The speed of technological change continues to race ahead at breakneck speed, but it will never move this slowly again.
In 2024, businesses and their emplo...
3159: How Smoothstack is Closing the IT Skills Gap
How can the tech industry close the widening skills gap while creating meaningful career opportunities for diverse talent? In this episode of Tech Talks Daily, I speak with John Akkara, CEO and co-founder of Smoothstack, a company on a mission to bridge the gap between IT education and real-world industry needs. John shares his inspiring journey—from an immigrant student on a tennis scholarship to a leader reshaping how tech talent is identified, trained, and deployed. His experiences with mentorship and career-defining opportunities now fuel his commitment to providing others with a clear pathway into technology careers. We discuss how Smoothstack’s Hire-Train-Deploy model is different from traditional education and bootcamps, simulating real-world project environments where trainees work in agile teams, participate in peer code reviews, and gain hands-on experience tailored to employer needs. John highlights the severity of the IT skills gap—where demand far outpaces supply—and explains how industries like cybersecurity and software development are being affected. Diversity and inclusion are core to Smoothstack’s approach, with a strong emphasis on increasing opportunities for underrepresented groups in tech. John discusses the company’s efforts to boost participation among women and individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds, as well as future plans to leverage remote work to expand access to tech careers in economically distressed areas. What will it take to build a more inclusive and sustainable tech workforce? Tune in to learn how Smoothstack is making a real impact, and share your thoughts on how businesses can rethink talent development in the digital age.
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3158: Redefining Payments with AI, Cloud, and Security: Inside Unzer’s Innovation
How is the future of payments evolving, and what role does technology play in shaping seamless, secure, and scalable financial transactions? In this episode of Tech Talks Daily, I explore these questions with Niv Liran, Chief Product and Technology Officer at Unzer, a company redefining payments across Europe by integrating cloud technology, AI, and security-driven innovations. Unzer has undergone a major transformation, unifying multiple acquired companies into a single, scalable platform, Unzer-1. Niv shares insights into this journey, explaining how consolidating payments infrastructure in the cloud has enabled greater agility, improved security, and ensured compliance in an increasingly regulated fintech landscape. He also highlights how Unzer’s approach to unified commerce is streamlining transactions for merchants, seamlessly bridging in-store, online, and mobile payments. We discuss how AI is playing a crucial role in fraud detection and payment security, helping businesses monitor user behavior, detect anomalies, and prevent cyber threats while minimizing friction for customers. As Europe accelerates toward a cashless economy, Niv provides perspectives on how evolving consumer habits, the rise of digital wallets, and innovations like SoftPOS are reshaping the industry. With a focus on localized payment solutions and deep regulatory expertise, Unzer is setting new standards in fintech. But as digital payments continue to evolve, how can businesses ensure they stay ahead of security challenges while providing seamless experiences for customers? Join us as we explore the technology behind modern payments and the future of commerce.
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3157: Quantum Meets High-Performance Computing: The Next Frontier in Tech
How can quantum computing move beyond theory and become a practical tool for businesses and researchers? In this episode of Tech Talks Daily, I explore this question with Michael Gleaves, a UK-based AI and quantum expert at Eviden, the Atos Group business specializing in advanced computing. Eviden has been at the forefront of quantum innovation, launching Qaptiva™, a quantum computing ecosystem designed to integrate real-world applications with classical high-performance computing. The company recently announced its first hosted quantum computer, offering both physical and remote access to organizations looking to experiment and develop quantum-powered solutions. Michael shares insights into the company’s partnership with IQM Quantum Computers and how this collaboration is helping to improve qubit stability, enhance optimization models, and make quantum computing more accessible across industries. We discuss real-world use cases where quantum computing is already showing promise, from optimizing logistics and financial modeling to accelerating materials science and chemical simulations. Michael also unpacks the challenges that businesses face in adopting quantum technologies, including the complexities of integrating quantum with existing HPC and AI workflows, translating real-world problems into quantum-compatible formats, and overcoming hardware limitations in the noisy intermediate-scale quantum (NISQ) era. As quantum computing transitions from research labs to operational environments, how can businesses gain a competitive edge by engaging with these emerging technologies today? Join us for this deep dive into the state of quantum computing, its near-term applications, and what the future holds for industries looking to harness its power.
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3156: From Siloed Data to Smarter Healthcare: The OMNY Health Approach
How can data and artificial intelligence reshape healthcare to create better patient outcomes? In this episode of Tech Talks Daily, I speak with Dr. Mitesh Rao, founder and CEO of OMNY Health, about his mission to build a more connected and collaborative healthcare system. With a background in emergency medicine and hospital leadership, he launched OMNY Health out of frustration with the siloed nature of healthcare data, which limits innovation and patient care. OMNY Health now represents data from nearly 80 million patients across the U.S., serving as a bridge between healthcare providers, researchers, and life sciences companies. Dr. Rao explains how his company is tackling some of the biggest challenges in healthcare—unifying fragmented data, ensuring compliance with privacy regulations, and providing a secure foundation for AI-driven advancements in medicine. We explore how this data network is enabling breakthroughs in precision medicine, pharmacovigilance, and clinical research, ensuring that new treatments are developed based on real-world evidence. Dr. Rao also shares insights on the role of AI in healthcare, the importance of diverse and representative data in training AI models, and how secure, compliant data-sharing can support the next wave of medical innovation. With plans to expand OMNY Health's network to 150 million patients, what does the future hold for healthcare data and AI-driven medicine? Join the conversation to find out, and share your thoughts on the role of data in transforming patient care.
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3155: How AEG is Redefining Recruitment in IT and Engineering
In this episode of Tech Talks Daily, I’m joined by Eric Ormson and Chris Rakel from AEG, an organization redefining how companies approach recruitment and workforce development. With years of experience in staffing specialized sectors like IT and engineering, Eric and Chris offer a fresh perspective on tackling the unique challenges of recruiting and retaining top technical talent in today’s competitive market. We discuss how the recruitment landscape has evolved into a global competition for talent, where remote work and changing employee expectations are reshaping how companies attract and retain their workforce. Eric and Chris highlight why outdated recruiting methods, like relying solely on passive job postings, are no longer effective and how companies must focus on authenticity, transparency, and alignment with personal values to win over high-demand candidates. For startups and companies in growth mode, we explore practical strategies to compete for technical talent in a crowded market. From budgeting 20% more for labor costs to adopting contract-to-hire and fractional employee models, Eric and Chris emphasize the importance of flexibility and a clear vision. They also discuss how AEG has successfully tripled its size since 2019 by emphasizing long-term value, meaningful connections, and a consultative approach in staffing. As the conversation unfolds, we examine how company culture plays a critical role in attracting and retaining talent. With employees seeking more than just compensation, the focus has shifted toward fostering alignment with organizational goals and delivering on cultural promises. We also dive into how AI and automation are reshaping recruitment processes, balancing the efficiency of technology with the irreplaceable value of the human touch. How can companies navigate the future of recruitment while staying authentic, adaptable, and people-focused? Tune in to discover actionable insights and strategies to help your organization thrive in the evolving world of workforce development.
The speed of technological change continues to race ahead at breakneck speed, but it will never move this slowly again.
In 2024, businesses and their employees will be expected to get to grips with AI, Machine Learning, Quantum Computing, Extended Reality, Cloud Computing, Edge Computing, Sustainable Tech, Green Computing, Cybersecurity, 5G, Blockchain, Crypto, IoT, Autonomous Everything, Human Augmentation, Data Sovereignty, Privacy, AI ethics and the Digital Transformation of everything.
Navigating these uncharted digital waters can feel daunting and overwhelming for business leaders, IT teams, and employees in every sector. Especially when scrolling down newsfeeds full of hype, buzzwords, and confusing technical jargon/acronyms. Does this sound familiar? Welcome to Tech Talks Daily, a podcast uniting business and technology.
Tech Journalist Neil C. Hughes brings you the latest insights into business technology, digital transformation, and the evolving business landscape and IT. This technology podcast focuses on real-world applications and business strategies around digital transformation.
From AI's impact on business operations to navigating the complexities of cloud computing and cybersecurity, Neil explores how technology reshapes industries and redefines personal and business success in 2024.
The lineup of guests includes tech leaders, CEOs, entrepreneurs, visionaries, and even the occasional celebrity who has walked the path of tech innovation. High-profile guests share their startup stories, their journey through digital transformation, and how technology has revolutionized their businesses and lives.
Whether you want to understand how to harness technology for business growth or stay informed, Tech Talks Daily is your daily dose of inspiration and insight. Join the conversation and be part of a community shaping the future of business and technology.