Dr Nicola Hodson

Chief executive, IBM UKI

What's the most surprising lesson 2024 has taught you so far?

Change is a day-to-day reality. Stay flexible and keep perspective, within 12 months things can look very different, and you can make changes when you are motivated to.

If you could have dinner with any historical figure, who would it be and why?

It’s so hard to choose - I can think of enough to fill a banquet! I would love to invite American writers Richard Bach and Michael Lewis, Brené Brown, Physicians Atul Gawande and Gabor Maté, Barack and Michelle Obama, Former IBM CEO Thomas Watson Jr, Richard Branson…the list goes on!

Which tech or channel figurehead has impressed you the most this year, and why?

Again, there are many - Sir Peter Rigby, founder of the Rigby Group and SCC; he has established an awesome family business which celebrates 50 years next year, he gives back to his hometown and to the broader UK economy, the community he has built around him and much more besides. He is a genuinely great person.

What technology trend do you think is being overhyped, and why?

The existential threat of AI. Think about AI as augmenting - not replacing - human intelligence. With the right governance, AI can accelerate both innovation and creativity.  The best examples bring humans and AI together to produce creative work that would not be possible if either were working alone. Humanity is very smart at adapting to change. We are already seeing so much innovation with AI tools that generates significant time, cost and productivity gains.

If you were stranded on a deserted island but could have one piece of tech with you, what would it be?

My Kindle – an inexhaustible supply of reading that I cannot live without. I read a lot on many topics; I love periodically dipping in and out of Ayn Rand’s Atlas Shrugged, and there are some great business books, novels, biographies and books about health, wellbeing and spirituality that have changed the way I look at life.

What's your go-to productivity hack that keeps you on track during a busy day?

Focus; don’t ‘admire’ problems, get on and do the next logical thing, and take brain breaks to stay fresh.

If you had the time to learn one new skill, what would it be?

I would love to learn to play the piano – it has been on my bucket list forever. I would also love to learn to sing!