Doug Drinkwater

London

Director of Strategy at Hot Topics

Writer, strategist, volunteer. Irregular tweets on technology, business, politics, sport and Spurs.

Articles

Why your data strategy is failing

1 week ago | hottopics.ht | Doug Drinkwater

The success of your data strategy hinges on stakeholder engagement, business alignment, and clear communication. And that means fostering better relationships with non-technical leaders. Data strategy: OverviewWhat is a data strategy?
GenAI, hyper personalisation and the next wave of CX

1 month ago | hottopics.ht | Doug Drinkwater

Food for Thought: Unlocking AI’s potential to deliver smarter, faster, more human customer experiences. At this HotTopics Food for Thought discussion, C-suite leaders discuss how GenAI is shifting the CX paradigm from reactive support to predictive, personalised engagements which drive greater brand engagement, affinity and loyalty. Generative AI is poised to reinvent customer experience as we know it — driving hyper-personalisation at unprecedented scale and speed.
Navigating transformation in turbulence

1 month ago | hottopics.ht | Doug Drinkwater

Food for Thought: How enterprises can lead through disruption by building the digital fabric of the future Uncertainty is the new normal, whether it’s economic shifts, global instability, or rapid tech change. But with the right approach, transformation doesn’t have to feel overwhelming. Join fellow C-suite leaders for a candid, practical conversation about how to lead through disruption with clarity and confidence.
Public sector digital transformation: Can DOGE and AI spark change?

Mar 12, 2025 | hottopics.ht | Doug Drinkwater

What AI and DOGE mean for digital transformation in the public sectorAmid Elon Musk’s DOGE reforms, government shrinkage and the growing clamour for AI, can the next wave of public sector digital transformation drive much-needed efficiency? Boardroom Bytes is the HotTopics column where our editorial team explores the news making waves at the intersection of enterprise technology, business strategy and C-suite leadership.
The elevated role of the modern day CMO

Mar 5, 2025 | hottopics.ht | Doug Drinkwater

Food for Thought: The elevated role of the modern-day CMOMarketing leadership is evolving—are you keeping up? Today’s CMOs do more than just lead marketing teams. They’re strategic decision-makers, boardroom influencers, and talent developers. As businesses become more complex, marketing leaders must balance commercial objectives with creative vision. Join us for an exclusive session designed to spark meaningful conversations among senior marketing leaders.
An evening with Penn and Teller

Feb 27, 2025 | hottopics.ht | Doug Drinkwater

Out of Hours: An unforgettable evening of magic and connection Step away from the daily demands of leadership and immerse yourself in an evening designed for relaxation, inspiration, and world-class entertainment. To celebrate their 50th Anniversary, the undisputed masters of modern magic, Penn & Teller, are bringing their mind-blowing show to the UK for a limited run—performing in London’s West End for the very first time.
Beyond personal productivity: The secrets to enterprise AI scalability

Feb 25, 2025 | hottopics.ht | Doug Drinkwater

Food for Thought: The secrets to enterprise AI scalability How can businesses move beyond isolated AI use cases to unlock organisation-wide value? Join us for a Food for Thought breakfast at Kensington Palace, hosted by HotTopics in partnership with Box. Discover how to scale AI across the enterprise, overcoming challenges in leadership, strategy, data architecture, IT infrastructure, and business workflows.
From GenAI to agentic: Change management in an age of constant innovation

Feb 5, 2025 | hottopics.ht | Doug Drinkwater

Food for Thought: Strategies for success in an age of innovation "The genie is out of the bottle. It's going to happen. The technology is here. People are going to start using it. It'd be best for us to be ahead of the technology, rather than playing catch up later." - Global CIO, logisticsWith AI evolving from predictive models to autonomous agents, businesses face a new challenge: adapting to the relentless speed of innovation.
How sovereign AI shapes data control and growth

Jan 20, 2025 | hottopics.ht | Doug Drinkwater

The race for data control and economic opportunityBoardroom Bytes is the new HotTopics column where our editorial team explores the news making waves at the intersection of enterprise technology, business strategy and C-suite leadership. Today, we’re diving into the latest fanfare around artificial intelligence: the rise of sovereign AI. TDLR: What is Sovereign AI?
The sustainability of IT

Dec 10, 2024 | hottopics.ht | Doug Drinkwater

MeetupsESG Supergroup invitation: The sustainability of ITAs the world focuses on environmental, social, and governance (ESG) principles, the technology sector faces a unique challenge—and opportunity. How can IT leaders drive sustainable practices, from responsibly sourced hardware and energy-efficient data centers to inclusive hiring and ethical AI? Join this exclusive virtual session, where industry experts and innovators will discuss strategies that blend profit with purpose.