Christina Lovelock talks about her new book 'Careers in Tech, Data, and Digital.' We discuss common misconceptions about tech careers, emphasising that not all tech jobs require coding skills. Christina shares the importance of curiosity in business analysis and highlights various tech roles beyond coding, such as service design, UX, and DevOps. We also talk about the significance of soft skills in tech leadership and the increasing opportunities in areas like security and sustainability. Additionally, we cover career pathways into tech, including apprenticeships, and advise young people on making career decisions without feeling pressured to choose a single specialism.

00:00 Introduction

00:31 Meet the Host and Guest: Paddy Dhanda and Christina Lovelock

01:51 The Importance of Curiosity in Business Analysis

03:36 Christina's New Book: Careers in Tech

04:44 Advice for Young People Considering Tech Careers

07:48 Exploring Diverse Roles in Tech

11:23 The Value of Visuals and Interviews in Christina's Book

13:25 Encouraging Young People to Explore Tech Careers

23:34 The Role of Apprenticeships in Tech

27:18 Future Trends in Tech Careers

29:18 Final Thoughts and Contact Information

⚡️ In each episode, Paddy Dhanda deep dives into a new human Superpower to help you thrive in the age of AI.

Host: Paddy Dhanda

Paddy works at the largest Tech training organisation in the UK and is passionate about helping tech professionals build human skills to thrive in the age of AI.

Contact Paddy: paddy@superpowers.school

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Guest: Christina Lovelock

Christina Lovelock has worked in the tech sector for over 20 years and is committed to the development of the future tech workforce. She has introduced entry-level roles into her organisations and chaired the development of a UK National Digital Apprenticeship standard.

Working for a range of public sector organisations, she has led teams of up to 120 people to deliver digital transformation and organisational change. She is the author of two books, including Careers in Tech, Data and Digital: from education to employment. She lives in Yorkshire and is a consultant, writer, speaker and qualified coach. She would be delighted to connect via linkedIn!

In this episode, we dive deep into the art of making meetings productive and meaningful with Chris Thomason, the creator of the Meeting Maximizer. From the power of silence in meetings to the pitfalls of brainstorming, Chris shares his groundbreaking strategies for transforming routine meetings. If you're tired of unproductive meetings, this episode is for you.

00:00 Introduction

00:28 The Problem with Traditional Business Meetings

01:15 Introducing Chris Thomason and His Radical Ideas

01:47 The Power of Silence in Meetings

03:06 The Flaws of Brainstorming

05:29 Asking the Right Questions

19:14 The Role of ChatGPT in Business Analysis

23:23 Meetings vs. Workshops

25:24 The Meeting Maximizer Concept

31:46 Conclusion

⚡️ In each episode, Paddy Dhanda deep dives into a new human Superpower to help you thrive in the age of AI.

Host: Paddy Dhanda

Paddy works at the largest Tech training organisation in the UK and is passionate about helping tech professionals build human skills to thrive in the age of AI.

Contact Paddy: paddy@superpowers.school

Subscribe to my newsletter:

👉 Newsletter: https://www.superpowers.school/subscribe

Guest: Chris Thomason

Chris Thomason is the founder of Ingenious Growth and a Chartered Mechanical Engineer with a truly global and eclectic business background, having lived and worked across the UK, Africa, and Australia. From turning around a failing manufacturing company into a market leader, to helping major corporates like HSBC, Toyota, and Vodafone unlock millions in revenue through innovative thinking, Chris has consistently applied what he calls “business creativity” to solve complex challenges. His unconventional journey—from deep-level gold mining in South Africa to writing award-nominated business books—has shaped a unique perspective on growth, rooted in asking better questions rather than chasing quick answers. With a track record that includes civil war zones, platinum mines, and boardrooms alike, Chris now helps organisations think differently and thrive through the structured creative approaches of Ingenious Growth.

This is a recording from a recent talk I delivered exploring the concept of communities of practice and their significance in organisations. I draw on personal experiences and key characteristics of communities of practice.

I provide real-world examples, such as the Xerox Project Eureka and the 70-20-10 learning principle, illustrate the power of collective knowledge and social learning.

00:00 Introduction

00:40 Defining Community

01:16 Personal Experiences with Community

05:04 Understanding Communities of Practice

09:33 The Power of Collective Knowledge

16:10 Challenges and Benefits of Communities of Practice

18:06 Stages of Community Development

20:41 The Role of Community Support

21:14 Challenges in Community Engagement

22:03 The 99-9-1 Rule in Communities

24:45 Increasing Community Engagement

25:31 Leveraging Influence in Communities

32:55 Case Studies and Practical Examples

36:16 Final Thoughts

⚡️ In each episode, Paddy Dhanda deep dives into a new human Superpower to help you thrive in the age of AI.

Host: Paddy Dhanda

Paddy works at the largest Tech training organisation in the UK and is passionate about helping tech professionals build human skills to thrive in the age of AI.

Contact Paddy: paddy@superpowers.school

Subscribe to my newsletter:

👉 Newsletter: https://www.superpowers.school/subscribe