Best Michael Phair Podcasts (2024)

1
Talking with... Pete Dale, Club Exec (MD) at AND Digital 1:28:45

3M ago1:28:45

1:28:45

It’s often said that change is a constant in the tech sector. But it’s not constant: the big leaps in technology are coming faster than ever. Just think about the last few years. Cloud, mobile, AI – the pace of change is extraordinary. Pete Dale knows all about digital transformation, not only in his role as Club Exec (think MD) at AND Digital Alme…

1
Talking with... Dwayne Pascal, Chief Product Technology Officer at flatfair 1:37:54

4M ago1:37:54

1:37:54

Success in software development – perhaps in any sphere of technology – demands a fine balance of customer focus and engineering skill. Getting it right is easier said than done, with different skills, priorities and goals to wrangle into order. But our guest for this episode of Talking with Tech Leaders knows better than most how to find that bala…

1
Talking with... Amanda Philpott, CEO of Ear Gym 39:03

5M ago39:03

39:03

From senior manager in the NHS to tech founder & entrepreneur: it sounds like a leap from one end of the spectrum to the other. But, after 28 years working with the health service – a career culminating in roles as CEO and Board Member – that’s the move that Amanda Philpott, our guest for this episode of Talking with Tech Leaders, made. When she pe…

1
Talking with... Neil Burnett, CTO at Arria NLG 57:49

6M ago57:49

57:49

While this podcast has often touched on the topic of AI – it would be hard not to – rarely have we got so far into the nuts and bolts of how it works and what it can do. That’s because Neil Burnett and his team at Arria NLG are doing some incredible work in natural language generation, or the process of transforming data into human-readable text an…

1
Talking with... Jem Anderton, Chief Architect at Student Loans Company 1:13:30

7M ago1:13:30

1:13:30

For this episode of Talking with Tech Leaders, we’re talking Architecture. And there are few more qualified to talk about the subject than Jem Anderton. As the Chief Architect at the Student Loans Company, he’s a member of the Technology Group leadership team, heads up a team of 25 architects and plays a key role in modernising an organisation with…

1
Talking with... Jonathan McNamee, Digital Automation & Transformation Specialist 1:07:00

7M ago1:07:00

1:07:00

In our latest episode of Talking with Tech Leaders, our host Michael Phair chats with long-time colleague, client and friend, Jonathan McNamee – a seasoned pro and leading voice in digital strategy, continuous improvement and automation. They discuss the ins and outs of Jonathan’s career, tracing his path from Dublin City Universe to the likes of S…

1
Talking with... Richard Lennox, former COO of Current Health 1:40:56

9M ago1:40:56

1:40:56

If you asked an expert on Scottish tech for a list of the biggest success stories of the past few years, you can bet that Skyscanner (a true Scottish unicorn) and Current Health (sold to US retail giant Best Buy for $400m) would top it. Richard Lennox played a big part in both – working his way up to Senior Director at the former, before joining th…

1
Talking with... Kirsty McIntosh, Head of Partnerships at the Scottish Tech Army 57:25

9M ago57:25

57:25

Our latest episode is all about the power of tech to do good for our communities, as we meet Kirsty McIntosh of the Scottish Tech Army. The charity was founded during the pandemic to bring tech-savvy volunteers together with third-sector organisations in need of support – on everything from managing websites to bolstering cyber security. With over …

1
Talking with... Allan Mayberry, Director of Engineering at Planet DDS 1:08:16

10M ago1:08:16

1:08:16

In this episode of Talking with Tech Leaders, Alan Mayberry chats host Michael Phair through his journey from the early days of his career in his hometown of Dunoon to the top tier of software engineering with Planet DDS today. It’s quite the journey, not only stopping off at the places you might expect, with roles at the likes of Brightree, Amec a…

1
Talking with... Hamish Grierson, Founder & CEO of Thriva Healthcare 55:15

12M ago55:15

55:15

In many ways, Hamish Grierson is the archetypal tech entrepreneur: sharp, single-minded and innovative. But, as this episode of Talking with Tech Leaders shows, that’s really just a tiny part of his story. For starters, we chat through a career that is varied, to say the least – from studying international politics and paying his way through univer…

1
Talking with... Brian Reid, Director of Corporate Transformation & Workplace at the Scottish Government 58:41

1y ago58:41

58:41

For most of the tech leaders we’ve interviewed on this show, one career is enough. But Brian Reid, Director of Corporate Transformation & Workplace at the Scottish Government, seems to be onto his fourth or fifth career now. In this episode of Talking with Tech Leaders, he tells us all about the story of his first career – with the 30+ years he spe…

1
Talking with... Nikola Kelly, CEO of Be-IT 49:20

1+ y ago49:20

49:20

When we’re not Talking with Tech Leaders, we’re at our day jobs at Be-IT – Scotland’s largest independent Technology Recruiters. And, if you’ve heard anything about Be-IT, you’ve probably heard that we’ve recently celebrated our 10th birthday. So, to mark the milestone, we’ve had a chat with our very own Tech Leader: our CEO, Nikola Kelly. Having s…

1
Talking with... Loral Quinn, CEO of CodeClan 47:14

1+ y ago47:14

47:14

As you might expect, we are huge fans of CodeClan. After all, they’re in the business of bringing talent into Scotland’s tech sector, and that’s something that drives us every day in our recruitment day jobs. So it’s a real privilege to have CEO, Loral Quinn, as our guest for episode 29 of Talking with Tech Leaders. We take a tour of Loral’s career…

1
Talking with... Karen Meechan, CEO of ScotlandIS 45:49

1+ y ago45:49

45:49

Let’s face it, a show about the Tech Sector in Scotland probably should’ve had Karen Meechan on a whole lot sooner. As the CEO of ScotlandIS, she has an insight and understanding of our world that few others do. She knows the country’s challenges, problems and priorities when it comes to IT & Digital jobs – which this episode well worth your time, …

1
Talking with... Tony McClelland, CIO of the ACCA 1:09:52

1+ y ago1:09:52

1:09:52

It’s always fun to consider how far computing has come, even in the space of one career. When Tony McClelland was getting started, programming was a skill you could learn with punch cards, industry ran on paper tapes and rendering cute cartoons involve a supercomputer and a sleeping bag. Which is to say that Tony has some incredible experience. And…

1
Talking with... Andy McMahon, Head of ML Ops at NatWest 1:10:44

1+ y ago1:10:44

1:10:44

For this episode of Talking with Tech Leaders, we’re talking all about the insights and values to be gleaned from the bits and bytes flowing through our everyday lives – to paraphrase our guest, Andy McMahon. The award-winning Data Scientist and Machine Learning expert takes us through his own career journey, from his academic roots with Imperial C…

1
Talking with... Scott Mackay, CTO, Technology Strategist and CRM Guru 1:20:01

1+ y ago1:20:01

1:20:01

Just for a second, think about the biggest challenge you might face in your career. How’s about launching a digital TV service? Or integrating two colossal financial institutions? Or facing a year-long multi-million-pound high court case? You might say that Scott Mackay – CTO, Technology Strategist and CRM Guru – has seen more ups and downs in tech…

1
Talking with... Simon Sear, Chief Innovator & Technical Evangelist 56:33

2y ago56:33

56:33

Technical innovation is nothing without the human application. How the two elements work together is what the podcast is all about, which is what makes Simon Sear – Strategy & Innovation Expert – such a fascinating guest for episode 24. Joining host Michael Phair, Simon discusses how his education in Psychology played a role in his early career, ta…

1
Talking with... Bob Keiller, Master of Storytelling, Values and Entrepreneurship 58:41

2y ago58:41

58:41

He says it himself – Bob Keiller doesn’t quite qualify for the ‘tech’ part of ‘Talking with Tech Leaders’. So it’s perhaps worth renaming this episode Talking with Values Leaders, or Talking with Storytelling Leaders. Whatever we’re calling it, it’s well worth listening to. He chats through his career with host Michael Phair, charting his journey f…

1
Talking with... Andrew Flegg, CTO of Alfa Systems 1:04:38

2y ago1:04:38

1:04:38

Most Tech Leaders get started pretty early. Andrew Flegg was already getting to grips with rudimentary programming when he was still in short trousers. So it’s perhaps no surprise that he’s risen to become the Chief Technology Officer at Alfa Systems, the multinational asset finance software giant. In this episode of Talking with Tech Leaders, we g…

1
Talking with... Dr Anas Nader, Co-founder and CEO of Patchwork Health 57:42

2y ago57:42

57:42

In a time when the NHS struggles under the pressure of squeezed budgets and the after effects (and continued caseload) of the pandemic, every pound saved counts. Dr Anas Nader and Dr Jing Ouyang saved it an estimated £40million – enabling almost 3 million hours to be staffed sustainably each year through Patchwork Health. This episode of Talking wi…

1
Talking with... Bill Buchanan OBE, Professor of Cryptography 1:09:20

2y ago1:09:20

1:09:20

The podcast title has never been more fitting: our guest for episode 20 of Talking with Tech Leaders is a leading thinker, leading innovator and leading academic. Bill Buchanan is not only Professor of Cryptography at Edinburgh Napier University but also an Officer of the British Empire – awarded in 2017 for services to cybersecurity. Together with…

1
Talking with... Alastair Rennie, CIO of Research Data Scotland 56:08

2+ y ago56:08

56:08

In this episode of Talking with Tech Leaders, we spend more time than usual talking through our guest’s career journey. And there’s a good reason for that: Alastair Rennie has had an incredible career – with the likes of Lockheed Martin, Student Loans Company and Wescot Credit Services. From the very start, he worked to harness the power of data – …

1
Talking with... Nick Lambert, CEO of Dock Labs AG 59:42

2+ y ago59:42

59:42

Nick Lambert wants you to hold onto your own data. Right now, as CEO of Dock Labs AG, he’s harnessing the blockchain to create verifiable credentials – replacing the out-of-date and inaccurate records held by some third party (who are often more interested in making a profit than protecting your privacy). And, in his previous role with MaidSafe, he…

1
Talking with... Andy Young, Head of Digital & UX at Phoenix Group 53:45

2+ y ago53:45

53:45

Just as the digital revolution has changed the way we do our shopping, manage our money, and interact with each other (among other impacts), today’s tech has completely rewritten the rulebook for business. From internal communications and people management, to customer relations and product development, everything is touched by digital. Which all m…

1
Talking with... Gordon Weston, Head of Engineering Delivery at Merkle 49:57

3y ago49:57

49:57

Gordon Weston is a geek. A highly successful and talented geek. A geek with an impressive track record of leadership in software engineering. A geek that we should all look up to. Above all, he's a geek that's proud to be a geek. And he says that, if you're a geek, then you should be proud to: "Get your geek badge out! Wear it with pride! This is w…

1
Talking with... Chris Leckie, Head of UX and Design at Phoenix Group 1:00:55

3y ago1:00:55

1:00:55

Charting Chris Leckie’s career isn’t just a tour of the biggest names in Scotland’s business landscape – Amazon, FanDuel, WoodMac, to name a few. It's also the story of the rise of digital design itself. From his first steps after graduating, working as a web developer in Dundee’s burgeoning digital sector, to becoming a senior leader with the bigg…

1
Talking with... Gary Walker, author of Ready for Remote 1:05:06

3y ago1:05:06

1:05:06

When the pandemic yanked millions from their offices, to work from their kitchen tables and spare rooms, it came with a whole new way of working. New habits, new tools. This was remote working. Or, at least, that’s what we thought. Our guest for this episode of Talking with Tech Leaders, Gary Walker, has a different view: this was not true remote w…

1
Talking with... Chris Green, Project & Programme Delivery Director at ProPMs 42:32

3y ago42:32

42:32

There’s not much about Project and Programme Management that Chris Green couldn’t tell you about. He’s delivered the kind of projects that transform businesses and (ultimately) save lives – leading programmes and portfolios with the likes of BAE and the NHS. Now, as the director of Pro PMs, he’s offering his expertise to a vast range of clients acr…

1
Talking with... Marta Portugal, Director of Data Science at Forth Point 43:06

3y ago43:06

43:06

For some of us, getting insight from data can seem like a dark art – like looking through tea leaves for prophesies that no one else can see. Not so for someone like Marta Portugal, Director of Data Science at Forth Point and guest for this episode of Talking with Tech Leaders. Chatting with host Michael Phair, Marta offers us a glimpse into the wo…

1
Talking with... Colin Clive, Director of Platforms & Engineering at WebHelp 1:05:18

3+ y ago1:05:18

1:05:18

When we launched the Talking with Tech Leaders podcast, Colin Clive is exactly the kind of guest we had in mind. From an early age, he’s been elbow-deep in computing – programming with display models in high-street shops with his friends and creating a system to tackle the massive admin burden of his paper round. Since then, he’s charted a career p…

1
Talking with... Adam Dallis, Software Development Manager at Amazon 40:09

3+ y ago40:09

40:09

Adam Dallis has always been fascinated by computing. When most of us were playing video games, he was hacking high scores – so no matter how well his brother was doing, Adam always came out on top. Today, as Software Development Manager at Amazon, he’s putting that technical curiosity to good use on something a wee bit bigger than tetris. We spend …

1
Talking with... Stephen Beer, MD of Bridgeall 49:05

3+ y ago49:05

49:05

Following on from our fascinating chat with Dave Kerr in episode 8, we’re talking to another of the founding members of Bridgeall (another of the three ‘titans’, as host Michael Phair dubs them) – Stephen Beer, Managing Director. As ever, you’ll hear all about Stephen’s own journey through the tech industry – from his undergraduate degree and PhD i…

1
Talking with... Dave Kerr, CTO of smartcrowds 1:01:31

3+ y ago1:01:31

1:01:31

When Dave Kerr finished his computer science degree and started off in his first job, it was a time before there was a computer on every desk. He’s spent a long time working in technology. Along the way, he’s led change in the public sector, navigated a deregulated energy sector and founded a SaaS business that brought innovation to libraries aroun…

1
Talking with... Laura Casci, Head of Delivery at BJSS 46:12

3+ y ago46:12

46:12

Episode seven of Talking with Tech Leaders shows – yet again – that you don’t always need to take the most obvious route to leadership and expertise. Laura Casci, Head of Delivery for Scotland at BJSS, didn’t leave school with a bundle of qualifications, and she didn’t wait for the honours year of her degree, either. Today, she’s a true leader of t…

1
Talking with... Jenn Fenwick, Leadership Coach 52:15

4y ago52:15

52:15

In this episode, we’re talking with Jenn Fenwick, a superstar of the executive coaching scene and the head of Rebel Road Coaching. She’s not just coached all sorts over the years, but she also climbed up the greasy pole herself – having reached the dizzying heights of Global Talent Director, before following her passion into supporting others. Chat…

1
Talking with... Scott Seivwright, Agile Coach 55:04

4y ago55:04

55:04

In episode five of our Talking with Tech Leaders podcast, Michael Phair of Be-IT talks with globally renowned Agile coach, Scott Seivwright. A born storyteller, Scott takes us through some of the highlights of his career – from rubber factory to pre-internet banking to leading member of the Agile community, letting us in on some of the insights and…

1
Talking with... Ben Stewart, Senior Engineering Manager at Skyscanner 48:52

4y ago48:52

48:52

To finish off Talking with Tech Leaders for 2020, we have a special Christmas treat for episode 4. Michael Phair has handed over the interviewer's mic (MS Teams account) to Be-IT Managing Director, Nikola Kelly. She's joined by Ben Stewart, Senior Engineering Manager at Skyscanner – someone tailor-made for this podcast. He's not just full of techni…

1
Talking with... Andrew Doyle, CTO of ARM 56:56

4y ago56:56

56:56

In the third episode of our Talking with Tech Leaders podcast, Michael Phair of Be-IT talks with seasoned technology leader, Andrew Doyle. Andrew has had a fascinating career to date – most recently serving as CTO of ARM. He tells the story of how he got there, starting from university, through to his early steps in a consulting environment, what h…

1
Talking with... Dale Murray, CEO of Sales Agility 46:58

4y ago46:58

46:58

In the second episode of our Talking with Tech Leaders podcast, Michael Phair of Be-IT talks with CEO of Sales Agility, Dale Murray Having taken over the Stirling-based software company in 2017 – at the impressively tender age of 27 – Dale has overseen some impressive growth for their flagship product, Suite CRM. Dubbed the world’s most popular ope…

1
Talking with... Dan Reed, Head of Platforms at Barclays 44:07

4y ago44:07

44:07

To kick off our new Talking with Tech Leaders podcast, Michael Phair of Be-IT talks with lockdown phenomenon, Dan Reed. As well as Head of Platforms at Barclays, Dan is the founder of Career Dad – a father-focused podcast, blog and website offering advice and entertainment in equal measure. Michael and Dan talk through the rise of Career Dad, Dan’s…

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