Finished out the week at the Elite Business Connect and the EB100 event at Howden‘s head office.
And what a trip it was.
A proper catch-up and a few soapbox rants between Judith Germain and I, on the state of leadership, inclusion, culture, and whether coffee should ever be iced was just the amuse bouche to the first event.
A panel discussion – expertly facilitated, as always, by Arti Halai – discussed the practical realities of implementing AI in SME businesses.
Aine Rogers, Piers Linney MBE and Julie Holmes highlighted some of the common themes that they recognise stymie successful AI deployment – particularly where technology is expected to fix everything at once, whilst sometimes having no clear owner, accountability, use case, or strategy.
Moving into the evening, YO! Sushi founder, Simon Woodroffe had a fireside chat with Scott English, CFE.
With just two O levels and an impressive jou de vie, he discussed how he launched companies, develops ideas, purchased a private island (that’s 𝘫𝘶𝘴𝘵 bigger than Richard Branson’s), and still remains restless in looking for the next opportunity.
(The only small disappointment was that he didn’t enter the stage on a small conveyor belt.)
An evening of rooftop networking, champagne and both familiar and unfamiliar faces topped off an exceptional Friday afternoon.
