Beyond The Tech

In this episode Bryan and Alex are joined by Max Costa. Max's journey is one of passion, perseverance, and profound social impact.  His is a unique story that showcases how combining talent, passion, purpose and tech can change the lives of many.
  
From the small town of Alba, Italy, Max’s story begins with his passion and subsequent career as a classical musician, before leaving for New York to pursue his studies at Columbia, joining BCG where he developed his leadership skills as well as his deeper understanding of how tech can help transform both industry as well as the lives of millions of people.
  
His desire to create social impact (at scale) led him to joining the United Nations World Food Programme, where he was instrumental in the success of the “Share The Meal” app – winning prestigious awards from Tim Cook at Apple as well as Google. This innovative platform has facilitated the donation of over 200 million meals, making significant strides towards combating global hunger.
  
Today, Max leads Develhope, a startup dedicated to empowering young people with future-proof skills in software development and data engineering. His vision is to bridge the gap between untapped talent and the growing demand for skilled tech professionals, particularly in regions with high youth unemployment.
  
Tune in to hear Max's inspiring journey, exploring the challenges and triumphs that have shaped his career. Discover how Max's unique blend of musical discipline, academic excellence, and social commitment continues to drive positive change in the world. This episode is a testament to the power of following one's passion and the impact of technology in creating a better future. 

In this episode, Bryan and Alex are joined by Ian Cohen, who shares his remarkable career from aspiring musician to influential tech leader. Self-titled, “the accidental CIO" Ian shares his insightful journey, highlighting his transition from the music world to technology, sharing some of his experiences in leadership roles at Lloyd's, the Financial Times, Associated Newspapers, Addison Lee and latterly Acacium. 

Bryan and Alex lead a deep dive discussion into his approach to building winning teams, fostering a culture of curiosity and adaptability, and how he engages key stakeholders in leading change, leveraging technology to both optimise operations while enhancing customer experience. He shares his approach to leading innovation and, in particular, AI deployment, focusing on solving real business problems with practical solutions. In addition to sharing stories about his Executive career, he also talks about some of his experiences (and observations) as both a Strategic Advisor as well as an NED.

Tune in to hear Ian’s thoughts on the future of technology, his leadership philosophy, and how his passion for music continues to influence his professional journey.

In this episode, Bryan and Alex sit down with Alan French, the CEO of Thomas Cook, and explore his impressive career including his transition from CTO to CEO. Alan shares his insightful journey of reviving a legacy brand, revealing some of the bold moves he made as well as some of key decisions that guided Thomas Cook’s transformation into a digital-first company (all of this amidst the unprecedented challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic).

 
He provides insights on how he built a winning team, navigated regulatory frameworks, built trust with stakeholders, and implemented technology-driven initiatives to optimise operations and enhance customer experiences. Alan also shares his take on the role of AI in the travel industry and the balance between technology and human touch.
  
Don’t miss this episode for a deep dive into the journey of a tech leader reshaping a historic brand in the travel industry!
 
 

In this episode, Bryan and Alex interview Anthony Roberts, former Group CIO of Walgreens Boots Alliance; not just a business contact but a very dear friend of Bryan’s and a close collaborator for over 13 years.

The conversation explores the pivotal moments in Anthony’s career, from his early days at UPS and Pepsi, through to his groundbreaking work in integrating cutting edge technologies into Walgreens.

It also explores his more recent advisory roles in leading startups and enterprises, as well as the non executive career that he's following.

Throughout the conversation, Anthony emphasises the importance of embedding oneself in an organisation's culture, as well as fostering trust and alignment among peers and teams towards a collective mission.

In this episode of Beyond the Tech, Bryan and Alex discuss The Digital Board’s EQ/IQ assessment framework. This robust tool, honed over two decades with input from leading academic institutions including Harvard and MIT alongside interviews with over seven thousand senior tech leaders, finely discerns the intricate balance of deep technical skills and the more expansive leadership qualities crucial for senior technology leadership roles. 

Bryan expands on the relationship between IQ (intelligence quotient) and EQ (emotional quotient), proposing an equation where EQ + IQ drives XQ (execution quotient). Bryan’s thesis is that achieving a harmonised balance between cognitive intelligence and emotional intelligence is key to driving effective execution. This balance facilitates engagement and alignment, leading to execution at scale and speed.

In this latest episode of Beyond the Tech, Bryan and Alex discuss the emergence of the new role of Chief AI Officer, exploring the challenges and opportunities that this role presents within organisations (and whether or not organisations actually need one). The conversation explores the potential pros and cons of appointing a Chief AI Officer, emphasising the importance of clarity, collaboration, ethical governance and the interplay between data and generative AI. They discuss the need for a strategic focus on AI, organisational readiness, and the considerations around integrating of this pivotal role into the C-suite. Listen now to see is the Chief AI Officer really is the new kid on the block, tasked with future proofing business, or if is just another role vying for attention in an ever-expanding “C-Suite.”

In this episode, Bryan and Alex are joined by Micah McCrary. Micah is one of the most respected leaders in Global Security and until recently was the Global Head of Offensive Security for UBS. Within the conversation, Micah offers invaluable insights to the evolving nature of the Chief Information Security Officer role, including a deep dive into the optimal reporting structures of a CISO as well as their relationship with the Board. Micah offers valuable insights on the future of cybersecurity, geopolitical dynamics, and the role of technology that are sure to inspire both cyber security professionals and wider business leaders alike. Throughout the conversation, Micah shares some incredible stories from his career, including how he took advantage of the opportunities presented by the pandemic at UBS and the challenging experience he had conducting a strategic transformation whilst consulting for a major Asian manufacturer. 

Chapters:

(00:00) Introduction: Bryan Introduces Today’s Guest, Micah McCrary

(03:41) Navigating Complexity: Micah's Insights on the Dynamic Landscape of the CISO Role in Cybersecurity

(08:32) The Evolving Role of the CISO

(14:10) The CISO Dilemma: Where to Report and Why It Matters

(20:20) Cybersecurity Threat Landscape and Organisational Considerations

(22:52) Cybersecurity Quantum Leap at UBS: Seizing the Opportunities Amidst the COVID-19 Pandemic

(29:56) Good Governance Does Not Make Up For Bad Organisational Design: Micah's Consulting Experience with a Major Asian Manufacturer

(32:57) Bryan, Alex and Micah’s Take on the Evolving Role of Boards in Cybersecurity Oversight

(40:31) Envisioning the Future: Cybersecurity in a Changing Landscape

(43:24) Five Key Takeaways: Bryan and Alex Summarise the Takeaways From Their Conversation with Micah

In this episode, join us for a unique conversation as Bryan MacDonald interviews Alex Alexander, a seasoned CTO with over two decades of experience at global brands like Walmart, YOOX NET-A-PORTER and The Emirates Group. Alex shares captivating stories from his pioneering days in internet banking at Egg, emphasising the importance of boldness and seizing early opportunities. From leveraging innovation at Walmart Labs to navigating cultural landscapes in Italy at YOOX NET-A-PORTER, Alex delves into the challenges of influencing leaders, highlighting the value of aligning IT actions with business objectives. His insights on change management underline the significance of relationship-building, emotional connections and offer invaluable advice for current as well as aspiring tech leaders. Ultimately, Alex's focus remains on fostering a work environment where teams thrive, highlighting the crucial role of storytelling in influencing leadership and implementing transformative changes.

 In this episode, join us for a unique conversation as Bryan MacDonald interviews Alex Alexander, a seasoned CTO with over two decades of experience at global brands like Walmart, YOOX NET-A-PORTER and The Emirates Group. Alex shares captivating stories from his pioneering days in internet banking at Egg, emphasising the importance of boldness and seizing early opportunities. From leveraging innovation at Walmart Labs to navigating cultural landscapes in Italy at YOOX NET-A-PORTER, Alex delves into the challenges of influencing leaders, highlighting the value of aligning IT actions with business objectives. His insights on change management underline the significance of relationship-building, emotional connections and offer invaluable advice for current as well as aspiring tech leaders. Ultimately, Alex's focus remains on fostering a work environment where teams thrive, highlighting the crucial role of storytelling in influencing leadership and implementing transformative changes.