Yellowyoyo invites guests for The Lunch each quarter, creating the opportunity for a small group of influential business leaders to informally discuss topics and themes regarding the opportunities and challenges facing them in the modern business world.
Rapid change is something with which we have to deal in all walks of life, and discussions regarding whether AI will improve, change or disrupt are likely to go on for some years to come. With technology and hybrid working transforming business sectors, how do leaders maintain a flourishing business, integrate new processes and ideas, and keep themselves motivated and excited about the future?
To find out, the Yellowyoyo team – Strategy and Legacy Director Bryan Wright, Creative Director Amanda Wright and Managing Director Al Salehian – invited Richard Foster-Fletcher, Executive Chair at MKAI; Chris Cooper, Founder and Speaker, Business Elevation; Odette Mould, Founder and CEO of the charity Harry’s Rainbow; Robert Lee, CEO of the REAS group; and Jason Sinclair, COO of Profile Resourcing Ltd, to join them for lunch at The Swan in Salford, Milton Keynes, to share their insights.
Al Salehian began by asking how, given the at-times negative publicity AI has garnered, the guests were using it within their organisations.
Robert Lee said:
“There’s a lot more to AI than generating text. Recently, I heard about a system that can predict the weather better than supercomputers; and crystal designs that could become important new minerals and metals, so its potential is phenomenal. But at the same time, I don’t think tech ever solves our problems, minds solve problems, technology can help.”
Odette Mould added:
“I’m not particularly technology minded and the team at Harry’s Rainbow are at the very beginning of starting to use AI, but I’ve always said that I’m going to write a book telling my story, and when I used AI I was amazed at how it helped me develop my ideas, gather my thoughts and stimulate those parts of my brain that I don’t use enough.”
Jason Sinclair, whose company, Profile Resourcing, helps businesses focus on inclusive approaches to recruitment, said:
“AI’s also being used by bigger corporates in filtering candidates. For many roles you’re not applying to a person. Candidates go into the system, and some will never be seen, and clients don’t know who’s been sifted out. AI is sifting out certain demographics. We’re pushing back and advising clients that if they’re paying professional recruiters and/or are focused on being more actively inclusive, then they should be doing more of the recruitment themselves.”
With AI playing its part in removing some of the ‘personal’ aspects of candidates or employees, the discussion turned to how leaders can influence the mindset of the 
business when they may be feeling challenged or vulnerable themselves.
Chris Cooper said:
“There’s a narrative right now that the world’s going to rack and ruin – increased poverty, environmental issues etc – and for young people it’s very wearying. It’s important that as leaders we create a compelling narrative; that you can be kind, authentic and honest, so people have something to believe in that is good. If you want to keep employees, you have to create that narrative from the top.”
Amanda Wright asked whether, given the multitude of changes businesses have to cope with, people might be put off using their visionary ideas and starting a new business?
Al Salehian said he hoped that wasn’t the case as the UK economy depended on the success of SMEs, and Robert agreed, saying:
“There’s a joy in making a business, whatever size, work. It should be something that you have a purpose about which you try to instil in others.”
Odette added:
“I had no idea what I was doing when I set Harry’s Rainbow up. I certainly didn’t look 6, 9, 12 years ahead. I had no business experience. I didn’t create something new and buzzing. My purpose was about what I wanted to change in the world.”
Jason was struck by how many young people are setting up businesses that are focused on communities and solving problems for those communities. They don’t want to be the next Facebook, but want to solve problems in their local area.
Robert said:
“My experience shaped how I wanted to put my stamp on my company. Respect always comes around. Every time I have an interaction with my colleagues, I remind myself – Support, Trust, Inclusion, Respect”.
Jason had seen a different response, depending on the generation.
“When everyone in the leadership team has been there 20 years, there’s a resistance to doing new things,”
“Where I’ve worked with younger more dynamic businesses, visionary ideas are more likely to gain traction.”
Richard Foster-Fletcher said:
“People need to be far more versatile about how they work and what the future looks like. Th is is a fantastic time for young people to go out there and start solving problems for people, but schools and colleges are not necessarily going the right way about encouraging them to be entrepreneurial. We’re almost telling them they can’t do it unless they have a brilliant idea, but it doesn’t necessarily have to be one brilliant idea.
He added:
“Gen Alpha will be the first generation to be surrounded by tech all their lives and it’s really interesting to look at how you market to those people. They’re Snapchat, Instagram, YouTube users, that’s where their friends are, and they’re learning on YouTube and TikTok. Businesses have to think about how Gen Alpha will behave because that’s who they’re going be to selling to and employing.”
The conversation moved on to mentoring, with Jason, Amanda and Chris all sharing that they currently mentor. Amanda spoke of her belief in the importance of symbiotic mentoring, of mentor and mentee appreciating and learning from each other.
Robert said:
“I’ve had lots of bad managers who taught me how not to manage, you learn to look out for traits in yourself. When I left corporate life, I had someone who was a mentor to me, and she was really helpful.
Chris said:
“I’ve had a journey with mentors and coaches since I was about 28 and I’ve invested in people to support me over the years. I have a coach and mentor and part of my work is coaching, so it would be hypocritical not to. I just want to bounce ideas off someone, and I need someone who can help me on that. I’ve discovered things about myself I hadn’t known before.”
Jason added that his career had been profoundly influenced by a long-standing mentor. Al Salehian shared that his manager at MBC, a Middle East broadcaster, and at the 
Associated Press (A.P.) had been a mentor, though he didn’t realise it at the time.
Summing up, Bryan said:
“As leaders, we should be guiding people and being living examples of what we think is right. We touch people’s lives every day and the eff ect can be profound, so we must ensure that we constantly live up to that responsibility and become living legacies.”
Find out more about Yellowyoyo at www.yellowyoyo.co.uk
