Why do the smartest people in the room never get hired — and what does AI have to do with it?

In this episode of Between Data and Risk, Dr. Marian Siwiak sits down with Paul Forrest — investor, CAIO, board advisor, and TEDx speaker — to explore how creativity, chaos, and AI collide in the boardroom.

We talk about:

– Why “Mad Mavericks” are critical for innovation (and how to spot the real ones)

– How boards should rethink AI — not as magic, but as infrastructure

– What AGI could actually mean for business strategy

– And how to balance creativity with governance, without crushing either

👉 Paul Forrest on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/pdf66/

👉 Watch Paul’s TEDx talk – "Mad Mavericks & The Art of Working with 'Unconventionals'":

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7KvLvKlPBRY&t=69s

👉 Subscribe for weekly episodes with startup founders, tech leaders, and the occasional troublemaker

#AI #AGI #BoardLeadership #Innovation #CreativityInBusiness #MadMavericks #Startups #RiskManagement #BusinessStrategy #BetweenDataAndRisk

What do early-stage founders actually need — and why do so many get it wrong?

In this thought-provoking conversation, Dr. Marian Siwiak sits down with Peter Whale — veteran technologist, startup mentor, and Head of Projects at Signapse — to unpack the real challenges behind building something that works. From mentoring blind spots to the tension between shareholder and stakeholder value, this episode dives into the often-overlooked details that make or break early ventures.

They explore:

- How prototyping and market validation can save you from wishful thinking

- Why trust, alignment, and flexibility matter more than job titles

- And whether remote work is truly progress — or just another distraction

💡 If you're building, mentoring, or trying to make your idea real — this one’s for you.

Takeaways:

- Mentorship reveals blind spots founders can’t see alone

- Real value creation outlasts short-term traction

- Shareholder vs. stakeholder thinking shapes strategy

- Prototyping and validation beat assumptions every time

- Alignment and trust are the foundation of effective teams

- Remote and hybrid workforces need better, not more, tools

- Luck matters — but preparation decides what you do with it

Relevant Links:

Peter Whale's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/peterwhale/

#mentorship #entrepreneurship #startups #valuecreation #prototyping #stakeholdervalue #businessalignment #remotework #leadership #founderadvice

What does it take to lead a startup without losing yourself?

In this episode of Between Data and Risk, we’re joined by Arianna Cerrito, founder of Startup and Rise and startup mentor at LSE Generate, for a real conversation about the emotional toll of startup leadership. Arianna and Dr. Marian Siwiak explore what it means to lead from the fire — where everything feels urgent, your people rely on you, and burnout lurks behind every milestone.

They unpack the invisible decisions founders make daily: when to push, when to rest, and how to build culture and trust that last beyond the chaos of growth. Arianna shares hard-earned lessons about staying connected to your purpose, spotting burnout before it hits, and why values aren’t soft — they’re strategic.

Whether you're a first-time founder or a scaling leader, this conversation offers practical tools for building something meaningful without breaking yourself in the process.

Relevant links:

Arianna Cerrito on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ariannacerrito/

Startup and Rise: https://www.startupandrise.com/

Takeaways:

- Why company values are your hidden lever for sustainable growth

- How to delegate without guilt

- Early warning signs of founder burnout

- Making remote culture work without micromanagement

- Reconnecting with your purpose when the chaos takes over

#Startups #Leadership #Burnout #Founders #RemoteWork #StartupCulture #WorkLifeBalance #FounderWellbeing #TeamTrust #CompanyValues #StartupMentor #BetweenDataAndRisk