Beyond the Tech: Leadership journeys of senior technology executives
Exploring the bold decisions, inflection points, and leadership journeys that define exceptional technology leaders. Co-presented by Bryan MacDonald.
Conversations that matter
Welcome to Beyond the Tech, a Bryan and Alex production. Beyond the Tech is a brand new podcast where we talk to some of the world's most inspirational tech leaders who are today helping shape and influence the future of business through both innovation and exceptional change leadership.
Our hope is that through these talks we can learn some of their secrets while exploring their journey from their early beginnings and hearing some of the bold moves they made to become the prominent leaders they are today.
Co-presented by Bryan MacDonald
Founder, Agency Three
Recent conversations
Deep insights from technology leaders who are shaping the future of business
Beyond the Tech Solo, Episode 2: Technology Leaders as Board Directors with Toby Eduardo Redshaw and Bryan MacDonald
Toby Eduardo Redshaw, Technology Leadership Expert
In the second instalment of this three-part mini-series of Beyond the Tech (Solo Edition), Bryan welcomes back seasoned CIO Toby Redshaw for a deep dive into the intersection of leadership, strategy and technology in the boardroom. Toby, a veteran in tech leadership and a former senior executive at major global companies including Verizon, American Express, Aviva and FedEx, brings his wealth of experience to discuss how technology executives can play a pivotal role in shaping corporate strategy and navigating the future of tech disruption.
Beyond the Tech Solo, Episode 1: A masterclass in leadership, innovation, and tech disruption with Toby Eduardo Redshaw and Bryan MacDonald
Toby Eduardo Redshaw, Technology Leadership Expert
In this inaugural episode of "Beyond the Tech - Solo edition"; an expansion of our classic Beyond the Tech podcast series, Bryan is joined by Toby Eduardo Redshaw, a true titan in the technology leadership space with a fascinating career spanning multiple continents and industries. In this first part of a series of discussions with Toby, he begins to share his story with Bryan, including his upbringing in Mexico, his career at FedEx along with some of his stories / insights from extensive leadership experience in tech. Their conversation explores critical themes like leadership in disruptive environments as well as innovating both below and above the radar.
In Conversation with Darrell Stein; How CIOs are adding value to the PE world
Darrell Stein, Technology Executive
In this episode of Beyond the Tech, Bryan and Alex sit down with Darrell Stein, a seasoned technology executive with an extraordinary career spanning major companies like E&Y, Vodafone, Marks & Spencer, and Reckitt Benckiser. Darrell shares his career journey from his early days through his experience as a global CIO and latterly his transition into the private equity space, where his hands‑off, no‑excuses approach has been instrumental in driving growth and value creation.
The Land of What's Possible: Leadership, Culture, and Innovation with Toby Eduardo Redshaw and Bryan MacDonald
Toby Eduardo Redshaw, Former CTO at Verizon
We're thrilled to bring you the third (and final) instalment of our captivating series with Toby Redshaw. In this episode, Bryan and Toby explore the profound intersections of leadership, culture, and innovation in today's fast‑evolving world. Toby, a seasoned leader with a career spanning roles at FedX, Verizon, Motorola, and more, shares invaluable insights on how businesses can thrive amidst disruption.
In Conversation with Versace's CIO: Valeria Breda on Innovation, Influence & Identity
Valeria Breda, CIO at Versace
Valeria shares how her early days at Louis Vuitton, followed by senior roles at Kering (including Stella McCartney and Alexander McQueen), shaped her approach to leadership, innovation, and resilience in a dynamic industry.
In Conversation with Andreas Rasmussen; Entrepreneur, Tech CEO, Investor!
Andreas Rasmussen, Entrepreneur & Venture Capitalist
In this episode of Beyond the Tech, Bryan and Alex are joined by entrepreneur and venture capitalist Andreas Rasmussen. They hear the story of Andreas's journey, from co‑founding Nodes, a leading digital agency in Denmark that grew into a global company under Nodes‑Monster Lab, to founding Ugly Duckling Ventures, a venture capital firm investing in early‑stage companies with untapped potential.
In Conversation with Gianni Leone; Global CIO at Sephora
Gianni Leone, Global CIO at Sephora
In this episode of Beyond the Tech, Bryan and Alex are joined by Gianni Leone, the Global CIO of Sephora, to discuss his impressive career in driving significant change in global luxury, beauty and retail sectors. With over two decades of experience working with iconic brands like Ferrero, Gucci, Richemont, Walgreens (and now Sephora), Gianni shares his insights into his approach to driving large scale (tech enabled) business transformation.
In Conversation with Jose Pedro (JP) Almeida; one of the world's leading AI experts
Jose Pedro (JP) Almeida, AI & Digital Health Expert
In this episode Bryan and Alex are joined by Jose Pedro Almeida (JP), one of the world's top health AI experts and pioneer in digital health. This is a great extension to our earlier episode on AI, "The emergence of the Chief AI Officer" here JP shares stories from his fascinating career as a leading figure in digital health, his role as the brainchild behind Europe's most advanced hospital big data analytics platform, (HVITAL) which won the Microsoft U.S Health Innovation Award, as well as his vision on effectively driving Data & AI transformations inside large enterprises, which is recognized by prestigious entities such as Insead.
In Conversation with Ian Cohen (The Accidental CIO)
Ian Cohen, Technology Executive & Strategic Advisor
In this episode, Bryan and Alex are joined by Ian Cohen, who shares his remarkable career from aspiring musician to influential tech leader. Self‑titled, "the accidental CIO" Ian shares his insightful journey, highlighting his transition from the music world to technology, sharing some of his experiences in leadership roles at Lloyd's, the Financial Times, Associated Newspapers, Addison Lee and latterly Acacium. Bryan and Alex lead a deep dive discussion into his approach to building winning teams, fostering a culture of curiosity and adaptability, and how he engages key stakeholders in leading change, leveraging technology to both optimise operations while enhancing customer experience.
In Conversation with Thomas Cook CEO, Alan French
Alan French, CEO at Thomas Cook
In this episode, Bryan and Alex sit down with Alan French, the CEO of Thomas Cook, and explore his impressive career including his transition from CTO to CEO. Alan shares his insightful journey of reviving a legacy brand, revealing some of the bold moves he made as well as some of key decisions that guided Thomas Cook's transformation into a digital‑first company (all of this amidst the unprecedented challenges of the COVID‑19 pandemic). He provides insights on how he built a winning team, navigated regulatory frameworks, built trust with stakeholders, and implemented technology‑driven initiatives to optimise operations and enhance customer experiences.
In Conversation with Former Walgreens Boots Alliance CIO, Anthony Roberts (Leader/Investor/Advisor and Philanthropist)
Anthony Roberts, Former Group CIO at Walgreens Boots Alliance
In this episode, Bryan and Alex interview Anthony Roberts, former Group CIO of Walgreens Boots Alliance; not just a business contact but a very dear friend of Bryan's and a close collaborator for over 13 years. The conversation explores the pivotal moments in Anthony's career, from his early days at UPS and Pepsi, through to his groundbreaking work in integrating cutting edge technologies into Walgreens. It also explores his more recent advisory roles in leading startups and enterprises, as well as the non executive career that he's following. Throughout the conversation, Anthony emphasises the importance of embedding oneself in an organisation's culture, as well as fostering trust and alignment among peers and teams towards a collective mission.
EQ + IQ = XQ
Bryan MacDonald & Alex
In this episode of Beyond the Tech, Bryan and Alex discuss The Digital Board's EQ/IQ assessment framework. This robust tool, honed over two decades with input from leading academic institutions including Harvard and MIT alongside interviews with over seven thousand senior tech leaders, finely discerns the intricate balance of deep technical skills and the more expansive leadership qualities crucial for senior technology leadership roles. Bryan expands on the relationship between IQ (intelligence quotient) and EQ (emotional quotient), proposing an equation where EQ + IQ drives XQ (execution quotient).
The Emergence of the Chief AI Officer
Bryan MacDonald & Alex
In this latest episode of Beyond the Tech, Bryan and Alex discuss the emergence of the new role of Chief AI Officer, exploring the challenges and opportunities that this role presents within organisations (and whether or not organisations actually need one). The conversation explores the potential pros and cons of appointing a Chief AI Officer, emphasising the importance of clarity, collaboration, ethical governance and the interplay between data and generative AI. They discuss the need for a strategic focus on AI, organisational readiness, and the considerations around integrating of this pivotal role into the C‑suite.
Navigating Board Dynamics as a Technology Executive
Michael Rodriguez, Former CIO at Global Industries
Understanding how to effectively communicate technology strategy to board members and build lasting influence.
C = Lonely; a provocative discussion with Bryan MacDonald & Alex Alexander on leading change at the C-level!
Bryan MacDonald & Alex Alexander
In this episode, join us for a unique conversation as Bryan MacDonald interviews Alex Alexander, a seasoned CTO with over two decades of experience at global brands like Walmart, YOOX NET-A-PORTER and The Emirates Group. Alex shares captivating stories from his pioneering days in internet banking at Egg, emphasising the importance of boldness and seizing early opportunities.
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