The Technology Principal

Michael Beck’s career has never followed the expected path.From turning down promotions at GCHQ to keep his options open, to helping dismantle a group attempting to cut power to the London 2012 Olympics opening ceremony, to scaling one of the world’s most recognised names in AI cyber security - his journey to Global CISO at Darktrace is anything but conventional.In this episode, Michael sits down with Scott Simons to explore the role curiosity has played at every stage of his career, why he believes the zigzag path is often the most valuable one, and what the experience of building a tech startup teaches you that nothing else can.He also shares his perspective on how AI is reshaping the cybersecurity landscape, the pivotal moment that changed how security teams thought about artificial intelligence, and what he believes the next generation of technology leaders need to understand about the world they’re walking into.Honest, unexpected and full of hard-won insight — this is a conversation worth your time.

In this episode, Belinda Macaulay, Chief People & Values Officer at Bell Integration, shares her journey from a global childhood to leadership in HR. She discusses the evolving role of HR in tech, the importance of emotional intelligence, and the future of work in a world increasingly influenced by AI.

In this episode, Christos Chamberlain shares his journey from mathematics to leading innovative companies like Airwallex, emphasizing the importance of disruption, infrastructure, and a customer-centric approach in the evolving landscape of finance and technology.

All season, we've closed every conversation with the same question: what advice would you give your younger self? In this special episode, we've pulled together the answers — from Mairead McIlkenny, Al Ko, Jody Bhagat, Steve Smith, Joe Hildebrand and David Grunwald — along with a couple of the standout ideas and stories that came up along the way. New episodes are back September 9th.

In this episode, David Grunwald shares his extensive journey through the tech industry, from early startups to leading innovation at NatWest. Discover insights on AI, leadership, and the future of banking and technology.

Joe Hildebrand shares his journey from aspiring police officer and rally driver to leadership expert in AI and organizational culture. Discover insights on how leaders can harness AI ethically and effectively, and the importance of human-centric approaches in a rapidly evolving technological landscape.

In this episode, Jody Bhagat, President of North America Engine by Starling, shares his journey from sports to fintech leadership, the rapid evolution of banking technology, and his vision for transforming the US banking industry with modern solutions. Discover how strategic innovation and modern platforms can reshape financial services.

Steve Smith, President Europe & Australia at JD Power has built an impressive career around transformation. From his early days in the school of recruitment to black box deciphering, we find out how he forged his path to the C-suite by following one simple rule.If you’re a leader navigating global business transformation – this episode is for you.

We’re joined by Albert Ko, CEO of Auctane, theglobal delivery experience company behind ShipStation, Stamps.com, Metapack, and more. As seasoned technology leader, Al has scaled organisations acrossfintech and software.We’ll explore his journey to the C‑suite, the evolution ofleadership in tech, the challenges he’s overcome, and the future he’s shaping at Auctane.If you’re a leader navigating new strategic directions inthe age of digital transformation, you won’t want to miss this.

Today, we’re joined by Mairead McIlkenny,  senior fintech and technology executive with more than 18 years’ experience leading global transformation, product strategy, and AI‑driven innovation across major organisations in payments, trading, and digital technology.We’ll explore Mairead’s journey from her early days through to navigating the complexities of AI‑enabled customer experience, global regulatory shifts, and the fast‑evolving expectations of modern boards.If you’re a leader navigating the crossroads of technology, regulation, and human‑centred transformation, and believe that connection, clarity, and courage matter more than ever, this one’s for you.