In this episode of The Lucent Perspective, Rachel Curtis, the CEO of Inicio, shares her insights on AI, FinTech startups, and the challenges of leading a fast-growing business and raising investment. She discusses her journey from the corporate world to entrepreneurship and how it was a more accidental path for her. Episode Highlights: [00:02:01] Conversational AI in banking. [00:04:21] Corporate expertise in fintech. [00:07:35] Mental health and financial struggles. [00:12:31] Raising investmen...
Dec 14, 2023•39 min•Season 1Ep. 22
In this episode, I was joined by Vincent Cano, Chief People Officer at Agicap, a fast-growing fintech company based in Paris. We discussed lessons learned from failed attempts at rolling out global HR policies, balancing consistency with local needs when expanding internationally, determining critical roles to add during rapid growth, and more. Episode Highlights: 2:22 - Need to customize policies to different local norms and cultures 6:07 - Get local buy-in when translating HR policies across r...
Nov 23, 2023•51 min•Season 1Ep. 21
In this episode, we're joined by Jess Igoe, Chief People Officer at Amici. Jess shares her expertise in building highly effective engineering teams, hiring salespeople, developing career ladders, getting the culture right, and more. 0:41 - The importance of hiring self-motivated engineers 3:15 - Sales recruiting requires more planning and consistency 5:17 - Using psychometric assessments in the hiring process 9:47 - The power of probing questions in interviews 15:00 - Rebuilding company culture ...
Nov 02, 2023•52 min•Season 1Ep. 20
In this episode, I am very fortunate to have Neil Bruce to discuss the growth marketing and key trends impacting the success of marketing in tech companies. Neil, who has experience in both in-house and agency roles, shares valuable insights on the in-house agency dynamic. Episode Highlights: [00:02:10] Growth marketing strategies. [00:05:37] The creation of growth teams. [00:08:07] Retention and customer optimization. [00:20:36] Leveraging network effects. [00:24:13] AI-driven personalization a...
Oct 19, 2023•1 hr 13 min•Season 1Ep. 19
In the ever-evolving world of business and leadership, one thing stands out as the ultimate game-changer: culture. If you've ever wondered what sets successful companies apart from the rest, our latest podcast episode dives deep into the transformative power of culture and its role in scaling up and thriving in today's competitive landscape. Our guest speaker makes it clear – it's all about 'culture, culture, and culture.' I am very fortunate to be joined by Richard Doherty, a distinguished expe...
Oct 05, 2023•41 min•Season 1Ep. 18
The convergence of technologies like AI, Blockchain, VR, and Metaverse will reshape society and the future of work. How are you preparing your business and your workforce to adapt and leverage AI to your advantage? Episode Outline and Highlights [01:28] Exploring AI's Impact on Society and the Future of Work. [04:32] Equipping the Workforce for AI Adaptation. [09:11] Theo's Vision of the Future for Businesses and Technology. [15:36] Addressing Bias Risks and Ethical AI Implementation. [19:41] Th...
Sep 28, 2023•42 min•Season 1Ep. 17
Climate change is a global crisis that affects everyone, regardless of location or industry. In this episode, you will hear how Snugg, a fintech based in the UK is playing a significant role in contributing to net-zero initiatives. My special guest is Robin Peters, Snugg’s Co-Founder and CEO. Robin revealed the idea behind their astonishing platform and how they make it easy for both consumers and other businesses to overcome the barriers to energy efficiency. Episode Outline and Highlights [01:...
Sep 13, 2023•44 min•Season 1Ep. 16
I am thrilled to be joined by the brilliant tech entrepreneur and visionary, Shirish Nadkarni! With a career spanning decades, Shirish has left an indelible mark on the tech industry, contributing to the success of iconic products like MSN, Blackberry, and Rosetta Stone. Shirish co-founded Livemocha, a language-learning platform that rapidly garnered 15 million users across 200 countries. His wealth of experience in launching, scaling, and even exiting tech businesses is nothing short of awe-ins...
Aug 31, 2023•34 min•Season 1Ep. 15
The trend of community-based business models in the tech sector is driven by the recognition that empowered and engaged users can propel a business to new heights. As technology continues to evolve, these models will likely become even more integral to business strategies, shaping how tech products and services are developed, marketed, and embraced by users. My special guest, Taavi Kotka, shares his insight on how their platform can enable your business to engage with your community. Taavi is th...
Aug 16, 2023•38 min•Season 1Ep. 14
Not all tech companies may find it easy to transition to a fully remote work setup. Challenges regarding infrastructure, security, collaboration, and technology can stop some business leaders from adopting a remote-first culture. On the other hand, many tech companies have successfully embraced remote work and reaped its benefits, such as access to a broader talent pool, reduced office costs, and improved employee satisfaction. DirectID, a global fintech founded in Edinburgh, Scotland, is one ou...
Aug 03, 2023•46 min•Season 1Ep. 13
“If you want to be a great place to work and you want people to come to work with you… Then really being able to demonstrate that you care about social value as a strategy in your DNA. That really matters to people.” Our special guest in this episode, Amabel Grant, shared her insights on how to become a great place to work by delivering on social value goals. I am really excited to share this episode with our listeners as Amabel shares insights on the following areas: How to become a great place...
Jul 19, 2023•33 min•Season 1Ep. 12
As a tech company founder or CEO, how many resources would you invest in the learning and development of your existing talents? Successful companies understand that investing in their teams' learning and development can lead to increased productivity, employee satisfaction, talent retention, and, ultimately, long-term business success. I am delighted to share this episode with my special guest, Loral Quinn, as we cover the value of providing learning avenues for your talents. Loral is the CEO of...
Jul 07, 2023•35 min•Season 1Ep. 11
Regardless of your industry, having a talented and motivated sales force can greatly impact the overall success and growth of a company. A good sales team is vital for revenue generation, customer acquisition and retention, market insights, and competitive advantage. In this episode, I am delighted to have Dr.Yekemi Otaru, an award-winning entrepreneur and co-founder at Doqaru. Yekemi is a published B2B social media author who inspires her audience to achieve great things through her significant...
Jun 22, 2023•41 min•Season 1Ep. 10
Darren is an accomplished CMO that has worked with Fintech and Gaming. Companies he has worked with include Yahoo, Sony Playstation, 4Finance, and most recently LendingCrowd. He has worked with both B2B and B2C sectors and has helped drive record growth for those businesses. We discuss: How do you get the best out of your marketing team for startups and scale-ups? The key lessons he learned from high-growth tech businesses Moving from B2B to B2C Episode Outline and Highlights [01:48] Darren walk...
Jun 07, 2023•41 min•Season 1Ep. 9
Are you looking at scaling your business through acquisitions? My special guest, Richard Quinn, is here to share strong insights about this subject. Richard has worked on seven acquisitions with a combined transaction value of $400m in a 3-year period. Some critical topics that Richard and I covered in this episode are: When scaling through acquisition is the best option Challenges and focus areas when scaling your company What to look for in a company that you may acquire What could be holding ...
May 17, 2023•1 hr 3 min•Season 1Ep. 8
In this episode, I am delighted to be joined by Csilla Zsigri. You will enjoy hearing Csilla's insights on the evolving landscape of Distributed Ledger Technology (DLT) and blockchain, as well as her role as the Chief Strategy Officer with BTP, a company that helps other companies solve challenges with digital provenance. Csillia and I discussed the importance of digital provenance and gave case studies of how BTP is helping companies and industries in this field. We also explored Csilla's views...
May 10, 2023•29 min•Season 1Ep. 7
Starting and scaling your tech business in the current market environment can be complicated, but having the right leaders to advise and guide you can make scaling up less challenging. In this episode, I am delighted to be joined by Martin Threakall, an experienced CEO, COO, investor, board advisor, and founder. I have had the pleasure of working with Martin several times, and I am excited to share his insights regarding scaling tech businesses and startups. You will hear critical scaling topics...
Apr 12, 2023•1 hr 3 min•Season 1Ep. 6
Artificial Intelligence has become a buzzword in today's business world, offering enterprise companies opportunities to transform their operations and redefine success. However, integrating AI into existing products, services, and operating models is challenging. In this episode, we will hear insights from my special guest, Gary Crawford, Chief Innovation Officer of Waracle, on how enterprise companies can leverage AI and what they should consider when adopting it. Gary is a globally experienced...
Mar 28, 2023•46 min•Season 1Ep. 5
What does it take to build an effective marketing and product team? Sophie Moule from Pi Datametrics, shares her experience and insights on bringing together these departments to work seamlessly together and drive success. Before heading the Product and Marketing Team of Pi, Sophie had a solid core foundation in marketing. Hear how this strength played out in developing products with the customer in mind. Episode Outline and Highlights [01:27] Sophie shares her career in marketing and how it lai...
Mar 14, 2023•35 min•Season 1Ep. 4
Making the Leap: How to Transition from Corporate to Start-up, with Stuart Bell My special guest, Stuart Bell, CTO of Bloom Procurement Services, shares his own experience on overcoming that challenge. Stuart's career highlights include successfully shifting from working in big corporate tech and financial entities to becoming self-employed and working in the start-up world. He recognizes that this is not an easy jump and advises people to do their homework and be well-prepared for the challenge...
Feb 28, 2023•47 min•Season 1Ep. 3
Data has become a powerful tool for business owners and leaders to solve problems and grow their organizations. That is why my special guest, Duncan Hart, loves data so much that it led him to co-found DeepMiner, a tech company revolutionizing how business leaders make educated and informed decisions to support their business growth and focus on the leads that offer the greatest chance of success. In this episode, Duncan and I discussed critical topics when it comes to using data to your advanta...
Jan 30, 2023•1 hr 17 min•Season 1Ep. 2
How to Scale a Startup, Build Value, and Strategize Exit, with Matt Little For a technology startup to successfully scale, build value, and successfully exit, there are critical key factors that business owners and leaders should keep in mind. I am honoured to have a very special guest on the first episode of the Lucent Perspective Podcast - Matt Little. Matt is an experienced founder and founding team member who has been through 5 exits (co-leading two, advising on a further two, and technical ...
Jan 20, 2023•52 min•Season 1Ep. 1
Host Rebecca Hastings introduces The Lucent Perspective. Rebecca Hastings has been working with executives in the tech sector and helped successful companies build their leadership teams and scale. On The Lucent Perspective, Rebecca interviews some of the most entrepreneurial and innovative leaders from tech to learn about their successes and uncover the most valuable lessons they’ve learned. Get a snapshot of the first few episodes here. Rebecca Hastings, Founder and Director at The Lucent Grou...
Dec 21, 2022•1 min•Ep. 1
