Friend or threat? Help or hindrance? Possibilities or problems?

The headlines about artificial intelligence often force us to fit the technology into one of two columns. It’s going to be good or bad. It’s going to be us or the robots.

But as with most things in life, it’s not that simple.

Is it time to change the conversation about AI to one that’s less ‘either/or’ and more open? Open to possibilities. Open to change. Open to discussion.

It’s been suggested that AI could bring about as big a transformation as the industrial revolution. So what does this mean for us? For our families? Our work? And our future?

And more importantly, are we asking the right questions that can help us prepare for all of this change – both as businesses and individuals?

That’s what we’re exploring with Sam Everington from Engine by Starling, and Isabel Parker from Deloitte Legal in this episode of The Green Room.

Tune in to find out:

• How generative AI is already featuring in our day-to-day lives
• Why our attitude to AI has changed over time
• The factors that influence our trust, or lack of trust, in new technology
• What we can learn from the banking sector about the successful implementation of AI

Enjoyed this episode? Check our website for our recommendations to learn more about this topic: deloitte.co.uk/greenroompodcasts

You can also watch our episodes on Youtube: youtube.com/@DeloitteUK

Check out Loaf Catering here: loafcatering.com

Guests: Sam Everington from Engine by Starling and Isabel Parker from Deloitte Legal

Hosts: Lizzie Elston and Ethan Worth

Original music: Ali Barrett

Getting people to change how they do things can be hard, even if everyone agrees that things need to change.

Take energy transition, for example. The case for switching to greener, more renewable sources of energy is well-made. And well-understood. But whether it’s in your own home or the business you work in and lead, the challenge is now how do we make that change happen?

And when there’s so many solutions and little consensus on which is the right way to go, how do we not let paralysis take hold and stop us from making progress? Because we do need to make progress.

By 2050, we need to have evolved the way we live and work if we’re to hit our net zero targets. The way we power our homes. The way we power our industry. The infrastructure that supports the supply of energy. It all needs to change.

But what’s the solution? Is it solar? Wind? Hydrogen? And who is responsible for making it happen?

For this episode, we’re joined by Executive Vice President of Energy and Mobility at Hitachi Ltd., Alistair Dormer, and Susan McDonald, Energy Transition Lead within Deloitte’s Sustainability and Climate Strategy team.

Tune in to find out:

• What our energy systems currently look like – and how they need to change
• The countries who are leading on the energy transition and why
• The economic case for investing in renewable energy
• What the future holds and the role we can all play

Enjoyed this episode? Check our website for our recommendations to learn more about this topic: deloitte.co.uk/greenroompodcasts

You can also watch our episodes over on YouTube: youtube.com/@DeloitteUK

Guests: Alistair Dormer, Executive Vice President of Energy and Mobility at Hitachi Ltd. and Susan McDonald, Energy Transition Lead within Deloitte’s Sustainability and Climate Strategy team.

Hosts: Lizzie Elston and Ethan Worth

Original music: Ali Barrett

Every five years, we put a cross on a piece of paper – and put it in a ballot box.

It’s a democratic right. A civic duty. An opportunity to have a say on what matters to us in our communities.

2024 is a big year for elections. Because more of us than ever before will be going to the polls around the globe. In the US. The UK. India. Taiwan. Mexico. South Africa. And many more.

And there’s a lot at stake – from the rise of the far right and soaring inflation to ongoing geopolitical conflicts and the climate emergency.

But voting is one thing. Making change happen, is another altogether.

For this episode, we’re joined by Rt Hon Caroline Flint, former MP and Government Minister for the Labour party, and Ian Stewart, Chief Economist at Deloitte, as we ask: Do elections change anything?

Tune in to find out:

• What we can learn from past elections to make future elections count
• How governments can balance short-term issues and long-term challenges
• Which issues matter most to voters right now
• How elections impact business – and how businesses can be prepared

Enjoyed this episode? Check our website for our recommendations to learn more about this topic: deloitte.co.uk/greenroompodcasts

You can also watch our episodes on Youtube: youtube.com/@DeloitteUK

Check out Change Please here: changeplease.org

Guests: Rt Hon Caroline Flint, former MP for the Labour party and Advisory Board Member for think tank Reform, and Ian Stewart, Chief Economist at Deloitte

Hosts: Ethan Worth and Annie Wong

Original music: Ali Barrett

Can you imagine your life without the internet? 

It’s a platform that’s brought about enormous benefits over the years. 
The internet has opened up opportunities for millions of us worldwide, from being able to find information and expressing ourselves to transforming the way we do business. 

But for kids, the internet can sometimes be a confusing, upsetting, or a scary place, and figuring out how to stay safe online is an important skillset for children to gain. 

In this episode, we’re joined by Amanda Storey, Managing Director, Trust & Safety at Google EMEA and Nick Seeber who leads our Global Internet Regulation offering.

Tune in to find out:

• The role of the internet, how it’s evolved and the challenges around regulation
• How both Amanda and Nick are driving regulation in their own work
• The role of education, business and internet companies on kids’ online safety
• The safety measures and regulation processes we can implement for a better future

Enjoyed this episode? Check our website for our recommendations to learn more about this topic: deloitte.co.uk/greenroompodcasts

You can also watch our episodes over on YouTube: youtube.com/@DeloitteUK 

Guests: Amanda Storey, Managing Director, Trust & Safety at Google EMEA and Nick Seeber, Deloitte’s Global Internet Regulation lead.

Hosts: Lizzie Elston and Ethan Worth

Original music: Ali Barrett

Once we huddled around campfires, now we huddle around phone screens.  

Once we hunted and gathered, now there’s an app for that.  

Once we used the stars to navigate the wild, now we’re in a digital jungle.  

Modern technology has managed to make our lives easier and more complicated all at the same time. And then there’s the emerging technology to keep up with too. 

What skills do we need to be able to manage this constant change? How do we make sure no one gets left behind? And what about the things that can’t be taught through a screen?  

For this episode, we’re joined by Bear Grylls OBE, adventurer and broadcaster, and Shilpa Shah, Digital Transformation Director at Deloitte, as we ask: What are the new survival skills? 

Tune in to find out: 

• The technology that saved Bear while he was out in the wilderness
• Why the skills that we need to survive have changed over time
• What ‘a survivor attitude’ is and how to have one
• How we can ensure everyone has the skills to survive – and to thrive

Guests: Bear Grylls OBE, adventurer and broadcaster, and Shilpa Shah, Digital Transformation Director at Deloitte

Enjoyed this episode? Check our website for our recommendations to learn more about this topic: deloitte.co.uk/greenroompodcasts

You can also watch our episodes on Youtube: youtube.com/@DeloitteUK 

Check out Loaf Catering here: loafcatering.com

Hosts: Lizzie Elston and Annie Wong

Original music: Ali Barrett

When we think of great leaders, influential visionaries come to mind. Pioneers in the corporate world. People who take risks, open doors and inspire others to step into their footsteps.

But is the concept of a leader changing? And is it about finding who you are as a leader vs trying to fit into expectations of what a leader should be?

In this episode, we’re joined by Jonathan Mildenhall, curator of A Colourful View From the Top and Co-Founder and Chairman of TwentyFirstCenturyBrand and Tim Clayton-Ball, who runs our global Deloitte Leadership practice, to ask: Are leaders born or made?


Tune in to find out:
·        Jonathan and Tim’s definition of a leader

·        How leadership has evolved over the years

·        Leadership styles and whether we all have a natural ability to lead

·        Advice for future leaders and businesses who want to lead on what matters

Enjoyed this episode? Check our website for our recommendations to learn more about this topic: deloitte.co.uk/greenroompodcasts

You can also watch our episodes over on YouTube: youtube.com/@DeloitteUK

Guests: Jonathan Mildenhall, curator of A Colourful View From the Top and Co-Founder and Chairman of TwentyFirstCenturyBrand and Tim Clayton-Ball, who runs our global Deloitte Leadership practice.

Hosts: Lizzie Elston and Annie Wong

Original music: Ali Barrett

Every one of us has dreams. A desire to make a difference on the things that matter to us.

A vision for change, from the project we’re working on to our local community.

Without action, a vision will merely be a dream. But a vision that many people believe in? Now that can change the world – ask any great leader.

So how do you get this buy-in? Should that be the first step? Or is it something that follows only once you have a vision you can share with others?

That’s what we’re exploring in the latest episode of The Green Room podcast with examples from elite sport and the business world.

Our guests, World Cup-winning former England rugby coach Sir Clive Woodward, and executive coach and Deloitte director Jess Dooley, know all about the role that leaders and teams play in realising a vision and what it takes to get there.

We ask them, does it all start with having a clear vision? Or do you need to get buy-in first? How do you sell your plans to people around you? And do you need to adapt your style to bring different types of people with you? Do you build your ideas up from testing or sell them in first?

Do people buy into a leader before they buy into a vision? What if the team don’t agree on our vision or don’t buy into our method to get there? Do you need both to succeed?  What if you have buy-in but no clear vision yet – is that an issue? And what techniques can anyone apply help make their plans a reality?

For this episode of The Green Room, we ask: What comes first, vision or buy-in?

Tune in to find out:

• How team dynamics influence (nearly) everything
• How Sir Clive sold his vision to transform England rugby
• Jess’ take on whether teams or leaders should lead on buy-in
• If business should learn from sport or if sport can learn from business

Enjoyed this episode? Check our website for our recommendations to learn more about this topic: deloitte.co.uk/greenroompodcasts

You can also watch our episodes on Youtube: youtube.com/@DeloitteUK

Guests: Sir Clive Woodward, former England Rugby World Cup winning coach and Jess Dooley, Growth Director in Deloitte’s Sports Business Group.

Hosts: Ethan Worth and Lizzie Elston

Technical support: Deloitte Creative Studio

Original music: Ali Barrett

Astronaut. Dancer. Footballer. Pop star.

Many of us will remember our childhood ambitions. But then life happens. We get an education. We’re forced to make a choice between one route or another.

Wherever we want to get to, or redirect to, it’s about knowing what we want – and feeling capable.

It’s about knowing where we could be – and feeling supported. It’s about raising aspirations – and overcoming limitations. It’s about defining success – and finding happiness. Whatever those might mean to you.

We’re wondering, does where you start still matter? How much do our backgrounds determine our future success? How do you discover what you want to do – and where you could go? How important is it seeing people like you succeed? And how can you pave your own way?

For this episode, we’re joined by Aziza Ajak, Vice Principal of a London school and trustee for Mission 44, and Ben Newton, the first of Deloitte’s Brightstart apprentices to be promoted to partner.

Tune in to find out:

• Why our guests believe networking should be taught at school
• The lessons that Aziza and Ben learnt early in their career journeys
• What happens after you achieve your goals – and what happens if you don’t
• The best piece of advice our guests have for our listeners 

 Enjoyed this episode? Check our website for our recommendations to learn more about this topic: deloitte.co.uk/greenroompodcasts

You can also watch our episodes on Youtube: youtube.com/@DeloitteUK

Check out Loaf Catering here: loafcatering.com

Guests: Aziza Ajak, vice principal and Mission 44 trustee and Ben Newton, partner at Deloitte.

Hosts: Ethan Worth and Annie Wong

Technical support: Deloitte Creative Studio 

Original music: Ali Barrett