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Our brand new podcast series takes a refreshing look at disruptive trends, strategies, and mindsets across business and technology. We will be joined by disruptors, change-makers and innovators from across the Chief Disruptor Community, including blue-chip organisations, startups, scale-ups as well as the public sector.

Perfect for your commute to work or to accompany your WFH morning coffee, tune in for founder stories within the will-writing industry, laying out the future of work within a large financial institution and everything in between.

Episode 14: British Army Strategic Defence Review Briefing with Major General Jon Swift OBE, Assistant Chief of the General Staff

The 2025 Strategic Defence Review (SDR) recommended that the British Army:

  • Must modernise the two divisions and the Corps HQ that it provides to NATO. The Allied Rapid Reaction Corps should be enabled by, and command, Corps-level capability. The 1st Division should comprise a fully deployable Headquarters: 4, 7 and 16 Brigades with armoured and mechanised capabilities, support brigade, and associated enablers.
  • Must accelerate the development and deployment of its new ‘Recce-Strike’ approach—combining existing capabilities and technologies, such as armoured platforms, with constantly evolving technology. It should be bolder in its ambition, seeking to increase lethality ten-fold.
  • Must evolve its mix of Regulars and Reserves, with a minimum of 100,000 soldiers, of which 73,000 are Regular. An uplift in Regular personnel of 3000 troops has been directed, while the Army should benefit from the proposed 20% increase in Active Reserve numbers.
  • Should focus the current Active Reserve only on tasks that it can deliver well and with value for money.
  • Must reconnect to its Strategic Reserve as a core aspect of military mobilisation planning. SJC should command all UK military support to national resilience and be resourced accordingly. It should also lead wider efforts to reconnect Defence with society, as part of a ‘whole-of-society’ approach to deterrence and defence.

Major General Jon Swift OBE, Assistant Chief of the General Staff discusses what these changes mean for the British Army and how they will be implemented in this episode of the Chief Disruptor podcast.

 
 

Episode 13: Royal Air Force Strategic Defence Review Briefing with Air Marshal Paul Lloyd CBE, Deputy Chief of the Air Staff

The 2025 Strategic Defence Review (SDR) recommended that the Royal Air Force:
  • Transition from exclusively crewed combat air platforms to a mix of crewed, uncrewed, and increasingly autonomous platforms, integrated into the UK’s digital targeting web
  • Further enhance its agility and adaptability to build greater warfighting readiness
  • Drive greater productivity to enhance its resilience
The report further recommended that in the Space Domain the MOD:
  • Invest in the resilience of UK military space systems with a focus on space control, decision advantage, and capabilities that support the ‘Understand’ and ‘Strike’ functions.
  • Seek partners to develop a next-generation, overhead, persistent intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance capability in support of Integrated Air and Missile Defence in the Euro-Atlantic.
 Air Marshal Paul Lloyd discusses what these changes mean for the RAF and how they will be implemented in this episode of the Chief Disruptor podcast.
 

Episode 12: Scaling Intelligence: The Agentic AI Factory Model with Vikas Goel, AI Strategy & Transformation Leader

In this episode of The Chief Disruptor Podcast, our founder Emma Taylor speaks with Vikas Goel, Generative and Agentic AI Leader at PA Consulting, about how enterprises can move beyond experiments with AI and begin scaling intelligence through the Agentic Factory model. Drawing on decades of experience delivering digital transformation across global industries, Vikas shares a practitioner’s perspective on what it takes to operationalise the autonomous enterprise securely, responsibly and at scale.
 
Emma and Vikas explore the Gen AI Paradox, the importance of trust and governance in agent adoption, and why building a factory model with pillars such as the Agent Foundry, Observability, and Governance is essential for industrialising AI. They also discuss how Agentic AI will reshape roles, workflows and collaboration, how it complements but differs from RPA, and the platform capabilities and strategic choices that will define the intelligent enterprise.
 

Episode 11: Royal Navy Strategic Defence Review Briefing with Vice Admiral Sir Martin Connell KCB CBE, Second Sea Lord

Under the SDR, the Royal Navy is to play a new, leading role in securing the UK's critical undersea infrastructure and maritime traffic, working with industry to develop novel capabilities; and also continue its transformation for the 21st century maritime domain as part of an Integrated Force.
 
The Second Sea Lord, Vice Admiral Sir Martin Connell KCB CBE, told us more about the Royal Navy's plans for this in this episode of the Chief Disruptor podcast.
 

Episode 10: Reimagining Leadership, Identity & Education Through the Nomadic Mindset with Anthony Willoughby, Founder of the Nomadic School of Business

In this episode of The Chief Disruptor Podcast, our founder Emma Taylor sits down with Anthony Willoughby, explorer, adventurer, and Founder of the Nomadic School of Business, to rethink the very foundations of leadership and identity. Anthony’s extraordinary journey from growing up in Africa to living decades in Japan and learning directly from indigenous and nomadic communities has shaped a radical new approach to leadership. One that values curiosity over control, purpose over process, and instinct over instruction. Together, Emma and Anthony explore how nomadic wisdom can help leaders navigate complexity, reconnect with purpose, and rebuild trust in a world of growing disconnection. From Territory Mapping to the power of metaphor, this conversation dives deep into how we can shift from rigid systems to more adaptive, human-centred ways of leading. If you’ve ever felt stuck in a system that no longer fits, this episode offers a compelling invitation: to rediscover leadership as a journey, one guided not by titles or metrics, but by story, instinct, and shared fire.
 

Shubham Agarwal, AI Researcher, University of Manchester

Episode 9: Moneyball 2.0: How is AI Reimaging the World of Sport? with Shubham Agarwal, AI Researcher, University of Manchester

On Episode 9 of the Chief Disruptor Podcast, we are joined by Shubham Agarwal, an Artificial Intelligence Researcher at the University of Manchester. Shubham has experience in academic research, sports analytics and healthcare at The University of Manchester, Blackpool FC and ZS Associate, respectively. In the episode, Shubham and I explore two of his great interests sport and AI. Many will be familiar with high-profile examples such as the Oakland Athletics or Brentford FC, but now, AI could unlock untapped potential for the world of sport, both on and off the pitch. We explore the history of technology in sport, current and future use cases for AI and Shubham offers up an extremely practical disruptive thought of the day.
 
“In the following decades, there have been so many advancements in computing and storage capacity, and sports teams have now collected so much data. But at this point, it is just data! It is not knowledge! This is where Machine Learning and AI are stepping in. I like to say that it is a pot of gold that hasn't been explored yet!”

General Sir Patrick Sanders, Chief of the General Staff, British Army

Episode 8: The British Army Digital and Data Plan with General Sir Patrick Sanders, Chief of the General Staff, British Army

On Episode 8 of the Chief Disruptor Podcast, we are joined by the Head of the British Army, General Sir Patrick Sanders. As the professional head of the British Army, CGS has responsibility for developing and generating military capability from an integrated Army of Regulars and Reservists, and for maintaining the fighting effectiveness, efficiency and morale of the Service. The episode includes a recording of his keynote address at the Army Digital and Data Conference which Chief Disruptor ran in partnership with the British Army. CGS reflects on the launch of the inaugural Army Digital and Data Plan which sets out the Army’s vision of becoming a data-centric, digitally optimised Army by 2030. Here is a snippet of what to expect:
 
“To remain competitive, the British Army must capitalise on the most recent advances in data and digital technology. This is not just the business of specialists. Our ability to exploit data, compete and protect ourselves in the electromagnetic spectrum is the responsibility of the whole force – down to the very lowest level."
 

Ben Holt, Global Lead for Strategic Foresight at IFRC Solferino Academy

Episode 7: Exploring the Future: Strategic Foresights, AI and Watches with Ben Holt, Global Lead for Strategic Foresight at IFRC Solferino Academy

This week, we welcome Ben Holt, Global Lead for Strategic Foresight at IFRC Solferino Academy. In his role, Ben consults across different Red Cross and Red Crescent societies worldwide, helping them make sense of their massively uncertain and volatile environments. In this episode, we explore strategic foresight at the Red Cross, its application across industries and, ultimately answer what is and what isn’t strategic foresight. We also offer up a working example looking at the future AI, its widescale uptake and societal impacts and, as always, Ben shares with us his disruptive thought of the day. In addition to his role at the Red Cross, Ben is a Visitor at the Cambridge University Centre for the Study of Existential Risk (CSER) and a member of the Association of Professional Futurists.
 

Dr Candice Schaefer, Head of Employee Health & Performance at Spring Health and Former Global Head of Employee Wellness at Twitter

Episode 6: Flexible Working and Employee Wellbeing with Dr Candice Schaefer, Head of Employee Health & Performance at Spring Health and Former Global Head of Employee Wellness at Twitter

 We welcome Dr Candice Schaefer, Head of Employee Health & Performance at Spring Health and Former Global Head of Employee Wellness at Twitter. Candice has a unique perspective on workplace well-being as a licensed psychologist and is a highly sought-after speaker and thought leader on the future of work. The discussion, with Chief Disruptor Managing Director and Founder Emma Taylor, is taken from a series of in-depth interviews focusing on the long-lasting implications of changes in the way we work. The episode offers unique insight into what it's like to work at pre-Elon Musk Twitter, thoughts on the current news surrounding the tech giant and explores strategies for building resilience, preventing burnout, and improving the employee experience.
 

 Mark Cliffe, Visiting Professor at LIBF and Independent Advisor and ex-Chief Economist at HSBC and ING Group

Episode 5: Revisiting ‘Pandenomics’ 2 Years On with Mark Cliffe, Visiting Professor at LIBF, ex-Chief Economist at HSBC and ING Group, and Chief Disruptor Members' Advisory Board member.

We welcome Mark Cliffe, Visiting Professor at LIBF, ex-Chief Economist at HSBC and ING Group, and Chief Disruptor Members' Advisory Board member. Back in 2020, Mark published a piece of work entitled “Pandenomics: How Covid-19 could change the world” which predicted how the external environment would look in a post-pandemic world. In this episode, we revisit these predictions, analyse them within our current economic, geopolitical and technological context and consider their significance to organisations today. For those looking to make sense of our uncertain external environment, this is not one to be missed!
 

Laura Rosenberger, Co-Founder at Laylo

Episode 4: Making Boxed Wine Great Again with Laura Rosenberger, Co-Founder at Laylo

We welcome Laura Rosenberger, Co-Founder at Laylo. With an aim of changing the way the world drinks wine, Laylo is redefining our understanding of boxed wine through bespoke, sustainable packaging and high-quality product. The episode explores changing customer trends around drinking, the challenges of a growing D2C business, the sustainability of the wine industry and, as always, provides our disruptive thoughts of the day. Laylo is a great example of how combining purpose with disruptive thinking can alter the landscape of a well-established market; that’s what disruption is all about!

 

Nick Rosa Metaverse Strategy and Extended Reality Lead, Accenture

Episode 3: Demystifying the Metaverse with Nick Rosa, Metaverse Strategy and Extended Reality Lead, Accenture

We were joined by Nick Rosa, Metaverse Strategy and Extended Reality Lead, Accenture. Over 20+ years, Nick has combined his passion for gaming and immersive experiences with his digital transformation expertise gained at Google, Spotify, IBM IX, Yahoo!, and Atari. Now, at Accenture, he is helping organisations leverage opportunities presented by one of the most disruptive and hype-fuelled technologies: the metaverse. This episode explores the driving forces behind the growth of the metaverse, analyses the scepticism and mystery that is present across the business, media and public domains, highlights the importance of addressing interoperability and provides some predictions for the future.


 

 

 

 

Josh Reynolds, Future Workplace Adoption Lead at Lloyds Banking Group

Episode 2: Preparing for the Future of Work with Josh Reynolds, Future Workplace Adoption Lead at Lloyds Banking Group

We were joined by Josh Reynolds, Future Workplace Adoption Lead at Lloyds Banking Group. Josh joined the people function group at Lloyds Banking Group during the pandemic and was involved in defining their hybrid, hub and home working strategy and, more recently, has been tasked with bringing the ‘vibe’ back to the office. Together, we explore the link between disruption, innovation and people, workplace tech, the role of the office and the workplace of the future.

Dan Garrett, CEO and Co-Founder, Farewill

Episode 1: How to Disrupt an Age-Old Industry with Dan Garrett, CEO and Co-Founder at Farewill

We were joined by Dan Garrett, CEO and Co-Founder at Farewill. Farewill was founded in 2015 with the aim to make death simpler, more affordable and customer-centric. Through offering innovative products, such as online will-writing and direct cremation, and a customer experience that differs vastly from the type offered by solicitors and funeral directors, Farewill is now the UK’s favourite will-writer. We explore purpose-led disruption, the formative years for founders and inventors, challenging norms around the death industry through customer-centricity and running a hyper-growth start-up.