Talent First

SEASON FIVE: In this episode of Talent First, I chat to Sandra Falque about her new innovative learning tool for kids, Jules Stories.

Sandra shares the inspiration behind Jules, how she designed the product, and the learning goals at its core — creating an experience that supports children’s development while keeping storytelling at the heart of it.

We explore the technology behind the platform, including the use of language models, the importance of guardrails and parental controls, and the decisions that go into building something safe and meaningful for young users.

Our conversation also looks at the role of storytelling in early learning, how tools like Jules can sit alongside reading and play, and why accessible, thoughtful technology matters as more children grow up in an AI-enabled world.

We also discuss the responsibility parents have when introducing AI tools, and the importance of helping children understand the difference between a learning tool and something more personal.

A thoughtful and practical conversation for anyone thinking about children, technology and the future of learning.

About Our Guest: Sandra is the founder of Jules Stories, a London-based startup building Jules, a screen-free learning device designed to spark children’s imagination and support learning through stories and play. Originally from Paris and now based in London, Sandra spent over a decade in digital consulting before turning to entrepreneurship after becoming a mother of three. Motivated by the challenge of balancing technology and childhood, she set out to build a new kind of educational device that helps families reduce screen time while nurturing curiosity, creativity, and responsible use of AI.

SEASON FIVE: In this week's episode of Talent First, I talk to Darrell WIlkerson, Founder of TRiSM Now, about the realities of adopting AI inside modern organisations. As companies race to experiment with new tools and platforms, much of the conversation around AI focuses on productivity and innovation. But where does security fit into the picture, and who is ultimately responsible once AI systems become embedded in everyday operations?

Darrell shares his perspective on how organisations should approach AI adoption, why smaller companies may actually be better positioned to move quickly and responsibly, and why successful implementation is as much about culture and change management as it is about technology.

We also explore how AI might reshape organisational structures, what the rise of AI agents could mean for security leadership roles such as the CISO, and whether the growing presence of shadow AI in companies is a training challenge or a governance one.

If your organisation is thinking seriously about AI adoption, this conversation offers a practical and thought-provoking look at the opportunities and the responsibilities that come with it.

LISTEN OUT FOR DARRELL'S SPECIAL OFFER FOR ALL LISTENERS.

About Our Guest: Darrell Wilkerson is the Founder of TRiSMNow, a strategic AI transformation advisory helping operational organizations adopt AI deliberately and securely.

With over 15 years of experience as a Director of Infrastructure and Security, he has led enterprise governance programs aligned to NIST and ISO frameworks, built identity and risk management standards, and guided organizations through complex security integrations and transformation initiatives.

Today, he works with executive teams to ensure AI adoption strengthens operational performance without introducing unmanaged risk — integrating governance, identity discipline, and structured oversight into every stage of AI transformation.

SEASON FIVE: In this week's episode of Talent First, I chat to Barbara Wittmann, CIO and Founder of Digital Wisdom Collective, an organisation that helps companies to build Human Infrastructure that enables technology adoption, sustain growth, and lets them navigate complexity with wisdom. We talk about how to empower teams to use AI responsibly and confidently, the importance of people in AI adoption and transformation, and about the crucial role of diversity and inclusion. This is really is an episode about putting talent first.

About Our Guest:

Barbara Wittmann works with leaders and organizations navigating complexity at the intersection of technology, leadership, and human systems. She is the founder and steward of the Digital Wisdom Collective, a practice space exploring digital wisdom as a new business sense in the age of AI.

Over the past 25 years, Barbara has worked inside large-scale IT, digital, and transformation initiatives across industries, often where complexity had outpaced existing leadership models. Her work focuses on judgment, collective intelligence, and the human and wayfinding infrastructure that allow organizations to stay oriented and coherent as change accelerates.

She writes and speaks regularly about leadership, future skills, and navigating transformation without losing orientation.

Links:

www.digitalwisdom.co 

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

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

https://digitalwisdomcollective.substack.com

Register for the waitlist on the Digital Wisdom Collective.

SEASON FIVE: In this week's episode of Talent First, I chat to Jody Warren, Co Founder of Gentia AI. And what a great product AND story this is. For too long, identifying where work actually hurts people has meant reactive processes, manual admin, and guesswork. Gentia doesn’t just record risk, it makes the invisible visible. By analysing organisational systems, policies, leadership practices and data together, Gentia builds a live, operational “risk architecture” people can act on immediately.

We talk how to build an AI tool from scratch, and how to balance the human with the synthetic.

About Our Guest:

Jody is the Co-Founder of Gentia and a long-time advocate for workplaces that help people thrive - not burn out. She believes work should leave people better off, not depleted, and has built her career around designing systems that make that possible.

Before Gentia, Jody co-founded Australia’s largest corporate childcare group, driven by a mission to help more women return to the workforce. Running that business revealed a powerful truth: how people experience work shapes how they show up everywhere else. That insight led her into psychosocial risk, leadership development, and organisational design - helping companies build performance without sacrificing people.

Today, through Gentia, Jody is turning years of consulting expertise into intelligent systems that help organisations adopt AI, execute strategy, and grow - without breaking their people.

SEASON FIVE: In this week's episode of Talent First, I am joined by Karen Higgins-Carter, Chief Information and Digital Officer and independent director and board member. 

We discuss AI adoption and adaptive change in organizations, exploring a framework for boards, focusing on the top of the pyramid: business model change, rather than only on personal productivity or operational efficiency. Karen offers advice on how leaders can navigate the continuous organizational change brought by AI, which she describes as "adaptive change,". Finally, we talk about the necessity of hiring for potential and fostering a learning culture to manage the evolution of the workforce, especially as AI disrupts the org chart.

About Our Guest:

Karen Higgins-Carter is a technology executive and independent director who designs and implements innovation, technology, and AI strategies for long-established, global companies. She has led and advised organizations across public, private, and family-owned environments, navigating different governance models, decision-making norms, and cultural expectations in both collectivist and individualistic contexts. Her work blends technology leadership with deep expertise in cybersecurity and enterprise risk management, helping regulated organizations pursue responsible innovation while protecting trust, resilience, and long-term value.

BONUS EPISODE - In this week's episode of Talent First, it's just me! My first ever solo episode in 3 years of hosting this show. And this week, I am talking all things language - from resumes, to executive LinkedIn branding, and from job ads to feedback, there's advice and examples for everyone looking to hire and be hired in technology and cybersecurity. LISTEN OUT for the special offer courtesy of Edmondson Group Talent Access and their executive coaching programs!

About me!: I am Managing Partner at Edmondson Group Talent Access, a specialist technology and cybersecurity search firm with presence in the US, UK, APAC. After almost 20 years of teaching English, I have used these talents to create tailored executive coaching programs for those looking to enter the tech C Suite or secure their first board position.

SEASON FIVE: In this week’s episode I chat to Amy Patel, VP of Product Innovation at McKesson about AI transformation, tools, and leading effectively amidst change. 

We delve into her career experiences, and her involvement with the Girls Empowerment Network. Amy shares her insights on leadership in times of disruption, emphasizing the need for a learning stack mindset, upskilling, and adopting new interview techniques like scenario-based questions to assess adaptability and learning velocity over years of experience. She also offers advice for companies undergoing AI transformation, such as starting with problem definition, building governance and education early on, and investing in data readiness. Amy stresses the importance of the "human in the loop" when it comes to AI, especially in high-risk environments like healthcare.

About Our Guest: Amy Patel is a product innovation leader with deep experience building and scaling technology across healthcare and life sciences. With a foundation in Biomedical Engineering, she has led international teams and driven digital and AI transformations at IBM, Thermo Fisher Scientific, Cencora, and now McKesson.

A former entrepreneur who founded and sold her own event‑planning company, Amy has also guided multiple early‑stage startups as Head of Product, launching AI‑powered features, marketplaces, and new product lines.

A mom of three and proud Austin resident, she’s passionate about people‑first leadership, simplifying complex problems, and helping teams turn big, ambiguous ideas into products that make meaningful impact.

SEASON FIVE: This week, I chat to Kevin Shields, Co Founder of Crafting Tomorrow about a topic that has been the main focus of this season of Talent First and that is parenting in the AI age. We discuss the different eras of AI - ANI, AGI and ASI (and whether the latter will happen) as well as what the average person needs to know now. We also talk about the different apps available to kids, and why they are a threat, the effect chatbots are having on human relationships, including adult relationships and the solutions that companies like Crafting Tomorrow offer parents and teachers.

About our guest: Kevin Shields is a parent, educator-ally, and founder of Crafting Tomorrow, where he helps families and schools build digital confidence in an age of rapid AI change. He works at the intersection of technology, emotional wellbeing, and education while translating complex digital trends into practical guidance for parents.

He’s also the author of Little Clicks, Big Feelings, a children’s book series that helps kids and families make sense of their emotions in a tech-shaped world.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/kevin-d-shields/

https://www.crafting-tomorrow.eu/

Link to the Alan Turing research mentioned in the episode:

https://www.turing.ac.uk/news/publications/childrens-manifesto-future-ai

SEASON FIVE: In this week's episode of Talent First, I chat to Tara Steele, Founder of The Safe AI for Children Alliance. We talk about a range of sensitive topics - from AI companions and grief bots, to the state of education around AI and the hidden impacts this iteration of technology will have on children if safeguards are not put in place.

About Our Guest:

Tara Steele is Director of The Safe AI for Children Alliance, an organisation dedicated to reducing AI risks to children while helping society prepare for increasingly advanced AI systems. Tara is a Council Member of The International Association for Safe and Ethical AI, a Strategy Panel member for AI in Education, and was recognised as one of the 2025 Leading Women in AI by ASU+GSV. 

She has a career background as an Intelligence Officer in UK criminal law enforcement and has spoken in UK Parliament on AI risks. She holds multiple certifications in AI governance, ethics and safety and a First-Class law degree.

Tara aims to bridge the gap between AI ethics, governance, and long-term AI safety, and believes that protecting children today also plays a vital role in shaping a safer AI future for everyone.

https://www.safeaiforchildren.org/non-negotiables-campaign/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/tara-steele/

https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-safe-ai-for-children-alliance/

SEASON FIVE: In this week's episode, I chat to Emma Derbi and Rachael Medhurst, the Founders of Positive Cyber Solutions. We chat compliance, security (and how they are not one and the same) and what businesses of all sizes need to do to be secure. We also talk about where companies are getting lost when it comes to compliance and how AI is confusing the landscape.

About our guests:

Rachael Medhurst is the Co-Founder of Positive Cyber Solutions Ltd, bringing over a decade of combined industry and academic experience in Digital Forensics, Cyber Security, and Governance. She specialises in helping organisations strengthen their security posture through regulatory compliance and the adoption of best practice frameworks. Currently she is pursuing a PhD in Incident Response, where her research and professional work focus on developing governance frameworks that enhance cyber resilience and ensure operational integrity. Her work bridges the gap between theory and practical implementation, ensuring that resilience is embedded within organisational practices rather than treated as an afterthought. 

Emma Derbi is the Co-Founder and Director of Positive Cyber Solutions Ltd, a UK-based consultancy specialising in governance, risk, and compliance. With a strong background in cybersecurity education and assurance frameworks, Emma works with organisations to build practical, evidence-driven governance systems that align with IASME, ISO 27001, and emerging AI compliance standards. Her work bridges the gap between regulation and real-world implementation, helping small and medium-sized businesses strengthen accountability and transparency in an evolving digital landscape. Passionate about developing a culture of responsible innovation, Emma brings a forward-thinking perspective on how governance must adapt to the ethical and operational challenges introduced by artificial intelligence.