February Chief Disruptor Insights

Welcome to Chief Disruptor Insights!

We've decided to shake "The Edit" up and from now on you will be receiving "Chief Disruptor Insights" - your monthly breakdown of the latest Chief Disruptor member insights and opinions, plus highlights from last month’s member activities and a preview of what’s to come in the months ahead.??

Every month, we get beyond the hype to bring you the inside track on how fellow disruptors and changemakers are leveraging the latest disruptive trends and technologies for competitive advantage. We’ll be addressing a wide range of topical leadership themes including business transformation, innovation, ESG, and emerging technologies including generative AI.?

We’ll also bring you regular member perspectives from a wide variety of sectors on the challenges and opportunities they’re facing.

?So read on for diverse thinking and actionable tips and strategies, direct from Chief Disruptor members at the coalface.

Membership, as you know, operates on an individual basis. If you feel that the Chief Disruptor community is something that your colleagues and business peers could be making use of, ask them to complete a Chief Disruptor Membership Application and one of the team will be in touch.

GET THE LATEST CHIEF DISRUPTOR INSIGHTS

Our January member poll focused on members’ leadership priorities for the year ahead. Click here to see how members voted and to get useful tips and reflections from members for the year ahead.

"Cohesive leadership was my choice because this means teams are acting together as a unit, and we make decisions as a team, rather than each branching off into their own work and acting independently."

“I think a major part of leadership centres on the provision of meaning to the work we undertake and of providing the 'bigger picture' for our collaborations.”

MEMBER ACTIVITIES WITH IMPACT

Key takeaways and actionable insights from recent member activities

We finished 2023 with our Chief Disruptor Breakfast Club on Fostering Agile Working and Experimentation, with guest speaker Ian Skelly, Head of Engineering at Tesco Bank.

Member takeaways from the discussion:

? Breaking Boundaries for Innovation:

? Building innovation from the ground up involves empowering teams and allowing risk-taking without assigning blame

? C-suite sponsorship is key for fostering innovation

? Not every team can be digital-centric and structuring these interactions is critical for success

? Agile Transformation & Innovation:

? Silos can hinder collaboration but agile transformation offers a chance to break them down

? Define success measures, understand user needs, and embrace design thinking

? Regular reviews and clear expectations are crucial throughout the process?

? Leadership Mindsets:

? Adopt a leadership mindset that encourages learning and continuous improvement

? Supportive technical environments and resource access are critical

? Simplify processes and reduce bureaucracy for agile success

KICKSTARTING?2024?

Our first activity of 2024 deep-dived into Evolving your Cybersecurity Strategy and Roadmap with our guest speaker, Jonathan Booth, Security Compliance and Audit Principal at the Office for National Statistics.

Member takeaways from the? discussion:

? Future-Proofing Strategies: Board-level talks on risk, identifying weak points in the supply chain and embracing tech responsibly

? Vigilance: If you get too comfortable with cybersecurity you have become complacent - you always have to be alert and aware of potential risks

? The dual nature of generative AI: Revolutionary yet concerning. Discover how it could blur the lines between authentic and fake content, posing challenges for cybersecurity. But it's not all risk - explore how generative AI can transform defence mechanisms, enabling real-time threat identification and automated responses.?

Similarly, in the world of AI and Defence, the Defence AI Centre (DAIC) is leading the charge, fostering collaboration between government, industry, academia and allies for the strategic advantage of the UK Armed Forces. At DAIC Connect we provided a platform for representatives from various AI companies with a Defence focus to come together and discuss their latest plans and innovations.

INVESTING IN DISRUPTIVE TECHNOLOGIES?

A key challenge for members in 2024 was addressed at our Building the Business Case for Disruptive Technology Investments Breakfast Club by our guest speaker and attendees.

Member takeaways from the roundtable discussions:

? Outcome-Driven Approach: Engage financial and strategic teams early, align with goals and consider challenges for successful outcomes

? Feedback for Success: Incorporate feedback early to ensure implementability, break technical and business language barriers and bring teams together for effective communication

? Risk Mitigation Plans: Validate assumptions, test dependencies regularly, manage relationships and gain stakeholder buy-in

IN CONVERSATION WITH LORD PRICE

Members joined Lord Price and other experts at The Retail and Consumer Landscape in 2024 dinner, to explore this complex landscape, discussing strategies for success amidst rapid technological change and global uncertainty.

Member takeaways from the discussion:

? Adaptability is Key: Businesses must remain agile and adaptable in the face of rapid technological advancements and global uncertainty

? Focus on Differentiation and Value Creation:?Emphasise differentiation and value creation to stand out in a crowded market, leveraging small gestures and customer-centric approaches

? Embrace Change for Growth: Embrace change, foster innovation and prioritise customer-centric strategies to thrive in the evolving retail and consumer goods landscape of 2024

WHAT’S NEXT?

We hope you enjoyed our first Chief Disruptor Insights. If you have any feedback, please let us know. We'd love your colleagues and business peers to join the Chief Disruptor community. Please ask them to complete a Chief Disruptor Membership Application and one of the team will be in touch.

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