At Fredian Shield, a lot of the work is about helping organisations navigate the fast-moving world of AI, governance, security, and digital transformation. Frameworks, policies, board decisions, emerging technology.
But behind all of it — there’s a story.
Some are cautionary. Some are inspiring. Some are the kind of stories only someone who has lived in the trenches of IT and sat at the board table could tell. And for too long, most of them have stayed in the room where they happened.
That’s about to change. I’m launching a new podcast series: Tales from the Hat.
Why “Tales from the Hat”?
If you’ve met me, you know the hat has become part of my identity. It’s a reminder that leadership doesn’t have to be stiff, and technology doesn’t have to be intimidating. It’s also a nod to a reality that anyone who has worked in IT and governance will recognise immediately — you are frequently expected to pull solutions out of thin air, with very little warning, in front of people who are counting on you to have the answer.
But the real reason for the name is simpler than that:
Technology leadership is full of stories worth telling.
Stories about risk, resilience, innovation, culture, and the messy human side of digital transformation. Stories that help people understand not just what is happening in the world of technology, but why it matters. This podcast is where those stories live.
What the Podcast Covers
Tales from the Hat is designed for a wide audience — not just technologists. Whether you’re a business leader, a board member, an educator, or someone simply curious about how technology shapes the world around you, there’s something here for you.
Each episode explores the intersection of areas that don’t get talked about together nearly enough.
IT and Business Strategy. Technology is no longer a support function — it’s a strategic engine. The organisations that understand that are pulling ahead of the ones that don’t.
Governance That Actually Works. Not box-ticking. Not bureaucracy for its own sake. Governance that genuinely protects people and creates the conditions for innovation rather than suffocating it.
AI and Emerging Technology. What responsible AI adoption actually looks like in practice — and how organisations can embrace it without losing control of the process or the outcomes.
Security Without the Fearmongering. Real stories of breaches, near misses, and the cultural shifts that make organisations meaningfully safer. The security conversation is too often driven by fear. It doesn’t have to be.
The Role of the Modern Non-Executive Director. How technology, safeguarding, and long-term risk are reshaping board-level decision-making — and what that means for the people in those seats.
Leadership, Culture and Change. Because technology is ultimately about people — their behaviour, their decisions, and their ability to adapt when the ground shifts beneath them.
Why I Created This
In my work — as founder of Fredian Shield, in my executive role, and as a Non-Executive Director in education — I see the same challenge everywhere I go.
Technology is moving faster than most organisations can keep up with. Leaders want clarity. Teams want direction. Boards want confidence. And everyone wants to understand what’s coming next — without having to wade through technical jargon to get there.
The conversations we need to be having aren’t always happening. Tales from the Hat is my way of opening those conversations up. Honestly, accessibly, and with a bit of personality.
What You’ll Get
Following the series means getting real-world insights — not theory, not hype, but practical lessons drawn from real experience. Complex topics like AI, governance, risk, and security explained in a way that actually lands.
It’s a blend of board-level thinking and hands-on IT reality. Few people get to see both sides of that divide. Fewer still talk about it openly. And it’s a genuinely human approach to technology — not a technical lecture, but a conversation.
Join Me
If you’re interested in the future of technology, the realities of leadership, or the stories that shape modern governance — I’d love for you to come along for the journey.
Follow Tales from the Hat on your preferred platform, and let’s explore what technology is doing to the world — and what we can do about it — one story at a time.
Neil Manfred is the founder of Fredian Shield, a specialist consultancy helping regulated organisations adopt AI and technology responsibly. He is a Certified Director of the Institute of Directors and a Non-Executive Director in public education.