The Leaders in Tech Podcast

A fascinating conversation with Ryan Sherlock on leadership, high performance, and navigating one of the fastest-moving periods in tech. From building startups in the early 2000s to competing at an elite level in cycling and now leading at Intercom, Ryan shares the mindset and principles behind sustained success.In this episode, Ryan Sherlock & Neil discuss:His journey from early-stage startups to senior leadership in tech Lessons from elite cycling and how they translate into business and leadership Why focusing on one thing at a time is critical for achieving world-class results The power of consistently doing small things well over time How AI is radically changing how products are built and teams operate The reality of working in a fast paced, constantly evolving industry Intercom’s approach to product development, experimentation, and rapid iteration Leadership principles: staying calm under pressure, leading by example, and doing the hard work Building high performing teams through purpose, mastery, and autonomy The future of AI, software, and what it means for careers and businessesWe hope you enjoy

Martin sits down with India, co-founder of Linda AI an AI receptionist built for dental clinics.What we cover:- Why dental clinics miss up to 30% of calls- How Linda captures missed opportunities and boosts bookings- Acting as an “extra team member” for busy front desks- Reducing no-shows with AI call confirmations- Real examples of rescheduling and filling slots instantly- Why vertical AI is so powerful in healthcare- The story behind starting Linda AI- Building with co-founders and dividing roles- Raising €2.6M and scaling the business- The importance of focus when building a startup- How customer feedback shapes the product- Where AI in healthcare is headingWe hope you enjoy!

In this episode, we sit down with Gareth Cummings, CEO of eDesk, to explore his journey from startup engineer to leading a global AI-powered company transforming e-commerce customer support. Gareth shares honest insights on scaling tech businesses, acquisitions, and why AI is redefining how online brands engage with customers.This conversation dives into leadership, resilience, and building products that solve real commercial problems.In this episode, we discuss:- Gareth’s early path into technology and startups- Lessons from working in small companies vs large enterprises- What really happens during a tech acquisition- The transition from CTO to CEO- Building eDesk- How AI is transforming e-commerce customer support- The impact of fast response times on conversion rates- Scaling systems for peak periods like Black Friday- Using automation to reduce operational strain- The importance of customer data and sentiment insights- Why large companies struggle to move quickly- Where AI is heading next in online retailIf you’re interested in technology, leadership or the future of AI in business, this episode is packed with practical insight and real-world experience.We hope you enjoy the episode. 

In this episode, we sit down with the founders of Overpath Ross Keating and Dermot O'Connor to talk about what sales really looks like in an AI-first world.We unpack the real problems with modern sales, how AI is changing behaviour and how it will aid people and not replace people(for now). The conversation goes deep into co-founder dynamics, execution over ideas, fundraising reality, and what investors actually care about behind the scenes.We also explore the uncertainty around AI in sales roles, why SDRs are still being hired, what an AI-native sales leader looks like, and the biggest risks companies face when scaling.This is an honest, practical conversation for founders, operators, and anyone building in AI right now. Let us know what you think of this episode!

In this episode, we sit down with Eoin Greene, CTO of ESW, to explore what it truly means to grow, lead and win at scale. From developing leaders to navigating pressure, adapting across companies, and the impact of AI on modern leadershipIn This Episode:Eoin’s background & journey into tech leadership- Are leaders born or made? Eoin’s take on leadership development- When he realised he wanted to lead & the story of ESW’s growthHandling pressure & staying grounded hobbies, mindset, and switching offThe importance of stepping back as a leader and helping other leaders growESW’s tech success story, who they are and what makes the business workTransitioning between companies and adapting to new leadership challengesThe hardest parts of his role, wearing multiple hats- Communication across departments — coaching, challenges, and lessons learnedBeing yourself to create better communication and reduce tensionHow AI is changing leadershipWe hope you enjoy.

In This Episode:We sit down with Ian Kingston, a leadership coach with 30+ years of experience, to unpack the real truths behind purpose, energy, and influence. From powerful personal stories to practical leadership tools, this episode is full of insights you can apply right away.We discuss - How Ian builds trust with leaders over decades.- Why humour and storytelling are game-changers in business.- How to reignite your motivation when you’ve hit a wall.- The link between burnout, energy, and environment.- What “holistic leadership” really means in practice.- Why silence can be the most powerful leadership tool in the room.We hope you enjoy.

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On this episode of The Leaders in Tech Podcast, Martin sits down with Brian Dillon, Head of IT Strategy, Planning, and Architecture at the Central Bank of IrelandThey Discuss * Brian’s journey from Fineos to AIB, and now to the Central Bank of Ireland* The key lessons and skills he carried from Fineos into his role at AIB* His current role and priorities at the Central Bank* Thoughts on leadership — was he always a natural leader?* Cybersecurity challenges and the increasing sophistication of scams* The rise of AI and how it’s changing the future of jobs* How traditional banks are adapting to competition from fintech disruptors like Revolut* And plenty more...We hope you enjoy this thoughtful and engaging conversation.

On this episode, Neil sits down with Barry Brennan from Elkstone.Elkstone is Ireland’s leading Investment House, specializing in Entrepreneurs, Senior Executives, Institutional LPs, the Venture Community, and the Irish Diaspora.In this episode, Neil and Barry discuss:Barry’s early yearsHis education at Trinity and his move to London, where he worked on building sitesSpending 11 years at CitibankWho Elkstone is and what they doRed flags Barry notices in companies raising capitalIdentifying the best early-stage Irish companiesFundraising tips for companies looking to raise moneyManaging investor expectationsExamples of exits and what Elkstone aims forHow Ireland can better support new companiesTips on forming a board and the benefits it bringsWe hope you enjoy the episode!

On this episode Neil sits down with JP Howe, the COO of Oneview. Oneview provides innovative technology to enhance communication and engagement between patients and healthcare providers. On this Episode Neil and JP discuss, JPs early career before joining Oneview including Rynair What Oneview healthcare provide Breaking down the product and how it benefits the patient and care team Talking through the business model and the future plans of Oneview JPs experience in managing software development teams Tips on managing burnout JPs approach on building high performing teams Diversity within teams What motivates JP today What is Ireland like for building strong teams We hope you enjoy

In this episode, Martin interviews Mark, the CEO and co-founder of Solidroad, an innovative AI-powered coaching platform designed for customer-facing teams. Together, they dive deep into Mark's journey and the insights he's gained along the way. Topics they explore include: - Mark's early career at Intercom and what it taught him - The launch of his first business, GradGuide, and the valuable lessons he learned as a founder - Securing a 2 million equity investment and what it meant for his entrepreneurial path - The vision and strategy behind Solidroad - How Mark and his team are leveraging AI to drive impact and the future of AI in the workforce - The critical role of content creation for today’s businesses and why it’s more important than ever - What’s next for Solidroad and their ambitious goals for growth and innovation We hope you enjoy!

On this episode, Neil sits down with Thomas Milner Director of Engineering at Tenable and Data Platform Product Manager for Tenable One. Tenable is the exposure management company, exposing and closing the cybersecurity gaps that erode business value, reputation and trust We cover: - Thomas's unique path into technology and his early days at Irish Life - Balancing work with a nighttime degree and the advantages it brought - His transition into the world of data in online gambling - Climbing the ranks into managerial roles and the challenges of leadership - The importance of team collaboration and learning from peers - A dive into the world of telematics and its growing impact - An introduction to Tenable and what the company does - Building diverse, high-performing teams and fostering innovation - Tom’s involvement with CoderDojo, inspiring the next generation of coders - His thoughts on the current Irish tech landscape - And a forward-looking discussion on the future of AI This is a knowledge-packed conversation filled with practical advice and inspiring stories. We hope you enjoy!

In this episode, Martin sits down with Antonio Senatore, the CTO of VeChain, for an insightful conversation. They discuss: - What VeChain is and how it got started - The most exciting initiatives VeChain is currently pursuing - Developing sustainable applications that reward positive behaviour - Antonio's journey into a career focused on blockchain technology - Antonio's advice for recent graduates looking to enter the blockchain industry - What Antonio looks for when hiring new talent - The challenges in the adoption of Web3/blockchain and how Antonio believes they can be overcome This is a fascinating episode, and we hope you enjoy it!

Join us on this episode as Neil sits down with Russ Nemhauser, VP of Engineering at Learnupon, for an insightful conversation covering a range of topics: - Russ's background and journey so far - His experiences at Lynda.com and the transition to LinkedIn after its acquisition - The impact of becoming part of LinkedIn and adapting to the new corporate culture - Russ's drive for career growth and the lessons learned from overcoming professional challenges - The motivations behind his move to Ireland and his experiences at the Dublin office - An overview of his current role at Learnupon and his leadership approach - Insights on the role of compassion in effective leadership - A comparison of work cultures between the US and Ireland - The influence of the concept of Sanmitsu on Russ's professional life - The significance of cultivating a strong cultural code within an organisation We thoroughly enjoyed this episode and hope you find it just as engaging and informative!

In this episode, Martin sits down with David Crimmins. A profit-minded professional, David has driven revenue growth and market expansion by connecting mission, product, and service to untapped niches, successfully launching and marketing products for five companies across three sectors in three countries. Martin and David delve into a wide array of topics, including: - David's journey to numerous C-suite roles - How companies can cultivate the right culture - Marketing fundamentals - Transitioning from a managerial role to a more commercial, sales-focused position - David's advice for those looking to work in multiple industries throughout their careers - The biggest challenges David faced while building and scaling teams - His belief that every role within a company involves selling - David's opinions on Enterprise Ireland and the IDA - Leading fundraising rounds - The impact of remote working on the workforce - How David disconnects and unwinds - The importance of your network - Regrets or things he would have done differently - The best piece of business advice he's ever received This is a super insightful episode, and we hope you enjoy it!

On this episode Martin sits down CCO and founder of EdgeTier Bart Lehane. Martin and Bart discuss a range of points including What EdgeTier provides Where the idea came from Founders being involved in the commercial side early on in a businesses journey Leading a team Raising money Advice to a first time founder Barts thoughts on Ireland as a tech ecosystem EdgeTiers biggest challenges to date Figuring out what your good and bad at What Bart looks for in people What's the best piece of business advice Barts received Something Bart believes in others may not The importance of candour with team members. Barts biggest risk and inspiration We think this is a brilliant episode and hope you enjoy it!

On this episode Neil sits down CEO of Wayflyer Aidan Corbett. The Growth of Wayflyer to date is beyond impressive. Neil and Aidan discuss a range of things including Aidans youth and how do you believe it has influenced your path to where you are today? His college experience and interning in Washington DC Going to London to do an MBA The switch that caused Aidan to want to become an Entrepreneur Starting his first venture Kubicle Starting his second venture called Conjura How the idea of Wayflyer came about Fundraising and Aidans advice to other Entrepreneurs around fundraising The early days of a startup vs when you are established and at scale The toughest times at Wayflyer What the true Job of a CEO is Aidans view on Ireland in relation to building teams and companies What Aidan believes that others may not We think this is a brilliant episode and hope you enjoy it!

On this month's episode of the Leaders in Tech Podcast, we're celebrating International Women's Day with our guest Mary O'Connor CIO of ESB. Neil and Mary have an insightful conversation spanning a range of pivotal topics: Mary's authentic journey from education choices, including her time at Trinity College, to her current role at ESB The evolution of Mary's career path leading to her position as Chief Information Officer (CIO) Insights into navigating change and disruption within the tech landscape Strategies for building and leading high-performing teams The delicate balance between fostering innovation and maintaining stability in tech leadership Effective communication techniques crucial for success in the field Mary's perspective on the role of diversity and inclusion in shaping tech leadership Addressing the pressing issue of female underrepresentation in senior technology management roles Advice and encouragement for minority groups aspiring to reach CIO/CTO positions A glimpse into the future of work in the tech industry Metrics defining success in tech leadership The significance of innovation ecosystems and collaborative efforts ESB's commitment to decarbonisation within Ireland and the crucial role of data and technology in achieving this ambitious goal We hope you Enjoy!

On this episode, Neil sits down with Shane Keating, Chief Data Officer of Ardonagh Labs. They discuss the following throughout: Shane's education His early career and why he ultimately pursued business technology  leadership The steps he took to become a senior technology leader His leadership philosophy The importance of promoting diversity in the workforce The story of the Ardonagh group Building the greenfield regional technology club that is Ardonagh Labs, Mullingar Shane's outlook on the current Irish Business Landscape We hope you enjoy!

Ronan Dowling-Cullen is Co-Founder of Bounce Insights Bounce Insights was born from a desire to make consumer research smarter, faster and more cost effective. In the podcast, Martin and Ronan delve into various topics, shedding light on: - The core functions of Bounce Insights - The inception story of the company - Innovative solutions to industry challenges - The advantages of having former founders as investors - Comparisons between working from home and in-office settings - Strategic expansion plans, reaching from London and beyond - Emphasising the significance of a guiding North Star - Envisioning how Bounce Insights is poised to transform the landscape for consumer-facing brands. We really enjoyed this episode and hope you do to!

Patrick Condren is CTO of Glass lewis, Glass Lewis is a trusted ally for over 1,300 global investors, offering high-quality Proxy Paper research and the industry-leading Viewpoint proxy vote management solution. Martin and Patrick have a great conversation and discuss a range of things including - Glass Lewis: Significance and Importance - AI and Its Implications - Job Risks Related to AI - Advancements in Drone Technology - The Power of Taking Action - Success Without a Degree - Hybrid Working Models - The Marshmallow Test and Its Implications - Importance of Planning - Scaling Business Operations (Explained starting from 33:30) Let us know if you enjoyed!

On this Episode of the podcast, Martin sits down with Kealan Lennon the Founder and CEO of Clever Cards. CleverCards are digital Mastercards that you can order and receive Instantly! CleverCards enables businesses to make payments for all their business requirements. From paying out employee benefits like Incentives, Rewards, tax free Gifting to paying out consultants and freelancers. On this episode they discuss Earning 100k at 23  His company being acquired at the age of 30  How covid led to contactless payments advancing How to make your company attractive for selling Raising funds in this market  Clever cards partnering with Mastercard  Switching off Best business advice he's ever received The future for clever cards We hope you enjoy !

On this Episode, Neil sits down with Tom Hayes Group CTO at Permanent TSB They discuss a number of topics including Starting in AIB AI and technology that was being used back then Moving to Permanent TSB What his role entails. Transforming banking with Technology Regulation in banking The importance of trust His Leadership beliefs and style Hybrid working How it truly is all about people We hope you enjoy!

They discuss a number of topics including His 27 years in the business to date Leading big teams Covid being the hardest career years to date as a leader Doing the job that no one else wants The importance of understanding the tech when managing engineers The work he is doing now in Cubic Telecom What he looks for in his team Goal setting The concept of the infinite game We hope you enjoy

On this Episode, Martin sits down with Nadia Alramli , HubSpot They discuss a number of topics including Growing up in Syria Choosing computer science Self learning   Working in Activision The scale of call of duty Putting your job on the line for a project you believe in Moving to HubSpot Her role Is AI new or has it just become mainstream? Using Chat GPT in her personal time and using it correctly We hope you enjoy!

On this Episode, Martin sits down with Rich Barnwell, Partner at Delta Partners  They discuss a number of topics including Entrepreneurs and investing in them  Being the early stage investor in startups  What Rich looks for in founders  His career to date  Going from working in Jolt to starting DIGIT  The importance of knowing the space you want to go into  The reality of what getting VC Money means for a company  Hard work Investing in Irish startups  What his goals are now  We Hope you enjoy!

On this Episode, Martin sits down with David Kindlon, CEO of Eppione. Eppione is a Global employee benefits platform. They discuss a number of topics including - What Eppione provides. - The world of employee benefits. - Eppiones business intelligence tool - Davids background in insurance - Davids co-founders - Bringing the talents you don't have into the business - What the next 12/18 months look like now that Eppione have raised VC money. We hope you enjoy!

On this Episode, Neil sits down with Enda Kyne, Chief Technology and Operations Officer, FBD Insurance  We discuss a number of topics including Enda's early years and the signs of entrepreneurship Working in consulting  FBD Insurance  The insurance business Installing feedback culture as a leader  How feedback is a gift  The importance of listening  Family  Failure in business and the learnings from that.  Anne Heraty and the impact she had on Endas career    We hope you enjoy!

On this Episode, Martin sits down with Ashutosh Saxen, Senior director, Head of Europe engineering and site lead Ireland.  We discuss a number of topics including  What is Shippo?  How the pandemic affected Shippo and the world of e-commerce  How he views the Irish working culture  Setting team boundaries  The importance of Business travel Leadership  The importance of giving and receiving feedback  We hope you enjoy!

On this weeks episode Neil sat down with Colin Kennedy the CIO, Executive Director of DPD Ireland. Colin has had an amazing career, from starting his own business and selling that business, to being CIO of DPD Ireland. Neil and Colin chatted on his earlier years and what it took to Start and grow his business. They also talk about all things DPD, including the impact Brexit had on DPD, the digital transformation DPD has gone through since Colin started there, delivering 43 million parcels in 1 year and where DPD are putting there efforts into to make the company more sustainable.  We hope you enjoy! 

On this episode we talk to Wendy Harris, Head of EMEA at Gong.   We  discuss a number of topics including. Her journey to working at Goldman Sachs.   The resilience working at Goldman Sachs built.  What Wendy looks for when hiring someone and the importance of not being a "beige version of yourself"  Setting up in a new market and the need for a building mentality.   The best 2 pieces of advice she's received.   Her struggles with depression  ChatGPT and how the world is evolving.  Where Gong is going in the future as well as much much more    We hope you enjoy

On this episode we talk about Johns mindset in his early 20s, getting into the world of mobile development, working at MTT, letting your team learn by failing, what it means to be a CTO and Johns engineering principles for success. 

On this episode we talk with Oli Cavanagh, CEO and Co-founder of Strikepay. We discuss the world of cashless payments, finding product market fit and scaling Strikepay from 1k business users to being on track to hit 200k businesses. 

On this episode we talk about getting out of your comfort zone to accelerate growth, the importance of communicating your wins and the Aer Lingus digital transformation.

On this episode we speak to Graham Quinn, Vice President of Product Management at Guidewire Software. We talk about his early years trying to make it as a professional Golfer, his career, what he has learned about great leadership along the way and what going back to formal eduction has taught him. 

On this episode we speak to Olivia Leonard, Senior director of product marketing at Meta. We talk about her journey, the reality of running a business and working a full time job, the importance of your marketing strategy being holistic and the future of the Metaverse. 

On this episode we speak to Alan Molloy, the chief product officer with Fenergo. We talk about his journey, some lessons he's learned along the way and some things that perhaps he should have should have actioned early on in his career.

In this episode we talk to Mathew Coffey who co-founded Squid Loyalty an app that brings all your loyalty cards together. We talk about starting a business at a young age, the obstacles to date, constantly learning, being a leader and what the future looks like for Squid Loyalty.