non technical founder

There are plenty of articles about digital transformation.

But big change can only be successful if the individuals in the organisation are also enthusiastic and knowledgeable about it.

Structural change without individual change does not work.

In this episode, you will learn how asset management CEO Musi Skosana approached digital transformation at his fund and what he did to hone his own digital mindset.

In this episode, you will learn:

• Why the fund management industry needs digitisation
• The biggest difference between the fund management mindset and the digital one
• Why Musi Skosana became a Tech for Non-Techies client

We love hearing from our readers and listeners. So if you have questions about the content or working with us, just get in touch on info@techfornontechies.co

 

Say hi to Sophia on Twitter and follow her on LinkedIn.

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10 years ago Silicon Valley venture capitalist Aileen Lee coined the term "unicorn" to describe a young company valued at over $1 billion. 

Back in 2013, there were just 39 unicorns in the US, and Lee's team researched what they did and who ran them. This list informed much of how we thought of successful tech start-ups.

The updated unicorn list has just come out and the differences are startling.

There are now 523 companies on the unicorn list (a 14x increase!).

Listen to this episode to learn:

• What most unicorn companies do today and who runs them
• Why there are more non-technical founders running unicorns than ever before
• What this change means for the tech ecosystem
• How to make the most of it for founders, investors and the professionals services firms who work with them

Resources mentioned in this episode:

1. Cowboy Ventures: Welcome Back to the Unicorn Club, 10 Years Later
2. Tech for Non-Techies podcast: 142. From dentist to tech founder

Take the course:

Tech for Non-Technical Founders

 

Listen here on Apple

Listen here on Spotify

Traditional industries, like banking, FMCG, and real estate have a fundamental difference to tech companies. If you do not understand this difference, or under-estimate it, you will not be able to thrive in digital transformation or work with tech start-ups.

In this episode you will learn what this core difference is and why it matters through two case studies: the traditional business and the tech company.

The concept you will learn in this episode is the underlying thesis behind:

• Design thinking
• Agile development
• Growth hacking

This episode is the first lesson in the 5 day free tech course for Business Leaders:

Get the FREE course - 5 Tech Concepts Every Business Leader Needs To Know

 

Design is often at the core for why products go viral or flop. But, how can you tell good design from bad right at the start? How do you hire the right people and avoid costly mistakes?

That’s what you’ll learn on this episode.

Learning notes:

• User experience designers, not developers, should be your first hire in the vast majority of cases.
• Learning how to use design software does not make you into a designer. Learning to use a kitchen knife does not turn you into a chef. This is the same logic.
• Great designers mix human psychology and the design process to make products that people want to use. The best designers are well versed in behavioural economics and human insight, not just tech tools.
• Great designers are partners, who question your assumptions and sometimes tell you that you are wrong. Someone who only agrees with you isn’t going to help make your product great.

Resources mentioned in this episode:

• Introduction to Design for Technology: Listen on Apple & Spotify
• Introduction to UX design for Non-Techies with Sang Valte (video)

To attend Tech for Non-Technical Founders in London on May 10 2022 in London, book your ticket here and use PODCAST to get 20% off the price.

 

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There are 2 ways to apply this work to your unique challenges:

For companies:

• If your company is going through digital transformation and you want your non-techie teams to be active participants

Then get in touch with us about bespoke training & consulting on info@techfornontechies.co

For individuals, if you want to:

• Build tech a venture as a non-technical innovator
• Succeed in tech as a non-techie

Then Tech For Non-Techies membership is for you.

 

We love hearing from our readers and listeners. So if you have questions about the content or working with us, just get in touch on info@techfornontechies.co

 

Say hi to Sophia on Twitter and follow her on LinkedIn.

Following us on Facebook and Instagram will make you smarter. 

How do you get to the top of a tech company as a non-technical professional? How can you drive innovation, when you’re not building the technology yourself?

That’s what you’ll learn from this interview with David Wells, ex CFO of Netflix and chair of the board at Wise.

Learning notes from this episode:

• “It’s called tech, or working in tech, but the entire economy is going to be this. So calling it tech is a little bit apocryphal at this stage,” David says.
• “Tech jargon distances people from the actual understanding of the concepts.” Learning core technology concepts is not as hard as the jargon has many believe.
• Learning what data scientists do and how to work with them is the best skill set to develop for business people in tech. “Data science is the analysis of the lifeblood of the company and you have to ask fundamental insight questions against it. You do not have to build the models yourself, but you are at an advantage if you understand how they work.”
• For a company that wants to innovate, there is no choice but to invest in risky projects that may not pay off. ”You have to be disciplined about spending x% on the next income generating thing.”
• “A company doesn’t suddenly go from loss making to profit making elegantly.” Growth company CFOs provide key metrics and steps to make that journey is as smooth as possible.

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There are 2 ways to apply this work to your unique challenges:

For companies:

• If your company is going through digital transformation and you want your non-techie teams to be active participants

Then get in touch with us about bespoke training & consulting on info@techfornontechies.co

For individuals, if you want to:

• Build tech a venture as a non-technical innovator
• Succeed in tech as a non-techie

Then Tech For Non-Techies membership is for you.

 

We love hearing from our readers and listeners. If you have questions about the content or working with us, just get in touch on info@techfornontechies.co

 

Say hi to Sophia on Twitter and follow her on LinkedIn.

Following us on Facebook and Instagram will make you smarter.