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AI Works Podcast: How Leaders Use AI Now

AI Works Podcast: How Leaders Use AI Now

By: Richard Foster-Fletcher
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About this listen

 Welcome to the AI Works Podcast, your essential resource for harnessing artificial intelligence to drive efficiency, innovation, and practical transformation across education, public sector, and business organisations. In each episode, we bring you:
  • Real-world stories from leaders who have successfully integrated AI tools, overcoming common challenges.
  • Practical insights and actionable strategies that translate cutting-edge AI into immediate operational improvements.
  • Expert perspectives and trend analyses that demystify AI and make complex concepts clear and approachable.
AI Works is designed specifically for leaders who want straightforward, high-impact ideas to unlock AI’s potential—without the hype.

Join us to discover proven pathways to productivity, hear authentic experiences from your peers, and confidently navigate the ever-evolving landscape of artificial intelligence. Subscribe and tune in to gain practical, accessible AI guidance that works.

Produced by MKAI.worksCopyright Richard Foster-Fletcher Economics Management Management & Leadership
Episodes
  • Culture First, AI Second: Leading Thoughtful Tech Transformation with Julia Heap, Principal & CEO of Hopwood Hall College

    Culture First, AI Second: Leading Thoughtful Tech Transformation with Julia Heap, Principal & CEO of Hopwood Hall College
    Jun 23 2025
    🎧 Episode Title: Culture First, AI Second: Leading Thoughtful Tech Transformation with Julia Heap, Principal & CEO of Hopwood Hall College

    🎙️ Podcast: AI Works Podcast Hosted by Richard Foster-Fletcher and Kurt Hintz

    🔍 Episode Overview
    How can leaders effectively navigate the rapid adoption of AI and technology while maintaining a supportive and authentic organisational culture? Julia Heap, Principal and CEO of Hopwood Hall College, joins Richard and Kurt to discuss her thoughtful, culture-first approach to embedding digital innovation within the college.

    Julia discusses:
    • Hopwood Hall’s journey into AI and digital transformation, and the importance of starting from a culture of curiosity, collaboration, and trust.
    • Practical experiences introducing tools like Copilot and ChatGPT, strategically improving staff workload, efficiency, and overall workplace satisfaction.
    • How Hopwood Hall’s internal digital champions—trusted educators turned tech advocates—have helped colleagues embrace and adopt new technologies.
    • Julia’s leadership philosophy: empowering her teams to innovate at their own pace, offering gentle nudges rather than imposing rigid mandates.
    • Creating a safe space for staff to experiment with technology through innovative approaches like Hopwood Hall’s annual "digital marketplace."
    • Addressing common fears about AI's impact on jobs and the critical importance of clear, consistent communication from leadership.
    • Balancing structured frameworks and organisational risk management with the flexibility needed to foster creativity, innovation, and individual growth.
    This episode provides an honest, clear-eyed, and practical perspective on leading successful, human-centred digital transformation.

    🧭 What We Cover

    ✔️ Julia’s approach to creating a culture-first environment that empowers teams to experiment with AI in safe, supported ways.
    ✔️ How internal champions and digital marketplaces are helping Hopwood Hall staff confidently embrace new technologies and methods.
    ✔️ Insights into successfully managing fears about AI’s impact on jobs, emphasising skill enhancement and improved working lives.
    ✔️ The importance of maintaining authenticity and human connections amidst increasing AI-driven interactions and automation.
    ✔️ How Julia strategically balances risk, cost, and innovation to ensure investments in technology are impactful and sustainable.
    ✔️ Julia’s vision for nurturing staff confidence, professional development, and long-term organisational agility through thoughtful technology adoption.

    👤 About Our Guest Julia Heap is Principal and CEO at Hopwood Hall College, renowned for her thoughtful leadership and commitment to fostering innovation and collaboration. With a clear passion for supporting staff and students alike, Julia leads from a foundation of trust, authenticity, and curiosity—guiding the college through transformative digital innovations without losing sight of the human element at the core of education.
    🔗 Links & Mentions
    • Hopwood Hall College: https://www.hopwood.ac.uk
    • Julia Heap on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/julia-heap-73253876/
    • Richard Foster-Fletcher on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/richardfosterfletcher
    • Kurt Hintz on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kurt-hintz
    📬 Stay Connected For updates, resources, and future episodes, follow the AI Works Podcast and join our conversations on LinkedIn:
    https://www.linkedin.com/company/mkai-works
    Show More Show Less
    39 mins
  • Cultivating Change: Real-World AI Innovation with Jeremy Kerswell, CEO of Plumpton College

    Cultivating Change: Real-World AI Innovation with Jeremy Kerswell, CEO of Plumpton College
    Jun 16 2025
    🎧 Episode Title: Cultivating Change: Real-World AI Innovation with Jeremy Kerswell, CEO of Plumpton College

    🎙️ Podcast: AI Works Podcast Hosted by Richard Foster-Fletcher and Kurt Hintz

    🔍 Episode Overview

    How can leaders strategically use AI, robotics, and innovative technology to solve real-world industry challenges, drive productivity, and inspire lasting positive change? Jeremy Kerswell, Principal and CEO of Plumpton College, joins Richard and Kurt to discuss his practical experiences and future-facing strategies that position Plumpton as a pioneer in technology-driven agriculture and sustainability.

    Jeremy discusses:
    • Plumpton’s strategic use of robotics in their dairy farming, dramatically boosting productivity and providing students hands-on experience with cutting-edge technology.
    • Innovative industry partnerships, such as their £1 million tractor-sharing agreement, that create mutually beneficial relationships and reduce capital risk.
    • Real-world applications of AI, robotics, and 5G technology—including their pioneering "smart vineyard" and precision agriculture initiatives.
    • How Plumpton uses these innovations to reshape perceptions of agriculture, attracting new talent and students from diverse backgrounds.
    • His approach to embedding critical data-analysis skills across Plumpton’s curriculum, ensuring students graduate prepared for a digitally-driven industry.
    • Navigating strategic decisions around technology adoption, avoiding costly mistakes, and maintaining alignment with industry needs and college values.
    • His vision for the future: creating greater harmony between food production, sustainability, and technology, positioning Plumpton College as a leader for the sector and community.
    This episode offers engaging insights and strategic advice for leaders who aim to leverage AI and technology effectively, sustainably, and ethically.

    🧭 What We Cover
    ✔️ Plumpton’s practical experiences with robotic dairy farming and how this innovation has dramatically improved productivity and animal welfare.
    ✔️ How strategic industry partnerships (including their unique tractor-sharing model) enable Plumpton to remain at the forefront of agricultural technology.
    ✔️ Plumpton’s innovative 5G-enabled "smart vineyard" project and the transformational potential it holds for global agriculture.
    ✔️ Strategies for embedding essential data skills into educational programs, directly responding to employer-identified skills gaps.
    ✔️ Balancing strategic leadership decisions, recognising when to pursue opportunities, and when to avoid costly technology pitfalls.
    ✔️ Jeremy’s long-term vision for Plumpton’s role in leading sustainable, tech-driven agricultural practices and influencing positive change across industries.

    👤 About Our Guest

    Jeremy Kerswell is Principal and CEO at Plumpton College, a prominent UK institution specialising in agriculture, sustainability, and land-based education. With nearly a decade at Plumpton, Jeremy is known for his strategic leadership, fostering innovative industry partnerships, and positioning Plumpton at the cutting-edge of agricultural technology and sustainability. Passionate about positive industry transformation, Jeremy champions pragmatic technology adoption that directly enhances productivity, sustainability, and education.

    🔗 Links & Mentions
    • Plumpton College: https://www.plumpton.ac.uk
    • Jeremy Kerswell on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeremy-kerswell-4b0b4226
    • Richard Foster-Fletcher on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/richardfosterfletcher
    • Kurt Hintz on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kurt-hintz
    📬 Stay Connected For updates, resources, and future episodes, follow the AI Works Podcast and join our conversations on LinkedIn:
    https://www.linkedin.com/company/mkai-works
    Show More Show Less
    48 mins
  • Streamlining the Future: Intelligent Automation with Alex Denley, CTO at Harrow, Richmond, and Uxbridge Colleges

    Streamlining the Future: Intelligent Automation with Alex Denley, CTO at Harrow, Richmond, and Uxbridge Colleges
    Jun 9 2025
    🎧 Episode Title:
    Streamlining the Future: Intelligent Automation with Alex Denley, CTO at Harrow, Richmond, and Uxbridge Colleges

    🎙️ Podcast:
    AI Works Podcast Hosted by Richard Foster-Fletcher

    🔍 Episode Overview

    How can colleges use intelligent automation and AI strategically to enhance student experiences, streamline operations, and achieve meaningful efficiencies? In this episode, Alex Denley, Chief Technology Officer at Harrow, Richmond, and Uxbridge Colleges (HRUC), joins Richard to share his practical insights and ambitious future plans for technology-driven transformation.

    Alex openly discusses:
    • HRUC’s current initiatives, such as using Robotic Process Automation (RPA) to radically improve student enrolment processes, making them faster, easier, and less stressful for staff and students.
    • His strategic vision for intelligent campuses—leveraging AI, data analytics, and automation to create smoother day-to-day operations and better student experiences.
    • How carefully selecting technology use cases (like enrolment, timetabling, and campus resource optimisation) allows colleges to achieve quick wins and build momentum for larger transformations.
    • The importance of getting processes and data foundations right before scaling AI across an organisation.
    • Practical lessons from his experience at London South Bank University and other sectors like hospitality and theme parks, and how he’s applying those lessons to FE colleges.
    This episode gives an honest, clear, and future-focused look at how AI and intelligent automation can practically benefit colleges and their communities.

    🧭 What We Cover
    ✔️ HRUC’s journey towards intelligent automation: current successes and future ambitions
    ✔️ Real-world examples of Robotic Process Automation (RPA) streamlining student enrolment and administrative processes
    ✔️ Building smart, data-driven campuses to improve student experiences, engagement, and operational efficiencies
    ✔️ Practical approaches for colleges just starting on their automation and AI journey
    ✔️ Key lessons learned from Alex’s experience across different sectors, and how those lessons translate into FE
    ✔️ Strategic priorities for the next few years, including using AI to support staff workload, timetabling, and examinations

    👤 About Our Guest

    Alex Denley is the Chief Technology Officer at Harrow, Richmond, and Uxbridge Colleges. With extensive leadership experience in technology-driven transformation, Alex previously led significant digital innovation initiatives at London South Bank University. Passionate about practical, people-centred technology solutions, Alex is focused on driving meaningful improvements in student experience, organisational efficiency, and operational effectiveness across the colleges he serves.

    🔗 Links & Mentions
    • Harrow, Richmond, and Uxbridge Colleges (HRUC): https://www.hruc.ac.uk
    • Alex Denley on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alex-denley-b64a1013/
    • Richard Foster-Fletcher on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/richardfosterfletcher
    📬 Stay Connected For updates, resources, and future episodes, follow the AI Works Podcast and join our conversations on LinkedIn:
    https://www.linkedin.com/company/mkai-works AIWorksPodcast AlexDenley HRUC
    Show More Show Less
    48 mins
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