How to reduce e-waste, address digital divides, be a better boss and adapt to new technology with Helen Milner and Stefan Stern

Today's guests won't just make you make you think, I hope they'll help you to act since both offer practical and immediate action points to build a better world and better businesses.

The UK generates some of the highest amounts of e-waste (electrical waste including headphones, remotes, computer equipment and devices) in the world. Why do we hoard such devices and how can we put them to better use?

And how can we become better bosses, adapt for a hybrid-working world and plan so businesses and people can thrive amidst the digital and societal transformation underway?

Helen Milner is the Group Chief Executive of Good Things Foundation and has been named one of the most influential people in IT in the UK. Well-known for its work in digital inclusion, Good Things Foundation is building the UK's first National Device Bank. Devices will be provided to people and organisations. Helen tells us more.

She also covers social tariffs for broadband, why digital exclusion is becoming narrower but more pronounced for people affected, and her commitment to financial inclusion with MaPS (the UK’s Money and Pension Service). Listeners can put their default device to good use in the future, she tell us how.

Stefan Stern is a journalist, author and Visiting Professor of management practice at Bayes Business School, City, University of London. He is the author (with Prof Cary Cooper) of "Myths of Management - what people get wrong about being the boss" and "How To Be A Better Leader".

Stefan tells me the biggest and most surprising things people get wrong about being the boss, what we can do to be better, and how organisations and leaders can work more effectively (and supportively of their people) in a hybrid world and the future.

Stern is speaking at  Zoom’s annual conference, Zoomtopia EMEA, about how the new world of work will change business and society and how to deal with it? Register for this free event here.

Timings:

• 0 - 2:57 introduction
• 2:57 Helen Milner  – find Helen on twitter at @helenmilner
• 21:15 Stefan Stern – find Stefan on twitter at @stefanstern
• 38:17 Funding for businesses and social enterprises, including Innovate UK's Circular Economy for SMEs and Net zero living: Pioneer places funding competitions,  the Youth Music Incubator Fund, the Time After Time E-waste Fund.
• 42:48 Upcoming events, including Zoomtopia EMEA virtual user conference on 17 November (details),  the Social Enterprise Exchange conference on 17 November, Unlocking the Labour Market Crisis – Talent across the generations on 21 November (details), Business Sheffield's Entrepreneurs Conference.

Thanks for listening, to guests Helen and Stefan, and to SheffieldLIve! for broadcasting the show.