Starts at the Top Podcast

Episode 91 - Chris Sherwood, Chief Executive of the NSPCC

Keeping Children Safe Online: AI, the Online Safety Act, and Leadership with Lived Experience

We chat to Chris Sherwood, Chief Executive of the NSPCC

 

This week we're thrilled to bring you the first of two special episodes focused on the Online Safety Act – a topic that's hitting the headlines right now as Ofcom investigates Elon Musk's X and its AI tool Grok for potentially generating indecent images.

We sat down with Chris Sherwood, the brilliant Chief Executive of the NSPCC, who brings over 20 years of voluntary sector experience and a deeply personal connection to child protection – Chris contacted Childline himself as a child. Now he's leading one of the UK's most important charities at a pivotal moment for online safety.

This is a powerful conversation where we discuss:

• Why the Online Safety Act matters now: Chris explains why Ofcom needs to "show teeth" and use its full range of powers to hold tech companies accountable

• The AI Wild West: From AI enabled sextortion of young boys to AI-generated child abuse material

• Leading with lived experience: How Chris's own childhood experience shapes his leadership and why having proper support networks matters

• Why safety can't rest on parents' shoulders: The case for tech companies designing safety in from the start, not as an afterthought

• AI opportunities at NSPCC: How the charity is using technology to deepen supporter relationships and better understand children's experiences through Childline data

Paul and Zoe discuss the ICO's new report on agentic AI and the data protection considerations leaders need to keep front of mind, plus KPMG's bold move to rate staff on how effectively they use AI in performance reviews – a signal that AI literacy is becoming a core professional skill.

This is essential listening for anyone who cares about child safety, responsible AI, or leading with authenticity and purpose.

 

Show Notes & Links

NSPCC Child Safety Online Taskforce Report with Baringa – Research showing online safety influences consumer choices

ICO Tech Futures: Agentic AI Report

KPMG AI Use Metric: A Necessary Professional Services Wake-up Call

Common Sense Media – NSPCC's US partner on keeping children safe online

Please leave us a review if you enjoy what you hear!

Editing and production - Paul Thomas

Music by Joseph McDade https://josephmcdade.com/music

Full transcript of this episode (srt file)

Full transcript of this episode (.txt file)

Transcripts are also available through your podcast app.

Episode 90 - Ali Paul, Product Lead for Chatbots and Gen-AI at Flo Health App

Creating the Conditions for Innovation

We chat with Ali Paul, Lead Product Manager for Chatbots and Generative AI at Flo Health

In our final episode of 2025, we're thrilled to share our conversation with Ali Paul, Lead Product Manager for Chatbots and Generative AI at Flo Health – the world's number one women's health app with over 420 million users globally.

Ali oversees Flo's chatbot development, content platforms and AI product teams, and she joins us to share her insights on how leaders can create the best conditions for innovation in their teams. We discuss how Flo is pioneering the use of generative AI in women's health, the challenges of developing medically safe LLM-based products, and why a democratised approach to AI adoption has been key to Flo's success.

Before our chat with Ali, Paul and I share some reflections on 2025 – from AI trends and what they might mean for 2026, to our Navigating AI Transformation leadership walk in Richmond Park with James and Anni (coming back in April!), and of course, our music highlights of the year.

What We Cover

• How Flo is using AI for both productivity and user-facing product development

• The unique challenges of creating a medically safe LLM for women's health

• Why Flo has taken a democratised, entrepreneurial approach to AI adoption

• The evolution from startup to scale-up and creating empowered product teams

• How marketing skills transfer brilliantly to product management

• Ali's advice on authenticity and finding what truly matters in your career

• Our 2025 reflections and predictions for AI in 2026

About Ali Paul

Ali Paul is Lead Product Manager for Chatbots and Generative AI at Flo Health, overseeing chatbot development, content platforms and AI product teams. With a background spanning Cancer Research UK, Bupa and various innovation and ventures teams, Ali brings a wealth of experience in health tech and product development. She's a speaker on product, health tech and femtech, and is passionate about using technology to empower women to advocate for their own health.

Charities – Get in Touch!

Ali mentioned opportunities for charities to partner with Flo, particularly around scientific and research collaborations, and CSR initiatives supporting women's health in countries with poorer health infrastructures. If you're interested, drop Zoe an email at zoe@zoeamar.com and she'll connect you with the right people at Flo.

Show Notes & Links

• Flo Health app https://flo.health/

• McKinsey article on AI skills gaps on boards https://www.mckinsey.com/capabilities/mckinsey-technology/our-insights/the-ai-reckoning-how-boards-can-evolve?stcr=BEC99EF56EC8494CA58588D24EDEB808&cid=mgp_opr-eml-alt-dna_mt-mgp-glb--&hlkid=93af2160e2db48bfa3565b306d4b54c4&hctky=10286975&hdpid=25c51be9-100a-42fd-8d20-d7ea12d337a7

• Charity AI Task Force (co-chaired by Zoe with Dan Sutch of CAST) https://www.wearecast.org.uk/our-work/how-we-work-with-funders-and-partners/charity-ai-task-force/

Editing and production - Paul Thomas

Music by Joseph McDade https://josephmcdade.com/music

Full transcript of this episode (srt file)

Full transcript of this episode (.txt file)

Transcripts are also available through your podcast app.

 

Episode 89 - Tony Zona, Chief Data Office at Grant Thornton UK

The AI Trojan Horse: A Chief Data Officer’s Secrets to Leading Culture Change

We chat with Tony Zona, Chief Data Officer at Grant Thornton

 

In this episode, we chat with Tony Zona, the Chief Data Officer at Grant Thornton UK. We talk about leadership, data, and the cultural shift required to unlock the value of AI.

Tony’s 25-year journey at Grant Thornton, evolving from a tax trainee to becoming the firm’s first ever Chief Data Officer in 2022, is a masterclass in adaptability and innovation.

He offers a brilliant, people-focused perspective on data-led transformation, famously comparing siloed business units to different Italian dialects—and how his work has been about creating a common, understandable ‘business language’ for the firm’s 5,000+ people.

What You’ll Learn:

• The Trojan Horse Strategy: Why Tony advises leaders to not talk about data, but instead use the excitement of AI as a Trojan Horse to secure buy in for essential foundational work like data literacy and governance.

• Mindset Shift: Grant Thornton’s 3D Initiative: Tony details the firm’s unique, multi million pound 3D (Data Driven Digital Mindset) programme—designed to move beyond typical training by fostering a cultural shift and measurable outcomes among leaders and associates.

• Data as a Feedback Loop: Discover how Grant Thornton turns data recording from an overhead into a self-perpetuating, value-driven loop by connecting high quality data directly to a leader’s top priorities, like forecasting and profitability.

• Lessons for All Leaders: Tony shares practical takeaways for resource constrained leaders—especially those in the third sector—on how to start small, focus on core business values (like saving lives, not just profitability), and celebrate the ‘data wins’ to spark a data literate culture.

Before the interview, Zoe and Paul offer a considered appraisal of the UK AI skills report, discussing the dangers of a widening gap between the 'haves' and 'have nots' and the critical challenge of consistent implementation across all sectors, from top accountancy firms to grassroots charities.

A must listen for any leader struggling to translate the excitement of AI into practical, sustainable organisational change.

 

Show notes

Government AI Skills Framework https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/ai-skills-for-the-uk-workforce

Editing and production - Paul Thomas

Music by Joseph McDade https://josephmcdade.com/music

Full transcript of this episode (srt file)

Full transcript of this episode (.txt file)

Transcripts are also available through your podcast app.

 

Episode 88 - Helen Milner OBE and Katie Ghose - Empowering Digital Inclusion

Collaboration for change: The Digital Services Consortium

We chat to Katie Ghose CEO at KIDS and Helen Milner OBE, Group Chief Executive of Good Things Foundation

 

In this conversation, Zoe and Paul chat to charity leaders Helen Milner OBE and Katie Ghose to discuss the critical importance of digital inclusion, including its impact on disabled children and their families.

Helen and Katie highlight the pioneering work of the Digital Services Consortium, an innovative alliance of twelve charities collaborating to design and deliver essential digital services and support. The discussion delves into the seismic shift caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and how it both accelerated the need for and exposed the severe barriers to technology access faced by marginalised communities.

This episode is a must-listen for all charity and cross-sector leaders, covering:

• The impact of digital exclusion on mental health and social connections.

• The significance of charity collaboration and community support in achieving social justice.

• Practical advice for charity leaders on embedding digital inclusion in their strategies.

• The crucial role of continuous feedback from users in improving service delivery.

• A glimpse into the future, exploring the transformative potential of AI and technology in closing the digital divide.

Join us to learn how these leaders are working to ensure a world where everyone can benefit from digital.

Zoe and Paul also discuss AI developments including the UK government’s new AI Skills Framework.

 

KIDS charity https://www.kids.org.uk/

Digital Services Consortium https://www.kids.org.uk/digital-services-consortium/

Good Things Foundation https://www.goodthingsfoundation.org/

Resources from Good Things Foundation:

https://www.goodthingsfoundation.org/our-services/national-digital-inclusion-network

https://www.goodthingsfoundation.org/our-services/national-databank

Channel 4 Dispatches programme on AI (Guardian story)

https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2025/oct/21/channel-4-first-ai-presenter-dispatches?

Government AI Skills Framework https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/ai-skills-for-the-uk-workforce

Editing and production - Paul Thomas

Music by Joseph McDade https://josephmcdade.com/music

Full transcript of this episode (srt file)

Full transcript of this episode (.txt file)

 

Transcripts are also available through your podcast app.

Episode 87 - Eleanor Tweddell - Another Door Opens: How to Navigate Change

Another Door Opens: How to Navigate Change with Eleanor Tweddell

We speak to Eleanor Tweddell, executive coach, change consultant, keynote speaker and author.

We’re back for our new season with an amazing new episode! We chat to Eleanor Tweddell, executive coach and author of “Another Door Opens: Five Steps for Navigating Change in Life and Work”

Eleanor Tweddell joins Zoe and Paul to explore how leaders can face change with more calm, courage and agency. From building the habit of pause to working with the “change monsters” that derail us, Eleanor shares practical ways to turn micro-shifts into momentum, at work and in life. We also discuss how leaders can communicate well through AI-driven uncertainty without fuelling fear or dependency.

Eleanor is an executive coach, change consultant, keynote speaker and founder of Another Door. After two decades in senior corporate roles, she now helps individuals, teams and organisations navigate transformation with clarity and care. Her new book, Another Door Opens, reframes change as a skill you can practise every day.

Through her grounded, energising approach, Eleanor covers essential lessons for anyone leading (or living) through change:

• Why good change starts by stopping—and how to make “pause” practical, not indulgent

• Micro vs. macro change: building “change mastery” with everyday habits that stick

• Working with the “change monsters”: using regret, procrastination and resistance as data, not drama

• From anxiety to agency: telling the difference between worthless worry and worth-it worry

• Leading through AI turbulence: clear comms, healthy boundaries and designing rest into programmes

• Project cadence that lasts: scheduling step-outs so teams return with fresher thinking and energy

Eleanor’s new book, “Another Door Opens: Five Steps for Navigating Change in Life and Work,” is available now in all good bookshops and online. Paul also mentions Eleanor’s live read-along series covering the book chapter by chapter.

Zoe and Paul discuss tech and AI news, from the recent internet outage to AI veganism and AI psychosis.

 

Notes

Eleanor’s website - https://www.eleanortweddell.com/

Another Door Opens book - https://www.eleanortweddell.com/another-door-opens

Eleanor’s LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/eleanor-tweddell/

Read-along series sign-up/info

AI psychosis BBC - https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c24zdel5j18o

Flesh and Code podcast - https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2025/jul/14/flesh-and-code-is-an-utterly-jaw-dropping-listen-best-podcasts-of-the-week 

AI veganism - https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2025/aug/06/meet-the-ai-vegans 

 

Editing and production - Paul Thomas

Music by Joseph McDade https://josephmcdade.com/music

Full transcript of this episode (srt file)

Full transcript of this episode (.txt file)

 

Transcripts are also available through your podcast app.

 

Episode 86 - Jassa Ahluwalia - Mixed Identity and Leadership: End of Season Summer Special

We chat to actor, filmmaker and the author of Both Not Half, Jassa Ahluwalia

 

We're ending our season with something truly special - a transformative conversation with Jassa Ahluwalia that we know will stay with you long after listening.

Jassa is a British actor, writer, filmmaker and trade unionist, known for roles in Unforgotten, Ripper Street, and Peaky Blinders. Born in Coventry to a white English mother and Punjabi father.

His hashtag #BothNotHalf emerged from a viral video and evolved into a movement exploring mixed identity. His TEDx talk "How Language Shapes Identity" has garnered over 200,000 views, and his BBC One documentary Am I English? won an Asian Media Award in 2022.

In our conversation, Jassa shares how that viral Instagram video led to his powerful book Both Not Half: A Radical New Approach to Mixed Identity. This isn't just about personal identity. It’s about revolutionising how leaders create belonging, moving from allyship to solidarity, and why challenging binary thinking is essential for modern organisations.

Three simple words - "Both Not Half" - that could transform how your organisation thinks about identity, belonging, and true inclusion.

As it's our season finale, we've also packed in Paul and Zoe's holiday reading and podcast recommendations to take with you over the break.

We'll be back at the end of summer with fresh episodes, but this conversation will give you plenty to think about until then!

 

Show notes

 

Jassa’s work

-Both Not Half: a Radical New Approach to Mixed Heritage Identity https://www.bonnierbooks.co.uk/books/blink-publishing/both-not-half/
-Jassa Ahluwahlia on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/officialjassa/?hl=en
-Jassa’s TEDx Talk: "How Language Shapes Identity" https://youtu.be/SP0bAQ8J6C0?si=HAaxO4SvPtqL6M2R

Summer recommendations

-What Did You Do Yesterday podcast https://open.spotify.com/show/62lFI5XAYb68cSOcOWnDI9
-Rest by Alex Soojung-Kim Pang https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/29502354-rest
-Chinese and Any Other Asian by Anna Sulan Masing https://www.weidenfeldandnicolson.co.uk/titles/anna-sulan-masing/chinese-and-any-other-asian/9781399606684/
- An A-Z of Chinese Food (Recipes Not Included) by Jenny Lau https://www.celestialpeach.com/an-az-of-chinese-food-recipes-not-included

Please leave us a review if you enjoy what you hear!

Editing and production - Syren Studios with Paul Thomas

Music by Joseph McDade https://josephmcdade.com/music

Full transcript of this episode (srt file)

Full transcript of this episode (.txt file)

Transcripts are also available through your podcast app.

Episode 85 - Trevor Gordon, Chief Digital & Technology Officer at Save the Children UK

How Save The Children UK is leading digital change in a volatile world

We chat to Trevor Gordon, Chief Digital & Technology Officer at Save the Children UK

 

This week we are chuffed to bits to bring you a brand new episode featuring an insightful chat with the brilliant Trevor Gordon, Chief Digital and Technology Officer at Save the Children UK.

Trevor is an award-winning leader in customer-centric digital technology and transformation and recently returned to the charity sector. Get ready for a fascinating discussion on:

• Urgent Transformation in Charities: Trevor shares why non-profits must accelerate their digital, data, and technology adoption to meet today's challenges.

• Navigating AI Implementation: How Save the Children UK is swiftly putting AI governance and pragmatic solutions into practice, seeing immediate value.

• Strategic Partnerships: The critical role of collaborating with tech vendors and peer organisations to drive significant change.

• Building a Resilient Workforce: Creating a culture where people feel empowered and connected to their purpose, is crucial for retaining talent.

 

Paul and Zoe discuss the latest, eye-opening insights from Microsoft's 2025 Work Trend Index and the Anthropic CEO's bold predictions about AI's impact on jobs. 2025 is the year to get serious.

Don't miss this inspiring conversation and Trevor's top cocktail recommendations for a well-deserved end-of-week treat!

 

Show notes

The Microsoft 2025 Work Trend Index

Anthropic's CEO about AI's impact on the job market.

Please leave us a review if you enjoy what you hear!

Editing and production - Syren Studios with Paul Thomas

Music by Joseph McDade https://josephmcdade.com/music

Full transcript of this episode (srt file)

Full transcript of this episode (.txt file)

Transcripts are also available through your podcast app.

 

Episode 84 - Steph Wright, Head of the Scottish AI Alliance

Decoding AI: Trust, Ethics, and the Path to Inclusive Innovation

Join Zoe Amar and Paul Thomas on Starts at the Top for a conversation with Steph Wright, Head of the Scottish AI Alliance. In this episode, we delve into the landscape of artificial intelligence, exploring how we can move beyond the hype to build a future where AI is not only innovative but also fundamentally trustworthy, ethical, and inclusive.

Steph brings a diverse perspective to the AI conversation, drawing from a fascinating background that spans astrophysics, the arts, and the third sector. She shares her unique journey and how these varied experiences have shaped her commitment to ensuring AI benefits everyone in society.

In this engaging discussion, Zoe, Paul, and Steph discuss:

• How Steph's unconventional career path informs her holistic approach to technology and her unwavering belief in the power of diverse perspectives within the AI field.

• The fundamental importance of embedding ethical considerations and inclusivity at the very core of AI development. Steph challenges the notion of these being secondary concerns, highlighting their crucial role in creating truly beneficial technologies.

• Why the relentless pursuit of increasingly large and powerful AI models can often overshadow the real-world impact and potential for harm. We discuss the need to shift focus towards tangible value and responsible application.

• The often-overlooked environmental and social implications of large language models and AI development, including energy consumption and the ethical sourcing of training data.

• The need for more diverse and dissenting voices to shape AI's future and the impactful work of Diverse AI in fostering a more representative and equitable ecosystem within AI.

• Advice on where to start, how to prioritise ethical considerations from the outset, and why a deep understanding of your specific challenges should always precede the technological solution.

Zoe and Paul also delve into:

• A discussion about the Charity AI Task Force's important response to the UK government's AI action plan, underscoring the essential role of civil society organisations in ensuring that AI works for the benefit of all members of society.

• Insights into a newly released global research report examining the accountancy sector's preparedness for AI adoption, highlighting both the opportunities and the potential challenges.

Charity AI Task Force response to government AI action plan

Chartered Accountants Worldwide - report on accountants and AI

Scottish AI Alliance

Steph Wright on LinkedIn

Please leave us a review if you enjoy what you hear!

Editing and production - Syren Studios with Paul Thomas

Music by Joseph McDade https://josephmcdade.com/music

Full transcript of this episode (srt file)

Full transcript of this episode (.txt file)

Transcripts are also available through your podcast app.

 

Episode 83 - Melissa Ezechukwu, freelance digital consultant and strategist

Leading differently - The AI hype cycle & building inclusive tech

We chat with with Melissa Ezechukwu, digital strategist.

 

In this episode, Zoe and Paul navigate the current whirlwind of tech trends, starting with the viral AI action figure craze that has dominated LinkedIn feeds. They discuss the online phenomenon, questioning its true value and the potential environmental impact of such widespread use of generative AI. Is this a glimpse into AI's potential to solve global issues or just a fleeting moment of digital self-obsession?

Then, they dive into a long-awaited and insightful conversation with Melissa Ezechukwu, a brilliant freelance digital consultant and strategist. With over 15 years of experience in the tech for good space, Mel shares her motivations for working with non-profits and socially conscious businesses, highlighting her passion for fairness and amplifying the voices of the underserved.

Mel recounts her accidental journey into the digital world, a path that many in the industry will find relatable. Her personal story underscores the challenges and the resilience required, particularly for women of colour, in navigating the often-unseen biases within the tech industry.

Zoe and Paul also explore with Mel the key digital trends impacting charities right now, including the double-edged sword of AI, the potential of automation, and the crucial role of data in creating joined-up and personalised user experiences. They question whether the traditional charity website is facing its twilight years and discuss the importance of thoughtful adoption of new technologies.

The conversation tackles the vital issue of diversity and inclusion in tech, particularly in the development and deployment of AI. Mel shares her insights on the dangers of biased datasets and the urgent need for diverse voices in shaping the future of technology, drawing on her experience with organisations like Global Tech Advocates Black Women in Tech.

In this episode, you'll hear about:

• The LinkedIn AI action figure trend: playful innovation or environmental concern?

• Mel's inspiring journey into the tech for good sector and her passion for social impact.

• The ongoing challenges of resource and siloed working within non-profit digital teams.

• Key digital trends for charities: AI, automation, and data-driven experiences.

• The enduring importance of a user-centred and effective charity website.

• The critical need for diversity and inclusion in tech, particularly in AI development, and the potential dangers of bias.

• Mel's work with Global Tech Advocates Black Women in Tech and the importance of building supportive networks.

• Invaluable advice Mel would give to her younger self navigating the tech industry as a woman of colour.

We hope you find this episode as thought-provoking and valuable as we did.

Thank you for tuning in to Starts at the Top. If you enjoyed this episode, please leave us a 5-star review on your favourite podcast platform – it truly helps us reach more leaders. Share this episode with a friend or colleague who you think would benefit from hearing these important conversations.

Join Zoe and Paul again in a couple of weeks for another episode of Starts at the Top, where we continue to explore what it takes to lead differently.

 

Show notes

Please leave us a review if you enjoy what you hear!

Editing and production - Syren Studios with Paul Thomas

Music by Joseph McDade https://josephmcdade.com/music

Full transcript of this episode (srt file)

Full transcript of this episode (.txt file)

Transcripts are also available through your podcast app.

Episode 82 - Brian Dow, Chief Executive of Mental Health UK and Deputy Chief Executive of Rethink Mental Illness

In this episode, we speak with Brian Dow, Chief Executive of Mental Health UK and Deputy Chief Executive of Rethink Mental Illness.

Brian shares insights from Mental Health UK’s 2025 Burnout Report highlighting the concerning rise of stress and burnout, particularly among young professionals, and the growing trust deficit between employers and employees.

Key Takeaways:

• The Burnout Reality: We explore the alarming statistics on stress and burnout in the UK workplace and the generational differences in how these issues are perceived and managed.

• Building Trust: Brian discusses the critical role of trust in fostering a healthy workplace culture and offers practical advice on how leaders can build and maintain that trust, especially with younger employees.

• Co-designing the Workplace: We examine the importance of involving employees in shaping workplace policies and practices to create a supportive and inclusive environment.

• Leadership and Vulnerability: Brian shares his leadership journey and emphasizes the importance of authenticity, empathy, and modeling positive behavior.

• The Power of Fun: We discuss the often-overlooked role of fun in building a positive workplace culture and mitigating the risks of toxic environments.

• Managing Wellbeing: Brian offers practical tips for managing well-being during challenging times, emphasizing the importance of facing challenges head-on.

• The effects of technology: The episode also touches on the effects of technology and social media on the well-being of younger generations, and how this impacts the workplace.

Inspired by this conversation, Zoe and Paul discuss mental health and the impact of social media and smartphones on children.

Show notes

Mental Health UK’s Burnout Report

Edelman’s Trust Barometer

Please leave us a review if you enjoy what you hear!

Editing and production - Syren Studios with Paul Thomas

Music by Joseph McDade https://josephmcdade.com/music

Full transcript of this episode (srt file)

Full transcript of this episode (.txt file)

Transcripts are also available through your podcast app.