The Green Room: Questions That Matter Most In Business

Hosted by Deloitte UK

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109

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Jun 2026

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The Green Room by Deloitte is an award-winning business podcast exploring the topics that matter most to leaders and professionals. Each episode tackles one big question with leading names across industry, offering strategic analysis, thought leadership and expert insights. Exploring critical areas such as digital transformation, AI and technology, leadership, the future of work, business strategy, innovation, and sustainability and climate solutions. Our expert guests and hosts will help find the answers that shape corporate strategy and economic trends. We'll ask questions like: Can AI help us be more human? Is technology our planet's best hope? What's the best way to build a network? Are leaders born or made? Do facts or feelings fuel our economy? And do elections change anything? Whether you're a CEO, an entrepreneur leading a startup, or taking your first step on the career ladder in a small or large business, The Green Room provides valuable business insights across all industries and roles. Join us in The Green Room every other Tuesday for engaging conversations and expert analysis on the business topics that drive change. A podcast from Deloitte.

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June 16, 2026Episode 10440 min

Are we planning enough for AI? With Bruce Daisley and Kate Sweeney

Disruption isn't new. But right now, it feels different. Technology, economic pressures, geopolitical shifts, changing workforce expectations – they're all colliding at speed. And at the centre of it all is AI. The challenge isn't just how to respond - and in real time - but to rethink how businesses work. AI is central to this shift. It's already changing how work gets done, how decisions are made, and how value is created. So, the question is no longer "how do we use AI?" but "are organisations designed to fully realise its potential?" Because many aren't. But reinvention isn't easy. It requires leaders to challenge long-held assumptions, rethink how value is created, and close the gap between technology investment and workforce readiness. Because as access to AI becomes more widespread, it won't be the technology that sets organisations apart – it will be how it's used. So, how is AI reshaping work – and the way it gets done? What does good human and AI collaboration look like day to day? And if everyone has access to AI, what will truly differentiate businesses? That's what we're exploring in this episode of The Green Room with Bruce Daisley, best-selling author and future of work expert and Kate Sweeney, Human Capital Consulting Leader at Deloitte UK, as we ask: Are we planning enough for AI? Tune in to find out: Why we need to avoid worrying what others are doing The importance of experimentation in AI implementation How thinking differently and reinvention is vital for success Why 'agency' at work isn't just for AI agents Enjoyed this episode? Check our website for our recommendations to learn more about this topic: deloitte.co.uk/greenroompodcasts Find out more about The Yard Scotland: theyardscotland.org.uk Guests: Bruce Daisley, future of work expert, Sunday Times bestselling author and former YouTube and Twitter exec. Kate Sweeney, Deloitte UK's Human Capital Consulting lead. Hosts: Oli Carpenter and Hannah Gowen Original music: Ali Barrett Recording date and location: London, 04.06.26

June 2, 2026Episode 10335 min

What makes us feel confident in what we buy? With Julia Lo Bue-Said and Tom Astill

It's no longer a question of whether AI will change how we buy, but by how much? We're turning to AI for inspiration and advice - and soon, it may even guide or manage decisions for us. Not since the rise of e-commerce in the 1990s have we seen transformation at this scale – and how we discover, choose and engage with brands is being redefined. At the same time, the path to purchase has shifted from being one dimensional. We no longer access retailers solely in-store or via their websites. Instead, we're relying on platforms such as social media to buy too – all with an added want for personalisation. For brands, this creates opportunity, but also pressure. Showing up in the right places, with the right experience, requires new capabilities, new infrastructures and new ways of thinking. Because as technology becomes more accessible, it's no longer a differentiator in itself. So, what does it take to set businesses apart? What will define the brands that people choose in the future? Will human connection be replaced or become more valuable as time goes on? And if every organisation has access to the same tools, why do some experiences resonate more than others? In this episode of The Green Room, we ask: What makes us feel confident about what we buy? With Julia Lo Bue-Said, CEO of Advantage Travel Partnership, and Tom Astill, Director in Deloitte Digital. Tune in to find out: How the consumer journey is changing and why What we can learn from past shifts such as ecommerce How to balance AI solutions with human experience What will define the brands that people choose in the future Enjoyed this episode? Check our website for our recommendations to learn more about this topic: deloitte.co.uk/greenroompodcasts Find out more about Young Women's Trust. Guests: Julia Lo Bue-Said, CEO of Advantage Travel Partnership, and Tom Astill, Director in Deloitte Digital Hosts: Stephanie Dobbs and Oli Carpenter Original music: Ali Barrett Recording date and location: London, 18.05.26 - recorded in front of a live audience

May 12, 2026Episode 10242 min

How do we turn AI ambition into a national advantage? With Sharon Hague and OIiver Seal

The AI race is on. But what does it take to not just keep up, but to win? Even though we're using AI at work, at home and on-the-go, are we really ready to use it at scale as a country? Last year, the UK joined a growing list of countries setting out an ambitious vision for how AI could provide a better future. For those who succeed, the prize is significant. A future powered by AI could bring economic growth and increased productivity, improved public services, and new opportunities across society. But ambition alone isn't enough. To reap the rewards, we need the right foundations in place. Delivering digital skills and education to an entire nation. Redefining regulation and securing sufficient and sustained financial investment. Rebuilding our national infrastructure and providing access to cheap energy that can power dramatically increased AI usage. So, how do we turn an appealing vision of the future into reality? And what will it really take from individuals, businesses, governments and the public sector to bring a national AI strategy to life? That's what we're exploring with Sharon Hague, CEO of Pearson UK, and Oliver Seal, Partner and leader of the firm's Education Practice at Deloitte UK, as we ask: How do we turn AI ambition into a national advantage. Tune in to find out Why now is a critical juncture in the UK's AI journey The foundations we need to ensure the UK is ready for an AI-driven future How we make sure everyone has the access and skills they need to benefit from AI The role business can play in bringing a national AI strategy to life Enjoyed this episode? Check our website for our recommendations to learn more about this topic: deloitte.co.uk/greenroompodcasts Find out more about Scope: scope.org.uk Guests: Sharon Hague, CEO of Pearson UK Oliver Seal, Partner at Deloitte UK Hosts: Stephanie Dobbs Oli Carpenter Original music: Ali Barrett Recording date and location: London, 30.04.26

April 28, 2026Episode 10135 min

Are people the superpower that drives transformation? With Kate O'Neill and Mike Manby

Companies are investing more than ever in technology to transform their businesses. But the full impact isn't being felt. Most organisations believe they are missing out on up to 50% of the returns they expect from digital transformation. So, what's the missing piece? Do firms need to invest more or does the answer lie in their leadership and culture? From AI to cloud platforms, organisations are undertaking digital transformation in the search for added efficiency, growth and competitive advantage. But change doesn't just happen to systems, it affects people too. If technology is a tool for transformation, is it the people and culture who drive real change? Behind every platform rollout and process redesign are employees being asked to adapt to and buy into a new way of working. And without a culture enabling people to embrace this change, nearly half of leaders say their success will be hindered. So, what role do people have in unlocking tech potential? What does a culture that can supercharge the impact of technology investments actually look like? What foundations need to be built when designing transformation plans? And how can organisations stay future-ready but people-centric? That's what we're exploring in this episode of The Green Room with Kate O'Neill, author and Founder of KO Insights, and Mike Manby, Technology & Transformation Consumer Industry Lead at Deloitte, as we ask: Are people the superpower that drives transformation? Tune in to find out: The role of leadership in driving transformational and culture change How the right culture can supercharge the impact of technology The foundations that need to be built when designing transformation plans How organisations can stay future-ready but people-centric Enjoyed this episode? Check out our website for our recommendations to learn more about this topic: deloitte.co.uk/greenroompodcasts Find out more about The Yard here: The Yard Charity | Supporting disabled children and young people Guests: Kate O'Neill, author and Founder of KO Insights, and Mike Manby, Technology & Transformation Consumer Industry Lead at Deloitte Hosts: Annie Wong and Oli Carpenter Original music: Ali Barrett Recording date and location: London, 25.02.26

April 14, 2026Episode 10037 min

What will be the last job on earth? With Ben Legg and Anne-Marie Malley

Seven years ago, we were yet to experience a pandemic. Some of us were just discovering podcasts – and were yet to discover an air fryer. And Artificial Intelligence was, for many of us, something we only saw on the big screen. And in The Green Room's very first episode, we were asking 'What will be the last job on earth?' It was a year before GPT-3 changed the GenAI landscape, nearly four years before ChatGPT hit the mainstream and five years before regulation caught up and the world's first legal framework for AI would be passed. A lot has changed since then. But that first big question matters more than ever. AI has transformed our lives in ways that we couldn't have predicted. It's performing tasks, making decisions for us and helping us to create new things. And so, after years of experimenting with it, working with it, and investing in it, are we closer to understanding how AI will really impact the future of work? Some of us will go on to do jobs that don't yet exist, so how do we prepare for that? What skills do we need to learn now to prepare for the future – and what skills are essential to retain? Beyond our own careers, what changes need to be made at a societal level to ensure everyone has the right knowledge, experience and access to prosper in the future? And what role do businesses have to play in leading these changes in a way that benefits everyone? In our 100th episode of The Green Room podcast, we return to the question that started it all: What will be the last job on earth? With guests Ben Legg, CEO and co-founder of The Portfolio Collective, and Anne-Marie Malley, Vice Chair at Deloitte UK. Tune in to find out: What significant changes have impacted how we work over the past seven years How the increased use of AI is affecting hiring and talent, and what new roles are emerging The new skills we need to learn to be prepared for the future of work The role of business in ensuring everyone has the right skills and access to prosper in the future Enjoyed this episode? Check our website for our recommendations to learn more about this topic: deloitte.co.uk/greenroompodcasts Find out more about Deloitte's Five Million Futures: https://www.deloitte.com/uk/en/about/story/impact/social-impact.html Guests: Ben Legg, CEO and co-founder of The Portfolio Collective Anne-Marie Malley, Vice Chair at Deloitte UK Hosts: Stephanie Dobbs and Annie Wong Original music: Ali Barrett Recording date and location: London, 02.04.26

March 24, 202643 min

Bonus Episode: The First 100 – The ideas that shaped us

In The Green Room, we've always set out to answer the biggest questions that matter most in business. Now, as we approach our milestone 100th episode, we're taking a moment to look back at some of the conversations and ideas that have stayed with us – and still influence how business operates today. We've explored everything from the future of work and leadership to AI, sustainability and the changing role of business in society. Along the way, we've been joined by a remarkable range of guests, including physicist Professor Brian Cox, retail expert Mary Portas, and McLaren Racing CEO Zak Brown. Plus, many more. In this special bonus episode, we revisit our standout moments – the insights that have challenged our thinking, shaped our perspectives, and helped us explore where the future of business is heading next. Featured Episodes (in order of appearance in the podcast): #79 - Can we all win in the space race? #62 - Are leaders born or made? #55 - Should leaders think more like activists? #75 - Can we communicate better by saying less? #36 - How do you start a movement? #49 - Can one person change a big business? #5 - Will I ever feel good enough for my job? #92 - What if our next decision makers aren't human? #47 - Can AI help us be more human? #95 - How do we move AI from trialling to transforming? #67 - Are we asking the right questions about AI? #89 - Is it easier to start a sustainable business or become one? #58 - Who's responsible for being responsible? #84 - What does it take to turn things around? #33 - What's the secret to performing at your best? #61 - What comes first, vision or buy-in? #68 - What makes a champion? Bigger Questions series: What's the power of being first? #76 - How can we remodel role models? --- Find more information on all our episodes here: deloitte.co.uk/greenroompodcasts Original music: Ali Barrett

March 10, 2026Episode 9939 min

How does supporting families support us all? With Anna Whitehouse and Jackie Henry MBE

Our careers don't happen in isolation. What we carry from our lives outside of work shapes how we show up inside of it. At certain points in life, work doesn't just sit alongside family and caring responsibilities – it actively coincides with them. And how organisations respond in those moments underpins the kind of workplaces they really are. As the world of work continues to evolve, businesses are being challenged to do more than offer flexibility as a perk. Today's workforce is navigating parenthood, caregiving, and complex family lives alongside their careers. And the question is firmly shifting from not just whether employees support families, but how they deliberately build systems, policies and cultures that reflect that. So, is looking after employees just a moral choice – or a strategic one? And when people feel understood and supported, do they stay longer, contribute more, and help build stronger organisations? Is what's good for families, good for business too? And when we design work in a way that allows people to sustain their careers, does this move businesses from just existing to thriving? How can creating these spaces for families and carers build stronger, more successful businesses? Can flexibility and trust translate into higher productivity and better performance, as well as improved retention and talent attraction? And what will it take to design workplaces where supporting people through real life isn't just a compromise, but an advantage for businesses as a whole? That's what we're exploring in this episode of The Green Room with Jackie Henry MBE, Managing Partner for People and Purpose at Deloitte UK, and Anna Whitehouse, journalist, author, broadcaster and founder of Mother Pukka and Flex Appeal, as we ask: How does supporting families support us all? Tune in to find out: How conversations around work and flexibility have changed The role of leadership in creating work that's good for business and families Why 'trust' is a key ingredient in making flexible working work How businesses can adapt to build workplaces of the future Enjoyed this episode? Check our website for our recommendations to learn more about this topic: deloitte.co.uk/greenroompodcasts Find out more about The Yard here: theyardscotland.org.uk Guests: Jackie Henry MBE, Managing Partner for People and Purpose at Deloitte UK, and parenting influencer, Anna Whitehouse, also known as Mother Pukka Hosts: Annie Wong and Oliver Carpenter Original music: Ali Barrett Recording date and location: London, 19.02.26

February 24, 2026Episode 9838 min

Is the internet getting safer? With Cosima Wiltshire and James Smith

Two years ago, in episode #64 of The Green Room, we asked the question 'How do we stay safe online?' Since then, progress has been made. Businesses, tech leaders, governments and wider society have taken the time to understand the 'how' and have moved on to the 'do'. Some countries have started taking steps to ban under-16s from all major social media platforms, while the UK has rolled our further developments in its Online Safety Act, bringing in new legislation that aims to protect both children and adults. But in digital spaces, progress rarely moves in a straight line, and it can feel like every meaningful step forward is matched with a new threat that pushes us backwards. In just two short years, the use of generative AI has become widespread. And while the technology has the potential to make us more productive and creative, it's also armed bad actors with new ways to spread misinformation, share upsetting content, and develop nefarious scams – all of which pose serious risks, not just to children and young people but to adults and businesses too. So, how far have we really come in making the internet a secure and empowering space for everyone? Are things improving? Or just changing? How do we strike the right balance between protection and privacy? And what role can businesses and individuals play in keeping up with new technology to create an internet that is safe and valuable for everyone? That's what we're exploring with Cosima Wiltshire, Director at FlippGen, and James Smith, Head of Trust & Safety at Deloitte, as we ask: Is the internet getting safer? Tune in to find out: Why has the conversation around digital safety increased? What significant developments in online protection have occurred in the last two years? How do we measure the success of digital safety initiatives? What's the role of business in creating a safer digital world for everyone? Enjoyed this episode? Check our website for our recommendations to learn more about this topic: deloitte.co.uk/greenroompodcasts Find out more about The Yard here: theyardscotland.org.uk Guests: Cosima Wiltshire, Strategy and Partnerships Consultant at FlippGen, and James Smith, Head of Trust & Safety at Deloitte Hosts: Stephanie Dobbs and Oliver Carpenter Original music: Ali Barrett Recording date and location: London, 18.02.26

February 10, 2026Episode 9737 min

Is it time to reset supply chains? With Dr Alok Choudhary and Sarah Noble

From the avocados on our toast to the niche blend of coffee that sits on the table next to them. From the medicine waiting to be collected at the pharmacy to the smartphone we used to renew the prescription. Every product we pick up and service we use is a result of a complex, global web of ships, planes, warehouses, technology and people that keep our world moving. That is until something goes wrong – and that's been happening more often in recent years. Whether it's the effects of geopolitical unrest, global trade policies, extreme weather or even cyber-attacks, supply chains that once seemed robust are now under an increasing amount of pressure. And that means businesses are too, because their challenge is no longer just to move products from A to B – it's to build a system that is lean enough to be competitive, but resilient enough to survive the next global shock. So, what does a steadfast supply chain that can withstand an unreliable world look like? Do businesses need to completely rebuild their existing supply chains? Or can they simply be renovated? Could technology like AI and blockchain help bring more stability and security to fragile systems? And where does sustainability and responsibility fit in? That's what we're exploring with Dr Alok Choudhary, Professor of Supply Chain Management and Head of the Supply Chain Research Group at the University of Warwick, and Sarah Noble, a partner in Supply Chain Transformation at Deloitte, as we ask: Is it time to reset supply chains? Tune in to find out: What are the biggest threats to supply chains today? How are global trade policies impacting supply chains? How can businesses stress-test their current supply processes? When supply chains breakdown, what's the key to a successful recovery? Enjoyed this episode? Check our website for our recommendations to learn more about this topic: deloitte.co.uk/greenroompodcasts Find out more about The Yard here: theyardscotland.org.uk Guests: Dr Alok Choudhary, Professor of Supply Chain Management and Head of the Supply Chain Research Group at the University of Warwick, and Sarah Noble, a partner in Supply Chain Transformation at Deloitte Hosts: Stephanie Dobbs and Oliver Carpenter Original music: Ali Barrett Recording date and location: London, 15.01.26

January 27, 2026Episode 9638 min

Does regulation help or hinder growth? With Rob Bishton and Sam Walsh

Our days are shaped by rules and regulations. The expiry date stamped on the sandwich we picked up for lunch. The charge for the plastic bag at the checkout. The banner that asks if we consent to cookies. There's the big stuff too. The security checks before we fly, the safety marks on our new tech and the seatbelt we click into place without thinking. But despite its ubiquity, regulation sparks mixed feelings. While some rules feel reassuring, others feel restrictive. When done right, regulation can be a catalyst for societal progress and economic growth. It can unlock markets, enforce ethical standards, and build trust. It can also bring challenges too, adding layers of frustration, cost, and complexity to new ideas and initiatives. With governments now demanding that regulators actively support growth, there's an opportunity to reimagine regulation. Can it be designed to stimulate, rather than stifle, innovation? Is there a way to keep the societal benefits and skip the unnecessary challenges? Or do we simply need to improve our approach and understanding to regulation – and prepare for more of it in the future? That's what we're exploring with Rob Bishton, CEO of the Civil Aviation Authority, and Sam Walsh, Partner and UK Public Sector Regulation Lead at Deloitte, as we ask: Does regulation help or hinder growth? Tune in to find out: What does successful regulation look like? Does new regulation only ever occur after a crisis? How can regulation stay ahead of new and emerging industries? What can businesses do to prepare for future regulatory changes? Enjoyed this episode? Check our website for our recommendations to learn more about this topic: deloitte.co.uk/greenroompodcasts Find out more about Young Women's Trust here: youngwomenstrust.org Guests: Rob Bishton, CEO of the Civil Aviation Authority, and Sam Walsh, Partner and UK Public Sector Regulation Lead at Deloitte. Hosts: Stephanie Dobbs and Oliver Carpenter Original music: Ali Barrett Recording date and location: London, 04.12.25