In this episode of Beyond the Tech, Bryan and Alex sit down with Valeria Breda, CIO of Versace, to explore her inspiring journey through the world of luxury fashion and technology. Valeria shares how her early days at Louis Vuitton, followed by senior roles at Kering (including Stella McCartney and Alexander McQueen), shaped her approach to leadership, innovation, and resilience in a dynamic industry.
 

Valeria opens up about the unique challenges of balancing brand autonomy with group-level strategy, while also reflecting on the deep passion embedded in Versace’s culture, the importance of breaking down silos, and what it means to lead with both authority and influence in a heritage brand undergoing transformation. The conversation explores the evolving role of technology as an enabler rather than a full-blooded disruptor, with Valeria speaking candidly about Versace’s enthusiastic embrace of AI and other digital innovations. She is clear, however, that while technology is playing a growing role in streamlining operations and driving innovation, it will not compromise or intrude upon the brand’s creative and design processes. Finally, she shares her personal leadership journey as a woman in tech, offering honest reflections and valuable advice for emerging female leaders and detailing how she built resilience and influence in a traditionally male-dominated industry.

Listeners will hear honest reflections on imposter syndrome, digital transformation, the convergence of retail and e-commerce, and what it really takes to lead change in a high-pressure, highly creative environment. Whether you're in fashion, tech, or leadership, this episode is packed with insights, strategy, and inspiration you won’t want to miss.

In this third (and final) instalment of our captivating series with Toby Redshaw, Bryan and Toby explore the profound intersections of leadership, culture, and innovation in today's fast-evolving world. Toby, a seasoned leader with a career spanning roles at FedEx, Verizon, Motorola, and more, shares invaluable insights on how businesses can thrive amidst disruption.

This episode takes a deep dive into the pivotal role of organisational culture in fostering agility and driving change, unpacking how behaviours shape company success. Toby also shares his thoughts on bridging the gap between strategy and execution, building resilience within teams, and the art of storytelling as a leadership tool. From the rise of AI and quantum technology, to the future of innovation in boardrooms, Toby offers his unique perspective on navigating the opportunities and challenges of the modern business landscape. 

Toby also highlights the role of boards, he underscores the importance of strategic refreshes, innovation radars, and cultivating adaptability to stay ahead in a rapidly evolving landscape. Drawing on his mastery of storytelling, Toby explains how leaders can inspire teams, rally them toward a shared mission, and prepare them for "the land of what’s possible." 

Packed with real-world examples, wisdom, and inspiration, this episode is a must-listen for anyone seeking to embrace the future of technology and leadership.

In this episode of Beyond the Tech (Solo Edition), Bryan sits down with Leslie Grandy - author of Creative Velocity and former executive at Apple, T-Mobile, Best Buy, and Amazon - for an in-depth conversation about her Product Playbook for navigating ambiguity and driving transformation. Tune in for insights from one of the industry’s most experienced change-makers!

Leslie dives into her journey, beginning with her early passion for the arts, which led her to the film industry and, later, high-impact roles at companies like T-Mobile, Apple, and Best Buy.

The conversation explores her work today as a “CEO whisperer,” helping both startups and established brands align customer insights with business strategy for enduring impact. Whether navigating uncharted waters or structuring frameworks for large-scale change, Leslie’s story is one of resilience, creativity, and leadership in the face of complexity.

Throughout the conversation, she reflects on how she used her background in the film industry to apply creative problem-solving approaches in corporate environments where ambiguity and change were often met with resistance. Leslie shares insights into leading teams through transformation by fostering a culture of innovation and adaptability, even in traditional corporate settings. She also emphasises the importance of embracing ambiguity as a tool for growth, especially when guiding organisations through digital and cultural shifts. Leslie also discusses her upcoming book, Creative Velocity (coming May 2025), which redefines creativity as an accessible skill rather than an innate talent.

In the second instalment of this three-part mini-series of Beyond the Tech (Solo Edition), Bryan welcomes back seasoned CIO Toby Redshaw for a deep dive into the intersection of leadership, strategy and technology in the boardroom. Toby, a veteran in tech leadership and a former senior executive at major global companies including Verizon, American Express, Aviva and FedEx, brings his wealth of experience to discuss how technology executives can play a pivotal role in shaping corporate strategy and navigating the future of tech disruption.
 
The conversation begins with the evolving expectations of boardrooms, as more CEOs and senior leaders become tech-savvy. Toby shares his perspectives on the critical importance of contextual intelligence, the challenges traditional companies face in incorporating tech leaders into the board, and the influence of emerging technologies, particularly generative AI, on business models and strategy. Bryan and Toby also explore why so many strategies fail, highlighting the need for a strategic refresh and deeper board-level discussions about technology’s role in long-term corporate success.
 
Listeners will gain insights into how companies can avoid being on the wrong side of the creative destruction cycle, why technology expertise is vital at the highest levels of leadership, and how future-thinking boards can embrace technological advancements to stay competitive.
 
This episode is essential listening for anyone interested in understanding the growing convergence of business strategy and technology leadership, particularly as we move towards a future where tech will be at the core of organisational success.

In this inaugural episode of “Beyond the Tech - Solo edition”; an expansion of our classic Beyond the Tech podcast series, Bryan is joined by Toby Eduardo Redshaw, a true titan in the technology leadership space with a fascinating career spanning multiple continents and industries.
  
In this first part of a series of discussions with Toby, he begins to share his story with Bryan, including his upbringing in Mexico, his career at FedEx, along with some of his stories / insights from extensive leadership experience in tech. Their conversation explores critical themes like leadership in disruptive environments as well as innovating both below and above the radar. 
  
From navigating the complexities of technology failures to tackling the ever-evolving landscape of AI and digital transformation, this episode serves as an insightful blend of personal anecdotes and professional wisdom. Toby also reflects on the challenges of blending philosophy and economics into a successful tech career, providing listeners with a compelling narrative of resilience and growth.
  
Whether you are an experienced Tech Executive, A CEO or Board member, this episode is packed with valuable insights on managing technology, risk, and innovation in an increasingly complex digital world. Tune in for a candid and thoughtful conversation as Bryan and Toby lay the foundation for what promises to be an enlightening series!

In this episode of Beyond the Tech, Bryan and Alex are joined by entrepreneur and venture capitalist Andreas Rasmussen. They hear the story of Andreas's journey, from co-founding Nodes, a leading digital agency in Denmark that grew into a global company under Nodes-Monster Lab, to founding Ugly Duckling Ventures, a venture capital firm investing in early-stage companies with untapped potential.

Andreas gives valuable insights into his investment philosophy, emphasising his passion for guiding startups through challenges and identifying hidden opportunities in niche markets. The discussion touches on the importance of chemistry between founders and investors, Andreas's approach to pre-seed and seed-stage investing, and how his past experiences as a CEO influence his current role in the venture capital world. The episode also highlights Andreas’s unique perspective on combining growth with enjoyment and his belief in the long-term value of investing in people as much as ideas.

Listeners will gain an insight into the cultural and leadership lessons Andreas learned during his time at Nodes and Monster Lab, particularly navigating the complexities of aligning Danish and Japanese business cultures. He also talks about the importance of advisory boards, and how working with Bryan helped shape Nodes' strategic direction, making a significant impact on the company's success.

This episode is filled with practical advice for entrepreneurs, leaders, and aspiring investors, with stories and takeaways on navigating business growth, leadership, and investment that you won’t want to miss!

In this episode of Beyond the Tech, Bryan and Alex sit down with Darrell Stein, a seasoned technology executive with an extraordinary career spanning major companies like E&Y, Vodafone, Marks & Spencer, and Reckitt Benckiser. Darrell shares his career journey from his early days through to his experience as a global CIO and latterly his transition into the private equity space, where his hands-on, no-excuses approach has been instrumental in driving growth and value creation.

Darrell expands on his bold decision-making style, including his move to cut contractor reliance at Marks & Spencer and the strategic shift from Amazon’s platform to a custom-built solution. He also discusses the importance of taking big bets, staying hands-on, and the critical balance between leadership and operational focus.

Whether you’re an aspiring leader keen to understand the importance of bold decision-making, a CIO navigating the complexities of the tech world, or looking to make the transition from a large corporate environment to private equity, this episode is for you!

In this episode of Beyond the Tech, Bryan and Alex are joined by Gianni Leone, the Global CIO of Sephora, to discuss his impressive career in driving significant change in global luxury, beauty and retail sectors. With over two decades of experience working with iconic brands like Ferrero, Gucci, Richemont, Walgreens (and now Sephora), Gianni shares his insights into his approach to driving large scale (tech enabled) business transformation.

Gianni opens up about what attracted him to Sephora, a brand known for its innovative and disruptive approach to the world of prestige beauty retail, and how he has been driving the company's tech agenda towards its ambitious goals. The conversation delves into the challenges and the opportunities of balancing local and global in the company, as well as the role product and technology are playing in enhancing customer experience.

The episode also explores Gianni's views on the future of retail, the impact of Gen AI, and the evolving role of tech leaders at the board level.

Whether you're interested in digital transformation, leadership, or the future of retail, this episode offers a fascinating look into a mind at the forefront of innovation.

In this episode of Beyond the Tech, Bryan and Alex welcome Rob Chester, former Chief Compliance Officer for Walmart China, Rob is a seasoned leader known for his experience in both proactive compliance leadership as well as hands-on crisis management.

Rob tells the story of his Walmart journey, including his pivotal role in China during a significant crisis. He also shares his experience navigating complex compliance issues, his approach to leadership in challenging situations, and the critical lessons he's learned along the way. Rob details how an early encounter with blockchain technology at the Hong Kong-Shenzhen border inspired him and how it influences his current work as CEO of Supply Chain Insights, an innovative certification body. 

Listen now to gain insights into his leadership philosophy, the importance of cultural adaptation in global business, and the value of proactive risk management. Whether you're a tech enthusiast or a business leader, this episode offers valuable takeaways for navigating and leading through change.

In this episode Bryan and Alex are joined by Jose Pedro Almeida (JP), one of the world's top health AI experts and pioneer in digital health. This is a great extension to our earlier episode on AI, “The emergence of the Chief AI Officer” here JP shares stories from his fascinating career as a leading figure in digital health, his role as the brainchild behind Europe’s most advanced hospital big data analytics platform, (HVITAL) which won the Microsoft U.S Health Innovation Award, as well as his vision on effectively driving Data & AI transformations inside large enterprises, which is recognized by prestigious entities such as Insead.

Join us as we delve deep into the transformative power of AI in healthcare. JP kicks off with a compelling story of how an early AI project he led saved a patient's life by predicting clinical deterioration, demonstrating the potential of AI to revolutionise patient care, as well as the challenges he faced in the execution of enterprise-wide AI transformations back then. He shares a compelling story of GEN AI in action (at Tesla) and differences the groundbreaking advancements in generative AI and foundation models, versus traditional AI, by bringing up the case of Tesla's latest full self-driving cars and the tectonic improvements achieved by a complete shift to an end-to-end neuronal network architecture.
  
JP provides valuable insights into how organisations can prepare for and embrace AI-driven change, emphasising the importance of building strong data foundations, re-skilling, and empowering the frontlines with AI copilots, all driven by a fully committed executive team and CEO. We also discuss the strategic role of the Chief AI Officer and the importance of executive alignment in driving AI adoption.
  
Whether you're a tech enthusiast, a healthcare professional, or a business leader, this episode offers a wealth of knowledge on leveraging AI for competitive advantage and making meaningful impacts in the digital age.