Tech Life Stories

Tim has over 25 years experience in IT Service Management, managing and transforming IT Services. Tim is the Founder of ITSM People a team of consultants supporting clients across IT and Enterprise Service Management with accreditations across ITIL, SIAM, DevOps and Agile.

Top 3 takeaways

1.     What is IR35? 25:14

2.     Back to basics with ITIL3 51:12

3.     Encouraging the next generation into ITSM 55:10

Guest Website - https://www.itsmpeople.co.uk

Guest LinkedIn profile - https://www.linkedin.com/in/tim-mills-6787391/

Sponsored by Russell King Associates - https://www.russellkingassociates.com/

Find Kaan Azmi on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/kaanazmi

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Weston is the Global Strategy Director for Digital Workplace at Unisys. He is a rare breed as he has worked there his entire career. Weston is passionate about end users and finds ways to apply disruptive trends and efficiencies for their happiness. Weston is no stranger to podcasts as he runs his own show called ‘Digital Workplace Deep Dive’.

Top 3 takeaways

1.     Dex tools and data 38:07

2.     Challenges of Generative AI in the workplace 47:10

3.     Quantum Computing 55:53

Guest LinkedIn profile - https://www.linkedin.com/in/westonjmorris

Sponsored by Russell King Associates - https://www.russellkingassociates.com/

Find Kaan Azmi on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/kaanazmi/

Mark has over 30 years of experience working in the technology sector.

He is a dynamic & visionary IT Leader driving transformation & organisational change.

An expert in Operating Model Implementation and an Influential people leader with exceptional presentation skills.

Top 3 takeaways

1.     Less is More 09:12

2.     Can businesses keep up with technology 26:10

3.     Will AI be the end of Service Desks 52:36

Guest LinkedIn profile - https://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-boyer/

Sponsored by Russell King Associates - https://www.russellkingassociates.com/

Find Kaan Azmi on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/kaanazmi/

Gemma is a Prince2 Practitioner who leads digital transformations,change management, system integrations, implementations and automation.

She has spent most of her career in the education sector and is currently Director of Strategy and Innovation for Haberdashers Academies Trust South.

Top 3 takeaways

1.     Growing a network of thought leaders through networking 36:00

2.     Using a coach to help with management, challenges, etc 43:10

3.     The Future of AI – 48:23

Guest LinkedIn profile - https://www.linkedin.com/in/gemma-lavin/

Sponsored by Russell King Associates - https://www.russellkingassociates.com/

Find Kaan Azmi on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/kaanazmi/

Georgina is an ITIL4, Prince2 certified IT Service Delivery Manager. She has proven throughout her career how ambitious she is with natural progression and promotion. She is the Co-Founder of ‘Women of ITSM’ an initiative to support a growing community of women in the ITSM world. She has mentored many women as part of the Reed Women in Tech programme.

Top 3 take aways

1.     Beating imposter syndrome 26:25

2.     Being a STEM ambassador 31:50

3.     Making service management more appealing 39:12

Guest LinkedIn profile - https://www.linkedin.com/in/georgina-otubela/

Sponsored by Russell King Associates - https://www.russellkingassociates.com/

Find Kaan Azmi on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/kaanazmi/

Alan is a Strategic Technology Leader and the pioneer of ITIL and ITSM. He has successfully launched XLA’s (experience level agreements) that have been adopted by major organisations globally. His work has been recognised with awards such as the "Most Promising Digital Experience Consulting Company" in 2021. HDI recognized Alan as a top-25 Thought Leader in 2023.

Top 3 takeaways

1.     You either have a career or a CV. 01:45

2.     XLA’s - what is the experience we want. 21:25

3.     Everywhere anywhere workforce 30:45

Guest Website - https://www.experiencecollab.com

Guest LinkedIn profile - https://www.linkedin.com/in/alannance

Sponsored by Russell King Associates - https://www.russellkingassociates.com/

Find Kaan Azmi on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/kaanazmi/

Find Kaan Azmi on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/kaanazmi/

Charlotte Picker is a self-confessed generalist across operations and technology.

A Prince2 and Scrum Master certified individual with extensive experience across PMO, Programme, Project & Product Management. She is a regular guest on podcasts and co-hosts ‘Careers & Coffee’ podcast where she is a creative career conversationalist.

Top 3 takeaways

1.     Being a generalist in tech 01:20

2.     The secret sauce to building an inclusive culture 28:53

3.     Inspiring the future generation about careers in tech 44:46

Guest LinkedIn profile - https://www.linkedin.com/in/charlotte-picker-4565b426/

Sponsored by Russell King Associates - https://www.russellkingassociates.com/

Find Kaan Azmi on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/kaanazmi/

Sophie Hussey is an ITSM & Leadership Consultant running her own practice. An ITIL expert, a STEM Ambassador and an ISO Committee member. She posts daily on LinkedIn and has been recognised as the ‘Top IT Strategy Voice on LinkedIn’. She is a massive advocate for women in tech and has been a finalist at the Women in Tech awards. She has recently set up Women of ITSM, a community to support women in the tech industry.

Top 3 takeaways

1.     You don’t have to be technical to work in tech 14:14

2.     Being a STEM Ambassador and attracting children at school into tech 18:44

3.     Recruiting women in tech 26:05

Guest Website - https://www.lapis-consulting.com/

Guest LinkedIn profile - https://www.linkedin.com/in/sophiehussey/

Sponsored by Russell King Associates - https://www.russellkingassociates.com/

Find Kaan Azmi on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/kaanazmi/

Lucy Grimwade is an IT & Improvement Leadership Consultant running her own practice. Lucy is passionate about empowering women in IT and is in the process of setting up a community called Women of ITSM.

Top 3 takeaways

1.     Sexism in the workplace 25:18

2.     Allyship book 59:25

3.     Women of ITSM – 01:01:09

Guest LinkedIn profile - https://www.linkedin.com/in/lucygrimwade/

Sponsored by Russell King Associates - https://www.russellkingassociates.com/

Find Kaan Azmi on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/kaanazmi/

Indy Bhamber is an ITIL qualified Service Desk Manager working for a global Nasdaq and S&P listed company. Indy shares his insights into how he got into IT leadership and how he manages and motivates his team.

Top 3 take aways

1.     Is there a place for micro management in tech 09:45

2.     All managers are project managers 30:00

3.     How to keep Service Desk individuals happy 46:17

Guest LinkedIn profile - https://www.linkedin.com/in/indy-bhamber-60242224/

Sponsored by Russell King Associates - https://www.russellkingassociates.com/

Find Kaan Azmi on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/kaanazmi/