questions Archives - Don't Stop Us Now

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

Top Tips

Wondering What Next? Greta’s Unique Listening Tour

May 22, 2024May 22, 2024
by Claire

Our episode this week looks at an under-appreciated concept for reflecting on, and gaining new insights for your next career step or business idea.

We go on a journey with Claire to learn about a ‘World Listening Tour’ that Greta did some years back. She had decided to leave her intense role at (RED) and wasn’t sure what she wanted to do next, nor even which country she should live in!

This dilemma about what next prompted Greta to put together her very own listening tour to learn what had been happening in the world outside the bubble of her all-absorbing (RED) role, as well as discover what other interesting things were happening in the space she was interested in. At the same time, she figured, she’d also get a ‘feel’ for whether she’d want to live in particular cities or not.

In this unique episode we share:

What a Listening Tour is
What Greta wanted from her ‘World Listening Tour’
How she secured her meetings, sometimes with amazing people
What you need to consider to have your own successful listening tour, and
How you can have one these days without leaving home.

What we love about the concept of a Listening Tour is that there’s no limit to the kind of topics or themes you might want to explore. And, as you’ll discover, through curious and well prepared conversations with contacts and strangers, a lot of insight can come.

Perhaps a Listening Tour is exactly what you need now?

Enjoy this episode!

Interview

A Rare CFO – Madeline Ling

November 8, 2022November 8, 2022
by Claire

Our episode this week features the first Chief Financial Officer we’ve had on the show, however Madeline Ling is not your ‘ordinary’ CFO.

We don’t think we’ve met a CFO who values diversity and building relationships the way Madeline does, not to mention the articulate and creative way she speaks about the stories the numbers can tell her.

Madeline has held multiple CFO roles throughout her 20-plus year career to date which has seen her work far and wide, including in the U.S., China, Mexico, Europe, and Thailand. A tech-company veteran, these days she is CFO of US-based Boomi, a fast-growing global SaaS company, focussed on easy software integration, now owned by two blue chip private equity firms.

Before taking on CFO roles, Madeline spent twelve years consulting including the Boston Consulting Group where she was a Principal. She also has an MBA from Stanford Graduate School of Business.

In this episode you’ll hear:

What Madeline learnt as an impressionable teenager when she moved to the US not speaking a word of English
How she thinks about leveraging her differences to add value
Madeline’s recipe for building awesome working relationships; and
The two questions she asks herself before changing roles or company.

In short, this was a fabulous conversation and you’ll really be inspired by the thoughtful and articulate Madeline Ling.

Useful Link

Boomi website

Below you can see how the cake turned out that Madeline talked about in the interview (top right) – looks delicious!

Interview

Holly Ransom – Curious On Purpose

August 17, 2021September 28, 2021
by Claire

We’re excited to share this week’s episode with changemaker, leader and author, Holly Ransom.

Holly has pioneered her way into boardrooms and forums at the top end of town but what’s really interesting about Holly is her deep thoughtfulness, her fortitude to blaze her own path, and her drive to make the world a better place.

This 31 year old Aussie has Chaired the G20 Youth Summit, she’s an internationally sought after speaker and conference MC, and she’s recently completed her Masters of Public Policy in technology at the Harvard Kennedy School of Business – as a Fulbright Scholar no less.

Holly has made the most of conversations with some of the most high profile people in the world, interviewing everyone from President Obama to Muhammad Yunus and Malcolm Gladwell. These encounters, plus her own journey, have resulted in her first book, The Leading Edge.

Holly was awarded the US Embassy’s Eleanor Roosevelt Award for Leadership Excellence in 2019 and she was nominated by Richard Branson as his pick for future game changers to watch.

In this episode you’ll learn SO MUCH including:

How Holly’s life has been shaped by her curiosity about the big questions in life
Why developing depression was one of the most powerful shifts in her life and what she now does differently
How she goes about connecting with, and learning from, some the world’s most successful people
What she learnt from doing something that scared her every day for a year; and
Why she’s so passionate about busting myths around who can be a leader.

This is a memorable conversation, so don’t miss the pioneering and inspiring Holly Ransom.

Useful Links

Holly’s website

Holly’s new book – The Leading Edge

The Leading Edge – 28 Day Challenge

Holly’s podcast – Coffee Pods

How To End this Crazy Year on a Positive…

December 1, 2020
by Claire

Brought to you by Microsoft’s The New Next

Welcome to our latest How To episode, the last one for 2020!

This week we’re exploring how to end this year on a positive note. It’s been such a crazy year! From Australia and California’s shocking bushfires to the global COVID pandemic, which has led to so much disruption to all our lives.

We like to think of the end of the calendar year as a great opportunity to be a circuit breaker. With so many people right now feeling exhausted, this is a great chance for us all to start the process of recharging our batteries and freshening our outlook over the Holiday season.

In this episode we share 4 great tips that you can choose from to help you reset, clear your head and generally position yourself in the best possible way to enjoy December and start 2021 feeling much more positive.

We explore everything from humour, to reflecting on your 2020 actions, to telling someone how much you appreciate them.

So if you want to end 2020 in the best possible way then this is the episode for you. Enjoy!