Our inaugural guest is Stephen Bartlett who is an accomplished technologist, CTO at the interior designer tool Programa, and founder of Precise - a product used by consultancies to showcase the profiles of their team members

Stephen was an early adopter of AI. Shortly after its release in 2020, he incorporated GPT-3 into Precise. By incorporating this capability, he helped solve the “blank page” problem consultants faced when needing to write text to describe their skills and experience. For some of us it is hard to remember, but before ChatGPT came along, it was still a novel concept to have AI generate human-like text on demand.

As Programa's CTO, Stephen leads his team in utilising cutting-edge AI tools to streamline software development and enhance their product's value. For instance, they use GitHub Copilot for AI-assisted coding and Midjourney to generate design concepts and marketing materials. The team also explores open-source alternatives like Stable Diffusion for image generation, while leveraging ChatGPT for document creation and general assistance. By embracing these technologies, Stephen is fostering an innovative environment that not only improves the efficiency of their software development process but also enhances Programa's workflow tool for interior designers and architects.

Stephen's positive approach to AI emphasises education and awareness. He invests in his team to ensure they understand available tools and their applications, reflecting his proactive stance on the integration of AI into daily workflow.

Where to find and connect with Stephen:

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

Preceise (https://precise.io/) - Precise : Profiles and Portfolios for consulting teams

Programa (https://programa.design/) - Programa : Workflow tool for interior designers & architects

Tools mentioned during the conversation:

GitHub Copilot (https://github.com/features/copilot) - AI-powered code completion tool

Rewind AI (https://www.rewind.ai/) - Productivity tool for recording and indexing computer activity

Midjourney (https://www.midjourney.com/) - AI image generation tool

Stable Diffusion (https://stability.ai/stable-diffusion) - Open-source AI image generation tool

ChatGPT (https://chat.openai.com/) - AI language model for document creation and general assistance

Raycast (https://www.raycast.com/) - AI-enhanced spotlight tool for Mac

Superwhisper (https://www.superwhisper.com/) - Voice-to-text dictation tool

Linear (https://linear.app/) - Product management tool

Timestamps

00:14 Introduction of Stephen Bartlett

02:02 Early adoption of GPT-3 into the Precise

05:23 Discussion on paid vs free AI tools

05:53 Use of Midjourney and importance of open-source alternatives

07:59 Introduction to Rewind AI productivity tool

10:30 Explanation of GitHub Copilot for coding

13:08 Impact of AI tools on team dynamics in software development

16:06 Use of ChatGPT for document creation and assistance

18:00 Overview of Programa, workflow tool for interior designers

20:19 Current capabilities of AI in design and image generation

22:26 Challenges in integrating AI tools into user workflows

23:39 Importance of education in preparing for AI in the workplace

26:28 Discussion on human aspects of work AI can't replace

30:31 Recommendations for additional AI tools

31:53 Conclusion and wrap-up

Peter Thomas talks to Daniel Layne, CEO of UK fintech QV Systems. It's a wide ranging conversation about about his business, about some of the changes in technology that are shaping both business and consumers in finance, the role of technology in the future of work and skills, and especially the impacts and use cases for generative AI. Daniel then looks back at his startup and scaleup experience and offers some advice for those growing their business.

Daniel has been in the software industry for 24 years starting in retail banking, then developing software for ATM and card payments and later building large scale auto finance systems. He started QV Systems in 2012 to bring SaaS to asset and automotive finance. Daniel has a law degree, and amongst other things is interested in the future of technology. Daniel is one our FORWARD senior industry fellows and is based in the UK.

Transcript at:

https://otter.ai/u/btJNWsvA2aUet0-z3YdM9Mh3AOM?utm_source=copy_url

Production by Michael Donaldson https://8sided.blog/8sided-about/

FORWARD Development partner Sally McNamara in conversation with Winitha Bonney, a Thought Leader in Inclusive Organisations and Leadership for People of Colour and recipient of an Order of Australia in 2021 for their extensive work and leadership in inclusion. Winitha helps leaders to build anti-fragile cultures of inclusion where everyone is heard, seen and valued, creating true belonging, equity, equality and connection.

Today we’re talking about how the skills we build in life can amplify our work skills (and vice versa). Winitha believes that the biggest blocker to inclusion at work is a lack of shame resilience, and that the way for us to build this invisible superpower is to start by noticing and processing our own pain and suffering to be able to empathise with others and build cultures of anti-fragility at work and in life.

Our working theory on this at FORWARD is that valuing skills gained through life experience and interests can help build the durable human skills we need now more than ever at work (like self-awareness; resilience, adaptability; empathy) and also facilitate greater inclusion and belonging at work.

You can find out more about Winitha’s work here http://www.winitha.com/

Transcript at

https://otter.ai/u/oVs1EjTTQc1ESFkVnP8FwiCobfc?utm_source=copy_url

Production by Michael Donaldson https://8sided.blog/8sided-about/

FORWARD Development partner Sally McNamara in conversation with Renee Barnes, Founder of “The People Paradox”, advising companies on how to grow productive and engaged work cultures and importantly for this conversation – a mum of two.

At FORWARD, we are interested in exploring skills through many different lenses – and this is one of those more creative conversations. Because sometimes being future focussed can mean reframing how we currently see things, rather than creating something new.

In this conversation, we talk about how there is huge learning and growth in the transition to motherhood and many transferable skills that could be more visible and valued upon returning to paid work. Instead of “time out” of the workforce, we want to reframe pregnancy and parental leave for what it is: a period of rapid upskilling.

We see this could boost women’s confidence and encourage more women to go for leadership roles post children – bringing many other benefits for workplace culture and well-being in particular.

Learn more about Renee’s work here https://www.peopleparadoxhr.com/

Transcript at:

https://otter.ai/u/Ra0g9XFj7N91p1TbZh-DpSc05WQ?utm_source=copy_url

Production by Michael Donaldson https://8sided.blog/8sided-about/

FORWARD Development partner Sally McNamara in conversation with Senior

Industry Fellow Matt Collier in the first of a two-part discussion on change resilience.

Matt is an aerospace engineer by training and has applied his skills in an

incredibly diverse range of fields, including co-founding the first design-led

innovation lab in the US government Obama administration. Most recently, Matt led a global remit at a large insurance company to develop people and culture strategy and support the Board in establishing and monitoring culture.

In this episode, Sally and Matt talk about how building change resilience capacity individually and collectively has a multiplier effect to support not just performance and skills acquisition but also broader outcomes in areas such as health, wellbeing, diversity, inclusion, innovation, lifelong learning and more.

You can connect with Matt on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/mwcollier/

Transcript at:

https://otter.ai/u/aKVXDJO7mu_E0cuZlOfokj1_cyY?utm_source=copy_url

Production by Michael Donaldson https://8sided.blog/8sided-about/

FORWARD Development partner Sally McNamara in conversation with Senior Industry Fellow Matt Collier in part two of a conversation about the skills of change resilience.

Matt is an aerospace engineer by original training and has applied his skills in an incredibly diverse range of fields–including co-founding the first design-led innovation lab in the US government in the Obama administration.

Most recently, Matt led a global remit at a large insurance company to develop people and culture strategy and support the Board in establishing and monitoring culture.

In this second discussion, Sally and Matt talk about how Matt has been applying the skills of change resilience in real-time and the ups and downs of taking an intentional career break. We reflect on the discomfort of change and sitting in the unknown.

You can connect with Matt on Linkedin at https://www.linkedin.com/in/mwcollier/

Transcript at:

https://otter.ai/u/sSN_YsThxSvHa36FaDzQon4MkJY?utm_source=copy_url

Production by Michael Donaldson https://8sided.blog/8sided-about/

Helen Babb-Delia, development partner at FORWARD, in conversation with Deanna Pantín Parrish, an experienced consultant, educator and dispute resolution professional.

Deanna is currently a Lecturer at Harvard Law School, a Clinical Instructor at the Harvard Dispute System Design Clinic, and the Assistant Director of the HNP Negotiation Teaching Network.

Helen talks to Deanna about conflict resolution at work, active listening, inquiry and curiosity and empathy and how those skills relate to the future of work for workplaces and individual employees.

Transcript at:

https://otter.ai/u/5C8iGbgwEXE8eiMDa7AnROk0Ak8?utm_source=copy_url

Production by Michael Donaldson https://8sided.blog/8sided-about/

Peter Thomas talks to Sam Spurlin, one of our FORWARD Fellows and partner at The Ready, an organisational design consultancy focused on the future of work.

Sam and Peter talk about the work that The Ready does in helping organisations find better ways to work. The Ready is based on the premise that as the world becomes increasingly complex and uncertain, bureaucracy and hierarchy are holding us back. The organizational operating system is broken and needs to be fixed

Sam and Peter look at how The Ready works, how it seeks to have an impact and chat about some potential barriers and inhibitors to change in organisations and how that changes the experience of work for people in organisations of all kinds.

You can read the transcript here: https://otter.ai/u/3uSq6C8knUKc927fsKcE0JmMXVY

Read more about The Ready at

https://theready.com/

https://medium.com/the-ready

And follow Sam on Twitter @samspurlin

Production by Michael Donaldson https://8sided.blog/8sided-about/

FORWARD development partner Daniel Bluzer-Fry in conversation with Senior Industry Fellow Sami Mäkeläinen.

Having spent his early career as a software engineer in both his native Finland and the US, Sami proceeded to work for Nokia, and recently finished 13 years as a leader in Telstra, in which he established the organisation’s strategic foresight practice.

He has recently founded Transition Level to explore how society and organisations can manage the transition to a more automated civilization and mitigate the risks in and around that transition.

Sami has also served as an external expert evaluator for the European Commission, is a research fellow at the Institute for the Future think tank and a fellow at the Institute for Integrated Economic Research in Australia.

In this conversation, shares his background as a technologist with a fascination with ethics around innovation. Sami talks around his interests in automation, skill degradation and moral crumple zones:

“The moral crumple zone is a situation where humans are put in a position to essentially take the blame for something that isn’t their fault. In order to protect the system, the system doesn’t have to change or doesn’t have pressures to change. So we witnessed like low grade middle crumbles on whatever day, when your utility provider screws up your bill and you call the call centre, the poor agents there, it’s not their fault that your bill was wrong. Yet they cop the blame from the customers 24/7 Or hopefully, two hours, but they they end up taking the fall, they end up taking the blame for something that isn’t their problem, or isn’t their fault. So there’s this dichotomy between accountability and responsibility. This also takes place in more serious situations.”

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

Pete Cohen introduces FORWARD Senior Industry Fellow Stephen Bartlett, founder of the software application Precise, a Software as a Service (SaaS) product used by some of the leading tech consultancies in Australia to share profiles of their staff (similar to a private LinkedIn). This software includes a strong skills component, as this is the primary information (along with experience) which the product captures and conveys.

In this conversation, Stephen shares insights he has gained from helping several organisations navigate the complex terrain of categorising and communicating skills. He also shares his experience using OpenAI’s GPT3 artificial intelligence model to categorise skills, which he has also written about here.

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

https://srbartlett.substack.com

https://precise.io

Otter transcript of this conversation