The Smart Life

From natural resource to business priority. In this special Earth Day episode of The Smart Life podcast, we explore a shift that is starting to reshape how businesses think about water.Water is becoming a core part of infrastructure, with real impact on operations, risk and long term growth. We are joined by Gert-Jan Maasdam, Partner at Blue North Partners, a leader in scaling high-impact water technology, and Paul Reig, Founder and CEO of Bluerisk, who specialises in translating complex water data into clear, actionable strategy for the world’s biggest organisations.Together, we discuss why water is moving up the business agenda, how place based projects are changing local water systems, and what leaders need to do now to stay ahead.From a large scale rainwater project in Madrid to innovative urban solutions in Rotterdam, this episode brings real examples of how businesses can take action.If you are thinking about sustainability, infrastructure, or future planning, this conversation will give you a clearer view of what comes next!

Summary Caroline Laurenson, founder of TL Tech Smart Home Solution and Kind Space, shares her journey of starting a family business and creating a wellbeing Alexa voice app. She discusses the inspiration behind her business, the challenges she faced, and the benefits of running a family business. Caroline also talks about the process of creating her first voice app and the importance of user feedback. She shares her advice for fellow founders and recommends the book 'Playing Big' by Tara Mohr. Caroline's favorite inspirational quote is 'Every cloud has a silver lining.' Takeaways Starting a business can stem from a personal passion or a solution to a problem. Transferable skills from previous careers can be valuable in entrepreneurship. Building a personal brand and sharing your journey can create connections and opportunities. Facing fear and taking risks can lead to personal and professional growth. User feedback is crucial for improving products and services. Every cloud has a silver lining - finding the positives in negative situations can lead to growth and resilience. Chapters 00:00 Introduction and Series Overview 01:55 Caroline's Journey and Inspiration for TL Tech Smart Home Solution 07:38 Creating the Wellbeing Alexa Voice App: Kind Space 10:09 Challenges and Process of Creating the Voice App 14:04 Transitioning from a Career in Engineering to Entrepreneurship 17:29 The Impact and Rewards of Running a Family Business 21:13 Balancing Motherhood and Business Ownership 23:32 Financial Considerations and Advice for Entrepreneurs 27:06 Writing a Book and Future Plans 31:47 Pass It Along Questions: Advice, Book Recommendation, and Inspirational Quote 37:12 Conclusion

In this episode, Jess and Laura interview Angela Garwood, a writer and blogger, about her journey into journalism as a mother. Angela shares that she didn't always want to be a writer, but writing was always a passion of hers. She talks about the importance of having mentors and seeking guidance from experienced professionals in the industry. Angela also discusses the challenges of being a freelancer, including the uncertainty of income and the need to constantly learn and adapt. She emphasises the importance of delegating tasks and seeking help when needed. Angela shares her favourite inspirational quote: 'Clarity comes from engagement, not thought.' Takeaways Follow your curiosity and explore different interests to find what brings you joy. Seek out mentors and guidance from experienced professionals in your industry. Delegating tasks and seeking help can alleviate the challenges of being a freelancer. Embrace uncertainty and be proactive in finding new opportunities. Take action and engage in the process to gain clarity and overcome self-doubt. Plan strategically and set goals, but be flexible and adapt as needed. Market yourself and your business by providing value and being authentic. Overcome the fear of selling yourself by focusing on the needs of your target audience. Take the leap and figure things out along the way. Clarity comes from engagement, not thought. Chapters 00:00 Introduction and Overview 01:35 Angela's Journey into Journalism 03:19 Discovering a Passion for Writing 09:10 The Importance of Mentors 13:30 Accidental Entrepreneurship 17:39 The Superpower of Being Present 19:47 Challenges and Strategies for Freelancers 22:43 Navigating Fear and Taking Action 27:14 Marketing Yourself and Your Business 33:16 Favorite Inspirational Quote

Summary In this episode of the Smart Life podcast, Jess and Laura interview Charlotte Boundy, the founder of Bright Sparks PA. Charlotte shares her journey from being an actress to starting her own personal assistance company. She discusses the challenges she faced as an accidental entrepreneur and the importance of believing in yourself. Charlotte also talks about the training process for her PAs and her vision for the future of Bright Sparks PA. The episode concludes with quick-fire questions and valuable takeaways for fellow founders. Chapters 00:00 Introduction 03:00 From Actress to Entrepreneur: Charlotte's Journey 09:25 The Challenges and Joys of Being an Accidental Entrepreneur 12:23 Training PAs and Building a Vision for Bright Sparks PA 18:08 Believing in Yourself and Trusting Your Own Vision 20:59 Flexibility and Adaptability in the Ever-Changing Business Landscape 25:59 Embracing Rejection and Seeing 'No' as a Next Opportunity 27:58 Book Recommendations and Top Quotes 31:05 Supporting Women Returning to Work After Having a Family 33:41 Conclusion

Summary In this episode, Jess and Laura interview Louise Ralphs, the creative mastermind behind Lou Paper, a custom wedding stationery studio. Louise shares her journey from studying graphic design to working in fashion buying and marketing before finally pursuing her passion for illustration. She discusses the challenges of running her own business, the importance of having a support network, and the joy of being her own boss. Louise also talks about the difficulties of balancing work and motherhood, and the need to carve out time for herself. In this conversation, Louise discusses the importance of setting goals and the value of writing them down. She also talks about the benefits of getting outside help to evaluate different aspects of her business. Louise shares her experience of balancing work and motherhood, emphasizing the importance of finding trust in childcare and the power of saying no. She offers advice to fellow founders and recommends the book 'Little Black Book' as a valuable resource for working women. Louise's favorite inspirational quote is 'She believed she could, so she did.' Chapters 00:00 Introduction 00:49 Louise's Journey and Passion for Illustration 03:47 Transition to Self-Employment 07:59 The Challenges and Rewards of Running a Business 11:54 The Importance of a Support Network 14:08 Balancing Work and Motherhood 17:01 Being Your Own Boss: Freedom and Flexibility 19:18 Setting Goals for Business and Personal Life 20:40 Setting and Writing Goals 22:07 The Value of Outside Help 24:36 Balancing Work and Motherhood 26:59 The Importance of Saying No 30:26 Switching Between Mom Brain and Work Brain 34:25 The Power of Saying No 37:06 Recommended Resource: 'Little Black Book' 37:56 Empowering Mantra: 'She Believed She Could, So She Did'

Summary In this episode of the Smart Life podcast, the hosts discuss mental health in the context of managing stress in a deadline-driven environment and navigating the complexities of remote and hybrid work. They also explore the challenges of maintaining balance as working parents. The guests, Jonathan Curtis and Laura Bull, share their personal experiences and offer strategies for thriving in high-pressure environments and supporting mental well-being. They emphasize the importance of self-care, setting boundaries, and building a support network. The conversation also touches on the unique challenges of managing hybrid teams and the impact of parenting on mental health.

Summary In this episode, Jess Hadleigh discusses how technology can be used to achieve water sustainability with Gert Jan Maasdam and Adam Williams. They explore the pressing challenges of water scarcity and the impact of climate change on water resources. The conversation highlights promising water-saving technologies and innovations, such as digital monitoring of water networks, precise irrigation in agriculture, and wastewater reuse in industries. The speakers also discuss the barriers to implementing these technologies, including a focus on energy efficiency, conservatism, and a lack of digital adoption. They emphasize the need for regulations and long-term thinking to address water sustainability. In this episode, the conversation explores the barriers to adoption and awareness of water conservation initiatives, strategies for raising awareness and securing buy-in from the public and businesses, the role of government policy interventions, and the hope for addressing water scarcity in the future. Takeaways Water scarcity is a pressing global challenge, with two-thirds of the world's population projected to face water shortages by the middle of the decade. The current infrastructure is under-invested and inadequate to handle the increasing risks of drought and flooding caused by climate change. Promising water-saving technologies include digital monitoring of water networks, precise irrigation in agriculture, and wastewater reuse in industries. Barriers to implementing these technologies include a focus on energy efficiency, conservatism, and a lack of digital adoption. Regulations and long-term thinking are needed to address water sustainability. Businesses can play a crucial role in driving change by implementing water-saving technologies and adopting sustainable practices. Raising awareness and providing information to the public is essential for behavior change and water conservation. Government policy interventions, such as regulations and incentives, are necessary to facilitate the adoption of water-saving technologies. Collaboration between consumers, businesses, NGOs, and governments is key to managing water resources sustainably and equitably. Chapters 00:00 Introduction 00:30 Background in Water Preservation 09:20 Promising Water-Saving Technologies and Innovations 27:18 Barriers to Adoption and Awareness 28:16 Raising Awareness and Securing Buy-In 30:11 Role of Business in Driving Change 31:49 Education and Behavior Change 34:12 Government Policy Interventions 39:14 Lobbying for Change 44:59 Hope for Addressing Water Scarcity

Having been our first ever guest on The Smart Life back in 2019, Delta Dore’s Senior Area Manager John Bradford is back to chat with us in the final episode of Season III. He reflects on how much the industry has changed since he last appeared on our podcast, when we were still pre-pandemic, pre-energy crisis, pre-cost of living crisis… Against this backdrop, John discusses how much our attitudes towards technology are shaped by the stages of life we find ourselves in, which means as a result, the industry is growing up seemingly at the same time as the consumer. Maybe it’s because they’re both sleep-deprived parents of young children, or maybe they’re onto something. But in our latest episode, it’s safe to say John and Sophie really took this metaphor of watching the smart home age in real time, and ran with it. They discuss the challenges for an industry still relatively in its infancy, and if it's ageing in real time, how do we coach it now to ensure a smooth transition into adolescence and adulthood beyond? This and much more was the topic of conversation in our latest episode of The Smart Life, a smart home and internet of things podcast from Beacon Agency.

Throughout Adam Williams’ career has been an abiding passion for enabling technology that positively impacts on the way we live.  Adam has over 25 years experience in delivering growth for new technology businesses across the UK and Europe.  From a background with global companies including Samsung and Sony, he has broad expertise in the connected home space, including SmartThings, Enjoy Technology, Lightwave RF, and Mila. Adam also has a long standing involvement with the Smart Homes and Buildings Association and is a board trustee of the Electrical Safety Board. In his current role as CEO of Hero Labs, Adam is helping to shape smart water management for a more sustainable future.  He sits down with Sophie to discuss why he thinks the smart home is not a category in its own right, but rather an education exercise. Because, he says, technology is only as good as the value that humanity can extract from it. Check out Episode 5 of The Smart Life now, a podcast that explores the latest in smart home and internet of things technology, from Beacon Agency.

John Steven has over two decades of experience in the home automation industry, and currently works as the EU Installer Channel Sales Director at tadoº, a leading smart thermostat and climate control company based in Munich. He has come a long way since his first job out of school, selling bikes in Halfords. But he says the spark that started there and has followed him throughout his career in consumer electronics has been the joy of selling to people.  He loves to inspire consumers on the benefits of products and to excite them about the potential good they can do for people’s lives.  Which is why he is so passionate about smart technology, because of its ability to put the needs of the individual at the heart of everything. This, and many more reasons, make him the perfect guest to sit down with Sophie in the latest episode of The Smart Life.