Mastering Tech Growth

Mike speaks to Joe Pulizzi, who is a content marketing guru who is the founder of multiple startups including The Tilt, Content Expo Events, the author of 7 books, and the host of several podcasts. He also runs The Orange Effect Foundation which provides children with consistent speech therapy.

Joe explains how he went down the content marketing rabbit hole and how any business can leverage it. He and Mike discuss, which platforms you should use, software, automation, knowing your audience, email list building, leveraging AI and much more.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• If you want to grow significantly you need to build a strong relationship with your customers. Content marketing enables you to do this.
• People come to know, like and trust you, over time. It is a marathon, not a sprint.
• Don´t just go create content. Know who your audience is and be clear about what your marketing goal is.
• To find your sweet spot, ask what my audience’s pain spots are, what am I qualified to talk and tell stories about, and what differentiates us from our competitors.
• Don´t publish on every channel. Joe explains how to choose which ones.
• Initially you will need to set up listening posts so you can better understand what your audience wants. But don´t forget to talk to your customers.
• Use your content to build your list. You need to get people´s email addresses to gain one-on-one access that will enable you to better serve them.
• Once you have people´s email you can use that to look at their buying behaviour.
• Use your data to the full. So many businesses don´t.
• Before investing in software, get the most out of free tools like Google Analytics.
• Create a long-form piece of content e.g. a podcast, then pull your short content out of that.
• Make sure you post to a platform you own e.g. your website. The socials constantly change the algorithms, so you can never 100% rely on it.
• Leaning too heavily on AI stifles your creativity and makes you sound the same as everyone else.
• AI does however make a great assistant for example doing research.
• It takes a long time to build a business, years, which is why patience is essential.

BEST MOMENTS

05:52 "It (content marketing) takes a lot of time, but it is the absolute best form of marketing on the planet." 

13:45  “Create content that differentiates you and rises above all the other content clutter out there?" 

25:48 "At some point you have to think like a marketing strategist and say I need to have the data." 

27:20 "Build a program to get people back to your website and sign up for something." 

40:17 "We don't have the time or resources to really figure out all these channels and do what we need to do. So just choose one." 

48:33 "I think you´re in trouble if you´re getting your content from an AI tool." 

55:57  “Don't spend frivolously. Don't be on every platform. Be strategic." 

ABOUT THE GUEST

https://www.thetilt.com/tilt-author/joe-pulizzi

https://cex.events/speaker/joe-pulizzi-2/

https://theorangeeffect.org/about/

https://www.joepulizzi.com/signup/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/joepulizzi/

ABOUT THE HOST

Meet Mike, a seasoned tech entrepreneur and visionary with over two and a half decades of invaluable experience in founding and scaling successful tech start-ups. Mike brings a wealth of firsthand knowledge, and a deep understanding of the challenges faced by entrepreneurs and tech professionals.

As a host, Mike is dedicated to sharing actionable insights, strategies, and stories gathered from conversations with industry leaders, innovators, and experts. With a remarkable ability to distil practical wisdom from guests, Mike curates engaging discussions that resonate with both aspiring entrepreneurs and seasoned professionals. 

ABOUT THE SHOW

Welcome to Mastering Tech Growth, where we dive deep into the strategies, challenges, and triumphs of scaling tech-driven ventures. Join us as we explore the dynamic world of technology businesses, uncovering the secrets behind successful growth trajectories. Each episode brings you candid conversations with founders and industry experts, sharing invaluable insights, proven tactics, and real-life stories. Whether you're a budding entrepreneur or a seasoned professional, discover the roadmap to navigating the complexities of scaling in the ever-evolving tech landscape.

Mike speaks with Adelina Chalmers the founder of Geek Whisperers. She helps CTOs, Heads of Engineering, and others to improve team performance. In her 20s, Adelina stopped working in human rights organisations when she realised, she could help people far more by working in tech.

Her mission is to transform engineers and their leaders. To do that they both need to know how to give and take feedback. Something that we are socially and biologically engineered to struggle with. Adelina explains how to unpick that and use feedback to transform our performance.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• Those who work in tech have an incredibly powerful impact on people´s lives. The projects we work on really move the needle.
• Feedback is critical. Without it, nobody knows if they are doing a great job or not.
• Feedback is not a personal attack. Often, for biological and social reasons we see it that way, Adelina explains why and how to get past that feeling.
• Lean into feedback. Regardless of how you feel respond by saying “Tell me more” 
• Think of feedback on your performance as being like the feedback you get from customers when developing products.
• Remote feedback is more difficult. Adelina explains how to get around this.
• For feedback to work well, the two people need to trust each other and have a proper connection. Remote teams need some face-to-face time.
• Tell people in advance why you need to speak to them. Don´t blindside them.
• Coach first if that does not work give feedback. Remember constant negative feedback wears people down.

BEST MOMENTS

02:11 "Giving feedback and receiving feedback is effectively how we all grow." 

03:43 "When people ask for feedback, most people mean, please don´t hurt me, give me good feedback." 

29:03 "If you think about growing, by default, you have to make mistakes, learn from 

32:19 "My key tip would be to build a relationship of trust with this person." 

50:06 "Coach them every time they make a mistake. And if the coaching doesn't work, then you can move a gear up to feedback." 

1.00:00 "The business strategy tells you what you need to do with your tech strategy.”

ABOUT THE GUEST

https://www.geekwhisperer.co.uk/adelina-chalmers

https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/alternative-st-sandwich-time-writing-adelina-chalmers

ABOUT THE HOST

Meet Mike, a seasoned tech entrepreneur and visionary with over two and a half decades of invaluable experience in founding and scaling successful tech start-ups. Mike brings a wealth of firsthand knowledge, and a deep understanding of the challenges faced by entrepreneurs and tech professionals.

As a host, Mike is dedicated to sharing actionable insights, strategies, and stories gathered from conversations with industry leaders, innovators, and experts. With a remarkable ability to distil practical wisdom from guests, Mike curates engaging discussions that resonate with both aspiring entrepreneurs and seasoned professionals. 

ABOUT THE SHOW

Welcome to Mastering Tech Growth, where we dive deep into the strategies, challenges, and triumphs of scaling tech-driven ventures. Join us as we explore the dynamic world of technology businesses, uncovering the secrets behind successful growth trajectories. Each episode brings you candid conversations with founders and industry experts, sharing invaluable insights, proven tactics, and real-life stories. Whether you're a budding entrepreneur or a seasoned professional, discover the roadmap to navigating the complexities of scaling in the ever-evolving tech landscape.

Mike speaks to Michael Orant who is an entrepreneur, fractional CTO and racing driver. Today, they discuss fundraising, covering when to raise funds and how to talk to VCs, what to expect from them and spending the money strategically.

To do this, Michael shares several real-world examples. Over the years, he has played a significant role in helping several startups to raise money.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• Even when investors are more risk-averse, you can still raise funds.
• Think about your exit and the exit for the investors and make that as attractive as possible.
• Accelerator events are a great way to find funders.
• Get a warm invite. Michael explains how to do that.
• Practice articulating the opportunities to different types of investors in a range of settings. Practice on friends and family, if they understand investors will too.,
• Be honest and realistic about what your business is worth and the potential of your idea.
• Model out the future, in particular, consider what future rounds of fundraising will look like. Do everything you can to avoid having to raise further funds.
• Remember you are inviting the investors into your business and will be working with them for the long term.
• Fundraising takes a long time, so plan ahead to avoid running out of cash before the funding arrives.
• Sometimes the VC will want to change the board and management team.
• Engage with the investors and set expectations.
• You will have to hire a lot of people fast, prepare early and empower people to recruit for their teams.

BEST MOMENTS

12:57 "You need people that will ground you or at least challenge your thinking so you can check your facts and numbers are right." 

24:31 "Be transparent with everything. Let the skeletons out of the closet early." 

34:35  "Think about cash conversion. And actually, what can we do to mitigate having to go for further investment rounds." 

36:42 "You are inviting someone into your business, to be part of that business, do your due diligence on them." 

54:33 "If you're looking for highly skilled roles, then there is an advantage of using niche recruiters." 

42:45 – “You have to make sure that they're (VCs)  buying into that plan that you've put forward, or you accept that you're going into their plan.”

57.11 – Don´t underestimate how exhausting fundraising can be.”

ABOUT THE HOST

Meet Mike, a seasoned tech entrepreneur and visionary with over two and a half decades of invaluable experience in founding and scaling successful tech start-ups. Mike brings a wealth of firsthand knowledge and a deep understanding of the challenges faced by entrepreneurs and tech professionals.

As a host, Mike is dedicated to sharing actionable insights, strategies, and stories gathered from conversations with industry leaders, innovators, and experts. With a remarkable ability to distil practical wisdom from guests, Mike curates engaging discussions that resonate with both aspiring entrepreneurs and seasoned professionals. 

ABOUT THE SHOW

Welcome to Mastering Tech Growth, where we dive deep into the strategies, challenges, and triumphs of scaling tech-driven ventures. Join us as we explore the dynamic world of technology businesses, uncovering the secrets behind successful growth trajectories. Each episode brings you candid conversations with founders and industry experts, sharing invaluable insights, proven tactics, and real-life stories. Whether you're a budding entrepreneur or a seasoned professional, discover the roadmap to navigating the complexities of scaling in the ever-evolving tech landscape.

Mike speaks to Robbie Clutton a fractional CTO, who does pretty much anything engineering-related. Today, they discuss transitioning from being an individual contributor to taking on a leadership role. Looking at how to decide if this is right for you and what you can expect that new role to look like.

Robbie also shares some really practical tips to help you to coach, manage and develop your first team. He covers giving feedback, managing one-to-ones, building relationships, effectively managing up and much more.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• Becoming a fractional CTO genuinely gives you control over how and when you work.
• To cover any lean times, have some cash behind you, reduce your spending and develop several income streams, e.g. coaching and advising.
• Not everyone can lead so try before you buy by taking on temporary leadership roles.
• Be wary of roles that require you to code but spend a lot of time managing people. You won´t be able to get into the necessary flow state to code well.
• Correct poor behaviour quickly.
• Creating a culture in which people can thrive is a leader´s No. 1 priority.
• Don´t protect your team from everything. They need to understand why things are needed in a certain way, if they don´t the hows they come up with may not work well.
• When asking for resources be clear about what you need and ask early.
• Consider using an external mentor. There is no bias in that relationship.
• The smartest people always ask for help.

BEST MOMENTS

04:21 "During school holidays, it's very easy for me to dial down the work."

14:07 "Before you take on any formal responsibility start looking for the informal ownership of things." (Robbie explaining how to work out if a leadership role is a good fit for you)

42:00 "There´s no way you´re gonna be good at leading people if you´re not able to have a courageous conversation and give course-correcting feedback." 

54:19 "For managing out make sure what you´re asking for is clear and ask it kind of early." 

RESOURCES

https://ctocraft.com/

Micheal Bungay Stainer - https://www.amazon.co.uk/stores/author/B002QK41GQ

Non-violent Communication - https://www.amazon.co.uk/Nonviolent-Communication-Language-Life-Guides/dp/189200528X

The Leadership Pipeline - https://www.amazon.co.uk/Leadership-Pipeline-3rd-Developing-Leaders/dp/B0CYJ6NJZY

ABOUT THE HOST

Meet Mike, a seasoned tech entrepreneur and visionary with over two and a half decades of invaluable experience in founding and scaling successful tech start-ups. Mike brings a wealth of firsthand knowledge and a deep understanding of the challenges faced by entrepreneurs and tech professionals.

As a host, Mike is dedicated to sharing actionable insights, strategies, and stories gathered from conversations with industry leaders, innovators, and experts. With a remarkable ability to distil practical wisdom from guests, Mike curates engaging discussions that resonate with both aspiring entrepreneurs and seasoned professionals. 

ABOUT THE SHOW

Welcome to Mastering Tech Growth, where we dive deep into the strategies, challenges, and triumphs of scaling tech-driven ventures. Join us as we explore the dynamic world of technology businesses, uncovering the secrets behind successful growth trajectories. Each episode brings you candid conversations with founders and industry experts, sharing invaluable insights, proven tactics, and real-life stories. Whether you're a budding entrepreneur or a seasoned professional, discover the roadmap to navigating the complexities of scaling in the ever-evolving tech landscape.

For this episode, Mike´s guest is Pleo CTO, Meri Williams. They take an in-depth look at building high-performing, fully diverse, and inclusive teams, discuss how to attract and retain people from widely different backgrounds and create an environment in which they uncover and develop the innovative solutions that are so often missed by less diverse teams.

Meri has led both small and large teams for 17 different organisations. Including, P&G, Monza, MOO, M&S and several startups. So, the recruitment, training and retention strategies Meri shares here are highly practical.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• True inclusion is missing from most companies. People are rarely asked for their opinions, and they don´t feel they can be their true selves.
• If you only pay lip service to inclusivity people from diverse backgrounds just won´t apply.
• Hire people from different backgrounds whose life experience means they genuinely see things from a different angle.
• Go where people from diverse backgrounds train to find more candidates.
• Have a robust and effective onboarding process to improve retainment.
• Engineering managers need to want to and be capable of developing others.
• Tech leads need to be prepared to do the glue work e.g. refining processes
• Provide people you promote internally with leadership training and explain why they need to lead in a certain way.

BEST MOMENTS

06:50 "The first thing I do is go meet every team and I ask them, what are they proud of? What are they worried about? And if I had a magic wand, what should I do with it?" (How Mari decides which challenges to tackle first when starting a new leadership role)

35:43 "I think actual diversity, where people are from different backgrounds, different demographics, different life experiences is much more likely to lead to true diversity and true different thinking."

37:23 "Making it an environment where lots of different people can be themselves and still succeed is the litmus test for whether you've got the right to go and get those people who are different in the first place." 

51:03 "As you get bigger, it becomes easier to attract people who are different, because there's now more chance that they're not the only one who's different." 

EPISODE RESOURCES

https://www.linkedin.com/in/meriwilliams

https://leaddev.com/events

ABOUT THE HOST

Meet Mike, a seasoned tech entrepreneur and visionary with over two and a half decades of invaluable experience in founding and scaling successful tech start-ups. Mike brings a wealth of firsthand knowledge and a deep understanding of the challenges faced by entrepreneurs and tech professionals.

As a host, Mike is dedicated to sharing actionable insights, strategies, and stories gathered from conversations with industry leaders, innovators, and experts. With a remarkable ability to distil practical wisdom from guests, Mike curates engaging discussions that resonate with both aspiring entrepreneurs and seasoned professionals. 

ABOUT THE SHOW

Welcome to Mastering Tech Growth, where we dive deep into the strategies, challenges, and triumphs of scaling tech-driven ventures. Join us as we explore the dynamic world of technology businesses, uncovering the secrets behind successful growth trajectories. Each episode brings you candid conversations with founders and industry experts, sharing invaluable insights, proven tactics, and real-life stories. Whether you're a budding entrepreneur or a seasoned professional, discover the roadmap to navigating the complexities of scaling in the ever-evolving tech landscape.

In this episode, Mike talks about B2B, B2C, and B2B2C business models with Benjy Meyer, Chief Product and Technology Officer at Commonplace. Benjy shares his knwoledge on the complexities of different business models, the challenges of transitioning between them, and the unique role of a CPTO. With a mix of personal experiences and industry observations, Mike and Benjy share knowledge for anyone navigating the tech growth landscape.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• B2B and B2C models require different skillsets and approaches, with B2B focusing more on stakeholder management and B2C on data-driven decision-making.
• Transitioning from B2C to B2B can be a strategic move to increase revenue and customer loyalty, as seen in examples like Naked Wine and Design My Night.
• B2B2C models face unique challenges in balancing opposing forces from different sides of the marketplace and aligning motivations.
• Feature flags and customisation in B2B products require careful management to avoid technical debt and maintain scalability.
• The role of a CPTO combines strategic product vision with technical execution, requiring trust from the CEO and board, and the ability to think critically across both domains.
• Organic search and social media, particularly Facebook/Meta, can be powerful channels for building and engaging audiences in B2B2C platforms.
• When starting a tech venture, prioritising an entrepreneurial mindset in early engineers over perfect infrastructure can accelerate growth and learning.
• Building anticipation through waitlists and leveraging personal networks can help gather valuable early feedback and create a foundation for product development.

BEST MOMENTS

"I would rather fail in a B2C where I've got a lot more data that teaches me, gives me learnings about why I failed, um, so that I can apply those to the next iteration, if that makes sense." 27:22  Discussing the difference between B2B and B2C

"We want built environment professionals, real estate developers, local government to come and use the platform to talk to communities so that they can get their planning applications through faster, build better places that are better designed, but they don't really want to talk to communities. We're kind of their enemy." 43:37 Explaining the challenges of B2B2C platforms

"You really have to understand in detail the user problems And motivations on both sides of that marketplace to come up with the right OKRs So that you don't like build this spurious motivation for your teams that imbalances"  45:05 Explaining the importance of understanding user problems in B2B2C

"What matters most at that level is the structure that's underneath. Those leaders and like in theory, let's say I'm working in a company of 300 people or something. I don't need to be that deep, right? I've got a team of 20, 30, 50 people working in products and technology. I need them to be amazing." 54:43 Discussing the role of a CPTO

"When you're kicking off entrepreneurial doesn't really care about the infrastructure doesn't know much about the infrastructure is just hungry for more data to help them make decisions and help you have good conversations together about what to build next" 01:00:48 Describing the importance of the first engineer in a tech venture

ABOUT THE GUEST

Benjy Meyer

ABOUT THE HOST

Meet Mike, a seasoned tech entrepreneur and visionary with over two and a half decades of invaluable experience in founding and scaling successful tech start-ups. Mike brings a wealth of firsthand knowledge and a deep understanding of the challenges faced by entrepreneurs and tech professionals.

As a host, Mike is dedicated to sharing actionable insights, strategies, and stories gathered from conversations with industry leaders, innovators, and experts. With a remarkable ability to distil practical wisdom from guests, Mike curates engaging discussions that resonate with both aspiring entrepreneurs and seasoned professionals. 

ABOUT THE SHOW

Welcome to Mastering Tech Growth, where we dive deep into the strategies, challenges, and triumphs of scaling tech-driven ventures. Join us as we explore the dynamic world of technology businesses, uncovering the secrets behind successful growth trajectories. Each episode brings you candid conversations with founders and industry experts, sharing invaluable insights, proven tactics, and real-life stories. Whether you're a budding entrepreneur or a seasoned professional, discover the roadmap to navigating the complexities of scaling in the ever-evolving tech landscape.

Join Mike as he discusses the business implications of AI and data with Steven Harrison, co-founder of Infratech Digital. Steven Harrison shares his visionary insights on the future of AI, the value of data, and how businesses can stay ahead in the rapidly evolving tech landscape. From comparing data to oil fields to predicting the rise of company-specific AIs, this episode will reshape your understanding of technology's role in business growth.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• Data is becoming a new pillar of economic value, alongside labour, resources, and capital, with unique properties that make it infinitely replicable and potentially more valuable over time.
• AI is evolving from understanding and learning to creating, which opens up new possibilities for problem-solving and innovation beyond just automation.
• Companies that develop their own specialised AIs may gain a significant competitive advantage, potentially outperforming those with only top human talent.
• The adoption curve for AI technology is likely to be nearly vertical, with widespread integration expected within five years across various industries.
• Security is crucial for protecting valuable data and AI assets, and businesses should consider partnering with specialised security providers rather than relying solely on in-house expertise.
• The value created by IT investments needs to be carefully measured and justified, as many companies have shifted expenses to technology without necessarily increasing profitability.
• Businesses should use AI to eliminate waste and free up employee time for strategic thinking about transforming their operations and services.
• Education in digital infrastructure and data management is becoming as essential as basic literacy for navigating the modern world and avoiding exploitation

BEST MOMENTS

"We don't teach how to build the things that make digital possible. We teach how to consume digital when it's already been built. So it begs the question of, well, who's going to build the next generation?" 02:19 (Harrison discussing the lack of education in digital infrastructure)

"The organisations that do that work best today, I think they're going to be positioned for an incredibly lucrative hundred years because as data becomes more controlled, more constrained, the value of the people that do have the data is just going to go up exponentially." 31:29 (Explaining the long-term value of data ownership)

"Once you realise that sort of step one, step two, step three process that have created an AI with the ability to think, I've now given it the ability to learn and have now given it the ability to create. If we look at that AI as we would a little human. It's kind of how we raise children, isn't it?"  36:33 (Harrison comparing AI development to raising children)

"We're going to see countries and organisations that previously would have struggled to compete, suddenly be extremely competitive. Because they've invested wisely in AI technology." 45:29 (Discussing how AI could level the playing field in global competition)

"If you wait until the wave is crashing down on top of you, there's going to be so much competitive pressure. There's going to be so much more pressure for the talent that you can now hire and train and develop today." 1:05:54 (Advising businesses to start AI transformation early)

ABOUT THE HOST

Meet Mike, a seasoned tech entrepreneur and visionary with over two and a half decades of invaluable experience in founding and scaling successful tech start-ups. Mike brings a wealth of firsthand knowledge and a deep understanding of the challenges faced by entrepreneurs and tech professionals.

As a host, Mike is dedicated to sharing actionable insights, strategies, and stories gathered from conversations with industry leaders, innovators, and experts. With a remarkable ability to distil practical wisdom from guests, Mike curates engaging discussions that resonate with both aspiring entrepreneurs and seasoned professionals. 

Mike interviews Peter Sorgenfrei, a coach for CTOs and business leaders. They talk about the often-overlooked realm of work-life integration, challenging the hustle culture mentality. Peter shares his thoughts on time management, prioritisation, and the importance of "me time" for leaders. Mike and Peter’s conversation will make you rethink your approach to work and life, offering practical tips to boost productivity while maintaining balance.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• Work-life integration is more achievable than work-life balance, focusing on organising professional and personal life around peak performance times.
• Delegating tasks and prioritising ruthlessly can significantly reduce overwhelm and increase productivity for leaders at all levels.
• Regular "me time" without screens, preferably in nature, is crucial for recharging and maintaining clarity of mind.
• Challenging the need for meetings and questioning the importance of tasks can free up significant time and mental space.
• Building in public and ensuring at least five new people know about your business daily is crucial for startup growth.
• Napping for 20-25 minutes after lunch can provide a significant energy boost for the rest of the day.
• Engaging with a professional coach or mentor can accelerate career growth and provide valuable perspectives.
• Selling and making people aware of your product or service is more important than perfecting features when starting a business.

BEST MOMENTS

"I talk a lot about work life integration, which is to, instead of trying to find balance, which within something which is essentially out of balance because of our devices always being with us because of most of us being, you know, digital workers in some way, knowledge workers, it's about finding that integration." 06:48: Peter discussing the concept of work-life integration

"Sell every day. Selling. Sales saves everything." 56:15 Peter answering what is the most important thing for any tech venture growth)

"The number one piece of advice that I give anybody is make sure that five new people know that you exist and what you do every single day, seven days a week." 56:38 Peter emphasising the importance of building awareness for your business

"You can have the best product, but if you haven't exposed it to the market, if you haven't exposed it to customers and actually modified it in a way that they will buy it. You don't have a business." 58:51 Peter sharing the story about Mercedes-Benz introducing the C-Class to the US market

"I personally was person who was unwilling to pay for coaches and mentors until I slowly started doing it. And now I got a mentor and a coach for many things in life and the acceleration and the value exchange is just, it's just not comparable." 01:04:59 Mike discussing the value of professional coaching

ABOUT THE GUEST

Peter Sorgenfrei - CEO & Founder Coach

Website: https://www.petersorgenfrei.com/#1

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sorgenfrei/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sorgenfrei_co

Youtube: www.youtube.com/@peter_sorgenfrei

Newsletter: https://astounding-speaker-2032.ck.page

ABOUT THE HOST

Meet Mike, a seasoned tech entrepreneur and visionary with over two and a half decades of invaluable experience in founding and scaling successful tech start-ups. Mike brings a wealth of firsthand knowledge and a deep understanding of the challenges faced by entrepreneurs and tech professionals.

As a host, Mike is dedicated to sharing actionable insights, strategies, and stories gathered from conversations with industry leaders, innovators, and experts. With a remarkable ability to distil practical wisdom from guests, Mike curates engaging discussions that resonate with both aspiring entrepreneurs and seasoned professionals. 

ABOUT THE SHOW

Welcome to Mastering Tech Growth, where we dive deep into the strategies, challenges, and triumphs of scaling tech-driven ventures. Join us as we explore the dynamic world of technology businesses, uncovering the secrets behind successful growth trajectories. Each episode brings you candid conversations with founders and industry experts, sharing invaluable insights, proven tactics, and real-life stories. Whether you're a budding entrepreneur or a seasoned professional, discover the roadmap to navigating the complexities of scaling in the ever-evolving tech landscape.

Mike talks with David Lush about the intriguing world of imposter syndrome in tech leadership. Dave shares his personal journey from experiencing intense imposter syndrome to feeling surprisingly confident in his new role. The conversation explores psychological safety, authenticity, and the delicate balance between humility and assertiveness.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• Imposter syndrome can be a sign of growth and stepping out of your comfort zone, indicating you're challenging yourself in new roles.
• Developing a personal playbook for entering new roles can help mitigate imposter syndrome and increase confidence in adding value quickly.
• Active listening and asking questions before sharing opinions can help maintain humility while leveraging experience in leadership positions.
• Creating psychological safety in teams is crucial for open communication and addressing mental health concerns in the tech industry.
• Authenticity and being yourself at work can lead to trust-building and improved psychological safety within teams.
• Balancing humility with confidence is key for effective leadership, especially when transitioning from individual contributor to management roles.
• Influence in the workplace can be gained through a combination of experience, data-driven arguments, and effective storytelling techniques.
• The tech industry is gradually shifting towards a healthier work-life balance, with younger generations prioritising clear boundaries and fair exchanges in their careers.

BEST MOMENTS

"I've never really been able to keep my mouth shut and therefore I've ended up down the sort of management and leadership IC." 01:30: Dave explains how he transitioned into leadership roles due to his tendency to speak up and share ideas.

"A case of getting out and meeting people in the company doing the, you know, the information firehose thing, like, let me gather context, let me understand how your business works, build a mental model of it." 08:19: Dave is describing his strategy for quickly understanding a new company and role.

"I think I'm probably quite in the middle, you know, I'm very happy in my own company, but I also like a bit of other people's company for a period of time." 03:11: Dave is reflecting on his introverted and extroverted tendencies in relation to leadership roles.

"I feel like a bit of imposter syndrome is good. You know, the fact that I don't have any imposter syndrome coming into this role is probably a sign that I've not, you know, challenged myself enough with the role that I've moved into" 38:37: Dave believes that the lack of imposter syndrome in his current role might indicate a need for more challenges.

ABOUT THE GUEST

David Lush is the Chief Technology Officer at MindGym, with a distinguished career in technology leadership, including key roles as Head of Engineering at Onzo and Visa. With over 20 years of experience, David excels in building and scaling high-performing teams, aligning strategy with company vision, and fostering a culture of innovation and psychological safety. Known for his strategic mindset and commitment to continuous learning, David integrates his expertise in engineering and data to drive success and growth.

ABOUT THE HOST

Meet Mike, a seasoned tech entrepreneur and visionary with over two and a half decades of invaluable experience in founding and scaling successful tech start-ups. Mike brings a wealth of firsthand knowledge and a deep understanding of the challenges faced by entrepreneurs and tech professionals.

As a host, Mike is dedicated to sharing actionable insights, strategies, and stories gathered from conversations with industry leaders, innovators, and experts. With a remarkable ability to distil practical wisdom from guests, Mike curates engaging discussions that resonate with both aspiring entrepreneurs and seasoned professionals. 

ABOUT THE SHOW

Welcome to Mastering Tech Growth, where we dive deep into the strategies, challenges, and triumphs of scaling tech-driven ventures. Join us as we explore the dynamic world of technology businesses, uncovering the secrets behind successful growth trajectories. Each episode brings you candid conversations with founders and industry experts, sharing invaluable insights, proven tactics, and real-life stories. Whether you're a budding entrepreneur or a seasoned professional, discover the roadmap to navigating the complexities of scaling in the ever-evolving tech landscape.

Mike speaks to Steve Spittle, the Chief Technology Officer and Co-Founder at GlobalTrust Ltd about the fascinating world of satellite data and its role in sustainability. Steve shares his journey from environmental science to space technology, explains how Global Trust leverages satellite imagery for environmental monitoring and discusses the ethical implications and future of the industry. This episode is a must-listen for anyone interested in cutting-edge technology, sustainability, and the power of space-based observations to drive positive change on Earth.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• Global Trust uses satellite data to monitor environmental impacts, helping businesses make sustainable decisions and comply with regulations.
• Satellite imagery can provide valuable insights into various environmental factors, including deforestation, atmospheric emissions, and biodiversity.
• The satellite data industry is evolving rapidly, shifting towards smaller, more cost-effective satellites and increased data accessibility.
• AI and machine learning play crucial roles in analysing satellite data, but it's essential to use these technologies judiciously and transparently.
• The future of satellite data analysis will likely involve more integrated, user-friendly tools that become part of everyday business operations.
• Ethical considerations around satellite data usage include privacy concerns and the need for transparent, traceable analysis processes.
• Sustainability is becoming increasingly important for businesses, driven by regulations, investor pressure, and public awareness.
• Networking and participating in industry events are crucial for CTOs and businesses looking to stay informed about sustainability trends and technologies.

BEST MOMENTS

22:56 "So effectively the pricing module is on the frequency of data on a quality of data and then there's a historical data sets you can buy into that." (Mike summarising Steve's explanation of satellite data pricing models)

25:58 "From space, we are actually able to map out exactly where the dust goes from the activities. And we can also look at some of the high level composition of that dust by looking at its individual spectral footprint." (Steve Spittle discussing how satellite data can be used to monitor industrial dust pollution)

28:08 "We've gone from a place of having a separate sustainability report and a separate business model to now having what they call a sustainable business model. And they've combined the two." (Steve Spittle explaining how businesses are integrating sustainability into their core operations)

51:18 "I think 10 years in the future, we won't be so obsessed, I hope, with using terms such as AI, and it's going to be part of the kind of fabric of what we do on a day to day and it just gets wrapped into this term of analysis." (Steve Spittle predicting the future of AI and satellite data analysis)

01:01:18 "The premise of sustainability is that part of that idea of inclusion and actually bringing all these thoughts together and recognising that if we're going to have any chance of making any real impact, we need to have this kind of multidisciplinary approach." (Steve Spittle discussing the importance of collaboration in addressing sustainability challenges)

ABOUT THE GUEST

Steve Spittle

Steve Spittle previously worked as the Global Extractives Industries Technical Lead at the Satellite Applications Catapult. Within this role Steve engaged with stakeholders across the mining sector from large multinational commercial companies, governments and investors, creating satellite-based solutions. Prior to this role Steve held two additional roles at the Catapult, alongside these roles at the Catapult, Steve spent three years as a technical and business mentor for satellite start-up companies across Europe, as part of the Copernicus Accelerator programme. Finally, Steve is a non-executive director of Lux Aerobot, an exciting Canadian high-altitude platform start-up. He is one of the 100 Geospatial Rising Stars 2024.

https://www.linkedin.com/company/globaltrustgrp

https://www.linkedin.com/in/steve-spittle/

https://globaltrustgrp.com/solutions/globalguard/

https://www.stem.org.uk/resources/elibrary/resource/449780/steve-spittle-%E2%80%93-emerging-technology-lead-digital-intelligence

https://sa.catapult.org.uk/podcasts/ep-5-mining-for-sustainable-energy/

Spacewatch: https://spacewatch.global/2024/04/esa-funds-globaltrust-and-ecogains-space2climb-project/

ABOUT THE HOST

Meet Mike, a seasoned tech entrepreneur and visionary with over two and a half decades of invaluable experience in founding and scaling successful tech start-ups. Mike brings a wealth of firsthand knowledge and a deep understanding of the challenges faced by entrepreneurs and tech professionals.

As a host, Mike is dedicated to sharing actionable insights, strategies, and stories gathered from conversations with industry leaders, innovators, and experts. With a remarkable ability to distil practical wisdom from guests, Mike curates engaging discussions that resonate with both aspiring entrepreneurs and seasoned professionals. 

ABOUT THE SHOW

Welcome to Mastering Tech Growth, where we dive deep into the strategies, challenges, and triumphs of scaling tech-driven ventures. Join us as we explore the dynamic world of technology businesses, uncovering the secrets behind successful growth trajectories. Each episode brings you candid conversations with founders and industry experts, sharing invaluable insights, proven tactics, and real-life stories. Whether you're a budding entrepreneur or a seasoned professional, discover the roadmap to navigating the complexities of scaling in the ever-evolving tech landscape.