In a world routinely upended by disruption, the need for purpose-driven transformation has never been greater. Our new Byte Sized podcast shares the latest insights and lessons learned by industry leaders about collaboration, reinvention and the best of human ingenuity. All in the time it takes to drink a cup of coffee!
For technologists and leaders today, complexity and constant disruption are the norm.
Byte Sized has provided the perfect space to delve into the minds of some incredibly thoughtful industry leaders grappling with this challenging pace of change. From managing the energy transition, to inspiring teenagers to use AI, to delivering mortgages in minutes, every three weeks we get to hear the latest and greatest innovations that are shaping businesses today.
The podcast is hosted by Emma Kendrew, Accenture’s UKIA technology leader. As we approach the end of this season, I wanted to take some time to reflect on the key themes that have stood out most to me and my clients in Leeds.
Digital transformation is never ‘done’. It’s a continuous cycle of evolving needs and changing expectations. So, how can organisations manage the tricky balance of what customers want today with what they will need tomorrow?
I loved how in ‘Episode 5: Plugged in and Personalised’ Alex Pott (Vodafone) and Mark Farbrace (Accenture) addressed this:
‘There’s a set of principles that Vodafone have around what their future architecture is going to look like. It’s about shrinking the core and [making] sure that you’re always moving in that direction. Because the risk – always – is that the business imperatives of today take over from the strategic imperatives of the future.’
Mark Farbrace, Head of Data and AI at Accenture
Byte Sized, Episode 5
‘Our customer base is going to evolve. So, the customers’ requirements today, your strategic architecture might phase into where you think the customer is going to be in the future. It’s that balancing act between customer now, decouple, customer of the future.’
Alex Pott, Consumer Digital Director at Vodafone
Byte Sized, Episode 5
This long-term view is essential at Vodafone – but as Dr Claire Thorne of Tech She Can points out, even the most forward-thinking strategies fall flat without the right culture behind them. Transformation of any kind isn’t a one-off push – it’s something that needs to be built, reinforced and sustained.
‘The job isn’t done once you’ve recruited a certain number of women. It’s about sustained cultural change. Societal change. Ultimately, the goal is for women to be equal in those rooms where new technology, tools, products and services are created. […] We see the urgency. We see the scale, and the need. I think there is a certain amount of patience that is required, though.’
Dr Claire Thorne, Co-Chief Executive Officer at Tech She Can
Byte Sized, Episode 3
Resilient and agile platforms are critical to meeting today’s needs while preparing for tomorrow’s challenges and opportunities.
Leeds Building Society was founded 150 years ago to help more people achieve homeownership. COO Rob Howse explained how building a modern digital core underpins how they’ll continue to deliver on that founding mission – serving members today and into the future.
‘Putting home ownership within reach of more people is why we exist. That is going to require a whole range of innovation in a difficult and challenging market. You can only do that on top of a technology platform that provides the flexibility, the agility and the integration capability to exploit all the innovation that’s out in the market.’
Rob Howse, Executive Director and Chief Operating Officer, Leeds Building Society
Byte Sized, Episode 6
These foundations are not quick fixes. They demand thoughtful adaptation, grounded in the skills of the people working with them. Richard Hughes captured this well when describing EDF’s own transformation:
‘What’s interesting about it is: it isn’t just a technology platform. It does come with a way of working. What we’ve done is, we’ve embraced that but also brought our own skills to bear on that operating model. We have people who’ve worked in this business for 40 years. They know an incredible amount.’
Richard Hughes, Director of Retail, EDF
Byte Sized, Episode 4
His message is simple: transformation only works when you trust both the technology and the people it is meant to enable.
People must be at the heart of digital change. That’s been the thread connecting every conversation this season. To deliver meaningful outcomes, leaders must consider how technology works for people – rather than forcing people to work around the technology.
That’s why it’s so important we take a holistic approach to transformation – ensuring that people have the skills and confidence to leverage new technologies.
‘We need to ensure that young people know that AI and gen AI is there to multiply that human potential. It is not there to replace it. […] If you’re using gen AI to replace you, you’re using it wrong. But if you’re using gen AI to enhance you, you’re using it right.’
Sareena Bains, CEO at Movement to Work
Byte Sized, Episode 7
And when tech just works, you can focus on the work that really matters:
‘Technology should not be a thing. It should just work. And then you should just be able to do the important bit, which is speaking to a customer and solving the problem.’
Richard Hughes, Director of Retail, EDF
Byte Sized, Episode 4
For me, Byte Sized has been a space for dialogue that is so important to explore. Its power lies in its ability to unlock new perspectives and inspire collective action.
That same spirit is why events like Leeds Digital Festival are so important. Reflecting the magic of the Leeds tech community, the Festival has become a home to the region’s vibrant and collaborative ecosystem, giving people a platform to discuss ideas, challenge assumptions, share their findings and build meaningful human connections.
I’m incredibly proud that we support Leeds Digital and can’t wait for the Festival later this year. In the meantime, if you’re craving some thought-provoking conversations and haven’t yet checked out our podcast, now’s the perfect time to tune in. Listen to Byte Sized here – available on all your favourite streaming services.
Jo is Technology Regional Lead and Senior Delivery Lead for Accenture in Leeds. With over 20 years of industry experience across product, delivery and operations, Jo is passionate about agile development, continuous improvement and harnessing technology to deliver maximum value to businesses and end users.
