The New York Public Library’s Tony Ageh: Pioneering Change in the Face of Resistance

“I always felt this strange sense of otherness as a child, just
because of the colour of my skin. I am sure there are many people
who have versions of that, whether you have afflictions that others
think disable you, that don't in any way disable you. I knew full
well, because of the environment I grew up in, the pigmentation of
my skin made literally no difference to my ability to do anything.
So I've always looked at the world from that perspective, that this
must apply to everyone. Everybody must have something inside them
that others judge will reduce their capacity for anything - whether
it's for learning, love, creative output or self-actualization. It
is completely nonsensical. Of all the things as a child that I
carry with me. It's completely determined the path I've taken
through life.” My guest this week is the New York Public Library’s
Chief Digital Officer, Tony Ageh. He is the visionary behind
innovations such as The Guide at The Guardian and Wired UK, and
also one of the founding fathers of BBC iPlayer – the BBC’s
pioneering streaming and catch-up service. An early disrupter and
proponent of change in the 80s and 90s, Tony began his career in
publishing, and even helped launch Richard Branson’s London
listings magazine, Event. Tony’s reputation for leading change
earned him an invitation to join The Guardian Media Group, and by
the mid-1990s, he was Head of Product Development.  From The
Guardian he re-joined Branson to work on the launch of virgin.net,
before spending 12 years at the BBC, where he rose to the
much-coveted positions of Controller of Internet and Controller of
BBC Archive Development. In 2016, Tony ventured across the pond to
become Chief Digital Officer of the NYPL, where he is currently
unleashing big ideas to digitally transform the institution. Tony
was recognised for his work at the BBC when awarded an OBE for his
services to digital media in 2015\. On future-proofing ideas,
especially through large organisations at the BBC, Tony has said:
“I am good at making ideas survive that process, which means they
survive the outside world.”   Tony is one fascinating man,
with a tale or two (or twenty!) to tell. Change has been such a
huge part of Tony’s career and throughout his career he has sat on
the cusp of it, in the best possible way. Tony told me all about
how he has navigated and executed change throughout his career,
often in the face of great resistance. The story of BBC iPlayer is
a case in point and a story you simply have to hear. I’m not going
to give any spoilers, but it started with a visit to the pub and
well over 84 meetings. We also touched upon his big decision to
leave the BBC and venture to a new city and new job at the New York
Public Library.  If you enjoy this episode of the When I Grow
Up Podcast, I would love it if you could rate or review, as it
really helps to spread the word.  **Follow me:** Twitter:
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