Get Amplified

Amplified Group

Podcast series GET AMPLIFIED where we’re going to be talking about everything to do with working in the tech industry from staying ahead of the pace of change to fulfilment and well-being.Hosting the series will be Sam Routledge former CTO at Softcat who will be joined by Vicky Reddington from the Amplified Group. The team will be joined by leaders in the tech industry who will share their stories. We are going to share things we wish we knew 20 years ago. This is not rocket science but, we are going to highlight many of the things we do subconsciously and with a more conscious approach, done with intent and purpose can be hugely impactful. We will break it down and make it practical! Like everything we do at the Amplified Group, we will keep it real, it will be relevant and it will be lively!

  1. 17 OCT

    How Google United 180,000 People with a Purpose Led AI Playbook

    Send us a text Forget the hype cycle, this conversation gets into how AI actually lands inside a company: purpose first, people next, technology last. We sit down with returning guest Darren Thayre from Google to unpack how a 180,000 person organisation moved from siloed product areas to a shared AI language, and why a calm, purpose‑driven message aligned everyone faster than any dashboard or revenue goal could. We talk through the real mechanics of change: aligning OKRs across ads, YouTube, payments, cloud, and workspace around Gemini; replacing jargon with a common vocabulary that lets teams collaborate without translation; and setting a one‑way‑door commitment so the organisation stops hedging and starts learning.  Darren shares insights from interviewing 150 Googlers; what worked, what didn’t: treat AI as a decade‑long capability you embed, not a three‑year “program” you complete. If you’re a leader wondering where to start, you’ll get a playbook you can use tomorrow. Run a one‑day purpose workshop to set ethics and vision. Ask every department for three use cases in three weeks: 1) An easy win 2) A six‑month stretch 3) A moonshot Let teams become CEOs of their own journey. Put an AI assistant in every brainstorm to check feasibility, legality, and past art in the moment. Keep incentives and measures honest, communicate in plain English, and resist over‑engineering your transformation.  Subscribe for more practical conversations on culture, leadership, and the real work of making AI useful. If this episode helped you reframe your approach, share it with a colleague and leave a short revieaw. What’s the first small bet your team will try? We would love you to follow us on LinkedIn! https://www.linkedin.com/company/amplified-group/

    53 min
  2. 6 JUN

    Leading Like a Team Coach with Harvey Smith, VP Partners

    Send us a text What happens when a leader embraces the role of team coach?  In this episode, we sit down with Harvey Smith, VP Partners, who shares his experience leading partner teams across EMEA through his natural team coaching approach.   Harvey opens up about the delicate balance between authority and humility that defines great team coaching leadership. Drawing on his extensive experience at DocuSign, Salesforce, Tableau, and VMware, Harvey reveals how he transformed disparate teams into cohesive units through simple but powerful approaches. His mantra? “If you’ve got 27 priorities, you haven’t got any.” By focusing on no more than three clearly ranked objectives, Harvey empowered his team to stay aligned, and say no to distractions. The phrase “Harvey says no” became a cultural shorthand for protecting priorities and staying on mission.  We delve into how genuine trust is built within teams. Harvey shares his belief in vulnerability and accessibility, implementing skip-level meetings where team members could speak freely and career development sessions that demonstrated his commitment to their growth. This created psychological safety that allowed honest communication to flourish. Harvey's innovative approaches to breaking down silos include his "pod model" for cross-functional collaboration and strategic use of "stretch projects" that deliberately positioned team members to connect teams. When it comes to conflict, Harvey doesn’t shy away. His take? “Partners are like a car accident – everyone slows down to look but no one wants to get involved.” His solution? Proactive education, clear communication channels, and shared understanding of roles and responsibilities. Book Picks Rebel Ideas by Matthew Syed – on the power of diverse thinkingThe Culture Map by Erin Meyer – a must-read for navigating global teams. Whether you're managing partners, leading through change, or simply trying to create more effective teams, this episode offers practical wisdom for balancing the human element with unwavering focus on business outcomes. We would love you to follow us on LinkedIn! https://www.linkedin.com/company/amplified-group/

    52 min
  3. 14 APR

    Creating Shared Wins: Breaking Down Silos in Tech Partnerships with Dan Waters

    Send us a text Dan Waters brings decades of partnership expertise to this fascinating conversation about building effective tech ecosystems. Working from sales roles at  distributors to VP of Partnerships at Snowflake EMEA, Dan shares unique perspectives from both sides of the vendor-partner relationship. The conversation explores how truly successful partnerships require bilateral investment and commitment. "Partnerships are a two-way street," Dan emphasizes, explaining how Snowflake partners serve as extensions of the company, bringing specialized expertise and expanded reach to complex customer engagements.  Using a compelling car analogy, Dan illustrates how every component must work in harmony, just as every department and partner plays an essential role in business success.  The discussion culminates with Dan's three leadership principles:   Being present and accountable, Developing trust through consistent executionPracticing empathy by understanding partners' business challenges. Dan also shares a fascinating "Zander letter" concept from Jake Humphrey and Damian Hughes' book on high performance, where teams envision success by writing from a future perspective of achievement. Whether you're managing partnerships, leading teams, or simply interested in effective collaboration, Dan's insights offer a practical roadmap for creating "shared wins" in today's interconnected business landscape. We would love you to follow us on LinkedIn! https://www.linkedin.com/company/amplified-group/

    36 min
  4. 27 MAR

    Building High-Performance Teams Through DISC with Stephanie Windsor, CEO Cloud Benefits

    Send us a text What happens when a promising startup faces challenges that threaten its very existence? For Stephanie Windsor, CEO of Cloud Benefits, the answer lay in understanding the diverse strengths of her leadership team through DISC profiling. Founded in 2021 as businesses emerged from the pandemic, Cloud Benefits offers a digital employee benefits platform with unique features like free financial advice and animated benefit explanations. But by mid-2023, despite positive market feedback, communication breakdowns threatened their progress. The leadership team—who remarkably had never met in person—struggled to collaborate effectively as summer targets loomed. In this revealing conversation, Stephanie shares how she personally funded DISC profiling sessions with Amplified Group when company finances were tight, convinced this investment would transform team dynamics. The results were extraordinary: team members gained profound insights into their communication styles, working preferences, and natural strengths. Rather than forcing everyone into predetermined roles,  Stephanie's conviction paid off dramatically as the team exceeded their targets following the sessions. Now, as Cloud Benefits enters a new growth phase, they're scheduling follow-up workshops to maintain this momentum.  This conversation might just change how you think about team performance forever. We would love you to follow us on LinkedIn! https://www.linkedin.com/company/amplified-group/

    35 min
  5. 5 FEB

    The Power of Feedback with Tracy Reis, Head of People

    Send us a text We're delighted to welcome back the inspirational Tracy Reis, Head of People and Joint MD at Nomad Studio, the strategy and brand experience company. This conversation felt like an invaluable coaching session on the importance of developing our feedback skills. Tracy shares her wisdom on how giving feedback is the roadmap to progress, emphasising that timely feedback, when delivered with respect and kindness, is constructive. She explains that feedback is not just about corrections but is a vital opportunity for growth, elevating both personal and team performance.  This episode is packed with actionable insights you can put into practice right away. Key Takeaways: Building a psychologically safe environment for feedbackThe importance of timely, specific, and constructive feedbackHow to give and receive feedback effectivelyThe role of positive and constructive feedback in motivation and performanceTips on embedding feedback into workplace cultureBook Recommendations: Tracy referenced these two books: Positive Intelligence: Why Only 20% of Teams and Individuals Achieve Their True Potential AND HOW YOU CAN ACHIEVE YOURS by Shirzad ChamineAtlas of the Heart: Mapping Meaningful Connection and the Language of Human Experience by Brené BrownTune in to discover how mastering the art of feedback can transform your personal and professional life. We would love you to follow us on LinkedIn! https://www.linkedin.com/company/amplified-group/

    51 min
4.9
out of 5
18 Ratings

About

Podcast series GET AMPLIFIED where we’re going to be talking about everything to do with working in the tech industry from staying ahead of the pace of change to fulfilment and well-being.Hosting the series will be Sam Routledge former CTO at Softcat who will be joined by Vicky Reddington from the Amplified Group. The team will be joined by leaders in the tech industry who will share their stories. We are going to share things we wish we knew 20 years ago. This is not rocket science but, we are going to highlight many of the things we do subconsciously and with a more conscious approach, done with intent and purpose can be hugely impactful. We will break it down and make it practical! Like everything we do at the Amplified Group, we will keep it real, it will be relevant and it will be lively!