The skills we teach today will decide the world we live in tomorrow but the digital skills gap is something we've been dealing with for decades, but it’s growing faster than ever, it starts with kids and stretches all the way into late IT careers, and now we're finally taking a more connected, lifelong approach to closing it. 

This week, Dave, Esmee, and Rob speak with Mike Nayler, Director, National Security, Defense & Public Safety at AWS about the digital skills gap and explore how tech companies can help close it. 

TLDR:

00:45 Introduction of Mike Nayler and the pros and cons of enterprise architects, based on a survey
03:30 Rob is confused about AI replacing prompt engineers
07:55 Conversation with Mike on the digital skills gap
25:15 The real gap is between institutions and the people they aim to serve
33:24 Mike heading back to school and writing essays again

Guest 

Mike Nayler: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nayler/

Hosts

Dave Chapman: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chapmandr/

Rob Kernahan: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rob-kernahan/

Esmee van de Giessen: https://www.linkedin.com/in/esmeevandegiessen/

Production

Marcel van der Burg: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marcel-vd-burg/

Dave Chapman: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chapmandr/

Sound

Ben Corbett: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ben-corbett-3b6a11135/

Louis Corbett:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/louis-corbett-087250264/

'Cloud Realities' is an original podcast from Capgemini

In 'Access All Areas' shows we go behind the scenes with the crew and their friends as they dive into complex challenges that organisations face—sometimes getting a little messy along the way. 

We’re launching a special AI mini-series exploring how artificial intelligence is reshaping industries. Each episode dives into key themes like scaling AI, societal impact, leadership, sustainability, and the challenges ahead. Join us for fresh insights and bold conversations on the future of intelligent systems. 
 

This week, Dave, Esmee, and Rob kick off the AI mini-series with Craig Suckling, CAIO at Capgemini and co-host of this special edition. The episode is inspired by “Riding the AI Whirlwind,” Gartner’s 2025 strategic predictions report, which urges organizations to act boldly on AI’s potential while managing risks like rising costs and privacy concerns 

TLDR:

00:40 – Introduction of Craig Suckling and launch of the AI mini-series
02:38 – Summary of three key insights and strategic recommendations from Gartner’s “Riding the AI Whirlwind” report
23:03 – Strategic planning assumptions: what they mean for business and tech leaders
41:40 – Sam Altman’s top three concerns about the future of AI
49:35 – What key topics remain unaddressed?
51:00 – What to expect from the AI mini-series featuring industry leaders

Hosts

Dave Chapman: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chapmandr/

Rob Kernahan: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rob-kernahan/

Esmee van de Giessen: https://www.linkedin.com/in/esmeevandegiessen/

with co-host Craig Suckling: https://www.linkedin.com/in/craigsuckling/

Production

Marcel van der Burg: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marcel-vd-burg/

Dave Chapman: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chapmandr/

Sound

Ben Corbett: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ben-corbett-3b6a11135/

Louis Corbett:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/louis-corbett-087250264/

'Cloud Realities' is an original podcast from Capgemini

The evolving role of technology in modern defense environments, highlighting innovations in communications, automation, and open-source frameworks. Drawing from personal experience, the conversation emphasizes how real-world conflicts are reshaping how tech is deployed, adopted, and understood across military operations.
 
This week, Dave, Esmee, and Rob speak with Ben Sparke, Enterprise Azure Cloud & AI Specialist for UK Defence at Microsoft, about  how his military background informs a human-centered approach to technology in the evolving defence sector—highlighting the shift from mission-driven to tech-driven innovation.  

TLDR:

00:37 – Introduction of Ben Sparke and face-to-face podcasting
02:40 – Rob gets confused about Digital Twins representing you in court
08:15 – Tech’s evolving role in defence, with Ben 
34:41 – Why improvisation and human adaptability matter 
43:30 – Ben’s hundred-mile bike race over the weekend 

Guest 

Ben Sparke: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ben-sparke/

Hosts

Dave Chapman: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chapmandr/
Rob Kernahan: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rob-kernahan/
Esmee van de Giessen: https://www.linkedin.com/in/esmeevandegiessen/

Production

Marcel van der Burg: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marcel-vd-burg/
Dave Chapman: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chapmandr/

Sound

Ben Corbett: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ben-corbett-3b6a11135/
Louis Corbett:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/louis-corbett-087250264/
 

'Cloud Realities' is an original podcast from Capgemini

Before Siri had sass and Alexa started judging your music taste, the original virtual assistant was quietly revolutionizing the '90s—powered by many patents and a whole lot of foresight. Now, as AI goes from buzzword to boss, we ask, will it transform your job, your home… or just steal your knowledge? 

This week, Dave, Esmee and Rob speak with Kevin Surace, Futurist, Inventor & "Father" of the Virtual Assistant, about exploring the evolution of AI, what the future might hold, and how disruptive innovation can shake up your organization in ways you might not expect.  
 

TLDR:

 00:40 – Introduction of Kevin Surace
 05:12 – Rob gets confused by Google Maps reviews and selfies
 08:15 – Deep dive into the evolution of AI with Kevin
 52:00 – How intelligent agents can help manage digital noise and support mental well-being
 1:07:30 – Wrapping up the book the Joy Success Cycle and heading to a concert 

Guest

Kevin Surace: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ksurace/

Hosts

Dave Chapman: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chapmandr/
Rob Kernahan: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rob-kernahan/
Esmee van de Giessen: https://www.linkedin.com/in/esmeevandegiessen/

Production

Marcel van der Burg: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marcel-vd-burg/
Dave Chapman: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chapmandr/

Sound

Ben Corbett: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ben-corbett-3b6a11135/
Louis Corbett:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/louis-corbett-087250264/
 

'Cloud Realities' is an original podcast from Capgemini

 We’re back! In this Season 5 premiere, the team reunites after their summer break to kick off an exciting new chapter. Join us as we catch up, share bold predictions for the year ahead, and explore big questions, like whether 2026 will be the year of the autonomous organization. Expect candid reflections, lively discussion, and a sneak peek at what’s coming up this season. 

We are very keen this season to establish a feedback loop with listeners, so will be doing shows exploring listener questions and challenges - something we are really looking forward to.  Please get in touch with us, via LinkedIn, Substack or [email protected], if you have questions or challenges for us, we'd love to hear from you!

TLDR:

 00:20 – We’re back!
 00:35 – Catching up on what we did during the summer break
 10:48 – Planning ahead until Christmas: Microsoft Ignite, AWS re:Invent, an AI mini-series and cool guests
 20:27 – Tech talk: iPhone 17, deep democracy training, and the human impact of innovation
 32:10 – Will autonomous organizations powered by agents emerge within 12–18 months?
 40:45 – Reflections inspired by Jaws, climbing adventures, and Bruce Springsteen 
 

Hosts

Dave Chapman: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chapmandr/
Rob Kernahan: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rob-kernahan/
Esmee van de Giessen: https://www.linkedin.com/in/esmeevandegiessen/

Production

Marcel van der Burg: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marcel-vd-burg/
Dave Chapman: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chapmandr/

Sound

Ben Corbett: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ben-corbett-3b6a11135/
Louis Corbett:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/louis-corbett-087250264/
 

'Cloud Realities' is an original podcast from Capgemini

Dave, Esmee, and Rob are strapping in for another season of bold, brain-bending conversations—and they’re bringing the flux capacitor with them from Back to the Future.

Season 5 beams in global leaders and innovators who challenge how we think about technology, business, and humanity. From AI disruption to digital sovereignty, from leadership to culture—this season’s guests are ready to shake things up.

Our first full episode drops on September 25, but before we hit 88 miles per hour, here’s a quick trailer to set the timeline straight, or at least bend it a little.

Hosts
Dave Chapman: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chapmandr/
Rob Kernahan: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rob-kernahan/
Esmee van de Giessen: https://www.linkedin.com/in/esmeevandegiessen/

Production
Marcel van der Burg: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marcel-vd-burg/
Dave Chapman: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chapmandr/

Sound
Ben Corbett: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ben-corbett-3b6a11135/
Louis Corbett:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/louis-corbett-087250264/

'Cloud Realities' is an original podcast from Capgemini

Dave, Esmee, and Rob take a moment to look back on the wild ride that was Season 4—revisiting the themes that sparked the biggest conversations and the guests who left a lasting impression. They also reveal what’s on their summer to-do lists and drop a few juicy hints about what’s coming in Season 5. Get ready—it’s going to be even bigger and bolder.

Thank you to all our listeners and guests for joining us in Season 4 - have a great summer and we will see you in September!

TLDR:
00:40 Season 4 by the numbers – and a fun mix-up with round figures
03:20 Reflecting on standout topics and memorable guests
03:42 Scaling AI: Hyperscaler narratives, tech momentum, and the adoption gap
13:18 Ethics in the AI era – how organizations can and must stay grounded
18:12 The human factor: Why “human-in-the-loop” matters more than ever
27:29 Sovereignty in tech – geopolitics, shifting narratives, and the rise of Sovereign AI
37:16 A deep dive into Telco – highlights from our dedicated mini-series
53:48 2025 tech trends with Gene Kim

55:33 Listener Q&A: Daniel Delicate on Cynefin vs. IT operating models
1:01:44 Andrea Kis on keeping humanity in fast-paced tech
1:06:09 Ezhil Suresh on how we prep and record our podcast with top-tier guests
1:11:38 John Eaton-Griffin on how guests have shaped our thinking
1:17:19 A word from our co-host
1:19:57 Looking ahead to Season 5: AAA episodes, new industry mini-series, and Hyperscaler events
1:22:09 Meet our new AI companions: Substack and the Cloud Realities chatbot
1:23:40 What’s next for us this summer

Hosts
Dave Chapman: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chapmandr/
Esmee van de Giessen: https://www.linkedin.com/in/esmeevandegiessen/
Rob Kernahan: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rob-kernahan/

Production
Marcel van der Burg: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marcel-vd-burg/
Dave Chapman: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chapmandr/

Sound
Ben Corbett: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ben-corbett-3b6a11135/
Louis Corbett:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/louis-corbett-087250264/

'Cloud Realities' is an original podcast from Capgemini

The rise of structure software fueled globalization by streamlining operations across borders. Now, Cloud and AI are accelerating this momentum, enabling faster innovation, smarter decision-making, and scalable growth. By modernizing ERP with intelligent technologies, organizations can stay agile, competitive, and ready for the next wave of global transformation.

This week, Dave, Esmee and Rob talk to Timo Elliott, Innovation Evangelist at SAP, to explore how SAP is driving globalization—and how organizations can accelerate innovation through the power of Cloud and AI.

TLDR
00:55 Introduction of Timo Elliott
02:40 Rob shares his confusion about misleading online ads
08:06 In-depth conversation with Timo
46:32 Rethinking control in enterprise systems
1:00:00 Brunch at a Paris café or joining an event?

Guest
Timo Elliott: https://www.linkedin.com/in/timoelliott/

Hosts
Dave Chapman: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chapmandr/
Esmee van de Giessen: https://www.linkedin.com/in/esmeevandegiessen/
Rob Kernahan: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rob-kernahan/

Production
Marcel van der Burg: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marcel-vd-burg/
Dave Chapman: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chapmandr/

Sound
Ben Corbett: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ben-corbett-3b6a11135/
Louis Corbett:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/louis-corbett-087250264/

'Cloud Realities' is an original podcast from Capgemini

GreenOps is a cultural transformation that empowers developers to turn emissions data into meaningful action, bridging the communication gap with ESG teams and exposing the critical truth that cloud cost and carbon cost are not the same, which fundamentally reshapes how we approach sustainable IT.

This week, Dave, Esmee and Rob talk to James Hall, Head of GreenOps at Green Pixie, to unpack the real state of GreenOps today—and why we’ve only just scratched the surface.
 
TLDR
01:57 Rob is confused about AGI
06:11 Cloud conversation with James Hall
22:10 Esmee as media archeologist, found GreenOps is 50 years old
30:46 Having some drinks in the summer

Guest
James Hall: https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-f-hall/

Hosts
Dave Chapman: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chapmandr/
Esmee van de Giessen: https://www.linkedin.com/in/esmeevandegiessen/
Rob Kernahan: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rob-kernahan/

Production
Marcel van der Burg: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marcel-vd-burg/
Dave Chapman: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chapmandr/

Sound
Ben Corbett: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ben-corbett-3b6a11135/
Louis Corbett:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/louis-corbett-087250264/

'Cloud Realities' is an original podcast from Capgemini

Quantum computing in 2025 is rapidly advancing toward commercialization, with breakthroughs in algorithms, scalable hardware, and cloud-based quantum services driving real-world applications across finance, healthcare, logistics, and cybersecurity

This week, Dave, Esmee, and Rob dive into the cutting edge of quantum computing with Catherine Vollgraff Heidweiller, Quantum AI PM at Google, and James Goeders, Head of Product for Google Quantum AI, exploring how far we've come since our June 2023 Quantumania! episode and what to expect from Willow—the bold fusion of quantum, AI, digital integration, deployment, and the broader tech ecosystem.

TLDR
00:46 Meet Catherine and James – intros and backgrounds
02:22 Rob is confused about students using AI
09:40 Deep dive with Catherine and James on the current state and future of Quantum
48:01 Quantum isn’t just tech—it’s a whole new way of thinking
1:01:37 Seize the moment and bringing external users onto quantum hardware

Guest
Catherine Vollgraff Heidweiller: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cmv-vollgraffheidweiller/
James Goeders: https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-goeders-8876a7164/

Hosts
Dave Chapman: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chapmandr/
Esmee van de Giessen: https://www.linkedin.com/in/esmeevandegiessen/
Rob Kernahan: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rob-kernahan/

Production
Marcel van der Burg: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marcel-vd-burg/
Dave Chapman: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chapmandr/

Sound
Ben Corbett: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ben-corbett-3b6a11135/
Louis Corbett:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/louis-corbett-087250264/

'Cloud Realities' is an original podcast from Capgemini