From Tech Investor to Winter Olympian: David talks to South Africa's Matt C Smith
Today's show is all about belief, courage and resilience. David met Matt at LEAP in February. After a taxi ride for just over an hour, a podcast interview was booked! Why? Matt has qualified for the Winter Olympics as a Cross Country Ski competitor - just 3 years after taking up the sport. His journey shows so many qualities that can be transferred to the world of work - and we want to share it with you!Tech Talks is powered by Nash Squared, the leading global provider of technology and talent solutions. Find out more about our solutions at www.nashsquared.comThe music on Tech Talks is created by London artist Lemzi: www.lemzi.com
2 Kesä 202532min
Building Resilience: From Footsteps to Flood Barriers
In this special roundtable episode recorded over breakfast at Grind, David chats with two climate tech founders tackling sustainability from very different angles. Kamil Kluza, COO of Climate X, helps businesses adapt to physical climate risks with geospatial insight. Laurence Kemball-Cook, founder of Pavegen, turns footsteps into renewable power. From London's flood defences to kinetic pavements in Riyadh, we explore how real-world innovation is reshaping our response to climate change—and why public engagement and political will are still missing links.Tech Talks is powered by Nash Squared, the leading global provider of technology and talent solutions. Find out more about our solutions at www.nashsquared.comThe music on Tech Talks is created by London artist Lemzi: www.lemzi.com
30 Touko 202529min
Fintech at a Crossroads: AI, Access, and the Power of the Platform
In this episode, David Savage speaks with Scarlett Sieber, Chief Strategy and Growth Officer at Money20/20, about the real-time pulse of fintech innovation. As the architect behind one of the industry’s most influential global platforms, Scarlett offers a unique view into what’s top-of-mind for leaders—from agentic AI and regulation to embedded finance and economic resilience. She shares how superapps, open banking, and new platform behaviors are reshaping financial services, and explains why success isn’t just about technology—it’s about access, connection, and timing.Tech Talks is powered by Nash Squared, the leading global provider of technology and talent solutions. Find out more about our solutions at www.nashsquared.comThe music on Tech Talks is created by London artist Lemzi: www.lemzi.com
28 Touko 202530min
Education, Education, Education! The Biggest Lessons from Rio.
On today's podcast David is joined by Rob Pegoraro, Nicole Ingra (Ingra Labs) and Benjamin Buthmann (Koalo) to chew the Web Summit Rio chat one final time! The conference forced plenty of meaningful discussion around the manner in which organisations are moving from experimentation to implementation of AI - and asked what that means for us. David asks his panel what they spotted as they navigated the conference, and what they'd like to see more of next time.Tech Talks is powered by Nash Squared, the leading global provider of technology and talent solutions. Find out more about our solutions at www.nashsquared.comThe music on Tech Talks is created by London artist Lemzi: www.lemzi.com
26 Touko 202522min
Don’t Learn to Code—Learn to Build: The Case for Inclusive Tech
David Savage sits down with Emmanuel Straschnov, Co-CEO and co-founder of Bubble, for a candid conversation on democratising software development. Speaking from Web Summit Rio, Emmanuel shares how Bubble is redefining access to entrepreneurship—removing the barrier of technical know-how and enabling creators in emerging markets like Brazil and Nigeria to build businesses without writing a single line of code. He critiques the hype around “vibe coding,” champions real-world impact over press headlines, and explains why the future of tech lies in product-first, not code-first, thinking.Tech Talks is powered by Nash Squared, the leading global provider of technology and talent solutions. Find out more about our solutions at www.nashsquared.comThe music on Tech Talks is created by London artist Lemzi: www.lemzi.com
24 Touko 202536min
AI, Brand Blandness & the Creative Fight to Stand Out
In this conversation recorded at Web Summit Rio, David Savage sits down with Lisa Smith, Global Executive Creative Director at Jones Knowles Ritchie, to unpack the tension between creativity, AI, and brand identity. Lisa challenges the notion that AI equals innovation—arguing that in too many cases, it simply accelerates blandness. With nearly two decades of design and strategy experience, she explains why truly distinctive branding still requires human insight, cultural fluency, and original thought. This episode is a must-listen for brand leaders, marketers, and creative technologists who want to build relevance in an increasingly automated world.Tech Talks is powered by Nash Squared, the leading global provider of technology and talent solutions. Find out more about our solutions at www.nashsquared.comThe music on Tech Talks is created by London artist Lemzi: www.lemzi.com
23 Touko 202524min
AI Isn’t the Strategy—It’s the Signal: Rethinking Brand for the Intelligent Era
In this episode recorded at Web Summit Rio, David Savage speaks with Melissa Jackson Parsey, SVP Global Managing Partner at R/GA, about how brands can stay relevant in a world shaped by AI-driven behaviours. Melissa shares how the agency’s creative strategy has evolved from legacy media to machine learning, the value of cross-industry thinking, and why experimentation has given way to implementation. As R/GA becomes an independent entity for the first time in 22 years, Melissa also discusses how agility, partnerships, and cultural nuance will define the next era of brand leadership.Tech Talks is powered by Nash Squared, the leading global provider of technology and talent solutions. Find out more about our solutions at www.nashsquared.comThe music on Tech Talks is created by London artist Lemzi: www.lemzi.com
22 Touko 202524min
Empathy at Scale: AI, Data and the Human Side of Customer Engagement
David Savage sits down with Rachel Tilghman, Area Vice President at Braze, to explore how the world of customer engagement is evolving in the age of AI. Recorded at Web Summit Rio, Rachel shares insights on the company’s rapid growth in LATAM, the move from persona-based to empathy-based marketing, and the need for brands to go slow to go fast—especially when it comes to data and agentic AI. With a career that blends marketing strategy and tech leadership, Rachel explains why trust, community, and vulnerability are competitive advantages.Tech Talks is powered by Nash Squared, the leading global provider of technology and talent solutions. Find out more about our solutions at www.nashsquared.comThe music on Tech Talks is created by London artist Lemzi: www.lemzi.com
21 Touko 202524min
