“Entrepreneurship and bullshitting often go hand in glove”

By David Josephs

Thus writes Katie Prescott, technology business editor at The Times, in her book The Curious Case of Mike Lynch. Lynch was the entrepreneur who founded Autonomy, the UK software company bought by Hewlett Packard for more than £11 billion in 2011. 

HP then claimed all was not as it seemed at Autonomy, and sued. A decade long legal battle followed, in which Lynch was first found guilty of fraud, and later exonerated. 

Tragically, in 2024, Lynch and six of his closest family and friends were drowned aboard his superyacht.

Prescott’s book is a fascinating read, and not just for people like me who have spent their career in Technology PR. It’s well written, entertaining and informative.

I heard Katie talk about her book at a recent Times event in London. As she did, my mind wandered to other characters I’ve met during my years in the industry who I’ve felt were prone to bullshitting.

Listening to her, I couldn’t help but think of how thin the line can be between visionary storytelling and self-delusion in tech — a line I’ve seen crossed too many times.

I recall the leader of an enterprise software company who terrified his colleagues. I was told people would hide in cupboards, or wear their headphones and participate in imaginary calls to try and avoid his attention when he was on the warpath. 

For all his bluster, it wasn’t the competition that brought him down — it was the truth, finally catching up.

And he was just one in a cast of plenty. 

Inevitably, as a Comms person, this makes our job harder. Because the truth will out. It always does, and then the damage is irreversible. Trust is lost.

So any Comms professional needs a fully functioning bullshit detector. It’s a fine line sometimes between presenting your business in the best possible light (that’s fine, that’s what we’re here to help you do), and deceit.

I’ve walked away from business in the past where I think I’m being deceived. Indeed only this year Ela, the awesome founder and leader of Laika, took the decision to resign a significant client because she did not believe it was ethical to continue to represent them, a decision that as a Laika board member I supported wholeheartedly. 

At Laika, we believe in brave consulting — the kind that challenges, not flatters. We’ve walked away from clients when integrity was on the line. It’s not always easy, but the truth always wins. If that’s the kind of partner you want, come talk to us in 2026.”

Here’s to a new year of truth, bravery, and better stories