Interview Archives - Page 3 of 15

Cultivating Your Inner Data Scientist – Pinar Ozcan

February 27, 2025February 27, 2025
by Claire

In today’s world, data underpins almost everything—from the financial decisions we make to the way businesses and governments operate. What’s more, in the world of AI, data is the fuel and the ‘secret sauce’ that produces the time saving outputs and future potential breakthroughs.

But while companies are collecting more data than ever before, many are still struggling to store it effectively, let alone make sense of it, and most of us are not equipped with the skills we all need personally to have sustainable careers in this new, AI-powered era.

In our episode this week, we speak with Pinar Ozcan, Professor of Entrepreneurship and Innovation at Said Business School, Oxford University, to explore the profound impact of AI on jobs, skills, and industries—and what you can do to stay relevant.

Pinar is a leading expert on AI disruption, open banking, and the strategic role of data in innovation. From the rise of AI-driven financial services to the skills that will define the workforce of tomorrow, she shares invaluable insights on how individuals and businesses can navigate this changing landscape.

In this episode you’ll hear:

How AI and data are reshaping industries, particularly finance and fintech
Practical ways you can stay competitive in the AI-driven job market
Why data literacy is becoming a must-have skill for professionals
Pinar’s take on which countries and companies are leading the way in AI regulation and education
How AI is both creating and eliminating jobs, and what that means for your career

We’ll also hear about the personal AI tool that’s transformed the way Pinar works.

Don’t miss this fascinating and thought-provoking conversation with Pinar Ozcan.

Useful Links

Pinar’s website

Learn more about Pinar’s research: Oxford Future of Finance and Technology Initiative

Recommended book: Prediction Machines by Ajay Agrawal

Pinar’s favourite AI tool: Superhuman – an AI-powered email assistant

Info on the EU AI Act

Share this episode with a friend or colleague who needs to upskill for the AI era

Subscribe to Don’t Stop Us Now – AI Edition wherever you get your podcasts

Interview

Our Chat with Chat – ChatGPT Advanced Voice Mode

February 11, 2025
by Claire

Drumroll . . . our episode this week features a world famous guest who needs no introduction.

After detailed negotiations with their agent 😉 we’re thrilled to share that our guest is none other than ChatGPT Advanced Voice Mode.

Since launching in the 3rd quarter of last year, Open AI’s ChatGPT Advanced Voice Mode has been transforming how people interact with AI. It’s played countless roles – from life coach to confidant, knowledge companion to conversation practice partner.

And now? We’re adding ‘podcast guest’ to its extensive repertoire!

We approached our unique conversation with this famous ‘synthetic’ guest as both a test drive and a demonstration; taking ChatGPT for a ‘spin’ and letting you experience its capabilities in real-time.

You’ll hear Chat switch between languages effortlessly, offer predictions and insights about adapting to tomorrow’s workplace, and even attempt some dad jokes. Groan! (We apologise in advance!)

Through some persistent questioning, we also uncovered what might be previously unreported usage data. Is it a world-first revelation or an AI hallucination? Only OpenAI knows for sure!

We’re confident you’ll find this conversation as fun and intriguing as we did. So settle in and enjoy this episode featuring our first-ever synthetic guest, ChatGPT.

Useful Info for trying Advanced Voice Mode yourself:

Advanced Voice Mode is easy to access. You open your ChatGPT app and you’ll see a button on the bottom right that has white zigzag bars with a black background – it’s called the Wavelength icon. Click on this and you can get started. It’s worth noting that ChatGPT free users have limited access.

Image Credit: ChatGPT

Interview

Leaning into AI – Julie Hood

January 23, 2025January 23, 2025
by Claire

What happens when AI transforms one industry? The ripple effects can reshape entire business ecosystems – from healthcare innovations forcing insurance companies to adapt, to retail transformations rippling through supply chains.

In this episode, we dive deep into these cascading effects with someone who sees them firsthand. Through fascinating real-world examples, Julie Hood reveals how AI isn’t just changing isolated business functions – it’s creating a domino effect that no industry can ignore.

As EY’s AI Enablement Leader for Europe, the Middle East, India and Africa, Julie guides organisations through this transformation daily, bringing insights from her work with teams across 90 countries.

You’ll discover:

Why every corner of your business needs to prepare for AI transformation
How to get involved in AI projects, even without technical expertise
Practical ways to use AI tools like ChatGPT in your daily life (including Julie’s personal travel planning secrets)

Join us as we explore the interconnected AI future and more with the well-travelled and design-curious Julie Hood.

Useful Link

EY website AI centre

Interview

AI for Human Flourishing – Nathalie Nahai

January 5, 2025January 6, 2025
by Claire

Our guest this week is an expert in psychology, persuasive technology, and human behaviour. Nathalie Nahai is also an author, international keynote speaker and artist.

Nathalie has thought deeply about the impact of AI on humans and what she has to share with us in this episode is really thought provoking.

In this episode we cover what it will mean to be human in the coming years as AI evolves around us. We talk about what happens if businesses just default to using AI to cut costs and roles, and explore how to create AI that has values truly ‘baked in’ to support humanity.

Nathalie also shares an inspiring call to pursue the answer to perhaps the most important question for today: how do we create businesses that harness technology and support the flourishing of life? And she shares a diverse range of AI resources to listen to or read (see links below).

This is Nathalie’s second appearance on the show and an obvious choice for us given her global perspectives on humans and their relationship with tech. (It’s been six years since we last spoke to her on the podcast after meeting at SXSW in Austin. You can find that episode here.)

Nathalie’s humane perspective and questions are so important in the world right now.

Enjoy this new episode with the deep thinking and inspiring Nathalie Nahai.

Useful links

Nathalie’s AI resources page

Nathalie Nahai Art

Nathalie’s podcast

Joanna Kavanna (author she mentions)

Sanger Institute (for Genomics)

MIT AI Basics

Harvard free machine learning course

Your Undivided Attention (podcast)

Gary Marcus

Timnit Gebru

Interview

Working in the Future – Helen Mayhew

December 8, 2024December 8, 2024
by Claire

This week’s episode of Don’t Stop Us Now AI edition is with a fascinating guest who has a box seat in understanding what’s going on with AI in businesses around the world.

Helen Mayhew is a McKinsey & Company Partner and one of the leaders of its AI division, QuantumBlack. A Cambridge graduate, Helen has deep data analytics and AI expertise. Her day job is to guide leading organisations on their advanced analytics journeys and AI innovation and implementation.

In this episode, Helen covers everything from the broad spectrum of initiatives and use cases different businesses are and will be trying, to detailing how radically different our roles are likely to be in future.

Helpfully, she shares some of the key skills we’ll all need to remain valuable and she reveals her belief that almost every workday process and every person’s day will be reimagined and done differently thanks to AI.

Helen also shares some incredible research predictions about the future in case you were in any doubt about AI’s coming impact on us all. For example, between 30-40% of all tasks done at work today won’t need to exist in the future. Yes you read that right, 30 to 40% of what we humans do today will be replaced by AI according to this research!

Helen is really good at explaining things very clearly and bringing a variety of AI use cases to life. She also shares some of her favourite AI learning resources which you can see in the links below.

This is an unmissable episode, so learn what’s coming your way with the ever curious and super smart Helen Mayhew.

Useful Links

Helen Mayhew LinkedIn

QuantumBlack website

Mckinsey website

Chat GPT

Gemini

Stable Diffusion

Microsoft AI Learning Hub

Fast AI / AI for Everyone course

DeepLearning founder and Coursera co founder: Andrew Ng courses

Practical AI podcast

Lex Fridman podcast

Interview

Building an Autonomous Business – Alexa Stathakis

December 1, 2024December 1, 2024
by Claire

Welcome to our very first episode of Don’t Stop Us Now AI Edition!

Have you heard about the possibility of building a one person billion dollar company? Many experts believe it’s only a matter of time for a founder to harness AI and automation to be able to scale their business to unicorn status.

Our guest today is well on her way to building an automated company. 29 year old Alexa Stathakis is co-founder of iced tea drinks business, Tea Industries, and we’re blown away by her focus and savviness at using AI to deliver massive impact.

As you’ll hear in this fascinating episode, after trying numerous other ways to scale her sales calls, Alexa decided to invest in building an AI sales consultant. And in just a month she and her software engineer had nailed the training with incredible results.

And what’s more, you’ll also get to listen in to one of these AI sales calls.

This technology is here today and while Alexa may be a savvy early adopter, we agree with her view that it’s going to be used in many more businesses very soon.

Enjoy this episode with the entrepreneurial and focused Alexa Stathakis.

Useful Links:

Alexa on LinkedIn

Tea Industries website

Interview

Purpose Powered Pioneer – Annie Crawford

October 10, 2024October 10, 2024
by Claire

Few people can say they’ve founded a non-profit that raises millions while creating a community that helps supporters achieve extraordinary physical challenges. Annie Crawford is one of those rare individuals.

As the founder of CanToo, a high-profile Australian charity running for nearly two decades, Annie has revolutionised fundraising for cancer research. CanToo organises physical challenges like ocean swims and half marathons, where participants receive months of professional coaching in exchange for fundraising commitments.

As a result, more than 20,000 people to date have achieved impressive physical challenges, and more than AUD$33 million has been raised to fund cancer research.

Aside from CanToo, Annie’s had some fascinating career experience including helping to build a very successful Biotech startup in San Francisco.

In this episode you’ll hear how:

How a Kombi van trip around Europe with her parents and 6 siblings impacted Annie’s world view (can you imagine 9 people in a Kombi van?!)
How Annie places values at the heart of what she does and how she built CanToo
Her ingredients for building a sustainable and successful organisation, and
How Annie learnt to overcome an almost paralysing fear of public speaking

Annie is a very down to earth and modest person and you can tell that her life and priorities have been shaped by family tragedy. With CanToo she’s built an incredible and fitting legacy.

Enjoy this episode with the inspiring and values-driven Annie Crawford.

Useful Links

CanToo website – check out their latest physical challenges

Interview

Pursuing the Unknown – Jill Heinerth

September 19, 2024September 19, 2024
by Claire

Our guest this week is the most pioneering woman we’ve ever had on the show.

Canadian Jill Heinerth is arguably the world’s greatest cave diver and underwater explorer. She’s also a writer, photographer and filmmaker.

Jill literally goes places no human has ever gone before. She’s swum past the graves of more than 100 of her friends, as well as having some pretty close calls herself.

Jill is the first Explorer in Residence for the Royal Canadian Geographical Society, she’s also a recipient of Canada’s prestigious Polar Medal, and a Fellow of the International Scuba Divers Hall of Fame.

To put it simply, Jill’s life story is extraordinary.

In this episode you’ll hear:

Why Jill chooses to chase fear not run from it
How Jill has learnt to develop and combine different skills in order to make her cave diving and exploring career sustainable
What happened after she dived in the crevices of an iceberg in Antarctica
How Jill thinks about putting a team for a new expedition together, and
How she feels being the star of a new, award-winning documentary about her career, called Diving Into The Darkness.*

Jill Heinerth is an amazing storyteller so enjoy this fascinating conversation with the intrepid and eloquent Jill Heinerth.

* P.S. If you’re in Sydney don’t miss the chance to see screenings of the documentary during the first week of October with Jill attending in person along with Director Nays Baghai.

Useful Links

Jill’s website – https://www.intotheplanet.com/

The Documentary – Diving into the Darkness

Official Website: https://divingintothedarkness.com/

Australian Screening Dates with Jill Heinerth & Director Nays Baghai: https://divingintothedarkness.com/ditd-week/

Instagram: https://www.facebook.com/divingintothedarkness/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/divingintothedarkness/

Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@divingintothedarkness

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@DivingIntoTheDarkness

Watch the Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KIjdVAdpTnQ&t=139s

Interview

Menopause Trailblazer – Dr Louise Newson

August 21, 2024
by Claire

Our guest this week is known globally for kickstarting a menopause revolution.

UK-based Dr Louise Newson is a physician, menopause specialist, businesswoman, educator and author. Not only that, she’s the founder of the award-winning Balance menopause app which has had more than one million downloads, and she hosts a weekly podcast as well!

As you’ll hear, Dr Newson is also making big inroads into educating the medical profession about menopause and perimenopause, with more than 30,000 clinicians globally downloading her online program. And believe us it’s needed!

In this fascinating episode that every woman should listen to you’ll hear:

How Louise missed identifying her own menopause symptoms for months
What keeps her keep going despite attacks and criticism from some in the medical world
How even today, many Doctors are never taught anything about women’s hormone health, and
How hard this passionate campaigner has found running her medical clinics business.

We were so impressed speaking with Louise, and it really is incredible that today, in 2024, there is still so much misinformation about hormone replacement therapy (HRT) out there.

As you’ll hear, her work has also had a direct and positive impact on our own lives and health.

Enjoy this episode with the determined and passionate Dr Louise Newson …

Useful Links:

Dr Louise Newson’s website

Louise’s UK theatre tour dates (Sept to Nov 2024)

Balance app info

Interview

Astronaut, Entrepreneur and Future-Maker – Anousheh Ansari

August 8, 2024
by Claire

Ever wondered what it’s like to ride in a rocket, and we do mean literally?

Today you get to hear first hand about space travel with our guest, the 44th female astronaut in history and the first Iranian and Muslim woman in space. Astronaut and Entrepreneur, Anousheh Ansari is also only the 4th self-funded person to travel to space and the International Space Station.

We had the best time in this conversation with Anousheh, hearing her incredible stories about the experience of rocketing into orbit.

And Anousheh is so much more than an astronaut. She’s also an extremely successful entrepreneur and co-founded a successful technology company which saw her listed on Fortune Magazine’s 40 under 40. Shortly after she sold that business in 2000 for around $USD 750 million.

A qualified electrical engineer, Ahousheh has been recognised for her innovation and entrepreneurialism with numerous awards including the George Mason University Entrepreneurial Excellence Award, and a Space Pioneer award from the National Space Society

These days, Anousheh is focused on solving humanity’s biggest problems, something she does as CEO of the X Prize Foundation as you’ll hear in our episode. It’s some of the most hopeful content we’ve heard in years!

In this absorbing episode you’ll also learn:

How growing up in Iran during the Revolution has impacted Anousheh’s approach to life
Why space was something that fascinated her since she was a little girl
What Anousheh believes it takes to build a successful business
How she and her family have made a massive difference to the space industry
The highs and lows of 9 months of astronaut training in Russia, and
How, with numerous X Prizes addressing Earth’s biggest issues, she’s hopeful about our future.

So buckle up and do not miss this inspiring conversation with the entrepreneurial and abundant thinker & doer, Anousheh Ansari…

Useful Links

X Prize Foundation website