of A Friendly Human in Pre-Sales. He has spent twenty-eight years in pre-sales work, roughly half of that in leadership roles, and now spends a lot of his time coaching, mentoring, and developing solution consulting teams. Listen and subscribe: Spotify: https://lnkd.in/eUGUEB7s Apple Podcasts: https://lnkd.in/eMHTNE-3 YouTube: https://lnkd.in/esq9jDs2 Newsletter and archive: https://www.techworldhumanskills.com Connect with Ben: https://www.linkedin.com/in/benpthoughts Elevated You Program: https://www.elevatedyou.live Ron Links https://timelessbehaviors.com/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/ronwhitsonse/
April 29 · 39 min
Business Storytelling For Sales Engineers | Tim Chinchen
Stories are like mustard on a ham sandwich. A little lifts everything. An inch thick and you lose the room. Tim Chinchen has spent 30 years in technology, half of that leading pre-sales teams. In this episode he walks through the storytelling habits that move deals and the ones that sink them. Why some cultures expect you to share your life before you share your ask. Why breaking a client's website inside a demo can work better than showing them a feature list. Why the classic hero's journey does not hold up in a 40-minute call where the exec might get pulled out after ten. The conversation unpacks a three-act structure you can drop any story into, the three business themes every commercial story eventually serves (making money, saving money, and not getting sued), and the habit of putting the last thing first so even a distracted audience gets the point. Tim also shares where he still gets it wrong. He recently used an AI note-taker to review his own job interviews and was told he used too many stories. The lesson is that the right number is rarely the maximum. This is for sales engineers, pre-sales leaders, technical consultants, and anyone using narrative to get technical ideas across to people who have other things going on. About the guest: Tim Chinchen has spent 30 years in technology, the first 15 as a developer and architect, the next 15 leading pre-sales teams. He ran Northern European sales engineering at Acme Packet before the company was acquired by Cisco for 3.7 billion dollars, and has spent the last 8 years running global pre-sales at PagerDuty. Find him on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/timchinchen/ Show notes footer: Enjoyed this episode? Here's what to do next: Get Ben's weekly newsletter, practical ideas for technical professionals, straight to your inbox: https://www.techworldhumanskills.com Follow Ben on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/benpthoughts Explore the Technical Storytelling Professional Program: https://www.elevatedyou.live Follow Tim on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/timchinchen/ Tech World Human Skills is the podcast for technical professionals who want to communicate, influence, and lead at the highest level.
April 15 · 41 min
How to Get Better Results From Your Technical Team | Ben Caird
How to get better results from your technical team is one of the most searched questions in tech leadership. And the answer is almost never about hiring better people. It is about how you assign work, how you give feedback, and how much oversight you are actually running. In episode 78 of the Tech World Human Skills podcast, Ben Caird joins Ben Pearce for the third episode in a mini-series on leadership in tech. Ben Caird has 25 years in software and technology and 15 years leading large operational teams across enterprise SaaS. This episode is the most practical of the three. What you'll learn: Match work to people by mapping aptitude and confidence, not just availability Give feedback that describes specific behaviours rather than character judgements Use the WIT framework (When, Impact, Therefore) to make feedback land without triggering defensiveness Diagnose whether your oversight is creating discipline or bureaucracy Balance honesty and empathy when a direct conversation cannot be avoided About Ben Caird: Ben has 25 years in software and technology, with over 15 years leading large operational teams across enterprise SaaS environments. He specialises in building high-performing teams, driving operational improvement, and leading transformation at scale. Episode Highlights: [16:35] — Ben introduces the idea that feedback is rocket fuel for performance and explains why even Djokovic still has a coach. [19:25] — The difference between giving feedback on behaviours versus judgements, with a sharp example about someone on their phone in a meeting. [22:20] — Ben shares the WIT framework from a BBC producer and walks through exactly how to use it in a tech leadership context. Connect with Ben Caird: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bcaird/ Enjoyed this episode? Here's what to do next: 📩 Get Ben's weekly newsletter — practical ideas for technical professionals, straight to your inbox: https://www.techworldhumanskills.com 🔗 Follow Ben on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/benpthoughts 🌐 Explore the Technical Storytelling Professional Program: https://www.elevatedyou.live Tech World Human Skills is the podcast for technical professionals who want to communicate, influence, and lead at the highest level.
April 1 · 50 min
What Nobody Tells You About Moving Into Tech Leadership | Malcolm Murphy
Most technical people get promoted because they're the best at the job. Then they spend the next 18 months quietly struggling. Nobody told them it is a completely different job. Malcolm Murphy has spent his career in technical pre-sales, leading solutions consultant teams across major vendor organisations. His view is blunt: the skills that got you promoted will actively hold you back as a manager. What you'll learn: Identify the three distinct buckets every new tech leader must manage from day one Build a proactive hiring bench before you even have a role to fill Set clear performance expectations without fearing the conversation Delegate outcomes instead of activities to unlock your team's performance Develop your people in a way that drives retention more than any salary increase About Malcolm Murphy: Malcolm Murphy has spent the majority of his career in technical pre-sales, moving from UNIX engineer to leading solutions consultant teams across major vendor organisations. He currently specialises in insider risk and human risk management at Mimecast and runs the Pre-Sales Leaders Forum community in the UK. Episode highlights: [approx. 5 min mark] Malcolm breaks down the three buckets every new manager must own: people, business, and company leadership [approx. 17 min mark] Why hiring is not something you do alongside your job. It is your job. How to build a proactive bench before headcount opens up [approx. 36 min mark] The micromanagement trap and why your personal blueprint for success might be the worst thing you impose on your team Connect with Malcolm: LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/Malcolm-Murphy Enjoyed this episode? Here's what to do next: 📩 Get Ben's weekly newsletter — practical ideas for technical professionals, straight to your inbox: https://www.techworldhumanskills.com 🔗 Follow Ben on LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/benpthoughts 🌐 Explore the Technical Storytelling Professional Program: https://elevatedyou.live Tech World Human Skills is the podcast for technical professionals who want to communicate, influence, and lead at the highest level.
March 18 · 45 min
EP76: Five Human Competencies Every Modern Leader Needs with Panos Malakoudis
In this episode, Ben Pearce and Panos Malakoudis discuss the evolving landscape of leadership in the age of AI. They explore the five essential human competencies that modern leaders need: Insight, Integration, Inspiration, Integrity, and Impact. Panos Malakoudis runs his own company - Citium Solutions. He spent many years leading Consultancy and Engineering teams at Microsoft. Then he led coaching programs for the Microsoft leadership community and even got a Guinness World Record for it. Show Links Ben Pearce LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/benpthoughts/ Tech World Human Skills Home - https://www.techworldhumanskills.com Panos Malakoudis Linked In - https://www.linkedin.com/in/pmalakoudis/ Citium Solutions - https://www.citiumsolutions.co.uk/ Panos Forbes Page- https://www.forbes.com/councils/forbescoachescouncil/people/panosmalakoudis/ Takeaways Leadership is changing due to rapid technological advancements. Empathy has become a crucial competency for leaders post-COVID. 95% of AI pilots fail due to lack of insight and connection to business needs. Leaders must integrate technology into their decision-making processes. Inspiration is key to managing change and addressing team fears. Integrity involves understanding the ethical implications of AI usage. Measuring impact is essential for assessing the success of AI initiatives. Leaders should create a culture of experimentation and support. The fear of becoming obsolete (phobo) affects both leaders and teams. The five competencies are not new but need to be reframed for today's challenges. Keywords leadership, modern leadership, human competencies, AI, coaching, change management, integrity, impact, technology integration, inspiration
March 4 · 45 min
EP75: Building an AI-Native Engineering Team with Nic Neate
In this episode Ben Pearce and Nic Neate discuss what it's really like to build and be part of an AI native engineering team. Nic shares his experiences and insights on how AI is fundamentally changing the way software is developed, the skills required for engineers in this new landscape, and the challenges organizations face in adapting to these changes. Nic Neate is the CTO of @Nimbus. He has many years working in the software world and previously worked at Metaswitch and Microsoft. Show Links Ben Pearce LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/benpthoughts/ Tech World Human Skills Home - https://www.techworldhumanskills.com Nic Neate Linked In - https://www.linkedin.com/in/nic-neate-b3515210/ Nimbus - https://www.nimbusmaps.co.uk/ Takeaways AI is fundamentally changing software engineering. Vibe coding is using AI to write code. AI native means riding the wave of AI tooling. Being AI native enables you to do so much more. AI can do it in 10 minutes what you could do in a week. Context engineering is a key skill for engineers. Decision making is crucial in an AI native world. You need to invest in your tool chain. Recruitment processes need to change for AI roles. Maximize value for people working in AI. Keywords AI native engineering, software development, generative AI, engineering teams, AI tools, context engineering, software productivity, AI integration, engineering leadership, tech transformation
February 18 · 44 min
EP74: Leading Through Major Incidents with Richard Baker
In this episode of the Tech World Human Skills Podcast, Ben Pearce and Richard Baker discuss the critical topic of managing major incidents in the tech industry. They explore the importance of preparation, communication, and the human element in crisis management. Richard shares real-life experiences and insights on how to effectively lead teams through high-pressure situations. Richard Baker is the CIO of TWC IT Solutions. He has years of working in the tech world and many battle scars from leading teams through major incidents. Show Links Ben Pearce LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/benpthoughts/ Tech World Human Skills Home - https://www.techworldhumanskills.com TWC IT Solutions Linked In - https://www.linkedin.com/company/twc-support Richard Baker Email - richard@twcitsolutions.com TWC IT Solutions - https://twc-it-solutions.com/ Takeaways The most important part of any business is the team. Companies should practice incident response like fire drills. Keeping calm during a crisis leads to better decision-making. Effective communication with leadership is crucial during incidents. Preparation is key to managing major incidents successfully. Understanding the scope of the problem is essential for resolution. Building trust with clients enhances collaboration during crises. Post-incident analysis helps prevent future issues. Regular updates to clients reduce anxiety during incidents. A good relationship with clients is vital for effective incident management. Keywords incident management, crisis management, cybersecurity, communication, preparation, leadership, client trust, human skills, tech solutions, business continuity
February 4 · 48 min
EP73: Leadership 101 - Leading Change with Ben Caird
Leading through change isn't about sending a broadcast email and hoping for the best. In this episode, Ben Caird breaks down why most change initiatives fail and shares the ADKAR framework that actually gets teams moving in the same direction. Ben Caird is a seasoned professional leader. He's led teams of all sizes in a variety of tech companies and has years of experience. Show Links Ben Pearce LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/benpthoughts/ Tech World Human Skills Home - https://www.techworldhumanskills.com Ben Caird Linked In - https://www.linkedin.com/in/bcaird/ Keywords change management, leadership, adkar framework, stakeholder buy-in, team transformation, organizational change, effective communication, awareness and desire, change resistance, business impact Takeaways If you're not driving change, you're probably not leading. The ADKAR model is a great way to think about driving change. People resist change by default - you need to create genuine desire, not just awareness. Starting with "how to change" before explaining "why change" is where most initiatives fail. Effective change takes time with the right people; efficient change just broadcasts instructions that nobody follows. Change champions who are peers often influence adoption more than senior leaders telling people what to do. You get what you inspect - measuring adoption by team creates healthy accountability. The right executive sponsor can unblock resistance and hold stakeholders accountable when you can't. Sometimes you need to build a pilot and prove value before you can get widespread buy-in. Not every change battle is worth fighting - if you can't get past awareness and desire, question whether it's the right idea.
January 21 · 47 min
EP72: Value Engineering 101 with Paul Harris
In this episode we delve into the concept of value engineering and explore its significance in the tech industry. Paul explains the importance of understanding both the technology and the business needs of customers. We cover how to effectively bridge the gap between technical solutions and financial outcomes. Paul Harris has worked in technical pre-sales for many years. He is the co-host of "The Wandering Tech Podcast" and is Director of Pre-Sales at Loftware. Show Links Ben Pearce LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/benpthoughts/ Tech World Human Skills Home - https://www.techworldhumanskills.com Paul Harris Linked In - https://www.linkedin.com/in/paulfharris/ Takeaways Value engineering is about understanding customer problems and providing solutions. It's essential to bridge the gap between technology and business. Understanding how a business makes money is crucial for tech professionals. Financial acumen is as important as technical knowledge in pre-sales. Using relatable analogies can simplify complex business concepts. Crafting a business case requires understanding both revenue and costs. Value engineering helps in making technology investments stand out as business projects. Consultants need to help customers articulate the value of solutions to decision-makers. Key financial concepts include revenue, costs, and operating profit. Continuous learning about financial principles can enhance consulting effectiveness. Keywords value engineering, business acumen, technology solutions, financial concepts, pre-sales, consulting, enterprise sales, ROI, customer success, supply chain
January 7 · 43 min
EP71: The Hidden Half: ADHD and Neurodiversity in Tech with Sam Bramwell
In this episode we talk about ADHD in tech. We explore what ADHD is, how it shows up in the tech workplace, and provides practical tips for both neurotypical and neurodivergent people to work effectively together. Our guest Sam Bramwell has been a CEO, Chief of Staff at Microsoft UK and now leads a coaching program for leaders with ADHD. Show Links Ben Pearce LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/benpthoughts/ Tech World Human Skills Home - https://www.techworldhumanskills.com Sam Bramwell Linked In - https://www.linkedin.com/in/sam-bramwell-ac-pcc-3287642/ Additude Website - https://additudemag.com https://theADHDleader.co.uk Keywords Rejection Sensitivity Dysphoria (RSD), Interest-based nervous system, Body doubling, Dopamine dysregulation, Neurodivergent, Executive functioning, ADHD coaching, Personalized leadership, Tech Talent Charter, Paint done Takeaways 50% of tech workers self-identify as neurodivergent, while employers think only 3% are ADHD is driven by an interest-based nervous system (novelty, urgency, complexity, challenge, passion) and involves dopamine dysregulation Rejection Sensitivity Dysphoria (RSD) means criticism can feel like physical pain for people with ADHD Learn about your own "operating system" and communicate clearly what you need to perform at your best "Paint done" - provide clear expectations, context, and break large projects into manageable steps Always include agendas and context for meetings to reduce anxiety Practice personalized leadership by asking people how they work best and what they need Create environments that support different processing needs (flexible working, quiet spaces, body doubling sessions) Lead with empathy, focus on strengths-based approaches, and use positive reinforcement Educate yourself about neurodiversity - many "ADHD-friendly" practices benefit everyone
Dec 10, 2025 · 41 min
EP70: Will AI Eat Consultancy Jobs? with Steve Chan
In this episode we're asking the question "Will AI eat consultancy jobs?". There are so many people using their skills to help businesses deploy the latest tech. So what's the future look like for them. Steve Chan is the founder of a new company Stealth Labs. He's worked in Digital Intelligence at BAE and been an AI solutions engineer at Microsoft. Show Links Ben Pearce LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/benpthoughts/ Tech World Human Skills Home - https://www.techworldhumanskills.com Steve Chance Webpage - https://stevechan.ai Keywords consultancy, inefficiency, business perspective, profit margins, upskilling, training, organizational roles Takeaways Consultancy often operates inefficiently from a business standpoint. Consultants are frequently sold out to organizations for fees. There is overwhelming pressure to maintain profit margins in consultancy. Consultants may spend more time in one organization than intended. The need for training and upskilling is critical in consultancy. Profit margins can hinder the ability to respond to new requirements. Consultants face challenges in balancing multiple organizational roles. The structure of consultancy can lead to inefficiencies in service delivery. Effective training programs are essential for consultant development. Understanding the dynamics of consultancy can improve business outcomes.
Nov 26, 2025 · 41 min
EP69: Leadership 101 - Building Trust with Ben Caird
In this episode we talk about leadership core skills. Specifically building trust. How do you build trust with a team? We talk through the 5 Ways of Being that help you build trust with a team. Ben Caird is a seasoned professional leader. He's led teams of all sizes in a variety of tech companies and has years of experience. Show Links Ben Pearce LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/benpthoughts/ Tech World Human Skills Home - https://www.techworldhumanskills.com Ben Caird Linked In - https://www.linkedin.com/in/bcaird/ Keywords Trust, Authentic, Vulnerable, Accepting, Present, Useful, Leadership, Coaching, Results, Team Takeaways Be Authentic: Work in line with your values, own your feedback directly, be the same person at work and outside Be Vulnerable: Lead with your mistakes, make it safe for others to fail, encourage challenge even publicly Be Accepting: Delegate outcomes not activities, coach people to improve in their style not yours, accept different approaches Be Present: Put your phone away, give full attention, show up physically when possible, consider if you give or drain energy Be Useful: Stop doing the work, coach and open doors instead, pass the pen and let others own the plan Ask "What do you think?": It's powerfully empowering and helps people feel heard Efficiency vs Effectiveness: The fastest way (just telling people what to do) is often the least effective Build diverse teams: Don't hire clones of yourself - different approaches strengthen the team Leadership isn't looseness: Know what's going on, stay close enough to coach and drive results Results through people: You can be a nice human AND achieve great results - it's not either/or
Nov 12, 2025 · 44 min
EP68: So You Want To Be A CTO with David Crawford
In this episode we're talking about being a CTO. People listening might have CTO career aspirations. A lot might report into a CTO, and others might be selling to CTO's. So we talk to David about all things CTO. David Crawford has spent many years as a CTO. He's also been a CTO advisor and non-executive director. He often hosts London Tech Leader panels, and also hosts the "CTO Lens" podcast. Show Links Ben Pearce LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/benpthoughts/ Tech World Human Skills Home - https://www.techworldhumanskills.com David Linked In - https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-crawford-13679a/ CTO Lens Podcast - https://open.spotify.com/show/5aT2XrO7CTOCLPqKZmcnT9 Takeaways The role of a CTO is complex and varies by organization. CTOs are responsible for technology vision and strategy. Understanding finance is crucial for technology leaders. Soft skills in leadership are essential for success. Performance management is a critical aspect of the CTO role. Engaging with the business is vital for a CTO. Career development requires curiosity and mentorship. Fractional CTO roles are becoming more popular. CTOs must balance technical knowledge with leadership skills. Communication with non-technical stakeholders is key. Keywords CTO, CIO, technology leadership, fractional CTO, skills, career development, performance management, stakeholder management, communication, technology strategy
Oct 29, 2025 · 40 min
EP67: First Recall = First Call - Neuroscience of Memory, Time and Persuasion with John K Coyle
In this episode of the Tech World Human Skills Podcast, Ben Pearce and John Coyle explore the concept of becoming more memorable and the science behind how to do it. John shares insights from his experiences as an Olympic athlete and how understanding the nature of time can enhance our lives. John is an Olympic silver medallist, best-selling author, keynote speaker and expert in Chronoception. Show Links Ben Pearce LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/benpthoughts/ Tech World Human Skills Home - https://www.techworldhumanskills.com John Linked In - https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnkcoyle1/ John's Website - https://johnkcoyle.com/ Takeaways Memories are the currency of time. The nature of time is not linear; we experience human time, not clock time. Life begins at the edge of your comfort zone. Tiny moments often determine the trajectory of your future. Routine is the enemy of time; break it to create memories. To be memorable, recognize heightened circumstances as opportunities. Design experiences that leverage risk, uniqueness, and emotional intensity. Emotions drive human behavior; engage them to influence others. When you have trouble, you might be solving the wrong problem. Time and money are fungible; invest in creating memorable experiences. Keywords chronoception, memorable experiences, time perception, emotional engagement, storytelling, influence, personal growth, professional development, memory creation, human connection
Oct 15, 2025 · 40 min
EP66: Speaking At My First Big Conference with Felicity Nyan
In this episode of the Tech World Human Skills Podcast, Ben Pearce speak to Felicity Nyan, a Cloud Solution Architect at Microsoft. She shares her journey from being a hesitant public speaker to successfully presenting at SQLBits, one of the largest data conferences in the UK. Felicity discusses why she wanted to speak at a conference, the challenges she faced, and the valuable lessons learned along the way. Show Links Ben Pearce LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/benpthoughts/ Tech World Human Skills Home - https://www.techworldhumanskills.com Felicity Linked In - https://www.linkedin.com/in/radhika-dutt/ Oxford Microsoft Data Platform Group - https://www.meetup.com/oxford-microsoft-data-platform-group/ SQLBits - https://sqlbits.com/ Takeaways Felicity Nyan shares her journey from a hesitant speaker to presenting at SQL Bits. SQL Bits is a community-led conference that offers opportunities for all levels. Preparation is key, but life can often get in the way. Having a co-presenter can ease the pressure of presenting. Start early on proposals and keep a record of ideas. Practice makes perfect, but balance is important to avoid sounding scripted. User groups are great platforms for practicing public speaking. Engaging the audience is crucial for a successful presentation. Technical issues can arise, so have backup plans in place. Confidence can be built through small challenges outside of public speaking. Keywords public speaking, SQL Bits, data platform, conference presentation, Felicity Nyan, Microsoft, user groups, tech conferences, presentation tips, career growth

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