Network Effects
By Scottish Tech Army
Network EffectsJul 26, 2020
Series 2 - Ep 10 - Tech for Good Summit 2023 - Keynote - Kathryn Baddeley with Laura Goodwin
In 2015, Cisco set itself a challenge to positively impact 1 billion lives through its social impact grants and programmes by 2025. As we start 2023, this global technology giant has reported that it is 70% into meeting that challenge. Kathryn Baddeley has led Cisco UK & Ireland's CSR programme for more than ten years. She shares how the programme got started and how this extraordinary stretch target is being met. Interviewed by the BBC's Innovation Correspondent, Laura Goodwin.
Shownotes: https://www.scottishtecharmy.org/summit-shownotes/closing-keynote-kathryn-baddeley
Series 2 - Ep 9 - Tech for Good Summit - Skilled Volunteering, the value to the Third Sector
Volunteers are the bedrock of the third sector – it simply wouldn’t function without them. Skilled volunteering, whether from the tech or any other specialist sector can be transformational for charities, but sometimes doesn’t realise its full potential. How can the third sector capitalise on the opportunities that skilled volunteering offers and what is the impact when it works well?
Shownotes: https://www.scottishtecharmy.org/summit-shownotes/skilled-volunteering-value-to-the-third-sector
Series 2 - Ep 8 - Tech for Good Summit 23 - Open Data for Action
The value and power of open data was highlighted to everyone during the pandemic. There are many open data sets being generated from multiple sources but there are also many issues with discoverability, consistency and frequency/regularity of updates. How can we encourage governments and other data owners to continue to extend and improve access to data and how can we demonstrate the power of using that data to support a story telling capability for the third sector and civil society? Shownotes: https://www.scottishtecharmy.org/summit-shownotes/open-data-for-action
Series 2 - Ep 7 - Tech for Good Summit 23 - Federated Organisations - The Scale Opportunity
Federated organisations share some characteristics of franchise models. Common processes and systems underpin the operations of successful franchise operations. In principle this lends itself well to federated organisations in the third sector – is this approach being utilised now and what can be done to increase awareness of what works well and encourage greater openness and uptake of this approach? Shownotes: https://www.scottishtecharmy.org/summit-shownotes/federated-organisations-the-scale-opportunity
Series 2 - Ep 6 - Tech for Good Summit - Ambassadors Session, Cross Sector Collaboration
For the last two years, the Scottish Tech Army has benefitted from the insight of its cross sector Ambassadors. This group of leaders brings together insights and experience from the tech, corporate, third and education sectors, a combination that brings together different perspectives and provides the opportunity for innovative collaboration and these sectors.
Series 2 - Ep 5 - Tech for Good Summit 23 - Creating Equality of Opportunity
There is much talk of the digital divide. On one hand, there is a widely-recognised shortage of skilled people in the tech sector and others that rely on technology, and on the other hand there is an urgent problem of digital exclusion and a dearth of equality of opportunity for many individuals in our society. But good work is being done, by both business and education. Whether it’s ensuring that young people can be inspired and learn what they need to learn to secure high value work, or businesses opening new recruitment and career pathways into their organisations. Shownotes: https://www.scottishtecharmy.org/summit-shownotes/equality-of-opportunity
Series 2 - Ep 4 - Tech for Good Summit 23 - An Enabling Infrastructure for the Third Sector
The technology landscape in the third sector is fragmented and where common systems have been created it has often been difficult to get widespread adoption. There is no ‘one size fits all’ tech platform that can serve all the needs of an entire sector, but there are undoubtedly requirements that are common across significant parts of it. These could be horizontal applications like funding application processes, impact measurement and reporting, or vertical applications supporting organisations working in similar areas, such as asylum seekers and refugees, food distribution, and tackling homelessness. Shownotes: https://www.scottishtecharmy.org/summit-shownotes/infrastructure-for-the-third-sector
Series 2 - Ep 3 - Tech for Good Summit 23 - Skilled Volunteering - Good for the People, Good for the Business
Many companies now offer their employees the opportunity to carry out voluntary work during paid hours. This reflects genuine philanthropic intent and the organisations being supported undoubtedly derive benefit from it, especially when staff are using their specialist skills rather than carrying out lower-skilled manual tasks. What are the benefits back to the business itself? Shownotes: https://www.scottishtecharmy.org/summit-shownotes/skilled-volunteering-value-to-business
Series 2 - Ep 2 - Tech for Good Summit 2023 - Rhodri Davies
RHODRI DAVIES, WHY PHILANTHROPY MATTERS: The third sector is always under pressure and constraints, now more than ever - it is heavily dependent on the support of volunteers, funders and philanthropists. Technology has the potential to maximise the impact that can be created from these sources of support but where is the greatest need and the greatest opportunity. Rhodri Davies is a leading thinker and strategist in the field of philanthropy and impact and in this session, he will set the scene for the day by sharing his experience and perspective on these topics. Shownotes: https://www.scottishtecharmy.org/summit-shownotes/opening-keynote-rhodri-davies
Series 2 - Ep 1 - Tech for Good Summit - Opening Address, Alistair Forbes
The Tech for Good Summit 2023 marks 3 years since the launch of the Scottish Tech Army at the height of the first wave of the coronavirus pandemic. The pandemic has faded but the need and the opportunity for tech for good has not, indeed it could be said to be greater than ever. At the Tech for Good Summit in 2022, the Scottish Tech Army announced the launch of the Tech for Good Alliance - join our co-founder and CEO as he shares highlights from the past year and looks ahead to the challenges facing the third sector and the opportunities for the tech for good ecosystem to join forces to create positive change. Shownotes: https://www.scottishtecharmy.org/summit-shownotes/opening-address
Episode 20 - Series 1 ends with a look back and forward
Graham and Kirsty look back on 2020 with Alistair Forbes and Joanna Allen. Wishing all a peaceful and safe Christmas and New Year. See you all in 2021.
Episode 19 - Global Stories 1 - AIME Mentoring, Australia
A chance connection on LinkedIn brought the amazing work of Australia's AIME Mentoring programme to the STA's attention. Kirsty McIntosh met Brenden Newton across an 11 hour time difference to find out more. This is the first in a periodic series of tech-for-good stories from around the world.
Episode 18 - Rise of the CodeClan
Kirsty McIntosh takes a tour around the motivations and experiences of 6 graduates of Scotland's Digital Skills Academy, CodeClan and who have all volunteered their time and new skills to the Scottish Tech Army.
Episode 17 - Eirini Komninou, data science and sonification
Graham Johnston and Kirsty McIntosh talk data science, sonification, PhDs and more with STA volunteer Eirini Komninou. Eirini's story is a classic example of diverse thinking, teamwork and dedication.
Episode 16 - Return to the Town Hall
Alistair Forbes joins Kirsty in the co-hosts chair as we return to the scene of last week's Town Hall announcements about the future of the Scottish Tech Army. Volunteers Stacy Munro, Jean Ferguson and Brian Baglow give their thoughts on an event that really showed both the scale and the strength of the STA.
Episode 15 - Grace Chocolates changing lives
Graham and Kirsty talk to Joyce Murray about how a realisation that we are all just one decision away from getting into trouble led her to set up a chocolate making business that works with women who've brushed up against the justice system. During lockdown she asked for help from the STA who managed to help in more ways than she imagined.
Plus - there's a big announcement at the start of this episode.
Episode 14 - Digital Access to the National Library of Scotland
Stewart Lewis of the National Library of Scotland and STA volunteer Project Manager Alec Davies join Graham and Kirsty to talk about how a team of STA volunteers worked together with the NLS to bring https://opentexts.world online during lockdown. 8 million digital texts are now available to anyone who wants or needs them, with about 32 million left to go. There's some deviation into talk of Hibs and Edinburgh Rugby and we get Alec's view on good Project Management - a topic for another episode.
Episode 13 - World Mental Health Day
It's World Mental Health Day. We brought together one of Crossreach's amazing counsellors, Julie Reekie, with Scottish Tech Army volunteers, Rab Mungall, Kirsty McIntosh and Graham Johnston to share stories of lockdown, managing the new work from home normal and how the STA has provided purpose and a sense of belonging in the most difficult of years.
If you need to work through your experiences, here are more links to those who can help:
https://breathingspace.scot/
https://clearyourhead.scot/
Episode 12 - Checking in again with Alistair Forbes
The Scottish Tech Army had quite a week - 5 months old, awards, partnerships and press galore. Graham Johnston and Kirsty McIntosh catch up with Alistair to hear all about it.
Episode 11 - Graham Johnston and Josh Havens
Listeners finally get the introduction to Graham Johnston they and he deserve and Kirsty to talks to STA volunteer Josh Havens, coming from a non-tech background, the support he's received from fellow volunteers and the impact the charities he's helped have had on his outlook.
Episode 10 - Agenor Technology
Agenor Technology is an Edinburgh based IT consultancy. Several employees, some furloughed, some not have been giving their time and experience to the Scottish Tech Army. Graham Johnston and Kirsty McIntosh find out more about the business and the impact of Covid 19 from their CEO Gary Montgomery and hear from volunteers Kirsty Patterson and Andy Bassett. If you want to know what collaborating with the STA does for your personal development and your business, tune in.
Episode 9 - Crossreach with Tanya Anderson and Luke Woollett
Kirsty McIntosh and Graham Johnston chat to Tanya Anderson of Crossreach Counselling Scotland and the STA's Luke Woollett about their work to bring Crossreach's services into the digital age.
Episode 8 - Mhairi Cochrane from Lilypads
Mhairi Cochrane, CEO of Lilypads tells us about the origins of the organisation, the impact of the pandemic on their operations and how much she enjoyed working with the Scottish Tech Army to help resolve some of the challenges they were facing.
Episode 7 - The Covid-19 Dashboard for Scotland
STA Volunteers Luke Woollett and Donal Stewart discuss the launch of the new Covid-19 Dashboard for Scotland, how it came into being and why it's both an important project for our volunteers and valuable tool for the public.
Episode 6 - The VSA Project with Robin Williamson and Rhona Holland
Introducing our new co-host, Graham Johnston, some music and the story of how the Scottish Tech Army worked with VSA to produce an inventory system that's making a real difference every day to that organisation.
Episode 5 - Volunteer Stories #3, Cameron Butchart
Project Manager Cameron Butchart on how volunteering for the Scottish Tech Army made furlough less daunting, his work with Young Enterprise Scotland and his desire to stay involved even though he's back at work.
Episode 4 - Volunteer Stories #2
We talk to Maria Hamilton about community building at break-neck speed and Lisa Dempsey about resourcing for both skill and aspiration.
Episode 3 - Edinburgh Community Food project and Andrew Rendle
We hear from volunteer Willie Bell and Edinburgh Community Food's Chris Mantle how one project with the Scottish Tech Army led to another. Then we talk mentoring and music with volunteer Andrew Rendle.
Episode 2 - Volunteer Stories
Izzie Kirkpatrick tells us how listening to her Dad got her to join the Scottish Tech Army and how mentoring has helped her confidence and let her see alternative career opportunities. Rhi Batstone and Ric Clark share their experience of the STA's first 'Homebrew Challenge', unexpectedly presenting to Scottish Government and the generosity of fellow volunteers.
Episode 1 - Checking in with Alistair Forbes and Pete Jaco
Our first episode is a chat with Scottish Tech Army founders Alistair Forbes and Pete Jaco. We talk about the meteoric rise of the STA, how it feels to be part of something that's having an immediate effect on those we're helping and touch on the plans and hopes for the future.