This week's podcast guest is Mike Pagan, author of Mental Wealth

As ever, before the main podcast is the trailer....Mike answers 5 questions

5 Questions with Mike Pagan

In this podcat we talk again with Mark Herschberg but this time about what it takes to become a CTO, what the job actually entails and what you should look for when you're hiring a CTO

Tips for budding CTOs and those that want to hire them

Every business needs to be able to manage projects well. Poorly managed projects cost time, money and can ultimately ruin a good business

In this week's podcast I talk to the Founder of Project Risking, a company that is looking to take away the pain of project management from companies by providing an outsourced project management service

Projekt Rising is a project management and delivery service designed to produce excellent results, increase project efficiency, and reduce costs thanks to our innovative business model.  

Our unique machine-learning software and fully scalable expert team follow our proven system that delivers projects of any size and in all industries

https://projektrising.com/

Delivering projects more effectively with Tim Davies from Projekt Rising

In this episode we talk to Roop Sood, the CEO of Fifth Weapon, a marketing company with an emphasis on video and data

Roop started off his career as a Pathe Award nominated Film Director and after a number of years working as Director, Editor, Producer moved into the world of marketing and is helping businesses increase their revenue by 10x by creating and executing a data driven marketing plan backed up by video and other content production

The Art behind Video Marketing with Roop Sood from Fifth Weapon

Cocktails, we all love them, whether they are alcoholic or not.  But have you ever stopped to think what goes behind making a cocktail menu and how much the bartenders have trained to do their job?

This week we're on the road in Split talking to Anteo Ivanisevic, the owner of Bar Sistema, a chic cocktail bar in the heart of the city that serves the best drinks in Dalmatia, if not the whole of Croatia

Anteo will talk about his journey to becoming a mixologist and gives tips to those that have a budding desire to get into the game

The Art of Mixology with Anteo Ivanisevic from Bar Sistema in Split

In this episode of the Real World Entrepreneurship podcast, Alan Clarke and I talk about Founder Isolatino and how you can overcome it....

RWE Podcast: Founder Isolation

This week's guest is Keshni Morar, the founder of Investable an angel network of investors in South Africa looking to help entrepreneurs across the region.

As well as Investable, Keshni is an entrepreneur herself and is also the Chapter Director for the Founder Institute, a global accelerator with locations across the globe

In this podcast we talk on a range of different topics from burnout, the challenges of globalisation, knowing when to quit and the challenges facing both investors and entrepreneurs in South Africa when it comes to funding new businesses

Angel Investing and Entrepreneurship in South Africa with Keshni Morar

In this wide ranging discussion we are talking with Andre de Wet, serial entreprener and current founder of Flood 

https://www.flood.finance/

In this conversation we cover:

- His bounce back from failure
- How he won the global mobile app of the year
- How entrepreneurship has changed in the past 30 years
- Tips on how you can take your business global
- How you can scale a marketplace business
- The origins of Flood
- How you sell to enterprise businesses
- Is sweat equity a good thing
- His experience of mentorship and the common mistakes that founders make
- Tips on expanding your business into Africa

Lessons in Business from South African Entrepreneur Andre de Wet

In this podcast we talk to James Cook, coach at Next Level.  James provides coaching to organisations and individuals to help them attain peak performance.

In this podcast we talk about what James means by "high performance", how you tackle imposter syndrome, what makes a good leader, what we really mean by "culture" in the workplace and what challenges he sees that most start-up founders face when they start off as well as when they scale

James Cook: The challenges early stage founders struggle with

This week's podcast guest is Mark Peacock - the Price Maker

Mark is a repeat guest and has come out with a new book called Pricing for Success

In this podcast we talk about all things pricing and what businesses should be doing to maximise their pricing

For more info visit Mark's website: https://www.pricemaker.co.uk/

Pricing for Success by Mark Peacock

In this podcast we talk with Frank Oelschlager from Ten Mile Square, a company that specialises in solving complex technical challenges for scale-ups

With Frank we talk about all things a non-technical founder needs to know about building a product, we discuss the folloing:

- What are the important things to keep in mind when you are designing a product
- Technical debt
- Teasing out what features are most valuable to your customer
- How much you should automate early on
- When should you customise your product for a customer
- The role of a CTO in an early stage business
- What is more important design or usability?
- How you should organise your team
- The value of a product owner
- Do you really need to scale a tech team?

For more information on Frank visit:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/frankoelschlager/
https://tenmilesquare.com

All you need to know about product development with Frank Oelschlager

This week we are talking to mentor, business advisor and Head of Techops for Test Card, Selby Cary.

Selby is a serial entrepreneur that has scaled businesses and in this podcast we talk about his experiences of scaling and the challenges that lie therein

We cover the following areas:

- What do we mean by scaling?
- When do you feel the growing pains?
- How hiring changes as you scale
- Dealing with technical debt
- How you maintain culture as you scale
- How product development changes as you scale
- Sweat equity
- The challenges operationally when you scale

The challenges of scaling a business with Selby Cary

This week's guest is Mark Bentley:

https://markbentley.com.au/

Today's conversation orbits around the intriguing journey of self-awareness and how to reclaim your own authority. You'll get a comprehensive understanding of self-awareness as the backbone of personal development and mental well-being. We'll explore how this inward-looking process helps cultivate better decision-making processes and thereby reclaim one's own authority.

The Power of Self-Awareness: Unlocking Your Potential as a Business Owner

In this episode of the Atom CTO Podcast, we talk with Aviv Ben-Yosef, tech consultant and CTO coach:

https://avivbenyosef.com/

We delve into the persistent disconnect between tech teams and business units—a challenge that plagues both start-ups and larger enterprises. 

Along with Aviv we explore common issues such as the misalignment of goals and stakeholder perception. We also discuss practical methodologies for fostering a collaborative culture, including implementing joint KPIs and promoting continuous improvement. 

Tune in to learn how you can turn your tech department from a cost center into an innovation hub driving business growth.

Aligning Tech and the Business: Become a better CTO with Aviv Ben-Yosef

In this episode of the Real World Entrepreneurship Podcast, hosts Bhairav Patel and Alan Clarke dive deep into the reasons why projects often fail and share valuable insights on how to avoid common pitfalls. Drawing from their extensive experience in the business and technology worlds, they highlight the importance of the "CPOP" principles - Communication, People, Oversight, and Planning - in ensuring project success.

Key topics covered in this episode include:

1. The critical role of thorough planning and requirements gathering at the outset of a project

2. The importance of maintaining open, honest communication between all stakeholders throughout the project lifecycle

3. The impact of having the right people involved who are invested in the project's success and empowered to make decisions

4. The need for regular oversight to track progress against milestones and course-correct as necessary

5. How the "CPOP" principles should be applied at every stage of a project, not just at the beginning

Bhairav and Alan share real-world examples and anecdotes to illustrate these points, making the lessons both relatable and actionable for entrepreneurs and project managers alike. They also touch on the dangers of letting ego-driven agendas derail projects and emphasize the importance of staying focused on the ultimate goal.

Whether you're a seasoned entrepreneur or just starting out, this episode offers valuable wisdom on navigating the challenges of bringing a project to fruition. Tune in for some hard-won insights and practical tips on keeping your next project on track and avoiding the common reasons why projects fail.

Follow the Real World Entrepreneurship Podcast for more no-nonsense advice and real talk on building and growing a successful business.

CPOP: The Four Pillars of Successful Project Management

In this episode, Alan and Bhairav talk about leadership and management, the qualities to look out for and what it takes to excel as a leader and a manager.

In this podcast you'll learn:

- Difference between leadership and management

- Can everyone be a leader?

- What makes a great manager?

- Roles and responsibilities for being a better leader and a manager

- How important is influence for leadership?

- Who is considered to be a great leader?

Leadership vs Management

In this episode of the Atom CTO podcast, Bhairav Patel sits down with seasoned tech executive Mark Zurich to delve deep into the intricate world of mergers and acquisitions (M&A) from a technical perspective. The conversation addresses both the seller's and buyer's mindsets, with an emphasis on preparing for M&A activities, understanding tech due diligence processes, and managing cultural integration post-acquisition.

Guest Bio:
With over 35 years in the tech industry, Mark has held senior positions at industry giants and boasts a robust portfolio of M&A experiences. His expertise spans across roles at General Electric, Nokia, and BlackBerry, among others, aligning technology strategies with business objectives.

Unpacking M&A: The mechanics of a tech due diligence with Mark Zurich

Act small - think Big! The Dominic Courage Trailer

Dominic Courage shares gripping insights from managing global humanitarian crises at Save the Children. From coordinating refugee responses to training crisis leaders, this episode reveals practical leadership lessons born from high-stakes situations. Discover how empathy, systematic thinking, and strategic frameworks can transform chaos into effective action.

Perfect for leaders seeking proven crisis management strategies from someone operating at the sharp end of global emergencies.

Finding your tribe: A journey into humanitarian leadership with Dom Courage

Dive into a fascinating journey of female entrepreneurship on the Atom CTO Podcast! We're hosting an inspiring conversation with Joanna Vargas, the dynamic force behind "The Get Up Girl" podcast. Vargas's career trajectory is a testament to her entrepreneurial spirit, fiery passion, and grit.

Clearing her path outside the conventional structures of a 9-to-5 career, Joanna Vargas's chronicle kicks off quite intriguingly. From her early years running a lemonade stand to venturing into dance and fitness studios, Vargas's innovative and strategic decision-making have helped her pioneer her way in various industries. Besides discussing her successful transition into entrepreneurship, the episode takes a deep dive into the realistic aspects of the entrepreneurial life and the ability to adapt to business transitions.

Empowering Women in Business with Joanna Vargas

Welcome to another episode of The Atom CTO Podcast, joined by Bhairav Patel and Sanjay Rakshit, veterans in the evolving landscape of artificial intelligence (AI). We delve into AI, machine learning, data science, and natural language processing (NLP). Concepts that have transformed life as we know it and the influencers at its core, helping shape the AI-driven future.

We also discussed Bhairav and Sanjay's fascinating journey through the AI industry, their intriguing insights into data science, the growing emphasis on domain-specific knowledge, and the steady demand for experienced data scientists. Tune in to learn more about how continuously evolving technology necessitates a commitment to lifelong learning and how balancing work and further education contributes to professional excellence.

Understanding AI Basics with Sanjay Rakshit (replay)

In this highly informative episode of Atom CTO Podcast, we take a deep dive into the challenging yet rewarding world of startups as we converse with one of the seasoned experts in the field, Bill Bolden. 

With an impressive resume spanning a two-decade-long career, and contributing to over hundreds of startups, Bill talks about what he has seen that sets apart those companies that succeed from those that fail.


Mastering Startup Challenges: Bill Bolden's Experience as a CTO (replay)

In this podcast you will learn:

- What do we really mean by “Machine Learning”?
- What is the difference between AI and ML?
- What problems can ML solve?
- How can a business owner know if ML is right for their business?
- What are the steps a company should take before they decide on implementing ML within their organisation?
- How do you implement ML within a business?
- How can you know the ML solution is actually working?
- What kind of team do you need to implement and run ML within a business?

Machine Learning 101 with Matt White (replay)

You will learn the following:

- There are patterns and challenges that companies commonly face at different stages of their growth. These challenges are not random.
- Building a strong foundation and getting the basics right is essential for success in business.
- Hiring the right people and aligning their values with the company’s values is crucial, especially when making the first few hires.
- Conflict resolution can vary from case to case, but there are usually patterns that can be recognized. Choosing the path that minimizes resentment and disappointment is often the best approach.
- Businesses can be rated on a scale of one to ten, and understanding the size and shape of a business can help determine the type of experience and skills needed for hiring and growth.

Fostering a Growth Mindset: A Key to Startup Success with Adib Bamieh (replay)

This week's guest is Kiley Tan, Consultant Solicitor specialising in AI with The Legal Director

Just do it! The Kylie Tan Trailer

In this week's podcast, I'm talking with Kiley Tan, a co-founder and legal expert in AI with The Legal Director, who sheds light on how startups and businesses can navigate the complex landscape of AI usage, focusing on legal risks, copyright issues, and data protection.

Key Discussion Points:

Introduction to AI in Business: Kiley Tan shares his journey into AI, explaining how his curiosity led him to pursue an AI course to better understand its applications in business.

Legal Concerns in AI: Discussion on common legal challenges related to AI, including data protection, copyright issues, and ownership of AI-generated content.

Using Internal Data: Importance of leveraging proprietary internal data which can provide a significant advantage as it's owned by the company.

The Role of AI in Legal Drafting: Examination of AI tools in drafting legal documents and the complexities involved.

Agentic AI Risks: Examination of risks associated with autonomous agents, including liability issues if AI actions lead to unintended consequences.

For more info on The Legal Director, follow this link: https://www.thelegaldirector.co.uk/
You can see Kiley's profile here: https://www.thelegaldirector.co.uk/team/kiley-tan/
You can follow Kiley here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kileytan/


AI and the Law: What you need to know about using AI in your business with Kiley Tan

A conversation with our friends, Colm Devine, Olga Bak and Dylan Martin at Accelerated Payments Ltd based in Dublin, Ireland. The team have just started a new alternative finance business and in this podcast we talk about the challenges of starting a new business, hiring new employees and what it takes to build a winning team

About: Starting a new business and alternative finance with Accelerated Payments Ltd

In this podcast we are talking with the team from Skills Hive, a company that is disrupting the way that businesses think about growth and strategic planning.  

Skills Hive provide a pop-up model of resourcing where teams are built based on the needs of the client and the best available talent.  The company prides itself on building long term relationships which enables them to react quickly to the changing needs of their clients and ensures that they can provide the right talent at the right time for the business.

In this podcast we talk about how we can change the mindset of traditional project management resourcing and how Skills Hive leverages the gig economy to find the best young talent which  allows them to provide businesses with fresh ideas as well exposing their resources to a varied and mature working experience

Mike Orchard: Disrupting the way companies devise strategy and execute projects with Skills Hive

In this week's podcast we explore the topic of conflict resolution, how to spot one brewing, how to get ahead of them and how to handle yourself during one.  We also talk about the art of listening and how you can transform conflicts into a more positive experience

https://www.mindfulcommunication.me/ 

Jonathan Miller is a speaker, facilitator and conflict transformation coach, specializing in having entrepreneurs be powerful in the face of conflict. His programs draw heavily from his extensive training in several communication systems including Nonviolent Communication, the Harvard Negotiation Project, Landmark Worldwide, and more. His methodology is also heavily influenced by his Vipassana meditation practice, of which he has spent over 2,000 hours practicing. He believes in the power of honing one's communication skills to not just "deal with" conflicts, but to transform them into powerful partnerships that serve one's business and their lives.

Jonathan Miller: Tips on Handling Conflicts in Your Work and Private Life

Another in the Meet the Team series.  In this one we're talking to Gatis Vlicans, Head of Development at Atom CTO.  Gatis is another one that has roamed the world, leaving Latvia to go to the Australia to study and work, he recently moved back to Riga and we discuss his journey into IT and he finds working with start-ups

Atom CTO: Meet the Team - Gatis Vilcans

In this week's podcast we talk with Peter Rooney the Chief Revenue Officer (CRO) of Canadian Payroll Services, a Professional Employer Organization focused on connecting Canadian Talent with global business. He works closely with clients to develop end-to-end workforce solutions, influencing Canadian Payroll Services' growth in revenue, market share and profitability through building long-lasting relationships. 

Over the years, Peter has accumulated over 2 decades of experience in senior management and C-level leadership for global companies in the technology, loyalty and travel sectors. From being a CEO, Co-founder, President and Vice President of five companies, Peter has developed outstanding leadership and management skills.

To read more about CPS and how they can help you set up in Canada follow this link:

https://canadianpayrollservices.com/expanding-to-canada/

Peter Rooney: Starting a Business in Canada

Conversations with a range of business owners from across the globe that discuss the challenges, triumphs and failures that are faced when trying to build and grow a business.  
In addition we talk about the latest trends in tech and generally anything we feel is relevant for today's tech and business savvy audience 

The companies interviewed operate in a diverse set of industries and are of varying maturity from the new startup to the established multi-national.

Atom Ventures is a UK based business that provides strategic technology and operational advice and investment to SMEs, startups and charities across Europe.  These podcasts are a way for us to talk directly with our clients, friends and partners and share our real life experiences of what it is like to run a business.

If you would like to take part in a podcast or would like to learn more then email Bhairav Patel - info@atomventures.co

Popular tracks by Atom CTO Podcast