Starts at the Top Podcast

Starts at the Top
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Starts at the Top is about how leaders from all sectors are using digital to navigate uncertainty and forge a path to the future. It’s hosted by Zoe Amar and Paul Thomas.

  1. FEB 5

    Episode 92 - Maeve Walsh, Director of the Online Safety Act Network

    Safety by Design: Protecting Children in the Age of AI We chat with Maeve Walsh, Director of the Online Safety Act Network Join Zoe Amar and Paul Thomas for a conversation with Maeve Walsh, Director of the Online Safety Act Network. In this episode, we explore the complex landscape of online safety regulation, the emerging risks AI poses to children, and what parents and leaders really need to know. Maeve brings a wealth of experience to this conversation, having spent 17 years in Whitehall including roles at Cabinet Office, No10 and DCMS, where she led the team responsible for delivering the UK Digital Strategy. As a Carnegie Trust associate, her work on online harm reduction helped shape the Online Safety Act. She now leads the Online Safety Act Network and is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts. In this engaging discussion, Zoe, Paul and Maeve discuss: Why regulation drives innovation rather than stifling it – and how online safety regulation creates a level playing field, just as safety standards have done in sectors from food to cars. The end of tech exceptionalism. Why the argument that social media platforms are somehow "different" and can't be regulated is being debunked globally, from the EU's Digital Services Act to Australia's under-16 ban. The alarming risks AI poses to children – from chatbots designed to be persuasive and sycophantic, to harmful content being served up without safety testing. Why AI products are essentially being "tested in the wild" on our kids. What the public actually want. 72% say regulation would increase their comfort with AI, and 78% want safety checks on generative AI products even if it means delays – so why isn't this translating into industry action? Why even tech-savvy parents struggle with parental controls – and why the responsibility for keeping children safe shouldn't fall solely on their shoulders. What safety by design actually looks like: privacy set to the highest setting by default, better verification, and children only seeing content from accounts they follow. Practical advice for parents on having those tricky tech conversations with your kids – and why communication beats restriction. Show Notes & Links Online Safety Act Network Maeve Walsh on LinkedIn Zoe and Paul discussed: BBC – AI chatbots and the risks to young people The Guardian – Moltbook: the social media site built for AI agents Please leave us a review if you enjoy what you hear! Editing and production - Paul Thomas Music by Joseph McDade https://josephmcdade.com/music Full transcript of this episode (srt file) Full transcript of this episode (.txt file) Transcripts are also available through your podcast app.

    45 min

  2. JAN 15

    Episode 91 - Chris Sherwood, Chief Executive of the NSPCC

    Keeping Children Safe Online: AI, the Online Safety Act, and Leadership with Lived Experience We chat to Chris Sherwood, Chief Executive of the NSPCC   This week we're thrilled to bring you the first of two special episodes focused on the Online Safety Act – a topic that's hitting the headlines right now as Ofcom investigates Elon Musk's X and its AI tool Grok for potentially generating indecent images. We sat down with Chris Sherwood, the brilliant Chief Executive of the NSPCC, who brings over 20 years of voluntary sector experience and a deeply personal connection to child protection – Chris contacted Childline himself as a child. Now he's leading one of the UK's most important charities at a pivotal moment for online safety. This is a powerful conversation where we discuss: Why the Online Safety Act matters now: Chris explains why Ofcom needs to "show teeth" and use its full range of powers to hold tech companies accountable The AI Wild West: From AI enabled sextortion of young boys to AI-generated child abuse material Leading with lived experience: How Chris's own childhood experience shapes his leadership and why having proper support networks matters Why safety can't rest on parents' shoulders: The case for tech companies designing safety in from the start, not as an afterthought AI opportunities at NSPCC: How the charity is using technology to deepen supporter relationships and better understand children's experiences through Childline data Paul and Zoe discuss the ICO's new report on agentic AI and the data protection considerations leaders need to keep front of mind, plus KPMG's bold move to rate staff on how effectively they use AI in performance reviews – a signal that AI literacy is becoming a core professional skill. This is essential listening for anyone who cares about child safety, responsible AI, or leading with authenticity and purpose.   Show Notes & Links NSPCC Child Safety Online Taskforce Report with Baringa – Research showing online safety influences consumer choices ICO Tech Futures: Agentic AI Report KPMG AI Use Metric: A Necessary Professional Services Wake-up Call Common Sense Media – NSPCC's US partner on keeping children safe online Please leave us a review if you enjoy what you hear! Editing and production - Paul Thomas Music by Joseph McDade https://josephmcdade.com/music Full transcript of this episode (srt file) Full transcript of this episode (.txt file) Transcripts are also available through your podcast app.

    54 min

  3. 12/17/2025

    Episode 90 - Ali Paul, Product Lead for Chatbots and Gen-AI at Flo Health App

    Creating the Conditions for Innovation We chat with Ali Paul, Lead Product Manager for Chatbots and Generative AI at Flo Health In our final episode of 2025, we're thrilled to share our conversation with Ali Paul, Lead Product Manager for Chatbots and Generative AI at Flo Health – the world's number one women's health app with over 420 million users globally. Ali oversees Flo's chatbot development, content platforms and AI product teams, and she joins us to share her insights on how leaders can create the best conditions for innovation in their teams. We discuss how Flo is pioneering the use of generative AI in women's health, the challenges of developing medically safe LLM-based products, and why a democratised approach to AI adoption has been key to Flo's success. Before our chat with Ali, Paul and I share some reflections on 2025 – from AI trends and what they might mean for 2026, to our Navigating AI Transformation leadership walk in Richmond Park with James and Anni (coming back in April!), and of course, our music highlights of the year. What We Cover How Flo is using AI for both productivity and user-facing product development The unique challenges of creating a medically safe LLM for women's health Why Flo has taken a democratised, entrepreneurial approach to AI adoption The evolution from startup to scale-up and creating empowered product teams How marketing skills transfer brilliantly to product management Ali's advice on authenticity and finding what truly matters in your career Our 2025 reflections and predictions for AI in 2026 About Ali Paul Ali Paul is Lead Product Manager for Chatbots and Generative AI at Flo Health, overseeing chatbot development, content platforms and AI product teams. With a background spanning Cancer Research UK, Bupa and various innovation and ventures teams, Ali brings a wealth of experience in health tech and product development. She's a speaker on product, health tech and femtech, and is passionate about using technology to empower women to advocate for their own health. Charities – Get in Touch! Ali mentioned opportunities for charities to partner with Flo, particularly around scientific and research collaborations, and CSR initiatives supporting women's health in countries with poorer health infrastructures. If you're interested, drop Zoe an email at zoe@zoeamar.com and she'll connect you with the right people at Flo. Show Notes & Links Flo Health app https://flo.health/ McKinsey article on AI skills gaps on boards https://www.mckinsey.com/capabilities/mckinsey-technology/our-insights/the-ai-reckoning-how-boards-can-evolve?stcr=BEC99EF56EC8494CA58588D24EDEB808&cid=mgp_opr-eml-alt-dna_mt-mgp-glb--&hlkid=93af2160e2db48bfa3565b306d4b54c4&hctky=10286975&hdpid=25c51be9-100a-42fd-8d20-d7ea12d337a7 Charity AI Task Force (co-chaired by Zoe with Dan Sutch of CAST) https://www.wearecast.org.uk/our-work/how-we-work-with-funders-and-partners/charity-ai-task-force/ Editing and production - Paul Thomas Music by Joseph McDade https://josephmcdade.com/music Full transcript of this episode (srt file) Full transcript of this episode (.txt file) Transcripts are also available through your podcast app.

    56 min

  4. 11/20/2025

    Episode 89 - Tony Zona, Chief Data Office at Grant Thornton UK

    The AI Trojan Horse: A Chief Data Officer’s Secrets to Leading Culture Change We chat with Tony Zona, Chief Data Officer at Grant Thornton   In this episode, we chat with Tony Zona, the Chief Data Officer at Grant Thornton UK. We talk about leadership, data, and the cultural shift required to unlock the value of AI. Tony’s 25-year journey at Grant Thornton, evolving from a tax trainee to becoming the firm’s first ever Chief Data Officer in 2022, is a masterclass in adaptability and innovation. He offers a brilliant, people-focused perspective on data-led transformation, famously comparing siloed business units to different Italian dialects—and how his work has been about creating a common, understandable ‘business language’ for the firm’s 5,000+ people. What You’ll Learn: The Trojan Horse Strategy: Why Tony advises leaders to not talk about data, but instead use the excitement of AI as a Trojan Horse to secure buy in for essential foundational work like data literacy and governance. Mindset Shift: Grant Thornton’s 3D Initiative: Tony details the firm’s unique, multi million pound 3D (Data Driven Digital Mindset) programme—designed to move beyond typical training by fostering a cultural shift and measurable outcomes among leaders and associates. Data as a Feedback Loop: Discover how Grant Thornton turns data recording from an overhead into a self-perpetuating, value-driven loop by connecting high quality data directly to a leader’s top priorities, like forecasting and profitability. Lessons for All Leaders: Tony shares practical takeaways for resource constrained leaders—especially those in the third sector—on how to start small, focus on core business values (like saving lives, not just profitability), and celebrate the ‘data wins’ to spark a data literate culture. Before the interview, Zoe and Paul offer a considered appraisal of the UK AI skills report, discussing the dangers of a widening gap between the 'haves' and 'have nots' and the critical challenge of consistent implementation across all sectors, from top accountancy firms to grassroots charities. A must listen for any leader struggling to translate the excitement of AI into practical, sustainable organisational change.   Show notes Government AI Skills Framework https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/ai-skills-for-the-uk-workforce Editing and production - Paul Thomas Music by Joseph McDade https://josephmcdade.com/music Full transcript of this episode (srt file) Full transcript of this episode (.txt file) Transcripts are also available through your podcast app.

    40 min

  5. 11/06/2025

    Episode 88 - Helen Milner OBE and Katie Ghose - Empowering Digital Inclusion

    Collaboration for change: The Digital Services Consortium We chat to Katie Ghose CEO at KIDS and Helen Milner OBE, Group Chief Executive of Good Things Foundation   In this conversation, Zoe and Paul chat to charity leaders Helen Milner OBE and Katie Ghose to discuss the critical importance of digital inclusion, including its impact on disabled children and their families. Helen and Katie highlight the pioneering work of the Digital Services Consortium, an innovative alliance of twelve charities collaborating to design and deliver essential digital services and support. The discussion delves into the seismic shift caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and how it both accelerated the need for and exposed the severe barriers to technology access faced by marginalised communities. This episode is a must-listen for all charity and cross-sector leaders, covering: The impact of digital exclusion on mental health and social connections. The significance of charity collaboration and community support in achieving social justice. Practical advice for charity leaders on embedding digital inclusion in their strategies. The crucial role of continuous feedback from users in improving service delivery. A glimpse into the future, exploring the transformative potential of AI and technology in closing the digital divide. Join us to learn how these leaders are working to ensure a world where everyone can benefit from digital. Zoe and Paul also discuss AI developments including the UK government’s new AI Skills Framework.   KIDS charity https://www.kids.org.uk/ Digital Services Consortium https://www.kids.org.uk/digital-services-consortium/ Good Things Foundation https://www.goodthingsfoundation.org/ Resources from Good Things Foundation: https://www.goodthingsfoundation.org/our-services/national-digital-inclusion-network https://www.goodthingsfoundation.org/our-services/national-databank Channel 4 Dispatches programme on AI (Guardian story) https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2025/oct/21/channel-4-first-ai-presenter-dispatches? Government AI Skills Framework https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/ai-skills-for-the-uk-workforce Editing and production - Paul Thomas Music by Joseph McDade https://josephmcdade.com/music Full transcript of this episode (srt file) Full transcript of this episode (.txt file)   Transcripts are also available through your podcast app.

    49 min

  6. 10/23/2025

    Episode 87 - Eleanor Tweddell - Another Door Opens: How to Navigate Change

    Another Door Opens: How to Navigate Change with Eleanor Tweddell We speak to Eleanor Tweddell, executive coach, change consultant, keynote speaker and author. We’re back for our new season with an amazing new episode! We chat to Eleanor Tweddell, executive coach and author of “Another Door Opens: Five Steps for Navigating Change in Life and Work” Eleanor Tweddell joins Zoe and Paul to explore how leaders can face change with more calm, courage and agency. From building the habit of pause to working with the “change monsters” that derail us, Eleanor shares practical ways to turn micro-shifts into momentum, at work and in life. We also discuss how leaders can communicate well through AI-driven uncertainty without fuelling fear or dependency. Eleanor is an executive coach, change consultant, keynote speaker and founder of Another Door. After two decades in senior corporate roles, she now helps individuals, teams and organisations navigate transformation with clarity and care. Her new book, Another Door Opens, reframes change as a skill you can practise every day. Through her grounded, energising approach, Eleanor covers essential lessons for anyone leading (or living) through change: Why good change starts by stopping—and how to make “pause” practical, not indulgent Micro vs. macro change: building “change mastery” with everyday habits that stick Working with the “change monsters”: using regret, procrastination and resistance as data, not drama From anxiety to agency: telling the difference between worthless worry and worth-it worry Leading through AI turbulence: clear comms, healthy boundaries and designing rest into programmes Project cadence that lasts: scheduling step-outs so teams return with fresher thinking and energy Eleanor’s new book, “Another Door Opens: Five Steps for Navigating Change in Life and Work,” is available now in all good bookshops and online. Paul also mentions Eleanor’s live read-along series covering the book chapter by chapter. Zoe and Paul discuss tech and AI news, from the recent internet outage to AI veganism and AI psychosis.   Notes Eleanor’s website - https://www.eleanortweddell.com/ Another Door Opens book - https://www.eleanortweddell.com/another-door-opens Eleanor’s LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/eleanor-tweddell/ Read-along series sign-up/info AI psychosis BBC - https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c24zdel5j18o Flesh and Code podcast - https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2025/jul/14/flesh-and-code-is-an-utterly-jaw-dropping-listen-best-podcasts-of-the-week  AI veganism - https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2025/aug/06/meet-the-ai-vegans    Editing and production - Paul Thomas Music by Joseph McDade https://josephmcdade.com/music Full transcript of this episode (srt file) Full transcript of this episode (.txt file)   Transcripts are also available through your podcast app.

    57 min

  7. 07/16/2025

    Episode 86 - Jassa Ahluwalia - Mixed Identity and Leadership: End of Season Summer Special

    We chat to actor, filmmaker and the author of Both Not Half, Jassa Ahluwalia   We're ending our season with something truly special - a transformative conversation with Jassa Ahluwalia that we know will stay with you long after listening. Jassa is a British actor, writer, filmmaker and trade unionist, known for roles in Unforgotten, Ripper Street, and Peaky Blinders. Born in Coventry to a white English mother and Punjabi father. His hashtag #BothNotHalf emerged from a viral video and evolved into a movement exploring mixed identity. His TEDx talk "How Language Shapes Identity" has garnered over 200,000 views, and his BBC One documentary Am I English? won an Asian Media Award in 2022. In our conversation, Jassa shares how that viral Instagram video led to his powerful book Both Not Half: A Radical New Approach to Mixed Identity. This isn't just about personal identity. It’s about revolutionising how leaders create belonging, moving from allyship to solidarity, and why challenging binary thinking is essential for modern organisations. Three simple words - "Both Not Half" - that could transform how your organisation thinks about identity, belonging, and true inclusion. As it's our season finale, we've also packed in Paul and Zoe's holiday reading and podcast recommendations to take with you over the break. We'll be back at the end of summer with fresh episodes, but this conversation will give you plenty to think about until then!   Show notes   Jassa’s work -Both Not Half: a Radical New Approach to Mixed Heritage Identity https://www.bonnierbooks.co.uk/books/blink-publishing/both-not-half/ -Jassa Ahluwahlia on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/officialjassa/?hl=en -Jassa’s TEDx Talk: "How Language Shapes Identity" https://youtu.be/SP0bAQ8J6C0?si=HAaxO4SvPtqL6M2R Summer recommendations -What Did You Do Yesterday podcast https://open.spotify.com/show/62lFI5XAYb68cSOcOWnDI9 -Rest by Alex Soojung-Kim Pang https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/29502354-rest -Chinese and Any Other Asian by Anna Sulan Masing https://www.weidenfeldandnicolson.co.uk/titles/anna-sulan-masing/chinese-and-any-other-asian/9781399606684/ - An A-Z of Chinese Food (Recipes Not Included) by Jenny Lau https://www.celestialpeach.com/an-az-of-chinese-food-recipes-not-included Please leave us a review if you enjoy what you hear! Editing and production - Syren Studios with Paul Thomas Music by Joseph McDade https://josephmcdade.com/music Full transcript of this episode (srt file) Full transcript of this episode (.txt file) Transcripts are also available through your podcast app.

    1h 8m

  8. 06/05/2025

    Episode 85 - Trevor Gordon, Chief Digital & Technology Officer at Save the Children UK

    How Save The Children UK is leading digital change in a volatile world We chat to Trevor Gordon, Chief Digital & Technology Officer at Save the Children UK   This week we are chuffed to bits to bring you a brand new episode featuring an insightful chat with the brilliant Trevor Gordon, Chief Digital and Technology Officer at Save the Children UK. Trevor is an award-winning leader in customer-centric digital technology and transformation and recently returned to the charity sector. Get ready for a fascinating discussion on: Urgent Transformation in Charities: Trevor shares why non-profits must accelerate their digital, data, and technology adoption to meet today's challenges. Navigating AI Implementation: How Save the Children UK is swiftly putting AI governance and pragmatic solutions into practice, seeing immediate value. Strategic Partnerships: The critical role of collaborating with tech vendors and peer organisations to drive significant change. Building a Resilient Workforce: Creating a culture where people feel empowered and connected to their purpose, is crucial for retaining talent.   Paul and Zoe discuss the latest, eye-opening insights from Microsoft's 2025 Work Trend Index and the Anthropic CEO's bold predictions about AI's impact on jobs. 2025 is the year to get serious. Don't miss this inspiring conversation and Trevor's top cocktail recommendations for a well-deserved end-of-week treat!   Show notes The Microsoft 2025 Work Trend Index Anthropic's CEO about AI's impact on the job market. Please leave us a review if you enjoy what you hear! Editing and production - Syren Studios with Paul Thomas Music by Joseph McDade https://josephmcdade.com/music Full transcript of this episode (srt file) Full transcript of this episode (.txt file) Transcripts are also available through your podcast app.

    1h 3m
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Starts at the Top is about how leaders from all sectors are using digital to navigate uncertainty and forge a path to the future. It’s hosted by Zoe Amar and Paul Thomas.

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  • Creator
    Starts at the Top
  • Years Active
    2020 - 2026
  • Episodes
    93
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2022 All rights reserved.
  • Show Website
    Starts at the Top Podcast