Innovating Humanity

Jof Walters is Co-Founder of Million Labs, a business using pioneering no-code technology to launch new businesses quickly, effectively and successfully. One million of them in 10 years – that’s their mission. What Jof and Million Labs are doing to enable entrepreneurs to launch tech business with little or no cash blew my mind. I’m sure it will yours too. But this isn’t just about the tech. It’s about business being a force for good in the world and human beings taking advantage of tech so we can be more human.

Wow, Jof has really blown me away. I’m a non-techie who previously work in a technology company so I’ve always avoided anything to do with tech, believing it was beyond me. Now I find myself drawn into seeing that technology is not just for geeks. It’s for all of us and the sooner we take advantage of it, the quicker we can level the playing field. I genuinely believe that Million Labs are revolutionising startups, technology and humanity and I’m excited for the future.

How can technology level the playing field in your business?

How can you be more human and let the tech do the hard work?

http://www.judejennison.com/ (www.judejennison.com) in partnership with www.birminghamtechweek.com

Perdie Alder and Margaret Anne Coyle are the co-founders of Spice Startups, a business giving tech startups and scaleups that #secretspice to grow, scale and reach new heights.  

They have a wealth of knowledge and experience of what it takes to be successful as a startup in the tech sector and explain why leadership is often seen as “fluffy” by tech founders. Despite this, they share some great examples of businesses who have succeeded as a result of outstanding leadership.

I loved Perdie’s example of https://www.getthursday.com/mission (Thursday) – the online dating app that can only be accessed on a Thursday. It’s such a great example of how technology can drive our behaviour for positive benefit, as opposed to dating apps that can drive compulsive, additive behaviour. 

I’m left wondering how we ensure technology is a force for good in the world if investors want a quick return and founders think that leadership is fluffy? Is it all down to us as the consumers? What do you think?

What decisions can you make that are a force for good in the world?

How might your leadership be impacting the world without you realising it?

http://www.judejennison.com/ (www.judejennison.com) in partnership with http://www.birminghamtechweek.com/ (www.birminghamtechweek.com)

Avin Rabheru is the CEO of Housekeep, the UK market-leading business for house and office cleaning. Avin explains how he took a structured approach to starting a business, the challenges of balancing human needs with technology and the need to define the culture retrospectively to put the heart into the business. He took a collaborative approach so the business can grow without relying on him.

I’m struck by the careful consideration that Avin has given every step of the way with his business. Unlike many founders, he’s never lost sight of what he is trying to achieve and recognises the ethical dilemma of using technology to fulfil a human need whilst making a profit. It’s a delicate balance and Avin seems to have hit the sweet spot. Perhaps that’s part of the secret of his success.

What human need does technology fill in your business?

Where is the balance – on humans or on the tech?  and what might need to change?

http://www.judejennison.com/ (www.judejennison.com) in partnership with http://www.birmimghamtechweek.com/ (www.birmimghamtechweek.com)

Welcome to Innovating Humanity, the official podcast for Birmingham Tech Week. I’m Jude Jennison, the host of this podcast and Founder of Leaders by Nature, a leadership and team development company. I work with senior leadership teams to help them align through behavioural change.

In my previous career, I worked for IBM for 17 years, but I was never technical. Everything I did, involved leading people, teams and working with clients to explore how we get people to achieve together to meet the business needs. As a result, I’m passionate about how we use technology to be more human.

When we went into lockdown due to COVID-19, there was a major shift to working remotely and online. I think people surprised themselves by how easy it was to work in this way. In many cases, productivity and collaboration have increased because people have been forced to think and work in a different way. Empathy and emotional connection increased as people saw the need to reach out and support each other.

In parallel, we are seeing a rise in mental health issues as people feel the isolation away from their colleagues with limited face to face contact.

In this podcast, I’m interviewing leaders from technology businesses who are at the forefront of changing how we live and work and I’m asking them to share the great work they are doing and challenging them to reflect on how we use technology to be more human and let technology enhance our lives.

I hope you find the conversations as enlightening and inspiring as I do.

How does technology enhance your life and work? And how can you use it more consciously to be more human?

http://www.judejennison.com/ (www.judejennison.com) in partnership with http://www.birminghamtechweek.com/ (www.birminghamtechweek.com)