Tech World Human Skills

Ben Pearce
  • 5.0 (1)
  • TECHNOLOGY
  • UPDATED BIWEEKLY

Ben Pearce interviews thought leaders in the tech world to learn from their success. In each episode we focus on a topic our guest has learnt about, failed at, course corrected and ultimately succeeded with. We can stand on the shoulders of giants and benefit from their insight. The Tech World Human Skills podcast is a masterclass on building the leadership, professional and human skills that are essential to thrive in the tech world. If you're in Pre-Sales, Consulting, Engineering, Customer Success, Architecture, Tech Leadership or any other tech discipline come and join the party. New episodes every 2 weeks. Listen to The Tech World Humans Skills podcast wherever you listen to your podcast or watch on YouTube. Check out www.techworldhumanskills.com for more details.

  1. 12/10/2025

    EP70: Will AI Eat Consultancy Jobs? with Steve Chan

    In this episode we're asking the question "Will AI eat consultancy jobs?".  There are so many people using their skills to help businesses deploy the latest tech.  So what's the future look like for them.   Steve Chan is the founder of a new company Stealth Labs. He's worked in Digital Intelligence at BAE and been an AI solutions engineer at Microsoft.    Show Links Ben Pearce LinkedIn -  https://www.linkedin.com/in/benpthoughts/ Tech World Human Skills Home - https://www.techworldhumanskills.com Steve Chance Webpage -  https://stevechan.ai   Keywords   consultancy, inefficiency, business perspective, profit margins, upskilling, training, organizational roles   Takeaways  Consultancy often operates inefficiently from a business standpoint. Consultants are frequently sold out to organizations for fees. There is overwhelming pressure to maintain profit margins in consultancy. Consultants may spend more time in one organization than intended. The need for training and upskilling is critical in consultancy. Profit margins can hinder the ability to respond to new requirements. Consultants face challenges in balancing multiple organizational roles. The structure of consultancy can lead to inefficiencies in service delivery. Effective training programs are essential for consultant development. Understanding the dynamics of consultancy can improve business outcomes.

    41 min

  2. 11/26/2025

    EP69: Leadership 101 - Building Trust with Ben Caird

    In this episode we talk about leadership core skills.  Specifically building trust.  How do you build trust with a team?  We talk through the 5 Ways of Being that help you build trust with a team.   Ben Caird is a seasoned professional leader.  He's led teams of all sizes in a variety of tech companies and has years of experience.   Show Links Ben Pearce LinkedIn -  https://www.linkedin.com/in/benpthoughts/ Tech World Human Skills Home - https://www.techworldhumanskills.com Ben Caird Linked In -  https://www.linkedin.com/in/bcaird/     Keywords Trust, Authentic, Vulnerable, Accepting, Present, Useful, Leadership, Coaching, Results, Team   Takeaways Be Authentic: Work in line with your values, own your feedback directly, be the same person at work and outside Be Vulnerable: Lead with your mistakes, make it safe for others to fail, encourage challenge even publicly Be Accepting: Delegate outcomes not activities, coach people to improve in their style not yours, accept different approaches Be Present: Put your phone away, give full attention, show up physically when possible, consider if you give or drain energy Be Useful: Stop doing the work, coach and open doors instead, pass the pen and let others own the plan Ask "What do you think?": It's powerfully empowering and helps people feel heard Efficiency vs Effectiveness: The fastest way (just telling people what to do) is often the least effective Build diverse teams: Don't hire clones of yourself - different approaches strengthen the team Leadership isn't looseness: Know what's going on, stay close enough to coach and drive results Results through people: You can be a nice human AND achieve great results - it's not either/or

    42 min

  3. 11/12/2025

    EP68: So You Want To Be A CTO with David Crawford

    In this episode we're talking about being a CTO. People listening might have CTO career aspirations. A lot might report into a CTO, and others might be selling to CTO's. So we talk to David about all things CTO. David Crawford has spent many years as a CTO. He's also been a CTO advisor and non-executive director. He often hosts London Tech Leader panels, and also hosts the "CTO Lens" podcast. Show Links Ben Pearce LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/benpthoughts/ Tech World Human Skills Home - https://www.techworldhumanskills.com David Linked In - https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-crawford-13679a/  CTO Lens Podcast - https://open.spotify.com/show/5aT2XrO7CTOCLPqKZmcnT9  Takeaways The role of a CTO is complex and varies by organization. CTOs are responsible for technology vision and strategy. Understanding finance is crucial for technology leaders. Soft skills in leadership are essential for success. Performance management is a critical aspect of the CTO role. Engaging with the business is vital for a CTO. Career development requires curiosity and mentorship. Fractional CTO roles are becoming more popular. CTOs must balance technical knowledge with leadership skills. Communication with non-technical stakeholders is key. Keywords CTO, CIO, technology leadership, fractional CTO, skills, career development, performance management, stakeholder management, communication, technology strategy

    44 min

  4. 10/29/2025

    EP67: First Recall = First Call - Neuroscience of Memory, Time and Persuasion with John K Coyle

    In this episode of the Tech World Human Skills Podcast, Ben Pearce and John Coyle explore the concept of becoming more memorable and the science behind how to do it. John shares insights from his experiences as an Olympic athlete and how understanding the nature of time can enhance our lives.   John is an Olympic silver medallist, best-selling author,  keynote speaker and expert in Chronoception.   Show Links Ben Pearce LinkedIn -  https://www.linkedin.com/in/benpthoughts/ Tech World Human Skills Home - https://www.techworldhumanskills.com John Linked In - https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnkcoyle1/ John's Website - https://johnkcoyle.com/     Takeaways Memories are the currency of time. The nature of time is not linear; we experience human time, not clock time. Life begins at the edge of your comfort zone. Tiny moments often determine the trajectory of your future. Routine is the enemy of time; break it to create memories. To be memorable, recognize heightened circumstances as opportunities. Design experiences that leverage risk, uniqueness, and emotional intensity. Emotions drive human behavior; engage them to influence others. When you have trouble, you might be solving the wrong problem. Time and money are fungible; invest in creating memorable experiences.   Keywords chronoception, memorable experiences, time perception, emotional engagement, storytelling, influence, personal growth, professional development, memory creation, human connection

    40 min

  5. 10/15/2025

    EP66: Speaking At My First Big Conference with Felicity Nyan

    In this episode of the Tech World Human Skills Podcast,  Ben Pearce speak to Felicity Nyan, a Cloud Solution Architect at Microsoft.  She shares her journey from being a hesitant public speaker to successfully presenting at SQLBits, one of the largest data conferences in the UK. Felicity discusses why she wanted to  speak at a conference, the challenges she faced, and the valuable lessons learned along the way.   Show Links Ben Pearce LinkedIn -  https://www.linkedin.com/in/benpthoughts/ Tech World Human Skills Home - https://www.techworldhumanskills.com Felicity Linked In - https://www.linkedin.com/in/radhika-dutt/ Oxford Microsoft Data Platform Group - https://www.meetup.com/oxford-microsoft-data-platform-group/ SQLBits - https://sqlbits.com/   Takeaways Felicity Nyan shares her journey from a hesitant speaker to presenting at SQL Bits. SQL Bits is a community-led conference that offers opportunities for all levels. Preparation is key, but life can often get in the way. Having a co-presenter can ease the pressure of presenting. Start early on proposals and keep a record of ideas. Practice makes perfect, but balance is important to avoid sounding scripted. User groups are great platforms for practicing public speaking. Engaging the audience is crucial for a successful presentation. Technical issues can arise, so have backup plans in place. Confidence can be built through small challenges outside of public speaking.   Keywords public speaking, SQL Bits, data platform, conference presentation, Felicity Nyan, Microsoft, user groups, tech conferences, presentation tips, career growth

    41 min

  6. 10/01/2025

    EP65: Rethinking Goals. The Must Be a Better Way with Radhika Dutt

    In this episode of the Tech World Human Skills podcast, Ben Pearce speaks with Radhika Dutt, a product leader and author of 'Radical Product Thinking.' They discuss the limitations of traditional goal setting and the negative impact of performance metrics on collaboration and motivation. Radhika introduces a new approach.   Show Links Ben Pearce LinkedIn -  https://www.linkedin.com/in/benpthoughts/  Tech World Human Skills Home - https://www.techworldhumanskills.com  Radhika Linked In - https://www.linkedin.com/in/radhika-dutt/ OHL Toolkit - https://www.radicalproduct.com/toolkit/#OHLToolkit   Takeaways Goals create a burden and hinder curiosity. Traditional goal setting is outdated and ineffective. Puzzle setting and solving can drive better results. Performance metrics can lead to 'performance theater.' A clear vision is essential for effective goal setting. OHLs (Objectives, Hypotheses, Learnings) provide a framework for problem-solving. Collaboration is eroded by competitive goal setting. Feedback should focus on learning and adaptation. Real-world examples demonstrate the effectiveness of puzzle solving. Accountability should be based on problem-solving, not just metrics.   Keywords goals, productivity, radical product thinking, performance management, puzzle solving, business results, vision, OKRs, objectives, hypotheses, learnings

    50 min

  7. 09/17/2025

    EP64: The Customer Connection Formula with Liping Huang

    In this episode of the Tech World Human Skills podcast, Ben Pearce and guest Liping Huang discuss the importance of technical folks building rapport and relationships with customers. We chat through practical tips for establishing strong connections, the significance of empathy, effective communication, and that technical skills alone are not enough.   Liping Huang has huge experience working with customer in tech roles.  She has been a solutions architect at Microsoft, solutions architect at Databricks and now runs Dataleaps.    Show Links Ben Pearce LinkedIn -  https://www.linkedin.com/in/benpthoughts/ Tech World Human Skills Home - https://www.techworldhumanskills.com Liping Linktree - https://linktr.ee/liping_dataleaps   Takeaways Building rapport is crucial for success in customer interactions. Technical knowledge is essential before engaging in pre-sales. Empathy helps in understanding customer challenges and needs. Effective communication involves making complex topics easy to understand. Being likable and helpful fosters strong customer relationships. Self-assessment is key to identifying areas for improvement. Follow up on commitments to build trust with customers. Creating reusable content can streamline customer interactions. Understanding different audiences is vital for effective communication. Continuous development is necessary to adapt to changing technologies.     Keywords   rapport, relationships, customer service, empathy, communication skills, technical skills, pre-sales, business relationships, customer interactions, professional development

    41 min

  8. 09/03/2025

    EP63: From Proposal To Podium: Speaking At Big Tech Conferences with Renuka Jhalli

    In this episode of the Tech World Human Skills Podcast Ben Pearce and Renuka Jhalli discuss the importance of speaking at events, and how to get chosen as a speaker. Renuka shares insights from working with high-profile speakers and offers tips for delivering engaging sessions.   Renuka is  a Senior Content Manager for Tech Show London.  She has produced shows for years and has some amazing insight to share.   Show Links Ben Pearce LinkedIn -  https://www.linkedin.com/in/benpthoughts/ Tech World Human Skills Home - https://www.techworldhumanskills.com Renuka Jhalli Linked In - https://www.linkedin.com/in/renuka-jhalli-28a9a846/ Tech Show London - https://www.techshowlondon.co.uk/   Takeaways   Big tech conferences are valuable for learning and networking. Tech Show London is a large, inclusive event showcasing various tech disciplines. Speaking at events allows individuals to share knowledge and support their community. Authenticity and vulnerability are key to engaging presentations. Unique perspectives and real-world experiences resonate with audiences. The call for papers is open to anyone with a compelling idea. AI can assist in writing, but authenticity is crucial. Main stage speakers often share their passion and stories. Engaging with the audience creates a memorable experience. New speakers bring diversity and fresh perspectives to the stage.   Keywords   Tech Show London, conference speaking, technology events, networking, speaker tips, career development, storytelling, audience engagement, professional growth, community support

    38 min
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About

Ben Pearce interviews thought leaders in the tech world to learn from their success. In each episode we focus on a topic our guest has learnt about, failed at, course corrected and ultimately succeeded with. We can stand on the shoulders of giants and benefit from their insight. The Tech World Human Skills podcast is a masterclass on building the leadership, professional and human skills that are essential to thrive in the tech world. If you're in Pre-Sales, Consulting, Engineering, Customer Success, Architecture, Tech Leadership or any other tech discipline come and join the party. New episodes every 2 weeks. Listen to The Tech World Humans Skills podcast wherever you listen to your podcast or watch on YouTube. Check out www.techworldhumanskills.com for more details.

Information

  • Creator
    Ben Pearce
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2025
  • Episodes
    70
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Elevated You Ltd 2025
  • Show Website
    Tech World Human Skills