Shows
A Class Act - Navigating the AI Landscape in 2026S2E7: Navigating AI Ethics in the Real World: Red Lines & Risk Tiers in PracticeAI is moving fast. Most organisations are trying to keep up.But the real question isn’t “should we use it?” anymore, it’s whether you can deploy it without creating risks you can’t explain later.In this episode, Michael Young is joined by Jeff Watkins (former CTO, fractional Chief AI Officer / advisor) to get specific about what “responsible AI” looks like in practice.Michael asks Jeff:What does responsible AI look like day-to-day as a way teams make decisions, not a set of statements?Where do you draw re...
2026-02-1845 min
A Class Act - Navigating the AI Landscape in 2026LLMs in 2026: What’s Happening and What It Means for Business With Richard Bownes, Head of AI Solutions at Vector8What’s actually happening with LLMs in 2026 and what does it mean for business leaders?In this episode of A Class Act, Michael is joined by Richard Bownes, Head of AI Solutions at Vector8, for a discussion on how large language models are evolving and why the biggest shift isn’t capability, but consistency, reliability, and system design.Rather than chasing the next capability jump, Richard explains why we’re seeing a slowdown in headline performance gains alongside an improvement in consistency and reliability.In this conversation, Richard shares:What...
2026-01-2841 min
A Class Act - Navigating the AI Landscape in 2026What Enterprise AI Really Looks Like in Practice Inside One of The UK’s Most Regulated Digital Banks With Russell Collingham, Head of AI at AtomWhat if you could sit down with the Head of AI inside one of the UK’s most regulated digital banks and hear the truth about what actually works and what leaders need to get right?That’s exactly what we explore in this episode of A Class Act.Shannon is joined by Dr. Russell Collingham, Head of AI & Data Science at Atom Bank, and one of the most experienced AI leaders in UK financial services.Russell has worked in AI since the 1990s. He began his caree...
2026-01-0729 min
A Class Act - Navigating the AI Landscape in 2026Hiring and Building Exceptional Applied AI Teams that Work with Andre Balleyguier of Snorkel AI [MUST LISTEN]In this episode of A Class Act, Michael Young, CEO of MBN Solutions speaks with Andre Balleyguier, AI Solutions Leader at Snorkel AI, formerly at DataRobot, and recognised by DataIQ as one of the UK’s most influential figures in data and AI.Andre has spent around fifteen years working with data and more than a decade in applied AI. Today, he leads global AI solutions engineering at Snorkel AI, helping major organisations deliver end-to-end applied AI systems using technologies such as agents and retrieval-augmented generation. Across the e...
2025-12-1052 min
A Class Act - Navigating the AI Landscape in 2026Why Most Enterprise AI Strategies Fail And What to Do Instead with Eddie Short - Global Chief Digital, Data & AI OfficerMost enterprise AI strategies fail not because the technology isn’t ready, but because organisations are still operating with 20th-century models. In this episode, Global Chief Digital, Data & AI Officer Eddie Short breaks down what’s really going wrong, and what leaders must do instead to build AI into the DNA of their organisations.With over 30 years of experience as a Fortune 1000 CTO/CDO, Big Four partner, and transformation leader across telecoms, retail, FMCG, healthcare and private equity, Eddie has helped global organisations embed AI at scale, redesign operating models, and drive step-change performance.This is a...
2025-11-2652 min
A Class Act - Navigating the AI Landscape in 2026Hiring for AI in 2026? What the Next Generation of Talent Actually Values with Google DeepMind Scholar Emma RattrayEvery organisation is racing to adopt AI but capability isn’t just about technology. It’s about people.In this episode, host Shannon speaks with Emma Rattray, an AI Engineer whose journey from chemical engineering to software development and AI research offers an honest look at what the next generation of AI talent truly values and how forward-thinking leaders can attract and retain it.After earning a fully funded scholarship for her master’s in Artificial Intelligence at the University of Edinburgh, Emma has become one of the most insight...
2025-11-1223 min
A Class Act - Navigating the AI Landscape in 2026Season 2: Navigating the AI LandscapeI’ve been in this market for nearly 20 years and in that time, I’ve helped place over 4,000 senior leaders in data, analytics, and AI roles around the world from the dot com boom to big data.What I’ve learned is this: technology isn’t the hard part. Leadership and implementation is.That’s why we’re back with Season 2 of A Class Act, and this time, we’re calling it Navigating the AI Landscape - because right now, it really does feel like uncharted territory.In this season, you’ll h...
2025-10-2901 min
A Class Act - Navigating the AI Landscape in 2026Turning AI from Buzzword into Real Business Results with Tom McLaughlin of TomoroWhat if you could sit down with an engineer who’s building AI partnerships alongside the top companies shaping the future like OpenAI, NVIDIA, and Microsoft?That’s exactly what we’re doing today.In this Season 2 opener, host Michael Young sits down with Tom McLaughlin, Forward Deployed Engineer at Tomoro. Their partnerships with the pioneers behind the world’s most powerful models mean clients get early access and deep integrations that keep them months ahead of the curve.Tom’s journey has taken him from Computer Science at Strathclyde, through J.P. Morgan, to...
2025-10-2950 min
Winged Wheel Podcast - A Detroit Red Wings PodcastMcLellan Lights A Fire and Red Wings Bounce Back - Oct. 12th, 2025WWP NIGHT w/ the DETROIT RED WINGS (Nov. 15th vs. BUF) TICKETS: https://www.gofevo.com/event/WingedWheelPodcast11-15 WWP NIGHT w/ the GRAND RAPIDS GRIFFINS TICKETS ON SALE NOW: https://griffinshockey.com/wwp The Detroit Red Wings season is underway and it has already been a bit of a rollercoaster... Tune in as we open by discussing Todd McLellan's squad's 5-1 loss to Lane Hutson and the Montreal Canadiens in their home opener, including Dylan Larkin opening scoring from Patrick Kane and Moritz Seider, Johansson and Hamonic's awful game, John Gibson g...
2025-10-131h 06
Winged Wheel PodcastMcLellan Lights A Fire and Red Wings Bounce Back - Oct. 12th, 2025WWP NIGHT w/ the DETROIT RED WINGS (Nov. 15th vs. BUF) TICKETS: https://www.gofevo.com/event/WingedWheelPodcast11-15
WWP NIGHT w/ the GRAND RAPIDS GRIFFINS TICKETS ON SALE NOW: https://griffinshockey.com/wwp
The Detroit Red Wings season is underway and it has already been a bit of a rollercoaster...
Tune in as we open by discussing Todd McLellan's squad's 5-1 loss to Lane Hutson and the Montreal Canadiens in their home opener, including Dylan Larkin opening scoring from Patrick Kane and Moritz Seider, Johansson and Hamonic's awful game, John Gibson getting pulled, how Sandin-Pellikka, Brandsegg-Nygard, and Finnie fared...
2025-10-121h 06
A Class Act - Navigating the AI Landscape in 2026How to Build Trust & Lead Teams in FinTech’s AI Era with Kent MackenzieIn this episode, host Michael is joined by Kent Mackenzie, Group Chief Operating Officer at Corlytics and former Deloitte Partner.Kent’s career has taken him from pulling apart ATMs as a curious young technologist, to leading Deloitte’s global FinTech and RegTech practice, and now to scaling one of the leading names in regulatory technology.You’ll hear:Why “you don’t need to have all the answers” is one of the most powerful leadership lessonsKent’s framework for building high-performing teams: trust, competence, and psychological safetyThe biggest mistakes leaders make when scaling F...
2025-09-0925 min
A Class Act - Navigating the AI Landscape in 2026AI and Leadership Lessons from Being 10 Years Ahead with BloxWeaver Founder David MeikleWhat can AI teach us about leadership when you’re a decade ahead of the curve?In this episode of A Class Act: Conversations in Data and Leadership, host Shannon speaks with David Meikle, founder of BloxWeaver and former CTO at Lingo24. David reflects on the leadership lessons he learned introducing AI and automation into the translation industry nearly ten years before most businesses began facing the same challenges.From the fear of job loss to the need for psychological safety, David shares how leaders can guide teams through uncertainty, transformation, and growth....
2025-08-2635 min
A Class Act - Navigating the AI Landscape in 2026Transforming Cyber Resilience in Scotland: Jude McCorry’s Journey as CEO at the Cyber and Fraud CentreWhat would you do if your first day as CEO started with no funding and ended with national lockdown?That was the reality for Jude McCorry, now CEO of Scotland’s Cyber and Fraud Centre.In this episode of A Class Act, Jude joins Shannon for a conversation about her journey from Ireland to Scotland.She left a successful career in Ireland, landed in Scotland with no job, and rebuilt not just her career but a network, a reputation, and an organisation that now leads national cyber resilience efforts.As...
2025-08-1234 min
A Class Act - Navigating the AI Landscape in 2026From Green Screens to AI Strategy: Gillian Docherty’s Data Leadership JourneyShe almost didn’t apply.Gillian Docherty is one of the most influential figures in Scotland’s data and AI landscape - but she almost didn’t take the job that changed everything.Recently named CEO of the Year at the DigiTech Awards, Gillian served as CEO of The Data Lab, Scotland’s national Innovation Centre for data and AI. She’s also a TEDx speaker and a vocal advocate for purpose-led leadership and inclusive tech.In this conversation with Michael on A Class Act, Gillian shares her journey, what it really takes to build h...
2025-07-2934 min
A Class Act - Navigating the AI Landscape in 2026Leadership Lessons in High-Pressure Environments: From the Military to the Boardroom with David Goodacre OBEWhat does it take to lead when the pressure is on? How do you inspire teams to stay aligned in the face of complexity, change, and uncertainty?In this episode of A Class Act: Conversations in Data & Leadership, host Shannon McKechnie is joined by David Goodacre OBE, a Senior Executive, Board Member, and experienced leader with significant experience in strategy, transformation, and operational delivery across the military and corporate sectors.David shares his real-world leadership lessons from high-pressure environments, from commanding teams in combat to leading complex transformation initiatives in global organisations.
2025-07-1529 min
A Class Act - Navigating the AI Landscape in 2026Stephen Ingledew on Building One of the UK’s Most Respected Fintech Ecosystems (And What It Really Takes to Lead With Purpose)What does it really take to lead change not just in your company, but across an entire industry?In this episode of A Class Act: Conversations in Data & Leadership, Michael Young speaks with Stephen Ingledew, Chair of FinTech Scotland and a driving force behind one of the UK’s most respected fintech ecosystems.Stephen shares his 40+ year journey through financial services from traditional corporate roles to building a 250+ firm innovation cluster. Along the way, he unpacks what leadership means in complex environments, why purpose must be your anchor, and how lasting imp...
2025-07-0131 min
A Class Act - Navigating the AI Landscape in 2026Elizabeth Hollinger on Leading with Trust and Building Award-Winning Teams at the Cutting Edge of DataWhat does it take to lead with trust, earn credibility, and build exceptional teams in today’s data-driven world?In this episode, Michael Young sits down with Elizabeth Hollinger, a data and technology leader whose career spans actuarial roots, enterprise transformation, and building award-winning teams. From feeling out of her depth in her first technology project at Deloitte, to leading cutting-edge data strategy at Aggreko, Elizabeth opens up about the real lessons that shaped her leadership journey.This is a conversation about what it actually takes to earn trust, build capability, and lead peo...
2025-06-1731 min
A Class Act - Navigating the AI Landscape in 2026From Apprentice to VP: Adriana Ignat on Leadership, Growth, and a Decade at GoogleWhat does it take to build high-performing teams in today’s product and tech landscape - and how do you keep your own leadership evolving in the process?In this episode of A Class Act: Conversations in Data & Leadership, Shannon McKechnie, Managing Director at MBN Solutions, is joined by Adriana Ignat - a Pproduct Management and Design leader and an AI specialist, whose career includes more than a decade at Google and roles leading product innovation in high-growth, data rich M&A-driven environments. From her early days as an apprentice in Poland to shaping Google’s pre...
2025-06-0349 min
A Class Act - Navigating the AI Landscape in 202635 Years in Data: Lessons on Leadership & Lasting Impact with Graeme McDermottWhat does it take to thrive across 35 years in data leadership? And how do you build high-performing teams – not just for now, but for the future?In this inaugural episode of A Class Act: Conversations in Data & Leadership, Michael Young sits down with a true veteran of the data world: Graeme McDermott, Chief Data Officer at Tempcover. From his early actuarial days to leading enterprise data transformations through five company acquisitions, Graeme brings insights into what makes a modern data leader tick – and stick.But this conversation isn’t just about strateg...
2025-05-2029 min
Two Mikes with Dr Michael Scheuer and Col MikeElevating Literature for Children with Chad StewartOn this episode of Two Mikes, Dr. Michael Scheuer and Col. Mike speak with Chad Stewart, author of the Britfield series—a bold, America First alternative to the indoctrination plaguing children's media. Stewart discusses the fourth book, Britfield in the Eastern Empire, which tackles real-world issues like economic collapse and AI threats through the eyes of young protagonists. He also announces a $50 million feature film now in pre-production, aiming to reclaim youth culture from woke propaganda and satanic symbolism with truth, values, and powerful storytelling.Follow Maverick Broadcasting Network on Pickax to catch the full lineup of shows an...
2025-05-2045 minA Class Act - Navigating the AI Landscape in 2026A Class Act: Conversations in Data and Leadership [Season 1 Trailer]Welcome to A Class Act: Conversations in Data & Leadership.I’m Michael, and after nearly two decades leading data talent acquisition with MBN Solutions, I’ve seen firsthand that exceptional teams don’t just happen - they’re built. They’re crafted by placing the right people in the right roles, at exactly the right time.This podcast pulls back the curtain on what it takes to build and lead high-performing teams in today’s data-driven world. Each episode, we sit down with the leaders shaping the future of technology and analytics - t...
2025-05-1301 min
BossNDataBossNData Special: End of an Era with Paul LaughlinThis Special Edition of the podcast brings 3 distinguished voices into the BossNData studio to celebrate the achievements of one of our own – Paul Laughlin.Having made the decision to retire, Paul ends a 35-year career as a Customer Insight Leader this year. He spent a quarter of a century leading technology and data teams at Lloyds Banking Group and Scottish Widows before a hugely successful career transition into data leadership coaching and mentoring, public speaking, broadcasting and blogging & writing.In that time, he has touched many hearts with his humility, humour, friendship and sag...
2024-07-261h 06
The Recruitment Mentors PodcastMichael Young - The power of building communities, taking time with internal recruitment, and focusing on purpose instead of just billingsPodcast Partners - Claim your exclusive savings with the links below.https://recruitmentmentorspodcast.captivate.fm/vincerehttps://recruitmentmentorspodcast.captivate.fm/sourcebreakerGrab your FREE 'Nailing the roll out of your CRM' downloadable.-------------------------------------------The key takeaways from this episode are as follows:🚀 You’ll learn about the importance of a long-term mindset and why this is integral to being a successful recruiter and biller.🚀 You’ll get some solid advice on business development which is rooted in building candidate and client communities.🚀 Caring about client...
2021-07-191h 03