Real Talk Studio

👩 Meet Sarah, a leader of managers at a scaling tech business. She has vast technical knowledge but struggles with giving feedback to her team. Recently, the performance of her team lead, Alex, has significantly dropped. Her anxiety spikes when thinking about addressing the topic.

Sarah is not alone. 

70% of employees are avoiding difficult conversations at work.

And the traditional classroom solutions do not help.

💥 What if instead:

Sarah had the confidence, clarity and competence to lead the conversations employees value most at work. Becoming the best coach her team has ever had. 

🤖 That's what we do:

Our AI learning platform makes difficult conversations easier.

Using realistic RealPlay, Sarah can practice specific conversation skills, and get immediate feedback.

These tools help Sarah feel confident and ready to have the conversations that matter most.

Try a roleplay now:
https://www.realtalkstudio.com/

🏆 Can you top the leaderboard?

Founder

JPMorgan Chase & Co.

In this global role, I focus on improving the experience of 100k+ new hires annually across diverse employee bases, including retail branch, trading, technology. Leading a product team, my focus is on the day 1 experience. Reducing the amount of time spent by employees requesting access and the time it takes to become productive.
 
Responsibilities include:

- Defining the product vision for an exceptional new hire experience, transforming from “it’s good enough” to a more ambitious vision, that connects with the business purpose to “make dreams possible”
- Increasing investment to execute on the onboarding strategy, gaining product strategy buy-in from a globally diverse stakeholder group, across many lines of business.
- Conducting user research to gather data-driven insights to understand the new hire experience and identify areas for improvement.
- Coordinating changes with cross-functional agile teams to ensure improvement opportunities are delivered in a timely and high-quality manner.
- Identifying improvements to vendor SaaS platforms such as Microsoft 365, Service Now, Oracle HCM.

Executive Director - Product Director - Employee Experience

I worked across the Employee Experience organization as a Product Coach to help teams discover the right opportunities and develop an agile plan to execute.

Responsibilities included:

- Coached product teams and product managers on their journey towards becoming self-organised, high trust, collaborative groups.
- Performed the Product Lead role on an interim basis to demonstrate best practice and mentor suitable candidates.
- Designed and implemented organizational changes required to create a highly collaborative, customer-focused culture that can deliver with a shorter lead time.
- Championed product management as a profession, educating leaders on various frameworks, models and approaches, to ensure the right thing is built in the right way.
- Identified development needs across the organization and devised workshops that addressed the learning needs of each group.

Executive Director - Employee Experience Product Strategy

Developed an internal Employee Request and Self-Help tool to support all 250,000 employees on scenarios such as password reset, distribution list management, software delivery etc. Developed in .NET and Angular.

Responsibilities included:

- Develop features across the platform both front end and backend API’s
- Build a framework to perform continuous integration and automated testing at all levels of the stack leveraging libraries such as N-Unit, Jasmine, SpecFlow (BDD), Selenium, Protractor
- Build deployment pipeline to support continuous deployment using Jenkins and other internal tools.

Associate - Software Developer and Scrum Master

Defectives

Founder and Organiser of the Defectives. A Testing focused community for the North of England. We host events where teams of software testers compete to find the most defects in a range of online and offline applications.

Join our LinkedIn Group here: http://www.linkedin.com/groups/Defectives-3736966

Shop Direct

eCommerce Engineering Manager for one of the UK's biggest online retailers. Shop Direct has eight online brands including www.littlewoods.com and www.very.co.uk which achieve over 700,000 hits  a day.

» Client Responsibilities include:

Supporting Seven Scrum teams throughout the Sprint process including Sprint Planning, Scrum of
Scrums, Impediments, Demo's and Retrospectives.
• Mentoring and supporting Sprint Testers and Software Test Automation Engineers within the Sprint
Process(On and Offshore)
• Ownership of Test Automation Strategy to ensure appropriate technical test solutions are implemented
to achieve the desired business benefits.
• Monitoring Continuous Integration Pipeline for any “Red” Build/Deployment/Test stages.
• Managing AWS hosted Test Environments to achieve optimum availability and uptime
• Supporting Developers with Test Driven Development(TDD) Framework to ensure desired Unit Test
Coverage is achieved and test failures at compile time investigated.
• Ensuring adequate information available to Product Owners and Business Stakeholders
• Identification of required test resources and subsequent recruitment. Including engaging with third
parties(IBM, EPAM, Rullion) CV screening, Interviewing and final candidate recommendations to
client.

eCommerce Engineering Manager | Agile | Continous Delivery | Cloud

National Trust

Managed all phases of testing for an upgrade to the Horizon Property and Finance Management system which deals with all the Trusts Properties and Land assets. The system also deals with the billing and financial management of all the Trusts tenants.

» Client Responsibilities Included:

● Introduction of Testing best practices and processes to the organisation.
● Planned and devised Test Approach for all phases of testing including SIT, UAT, NFT, Data 	Migration, Cutover.
● Managed User Acceptance Testing with Property Managers and Rural Surveyors across 	multiple locations.
● Trained and Mentored team of Business Analysts on Testing methods, techniques and tools.
● Daily reporting to Project Management.

Test Manager

Nationwide Building Society

Worked on a large Data Migration project following the acquisition of Portman Building Society. Responsible for managing all Defects raised through testing and ensuring a quick and accurate resolution. Held regular meetings and delivered daily and weekly reports to management on defect statistics.

Defect Manager

Worked for the UK's largest Home Shopping retailer as a Test Analyst. Projects included Corporate Name Change, telephone speech recognition and Customer Futures Project which re-engineered the customer ordering process both online and via telephone. Each project required analysis of business requirements, creation of test design documents, development and execution of test scripts to validate requirements and clear reporting on progress to management. All testing on each project was delivered within the set deadlines.

Software Test Engineer

Curious about whats possible when you ask more, tell less.

👩 Meet Sarah, a leader of managers at a scaling tech business. She has vast technical knowledge but struggles with giving feedback to her team. Recently, the performance of her team lead, Alex, has significantly dropped. Her anxiety spikes when thinking about addressing the topic.

We equip you to help Sarah solve challenges like this.

- 70% of employees are avoiding difficult conversations at work.
- 53% of employees are handling "toxic" situations by ignoring them.
- 55% of people are scared to discuss diversity and inclusion at work.

And the traditional solutions are not helping!

💥 What if instead:

Sarah had the confidence, clarity and competence to lead the conversations employees value most at work. Becoming the best coach her team has ever had. Without spending hours in the classroom, unable to recall what they learned when it matters.

🤖 That's what we do:

We've built an AI learning platform that makes difficult conversations easier.

Sarah can practice specific conversation skills and get immediate feedback.

She can also use RealPlay conversations to simulate the conversations she fears the most.

These tools help Sarah feel confident and ready to have the conversations that matter most.

Try a demo now:
https://www.realtalkstudio.com

Toby Sinclair

Lately, I’ve been hating working from home.

Every day feels the same - grey skies, cold cabin, and:

The creeping temptation to crawl back under the duvet and hibernate.

So I’ve started exploring a few co-working spaces.

And my favourite so far?

Fraser House Hub, Lancaster.

It’s not the:
- free coffee
- beautiful building
- affordable pricing

(though all three help).

It’s the people.

Especially Rory Southworth and Kathleen (Kay) Parker

Who somehow manage to make every visitor feel like an old friend coming home.

And as a bonus, it's full of tech companies.

So it’s easy to bump into brilliant people like Will Faithfull over coffee.

Shame it’s just too far to be there every day.

🏡 Anyone else struggling to work from home?

😴 Any tips to stay motivated?

#coworking #lancashire #founder

Create AI Video Roleplays for Training | ex-JP Morgan Chase Director

AND Digital

I am proud to be part of a digital services partner who is dedicated to helping clients “build better digital products and enhance their capabilities.” Over 210 million global users use our tech. By developing software collaboratively, we close the digital skills gap and accelerate our clients' digital ambitions.

I work closely with CIOs, CTOs, CPOs, engineering leaders, and executive teams to address their challenges and align business objectives with technology needs. 

Clients: Energy Sector (Correla), Manufacturing (Pallet Track), Retail (Currys).

Key responsibilities include:
🔸Architected scalable solutions - Led enterprise-wide digital transformations (cloud, SaaS, mobile) using simplified architecture frameworks, driving a 4x revenue surge for clients through interoperable, future-proof systems.
🔸Cross functional practice leadership - Scaled internal product, delivery, and engineering teams using EA governance models, standardising architecture blueprints for accelerated MVP launches and cross-departmental alignment.
🔸Midlands technology push - Positioned as a Midlands thought leader, championing enterprise
architecture-driven growth through events and partnerships, directly contributing to £2.5M+ AI/LLM contract wins.
🔸AI adoption - Spearheaded AI adoption for manufacturing clients via hackathons and training, anchored by enterprise architecture principles to ensure scalability, compliance, and ROI.
🔸Revenue based bid optimisation - Leveraged architecture-first proposals to enhance bidding capabilities, securing high-value contracts through modular, client-tailored solutions.

Skills: Digital transformation | Strategy development | Strategy execution | Program management | IT governance |Board collaboration | Product management | Business technology | Enterprise Architecture

VP Engineering and Technology Consultant

Enactus Aston

• Provided strategic guidance and mentorship to Enactus Aston student members, enhancing project success.
• Facilitated connections with sponsors and industry professionals to support project growth.
• Represent Enactus Aston externally, promoting achievements and contributing to community impact.

Board Advisor

Aston University

The professional mentoring scheme pairs professionals with second year undergraduate Aston University students to work one-to-one and help them gain an insight into professional life. 

Mentors help students to develop their knowledge and professional skills, which ensures that students begin their journeys into the professional world with a solid foundation of knowledge. The scheme also aims to support professionals in their own development and to provide a platform in developing their networks.

Skills: Mentoring

 Mentor to Undergraduate Students

Harvard Business Review

I drive thought leadership, strategic planning, and technology expertise, contributing to critical articles published both online and in print.

Harvard Business Review Press is recognised for delivering the finest insights in business strategy, general management, technology, leadership, human resources, and innovation. Our intelligent business readers rely on us for answers to their daily challenges and for the guidance and discourse that significantly influence their personal and professional lives.

Advisory Council Member

Forbes Technology Council

This exclusive, invite-only organisation is at the forefront of technology, leveraging innovative communication to drive progress. Members are carefully selected from CEOs, COOs, CTOs, CIOs, and other leaders, chosen for their deep industry knowledge and diverse experience.

I contribute thought leadership on critical technology topics, including strategic planning, effective design and delivery, and the digital transformation needs across various sectors.

Official Member

Be More Meerkat Limited

Technology consultancy which works with Organisations to deliver Technology consultancy, Quality Assurance Expertise, Mentoring and Coaching, Transformation & Change expertise, Programme & Project Management, and Strategy Consulting. 

I work with clients to deliver organisational outcomes and technology driven change and save costs.

Founder and Director

InflamMed

InflamMed is dedicated to empowering individuals with invisible conditions and disabilities. We are committed to creating a world where everyone can navigate their health journeys with resilience and innovation while leading the charge towards a more inclusive business landscape.

InflamMed’s mission is to empower individuals with invisible conditions and disabilities, harnessing the power of storytelling, community, and resources, enabling them to navigate their health journeys with resilience and pursue their passions.

I have a deep passion for fostering a people centric approach to technology leadership - through my written content I look forward to sharing my perspective with others to help the wider community.

Voluntary Contributing Writer

The Football Association

I managed five functions and approximately 100 internal and external team members responsible for end-to-end software development across both B2B and B2C environments.

- Led digital transformation across the FA, optimising systems for availability, resilience, and operational efficiency in a high-visibility, regulated environment.
- Developed and implemented agile and DevOps practices, enabling rapid, secure, and high-quality product delivery, reducing time-to-market by 40%.
- Oversaw a multi-million budget, rationalising the technology stack to cut unit costs by 20% while enhancing performance and security.
- Achieved the following having digitally transformed our processes:
   - EnglandFootball.com registered 9.5M user interactions in one year, exceeding the target of 3.8M.
   - Grassroots game management app now boasts over half a million weekly users and 30k clubs.
   - Active fan accounts across digital products have more than tripled to 6.1M.
   - FA’s customer satisfaction surged from 71% to 94% in 12 months to a record high.
- Fostered collaboration across engineering and non-technical teams, ensuring a shared understanding of technology’s role in achieving organisational objectives.
- I spearheaded a cultural transformation within the tech team, shifting the perception from "just another team" to "the best team in the company," while providing regular updates to the C-suite. By instilling high-performance behaviours and metrics, I fostered a culture of accountability and excellence.

I supported the strategic roadmap for digital transformation, overseeing operational management of IT and the operating and capital budgets. My collaborative approach built trust and confidence in IT across the organisation, enhancing customer service while balancing strategic vision with immediate business demands.

Interim Head of Application Development

Supporting Aston University MBA students with coaching sessions which are part of their curriculum.

Covered sessions on:
- Career progression Q&A
- Open session Q&A
- Improving your confidence session

Skills: Coaching | Mentorship | Presenting | Confidence building

MBA Student Coach

LambdaTest

Technical writer of articles/guides for LambdaTest - my first article was written on: June 13, 2022

https://www.lambdatest.com/blog/author/dmarway/

Key highlights:
- Over 11k views on my article on 'Continuous testing' in just over a week
- 19.5k views on my article on 'Test Observability'
- Over 16 blogs currently written
- In total over 124k views of my content

Technology Writer

CTO 🔸 Digital Transformation 🔸 Strategy/Digital Transformation Expert 🔸 People Led Change 🔸 Leadership/Tech Blogger 🔸Official Member of Forbes Technology Council 🔸Advisor for Harvard Business Review

🟧 My Expertise:

With over 18 years of technical expertise and strong commercial and operational skills, I focus on delivering measurable business results.

I set strategic vision and effectively communicate across all levels to build consensus and achieve corporate goals. As a leader, I cultivate teams based on trust, empowerment, and continuous learning.

As a results-driven executive, I lead strategy development, digital transformation, and organisational change while ensuring cost-effectiveness and high operational availability.

In addition to my professional work, I coach and conduct workshops to help individuals reflect on their past and shape their future.

I excel in strategic planning and delivering innovative technology solutions across complex environments, leveraging strong problem-solving skills to assess both the big picture and details quickly.

I'll work alongside you on a Permanent, Contract, Fractional and Interim basis, to realise your desired goals and outcomes.

As CTO, my mission remains consistent across all platforms—whether I’m writing my weekly blog at bemoremeerkat.com or addressing audiences on leadership strategies. I aim to empower individuals to discover their best selves, enabling them to achieve their goals effectively.

🟧 Industry experience:
Retail | Staffing and HR | Sporting |Consultancy Services

taplio

The Battle

Toby Sinclair

Dileep Marway 🟠

Followers

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taplio

The Battle

Toby Sinclair

Dileep Marway 🟠

Followers

Posts

Engagements

Likes

Performance Score.css-goub6s{font-size:var(--chakra-fontSizes-md);font-weight:500;color:var(--chakra-colors-gray-600);display:block;margin-top:var(--chakra-space-1);}Toby Sinclair's LinkedIn Performance

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