Championing Success: Lynne Titley - A Digital Finance Function Award Winner

Unlocking Finance Innovation With Insights From Lynne Titley 

“I had quite a good weekend as it goes on the FPL” Lynne Titley on Fantasy Premier League

Enter the exhilarating universe of Lynne Titley, where finance meets innovation in a journey more thrilling than a fantasy league game. Join Chris and Mike as they uncover Lynne's award-winning approach to finance, filled with insights and concepts that will leave you inspired and eager to learn more.

Discover the secrets behind Lynne Titley's unique approach to finance as Chris and Mike delve into her insights on achieving VAR-like precision in financial strategies. Be captivated by Lynne's championing of the 'purple people' concept, a fascinating idea that promises to revolutionise the way we approach finance. Stay engaged as you learn valuable tips from Lynne on applying for awards and savour the taste of well-deserved recognition.

Feel the desire to unlock the secrets of Lynne Titley's success and apply her innovative strategies to your own financial endeavours. Experience the excitement of envisioning a future where precision, creativity, and recognition intersect to drive financial excellence. Imagine the satisfaction of being recognised for your achievements and contributions in the world of finance.

Tune in now to this engaging conversation with Chris, Mike, and Lynne Titley. Learn how to achieve VAR-like precision in your financial strategies, embrace innovative concepts like the 'purple people', and position yourself for well-deserved recognition through award applications. 

Episode Quotes

What Lynne Titley said…

• "I always like to start the week if I can with a jam session on a Sunday night...we really enjoy it. It’s a vibe." (On music jam sessions)
• "Purple people needed for BI implementation projects, bridging tech and finance gaps." (Introducing Purple People concept) 
• "I consider myself a finance specialist. But I love technology, I love opportunities to implement technology to make life easier for people." (On disruptive thinking)
• "It was incredible winning it. We absolutely were over the moon, I cannot tell you what an amazing night." (On awards experience) 
• "Purple People go one step further. And you know, I don't consult me more, but when I did, you know, whether it was bi or transformation in general, you I really wanted to hunt out those people." (Further explaining Purple People)

What Chris Argent said…

• "I'm thinking about putting our team forward for the Jennies, which is what we call the digital finance function awards now, but how likely am I to win?" (Question on awards likelihood)
• "If you don't, you're definitely not going to win. And it was super easy. The process is super easy." (Encouraging awards application)
• "It's hugely worrying. That's why we need a lot of fact checking going on out there, which was another conversation we had recently as well." (On concerns with deepfake technology) 
• "Wilco, a retail brand, has been relaunched as an online brand after going out of business, providing a bargain for shoppers." (Recent news item)
• "Thanks very much for being here today. Really interesting points that you may I think the title has to be something around purple people and reluctant accountants..." (Conclusion)

What Mike Rose said…

• "If you haven't got your processes aligned and your people working effectively, to use the technology, it becomes ineffective." (Discussing digital transformation lessons)
• "You need people that are expert in what they do in both both parts or even for my background. It was, it was data, somebody that wants to use data and lawyers and sitting in the middle of that, and, and translating between each, between each." (On the role of Purple People) 
• "It's only with experience and getting a bit longer in the tooth, I've realised that other people don't think like that. And that is a special skill in and of itself that's useful." (On disruptive thinking styles)
• "The process of applying is probably quite important. We don't reflect enough on what we're doing. We don't reflect enough on what we're achieving." (On applying for awards)
• "The reason on my way next week is a data thing, because it's my son's 18th birthday. And that is a data point." (Relating a milestone to data)

Episode Summary 

The podcast began with introductions from the hosts Chris Argent and Mike Rose, as well as guest speaker Lynne Titley. They discussed how their weeks had been, with Mike sharing that his puppy had passed its training course and Lynne mentioning enjoying a music jam session.

Mike then provided context around an article he saw relating VAR decisions in football to lessons in digital transformation. He explained the controversial VAR decision in a recent Liverpool game and how the article highlighted the need to have aligned processes and effective communication between stakeholders when implementing new technology. Lynne and Chris agreed this was an issue, as not all stakeholders may agree on how technology should be used or if it should be used at all.

The discussion turned to other sports using video technology, like cricket and rugby. It was noted that cricket engages viewers in the review process and gives captains power to call reviews, which helps get buy-in for decisions. This was viewed as a safer way to proceed than football's current VAR implementation.

Lynne then introduced the concept of "Purple People" - individuals who don't fit into a single category and can translate between technical and business roles. She discussed working with Deloitte on a project where these types of versatile profiles were needed. Mike shared how this aligned with his own experiences bridging roles in agile delivery projects.

Chris expressed interest in these "Purple People" to support business partnerships through unique problem-solving skills. He and Mike discussed their disruptive thinking styles and focus on collaboration versus disruption alone. Experience was noted as helping understand not all people think the same way.

In response to a question, the hosts discussed applying for the Digital Finance Function Awards. While sceptical of winning, they emphasised the value of reflection, celebration of achievements, and team motivation from the process itself.

Some recent news items were shared, both positive like the UK economy growing and Wilco being relaunched online, and negative like concerning deepfake audio technology. The podcast concluded with well-wishes for Lynne's career and Mike's son turning 18.

Episode Time Stamps

0:00 - 01:00 Introductions and updates on the hosts' weeks 

01:00 - 06:00 Digital transformation lessons from VAR in football and engagement with new technology - Mike shares his insights from an article on digital transformation.

06:00 - 10:00 Use of video technology in other sports like cricket and rugby - Chris and Mike discuss the use of audio sharing in sports, particularly in cricket and rugby, to expose the work that needs to be done to make technology smoother.

10:00 - 14:00 The concept of "Purple People" and their role in projects like BI implementation - Lynne speaks about the ‘purple people’ concept, a term coined by Nickerson in 2010, referring to individuals who are versatile and don't fit into a single category.

14:00 - 17:00 Translating between roles, disruptive thinking styles, and collaboration - Mike finds the ‘purple people’ framework helpful in explaining his role and translating between different areas of a project. 

17:00 - 23:00 Applying for awards, benefits of reflection, and team motivation - Lynne emphasises the importance of reflecting on and celebrating one’s achievements.  

23:00 - 26:00 Recent news items and economic data

26:00 - 28:00 Concerns around deepfake technology and a milestone birthday - Chris and Mike share their concerns on deepfake technology with a recent example of a convincing fake audio recording of Keir Starmer berating a member of staff.

Listen to the latest episode of ‘Its not all about the numbers’ now! 

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