Revolutionising Customer Experience with Conversational AI: Nikola Mrkšić, Co-Founder & CEO of PolyAI

In this episode hear from Nikola Mrkšić, a pioneer in conversational AI and the driving force behind PolyAI, a London-based startup revolutionising conversational AI for customer support. As Co-Founder and CEO, Nikola and his co-founders started PolyAI in 2017 as a spinout from the University of Cambridge, where they developed state-of-the-art conversational AI technology. Their mission was to create AI-powered customer support agents that offer seamless, natural interactions. Under his leadership, PolyAI has raised millions in funding and partnered with major brands like Starling Bank and Landry’s Entertainment, achieving numerous accolades along the way, including from the likes of Forbes, The Financial and Sunday Times.In this episode, Nikola shares insights on scaling AI startups, the future of customer experience, and how AI can work alongside human agents - not replace them. Discussions in the episode:Evolving the vision: pivoting to B2B and measuring successBuilding the right leadership team from 20 employees to scaleFounder mindset: balancing growth with personal focus and time managementAI adoption across industries and geographiesStrategies for attracting and nurturing AI talent in a competitive marketScaling in the UK vs US: cultural and operational differencesClick here to reach out to Peter Rabey direct Like this show? Please leave us a review. Every review helps. 

Hear from Neil Evans, Head of Credit Risk at OakNorth Bank as he shares his journey from the established world of traditional banking to the agile, fast-scaling environment of OakNorth. Since joining in 2014, he’s helped shape one of the UK’s most resilient and data-driven lending models designed specifically for SMEs.Discussions in this episode:Background to OakNorth Bank, founded by Rishi Khosla and Joel Perlman Neil's journey from a long career at RBS to shaping credit strategy at a fast‑growing bankHow OakNorth built a billion-pound loan book in just 18 monthsThe role of stress testing and proactive credit policy during economic shocksOakNorth’s strategic U.S. expansion, including its recent acquisition of Community Unity BankThis conversation is packed with practical leadership insights, bold decision-making and lessons on scaling without compromising on risk.It's a wonderfully inspiring conversation, full of great insights - Neil tells OakNorth's story beautifully.Click here to reach out to Peter Rabey direct Like this show? Please leave us a review. Every review helps. 

In this episode, we welcome back Maren Schlieper, an experienced startup and scaleup executive, for her second appearance on the podcast. Maren dives deeper into the realities of sustainable growth, the future of leadership and how founders and executives can build companies that scale effectively.With over 14 years of experience in the European startup and scaleup space, Maren has achieved major milestones including a successful exit at DeinDeal and helping to build unicorn company wefox in senior roles such as Chief Strategy Officer and Chief of Staff. She currently serves as Head of Strategy at HudsonGoodman, holds a board seat at medudoc, and advises startups across industries as a coach and mentor.Discussions in the episode:Key lessons from scaling wefox and building high-growth teamsThe paradigm shift toward healthy scaling (and what it really looks like!)Building internal alignment: how to make strategy understandable at every levelExecution done right: bottom-up feedback, prioritisation, and accountabilityThe human cost of hypergrowth, and how leaders can build resilient teamsClick here to reach out to Peter Rabey direct Like this show? Please leave us a review. Every review helps. 

Hear from Romi Savova, a trailblazer in fintech and one of the most influential voices in modern pension reform. As the founder and CEO of PensionBee, Romi has transformed the way people save for retirement by making pensions accessible, transparent and easy to manage online.With a background in finance and a passion for solving complex problems, Romi shares her journey from a personal frustration with pension transfers to building a publicly listed company that now serves hundreds of thousands of customers. Her story offers a masterclass in mission-driven leadership, scaling with purpose and driving innovation in a highly regulated sector.Discussions in the episode:Key milestones, from the first seed round to IPOWhy going public made sense, and what it took to get thereBalancing growth with staying true to mission and valuesExpanding from the UK into the US marketCultural and behavioural differences in consumer financial habitsFuture trends shaping pension management in the UK and USClick here to reach out to Peter Rabey direct Like this show? Please leave us a review. Every review helps. 

Hear from Joy Adams, Chief Operating Officer at Deutsche Bank, as she shares her journey into the digital asset space, offers insights on the rapidly evolving fintech landscape, and reflects on leadership, innovation, and diversity within financial services.Joy is a Certified Information Security Manager (CISM) and holds an executive education certificate from the Oxford University Fintech Programme. She was also selected as a Rise Up Fellow for the annual Money 20/20 Conference, which recognises up-and-coming leaders in the payments industry.Discussions in the episode:Key trends reshaping the digital asset landscapeRegulation challenges amid rapid tech innovationDiversity, inclusion, and representation in digital assets and financeStrategies for advancing Black women in leadership positionsClick here to reach out to Peter Rabey direct Like this show? Please leave us a review. Every review helps.

Hear from Malcolm Graham, Managing Director at Control Union, as he shares his leadership journey, the values that have shaped the company’s evolution and his vision for the future of the Testing, Inspection and Certification (TIC) industry. As the youngest Managing Director in the company’s history, Malcolm has played a pivotal role in expanding Control Union’s global footprint, while maintaining the strong family-owned culture that sets it apart.Discussions in the episode:How agriculture shapes the global economy and the sustainability challenges aheadLeading through geopolitical uncertainty and supply chain shiftsStrategies and lessons learned from international expansionTransitioning into the Managing Director role and the evolution of leadership responsibilityPursuing an MBA while in a high-level leadership positionClick here to reach out to Peter Rabey direct Like this show? Please leave us a review. Every review helps.

Hear from Dr. Shahram Maralani, Senior Vice President & Chief Technical Officer at Nemko Group, as he discusses how the role of a CTO has evolved, the transformative impact of AI in the Testing, Inspection, and Certification (TIC) industry and the future of technology leadership.With over 25 years of experience across sectors including certification, consulting, automotive, packaging and investment banking, Dr. Shahram Maralani shares valuable insights into digital transformation, business strategy and innovation at the intersection of technology and trust. He is also the author of ‘The AI Shift: Redefining Knowledge Work in the Age of Generative AI’, a deep dive into the real-world impact of artificial intelligence.Discussions in the episode:How the CTO role has changed in an increasingly complex and competitive marketThe impact of AI advancements in the TIC sectorOpportunities, threats and common misconceptions around AI adoptionDifferences in AI regulation between the EU and the USClick here to reach out to Peter Rabey direct Like this show? Please leave us a review. Every review helps.

This episode hear from Tom Robins, Chief Executive Officer at Switchee, a company on a mission to improve the quality of life for residents in rented homes through smart, data-driven technology. Under Tom’s leadership, Switchee now partners with over 100 social housing providers across the UK and the Netherlands, and was recently recognised in The Times Top Tech 100 Fastest Growing Companies list for 2025.In this episode, Tom shares his journey stepping into a CEO role at an already established business, reflects on the challenges of scaling an impact-driven company and explores the intersection between technology, housing, and social responsibility.Discussions in the episode:Lessons from scaling through multiple growth chaptersBalancing social impact with commercial success in housing techThe biggest challenges facing the social housing sector todayNavigating innovation & framework process in a fast-growth companyApproaches to learning, development, and leadership growthClick here to reach out to Peter Rabey direct Like this show? Please leave us a review. Every review helps.

Hear from Dave Sherwood, Co-Founder and CEO of BibliU, as he shares his journey of making learning materials more affordable, accessible, and equitable, transforming how students and universities engage with educational content. As a visionary leader in edtech, Dave’s impact earned him a spot on the Forbes 30 Under 30 list. Under his leadership, BibliU has experienced significant growth, developing innovative solutions that have disrupted traditional models.Beyond BibliU, he is the Co-Founder and Chairman of Teach Learn Grow Inc. and a Board Advisor at Purlos and Vygo, furthering his mission to enhance student success through innovation.Discussions in the episode:Transitioning from B2C to B2B business modelThe role of advisors in entrepreneurial successFundraising learns & expansion into global marketsManaging global company culture & navigating acquisitionsClick here to reach out to Peter Rabey direct Like this show? Please leave us a review. Every review helps.

Hear from Dame Dawn Childs, CEO of Pure Data Centres Group, as she discusses her leadership journey, the evolution of engineering and technology, and the challenges of building and operating hyperscale data centres. With a distinguished career spanning the Royal Air Force, Merlin Entertainments, Gatwick Airport, and National Grid, Dame Dawn has led multi-billion-pound transformation programmes. She is a Trustee of the Royal Academy of Engineering and the Air League as well as previously being the longest-serving President of the Women’s Engineering Society.Discussions in the episode:Leadership lessons from the RAF vs. corporate worldThe biggest challenges facing the data centre industry todaySustainability in data centres: Challenges & opportunitiesBreaking barriers in engineering & technologyThe future of AI and its impact on data centresClick here to reach out to Peter Rabey direct Like this show? Please leave us a review. Every review helps.