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  • Why do some companies nail digital transformation while others just waste millions?

    In this episode you'll learn from two very different case studies: Starbucks and Lego.

    The founder of Starbucks, the company that pioneered mobile ordering, is now saying they went too far with tech. Meanwhile, LEGO transformed from a wooden toy maker into a digital powerhouse without losing its magic.

    Why did one succeed and the other fail? Listen to this episode to find out.

    You'll learn:

    Why having great tech stats doesn't mean you're winning (just ask Starbucks) How LEGO got digital right by being boring first The real reason most transformations fail (spoiler: it's not about the technology) Why "going digital" without a soul is like getting plastic surgery to fix your personality

    This episode is a must listen for corporate leaders planning their digital strategy, founders building tech companies, and investors who want to spot the next LEGO, not the next digital disaster.

    Timestamps

    00:00 Introduction

    01:30 The Digital Transformation Dilemma

    03:08 Starbucks: A Case Study in Digital Overreach

    05:56 Lego: Embracing Digital to Enhance Core Values

    09:47 Avoiding Common Pitfalls in Digital Transformation

    15:46 Practical Steps for Successful Digital Transformation

    For the transcript, go to: https://www.techfornontechies.co/blog/230-starbucks-vs-lego-a-tale-of-two-digital-transformations

    Sources used to make this episode:

    MIT: Transforming the LEGO Group for the Digital Economy McKinsey: Common pitfalls in transformations: A conversation with Jon Garcia GeekWire: As Starbucks slumps, Howard Schultz says coffee giant should 'reinvent' mobile ordering

    For more career & tech lessons, subscribe to Tech for Non-Techies on:

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    FREE GUIDE: The Pragmatist’s Guide To Innovation (in business & in life)

    by Sophia Matveeva, supported by researchers from The University of Chicago

    Growth Through Innovation

    If your organisation wants to drive revenue through innovation, book a call with us here.

    Our workshops and innovation strategies have helped Constellation Brands, the Royal Bank of Canada and Oxford University.

  • Listen to learn:

    How smart innovators test ideas before burning $50,000+ on development. The common tech traps that trip up even experienced leaders. Practical ways to avoid expensive development mistakes. Real stories from innovators who saved thousands by pivoting early.

    Timestamps

    00:00 Introduction

    01:11 Avoiding Expensive Mistakes

    02:53 Lesson 1: The Build Everything Now Trap

    06:11 Lesson 2: Marketing Before Testing

    09:02 Lesson 3: Expensive Website Pitfall

    11:53 Lesson 4: Wrong Assumptions Cost

    For the transcript, go to: https://www.techfornontechies.co/blog/229-the-50-000-dollar-mistakes-these-founders-almost-made-and-how-they-avoided-them

    For more career & tech lessons, subscribe to Tech for Non-Techies on:

    Apple Spotify YouTube Amazon Podcasts Stitcher Pandora

    FREE GUIDE: The Pragmatist’s Guide To Innovation (in business & in life)

    by Sophia Matveeva, supported by researchers from The University of Chicago

    Growth Through Innovation

    If your organisation wants to drive revenue through innovation, book a call with us here.

    Our workshops and innovation strategies have helped Constellation Brands, the Royal Bank of Canada and Oxford University.

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  • If you think product development comes after business strategy, you're leaving money on the table and falling behind your competitors. Don’t do that.

    In this episode, you'll learn why smart business leaders are using prototypes as a strategic weapon - so you can do it too.

    You'll learn:

    - Why your 50-page strategy doc is worth less than a tested napkin sketch

    - How your "small" idea might actually be a golden goose in disguise

    - The real reason PowerPoint presentations don't get funding (spoiler: they're boring)

    - Why waiting for the perfect strategy is like waiting to get in shape before going to the gym 🤷‍♀️

    Perfect for corporate innovators who are tired of death by PowerPoint and non-technical founders who think they need to write War and Peace before building anything.

    Warning: This episode contains dangerous levels of common sense and might cause sudden urges to actually build something.

    Timestamps

    00:00 Introduction

    01:07 Prototyping as a Strategic Weapon

    02:47 Importance of User Feedback

    06:08 Investment Risk and Prototyping

    09:03 Prototypes in Marketing and Team Building

    For the transcript, go to: https://www.techfornontechies.co/blog/228-why-smart-leaders-prototype-first-strategise-later

    For more career & tech lessons, subscribe to Tech for Non-Techies on:

    Apple Spotify YouTube Amazon Podcasts Stitcher Pandora

    FREE GUIDE: The Pragmatist’s Guide To Innovation (in business & in life)

    by Sophia Matveeva, supported by researchers from The University of Chicago

    Growth Through Innovation

    If your organisation wants to drive revenue through innovation, book a call with us here.

    Our workshops and innovation strategies have helped Constellation Brands, the Royal Bank of Canada and Oxford University.

  • If you have an idea for an app or a tech business, you can now make a test product in just 15 minutes using AI tools.

    But, you have to know how to use them wisely, so you don’t make pretty products that nobody wants.

    Listen to this episode to learn:

    - The sweet spot for using AI in product development (from drafting specs to analysing user feedback)

    - Which AI tools to use for prototyping right now

    - A step-by-step process to validate your ideas faster using AI

    - Common pitfalls to avoid (because AI won't save a half-baked idea!)

    Timestamps

    00:00 Introduction

    03:13 AI in Product Management

    06:05 Creating Prototypes with AI

    08:55 Testing Prototypes

    12:08 Strategic Thinking Before Using AI

    15:03 Practical Homework and Implementation

    For the transcript, go to: https://www.techfornontechies.co/blog/227-how-to-use-ai-in-product-development-a-non-techies-guide

    For more career & tech lessons, subscribe to Tech for Non-Techies on:

    Apple Spotify YouTube Amazon Podcasts Stitcher Pandora

    FREE GUIDE: The Pragmatist’s Guide To Innovation (in business & in life)

    by Sophia Matveeva, supported by researchers from The University of Chicago

    Growth Through Innovation

    If your organisation wants to drive revenue through innovation, book a call with us here.

    Our workshops and innovation strategies have helped Constellation Brands, the Royal Bank of Canada and Oxford University.

  • Have you ever wondered about how to work with developers effectively without becoming one yourself?

    It all starts with five simple, non-technical questions.

    In this episode, you'll learn what you need to bring to the table for your developers to build a great tech stack.

    Timestamps

    00:00 Introduction

    03:12 Understanding the Tech Stack

    06:05 Bringing Value as a Non-Technical Person

    08:50 Key Questions for Developers

    10:45 Importance of Innovation in Tech

    For the transcript, go to: https://www.techfornontechies.co/blog/226-tech-stacks-made-simple-what-non-technical-innovators-should-and-shouldn-t-do

    For more career & tech lessons, subscribe to Tech for Non-Techies on:

    Apple Spotify YouTube Amazon Podcasts Stitcher Pandora

    FREE GUIDE: The Pragmatist’s Guide To Innovation (in business & in life)

    by Sophia Matveeva, supported by researchers from The University of Chicago

    Growth Through Innovation

    If your organisation wants to drive revenue through innovation, book a call with us here.

    Our workshops and innovation strategies have helped Constellation Brands, the Royal Bank of Canada and Oxford University.

  • You can get your dream job, your dream client or your ideal investor at a tech event. But, going to a tech conference can also be a spectacular waste of money.

    So how do you get the former and avoid the latter? Listen to this episode to find out.

    Timestamps

    00:00 Introduction

    02:00 Why you should go to conference events

    02:59 Conferences are a serious investment

    04:18 Conference ROI rules

    08:15 What to do at the conference

    13:18 Conclusion

    For the transcript, go to: https://www.techfornontechies.co/blog/225-how-to-get-roi-from-a-tech-conference

    For more career & tech lessons, subscribe to Tech for Non-Techies on:

    Apple Spotify YouTube Amazon Podcasts Stitcher Pandora

    FREE GUIDE: The Pragmatist’s Guide To Innovation (in business & in life)

    by Sophia Matveeva, supported by researchers from The University of Chicago

    Growth Through Innovation

    If your organisation wants to drive revenue through innovation, book a call with us here.

    Our workshops and innovation strategies have helped Constellation Brands, the Royal Bank of Canada and Oxford University.

  • How do you make something completely new? And does the process differ if you’re in a tiny start-up or a tech giant like Google?

    Listen to this episode to find out.

    You will learn from Maria Fernandez Guajardo, Senior Director of Product Management for Gmail at Google.

    You'll learn the framework behind what makes a good Minimum Viable Product, the process Big Tech companies use to bring new ideas to life and the differences between start-up and corporate innovation.

    Maria's book, Sail to Scale: Steer Your Startup Clear of Mistakes from Launch to Exit, is available now.

    For the transcript, go to: https://www.techfornontechies.co/blog/mvps-milkshakes-innovating-at-google

    Timestamps

    00:00 Introduction

    02:52 Understanding Jobs to Be Done

    06:00 Psychological Aspect of Product Design

    08:56 MVP Features

    12:10 Generative AI in Product Development

    14:54 Corporate Innovation

    18:02 Building Momentum

    20:50 Similarities Between Startups and Corporations

    24:10 Becoming a Corporate Innovator

    27:00 Experience in Entrepreneurship

    29:52 Writing a Book for Entrepreneurs

    FREE GUIDE: The Pragmatist’s Guide To Innovation (in business & in life)

    by Sophia Matveeva, supported by researchers from The University of Chicago

    Growth Through Innovation

    If your organisation wants to drive revenue through innovation, book a call with us here.

    Our workshops and innovation strategies have helped Constellation Brands, the Royal Bank of Canada and Oxford University.

  • If you want to understand how tech companies work from the inside, you need to know what product managers do.

    People who master this skillset go on to be successful entrepreneurs, run tech companies and become leading venture capitalists.

    Microsoft CEO Satay Nadella used to be a product manager, as did Ben Horowitz, the co-founder of A16S, the VC firm behind Facebook, Airbnb and Pinterest.

    In this episode, you will learn from Andrew Plato, serial entrepreneur and author of The Founder's User Manual: Practical Strategies for the Startup Leader.

    For the transcript, go to: https://www.techfornontechies.co/blog/223-product-management-from-start-up-to-grown-up

    Timestamps

    00:00 Understanding Product Management

    02:46 The Role of Founders in Product Management

    05:50 Navigating Team Dynamics

    09:11 The CEO vs. Founder Dilemma

    13:52 Founder Vision

    18:03 Lessons for Early Stage Entrepreneurs

    22:13 Sales Skills

    24:55 Learning from Failure

    29:59 Practical Strategies for Startup Success

    FREE GUIDE: The Pragmatist’s Guide To Innovation (in business & in life)

    by Sophia Matveeva, supported by researchers from The University of Chicago

    Growth Through Innovation

    If your organisation wants to drive revenue through innovation, book a call with us here.

    Our workshops and innovation strategies have helped Constellation Brands, the Royal Bank of Canada and Oxford University.

  • If you want to make a successful product, or have a great career, what do you need to focus on today?

    Listen to this episode to find out.

    Timestamps

    00:00 Introduction

    02:06 Product vs. Marketing Problems

    03:00 Job Interview Example

    05:11 Experience v Networking

    06:41 Retention Metrics

    08:30 Prioritizing Product over Marketing

    10:13 Marketing for Success

    For the transcript, go to: https://www.techfornontechies.co/blog/222-product-vs-marketing-problems

    FREE GUIDE: The Pragmatist’s Guide To Innovation (in business & in life)

    by Sophia Matveeva, supported by researchers from The University of Chicago

    Growth Through Innovation

    If your organisation wants to drive revenue through innovation, book a call with us here.

    Our workshops and innovation strategies have helped Constellation Brands, the Royal Bank of Canada and Oxford University.

  • Do you want to know how one of the world’s largest fintech companies stays on top?

    Paypal’s innovation strategy is actually simpler and cheaper than you probably think.

    Listen to this episode to learn how this $78 billion dollar business keeps coming up with new ideas, so you can steal their strategies for yourself.

    You will learn from Mike Todasco, who led global innovation at Paypal and is now a visiting fellow studying AI at the Sand Diego State University.

    Timestamps:

    00:00 Innovation on a Budget

    02:55 Constraints in Innovation

    05:47 Creative Resource Management

    08:56 Building a Culture of Innovation

    12:14 Measurement of Innovation

    15:08 Levels of Innovation

    17:49 Defining a Culture of Innovation

    20:52 Success Metrics in Innovation

    24:01 Current Trends in Innovation

    26:50 Resources for Aspiring Innovators

    For the transcript, go to - https://www.techfornontechies.co/blog/221-how-paypal-innovates

    FREE GUIDE: The Pragmatist’s Guide To Innovation (in business & in life)

    by Sophia Matveeva, supported by researchers from The University of Chicago

    Growth Through Innovation

    If your organisation wants to drive revenue through innovation, book a call with us here.

    Our workshops and innovation strategies have helped Constellation Brands, the Royal Bank of Canada and Oxford University.

  • Have you ever wondered why some people find smart innovative solutions to problems, and others stay stuck?

    In this episode, you'll learn you a simple technique that innovators use to make new products and solve business challenges.

    And you can also use this methodology for any area of your life, so listen up!

    You'll learn about the 5 whys process, hear two case studies for how to use it, and get guidelines for how to get started.

    Timestamps

    00:00 Introduction

    02:46 Five Whys Methodology

    06:05 Applying the Five Whys: Bakery Example

    08:51 Applying the Five Whys: App Development Example

    12:01 Effective Use of the Five Whys

    13:53 Conclusion

    For the transcript, go to: https://www.techfornontechies.co/blog/220-how-5-simple-questions-can-solve-your-toughest-problems

    For more career & tech lessons, subscribe to Tech for Non-Techies on:

    Apple Spotify YouTube Amazon Podcasts Stitcher Pandora Growth Through Innovation

    If your organisation wants to drive revenue through innovation, book a call with us here.

    Our workshops and innovation strategies have helped Constellation Brands, the Royal Bank of Canada and Oxford University.

  • How can you tell which innovations will last and what’s just hype? Are we in a generative AI bubble?

    There is a methodology called the Hype Cycle that venture capitalists use to answer these questions.

    But is this methodology foolproof? Find out in today’s episode.

    Timestamps

    00:00:00: Introduction

    00:01:34: Innovative tech education.

    00:02:34: Distinguishing between innovation and trends

    00:03:35: Time as a valuable asset

    00:04:39: The Hype Cycle

    00:09:42: Five phases of the Hype Cycle

    00:13:15: Hype Cycle’s accuracy

    00:15:41: Evaluating technology beyond the hype

    00:18:47: Conclusion

    For the transcript, go to: https://www.techfornontechies.co/blog/the-hype-cycle-vcs-use-it-but-should-they

    For more career & tech lessons, subscribe to Tech for Non-Techies on:

    Apple Spotify YouTube Amazon Podcasts Stitcher Pandora Growth Through Innovation

    If your organisation wants to drive revenue through innovation, book a call with us here.

    Our workshops and innovation strategies have helped Constellation Brands, the Royal Bank of Canada and Oxford University.

  • Every time you see Login with Facebook or Pay with Paypal on an app, you’re seeing a tech tool called an API.

    This tool allows companies to make millions of dollars, reach billions of people, and collect valuable data, if you use it strategically.

    Listen to this episode to learn what APIs are and how smart business strategists use them.

    This is a re-run of episode 37 of this podcast.

    Timestamps

    00:00 Introduction and Podcast Review

    04:19 APIs: The Interwoven Web of Software

    08:38 Connecting Products and Services

    09:36 Leveraging Code Snippets

    12:02 The Importance of APIs

    For the transcript, go to: https://www.techfornontechies.co/blog/why-uber-uses-google-maps-introduction-to-api

    For more career & tech lessons, subscribe to Tech for Non-Techies on:

    Apple Spotify YouTube Amazon Podcasts Stitcher Pandora Growth Through Innovation

    If your organisation wants to drive revenue through innovation, book a call with us here.

    Our workshops and innovation strategies have helped Constellation Brands, the Royal Bank of Canada and Oxford University.

  • If we know that ChatGPT makes things up, when should we avoid Large Language Models?

    Is generative AI really safe to use when it matters?

    Listen to this interview with Dr Heidy Khlaaf to find out.

    Dr Khlaaf is the Principal Research Scientist at the AI Now Institute focusing on the assessment and safety of AI within autonomous weapons systems.

    She previously worked at OpenAI and Microsoft, amongst others.

    Timestamps

    00:00 Introduction

    06:32 The Problem-First Approach to AI

    14:20 Limitations of Large Language Models

    20:49 Augmenting Human Knowledge with AI

    23:37 AI Systems Gone Wrong

    28:22 AI in Safety Critical Systems

    33:47 Questioning Technological Determinism

    38:19 AI in Defense

    For the transcript, go to: https://www.techfornontechies.co/blog/217-when-not-to-use-ai-in-business-and-warfare

    For more career & tech lessons, subscribe to Tech for Non-Techies on:

    Apple Spotify YouTube Amazon Podcasts Stitcher Pandora Growth Through Innovation

    If your organisation wants to drive revenue through innovation, book a call with us here.

    Our workshops and innovation strategies have helped Constellation Brands, the Royal Bank of Canada and Oxford University.

  • Burberry was the first luxury brand to get on Facebook. By pivoting their image from fusty old raincoat maker to social media star, the brand appealed to millennials. The share price rose 4x and the CEO became the highest paid chief executive on the London Stock Exchange! Listen to this episode to learn when being seen as innovative is just as important as being innovative.

    Timestamps

    00:00:00 - Introduction

    00:01:26 - The power of perception

    00:02:32 - Burberry's radical transformation

    00:03:32 - Burberry's digital innovation

    00:05:42 - Aligning brand perception with strategic innovation.

    00:07:35 - Branding and Public perception

    00:09:30 - Innovation strategies

    00:10:29 - Public innovation as a strategic business tool

    00:12:21 - Conclusion

    For the transcript, go to: https://www.techfornontechies.co/blog/public-vs-private-innovation

    For more career & tech lessons, subscribe to Tech for Non-Techies on:

    Apple Spotify YouTube Amazon Podcasts Stitcher Pandora

    Do you want to succeed in the Digital Age?

    Check out the Digital Leadership Coaching Program

    Say hi to Sophia on Twitter and follow her on LinkedIn.

    Following us on YouTube, Facebook, Instagram and TikTok will make you smarter

  • If you want to be an innovator in the Digital Age, you must learn from those who came before you.

    Here are Sophia Matveeva's top 3 recommendations for what to listen to to get the best innovators lessons.

    Timestamps

    00:00 Introduction 02:04 Behaviors of Famous Innovators 04:21 Product Management Strategies 06:06 Emphasize Customer Focus 07:04 Final Thoughts For the transcript, go to: https://www.techfornontechies.co/blog/3-ways-to-learn-from-innovators

    For more career & tech lessons, subscribe to Tech for Non-Techies on:

    Apple Spotify YouTube Amazon Podcasts Stitcher Pandora

    Do you want to succeed in the Digital Age?

    Check out the Digital Leadership Coaching Program

    Say hi to Sophia on Twitter and follow her on LinkedIn.

    Following us on YouTube, Facebook, Instagram and TikTok will make you smarter

  • 10,000 flight cancellations, disruptions in the UK National Health Service, and the banking sector cast into turmoil.

    The CrowdStrike outage sent the entire world into disarray.

    In this episode of the Tech For Non-Techies podcast, host Sophia Matveeva imparts crucial knowledge on how to prevent IT crises and emphasizes the importance of understanding tech for business leaders.

    Timestamps

    00:00:00 Introduction

    00:02:21 Severity of the CrowdStrike outage

    00:03:22 Overview of the CrowdStrike Incident

    00:04:23 Implications of Software Malfunctions

    00:06:30 Importance of IT Risk Management

    00:08:34 Software Testing and Quality Assurance

    00:11:27 Aligning Engineering and Business Objectives

    00:13:23 Relationship-Building between Tech and Business Teams

    To learn about the Post Office disaster,

    https://www.techfornontechies.co/blog/lessons-from-the-post-office-scandal

    For the transcript, go to: https://www.techfornontechies.co/blog/business-leaders-lessons-from-the-global-it-outage

    For more career & tech lessons, subscribe to Tech for Non-Techies on:

    Apple Spotify YouTube Amazon Podcasts Stitcher Pandora

    Do you want to succeed in the Digital Age?

    Check out the Digital Leadership Coaching Program

    Say hi to Sophia on Twitter and follow her on LinkedIn.

    Following us on YouTube, Facebook, Instagram and TikTok will make you smarter

  • What happens when an acquirer asks to buy a start-up?

    The journey between the offer letter and money in the bank is long, arduous, and can sometimes lead to less money in the bank than the founders expected.

    In this episode, you'll hear from serial entrepreneur Sam Oliver, about the hard lessons he learned when selling his last company.

    If you're a founder, a corporate innovator, or a start-up investor, this episode is for you.

    Timestamps:

    00:01:25 - Misconceptions Surrounding Startup Exits

    00:02:58 - Creation and Growth of Property Technology Limited

    00:04:35 - Challenges of Product-Market Fit

    00:07:29 - Importance of Aligning Product with Revenue Generation for Customers

    00:08:30 - Adversity Faced During the COVID-19 Pandemic

    00:11:11 - Unexpected Boom in the Property Market Post-COVID

    00:14:31 - Complex Nature of the Sale Process

    00:17:26 - Challenges Encountered During the Earnout Period

    00:22:32 - Importance of Thorough Contract Review and Negotiation

    00:27:10 - Advice for Founders and Innovators on Approaching Potential Exits

    For more career & tech lessons, subscribe to Tech for Non-Techies on:

    Apple Spotify YouTube Amazon Podcasts Stitcher Pandora

    Do you want to succeed in the Digital Age?

    Check out the Digital Leadership Coaching Program

    Say hi to Sophia on Twitter and follow her on LinkedIn.

    Following us on YouTube, Facebook, Instagram and TikTok will make you smarter

    For the transcript, go to: https://www.techfornontechies.co/blog/how-to-do-your-mid-year-review

  • "The success strategies for individuals and companies are remarkably similar," Reid Hoffman.

    You can apply product innovation and start-up principles to your own career.

    This will help you assess where you are, and make a plan for what to do and what to learn next.

    If you want 2024 to be your best year yet professionally, listen to this episode.

    Timestamps:

    00:01:20 - The Paths to Wealth for Employees and Entrepreneurs: Steve Balmer just surpassed Bill Gates in wealth.

    00:03:28 - Applying Startup Lessons to Your Career

    00:04:20 - Actions for Career Transitioning

    00:05:10 - Real Action vs. Busy Work

    00:06:00 - Prototyping and Market Testing

    00:07:43 - Avoiding Analysis Paralysis

    00:08:41 - Planning for the Next Six Months

    00:09:31 - Analysing Personal Skill Sets

    00:11:15 - Improving Market Position and Visibility

    For more career & tech lessons, subscribe to Tech for Non-Techies on:

    Apple Spotify YouTube Amazon Podcasts Stitcher Pandora

    Do you want to succeed in the Digital Age?

    Check out the Digital Leadership Coaching Program

    Say hi to Sophia on Twitter and follow her on LinkedIn.

    Following us on YouTube, Facebook, Instagram and TikTok will make you smarter

    For the transcript, go to: https://www.techfornontechies.co/blog/how-to-do-your-mid-year-review

  • To succeed, corporates and start-ups must innovate.

    Learn how to manage technology strategy as a Business Leader from MBA professor Alberto Galasso.

    Professor Galasso teaches Strategic Management and Technology Strategy at the University of Toronto's Rotman School of Management.

    He is the author of The Management of Innovation: Managing and Creating Technology Capital

    Timestamps:

    02:18 Why Technology Strategy is important for Business Leaders

    04:13 The Relationship Between Technology and Innovation

    07:59 Tips for Becoming More Innovative

    12:40 Case Study: CT Scanner Industry Crisis

    15:04 Strategies for Addressing the Crisis

    20:07 Balancing Technological Advancements and Value Creation

    23:26 The Role of Intellectual Property and Data

    27:43 Collaborative Approach to Innovation

    31:37 Identifying Innovative Companies

    35:21 Enhancing Personal Innovation Capabilities

    For more career & tech lessons, subscribe to Tech for Non-Techies on:

    Apple Spotify YouTube Amazon Podcasts Stitcher Pandora FREE COURSE

    5 Tech Concepts Every Business Leader Needs To Know

    Say hi to Sophia on LinkedIn.

    Following us on YouTube, Facebook, Instagram and TikTok will make you smarter.

    For the transcript, go to: https://www.techfornontechies.co/blog/technology-strategy-for-business-leaders