Register for ChannelCon EMEA Here and use code TATETALKS26 for totally free entry...
In this episode of Tate Talks, Chris sits down with Hollie Whittles MBE - co-founder and director of Purple Frog Data (a data analytics and AI consultancy marking its 20th anniversary this year) and Power BI Sentinel (a Power BI governance SaaS with clients across the UK and US). Hollie is also Vice Chair of GTIA's UK & Ireland Executive Council and National Policy Skills Champion at the Federation of Small Businesses, advising the UK government on tech skills, apprenticeships and T-levels — work that contributed to her MBE for services to women in business.
They cover a lot of ground: the recruitment and skills gap MSPs keep running into, why the stereotypes that keep people (and especially women) out of tech careers start as early as primary school, and the shift in the UK's work experience model away from rigid two-week blocks and towards flexible placements via the Careers and Enterprise Company.
On AI, Hollie is direct: deploying AI agents on top of messy, ungoverned data isn't transformation, it's a governance failure. Her advice for MSPs planning for 2027 — get the people, the skills and the data foundations right before the next platform purchase.
They also get into the hybrid vs. remote work debate and its outsized impact on people starting their careers, plus a lighter detour into stadium shows with symphony orchestras, Star Trek, and the one true answer to "what's your favourite Star Wars film."
Guest: Hollie Whittles MBE - LinkedIn