Good, Bad and Ugly Innovation: People, their stories and their music in 20 minutes - Top 1% Engagement on LinkedIn

Jonathan Power - CEO of St Michaels House Foundation - which helps people with Intellectual Disabilities - talks about how people can help out

I was delighted to talk to Jonathan Power, the CEO of St Michaels House Foundation about how he is seeking to build partnerships with people and corporates who would like to know more about, or to help out, St Michael’s House.  His approach is to develop longer term relationships and to engage with people who are interested.
St Michaels House is a not-for-profit that is over 70 years old and has been looking after people with Intellectual Disabilities over that time.  (It was founded in the 1950s by two women; there is a short history below.).  I can personally vouch for the important work that the Charity has done, and is doing, for thousands of people living with ID and supporting them and their their families, literally from cradle to grave.
Jonathan is an engaging and lively speaker and you will enjoy this Pod, feel free to drop him a line at:
Jonathan.Power@smhfoundation.ie
or via LinkedIn
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonathan-power/
 
St Michaels House  - the beginning, a short history
On Thursday, 2nd June 1955 a small advertisement appeared in The Irish Times:
"Association for Parents of Mentally Backward Children. Lady wishing to form above would like to contact anyone interested. Box Z 5061 Children."
It was placed by Patricia Farrell, a farmer from Gigginstown, Co. Westmeath, whose son Brian had Down Syndrome. Along with her friend and Co-Founder, Madge Atock, they were seeking an education for Brian. Patricia had been shocked to discover that there were no school options for him. Indeed, the only service available for children with an intellectual disability at the time was institutionalised residential care.
The response to the advert was larger and more positive than Patricia had expected. Following a public meeting in the Mansion House chaired by Declan Costello, St. Michael’s House was founded. The new organisation not only wanted to establish new services, but also to bring about a change in how people with an intellectual disability were viewed.
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"We rushed in where many would fear to venture. The one essential was to meet and help parents who came to us not so much for a diagnosis, but for advice about what they should or could do to help their child with a disability."
Dr Barbara Stokes, first Medical Director
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Pieter Oonk- Co-Founder Syncmint talks about the innovative way his company tracks TV/Streaming Ad views at "the edge"

Pieter Oonk, Serial Entrepreneur and Co-Founder of Syncmint talks about his new company that measures TV Ad views (linear and streaming) at “the edge” and presents a new and exciting data opportunity to advertisers.
“We were thinking about where else could you innovate in this space from a consumer centric, consumer centrism perspective, as well as from a cost perspective, if you were to change how you deploy this technology and how you use this technology perhaps you can distinguish yourselves from what others are doing in market so that's what we set out to do so we built a a kind of completely redesigned structure of what i was talking about earlier the fingerprinting the matching of content the matching of of television data coming in we said actually um Instead of trying to track everything, why don't we focus on the part that actually supports the ecosystem of television?”
“So our tech doesn't rely on massive server infrastructure that does a bunch of privacy invasive. We're on the edge. Yeah, we're on the edge. So a product is called Edge ACR. So that's kind of almost obvious. But so that is the moat, being able to do this in device, so therefore being more consumer respecting.”
Pieter can be contacted at pieter@syncmint.ai or on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/pieteroonk/

Steven van Zanen - Head of Product and Co-Founder at BroadForward talks about company growth and the signalling market

Steve van Zanen is Head of Product and Marketing and also a Co-Founder at BroadForward and a Mobile Industry stalwart.  I’ve known Steven for many years and always admired his communications and business skills and how he and the BroadForward team developed a great company supplying to the Signalling Market from scratch.
BroadForward is leader in intelligent signalling software for 2G, 3G, 4G and 5G mobile networks, trusted by over 100 customers worldwide. BroadForward delivers core network products for routing, interworking, security and number portability, helping operators to modernize their networks and transition from legacy to next-generation technologies.
Steven takes the opportunity to talk about how the company has grown into a supplier across all the new signalling technologies and even some of the retro-technologies such as 2G, to satisfy customer demand.
He also lets us know some of the things he does to relax and enjoy life.
Enjoy this Good, Bad and Ugly Innovation Podcast!

Sinead Crowther - CEO and Co-Founder of Soothing Solutions talks about the market for Tonstix Pops for Children

We’re delighted to speak with Sinead Crowther, CEO and Co-Founder at Soothing Solutions about her journey from an idea to a growing business.
Founders Sinead Crowther and Denise Lauaki’s mission is to transform Pharmacy shelves with award winning natural products to support Mams, Dads and care-givers when their children are sick.  Their main product right now is very popular Tonstix Pops to relieve sore throats in Children; they are very useful on planes when travelling as a family.
Sinead was awarded HPSU Founder of the Year 2023 in recognition of her achievements.
Contacts
https://www.linkedin.com/in/sin%C3%A9ad-crowther-8a743a138/
 
https://tonstix.com/about-us/
 
If you have an interesting topic or story you’d like to talk about on the Good, Bad and Ugly Innovation Podcast in the areas of Innovation, AI, Technology Product Marketing, Market Trends, contact me via LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/paddyflynn/
 
 

Paul Walsh - World renown expert on preventing Fraud and Scams tells us about the MetaCert Zero Trust Approach

We’re delighted to speak with Paul Walsh, one of the Tech industry’s Experts on preventing Fraud and Smishing.  Paul is the founder and CEO of MetaCert.
Paul has a very interesting career, which he covers some of in the Pod. He was one of the early movers in the field of Scam Detection and prevention.
Paul’s career highlights include:
Leading messaging infrastructure testing for mobile operators across Europe
Founding Segala, the first telecom testing company to join the GSMA
Co founding the Mobile Web Initiative at the W3C
Co founding the URL classification and content labelling standard at the W3C
Co inventing the concept of account and service labelling on the web, echoed later in systems like Twitter Verified At MetaCert I’ve focused entirely on protecting people from online impersonation and link based attacks:
Built the first parental control software for smartphones
Created patented mobile app security used by major tech and security firms
Developed the first anti phishing protection for messaging platforms like Slack
Completely wiped out phishing for the crypto sector on Slack in 2017
Invented Zero Trust URL Authentication
In this especially extended Pod, its fascinating to hear Paul address all the major issues facing Customers today.
Contacts
https://www.linkedin.com/in/paulwalsh/
https://metacert.com/
 
If you have an interesting topic or story you’d like to talk about on the Good, Bad and Ugly Innovation Podcast in the areas of Innovation, AI, Technology Product Marketing, Market Trends, contact me via LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/paddyflynn/
 
 

James Williams - Reknown Marketeer, Growth Advisor and Brand Ambassador talks about Freename and Mackie Mobile

We’re delighted to speak with James Williams, one of the Tech industry’s best-known Marketeers, Growth Advisors and Brand Ambassadors.
James updates us on his latest projects working with Freename and with Mackie Mobile.
James talks to us about Freename and the scope of Web3, the Blockchain and Digital Identity and how all of these will be revolutionized by Web3, in a very interesting discussion.
James also talks about Mackie Mobile – The First Mobile Carrier Built for Privacy & Security – and how they are addressing a specific market segment with their secure offering.
As always James is enlightening, clear and interesting in what he has to say.  Enjoy this Pod!
James can be reached at
https://www.linkedin.com/in/mrconnectivity/
https://www.linkedin.com/company/mrconnectivity/posts/?feedView=all
Companies
https://freename.com/home/
https://mackiemobile.com/index.html
 
Music: The Weeknd – Blinded by the Lights
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4NRXx6U8ABQ&list=RD4NRXx6U8ABQ&start_radio=1
 
If you have an interesting topic or story you’d like to talk about on the Good, Bad and Ugly Innovation Podcast in the areas of Innovation, AI, Technology Product Marketing, Market Trends, contact me via LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/paddyflynn/
 
 

Sean Blanchfield - Well known Serial Entrepreneur talks about Datacenters, AI, Energy and his new company - Jentic AI

We’re delighted to speak with Sean Blanchfield, one of Ireland’s best known technology entrepreneurs, he has a great history of founding successful startups such as Jentic AI, PageFair and DemonWare.
Sean’s new company, Jentic AI, connects AI agents to the world's APIs and workflows.   He also covers topics such as Data Centres, Energy and AI in general, all with insightful comments.
One of Sean’s quotes is very apt:
“It’s like 1996 now – the web was 3 years old and AI is 3 years old – we’re not quite sure how it will work out yet, but you need to be a player”
Sean’s contacts are:
https://jentic.com/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/seanblanchfield/
 
Finally, as always with the GBU Podcast guests, Sean plays out with two great pieces of music!
 
If you have an interesting topic or story you’d like to talk about on the Good, Bad and Ugly Innovation Podcast in the areas of Innovation, AI, Technology Product Marketing, Market Trends, contact me via LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/paddyflynn/
 
 

Roslyn Layton PhD - Why the Hyperscalers should be regulated and contribute to the Universal Service Fund

I asked Roslyn Layton PhD, of Strand Consult, on the Good, Bad and Ugly Telco Podcast after I read the Strand Consult Research Note on why Hyperscalers need to come under some form of Regulation and should contribute to the Universal Service Fund (US).
To quote Strand’s Research Note
While profiting significantly from the $9 billion USF, Big Tech does not contribute to the program. Instead, the USF is funded from fees collected on traditional voice subscriptions, which are disappearing.  To fund USF, a surcharge of 36 percent of the subscription cost is added to the bill for certain telecom services. This charge is born mainly by elderly persons on fixed incomes. However Big Tech could fund the USF at a rate below 1 percent because of the growing profitability and revenue its services for cloud, software and advertising.
Roslyn lays out the case very well in a compelling argument.  And as always, she plays out with a great song appropriate to the topic.  Enjoy.
You can find the full Research Note here:
https://strandconsult.dk/ending-big-techs-free-ride-on-usf-reforming-the-universal-service-fund-to-serve-consumers-and-america/
Roslyn can be contacted via his website or via LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/roslynlayton/
And
https://strandconsult.dk/
 
If you have an interesting topic or story you’d like to talk about on the Good, Bad and Ugly Podcast in the areas of Innovation, Product Marketing, Market Trends, contact me via LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/paddyflynn/
 
 

John Strand tells us about TDC Denmark; How Financial Engineering has nearly destroyed a once great company

I asked John Strand, of Strand Consult, on the Good, Bad and Ugly Telco Podcast after I read his Research Note on the misinformed (and it turned out predictable outcome) takeover of TDC seven years ago.  To give some context to this, TDC was the well capitalised incumbent operator with over a century of service, and it is now facing an uncertain future.
To quote John’s Research Note
In a significant development, three prominent Danish pension funds ATP, PFA, and PKA are divesting their 50% stakes in TDC to Macquarie[their partner], marking the culmination of a troubled seven-year partnership. This research note examines the flawed strategy behind the 2018 acquisition, the subsequent financial deterioration, and the lessons for the telecommunications sector. Strand Consult’s assessment of the flawed deal from 2018 is validated.
John is a very clear thinker and speaker, and he related the full story very well.  It’s even more shocking as he clearly predicted what the outcome would be.
The focus on Financial Engineering, as opposed to Customer Innovation and Marketing, ultimately means that the that many billions of Kroner have been written off.
You can find the full Research Note here:
https://strandconsult.dk/the-three-danish-pension-funds-atp-pfa-and-pka-sell-their-share-of-tdc-to-macquarie-at-a-big-loss-what-went-wrong-and-whats-ahead/
John can be contacted via his website or via LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/strand-consult/
If you have an interesting topic or story you’d like to talk about on the Good, Bad and Ugly Podcast in the areas of Innovation, Product Marketing, Market Trends, contact me via LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/paddyflynn/
 
 

Telco Industry Review Special - Luke Kehoe / Deryck Fay / Pat Flynn - Current stagnation and new paths

We were delighted to talk to our good friends Luke and Deryck in this Telco Industry Review Special
Luke Kehoe is a well-known Industry Analyst with Ookla, he provides very insightful and data based reporting on the state of the Telco, Mobile and Fixed, and the implications for the future of the industry.
Deryck Fay is an experienced Requirements Guru, Product Owner, Agile Transformer and author ‘Connecting A Nation’ which relates the story of the growth of the Telco Industry in Ireland over 160 years and significantly the story of the first Trans-Atlantic cables in the late 1800’s.
In a lively and wide ranging discussion we cover all topics from the current slowdown in Data growth to the future markets that will bring growth and new players.
Enjoy this one hour special that is available here on Audio and on Video on YouTube at:
https://www.youtube.com/@GoodBadandUglyTelecomsInno-h4t
 
Thanks to Luke and Deryck for being great guest and analysing the biggest issues in Telecoms today.
Luke Kehoe can be contacted at:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/luke-kehoe/
 
Deryck Fay can be contacted at:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/deryckfay/
 
Producer - Pat Flynn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/paddyflynn/
 
The Good, Bad and Ugly Theme (less than 30 seconds) was composed by the great Ennio Morricone
Music credits to the relevant artist and composers.