Tech Journey Insights

What if the skills you've spent years developing could open doors to a completely different career?

Shahneila Saeed spent 20 years teaching computing before moving into the video games industry, where she helped establish and grow Digital Schoolhouse. In this episode, she joins Rebecca Franks and Beverly Clarke MBE to share how her teaching experience became one of her greatest strengths in a new industry.

We explore transferable skills, career confidence, creative computing and why changing direction doesn't mean starting again. Shahneila also shares her experiences of challenging traditional approaches to education and championing the power of play.

Whether you're a teacher considering a career change or simply wondering what else you could do with your experience, this conversation might help you recognise just how much you have to offer.

How can technology help us better understand our health?

In this episode of Tech Journey Insights, Rebecca Franks and Beverly Clarke MBE are joined by Julia Marshall-Wessendorf, founder of WaveSix, to explore how personal experience inspired the creation of a holistic health and wellbeing tracking platform.

Julia shares her journey from landscape architecture and theatre set design to becoming a health technology entrepreneur after being diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. She explains how years of managing a long-term condition led her to develop WaveSix, a digital platform that helps people identify patterns across different aspects of their health and wellbeing.

Together they discuss digital health, AI, holistic wellbeing, entrepreneurship, resilience, sustainable lifestyle changes and empowering people to take greater ownership of their health.

Whether you're interested in health technology, entrepreneurship, wellbeing or building products with real social impact, this episode offers practical insights and an inspiring personal story.

In this episode we discuss:

• Digital health

• Holistic wellbeing

• Health tracking

• Artificial intelligence

• Entrepreneurship

• Multiple sclerosis

• Lifestyle change

• Behaviour change

• Self-funding a startup

• Resilience

Find out more about WaveSix:
https://wavesix.app

Connect with Julia Marshall-Wessendorf on LinkedIn.

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How do we build digital technology that works for everyone?

In this episode of Tech Journey Insights, Rebecca Franks and Beverly Clarke MBE are joined by Lucy Collins, CEO of WebUsability, to discuss digital accessibility, inclusive design and creating better online experiences.

Lucy shares her journey into user research and entrepreneurship, explaining how she took over the family business before developing her own purpose-led leadership style. Together they explore why accessibility benefits everyone, how user research improves digital products and why organisations should think about inclusion from the very beginning of every project.

The conversation also covers AI, assistive technology, voice recognition, Meta Ray-Ban Smart Glasses, entrepreneurship, wellbeing and balancing leadership with family life.

Whether you're a developer, designer, entrepreneur, educator or simply interested in making technology more inclusive, this episode offers practical advice and inspiring insights.

In this episode we discuss:

• Digital accessibility

• Inclusive design

• User research

• Digital inclusion

• AI and accessibility

• Assistive technology

• Entrepreneurship

• Leadership

• Work-life harmony

• Purpose-driven businesses

Find out more about WebUsability:
https://www.webusability.co.uk

Connect with Lucy Collins on LinkedIn.

Subscribe for more conversations with inspiring people working across technology, education and innovation.

How do we inspire more women and girls to build the technology of the future?

In this episode of Tech Journey Insights, Rebecca Franks and Beverly Clarke MBE are joined by Caitlin Gould, Founder and CEO of TecGirls and TecWomen Cornwall, to explore entrepreneurship, innovation and creating more inclusive pathways into technology.

Caitlin shares her journey from graphic design into software and technology, explaining how curiosity and a passion for solving problems led her to found multiple organisations supporting women and girls in STEM. She discusses building startups, creating user-centred products, protecting intellectual property and the importance of storytelling when growing a business.

The conversation also explores grant funding, trademarks, AI, cybersecurity, digital skills and why technology should always be designed with people at its heart.

Whether you're an entrepreneur, educator, founder or someone considering a career in technology, this episode is full of practical advice and inspiring insights.

In this episode we discuss:

• Women in technology

• Entrepreneurship and startups

• TecGirls and TecWomen Cornwall

• STEM education

• AI and cybersecurity

• Grant funding

• Trademarking your business

• Product development

• Storytelling and marketing

• Learning through failure

Can artificial intelligence help people make better career decisions without replacing human guidance?

In this episode of Tech Journey Insights, Rebecca Franks and Beverly Clarke MBE are joined by Associate Professor Deirdre Hughes OBE, Co-founder of CareerChat UK, to explore how AI can transform careers education while remaining ethical, inclusive and human-centred.

Deirdre shares the story behind Cici, the AI-powered careers chatbot, explaining how curiosity, co-development and a commitment to accessibility helped shape an award-winning platform used across schools, colleges, universities and community organisations.

The conversation also explores AI literacy, entrepreneurship, burnout, confidence, women in technology and why AI should always be developed with strong ethical principles.

Whether you're an educator, entrepreneur, careers professional or simply interested in the future of artificial intelligence, this episode is full of practical advice and inspiring insights.

In this episode we discuss:

• Building the Cici AI careers chatbot

• AI ethics and responsible innovation

• AI literacy and career development

• Co-development with users

• Entrepreneurship and funding

• Confidence and overcoming self-doubt

• Accessibility and inclusive design

• Burnout and resilience

• Women in AI

• The future of careers education

Can artificial intelligence ever replace human creativity?

In this episode of Tech Journey Insights, Rebecca Franks and Beverly Clarke MBE are joined by Ross Exton, Founder and Director of Watch & Learn Productions, to discuss creativity, storytelling, accessibility and the future of AI in the creative industries.

Ross shares how redundancy became the catalyst for launching his own production company and explains why perfectionism can hold creatives back from doing their best work. Together they discuss authentic storytelling, accessibility, hearing loss, captions, copyright, deepfakes and why lived human experience remains at the heart of great creative work.

Whether you're an entrepreneur, educator, creative professional or simply interested in how AI is changing the world of media, this episode offers practical advice and thought-provoking discussion.

In this episode we discuss:

• Redundancy and entrepreneurship

• Creativity and perfectionism

• Storytelling and video production

• Generative AI and copyright

• Accessibility and inclusive design

• Hearing loss and lived experience

• Deepfakes and digital ethics

• Building authentic business relationships

• Science communication

• Why progress matters more than perfection

If you enjoyed this episode, don't forget to like, subscribe and share it with someone interested in creativity, technology or entrepreneurship.

How do you turn a classroom challenge into an award-winning EdTech business?

In this episode of Tech Journey Insights, Rebecca Franks and Beverly Clarke MBE are joined by Hannah Wright, founder of CirKits, to explore how a simple idea from the classroom became an innovative learning resource that is helping children understand computer hardware through augmented reality.

Hannah shares her journey from computer science teacher to entrepreneur, discussing the challenges of developing an educational product, testing ideas with teachers and learners, protecting intellectual property and building confidence as a founder.

The conversation explores the realities of starting an EdTech business, the importance of user feedback, creating engaging learning experiences and why solving genuine classroom problems can lead to meaningful innovation.

Whether you're a teacher, entrepreneur, EdTech founder or simply interested in innovation and technology education, this episode is packed with practical advice and inspiration.

• Starting an EdTech business

• Building CirKits

• Augmented reality in education

• Computer science education

• Product design and user testing

• Transitioning from teaching to entrepreneurship

• Protecting intellectual property

• Building confidence as a founder

• Innovation in education

• The future of learning technology

If you enjoy the episode, please like, subscribe and share it with someone who is passionate about technology, education or entrepreneurship.

In this episode we discuss:

Tech Journey Insights Series 3, Episode 5: Hosts Rebecca Franks and Beverly Clarke MBE welcome guest David Sokoler, founder of Hiro Stories.

David takes us behind the scenes of his journey from television production to building an app that empowers kids to become the heroes of their own stories. He shares lessons on starting small, testing ideas, keeping design simple, and finding balance as a founder.

This episode blends creativity, entrepreneurship, and practical advice for anyone curious about building products that inspire imagination.

In this empowering episode, Faith Ruto joins hosts Beverly Clarke MBE and Rebecca Franks to unpack her tech journey — from rural Uganda to becoming a TEDx speaker, executive coach, and digital entrepreneur. Faith shares how she overcame doubt, embraced tech as a non-techie, balanced parenting with purpose, and built a coaching brand that transforms lives.

You’ll hear insights on:

• Building confidence after career pivots

• Using AI in coaching without losing the human touch

• Navigating parenthood in a tech-heavy world

• Transforming self-doubt into action

• Why now is the time to embrace technology, not fear it

  
  

🎤 Featuring: Faith Ruto — TEDx Speaker | Executive Coach | Founder of Transformation21st
🌍 faithruto.com

Listen now and take your own leap of faith.

In this thought-provoking episode, Katie Stickley, co-founder of Those Who Can, joins Beverly Clarke MBE and Rebecca Franks to discuss how educators are transforming their career journeys in a fast-changing world.

From her experience of restructuring in schools, Katie shares how teachers can thrive by embracing fractured working, AI-powered career planning, and celebrating the value of their unique skill sets. Whether you want to stay in teaching, pivot slightly, or make a bold leap—this episode is packed with actionable insights.

🎧 Key Takeaways:

• Career pivots: how teachers can navigate change with confidence

• AI tools for exploring new roles and finding your best fit

• Building teacher-school alignment through values, not just job specs

• Why flexibility and autonomy matter more than ever

• Personal stories from the classroom to entrepreneurship

Learn more at thosewhocan.org
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