When Diversity Gets Left Behind: DEI Failures in Tech
Episode Title: When diversity gets left behind: DEI failures in tech 👤 Guest: Mahima Sukhdev, Chief Growth Officer, GIST Impact Mahima works at the intersection of sustainability, equity, and technology - helping organisations measure their real-world impact through data and analytics.🧠 Episode summary: In this episode, host Paddy Dhanda explores how the tech industry’s failure to prioritise diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) has led to deeper systemic issues - from biased algorithms to inaccessible products. Mahima help us to shine a light how impact measurement can drive accountability, why DEI is still treated as optional, and what it will take to shift the narrative. 💡 Key topics: - Why DEI is still seen as a “nice to have” in tech - The difference between intention metrics and impact metrics - How flawed metrics can lead to flawed behaviours - Real-world examples of product failures due to lack of diversity - The role of ESG frameworks in driving DEI accountability - What individuals can do to challenge bias in the workplace - How AI is accelerating social impact measurement 📌 Notable quotes: “Until you put the right data into the hands of decision makers, you’re not going to shift the system.” “DEI done badly is a reputational risk. Done well, it’s a strategic advantage.” “Checking your bias isn’t a burden - it’s a way to be present.” This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit qaltd.substack.com
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The cyber skills crisis: When the firewall isn’t enough
Episode title: The cyber skills crisis: When the firewall isn’t enough 👤 Guest: James Stanger, Chief Technology Evangelist, CompTIA Globally recognised expert in cybersecurity, open source, and workforce development. Leads global conversations on tech skills, resilience, and the future of work. 🧠 Episode summary: In this episode, host Paddy Dhanda explores how the tech industry's skills gap is creating vulnerabilities no firewall can fix. James Stanger shares real-world examples of cybersecurity failure rooted in human factors - from undertrained help desk teams to rushed development practices like ‘vibe coding.’ They unpack how poor culture, neglected frontline roles, and lack of foundational training are contributing to breaches - and what organisations can do to build a more resilient workforce. 💡 Key topics covered: • Why help desk teams are critical to threat detection • The dangers of vibe coding and slopsquatting • How AI misuse is creating new attack surfaces • What CEOs get wrong about AI speed vs safety • Why curiosity and foundational knowledge still matter • How to sell cybersecurity careers to creative minds • The role of data analytics in modern cyber defence • CompTIA’s new certs: AI Essentials, SEC AI+, SEC OT+ 📌 Memorable quote: “People don’t evaluate as much as they should, because ‘hey, we’re at the speed of innovation here. We’re doing vibe innovation or vibe coding’ or whatever. That’s a problem because if you get sloppy at the beginning, you end up with a whole lot of slop at the end - garbage in, garbage out kind of thing - and you end up with some serious security issues.” This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit qaltd.substack.com
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What's holding the UK back from being a global AI leader?
🎙️ Episode Title: "What’s Holding the UK Back from AI Leadership?"👤 Guest: Simon Lambert, Chief Learning Officer, Microsoft UK Leads strategy for digital skills and learning culture, driving initiatives like Microsoft’s Get On campaign and AI skilling partnerships.🧠 Episode Summary: In this episode, host Paddy Dhanda explores the UK's ambition to become a global AI leader in conversation with Microsoft UK's Simon Lambert. They unpack the UK’s AI Action Plan, the critical role of AI literacy, and how tools like Microsoft Copilot are reshaping productivity. Simon shares insights on leadership, lifelong learning, and the evolving human-agent workplace dynamic.💡 Key Topics Covered:· The UK’s AI Action Plan: infrastructure, adoption, skills, investment· Microsoft’s £2.5B investment in UK data centres· The Get On campaign and AI skilling goals· AI literacy for all - not just technologists· Leadership’s role in modelling curiosity and enabling learning· The rise of “agent bosses” and hybrid human-agent teams· Copilot use cases in healthcare, telecoms, and personal productivity📌 Notable Quotes:“AI skills are going to be a non-optional thing for people.” “Learning is a permanent requirement of work.” “If knowledge is power, then learning is a superpower.” — Jim KwikResources: Check out Microsoft’s Work Trend Index for 2025. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit qaltd.substack.com
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Digital Identity: Can the UK Get It Right This Time?
Episode Title: Digital Identity: Can the UK Get It Right This Time?Podcast Host: Paddy DhandaGuest: David Birch, Author and Global Authority on Digital IdentityEpisode Summary: Paddy Dhanda is joined by David Birch to explore the UK's renewed push for a national digital identity scheme. They discuss why the previous attempt failed, how technology and public attitudes have changed, and what a successful, privacy-preserving infrastructure could look like today.Key Topics Covered: ✔️ Why the Blair-era ID scheme failed✔️ The difference between identification, authentication, and authorisation✔️ How cryptographic credentials can reduce fraud and friction✔️ The role of banks in identity infrastructure✔️ How AI will reshape identity and customer interactionResources & Links: 🔗 David Birch’s books: Identity is the New Money, The Currency Cold War, Money in the Metaverse🎧 Listen on Substack: qaltd.substack.com▶️ Watch on YouTube: QA Podcast Playlist🎧 Spotify: Listen here🍎 Apple Podcasts: Listen here This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit qaltd.substack.com
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A Year of Tech Failures - and What They Can Teach Us
Episode Title:A Year of Tech Failures - and What They Can Teach UsPodcast Host:Paddy DhandaGuest:Charlotte Jee, News Editor at MIT Technology ReviewEpisode Summary:In this episode, Paddy is joined by Charlotte Jee to explore MIT Technology Review’s annual list of the worst tech failures. From astronauts stranded in space to AI image generators gone rogue, the episode dives into the most memorable missteps of 2024 — and what they reveal about the state of modern technology.Charlotte shares behind-the-scenes insights into how the list is compiled, the common patterns behind tech failures, and why humility, simplicity, and user empathy are more important than ever.Key Topics Covered:✔️ Boeing’s Starliner disaster and the fragility of modern tech ✔️ AI slop, shrimp Jesus, and the dangers of unchecked generative tools ✔️ CrowdStrike’s outage and the ripple effects of a single update ✔️ Why 80% of cloud features go unused - and what that says about product design ✔️ The growing disconnect between tech creators and usersNotable Quotes:🔹 “Tech loves repeating the same mistakes - and we love pointing them out.” 🔹 “AI will always hallucinate. That’s not a bug - it’s the product.” 🔹 “We’re building faster than ever, but not necessarily better.”Resources & Links:🔗 Read the MIT Technology Review list: MIT Technology Review 🎧 Listen now on Substack, YouTube, or your favourite podcast platform. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit qaltd.substack.com
When Technology Goes Wrong explores real-world tech failures to understand what happened and what we can learn, alongside the people involved and the experts who can help us unpack. From system outages to security lapses, each episode offers practical insights for building better technology - and using it effectively.
Hosted by Paddy Dhanda, Head of Product Discovery and Agile Practices at QA, the UK’s largest tech training provider. qaltd.substack.com
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