Talent First

Michelle Edmondson

Talking about what really matters in technology innovation - diversity and inclusion, the future with AI, accessibility and equality and, of course, how to get in and up in this industry. Whatever is happening in technology - it is always Talent First.

  1. ‘The New Safety Stack: The AI Shift in Workplace Protection’ - with Jody Warren

    1D AGO

    ‘The New Safety Stack: The AI Shift in Workplace Protection’ - with Jody Warren

    SEASON FIVE: In this week's episode of Talent First, I chat to Jody Warren, Co Founder of Gentia AI. And what a great product AND story this is. For too long, identifying where work actually hurts people has meant reactive processes, manual admin, and guesswork. Gentia doesn’t just record risk, it makes the invisible visible. By analysing organisational systems, policies, leadership practices and data together, Gentia builds a live, operational “risk architecture” people can act on immediately. We talk how to build an AI tool from scratch, and how to balance the human with the synthetic. About Our Guest: Jody is the Co-Founder of Gentia and a long-time advocate for workplaces that help people thrive - not burn out. She believes work should leave people better off, not depleted, and has built her career around designing systems that make that possible. Before Gentia, Jody co-founded Australia’s largest corporate childcare group, driven by a mission to help more women return to the workforce. Running that business revealed a powerful truth: how people experience work shapes how they show up everywhere else. That insight led her into psychosocial risk, leadership development, and organisational design - helping companies build performance without sacrificing people. Today, through Gentia, Jody is turning years of consulting expertise into intelligent systems that help organisations adopt AI, execute strategy, and grow - without breaking their people.

    46 min
  2. "Governing the AI Future: Boards, Talent, and Transformation" - with Karen Higgins-Carter

    FEB 13

    "Governing the AI Future: Boards, Talent, and Transformation" - with Karen Higgins-Carter

    SEASON FIVE: In this week's episode of Talent First, I am joined by Karen Higgins-Carter, Chief Information and Digital Officer and independent director and board member.  We discuss AI adoption and adaptive change in organizations, exploring a framework for boards, focusing on the top of the pyramid: business model change, rather than only on personal productivity or operational efficiency. Karen offers advice on how leaders can navigate the continuous organizational change brought by AI, which she describes as "adaptive change,". Finally, we talk about the necessity of hiring for potential and fostering a learning culture to manage the evolution of the workforce, especially as AI disrupts the org chart. About Our Guest: Karen Higgins-Carter is a technology executive and independent director who designs and implements innovation, technology, and AI strategies for long-established, global companies. She has led and advised organizations across public, private, and family-owned environments, navigating different governance models, decision-making norms, and cultural expectations in both collectivist and individualistic contexts. Her work blends technology leadership with deep expertise in cybersecurity and enterprise risk management, helping regulated organizations pursue responsible innovation while protecting trust, resilience, and long-term value.

    43 min
  3. Words Win: The Power of Language in Hiring and Applying in Tech

    FEB 6

    Words Win: The Power of Language in Hiring and Applying in Tech

    BONUS EPISODE - In this week's episode of Talent First, it's just me! My first ever solo episode in 3 years of hosting this show. And this week, I am talking all things language - from resumes, to executive LinkedIn branding, and from job ads to feedback, there's advice and examples for everyone looking to hire and be hired in technology and cybersecurity. LISTEN OUT for the special offer courtesy of Edmondson Group Talent Access and their executive coaching programs! About me!: I am Managing Partner at Edmondson Group Talent Access, a specialist technology and cybersecurity search firm with presence in the US, UK, APAC. After almost 20 years of teaching English, I have used these talents to create tailored executive coaching programs for those looking to enter the tech C Suite or secure their first board position.

    23 min
  4. "The New Leadership Stack: AI, Transformation, and Product Thinking" - with Amy Patel

    JAN 30

    "The New Leadership Stack: AI, Transformation, and Product Thinking" - with Amy Patel

    SEASON FIVE: In this week’s episode I chat to Amy Patel, VP of Product Innovation at McKesson about AI transformation, tools, and leading effectively amidst change.  We delve into her career experiences, and her involvement with the Girls Empowerment Network. Amy shares her insights on leadership in times of disruption, emphasizing the need for a learning stack mindset, upskilling, and adopting new interview techniques like scenario-based questions to assess adaptability and learning velocity over years of experience. She also offers advice for companies undergoing AI transformation, such as starting with problem definition, building governance and education early on, and investing in data readiness. Amy stresses the importance of the "human in the loop" when it comes to AI, especially in high-risk environments like healthcare. About Our Guest: Amy Patel is a product innovation leader with deep experience building and scaling technology across healthcare and life sciences. With a foundation in Biomedical Engineering, she has led international teams and driven digital and AI transformations at IBM, Thermo Fisher Scientific, Cencora, and now McKesson. A former entrepreneur who founded and sold her own event‑planning company, Amy has also guided multiple early‑stage startups as Head of Product, launching AI‑powered features, marketplaces, and new product lines. A mom of three and proud Austin resident, she’s passionate about people‑first leadership, simplifying complex problems, and helping teams turn big, ambiguous ideas into products that make meaningful impact.

    46 min
  5. ‘Parenting at the Edge of Artificial Intelligence: Guiding the Next Generation Through Apps and Online Risks.’ - with Kevin Shields

    11/21/2025

    ‘Parenting at the Edge of Artificial Intelligence: Guiding the Next Generation Through Apps and Online Risks.’ - with Kevin Shields

    SEASON FIVE: This week, I chat to Kevin Shields, Co Founder of Crafting Tomorrow about a topic that has been the main focus of this season of Talent First and that is parenting in the AI age. We discuss the different eras of AI - ANI, AGI and ASI (and whether the latter will happen) as well as what the average person needs to know now. We also talk about the different apps available to kids, and why they are a threat, the effect chatbots are having on human relationships, including adult relationships and the solutions that companies like Crafting Tomorrow offer parents and teachers. About our guest: Kevin Shields is a parent, educator-ally, and founder of Crafting Tomorrow, where he helps families and schools build digital confidence in an age of rapid AI change. He works at the intersection of technology, emotional wellbeing, and education while translating complex digital trends into practical guidance for parents. He’s also the author of Little Clicks, Big Feelings, a children’s book series that helps kids and families make sense of their emotions in a tech-shaped world. https://www.linkedin.com/in/kevin-d-shields/ https://www.crafting-tomorrow.eu/ Link to the Alan Turing research mentioned in the episode: https://www.turing.ac.uk/news/publications/childrens-manifesto-future-ai

    50 min
  6. "AI Companions, Education, and Ethics: Protecting Children in the Digital World." with Tara Steele

    11/14/2025

    "AI Companions, Education, and Ethics: Protecting Children in the Digital World." with Tara Steele

    SEASON FIVE: In this week's episode of Talent First, I chat to Tara Steele, Founder of The Safe AI for Children Alliance. We talk about a range of sensitive topics - from AI companions and grief bots, to the state of education around AI and the hidden impacts this iteration of technology will have on children if safeguards are not put in place. About Our Guest: Tara Steele is Director of The Safe AI for Children Alliance, an organisation dedicated to reducing AI risks to children while helping society prepare for increasingly advanced AI systems. Tara is a Council Member of The International Association for Safe and Ethical AI, a Strategy Panel member for AI in Education, and was recognised as one of the 2025 Leading Women in AI by ASU+GSV.  She has a career background as an Intelligence Officer in UK criminal law enforcement and has spoken in UK Parliament on AI risks. She holds multiple certifications in AI governance, ethics and safety and a First-Class law degree. Tara aims to bridge the gap between AI ethics, governance, and long-term AI safety, and believes that protecting children today also plays a vital role in shaping a safer AI future for everyone. https://www.safeaiforchildren.org/non-negotiables-campaign/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/tara-steele/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-safe-ai-for-children-alliance/

    46 min
  7. ‘Positive Cyber Solutions: Navigating Compliance, Security, and AI’ - with Rachael Medhurst and Emma Derbi

    11/07/2025

    ‘Positive Cyber Solutions: Navigating Compliance, Security, and AI’ - with Rachael Medhurst and Emma Derbi

    SEASON FIVE: In this week's episode, I chat to Emma Derbi and Rachael Medhurst, the Founders of Positive Cyber Solutions. We chat compliance, security (and how they are not one and the same) and what businesses of all sizes need to do to be secure. We also talk about where companies are getting lost when it comes to compliance and how AI is confusing the landscape. About our guests: Rachael Medhurst is the Co-Founder of Positive Cyber Solutions Ltd, bringing over a decade of combined industry and academic experience in Digital Forensics, Cyber Security, and Governance. She specialises in helping organisations strengthen their security posture through regulatory compliance and the adoption of best practice frameworks. Currently she is pursuing a PhD in Incident Response, where her research and professional work focus on developing governance frameworks that enhance cyber resilience and ensure operational integrity. Her work bridges the gap between theory and practical implementation, ensuring that resilience is embedded within organisational practices rather than treated as an afterthought.  Emma Derbi is the Co-Founder and Director of Positive Cyber Solutions Ltd, a UK-based consultancy specialising in governance, risk, and compliance. With a strong background in cybersecurity education and assurance frameworks, Emma works with organisations to build practical, evidence-driven governance systems that align with IASME, ISO 27001, and emerging AI compliance standards. Her work bridges the gap between regulation and real-world implementation, helping small and medium-sized businesses strengthen accountability and transparency in an evolving digital landscape. Passionate about developing a culture of responsible innovation, Emma brings a forward-thinking perspective on how governance must adapt to the ethical and operational challenges introduced by artificial intelligence.

    48 min
  8. ‘From TikTok to chatbots - Raising our kids to be Screen-Safe.’ with Anna Sarjantson

    10/31/2025

    ‘From TikTok to chatbots - Raising our kids to be Screen-Safe.’ with Anna Sarjantson

    SEASON FIVE: In this week's episode of Talent First, I chat to Anna Sarjantson, Founder of Screen-Safe about the impact that social media and AI is having on our young people, and how we as parents, teachers and adults need to 'normalize the awkward' and have those conversations about online behaviour that are so necessary today. We also talk about her services for parents and schools, as well as about the things parents might not realise about platforms like TikTok and Snapchat. About our guest: Founder of Screen-Safe: Online Safety Expert: Mum of two teens: CEOP Education Ambassador: Governor at a High School in Leeds. Anna is dedicated to helping parents, carers, schools, and professionals keep children safer in the digital world. As a parent herself and with a passion for children’s mental wellbeing, Anna equips families and schools with the tools and confidence they need to navigate the fast-changing online landscape and that starts with knowledge.  Supporting Schools to Strengthen Safeguarding & Pupil Wellbeing Keeping up with the ever-changing digital world can feel impossible. Schools are being asked to do more than ever — upskill staff, educate parents, and protect pupils — often without enough time, resources or knowledge. At Screen-Safe, we support schools to deliver the highest standards of online safeguarding and digital education, while maximising parent engagement and reducing the pressure on staff. Whether you're raising or working with, toddlers or teens, this is your calm, judgement-free space to get informed, feel confident, and have the conversations that matter. screen-safe.co.uk instagram.com/screensafeglobal facebook.com/screensafeglobal linkedin.com/in/annasarjantso http://www.youtube.com/@screensafeglobal

    46 min
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
2 Ratings

About

Talking about what really matters in technology innovation - diversity and inclusion, the future with AI, accessibility and equality and, of course, how to get in and up in this industry. Whatever is happening in technology - it is always Talent First.

Information

  • Creator
    Michelle Edmondson
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    85
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Michelle Edmondson
  • Show Website
    Talent First