Ep24: The Art of Making Human Connections in Business with Phil Smith

Welcome to Human Wise, the podcast that explores the commercial advantage of being human at work.

With host Helen Wada, executive coach and founder of The Human Advantage, each episode will explore what being human at work looks like across a wide range of industries, from people in senior management to those on the ground.

Unlock the secrets to thriving in business and life with insights from a trailblazer in technology and leadership. In this inspiring episode, former CEO and chairman of Cisco UK and Ireland, Phil Smith, CBE, shares his journey from a microbiology graduate to a top executive at one of the world's leading tech companies. Discover the power of empathy, kindness, and relationship-building in transforming careers and driving commercial success.

Phil unpacks the significance of human-centric skills in today's AI-driven world, the value of authentic salesmanship, and how personal passions can fuel professional excellence. Through rich anecdotes and practical advice, he reveals how to merge technical expertise with a people-first mindset to achieve remarkable results.

Join us as we delve into the importance of connecting with others, leveraging curiosity, and embracing challenges in both personal and professional realms. Whether you're a young professional, a seasoned leader, or simply curious about blending technology and humanity, this episode offers a treasure trove of wisdom and actionable insights.

Topics Discussed:

Balancing technology and humanitySkills for successful sales careersHumanizing remote work interactionsImportance of kindness in leadershipDeveloping relationship-building skills

View Extended Shownotes here:

About Phil Smith

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Chairman IQE PLC. Retired CEO and Chair of Cisco UK and Ireland and now Chairman and Non-Exec Director and Chair of the Digital Skills Partnership. Former Chair of Innovate UK, The Tech Partnership. I am also a trustee of the Productivity Leadership Group/Be the Business, a member of Digital Economy Council and sit on the advisory board of Lloyds Register, The National Theatre, and the University of Coventry. Non-exec Chairman of Appyway and Streeva and a board member of UKCloud

Further links to follow:

Helen Wada: https://uk.linkedin.com/in/helen-wada

The Human Advantage: https://www.thehumanadvantage.co.uk/

Host and expert coach Helen Wada is a strong believer in the commercial advantage of being human at work.

With over 25 years commercial experience, Helen has seen an opportunity for businesses to do things differently – a sweet spot where a coaching approach and commercial focus can co-exist to build a more human working world.

This podcast is for anyone in business who believes that a better way of working is out there: better for teams, for organisations and, ultimately, for society as a whole.

We'll hear from senior leaders, founders, people on the ground and professionals from a variety of different disciplines, learning from their unique wisdom and experience. 

So, if you're ready to make the human advantage your commercial advantage, join Helen and guests every other week on all major podcast directories.

• No. of episodes: 44
• Latest episode: 2025-06-17
• Business Entrepreneurship Management

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