Episode twelve – A life of video games
With Henrique Olifiers
Henrique Olifiers, the co-founder and Gamer-In-Chief at Bossa Studios, traces the journey that took their childhood passion and turned it into a hugely enviable career in the video game industry.
In just under 40 minutes, he and Neale discuss his career path, contemporary and classic titles, the health of the industry, the importance of nostalgia when producing physical media, the role of AI and how he brought his very first console, the Sinclair Spectrum back to life through an unbelievably successful Kickstarter campaign.
Warm, engaging and passionate, Henrique’s enthusiasm and knowledge for video gaming is unparalleled.
Episode eleven – Implementing CRM
With Greg Hancock
Welcome to “the show” – this week we are chatting to Greg Hancock, CRM expert with an impressive background in CRM implementation. Ex- IBM, Ex-Microsoft, and now MD at RoundEdge, we discuss the challenges and benefits of CRM implementation.
Greg explains most CRM implementations fail to meet what businesses need. The importance of organisational KPIs – and people ones too. Greg shares his experience of successfully rolling out CRM globally – as well as locally, stressing the need of getting all stakeholders involved early on.
This one is for any organisation currently weighing up their CRM options.
Episode ten – Launching & Maintaining a Kickstarter
With Matt Relf
In this episode Neale chats with Matt Relf, computer scientist turned entrepreneur and local politician.
Matt discusses his experience with Kickstarter campaigns, he shares insights about crowdfunding challenges, like managing backer expectations, the importance of setting “appropriate” funding targets and shares tips on how you can get your campaign more attention and backers.
This episode is a must for anyone considering their own product development journey and funding options.
Episode nine – The Electronic Repair YouTuber
With Mend It Mark
In this episode Mark shares his journey from being a ‘young nerd’ fascinated by electronics – to becoming a professional repair technician and YouTuber.
We discuss the evolution of repair culture, the challenges posed by modern electronics design and learn his patented three-step repair process.
We also touch on how software has fundamentally changed product design, (often making repairs more difficult), and the importance of teaching others repair skills.
Mark also shares his personal and professional journey of transitioning from a corporate industrial engineer to full-time YouTube content creator.
Episode eight – Financing Technology, AI & Automation
With Mark Bernstein
We’re talking to Mark Bernstein. Mark’s career spans decades in the tech space. His CV boasts organisations such as GeoCities, Virtuality, Gameplay and AOL.
We discuss his early passion for technology the transformative potential of AI, while providing valuable advice for entrepreneurs seeking investment.
It’s a fantastic 30 minutes, with insights on AI, automation and selecting the perfect NED for your business.
Episode seven – Digital Marketing
With Emma Glover
Neale chats to Emma Glover, founder and head strategist at Victress, the digital marketing agency.
The episode covers a wide spectrum of marketing, from the importance of maintaining marketing efforts during a budget cuts, the evolution of social media strategies and the role of personal branding.
Emma offers advice to organisations who are starting from scratch, and the pair swap marketing tips for more established companies who are considering changing their current strategy.
Episode six – Industrial Design & Product Innovation
With Steve May-Russell
Neale chat’s to Steve May-Russell, CEO of Small Fry, about industrial design and product innovation. Steve shares his journey into the industry, starting from discovering his passion for 3D design.
He takes us through Small Fry’s approach to product development, including the importance of understanding customer needs and market research. Before deep diving into their Hoover project – where Small Fry helped revitalise the brand by improving product quality and customer satisfaction.
Stressing the importance of empathy in design – distinguishing between sympathy and true understanding of user needs – this is an episode not to miss!
Episode five – Personal Brand, Content Creation, Enabling Yourself & Others
With Paul Norford
Join us for episode five, because we’re spending half an hour with content creator, YouTuber, mentor, public speaker, LinkedIn strategist and all-round nice guy – Paul “True Norf” Norford.
Norf shares his career journey from training as a radio presenter, engineer, marketeer, speaker and finally content creator. Detailing his YouTube journey, we discuss the challenges (and surprise successes) of content creation.
You’ll also gain insights about personal branding, social media strategy, and advice for aspiring YouTubers starting their journey.
Episode four – Mentoring Start-Ups & Entrepreneurs, WiReD, Photography
With Charles Stewart
A computer science and particle physics student, global traveller, published photographer, photo professional for People and Vogue Magazine, investment seeker for Pearson Group, founder of WiReD Magazine.
He then went on to launch, FT.com, BBC News Online, UpMyStreet.com and several ground breaking UK Internet businesses in the early noughties. Success turned him into an investor, running a venture capital unit within Rothschild in the UK, and then a social venturer, creating the WheelsPlusWIngs Foundation China and SE Asia.
Now based in Switzerland, teaching entrepreneurship, investing in tech and media startups, advising CEOs on innovation, (coaching volleyball) and making images again… Ladies and gentlemen – join us for half an hour with Ian Charles Stewart.
Episode three – Another Bright Spark Episode Three Transcript
With Caroline Hayes
In this episode we’re chatting with Caroline Hayes editor of the prestigious (and much loved) trade publication Electronics Weekly. EW provides electronic design engineers and professionals all the latest component, industry and tech news and is the home of the coveted Elektra Awards.
Caroline talks to us about her career, her early aspirations for PR and how she “fell” into the electronics industry. We discuss the importance of peer reviewed industry awards, supporting the current and future Women Leaders in Electronics – and the state of the industry as a whole.
Warm, well informed and humorous, Caroline was a joy to chat to – enjoy!
Episode two – An engineering career with Jason
With Jason Jibrail
Meet Jason – our Senior Softie. In this episode of Another Bright Spark he discusses his interest in engineering, starting from dismantling his toys as a child, nearly becoming a lawyer before the shift to engineering due to his practical inclinations.
He studied aeronautical engineering at Loughborough, eventually specializing in electrical engineering with a focus on FPGA.
Jason’s career path hasn’t always been plain sailing and in he openly talks about his personal struggles as well as his successes, balancing technical work with management responsibilities, leading to having to leave a previous position because he was doing too much. An honest insight, by a fabulous character.
Episode one – We chat recruitment
With Sharn Lalkiya
In our debut episode of the Another Bright Spark podcast we delve into the career of Sharn Lalkiya, from her early sales days to internal corporate recruitment to setting up her own recruitment business TechWaves Recruitment.
Sharn talks about the challenges of running her own business, the pros and cons of doing things “her way”, why she hires on personality (not skills!) and the responsibility of helping people change careers.
In this episode you’ll get some get tips -for both organisations and applicants, as we discover some of the latest recruitment trends and gain insights into the health of the current EV, renewables, engineering space.
