GAEA Talks

Melissa Reeve is an organizational transformation and AI integration expert who focuses on how companies must evolve—not just technologically, but structurally and culturally—to succeed with AI. Rather than concentrating on tools or models, her work examines how leadership, operating models, governance, and human systems must change as AI becomes embedded in everyday work.Drawing on decades of experience across lean manufacturing, agile systems, and enterprise transformation, Melissa has worked at the intersection of strategy, execution, and change. Her thinking was shaped early by studying the Toyota Production System in Japan and later through leadership roles in scaling agile and enterprise-wide transformation initiatives.She is the author of Hyperadaptive: Rewiring the Enterprise to Become AI-Native, where she outlines a practical, staged approach for helping organizations move from isolated AI experiments to becoming adaptive, learning enterprises that can sense and respond at AI speed. Her work is particularly focused on the “messy middle” of transformation—where people, roles, incentives, and culture collide with new technological capabilities.In this episode of GAEA Talks, Melissa shares insights for leaders navigating AI adoption at scale, including why most AI initiatives stall, how to overcome resistance, and what it really takes to build organizations that evolve alongside AI rather than being disrupted by it. You can find Melissa’s book "Hyperadaptive: Rewiring The Industry To Be AI- Native" at the link below.
https://hyperadaptive.solutions/book
The GAEA Talks podcast series to brought to you by GAEA AI
https://gaealgm.ai

This podcast features a discussion with Richard Saldanha, who shares his background of spending 25 years in the City of London as a risk analyst, quant trader, portfolio manager and even serving as a global head of risk for a large investment manager. His career has focused on linking mathematics, problem-solving and real-world issues. He has an academic background, holding a doctorate in graph theory and multivariate statistics from the University of Oxford. Richard is a Teaching Fellow in the School of Economics and Finance at Queen Mary University of London, where he teaches statistical machine learning with applications in finance at postgraduate level.Richard is a Fellow and Chartered Statistician (CStat) of the Royal Statistical Society; a Science Council Chartered Scientist (CSci); and a Fellow and Advanced Practitioner in Artificial Intelligence of the Institute of Science and Technology – FIScT(AI).Find out more about Richard's work at Queen Mary University of London https://www.qmul.ac.uk/sef/staff/richardsaldanha.html, at the Institute of Science and Technology https://istonline.org.uk/ist-artificial-intelligence-training/ and for the Acdemic Speakers' Bureau at The London School of Economics and Political Science https://www.academicspeakersbureau.com/speakers/richard-saldanha.The GAEA Talks podcast series to brought to you by GAEA AI https://gaealgm.ai

This episode explores how leaders, organisations, and individuals should think about AI beyond hype, focusing on governance, ethics, risk, and human responsibility. Oliver Patel shares deep insight into how AI should be used intentionally, not blindly, especially in high-stakes decision-making environments like enterprise, government, and education. The conversation unpacks what AI really is, where its risks come from, why context matters more than capability, and how human judgement, authenticity, and experience remain irreplaceable. Ultimately, this is a grounded, forward-looking discussion about how to work with AI intelligently without outsourcing thinking, values, or accountability.Oliver Patel is a leading expert in AI ethics, governance, and responsible technology, currently serving as Head of Enterprise AI Governance at AstraZeneca. His career spans academia, public policy, and industry, including research roles at University College London and work on international data policy within the UK government during the post-EU transition period. With a background in philosophy and public policy from the London School of Economics, Oliver has been at the forefront of shaping AI governance as a professional discipline, advising organisations on how to deploy AI responsibly, manage risk, and align emerging technologies with human values, legal obligations, and societal impact.Pre-order Fundamentals of AI Governance here:https://aigovernancebook.com/Click to view the Enterprise AI Governance newsletter: https://oliverpatel.substack.com/View Oliver Patel's LinkedIn profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/oliver-patel/The GAEA Talks podcast series to brought to you by GAEA AI https://gaealgm.ai

This episode explores the deep and often overlooked relationship between artificial intelligence and human potential. Nichol Bradford brings a long-term perspective on technology, drawing from her background in gaming, investing, and human-centred innovation to argue that AI’s true value lies not in efficiency alone, but in enhancing agency, creativity, and connection.The conversation moves beyond hype to examine how AI is reshaping work, leadership, and society itself - dissolving traditional roles, redefining competition, and forcing organisations to rethink what value creation really means. Central themes include human agency, belonging, adaptation versus adoption, and why the future of work will depend on teams, learning cultures, and leaders who can navigate uncertainty.Ultimately, the episode makes a compelling case that while AI can remove constraints, it cannot replace meaning. As synthetic content grows and automation accelerates, humans will increasingly seek what only other humans can provide: purpose, trust, creativity, and choice.Nichol Bradford is a technology investor, advisor, and long-time advocate for human-centred innovation. She is the co-founder of an early-stage venture fund focused on “human tech” — technologies designed to help people heal, grow, and thrive — and the founder of Human Tech Week, a global gathering exploring the intersection of AI, health, work, and cities.With over two decades of experience across consumer technology, gaming, and digital platforms, Nichol previously led major operations in China and worked on large-scale technology businesses and mergers. She now advises global organisations on the integration of AI and human intelligence, helping leaders understand how emerging technologies reshape agency, leadership, and value creation.Her work sits at the intersection of AI strategy, organisational design, and human potential - making her a leading voice on how societies and businesses can adapt responsibly in an era of rapid technological change.Find out more at nicholbradford.comThe GAEA Talks podcast series to brought to you by GAEA AI https://gaealgm.ai

This episode explores the future of creativity in the age of AI through the lens of actress, physicist and producer Eline Van Der Velden, creator of AI character Tilly Norwood. The conversation covers her journey from musical theatre and physics into film production, her experiments with AI actors, and the backlash surrounding them. Rather than focusing on fear, the episode reframes AI as a creative amplifier - comparing it to past technological shifts like the industrial revolution, robotic surgery and digital publishing. They dive into ethics, copyright, environmental impact, and how AI could democratise storytelling while preserving human creativity. Ultimately, it’s about adaptation, opportunity and how artists can thrive rather than be replaced.Eline Van Der Velden is an actress, physicist and producer, and the founder of production company Particle6. Born in Curaçao and trained in musical theatre before studying physics, Eline has built a unique career bridging science and storytelling. She previously starred in and created award-winning comedy character Miss Holland, later commissioned by the BBC, and has worked across film, TV and digital production.In recent years, Eline has become a leading voice in AI-driven creativity, creating the controversial AI character Tilly Norwood to explore how technology can amplify - not replace - human creativity. With experience spanning physics, acting and production, she brings a rare multidisciplinary perspective to the future of entertainment, ethics and innovation in the AI era.To see more of Eline's work and Particle6, visit https://www.particle6.com/The GAEA Talks podcast series to brought to you by GAEA AI https://gaealgm.ai