Today's guest is Glen Milne from Spirit Energy. Glen discusses the impact of digitalization and AI on the energy industry, emphasizing the importance of remote work, automation, and the role of engineers in driving digital transformation.
He shares insights on the need for a culture that embraces failure as a learning opportunity and the significance of domain expertise in leveraging technology effectively.
The discussion also touches on the evolving nature of technology and the importance of trust and communication in implementing digital solutions.
Takeaways:
Keywords: digitalization, AI, energy industry, transformation, automation, engineers, technology, communication, failure, innovation
In this conversation, Neill Pawsey of Cohesive (a Bentley company) discusses the challenges and opportunities to use digital tools in capital mega-projects.
Packed with amazing metaphors, Neill emphasises the need to start with the end in mind.
Digital tools create transparency but with that are impacts on behaviours and ways of working.
Onto the soapbox, Neill and Helen discuss that managing change is hard but the people aspects are the most important to get right.
Using examples from Crossrail (HS2), Highways and the Energy sector, Neill talks about dealing with "shin kickers", how to fail fast in a safety critical, thin margin world, scaling using the staircase method and how to collaborate with the whole supply chain on digital.
And Neill and Helen remind us to think big but act small and avoid giving your organisation "indigestion". 00:00 Introduction to Digital Transformation in Capital Projects
06:03 The Importance of Transparency and Coordination
11:07 Learning from Field Engineers
16:44 Cultural Attitudes Towards Failure
25:26 Navigating the Data Journey
30:33 Owner-Driven Technology Adoption
36:35 Behavioral Insights in Project Management
42:44Silo Mentality and Organizational Behavior
In this conversation, Matthew Treagus discusses the importance of digital transformation for companies in the modern age. He emphasizes the need for businesses to adapt to a digital-first world, the role of leadership in driving change, and the significance of understanding customer context. Matthew also touches on the challenges of cybersecurity and the necessity for organizations to evolve their product owner roles to meet the demands of the digital landscape. Throughout the discussion, he shares insights on effective questioning, the importance of clarity in leadership, and the need for a holistic approach to business strategy. Takeaways
Sound Bites
In this conversation, Helen Dawson speaks with Dan and Rebecca from Rapidworks about corporate venture building and the challenges of innovation within large organizations.
They discuss the importance of exploring adjacent opportunities, mitigating risks, and the concept of 'fail fast.' The conversation emphasizes the need for a cultural shift in corporations to embrace innovation, celebrate stop decisions, and measure success through innovation accounting rather than just revenue. They also share personal insights on their journey of branching out on their own and the lessons learned along the way.
Takeaways
Innovation is not inherently risky; it's about mitigating risk.
Celebrating stop decisions can empower teams to make better choices.
Corporate innovation often suffers from risk aversion and lack of measurable outcomes.
Embedding innovation in corporate culture is essential for long-term success.
Innovation accounting helps measure progress beyond just revenue.
Engaging with customers directly can alleviate fears and drive innovation.
Perfectionism can stifle creativity and innovation; good enough is often sufficient.
It's okay to be introverted; active listening is a valuable skill.
Every organization faces similar challenges, often related to culture.
The best ideas are those that are implemented and create real value.
Contact the RapidWorks team via email at hello@rapidworks.uk or www.rapidworks.uk
In this conversation, Helen Dawson speaks with Chief Growth Officer William Lidston about his career journey and insights into marketing and growth strategies. They discuss the concept of 'super useful super brands' and how brands can create meaningful roles in consumers' lives. William shares his experiences working with McDonald's and emphasizes the importance of product quality, positioning, and technology in building successful brands. He introduces his philosophy of 'win by an inch,' focusing on incremental improvements in business practices. The conversation also touches on the need for collaboration between product, technology, and security teams to create cohesive customer experiences. Finally, William shares a valuable lesson learned in his career: that OK is not OK if you want to win in a competitive landscape.
00:00 Becoming a Chief Growth Officer
04:10 Understanding Super Useful Super Brands
10:45 The Magic of McDonalds
14:28 Win by An Inch
22:13 Delivering Technology with Complete Assurance
29:24 OK is not OK
David Ayeni, Director of Construction Product Strategy at Bentley Systems, talks to Helen about the role of digital twins and data in the construction industry. He emphasizes the importance of automation and efficient processes in improving productivity. He also highlights the need for collaboration between principal contractors and owner-operators to achieve better digital outcomes. He stresses the significance of data quality and its role in unlocking the potential of technologies like AI and digital twins.
If you're working in construction or asset management, this episode is for you.
In this conversation, Helen Dawson and Emma Blackley discuss the challenges and pitfalls of partnerships and collaborations in business.
They emphasize the importance of proper planning, understanding the goals and needs of both parties, and building strong relationships. They also highlight the need for flexibility, adaptability, and clear communication in order to navigate the complexities of partnerships.
Emma shares her insights on the differences between working with large corporations and smaller, more innovative companies. As ever, the conversation emphasizes the importance of people and relationships in successful collaborations.
Group Marketing Director of Specsavers, Carolyn McKeever, join us to talk about:
In this episode, Helen talks to Warren Minde of Innovation Leap about innovation as a human-centred activity.
We talk about:
You can find Warren at https://innovationleap.co.uk/
In this episode, Nils Jeners joins Helen to dive into methodology and how to build the skills needed to be an innovator. We cover:
Resources:
Double Diamond approach: https://www.designcouncil.org.uk/our-work/skills-learning/the-double-diamond/
Business Model Canvas by Alex Osterwalder https://www.strategyzer.com/canvas/business-model-canvas
Lean Start-Up by Eric Ries
Sprint by Jake Knapp
Testing Business Ideas by David Bland and Alex Osterwalder
The Mom Test by Rob Fitzpatrick
Neel Arya, founder of Mettle Consulting, and Helen discuss the attributes needed by today's leaders, operating at the limits of their organisational structure and traditional problem-solving. Rather than definitive answers, we debate:
Resources for further reading:
Richard Holdsworth of V-Box joins us to talk about ways in which collaboration across the maritime industry is helping to use innovation to create better conditions for seafarers.
We talk about:
And Richard shares some real examples to bring this to life.
Find out more at www.v-box.io
Andrew Webber from tech & innovation company Whitespace pulls on his years of experience building successful ecosystems both as part of Microsoft, during the pandemic with the Emergent Alliance and on behalf of companies like Rolls Royce and BP. The key is collaboration and making sure all boats rise with value for both start-ups and the corporate or public sector organisation. We talk about the mindset needed to work in an open way, objectives beyond revenue, making friends with procurement and the power of diverse thinking.
Elizabeth O'Neill joins us to explain why corporate innovation is not a tech problem but a people and culture problem. Liz is not only a tech leader herself but coaches CTOs to be inspirational technical leaders. Liz explains why positive conflict is a core skill, the myth of "IT being slow," why innovation can create the tech equivalent of space junk, and the actions leaders should take to develop their teams, especially women.