Talks With Tech Leaders

In this episode of Talks with Tech Leaders, veteran developer and mentor Peter Shaw shares his journey from the UK’s 1980s “back bedroom programmer” scene to a decades-long career in software, networking, and IoT.He reflects on breaking into the games industry, working at Orange during the mobile boom, and leading pioneering projects like contactless payments in the Middle East. Peter also discusses the realities of contracting, building his own business, and why continuous learning has been key to his success.With insights on mentoring, teaching with Pluralsight, and advice for modern developers - embrace curiosity, break things, play with code, and never stop learning.This conversation is full of wisdom and inspiration for anyone in tech.

In this episode of Talks with Tech Leaders, Elliot Morris – CEO & Co-Founder at Mozstro and Drovi shares his inspiring journey from leaving college to tech entrepreneur. At just 25, Elliot discusses building two AI-driven businesses, breaking into consulting, and lessons learned in scaling startups. We explore his views on AI’s future in regulated industries, how to harness AI for business transformation, and the importance of networking, resilience, and continuous learning in tech.

In this episode of Talks with Tech Leaders, Michael Thomson – Co-Founder & CTO at CloudConnect – shares his journey from early-stage startup to acquisition, and why he’s chosen to do it all over again.We dive into building high-performing teams, creating a culture of trust and healthy conflict, and why hiring for passion often beats test scores. Michael also discusses how AI is reshaping his approach to product development – and why he prefers “organized chaos” over rigid processes.

In this episode of Talks with Tech Leaders, Mark Jose – Head of Engineering – joins me to explore some of the most pressing topics in tech today.We discuss whether AI will genuinely steal our jobs or if it’s more of a productivity booster. Mark shares why surrounding yourself with "yes" people can stifle creativity and why embracing healthy debate leads to stronger, more innovative teams.We also dive into the power of face-to-face networking in a digital-first world – is it still the most effective way to build genuine connections? Plus, Mark makes a compelling case against relying solely on tech tests for hiring, offering fresh insights into what truly makes a great engineer.

In this episode of Talks with Tech Leaders, Fiona Hobbs - an experienced CTO at 3t | Training. Technology. Transformation, joins me to reveal her unlikely path to tech leadership. From being a ballerina who never could have thought of being a CTO, now leading five, soon to be six engineering teams.

In this episode of Talks with Tech Leaders, Hannah Marshall - CTO at Peacocks Medical Group, joins me to share her journey. Starting her career in the Royal Navy at the age of 18, she later ventured into the education sector. This pivotal moment sparked her passion for developing amazing software for the education sector. Now, as a successful CTO, Hannah is making a significant impact on the industry.

In this episode of Talks with Tech Leaders, Rob Boville - Co-Founder at BearTech, joins me to share his journey, starting from managing in retail, going back to University to follow his passion in tech, to launching a company alongside his wife Ali.

In this episode of Talks with Tech Leaders, John Kerr - CTO at Konquest, joins me to share his journey, starting from a graduate job working on the British Airways website, to being the CTO of multiple companies in the North East of England.In this candid conversation, John openly speaks about companies he worked for that had to liquidate, the lessons he learnt, alongside his experiences working at start-ups that have flourished.