Build Your Edge

AI is moving fast. Faster than most of us can fully process.It promises efficiency, creativity, and progress. But what might we be losing along the way?In this episode, Eloisa Tovee explores the hidden costs of AI, from the impact on jobs, critical thinking, and creativity to deeper concerns around bias, online harm, misinformation, and the erosion of human connection.As a UN Delegate for Women in the UK and a writer working at the centre of this shift, Eloisa brings a clear, grounded perspective on how AI is shaping society, and who is most affected.This conversation goes beyond the hype to ask better questions: what are we trading off, who is being left behind, and how do we stay human in an AI-driven world?

Burnout rarely arrives overnight. For many leaders, it builds quietly over time, until one day it suddenly becomes impossible to ignore.In this episode, Jeremy speaks with Andy Skipper, CEO and Founder of CTO Craft, about why burnout is so common among CTOs and senior technology leaders, how it develops gradually, and what happens when leaders finally hit the wall.Andy shares his own experience of burning out early in his CTO career and the PTSD-like symptoms that followed after leaving the role. Together, they explore how the pressure of startup environments, unclear expectations, and the transition from engineer to leader can slowly push people toward exhaustion, self-doubt, and cynicism.They discuss how to recognise the warning signs in yourself and others, why burnout can spread through teams and organisations if left unchecked, and what practical steps leaders and companies can take to prevent it.Andy also introduces a simple four-stage approach to dealing with burnout:recognising it earlytaking immediate actionchanging the conditions that caused itbuilding a healthier long-term environmentIf you’re a CTO, engineering leader, founder, or ambitious technologist who feels close to the edge — or you simply want to build a sustainable career without sacrificing your health — this episode offers practical insight and reassurance from someone who has been through it and now helps thousands of leaders find their way back.

We were all given the same advice. Pick a lane. Specialise. Stick to the plan. Work hard. Climb steadily.For decades, that approach made sense. In a stable world, depth and certainty were safe bets.But the world of work isn’t stable anymore.In this episode, Jeremy sits down with Kieran Cornwall to challenge the very foundation of modern career advice. Together, they explore why rigid career paths can quietly limit your potential, and why a fundamental shift in mindset may be the difference between stagnating and thriving.This isn’t an argument against specialisation. It’s an argument against rigidity.Kieran shares the perspective he’s built across banking, media, software engineering and consulting and explains why careers built on direction rather than fixed plans are better equipped for uncertainty.You’ll hear:Why following a predefined “career map” can box you inThe difference between certainty and directionWhy adaptability is becoming a defining advantageHow to think beyond the lane you were trained to stay inWhat it really means to build range without driftingIf you’ve ever felt stuck, boxed in, or unsure whether the path you’re on still fits this conversation will challenge how you think about progress, growth and long-term success.Because the safest career strategy may no longer be playing it safe.

Leaving corporate to work independently sounds simple. Take your experience, pick your clients, set your own terms.In reality, many consultants, fractional leaders, and NEDs discover something else instead: unpredictable income, one “client that feels like a job”, and a constant low-level anxiety about what happens next.In this episode, I sit down with Dan Gwalter to unpack why this happens and how to avoid it.Dan has lived this journey end to end. After leaving a FTSE 100 technology leadership role, he built a profitable consulting business the hard way, learned where most independents go wrong, and turned those lessons into a clear operating model that helps others build businesses they can actually rely on.This conversation is not about hacks, personal branding tricks, or “just post more on LinkedIn”. It’s about structure.Together, we explore:Why most independent professionals aren’t failing — they’re just operating without a systemThe difference between being a “fractional employee” and running a real businessHow to define the right clients, the right offers, and the right problems to solveWhy visibility alone doesn’t create clients — and what actually doesHow to design an operating rhythm that works alongside delivery, not against itThe psychological side of independence: confidence, self-doubt, and identity shiftsDan also walks through the core elements of The Fractional Formula: an operating model designed to help consultants, fractional leaders, and NEDs build predictable deal flow, reduce fragility, and create momentum they can sustain.If you’re thinking about going independent, already working as a consultant or fractional leader, or building a portfolio career and want it to feel stable rather than stressful, this episode will give you clarity, reassurance, and a practical path forward.This is about building a business you can rely on, not winging it and hoping for the best.

If you’ve got the seed of an idea you keep pushing aside, you owe it to yourself to explore it.Not to quit your job. Not to take a reckless leap. But to see whether it could become something real.This episode is for senior leaders who feel successful on paper but quietly stuck; people who sense there’s more they could be building, yet don’t know where to start or how to do it safely.We are joined by Ken Valledy, who talks through a practical, low-risk way to turn a side hustle into a real business; one that gives you options and a way out of the corporate rat race, without blowing up your life.You’ll hear:Why leaving your job isn’t the goal; starting isHow small steps create momentum long before money shows upWhat happens when you say your idea out loud for the first timeHow to test, shape, and validate an idea while keeping your jobThe five simple moves that take you from “what if?” to real progressKen shares his R.E.A.C.T. model, a framework designed to help you go from zero to one: getting your idea out of your head, into the world, and onto a path that could eventually support you full time.If you feel the itch to do something of your own and don’t want to look back in five years wishing you’d tried, this conversation will help you take the first step.

In this episode, we sit down with Freddie Quek—Research Associate at Henley Business School, award-winning technology leader, advisor, and founder of #JoiningTheDots—to explore a question every tech professional needs to confront: What is our responsibility as technology leaders in a world where millions are still digitally excluded?Freddie has led digital transformation across global organisations, including RELX, Wiley and Times Higher Education, where he helped develop the World University Rankings and SDG Impact Dashboard. Recognised by Computer Weekly and CIO 100 as one of the UK’s top technology leaders, he brings a rare blend of technical depth, social purpose, and strategic clarity.Together, we dig into:Why 30% of the world being offline is not someone else’s problem.How digital exclusion shows up in everyday life — even for people who think they’re “tech savvy.”The Triple Bottom Line (Profit, Planet, People) and why it’s becoming essential leadership, not optional ethics.How AI and rapid technological change are widening new forms of inequality.What organisations, teams, and individual technologists can do today to make a measurable difference.Why solving this won’t come from charity — it will come from collective action across the tech sector.Freddie also shares the story behind #JoiningTheDots and the newly formed NextPath Device Consortium, a sector-wide initiative helping the UK tackle device access, e-waste, and digital poverty at scale.If you work in technology — in any role, at any level — this conversation will challenge how you see your influence and show you how to use your “superpower” for something bigger than your job description.

Most people treat interviews like an exam: tense, rehearsed, high-stakes. But what if the real key to performing well is the same thing that makes a great first date: connection, curiosity, and being your authentic self?In this episode, Marylin Schlamkow returns to the show to share a fresh, more human way to approach interviews. Drawing on the surprising parallels between dating and interviewing, she breaks the process into three stages — before, during, and after — and shows how simple behavioural shifts can help you stay calm, build rapport, and show up with confidence.We cover how to understand your values and principles, research effectively without overdoing it, create genuine two-way conversations, tell stronger stories, ask better questions, handle ghosting and rejection, and reflect in a way that actually improves your performance in your future interviews.Whether you’re job-hunting now or preparing for a move, this episode gives you practical tools to interview in a way that feels more natural and produces better results.You’ll learn:Why interviewing feels so much like dating (and how that helps)How to prepare in a calmer, more intentional wayHow to build rapport and create a real conversationHow to talk about yourself without performingWhat to do after the interview, including ghosting, rejection, and reflectionThe one mindset shift that improves every interviewIf interviews make you anxious or you simply want to show up as your authentic self and create a stronger connection, this one’s for you.

Most people think progressing into senior technical leadership is about becoming “good at everything.” It isn’t.In this episode, Meri Williams breaks down the six skills that truly define modern technical leadership; the real capabilities behind roles like CTO, VP Engineering, Director of Engineering, and Staff-plus IC.Meri has led engineering at Monzo, M&S, Moo, Healx and Pleo. She’s been an architect, a manager of 300+, a multi-time CTO, a board member, and a trusted advisor to CEOs. She’s seen what great leadership looks like, and what happens when the role and the leader don’t match.Whether you’re already in the top seat or aiming for it, Meri’s Career Vectors Framework gives you a clearer way to understand where you stand and what to do next. Together, we unpack:Why leadership isn’t a “promotion” from engineering, but a career changeWhat your company truly needs from youHow your strengths match those expectationsWhere you’ll excel, where you’ll stretch, and where you may be miscastHow to have honest, grown-up conversations with your CEO or managerHow to evaluate a new role before you say yesWhy you don’t need to be a “five out of five” in every dimensionWe also explore how different shapes of technical leaders fit different stages of a company, and why talented people often struggle simply because they’re in the wrong context.If you’re a Director on the rise, a VP looking for clarity, a Staff or Principal engineer exploring the leadership path, or a CTO sharpening your edge, this episode gives you a practical, visual way to map your capabilities to the role in front of you.If you want to do the exercise yourself, Meri’s downloadable Career Vectors Framework is available at buildyouredge.org/downloads.

Hard work will get you started, but it won’t take you all the way. Every ambitious professional eventually hits a point where more effort stops creating more progress. You take on more, say yes to everything, work longer hours, yet somehow feel less effective. That’s 'the effort ceiling', and today’s guest has built a way to break through it.In this episode, technologist and former Tide VP/CTPO Giorgos Ampavis shares The Multipliers Map: a practical framework that helps you understand where you are on the journey from doing the work to creating real impact. We dig into the five levels of high-impact leaders, how to recognise when you’re stuck, and the small shifts that help you move up the ladder without burning out.If you want more clarity, more influence, and more momentum AND more fulfilment in your career, this conversation will help you take the next step. And you can download Giorgos’s self-assessment tool to follow along as you listen.Giorgos' profile: https://www.buildyouredge.org/people/profile/giorgos-ampavisGiorgos Amapvis on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ampavis/Download The Multipliers Map: https://www.buildyouredge.org/downloads/the-multipliers-map

Every day, around 12,000 people in the UK become carers, often right at the peak of their careers. Most don’t plan for it. Many don’t even realise they are carers. But the impact on their work, well-being, and future is enormous.In this episode, Jeremy sits down with leadership coach and former tech MD Kirsten Hurley, who shares her deeply personal journey caring for her two autistic brothers while navigating senior leadership roles. Her story isn’t unusual; it’s the reality for millions of people quietly holding their families together while turning up to work with the same expectations as everyone else.Together, Jeremy and Kirsten unpack:Why so many carers stay invisible at workThe emotional and mental load nobody seesThe leadership strengths caring builds: empathy, resilience, clarity, perspectiveThe flexible, simple steps employers can take to support carers properlyWhy supporting carers is a retention strategy, not a favourHow to spot the carers already in your organisationHow to create a culture where people feel safe to speak upKirsten also shares her practical guide, “The Hidden Leaders In Your Workforce (and How to Get the Best from Them)”, available to download with the episode.If you care about people, culture, leadership, or retention, you need this conversation. And if you’re a carer — even if you’ve never used the word — this will help you feel seen.

Let’s be honest: your website probably sucks. It’s slow, out of date, confusing, and says everything except what your business actually does.In this episode, Craig Burgess, Creative Director of Genius Division, joins Jeremy to share five simple ways to fix your website and make it work harder for your business; no coding, no jargon, and no expensive rebuild. Everything he shares can be done with free tools and a bit of common sense.You’ll learn how to:Tell people what you actually do (in plain English)Speed up your website using free toolsAvoid the AI traps that hurt your ranking and credibilityWrite for your audience, not your egoMake your website look professional without hiring a designerCraig has also created a free downloadable guide, “5 Common Website Mistakes (and How to Fix Them)”, that walks you through each problem step by step so you can audit your site and make instant improvements.Whether you run a corner shop or a global brand, this episode will help you turn your website from a digital brochure into a tool that actually drives business.Download Craig's free guide here: Find Craig here: buildyouredge.org/people/profile/craig-burgessCraig on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/craigburgessuk/Genuis Division: geniusdivision.com

A strategy is only as good as the people who deliver it. You can have the sharpest vision, the boldest goals, and the slickest slides, but if the message doesn’t land with your teams, it goes nowhere.In this episode, Andy Toor joins Jeremy Burns to unpack how to make strategy stick. Together, they explore what happens after the town hall; how to turn leadership intent into clear, consistent action across the company.Andy introduces The Strategy-in-Action Toolkit, a practical set of tools to help leaders translate strategy into human connection and measurable progress. You’ll learn how to:Run a 20-minute team conversation that makes the strategy realCommunicate direction clearly and confidently at every levelSpot misalignment before it becomes inertiaReinforce strategy through weekly “signal checks” that build lasting momentumWhether you’re setting the direction or delivering it, this conversation will help you turn strategy into a living system; one that people understand, own, and act on.

Most people move through their careers by reacting to opportunities rather than creating them. But the most successful careers — the ones that lead to meaning, mastery, and momentum — are built with intention.In this episode of Build Your Edge, Jeremy Burns talks with Bruce Pannaman, a startup technology leader who developed the Tech Career Strategies framework. This free downloadable guide helps you plan your career with purpose and direction.Bruce explains how to think strategically about your career by first asking:👉 What outcomes do you want from your work?He walks through how to translate those outcomes —whether autonomy, wealth, impact, recognition, or leadership — into clear career destinations and avenues, such as building a startup, joining big tech, or becoming a recognised expert. Once you’ve chosen your path, Bruce shows how to identify the superpowers you’ll need to succeed and the stepping stones that will help you reach your bigger goal.This episode is a practical blueprint for anyone who wants to stop drifting and start building a career with purpose.⬇️ Download Bruce’s Tech Career Strategies guide free from the Build Your Edge downloads page.Read more about Bruce on LinkedIn.

Your photo speaks before you do. Whether it’s your LinkedIn headshot, a team photo, or the images that sell your product, people decide what to think of you in about two seconds.In this episode, professional retoucher Beth Perkins shares five fast edits that make any photo look sharper, brighter, and more trustworthy without turning you (or your brand) into something fake.You’ll learn:Why your image is your first hook, and how to make it countThe five fixes that instantly lift quality: straighten & crop, exposure & contrast, white balance, vibrancy, and spot-healingHow small visual tweaks create trust and consistency across your brandWhy “real” always beats “filtered”, and where AI editing crosses the lineBeth’s also created a free visual guide with before-and-after examples so you can apply the changes right away.

When a big project goes off the rails, panic spreads fast. Deadlines slip. Teams freeze. Leaders stop sleeping.That’s when you call someone like David Crawford, a delivery leader known for running toward the fire, not away from it. David’s built a reputation for rescuing complex, high-stakes programmes and turning them back into wins.You can use his approach to rescue everything from small, time-critical projects that simply can’t afford to fail to large, multi-million-pound programmes that have gone off the rails. In this episode, he shares the exact five-step approach he uses to stabilise chaos, rebuild trust, and deliver results at any scale.We break down:How to spot the early signs a project’s in troubleThe five steps to bring focus, control, and momentum backWhat to say (and not say) to customers when you’re behindWhy authentic leadership in crisis is more about calm than controlDavid’s also shared the Turnaround Measure Tracker, the simple spreadsheet he uses to diagnose problems, focus your efforts, and track recovery week by week.If your project’s wobbling, or you just want to lead with clarity when pressure hits, this episode’s worth your time.🎁 Free downloadsDownload David’s free Turnaround Measure Tracker at https://www.buildyouredge.org/downloads/turnaround-measure-trackerThere’s also an accompanying guide to help you apply it today, available for free at https://www.buildyouredge.org/downloads/a-guide-to-the-turnaround-measure-tracker

Job interviews are meant to reveal the best people for the job, but too often, they don’t. Candidates feel lost in the process, managers make rushed decisions, and both sides leave thinking, 'that could’ve gone better.'In this episode, Sam Grill—a hiring manager who’s sat on both sides of the table—breaks down the interview process step by step. He explains what really happens behind the scenes, how decisions are made, and why small mistakes can cost big opportunities.You’ll learn how to:Prepare and structure your interviews to uncover real capabilityAsk better questions that reveal fit, mindset, and impactSpot red flags early and avoid bias in decision-makingPresent yourself clearly and confidently as a candidateWhether you’re running interviews or trying to ace them, this conversation gives you a clear, honest look at how interviews actually work, and how to win at them.Plus, Sam leaves behind a free digital handout: a practical framework of interview questions for both candidates and hiring managers to plan, prepare, and evaluate effectively.Download 'The Interview Cheatsheet' at buildyouredge.org/downloads

Most career frameworks stop at progression: tick the boxes, climb the ladder, chase the promotion. But what if growth was about more than just the next level?In this episode, I sit down with Dan Ashby to explore how traditional frameworks fall short and how his approach flips the script by focusing on impact.Dan shares how to connect your personal growth with company objectives, why tasks alone don’t qualify you for promotion, and how managers and employees can use his five-part framework to make growth measurable, meaningful, and strategic.We cover:Why checklist-style frameworks create frustration and entitlementHow to reframe growth around impact, evidence, and outcomesThe role of intrinsic motivation—autonomy, mastery, and purpose—in performancePractical tools like skills mapping, growth tables, and Dan’s radar for impactHow to use this framework as a “career passport” you can carry into any role or companyIf you’re tired of frameworks that feel like admin exercises—or if you’re a manager stuck in endless promotion debates—this episode will show you how to build growth strategies that drive results, inspire teams, and actually matter.

Communicating with senior leaders isn’t like talking to your peers. The C-Suite live in a world of packed diaries, rapid context-switching, and high-stakes decisions. If you can’t deliver clarity, brevity, and impact, you’ll lose their attention and your opportunity.In this episode of Build Your Edge, Cheryl Warlow joins Jeremy to share her playbook for making your mark at the top. We talk about:How to secure precious time in a senior leader’s diaryThe art of writing emails they’ll actually read (and act on)Why you must lead with a recommendation, not a rambleHandling tough questions and chaotic meetings without losing your footingThe role of “friendlies” and sponsors in helping you succeedWhether you’re preparing for your first presentation to the C-Suite or want to sharpen your influence in the boardroom, this conversation will give you the tools to nail it.

Giving feedback is one of the hardest yet most important parts of being a manager. Do it badly and you dent confidence, damage relationships, and risk losing people. Do it well and you unlock growth, build trust, and create a culture where people excel.In this episode, leadership coach Clem Pickering joins Jeremy to break down why feedback so often goes wrong and how managers can flip it into a powerful tool for development. Clem shares practical methods for delivering feedback that lands, including his See, Think, Feel, Intent framework, and explains how to receive feedback without getting defensive.You’ll learn why annual reviews are the worst place for feedback, how to make timing work in your favour, and what to do when even your top performers are hungry for more.If you’ve ever felt awkward, fearful, or just plain stuck when it comes to giving feedback, this conversation will give you the tools and confidence to do it right.

Too many organisations spend months wordsmithing values and end up with one-word posters nobody uses. The result: wallpaper slogans that don’t shape culture or guide behaviour.In this episode of Build Your Edge, I sit down with culture consultant Alya Lilani to show how to define and embed values that actually work. We cover:Why most company values failThree steps to turn values into daily behavioursHow strong values improve hiring, retention, and performancePractical ways to make values memorable and impossible to ignoreIf your values don’t change how people act, they’re not values. This conversation shows how to make them real and how to turn them into a driver of culture and business results.Download Alya’s Values Starter Kit to run this in your team today: buildyouredge.org/downloads.