Tech for Non-Techies

Some "Heads of Innovation" are glorified event planners while others transform entire businesses.

In this episode, you'll learn how to identify which type of innovation leader you're dealing with and what that means for your career or business.

This episode is for you if you:

• Want to pursue a career in corporate innovation
• Are a founder pitching to corporate innovation departments
• Are an executive designing innovation roles for your company
• Need to collaborate with innovation teams but aren't sure of their actual authority
• Are an investor evaluating a company's innovation claims

You'll learn which innovation roles are career dead-ends, which ones lead to the C-suite, and how to quickly identify who has real decision-making power versus who's just organising hackathons with no implementation authority.

Resources mentioned in this episode:

• Podcast: 96. How to innovate at a corporate: lessons from Apple and Intel
• FREE GUIDE: Innovate, but how? The Pragmatist's guide to growth

For the transcript, go to: https://www.techfornontechies.co/blog/246-5-types-of-innovation-leaders-from-nonsense-to-c-suite

Timestamps

00:50 Innovation Roles

02:58 Five Types of Innovation Leaders

05:45 Innovation Theater Director

09:05 Innovation Community Manager

11:57 Corporate Entrepreneur

14:52 R&D Leader

17:50 Transforming Businesses

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5 Tech Concepts Every Business Leader Needs To Know

Growth Through Innovation

If your organisation wants to drive revenue through innovation, book a call with us here.

Our workshops and innovation strategies have helped Constellation Brands, the Royal Bank of Canada and Oxford University.

Start-up failure is never pleasant, but did you know you can actually make more money and be more successful as a result?

In this candid, no-nonsense episode, you'll learn exactly what to do when your venture doesn't make it.

This episode is for you if you:

• Run a company
• Are thinking of starting one
• Are thinking of joining one
• Are in the midst of a startup struggle and considering options
• Are working at a startup and worried about its trajectory

You'll learn why panic is unnecessary, how your startup experience makes you uniquely qualified for lucrative jobs, and why investors often prefer founders with failure experience.

If you want your questions to be answered on this show, email [email protected]

Timestamps 00:00 Introduction 00:56: Embracing Startup Failure 03:00 Lessons from Startup Struggles 05:51 Experience in Failure 09:06 Leveraging Failure 12:13 Building a Network and Personal Brand 15:07 Navigating the Aftermath For the transcript, go to: https://www.techfornontechies.co/blog/what-to-do-if-your-start-up-fails

For more career & tech lessons, subscribe to Tech for Non-Techies on:

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FREE COURSE:

5 Tech Concepts Every Business Leader Needs To Know

Growth Through Innovation

If your organisation wants to drive revenue through innovation, book a call with us here.

Our workshops and innovation strategies have helped Constellation Brands, the Royal Bank of Canada and Oxford University.

If you're a non-technical founder or corporate innovator, you've likely heard the myth: venture capital is exclusively for bankers or coders.

Promise Phelon shatters this misconception completely.

In this episode, Promise shares how she used her experience as a non-technical founder to become a successful venture capitalist - without writing a single line of code or spending years in investment banking.

Listen to learn:

• Why business acumen and customer understanding are more valuable than technical skills
• How "product CEOs" often have advantages over purely technical founders
• Practical paths into venture capital for non-technical professionals
• Why more founders are specifically seeking investors with operational experience
• How to use your industry expertise to find investment opportunities others miss

If you're curious about a career in venture, this episode is for you.

Timestamps

00:00 Introduction

01:02 Harnessing Technology for Leadership

03:00 Journey from Operator to Investor

05:52 Debunking VC Myths

09:13 Technical vs. Product CEOs

11:59 The Path to Venture Capital

14:52 Relationships in VC

18:07 Building a Unique Investment Perspective

20:58 The Ethics of Startup Experience for VC

23:52 Empowering Non-Technical Founders

26:46 The Value of Operator VCs

For the transcript, go to: https://www.techfornontechies.co/blog/244-the-non-techie-s-path-to-vc

Learn more from Promise Phelon at the Growth Warrior YouTube channel.

For more career & tech lessons, subscribe to Tech for Non-Techies on:

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FREE COURSE:

5 Tech Concepts Every Business Leader Needs To Know

Growth Through Innovation

If your organisation wants to drive revenue through innovation, book a call with us here.

Our workshops and innovation strategies have helped Constellation Brands, the Royal Bank of Canada and Oxford University.

If you're a non-technical founder or leader, you might find developers frustrating to work with.

(They also think the same thing about you)

Developers resist quick changes, seem annoyed by status meetings, and always want the most expensive equipment.

That's not because they are prima donnas.

This episode will explain why developers work so differently from other professionals, and show you how to create communication systems that work for both business and technical teams.

Listen to learn:

• Why a "5-minute change" actually costs 2 hours of developer time
• The hidden costs of cheap equipment that hurt your bottom line
• How to structure meetings to maximise development speed
• Practical communication strategies that get results

Resources mentioned in this episode:

https://paulgraham.com/makersschedule.html

Timestamps

00:00 Introduction 001:10 Developer Mindsets 02:55 The Importance of Sprints 06:10 Managing Developer Interruptions 09:04 The Maker vs. Manager Schedule 11:59 Hiring and Equipment Considerations 14:50 Effective Communication 18:05 Developer Productivity 21:00 Conclusion For the transcript, go to: https://www.techfornontechies.co/blog/243-how-to-work-with-developers-a-guide-for-non-technical-leaders

For more career & tech lessons, subscribe to Tech for Non-Techies on:

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FREE COURSE:

5 Tech Concepts Every Business Leader Needs To Know

Growth Through Innovation

If your organisation wants to drive revenue through innovation, book a call with us here.

Our workshops and innovation strategies have helped Constellation Brands, the Royal Bank of Canada and Oxford University.

What's good for Big Tech isn't always good for Little Tech, and vice versa.

In this episode, we're breaking down the key differences between these two worlds and what they mean for you.

Listen to learn:

• Which Big Tech lessons don't apply in Little Tech and vice versa.

• The unique advantages (and pitfalls) of working in Big Tech vs Little Tech.

• How to position yourself (or your company) for success in either world.

• What the future holds for Big Tech, Little Tech, and the leaders who bridge the gap.

Whether you're planning your next career move, building a business or investing in tech, this episode is for you.

For the transcript, go to: https://www.techfornontechies.co/blog/big-tech-vs-little-tech

Timestamps

00:00 Introduction 00:36 Understanding Big Tech vs. Little Tech 06:12 Key Differences in Strategies and Mindsets 11:54 Navigating Career Choices in Tech 15:35 Platform Dependency Risks 20:05 Risks and Opportunities for Founders

For more career & tech lessons, subscribe to Tech for Non-Techies on:

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FREE COURSE:

5 Tech Concepts Every Business Leader Needs To Know

Growth Through Innovation

If your organisation wants to drive revenue through innovation, book a call with us here.

Our workshops and innovation strategies have helped Constellation Brands, the Royal Bank of Canada and Oxford University.

Have you noticed how some people seem to know exactly the right person to call when they need something? That's not luck - it's strategic networking.

If you're an innovator with ambition, you need to build your network strategically. This episode will help you plan whom you need, why you need them and how to find them.

Listen to learn:

• The 8 categories of professionals you need in your network if you want to build something new
• The types of developers to have in your network and how to connect with them
• Why you need both VCs and public market investors for different perspectives - even if you're not raising money
• How to surround yourself with highly successful people who expand your sense of what's possible
• Real examples of finding your tribe of ambitious innovators who are actually doing things, not just talking

Whether you're starting a tech company, driving innovation in a corporate role, or exploring new opportunities, you'll learn how to build the right relationships that will nourish you for the long term.

Timestamps

00:00 Introduction 03:01 Developers in Your Network 05:52 The Investor Perspective 09:13 Vision Expanders 12:00 Regulators in Innovation 14:48 Finding Your Tribe of Outliers 19:11 Leveraging Industry Veterans 23:04 Media Allies 25:58 Academic Connections 29:49 Conclusion For the transcript, go to: https://www.techfornontechies.co/blog/the-8-types-of-people-you-need-in-your-network

For more career & tech lessons, subscribe to Tech for Non-Techies on:

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FREE COURSE:

5 Tech Concepts Every Business Leader Needs To Know

Growth Through Innovation

If your organisation wants to drive revenue through innovation, book a call with us here.

Our workshops and innovation strategies have helped Constellation Brands, the Royal Bank of Canada and Oxford University.

DeepSeek is a new AI that's 44 times cheaper than ChatGPT and completely open-source.

While tech blogs obsess over the technical specs, there's a bigger story for non-technical innovators that no one else is talking about.

In this episode, you'll discover the hidden opportunities DeepSeek creates for founders and innovators who don't code.

Listen to learn:

• How to build genuine expertise around DeepSeek while others are still figuring it out (time sensitive)
• Smart ways to work with developers who are excited about DeepSeek
• Why DeepSeek's affordability means you can test your ideas without breaking the bank
• Practical steps to build custom AI solutions without needing a PhD

Whether you're a founder tired of paying premium prices for AI, a corporate innovator looking to stand out, or an entrepreneur wanting to experiment with AI, this episode shows you exactly what to do with DeepSeek right now.

Learn why the real DeepSeek opportunity isn't in the code - it's in how you use it to get ahead while everyone else is still talking tech specs.

Resources mentioned in this episode:

• 227. How to Use AI in Product Development: A Non-Techies Guide
• 196. Why All Businesses Depend on Open-Source Software

For the transccript, go to: https://www.techfornontechies.co/blog/240-what-non-technical-innovators-need-to-do-about-deepseek

Timestamps

00:00 Introduction

02:59 DeepSeek vs. Other LLMs

06:14 Opportunities for Non-Technical Innovators

09:05 Open Source Advantages

11:56 Engaging with the Developer Community

15:14 Global Innovation with DeepSeek

For more career & tech lessons, subscribe to Tech for Non-Techies on:

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FREE COURSE:

5 Tech Concepts Every Business Leader Needs To Know

Growth Through Innovation

If your organisation wants to drive revenue through innovation, book a call with us here.

Our workshops and innovation strategies have helped Constellation Brands, the Royal Bank of Canada and Oxford University.

Do you really need a co-founder? There's intense pressure in the startup world to find co-founders, but the data tells a surprising story.

MIT research shows that solo founders are actually more than twice as likely to succeed compared to teams, while Harvard research reveals that 65% of high-potential startups fail due to co-founder conflict.

In this episode, you'll learn how to make the right decision about co-founders for your business, based on data rather than pressure.

Listen to learn:

• Why the "you must have a co-founder" narrative persists despite evidence showing solo founders often succeed
• What successful solo founders like Jeff Bezos, Sara Blakely, and Mailchimp founder Ben Chestnut did differently
• How to evaluate if you really need a co-founder for your specific business
• A practical framework for finding and testing potential co-founders if you decide you want one

Whether you're a founder feeling pressured to find a co-founder, or an investor evaluating solo vs. co-founded companies, this episode will transform how you think about startup leadership and team building.

Learn why it's better to be a successful single parent than stuck in a toxic marriage when it comes to your business.

Resources mentioned in this episode:

• MIT Sloan: 2 founders are not always better than 1
• The Founder's Dilemmas: Anticipating and Avoiding the Pitfalls That Can Sink a Startup, by Harvard Business School professor Noam Wasserman

For the transcript, go to: https://www.techfornontechies.co/blog/do-you-really-need-a-co-founder

Timestamps

00:00 Introduction

03:06 The Co-Founder Relationship

06:00 Risks of Rushing into Co-Founding

08:52 Data-Driven Insights

12:12 Conflict and Co-Founders

15:08 When Co-Founders Make Sense

18:05 Evaluating Potential Co-Founders

20:58 Alternatives to Co-Founders

23:47 Testing Before Commitment

27:09 Focus on Success, Not Pressure

For more career & tech lessons, subscribe to Tech for Non-Techies on:

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FREE Course: 5 Tech Concepts Every Business Leader Needs To Know Growth Through Innovation

If your organisation wants to drive revenue through innovation, book a call with us here.

Our workshops and innovation strategies have helped Constellation Brands, the Royal Bank of Canada and Oxford University.

Want to know how Apple turns technical features into stories that make people line up around the block for new products?

In this episode you will learn the 3 step product storytelling framework that transforms complex features into benefits users love.

Every successful tech company has mastered the art of product storytelling, so if you want your innovations to succeed, you need this skill too.

Listen to learn:

• The 3-part framework behind every great product story
• Why product storytelling is more important than investor pitching
• Why talking about amazing tech pushes users away
• Simple ways to practice better product storytelling today

Whether you're a founder trying to get users to love your product or a corporate innovator, this episode will transform how you communicate your product's value to your most important audience: your customers.

Timestamps

00:00 Introduction

01:20 Product Storytelling

04:32 Duolingo: A Case Study

06:54 Spotify's Storytelling Framework

09:16 Features vs. Benefits

12:43 Implementing Product Storytelling

17:02 Conclusion

For the transcript, go to: https://www.techfornontechies.co/blog/the-secret-to-user-growth-turn-features-into-stories

For more career & tech lessons, subscribe to Tech for Non-Techies on:

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FREE Course: 5 Tech Concepts Every Business Leader Needs To Know Growth Through Innovation

If your organisation wants to drive revenue through innovation, book a call with us here.

Our workshops and innovation strategies have helped Constellation Brands, the Royal Bank of Canada and Oxford University.

Cryptocurrency is becoming a bigger financial and political force in our world, especially after Donald Trump's return to the White House.

This is why smart people who want to have an impact in the world need to learn about it.

But, learning about crypto is difficult, because the loudest voices are devout crypto evangelists and hardcore libertarians.

This episode is different.

We do not want you to trade crypto, we want you to be educated about what it is and why it matters.

In this episode, you will learn from Stephanie Ramezan, CEO & Co-Founder of the Crypto Collective and former CEO of Gemini UK, the regulated cryptocurrency exchange set up by the Winklevoss twins.

Listen to learn:

- What cryptocurrency is

- Why big companies are getting involved in it

- What stablecoins and memecoins are

- Where to find good career opportunities in the crypto space (and what to avoid)

Timestamps

00:00 The Importance of Understanding Cryptocurrency

02:48 The Crypto Landscape

06:08 Cryptocurrency Basics

08:53 Crypto Transactions

11:46 Role of Stablecoins in Finance

15:01 Shitcoins and Meme Coins

18:13 Impact of Quantum Computing on Crypto

21:02 Stephanie's Journey into Crypto

23:50 Crypto Job Market

27:01 Evaluating Crypto Companies

30:12 Conclusion and Resources

For the transcript, go to: https://www.techfornontechies.co/blog/237-introduction-to-crypto-for-smart-beginners

For more career & tech lessons, subscribe to Tech for Non-Techies on:

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FREE GUIDE: The Pragmatist's Guide To Innovation (in business & in life)

by Sophia Matveeva, supported by researchers from The University of Chicago

Growth Through Innovation

If your organisation wants to drive revenue through innovation, book a call with us here.

Our workshops and innovation strategies have helped Constellation Brands, the Royal Bank of Canada and Oxford University.