tfl

At Yesterday’s London Times, we are all about inquiry, questions and stories, particularly stories that are new to us or that we just want to know on a deeper level. We seek out people, places, and facets of history that are lesser known, quirkier, or even downright strange. We also like to shine a spotlight on those who really do - or have done - amazing things, but perhaps have been forgotten over time, or lost in the shuffle of a typical news cycle or history text. We especially love discovering stories about people who contribute to the collective good of humanity in some way. 

Early on in our  partnership, we (Jen and Mares) immediately recognized our common love and admiration for the London Underground, or Tube, for the Tube is something more than just the transportation system beneath our feet. It supplies life to the city of London, and with up to 5 million passenger journeys on any given day, it is the veins and arteries that allow all of the movement that keeps the city going and makes it such a special place.

Join us throughout the following year as we randomly choose destinations across the city to “visit”. We will virtually hop on the Tube and bring the city to your ears as we search for adventures around the stations of the iconic Underground map.  We will ask ourselves:

• Who lives here now? 
• Who has lived here in the past? 
• What are the stories that live within the streets of this area?
•  What do the people -  or perhaps the ghosts of former inhabitants - of this area want to teach us?
• What are some places to visit, what might I eat? 
• What is quirky or unique about this part of London? What can I learn from this area? 

The journey begins today. Where do you think the Tube will take us today?

As you listen, we invite you to follow along in our show notes to enhance your experience with us. 

Topics Discussed

• Renate's journey to leading the Insight Team at TFL (1:50)
• Navigating the team through a re-org (4:21)
• Annual goals, priorities and team collaboration (10:04)
• What is Renate most proud of her team achieving? (14:15)
• Maintaining the heightened profile for the Insight team post-pandemic (17:05)
• Challenges and success of a leadership role (19:58)

Highlights

• “This year, 2023, is the year of communication… That year everybody has an objective linked to that one thing. On top of the day-to-day and the project delivery, that everyone has objectives within their own development plans that is also speaking to that objective. That it's not my priority, it's a team priority. And that everybody understands how everybody kind of contributes to that.” (10:17)
• “That's how you get a seat at the table is by helping people out when they asked you. But obviously there's a balance in there. We can't then say yes to everybody, at all times. And how you continue to build that good reputation and that helpful reputation, without just doing other people's admin for them.” (12:53)
• “Suddenly, wanting to know what customers were thinking and doing and going to do next was the organization's number one priority and suddenly we were under pressure to deliver almost daily Insights and figures and facts.” (14:28)
• “It was a really useful exercise to review absolutely every single thing you do as a team and I think, by nature of doing that, I think it made us more focused and more kind of specific and deliberate in what we did and what we didn't do” (17:27)
• “It was realising that they don't need me to be the most experienced researcher. They need me to provide direction and vision and challenge, and that's my role.” (20:35)

This is episode 44 of the Transforming Insight podcast. 

If you have the ambition to transform your Insight team and the role it plays in your organisation, please tune in to future episodes. Not only will we explore the 42 secrets of successful corporate Insight teams as outlined in the Transforming Insight book, we will also talk to senior corporate Insight leaders, delve into books that have inspired us, and discuss new best practice research carried out with the IMA’s corporate members.

You won’t want to miss this! So please hit subscribe - and thank you for listening. 

About James Wycherley, the author of Transforming Insight

James Wycherley was Director of Customer Insight and Analytics at Barclays from 2005 to 2015 when he became Chief Executive of the Insight Management Academy (IMA). A popular keynote speaker and acknowledged expert on Insight leadership, strategy, and communication, he is the author of the book Transforming Insight: the 42 secrets of successful corporate Insight teams, and over 35 IMA publications. He has provided thought leadership in the UK, Western Europe, the USA, Canada, Australia, India, and the Middle East, and regularly hosts the IMA’s Insight forums - London, Manchester, UK Online and US Online.

The Insight Management Academy is the world’s leading authority on transforming Insight teams.

Resources: 

If you would like more information on any of the ideas discussed in this episode of the Transforming Insight podcast, please visit www.insight-management.org

Copies of James Wycherley’s book Transforming Insight: the 42 secrets of successful corporate Insight teams can be purchased direct from www.transforming-insight.com

Disclaimer

The Transforming Insight podcast is published by the Insight Management Academy and produced by Zorbiant.

All rights reserved               

The millwork industry is undergoing significant changes. In a candid conversation between Jacob Edmond and Sam Wall, they delve deep into the industry's future, sustainability, and the challenges faced by millworkers.

Guest bio:
Sam Wall started his career in the retail and building material industry, working at Ace Hardware and later at Home Depot. He then transitioned into the display division, where he excelled as a purchasing manager. Over time, Sam developed a passion for architectural millwork and joined USA Millwork. After the dissolution of USA Millwork, Sam ventured into sales and reached out to vendors for opportunities. He eventually connected with Wilson at the IWF show and has been with them since last October.

The Shift Towards Sustainability

• Sustainable Practices in Millwork: The industry is witnessing a growing emphasis on sustainability. Whether it's through FSC specs for lead certifications or manufacturers narrating their sustainable sourcing stories, the focus is clear.
• Wilsonart's Commitment: Leading the way, Wilsonart prides itself on its sustainability efforts. With more recyclable post-consumer content than any other laminate manufacturer, they are setting the benchmark for others to follow.

The Evolution of Products in Millwork

• Real Wood vs. Laminate: The industry is getting adept at making plastic laminate resemble real wood. This shift might reduce the heavy reliance on real wood veneer in the future.
• The Role of TFL: Thermally fused laminate (TFL) products, which are essentially melamine, offer a cost-effective and efficient alternative. With companies like Wilsonart producing both laminate and TFL in matching colors, the end product remains consistent in appearance.

Supply Chain Disruptions and Their Impact

• The Post-Pandemic Era: While the industry is slowly recovering from supply chain disruptions caused by the pandemic, the pricing of building materials might remain elevated for the foreseeable future.
• The Shift to Domestic Manufacturing: Due to various laws and import taxes, there's a potential shift towards more stateside manufacturing, benefiting the local economy.

The Role of Education in Millwork

• Understanding the Process: There's a need for better education within the millwork community. From understanding how a skyscraper's design flows from the owner to the architect and eventually to the shop, the entire process needs more transparency.
• Empowering Millworkers: Millworkers should see themselves as subject matter experts. This involves not just adhering to specs but also educating clients and suggesting better alternatives when necessary.

Looking Ahead: Predictions for the Next 5-10 Years

• Product Evolution: The end products might look and function the same, but the materials and processes used could undergo significant changes.
• Sustainability at the Forefront: With a growing emphasis on eco-friendly practices, sustainable alternatives to traditional materials might

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Tom is FURIOUS about the tube strikes but calms down enough to record an episode featuring the latest on UK-British relations, and FailMail with your weirdest and funniest teachers.

The modern city is changing. With 66% of the population expected to be living in cities by 2050, it's no surprise we're focusing our transformative efforts there. But if the tech's already here, what's the hold up?

Today, host Michael Bird is joined by HPE Chief Technologist Ian Henderson, Jen Hawes-Hewitt of the Smart London Board, and Kirk Bresniker, Chief Architect and Hewlett Packard Labs, to discover dichotomy of big dreams and logistical nightmares of getting smart city initiatives off the ground. We discuss the role of big data and the individual, why a siloed smart city is destined to fail, and how re-imagining cities post COVID might just bring about some much needed sustainable change.

The long show notes for this episode can be found here: https://community.hpe.com/t5/HPE-Blog-UK-Ireland/Smart-cities-Where-are-they/ba-p/7130047

Haunted tunnels, haunted stations, the London Underground has it all. This week hear the spooky tales from the people that work on the tube.

New artwork by Raymond Rowell:

www.projectravencreative.com

https://www.teepublic.com/en-gb/user/harleywarren

Contact the show at:

Instagram: idontknowthepodcast

Email: idontknowpod@outlook.com

Serial Spirits:  https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-serial-spirits/id1464367011

The Unbelievers Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-unbelievers-podcast/id1442178268

Ghost Hunting in New England: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/ghost-hunting-in-new-england/id1461473802

Intro music: https://www.bensound.com/royalty-free-music/cinematic

Music: "The Dread", "Classical Horror" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Closing music: Professor and the Madman "Electroconvulsive Therapy" http://www.professorandthemadman.com/

Many people want to see a bear but are too afraid of them to hike in the Rocky Mountains. These tips from a seasoned Yellowstone area hiker and hunter will calm your fears with knowledge so you can enjoy God's magnificent beautiful creation using the senses He gave you. A useful Tip For Life!

Graeme is TfL’s Commercial Development Director and is responsible for its land and property across the capital. This includes an Estate Management function that manages over 5,500 acres of operational land and over 30 offices buildings across London. 

Veganism has gone mainstream. And organisations are doubling down their efforts to attract vegan consumers.

How is it some companies have quickly adapted to these changing consumer needs and desires, while others have struggled to keep up with what people really want? With examples from Burger King to Greggs, and TFL to Uber, this inaugural episode of ChangeMakers looks at how companies are able to rapidly pivot whenever the direction of desire switches. 

ChangeMakers is the change podcast of BJSS Business Consulting. It is hosted by BJSS People & Change consultants Tom Silver and Becca Duncan. Visit us at bjss.com/business to learn more.

This week we talk transport. Whether it’s our daily commute, a weekend trip, or travelling abroad, we all depend on transport to get us from A to B. According to WWF’s carbon footprint calculator, travel makes up a whopping 35% of the average person’s environmental footprint. So what can we do to minimise our impact?

On today’s episode we want to dive into three things:

• The issue (with multiple different modes of transport) and relative impact on the environment 
• What industries and governments are doing about it
• What we can do about it

Listen in for our top practical tips.