The esynergy Podcast

Hosted by esynergy

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Oct 2026

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About the show

Brought to you by esynergy, this podcast pairs business and technology leaders with our team, each bringing their own perspective and expertise. Together, they explore emerging trends, share real-world stories of both success and failure, and unpack practical case studies and use cases. The esynergy Podcast goes beyond theory to reveal what truly works in today’s fast-changing landscape. Whether you’re a business leader, technologist, or innovator, you’ll leave each episode with fresh insights and actionable advice to drive meaningful change.

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31 recent

October 28, 2026Episode 1530 min

Technology Leadership in Hedge Funds: Delivering Business Value in the Age of AI

How do technology leaders deliver real business value in high-pressure environments where speed, adaptability and results matter more than process? In this episode of The esynergy Podcast, Neil McIvor, Head of Data for Public Services at esynergy, speaks with Jon Freedman, a fractional technology leader with extensive experience in hedge funds and capital markets, about what it takes to lead technology teams in some of the most demanding environments in financial services. Drawing on his experience across investment banking and hedge funds, Jon shares why successful technology leadership isn't about chasing the latest tools or building the most sophisticated solutions. It's about understanding the business problem, making sound decisions under pressure and delivering what the organisation actually needs. The conversation also explores how AI is reshaping technology teams, acting as a force multiplier that could enable smaller teams to achieve more, while challenging traditional approaches to hiring, skills development and leadership. Key topics covered: Technology leadership in hedge funds Business outcomes over technology Speed vs perfection AI as a force multiplie The future of technology talent Technology as a business partner This episode is essential listening for CTOs, CIOs, technology directors, engineering leaders and financial services executives looking to build adaptable teams, navigate increasing delivery pressures and understand how AI is changing the future of technology leadership.

October 6, 2026Episode 1428 min

Faster, but safer: How Nesta is rethinking AI governance

How can organisations move fast enough to embrace AI without losing control of security, data and risk? In this episode of The esynergy Podcast, Ryan Preece speaks with Paul Slade, Group Director of Technology at Nesta, about why traditional technology governance is struggling to keep pace with SaaS, AI and the speed of modern organisations. Paul explains how centralised approval processes can become bottlenecks, inadvertently driving shadow IT and leaving technology teams reacting to decisions rather than enabling them. He shares how Nesta is exploring a more devolved approach—giving people clearer, real-time information about risk while creating the accountability, decision logging and audit trails needed to maintain control. The conversation also explores the other side of AI risk: what happens if organisations move too slowly? For charities and other resource-constrained organisations in particular, failing to adopt AI could mean missing significant opportunities to improve productivity and impact. Key topics covered: Why traditional IT governance struggles to keep pace with AI and SaaS Moving from centralised approvals to devolved decision-making How better governance can reduce shadow IT Making security and risk a shared responsibility across the organisation Using AI to identify—and potentially predict—technology risks Why not adopting AI can be a risk in itself Getting data, security and controls right before scaling Using existing AI capabilities within platforms such as Microsoft and Google Creating safe environments for experimentation through sandboxing Paul shares a practical vision for governance that isn't about removing controls, but giving people the information and guardrails they need to make better decisions—helping organisations innovate faster, but safer. This episode is essential listening for CTOs, CIOs, CISOs, technology leaders, security leaders and digital transformation teams navigating AI adoption while balancing innovation, governance and risk.

August 13, 2026Episode 821 min

Beyond the AI hype: How regulated businesses can turn AI into real business value

How do you move AI from endless pilots into production, especially in highly regulated industries? In this episode of The esynergy Podcast , Ulrike Eder, CMO at esynergy, speaks with Maria Bines, Co-Founder and CEO of SynapseDX, about what it really takes to operationalise AI in enterprise organisations. Drawing on more than 20 years' experience across financial services, and now SynapseDX, Maria explains why the organisations seeing the greatest success aren't chasing the latest AI trends, they're focusing on what she calls "boring AI": practical, governed, and embedded into everyday business processes. The conversation explores why so many AI initiatives stall at proof of concept, how deterministic workflows bridge the gap between AI and business operations, and why visibility, governance, and accountability are essential for deploying AI at scale. Key topics covered: Why regulated organisations must move beyond AI pilots What "boring AI" really means and why it works Moving from LLM experimentation to operational AI Breaking down silos between business and IT AI governance, compliance, and decision transparency Managing AI costs, token usage, and accountability Treating AI as a business tool, not a replacement for people Maria also shares practical advice for leaders looking to embed AI responsibly: stop treating AI as an experiment and start treating it like any other part of your workforce, with clear ownership, oversight, and measurable outcomes. This episode is essential listening for CTOs, CIOs, AI leaders, enterprise architects, and business executives looking to scale AI beyond experimentation and deliver real business value.

July 22, 2026Episode 1224 min

Why business transformation fails (and how great leaders get it right)

Why do so many business transformation programmes fail, even when the technology is right? In this episode of The esynergy Podcast, Paul Shiu speaks with Nadine Thomson, a CTO who has led global transformation programmes across more than 100 markets, about what it really takes to deliver lasting organisational change. Drawing on experience across retail, insurance, media, and professional services, Nadine explains why transformation is about closing the gap between an organisation's ambitions and what it's actually willing to change. She explores why operating models, not just technology, often determine success, and why transformation must start with people, accountability, and shared ways of working. The conversation also examines the role of AI in business transformation, the importance of governance and human oversight, and why applying AI to broken processes simply accelerates existing problems. Key topics covered: Why business transformation often fails despite the right technology The three types of transformation: complex, broken, and scaling Why operating models matter more than technology alone Putting people before platforms when leading change AI governance, accountability, and measuring real business value Winning hearts and minds during transformation Nadine also shares practical leadership lessons from large-scale transformation programmes, including why successful change depends on giving people purpose, not just new technology. This episode is essential listening for CTOs, CIOs, transformation leaders, digital executives, and business leaders responsible for delivering complex organisational change.

July 2, 2026Episode 1127 min

AI for good: How Marie Curie is using data and technology without losing the human touch

How do you adopt AI and data in one of the most human-centred sectors — without losing sight of the people you serve? In this episode of The esynergy Podcast , Ulrike Eder, CMO at esynergy, speaks with Mike Cadden, CTO of Marie Curie, about how charities can use technology to support care, not replace it. Marie Curie operates at the frontline of end-of-life care, where demand is growing and pressures across the NHS and wider system continue to increase. Mike shares why the organisation will never be “tech-led” — but must be tech-enabled to better support nurses, patients, carers, and fundraising efforts. The conversation explores Marie Curie’s journey from low data maturity — including consolidating 19 separate patient record systems — to building the foundations needed to use AI responsibly and effectively. Key topics covered: • Why charities must remain people-led, not technology-led • Building strong data foundations and improving data maturity • The role of architecture in enabling sustainable transformation • Practical use cases for AI, from reducing clinical admin to improving engagement • Embedding ethics through governance, guardrails, and human-in-the-loop decision-making • Why starting with people and processes is critical to successful AI adoption Mike also shares how Marie Curie has established an ethics-first AI governance approach, ensuring that innovation is balanced with responsibility in a highly sensitive environment. This episode is essential listening for CTOs, data leaders, public and third-sector professionals, and anyone exploring how to apply AI and technology responsibly in complex, human-centred organisations.

June 3, 2026Episode 1122 min

Data-driven lending at speed: How Carmoola is using AI to improve decisions and stay ahead

What does it take to modernise credit decisioning in a fast-moving fintech and deliver measurable impact? In this episode of The esynergy Podcast, Grant Ongers speaks with Dan Kellett, Director of Lending and Data Analytics at Carmoola and former UK Chief Data Officer at Capital One, about applying data and AI to real-world lending challenges. After 24 years at Capital One, Dan made the move to a smaller, faster-paced organisation to get closer to delivery and strategic impact. He shares how Carmoola increased loan approvals by 10% while maintaining stable risk, by upgrading credit models with more recent data, richer predictive sources, including enhanced credit reference agency data and open banking and more sophisticated algorithms. The conversation also explores how customer segmentation enables more tailored lending strategies and communications, and how organisations can balance innovation with regulatory expectations. Key topics covered: • Improving credit decisioning with better data and more advanced models • Using open banking and enhanced data sources to increase predictive power • Achieving higher approvals while maintaining risk discipline • The role of customer segmentation in lending and engagement • Insights from the FCA/Bank of England AI forum and evolving governance • A practical, three-layer approach to embedding AI across an organisation • Why leaders must adapt and avoid over-relying on past approaches Dan also shares his perspective on leadership in a rapidly changing landscape, including the need to embrace change, let go of legacy thinking, and build organisations that can move faster and learn continuously. This episode is essential listening for CTOs, data leaders, fintech executives, and AI practitioners looking to deliver measurable business impact through data and intelligent decisioning.

April 30, 2026Episode 1028 min

The future of insurance: How PPL is moving from digital replication to real transformation

What does it take to modernise one of the most relationship-driven industries in the world? In this episode of The esynergy podcast, Ulrike Eder, Chief Marketing Officer at esynergy, speaks with John Mason, CEO of Placing Platform Limited (PPL), about how digital trading, APIs, and AI are reshaping the London insurance market. PPL supports 80–85% of specialty placements in London, making it a critical platform in the industry’s transition from manual, relationship-led processes to structured, data-driven workflows. John explains how the market is moving beyond “digital replication” — simply recording deals after conversations — toward true end-to-end digital trading, where placement and binding happen within a single lifecycle. The conversation explores how API integration, automation, and agentic AI are changing how brokers and underwriters operate — not replacing relationships, but redefining them. John shares why brokers may evolve toward more advisory, trader-like roles, and how the concept of an “experience economy” will be key to maintaining value in a more digital market. Key topics covered: • The shift from digital replication to fully digital trading • How APIs are enabling integrated, data-driven insurance workflows • The role of agentic AI in operational efficiency and decision-making • Evolving roles of brokers and underwriters in a digital market • Using generative AI to extract and compare unstructured data • Ethical AI adoption, data protection, and secure identity management • Why leaders must move beyond POCs to drive true transformation John also shares practical advice for business leaders, including the importance of conducting an “AI reality audit” — understanding where AI can genuinely deliver value and committing to meaningful change, not just experimentation. This episode is essential listening for insurance leaders, CTOs, digital transformation executives, and anyone navigating AI, automation, and platform-driven change in complex industries.

March 18, 2026Episode 929 min

Embedding AI across the business: How loveholidays turned strategy into real impact

What does it really take to move AI from experimentation into everyday business operations? In this episode of The esynergy Podcast , Grant Ongers speaks with Mike Jones, CTO of Loveholidays, about how one of the UK’s largest online travel companies is embedding AI across its organisation — from engineering and operations to customer service and content. Rather than creating a separate AI lab, Loveholidays adopted a three-pronged strategy: improving how software is built, upskilling teams across the business, and evolving the operating model so AI becomes part of how the company works every day. Mike shares how this approach delivered immediate impact in the contact centre. Their chatbot “Sandy”, originally developed during the COVID refund surge, now handles around 60% of chat interactions and 20–25% of voice calls, generating millions in operational savings. Meanwhile “Agent Aura” supports agents with summaries and guidance to improve efficiency and customer outcomes. The conversation also explores how deterministic workflows can constrain LLM behaviour, how AI enables content generation and personalisation at massive scale, and why speed, security, and changing search behaviour make AI both an opportunity and a competitive threat. Key topics covered: • Embedding AI into the operating model rather than isolating it in a lab • Scaling AI in customer service with chatbots and agent-assist tools • Using deterministic workflows to control and operationalise LLMs • Generating and personalising content across thousands of travel products • AI as both a competitive advantage and a new security challenge • Lessons learned from hallucinations, data architecture, and AI governance This episode is essential listening for CTOs, digital leaders, AI strategists, and product teams looking to move beyond experimentation and deliver measurable impact with AI. Available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, and YouTube.

March 4, 2026Episode 826 min

Product Leadership at Scale: Delivering on the Business Promise with Clarity and Focus

What does product leadership really look like inside a platform serving 60 million customers? In this episode of The esynergy Podcast , Ulrike Eder speaks with Roland Butler, Head of Product Content Solutions at Zalando, about leading products at scale — and ensuring they deliver on the promises the business makes to customers. Drawing on his experience across Zalando, Just Eat, and Book a Table, Roland shares why product leadership is less about functional expertise and more about business accountability. From aligning closely with sales and marketing, to “gear changing” between execution detail and executive context, he explores what it takes to move from product manager to product leader. Roland also discusses the risks of well-intentioned complexity — what he calls the “reverse onion” — and why decisive prioritisation is essential. He advocates for a story-first approach to planning, using a press-release-style narrative to align product, design, and engineering around shared outcomes. Key topics covered: • Defining product leadership beyond the product function • Aligning product with sales, marketing, and business strategy • Avoiding unnecessary complexity through clear prioritisation • “Gear changing” between tactical detail and executive context • Building stakeholder buy-in through proactive relationship management • Creating collective ownership across product, design, and engineering This episode is essential listening for Chief Product Officers, product leaders, digital executives, and scale-up teams navigating complexity, alignment, and growth.

February 18, 2026Episode 732 min

Customer-Centric AI at Scale: How Dunnhumby Engineers Retail Data for Real Impact

What does it really take to operate customer-level analytics at global retail scale — and where does AI genuinely add value? In this episode of The esynergy Podcast , Ulrike Eder sits down with Ben Burdsall, CTO of Dunnhumby, to explore how one of the world’s leading retail data science organisations puts the customer at the centre of every decision. Dunnhumby operates within a complex three-sided marketplace connecting retailers, consumers, and CPG brands — balancing loyalty, shelf performance, and commercial tensions. Ben explains how tracking 2.1 billion individual customer profiles (and processing roughly 24 billion records weekly) requires a fundamentally different approach to data architecture, performance, and AI adoption. From building proprietary C++ database accelerators to reduce reporting times from hours to minutes, to balancing experimentation with operational stability, Ben shares what it takes to engineer for scale — and why innovation must start with the problem, not the technology. Key topics covered: Operating customer-level analytics at massive retail scale Why Dunnhumby built proprietary database accelerators in the cloud Balancing traditional AI and generative AI (“staples vs cupcake”) Personalisation done responsibly — and the risks of getting it wrong “AI as a judge” and managing generative AI reliability Bridging batch retail processing with fast, interactive AI experiences Data ethics, privacy, and delivering genuine customer value This episode is essential listening for CTOs, data leaders, retail technologists, and AI strategists navigating scale, performance, and responsible AI in complex commercial ecosystems. Available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, and YouTube.