Lynda Wilkes-Green, Founder of Ahlya, joins Host Simon Hodgkins on this episode of VistaTalks for a powerful and deeply personal conversation about women’s health, cycle thinking, and how AI can be used for good in underserved areas of wellness.

This episode explores the intersection of personal experience, thoughtful technology design, and purposeful entrepreneurship. Lynda shares her journey from high-pressure legal environments to building a femtech platform that empowers women to better understand their bodies, hormones, and overall well-being.

00:00 - Lynda Wilkes-Green - VistaTalks Ep 189

00:46 - Lynda’s Founding Story and Health Journey

02:20 - How Ahlya Uses AI and Wearable Data

03:48 - Holistic Wellness: Mental and Physical Health

05:27 - Being a Female Founder in AI Today

07:00 - Cultural Nuance and Global Expansion

11:33 - Scaling Ahlya Internationally

13:01 - Leadership, Productivity, and Sustainable Growth

About VistaTalks:

VistaTalks has an incredible lineup of guests from around the globe. We love to feature interesting discussions with interesting people from all around the world. Follow VistaTalks on Spotify for all the latest episodes, or subscribe to the show on Apple and Google podcasts. VistaTalks is available on many other podcast platforms. To learn more about VistaTalks, please visit https://www.vistatalks.com

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Patrick Shields, experienced executive and PhD researcher in Artificial Intelligence, joins host Simon Hodgkins for a timely and thought-provoking conversation on leadership, innovation, and the realities of AI adoption in business. Recorded for VistaTalks Episode 188, this discussion dives deep into how organizations, particularly SMEs, can navigate AI responsibly while empowering their people and protecting trust.

Patrick is currently completing his PhD at Munster Technological University, where his research focuses on how businesses actually adopt AI in practice, rather than how technology vendors say they should. The result is a grounded, experience-led discussion that blends academic insight with decades of executive leadership across hospitality and international business.

00:00 - Patrick Shields - VistaTalks Ep 188

01:00 - Why Patrick Is Researching AI Adoption

04:57 - The Real Reason Businesses Struggle with AI

06:09 - Shadow AI and Hidden Organizational Risks

14:14 - Leadership, Trust, and Communication in AI Change

19:03 - Practical Steps for Building AI-Ready Teams

30:32 - Responsible AI, Ethics, and Sustainability

39:12 - The Next Five Years of AI and Leadership

About VistaTalks:

VistaTalks has an incredible lineup of guests from around the globe. We love to feature interesting discussions with interesting people from all around the world. Follow VistaTalks on Spotify for all the latest episodes, or subscribe to the show on Apple and Google podcasts. VistaTalks is available on many other podcast platforms. To learn more about VistaTalks, please visit https://www.vistatalks.com

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Dr Micheál Ó Duibh's recent appearance on the VistaTalks podcast captured the presence of someone who sees language not as an abstract academic puzzle but as a living force that shapes people, communities, and culture. What followed was a thoughtful and generous conversation that moved from grammar and community advocacy to AI, inclusivity, and the future of Irish itself.

00:00 - Dr Micheál Ó Duibh - VistaTalks Ep 187

01:21 - Academic roots, PhD, and journey into Irish medium education 04:29 - What the "bigger picture" of the Irish language really means 11:15 - Unique structural and cultural challenges in Irish

20:03 - A pragmatic view of AI and machine translation for Irish

27:45 - Data, live dictionaries, and keeping up with a living language 35:52 - A call to native speakers to lead the future of Irish

41:14 - "The running button" story and closing thoughts

About VistaTalks:

VistaTalks has an incredible lineup of guests from around the globe. We love to feature interesting discussions with interesting people from all around the world. Follow VistaTalks on Spotify for all the latest episodes, or subscribe to the show on Apple and Google podcasts. VistaTalks is available on many other podcast platforms. To learn more about VistaTalks, please visit https://www.vistatalks.com

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James Louttit, Founder and lead trainer at Impactful Project Management, PMI's Project Management Professional of the Year, and award-winning author of Leading Impactful Teams, joins Host Simon Hodgkins on this episode of VistaTalks. The conversation explored James's personal journey, his people-first philosophy, and his practical approach to solving real-world project challenges

James Louttit's story is a reminder that project management is not about following a process for its own sake. It is about people, clarity, and building long-term capability. His work with Impactful Project Management and the Impactful PM Hub embodies this ethos, creating tools and communities that enable leaders and teams to deliver with purpose.

00:00 - James Louttit - VistaTalks Ep 186

01:20 - From Burnout to a New Approach

06:41 - People-First Project Management

09:56 - Creating Clarity Across Cultures

12:01 - Process vs. Empowerment

14:27 - The Impactful PM Hub

17:22 - Everyone Is a Project Manager

26:14 - Future Trends in Project Management

About VistaTalks:

VistaTalks has an incredible lineup of guests from around the globe. We love to feature interesting discussions with interesting people from all around the world. Follow VistaTalks on Spotify for all the latest episodes, or subscribe to the show on Apple and Google podcasts. VistaTalks is available on many other podcast platforms. To learn more about VistaTalks, please visit https://www.vistatalks.com

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Join us for a lively holiday special featuring hosts Simon Hodgkins and María Roa. It was a year shaped by rapid developments in AI, bold movement in branding and marketing, and powerful personal stories from business and sport. The episode served as both a celebration and a reflection, taking listeners through some of the most compelling conversations of the past twelve months. The holiday special brought all of that energy together in one thoughtful recap.

00:00 - Holiday intro and year-in-review overview

01:42 - AI in healthcare and human compassion

05:13 - AI bias, skin tone representation, and ethical data

08:39 - Bold and rebellious branding in crowded digital markets

12:52 - Global brands, culture, and localization

16:53 - From elite swimmer to Head of Marketing

22:08 - Travel intelligence, trust, and the future of global travel

About VistaTalks:

VistaTalks has an incredible lineup of guests from around the globe. We love to feature interesting discussions with interesting people from all around the world. Follow VistaTalks on Spotify for all the latest episodes, or subscribe to the show on Apple and Google podcasts. VistaTalks is available on many other podcast platforms. To learn more about VistaTalks, please visit https://www.vistatalks.com

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In this episode of VistaTalks, Host Simon Hodgkins sits down with Giulia Greco, founder of Giulia Greco Consulting and Globalization Consultant at Nimdzi Insights, to unpack the evolving landscape of international expansion, localization strategy, and the role of AI in shaping the future of global business. Drawing on her rich experience leading localization at Shopify and consulting for global clients, Giulia offers a refreshingly candid and insightful perspective on what it takes to succeed in going global today.

Stay Open, Stay Curious

Giulia leaves listeners with a powerful piece of advice:

"It's important to remain open and adaptable… Clinging to the past and the way things were is not a recipe for success."

In a world where technology, culture, and work dynamics are constantly evolving, the most resilient professionals and companies will be those who stay curious, willing to learn, and open to experimentation.

Giulia Greco offers more than just technical expertise in localization; she brings strategic vision, human insight, and refreshing candor to an increasingly complex and fast-moving field. Whether you're a startup looking to go global or a multinational navigating compliance and AI disruption, her message is clear: localization isn't just a support function. Done right, it's a driver of growth, connection, and long-term success.

00:00 - Giulia Greco - VistaTalks Ep 184

01:26 - From Burnout to Business: Why Giulia Started Consulting

04:03 - Localization ≠ Translation: A Broader Globalization Mindset

08:13 - Strategic Blind Spots in Global Expansion

12:54 - Content as Product: Prioritization & Market Strategy

17:09 - What Real Localization Success Looks Like

18:43 - Bill 96 and Compliance as a Growth Opportunity

30:21 - AI in Localization: Tools, Tradeoffs, and Transformation

About VistaTalks:

VistaTalks has an incredible lineup of guests from around the globe. We love to feature interesting discussions with interesting people from all around the world. Follow VistaTalks on Spotify for all the latest episodes, or subscribe to the show on Apple and Google podcasts. VistaTalks is available on many other podcast platforms. To learn more about VistaTalks, please visit https://www.vistatalks.com

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Jill Goldsberry, Go-To-Market AI Senior Solutions Consultant at Centaur Labs, is in conversation with Host Simon Hodgkins on this episode of VistaTalks. The conversation explored how AI is transforming healthcare, why high-quality labeled data is the foundation of reliable models, and how Centaur Labs is helping organizations overcome some of the most pressing challenges in this space.00:00 - Jill Goldsberry - VistaTalks Ep 18301:31 - Jill’s role at Centaur Labs and why labeled data is essential03:19 - How Centaur integrates into complex healthcare workflows04:52 - Common misconceptions about data annotation in healthcare06:36 - Centaur’s mobile platform, gamification, and expert contributors09:07 - Real-world use cases, from sleep tracking to Microsoft Research projects11:33 - Tackling challenging data types like surgical video, ECGs, and lung sounds13:12 - Building trust, compliance, and regulatory readiness in healthcare AI15:38 - Emerging trends: dynamic datasets and human-AI collaborationAbout VistaTalks: VistaTalks has an incredible lineup of guests from around the globe. We love to feature interesting discussions with interesting people from all around the world. Follow VistaTalks on Spotify for all the latest episodes, or subscribe to the show on Apple and Google podcasts. VistaTalks is available on many other podcast platforms. To learn more about VistaTalks, please visit https://www.vistatalks.com Social Media: X - https://x.com/vistatalks Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/VistaTalks Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/vistatalks LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/vistatalks

Trish Butler has held senior marketing roles at household names such as B&Q, Screwfix, McCann, and the Taxback Group (now CluneTech). These roles gave her a front-row seat to the challenges of scaling international brands, managing multiple markets, and aligning teams around shared values and goals. Host Simon Hodgkins catches up with Trish Butler, Portfolio CMO, on this episode of VistaTalks.

Key Takeaways

Trish closed the conversation with a message every business leader should remember: keep it simple. Focus on clarity, consistency, and delivering on your promise every time. Growth comes not from complexity, but from clear communication, strong culture, and customer-centric thinking.

00:00 - Trish Butler - VistaTalks Ep 182

01:26 - Building Brands in High-Growth Startups

07:02 - Lessons from Leading Multiple Brands

10:33 - Scaling Brands Effectively

16:24 - The Role of AI in Marketing

21:32 - Culture, Communication, and Alignment

26:00 - Go-To-Market Strategies That Work (and Fail)

31:50 - Leading Global Teams and Key Takeaways

About VistaTalks:

VistaTalks has an incredible lineup of guests from around the globe. We love to feature interesting discussions with interesting people from all around the world. Follow VistaTalks on Spotify for all the latest episodes, or subscribe to the show on Apple and Google podcasts. VistaTalks is available on many other podcast platforms. To learn more about VistaTalks, please visit https://www.vistatalks.com

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Katherine Melchior Ray, Faculty Member and Lecturer at the University of California, Berkeley, Haas School of Business, President of Global Ally, keynote speaker, and author, joins Host Simon Hodgkins for a conversation on how brands expand globally without losing authenticity. From San Francisco's multicultural roots to luxury, hospitality, beauty, and tech, Katherine's career is a masterclass in bridging cultures, building trust, and staying just a half step ahead of the market, not a leap too far.From San Francisco's "Little Worlds" to a Global CareerKatherine grew up in cosmopolitan San Francisco, with its espresso-fueled Little Italy, vibrant Chinatown, and the Mission's Latino heart, while attending French schools and living in a cross-cultural home. That lived diversity became the foundation for a career spent connecting people, markets, and meaning. She later worked and lived in France and Japan, speaks both languages, and has led teams across industries at iconic brands including Nike, Louis Vuitton, Gucci, Hyatt, and Shiseido, before moving into tech and teaching at Berkeley Haas.00:00 - Katherine Melchior Ray - VistaTalks Ep 18101:02 - San Francisco roots & a cross-cultural upbringing04:43 - Cultural intelligence: definition and why it matters08:52 - Japan vs. France: when “basics” aren’t basic12:55 - Kit Kat’s “freedom within a framework” playbook18:55 - Building trust across global teams27:34 - Lessons from Nike, Hyatt, Shiseido & tech34:03 - AI’s promise, context gap, and brand valuesAbout VistaTalks: VistaTalks has an incredible lineup of guests from around the globe. We love to feature interesting discussions with interesting people from all around the world. Follow VistaTalks on Spotify for all the latest episodes, or subscribe to the show on Apple and Google podcasts. VistaTalks is available on many other podcast platforms. To learn more about VistaTalks, please visit https://www.vistatalks.com Social Media: X - https://x.com/vistatalks Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/VistaTalks Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/vistatalks LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/vistatalks

With over 70 countries visited, fluency in six languages, and a lifetime of cross-cultural experience, Sylvia Gonner, President of Culturewiz, is in discussion with VistaTalks Host Simon Hodgkins. Sylvia brings both authority and a practical perspective to the challenges of going global.

About VistaTalks: 

VistaTalks has an incredible lineup of guests from around the globe. We love to feature interesting discussions with interesting people from all around the world. Follow VistaTalks on Spotify for all the latest episodes, or subscribe to the show on Apple and Google podcasts. VistaTalks is available on many other podcast platforms. To learn more about VistaTalks, please visit https://www.vistatalks.com

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Artificial intelligence is changing everything, from healthcare and beauty tech to social media and surveillance. However, as systems powered by machine learning become increasingly embedded in our daily lives, a critical question arises: Are they working fairly for everyone?That's precisely what Neda Alipur, a PhD researcher at TU Dublin, is tackling through her groundbreaking work on image processing and AI skin tone representation. Host Simon Hodgkins speaks with Neda about her journey into this complex field and the pressing need for more inclusive AI systems in this episode of VistaTalks. This conversation is an important topic and one that goes right to the heart of bias in data and its real-world consequences.00:00 - Neda Alipur - VistaTalks Ep 179 01:30 - Neda's Journey into Image Processing and AI03:42 - Why Skin Tone Representation in AI Matters06:08 - The Problem with Inaccurate Datasets10:25 - Ethical Challenges in Labeling Skin Tone13:25 - Building a More Inclusive Dataset15:41 - Collaboration and Real-World Applications19:10 - Looking Ahead: Fairness as a Core Design PrincipleAbout VistaTalks: VistaTalks has an incredible lineup of guests from around the globe. We love to feature interesting discussions with interesting people from all around the world. Follow VistaTalks on Spotify for all the latest episodes, or subscribe to the show on Apple and Google podcasts. VistaTalks is available on many other podcast platforms. To learn more about VistaTalks, please visit https://www.vistatalks.com Social Media: X - https://x.com/vistatalks Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/VistaTalks Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/vistatalks LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/vistatalks