Poppy Gustafsson

Poppy Gustafsson

Author: BBC Radio 4 January 25, 2025 Duration: 14:50

A mathematician and cyber defence expert, Poppy Gustafsson has been handed an integral role within government, as the prime minister attempts to grow the economy and attract international investment.

She was born in 1982, to parents John and Gilly. Her father ran an agricultural sales business, while her mother was a journalist.

In her early career, Poppy Gustafsson worked for a venture capital firm before co-founding Darktrace, a cybersecurity company, in 2013. She would go on to take the role of co-CEO in 2016 and became the sole CEO in 2020.

Darktrace was among the first companies in its field to use artificial intelligence (AI) or machine learning to improve cyber-security.

So, as ministers attend the World Economic Forum in Davos, what tricks does this one time CEO of the Year have in store?

Mark Coles has been taking a closer look.

Production Team Presenter: Mark Coles Producers: Sally Abrahams and Bethan Ashmead Latham Editor: Ben Mundy Sound: James Beard Production Co-ordinators: Maria Ogundele and Jack Young


Each week, Profile from BBC Radio 4 takes a single name from the global conversation and builds a detailed portrait, moving far beyond the headlines. This isn't a simple biography or a news recap. Instead, through careful documentary storytelling and personal journal excerpts where available, the podcast constructs a nuanced examination of character and motive. You’ll hear from colleagues, critics, and sometimes the subjects themselves, piecing together what drives and defines the people shaping our world. The focus rests firmly on influence, whether in politics, the arts, science, or social movements, exploring how an individual's background and choices ripple through society and culture. Listening to this podcast feels like gaining a deeper, more textured understanding of the figures you think you know, revealing the contradictions and convictions behind the public image. It’s a thoughtful half-hour that challenges first impressions, asking what truly lies behind a name in the news.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

Profile
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